Blog

Charlie

We’re going to The Great Big Green Wedding Fayre – come and say hi!

Charlie

I’m excited to tell you that The Natural Wedding Company will be exhibiting at the North West’s first green wedding fayre! Being based in the North West I’m delighted to be supporting the event and am looking forward to meeting ‘green’ brides- and grooms-to-be .

The Great Big Green Wedding Fayre is taking place on the weekend of the 5th and 6th September, and is being held at Crosby Hall in Little Crosby on the outskirts of Liverpool. The fayre is hosted by the lovely Amanda and Jemma of GreenLeaf Press, a newly launched eco conscious stationery business.

The Natural Wedding Company will have a stall at the fayre for the whole weekend, and I’ll be promoting the directory, blog and a selection of the great businesses listed with us. So head over to The Great Big Green Wedding Fayre website and book your tickets now – they’re just £6 and include complimentary afternoon tea, free pamper sessions, an eco bridalwear show, and a chance to meet some great green businesses!

We will be giving away free goody bags on our stall and will be on hand to help you with any queries or questions you have in planning your green wedding. I will also be delivering a short presentation as part of the schedule of demonstrations and presentations – more on this coming soon!

Image: Pebble in the Pond

Some of the other confirmed exhibitors include CRED jewellery, Oxfam Bridal, The Body Shop at Home, Ethical Weddings, Pebble in the Pond, and Rosie Weisencrantz Jewellery. One of the newest exhibitors is the Liverpool Pedi-Cab Company – a great new peddle powered taxi service! Titanic Spa, the UK’s first eco-spa are giving away a fantastic weekend spa prize – for your chance to win book your tickets as a VIP Bride or Groom.

To find out more check out the website www.biggreenwedding.co.uk or contact Jemma directly to reserve your tickets: jemma@biggreenwedding.co.uk or 07824 860 682.

Saturday 5th September 11-5pm

Sunday 6th September 10-4pm

Venue: Crosby Hall Educational Trust Centre, Little Crosby, Liverpool

Charlie

The Pines Calyx – a romantic green wedding venue in Kent

Charlie

One of our recent newcomers to The Natural Wedding Company directory, is the Pines Calyx, a romantic green wedding venue in Kent. I received an email from the lovely Louise who asked me if I could share some news about their venue and some of the great new additions to their website.

The Pines Calyx is a unique and inspirational venue, set it 6 acres of organically managed gardens. Their venue is licensed for both wedding ceremonies and receptions. The beautiful gardens and lake are the perfect setting for your wedding photographs – complete with stunning sea views!

Their website now includes details such as venue capacities, suggestions on what to do in the area for the wedding party, how to make your wedding a weekend celebration, recommendations for greening your wedding, and a photo gallery of weddings that have been held at their beautiful venue.

Charlie

Pretty planted place names

Charlie

These pretty planted place names (what a mouthful!) are really easy to make and would also double as lovely gifts for your guests. For each guest, prepare a small flower pot that you’ve planted up, write your guests name on a plant label and stick it into the soil. Place the flower pots in each persons place setting at their designated table.

I came up with this idea after a recent visit to the RHS Tatton Flower Show. Not only is it a showcase of fabulous plants and gardens, but there are hundreds of retailers selling all kinds of lovely things. I spotted a fantastic little booth selling a huge variety of plant labels. I am always looking out for wooden labels, and they had a great selection. This sparked the idea for this month’s creative project, and I bought a pack of chunky wooden plant labels and a Victorian terracotta pot.

Charlie

Afternoon tea in an urban meadow

Charlie

Thinking about planning a laid-back wedding with a very English afternoon tea for your guests? Maybe you fancy a picnic, with live music, tents and bunting. Well, last week the company that I work for (my day job) celebrated its 11th birthday (we forgot our 10th last year!) – we invited lots of friends and colleagues to join us for afternoon tea in a meadow in the centre of Manchester.

Here are some pictures of the party – hopefully a little bit of inspiration for anyone out there planning a tea party wedding.

…A bell tent, picnic rugs, bunting hung from rustic poles and shepherds crooks, tables covered in brightly coloured tablecloths, and oriental parasols…

…Make-your-own knicker bocker glories with homemade strawberry jelly, Cornish ice cream, a summer fruit salad, whipped cream and chocolate flakes…

…Homemade tiny fluffy scones, strawberry jam and whipped cream, spoons in vintage flower pots…

Charlie

We’re featured in the ‘Book of Green’

Charlie

We are delighted to be a part of the 2009/10 ‘Book of Green’. This fantastic little book contains a whole host of eco-friendly businesses offering products and services, and it’s free! It’s been created through a collaboration of two leading online eco directories – One Green Earth and All Things Eco – who we are delighted to already be listed with.

There are 100’s of great businesses listed in the book, which can be picked up in hardcopy from various outlets around the country or viewed online. So find yourself a copy and get flicking!

Charlie

A homemade rustic flowerpot sign

Charlie

What better way to guide your friends and family to your wedding ceremony or reception (or to the summer cocktails!) than with a simple, homemade sign. There are some fantastic ideas for wedding signs out there, from old planks of wood casually painted, to those painted soft vintage pastels with the text in elegant black lettering. This is my version which is perfect for popping on a table rather than staking in the ground: perhaps you could write your wedding menu on it, or a fun message to your guests.

Charlie

Colourful cupcake tower for a fun summer wedding

Charlie

Colourful cupcake tower for a fun wedding

I love to cook, so I thought it was about time that I posted a creative food idea for all of you planning a more down-to-earth wedding. Cupcakes would be perfect if you’re thinking about creating a colourful and relaxed wedding. Even if you’re not confident about your cupcake or fairy cake making skills, I’m sure most of us have a family member or friend who is a bit of a whizz when it comes to cake making. Besides, everyone should have a go at making fairy cakes as they’re really simple, taste so much better when homemade, and you can decorate them any which way you choose!

By making your own fairy cakes, you can ensure that the ingredients are organic, fair trade, or local depending on your preference. From organic flour to local eggs, fair trade sugar or farmhouse butter, you will be able to make positive choices about what goes into your wedding cakes.

Now for the recipe. I use the following recipe, though I can’t remember where I got it from, which produces lovely fairy cakes. However, there are loads of fairy cake or cupcake recipes out there, or you may even have a tried-and-tested family favourite.

Charlie

A romantic venue for a family wedding in the Loire Valley

Charlie

Romantic venue for a family wedding in the Loire Valley

If you’re considering having your wedding abroad with a small group of family and friends, look no further. Our friends at Le Chant D’Oiseau – family run gites and camping in an idyllic spot in the Loire Valley, France – are looking to offer couples an inclusive wedding package.

Stu and Syb and their family are a talented bunch who among other things could provide a fully qualified French chef to cook your wedding feast! Stu also is a fantastic photographer who has recently photographed a British wedding held in a beautiful French chateau.

Charlie

The Real Cut Flower Garden featured in Country Living Magazine

Charlie

One of the lovely businesses listed on The Natural Wedding Company has been featured in Country Living magazine.

The June edition which is now available, has a short but lovely piece on The Real Cut Flower Garden, which is run by Charlie Ryrie. Charlie provides seasonal wedding flowers, and as the Country Living article says ‘Brides can even commission favourites to be grown and can visit to see their flowers growing.’

Image: The Real Cut Flower Garden

Make sure you check out Charlie’s website and the article in this month’s Country Living magazine to read the article in full (it can be found on page 28).

Charlie

A woodland foraged bouquet for a casual country wedding

Charlie

A woodland foraged bouquet for a casual country wedding

Firstly, apologies for being late with my monthly creative post – I have been a bit wrapped up in birthdays and my garden. However, I knew exactly what I wanted to create for the post – a beautiful woodland and hedgerow inspired bouquet that would look lovely for a casual country wedding.

Made from a simple combination of three plants that can be found in abundance in our woodlands, hedgerows and fields at this time of year, this bunch would look beautiful tied up with rafia or displayed as a table centrepiece in a vintage jug or jar.