Category Archives: Inspirational

A Dreamy Bridal Shoot In An Emptied Swimming Pool

Today on Marry Me Ink, I get to share with you an awesome spontaneous bridal shoot from Katie Dell Bridal Designs, Don’t Settle Petal and Lizzie of Shoot It Momma. The shoot was so spontaneous as Lizzie was contacted by her local sports centre to cancel her daughter’s swimming lesson due to pool being drained for repairs. Lizzie jumped at the chance and asked
immediately asked “Any chance I can I come and take photos in it while it’s empty?”.

“That is how easy it was to draw a big red line through one of the items on my photography bucket list.  I can happily say that ‘photo shoot in an empty swimming pool’ has been well and truly done thanks to general maintenance at my local sports centre!” explained Lizzie.

Along with Jody from Don’t Settle Petal I was more than a little bit excited for the opportunity. Not only is she a very talented florist, she’s also an awesome model and aced every part of it. I’m particularly loving her decision to add pink to her hair this week because it stood out perfectly from the blue of the pool!

Dresses came from the love that is Katie Dell Designs and even though we got them a little bit wet, no dresses were harmed during the shoot!  Katie Dell is launching their second collection, bringing a beautifully diverse range of simple silhouettes and modern textured fabrics.

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How To Plan Wedding Decor On A Budget Without Sacrificing Quality

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by PSECU, a Pennsylvania-based credit union.

Planning a wedding on a budget isn’t as easy as it seems. Simple things can start to add up quickly, especially decor for tables, entrances and even around the aisle. Here seven simple ways to plan wedding decor that looks classy and elegant without blowing up a budget.

1. Pick a Beautiful Location

One of the simplest ways to spend less on wedding decor is to pick a stunning location to begin with. Outdoor venues with a beautiful overlook or a garden with plenty of flowers and greenery are great spaces to hold a wedding or reception without needing to buy extra decor. Non-traditional couples can even opt to get married in an art gallery or bed and breakfast to find a classic charm that doesn’t need any extras.

2. Don’t Feel Afraid to Rent

Buying every single piece of decor from the flowers to the centerpieces can add up and quickly cause couples to go over budget. Instead, renting china, drinkware and even decorations from friends can save money in the long-run. Before purchasing brand new china or table linens, check with different wedding venues to see what’s included in the package price. Then, ask recently married friends if they have any decor they could loan or rent for a lower price.

3. Use In-Season Flowers

Some brides dream about using their favorite flower on their wedding day, from roses to lilies. However, depending on when a wedding takes place, those flowers may not be in season. Choosing to decorate with in-season flowers can significantly reduce the cost of decor. Check with a wedding planner or a florist to find out which flowers are in season during your wedding date and make them the focal point to avoid rising costs.

Another option is to use paper flowers or silk flowers, which look exactly like the real thing. They’re more cost-effective, and you can use them again if one of your friends gets married or another event pops up.

4. DIY Everything You Can

Thankfully, the internet makes it easy to DIY almost anything for a wedding, even if the bride isn’t particularly crafty. Use YouTube and Pinterest for DIY ideas and put together everything from elegant centerpieces to rustic chalkboard signs. This is a great time to recruit friends and family members that are crafty or have some free time on their hands to help with wedding decor.

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Gothic Winter Solstice Wedding Inspiration

Are we all ready for the winter break that is Christmas and New Year? With the dark winter here for a while longer, I thought I’d share with you this rich and full of texture inspiration shoot from Legend Bridal, Electric Blue Photography and Scarlett Envy Events. I had the chance this week to speak with Charlotte of Legend Bridal and this is what she said about the beauty of the day..

With the winter solstice fast approaching we wanted to create a styled shoot that celebrates the darkest and longest night of the year, welcomes in the light and celebrates new beginnings.

The idea was born after conversations with Kate at Dead Things by Kate when it became obvious that we shared an appreciation of earth-based/pagan traditions. We decided on a deliciously dark Winter Solstice inspired Hand-fasting with a specially designed gothic gown and incorporating Kate’s gorgeous taxidermy.

We pulled together a crazy talented bunch of suppliers to make the idea come to life and OH MY WORD!.. We can’t stop looking at the images! The flowers are to die for! There are no words for that bouquet. The floral staff is such an awesome idea, and we LOVE the pentagram wreath – so much beauty and meaning. 

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10 Survival Tips For A Hot Summer Wedding

Weddings happen throughout the year, but certain months are more popular for the wedding season than others. Many people want to have a wedding in the spring or summer, because it gives them more venue options to choose from. Instead of only having indoor venues to explore, they can consider having the ceremony outside.

DIY Vegan Wedding With Gothic & Southern Feel

Another big advantage of outdoor weddings is that they give the photographer natural light to work with, and you can also pick a place with gorgeous scenery, so you don’t have to pay for more decorations. The only issue is that if you’re having a summer wedding, temperatures are going to soar.

To keep yourself and your guests from melting away on your big day, read on for a list of survival tips for your hot summer wedding. You can still have your wedding on the summer day of your choosing, if you think ahead about making sure everyone stays comfortable while it happens.

An Intimate Cardiff City Wedding

1. Dress in Light Clothes
On your invites, remind your guests to dress in light clothes. Flowing dresses and rolled-up shirt sleeves will be much more comfortable for your guests than formal gowns and suits. You should do the same for yourself as well! When you’re out shopping around for your dream wedding dress, stay away from the options that have lots of layers. Something simpler will be lightweight and more free-flowing on your big day.

2. Always Have Water Available
Right when guests arrive for your reception, have water available so everyone can stay hydrated. It’s a terrible feeling to be overheated, especially when you’re dehydrated, too. Have large buckets of ice with water bottles prepared just before guests arrive. You can even work water bottles into decorations, so when guests carry theirs around, they won’t feel out of place.

3. Give Guests Fans
Fans are an easy way to give your guests something fun and useful they can take home with them at the end of the night. Lay out a fan on each seat the morning of your wedding or have them right by the entrance to your venue, so no one walks in without one.

4. Create Shaded Seating
Most outdoor weddings have guests in rows spread out across the grass, with nothing over them except the open sky. You can create shaded seating without going over budget to prevent guests from feeling sunburned when it’s time for the reception.
Rent tents and line them with lights or gauze to create a romantic feel in your seating area. Look around your venue to see if there’s a place under thick trees to host the ceremony instead. Try out a few different options and work with your venue to see what your best choice is.

A MOD Lancashire Wedding

5. Stock up on Rally Towels
Rally towels are best-known in the sports world, but they’re making their way into the world of weddings, too. You can give your guests rally towels personalised with you and your partner’s initials, or another motif that matches the theme of your wedding.
Guests can use the towels to prevent spills at the reception and wave them in the air as you walk back down the aisle or out the reception to your car. They’ll help make your wedding photos unique and save you from buying poppers or rice for guests to throw.  Continue reading