‘There’s always a place for something fabulous in one’s life’ is the concept behind Very Fabulous, the new online boutique for lovely accessories and gifts for weddings, birthdays, hen parties and so much more!

Every Bride, (or at least, I like to think the kind of brides that like to read RMW) is looking for that special something to make their wedding totally and utterly personal. You want to really make your wedding reflect you as a couple, look completely pretty and totally fabulous. So when I saw Very Fabulous, I couldn’t help but think… ‘our readers would LOVE this!’

Very Fabulous is the brainchild of 2 very well regarded wedding industry specialists, Kim Neville (of The Pink Pumpkin) and Cindy Kirkland. With 15 years experience between them of making bride styling ideas come to life, the pair are well placed to develop a dream shopping destination for brides looking for that perfect finishing touch.

The stock is varied, from uber pretty votives to hanging accessories, and finishing touches to more retro-vintage accessories, statement signs and standout designs; there’s sure to be somehting that you will just have to have for your wedding day dressing.

And even better, it’s not all about the details (and when have you ever heard me say that before?!) Very Fabulous has some super pretty accessories in the range that include handbags and glad rags, (read necklaces and hair accessories) that are just perfect to pretty up your w-day ensemble.

Special Offer for RMW Readers

Feeling a tad patriotic with the Royal Wedding coming up?

Well, Very Fabulous are offering the first 25 RMW readers a free Wills and Kate Tote when you place your order with Very Fabulous and Quote code VF030 at the checkout.

Happy shopping and Happy Friday readers,

Yours Truly,

Rebecca
xoxo

My absolute favourite part of my job, without question, is meeting couples and planning their wedding cupcakes. I love to hear about the wedding plans of the couples that visit me. (What can I say, after my own wedding nearly 2 years ago, I have to get my wedding planning fix where I can!) I really enjoy helping them dream up something fabulously different, that’s a reflection of their unique wedding day.

Introducing the DIY Fairy Godmother of Cupcakes…

Last year, I started to get emails from brides asking for advice, often where they or their Mum or a friend were going to bake their wedding cupcakes for them. They wanted to know when to bake the cakes? How much time would it all take? How to decorate the cakes? How would they transport the cakes safely? After answering these emails, I was always left with this niggling feeling of worry about these brides and their Mums panicking in a cloud of icing sugar the day before their wedding, who wants that?!

We’re happy to bring any of the workshops to you for groups of 6 or more (and we do the washing up!)

The Blue Door Top 5 D.I.Y. Tips

1. Practice well before the big day. Don’t wait until the day before to find out that you are unsure how to roll sugarpaste or are a bit wobbly piping vintage rose style icing.

5. Finally, don’t take on too much yourself. The day before your wedding is so special, don’t tire yourself out! Ask for help from trusted friends or family.

Genius! What a brilliant idea for a hen party or for you and your mum/maids to make sure you are totally ready and prepared to bake up a cupcake storm!

Thank you so much to Sarah for so generously sharing her wisdom and make sure you check out the Blue Door Bakery if you’re in need of some DIY tuition, or if you just want the stress taken away and the cupcakes making for you! I think I’m having palpitations here about the chocolate spectaculars up there!

Are you having cupcakes for your big day?

Yours Truly,

Rebecca
xoxo

However, the subject of todays post landed in my inbox and made me go ‘Ooooooh!’…

…So I showed it to Charlotte who said ‘Ooohhh, I like!’ and here it is…. Bedcrumb.

Vintage inspired Favours

Bedcrumb make sweeter than sweet bridal favours and I think these totally rock. Whether you are having a vintage inspired affair with a tea party theme or want a touch of retro glamour for the ladies, definitely check them out.

The Vintage Tea Cup Treat is ‘an individually sourced vintage tea cup, filled with scrumptious pink and white marshmallows in champagne net, all tied up with a vintage fabric bow and pretty rose flower trim and complete with bedcrumbs signature ‘Dot’ doll tag. They are finished with a rippled paper message “Thank you for helping us celebrate our special day,” which can be personalised with own special greeting. Each vintage cup and vintage fabric bow combination will be as unique as your carefully choosen guests!’

At £5 each if you order more than 15, my first thought was that these are luxe favours but then it occurred to me that many Brides hire crockery or tableware for their guests when having tea party or vintage themed affairs and after checking with the lovely Heidi at Bedcrumb, these cute teacups would do double duty, saving you money!

And how cute are these mirrors? I’m thinking they would make fabulous gifts for your best girls… ‘Each large pocket mirror comes in its own special ivory and champagne net pouch, tied with ribbon and complete with bedcrumbs signature ‘Dot’ doll tag. There are over 15 different original bridal illustrations to choose from, select all the same to co-ordinate with your special day or choose a selection as unique as your carefully choosen guests!’

Honeymoon treats

Now of course every bride wants to look her best on honeymoon and these passport holders and sunglasses cases are just the think for adding a touch of quirky cool to your carry on.

In several different designs to suit any Newly-weds sense of style, I just love the graphic sketches used to illustrate these pieces.

Fancies for any day of the week

Not a Bride? No Honeymoon to plan? Well do not fear, because neither am I and there’s still plenty to find on Bedcrumb to tickle your fancy!

With Greetings Cards, Purses, Make-up bags or even tea cosies and silk scarves, all with the same sense of humour and kooky designs, Bedcrumb is your present finder solution for all your hard to buy for girlfriends and maybe even a treat stop for yourself??!

Head over to the Bedcrumb site to have a little look around and see if you can find some pieces of pretty to purchase!

Yours Truly,

Rebecca
xoxo

Now this isn’t a new thing – I discovered Amy Atlas well over a year ago in Elegant Bride magazine ( yes I went to Borders and bought all the American bridal publications too so intense was my quest for unique W-day ideas). BUT at the time I glossed over it in a very “It is so magazine-worthy I could never pull that off I’ll just put it in my scrapbook and dream about it” kind of way.

Hoorah for a little bit more of a “Can do” approach after so much more experience in blogland then.

Because actually I think some of these designs although stunningly spectacular can be tweeked, refined and simplified to make your very own D.I.Y version.

White Out

Gorgeous right?

And would work with ANY colour palette or theme. The balloons are a huge feature and so cheap and easy to replicate, as for flowers rather than this abundance of medium bunches consider white tulips or anemones in bud vases ( I recently bought some plain ivory numbers from Sainsbury’s for £1 each, they also had a mocha/latte shade and a sky blue)

As for the goodies well the world is your oyster – just make them pale and interesting. I’m thinking home made cupcakes with butter cream frosting and a selection of white chocolate truffles. Check out your local Thorntons or go on-line to Hotel Chocolat for inspiration and then if you fancy it….make your own using these fancy moulds.

If you fancy offering straws for lemonade ( or more likely cocktails) then labels can be made from any pretty paper and adhered with double sided tape. I like the idea of cute W-day messages like “I Do” and “Mr and Mrs”.

Citrus Chic

Is anyone having a yellow and black colour palette? soooo unbelievably cool.

I’m thinking bright bon bons, sherbert lemons and a whole load of other zesty type confectionary. Um and how amazing do those licorice allsorts look??

Oh and you can’t beat a canary coloured gerbera for impact….or a lovely daffodil if your Big Day is in the spring ( long lasting, excellent quality and dirt cheap from M & S at the moment) and this is an ideal vase ( not to mention a £9 bargain) to display them in.

Perfect Pink

Possibly my favourite of the lot.

Cover thick card or foam board with polka dot prettiness and pin on some mini bags of sugary delight – I am very much in love with this heart print design

Nothing cuter than spelling out what’s on offer with cookie letters either. Go here for the perfect heart shaped cutters if you want to make it all about the L.O.V.E

Oh and candy canes too. I am a sucker for a stripe. And these cupcake boxes? – DIVINE.

So then…..I’m just wondering if anyone else is creating their own sweet table and what unique ideas you have up your D.I.Y sleeves.

I would LOVE to see someone have a good crack at one of these beauties.

Go check out Amy Atlas’s blog for even more inspiration and AMAZING recipes.

Big Sugar and Spice Love

Charlotte xxx

Just REALLY love cake.

Question is – what about if you don’t?

What about if the thought of spending a small fortune on a 3 tier W-day extravaganza brings you out in a cold sweat…. or just the thought of anything with sponge and buttercream leaves you well…..bored.

How about a tiered “cheese” cake then? Hmmmm probably seen a few of those already right?

Well how about ( just like the fabulous WINTER WEDDING we featured last week) you have a whole help-yourself-to-deliciousness cheese table. Much like the very popular “dessert” or “sweet” tables we see popping up all over the place. Just instead you swap the sugary stuff for a whole bunch of different varieties of the savory dairy delights….

Simples.

And true to form Rock My Wedding has found some total eye candy perfection for all you fromage lovers over on the BEAUTIFUL Sunday Suppers blog. Seriously if I went to a wedding and they had something like this on offer I would be majorly impressed.

And headed straight for the Wensleydale with cranberries.

Who thought cheese could look so darn pretty?

And not so difficult to achieve I might add. Source cake/cheeses stands from any tableware hire shops ( I actually found a great similar plain white one at Sainsburys for a fiver), chose your varieties of cheese to suit you from the supermarket or your local farmers market and make cute signs until your hearts content.

On this particular Sunday Suppers number they used pieces of fruit to decorate – I am totally loving the pears and cherries. You could use pretty much anything you fancied too from some exotic kiwi and star fruit to the more traditional red and green grapes.

We’re all about taking a great idea and then stamping your unique style all over it…. as you know.

Maybe you don’t fancy a whole go-to table and instead would prefer individual cheese plates for your guests. Well Sunday Suppers have that covered too. I’m thinking especially fabulous on long tressle tables for your tent/tipi/marquee. Adore the table runners and the personalised cheese menu’s…..

Boy am I a sucker for a white tulip.

Simple. Chic. Gorgeous.

As is the entire Sunday Suppers Blog. It is my new “lose yourself within” piece of interweb heaven.

Anyone forgoing cake for something a little bit different?

Do let us know.

Big oh-so-savoury Love

Charlotte xxx

Its a part of wedding planning that splits Brides down the middle… what to do about the cake? For some it’s not a priority in where to spread the dough, but for others nothing but a show stopping cake will do.

If that’s you, or in fact if (like me,) you just love eating cake, then read on and enjoy.

Daisy Hill Cake Company based in Thornton Hough on the Wirral make cakes of every look and variety possible. No frumpy split tier cakes on old fashioned chrome stands here thank you!

With mouthwatering fillings such as Very Lemony Lemon, Chocolate Aphrodisiac, Chocolate velvet (with Baileys cream) and French Vanilla (with Champagne, Strawberry and Buttercream), there is sure to be a flavour to please the most discerning of cake-aholics!

They don’t just do tiered cakes either, towers of cupcake deliciousness or stacks of mini individual cakes all are catered for, with bespoke a speciality.

I think I might have to go and lie down.

All these cake flavours have left me dehydrated from dribbling in anticipation.

If you are of a stronger constitution than mine, check out Daisy Hill Cake Company for your cake needs. Be warned, the wedding force is strong with these ones!

Yours Truly,

Contra
xoxo

The Biscuiteers are as the name suggests INCREDIBLE biscuit designers and makers, based in London but delivering all over the UK your request for unique favours or a big “thank you” to someone special is easy peasy.

The biscuit collections arrive in a super cute decorated tin or you can order a single “card” with a personalised message piped directly onto your piece of delicious.

Brilliant.

Oh and here are some make-your-mouth-water type pictures:

Favours for the ladies – Vintage Hearts and Killer Heels

Favours for the little ones – Creepy Crawlies and Cupcakes

A little something sweet for yourself – Hotpants ( LOVE this!) and the Paris collection

The mini collections are £26.50 and the standard collections are £37.50- £38.50, all tins include from 9 to 16 biscuits depending on design and size.

I’m thinking a few of these displayed on a dessert table would be absolutely A.mazing.

Be sure to check out www.biscuiteers.com for lots of other tasty treats…..

Just off to enjoy a cup of tea and a hobnob – this post has made me indulge in some serious Friday night dunking

Charlotte xxx

Quite a newish “requirement” in the world of Weddingville I believe and from my blog and bridal research it seems that more often than not they are considered a right pain in the backside.

I mean do guests actually appreciate them?

And even if they do initially don’t they often get left behind?

Are they just another unneccessary cost in the endless sea of out-of-control expenditure that can sometimes be the result of planning a Big day?

Hmmm. I’m firmly on the fence with this one.

I think if you make something yourself so it’s a really personal gift or you genuinely find something that you simply adore and you feel it would add a little bit of extra pizazz to your day then of course – GO FOR IT.

Otherwise well….I really wouldn’t make it a priority.

If you are on the look out though I did have a little bit of luck on my weekend jaunt to John Lewis – I found some cute bits and pieces that if I were a guest I would love to receive.

The first one being chocolate – I mean really who can resist? especially when it is courtesy of one of the Masters of boutique treats – Hotel Chocolat

Tiddly Pots – great for tiny tots but equally enjoyable for adults ( I know I’ve tried them) , pretty heart-shaped lollipops ( save the pink for the girls) and my absolute fave – the “little box of love” in “Deeply” filled with 2 tiny slabs of deliciousness.

And yes they also do “Truly” and “Madly” AND…..they currently have an offer on of 3 for 2 on-line making them only £1.50 per item.

The second find was from the Queen Bee of floral fancy Madam Cath Kidston, – now addmittedly these are undoubtedly feminine options but absolute perfection for any vintage-inspired affair.

Mini “make my jacket extra pretty” badges, rose-scented soaps in gorgeous wrapping for just over £1.00 and a total dolly mixture of a compact mirror – just £1.50 and available in a few different pastel shades.

Would love to know what favours everyone is making, buying or considering and if you liked any of my selections today….

Hotel Chocolat and Cath Kidston both available at selected John Lewis stores.

Charlotte xxx

Eating it that is. 

Was never keen on traditional wedding cakes though I have to admit, mainly due to the fact that they were often laden with currants and lemon rind ( sorry fruit fans…) so I am more than thrilled that these days there are so many alternatives on offer.

In fact why even have a cake at all? As long as whatever you chose looks and tastes delicious I’m sure your guests will love it and certainly appreciate the originality. 

With cakes in mind ( let’s face it they are never exactly far from my mind) I have been checking out what tasty treats are over on Martha Stewart and have picked out a selection of favourites for you to admire. 

From the left….. a fabulous tower or iced doughnuts, a selection of pies ( peach, blueberry, cherry, rhubarb…..so many varieties) and a trio of chocolate rasberry supremes (chocolate mousse wrapped in a band of tempered chocolate and topped with raspberry coulis).

I really think so many dessert options can be made to look totally chic by displaying them on a raised cake stand and adorning with ribbons, lace or any other decorative item of your choice

From left……. loving the flag adorned cupcakes ( more on flag making below), various desserts served on tiered platters and my absolute favourite ….monogrammed “chocolate-espresso charlottes” (!) The possibilities of iced piped loveliness for these beauties is endless. 

Anyway as I was saying…… flag making…..

As there’s nothing like making your wedding cake a shining example of uniqueness by adding a bit of D.I.Y decoration.

Flag Making Option One:

1) White sticky labels (various sizes) – fold in half around one end of a cocktail stick to create your flag – cut off ends to achieve your desired size.

2) Decorate with stickers – paperchase have a good selection of tiny ones perfect for this…. or maybe even some fancy handwriting ( if you or someone you know has handwriting that is well….quite fancy) 

Flag Making Option Two:

1) Decorative paper/wrapping paper/any pretty paper that you love – cut to desired size/shape to fold around a cocktail stick, place a piece of double sided sticky tape along the length of the paper and fold together – being careful to place the cocktail in the centre of the paper so everything fits together nicely…. you may want to consider lots of different flags or tying in your choice of paper with your colour scheme/flowers etc.

And here are some we made earlier…. ( not sure I would be awarded a blue peter badge but I’m thinking at least an 8 out of 10 for effort)