Boda Belle January/February 2015
www.bodabelle.com
REAL BRIDES
How to plan your own wedding DESIGNER GOWNS
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Inbal Dror Yolan Cris Sophia Tolli
CRAFT IDEAS Create your perfect day
JANUARY BLUES
Wedding Blogger Emma Sinclair is here to help
BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS This seasons must-have bouquets
REAL
BRIDES
Elizabeth Walker, 27
St Audries Park, Somerset
“Hiring a wedding planner was never an option” Planning your dream wedding
is exactly that for most - a dream. When Elizabeth first got engaged last year she was unsure about the type of wedding she wanted. Having always imagined she would have a large, traditional wedding , she wondered if it was possible to acheive this by herself.
Elizabeth had been with her fiance Guy, 28, for 10 years before he finally proposed. Like a lot of us she already had the ‘fairytale’ wedding planned out in her head. “Hiring a wedding planner was never an option”, She said, “Not only is it an added cost but I don’t think I could trust anyone else to do it”. Having set the date with just under a year to plan, Elizabeth began right away. Beginning with the budget and an 2 Boda Belle
- estimate guest list. Once the tedious jobs were finished it was time for some more enjoyable planning, starting with venues.
“We wanted to find somewhere different and somewhere we had never been to before.”
And that they did. After visiting various manor houses in the area, St Audries Park in Somerset stole the show. Not only was it the perfect venue for the couple, they got a lot more for their money including a private church on the estate.
LET’S GET PLANNING Any bride-to-be, planning their own wedding, will know it’s harder than you think. It’s not all drinking champagne
and creating mood boards. Elizabeth said: “Choosing the guestlist was really hard, I wanted to add more guests but it gets very expensive.” She chose to be realistic and only invite their close friends and family. “Knowing there was a limited amount of space at the venue made it a little easier.”
DRESS SHOPPING
Dress shopping was one of Elizabeth’s favourite parts of planning her big day. After a prosecco-filled lunch with he r bridesmaids, she visited local Bridal Boutique - Frilly Frocks. “I knew when I tried my dress on that it was the one.” she said. Having 7 bridesmaids, choosing dresses for them was not as simple. “Some wanted strapless, others wanted straps so I tried to go for something in the middle to please everyone.”
SCRAPBOOKING Throughout planning her wedding Elizabeth has used a homemade scrapbook to gather her ideas in.
“I found it really useful to make collages of different colours and themes”
she said, “it helped me imagine what things would look like on the day.” Another essential item that has helped her wedding planning is a wedding folder. Dividing a large folder into labelled sections is a simple way of organising plans for your big day. Elizabeth used the internet to source a lot of her ideas,“I found lots of websites that assisted me through the planning process”, she said, “mainly pinterest, but weddingplanner.co.uk and planyourperfectwedding.com were really useful too .” There is a great deal of information out there for brides to
be, from suppliers to DIY ideas and step by step guides to help you.
DIY
There is no escaping the DIY wedding craze and right so. Not only does it keep the costs down, it’s a way for you to add a personal touch to your day. Elizabeth has always had a creative flare and wanted to use it wherever she possibly could. “We’re having a traditionally themed wedding at a grand setting” she said, “I knew it would be difficult to make everything I had in mind.” Elizabeth was realistic and made a list of things she could make herself. This included invitations, place name cards and favours. She said:
“It was hard work but so rewarding knowing they are homemade.”
Where it may cut costs in some areas, in others it can cost you a great deal more to DIY. Craft supplies can be expensive so always hunt around first.
THE BIG DAY
In keeping with the traditional theme, Elizabeth will spend the night before the wedding away from her husband-to-be. “My bridesmaids and maid of honour are staying with me”, she said. “I’ve arranged a hairdresser and make-up artist to come so we will feel like princesses on the day.” Her bridal party include her sisters and best friends that she wanted to thank for being so supportive. She said: “I have also arranged a mimosa bar for the pamper morning - to help with the nerves!” With the planning complete, the countdown has begun to the big day. Elizabeth and Guy get married at St Audries park on September 5th 2015. We wish them luck and cannot wait to see Elizabeth’s hardwork pay off.
WEDDING PLANNER, Harriet Sullivan, has been
assisting brides with planning their weddings for two years. Here are her 5 TOP TIPS for brides planning their own weddings.
1 Keep it simple - Less is
more. Don’t allow anything to overshadow the bride and groom.
2 Keep a budget in mind
- don’t get carried away. You don’t need flying doves and bows on every seat if it doesn’t fit into budget.
3 Make a mood board - the
best way to find inspiration. Include swatches, suppliers and venues so you and your partner can decide what you like.
4 DIY - where you can do it
yourself. From namecards to centrepieces, you can make the day as special and personal as you wish. You will find project supplies in
shops like Hobbycraft and The Range.
5 Don’t get caught up in perfection. Some of the best moments are the ones you don’t plan. ENJOY YOUR DAY!
Boda Belle MAKES Flower Crowns You will need l l l l
fake flowers wire green floral tape scissors/wire cutter
Flower Crowns have well and truly taken over. They add a beautiful, bohemian touch to the bridal party. Not only the perfect wedding accessory, they are super easy to make.
Step One Cut and shape the
wire so it fits around the head comfortably. Allow room for the detail around the crown.
Step Two Once you have
Step Four Now you can
Step Three Cut your chosen flowers and leaves into suitable pieces to be arranged onto the crown. You may need a wire cutter for this.
Top Tips
the basic shape of the crown, ensure the ends of the wire are secure. Using the green floral tape, cover the wire completely.
really add your personal touch to the crown. Arrange and add the flowers piece by piece. Hold together with the foral tape.
Follow a pattern when arrranging the flowers. l If the finished crown is too small cut and add ribbon ties. l
Boda BLOGS January Wedding Planning Wedding blogger Emma Sinclair’s tips to avoid ‘January Blues’
We all secretly hope for a small turquoise box waiting for us underneath the Christmas tree. A recent survey showed dreams do come true with fifty-nine percent of marriage proposals taking place at Christmas time. When the champagne bottles are empty, and the festivities come to an end, the happy couple is left with the daunting task of planning a wedding. January is a hard month for most with post Christmas debts, miniscule bank balances and a payday that takes forever to get to. The excitement of getting married can quickly turn to stress, as you wonder how on earth you are going to pay for the wedding you have had planned on Pinterest for the last three years. However, plans do not have to go on hold - in fact NOW is the perfect time to start. Not only will you have more time to find the most cost efficient options but also your low, or non-existent, bank balance will inspire your creativity. Here are five steps to help your ‘January 4 Boda Belle
- Wedding Planning Blues’. Step One – The Budget - The average wedding costs around £18,000, this is not to say a beautiful wedding, tailored to your wants and needs, cannot be done for less. Be realistic with your budget, how much can you stretch to without putting yourself in financial difficulty? You want to have the perfect wedding, but don’t forget the true meaning behind the day. Prioritise what is most important to you – dress? Catering? Venue? If you have always dreamt of a £2,500 Maggie Sottero dress then work that into your budget but be prepared to compromise on other parts of your big day. Step Two – The Wedding Party – You may very well have had your bridesmaids chosen since primary school, so if you have, now is your chance to tell them. Choosing your wedding party is an important decision and one that should be made in the early stages of planning. If you chose wisely they will support you until your big day, you will be surprised at how much they are willing to help too.
Step Three – The Guest List – So its not payday yet, this doesn’t mean you can’t crack on with some serious planning. The guest list takes longer than you may think. Who should you invite? Who could you possibly not invite? Don’t worry if you can’t afford to include everyone in the wedding breakfast – we all know the disco is the best part of the day anyway. Step Four – Venues and Dates – Nothing is stopping you from looking at venues and discussing dates. There is no such thing as booking your wedding venue too early. Step Five – Get Creative – Brides on a budget are in luck because DIY weddings are IN. Yes it takes extra time but this is where your carefully selected wedding party comes in to lend you a hand. It’s not a problem if you lack an artistic streak, the Internet is full of step-by-step tutorials to help you make and save. Follow this five-step guide and don’t let January be your ‘Something Blue’.