You are cordially invited...

So, with five months before we say 'I do', the invites have been printed and are laid out very neatly into piles on our lounge floor. The John Lewis Gift List inserts have also been completed, folded and ready to enclose.

We created a draft guest list pretty early on (I've always known exactly who I wanted at my wedding) but for some reason Mr Smith etc keeps creeping on in there. The numbers have steadily risen from 105 to 167 in the space of a few months. Why? Guest list politics. So, I ask you readers:

1. If you are invited to a wedding, should you invite them to yours?

2. If you are only invited to the evening reception, do you return the favour or invite them to the whole shabang?

3. If only one of you is invited to the wedding, do you cut out their wife or girlfriend out in turn?

4. If one of you (their favourite) is invited to the wedding breakfast and the other is expected to wander around a strange city alone then meet up at the evening reception, should you go at all? And should you adopt the same approach?

....and don't even get me started on children!

I have loved every second of the wedding planning process but the guest list has, by far, got to be the most difficult part. Do you split the guests 50/50 and have exactly half each, for that person to make ur their 50 however they like? Do you make rules like, only parents, siblings, aunties/uncles and first cousins? Because - that could end up with an uneven balance!

Parents involvement or lack of it also seems to cause arguments. Some who you thought would be buying the magazines and calling every few days with new bouquet ideas have been surprisingly quiet. Others who couldn't care less about cake and music have been perfectly vocal about transport and seating charts.

How are you supposed to keep everyone happy? And should you even have to make anyone ELSE happy? Most friends falls into one of two camps. a) "It's your day, its about you and Mr X, as long as you're happy no one else matters" or b) "Its a family affair, they have brought you up, contributed to the wedding budget and should have a say and be part of the day too".

Well, I have to say, I would put myself in the a) category. I just hope that if and when I have children, I'll stay out of things as much or as little as they want me to. Does it matter if you're mother of the bride or groom? If you have girls, do you automatically get to be a bigger part of the day? Either way, its not long to go, I haven't snapped at anyone yet and I think I'm doing a pretty good job of biting my tongue and improving my patience (something that Mr X tells me is sorely lacking!)

Love TM x

Ring Bearer bowls by Paloma's Nest

I don't know how many of you use Etsy regularly, but you might have noticed a company called Paloma's Nest. I first saw them by accident while looking for wedding related goodies. The website is www.palomasnest.com and I have just taken delivery of my very own Ring Bearer Bowl ("with this ring").

My plan is to have our best man hold the bowl and pass it to the Minster so that we can pluck the others' respective ring when its time to say "I do!" When the little parcel arrived today, I was so excited. Inside wrapped in thick brown paper was a tiny box with twine and a wooden heart saying "Thank You". Inside, literally in its own nest was my treasured bowl. After our wedding, I plan to keep rings, bits and bobs in mine.

The company was founded by Caroline Colom Vasquez, an artist and designer living in the vibrant city of Austin, Texas. Paloma's Nest, is dedicated to creating Handcrafted Modern Heirlooms - pieces for the home and for the heart.

The collection includes bowls, tiles, ornaments and decorative pieces and are intended to last for generations, and are thus crafted of the finest natural materials available, including porcelain and clay, wood, paper, and cloth. The inspiration for Paloma's Nest lies in the purity of the materials used, and the idea that something so simple can be so bold.

Caroline, along with her husband José and their team of artisans, strive to create items of meaning and purpose from these natural materials, while leaving the characteristics true. By adding text to the designs, written ideas, feelings, and daydreams are given a place to rest. When names and dates are added, the designs take on special meaning for the recipient and instantly become a Modern Heirloom, cherished for years to come.

Every Paloma's Nest piece - no matter the material - is hand cut, freeform, with no pattern, and every single tiny letter is hand stamped, one by one. This gives each piece its own special variation in the size, shape and layout of the text.

Paloma's Nest is most known for the conception of the Ring Bearer Bowl™, a design that debuted to much international acclaim in 2007. This tiny ceramic dish is intended to replace the ring "pillow" in a wedding celebration, and has created a new tradition in ceremonies around the world. The Ring Bearer Bowl™, which also doubles as a holiday decoration or ring dish in the home, has created a lasting standard in the modern wedding ceremony, and a new form of a family heirloom.

Over the past few years, Paloma’s Nest has evolved from a “one-woman show” to a growing company employing several full time team members. Caroline’s husband José has also joined the family business, and together the two are focused on building a fair and supportive workplace for their employees, offering a true living wage and health benefits for all.

Paloma’s Nest also believes in sharing the opportunity they have as business owners and artisans with other entrepreneurs, and thus is proud to dedicate a portion of all monthly proceeds to Kiva, in the form of micro-finance loans to start-ups around the globe.

Caroline and Jose also participate in business mentoring and consulting to share their experiences with other small companies, both locally and internationally.

By placing priority on quality and service, both in the studio and in their interactions with clients and the public, Paloma’s Nest has created a business based on respect and longevity. It is with this intention that Paloma’s Nest looks forward to creating Modern Heirlooms for you and yours, for many years to come.

The products are made in the US so the P&P is slightly more than you would have to pay in the UK but I think the overall cost is entirely reasonable. Have you ever bought from Paloma's Nest? Please do leave a comment. Love, themrs x

Friday Inspiration

Urgh, what a miserable grey day (but fret not) we have some lovely images below to brighten it up!

I just love looking at images of weddings, the dresses, flowers and all the bits in between. Here is a selection of gowns from formal, modern to vintage and traditional. What is your dress like? Have you gone for something in keeping with your normal style or something a bit different?

Please let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Love the mrs x

 

Fabulous Weddings in August

Hi everyone - I hope you're all well and enjoying what Summer we have left! Get ready because Winter will soon be on its way!

I thought I would blog today about three very different weddings in August. Firstly, the much publicised wedding of Miss Kimberley Kardashian to Kris Humphries. Filmed exclusively for their E! show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, it was always going to be a large affair with over the top details.

Kourtney, Kim and Khloe all in Vera Wang

Kim in her first (of three) Vera Wang dress "The Princess"

Second, the wedding of Petra Ecclestone, daughter of Bernie (Formula 1 mogul). Think, even bigger than Kim K's! This is the little princess of someone who could buy the Kardashians ten times over. Set in Italy (I think in the same venue as Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise).

Petra arriving at the ceremony with her Father, Bernie

Petra the morning after the ceremony in what looks like a tea party come tennis dress

Petra's sister Tamara in Vera Wang

Finally, the almost private and understated wedding of the German contingency, Georg Friedrich Ferdinand Prince of Prussia and Sophie Johanna Maria Princess of Isenburg. Not quite Kate and Wills but hey, I love a good (almost) royal wedding whoever it is!

Enjoy! Please do leave me a comment if you like any of the photos!

More cakes!

Hi everyone. 

Following the recent post about the 90th birthday cake I made for a fab lady, I thought I'd share with you two more culinary creations. One, Christening cake and a 60th birthday cake. These too took many hours of research, planning, baking and the decorating itself. 

The more I make, I do however find them easier and I am getting quicker! I still love the two main cakey ladies in my life, April Reed and Mich Turner. These are dedicated to you! x