New year, new dresses

I do hope you've all had a properly wonderful christmas. I certainly have, but this whole new year business has really made me realise that the wedding clock is well and truly ticking. Goodness. It's just over 6 months to the big day, so I'm starting to think bridesmaids dresses.

This may sound a tad oxymoronic and ridiculous, but my main aim is that my girls don't look too, well, bridesmaidy. So I'd love to find something on the high street. One of the best I've seen so far is this pretty Etienne dress from Monsoon. I'm loving the lace and scalloped hem. And I reckon it'd look suitably vintage country wedding with a string of pearls and a cute chignon.

I want

Good God. I love this up-do. A little bit hippy. A little bit Heidi. A whole lot feminine. It's relaxed without being too informal, big-day worthy without looking like a hairpin headache in the making. This is going on the W day list right now. Nicole Richie, I salute you.

The icing on the cake

Bunting is good. It is great. One cannot get enough of it. So why stop at the marquee ceiling? I'm thinking of dressing up our wedding cake with some teeny fabric triangles of loveliness. Take a peek at these cake bunting beauties, courtesy of Etsy, and fall in love a little bit. You could make your own too, of course. Scissors at the ready...

Company B at Etsy

Boo Bah Blue at Etsy

Vintage Green Limited at Etsy

Little Kitten Homemade at Etsy

PS. For true bunting worshippers, only true bunting worshippers you understand, my friend Jodie has found the perfect earrings.

Jodie Anna at Not on the High Street

Put your stamp on it

How to prettify a plain old envelope with zero artistic skill whatsoever? This personalised initials stamp from Skull and Cross Buns at Not on the High Street looks rather marvellous on the back of our sealed save the dates, even if I do say so myself. And stamping away in front of the telly is just so darn satisfying.

Oh my. The Liberty print tie

Classic but a tad eccentric. More English than marmite crumpets. A little bit whimsical. And just so God-darn pretty. Oh how we LOVE Liberty prints. And, since cravats aren’t really for us, we’re thinking Liberty print ties for my betrothed and the boys. The plan is to pick a print that won’t clash too madly with the (ok, already rather mismatched) colour scheme. That will make my Essex Boy look just the true English gent that he is. But which to choose? It might take a few lunch break trips to Liberty menswear to decide. Shame ;-)

A bit on the side

I am very much in lust with the hair to one side look. Whether it’s pinned loosely, swept up in a tousled pony or tied in a loose plait, it is most definitely on my W day hair shortlist. But can one pull it off without a Blake Lively-esque mane down to the shoulder-blades? And how fast does hair grow exactly…?

And not forgetting the bridesmaids… I still can’t quite get over the fact that you get to dictate how your best buds look for a whole day. But with great power comes great responsibility. So, in keeping with the whole wonky tresses theme, how about these for proper-gorgeous, aisle-worthy hair?

Popping the question

Before I was even officially engaged (shh, don’t tell anyone) I pondered how I should ask my bridesmaids to be, well, my bridesmaids. After a bit of Googling, I found these little cotton reels of lovely from Choosing You on Etsy. Just give one to your unsuspecting bridesmaid-to-be, and watch her unroll a pretty hand-printed message revealing your intentions. My girlies loved them (or so they tell me!), and they make a super-cute little keepsake.

My first wedding purchase

Lots of people tell me that when you make one wedding decision it naturally leads to another. You know, you find your caterer, they know a great florist. Etc etc. I started with a weeny detail, but I love it more than plenty of the bigger decisions we've made since. My very first bit of wedding planning was to order these printable drinks flags from He Saw Sparks at Etsy. Behold their lovely silly charm. Won't the gents look debonnaire with one of these held to their top lip.

Knickers

Ok, I will never wear these on my wedding day. Silly, flimsy pants that they are. I am positive it will be a case for a pair of Spanx, stretching from knee to waist (at the very least). But a girl can daydream. If I was Gisele, I would wear these chiffon cuties. And give them to my supermodel bridesmaids too. If you are blessed with a peachy bottom in need of no support whatsoever, you can get these at Luella's Boudoir. You lucky thing.

Takes the biscuit

Oh crumbs. Looook at the Wedding Bells biscuit tin from Biscuiteers. Perfect as favours, a big day gift or just a decadent wedding day mid-morning snack (that's my plan). You can even have them personalised. Truly scrumptious.

Cake love

Ask anyone I know and they’ll tell you. I am in love with my wedding caterer. She is lovely. She sports a super-cute vintage roll and perfectly flicked eyeliner. She wooed us with a mini tea party in her kitchen. She makes the best carrot cake I’ve ever tasted, and her mismatched pre-1950s crockery is the stuff of daydreams. We planned our whole wedding date around her. Nuff said. Our caterer's called Jam and Tea.
PS. The waitresses wear vintage ‘20s or ‘40s outfits. Oh how I love.

The rings

I didn’t choose my engagement ring exactly. But I did give Essex Boy a couple of pointers. I've adored Brit designer Alex Monroe's ethereal, delicate, nature-inspired jewellery for ages. So when my betrothed cross-referenced Mr Monroe with my penchant for sapphires, this is what he got..

I love this ring. It feels like me. It doesn't scare me like a traditional diamond sparkler. It's subtle, but the blue makes it stand out. And the twig-like band is so unusual I always take it off my finger to give people a proper look. It makes me happy every time I look at it.

So where else could I get my wedding ring? It was a no-brainer, so one of the first wedding decisions I made.

This fine twig ring comes in a selection of stones, including Tsavorite (pictured), Diamond, Pink Sapphire or Black Diamond. I went for the diamond version in 18ct gold. I can't stop getting it out and looking at it!

A little bit special

Oh my word. I am truly hearting the Temptation headband and comb from the Magdalene collection at wedding bling specialists Flo & Percy. Note to self (big, flashing neon sign in fact): MUST stop buying/coveting W day accessories until I have the dress… Oh but it is spesh.

The one

Is it wrong that my W day outfit has started with a bag? I still have no idea what the dress will resemble. And the prospect of finding the one perfect frock terrifies me. I do, however, know that I couldn’t possibly beat this little number. To lust after an accessory any more would just make me explode all over the ceiling.

Oh yes, this gorgeous Diane Von Furstenberg Lytton clutch is where it all starts for me. Maybe I’m just less intimidated by the bag than the dress. After all, I do bags on a daily basis, but I’m only just starting to think of myself as a big white dress kind of girl. Baby steps, I guess.

Hello!

Well hello there. My name’s Anna. I’m a writer. I live in Sussex with my fiancé, Essex Boy, and our lil’ grey cat, Stevie; work in London with my Pret habit and dawdle about with my credit card everywhere else. 

Suddenly though, I’m a very busy bee. We’re getting married in July 2012. And, slowly but surely, starting to decorate our new home, bit by bit.

So, two big projects; one blog. This is my place to get inspired, lust after lovely things, make endless lists and obsess over the little touches that will make our home and wedding feel like ‘us’. And maybe, hopefully, give you a few ideas too.

The ring’s on my finger, the house keys are in my pocket. So let’s get started.