by Hanami Dream | 13, February, 2017 | blog, tips
Gifts for your guests can be great mementos or souvenirs of your wedding day showing a token of your appreciation whilst also matching your theme or colour scheme. Nowadays couples are choosing more unique, personalised, dated and themed gifts. There is also a wonderful trend of providing charity pins to guests and making a donation to a chosen charity.
Here’s a pick of some of my current favourite favours to: eat, meet, keep or have as a treat.
- Edible
- Traditional sugared almonds
- Chocolate bars with personalised wrappers
- Retro sweets (think flyer saucers, dip dabs and flumps)
- Loveheart sweets (brought up to date with new slogans such as ‘text me’!)
- Lollipops in a communal bowl on the table
- Cake pops
- Ice breakers
- Games to play with other guests on the same table
- Cameras to snap candid shots
- Colouring books to keep children entertained
- To wear at wedding
- Flip flops for when your heels are hurting your dancing feet
- Sun glasses for an outside wedding on a sunny day
- Umbrellas for an outside wedding when the weather isn’t as sunny
- Moustaches just for fun
- Temporary tattoos
- Grow
- Packets of seeds to grow vegetables
- Dried herbs to add to meals at home
- Succulents or other potted plants
- Drink
- Alcohol miniatures
- Loose leaf tea
- Shot glass
- Decorations
- Scented candles
- Soap
- Fridge magnets to always remember the couples’ wedding anniversary
Plus take a look at these brilliant local suppliers that can bring a different angle to provide some wonderful favours:
Fab Fudge
FabFudge was created in August 2016 on the back of an idea, to help fundraise for Reboot Me With HSCT – A Multiple Sclerosis Fundraiser.
It originally started with us making Fudge for friends and family who bought it and everyone loved it!
With over 25+ different types and flavours of fudge, including Vegan friendly, Gluten Free & Alcoholic , we have a wide range of fudge suited for just about everyone, and were constantly increasing our range. The chocolate we use is only the best UTZ Certified Belgium Chocolate, therefore when you buy our fudge, you are getting the best chocolate around! If you cannot find something that you like or you want to give us a suggestion for something we can make, get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to make it for you! We also cater for events, if you want more information please get in touch with us.
We can deliver to a wide range of places all over the world. All profit made from FabFudge goes to Reboot Me With HSCT – Fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis treatment.
@FabFudge_UK
@fabfudgeUK
@fabfudge_uk
Magnifisense
Our fragrance work shop has all always worked well for corporates and stag/hen parties, but we realised there was a gap in the market to turn these into favours for wedding guests or special occasions as table presents.
We talk about the fragrance the couple would like to create, whether it be unisex or a distinct aftershave or perfume and then take them through our 18 blends from Grasse in France (the home of perfume).
We create the fragrances with their choices, sorting out the measurements of each blend. They then have a 30ml atomiser (or larger in their chosen style) or choose either 5ml or 10 ml bottles as the wedding favours. This can also be made into scented candles, room sprays or even scented love hearts or ornaments.
Needless to say the packaging and colours can tie up with their desired coloured scheme. The fragrance then has a certificate and kept on our database if they would like refills or their guests. We work Nationwide and can work in their homes, or hotels or wherever they choose. We are also developing a do it yourself kit for lower budgets, where the couple can receive all the instructions and equipment and make them themselves.
@Magnifisense5
@magnifisense5
@magnifisense5
MuffatPrague
MuffatPrague started life as a sonic and visual arts blog in 2011.
After a lifetime’s love of the letterform, all things typographic and a couple of decades of working independently in creative spheres, designer-maker team Rob and Hils decided to start hand-craft letters from their garden studio in 2014. Their Oiseaux, a simple bird form designed by Rob has now become their brand identity and signature design. Their work is handmade from locally sourced reclaimed ply, walnut and oak, finished with Farrow & Ball Eggshell and Oxfordshire beeswax.
They were voted Best Creative Producer (Bucks/Oxon) in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2016 and have new ideas coming for 2017 – keep an eye on their website and Instagram feed for more info.
The birds are available in 4 sizes with a single brass leg fitting or bakers twine loop.
@muffatprague
@MuffatPrague
@muffatprague
NC Oxford
NC Oxford is Oxfordshire’s finest producer of luxury scented candles and reed diffusers. All of our products are lovingly hand poured in our workshop located near the historic town of Woodstock. We use the finest quality ingredients including natural soy based waxes to give our candles a slow clean burn. We combine our wax with the most luxurious fragrance oils, expertly balanced, to produces wonderful aromas. Our products’ simple but stylish design will compliment any room or occasion effortlessly. When given as a gift, it will make a lasting impression.
For your wedding day, we are able to produce a commemorative and bespoke range of candles and have candles to suit all budgets. Choose from:
- The “Bride & Groom” – a large 3 wick candle which will have burn time of over 70 hours
- The “Mother of the Bride”, “Maid of Honour/Best Man”- our luxury 220g signature candle, with a burn time of 40-50 hours
- Wedding favour votives – our smaller, but elegant 90g votive candle, with a burn time of 15 hours
- Wedding favour tea lights – deep filled luxury tea lights. Each tea light has a burn time of 3-4 hours
All of our jar candles some with stainless steel “snuffer” lids. As well as being a stylish addition, the snuffer lids help to keep the fragrance strong in the candles so they can keep for years without losing their wonderful scents.
To make your wedding favours extra special, we can include your name and the date of the wedding on our designer labels, ensuring that you and your guests can cherish the candles forever. Simply choose your favourite scent from our “Special Occasions”, “Quintessentially Oxford” or “Timeless” range.
@nc_oxford
@ncoxford
@ncoxford
Perfect Pamper Gifts
Perfect Pamper Gifts pride themselves on offering personal and thoughtful gifts. When it comes to gifts, we all want to give our loved ones something that’s unique, personal and not found in bulk on the high street. A grand gesture isn’t so grand when you can see your gift in every other shop after all.
Specialising in bath, body and pampering treats, all of the products are handmade within the UK so you really can experience the best the UK has to offer. Offering luxurious bath bombs to irresistible candle tins and a whole lot more, Perfect Pamper Gifts provide the perfect pampering gift for all occasions. A ‘create your own’ facility means your gift can be packaged how you like, tied with a bow and finished with a message to make it as personal as you wish. A gift becomes memorable when its personal.
@pamper_gifts
@PerfectPamperGifts
@pamper_gifts
Stonesfield Soap Company
Stonesfield Soap Company is a small, family-run business based in in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. It started off as a hobby, following on from our daughter’s 9th birthday party (a ‘spa science’ party, making bath fizzies, melt & pour soap etc), and as a concerned response to the huge number of unnecessary chemicals found in toiletries today. Since then, it has grown into a business driven by a passion for the manufacture of natural, artisan cold-process soap with an emphasis on design. The maxim that ‘beautiful skin deserves beautiful soap’ is at the forefront of what we do, with a firm belief that a good, natural soap should not only leave the skin feeling gently cleansed and perfectly conditioned but should also provide a positive visual experience, with the design of the soap playing an important role. The inclusion of various botanicals, clays, milks and a wide range of pure nutrient and essential oils, all carefully chosen for their individual properties, helps us create a very special soap indeed. We employ a strong ‘no palm oil’ policy and actively support a local conservation charity that works out in Sumatra. As well as soap, we are continually expanding our range of bath and skincare products, such as balms, bath bombs, salts and oils.
@StonesfieldSoap
stonesfieldsoap
@StonesfieldSoap
@stonesfieldsoap
Wildflower Favours
Wildflower Favours are all about eco weddings, butterflies, bees, wildflowers and nature! We supply recycled seed packet wedding favours, personalised with the bride and groom’s wedding details, and containing British-grown British wildflower seeds. Seeds which our native butterflies and bees love! We also create lovely invites and wedding favours from recycled seed paper – paper which is embedded with flower seeds and really grows into flowers! We want to spread the word about the environment and giving nature a helping hand and weddings are ideal for reaching a big audience and converting people to the beauty and usefulness of wildflowers.
@wildfavours
@Wildflowers.Favours
Wildflowers Wedding Favours
@Wildflower_Wedding_Favours
WrapperStar
Personalised Chocolate Bars from WrapperStar are a fantastic & cost-effective way of adding a truly personal touch to your wedding reception tables. It’s a great wedding favour that all ages will love, & can be tailored to your theme/colour-scheme as well as being individually personalised to double up as your place settings too.
Each bar is 10 chunks of smooth creamy milk chocolate (made in the UK) & is a lovely token gift that can be personalised on both the front & back of the wrapper. Choose from an existing design or have a bespoke wrapper created just for you to match your wedding stationery – with pearlescent papers, diamante or pearl embellishments and the option to use your own artwork, the possibilities are endless!
Why not inject some extra fun into the speeches with WrapperStar’s Wonka Bar wedding favours? Imagine the excitement when the golden tickets are found! Please ask for more details.
Based in Witney, Oxfordshire, WrapperStar delivers throughout the UK & Europe.
@WrapperStar
@WrapperStar
Plus here’s a few other local suppliers to check out:
by Hanami Dream | 13, January, 2017 | blog, guest post, tips, traditions
A topic very close to my heart (and sweet tooth) is cake!
Photography by Farrow Photography
www.farrowphotography.com
When it comes to weddings, cakes are often the focal point of the wedding reception – proudly displayed, incorporating themes and colour schemes of the day, and featured in one of the main staged events of the day – culminating in a great photo opportunity when it formally gets cut.
There are many elements of a wedding that are steeped in tradition, superstition and symbolism. Here I unravel a little behind why wedding cakes are included in the festivities and then The Pretty Cake Company give their advice for the perfect ‘recipe’ to get the wedding cake of your dreams.
Even though some couples are picking alternatives to the humble wedding cake (such as ‘cheese’ cakes, cupcakes, giant porkpies, quiches tiers and pancake stacks to name a few), the evolution of this wedding element is nothing new as it’s seen many guises over the years including bread rolls and pie.
The custom originally dates back to Roman and Medieval times when bread would’ve been thrown at the bride. Thankfully this developed into the breaking of the bread over the head (symbolizing the bride losing her virginity).
Over time this progressed into guests bringing baked goods to the wedding and piling them up as high as possible. The couple would try and kiss over this high cake without it falling over and were deemed to have good fortune if they were successful. Not content with the instability of a baked goods stack, one clever baker came up with the idea of sticking the rolls together and the Croquembouche was born.
Today’s traditional wedding cakes have a rich fruit cake (a sign of fertility), often a gorgeous layer of marzipan (that I can’t get enough of! ) and white fondant icing. The white colour of the bride’s cake was again a sign of purity and also one of wealth as fine white sugar would’ve been expensive back in the day. The whiter the cake the wealthier you were plus the number of tiers showed extravagance too (although often some tiers could be fake ones to save money!) Plus an alternative ‘darker’ groom’s cake alongside (perhaps in chocolate).
Photography by Farrow Photography
www.farrowphotography.com
Traditionally, the cutting of the cake (as well as being a staple photo opportunity) was done by the bride on her own (to symbolize losing her virginity) and she would hand out the cake to ensure fertility. Nowadays it is the first task performed together as a married couple. Some couples feed each other the first slice as a sign of commitment (or smash it in each others’ faces if you’re feeling cheeky!)
With the bottom tier for cutting, the middle tier for sharing, the top tier is often saved for the first anniversary or christening.
Meanwhile, symbolic charms placed in the cake attached to ribbons can be pulled out by the bridesmaids to predict their fortunes. Plus it was thought that single people who slept with a slice of the wedding cake under their pillow would dream of their future spouse.
There is so much tradition and choices to call upon to create your wedding cake and this element continues to evolve with emerging geode cut out cakes, crystalling detail, food walls and even wedding cakes with image projections on them. Take a look at some of my other trend predictions too.
Here are some top tips from the incredibly talented Samantha from The Pretty Cake Company with a cake designer’s insight into picking your cake and a look at current wedding cake trends to consider.
The wedding cake will be the most prominent centrepiece of your wedding reception with the potential to be a highly decorative work of art. So deciding on what form your wedding cake should take, is one that should be given very careful consideration.
An average wedding cake now is upwards of £500 and can go into the thousands, so your requirements will dictate your budget. The costing is primarily dependent on three things, size, flavour and decoration.
SIZE
When contacting cake designers it’s important to give as much information as possible. Give your anticipated guest number as this will allow the cake designer to work out what size tiers would be most appropriate. If you would like to reserve the top fruitcake tier for a first anniversary or christening then do mention that as well.
I have had clients in the past who want very tall grand wedding cakes, but not necessarily all the cake that would come with it, so think about the option of using polystyrene dummies to add extra tiers as this would help reduce the cost.
FLAVOUR
Simple sponges such as vanilla and lemon tend to be the cheapest with other most popular flavours such as chocolate, carrot and fruitcake, being more expensive due to the ingredients cost and increased time taken to make them.
Ask your cake designer what other flavours they could suggest as other flavours can often be made by adapting existing basic recipes. Other popular flavours that I have done in the past are coffee and walnut, orange and almond, lime and passion fruit, toffee and salted caramel, champagne and strawberry, but with lots of good quality flavouring extracts on the market, it’s very simple to come up with some more original suggestions.
Sometimes you can make a simple flavour more exciting by simply making the filling a bit more interesting, like lemon cake with a passionfruit curd buttercream or chocolate with a salted caramel buttercream.
DECORATION
Decoration is by far the most influential part of costing the cake as this is what takes the most time and requires the most skill. Things like sugar flowers, texture work and intricate pipework on the cake, can take several hours and sometimes days, so if you are on a budget, then maybe try and avoid these.
-
- dusty pink rose details on wedding cake
-
- detail shot of dusty pink sugar roses and ribbon on wedding cake
-
- close up of filigree and dusty pink sugar rose on wedding cake
Here’s the ‘recipe’ to get the wedding cake of your dreams:
1. CONSULTATION
Check with your cake maker if they offer a face to face consultation, if there is a charge for it and whether cake samples would be available for tasting. It’s important that you have confidence in your cake maker and that the cakes will taste as good as they look. Some companies do charge for consultations, which might be deductible from the cost if you book.
2. EXPERIENCE
Most reputable cake makers will have a strong portfolio of their work which will be further substantiated with websites, social media pages and recommendations from previous clients and local venues. Do your research beforehand and choose a cake maker that has experience of the styles you like (such as elegant, pretty, floral wedding cakes versus novelty wedding cakes). Respect a cake maker who is honest with you and will tell you up front that they feel that there are better people out there who can create what you want.
3. AVAILABILITY
With weddings occurring almost any day of the week now, cake makers can be very much in demand. Ask your cake maker how many wedding cakes they take on in one week and how many people will work on it so that you know that your cake will not be compromised.
4. BOOK IN ADVANCE
I always advise my couples that once they have a date secured with their venue they should book, pay a deposit and reserve the date with their suppliers as soon as possible. Consultations and finer details can be worked out much nearer the time. Generally it’s best to book 9-12 months in advance. Often the cake is one of the first things you should book but one of the last things you should finalise as it can incorporate so many aspects of the wedding eg colours, flowers, fabric, stationery (which will only be known towards the end of the planning stage).
5. DEPOSIT
Ask when the deposit is required which tends to be between 25-50%. It’s always a good idea to make a note of when the balance is due to be paid. This tends to be between a month to 2 weeks before the wedding although check with your cake maker on their policies.
6. DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
Let your cake maker know if there are any allergies that they need to be aware of. However, also bear in mind that, unless you are using a very large company with allergy safe environments, it could be tricky to completely eliminate the risk of cross contamination.
7. ACCESSORIES
Think about how you want the cake displayed and how you’re going to cut it. A cake stand can dramatically change the way that a wedding cake looks and I always recommend the use of one. It adds precedence, height and is an added decorative feature. Most established cake makers will have a range of stands for hire. Some venues offer use of a cake stand as part of the package but always ask to see it beforehand, as they can be old fashioned silver stands which might not suit the style of your cake. It is generally the responsibility of the couple to return the stands within a couple of days of the wedding, unless this has been agreed prior and a collection charge has been paid.
8. DELIVERY
Make sure you let your cake maker know where and when the cake is to be delivered or if you are going to collect it. Most cake makers will charge for delivery and this will also include the return journey. They will also need to know who is the point of contact at the venue as you may be otherwise busy. Plus think about where the cake is to be set up, being mindful that it shouldn’t be in direct sunlight, or have a cluttered background.
Logistics aside, the fun part is picking what it’ll look like and how it will embody the theme of your special day. Here are some current trends in wedding cakes to give you some inspiration:
- Chalkboard: Chalkboards are often used at weddings for place settings, order of events and direction signs, so why not follow the theme through onto the cake, and personalising with a monogram or favourite quotes and lyrics. It’s also the perfect opportunity to show off some pretty calligraphy fonts.
Photography by Neil Hanson
http://www.nordicpics.co.uk
- Semi naked cake: The naked cake has been around for a number of years now so it’s about time there was a new twist on it! The semi naked cake has a thin scraping of buttercream which allows the sponge to show through slightly. It gives an interesting rustic finish which looks beautiful decorated with fresh flowers and fruits.
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk
- Textured Buttercream: Lots of people love the thought of sinking their teeth into light fluffy sponge and a nice thick layer of delicious buttercream. So if you prefer buttercream to fondant then this is the perfect cake for you. Finished with fresh flowers, it gives an elegantly simple yet stylishly beautiful wedding cake.
Photography by Pretty Cake Company
- Marble: Marble cakes are seeing a big revival at the moment and here is a cake which incorporates many on trend features. The marble tiers on the top and bottom are flecked with gold and the metallic drips on the bottom tier are also very fashionable. The chalkboard tier adds the opportunity for a bit of personalisation and the beautiful sugar flowers add a pretty feature which feminises the cake.
Photography by Farrow Photography
www.farrowphotography.com
- Ruffles/texture: Texture has been popular for a few years now and here is a cake which demonstrates texture in many ways. The vertical ruffles add an understated elegant texture; the gold sequins add sparkle and the pretty gold piping was inspired by a stationery design. Together with the sharp edge finish on this cake and the single garden rose on the top tier, this is a crisp, sleek and sophisticated wedding cake.
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk
- Metallic and opulence: Metallic decoration can be seen in many ways, be it, metallic leaf, metallic lustre, metallic sequins or simple enhancements with a paintbrush and edible metallic paint. Here is a grand 5 tier cake with a metallic gold leaf tier. Metallic leaf can leave a distressed finish as it is very difficult to apply, but this is part of its charm. The cake was finished off with patches of intricate lace pipework and gorgeous sugar flowers.
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk
- Floral romance: Cake and flowers often go together, whether the flowers are real or if they are made from sugar. Here is a selection of recent floral wedding cakes showing how diverse each one can be.
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk
The Pretty Cake Company offers a friendly, personal and bespoke wedding cake design service to produce breath taking wedding cakes that will be remembered for years to come. They produce wedding cakes that are individual to the bride and groom – always focusing on the attention to detail that makes all the difference. They have over 10 years of experience in designing and creating wedding cakes and work closely with numerous prestigious wedding venues in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and The Cotswolds. They will work with you and take your ideas and inspirations in order to create a truly memorable wedding cake. They pride ourselves on using the finest quality and freshest ingredients available.
Unlike many other cake companies, they now specialise only in wedding cakes, as this is their true passion. Now they are able to focus on keeping up to date with current bridal trends and ensuring that their clients receive expert advice in the wedding cake field.
Clients are guaranteed a friendly, efficient service where quality is never compromised. Consultations by appointment only. They are based in Minster Lovell, Witney, West Oxfordshire and can deliver to a wide area.
@Prettycakeco
@The-Pretty-Cake-Company-Witney-Oxfordshire
@theprettycakecompany
by Hanami Dream | 1, January, 2017 | blog, holy trinity of wedding planning, tips
Happy New Year!
I love this time of year. It’s when our metaphorical diary is full of blank pages yet unwritten.
For lots of people, the new year is a popular time to book holidays, make resolutions, kick start a new healthy regime and start thinking about personal special occasions that we have coming up.
Plus the start of the year often spurs people to pop the question and/or kickstart their wedding planning.
Huge congratulations to you if you’ve got engaged over the festive period.
Telling people your big news and flashing your new piece of jewellery is such an exciting time and it won’t be long until you’ll be asked (again and again) when is your big day.
So here’s a little help with picking a date for your special day (and take a look at this useful guide to setting the date too).
Make sure you think about what else is going on in the world such as national, local and annual events including:
- Public holidays
- Sporting events
- Royal occasions
- Other people’s occasions (like birthdays, wedding anniversaries and religious festivals)
Here’s a list of some events (in England) in 2017 that could influence your choice of dates:
- New Year’s Day 1 January
- Epiphany 6 January
- Orthodox Christmas Day 7 January
- Orthodox New Year 14 January
- Burns Night 25 January
- Chinese New Year 28 January
- Valentine’s Day 14 February
- Shrove Tuesday 28 February
- St David’s Day 1 March
- St Patrick’s Day 17 March
- First Day of Spring 20 March
- Clocks go forward 26 March
- Mother’s Day 26 March
- April Fool’s Day 1 April
- Boat Race 2 April
- Passover 11-18 April
- Good Friday 14 April
- Easter Day 16 April
- Easter Monday 17 April
- St George’s Day 23 April
- London Marathon 23 April
- May Day Bank Holiday 1 May
- FA Cup Final 27 May
- Spring Bank Holiday 29 May
- Royal Ascot 16-20 June
- Father’s Day 18 June
- First Day of Summer 21 June
- Eid 26 June
- Henley Regatta 28 June – 8 July
- Wimbledon 3 – 16 July
- Independence Day 4 July
- British Grand Prix 7-9 July
- Summer Bank Holiday 28 August
- First Day of Autumn 22 September
- Diwali 19 October
- Clocks go back 29 October
- Guy Fawkes 5 November
- Remembrance Day 11 November
- Thanksgiving 23 November
- St Andrew’s Day 30 November
- Hanukkah 13-20 December
- First Day of Winter 21 December
- Christmas Day 25 December
- Boxing Day 26 December
Enjoy celebrating in 2017 and I wish you a very Happy New Year.
by Hanami Dream | 15, November, 2016 | blog, tips
Your wedding day is a unique kind of day when your ‘circles’ all come together. It’s not often that you have all the people from different walks of your life in the same room at the same time. How wonderful to look around and see the people you love just there for you two.
Photographs are a brilliant way of capturing who celebrated your big day with you, plus traditionally guests sign a keep sake book and leave a poignant message for the happy couple to read back after the special day. This lovely tradition has got some modern updates and ingenious alternative ideas.
Here are a few of my favourite wedding guest book alternatives:
- Photographs
- Take polaroids of guests on the day and put them in a book alongside a handwritten message
- Have a photo booth for people to take their own snaps of the day
- Have a video diary or place where people can leave their own video messages
- Paper
- Have a recipe book where everyone contributes a favourite recipe to be printed in a book (see recipegiftbook.com below)
- Get guests to complete a calendar with their message on their own birthday or special anniversary
- Ask guests to write how they know bride & groom on postcards
- Provide advice cards for guests to suggest date night ideas
- Leave notes and cards in an engraved oak lift-lid box (see Make Memento below)
- Get guests to put their best wishes on to labels to hang from a wish tree (see Tree of Hearts below)
- Ask guests to write their messages and seal them in a bottle to be opened on their first anniversary
- Furniture / homeware
- Encourage guests to sign a pottery wedding plate that you can display or use in your kitchen (see Busy Brush Café below)
- Get guests to sign a piece of wooden garden furniture such as a swing seat, table or bench
- Ask people to sign decorative, keep sake items for your home such as a quilt, globe or Christmas baubles
- Provide bottle labels for wine that people can write advice or wishes to be read on wine to be opened for future anniversaries
- Poster / artwork
- Use guests fingerprints to create the leaves on a tree on a canvas that be hung afterwards (see Tree of Hearts below)
- Have hand written messages on various hearts placed around a cut out framed tree (see Paper Tree Design below)
- Frame an illustration of your venue which guests can sign (see Illustrated Invites below)
- Get your guests to contribute and colour in a giant poster mural (see Fancy Features below)
- Ask your hen party to all ‘kiss the miss goodbye‘ and place their lipstick mark next to their signature for instant framed artwork
- Provide wine corks for guests to sign and then be framed
- Place signed pebbles or wooden hearts in a big glass vase
- Games
- Get guests to sign jigsaw or Jenga blocks
- Write labels with wishes and attach them to balloons that can be launched at the end of the day
And take a look at these brilliant local suppliers that can bring a different angle to a guest book at your wedding:
Busy Brush Café
Create a beautiful and highly personalised platter or serving plate, design it with a painting of your venue or of the happy couple and have it glazed and fired ready to present at your wedding along with a special ceramics pen that guests can use to write their message on the plate.
Busy Brush Cafe offer wedding plates of all shapes and sizes that can be used every day in the kitchen or hung up on the wall for decoration. Spend a couple of hours in the quirky and supportive cafe environment and have fun painting up your own plate, or have one of the team design it all for you to specification. The plates can then be collected a few days later once they’ve been glazed and kiln fired and the team will provide you with a permanent ceramics pen for guest messages that will last a lifetime! Prices range from £40 to £150 depending on size and detail required.
@busyatbusybrush
Fancy Features
Fancy Features make Giant Colouring In – fully personalised artwork hand illustrated to canvas ready to get coloured in by you and your friends at your event. We design and deliver artwork to clients all over the world.
Illustrated Invitation
A small family business located in Somerset, who are passionate in bringing a niche service to wedding stationery.
Producing beautifully detailed pencil sketches of the couple’s wedding venue or church which are then used as a theme throughout the wedding stationery products. Choices of colours, font styles and wording of invitation according to your needs ensures a personal and unique touch to the couple’s stationery. “Designed exclusively for You”.
Our Guest Comment Frame is proving particularly popular for its uniqueness as we go one step further than to just leave a blank space for guests to write on at the reception.
We provide guests with ‘message cards’ for them to write on during the reception, which has proved to be a great talking point after the speeches have been done and dusted and a lull in the proceedings whilst coffee is being served.
After the honeymoon, the couple send us the cards to be edited onto the frame and these original cards are returned together with the completed frame.
Our specialty is that we either print or scan the original messages onto the frame around the sketch, ensuring that perfect spacing and an overall pleasing look is achieved. Providing this in either a black or white modern frame, this product not only doubles as a great keepsake but great to hang proudly in the home as a reminder of the Special Day!
@illustratedinv
theillustratedinvitation
The Illustrated Invitation
theillustratedinvitation
Make Memento
Our hand-engraved, solid oak keepsake boxes make the perfect wedding gift for the happy couple! Perfect for storing treasured wedding keepsakes and mementos, you can make this gift extra special by adding a personalised engraved date to mark the special occasion!
Handmade to order in our studio, our solid oak wood boxes have been lovingly designed and crafted using thick, heavy European oak timber. The wood is hand-cut, then individually sanded and treated to enhance the natural grain and preserve the beauty of the wood. Our boxes are finished with a chic hand-engraving and black infill, with the heart arrow finished with a red infill – producing a truly unique style. Finally, our oak boxes are finished with a clear gloss protective varnish to ensure durability and display a stunning finish. These lift-lid boxes are great for presenting and storing cards, photos and other treasured wedding mementos!
Paper Tree Design
The wedding tree from Paper Tree Design is a great way to remember all the people who took part in your special day, family members on the hearts and friends written around the tree. It can be provided fully made up, or instead you can chose to have a blank tree and hearts for your guests to hand write around the tree. Various sizes are available depending on the number of guests, and prices start at £50.00. The tree can be colour matched to the colour theme of the wedding, contact suzanne@papertreedesign.co.uk for further details.
Paper Tree Design was created through a love of paper and a desire to produce beautiful and personal stationery and decorations. Thoughtfully designed, we focus on quality and attention to detail to make your stationery truly individual. With a background in Fashion and Textile Design, and 15 years experience in retail buying and product development Suzanne has a wealth of experience to draw on and is passionate about delivering design with little personal touches that reflect the clients loves and interests.
Living in rural Oxfordshire Suzanne cannot help but be inspired by the beauty of the natural world and the changing seasons, and can frequently be found in lanes and hedgerows with her camera and a sketchbook. Specialising in paper cutting, at Paper Tree Design we create your handcrafted wedding stationery to order. Choose to personalise a card from one of our ranges or commission a bespoke design. I am at my best working with your theme and ideas for a truly personal invitation and welcome you to come and have a chat and a cuppa in my Oxfordshire studio to discuss plans for your wedding.
@PaperTreeOxon
@Paper-Tree-Design
@papertreeoxon
recipegiftbook.com
recipegiftbook.com enables friends and family to give a truly meaningful gift to the bride and groom, the gift of a recipe.
Create a beautiful keepsake to celebrate your wedding day, a cookbook filled with recipes from all your wedding guests.
Whether it’s treasured family recipes or modern favourites, your guests will have fun sharing their recipes, photos and personal messages with you. Guests simply add their recipes online then following your wedding a charming hardback cookbook is sent to you.
Creating a ‘recipe gift book’ is a great way to bring both families together in the run up to a wedding. It’s a special cookbook and a wonderful way to collect precious recipes and create something unique to celebrate your marriage.
The bride and groom can choose from six recipe book designs and personalise the front cover title to make their book unique. When complete the bride and groom will receive a beautiful hardback book, presented in a gift box. The finished recipe book is free for the bride and groom. The guests just pay £4.99 to add a page to the book. The bride and groom can order additional copies of their recipe book and even allow guests to purchase a copy too.
recipegiftbook.com supply the ultimate personalised wedding present from all of the guests, a gift the bride and groom will treasure long after their wedding day. Take a look at their introductory video to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di7YPD3koBA
@recipegiftbook
@recipegiftbook
recipegiftbook
@recipegiftbook
Tree of Hearts
Tree of Hearts specialises in personalised wedding stationery and has over 90 beautiful collections to choose from including traditional, modern, vintage and beach designs catering for a wide range of tastes and styles. They offer quality stationery at affordable prices and have everything you need from save the date cards and wedding invitations to order of service, table plans, fingerprint trees and thank you cards.
Free samples are available upon request so you can see and feel the quality of their stationery ensuring it is perfect for your special day.
Fingerprint trees can incorporate approximately 50 (small), 80-100 (medium) or 150-200 (large) fingerprints per tree size. Includes a personalised print and 3 small ink pads in colours of your choice.
Wishing tree & wishing tags includes a white freestanding manzanita wishing tree (90cm tall) supplied with personalised wishing tags & sign in a design of your choice. The tags can be used for favour tags or wishing tags.
@tree_ofhearts
@TreeOfHeartsWeddingStationery
@tree_of_hearts
by Hanami Dream | 1, November, 2016 | blog, tips
As someone with dietary requirements, I’m always impressed (& relieved) when different diets are considered at a wedding (which also means I’ve got something to eat to soak up all that free drink!)
I stir clear of most dairy products (apart from the occasional chocolate treat and an annual ice cream when I’m on holiday) and have done for about 30 years now (yikes – now that’s showing my age isn’t it!) I found that dairy was a trigger for migraines and now I find that cheese or cream doesn’t agree with my stomach either after years of abstinence. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t miss it. In fact, just thinking about the smell of melted cheese makes me feel queasy!
When I was younger it was hard to find alternatives to dairy but now the supermarket shelves are stacked with wonderful ‘free from’ and alternatives to suit varied and diverse diets. I certainly don’t feel so difficult to cater for anymore!
For me, there’s not always an instant reaction to eating the things I avoid but for some people they may have a severe allergy or strong beliefs that mean they must not come in to contact with some foods.
That’s why I’m a strong believer in the importance of asking wedding guests if they have any special dietary requirements in order to respect their health, religious, moral or political choices. Plus it’s nice to have happy guests who don’t feel awkward (or hungry), tucking in to delicious food and not the same old unimaginative alternatives.
Here’s my quick ABC of how to make sure you’re covering all your bases when it comes to catering for special dietary requirements.
A – Ask your guests as early as you can. Include a section on your RSVP cards (to send with the invites) for them to be able to fill in any dietary requirements. Or even on your save the date cards if you’re really on the ball. You could even give them an example of what the menu might be and get people to choose their meals in advance.
B – Base the menu on your tastes – it is your day after all! It’s a good starting point to think about what you like and dislike to eat plus what you have enjoyed feasting on at weddings that you’ve attended as guests. You can ensure the food will fit your theme and style of wedding. However be mindful if your tastes are unconventional as you want to be inclusive to your guests too. Which leads us to the next point…
C – Customise your menu. Create your menu in such a way that anyone with an allergy or dietary requirement can still enjoy the main aspect of the meal. However, for example, a vegetarian option shouldn’t just remove the meat element of the dish but rather have a delicious alternative instead. Likewise, for a non dairy person like myself, having the option to be able to add your own sauce to a meal (that may have cream, yoghurt, butter or cheese in it) could mean that I could still enjoy the same dish but without the sauce (or with a substitute sauce) rather than it coming served in the sauce. The main dish could remain the same but with some ‘pick and mix’ elements to ensure dietary requirements are met. A clever caterer will be able to think of ways to alter dishes to suit.
D – Diets to consider could include the following (although this is by no means an exhaustive list):
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Non dairy
- Gluten free
- Kosher
- Halal
- Hindu
- Diabetic
- Low fat
- Low salt
- Nut free
- Child friendly
- Pregancy
E – Establish and eliminate elements of the menu. Once you have a list of your guests requirements you can start to construct a menu with your caterer or venue that can suit their needs. If you are unsure what they can/can’t eat then it is always best to confirm with them and show them specific ingredient lists from the chef. Decide how many main dishes will be offered to guests such as a meat, a fish and a vegetarian option that can then all be adjusted to take in to account the different diets.
F – Figure out the style of meal being offered. How you serve food can have an impact on offering alternatives. For example, a sit down meal can mean that meals can be tailored individually though could be increase costs to prepare separate dishes for different people. A (well labelled) buffet could mean that guests can choose the food that is most appropriate to their diets although means that food may have been premade and harder to adjust on the day. A hog roast is a cheap and tasty way to mass cater but provides limited choices and alternative options.
G – Go and meet with your caterer / venue. Any chef worth their weight in gold won’t be phased (or surprised) by the challenge of catering for guests with different dietary requirements. As long as they know enough in advance, they can plan and prepare for the different meals. It is also worth checking how they prepare the food if allergies or religion are the reason for some special diets as you may need to use specific caterers for some meals.
H – Have your cake and eat it. Don’t forget about all meals and beverages that are going to be consumed during the day including your wedding cake. Think about having different tiers of the cake made to suit different guests. Or even having an alternative to a cake altogether.
I – Inform your guests. Make sure that you check the final menu with the guests that are most affected so that they know what they will be able to eat on the day. Communication plus no surprises puts most people at ease.
J – Just checking. Confirm numbers, menu and dietary requirements with the caterers / venue just prior to the big day so that it’s fresh in their minds. Plus check that the waiting staff know where the special meals are to be served at each table. Perhaps put a subtle symbol on the name places that signifies a special meal.
You don’t have to provide an a la carte menu with several variations, you just need a flexible kitchen and an inventive chef or caterer who can conjure up a meal to suit all diners.
Enjoy picking the menu for your wedding breakfast. Remember that it is your special day and you should choose what you both love. You won’t be able to please all your guests however keeping them well fed will be a good start to keeping them happy. Bon appetite!
See another of my blog posts of other ways to keep your wedding guests happy.
by Hanami Dream | 29, September, 2016 | blog, tips
AS FEATURED ON BRIDE MAGAZINE:
According to the infamous shampoo advert, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Whilst you have been living and breathing all things to do with your wedding, the first time your guests may have any idea about your big day is when your wedding invitation or save the date card lands on their doormat.
Here’s my guide to planning and sending your wedding stationery to make sure that first impression counts:
why
There are many reasons why it is important to send invitations. Firstly, you want to share your good news with people and to invite them to celebrate your special day with you. Knowing how many guests are going to be at your wedding will also give you a clearer idea of the number of people to cater for and the venue size required.
But this is about more than just logistics, this important piece of mail will set the scene, the tone, the theme and your guests’ expectations of your special occasion. It also acts as way to educate and organise your guests so that they know what is expected of them too.
What you say, when you send it, to whom you address it and what it looks like all provide the first experience your guests have of your wedding. So it’s really important that you plan your stationery wisely to make the best first impression.
how
There are three different routes you could go down with your invitations – the traditional way of sending out paper stationery, the more technological (and environmentally friendly) path, or a combination of the old and new which might involve paper invites but collating the RSVPs electronically.
Whichever route you take, it’s great to
- coordinate the stationery with the theme of your wedding
- coordinate all the stationery as a whole
- ensure that you have a consistent look and feel with everything that you do online and offline
- order all your paper stationery at the same time to save on costs
- don’t forget to factor in the cost of envelopes and stamps to your budget
Bear in mind that the more people you invite, the more postage you’ll have to spend and then multiple this by how many times you send different stationery from the suite (ie save the date cards, invites, added info etc).
what
Think of your wedding as a big marketing campaign – you need to consider promotion of it before, during and follow up afterwards to get the best results (and response) from your audience! A well informed guest is a happy one and communication is key so your guests don’t encounter too many unforeseen surprises that they haven’t accounted for.
Here is the full suite of paper stationery to consider. I’ve included some US trends that we are starting to see more of in the UK especially in more formal weddings (of course this list covers all types and styles of wedding day, so omit the elements that do not suit your big day):
Pre-wedding day
- Engagement announcements
- Engagement party invitations
- Be my bridesmaid / best man cards
- Hen party / stag do invitations
- Save the date cards
- Wedding invitations
- Information sheets
- Schedule of the Day
- Accommodation
- Gift list
- Map / directions
- Special requests (ie diet / high chair etc)
- Song requests
- RSVP cards
- Rehearsal dinner invitations
On the wedding day
- Order of service / Programme
- Table plan / Escort cards
- Table numbers
- Place name cards
- Menus
- Signage / labels
- Pew cards / reserved seating
- Favours
- Buffet food
- Post box
- Guest book
Post wedding day
- Thank you cards
- Cake boxes
when
Pre-wedding day
- 10-12 months before the wedding day – send your save the date cards (or add a note in Christmas cards to save on additional postage).
- 4-6 months before the wedding day – send out the invitations (consider sending them out in waves if you want to see how many people reply positively and then decide whether you could ‘bump up’ any evening guests to be all day guests if you have some people that can’t make it). Include extra information documents to provide details of the day and give the guests details of how to contact you to confirm their attendance. Put a date on the invites to tell guests when you need to have their RSVP back to you.
- 6-8 weeks before the wedding day – check any last minute changes to your guest list and chase any outstanding RSVPs so that the table plan and place cards can be produced and you have a final number for order of services and menus for the day.
Post wedding day
- asap after the wedding day – send out wedding cake in boxes to any friends or relatives that couldn’t make the big day.
- 2 weeks-3 months after the wedding day – etiquette dictates that a you should respond to people in a polite time frame as soon as you receive their gift (or as soon as possible after your return from honeymoon) to thank people for their gifts and attendance.
who
Once you’ve decided on what you’re going to send and when you are going to send it, you need to consider who the invite is going to and who it is coming from.
If your wedding day is going to be quite casual then your invitations should reflect this, whereas if it’s formal then the style and wording of the invites will be different to fit with this theme. The look and feel should mirror the content too.
There are so many variations on what you write inside the invite, as there are many factors that will influence the wording of stationery. For example, every family has different circumstances, it depends who is ‘hosting’ the wedding and often who is paying for the wedding. Here’s my advice on the elements to include which can be adjusted for all the different scenarios:
- Start the invite with who is hosting the wedding (whether this be the couple, the bride’s parent/s, groom’s parent/s, both sets of parents, or a mix of all of the above)
- Use ‘request the pleasure of your company’ (or can be more casually put like ‘please join us’)
- Write in the passive 3rd person for a more formal style
- List the bride before the groom (use bride’s first and middle names only for formal invites, plus groom’s full title)
- Include the time, date, month, year
- Indicate the venue with full address
- Note if there is a reception or meal afterwards (including when and where this will be held)
- Provide RSVP date and return address
To avoid confusion, it is often better to be really specific about who you are inviting and to which parts of the day they are invited to, so that they are not left in any doubt. Other things to note (so that all guests are on the same page) is whether there will be:
- a dress code
- children invited
- plus ones for single guests
Above all else, ensure that your invitations (and other stationery) reflect your personality and the look and feel of your special day. As long as you’ve got the important information on them (who, when, what, where) you can then add your own personal touches so that it fits your wedding day.
[Photography credits – Paper Tree Design]
by Hanami Dream | 11, August, 2016 | blog, tips
AS FEATURED ON BRIDE MAGAZINE:
Once you’re over the hurdle of preparing your guest list and the headache of waiting (and chasing) for RSVPs, it will be time to decide where to seat your nearest and dearest for your wedding breakfast.
Take a look at our 10 point guide on how (and where) to seat your wedding guests to help you through what can be another tricky juggling act of keeping everyone happy. There’s etiquette, tradition, logistics, safety & practicalities to consider (as well as who Aunty Vera may have fallen out with) so that all can see and been seen by the bridal party.
1) size and shape
Firstly, establish what is possible at your venue. What could you fit in to the room? What is already available there? You need to think about the space, tables and chairs. Taking in to account the size, shape and style of these three elements. Count the number of tables and determine how many chairs can fit around the different shapes of table. This amount should accommodate your final guest numbers.
2) style of meal
How you lay out the tables can be dictated by the style of food that you will be serving. For example, if you’re having a casual meal or buffet then you may opt for guests to pick their own places when they’ve got their food rather than a formal sit down meal where everyone has an allocated place setting. To get guests to mix up, you could provide a bowl of numbers and people pick out their table number as they enter the reception.
3) structure
The formation of the tables will depend on their shape and the atmosphere you want to create. Family style sharing meals work well on rectangle banquet tables with benches on either side. Laying long tables in a horseshoe or T shape creates a focal point of the bridal party. Whilst round tables surrounded by chairs can cluster groups together for good interaction. Square tables give a great modern feel and don’t feel restricted to use a uniform type of table – mix and match shapes and sizes to suit your needs.
4) standard
Traditionally there is a head (or top) table containing at least the happy couple. In addition, etiquette suggests their parents, along with chief bridesmaid and groomsman join this long table facing the guests so that everyone can view the top table (eg Chief Bridesmaid, Groom’s Father, Bride’s Mother, Groom, Bride, Bride’s Father, Groom’s Mother, Best Man). Working away from this focal point, others from the wedding party are grouped near to the top table, followed by closest relatives, then friends, and finally colleagues.
5) substitutes
Let’s face it, you can have whoever you want on the top table (or no top table at all!) Nowadays there are many alternative schemes to factor in different family circumstances and partnerships. The top table could be round rather than rectangle so the wedding party get to chat too. The top table could just contain the two most important members of the day whilst the rest of the bridal party host their own family members on separate tables. Sometimes brides and grooms choose to sit at a different table for each course to mingle with all their guests.
6) special considerations
As well as knowing how many people you’re seating, you’ll need to factor in any accessibility requirements for any young, elderly or incapacitated guests such as incorporating requests for highchairs. People with any tasks to carry out during the meal or speeches should be able to get out of their place easily too. There’s always a temptation to match make with a singles table, though my advice would always be to keep people with people they already know (and like). Tradition suggests alternating men and women around a table.
7) system
How to plan who sits where is a fine and delicate art often thrown by last minute cancellations and feuds. There are lots of online planning tools, apps and software available to help solve this issue. However, nothing beats a large piece of paper containing the floor plan of your room with blank tables drawn in the right places. Then get some small coloured sticky tabs in perhaps three colours (for men, women and children). Write each guest’s name on the relevant coloured tab and stick these around the table templates until you’re happy with the seating combinations.
8) selecting tables
There are many options and ways to personalise your tables including the names you give each table or how you number them. One of my favourites at the moment is showing a picture of both of the happy couple at the age that the table number corresponds with.
9) seating plan
There a couple of options to ensure that guests get to the table you’ve allocated to them. Firstly, you can display a seating plans of the different tables listing which guests are sat at each table. Ideally have a couple of these plans to avoid everyone bunching around one and placing it outside of the room for people to view it ahead of time to avoid a rush on entry. Alternatively, escort cards can be displayed (perhaps alphabetically) which each contain the name of a guest along with the table name/number where they are to be seated. In both scenarios, place name cards on the table can show guests where to sit or they could pick their own seat.
10) seating at ceremonies
It’s not just the reception to consider but you may want to offer a modern take on where people sit at the ceremony too. Traditionally in a religious building, the Bride’s family sit on the left of the premises and the Groom’s sit on the right. However, many people are asking their guests to pick a seat not a side. Plus if the venue is less formal you can move away from rows of chairs and opt for a circle around the couple or even a spiral of chairs working inwards to the couple.
by Hanami Dream | 19, July, 2016 | blog, tips
If your big day is just around the corner, you may be getting down to the nitty gritty of confirming all the final numbers with the caterer and venue, finishing off making favours, as well as starting the wonderful part of beautifying yourself in preparation for the big day.
Even if you’re armed with the best schedule in the world (my forte by the way!) there are always a few minor things that crop up on the day that you can’t prevent or avoid. However, you can be prepared and plan for some eventualities.
Here is Hanami Dream’s wedding day survival kit list for brides and grooms. It is not an exhaustive list but contains some items that I have found to be useful to carry (or better still get one of your trusty attendants to) on your wedding day to combat any little hiccups.
- Blotting paper – dab away any sweat or ‘shine’ on your face
- Chalk – to cover up any scuff marks on a white wedding dress
- Double sided tape – to avoid any ‘wardrobe malfunctions’
- Floss – to keep your smile looking at it’s best for all those pictures
- Foot insoles – to save your feet for all that dancing
- Hair bands, comb & pins – anything to keep your ‘do’ under control during the day
- Mints – for fresh breath for the first kiss (as well all the meet and greats)
- Nail file – to get rid of any snags
- Nail vanish – clear polish is good for stopping pulls in your tights turning in to ladders
- Paracetamol – light pain relief so you don’t have a headache for your first night together
- Plasters – in case of blisters from your amazing wedding shoes
- Rescue remedy – amazing herbal drops to keep you calm
- Safety pins – in case anything comes undone
- Sewing kit – for minor repairs like sewing on buttons
- Straws – so your lipstick stays in tact (and not on your glass) whilst you sip your drink
- Tissues – for dabbing away tears (hopefully of joy!)
- Tweezers – to get rid of any stray hairs
- Water – a small bottle on hand will make sure you don’t get dehydrated or a dry mouth when saying your vows
- Wet wipes – to freshen up during the day!
There are plenty of pre-made kits on the market that you can buy to fulfil the need for an emergency kit. However it’s lots of fun to pick and pack your own things that are personal and relevant for you and your big day. Perhaps you could prepare some for your bridal party or maybe your bridesmaids might assemble one for you.
What would you add to this list? I’d love to hear any of your suggestions (in the comments below) for items you’d have in your wedding survival kit.
by Hanami Dream | 21, June, 2016 | blog, tips
Great street food and amazing pop-up restaurants have been on the rise in the foodie world for a number of years, so it’s not surprising that this trend has made it’s way in to the wonderful world of weddings.
It was fantastic to see such an array of highly talented local caterers and produce at last month’s Witney Festival of Food and Drink. This wealth of local products and producers was celebrated again at Blenheim Palace Food Festival and it won’t be long until Jamie Oliver and Alex James’s Big Feastival over the August Bank Holiday in Kingham in the Cotswolds. These events make me realise that we have some amazing food grown and made nearby in the beautiful Cotswolds.
A food revolution and revival has certainly been occurring over the last few years and our tastes, experiences and cultures are broadening our options and are making food a real focus and meal times a real event. The origins of where food comes from, organic products and responsible sourcing is becoming more transparent and giving people the opportunity to buy local.
Alongside the popularity of festival and bohemian style weddings, having catering vans to prepare and serve your guests on site is fast becoming a great addition to any outside wedding. These are not your football ground style burger vans, this is top end, street food done exceptionally well. They come complete and often travel with their own kitchen (keeping additional catering equipment hire costs to a minimum). These are all encompassing and absolutely delicious options to keep your guests’ mouths watering and coming back for more.
Nowadays, there’s a catering van to suit most themes, budgets and palates from all around the globe such as: pizza, burritos, sushi, curry, hog roast, waffles, fish and chips, jacket potatoes, doughnuts and crepes. Plus food catering for a selection of different dietary requirements (look out for a blog post on this topic very close to my heart coming very soon!)
So here is my pick of some of the top wedding catering vans in and around Witney (in Oxfordshire and the surrounding Cotswolds):
ChilliDogs
ChilliDogs cater for events, festivals and weddings with their handcrafted hot dogs and real-deal nachos, fully loaded with the ultimate chilli con carne and their infamous cheese fondue.
All their food is made using premium ingredients sourced from local suppliers. Their sausages for example are handcrafted to their unique recipe by a local smokehouse, their hot dogs are made from 90% British pork, double beechwood smoked for a deep satisfying flavour, their chilli is cooked for over 8 hours for the ultimate rich flavour. ChilliDogs don’t do compromise.
Gourmet nachos and hot dogs are great for weddings as they are great social food and cater for all tastes – from chilli cheese dogs for those with big appetites to simple classic dogs for those who like to keep it simple!
@ChilliDogs
Goujon Monkey
Goujon Monkey are an Oxfordshire based gourmet street food caterer offering traditional favourites with a modern twist.
They pride themselves on serving the finest quality street food available, using only the freshest ingredients. All of their food is cooked from scratch and served from a lovingly restored vintage Citroen H van.
With menus to suit different tastes including their hand prepared Beer Battered Cod, Goujon Monkey offer a unique addition to your big day.
When they’re not serving delicious food at weddings and other private events, you can find them at various festivals and street food gatherings in and around Oxford.
goujonmonkey
@goujonmonkey
I’m Japanese
Set up 6 years ago by Momo, based in Oxford. She sells freshly cooked, hot Japanese food from her street food van. She moved to Oxford from a small place in Mie prefecture, Japan twenty years ago. Growing up in a Buddhist temple she helped her mother and grandmother prepare food for guests and learnt how to cook and present traditional Japanese food. She wanted people to know more about Japanese food, not just sushi! So she started selling ‘maki sushi’ which is home-made, rolled sushi along with other things like Japanese fried chicken, edamame beans, miso soup and traditional rolled omelettes at a local farmers’ markets.
Now more than hot food they trade from a street food van in Woodstock Road in Oxford (outside the old Infirmary, opposite the Royal Oak pub) with an expanded menu.
They are very proud that they offer true Japanese food. They can also cater for events and parties either at a venue or a private home. Their catering style is flexible so can be customised to suit your event.
@Im_Japanese
@findusinOxford
Little Retro Kitchen
Little Retro Kitchen is a brand new build catering trailer, inspired by American Airstream and has just reached it’s second birthday. They are based in Worcestershire, but can travel and cater for any occasion. They pride themselves on using local produce, and have the highest hygiene standard of Hygiene 5 rating.
Amongst other things, they serve Worcestershire Gourmet Burgers topped with local cheeses, wild rocket & onions. Cheese choices are Worcester Gold (creamy tangy cheddar), Chilli Cheese or Worcester Sauce & Shallot Cheese. Plus sides of fries and rainbow coleslaw. They also offer a Wedding Cheese Cake supplied with biscuit selection, chutneys & grapes, as well as wedding breakfasts with dry cured bacon baps.
Little Retro Kitchen is a great visual at any event, with their colour change lighting and illuminated roof sign, that looks great when it’s dark too.
@OfficialLRK
Little Retro Kitchen
@Little Retro Kitchen Party Catering & Events
@LittleRetroKitchen
Lucabuca
Lucabuca was formed from a love of a good party & especially good food. Having been in the events industry for over 15 years it seemed natural to create something that could add an attractive & delicious dimension to weddings, festivals, pop-ups & parties. The love of fresh ingredients, authentic Italian food and taking pleasure from helping people to celebrate the special times in their lives enabled Lucabuca to be born. Add in bright red, sparkly lights telling everyone what we do, an authentic vintage pop up with our wood fired pizza oven, custom made gazebo, foliage, ladders & stools and you’ve got the perfect beautiful Italian detailed furnishings to add to any party!
@lucabucapizza
@lucabucapizza
@lucabucapizza
The Souvlaki Brothers
The Souvlaki Brothers is owned and managed by two Greek brothers, Panny and Yiannis, who set the business up with one simple goal – to provide the most delicious Greek street food possible!
They believe in keeping things simple – make one product REALLY well. They specialise in souvlaki; a choice of chargrilled marinated pork, succulent lemon chicken or grilled halloumi wrapped in traditional fluffy pita bread with homemade tzatziki, fresh tomato and onion salad, a scattering of crunchy french fries, and a secret combination of herbs and seasonings.
This fresh, extremely tasty street-food has somewhat gone under the radar in this country up until now, and The Souvlaki Brothers are leading a charge to change that, with what they believe is the most authentic version of their favourite food (and maybe even some Greek dancing along the way…)
Quick to serve, portable and with minimal packaging, their souvlaki are perfect at events, festivals and weddings, providing a new and exciting food option for hungry crowds and a slice of Mediterranean sunshine!
@souvlakibros
@thesouvlakibrothers
@SouvlakiBrothers
And not forgetting this selection of other delicious helpings:
My tummy is rumbling just thinking about all this food! We are lucky to be surrounded by such great local products and producers of sumptuous meals to accompany our special occasions. #keepitlocal
Bon appetite!
by Hanami Dream | 2, June, 2016 | blog, holy trinity of wedding planning, tips
So far in the series, I’ve introduced the three key aspects of planning a wedding that pretty much affect every other thing that is connected with your big day. These are who, where and how much (otherwise known as your guests, venue and budget). This group of three things are very much intertwined. Plus when you hold your wedding is connected too! As previously covered (in the who post), nearly all the decisions you have to make about your wedding will come back to one, two or all of the elements in what I class as ‘the holy trinity of wedding planning’.
This month I’m going to tackle the where element and your all-important choice of venue (and will look at the last element in the trinity of how much another time).
Finding the right venue that is available at the right time, for the right price, for the right number of guests will be one of the first (and trickiest) parts of planning your wedding. But once you’ve decided on this element everything else will seem like a doddle! Before venue hunting, have a rough idea of your budget and how many guests you want to share the day with you. (I told you that the where, who and how much elements would come in to play.) And have an idea of when you want it to take place too. See my top tips below to give you an idea of some other factors to help you decide the place where you’ll say ‘I do’.
Nowadays, the world is pretty much your oyster in terms of options available. If you’ve seen ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’, you’ll realise that you can get married in all types of places!
1.Where in the world
Maybe you don’t fancy risking the British weather and want to get married outside of the UK, to jet off or elope. Destination weddings are certainly an attractive proposition and usually mean that all the details get handled for you by the hotel where you are staying. Plus you get your honeymoon and wedding all rolled in to one.
However, it’s worth considering that going abroad could limit who can come to the wedding (here’s the trinity coming in to play again) as not everyone will be able to afford to attend or elderly relatives may not be well enough to travel. Plus, just remember that whoever does come will be with you for your honeymoon too! Guests would have to factor in more time to attend the wedding, so the time of year that you have your wedding may also affect whether they could come.
Before booking your tickets, you should also check the legalities of your chosen country as it may be more hassle than it’s worth to be legally wed in that country (translating of documents, time and effort etc) so you may chose to do the legal bit at home before or after the glamourous beach part. (Don’t forget to make sure your passport matches the name you are travelling under – it might be best to travel under your maiden name unless there is time to get your passport changed before you travel. (See my checklist of other documents and organisations to tell about your change of name.)
2.Pinpoint the location
Once you’ve decided on whether you’re getting married home or abroad, then you need to narrow down the location and think about:
- Which country?
- Which region?
- Which town?
- Will it be in or out of town?
- Would the venue be easy to find?
All these factors will impact on travel costs and timings. Guests will need to consider whether they need to factor in overnight accommodation as well. Plus if your wedding is not near where you live you may not be able to visit the venue many times before the big day or meet with suppliers face to face to view products in advance.
Think about how far away the ceremony venue is from the reception venue in terms of distance but also timings. Depending on what time of day you’re getting married it may conflict with rush hour or school runs that could affect traffic and people travelling between locations.
Wherever you get married, if you are having a Church of England wedding ceremony, your Banns (an announcement of your intention to marry) need to be read in the parish where each of you lives as well as the church where you will be getting married (if this is somewhere different). So if you plan to attend the reading of your Banns, it might be harder if you have to travel far.
3.Formalities
What kind of day do you want? Perhaps you’ve already got your Pinterest boards at the ready (goodness knows how we ever planned anything before Pinterest!) If not, how do you envisage your wedding day? The style of wedding that you want will influence the venue you choose so think about whether you want something that is:
- All in one venue?
- Big or small?
- Relaxed or formal?
- Inside or outside?
- Urban or rural or coastal?
- Unique or package?
- Adults only or child friendly?
- Organised for you or somewhere you can bring together your own group of suppliers?
- What kind of theme do you want?
- Vintage
- Rustic
- Glamourous
- Country garden
- Festival
- Tropical
- Medieval
- Carnival
- etc etc
4.Legally speaking
You could have a religious or civil ceremony, or perhaps have a blessing in an amazing off-the-beaten track location and do the legal bit at another time. According to the Citizens Advice Bureau in the UK, at the moment you can legally get married in the following places:
- a Register Office
- premises approved by the local authority such as a hotel
- a church of the Church of England, Church in Wales, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian or Roman Catholic Church in N. Ireland (opposite sex couples only)
- a synagogue or any other private place if both partners are Jewish
- a Meeting House if one or both partners are either members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) or are associated with the Society by attending meetings
- any registered religious building (England and Wales only)
- the home of one of the partners if the partner is housebound or detained, for example, in prison
- a place where one partner is seriously ill and not expected to recover, for example, in hospital
- a licensed naval, military or air force chapel
In addition, owners of premises that are regularly open to the public (ie stately homes, hotels and civic buildings) can apply to hold civil marriages. Generally these places need to be in a permanent built structure and not an open air venue. So it’s worth checking with your dream venue to check if you could get legally married there.
5.Location, location, location
Whether you’re having a one-stop venue, or having the legal part somewhere else, you’ll want to have somewhere you can relax, eat and have fun with your guests after the ceremony. There are lots of different types of venues to chose from for your wedding reception including:
- Aquarium
- Barn
- Beach
- Castle
- Gallery
- Historic venues
- Hotel
- Landmark venues
- Library
- Marquee style – see my guide to a tipi wedding
- Museum
- Outdoors
- Own home
- Pub
- Restaurant
- Sporting venues
- Stately home
- Zoo
How far in advance you’re planning might open up more possibilities and how much you have to spend will offer different options. Plus the number of guests will complete the trinity of factors that will influence where you pick.
See my list of Top 20 venues in and around Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds for some local venue inspiration.
6.Size does matter
With your trusty (and let’s be honest probably controversial and stress inducing) guest list at the ready, you’ll be able to determine what size of venue you need. Other things to think about with your guests include:
- Will you be feeding all the guests?
- Will it be a sit down meal or buffet? (If you want to all be sat around tables that could change the number of people you can fit in a room versus if people are stood mingling around.)
- Will you be having all the guests for the whole day? Or will you have some for the meal and some will come in addition later for the evening?
The size of the venue will influence how many guests you can invite but you could increase the numbers by having an evening section that doesn’t require everyone to be sat down to eat.
7.Icing on the cake
So what’s really important to you? What are the things you won’t compromise on – those things that your wedding venue must have to make your wedding perfect?
- Do you require parking? How much parking is required?
- What facilities are important to you?
- Do you need disabled access?
- How many rooms will you need?
- What size of rooms are available?
- Are there separate rooms for getting ready beforehand?
- Is there a space for children or for elderly to escape the main area?
- Will yours be the only wedding at that venue on the day?
- Is there accommodation at the venue?
What facilities or factors are on your non-negotiable list?
8.The fine detail
They’re probably not deal breakers, but there may be a few minor points that could sway your decision or would give a different day depending on the decisions by individual venues about their policies on:
- Confetti
- Candles
- Marquees
- Fireworks
- Helicopters
- Music switch off time
- Enough power
- Use of your own suppliers
- License for alcohol
Picking your venue may be time consuming but the effort will be worth it as the venue is probably the most expensive element of the day, so you want it to be right. Once you’ve sorted the venue (and set the date) then you can start planning all the other finer details. With the who, where and how much at the fore front of your mind, everything else can fall in to place.
More about the money side of things soon in the last element of the holy trinity of wedding planning: how much.
