This weekend saw the first two weddings of the year for Inspire Hire.

From now on we pretty busy right up to Christmas Eve!

This weekend we styled a beautiful seaside wedding for a lovely bride, Charlie.

Charlie chose our elegant set of three storm lanterns to decorate her tables. Each storm lantern contained a mother of pearl shell, starfish or scallop shell which complimented Charlies coral colour scheme. Table mirrors under the storm lanterns reflected the flickering candle light.

Charlie had handmade fudge for each guest as favours, each little package lovingly tied with a coral coloured ribbon. She also made slate pebble place settings for each guest and we  tied each napkin with the same ribbon.

An old family suitcase made a perfect table plan for the setting of  the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay!

Charlie is a teacher, and was working the day before her wedding, so the Inspire Hire venue styling service was perfect for her. We helped her come up with a design, provided all the decorative items and styled the room at the hotel. So even though she couldn’t be there, it looked just as she wanted it to!

When we arranged our own wedding, my husband and I tried to remember the weddings that we had been to that we had enjoyed the most. We both came to the conclusion that the ones we really loved, where the weddings we had attended abroad. Not because of the exotic locations, but because of the extended durations!

When we had been abroad for weddings we had always gone for a few days before the wedding, and usually stayed a few days after the wedding. So in the run up to the big day we had met other guests, maybe been out for meals, or drinks with them, and by the time we went to the wedding even if we hadn’t known all of the other the guest previously we did by the wedding day, and it made for fabulous parties!

So we thought about getting married abroad, but we decided we live in the most amazing place so why go away? We live in Cornwall,however most of our guests lived out of the county, so we knew that they would mostly have to stay for at least a night. With this in mind we decided to have our Wedding on a Friday, so that we could plan a schedule of events and extend our wedding celebrations for as long as possible!

We had ‘sun downers’ at a local hotel on Thursday evening, so we got to see all our guests to say hello and welcome, on the eve of our wedding before the craziness of the big day arrived.

On the day its self we didn’t get married until 3pm which allowed us each to host a ‘family brunch’ so we could spend some quality time with our nearest and dearest.

Obviously we then got married and had a fabulous reception, but the crowning glory to our wedding weekend was the ‘After Party’!

We invited everyone back to the house we were staying in, for an early afternoon BBQ so they all had time to recover from the night before, whist we took delivery of an online grocery order, threw together a couple of salads and laid out the left over food from the reception.

It was great. We had successfully hosted the best party of our lives so the pressure was off! We were happy, and relaxed and married! We got to hear all the wedding gossip we had missed (Like who had done what in our ‘mini-cam’, oand where the best man had ended up spending the night!). We caught up with everyone and had more time to chat. We really appreciated the food and drink! It was easy, it didn’t add masses onto the limited budget and no one was rushing home for work the next day!

Looking back, the ‘big day’ was amazing but the ‘after party’ was the icing on the (wedding) cake.

Ideas for extending your wedding!

*Welcome drinks mean you go to your guests, and you don’t have all of your guests dropping in to say hello,whist you are mid preparations.

* A bridal shower can be a more sedate affair than your hen, so can occur just before the wedding – what about a girls pamper session? The boys could go for a traditional wet shave at a local barbers!

* How about a day after hog roast, or Sunday lunch at a local pub.

*What about getting all your guests to bring cake and have a big tea party.

*Get the most of your marquee by hosting a party the day after your wedding.

*Make it easy for yourselves, invite guests to a pick-nick in the park the day after the wedding – everyone brings their own sandwiches!

*Some brides even put their dresses on again for the after party!

* If you have limited numbers for your actual wedding you can extend your guest list for the ‘after party’!

Like many brides, I treated myself to a lovely pair of wedding shoes. I didn’t have the overwhelming ”THIS IS THE ONE ‘sensation that people talk about, with my wedding dress. I did  when I first set eyes on these shoes.

Across the expanse that is Selfridges in London, they glittered at me from someone else’s feet and like moths to a flame, without speaking my two bridesmaids and I were drawn through the crowds into Jimmy Choo to gaze at a strangers feet.

An an assistant soon appeared at my shoulder (probably to try and stem the dribble of drool appearing on their deep pile carpet) and offered her assistance. We collectively looked around the store, but the only shoes anyone wanted to see were on the feet of another. Strangely enough the assistant was able to find another pair. But the disappointment ………..- toe cleavage, and too tall for me to be of comparable hight to my groom. Maybe it wasn’t to be after all. A silent sadness befell our little group. But the fairy god mother of Choos wasn’t going to let a sale go quite so easily, and surprised us with an opened toe version of the beautiful shoe, we held our breath as I placed them on my tiny feet and …………no toe cleavage to be seen, and on comparison with the correct hight shoes (rather elderly and from phase eight in case you think I frequent this type of establishment normally) in my handbag they turned out to be exactly the right hight. My bridesmaid breathlessly murmerd ‘they are the ones’ and indeed they were.

Knowing the price bracket of said brand of shoes would deeply upset my intended, I did not mention my purchase to him. This nearly went according to plan, until the arrival at the ‘wedding house’ of my sister who had kindly acted as shoe sitter, keeping shoes in London well away from praying eyes in the run up to the wedding. She loudly announced to me ‘and here are your Jimmy Choos’ …….. from the next door room boomed a response ”THE WHATS???????????” Ooops …She did try to recover her gaff, quickly shouting out as my other half appeared in the doorway – ” THE SHINY SHOES, I said the shiny shoes” but the cat was out of the shoe bag!

So now he knows what they are, nearly how much they cost and we are in the forgive anything just-married bliss stage – What to do with the shoes?? I love them so dearly and want to wear them, but also want to display them and keep them as a work of art in a frame on the wall to look at for ever more.  I thought It would be impossible do both – display in a beautiful frame for all eternity, and wear and I’ve been pondering for some time what to do.However a friend has told me a bout a wonderful man who makes box frames with door that opens on the front. (will post link when I have one) So my shoes can be displayed for eternity in the splendour they deserve, but every now and again, I can get them out and wear them (carefully) for very very special occasions! Now just need to decide what colour frame, and sumptuous silk or luxurious velvet for them to sit upon………………..what do you think???? Please let know what you think on twitter @elleinspirehire or on my facebook page

Last Tuesday Inspire took part in an amazing photos shoot. The photo shoot was styled by Ali Berry of Ali Berry Weddings, wedding planner based in Cornwall.

Inspire Hire was joined at the shoot by the lovely Sarah from Green Photography, the girls from Devon Vintage China and Your Top Table. We had the best fun, directed by the inspired Ali creating 4 different wedding themes at  The Olive Grove at the Cornish Garden Nurseries just between Falmouth and Truro.We were truly spoiled with the floral creations of Wedding Flowers In Cornwall and Philip Taylor Corps and bunting from the Big Beautiful Bunting Company.

It was a hot day, so working in the Glasshouse for our Garden and Boho themed settings was hot work, but it was worth it as it looked amazing. For the Garden theme Ali used our Inspire Hire Enamel Jugs with beautiful flowers from Wedding Flowers in Cornwall that looked natural and eye-catching at the same time. Above the tables she used our Hanging Bird Tables and the tables were set with the Devon Vintage China’s beautiful china. Our tall cream Candelabras surrounded the tables and finished off the look! (and nearly finished off Sarah’s ponytail as she dipped it into the flame whist taking a shot!!) I would have loved to bring home some of the beautiful china but had to make do with some of the beautiful Carrot cake we used in the shoot instead!

For the Bohemian theme Ali had used the strong colours of teal and hot pinks, which created a startlingly different look in the same setting. Using our white wooden bird pavilions dressed with bright orchids, a beautiful cerise table cloth and from Inspire Hire the  turquoise water glasses, teal tealight holders and bejewelled votive s finished off the look which was stunning.

We then did an amazing Victorian theme using the venues lovely restaurant. Philips beautiful arrangements were overflowing with lushous grapes which he also used to drape our Inspire Hire silver Candelabras. (I love fruit in floral arrangements) The Louis Ghost chairs just added to the opulence of this theme.  As with all the themes Ali had commissioned beautiful place name settings from Pogofandango and Anaanyacards, they really helped to finish off the tables, as they say the Devil is in the Detail!

Onwards to the Marquee  where Ali,  Philip and Sarah toiled into the night creating an amazing winter wonderland with drapes and lighting rigged up by Richard from Your Top Table. (Richard can turn any venue into a stunning setting even a barn into a Marquee!) And of course there could be nothing better than our Louis Ghost chairs elegantly sparkling like they were made of ice.

The photo shoot should appear in Octobers Wed magazine and possibly else where,so watch this space, and look out for all the fabulous local suppliers that were involved. I would recommend any of them to help make your wedding day complete.

www.ananyacards.com, www.bigbeautifulbunting.com, www.devonvintagechina.com, www.greenphotographic.com, www.taylorcorps.com

www.pogofandango.co.uk, www.weddingflowersincornwall.co.uk , www.yourtoptable.co.uk , www.aliberryweddings.co.uk