DIY Upcycled Confetti

 So one thing I always forget to take to a wedding is....

Confetti!

I'm not on my own here either I have several friends who say they do the same.

So as I am doing this wedding based on my experiences of weddings, I think there is a simple solution for this...

Provide your own confetti!

It is quite simple and it need not cost you anything extra.

Just reuse the left over bits of paper from the making of other things,

An old newspaper or book,

Tissue Paper from the box of your new shoes,

Packaging from things you've ordered for the day...

Some venues will only allow you to use confetti outside the venue and some will only allow it inside so depending on the venues rules can depend on what material you are able to use. 

(i.e. biodegradable material is best ror outside use)

Please keep this in mind. 

What You Need :-

A Hole Punch

Left over materials

Coloured tissue paper

Brown Paper packaging

A Glue Stick
Small Sticky Labels
Rubber Stamp 
(Free from Vistaprint)  

What To Do...

Make the Confetti...

 Simply take the hole punch and punch the paper, saving the shapes and disposing of the rest.

Simples! 

Make the Envelopes...

I have used brown paper packaging from a package I had delivered recently to create these simple envelopes. 

 Cut the Paper into large rectangles, fold, stick and fill with the confetti!

Again...

Simples!

DIY Guest Tissue Pouches

Do you cry at weddings?

I DO! 

And I never have a tissue to hand either because I always forget them along with the confetti!

So I decided as I have been to so many weddings in which I've had to tap up a stranger to ask to steal one of their tissues or I've had to suck it up and hold it in...

I'd provide a tissue for them to cry their happy tears for us in... 

So not to create our own swimming pool in the church!

 Guest Tissue Pouches

Clever Ay?! 

I think of everything!

So here is my clever little way of providing tissues for my guests, yet keeping in with the theme!

 What You Need:-

Brown Paper Packaging

A glue stick

Colour appropriate jewels

Rubber stamps

Rubber stamp with initials

(Free from Vistaprint)

Packets of single tissues

Small sticky labels

What To Do...

First create the envelopes by following the picture diagram below.

(size depending on what you wish or how much paper you have).

Do as many as you need.... I did 100!

When the envelope is ready, stamp a theme appropriate stamp on the front.

Stamp a small picture in the corner (where you'd put a postage stamp).

Place three jewels underneath to create a stamp look.

Place 1 tissue inside.

Seal with a small sticky label and stamp with your initials.

Ta Da

Simple!

Catering Trends for 2013

  

Catering Trends For 2013

The age old adage of 'less is more' is the dish of the day for weddings this year. The Diamond Jubilee and Olympics saw people everywhere embracing great British cuisine and culture and this attitude continues to be reflected.  While personalised options are still on the menu, it's all about taking it back to basics. John Hearn, Executive Chef of food design and event management company, Tapenade offers his suggestions for what's being served up in 2013:

• Childhood delights - weddings are about cherishing your loved ones so why not cherish the food you enjoyed as children and reinvent classic dishes like bangers and mash or fish and chips? Using local produce where possible will personalise your menu that little bit more
• Pies - mini sized!  Why not treat your guests to an array of British favourites such as steak and kidney, chicken and mushroom or beef and onion? Platters could be served to each table, or buffet style, with a selection of side dishes such as tasty mash and seasonal vegetables.  This idea could be incorporated as a dessert option if you'd prefer, with apple pie and custard or apple and rhubarb pie with a crumble topping
• Canapés - this is still very popular and is a great option for informal dining.   Think miniature newspaper cones of fish and chips, mini steak and chips with a warm horseradish cream dip, or miniature ice cream cones
• Tea parties - last year people everywhere hosted tea parties to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee so why not celebrate your wedding in the same way?  It also offers a more relaxed    atmosphere and allows guests to mingle. Incorporate traditional favourites such as finger sandwiches or fresh strawberry meringues.  Scones are also a popular choice but not everyone likes sultanas, so it's a good to idea to offer a selection of sweet and savoury scones, such as wild watercress and dill scones served with oak smoked salmon and cream cheese or fresh raspberry scones.  You could even have a Victoria sandwich for your wedding cake!
• His 'n' Hers courses - why not serve a starter and main course chosen individually by the bride and groom, followed by a dessert that's chosen by the couple together?  Dishes could be a childhood favourite or a family recipe.  Guests will be treated to a personalised dining experience and the menu will reflect you coming together as a couple
• Gastronomical experience!  If you're both real foodies or you simply can't decide what to choose, why not consider a tasting menu in the style of the finest Michelin starred restaurants with a selection of your favourite dishes served as small portions?  This will not only make the menu more personal, but it will give guests an experience to remember! If you do opt for this though, it's worth remembering that the earlier the wedding breakfast can be served, the better - tasting menus are meant to be enjoyed and savoured over several hours.

About Tapenade:

Tapenade is a stylish food design and event management company located in Surrey. It prides itself on creating 'top end London restaurant quality' cuisine, without the London price tag for groups of 100-7000.

The company works throughout the year, across the UK, organizing exclusive corporate events, weddings and private parties. Tapenade's inspirational and stylish ideas make any event a success with its personal, flexible and comprehensive service.

Check them out here:

www.tapenade.co.uk

TK MAXX Does Wedding Gowns!

Wedding Fever Hits the High Street

Up to 60% off designer Bridal gowns at TK Maxx

 Yep you read that right!

TK MAXX does WEDDING GOWNS!
But not for long so get in there FAST!....

TK Maxx has unveiled the arrival of an exclusive range of designer Bridal gowns for the price of an LBD.

The special delivery, on sale from the 15^th January, comes as the Church of England announced a 56 per cent rise1 in the number of proposals since last year. 

Cost conscious brides no longer have to break the bank to look like they have just stepped off a bridal catwalk; TK Maxx buyers have scoured the globe for designer dresses worth £1,395 now available from £199.99. 

Evelyn Morton from TK Maxx said: “Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and one where you want to look and feel stunning! Most brides have dreamt of their wedding dress since they were young girls but with the tough economic climate that dream dress is far out of reach. We’re really excited that we are helping savvy brides get their dream designer wedding dress without the hefty price tag.” 

It's no secret that I love TK MAXX it is as random as random can be. Like searching through the sales every time you're in there. You find some amazing things from household items to designer clothing.

I found an amazing Chloe dress in there once and at a snip of the original cost! My amazing find still lives on... but its lonely in my wardrobe until I find my old body....

When I heard they were doing wedding dresses I was quite shocked, it is such a specialist area... 

But like TK MAXX always do they've cracked it on the head and done it the right way, they have hand picked some amazing designers and I can see this being key to any Budget Brides shopping trip! 

Simple Save the Date Magnets!

So those of you in the know, know that I sent these out a while a go but as life has been madness I haven't updated since before Christmas!

 SHOCK HORROR!

So here we go,

How to create a personal Save the Date card that people definitely won't forget!

Make a simple Save the Date MAGNET that they can place on their fridge and see everyday... no excuses for forgetting that way, as you always use the fridge... and they can keep it as a memento!

I researched Save the Dates online the day we booked the date. I found hundreds of different and exciting ways of telling people to put the date of our wedding in their diaries. From plants to crackers to sweets and even sending singers to every door.... yes I found that a little extreme too! 

I couldn't believe how many things people do for Save the Dates, when, until I started planning this wedding, I'd never even heard of sending out Save the Dates.

We did discuss it with each other at some length but deep down I knew what I wanted to do.

I wanted it to be something more than a card, more than a gimmick and slightly useful... but cheap! I wanted them to be able to see it everyday until the day and everyday after that too (which will  also remind Hoff of our anniversary too).

A magnet fitted the bill.

BUT WHERE CAN YOU PERSONALISE MAGNETS FOR CHEAP?

Ohhhhhh how I love Vistaprint right now! 

Vistaprint is a DIY Bride and Grooms wedding planning BEST FRIEND!

 Check them out on the link above. There are hundreds of designs and colour themes to pick from and they always have deals on so it works out cheaper... depending on the number of guests and your budget! 

I found some really pretty mismatching postcards and envelopes in TK Maxx...  yep TK Maxx! This shop is also a wedding planners best friend as there are always weird and wonderful things to find in there from creating unique décor and beyond.

I also found some ink stamps in HobbyCraft which fitted my theme perfectly. They do a large range and can fit any theme. A similar stamp on all stationary can tie it all together and look amazing... also they are quite cheap

I paired the magnets up with the postcards by folding over a bit of masking tape (because I had no double sided tabs but if I had tabs I'd have used them) and I wrote a short poem to stick on the back.

There are several ways you could do this, Print out your own postcards that match perfectly to your theme or buy them like I did.... you can even buy them on Vistaprint! Either way they make a lovely and eye catching way to send your Save the Date magnet.

Now for the tricky part... picking the design and wording that fits you and your wedding...

Good Luck!