Thinking outside the box...

Happy New Year!

I feel awful having abandoned my beloved blog for sooo long, but my New Year's Resolution has been to keep sharing my experiences and ideas with you all! So many people have asked me when the next blog post will be, so Myah, Stacey and Karis...this one is especially for you!

Also, as a side note, a MASSIVE congratulations to my very own Disney Princess Myah, who got engaged to her partner Lawrence during his recent visit to Florida, where the lovely Myah is completing her second Cultural Representative Program with the Big Cheese, Mickey Mouse himself! Exciting stuff!

So, the inspiration for blog post comes from a lady who contacted me recently about her upcoming wedding. Her colour scheme is red and navy, since her husband to be is in the military. Initially I thought I would hit an inspirational wall, but having done a little bit of research, I came up with an inspiration board that I hope she will love.

The venue, Hintlesham Hall, is a Grade 1 listed Country House that sits snugly on the Suffok / Essex border and truly is stunning. Having had connections to the Tudor Royals, and prestigious families throughout it's lengthy history, it's easy to see how prospective Brides and Grooms could consider it the perfect place to say 'I do' and begin married life together. 

The Bride to Be wanted classic elegance with a hint of sparkle, and so I came up with collage of images that I feel would do the venue justice,

The more I looked at this colour scheme, the more I fell in love with it. For the second time this year, I've been asked to do something a bit different, and I am finding new possibilities outside of my comfort zone! This colour scheme works. It's rich, it's classic and if done properly, is really elegant! 

What are your thoughts on colour schemes 'outside the box'? Let me know in the comments section!

"Life begins where your comfort zone ends".

Take a risk and you'll surprise yourself :)

Mrs Enchanted 

Xoxo

Have Groom, will Travel...

I've been considering doing a piece on Destination Weddings for a while now; after all, with some very clever planning and budget savviness, a Wedding abroad can save you a fortune.

Hosting your Wedding in another country means obvious cuts to your guest list; ideal if you'd prefer an intimate gathering to an all-out BWW (that's Big White Wedding to us insiders!), and this is becoming increasingly popular amongst Brides and Grooms to be, instead choosing to hold a reception on their return for absent guests. 

Here are a few of my favourite Destinations; prepare to get bitten by the travel bug!

Vegas

Honestly, what kind of Wedding Planner would I be if I didn't mention the obvious choice?

Vegas is the ultimate place to tie the knot and it can be done on a very modest budget. Cliche though it may sound, getting married in Vegas doesn't always mean Elvis and a drive-through ceremony.

For the Fun Factor, think Circus Circus; a hotel and casino on the Vegas Strip which houses it's very own indoor theme park! As do many of the big hotels in Vegas, Circus Circus has a Wedding Chapel inside which is licensed for civil Ceremonies. Wedding packages at Circus Circus start from just $325.

Chapel of the Fountain, Circus Circus Hotel

                                                   Image courtesy of Equallywed.com



New York
Central Park is a beautiful location to hold an intimate and elegant ceremony. From the Cop Cot to Belvedere's Castle, there are lots of different settings for the perfect 'I Do' moment. Beautiful all year round, Central Park is an iconic New York location where a piece of paradise can be found in the middle of a concrete Metropolis.
Alternatively, you could chose the 'When in Rome' approach and marry in true no-nonsense New Yorker Style with a quick and simple ceremony at the City Clerks office. Other New York locations include the Top of the Rock, the Brooklyn Bridge, and even Times Square. American Sky offer Wedding Packages from £650.

Times Square

                                          Image courtesy of American Sky


Belvedere Castle, Central Park

Image courtesy of www.powertripberkley.com

South Africa
So what about an African Safari? It's certainly got the 'wow' factor. Known as the 'Rainbow Nation', it boasts a plethora of different cultures and stunning scenery; making it the perfect place for adventure loving couples.
The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa is ideal for an intimate Wedding Ceremony, the hotel offers one of the most romantic and memorable locations in the world to get married due to it's position nestled beside the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and Table Mountain.
With exclusive Spa facilities and an in-house cinema, there are plenty of opportunities to unwind before the big day.
A Wedding Package at this stunning resort can be added as an addition to your holiday booking from £370 when booked directly.

                                       Images courtesy of the Twelve Apostles Hotel


Things to consider when choosing to Marry abroad
It's worth checking out the minimum residency period that applies to the country you've chosen as your destination. This can vary from 1 to 7 working days, so bear this in mind when budgeting for your trip. The residency period is a basic requirement that states how long you must be in the country before you can marry there.
The legalities can also be a factor; in some countries, couples are required to take a blood test to prove they are not related (yes, really!). Also, sometimes an Affidavit is required; this is a document that is obtained through a notary public that confirms your marital status. You will usually be advised of how to obtain any essential documents when booking your Wedding, but it's always worth double checking just to be sure.
Also ensure that provision will be made for transporting your Wedding Dress; the last thing you want is to be forced to pack it into your hold luggage. It will not only end up creased, but there is always the possibility that your luggage might get lost and you definitely don't want to be seperated from your gown for your Big Day.

Until next time...
Dust off your passport and book your flights!

The Enchanted One
xoxo

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

Serendipity

Cinderella would have some serious shoe envy.

Not even your fairy godmother could conjure up shoes as fabulous as this; after all, not only are glass slippers wildly impratical for the clumsy and uncoordinated *ahem* but I imagine they aren't terribly comfortable either.

And so I present to you...Figgie Shoes. Choose your own perfect wedding shoes, send them to this ridiculously talented lady with a bit of a story and some inspiration and bibbidy-bobbedy-boo...custom designed one of a kind Wedding Shoes that are not only beautiful and personal, but that also tell a story. I am so seriously obsessed with these shoes that I may have to commission a few pairs for the fun of it.
A classic black and white design starts from $250 (Canadian Dollars), but bear in mind that prices may vary depending on your own personal design. Get jealous below...

These are just a few of my favourites, but there are so many more that I came across and drooled over on Flickriver. Deborah Thomson, the artist behind Figgie shoes started accidentally after painting wedding shoes for a friend. Have you heard the word Serendipity before?

ser·en·dip·i·ty  (srn-dp-t)

n. pl. ser·en·dip·i·ties

1. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.

2. The fact or occurrence of such discoveries.

3. An instance of making such a discovery.

What better way to describe such a talent? I discovered Figgie Shoes a long time before I became a Wedding Planner and showed them to everyone I possibly could. The question I was most frequently asked was "How on earth did you find something like this? What kind of random Google searches must you do to make these discoveries?" Well, the same way Deborah created Figgie Shoes is the same way I discovered them.

Serendipity.

Until next time...

Keep Googling, keep discovering

The Enchanted One xoxo

I do not own the copyright to these photos