Paige and Harish's wedding is featured on J Crew's website

We have very fond memories of Paige and Harish's Spring wedding.  Every detail was perfect, Paige looked amazing in her J Crew gown, and even the sun came out to play.  Paige just contacted us to let us know that her wedding has now been featured on the J Crew website. Take a look at these beautiful pics by photographer Helen Jones...

http://www.jcrew.com/wedding.jsp#/6

Credits: www.helenjonesphotography.co.uk

Have fun with your wedding photography

We have just come across this fabulous piccy by one of our favourite wedding photographers Lord and Leverett and it brought a smile to our faces.

We had plenty of fun the other day at Paige and Harish's wedding when we used a range of props to inject fun into the photos. This young bride had other ideas when she suggested doing cartwheels.  Brave girl - we have much admiration for you.  Please don't try this in a tight dress!

Photo credits:  http://www.lordandleverett.com/

Paige and Harish's vintage wedding at The Bingham, Richmond

It was a complete treat to be invited to work with Paige and Harish on their wedding at the fabulous Bingham Hotel in Richmond.  Wonderful riverside location, wonderful ideas, completely wonderful couple. 

Paige, originally from New Jersey, USA and Harish met at St Andrews university just over 6 years ago, when Paige popped a valentines card under Harish's door. Brave move, and it clearly bowled him over! 

Their guests flew in from all over the globe and were treated to the amazing Bingham hospitality.  They could not have had a more perfect day for their celebrations as temperatures soared to an unseasonal 26 degrees on Easter Sunday.

I've been excited to see their photos - mainly because they incorporated so many really interesting details - a wedding planner's dream.  Take a look.

Wedding planner - Clare Beckwith Weddings http://www.clarebeckwithweddings.co.uk/
Photographer - Helen Jones photography http://www.helenjonesphotography.co.uk/
Brides's dress - J Crew (USA)
Bride's sash - Marisa (USA - handmade in New Jersey, where bride is from)
Bridesmaids dresses - David's Bridal (USA)
Bride's shoes - New Look
Groom's suit and groomsmen's waistcoats/cravats - Moss Bros
Flowers - Conservatory Florist, Richmond, Surrey
Wedding cake (birdcage) - The Cake Parlour, Wimbledon
Groom's cake and cupcakes with St Andrews crest - The Cake Parlour, Wimbledon
Favour bags - Handmade by groom's mother with fabric bought in USA
'Something borrowed and something old' - Vintage birdcage charm from Ireland (a gift from Paige's bridesmaid Grace - pinned to bouquet)
'Something blue' - Ribbon monogrammed with bride's initials and date of wedding - J Crew (pinned to bouquet)
'Something new' - Bride's necklace - Baccarat
Invitations and placecards - Vera Wang
Orders of Ceremony, table numers and seating plan - Ruth Springer Design
Frame for seating plan - Not on the High Street
Tall Birdcages - Wedding Day Hire
Double sided picture frames - John Lewis
Oversize Balloons - Signature balloons

Ivory lace for balloons - John Lewis

Ivory satin ribbon - The Ribbon Company

Wedding Day Lingerie

Choosing a wedding gown has to be one of the most exciting parts of preparing for your wedding. But for your dress to look absolutely stunning, it is essential to have great fitting underwear too. Any stylist will tell you the same thing.

Incredibly nearly 90% of us spend a large part of our lives wearing the wrong bra size, but if you take the time to get it right, it can make a huge difference to the way you look and to your overall figure.

When I think of figure enhancing underwear, visions of Bridget Jones style control pants cross my mind – not the type of thing that you really want to wear on the best day of your life. So it is refreshing to see that there’s such a huge range of more suitable bridal underwear out there to tempt you. I was recently introduced to Fauve lingerie; experts in creating beautiful, comfortable underwear for women with larger cup sizes.

New for March is their stunning Rosa range. A comprehensive bridal collection of luxurious French lace and the softest Italian fabrics with diamante charms. The collection includes an underwire moulded strapless bra that I am assured by a friend actually stays up, a beautiful basque, thong, briefs, suspender belt, and even a matching garter. There are plenty of stockists in the high street and on the web. Try Harvey Nics, Figleaves and Belle-lingerie. Or the Fauve website has comprehensive stockist details.

Buy, knowing that it truly is a wedding day essential!

Photo credits: www.fauve.co.uk

Pretty vintage weddings

Imagine an English country setting, a glorious sunny day and a historical venue full of exquisite fine bone china, lace, pearls, sweet peas, peonies, roses, pastel colours, mirrors catching flickering candlelight, and glass sweet dishes displaying retro sweets from yesteryear and you have yourself a vintage-themed wedding.

As vintage style weddings are so popular nowadays, we wanted to offer you some style tips to get you thinking about a vintage theme for your special day so we asked Vintage expert Beth Morgan from Be Vintage for some ideas.

As a bride, it’s important to stand out from the crowd, so why not set the scene in a beautiful genuine vintage wedding dress. http://www.thevintageweddingdresscompany.com/ has a stunning collection of original vintage dresses starting from the 1900’s, right through to the 1970’s. All their dresses are beautifully cleaned and restored and can be tailored for you to a couture finish using their in-house specialist alteration service.

For new dresses that are created in a vintage style, take a look at http://www.circabrides.com/

1930's style dress by Circa Brides

1970's style dress by Circa Brides

For a completely personal touch, Magpie Vintage is a company that makes bespoke jewellery using vintage pieces, so if you have an old brooch that belonged to your grandma they can incorporate that into a necklace for you. http://www.magpievintage.co.uk/

Here are some other ideas to achieve the style you want:

1920’s style

If you favour a 1920’s feel, think:

• Flapper dresses with a low sash

• Pinstripe suits

• Long pearl necklaces

• Pretty beaded bags, feathers and stylish headpieces

• Arrive in a classic Regent convertible car!

• A jazz band for your guests to listen to during the drinks reception

Inside your venue, you could use feathers draped on tables, single glass candlesticks standing on mirrored bases with pearls intertwined everywhere, creating a simple but very effective vintage look. Pretty glass sweet dishes displaying pastel coloured sweets can be dotted around. Birdcages can be used to display simple flowers and draped pearls.

The Victorian era

For the Victorian era, the clothes and accessories comprise frock coats, capes, long lace gloves, parasols, and beaded bags. For a lovely collection of lace gloves, parasols, fans and vintage beaded bags available for hire, try http://www.bevintage.co.uk/

If you are having a Victorian themed wedding, why not arrive in a horse drawn carriage?

Your guests could drink tea from vintage bone china teacups and saucers and eat pretty cupcakes served from vintage cake stands whilst listening to a harpist or violinist playing in the background.

Inside your venue, the room could be full of pastel coloured roses, sweet peas and peonies displayed in cut glass rose bowls or single stem glass vases grouped together. In between the flowers could be glass and silver candlesticks draped in pearls providing a sophisticated romantic atmosphere.

You could also use teacups, saucers and teapots to display flowers for an unusual piece of vintage charm. You could also use perfume bottles, glass decanters and sweet dishes as displays on your tables. For all your glass vases, vintage china, candlesticks and lots of extra accessories available for hire see http://www.bevintage.co.uk/

Credits: Clare would like to thank Beth Morgan from Be Vintage for her thoughts and ideas on Vintage weddings

Photo credits: http://www.circabrides.com, http://www.bevintage.co.uk

Win a personal shopping experience to find your perfect gown, plus a Wedding Concierge for the day

Here at Clare Beckwith Weddings, we have teamed up with Your Herts and Beds Wedding magazine to offer their readers the chance to win a personal shopping experience and wedding concierge service worth over £800.

The winning bride will be treated to an initial consultation to discuss ideas on the dress, followed by a shopping trip with us, either locally or in London.  We will arrange all dress fitting appointments, and offer our advice on the right style for you.  We will also throw in a spot of lunch to discuss all the options.

On your wedding day itself, we will act as wedding concierge.  We will finalise all the finer details with your suppliers two weeks before your wedding day and be on hand throughout the day to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

To enter, and for full terms and conditions, visit http://www.yourhertsbedswedding.com/

The closing date is 17th September 2010.

Photo credit:  http://www.lordandleverett.com/

Elegant, sexy, glamorous, sassy – what’s your style?

It’s always wonderful making new discoveries and I made a really exciting one the other day when I stumbled upon the website for ‘State of Grace’. It’s a bridal destination like no other you will experience in London, with bespoke wedding dress design, styling and personalised hair and make-up all under one roof. The new website is stunning and the bridal imagery really caught my eye, so I just had to go there myself.

Old School Glamour

The private and extremely gorgeous atelier is in London’s vibrant Notting Hill and I was invited there by the very elegant founder and creative design director, Lucia Silver. I also met her lovely head of production, Claire Grey who oversees quality control and the bespoke services for clients.

French Chic

State of Grace is truly unique.

It’s for women who know what they want for their wedding day and can’t find it, or for those who really don’t know where to start and need professional guidance.

Shopping for wedding dresses on the high street can be a daunting task. There is so much choice, and after a day pounding the streets, the dresses can all morph into one leaving you feeling exhausted and confused. And then you’ve got to organise your shoes, accessories, hair, make-up....

In the calm and sumptuous surroundings of State of Grace, you are in the hands of a highly skilled team of experts to help you look the way you want – from head to toe. Lucia told me that when they researched the market, they found that many modern brides don’t want to look like vestal virgins. She says, “Women are getting married later and are often paying for their own weddings – they know their own minds and how they want to look on their big day. Some just need a helping hand to achieve this”.

Innocent

You just have to make an appointment and experience it for yourself. They offer a completely personal service and you honestly feel like you are in someone’s home, among friends who want the very best for you! With the added bonus of being in dreamy surroundings adorned with bespoke jewellery, hats and head pieces, shrugs and evening coats, shoes and bags...

Photo Credits: http://www.thestateofgrace.com/