Autumn Wedding Flowers - Dreamy Dahlias

As autumn approaches I've become mildly obsessed with dahlias - partly because I spotted a couple of gorgeous plants in my friends' garden. They're quintessentially autumnal and perfect for brides planning an autumn wedding, because they come in a huge variety of styles and colours - so they can fit in with every wedding theme. They also make for a pretty motif on wedding stationery and favours, and as accessories for your bridesmaids. For more wedding ideas and inspiration, don't miss my Pinterest board on Dreamy Dahlias.

Picture Credits {left to right}1. Nature Mandalas, 2. eDarling Photo

Product Credits {left to right} 1. Dee Dees Boutique, 2. Flower Bucket Boutique

Product Credits {top left to right} 1. SVG Shop, 2. Sandy Photo Art {bottom left to right} 1. SVG Shop, 2. Inspira Designs, 3. Gray Cloud Print

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding theme ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

DIY Wedding Favours with Washi Tape

DIY brides looking to stamp their mark on their wedding favours need look no further than washi tape! This fabulous multi-coloured Japanese accessory is taking over the crafting world, and it's truly the easiest way to personalise your wedding. I'm loving the idea of combining these kraft-style boxes with washi tape, to create the perfect wedding favours for your guests. Check out Etsy sellers for thousands of different designs of washi tape - these are from Le Box Boutique.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more DIY wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Quirky Floral Fan Wedding: Emily & Neil

There's something hugely original about this wedding, and although I don't know the couple personally, I'm pretty sure it reflected their quirky, creative, characters. Emily and Neil celebrated their big day in a garden on a day much warmer than today (although that wouldn't be hard, we're shivering in our boots today in London). Instead of flowers, Emily's bridesmaids carried fans, and instead of a diamond solitaire, Emily wore a giant cocktail ring. Their cake topper was a pair of cool bunnies in shades - like I said - original and quirky. Other details to copy include Emily's gorgeous layered dress and simple plaited hair, plus the beribboned maypoles - and check out the cool fonts they chose for their stationery. A multitude of thank you's to the team at Our Labor of Love for their gorgeous pics - I'm particularly loving the umbrella shot at the end - soooo old Hollywood glamour it hurts!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more real wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Shabby Chic Chandelier Wedding: Angelique & Ricardo

Buckets of brilliant ideas to copy from this gorgeous feature from the e-zine Utterly Engaged. Angelique and Ricardo met at work, but it wasn't until Ricardo spilt a drink over Angelique's dress at a company party that they started dating! Their big day was a wonderful family affair featuring lots of gorgeous handmade and customisable details including bunting, birdcages and chandeliers. Check out the Utterly Engaged website for the full feature, including how the happy couple chose their themes and all their DIY secrets!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more real wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Monochrome Modern-Themed Wedding - Jenna & Mori

The bride's shoes are reason enough to blog this wedding! They're amazing winged numbers, and they make very happy. Jenna and Mori chose a mostly monochrome theme to their wedding, with flashes of orange and pink, and a typography motif. I'm loving the gorgeous guest book with raise letters and the personalised invitation suite. Other stealworthy ideas included the rosette buttonholes and the monochrome ribbon around Jenna's bouquet - both would be easy to DIY. The numbered water bottles are a fantastic way to name the tables, and I'm super-keen on the loaves of bread served on slate platters. Altogether a fabulous affair, pictured beautifully by Our Labour of Love.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more real wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Real Travel Themed Beach Wedding: Jade & Chris

Wish you were here? As the rain falls on London, snuggle up under your duvet and dream of a wedding by the sea. Stunning couple Chris and Jade got married in September, and planned a simple, elegant event on the beach. And didn't they get it just right. Using travel and lace as a recurring motif, they created a truly romantic effect - I absolutely adore Jade's dress, and the vintage postcard Save the Dates are massively stealworthy. The peach bridesmaids' dresses are simply stunning,especially as they tone so beautifully with the bride's bouquet. Gorgeous photographs as ever from the talented Karen Wise.

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more beach wedding ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Before the Big Day Wedding Theme: Being British

While British weather might not be at the top of the list of things you love about the UK, that's no reason not to draw on British traditions to theme your wedding. Start by toasting each other's health with Pimms, and hire Morris Dancers to entertain your guests.  Try an old-fashioned high tea for your wedding breakfast (mmm, cream scones), or serve mini-cones of fish and chips as a starter.  Individual shepherd's pies make for a fabulous main course, or challenge your caterer to russle up roast beef with Yorshire puddings! Use Union Jack iconography to decorate your venue, or try some of the suggestions below.

Product Credits - {from top left} 1. Cottage Girl Tea 2. MrPS, 3. Paper Fish, {from middle left} 1. British Cream Tea, (from bottom left} 1. Sweet Lollipop Shop, 2. Minimum Mouse, 3. Crumbs & Doilies, 4. British Cream Tea

Product Credits - {from top left} 1. MWL Cards, 2. Pink Top Hat, 3. Vintage Holiday Shop, {from bottom left} 1. Milk Toasty, 2. Sammo, 3. Miss Crowland

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding theme ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

BBD Theme: Because of Bunting

Last week I was all about giant balloons, but now I'm big on bunting. It's characterful and cheap, and comes in every style, shade and substance you can imagine. Whether your theme is vintage-chic or summer-fete, bunting will add a light-hearted feel to your big day. And if you're handy with a sewing machine, you could even make it yourself.

Product Credits (clockwise from top left corner):  Children Furniture Company, Cox & Cox, {Top & Bottom Right}: Not on the High Street, Modern June, Not on the High Street, Bad Baby Quilts

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding decoration ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Friday Feeling Wedding Web Links

This was the week when I admitted I was really missing planning my wedding. It's taken a few months to figure it out - it's not like I've been feeling depressed, it was more a lack of anticipation. The simple solution seemed to be to plan another wedding. *Ahem, not really*. I've actually decided to throw all my efforts into planning a supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus Halloween party. That should satisfy my stationery and crafting urges, without me turning into one of those slightly psycho ex-brides who constantly looks through her wedding pictures with a tear in her eye. I've also had another fabulous week on StumbleUpon discovering tonnes of wedding web links you're going to love. Here are a few of my favourites - you can find all my wedding inspiration links on StumbleUpon. P.S. A few Halloween inspiration ideas might have snuck in.

{Product Credit} Zombie Cake Toppers by La Santa Muerte

♥ A really cute DIY wedding with a sunshine theme

♥ Looking for wedding flowers with meaning? Look up the Language of Flowers

♥ Still one of my favourite weddings of all time 

♥ Creative guest book ideas from wedding blog Love & Lavender

♥ 10 unique wedding invitation ideas

♥ Learn how to make gorgeous origami stars - fantastic DIY wedding favours

♥ Pumpkin patch wedding {I told you half my mind was on Halloween!}

♥ A wedding with a fabulous selection of floral bridesmaid dresses via Love My Dress wedding blog

♥ Amazing cheap and chic Vivienne Westwood shoes

♥ A wedding with a doughnut cake - oh yes - a doughnut cake - yummy!

Plus my favourite features from the famous Before the Big Day archives.....

♥ Before the Big Day Vintage Real Weddings

♥ Beach Themed big days

♥ An incredible Italian destination wedding with more details than you can shake a stick at

♥ Snowy inspiration for winter weddings

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding web links. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.

Introducing Country House Weddings

When it comes to planning your wedding, the most important decision you make will be your venue. Our guests are still talking about the incredible château in Provence that we hired for our wedding, and there's no doubt the grandeur of the ruins, and the gorgeous gardens created an exclusive feel to our big day. UK brides looking for a similar experience should definitely check out Country House Weddings. They're one of my recent discoveries, and they have four amazing {and award winning} venues - each with its own personality and style. The best thing is that they're totally set up for weddings, unlike my château, where we had to bring everything in for the day, including tables and chairs. What's more, you get exclusive access of the house and gardens for your wedding, and each venue has at least fifteen bedrooms, so your bridesmaids and family can stay the night. With ballrooms, and chapels, and coach houses, and towers and lakes, you'll be blown away by these fairytale venues. The only question being, which one will you pick?

St Audries Park - Somerset Wedding Venue

Clearwell Castle - Gloucestershire Wedding Venue

Gosfield Hall - Wedding Venue in Essex

Leez Priory - Essex Wedding Venue

Leez Priory and Gosfield Hall in winter

If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our free newsletter. This is a Sponsored Post for Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Vintage Teacup Wedding Favours

Vintage is a wedding trend that shows no signs of going out of fashion, and I'm a huge fan. There's something whimsical and romantic about using old-fashioned crockery at your big day, and it can add a lovely sense of history if you use old family china. If your grandparents have smashed theirs years ago, then never fear, Bedcrumb are here to save the day. They'll provide you with a cute vintage teacup and saucer, filled with scrumptious marshmallows or sweeties, all tied up in net with a vintage fabric bow, and a tag which can be personalised with your own special greeting. You could do all of this yourself, but for only £5 each, I'd be tempted to buy them in!

If you enjoyed this post, why not sign up for our free newsletter and click for more wedding favour ideas. Before the Big Day - the Best UK Wedding Blog.