The Wedding Food Revolution

In the last few years there's been something of a wedding food revolution. Sit-down wedding dinners and buffets are being replaced by a much more dynamic style of dining, in the shape of mobile food trucks. Much more glamorous than your local hotdog trailer, these vintage-style caravans come in all shapes and sizes. Pick a cupcake or ice-cream van as a fun wedding detail, or select several to cater for your entire wedding. Your guests will have the fun of choosing what they'd prefer to eat, there'll be less waste, and it'll slim your wedding budget. Plus you get a big dollop of vintage heavenliness at your wedding.

Enjoy Cupcakes have just added Coral to their collection of cute caravans. Unfortunately she lives in the US. {Picture Credit: Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty}

Vintage Scoops is the brainchild of Mrs Scoops, who owns Bettty, very cool retro ice cream van
{Photo Credit: Paul Wilkinson Photography}

The Splitscreen Ice-Cream Co. serves mouth-watering, organic award-winning ice cream from a seriously cool and iconic vintage Volkswagen van.

The Flying Ducks offer a retro dining experience from a vintage caravan. It really is a thing of wonder!

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Exquisite Whimsical Wedding Veils

These wedding veils are just exquisite. I can't tell you how excited I was when I stumbled upon SIBO Designs' Etsy shop. I'm a strong believer in the veil - until I tried mine on, I didn't feel like a proper bride! My Delphine Manivet wedding dress was very simple, so I needed a cathedral length, lace veil to add interest. And when Delphine kindly gave me one of her handmade veils, edged with lace from the famous designers in Calais - I couldn't have been more thrilled. SIBO Designs' veils are just as beautiful, but considerably cheaper - leaving you more money to spend on wedding day jewellery!

{I want this!} Gorgeous wedding veils by SIBO Designs

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Sparkly Wedding Cocktail Accessories

Everything looks better with a bit of sparkle. So why not add these cheeky drink stirrers to your wedding cocktails? Even a simple G&T would look flare with these tinselled marvels, but I'd recommend choosing your own signature cocktail, and coming up with a fabulous name. Available in gold or silver, they'd look pretty fabulous at a Christmas party as well. DIY or buy them from Em for Marvelous {cool name for a shop!}.

{I want this!} Tinsel drink stirrers £47.14 for 100 by Em for Marvelous

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Pretty Paper Wedding Garlands

Flowers are the traditional go-to wedding decoration, but what can you do if your budget doesn't stretch to billions of blooms? I'm a huge fan of that unsung hero: paper. Create pompom peonies out of tissue paper for a tenth of the price, string the ceilings with paper chains, and add LED's to dozens of paper lanterns for romantic low lighting. Or take inspiration from the gorgeous paper garlands created by Maisy & Alice. I love these strings of stars, but there's a huge range of geometric fabulousness on their website, including stunning 3D heart garlands.

{I want this!} Star Garland, £8.24 for 9 feet {& upwards} by Maisy & Alice

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Pretty Rainbow Wedding Journals

Planning your wedding? These pretty leather-bound journals from Jackdaw Bindery are the perfect way to record your creative musings and inspirational wedding ideas. I love the rainbow pages, but you could choose your signature wedding colour instead, and add a monogram or motif. I'm ordering one for a friend to use as a pregnancy diary, and they'd make lovely presents for your bridesmaids. Each journal is handmade in Chichester by Louise Knight-Richardson, who's a professional book-binder by trade - I love how romantic and Victorian that sounds!

{I want this!} Leather-bound journals, from £19 by Jackdaw Bindery

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My New Favourite Wedding Florist

Finding a florist for your wedding can be a complete minefield. There's a lot of generic designers out there who'll do a great job, but if you're looking for something a bit different, a bit quirky and unique, then you'll love Rose & Wolf Flowers. It's run by a friend of a friend of mine called Georgina Agutter, and I've been following her work on Instagram for the last few months. I love the slightly haphazard style of her romantic wedding bouquets, and the clean precision of her more formal work. Take a look at her Facebook site for her latest wedding designs - I love the pop of colour in this whimsical bouquet.

{Picture Credit} Rose & Wolf Flowers - email here

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Before the Big Day Feeling Popular on Twitter

Goodness me - how did this happen! Thank you to all my new followers - I hope I'm interesting enough!!! Have you found me on Twitter and/or Facebook? Why not join in the conversation? {Or ready my mad ramblings about crab sticks!}

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Beautiful Wedding Jewellery for the Budget Conscious Bride

When I was planning my wedding, I was all about trying to create a luxe look on a budget. But that's easier to do with wedding decorations and stationery.....when it comes to your wedding gown and jewellery, it's much harder. I splashed out and bought a designer gown, but I paired with realistic, but fake diamond jewellery {apart from my engagement ring!}. So I was thrilled to discover these pretty perfect pearl drop earrings by Olivier Laudus. They're made out of cubic zirconia, but only you need to know that! If anyone asks, I'd say they're a vintage find from this little boutique you found in London!

{I want this!} Pearl drop earrings, £39.99 by Olivier Laudus

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The Perfect Unnecessary Wedding Detail

Aren't these gorgeous?! Sometimes it's the simplest of wedding details that really gets me going. And anything to do with stationery really rocks my world. These rustic stickers by Ohhh So Darling make me want to start writing letters, just so I can use them to seal the envelopes. They'd be the perfect way to brand your wedding. Stick them to your napkins and invitations, wrap them around paper straws, or use them on your confetti sachets as pictured. So many fabulous DIY ideas, and at only £7 for 100, you can afford to go sticker-crazy!

{I want this!} Rustic Personlised Stickers, £7 for 100 by Ohhh So Darling
Buy glassine bags like these from eBay seller Tilly Mint

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Big Wedding Bunting Love

Back when I first started Before the Big Day {four years ago - eek!}, it was really difficult to find bespoke wedding details. The USA was miles ahead of us in terms of creativity. But now, brides in the UK who want unique wedding decorations can find loads of individual boutique sellers. One of my favourite resources is Etsy. If you've never heard of it, you've missed out - take a look! This morning I found a brilliant shop called BaloolahBunting, which sells romantic lacy bunting. The pretty laser-cut flags create a stunning effect - perfect for wedding decorations. I can imagine them fluttering in a summer's breeze, or adding light in barn wedding venue. Baloolah have also branched out into other wedding accessories, including ring pillows and table decorations - all of it gorgeous!

{I want this!} Laser Cut Bunting, £42 by BaloolahBunting

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How To DIY Your Wedding Cake - Butterfly Theme

Take one simple white wedding cake, add a flock of butterflies, and caboom! you've got an incredible, dramatic work of art. Just goes to show what a touch of DIY can do. Each butterfly is handmade, complete with antennae {!}, and they come in a variety of species and colours. Buy your beautiful bugs from Butterfly Bazaar, and learn how to decorate your cake in a special tutorial here. For plain white wedding cakes, you can't do better than good old Marks & Spencer.

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Whimsical Hand-Embroidered Wedding Heirlooms

These are so whimsical and old fashioned, that they're the very essence of romance. Instead of carving your names into a tree, Jessica from Minature Rhino {I know, interesting name!} will do it for you, in her own inimitable style. Each item is carefully embroidered by hand, and they're heirlooms of the future. They'd look great on a sweetheart table, or you could simply send one to your future husband on the morning of your wedding. Alternatively, you could ask Jessica to create a custom design for your bridesmaids. Don't miss her website, for a feast of inspirational ideas.

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Know your man !!

The phrases that men hate to hear

Image: © Monkey Business / Fotolia

The phrases that men hate to hear are usually the ones that women use most often (and they are serious).

We don’t know if it is a protective response or they are just tired of hearing it, but men pretend they are deaf or they burst out when they hear these hateful phrases.

Here are some of the most awful phrases for the men’s ears…and how can you say the same thing, but in a different way.

“We’ve got to talk.”

Usually most women keep their emotions down and wait until their patience runs over…then they explode and decide to deal with the problem straight away. It doesn’t matter why you use these words, but they really annoy men, because they make them expect something awful to happen. That is why if you want to start a serious conversation, the best option is to do it when you are making something together with your husband (having dinner, watching TV, laying). Just paraphrase your sentence to make him comfortable.

“I am so fat.”

Here is the problem: He hates it when you say you are fat, because he likes your body the way it is and he accepts every change as a natural process. If he starts complaining about his tummy and his bad shape, you won’t like it, will you? There are for sure plenty of other reasons to love him. It is the same for him. And if he happens to agree with you sometime, it will probably be because of the fact that instead of complaining, you could start training and working on it.

“You don’t do this anymore.”

Researches show that women are more emotional, but men are more sensitive. This means that if you tell him that he is wrong and that he is acting unreasonable, he will probably shut to himself or he might just respond aggressive to you. If, for example you tell him that he isn’t so nice lately and he doesn’t do any nice things for you, you practically tell him that you are unappreciated.

More effective way of expressing your complaints and accusations is to do it by using a particular reason for an excuse. For example, “I know that you don’t remember any dates, but the fact that you forgot about our anniversary makes me feel that you accept our relationship for granted.”

“When do you think you will be ready to become a father?”

This question is almost the same as “When will we get married?” Family and fatherhood are both a serious step which shouldn’t be taken in an irresponsible way. Men realize that. In both cases they will feel pressed against the wall, because the initiative is yours. And it is very likely that they hurt your feeling if you ask them something like that.

This is why, if you feel that your biological clock is tic-tacking, while your partner keeps putting off this important step, you should have an honest conversation with him. Tell him about your worries, concerns and visions about the future. Find out what he thinks. You should better know these things now, than when it’s too late.

“Not tonight, darling”

Men hate to be rejected. They realize that they could be in the same situation, but the fact that you suppress their libido, makes them angry. The best thing you should do when you are not in the mood of having sex is telling your husband how much you love him and how much he turns you on. But after a tough day at work, you feel really exhausted and uncomfortable. Your partner should know that you are not rejecting him, but the physical contact in this particular night.

And which is the phrase that your husband hates to hear?  

Mother-in-Laws

For men only! Don’t be afraid of your mother-in-law!

Image: © Monkey Business / Fotolia

The mother-in-law is the mother of your partner. This literally means that your half is a half of a mother-in-law.

A long time ago, Balzac said that if you want to find out what your wife would be after 20 years, you need to look at her mother. But don’t be afraid – times change.

Nowadays, the mother-in-law earns almost as much money as the father-in-law, she commands, she invests and she has her own finances. She loves her children, her car and you, only if you don’t remind her of her own husband.

If you want to win her, you have to earn a lot, to like what she likes and not to criticize her clothing, even when you are convinced that they are your wife’s. If the mother-in-law is the “head of the family”, we advice you not to pretend you are Napoleon. You will get over your Waterloo right when you try arguing with her, even if the subject is the yesterday’s soccer game. She might not have watched it, but she has an opinion! You should respect that.

If you have happened upon a mother-in-law who is a housewife, you should take off your shoes the moment you enter the door. You should buy her a cleaning system “Rainbow” and you should not touch the remote control when your hands are dirty. Don’t leave any hair on the soap, clean the table and don’t leave your clothes on the floor. Invite friends at home only when you know that you have enough time to clean the mess after they leave and of course to get sober. Oh, and don’t forget to put the toilet seat back in place!

If your destiny has served you with “miss perfection”, you better be careful. You won’t ever be good enough for her daughter. There will be always someone else who is better than you, smarter, richer, more careful and more concerned about you. Put up with it! Arguing with her is pointless: she talks, you don’t make a sound and then you don’t make a sound – she talks. You should better remain silent. It is a big mistake to try proving to her that you are the right person. Whatever you do, she will be convinced that you will never become good enough.

The mother-in-law who is intellectual is something else. She thinks of you as her son, she admires you and she supports you, she even takes your side when you are arguing. You could go to the movies with her and even on a vacation. And all this – until her daughter starts complaining from you. Then she turns into a tiger. For such situations people (probably men) have their sleeping bags and beds prepared. You should better leave and visit a friend for a while. This will make her think that you are not the one who has made a mistake and that you are not guilty. This happens with no words, with a sad look. At least until you turn round the corner.

The dream mother-in-law is friendly and always smiling as in a tooth paste advertisement. She shines like a summer sun and she always talks good things about you in front of her friends. She is always delicate, she never interrupts you and she knows her rights and obligations. She always helps without asking you to return the favor. She is always at the right place in the right time. She is generous and helpful.

In case you have run across such a lovely person…you are probably dreaming! Hello, hello…wake up! Stop sleeping; get up, because you have millions of things to do! Don’t forget to throw the garbage on your way out…

The Hairstyle.

The woman’s character according to the hairstyle

Image:© Victoria Andreas / Fotolia

The hairstyle influences the confidence and sense of the world. It reflects the inner world of its holder as well as the momentary condition. The hair type says a lot about the character of the person. The length can give away the temperament or the communication skills. 

It is good to know that the hair length determines the quantity and speed of the main brain’s energy. Long hair gives more strength but slow down the reaction and outcome in life. The short one supplies the organism with harsh but powerful energy, speeding the processes in the organism as well as the reaction and outcome of events.
So if you want to keep a happy period in your life let your hair grow. If you want to achieve something within short terms, the short hair will help you.
Let’s go back to the hairstyles. It is a common rule that when a woman wants to change something in her she starts with the hair.
There are more permanent hairstyles that women do not change for years; we will talk about them now.

Image:©puhhha / Fotolia

Short, sports haircuts speak of dynamicity, energy and health. Women who have such hair manage to realize their personal plans; they manage to get out of every situation without any outside help. Short-haired women look intelligent and confident. Women with very short hair show tough character and emancipation. Open-ears, neck and forehead hairstyles speak of balance and competitive spirit. Their holders are often leaders in everything they do: business, sport, friendship, sex. The ladies who prefer short and very short haircuts as well as those with extravagant and thick bangs are liable to flirt, they are risky, including in love and sex, they are prone to adventures but they are not very practical.

Medium-length haircuts speak of stability, materially speaking.
A “Shiny lion’s mane” haircut speaks about perfect control over work and heart. These hairstyles uncover the art abilities of their holders as well as other positive features – kindness, cheerfulness and romance. People with such hair are cheerful but usually take everything too personal.
More interesting hairstyles like short haircuts on the front with a tail on the back speak of success in society, self-respect and good confidence. The long, freely falling hair is a symbol of the passion which every one of us has; it is a symbol of freedom. Many man nowadays waste time choosing women who to love for their loose hair, expressing a special kind of sexiness according to them. But women with this type of hair are usually energetic, very impulsive, initiative in personal terms.
Long blond and straight hair – it is the girl you can take to a romantic dinner but you will be the only one talking because she’s shy (probably very shy) and only the sparkle in her eyes will tell you you will be seeing each other again. Women having long, dark and curly hair are considered to be not confident and not very intelligent.
Pony tail speaks of women knowing the influence they have on men and they are ready to compete with those who threaten their influence. For women with this type of hair you should put more effort into attracting their attention. They can surprise the man every time they are together. Women who lift their hair lower on the back are confident and not very impulsive. Too flattened pony tail indicates of still women, very exacting and even depressed.
The extensions speak of success in education, crafts and trade.
Dyed or curled hair attract more resources necessary for communication, they are successful in studying and traveling. Red dyed hair for example speaks for the will of the omen to be provoked, to be noticed – not only by the opposite sex. This woman is always initiative and determines her faith all by herself.
Strict haircuts express style, elitism and inaccessibility. Their holders are strict, they like classical things in life. Women with strict and tidy hair are always calm with their loved ones. They do not act extremely emotional and are almost never spontaneous.
The straight box-shaped hair expresses ability to communicate well with the peers as well as with the older ones. Typical for them is that they protect their family, they help creating it although their choice should be approved by the parents.
The Vamp Style hair shows special sexuality. Such hair type speaks for provocativeness to meeting people from the opposite sex.

Image:© Valua Vitaly / Fotolia

Braided hair speaks of inner harmony and peace, lack of contradictions.
Special “teller” of the human character is the bangs: for men as well as for women. Under it usually hidden are the shy, non-confident, the infantile. Women with thick bangs hide something and are always very prone to secrets. If they can, they stay observers all the time. They are very volatile – they change moods, opinions and positions. They wake up with one decision and go to bed with another. They are pretentious and treacherous. They always aim to be recognized at any cost even though they often seemingly “bare” themselves before others. It is an act. They like themselves the way they are.
Evenly distributed hair expresses inner balance. Such people are stable or at least try to be such in everything they do. The twisted on the left hair expresses more determination with women. Hair, twisted on the right speaks for famine features and delicacy in relations.
Open forehead always speaks of energetic, powerful women. They are firm, determined and open. It is all as it should be with them. Discussions are short and usually end the way they want it.

Women who wear a wig suffer of a mania for changing their identity all the time. They look for a stable base but they are never sure in what they do, they try to attract somebody they loved when they were young. Maybe they do not realize it. The covering of the years marks characters that are always insecure; they adjust hard and are not very communicative. They are stubborn but shy and never fully reveal. They are ready to shrink every time they feel coolness. They are easily hurt and are not very faithful

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Sunshine Yellow Romantic Wedding Inspiration

Brides looking for sunshine on their big day should definitely choose a yellow theme. That way, even if the sun doesn't shine, your wedding will still be bright and cheerful! You're going to love this latest {and final} feature from the romantic wedding shoot by Annie Beedy of Mim & Honey, featuring flowers by Riley Messina of Erba Floral Design and wedding cakes by Cambria Goodwin of Butter. Exquisite blooms, combined with quirky vintage details create the perfect wedding style - I'm loving the holiday momento plate, the humours cake-toppers, and the flowers that look like brussel sprouts!! Complete gorgeousness!

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Pale & Romantic, Peach & Pink Wedding Inspiration

Brides looking for a romantic theme to their wedding day are going to love my next three wedding inspiration features. They're all part of the same pale and romantic styled shoot, shot by Annie Beedy of Mim & Honey, featuring flowers by Riley Messina of Erba Floral Design and wedding cakes by Cambria Goodwin of Butter. Annie's long been one of my favourite photographers - her pictures were some of the first I ever featured on Before the Big Day. So when she emailed me offering these exquisite shots, I jumped at the start. In this pink and peach-themed shoot, I'm loving the luxury of the multi-layered roses, the pink sponge interior to the wedding cake, and the simplicity of the plain white candles planted in old wine bottles. Ask your wedding cake designer to texture the icing for a similar rustic look, and add old keys, antlers and vintage crocheted mats to your wedding tables to recreate the rustic-chic look. Incredible!

♥ Want more peach-themed weddings? ♥ Or how about wedding cake ideas? ♥

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Real Spanish Flamenco-Style Wedding

Cherries and a flamenco-style wedding dress = me in heaven. This incredible Basque country wedding took place in San Sebastian, home of more Michelin starred restaurants per capita than Paris. So not only is it an incredibly beautiful town, but the food is amazing. The happy couple chose wedding dream-team Lisa Vorce {planner}, Mindy Rice {florist} and photographer {Aaron Delesie} to create their perfect wedding, and didn't they do a fabulous job! I'm loving the beautiful old-fashioned stationery in grey, the French lavender and kumquat tree table decorations, and the traditional dancers outside the church. It's always wonderful when you include local traditions in your wedding. And have you spotted the fantastic welcome bag in the last picture? It looks so tempting - and presents are a great way to welcome your guests, particularly if they've travelled a long way.

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