Friday Finds

This week's Friday Finds is all about people. I was lucky enough to be invited to the glamorous event that was the Reverie Magazine launch in London's beautiful Browns brides a couple of weeks ago, stuffed full of wonderfully friendly wedding insiders and supported by gorgeous cocktails! Mary and Kate have produced a really very inspiring and beautiful online wedding magazine that you'd be a fool not to take a peek at. Well, go on take a look. I cannot wait to see what they bring to us next issue!

As a nervous little industry newbie I was very anxious to go to the event on my own but am so glad I did, I met some really lovely people at the launch and just wanted to flag up to you PiP peeps what some of them do.


First up if you are looking for a Surrey based wedding venue then Laura at Parallel Venues is the Custodian, curator and coordinator for the beautiful Fetcham Park. The licensed property can cater for 70 guests with up to 120 for evening receptions. Take a look at the fabulous pictures below, isn't it amazing, I love all the murals!

Not a bad back drop for wedding photos!

Pretty amazing service room.

One thing that really stood out for me was the beautiful head piece Hermione Harbutt was wearing on the evening. I've been coveting it ever since! Hermione handcrafts stunning head pieces for your Big Day with a focus on femininity and more than a nod to vintage style. Below are some of her amazing designs. 

Deco deluxe

May Blossom

Tallulah, this one looks like lace, beautiful

And the stunning Vintage Vine Royal Headress

Aren't they stunning? Take a look at Hermione's website for more of her beautiful creations. 


And as a Friday treat I want to introduce you to Janet, we got chatting on the night and I discovered she creates beautiful sculptural Wedding cakes, grab yourself a cuppa and whet your appetite with the beautiful cakes below!

Art Deco

Art Nouveau

Roses

Tiffany

Addison

(Cake Credits: 
All Photography: Juliet Mckee 
Stylist: Stacey-Marie - www.cherrytopped.co.uk

Stationery: Ivy Ellen - www.ivyellen.com. 

For Addison, Rose and Tiffany Flowers by www.woodsflorist.co.uk

For Art Deco and Art Nouveau

Flowers by Wild About - www.wild-about.com

Shot at Fetcham Park House - www.parallelvenues.com)

Well, PiP peeps, I hope you like your Friday Finds, check out their sites while you're wishing away your Friday afternoon, desperate for the weekend! I want to say a wee thank you to the ladies above that made the evening such a fun night and a massive congratulations to Mary and Kate who hosted a super night. I wish you guys the best.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, see you next week.

Quiet Friday

Hello there folks, I hope you've had a fabulous week, do you have any nice plans for this weekend? We are hosting real bride Sarah B and her boy this weekend which will be a joy. A weekend filled with long walks and a few sneaky country pubs i'm sure! I'm afraid there's no Friday finds this week, but why not check out PiP's Pinterest board for some wedding inspiration?

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend

A Winter's Tale

Morning peeps, how is your week going so far? I've got a beauty for you here.
Kate and Jonnie met at school, wed in December 2007 at Middleton Lodge and they have one of THE best proposal stories I know!
This wintry affair was shot by Tim Lowrey and Darren Eddon.

Kate, tell us all about your proposal story.
The most amazing event ever in history!! Jonnie surprised me by picking me up from work and took me straight to the airport. He asked me if I wanted to know what we were doing but I said no. We caught a flight to Oslo then got on a train into the mountains, after about four hours we got off in the middle of no where (only us on the platform) where a man was waiting in the carpark with a truck full of huskys. He drove Jonnie and I for two hours into the mountains where there was a wooden lodge with no electricity, his wife had cooked us a meal and then afterwards we went out husky sledding. We went for three hours both mushing with our own dogs and came back whilst the sun set. We had a three course champagne candlelit dinner waiting for us and then after dinner Jonnie got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Just the most amazing experience.

What was your favourite thing about the Big Day?
Having all our closest friends together and celebrating.

And what did family and friends say was their favourite thing of the day

The frosty, sunny weather and winter theme

In the lead up to the big day what were you most excited or nervous about?

I was just permanently excited and nervous about everything going right. But mainly I was nervous about the table plans!

Any funny stories from the day? 

When we arrived at the venue someone switched a light on which tripped all the electricity. This meant that the caterer in the marquee couldn’t cook the food and I started to stress as we had no lighting or heating. Once I was calmed down I looked around and the place looked beautiful in candle light and from the fires. Everyone was being plied with drink and having a fantastic time so I relaxed and enjoyed it and within an hour the electricity was fixed!

Any hints, tips or advice for our brides to be?

Relax, nothing can't be fixed and remember that everyone is there to see you happy and celebrate with you so even if things go wrong it isn’t important and half the time no one realises but you.

Check out the wintry splendour of Kate and Jonnie's big day below

Magical Winters day

I wonder what made them giggle?

Kate literally crossed the road to her Church wedding

The boys having fun with brollys

'ooh, where is she?'

Beautiful bridesmaids and flower girls

Mr and Mrs, don't they look happy!

LOVE this picture. Desperate to know what is running through Jonnie's head!

The getaway car

                                

Catching up with happy friends during mulled wine and mince pies.

Thanks Jonnie and Kate for sharing your day with us and for the most amazing proposal story i've heard!

sneak peek...

I have such a lovely proposal story from tomorrow's Real Wedding. Here's a peek at the proposal location.

See you back here tomorrow for the wedding and the story.

Real Bride....talks bridesmaids

For Real Wedding Wednesday, Real Bride Sarah B talks bridesmaids and international shopping with us this week....

I’m incredibly proud, and lucky, to have two adventurous and glamorous best friends (and bridesmaids), whose jobs and romances have led them around the world. Meanwhile, my sister, and maid of honour, is a teacher with the travel bug who steps on a plane and leaves the country as soon as the holidays, or sometimes even the weekends, arrive.

All this globe trotting has meant that my bridesmaids are spread across continents and time zones and there have been moments in my wedding planning, like shopping for THAT dress, when I’ve really missed having them around. Fortunately, between skype, facebook, and lots of Pinterest action, we’ve done a pretty good job at keeping in touch and I’ve got lots of other stylish friends on hand to offer sartorial advice.

The one area, however, that has proved tricky to co-ordinate internationally has been the bridesmaids’ dresses. Since an in person shopping trip is out of the question, we’ve relied on internet retailers. In general, I’d say that US companies have much more to offer than those in the UK and, with a favourable exchange rate, you can get a pretty good deal.

Here are a few of my favourites:

·     ASOS has a huge and affordable range

·     Nordstrom, the department store, also has lots of choice and a brilliant website that will calculate shipping and customs charges for you, so there are no hidden extras (I ended up getting my wedding shoes here)

·     J Crew, a favourite of Michelle Obama, started delivering to the UK in 2011 and has an excellent mid-price wedding range (as well as great workwear)

In the end, we’ve opted for this charming frock from American bridal brand BHLDN (sister company to Anthropologie, my favourite shop of all time).

Now for the shoes...

While we wait for an update from Sarah B on shoes here is a selection of dresses from Sarah's favourite shops. 

Lady in Red

by ASOS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 

A very PiP note for ASOS is that you can search by 'Made in the UK' which I love!

Midnight Magic

by Nordstrom: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Every Cloud...

by J Crew: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 

Which are your favourites folks? I'm a huge fan of ASOS No.3, Nordstrom No.2 and J Crew No.4. What would you have for your lovely ladies on your big day? I'd love to know....


Stay tuned for a great post in the next few weeks on the wonderful new company Maids to Measure, the perfect site for your bridesmaid's sartorial needs!