Delicious Details - Drinks Tables

In my little corner of the English countryside, we've recently been basking in the most beautiful spring weather. The skies might have greyed a little over the last few days but I'm still having sunny thoughts and am enjoying the prospect of summer weddings. The dreams of warm sunny afternoons, guests lounging and laughing in the sun, enjoying the wedding day and the company of friends, new and old. It's a lot of people's dream wedding vision and I have to say that it's high on my list of 'things I would like' should I ever do the wedding deed again.

But so often on these extra warm wedding days, there's a fundamental error - not enough drinks! And then either guests are left feeling thirsty and un-loved or they have to leave the lovely atmosphere to go hunting for drinks. One sure fire way to avoid these parched problems is to set-up a drinks table for guests. And rather than hide your drinks table in a corner, make a feature of it.

So, rather than simply lining your drinks up on a slightly sad looking trestle table covered with a couple of cloths, take a look at some of these pretty (and pretty easy) ideas for delightful drinks tables...

 Above - I love these big jars filled with drinks decorated with extra fruity slices. Guests can simply dip in with a ladle and help themselves to exactly how much they'd like. The cute little signs let everyone know what's in each jar and the lids keep any flying bugs away on sultry summer days. Image - Country Living

 Above - oooh, such prettiness here. This old desk has been turned into something really rather fabulous. The drinks jars, the jam jar vases already with straws waiting (love how they're all leaning in the same direction!) and the extra lemons waiting to garnish those drinks. This is not a complicated set-up at all, it's just been done beautifully and that's the key. Image - Jasmine Star

 Above - this is a super summery drinks table decorated with sunflowers and fruit. I really like how the drinks jars have been raised up on picnic baskets (gives the display height and visual interest) and the cute drinks signs are perfect too. Adding fresh fruit to the drinks is a great way of making things extra special and again, there are those jam jars being used as glasses which I just love. Wonderfully uncreased cloth and hurrah - it's long enough to cover the legs of whatever table lays beneath! Image - via Pinterest

 Above - barrels, a sheet of wood, drinks, glasses and fruit. I think this image is proof that simple set-ups works so well. I think hay bales could work really well instead of barrels for country style weddings. Image - Splendid Willow

 Above - another pretty set-up with lots of great styling details. The drinks bottle on the quirky little stool, the berries and goodies in the wire holder, the 'just picked' flowers and the gingham table runner. Again, there's nothing complicated here, it's just a matter of thought and execution. Image - The Sweetest Occasion 

 Above - ok, ignore the creases in that table cloth (and worse, the creases aren't even straight so either the cloth's not laid properly or it was ironed badly - dear oh dear) but this is pretty. The cloth colour contrasts wonderfully with the sweet pink drinks and the ribbon backing is really fabulous. You could achieve something like this if you set your table up near a tree and hung ribbons from branches. An alternative would be to attached large coloured paper pom poms or voile panels to trees. Image - Theresa Choi

 Above - I just can't get enough of those big drinks jars and those stripy straws are oh-so cute too. The signs on the purple ribbons bring the day's colour scheme into the mix along with those flowers in the fab vase. And more jam jar glasses - are we sensing a bit of a trend here? I hope so... Image - via Artelexia

Above - the rainbow styling detail here is fab and there'll definitely be something for everyone on that table! If you can't find drinks in bottles, you could just use coloured drinks in glasses. Or maybe that should be in jam jars...! Image - via Pinterest

How To... Add Some Fab Finishing Touches

Finishing touches are the fabulous little details than can take a wedding from great to completely unforgettable – it’s your chance to stamp your personality on your day so take you pick from some of the ideas below and whether you go for something romantic or something quirky, just remember that your hard work won’t go un-noticed by your guests.

If you’ve got a blank wall in your venue, how about setting up a hat peg board?  It’s easy to do – just hang some ribbon on the wall and add some gorgeous wooden clothes pegs.  All your glam guests can then hang up their hats when they want to party and all those colours look great.  If you want to be extra thoughtful, put a mirror and comb by the hat peg board so girls can check they’re still looking good!

Image - via BridalBuds

What could be more romantic than a candlelit first dance?  Get your bridesmaids or ushers to hand all your guests some tall taper or church candles before your big moment on the dancefloor and then just enjoy the atmosphere.

Make the most of warm summer evenings by creating an outside seating area lit with lots of lanterns and candles.  Add some throws and blankets and you’ll all be out there in the early hours!

Ribbon wrapped menus make simple card look like a gorgeous gift.  Tie on a name tag and let these little ‘gifts’ guide guests to their seats at dinner.

If you’re ‘going away’ at the end of the evening, have lots of torches to hand so guests can bring some brightness to the big send off.

Heel protectors might not be the most exciting thing ever but your girlie guests will love the fact they’ve not ruined their sexy shoes by sinking into the grass!  They’ll also give them more grip on the dancefloor too.

Image - via Vintage Bird Bride

Picnic style reception are big news. Spread lots of rugs and let everyone just chill out.

If you’ve got a photo printer, bring it along and ask an usher to print a photo from the day for all the guests to take with them as they leave – instant memories!

Image - via Martha Stewart

Bring some Starbucks style to your evening by serving coffee and muffins at midnight – it’s a great pick me up for guests who want to keep partying and also for those who’ve got a long drive home.

Add water lights or glow sticks to flower arrangements for the evening for a different look to your decorations.

Cut costs by serving jugs of water rather than bottles during dinner but add some interest by freezing slices of lemon or lime into ice before adding them to the jugs.

As a twist to the speeches, why not have each speaker introduced by someone different?  Your Grandad could introduce your Dad for example and this way more people get to be a part of the day.

Set up some board games for people to play after dinner and before the evening reception – it’ll keep everyone entertained in the break.

Give each table a bottle of champagne and ask them to pop the cork at their favourite moment during the speeches – it’s great fun and big boost to the speakers!

Make sure your evening party includes a section of music for the older guests – you need to see your Gran on the dancefloor!

Set up a laptop for guests to download their photos to before they leave so you’ve got an instant set of wedding photos to look at!

Cool drinks down by using ice glasses – great for the coolest evening parties.

Goodnight notes can be left on guest’s pillows so there’s something waiting for them when they get back to their rooms.  A fab finishing touch!

Image - via Gabbafriends

Sweets for the journey home – set up a ‘sweetie bar’ and let everyone fill a little bag before they leave.

Save the confetti throwing moment until the end of the evening and let guests shower you with petals during the last dance of the evening.  A great way to end a great day.

How To... Keep Calm On Your Wedding Day

Image - Melanie East

It’s the big day, you’ve been planning it for months and maybe even dreaming about it since you were a little girl.  You wake up in the morning, the dress is hanging on the door, the shoes are in their box and your honeymoon case is packed and waiting.  It should be a brilliant feeling.  But, then the nerves kick in.  You’ve got butterflies in your stomach, your hands are shaking and your mouth’s gone dry.  If that sounds like something you’re worried about, read on for my top tips on being a blissed out bride…

1.  Don’t leave it until the day!  The morning of a wedding can be pretty hectic with hairdressers, make-up artists, photographers, videographers, family and bridesmaids all flying around you.  This really isn’t the time to be trying to pack for your honeymoon or to discover that you can’t find your passport.  Take a little time in the days running up to the wedding to put everything you’re going to need in one place and avoid panic later on.

2. If your name’s not down…  The more people that are with you when you’re trying to get ready, the more likely someone is to start you panicking about something.  By all means, write a ‘guest list’ of essential supporters who you know will calm you down rather than wind you up and keep everyone else out.  Task a friend to answer your phone in the morning too – you don’t need to deal with anything, just enjoy the moment.

3. Time for tea!  Well, breakfast really – don’t forget to eat, even if it’s just a little toast or grapes.  It’s a long day and having something in your stomach can really settle your nerves.  Try and avoid too much alcohol too as sometimes, this can make you feel much worse.  Of course, a little champagne is always allowed!

4. You’re a bride, not a prisoner – There’s absolutely no reason why you have to stay locked in your house or hotel room all morning.  Getting out for a little walk, a run even, and a bit of fresh air is great to help calm you down and stops you clock watching.

5. Tick tick tick – Every smug married will tell you how quickly the day goes and the time before the ceremony is no exception, despite what you might think!  And if one thing if guaranteed to stress you out, it’s the moment when you look at the clock, realise you’ll be saying your vows in less than an hour and you’ve still not got the dress on!  Write a sensible time plan and let everyone know what should be happening when.  Build in a bit of flexibility though so if styling your hair takes a little longer than you thought it might, it’s not a major crisis.

6. Stress Free Suppliers – Everyone’s wedding nightmare is that a supplier doesn’t turn up.  In reality, it’s incredibly rare.  We all love our jobs and the thought of letting someone down just doesn’t enter our minds.  So feel free to call suppliers in the few days before your wedding just to treble check arrangements if it makes you feel better (we understand!) and take their mobile numbers – an office number is really no help if something does go wrong on the day as they won’t be there to answer it!

Image - 1 Wedding Source

7. Quick Fix – There’s absolutely nothing wrong with carrying a little emergency kit of hair grips, face powder, lipstick and a few ‘spares’ of things if you feel happier with them.  Remember though that there’s always somewhere at most venues where you can store a little bag so don’t feel like you have to cram everything in a tiny handbag.  Also, hotels will always have spare smellies, needle and thread packs and paracetamol so if you forget the kit, don’t worry.

7. Smile – A lot of couples that I speak to say they’re worried about the photographs and that they hate posing for the camera.  If this is something that’s stressing you out, how about asking your photographer for a ‘pre wedding shoot’, perhaps when you visit the venue together?  You’ll all get used to each other and your snapper will be able to pass on their tips for staying calm in front of the lens.

8. Keep it Natural – However nervous you feel, please don’t resort to excess alcohol or anything else to help calm you down because you’ll regret it.  Stick to things that are nice and natural so you don’t suffer afterwards.  Bach’s Rescue Remedy is great for settling nerves and if you look on-line before the day, you’ll be able to find plenty of breathing exercises that will help too.  When you panic, you take short breaths which can leave you feeling light headed and faint.  Practice taking deep, slow breaths and do this when it starts getting too much.

Image - Martha Stewart

9. Love your Lists – Lists are a great way to stay in control on your wedding day and they’re also great for passing on information to other people.  If you’ve got a list of exactly which gifts should be behind the top table, someone else can check they’re there.  List who should be in every photo and make sure your photographer and ushers have copies to help round everyone up.  People shouldn’t need to ask you questions all day long, you’ve got plenty of other (much nicer!) things to do…

10. Potential Problems – Sometimes, just the thought of what could happen is enough to bring back the butterflies so deal with any potential problems before this happens.  If you’re worried that an elderly relative might have problems with the stairs, that a pregnant guest could struggle with an afternoon of standing or that your nearest and dearest might get lost on the trip from the church to the reception – plan ahead and let someone else know your worries, don’t wait until the day and just ‘hope’ that nothing will happen because that will only stress you out.

11. Roll with it – Despite your planning, sometimes things might change.  The rain might scupper the outdoor drinks reception you’d hoped for or the band might need a little longer to set up that planned but just try to roll with it.  Guests won’t notice and they’ll all be having a great time mingling and chatting anyway and, I promise you, that the sight of a bride going into a melt down over something relatively minor kills the atmosphere more than a delay to the first dance ever will.

12. Think about the aftermath – Don’t forget that whatever you’ve taken to the venue needs to be taken away afterwards.  Gifts & cards have to get home, suits and hired items have to be returned to the right companies, cake needs to be wrapped up and candle holders, guest books, cameras and everything else has to be removed from the venue.  Think who will do this for you in advance and arrange everything.  You don’t need to be worrying about this ten minutes before you’re supposed to leave on honeymoon.

Image - Melanie East

13. Time Out – There will probably be a few moments on the day when everything just seems to be speeding by in a blur and this can be the moment when a few couples panic.  Don’t be afraid to take a time out from whatever is going on and get away from it all for a moment.  Escape to a quite corner, sit quietly for a moment and calm yourself down before returning to the party.

14. Be prepared! – Knowing what to expect at all stages of the wedding can help ease your nerves.  Does your registrar need to speak to you before the ceremony?  Who will be announcing you in to dinner?  What’s the wet weather plan for the drinks reception?  What time will the florist/photographer/cars arrive?  If you know what’s coming next, you won’t feel so worried about it and the day will be smooth, seamless and much more enjoyable.

How To... Be Organised AFTER Your Wedding

Image - Courtenay Photographic

So, you’ve planned the perfect day, you’ve married your man, you’re home from your heavenly honeymoon and it’s time to relax?  Wrong!  There are still things to be done to ‘tidy up’ after the day.  Here’s a guide on how to be organised after the day and ways you can get a head start on that post-wedding planning…

                 

1. When you meet with your photographer before the wedding to discuss the day and the shots you’d like, make an appointment to visit them again to view or collect your proofs.  This gives you something to look forward to on your return from honeymoon and saves you calling around to make more arrangements when you get back.  It’s also worth asking how long it will take them to make up the finished album after you’ve confirmed your choice of photographs.  Some photographers will even upload a few images to their website so you can view them from your honeymoon destination!

2. If you’re going to be sending cake to people, buy the boxes and write the address labels before the day.  You can then leave them with someone who can send the cake on to the recipients while you’re on honeymoon.  People get nice fresh cake in good time after the wedding and it’s another thing you won’t have to do when you get back.

3. Buy all your thank you cards before the wedding too.  Most high street stores have a good range of multipacks or you can order sets to match your other wedding stationery.  Set yourself a deadline by which you want to have sent them all, even promise yourself a treat when they’re all done if that will help.  Try and personalise them a little, maybe mention the specific gift or talk about something that happened on the day but don’t worry about writing too much – short, sweet and swift is a good rule here.

4  Put together a list of all those who’ll need to be informed about your marriage such as your employer, bank, mortgage company, utilities suppliers, insurers etc.  Gather all the relevant details (addresses, reference numbers or even ‘change of details’ forms) and check what they require from you to effect the change.  Banks and the like will often need sight of your marriage certificate while others, such as mobile phone providers, will be happy with a suitable letters.  

Image - The Beautiful Box Company

5  If you’re thinking of storing your wedding dress afterwards, you’ll certainly need a suitably sized box (complete with acid free tissue paper to avoid discolouration) so you can pack it carefully aware.  Another thing you may like to think about is professional cleaning for your gown as most will be marked in some way.  You could even give your dress to someone to take to the cleaners while you’re on honeymoon so any stains or marks can be dealt with sooner rather than later.

6  Have you hired formal wear for the men in the party?  Don’t forget to arrange for someone to return all hired suits, shirts, ties and waistcoats etc back to the hire company when you’re on honeymoon.  You don’t want to come back home to a big ‘late return’ bill!

7.  Damager waivers and other refundable deposits are becoming very popular with venues.  If your venue included anything like this in your bill, get in touch with them to get the cash back.  A quick phone call or e-mail should be enough but it’s worth doing sooner rather than later.

8. If you’re saving the top tier of your cake for future celebrations, get it wrapped and frozen as soon as possible to stop it drying out too much.  Ask your cake maker for their advice and for instructions about storage as you may have to remove icing and marzipan.  Sugar flowers and other decorations can be stored as keepsakes as well but again, check out the best way to preserve them – sugar flowers ‘sweat’ and break down over time if stored in airtight boxes so they’re best in cardboard boxes which keep them out of the light but allow them to ‘breathe’.

9 Before you turn off your pc and tidy your desk and begin your ‘wedding leave’, send an e-mail to your HR department so they can change any documents, contracts or technical settings while you’re away.  If you’re going to be changing your name and so changing your e-mail address, put together a list of all clients & colleagues who’ll need to know.  Set up a distribution list and send one mass e-mail when you return so everyone is informed as soon as possible.

10 Think about buying a keepsake box.  These are a great way to keep all your cards and other wedding day items safe.  You could include a copy of your menu, place cards, a favour, a champagne cork, an order of service/ceremony and don’t forget your guestbook and all those lovely cards!

Image - via Ehow

11 Take time to read your guest book.  I can almost guarantee that you’ll be surprised at some of the thoughtful and funny messages that will have been written for you both.  Make a cup of tea and sit down for a few minutes – it might be worth grabbing a hankie too if you’re feeling emotional!

12 If you were happy with your suppliers, get in touch with them and let them know!  There’s nothing nicer than receiving a card, e-mail or phone call from happy clients and if you’d be willing to act as a reference client or provide a testimonial for them to use on their website or other marketing material, it’ll be much appreciated.

13 If you were driven, either by chauffeur or a friend, to the airport before you jet off on honeymoon, make arrangements for someone to collect you too!  Leave behind your flight number, landing time and terminal details if applicable so you’re not left waiting in the arrivals area for too long!

Image - DIY Planner

14 Take your photos everywhere with you or get them on-line so you can lap up all the lovely comments!  Another good idea is to take a journal style book on honeymoon with you and both write down your memories of the day while everything is still ‘fresh’.

15 Lots of brides feel ‘down’ or ‘a bit lost’ after the wedding when the initial buzz from photos, cards and comments is over.  To try and avoid or minimise this, plan things to do when you get back from honeymoon to avoid ‘Post Wedding Blues’.  Ask some friends over for dinner, arrange a trip to see you family or plan a romantic evening for the two of you.  Keep yourself busy and remember that although your wedding might be over, your marriage is only just starting.

How To... Organise Your Time - The Big Day!

Yesterday, we looked at how to be organised with your time in the run up to the wedding and today we're moving on to concentrate on the day itself.

Any bride will tell you that the day absolutely flies by and it's so true - you've spent ages waiting for the day to come and then it's over in a heartbeat. Remember that feeling you used to get when you went to bed on Christmas Day? That such a fabulous day was all over? Well, it's exactly like that but with weddings, you don't get another one next year so make the most of every minute. And making the most of every minute means enjoying each moment, not being stressed, being calm, in control and not having that awful feeling that you're not going to have enough time for something important. 

So, here are some tips and tricks to make sure time is on your side on your wedding day...

Image - Melanie East

• Pin up a time plan in the room where you’re getting ready so everyone can see it.  This will save everyone asking continually asking you questions! Decide on the order everyone will see the hairdresser and make-up artist so there's no hanging around.
• Lay out your entire outfit the night before.  You don’t want to be hunting for a shoe or earring just before you wedding.
• Make sure someone is keeping an eye on the time.  One minute you’ve got hours to wait and the next, it’s time to go so don’t get caught out.
• Decide in advance what order everyone will be having hair and makeup done so you don’t waste time in the morning when people arrive.
• If you're going to the venue to set anything up, tell them what time you'll arrival so they can have the tables laid before you get there so you're not waiting for them to finish so you can start!
• Find out what time suppliers will be arriving – especially important if you don’t want the photographer to arrive whilst you’re still in the shower!
• Let someone else keep things on time for you.  Delegate the job to a member of the wedding party or hire a co-ordinator to worry about this for you.  Making sure dinner, drinks and dances are at the right moment shouldn’t be your job when it’s your big day.
• Overestimate how long it will take to get ready - it's better to have time for a relaxed glass of champagne and not be running around or panicking.
• Fight the temptation to leave early for the ceremony.  It’s awful having to drive around because you’re early and all your guests haven’t arrived.  That said, don’t aim on being late, especially for a civil ceremony – most registrars do more than one wedding per day and they don’t like you being late.
• Decide with your photographer before the day how long you want to spend having photographs taken and don’t be afraid to say ‘enough’.  Spending time with your guests is what makes your wedding special.
• If you don't want the speeches going on for too long, let the speakers now how long they should speak for. Even 5 minutes each adds up to around 20 minutes in total and the caterers will need to know this, especially if you're planning speeches before starter or dessert. 
• Pouring the champagne for the toasts at the table is a nice touch but it can take a while for that to happen. Caterers can always pour behind the scenes and then just serve glasses to the tables (and this also keeps some glassware off the tables for a more uncluttered look).
• Try to stick to time for your first dance because it's unlikely other guests will hit the dancefloor until you've strutted your stuff which delays the party and means the band or dj are playing to no-one!
• Definitely get some time alone with your husband.  The day will pass so quickly and before you know it, the guests will be leaving and you’ll realise you’ve not spoken to your hub since dinner!  The break between dinner and the evening reception is the perfect time to sneak off…

Image - Energy Photographic

How To... Organise Your Time

We all know how much time it can take to organise your wedding and quite a lot of wedding related stress comes from having to find the extra hours in already packed schedules to do all the work.  Hours spent hunting for suppliers, sourcing items, travelling to meetings and viewing venues can soon mount up and it’s easy too feel overwhelmed or that every non-working moment (and some ‘should be working' moments too!) are just filled with wedding related tasks.  But it doesn’t have to be this way – read on for tips on how to make the most of your time in the months before the wedding and in the week before when things can get a little crazy. Don’t let time tick away, plan smarter and stay sane!

 Plenty of time to go

• The first thing to do is find your planning style – do you like to plan little and often or do you have big blitzes followed by quiet spells?  Decide which way works for you early on and create a plan around that.
• Write down all the tasks that need to be done and note when they need to be done by.  The list will be long and scary to start with but once it’s written, it’s easy to see where you are.
• Get organised with a planning file.  If you’re a true techno-babe, set up folders, checklists and reminders on your pc or download a 'to do list' app. Alternatively, put together a paper-based folder.  There’s no right or wrong way to do this – find the way that suits you best.
• Visiting suppliers before you decide who to use can be very time consuming.  Be very selective who you go to see.  Are they over your budget?  Have you checked availability?  Do they cover your area?  Have they responded promptly to your enquiries?
• Try to visit all similar shortlisted suppliers in one day or one weekend.  Having a day of visiting photographers will make it easier for you to compare styles and packages when everything is fresh in your mind.  You’ll probably be able to make a decision at the end of the day too so you’ll feel you’ve really achieved something from the day.
• Find out early on how long things will take to be delivered after ordering.  Some stationery can take 3 months to be delivered and wedding dresses can take 6 months or more to be made. 
• If you find details of a company you like, save them even if you don’t need them right now.  You can guarantee you won’t remember their web address 6 months later and you’ll waste valuable time hunting for it.
• Once you’ve made a decision on something – stop looking at similar things!  It’s a waste of time and you might start doubting your choice (which in turn leads to time spent worrying which is not good!)
• Get other people to do the work for you!  Perhaps your Mum could find a few stationery ranges for you to choose from?  A travel agent could find you the perfect honeymoon if you tell them your budget, likes and dislikes & time of travel.  You don’t have to do all the leg work, just make the final decision!
• Start dress shopping as soon as you like.  This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the experience and means you’re not under pressure to find and order something quickly.  If you can, visit boutiques in the week when the staff will have more time to look after you than at weekends which can be notoriously hectic.

Tick tick tick

• However well you’ve used your time in the months before the wedding, there will be some things you can only do the week before (collecting suits, dropping off items at venues etc) so write a very comprehensive list of what needs doing and ask other people to help you out.
• When you pack items to take to your venue, write a list of everything inside the box as you pack it and stick it on the lid.  It’ll save you unpacking to check things are there and it’ll save time on the day when everyone knows where everything is.
• Over-estimate on time for ‘little’ jobs like writing placecards.  These things often take longer than you imagine and you’ll make fewer mistakes when you’re not under time pressure.
• You might not be able to pack for your honeymoon until the day before but make things a bit easier on yourself and buy sun cream and other essentials well in advance so you don’t have to find time for a shopping trip too.
• Don’t forget food!  All the running around in the last week and the ‘I’ve not got time to eat’ feelings are the reasons why lots of brides lose weight in the run up to the wedding (sounds good but isn’t when your dress has been fitted).  Plan ahead and do an on-line shop to be delivered so you’ve got plenty of quick and healthy food around.
• Do schedule in a bit of ‘you’ time – either go for a manicure or a swim.  You’ll feel a lot better for it!

Tomorrow we'll look at how to be organised on your wedding day and how to keep everything calm and in control...

The A-Z Of Outdoor Receptions

I don't know whether it's because here in my little corner of the English countryside we're had a few days of the most wonderful spring like weather or because I'm the kind of girl who prefers to be outside instead of indoors but I am just loving the thought of gorgeous summery weddings packed with sunshine and blue skies. Now, I know that sometimes our famous (or should that be infamous?!) English weather gets the better of us but as long as you have a contingency plan should the clouds roll in and the raindrops fall, there's absolutely nothing better than planning an outdoor reception.

So here, to help you along, is my A-Z guide for fabulous al fresco celebrations...

A Atmosphere is all important so try to keep guests in one space for as long as possible because if people start drifting off, the atmosphere just isn’t the same.  By decorating the area you want everyone to use, serving drinks and food in the same space and keeping the entertainment here too, guests will quickly get the message that this is the place to be!

B A BBQ is a fabulous idea for your outdoor reception, whether as the main meal or as the highlight of the evening buffet.  Make sure there’s a selection of meat and vegetarian options and serve with some sensational salads and freshly baked speciality breads.

C What could be better to get the fun started than playing some games?  Croquet would be perfect and lots of venues would have equipment ready for you to use. If not, you can buy sets from thegardengame.co.uk. Set some deckchairs nearby so those not playing can watch and not miss out on the fun.

D Why not dance outside as well?  If your reception rooms open onto a patio or terrace, fling open the doors and strut your stuff by starlight. Could you get anything more romantic than a last dance under the moon?

E If you’re outside, you’ll want an explosive evening! How about exploding roman candles along the drive as you head off at the end of the night and on’t forget, you can have silent fireworks if you want the explosions without the bangs!

F Add some fairground fun to your wedding with a carousel, helter skelter, big wheel and even the traditional side stalls! Take a look at carouselroundabouts.co.uk for more information.

G Keep your canapés cool and something trendy like iced Gazpacho Soup served in little shot glasses will wow your guests.

H Forget the sit-down dinner and keep your outdoor reception informal.  Hampers full of tasty treats and mini bottles of wine and water are fabulous, fun and often more cost effective.

I Who can resist ice cream so why not hire an old fashioned Ice Cream Cart to serve dessert outside?  Take a look at weddingtrikes.com for more information.

J Homemade Jams make wonderful favours for outdoor weddings.  You can make them yourself really easily – get your jars from www.lakeland.co.uk and fruit from your local pick-your-own farm or farmers market.  Decorate the tops with co-ordinating fabric and print your own personalised labels and the jars can double up as place-cards. Take a look at another of my blog posts for jam inspiration & recipes.

K If you’re going to serve beer to your guests, how about buying in a Keg of your favourite?  Breweries like Hogsback (www.hogsback.co.uk) and Wychwood (www.wychwood.co.uk) sell kegs of their award winning ales – perfect for a summer evening!

L  Light is so important outdoors so think about lanterns, candles and fairy lights.  Line pathways with lanterns, fill ponds with floating candles, use tiny tea-lights on ledges and wrap fairy lights around trees, archways and anything you want to highlight.

M If you’re having music outside during your drinks reception, place the musicians in the shade, provide them with some cool drinks and think about the volume – you might need it to be a little louder as there are no walls to hold the sound in so keep them close to your guests.

N Non-alcoholic drinks are essential at outdoor receptions, not only for children, those who are driving or don’t like alcohol but also to stop those who are drinking getting too sozzled too quickly or  de-hydrating in the heat.  Sparkling elderflower is a great alternative to champagne.

O Olfaction, or our sense of smell, is really important for creating the right mood.  Use lots of scented flowers in your arrangements and use scented petals for confetti or scatter them on tables or along the aisle or around the dance floor.

P Punch & Pimms are ideal drinks when you’re outside and as they’re often served by the jug, they can be cheaper than bottles of wine or glasses of fizz.

Q Quirky details can often work really well outside because they’re not competing with the interior of the venue.  Let your imagination run riot with bold colours and outrageous details!

R Insects can spoil your outdoor reception but citronella candles are a natural repellent. Also add some sprays to your bathroom packs for guests.

S Don’t forget to provide plenty of seating and shade so people can escape from the heat and take a moment to cool down.  Ask your venue to put up parasols or arrange chairs under trees.

T Make the most of the outside by setting up a treasure hunt for the children. Concoct your clues and send them on a mini-adventure around your venue, ending up at a heap of goodie boxes that’ll keep them amused during dinner.

U A pile of pretty wedding umbrellas are great to keep at hand, in case of the odd drop of rain or as sunshades for guests.

V A great low-cost way to add extra colour to your outdoor reception is with voile panels.  Pick them up from ikea.co.uk and hang them from trees and branches.

W Even hot days can be windy so use some beautiful clip-on weights to stop table cloths from flying away (and if you’ve got a veil, stop it wrapping itself around your head during the photos by pegging it to the back of your dress!)

X X-treme heat can be as bad as wet or chilly weather at an outdoor reception.  Think about hiring air conditioning units, buying in more ice and providing more drinks or pretty paper fans if the temperature soars.

Y You and your husband should get some ‘us time’ during the day.  How about sneaking off for a walk outside between dinner and your first dance and arranging for your venue to hide a bottle of champagne and two glasses outside?

Zzzzzzz Fresh air can make people sleepy, especially children so making sure there’s somewhere for them to crash out can save you from the over-tired tears at the end of the day.  If there’s a room with sofas and blankets, they can escape when they need too.

Images, from top - The Knot, via Flickr, design*sponge, Details Planning Company, Best Pillar Candles, Velvet Brown.

The Supplier's Speech - Essentially You

 Before I start this week's 'Supplier's Speech', I should admit to a little bit of bias here because I truly love this week's featured wedding professional - the wonderful Julie Tooby from Essentially You. Julie is a multi award winning wedding planner, co-ordinator and all-around fabulous woman. So, before I get totally carried away like a winning actress at the Oscars, I'm just going to hand over to the woman herself...

Tell me a little bit more about your business...
I founded Essentially You in 2005 and I've now been planning & co-ordinating weddings for over ten years. Our aim, our goal and our business is to ensure that our couples have an amazing, memorable and enjoyable day. Whether we are planning the entire event or just applying the finishing touches, we are professional and committed. Our knowledge and expertise means that all we work with can rely on our excellent advice. We work closely with our couples, to deliver their perfect day but never taking over.

What's so great about working in the wedding industry?
Everything! To me, this industry is something to fall in love with. Meeting with lovely couples and being part of the magic of the day and seeing the smile on a bride's face when she sees her special day come together is priceless. For me, this isn't a job, it's a lifestyle.

In your opinion, what are the most important questions a bride should ask when booking suppliers?
Really, I think they should have a list of what exactly they need to achieve with each specific suppliers and work to a specific budget. It's very important to cover all the groundwork at the early stages and then there's no surprises further along the line. A key question is always costs - do quotes include VAT? Are there any extras such as mileage charges? But mostly, you have to ask yourself if you like that supplier and want to give them the honour of being involved with your wedding.

Have you got any great wedding tips you'd like to share?
Feel comfortable with every one that will be working on your day, especially suppliers such as photographers as you'll be spending a lot of time with them over the months of planning and on the wedding day itself. If your clever with your budget, you'll be able to afford an 'on the day' co-ordinator and they will look after you and make sure the day you've planned is the one you get. It's an affordable but invaluable service.

What makes a wedding really fabulous?
Personal touches. A wedding should be all about the couple and guests should be leaving saying "that was a great wedding because it couldn't have been anyone else's day but theirs".

Have you seen anything really great at weddings recently?
A recent wedding had a fabulous 'secret midnight party' - the majority of the guests left and then the bride, groom and their closest, most party loving friends, went on dancing through til dawn and they had breakfast together at dawn. It was great!

How do you prepare for a wedding?
Prior to the day, I have a comprehensive questionnaire that I work through with my couples and once this is complete, I meet the couple again to run through the day with them. On the day, I work to this planner and check all is correct and and to check that everything is just as they wanted. The aim of the game is that the couple and their friends and family relax and worry about nothing. It should be a seamless day and one full of memories for the right reasons.

What do you think the next 'big thing' in weddings will be?
Right now, whatever happens at the Royal Wedding in April will be big news but other than that, we look to the US for a lot of our trends - they tend to hit the UK 12-18 months later!

If you could give brides one piece of advice, what would it be?
Relax and enjoy the day - it's once in a lifetime.

To find out more about Julie and the services she offers, including the very popular 'on the day' co-ordination, visit her website - www.essentially-you.net or follow her on Twitter - www.twitter.com/julietooby

(Very) Delicious Details... Edible Place Markers

I don't know about you but I find feeding people very satisfying for the soul - there's something so good about watching friends and family tucking in and enjoying themselves and that is especially true at weddings. A well planned wedding always looks after the guests, pampers them and makes them feel special so a few little edible treats and surprises always work wonderfully.

A favourite trick of mine is definitely using usual things in unusual ways so food as place markers is a big hit with me. Watching guests smile as they take their seats and see their little treat is such a joy and then, as they relax and the conversations start... Well, that's when you know you've done a good job.

So, here are a few ideas for place markers that literally are good enough to eat!

 Above - I adore these breadstick place markers! The holder could be made in one of two ways - a little glass votive holder with a paper wrap (print the guest's name on the paper before wrapping it) or cover a length of corrugated card with coloured paper (again, printed with the guest's name) and fold it into a ring. Image - Martha Stewart

 Above - Macarons are definitely one of the sweet treats of the year so these are very on trend. Little paper squares are wrapped around cocktail sticks to form flags and are then poked into the almondy heaven of the macaron. These are seating cards but you could so easily pop one at each place setting instead and of course, macarons can be made in almost any colour so they'll fit with any theme. Image - Marianne Wilson Photography

 Above - Such a simple idea but very effective - shot glasses, filled with sweets (you can use anything you like) have little beribboned cards, again on cocktail sticks, stood in them. Easy DIY (if you can stop yourself eating the sweets as you go!) Image - Melissa Jill Photography

Above - love these cute little buns with the names iced on to them - who can resist an iced bun?! Image - Real Simple

Above - here's the perfect place marker for any cupcake fans - these mini cupcakes are real sweeties. Circles cut from coloured card have smaller circles with the guests names printed on and are stuck onto a lolly or cocktail stick. Add another large coloured circle on the back to hide the stick and then pop into the cake. Set one at each place and watch the happy smiles appear. Image - Tammy Golson

Above - another simple idea with fresh and crispy apples. Two coloured card 'leaves' have names printed on and are then pinned onto the apple. You could use as seating cards - one leaf with the name, another with the table details - or as place markers on the tables in which case, the second 'leaf' could have a printed message from you as a nice touch. Image - The Knot

 Above - these fun fortune cookies are bright and tasty additions to the table. You can buy in your fortune cookies and dip half in melted Candy Melts in the colour you'd like. Add a strip of paper with the guest's name and a pithy phrase and there you have it. Image - via Squidoo

 Above - another simple and tasty idea - make the 'flag' with a cocktail stick and printed paper rounds (again, stick one on the front and on the back to hide the stick) and the spear the pretty wrapped little chocolate. Set at each place and let the nibbling commence! Image - Wedding Channel

 Above - who would have thought apples wrapped in baking parchment could look so fabulous? You could use any fruit (peaches or nectarines would be great or clementines in the winter) and then wrap a strip of parchment around and tie with raffia or ribbon. Here, a message to the guest has been written on the parchment but you could just write the name or add a tag to the knot. Image - Edible Crafts

Above - this is the perfect idea for an Easter wedding - black liquorice is coiled into nests and mini sweet eggs are popped inside. The card tag is poking out of the nest like a leaf that's trying to escape. Image - CK Events