Design Concept: Luxurious Winter Wonderland

There is something so beautiful and so special about winter weddings. I think often we can be all too eager to opt for a summer date because we're counting on the (super unreliable) weather when a winter wedding would be just as beautiful and a fraction of the cost.

Very often the colour palette of choice for a winter wedding is red. Now don't get me wrong, this can be and very often is, stunning but because I think it's important to break the mould, the colour palette for this board is something a little different. The rich green and purple used here retain the luxury and warmth of that ever-popular red but are something just a little bit different and I can already hear guests gasping with amazement at bridesmaids in that beautiful shade of green. (The combination of purple and green in all it's many shades and hues is a fail safe one. Way back when I launched the blog I featured this one which just shows how you can create a completely different feel by simply adjusting the shades of particular colours.)

As for the rest of the wedding I see an uber modern venue just like the fabulous Haymarket Hotel in central London, a super chic cake like this one from April Reed a roaring fire and a twinkling (but ever so chic) Christmas tree. For favours I'd choose modern, minimalist Christmas decorations and for flowers I'd pick something like the beautiful Anenomies pictured above and team them with winter berries and ivy to keep the winter/Christmas feel going. Perfect!

Photo credits:
Banqueting room: The Haymarket Hotel
Keira: This is London
Flowers: Brides
Roaring fire and Christmas tree: Flickr here and here
Cake: April Reed
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Ruby: Gem Affair
Dress: Vera Wang via Brides
Nail varnish: Nails Inc

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Design Concept: Pink, Purple and Sunshine Yellow

It's been a while since the last design concept appeared here and as the weeks have sped by the weather outside is slowly changing. Despite the gorgeous sunshine last weekend, the nights are slowly edging their way in and there's no denying that autumn is on its way. It seemed only right therefore to stretch the summer time out as far as possible with a bright and vibrant design concept.

So here it is, a feel good, Indian summer style concept. First of all I just love the combination of fuchsia pink and Cadbury's purple and the addition of sunshine yellow adds a new dimension to this full proof combo. I also love, love, love maids' dresses in different colours, it's a great way to add interest and bring out the different personalities of your best ladies. Finally, the invitation from Ceci New York is just stunning and the idea of walking through that yellow forest floor is well…heavenly.

Photo credits:
Invitation: Ceci New York
Necklace: Noaki via Etsy
Maids' dresses: Asos
Wedding dress: J Crew
Flowers: Matt Priestley
Cakes: Martha Stewart

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Blackcurrant Purple and Soft Green

I imagine this type of wedding happening in the winter months, somewhere down to earth (perhaps a farm) and excited guests leaving footprints across frosty lawns. I'd love to see simple, rustic foods balanced by delicate (but quirky) calligraphy and floral arrangements with lots of silvery-grey greenery. In the evening I think some kind of traditional music would be perfect (a ceilidh perhaps), for favours I'd give away Welsh love spoons and for late night snacks I'd serve roasted chestnuts and hot chocolate - delicious!

Inspiration for this concept's colour palette came courtesy of Nordljus, a beautiful food & photography blog I stumbled across. Now a cabbage isn't normally something I'd want at a wedding (except perhaps on the menu) but I was really inspired by this beautiful photo. If you are in need of some food eye candy or just have a few minutes to spare be sure to stop by Keiko's fab blog.

Photo Credits:
Flowers: Rebecca Thuss
Cheese and cookies: Martha
Dress: J Crew
Cabbage: The super dooper talented Nordljus
Trees: Oll Bullough via Flickr
Invitation: Hello Lucky
Dress: Brides
Calligraphy: Minted (please make sure you stop by this amazing site)
Berries: BBC Good Food

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Design Concept: Enchanted Woodland (for Susie)

This concept is inspired by the very lovely Susie who is marrying Tom in Suffolk this coming October. Susie and Tom have chosen a theme of Flower Fairies & a palette of plum, sage green and champagne gold.

As I started putting this board together all I could think about was fruit. Apples, pears, plums, blackberries etc are at such abundance in autumn that it seems only fair to include them in the celebrations! Pears, apples and even pomegranates make the perfect place name holders whilst I love the idea of incorporating blackberries, rose hips and other hedgerow berries into the floral arrangements. To keep guests warm Susie and Tom are serving mulled cider and on track with the fruit theme I think it would be lovely to serve toffee apples, perhaps as a late night snack or again as a favours at each place setting.

Susie and Tom are having a humanist ceremony & I’d like to see the aisle decorated with autumn leaves, hurricane vases and large candles.

As for incorporating the flower fairies, naming each table after one is a lovely idea whilst a fairy hunt would be the perfect entertainment for younger (& maybe even older!) guests.

For the evening, I’m a huge lover of a bonfire (it’s something about the smell) and with October/November being prime bonfire season I think this would be the perfect entertainment. I’d love to see hay bales for outdoor seating, sparklers, perhaps some fireworks and definitely some bonfire toffee.

Finally, I’m thinking all about the humble jam jar! I love jam jars, I like that they are simple and rustic, that if you collect them they are free and I love the way they look when you put lots of different ones together. Jam jars as makeshift vases, candle holders and perhaps even giving homemade jam or apple butter away as favours would create a lovely home-spun, rustic atmosphere. (Update: Bizarrely Cara is also talking about jam jars today & has a great tutorial about how to make your own jam jar candles)

Have a lovely weekend everybody!

Photo Credits:
Gown: Brides
Bonfire: Flickr
Blackberries: Flickr
Sparkler: Flickr
Jam jar candles: Flickr
Hanging jars: Flickr
Flower Fairies: Tom and Susie's invitation
Cider: My Recipies

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Design Concept: Violet and Green

Our latest design concept is centered around a colour palette of violet and green. Inspired by the grape hyacinths that seem to be popping up everywhere at the moment, I’m slightly obsessed with the mouth watering combination of these two shades. When I was constructing this board, I found it hard to decide between a soft, delicate look or a more structured, minimalist feel. In the end I think I found a happy medium and I’m really pleased with the overall fresh and pretty feel. The Monique Lhuillier gown is simply stunning, so simple and elegant whilst the crisp white bunting gives the concept a quirky edge.

Photo Credits:

Flowers: Martha Stewart Weddings
Pea Pod Necklace: Rachael Sudlow
Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Cake: Cheryl Kleinman
Dress: J Crew
Bunting: Cox and Cox
Tart: BBC Good Food

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Design Concept: Love Birds

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been putting a design board and colour palette around together around the theme of ‘Love Birds’. I love this concept, two beautiful birds who only have eyes for each other and as a hopeless romantic, think it’s perfect for a wedding.

The board is centered around the stunning love bird graphic which has been patiently waiting on my hard drive for a couple of years now (unfortunately I’m not sure where it’s from, any suggestions gratefully received). As for the colour palette, I’m in love with the vibrant but slightly muted colours which create a carnival atmosphere without being garish.
The whole concept would be perfect for a late summer celebration and I picture it in a unconventional venue, perhaps somewhere like the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

Photo Credits:
Dresses: J Crew
Pencils: Cox & Cox
Feathers: MacCulloch & Wallis
Macaroons: Ladurée
Wreath: Raggedroses
Flowers: Martha Stewart Weddings

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