The Dress

Of course flapper style dresses were the order of the day, so think dropped waists, chemise style straps and long flowing skirts. Silk would have been the most luxurious material available to brides in the 20’s and quite honestly we still think it is today! We love these stunning gowns, which, with long flowing lines, add a slightly modern edge to the classic 20’s style.

Image Credit: The Vintage Wedding Dress Company

Get your Headband On!

The 20’s was all about headbands and headdresses and as a rule the sparklier the better. How about our own Wisteria or Orchid headdresses, as pictured below. If you wanted to take the  gorgeous Gatsby look even further you could even add a feather or two...

The lovely Wisteria Headdress

The elegant Orchid Headdress

The Decorations

This wonderful table design couldn’t be any better, as far as we’re concerned! We love the elegant flower arrangement, the simplicity of the place settings and the sumptuous colours.

Image Credit: Style Me Pretty

Oh the Cake...

Just look at this Art Deco inspired cake we came across on Style Unveiled. We couldn’t resist it and are sure your guests won’t be able to either. It’s a real statement piece and we love how it manages to make classic Art Deco style look thoroughly modern too.

The Drinks

Of course when it come to drinks it has to be cocktails: but which ones?! Well, there’s plenty to choose from. Here we have selected a few of our very favourites (this was tricky!) We’re sure your guests will love them as much as we do.

Gin Ricky

Mentioned in the book by Fitzgerald, this cool, refreshing drink is so delicious we think you’ll have trouble keeping your guests away, if anything. Here’s how to make it:

"Put 3 large ice cubes in a high-ball glass, add the juice of half a lime, glug in a generous measure of gin and top up with soda water. Run another lime slice around the lip of the glass and drop in for garnish."

Mint Julep

Another classic, mentioned several times in the book, a Mint Julep is boozy, intoxicating and refreshing all at the same time. Perfect for summer weddings, we say.

"Muddle 10 mint leaves in a shot of gomme syrup, then fill the glass with loosely crushed ice. Add 2 shots of bourbon, or more if you like, add more crushed ice and finish with a sprig of mint."

Between the Sheets

With its racy name, your guests will have lots of fun and conversation after being offered one of these scrummy cocktails. Serve this one in a proper cocktails glass for maximum effect.

"Mix 1 shot of brandy, rum and triple sec with half a shot of fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker, together with several large ice cubes. Shake well, strain and pour into a cocktail glass, garnish with a twist of lemon rind."

If you haven’t seen the movie yet we recommend you check it out! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these Gatsby inspired ideas. Have you had a 1920’s themed wedding or are you about to have one this year? We would love to hear all about it! Please get in touch with your musings, plans or fabulous pictures via Facebook or Twitter.

Grown-Up Elegance - Pissaro in Baby Pink

If you’re looking for a pink bridal shoe that’s feminine, elegant and sparkly too, then Pissaro ticks all the boxes. It’s mid height heel and open waisted design make it a dream to wear and we love how pretty and princess-like this shoe is in pink! This can of course be dyed to any shade you like at our Colour Studio.

Pissaro in Baby Pink

Delicate - Tomea in Mink

This stunning hand beaded flower, made from pearls and crystals, give this stunning pair of pink bridal shoes their natural allure.  The short pointed toe shoe makes it pretty yet still comfortable to wear, whilst the closed heel ensures you feet won’t slip out of you magical slippers at the wrong moment! The Mink colour matches perfectly with a number of wedding gowns and will ensure you look a million dollars on your big day.

 Tomea in Mink

Statement Shoes - Desario in Raspberry

A little dash of pink peeking out from underneath your wedding dress can look simply sensational and very sexy. Imagine the reaction when you everyone catches a glimpse of this pair of glitzy pink bridal shoes!...

  Desario in Raspberry

Desario is bold, showy and very fabulous and will add that extra bit of height to make your legs look supermodel long on your wedding day! We heart these shoes.

Pretty in Pink -  Alexa in Peach

Vintage inspired shoe Alexa would look gorgeous with a lacy gown and delicate pearl jewelry. Seen here in peach it would give a lovely soft accent to any classic wedding outfit. We think of summery weddings and long June days whenever we see Alexa in peach and thats even before we’ve taken them out of the box!..

Alexa in Peach

Classy Pleats- Kimberly in Raspberry 

Pink looks fab with navy and especially in this sumptuous shade of raspberry, so imagine pleated bridesmaid dresses in navy with the bride and all of the bridesmaids wearing shoes in this romantic colour. Perhaps the bride could go for pleated lines and precise folds in her gown too for a look that is smart, preppy and oh-so-grown up.

Kimberley in Raspberry

Kimberly is a lovely block heeled shoe, which has a wide-fit and looks elegant and sophisticated whilst being super-comfy to wear.

All of our shoes are completely dyeable in our very own Colour Studio, as are our accessories, which can be dyed to match. If you would like to know more take a look at our Colour Studio here.

Have you chosen pink wedding shoes for your big day? We’d love to see pictures! Please send some over via our Facebook page, or alternatively Tweet us a message. Happy sharing ladies.

Have a Hens Tea Party 

With delicious cakes, heavenly teas and plenty of vintage china, we think a hens tea party is the perfect way to begin your celebration. Why not start with afternoon tea and manicures before moving on to G & T’s sipped from China cups and dancing. You’ll have a right-good knees up, we say!

Image Credit: Prudence Styles

Organise a Private Life Drawing Class

Very on-trend, Hen party life drawing classes have rapidly become the best way to do something creative and memorable, whilst sharing a few glasses of fizz and having a good ol' giggle.

Image Credit: Artful Hen Parties

We think it’s a fab idea and if we were getting hitched again, this would certainly be top of our hen wish list! …Could somebody pass the charcoal please...?!

Go Go-Karting

For the more active hens, try your hand at go-karting: this is far too much fun to leave to the boys. You'll soon find out who the competitive ones in the group are... and the speed demons too!

Image Credit: Don Roberto

Get Your Great Gatsby On

Ever wanted to take a step back in time to the roaring 20's? Well, now you can as Claridge's Hotel in London are offering Charleston classes, plus the chance to learn the 'Bunny hop', 'Scare crow' and 'Fish tail' dances as well. With a delicious cocktail thrown in for free, you'll be ready to show off your new moves by the time you've finished!

Image Credit: Claridges

Have Some Fun and Games

If you’re planning to have your hen at home, or even if you are going out, games can be a great way to bring the group together and really have a lot of fun. There are a few classic that are always sure to get everyone laughing... here are our favs:

Banned word game

Is there a word or phrase that a member of the group (or perhaps all of you) really overuse?

This could be 'like' or 'you know' or ‘dreamy’ or anything that you find yourselves prone to saying a little too often. Anyone who slips up must have a drink, perform a forfeit or buy a round! This is great fun... give it a go.

Never have I ever

Each member of the party takes turn in admitting one thing they have never done, whilst any of the other members of the group that have done the said-thing must stand up and take a drink. Giggles and gasps guaranteed!!

Dress the Bride

Working with just newspaper and sellotape two teams must work within a five minute time frame to create a dress-to-die for for the bride. The bride chooses the winner, with the loosers having to perform a forfeit or a dare, of course ;)

What great ideas have you come up with for your hen night? We’d love a good party too, so let us know! Share with us via our Facebook or Twitter. Pics welcome too, of course (!) x

All in White

I went to a wedding last summer where the bride had selected all-white flowers for her bouquet, hair, for the flower girls posies and for a stunning wedding arch our side the church.

Image Credit: Once Wed

In fact even the entire interior of the church was decked out in swathes of stunning scented lily-of-the-valley and white hyacinths, white hydrangeas and white roses. The effect was simply breathtaking.

Bohemian Displays

If you’re looking to add colour and interest with your wedding flowers a bohemian theme could work delightfully for you. We love this display below, which combines rich pink peonies with collections of open roses and even the textural intrigue added by an ornamental cabbage! We think it’s every bit as sumptuous to look at as an oil painting. Just think how you could extend this theme across the rest of your wedding...

Image Credit: Ruffled Blog

Exotic Flowers

We adore this unusual and unique table centre piece, where the designers have cleverly used grass and bright pink orchids to create an exotic and colourful display.

Image Credit: Celebrity Style Weddings

Orchids could be used elsewhere as well: they work so prettily everywhere, from the brides hair, to the grooms buttonhole! Just look how fabulous this bride looks with her orchid hairpiece and veil.

Image Credit: Colin Cowie Weddings

In fact our very own whimsical avalanche veil would work a treat in this pretty pairing!

Seasonal Flowers 

Many people are interested in keeping things seasonal when it comes to food these days, so it makes sense to extend this to your flowers. Right?! If you’re planning a spring wedding why not make the best of the season by picking all of the best floral delights of the season? Once you start to explore you’ll be surprised at how much you find on offer...

Image Credit: Too Stinkin Cute

For summer of course you will never be short of choice. How about coordinating colours and picking some of the bold pinks, purples and reds we associate with this time of year. Clematis, peonies, roses and foxgloves are just perfect for this.

Image Credit: Clever Wedding Ideas

Autumn of course brings its own treats as there is such a wide array of rich and warming colour available at this time of year. Take a look at the fabulous bouquet to get you started...

Image Credit: Trendy Bride

And finally winter doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Enjoy evergreen and berries and pine cones, bringing a festive twist to your celebrations.

Image Credit: The Full Bouquet Blog

Wild Flower Displays

Image Credit: French Wedding Style

The earthy simplicity of this collection of wild flowers also makes it into our top five. It just goes to show that flowers don’t have to be expensive or exotic to bring that floral loveliness to your special day.

Which flowers will you choose? We’re dying to find out! Drop us a line via Facebook or Twitter.

Blackboard Message of Gratitude

It’s the little touches that count, so take the time to leave a blackboard message of gratitude for your friends and family. It’s not often in life that you have ALL of the people who mean the world to you gathered in one place, so make the most of it! Let your guests know how much it means to you to share your special day with them...

Image Credit: All Because Two People Fell In Love

Serve your own ‘signature’ cocktail

We all love a glass of bubbly but most people enjoy a good cocktail too, so why not serve cocktails at your reception and save the bubble for the toasts later? This is a chance to really express something about your own personalities. Is there a cocktail you shared together on your first date? Or perhaps a classic from one of the the places you’ve visited together? If you need some ideas take a look here for some cocktail inspiration.

Image Credit: Bridal Musings

Hire a Photobooth

If you are like us you wouldn’’t want to miss out on any party-inspired silliness on your big day so, why not hire a photobooth to capture the faces of all of your guests at their most playful?! Many photobooth companies provide a good stock of props (wigs, glasses, beards and hats etc! )  making sure you get some snaps to remember! Check out Booth Nation for some really trendy booths.

Image Credit: Booth Nation

Play Games!

We know, we mentioned this last week in our post about outdoor weddings, but lawn games are just so much fun we wanted to talk about them again! From croquet, to cricket, giant jenga to throwing beans bags everyone will love them and they’ll be a great way to get the fun started!

Image Credit: Wedding Day Bliss

Have a Fabulous Fireworks Display

Nope, fireworks are not just for Guy Fawkes night and New Years Eve they are simply fabulous at weddings too! To be quite honest we can’t think of a more romantic and celebratory way finish off your wedding reception and welcome in married life together.

Image Source: Bayassa

Imagine watching these sparkling shards of colour decorate the sky as you lean into your loved one and begin your new life together...

What are your favourite wedding reception ideas? Please do get in touch! - via Facebook or Twitter.

Of course it’s important that the shoes match the dresses beautifully and, as often bridesmaids are asked to purchase their shoes themselves, it’s also important that your attendants feel that they’re going to be able to wear them again. Plus, there is just soooo much choice out there today that the whole thing can be overwhelming!

So, if you’re struggling to choose between stunning skyscrapers heels or cute flats or don’t even know where to begin take a deep breath! Here are a few of our favourite lovely bridesmaids shoes, which will have all of your wedding day helpers feeling as gorgeous as you on your special day (well almost!). Enjoy...

Glamorous Bridesmaid Shoes

If you have a young and sassy team of bridesmaids and have chosen figure hugging dresses we recommend choosing shoes to match. We adore this sky-high pair of shoes, Carys, which are just perfect for glamorous bridesmaids. They’re sexy, smart and classy, yet importantly won’t take any of the attention away from your own shoes!

Elegant Bridesmaid Shoes 

If sky-high heels are not your thing and understated elegance is more the look you’re after this stunning pair of kitten heel wedding shoes will provide the answer. Betsy is a very pretty bridesmaids shoe, which oozes sophistication and femininity, without being showy at all.

The diamante detail is so delicate and eye-catching, whilst the kitten-heels provide a little height and they’re comfortable enough to wear all day and night.

Bridesmaid Flats

It’s not unusual that we have brides asking us how to tackle the  problem of having a group of bridesmaids who are in danger of making them look like the ‘shorty’ in the middle on their own big day. Help is at hand in the shape of these classic ballet style pumps, Louise.

They’re a very versatile pair of bridesmaids shoes and work really well with all lengths of dresses. They look lovely in a range of colours (as they are completely dyeable to any colour in our own Colour Studio - see here for details) and as a bonus are very wearable for bridesmaids after the wedding too.

Customised Bridesmaid Shoes 

Shoe clips make a great way to accessorise your bridesmaids look and give each her own individual style, without breaking the bank. We have a range available although Vela, below, has to be our favourite!

Kids Bridesmaid Shoes 

When we’re asked to recommend a shoe for flower girls Abigail is always our first stop. This girls bridesmaid shoe is just perfect for little girls who want to be comfortable and look extra pretty!  In fact this is the same style shoe as worn by the Duchess of Cambridge’s flower girls at the Royal Wedding.

And not forgetting the page boys... here is Sam, our page boy shoe. These are easy to wear with a converse inspired shape, which we’ve found to be a hit with the little ones as well as everyone else!

Which bridesmaids shoes did you choose? Share with us via Facebook or Twitter...

Also, when you’ve snapped your shoes on your big day please let us know by tagging us in pictures of you and your bridesmaids wearing our shoes! We’ll add you to our ‘Real Life Bride’  album and each month we’ll pick one lucky bride to win a pair of Else shoes dyed to the colour of your choice! (Alternatively email pics to nikkivs@rainbowclub.co.uk). Thanks ladies!

English Country Garden Party

If you’re tempted by the idea of being a summer bride what could be more romantic than an English country garden party style wedding celebration? Think roses in bloom, a myriad of wild flowers, refreshing drinks and tasty mouth-watering bites and you are almost there. Add lawn games like cricket and croquet into the mix and you are sure to have a fun filled day, which delights everyone from Grandpa to the youngest of your guests!

Image Credit: Lavender & Linen

We adore these gorgeous vintage champagne saucers from Gloucestershire based wedding styling company Lavender and Linen. Imagine the delight of your guests when they arrive to your English country garden to sip champagne (or even cocktails) out of these heavenly vessels.

You could then continue the theme with a delectable afternoon tea of cakes and sandwiches served on dainty vintage plates. Take a look at Lavender and Linen’s gorgeous selection, which are available to hire here. We also can’t get over these beautiful cake stands (and cakes by the Social Pantry) - they would make the perfect addition to any delicious garden party spread.

Image Credit: Alexa Loy

And for the games? We recommend hiring some good-old-fashioned games sets to keep your guests in the party mood. What about croquet, cricket or even giant dominoes?

A Festival Style Wedding

As Music Festivals now take over Britain in the summer time, with one popping-up in every city park, country estate and farm imaginable, why not create your very own at your wedding?

Image Credit: Festival Brides

Ask a few local bands to come and play, or perhaps gather musician friends and ask them to put together something special for your celebration. When it comes to food we think serving cuisine from pop-up festival food stalls is great fun, as well as being bang on trend! Take a look at these for some inspiration- we love the honest simplicity of what the guys at Pieminister do whilst adding a generous dash of wedding sparkle and nothing beats the delicious veggie delights served up by these guys at the Hurly Burly.

Image Credit: Festival Brides

Keep on the music theme by giving your guests a specially selected compilation CD, or even these cute mini-maracas (above) as favours! The party will only just be getting started!

A Beach Wedding

Contrary to what many people believe you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to enjoy the relaxed allure of a beach wedding, though of course that’s an option! There are a whole number of stunning beaches around the UK that make simply dreamy wedding locations. Cornwall and Devon’s coastlines offer many great examples of this...

Image Credit: Green Photographic

Take a look at this stunning Cornish beach above, with its wonderful grassy sand dunes. We love the way that this bride has accessorised her dress with a gorgeous fluffy faux-fur stole. What a wonderfully creative way to make the best of the day no matter what the weather decides to do!

If you’re having a beach wedding we recommend keeping food simple by serving fresh fish and well marinated barbequed meats, whilst with decor you can really have fun - We love these gorgeous table settings which make excellent use of the natural shapes and materials found in the sea.

Image Credit: Snippet and Link

What brilliant outdoor wedding ideas have you had? We’d love you to share them with us! - drop us your ideas via Facebook or Twitter.

So, if you've decided kitten heels are the right type of shoe for you but haven't chosen the pair yet, don’t fret! We're here to share a few ideas with you, as well as introduce you to some truly gorgeous pairs of kitten heel wedding shoes from our own range. So if you're curious, read on...

A Vintage Twist

Kitten Heels work well with any style of wedding dress but there are a few that really stand out for us and vintage is one of them.

A pair of sexy and cute kitten heel wedding shoes would look great with this 50's inspired look. They’ll give a little bit of height but still be highly practical for one of the busiest days of your life!

How about choosing this great pair from our collection? Amelie is available in a whole range of colours and is sure to keep the vintage theme alive as you comfortably dance the night away.

Boho-Chic

If you're going boho with your look for your big day, kitten heels could work equally well for you. How about teaming up a pair of pretty Annie kitten heels with a simple beaded headband and a long, flowing dress for that relaxed hippy vibe.

Annie is a great shoe that is just as elegant as it is simple, which will work really well for this stunning look.

The delicate ankle straps are a lovely detail, as it the shaped satin trip on the shoe. These are a firm favourite here at Rainbow Club HQ!

Fairy-Tale Bride

If you're anything like us, you too will have dreamt of looking just like a fairy-tale princess on your big day. This look is the perfect look to choose if you decide to make this dream a reality!

We couldn't think of a better shoe to wear with this stunning silk wedding slip dress, than Betsy. The gown is so sassy and simple that a cute pair of kittens peeping out from underneath will make the perfect finishing touch. (If you like the veil too, take a look at our gorgeous range of veils here)

Betsy epitomises elegance with its dainty pointed toe, satin ribbon detailing and tiny sparkling diamanté fastener. Its classic, pretty and whimsical and one of our true favourites! As far as we are concerned these shoes are fit for a princess.

We hope this has given you a little inspiration for how kitten heels could work for you on your big day. Have you found a gorgeous pair that looked great with your dress? We'd love to hear about it – please do drop us a line via our Facebook or Twitter.

And finally it would be wrong not to mention, for all of those thrifty brides to-be out there, that kitten heels make a great choice if you're hoping to make your budget go further. They’re just so comfortable that you won't need to pick up a pair of flats for later like all of your sky-scraper wearing friends! Just ideal, we say.

See you next week for a post to get you in the mood for summer – lets hope spring continues to bloom until then!

Make Your Own Flower Wreaths

These simple flowers wreaths are so easy to make. You just need flowers (choose some that are easy to work) and some fastening wire. Be sure to close the wire off securely so your flower girls don’t get prickled!

Image Source: DIY Bride

Your wedding guests will be so impressed when you tell them you made them yourself! And they’ll be featured in the photographs to be remembered for all time!

DIY Wedding Favours

In honour of spring (which must be on its way soon!) how about giving your guests potted bulbs as wedding favours? They are very easy and affordable to make and will give your guests a bright and pretty reminder of your special day in the months to follow. We love this clever idea of potting bulbs in old tin cans, which gives an added vintage twist. 

 Image Source: Once Wed

Make Your Own Invitations

The cost of wedding stationary can soon add up – so, how about making your own? If you’re the crafty type you could design your own, or, if not you could purchase a DIY invitation kit and simply construct them yourself. Either way it’s just as fun and your friends and family will be delighted to receive a handmade card in the post!

Image Credit: Bridal Musings

DIY Decorations

When it comes to decorations they key is to choose something classic or something original. This way your celebration will become one to be remembered for all the right reasons. We’re certainly fans of homemade bunting, which can be created from old fabrics collected from junk shops. We also adore these handmade garlands…

Image Credit: Martha Stewart Weddings

These pom-pom garlands are cleverly made from coffee filters hand dyed and strung together! They just go to show how creative you can be when putting something together for your big day.

Jam Jar Tealight Holders

Sometimes the simplest ideas can be the most effective. So, why not collect empty jam jars in the run up to your wedding and use them as tealight holders for a magical effect come evening. There’s nothing more romantic than candle light; imagine finishing off your wedding feast to this…

Image Credit: Project Wedding

Do you have any great DIY wedding ideas of your own? If so we’d love to hear about them! Drop us a line via Facebook or Twitter. Happy DIY-ing!

The most expensive wedding in history was the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, which cost an enormous £73 million in today’s terms. This was closely followed by the lavish celebration of Amit Bhatia and Vanisha Mittal (a banker and the daughter of billionaire steel-magnate Lakshmi Mital), who spent an incredible £42 million on their nuptials.

Of course it’s unlikely you have quite the same budget to work with - but even if you don’t want to send your guests invitations in silver plated boxes, or give them designer gift bags sprinkled with real precious jewels you’re still going to need to think carefully about costs.

The truth is that everything adds up, so, be really clear about what you have to spend and then you can make the right choices about where to save and where to splurge.

Image Credit: Project Wedding

Before you begin planning it’s a good idea to arrange a time when you and your other-half to-be can get together to talk about budget, along with your parents if they’re going to contribute. In this initial meeting decide between you how much you have to spend and then agree to all stick within this figure.

Once you have your total it’s useful to see how other couples have divided their budget, so see our breakdown of what the average UK couple spend on a wedding below:

• Wedding venue: £2,157

• Reception venue: £3,519

• Catering: £3,520

• Drinks: £1,280

• Cake: £305

• Entertainment: £572

• Photography: £1,102

• Flowers: £547

• Car Hire: £265

• Stationary: £293

• Honeymoon: £3,178

• Engagement ring: £2,103

• Wedding rings: £478

• Dress: £1,346

• Shoes: £102

• Veil/ Headband: £98

• Lingerie: £113

• Hair and Make-up: £191

• Groom’s outfit: £333

• Best Man/ Bridesmaids Outfits: £342

• Gifts for Helpers: £146

Total - £21,990

Of course, it’s entirely up to you how you choose to split your budget. We also suggest that this meeting can be a good time to talk about the factors that are important to you. For example some couples are happy to fore-go professional photography, for example, but are adamant that they must have lots flower girls, all with posies. This is absolutely fine - it is your day! The bottom line is that the sooner you discuss these factors, the sooner you can get down to the real business of making it all happen.

Image Credit: Project Wedding

Ultimately, if you use the guide above as an example you should find that you don’t encounter any scary hidden costs too late in the day, so have fun and try to enjoy the planning as well as the day!

How did you fare? Let us know via our Facebook or Twitter.

Also if you’re looking for ways to make your budget go further see our blog post on ‘Top 10 Tips For Saving on Your Wedding Day’, or come back next week for a post on DIY Wedding Ideas…