Monday, 25 November 2013

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

Saturday, 9 November 2013

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


Saturday, 26 October 2013

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 

Thursday, 17 October 2013

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





Sunday, 29 September 2013

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


Saturday, 31 August 2013

Sweet Treats

So today i thought i would tell you about a brand new local business that is set to be really popular in the wedding business!

If you are looking at adding a little something extra to your wedding reception, then look no further! Chally Candy is a luxury candy cart company that will fill their gorgeous cart full of goodies of your choosing (flying saucers and marshmallows for me!) for up to 100 guests as standard. 


They also provide all the scoops, tongs and bags you will need,so you don't need to worry about sourcing all of the extra bits. It also comes with fairy lights on the cart itself, which will look gorgeous at your evening reception, and act as a real focal point.

Usually candy carts are unmanned, however Chally Candy offer staff as an added extra should you want someone to maintain the cart and answer any guest queries. This is a great feature, as there are not many companies that offer this service, which is a great selling point!

They are fully insured and will deliver to your chosen venue, set up and collect, so it really is a weight of your mind, especially with so many other things to worry about. 


They also have a gorgeous wooden post box to hire along side the cart, and there is a special offer when booking the two together. 

You can find them on Facebook here or email challycandy@gmail.com

So what would you have on your Candy Cart? 


White Orchid Boutique

Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Bridesmaid dress inspiration from House of Fraser

House of Fraser is well known for their luxury ladies wear, and this time of year is no exception, as they are gearing up for the Christmas season (yes.. i know it's only August!).

If you are looking for bridesmaid dresses that are a bit different to the 'norm' but still want them to be formal and elegant, this is really the place to look. I have picked out a few gorgeous pieces from various designers.



Phase Eight - Minueta £120.00
Coast - Roxie £220.00
Coast - Adelise £180.00


If you are looking for shorter styles for a more informal day:

Coast - Daymee £150.00
Aftershock Talula £220.00
Untold Chiffon One Shoulder Dress £115.00



There are some gorgeous fabrics out there at the moment, as well as some vibrant colours. Teal, various reds, blues and purples seem to be the colours of the moment, and can easily be incorporated into your wedding. 

Are you thinking of long or short bridesmaid dresses? Are you having a formal day, or a more relaxed one?



White Orchid Boutique 

Friday, 23 August 2013

Glitzy Secrets

So recently i have been trying to find some gorgeous wedding jewellery, and i stumbled on Glitzy Secrets

They have some gorgeous pieces that you can mix and match to create your perfect look. Their pieces are high quality and really affordable.



Left: Deco Dream £24.00


Right: Chic in Pearls £18.00






The Deco Dream Earrings are right on trend for 2013/2014 weddings, as the Art Deco theme runs through the new bridal collections coming out right about now. They look far more expensive than they are, and so stylish too! Perfect for a glam vintage wedding.

Chic in Pearls are the epitome of wedding jewellery to me. Glamorous, classic and chic, they would look gorgeous with most hair styles, and a simple string of pearls would compliment them to complete the look. 




Clockwise from top left
1 - Precious in Pearls bracelet      £24.00
2 - Enchanting Beauty bangle        £28.00
3 - Garland of Pearl bangle            £34.00
4 - Pearl Heirloom cuff                    £34.00


They also stock some exquisite headpieces, combs, tiaras and clips for you, and smaller ones for your bridesmaids.

Are you having pearls or diamonds in your wedding jewellery? Or maybe a bit of both?



White Orchid Boutique



Monday, 19 August 2013

Need a florist?

Getting married locally? Need a florist?

I can highly recommend Fine Flowers, based in Rugeley. (OK, i may be slightly biased, as ordered my flower arrangements from them!)

Fine Flowers is a well established company run by a lovely lady called Lynne. They specialise in wedding flowers, and a great job they do of it too! They cater to all tastes, budgets and themes. If you have something specific in mind, they will do their best to bring that idea to life. 


They also hire out large martini glasses and candelabras for your centerpieces. My personal favourites are the candelabras, I think they look so elegant. You could also have flowers put around the base if you wish.


Another great thing about Fine Flowers is that they also hire out post boxes, hat stands, table plans and vases to place the bouquets in when not needed. These are things most people like to have as part of their big day, so it's nice to be able to hire them so they are not clogging up your cupboards in years to come! 


You can find them on Facebook or by following this link, or you can view their website here


What will your wedding flowers look like? Any unusual colour schemes or centerpieces?



White Orchid Boutique



Saturday, 10 August 2013

Fancy Favours...

Can't find favours to match your wedding theme? Want something a bit unusual?

Look no further than Not On The High Street 


There really is something for everyone. If you are looking for something a little different and personal to you as a couple, then this is for you.

Here are my top picks!

Seed Packets
These cute seed packets are gorgeous as they are a lasting reminder of your special day. They can be personalised with your names and date of the wedding, and they have instructions for planting on the reverse, perfect for those guests that haven't got green fingers!


Honey Pot

Well isn't this just adorable? The honey pot with wooden dipper is perfect for a spring/summer wedding and is suitable for all of your guests. It is something they can take home and keep as a token of the day they shared with you.


Bath Soak/Bath Milk
Great for a vintage style wedding, these bath goodies will please guests of all ages. The ladies bath milk comes in 3 fragrances - Soothing Lavender,Enchanted or Heavenly Angel. The mens bath soak contains sea salt, and has a fragrance that includes fresh mint, herbs and camphor.


Wooden Spoon
If you are looking for something food-related, but you don't want edible favours, this is perfect for you. These wooden spoons have a shortbread recipe attached. Children and adults of all ages would love this as it is something that will be put to good use when your guests get home. You can personalise the tag and choose the ribbon to match your colour scheme.

So what do you think? Would you give unusual favours, or are you sticking with tradition?


White Orchid Boutique

Wednesday, 7 August 2013

Monochrome trend for 2014

So it looks like a super trend for Spring/Summer 2014 is the monochrome wedding! Vera Wang unveiled her new collection at Bridal Fashion week earlier in the year, and monochrome played a big part in that.

Thinking along the same lines, I have found some gorgeous ideas..


I stumbled across this gorgeous cake from www.rachelles.co.uk 
Less is definitely more with this cake, with the gorgeous cascade of anemones down the side. 


Black bridesmaid dresses with a white sash look simple and elegant. You could brighten it up with an accent colour for the flowers if you wish. A cerise pink or yellow would look amazing!




This gorgeous posy of Gerberas would look beautiful against the black dresses, or even as a bridal bouquet as the black centers would really stand out against the bridal gown. A posy of white roses, or even a very simple bunch of daisies would look equally as gorgeous.


So..there you have it! My top picks for a monochrome wedding. 

Would you have a black and white day? Or would you throw in an accent colour to jazz it up a bit?


Thanks for reading!



White Orchid Boutique 














Monday, 5 August 2013

My first ever post!

Hi guys, welcome to the wonderful world of White Orchid!

So after organising my own wedding in June 2013, i realised just how much I LOVE weddings! I really enjoy looking at the latest trends and am really interested in what brides want on the biggest day of their life.

All of the posts will be things I have come across and fell in love with, but I would love to hear your feedback and comments about the things you are looking for when planning your wedding.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my posts, and I look forward to hearing from you! xx