I Love... Vintage Keys

A few years ago, when I moved house, I made 'new address' cards to send out, all adorned with a little vintage key. I'd picked up a pack of them for a song on eBay and ever since, I've found old keys really rather amazing. I wonder what they open, who they belonged to and how they were lost! There's something so tactile about them and the colours and shapes of them are often beautiful.

So today's post is all about vintage keys - how to include them in your wedding and detailing and there are lots of options. Keys would work as a motif with any backdrop colour so if you're sure on a colour scheme but would like to use a detail to run through the wedding, keys could possible be perfect for you. Then, add in the potential symbolism of keys an you're onto a winner!

Above - love this quirky seating plan that encourages guests to find 'the key to your seat'. The vintage keys are all attached to tags showing each guest's name & seating details and they're then 'framed' and displayed. That frame is wonderfully opulent and after the wedding, how about a bit of up-cycling - use it to hold one of your favourite wedding images? Image - Cedarwood Weddings

Above - here the key is integrated into the ribbon wrap around the stem of this bouquet for a sweet piece of detailing. The key in question could be a meaningful one - from your childhood home maybe? - or just something you've picked up specially. Image - Chicago Illinois Wedding Photography

Above - gorgeous cross-keys wedding stationery. This is such a great motif for a wedding - a little unexpected but still very beautiful - and it's easy to use throughout the day with lots of key-filled touches. Image - Oh Lovely Day

Above - more fabulous stationery, this time with a very different look - out goes letterpress and in comes printed stationery with a great vintage key wrapped right up in the invitation pack. I really like the layout of the stationery here, the kraft-brown reply card, the bold font & design and of course, the vintage style save-the-date with key attached. Image - Olivia Leigh Photographie

Above - ooooh, I so love this set-up (I've got it bad for burlap cloths & runners right now!) And the blue touches just pop so sweetly against the muted browns. Those key place markers are just great - so simple but so effective and they really add to that tablescape. Do think about adding some unusual items, they look so interesting and with some thought, they don't have to cost the earth. Image - Oncewed

Above - now you know how I love chair decorations and you probably also know about my love of white or brown wood chairs so this image so works with me! So simple with the lavender and key tied on to the chairback but it looks fab! Image - via Pinterest

Above - another great key based table plan. Here, each table is listed on a different sheet with a key attached for extra interest. I really like that each table's sheet is of a different sized which just stops everything looking too regimented and contrived. Love that table too and I think I want that gorgeously coloured telephone... Image - via Ruffled

Above - this is a great way to bring the key motif into the wider wedding 'look' - here the key in question is attached to a buttonhole and it looks really fabulous against they green and beige. This idea would work with any little item, not just keys, so it's worth keeping in mind whatever your theme. Image - Simply Elegance

Delicious Details - Vintage Tea Tin Centrepieces

I am such a tea lover, it's untrue. I can barely function in the morning until I've had my cup of tea and there's something so comforting about wrapping your hands around a big mug and just sitting and sipping for a few minutes. Now I'm usually a lazy tea-maker - tea bags might not be the best but they're quick for a girl on the go. However, when I've got the time, I like to make proper tea, leaf tea, and the gorgeous smell when I open my tea tin to scoop out a big spoonful into the pot is just heavenly.

But the tea tins themselves can be just as gorgeous in a more visual way - I love the patterns, the printing, the gorgeous colours of tins of tea. They're special versions of the everyday which is just what I like for weddings so here are some ideas for turning tea tins into gorgeous centerpieces...

Above - love these candles in the old tins. You could do this one of three ways - either just pop in a small pillar candle, fill the empty tins with wax and a wick or, if they're water tight, add some water & use a floating candles instead. Image - Intimate Weddings

Above - pretty pretty pastels. I love these pale blue tin with the delicate pink roses as they co-ordinate beautifully. If you can't find tins that 'go' with the flowers you want, you can always download & print tea label wraps to re-cover the tin. Image - Yvette Inufio

Above - another beautifully co-ordinating display, here with much punchier colours and those tins look great. Another perfect addition to the tablescape is the glass full of vintage spoons. Image - Lovely Velo

Above - this is such an interesting table top with the mix of tin shapes & sizes and the variety of blooms in them. Such an eclectic look that's bought together by the use of those gorgeous tins. Image - Martha Stewart

Above - I love this wild look and here's a tip for getting a little more height from your tin centrepieces - just stack them up to create and more interesting variety of heights. Image - Milk Glass Village Rentals

Above - now this is a really well co-ordinated look but the white chairs and table linens stop it from looking too over-worked. The tins have been wrapped with paper (use wallpaper, wrapping paper or scrapbooking paper) and the 'tea' labels printed and added afterwards. If you want 'the look' to fit perfectly, then personalising the tins like this is ideal. Image - The Sweetest Occasion

Above - this would be a pretty set up for a guest book table with the books, the vintage typewriter and the tin holding the flowers. You could use a similar look for a dessert table or seating card display. Image - Yvette Inufio

Real Wedding - Beautiful Vintage In 'The Secret Garden'

I'm so pleased to be featuring a real wedding from the uber-talented James Davidson. I met James when he was photographing a wedding I was co-ordinating a few years ago and I liked him immediately. I remember sitting with James whilst the wedding guests were at dinner while he loaded some of his photos onto his laptop and the number that were great straight away was astounding. He's a very lovely chap with a laid back attitude and a very professional manner - a great combination for weddings!

The wedding here took place last July in The Wirral. The couple in question, Joanna & Mark, had put a lot of thought into their day and their hard work certainly pays off. There are gorgeous details galore, some beautiful touches, lots of happy guests and they both are literally oozing love. It's all beautiful, on every level.

 Above - love the flower filled jam jar pew ends...

 Above - the colours in this shot just make me smile...

 Above - delicate papery beauty...

 Above - the super sweet handmade signs directed guests to the marquee in 'the secret garden'...

 Above - vintage china heaven!

 Above & below - long tabes, simple decorations and a great natural style...

Above - decorated cloths, pretty cutlery, gorgeous menus, terracotta, glass & country flowers. Fabulous...

 Above - such a fabulous bridal look...

 Above - how fabulous are those bridesmaid's dresses?

 Above - you can almost sense her excitement!

 Above - happily married

 Above - couldn't resist this image. A priceless moment captured!

Above - the bride & groom zoom off to the reception in a fabulous car...

Above - I adore this image...

Above - scrapbook styling for this vintage inspired guest book...

Above - the guests use their place marker tags as name badges to ease introductions (or to help them remember who they are when the champagne starts flowing!)

Above - totally stunning...

To find out more about the wonderful James, take a look at his website - www.jamesdavidson.co.uk - or his blog for more amazing images and information. James is also on Facebook and Twitter.

I Love... Vintage Suitcases

Earlier this week, I wrote a post about my love for vintage books as decorative props and judging by the numbers of you that had a look at that piece, you all have a soft spot for interesting props too. So, I thought you might like a little feature about another great wedding accessory - the vintage suitcase.

These are just wonderful - they are practical (they're a great wedding day storage for cards & gifts), they're interesting and unusual, they're easy to set up, they can fill a spot, they're easy to accessorise and they can work wonderfully with a whole range of colour schemes and themes.

So, ladies & gentlemen, I give you - the vintage suitcase in some of its very best roles...

Above - here we have the vintage case as a card collection point. So easy to set up - cut the letters you need from card and peg onto the inside of the case or onto some ribbon. This table looks extra special with the addition of the flowers and the oh-so pretty table cloth but this is still a doddle of a display to prepare. Then, at the end of the day, just close the case and keep those cards safe until you've got time to open them. Image - Ruffled

 Above - and now we see the vintage case as a rather fabulous guest book station. I love those chunky letter blocks and the gorgeous garden look of those vintage seed packet postcards that are being used for guests to leave their good wishes on. Again, everything is kept together and there's still plenty of room on that table for guests to lean on when they're writing. Gorgeous, practical and so so easy to set up.  Image - via Hitched

 Above - this vintage case is on seating card duty and isn't it doing well? Here, the case has a styrofoam block in the base which has been covered with shredded tissue paper. The seating cards are clipped onto wires which are then poked into the foam so they stand up. Loving the travel theme here with the destination stickers in the suitcase's lid and the postcard look of the seating cards themselves. You could easily adapt this to suit your theme or colours but again, such an easy yet effective idea. Image - I Do Inspiration

Above - the vintage case is now working it as a favour and order of ceremony/program station and I love it! All those cookie favours are piled up in the case with the programs tucked to the side. I'm sure there's a sign just out  of sight telling guests to help themselves too. How sweet is those lace ties on the favour packages? Very very. Image - Kate Headley

 Above - proof that the vintage case can be a gorgeous detail even when it's not being used practically! I love this set-up - the stack of cases, the books, the flowers, the tea cup and those gorgeous hearts. A look like this would be great at the entrance to a marquee to set the scene or even as as a backdrop for a wedding day photo booth (can just see a guest sat perched on the cases pretending to drink tea in a very prim 40s way!) Get creative with cases, they work in so many ways! Image - My Vintage Party

Delicious Details - Vintage Place Settings

Vintage is still big news which is great for me because I just love it. But, now we've all got used to this look, we're starting to be a bit more daring about how we put it together. More colour, more layers and more developed ideas. It's like school - now we've learned the basics, we can get on to the really good stuff.

Tablescapes are a huge wedding trend - using more props and items on a table to create a story - and vintage works particularly well here because there are so many great props available. Fabrics, glassware, crockery, ribbons, unusual containers and other items like books and buttons, they all combine for a layered look that can be oh-so individual.

So, here are some ideas for vintage place settings to get your shabby chic loving hearts all aflutter...

Above - How gorgeous is this look? Coloured glass, old hardback books, pretty china, gorgeous 'just cut' garden flowers, a beribboned napkin, a vintage candlestick and on-trend 'nude' linen. By creating something like this at your own wedding, every table could look different which injects real interest. Image - The Sweetest Occasion

Above - A very elegant look (and check out the long table here, I told you they were becoming more and more popular!) I love the natual flowers here, the crisp white linen which doesn't compete against the paler flowers and those storm lanterns will be fabulous when lit. The delicate little table number card works perfectly too - something too big, too bold and too heavy would just ruin this delicately designed setting. Image - Stone Blue Productions

Above - There is something about mismatched china that I just adore. And mismatched china, layered on a place setting has even more impact. Easy to put together because it doesn't really matter what goes with what and you don't have to obsess about matching cups and saucers. The crisp white napkin sets the colours of the china off perfectly and the little tag tied to the cup's handle is a sugar-sweet place card. Image - Rosie Parsons

Above - a perfect example of an elegant vintage place setting showing you can stick to neutral colours and still work the vintage look. I adore the detailing on the napkin and the old style cutlery looks so much better than all silver would here. The sweet little rose floral arrangements would be relatively easy wedding DIY if you remembered to condition the stems properly, removed leaves that would sit below the water line and didn't mind risking your wedding manicure! Image - NSK Wood

Above - and we're back to colourful vintage place settings now. Again, I just love this - the sheet music placemat, the vintage cutlery bundled on the beautifully purple napkin, the little tag place card, the coloured glassware on the table and oh, the turquoise of that pot! The 'mix and match' flowers are great too - the varieties and the colours. Perfect. Image - Marry You Me

Above - hmm, more dreams of sunny outdoor days. Now this is a great place setting for a more unfussy vintage look. The bare table, tick, the crisp linen runner, tick, the mix and match flowers, tick, vintage cutlery, tick, a bright place mat, tick and oh, that charger plate and side plate combo is gorgeous. Proof that you can do vintage even if you don't want to do pastel florals. Image - Elizabeth Anne Designs

Above - just delightful with so many clever details. I think the small splash of coloured water in the bottom of the 'vases' is very sweet, I love the garden twine binding around the cutlery (cutlery bundles are almost a must for vintage weddings as they take away the formality of a 'laid' place setting) and the thread & button placecards are fabulous. And the buttons sprinkled on the table are a great quirky touch too. Image - Edyta Szyszlo

Above - just the colours in this image scream Lauduree! And as macarons are the delicate delight of choice right now, I had to include this image. The cut class bowl is a delight and the slightly haphazard piling of the macarons totally works - vintage isn't about regimented perfection. The old coloured tins behind are a great touch and would be fabulous unusual 'vases'. Image - Corbin Gurkin

Above - Homespun vintage at it's finest and the collection of different prints here really works. The patchwork style placemat is fab (and note the vintage cutlery again please dear readers!) The layering of the coloured crockery and the brightly wrapped favour complete with a 'straight from the garden' daisy detail. Homely does not mean dull! Image - Cocomale

Above - Lots of yummy goodness in this image but check the pink sugared doughnuts on the place settings - yes please!! The flowers are fab here with delicate roses and ranunculus (a personal favourite) in the coloured vintage jug. Check the layered crockery, the cut glass, the nude table runner and the cutlery - even though it's set, not bundled, there's not loads of it at each setting so the informality is retained. Adorable. Image - 100 Layer Cake