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Back to school – the ABCs of the leap day

Back to school – the ABCs of the leap day

happy leap day

There’s an extra day to play with this year as 2024 is a leap year. So we will have the pleasure of the 29th February for the first time again in four years. (Not sure I was that pleased to have an extra day in the last leap year of 2020 though!)

science

The Earth doesn’t takes exactly 365 days to go round the sun. There is actually another five hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds each year. So in order to keep our modern manmade calendar aligned with the solar journey (and to ensure we don’t lose nearly 6 hours a year), we need to add another day in February occasionally.

maths

Whilst we say that there is a leap year every four years this isn’t exactly correct. The general rule of thumb is that if the year is divisible by 4 then it is a leap year. However, a year that is divisible by 100 is NOT a leap year, UNLESS the year is also divisible by 400! So 1900 wasn’t a leap year and neither will be 2100, but 2000 was a leap year. Our next leap years will be 2028 and 2032.

history

Julius Caesar first introduced the leap year to the calendar in 46 BC. Some famous events during leap years in history include: the first modern Olympic Games took place (in 1896), the Titanic sank (in 1912) and The D-Day landings happened (in 1944).

business studies

February 29th is not really a legal day and many companies don’t recognize Leap Day as a ‘valid day’. Some question whether a document signed on a leap day is legally binding. And lots of people may work for free on this extra day in February.

personal development

When it comes to proposing, traditionally a leap year meant that the tables were turned and women could have the chance to propose. See my previous post on wedding proposals during leap years. However some deem getting married (or even engaged) in a leap year unlucky.

humanities

Many cultures believe that leap years are unlucky. Reportedly, the world goes a bit erratic with crazy weather patterns, additional suffering and a pretty gloomy outlook. Hence why some countries believe it is unlucky to make major decisions in a leap year like buying a house or car, or getting married. It is also traditionally seen as unlucky to get married on a leap day (29 February), though some people comment that you’d only have to remember your wedding anniversary every 4 years. 

philosophy

There are some profound sayings about leap years. For example, a Scottish proverb says that a leap year is bad for livestock: ‘Leap year was ne’er a good sheep year.’ And Italians say ‘anno bisesto, anno funesto’ (meaning that the leap year is doomed) as they believe that women are erratic in a leap year.

sports

The Summer Olympic Games are held every four years on leap years.

media studies

The probability of being born on a leap day are 1 in 1,461 days. So there are only around 5 million people that are born on 29th February. Here are some famous leapers/leaplings:

  • Rapper – Ja Rule
  • Spanish Footballer – Ferrán Torres
  • Composer – Rossini
  • Actor – Joss Ackland
  • Prime Minister of Spain – Pedro Sánchez
  • And even Superman has this rare birthday too

It’s quite an exceptional day. What will you do with the extra day this year?

Celebrating 10 years of Hanami Dream

Celebrating 10 years of Hanami Dream

where it all started

This year marks 10 years since Hanami Dream was founded and it has evolved quite a bit since those first few tentative steps in to working for myself.

For starters, the logo looked a bit busier and more floral back then, plus the focus of Hanami Dream started off looking at all of life’s momentous milestones such as weddings, special occasions, children’s parties and baby showers.

But the blog has been the overarching thread throughout the life of the business – some of the time generating an income, sometimes bringing together contacts which led to business relationships, and always charting my news and following my journey.

Hanami Dream - Weddings & Special Events - UK wedding blog, Oxfordshire

tenth anniversary

Each month in the build up to the 10th birthday of Hanami Dream in July 2024, I’ll take a look at how the business has changed and how different aspects have led to where the business is today.

This month, I’m looking at some of the photo shoots I’ve organised as Hanami Dream and you’ll see more photos from each of these over the next few months.

After all, it was a photo shoot that started things for Hanami Dream in early 2014. The shoots combined my experience of organising lifestyle shoots and my passion for weddings. But the first shoot wasn’t actually a wedding shoot – they came a bit later down the line.

I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. A photographer friend of mine asked if I would organise a styled photo shoot with her to provide some photos for her portfolio. She knew that I’d organised lots of shoots in my previous corporate world. One slight complication was that I was 6 months pregnant at the time with my second child – but I always like a tight deadline!

Photography by Farrow Photography

alice in wonderland

For the first shoot, we had a very clear vision of our theme and sourced and made most of the props ourselves and used our own children as the models.

Hanami Dream and Farrow Photography joined forces to bring to life some inspirational themes for special occasions. Sandra (from Farrow Photography) wanted to show something different for baby and toddler photo shoots and I showcased how you can use a theme to enhance your milestone event, whatever the age of the guest.

Here are the photos for our cute Alice in Wonderland tea party for children to mark Alice Day (4th July) in 2014:

https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/how-we-organised-our-alice-in-wonderland-tea-party/

Photograph by Farrow Photography

wizard of oz

By the second shoot, we started to use other suppliers and show case their products too. We collaborated again in August 2014 when we went over the rainbow to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the release of the Wizard of Oz film.

We followed the yellow brick road with another themed children’s party, showcasing some amazing products from local suppliers – after all there’s no place like home.

https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/how-we-went-somewhere-over-the-rainbow-with-our-wizard-of-oz-party/

Photography by Farrow Photography

wind in the willows

Following the success of our previous themed photo shoots, we collaborated once again to produce an amazing bridal styled shoot based around another well-known story, The Wind in the Willows. By this third shoot in 2016, we expanded things completely using bride and groom models and having a full lifestyle wedding shoot on location at Minster Mill, a nearby wedding venue.

https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/inspiration-autumnal-marsala-gold-wind-in-the-willows-wedding/

Photography by Farrow Photography

secret garden

For my fourth shoot, I was delighted to work with a new photography partner on a styled bridal shoot in 2017. It was wonderful to work alongside Steve from Squib Photography. We collaborated to produce an amazing bridal styled shoot based around The Secret Garden. It was also an honour to be able to showcase some amazing products from some fantastic local suppliers and also showcase local Witney venue, Cogges Manor Farm.

https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/inspiration-modern-edwardian-secret-garden-wedding/

Photography by Farrow Photography

festival

To coincide with a wedding open day that I coordinated at Cogges Manor Farm in 2017, the Barn was dressed as if it were a real wedding. This was not a traditional wedding fair – it was a relaxed and informal open day showcasing a truly personal wedding option – not a cookie cutter approach at all. Images from the day were fantastically captured by Cat Stephens Photography.

https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/inspiration-festival-wedding/

Photography by Farrow Photography

journey to the centre of the earth

I was over the moon to be approached by a beautiful local venue in 2017 to style their wedding venue in order to show it off in a new light and provide all involved with wonderful lifestyle imagery.

It was great to work alongside Squib Photography again. This time we were at Oxleaze Barn and we collaborated to produce an amazing bridal styled shoot inspired by Journey to the Centre of the Earth. It was also a privilege to be able to showcase some amazing products from some fantastic local suppliers.

https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/inspiration-journey-to-the-centre-of-the-earth-wedding/

Photography by Farrow Photography

networking

The other brilliant thing about the photo shoots was they provided great networking opportunities and getting to work together with other suppliers. For me, they also helped lead to the next steps in the journey of Hanami Dream.

Firstly they gave me things to share on my blog and helped to raise my profile and gave me the confidence to enter competitions and awards, plus submit and get articles in publications.

Secondly, they were a great way for suppliers to see me working first hand. This developed opportunities to work more closely with some suppliers and provide them with marketing support in their own businesses.

published articles

Hanami Dream styled shoots have been published in a number of places in print and online including: Bride Magazine, Your Glos & Wilts Wedding magazine, Your Berks, Buck and Oxon Wedding magazine, and SoGlos Weddings.

My shoots brought together wonderful local suppliers. Together we showcased the amazing talent that our part of the UK has to offer the wedding industry and all benefitted from the lifestyle imagery and promotion.

Photography by Farrow Photography

All photography in the post are by Farrow Photography. Look out for more images from other shoots in next month’s post following the build up to the tenth birthday.

Thank you, January!

Thank you, January!

wish it had been longer

I feel a bit cheated out of the whole of this month. With the children going back to school later than usual I lost one and a half weeks at the beginning of the month before I could even hit the ground running. I heard lots of people saying January was soooo long but for me it wasn’t long enough!

celebrating small wins

 

In this scenario, it might be tempting to feel like I’m chasing my tail from the outset (and let’s be honest, the weeks often feel like they’re racing past!) But I’ve started this year with taking time at the end of each day to write down the 3 best things of my day.

Rather than looking at what is left on my to do list, I’m celebrating the small wins from each day. I’m looking at the donut instead of the hole. Looking at what I have done and not what I haven’t.

my January achievements

So thank you January, because this month I’ve been able to achieve (in no particular order):

  • Writing blog posts more regularly again and getting my writing mojo back.
  • Starting a new term at Sing and Sign and meeting some lovely excited new families that I can teach and pass on signing skills to.
  • Designing a shiny new logo for a client.
  • Working on a comms strategy for a new client.
  • Having nice compliments about my work and enthusiasm from CEO.
  • Updating my CV and getting excited about another possible new job to add to the portfolio and recognising how much I’ve achieved in my career.
  • Being invited to an interview for potential new client.
  • Enjoying a laser quest party for my eldest – for the first time in 4 years it’s been within a month of their actual birthday.
  • A wonderful weekend away to celebrate my mother’s 70th birthday.
  • Throwing my own pot on a brilliant pottery experience.
  • Time to unwind and complete a 1000 piece jigsaw.
  • Enjoying some great TV such as The Traitors and Pottery Throw Down, and sofa cuddles with whole family watching Junior Bake Off and Gladiators.
  • Seeing all my children doing an amazing job at talent show.
  • Enjoying a fire on a cold day.
  • Having warm relaxing baths.
  • Enjoying reading my book (have read 1 and a half this month – The Wild Other by Clover Stroud and half way through The Wake Up Call by Beth O’Leary).
  • Submitting tax returns with over a week to go before deadline

Top Fall 2021 colours from Pantone® for autumn weddings

Top Fall 2021 colours from Pantone® for autumn weddings

Autumn 2021 colours

We await the roadmap announcement next week, when we hope that there is clearer guidance on the way out of lockdown including what will happen to weddings in 2021. We can assume that weddings may not include receptions for a while and then may remain in quite small numbers for a while.

Hopefully by autumn, we will be in a better position to think about weddings again. I’m thinking ahead for later in the year as Pantone® have announced the colours for the autumnal and winter months of 2021/22.

Fashion weeks have been taking place virtually this year with New York last week, London this week and Milan and Paris later this month. Pantone® have predicted 10 colours that they think will be prevalent in Fall/Winter 2021/22.

bold

There are some bright and bold of colours to really make a statement this autumn. Leading the way, the yellow colour of the year (Illuminating) brightens the mood and provides a glimmer of sunny days ahead.

the blues

We may be feeling a bit blue at the moment, but the calming blues will relax us by a Spring Lake or under the Clear Sky, lazing by the pool of Mykonos or Ibiza Blue. With reliable and stable navy (Rhodonite or After Midnight).

bonfires

Rich, earthy, autumnal fiery colours are reminiscent of bonfires and sitting from a firepit toasting marshmallows, including Fire Whirl, Adobe, Root Beer, Red Alert, Tomato Cream, Daylily, Downtown Brown.

Fall 2021 colours

The top ten colours for Fall 2021 are:

  • Pantone 18-4434 Mykonos Blue
  • Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating
  • Pantone 18-6022 Leprechaun
  • Pantone 18-2330 Fuchsia Fedora
  • Pantone 13-1716 Pale Rosette
  • Pantone 17-1340 Adobe
  • Pantone 18-1453 Fire Whirl
  • Pantone 19-3838 Rhodonite
  • Pantone 18-4221 Spring Lake
  • Pantone 19-1228 Root Beer

Neutral basics

Pantone® have also created a Fall 2021 Classic Colour Palette. These are a group of neutrals that are core basics in the form of off-white, grey, cream and olive green.

The bonus classic neutral colours for Fall 2021 are:

  • Pantone 11-1007 Coconut Cream
  • Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray
  • Pantone 13-0919 Soybean
  • Pantone 18-0527 Olive Branch

Fall 2021 extra colours from LFW

They may have different names but in the main the colours are repeated at London Fashion Week, along with a couple of additional colours (instead of the bright cerise pink and cream colours) to round off the colours for Fall 2021. There’s also a bit of a rejig of whether some colours sit in the neutrals or the main set (as navy gets demoted at LFW to the neutral basics). Here are the extra orange and burgundy shades:

  • Pantone 19-1537 Winery
  • Pantone 15-0956 Daylily

Colour themes

It’ll be great to see how couples incorporate these colours in to their weddings (hopefully) later this year.

Pantone® is the world-renowned authority on colour and the Pantone® Color of the Year is always really influential in any popular colour themes in fashion, interior design and weddings.

 

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Top Fall 2020 colours from Pantone® for autumn weddings

Top Fall 2020 colours from Pantone® for autumn weddings

Autumn 2020 colours

After what seemed like the slowest and longest starts to the year, February now seems to be zipping away. And the blossom buds on the trees remind us that spring is just around the corner.

But I’m already thinking about forthcoming seasons later in the year, as Pantone® have announced the colours for the autumn and winter months of 2020/21.

With fashion weeks just kicking off in New York yesterday (before moving on to London on Valentine’s Day, Milan on the 18th and Paris on the 24th), Pantone® have predicted 10 colours that they think will be prevalent in Fall/Winter 2020/21. And it’ll be great to see these colours appearing in autumn weddings this year.

It’s no surprise to see half of the colours in earthy and typically autumnal colours. They are also joined by some rich jewel colours, some dusty pastel colours and a pop of statement neon.

Greatest hits of colours 

This line up feels a bit like the greatest hits tour for Pantone®, covering all their number one hits in the form of previous colours of the year (such as a peach for Living Coral from 2019, a purple for Ultra Violet of 2018, a strong green for Greenery in 2017, a pastel pink for 2016 and of course Classic Blue, the current 2020 colour of the year). And then there’s a new unheard of song that none of the fans know all the words to yet and don’t quite know what to make of it.

Pantone® Color Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman wants consumers ‘to feel at ease with a spectrum of colors’ and this season offers ‘traditional tones and surprising ones that offer plenty of room for experimentation.’

Potter’s wheel

Fitting with the current more sustainable ‘make, do and mend’ way of life, our nation’s obsession has gone from baking, sewing and now to pottery. (I can’t get enough of the Great Pottery Throw Down at the moment especially when the judge gets so emotional over the makes the potters produce).

So the earthy palette of the Fall 2020 colours reminds me of the range of clay colours you’d find in a pottery. With the brown Fired Brick and Sandstone being placed in the hot orange and red fire of Amberglow and Samba.

90s inspired neon

I’m pleased to see the pop of the neon Green Sheen appearing amongst the colours. Neon signage, perhaps with a personalised pun, is popular at the moment as wedding décor, along with a nostalgic nineties injection of vibrant colour.

Lots of nineties babies are tying the knot. So nods to the nineties will be found in holographic stationery, glow in the dark elements, as well as lace seeing a revival.

And it’s all about unique lighting with vintage lampshades, statement chandeliers and 90s inspired neon.

Rich jewels

The inclusion of some rich colours in the mix are almost tactile and velvety. Ultramarine Green, Magenta Purple and the colour of the year, Classic Blue, almost feel regal and would be very fitting for a medieval banquet style wedding.

Muted pastels

In addition, the subtle Rose Tan and Peach Nougat are lovely transitional pastel colours to lead us in to spring next year.

Fall 2020 colours

The top ten colours for Autumn/Winter 20/21 are:

  • Amberglow PANTONE 16-1350
  • Samba PANTONE 19-1662
  • Sandstone PANTONE 16-1328
  • Classic Blue PANTONE 19-4052
  • Green Sheen PANTONE 13-0648
  • Rose Tan PANTONE 16-1511
  • Ultramarine Green PANTONE 18-5338
  • Fired Brick PANTONE 19-1337
  • Peach Nougat PANTONE 14-1220
  • Magenta Purple PANTONE 19-2428

Neutral basics

Pantone® have also updated the Classic Colour Palette. These are a group of neutrals that are core basics, this time in the form of a white, navy blue, grey and olive green. The bonus classic neutral colours for Fall 2020 are:
  • Almond Oil PANTONE 12-0713
  • Blue Depths PANTONE 19-3940
  • Sleet PANTONE 16-3916
  • Military Olive PANTONE 19-0622

Fall 2020 extra colours from LFW

They may have different names but in the main the colours are repeated at London Fashion Week, along with a couple of additional colours (instead of the pastel pink and purple colours) to round off the colours for Fall 2020. There’s also a bit of a rejig of whether some colours sit in the neutrals or the main set (as Military Olive gets promoted at LFW) along with a purer white in the neutral basics. Here are the extra red, white and blue shades:

  • Mandarin Red PANTONE 17-1562
  • True Blue PANTONE 19-4057
  • Jet Stream PANTONE 11-0605

Colour themes

It’ll be great to see how couples incorporate these colours in to their weddings later this year. I can see how the classic neutrals will play a big part in coupling up with some of the more vibrant choices.

Pantone® is the world-renowned authority on colour and the Pantone® Color of the Year is always really influential in any popular colour themes in fashion, interior design and weddings.

See some of my wedding styling trends for weddings in 2020.

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Top wedding styling trends for 2020

Top wedding styling trends for 2020

[As featured on pages 65-67 of the October/November 2019 edition of Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding]

Couples are currently looking at ways to personalise their nuptials and break from tradition. Wedding styling is seeing an abundance of original alternatives that blend together cultures, creativity and lots of personal touches.

Mixing and matching seem a great way to compromise, as couples decide that they don’t have to settle on one particular style. This gives a great fusion of modern and vintage, along with contrasting textures, colours and mixed metals.

It’s why there’s an abundance of beautiful wedding styling trends to look out for at the moment. Here’s my top pick for 2020:

Photography by Farrow Photography
contemporary classic

Subtle updates to some traditional wedding styles include an injection of more vibrant colours. The use of colour is being used more subtly though and is often paired alongside neutral colours. And it certainly isn’t the case of everything having to match anymore.

Coloured linens are giving white napkins a run for their money, whilst cutlery is coming in different colours too. The best use of colour is with mix and match bridesmaids, where the styles and hues of dresses compliment each other or are in varying shades of the same colour.

Nods to Art Deco are appearing again in wedding themes, paying homage to the golden jazz age and The Great Gatsby era, with lace also seeing a revival. Scents are becoming important at weddings to appeal to ALL the senses, so more personalised scented candles are being used around the venue to enhance the atmosphere.

Couples are choosing to sit intimately on their own sweetheart table, whilst an array of cakes are being displayed on dessert tables. And whilst there is a move towards having less décor, some couples are supersizing their décor elements to make an impact.

Photography by Farrow Photography

country garden

The greenery trend is still going strong with couples wanting connections with nature. Weddings are bringing the outdoors in with an abundance of foliage, trees, enchanted indoor forest walks and floral arches. Banquet tables are being decorated with low florals (so guests can see one another across them) or hanging centrepieces above the tables.

And couples continue to use alternatives to real flowers such as pot plants, succulents and air plants that can be reused again after the wedding. But the biggest trend right now is the use of grasses, pods and dried flowers, with pampas grass seeing a huge surge in popularity. This is being used across all elements of décor from the big statement pieces (like ceremony backdrops, aisle runners and chandeliers), to fillers in bouquets (or big statement bouquets), table centrepieces and accents on the cake or table plan.

One plume or a huge arrangement, dried or fresh, pampas grass is proving to be versatile across seasons and marries well as a neutral with many colours.

 

Industrial banquet | Journey to the Centre of the Earth | modern ethereal winter styled bridal shoot by Hanami Dream | agate | marble | airplants | tulle | pale blue | gold | Oxleaze Barn | Gloucestershire | October 2017 | Photography by Squib Photography www.squibphotography.co.uk
modern minimalism

Thanks to the Marie Kondo effect, minimal weddings are still popular and continue to exude sophistication especially when couples stick to one colour, such as white, to make an amazing statement.

To achieve maximum impact the minimal way, couples are keeping decor, florals and styling to a few key pieces.
The use of metallic decor, silverware and mirrors bounce natural light around the space, along with clear tables and chairs with no fussy table cloths or chair covers.

Use of geometric shapes such as hoops and prisms in different scales add to the modern styling. With free-flowing modern calligraphy on stationery items.

urban cool

Industrial venues often offer a complete blank canvas and statement backdrops to the traditional wedding elements. Couples can design the layout of the room, complete with make shift aisles and chill out lounge seating areas.

Old warehouses, city pubs, or disused factories with deteriorating brickwork, wooden beams and big windows, all provide a great contrast with a relaxed wedding vibe. These are the perfect venues for some New York loft styling and to mix modern and vintage elements together.

Décor is focused on concrete, stone and cement details such as marbled concrete pots, concrete coasters, concrete letters, and concrete table numbers.

And it’s all about unique lighting with vintage lampshades, statement chandeliers and 80s inspired neon.

Photography by Farrow Photography

quirky and personal

Personalisation is still the most prevalent theme in weddings right now. Couples are making their nuptials as individual as they are and are breaking from tradition. There is an abundance of original alternatives that blend together cultures, creativity and lots of personal touches.

Couples are going beyond paper stationery with different material types such as Perspex, denim, wood or agate slices. And printing invites on things their guests can use again. Likewise, guest books are things couples will use or see every day such as recipe books, furniture and artwork.

Alternatives to real flower bouquets include flowers made of fabric, felt, paper, sheet music or comic book pages. Carrying flowers in different arrangements such as pomanders, hoops and wreaths. Holding objects instead of flowers, using sparkly things to make a bouquet or using other natural alternatives to flowers. Plus, paper flowers are being used for décor and in ceremony arches.

Couples are considering new ways to wear flowers such as bow ties, corsages, floral rings, anklets and chockers.

Llamas seem to be the animal of choice to be a guest at weddings. Plus, the evolution from Chinese lanterns and sparklers has now moved on to super dramatic smoke bombs.

Photography by Farrow Photography

bohemian and vintage

It’s a sad fact that, by their nature, weddings can be quite wasteful. However, more couples nowadays are choosing eco-friendly and sustainable options to reduce the impact that their wedding day has on the environment.

Where possible couples are thinking about foraging, borrowing or hiring items, upcycling vintage décor, making their own items and considering how to pass on items afterwards. Food is more seasonal, local and vegan. With couples looking at how to make their wedding a plastic free event.

The other trend to look out for is Kintsugi. This is upcycling Japanese style – the art of repairing or recycling broken items in beautiful and artistic ways.

 

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Take the leap in 2020: save the date

Take the leap in 2020: save the date

Leap year proposals

There’s an extra day to play with this year as 2020 is a leap year. So we will have the pleasure of the 29th February for the first time again in four years. When it comes to proposing, traditionally a leap year meant that the tables were turned and women could have the chance to propose.

Unlucky leap year

Superstition suggests that 2020 may be a bit erratic. Many cultures believe that leap years are unlucky. Reportedly, the world goes a bit erratic with crazy weather patterns, additional suffering and a pretty gloomy outlook. Hence why some countries believe it is unlucky to make major decisions in a leap year like buying a house or car, or getting married. It is also traditionally seen as unlucky to get married on a leap day (29 February), though some people comment that you’d only have to remember your wedding anniversary every 4 years.

Whether you’re superstitious or not, before you rush to send out your save the date cards, 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).

Friday the thirteenth

There’s another two seemingly unlucky Fridays to avoid in 2020. Superstition often forces couples to avoid the 13th of the month (especially if it falls on a Friday). Other dates that are supposedly unlucky include your birthday, the day of a full moon, April Fool’s Day and it used to be forbidden to get married in Lent and Advent by the church.

Set the date

Some people think that 7 is supposed to be a lucky number whilst 4 is deemed unlucky in Japanese and Chinese traditions, so dates with these numbers may be sought after or avoided by couples. Instead perhaps you want to pick a meaningful date to you such as the anniversary of the date you first met, a memorable date that you’ll remember like 12/12/12 or a nod to your heritage such as your grandparents’ wedding anniversary date.

Think ahead

Consider which year you will get married. This may seem basic but if you want to do something soon then suppliers and venues may already be booked up. So, think about how long you have to plan the
wedding. The more notice you give then the more likely you are able to have your first choice of date.

The four seasons

Depending on when your wedding is in the year could affect what the weather is likely to be like. It could also influence your themes, colours, venue, attire, transportation, food choice etc. Also, different seasons can have an impact on the price and availability of food and flowers. Venues may have different prices depending on the time of the year. And it’s worth bearing in mind whether your key guests or wedding party would be available in school holidays.

Gone till November

Old superstitions state your fate as a couple depending on the month you choose to wed. Some say it was unlucky for a couple to get married in May. Whilst June and other summer months are very popular and even December is gaining in popularity, presumably so that people can use holiday time around the big day. It is worth considering different months as popular ones are in demand so prices may increase and availability will decrease.

Eight days a week

Ironically in another old poem, it states that getting married on a Saturday is unlucky which nowadays is the most common day for people to tie the knot. However, it is also one of the most expensive days too. More people are now considering other weekdays as options and Sundays too (although this used to be deemed as a mark of disrespect).

A hard day’s night

A wedding after dark used to be considered unlucky but you could split your guests up to have some come for the whole day and others just join you for the evening part of the day so you don’t have to pay for all of them to have a sit-down meal.

Look outside your bubble

Make sure you think about what else is going on in the world such as national, local and annual events. Take in to consideration public holidays , sporting events, religious festivals and other key guests’ occasions (like birthdays or wedding anniversaries.

Blue engagement ring | Journey to the Centre of the Earth | modern ethereal winter styled bridal shoot by Hanami Dream | agate | marble | airplants | tulle | pale blue | gold | Oxleaze Barn | Gloucestershire | October 2017 | Photography by Squib Photography www.squibphotography.co.uk

Here’s a list of some events in 2020 (in England) that could influence your choice of dates, that you may wish to avoid or embrace:

Public holidays

  • New Year’s Day 1 January
  • Good Friday 10 April
  • Easter Monday 13 April
  • May Day Bank Holiday 8 May (changed this year in order to coincide with VE celebrations)
  • Spring Bank Holiday 25 May
  • Summer Bank Holiday 31 August
  • Christmas Day 25 December
  • Boxing Day 26 December

Sporting events

  • Six Nations Tournament 1 February – 14 March
  • Super Bowl 2nd February
  • Boat Race 29 March
  • Grand National 4 April
  • London Marathon 26 April
  • FA Cup Final 23 May
  • Champions League Final 30 May
  • UEFA Euro 2020 12 June – 12 July
  • Royal Ascot 16 – 20 June
  • Tour de France 27 June – 19 July
  • Wimbledon 29 June – 12 July
  • Henley Regatta 1 – 5 July
  • British Grand Prix 17-19 July
  • Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo 24 July – 9 August
  • Paralympic Games 25 August – 6 September
  • ICC World Twenty20 18 October – 15 November

Religious festivals

  • Epiphany 6 January
  • Orthodox Christmas Day 7 January
  • Orthodox New Year 14 January
  • Passover 8 – 16 April
  • Easter Sunday 12 April
  • Ramadan begins 23 April – 23 May
  • Eid 31 July
  • Diwali 14 November
  • Hanukkah 10-18 December
  • Christmas

Other occasions

  • Burns Night 25 January
  • Chinese New Year 25 January (year of the rat in 2020)
  • Valentine’s Day 14 February
  • Leap day Saturday 29 February
  • St David’s Day 1 March
  • St Patrick’s Day 17 March
  • Mother’s Day 22 March
  • Shrove Tuesday 25 March
  • Clocks go forward 29 March
  • April Fool’s Day 1 April
  • St George’s Day 23 April
  • Eurovision Song Contest 12 – 16 May
  • Chelsea Flower Show 19 – 23 May
  • Trooping the Colour 13 June
  • Father’s Day 21 June
  • Glastonbury 24 – 29 June
  • Independence Day 4 July
  • Clocks go back 25 October
  • Halloween 31 October
  • Guy Fawkes 5 November
  • Remembrance Day 11 November
  • Thanksgiving 26 November
  • St Andrew’s Day 30 November
  • New Year’s Eve 31 December

‘Unlucky’ dates

  • March 13th 2020
  • November 13th 2020
  • August 13, 2021
  • Friday, May 13, 2022

Good luck on your quest to pick a date for your wedding day (and therefore your wedding anniversary date for years to come). I know a lot of thought will go in to answering the question of ‘So, when is the big day?’ Remember to pick a date that works for you.

Enjoy celebrating in 2020 and I wish you a very Happy New Year.

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A (Brides)made to measure wedding dress

A (Brides)made to measure wedding dress

Wedding dress shopping can feel like a fairy tale to some but can also be a little overwhelming. Oftern bridal dress shops have a sea of (generally) white dresses laid out before the lucky bride to be which can leave some feeling a little daunted.

There are a few routes to take when thinking about finding the perfect wedding dress:

  1. buy a new wedding dress off the peg
  2. buy a second hand wedding dress
  3. borrow a wedding a dress
  4. have a wedding dress made to measure


Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emma Goodwin Hair & Makeup | Yurga Makeup Artist

Here are some top tips from Susie Grist Couture on having a bespoke wedding dress made for your special day:

a wedding dress made just for you

By having your wedding dress made you can create the perfect gown with all the elements that you love. You are part of the design process, so you get to choose the style of it, the fabric, the colour, the type of lace, and any adornments. This means that the dress becomes part of you and will reflect your personality as this will influence the choices that you make. It will be a unique dress and no-one else will have exactly the same one, unlike if you bought one from a high street shop.

Another advantage of a bespoke wedding dress is that it will be tailor made to fit you, no matter what size or shape you are, so that you will feel confident on the day. When you buy a dress from a high street shop they come in standard dress sizes. As most people are not a standard size you will most likely have to pay a seamstress to have some alterations made for it to fit you properly.


Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emilee’s Hair

designing a wedding dress just for you

Inspiration can come from many different sources such as bridal magazines, Pinterest, royal weddings, red carpet events, television and films. Or perhaps you have a favourite dress or top that you like the neckline or sleeves, or a favourite style of skirt. Or maybe you’ve tried on some wedding dresses and like certain elements about them but not the overall look.

To start the design process, it is helpful to collate your ideas and take them to an initial design consultation. By talking things through with your wedding dress designer you can pinpoint the best ideas and amalgamate them into the perfect design. Through asking the right questions, the designer will guide you through the design process even if you are a bride who is not quite sure what you want.


Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emma Goodwin Hair & Makeup | Yurga Makeup Artist

wedding dress designer

The relationship between the wedding dress designer and the bride is a collaboration and it is important that you get along as you will be spending quite a bit of time together.

As you go through the various stages of making your bespoke gown ,the design will evolve and may even change as ideas progress. If at any stage throughout the process something is not how you envisioned, or you have a new idea it is important to tell your designer as soon as you can. They will help talk through the ideas and changes with you to see if they would work. After all, they are there to bring your dream dress to life and want you to love it.

You will have to make quite a few decisions along the way, but the designer is there to help point you in the right direction so don’t be afraid. It is a very exciting, satisfying and worthwhile experience.


Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emilee’s Hair

made to measure costs and timescale

One of the first things everyone thinks about is the cost of a bespoke wedding dress. It may not be the cheapest wedding dress option, however it doesn’t have to be wildly expensive either. And it will be made to fit you exactly.

It is a good idea to research bespoke dress makers in your area and talk to them. You will need to know how much they charge, what is included in the charge and what is extra, when each instalment will be due for payment and how long it will take to make your bespoke dress.

Susie Grist Couture | Dale Stephens Photography | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court | Emma Goodwin Hair & Makeup | Yurga Makeup Artist | All About Flowers

fitting of a made to measure wedding dress

Just as with any wedding dress fitting, it is a good idea to buy the shoes and underwear you will be wearing as early as possible to wear to your fittings as this can influence the fit and length of the dress.

It is also nice to bring along accessories to your fittings so that you can try them on to see if they are working with your dress design.

If your size changes in the build up to the wedding, then having a bespoke dress is ideal as you will have several fittings throughout the making process and at each stage the dress will be altered to reflect your size.

About Susie Grist Couture

Susie Grist Couture specialise in designing and making individual bespoke wedding gowns. Based in Abingdon-On-Thames working from a home studio.

She has over 18 years of professional sewing experience and has been designing wedding dresses for nearly 6 years. She makes bridal gowns, bridesmaids and flower girl dresses and even outfits for mothers.

susiegrist

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image credits:

Dresses | Susie Grist Couture | http://www.susiegristcouture.co.uk
Venue | Silver Pear Weddings at Friars Court, Clanfield | www.silverpearweddings.co.uk
Photography | Dale Stephens Photography | www.dalestephensphotography.com
Hair (purple lace dress & aqua blue with ivory lace dress) | Emilee’s Hair | www.emileeshair.co.uk
Hair (blush & ivory dresses) | Emma Goodwin Hair & Makeup | www.emmagoodwinhairandmakeup.co.uk
Make up (blush & ivory dresses) | Yurga Makeup Artist | www.yurgamakeup.co.uk
Flowers (ivory dress) | All About Flowers | www.swindonflorist.co.uk

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Dealing with difficult wedding guests

Dealing with difficult wedding guests

There will probably be some tough decisions to make with your guest list. Ultimately, it all boils down to who you want in the room with you and how well do you want to know the people that are there.

After the guest list headaches, chasing RSVPs and endlessly revising the seating plan, there may be some issues to consider so you can avoid any dramas with tricky wedding attendees.

Here are my top 6 tips for dealing with difficult wedding guests.

1. Think about your guest list from the start. Be specific on the invitation to avoid unexpected plus ones. Have a plan if an unexpected guest arrives.

2. Brief your attendants. Perhaps give them on stand by with a secret code word to intervene with difficult guests. Think about any guests that may need to be kept a part (or away from the free bar!)

3. Seat difficult guests near the back or side at the reception. Consider seating divorced couples apart. Think about having a sweetheart table if your parents are not able to sit together on a traditional top table.

4. Ensure guests are kept well fed (it helps soaks up alcohol) to avoid drunken antics. Happy guests are less likely to be tetchy or bored.

5. Ask for any dietary requirements in advance. Make sure there’s no surprises on the day.

6. Keep the children entertained to stave off boredom. Consider outside or an additional room for them to play.

Photography by Farrow Photography

 

 

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Top tips for a gin filled wedding

Top tips for a gin filled wedding

Gin filled wedding

The gin renaissance is still going strong and continues to be the on trend drink of the moment with flavoured gins being on the rise.

Here are some ways to include the nation’s favourite drink in to your wedding day courtesy of Liz Beswick, Co Founder of Collagin. She married on World Gin Day in June 2017 and had her business partner Cam Brown running the Collagin bar on the day. This, paired with insider tips and feedback from other brides she has helped, means Liz knows a lot about making a wedding a gin filled event!

Whether you are looking for ‘ginspired’ wedding décor, table pieces, wedding favours or a stand out bar, Liz shares her top tips from her personal and business experience below.

Make it personal

Everyone loves the personal touch at weddings and this is often what people remember about the big day. Put gins on the tables or behind the bar or even as wedding favours that you know your guests love. For example, place a mini bottle of Salcombe gin for Jack on table 9 to remind him of his childhood holidays but put a Cotswolds Gin for Julie on table 4 to remind her of THAT drunken hen do. The guests will be so touched by your gesture and the effort gone into knowing and thinking about your guests.

If you don’t have budget for personalised wedding favours, place gin bottles behind the bar with note tags on them explaining why you chose the gin. Or even better, create cocktail lists based on names of your guests or on your favourite places or memories as the bride and groom.

 

Use gins that compliment your colour scheme

Do you have an obvious colour scheme? If so, let the gin add to it! Bridesmaids in pink? Then only include pink gins at your wedding. Pretty pinks include Pinkster Gin, Collagin Rose or Malfy Rosa. Violet flowers? Make the centre pieces even more spectacular by including violet gins in the display. Good ones include Whitley Neill Parma Violet or Violetta. Continue your colour scheme through to the smallest touches and it will make a huge impact.

 

Make it unique

Everyone has seen all the major gin brands at weddings, so to get people talking, and to make your wedding décor or bar look different and to stand out, feature gins that people don’t see every day. This will grab attention and intrigue. Plus it will be very funny to get photos of Auntie Carol doing shots of Collagin with bridesmaid Beth after discovering the new tipple at your wedding. It might then become her favourite gin and will always remind her of your special day.

Make it different

Make the gin theme different – I am not talking about just the gin brands you use, but also how you display the gin bottles. Put fairy lights in empty bottles or use them as reed diffusers – get creative! Also, choose different tonic water brands to create a distinctive gin bar. We love Lixir tonic water as they are made by two lovely British lads. Again, the tonic water doesn’t need to be your everyday tonics so choose something unique or with a story.

 

Make it worth an Instagram post

Stack them into pyramids, decorate them with glitter, relabel them with your initials or wedding logo. Whatever you do to your gin, make them Instagrammable! If you are getting your invites designed, the same designer could create labels to stick on to gin bottles featuring your wedding design and initials or your wedding date and use them as table numbers.

Email the gin or tonic water brands about your big day

Collagin LOVE getting emails from brides. If they know you are using Collagin for décor or behind the bar at your big day, they will offer trade prices or save up their empty bottles and send them to you. Tonic waters might do the same (the smaller the brand the more likely they are to help or be less rigid with prices!)  Just explain you are a bride to be and see if they can offer reduced prices for a larger order or in exchange for lots of pictures from your wedding album. There is no harm in trying! This also works for hen do orders.

Most importantly, make sure YOU the bride and groom get a drink. It is amazing how everyone assumes you are catered for but are often the last to get their food and drink at their own wedding. So, if you are looking to drink on the big day, ask your Maid of Honour to make sure you are saved a glass of your favourite G&T.

About Collagin

Young In Spirit is the world’s first alcoholic drinks company to combine spirits with collagen, with the first drink being Collagin – gin with added collagen. The people behind the idea are gin and beauty lovers and Oxford based ‘Gintrepreneurs’ Camilla Brown and Liz Beswick who recently snared two Dragons’ in the Den.

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