So you have said yes to the big question, not “will you be my valentine” but “will you marry me”.  Being a hopeless romantic you have decided to have the wedding in February, the same month as Valentine’s Day, and with a valentines theme no less. Unfortunately this year v-day falls on a Tuesday which for most people isn’t the best day so the weekends before and after are the next best thing.

I have to admit that I am a little bit torn when it comes to presenting you with valentine’s themed wedding ideas. My modern self wants to show you a selection of contemporary valentines themed ideas and decorations whilst my other self (the one that doesn’t come out very often) wants to red it up and bombard your eyes with roses and love hearts galore. I have decided to unleash my true romantic self and go for the latter option as I feel that it’s the one which embraces the true meaning of valentine’s day.

Roses:

Red roses are the classic lovers flower, the one that every girls hopes for a dozen of each year. If you are having a valentines themed wedding then red roses are a must. You can use them  in bouquets, as bridesmaids hair accessories, as petals scattered down the aisle, as stunning centre pieces and as a cake toppers!

Chocolate:

Another valentines day favourite! Consider handing out chocolate favours to your guests as well as chocolate wedding cake, cupcakes and chocolate thank you presents. You could even have a chocolate sculpture for the top of your cake or as a standalone decoration. Ifyou are real chocolate lover then go for chocolate themed wedding invites too!

Love Hearts:

Love hearts are the very essence of valentines day. There are many heart themed wedding items available including confetti, cake decorations, invitations, table sprinkles and favours.

If you are looking for a fantastic wedding venue in the Leicester then give us a call or email info@thecityrooms.co.uk and speak to one of our highly trained members of staff. You can also check out the dates of our next wedding fayre on our weddings page.

Being someone who has had an unhealthy obsession with stationary since a child (I mean how many notebooks does an 8 year old really need?) I am very excited to see the emerging craze for paper wedding bouquets. We had a company that made paper bouquets at our last wedding fair and they really were exquisite. I know that they are not something that will be to everyone’s taste but they are unusual, eye catching and make a real talking point.

The variation of papers that are on the market today is astounding. With flowers you have to work with what is seasonal and available in your wedding colours but not so with paper. You have a wealth of colours, patters and even buttons and glitter to choose from! Paper wedding bouquets also make great keepsakes that will not die or wilt away. They are really the modern alternative to artificial wedding flowers.

I also really love these wedding paper flower seat decorations. This is an emerging trend and definately one to watch in 2012!

In recent years Christmas themed wedding have become much more popular. Whilst summer is still the most popular season for weddings, more and more brides are being tempted by the thought of a wedding album covered with snowy pictures, fur wraps and glistening decorations. I know that this is Leicester and not the Alps but a beautiful setting like our ballroom looks fantastic when decked out in Christmas finery.  Another great benefit of a winter wedding is that they tend to be a little cheaper than their summer counterparts.  Here are some top tips for decorating your wedding venue for a Christmas themed wedding.

Modern Christmas Themed Wedding Ideas:

I love the modern red & blue reindeer themed invite. Whilst still being christmasssy it breaks the mould for using red and blue as opposed to a more traditional red and white or red and green colourscheme. The cupcakes are decorated beautifully and the gingerbread house would make a show stopping wedding cake!

Classic Christmas Themed Wedding Ideas:

If you want go for something more classic then opt for Poinsettia and Roses as your main flowers. Create your centrepieces from baubles, pine cones and evergreen foilaige. Create an atmosphere with candles, tea lights and lanterns.

If you are looking for a fantastic wedding venue in the Midlands then give us a call or email info@thecityrooms.co.uk and speak to one of our highly trained members of staff.

Many people who are Scottish or who have Scottish ancestry like to celebrate this when they get married. Some people choose to go all out and have kilts and tartan galore whilst others gently incorporate the theme in certain areas. Let’s have a look at some of the best Scottish themed wedding ideas.

Invites:

Your invitations really set the scene for your big day. They will help to give your guests an idea of what to expect. Choosing a motif that is symbolic of Scotland to feature on your invites is a great way to introduce the theme. Thistles and Celtic crosses are very striking and look great on wedding stationary. However if you want something more subtle then just using colours associated with Scotland (lilacs, reds, greens and navy blues) within your stationary is a good idea.

Cakes:

You can do so much with cakes these days that the only limit is your imagination. Many people choose a simple white cake design and then add tartan ribbons around the layers. Others choose to add thistle flowers to the top tier or drape a swatch of tartan material around the cake. Alternatively you could completely Scottish it up and go for a tartan painted cake!

Flowers:

There is of course one obvious choice and that is to have thistles as your primary wedding flower. They are a lovely colour and can be matched with white flowers in bouquets or other displays. Other flowers that are native to Scotland include the Cuckoo Flower, Dog Rose and Red Campion. You will be able to get a better idea of what types of Scottish flowers are available if you have a weekend away self catering in Scotland as we shortly recommend. Visit a number of Scottish florists and they will be able to give you help and advice on local blooms.

 Accommodation:

Why not go the whole hog and hold your hen and stag parties there. You could stay self-catering in Scotland and hire a nice big cottage for your friends & family to stay in. You could also tie this in with some shopping for authentic Scottish items to incorporate into the wedding!

If you are looking for a fantastic wedding venue in the Midlands then give us a call or email info@thecityrooms.co.uk and speak to one of our highly trained members of staff.

Nobody wants their wedding day to end. It’s the biggest and most special day of your life and most couples say that it flies by. This is one of the reasons why choosing a good photographer is very important as they capture those special moments and make them live on even after the day is finished. Another way of doing this is by having a wedding guest book. A guest book usually has a picture of the happy couple on the front and blank pages inside for guests to write congratulatory messages. Whilst this is a very nice tradition we are now finding that our Leicester and Midlands based brides are starting to look for alternative & creative wedding guest book ideas. Here are some of our favourites!

The wedding photo surround: 

This is one of the most popular guest book alternatives at the moment. Visit any art or crafts shop and you will be able to pick up a cardboard surround in almost any colour and size. Most people tend to opt for a white or ivory colour. Simply place the surround on a designated table at your wedding along with a selections of felt tip and marker pens. It is a good idea to get one of your bridesmaids or grooms men to go round and encourage your guests to fill it in. Afterwards, simply put one of your wedding pics in a frame along with the surround and you will have a lovely keepsake!

The wedding typewriter:

If you love vintage and are having a vintage style wedding then I know that you will absolutely love this idea. Finding an old typewriter is not as hard as you may think especially on sites like e-bay! Typewriters can cost anywhere from£40 to £200 depending on your budget. However, considering the hours of entertainment and the wonderfully bourgeois style messages you will have at the end of the day it is most definitely worth while!

The wedding recipe card:

This is probably one of the most unusual alternative guest books that we have come across. You send out a blank recipe card with your wedding invites and ask your guests to bring the completed cards to the wedding. At the wedding you can either have a folder or a note card holder for guests to place their recipe ideas in. This way you end up with a completely personal and very special recipe book that is sure to help in the lifelong quest for marital bliss!

Click here for our wedding brochure!

If you are looking for a fantastic wedding venue in the Midlands then give us a call or email info@thecityrooms.co.uk and speak to one of our highly trained members of staff.