BLOG - HAMPSHIRE VINTAGE WEDDING HIRE

FRI-YAY!

7/29/2016

There’s lots of bunting prep going down at HVWH-HQ this weekend which means we’ll be sewing machine bound & doing what we love most – Hooray!

In just three weeks our bride & groom will be getting ready to wed at their stunning barn venue & the bunting-brief for this special occasion is simple, classic and traditional.

Now, this barn venue isn’t just any barn venue……. ooooh no! It’s a Castle Barn on a beautiful Berkshire estate surrounded by gardens, parkland, wooded fishing lakes & farmland. The barn itself is 18th Century and offers a striking canvas with its exposed brickwork & oak beams.

We’re keeping the bunting subtle & elegant by using a crisp white cotton embossed spot fabric and sticking with the traditional flag shape.

Keep an eye on our blog for more details on our bunting & all the other vintage props we’re using to dress this exquisite space.

Real Vs. Artificial Flowers

7/22/2016

Our hot topic on the blog today explores the pro’s & con’s of using real Vs. artificial flowers. If you’re trying to decide what sort of blooms to use for your big day, here's a few things to consider…

Silk Flowers – Pros:

Arrangements & bouquets can be made in advance. Leading up to your big day there are a million and one things to remember & doing your flowers ahead of time can be an absolute blessing. You’ll have time to get creative & play around with your arrangements whilst keeping stress levels to a minimum.

Silk flowers can be saved as a keepsake. If you’re sentimental about your blooms, you’ll be able to keep your bouquet or arrangements as a lasting memento & who knows, one day they might be passed down to the next generation as the ‘something borrowed’.

No seasonal restrictions! Getting married in autumn but want summer flowers? Don’t panic…. Silk flowers are in season all year round so you can literally take your pick!

Silk Flowers – Cons:

Fake flowers can look…. well, fake. Over the years artificial flowers have come a long way but if you don’t invest in decent ones they can look cheap. Photos (as well as artificial flowers) last forever so don’t cut corners & look back with regret.

Some artificial flowers can be expensive. Keep costs under control when planning your big day by doing your homework to find a good store or supplier. Trust me, you don’t need to spend ridiculous amounts of money on these… a little research goes a long way & budget blooms can look stunning!

Lack of scent. Obviously artificial flowers aren’t going to stimulate the senses like the real thing but we have a solution! Ask one of your bridesmaids or ushers to give your flowers a spritz (ideally a scent to match the flowers) and your guests will be none the wiser!

Real Flowers – Pros:

There’s no beauty like natural beauty. It’s hard to deny the true splendour of real flowers isn’t it. The detail & authenticity they bring, each flower unique in it’s own way. From a distance it can be difficult to tell between real and artificial flowers but for bouquets & table arrangements (where your guests have a close up view), natural blooms tend to be more luxurious.

Floral Fragrance. Who doesn’t love walking into a room and being surrounded by the scent of fresh florals! Don’t underestimate how your flowers natural fragrances add to the overall ambience of your day.

Original & Unique. Each flower will be unique in its own way adding originality to your wedding décor. Using real flowers from your own garden also adds a personal touch to your wedding day & I promise you, these are exactly the special details you’ll treasure.

Real Flowers – Cons:

Timing is everything! If you prepare your arrangements too far in advance, they can wilt or get damaged. To avoid any floral faux-pas, timing really does need to be spot on. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail!

Handle with care. If you are doing arrangements yourself, be sure to give your flowers lots of TLC & take care to avoid any damages. Real flowers are incredibly delicate so try not to be heavy handed & proceed with caution.

Beware of Allergies! If you’re sensitive to those pollen particles, real flowers could be a problem for you. You certainly don’t want to be walking down the aisle with panda eyes, saying ‘atchoo’ instead of ‘I do!’ If hayfever tablets don’t cut it – I’d avoid using real flowers altogether. The only tears you want on your big day are the happy kind!

Our verdict: Use a blend of both!

We’re not trying to sit on the fence here, but there really are benefits to using both types of flowers. You cannot deny the natural beauty, authenticity & quality that real flowers bring BUT - high quality artificial flowers are the next best thing. They are incredibly durable & lend themselves more readily to artistic creation which can be better for larger displays.

Evstival 2016

7/18/2016

A big thank you to Hannah & Neil for putting on yet another incredible Evstival! The theme was 70’s Disco and my goodness did we get down and boogie! This funky-town festival had it all – glitter, afros, floral shirts, flares, a giant disco ball, awesome dance moves & *AMAZING* live music!

Janet managed to get hold of some authentic 70’s material for the bunting which decorated one of Hannah & Neil’s stunning barns on their beautiful family farm in Wales.

This year Evstival helped raise money for Sands, an amazing UK charity providing support for bereaved parents and their families. For more information & to make a donation, please visit www.uk-sands.org.

To have and to hold…. in case you feel cold.

7/15/2016

Keep your guests feeling as snug as a bug in a rug by hiring our lovely wicker hamper & blankets.

We’ve got a selection of warm blankets, picnic blankets & crochet blankets and we think this simple yet super feature works rather well for any outdoor, country, festival or winter wedding.

Although the warm fuzzy feelings of love should be enough to keep you & your guests cozy, it’s can’t hurt to encourage a little extra snuggling! x

Family Fun Day!

7/13/2016

Last Saturday, Brighton Hill’s The Christ The King Church & the Café Dome hosted a family fun day & Hampshire Vintage Wedding Hire had the honour of providing some bunting for this fabulous event!

The Cafe Project Basingstoke is a local charity, set up to help and support young adults with learning disabilities. The Cafe Dome is where the Cafe Project delivers is training programme and their students gain experience in hospitality & catering.

For more information on this amazing scheme, please take a look at the website & facebook page:

www.thecafeproject.co.uk / www.facebook.com/TheCafeProjectBasingstoke x

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

7/11/2016

We took a trip to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show yesterday & my goodness, what a splendid day we had!

A fantastic summer celebration with THE MOST exquisite gardens & floral displays one could wish to see. We left with a car full of beautiful blooms, *so much* inspiration and heaps of enthusiasm to get our flowery creative caps on!

Keep up the good work Mother Nature! x

Alice & Andy’s Country Garden Wedding

7/6/2016

We are so thrilled to share some photos from last weekend’s vintage inspired, country garden wedding and would like to congratulate these two love birds on their perfect nuptials.

It was an absolute pleasure & privilege to work with Alice (and her mum!), such a beautiful, happy & radiant bride. We hope you and your prince charming enjoyed the start of your happily ever after. x

(click on images below to enlarge)

.....We couldn't resist adding this photo of Alice & her gorgeous pink ladies! x

Alice & Andy’s Summer Wedding

7/4/2016

Good morning lovely people!

While I was off sunning myself last week – Janet was a busy bee getting prepped to make a very special delivery for Alice & Andy’s summer wedding, set in the heart of Hampshire’s picturesque countryside.

Our bride & groom chose a vintage country theme for their big day and selected a number of our favourite props to decorate their beautiful marquee venue. Shabby chic chandeliers, Marquee letter lights, wooden directional signs, vintage lawn games and a little treat for those dancing feet…. to name just a few!

In addition to the vintage themed props, we also provided flower arrangements & kept things ‘oh naturel’ using a blend of classic garden blooms including roses, sweet peas, daisies, small hydrangeas & gypsophila. Larger arrangements were paired with eucalyptus & evergreen foliage with a little extra fresh rosemary for added scent & texture.

The table centres were presented in our rustic tin jugs with vintage lace detail & the entrance arrangements displayed in our simple yet striking ivory urns and placed on pale green pedestals. All of our flower arrangements were styled loosely with a ‘just gathered’ structure.

Post wedding photos to follow but for now, here’s a peek at some of the prep! x