Longing For Lanvin

I'm a sucker for a gorgeous shoe box. I keep all my shoes in their boxes, free of dust and sticky fingers. I always have done and always will do, regardless of the space they seem to consume. These Lanvin embellished satin sandals are amazingly beautiful. Bows, mother-of-pearl, pailette and glass crystals couldn't go together any better. And the shoe box? Eeeeek! I would be very chuffed to have that sitting on the top of my ever increasing pile. The most perfect wedding day shoes don't you think? Available for £557 online at www.net-a-porter.com.





Posted by Emilie Harrison

Real Yellow-Themed Wedding: Lesego & Lize

This gorgeous garden wedding is bursting with personality. It shows exactly how you can combine your own quirky characters into a wedding that truly celebrates who you are as people. Lesego & Lize tied the knot on a beautiful farm on the outskirts of Johannesburg surrounded by their awesome families and lots of colour, love and joy! The happy couple chose sunny yellow as their theme colour, and added plenty of DIY wedding details. I'm loving the lanterns, the ushers ties, the hay bales, the white ceramic vases and the stunning grey and yellow wedding stationery. As a wonderful memory-maker, Lesego and Lize asked their guests to sign a quilt - such a clever idea, and a wonderful record of a beautiful day. Huge thanks to We Love Pictures for these gorgeous detail-filled photographs.

If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our free newsletter and click here for more yellow-themed weddings. Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Academy Awards 2011

This years Academy Awards were, as the fashion commentators suggested, the year of bold colours, brave choices and standout pieces. Previous years have seen a more subtle approach to Oscar dressing however that idea was abandoned by many stars who chose beading, lace and solid colours for maximum impact. Cate Blanchett was my choice for best dressed. Her Givency Haute Couture gown, straight of the Paris runway, was perfect and exactly the kind of unique creation you'd expect her to choose. The colour looked simply divine against her fair skin and short blonde bob. Mila Kunis also opted for a lilac shade gown by Oscar favourite Elie Saab. The gown, featuring lace inserts and a train was again straight off the couture runway. Australia's own Jackie Weaver chose a custom made Collette Dinnigan gown. The heavily beaded bodice and full skirt was perfect for the first-time nominee. I also loved the simplicity of Michelle Williams Chanel Haute Couture gown. Never one to go overboard, the gown oozed sophistication and fitted her like a glove. If you'd like to see more of the spectacular gowns that made the red carpet this year visit www.harpersbazaar.com.au.


Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa and Jackie Weaver in Collette Dinnigan


Halle Berry in Marchesa and Hilary Swank in Gucci Premiere


Gwenyth Paltrow in Calvin Klein Collection and Michelle Willams in Chanel Haute Couture


Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Haute Couture and Mila Kunis in Elie Saab Haute Couture


Natalie Portman in Rodarte and Scarlett Johanson in Dolce & Gabbana


Amy Adams in L'Wren Scott and Reese Witherspoon in Armani Prive


Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang and Anne Hathaway in vintage Valentino


Jennifer Hudson in Versace and Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein Collection
Photos couresy of harpersbazaar.com.au

Posted by Emilie Harrison

That Friday Feeling Wedding Blog Web Links ♥ 11

Oops! I've fallen a bit behind on the wedding blog postings, but I'm sure you'll forgive me because it was my birthday this weekend! We celebrated with a Mexican dinner party, and plenty of margaritas, so I'm definitely feeling slightly worse for wear today. So a little late with the fantastic wedding blog web links this week, but I'm sure you'll still enjoy every one. PS - on Tuesday, it's 3 months till our wedding {help!}.

{Picture from Sessun discovered via This is Glamorous}

♥ One of my very oldest friends {she used to live next door to my grandmother} has just started her very own blog full of gorgeous home inspiration. Take a look at Little Miss Homes.

♥ Mega-trend-alert for spring weddings, 2011 is all about fringes! If Martha Stewart Weddings says so, then it must be true!

♥ Add a secret touch of colour to your wedding day via a dyed petticoat {discovered via wedding blog Sparkle & Hay}

♥ Completely besotted by this California wedding where they created an out-door lounge area for their guests with vintage furniture.

♥ I'm going to steal every wedding idea from this fabulous backyard wedding. Best wedding stationery ever {discovered via wedding blog Green Wedding Shoes}

And now for a couple of Vintage Before the Big Day postings!

♥ Wedding ideas for a Midsummer Night's Dream wedding theme.

♥ Dozens of unusual and chic wedding ring ideas.

♥ Plus don't miss this week's exclusive offers - 20% off your wedding photography, thanks to Markus MacGill and £10 off eyelash extensions via Lash Lab

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Confetti Competition Winner

CONGRATULATIONS Laura! You are our winner of the Shropshire Petals Lilac Blooms Keep-Me Case. Please get in touch to claim your prize - georgia.peters@yahoo.co.uk.

The Lilac Blooms Keep-Me Case includes 12 handmade cones, 1 litre of delphinium confetti, a butterfly, tissue for the base, a message card and a gorgeous case for all your wedding memories.

Keep an eye out for more competitions, they'll be coming soon, and click here for more Before the Big Day fabulous offers.



If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our free newsletter and click here for more wedding offers and competitions. Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog

Real Wedding: Eileen & TJ

Welcome to your weekend! I have a delicious rural wedding for you this fine Saturday, packed to the brim with wedding ideas and inspiration. Pictured by the hugely talented Jose Villa, it has a chic ranch theme, with a wonderful mixture of rustic and glamorous details. Bride and groom, Eileen and TJ, teamed glitz with traditional wood, chandliers with chunky loaves of bread, and burlap with mercury glass vases. I'm deeply in love with every detail, but my favourite wedding ideas to steal include the hand-painted map {envy!}, her bridemaids stunning Saja dresses, and the berries in the table flowers. Plus don't miss the Divine Twine wrapped around the bread - you know it's my favourite thing in the world!

If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our free newsletter and click here for more inspirational Jose Villa weddings. Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Peachy Keen

I came across this glorious mood board on Snippet & Ink and thought it was oh so pretty. Peach is the perfect colour if you're after an alternative to pink - still soft, still pretty and a little more male friendly! Think of the deserts you could choose with peach in your theme. Delicious! Visit www.snippetandink.com for an abundance of theming and colour ideas.



Posted by Emilie Harrison

Brilliant Wedding Website

If you're looking for wedding favours, decorations or just some good old wedding confetti, you should definitely check out this website. I've always been something of a fan of Not On the High Street, and now they've started a wedding list service, so you can snaffle some unsual wedding presents. They've got plenty of DIY wedding items as well - from rubber stamps to pretty ribbon.

If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our free newsletter and click here for more wedding favour ideas. Before the Big Day - The Best UK Wedding Blog.

Angelic Events

In our summer issue, on sale now, we did a Meet & Greet on the lovely Jessica Aguilera, Creative Director of the dynamic event design company Angelic Events. Specialising in wedding and corporate event planning, Jessica's talents extend to theming, centrepiece design and floral art. Here's what she had to say when we spoke with her.

How did you get started in the industry?
My career beagn in the corporate world in the early 90's working in event management. Wanting a change I moved into weddings and corporate events and saw an opportunity to service the industry with a higher level of attention after my own experiences with suppliers. It was then I discovered my true passion - styling

Describe your signature decorating style?
New York contemporary and French elegance with a splash of vintage

What's the most valuable skill you bring to a couple's wedding?
Creativity and organisation

What aspect of wedding planning or styling is your speciality?
Creating the vision and telling the couple's story through the design we have incorporated for their wedding day

What is it about weddings that you love?
I love seeing my client's special day come together just as they expected. Seeing the love and happiness captured amongst friends and family on such a memorable day makes it all worthwhile

if you'd like to speak to Jessica further about your upcoming event visit her website at www.angelicevens.com.au.





Posted by Emilie Harrison