Knots and Kisses Dream Day

Welcome today to Nikki of Knots and Kisses Wedding Stationery our fourth wedding professional to give us her insider knowledge and hints and tips for the perfect Wedding day.
I'm not married and have never really thought about what I would have in detail ... but it was a really interesting exercise to do. I've got loads of ideas for weddings now I've been working in the wedding industry for so long it was great to think about what I'd have and not work on a scheme for a blog or client! There are so many choices its really difficult!

Knots and Kisses

Knots and Kisses

Knots and Kisses offers gorgeous bespoke and 'off the peg' boutique style wedding stationery, for the stylish bride who wants something that stands out from the crowd. We provide a full service specifically tailored to your wedding needs: from invitations to menu cards, orders of service to beautifully hand painted table plans.... we provide the whole package for the most important day of your life. Should there be anything you want which you don't see on our website, just ask, we can create a bespoke package just for you!



Invites, - well I'd do my own obviously! I would want a vintage festival theme in browns, duck egg blues and pink. www.knotsandkisses.co.uk

Venue, - I'd have a yurt village festival theme at somewhere like www.cornishtipiholidays.co.uk <http://www.cornishtipiholidays.co.uk/>  or another camp/farm site locally who would let me set up lots of yurts or tipis!


Cornish Tipi Holidays


Decoration/ favours - The interior of the yurts would be long trestle tables, wild flowers in vintage bottles and teapots, with a drawing room set up outside with old lamps & sofas. Lots of twinkly fairy lights in trees and Moroccan style lanterns in the yurts.

Hair and makeup - I'd probably do my own, I want to look like me on my wedding day.

Dresses, - I'd want a dress from BHLDN - real vintage feel. http://www.bhldn.com/

 

Menswear, - I'd leave it up to him ... he can wear what he likes

Cakes, - I would almost certainly make my own as I love baking, but to be honest I've never liked the idea of a traditional cake, I would prefer a dessert and cheese buffet from Sweet Dream Events. http://www.sweetdreamevents.co.uk/ 












Fairynuff Flowers

 Flowers - I'd probably go with Fairy Nuff Flowers .. I love her vintage style ... lots of blowsy blush coloured peonies and wild daisys. http://www.fairynuff-flowers.co.uk/


Fairynuff Flowers






Photographer, - Agh .. to many people I like but I'd want a really relaxed reportage style.

Entertainment - I'd want a live band like The Redfords, and a children's tent to keep my smaller relatives occupied!

Wedding Planner - ooh so not sure on this one there are so many fabulous people about! If I got married where I currently live in Essex I'd probably choose Kate Fletcher Events as she also hires out loads of fab vintage props which I could use for decoration. http://www.katefletcherevents.co.uk/

Kate Fletcher Events

Finishing Touches-  I'd want something vintage ... so I'd probably trawl round antiques fairs for a beautiful brooch or necklace.

And finally

What one top tip would you give to a bride to be in arranging her wedding?

Put together a mood board with all of your ideas to really see if they work together. So many weddings are a jumble of ideas that don't really gel because couples have just picked loads of random things they've come across without thinking if they fit into the feel of their day.

Nikki Ward

Knots and Kisses

Knots & Kisses Wedding Stationery

www.knotsandkisses.co.uk <http://www.knotsandkisses.co.uk/>

Thanks Nikki it all sounds really lovely and there are some great ideas in there for bride to be's







White Gold Images Dream Wedding

I am very excited to share this blog with you all not only is it my 3rd willing participant but I think you'll all love this one from the lovely and utterly hilarious Yvonne of White Gold Images.

White Gold Images

I have been shooting weddings for over a year now and come across all manner of beautiful accessories, divine stationary, wonderfully talented planners & caterers and of course, the most amazing venues. These are just a small selection of my recommendations.

Invites – two companies in particular stand out for me for stationary. The first is Katherine at Make My Day who has some lovely designs and has even created the most amazing business cards for me.

 

Make My Day




Lil Guy Celebration Stationary



The second is Lil Guy Celebration Stationary who create the most sophisticated handmade invites around, simply beautiful.



Venue, - ok, this is where it gets difficult, totally spoilt for choice but two recent favourites have been Fanhams Hall Hotel in Ware, Herts and The Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire.

If you are looking for something smaller and more intimate, then Shenley Cricket Centre in Herts and Crabbs Barn in Essex both fit the bill and offer a great service in lovely surroundings.



Chocolate Blush



Decoration/ favours – as far as I am concerned, favours have to be made of chocolate and they simply have to be made by Chocolate Blush it’s an absolute must!



Decorations, I would certainly go and have a look at the balloon art provided by Loony Balloony for something different.

Brides and Beauty

Makeup – so many talented people for this one, depending on where in the country you are, but amongst my favourites in the south of the country are Joyce at Brides & Beauty in Berkshire,

Eve at EveAshby in the South West, and Laura at Tips ‘n’ Toes in Hertfordshire.

Cakes – this is easy, it has to be Janet at Janet Mohapi-Banks, http://janetmohapibanks.com/ the most amazing designs by a lovely lady.

Flowers – again could be spoilt for choice here, so going to recommend a couple of local florists who are hugely talented and provide a first class service. The first is Bloom in St Albans and the second is Floral & Hardy in Barnet. For those further afield, Tigaliliflowers in Yorkshire do great stuff too.

Tigaliliflowers



White Gold Images



Photographer – oh now let me think…hmmm…oh yes, that has to be me of course! Some would say I am a Hertfordshire Wedding Photographer, some would argue that I am a London Wedding Photographer but given that as I type, here at my desk, I am sitting right on the border, I think I am both. Have a look at my blog for examples of wedding & portrait photography – relaxed, fun and romantic pictures of your wedding day.



Wedding Planner – for someone here in the South East, then Ardley Weddings can offer everything you need to help your day run smoothly

Finishing Touches – so many to choose from so be prepared to shop around and find something to suit your style and theme, but simply the best, especially for her heirloom bouquets and beautiful tiara crowns is our very own Sarah here at Tiny Gems

Tiny-Gems

These are just a few recommendations I can offer, but plan your wedding with as much notice as you can, this will allow you to do loads of research into the suppliers and services you want to use AND book them well in advance to make sure they are free. Make your day what you want it to be, not what other people say it should be. Have a look at some of these sites for inspiration and ideas:

English Wedding

Wedding Ideas Magazine

Boho Bride

To name just 3, but there are lots of them out there.

….and remember, when its all over, what you are left with are the rings, the keepsakes and the photographs/video – so these are the areas so should try and avoid skimping on most as they will have to last the longest, maybe even generations. Most of all, have a great day!



White Gold Images



Pretty Star Designs Dream Wedding

Today I am welcoming my second participant to my shiny blog Lauren of Pretty Star Designs : Wedding Stationery That Rocks!



Pretty Star Designs



Pretty Star Designs was created in 2009 after I couldn't find the perfect stationery for my own wedding, having just finished college a few weeks beforehand and having almost given my graphic design teacher a heart attack from choosing to not go to Uni [received one of the highest marks in the country :)  I created my own stationery and Pretty Star Designs was born! Six months after the wedding I decided that I would make the leap to self-employment and haven't looked back since!

Pretty Star Designs




 Pretty Star Designs specialise in wedding stationery and custom designs, but we also create many other things including mugs, baby clothes, bags, jewellery (Home of the 'Something Blue Bridal Ring') and general graphic designs for businesses and the home. Along with designing we are also a professional photography business.

We love to create items that are unique, and love seeing the customers' face when their ideas come to life. Making others smile is the best feeling in the world! 

Lauren, if you were planning your wedding day today, who would you use and why?

Invites -  Well I made my own the first time and that's how my business began so would probably go down the same route again,

however I love the stationery Cutture makes http://www.cutture.com/

Pretty Star Designs

Venue - We would possibly choose the same venue again, although there are some fab others in Swansea that we also like. If we were to choose anywhere in the UK, then either a local beach, or Andaz in London http://london.liverpoolstreet.andaz.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

Chocolate Blush

Decoration /  Favours - I love the indoor draped ceiling look with all the lights, for our first wedding we had light curtain displays and would probably have them again for the romantic atmosphere they gave.

For favours, I like the edible items, would probably choose printed chocolate from Chocolate Blush http://www.chocolateblush.co.uk/content/printedchocolate

Hair & Make-up - I would definitely have a hairdresser and make-up artist come to me next time, having to travel to the hairdresser at 7:30am for a 4pm wedding was rather annoying lol! 

Dresses - There are so many fabulous dresses out now, I think I would probably go for a slightly bigger skirt next time or full on sparkle. I love more unique dresses, and love ones with big sparkly bows or huge flowers. I love Claire Pettibone dresses and local designer Stephanie Allin :) Having one custom made would also be amazing.

Menswear - Went local last time, would love hubby to have something more unique next time. Maybe something from Saville Row.

Little Venice Cake ompany

Cake - I Had a very elaborate custom designed cake last time so would probably do the same again, although I do love some of the new lace style cakes like this one from Little Venice http://www.lvcc.co.uk/iced-wedding-cakes-detail.asp?cakeid=27

Flowers - Also had flowers custom designed so probably would next time, currently love all white bouquets, and huge totally white large ball floral arrangements in tall vases with hanging crystals.

Photographer - Had professional wedding photographer father last time do the photos along with two friends from a photography course I was taking at the time. Ended up with fab vintage style photos and they got to add them to their portfolios, both are now fashion photographers in London :) A fab photographer who I met through Twitter and love her work is Kathy Ashdown, would love her to be a photographer next time! http://www.katherineashdown.co.uk/ 

Katherine Ashdown Photographer

Entertainment - Didn't really have any entertainment as such last time just a really rubbish DJ, next time I would probably blow most of the budget on getting someone truly amazing that hubby and I both love. Would possibly have some sort of garden games if we had a large lawn at next venue, just so that the younger ones would have something to do.

Wedding Planner - Would love to have a wedding planner next time, love weddings by Claire http://www.weddingsbyclaire.co.uk/ and Candice from Cerendipity Events http://cerendipity-events.co.uk/

Candice of Cerendipity

Last time I tried to do it all on my own at the last minute without help, not the best idea I've ever had lol, what with running a business, final exams, moving house and only a few weeks left until the big day. Next time I am going to take my own advice and do as much as possible as soon as possible so the last few weeks can be stress free and relaxing!

Finishing Touches Jewellery and Tiaras - I love the designs you have on your site, I would have to go for something like this http://www.tiny-gems.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=235&products_id=560 

Tiny-Gems

I also love Chez Bec designs like this http://www.chezbec.com/product.cfm?category=10&id=658



Chez Bec



and Kirsten Goss http://www.kirstengossbrides.com/

             

Theme and Why - Had a country garden with afternoon tea theme last time, loved the relaxed atmosphere and the light meals and tea, was also lovely to have a more informal section to the wedding and be able to sit, relax and eat outside in the boiling hot summer evening. Would probably go for a similar theme next time as that is what we are like as a couple, or a high glamour evening do black tie evening event, with champagne bar and gorgeous lighting, both themes relate to us as people, I don't think any couple should choose a random theme just because it will look nice in photos. You need to stick to who you are and have a day that represents you :)

What one top tip would you give to a bride to be in arranging her wedding?  - As soon as you can, create a scrapbook or file of all the wedding images that you love, and then don't look at it again for a few weeks, then create a palette from those images that you truly love. Some ideas may seem good at the time but you may not like them a few weeks later and it may be too late if you've paid deposits. 

Always sleep on an idea, preferably for a couple of weeks, seeing things with fresh eyes really helps when planning.

Stick to who you are, and not just you as a bride, 50% of everything should come from the groom too, its his big day as well :)

Thank you so much for sharing your ideas with us today Lauren, you've been brilliant.