Yorkshire is responsible for awesome creations ... my husband being one (I know, but it's true) and another being The Hepworth, Wakefield. If you've not been, go now, take my car.

Shelly that is Toast of Leeds asked me to create some bespoke stationery for a styled shoot at The Hepworth.  This is what I created ... Hepworth.

Online now, or by text/phone/email if you prefer.

Also available in silver and gold.

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Styling: Rachel Chippendale
Flowers: Stems Design
Photography: Toast of Leeds

There are so many reasons to love the holiday season ... Christmas Market drinks, Elf, Marks and Sparks Mulled Wine, chocolate for breakfast, an endless supply of snacks and when the snow falls - pretending you are in Love Actually! No? Just me! 

And there are proposals!

I love a good proposal, especially at Christmas.  Winter is inherently romantic and dreamy, it's perfect.

If you are planning to pop the questions, but don't know where to start, read on for some inspiration. Raspberry Toast On Pinterest

If you want to buy these jeans but feel the hint is too obvious ... forward this blog as a sledgehammer of a reminder. Thanks to Bride on a Budget and Rime Arodaky for the shot.

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#ToastOnFriday

Yorkshire boasts a lot of beautiful wedding venues and some of the best wedding planners I know ... Hornington Manor is no exception. If you're looking for a venue that's unique, beautifully appointed and you can call  H O M E  for the weekend ... look no further.

We've been asked to be preferred stationery suppliers and are currently creating a gorgeous stationery range for the Manor ... it'll be available online in Spring.

With an awesome wedding team, Ruth & Jo are the kind of event managers you want at your wedding. Have a little noisy now ... Go on, take a peek x

There's something magical and wildly romantic about a Winter Wedding ... 

Whether you're planning a candle lit service in Canterbury, a quant little do in the streets of Zermatt or not planning at all ... take a minute ...

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#ToastOnFriday

Moodboards: Raspberry Toast

Images: Vogue

For details visit: Vogue 

Who says that a whimsical wedding needs to be in a country house? 

If you want fairy light chandeliers, dreamy petal covered aisles, alice in wonderland tea tables or bohemian bridesmaid dresses ... in an industrial warehouse ... it's your wedding and 'whatever' goes.  

Maybe just go for a date in summer if there's no heating, or add 'bring a warm coat' to your invitations.



Photography: 100 layer cake & Green Wedding Shoes

Absorb yourself in an inspiring wedding fusion ... Savan & Nicola got married earlier this year, at Hallé St Peter’s, Manchester.

As the rehearsal and recording space for the Hallé choir and orchestra, Savan & Nicola were the first to be married in this unique venue ... but it's also the perfect location for an amazing ceremony, Indian street food (including Dosa and Panipuri) and an awesome party.

I'm not sure how they pulled it off with only a 7 month engagement ... 

Lengha: Pehnava
Shoes: Karen Millen
Sherwani: Laadki
Photography: Soniya Zeb Photography
Caterers: R K S

Venue: Hallé St Peter’s

I am fortunate enough to have attended weddings in several European countries, namely – Norway, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Greece and Spain. I am furthering this global reach with Italy in the diary for 2015.

My experiences in these countries were very different, but each wedding felt like a wedding. I wondered what it was that was consistent, and what was different. How do you know what makes a wedding a wedding?

The Norwegians love coffee and pancakes with butter and sugar, directly after the ceremony, followed by a long and leisurely wedding breakfast punctuated with heartfelt speeches, songs and ditties. The Bride or Groom leaving the room creates a stampede to kiss the remaining newly wed. I love it!

The Dutch played games during a long afternoon of  family fun. This was slightly different as it was a Dutch / Kazakh wedding. Bread was torn by the Groom to represent who ‘wore the trousers’, a really interesting concept. The Groom has the choice, if he tears the largest part he states that the trouser wearer is him!

Outside of these national customs, in each case, I still knew I was at a wedding.

My argument: You need the formal structure of a wedding to ensure that everyone thinks they didn’t just turn up to some elaborate party with a couple who decided to wear a posh frock and a snazzy suit. Not only that, guests need the wedding ‘running order’ so they (kind of) know where to be and when.  

Whist many wouldn’t admit it, we all love a bit of orchestrated, routine driven behavior (Just me? Sorry, it’s my ‘a little bit OCD’ shining through!). Our social memes are what holds us all together, and I would argue that there are none more etched in the psyche of our nation than the traditional wedding.

Go curve ball, go quirky, go crazy, but make any wedding I rock up to a wedding. I like to see a couple cut a cake (fruit cake please, chocolate cakes are for birthdays). I like to see speeches after dinner (make the best man sweat!) and I like a formal ceremony with vows and “you may kiss the bride”. Don’t make it too long though, the canopes and bubbles are awaiting.

So what makes a wedding a wedding? It’s those traditional crowd pleasers and, in my opinion, you miss these at your peril.

Guest Blog contribution: Thanks go to The Secret Wedding Blogger