We've been lucky enough to receive the beautiful behind-the-scenes and wedding images from Helen Sarah Pictures of Kimberley and Edward, who married in the charming countryside setting of Ufton Court.

Now, as you know, we're always pretty chuffed when our recommended suppliers collide in an explosion of wedding gorgeousness, and this is no exception as the talented make-up and hair guru behind the bride's stunning look was from no other than Melissa Clare! With a degree in fashion and styling that found her working behind the scenes on London Fashion Week, Melissa has a deep and rich knowledge of her craft.

Just the right amount of glow - Melissa started with a soft complexion with a subtle hue to the cheeks, enhancing Kimberley's natural beauty. On the eyes, a natural warm tone with a little glitz provided a fresh and radiant take on the smokey eye giving those big blues centre stage.

Melissa continued the natural feel by creating a pale pink and girly lip with a delicate shine.

Onto the hair, and operation flower crown! 

Melissa loves working with fresh flowers; without taking away from the delicate beauty of the foliage and soft white blooms, she crafted a low-lying braid mimicking the intertwined florals. At the front, tousled strands fell softly around Kimberley's face.

The look encompassed everything you'd associate with a romantic, English countryside soiree. With a delicate lace dress and statement veil, Kimberley truly was a vision! The groom's look also nodded to the countryside with a textured waistcoat, and with bridesmaids in tow dressed in the most swoon-worthy shade of dusty blue, our eyes were pretty overwhelmed with just how gawj it all looked!

​Love this look quite as much as we do? Why not have a nosey at Melissa's website here.

So, after 10 plus years of making wedding flowers it is now my turn... So what on earth will I make for my wedding?

Make your own I hear you ask? Yes indeed, I would be an ACTUAL nightmare to any flowery friend to give them the mammoth task of making the flowers for my wedding. I'm currently feeling pretty calm about it but ask me the first week of July if in fact this is a good idea! As he dusted off his knee after the proposal, thought number one after the initial shock was "how can I possibly make all of my flowers?!

We have chosen a venue already which gives us lots of time before the big day itself to decorate. Hillfields Farm, if you haven't heard, is a little gem tucked away in the Lower Basildon/Streatley borders. All will be go go go once the keys are in my hands!

So flowers, I estimate that I have tackled around 500 weddings whilst owning Croppers in Bloom. Possibly even double that in various guises of freelancing or working for others. So how will I ever choose my own?!

A contender from June 2018 bursting coral Peonies, “Blackberry Scoop” Scabious, Fountain Grass, Red Sstilbe, Pink Phlox, Plum astrantia and various deep burgundy grasses…. It really popped. 

Another arrangement for my wedding-day moodboard is this beauty with Quicksand Roses, Green Lissianthus, three different kinds of Eucalyptus, White Hydrangeas and Freesia… I loved this one so much it's now on my wedding fair flyers centre stage!

I could potentially go the total opposite end of the scale with something super zingy (this is a summer wedding after all) or go down the "I raided the meadow look"... there's just such an abundance of choice!

If I opt to go down the exotic route, this colourful number will certainly serve as inspiration with a colourful mix of Protea, Calla Lilies and Grevillea Foliage amongst gardeny delights of Antirrhinum, Chrysanthemum blooms, Scabious seed heads, Astilbe and Stocks. The bold mix of colour and texture were my favourite aspects of this bouquet, also the fact that the bride had AMAZING taste in everything.

So there you have it, the deliberations of a wedding florist who has taken on the task of organising her very own wedding flowers. I shall keep pondering... and toying with different combinations in the workroom. All shall be revealed in approximately 115 days!

Who knew neon and soft could be used in the same sentence? Neither did we, until we fell head over heels in LOVE with this shoot put together by the dream team that is Revelry Events. We're sure you've heard us harping on about these guys, but in case you didn't know they're ultra snazzy London-based event planners bringing rulebook-free weddings onto the scene that capture the bride and groom's personality.

They chose the romantic setting of 10-11 Carlton House Terrace; reimagined to be the perfect venue for a contemporary neon-injected wedding. Usually chosen for conferences and traditional wedding styles, Revelry Events threw their epic trademark style right at it and created something remarkably cool.

The couple rocked varied textures throughout the shoot. We love the two different looks for the groom, both from Keye London and featuring oodles of velvet luxe. The bride wore two separate looks that contrasted so beautifully against the traditional backdrop; modern polkadots and a light satin tie back, both from Charlie Brear.

Inside the venue these event whizzes let their creative juices flow. How insanely beautiful are Bloomologie's planted florals to mark the aisle? There is something about a ghost chair perched next to the wild and organic flowers which makes this look KILLER.

With an exquisitely trendy combination of modern, traditional and wild they created looks not only for a gorgeous ceremony set up, but the most inspiring tablescape and dining area too. Sleek gold cutlery, cut glass, woven black table cloths, all finished off with pops of pink from Bloomologie's creations and the most adorable powder pink tapered candles. Betty Lou created unique black, white and blush stationery which finished the look perfectly.

A contemporary dessert table was put together featuring a marble delight from Blossom and Crumb, sat upon an uber modern geometric stand - working harmoniously with the theme of contemporary contrasting with classical. The intriguing beauty of orchid vines added yet another exciting dimension.

Photography | Fiona Kelly Photography (umm how talented is SHE?!)
Planning & Design | Revelry Events
Florals | Bloomologie
Cake | Bossom & Crumb
Desserts | Mon Annie
Venue | 10-11 Carlton House
Stationery | Betty Lou Design
Hair & Make Up | Rachel Mannix
Dresses | Charlie Brear
Suits | Keye London
Furniture & Tableware | Options Hire (who else is obsessed with ghost chairs?)
Neons | Love Inc
Shoes | Fabernovella 

To us, our recommended photographers are artists highly skilled in their craft. Richard Galloway is certainly no exception. Reigning supreme in documentary photography, Richard captures pure and natural images, harnessing emotion and focussing on moments.

Although posed images of course have their place and documentary photographers will still capture those all important bride and groom portraits, there is something magical about a photographer who floats among the guests virtually unseen, reproducing again those moments you thought had gone in an instant. A groom's stray tear he hoped had gone unnoticed, a look between sisters and bridesmaids or the look of quiet relief in a bride's father's eye as he realises his daughter is in the safest hands.

For us, nothing reproduces these moments quite like a black and white frame. There is always room for colour, capturing your bridesmaids coloured uniformity and the vivid masterpieces your florist has created, but with black and white there is no where to hide. With black and white frames the photographer's use of light and the moment dominate, with the passion felt stronger by the viewer.

We adore how Richard seeks unique views and angles to tell your story in a captivating and artistic way, and black and white images let us appreciate this all the more.

Did you choose to include black and white frames in your wedding photos? We'd love to hear from you at hello@weddingshed.co.uk.

The wonderful Victoria from Extremely Lovely Weddings has put together some helpful tips on all things DIY wedding!

Hi! I’m Victoria from Extremely Lovely Weddings and I’m all about helping couples create an amazing wedding day. A day that feels like one huge celebration of not only your love for each other, but all the things you enjoy doing, the adventures you’ve been on, your favourite things in life -  and sharing it all with your nearest and dearest.

If you’re feeling a little daunted by the task ahead, here are our top tips for creating a DIY wedding that’s like no other!

I want to help you create a wedding day that’s all about you as a couple and one that reflects both your personalities, so for starters I always suggest trying to steer away from a ‘theme’ and set about finding your own ‘style’ instead. 
 
You may have thought about having a rustic wedding for example, but without including little touches of ‘you’ as a couple it’s hard not to end up with a rustic-themed wedding that isn't much different to any other your guests have been to (or that you’ve already seen online!) 
 
Rather than thinking of them as themes, think of styles you are drawn to – rustic, bohemian, modern or maybe Hollywood glam (or a combination of these) are more about style than anything else. As you put all your elements together, such as flowers, cake, décor etc., you’re more likely to create a wedding that has the rustic feel you want but will feel like completely your own style. Your guests love to be wowed and surprised on your wedding day and having your own wedding day style will make it a unique experience for them.

Next, make a list of all the things you both love. Simple things like your favourite colours, things you like to do in your spare time, places you've visited together that you fell in love with and even where you were born, or your heritage - any details that make you, you! Then all you have to do is work out how to bring touches of these things into your day through your centrepieces, table plan, venue decor, even your cake and flowers! The end result will be a wedding day that really shows off your personalities.

Adding little touches of you will make your wedding even more special. Having a rustic style wedding doesn’t mean you have to stick to plain log slice centrepieces with jam jars of flowers. Log slices always look great but add little trinkets or items to them that mean something to you - perhaps show off your love of antiques and collectables with vintage brooches and necklaces found in charity shops or markets, or little treasures that you collected on your travels together, or maybe some gorgeous shells or starfish to show off your love of the beach or little Harry Potter figures because you’re both mad Harry Potter fans! Incorporate these things you love across all your venue décor including table plans, backdrops and wedding signage for a really unique day.

How about switching things up a little and replacing that log slice with another natural centrepiece base like one of our lovely couples who used some lovely wood native to the groom’s birthplace, or use some other natural product like a square of moss as a base for your centrepiece collection. If you really love log slices, try switching it up another gear with our new glitter log slices which are gorgeous!

Rather than having hessian decorated jam jars to display your flowers in, how about decorating your jars with something more personal, like our crafty-minded bride whose family crocheted little jar cosies, or fill that centrepiece lantern you like with flowers instead of candles for something a little more special. When it comes to table numbers, switch them up for something a bit more you. Use a mini chalkboard with your favourite song lyrics on it so each table is a song name instead of a number (this will then help you create a unique table plan). How about a little potted chalkboard heart on a stick as a table number to represent your love of gardening, or maybe a little 45” vinyl to show off your love of music.?

If you are drawn to a couple of styles, don’t be scared to mix it up a bit. A simple collection of glassware and candlelight on a log slice or mossy base will add a modern twist to a rustic style, or try a collection of little jugs from charity shops, or your nan’s cupboard, to add a touch of vintage. You might want to add a bit of Hollywood glam, so try a big glittery oversized table number which will look great amongst rustic surroundings.

Often couples have completely different visions for their wedding day, but it’s all about compromise and there’s always a way to blend your ideas and different styles together. It just takes a bit of thought, and maybe some help or inspiration from a venue stylist, to end up with a wedding that tells you own little story. 
 
These extra touches will turn a beautiful wedding into an amazing wedding... and a memorable one at that!
 
I hope this gets you excited about putting together your own DIY wedding. If you feel like you need a helping hand then ask us about our DIY Wedding Workshops and Venue Styling sessions where you’ll learn loads of tricks of the trade and more top tips.

Check out our instagram for inspiration and ideas too. Get in touch and mention you’ve seen us on Wedding Shed and we’ll email you a voucher or, better still, come and say hi at the upcoming Ufton Court Wedding Fayre. We’re always more than happy to offer a free consultation and have a chat about how we can help you create your own amazing DIY wedding day. Happy planning!

Victoria x
victoria@extremelylovely.co.uk
www.instagram.com/extremely.lovely.weddings
www.extremelylovely.co.uk

Whether honeymooning or looking for the ultimate tropical get-away, we thought we would put together a little inspiration from a recent trip Jasmine embarked on, to the Seychelles.

About to begin the interesting and stressful journey of buying my first home and with the prospect of being strapped for cash for what will feel like an eternity, I decided last year would be the year of a holiday of a life-time. Somewhere I could squeeze out every drop of paradise yearning.. I remembered the tales my grandparents told of a magical holiday to the Seychelles, tales of whimsical giant tortoises appearing on doorsteps of beach huts, of talcum powder sand and colourful corals and after that, I set my sights, we were going.

Whether you're the travel-hungry, planning to island hop and see as much as possible (like us!) or a beach-loving babe hoping to soak the rays up and chillax to the max within the height of luxury, it's still good planning to research your 'base' or 'bases'. You might be surprised to hear that the Seychelles are made up of 115(!!) islands off of East Africa and although not all are habitable, you'll be spoilt for choice. 

If you're the pre-mentioned person looking to do minimal travel and maximum ray-soaking, a private island might be your thang. Fregate Island boasts 16 private villas with swimmings pools and 7 beaches (some of which you can book to yourself!). Eden Island is another popular with the luxury-seekers; this man-made island includes penthouses inhabited by the richest, littered with yachts. Bird and Sillhouette Island are also fab bases for those looking to stay-put and enjoy the resort.

Looking for an island-hopping adventure? Praslin or La Digue are smart places to start. Great destinations for the ferry (which is actually quite easy once you get the hang of the fact there are two services!), these islands provide a great base for excursions to close-by islands such as Cousin Island Nature reserve.

The internet is filled with images of the still-as-glass sea and cloudless sky you associate with the Seychelles but although the temperature stays steady, some seasons bring temperamental seas and impressive storms. This is due to 'trade winds' which affect certain coasts; the southeast monsoon between May & September might mean it's best to book accommodation on the western side of the island you're visiting and during the northwest monsoon from October to March you might want to stay on the eastern side. Do a little digging and you'll find lots of 'do's and don'ts' regarding the weather, rain and storms, but it's a tropical destination and if you expect some downpours alongside the impressive sunshine, you won't be disappointed. We visited in April, and it was splendid; mainly blue skies, with a few angry storms here and there to keep the rainforest lush and green.

We chose Mahé as our base and stayed at the Hilton Allamanda. The diversity of lush rainforest and vibrant traditional towns stole our hearts. We would recommend hiring a car and travelling around the entire island to witness it's true charm.

You can hike in the rainforests surrounded by impressive flying foxes, sip traditional Seychellois rum and enjoy the finest dining at the Takamaka Distillery, or snorkel the many nature reserves dubbed some of the best in the world for seeing an array of wildlife, such as Port Launay. We found some of the most amazing fish on the reef just outside of our hotel.

In hindsight, visiting La Digue and Praslin in one day was a mistake. If we were to ever return to the tropical paradise, we would break up our trip and stay at one of these breath-taking islands. Not as built-up (although nowhere in the Seychelles is really built up!) as Mahé, both Praslin & La Digue show true island-living. Whizzing around on bicycles was the best way to explore La Digue; we started at the world-famous Anse Source D'Argent (the most amazing beach you will ever see in your life..) and ended at Grande Anse, where huge waves pummelled the intriguing granite rocks. Unfortunately due to our poor planning, we only caught a glimpse of Praslin, but my grandma insists this was her favourite island, home to Valee de Mai, a breathtaking UNESCO park famous for the coco de mer which is native only to the Seychelles.

I could honestly waffle on about this island forever, rarely a day passes where I don't think about the Seychelles. I thought I would pop down some quick and random notes that you might find useful for your visit.

• This is an African Island, you will burn to a crisp if you don't put on high-factor suncream when snorkelling (my poor back!)
• Although charming, street-side bars along the beach have dodgy tap-water. Choose only bottled drinks and check the sell-by date.
• Creole fish curry is the bomb. Seriously it's delicious and you can't leave without trying it.
• Grilled fish of the day will make you sad - we expect to see nondescript silver fish we usually see on our supermarket shelves. Seeing an impressive colourful parrotfish on your plate that you'd seen earlier while snorkelling is kind of depressing.
• Pack a snorkel. I am pretty sure most hired snorkels are neglected in the 'washing' department...
• Pre-book your excursions. As well as having exciting things to look forward to, excursions book up fast!
• Any cocktail containing Takamaka rum is delicious
• BA do a direct flight to the Seychelles now, it's only 10 hours and avoids a layover in Ethiopia.
• Don't attempt to hike the rainforest when it's raining - you might fear you're going to slide down the side of a granite mountain (oops!)
• I wouldn't opt for a bus as transport, ever. It's cheap as chips but humid as hell and you'll probably be sat on someone's lap.
• Weather forecasts don't exist for the Seychelles. There is zero point in checking the weather, it's a tropical island and the weather can change in a nano-second! Embrace it all.
• If you're a wildlife enthusiast, Fregate or Cousin Island are 100% worth a visit.

Christmas, New Years and an Engagement. Some of you lucky lot will be emerging from one of the most special Christmases of your lives, after being proposed to by the one you love.

Whilst most of us are poking are heads out of our Christmas bubble wondering how in God's name we're going to motivate ourselves to get back into the office or the gym, others of you will have the added bonus of the internet filled with Engagement Do's and Don'ts amounting to another realm of post-Christmas panic you didn't even know existed. "Don't forget to tell Aunt Bettie before you Instagram your ring", "Don't start dress shopping right away", "Hire a photographer for your engagement party", "Don't forget an engagement shoot".

The internet is filled with people giving advice, and although Wedding professionals have extremely helpful ideas, hints and tips, take your time and love every minute. Your engagement is personal and there's no right way to enjoy it. So, with that in mind here's our non-advisory advice:

1) If you want to throw an Engagement Party, do it!

Or if you don't, don't. Some of you (like us!) will think HELL YES any excuse for Prosecco and gathering your favourite people. Others will want to bask in their engagement as a couple and won't feel the need for yet another party (seeing your Great Aunt 3 times already in the last month is more than enough), that's ok too.

2) Instagram the heck out of your Engagement

Or just tell your nearest and dearest.. You're getting engaged to the man or woman of your dreams, and you might want to shout it from the rooftop (or from your Instagram grid)... If your parents are the first people you want to tell, tell them first. If your best friend is more like your sibling and closer than anyone else in your life, tell them first. If your neighbours cat that sneaks in for a saucer of milk is the first person you want to tell.... you might be mad. Do what feels right. If you're not one for sharing too much personal content on Instagram, fab, no one's going to lose any sleep over not seeing your ring on their feed. You'll see hundreds of posts telling you to make sure you tell every single person face to face before spreading the news in the world of social media, but if you accidentally forget someone along the way don't freak out, they really WONT hate you.

3) Book an Engagement Shoot!

Or don't book an engagement shoot... We know plenty of photography gurus who will help guide you on choosing your location and will make the process super friendly and fun. You can read about it here actually. Although we know you'd be in the best hands, some of you just won't be into the idea of an Engagement Shoot. Don't force it, you'll have plenty of your own photographs and memories of the occasion so there's no need for FOMO.

4) Create a mood board

Or just make it up as you go along? Some of us are super-organised planning freaks, it's in our blood. We love lists, mood boards, flowcharts and all sorts of stationery that promises to make our planning easier (and more colourful with pointless stickers and tick boxes)... The idea of creating a mood board two days after we get engaged is totally normal and that's what we'll do. Of course, Pinterest is a popular place to start and we have plenty of boards to inspire. Others of us might not know where to start and the thought of Pinterest makes us want to hide in a cave, so chatting to wedding professionals for ideas and going with the flow is completely ok! Once you start chatting with your friends and visiting venues, things will fall into place.

​5) Set a date

Or if you have no bloody clue, that's cool. Everybody loves a wedding, and so it's only natural that they're going to ask when the big day is. If you're one of those super-organised folk mentioned earlier, you might have already decided this. Great! People can get the date in the diary and pray for an invite. Some couples might have a mutual favourite time of year, so you can bat away the questions with 'we love the idea of a summer wedding' or 'winter weddings are lovely'! Other couples simply won't know, and if the pressure of choosing a date or time of year is too much then don't worry. Take your time and once you're ready you'll have an answer for those nagging family members! In the mean time, shove in some ear plugs or come back with a simple 'we'll keep you posted!'

Relax. There is no right, wrong, early or late way to enjoy an engagement and plan a wedding. Soak up the excitement, do it your way and take your time... and if you have any questions, just ask!

You'll be forgiven if, like us, you hadn't heard of a preserved rose until now. Looking simply like a freshly cut rose, a preserved rose starts life soaking in a sugar solution for up to 20 days. This sugary liquid replaces the natural sap and after being rinsed and dried these blooms become preserved.

These fine real roses last up to 3 years in the home when cared for properly and don't require any watering. Not only are they a stunning floral arrangement to add to your home, but make the most unique and thoughtful gift for your bridesmaids. What says thank you better than the scent of roses, preserved for years to come?

As well as soft and elegant white, Victoria offers a variety of colours and designs all within her bespoke service. This hot pink look has us swooning, you too?

Why not extend the floral love beyond your bridesmaids? Perfect for all the lovely ladies at your big day, the single preserved rose is the perfect choice for your wedding favours. Presented in an adorable gift box you can even transform them into your place names. 

If you're loving what you see, why not check out Victoria's online shop or get in touch for bespoke options. We're lucky enough to have been gifted one of the glorious single roses, so keep your eyes peeled on our social media to see this beauty up close and personal!

There is no doubt that you will be wowed by wonderful winter wedding inspiration on the internet; fur stoles to team with your wedding dress, glistening tableware and festive favours. But what about food?

We've been chatting to the Total Hospitality team, who have told us their favourite canapés for a winter wedding.

There's nothing quite like the earthy taste of wild mushrooms. Total Hospitality have presented their rich and luxurious ragout on handy little pastry spoons for a mess-free mouthful!

The classic combination of scallops and peas will never go out of fashion. A light and delicious canapé with vibrant colour, this is the perfect choice for your guests before a large wedding feast!

These bites of Sunday roast in miniature will have your guests going wild. We can say from experience that a mini yorkie with rare beef is a favourite amongst wedding guests, we can just hear that crunch of the Yorkshire pudding, can you?

Walnuts, one of the warming tastes of Winter and topped with a festive fig there's no way you could miss these from your December wedding canapé line up. These bad boys were captured by the wonderful Benjamin Stuart Photography and we just adore the rustic service style!

Crisp crostini meets mellow roasted vegetables. Vegetarian canapés can be the star of the show too dressed with brightly coloured micro leaves to finish.