The festive season is in full swing, which often means a period of parties, plans and obligations to see family and friends. So it can be all too easy for the festivities to fly by without spending that quality time just you and your other half.
Which is where Christmas traditions can come in! An activity (or activities) for you to share as a couple year after year. Carving out those special moments and having some fun at the same time.
Whether this is the first year you’re celebrating the Christmas period as a couple or you’re just looking for some new ways to have some festive fun, our Christmas traditions video should give you some helpful ideas!
We’re still working on the matching pyjamas but you might have a more amenable partner!
We’d love to hear if you’re planning on starting any Christmas traditions with your other half, let us know in the comments. And, most importantly, don’t forget to give us your opinion…is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
This week’s Cricut DIY tutorial was born out of a family Christmas tradition…I’m not sure why or when this tradition started, but I’d take a guess it was during my teenage years, come Christmas morning we would find that Santa had left my sister, Nanna and me, items of jewellery hanging on the tree. I guess my teenage years as my parents had a very fixed rule about not allowing pierced ears before the age of thirteen (I think they’d been picturing gruesome playground accidents), anyway, on with the story…
As the years have passed, yes, my teenage years are now somewhat of a distant memory, I started to help Santa out a little with stockings for my parents and a little something on the tree for my Mum (he was very appreciative and awarded me with a ‘Top Elf’ certificate, but don’t ask me to show it to you, it’s made with special magic dust that can only be seen by the certificate owner…very fancy!).
In preparation for Christmas this year, I decided to buy a fillable tree decoration and whipped out my Cricut Maker to personalise it for my Mum with her name and a few snowflakes for added winter feels, taking the ‘tree jewellery’ tradition to the next level (sorry for blowing the surprise Mum, I know you’re probably reading this, but if you could try to forget about it for the next couple of weeks, that would be swell!).
Anyway, long story (not so) short, I was then looking at this personalised bauble and it occurred to me that it would also be perfect as a Christmas-time wedding favour! You could fill it with fancy chocolates or sugared almonds and leave it on your guests place settings, then they can double up as your name cards too! And that extra little bit of magic will come around every year as your guests hang them on their Christmas trees at home. So, here’s a step-by-step tutorial, suitable for all levels, of how to make your own personalised tree decoration / wedding favour.
In case you’re wondering, the second bauble I made to film this video is for my sister’s ‘tree jewellery’…you’re welcome Santa! …I fully expect to be getting another ‘Top Elf’ award for 2021, I’ll make room on my shelf now!
Don’t forget, if you’re just looking for some guidance on a particular step, you can use the time stamps to jump ahead which are located in the video description box over on YouTube.
Any questions or video requests please comment here or on YouTube and I’ll do my best to help you out. Also, we’d would love to hear about your slightly quirky family Christmas traditions!
Having a go? Tag us in your Christmassy photos over on Instagram, we’d love to see what you’ve been up to.
While the tradition of adding figurines to the top of your wedding cake may have fallen out of style, cake toppers in general certainly haven’t! Whether it’s the laser cut names of your future surname, something to represent an interest or hobby in your lives or even something as simple as a floral arrangement, they can often add that finishing touch/crowning glory to your cake.
So, we’re embracing the time of year and have created wedding themed pine cone cake toppers! Perfect for an autumn/winter wedding to add a bit of the season on to your cake.
We’ve provided the tutorial for both a ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ topper but use the timestamps below for the video to skip to the appropriate tutorial for you and your fiancé(e).
‘Bride’ – 00:11
‘Groom’ – 04:17
Theme your pine cones to match your wedding colours and themes, and you’ll have created your very own mini me pine cone toppers!
You will need:
‘Bride’ Topper
‘Groom’ Topper
Pine cone
Cake pop stick
Hot glue gun
Lace ribbon/fabric
Mini artificial flowers
Scissors
Pine cone
Cake pop stick
Black paper/card
Scissors
Glue stick
Hot glue gun
Having a go? Tag us in your photos over on Instagram here, we’d love to see what you come up with! Any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll do our best to help.
Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Guide 2021 | Fiancé(e) edit
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It might not quite be December, but it’s close enough to be in full festive mode and when thinking about the perfect present for your other half, it’s always wise to shop early! Especially as we’re focussing on (mainly) small businesses in our Sustainable Gift Guide 2021.
We’ve got gift ideas to suit all budgets, from stocking fillers to splurge gifts, so just call us your very own Christmas elves! And while we’re not saying that all of the businesses are perfect when it comes to their eco-credentials, we’ve highlighted products and companies who are making efforts with their sustainable practices.
Don’t worry if Santa’s list is already full for your fiancé(e), this gift guide still works for all the loved ones in your life. Happy gifting!
Got a particular budget in mind? Jump ahead with our time stamps: Under £15/Stocking Fillers: 01.24 Under £50: 04.20 Over £50: 08.38
Like the look of a specific gift featured in this video? All the featured gifts, and more, can be found on our Pinterest Board that accompanies this video.
NB. Please note, there are no affiliate links associated with this video and has been made entirely independently of any of the companies featured. We are not able to accept any responsibility for the quality or reliability of any of the sellers mentioned in this video, images shown as examples only.
Picking and mixing isn’t just reserved for candy (yes, I’m sat writing this around Halloween, so sugar is definitely on the brain)! …Now it’s your wedding attire! A strong wedding trend for 2022 that’s coming through is bridal separates. Unlike the traditional ‘wedding dress’, this is the concept of having the top part separate from the bottom half…in whatever form that might come – suits, skirts, over-skirts, tops, crop tops…
The joy of the separates is versatility. You want different day to evening looks? Done. You want to mix things up for your wedding photographs? Sorted. Can’t find a dress that reflects your personality? Not to worry!
Back in 2012/3 when I was wedding dress shopping for myself, I never encountered ‘separates’ as an option. I remember trying numerous dresses on and multiple times thought…and probably said out loud; “I really love the bottom half of that dress and the top half of this one”. I would have loved the possibility of mixing to create my own unique ‘dress’ – without the price tag of a custom made dress. I say ‘dress’ because even if you are choosing separates, they can still look like they are a one-piece when worn. But of course you can commit fully to the modern bridal separates vibe where the pieces look deliberately separate which is where the bridal industry have really embraced the current high street fashions.
(Disclaimer: If you’re someone for whom the idea of being given lots of choice sends you into a tail spin, then this probably isn’t a route you should venture down…!)
Personally however, I think this is a genius move, and in this week’s video we’re talking you through some of the many options out there with our favourite picks.
Also! Check out our dedicated ‘Bridal Separates’ board over on Pinterest here to see a roundup of, and links to, some of our favourites that feature in this week’s video.
Looking for more content like this? Check out our ‘Bridal Try-Ons’ playlist here.
Are you wearing bridal separates for your wedding? Tag us in your photos over on Instagram, we’d love to see!
How to Make a Winter Wedding Buttonhole/Boutonniere
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Summer seems a distant memory now, Halloween’s been and gone, but we’re embracing the change in seasons with wrapping up that bit warmer, watching the golden leaves falling from the trees and finding pine cones on the ground. The pastel and bright colours from spring and summer weddings are making way for darker, richer tones.
We’re bringing those autumn/winter vibes with our DIY Wedding Buttonhole tutorial. Making use of pine cones to add a unique, seasonal twist to a traditional buttonhole/boutonniere. We’ve paired it with a sprig of eucalyptus and a thistle but whatever flowers/foliage you choose, the method will be exactly the same.
You will need:
Thin floral wire
Floral tape
Flowers/Foliage/Pine Cones
Twine
Scissors
Tip – If you’re using fresh flowers, we would advise you make the buttonholes as close to the time that you need them as possible to avoid any chance of wilting (i.e. wedding morning rather than the night before).
Having a go? Tag us in your photos over on Instagram here, we’d love to see what you come up with! Any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll do our best to help.
Sometimes, after all the build-up and excitement of the wedding, and then the honeymoon, your ‘something blue’ can be you…the post wedding blues are real! Don’t get us wrong, we know you’re happy to be married and starting this next chapter of your life together, but now you’re back in your day-to-day routine, it’s back to reality with a bump! Nothing particular to look forward to and probably a lot less annual leave on the calendar! Ouch!
Honestly, we both felt it too and so, whilst you mostly just have to ride the post wed. wave, we have brought you some of our tried and tested tips / suggestions to help see you through the worst of it. We’ve got you!
And yes, it is perfectly acceptable to continue talking about your wedding for at least a year after it’s happened.
Got any tips of your own? Share them in the comments for other husbands and/or wives to see. Want to see what else we’ve been up to? Join us over on Instagram and Pinterest for even more content.
We can’t quite believe we’re already heading towards the end of 2021! What was meant to be the year of getting back on track after an unusual 2020, saw a lot of the world go through multiple lockdowns (again).
BUT weddings started happening again, and couples have been able to celebrate their Big Day with their nearest and dearest. SO we can only hope this continues and 2022 is the year we can really let loose.
As we head towards January 2022 at an alarming rate, we’re once again looking ahead at the trends we think will be big in the New Year. You’ll see that a lot of the trends we’re seeing have been impacted by, and are a result of, the last 18+ months and we’d love to hear what you think.
Do you agree with our trend predictions? Have you noticed any other trends about to blow up in 2022? And are you featuring anything we’ve mentioned in your own wedding? Let us know in the comments below!
Autumn has fully set in, Halloween is on the horizon, and the stores have mounds of pumpkins greeting you at the door. We’re fully embracing those fall vibes (at least whilst the sun in still shining)…we’ve dug out the sweaters from the depths of our drawers, started to don the occasional light scarf and have put the gloves within easy reach – just in case! If you’ve taken the love of all that is autumnal to the next level by deciding to have your wedding in this golden-leafed season, then maybe you’ve stopped by our blog for a touch of inspiration on how to incorporate seasonal touches into your wedding day. Tasteful nods are always key to any wedding ‘theme’. In this week’s DIY tutorial, we’re giving the spooky ‘ghost’ munchkin pumpkin a touch of wedding glamour to create the perfect fall-meets-wedding look!
In fact, we have two designs for you, both using ‘ghost’ munchkin pumpkins as a base.
1. A ‘Ghostly’ name place setting – keeping it white, adding beadwork with a handwritten name (also shown with vinyl for options).
2. A ‘Ghoul’ name place setting – a tad more gothic or Halloween-esq., depending on your desired vibe for your wedding, also beaded and with a cut vinyl name. Either get your pre-cut vinyls online and skip ahead to the application step (time stamps below) or make them with our quick Cricut demo.
Tip! Even if you’re not planning a wedding right now, don’t let that hold your craftiness back! These cuties will bring a touch of seasonal class to any dinner party or even Halloween party. Having more than one event? Use ‘removeable’ vinyl rather than the ‘permanent’ vinyl that we used, then simply remove and replace the names as desired!
What we used:
• ‘Ghost’ munchkin pumpkins • Uni Posca Gold Chisel 8mm Pen* (*Affiliate link – we get a small percentage of the earnings made from this link, but there is no additional charge to you.)
• All Purpose Glue* (*Affiliate link – we get a small percentage of the earnings made from this link, but there is no additional charge to you.) • Oval Pearl Beads
• Pearl Beads, 2.5mm • Pearl Beads, 5mm • Twisted Bugle Beads* 7mm silver (*Affiliate link – we get a small percentage of the earnings made from this link, but there is no additional charge to you.)
If you want to fall down the rabbit hole of even more inspiration for your autumn/fall/Halloween wedding or celebration, check out our YouTube playlist here!
Having a go? Tag us in your photos over on Instagram here, we’d love to see what you come up with! Any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll do our best to help.
If you’re in the US, then it will come as no surprise that Halloween is the second most popular holiday (Christmas being number 1) and the popularity is only rising in the UK! So it’s quite possible that if you’re planning a wedding around the end of October you may want to include some Halloween touches.
Move over pumpkins (not really – we love wedding pumpkins! Check out quite a few wedding pumpkin ideas here.) Edible favours always go down a storm so we think our mummy and witch inspired cakesicles are definitely more treat than trick! And who says Halloween has to be scary? These cakes will bring a smile to anyone’s face!
Perfect for wedding favours, your guests will be sure to take these with them at the end of the night, if they last that long that is!
Oh man, doesn’t it feel great to be back in wedding season?! Although the term ‘season’ doesn’t really seem to apply to 2021 weddings in the way it used to. This September was the first wedding I’ve attended since the pandemic began (I can’t even remember how long ago the last wedding was before that) and it felt GOOD!
This, like many of recent times, was a long-awaited wedding, with multiple dates having been and gone, to the point where you’d stop believing it would ever be able to happen. However, this September, IT HAPPENED!!! Two of my truly lovely friends from yoga tied the knot and every single one of us cherished this wedding all the more for the wait.
We danced, we laughed, we ate cake and we applauded. It was the very best of days…there was even sunshine! The only challenge that lay before me, which was surprisingly quite a sizeable challenge, was remembering how to get dressed up…what do I do with this eyeshadow, which spray keeps my curls in, which heels are comfy for all-day partying?! So, in today’s video I’m taking you along for the ride of rediscovering makeup and party dresses as I get ready for this September wedding. (So mostly a video of me looking confused!)
As much as we love flowers, it can sometimes be heartbreaking when you can only enjoy them for a few days before they die. Especially something like a bridal bouquet which holds so many emotions and memories!
I know I attempted to hang my bouquet flowers upside down from the cottage we rented for our mini-moon to try and dry them. With limited success! Some worked ok but others shrivelled up or turned brown. Not quite the look I was going for!
After hearing about silica gel beads as a way of preserving flowers, we were intrigued, but wary of using silica when we’re trying to be more sustainable. However, after some research, it turns out the gel beads can be re-used over and over again. So we gave it a go!
The main thing you need with this method (other than the silica gel beads themselves) is patience. I left the flowers drying for a week before uncovering them from their blanket of beads although small flowers may dry quicker than that.
You will need:
Flowers (the larger the flower, the longer it will take to dry)
Silica Gel Beads – We used this 2kg bucket*Affiliate link – we receive a small share of any sales made through this link. The silica gel can be re-used however each set of flowers will take approximately a week to fully dry.
A container – this could be anything as long as you can completely surround your flowers with the silica gel and cover it over. (We used a 4l Really Useful Box)
A soft paintbrush to remove any silica beads from in between the dried petals.
Gloves and a mask are advised when using the silica gel beads as they can be an irritant
I would say that this isn’t the cheapest DIY. I ordered a 2kg bucket and that worked perfectly to cover the four flowers dried in this video. But you would need a lot more to do a large bouquet all at the same time.
Overall, I was really impressed with the results of this preservation method. Although I lost a few petals, the flowers kept their colour which is unusual! And don’t look dried at all.
An easy way to keep hold of those cherished blooms!
Once dried, I added my flowers to a deep shadow box frame to display them along side some other treasured memories from my wedding.
We used this frame* – Affiliate link – we receive a small share of any sales made through this link
Anyone around here a morning person? Especially the morning after a wedding? I for one am definitely not (and I don’t even particularly drink!), so the hotel ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign is basically my best friend. I usually blame my husband for working on another time zone for my nocturnal lifestyle, but in all honesty, I was always a night owl (don’t tell him I owned up to that though, shhhh!).
So if you’re a Cricut fan, ready and raring to craft your way through to W-Day, we’ve got a tutorial, suitable for all levels, on how to make a Door Hanger for your guests. Perfect if you are having a hotel based wedding and want a fun way to welcome all your out-of-town guests!
We’re showing you how to use the Cricut Design Space, their foiling kit, fine point blade and debossing tip in today’s how-to, but you can always just skip ahead to the bits you need using the time stamps in the video description box!
Having a go? Tag us in your photos over on Instagram here, we’d love to see what you come up with! Any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll do our best to help.
When I look back at my wedding, some of the most fun and ‘alive’ photos of our guests, are the ones from our photo booth. Almost everyone had a go, even the characters amongst them who I thought wouldn’t be into it. Every image is of someone having a good time and letting their playful side out…yes, in some cases, aided by alcohol (no comment!). Those photos even ended up being a number of peoples’ profile photos for a while there too!
So if you’re looking to add a little extra magic to your photos, be it at your engagement party, bridal shower or hen do, then have a go at making our diamond ring DIY Photo Booth Frame with our tutorial over on YouTube now! Fully customisable, just add to or adapt the text, or once you’ve learnt the basic technique, apply it to whatever shape you want!
Having a go? Tag us in your hen party photos over on Instagram here, we’d love to see what you come up with! Any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll do our best to help.
How to Make Your Own Wedding Stationery | Embossed Place Settings | Faux Wax Seal Place Cards
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If you’re thinking about DIY-ing parts of your wedding, chances are you’re already a bit crafty and might have a stash of crafting supplies you can dig through for your wedding projects. This was the case for the Embossed Place Setting DIY. I wanted a take on a wax seal since we’ve seen a lot of wax seals on wedding stationery recently, but don’t own a wax seal kit. I thought there must be something I could use to give a similar effect so raided my craft supplies! Our faux wax seal place cards use embossing powder, heat and rubber stamps to create a similar effect.
If you haven’t used embossing powder before, it’s a powder that when heated, melts to produce a raised pattern/design. It’s usually used with rubber stamps with intricate designs but we’re using it a bit differently. The powders come in so many different colours, there’s sure to be something to match your colour scheme.
For this DIY you will need:
Pre cut place cards or sheets of card to make your own (standard place cards are 5.5cm x 8.5cm)
Vellum paper or paper in a colour/pattern of your choice
Embossing Powder
Clear Glue Ink Pad
Craft Heat Gun
Rubber stamps (for both the guests’ names and to create your design in the embossed circle)
Circle stamp/something circular to apply the clear glue ink with
Ink pad
** Please be careful when using heat guns as they get very hot! **
Having a go? Tag us in your photos over on Instagram here, we’d love to see what you come up with! Any questions, leave them in the comments and we’ll do our best to help.
