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.

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!