by Hanami Dream | 24, May, 2016 | blog, guest post, tips
The tradition of wedding flowers is steeped in symbolism and there’s lots to think about in terms of colours, meaning and seasonality.
Flowers have been a part of wedding traditions since at least Greek times when flowers would have been grouped together in a garland to be worn on the head and seen as a gift of nature. It would also contains strong smelling herbs such as garlic or chives to ward off evil spirits. In the Middle Ages, garlands were worn entwined with ears of wheat to symbolise fertility. And with the rarity of baths, the bouquets were a nice fragrant distraction from any other lingering smells!
Nowadays, wedding flowers can compliment and reflect the theme, style, colours, tone and surroundings of the day. You can include flowers in your bouquet, corsages, button holes, table decorations, flower walls, displays at venues or as confetti or petals sprinkled by the flower girls.
Flowers are a big focus in 2016 not only in the décor but with hair accessories and headwear. Plus a new trend of ring corsages is emerging and the use of wild flowers like daisies. It doesn’t all have to be about the flowers, as foliage will be as important or instead of flowers in displays. Alternatives to traditional flowers are seeing the use of succulents in bouquets, on tables and given away as favours. Plus instead of the usual confetti, there is now a herb toss as another option which gives such lovely aromas to this part of the day.
Then once you’ve finished with your bouquet (if you’ve not thrown it to your single friends), there’s also a lovely new trend emerging of the ‘lonely bouquet’ where you leave your bouquet in a public place, with a note for someone else to find – thus spreading smiles and the joy of flowers to others. (Google it, I’ve not made it up!)
We have asked the highly talented (and award winning) Dee McMeeking to help unravel some of the mysteries of picking the right flowers, at the right time of the year, for your special day.
Photo credits: peony bouquet by Dee McMeeking, Photograph thanks to Nick O’Keeffe Photography
It’s one of those questions a bride to be will always be asked – “what flowers are you having?” and I know for some of you that can be a scary question! If you are blessed to know your hypericum berries from your viburnum then you will not need to read any further. But if your floral knowledge is more daffodils and dandelions then here is my quick guide to things you need to know about seasonal wedding flowers.
1) Flowers are seasonal
In theory that means that you can’t have certain flowers at certain times of the year. Think of it like Cadbury’s crème eggs or Easter Eggs – you don’t find them easily in shops in August or December! Flowers are the same. So if you have set your heart on a bouquet of peonies and you are getting married in the UK in November you may struggle. I say ‘may’ because the majority of cut flowers we use here in the UK are imported and most flowers are in season and being grown somewhere in the world, but that will make them more expensive.
Top tip: There are a couple of great apps that can help you out here – Flowerwheel, or Flowerbook. Both allow you to see when flowers are in season and more importantly photos and colours! So if your answer to the “what flowers” question is pink and white flowers, you can take this a step further and get some ideas with super search functions by colour.
2) Flower prices vary during the year
Flowers are one of those products where the prices will vary, sometimes quite significantly, at different times of the year. It’s as much about supply and demand as it is about seasonality. There is one big hot spot in the year that I have to mention – Valentine’s Day! The price of red and pink roses can treble if not quadruple just for that week. But other flowers can be cheaper than normal – such as orchids – purely because everyone is buying red roses.
When something is in season, it is naturally growing at its peak, the price is lower. So if you work with seasonal flowers you can get more for your money.
3) Using local flowers can save you money
More and more brides are opting for an informal look with their wedding flowers. The country garden “just picked” look where your flowers look more natural and less structured. If this is your style then you can do your own wedding flowers – certainly for your wedding reception, you might want a bit of help for bouquets and button holes. There are UK based growers who will sell you seasonal flowers “by the bucket” you just pre-order them, collect them, and then display them in your own personal style. Buying direct from the grower will save you some money and you will have very fresh flowers, often picked that day. To find your local suppliers check out this site http://www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk/
Photo credit: ©iStock/jesshorsenaround
4) The colours of flowers change with the seasons
I mention this purely from an experience I had with a bride who was fixed on her colour scheme of navy and gold and her flowers HAD to match to these colours. Now even at the peak of any floral growing season you are not going to get gold flowers and navy is also a tricky one too! Especially if you are in February in the UK! So if you are getting married in Spring or Winter remember that you may have to compromise with your flower choices. My solution was to go neutral with the flowers – ivory, white and creams and then add her gold and navy in through adding details such as ribbons and containers. Sometimes you may just need to be a little creative with your colour scheme.
Photo credit: ©iStock/EvgenyBaranov
5) Where do I start with selecting my flowers?
Here is how I would approach finding out what is in season for my wedding flowers. First of all start with your wedding date and figure out which season you are getting married in. Search for “wedding flowers in season UK” now the UK bit is important because if you stumble on an American wedding blog in your search results what’s in season there may not be accurate for you! You will be surprised how many great guides there are already out there on blogs (just like this blog- check out these posts on seasonality, colours, and meaning of wedding flowers). Then I would pick out a few of these flowers that I liked and pop straight over to Pinterest and create a wedding flowers board. Search for “wedding flowers with xyz flowers” and see what emerges. When you have some visuals and you know roughly what is available at that time of the year you have enough research to either take to a florist or to source the flowers yourself!
Happy planning!
Dee McMeeking is the designer (wedding planner, wedding stylist & floral designer) behind Dee McMeeking Wedding Styling, a wedding styling & floral design business based in Warwickshire, UK & Dublin, Ireland. If you’re a creative with lots of great wedding ideas but need some help to bring your unique style to life on your wedding day, then contact Dee today at weddings@deemcmeeking.com. Dee works with clients from anywhere in the world and is waiting to hear more about your wedding styling ideas.
@deemcweddings
@deemcmeeking
by Hanami Dream | 17, May, 2016 | blog, tips
I’m still loving the trend for all white minimalist weddings at the moment.
Here are my top ten tips for achieving maximum impact the minimal way:
- Clean – ensure everything is pristine and sleek for a sophisticated finish
- Cover up – make sure that any existing or fussy elements of a venue space or furniture are hidden to ensure a consistent theme with nothing to distract the eye
- Clutter free – keep decor, florals and styling to a few key pieces and remember that less is more
- Contemporary – keep things modern and don’t mix and match styles
- Clever lighting – hide, enhance or highlight features with the use of spots, gobos or uplighting
- Create reflection – use metallic decor, silverware or mirrors to bounce natural light around the space
- Colour – stick to one colour for maximum impact with white making an amazing statement
- Clear – use Perspex tables and chairs with no fussy table cloths or chair covers
- Cacti – consider foliage instead of flowers in displays and use alternatives to traditional flowers such as succulents in bouquets, on tables and given away as favours
- Clothing – ask guests to wear a certain colour to create a theme and the use of minimal colours throughout
See more inspiration at Pinterest
by Hanami Dream | 17, May, 2016 | inspiration
where the brass band plays… a sugary, sweet retro British seaside wedding complete with pink and blue pastels galore plus beach huts, candy floss, a giant french fancy tiered cake, stripy deck chairs, ice creams, marshmallows, mix & match bridesmaid dresses and his & hers camper vans to arrive in style
Oh, I do love to be beside the seaside, beside the prom!
Images curated on Pinterest
credits:
(left from top to bottom)
Candy floss – Tumblr via http://Tumblr via http://bestfriendsforfrosting.com/2014/06/nine-ways-to-celebrate-the-everyday/
Stationery – http://www.postcalligraphy.com/ via http://www.stylemepretty.com/vault/gallery/22688
Dress and shoes – Photography by Tiffany Hughes via http://ruffledblog.com/1950s-inspired-auburn-wedding/
French fancies – Photography by Phil Wood Photo via https://www.flickr.com/photos/philwoodphoto/8464589943/
(middle from top to bottom)
Camper vans – Photography by Katleen via http://www.ministyleblog.com/?offset=1414530000000
Beach huts – via @beccadv1 Pinterest
(right from top to bottom)
Suit – by Kat Braman via http://southernweddings.com/2014/12/30/2014-memorable-menswear/
Bridesmaids’ dresses – Photography by Jen Huang via http://www.greylikesweddings.com/real-weddings/by-style/romantic/nantucket-wedding-the-white-elephant-inn/
Marshmallows – Macaronn via http://macaronn.tumblr.com/post/37109227732
Deckchairs – Snap Ginger via http://www.snapginger.com/blog/2014/6/16/pick-my-up-playlist7-9-14
by Hanami Dream | 3, May, 2016 | blog, traditions
There are many traditions, rituals and customs that people uphold and perform in connection with weddings. Some of these have now lost their relevance in modern society and sometimes we are not even sure why we undertake them. However we continue to perform them for fun, family tradition and superstition, especially as many of them have derived from efforts to bestow the happy couple with good luck.
There are many superstitions surrounding what the bride wears (see our post Wedding traditions: Don’t forget the silver sixpence in your shoe!) and it is often said that is unlucky for:
- the bride to make her own dress
- the groom to see the bride in her dress before the ceremony
- the bride to wear her entire outfit before the wedding day
Bridal wear is really seeing a big shift in trends to provide new, innovative and unusual styles to make sure the bride makes a statement and is different to any other on her big day. Trends that are appearing on the catwalks include: mix & match separates, crop tops, high necklines, off the shoulder, asymmetric hems, backless dresses and plunging v necks on the back. For the more daring and alternative bride there’s fringing, jumpsuits, palazzo pants, peakaboo skirts or even capes.
Rather than a plain dress, some brides are opting for a floral one or even camo print (which is starting to be really popular in the US – not necessarily in classic hunting camo but more pink or snow camo, or accessorising the traditional camo with orange accents!) Plus the recent bridal fashion shows for Spring/Summer 2017 also saw a shift towards pastel and even black dresses.
This may seem like a turn away from the traditional white wedding dress, however, it’s not that long ago that white wasn’t the usual colour to wear for your wedding day either. White was actually seen as quite an impractical colour as it would show the dirt and therefore you’d probably only get one wear out of it. So it was seen as a colour worn by the wealthy and not common as a wedding dress colour. Whilst modern culture symbolised white as a pure colour, you nearly always see the Virgin Mary depicted in blue as it reflects calm and purity. In fact, until the 15th century in the UK, white was seen (and is still in some cultures) as a sign of mourning.
Until Queen Victoria in 1840, most British royal brides wore silver. However her beautiful white lace court dress influenced the trend for white dresses in all brides as before this time they would’ve worn their Sunday best dress. In fact, red dresses were often a popular choice and this colour remains popular (and lucky) in Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian and Korean cultures. Then during World War 2, brides wore nice tailored suits or even their uniforms.
As the wearing of white wasn’t such a common occurrence, it’s no surprise that there was a rhyme to determine which colour would bring the most luck:
Married in white, you have chosen alright.
Married in grey, you will go far away.
Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in red, You will wish yourself dead.
Married in green, ashamed to be seen.
Married in blue, you will always be true
Married in pearl, you will live in a whirl
Married in yellow, ashamed of your fellow.
Married in brown, you will live in the town
Married in pink, your spirit will sink
Whichever customs and traditions you decide to incorporate into your big day, we wish you health, wealth, happiness and all the very best in your married life.
by Hanami Dream | 25, April, 2016 | blog, tips
Weddings are a wonderful celebration of love and marriage. And how wonderful to have all the people you care about in the same place at the same time. Along with the wedding party, the other beautifully attired guests in the room will have invested their time and money to be there on the day with you too.
At one point in my life I was a serial wedding guest and also could often be seen wearing a fancy dress stood at the front (although only as a bridesmaid all too often). Luckily I’ve now found my Prince Charming and I vowed to learn from all the weddings I’d attended to ensure that our wedding guests had an amazing time.
Here are my top ten tips to keeping your wedding guests happy and ensure your wedding is remembered as a great day by all:
1. Keep your guests fed, watered and entertained then you pretty much can’t go wrong. Fail at one of these and they’ll get twitchy, tetchy or bored. Remember everyone loves free things! If you can’t afford to pay for the bar all night then perhaps welcome drinks and some with the meal will be a nice gesture. Plus as someone with dietary requirements, I’m always impressed (& relieved) when different diets are considered at a wedding (which means I’ve got something to eat to soak up all that free drink!)
2. Keep them busy. No one likes to sit around for too long. Getting them involved and interacting will keep them engaged. Perhaps a video diary room for them to leave you a message or a photo booth for some fun. Don’t forget the children too with activities to keep their minds busy (and parents happy!)
3. Set expectations early. People are generally happier if they know what is happening and when. Give them a schedule with their invites (or in the order of service) so they at least know when the food will be served. Make it really clear in your invites who exactly is invited and to which parts. I was invited to a wedding a few years ago and the invite didn’t have any names on it. We didn’t know if our children were included let alone if we were both invited! Worse still, make it clear if they’re only being invited to the evening part rather than all day. Nothing worse than having to embarrassingly turn away guests.
4. Give clear and consistent communications. Make sure you say the same things to everyone. Don’t have different rules for different people. Or if you do, be clear why this is the case. For example, if you’ve said that it’s a kid free wedding but then you let one of your out of town guests bring their little ones with them. Or I once went to a wedding and wondered why so many of the guests were dressed in black and white. It turns out that one side of the family had been told that the couple had requested a colour scheme. However this message hadn’t been translated to all the guests including me (in my green and brown dress) and my husband (in his blue suit) plus the rest of our side of the family!
5. Choose your guests carefully. They say that the enjoyment of most gatherings can be made or broken depending on who is there. People do really make the party! So the all important seating plan can dictate what kind of a day your guests might have. Often I’ve been a guest at the evening part of a wedding and not really known anyone except for the happy couple. It’s been really hard to integrate with the day guests when you don’t know them and when you’re coming to the show late. So make sure that you can offer the evening guests a flavour of the day too. Perhaps save cutting your cake and first dance so they get to experience some ‘wedding’ elements in their experience too.
6. Inject some humour in to the day. Honestly the best weddings I’ve been to have been when I’ve been belly laughing at the speeches. Not the ones where I’ve been cringing at the inappropriateness, or yawning at the length of the speech or felt like an outsider as I didn’t understand any of the in jokes. Laughter is great and it’s really important to make the day fun for everyone but not just for a select few.
7. Show your love and gratitude. Guests may have come a long way, taken time off work or paid to stay over. So let them know how much you appreciate their support and presence either with words or presents. Isn’t it great to see a happy couple so in love and making this commitment. As a guest, I’ve definitely enjoyed weddings where the couple really look in love (it’s never good if you’re doubting whether it will work!) Just like the royal kiss on the balcony, we’re all waiting for the ‘you may now kiss the bride’ moment after your vows.
8. Pick the perfect place to say I do. Your guests don’t want to be freezing in a marquee in the winter or glomping across a muddy field in stilettos. If you’re going with something a little out of the norm then give your guests warning on different attire to wear or provide blankets, flip flops, sunglasses etc to cover the different eventualities. A wonderful trend at the moment is the weekend wedding when you pick a venue where your guests can stay over too. This is great to prolong the festivities and give you more opportunities to relax and mingle with all your guests.
9. Personalise the day. Where you can, try to make the experience individual for your guests so they feel special and an important part of your day. I once went to a wedding and the favours were all bars of chocolate. The wrapper was printed with a photograph of me as a child with the groom (who I’d know since I was very small). Every favour was personal to each guest and how they knew the couple. It still makes me smile thinking about it today.
10. Make it affordable. Think about your guests’ wallets when you’re planning the day. How much does a pint of beer cost at the bar? How much is a room to stay? How far away is the venue from where they live? It may put some guests off or leave a bad taste if things are too expensive or not good value for money. You may look at your guests with dollar signs over the head when you’re writing the guest list but they’re weighing up the expensive of coming too. Make it worth their while and give them a great wedding to remember.
by Hanami Dream | 25, April, 2016 | blog, guest post, tips
For those couples who like to think outside of the ‘box’ (or building!) when it comes to picking a wedding venue, you may be interested in having somewhere that is a complete blank canvas (perhaps literally a canvas!). Somewhere unique and flexible so that you can decorate and lay out everything exactly how you want. A shell of a place that can cater to your very own style, be built around your theme and be set in the location of your dreams.
For a magical, sometimes intimate and truly romantic experience, many are choosing a marquee alternative to ensure a personal and unusual place to say ‘I do’. With current trends of festival and Coachella style weddings, people are looking for flexibility from the next generation of marquee style weddings.
No longer just a white tented box to offer, there are now numerous tented options to choose from including marquees, katas, yurts, sail cloth tents, circus tents, canopies, Chinese hats, pavilion tents and tipis. They each offer something a little different. For examples, marquees may not offer as much character as a tipi but wouldn’t have as many poles inside. So it depends what style you are going for and what you want the space to say and do for your big day.
At the moment, I am really loving the trend for tipis. The dictionary definition of a tipi/tepee/teepee is
a tent of the American Indians, made usually from animal skins laid on a conical frame of long poles and having an opening at the top for ventilation and a flap door.
For me, the fun, unique, and intimate, tipi-shaped structure is a space your guests will never forget. They can come in different sizes and can cater for large or small gatherings. For example a single tent would be better for a smaller gathering, or as a structure for a chill out area. Whilst a large gathering can be housed by linking tipis together to create a wonderful festival vibe space.
Putting together any marquee style wedding is certainly more work than going with a bespoke hotel package but the world really is your oyster when you have a blank page to start from and you’re only limited by your imagination! Here are my tips when planning a tipi wedding:
- Where to pitch your ‘tent’? Finding the right site is key to whether logistically your dreams can become a reality. Find out if the location has power (if not you’ll need to bring in a generator) and any other utility services (you’ll probably need to bring in toilets and the caterers will need to bring in water).
- How many guests are you inviting? If you have a number of guests in mind then you can start to decide how many tipis and the configuration that would work for your gathering.
- What time of year are you planning on tying the knot? If it’s going to be cold you may need to bring in heaters. If it’s likely to rain (and let’s face it, that’s always possible in the UK!) then you need to consider walk ways to avoid slippery grass areas.
- What do you want inside the ‘canvas’? Think about your floor plan and where you want the dance floor, bar and seating etc. Do you want long tables and benches or round tables with chairs? Everything you want inside the tipi, you need to think about and either buy, hire, make or borrow.
- What style or theme do you envisage? This will help you decide on décor and accessories (and where the fun begins on Pinterest!)
- How do you want the place lit? Lighting is vital for an outside venue, not only to create ambience and atmosphere but also to practically light the way when night falls (let’s face it, you don’t want to have a dark walk to the toilets in the middle of the night!)
- What style of catering do you require? If you want a hot sit down meal then you need to make your catering company aware of the venue location so they can factor in the equipment that they will need to bring with them. Or you may choose to go for a catering van that can just drive right up to the venue with everything ready onboard!
- Do your guests know about your location? It’s worth letting your guests know if you are getting married in ‘a field’ so they can wear appropriate footwear. Consider laying on special transport to get them to a remote location and maybe provide umbrellas and wellies on stand by if the weather is not favourable.
For more guidance on what to think about when planning a tipi wedding, we suggest speaking to the lovely folks at Love Tipis. Here’s their introduction to some of the services that they have to offer, kindly written by their Event Coordinator, Michelle Mockbee.
From themes of woodland fairytale to the wild west or for the festival bride, tipis give a new approach to hiring a marquee. In the world of weddings this caters to a couple that desires an unconventional and stunning approach to celebrate your big day. (Beyond weddings, tipi hire is becoming a more common choice for family celebrations, festivals, charity events, retreats and corporate events.) Tipis may give the impression of being casual, however this feeling of relaxation comes from a coordinated team with months, or in some cases over a year of planning.
Tipis hired by Love Tipis originate in Sweden and are of substantial size, able to fit 12 Pine Wood Tables and Benches per tipi or a space for a concert and bar. The larger Giant Hat Tipis are 10.3m in diameter and link to other tipis. These tipis are also able to have the sides up, which gives the feeling of blending into the beauty of the natural environment. They also come with smaller tipis that link into the larger ones, allowing you to shape intimate tucked away spaces for a chill out or bar area. The number of seated guests determines how many tipis you will require. An average of 12 long tables with 8 to a table is able to fit per tipi, although this is a very tight fit. With round tables, the maximum you are able to fit per tipi is 7, which accommodates 10 people per table. Caterers will love you more if you hire long tables over round ones (they are easier to navigate).
There are other accompaniments such as a broad selection of LED lighting, indoor fire pits, bar, snug furniture and a dance area with a wooden dance floor. Some new additions at Love Tipis include some custom chill out or snug furniture featuring hand-stitched sheepskin cushions that settle in on apple crates. These seats serve as both luxurious seating and storage for your guests. They provide neutral tones to match any theme or colour scheme. Benches with cosy sheepskins have a lovely rustic feel, but your older family members, colleagues or friends might be giving you the evil eye all night and be quite uncomfortable. Remember you can always have a mix of chairs and benches.
Love Tipis work closely with clients to design the interior of the tipi from seating to fire pits. All the extra items you request takes up space. Exploring all the possibilities through floor plans, really allows the day to unfold before your eyes. The orientation/formation of the tipis, and how it all comes together allows for a stress free planning process. It’s their job to stress out over making sure everything fits, and they will walk you through the process so you can concentrate on the more important details, not the general logistics. They are also happy to come out for a site visit and walk you through the process. Your safety is their first concern.
For events that will go throughout the night, lighting will leave your guests breathless. Beyond fairy lights, there are many considerations. The neutral tone of the canvass allows lights to create absolutely stunning effects. For example, it is not the disco ball that catches the eye, but the reflections and patterns it makes on the canvass. LED indoor uplighters can be set to multiple colours or hooked into the sound system to change with the beat of the music. LED outdoor uplighters create dramatic effects on both canvas or up in trees. Festoon lights are brilliant for pathways and setting the tone outside the tipis. All of the lighting is LED, which is very useful if your event is being run on a generator.
Tipis have smoke holes in the centre, and they hire out firepits to go inside the tipis. They also offer outdoor fire pits to cosy up to under the night sky. In regards to walkways, they provide flame torches or vases with slow burn candles. They also have a variety of candle chandeliers to hang inside the tipis in dining areas. All of these choices are based on your budget and your theme. Love Tipis make sure that the lighitng you pay for compliments the look your are setting out to achieve.
Love Tipis have developed special relationships with certain companies to provide all encompassing packages for clients that could include glamping, accommodation, license for marriage, as well as catering with bar and dining. They work closely with three companies that provide a variety of settings and themes depending on the ambience you seek.
The Maybush Wedding Company based in Oxfordshire is a pub on the Thames that provides an exclusive package to the pub with a field that hosts bell tents and two Giant Hat Tipis for your event. There are also options of accommodation nearby, along with a beautiful and quaint canal boat to be hired. For those of you seeking a mix between the outdoors and the facilities of a pub with catering, the Maybush is happy to make your dreams come true.
The Bell Tent Company based in Brighton provides all-inclusive packages with bell tents and tipis that host for any occasion. They are able to provide a variety of venues for those seeking a glamping, festival or woodland feel. Their sites provide bell tents, luxury loos, hot showers and a real ale bar with signature cocktails. Depending on your menu preference, there are options of hiring in a wood fired pizza boxcar or Mexican style cuisine. To get away from it all for a natural and relaxed feel in a field or in the woods with bell tents, food and a warm fire, this is the company for your event.
The Beacon is an idyllic rural setting with 17 acres and three ponds nestled in the woodlands of Tunbridge Wells. The newly revamped pub is at the top of a hill overlooking small villages and lush rolling hills. Their all-inclusive package is where luxury meets the wild west. This venue is licensed for marriage ceremonies and offers a variety of options to host up to 100 guests for a Love Tipis reception overlooking the natural beauty of the ponds and woodlands. The Beacon is part of the local food movement offering a gorgeous menu, and a top-notch service. For those of you looking for that luxury feel, whilst still being surrounded by the countryside, The Beacon is a gorgeous option. Take a look at their wedding pack for more information.
Love Tipis are based in Oxford and Brighton, which lends flexibility in hiring with Love Tipis. Each venue sets a certain tone and aesthetic. The tipis are able to offer numerous styles that provide a standard of event that compares to no other. With a vast knowledge and experienced team that loves the product they provide. At Love Tipis they pride themselves in providing a high quality service to work individually with their clients and their venues. By providing custom floor plans, lighting and seating layouts of the tipis, they strive for a stress free process that is thorough and prompt.
For more information go to www.lovetipis.co.uk or contact info@lovetipis.co.uk or call the Oxford Office on +44 (0)1865 250027 or the Brighton Office +44 (0)1273 689891.
@LoveTipis
@Love-Tipis
by Hanami Dream | 20, April, 2016 | blog, tips, venues
I always feel really lucky to live in such a stunning part of the country with it’s lush green countryside, acres of lavender fields and picturesque, chocolate box villages with their honey coloured limestone buildings.
Hanami Dream is based in Oxfordshire and there are some truly beautiful venues to choose from in the surrounding Cotswolds. Whether in a barn, a manor house, in a marquee or a hotel, there are some amazing places (with some breathtaking views) to hold your wedding or special occasion. There’s something out there to accommodate most styles, guest numbers and budgets.
Here is my pick of the top 20 venues in and around Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds that are fantastic wedding venues. Some of these you may of heard of before, some have been quite rightly showered with accolades, whilst some are wonderful hidden gems or for those couples who like to think outside of the ‘box’ (or building!)
The Bay Tree Hotel
This is my favourite wedding venue in the area (although perhaps I’m bias as I got married there!) Situated in the quintessentially English town of Burford, The Bay Tree Hotel is full of historical charm and contemporary style, boasting a setting to remember for your big day. Warm, relaxing and welcoming; this hotel is the perfect retreat for your wedding day.
As a small country house hotel, the Bay Tree Hotel is ideally suited to exclusive use weddings. On your Wedding Day they can give you exclusivity of the hotel from check-in (14.00) until check out the following morning. Once your last guests have arrived they close the front door allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere of a private house party with the advantage of their friendly and professional team to tend to your every need. Looking for something a little more low key? The Bay Tree has two beautiful rooms to choose from along with a licensed Cotswold garden!
@CotswoldInns
@CotswoldInnsandHotels
@CotswoldInns
Blenheim Palace
A masterpiece of 18th century Baroque architecture set in more than 2000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped Parkland and award-winning Formal Gardens, Blenheim Palace provides a magnificent setting for your evening wedding, with a collection of six venue spaces to use for various elements of your event. From the stunning Orangery and Marlborough Room for your ceremony to the impressive Great Hall and ornate Long Library for your dinner and drinks receptions, and the Water Terraces for music and dancing, Blenheim Palace makes a perfect location for a wedding of any size and style.
@BlenheimPalace
@blenheimpalace
@BlenheimPalace
@BlenheimPalace
Cogges Manor Farm
A beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswold barn wedding venue, Cogges Manor Farm provides an idyllic rural location for your special day. This popular rustic wedding venue in Witney offers two stunning seventeeth century barns and a manor house which provide a wonderful setting for your celebrations. Cogges now offers a civil ceremony license and is next door to Cogges Parish Church.
The stunning and spacious Wheat Barn can seat up to 200 guests, with refurbished stone floor, and portable heating. The more intimate and adjacent Barley Barn can seat about 60 guests or is an ideal choice to use as a dance or ceremony area. Each barn can be hired separately, or as a combined hire. In addition to any indoor space you hire, you and your guests can use the outdoor space to wander and enjoy. Cogges has many perfect locations for your wedding photographs, such as the manor house lawn, the walled garden or the orchard and you can even include the farm animals in your photos.
@CoggesWitney
@cogges
@cogges
Cripps Barn
Cripps Barn is a lovely old Cotswold stone barn set on its own in beautiful countryside near Bibury. It has flag stone floors, an open fire place and a large south facing terrace with fire pits and a bonfire in the garden.
Cripps Barn is a small family run business and the barn is the original party barn of all the barns now run by the company. If it is a relaxed feel you want, with incredible food and great service, this is the place for you. You can get married in the barn or outside in our lovely woodland glade. After the wedding and the meal, the barn makes the perfect place to party. You can dance the night away right up to 1.00 a.m. in the morning. They are known for their whole BBQ’d lambs, sirloin steak bricks or butterflied leg of lamb. Alternatively you can have rotisserie chicken, suckling pig or duck. There is also free camping available in the next door field.
@crippsbarn
@crippsbarn
@Cripps-Barn
@crippsbarn
Eynsham Hall
The quintessentially British Eynsham Hall, has recently completed a major £2.5 million refurbishment which includes the renovation of the main lounge and a range of main hall and lodge bedrooms, as well as the launch of a new Brasserie. The Brasserie offers some of the finest seasonal British food, with as much produce as possible sourced from local farms and suppliers, including nearby Kelmscott Farm.
The hotel is located in Oxfordshire and is set upon 3,000 acres of rolling parkland, providing a whimsical blend of elegant period features with a twist of modern design. There are matured trees, manicured topiary, formal gardens, ponds, fountains and terraces which create a fairy tale backdrop for your very special day. It offers stately charm, without the stuffiness, where you can enjoy the fresh country air in an elegant and intimate setting.
In addition to the Jacobean staircase that dominates the reception area and makes for a grand entrance for the Bride, the myriad of rooms are full of individual character and charm. They boast oak panelled walls, ornate ceilings, historic oil paintings, marble fireplaces, and large arched windows with views over the romantic gardens.
@eynshamhall
@eynshamhall
Foxhill Manor
Foxhill Manor is a stunning grade II listed Cotswold manor house in the heart of the 400-acre Farncombe Estate near Broadway. It belongs to the same family as the celebrated boutique hotel, Dormy House, but is just a little bit more exclusive. Originally built in 1909 by local Cotswolds craftsmen and designed by Yorkshire-born architect Joseph Lancaster Ball (one of the leading lights of the Arts & Crafts movement), it has under gone a complete renovation. Now, this former country home is open to guests as a private house hotel. Inside there are eight large suites and ample living space. It is also available to book as an exclusive use venue for private events and weddings.
Church service or civil ceremony, full wedding breakfast or Champagne reception, large floral arrangements and intricate cake decorations – a dedicated wedding co-ordinator is on hand to cater to every style of wedding at Foxhill Manor. Additional accommodation for guests is available at Dormy House or on the Estate at The Fish. With plenty of photo opportunities throughout the estate, including the private Japanese Garden, it is an ideal venue for weddings.
@foxhillmanor
@FoxhillManor
Lains Barn
Lains Barn near Wantage was voted the best wedding venue in the UK by online wedding directory Guides for Brides in its 5* Customer Service Awards 2016. Lains Barn, parts of which date back to 1750, saw off competition from more than 8,000 other venues listed on the website to take first place last month. Judges described it as a “magnificent, historic” building with “beautiful” grounds that also left couples enough space to add a personal touches to their big day. Guides for Brides told the barn staff their award was down to “consistent feedback praising your experienced and dedicated team who help with the entire wedding planning process as well as giving general advice”.
This magnificent restored historic barn is beautifully located in rural Oxfordshire and is perfect for a barn wedding.
@lainsbarn
@lainsbarn
@LainsBarn
@lainsbarn
Maybush Wedding Company
The Maybush Wedding Company is set in Newbridge on Thames, in rural West Oxfordshire, in a picturesque riverside setting where the oldest bridge crosses the River Thames and the wonderful Maybush Inn enjoys enviable position overlooking the river and meadows. They offer one of the best outdoor wedding package with the added benefit of an outdoor wedding where the logistics are taken care of with all the services (tipis, tents, toilets, showers, generators, lighting etc) already organised. Plus the added benefits of a bus bar, shepherds huts, luxury river barges and their trained chef and staff to offer the highest levels of quality in hospitality.
@Themaybush
@themaybush
Merriscourt
Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds on the borders of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Merriscourt is an elegant and versatile choice of venue for the perfect wedding. Proudly ‘off the beaten track’, yet conveniently located for accommodation and transport links. Merriscourt is part of the Bruern Estate owned by the Astor Family and boasts two stunning airy inter-connected barns, with adjoining Gallery centering on a flower-filled Cotswold stone courtyard, perfect for a drinks reception or chilling out into the evening.
At Merriscourt they only have one wedding on any given weekend or as part of their midweek ‘Wedding Wednesday’ offering. The venue is exclusively yours. Invite your family and friends to join you the day before your big event, decorate the barns at your leisure and have a fun and relaxing day.
@merriscourt
@merriscourt
@merriscourt
Old Swan & Minster Mill, Minster Lovell
Situated in the heart of the Cotswolds, this authentic country house hotel and inn is an idyllic spot to hold your wedding celebrations, complete with a croquet lawn, weeping willows and the River Windrush.
Specialising in intimate weddings, it can host up to 50 guests for the ceremony, reception drinks, wedding breakfast and up to 110 guests for the evening reception. With 60 bedrooms, all of your guests can also stay in luxurious accommodation in the picturesque village of Old Minster.
Weddings-at-Old-Swan-Minster-Mill
Riverside Weddings
If you want a truly unique wedding in which to use your creativity, choosing a field wedding at Riverside Weddings gives space and freedom to realize your dreams. Boarded by the tranquil Thames, with historic Newbridge (actually one of the oldest bridges) as the backdrop, you can revel in the Oxfordshire sunset and celebrate into the night. As well as oodles of space for any entertainment imaginable from fairground rides, punting, pony rides, fireworks to music around the campfire with guest camping and mooring you get the meadow for five days so have a calm set up and get the final touches perfect.
@riversidewed
Stone Barn
Stone Barn is a lovely old Cotswold stone barn, magnificently-isolated in the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds countryside near Aldsworth. The Stone Barn is elegantly simple; with flag stone floors and an open fire place. Attached are Dutch Barns used as the dining area, and contains (they are pretty sure!) Britain’s largest barbecue. The Dutch Barns are split-level and have corrugated iron, polished concrete and sawn oak floors, and the view overlooks the spectacular, rolling Cotswold Hills with not another building in sight. After the wedding and the meal, the stone barn makes the perfect place to party – right up to 12.30am in the morning.
Stone Barn is a small family run business and if it is a relaxed feel you want, with incredible food and great service, then this is the place for you! They are known for their whole BBQ’d lambs, sirloin steak bricks or butterflied legs of lamb. They generally in a feast style on boards and in bowls to the centre of the tables. There is also free camping available in the next door field.
@TheStoneBarn
@stonebarn
The Swan Hotel, Bibury
Situated on the banks of the enchanting River Coln, The Swan Hotel boasts a picture-perfect setting for your wedding, and with a dedicated wedding coordinator and friendly team of staff on hand, they can help make your big day extra special. Nestled in the village of Bibury, which is often known as the most beautiful village in England, is The Swan Hotel, a former Cotswold Coaching Inn and the perfect haven from which to spend your special day. Whether you’re planning a traditional big white wedding, a romantic, intimate day or even something a little different, they can accommodate your needs.
They have three locations licensed for wedding ceremonies; The Library – a cosy, homely room for intimate weddings of up to 24 guests, The Signet Room – an elegant dining room with wow-factor, for up to 110 guests and last but by no means least, the beautiful flower-filled, riverside gardens.
@CotswoldInns
@CotswoldInnsandHotels
@CotswoldInns
Wyck Hill House Hotel and Spa, Stow on the Wold
Located in the heart of The Cotswolds, Wyck Hill House Hotel and Spa is a 60 bedroom, 4 star country house hotel, nestled within 50 acres of grounds, offering breathtaking views of the beautiful Windrush Valley and rolling hills of The Cotswolds. Situated just outside the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold.
Wyck Hill is a truly romantic setting, with stunning views, beautiful gardens and a delightful combination of a traditional setting with modern facilities.
@Wyckhillhouse
@wyckhillhousehotel
And not forgetting these amazing places too:
We are certainly spoilt for choice around here for amazing venues to hold a special occasion. For more details on how to pick your perfect wedding venue look out for the next part of my Holy Trinity of Wedding Planning blog series coming soon – this will focus on the where element. Take a look at part one of who.
by Hanami Dream | 5, April, 2016 | news, styled shoots
After a short hiatus (and a couple more babies between us!), Hanami Dream and Farrow Photography are proud to announce that they will be doing another styled shoot later this year.
Farrow Photography & Hanami Dream
They first joined forces in 2014 to bring to life some inspirational themes to show how you can enhance your milestone events (whatever the age of the guest). Their first shoot was based on Alice in Wonderland and they held a cute tea party to mark Alice Day (4th July).
Their next shoot followed shortly afterwards in August to mark the 75th anniversary of the release of the Wizard of Oz film. They were honoured to be able to showcase some amazing products from local suppliers in their Wizard of Oz themed children’s party.
Photography by Farrow Photography
Following the success of their previous themed photo shoots, they will collaborate once again to produce an amazing bridal styled shoot based around another well known story, The Wind in the Willows.
The shoot is planned for this autumn in the Oxfordshire countryside of the Cotswolds and we’re excited to offer the opportunity for local suppliers to join with us. So let us know if you’d like to provide products to bring our creative ideas to life in a wonderful new inspirational shoot.
The beauty of styled shoots (versus a real life wedding) is that this is your opportunity to be a little more extravagant and really show off what you’ve always wanted to do. You can indulge your fantasies. Maybe you’ve got a new product that couples won’t have seen yet or you want to create something really unusual that you wouldn’t normally do.
Styled shoots are a collaboration of like minded people that can create great things together but perhaps don’t have the budgets to produce this kind of work if they all worked independently.
Everyone works pro bono, so it is just your products that you’d need to provide to be involved. Nicola from Hanami Dream organises and styles the shoots and Sandra from Farrow Photography takes the shots. And the rewards are amazing with great imagery of your products in an amazing lifestyle surrounding, plus inclusion in all our promotion of the shoot and a feature on Hanami Dream’s blog, which is a UK Blog Awards finalist this year. So there’d be plenty of exposure of your beautiful products.
This is an inspirational and aspirational wedding styled shoot to provide images that we want to share with the whole wedding world. We live in a beautiful part of the UK and have some wonderful talented suppliers in the wedding industry right on our doorstep. So let’s show what our part of the world is truly capable of producing!
If you’re local and think you’d be interested in showcasing your products in our shoot then please email Nicola from Hanami Dream and outline what your product is and how you think it would fit in and enhance our theme. We’ve put together a mood board on Pinterest so you can get an idea of the kind of things that we’re after.
We are looking for some of the following (although this list isn’t exhaustive – if you can offer something we’ve not thought of we’d love to hear from you too):
- Accessories
- Bridalwear
- Bridesmaids dresses
- Cakes
- Catering
- Décor
- Favours
- Florist
- Hair & Make Up
- Models
- Shoes
- Signage
- Suits
- Tableware
- Transport (including a vintage car, a colourful old fashioned caravan and a barge!)
We’ll only be including one supplier from each category (ie only one florist will be used for the whole shoot) to provide clarity and clear communication.
You can see from our previous shoots that we really like close up detail shots which show off everyone’s products that have contributed very nicely – it is all about the little details that bring any event to life.
We look forward to sharing more news as plans unfold for this colloboration.
Photography by Farrow Photography
by Hanami Dream | 8, March, 2016 | blog, holy trinity of wedding planning, tips
Last month I started to talk about the three key aspects of planning a wedding that pretty much affect every other thing that is connected with your big day. These are where, who and how much (otherwise known as your venue, guests and budget). These are a group of three things that are united. As I mentioned in the post that looked at when to get married, 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 who element and your all-important guest list (and will look at the where and how much aspects another time).
There will probably be some tough decisions to make with your guest list. Perhaps the reality of your budget means you have to rein in a few of your plans, or other people’s involvement means compromising on some thoughts, or maybe who you want to invite and have on your guest list causes headaches.
Here are 10 things that can dictate and influence who gets to come to the big day:
1. Venue
Firstly the other two elements of the holy trinity of wedding planning (the where and how much) will have a massive say on how many guests you can invite. For example, you can’t decide on a venue without knowing how many people you want to invite. Or maybe you want to pick your dream venue and have the size of the place dictate the number of guests you can invite. The venue could also influence the style of wedding you have based on how many guests you’re allowed in the room for a ceremony, a sit down meal or a standing buffet (this number will vary depending on the number of chairs and tables required for different room set ups).
Where you hold your wedding may affect whether people are able to travel to it. For instance, if you have a destination wedding abroad or hold it in a different part of the country to where your family live. These decisions could mean that elderly relatives can’t make it or people can’t take extra time off work to travel or stay over at the venue. Although, maybe you want to limit the numbers and so eloping or flying off to Vegas may be the best option for you so that you have just a few select guests there. (Bear in mind that infamous episode of Don’t Tell the Bride though and don’t eliminate important guests ie pick one sibling over the other to go to a destination wedding!)
2. Budget
The other part of the holy trinity of wedding planning is the money side of things. How much you have to spend will definitely factor in to how many people you can invite. It might not just be about how many people you can fit in the room, but how many you can afford to be there too. There are some costs that won’t change no matter how many people are there but there a number of variable costs that will alter depending on how many people are enjoying them. These costs include the food, favours, cake, drinks, stationery (such as invites, menus, orders of services etc) and the size of the bridal party. Plus if you are going abroad, consider whether you or your guests pay for their transport, travel and hotel costs.
[Look out for more on budgeting advice for weddings and venue choices in future blog posts about the holy trinity of wedding planning coming soon.]
3. Timing
I covered quite a bit about this aspect in the So, when’s the big day? post last month. Suffice to say that the day of the week could have a big impact on whether people would be able to attend and also if it’s during a holiday time. If you really want to ensure people can make it then the best advice is to give them as much notice as possible. Send out save the date cards or discuss with key people to find out whether they could make it.
4. Law
Let’s bring this back down to the basics. The most important people to be at your wedding are you and your partner. As well as you two, you only really need 3 (or 4) other people to be there if you want an intimate affair. So as long as you’ve got someone to carry out the ceremony (plus a registrar if the person who conducts the ceremony is not authorised to register marriages) and two witnesses then you’re sorted. Anyone else is a bonus.
5. Family
It’s probably best to start with your nearest and dearest. Who could you not do without in order to enjoy the day? These are probably your parents, siblings, family and close friends. If you have a very large family, it could mean that you don’t have many spaces left for lots of other guests!
6. Wedding party
Then there’s the crew that stand alongside you on the big day. These reliable, supportive and trusted friends are who you are putting all your faith in to ensure your day goes smoothly. So pick your team wisely (this was a top tip from one bride in the Wedding day advice from real brides and grooms blog). It is entirely up to you how big to make your wedding party. But consider that how many people are in the bridal party will affect the number of bridesmaids dresses, bouquets, gifts, suits etc that you have to include in the budget (yes, everything comes back to the holy trinity of wedding planning again!) Decide and discuss what you are going to pay for and what elements you require to be paid for by the wedding party as soon as you can.
7. Wallet
Now this is the biggy and probably the most political and controversial aspect. Who is paying for the wedding? If you are paying for your own wedding, you pretty much can decide all elements yourself. Or at least have the final say. However, if the money is coming from someone else you may feel indebted to honour their wishes or requests. For example, if your parents are paying then they may want to invite many of their own guests to the day. Traditionally it is etiquette for the bride’s and groom’s parents to have a proportion of the guest list to allocate themselves. Often it comes down to a bit of compromise. For me, I didn’t want to look around the room and not know the people that were sharing our day. With an intimate occasion, I didn’t want to invite a long-list relative at the sacrifice of inviting a dear friend.
8. Day vs evening
If you have the option to be able to split the day to different elements then you could include additional people as evening guests to join you after the main meal. But try to make sure it’s not just a tagged on event and still includes elements of a wedding day to make them feel like valued additions to the day.
9. Plus ones
You’ll also need to decide whether you are going to include children to your wedding. Are you inviting work colleagues? If you’re not limited to numbers will you allow single guests to bring plus ones that you potentially might not even know?
10. Who?
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. Honestly, you’ll start to see pound signs appearing above your friends and family’s heads! I guess, it’s a crude way to think of it but in reality you’ve got to think ‘Would I take this person out to dinner and pay for their meal?’ (or pay for them to have a drink, if you are having a separate evening guest list). Do you know them? Do you like them? Have you seen them recently? Do you want them to share your day with you?
When you look back on your big day your wedding photographs will be a snap shot of your family and circle of friends at that moment in time.
There’s no right or wrong answer on who to invite to your wedding. Nor is there a magical formula that will work it out for you. Ultimately, you should invite guests that you want to share your special day with. When you look around the room you want to know that everyone in the room is an important part of your life and it is precious to have all the people you care about in one place at the same time.
So, you’ve got all your guests to the venue, now where do you seat them? Look out for a guide to organising your seating plan in another blog post soon.
by Hanami Dream | 11, February, 2016 | blog, trends
We’ve had a gloriously sunny (albeit a bit chilly) day today. What a welcome change after all the recent wet and windy weather in the UK. Whilst it might still officially be winter, the blossom on the trees and the daffodils certainly think it’s Spring already here! Plus, every day we are gaining 6 more minutes of daylight and it’s not long until the clocks change and then we’re in the home straight to summer! Not that we’re wishing the year away but our thoughts have been drawn to the autumnal months already with the exciting announcement from Pantone® today.
Released to coincide with New York Fashion Week, Pantone® have announced their colour report for Fall 2016 with some more soothing colours following the trend of their predictions for Spring/Summer 2016.
Before you read any further, I want to get across how much of a huge fan of Pantone® I am. Maybe this is why I’m so disappointed and how I feel a bit short changed from this latest report. After the shock of getting two colours of the year in 2016, I was full of anticipation to see what the next big twist would be and what excitement was in store. But I’ve been left a little flat. It seems that half of the ten colours for Fall 2016 are duplicates from the Spring/Summer 2016 predictions. I feel like I’ve seen this before.
Forgive me, but to me the first 5 colours (of Riverside, Airy Blue, Sharkskin, Aurora Red and Warm Taupe) could easily be mistaken for Snorkel Blue, Serenity, Lilac Grey, Fiesta and Iced Coffee announced in the Spring 2016 report.
Don’t get me wrong, I really like these 5 colours, which (with the exception of Aurora Red) are beautifully delicate and calming – perfect for a wedding palette at any time of the year.
In addition, the other five colours are earthy, rich and grounding. They remind me of a fantastic laid back holiday in the autumn sunshine of Marrakech. Exploring the souks, relaxing on the terrace of a riad and looking out at the Atlas Mountains on the horizon as the sun sets. They take in all the varied beauty of Morocco including its coast, the lush valleys, stunning mountains and all the way to the desert. Isn’t it amazing how colour evokes so much feeling and memories as well as a sense of escapism!
The top ten colours for Fall 2016 are:
- Riverside (PANTONE 17-4028)
- Airy Blue (PANTONE 14-4122)
- Sharkskin (PANTONE 17-3914)
- Aurora Red (PANTONE 18-1550)
- Warm Taupe (PANTONE 16-318)
- Dusty Cedar (PANTONE 18-1630)
- Lush Meadow (PANTONE 18-5845)
- Potter’s Clay (PANTONE 18-1340)
- Spicy Mustard (PANTONE 14-0952)
- Bodacious (PANTONE 17-3240)
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.
I can’t wait to see these autumnal colours featuring in couples’ colour schemes and personally love the combination of Potter’s Clay, Spicy Mustard and Bodacious for being a bit different.
It’s always great to see fresh new colours and combinations, so this time I guess I’ve been left wanting (and maybe expecting) just a little bit more.
See some of our trend predictions for weddings in 2016.
