Hello July – You bringing plenty of summer sun with you? And oh boy we need some. Hasn’t the last few weeks been a rollercoaster of temperature highs and lows? Now we are into the second half of the year and the summer holidays are approaching, let’s hope this third quarter brings many more sunblessed weekends. Not just because we love a good tan in the garden or a melted 99 flake at the seaside, but because it is prime wedding season! I expect many of you reading this are off to a wedding within the next few months, or indeed just attended one. Beverley and Allen enjoyed a beautiful wedding reception over the weekend after touching back in the UK from holidaying in Kefalonia. Quite the social calendar for these two hey! (More on the holiday to come by the way…) So why do we get excited for wedding season? Well because our gorgeous array of textiles and even wallpapers can provide just the right touch to your special day if you are looking to get crafty. How might you make use of linen fabrics or a roll of wall paper you ask. Read on below to find out…
Wedding Backdrops
If you are looking for a showstopping background to your top table, ceremony table or selfie station then using sheer fabrics or a bolder, printed fabric can add just the look you want. Instead of a pricey flower wall, try a fabric with a large floral print in a colourway to compliment your scheme. Or for a more bohemian style, linens and voiles work exceptionally well. Wallpapers can be used in photo frames to adorn bare walls and help create backdrops for photo opportunities as well. Wallpapers offer a huge variety of coloursways and patterns.
Wedding Invitations
If you are a dab hand a papercrafts then fashioning your own invites helps not only to save money but also to ensure your stationery matches the guests journey from initial invitation to their place card at the table. Lining your envelopes with a wallpaper that works with the theme of your wedding is not too arduous a task and definitely adds a bespoke luxury touch to your wedding stationary. Then with the remaining paper, why not use it to create your table numbers, table plan, name cards, confetti cones… The possibilities are endless.
Tablecloths & Runners
Most venues ask that you provide your own table linen, which of course gives you complete flexibility and choice over your look. And yes, table linen in fancy colours can get a bit pricey after you start adding it up why not use a wallpaper to act as a runner? Sounds maybe a first a little odd, but think about the choice you could have in print, colour or finish. Plus a couple rolls of paper actually may suprise you in how cost effective they are vs. a fabric runner. And as for the cake table, well that deserves pride of place and a luxurious table cloth made from a fabric you love or a statement runner of choice fabric would really add some wow factor and give a chance for a cracking photo oppourtunity.
Napkins
We have just helped a bride with her napkin dilemma! Rather than buy precut linen napkins, which were a rather eye watering price giving you need for a napkin, we provided linen from Designers Guild. They have a beautiful kaleidoscope of colours to match any scheme a Bride could dream of. And by utilising the natural fray linen gives around the napkin edge, it makes for super quick and easy crafting by just having to cut them from the length at your desired size. Finish with a sprig of someting floral or a ring and voila! The perfect addition to your tableware.
Of course, besides these options to incorporate your favourite collections into your wedding there is also the chance to fashion other items like bunting, fabric flowers and table confetti. You don’t even have to be super talented at handmade to acheive these beautiful bespoke additions to your big day. Delve into Pinterest and you will have made your whole wedding before you know it. So for a change from the normal wedding shops and craft stores, come and give us a look to see what we can add to your wedding! It would be so exciting to hear about your plans and who doesn’t love a good wedding?!
Moving on from the sound of wedding bells, an update on shop business is in order. The sale is ending and we have our Remnant Sale to look forward to. This is exciting for us because it means we are nearing the shop re-fit! Clearing out space and sending items to new homes is such a wholesome feeling. We initially though about the Marie Kondo approach when rearranging the boutique and design studio, but everything plus what’s also on the remnant shelf does spark joy when we hold it (unless it’s the hoover!). So we need you to find love and excitement for our odd ends and take them home to repurpose into a second life.
As you know, Beverley and Allen have returned from holiday in Kefalonia and maybe you have seen some of the photos up on our facebook page. It looked the most glorious time for them and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t a little sad back home to not be sipping a G’n’T in the Greecian sun aswell. But the fort was held down by Natalie keeping a firm hand over the fitters, not an easy task haha, and making sure we remained running up to standard. The “big-secret-thing” is still a big secret but progress is being made and the deadline looms close for the big reveal! Hold onto your hats when you see it! Perhaps a sneak peek is in order soon in a future blog?
On the note of the big secret project we will round off this instalment of The Blog before I write something I shouldn’t! I hope you have enjoyed reading some handmade wedding inspiration and please do pop in to see how we can help make your day extra special.
The Team at First 4 Blinds x