Cherish Wedding planning service

Last week, I was asked by Brides magazine to contribute to a feature they were doing on ‘White Weddings’.

Well it got me thinking. So I will share some of the ideas, it might inspire you to go for a white wedding theme.

SPRING WEDDING

White marquee, in a field of daisies. Tables decorated with snowdrops, and bridesmaids wearing self made daisy chain headresses. White bunting strung from the marquee poles and a white chocolate fountain for dessert.

SUMMER WEDDING

On a white beach, with simple chairs and white shells to decorate the reception. Lovely relaxed feel, in your flip flops with white candles on the tables in the evening.

AUTUMN WEDDING

Hire a funky white minimal venue, perhaps even an art gallery, with white walls and fantastic lighting. Drink white cocktails and give guests lovely oversized white corsages to wear, either on lapels or wrists for ladies.

WINTER WEDDING

Obviously in the snow, like the Icehotel in Sweden. With lots of white fur rugs and large white candles on the tables.

Bunting! Sets a great atmosphere for a marquee wedding.

You can buy it from lots of stores like The White Company, and Laura Ashley.

Or personalise your wedding day by making your own. Better still, delegate to a family member who is good with a sewing machine. Keep it simple, buy fabric that suits your colours and cut into triangles, then sew to ribbon/tape.

You can also get photos printed onto fabric and cut out the images to make fun bunting that guests can really enjoy as well as look pretty.

Cherish Wedding Planning

Wedding cake is always hard to choose as there are so many options.

Many brides who are having a traditional english summer wedding are opting for a table of homemade cakes on cake stands. This acts as a lovely table of desserts and means you can choose all your favourites.

There is also the terrible job of having to taste test them all before you buy, so i suggest starting now.

Supermarkets are a brilliant starting point, the cakes below are all by waitrosedeliver.com, and taste as good as they look.

For a wedding this summer , a bride i am working with is asking all their family and friends who enjoy baking to bring along cakes to add to the table. I would also suggest picking up a bargain at auctions for cake stands and side plates. You can buy lovely mix and match china at great prices and you get to keep it after for future garden parties.

Or buy it plain and add your own roses. These start at about £100 and you can have fruit or sponge.

Wedding trends for 2010!

These ideas are chic, retro, cost effective and environmentally friendly.

• Book a taxi for wedding transport ( black cab is great)
  
• Don’t print order of service, use traditional hymn books for the service. They are wonderfully chabby chic, and people don’t really need to be told everything about the service.

• Book a great street busker to play whilst you have reception drinks. I would have other entertainment for the evening, but if you find someone you like they are usually more than happy for a booking and a great talking point.
  
• Don’t try to get everything matching for the reception, chair covers are very over done. If you are having a marquee wedding hire simple wooden chairs and decorate with cushions instead. You can even get granny to make them very cheaply to suit your colours and give them to guests at the end.
  

We have loads more tips, so please get in touch if we can help further.

A simple way to personalise your day, with your flowers.

The brides bouquet can be made with 2 special flowers placed loosely into the arrangement. These 2 flowers can be taken out of the bouquet and handed to both mothers or special guests.

This is a lovely surprise for the mums, and can be a very touching, memorable moment. It can done when the bride arrives at the altar just before the ceremony starts, or as they leave the ceremony facing the rest of the guests.

Small touches like this are not expensive, but mean a lot to everyone. Simple ideas like this are the kinds of things wedding planners can suggest.

Give us an email if you want to ask us for some free advice, on any wedding topic.

I love this kiss stamp, with red ink pad.
I could get completely carried away with it – invitations, order of service, napkins.
It might all be a bit girlie, but love and kisses what could be more romantic.

Cox & Cox have lots more lovely romantic table decoration and favour ideas.

You don’t have to be traditional when it comes to wedding cake, or any other part of your wedding for that matter.

Why not select cheeses that you like, stack them up and decorate with flowers or fruit. You can put it on a cake stand or for a more rustic feel, arrange on to a bread board.

It makes a great cheese course for your meal or a tasty snack with crackers and bread for the evening munchies.

You can still cut the cake and have photo’s taken, and i think it can look just as impressive and decorative as iced cakes.

These fabulous mirror edged picture frames are £4 each from John Lewis, great value, glamorous and quality too!.
Just select a favourite picture of each guest or a comedy pic related to their nickname, and insert in the frame. Place pics/frames on the table, it will serve as a place setting and as a gift for them to take home.
The pictures will also be good talking points and everyone will enjoy the personal touch and have fun looking for themselves in the process.

We were pleased to see that Rachel , wedding ideas mag editor, has included our blog on her editors choice pages.

Congratulations to those who got engaged over Christmas or New Year.
Pleas feel free to email us if you have any questions you would like a quick answer to. We know how exciting a time it can be and sometimes you just want to talk a few ideas over with a third party.
We are more than happy to give you the benefits of our experience for free, and with absolutely no obligation to take it any further.

Happy New Year!
Zoe

Whilst stranded at Luton airport last week because of the snow, I met several couples who were due to fly out to weekend weddings. It reminded me of a few tips for weddings abroad, namely make sure all key guests get out to the location on time.

- consider how many guests you will invite
- how accessible is travel to the location, and any cost implications
- send invitations early and ask for rsvp’s
- book extra insurance for luggage etc
- if possible visit the location prior to the day and check out transfers arrangements
- consider employing a destination wedding planner for advise

Somehow the snow seems very romantic, and just as we like it – can be lots of fun. Winter weddings offer opportunities to add many personal touches like sleigh rides under snuggly warm blankets, with warm mulled wine and plenty of mistletoe.

Destination weddings are great, one of the best I’ve attended was in Toledo. The wedding started at 7pm and went on until 6am in the morning. The spanish certainly know how to party, and it was definately a wedding to remember.
Please get in touch if you would like more help planning your perfect, dream wedding abroad, we have some lovely venue ideas.

image – stowehofinn.com