Bride Bug

Fran and Nathan's Wedding

2011-12-22T11:34:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of being a part of our friends Fran and Nathan's wedding day on 3rd December, in Exeter. Their joyful ceremony in Belmont Chapel had a festive touch when during the signing of the register a choir started singing Christmas carols spontaniously (reminded me of a scene from Love Actually!).

With nearly 300 guests the atmosphere was buzzing! After the ceremony we all had tea and cakes, a warming treat that showed the community spirit of the event as the cakes had been made by friends.

They had a lively reception in the fabulous function rooms at Exeter Castle, which were decorated with bunting and fairy lights which looked magical.

There was a lovely personal touch to everything and their scrabble theme was cleverly used in many ways (as you can see below in my instagrammed pics!).

Handmade order of service booklet

The happy newlyweds

The wedding VW!

Exeter Castle

Handmade bunting bar

Amazing room lit with fairy lights and bottles as candle holders

Amazing scrabble themed wedding cake

The Groom's cufflinks

Gifts thoughtfully wrapped

Congratulations Fran and Nathan!

More scrabble ideas...

Downloadable Scrabble printable

Cut out the letters to make your own words for messages on cards!

Save the date (for under £20)

2011-12-07T12:56:00.000-08:00

I did consider being more eco and economical by sending 'Save the date' emails to family and friends, but I like the idea of putting one up on the fridge/calendar/mantel, so in the end we chose small cards with a small cost - under £20! I was keen to make our 'Save the date' match our invitations, so we had to choose our overall design way in advance. I love handmade prints and needed one that could be 'mass produced' easily, so I was happy when I found a pretty design in the form of a wood block!

Antique Indian Wood Floral Print Block from Zanzibar-trading.com

My print using burgundy acrylic paint

A selection of the print to use on the card design

On www.moo.com I created 'business card' size cards by uploading this image for the front, and adding our 'Save the date' text to the back. A box of 50 cost around £12, so with small envelopes and stamps these came to under £20!

The finished cards ready to post!

Our wedding cupcakes

2011-11-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

While I'm on the topic of cupcake toppers, here are the cake toppers from our wedding cake! I printed these by hand using hand carved rubber stamps bought from Craft Pudding on Etsy. We also printed our Thank You cards with the same faces!

We chose chocolate cupcakes over a white iced traditional cake, because we both love chocolate and I often make brownies for my hubby! We have Karen's Cakes in Paignton to thank for making our delicious wedding cupcakes. Karen came to our rescue and managed to squeeze making these in at short notice and everyone loved them!

Mum and I made the cake stand using silver cake rounds/boards with my wedding ribbon pinned on. The levels are made using polystyrene cake rounds which can be bought from cake suppliers - I bought mine from Crafty Cakes in Exeter. We made this for around £30 which is less than it costs to hire a plastic cupcake tower stand!

Wedding photos credit Lumen Photography

Wedding cupcake toppers {free printables}

2011-11-18T06:25:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I made cupcakes for our friends' double 30th birthday party...and entered the world of party printables! This is a very exciting place indeed, especially if you enjoy making things and like the idea of personalising cakes.

These little flags actually came from a 4th July party printable from Creature Comforts blog, which I downloaded and then added my own text using Photoshop. You have to allow plenty of time for cutting and gluing to the toothpicks (this is the fun part for me!). Thank you to John Barwood Photography for taking these great photos at the party.

Here are some lovely FREE printables that would work really well for wedding cakes/cupcakes.

Gorgeous vintage labels - download from Miss Cutie Pie's blog.

Love the little bow on the cute cake toppers - download from Little Flamingo's blog.

Change the text to your names or your wedding date - download from Thirty Handmade Days blog.

Please share any links to FREE printables in the comments below. There is also a great range of editable cupcake topper designs that you can buy on Etsy!

Five fabulous frame ideas

2011-11-10T05:53:00.000-08:00

From table plans to kitschy dessert table trays, vintage frames have a lot of potential for practical and decorative use in your DIY wedding. Here are five fabulous frame ideas...including our own table plan made using an old frame from a charity shop, which we painted gold and placed black card inside. My painting easel came in handy to display the frame and saved us from hiring a stand for £20. And, being a budget bride I then sold the frame on afterwards to another bride and we made our money back!

Our DIY vintage inspired table plan frame

DIY Wedding Chalkboard - Intimateweddings.com

DIY Vintage Frame Table Numbers - Projectwedding.com

Framed floral fabric table plan - Little Miss Wedding's blog

DIY Framed Dessert Table Trays - ruffledblog.com

Vintage style ice cream

2011-07-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

July is National Ice Cream Month which reminds me of an idea we toyed with for our summer wedding... forgoing a formal dessert in favour of ice cream cones! A vintage ice cream bicycle or ice cream van would be such a novelty for wedding guests! It turned out for us that we needed to save some pennies and our wedding cake was dessert afterall...but I still love this ideas for the warmer months.

Photos are of Icicle Tricycle

Thrifty Nifty Flowers on a budget

2011-06-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

'Handmade not High Street' is the ethos of The Craft Hub, a Crafty Collective for Devon, based in Exeter.

The Craft Hub runs modern, vibrant and seasonal craft fairs, showcasing products from some of the best of Devon's Handmaking Talent. They run pub nights teaching fun and engaging workshops called Cr'After Dark, inspiring others to join the handmade movement. In the May workshop they made Crafty Corsages (as seen above).

The next workshop on 15th June is set to be a flowery fantasia! Thrifty Nifty Flowers on a budget workshop with Sarah Pepper, a highly experienced florist, will be teaching how to flower arrange on a budget, and how to use old and obscure treasured things in the home as vases for your floral creations.

Their craft fairs are a great place to find unique handmade quality crafts and get inspired too. Whether it's wedding favours, corsages, candles, bunting, flowers or jewellery (to name a few) the Craft Hub can inspire all you DIY brides out there.

After I went to one of their fairs in Topsham I was inspired to pick up my knitting again, and now we have a weekly knitting circle at work!

Don't miss the next fair on Fathers' Day, Sunday 19th June 2011, Matthews Hall in Topsham.

Cath Kidston inspired bunting

2011-05-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm a little late for getting this post up in time for Royal Wedding street parties, but I hope this is useful for your own weddings! For me, bunting is one of those quintessential British things, and since I moved to the South West I have enjoyed seeing a lot of it!

We decided to have bunting at our wedding as decoration for our drinks reception, and after seeing how much it costs to buy, Mum kindly offered to make it (and she did such a beautiful job!). Being a big Cath Kidston fan I chose fabrics that resembled her vintage inspired prints and colours in red, green and florals - that fitted in with our overall colour theme...and could also be used for future parties!

I bought a Cath Kidston floral pattern and red polkadot from Ebay at a good price (NB: most pieces are sold as fat quarters for quilting which is sized 18" x 21"). I also bought a metre (which goes a long way for bunting) of a green polka and a floral pattern from the Exeter Fabric Centre. They have two shops close to each other - I found the style I wanted in the Curtain/Haberdashery shop, and bunting ribbon in dress fabrics shop.

On the day after the wedding we re-used the bunting to decorate the marquee for our post-wedding afternoon cream tea party! And then again recently in our garden for our Royal Wedding tea party!

If you're thinking of making your own bunting you might find Folksy's article Tips for making bunting useful!

Handmade choccys

2011-05-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

Sticking with the theme of handmade and British (from my Royal Wedding Party post) I couldn't resist sharing this book: Miss Hope's Chocolate Box which is selling for a special price of only £3.99 on the Book People website. Handmade choccys or cakes would make wedding favours or sweet buffets all the more special.

'Hope and Greenwood is the delightful chain of shops that celebrate the best of British confectionery. In this indulgent look at chocolate, owner Miss Hope presents fifty of her favourite recipes. From passion fruit truffles and chocolate ginger creams to sea salt caramels, there's something here to satisfy any chocoholic!'

Congrats Kate & Wills!

2011-05-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun time celebrating Kate & Will's Wedding on Friday, with a garden party along with quintessentially English party food and great company! What a beauiful bride and a wonderful wedding!

Photo courtesy of The British Monarchy flickr feed

Patriotic cupcakes (I used draw-on Dr. Oetker 'Easy Writer' food colouring pens)

Any excuse to bring out the vintage china from our wedding!

Flapjack recipe by Delia.

No tea party is complete without cucumber sandwiches!

Fiona's gluten & wheat free Cherry & Almond cake.

My first attempt at scones (in basket) using Delia's guide.

Louise's Gluten free 'Earl Grey' cupcakes

Royal Wedding Party

2011-03-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

I remember how excited I felt a month before our wedding...but I can't even begin to imagine what Kate Middleton must be feeling today!

Are you planning a Royal Wedding Party? I see the occassion as the perfect excuse to hang up the bunting from our wedding (handmade by Mum!).

For some party inspiration, Not on the Highstreet.com have got some very British party accessories (image above from their latest enewsletter).

And, Kate's family business, Party Pieces, have a wide selection of 'Best of British' themed things...er, fit for a princess!

Best of British Cake Platter, £8.99

Best of British Party Cups (12), £2.99

Britannia Crown Glass Decoration (10), £2.99

Congratulations Lumen!

2011-03-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our wedding photographer, Liz Armitage (Lumen Photography), for winning Westcountry Wedding Awards Classic Wedding Photographer 2011!

We were so happy with Liz's professional service and beautiful work, and this official recognition reflects how highly her work is regarded, by many newlyweds!

Lumen will be at the Wedding and Fine Events show in Somerset, on the 26th and 27th March (this weekend!). Liz says on her Facebook page that any couples coming to visit can enter a prize draw to win £200 off their wedding photography with Lumen!

You name it!

2011-03-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

Wedding name pictures, by Helen Leslie, £35

Launched today! I just love this beautiful personalised wedding name picture, handcrafted by local illustrator, Helen Leslie. The lovebirds and bunting are so sweet! Helen's pictures make an ideal and unique wedding gift, as they feature the names of the bride and groom and their wedding date, and can be personalised further with colours or details from the wedding's theme or invitations.

Helen's illustration stems from a love of drawing and combines original hand-produced drawings with some Photoshop wizardry to create a distinctive style. She also has an amazing range of baby name pictures and greeting cards - visit her Facebook page to see for yourself!

Wedding greeting card, by Helen Leslie, £2

Powderham Castle Wedding Show

2011-03-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Powderham Castle Wedding Show is coming up in a few weeks, which reminds me, I wanted to blog about the show after I went in 2009! Better late than never...

It was the first wedding show that Mum and I went to back in the early days of wedding planning, and was our introduction to a whole new world to us...the wedding industry!

The castle, which has been there in one form or another since 1066, is an amazing location for a wedding show. Bagpipes were playing some merry tunes as we crossed the moat, and then we were presented with some shiny vintage wedding cars and camper vans in the courtyard.

Inside, a wedding reception display set up in their grand hall, trying to entice people to have their wedding reception there. We'd just come from visiting Cadhay so there was no chance of that (and no budget for that)!

There was a great array of wedding suppliers in the castle and even more, maybe hundreds, in a huge marquee in the garden. From wedding florists and jewellery, to a Master of Ceremonies and venues, everything you could need was there.

Halfway through Mum and I needed a cuppa and a nice sit down! Lucky there were plenty of caterers and vintage teacups handy. After watching the lively bridal fashion show and dance demos, we were pleased to see Liz Armitage of Lumen Photography was there so I could show Mum her beautiful albums.

We came away from the show feeling inspired by the lovely vintage ideas we saw (see pics above), as well as being a bit bombarded by lots of sales people!

Powderham Castle Wedding Show
Saturday 26th - Sunday 27th March, 2011
Open 10am to 4pm
Tickets are £5.00 in advance or £7.50 on the day
Powderham Castle, Kenton, Exeter, Devon, EX6 8JQ

Choosing our church

2011-03-10T06:15:00.000-08:00

It was by chance that we found the lovely church that we chose to get married in, when Mr B spotted it's spire through trees, as we drove back from Budleigh Salterton one day. We had churches on the brain, having spent a few weeks doing a tour of East Devon churches, using our now cherished book, The Pilgrims Guide to Devon's Churches.

Clyst St George is a very small village (a church and school, no shops!) set close to the A376 and surrounded by fields. We went to have a closer look and the quaint church appealed to us immediately. Once inside, we knew it was the one for us!

Clear glass windows create a light and airy atmosphere, with only a few featured stain glass windows in Pre-Raphaelite style. The simple and light wooden decor suited Mr B's more modern tastes, while I was in awe of the medieval tower and traditional relics. As we learnt more about it were both facinated by the history of the church and how the community came together to rebuild it after being bombed in WW2.

After attending a service there we enquired about getting married at the church and were put in touch with the Church Warden to make arrangements. As they were in the process of getting a new vicar at the time we had to wait patiently for a few months to meet them and to confirm our date, but it was worth the wait.

There aren't a lot of references to the church online, so I'll be sharing some details and photos in case you're interested!

For those looking for a church online try Find a Church - The UK Church Directory.

Choosing our venue

2011-02-22T07:21:00.000-08:00

Choosing your venue is one of the most important parts of wedding planning, and until it's booked you can't give wedding suppliers or guests the date!

We knew we wanted to get married near to where we live in Devon...but how would we find a venue that suited all of our requirements? We needed somewhere big enough for us and a bunch of family and friends to stay; with a garden big enough for a marquee; and in an historical setting! Not much to ask? Ha ha!

Luckily, it was while my Mum was looking on holiday lets websites that she came across Cadhay - an Elizabethan Manor House - with two holiday cottages on the grounds. On their website it looked beautiful and when we went to visit, it was even more so!

Cadhay was perfect for us. Near Ottery St Mary, set in lovely East Devon countryside, its only around 20 minutes from our church. As well as the stunning house packed with history and an inner courtyard for alfresco dining; the large gardens and lake are stunning.

The best thing was that we had the place to ourselves, and were able carry out our DIY wedding reception in the garden (I'll write more about this in other posts).

After we fell for the venue and started looking at available dates in summer, we then hoped that the church we wanted to get married in was also available on the same day. This was quite nerve-racking to be honest as we had our hearts set on both!

It all worked out fine, but mostly because we did this 17 months before the wedding! It's hard at first to believe venues when they say you need to book soon, but it is in most cases true that they are getting booked up way, way in advance.

My advice is when you start looking at venues have your deposit ready, to hold the venue and date you want! And if your ceremony is in a different location get your name down asap for that too (after some possible juggling!).

A good venue directory can be found on the weddings site by South West Tourism; where you can search by type of wedding, amount of guests, and by area.

Photo credits: Lumen Photography and our friends The Warrens

Love is in the air

2011-02-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

It's my first Valentine's Day as a newlywed...so I thought it was about time I started blogging again about our wedding last June!

It was a huge success and we had a wonderful time thanks to all our family and friends who made it so special. Here's a selection of our romantic moments beautifully captured by Liz Armitage from Lumen Photography.

I'll be sharing how we made our dream vintage English countryside wedding come true on a budget, with DIY ideas and signposts to great local and online suppliers. I hope it's of use to any couples out there planning their big day...Kate and Wills watch this space!

Happy stamping

2010-06-02T04:16:00.000-07:00

I was looking for local etsy sellers and was thrilled to come across the Skull and Cross Buns hand carved rubber stamp shop. I bet you didn't know that this pastime actually originated on Dartmoor in Devon?

Skull and Cross Buns make a selection of very cute hand carved stamps that are a bit more alternative than the mass produced stamps on the market.

Personalise your wedding stationery with love hearts or cupcakes, or get a customised stamp that represents you and your beloved!

Shop at Skull and Cross Buns on Etsy and visit their blog.

Be a Lady

2010-05-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

Past Times' online shop are giving their email subscribers 25% off all items - but hurry - it's only till16th May! I thought these vintage inspired treats would make sweet gifts for the ladies in your life.

Lady of the Manor Rose-Scented Soap, £3.50

Her Ladyship's Strawberry Preserve with Champagne, £3.50

Her Ladyship Floral Cushion, £10

Wedding Wellies

2010-05-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

I'd like to see myself as being prepared rather than pessimistic! Because of the unpredictable British summers, I've bought this pretty pair for on the big day (just in case). Plus they will come in handy in the garden or at my next British festival anyway!

Rose Print Wellies from Fashion Union, £25 (or £18 with a code)

For those who can spend a bit more, how about these beauties?...

Cherry Spot Wellington Boots from Cath Kidston, £38

Cath Kidston Wellies, like these Summer Toile pair, £35, can also be found brand new on eBay.

Violet Gloss Hunter Wellies, £49.99, reduced from £60, at gardens4less.co.uk.

Spring inspiration: Cherry blossom

2010-04-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

Blossom themed real wedding from Snippet and Ink

One of my favourite joys of Spring is the blossom on the trees, especially the soft pink cherry blossom. I was sent a beautiful cherry blossom themed wedding invitation from friends in Sydney a few years ago, and I have loved that idea ever since. If you're planning a Spring wedding you might be inspired by these related ideas. Imagine if you could find a wedding venue with blossoming trees to colour your day too?

Board #142: 1,001 Paper Cranes from Snippet and Ink

Cherry Blossom Floral Wedding Invitation from Hello Lucky (UK).
At Project Wedding you can get a matching wedding website for free!

For more inspiration read Squidoo's article on Cherry Blossom Weddings.

Weddings with heart

2010-04-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

While looking for eco-friendly favours I came across the fabulous cherrygorgeous, who not only produce eco-chic wedding stationary, but also help families in Africa make a better life for themselves. 'You order, we plant trees' - order over £200 of wedding stationery and they'll pay for two fruit trees to be planted in projects in sub-Saharan Africa. So far they have helped plant over 120 fruit trees in Africa, which is fantastic.

Choose from a range of designs, or use their bespoke design service, for all your stationary needs. Plus, cherrygorgeous use energy efficient print processes and use the very best recycled card available, so you can be happy knowing you have helped the environment.

Designs from cherrygorgeous

Favour Earth Day

2010-04-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

It's Earth Day today so I've been inspired to look for eco-friendly wedding favours, which will please your guests as well as the environment.

Plant your own herbs in small terracotta pots, it's a gift that keeps on giving!

'Love Tag', £2.50 from Caesars Wedding Favours - can be planted to grow wild flowers.

Seed packets, £7.50 for 5 from cherrygorgeous.

For more ideas on DIY seed favours visit Cheap Wedding Success.

Bug me cakes

2010-04-22T06:32:00.000-07:00

Sticking to the Spring theme...how cute are these bug themed cupcakes?! I love all things ladybug and I love cakes so I am in awe of these. I found these on Flickr by Hello Naomi - check out her photos for more cute cupcake ideas.

Real Wedding - Pretty in Pink, Devon

2010-04-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm starting my Spring themed posts with the wedding of Elena and Brett, who got married at Huntsham Court, in Devon, last April. The flowers and champagne were inspired by the Bride’s pretty pink shoes, which she showed off perfectly with a mid calf length dress. For favors they gave guests flower seeds in vintage style little packets, and used luggage tags for name places. To entertain their guests during the drinks reception the couple chose a Spanish guitarist.

Their special day was beautifully shot by my favourite wedding photographer Elizabeth Armitage of Lumen Photography. We chose Elizabeth to be our photographer after seeing her stunning portfolio - we know she'll capture our special moments and romantic setting perfectly - and we can’t wait!

Thanks to Lumen Photography for sharing these photos.

Spring in my step

2010-04-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

Since the start of the year I’ve been incredibly busy with wedding planning and moving house...so not had much time left for my blog! However, with less than 3 months to go till the big day, I want to get back into the swing of things.

As well as the arrival of Spring, I’ve been inspired by my amazing wedding suppliers (who we’re calling the Wedding Team!) so I will be telling you about them. I’ve also got some vintage and DIY wedding ideas up my sleeve to share with you. Watch this space…

Designer Wedding Dress Sale

2009-12-31T03:08:00.000-08:00

Last month I went to London for to visit some Bridal shops and coincidently there was a Designer Wedding Dress Sale on. Though the concept sounded a bit scary I thought it was worth a try...just in case. It turned out the sale, held at the Thistle Hotel in Marble Arch, was actully quite civilised and not manic as imagined. Designers included Caroline Castigliano, Christiana Couture, Fabio Gritti, Galit Levi, Jenny Packham, Ronald Joyce, Sharon Hoey, Toi Sposa ...and more.

The next sale is on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th January 2010. Here's a few tips for if you're planning to go:

Get in early! If you can't book an early slot, turn up anyway and you should be able to get in.
There is a lot of waiting! So give yourself a few hours and take snacks.
By sale, they don't mean really cheap, some dresses still cost £1000...but they are designer.
Be open minded and try on dresses you wouldn't usually try on.
Don't expect to find a specific dress - it's very pot luck.
Take your Mum or your bridesmaids, not only is it good to have spare pairs of hands, they can protect you from pushy sales people!
Wear nice underwear - you'll be stripping off in front of others.

I didn't find my perfect dress (though was very close to buying a half price Caroline Castigliano one, that was still way over my budget), but I'm glad I know I tried.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T03:26:00.000-08:00

Gingerbread biscuits would make great winter wedding favors, no? 'Here's some I made earlier' using Delia's gingerbread recipe and silver edible dust! I made the gingerbread house with a kit from Lidl...it sure got me into the festive spirit!

Have a wonderful Christmas!
Bridebug x

Dreaming of a white wedding

2009-12-19T05:08:00.000-08:00

Snow on your wedding day would be magical...but don't forget your wellies! White wedding photo by Top 10 Winter Wedding Photographer, Allister Freeman.

Winter inspiration: Budget friendly

2009-12-12T01:38:00.000-08:00

With a wedding around Christmas time you can indulge in a romantic festive theme. It also means you could be looking for budget friendly ideas during an expensive time of year, so check out this Snippet and Ink post which has some great tips and stunning photos for inspiration.

Winter Wonderland

Warm winter wedding

2009-12-05T01:28:00.000-08:00

Unless you're going overseas to get married in winter you might be needing one of these!

Faux-fur shrug in black, ivory, pink, purple or green: only £65 at www.youandyourweddingshop.co.uk.

On my coffee table: Wedding Bible

2009-12-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we got the champagne glasses out and celebrated one year of being engaged! How time flies...and less than 7 months to go!

After the initial excitement and thoughts about our ideal wedding, the actual planning soon kicked in, and has been non-stop since February. A lot has been achieved, from booking our venue to practicing making buttonhole flowers. And there's still loads to do yet...

The planning has been easier by reading wedding magazines (not to mention help from Mum!), but also I've found Sarah Haywood's Wedding Bible so useful.

Haywood gives advice and tips for most (if not all) aspects in preparing for your big day. Tips on narrowing down your ideas in the inital stages, through to a 'checklist' for your wedding day - she's got it covered. On a budget? - that's covered too.

The best thing is that the book is from an English point of view, so I could easily relate to it. Try Amazon for a reduced price on this book and you won't look back. I hear the Wedding Planner is also really useful.

Real Brides Wedding Show 2009

2009-11-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

Mum and I were on a mission to find Bridal hair and make-up services, when we went to the Real Brides Wedding Show at Westpoint, in Exeter last month. We were successful, plus we found inspiration for a few other wedding details such as, chair styles and vintage china for our reception.

The catwalk show of local bridal dress shops was the main event of the day, and I managed to capture some to show you. If you like any of the dresses, you can just about see the shop names on the screen behind the models.

Next Real Brides show: 20-21 February 2010

Real Brides Show Westpoint Part 1

Real Brides Show Westpoint Part 2

Autumn inspiration: nature

2009-11-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

I love the colours that Autumn brings, and if I was planning a wedding this season I would take inspiration from nature's burnt oranges, rich reds and deep browns. Leaves, conkers and fireworks could also be incorporated! Here are a few inspiration boards from Snippet & Ink, to show how this season's colours can warm your special day.

Dinner Beneath the Trees

Peach and Flame

Autumn on the Beach

More Autumn inspiration boards at:

Brenda's Wedding Blog
Bliss Event Group
Style Me Pretty
Dainty in Vintage

November sparkles

2009-11-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

Remember, remember the 5th of November... And I do because it's the Anniversary of our first date four years ago! Fireworks and sparklers create such a romantic atmosphere and would be perfect for a wedding this time of year.

Autumn inspiration: Halloween

2009-11-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

On my way to a Halloween Party last night I saw a couple of Rolls Royce cars drive past; it was a bridal party on their way to their ceremony. Firstly, I thought how lucky they were to have such a clear blue sky in Autumn...then I wondered what theme a wedding could have on the same day as Halloween?

I love the use of pumpkins in this Snippet & Ink inspiration board - especially the ingenious ice bucket!

Pumpkins and Wheat

Save the Date: Inspiration

2009-10-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

I like the idea of Save the Date cards (or emails) for giving potential guests plenty of notice about your wedding. Choosing the design also kick-starts ideas for your wedding stationary as they can be a teaser for the tone and theme of your wedding. Here are some of the designs that have inspired the design for my own DIY Save the Date cards.

I discovered Made By Michelle Brusegaard's pretty flower designs on my favourite online shop Etsy.com.

Letterpress gurus Hello!Lucky now have a UK online shop full of inspiring wedding stationary.

On a more local note...Bristol stationery maker mhcreate offers personalised lithographic and digital printing.

So Sublime, in North Somerset, make pretty bespoke Save the Date cards (and stickers too!)

Setting the date

2009-10-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

We knew we wanted to have a summer wedding, but our date was mostly determined by the availability of our chosen venue and the varying prices of the seasons. June, July, August tend to be more pricy, which is why Spring and Autumn weddings are increasingly popular. This September I went to a beautifully sunny wedding that it could have been mid summer!

We found trying to secure both the venue and the church for the same date was a juggling act, but it's all worked out fine. I can see the advantage of having the ceremony and reception at the same place if you have the option!

It can be hard choosing somewhere so far in advance (for us it was 17 months), but once you've put a deposit down you have your wedding date! Then it's time to start planning and booking everything else!

Some useful wedding venue sites:

On the weddings site for South West Tourism you can search by type of wedding, amount of guests and as well as by area.

A National site with many search results weddingvenues.com has very detailed descriptions, lots of photos, and a contact form to request a brochure for each venue.

An extensive list of wedding venues with useful descriptions can be found at westcountryweddingguide.co.uk.

Bloomin' lovely!

2009-10-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Over the summer I was inspired by the beautiful hydrangeas in various gardens in the South West. They are just perfect for decorating large spaces at your ceremony and reception or to create bold table centrepieces.

Hydrangeas are available for summer weddings in a variety of colours. You can buy small hydrangea plants in pots from nurseries, or by the stem from florists.

Watch my short video of the hydrangeas on campus at Exeter University...

Bloomin' lovely!

Ethical engagement rings

2009-09-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Diamonds are a girl's best friend...but what if she likes to shop ethically? If you're choosing a diamond engagement ring you may want to consider where the diamond has come from.

For new rings it’s best to get a guarantee from a jeweller that their diamonds are conflict-free diamonds. For more information on ethical diamonds here's a useful article: 'How to steer clear of blood diamonds'.

Another option is choose an antique ring which allows you to be eco-friendly by re-using resources. Antique rings also offer you a wider range of traditional designs not often used in modern rings.

My fiancé and I chose an Edwardian engagement ring together from a local antique jeweller because we like how pre-loved diamonds are ethical, plus I love the style of vintage cluster settings.

We really enjoyed the experience of finding my ring, especially as we were looking for a ruby/diamond ring and one had just arrived, in my size...it was meant to be! It was two weeks before Christmas and we were warmed not only by mince pies and mulled wine, but their caring service too. If you're in Devon I recommend the reputable Mortimers Jewellers, a family run business in Exeter, for a high quality range of antique rings.

Mortimers rings are available in both original and new settings in platinum, 18ct white and yellow gold. They have a large stock of ladies and gents wedding rings in platinum, 22, 18 and 9 ct gold, plain or engraved styles; and also provide wedding rings handmade to order.

To find an antique ring try your local antique jewellers or search for an online shop selling antique jewellery.

Girls night in

2009-08-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

I’ve been out of blogging action for a couple of weeks due to a week away in Dorset followed by a week with a lingering cold. However, I have been gathering a lot of South West wedding ideas along the way and will be posting frequently from now on.

I have something up my sleeve for budget brides who live in Dorset or nearby, and a lot to report on my own wedding dress hunt...with only 11 months to go finding a dress soon is apparently of great importance!

Tonight my fiancé is at a mate’s stag do somewhere in Somerset, so seeing as I have the couch to myself I'm going to endulge and watch Bride Wars...which I’ve wanted to see for ages.

Engagement day

2009-07-19T04:24:00.000-07:00

For my boyfriend's 30th Birthday last November we planned a trip to New York City, also to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. Little did I know he had a wonderful surprise in store for me!...

We arrived in time to spend Thanksgiving with our New York friends which was lots of fun. On the Saturday they took us on a walking tour from Downtown to Uptown. Along the way we tried to get the perfect photo angle of the Flatiron; stopped for yummy cookies at City Bakery; and peered up at the iconic Empire State Building.

In the afternoon we watched iceskaters in a very festive scene outside the Rockefeller Centre, then when I heard that Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture was a few blocks away, I insisted we see it, totally oblivious to my boyfriend's plan to get me to Top of the Rock for sunset...

When we finally made it we were impressed by the breathtaking views of Manhattan all lit up. The warm colours of the sun setting and the glow of the Empire State Building was especially stunning. This was the moment he chose to surprise me! He started by saying there was a reason he wanted to bring me to New York and to this spot, then he romantically got down on one knee (amongst a crowd of tourists no less!) and asked if I would marry him - and I gasped 'Yes!'

I was so over the moon tears started rolling! He felt relieved that it was a success and told me how he'd called my Dad the day before to ask for permission, which made me cry even more! We were in a happy daze while a Rockefeller photographer captured the moment...

Afterwards we headed back to our friends place on Lower East Side where they congratulated us with a chilled bottle of Moet & Chandon (thanks guys!) - which we drank with blueberries from our Top of the Rock souvenir champagne flutes.

We continued the celebrations with cocktails and an exquisite dinner at Buddakan (the restaurant for Carrie and Big's rehearsal dinner in the Sex and the City movie!).

The next day we called our nearest and dearest to tell them the great news (well worth the cost of long distance calls!). A few days later when we landed back at Heathrow, I was still grinning - it was wonderful to be arriving home with a fiance.

Share your engagement day story! Leave a comment, or email me your story and photos for a post.

South West is best!

2009-07-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog about South West Weddings! I am a bride-to-be living in Exeter, planning a wedding for June 2010, in East Devon.

Since getting engaged in November 2008, I've been scouring the internet for inspiration and advice for our special day. Most the of the wedding blogs I found were American and I couldn't find any brides blogging about my region of England so...I thought why not start one?

Here I will share my findings of all things wedding related in the South West, as well as online suppliers, and my own wedding plans. Hopefully this will be useful for couples getting married in this region (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire).

Please share your ideas and recommendations with me too! You can email me via bridebug and follow me on Twitter.

We already have one big thing in common...getting married in the beautiful South West!