Our Brand New Website Launches Today!!!

I'm ever so slightly excited this morning ... ok I'm hopping up and down with excitement really!
This is because after months of hard work I can finally launch my brand new Wedding Stationery website!
I'm really hoping that the new website will be much easier for customers to use and give you the opportunity to see lots more photos of my stationery. Take a look at www.knotsandkisses.co.uk

I'd just like to say now a MASSIVE thank you to my friend Marc at Design Photographic for setting up the initial backbone of the website and for putting up with my ridiculous technical questions, and an even more MASSIVE thank you to my amazing other half Anthony who has been working pretty much every night when he gets home from work on putting this website together, and has had to put up with my obsessive compulsive nature when it comes to designing!

I've designed the layout myself so I really hope you all like it! Would appreciate any feedback.
I've also added a new 'Suppliers I Love' page which wasn't on the old website so I can showcase some of the amazing suppliers I love. I'd like to apologise now for any suppliers who have missed the list .... I could only fit so many people on I'm afraid and I had to shorten my list considerably from where it started!

Also on the new website are two brand new Wedding Stationery ranges!
They are called 'Sketch' and 'Storybook' ... there are some images below, but I will be sharing lots more about them this week as I've dedicated all week on the blog to showcasing the two new ranges and styling ideas to go with them! So be sure to check back tomorrow for the first installment on the new 'Sketch' range!

Please take a look at the new ranges on the website www.knotsandkisses.co.uk 

Guest Post - Help With Your Wedding Planning

I'm treating you to two guest posts this week, as next week on the blog will be totally devoted to my brand new website and wedding stationery ranges. I'm getting very excited to show you so be sure to check back on Monday morning from 8am for all the news!

Anyway on to today's guest post from the fantastic Sarah at Helen Carter Weddings.You can contact the team at  http://www.helencarterweddings.co.uk . There is lots of amazing planning advice here so I really hope some of you find it useful! ....

Let’s Get The Planning Started!

"So you’ve just got engaged and the daunting task of planning the best day of your life is filling your every waking thought. There are so many things to consider, costs, traditions, families, fashions, venues, flowers, photographers, entertainment that your future husband is looking slightly queasy and you spend every lunchtime searching for ideas on the internet. Becoming overwhelmed with the whole idea of planning your wedding can mean that you lose some of the enjoyment of the next few months, caught up in a whirlwind of stress, decisions and trying to please everyone else.

When I was a student one of our lecturers asked “What is the best way to eat an elephant?” (luckily my degree wasn’t in zoology or catering which would have put a different slant on the question!), and his answer was always “One bite at a time”. The same holds true with planning your wedding. At the moment the task seems daunting, but by breaking it down into easily digestible chunks, you can make real progress without feeling snowed under. By prioritising and scheduling tasks on a month by month basis you can set yourself mini-deadlines by which to complete tasks and not become overwhelmed by the enormity of planning the wedding as a whole.

The first stage you will probably want to look at will be setting a budget and one of the first questions you will need to consider when devising your budget is who is going to pay for the wedding? It is important to discuss this with your families before you start your planning, so that everyone is aware of their financial obligations from the outset.

It is very important to be realistic when setting your budget, and it will ultimately become a juggling act requiring you to prioritise what is most important to you on your day. If you want a huge guest list you may need to have a less formal celebration or be happy to include a number of DIY elements to keep within budget. Or if you want champagne all the way and lavish decorations you may be happy to keep your guest list more intimate to achieve this. Whatever you decide, be realistic about what you can save before the big day. Don’t imagine you can stash away every spare penny – you still want to enjoy a life outside wedding planning, and you could easily start to resent your plans if you have no spare cash available. Also remember that most suppliers require payment of the final balance 4-6 weeks before the wedding date, so ensure you factor this into your calculations.

Once you have an overall figure, divide it across the different areas of your wedding so you have a guide as to how much you can spend on different suppliers – you don’t want to blow your budget on the flowers and have nothing left for your transport or entertainment! This will vary according to your priorities and preferences, but as a guide you should expect to spend:

- 45-50% on the ceremony and reception (this includes legal fees, venue hire, catering and decoration)

- 8-10% on photographer

- 4-6% on flowers

- 5-7% on entertainment

- 2-3% on transport

- 2-3% on wedding cake

- 8-10% on wedding outfits (for the bride, groom and attendants)

- 3% on wedding stationery

- 10% on the honeymoon

- 1-2% on beauty (hair and make-up)

Once you’ve set your budget, keep a spreadsheet for your wedding expenses – this doesn’t need to be fancy or complicated, just something simple that means you know exactly how much of your budget you have spent and how much you have left. Keep a folder for everything to do with your wedding (e.g. contracts, receipts, etc) so that you have everything in one place and can find things easily.

Of course, if this still fills you with dread, you could consider handing some or all of the administrative burden over to a professional. Wedding planners are no longer just the preserve of the rich and famous, and many offer bespoke services from which you can pick and choose which elements of your wedding you require assistance with.

A full planning service will take away all the administrative burden of planning your wedding as well as allowing you to draw on the styling expertise of your planner in the lead up to your day, and give you access to a range of vetted, high quality suppliers who can make your budget work harder for you. Or, if you prefer you can use a planner to help plan certain elements of your day such as finding a venue or certain suppliers or just to give you help at any stage if it’s all getting a bit much for you. If you’re a planning whizz and have everything in hand, many offer an “on the day” service where they look after all the last minute correspondence with the suppliers you have chosen and are on site on the day itself to orchestrate the wedding of your dreams.

Planners typically charge a percentage or your total wedding budget for a full planning service or offer a selection of individually priced services depending on how you would like them to be involved in your day. Yes, it is an additional expense, but often through their good relationships with suppliers planners can negotiate a discount or a service upgrade which can even cover their fee. In addition, their expertise and experience can allow you to stretch a tight budget a little further by suggesting some clever twists or alternatives to that must have idea you saw in the latest magazine! Add to that the fact that by having them involved you will save time and minimise the stress of organising your perfect day then hiring a planner becomes a serious consideration rather than a luxury solely for the rich and famous."

Photo credits as follows

Ceremony room – Charles Cielo (www.charlescielo.com)
Mantelpiece and Candy Buffet – YB Photographic (www.ybphotographic.com)
Chair, urn, wedding cake – Lloyd Dobbie (www.lloyddobbie.com)
B&G, cupcakes, escort cards – Peachey Photography (www.peacheyphotography.co.uk)  
Wellies, marquee interior, sports day, favour display, carousel B&G - Magno Photography (www.magnophotography.co.uk)

Guest Post - Buttercup Bus - Picking Your Wedding Transport!

Another fabulous guest post today .. this time from the lovely Nathalie at 'Buttercup Bus' on getting more out of your wedding cars or campervans ....

"Save those pennies and get more out of your wedding car (or campervan!!!)"

Conjuring up your wedding on a budget can be a difficult job... and it is easy to find pennies slipping away as you sign up to package deals that are not quite what you are after...

We wanted to share with you some of the ways you can really get value out of your wedding car supplier, based on the experience we have gained whilst having enormous fun offering VW Camper wedding hire.

I remember constantly checking the ambiguous whether reports for my wedding – but it always pays off to be prepared and to have a brolly to hand. Purchasing an elegant umbrella to go with that all important dress, can add a good £10-30 to your budget... and often your car supplier will already have at least one. It is always worth checking first... they may even have a picture.

credit : www.awardweddings.co.uk

Flowers are often a big investment for any wedding day, and again, savings can often be made by recycling decorations from your wedding transport. At Buttercup Bus VW Campers, we offer bespoke flowers to decorate the campervan. These flower garlands or mop tops can then be removed from the bus by your trusty driver, and transferred to the Church or reception to decorate the entrance, fire place or even top table.

Many car hire companies often include champagne in their wedding packages. This sounds lovely, but do you really want a whole bottle of champagne for a short journey? You may end up legless before you get to the reception – it would certainly make that first dance interesting!!! Check to see whether you can negotiate on the price to include a half bottle or even bucks fizz or a soft drink if preferred.

Another way to get value out of your wedding car supplier is to get them to quote for multiple trips, where you might have a larger bridal party, or indeed where your “other half” also needs transport. It may work out cheaper than having to hire separate vehicles, assuming the distances make it practical. We have received quite a few bookings where the bride has added transport for the groom as a surprise gift! We just love rocking up and seeing their smiles when they just expected a taxi!!

Taking the thinking a little further out of the box, one bride has booked a wedding with us on a self drive basis for the weekend. This option enabled her to take the campervan for a long weekend. She arranged for her own driver, and also gained some “accommodation on wheels” as part of her festival themed day.

Finally, for those of you that like to take a gamble, there is always the option to go for a late booking. Many suppliers will negotiate on price if they have a car available in the two weeks leading up to the big day – and you chances of this will certainly increase if you are getting married mid week, or in the winter time.

If you are in the South East, and are looking for an economical way to travel in something packed with personality and style, check out our website, and perhaps we can add a little campervan magic to your day!

Nathalie - Buttercup Bus VW Campers

www.buttercupbus.com

Lilac & Grey Art Deco Wedding Styling

Well its a brand new week ... and only a week to go until I launch the brand new Knots & Kisses website and two new ranges! Very excited ... I've been working on the website all weekend.
What I've also been working on over the last week is a bespoke Art Deco design for a couple. Rather than the traditional Black & Ivory they've gone for a more subtle Grey and Lilac theme and I love it! Here's just a small sample of the front of a pocketfold card I've designed for them ....

So to go with the gorgeous stationery I'm designing I've come up with a few styling ideas to match. Think lots of beautiful art deco jewellery, vintage typewriters, and gorgeous elegant gowns ... prooving lilac doesn't have to look all sugary sweet!

Credits:

www.florist2u.co.uk

www.hansleybeard.co.uk

Jane Taylor Millinery via www.libertyinlove.co.uk

http://reginanatie.blogspot.com

www.tiespecialist.com

Vera Wang Spring 2011

www.wanthatwedding.co.uk

www.weddingbee.com

www.youandyourwedding.co.uk



Wedding Supplier Spotlight .... Candy Carts For Your Reception!

Ok who doesn't love a good selection of sweets! What better time to treat your friends than at your wedding reception!
Today's Supplier Spotlight comes from the fantastic Julie's Candy Carts www.juliescandycart.co.uk who provides amazing sweetie delights for your guests at your wedding reception. Perfect for a fairground themed wedding!
I'll let Julie tell you a little bit more about the business ....

How the business came to be.


Julie’s Candy Cart came about when we were planning our own wedding. We talked about having some unusual, unique features at our wedding. We wanted to be different and wanted accessories that would be talking points for a long time to come.

Where do you start in the search?…Google of course. I googled “unusual wedding ideas” and a pretty Edwardian Candy Cart popped up in the search. It was so different and we hadn’t ever seen one before. Candy buffets we’d heard of but not the idea of having the candy buffet presented on a vintage cart in this way. A stand-alone centre piece, with an eye catching display of your favourite childhood sweets, from which your guests can fill a sweetie bag as a thank you. What a unique idea!

The cart we found at the time was the only one we could find in the whole of the UK. It was down South and when I enquired, of course, it was too far for them to travel to Scotland.

My husband, being an engineer, offered to make a cart for our wedding day. That is when my pretty, white, Edwardian style candy cart was born.

I fell in love with the Candy Cart and wanted others to have the benefit of its use. I never planned to be self-employed but realised that there is potential for the Candy Cart business. When the search for a Candy Cart for our own wedding fell flat we suspected that there must be a gap in the market for this service.

What we offer.


The candy cart isn’t just for weddings, it can be hired for any special occasion. I carefully set it up and dress it according to the colour scheme or theme of the special occasion being attended. Pretty organza bows and swags are attached to the cart and ribbons tied to a choice of glassware, enamelware or sweetie jars, in which the sweets are displayed. Scoops, tongs and sweetie bags are also provided. There is a choice of different coloured canopy tops from, gold, silver, black, cream, dark blue, candy stripe pink, and gingham yellow to bright harlequin, pastel harlequin and neutral wavy stripes.

I do have a standard sweet package which I offer in the main service. This includes all the childhood favourites that we used to buy for a penny each and the pick and mix varieties that we used to buy by the quarter, such as, flying saucers, marshmallows, love hearts, swizzles, palma violets, white mice, jazzles, fruit salads, black jacks, double lollies, Kola Kubes, bon bons, foamy bananas, shrimps and pear drops to mention but a few. I do, however, supply sweets after a discussion with the clients. I will supply any of their favourite childhood retro/penny sweets within the standard package. The couple can have as much or as little input as they wish.

I cover the South, West and Central Scotland area. I will consider other areas. I offer delivery and pick up within a 20 mile radius of Strathaven (ML10).  For more distant bookings surcharges apply.

Contact Julie on
www.juliescandycart.co.uk
enquiries@juliescandycart.co.uk
www.facebook.com/juliescandycart

www.twitter.com/#!/juliescandycart

Guest Post ... Ideas For A Non 'Cookie Cutter' Wedding.

Lovely guest post today from the lovely Lyndsey at www.sixteeneighteen.co.uk ....

Nowadays cookie cutter style weddings should be a thing of the past (or at least the late 90ʼs). To say I find them slightly snoring is a bit of an understatement!
I always want give a big bear hug to brides who decide theyʼve had enough of boring bog standard hotel foyer wedding fairs and take creative matters into their own (and sometimes numerous willing friends) hands...

Great idea for a guest book post - Image01: Photographer - Blue Window http://bluewindowcreative.com/

For some time now Iʼve been reading the blogs of US wedding planners and going green with envy of the sheer effortless way weddings can look; from invites, table decor, favours, name tags - this list can just go on and on and on. What Iʼve learnt from following/stalking these people is that most of the time the brides themselves have sourced material, artisan craftspeople, fab wedding stationery inventors, photographers who have an eye for a quirky shot...

Making your wedding day unique to you could seem like a pretty hefty task (especially if you are trying to find a wedding dress/venue discussing menus and playing referee between mother and mother-in-law) but I reckon that if you consider some creative ideas at the start of your wedding planning then most DIY projects can come to fruition pretty easily.

Hereʼs a few of my favourite projects Iʼve found lately:-

Image02 : DIY: A Burlap Boutonniere http://greenweddingshoes.com/diy-a-burlapboutonniere/

Yummo!!

Image03: Pie in a Jar http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/09/single-serving-pie-in-a-jar/

image copyright ourtbestbites.com

This one doesnʼt really require any explanation itʼs so simple to do but effective to the unassuming eye:

Image04: Photographer Anabella Charles http://www.annabellacharles.com/

I would also say that DIY doesn't have to be expensive thanks to the onset of places like Folksy and Etsy you can source materials really easily. So not only should DIY weddings be wallet friendly the DIY projects are also great fun to do whilst drinking wine with your best mates and bridesmaids!

Image 05: till death do you part best friends pirate skull necklaces

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62343636/till-death-do-you-part-best-friends?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Image+-+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F62343636%2Ftill-death-do-you-part-bestfriends&utm_content=etsy_weddings_090711&utm_campaign=etsy_weddings_090711  

PS. I would also like to say there are some great wedding fairs that I think would just completely blow you away!
PPS. Iʼm a great advocate of looking at wedding blogs for “inspiration” but please bear in mind the work on these sites have been created by someone whoʼs put a lot of time and effort in designing something unique and copying down to the final point isnʼt cool.

Bespoke Wedding Stationery

Its was an incredibly busy week here at Knots & Kisses HQ last week. Lots of samples posted out to lovely Brides & Grooms getting married next year and plenty of work done on the new website and 2 new stationery ranges which will be launching on the 31st October.
Typically the massively busy week has subsequently left me with a stinking cold so you'll have to excuse me for the slightly shorter Monday post .. but I've been in bed all weekend!

I thought I'd share with you though a bespoke design I have produced for a couple who's wedding next year is based around the colour racing green and wanted a much lighter hearted approach to their wedding stationery. So I sketched a caricature style front cover and motif for them and will be tying everything up in racing green ribbon.

Beautiful Bridal Headbands & Headresses For Your Wedding!

I'm a bit in love with headdresses on Brides. I think they make such a gorgeous alternative to the traditional tiara, and you can easily wear them without a veil for a more relaxed feel at your wedding without losing out on a bit of sparkle!
Today I wanted to show you some of my favourites on the market at the moment ....

Flo & Percy

Flo & Percy are one of my favourite companies for bridal accessories ... with a beautiful vintage style to their work. Below are two of their current range of pieces 'Temptation' and 'Field of Dreams'.

They also have a fantastic new sister company Kittie and Dulcie who sell amazingly good value wedding dresses! You can visit them at http://www.floandpercy.com/

Debbie Carlisle Bouquets

Debbie does some amazing work with brooch bouquets but also has a fantastic accessories line and the new 2012 collection has just been launched! It features some beautiful relaxed lacy headbands perfect for a laidback country style wedding. The two below are 'Mae' and 'Daisy'. Find out more at http://www.dcbouquets.co.uk/

Chez Bec

A perennial favourite of mine ... I love Bec's work! Its so classic and perfect for almost every bride.

They also run a fabulous boutique as well! The two headresses I have chosen are Fleur II and Melody.

Visit http://www.chezbec.com/

Magpie Vintage

I love the work they do at Magpie Vintage! As well as original vintage pieces they offer a bespoke service and I love the two designs I've picked off their website below ... Magpies Halo and Laurens Halo.

http://www.magpievintage.co.uk/

I hope this has given you some inspiration for how you can wear your hair on your wedding day.

Have a great weekend!

Nikki x

Bespoke Save the Date Cards - Vintage Cruise Ship

Hello!
Hope you enjoyed the extra post on the blog yesterday from guest blogger Susanna at KissWeddings. I'm going to try and get more guest bloggers on the blog every Tuesday so you can all get advice, tips and different points of view from lots of people in the Wedding Industry.
Would be great to get some feedback as to whether this is something you would like to continue :)

Anyway, today I'd like to share with you a design I've been working on for a client who is getting married on board a cruise ship! She wanted me to come up with a design for her Save the Date cards that reflects the cruise element of the wedding rather than a beach theme, which she'd found on a lot of other cards she'd seen.
I've decided to go for a postcard style inspired by Vintage Cruise ship posters ....

If you would like me to come up with a bespoked design for your Wedding Stationery please contact me by email on info@knotsandkisses.co.uk or give me a ring on 07976625201.

Further information can be found on the website http://www.knotsandkisses.co.uk/ 

Weddings - Top 5 Tips for Keeping it Simple Without Losing Out On Style!

Today I'm delighted to welcome a Guest Blogger from across the pond to give you fabulous tips on how to plan a stylish wedding! Susanna Miles is a wedding planner from Canada and also writes the fabulous K.I.S.S. Wedding Blog on how to plan your wedding by Keeping It Simple.

Today she's giving us her Top 5 Tips to keeping your wedding planning simple without losing out on style. Over to Susanna .....

Top 5 Tips for Keeping it Simple Without Losing Out On Style


Worried that your budget will blow your fancy plans out of the window? It doesn’t have to be that way. Many brides believe that creating a fabulous wedding on a budget is on a par with trying to get their fiancé to understand the difference between a white dress and a cream one. But with these handy tips at your fingertips, you can make the most of your big day without spending an arm and a leg – and that’s one thing your hubby-to-be will appreciate!

Tip 1: Pick a Great Venue

If you choose the right venue, half the hard work is done already. A great venue, like a prettily landscaped garden, provides you with a good backdrop for the celebrations, and you end up spending much less on decorations. Garden and beach wedding themes are especially good for simple décor because the naturally gorgeous or ‘rustic’ look automatically precludes anything too elaborate or over-the-top. Think sweet and simple decor, then let Mother Nature do the rest – easy!

Tip 2: Set Your Priorities

Focus your time and money on the three things that are most important to you, and be willing to compromise on the rest. Your dress, for example, might be a priority for you, whereas you won’t mind opting for cheaper flower arrangements or a simpler menu. Deciding early on which things need more money and attention means you don’t waste time stressing over less important details and can concentrate more on what really matters – are you going to go for cheap wedding rings so that you can get the dress of your dreams? OR will you simplify your wedding décor to get the rings of your dreams? Know where to spend and where to splurge. Remember, it’s a balancing act!

Tip 3: Pick DIY Projects Carefully

It’s tempting to try and make everything at home to save on precious ££, but some things are definitely easier than others to pull off. Wedding cakes are an example – unless you’re a dab hand at baking and icing, chances are you’ll end up with something that looks tacky or untidy. And floral arrangements – unless you keep them really simple, are hard to master. You’re better off working with candles or other simple products to get stunning, but cheap wedding decorations.

Tip 4: Limit Your Guests

If your heart is set on fancy favors, a four course meal and a wedding that oozes style and class, consider seriously limiting the number of guests you invite. You can always get more style if you cater for less people rather than more.

Tip 5: Be Colour Conscious

Choosing your wedding colour scheme for the big day is an important decision. But whatever combination you opt for, look for something that works well with basic white. That’s because it’s almost always cheaper to rent white tents, tablecloths, chair covers and so on.

Feeling inspired? These tips are just the beginning. There are lots of smart ways to save money when you’re planning a wedding. Find out more at http://kisswedding.com/index.html

A Sneak Peek At New Wedding Stationery Launching Soon!

Morning everyone! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.
I spent most of the weekend working on my new website design and also the two new wedding stationery designs which will be launched alongside the new website. You've already seen a sneak peek of the first range 'Sketch' and today I wanted to give you a little preview of the second range called 'Storybook'!

My inspirations behind this range have been old children's fairytales and literature. I wanted to give the range a really magical feel with birdcages, roses and butterflies ... and this is why I've called it Storybook. It also is a folded card with a 'story message' for your guests continuing inside.
Here are a few inspirational ideas I've come up with to help you style your wedding to go with this range. I'll be sharing many more ideas and more of the range when it launches alongside the new website at the end of October!

Credits :

flirt photography ; http://www.housemartin.typepad.com/

http://www.daily.wedshare.com/ ; http://www.weddingbycolor.com/

http://www.doyourselfafavour.co.uk/ ; Jessica Claire Photography blog

An Alternative To The Wedding Gift List!

Morning all! Can't believe how quickly this week has gone! Its all go here at Knots & Kisses making wedding stationery samples for lots of lovely couples for next year.
Here on the blog I really like to introduce you to suppliers that I feel offer something a little bit different for your wedding and this weeks Supplier Spotlight is something I'd definitely never heard of before!
I was contacted by the lovely Cheryl from Summerhill Interiors to let me know about her fantastic alternative service for Brides & Grooms for their gift lists. So many couples already have everything they need so the usual thing is to ask for money towards a honeymoon .. but this is a fantastic alternative!
I'll let Cheryl explain more .....

Summerhill Interiors - BESPOKE WEDDING GIFT LIST

"Looking for an exciting fresh alternative idea for your wedding gift list ?

If you are looking to make changes to your current home, moving into a new property or just want those extra special items that will make your house a home, it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. Choose Summerhill Interiors to produce a bespoke interior design wedding list.

* Alternatively, engage Summerhill Interiors in readiness for your return from honeymoon.
Designate a money account for your family & friends to make donations to, as an alternative to the usual gift list. This can be explained within the wedding invitation. As a newly wed couple you now have the amazing time of working with a designer and have the funds to purchase new items for the home.

 * Working together we can create an interior design wedding gift list to suit your style at an affordable price for anything from one room to a whole home.

If you choose to use Knots & Kisses wedding stationers, they will be happy to print your list on the wedding stationery of your choice.

We are also available to produce on line style boards.
Call Cheryl on 07912 685 720 to discuss your requirements or make an appointment. Travel is not a problem and we are happy to meet you at a location convenient for you at this busy time. Take a look at our website http://www.summerhillinteriors.co.uk/.

Summerhill Interiors also work closely with Whitley Hall Hotel who we recommend for as a fantastic wedding venue.
Whitley Hall Hotel, Sheffield, is the ideal place for couples to exchange their vows against a romantic backdrop and first class hospitality. They take great pleasure in ensuring that a Whitley Wedding will be the happiest day of your life.
Visit their website http://www.whitleyhall.com/  to experience the wedding video and check out the fantastic picture gallery & very special offers for 2012 & 2013 or alternatively, contact them on 0114 245 4444 for a tour of the hotel & meet the wedding coordinator over a pot of tea.