Stripes!

Why do us Brits not incorporate many patterns into our wedding? Are we intimidated by them, or are we just not confident using them effectively? 

Now i am not suggesting we all go mental and have horrible clashing patterns all over the place, but put in the right place, they really can look gorgeous! 

Stripes are really popular at the moment. They add a really modern feel to the day and can also look pretty quirky (if that's what you are looking for!)

Stripes

Invitation - Wedding Invitation Boutique
Cake - Maisie Fantaisie
Bridesmaid dress - Dessy
Wedding dress - Hayley Paige Bridal
Waistcoat - WeddingWaistcoat.co.uk
Bouquet - Pinterest

As you can see, stripes don't have to be garish and in your face. You can get the effect of stripes with pleating and textures. 

However if you did want to go really OTT, it can look wonderful! Black and white stripes can look so clean and fresh, especially if you also added an accent colour, such as yellow or fushia. If you are feeling really brave, start clashing colours....go on have a go, you might like it!

Invitation - Etsy
Black and White cake - Wild Orchid Baking
Blue and Green cake - Little Miss Fairy Cake
Dress - Oscar De La Renta
Bouquet - Pinterest
Buttonhole - Pinterest


So are you going to embrace the stripes??

White Orchid Boutique 

Hen Party time!

So it's time to organise your Hen Night. Trying to get all of your girl friends together at the same time can be stressful without also trying to find exciting things to do!

So i have been having a little mooch around to give you some ideas. 


Bijoux Burlesque are a nationwide company that offer dance parties for the energetic hens. They do classes such as Charleston, Bollywood, Samba, Belly Dance and Salsa. 

They also offer more unusual classes such as Nipple Tassel or Bustle Skirt making. You get all of the materials included in your tutorial, and you get to take your creations home with you! 

They have classes all over the country, so you could either incorporate it into a weekend away, or you could plan one a little closer to home. 

How about something a bit more relaxed, but with a bit of a cheeky side? 

Life drawing hen parties are starting to become very popular. Most of the companies that offer this service send the model to any location, so you can incorporate it into your other plans.

A few suggestions are:

• Darling Collective  (£26pp)
• Darling Life Drawing (From  £20 pp)
• Hen Party Life Drawing Parties (Price on enquiry)
• Hen Party Angels (£25pp)

If you fancy something pretty unusual, how about a boat party?

In the heart of Birmingham, Central Boat Parties operate the very unique service on the waterways. 

They offer a full bar for 2 hours for just £170, and you are picked up and dropped off near Broad Street, so it is perfect for carrying on the party afterwards! 

So what do you think? Any quirky plans for your hen night?

White Orchid Boutique 

Jenny Packham SS14 Collection

So the Spring/Summer 2014 Jenny Packham collection has been launched (Woop!) and let me tell you, it is truly AMAZING!

It is a whimsical, romantic and exquisite collection, full of intricate designs and luxurious fabrics. These dresses would be perfect for a vintage style ceremony, teamed with a gorgeous pair of shoes and a vintage headpiece. 

The majority of the dresses are heavily embellished with pearls, crystals and sequins which in turn makes them showstoppers! 

If i really had to pick a favourite it would have to be Florence. The embellishment is literally top to bottom, which i love (who doesn't?!) 

I think the reason i love this collection so much is because i am a bit of a magpie, the more sparkle the better!

Take a look at the Jenny Packham SS14 Collection. She has also created some gorgeous accessories and headpieces to accompany the dresses, you can view these here

So what do you think? Which dress is your favourite?

White Orchid Boutique

Shoes, shoes and more shoes!

OK, so you've got the dress. You've got the headpiece. So what's next? Shoes of course! 

Your shoes need to compliment your dress, and be super comfortable as you are going to be on your feet all day. 

You don't have to spend a fortune to own fabulous shoes. There are some great designs on the High Street, and online retailers have some great offers.

This gorgeous pair of peep toes are from Monsoon called Tahiti, currently costing £75.00. The crystal brooch on the front will be complimentary to most dresses.

If you fancy spoiling yourself, Diane Hassall has some beautiful shoes to match all styles of dress. This pair is called Daisy Hill, and is available on Girls of Elegance for £225.00. All of her shoes are handcrafted, therefore i suggest you order them in plenty of time! 

If it is lace shoes that you are after, Elegant Steps have a wide selection of lace shoes to choose from. This is a gorgeous peep toe called Perfect Flo and is covered in vintage style lace with pearls in the front flower.

A couple of tips from me to save your poor feet!

• Buy your shoes as far in advance as you can as you need to take them to all of your fittings.
• Start to wear them as soon as you get them
• Wearing them in with socks on is a great idea
• Be very careful with them whilst wearing them in, especially if your shoes have glitter or crystals on them, you don't want to ruin them before your big day!

So i hope that helps address some footwear issues you may be having. What style are you going for? Are you sacrificing comfort for style? 

White Orchid Boutique     xx

Great gift ideas!

We've all been there. Invited to a wedding and you're stuck for gift ideas. A lot of brides and grooms ask for money to put towards their honeymoon or house. However there are some guests that are not comfortable giving cash, and will be on the look out for a great gift for the special couple. 

When looking for a gift, I always look for something special, a bit more unusual that the 'typical' wedding gifts. So i have been having a look around to find some gorgeous gifts for the bride and groom that are sure to be a talking point!

First up is a gorgeous tree package from growing memories who specialise in creating these wonderful packages for special occasions, such as weddings, birthdays and mothers day.

The pack pictured is their Cherry Plum Tree gift set. It also comes with an engraved pewter plaque which is personalised with your message. There are different trees to pick from such as Oak, Willow, Hazel and Holly.

The pewter plaque sets are £35, or you can buy the tree packages without the plaque for £20.



Alternatively, i have found lots of gorgeous hand painted champagne flutes on Etsy.

As you can see, some of the designs are so intricate. I think these are a fab gift, as they are so unusual, and most of them can be personalised, so it shows that some thought has gone into your present. 

Almost all of the companies ship to the UK, and the set of 2 flutes cost around $50 (approx £31) Click here to have a look at more fabulous designs!


Not On The High Street stock some wonderful personalised gifts, like this wedding wine box.

The bottle of French Merlot comes in a beautiful engraved wooden box. The bottle comes with a personalised label, and you can choose which anniversary the bottle should be opened, either 1, 5 or 10 years. 

Single boxes are £25 but you can buy all 3 for an extra £15. 


I hope this has given you some ideas, if you are planning a wedding list, or buying a gift for a special couple.

White Orchid Boutique 

Justin Alexander dresses

Well today i thought i would peruse the wonderful web in search of gorgeous wedding dresses. The first designer i looked at was Justin Alexander, and they were so beautiful i had to share them with you!

8652 gives you a gorgeous mermaid silhouette. The back has a criss-cross deep V back, and buttons cover the zip (have a look here, you will LOVE it!) The selling point for me is that under the lace overlay, it is fully lined in sequins.. i am a real magpie at heart!

8709 is a fabulously extravagant ball gown style dress. The skirt is made of beautiful tulle ruffles with an organza trim. The sweetheart bodice is a really flattering shape for the majority of women, and the pleated material adds an extra wow factor to this gown

8687 is probably my favourite dress in the whole collection! It is a bit more unusual than the other dresses, and that is down to the colour and the fabric. The dress is made from regal satin and comes in a gorgeous pearl colour. The asymmetrical pleating adds an extra dimension to this dress and the beading on the one side is to die for! (have a look!)

They have also just launched a preview of the 2014 collection in their lookbook, and i must say, they are AMAZING! 

Makes me want to do it all over again........

Let me know what you think, which one is your favourite?

White Orchid Boutique

Mother of the Bride

Traditionally, the Mother of the Bride is supposed to stand out among all of the other wedding guests. Their outfits are normally luxurious and stylish. 

There are lots of gorgeous outfits on the High Street, and there are also companies that specialise in Mother of the Bride. 

I've put together a few of my favourites, see what you think!

Phase Eight -  £120
Romantica of Devon - Price on Enquiry
Planet at John Lewis - £129.00

Gina Bacconi - £200
Eliza J - £128
John Charles - Price on Enquiry


And obviously....the hat! Most Mother of the Brides still choose to wear a hat (including my Mom - after convincing me for ages she didn't want a hat, she decided on one to match her outfit that was the size of a small spaceship!) For me personally, I think they need to be showstoppers, something that really catches everyone's attention, after all, you are supposed to stand out from everyone else!

Teal - Richard Designs - £259
Black and Pink - Richard Designs - £289
Orange and Pink - Vivien Sheriff - Price on Enquiry
Silver - Hatbox at Debenhams - £55

Would you fancy a big hat? Or maybe a facinator or nothing at all? 

White Orchid Boutique