Happy Halloween

As It's Halloween I thought I'd share some Halloween inspired links that I have found recently.

If you are getting married at this time of year, either of these cookies would make great little favours, Bake it Pretty even give you clear instructions on how to wrap them and add a tag which could easily be customised with your wedding details.

Stained Glass Halloween Cookies here from Amy Atlas

Spellbinding Cookies here, from Bake it Pretty

These candleholders would look great along a fireplace...

Spooky Silhouette Candeholders, here via Design *Sponge


And if you're thinking pumpkins are only for scary faces then check out Pumpkin week on Sweet Paul.

If you are having lots of kids at your party you could set aside an area for a Dress the Pumpkin Competition-provide some pre-cut out features from magazines (lips eyes etc) and various other bits- jewellery, sunglasses etc and leaves the kids to have some fun! Great way to keep them occupied during speeches.

Above photo is Fashionista from Wednesday, there's one for everyday of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday





Photo by Erica Turner via Ruffled

Finally a beautiful autumn inspired wedding on Ruffled with loads of DIY details, here & here

Silver pumpkin photo at top found via won't you be my naybyrd

Fashion Inspiration: Claire Pettibone

The final designer I’m looking at this week is Claire Pettibone, a US based designer whose dresses I’m glad to say are available in the UK. Her elegant collection really stood out for me for the beautiful use of fabrics particularly the antique laces in delicate shades of ivory and champagne and the splashes of reds in fabric flowers and obi inspired waists. She also had the most amazing backs too, I quite easily could have shown six of her dresses when I looked at the beautiful backs trend.

The collection was called Cherry Blossom and you can see the influence of the East in the detailing of the dresses. I think I’ve found a new favourite designer, definitely one I’ll be keeping an eye on from now on.

Please note these photos are from the catwalk and may not be available for purchase

All images via Brides

Fashion Trend: One-Shoulder Gowns and Beautiful Backs

A great trend to be seen on the catwalks (fashion as well as bridal) is the one shoulder look, a fab alternative to the ubiquitous strapless gown. I think it’s a very sexy and modern look that works well with the other trends we’re seeing and would be great for an overseas wedding especially in a Grecian inspired floaty chiffon style.

It’s also good to see so many beautiful backs on the catwalks, definitely part of the dress you should never ignore; consider that for a the majority of your ceremony your guests are looking at you from behind.

Top: 1 Amsale 2 Monique Lhuillier 3 Jenny Packham 4 Vera Wang 5 Wtoo at Watters 6 Badgley Mischka
Bottom: 1 & 3 Claire Pettibone 2 Vera Wang 4 Badgley Mischka 5 Amsale 6 Reem Acra

All images via Brides

Fashion Inspiration: Jenny Packham

I love Jenny Packham’s designs; they are so glamorous and sexy. In this collection she continues to use her trademark fluid fabrics with perfect vintage sparkle details but also adds contrasting black bows and ruffles to be bang on trend. I also like the variety of necklines that she designs for her dresses from her plunging halter necks to strapless sweetheart; it’s great to see so many options. This collection also had some lovely flirty short dresses, great for the petite bride or a funky city wedding.

Please note these photos are from the catwalk and may not be available for purchase

Jenny Packham via Brides

Fashion Trend: Sparkles & Bows

There were lots of lovely sparkle details to be seen on the catwalks, predominately focused on the bodices. Combined with floral appliqué details and lace they add a lovely touch of glamour and sophistication to a dress.

If you’re after something a bit more fun and whimsical then bows could be your thing; seen on a number of dresses they came in all sizes. Large statement bows add great a focal point to a dress whether at the shoulder or waist and in colour but if you want something more subtle small bows in multiples can add a lovely touch. It also looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more bows in accessories too from fascinators to shoes.

Top: 1 & 5 Jenny Packham 2 Reem Acra 3 & 4 Badgley Mischka 6 Claire Pettibone
Bottom: 1 & 3 Jenny Packham 2 Amsale 4 Melissa Sweet 5 Vera Wang 6 Monique Lhuillier
All images via Brides

Fashion Inspiration: Vera Wang

Vera Wang is synonymous with beautiful wedding dresses and she definitely led the pack with her show. I loved the beautiful colours and shades she chose; while the idea of a coloured dress might put some brides off as it’s easy to only think of the bold colours, the colours Vera showed were pale, elegant and dreamy. I also love the bow details for a touch of whimsy and use of silk tulle layering which give the dresses a lovely ethereal feel.


Please note these photos are from the catwalk and may not be available for purchase.

Vera Wang via Hello Magazine

Fashion Trend: Ruffles

Ruffles have been coming through for a while now and they were in full force at the shows. I love the effect ruffles have of adding an airy dreamy quality to a dress. They are also a great way of adding a bit of fun to standard dress silhouettes.

1 & 3 Monique Lhuillier via Brides2 Watters 4 Jenny Packham via Brides 5 Oscar De la Renta via Hello Magazine 6 Vera Wang via Hello Magazine

Fashion Inspiration: New York Bridal Market

Last week saw the Bridal Market hit New York, where the best wedding dress designers showcased their new collections for 2010 to the trade. We can’t all be lucky enough to pop over to New York for the shows so I’ll be posting roundups of some of the trends that were seen and taking a closer look at some of the designers that are available in the UK. As these are all catwalk selections we won’t be seeing the dresses in the shops until next year and even then there’s no guarantee they will all be available to purchase; so fingers crossed our favourites will make it into the shops.

1 & 3 Jenny Packham via Brides 2 & 4 Monique Lhuillier via Brides

5 & 6. Claire Pettibone via Brides

Colour Inspiration: Jade & Peacock Blue

Bride photo here by Mario Sales via Rock’n’Roll Bride
Blue water in cave photo here by Joanna Goddard via A Cup of Jo
Peacock photo here by Dawn McCarthy Photography via Rock’n’Roll Bride
Aztec mask via British Museum
Rings photo here by Greg Slick Once Studio via Brooklyn Bride
Peacock feather in Window here photo by Sean Flanigan via Green Wedding Shoes
Bouquet and bridesmaid here photo by Belathée via Design*Sponge

Stretching your Wedding Budget

We recently contributed a top tip on Stretching your Wedding Budget to You & Your Wedding


Save on…table decorations

“Why print separate menus and place cards when you can combine the two? And why not let your tablecentres double as favours. Little potted plants gathered around a cathedral candle looks impressive and everyone can take a souvenir plant home afterwards.”

If you’re thinking about what plants to use I think herbs are great as they have a lovely aroma which would complement the food at the table rather than overpower it and your guests would have a useful gift as well one that looks pretty. Thyme would be one of my favourites as there are a number of different varieties to choose from such as lemon or orange thyme which has pink flowers. You could have great fun sourcing vintage pots or buy plain ones that you could make-over to tie in with your colours. I would also provide little paper bags which could be easily personalized with a Thank you for your guests to take the plants home in.

For more budget saving ideas from fellow UKAWP members check out the rest of article here.

Always loves: Photo Booths

I love photo booths at weddings, they are great fun for the guests and you are left with some fab memories after.

In the words of Grace Bonney from Design *Sponge:

“Aaron and I both agreed that the vintage photobooth we rented was some of the best money we spent. Everyone had a BLAST taking pictures and as the night went on, the photos got crazier”

Photo by Belathée Photography via Design *Sponge


Photo by Mark Brooke Photographers via Green Wedding Shoes



Booth rented from Denon & Doyle , Photo by Greg Slick at Once Studio via Snippet & Ink

Often the booths will come with an assortment of props for your guests to dress up in, and if not, it’s easy enough to stock up on your own from local joke and charity shops. If they’re yours they would make fun mementoes of the day and if you plan on having kids you could keep them for their dressing up boxes.

Photo by Daniel Kiyoi Via Snippet & Ink

Photo by Mark Brooke Photographers Via Green Wedding Shoes



You don’t have to stick to traditional booths; a creative backdrop for your photographer to take photos in front of can be good fun.

Photo booth photos by Jeff Zielinkski Wedding Photos by Walter Pieringer via Green Wedding Shoes



Holding picture frames can inspire some creative poses…

Photo by Paul Carlson Photography via The Brides Café



Even just a simple piece of fabric…

Photo by Jose Villa via Once Wed



Have a black board handy and your guests can write personal messages so you can collate the photos into a wonderfully unique guestbook.

Photo by Jeremy Lawson via Style Me Pretty

Photo by The Nichols Via Style Me Pretty

DIY Tealight Lanterns

A number of venues these days restrict the use of candles even enclosed ones, so here is a little DIY project from Project Wedding to make battery operated tea lights look a lot more attractive

Supplies for each lantern

a. Battery operated tea light
b. 2 brads (I know them as butterfly pins)
c. Ribbon, several inches in length
d. Strip of vellum 2.5”by 5.25 (check measurement works for your size of tea light)
Trim one of the long sides with decorative scissors (Hobbycraft do a collection of screen printed vellum pieces which would be nice if you didn’t want to add the personalised initial)
e. Double sided tape

Supplies for optional embellishments:
a. Needle and Thread
b. Paper flowers
c. Pin
d. Printed letter

Basic directions:
1. Wrap the strip of vellum around battery operated tea light and adheres with the double sided tape.
2. Using the brads attach length of ribbon to the ‘lantern’ to form a handle from which to hang

Optional Embellishments
Pinhole monogram: before assembling the lantern, use a pin and printed letter as a guide to punch a monogram in the vellum strip.
Flowered Handle: after the lantern is assembled use a needle and thread to tack paper flowers to ribbon handle.

As well as looking lovely on tables or hung around the venue these could also work nicely as favours, you could attach a little note of thanks to them.

DIY Tea light Lanterns from Practical Wedding

Adorable Finds: Shrugs & Boleros

Having looked at Cover up options at real weddings here are some shrugs and boleros available in the shops and online now.

From Monsoon an ivory chiffon and satin ¾ sleeve Shrug

From Topshop a lace tiered Bolero

By far the best selection of shrugs and boleros I found were from Etsy where a number of shops sell them, here are just a few showing the varying styles available that deliver to the UK.

From Toccata an ivory silk and ostrich feather bolero

From The English Department an ivory silk organza Bolero

From Mary and Angelika a limited edition silver blue-grey satin and chiffon Bolero, this shop also has a good selection of lace boleros.

From Bonzie golden yellow raw silk Venetian ruffled shoulder wrap. This would be agreat way to add splash of colour to your wedding outift or for your bridesmaids.

Square Meal Venues & Events

Last week I visited the Square Meal Venues and Events exhibition at Old Billingsgate in London. Aimed at the corporate events market there were over 200 exhibitors the majority being venues of all shapes and sizes.

There would be too many for me to list but here are a couple that caught my eye.

The East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf, London is currently only available for wedding receptions but they are hoping to get a license to hold civil ceremonies in the near future. In the heart of Canary Wharf it features an amazing arched glass atrium which is 27ft at its highest point. It has a large capacity of up to 500 for a dinner and dance but also has a raised gallery for smaller parties up to 120.

If you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, Great Fosters in Surrey is a stunning Grade One listed Stately House available for civil ceremonies, civil partnerships and wedding receptions and is also a hotel with an outdoor heated swimming pool.



As well as the Tithe Barn & Painted Hall which can hold up to 180 for dinner there is also the Orangery and Conservatory for up to 100 guests.

I look forward to visiting these venues and many more from the show in the near future.

All photos taken from the respective websites.