Fairy Tale Weddings

This week we've been working on the initial concept designs of our 'Enchanted' Range of wedding stationery. To go with this we've been thinking about fairy tale weddings and thought we'd put together a mood board of a few ideas. We particularly love Alfred Angelo's 'Belle' dress from their Disney collection and the idea of having little frog prince's as table decorations or favours. Of course nothing says 'Disney Princess' quite like a single red rose. The icon of the enchanted rose offers an ideal solution to simple but elegant table decoration. Perhaps surround your roses by candles to add that little bit of atmosphere too.

Belle Dress - Alfred Angelo
Cake - Oxley's of Morpeth
Bracelet - Bridal Designs
Tiara - Rose Garden Accessories
Tiara - Gems Eternal
Photos from - Wedding Jewellery Photos

Other Photography:
Gareth Weeks
Nyuszika
Merlin1075
Shilders
Ayla87
Webdeblee

Design:
Graphic Embers - www.graphic-embers.co.uk

This week we also have a guest blog, written by my wife as she tends to help me locate those all important details. Angela has taken five minutes out of looking after our baby daughter to bring you this:

For the girls, you can see Alfred Angelo's full Disney Fairy Tale Weddings range here and of course they also have a range of bridesmaid dresses too. We find Style 7050 particularly appropriate, suitable for any aspiring Aurora or Style UK6414 for a little Tiana.  As far as tiaras go we love this by Rose Garden Accessories which reminds us of Sleeping Beauty, but if you would prefer a crown they also have this as an alternative.

As for the groom we're having trouble finding what we're after. We want to see some Prince Charmings in deep blue velvet jackets with gold braid inspired by the outfit worn by the prince/Beast in Beauty and the Beast. We can't find any suppliers though, so this may need to be a custom-made job. To be honest one of the best pictures we can find for what we want is in Alfred Angelo's advertising of their Disney Collection.

Of course, no fairy tale wedding would be complete without a horse drawn carriage, but the question is do you go for something inspired by the Cinderella pumpkin carriage like this, or something more traditional? Some companies will give you the choice. Personally we're torn on this, at heart we love the traditional carriage but can appreciate why the Cinderella carriage is growing in popularity. Most of us girls want to feel like a princess for a day, personally I went for folk tale princess/ elven princess/Arwen Undomiel over Cinderella but it's each bride to her own. Remember though, that while Cinderella may have gone to her prince in a pumpkin carriage we had a real life prince and princess use a traditional carriage this year.

So we've dressed the bride and groom, and gotten them to a venue. But what venue? I suppose there'd be nothing quite like a palace or castle. Palaces are hard to come by, but we do love the idea of Eilean Donan Castle or Hever. There is also the very popular Peckforton Castle.

So to decorate, well, we have to stick with what we said earlier regarding single roses. You could go for huge displays, crystals and glitz. But part of the wonder of a fairy tale princess is in enchantments, magic and atmosphere and we can't help but feel this may be more achievable with single roses and candlelight than too much glitz. Of course why aren't disputing that some sparkle is essential. So maybe have your candles on mirror disks, surrounded by table crystals. Not loads, but just a few to add an elegant touch.

This is one theme where we do think a crystal wishing tree has a place. Alongside this why not include some themed favours? We love this crystal coach, and these candles, or there's these place card holders. The fun part of us cant help be drawn back to the frog prince though, with either these or these.

We also feel your arrival at the reception would be great heralded by a trumpet fanfare and a master of ceremonies might not be out of place. And food wise? Well, the thought of crab makes me smile, but it wouldn't work unless the crab got up and walked off the plate like Sebastien in The Little Mermaid!

Anyway, we hope that gives you a few ideas. To show you what inspired this blog here's the concept images for Graphic Embers new 'Enchanted' invitation.

Angela McGurk

on behalf of Matthew McGurk and Graphic Embers
www.graphic-embers.co.uk

Ice & Snow Mood Board

In advance of the approaching winter season we've used 'Ice & Snow' as this week's inspiration for our mood board. Blue, white and silver are perfect for a cool, frosty feel. Winter brides, keep your eyes open for our Christmas mood board which will also be live soon.

Matthew McGurk

Featured suppliers:
Tiara- Beads to Buy For
Head Band - Lou Lou Belle
Crystal Bouquet- Tiny Gems
Photos courtesy of Wedding Jewellery Photos 
Dresses - Veromia

Other Photography:
Healing Dream
Tina Phillips
Evgeni Dinev

Autumn Mood Board

We've got that Autumn feeling this week, perhaps because of the howling gale and sheeting rain. It's that feeling that makes us want to be tucked up in front of an open fire with a glass of wine and the smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the kitchen. Or perhaps it's time for putting on our wellies and jumping in puddles and getting ready for the fun of kicking up piles of golden leaves. However autumn makes you feel, we felt like putting some photos together for an Autumn Wedding Mood Board. We particulary liked the idea of freshly baked buns served with tea and coffee, either after the meal or as arrival snacks. And of course, what better favours than toffee apples?

Featured suppliers:
Topaz Hair Pin - Rose Garden Accessories
Head Band - Tanya Igic
Head Band - Wedding And Baby
Photos courtesy of Wedding Jewellery Photos 
Dresses - Veromia

Other Photography:
Graphic Embers
Stuart Miles
Piyato
Rosen Georgiev
Savit Keawtavee
Tom Clare
Paul
Maggie Smith

Indian Themed Wedding - Mood Board

Suppliers:
Flo & Percy - Headband
Wedding and Baby - Hair comb  
Oxley’s of Morpeth - Cakes
A Wedding Less Ordinary - Elephant  Favour

Photography:
Wedding Jewellery Photos
Markuso  
Sharron Goodyear  
SundayMorning  
Avind Balaraman  
Manostphoto  
Greenphile  
Sura Nuapradid

Background image is a Graphic Embers Design - do not reproduce.

Rock 'n' Rock 'n' Roll from RSVP to Reception

Air guitar at the reception and black as a colour might not be every bride's idea of a perfect wedding. Then again, is there any better day to rock? A white wedding might be the perfect day for some, to others having Billy Idol's 'White Wedding' as the first dance might be what makes their day memorable. I guess the fact we're all different is what makes weddings and being a wedding stationer so interesting. There are no boundaries to peoples imaginations and desires. Some might want 'Love Me Tender' as their processional, while there is bound to be someone out there who cant wait to exit their ceremony with the Sex Pistols ringing in their ears.

My own wedding was a christmas/celtic/Lord of the Rings inspired affair with kilts, a ceilidh, red satin cloaks and circlets. And if I were to do it again? Well it would be tough to decide between a masquarade ball and head-banging to Rammstein. Even a single individual can have a thousand ideas for the perfect big day, so in this big wide world of ours there are simply countless possibilities. And because the possibilities are endless even the rebels amongst us can have their perfect wedding.

So what is there out there for those Rock and Rock 'n' Roll brides and grooms? We have a few ideas left over from our own wedding planning days and mixed with my wife's love of finding anything wedding related I can offer up a few suggestions.

If you're having problems finding Thank You gifts that fit your theme while still being a beautiful token of your appreciation what about silver plectrums? Silver Picks offer a range of designs in gold and silver plectrums which can also be engraved. We used this company to get a Thank You gift for my guitar loving dad all those years ago when I married my wonderful wife and I can safely say it went down really well.

Perhaps you're more of a 50's Rock 'n' Roll bride than Punk Rock Princess?  When I asked my wife to find some style ideas for this blog post she couldn't help but fall in love with Honeypie Boutique and their vintage and 50s range of dresses. She loved the idea of teaming the Marilyn wedding dress with the Polkadot dress for bridesmaids. Then there's the matching accessories, how about this for a veil?

Sometimes the accessories are as important as the dress in order to make the feel of the day flow. For my wife her bridal boots remain to this day one of her favourite items. Her boots were an ivory satin affair appropriate to our day, but if we were having a Punk Rock wedding she'd definately go for something like the two tone lace up ankle boots featured on Argoth.

And flowers? Well what kind of rocker are you? There's everything from deep red roses that would suit the classic rock theme to bright pink gerbera for the punk rock princess. Then again a lot of the rockers I know are are bright and fun personalities so maybe daisies would be the pefect contrast to black bridesmaid dresses and top hat and new rock wearing grooms?

Part of the fun with 'rock' is that it, in all it's forms, has developed over the years so almost anything can be incorporated from peacock feathers to polka dots. I can't help but feel an enthusiasm for this theme. Now, as more and more brides and grooms are hosting their own weddings the acceptance of weddings which don't conform to the glossy mag is growing. Brides and grooms are showcasing their personalities on their wedding days, celebrating what makes them as individuals and as couples and that can only be a good thing.There's now a wealth of resources for those looking to do something just that bit different. From blogs such as Rock n Roll Bride to hen parties from Tatty Bojangles Vintage Hen House, you really can find anything you want.

And what inspired this blog? Well, part of it has come from following a few of the aforementioned people on twitter, some of it has come from beginning our range of Rock 'n' Roll stationery which in turn was inspired by designing a rose tattoo for a relative. I just hope that in writing this I can inspire a few more people as well.

From your inspired stationer,

Matthew McGurk

Below is the 'Rock 'n' Roses' range concept design for wedding invitations, and the 'Patchwork Heart' invitations for those looking for a 50s polkadot wedding.