Blog - design

BIG Round and Bouncy...

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

...Balloons of course, and I LOVE them, big round ones. They're the latest wedding and party trend, and they're a great design statement. A small expense and a little bit of creativity and you can make your wedding or party stand out from the crowd. Aren't they gorgeous, I want to squeeze them. I've just got some in the post from the lovely Pearl and Earl, now I just need to find something to do with them! Also have a look at some pictures on my Pinterest page of this and more gorgeous trends and generally very lovely things.











Photo Credits:
Pastel Balloons: marycatherinemoody.blogspot.co.uk
Orange and Yellow Balloons with Bridesmaids: greenweddingshoes.com
Orange, White, Blue and White Balloons: bubblexl.com

Easter Greetings!

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Happy Easter! Here's hoping I'm not the only one who's single handedly eaten half of Cadbury's this weekend... In between eating chocolate I've been musing at daffodils and how very lovely they are. I think spring is one of my favourite times of the year and daffodils really symbolise all the gorgeous new flowers at this time of year and that feeling of summer being on it's way. What a lovely time of year for a wedding or party!

Trends: We Love Our Fans

Thursday, 16 February 2012

I keep seeing these gorgeous little fans (I'm not sure if there's a more technical term but they look pretty fan-ish to me) and I have a feeling we may be seeing more of them. Cutture had them at their, as always, stunning stand at the Designer Wedding Show this month, and I just noticed them on a pretty little post over at Preston Bailey's ever lovely blog. A bit like paper poms, I can see them being used in lots of ways; as the backdrop to a themed sweetie table or lots of them being hung as a feature. I'm sure they could be made quite inexpensively and they'd make a really eye catching and original feautre. Keep an eye out for them...

Design: Silver and Pink

Friday, 23 September 2011

After a morning spent shuffling paper work around (yes it's not all picking flowers and sipping champagne), I thought I'd brighten things up with a mood board. So here's a gorgeous mix of silver and pinks; a lovely palette that would work well for a summer or winter wedding. The details could be changed to make this more sophisticated or fun, depending on your style!

Photo Credits:
Bridesmaid with Peony Bouquet and Dessert Table: SMP
Ring Bearer Cushion: etsy.com
Sweets: Diana Marie Blog
Cake: Britt Rene Photo
Candles and Lace Invitation: marthastewartweddings.com
Macaroons: Millie Holloman via SMP

Inspiration: Amy Atlas Events

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

I'm surprised how often I see things that make me swoon out loud (and talk to my laptop about how pretty something is which may soon start to worry me...). It's all part of the job description. I love beautiful things, I want to make everything beautiful, to design events that make people swoon out loud and remember long after the tables have been cleared. Events are so visual and if something can be gorgeous, then it should be. Life's too short for bland and boring. One person I think really demonstrates this is Amy Atlas. Amy, based in New York, is recognised for creating the stylized dessert bar trend and has appeared across a variety of American TV shows, press, and has a fantastic blog, Sweet Designs. Designs such as Amy's continually inspire me and remind me why I love doing what I do.









All photos via Amy Atlas and Sweet Designs

Design: Bejeweled

Thursday, 25 August 2011

A pair of shoes inspired me! A rather gorgeous pair of Louboutins I saw today started me thinking of reds and emerald greens for a sexy and glamorous design palette. With summer coming to an end (I think I must have missed it) I'm starting to think of warm autumn and winter moods with this kicking it off in style.



Photo Credits
Cake: Melissa Jill via SMP
Just Married: Pobke Photography via SMP
Escort Cards: Alesi Photograhy via SMP
Shoes: Christian Louboutin via Romance Shoes
Ring Bearer Cushion and Emerald Crystal: Etsy
Dress and Earings: Net-a-Porter

Design: Winter Wonderland

Sunday, 05 December 2010

The snow may be turning to grey sludge and the snowman disintegrating, but we still have that lovely warm cosy feeling that winter brings and so we put our design hats on. Most couples opt for summer for a wedding date but winter has so much to offer; especially here in Kent which has been a picturesque blanket of snow for the last week. With all the beautiful natural decoration that winter brings and not needing to worry whether or not the sun will come out, I always think it should be considered more often. Think about all that hot chocolate, cosy log fires, fluffy marshmallows, and maybe a brandy or two to warm the guests up!

Halloween Inspiration

Friday, 29 October 2010

Why not impress your friends this year and create something a bit special for Halloween. It doesn't have to be all plastic spiders and fake blood; although a bit of tack doesn't always go amiss, especially with the kids at Halloween! Good old Preston Bailey has some fab ideas for Halloween decorations. I just love the paper lanterns. Why not mix these with some more traditional ones you may already have and get crafty cutting out those pumpkins. Happy Halloween!

Oh how lovely: Pom Poms

Wednesday, 25 August 2010

Whilst being distracted, yet again, by all the whimsical and wonderful things there are in the wedding and event world, I came across these ever so sweet Pom Poms on the brilliant etsy.com. It doesn't quite seem like the weather for them now in rainy Kent but wouldn't they look great hung outside for a pretty summer event or even inside to create a whimsical wonderland design. Oh how lovely.

Design with a Difference

Saturday, 07 August 2010

I'm becoming slightly obsessed with chair covers. Not just plain white ones with different colour sashes, as pretty as they are, but unique ones made from different fabrics with eye catching designs. Truth be told, I'm slightly obsessed with all details including napkins, glassware, lighting, and anything else that the ordinary person would quite rightly find dull. But that's why I'm doing this job; I see how all these details can transform a space into something truly unique and magical, and the moment someone gasps at how wonderful something looks makes all the hard work of pulling it together worth it. Preston Bailey is one of the masters at this and a real inspiration at transforming spaces; the office here in Kent is full of his lovely books. Cooing over my favourite wedding blog SMP I always find some real design treats, like this wedding from True Event . This brings me back to chair covers, which this wedding has some fabulous examples of from Wildflower Linen...I'm tempted to buy these for my own dining room. Again, these really illustrate how all these little details can be pulled together to truly transform a space. Some more design eye candy for you below!

Design: Pink on Black

Monday, 28 June 2010

If I wasn't planning events for a living I'm sure I'd be a florist. I love flowers; they never fail to make me smile. Whilst picking up a beautiful bunch of peonies earlier today I started to think about combining their delicacy and beauty with a simple black background. I think this creates a wonderful contemporary design. Peonies are a stunning flower and usually in season around May and June, something you'll need to consider if you want to use them for your wedding. But whilst they're usually seen as a very delicate and pretty flower, I think this design shows how they can be used in a more contemporary and striking way. 

Design: Easter Treats

Wednesday, 31 March 2010

Mmmm, Easter's nearly here... Apart from being an excuse to stuff our faces with chocolate, Easter brings to mind some lovely design ideas for an Easter inspired Wedding. From beautiful pale yellows to gorgeous spring greens, the fresh design fits beautifully into the Spring time with the added cuteness of Easter. I always think Spring is a lovely fresh time of the year for a Wedding, with so many flowers coming into bloom and that Winter chill finally leaving us - although I have to admit it didn't quite feel that way when I got blown away this morning in windy Kent! At least the daff's are out and the birds are chirping..nearly! Also have a look at our Spring Greens design.