The vinyl revival is frequently mocked as silly hipster fad. Well, go ahead and brand me a hipster (but no weird pirate-cowboy scarves, and absolutely no coffee in mason jars, thanks), then- I absolutely love everything about it. Granted, you can’t play tracks continuously for days on end the way you can with an iPod, but I quite like the way that you have to choose your own music every twenty minutes, rather than mindlessly listening to tracks- even if the chosen music does turn out to be Marvin Gaye’s Heard it Through the Grapevine played nonstop for hours, for a kid who thinks it’s the best song in the world for dancing to. Plus, vinyl sounds so much better! Yeah I’m one of those people. But truly, you can’t beat the beautiful texture and velvety sound you get with a record player, and- it has to be said- record players, particularly the older ones- are just splendid to look at… not that it’s about that, of course.

Vinyl player

In the world of fantasy weddings, where our venue is Somerset House (exclusive use, obviously); and where my wedding cinema is set up in the spectacular courtyard, casting its muted neon shadow over the luxurious, low key festival reception set up below; music would be a huge part of the day. I’m thinking a string quartet for the ceremony, a low key and relaxed jazz band with singer for the drinks reception (in this fantasy wedding I’ll be having a drinks reception.  Hell, I’ll even have real champagne!), and an amazing line up for the reception with everything from a relaxed indie band with acoustic guitars to a swing band to a Beatles imitation group. But, you know, budgets happen.

Somerset House

We both love music; who doesn’t, really? Music can absolutely make or break an atmosphere so getting it right was important to us, not only because music itself is something we love, but also because we wanted the right feel to the wedding. That said, neither of us are all that in to dancing (I say that, Chris has just, as I wrote that sentence, walked through the door doing what I can only assume is intended as an imitation of The Jungle Book‘s Baloo dancing to ‘The Bear Necessities’). Me, because I can’t, (like really can’t. If I had to watch a video of myself dancing I’d probably be too embarrassed to ever be seen in public again.) and Chris, because he’s male. Really, we just wanted music to provide a great setting for the day, though I’m certain the over-sugared little ones will be dancing all night!

We did actually seriously look in to having a live band, and in fact, I haven’t quite given up on that one yet, but each one that we considered was galaxies away from our budget- our budget, in all fairness, being ridiculously small for music, so we cannot really complain. The logical solution, then, seemed to provide our own music. And no I don’t mean set up an iPod playlist (though this may be needed as a back up); I mean put our record player in full view, with a selection of records and allow guests to be our DJs, and voila! Entertainment for guests and music, and it isn’t awkward if no one chooses to dance, as I imagine it may be with a DJ and evening party held specifically in a room for dancing (definitely a big no-no for us).

One big almost-development on the music front was my discovery of Vintage 78 DJs. They have vintage gramophones that they use to play very old records, and will DJ as well as letting guests get involved. Basically, they were perfect. They were at a vintage wedding fair in Manchester so I set out to find them- a little stalkerish, I can see that in retrospect. I was expecting them to be somewhere in the middle of the fair so that I could browse other stalls and then strike up a conversation, but, unfortunately for me, they were right by the door. Of course, me being as socially awkward as is possible to be, I panicked, ignored them, and walked to the photographer at the next stall. Luckily, Rory pulled his adorable toddler card and started smiling and pulling faces at Annabel, which gave me a window to talk to both her and Matt. The more I talked to them the more I fell in love, both with their music and with them as a couple- Annabel actually mentioned that they had gotten married recently at the stunning Victoria Baths, and their wedding was amazing- a total reflection of their personalities; exactly what a wedding should be.

James Melia

Unfortunately, we decided in the end not to go with them, as the travel costs on top of their (actually very reasonable) fees were more than we could afford. One thing’s for sure, though, they definitely assured me that having a record player and vinyls at our wedding is the right way to go!

So, that’s our music! I’m still holding out hope on that live band, but really, I’m having a cinema at my wedding; I can hardly complain!

Band

Annabel & Matt’s Wedding,  Love my Dress

This is just a very quick post.  More lovely photographs from Claire Naylor will follow, but I couldn’t contain myself.  On Saturday, not only did Violets & Velvet and I have a great day with our guests on our first Styling Workshop, but I now feel a big sense of achievement.  I overcame my fear of speaking in public!

People who know me, know I like to chat …. and chat and chat, but standing in front of people has been a major phobia of mine for quite some time.  Forever infact.  When I worked for Cable & Wireless Marine they wanted to send me on a course to overcome it, I was too scared to go on the course!

I have always loved going on workshops myself, learning new skills and having a lovely day out.  I have been thinking about hosting one myself for a long time, especially now I love what I do and want to share it with others.  I even went on a fantastic Workshop Masterclass with the gorgeous Fiona from Flourish Studios which gave me an insight into how she ran her classes and what I could offer to others.

Before our guests arrived, Sam and I had a quick run through and I literally drew a blank.  I said “I have completely forgotten what I am going to talk about”!  With just 10 minutes before we were due to start, this wasn’t good news!

Needless to say, fuelled with caffeine and a sugar rush of Love Little Cake , once I started and the guests started chatting back, everything came together and there was no stopping me!  As we broke for lunch, we laughed about what I had said before as I rarely drew breath!

This is to thank everyone who came on Saturday, you helped me overcome one of my phobias (there are others!) and I couldn’t be happier.

Somehow-and truly I do not know how it happened- I fell in love with a man who is more obsessed with hawaiian shorts (and flip flops, bobble hats and hoodies. Together. In any weather. No, really.) than I am with weddings. Getting him to swap his Heston Blumenthal spectacles for some spectacular tortoiseshell 1960s half frames was a fruitless venture, so I can only imagine the perils of attempting to get him in to a suit; let alone one that is completely devoid of hawaiian print fabric.

In an ideal world, however, he’d be decked out in an outfit that would be entirely appropriate in some bygone era or another. Gonna completely disregard the advice of Brides magazine’s latest issue, that suggests sticking to one era only for the entire bridal party- pah, whatever, Brides- and consider mixing it up with a modish 1960s style suit, or maybe something like this. I’m clueless on what era I’d attribute this concoction to, but check out that pale tweed/scarf/tie combo!

I think these Prada shoes are a necessity, too, though I’m certain Chris won’t agree; or worse, he will, and then he’ll change to flip flops for the reception. Then again he does want an owl feather boutonnière, so perhaps there is hope for him yet.

Whatever happens on the flip flop front, though, at least one male member of the bridal party will be stylish: Rory! Rory’s style has evolved from the knitted pastels that swamped his 6lb newborn frame, to a strict dress code of coloured chinos and Christmas jumpers (and the occasional bear suit) as his first ‘proper’ clothes, to his wardrobe now, which consists mostly of retro finds and quirky pieces from small businesses (check out Toto Knits, Retro and Me, and Harriet’s Haberdashery). He definitely stands out. Okay, I know, you think it’s my style, not his; but the way I dress him has changed as I’ve got to know him as a person; I give him clothes that I think match his weird and wonderful, and forever goofy, little self.

A standard page boy suit was never really in with a chance here; in fact, the closest we’ve come to traditional is a tweed three piece with brogues, but even that was decidedly too boring. Ideally, we would have gone for some colour; a maroon suit jacket with brown tweed trousers, perhaps, but these are nyon impossible to find for littlies (though why there are so few options here but coloured three quarter length satin bloomers and peter pan shirts and so plentiful I do not know). Topman do a nice collection- of coloured tweed, not bloomers- but they were a little big, unfortunately. After quite a bit of searching we’ve settled on an outfit inspired by his Toad of Toad Hall tie, and have gone with old English eccentricity, though a little turned down, and toddler appropriate.

Scatterbrain Ties

Because the clothes looked a little lost on their own (and because I’ve just learnt basic photoshop skills and I’m a show off) I’ve made a little collage of his outfit (felt party hat is for the reception only).

He’s having a striped thick knit shirt, woollen waistcoat, tweed blazer, and camel knit trousers with fabulous Anniel shoes. And, of course, funky socks, a silk handkerchief in his pocket, a scarf (Toad of Toad Hall, remember?), a boutonniere, and his amazing tie! I’m crossing my fingers that potty training will be done and dusted by November, but, if not, then at least it makes a great excuse for a page boy nappy- do Weenotions do a tweed fabric? Maybe I’ll suggest it…

I don’t think we’ll have him carry the rings, either- would you trust a two year old with rings?!- I think allowing him to scatter petals, or small gold stars, along the aisle may be more appropriate. Or perhaps I’ll give him a ribbon and flower covered tambourine, which he’d adore.

So that’s the boys. And that’s yet another member of the bridal party who, potentially, will be better dressed than me… Sigh.

Eliza Claire Photography

It was actually the floral screen they remembered, not me!  Story of my life!

Before I knew it, I was meeting with Events Manager Fi in Shoreditch chatting about their plans for their website launch. If you haven’t seen their gorgeous new site, you must do so right away!

Hayford & Rhodes

The Hayfords – William Hayford founded the company in 1924 and built an enviable reputation as one of London’s finest florists. The reigns were handed to the Rhodes sisters in 2007 and ‘Hayford and Rhodes’ was born.

The Rhodes – Amy, Joanna and Laura Rhodes, three sisters who made a pact in 2004 to change their careers and pursue their mutual love of floristry.

The event was going to be held at 195 Piccadilly.  He lives there!

At our meeting, we discussed five areas. The display for floral gifts, reception area, something for the Powderpuff Girls, a display for Rosalind Miller ‘s stunning cakes and a Sweet Table.  It doesn’t take much to get my mind into overdrive and once I’d seen the floral moodboard with bright oranges and yellows, I decided to paint one of my dressing tables Orange and the other a Minty Green for the Powderpuff Girls to complement their pink outfits!

My photographs aren’t the best - taken on my phone.  I’m looking forward to seeing some of the professional ones.  I met the very dashing photographer Darren Gerrish that night, along with Jenny & Theresa from 195 Piccadilly (BAFTA), Everton from The Wallace Collection, Branka from The Royal Exchange and Georgia and Virginie from the National Portrait Gallery.  I also finally met Rona from Flowerona and we both chatted to Charley from London Bride.

I’m sure you can imagine just how spectacular the other arrangements were.

And here are those dressing tables!

Apologies for the blur on the last one, I may have consumed a few of those pretty drinks!

The other suppliers that helped with the launch were amazing, Drinks Fusion of course and it was great meeting Kelly from Fisher Productions.  She made me feel very welcome and introduced me to lots of people.  I think she arranged for us all to have a reunion!!

I would also like to thank Pollen Crew who were so helpful and looked after everything for me at the end of the night.

I hope to see everyone again soon.

It all began with a soap box. This soap box, to be exact.

Cox & Cox

Would it be dramatic to rename it the soap box of doom? No, I don’t think so. Let me explain.

Even before I first met my husband, I was planning my wedding. Although many ideas have evolved, or, happily, made themselves extinct- I no longer want pastel pink strapless bridesmaid dresses, thank goodness- this one has, unfortunately, stuck. Not that it’s a bad idea. I still love the design…. In theory. The soap box, with its vintage French theme, evoked notions of beautifully packaged and elaborate invitations, which, initially, were written as five chapter faux-novels, in which each chapter was based upon a classic literary reference. But here’s the thing. Beautifully packaged boxes are mass produced in industry, with mass production machines; and do you know why? My guess is that it’s something to do with the fact that it is impossible to create an amazing, French-vintage themed box without the aid of an industrial printer, laser cutter, and perhaps an embossing machine. Microsoft word and a discount printer just don’t cut the mustard.

I created countless designs; some good, some less so; but none printed well, or I felt that they simply weren’t right. I dropped the box idea and became focused on antique books. I love reading.

Vintage book

Books are such a huge part of my life that it seemed relevant to have a slight literary theme to the day (I also considered serving Butter Beer at my drinks reception- it’s from Harry Potter, shame on you if you didn’t know that, and yes, I am a complete HP geek, and yes, I know I’m 22, it started at age seven, alright?). Yet books, it seems, are even harder to replicate. They’re bound don’t-cha know (yeah, this didn’t occur to me), and usually have linen or leather covers; thus, are a total nightmare. Not to mention that they’re almost always dark covers. I love this; olive green would be beautiful with an old style navy typeface; yet it’s not at all feasible without paying a printing company, and they sure aren’t cheap.

Olive Green Book

Then, I fell upon the idea of seeming simplicity. Simple designs tied with ribbon or rusty metal wire, or a bundle of replicated Parisienne post cards with the details scrawled on the back. You know, in the style of the turn of the century cards that line the book seller’s stalls along the Seine? Actually, the latter idea would look beautifully bohemian, yet replicated postcards don’t look all that great- if you’re ever in Paris, make sure to stock up on one or two (hundred).

Book seller

On of my biggest obsessions, invite wise, was astrology. Not that I have the slightest interest in it in reality, but they sure make for beautiful inspiration- have you seen the countless antique celestial print posters on Etsy? The star references reminded me of the poem The Owl and The Pussy Cat and the infamous line “and they danced by the light of the moon”, which I felt tied in perfectly.

I carried on with my celestial obsession for months, and even created a two page vintage style moon chart, in which half of the page (it folded over) had the moons perfectly cut out. This may have been the one for me, had the blasted stationery company not sold me two faulty oversized hole punches!

I obsessed over ideas for months on end. I gave up on it and started again. I have driven Christopher quite mad with it, too. And then, looking at the rest of my wedding, I considered my tablecloths. They’re worn out olive green velvet with a stained fringe trim. I absolutely adore them. And then, just like that, I was back at the beginning; obsessing over invitations in boxes. Just for the record, it is completely ridiculous to attempt to make fifty boxes and then cover them in velvet and add a trim, especially when that velvet had to be hand dyed, and then sanded to give it a worn look, and when the trim had to sit in a pot of cold tea for two days and then massaged with coffee granules, but I did it anyway. And yes, they are meant to look like they’re falling apart, honest.

For the actual invitations I have kept things relatively simple with a Victorian style calling card, naming the guests, followed by a considerably toned down card for both the invitation and the R.S.V.P. card. Oh yeah, and there’s one card that I used gold leaf on, but really, I couldn’t help myself. Do I like them? Well, I tell myself that they look quirky, antique, and slightly boho, but I do worry that my guests will think I’m incapable of making a simple box, or that they fell apart in the post. Really though, I’m just relieved to have them finished! You know, I say that, but I’m already thinking about the edits…

A word of advice? Don’t make your own invitations. Or if you really, truly must, scribble some calligraphy on to a piece of card, or type on cream coloured paper and tie with a ribbon. Keep it simple. Trust me. You know not what you do.

It was organised by the very talented wedding dress designer Charlotte from Wilden Bride She previously worked for Jenny Packham working on special gowns for high profile clients including Kate Middleton and Dita Von Teese.  Not often you will see both those names in the same sentence!

When I arrived, everyone was camped out in the gorgeous railway carriage taking pictures of the beautiful model Kira Harper.

In these scenes: Bike, Marjorie, yellow shelves, crate, vintage books, cream pie crust table.

The LOVE sign is available to hire or buy from Pocketful of Dreams.  Love these girls, I worked with Michelle on the Style Me Vintage: Weddings book with her and met Vicki at the book launch. She was a little too glamorous for me to stand next to!  They have just launched their gorgeous new branding and website design.  I feel slightly inferior when I see Michelle’s moodboards.

After dropping off everything for the railway carriage scenes, I wandered round the corner, to find Lizzie and her dashing partner Jim, setting up the Yurt.  I can’t recommend Wedding Yurts enough, they are stunning.  They put their heart and sole into their business, I’m hoping to see a lot of them this year.

How cute is this cute little pink Champagne Yurt with the stunnng chandelier.  Once it was up, I proceeded to fill it with the remaining paraherenalia that I thought might fulfill the brief.  A little shop with vintage till and a little sewing area. Of course, the screen had to come and how stunning does it look against that backdrop.

In these scenes: Floral screen, pink hostess trolley, metal till, weighing scales, glass jars, vintage tins, floral tray, pink dressing table stool, blue ladders, vintage books, shoe lasts, white desk, red radio, vintage suitcases, hat boxes and sewing machine.

Outside the Yurt, please take note of the very cute wood burning stove with it’s puff of gorgeous smoke.

In these scenes: Pink ladder, wooden cart, door chalkboard,  chalkboard signs, vintage tins and Christy’s hat box.

I loved these images.  They were taken at the very end of the day when Kira must have been so very cold and tired, but they are amazing.  Sarah from Rose & Aster currently has one as her front website page.

Thanks Charlotte for asking me to be involved.  You guys all did an amazing job.

I love that credit, here are some links to get you there!

Dress Designer  Wilden Bride

Photographer Heline Bekker

Photographer  Carla Thomas

Boudoir shoot Cocoon Photography

Hair & Make Up Sabrina Lily

Flowers Fearless Florals

Cakes Delicieux Cakes

Gingerbread Ellie Davies

Stationery Kate Ruth Romey

Pink yurt Wedding Yurts

Vintage Props Vintage Style Hire

Jewellery Rose and Aster

Petticoats Doris Designs

Shoes Hetty Rose

Headpiece Madrugar London

LOVE sign Pocketful of Dreams

Post box Pretty Post-box

Venue Coppins Farm Railway Carriages

So, quite shocking to read that not everyone likes wine!  Over to Amy who will explain!

When you’re small, some things seem completely inexplicable; the ability to click your fingers, for example; but we’re told that we’ll learn as we get older, or that we’ll grow to like certain things; tea, in particular, was a taste I was promised to acquire with maturity. Maybe I’m not quite old enough (I’m still waiting on those wisdom teeth), but my seven year old self would be severely disappointed with the amount of things that the now twenty two year old me is yet to learn or to grow to love. Okay, so I can click my fingers, but I’m still waiting on the ability to whistle (I can make a pitiful one note hiss; I look so sexy when I do this, by the way), and haven’t yet learned to appreciate the taste of fruitcake, fish, tea, coffee, or wine, to name a few. In fact, it isn’t just wine; I’ve never gotten used to the taste of any alcohol. I just don’t get enjoying a glass of wine or a beer as a treat (ermm, have you not heard of Frijj Chocolate Fudge Brownie Milkshake?!), so drinks for the wedding was a bit of an issue. I cannot create a cool signature cocktail, as I’ll have no idea if it’s good or not, and, although Tango Ice Blast is clearly the best thing to happen to cinemas since Carey Mulligan, I don’t think that serving it at the wedding would suggest the sophisticated vibe I was loosely aiming for. Instead, I’ve decided to use my dislike of wine to my advantage and, shamefully, am only buying the cheapest bottles from Asda during my weekly shop. They all taste the same, anyway. Right?

I’m hoping, though, that what I lack in quality, I’ll make up for with the execution. The venue’s lack of a bar, and the fridges that would come with it, required a little imagination. My initial idea was to buy an early 20th century bureau with pull down desk and shelving above, and have it house one hundred wine glasses, and display thirty bottles of red wine. Even the cheapest of wines would look beautiful like this.

Pinterest – source unknown

Unfortunately, “Amy, don’t be ridiculous, we’re not carting furniture three hundred miles down the M6″ was my mother’s reaction to this proposition, so I guess I’m going to have to make do with one or two of the beautiful antique tables already contributing to North Cadbury Court’s faultless interior (though that’s not exactly a hardship).

The lack of fridges, however, presented a more pressing problem- I’ve heard that white wine at room temperature is horrendous? Anyway, to hire a fridge costs a great deal, and, well, they don’t quite fit in with my admittedly pedantic aesthetic standards. Instead, I decided rather early on, much to the complete dismay of Chris, to buy a bath tub to fill with ice and wine bottles (“Amy why are we having a bloody bath tub at our wedding?”). I found one at Kiss the Frog Again in Bath. It’s currently on it’s second coat of Annie Sloan’s Graphite paint and is awaiting a subtle layer of metallic bronze, but I think it looks a great deal prettier than a contemporary metal bar juxtaposed with an Edwardian ballroom would! I may, too, make an Ophelia out of my Asda wine, and camouflage the ice with roses.

The Tate

The open bar-bath is undeniably casual. I may be forgiven, then, for forgoing etiquette entirely and having a collage of mismatched glasses, intended for a variety of purposes, for wine and water alike with no differentiation (a little due to laziness, quite a lot due to the prettiness of the glasses together). My ever expanding (to the extent that I am forever in trouble for getting yet another jug in the post) jug collection too is the antithesis of the neatly matched perfection aimed for at many weddings, by my real love, at least where drinks are concerned, is samovars.

Russian Samovars

They are simply make-shift bar perfection, and I am rather shamelessly addicted- well, I do need them… In fact, any large antique metal tank with a tap seems to inspire my lust recently; on Sunday I professed undying love to a Victorian gold diver’s oxygen tank, which would have stored water in the most aesthetically perfect way imaginable. Sorrowfully, our relationship was short lived. If anyone would like to help mend my broken heart, I think that this absinthe fountain would do the job perfectly…

Nick Drake

I was going to keep this one to myself.  Have a lovely little stash of these gorgeous jars for you to hire or buy from my new Vintage Style Living shop.  However, I thought I would share my secret limit edition stash and put it out there!

Before I confirm my final order, would you

a) like to hire them for your wedding or event? or

b) would you like to buy  some?

Answers on a postcard …. no, seriously, answers by email kate@vintagestylehire.co.uk by Friday.

I’m not sure how much they will be as they are coming from the States so I’ll have to wait for the quote.  But how gorgeous.  They may not be the old vintage originals, but you can’t drink out of those anyway!

You’ve got four days to think about it – go!

Photo credits:
Mountainside Bride
Perfect Wedding Day In Italy
Feather and Ink

I recently received the Interiors supplement from Harrods and amongst ‘Gentlemen’s Club’, ‘Futuristic’ and ‘Deco’ they featured ‘Tribal’.  Written by Michelle Ogundehin , Editor in Chief of Elle Decoration, she says ”choose a single statement piece – a steamer occasional table, a 1920′s-style Chinoiserie chest and surround it with complementary accessories and a devil-may-care attitude.”

I couldn’t agree more!  I have many props to style a vintage, colonial, tribal style wedding!

LOTS of vintage suitcases

A host of globes, cameras, binoculars and telephones

All these accessories can be displayed on bureaus, writing desks, trunks, or whatever furniture you have available.

I’ve created a little display of my own by my desk at the Barn.

A few other ideas from around the globe!

Wedding Chicks

Last year we styled a ‘Discovery’ themed party for Pitcher and Piano, read all about it HERE Stacks of suitcases cascading with tropical flowers filled the entrance and we had huge balloons in netting to create hot air balloons on each table with it’s own basket sitting on a map of the world. Sadly no balloon shaped biscuits.

And if you like the look of those mason jars with colourful striped straws, we have an abundance!  Who doesn’t love sipping a cocktail out of a jar?

So many of our props would create this gorgeous look CLICK HERE to have a nosey at them all.

Photo credits:
All these fabulous photographs were taken by Mark Ammon Photography at our barn launch.  Thanks Mark.  We will be having another party soon to celebrate the opening of the second floor, so hope you can make it to that too!