Our pre-wedding photo shoot

A few weeks before our wedding, we had our 'pre-wedding photo shoot' (also known as an engagement shoot) with our photographer (Adam - AHP Photography) who we'd booked for our wedding day. If you aren't familiar with these, they are basically a chance for you to;

1. meet your photographer and get a feel for how they like to work, and;

2. experience and get comfortable with having your picture taken (if you aren't already).

We had the option to choose the location of the photo shoot - we chose our wedding venue as it has lots of big open gardens and lots of pretty spots to get some great photos. It was really beneficial to explore the venue and grounds with Adam, our photographer, as we were able to pick out the best spots and angles for our wedding photographs as well as the engagement shoot. We saved the best spots for the wedding day, so none of the photos would be too similar. 

We both didn't really know what to expect from the shoot to be honest - we just both knew it would be a sensible idea to do it, and actually, it was part of our wedding photography package anyway so it would be rude not to! I'm not going to lie, when we started having our picture taken, we felt very awkward and so unnatural! It felt like such an odd situation to be in... Let's face it, it's not something that happens everyday!

Adam would take a few snaps, show us, suggest a slightly different poses, take another photo and show us the difference, it was such a learning curve. After a short while we both started to feel a lot more comfortable and reassured that we didn't look as awkward as we felt! He gave us a few tips to remember while being photographed too - things that might feel a bit unnatural in real life, but when photographed, look amazing. That was a really big help.

A week or so later we were sent a link to all the photos that we taken. We managed to get some really lovely photographs from the day, and we were definitely more relaxed and prepared to be photographed on our wedding day after that. I'd definitely recommend engaged couples to do this if you get the chance, you won't regret it! x

The final countdown

Hi everyone! I maybe should start by apologising for not writing any blog posts since October last year! But I won't, as to be honest, not only did I become a lot more busy with my own wedding planning and my full time job, but I also fell out with my blog for a while, and anything wedding related to be perfectly honest.

It's no secret to anyone who knows me, that I well and truly freaked out when it turned 2016 - the year of my wedding, and also when I turned 25. A spell of fear come over me that my wedding was actually happening, soon, after two years of telling myself it was ages away. It all of a sudden hit me that I was getting old(!) and my life was going to change. I would even go as far to say it depressed me for a couple of months. I certainly wasn't myself anyway.

On a brighter note, I soon snapped myself out of that and realised that really, nothing would have to change after being married - apart from my name, which I have even come to terms with now. Me and Paul would still be the same, insane people we always have been, partying most weekends and doing whatever the f*ck we want. Most of all, I knew I really wanted to spend the rest of my life with Paul, and isn't that what it's all about?

Writing this now, there's less than 3 days left on my wedding count down and I'm an absolute bag of nerves and other emotions, I'm getting butterflies whenever I stop to think about how soon I will be in my wedding dress, walking down the aisle to Paul in front of all my friends and family - witnessing our two and a half years of planning come to life.

I'm desperately trying not to stress, even though there's nothing left on my to-do list, and I've pretty much organised everything down to a T. I've had my hair trial, I've been practicing my makeup, had my final dress fitting, prepped the bridesmaids, had our pre-wedding photo shoot (watch this space for more on that by the way). Everything has fallen in to place and now the countdown really is on!

My plans for the next couple of days now include lots of pampering, treats and early nights. See you on the other side, world! x

The National Wedding Show 2015

The weekend before last was my first experience of The National Wedding Show. In fact, it was my first experience of attending any form of wedding show or exhibition of this scale. It's taken me a little while to write this post as I've been a tad manic, doing some of my own wedding planning while all the inspiration and ideas are still fresh in my mind from the show.

After being engaged for almost 2 years now and not ever having visited The National Wedding Show before (they happen twice a year), I thought it was time, with 8 months to go until our big day, that we went along. So I bought tickets for Paul and I to the Saturday show at London Olympia. I managed to get the two tickets for just £20 - there's always offers and deals for these in the run up to the show, so it's worth looking out for them before paying full price. I got mine through my subscription to Confetti.co.uk.

On arrival, our first impressions were... pink! The bright pink flooring, floral decorations and flocks of brides, bridesmaids and mothers of brides immediately made Paul feel a little out of place.

Feeling a bit bemused, we wondered a few yards taking whatever flyers were put in our hands, until we came across the champagne bar. We decided then, before anything else, to sit down and sip a drink while having a read of the program to form some sort of plan. (This, I recommend doing!)

Once we got in to the swing of things and figured out what we wanted to look at and do, we were off and the experience was great. There were really only a couple of things left on our wedding planning list to sort, so we focused on chatting to the exhibitors and suppliers of those things, as well as picking up a few extra ideas along the way! I was quite interested in watching the Bare Minerals beauty tips and makeup demonstrations, as Bare Minerals is my wedding makeup of choice. It also gave Paul a chance to break away and browse the Grooms' attire stands. All in all, we each got a lot out of the day - not to mention all the freebies and cake samples to be had!

One of my favorite parts of the day was watching the wedding fashion show and seeing all the beautiful designs by Allure Bridals, Alfred Angelo, Mode Bridal, Moss Bros. and more. The show included wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, suits and mother of the bride outfits  too - something for everyone. The models all did a fantastic job!

Here's some snaps I got of the bridal fashion show: (before I was told to put my camera away for not having an official press pass - oops!)

Truly unique & original wedding gifts

Customisable heart keychain

Attention brides and grooms! Are you looking for that extra special wedding gift to give each other? Or maybe something for your groomsmen or bridesmaids as a thank you gift? Or even looking for wedding favours that your guests will love and keep forever?

Well, look no further. I am all about being unique and standing out from the crowd, especially when it comes to weddings, so when I heard about Shapeways I knew I had to share it with you.

Shapeways is the leading 3D printing service and marketplace. Now, 3D printed gifts may not be the first thing that springs to mind for weddings, but it's a really cool and original way to show off your personality and interests.

T.A.R.D.I.S. Tie clip for the Doctor Who fan

You can choose from a vast range of awesome designs already created by the Shapeways community - everything from keychains to bottle openers and cufflinks. You can even chose the material you would like it printed in, including precious metals. There is quite literally, something to be found for everyone!

With the huge range of stunningly beautiful and somewhat unusual jewellery, you could even find your perfect engagement or wedding rings that are unique as you are.

Guitar ring

If you want something with a bit more of a personal touch, Shapeways also offers an array of customisable gifts, so you can easily add a special touch by having your wedding date or names engraved on a selection of gifts. If nothing takes your fancy, why not create a truly one-of-a-kind gift by uploading your own designs and bring them to life with 3D printing.

If you're completely unfamiliar with how 3D printing works, fear not, the whole process of turning your ideas in to beautiful products is simpler than you'd think. Just design your gift (via an app, software, or hire a designer), upload, and Shapeways will do the rest. You can also make your designs customisable too using the super easy CustomMaker tool.

So why not try it out? A completely new and different idea that you and your wedding guests will love!

Thinking of having an adult-only wedding?

Have you ever been invited to a wedding and told that children aren't allowed? I wanted to write a post on this as it's currently a hot topic among my family and friends as we have decided to have a child-free wedding ourselves.

This came up between me and my Fiancé quite naturally and early on in our wedding planning (it may have actually been one of the first things we decided on!) It was a mutual and easy decision to make as neither of us are really very maternal.

We've all been to weddings where there are babies and/or toddlers crying, shouting, or having a tantrum over the ceremony, making it really quite difficult to hear all the vows and readings. This is something we really didn't want at our wedding, we felt it would be such a shame for the most important part of our day to be unheard - or worse, ruined.

If you're thinking of having an adult only wedding day yourself, there's a few things to consider before you decide for sure...

Guests may be offended if they're asked to leave their little ones at home.

Remember, they're likely to have to find a baby sitter if you've said no children. Be prepared for some guests not to come at all in this case, especially if they'd be travelling far for your wedding, and staying over night.

With this in mind, think about how many of your guests would this actually apply to? It may not be a good idea to say no children if a large number of your friends and families have them. If that's the case, there are other options to occupy your child guests during your wedding ceremony if you want them out the way.

Make sure all guests with children know the rule.

There would be nothing worse than if you've told a guest that their little angel won't be able to join them for the day, then they arrive to find that another guest is there with a child. You can't have one rule for some guests and another for others!

Of course you may rather have all your family and friends present, no matter what their age. It's just a matter of what's more important to you.

Weird & wonderful wedding venues

GUEST POST BY REBECCA MOORE

When planning the dream wedding, most of our minds head towards a country house or the big hotel; however there are a number of wedding venues that will create more of an impact and give your big day the extra sparkle it deserves as well as providing inspiration to set your big day apart from others taking place during wedding season.

Tree house
Add some childhood charm to your wedding with a rustic treehouse venue! Hidden away in an enchanted forest of native English oak and silver birch, a tree top wedding is a perfect setting for an intimate wedding. Perfect for a Peter Pan groom, or for those who divulge in ‘Eco-Chic’, there are many diverse ways that treehouse weddings can be tailored to your taste with accessories such as lanterns and swinging seats.

Gothic Castle
Breath-taking gothic beauty is something that modern hotel weddings cannot compare too. Impressive chandeliers, roaring log fires and sweeping staircases make sure beautiful memories and photos alike. Many come with stunning gardens and tranquil lakes for your guests to enjoy throughout the day and keep them talking for years to come. 

Lighthouse
Those with a passion for anything nautical should most definitely consider celebrating your nuptials in a seaside lighthouse. Due to the size of the rooms, Lighthouse weddings are very intimate affairs. The smell, character and noise of the sea provides a very raw and romantic type of beauty that is often hard to capture.

Inner City Warehouse
The ideal hipster wedding venue; the stark splendour and urban setting of inner city warehouses offer a unique ‘wow’ factor that only the uber trendy could appreciate. If you aren’t quite au fait with a mix & match furniture style, concrete floors and exposed brick – this option may not be for you, but there’s nothing to say that with vases fresh flowers and candles, this type of venue couldn’t meet even the most girly of brides standards.

City Skyscraper
The iconic The Shard building in London hosts wedding ceremonies on the 39th floor, providing stunning views of the City. A classy and elegant venue perfect for any professional couple - Its gets even better for champagne and canapés, as these are held in the glass dome, giving you the sparkling London lights as the sun goes down.

Home wedding
Home weddings are becoming increasingly popular now and if you have room for your guests at your home, it can add an extra personal touch to your wedding day. You may want to hire a marquee, or perhaps your home has an orangery or veranda to provide the perfect setting; wherever you decide to hold your vows, factor in some gardening and home improvement time too! 

Whisky Vault
Not just for the boys, this sophisticated setting has a certain ‘mature’ air to it and will give a traditional Scottish feel to your day. For those brides that aren’t after a super feminine day, this could be the perfect setting.

Tent
It seems that Marquees are out and tents are in. Very much in, in fact. From modern stretch tents, charming pole tents to enormous frame tents – there is something to cater for every desire. Most tents come with a theme that can be catered to suit your style and colour palette; Arabian nights, Cinco De Mayo and Vintage Tea Parties are all looks that can be created with ease.

3 simple ways to cut wedding costs

It's easy for costs to quickly stack up when you're planning your wedding and you may find yourself having to pay for things that you hadn't originally budgeted for. Weddings are generally quite expensive, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you have to lower your expenditure.

Here are 3 simple ways you can cut the cost of your wedding:

1. Buy a second hand dress

Wedding dresses are expensive business. When I first started looking for my dress, I couldn't quite comprehend spending £1,000+ on a dress that I'd wear once, for one day. Why not consider buying a previously worn wedding dress? There's so many second hand wedding dress shops online and even on the high street (like this one) where you'll find designer gowns for a fraction of the original price. Most retailers will only re-sell dresses if they are in new condition and have been dry cleaned anyway, so no one will ever know on the day, and you'll have saved a fortune.

2. Bridesmaids?

If you're paying for your bridesmaids' dresses, shoes, accessories yourself, you could find yourself spending more on them that you thought you would. If you aren't too bothered about them all wearing that dress, I think it's acceptable to ask your bridesmaids (nicely) to choose and buy their own dress. If you're going for a certain look, give them an idea or style to look for. Mismatched bridesmaids are the new thing! Or, go solo... Save yourself more money (and time and hassle) by not having bridesmaids altogether. Some would say they are an old tradition and don't contribute anything that your best friends wouldn't on your wedding day anyway!

3. DIY & help from friends

DIY is an obvious way to save money and the list is endless what you can do. One of the easiest things you can do yourself is make your wedding stationary. There's loads of kits around to help get you started in stores like Hobby Craft. Get you friends over and make a couple of fun evenings of it. You never know, you might catch the DIY bug and go on to do more crafty things for your big day.