Woodland Festival Wedding at Broyle Place, Sussex

Reception Marquee with Light Blue Draping and Bunting  

In September 2012 Theme-Works Weddings created a magical Woodland Festival themed wedding for Jen and Jamie. Jen describes her experience working with Theme-Works Weddings to style her big day.

Which theme did you choose for your wedding? 

"We both enjoy going to music festivals and we wanted our wedding to reflect this. Our wedding venue was a 12th century manor house with an old oak boathouse in the grounds which enabled the ceremony to be held outside, surrounded by a lovely mature wooded area. We felt that the Woodland Festival theme would really suit the venue. We also wanted a sky blue colour theme in the wedding too, as this was a colour my late father wore quite a lot, and reminded me of him, so it was a way of having him there with us on our big day."

"Before our big day Kate from Theme-Works Weddings came and visited the venue with us and suggested lots of amazing ideas that really worked to bring the festival theme to Broyle Place. Blue and white feather flags lined the wooded driveway, and there were picnic blankets and baskets under the trees for the guests to sit on, as well as beautiful bunting all through the trees."

Voile draping on boathouse

Garden Ceremony 

"Our table centrepieces were fabulous- they really captured the woodland theme, and also incorporated delphiniums, which were one of my Dads favourite flowers- another way that Theme-Works Weddings helped his presence to be felt on the day."

Table Center Pieces with Milk Jugs on Tree Trunk Slices

"Inside the marquee looked fantastic, with more bunting, and the blue theme carried on with blue voile draping across the ceiling and in the flowers on the table centrepieces."

Bunting

Cake Table and Bunting

What was your favourite part of your day?

"The best bit, and my most favourite memory of the whole day (apart from marrying my husband of course!) was when all the guests sat down for the wedding breakfast ; watching guests from young to old donning bunny ears, glitter hats and wigs from the fancy dress favour boxes! It was a real talking point which broke the ice between guests that didn’t know each other, and made for some great photos! The atmosphere that the fancy dress created was unbelievable, to have all our guests laughing and thoroughly embracing the fun was just brilliant."

Party Goodie Bags

"The cherry on top of the cake was really the side stalls- all the guests came out after the wedding breakfast to have a go on them, and it was great seeing them all (esp the younger ones) walking around with their prizes!"

Side Stalls

What did your guests say about your wedding decor and styling?

"The feedback we got from the guests was 100% positive. I think that everyone that I spoke to commented on how fabulous the venue looked. Even the manager of Broyle Place, Emma, said that she had never seen the venue look so good, especially the way the boathouse was draped. The atmosphere that the fancy dress created was unbelievable- to have all our guests laughing and thoroughly embracing the fun was just brilliant. And it has to be said, we were literally gobsmacked when we saw the marquee for the first time- the transformation from the plain, bare marquee that we had seen when we visited the venue, to what we saw was truly unbelievable, and we both have just loved looking through all the pics again and remembering how good it looked."

Black and White Dancefloor with Starcloth

Do you have any advice for couples looking for something a bit special at their wedding?

"I would advise any brides (or grooms!) to get Theme-Works Weddings to help them!! I can honestly say that I would not change anything, and I think that my hubby and all our guests would agree. I read about a thousand wedding magazine and browsed so many websites in the run up to our wedding, and on our own, there was no way we could have pulled off the day that you guys gave us."

"To say that we were absolutely over the moon with everything would be an understatement- you gave us the real WOW factor that has had our guests talking about our wedding for weeks after- in fact, whenever we see anyone now they still comment on how good it was!! Kate and Sophie did the most amazing job of planning and organising, and came up with the most fabulous ideas when I talked to them about what me and Jamie wanted for our big day."

Topiary trees and seating

"I was blown away by how Theme-Works Weddings incorporated what we wanted in with their ideas, and when I arrived at the venue just before the ceremony I just could not believe that this was MY big day- it was like something that you could only dream of. They really had taken into consideration the essence of the venue, and all the decorations, from the bunting to the table centres, right through to the draping of the oak boathouse where we said our vows, complimented the venue so so well. Both Sophie and Kate bent over backwards to help put this anxious bride at ease- especially when it came to answering all my constant emails! They liaised with the venue to make sure that everyone involved knew exactly what was going on, and I was able to relax (well, relax as much as any bride-to-be can!!), because I knew that so much of what we wanted was taken care of. Before Theme-Works Weddings came on board me and Jamie had been worrying about getting everything done the morning before the wedding- Jamie had an image of him getting to the venue with the ushers at 6am to get decorations and table centres in place! It was just such a weight off our minds that Sophie, Kate and her team could take care of things for us."

If you'd like Theme-Works Weddings to style your big day call 01273 224777, email info@theme-works.co.uk or visit www.them-works.co.uk/weddings

All images in this post are from Theme-Works Real Weddings 2012

Photography credit: Nicola Rhodes

Interactive wedding guest entertainment ideas

A wedding day can whiz by in a flash and before you know it, you've gone from sitting in front of a mirror with your hair in rollers to saying "I do", sipping Champagne, posing for photos and hitting the dance floor.  Adding in a few special entertainment touches to your day can help to slow down the proceedings and  provide some personalised mementos of the day.  Here is a selection of some of the best wedding guest entertainment ideas we've seen at our recent themed weddings.

Wedding party poster colouring-in print, sourced by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

Wedding party poster colouring-in print, sourced by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

Wedding Party Poster Colouring-In Print

The Wedding Party Poster starts the day as a simple black and white line drawing of quirky characters holding blank sign boards.  With a set of brief instructions and pot of felt-tip pens on the side, the print is gradually filled in by guests who pick a character (that most resembles themselves, perhaps), colour it in and write a message on the board their character is holding.  As the day draws on, the print fills up to become a riot of colour and creativity, with stacks of sweet messages from your wedding guests. A fun wedding guestbook alternative or addition that makes for a unique keepsake for the bride and groom.

Wedding favour idea - Self Portrait Project, designed by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

Wedding favour idea - Self Portrait Project, designed by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

Wedding favour idea - Self Portrait Project, designed by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

The Self Portrait Project Wedding Favour

A fun way to get your guests giggling at the tables is to ask them to draw one another. Including a blank instruction card at each place setting will see your guests try their hand at sketching themselves or their partners, usually with quite comical results.  A central post box takes collection of all the cards for the bride and groom to take away at the end of the night. One of our recent brides plans to use the drawings to create a bespoke printed tea towel (remember making those at primary school?) to give away to guests as Christmas presents, continuing her quirky Vintage Tea Party themed wedding.

Wedding photobooth kit by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

Wedding photobooth hire by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

Wedding photobooth Mini sourced by Theme-Works Weddings

Wedding Photobooth Kit

Blazing a trail in the UK since travelling over from the US, wedding photobooths are fast becoming a wedding party must-have for their unique ability to bring out the silly side in even your most sober (literally in some cases) of guests. Custom wedding photobooth backdrops can be created by Theme-Works Weddings to match your colour-scheme as seen in the yellow and white combination above. Wedding photobooth accessories include a dressing up box filled with trendy moustaches on sticks, oversized spectacles and an array of daft hats. Alternatives to the traditional studio/backdrop set up include a converted vintage Mini Cooper (as pictured above) and Photo Wall (images coming soon). 

Wedding Fairground Side Stalls by Theme-Works Weddings

Fairground themed Side Stalls for Weddings

Perfectly suited to a Circus, Village Fete or Festival themed wedding, these fairground-style side stalls are fun for kids and big kids alike.  Games include coconut shy, tin can alley and hook-a-duck. Prizes can be awarded, or simply played for fun.  The side stalls can be set up in the grounds of your wedding venue or indoors.

Vintage sweetie bar and custom printed wedding sweetie bags by Theme-Works Weddings

Custom rubber stamp and bespoke wedding sweetie bags by Theme-Works Weddings

Secret Sweetie Bar for Weddings

Tucked away amongst our quirky vintage furniture sits an antique globe bar.  The more curious amongst your guests will peek inside and discover jars of all shapes and sizes filled with pick n mix sweets, scoops and striped paper bags. As part of the Theme-Works Weddings service, a custom print can be applied to the paper bags by way of a bespoke designed rubber stamp, as pictured above for a recent wedding we produced. Bags come in all sorts of colours to match the scheme or overall look you want to achieve.

Wedding Scalextric set, sourced by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

Wedding Scalextric set, sourced by Theme-Works Weddings © Danni Beach Photography

Scalextric set for weddings

One of our clients requested some evening entertainment "for boys that don't dance" and we were delighted to source the couple a scalextric set for their after-dinner wedding reception entertainment.  The set is staffed and comes complete with a leaderboard and prize to the fastest lap of the night.

All images in this post are from Theme-Works Real Weddings 2012

Photography credits: Danni Beach, Laura Lewis and Bumble & Brown

Seaside Sparkle Themed Wedding, Terraces Brighton

Our weddings season 2012 kicked off with an early summer soiree by the sea, a celebration of the best of Brighton for the beautiful couple, Rachael and Paul. Combining the fun of the seaside with an elegance befitting a glamorous bride, the Seaside Sparkle theme was born.

The couple's love for Brighton shone through during their consultation and became a key influence we returned to at each stage of their wedding decor design process.  Their wedding venue, Terraces, offered uninterrupted views of the pier with its beach side location and boasted floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of this special feature.

Seaside Sparkle themed wedding decor by Theme-Works

Terraces is a popular Brighton restaurant with a neutral interior that featured dark heavy curtains and wall art that wasn't to the couple's taste.  Both of these elements were neutralised with ivory wall drapes and ceiling sails in a fan formation which formed a canopy above the dining area, creating an ethereal feel to the space.  Behind the top table, nets of fairy lights were hung behind the fabric, creating a focal point to the room.

Wedding ceremony draping and bay trees by Theme-Works Weddings

 An enclosed section of the restaurant was used for the ceremony, where a similar combination of wall draping and fairy lights was used to bring a whimsical feel to the functional space. Bay trees were positioned to mark the entrance to the aisle and another pair either side of the registrar's table to create a formal look.  The restaurant's chairs were fitted with white chair covers and blue organza sashes.

Seaside themed wedding stationary by Theme-Works Weddings

Brighton beach themed wedding stationary by Theme-Works Weddings

All printed materials were designed with the wedding invitation brand in mind.  A Brighton themed table plan coupled with branded sticks of Brighton Rock for favours carried the theme throughout the little details, including painstakingly attaching individual crystals on to each branded place setting and tables named after iconic Brighton landmarks. The overall look was one of relaxed elegance with detailed touches that show how much the couple cared about making every part of their wedding inimitably them.

Ivory wedding draping by Theme-Works Weddings

Wedding cake table backdrop by Theme-Works Weddings

The happy couple disappeared into the fun and thrills of Brighton Pier with their wedding party whilst their wedding venue was turned from breakfast service into the evening reception. Top tables were cleared and the cake table moved into position, with our fairy-lit backdrop providing an ideal focal point to stage the cutting of the cake.  

Fairy light wedding backdrop by Theme-Works Weddings

As day turned to night, the fairy lights shone through, bringing the sparkle to this seaside themed Brighton wedding.

All images in this post are from a Theme-Works Real Wedding 2012

Photography credit: PhotoMadly. 

Vintage Tea Party Wedding, Fabrica Brighton

There simply isn't enough space in the title to comprehensively sum up the theme of today's Real Themed Wedding.  What started off as a vintage tea party styled wedding reception turned into an interactive, entertainment-packed theme park inspired wedding with a big emphasis on fun and personalised touches.

Victoria and Martin commissioned Theme-Works Weddings to produce the interior wedding decor for their stunning wedding venue in central Brighton, Fabrica.  Fabrica is a deconsecrated church operating as an art gallery by day, and in between exhibitions offers private hire of the space, which means only a small number of dates are available at this characterful venue.

Mad hatter's tea party themed wedding decor by Theme-Works Weddings

Vintage fete themed wedding decor by Theme-Works Weddings

Venue decor included a quirky garden for the drinks reception area, bringing the outdoors in to this city centre venue. Guests made their way past a white picket fence entrance and through our iron rose arch dressed in white hydrangea, green guelder rose and ivy. Small wooden benches covered in artificial box hedging offered informal seating, with our toadstool side tables, oversized tea cup seats and life size flamingo bringing colour to the arrangement which sat beneath a riot of bunting.  The bride wanted an entrance to 'wow' and set the tone of the day - fun, vibrant and throwing convention out the window.

The wedding table decorations featured vintage floral fabric overlays with individual place settings written on luggage tags tied around a favour.  For the gents, a miniature bottle of vintage port; for the ladies, a miniature jar of local plum jam - two of the Bride and Groom's favourite treats.

Shabby chic themed wedding table decor by Theme-Works Weddings

Vintage wedding table decorations by Theme-Works Weddings

The cake table - an antique wooden desk in ivory and dove grey - sat beneath pom poms in the bride's favourite colour - yellow - backlit by LED uplighters in warm greens and pinks.  To complement the wooden desk, a vintage dresser was used to display photos from the Bride and Groom's childhood.

Yellow themed cake table and pom poms by Theme-Works Weddings

Bunting, we love bunting.  Bunting for weddings has to be loud and proud to compete with all the other elements of a dressed wedding venue.  Ever wondered what half a kilometer of bunting looks like?  Wonder no more!

Wedding bunting and festoon lights by Theme-Works Weddings

Our traditional Royal Mail wedding postbox took special care of all the Bride and Groom's wedding cards.  To continue the 'Best of British' vibe a retro vintage globe bar housed a secret Pick n Mix stash with custom branded paper sweet bags. 

Royal Mail wedding postbox and antique globe Pick n Mix bar by Theme-Works Weddings photography by Danni Beach Photography

The Bride and Groom requested custom Mr and Mrs wedding chair backs at the top table, along with some other special request custom wedding props which we'll share in more detail in another blog post. Table centres were created by the Bride's own family using containers supplied by Theme-Works Weddings.  A mixture of table centre containers created an informal vista to the overall room, echoing the sentiment of the day for fun, eye-catching details and surprises around every corner.

Custom Mr & Mrs wedding chair backs and table centre hire by Theme-Works Weddings photography by Danni Beach Photography

On behalf of the Theme-Works Weddings team, congratulations to the happy couple and thank you for the opportunity to style your day your way!

All images in this post are from Theme-Works Real Weddings 2012

Photography credits: Danni Beach Photography and PhotoMadly. 

Welcome

Welcome to the Theme-Works Weddings Blog - home to our creative team's inspirations, discoveries and ideas to create the wedding of the century.

We'll be checking in on a regular basis with our latest new-favourite-things, dispatches from the front line of wedding styling and inspirational discoveries we just had to share with you. 

First up, meet the team!  In our central Brighton HQ we have a team of staff working year-round to develop our themed wedding styling service - starting with our websites where most customers first encounter us, right through to the warehouse where our extensive collection of styling kit is stored and finally to the on-site team of venue dressers styling venues up and down the country. 

Theme-Works team photo on Brighton beach

Theme-Works Weddings crew on site set up

Theme-Works 2012 crew shirts

We've had a busy summer season of weddings that we're very excited to share with you, so check back for updates of a behind-the-scenes look at the world of Theme-Works Weddings styling.