Real Life Weddings: Tahnee and Tony

The gorgeous newlyweds

Mr and Mrs Goodchild

When my wonderful September Bride Tahnee and her Mum Kim approached me in July and asked for my assistance in putting together a wedding in three months, I was both nervous and excited.

It would seem that I had nothing at all to worry about; Tahnee, her Fiancé Tony and MOB Kim had lots of ideas and were very hands-on in the planning process. 

With Gosfield Hall already being Their dream venue, and the very fashionable colour scheme of Hot Pink and Orange chosen, it was up to me to source some suppliers and tie up any loose ends.

The sun came out in time for the Drinks Reception

The 'theme' for the Big Day was cocktails and sparkle; the centrepieces were tall martini glasses filled with coloured gemstones on mirror plates with scatter crystals. Soft, romantic lighting was provided by a plethora of tea lights in jars and mini hurricane lanterns, which adorned the tables in the ballroom, the ceremony room and the terrace, where guests later gathered to watch a magical firework display arranged by the Tahnee as a surprise for Tony.

Tahnee opted for fresh flowers, including stunning lillies in the arrangements as a beautiful tribute to her late Grandmother. The special moments were frozen in time by the amazing Photographer Lucy Jones, who captured every gorgeous detail, with a passion apparent to all. 

Floral Arrangements by Lucy Bowman

The bride wore the absolutely breathtaking Cinderella from Alfred Angelo's Disney Fairytale Collection; which was aptly named as the entire day was truly magical. Her Bridal look was finished with a gorgeous tiara fit for a Princess and crystal drop earrings. 

The Bride's make up was soft and natural

Bridal Hairstyling was by Amie-Louise Snow

Lucy captures every thoughtful detail perfectly

Lending a hand with the Bridesmaid's Make up (That's me!)

All in all, it was an absolute honour to be part of this wonderful event, working alongside some absolute excellent suppliers. The event was intimate, personal, and most importantly, Enchanting.

The Ceremony was held at Gosfield Hall, Essex

Photographs courtesy of Lucy Jones Photography

Photos courtesy of Lucy Jones Photography

Until next time...

Live your own Fairytale.

The Enchanted One 

Xoxo

Love for the Highstreet

And this afternoon, I give you The Highstreet Dress.
This little beauty from Phase Eight incorporates floor sweeping elegance with stunning floral embroidery, and the high neckline and cap sleeves lend themselves perfectly to a Vintage themed Wedding. The dress has a feel of a bygone era, combining timeless beauty with contemporary simplicity and is accented with a pearl beaded waistband, flattering panelling and all over Organza. The large flower embroidery is simply stunning and is a beautiful contribution to any summer wedding.

Buy it here

At a very reasonable £550, this could easily be mistaken for top end designer and no one would ever guess that it's from a Highstreet store.

Buy it Here



 This stunning Carlotta Bridal Gown from Monsoon is a pleasantly surprising find. Monsoon have a fair selection of Gowns for a Highstreet chain, and not only that but they are unbelievably priced. At just £299 it's an absolutely steal, and perfect for a Budgeting Bride. Once again, this is a Dress that wouldn't look like an impostor next to a Designer Gown; with head to toe luxurious lace, intricate scallop detail to the ¾ length sleeves and hemline and set off with a hand-embellished waistband of diamante and pearl. The Dress also features a scooped back and neckline, accentuated with a trimming of pearls and silver beading.

As I mentioned in my previous money-saving posts, it's well worth checking the Highstreet for your dream dress; TK MAXX have a Bridal Boutique with designer gowns from big names like Valentino for a fraction of the Recommended Retail Price, and since they generally only carry a limited stock it's unlikely that you'll see the same dress again on the Highstreet. With up to 81% off brands like Hollywood Dreams, you can certainly get your money's worth. Even Newlook has jumped on the bandwagon with their new range of Bridal accessories. With the savings you could make on the Highstreet, you'll have enough change left over to treat yourself to a pre-wedding Spa day or to put towards a gorgeous Honeymoon. Don't forget to check Groupon first!

Until next time...

Keep bargain hunting!

The Enchanted One xoxo

The Beginning and the Budgeting Bride

I've been a qualified Wedding Consultant for about a year now, but my planning days started long before then. I helped a colleague plan her Wedding when I was just 17, rescued a Bride a year later following a hair and make up disaster and Bridesmaid dresses that didn't fit on the day, and pacified a very nervous Bride marrying her Policeman fiancé just after I turned 20. It was only when I brought the first of my two gorgeous children into the world that I started looking at Wedding Planning as a full time profession. Armed with passion, determination, dedication and a willing to work my slightly-larger-than-desired post-baby bum off, I made it my mission to build up my very own company. Alas, Enchanted Occasions was born, but before it managed to take it's very first wobbly steps, there was another special delivery from the Stork and I recently welcomed Baby Enchanted number two into the world. Whilst I enjoy these precious few months with my newest addition, I have decided to keep in touch with my beloved Wedding Industry by writing this blog, and hopefully providing answers and offering advice for those burning questions and niggling situations.
So, here goes nothing. Hopefully a witty and well-rounded nothing...

Cut your wedding budget without cutting corners

The question I am most frequently asked, and most enjoy answering is "How do I keep my Budget low without compromising the overall quality of the day?"
Answer: Easy.
Everyone has a creative friend, and this is the time to exploit her (or his!) talents! With a bit of love, and DIY, it's very easy to keep costs low whilst adding the bonus of lots of beautiful and personal details to your special day. Combine this with the ability to beg, borrow and steal, barter like a professional and compromise in a few places, your dream Wedding can cost a lot less than you'd expect.

1) Don't choose the obvious.
Getting married from late spring through to early autumn will automatically mean higher prices as this is 'Wedding Season' so prices peak. A hearty banquet and roaring log fire can make a November wedding just as romantic as a Sultry Summer Soiree. Choosing to get married off peak can save you above and beyond fifty percent.

2) Don't use the 'W' word!
As soon as you mention the word Wedding to suppliers, the rule of three comes into play; the price triples on everything. It's worth avoiding the W word until you have a price agreed; instead say celebration, event, gathering, soiree etc.

3) Haggle.
Remember the above rule and you will remember that suppliers have got plenty of room to give you a good price and still make a profit. If you are booking a venue, mention that the price they are offering might stretch your budget a bit too much and ask if that is their very best deal. If there is absolutely no wiggle room, ask instead if they might include extras in the price; think spa treatments, canapes, guest rooms, welcome drinks for free, a waived corkage fee etc. Then, depending on the answer you get, tell them you'll have to go away and think about it as you can't be sure your budget will allow. Nine times out of ten, a supplier or venue would rather get a sale than not. The same goes for Dress shopping; once you've found your dream dress, take note of the designer and style. Shop around. When you know the lowest price, you can go back and haggle. Again, it's worth asking if shoes / veil / alterations can be included in the price. If you aren't very good at haggling, you are bound to know someone who is. Take advantage of a pushy Mother-in-law or forceful Aunt. You probably wont have to see these people again post wedding, so you've nothing to lose and pennies to save!

4) Get Creative.
Table centrepieces needn't be expensive; for example there is a million possibilities for the humble mason jar. Even with a simple tealight inside, a group of mismatched mason jars on an outdoor buffet table can add a touch of magic to an evening reception. Google others a plethora of ideas from lanterns to vintage style vases, all incorporating this simple idea. The beauty of it is, if you ask well enough in advance, people can save you their jars and so your centrepieces can often be close to free!

                                                           Image courtesy of Weddings.craftgossip.com


5) Ask about corkage.
A lot of venues don't charge corkage and it works out a whole lot cheaper to take full advantage of this. It means you can provide your own alcohol for the meal; work on the ratio of 60:40 of white wine to red, half a bottle per person, and a glass of bubbly each for the toast. A standard bottle will serve six glasses, and a good Cava will often stand up just as well as Champagne.
Instead of serving welcome bubbly, Bucks Fizz will allow alcohol to go further. Equally, a refreshing cocktail like Pimms means bulking out the booze with lemonade and fruit. It's just as classy, and a British classic, so no one will ever suspect it as a cost cutting strategy! Sangria is another refreshing drink and works all year round.

Sangria recipe:
1 part red wine
1 part orange juice
3 parts lemonade
Slices of orange, lemon and lime and fresh mint leaves to garnish

Pimms Classic recipe:
1 part Pimms or alternative
3 parts lemonade (depending on strength preference...I think four parts lemonade is gentler on taste buds!)
Chopped strawberries, apple, and cucumber, slices of lemon and lime and fresh mint leaves to garnish


Come back again soon for more budget saving tips!

Stay happy, stay savvy, stay tuned.

- The Enchanted One xoxo