Month: June 2016

Groomsman Gifts

It can often be the bridesmaids who get most of the attention when it comes to tokens of thanks, but them groomsmen and best man are just as much a part of the wedding day as the ladies and indeed if it’s groom marrying groom, there’s even more groomsmen to think about.

It’s a lovely gesture to give your best man and groomsmen just something small to say thank you for all their help and support in the run up to your big day, which you may have been planning for months or indeed years. Also don’t forget these people tend to be your closest friends and family so you’ve shared a lot over the years and this is the perfect time to think about a really thoughtful gift, they’ll really appreciate.

If you’d like to chat about this or any aspect of your wedding day décor or planning, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Jewellery
Nothing says special like jewellery and you don’t have to spend a fortune to pick up some really thoughtful pieces that will mean a great deal to your best man and groomsmen. Think about watches, antique style pocket watches, cufflinks, tie clips or even money clips or pens.

Personalised
Personalising your gift is a wonderful idea. It means each time he uses it, he’ll hopefully think of the wedding day and all the fun he had in the run up and on the day itself. Thankfully these days practically anything can be personalised, so don’t limit yourself, but some nice suggestions are; hipflasks, toolboxes, leather toiletry bags with initials, wallets with each man’s name, the wedding date or initials on them.

 

Accessories
If you and your groomsmen are a dapper group, then definitely think about investing in some really smart accessories for the big day. Think socks, boxers, bowties and handkerchiefs. Also why not consider some designer shades to match, retro style braces, flat caps or even shoes? And if they can wear them again after the wedding then it’s an even bigger bonus!

Funny Gifts
Finally remember to have some fun with these gifts too and reflect all the great times you’ve had together and your common interests, so if could mean superhero, movie or sport style cufflinks, funny printed t-shirts, mini hangover kits in personalised boxes or even special glasses with some of their favourite tipple packaged in a survival box. The list is endless.

 

Images via Pinterest

Wedding Chairs

When it comes to your wedding day décor, never forget you don’t have to automatically go with what your hotel or venue is offering. For example, if they only offer regular style chairs with plain covers and you’ve always had your heart set on chic Chiavari Chairs then it’s worth asking your venue if you can hire these in for the day. Similarly you don’t have to go with the sashes they have to choose from. Instead think about what fits in with your particular décor and theme.

Indeed your chairs can play a huge role in the overall look of the wedding venue and it’s worth giving it some serious thought ahead of the big day. Think about adding adornments such as pearls, pompoms and even streamers to chairs instead of covers and sashes. Look at the different style of chairs that are out there, such as Hannah Jane chairs or wooden style folding chairs and how they’ll fit in with your theme.

If you’d like to chat about this or any aspect of your wedding day décor, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

Chiavari Chairs
The epitome of elegance, the Chiavari Chair dates back to 1807. It was created by Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi from Chiavari on the north-western Italian coast and has been a firm hit in gatherings ever since. This style of chair lends itself particular well to weddings. They look ideal in all sorts of settings from a traditional hotel set up, to marquees and even in barn or rustic style venues where the contrast looks really well. Generally these chairs are left with no covers, as the details on the back are key, however you can add some adornments such as pompoms or florals to enhance the look.

chiavari chairs

 

Hannah Jane Chairs
Another really elegant choice, the Hannah Jane style of chair gives a nod to the beauty of the grace of the 17th Century. Again, these chairs don’t really need any covers, as the detail is the main draw. These chairs work really well for most wedding set ups, but particularly for those that are aiming for a more formal or elegant feel, rather than that of a more rustic, laid back style of day.

hannah jane chairs

 

Bistro Style Wooden Chairs
These work really well for a more rustic style of wedding and particularly well for barn or even marquee weddings. The beauty of these chairs is that you can dress them up or down as much as you want to fit in with your overall theme. Think about streamers, floral garlands or even mismatched cushions. Also consider folding and non-folding chairs.

 

Covers & Sashes
Covers and sashes have become something of the norm for many weddings, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with going for that look. Classic and elegant, it’s always a winner and covers immediately add a sense of grace to any venue. Plus you can choose almost any colour of sash to compliment your overall theme. Think about tying the sashes in bows at the back or the side and don’t be afraid to add more adornments to the sashes too if you feel it’s necessary. The beauty of the covers is that it gives you an elegant yet uniform canvas to work with.

Alternatives to Covers
Finally, if you hate the idea of traditional chair covers but you still want to add some of your personality to your chairs, then don’t be afraid to add all sorts of adornments to them. Think about fresh floral garlands or pompoms. Streamers can also look stunning, as can signage, pearls, mini bunting and posies. The only limit on this one is your imagination.

 

Images via Pinterest

Barn Style Wedding Theme

Barn style themes for weddings have been a popular choice for the last number of years. It’s a trend that has its roots in the United States and eventually made its way to this side of the pond and it’s not hard to see why the theme is so popular. Full of rustic charm and ideal for a more laid back sort of wedding day, it can make for a truly unique and spectacular look.

Thankfully the number of barn inspired venues has increased in recent years, so now couples can find a venue that will work with the theme well, but bear in mind that for whatever reason, even if you are unable to secure a barn style venue, that doesn’t mean you cannot channel the vibe with some carefully chosen décor items. Think about rustic elements, such as barrels, wood, palettes, hay, mason jars, burlap, bunting and long tables.

If you’d like to chat about this or any aspect of your wedding day décor or planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

Room Décor
String lights wound around any beams or rafters work really well, as do bistro style lights hanging over the tables. Have fun with authentic hay bale sofas and props like cowbells! Old wooden barrels make fantastic props, top them with flowers, photos of you both as a couple or why not use them as your cake or dessert stations? Wood boxes and crates work really well stacked and topped with florals and lanterns and don’t forget the burlap style bunting and lots of clever celling draping too.

Backdrops and Table Plans
Think rustic style palettes juxtaposed with soft draping for the full barn style effect. Dress any large barn doors with long chiffon draping too for maximum impact. Also think about having large table plans, again made out of wood or palettes full of ornate frames for the perfect contrast, or indeed go full barn style with something quirky like horseshoes for each table and all the guests’ names on each horseshoe. They work great as photo backdrops later in the evening too.

 

Tables
Long, cafeteria style tables work really well for barn style weddings. Think about having the room set up with several long table formations and also consider having no assigned seating too, which will reinforce the laid back feel of the day.

 

Centrepieces & Table Décor
The contrast of crisp white linen and burlap works so well for the barn theme. Also think about mason jars as your centrepieces filled with either small tea lights or gypsophila. Why not have them on stacked wooden boxed or go for mini wooden crates filled with your favourite posies? Or why not go a little wacky and have cowboy boots filled with flowers or antique style cowbells?

 

Images via Pinterest

Free Seating Vs The Table Plan

There are certain aspects of wedding planning that can cause some potential headaches for the couple and the seating plan tends to be right up there with the best of them. There are many reasons why a seating plan can cause problems – family politics, personality clashes, groups or individuals who are shy and don’t know many other guests, where to put children and venues being strict on maximum numbers at tables. Plus as you chase those last RSVP’s and get later cancellations, it can all become a little overwhelming.

But don’t panic. The table plan doesn’t have to be a chore. Indeed, in recent times it’s becoming more and more popular to have your guests sit where or how they wish for your wedding reception, which removes the hassle from your shoulders completely and allows natural groupings to sit where they wish. Of course, this method is not without its own quirks. Indeed both approaches have lots of pros and cons, but both are worth considering. Never feel under pressure to choose either one and only go for what you know will feel right for you and your guests.

If you’d like to chat about this or any other aspect of your wedding day décor or planning, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

 

Free Seating –
The Pros –
• Ideal for smaller, more intimate weddings.
• A great choice if you’re having long tables or a more laid back style of wedding such as a glamping or festival themed wedding and works really well for a BBQ or buffet style wedding too.
• If you’re unsure as to whether completely free seating will work, then just assign guests to tables, but allow them to seat in whichever seats they wish.
• It allows natural groupings of people to come together.
• Leaves you without the headache of completing a seating plan.

The Cons
• Bear in mind that having no table plan can lead to chaos among the guests as they try to dash for a seat and some shuffling may be required to have all the tables filled.
• You may need to have extra seats or indeed tables on standby as guests may try and overfill some tables to sit with their friends or family members.
• Having no table plan can end up leaving guests feeling a little awkward if they end up being unable to sit beside people they know and are left sitting with strangers. It really depends on your guests and whether they are the sort of people who are happy to mingle with people they don’t know.

 

The Table Plan
The Pros
• The seating plan option works well for more formal style weddings with traditional table set ups.
• Often you and your husband or wife to be will know your guests well and you’ll know best where they should sit and who they would prefer to sit next to and a table plan allows you to do this.
• A table plan gives you complete control over the layout of the wedding. It’s the safe choice and you can minimise any possible situations where family politics, personality clashes or fiction might occur.
• This traditional option works well where you’ve got lots of mixed groups and leaving seating free may lead to some awkwardness.
• If you’ve got lots of children coming to your wedding a table plan allows you have control over whether to have a dedicated children’s table or whether you seat them with their family.
• If you like playing matchmaker and have some single friends coming to your wedding a table plan allows you to seat these singletons next to each other.

The Cons
• Some can find a table plan cuts off sections of guests from others and that groups don’t get truly to intermingle as much as with free seating.
• It can be a headache to put together a seating plan if you have some possible personality clashes on the cards and your venue is being a stickler on having a set number of people per table.
• Table plans can come across as quite formal and if you are going for a more laid back vibe at your wedding, then it may not be for you.
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