Some Things for the Weekend

Sorry this is little late, I was feeling under the weather yesterday so spent most of the day curled up on the chair in the lounge.

The weather this weekend is extremely hot 24 degrees today - we haven't seen the sun in a very long time!  It finally feels like summer is here.

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• A really great engagement shoot, on a rickety old boat
• An adorable Love Shoot complete with paper hearts
• Love these shots of the bride and groom finding shelter from the rain under a colour umbrella
• Post wedding bridal shoots - so gorgeous
• Stunning scenery for a wedding
• I'm completely in love with the style of this wedding - Rock n' Roll!
• This wedding looks like it was super emotional - tears!
• A grand and luxurious wedding - the details are amazing, I love the chandelier!
• Too-cute-for-words cake toppers
• Cupcakes with pearls!!

Have a nice weekend, enjoy the weather xxx

Table Plans

I haven't really thought very much about our table plan, we know what we want to call our tables and are almost sure of where everyone will sit, but I haven't really had any ideas about how to display this to our guests.

I've noticed a few cool ideas whilst mooching through the many blogs I read, these are some of my favourites...

Labels, Window, Crystals, Yellow Taxis, Chalkboard, Pegged, Triangles, Buttons, Green

Wedding Wednesday

On Twitter we have what is known as Wedding Wednesday.  People will recommend suppliers, blogs, and inspirational websites to their followers.  It's a great way for brides like me to discover new resources and like-minded people.

Therefore with the intent of helping out other brides I have decided to share on this blog websites and people who have helped or inspired me thus far on my wedding journey.

I'm sure if you've been engaged for a while or know the wedding industry you will have heard of Snippet and Ink.  I found Kathryn and her inspirational mood boards months before Has asked me to marry him.  It was this site that helped me choose purple for our wedding colours.  I spent hours working my way back through the archives and saw so many elements that I loved and thought I would love to include into my own wedding "one day"

Well that day has now been made official and I still visit Snippet and Ink for daily inspiration.  A must on any brides' blogs to read list.

You've probably heard me mention Blue Door Bakery a number of times before on this blog, but that's only because I think they're wonderful!  I'd always fancied having a cupcake wedding tower but after seeing one at a local wedding fayre I knew we had to have one!  After some rather off customer service from the first supplier I came across Blue Door Bakery and emailed Sarah for more information.  She told me they were exhibiting at a wedding fayre and I made plans to visit.  When I arrived Sarah handed me a little box of cupcakes for me to go home and try!  We've since decided to use Blue Door Bakery for our wedding and more recently for my Nan's 70th Birthday cake.

The cupcakes are no only delicious but they look amazing as well.  Sarah and I often chat over email and Twitter and I will also be joining her for a cupcake decorating workshop, which I am super excited about!
If you want the tastiest, most beautiful cupcakes at your wedding or in fact any other occasion, with a wonderfully sweet supplier to boot - give Sarah a call.

I found Yarwood-White when I was looking for a brooch to adorn my bouquet.  I feel head-over-heels in love with the Modern Heirloom brooch.  I now own the earrings to match (A wonderful Christmas gift from my brother)  The pictures do not do this jewellery any justice.  They can't display just how dainty and perfect each piece is or how much it sparkles.  True bridal jewellery in my opinion.
I intend to add the necklace and bracelet to my collection in the near future and I may have also bought a few gifts from there too...

Know of an amazing blog or website that has offered you with invaluable advice or inspiration throughout your planning?  Or are you a supplier who believe your service is tip top?  If you want to be featured on Wedding Wednesday please send me an email.

Bridesmaid Gift

Sophie is probably the only bridesmaid who doesn't read this blog, as she's only 8 I'll let her off but it does mean, that I can post about her gifts without spoiling the surprise!

I've already got her a book; When I was a Bridesmaid and a necklace for her to wear on the wedding day.  I wanted to also buy her a bracelet and today I found the perfect one.

It's from Accessorize, made from dainty pearls and a sterling silver heart charm.  I hope she likes it!

Happy Birthday Natalie

My gorgeous cousin and bridesmaid Natalie turns 14 today.

At the risk of sounding old, I remember very clearly the day she was born.  I was in senior school, and knew my Aunt was in labour.  Every chance I got, between classes and lunch breaks, I used the pay phone to ring my Nan for any news.  I was so unbelievably excited about getting a new cousin.  Every morning on my way in to school I passed a baby shop and in the window they had a gorgeous pink dress on display.  I told my Mom that if my Aunt had a girl I would buy it for her to wear.

After lunch on the 17th May as we returned back to our classroom for afternoon registration my tutor Mr Davis read out a note for me.  "Please let Laura know her Aunt has given birth to a baby girl"  I was over the moon!

It turns out Natalie was a rather large baby at 9lbs 13oz so there was no way she was fitting in to that dainty pink dress!

Natalie has been a star bridesmaid, she has been with me to every bridesmaid dress shopping outing I have asked her to, and willingly tried on dress after dress.  Even when I forgot to tell her what time to be ready for giving her 10 minutes to race out of bed!

One of my favourite memories of Natalie was when she was a lot younger, she used to threaten me when I was reluctant to play with her... "Play with me or I won't be your cousin!"  It still makes us smile now and after hearing the story our younger cousin Sophie, uses it jokingly against us.

She's one of my best friends and I love her completely.
Happy Birthday Natalie xxx

At my 21st Birthday Party

Last Christmas

Sophie, Natalie and me during a photo shoot we did for my Nan

Chalkboard Heart Placecards Part 5

Our chalk board place cards needed a second coat of paint. I found when I sprayed them on a surface the underside would also get paint on them and look bumpy.  So the only way to apply the second coat was to let them hang dry.

Cue me and Mom tying fiddly cotton through 90 holes in 90 hearts.  Then hanging them from 2 make shift lines between chairs in the garden.  2 aching backs and 4 sore knees later we had our place card washing line.

I spray painted each heart, whilst Mom stood behind with a massive piece of card so we didn't turn the garden black then left them to dry.

Next step is threading through the string or ribbon (which ever I decide) and waiting for people to RSVP so I can write their names on!

The making of my chalkboard placecards
The experiment, Part 1 - Drilling and mass spraying, Part 2 - Mass spraying the backs, Part 3 - Chalkboard paint, Part 4 - Mock up

Some Things for the Weekend

Is it me or are the weeks flying by?  I can't believe it's Friday again although I'm not complaining!

Tonight I'm meeting with my friend Steven.  I've got big plans for Purple and Pearls and he's going to help me! 

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 It's also my beautiful cousin and bridesmaid Natalie's birthday on Monday, so I'm going round to see her this weekend to sing happy birthday and watch her blow out her candles.

I will hopefully be able to get on with a few wedding projects this weekend too - fingers crossed!

Things that have floated my boat this week

~ The funkiest engagement shoot I've seen in a while!

~ Have you seen Disney's Up?  This cute couple obviously have!

~ NYC engagement shoot... picture by the bridge - oh my god!

~ Super elegant wedding - the bride's dress is unbelievably gorgeous

~ So much attention to the little details.. amazing

~ Loving this cute and colourful outdoors wedding - plus the bride accessories with a blue cardigan!

~ Ruffles, look at the gorgeous ruffles!  Part one and two.

~ This wedding gave me goose pimples!  The special moment between mother and daughter, the look on everyone's faces and just look at the groom!  I love this wedding.

~ A post on pearls!

~ I need to make these... and I'd have to try them, just to make sure they were ok!

Have a fab, fab weekend! xxx

Win a Cupcake Decorating Workshop!

Blue Door Bakery are offering a free Cupcake Decorating Workshop voucher to one very lucky winner.  Visit the Blue Door Bakery Facebook page to enter!

Competition closes at midday on the 18th May 2010


I'm booked in to one of these amazing workshops at the end of May and I seriously can.not.wait!

Wedding Weight Loss

I'm not going to lie the first week back on the wagon has been tough.  I was faced with eating out on Monday night, so I chose the healthiest option I could.  Then I was tempted by my  favourite ever meal on Tuesday (Spaghetti Bolognese) but I stayed strong and resisted.

I've also felt really hungry... every time I've felt like throwing in the towel and reaching for a Krispy Kreme I've looked at a picture of my dress.  The best incentive I have.  There is no way I am going to look back at my wedding photos in years to come and wish that I had lost more weight. Nu uh!

So, last night was my first weigh in. Bye bye 3lbs!  Yay! Even though I still have a way to go, it feels good to know I'm on the right track.