Out with the Old, in with the New

We're really busy at the moment, getting out what seems like hundreds of samples to all the brides that saw us at the National Wedding Show and the local fairs.

But, I personally am feeling jaded, what with the clocks going back and the darker evenings; not quite into Christmas cheer yet, but the fast deadlines of summer weddings now gone.

It would be easy now just to hibernate; oh how I would love to do that - just hide now until March, just sleeping under my 13 tog duvet! Can't even make a decision on which holiday hubby and I should go on - so any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Mandie is on a good vibe only mood, and sat happily shredding files from 2003 onwards - oh the cringing at some of the designs we did!

So tomorrow more clearing out of the workroom and then onto the shop display area - maybe we should hire a skip!

Watch this space ... maybe it will clear our minds for new designs.

Envelopments - the real home of pocketfold invitations

We are pleased to announce that we have renewed our licence with Envelopments, who are the leading supplier of quality pocketfold invitations. This enables us to continue to supply high quality product to our brides, along with offering them support in designing their perfect wedding invitations and stationery.

This will be our seventh year with Envelopments, and their popularity has grown immensely - to the extent that they are being copied by far inferior products in the UK. Envelopments isn't just about being able to supply beautiful patterns by Anna Griffin; it's also about a design concept. It's about putting different colours, textures, patterns, fonts and graphics together and creating a perfect image for your wedding or event.

Look at the beautiful colours of Ashley's wedding http://www.envelopments.com/mixandmatch/featuredrecipe/Wedding/118/Ashley--Alan.aspx - with the typography and graphics making it unique.

The subtleness of Gabrielle's wedding http://www.envelopments.com/mixandmatch/featuredrecipe/Wedding/58/Gabrielle--Austin.aspx with a hint of coral.

We also design our own - the little funky number above is in our Washington range

Who's wedding would you prefer to go to? One of the above, or just a bog standard pocketfold invite with a sheet of paper stuck in it - which is what the majority of UK companies seem to be promoting.

Make sure your wedding stationer is a licensed Envelopments reseller to ensure quality and perfection!

Wedding Breakfast

So you are going to take more than 50 people out for dinner – a sumptious three or four course meal for that matter. Just how often do you do that?

Not often, so your first meal together as husband and wife should be planned, thought about, tasted and will then wow your guests.

Think about your favourite dishes, your individual tastes and how they can be incorporated into a menu that everyone will enjoy. Try to think outside of the box; don’t just go for a roast because it’s popular, you can have a roast dinner every week. Why not try a Rosemary Roast Beef with Balsamic and Cranberry Glaze.

Profiteroles are also popular, but can your chef think of profiteroles with a slight twist – how about Profiteroles with Passion Fruit Creme.

And don’t forget about your vegetarian guests – if your chef can only think of brown Mushroom Risotto – fire him!

Anna & Jamie, Whittlebury Park, 22nd August 2009

We said we would post some pictures and here they are. They chose our Alabama range in Diamond Repousse and Antique Gold. The main colour for this concept is the beautiful floral pattern from Anna Griffin in creams, accented with gold and finished with flowing ivory chiffon ribbon.

We kept the menu scrolls in keeping, and rolled the floral paper and tied with the same ribbon, with the table numbers on a floral tentfold card, the same as the place settings.

Very feminine, very in line with their venue and very traditional!

Why?

We don't air our laundry in public but this story has really got our goat - what a use of words.

http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Fury-as-county-wedding-firm.5578627.jp

This young lady used to buy from us; had lots of friends weddings to make favours and stationery for. Until one day she came in and told us she was setting up in competition with us - we don't think so! The shop closed in May, Companies House have a proposal to strike off the company off (since June 2009).

So what does she do; she resigns and sets up a new company, leaving her husband to deal with the fallout (although the new company has yet to be confirmed, but we are working on it).

Why? How can she do this? How can she mess with the biggest day of people's lives?

Rant over for now......

Country Estate Chic

Today, we're writing about our favourite local venue, Rushton Hall. From the moment you drive up the longway driveway, walk through the ornate doorway and down the red carpet to reception, you know you are in one of the world's favourite hotels.

Every bedroom has been individually designed by its owner, a lady that is hands on everyday. Her attention to detail is perfect. She has restored this beautiful country estate to its former glory.

The Drawing Room is perfect for your civil ceremony and welcome drinks are served in The Courtyard. You then have a choice of The Library or the Pavilion for your wedding reception. If you take exclusive use, you can use the Great Hall too - which is a fabulous panelled room that looks over the gardens.

They have recently added the most perfect spa too.

Such a serene venue ...

Mixed Bag Today

Today, we are finishing off Anna & Jamie's wedding at Whittlebury Park. They went for our Alabama design using Anna Griffin's Repousse which is a lovely soft cream floral pattern. Finished with sheer ribbons, this design is very "floaty". Pictures to follow later of table plan, menu scrolls, place settings AND table numbers.

We're also getting ready for the autumn wedding fairs and need to design lots of new stationery, if the wedding dress shop round the corner is right, there are going to be lots of dark colours next year; midnight blue, purple and burgundy to name a few.

Plus we have a South African wedding party that are leaving the UK on Friday and need Order of Service, place setting menus, guestbook, table numbers and table plan. Ann is a lovely bride. She came into the shop last October asking for ivory or white wedding stationery and left with Pyrite, Tartan and White Kaleidoscope (35) - very funky but that's what we love about using the Design Studio from Envelopments.

So if we are so busy, why are we writing a blog .... more later!