Delicious Details - Heart Place Cards

Hearts are, in many ways, the quintessential wedding motif and there are so many ways of including them in your day. They don't have to take over, they don't have to be the overwhelming feature of the day but you can easily sneak them in, especially at points when you need a little something.

And place cards can sometimes be the perfect spot for a bit of heart based inspiration and also a great touch of wedding DIY. Here are some lovely lovey-dovey ideas for things you can make, things you can do and things you can easily and cheaply put together to stamp some big lurve on your wedding day. So, without further ado, here we go with the ideas...

Above - I really like these place card holders - they'll add some height to the table and if you've got high table centres, they won't get lost underneath them. Two wire hearts on stands can have place cards slipped between them and if you're handy with the pliers, you can, with a little practice, easily bend the wire into shape yourself. Image - Belier

Above - a more traditional style place card with a sweet heart and stitched look. The backing card can be cut with edging scissors and then the name card is stuck on top. You can create the stitched look with a marker pen and the heart can be made some either wood or felt or really anything you like. Image - Folksy

Above - now I've professed my love for origami before and this folded heart place card is rather lovely. You can use any coloured or patterned paper and the printed name paper is tucked neatly in between. Image - Martha Stewart

Above - this rolled heart place card is really elegant. The strip of paper has the guest's name written on to it and it's then rolled into a quilled heart and is tucked over the glass. Image - Martha Stewart

Above - love these child-like felt heart place cards. Roughly cut and stitched together the the stitched name tags pinned on top. Again, any colour combinations would work here and don't have to stitch on the names if you're not that handy with needle and thread!  Image - Our Labor Of Love

Above - now DIY doesn't come much easier than this. Cut out a heart with pinking shears, print out names and then stick on top. Punch an hole, thread with ribbon and twine and tie around your napkins. Ta-dah!! Image - This Is Pretty

I Love... Clipboards

Now even the title of today's post probably panders to a lot of stereotypes about wedding planners - that we all strut around clutching our clipboards and barking orders all day. Neither of those things are true (I promise you!) but that doesn't stop me thinking that clipboards are great for weddings - especially when they're cute props and delightful details bringing a little bit of personality to your day.

Of course I'm not talking about big, boring clipboards that give you flashbacks to the most awful school field trips of your teenage years. No, I'm talking about sweet, stylish and small mini clipboards that all about the pretty and here are some ideas for you...

Above - love these typewriter style menus clipped onto this board. The backing board itself might be very plain but it works so well with the blue name tag place marker against the bare table. Fabulous. Image - Brookelyn Photography 

Above - proof that the clipboard can work with the pretty girlie flowers. Beautifully patterned background and the kraft paper table plan looks brilliant. Those clear stands are an excellent idea too - nothing to distract from the board and the information on it. Image - Kate Headley

Above - another gorgeous board, this time showing what's available at this buffet station (great idea - saves ever guest asking questions!). Am rather loving kraft paper at the moment - it looks so great with plain bold typefaces too. Image - Kate Headley

Above - another pretty table that's included a clipboard menu. The board is white and the paper is a slight off-white (which definitely stops your guests thinking you've just printed off all the menus at work!) and you can download typewriter style fonts to get the look you want. Oh, an as an aside - if you can see the menu, how yum do 'lasagna cupcakes' sound? Have visions of beautiful little rounds of lasagna in pretty wrappers! Image - Mark Brooke Photography

Above - love the gorgeous stripy clipboard with the menu attached and that place card is a great DIY detail. A square of card has the guest's name written on it and two other squares are off-set behind it to just edge the place card with a splash of colour. This would work well with almost any combination of colours and patterns. Image - Sarah Postma

In The Mood - Picnic Inspiration

A lot of the last week has been about having outdoor fun with friends - it's been the first week of my son's school summer holidays and we've been making the most of the ok-ish weather with trips to parks, country estates and endless tennis in the garden. And a lot of these trips have involved picnics and I love this. There's something so fabulous about eating outside, lazing around with yummy treats, talking, laughing, cloud-watching and then racing to buy ice creams for dessert!

All of which al-fresco fun has got me thinking about picnic weddings - I love the idea of a really relaxed reception with no formal meal and a totally laid back vibe. You all know how I love to make everyday things extra special at weddings at there's plenty of scope to turn a picnic into something magical and utterly fabulous. So, here are some of my absolute favourite ideas (possibly coming to a park near me this summer holiday!)

Above - totally love the idea of serving a picnic style buffet from gorgeously rustic trugs and baskets sat on gingham cloths. Obviously you don't have to go for the pick-up truck look but I do like the thought of including a prop or two here! Image - Country Living

Above -now I've probably mentioned my love of cutlery bundles for buffet or picnic style receptions because it makes it easy for guests to grab & carry them. These great forks and napkins are wrapped with a simple band of kraft paper and tied with garden twine. How easy and how effective. Image - Liz Banfield

Above - it's great to let people pick and choose where they want to sit and these baskets of pretty picnic blankets are oh-so tempting. Image - Liz Banfield

Above - instead of a buffet or elaborate meal, these personalised lunchboxes full of salads, meats and breads are just perfect. That red apple is part of the meal and it's a great styling accessory too and that's doubly fab! Image - Sara France

Above - picnics don't have to involve blankets and these white picnic tables covered with ditsy fabric look brilliant. Slightly more comfortable, slightly better if you prefer a plated dinner but still pretty and very au naturel. Image - Tec Petaja

Above - loving these cute lunch bags with printed menus attached and a sprig of insect repelling lavender. You don't have to serve a whole meal from a bag or box - how about packing some DIY canape sets for guests? Image - Tiny Water Photography

Above - gorgeous strawberry pudding packs! And check the jar glasses and the stripy straws - totally brilliant and the wooden barrels and trays are a perfect contrast. Image - via Project Wedding

Above - more stripy straws and gorgeous gingham for a great picnic look. I am coveting that lemonade dispenser in a way that's slightly wrong and the picnic style guest book table isn't unappealing either... Image - via Ruffled

Above - part of my picnics always involve games of some description so do include some fun for guests. I do like croquet and it's great for getting everyone talking too. Image - White Box Weddings

Above - hmmmm, picnic sweetie buffets - twirl your own candy floss or pick your own sweeties from stacked cake stands. Both please!! Image - The Youngrens

I Love... Vintage Postcards

This time of year is all about holidays - my son has been on school summer holidays for a week now and we've got another eight weeks to go! We do days out, trips around and we like to collect postcards for my son's summer holiday journal. Sometimes they get sent, sometimes they don't but every one tells a story and that's why I love even the tackiest ones that my son picks out (forgive him, he knows no better!)

And I have the softest of soft spots for vintage postcards and these are just gorgeous for weddings. There are so many things that you can do with them from using them as stationery to creating decorations from them. They're full of personality, they're always talking points and they're just lovely. So, here are some ideas for you - lots of great DIY, lots of options and everything is full of vintagey goodness...

Above - such a simple idea for a banner and it's so effective. Little squares of postcard and stuck on to twine, string or ribbon. These would look great strung across a marquee or lining a pathway. Image - Cori Kindred

Above - totally love this table centre, the books, the nest and that beautiful vintage postcard. I really do so love creative, personality packed table centres and this definitely falls into that category. So easy to put together and ever-so effective. Image - Elizabeth Anne Designs

Above - gorgeous letterpress postcard style invitations with a fab vintage vibe. I really do love the colour here too, such a warm orange glow. - I would love this for an autumnal wedding, especially because that motif looks fabulously vine-y. Image - Golden Rectangle Press on Etsy

Above - fabulous table number cards (often forgotten in my view) with a great look. And the best thing about these cards is that when you buy them, you get a downloadable file so can use them for many things (mini seating cards?) Image - KF Collection on Etsy

Above - I love these vintage postcard seating cards. Each is pegged onto the ribbon with the table name on the face of the card and the guest's details on the reverse. You could then use the same design for the table name card and place markers too. Image - Little Pink Book

Above - I really like the print of the postcard sat on the gingham napkin. It's fabulously country! Image - Project Wedding

Above - what a fab guest book station! postcards in a traditional wire spinner and those aqua pens are just such a great bright touch. Then more postcards are lined up in those wooden drawers and are great seating cards. Love this look! Image - via Craft Gossip

Above - what a brilliant menu card! You could print them yourself or running them through an old style typewriter would also give a brilliant effect. Image - Wedding Bee

Above - A final image with lots of pegged on postcards, covered with lovely messages from guests. So many things you could do with these after the wedding to keep them on display so those gorgeous postcards and wonderful messages are never forgotten. Image - Wildflower Photography

I Love... Unusual Ring 'Pillows'

Now, I bet when you read the title of the this post, there were quite a few of you that flinched at the mere mention of the words 'ring pillow' - I can imagine you shaking your head in disgust at me and thinking I'm just not the person that you thought I was. Well, I hope that a quick skim down the pics below might just restore your faith in me so do feel free to whiz down and back up if you're still not sure - go!!

Are you back now? Right, on with why I love unusual ring pillows. To start with, there's the practicality - even the most forgetful best man isn't going to forget the rings when they're on something fabulous and secondly, it makes the whole 'ring thing' that much more of a feature when they're presented fabulously rather than just being stuck inside a warm pocket for far too long. Should I ever do the wedding deed again, exchanging rings will be a big moment and I'll be bigging it up for all it's worth. So, enjoy, consider and don't doubt me again...

Above - really love the colour combination here and the handmade appeal of this pillow. Such a cute interpretation and something you could definitely make yourself. To me, this seems like a good compromise of a more traditional pillow shape and something a little quirkier. Image - & Unlimited Photography

 Above - love this happy happy flowery pillow. These can be made in any colour to suit your day and the flower in the middle is just the best, guaranteed to make your smile stretch that little bit further! Image - Anna Whitford

Above - regular readers will know my love of buttons so there was no way I was going to let this perky pillow pass me by! Just love it. If you wanted to tone it done a bit with more neutral colours, it would still look fab and then how about a row of matching buttons down a ribbon wrapped bouquet handle? Image - Bugs & Fishes

Above - the cutest little birds nest ring pillow here, totally perfect for a wedding with even the smallest outdoorsy vibe. Just love this. Image - Nicci's DIY Wedding

Above - love love LOVE these pillows. The vintage vibe, the colours, the fabrics, the overall prettiness just makes me smile and go a little gooey. Again, easy to make with some fabric remnants and you could add almost anything you like as an embellishment. Am literally sighing with girlie happiness... Image - Rice Lake Wedding

Above - another oh-so pretty pillow and it's the 3d look here that I really like, it's a great contrast to something sat flat against the pillow. And the colours and the ribbon - altogether gorgeous. Image - SD Wedding Insider

Above - hmmmm, how happy does this pic make me? Totally in love with the idea of using a vintage book as the ring pillow but again, you know my love of books at weddings! I just think this is a great look and that ribbon & flower combo is bordering on perfect. Well played. Image - The Bride's Cafe

Above - I know we've looked at succulents before on the blog and I love this. A circle of wood, topped with a fab succulent and gorgeous wedding bands tied on with the softest ivory ribbon. Beautifully different and very very appealing. Image - Wedding By Color

Above - ring pillows don't get more natural than this. Another succulent plus berries, moss, twine and two fabulous rings equals one totally unique ring pillow that's just about as far from the silky lacey variety as it's possible to get. Image - Why It's Perfect

I Love... Glassine Bags

As you've probably noticed by now, I like wrapping things up - I like the sense of anticipation, I like the happy thoughts of opening something special and I like the feeling that simply taking a little extra  time over presentation can turn something relatively plain into something quite fabulous. It's about putting in a little extra effort for a big reward with just a little extra cost.

And, I have to say that little glassine bags have been one of my favourite things for weddings for a long time. These simple semi-opaque waxy bags are just brilliant - they hint at the fabulousness within and they allow you to wrap almost anything without hours of fiddling around measuring & cutting paper and messing around with tape. These little bags are wedding DIY heaven - effective, economical and oh-so adaptable. So, today you have my total permission to call me a bag lady and I hope to convert you to the joys of bag worship too...

Above - how utterly cute are these ceremony programs complete with a glassine bag of paper disc confetti attached to the front? So simple, so effective and so unexpected - perfect DIY. Love this. Image - Martha Stewart

Above - these larger bags have been decorated with fabulous Japanese Washi Tape and you can pop anything inside them - invitation packs, ceremony programs, menus... This is such a quick and easy way of bringing plain bags to life. Image - I Do It Yourself

Above - ooooh, lanterns! These beautifully coloured glassine bags have been wrapped around bulbs on a string of lights and strung from trees. This will look just wonderfully at night with the soft pinky light floating down. I'd love to be dancing with someone I love under those... Image - Martha Stewart

Above - the practical side of me loves this and the pretty side of me loves these too so - win! These glassine bags have been sewn shut with a quirky zig-zag stitch and the confetti inside won't be dropped and it can't drift away either. You could use this look for favour bags too which would be fabulous! Image - Martha Stewart

Above - these bags have just been snipped across the top with deckle edged scissors to give a different look and simply decorated with a sticker. You could use a stamp or other embellishment - whatever fits with your theme will work here. Image - Pash Weddings

Above - I just love love LOVE these. To start with, how much do you just want to tuck into those incredibly delectable looking macarons and secondly, how sweetly simple are those favour bags? Just tuck a macaron into a glassine bag and seal with the pretty pastel sticker. I actually need to find an excuse to do this, just because I want to. Image - Shauna Younge

Above - another cute look where the bags have been sealed with a ribbon bow. Fold the top of the bag over, punch a hole and tie your ribbon through it. Please also note here how the ends of the ribbons are cute on the diagonal to stop fraying - I can't tell you how much this attention to detail pleases me. I know, it's almost wrong to be picky but hey, it's my job...! Image - Twig & Thistle on Etsy

Above - perfect for pack-you-own favours! Glassine bags are stacked in a wooden box, just waiting to be filled with yummy treats and sealed with a sticker. I love the idea of favours as a bit of a communal activity and this works wonderfully. Image - via Wedding Bee

Delicious Details - Stationery Bundles

I really like bundles of things - bundles make things look abundant, everything's kept together and wrapping things up, even a tiny bit, makes whatever's inside the bundle look like a gift. I love cutlery bundles (great at relaxed place settings as they do away with the endless rows of knives, forks and spoons around a plate) and I really love stationery bundles. With so much more going in the average invitation envelope now, bundling is not only a practical way of making sure that a) no-one loses anything and b) the package comes out of the envelope in the order you intended because, let's face it, you probably wanted people to see the invitation first, not the envelope for the reply card!

So today's post is all about beautiful bundles of oh-so sweet stationery because, as we know, it's all in the detail...

Above - these stationery bundles are all the better for the wrap of wrapping paper around them and the raffia tie. This would definitely give you a sense of the vibrant celebration that's coming and peeling back that pretty paper would be really rather fabulous. Image - Betsy White

Above - I love the criss-cross, kiss shape wrapping of this bundle and I love the mix of fabrics - thread and vintage ribbon combine perfectly. Image - Coral Pheasant

Above - regular readers will know my love of stripy twine so this pretty package immediately caught my eye. Love the cute 'tying the knot' tag which will look great on a parcel style pack. Image - Luna & Chloe Weddings

Above - love this collage showing lots of bundle styles with fabric, ribbon, twine and tissue paper. This illustrates perfectly that there are so many ways of bundling your stationery that it works with every style. Image - Martha Stewart

Above - the rustic string around this invitation pack give it a really unfussy look and I really like the coloured tag with the white ink - I have a real 'thing' for that right now! Image - Oh So Beautiful Paper

Above -  now this is a great mix of style, printed invitations, graphics, a wood card and a kraft and string wrap holding everything together. Again, that criss cross string looks great and keeps the bundle flat and supported. Image - via 4 My Brides