something blue no.4

turquoise:

the colour of 2010

When it comes to colour, there is no question who is the know-it-all. And Pantone has announced not only all the colours that will be fashionable for Spring 2010 but have also declared that Turquoise is the colour of the year! Fabulous news for brides as this colour has so many options. For it can look romantic and dreamy with white if done in textures and layers but then equally modern and sophisticated if sharp, clean lines are used.

Our GOOD TIP for the day, when selecting a specific colour like turquoise it is sometimes very hard to find everything in the exact blue. So first things first make sure you have a Pantone Swatch of your colour on you at all times, that way you won’t be coming home with aqua ribbon instead of turquoise. Secondly, don’t try and have evrything matchy match, rather have accents of blue. For example look how fabulous this Style Me Pretty Inspiration to Reality photoshoot looks just with the blue chairs!

Or maybe consider just the jewellery of you and your bridesmaids being the selected shade rather than their entire outfits.

Furthermore, turquoise has the versatility to be paired beautifully with just about any colour in the spectrum. For a tropical destination wedding think fuchsia pink or lime green and for a classic traditional wedding: soft pinks. But I think my new favourite combo would be with tangerine or tomato puree. Check out all the hot colours for 2010 approved by Pantone.

IMAGES: PANTONE, STYLE ME PRETTY

SOMETHING BORROWED no. 4

vintage and retro touches

Brides are “borrowing” trends from a completely different era and with much success:

Wardrobes:

birdcage veils

tea length dresses

40’s style hairdos,

gloves (either short or long)

Decorations:

vintage glass hurricanes and coloured glass votives or old coca cola bottles and mason jars,

old-fashioned phones and books,

old typewriters for guest books

bikes for going away...

IMAGE: STYLEMEPRETTY

something new no. 4

grand getaway

Maybe it is just me, but the idea of the bride & groom "Going Away“ seems to have fallen along the wayside in the past couple of years but it is back and with a bang!

Just like one has focused on the arrival of the bride and groom, now it is about shifting the focus to leaving as newlyweds and creating one last memorable moment to leave in your and your guests minds.

Ideas include a fancy get-away car or a fireworks display. But grand does not need to mean costly, the same impact can be made with a tandem bicycle and your guests waving sparklers! See this great how-to for the latter from Twig & Thistle. Or maybe releasing sky lanterns available from In Good Company!

So in the midst of all your wedding day planning, take a few minutes to plan the last few moments. Or better yet assign this to your groom, so you too can enjoy one last big surprise!

something old no.4

family style


It has been fashionable in the past few years to do things differently when it comes to the menu and how it is served at weddings - but it seems brides are looking back to the good-old days where everybody sat around the table and enjoyed course after course and each others company. 

The Dinner-focused reception is back - think either large round tables of 10 or more guests, or long tables all in row. Avoid buffets and the long queues that go with them, and have every course plated and served to the guests and waiters serving drinks (basically what you would experience in a restaurant). And to keep things interesting consider have a course, possibly a starter that has to be passed around or a dessert that is made up from a selection of dishes placed on the table. 


Then the next thing is to make each seat the best possible seat in the house. Your guests comfort is key and whilst these ideas are obvious they are often overlooked:
- Layout the tables and chairs in such a way that as far as possible everyone will have a good view of the main table or from where the speeches will take place.
- Don't squeeze your guests in, give them enough space to move their chair in and out and enough space left to right to eat comfortably. GOOD TIP: 90cm from left to right and 1m in and out.
- Use Escort Cards, a Seating Plan and Place Cards to ensure your guests find their assigned spot easily. Try and seat friends with friends, personally I think a wedding is not the opportunity to try and mix it up too much, you want guests to have fun and that's guaranteed when they are with people they know.
- Test out the chairs, are you comfortable? Use cushions rather than not.
- Have a dry run of what the lighting will be like. If you are going to dim the overhead lights, use lots of candlelight on the table.
- Have the florist do a table mock up - and actually sit down at each place setting and realistically ask yourself can the person talk to the other person across the table without foilage being in the way?
- Consider your music choices during the dinner - if your intention is for lively conversation tone down the music during this time and rev it up later.
- Create opportunities for guests to get talking like use conversation table cards.


Lastly, if you are not sure about what to do, just put yourself in the shoes of your wedding guests and think about what would you comfortable and the best way to do that is recreate the atmosphere that one would have at dinner party at home.


IMAGE: STYLEMEPRETTY

GOOD HOUSE

hello lover!


Yeah! I have blogged before about my love for MadebyGirl prints, and I am thrilled that she has just designed these two fantastic prints: Hello Languages and Love Languages. I immediately whipped up for each as they are perfect for our already mostly black and white apartment and will do wonders for some blank walls that we still have a year and a half later. So HAPPY V-DAY to me and one is for my hubby.

GOOD ON PAPER

be mine


In long anticipation Paper&Cake have just released a stunning Valentine's Be Mine Printable Party. Here is what's it's al about:


"Want to send your sweet some sweets? Need cute but not cutesy Valentine's for the office? Hosting a casual Valentine's Gathering? We've got just the thing...

This charming zebra and polka dot "Be Mine" Valentine's Collection in Chocolate and Bubblegum-Pink includes:
Favor Bag Toppers
Cupcake Picks
Stickers
Cards
Favor Bags
Coffee Cup Sleeves
Full Sheet Patterned Paper"

SOMETHING BLUE no.3

out of the blue

Your guests most likely know that you are already engaged, and some already know when you are getting married, so this trend is about sending a 3D Save the Date that obviously highlights the actual day that you are getting married but also has another fun unexpected element to it! Maybe it is a mini calendar, puzzle, luggage tag, bookmark and then there is this one from New York Weddings:

Erica and Sam’s 164 Days until they tie the knot save the date card –a list much like one would read a facebook status of what they would be doing everyday during the run up to the wedding. Read here for the full article.

something borrowed no.3

fashionable friends

We know you have heard this before: the idea of “rewearable” bridesmaid dresses. But the horrors of websites like uglydress.com and the movie 27 dresses really makes one wonder why brides even bother to spin this little white lie.

But we think 2010 bridesmaid dresses really are “borrowed” straight from the runways! The colours are hot, the styles are something you would wear for a night out on the town and the accessories are identical to what you would buy in “normal” shops.

The trend really is to have a look that is “co-hesive” rather than “cookie cutter”. It is about having the same colour or the same style or the same look or feature – but not all three. The idea is to look like the bride and her bridesmaids went on a fabulous shopping spree for their outfits - all a little bit the same but not too much!

IMAGES: STYLE ME PRETTY

SOMETHING NEW no. 3

blogging bride

Brides are not only using the internet in a big way to look for ideas and shop online, but also to communicate to their bridal party and wedding guests. This is especially the case when the guest list is spread all across the globe or a destination wedding is in the making.

Couples now have the option for a reasonable fare to set up their own wedding website or better yet for free a wedding blog from wordpress or blogger.

1) Share details about you two as individuals and as a couple. Think baby photos, the school year, how you met, how he proposed etc. and be sure to include lots of photos. This is especially great for guests that may only be familiar with one of you.

2) Use for big announcements, like Save the Date, Wedding Day details, directions, maps and accommodation etc.

3) Perfect for your bridesmaids or groomsmen to add details about pre-wedding parties and the gift registry information.

4) A great place for loading up all of your wedding photos so that everyone can see your “wedding album”.

5) Have a forum for frequently asked questions by guests, that way all your guests questions can be answered before they even need to ask.

6) You can also set up a blog where access is limited to say only to your bridal party or bridesmaids, here you can post all your wedding plans, bridesmaid dresses, duties, appointments etc. and share inspiration and ideas with each other.

IMAGE: MANOLO BRIDES

SOMETHING OLD no.3

dashing


Too often the focus is only on the bride, and whilst I as a woman can appreciate it is "her" Big Day, there is a lot to be said for the modern 2010 groom. Most likely the bride will make just about ever decision when it comes to the wedding, but there a few things that usually are left up to the groom, one of which I like to think is his attire.

It gives the opportunity for the groom to express his own personality. Now don't fret bridezella's! This trend is well-suited (pun intended) to your wedding day - today's men are reverting back to good Old Hollywood Glam. Think smart black tuxedos, pristine white shirts and bowties - AKA James Bond! And if your groom wants a bit of colour we like the idea of coloured stripy socks or quirky cufflinks - sweet but discreet.

IMAGES: FASHIONWINDOWS, STYLE ME PRETTY

IN THE NEWS

create my event

There are so many great blogs out there and I love them all! So we are just as please as punch that Create My Event highlighted our Asian Afternoon Tea featured in Issue 13 and A Field Journal's Cherry Blossom and Lanterns Birthday Party that we were kindly allowed to feature in out THE REAL GOOD LIFE section also in Issue 13. Thanks so much! And check out the full blog for more great Asian inspired ideas perfect for the Chinese New Year that falls on Valentine's day this year.

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: GIVEAWAY

valentine's day printables up for grabs!


So are you loving our V-DAY printables here and here? Would you like one for free?
Well, it is as easy as leaving a comment on this blog (be sure to include your email address details or email them to us at contactus@ingoodcompany.co.za) and we will send one your way. Oh! Don't forget to add if you want the ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE Collection or the BE MINE Collection! And tell all your friends and spread the love!

GOOD LUCK

date night

For Valentine's Day we are running a competition, whereby we would like our readers to submit their ideas for a date night. The only catch is, it has to be for under R300 - therefore creativity is the key! The top three ideas will each receive the prize of a R300 In Good Company Gift Voucher for the winner to actually test out their date idea!

Competition Rules

1.    You can enter as many times as you like, send entries to contactus@ingoodcompany.co.za

2.   One date idea is equal to one entry.

3.   Competition closes on the 8 February 2010.

SOMETHING BLUE no.2

cobalt

Maybe not the colour for everyone, but cobalt blue is a good choice for the 2010 bride who wants to stand out from the crowd. Choosing such a daring colour is best done pairing with neutral rustic browns and champagnes. However, provided you use one or the other sparingly you could pair with another season favourite: aurora yellow or dried herb green.

We like the idea of having touches here and there:

-            Monogramme on wedding stationery

-            Shoes for the bride and/or bridesmaids

-            Ribbon on favours

IMAGES: GETMARRIED.COM

SOMETHING BORROWED no.2

classic cake

Wedding cakes in the past few years have been all chocolate or pretty colourful but it seems for 2010 it’s all about the classic white wedding cake. Order a simple, round, three-tiered cake with white icing or covered in white fondant forming a surreal backdrop for one of these “borrowed” item:

1) Use an antique cake topper from your parents’ or grandparents’ wedding or we have something similar in stock.

2) Decorate with the same fresh flowers that match your bouquet.

3) Add sparkle with a monogrammed cake topper mimicking your ring.

4) Take a close look at your dress, and the leave the cake clear of any colourful add-ons, rather opt for white on white like your dress, think similar beading, lace or bows.

IMAGES: MARTHA STEWART

SOMETHING NEW no.2

ceremony revamp

If you want to avoid a cookie cutter wedding, one of the newest trends is to revamp the ceremony. Whether you choose to host the ceremony in a church, ballroom or under a tree the idea is to make your guests feel right at home.

Ideas include:

Forgo the common aisle down the middle arrangement and seat your guests in a circle, that way everyone has a front row seat!

Avoid assembly lines of chairs and create a lounging style using a mix of couches and chairs. Or what about benches or quilts on hay bales!

Create your own “altar”. Use a signature piece of furniture – more on this here. Or make a real feature overhead like these paper lanterns in mass.

Or if you are really industrious create your own ceremony site like this couple did!

Get your attendants in on the act and move over “stepping” down the aisle for some of these funky moves.

Serve drinks and play festive music during the ceremony, or even if the actual ceremony is quite traditional and formal, this is a great option just before and after the ceremony.

So many ideas and more to follow, remember anything goes and the more personal the better!


IMAGES: STYLEMEPRETTY

SOMETHING OLD no.2

engagement photo shoot

You may have heard of them before but most likely it is just conjures up images of faded backgrounds and cheesy formal portraits, but Engagement Photo Shoots are standard for most international brides, and if you take a look at today’s versions you can see why!

These are hip and happening and a true reflection of the couple and their personalities. What’s more besides having a blast at the shoot itself these pretties have so many great uses:

1) Place an advert in the local newspaper to announce your engagement status with your favorite shot.

2) Use as part of your engagement party or rehearsal dinner party invitations, table numbers, favour tags etc.

3) Frame these photos and make a feature wall at the engagement, rehearsal dinner or even the wedding! Best of all these can later be hung up in your new home.

4) Use the photos for in a slideshow together with other photos of the both of you, these can even date back to your childhood! This works great for all types of wedding parties, and especially the bridal shower or bachelor party.

5) Have these printed together with lots of other photos into a coffee table style photo album and then use as guestbook for your guests at the wedding.

6) Pick your most loved photo and have this printed onto a large canvas, mount this and display at the wedding maybe by the bar or dessert buffet.

And here are our tips for a the photoshoot itself:

1)   Organise your photo shoot with your wedding day photographer, not only are you likely to get a good rate but it makes a great test run for the wedding day itself. It allows your photographer to get you know you and vice versa.

2)   Pick a location(s) that is a reflection of the both of you. A picture is worth a thousand words , so let the place tell a your story. Maybe it is where you first met, where he proposed, anywhere that has a special place in both of your hearts.

3)   Plan upfront what you want to use the photos for. This will help with the choosing your location, wardrobe and style. If it is for the wedding you may want to already work in the colours of your wedding day. Likewise for the engagement party or rehearsal dinner. The great thing about a themed photo shoot is that you can match it exactly to the theme of one of these parties. That way the photos alone can be your biggest source of decoration and what could be more personal?

4)   Have fun! This is a great opportunity to celebrate being engaged and having it recorded for many years to come!

Another trend on the back of this; is having a “Trash the Dress” photo shoot. This is where you and your new hubby get all dolled up again but no longer have the time constraints of a cocktail hour to have some stunning photos together. Maybe it is some you missed on the wedding day, maybe you want to do something completely different, and for some it maybe the chance to really “take the plunge”!

IMAGES: RUFFLED

SOMETHING BLUE no. 1

put on your blue suede shoes

One of the most important wedding decisions to make will be the colour palette. But even if you go for an all white or neutral colour palette it doesn’t mean you have to forgo colour completely. I love the idea of having a little surprise up your sleeve, or in this case under your dress. So put your best foot forward and wear bright and we mean BRIGHT coloured shoes on your wedding day. And you know what we are going to say next: best of all you can really splash out on a designer pair as you can definitely wear them again and again!

IMAGE: THE WEDDING CHICKS

SOMETHING BORROWED no.1

garland getaway

Green is the new black! And so one thing is guaranteed for WEDDINGS 2010 there will still be a conscious effort of brides to do things in a way that take the environment into consideration. And this does not mean one has to sacrifice style, in fact just the opposite can be true!

So forgo the repurposing of tin cans (still a good recycling use for them though) and have the groomsmen “borrow” some pretty paper garlands that you may have used to decorate the ceremony or venue site, and have these stuck behind your going away car. In fact be even more green and take a bike! 

IMAGES: yesplease, MARTHA STEWART

SOMETHING NEW no.1

home sweet home

With the economy taking a bit of a knock and with it wedding budgets, a great new trend has arisen: The “Backyard Wedding” as Americans like to call it. The first step is take a serious look at your guest list and here is a GOOD TIP: If they don’t know your pet’s name, maybe you can scratch them off the list.

Next is to find a location, maybe you are fortunate to already have a big enough home/garden. Or maybe your parents or other family or friends do. Nowadays, so many traditional venues ask quite hefty price tags (R10K – R20K and sometimes even double that!) just for hire. And whilst this does include furniture and equipment, crockery, cutlery, glassware, table numbers, napery and table linen, there are still many other factors and costs that are not included, especially to the extent where minimum numbers are required.

Hosting at a home will have the costs of hiring some of these items, but you may be fortunate in that a number of the items your host may already have. The advantages will be being able to create your own look that suits the home and your wedding style, and the thing I like the best is that you could purchase items that you love and use them at the wedding and then in your new home!

This was best done by one of 2009 BEST WEDDINGS’ Couple Kelly & Chris. Not only did they host their wedding at a small hotel around the swimming pool they did some of these great ideas:

Giant reclaimed billboard light up initials for display at the wedding and then again in their home. 

Table numbers bought from a home décor store to number the tables and for general home décor.

Ceramic vases and bowls filled with succulents in lieu of flowers used for table centerpieces and favours. Extras were sprinkled around their apartment.

Customised napkins to bring bright colour to the table. Sets given to special guests after the wedding and for hostess’s gifts thereafter; and naturally to use for their own home use and entertaining.

Some of our suggestions:

Buy a whole set of stunning frames all different shapes and sizes but follow a theme that suits both the wedding and your home. Frame photos of yourselves, or maybe all wedding photos of family members years gone by and display these at the wedding. This makes a great backdrop for people to have photos in front of. If you are feeling very creative you could set this up on a freestanding board, have one or two empty frames with the hole cut out, and people can poke their heads through! Then afterwards, add your wedding photos and create a mural wall in your hallway or other large space.

Buy a signature piece of furniture: sideboard, chest of drawers, something spectacular and use this as your altar during the ceremony! Then move it into your home –what a wonderful reminder of your wedding day and the vows especially. You could even decorate the top or the wall behind with photo frames, pictures, vases, urns, candlesticks etc. to be used at the wedding and in your home.

Depending on the numbers at your wedding you could actually in fact use some of your own crockery and glassware or start a collection! Even if you just use stunning bowls, platters, jars for centerpieces or a dessert buffet. Would you believe that soup tureens and serving bowls make great holders for flower arrangements – now you have the perfect excuse to invest in the likes of Wedgewood and Waterford!

There are so many ideas that one can do, we may just have to create a feature on our blog about this, I think I will have to start thinking of a good name for it… any suggestions?

IMAGES: yes please, marthastewart, stylemepretty