We're extremely pleased to announce that we'll be joining Stunning Tents and a team of wonderful suppliers at Stunning Tents' open day on Sunday 14th October. From the 12th - 14th October they'll be showcasing their beautiful Tipis fully dressed with a selection of furnishings in Yattendon near reading. Wonderful suppliers will be assisting on the day with stunning flowers from Croppers in Bloom and tasty treats from The Wild Fork!

If you're after a little assistance with your wedding planning, we'll be on hand to answer any questions you might have and will be bringing along a few crafty ideas to inspire the  DIY couples out there! If you'd like to book an appointment to chat to the Stunning Tents team, just head to their website to get in touch. We hope to see you there!

Your invitations are your guests’ first sneak peak into the wedding day and that can be a little daunting! You want to set things off to a flying start, but with so many options and ideas out there it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s why we’re sharing this agony aunt Q&A with the wonderful Laura at Pen & Paper; not long ago a budding bride herself, the wedding world whisked Laura up and has kept her there ever since, creating bespoke stationery. Having been on both sides of the industry, Laura is a great helping hand every step of the way.

1) There seem to be endless options of items your stationer can make!? Save the dates, venue cards, directions and dietary RSVP’s… Which ones are most important?

Your essentials are your invitations and information cards; you can't get away with not telling people the plan! The other options are also important, but if you're on a budget then these are the things you can do without. Just remember you need to provide a way of receiving your information back from your guests.

2) I haven’t chosen a theme for my wedding yet but want to send my ‘save the dates’, what should I do!? 

​I like to meet with my couples to talk through their wedding from the word go. You can gain a lot of vision when speaking to them face-to-face and I get to understand what they want from their day. The ideas come to me from that; I will show them some imagery or draw sketches and we build on things from there. Even if you're just doing save the dates it's important to have a theme for your suite; it tells a story!

3) I have no idea when to send my invitations! Can you suggest a wedding stationery timeline?

If you've sent out Save The Date's then I would suggest sending formal invitations 4-6 months before the wedding. if you haven't opted for Save The Dates, then earlier. The earlier the better to avoid your guests making other plans!

4) Apparently there are ‘rules’ on wording your wedding invitations!? Will my stationer help with this?

There aren't really rules any more; some couples like a laid back feel, others like it more formal - it's up to you!

5) How worried do I need to be about keeping my stationery similar to my theme?

Most people like their suite to flow if they have a colour theme, but it depends on the individual. Go with what you feel is right. 

6) I love the idea of making my invitations exciting to open! Do you have any suggestions? 

This is my favourite part of stationery; doing new things! I have made invitations that are paper planes, bespoke laser cut designs, used acrylic for the invites and table plans... The wackier the better!

7) My plans are all very last minute! What lead time do you need to make a bespoke invitation?

Working with local suppliers and supporting small businesses is really important to me and also allows me to turn things around quickly sometimes just as long as 2 weeks!. It depends on the suite you have chosen as the more components the longer it will take. 

8) My venue is deep in the countryside, how do I get a long list of directions to all of my guests?!

I can create beautiful illustrated maps - this is a much more attractive and interactive option that an A4 google maps print out! Illustrated maps are increasing in popularity.

9) How should I display my wedding menu before the wedding and how can I ask guests if they have any dietary requirements?

Most couples haven't decided on their wedding breakfast when they send invitations, so my advice is to include a space for dietary requirements in your RSVPs. Your caterer will then provide dishes suitable for them. 

10) I have terrible handwriting, will my stationer address my envelopes for me?

​Yes - I have done this for couples. It really adds something having your addresses written in a lovely calligraphy script. 

Although 'trend' isn't a word we're all too fond of (we're much more into celebrating the unique!), we know that predicted colours, textures, patterns and ideas are great for inspiring brides and grooms for their big day. Your chosen florist will always rein Queen (or King!) of inspiration from their past creations, but we thought we'd put together a collection of killer floristry looks that are hugely popular at the moment. We can see these flying full steam ahead into 2019!

Ceremony back drop, empty space-filler, dessert station decoration, top table centrepiece, the floral hoop has been picking up momentum in popularity this year.

With endless possibilities for your hoop's look, we've seen florists style hoops perfectly to suit their brides' theme. On the left and above you have an example of Alicia at Wessex Flower Company's work, featuring whymsical ferns and woodland moss, perfect for a mysterious outdoor soiree. To the right, an elegantly classic look from Eternal Blooms by Victoria, made completely from faux flowers this arrangement is perfect for a marquee wedding as it will last your event without a sniff of droopage!

As well as looking gorgeous hanging against walls or as a unique take on a bouquet, we've seen floral hoops adorning the billowing tops of teepees and sperry tents, making the most of the tent's space! This gloriously green look is from Eden Blooms, captured by Duck Photography and styled by Bluebird Creative.

As soon as we spied the Duchess of Sussex's classic bouquet, we were ready for never-ageing colour scheme of white and green to sky-rocket.

With such subtle, gorgeous and muted colours you can really play with the texture of this look. We love this collection of florals above from Eden Blooms, oozing english country garden vibes and classic romance.

We've seen ribbons trailing from bouquets on the scene for a while, however, with the increase in awareness of our impact on the planet, we're seeing lots of brides opting for hand-dyed organic silk beauties.

Due to the nature of hand-dying the silk and the silk's ability to absorb, the colours are often beautifully muted and faded, giving your bouquet an understated and unique look.

It might seem strange to discuss sentiment alongside trends, but brides and grooms are finding more ways of expressing themselves through their big day. Rather than focussing on specific themes, couples are delving into their pasts to portray themselves in their weddings.

As well as choosing your birth flower or your mother's favourite flower for your bouquet, why not opt for herb pots on the table. Enjoying your wedding breakfast amongst the aroma of herbs that remind you of your childhood garden will fill you with sentiment, and provide a lovely story for your guests. Eden Blooms provided the spring-time florals for this shoot alongside rustic pots of herbs.

Preserved roses are the epitome of sentiment, and a perfect gift for your bridesmaids. Click here to see Eternal Blooms by Victoria's collection.

Those wishing not to follow in the Duchess' footsteps are likely to opt for richer tones in 2019. With a whole host of inspiration available on the internet, couples are being brave and bringing their florals to the forefront of their day with bright and delicious colour. Above is another example of work by the talented ladies at Eden Blooms.

Rich AND wild, this ditsy bouquet is from Croppers in Bloom and features the daring yet stunning combination of coral and blue.

In all it's shapes and sizes, foliage will never lose it's place in the wedding world. Whether as sprigs holding your place names, the perfect garland or impressive back drop, with the varying textures and colours foliage is still a hugely popular choice for brides and grooms.

Classic or contemporary, your florist will have a vision to style your foliage into something gorgeous for your big day. This look from Wessex Flower Company encompasses everything that is elegance whilst including wild and textured leaves.

Nestled in the centre of idyllic Village of the Year finalist Hampstead Norreys, Amy hired an adorable cottage that shared a courtyard with a charming hair salon. Popping in on route to the venue, we were met with giggles, fizz and plenty of sequins. The little ones wore ballet-style tutus teamed with rose gold Converse. Once armed with homemade limoncello the girls had been busy making the night before, we set off to create their gorgeous big day.

Champagne-gold Bridesmaids clutched relaxed bouquets of roses and thistles from the dream team at Ferry Lane Florist.

A beautiful bride in a classic dress - Amy was a vision in her long sleeved wedding gown; we loved the contrast of her simple and elegant look against the glitzy sparkles of her bride-gang.

Ferry Lane also created the most adorable flower girl posies and gypsophila flower crowns.

After an emotional, touching and tearful ceremony featuring a traditional string-quartet, Danny & Amy hopped the style into their new life as Mr & Mrs. The fun begins here and we could not wait to welcome them into the festival reception we had created.

The venue oozed relaxed vibes with hay-bale seating, a wicker basket for help-yourself blankets and Platinum Mobile Bars' uniquely cool Horsebox Bar. They served refreshing Pimms, beers and kilner jar soft drinks.

In the White Bison Teepee, although still relaxed, the tables were decorated elegantly with copper and foliage from Entwined Flowers.

Dotted around the garden and children's teepee were garden games fit for all. The page boys in their soft linen (ADORABLE) outfits didn't stay mud-free for long!

It was truly humbling watching the guests laugh their hearts out underneath our pom pom display, enjoying every minute of Danny & Amy's big day. They enjoyed farm-house style platters from Veni & Son featuring English cheeses and cured meats.

Into the meadow - Annabel Farley began capturing in-the-moment images of the family enjoying each other's company. We love the hazey light that was now falling upon the field.

The evening finished with chatter, dancing to The Maida Vales and a hearty British BBQ from Veni & Son.

Wedding Team

Photographer | Annabel Farley Photography
Wedding Planning | Wedding Shed
Venue | White Bison Teepee Hire
Catering | Veni & Son
Bar | Platinum Mobile Bars
Copper Details | Classic Crockery
Cake | Cuppies N Cream
Florist 1 | Entwined Flowers
Florist 2 | Ferry Lane Florist
Pom Poms | Party Pieces
​Band | The Maida Vales
DJ | Phil Prior

We don’t know about you, but we’re not sure it’s possible not to fall out of love with a rustic wedding design. Often set within period buildings or gorgeous barns, a rustic wedding marries together both characterful charm and romantic style and it’s the start of this happily ever after...

Nestled in the Berkshire countryside, Sarah and Russell wed at Lillibrooke Manor. With the boys in navy blue and bridesmaids clutching bouquets of pinks, Sarah and Russell’s wedding palette incorporated subtle flecks of gold that danced in the summer sunshine.

The ceremony took place in Lillibrooke’s Small Barn – a beautifully quaint setting that’s perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony.

After an outside drinks reception in the Cloister Garden, guests made their way to the Great Barn to be seated for the wedding breakfast. A collection vintage treasures, delicate florals and rustic props decorated the barn, setting the scene for the afternoon’s celebrations.

​Place settings were personalised with possibly the cutest favours we’ve ever seen! Handmade by the Groom’s crafty little school students, guests were treated to doodled name badges that were perfect for putting smiles on everyone’s face.

As the sun began to set, the barn transformed beneath the magic of festoon lighting, guests kicked off their shoes and Sarah and Russell started their summer as newlyweds.

​Exploring various textures, styles and materials, Laura’s work is truly unique and although she is full of her own exciting ideas, creating bespoke ideas to compliment the bride and grooms ideas is also something she can do. From simple, elegant and clean cut designs in soft grey hues, to ornate, colourful and charming suites, Laura is certain to create something exquisite for all of our wonderful brides and grooms.

The Wild Fork have kindly shared with us a blog post about food related trends and how being yourself and portraying your story is the best way to ensure your big day is full of unique details.

"When planning your wedding you’ll no doubt find the word ‘trend’ plastered, well, everywhere. Pinterest will tell you what evening treats are dubbed to get your guests excited in 2019 and you’ll find various articles persuading you to copy the most recent celebrity wedding. Extravagant ideas will be labelled as exciting and unique, but unique doesn't necessarily mean lavish or trend-setting, it's about you.

​Although trends are generally inspiring and can ignite your own passion and exciting ideas, it’s nice to be different, isn’t it? With food playing such a large part in cultures, relationships and history, dare to be different!

From the moment your guests step foot into your reception, you can begin to inject personality into your food and drink. We love cocktails, and signature fruity concoctions will always be a popular choice among Wedding guests, but how about exploring your local or childhood town and scouring their beverage offering? Go back to basics with a traditional English Sparkling Wine, and for the beer lovers why not provide kegs or bottles of your father’s favourite locally brewed ale.

​Canapés can tell a story too! Instead of heading straight to Pinterest for the most recent idea in miniature food (I think we’ve all seen those mini burgers and beers… rolls eyes)… think about how you can tailor food that tells YOUR story to generate a social buzz at your reception. We love the idea of circulating grazing boards which portray your heritage or your favourite travel destination as a couple.

Choosing the food you LOVE is the best way to say a little something about yourself. Often couples can get carried away worrying about pleasing all of their guests’ tastes for the Wedding Breakfast, and although a sushi banquet might be a step too far, focus on pleasing yourselves. You must have a go-to starter, or a guilty pleasure dessert that would be on your last supper menu, tell us about it and we will work with you ensure your menu is YOUR menu. There is nothing better than enjoying the food you love with the people you love.

​All-out evening food is already written in the papers as the ‘trend of 2018’ and some of the ideas out there are wonderfully exciting (everyone’s eyes will light up at the sight of a doughnut wall, for sure) BUT if you and your fiancé are known for your all time love of the humble bacon sarnie then you go for that bacon sarnie! Maybe you first met on an embarrassing night out and shared a romantic kebab? Our posh kebab station is our answer to your midnight munchie prayers, featuring local top quality meats marinated in traditional spices with various toppings and sauces.

The internet is a fantastic hub of inspiration for both couples and caterers, and we love to read about what foodie delights are gaining popularity. What we love most, however, is being inspired by our brides and grooms’ family quirks and traditions to create a truly unique day."

This week we're extremely excited to share Emma & Oliver's special day, this wedding is particularly special to us as we were guests - Oliver & Emma are Rebecca's boyfriend's brother and sister-in-law! We'd like to say a huge thank you to lovely Annabel Farley who has kindly shared her stunning photography with us. 

Emma & Oliver got married in August 2016, months flew past in the run up to the big day; days were spent planning all the beautiful details & getting together with the wedding party, chatting about how excited we all were.

As we walked up the picturesque drive to Mill Hall, we were greeted by the best men who looked very dapper in navy blue suits with pastel pink buttonholes and big smiles on their faces. We took our seats for the ceremony, the hall looked amazing, it had been decorated with gorgeous arrangements from Willow & Blooms - the fireplace looked incredible!

We sourced chivari chairs from OSA as they were more suited to the theme than the venue's own chairs. The tables were elegantly dressed with big floral centrepieces, Wedding Shed's hand-drawn table numbers and cute vanilla cupcakes (which were delicious!).

Emma's dress was breathtaking and so unique! She sourced it from Ava Louise Bridal in Southampton, the Love Marley number was embellished with pearls and suited her petite frame perfectly. Her hair was pinned back with a selection of pretty flowers at the back.

This has to be my favourite photo from the day, I'm 99.9% sure this is in reaction to the best men's speech which had everyone laughing from start to finish!

Our English Garden Bird Table Numbers worked so well with the countryside theme - I hand illustrated the letters and drew a garden bird perched on top of each one. 

There were a couple of rainy moments but the downpours didn't dampen any spirits - in fact it allowed opportunity for some beautiful and creative photos.

The cake, from Cakes by Katie B was three tiered and all white, studded with an array of colourful edible flowers and petals.

The bridesmaids were pretty in pink - a very subtle shade of pastel pink that complemented the flowers so well.

It was a truly special day and one we were very grateful to be a part of! If you have any questions about suppliers or the finer details, feel free to leave a comment...

​R x 

We're delighted to introduce you to Lulabee, our latest recommended supplier. Currently specialising in wedding stationery and decoration hire, Lulabee helps with all the little details for your special day.
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Based in picturesque Wiltshire, Laura at Lulabee generally covers Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Berkshire but is more than happy to help those further afield so don't hesitate to get in touch!

From beautifully illustrated wedding stationery to decorative displays, Laura injects rustic charm into every one of her creative designs. Lulabee's extensive offering includes bespoke stationery, styling services, signage, table decorations, favours and so much more. Have a nosy at some of our favourite creations below!

Weddings & wine get us excited... Oh, you too? Then you'll also love this absolute dream boat wedding, courtesy of Jamie Dunn Photography at Denbies Wine Estate.

Olivia Mills was the guru behind make up and hair, with loose tousled locks and a killer look for the eyes. Don't you just love the hustle and bustle of pre-wedding photos? This shot of the bridesmaids enjoying a pre-wedding snack is a delight.

The bridal party were all equally ultra-stylish. The bride's embellished bodice dress with button detail was a Maggie Sottero number from Mia Sposa. The contrast between the veil and dress is simply stunning. For the bridesmaids, Katy & Nathan opted for bold cobalt hues to match Nathan's slick suit, teamed with dusky pink pashminas.

Just as slick - the groomsmen complimented the bold blue look with their textured grey suits and flashy ties.

Before a traditional confetti shower, the bride and groom married in the charming St John's Church in North Holmwood. Keeping warm, Katy opted for a faux fur jacket, oozing chic bride vibes.

Stealing a quiet moment, the couple ventured into the vineyard for their first photographs as a married couple. Not only did they look phenomenal, but how awesome is that bouquet from Flowers by Elaine?! Lillys, cornflower blue hues and touches of pink, we can't get over how unique this arrangement is.

Romance was reflected through the wedding breakfast and the evening reception. With soft pink echoing through the table stationary and glittering festoon lighting above, the meal was enjoyed alongside the warm glow of candlelight. David at Boogie Nights ensured the night was partied away in style after starting the evening soiree with the classic, Etta James.

The Wedding Team
​Photography | Jamie Dunn Photography Venue | Denbies Wine Estate Dress | Maggie Sottero Make up & Hair | Olivia Mills Floral | Flowers by Elaine DJ | David at Boogie Nights