If I Was Kate

Today I am thrilled to introduce you to Lou, of Met My Match wedding blog, who is busy planning her own DIY wedding.

We are all incredibly pleased and excited to hear that Wills has popped the question, particularly us brides-to-be and wedding pros. We haven’t had a Royal Engagement for some time now so this is just what the UK and our gossip mag culture needs. I shall be marrying my Prince next June, or should that be frog?!? Either way, we can’t wait to walk down the aisle in our brand new togs after (what will be) a two year engagement.

I suspect that one of the joys of being a Royal is a large disposable income; there will be none of that saving malarkey for the blue blooded couple! We’ve been squirreling pennies away for some time now and our little budget has actually helped to shape the style and theme of our big day. We’ve gone all DIY and opted for a village hall affair with a retro twist. I love our theme but I have to admit that if I had a budget like Kate’s, our big day would certainly be very different…my guest list would triple for one! If I had more money I wouldn’t have to demote anyone to the evening list and I’d ensure that everyone was able to bring their plus one.

Everybody loves a grand wedding venue and I’m not different. If I had reliable regal connections I would have loved to have said my vows in the RAF Church, St Clement Danes, on the Strand in London. Imagine how fantastic it would be to emerge from this imposing church perfectly positioned in the middle of the road for all of London to see, plus it would allow me to stay true to my days in the Air Training Corps.

I’d have a fleet of vintage Routemaster buses transport all of the guests and an army of vintage black London taxi cabs take the entire wedding party to a reception at The Imperial War Museum in London, where their Large Exhibits Gallery can cater for up to 400 people

from Cotton Bunting

I’d enlist an “Oooooooh Britannia” theme (rather like “Cool Britannia, but with more flair and retro styling), complete with masses of Union Jack bunting and lots of red and blue bridesmaids dressed in matching Dessy ensembles; style number 6553 in flame red and sapphire blue would be perfect, simple and chic.

And then there’s me… I would drape myself in a super posh frock by Johanna Hehir, her Giovanna dress with a blue sash would be fantastic (and if I had a whopping sapphire like Kate, the colour detail would compliment it nicely). Caroline Costigliano is another fantastic designer who is perfect for big budget brides. Her Legacy dress and Beautiful are both superb.

With regards to the big day gems where else could you go other than to the Queen’s jeweller, Mappin and Webb?!? Their collection of solitaire diamonds is simply stunning.

Beautiful blooms by Robbie Honey in shades of red, white and blue would be on the agenda, as would gorgeous letter press invitations from Hello Lucky. I just love their London collection.

The cake would have to be by the uber talented Peggy Porschen, I love her Rose Explosion, but I would tweak it to match the red, white and blue theme.

After a fish and chip supper I’d like to get everybody dancing around the imposing V2 bombs and gigantic tanks, something that I’m sure Main Events could do as the organisers of Jitterbug parties, or perhaps the Blitz Party patrons would be keen to do a private event.

As a budget bride I have shied away from the concept of favours but if I were able to be flash with the cash I’d buy all of my girlie guests “Keep Calm and Carry On Shopping” mugs and “Keep Calm and Carry On” mugs for the chaps, as well as “When in Doubt Brew Up” mugs for the younger guests [

To top the evening off I’d have to forgo fireworks and enlist the Red Arrows for a smoke filled fly over before the summer night drew to a close… Ahhhhhhh a girl can dream!


Wow these are truly fabulous choices, carrying a patriotic theme but with style and fun. Thank you Lou.

Snowflakes

We have woken to our first covering of snow this morning much to the excitement of my children, who have plans of snowball fights and building snowmen.  So I thought I would find snowflake inspired items to give your celebration a sprinkling of snow.

from Ghetto Vinyl

from Destinys Creations

from Chickadeesplit

from Amore Valkyrie

from Ticky Tavy

from The Supply Owl

from Timber Green Woods

from Go Rustic

from Absinthe Custom Print

from We Love Crafty Tracey

from 3 Girls & A Goat

from Hand Print by Sima

from Decals Murals

from Jo Heckett

from Country Heart

from Pink Jellyfish

from Retreat Home

from Amy Perkins

from Creative Flourish

from Sacha Smith

Christmas Cake Recipes

With only one month until the big day I am sure many of you have made your Christmas cakes, mine is tightly wrapped and fed brandy once a week.  But if you have not made yours yet I have found some yummy looking recipes for you.

How about chocolate fruit cake from BBC Good Food

James Martin's Fig & Honey Christmas Cake

Hot Toddy Fruitcake sounds delicious

and I can't forget Martha Stewart!

Frosted Fruitcake

And a Snow Capped Fruitcake from Martha Stewart

Homemade Christmas cake is a must, so fill your house with the smells of Christmas this weekend!

If I Was Kate.....

Today I am pleased to introduce you to Alison from Plans and Presents.  As a Wedding and Event Planner Alison understands the importance of finding a theme to help turn your day into a spectacular celebration, so I was excited to see what the queen of wedding tweeters would choose. Alison has reigned supreme in the number one spot of Top 100 Wedding Tweeters for many weeks. 

Having a budget the size of Kates is of course a real treat for Alison as her job as a Wedding Planner is to save her clients money whilst helping them create their perfect day.  So starting with a beautiful lace top layer on her wedding dress Alison put together a vintage Grace Kelly inspired theme.

Dress from Justin Alexander Bridal

Alison explains that such a fabulous dress does not call for much else, other than perhaps a pair of diamond earrings and a vintage inspired headband.

Headband from Chez Bec

Beautiful shoes fit for a princess

Amara Shoes from Gina

Beautiful Floral Inspiration from Mondo Floral Designs

Continuing the lace theme with this beautiful cake.

Couture Lace Cake by Peggy Porschen

(image credit - Georgia Glynn Smith)

 Or cupcakes inspired by the roses in the bouquet

from Cup Couture

Vintage inspired stationery

from Sugalily

To complete this vintage elegance inspired by Grace Kelly who else would you have entertain your guests but......

Michael Buble

Thank you Alison for such beautiful choices and perfect inspiration for brides wanting to create an elegant Grace Kelly inspired wedding.

For those of us without Kates budget Plans and Presents are offering a fabulous 25% discount off Full Wedding Co-Ordination and On The Day Management aswell as 25% discount off Full Event Planning. This offer is inclusive of all weddings and events in 2010-2012, valid for all bookings taken before 31 December 2010.

Handmade Wedding - Giveaway

I am very excited to announce Inspired Celebration's first giveaway.  A group of talented designer makers from Folksy have put together a gorgeous selection of prizes, many of which will be custom made for the winner and all prizes are handmade. 

For a chance to win one or all of the 20 prizes you must be getting married between April 2011 and April 2012 and a UK resident, sorry to all my international readers.  One entry per person however you can choose which prizes you would like to win or just put All in your comment.  To enter you will need to leave a comment on this post or the giveaway page. Closing date is midnight 14 February 2011.

If you would like to help spread the word about this giveaway please copy the grab box in the first column to the right of this post and it will link directly to the giveaway.  For a press release please email me.

Over the coming weeks I will introduce you to the talented people behind the prizes.

To view full details and the full prize list click here

If I was Kate.....

Royal Wedding fever has hit after the Royal family announced Prince William's engagement to Kate Middleton earlier this week.  I can only imagine the planning involved for such a major event but thankfully Kate will have alot of support in planning her wedding. However I am sure her parents company Party Pieces will not be supplying paper plates for the wedding of the decade. But who will Kate choose to design her dress, style the event and make the cake?  Whilst we wait with baited breath for these important decisions to be made I thought we would have some fun here at Inspired Celebration and ask wedding professionals and vendors what and who they would choose to make their day fabulous if they were Kate or William.

To get the ball rolling here are my choices and of course they are British.

Image courtesy of Halfpenny London first featured in my article for Try Handmade

I would have Kate Halfpenny, of Halfpenny London, design a beautiful gown for my wedding day.

A vintage styled headband from Chez Bec

And at least two cakes from Little Venice Cake Company

Bunting and union jacks.....

(images courtesy of Giddy Kipper & The Cotton Bunting Company)

As for entertainment I would have to choose Jamie Cullum

So who or what would you choose? If you are a wedding professional, wedding vendor or bride to be and would like to pretend you are Kate please get in touch!

{email} {twitter}