What stationery do you need for a Wedding?
Posted on May 26, 2021
There is more to wedding stationery than just your invitations! You have on the day stationery, save the dates (if you’re planning super far ahead) and also thank you cards after your wedding day .
If you are planning your wedding year or more in advance I would definitely recommend save the dates, to make sure your guests keep the date free for your wedding.
On the day stationery includes place name cards on the tables, menu cards and table plans. We went for a flag for our table plan at our wedding and LOVED it! It was fairly new when we got married and from a company that first started the wedding flag trend White Cottage Weddings. We still have it today and it’s a lovely reminder of who we had at our wedding breakfast and also what we named our tables!
Another thing to consider is colour and design, this will include wording and fonts used which will be something your stationer can advise further on if you’re not sure. I love calligraphy as it gives a softer, yet formal feel to invitations and looks amazing. I even include a quote in all my wedding photography packages hand written by a local calligrapher as I think it adds a personal touch and looks stunning! To see her work click here!
Stationery is a huge part of every wedding, large or small, to help guide guests and keep them informed on what is planned for your day. It can tell guests where they are meant to be and at what time, what they will have to eat and anything else you want to include.
Here’s a list of details to include in your invites:
– Venue(s)
– Timings
– Parking (maybe include a map?)
– Menu options (if you’re providing a choice)
– Accommodation
– Gift ideas (perhaps a note to say you would like a contribution to your honeymoon?)
– RSVP date
Ideally you would need to send these out between a year and 6 months before your wedding day to give guests a chance to respond.
Something else to consider if you want an elegant finish to your invites, wax seals! Your stationer can do these for you, or you could try it yourself if you’re wanting to be creative and make something for your wedding. We did this for ours, though I set one of the envelopes on fire, but luckily we had some spares so it didn’t get sent out to anyone!
Hope this helps with organising your wedding stationery. If you need any advice or looking for a stationer I am here to help! I know plenty of local stationers that I would gladly recommend.
Suppliers included in the above photographs are
Urzanmyne
Tiggity Boo
How to plan a wedding in a pandemic
Posted on March 17, 2021
It is a difficult time to feel positive about the future and plan ahead, especially when restrictions are constantly changing. In some ways it’s the perfect time to plan, as suppliers are available and putting everything into the services they offer, compared to a usual year of balancing everything. Also you may have more time at the weekends and evenings to plan and if you are still working then you may have more money to spend on the things you love.
There are still things you can do to bring the planning to you at home, so I thought I would share some of the events I know of coming up in the next month. To hopefully get you excited for your wedding day in 2021, 2022 or even 2023!
To begin with you can order a Wedding Fair In A Box from Noahbella Weddings, it includes lots of goodies you would normally pick up at a Wedding Fair. Each item comes from a local wedding supplier based in Northamptonshire. You get 2 cocktails from The Occasion Bar, a cake treat from The Greenhouse Cakerie, Too Faced mascara (travel size) from Makeup by Liv, Wedding Planning Tee from Bridal Gift Boutique, Lolly favour from Emily’s Lollies, planning consultation from Noahbella Weddings and lots of other goodies. Vouchers include a free pre wedding shoot with me when you book your photography package!
Have you always wanted to go to a wedding fair? Well there are plenty to choose from that you can attend online in your PJ’s if you like! The wedding fair includes videos from various suppliers talking about the services they offer, showing you what they offer and even some virtual venue tours to give you a glimpse into your favourite venues.
The next one to add to your diary is the Midlands Online Wedding Fayre with more details on their Facebook Page. This takes place on Sunday 28th March. You can even meet some of the suppliers live!
Another is the national Just About Weddings wedding fair. This gives you a chance to book one-on-ones with your favourite suppliers and with their online chat feature you can share the experience with other brides and grooms to be. This will be happening across the 17th and 18th April, all weekend!
Both are free to attend so definitely worth a visit to help you tick off the suppliers on your wedding planning to do list! If you are at the beginning stages of planning your wedding, firstly congratulations! Secondly, please check out my blog from earlier this year with advice and tips on where to start with your plans.
What is a Pre-Wedding shoot?
Posted on July 31, 2021
This is a question I’m asked quite a lot by couples usually when we are talking about their wedding plans and photography packages I offer.
If you’ve decided to read this blog is it because you’re not sure what it is and why you would have it? Either way I’m glad you’re here. Even if you know what one is and just want to see some nice photos!
A pre wedding shoot is a photoshoot with your wedding photographer any time from when you have booked them to a few months before your wedding day. Also known as an engagement shoot. It can be at your wedding venue or alternatively at a local venue nearby to where you’re getting married or where you live. It is a chance for you to meet your photographer before your wedding day and experience their photography style.
They usually last for an hour and you will receive some great couple portraits, personal to you and different from every other pre-wedding photoshoot. Perhaps to use as your save the dates if you book early, or use them at your wedding if you are having photos on display.
Locations I’ve photographed at are usually in Northamptonshire, with the exceptions of ones in Birmingham, Bristol and Peterborough. The Northamptonshire venues include East Carlton Park just outside Corby and Abington Park in Northampton.
It’s something I like to recommend, as since I’ve been offering them free with wedding bookings for 2021 and 2022 I’ve found them really beneficial. From a photographer’s point of view it allows us to find out more about your wedding and engagement, which is always exciting to hear! It gives you time to discuss photos you have in mind for your wedding day as well.
If you are feeling nervous to be in front of the camera all day at your wedding, your pre-wedding photoshoot will help calm those nerves. Your photographer will help you feel comfortable having the camera looking at you. This is something I really enjoy with my photography, helping you to feel relaxed and happy during your photoshoot.
Should you bring your dog to a pre-wedding shoot? Absolutely! Yes I would encourage this and look forward to meeting your dog if you do. There are many places they can go for a photoshoot so if you’re wondering if you can or not. Yes you definitely can!
So now you know what a Pre-Wedding shoot is and how great they are! If you are convinced you need one with your wedding photography package speak to your photographer!
Wedding Flowers, real or faux?
Posted on April 28, 2021
This question never crossed our minds when planning our wedding. The faux flowers available at the time weren’t that realistic or natural looking so we knew we wanted real flowers. We were planning our wedding 5 years ago and so much has changed!
After becoming a wedding supplier I now think it’s so important to find out whether you are wanting real or faux flowers. It helps you choose your florist and gives them an idea of how you want your flowers to be on your wedding day. There are so many florists available, who all specialise in different styles and one will be the perfect fit for your wedding.
I’ve worked with florists supplying both real and faux flowers and sometimes it’s really hard to tell the difference! Dried flowers and pampas grass were very popular last year and continue to be in 2021.
I thought it would be nice to share some florists in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire that I would highly recommend. All have produced some beautiful floral arrangements for weddings and shoots that I’ve been a part of.
Bloomfields
I’ve loved photographing all these different style bouquets and the other floral decoration at a wedding. The floral bow tie? I’d never seen this before but I want to see more of these! Traditionally the groom and his groomsmen wear buttonholes with a singular flower and some foliage to match the bride’s and bridal party’s bouquets.
One of my favourite shots to get at a wedding is the closeup of the bouquet, can you tell?
How to choose The Wedding Dress
Posted on February 10, 2021
What you wear on your wedding day will stay with you forever. It seems like there’s a lot to choose from these days. So I wanted to share my advice from my own experience personally and professionally. Firstly, make sure it is comfortable and makes you feel absolutely stunning! Feeling good helps you to look good and your positive vibes will pass onto everyone around you.
I’d recommend booking your first bridal appointment as soon as possible, particularly if you are looking at getting a new dress as it can take months for it to be made and shipped to your bridal boutique. Once it arrives in the boutique you then need to have a couple of fittings to make sure it fits perfectly. You don’t want to worry about the length, straps and back of the dress on your wedding day.
Do you know the style dress you would prefer? I think I tried on about 20 different dresses before I found the one as I wanted to try on as many styles as possible to make sure I knew I had chosen the right one! There’s all different sizes and lengths to fit every body shape and preference.
This dress was from the lovely ladies at Courtyard Bridal. It had a huge skirt, with beautifully delicate lace details at the top and the body of the dress. You can see the the detail better when Lucy wears the dress below.
Next I wanted to show you some dresses from the lovely Maisie Darling bridal boutique. Charlotte has provided dresses for a couple of styled shoots I’ve been involved in.
Hopefully one of these recommended bridal boutiques is the one for you. I know at the moment virtual appointments are all that can go ahead. Why not book one in?! It’s a good opportunity to speak to wedding suppliers who will be as excited as you at finding the perfect wedding dress!
Make a statement on your Wedding Day!
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