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!

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.

Game, Set & Match!

Congratulations to Tim and Sasha who married last weekend at beautiful Lainston House in Hampshire. Here is a picture of their bespoke BOYGIRLBOY seating plan on an ornate easel at the door of the dining room. They opted for an elegant, black, swept frame with a double mount in cream and white and a black and white portrait of the couple and their beloved Shih tzu Elizabeth. Both skilled tennis players, the tables were named after great female tennis stars. Game, set and match! 

New Seating Plan Design

Presenting a new square design featuring a non-uniform eight table configuration, double-mounted with table numbers, dedication and photo aperture. The square frame is a sumptuous 7cm cushion profile with silver-flecked gilt finish. The mount is ivory inset (tables only) with burgundy.

Guest List Blues

Arranging your seating plan is one of the most stressful things you will tackle when planning your wedding. Fact. It is also one of the last things that gets any consideration in the rush to organise all the things that have to be planned so far in advance such as booking a good photographer, caterer, choosing a dress, your stationery and flowers. I went through it just like every other bride out there so, here are my top tips for taking the pressure off:

1. Start planning well in advance. Even though it seems like a long way off, get going early on your seating plan early, even before you have all your replies back. You can add in or take people out as you go along but it will be much easier than starting from scratch as the wedding approaches and you get more and more busy. 

2. Make a list. Set up an Excel spreadsheet or a table on your computer and begin to group people together with likely table companions. If you prefer you could also do this with pieces of paper on a board but it takes up more space and you can't decamp with it to Starbucks when you're stressed out and desperately need to get a change of scene. Find out from your venue what table sizes they have available and what the maximum capacity of the dining area is. Make a separate list of odd-ones-out or people who are difficult to place so you can look for gaps for them later on.

3. Deal with sensitive issues properly. If you have family members who do not like each other for any reason, make a point of sensitively and privately discussing how they feel about where they sit. Obviously, it is your day, but you don't want it marred by a big row. Everyone has to know where they stand well in advance. It may be a difficult conversation but it is better than just 'deciding' for them. Once you have everyone's opinion, you will be in a better place to work out how to proceed. Do however make the point that the wedding breakfast will only be for a couple of hours and you would appreciate their support on your big day. Not everyone can sit on the top table and most people respect that but perhaps you could find ways to make those in your wedding party who do not end up sitting with you at dinner feel like an important part of the day. eg. giving a reading in the church, announcing the speeches or reading the cards from absent guests.

4. Create a suitable environment. When grouping guests together, think very carefully about what sort of atmosphere you would like at your wedding breakfast. I've been to a few weddings where I've been seated on a table away from my partner and often next to two people I do not know and will never meet again. This is fine for the naturally gregarious but I have to say that, personally, this is not a particularly comfortable situation. Give consideration to the individual personalities of your guests. You or your betrothed will know deep down how they will feel about where they sit. You want to ensure that your guests enjoy their meal as much as they enjoy the rest of your day.

5. Group guests according to their mutual interests and requirements. If you have a big group of mates who spend a lot of time together, seat them together. Bear age in mind when planning and make sure people with children are near a convenient exit for toilet trips and short breaks. You don't have to seat partners side by side but, as far as possible, do try to put them on the same table. And never attempt to play cupid at dinner (that's what the late night drinking and dancing is for). Finally, put older people where they can see the top table without difficulty and in a good position to hear the speeches if you are not using a PA system. If you put together a table of people who are naturally at ease with one another then you will find slotting in people who don't fall naturally into any particular group far more easy.

6. Get a second opinion. Sometimes it helps to get a little perspective. Choose someone organised and relatively impartial. When I was getting my married, my darling dad took over the job of fielding and chasing up all the RSVPs and feeding back to me regularly to help me organise. It took an enormous weight off my shoulders and he was able to give us  advice about where to put people when we got stuck. Too many cooks spoil the broth though so avoid asking too many people for their opinion.

So that's my 10 cents. If you have any further suggestions about working out a seating plan or have any experience to share, please do not hesitate to send them in.