Friday Finds

Sorry it's such a late 'Friday Finds' this week folks. I've had a busy week and was lucky enugh to finish it off with a morning at my Top Friday Find this week, The Makery Cafe. The wonderful creative workshop space in Bath turns into a little making wonderland on Friday mornings when creative folks swing by for a cuppa, some cake and a whole lot of creating! It really is fantastic. My makes will be up on the PiP website once it goes live so you will be able to see what i've been up to but check out the pics below for a glimpse into their brilliant garden.

Nigel is growing a living seat (above) and a living shelf (below) aren't they great?

Cake of the day today was brilliant scones, jam and cream. Lush! How fab is the 'Makery Cakery' cake stand.

We had to make the most of the gorgeous weather and the Makery's glorious garden so we popped outside for our cream tea. What a treat, especially so late in the year, can you believe it will be October tomorrow?

Some of the colourful delights that are on The Makery's shelves.

I found this wonderful feature about wedding bands on the BHLDN website this week. It was fun to learn a few more meanings and history behind wedding rings. For example did you know that in Medieval Times rings with gemstones were given, and while Sapphire stood for "the sky and eternity" Rubies stood for Love. Take a look at the article and see which facts are new to you. 

Photo taken on our 'minimoon' during some gorgeous November sunshine and the amazing rings are all made by Jana Reinhardt. 

Some of you will have spotted the Brooch Bouquet on the PiP board. I'm curious PiP peeps, what do you think of them? Have any of your friends used one? Is it something you would consider? I'd love to hear your thoughts on them.. please do leave a comment below and let me know. 

Top image is from Top this Wedding and Bottom is by Blue Petyl. 

Dress Delights from Jenny Packham's S/S 2012 Collection

Hello there PiP's peeps.

Visiting the shop last week has got me lusting after wedding dresses ever so slightly more than normal - it's no secret among my friends and family that my long term dream is to open a bridal dress shop! 

So I took a wander over to Jenny Packham's site to covet the dresses and show some of my favourites. 

Enjoy!

Uh....wow. Not sure what else can be said about the beautiful Anya.

There is certainly a nod to Jane Austen in Aspen, I adore the detail on the sleeves and under the bodice. 

And the ever so slightly whimsical feel of Callie makes me think of A Midsummer Nights Dream.

An air of 'House of Elliott', anyone? Or maybe I'm just obsessed as I catch up on my lunch breaks. Beautiful beading work on Damask. 

Simply Stunning in Foxglove

A statement of a dress in Iris

Serene beauty in Willow

My personal favourite Violet, although the more I look at Aspen the more I can't decide between the two! Could I get them both?

You can see more of Jenny Packham's fabulous Spring Summer 2012 collection here. Aren't they beautiful, as always.

Which is your favourite? Which would you love to wear or have worn on your big day, let me know in the comments boxes below, I'd love to hear.

Sunday Meanderings

Morning Folks, I am officially a Rugby widow my Beau has started playing for a local team so his Saturdays are tied up with playing and his Sundays (and most week days) are tied up with watching the Rugby World Cup. Sunday mornings are now a chance for me to catch up online while he nurses various damaged parts of his body depending on how rough the other team play! This week it's a swollen hand and a bruised (thankfully not broken) nose!
So join me in my Sunday meanderings and follow the PiP Pinterest board for wedding inspiration. As I've mentioned before I can't blog many of the images as they are taken by wonderful photographers overseas or have simply lost their link, but you can swing by the board and take a look!

Have a lovely Sunday

Friday finds and Forages!

A double post today to make up for the blog absence.

I spent a wonderful two days in Penzance earlier this week visiting for my sister's final Wedding dress fitting. The wedding dress shop is being featured here as I really do think the boutique is a great 'find'. Bride in Penzance is a beautiful shop with a wide selection of dresses, the ladies there looked after my sister and us bridesmaids very well as we excitedly watched 'The Dress' be tried on for the final time before the big day. It was the first time I'd seen my beautiful sister since my own wedding nearly a year ago and I was lucky enough to meet my brand new nephew. He kicked off a little when the attention was on the bride-to-be so lucky Auntie Sarah got extra cuddles while I tried to settle him. She looked fantastic and I cannot wait to see the Groom to be's face when he sees her. A special mention goes to the supremely talented seamstress at Bride, Deborah, who did a fabulous job of making the dress fit perfectly. Thank you so much, ladies of Bride.

Swing by Bride as they launch Charlotte Balbier's Candy Kisses collection as featured on PiP,  at the end of next month.
Dress above is Charlotte Balbier.

Many of you regular readers will by now have realised I have a huge admiration for Miss Pickering, she has a fab blog that I followed religiously when I started my wedding planning and now she's re-worked her florist shop with these beautiful maps I am desperate to visit her shop! Miss Pickering, please let me buy the maps from you when you next re-vamp your shop?!

The next two pics are slightly different from Friday Finds as these are actually Friday Forages! There are so many wonderful makers out there and I've found a few beautiful items that are made outside of the UK which means I cannot have them on the, soon to be live, PiP website. So if you know anyone who makes similar items to those below in the UK I'd love to hear about them!

Gorgeous patterned kimonos from the wonderful Plum Pretty Sugar, you must check out their site they make very beautiful robes and loungewear.

Fabulous ties from Cape Town based company Good Heavens, aren't they great? 

I love the idea of the Groom having the plain tie and the groomsmen all wearing the patterned ties. they would make great gifts too.


If you know of any fabulous products you'd like to see on the upcoming website please do get in touch, I'm always on the look out for beautiful British handmade pieces to make your wedding day special and unique.

Have a wonderful weekend
Sarah

    

Congratulations Mike and Marg!

Sorry I've been a bit quiet the last few days I was lucky enough to take a little break to beautiful Tuscany. The beau and I spent a wonderful week with some very good friends and their beautiful little girls before finishing the week off in style with one of the most glamorous weddings I've ever been to.

PiP will be running a full Real Wedding feature on them in the coming weeks but just as a taster here are a few (badly taken) snaps of the fabulous day. I should explain that because I was having so much fun there aren't lots of photos but I am very excited to see the professional ones. 

One of my many favourite things from the day was watching all the guests in their finest clothes enter Siena's Piazza from different angles, it was like a scene from a film.

Groom, Best Man and Ushers getting prepped outside Siena Townhall. Aren't the yellow ties wonderful? And the button holes were gorgeous yellow orchids.

Uh... beautiful bride!

Showered with confetti as they came out as Mr and Mrs. 

How's that for a backdrop to your wedding photos!

When the couple visited on the same day the previous year it was pouring with rain, luckily it wasn't the case for them on their Big Day. Glorious blue sky and sunshine. 

That's one very pleased with himself groom.

And this is the reason why! His wonderful new wife Margherita. Fabulous hair, wonderful Jenny Packham dress and look at the crystals in the veil, Margi looked so glamorous. 

Stunning Bride Margherita.

              

We were treated to a surprise prosecco in the Piazza after the wedding.

Can you see that fancy red convertible? That's the beauty the Groom drove his new wife to the reception in. Very brave I say, the roads of Siena are somewhat 'fun'

Crowds of tourists gathered to congratulate and take snaps of the newlyweds.

Usher James had the task of taking snaps of each guest and we then added them to the guest book with messages of love and gratitude for organising such a wonderful weekend.

Every last detail was thought of, corks provided holders to our place names while male guests enjoyed the local delight of Limoncello (which we can vouch for being great when mixed with prosecco!) and girls had lovely chocolate 'Margherita' flowers. 

Fabulous speeches and check out the room!

AMAZING cake!

Congratulations Mike and Margherita, thanks for putting on such an amazing wedding weekend. We cannot wait to see the proper pictures! 

I look forward to featuring the new Mr and Mrs Murray on a Real Wedding Wednesday soon as these pictures don't go anyway to do the wedding justice, the morning we all spent by the pool catching some sun before the wedding, the fab hanging lanterns outside on the Saturday night, Margi's bouquet, the gorgeous bridesmaids, the great band and cocktails, the awesome canapes in the venue's beautiful gardens, the wedding breakfast that was so good I couldn't stop eating and I had to change my dress to be able to dance in the evening having stuffing myself-not sure I should admit to that! And Marg's dress was simply stunning.

thanks for a wonderful weekend guys, congratulations x

Friday Finds

 How has your week been PiPs peeps? Hectic to say the least here but lets all take a minute, grab a cuppa and get inspired with Poppy in Pearl's Friday Finds.

 I'm taking part in a very exciting project this coming month, have you heard of the Curiosity Project? Well Tiffany from The Curiosity Project organises a fabulous postal swap, you get an address drawn at random in an email and you have to create a little box of loveliness to post to them before the 1st November. How wonderful? Especially when the only post we tend to get these days is dull bills! I can't wait to start compiling fun, creative and beautiful pieces to send. I'll be sure to blog here with what I get in return.

 Gorgeous flowers from the ever lovely Miss Pickering to brighten these grey days. 

YUM! Beautiful macaroons from Not So Humble Pie, even if you are not a baker you really should swing by just for the gorgeous photography.

And lastly, a little glimpse of what's been keeping me busy. I've been photographing new beauties, take a look at this fabulous necklace and earrings that will very soon be available from Poppy in Pearls!