Real Wedding: Vintage Barn Wedding With A Rustic Vibe

"George and I are both so grateful to theme-works weddings for making our special day an even more beautiful and memorable experience. The professionalism and support shown by both Philippa and her team made the wedding theming process an enjoyable and fulfilling journey, to take a vision from us and then make it come to life like they did with such enthusiasm really was incredible - it was better than I ever could have imagined. "

.... The are the words of one of the most wonderful couples I have ever worked with. You may have seen this bride mentioned a couple of times on our blog, and this was the final result. It's almost sad when a journey with one of our brides come to an end, but what a day to remember this was!

Starting from scratch

Pam came to us with her venue already booked, and she wanted to use her venue as inspiration to create a magical wedding theme. When Pam and I sat down I soon realised that our bespoke option was best for her, we looked through our packages and nothing really fit her vision. So after a site visit we settled on our plan of action for Pam’s big day.

With Pam’s wedding I really wanted to capture her personality. She used to work in the theatre so I wanted to add an air of the dramatic, she also is an avid reader and collector of romantic literature anything from Shelley’s poetry or the scripts of Shakespeare. She also has a love of all things vintage so this was an obvious choice for a theme. 

Pam’s venue was set in grounds of a beautiful old boarding school, with glorious grounds, the ceremony and reception was to take place in a stunning old barn with the added extra bonus of many garden areas to take advantage of. With all this in mind we settled on a main vintage barn theme.

Poetry & Plays

For centre pieces I decided to use vintage style crockery, filled with flowers, each centre piece was to be its own scene. Laid upon a hessian runner, with tree trunk slice base, the crockery was laid under and around a vintage style bell jar. I wanted to tie in vintage books, so Pam and I went on a hunt through boot sales to collect up a lovely collection of poetry & plays each book carefully chosen. We then creating table numbers out of the books adding to the personality of the theme.

There were some very un-sightly carpeted basis to glorious wooden beams holding up the barn, and Pam was keen to cover them up it some way. So I decided to try and blend them into the vintage barn environment, I settled on using hessian wrapped round the outside of the base, and covering the top with green moss. 

The entrance of the barn was huge, it had arched beams and stone steps leading up into the barn, so we designed huge white draped curtains reaching from top to bottom to soften the entrance but also create that dramatic feel. 

Flora & Fauna

The flowers were designed to be soft and simple, with the main flower being baby’s breath and the scent of rosemary and eucalyptus in the air. The bride’s bouquet was elegant with soft roses and vintage touches with the adorable flower girl carrying an orb of baby’s breath on a length of sage green satin ribbon. 

We set about creating various chill out areas in the garden and grounds, such as fountains, seating areas, and giant games of chess and croquet. Pam & George were a huge influence on the design of the wedding, George’s grounded nature, and Pam’s love of the theatrical. 

Happily Ever After

The overall effect was wonderful, a really intimate feel with the happy couple marrying in front of the candle lit fire place, with hand carved ring box made out of a copy of Jane Austin’s Emma, a gift from George to Pam years ago recycled to be part of their day.  

Pam was stunning in vintage lace and the happy couple enjoyed the day in a haze of French champagne and Scottish traditions. I haven’t seen a happier couple in long while!

Supporting cast 

Special thanks to....

The Brighton Flower Company

Jeff Carrigan Wedding Photography

Real Wedding: Traditional Jewish Wedding With a Vintage Vibe

"Thanks so much. It was just the most incredible day, it  was more than I could have imagined.You & Kate were just amazing and we were so grateful for her hard work to make it perfect for us."

 ... These are the words of one of our beautiful brides, Amanda. Her Jewish wedding got a hint of classic elegance with accents of vintage styling in the hands of our fabulous team.

Starting from the Scratch

Amanda wanted a traditional Jewish wedding with all the trimmings, but with a glamorous vintage vibe. She decided Theme-Works Weddings was a good fit to bring her vision to life after meeting with our one of our special account managers Kate. Amanda opted for our bespoke design package, this means designing her wedding from a scratch instead of choosing one of our set packages. Bespoke styling makes each wedding very personalised, creating something unique for the bride. It was perfect option for Amanda who had a clear goal on what she wanted for her big day.

Candelabras and Hand Made Chair Covers

After having a clear vision on what Amanda wanted, Kate and  I started designing a perfect wedding for her. As with every wedding, attention is often in the details and smaller accents. Amanda's wedding was no exception, a true example of this was the oversized candelabras. The glossy black finish teamed with the floral design was a perfect harmony of glamour & vintage, the extra height enhanced the visual experience as guests enter the room. Rather than using our own, we out sourced for the perfect candelabras to fit brilliantly into this theme. And the result was absolutely stunning! Dashing candelabras with elegant flower décors were totally eye-catching.

To encompass Amanda's theme, we also worked on a chair design. Together with my team we hand made 300 new sashes for Amanda, with a vintage embroidered satin ribbon fastening. This really enhanced the styling, chairs in our book should not be an afterthought any more than accessories be an afterthought for an outfit.

Tying all the flower designs in was very important, Amanda had a clear idea of what she wanted, and we wanted to bring this together for her. After working closely with our florist we put together a simple & timeless design with hints of colour & understated sparkle.

The most important thing for me as a wedding designer is to never loose site of the bride's original ideas while developing a wedding design, only work towards her vision & support her as much as possible.

Happily Ever After

The end result came together perfectly, even the weather was on our side. The clouds parting only minutes before the outside ceremony started, and the sun shining down on the risen chuppa we bravely put in place in the drizzle! Amanda of course looked stunning, along with her handsome groom, and the two of them & their friends and family celebrated in true style. What an amazing day!

We would like to give a special credit to "The Brighton Flower Company" who bought our styling ideas to life with their floral flourish. 

The Once Illusive Gay Wedding

Introducing Leni Donnelly

This blog is written by one of our event interns, Leni. She gives us a view into the current topic of gay weddings which - despite the element of mystery it holds - are not so different from any other wedding. Leni writes about her friends' big day full of magical surprises, happy tears, and, as Leni's picture reveals to us, a couple of tequilas!

Leni:

"The words ‘I’m going to my first gay wedding this year’ are about to be uttered a whole lot more now that the UK Government have dragged themselves into the modern century and realised that a gay marriage is actually OK.

But a gay wedding still holds an element of mystery and intrigue for some people. I’m not sure that I can be considered anywhere close to an authority on this matter, having only been to one in my life, but I will go on record now as saying this...there is no difference! Family, friends and loved ones gather in a special place to witness promises between two people in love. Isn’t that what a wedding is all about? It’s purely a celebration of love?

Although I have mentioned the politics already I do not want this in any way, shape or form to become a political monologue about a gay marriage. However, I do want to try to help dispel any misconceptions, apprehension, or myths that surround the illusive gay wedding the only way I know how. Sharing my experiences; yes, sharing is caring!

The memorable event I allude to, took place on a balmy September day in Hull. Now I’ll stop you there, ‘Hull?’ I hear you protest, Yes, Hull everyone. Weddings take place there too, and yes it can be beautiful. Having lived in this little northern city for over seven years, I feel the need to defend it from sometimes unfair bad press. OK, it’s not Venice, but it has a lot of charm I tell you. You just have to search a little bit harder to find it that’s all.

Anyhow I digress...apologies.

So like I said; it was September. The couple in question were my long term friends Rachel and Emma who had been together seven years at this point, and planning their big day for almost two of those years. Rachel had been the one to propose. She was not the manlier or the ‘butch’ in the relationship as I know some people presume there must be. She just always knew that she would be the one to propose, because she wanted that honour.

I asked her afterwards; why then? She gave me this look as if to say ‘it was the perfect place you fool! It was a sunset on a secluded beach paradise in Thailand’. Yes I am aware that does make me sound foolish, but that wasn’t really what I was asking. I just wondered why at that point in their relationship she decided to do it. The simple answer was ‘I couldn’t wait any longer to make her my wife’. Words I’m have been uttered by many a person who is ready to take on that commitment, male or female.

So the day finally comes around and this is all we have been talking about for what seems like forever. I felt like I was the one getting married and the excitement was tangible. I got to know all the little surprises they had planned for each other. Like the cream VW combi that Rachel had paid for Emma to arrive in and the surprise honeymoon back to that proposal spot that Emma had so meticulously arranged for Rachel. So many magical secrets were kept in the run up to that day!

Then we’re in this beautiful hotel, Emma is gliding down the aisle towards her future wife, in a sleeveless,  off white, unbelievable gown . Rachel is standing next to her ‘best men’ all decked in a half tux, half hipster get up, looking just the coolest I think I have ever seen anyone look. They are both in tears, and as I glance around through blurry eyes, I see everyone is in tears, including me!

The rest of the day was just as I described, what I deem any wedding should be, a celebration! It was a mash up of both of their personalities exploded into a traditional & untraditional event, their perfect day.

There were no roles that I could see that differed from any other wedding I had been too, (apart from the overly tearful best friend, that just couldn't seem to stop telling the happy couple how amazing it all was) I’ll let you decide who you think may have played that part...

There were no awkward moments by any of the guests young or old, in deciding who they thought was the "bride". All everyone saw that day was two people in love saying ‘I do’...magical!

So I put it to you now. Is a gay marriage really that illusive? I must admit that I was wrong (It does happens you know!)
The difference about "The gay wedding" is...well every wedding is different! You may have been to fifty weddings or none at all, but you will see that no two are the same. So my advice is the same as it would be if you were going to any wedding...

Just enjoy it!!!! ...What? I said advice, not rocket science!"

A big thank you to Leni for giving us glimpse into this lovely wedding. Nothing is better than seeing a happy couple in love enjoying their big day. I really love the VW camper and the rainbow flag, very retro and unique!

For more on what our interns are up too, why not check out there twitter, or their own blog!

https://twitter.com/FireIceInterns

http://fireandiceinternsadventure.blogspot.co.uk/

Wedding planning from the man’s perspective

Introducing Andrew Coates 

This is a new blog by one of our event interns, Andy, who took his first view into the world of weddings in his blog. Most men spend more time thinking about football than weddings, but Andy doesn't want brides to shut the grooms out from any decision making. Men want to have fun with planning too, and have their own opinions, even if its just what beer is served.

Andy:

"When I was first asked to write a wedding blog, I have to admit I maybe wasn't as keen as I could have been. As a 22 year old guy, weddings aren't exactly my forte and I can’t say I've ever really thought about them too much. My friends got engaged a few months ago and when they told us the news, the girls in our group of friends went crazy. They started firing out hundreds of questions about everything from themes, to table centers and chair covers, to cake.

It was slightly different with the guys. I think there were 2 questions asked. ‘What are you doing for the stag do?’ and ‘is there an open bar?’ Yes was the answer to the second question and we suddenly got a little more interested.

With not much of an idea on what to base this blog on, I had a quick Google search to see what other wedding bloggers were writing about. There was plenty on dresses, food and themes, but only a handful for what men think about / might want at their wedding.

And as I was searching the internet, I started to realize how little input into the wedding the groom seems to have. Is this true or is it just because the blogs are directed to the bride-to-be’s? I imagine it’s a bit of both.

Therefore, I think it’s important that future brides realize that as a gender we probably do think about our wedding more than we let on. There are definitely areas that we don’t really want to get involved in (flowers all look alike to me), but at the same time there are areas that we do have an opinion on.

I found myself questioning the layout of some venues, loving the ideas of some wedding themes, choosing what music I would like and I've never cringed so much at some of the wedding photos I saw. Seriously, if the photographer at my wedding get’s me to jump with my best man for a photo, or to pick up the bride horizontally, then I will tell them where to go....

My advice to any future brides out there planning a wedding would be keep us well away of certain details. I don’t think I would be much help with the seating plan for example, but then let us have some fun on other areas.

I think as a gender we could shine when it came to choosing the car that we left in, organizing the alcohol, and for me personally, I think I would get very involved in the music we had.  If your fiancée is passionate about cars for example, then let him take charge of transport. I bet he would love to be responsible for choosing the cars you arrive and leave in, and it might mean he would stop being a hindrance to you as you got to grips with something he has little interest in. If you start to get fed up with how much he keeps going on about the cars, remember he’s probably thinking the same about the colour scheme!

I of course, am not suggesting that you were planning on shutting him out from any decision making, but I think I would be a lot keener in getting involved in the organisation if I had less responsibility on the table centres for example, and more on what beer was available. The day is for both of you after all. Whilst I think in most cases the bride has been thinking about the day for longer, a lot longer most probably, I bet the groom has a couple of ideas he would love to have on the day, and the wedding would benefit if it showed both sides of the couple.

This is by far the most I have ever thought about a wedding and my brain is starting to hurt. I’m the first to admit that a 22 year old male isn't the best person to ask for advice on weddings, but I’d like to think there are some valid points in my ramblings. I am also quite glad that my male friends will probably never see this blog as I am sure I would get some serious banter. I now feel I need to go and do something very manly so I am going to check the ashes score, see if there is anything interesting happening in the world of football and organize some beer and poker for my Friday night"

I love this perspective into the male psych on the topic of weddings, girls, lets perhaps relinquish some of the control, and get the grooms in on the fun! A big thank you to Andy for taking on a daunting topic, keep up the hard work!

For more on what our interns are up too, why not check out there twitter, or their own blog!

https://twitter.com/FireIceInterns

http://fireandiceinternsadventure.blogspot.co.uk/

DIY Wedding Ideas

After a little thought I decided to do our next piece on how to do it yourself. This may sound strange as we are a theming company, and would like nothing more than to do it for you! However I really wanted to show you how, with a little creativity, you can achieve a lot, from not that much.

So here we are, the following Items I have made completely from scratch, at little to no cost.....

1. Vintage style vase or candle holder

I am sorry to say that I am a complete coffee addict so this one was a tad selfish, as I got to drink lots of coffee to complete the task! Take an empty coffee jar, or another similar jar (to be fair it doesn't have to be coffee) clean it and remove all the labels.
Raid your craft supplies and find.....

• A length of lace 
• length of ribbon
• Super Glue

Cover the outside of the jar with glue, enough to make all sides tacky, and then roll the length of lace round the jar. Leave to dry for around 30 mins, and check it is all secure, touching up if any segments that are loose. Once dry, tie the ribbon round the top of the jar to hid the lid rings.
And there you have it, with a candle inside the light glancing through the lace looks beautiful and romantic, it also can act as a vase if you prefer. Or if you are doing it in an office environment (as I am) a very fancy pen pot!

2. Unique table numbers

This one was a lot of fun, the first thing you need to do is find a girlfriend and split a bottle of fancy wine, the kind that comes from a really nice shaped bottle! This is the hard part, you must finish the whole bottle.....
Once you have an empty bottle you may want to wait until the next day to start the real crafty aspect, depending on how wobbly you feel after drinking the bottle. I did not wait and a happy 15 minutes was spent making an absolute mess, but the end result was pretty good so I wont complain!
Raid your craft supplies and find.....

• Black board paint
• wide paint brush
• chalk

To start with make sure the outside of the bottle is clean and the labels removed, then paint the black board paint onto the bottle, covering it from top to bottom. Wait 30 minutes and then pop another coat on for good measure and leave it somewhere warm to dry over night. Once dry you can literally draw whatever you want onto the surface in chalk, my thought was to use it as table numbers. You could even leave a small pot of chalk on each table and ask guests to write messages or doodles as a keep sake. My only warning with this would be you may get addicted to black board paint, my partner is not impressed by the amount of items round the house and garden that have now become black boards!

3. Quirky vintage style ring holder

This may be my fave craft project although it was quite fiddly and time consuming. I would advice practicing this on a book you don't care about first, and then do the real thing with a book that has a little meaning. The first time is always the hardest and this project needs a little practice.
Raid your craft supplies and find.....

• Old antique style book
• Craft sharp scalpel (be careful please)
• Gold Pen
• Pencil
• A piece of card
• Glue

Once you have all your items, take the piece of card and draw a stencil of your choice, I am doing this for one of my brides next month, so I chose her wedding logo which is two love birds. My one piece of advice would be keep the shapes simple. Once you have your stencil open your book, and go about 10 pages in, pencil round your stencils onto the 11th page in a design of your choosing. This next bit is the hard part, and as I have said please be careful at this stage, take the scalpel and cut your shapes deep into the book.
Once you have reached about half way through the book, stop, and dig in a central line in the remaining depth of the book to create a ridge for the rings to sit in. I added a little hard shape, with a shallow depth and filled it in with gold pen for a little glam. Once all the shapes are finished glue the first 10 pages together, and leave to dry.
And there you have a lovely ring box to present to the bride and groom at that crucial moment. You can also, afterwards, glue into the book your order of service, any readings or pictures as a lovely memory book of the day.

4. Garland

So if you have made the ring box you may find you are left with a lot of shapes cut out from a book, and nothing to do with them. Well I am not a big fan of waste, so I decided to put them to good use. This is a quick and simple way to create a pretty garland.
Raid your craft supplies and find.....

• A length of lace
• A reel of cotton
• A whole punch
• Scissors

Take each shape and punch a whole into a central point, thread a length of cotton through the hole and tie it off cutting away the surplice. Once you have all your shapes on threads, lay out your length of lace, the wider the better for this use. Tie each shape in intervals along the lace in varying lengths, and cut away the surplice.
Now you have a garland, it looks lovely hanging in greenery, which is what I will be using it for at one of my weddings next month. But you can use it as your wish, and that, as they say, is that.

5. Fun chair design

If you are an avid reader of our social forums such as twitter, facebook and pinterest, you will know that I have a slight obsession with wedding chair designs. I recently had my whole team up until sillyaclock in the morning, hand sewing a sash design I dreamed up for a wedding we had earlier this year. One of my organizers asked why I have to make everything so complicated, which is what sparked my thought process for this particular design. I wanted to get an effect that was full of impact, but didn't take a year to make, or and arm and a leg to buy! So I came up with this,
Raid your craft supplies and find.....

• Long scraps of material

This is so simple, but will only work in vintage style wedding with no particular color scheme, more a theme or style. Take a chair with a back made up of a ladder like shape, my fave to use is a Chiavari chair, but it can be any type even a simple kitchen chair. Take each length of material, and thread it through the back of the chair. With each new length of material, thread a slightly different way, to expose the wood at differing intervals. I made mine symmetrical because I cant have anything too haphazard (its a sickness!), however don't let me stop you from making it as mismatched as you like. You are left with a lovely effect, different fabrics will hang slightly differently, and the look would be full of impact with lots of chairs.

Well that is my inspiration for craft projects at its end, I have actually had a lot of fun putting this all together, and its quite satisfying seeing something come from a little effort! I'm not nearly as good as our prop maker, but I surprised myself with my crafty skills. I hope that reading this may inspire you to make something for your own big day, and surprise yourself, on the other other hand, you know where I am if you need help. As that is what we at Theme-Works Weddings do!

Warming Up Your Smile

I don't know about you, but I hate having my photo taken. Why is it that as soon as someone gets a camera out I seem to turn into a hideous ogre, whether it be a weird squint or an horrible double chin situation , the camera by no means loves me.
However after asking round the office I am not alone in this, and almost everyone has the same fear of the camera lens. The questions is do you?

This is on a good day! :(

One of my brides did a practice run, and definitely got into the swing of it, warming up her smile for the big day.

The thing is, are you ready to basically be stalked all day by a stranger, on the most important day of you life, would it not be nicer to know them? Sharing romantic moments, trusting them with your keepsakes for the future, & making sure the double chin monster doesn't raise it's ugly head?
If you share the same kind of nerves that I have, then my next series of tips might just calm them.

Tip 1: Friendly
When you are choosing your photographer it is really important that not only are their pics good, but that you get on with them. It is so important in my mind that you create a good relationship before the wedding, and are able to relax. A relaxed bride and groom create stunning photo's, when they almost don't even know the photographer is there!

Tip 2: Engagement Shoot
The best way in my mind to get to know your photog is an engagement shoot, this may seem like an added cost and luxury, but trust me, you will never regret it. You have a chance to get to know your photographer and more importantly they get to know you. They will start to understand what makes you tick and what gets the best results with the smallest amount of direction. This will result in much better wedding pics and a nicer experience for you.

Tip 3: Relax (Easier said than done, I know)
It also gives you a chance to practice being a celeb for the day, having the paparazzi around can be disconcerting, and you want to be able to switch off from it and relax and have fun together. If you are able to do this, your pics will be amazing, and your photographer will be able to catch true moments for you to look back on. Try slowly breathing out for each shot, your body tends to automatically relax.

Tip 4: Location
Pick somewhere familiar to you for the engagement shoot, somewhere that can sum up both of your characters, or somewhere you both spend a lot of time. You will feel more comfortable on your own turf, and this will show through in the pics. It is also a nice gallery to keep & look back on your younger selves in the future, & what you were up to before you took the big step together,

Tip 4: Have Fun!
Enjoy yourselves, don't take it all too seriously, happiness shines through much better than a strained smile. The amount of articles that are out there that tell you how to smile, how to angle your head, how to stand, if you buy to much into this & over-think it, you will have some weird looking shots!!
Half awkward model / Half awkward bride!
Just be yourself and any good photographer should handle the rest for you. Just enjoy each others company and have a giggle about the whole thing.

Tip 5: No Worries!
Once you have the engagement shoot done, you will feel so much more relaxed about this aspect of your day. You will of seen the great pics your photographer can take of you, and have a little taste of having your photo taken all day, giving you more confidence. So you can look forward to the big day with one less worry,  and lets face it, the less a bride has to worry about the better.

Now I don't claim to be a photographer, I have just seen a lot of nervous brides & grooms.  I believe anything you can do to relieve some of that stress on the day is a only a good thing. Most photographers can build this into your package for you, so ask the question, and warm up that smile!

I would just like to finish by thanking Pam & George for letting me use these amazing pics. What a truly inspiring couple they make, a true, real life, fairy tale in action. Watch this space for their wedding later this year!

Happy Planning!

My Little Oasis

I'm sure there are those of you out there who would agree that sometimes London can get too much. The hustle and bustle of the city is enough to weary the best of us, whether its the constant stream of traffic, or claustrophobic crowds of the tube at rush hour. I know you can all tell from these comments that I am not a Londoner, I am just a frequent commuter eager to get work done, and then skedaddle back to the coast where I am more in my comfort zone.

However doing what I do, it is one of my many tasks to find venues and hotels that will suit my brides. One of the most asked after cities for me is of course the big smoke, London. However with all I have said there are hundreds of delights in London just waiting to be found, and find one I did!

After a particularly aggravating journey across London  I emerged slightly disheveled in charming Bloomsbury, and I made my way to my final destination, The Montague On The Gardens. I had heard tell of this hidden hotel through my colleagues and couldn't resist to check things out for myself. Set back from the busy hub of the main stretch, this little gem is tucked into a terrace of historical town houses, just across from a beautiful green stretch. Just at the sight of its entrance I already felt like I had taken a side door out of the City, and into an echo of a forgotten past when decadence & luxury was a way of life.

Part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection this hotel is part of line of boutique luxury hotels starting by a couple in love. Bea Tollman, who now along with her daughter, personally designs all the decor of each and every room (each being totally unique, furnished with one off pieces) Her husband Stanley who was a distinguished hotelier, renowned for always having a red carnation in his lapel, hence the name. Now I am a hopeless romantic so this little research into the company already had me charmed!

Stepping into the luxe surroundings of the reception the opulence of the decor was already evident. With lots of friendly smiles and doors being opened I was ushered away by a porter who gave me a quick tour, and showed me to my room. I am not going to lie but the tour was blur of sumptuous colors and smiling staff all the while my tired feet after there battle across London were screaming enough is enough!

With my baggage stored away by the porter who discreetly showed me how the rooms technology worked, he disappeared in a whisper and left me to survey my room. Room is not the right word, suite would be more appropriate, I swear it was bigger than my first flat! It was smart and comforting all at the same time, decorated in soft nude's with powder grey touches, everything about the room said relax. Soft fabric lined walls, plush heavy curtains & a huge bed, I new I had found a haven within the metropolis.

I am ashamed to say the first thing I did was jump in the shower to wash off the day, and without going into too much detail, what a shower it was! A room of rain is a better description! With plenty of products to choose from, soon I was wrapped up in fluffy gown with the bounciest cushioned slippers my feet ever had the good fortune to find.

I bypassed the lounge area with comfy sofa's and went straight for the huge bed to merely "test out" the comfort, fully meaning to return to a clothed status and business like manner. However who was to know that I would sink into said huge bed, and realize I certainly wouldn't be leaving any time soon! The throw pillows were made of the softest material with a matching throw rug and before I know it i am snuggled up with the plasma screen on and the room service menu in my hand!

While choosing what sneaky treat I was going to tempt myself with, the door bell went, and with curiosity I padded over to the door. My initial curiosity was overjoyed when I found a box of homemade cookies left for me with a welcoming note, well that was a touch I was not expecting.
So with a hop skip and jump off to bed I went with the complete indulgence of room service, cookies and daytime TV! What more could a girl ask for!

Fully refreshed I made my way down to the bar for pre-dinner glass of wine, the bar was done up as a luxury Scottish hunting lodge. Huge comfortable leather sofa's and dark wood finishes, with the added bonus of a piano player and heated terrace. I made my way out to the terrace and was surprised to find views over a secret garden and you could completely believe that you were anywhere but in central London! In fact nothing about this hotel reminds you about where you are, it simply begs you to relax and let the charming staff look after you. I was recommended a particular wine which was delectable, and given a comfy seat by the terrace and not bothered by over eager staff , a real pet peeve of mine.

I then regrettably had to leave for an evening reservation I already had planned which was supposed to take up the bulk of my evening, However after a few hours I realized that I just didn't want to be there, and found myself clock watching until a suitable amount of time had passed. I promptly jumped into the nearest taxi and felt relief flood through me as I arrived back in the bar lounge and spent a happy evening drinking wine, taking in the evening air on an unusually warm night.

That night I slept like a log, and upon awaking made my way down to the dining room for the biggest breakfast I have ever had the pleasure of eating. My only quibble was too much choice I couldn't decide and ended up trying a bit of everything, leaving me stuffed in an utterly satisfying way!

With a heavy heart I packed my bags and got ready to leave, but not before a chat with the sales director just to ask more about their weddings, and bridal options. I had assumed that he had notified the staff I was there, what with the cookie delivery and charming staff, teamed with impeccable service, it all seemed to me I was being well looked after. However you can imagine how surprised I was when he informed only a few managers new of my stay, as he had wanted me to really understand the average guest experience. I was totally taken aback and truly impressed that this level of service was kept up consistently for all guests, impressed was the word that came to my mind.

Upon the tour of the bridal suite and banqueting suite, I came to realize what a perfect venue this was for a bride looking for a venue to cater for a Vintage wedding. The art decor feel of the banqueting suite teamed with the opulent decor yearns for vintage wedding to be held there. The intimate elegance of the hotel will give the bride a feeling of utter luxury.

With the bridal suite including an adjoining room for the bridesmaids the night before (sleep over ahoy!) and a suite dripping with romance for the night of the wedding it ticks all the boxes for me. With gorgeous outside area's and hidden secret gardens  wedding pics will be stunning, room for anything from an intimate wedding of 30 to grander guest numbers of 120 you can pick and choose the feel of your wedding. Whether that be relaxed bbq on there lovely veranda space, or a formal sit down in the elegant banqueting suite.

It doesn't matter if you are looking for somewhere to stay with your girlfriends while dress shopping, or you are looking for a wedding venue for the big day, this hotel is worth making it to your shortlist. A truly lovely oasis in the middle of London having this gem in my back pocket I know next time London beats me I will have a retreat to hide myself away in!

A Vintage bride

It felt like the sun was only just rising as my new bride arrived for the early morning interview today I was delighted to see how relaxed she was about this interview, and we settled in for what is basically a good old girlie gossip about getting married!

I thought I would start off by asking how Pam met her fiancé and as I knew it would be, it’s a hilarious story! Now of course I have got to know Pam & George fairly well while helping them design their wedding decor and both are incredibly funny & light hearted. Pam & I hit it off from the start, so we feel more like old friends now and I was looking forward to hearing about the start of their little love story.

Pam & George met at a crazy festival in Serbia and what better place for a festival than in a historic fortress in that well known holiday destination Novi Sad!  Now whether this was fate or just pure luck while Pam was “breaking out some bad ass moves” to some “epic tunes” she and George bumped into each other finding an instant connection! However Pam being the independent lady she is decided that she wasn’t going to rush head long into anything. So she took herself home and went back to sensible Pam, that was until George being the dashing gent he is, drove hundreds of miles to the theatre she worked in, and pretty much blew her socks off! And the rest is history as they say.

So my fave question to ask newly engaged couples is how they got engaged, and just like their meet cute, it is a brill tale! They were on holiday in Sardinia exploring the Italian country side, Pam was pretty grumpy  wandering around in the blazing sun, & George was “very strange”  mulling over the coming all important question. So they are sitting looking at the stunning views at a vantage view point, and George is attempting awkwardly to lie down . He started with “so we’re really good together aren’t we” ,Pam not understanding the strange behaviour or reading any of the signs, like the romantic walk, or breathtaking views, replied with “Well that’s a given really”.

Brave brave George however continued to arrange himself on one knee for his question and Pam was completely taken by surprise. In her shock and excitement the special moment became a blur and she completely forgot to answer, until gently reminded by George. Pam’s excuse for this is she thought she was saying yes but in fact nothing was coming out at all! (Unusual for Pam) Of course the answer was yes, and all the parents were called, and the wine was drunk, while sunning themselves.

Pam’s ring while we were chatting was sparkling away, and when asked she says there is something really official about being given a piece of jewellery to mark such a momentous question. She proudly gazes at it, telling me how much George researched and learned about diamonds before settling on the perfectly cut single solitaire on a simple white gold band.

On starting the planning process Pam was really excited to get started, however like lots of brides the pressure hit home after trying to jump the first hurdle. Pam decided to choose her venue first which she saw as her biggest challenge, and searched through the south east country side seeing so many venues with George in tow until settling on the perfect setting. A stunning converted barn, set in the grounds of a beautiful period mansion , nestled into stunning gardens with hidden enchanted oasis and a mellow stream framed by romantic willow trees. It is in every way completely heart warming and romantic. She did however have to confirm everything with her best galpal of course “just to make sure!”

On deciding to attach a theme to her wedding plans she explained that a traditional wedding was never really on the cards just due to Pam & George’s personality. Nothing about this couple says traditional whether it be the occasional cheeky rave they like to rock up to, or Pam’s love of break dancing, so a theme was an easy choice. Pam & George decided to use Pam’s theatre background as inspiration and go for a Midsummer night’s dream feel, with vintage festival thrown in as a nod to their love of music.  Pam really wanted the wedding to be an expression of them as a couple, and portray what their personalities are like, and really reflect that for their guests to enjoy and for them to look back on. She didn’t really feel a traditional wedding could do this, and so I suppose this is when I step in!

Pam & George were expecting the design process a lot more tricky than it actually is. Upon asking Pam if she was nervous about her theme, she replied with confidence that she has no worries. George has needed lots of visual aids to envisage the theme, while Pam has the most amazing imagination and has really been swept along with me as we put this magical theme together. With George all the scene setting & decor has to have a reason & a propose. With Pam as long as it is in keeping with her theme, her mind is as open as I could possibly hope for, making this one of my absolute fave weddings to design.

To conclude our interview I thought I would ask some really easy simple questions to round things off,

What are you most looking forward to about your wedding aside from marrying the lovely George of course!

“Friends and family all in one place, we have guests coming from all over the world, and it is just so exiting & the nicest thing in the world to know they would make that journey for us”

 Is there anything you are nervous about?

“Walking down the aisle early to find myself awkwardly standing at the end as the music crescendos and nothing is happening! The moment we first see each other on our wedding day is really important to me. Also my hair not doing what it’s supposed too!”

What are you most looking forward to about being married?

Quick as a flash Pam sais “The honeymoon!” I have a very cheeky bride on my hands here, but they are jetting off to Hawaii so I totally don’t blame her on this one, I’m green with envy!

Is there anything you are nervous about being married?

“People always tell you that you will feel different, but I will have to give you the answer to that later. I am really nervous about changing my name, as I reckon after 30 years of the same name it will be tricky taking a new one”

We then proceeded in a very mature fashion of course, to practice writing her new name for a her signature, which she confessed she has been doing long before she was engaged!!!

I get terribly caught up in each wedding I work with, each wedding I fall hopelessly in love with the theme, meaning I never have a fave, it is all about the couple. When you enjoy what you do, and you get to hang out with cool people like these two, what more can one ask for?

Happy Planning  x