A season for flowers

Today I wanted to look at wedding flowers. They can play such a large part in a wedding and with more and more people wanting to have an eco-friendly wedding I thought it would be a good to look at using flowers that are in season.

The easiest way to have the smallest environmental impact with the fresh flowers you choose is to use seasonal flowers. However at certain times of year this may be easier said than done. I’m going to give a few examples of flowers (that should, weather depending) be in season during those autumn and winter months when you might struggle.

January, February and March

Snowdrops are usually one of the first bulbs to flower in the year and I love seeing them starting to come up in my garden! I was admiring them yesterday thinking how beautiful they’d be as dainty buttonholes or planted up with moss as a natural centrepiece for the tables. Hellebore's come in a variety of beautiful colours; these pale pink and deep purple buttonholes are fantastic! Daffodils are one of my favourite flowers and I always try to have them in the house when they’re flowering. I think they can cheer up any room. They grow in abundance in England in early spring and would be a perfect colour splash to any wedding.

Camellia come in a lovely selection of reds to whites and can add a soft colour splash to a bouquet or flower arrangement. Forsythia, like the daffodil can have a wonderful vibrant yellow colour and make superb, striking centrepieces on tables or in tall vases in a room. As branches they achieve a very different look to an arrangement which is purely floral. Viburnum is a fantastic evergreen shrub which can fill out a display with a beautiful pale green. I love the use of viburnum as a simple bouquet.

October, November, December

These three bouquets are composed of flowers which should still be in flower in October and perhaps November.  I love the simplicity of these; agapanthus are beautiful big striking purple flowers and have subtle changes of colour within each plant. I'm not usually a fan of carnations however I think these ones are a great combination and work really well together. Queen Anne's lace is a wonderful filler and has a elegant quality which it manages to bring to the arrangement. I adore the way that this gypsopghilia (another similar filler) has been placed inside this suitcase to decorate the table plan!

If you're really struggling to find flowers that you like which are in season there are alternatives. A few weeks ago Gemma gave you a tutorial on how to make your own button bouquet! To have another look at this go to http://ablushingbride2b.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/how-to-make-button-bouquet.html . 

Here are some ideas if you don't want to use flowers...

A simple pearl bouquet

A bits and bobs bouquet made from a mixture of metal and plastic flowers

A recycled fabric bouquet

Or alternatively, an edible fruit bouquet!

Homemade Favours

Good morning! I'm Araminta (the new girl at Evissa), today is my first blog and I've decided to write about homemade wedding favours. 

My Father, who is a sculptor and artist got married recently and made porcelain lilies for wedding favours. Each one had the bride and grooms names, with close family members and the wedding party having personalised lilies. It got me thinking about how meaningful the homemade touch can be. 

When deciding what you'd like your wedding favours to be, you are only as limited as your imagination makes you!

Some ideas that I loved when researching included:

Jams (spread the love) this could be anything from a simple strawberry jam to a zesty marmalade.  

Seeds (let love grow). Such a wonderful idea for guest to be able to go home and plant something that will remind them of your wedding! If possible you could give them seeds from a plant which was in the bride's bouquet! 

Matches (perfect match) are simple but useful! They can be displayed in a little jar or a matchbox can be personalised with labels or pretty paper.

I loved the unique look of the brown paper boxes tied with string and decorated with a sprig of greenery or flower. A simple template can be found online. These boxes could be filled with anything from sweets to a photograph or even a little note of thanks from the bride and groom.

Vintage tins planted up with bulbs are beautiful and this look can be easily achieved. Charity shops and car-boot sales would be perfect places to pick up a selection of old tins. 

And of course there are so many options for miniature bottles of alcohol with individual labels. Lemoncello, sloe gin or an elderflower wine would be delicious!

I hope this has fired up your creativity and got you thinking outside of the box for your wedding. We would love to know if you've made any homemade wedding favours! 

Coming soon will be a DIY tutorial into how to make your own favours.

A rubbish wedding !!

Good Morning!!

I hope we are all well today and looking forward to week,

 

Today's blog is all about how your rubbish can save your wedding!

 

No, I'm not crazy, but here at Evissa we specialise in creating your dream day on a budget and how ? by saving and recycling!

 

Next time you and your partner crack open a bottle of wine, Keep the cork ! Easy and effective, corks can make great place card settings, paint them to your chosen colour or keep natural for the rustic look.

 

 

Strawberry jam, honey, pickled onions??

All these items come in great jam jars and jam jars make a million decorations! put freshly cut flowers in them, paint them, tie rustic string round them or use teeny tiny hotel size pots to make cute favours!or hand them from trees outside with tea lights in them !

 

 

 

Updating your peg basket??

use old wooden pegs and paint to match your theme, then ask your parent's and in-laws for pictures of you and your fiance from your childhood and peg onto string to hang around your venue! a great idea to bunting! you can also use scrap paper for your guest to wright messages on, a great alternative to a guest book !

 

Use old bits of wood and furniture, different shapes, sizes and colour really adds something unique and make signs for your weddings !! homemade and inexpensive - one for the hubby's to get in with !!

Want a phootbooth? but your budget wont stretch??
Try making funky handmade masks for your guests to enjoy, over sized glasses and moustaches are easy to cut out of card and just add along wooden kebab stick (trim the points off) and some disposable cameras on each table and voila! instant photobooth !


And my final tip of the day??
Baked bean cans!
These are so universal its amazing !
Think tea light holders, flowers vases, table numbers or just decorations in general! the possibilities are endless. Here are just a few!



Send us your top rubbish DIY ideas today !!
 

Driving You Around the Bend?

One of the big questions for brides is how am I going to get to the venue. There are so many options to choose from, all which look amazing. It's a confusing thing! So here are some automobile ideas to get you started!

Classic

Classic cars are becoming increasingly popular with the whole vintage scene taking weddings by storm. A traditional Rolls Royce can provide class and sophistication, whereas a Beauford or Daimler (circa 1930's) can really give a proper vintage feel, especially if you are going for a 20's, 30's or 40's theme.

You can go of course go younger and hop into a VW Beetle or Campervan, or another cute option is the Morris Minor. And of course, you can go very rock and roll, and grab yourself a sweet Cadillac (my fave!!).

VW Beetle

Cadillac

Moris Minor

Beauford

Modern

Some people opt for the norm, and prefer to go for more modern cars such as Jaguars and BMWs as they are once again, sleek and sexy cars, large enough for the dress to squeeze in and can carry other guests. Because they are more common, you may find them cheaper too.

Bentley

BMW

Sporty

Now sometimes when it comes to the car, you have to think of the groom as well. So how about surprising him with a Ferrari or Porsche to drive him to the wedding, and hey, what girl doesn't want a ride in a Ferrari?! There are so many companies out there who do this nowadays, have a look!

Ferrari

Stretch Limousine

There are two ways to do this. The first option is the traditional white stretch. The second is to take advantage of the more unique limos out there. For example and shown, the pink stretch and the awesome Hummer stretch. The most extreme I have heard of has to be the red stretch Ferrari for a groom in Norwich. This option is great if you both have big bridal and groom parties to take to the venue. There is usually a bar as well which means you can crack open the bubbly!

Hummer Stretch

Something Else?

Now, I prefer this category the most. There are so many options available for you to take! How about a romantic horse and carriage, dressed in the flowers theme of your big day? Or perhaps you can go really extreme and get a helicopter! Of course this is an option you need to check in with the venue about before booking for permits etc. Or maybe a tandem bike is your thing. You can get really creative with this, and I know a venue in Norfolk opening 2014, which takes you by boat!

Whatever you choose, always check the licensing rules, passenger allowance and whether the venue will allow it there (some can be fussy about horses too due to the mess from the rear ends!). Have a great Monday!

Weekly round up !! 21st-26th Jan 2013!

Good morning ! Well it's been a busy week this week at Evissa, we now have a new girl on the team, Araminta, so look out from posts from her in the future ! And we finished our amazing winter photoshoot at Drayton old lodge, with the help from Echo the barn owl!
So amongst all that we still bring to you what's hot in the wedding world of East Anglia ! S grab your Sunday morning cuppa and catch up !!


Monday 21st January
Fancy a cuppa?.
Today Michelle brought to you tea party weddings! Afternoon tea is a fantastic alternative to a traditional sit down breakfast and perfect for many themes ! Read on to catch Michelle's tea inspired day....


Tuesday 22nd January
Who should pay the budget debate !
Today we looked back at a previous post from last year as many couples are now starting to plan there weddings from Christmas engagements the one question on there mind is ?. Who should pay ?!
So we look back at what traditionally which sets of parents pay for what.



Wednesday 23rd January
Beautiful butterflies were on Michelle's mind today ! And I have to agree what is more beautiful ! My own wedding theme was butterfly's and as they symbolise new life what a great theme for weddings! Check out Michelle's butterfly wedding theme and fall in love with the beautiful butterfly waterfall bouquets !


Thursday 24th January
A sneak peek from out winter shoot !!
Today I sneaked a few behind the scene images for you from our winter shoot! Including lots of famous company's and some great local suppliers ! Although have to keep the rest under wraps, I was bursting to shear our fun in the snow !


Friday 25th January
Bonnie Scottish traditions !
So as Michelle is Scottish today suited her down to the grounds ! Why I hear you ask ? As its Burns night! So Michelle gave us a treat with Scottish traditions today read on to learn some Scottish treats!

Saturday 26th January
Blue and sunshine yellow wedding theme!
I'm such a child when it snows and am the first one to get building a snowman, however nearly 3 weeks on and I can't wait for it to melt! So with the Uk set to double its temperatures this week I'm already wondering if its to early for my flip flops ! Today's blog is mixing the warm with the cold and  inspiring with tones of blue and yellow.

Blue and sunshine yellow wedding theme!

With another blast of snow last night, the East of England is still in a big freeze! But with temperatures set to rise to a massive 13 degrees this week it will be a mixture of hot and cold! A bit like today's theme !
Hot sunshine yellow mixed with a cold blue.
Navy, pale, royal or even sky blue all work with yellow and it's fast becoming a massive wedding trend of 2013 !
Check out today's mood boards for inspiration !!

Bonnie Scottish Traditions

Michelle back for another Friday and today is a special one... It’s Burns Night! The night of haggis, neeps (turnip) and tatties (mashed potato) , whiskey and bagpipes, and one of my most favourite of all. So in honour of Rabbie Burns, let’s have a run-down of some Scottish wedding traditions!

A Sixpence in the Bride's Shoe
A sixpence coin may be placed in the bride's shoe to help bring her good luck. Similarly, in the Scottish Borders, a sprig of heather is hidden within the Bride's bouquet. This is still very common today in Scottish weddings.

The Wedding Scramble
As the bride steps into the car, it is a tradition for the father to throw a handful of coins for the children to collect. This is called a scramble and is believed to bring financial luck. This also takes place in weddings in Ayrshire but is known there as a 'warsel'. We had this at my mum’s wedding many years ago and the kids went crazy for it, with many great pics to be had.

The Lang Reel
The Lang Reel is a traditional dance which happens in the many of the fishing communities in the North-East of Scotland. This dance sees the villagers and the wedding party begin dancing from the harbour, continuing through the village and each couple leave the reel when they pass their home. This continues right up until the only couple left are the bride and groom, who then have the last dance.

Blackenings
Now this is a messy one! 'Blackenings' are a ritual still performed with great gusto - unless you are the unlucky groom-to-be! He is captured by his friends and is stripped to the waist before bound and 'blackened' by using substances such as feathers, treacle, soot and flour! He is then paraded through the village whilst his friends make as much noise as possible to make the experience as embarrassing as possible for the unlucky groom. In some parts of Scotland, this can happen to the bride too! I have yet to see this happen, but rest assured, I’ll keep my tradition alive at my baby brother’s upcoming wedding!

Traditional Grand March at the Wedding Reception
This spectacular procedure is often the first dance to take place at a wedding. It begins with the bride and groom marching to the sound of bagpipes or a live band. As they march, the maid of honour (or chief bridesmaid) and best man join in, followed by both sets of parents and finally by all willing guests! This is a great way of getting everyone up on the dance floor, and if you are worried about being watched the first dance, this breaks up the view of you!

Feet Washing
The custom of feet-washing still happens throughout Scotland and it is hoped that it will guarantee good fortune for the marriage. The bride sits on a stool while an older, married woman washes and dries her feet. In Fife (where I am from) however, only a few, heartened bridegrooms go through the traditional procedure, which involves sitting in a tub of water while his legs are smeared with grease, ash and soot. Yes I know, grooms take a bit of a beating on their big day...

Creeling
In the South of Scotland, a married couple are 'creeled' as they leave the church. Two people at either side of the door hold a fishing basket which is tied with a ribbon across the door. The newlyweds then cut the ties and the basket falls to the ground. It is hoped that this tradition will bring health and prosperity to the couple.

The Bride's Cog
Wedding cogs are vessels from which ale is consumed at Orcadian (folk from Orkney) weddings. These cogs were definitely the most essential of all the elements that made up an old island wedding whilst still being a prominent feature today. The exact mixture which now goes into the cog varies with every wedding, as each family tends to have its own views on the correct recipe. Despite the family variations, the base ingredients of this potent alcoholic mixture are usually hot ale, gin, brandy and whisky mixed with sugar and pepper. The cog is firstly drank by the bride before being passed around the hall, constantly being replenished so that nobody goes dry!

A 'Second Night'
A 'second night' is normally held the night following a wedding - where people can enjoy another night of drinking and dancing! Now that’s a tradition I like the sound of!

And for those who love a bit of scots, a little Robert Burns to sign off the piece:

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,

That's newly sprung in June:

O my Luve's like the melodie,

That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve !

And fare-thee-weel, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!