As you send out your wedding invitations, it is a good idea to ask guests to inform you of any dietary requirements. In response, you’ll often find that some guests request a vegetarian menu, but they may also ask for a vegan menu or advise you that they have a nut allergy. Whether their diet is chosen for medical or moral reasons, it must always be respected and catered for.
Often this simply requires a conversation with your caterer, who will create a separate menu for that particular guest. If you have many guests with varying allergies and dietary requirements, buffets or food stalls could be the best option for your wedding. Clearly label every dish and let your guests choose for themselves.
What it means:
A vegetarian diet completely excludes meat and fish.
What to avoid, and what to serve:
It is extremely common to cater for at least one vegetarian guest, so a vegetarian alternative should always feature in your wedding menu. Given the choice, a number of guests will choose a meat-free option whether they generally eat meat or not. The key to success is to be creative, and to offer a menu that is as exciting as the meat or fish menu – no one wants to be offered a bowl of tomato soup and a plate of steamed vegetables!
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Braised endive and baby gem with saffron gnocchi, grilled halloumi and sauté woodland mushrooms with peas, broad beans and balsamic cream foam
What it means: A dairy free diet excludes all dairy products – anything that is made from mammals’ milk.
What to avoid, and what to serve:
Planning a menu free from butter, yoghurt, milk, cheese, cream and ice cream can sound a little daunting, particularly when it comes to desserts. In reality, there are an abundance of dairy free alternatives easily available from supermarkets. Speak to your caterer about the options for a dairy free menu. They may choose to cook with soy, rice or almond milk, for example.
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Dairy free and sugar free peach cheescake
What it means:
Guests with coeliac disease will require a gluten free diet. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley and rice.
What to avoid, and what to serve:
When serving a gluten-free menu, it’s important to get it right, and this is certainly a discussion to have with your caterer. Gluten is most commonly found in all grain related foods so things like bread, pasta, biscuits, cakes and noodles are a danger zone. As with dairy, there are gluten-free alternatives, but they are also easily avoided with a more creative menu. Speak to your cake designer about creating a gluten-free cake. If it’s not possible, put a few gluten free cupcakes beside the traditional wedding cake for your guest.
Image © Studio Rouge Photography
Replace traditional reception Blinis with a food station, such as whole sides of Scottish smoked salmon or hand-carved leg of Iberico ham
What it means:
A vegan diet is a plant-based diet – excluding all meat, fish and animal products such as dairy, eggs and honey.
What to avoid, and what to serve:
Don’t be remotely daunted if required to offer a vegan diet. If you’re comfortable with the vegetarian option, you’re nearly there – the vegan diet simply excludes dairy, eggs and honey on top of the meat and fish. This leaves you with an abundance of tasty options using vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, beans and pulses – and of course non-dairy alternatives such as vegan cheeses and chocolate.
Image © Page 7 Photography
Roast baby pumpkin with spiced red lentils, spinach coriander and coconut sambal
What it means:
An allergic reaction to nuts – mainly peanuts but often including other tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and cashews.
What to avoid, and what to serve:
While it’s important to respect all dietary requirements, any guest with a nut allergy must be carefully catered for, ensuring there are no nuts or nut products in your menu. Getting this wrong can obviously result in serious medical consequences. Speaking to the guest in question is important, so you can ascertain the level of the allergy and which nuts are particularly dangerous. Leaving nuts out of your menu is relatively simple, and many caterers will happily do this. You also need to ensure that they don’t cook with any nut oils or use condiments containing nuts. The traditional wedding fruit cake is obviously a ‘no no’ and many cake designers are unable to guarantee a nut free environment. So, when it comes to cake, offer your guest an individual alternative to the wedding cake.
Image © Senior Mac
Stick with fruity options such as a trio of vanilla cheesecake with fresh strawberries, lemon posset with lemon jelly and shortbread and passionfruit tart with raspberry coulis
25 ideas for a St Patrick’s themed wedding March 17, 2016If you’re tying the knot on St Paddy’s day, or you’re just keen to celebrate your Celtic culture, why not plan a wedding day full of Irish colour and tradition? In today’s blog we show you how, with a pretty palette of green combined with those lucky charms, and an abundance of Irish flavours and traditions…
1. Set the tone for your wedding with classy St Patrick’s Day themed invites.
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2. Dress your day in green and gold for a luxurious and lucky feel.
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3. Add a touch of emerald to your attire; your accessories are a great way to embrace the bold and beautiful colour scheme.
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4. Theme your jewellery to your day with a dainty gold shamrock necklace.
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5. Ensure your wedding party is dressed for the occasion by embracing the colour of green.
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6. Stick to a traditional palette with a pretty bouquet of white and green blooms….
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7. … and for a touch of luck why not add a traditional Irish charm?
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8. You might also like to add lucky charms down your aisle to ensure a magical day of romance.
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9. Tie the knot in a literal way, in line with the Celtic tradition, as you clasp your hands with a ribbon, cord or rope.
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10. Embrace tradition with wands embellished with bells and ribbons, so that your guests can wave them as the two of you walk back down the aisle.
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11. Celebrate your marriage with your guests, with St Paddy’s-inspired cocktails.
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12. Keep things simple with green roses and hydrangeas as your table flowers.
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13. If rustic romance is more your thing, why not add a touch of rural Ireland to your day?
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14. The rustic bride might also like to take a cue from Irish brides, with a wildflower bouquet and floral crown….
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15. An abundance of greenery and stylish succulents also helps create that rustic edge.
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16. Lead your guests to their tables with stylish green escort cards.
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17. Serve up a true Irish feast with individual cottage pies and a Baileys chocolate dessert.
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18. Finish your feast with a festive wedding cake, showcasing everything you love about St Paddy’s Day.
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19. Add a touch of fun with themed food flags – ideal for your dessert table or foodie favours.
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20. Play on Irish sayings and traditions for some witty, memorable, wedding snaps.
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21. Get your guests involved in your St Patrick’s themed antics with Leprechaun-inspired party props for your tables or photo booth…
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22. … and if you’re feeling crafty, why not make your own shamrock backdrop?
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23. Pay tribute to Irish folklore, and keep the evil spirits away, with this cute and fun DIY bell prop.
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24. Set up your own whiskey bar serving up the best local tipples.
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25. Plan an evening of fun and laugher with traditional Irish dancing and a folk band.
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Instagrammable wedding venue interiors March 7, 2016These days, it’s impossible to ignore the effect that social media has had on wedding planning, whether you’re making a moodboard on Pinterest or getting inspiration from blogs. If you’re the kind of bride who can’t resist snapping a picture of your wedding breakfast, then you’re going to want a venue that’ll have your guests hash tagging like crazy. Here are our top picks for wedding venue interiors that’ll look great on Instagram…
Gaynes Park is bursting with picturesque ceremony and reception locations, from the glass Orangery to the open-sided Gather Barn. Our favourite is the huge brick-walled Mill Barn, with its floor to ceiling windows and huge tree trunk pillars. Once your guests have got over the size of the space, they’ll be reaching for their phones to snap a shot of the fairylights and fresh flower decorations.
If you’re a history buff who loves a little bit of grandeur, then The Great Hall at Adlington will take your breath away. This huge wood-panelled hall, complete with carved angels, mullioned windows and medieval paintings, has been at the heart of the Adlington estate for over 500 years, and is where decades of the manor’s lords would have sat. Perfect if you want to feel like king and queen for the day!
St Audries Park is undoubtedly one of Somerset’s most beautiful wedding venues; set in 100 acres of stunning parkland, this stately home has more than its fair share of gorgeous interiors. For an elegant summer wedding, however, we particularly love the airy, bright space of the Victorian Orangery. As well as fantastic views of the grounds, the Orangery features an arched glass ceiling to let in sunlight, and picturesque all-white pillar wound with ivy – perfect for a romantic photo or two!
Bassmead Manor Barns strikes an excellent balance between rustic and modern, but our pick for most Instagrammable interior is the lovingly restored 300-year-old Rickety Barn. This traditional barn with solid oak beams and wrought iron chandeliers is warm and cosy in any season, providing the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos.
Bassmead Manor Barns on Instagram
All hail the pudding wedding cake March 6, 2016While wedding cake is a long-standing tradition, most traditions can be ‘updated’ to suit the contemporary celebration. Think of your cake as a blank canvas upon which to stamp your personality, from colour schemes and designs to fillings and flavours. While the tiered, white fruit cake remains popular, we’re also seeing an increase in couples choosing a more pudding-based cake – just the thing if you decide to serve your cake for dessert. Let’s take a look at a few of our favourite cake alternatives.
Who doesn’t love a banoffee pie? It’s the ultimate sweet indulgence. For your wedding, take it a step further with a banoffee cake, perhaps as part of a dessert table. Delicious!
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As an alternative to the banoffee cake, consider stacking miniature banoffee pies and letting guests help themselves, a wonderful accompaniment to coffee.
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Continuing with the ‘sweet tooth theme’, welcome the Sticky Toffee Pudding cake. This is a great choice for a winter wedding, particularly when served with jugs of hot toffee sauce, and bowls of strawberries.
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If you just can’t decide on just one favourite flavour, perhaps it’s time for a dessert table. Sit an elegant, simple tiered cake in the centre of your table and surround it with delicious desserts. You don’t want your guests to be too full to enjoy this, so consider having a break after the wedding breakfast and serving it during your evening celebration.
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Biscuit lovers, look no further! How about a tiered delight of Oreo’s? Aside from the biscuit fans, this is perfect for a black and white colour scheme. Serve with scoops of ice cream in a multitude of flavours.
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Delicious sticky donuts stack rather well to create a wedding ‘cake’. While this looks simple, it is important to stack cleverly, forming the tiered look. Serve with coffee, hot chocolate or fun cocktails.
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Jelly might not sound like the prettiest option for a wedding cake… but take a look at this. Could Jamie Oliver’s Prosecco jelly be any sweeter for a summer wedding?
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We couldn’t look at wedding cake alternatives without including ice cream. For a summer wedding or a beach theme, this is a great option. Of course it’s not something that can be prepared in advance and will melt within minutes, so do consider the practicalities!
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The croquembouche might not be traditional to us, but it is the French wedding cake. Delicious choux buns filled with cream and bound with caramel… if you love profiteroles, this is for you.
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If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, why not stick to cheese? Stacked rustic cheese wheels are a popular choice, particularly when served in the evening with crusty breads, fruits and chutneys. Avoid strong smelling cheeses which can overpower!
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And for the serious sweet lovers… what could be finer than this waffle cake? Serve in the evening, or at a wedding brunch.
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The macaron is still bang on trend. Choose your favourite colour combination and let guests help themselves.
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For a summer wedding, this Pavlova cake is a treat for the taste buds. Serve with extra berries and lashings of cream.
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Last, but certainly not least, we love the chocolate brownie cake. It’s simple, informal and a winning choice. Adorn with a few fresh flowers and serve to your delighted guests.
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Creative wedding seating plan ideas March 4, 2016Your stationery is one of the most easily customisable parts of your wedding, and as the biggest part of your stationery, your table plan is an opportunity to get really creative. Whether you get a designer or wedding planner to create it for you, or you want to DIY your own, here’s some seating plan inspiration that we love…
The humble ladder makes for a great seating plan that you can easily customise to fit your theme. You can paint it one of your wedding colours, or decorate it with props that match your wedding venue. Plus, it stands on its own, so you won’t need to hire or buy an easel like with many other seating plans.
Image courtesy of www.rockmywedding.co.uk
The best thing about using a mirror for a seating plan is that it’s so easy to DIY, but looks luxurious and makes a great impact. All you need to do is get your hands on a big enough mirror in a frame of your choice (we love opulent gold frames for a vintage-inspired day), and then write your guests’ names on it with a glass marker.
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This genius seating plan doubles up as an edible favour for your guests! Buy or make macarons colour coded with your table numbers (if you have eight tables, you’ll need eight different flavours), and then pop your guests’ names into them on miniature flags. This also works brilliantly with cupcakes.
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Like the mirror seating plan above, a photo frame seating plan looks impressive but can be done on the cheap! You can easily pick up mix and match photo frames at charity shops or jumble sales, and then paint them to match each other (or your theme) before writing each table plan on them. If you don’t have a large board to hang them from, buy frames that stand on their own and arrange them on a table.
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This is a lovely idea for couples who enjoy travelling together. The possibilities are endless; you could choose your table names based on places you’ve visited together, or places you want to go to in the future. You can also buy replica antique maps of cities such as Paris or Rome, which look great as table plans – for a romantic bonus, find a map of the place your other half proposed in, or where you’ll be going on your honeymoon.
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Depending on your budget, you can either use a real blackboard for this, or get a designer to create a printed plan for you that looks like a blackboard. To make it look more realistic, you can always go over the calligraphy in real chalk pen. Either way, you’ll have a gorgeous, graphic table plan that looks stylish and modern.
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Bring the outside in with your wedding flowers March 3, 2016Keen to add a chic and unique touch to your wedding day? Thinking outside-of-the-box when it comes to your big day flowers is a simple and stunning way to add a twist to the traditional wedding. Whether you’re inspired by the landscape, or something more personal to the two of you, have a browse of our top alternative natural bouquet ideas…
Opt for a pretty bunch of greenery for an all-natural look, perfect for rustic and Tuscan-themed affairs. The gorgeous green tones are sure to look bold and beautiful against your crisp white wedding gown.
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Chose the statement succulent as a centerpiece for your bouquet, which you can fill out with pretty foliage. A refreshing alternative to flowers, succulents are available all year round and can even be replanted at home after your wedding.
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Switch the perfectly formed bouquet for a wild and rustic creation with a cascading trail of ivy. Combining all the best bits from the landscape, the addition of ivy is a great way to give your traditional bouquet a more natural and modern touch.
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Create the perfect bouquet for your woodland wonderland romance with twigs. Opt for natural colours and foliage for a wild and whimsical bouquet, or team with a statement flower for something more beautiful and unique.
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Be inspired by the spring garden with a bouquet made up of pretty posies. Featuring all your favourite wild flowers, you’re sure to be left with a boho-chic, colourful bouquet.
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Replace traditional blooms with statement feathers teamed with foliage for a free-spirited look. If you can’t quite imagine a bouquet without flowers, don’t forget that you can mix and match with feathers to create a bold and unusual wedding bouquet.
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Opt for a simple arrangement of lavender for a delicate and dainty look. Keep the stems long and team with wheat for a more rustic display, or loosely arrange short lavender stems for something more chic and pretty – ideal for classic or vintage affairs.
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Design a one-of-a-kind bouquet with statement purple or green artichokes. With their flower-like qualities, artichokes are the perfect replacement for traditional flowers, but can also be combined with ranunculus, wheat, wild flowers, and berries.
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If you’re a bit of a foodie, or perhaps live on a farm, why not take advantage of the season’s harvest with a vegetable bouquet? A cheap and striking alternative to the flower bouquet, you’ll still have plenty of flexibility when it comes to your bouquet’s colour scheme and shape.
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Just because daises are simple, doesn’t mean they’re not bouquet-worthy. Ideal for boho-inspired or rustic wedding days, there are plenty of choices when it comes to your daisy-like creation.
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Keep your bouquet smelling beautiful with garden herbs. While the herb bouquet may sound like a relatively new idea, they were very common during the Victorian era. Herbs held serious meaning, with lavender standing for luck and devotion, rosemary for remembrance, sage for a long life and thyme for courage. Why not combine all four for the ultimate wedding charm?
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Create a real Mediterranean vibe with a bouquet of olive branches. Ideal for the Grecian goddess and more laid-back, free-spirited affairs, olive branches are also great for wreaths.
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One wedding dress? Try three! February 20, 2016With Italian aristocrat Beatrice Borromeo opting for three gowns for her 2015 wedding, why have one wedding dress when you can have a dazzling selection?
After all, if you’ve already started searching for “the one” you’ve probably fallen in love with at least two dresses by now, so there’s no point in limiting your options.
Firstly there’s the iconic white wedding gown that we all dream of; the gown we’ll walk down the aisle in, the one that will wow our husband-to-be and guests. As the dress that will hold the most sentimental value when you look back on your day, this will be the gown to splash the cash on. Traditional, and in ivory and white, your first dress is likely to be a classic design and feature in all your formal photos.
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As you don’t need to be too concerned about the practicalities of your first gown – as you’ll only be wearing it for a few hours – you can go as big and bold, or figure hugging as you wish. As you’re not tied down to one dress for the day it doesn’t need to be 100% comfortable.
When buying your second dress it’s important to keep the afternoon’s activities in mind. Will you be playing garden games? Or are you planning to indulge in a huge feast? Whatever your plans, make sure you think about comfort and style when you’re looking for a perfect second gown.
If you’re opting for a more traditional dinner party, you could choose something sleek and sexy for gown number two. Think low plunging back, a fishtail or figure-hugging fit, and daring illusion-style designs.
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Come evening it’s time to slip into your party number – think shorter hemlines and a bit of glitz and glamour. At this point it’s a good idea to change your shoes too so you can enjoy a night of celebrations on the dance floor.
With three dresses you needn’t compromise on style. You can have dainty, sleek and stylish all in one day. Your wedding day is also the perfect opportunity to splash out on style – you are going to be the centre of attention after all!
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If you’re thinking of buying two or more gowns remember to keep the following in mind:
Fun wedding centrepiece ideas February 15, 2016
Your centrepieces are one of the areas where you can get truly creative with your wedding. Instead of just going for cut flowers, why not choose a fun wedding centrepiece that really reflects your chosen theme? Here are some of our favourite ideas…
Colourful fruit makes for a fantastic alternative centrepiece. Depending on your budget, theme and what’s in season, you could use apples, cherries or lemons, but we love this bright centrepiece made of oranges. Fruit also makes great place name holders too!
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If you and your h2b love board games, why not use them in your centrepieces to add a personal touch? Games like Scrabble can lend a bit of colour and interest to a plain tablecloth, and the letter tiles can be used to spell out the table number or your guests’ names.
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If you want a last-minute way to make your table centres more unique, then books are a great way to make them a little more personal – especially if you’re a couple who loves to read. Add vintage books in your wedding colours, or books that meant a lot to you as children.
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For a crafty take on the book centrepiece, you can add a little paper art to the mix by creating table numbers, initials or hearts with cutout pages. There are plenty of online tutorials that can help you to do this, and your guests are sure to be impressed by your DIY skills!
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Flowers don’t always have to be in vases! Potted plants are an eco-friendly alternative to cut flowers, and your guests can easily take them home. Moss, narcissi and hyacinths are all pretty options, but we love the look and scent of potted lavender as a table centre.
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Having a beach wedding? Sand can make a real impact in wedding centrepieces. Fill some glass hurricane vases in varying sizes, and just add candles, shells and a couple of large blooms such as peonies.
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Tree branches are having a real moment in wedding décor – they work well in any season, and look great on their own or with added decoration. We love the look of stripped branches decorated with hanging candles, moss and a couple of well-placed flowers.
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Love the romantic look of bottle candle holders? Then use them in your wedding centrepieces! You can use dark glass and melted candle wax for an atmospheric winter centrepiece, or use light, multi-coloured bottles for a more colourful take on the trend. You could even DIY some glitter bottles and use candles in your wedding colours.
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Pinwheels make for a cute and colourful wedding centrepiece and are easily made at home. The best thing about pinwheels is they can be made in any paper of your choice, so they’ll always match your wedding theme. Why not use excerpts from your favourite book, or map paper showing where you and your h2b met?
Image courtesy of www.theeverylastdetail.com
Celebrate your wedding with a Chinese New Year theme February 6, 2016
With Chinese New Year on February 8th, it seems like the perfect opportunity to look at oriental traditions and styles, and how these might be incorporated into your wedding. So, if you’re looking to be different, here are a few of our favourite wedding ideas, inspired by the Chinese New Year.
We’re always looking for fabulous lighting options, and lanterns are the perfect wedding décor accessory. If your ceilings are high, hang them in abundance, giving interest to your room from up above. While red is a colour generally associated with Chinese New Year, there’s nothing to stop you adopting your own colour scheme.
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Pretty parasols are often included in Chinese décor. Once again, they can hang from the ceiling, looking rather wonderful over your tables.
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Alternatively, paper cocktail parasols make great place cards, perhaps even including a chocolate favour.
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When it comes to your table flowers, get creative with vessels. We love these centrepieces, made using Chinese take away boxes!
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Pinks and reds work well together in the oriental theme. For a simple way to add a splash of the orient, use Chinese fabric as a table runner on which to set your flower arrangements.
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The Chinese theme opens up all kinds of wonderful ideas for favours. Chopsticks make a lovely keepsake, especially when engraved with your names and wedding date.
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They’re also perfect if you’re planning on serving a delicious Chinese banquet.
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For warmer days, give each guest a pretty fan. They look wonderful presented on chairs, or as place decorations.
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Cookies in the shape of fans are ideal for favours and can be customized to suit your colour scheme.
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Chinese fortune cookies make for a a fun wedding favour, particularly if you take the time to create more personalised ‘fortunes’ for each of your guests. Present in large jars on each table, or give each guest a small bag to take home.
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Create your own traditional Chinese wishing tree, inviting guests to hang wishes from the branches of a decorative tree. As an alternative to a guest book, you could ask them instead to write a kind message.
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5. Your wedding breakfast
A Chinese banquet is the obvious choice for an oriental themed wedding. Offer a multitude of tasty treats.
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In the evening, street food seems like the perfect choice. It’s fun, theatrical and delicious!
Image © Paul Willets Photography
Miniature take away boxes with chopsticks are great for evening snacks.
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Image © Paul Willetts Photography
And finally… don’t forget the cake.
A dramatic red and gold creation is sure to stand out from the crowd.
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While delicate pink sugar orchids adorn this oriental cake for a summer wedding.
Image © Lauren Carroll Photography
The best wedding readings February 2, 2016
Choosing the right readings for your ceremony is a great way to add a special touch to your big day. When planning your wedding ceremony it’s a good idea to select one or two readings. The type of reading you choose is largely down to the type of ceremony you’ve opted for and your own personalities. While most religious ceremonies require you to choose religious readings, civil ceremonies offer up a whole host of opportunities to create and choose a more personalised selection of words.
Image © Isabel Maria Photography
One of the most popular religious readings is Corinthians 13: 4-8, which emphasises the true importance of love. The passage describes that without love, you really have nothing – a perfect sentiment for your religious ceremony.
Ephesians 5:21-33 is another great choice and emphasises your mutual love and commitment to one another and how the two of you are joining together to become one.
For a reading that sets the scene for happiness and marital bliss you may like to choose Mark 5:1-10, which includes Jesus’ teachings on how to live a life that brings true happiness.
A full list of popular religious alternatives can be found here.
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If the two of you have opted for a ceremony and reception at one of our beautiful country house wedding venues, you may be struggling to limit your readings to just two. With a whole range of poems and excerpts to choose from, along with the option to create your own, you can pick something, or create something, that perfectly reflects your relationship.
If writing your own readings sounds a little daunting, why not check out some of our favourites?
There is a huge range of beautiful readings to choose from children’s books. A. A. Milne penned a number of them in the fabulous Winnie the Pooh books. Us Two, from Now We Are Six is a popular, wedding-approved reading, ideal for the couple looking to add a fun touch to their day.
We also recommend Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney, another cute childhood gem!
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Us Two, from Now We Are Six, by A. A. Milne
Wherever I am, there’s always Pooh. There’s always Pooh and Me. Whatever I do, he wants to do. “Where are you going today?” says Pooh. “Well, that’s very odd ‘cos I was too. Let’s go together,” says Pooh, says he. “Let’s go together,” says Pooh…
“Let’s look for dragons,” I said to Pooh. “Yes, let’s,” said Pooh to Me. We crossed the river and found a few. “Yes, those are dragons all right,” said Pooh. “As soon as I saw their beaks I knew. That’s what they are,” said Pooh, said he. “That’s what they are,” said Pooh.
“Let’s frighten the dragons,” I said to Pooh. “That’s right,” said Pooh to Me. “I’m not afraid,” I said to Pooh, and I held his paw and I shouted, “Shoo! Silly old dragons!” – and off they flew.
“I wasn’t afraid,” said Pooh, said he, “I’m never afraid with you.”
So wherever I am, there’s always Pooh. There’s always Pooh and Me. “What would I do?” I said to Pooh, “If it wasn’t for you,” and Pooh said: “True, it isn’t much fun for one, but two can stick together,” says Pooh, says he. “That’s how it is,” says Pooh.
If you’re looking for an epic description of your love for one another look no further than this excerpt from the novel, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Describing the phases of love – from that initial lust and passion to those deeper emotions and connections that develop over time, it’s a lovely way to reminisce about your relationship.
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Love is a temporary madness, by Louis de Bernieres
Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is.
Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.
Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and, when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.
If the two of you are known for your lighthearted approach to life, why not brighten up your ceremony with a witty reading? There are plenty out there to make your guests laugh and cry, one of our favourites being this one – which compares your relationship to the responsibility of owning a dog!
Falling in love is like owning a dog, by Taylor Mali
First of all, it’s a big responsibility, especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
When you’re walking down the street late at night and you have a leash on love, ain’t no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?
On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.
Love doesn’t like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life, but you can never be mad at love for long.
Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.
Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper and swat love on the nose, not so much to cause pain, just to let love know Don’t you ever do that again!
Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once, or winds around and around you until you’re all wound up and can’t move.
But love makes you meet people wherever you go. People who have nothing in common but love?stop and talk to each other on the street.
Throw things away and love will bring them back, again, and again, and again. But most of all, love needs love, lots of it. And in return, love loves you and never stops.
Image courtesy of www.melissajill.com
We also recommend Oh The Places You’ll Go, by Dr. Seuss, another popular, light-hearted choice.
Image courtesy of www.digital-storytime.com
Dreaming of your future together is a lovely way to start married life. The Future, by Emma Salmon, is a poem that will reflect many of your hopes and wishes and can even be adapted to reflect your own personal lives.
Image © Ed Clayton Photography
The Future, by Emma Salmon
In my future I see you and me,
And a house and garden filled with trees.
I see dinner parties surrounded by friends,
And a vegetable patch we love to tend.
I see cosy nights in front of the fire,
And a four-poster bed for when we tire.
I see our kitchen which will be the heart of the home,
And a Victorian bath brimming with foam.
I see muddy wellies by the front door,
And the kids eating cookies and asking for more.
I see nights in the garden camping under the stars,
And shelves full of mismatching local jam jars.
I see family picnics outside with the dog,
And a little blue shed containing the logs.
I see us sat by the window watching the snow,
And reading the papers and learning to grow.
I see pictures of family in quirky frames,
And letters on the kids’ doors spelling out their names.
I see laughter, pain, kisses and tears,
And helping each other to confront our fears.
I see you as my friend and also my lover,
Your confidant and your children’s mother.
I see a wonderful future for you and I,
And it’s cloaked in love until we die.
Image © Isabel Maria Photography