Wreaths of glory

Achingly beautiful wreath inspiration from the annals of US Brides Magazine...

Just the thing for adorning barn columns and doors at a winter-y wedding, don't you think?

Bridesmaids Dresses Head to Head: THE FINAL

So, what do you do when you have scoured the pattern books, scoured the shop racks, scoured the blogs, the websites and the magazines, tried on many samples 'just to see' with your bridesmaids and finally, achingly, very nearly, got it down to two contenders?

You have a head-to-head...

Vogue Patterns 8416 vs Vogue Patterns 8285

8416:

Pros: Interesting neckline, princess seams, full-ish skirt suitable for heavy silk dupion fabric

Cons: Would it look strange without the sleeves?

8285:

Pros: Gathering detail underbust and shoulder seams would flatter both chest sizes of my two bridemaids, slightly fuller skirt would create gravitas, organza insert could be used in place of ribbon to echo organza that *might* be in my dress and hide from rather gorgeous bustline of my fair sister

Cons: The rather gorgeous bustline of my fair sister could be in jeopardy with such a low v if the organza doesn't do its job properly..., and it risks looking like another v-neck empire line bridesmaid dress with little or nothing to commend it...

And if you're still not sure?

You send in the Boy armed with Photoshop to do his worst...

And the winner is...

Vogue 8416 in all its sleeveless navy silk dupion glory!!!

Phew, one more decision down, only 11249731204912 more to go...

A Web Work in Progress

So all you get for now is a screen shot of our homepage...

Isn't the Boy clever?!

Tewin Bury Farm Hertfordshire

Our first barn, our first foray into the wedding service proper...

As you drive into the farm complex, you are greeted by a parking area to the right, a small bridge over the River Momra and an elaborate sign directing you variously to the Restaurant, Hotel Reception, four spaces available to hire and appropriate further parking for each of these venues. There is space on the signs for A4 sheets for the names of each party (eg 'Adam & Eve's Wedding') so there is no doubt for your guests. I have to admit to finding this rather off-putting, if informative, betraying the breadth of facilities offered by this highly competent and efficient venue, but slightly de-romanticising the occassion as you realise just how much of a succesful business has been achieved here.

The barn space, pictured above, is beautifully restored and perfectly self-contained. The barn itself seats 120 with seating for a further 30 split between the balcony and a side-area divided by open beams from the main space. The outside space (exclusively yours during the hire time) is well-manicured including a gorgeous little bridge over the main mill-wheel in the river and also a separate bar area that could act as the 'quiet zone' for those who may tire of the festivities later in the evening.

The on-site restaurant and the hotel rooms (from which the business developed) are both at a high standard and certainly would be welcoming and relaxing for guests.

We decided, however, that the proximity to other celebrations and the fact that our pushing 140 guests may be divided around the space, were not quite suited to our visions.

The search continued...

Images taken from our own site-visit. More details and further information available from the slick and helpful website.

Pearly Queen

I saw this post at BridalWave and couldn't help exploring further.

These invitations are described on Imagine Couture as:

The dupion silk pocket opens to reveal a striking invitation set on a silk pad, wrapped in organza and satin ribbon and finished with a beautiful brooch.

My mind then ran rampant. Could this not be achieved with a gorgeous button with the shank run on a length of organza ribbon? We are going to have our invitations on mountboard (I like the density!) so there would be no risk of bending or warping.

Button surfing has turned up:

Something tells me, though, that at a price of $4.95 per button, this may be a DIY step too far...

As cute as a button, MJ Trim, MJ Trim

Glitzonline, Glitzonline, Millliners Supply Company

The venue search

Poised on the 'Publish' button for the review of the first of five venues that we visited in our search, I realised that I have not properly shared the hazy criteria with which we armed ourselves for our illuminating visits.

The guest list of large families and plentiful friends is currently topping out at 140 guests and that is without allowing for single friends to bring partners (unlikely to happen but an indication of our attempts at frugality).

We wanted a venue that would manage civil ceremony and reception for the full contingent. Something about guests missing the important bit of the day but being invited along for a few beers just strikes an odd chord with me.

While both of us have religious backgrounds, inasmuch as we both sang in choirs for a large chunk of our childhoods, neither of us are comfortable with a fully religous ceremony, but neither are we prepared to go without the awe and splendour of a full service of celebration. Music and words are important to both the Boy and myself, and we are determined that the service will not be over in a matter of moments but bring together the most important elements of our relationship and how we feel about one another.

So, in short, we have looked for:

• Seating and feeding 140 with flexibility of menus and alcohol provision a bonus
• Ample accomodation at a fair price within easy distance of the venue
• Barn/countryside feel but within a reasonable distance of our new home in southern Hertfordshire

We set out believing that a barn was a barn was a barn.

How very wrong we were...

Twinkle twinkle

The newly discovered fact of candles being allowed at some barns has opened a whole new stream of centrepiece visions...

This idea from the indomitable Martha Stewart Weddings suggests hot-glue-gunning glass vases with starched lace pieces and then filling said vases with pillar and tealight candles for a delicately patterned light-effect.
For the purposes of the Boy who often drops by round here, this post does not confirm or deny the presence of lace on my dress in trim or fabric form...

Motifs and themes

Deep satisfaction throughout wedding planner central. Fabric arrives promptly from the US, beautiful and high quality cotton destined for waistcoats, baby bridesmaid dresses and even, possibly, fabric covers for jam jar favours if sufficient allows.

A close up of the print and colourway: the background shade is an interesting lovechild of beige and buttercream, possibly even verging on *whisper it* magnolia.*

The clever Boy then took sections from the print and has reproduced them, with the grand plan of having a rubber stamp made to order to be used throughout stationary and signage.

Do you have a preference?

* Tell anyone that I'm having a magnolia themed wedding and people may get hurt.

Bow Bow Baby

I love the idea of continuing the colour of the sashes in the bows of the flower pomanders. Aren't these girls just delightful? The fit of the two dresses on the image below, in particular, are really very good.

Oh for another colourscheme

The combination of pastel pink and pistachio green conjures up some other region of 1950s nostalgia twinned with the freshness of Japanese cherry blossom.

I feel quite sad that pink will never be the colour of choice for a November wedding but I will console myself with these beautiful images of talented people and edible nirvanas...

The Cake Girls

Maisie Fantaisie Martha Stewartt

Hair today...

Looking for an unstructured updo suitable for my poker-straight shoulder-length hair and light fringe that I sport daily. Fringe-featured bridal updos are few and far between. However, current thoughts so far include...


All images from USBrides

Get me to the *barn* on time...

I have to have a watch on my wrist. There is absolutely no possibility that any day that I am without my watch will run smoothly. There is not a chance that I will not wear a watch on my wedding day.

However, the brown leather strap and large face of my beautiful Mappin & Webb wonder simply won't do. I am now on the lookout for a dainty silver-effect bracelet/bangle watch that will not cost the earth but will keep me to time and to schedule.

Oasis used to be my first port of call, but their website has let me down on this occassion. Again, I'm pretty sure that Accessorize stocks them in their branches, but none are listed online.

Marks and Spencers, at this early stage, has given me just the direction I am after. All of these beauties are under £30 and none of them would look out of place on a delicate wrist exchanging rings with the man she loves.

Colour Pallette Generator

I had come across this site before, but I think that was before I had found a fabric from which my colour pallette was going to emanate.
Reminded by the wonderful Abby of its delights, I came up with this little wonder based on the fabric that will constitute baby bridesmaids, waistcoats and jam pot covers...


I'm pleased with the creams and deep blues that it pulled out (particularly in the bottom row) and intrigued by the grey tones which will be very useful in selecting the suits for the men... A whole different search, I'm sure.

Cream cakes with a twist

The navy and cream theme continues apace. To keep the freshness and clarity of the palette, we think sticking to a cream cake with a possible navy accent may be the route to go down: pale blues just wash out the rest of the colours.

Any and all of these feel like they have a degree of individuality and interest about them, without too much fuss and deviation from the fact that they are, actually, cakes. The accent colours in ribbon or flowers could easily be replicated in icing or left as ribbon, embellished or otherwise.

Now, all I have to do is convince a dear old friend that she is up to this task!

All images from The Knot.

Famous!

Further to my earlier post, I have the incredible honour of being included in the wonderfully artistic roll-call of mood boardees over at Style Me Pretty.

View me in the ranks here and vote for whomever your favourite is (I'm not biased, really) here. Thanks Abby!

I am the Mob

A very strange acronym in bride-blog land is the MOB (ie mother of the bride), beaten only by the strangest acronym of all: STD (otherwise known as Save The Dates)...

I want my MOB and my MOG to look utterly gorgeous and they both deserve the pampering and shopping trips that will guarantee this. Neither of them suit nor want the pastel sack dress with matching sack coat and fandango in their hair and so I am determined that each will find a fabulous outfit to make them feel just to the side of centre stage (tee hee!) on my wedding day.

My Mum is a gorgeous dark blond with curves and a great plumage (as my sister used to call it!). I think she would look gorgeous in a fine cashmere sweater and full taffeta skirt as modelled by Drew Barrymore above, or maybe some version of this sort of outfit from BariJay. I really like the idea of my mum in jewel colours like a deep amber/copper or maybe even a deep ruby as modelled here.

In strong contrast, my MOG is a slip of a thing with a much paler complexion and usually more comfortable in pastel shades and creams. She is very much on the petite side of the spectrum and I would love to give her an opportunity to show off her arms and calves but hide the tummy that she is becoming more aware of these days (and yet remains invisible to the naked eye!) Something tells me that convincing her to even try, let alone commit, to one of these sexy numbers will be a task in itself, but I think a slate grey or mustard gold would look beautiful on her colouring.

Grey metallic from Principles, gold silk satin from Monsoon, to be complemented by a cropped jacket in an accompanying tone to keep her covered when she wants the security of that.

Swings, Roundabouts and Bridesmaids

Meanders, faffing and loving inappropriate dresses too much has led me on something of a wild goose chase regarding my gorgeous bridesmaids. I have, however, had to concede that this gorgeous wrap-coat above is in fact the most fitting and becoming frock to clothe my beautful blond sister and my beautiful brunette best friend, in a crisp sapphire blue silk dupion.

Now, the only question abounds around what to wear underneath... Suggestions include

Vogue 8318
View A of 8280
View D (with straight straps) of 8284

And then the final decision is whether to go for a full skirt pattern like the one above or to go for something more a-line by combining the skirt and jacket of this pattern into a more slimline silhouette.

Girls? Answers on a postcard...

Moody Blues

After the blinding range of gorgeous inspirational posts over at Style Me Pretty, I was struck by how few mood boards submitted (okay, well, none) featured a navy theme.

I decided to put one together, quicksmart.

It was actually a pretty useful excercise, as the minute I put in the images of pale blue or eau-de-nil cakes or flowers that I had had stored at the back of my mind, it looked completely wrong. The trick of this theme, I think, will be keeping the colours stark and simple.

It's been a really useful (albeit brief) exercise and I think I will continue to develop and add to this image as my ideas start to consolidate.

Ooh Vera!

Well, last weekend saw the first of what can only be described of 'Myself wearing very large frocks and feeling decidedly comfortable in them' sessions. Vera Wang showcased over 40 beautiful, elegant, incredibly-made of quality materials gowns in its boutique in the basement of Selfridges on Oxford Street.


My friend (P) and I were given a 'Brief Overview of the Collection' which could be reduced to here are the slinky ones and here are the big ones. We were invited to select up to six of our favourites initially and the assistant, Amanda, quietly left us to our own devices to drool and fondle the loveliness.

P found a very large dress which would not have looked out of place on the stage of the Royal Opera House. The effect of the corset on my middriff was extraordinary and, for such a voluminous skirt, remarkably slimming. It was, however, so far from 'me' as to be laughable. I flounced, and giggled, and returned to the fitting room.




The absolute favourite of the hour's consulation was undeniable:


I have loved this gown from the first moment of seeing it on the Vera Wang site about two years ago. It is Thai Silk, with two layers of silk organza, and a 'buff' sash in silk tied in a loose, asymetric bow to rear or to the side.
It probably helped that this gown came in my size (to be fair to Vera, her gowns ranged from 10-14 and there was ample preparation to shrink or expand those that weren't quite suited to your shape) and fitted me almost-glove like. Suddenly my curves were sleek and sophisticated, my waist pronounced and cinched and my shoulders elegant and expansive.


All my ravings against sleeveless gowns (ubiquitos and not suited to a November ceremony, which is where we're heading) were silenced the moment this beauty zipped up my spine. Suggestions of organza gathered shoulder caps would have solved the dilemma. I didn't care. I looked tiny. And elegant. And ethereal.


And a million dollars.


Needless to say, P cried. As it was my first frock, I was rather stunned and stood staring at the mirror at the bride in front of me.

Be my guest volume 2...

Loving the stark cleanliness of the blue and white images in both these invitations, but the red accent leans a bit towards the nautical for me. Not sure if the red accents were cream whether that would lose the beauty of the colourway. Either way, these beauties from KenzieKate really are extraordinary and her whole package of RSVPs, thank yous and guest information inserts are beautiful. See these in all their splendour and varieties of colourway at KenzieKate.