Amalie Loves... Art Deco

The fabulous era of the 1920's is an absolute favourite of mine so I thought I'd share a few design and theme ideas with y'all...

• Beautiful feather table hire decoration from So Lets Party
• Classic posters from the era; could be of films, film stars or gangsters. Similar available from All Posters
• Kick off the theme with feather trimmed wedding invitations from Fairy Godmother Stationary
• Stunning vintage headpiece from Liberty In Love to add a bit of sparkle
• Monogrammed candle favours from We Do Wedding Favours
• Gorgeous Tiffany lamp with dragonfly detail to hire from Event Prop Hire
• Satin T-bar shoes from the fabulous Rachel Simpson Shoes
• Don't leave the boys out with a pin stripped double breasted suit; this one's from Mens USA
• I simply adore this dress from The Vintage Wedding Dress Company
• An art deco mirror bar to serve martini cocktails wouldn't go amiss; hire from Event Prop Hire
• Well you'd have to travel in style of course; I think a vintage Austin 12 Windsor from Heritage Classic Cars should to the trick!

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 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 Inspiration... CHERRY BLOSSOM

Just thought I'd share a little far eastern inspiration with you...

From top left in a clockwise direction, pictures courtesy of;

Beautiful cherry blossom themed stationary from Anatoli Invites
Tinned wedding favours from Wedding Paraphernalia
Artifical cherry blossom; similar can be found on Ebay
Stunning cherry blossom shoji screen; similar can be found from Asian Style
"Double Happiness" wedding cake topper from Wedding Paraphernalia
Amazing three tiered cherry blossom cake from Maisie Fantaisie
Lovely cherry blossom favour candles from It's a Wrap Weddings

The importance of... LIGHTING

The potential use of lighting at a wedding should never be under estimated. It helps create ambience, provides depth of colour and injects additional personality and cohesiveness into the ceremony or reception venue. I’m sure we’ve all been to weddings which would have been transformed into something a little more special with the use of a few more light effects. Think of winter weddings struggling in the gloomy light or a summer marquee event with acres of dazzling white walls. The addition of clever, fun and interesting lighting can result in your wedding looking stunning; and the great news is it doesn’t have to cost the earth either!

Romantic candle light

Many couples will use either candles or candelabra’s at their reception; however you don’t have to use them just on the tables. Storm lanterns could be used to light up a driveway or entrance area creating some initial wow factor to arriving guests. Floor standing candelabras could be placed around the church or reception room to create further warmth and atmosphere. Additional candles could be placed on the cake table, around the seating plan or on mantle pieces. What about placing scented ones in the toilets? Alternative Occasions Ltd are experts in creating an amazing ambiance and offer a huge range of different candelabras and other lighting services. Even if your venue has a 'no naked flame' policy there are still plenty of battery candles to choose from and give the same flickering effect as real ones.

Atmospheric up lighting

LED lights are another great way to creative atmosphere, Duncan Owen from Effectevent Ltd specialises in creating a unique feel to any venue inside and out. Their huge range of colour filters means the lighting effect will tie in beautifully with the flowers, theme and venue. Duncan commented “lighting affects the mood of our celebrations. It also helps us to bring the event to life and gives you a really professional ‘finish’. It also gives a much better backdrop to the photos which will be treasured for years to come”. The lights can also be changed from day to evening lighting at a touch of a button. For example, a light pink glow can be changed to a dark cerise for a more dramatic backdrop in the evening.

Striking light curtains

For couples wanting a slightly more striking effect then a light curtain either behind the top table or the entertainment can be as dramatic or as romantic as you like. The Wedding Lounge team have transformed some rather dull and boring spaces into spectacular wedding venues, creating some serious wow factor. There is something rather simple and stylish adding light curtains, fairy lights and lengths of voile fabric; it also helps to cover up unsightly air conditioning units, office lighting or unsightly ceiling tiles which is always a bonus!

From top left clockwise pictures courtesy of:

Alternative Occasions Ltd dressing Pembroke Lodge for a stunning wedding.

Beautiful floor standing candelabra available to hire from Alternative Occasions Ltd

Warming up lighting effects from Effectevent Ltd

Effectevent Ltd creating a dramatic entrance outside Nonsuch Mansion using up lighting and storm lanterns.

Example of a stunning light curtain from The Wedding Lounge.

For brides on a budget and are thinking about hiring a school, village or town hall, these spaces can be dramatically changed into something special with the use of different lighting effects and drapes. Our recommendation is if you have either a small budget or if you have any budget left over; investing in additional lighting would be a very wise choice.