Unicorn

Ok, so who doesn't love unicorns? I do... Perhaps not enough to base a whole wedding theme around them; but I'm not going to judge those who would. And I've got to be honest I would love to see it! Think of all the possibilities (admittedly rather unusual and a little brave)... Bridesmaids with unicorn horns or masks, a spectacular unicorn cake, unicorn rings, unicorn shoes, unicorn inspired food, lots of glitter, perhaps a real unicorn (or failing that a horse with a horn on its head), a unicorn statue... I could go on but I'm sure you can add the word unicorn to anything wedding related and come up with the same list as me.

Here are some images to inspire you...

The Baby At The Wedding

In honour of Gemma and her new baby girl, Poppy, I've decided to continue with the theme of babies and bring you a blog about babies at weddings. Here are ideas for how to entertain them whilst allowing you to enjoy your day fully. 

The first piece of advice I will offer is, if possible, hire child care for the whole day to look after your baby.  And I do mean hire! Don't ask a family member; they want to have fun too. This will leave you safe in the knowledge that your baby is fine and that you're not having to feel guilty for a member of your family babysitting. This can work brilliantly for children of most ages, up until that point where they don't need looking after that is. The child care are likely to provide entertainment for them, such as colouring, games and little competitions.

If you decide not to get child care for the day, then give the children things to entertain themselves such as colouring sets on the tables. Make child friendly games which they can take part inwith your other guests. Provide child friendly snacks and drinks, for, example milk and cookies instead of champagne and canapés. Why not provide a dressing up box? All children love to dress up!

The next piece of advice I have is to find a willing family member, who wouldn't want to stay late, to take your child home with them (if its your wedding you're likely to want a child free night). This way they can leave before they start to get sleepy and grouchy.

Children love to be involved, so my final piece of advice is to give them a role for the day. Be it page boy or flower girl or whichever title you choose. They will be thrilled to be a part of the day and probably adore the attention!

For The Pregnant Bride

For the bride who falls pregnant just in time for the wedding there may be that panic of "I don't want to be pregnant for my wedding photos". However I want to calm those fears and prove that a pregnant bride can look just as stunning, if not more so as they're likely to have that wonderful blooming look that expectant mothers have.

I understand that each bride-to-be and mum-to-be will look different and have different shaped bumps; this may mean that one dress will suit one woman whilst look ill-fitting on another. Each woman's body changes differently during pregnancy; some gain lots of weight in a variety of places whilst other gain only a bump visible from the front and side.

Whichever dress style you decide to go for, it's best to purchase it as late as possible (or if not get it too large and have it altered as late as possible) as you're going to be growing and changing at a rapid pace. 

Some materials will be more flattering than others, for example an elasticated lace will cover a multitude of sins whilst accentuating the beautiful bump, silk however, if tight fitting will probably show every undulation and may highlight areas you don't want highlighting.

Having said that, it's important to remember that a lighter, thinner fabric will keep you cooler and more comfortable.

Whatever dress you finally choose, just remember that you look stunning! And how touching it is that your unborn child can be a part of your special day!

Beautifully Rustic Wedding Invitations

The rustic theme is definitely a popular one this year. Not only is it great for barn weddings, but it also works well incorporated into a shabby chic wedding. And of course we all know that one of the signature parts of your big day is the invitation. It is the first thing to give your guests a taste of the wedding to come. So today I have a great selection for you to give you all some ideas towards your own rustic wedding invites.  Have a look...

Use items such as lace ribbon or jute material to give that rustic feeling.  Lots of natural colours work well, such as browns and ivories with hints of green or floral through the design.

One in particular I love, is the one with the pressed lavender. Its such a sweet idea and the smell will have your guests smiling as they open the envelope.

Tags can be a great touch to your invitation. Use simple brown tags and decorate with lace or coloured card.

I love artificial, lacy flowers as a decoration. Such a sweet little addition to the card, and yet so beautiful.

Weekly Round-Up! (12th to 17th August)

Another week has flown by for the Evissa Weddings team! And it's been full of great ideas for your wedding planning! As we impatiently await the arrival of baby Lamb, lets look back on the past week...

12th August, 2013
On Monday, I brought you some great alternatives to using a ring pillow. As themes and ideas become more and more creative, so should the arrival of the rings. From flowers to pretty trinket boxes, there is something for every style.

13th August, 2013
Tuesday was all about Araminta's top honeymoon destinations, but they may not be as you expected! From the UK to further afield, see why these places are the perfect place to relax after your big day.

14th August, 2013
Wednesday had gone to the dogs! As so many pets are such important members of the family, why not include them in your big day? And with gorgeous ideas for dressing them up, they are sure to stand out.

15th August, 2013
The blog went magical as Araminta delved into the mysterious world of Harry Potter. Full of gaet inspiration for you die hard fans, from using house names for table to Golden Snitch macaroons, it is sure to get you on your way!

16th August, 2013
Friday meant another supplier for you all to meet, and it was Forever Living and their methods for making sure your body glows as much on the inside as it does on the outside for your wedding.

17th August, 2013
And last but not least, Saturday was all about unique wedding garters. A tradition going back hundreds of years, it is a highlight of the evening along with the toss of the bouquet. So why not make it stand out, and give your groom a treat!

Garter to Impress Your Groom! (and Guests!)

The garter is a traditional part of the bride's wedding outfit full of history and luck. Historically, this tradition relates to the belief that taking an article of the bride's clothing would bring good luck. In the Middle Ages, the groom's men would rush at the new bride to take her garters off her as a prize. As this often resulted in the destruction of the bride's dress, the tradition arose for the bride to surrender articles of her clothing, which were tossed to the guests, including the garter. Nowadays, the privilege of removing the bride's garter is reserved to the groom, while the bride will toss her bouquet. Another superstition that has circulated is the male equivalent of the bride throwing her bouquet to the unmarried ladies. According to this superstition, the unmarried male wedding guest who successfully catches the garter will be the next man to be headed to the altar from the group of single men at that wedding. Traditionally, the man who caught the garter and the lady who caught the bouquet would share the next dance.

Many ladies like to use their garter as part of their something new or something blue (I have opted to combine the two as both my new and blue!). But why should it be simple? If you have a 'wow factor' dress or a really fun wedding theme, why not get a garter to match! With everything from feathers to brooches, plain lace to neon brights, there are so many options to wear. Here are some stunning examples!

**Featured Supplier* - Forever Living

Today's featured supplier is Forever Living. Here they are:

∗ Who are you?

Rachael and Hannah Luton – Sisters

∗ How did you get into your chosen career?

Through a keen interest in health and wellbeing. We have found that not only is taking Aloe Vera a great way to lose weight. It also can be used for many reasons and can help all sorts of ailments and generally for a person’s wellbeing.

∗ What services do you offer to brides?

We offer a bride a great way to lose weight quickly but due to the ingredients also how to keep the weight off. We also offer full after sales support to the bride. We understand what a stressful time this is in any person’s life. And how important it is for the bride to look her best on her big day.We also offer products that can help increase energy and relieve stress. Many of our products have proven to help cure or lessen many ailments.

∗ Favourite part of your job?

Client’s reactions and comments when they lose the desired weight and comments of how much better they feel and their increased energy etc

∗ Any special offers on at present?

We are currently offering 15% Discount to all new customers

Harry Potter

If you're like me and love Harry Potter then read on. I will often re-read the series when I feel like it's been too long since the last time. It's one of those books I can always pick up and enjoy. Just love it! Anyway I'm starting to go off track. For those diehard HP fans this would be a dream come true; theming your wedding around the wizarding world of Harry Potter! 

Wedding rings hidden in a golden snitch, house themed table names, marauders map wedding invitations... The options are just amazing! I love how simple it is to make golden snitch macaroons! You can give all your guests wands and scarfs for group photos. Colour theme can be chosen from your favourite house colours. You could organise to have a bird display, imagine having your own Hedwig for the photos!

I've said this before but I really would love to see photos of your themed wedding! Send them to our Facebook page (Evissa Weddings).

A Dogs Life

I will be the first to admit that I'm not a massive fan of dogs wearing clothes (or "accessories"). However I will say that there is probably one time they can get away with it. You've guessed it... A wedding! If you've got a family dog and you want it to be a part of your big day then it's not the worst thing if you dress it up accordingly. You wouldn't want to leave them out would you? 

What would you go for? Simple bow tie? Tux? Flowers? Hat? It's easy to coordinate them with the theme; get a collar to match the colour of the grooms tie, or tartan bow attached to the collar for a Scottish wedding. Obviously these "accessories" only need to stay on for the time it takes to snap a photo.

If you want your dog to be more in keeping with the wedding, it's probably a good idea to give them a good wash or take them to a professional dog groomer (save getting yourself soaking wet as you try to wash your dog). They'll be able to clean your dog, give it a nice trim and all in all make it wedding-ready for all of those photographs and human interaction (with dressed-up guests).

Here are some doggy-dress inspirations for you... But don't forget, only dress your pets in things that don't agitate them. 

Araminta's Top Honeymoon Destinations

Hello! I've travelled a little bit, but I did a large chunk if it alone. This was great, I had no restrictions and I could get up every morning and go wherever I wanted to go. However I had no consistent people to share these experiences with and there is no one person who I can reminisce with. Fortunately I kept a travel diary and am able to refer back to that when I forget my amazing adventures.

I think that some of the places I've been lucky enough to visit would be stunning honeymoon destinations. Not all of them are your traditional "beach destination" but they are (in my mind) fabulous.

In no particular order six destinations I would like to visit on honeymoon....

New Zealand

Hire a car and take your time exploring the two islands or find yourself a remote corner and enjoy the stunning scenery and each others company. Winters allow skiing for those of you who love the slopes whilst a summer provides a lovely climate to swim in the crystal clear lakes and hike up the picturesque hills. An adrenalin junkies dream!

Scotland

Hire a classic car and explore the highlands. Find yourself a lovely B and B, a little cottage or even indulge in some wonderful glamping! You don't have to go far to see some beautiful landscapes and have an amazing time.

Cuba

Wander back in time to this fabulous location and enjoy the beaches and awesome cars.

Mongolia

Take a trip on the transsiberian railway and stop off at some wonderful and remote places. Mongolia is always somewhere I've wanted to go to and spend a few nights sleeping in a Mongolian yurt! Ad lets not forget the other name for this train... The Vodka Train! 

Sweden

There is one hotel I really want to go to; The Ice Hotel! I can't remember where I first heard about this incredible place but I can remember knowing instantly that I was going to stay there! And really what's not to love... A hotel made from ice! Ice walls, ice beds, ice seats...

Greece

Hire a boat or a little villa and spend your day walking along the beach, sunbathing, swimming, drinking cocktails and dining in small, local restaurants. Simply relaxing!

Ring Bearer Alternatives (Ditch the Pillow!)

Now, I know they say traditional weddings are going to be the big trend coming through in 2014, but some things will always be a bug bear to brides. Personally, mine is the ring bearer's pillow. When you go through so much to make the perfect theme, and then have something so out of place, it doesn't make sense. And why? Because there are so many more options to be had!

You can use flowers, little trinket boxes, books and baskets, and even Lego! The possibilities are endless and you can really get creative with it, adding a bit of each of your personality into the carrier. And remember, there doesn't have to be a page boy to carry them either (I have no little boys in my family, just girls) so why not hand the job over to the flower girls or trust an adult and have the Best Man keep hold of them, ensuring the photographer is ready to catch the box coming out his pocket. Have a look at these for ideas!

Weekly Round Up 5th-11th August 2013!

What a record breaking week here at Evissa Headquarters; we had an incredibly high amount of readers on Wednesday!  

Gemma is still very pregnant (baby is due any day now!), Michelle is busy planning her own wedding and I'm away in the West Country catching up with family and friends.

Here's what else Michelle and myself have been up to...

Monday 5th

Michelle started the week with a great post about cascading (or waterfall) bouquets. I love the idea of making a cascading bouquet out of feathers!

Tuesday 6th

I brought you a post about the boxes you house your engagement ring inside; proving a great range of unusual ideas, breaking away from the normal small square box. I absolutely adored some of these boxes and the way they peronalised their contents!

Wednesday 7th

Well, what a day Wednesday was. I wrote about Doctor Who today; a Doctor Who themed wedding! I brought you dalek bridesmaid dresses, Tardis wedding rings and converse! This post got a record viewing of over two and a half thousand views this week!

Thursday 8th

On Thursday I tried to inspire those of you struggling for gifts for your other half for your first year anniversary. I suggested gifts with a paper theme; my favorite was the paper cut outs.

Friday 9th

Michelle brought you our regular Feature Friday post, with our guest being the lovely Laura Hugh's Hair. There are some great images to look at from past shoots! Remember, you can find Laura at:

Website: www.laurahugheshair.co.uk/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurahugheshair
Twitter: twitter.com/laurahugheshair

Saturday 10th

Saturdays post is a must read for brides to be and their maids of honour! Great ideas for hen nights are the subject of this blog. I love to cocktail making class... Yum yum

Calling All Norfolk Hens!

Now, with weddings becoming more and more unique, its only right that the hen do should be equally as memorable! Many ladies opt for a day (or weekend) of fun filled activities before the real drinking starts in the evening, and it usually works well as mothers can enjoy time with their daughters before the daughters don their condom covered veil and L plates, and head out for the night. So for all the local girls, here are some fab Norfolk hen activities to make your day full of giggles and fun!

Release Your Inner Gleek!

I love Glee, like crazy love Glee. So when I saw that you can have a whole day of becoming your very own Glee club, I may have squealed slightly! Learn how to perform to the shows classic songs like Don't Stop Believing and, my favourite from Kurt, Single Ladies, with the girls. Get your Rachel Berry on and go Glee!

Searching For Treasure

As a kid, treasure hunts were a thing of wonder! Running around following clues, trying to reach the goodies at the end. So why let the fun stop there?! Bring it into your hen do! Search around the city for clues, solving challenges and answering questions along the way. Either go as one team, or if there are lots of you, make it a competition! Perfect for the warmer months.

Mix It Up

If starting the drinks flowing earlier is what you are after, how about a cocktail masterclass? Learn how to make classic cocktails as well as creating your own masterpiece. Your dedicated Mixologist will teach you all the tricks and tips as well as filling you in on the history of the cocktails. Its a great idea for those with a mixed age range (or those who don't want to have their mum on a pole all afternoon).

Pole Princess

Which leads me on to pole dancing. This is something that is always believed to be very seedy thanks to cheap clubs, however its the complete opposite. Pole dancing takes grace as well as power to do many of the moves. A great work out, as well as a good laugh with the girls.

Get Artistic (the fun way)

I was always terrible at art, truly terrible. But that wouldn't stop me from taking part in this activity. Why not treat you and your fellow ladies to an afternoon of art, life drawing to be exact. Think it sounds boring? Well, my chief bridesmaid just got back from a hen weekend where they did just that, and apparently it was a whole lot of fun and laughter, especially when the model got a little bit... ahem... excited!

Indulge Yourself

Perhaps getting rowdy isn't your idea of fun. How about a spa day instead? A day of relaxation and unwinding with treatments such as facials and massages. A perfect idea once again for those with a mixed age range so everyone will enjoy.

There are so many more to choose from as well. There are lots of great websites online that will help you book the whole weekend or just single activities too. Happy planning ladies!