Theme Inspiration Board :: New Years Eve Wedding

So New Years Eve has been and gone for another year but this ones for brides planning a New Years Eve wedding for this year or even next. The inspiration board itself is a mish mash of colours but I love the sparkles, the countdown wall and the gorgeous modern black wedding invitations. I hope this wedding inspiration board provides you with some New Years Eve wedding inspiration.

Credits (From left to right)
Glitter Shoes – The Audrey Hepburn Complex via The Wedding Party Studio / Cupcake – Marie Labbancz via Elizabeth Anne Designs / Countdown Wall – Sweet Tea Photography by Lisa Marie via Elizabeth Anne Designs / Wedding Dress – Vera Wang via You Wedding / Love Sparklers – Project Wedding / Cocktails – Real Simple via Lovely Little Details / Invitations – Oh So Beautiful Paper

What theme are you having for your wedding? Leave a comment below and let me know – I’d love to hear from you.

Coming up tomorrow I have a gorgeous real wedding to share with you all. Follow me on facebook and twitter and you may get to see a sneak peek!

Louise ♥ xx

Bow Occasions is a Wedding Planner in Kent covering London and the South East. Bow Occasions offers a full range of wedding planning services from Wedding Day Coordination to Full Wedding Planning and Design to Venue Sourcing and Supplier Sourcing. Get in touch today to arrange your complimentary intial consultation.

Recently Engaged? Getting Married Soon?

Happy New Year and welcome to the Bow Occasions Wedding and Event Blog.

First of all I would like to say congratulations to all of you who got engaged over the Christmas and New Year period; exciting times are ahead! For those of you who are already readers of my little part of the blog world – welcome back!!

Image Credit: Modern Photographic

Bow Occasions specialises in creating unique and individual weddings and events. I love weddings that are a little bit different, a bit quirky and fun. Whether you have just got engaged or are getting married this year, Bow Occasions has a number of wedding planning packages to suit every planning need.

Wedding Day Coordination
The Wedding Day Coordination package is perfect for those who have organised their wedding day but would like to enjoy a stress free day knowing someone is there to decorate your wedding venue, organise supplier and deal with any wedding day emergencies that should occur.

Full Wedding Planning and Design
Recently engaged? Need a helping hand? The Bow Occasions Full Wedding Planning and Design service is bespoke to each wedding. As your wedding planner, I will be there every step of the way, taking care of every little detail ensuring your big day is a huge success. My aim is to be involved as little or as much as is required.

Partial Planning
The Bow Occasions Partial Planning service is ideal for couples who have started planning their wedding and now need a helping hand. Tailored to your individual needs and available at any stage of your wedding planning, this option allows you to relax and enjoy the rest of your engagement.

Venue and Supplier Sourcing
From castles to stately homes, photographers to florists; Bow Occasions can help you find your perfect wedding venue or wedding supplier with the Venue and Supplier Sourcing package.

A la Carte - new for 2011
The Bow Occasions A la Carte wedding planning service is new for 2011. The Bow Occasions A la Carte service allows you to choose additional services which you may require help with invidually or as part of one of our other wedding planning services.

For more information on the wedding planning services Bow Occasions offers, please visit the website www.bow-occasions.co.uk or you can email Louise hello@bow-occasions.co.uk.

Louise ♥ xx

A Bow Occasions Blog Word Cloud

I know, I know, I said I wouldn’t post until the New Year but I wanted to share this with you all after seeing something similar on Love My Dress this morning. I generated this word cloud using Wordle.

Wordle takes words from any website page/blog and converts them into a word cloud. I’m rather pleased that the main word used is wedding or I would be very worried seeing as this is mainly a wedding blog.

Wishing you all the best for 2011. Have a fantastic New Year. See you on the other side.

Louise ♥ xx

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

It’s Christmas Eve!!! I am so excited for Christmas. I plan to take a little break from blogging over Christmas to spend time with the family. I will be back with my first post for the New Year on Tuesday 4th January.

Credit: Smile And Wave

Before I go on my little blogging break, I thought I would share what I have asked for this year for Christmas.

♥ I’m the sorta girl who for Christmas used to love lots of little presents so I had more to open but as I am getting older it has occurred to me that these little presents just get forgotten. For Christmas this year the whole family have joined together and bought me this little beauty – the Pashley Poppy in Pastel Blue complete with this lovely Wicker Basket.

♥ You’re all talking about it and I haven’t seen it so this Mad Men – Series 1-3 box set is on my Christmas list this year

♥ I first got this gorgeous Armani Diamonds Perfume for Christmas last year and it just so happens I have run out in time for Christmas this year.

♥ For me it wouldn’t be Christmas without a new pair of slippers. I am loving the slipper collection from Accessorize this year.

Now it just leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you so much for reading my little piece of the wedding blog world this year. Here’s to 2011.

Louise ♥ xx

Bow Occasions talks to… Modern Photographic

Now let me tell you, choosing a wedding photographer has been one of the hardest parts of the wedding so far. Being in the wedding industry as a wedding planner and writing this UK wedding blog, I have come across so many wedding photographers and have a pretty sizeable list of those that I love.

I came across Julia and Ian from Modern Photographic on Twitter and instantly fell in love with Julia’s warm tweets and beautiful photography. I got in touch with Julia via email and we arranged to meet a few weeks later. Dean, Julia and I got on like a house on fire and although we didn’t book Julia and Ian there and then, I think Dean and I had pretty much decided that we had found our wedding photographers.

Today, I am very pleased to share with you a mini interview with Julia from Modern Photographic.

Julia and Ian on their wedding day.

Hi Julia, tell us a little about yourself.
me… Well I’m Art director at WEDDING magazine, as well as a wedding photographer, under the brand name modernphotographic. My hubby is a celebrity photographer (not a paparrazzi as some people ask- he gets commissioned to do portraiture and shoot high end events, not wait outside random london nightclubs) I LOVE weddings, I guess my whole life is surrounded by them with the magazine and the photography. I love the joy of the day, the individuality of couples and just being part of it all. I often end up helping friends with ideas for their own weddings. Im very lucky I have the perfect job!

How did you get into wedding photography and how long have you been doing it for?
I have always been involved in photography, after studying it at A-levels and as part of my university degree I was fortunate enough to get into art direction. Working with some of the top fashion and beauty photographers in the business. I started six years ago assisting another wedding photographer, after seeing at the time very few photographers offered what I would have wanted. Since starting my business lots of great photographers have joined the genre making it a wonderful diverse and offering couples better work.

I also art direct for leading bridal title WEDDING magazine, meaning I get to work with the best wedding photographers across the world now too! And I am constantly inspired.

How would you describe your photography style?
I feel my look is documentary and fashion style with a little bit of intervention. Getting all the moments that make your day special without taking over, but at the same time spending some time with the two of you and making sure you get some really beautiful shots is also important. Reportage shots are beautiful and natural but couple shots are the ones you will show off to everyone!

Where in the UK are you based and how far would you travel to shoot a wedding?
Im based in Essex, but I travel all over the UK, even as far as Scotland! A lot of London based brides travel across the country for their weddings, but its nice to have a nearby supplier to travel to view albums afterwards! And when Im really lucky I get to go abroad to shoot too!

What advice would you give couples when choosing their wedding photographer?
Find the right style for you and the right person, remember you have to spend all day with them! I know most brides are on a budget, but selecting someone because of their price, rather than them and their work is a risky business. As part of my job at WEDDING magazine I see a lot of photos and it is heart breaking to see a wedding which is obviously had so much work put into it but the photos dont do it justice

Where do you get your inspiration?
Everywhere from my own magazine, WEDDING, to blogs, to completely different genres of magazines. My husband Ian is a massive inspiration to me too. Hes been a top celebrity photographer for over 20 years. He works on a massive variety of shoots and he knows everything there is to know about lighting and photography.

What is your favourite part of photographing weddings?
Getting so involved in someones special day. Its why I’m so addicted to it. No other genre of photography, will you ever get to spend so much time with your clients or capture something so important to them.

What would be your idea of a dream wedding to photograph?
A wedding where the wedding which is a real reflection of the couple, doesn’t have to follow any tradition. Obviously its great to shoot wedding where there are lots of little details, but its even nicer to work with a couple who are completely in love and have a day that is truly about them rather than what anyone else wants.

Foreign weddings with stunning light are a real treat of course too!

If you could take a picture of anyone who would it be and why?
Well Ian has pretty much taken photographs of everyone, but recently Ive been assisting him with his work at the Graham Norton show and this week we get to shoot Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Comedians are by far the most fun to photograph.

What are your interests outside of photography?
Simple pleasures… cooking, reading and interior decoration (I’d redecorate every year if Ian would let me!).

Thank you so much Julia for this fantastic interview. To find out more about Julia and her wedding photography services go to:
WEBSITE: www.modernphotographic.co.uk
BLOG: modernphotographic.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK: Modern Photographic on Facebook

Louise ♥ xx

Handmade Wedding Wednesday :: Maap Studio

Next up in the second installment of the Handmade Wedding Wednesday series is Maap Studio. Maap Studio is a small workshop specializing in design and production of contemporary jewellery made from parian porcelain clay.

Maap Studio are based in the United Kingdom but ship worldwide. Maap Studio jewellery would be perfect for Brides looking for unusual wedding jewellery or as a gorgeous gift for your bridesmaids.

La Angosta Porcelain Bracelet Bangle With Delicate Flower Decoration – $98.00 Approx. £65.00

La-Rochelle Porcelain Purple Ring – $48.00 Approx. £31.00

Khao-Lak Post Earrings With Porcelain Flowers – $42.00 Approx. £28.00

Baja Porcelain Ring – $38.00 Approx. £25.00

For more information or to make a purchase from Maap Studio, visit:
ETSY: www.etsy.com/shop/MaaPstudio
TWITTER: @MaaPstudio

Louise ♥ xx

Win a Wedding Planner in conjunction with Your Kent Wedding Magazine

Bow Occasions in conjunction with Your Kent Wedding Magazine has launched a competition for one of  it’s readers to win a bespoke wedding planning package worth £1,500.

Click on the image to download a PDF.

The bespoke package will include:
♥ Venue Sourcing and Supplier Sourcing, providing the winner with a shortlist to choose from.
♥ Supplier management, including arranging appointments, attending meetings and handling all wedding paperwork.
♥ Styling and design to help the winner identify a theme that is personal to them.
♥ Wedding Day Coordination to ensure that the big day goes without a hitch and that suppliers and guests have a point of contact.

I am so excited to be working with the magazine and looking forward to meeting the winning couple in a few months time.

If you would like to enter check out page 91 of the Jan / Feb 2011 issue of Your Kent Wedding Magazine or you can also enter on line at Your Kent Wedding Competitions. Entrys close on 25 February 2011 and you must be getting married in Kent to enter.

Good luck!!

Louise ♥ xx

Theme Inspiration Board :: Winter Wonderland

Good morning everyone, can you believe Christmas is nearly here? I don’t know where the year has gone. I do hope you have enjoyed the Colour Inspiration Boards over the past few weeks; I thought I would mix things up a bit this week with a Theme Inspiration Board. With all the snow we have been having, I have been thinking about you winter brides and grooms and thought I would put together another winter inspiration board. Last weeks inspiration board was red, white and charcoal; this week it’s all about the white and silver with a winter wonderland theme.

Credits (From left to right)
Dessert Table – Amy Atlas / Wedding Bouquet – The Knot / Bridesmaid Dress – Debenhams / Table Centerpiece – Martha Stewart Weddings / Bride – James Christianson via Style Me Pretty / Wedding Cake – Maisie Fantaisie via Wedding Magazine / Snowflake Cookie Cutter – Cox & Cox / Wedding Invitation – Absinthe Custom Printing on Etsy / Wedding Favours – I do Inspiration

Are you having a themed wedding? If so, let me know and you may see a Theme Inspiration Board based on your theme here soon.

Louise ♥ xx

Bow Occasions is a Wedding Planner in Kent covering London and the South East. Bow Occasions offers a full range of wedding planning services from Wedding Day Coordination to Full Wedding Planning and Design to Venue Sourcing and Supplier Sourcing. Get in touch today to arrange your complimentary intial consultation.

Bow Occasions talks to… Exhibit Emotions

Good morning, today marks the start of a new series on the blog, Bow Occasions talks to…

My aim for this feature is to give my readers a bit of an insight into various wedding suppliers and their businesses.

First up is Dasha from Exhibit Emotions, a London Wedding Photographer. I first got to know Dasha on Twitter and as we don’t live too far from each other, arranged to meet in London for a promotional photo shoot for Bow Occasions. You can see the results of the photo shoot here.

Hi Dasha, tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Dasha and I am a full-time wedding photographer. I live just outside London in Kent together with my husband. We have been married for almost 3 years and we complete each other in so many ways! What describes me as a person? Well, I’m quite human. I cry when I cut onions and watch emotional films. I try to be as environmentally friendly as possible and I hope to inspire people to be eco conscious. I love beautiful design, good food and everything about weddings!

How did you get into wedding photography and how long have you been doing it for?
After graduating from uni I started looking for a job. I studied International Relations, so I was looking for something that would match my education. The recession hit and companies no longer were looking for individuals; they were looking for sales people who could bring money in. I realised that wasn’t my cup of tea and that I didn’t want to be a part of the corporate machine.

I started to look at different creative jobs and soon I was hired as a full-time assistant in a chain photographic studio. I enjoyed taking photos before as photography was my hobby, but this job gave me a real passion for photographing people. I learned composition, lighting and the main thing – how to engage with people during photo shoots and bring out their personality.

Then we went travelling around Australia, which was an unforgettable experience, and I quit my job. I wanted more. I wanted to develop my style and I wanted to see smiles on people’s faces when they look at my work, at MY work, not a photographer’s in a chain studio. That’s when my hubby got me my first professional camera and I started learning. Everything I know I learned myself by reading and practicing. I learned how to see the light, how to use my camera to capture that light, how to ‘see’ people and capture who they are.

I photographed my first wedding in July 2009 and it’s been a rollercoaster ride since then!

How would you describe your photography style?
My couples describe my photography style as natural, emotive, stylish and elegant. I’m not trying to make my work look cool or funky, or crazy, but just natural, beautiful and captured in an enchanting way. I specialize in capturing weddings with heart, relaxed portraits and real moments filled with emotions. My favourite types of photos are those when people don’t know they are getting photographed. So, I think I photograph weddings in reportage or documentary style. I love it when my couples look at their wedding photos for the first time and say – “Omg, we didn’t see that happening!”. I absolutely love seeing my clients so happy when they see their wedding day unfolding in photographs – it’s my favourite part of the job!

Where in the UK are you based and how far would you travel to shoot a wedding?
I’m based in Kent, half-an-hour from London and I’m happy to travel anywhere to shoot a wedding! I love travelling! Next year I have beautiful weddings to photograph in Ireland and France.

What advice would you give couples when choosing their wedding photographer?
I know it can be very hard and the choice can be overwhelming. Start wide and narrow down your search to those photographers whose work you like. Read about them and try to understand who they are. Do they appeal to you as a person? It’s really important for both a client and a photographer to ‘click’ as you will spend a good few hours together before the wedding, during the wedding and after. So, select a few whose work you like and who you think you like as a person, and arrange a meeting. While talking face to face you will understand if you want to work together. It’s like that feeling, you’ll know when it’s ‘the one’! Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have. You should be confident in your photographer to capture all the important moments. A good photographer will make you feel relaxed and will let you know that he/she knows their craft, knows what they are doing on the wedding day, and you will get beautiful images. I must say I’ve been blessed with my clients. I enjoy getting to know my couples and chat to them about everything and anything outside photography. It makes them feel as if they’ve known me for ages, they relax in front of my camera and I get to capture real them!

Where do you get your inspiration?
I think my main inspiration is people I get to work with. Everyone is so different and unique in their own way that I always push my boundaries and approach every shoot or wedding with fresh eyes. I also get inspired by everyday life and what I see around me. I like to watch people and think about who they are, what their experiences are and how I would photograph them to bring all of it out. I like reading design blogs and get some inspiration from them; it’s particularly helpful when photographing wedding details. Every now and again I look through fashion magazines to get inspiration for beautiful bridal portraits.

What is your favourite part of photographing weddings?
Oooo, I honestly can’t choose! I love photographing the bride’s shoes, dress and accessories while she is getting her make-up done. I love love love capturing the moment when a groom sees a bride in her wedding dress for the first time – it’s just such a happy and emotional moment! I love the time I get to photograph bride and groom as husband and wife – it’s the first time during the day when they can be together, just the two of them, so I take a step back and just capture the love between them. I love photographing the details and personal touches that make a wedding so personal to a couple. I guess my favourite part is after the wedding when my couple sees their wedding photographs for the first time. I just love to see how happy they are and happy tears in their eyes! In these moments I get all emotional and teary myself – it’s one of the best feelings in the whole world, honestly!

What would be your idea of a dream wedding to photograph?
To be honest I don’t have a particular idea of a dream wedding. As long as my clients like me and I like them, they are really in love and really shows on their wedding day – that’s all I want! A dream wedding for me is filled with emotion and love. A dream wedding for me is a wedding where personalities shine through, but when the fact that two people join their lives together is not taken over by fashion, trends, design or stereotypes.

If you could take a picture of anyone who would it be and why?
My husband and my family. I guess I get relaxed when I’m with my family and don’t get my camera out too often, but family photos are so so important! I’m going to catch up this Christmas when everyone is around, so family – beware!

What are your interests outside of photography?
I love cooking and learning about food, for example how to eat healthy, but without compromising on taste. I like finding one off restaurants and cafes that serve good honest food cooked with heart and soul. I love travelling. I don’t get to travel as often as I want to, but I’m working on it! Combining my passions – photography, food and travel – I’d love to go on a cookery holiday to somewhere like Italy or France to learn authentic cuisine, photograph beautiful food and celebrate life! I’m a self confessed internet addict (not extreme though). I enjoy reading photography, lifestyle, food and wedding blogs. I would get wasted in them for hours if I could!

Thank you so much Dasha for this fantastic interview. To find out more about Dasha and her wedding photography services go to:
WEBSITE: www.exhibitemotions.com
BLOG: www.exhibitemotions.blogspot.com
TWITTER: @exhibitemotions

Louise ♥ xx

Handmade Wedding Wednesday :: Sarah & Bendrix

During my brief absence from this UK wedding blog last week, I had the chance to think about the direction I wish to take the blog in the New Year. One of the things I really want to introduce to my readers if you didn’t know about it already is the wonderful online world of Etsy.

Etsy is an online marketplace where you can find gorgeous handmade pieces from handbags to jewellery and even wedding dresses.

First up in this Handmade Wedding Wednesday series is Sarah & Bendrix. Sarah & Bendrix is a design studio based in London created by Veronika in 2009. Sarah & Bendrix specialize in personalised handmade pictures.

All pictures are made to order, some of them can be personalised, some are limited editions, some one of pieces, made just for you. Each piece is made with love, care, attention. These pictures would be perfect as a wedding gift or perhaps as an anniversary gift.

Large Paper Heart Framed Picture White Large – $211.00 Approx £136.00

Personalized White Hearts Framed Picture Large – $211.00 Approx £136.00

Vintage Heart Framed Picture – $82.00 Approx £53.00

Little Vintage Hearts Framed Picture – $82.00 Approx £53.00

For more information or to purchase a Sarah & Bendrix picture, visit:
ETSY: www.etsy.com/shop/sarahandbendrix
WEBSITE: www.sarahandbendrix.com
BLOG: fewthingsfrommylife.blogspot.com/

Let me know what you think of the first Handmade Wedding Wednesday post and check in next Wednesday for the next post in the series.

Louise ♥ xx