The Winner Takes It All

Double congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Wood. Bride Laura won the competition we participated in in last August's edition of Wedding Ideas Magazine. The prize was to have their entire table stationery suite custom made by BOYGIRLBOY and here are some of the many lovely photographs she has shared with us taken by photographer Nicky Chadwick.

The couple chose important years in their lives with which to name their tables cleverly choosing to collage photographs from those years on their table markers. Above you can see the front and reverse views of the years the couple were born and below, the year they got married - no prizes for guessing that that was the marker for the top table. We also created complementary menus and place cards and menus for the occasion.

Laura's prize also included matching framed table plan and guestbook frame, seen below in elegant ivory with a hand-painted reverse ivory profile.

                                                                       

                           As a special touch, my dragonfly design which featured on Laura's table stationery was also incorporated into the design of her cake as well. Below is a photograph of the magnificent 4-tier affair made by Julia at Freya's Fancies who were also a participant in the competition.

Laura said: "Thank you so much for the first class service which you have provided throughout. From winning the prize to delivery of the products you have been brilliant...I was so pleased with the final result when I received the products the day before the wedding. It was so wonderful to see everything, just as I had imagined it...the products were perfect and really made our wedding feel unique and special. It is so lovely that we will be able to keep the signing frame and table plan in their frames forever so that we can look back in the years to come and remember our wedding day. Our guests really loved the idea [of the personalised table name cards]and we were able to...include photographs of those who couldn't be with us so that they could be remembered on our special day. 

Your service has been amazing, faultless and I could not have wished for anything more. You really listened to my ideas and brought them to life for our wedding day. I would highly recommend you to anyone without a doubt."

I thank you both for these kind words and wish you every success and happiness in your future lives together.

New York State of Mind

Congratulations to newlyweds Emma & Daniel who married in Northampton in August. Here is the their table plan finished with a matt, swept frame. For their table names, they chose famous locations in New York. We hope they had a wonderful day and wish them every happiness in their future lives together.

A Blast From The Past

Thanks to Lucy and Paul for this picture of their table plan hanging in the study of their new home in Wandsworth where, happily, they have just celebrated the arrival of twins boys. They were married in May 2010 and were my very first customers. 

Something Kinda Oooh!

Hearty congratulations to Paula and James who married in Birmingham in June. Here is a photograph of the table plan we created for their big day. It was one of our larger projects - 17 tables - each named after the hits of Girls Aloud who are the bride's favourite band. I've received some nice feedback from Paula who left a message to say: 

"Thank you so much. Our table plan was amazing! You were also great with my last minute changes!! We love it that much it's hanging in our house".

We hope they had a magical day and with them every happiness in their future together.

Three Little Words To Say I Love You

My thanks to Matthew and Louise for their kind permission to show this bespoke graphic print that Matthew commissioned from me for Louise's birthday in May. The brief was to take the simple elements of these three special words to create a statement piece for their home and this was the result. It was a very exciting challenge.  Matthew sent me some lovely feedback which said: "Jennie produced something that will really be cherished by us. She had the skill to take my initial idea and produce a piece that was better than I had imagined. Thank you. " 

If you are currently planning a surprise or celebration and think that I might be able to help you, please do not hesitate to contact me at mail@boygirlboy.com or text 07768 844145 and I'll call you back. All consultations are free and without obligation. Please visit our website for more details. 

Happy planning!

The Wedding Day The Sun Came Out to Play

A month earlier we were two feet deep in snow and even the day before we were wrapped up in jumpers and scarves. But on the 20th April, something extraordinary happened: the sun came out and shone all day long in The Garden of England. It was lovely for everyone but most especially for the bride who had planned the perfect late Spring wedding at home in Kent not counting on the vaccillations of the Great British Weather. This was one wedding I was fortunate enough to attend and it really was the most fabulous day from start to finish with miles of smiles, a blissfully happy couple, an idyllic English country garden setting and a great band (and I mean GREAT).

It was my privilege to design the table stationery and seating plan for this event and my thanks to Juliette at Juliette Harrison Photography for capturing such beautiful images from the day and, furthermore, for giving permission for me to feature them here on my blog. Finally, but not least, my heartfelt thanks to smashing newlyweds Tom & Mima for both the opportunity and the use of their wedding imagery. I wish them fun, frolics and abundant joy in their future life together!

Courtesy of Juliette Harrison Photography

You can see that this particular design is not based on the tradition practice of grouping guests by table. Instead, the wedding diners are listed in alphabetical order by surname: an intriguing alternative that is easy to use and great for big events where large numbers of people need to be seated quickly.

Courtesy of Juliette Harrison Photography

The wedding breakfast was for around 180 guests making this one of the largest weddings I've worked on. It is staggering how much space it takes to write down that many names and still make them clear and legible. For this reason, I made two identical seating plans. One was placed in the reception area and the second in the dining room to ensure that the guests had plenty of time to find their table number before sitting down for dinner. 

Courtesy of Juliette Harrison Photography

The colour scheme for the wedding breakfast was classically neutral blending creams, crisp whites and muted silver picked out with bold, block colour statements in the flower arrangements and table stationery. The main colour - a vivid, deep cornflower blue was reflected in the both the flowers and the flowing dresses of the bridesmaids. The beautiful flower arrangements were created by Florist In The Forest floral designer Katherine Craft. 

Courtesy of Juliette Harrison Photography

Each table number continued the blackboard theme from the table plan with chalk typography and featured a selection of photographs of the bride and groom at comparable ages as children. 

Courtesy of Juliette Harrison Photography

Finally, the menus. I used an inverse design of black on white to re-capture the titling from the table plan and provide contrast. The menu options were then printed onto pristine white, hammer-finish card and laid out three to a table propped up casually against the table decorations and centrepieces.

If you are currently planning your big day and think that I might be able to help you, please do not hesitate to contact me at mail@boygirlboy.com or text 07768 844145 and I'll call you back. All consultations are free and without obligation. Please visit our website for more details. 

Happy planning!

A Table Plan for Gem & Steve

Congratulations to Gem and Steve who married on 28th April in Southend-on-Sea last month. Here is the table plan we made for them. 

...And A Partridge In A Pear Tree

Congratulations to newlyweds Megan and Robin who married at beautiful country manor house in County Durham shortly before Christmas. We first met Megan at the NEC National Wedding Show in September where she was looking for ideas to put the finishing touches on her big day. 

The bride and groom put our bespoke service to good use tweaking their stationery and seating plan designs to suit their own unique styling and theme. They selected a very ornate gold swept frame for their seating plan to complement the gilt and grandeur of the dining room for their wedding breakfast and, as a lovely festive touch, chose 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' as the theme for their tables.

In addition, we were asked to style a second ornate frame with mount for photographs of the bride and groom as children and their table stationery comprising placecards and table names to match each emblazoned with the couple's own unique monogram design accented in an embossed gold style. 

Pure class! We wish them a very happy life together as husband and wife.

Your Manchester Wedding: BOYGIRLBOY Feature

We are very proud to have been featured in the Venue Styling section of Your Manchester Wedding Magazine this month. The article includes photographs of our table stationery, seating plans and signature frames as well as some tips and advice on personalising your big day that I have reproduced below. Our thanks to the magazine for including us so prominently and in our home town too. It was the best Christmas present we could have asked for! 

On planning the style of your day:

Think carefully about the style and feel of your wedding and take cues from visual elements such as the era of the venue, your dress and the colours of your blooms and bridesmaids' attire. Try not to be too rigid though. It's more subtle, and a lot easier, to have all the little details complement the style of your day than have everything match exactly.

On choosing your table stationery and dining room decor:

• Trust your instincts and don't let anyone tell you what you 'ought' to like.
• Shop around as costs can vary considerably and don't be afraid to ask for samples.
• Visit wedding fairs - a lot are free or have minimal entry cost. You can talk to suppliers face-to-face, collect ideas and get some fabulous discounts.
• Table stationery and seating plans tend to be one of the last considerations. Although final guest numbers for your wedding aren't certain until the big day approaches, you can still decide on the look and feel of your table designs in advance and get estimates.

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Happy planning!

Up, Up & Away!

Presenting my new BIG BALLOON personalised digital print/ guest book for weddings/ engagement parties. It can be framed as is or scribbled all over in silver, gold or white gel pen and then framed to make the perfect keepsake - and a very natty gift for the happy couple! 

Available in sizes A4, A3 and A2, it can be framed as is or scribbled on in gold, silver or white ink as a guest book. This is the beginning of an exciting new direction for BOYGIRLBOY as we go distinctly different in the next few months so the subject matter could not be more apt.

Sold unframed and available in the shop now from £11.99 including FREE P&P.

Places Please

Presenting LEXIE, ISOLDE, KIRSTEN, INDIGO & NELL - our new place card designs and some interesting ways to place them. The design can be followed through onto menus, table names, table numbers and even your seating plan. Visit site

Create it & Keep it

Presenting BOYGIRLBOY's exclusive new twist on the guestbook frame which is fast becoming the must-have alternative to the traditional guestbook. Our new version is a colourful, less formal and funky number: a print that can be personalised to suit the occasion. It it available framed or unframed. All you have to do is cut and paste in your photographs and get everyone to sign it or write a little message. The hen party frame got a lot of attention when we launched it at the National Wedding Show this weekend and we are giving one away as part of a promotion for the new range. If you sign up to our mailing list before 31st October 2012, you will automatically be entered into the draw to win one of these prints. So far the range consists of three designs: Hen Party, Wedding Party and Landmark Birthday (which can also be used as a family tree) but we've got loads more in the pipeline to roll out over the next few months. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to order a bespoke version for a special event that you are planning for yourself or a loved one. Shop Keepsake Prints

National Wedding Show 2012 NEC: A Photo Album

Our thanks to all those involved in making this weekend's wonderful trip to the NEC possible, all who stopped by to say hello and took such an interest in our work and a big hello to our marvellous and very friendly neighbours at the show Wedding Venues & Services Magazine, Design Elegance Venue Styling, Lisa Burrett Photography, La Mariee Bridal Boutique, Ice The Cake Supplier Directory and Ceremonies in Cheshire.

   

A Letter From Mr & Mrs Fricker

I received a lovely e-mail from one of our lovely May brides and her new husband and I thought I'd post it in it's entirety because - well frankly - it says lots of lovely things about us and it also contains the benefit of their experience having actually just got married. I only got hitched five years ago but I find daily that this whole business of weddings and everything that comes with them have moved on a staggering amount since then so it's always refreshing to have a contemporary view. Here's what she had to say along with some photographs she included with her message:

"Every bride wants her wedding to never end. Having a BOYGIRLBOY frame hanging proudly in our hallway, with messages of love and congratulations from our closest friends and family keeps the memories of our happiest day at the forefront of our minds. As a bride to be, you have countless tasks and decisions to make, which photographer will capture the day usually being the hardest decision of all and it was with that in mind that I chose our BOYGIRLBOY signature frame, how can we capture our day and make it last forever? Of course guest books are lovely, but what do you do with them once the day is over? 

From our first conversation I knew Jennie was going to deliver fantastic service and an outstanding product. Whilst wedding planning you have countless tasks and to do lists. So time consuming and absorbing, you often get stressed having to "chase" people. Jennie so efficiently developed the product through simple emails and mood boards and when the frame was delivered (well before the due date, hugely reassuring) we were not disappointed. As well as looking great, the frame oozes quality, the wood, mount and finish are superb. 

Our signature frame generated excitement and curiosity, we have messages from grandparents to 5 year old nephews and all those in between, absolutely priceless!! 

No wedding related decision is easy but if you want high quality products and fantastic service for the happiest day of your life - you won't be disappointed.

Happy wedding planning! 

Lynsey and Martin Fricker

A Ruby Do Two!

Congratulations to couples Ian and Liz and Chris and Vicky who held a joint celebration party for their fortieth wedding anniversary on Saturday night. I had great fun creating a bespoke theme for their seating plan and table stationery which they wanted to to keep light and playful. Forty years of marriage is no mean feat and we wish them every happiness in their married lives going forward!

Encased in a slick black swept frame, the table names were based on the various places that the couples have lived over the years. My favourite was Splott which is an area of Cardiff.

The background of the seating plan was a huge drawing of cascading ruby shapes each depicting a year of their marriage between 1972 and 2012 and a major world event or historical landmark that defined each year. My favourite was 1981 which read - "Who shot JR?". It was a great way for the guests to reminisce about everything that has happened since the couples tied the knot. Their photos and table inserts were attached on raised plates to the outside of the glazing to give the frame a really dynamic effect.

The perfect keepsake - on arrival at the reception the guests were handed a champagne glass and a pen with which to write a message on a guestbook mount for each couple that displayed their official wedding phtotographs. It was cause for much comment (particularly since both brides didn't seem to have changed very much at all) and was a fab way to get everyone in the mood for a celebration.

Ready, Steady, Go!

I am so excited to present our new range of seating plans, guestbook frames and table stationery which features on our brand new shop site being launched this month in the run up to The National Wedding Show at the NEC on 5 - 7 October. During this time, I will be introducing the new range in detail so please watch this space.

Lakeside View

Congratulations to Joanna & Henry who married on Saturday at Sandhurst. Here's a photograph of our bespoke seating plan outside the marquee at the idyllic lakeside where the reception took place. A lovely touch: instead of using a photograph, the groom sketched the wedding chapel for the centre of their frame.

A Pretty Picture

Here's a nice sight. One of our favourite seating plans gracing the living room of Sasha and Tim who married at beautiful Lainston House in Hampshire over Easter. You can see the way that the couple very cleverly chose their design. As Sasha herself put it: "Tim and I wanted to say thank you...The choice of the frame was spot on, as was the design and they not only matched the character of the Dawley barn at the wedding, but also at our home..."

Here's a picture of the same seating plan at the door of their wedding breakfast at Lainston House:

The perfect illustration of our keepsake ethos: both a stunning momento and a talking point for years to come! See our website for some more recent examples of our work.