unique Archives - The White Emporium

Top Three Styling Trends 2018 –

18th November 2017 by Gemma Leave a Comment

In the first of a series of blog posts I will be looking at some of the key styling trends of 2018, with details soon to be hitting the new wedding scene, don’t worry the good old brass candle stick isn’t going anywhere, but it does have some new friends to sit with.

Like all trends they are influenced by social movements and whats happening in the world of interior design, refined by wedding creatives in styled shoots they then find themselves as key parts of your day.

Transparent –

This year we have seen the introduction of Perspex as stationary material for the use of everything from table plans to place names. This now goes one step further with ghost chairs and Perspex tables making their way across the Atlantic from the dreamy outdoor weddings of California. Admittedly a ghost chair isn’t for everyone and I would always pick a chair to suit the venue, they do however add an amazing level of light and freshness to your wedding décor. Not quite sold on the Perspex then glass will be in abundance, next year I look forward to writing table numbers on glass photo frames and filling large glass distillers with an array of grasses and greenery.

Ghost Chairs

Transparent Plinths perfect for filling and stacking.

Perspex plate layering – whats not to love!

Backdrops –

Nothing makes for a blog submitting wedding more than a dramatic backdrop. Whether that be at the bottom of your aisle or behind the top table. Stylists and florists are getting more and more creative in their designing and the results are all about adding that wow factor. A lot of it is about building on textures and this is where a stylist and florist working together can really come into their own. Key materials include of course Perspex and glass, but also softening chiffon and wire frames, really think about depth of framing yourselves with adding in plinths and details on the floor, such as candles and Perisan rugs. Shapes of backdrops are changing as well, crescents and circles are key shapes for floral designs and chiffon and fabrics are suspended in the air as if they are floating. A simple archway turns into a grid and the flowers just get more dramatic.

Chiffon Drapes Appear To Float

Circle is the new square!

Grids are perfect for building layers of floral displays on.

Grazing Table –

2017 was the year of the doughnut 2018 will be the year of the grazing table and the rise of the savouries! (Yes finally!) A cheese board has never looked so good when it its styled with an array of meats, antipasti, chutneys and breads. This isn’t going to be just for the rustic lovers either, think about adding Perspex (oh gosh I said it again) stands and marble trays to create light displays or go full on with wooden crates, slate tiles and wooden serving boards.

Grazing Table – Yum!

Grazing Table With A Light and Fresh Feel

Grazing Table Of Dreams

For more inspiration and styling trends 2018 head over to my Instagram feed and Pinterest boards ( The White Emporium Pinterest ) where I pin away to my hearts content. Why not head over to our hire page to see what decor would be perfect for styling trends 2018… Hire Page

Next week I will be looking a little more at floral trends.

Love

Gemma xxx

A Little Close Up Part 1- Hand Drawn Maps

10th June 2016 by Gemma Leave a Comment

For well over a year The White a Emporium has been creating hand drawn maps for couples all around the country. It is an area of our work that we have never really shouted about. So as the first in a 3-part close up look at The White Emporium we will be telling you all you need to know about our little maps.

It all started back in 2014 when I drew a tiny little map on the info page of our wedding invites. One of our guests saw it and loved it and asked me to draw one for them. Then a friend of a friend saw theirs and another map was commissioned, the rest as they say is history.

My Own Little Wedding Map, Where It All Began!

I have created maps of London to Italy and drawn airplanes to unicorns. As long as I can have access to photos (Google maps is a dream) I can attempt to draw anything.

Each little element of the map is hand drawn, you can include your houses, where you went on your first date, your favourite pub etc, most common is for couples to add on the hotels guests have been recommended to stay at and of course the wedding venues.

Every Element In The Map Is Hand Drawn

A Map Of A Location In Italy

So why buy a hand drawn map when printing from Google is so easy? Well every map is completely unique, no 2 are ever the same. It is another great way to inject your personality by adding in places that mean something to you and selecting the area to be drawn. The maps aren’t accurate to scale but they still make a great little tool to stop your guests getting lost. Finally once you are happy with the artwork the map is yours to keep, I hold no printing restrictions so it can be re-produced however you like as many times as you like. They are great to keep in your memory box and I have known couples to frame them, or enlarge them and use them as a print for guests to sign.

Another One Of Our Little Maps

Here’s the important bit (well for me anyway) the maps currently cost £40 (until 1st September 16) for the finished JPEG and they take at least 2 weeks to draw. I would need to know the final size you require, all the places you would like to be included and your names and wedding date. So not to much info! When you are entirely happy with the artwork you get a high resolution JPEG which is yours to print however you would like.

The Most Ambitious Map To Date, Commissioned by The Bohemian Dreams Wedding Festival

Then if you loved your map why not add on a timeline of your day to go into your order of services! These are at a barginacious £20 until Sept 1st 2016!

Add In The Timings For The Day With A Hand Drawn TimeLine

For more information or to book your map drop a message to thewhiteemporium@outlook.com

Get those fingers typing and hopefully hear from you soon!

Love Gemma x

The White Emporium

This is Me…

1st April 2016 by Gemma Leave a Comment

I have had a whole load of new Instagram and Facebook followers which I am totally over the moon about, thank you so much for following my little adventure into building The White Emporium. So I thought it was about time I introduced the woman behind the venture.

This is me!

For those of you who don’t know my name is Gemma and I am a not long 30, head strong, compulsive doodler, slightly crazy cat lady, who is attempting to take on the Bedfordshire wedding industry.

The White Emporium was born after my own wedding back in August 2014. I loved every moment of organising my own wedding, everything on the day was either made or sourced by myself and to say I was in my element was an understatement. I am not going to lie the wedding took over my life, our house resembled a scene from ‘The Secret Life of Hoarders’ and I roped in anyone and everyone to help with sticking, sanding and cutting. I had invested so much of my time and my energy into this one day, so when it was over I couldn’t bare the thought of having to give it all up. So not only on my wedding day did I marry the most perfect man I also started a new adventure all on my own.

Behind the scenes on a shoot!

I have always been very determined and after (not to sound soppy) a realisation of my own mortality a few years ago, I promised the big guy upstairs that if everything worked out I would start my own business. So here I am! Officially a business woman and owner – with a business account! Yes I often feel out of my depth and sometimes panicked by what I have started, but most of the time I am excited and constantly driven to keep building The White Emporium. However all is not easy, I still work full time to pay the bills, I often get up ridiculously early and work late with my very unhelpful cat for company, I struggle to balance my time and those closest to me suffer from the zero free time I have. The love I have for those closest to me is immense and I couldn’t be where I am without them, their support and encouragement is ridiculous and you soon learn who your true friends are when they understand why you are locked in your house painting blackboards all weekend!

An early morning start, still in the P.J s with my unhelpful cat!

It is amazing to sit back and see where The White Emporium has come over the past 18 months. I am lucky enough to have meet some pretty awesome local suppliers and together we have created stunning photoshoots that have been featured in local and national blogs and magazines. I am in my element on a styled shoot and love the planning and setting up of the different looks. I have also had the pleasure of working with some beautiful couples, these are the people that I get up for and every wedding I am involved with I get that same feeling of excitement I had on own big day. Back in January I had all my hard work rewarded when I won ‘The One To watch’ Award at the Four Counties Wedding Awards, it was great to be noticed as a newcomer to the wedding industry and what an amazing way to start what promises to be a action packed 2016!

I only went and won an award!!!

So what is The White Emporium about? Well it’s about creating weddings that are truly unique and personal to each couple. I don’t believe in the ordinary, I believe in out-of-the-box thinking and quirky touches. Weddings shouldn’t be about a rigid, structured day and a conveyor belt of brides, it should be all about the couple who are starting on a new chapter together and a wedding should reflect this and most importantly their personalities.

In a nutshell this is me and The White Emporium. For more information and to get in touch head over to the Contact page. Make sure you follow The White Emporium on Pinterest for everything we love and inspired by. Instagram for behind the scenes and Facebook for updates. Also don’t forget to follow this blog for more ramblings on weddings, I promise it isn’t always so wet!

Happy Friday Campers!!!

Gem xxx

The White Emporium

Take one milk churn…

25th January 2016 by Gemma 2 Comments

Take one simple milk churn and pack it full of flowers and the look is truly schmazzzzziiinnngggg! Please can I get married again!

I love the height you can get from these arrangements and how they can be filled with the brightest of colours, creating real breath taking displays. Surely a flower arrangers dream!

This is a short but sweet post, there is no point in my crazy ramblings the photos are going to do all the talking!

Image from 29gallery.co.uk

Image from amydwyerflorist.com

Image from rockmy wedding.com

Image from passionforflowers.net

Image from onefabday.com

For more inspiration follow me on Pinterest – https://uk.pinterest.com/whiteemporium/ I can promise a lot of milk churn and general relaxed rustic love!

Love Gemma xxx

The White Emporium

A Beautiful White Affair

15th January 2016 by Gemma Leave a Comment

One of my favourite things about my job is getting to work with some super talented suppliers on styled shoots. Today I am going to share with a beauty of a gem, perfect for cheering up this very cold day. Back in May 2014 we created an effortlessly beautiful look which took full advantage of the lush green backdrop. The first look saw our bride and groom embrace under a natural arbor complimented with a love quote plaque and candles (frequent followers will know I have a candle obsession). The bride had a stunning relaxed bun up-do decorated with flowers. Her dress was trimmed with beads and featured a small train, perfect for the relaxed feel.

Our couple dined at a table brimming with eucalyptus and brass candlesticks, gip filled the mini glass vases and rustic Mr and Mrs hand painted signs hung from the chairs.

With the beautiful setting it would have been rude not to take advantage of the outdoors so we created a picnic, which has to be the ultimate in relaxed wedding dining.

White was our non-colour of choice, it really pops against the green and the beautiful relaxed hand tied bouquet was to die for!

The second look saw the bride in a short lace and loose waved hair, the groom looked dapper in shirt and braces. 2016 is all about signage and our Mr and Mrs signs and chalk boards provide amazing photo props.

I love the intimate feel of this shoot and how in love the couple look. When I style shoots I love to help create the relaxed vibe that was over whelming on this gorgeous day.

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Here is the full list of suppliers, they are all amazing –

Photography: www.summerlilystudio.com

https://www.nikkismoments.com/

https://www.sungblue.com/

https://www.loveandlifestudio.co.uk/

Hair: www.updosbynatasha.co.uk

Make Up: www.facebook.com/makeupbymackenziekate

Styling little old Me!: www.thewhiteemporium.co.uk

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

Cake: www.icakeyou.co.uk

Stationery: www.karleegould.co.uk/

Accessories: www.somethingnewsomethingblue.co.uk

Happy Weekend

Gem xxx

The White Emporium

Copper Crazy

21st December 2015 by Gemma Leave a Comment

I have found myself with a spare few minutes! Crazy I know! So here is a short but sweet blog!

I have realised I have gone a little copper crazy in the images I have been liking and pinning so thought I should put them to good use and show you lovely lot what I have been drooling over.

I don’t think there is currently such a thing as too much copper!

Have a look at the below mood board and judge for yourself, I especially love the use of copper pots and candlesticks as table centers

Hope this provides a little bright inspiration into this dull and wet day!

Love Gem

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

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