Alternative Wedding Bouquets

From: http://www.boho-weddings.com/2011/10/07/inspiration-friday-alternative-bridal-bouquets/
Bridal Bouquets have moved on a lot in the past few years, from structured cascading arrangements to the now more unstructured, just picked look. Brides are now showing a lot more of their personality through their bouquets and moving away from flowers altogether. Some are choosing alternative bouquet ideas like recycled paper, or fabric for Eco reasons, deciding that flowers are just not for them, while others want to incorporate a Little bit of history into their bouquets by using old family jewellery or something that proves more sentimental. While other brides just want to be different and what better place to do this than in their bridal bouquet!
So I have done my research and hunted down the best of the alternative bouquets for you, believe me there were loads to choose from and unfortunately I havn’t been able to use everything that has been sent to me, other wise this post would be even longer than it is!!
So I hope you like my selection, do let me know which is your favorite!
Vintage and Crystal Bouquets
These are really popular at the moment and I’m pretty sure they are here to stay. Perfect for stylish brides who want to incorporate a vintage element into their wedding, also the perfect way to add something that holds sentimental meaning to the bride.
Debbie Carlisle Bouquets www.dcbouquets.co.uk (photo credits Emma Case)


 
Jo Barnes Vintage www.jobarnesvintage.com
  

Judith Brown Jewellery www.judithbrownjewellery.co.uk

Love Bouquets www.lovebouquets.co.uk


(Photo Credit McAvoy Photography)
Fabric/Felt
A great way to still have a flower look but with an alternative twist, Felt is hughley popular at the moment as it dosn’t fray when you cut it, so can be used for many designs
Lavender Blue Flowers  www.lavenderblueflowers.co.uk.




Felt and Buttons
Lots of designers are now incorporating buttons with felt and then using old bits of jewellery as well to create a multi media piece of art.
U and Mii www.uandmii.co.uk


Muscari Whites www.muscariwhites.co.uk (Photo credit Toast of Leeds)

Princess Laserton http://princesslasertron.com



Buttons
Buttons on their own are also very popular, losts of different sizes, colours and textures to work with, so creating a really fun bouquet.
I heart Buttons www.iheartbuttons.co.uk



Beau Buttons www.beaubuttons.co.uk photo credit (Haywood Jones Photography)



Paper
Paper makes a great substitute to flowers, you make them look completely realistic or more abstract, again like felt paper dosn’t fray so you can create different designs and lots of different colours
Sunny and Stumpy www.etsy.com/people/sunnyandstumpy


And for something completely different!
Refinerii www.etsy.com/people/REFINERII

Image sourced simply perfect weddings

Image sourced Off beat bride

Lollipop Brides www.lollipopbrides.com


Fantasy Floral Designs www.fantasyfloraldesigns.com

Image Sourced Off Beat Bride

My Ever After www.etsy.com/people/MyEverAfter

Visit the Kliq Weddings website for all your Wedding Photography and Videography needs. http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk – Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer

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Alternative Wedding Reception Ideas!

Alternative Wedding Ideas by: www.henrykaye.co.uk/Alternative-Wedding-Reception-Ideas
How many weddings have you been to where the format is: ceremony, reception, drinking, then a dance or disco for a motley crew of relatives and friends? How many times have you been steered around the floor by a beer-flushed uncle or an embarrassed teenage nephew? Do you want your own wedding to escape the tired old format?
Well, you can easily achieve that. There are many other ways to celebrate with family and friends and thank them for making the effort to join you on your special day.
For instance, go low maintenance by holding your reception in a restaurant you know and like, and troop off to the pub or wine bar afterwards. That way, everyone's relaxed and can mingle naturally, and no one will be expected to make a speech or lead the foxtrot. Or have an after-dinner area at your venue with intimate little tables, flattering lighting and a piano player in the corner, providing a medley of cool classics while you drink and chat.
Or you could have a home wedding once the knot has been tied legally elsewhere - if the sun's out and there's a garden handy, hold your own fete with picnic tables or a marquee or, if you're pushing the boat out, hire a pub beer garden (or Kew Gardens!).
But if you're keen to organise some entertainment without going the Strictly Come Dancing route, how about a karaoke session, charades, a wedding quiz or a talent show? Come on, you've always wanted to go public with your Christina Aguilera impression! Where music's concerned, you don't need to rely on a DJ. Hire a jazz quartet, a string quartet, a tribute band, or have a ceilidh or a barn dance - structured dancing often gets the party started better than a disco. See? There are lots of fun alternatives, and they'll probably create more lasting memories.
For all your Wedding day Video and Photography needs please visit the Kliq Weddings Website. http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk – Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer

http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!

Dove Barn Wedding Fayre Information

Dove Barn
Castlings Hall
Groton
Sudbury
Suffolk
CO10 5ET
11 a.m until 3p.m FREE ENTRANCE!

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http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!

Dove Barn Wedding Fayre

Come and see Kliq Weddings at the Dove Barn Wedding Fayre, this Sunday 4th March from 11 - 3.30!

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http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!

Wedding Seating Plan Ideas

The Wedding Seating Plan

I know it's something you've been trying to put off, but you are going to just have to face up to sorting out your seating plan and your top table seating plan.
Your wedding breakfast is a main feature of your wedding day and seating your guests in the correct place can make or break it.

Seating Plan - The Starting Point

First of all you should have already decided on;

• the number of guests invited to the wedding breakfast
• the venue and therefore physical size and guest capacity
• the size and shape of the top table
• the size and shape of all other tables

Knowing where you are going to have your wedding breakfast is essential for deciding upon your seating plan. The shape of the room will play a large part in determining the way in which the tables are arranged to best create a great atmosphere in the room whilst the physical size will dictate how many tables you can have and therefore how many people you sit at each table.
Remember, if the tables are spread too far apart your guests will feel very isolated at their tables. If you place the tables too close together your guests will feel uneasy and maybe claustrophobic. Too close could also leave your wedding guests without the room to extend their chairs in order for them to go and powder their nose, or go to the bar.

Ask the Venue Coordinator

Talk to the wedding or venue coordinator beforehand and ask them for advice on what works best for the number of guests you wish to invite. If you intend to have wedding entertainment during the meal, such as musicians or perhaps wedding magicians, make sure you keep your coordinator up to date with your plans, as this may also impact on the way in which the tables are arranged in the room.
The number of people you have at each table depends on how many guests you have, how many tables you have and how big the venue is. It is better to have fewer tables that are full, but not crowded, than many tables with a few people on each. If you have the luxury of space try to give everybody enough elbow room to be comfortable. If you are tight on space remember that children take less room and may help to space things out a little.

Seating your Guests

When you seat your guests try and bear the following in mind

• try and seat guests that know each other together
• avoid seating guests together that you know don't get on too well!
• seat children with their parents
• try and seat guests together who are of similar age, or have common interests
• try wherever possible to seat guests next to someone of the opposite sex, as it provides more continuity to your wedding breakfast.

There are no hard and fast rules to your seating arrangements. You should arrange your guests in a way that works best for you and offers your guests the opportunity to mingle - you can only help encourage a good atmosphere - the rest is up to your guests!

The Receiving Line

This is the order in which the guests are traditionally received. The order for the receiving line would follow ;

• The Brides Mother
• The Grooms Father
• The Grooms Mother
• The Brides Father
• The Bride
• The Groom
• The Chief Bridesmaid
• The Best Man

This, however, can be time consuming and as more and more couples break from tradition, the Bride and Groom now tend to receive their guests without the assistance of Top Table party members.
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Wedding Flower Traditions

Wedding Flowers – the Origins of the Tradition

Wedding flowers have been around for a long time. It’s hard to say exactly how long, but there are signs that it’s been a tradition since the earliest days of civilization.
Wedding flowers – the origin
The first recorded use of wedding flowers can be attributed to the Greeks. Flowers and plants would be bundled together to form a garland wreath worn upon the head, much like the better-known Caesar’s laurels. It was considered a gift of nature, and thus extremely appropriate for a wedding. Traditionally, the Greek bridesmaids would be responsible for this honor.

 The garland bouquet would often contain bulbs of garlic. This wasn’t to make the wedding smell like your grandmother’s kitchen, but instead to ward off any evil spirits that might see fit to intervene in the ceremony or curse their future together.
The tradition of wedding flowers remains to this day. We might not fashion wreaths to wear, but the meaning and appropriate nature of flowers remains the same. That’s why it’s such a great idea to provide floral gifts to a wedding couple
Wedding flowers around the world – international traditions
Wedding flowers aren’t just a Greek tradition. They’ve been adopted all around the world due to their natural beauty and wide appeal.
· Wedding flowers in Sweden – In Sweden, it was tradition for young girls to carry small bouquets of fragrant herbs down the aisle. The groom would also put thyme in his pockets. The reasons? Warding off any trolls that might decide a wedding was a perfect place to find a tasty snack.
· Wedding flowers in Germany – In Germany, the bride and groom both would hold candles that had flowers and ribbons tied to them.
· Wedding flowers in England – In England, it was tradition for the bride and her bridesmaids to proceed to the church together, led by a small girl who would sprinkle blossoms in their path to assure long life and happiness for the bride. The tradition of “flower girls” remains to this day.
Wedding flowers – a lesser known reason
Wedding flowers and fragrant herbs played another important role in weddings during Europe’s middle ages. During that time period, it was traditional to bathe only twice a year. This was due to the labor involved in preparing enough hot water for the process, as well as the rarity and expense of soap.
These bath times usually fell before Christmas, an important time of year for everyone, and during the summertime. The problem was that weddings usually took place in the spring. The result of this was that the wedding party wasn’t usually at their most fresh.
A solution was devised using floral and herbal arrangements. Herbs would be sewn or placed into the dress, and the bride would carry a large bouquet of flowers (often wearing them in her hair as well). This masked any bodily odors and made the wedding more enjoyable for both bride and groom.
Naturally, this is no longer a problem today, but these popular traditions still remain. The appeal of wedding flowers is now purely aesthetic, however, and since this has been widely accepted a great deal of effort has gone into designing new and elaborate decorations for the ceremony.
Modern uses for wedding flowers
Wedding flowers have taken off in popularity to the point where you will be hard-pressed to find a wedding that doesn’t involve them in some way. Some of the new traditions include:
· The bouquet – This is perhaps, next to the bride herself, the centerpiece of the entire ceremony. A great deal of science has gone into developing a system of matching the blooms present in the bouquet with the season, with physical attributes of the bride, and with the location of the ceremony itself.
· The corsage – Another popular component of most modern dresses is the corsage. Worn about the wrist, it is usually designed to match the dress and bouquet.
· The boutonniere – This is a male tradition. Originally, flowers would be pushed through the buttonhole of a jacket, but nowadays it’s proper for the groom to have the boutonniere pinned to his left lapel. It’s also appropriate for it to match the bride’s corsage and bouquet.
· Table centerpiece – Perfect for the reception ceremony, an extravagant centerpiece on each table leaves guests with nothing but fond memories. It’s now standard practice to include these in every reception.
Conclusion
Wedding flowers are steeped in history and will likely remain tradition for many years to come. If you’re looking for an appropriate gift for a couple, and feel that a toaster or wine glass set is too impersonal, a gift of wedding flowers will always be appreciated. Delivery right to ceremony or the home of the newlyweds is one way to ensure they are able to enjoy your thoughtful contribution

For all your Wedding day Video and Photography needs please visit the Kliq Weddings Website. http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

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Asian Wedding Traditions

There is something inherently mysterious and romantic about Asia…the mysterious Far East. And when it comes to weddings, the rich diversity of Asian cultures, traditions and religions makes for a wide variety of colorful and fascinating wedding customs.

In the land of the rising sun

In Japan, for instance, purple is the color of love and a young bride may choose to wear an elaborately-embroidered silk kimono covered in purple iris-flowers. Weddings are traditionally either Shinto, during which the natural spirits, the kami, are called upon to bless the couple, or it might be a Buddhist ceremony during which two strings of beads are interwoven, symbolizing the joining of two families into one.

The dragon and the phoenix

Chinese traditions held that the gift of a whole roast pig given by the groom’s family to the bride’s family was an appropriate engagement gift. The traditional wedding gown in China is bright red, symbolizing luck for the new couple. Chinese bridal gowns are traditionally adorned with elaborate golden phoenixes, chrysanthemums and peonies, symbols of wealth and good fortune. The groom traditionally wears a black silk coat over a robe embroidered with a dragon, and you can expect loud firecrackers at a Chinese wedding to scare off evil spirits.

The reception that goes on and on...

In Indonesia it is not uncommon for more than 1,000 guests to be invited to the wedding reception and it is customary for the bride and the groom to greet each guest in a long receiving line before the reception festivities can begin.

May good fortune always be yours.

In Korea it is traditional for a fortune-teller, known as a kung-hap, to look into the couple’s future before they are married in order to see if they will live harmoniously together. A harmonious union is very important since the engagement gifts alone for a traditional Korean wedding can cost upwards of $40,000.

A three-day wedding ceremony.

An early Filipino custom required the groom to throw a spear into the front steps of his intended-bride’s home. This was a dramatic symbol to everyone that she had been spoken for. Today this tradition has been replaced with a gold engagement ring. Today the majority of Filipino weddings are Catholic, but in days gone by a Filipino wedding lasted three days, with ceremonies performed each day until the third day when the couple joined hands and declared their love for each other three times and their hands were bound together with a chord and the priest declared them married.

The journey of a lifetime begins with milk and water.

In India and other countries with a Hindu culture it is considered bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other for several days before the wedding. As part of the marriage ceremony the bride’s parents wash the couple’s feet with milk and water as a symbol of purifying them for the journey of their new life together. As part of the ceremony the couple holds in their hands grains of rice and oats and green leaves, signifying wealth, good health and happiness.

Many cultures, many traditions with but a single goal: to unite two hearts into one.

Many Asian cultures, many traditions, but all are centered around the basic concept of a new beginning, a new journey down the path of life together, hand in hand, filled with love and a new commitment of two hearts joined forever as one.

For all your Wedding day Video and Photography needs please visit the Kliq Weddings Website. http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk – Leading Essex/UK Wedding Photographer

http://www.vintagethemewedding.co.uk/ - Everything you need to organise and plan your Vintage or Theme Wedding!