Wedding blossums

Oh Deer, Invitations!

Monique — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 10:10:21 +0000

Our first invite idea was to have a lovebirds theme, like thus:

Vintage Bird Design

So cute and totally us! AND I found out later that my parents had a lovebirds theme at their wedding! Coincidence? I think not. However, recent events have led us to think perhaps we can do something a little different to tie-in with our first choice of reception venue: Love-Deer Theme!

Deer love?

Erm no, not that kind of love…

Lodge Park was built as an observation post for the popular past time of deer coursing and is situated in a deer park. How can we not have a deer theme?
We were thinking of having invitations that look hand drawn like this:

: Flowers and Birds Hand-drawn Invite (Oh My Deer)

And we could perhaps switch the birds for deer. Easy peasy!

Or something like these:

Pear Tree and Birds Invite (Oh My Deer)

Tree and Dog Invite (Momental Designs)

We have in mind a basic idea for how we’d like our invite (deer, tree, clicquot, flowers), but we need someone to execute it for us… This is where Rach’s amazing artistic skills come in!

It’s so Magical, let’s look again…

Monique — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:14:31 +0000

Here’s another view of my dream dress I just saw on Monique Lhuillier’s Facebook photos:

Another view, Magical, Monique Lhuillier

HOTTTT!

The ‘other’ Monique…

Monique — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 14:17:00 +0000

OK. The dress that I must have (for the moment) is again by Monique Lhuillier (I dare you to try and pronounce her last name and not feel silly) and looks like thus:

Magical Front

Magical Back

Love love love love love. Don’t love the see-through lace, but that’s easily fixed.

Just want to also mention that the little lacey bolero is removable, leaving strapless corset top, however it’s common here to cover your shoulders for church ceremony.

Ceremony and Reception Possibilities… Two – Coming soon!

Monique — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 13:41:24 +0000

I promise! The pics I want to post are on Dr C’s laptop…….. and he’s in Montréal til Sunday 17 Oct.

xxx

Reception Possibility… One

Monique — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 07:59:01 +0000

If Ceremony Possibility One becomes Ceremony Destination!, then this is where we want to have our reception.

We have found a gorgeous National Trust property that might be just the ticket when it comes to our reception: Lodge Park, Sherborne. Nestled in the Windrush Valley, with streams, geese, swans, deer, and ancient trees all around… it is truly breathtaking. Lodge Park has an interesting history too, as explained by the National Trust website:

Lodge Park is unique: a rare grandstand and deer course set in its own deer park.

It was created by the wily and gregarious landowner, John ‘Crump’ Dutton, in 1634 to impress guests of Sherborne House. They would travel to Lodge Park to gamble on the deerhounds racing down the deer course, amidst bouts of feasting and revelry in the 44’ long banqueting chamber.

Here is the grandstand, and where the reception would be held:

Lodge Park Grandstand

We are heading out to have a look next weekend. Can’t wait!

The other attractive thing about Lodge Park is that it is 1 minute away from Cats Abbey, where we hope to stay (with 22 other friends and family!) for the week of festivities. Perfect!

Cats Abbey

Interior, Cats Abbey

Ceremony possibility… One

Monique — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 07:54:21 +0000

St Mary’s at Swinbrook in the Windrush Valley, Cotswolds, was a church we thought we would ‘just look anyway’ at on our way to another church: St Oswold’s, Widford. However, we were blown away when we got there and it is now Ceremony Possibility One! The natural light and serene atmosphere inside the tiny little village church is exactly what we were looking for.

St Mary's, Swinbrook

Entrance, St Mary's, Swinbrook

Interior, St Mary's, Swinbrook

This is St Oswold’s that was our initial destination. We later found out it’s not licensed for wedding ceremonies anyway.

St Oswold's, Widford

The attraction to St Oswold’s is that it is built on an ancient Roman Villa. The history in this place is amazing. Happy sigh… we’re in England for sure!

Valentino blush

Monique — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:03:20 +0000

Ok so I’ve fallen for another man… Valentino, that is. Sorry Christian.

I’ve been swept away by these metallic pumps found in Net-a-Porter‘s new wedding section:

I’m in LOVE!

Ahem… Erdem

Monique — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:57:07 +0000

Ok, so I know I’m on a bridesmaid-dress binge, but how can I not post this gorgeous Erdem dress?

Erdem Adelpha-print dress

I love the basic shift cut and the design is so tea-party.

Stellaaaa

Monique — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:32:50 +0000

Stella McCartney rocks my world. This dress is so cute, I could eat it. It would definitely taste like fairy floss.

Stella McCartney Silk-organza dress

Cute for bridesmaids, no? I wanna be a bridesmaid!!

Cute maids

Monique — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:24:00 +0000

I really like these bridesmaids dresses. Do you?

Source: Style Me Pretty