Trends from the Royal Wedding

Yesterday I was awestruck as I watched two people, so obviously in love, vow to love and honour each other. As Kate walked the long aisle of Westminster Abbey in a dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, she was breathtakingly beautiful.  The delicate lace sleeves, the tiny buttons running down her back, the three metre long train, the fitted bodice, the unfussy veil and the Queens intricate diamond tiara.  Her sister, Pippa, looked stunning in her cowl necked Sarah Burton dress in white, perhaps an unusual choice for a bridesmaid, but just worked perfectly with the beauty of the day.

image source -  BBC News

The aisles of Westminster Abbey were lined with trees and the scent of Jasmine and Lily of the Valley filled the air.  Again the beautiful simplicity was perfect.  Of course the granduer of the carriages as the happy couple and their immediate family travelled back to Buckingham Palace added that pomp we expect from a Royal wedding and the enormous wedding cake ensured the many guests received a slice.  But even the cake was delicate in the piped details.  For me it was the understated beauty of the details that made the whole wedding absolutlely stunning. Eveything seemed to seamlessly fit together and made me smile, cry and cover me in goosebumps!

The Royal Wedding will play a huge role in promoting the British Wedding industry and will dictate trends for many months to come.  So here are my thoughts on what we can expect to see over the coming months and even years.

Couture Lace Cake from Peggy Porschen

Lace - This is already a very popular choice and will be used throughout themes, whether in stationery or the way a cake is iced to the dress itself. 

image scource - Pinterest

English Garden Flowers - Pretty bouquets of pretty handcut flowers, jamjars filled with Lily of the Valley, delicate blooms handtied and adorning aisles or tables, the essence of relaxed English flowers.

image source - Top Topiary

Trees - Now I am not convinced about this idea and I am sure florists the length and breadth of the country are now in fear of trying to manovere huge trees to  venues! Yet the smaller option may continue to prove popular with small potted bay trees decorated with tiny lights and strings of pearls and lace would add opulance to many themes.

image source - Style Me Pretty

Bridesmaids in White - This seemed an unusual choice as white is the colour reserved for the bride, but we have to agree Pippas dress was simply beautiful. I think there will be a a rise in this choice of colour for bridesmaids but am sure that with colour blocking still trending for the summer we do not have to worry about neutral weddings taking centre stage in theme choices.

image source - Pinterest

Grace Kelly & Vintage Style Icons - There have been numerous mentions that Kates style was reminiscent of the beautiful Grace Kelly.  I adore the glamour and beauty of vintage style icons and think the look of Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn and many other beautiful ladies from the past will be instrumnetal in styling for the bride.

image source - Pinterest

Green - For the dinner dance hosted by Prince Charles, Pippa Middleton stepped out in a stunning Temperley London gown in the most amazing shade of green imaginable.  Green is my favourite colour, in all it's hues so of course I now want this dress! I am sure this colour will prove popular amongst bridesmaids over the coming months.

image source Zoe Clark Cakes

Cakes - I loved the way Foina Cairns had constructed such an enormous wedding cake.  With a solid tiered base to then build the main five tiers the cake was intricately iced with a floral and garland pattern, adorned with leaf trim of icing and sprigs of Lily of the Valley sat prettily in the curves of the tiers.  I think cakes will be decorated with more intricate piping and perhaps designers will play with the construction of the tiers.  I also believe there will be an increase in the demand for a second, non-traditional cake.  William's chocolate Mcvities cake was in the words of Roald Dahl 'splendiforous'.  I am sure there are now many grooms planning their own cake and why not? You can never have too much cake!

image source - Daily Mail

Classic Cars - Hooray for British classic cars, Wills looked at ease whisking Kate away from the manic day as he drove his dads Aston Martin Volante.  My husband and I are huge fans of classic cars, from VW Campers to E type Jags, to bug eyed Sprites and my all time favourite, the Citreon DS.  Grooms will be booking classic hire cars to drive themselves to the ceremony and will then swiftly whisk their new bride away for a quick spin. 

So will you be taking inspiration from The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge in your wedding planning?

Enjoy the weekend

The Royal Wedding

With just two hours until the ceremony I am sure both Wills and Kate are feeling excited, nervous and amazingly happy.  I would like to wish them  every happiness in their life as a married couple and may today be full of laughter and love.

I hope you will join me on Twitter and raise a glass to the bride and groom.

Cheers!

Wedding Blog Designer

As blogging continues to grow in popularity it is no wonder that brides and grooms to be choose to set up a blog to keep their guests updated with their wedding planning.  However some couples want more than the standard blog templates available, which led to designer Rachel Goddchild to offer a new service, Wedding Blog Designer. 

Inspired Celebration are already huge fans of Rachel's vintage designs and I used her fantastic e-card service at Christmas.  The Wedding Blog Designer offers couples the chance to make their wedding blog unique and could even inspire the designs they choose for their stationery as Rachel also offers bespoke stationery design.  The blogs can be locked so guests will need a password to access allowing only those who need to know gain all the information they need.

Wedding Blog Designer offers three different service and couples are able to order a wedding blog and/or stationery.  The three services are -

Inspired Design - couples may have a design, magazine, piece of fabric, etc that can be used to centre the design around.

Licensed Design - couples may license a design from the Wedding Designer website that can used as a blog design and/or stationery design.

Exclusive Design - couples create an A4 mood board and Rachel will create a design that is uniquely theirs.


I am sure you will agree Rachels designs are fabulous and would make any wedding blog unforgettable.

{www.weddingblogdesigner.com}

Inspired By The Royal Wedding

There are only 26 hours now until Wills & Kate say 'I do' and Royal Wedding hype has certainly swept the length and breadth of the British Isles, never mind the rest of the world.  For many designers this occasion has proved inspiring and we are yet to see the actual ceremony.  Over the past few weeks I have seen some gorgeous Royal Wedding inspired creations from many suppliers in the UK wedding industry and have decided to share with you a small selection.

This stunning one off tiara from Flo & Percy is inspired by the Strathmore Rose tiara given to the Queen Mother by her father, the Earl of Strathmore.

Fantastic regal cookies from Inspired Celebration favourites Biscuiteers.

Inspired by Kates' engagement ring stationery designer Sophie, of Cards By Sophie created a new collection, Windsor.

Poppy Sparkles chose to use the red and blue seen in the Union Jack for their Royal Wedding collection. 

I am sure Milly & Pip are hoping the newlyweds will use this to keep the tea warm on Saturday morning!

Even the meerkats from Niftyknits want some Royal Wedding fame!

We mustn't forget some special guests from Over The Rainbow

I know there are many more and I  would for you to add links to your own Royal Wedding inspired designs in the comments.

Thanks

Royal Wedding Memorabilia

In amongst the guessing of who is designing Kate's dress, which tiara she will wear,  there are hoards of memorabilia being brought to remember the occassion.  I am sure my mum still has the mugs she brought for my sister and I back in 1981 when Prince Charles married Lady Diana and I know I still have the special commemerative coin from this occasion.  But what posseses us to rush out and buy something that has little style just to mark the Royal Wedding. Thankfully we have moved on in the style stakes and are blessed with fabulous indie designers who have produced new products especially for the Royal Wedding.  Here are my selections of memorabilia from UK designer makers that I would buy!

I love the graphics of this print from Taylors Type

This is very clever.

from Bear Graphics

Very witty!

From Sweet William Designs

from More Than Words

from Little Singing Bird

from Yield Ink

from The Little Knit Kit Company

from The Contemporary Home

from Giddy Kipper

from Storeyshop

Christening Gifts

Easter weekend is now over and for many of us it has more meaning than just chocolate.  Bearing this in mind I thought today I would find some beautiful Christening gifts, some that are religious, others that are beautiful keepsakes to mark such a special day. 

Beautiful charm necklaces from Poppy Sparkles

Personalised keepsake plates from Sparkle Ceramics

Beautiful persoanlised keepsake from Milly & Pip

from Sky Blue Sea

from Susan Rose China

from Multiply Design

from Primitive Angel

Backyard Weddings

With just over 72 hours until Prince William marries Kate Middleton and I have some posts planned as the week progresses that will help us celebrate and remember this special day.  In the meantime today I am going to share with you details of a new concept from Backyard Weddings.  Here in the UK there is a growing trend to host your wedding in your parents garden or even your own garden.  I love this idea and think it is perfect for renewal of vows ceremonies aswell.

 Having  realised there were more and more couples choosing to have their weddings at home and knew how tricky it can be tying all the arrangements together, the weddings team at Danby Castle teamed up with Fine & Funky Events Company and The Arches Bespoke Culinary Concept and One Life Ceremonies to create Backyard Weddings.  The collaboration is perfect and offers you the chance to have specialists in their field to quite literally come to your field, or garden! 

The Backyard Weddings team offer you three packages, according to the number of guests, with each package offering your bespoke wedding ceremony, marquee with lining and chandeliers, vintae styling package, vintage tea party catering and on the day management.  The team also offer additional services       including a supplier search and full wedding co-ordination.  With prices starting from £3285 (inclusive of VAT) for up to 50 guests this is a fantastic option if you are considering hosting your wedding at home, in your backyard.

Backyard Weddings

http://www.backyardweddings.co.uk/

01287 669219

info@backyardweddings.co.uk

The Loveliest Links

Happy Easter to all of you, I hope the Easter bunny has been good to you!  My children have already filled their baskets with treats and loved the fact that we can now have a proper hunt as we have a much bigger garden after moving house last Autumn.  Sunday on Inspired Celebration is about sharing some of the links I have loved in the past week.  As the Royal Wedding is less than a week away I thought todays links should have a regal feel to them.

Of course I must start with the official Royal Wedding website.  Here you can keep up to date with everything happening in the lead up to and during this special day. 

Image from Fiona Cairns

For beautiful cakes you must take a look at Fiona Cairns website, the official Royal Wedding cake designer.

I just love this wreath from Finnsparations.

Fantastic cupcake toppers from Hunkydory Home

And this kissing corgi's towel from Quietly Eccentric made me smile!!

Finally for some fab printables for your Royal Wedding party be sure to visit -

Birds Party

Design Editor

And I've heard there will be some great free printables available on Hostess With The Mostess later today.

There will be lots more Royal Wedding fun and frivolity here over the next few days, so I hope to see you here to raise a pinky and sip a lovely cup of tea!

Enjoy your Easter weekend.

Easter Printables

With just a few hours until the Easter Bunny hops along with baskets laden with eggs it is not too late to make your Easter Egg Hunt even more fun.  There are lots of printables still available on other blogs and some on Etsy too.  Here's my top picks of Easter Egg Hunt printables.

from Design Editor

from Shindig Parties To Go

from Bird's Party Shop

from Scenerie Design Studio

from The Tom Kat Studio

from Lunatic Design

from Shindig Parties

from Party Paper

Have fun!