Monday 30 July 2012

DIY Special... simple table decorations

I did these simple decorations for my wedding and they looked lovely and are a good way to fill every nook and cranny and are fab to use on tables as they do not take up too much room and you can still see over the top of them. They are so easy to make so get all your maids, the mums and I even had the best man making these fab little jars that can also double up as favours. Step 1.
Collect all jam jars ect the best ones are spice jars, I had everyone collecting them and they soon add up. Step 2.
Add pretty lace or ribbon to jars or both, Tip... look out for a fabric/wool/craft shops, they often sell bundles of off cut lace and ribbon alot cheaper than buying online or on the roll. Step 3.
Raid everyones garden! I raided mine and my sisters, however we planned for this a year in advance. The year previous we looked at what was out in the garden already so we knew what we'd have to use, then I bought seeds or plants of anything extra I wanted that I knew would be in flower the time I was getting married. Don't fret if you dont have a garden as there are companies that specialise in cut your own. A good idea is to raid the hedgerows, this is especialy good when creating an autuminal theme as you can forage for some beautiful things. Step 4.
Arange your flowers in the jars. I also used the larger jars as tea light holders and they looked so pretty in the evening! Happy DIYing. Watch out for more diy tips for planning your wedding by Chintz 'n' China.

Thursday 26 July 2012

Throwing a bridal shower.

Bridal showers, originally from America are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. If your a M.O.B, C.B or M.O.H then read on, we're here to help you throw the best bridal shower ever. If she's a crafty bride why not treat her to one of our wedding DIY Tea Parties . They include a Full Afternoon Tea and there are some lovely ones to choose from. We have Cup Cake classes with Lisa of Lisa iced gems. Button hole & Bouquets by Christine, with flowers from the garden, or Make your own cake stand, by myself (limited numbers apply ). However if your bride would just like to sit back and relax a little we can host a beautiful Tea Party on vintage China and leave you to chat about the big day while we serve out more cake. Craft packages from £30.00pp Afternoon Tea Parties from £7.50pp (minimum & maximum numbers apply) Hosted either at yours or in our shabby chic conservatory. Please also see us on http://www.mrandmrsfunique.co.uk where we have been awarded their seal of approval.

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Vintage Tea Parties. Hire or buy debate.

Hire or buy? Well obviously im going to say hire, & hire from us, but let me tell you why... Collecting vintage China for an event seems like a great idea, it is soo pretty and looks fantastic . Other brides have done it, how hard can it be?... 'answer....Very!' What starts off as a lovely DIY project can soon turn into a nightmare leaving you £s out of pocket . You really do not need the added stress of searching/buying the amount you need, in time for your big day. Being a vintage hire company I always have my magpie goggles on and over the past two years I have seen China prices rocket with the popular vintage trend. Don't get me wrong there are still bargains to be had but probably not many in the time scale that is your wedding. Expect to pay around £15.00 for a vintage cup, saucer & tea plate, now times that by your guest list...alot isn't it?! and that's before you get started on teapots, sugar bowls & tongs,milk jugs, cake stands.... the list is endless. At Chintz 'n' China our antique China is stunning and in perfect condition . We provide a free washing up service, will deliver and collect from your venue and for a small fee lay the China on your tables. For stress free planning we also offer a full venue decoration service with fresh flowers straight out of the cottage garden. Instead of paying that £15.00 for a trio the cost to hire would be £2.50 We specialize in tiered cake stands (which as i wright this humble little blog are being hired and used by the Russian Olympic team for the London Olympics) they look absolutely stunning for afternoon tea or to place your canapes on. Of course the real beauty of hiring China from us is that we will look after you and when your finished using it we will come and clear it and take it back to its home, ready for the next happy couple Packages start from £50.00 please see our website for further details.www.chintznchinavintagehire.co.uk

Friday 20 July 2012

UGH... NOT THE SEATING PLAN....

Tips & advice on the seating plan.

Seating plans unfortunately are one of the things that can only be put together last minute, & I mean last minute...
I could not understand what all the fuss was about when organizing your wedding seating plan, after all these people are your nearest and dearest and all get along, right?
Unfortunately this is not the case for some people and I was no exception! With divorced parents, and an extended family beyond belief I had my work cut out.  You can try and have your seating plan done a month before, however realistically 2 weeks is probably best. Cutting it fine you say? You would not believe who and why for whatever reason might have to miss your big day last minute. Here are some tips to keep stress levels down & good luck! x
Chintz 'n' China

Tip 1 Scrap the head table, this was such a relief to everyone. We had round tables that seated 8 & the hubby & I did not fancy the other 6 being awkward parent moments, neither did the parents! Letting each parent host their own tables is a fab idea and it worked brilliantly, (plus if they really don't get on you can put a lot of space and friends between them). The parents really enjoyed hosting their tables, and we enjoyed a lovely relaxed Afternoon Tea on a table with our 2 best men + wives and maid of honor + partner. Smiley faces all round!

Tip 2 Although round tables do look nice, the trestle table is making a welcome come back! Think country church fete. Not only can they look really pretty, especially in a marque or quaint village hall, they put no end of would be seating problems to rest! There is none of this "what 8 people will work best together on this one table?" Instead you can really pile your friends & family round and it does not matter as it flows!

Tip 3 Works nice with tip 2. Instead of a formal top table, consider having a table for just you two! There is nothing like nestling in to your new hubby/wife and having tea for two. There is plenty of time to mingle with people all day! This is a nice moment where the two of you can reflect on the day so far.





Tip 4 Wright everyone's names on tags, draw up a sketch of your venue with tables, as large as you can and place your named tags onto your sketch. Its far easier than writing over & over again rough table plans. You can shuffle your guests around till your hearts content and it's perfect!






                                     
                                      Tip 5 I love this one! No Plan, 
Just invite your loved ones to pick a seat.

  

Wednesday 18 July 2012

TWO WEDDING DRESSES!! WELL KATE DID!!


I fell in love with a wedding dress I was not looking for and was not at all like what I had been swooning over in the bridal mags. I now know this to be quite a common thing amongst brides. I had visions of buying the slinky vintage lace number, the page I'd torn out of Brides & was now dog eared and falling to bits... This was not going to happen as only being 5ft tall these dresses did nothing for me and I realised that as soon as I'd tried the first one on. However, what I ended up with was another story altogether. I fell for the ultimate swishy number (by swishy I mean like when you move it swishes... (like the one in runaway bride with Julia Roberts when shes trying "the one" on in front of Richard Gere). However  I was  a two faced bride to be, I loved my dress... it was fit for cinders walking down the aisle and I realised I wanted that full on church/dress/veil/bling combo.... although did I? The other part of me still wanted something truly vintage and different, something classic and fitted, that I could move in without getting my shoes stuck in all the netting (yes that did really happen). Could I really be that cheeky and have both?? Well Kate did it! so why not. I got to thinking back of when I was little, going to family weddings and all the brides used to get changed in the evening, it was always as big an event as the church dress... "ooh whats she going to change into... the suspense!" As luck would have it, my sister decided to embark on a new business... hiring out vintage dresses, so Truly Vintage Bridal Hire was born, and you've guessed it she had a fab little number that was everything you could wish for in a vintage wedding dress. Perfect for the evening, glamorous and truly stunning and I could finally show off my shoes. I was very lucky to have the best of both worlds/dresses! I would highly recommend hiring a second dress for your big day, lets face it, it's so hard with all that choice out there, having a different look for the evening is great, after all that's when you'd normally get all glammed up and theres nothing like a vintage dress to make you feel bridal special! Go on, you deserve it! Dress hire from Truly Vintage Bridal Hire starts from just £70.00 http://vintagebridalhire.blogspot.co.uk  The dress I wore she has named 'Emma' and I am very honored. Plus I have to say my church dress is still as good as new!

Saturday 14 July 2012


Olympic Plate Stands

Getting ready for the London Olympics.

Chintz 'n' China are very proud to be supplying our beautiful china and teaming up with "The Tea Cup Parlour" to supply the London Olympics with a beautiful display of antique china for their Afternoon Tea Party.

Thursday 12 July 2012

To Choo or not to Choo...

Being a Choo fanatic (jimmy of course) it was obvious that when W day loomed I'd be out looking for the perfect pair of Jimmys. I had visions of photographing them with my bouquet and swooning over them slipping onto to my feet ready to cruise the aisle... I can tell you now this was one of a few things that did not go to plan!
After three shopping trips to Jimmys (not to mention all the other beautiful, eye watering expensive other shoe shops)I just did not find "the ones" being budget savy I even tried the outlets.
One thing I knew was that I was not prepared to spend the money on the name alone and not be totally in LOVE with them.
Getting despondent, with my smile turning to a frown, I just happened to be walking through Debenhams as a short cut to get into the shopping centre when I had the "ooooooo swoon" moment.
There on a pedal stool, stood the most exquisite pair of shoes I'd ever seen, It suddenly did not matter that these shoes where not designer, and it was great that they also didn't have that designer price tag!! Bonus that they fitted as perfectly as Cinderellas and were comfy too! It was LOVE at first sight and I had that moment when you know like the dress and the man "they are the ones"
I can honestly tell you that on the day they were very comfy and everyone thought I'd opted for the beautiful choos after all, I did put them right, that these beautiful shoes were indeed by Faith for Debenhams and they are Fab!
Now looking back I cant tell you how glad I am that I did not spend out big time on designer heels.. My heels did sink into the lawn at the church, they did get the occasional pimms spilt on them, and I did dance the night away... walked through gravel stones.... all the things you would cringe at in designer shoes, Yes they did get a bit wrecked.. does it matter? not as much as if they'd of been a pair of Jims ;o)
So the moral of the story ladies... follow your heart all the way, not the label. (and yes, unless your sitting down the whole time, they will get dirty!)

Emma x