Winter Wedding Flowers

We wanted to share with you a fabulous website we found for inspirational wedding flower ideas. Wedding flowers can be difficult to choose, there are many options and styles to choose from depending on the time of year you are getting married. It is much more cost effective to use flowers which are in season when you get married. Otherwise out of season flowers can be expensive and eat into your budget.

As we are now in winter, we are focusing on winter wedding flowers, but on the website, information on other seasons can be found.

Choosing your flowers by their season is a wonderful way to theme your day. Be inspired by the seasonal countryside for your Winter Wedding Flowers and find a sensational choice of colours, scents and styles. By choosing flowers that are in season you can create a truly timeless and connected feel for your celebration with flowers that evoke the romance of the season.

Many flowers are now imported so are available all year round but if you'd like to include seasonal blooms in your wedding flowers you may like to consider our choice for winter weddings below:

Flowers in Season for a Winter Wedding

Amaryllis, Anemone, Camellias, Catkins, Cosmos,Cymbidium Orchid, Dogwoods, Eucalyptus, Eucharis, Fruiting Ivy, Heather, Hellebores, Iris, Ivy Berries, Paperwhite Narcissi, Pussy Willow,Ranunculus, Rosehips, Rosemary, Snowdrops, Twisted Willow.

Winter Wonderland with Romantic Cosmos:
Delicate cosmos make an unusual and stunning winter wedding bouquet. Cosmos come in a wide variety of colours including red, carmine, pink, white, orange, yellow. You can also find the Chocolate Cosmos which is a deliciously exotic flower with rich, velvety brown blooms, chocolate cosmos have a wonderful sweet scent of vanilla and chocolate. This posy style bouquet would be simple, elegant and pretty for a formal style wedding.Snapdragon Garden Flowers specialize in using cut flowers grown in their own cutting garden.

Winter Door Arch:
Create the right first impression by decorating the entrance way to your celebration with wonderful winter foliage. Eucalyptus, twisted willow and ivy would give a festive feel to an intimate informal country style wedding. Catkin Flowers are passionate about natural seasonal flowers and about producing flowers in a sustainable way in their own cutting garden.

Wonderful Winter Blooms: The delicate and pretty Anemone is available in a variety of lovely bright colours such as red, purple and pink with pretty fern like foliage - just perfect for adding a bright splash of colour to bouquets and flower arrangements. Pure white Calla Lily have an elegant and almost architectural form making them incredibly versatile. They can be arranged on their own in simple classic hand-tied bouquet for a stunning elegant effect or they can be mixed with other flowers such as roses. Available from overseas all year round and British Grown from late October through to late June in a fabulous spectrum of colours from pure white, yellow, deep pink and purples through to rich black.

Ravishing Ranunculus:
Ranunculus offer an amazing array of lovely colours from yellow and white through to hot rich colours such as red, pink and orange. Their densely packed petals look pretty and they are perfect for using on their own or as part of a mixed bouquet with other flowers.

Splendid Winter Beauty:
Amaryllis come in a variety of colours from pure white through to scarlet. Four or five large trumpet shaped flowers top a tall leafless stem to form a flamboyant bloom that would be perfect for creating a dramatic centrepiece. Snapdragon Garden Flowersspecialize in using cut flowers grown in their own cutting garden.

When choosing your florist here are a couple of points to remember:

© Ask to see their portfolio, all good florists will have a image book of their previous wedding work.

© Ask to see their testimonials, do they have thank you cards or letters from previous couples they have worked with.

© Ask your married friends, a wedding planner or wedding forums for recommendations. The best recommendation is from word of mouth!

© If they have a shop, is it clean, tidy and can you see they have an inspiration streak from their ready made flower bouquets.

Supplier Spotlight: Weddings in Surrey

Weddings in Surrey is a fantastic concept, it is a one stop shop for finding all your wedding suppliers in the Surrey area.

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A Wedding in Surrey website is a fantastic concept for the bride & groom who want a one stop supplier website, how does the website work?

Couples planning weddings are increasingly turning to the Internet to gather ideas and plan their weddings. It really is an incredible source of easily accessible information. Weddings in Surrey gives access to engaged couples to all the planning tools they need to start preparing for their wedding, together with a directory of reliable and recommended suppliers.

Wedding service vendors and suppliers can also showcase their company on our site by taking a listing. We are unique in that each listing has its own unique page to fully describe the business, together with images and web links. Our directory advertising rates cater for every budget, ranging from a basic free listing to an advertorial.

What are the benefits of couples using Weddings in Surrey website?

Weddings in Surrey is designed for couples who live in Surrey or are planning to get married in Surrey and its surrounding areas. The site is kept fresh with the latest wedding news and sales offers. Our visitors do not have to wade through a nationwide directory to get the results they want. The most popular categories of Venues and Bridal wear categories are also categorised by town, making is even easier to source your enquiries.

There are free download wedding planning tools to help keep couples on budget and on track. There is also a Plan the Day section with heaps of advice, tips and tricks and ideas to plan the perfect wedding day.

Tell us more about yourself and how you set the business up?

The idea came to me when I was planning my own wedding. My husband and I decided to get married on the Welsh border and we lived in Surrey. The whole wedding was organised through the Internet. Through searching I found a venue, florist, hair and make-up artist and entertainment. We only made two visits to the area before the big day!

My background is in I.T. and Marketing and by marrying’ the two together Weddings in Surrey was launched. The decision was to not create a nationwide directory but to concentrate on one county to create a niche for our visitors and advertisers. We have become incredibly successful after just one year, returning results on wedding searches on the first page of Google and attracting thousands of visitors every month.

What is the most satisfying thing about running a Wedding in Surrey website?

Being involved in the wedding business is an incredibly happy place to be. It gives me a lot of pleasure to write about weddings, and see the latest wedding trends and hear from happy couples who have had an amazing day. It’s fabulous to be able to use my creative skills in marketing the website and returning amazing results for our advertisers.

What are your top tips for couples getting married in 2010/2011?

Plan, plan, plan. Decide on your budget, add a 10% contingency and Stick To It! Do consider using a wedding planner to take the stress out of the day. They often negotiate discounts with suppliers, thereby passing on the savings to you. If budget is tight, consider what things you can do yourselves. You may have friends and family who have skills you can use. Decide on your ‘Dream Team’ of reliable people who will help you through the wedding planning process.

Thank you to Pamela for taking the time to answer our questions.

*Pamela at Weddings in Surrey*

http://www.weddingsinsurrey.co.uk

info@weddingsinsurrey.co.uk

Top 25 ways to save money on your wedding celebration…

The Wedding Daze understands that weddings are expensive. But with these cost cutting tips, you can ensure that your wedding day won’t break the bank.

Reception

1. Cut the guest list. This will slash your catering costs, save on invitations and even the number of centerpieces. Don’t invite the great aun

tie and uncle that you haven’t seen for years!

2. Think off-peak season and save thousands! Many wedding venues offer discount for getting married mid-week or off-peak (such as October/November time).

3. Skip the Saturday wedding – always the most expensive option!

4. Have bigger tables so you need fewer centerpieces and tablecloths. Your guests will enjoy the additional company!

5. Shop the off-season for extra decor -- get modern black vases on sale after Halloween and pretty pink ones after Valentine's Day. Plan in advance and always keep an eye of for a bargain. This helps to spread the cost over the time running up to your wedding day.

Flowers

6. Swap out costly flowers -did you know peonies can be five times more expensive than roses?

7. Stick to just one or two kinds of flowers.

8. Buy flowers that are in season.

9. Include non-florals, like lanterns or feathers.

Food & Drink

10. Have a buffet or BBQ instead of a sit down meal. This will cut thousands from your food bill, as the most expensive things at a wedding can be the venue and the catering.

11. Offer one drink such as beer, wine, or a signature cocktail instead of a full bar.

12. Skip the champagne toast or simply toast with the drinks that are already on the table.

Cakes

13. Order a small one or two-tiered cake to cut and then have a larger basic cake in the kitchen ready to serve for desert.

14. Keep the add-ons simple. Use fresh flowers, not sugar ones.

15. Reuse ceremony flowers for the cake and the present table.

Stationery & Favors

16. Get single-page invites to save on postage.

17. Give out one favor per couple or get charity favors – Oxfam do a great selection.

18. Make your cake the favors.

19. Email your save-the-dates or set up a Facebook group and keep your friends up to date on your wedding plans.

20. Make your own menu cards, name setting & table names.

Get creative – visit your local Hobbycraft store.

Photography & Music

21. Have a photographer you love but can't afford the prices? Ask them if they have an associate shooter who will do your wedding for less.

22. Ask for off-peak discounts or have alternative photography such as rock the dress shoot!

23. Opt for a smaller band or a solo singer.

24. Hire a band or DJ who can do both the ceremony and the reception.

25. Ensure your DJ plays your style of music, give them a comprehensive play list before hand and make sure they stick to it!

Before you begin to plan your wedding, sit down with your partner and decide what are the most important aspects of your wedding that you would like to allocate your budget to. This varies from couple to couple and depends on your personality and style. Important factors too many are the venue, the wedding dress and the photography. Decide between you which aspects of your wedding you would like to spend the most money on. So if you are a fashion conscious couple, then your wedding attire may get a large chunk of the budget or if you into amateur photographer you may want a stunning album and photographs to remember your day by – the choice is yours, remember it is your day.

Benefits of using a wedding planner...

Delegate the details.....

It is a daunting and time consuming task organising a wedding celebration. With commitments such as work, running a home and looking after children, it is hard to find the time to do it all and plan the wedding day of your

dreams.

Benefits of using a wedding planner are:

• Reduce the stress level and time it takes to plan a wedding.

• Experienced in organising weddings and events.

• Can see the wedding from both the bride and grooms point of view.

• Help set a realistic budget and stick to it.

• Knowledgeable in the venue you have chosen.

• Are creative and can set a unique theme for your wedding day.

• Excellent network of recommended wedding suppliers, negotiate preferential

rates which are passed directly onto you.

• Advise on wedding etiquette.

• Look after family and friends on your wedding day.

• Co-ordinate your wedding day to ensure it runs smoothly and to time.

Hiring The Wedding Daze to plan your wedding day, gives you the reassurance that we have every single detail covered and that your wedding day will be a once in a life time experience that will be truly unforgettable.

Memorable events don’t just happen – they are planned by The Event Daze….

Run by Vincent & Emma, The Event Daze can help you to plan and design your ideal event. No matter what type of occasion you wish to host, we can ensure that your event is planned especially for you and your requirements. Such events we can be involved in are, corporate parties, product launches, fashion shows, gala dinners, conferences, workshops, award ceremonies, themed nights and networking events.

Our level of involvement in the planning process is chosen by you. The services you may find key to planning your event are

venue searching

supplier sourcing

theme design

guest organisation

event management service

By delegating the planning to us, we can help you turn your ideas and creativity into reality, letting you have the perfect event for you and your guests to enjoy.

Contact us to discuss your event requirements further and delegate the details to The Event Daze.

Based in South Yorkshire we cover Barnsley, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Rotherham, Sheffield, Derbyshire and the surrounding area.

Papakata – Beautiful tents for amazing events…

Last weekend, The Wedding Daze went along to York to the Papakata Open Day. Papakata specialise in hiring out Kata tents - these teepee style tents were pioneered by the Sami people of Lapland.

In Papakata's own words

‘They're utterly gorgeous, and

make for a very different sort of party space than a run-of-the-mill marquee’.

This is indeed true, upon arrival to the open day we were wowed by the grand and instant impact of the teepee tents. The teepee tents are like no wedding venue we have seen before; they are truly stunning and completely bespoke to suit your unique wedding day. The teepee tent makes the perfect outdoor and indoor combination for your wedding day celebrations.

The facts…

Each teepee holds up to 100 guests for a party and 70 guests for a sit down dinner, teepee tents are then put together to suit your numbers and style. So if you would like a blessing in the teepee, a sit down meal or a dance floor – the teepee is built to suit your individual needs.

The atmosphere…

If you choose a stunning teepee tent to host your wedding day, you want to ensure the inside is just as stunning. The Papakata open day showed that the inside of a teepee tent is just as stunning as the outside, the interior was snug, warm and inviting! A large log fire glowed in the middle of the tent, creating an inviting atmosphere, wooden benches with cushions and fur rugs were comfortable and unimposing. The tables were set up for a wedding breakfast, beautiful crockery from Harrogate based company, Vintage Tea Chest perfectly accompanied the teepee style. The teepee also has a chill out area, comfy sofas, rugs and cushions allowed you to relax next to the snug fire pit.

The planning…

The extras for your wedding day, such as catering, bar, entertainment and venue styling can all be hired individually and made to suit your personal requirements. It is worth remembering that holding a teepee wedding takes a lot of pre wedding planning. All the extras need to be booked

and brought together to ensure your wedding day runs smoothly and to plan. But once the whole event is planned, it will be truly stunning and memorable – making your wedding stand out and be amazing!

Happy planning

Vincent & Emma x

http://www.papakata.co.uk/

http://www.thevintageteachest.co.uk/

Eco Friendly Weddings - Oxfam wedding favours & gift lists

This weekend I went to the National Wedding Show at the NEC in Birmingham with Helen from PH Weddings. Based in Sheffield, PH Weddings offer fabulous, informal and stylish photography which will capture your special day, providing a life time of memorable images.

The National Wedding Show is the largest wedding fayre of its kind in the UK. It takes place both in Birmingham at the NEC and also in London at Earls Court. It could be classed as a one stop shop for all your wedding day purchases!

One supplier product that particularly stood out was Oxfam, at first glance this is perhaps not your typical wedding supplier. But as a wedding planner, I am always looking for quirky wedding ideas. This is one such idea, and I wanted to share it with you.

The charity Oxfam is offering couples the chance to have a wedding list and favours with a twist, whilst allowing you to help the charity on your wedding day. This is a great idea, the concept is unique and it helps the charity fund its work in Brazil, Pakistan, Ghana – the gifts are spread over 60 countries. With eco and green weddings becoming more popular and couples sourcing low carbon suppliers or products, this is a great compliment to any such style wedding.

Oxfam gift list, here is how it works…

Create a wedding or civil partnership list unlike any other with Oxfam Unwrapped. You could go for a couple of goats. Plant the perfect community garden. Or maybe even kit out a whole classroom or two. Whatever’s on your list, every single gift is guaranteed to make a big difference way beyond your big day.

All the shopping happens online so you can set up your list in just a few clicks. You can even personalise your list page with a photo and a message to all your guests.

Once you’re registered, we’ll send you a set of gift list cards to include with your invitations. Or if you’re going paperless, there’s a nifty email widget you can use instead. Then simply watch your decidedly different gifts come rolling in.

Finally, after your wedding we’ll send you a special memento pack, including the complete list of who’s bought what. So you’ll never forget the difference you and your guests made on your special day.

Oxfam unforgettable favours, here is how it works…

Want to give your guests a little something, but had enough of sugared almonds? Our wedding favour packs make it easy to add something a little different to your day. Guaranteed to raise a smile, these favours will be helping to make a big difference on your big day.

Each pack buys an amazing list of world-changing gifts from the Oxfam Unwrapped catalogue and comes complete with 50 assorted table cards in eight different designs. They make the perfect place settings, guaranteed to raise a smile and get those tables talking.

Give Oxfam Unwrapped wedding favours your own twist. You could buy your bridesmaids a bag of seeds each from Oxfam Unwrapped and pot-up a seedling to go with them. One couple, Chris and Claire Gill, bought each table a different gift and made matching jigsaw puzzle place names. The possibilities are endless. Use our gifts as your inspiration to create something completely unique to you.

Other fabulous Oxfam ideas….

Oxfam has ten bridal departments across the UK, all of which offer a warm welcome, specialist advice and a wide selection of bridal wear and accessories. Many dresses are donated by designers, so you can buy the wedding dress of your dreams for much less that you would expect. A smaller range is also available online.

And after your wedding day, why not donate your wedding dress to Oxfam, allowing the charity to continue its good work and also letting another bride feel as fabulous as you did on your wedding day!

Happy planning,

Emma x

Wedding Planner
The Wedding Daze

Eco & green wedding friendly websites

http://www.ecowedding.org

http://www.eco-friendlyweddings.co.uk

http://www.greatgreenwedding.com