you, me & the tipi

This engagement shoot submission had me at the first image.  It was a delicious concoction of  the gorgeous couple, the unusual location and the dreamy photography that made this a cert for my first photo shoot post. I could not chose from all the beautiful images I was sent and so have split this feature into two parts. Part two will be posted for your pleasure tomorrow.


Jade and Anthony, (one good looking couple I think you'll agree) made their way to The Tipi Adventure, where they met with Nicola from the ever gorgeous Daffodil Waves Photography. I need to not say too much more guys and dolls, the gorgeous photography speaks for itself...

Loving the photography so much.  The outfits are also amazing! Jades kaftan dress is to die for. Remember that part two of this bohemian dream will be coming up tomorrow along with some words from the fabulous Daffodil Waves Photography.

Jades outfits : Necklace : Location : Jewellery

Give a little love

Here in the world of wedding lunacy, we can easily become obsessed with the abundance of eye candy offered up to us. We are constantly surrounded by gorgeous options for just about every detail of our day. I get a double dose of trouble by also being a slave to all things design related. 

We are prepared to pay a lot of money on embellishing what is in essence a really simple ceremonial tradition. Embellishments in the form of favours, stationary, decoration and even the wedding breakfast itself are not truly necessary. 

But who's to stop a girl making stuff look pretty eh? I am a sucker for anything gorgeous and often find myself melting into a puddle of gooey awe at the sight of the silliest of things... most recent being a suitcase on Rock 'n Roll Bride.

So I say lets embrace the consumer within, but lets be savvy about it. What if I told you that you could save lives with gorgeous girly purchases? Literally save lives.

Well that is what this post aims to do. Inspired by the fantastic news that Lucy Ledger Design's Mum has received the all clear and also in preparation for the up coming Breast Cancer Awareness month of October, I have decided to post up gorgeousness that will not only make your day super stunning, but will also raise funds for Breast Cancer Care who promote early detection and help people affected by the disease gain the best treatment, information and support possible.

First up we have the Elemis limited edition 'Sparkling Beauty' collection for face, neck and bust. As a huge Elemis fan I love this. How nice would it be to buy one of these as a little thank you to your gorgeous bridesmaids?

£50 available from www.timeforspa.co.uk, spas, salons and selected retailers

I think this has to be one of my favourites. As either a present for the bridal party, a hen weekend or just a sneaky wee bit of prettiness for your honeymoon plastic, the print on this super cute travel card holder by Julian Macdonald is enough to convince me I need it. But how about the tiny price tag and the fact that all proceeds go to Breast Cancer Care? Sold.

£5 available from Breast Cancer Care Shop

As tradition and good manners dictate, the mama's involved in the wedding planning often get a wee thank you bunch of flowers on the day. However by buying them a Next 'Breeze' vase (a mix of aqua roses, lavender spray roses, pink germini, pink alstromeria and eucalyptus foliage) not only do they get a beautiful pink glass vase to keep when the flowers are long gone but you also contribute 10% of the cost towards Breast Cancer Care. 

From £25, order on 0844 844 8050

And last but by no means least, what better way to celebrate and promote looking after our breasts than supporting (or displaying) them in something sexy. Everybody loves a pair of girly pink underwear. Sure to bring out your inner sex kitten whilst pleasing your bank card at a mere £10 for the set!

£6 Pink Bra, £4 Pink Shorts available at ASDA Stores nationwide

So ladies, while we're all saving and slaving away for the big day, why not use some of the money to not only make the day gorgeous and special for everyone involved but to look after each other and help improve the lives of those who need it most.  Many more products are available at the Breast Cancer Care Shop. Please take the time to have a look.

chocolate just got sexy

I know, I know... chocolate was always sexy, right?  Well take a look at these gorgeous ladies.

You could be forgiven for mistaking them as promotional models hired by Miss Coco. When in fact these ladies are the fabulous Miss Coco.  A gorgeous plan devised by Scotland's Sarah Finlay, this boutique chocolatier is devoted to creating sparkly delights that take the term eye candy to a whole new level.

  

Now who wouldn't want to eat these sparkly little numbers? Vintage rose and violet crémes... mmm makes my mouth water just typing it.  These would make delicious favours especially for those of you having a vintage hollywood glamour wedding.

 

Looking like little upside down fairy wands, these Hot Choc Dip's are wooden spoons that are sunken into blocks of chocolate, embedded with marshmallows. The idea behind them is that you dunk them into warm milk, give them a swirl and voila!  Hot Chocolate.  An exciting favour or place name for small and big kids alike, these would be sure to warm up those at a winter wedding.

The above are just a little taste of what's available at Miss Coco.  So pay the ladies a visit to see what other delectable delights are on offer.

some things are more important

It's been almost a year. I can hardly believe it! A year since the day Gavin proposed. 


Which, in a backwards kind of way, reminds me that I should post the proposal story. But another time. For now my mind is preoccupied with wonder at how the hell I've arrived at this point in my wedding plans.


In the sheer heart exploding happiness of new engagement, my obsession with the W word commenced. I found myself planning the most spectacular event that would be in itself, worthy of an oscar.  I wanted to wow. 


We were to get married in New York. That was certain. It's the city where we fell in love and as a place, it holds so many gorgeous, happy and hilarious memories for us both.  After searching for a venue that would do the city justice, I found Midtown Loft & Terrace in Manhattan. A rooftop wedding. That was the wow I was looking for.

This venue is beyond stunning and I would highly recommend that any of you thinking of an NYC wedding have a look at this place. The staff were fantastic and more than helpful with my many transatlantic questions and queries.

Your probably now wondering where this fantasy comes to an end. Well, lets just say here. I had a conversation with my Dad, who wanted me to take my head out of the romance cloud for a moment and realise the consequences of my idylic notion. 

At first I was a little bit angry at my oh-so-perfect bubble being burst.  However, my Dad is making a hefty contribution to our wedding and so it was only fair to listen to what he had to say.  I can now say that I am so glad I did. 

I was quite happy to have a small wedding of 30 people. I knew there would be those that would be unable to attend for various reasons due to the distance. But selfishly, my opinion was "If people want to be there, they'll find a way to get there". I cringe at the thought of this now. I don't come from a rich family and don't have many well off friends, so (as my Dad rightly pointed out) we would be imposing a financial strain on a lot of our guests. This was enough to get me rethinking the whole thing.

Then there is my Nanny. The only grandparent I have left and the one with whom I have always been the closest. She has never left the home. Afraid of flying and uninterested in traveling. She is also, as much as she doesn't like to admit it, getting on in years.  I knew that this trip would but a lot of pressure and stress on her but she wouldn't miss it for the world. I did not want to put her through that.

So Gavin and I regrouped and came to a solid decision that we would forego the intimate rooftop wedding in New York in favour of a total blow out Rock & Roll party at home! I have to say that typing this up has made me realise how glad I am that I changed my mind. I am loving planning every bit of this wedding, it has organically grown into a perfect expression of Gavin and I, of everything and everyone we love. 

There is a lot of talk these days surrounding the whole "your day your way" attitude. And trust me, I totally believe that every person deserves their perfect wedding, whatever that may be. However, I think a lot has to be said for looking after your family and friends. I am not saying you should bend to every sugared almond favour request or gasp of horror at your venue. All I mean is that I now know I will have my Nanny there, all glorious, happy and proud... and that means more to me than any fairy tale in New York.

Women fought hard to vote... so use it!

My day just got so much more lovely and shiney when I logged on to find that I have been shortlisted to be one of my favourite wedding blogs feature writers.

Please visit RockMyWedding to vote.

We are Naomi & Gavin, but I would like you all to vote honestly for the person you want to read most!

Ahhhh... the butterflies are out in flutters!

Save it!

I have to do something!

Please so not mistake that statement for anything other than pure excitement! I have been engaged for almost a year now. I have booked all the major things that need booking by this stage, venue, photographer, etc etc. I have bought my dress... sexy little number which shall be arrive in Bonny Scotland in Decemeber. I have thought, planned and researched my way to near insanity at times. But this is the moment I have been looking forward to since that ring was placed on my finger.

I get my chance to be creative. I will be designing my save the dates!

This fills me with so much excitement that little tears are forming in my eyes as I type. Am I a geek? Maybe I am... All I know is that I have always had an interest in graphic design and dabble in it with my job from time to time.

I love the idea of being alone with my lino printing gear and Photoshop, designing a little piece of paper that will announce to the world guest list when I shall marry my all time favourite person.

Thus commences the design process.

Would you like me to post up some drafts of my designs? I could use a little help in sorting the good from the bad, whilst hopefully avoiding the God damn ugly.

Rock. Paper. Japanese Masking Tape

I am fully aware that this little piece of stationary heaven will already be bookmarked by a lot of you, but I have only quite recently discovered it.  So please allow me to indulge myself (and those of you yet to be acquainted) in some gorgeous eye candy from Papermash.

Brought to us by Tea for Joy, who recognised a hole in the stationary market.  She subsequently decided that this hole needed to be filled with quirky designs and gorgeous items not usually found in the UK.  After doing all the leg work, and designing a sweetheart of a website, Papermash was born.

My first and favourite item is the I Love Lists note paper. As a woman who cannot make it through a day without writing a series of lists, these will soon be adorning my desk at work.  Making the daily To Do's that little bit prettier.

Second up is a fantastic way of allowing your guests to share their comments on the day. For those of you having photo booths, imagine how cute it would be to have them fill in one of these note cards and later you could match it to their photo for a personalised touch to your guest book.

However, to top it all off, you don't even have to spend a penny to add a little Papermash magic to your wedding.  The fabulous lady behind it all has also chosen to share some craft projects with us, including how to make these lovely little Drinks Parasols.

Beautiful website, delightful products and free craft projects... Surely you don't need anymore reasons to visit than that?

don't get carried away

Ok, so this is something that has been in my head for a while now.  I began this blog thinking of all things pretty and positive.   But you know what? I think sometimes it's alright to offload a little gripe every now and then.

I am doing this in the confidence that some brides out there will know where I'm coming from.

"Don't get carried away". The single most annoying statement that is made by people who ask you about your wedding plans.  I have spoken to a few brides about this.  It seems to be a pretty common acceptance that you will encounter these people at some stage in your planning.

First of all, my wedding is hardly Jordan-esque.  Extravagance is not a word I would use to describe it.  It's just personalised and fun.  I think some people become quite nervous about unusual ideas and quirky details.  As if deviating from the traditional wedding means you must be locking yourself in a room somewhere, constantly obsessing over wedding plans like some kind of mad scientist trying to take over the world.  Seriously people, we brides have lives also.

Secondly, I don't know if you notice, but it's generally those who aren't engaged that poison your fun with these comments. How can you pass judgement on someone else's experience and decide you must 'reign them in' if you have no idea what it is like to be planning a wedding? These people tend to get in a state trying to decide what to wear and where to go on a Saturday night.  Try planning the biggest party of your life.

Which brings me to my last point. That's what it is... a party. The biggest, bestest party you could ever throw.  So why the hell shouldn't I get "carried away"? I enjoy the planning.  I enjoy the decision making.  I enjoy talking to like minded people about wedding-y stuff.  I enjoy pouring over blogs and websites that share new ideas and pretty details.  So I will continue to plan this party, with my head in the clouds and loving every minute of it. 

 After all, I will only ever have this one chance to get completely carried away.

if gorgeous was a colour

Berry Red is a beautiful online labyrinth of all things pretty and really is as delicious as its name. You could spend so much time floating through this website, cup of tea in hand to deter you from reaching for the credit card.  Although, the prices you will see here are refreshingly affordable for such gorgeously designed pieces.  You will want everything.

Imagine how amazing it would look to have your guest's drinks dished out in one of these fabulous retro lemonade crates.

Or how fun it would be to use these quirky Penguin postcards for anything from your save the dates to guest comment cards on the day.

And for those of you looking for elegant details to wow your guests, have a peek at these dainty little glass place settings.

If you are planning on giving out sweeties as favours, jewelry as gifts or pretty much damn anything that will fit onto these cute wee boats, it's definitely worth a look see.

This is only just a taste of what's on offer.  These delectable delights and a whole host more can be found at Berry Red.  And if that wasn't enough reason to visit... guess what? They're having a sale!

i own a head torch

Ok, so I did it. I went and bought a head torch.


I am fairly new to this blogging shenanigans and so I am unaware if it is sensible to be stating such a fact on what is intended to be a blog full of pretty things and ideas to ponder over. 

I am going on a trek tomorrow which commences with a Saturday morning wake up call at 6:30am. I must then make my way to a pick up point where a bus will take me to the Cairngorm Mountains, (tasty little 3 hour journey).  The trek is part of a relay team, of which I will be doing a modest 15 mile hike.  Why oh why am I doing it? For charity of course!  The charity that I am willing to put myself through so much pain for are Wildhearts.  They do fantastic work, helping African communities start businesses to work their way out of poverty.  If you fancy a wee bit more information or to sponsor me you can visit my fundraising page.

But anyway, back to the point. I bought a head torch.  Upon returning to my flat I quickly loaded the batteries and headed to the only space I have without windows (the bathroom) to test said product out.


It rocks my world.

My new favourite toy is a head torch.  What has happened to me?  I am usually a giggling mess over all things girly, cute and pretty but for some reason I have found a part of my person that delights in preparing for outdoor explorations.  I enjoyed wondering around the shops pretending to be all sporty and outdoorsy.

I have never been camping in my life.  But my new found love for my head torch makes me think that my mega monster honeymoon, (which I am going to hold off mentioning for now) may actually be more suited to my person than I originally thought.

And the best thing about this head torch? I can use it in bed.

... as a reading light.

the falling garden

You know when sometimes you stumble across an image that is so breathtakingly gorgeous that it makes you want to cry a little bit?

Well, this is it.

The Falling Garden by Gerda Steiner & Jorg Lenzlinger. This stunning installation is made yet even more serene by the fact that it is suspended from the ceiling of a 16th century church in Venice.  When I first saw this image all I could do was long to be lying on that white, bed-like platform looking up at the ethereal wonderland above.

Upon further reading into the inspiration behind this piece, I discovered that the whole thing is made from recycled goods and found objects.  Now that still sounds oh so romantic until you actually break it down. Yeah that's right... everything from orange peels to rubber snakes.

I questioned my sanity for a minute. How can something that icky be transformed into something so hypnotisingly gorgeous?  The answer ladies is this ... it's suspended. We girlies have a fascination with all things floaty.  Whether its a hot air balloon in the sky, a tea light suspended from a tree or a vintage crystal chandelier. We will crane our necks and oogle dreamily at anything that appears to be hanging from the heavens.

This got me to thinking, (as everything does) about my wedding. The venue we have chosen for our reception, The Caves is essentially a bit stone vault.  My intention is to work with the charm of this venue and make it into an ethereal wonderland.  What better way to achieve this than suspending various objects from the thriple height ceilings. Everything from paper lanterns to origami and fairy lights.  So my guests can take a break from their roast garlic and tomato soup to ponder the magical playground hanging high above their heads.

... and so it begins.

I was first plunged into the underground world of wedding mania when G proposed in September 2009.  Little did he know that upon uttering those four words on bended knee, that he would be subjected to 20 months of crazy gravy.

Don’t get me wrong. I am by no means a bridezilla. My affliction is somewhat worse. I am an excited young bride-to-be ... and a designer.

The fears of high expectation thrust upon me were recently confirmed when I overheard my Mum saying "Of course it will be amazing, she is an interior designer".  As my self confidence dissolved into self doubt, I ran to my room to cry like a little girl. Pressure, pressure, pressure. 

Then, after having a serious look at myself, I decided to embrace it.  I have the opportunity to draw Inspiration from the world of design and create my perfect day, my way.  No dodgy clients, no uncertain budgets... just me, my ideas and the man that loved the detail-freak in me enough to put a ring on my finger. 

G and I have a natural tendency to shy away from anything conventional and have an insatiable lust for music.  We want our day to have a relaxed festival feel with a fun style, quirky details, tons of DIY and a colour palette that would make Joseph's Dreamcoat look like a £2 Primark special.

So this is my opportunity to share my thoughts and designs, saving the mind of my gorgeous Fiancé, as I march my way (scrapbook in hand) toward wedded bliss.