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Spring Country Wedding Styled Shoot

12th June 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

Oooppps been a month since our last blog post! Life at The White Emporium has been non stop and manic but in a good way so please forgive us for the absence.

But we have something below certainly worth waiting for!

A couple of weeks ago we took part in another styled wedding shoot with a band of amazing wedding photographers. The look was a summer country wedding, the feel was fresh and airy. There was crispness in the styling with only white flowers contrasting against beautiful greenery and eucalyptus, the only real use of colour came from gold highlights in the invites and styling accessories. May sees an abundance of Cow Parsley which makes for a dreamy back drop.

The table was dressed with vintage linen and accessorized with brass candlesticks and glass tealights. I love the idea of stand out plates, (I wish I had thought of interesting plates for my own wedding plain white just looks so boring now!) so we found some beautiful gold rimmed, dinner and side plates, you can create some really beautiful table settings with a few simple touches and we tied a few sprigs of greenery in with the knife and fork.

The second look saw the bride and groom heading to a vintage picnic complete with crates and slate boards. This idea can easily be translated into a cheese table or why not have welcome drinks in a picnic setting.

At The White Emporium we have a wide selection of chalk boards and love nothing better than a good love quote. Don’t miss these below!

Check out the beautiful striped cake, i love this idea what a way to make a unexpected impact and how amazing do the flowers look on top!

Finally the group of lovely photographers whose photos are below are super talented, they all have a slightly different style to their technique make sure you hope over to their websites for full photos don’t forget to check out all the other suppliers below who worked on this beautiful shoot!

Credits:

Photography: www.summerlilystudio.com

http://www.sungblue.com/

http://www.nikkismoments.com/

**Also Laura Mutz

Hair: www.updosbynatasha.co.uk

Make Up: www.facebook.com/makeupbymackenziekate

Flowers: Wood View Floral Designs – lesleymutz@hotmail.co.uk

Cake: www.icakeyou.co.uk

Stationery: www.karleegould.co.uk/

Accessories: www.somethingnewsomethingblue.co.uk

Love Gemma

The White Emporium xxx

Coming Soon Table Runners…

15th May 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

We have a very long list of goodies that we are busy hunting and sourcing, but we also are busy creating hand made items that are available to rent and buy.
One such item that will hopefully be gracing The white Emporiums pages soon are table runners. Perfect for adding colour into rooms and enhancing table centres. The mood board below shows the look and vibe we are after. We are looking to create a relaxed atmosphere with a fresh bohemian feel. The muted tones sit perfectly with blues, pastels and corals. Mix with Mercury votives and simple glass bottles for a clean, effortless look.
For a real vintage look we are looking to use faded florals and grey ticking stripes. Our ultimate favourites are the broader Normandy and Padstow stripes.
Now it’s just a case of trying to source the perfect fabric and we can get sewing!
So keep your eye out on the website for the new additions. We already have a few ideas up our sleeve for how we can style them into some forthcoming photoshoots.

Have you thought about using table runners for your big day?

Love
Gemma
The White Emporium xxx

Bunting Love….

29th April 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

I am a dab hand with a sewing machine and bunting is one of my favourite things to make. It is such a versatile way to add colour and height into a room.

Weddings are getting more and more creative and the decoration more unique and colourful with every issue of Brides Magazine you pick up. So I thought I would share with you my top 5 favourite alternative bunting ideas.

In at number 5 – Lace and crochet bunting (did I mention we stock lace bunting)

Watch the light fall beautifully through the dainty lace fabrics. Crochet doilies and the more traditional lace triangle flags are a must have for summer weddings. Perfect for woodland blessings and old barns.

Found in the littleweddinghelper

Found on ETSY

Closely following behind at number 4 is bunting made from pine cones and ribbon. Effortlessly rustic and simple, it is a great for those who love the idea of a DIY wedding. I love the idea of mixing this with rag bunting which you can never have enough of!

No 3 – Photo Bunting! This can be incorporated in so many ways. why not make garlands adorned with images of you growing up as a child surrounded by all your friends and family. Or use it as part of a guest book, hire a Polaroid camera and encourage guests to snap away and then add the Polaroid onto the bunting. It will serve as a great time line for how the night evolves.

Image found on bespoke bride

No 2 is Big, Bright and beautiful flower garlands. String carnations ( a relatively in expensive flower) across your venue and watch the colours pop! Or string them vertically to create a sumptuous back drop.

Image found on Hello May

And my all time Summer 2015 bunting idea is…. Lampshades! A key trend for SS15 is bringing the inside out, perfect for creating a unique area. I love how the image below shows them strung from trees, imagine a relaxed seating area below and you instantly have the most sought after wedding vibe!

Image from the wedding community

We have some photo shoots coming up and hopefully we will try and include some of these beautiful ideas.

You can’t beat a bit of Wednesday hump day inspiration!

Love

Gemma xxx

The White Emporium

Rustic Bar Inspiration

10th April 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

I hope I’m not the only person that as soon as the sun shines I want to grab a drink and head outdoors put my feet up and soak up the warmth. So with this in mind this weeks blog post is a little bit of home made rustic bar inspiration. Wedding season is just around the corner and what better way to create something truly unique and personal than with your own home made bar. You can play it as safe or as adventurous as you like, incorporate your favourite tipples, why not create your own signature cocktail and serve it in glass drinks dispensers, (have I mentioned before we have those :-)!)

One for the guys and the height of coolness, create your own whisky bar with glass decanters, silver trays and sparkling tumblers, brass candlesticks would help make an awesome back drop. Serve along side the finest cigars, imagine sipping your drink as the sun sets with your nearest and dearest around you reflecting on your perfect day.

Feeling super adventurous? Then create a whole bar from scratch, (you may need the help of someone with carpentry skills). Grab a hammer and get handy with some wooden pallets, the beers can be displayed and kept cool in metal buckets and wheel barrows, wooden crates (we have those to) can be used to create shelves and create height in your display, use the designs of the spirit bottles to your advantage and turn them into a feature weaving your flowers in between them to create an almost living space. ( I am getting far to excited!)

No bar would be complete without a sign, I love the deep south inspired iron light up ones that have become so popular, they make such an impact and would make sure every guest knew where the bar was. Being a sparkle magpie I love the glitter signs, which would be easy to create yourself and adding to our hire range this week we have a cork BAR sign, perfect for the rustic feel!

So I hope this has inspired you not just if you are a bride but if you planning a party, I will certainly be incorporating some of these ideas in the events I am planning this year!

See you next week!

Love Gemma

The White Emporium xxx

Hope you didn’t miss us!

22nd March 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

Wow what can I say! I can’t believe it has been over 3 weeks without a blog post! I am not quite sure where the time has gone, all I know is I could do with a few extra hours in my day.

So just a quick update on what has been happening at The White Emporium, we have been very busy with back to back wedding fairs where we meet a lot of lovely new brides and suppliers. We exhibited at the incredibly daunting but amazing Woburn Abbey, loved every minute and at the end of the weekend had minimal voice left after talking to so many brides.

Woburn was our first real push at showcasing our hand drawn maps and they went down amazingly. So much so we have been busy non stop sketching away. The maps provide a perfect personalised way to direct your guests to a venue. You can add in hotels that you would like your guests to stay at or points of interest that are unique to you and your soon to be husband. We have had couples highlight the location of their first date and their childhood homes.

Every map drawn is different and is unique to you. The files are sent as a high resolution so once you have received your design feel free to print them as small or large as you like. We have no restrictions on it’s final use and would love you to spread the word!

So that was a quick update on what’s been happening here, I better get back to my sketch book we have 2 lovely maps leaving this week!

Send us an email if this is something you would like to add to your special day!

Love
Gemma
The White Emporium
Xxx

Flower Love

20th February 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

Feeling a little nostalgic today, so was taking a trip down memory lane and found the inspiration board for my wedding flowers. I loved my flowers and I still love these images. I wanted the vintage colours but contrasted them with the bold pops of colour like the bright pink, deep purple and corn flower blue. If I do say so myself they looked pretty amazing! (I know very modest). I was lucky that The White Emporiums number one fan (my mum) has a natural talent for flower arranging, she translated my ideas for the venue and church beautifully, everywhere you looked there was a little floral display. Fortunately my florist Elaine was also on the same wave length and the bouquets and buttons holes fitted in perfectly with the venue displays.

Flowers by my very talented mum x

Flowers by my very talented mum x

Flowers by my very talented mum x

Flowers by my very talented mum x

Bouquet by Elaine

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Bouquet by Elaine

Hopefully this board of lovely colour will brighten up your day, my little trip down memory lane has put a smile on my face.

P.S – If you need a little flower inspiration head To Liberty’s of London the florist there is amazing!

My wedding bouquets were created by Elaine at http://www.elainesturges.co.uk/

Photos by Two-D: http://www.two-d.co.uk/

Happy Flower Planning!

Love Gemma

The White Emporium xxx

A Beautiful Peach and Gold Winter Weddding

13th February 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

Hello ladies and gentleman, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you my very first ever styled shoot! I worked with some amazing photographers to capture a very beautiful day! I have tried to capture the full beauty of the day through their many different photographic styles. It was on a very very cold and snowy day

Francesales.co.uk

http://www.summerlilystudio.com/

francessales.co.uk

francessales,co.uk

www.rtovey.com

http://www.summerlilystudio.com/

http://www.summerlilystudio.com/

http://www.summerlilystudio.com/

francesales.co.uk

rtovey.com

rtovey.com

rtovey.com

rtovey.com

rtovey.com

rtovey.com

rtovey.com

rtovey.com

http://www.summerlilystudio.com/

http://sungblue.com/

Laura Mutz

francessales.co.uk

Laura Mutz

rtovey.com

Flowers by www.stephanierose.co.uk
Hair & Make Up by www.bellesbeauty.wordpress.com
Cake: www.maisiecakes.co.uk

Links to the photographers blogs: –

http://sungbluephotography.zenfolio.com/blog/2015/2/peach-and-gold-winter-styled-shoot

http://www.rtovey.com/2015/02/nicola-and-jay-romantic-pastel-and-gold.html

http://www.francessales.co.uk/winter-garden-wedding-nicola-jay/

http://summerlilyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/

Wedding favours you will want to take home…

30th January 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

You spend so much time worrying about what is a suitable wedding favour for your guests, I know I certainly did! You want it to be meaningful, not to expensive and to fit in with the vibe of your day. The reality is that most likely quite a few of your guests are going to accidentally leave behind your little gift that you spent so much time worrying over. So why not make your favour something they can’t resit! Below I have found some great ideas, that aren’t to expensive and if you are feeling brave can be created yourselves.

For the sentimentalists –

Why not create a playlist for your day to share with your guests, it could include your first dance, your last dance and all your favourite tracks as a couple.

Found on Festival Brides

Hand painted stones will be loved by the ladies and the older generation, you could doodle away on the stones to your hearts content. They make excellent paper weights (practical) and pretty decorations.

Found on Studio DADA on Facebook.

For the drinkers (well the hot drinkers) –

Create test tubes with your favourite tea blends in or my must have hot chocolate, complete with sprinkles and marshmallows. If your guests like a tipple why not include an alcoholic miniature?

Found on customfavours.com

Found on oppulentoccasions.com

For the green fingered –

Offer your guests something to take home and grow, succulents or cactus are very cost effective and you can jazz the pot up to your hearts content. Why not encourage your guests to share photos of their plants every year on your wedding anniversary.

Found on bride to bride

Found on caught the bouquet

For the chefs –

If you and your future husband like cooking why not create your own infused oils, they will need to be created in advance but its so simple! I love the idea of creating Chili oils as gifts for your guests.

Found on greenlif3.wordpress

Finally for the sweet tooths –

Cake! But cake in the jar that your guests can take home and enjoy whilst reflecting on your amazing day! Trudy from Trudy Scrumptious Cakes makes to die for cakes and she has just added this lovely range of cake jars, in mouth watering flavours. If you are local to Bedford her Facebook page is – https://www.facebook.com/TrudyScrumptiousCakes

From Trudy Scrumptious Cakes

At least if any of the above get left behind you and your husband can enjoy them!

What are you having as your wedding favour?

Love

Gemma

The White Emporium xxx

How to create glitter dipped feathers…

23rd January 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

Most of my regular followers will know I have a bit of a thing for glitter, I have been busy this week creating glitter dipped feathers for a little project I have been working on so thought I would share an easy tutorial with you. The dipped feathers can be used as backdrop, as details for your place settings or highlights in your flowers.

All you need is – A brush, PVA glue, a selection of feathers and a pot of glitter emptied into a bowl.

1 – Make sure the feathers are clean, then lightly brush the PVA glue over the tip of the feather.

2 – Make sure there is not so much glue that it drips off the feather, you only need a very thin coating. Dip the end of the feather into the bowl of glue. Shake off excess glitter.

3 – Place your feather somewhere to dry, it is essential the glue tip is not touching any surface. I used oasis to keep the feather upright and separate.

Why stop with glitter you can also use paint and sequins!

It’s so simple but very beautiful

What will you be using your dipped feathers for?

Love

Gemma xx

The White Emporium

How to incorporate metal ware…

16th January 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

When I was planning my own wedding I collected and found lots of beautiful metal and tin items, many were found buried in sheds and green houses. Long had they been forgotten, left out in the elements to weather and age beautifully! I loved the wear on them, the hints of rust and distress, I just had to incorporate them into my day. As a bride it can be quite difficult to picture these alternative wedding items into your big day so I thought I would share with you some of my favourite images that will help to inspire you.

Flowers look great displayed in tin buckets, my particular favourites are the gyp and lavender, what a beautiful colour scheme the ivory, purple and grey makes.

Found on g-style.blogspot

Layering items together to create a feature make for lovely photo back drops, it also provides a great space for displaying flowers. I’m in love with the below image and hope to use it as inspiration for the display at our next wedding fair.

found on arquitetura-pessoal.tumblr.com

It’s not just buckets and baths that can be used as decoration, why not display your flowers in watering cans and milk urns. The pink roses in the below image add an excellent colour pop.

found on fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net

found on dreamywhites.blogspot.ca

At our wedding we used tin baths and buckets to display the welcome drinks and keep them cool. They make excellent photos and provide a great talking point. OI love the below ideas of storing the sparklers in for a sparkler send off and blankets to keep guests warm, perfect for outside orientated weddings.

Photo by two-d photography

found on weddinginspire.com

found on sherricassaradesigns.com

I hope this gives you some food for thought and a little bit of inspiration.

Love

Gemma

The White Emporium xxx