Amalie Inspiration...Yellow and Black Design Theme

For my birthday recently a friend gave me a fab present (gorgeous black clutch if you must know!) which came in one of the loveliest bags I'd seen in ages (see right). Not only did I investigate into where you can buy these lovelies (Bitter and Twisted - such a great name for a company don't you think!) but I was also inspired by the colour scheme; yellow and black.

It's not for every ones taste (vintage being the theme of choice at the moment) but for a modern twist on 1920's art deco colours I started to put the following mood board together...



From top left clockwise pictures are courtesy of...

• Fabulous pocket invitations from J Hughes Stationary
• Fun yellow themed wedding taken by the amazing Geoff White (note the brides shoes!)
• Black and yellow themed port hole mirrors and chair from Graham and Green
• Stunning four tier square black and white wedding cake decorated with yellow sunflowers from Josef's Vienna Bakery
• Yellow daisy wedding guest book from Wedding Things
• Eco friendly black flower boxes from Blumebox, great idea for when budget is an issue

Amalie Loves... E and K CHARMS

Now anyone who knows me will know I love a bit of bling. Well ok A LOT of bling (my friends son calls me 'Auntie Bling' for goodness sake!). Whether it's for the usual fingers, neck, arms and ears or an embellishment to shoes, bags, belts, hats or scarves, nothing is safe. Even my mobile recently got blinged up with a new cover containing gorgeous swarovski crystals! I'm sure I was a magpie in a previous life.

I'm fast running out of space for my burgeoning jewellery collection; but can I throw any of it out? No. Unlike ditching a favourite top that's past it's sell by date or chucking out a much loved pair of disintegrating boots, the thought of throwing out a piece of jewellery just doesn't even cross my mind. Sentimental I know but I think when it comes to jewellery most of us are (and that includes boys as I've found many dodgy cufflinks and a well worn St Christopher in the back of my partners drawer!). Not all of it has to be expensive either. Frayed friendship bracelets made in school, dodgy black leather necklaces way back when grunge was in (I know I'm showing my age!), silver lockets, conked out watches, 100's of bangles, baubles and beads. Aladdin's cave would be envious.

As a wedding planner I'm privileged to know many jewellery makers and experts. This can include beautiful hand crafted engagement rings, vintage head pieces and costume jewellery all designed to make you look utterly gorgeous, and its all stunning. However E and K Charms are a little bit different. Their brilliant idea is what sentimental schmucks like me fall for every time. They make keepsakes from items which are a meaningful part of either your wedding day or from your honeymoon. Shells from the beach, flower buds or leaves from your wedding bouquet can all be gold or silver plated and turned into a stunning charm necklace or bracelet. You can then wear or keep this precious keepsake forever and pass it down to generations to come. Genius.

Amalie Focus... FLOWERS

The floral industry is HUGE. It's a global economy worth over £100B (yes B is for billion, I did say it was huge!) a year. Most of my clients don't realise this and who's to tell them? Most peoples contact with flowers are picking some up with the weekly shop and while filling up the car. As a wedding planner I believe a better understanding of the floral industry would give couples an appreciation as to where their money is going and to answer the most commonly asked question; "why are wedding flowers so expensive?".

For people who are genuinely interested I will try and explain (I am no expert though, I leave that to my florist friends!). Most people won't be surprised to learn the main hub of the floral industry is Holland. Flowers from growers are flown in from all over the world (i.e. orchids from Asia, roses from Kenya and chrysanthemums from Colombia), which are then sold to wholesalers who in turn then transport them to the distributors (i.e. florists and nurseries) all over Europe and other continents.

It's a massive industry and when a couple walk into a florist wanting a "quick quote" for their wedding flowers they're not normally appreciating the fact that a) some flowers are seasonal, b) the global market dictates price and c) flowers 'on order' are more costly.

Seasonal Flowers

Not all flowers are available all year round even if they're grown around the world (although new growers in the Southern hemisphere are helping to combat this problem). Many flowers (and foliage) are seasonal and in some cases the flowers aren't just hard to find they damn right don't exist for most of the year. Some flowers are available 'early' however its a idea to know these young flowers won't be very big and may even struggle to open their heads. On the opposite end of the spectrum, flowers coming to 'the end' of their season will possibly wilt and die before the big day however much care, water and food the florist will give them. An example of seasonal disappointment is a story of a bride getting married last October who had her heart set on beautiful pale pink peonies. Nowhere in the world were these flowers available at that time of year. Trying to explain this to someone who had themed their whole wedding around them was as upsetting for the bride as it was for the florist I know. Most of the time if flowers are not available it's deemed their fault. Sadly this happens a lot.

Global Market

Most couples will have a fair idea they will be paying a premium if they get married near mothers day or valentines day. However many couples would fail to see why Easter or Christmas might have the same effect on sky high flower prices. This is because flowers are a global commodity and when whole countries are celebrating a catholic holiday (think both Italy and Spain) then it effects the world market including flowers imported into the UK. Another example is with Eastern Europeans; they love flowers. This is no exaggeration and even the poorest would not think twice about spending their last wages on flowers for their home or to give to loved ones. When there is a national holiday or celebration in these countries the prices of flowers escalates everywhere else too. When flower demand increases, availability decreases and then global prices rise.

Wedding Flowers

So armed with all of this information and you're getting married when global prices are low and you've picked in season flowers, how come they still seem expensive? The answer is in one word: "guarantee". You are getting married on a specific date at a specific time. You are wanting specific flowers of a specific quantity (normally 1000's even for a small wedding) which have to look their absolute best on the day. This means the wholesaler has to pick the first flowers off the shipment from the grower. There is no room for error, the attitude isn't "oh well we'll just wait to see what's left"! To guarantee the florist and you that you get what you want on one of the most important days of your life is they have to pick the first flowers off the shipment. Period.

Overheads and Expertise

If after all of the above the price still seems quite high then please also remember florists are providing you with a service. They are not running a charity (although many I'm sure would disagree!) but a business. They are providing you with talent, skill and knowledge which for many has meant many years of training. Most good florists will help you if you only have a certain budget to play with. The best way to help them is tell them your budget in the first place. Good florists will stick to it and help you make the most of what you can afford by suggesting ways to get the most out of your money. It's not going to reflect well on their business if they don't make your budget seem like value for money!

I really hope this has helped some people understand this industry a little better and give more appreciation as to whats involved. If you would like further information please check out the wikipedia synopsis which goes into far more detail than the above!

Amalies 5 top tips to save money with flowers

I've had a few well received responses regarding my floral industry blog posted the other day. Some peeps have requested further advice of obtaining more for your money regarding floral arrangements and who am I to say no?! Instead of a fab Friday I thought I'd share a few more pointers with you...

1) Ask the florist from the off whether a trial centrepiece is included in the price (a good florist will happily do this). Knowing what to expect on the day means you should not be disappointed. If the trial doesn't look enough then you may decide to 'find extra budget' or invest a little money elsewhere. This could include more eye catching guest favours, coloured wine glasses, single bud glasses, votive candles or to scatter more petals or crystals around.

2) Some florists will charge you extra for hiring out candelabras, vases etc... I think this is wrong unless they don't have stock and have to hire or buy them in for you. If this is non-negotiable and they want to charge a premium then I suggest sourcing or hiring them in yourselves. There are many companies on-line which deliver and collect directly from the florist at very reasonable cost.

3) Opt for different centrepieces. For example a few stunning peonies in a glass bowl will only cost £15, whereas a large candelabra stuffed with hanging flowers can be more than £150. Using different sized vases or vintage pieces such as cake stands and bird cages adds interest to the room however you'll save money on requiring fewer flowers.

A few examples of centrepieces from the fabulous PK Florist in Farnham.

4) Think about using a more dramatic centrepiece such as cherry blossom, curly willow or manzanita branches which come in a variety of colours from companies such as Blooms and Branchs. They are reasonably priced and either your florist can decorate them with flowers on the day or you can decorate them in advance with jewels, crystals, miniature birds, butterfly's or anything else you can get your hands on to make it 'wow'.

5) Placing a mirror under the floral centrepiece will not only bounce lovely candlelight around but will make you look like you have more flowers than you have!

Trust in your florist and your wedding planner if your having one. They are the experts and will quickly be able to help with new idea's on how to obtain the most for your budget.

The bottom line is NEVER think by doing them yourself you'll save money and they'll look great. Floristry is not easy. A weeks course in flower arranging does not make up for years of experience. Brides who think they'll be able to do their own flowers in the morning as well as everything else are crazy. Leave it to the professionals as you'll have enough to do on the day such as relax, enjoy yourself and look beautiful!

Amalie Loves... TASTE OF THE VINE

I was recently very lucky to be invited to an event at the lovely Lythe Hill Hotel near Haslemere in Surrey. Now I don't normally mention venues on the blog however I have to admit I was impressed by this country house hotel due to the shear range and versatility of it's facilities. Not only does it have a huge array of licenced rooms to choose from (including the only licenced gazebo in Surrey and a dungeon room!); a lovely spa, modern and character bedrooms, immense grounds including a rather picturesque lake and (and if that's not enough) an award winning restaurant. Manager Marsha Goodwin and the team are more than welcoming and are truly providing clients with a personal and bespoke service when it comes to weddings, or any event for that matter.

After the grand tour myself and some other guests were invited to stay for dinner (well it would have been rude to say no!), but before Marsha had organised a little ice breaker: wine tasting! I adore a little drop of 'grape juice' now and again and I've been to numerous wine tasting events, however none were as informative or as fun as this one. Firstly we were taught by the amazing Taste of the Vines chief sommerlier Francis Gimlett on how to taste the wines properly. I won't give this part away as this is what I believe stands this company out from the crowd; but Francis was thoroughly entertaining, informative and he truly helped us to understand the wines better when it came to trying them.

Over an hour or so we tasted a variety of wines from around the world both brought in by Francis and also snaffled from Lythes well stocked cellar. These were accompanied by various cheeses and nibbles so we could fully appreciate what went well with what (and to obviously not get us too drunk!). We each had to score the wines separately and as part of a team; nothing like bonding with strangers when in a competition! At the end some fab prizes were given out and everyone took something to take away with them, for me it was I'll never look down my nose at a Riesling again!

I found out afterwards Taste of the Vine had been going for over 13 years and have accomplished more than 2300 events. This is phenomenal and a testament to their professional approach, knowledge and passion about wine (they've even written books for goodness sake!). These guys are fabulous for any event, especially for a rehearsal dinner or hen and stag parties. They can also hold tasting events for beer, whiskey and even cocktails - now that's what I'm talking about!

Amalie Loves... GLO WELLBEING

As I was giving myself a mani/pedi last night my thoughts were thrown back to meeting the lovely girls from Glo Wellbeing at an event a few months ago. Not only were Kelly, Charlotte and the girls extremely lovely to chat to but they were also giving out free manicures and back messages to us worn out attendees. They captured my imagination immediately as what’s not to love... friendly and professional beauty experts who will come to your door and pamper you and all your friends at a great price?!

I discovered not only are they doing extremely well in the corporate sector (who wouldn’t want a reviving foot massage at lunch hour?!) but they’ve also created something refreshing and special out of the very 80’s theme: the mobile salon.

What makes them stand out is not only their flexibility but also their service; nothing is too much trouble. By Glo coming to you it saves time, money and hassle and as not everyone loves the salon environment people will be more comfortable (plus you don’t have to turn the volume down for other clients and you can also drink some well deserved bubbles at the same time!)

They will also tailor the event for you making it extra special (think yummy canapés) or fun (cheeky naked butler anyone?). The packages are reasonably priced too starting at only £12.50 for a Refresher Package increasing to the Ultimate Pamper Package worth £50 per person. Clients can also choose from an al a carte menu as well depending on people’s budgets and preferences.

So for a bit of luxury on a hen weekend or you fancy spoiling your bridal party the day before the wedding by getting them all preened and polished; giving these girls at Glo a go will not let you down!