Blog - weddings
Thursday, 10 May 2012
We like to think we're very sharing over here at Aimee Dunne, and more so this month with some of our 'Pearls of Wisdom' in Wedding Magazine. Flick to the back page and you'll find some of our helpful hints there!
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Dear Blog, I have neglected you somewhat lately and I'm sorry. I have so much to say but wedding season is fast approaching and I have lots of lovely clients to make happy, so I've not been to see you quite as much as I'd like...
As well as preparing for wedding season and a number of parties we're planning, we had the pleasure of attending the UKAWP 2012 Wedding Planning Excellence seminar earlier this month. The seminar was a great opportunity for us wedding planners to spend two days with our colleagues, increasing our knowledge of the industry with a number of talks from industry colleagues, and to network and learn from each other. We had some great inspirational talks from speakers including Keren Lerner from Top Left Design, Marketing guru Tamsin Fox-Davies, and Business Coach Ray Hutchin from Cloud 9. We also learnt more on bridal trends from the lovely Ellie Sanderson (including a very interesting X Factor bridal show), had some lessons on etiquette from Jo Byrant of Debrett's, and a low down on mobile bars and marquees from Debbie Baisden of iBarco and Anthony Wickham of TT Tents.
After all that continued education we were treated to a fabulous dinner and reception drinks at the very lovely 30 Pavilion Road. Rumour has it that some planners carried on the evening with some roller-skating and further sampling of drinks but I'm admitting nothing (and I'm sure there's no photographic evidence)! Many thanks to Lloyd Dobbie for all of the images below and who also provided us with some insights into what photographers do behind the scenes.
WPE held at 51 Buckingham Gate. Venue styling by Wedding Creative. All flowers supplied by Euphoric Flowers and stationery from Cutture.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
2012 is certainly upon us and here at Aimee Dunne we’re looking forward to all our 2012 weddings and New Year enquiries. With that in mind, here are our predictions for what we''ll be seeing in our weddings, and events, in the months to come.
Photo Booths. Photo Booths are a great way to add some fun to your wedding day, and have some added memories to keep and share. These can be tailored to suit your wedding theme, from a traditional booth, or a taxi booth like those offered by megabooth.com.
Vintage. The vintage theme has been a staple favourite for a few years now and is still going strong. From vintage pastels to lace doilies, it’s still a firm favourite; and with companies such as vintagestylehire.co.uk hiring out beautiful vintage pieces, it’s becoming easier for brides to plan and afford beautiful vintage style.
Sweetie tables. Around 80% of my clients have a sweetie table on their wish list. I LOVE them, they can be as small or elaborate as you like and can be themed in such fun ways. Originating from the States, from the likes of the wonderful Sweet Stylist Amy Atlas, they’re certainly finding a home here in the UK. A wonderful local company I've worked with is Let Them Eat Cakes.
Cake Pops. Another trend from the States, companies such as popbakery.co.uk are doing a marvellous job of bringing these cute little cakes on sticks to our shores. They work fantastically with Sweetie Tables, as favours, or just on their own for fun. Move over cup cakes, cake pops have arrived!
Laser Cut. I’ve always loved a bit of stationery, but give me some laser cut stationery and I’m in wedding heaven! My favourites are from the ever so talented cutture.com and chartula.co.uk. Traditionally quite an expensive option, products such as Chartula Create are allowing style savvy brides to get DIY laser cut stationery at an affordable price.
Photo Credits:
Photo Booth: megabooth.com
Vintage Table: Vintage Style Hire via lovemydress.net
Sweetie Table: Amy Atlas Blog
Cake Pops: etsy.com
Laser Cut Invitations: Cutture
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Today is a day you will always remember
The greatest in anyone’s life
You’ll start off the day just two people in love
And end it as Husband and Wife
It’s a brand new beginning, the start of a journey
With moments to cherish and treasure
And although there’ll be times when you both disagree
These will surely be outweighed by pleasure
You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past
When the secrets of marriage were spoken
But you know that the answers lie hidden inside
Where the bond of true love lies unbroken
So live happy forever as lovers and friends
It’s the dawn of a new life for you
As you stand there together with love in your eyes
From the moment you whisper ‘I do’
And with luck, all your hopes, and your dreams can be real
May success find its way to your hearts
Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys
But today is the day it all starts.
Photo credit: tanjalippertphotography.com via smp.com
Tuesday, 03 January 2012
Well what a welcome back to the office it was this morning, being blown here in gale force winds. Ok, ok, my office is at the end of my garden but still... A cup of tea and a wedding magazine later and I've recovered.
We did manage to have a lovely Christmas and New Year here at Dunne HQ, taking some much needed down time with the family, enjoying quite a few glasses of pink bubbles and more Quality Street than I wish to admit. I am very excited to be back in the office today, and to get going with all of our lovely 2012 weddings. Christmas and the New Year are always a popular time to pop the question, and why not say 'I Do' in 2012!
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Many clients ask me how to mange their gift lists; is it too rude to have a gift list or to even expect gifts at all. I find every wedding is different, with religions and cultures often coming into play, and it really comes down to personal choice. But if you are opting for a gift list where you can spoil yourself a little (which is still ok, honest) then why not try the oh so lovely gift list from not on the high street. It's full of all manner of gorgeous things to spoil yourself with and also gifts that can be personalised for a nice reminder of your special day. Not on the high street also has a great wedding blog, which is worth any savvy bride checking out.
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
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
This cake is gorgeous. I had to share this with you as quite simply a cake this beautiful should be shared. I love the simple, elegant design, just gorgeous!
Photo courtesy of Beth Helmstetter via SMP
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
Tuesday, 03 May 2011
Well what a weekend it was. It all begun with the most gorgeous Royal Wedding and we would like to say an enormous congratulations to Kate and William. The wedding was even more fabulous than we could have imagined and the rest of the long weekend has been spent eating the union jack themed rock and cupcakes that we went slightly overboard on! So a few pounds heavier but now Royally inspired, it's back to planning all of our wonderful weddings and events. No time to eat cake with the busy wedding season upon us....well maybe just one more...
Photo via
bbc.co.uk
Sunday, 20 February 2011
I'm still slightly obsessed with chair covers; and how could I not be when I come across such stunning and unique ones as these. I found these whilst looking on the gorgeous blog by Event Stylist Aileen Tran. Reaffirming my belief that chair covers don't always need to be white with big bows (although I have nothing against them whilst used in the right setting) these show how a little bit of imagination and creativity can turn something as simple as a chair into a thing of beauty. You don't always need the standard flowers and candles etc to transform a space; sometimes it pays to think a little outside the box. Oh how lovely indeed.
Friday, 11 February 2011
This time last week we were busy preparing for the UK Wedding Shows at the London Excel. To be more accurate we were tying our logos onto some rather cute tubes of love hearts with the help of red wine, although we did have a 1000 to prepare. All the hard work was well worth it and we met some fantastic couples needing help with planning their special day, and also some wonderful suppliers. The wedding industry is a wonderful one to work in and once again we were reminded of this by such a fantastic and enjoyable two days (although my feet were not agreeing by 5pm last Sunday)! Many thanks to More Production for the wonderful drapes they provided for our stand.
Tuesday, 01 February 2011
I was lucky enough to attend a UKAWP floral wokshop recently with the wonderful Euphoric Flowers. As well as having quite a few laughs (well imagine a room full of wedding planners and lots of flower arranging) I am now the proud owner of some very useful emergency floral skills. Of course I never expect any floral disasters at my weddings but in any case I can make a rather lovely buttonhole, corsage and bouquet (I won't mention how many flowers were harmed in the process!). Euphoric Flowers are based in Fulham, Central London. As you can see from their website they are rather great and their passion for flowers is a little bit infectious. Many thanks again to Simon and Victoria at Euphoric Flowers, and of course to the wonderful UKAWP for a great evening. Here's a peek at one of the bouquets that were made, not my own unfortunately!
Sunday, 02 January 2011
We're very pleased to say we're currently one of the Exhibitors in Focus on The UK Wedding Show's Blog - The Glamorous Life of a Wedding Planner. Aimee Dunne will be at the UK Wedding Shows, Excel London, on the 5th-6th February..come and see us!
Monday, 27 December 2010
As a wedding planner I'm lucky to come across pretty things most days, but occasionally I see something that makes me swoon out loud. This dress is definitely one of them. I came across this on the ever so dependable SMP earlier, and just had to share it with you. It's from a beautiful San Francisco wedding gorgeously planned by Atelier Joya and MAP Events. More beautiful planning by our American counterparts; once again, I salute you.
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!
Photo Credits
Bouquet and Cake: brides.com
Cookie place settings and Hot chocolates: marthastewartweddings.com
Marshmallows, snow covered tree and fireplace: Flickr
Heart light wreath: Cox & Cox
Table numbers: Etsy.com
Dress: Melissa Sweet via brides.com
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Today heard the wonderful news of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s engagement, and I still have a warm fuzzy feeling inside! The news seems to be plagued lately with all the pitfalls of weddings, notably expense and divorce; so it’s fabulous to hear such happy wedding related news. Fairytale romances, big weddings and happy endings are not gone forever. So, with all this excitement in mind, what can we expect from the big day?
The Ceremony. This will most certainly be a traditional Church of England ceremony. Westminster Abbey is the bookies favourite, however other likely contenders are St Paul’s Cathedral where Diana and Charles wed, or St George’s Chapel in Windsor where Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones.
The Dress. All eyes will be on Kate and the fashion forward bride-to-be is sure to impress. The wedding gown is likely to be traditional but modern, with a hint of glamour. A big full skirt is unlikely, rather something such as fish tail or empire line style. The gown will no doubt be couture, from a UK designer such as Bruce Oldfield or Phillipa Lepley; flying the flag for British designers. Still serving with the RAF, Prince William is likely to wear military uniform, although he may opt for a bespoke morning suit which he would certainly look quite dashing in.
The Reception. Elegant and very glamorous. London would be the likely venue for the reception. Buckingham Palace or another Royal Residence would also be an option, although a lavish reception in a swanky London hotel such as The Dorchester or The Ritz would be fantastic.
The Cake. Simple but fabulous. Something white and simple but with lots of layers and detail would be stunning. Allowing for a bit of a wow factor but remaining tasteful and elegant. An English patisserie such a Peggy Porschen would be a perfect choice.
We can’t wait for more details of the big day but in the mean time big, huge congratulations to the happy couple!
Photo via
dailymail.co.uk
Friday, 27 August 2010
We're big fans of Cosmopolitan Bride here at Aimee Dunne and love feasting our eyes on all the pretty pictures and wedding features. This month we were delighted to be quoted in the 'Don't Stop The Party' feature...how to make your do last even longer with some crowd pleasing extras. It's in the shops now so go grab yourself a copy!
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.
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!
Friday, 09 July 2010
I'm only slightly ashamed to admit it but I do like a peek at all the celebrity weddings, and there seem to have been quite a few lately. Ok, so there's the ever so wacky world of Katie Price and Alex Reid which has been in the press lots and not for great reasons; but there have also been some less so obvious nuptials including the stunning Megan Fox and her very lucky beau Brian Austin Green, who wed in a sunset ceremony at the Hawaiian Four Seasons Hualalai Resort. Megan looked even more stunning than usual in a strapless Armani Prive gown with a 16ft trail. Other weddings that caught my eye recently were that of Piers Morgan and Celia Walden in a quiet countryside ceremony in Swinbrook, Oxon. Another wedding that my invite must have got lost in the post for was that of David Walliams and Lara Stone, at Claridges in London, in May. The couple looked beaming and beautiful after the lavish £80,000 affair and I'm sure it would have been a wedding to remember with the celebrity guest list and Matt Lucas making a speech. Congratulations to them all!
Photos via dailymail.co.uk and marieclaire.co.uk
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
We love a nose at all the Real Weddings featured on You & Your Wedding, and today we were ever so chuffed to see one of our very own weddings featured. Oh what a beautiful bride even if we do say so ourselves! Thanks again to Andy Catterall for the fantastic photos and to everyone else who helped make it such a fantastic and memorable day down in stunning Hampshire. Have a look here for all the lovely details.
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.
Photo Credits
Monday, 10 May 2010
Ever so helpful as we always are here at Aimee Dunne, we recently helped provide some tips to Bridal Wave TV on how to plan a Marquee Wedding. From finding the right Marquee to ensuring guests aren't left queuing in the cold for a porta loo, read all our tips here!
Photos from White Canvas
Friday, 30 April 2010
Looking through the lovely, whimsical world of Wedding Blogs (well what else would I be doing on a Friday night in Kent); I came aross these rather lovely chair covers under the wonderful Waffle and Bear and also on my old favourite Preston Bailey. Just lovely aern't they, and just goes to show chair covers don't all need to be big bows!
Monday, 26 April 2010
I won't lie, I do like a nice big budget! But not everyone has a big budget, and even if you do you don't want to be wasting it especially in today's economy. Weddings are notoriously considered to be expensive, but they don't have to be. Your wedding is your day and you can make it as elaborate or as low key as you want, and however much money you chose to spend on it, it can still be the beautiful special day you'd hoped it would be. When planning there are some simple ways to save on your budget which I thought I'd share with you, these also apply to many other types of events.
1. Haggle. If you don’t ask for a discount, chances are you won’t get one. I do tend to think we’re not very good at this in the UK, compared to many cultures where it’s the norm, we’re a bit reserved. But there’s no need to be embarrassed, many businesses welcome people asking for a discount and don’t find it unusual. Once you’ve done it once or twice you may even start to enjoy it...especially when you see the savings!
2. Seasonal Blooms. Many brides have their heart set on a particular type of flower, and this is something which is clearly important to the whole theme. Most flowers however tend to be very seasonal and choosing some which are out of season may greatly impact your budget, especially considering that flowers typically take up about 10% of your wedding budget. Choosing something out of season may mean the flowers need to be imported which could greatly hike up your budget. Peonies for example, tend to be available only in May and June. Also, if you’re having your ceremony in a separate location to your reception, for example having your ceremony in a church and reception in a nearby hotel, see if the florist will move the flowers to the reception venue after the church service...quickly and discreetly of course!
3. Stationery Savings. Stationery can be a very expensive part of weddings. Why not save money by using a website such as gettingmarried.co.uk to keep guests fully informed and manage RSVP’s. You can also find your creative side and make some of your stationary such as the Order of Service and Menus, or contact a local printer and put some of those haggling skills into action!
4. Have Your Cake and Eat It. Cakes are both beautiful and delicious but can also be expensive. If you have a friend who makes cakes why not ask them to help out on the day and bake you a cake as a present. You can also pick up some great cakes from the high street, including waitrose.com and marksandspencer.com, which you can easily decorate yourself with fresh flowers and some ribbon. Also think about serving your cake as a desert or as part of the evening buffet.
5. Let them Send You Packing. Websites such as senduspacking.com are a fantastic way for your guests to contribute to your honeymoon, instead of having a traditional gift list. Many couples are moving away from traditional gift lists and most guests are unlikely to find this too unusual. Other good ways to save on your honeymoon are to avoid having your honeymoon during school holidays, Christmas or Easter, and to book with tour operators who specialise in honeymoons such as destinology.co.uk as they may well have special offers for couples.
6. Budget. Boring as it may seem, especially when all you want to do is plan your big day, it’s a simple way of ensuring you don’t waste your valuable wedding budget. Start by sitting down and making a budget of everything, and I mean everything! It’s often all the little extras that get forgotten and add up. Make a realistic budget and stick to it, going back to it every couple of weeks at least to see where you are and making sure you include everything on it that you spend. Websites such as weddingideasmag.com also have some great budgeting tools you can download for free.
7. Hire a Wedding Planner. Last but not least! Not one to blow my own trumpet, but us Planners have access to a huge source of suppliers, and are well placed to know what the typical costs are for most services. We are used to dealing with suppliers on a daily basis and it's part of our job to negotiate the best prices we can for our clients..and something I know I enjoy! Although the cost of a Planner may seem an added expense, the savings made from these reduced costs and use of tried and trusted suppliers can easily outweigh the initial expense.
Happy saving!!
Friday, 16 April 2010
Well after a rather frustrating Friday trying to solve broadband issues in the office, I decided to indulge myself with a copy of Brides and what a treat. After feasting my eyes on lots of lovely things that remind me why I love my job (and love having an excuse to read bridal magazines!), I came across some stunning dresses by Spanish designer Pepe Botella. Some of my favourites from the 2010 Mediterranean collection are below...don't they just make you want to go and get married on a beach! Why not team them with some cute corsages from Johnny Loves Rosie and keep cool with some fans from Fantastica.
Photos via webnovias.com
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.
Photo Credits
Egg Wreath and Porcelain Eggs: NOTHS
Cake, Daffodil Bouquet and Eggcups: MSW
Bridesmaid Dress: Kelsey Rose
Bride and Groom Chairs: Penny Sylvia on SMP
Flowers and Order of Service: Daria Bishop on SMP
Wedding Dress: Temperley London on Net-a-Porter
Friday, 26 March 2010
I’ve always been a bit of a fan of net-a-porter.com and I was thrilled to see the launch of their new Wedding Boutique. Full of lots of things to bring a smile to us ladies faces, ok, some of which we may need to re-mortgage our homes for but we can but dream! The boutique has some stunning wedding dresses on offer but lots of other beautiful outfits and accessories that would turn heads at lots of different events.
This really highlights our philosophy here at Aimee Dunne that weddings have moved on from many of the old clichés and are quite definitely keeping up in the fashion stakes. I thought I’d share a few of my favourites with you, you never know Christmas might come early if I wish hard enough…
