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You’re probably sick and tired of hearing me saying how the simplest ideas are often the best, but I really do think it’s true. So often we can overcomplicate what only needs to be a very simple thing – take table numbers, for instance, they can quickly become complicated and over-elaborate if you spend too much time thinking about them, when actually all they need to do it display a number or a name.
I love these rustic wood table numbers because they are so simple, effective, but also quite beautiful when displayed next to some pretty flowers. The best kind of wood for these if you want a rustic look is salvaged or reclaimed wood, it’s not only more weathered but also each piece is likely to be different (which I love).
We found a fantastic reclaimed timber yard near us that we visited before our wedding to stock up on off-cuts of wood to make our wedding signs. Search out somewhere like this near to you, or a timber merchant who might be willing to give you, or sell cheaply off-cuts. Then with a simple lick of colour, paint on your hand-drawn numbers. You don’t even need to create a fancy stand for them, simply rest them against you vases or pots of flowers.
Images: Raya Carlisle Photography via Style Me Pretty
There really are some wonderful and exciting courses and workshops popping up at the moment, I must book onto a few more as those that I have done I have loved. TNWC business Green & Gorgeous always have a fabulous programme of courses throughout the year, but have just added to new ones especially for those getting married – and I have a special discount on them just for you!
This summer Green & Gorgeous will be running two special courses, one called ‘Grow You Own Wedding Flowers’ and the other ‘Arrange Your Own Wedding Flowers’. Rachel from Green & Gorgeous told me that it will be a great opportunity “to enjoy the unique and deeply satisfying experience of watching your wedding flowers grow from a few seeds to armfuls of fresh, garden grown blooms.”
Having previously attending a Green & Gorgeous flower course I can definitely recommend them – I went with my mum just before my own wedding and we learnt how to arrange with cut flowers. You can read about my experience here and see the beautiful arrangements we created.
Below is a little more detail on each of the courses, which are being run on multiple dates during April 2013, and then the special TNWC discount.
It’s that lovely time of the week when we get to hear from one of the TNWC Real Brides. Today, Myfanwy is sharing details of the homemade elderflower champagne that her and her Mr-to-be Tom have been brewing up for their wedding. She’s also done a great ‘how to’ guide for these pretty origami flowers she’s been making from old book pages.
If you’re new to the TNWC Real Brides feature, you can read Myfanwy’s first guest post here on her plans for a creative vintage-inspired wedding. I hope you enjoy Myfanwy’s latest update…
It’s been a busy few weeks finalising the bid decisions for the wedding, the catering, the dress, the DJ! These are things we wanted to get done over the winter before our shop re-opens at Easter.
So now the major details are pretty much done this leaves plenty of time for us to make and prepare the little handmade details that we feel are important to us. We’ve made a list (got to love a list!) of tasks to do each month.
Making elderflower champagne
February’s list included starting off the elderflower champagne and making origami paper flowers. We have decided to have a drinks reception when we arrive the tipi’s for people to help themselves. We thought of having some bottles of local beer, the inevitable Pimms and really wanted something else a little bit different. Our friends had made some elderflower champagne a couple of years ago and we’d rally enjoyed it. It’s lucky we looked into making it so early on, we hadn’t realised that once bottled it needs to stand for 3-4 months!
Equipment was really easy to get hold of in fact Dorset Homebrew sell and elderflower champagne making kit with a recipe and all the equipment you need to get started on you first brew. Or of course the River Cottage recipe is really easy to get hold of online - we plan on trying this one when elderflower is in bloom.
*Please note – this competition is now closed 20/03/13
Already this year we have had some great competitions on The Natural Wedding Company, and today’s prize is up there with the most gorgeous.
Finish designed Minna Hepburn has recently launched her 2013 collection of exquisite wedding dresses to her beautiful brand Minna, and to celebrate that launch one lucky TNWC bride will win the Zara veil worth over £100 – read on for full details of how to enter.
The new collection which is called “Love Letter” was inspired by an old petticoat and a love letter found at an antique market, and adds more delicious and affordable wedding dresses in Minna’s ethereal style. All of the dresses are handmade in Minna’s London studio and range from floor sweeping gowns to mid-length dresses from between £360 and £800.
Now with my New Wives Club posts I like to try and find craft projects that use up something you might have collected for your wedding, but I’m pretty picky when it comes to what ideas I think are worth sharing, which makes it more tricky.
Today’s DIY craft project is based on the idea that you might likely have some fabric scraps leftover from your wedding – perhaps you were busy sewing yards and yards of bunting – but I’m sure most of us who like to do a bit of crafting have a stash of fabric.
This idea is to transform those dull white plastic coat hangers into pretty floral ones, simply using a bit of tape and strips of fabric. In the tutorial it mentions something call ‘floral jelly roll’, which I’ve not heard of, but I’m pretty sure that something like double-sided sticky tape would work just as well.
Don’t forget, there’s lots of lovely DIY ideas that have been features in the New Wives Club so do have a look and see if there’s any other you fancy having a go at.
Images: Mayholic in Crafts
Today’s Cake Love features something a little bit different from the usual sponge wedding cake – it’s called a Norwegian Kransekake (wreath cake). Although they look like biscuit rings, I did a little research and the perfect Kransekake is hard to the touch but soft and chewy.
I love the scalloped icing that is piped round each cake ring and how they have decorated it with native flowers from Australia (it was for an Australian wedding) – but you could equally find seasonal flowers from wherever you are to decorate it with. Here’s another way of displaying it – on top of what looks like a simple white cake (but could easily be a stand?) and finished with a spray of gypsophila.
Today we have the lovely Nik from Little House in Town back with us to share the next stage in her wedding adventure. If you haven’t already read her introduction guest post about her plans for a relaxed coastal farm wedding then do take a look.
Nik has recently taken up The Wartime Wardrobe Challenge which is a year long ethical clothes rationing project, designed to make those taking part think about how we use our clothes and where they come from. As such, she is ‘rationed’ on how many items of clothes she can buy for the year, which as you can imagine could prove tricky when you are on the hunt for a wedding dress!
Over to Nik to tell us more…
Choosing an ethical wedding dress: from dream to reality
Looking at my reflection in the Coast fitting room mirror, I suddenly became aware that everyone around me had gone very silent. Turning around to face my mum and two bridesmaids, I was met with a sea of beaming smiles.
“That’s it,” said my mum. ”That’s the one.”
I’d found my wedding dress.
