#marcandemma2015 - a wedding amongst the vines

As the days get longer and Spring approaches, I look back with warm memories of my sister's wedding in September. The GG studio became wedding HQ over the Summer months and we were tasked with making it a very special weekend for all to remember. The weekend was based around St Tropez; Friday night, sunset cocktails overlooking the bay, Saturday, a Pampelonne beach party, and Sunday, the wedding, amongst the vines.

Choosing colours - Oyster & Olive

For the invitations, I thought an oyster card and olive green ink would fit perfectly. The envelopes were on a thick oyster paper with a stunning olive green lining and had our calligrapher's signature romantic writing on the front. It was tricky to work out whether to use olive green or black ink for the calligraphy but after several test runs, we found that black names and addresses were a good contrast to the olive text, and most definitely easier for the postman to read.

Black ink calligraphy with olive text

The invitation itself was a thick folded card with engraved text. We employ special techniques to ensure that the spine doesn't crack on such a thick card and that there's a strong indentation on the reverse of the card, and finish it off with a standard plate mark (the indented border). To hold the inserts, we created a little pocket with blind embossed initials of the engaged couple, and then a staggered effect for the information card, map and beach party invite. The reply cards were tucked into the back of the pocket. A lovely personal touch was the illustrated map. These are proving very popular with our clients at the moment.

Blind embossed initials on little pocket

We screen printed the map onto canvas bags and filled them with a number of goodies to welcome the guests to their hotels: sunglasses and wristbands branded with the couple's logo, welcome booklets and a number of French snacks. The finishing touch to the bags were the personalized tags.  

Goody bag

Sunglasses and wristbands branded with the couple's logo

We had a couple of Instagram props made up for the beach party. Emblazoned on it was the hashtag #marcandemma2015 - guests could use the hashtag so that they could check out each other's photos.

The beautiful couple and their instagram props

Another cute idea was placing the escort envelopes (the little cards which tell you which table you are sitting at) into corks. Inside the envelopes were little cards referring to the table numbers. For the table numbers themselves, the calligrapher drew out large numbers in our olive green ink. For menus, we usually like to double them up as place cards. On a thick card, with a platemark and coloured edging, we detailed out the menu, and had the guest name written on the top.

Escort cards

It really was a special weekend and such fun to try out different ideas.

Jazzing up your dress code

We often get asked by our clients for some ideas of alternatives to the traditional 'black tie' or the more relaxed 'smart casual'. So here are some fun themes:

Something Chic

Beach / Summer / Provence / Riviera / Evening / Cocktail / Sassy

...with a twist / with a touch

Black tie with a Gatsby twist / Black tie with a touch of floral

Lounge suit with an 80s twist / Lounge suit with a touch of Africa

Cocktail with a rainbow twist / Cocktail with a touch of beach

Other Ideas

Circus Glitz

Glitter and Sequins

Tropical Glam

Cowboy Casual

Wigs in Space

Secret Garden

Jungle Fever

Masks and Capes

Sparkles

Black Tie No Tie

Bollywood Best

Classics

Black Tie

Black Tie Optional

White Tie

Lounge Suits

Beach Formal

Cocktail

Festive

Smart Casual

Links to Love 19/08/14 - Wedding Gift Ideas

Personalised Wedding Gifts

Below £50

Bar Excellence Irish Coffee Glasses from Darlington

Personalised Mr and Mrs chopping board at Personalised Wedding Gifts

Gold dipped cutlery from Anthropologie

Normann Copenhagen Cognac Glasses from Handpicked Collection

LSA Wine Carafe from Oliver Bonas

Silver dinner candle holder from Marks and Spencer

Personalised postcode map from Handpicked Collection

Photo tray from Handpicked Collection

£50 - £100
Vera Wang toasting flutes from Harrods

LSA Hector Decanter from Oliver Bonas

Dinner and Theatre for 2 - a gift experience offered by John Lewis

Blanc de Blancs Champagne and Ice Bucket at Fortnum and Mason
Wedding Wine Box at Not on the High Street

Over £100
Nespresso machine from Harrods

Fondue set at The Wedding Shop

Croquet set at The Wedding Shop

Links to Love 02/07/14 - Wedding Favours

Roc Candy

• Personalise your own rock candy; there are plenty of websites that offer this service. Roc Candy allows you to choose your own text and colours, so it's easy to match to the colour theme of your wedding.
• Love hearts are a classic that all ages are familiar with. You can purchase 'Just Married' love hearts with a personalised wrapper.
• Bubbles...not the alcoholic kind but the other type of bubbles we like! They're some really elegant options to go for and you can get them from party shops or online from many suppliers. 
• We absolutely love these personalised matchboxes you can get at notonthehighstreet.com. With a choice between a packet of heart mints or sparkling table confetti, you can also choose from a wide range of colours.
• Green and Blacks allows you to choose a selection from their organic chocolate which they will wrap in ribbon for you.
• Personalised themed candle tins are a great little something for your guests to take away with them. A Wedding Less Ordinary offers a variety of colours, designs and scents.
• There is also the option of donating money to charity for your wedding favours. Charities such as Scottish SPCA will send you small pin badges that come with a small note saying that a donation has been made to the charity. Have a look to see if a charity close to your heart offers this service.

Don't forget to get in touch with us if you need any help with sorting out personalised labels or stickers.

 Confetti

Jumpography

We love working on our clients' wedding thank yous because it means we get to see some really beautiful photographs from their big day. Not long ago we finished this couple's thank you cards; we especially adored one of their images portraying them holding hands behind their backs in the shape of a heart whilst jumping. We then discovered that our client, Clemmie, is a ‘Jump Photographer’!

She started taking Jump Photos when working as a journalist in Mauritania back in 2007. Her job took her all over the world, and before she knew it she had compiled an impressive archive of friends and strangers jumping all over the place. She had an exhibition a few months ago called 'Jumpography' at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill, which was a great hit. Now she is setting up a website through which she will be selling her images; she has even started taking commissions of Jump Portraits.

“A Jump Photo is engaging and inspiring. When you jump, you leave the world beneath you for a split second. Nothing matters. Your inner child leaps out. You are at once a bit scared and a bit excited, but mostly, a bit free. Look at people's faces when they jump. They are children again. It is so fun capturing this split second transformation on camera.” - Clemmie

Head over to www.jumpography.org or find her on Instagram (#jump0graphy). How about a family jump portrait or a set of greeting cards? It's definitely something not to be missed.

Ideas for table numbers

A lot of clients ask us for ideas on table numbers; how to display them and other options to just plain numbers. The below lists should help get you started on an item that isn't always the top of a bride's to do list but can actually create a beautiful finishing touch to the table. 

     Antique finish wooden sign (left) and Table number holder with tier base (right) at Confetti

For table number displays...

• Use photo frames, whether you purchase matching frames or head to charity shops and get an assortment of different frames, you can't go wrong.
• Print some wine labels and stick them on the wine bottles. Alternatively, use an empty wine bottle and place a single one for display on each table.
• Head to Confetti to browse their range of products, especially their holders.
• Have a look at miniature easels on eBay for a cheap option.

If you want to be more creative than just a printed number, why not look for photos of you at the age of the table number. Or take a photo of the two of you holding the table number.

Also, don't forget that we provide a calligraphy service, so for an elegant option we can calligraphy
your chosen number. 

If you're thinking of going for names instead of numbers, here's a list of themes and ideas to get you thinking.

Location

Meaningful countries, cities or landmarks

Underground tube stations, street names or postcodes

Your favourite...

Films or actors/actresses

Books

Song titles or albums

Animals

One liners

Dishes or drinks

 Kelly Dillon Photography (left) and Jillian Modern Photography (right) via Style Me Pretty 

Themes

School subjects

Heroes & villains, disney characters, fairy tales or Greek Gods/Goddesses

Other ideas

Classic love story couples eg. Romeo & Juliet

Constellations or planets

Gemstones

'Love' in different languages

Bluebird Wedding Showcase

Last night I attended the annual Bluebird wedding showcase, always a great event with leading wedding specialists. I loved meeting the Classic Car Club, the private members club which gives you access to an amazing collection of cars, my favourite being the 1950s classics; a great option for your wedding car. Petit Bisous showcased their gorgeous bridal lingerie, and explained their bespoke couture options. It was also great to meet Sarah Jane Wai O'Flynn, an impressive make up artist, who enjoys working on bridal and special occasion make up. The highlight for me has to be seeing Paul Antonio at work, one of my favourite London based calligraphers. He has the most elegant and distinctive style. Be sure to keep check out his work. 

  

Left to right: Classic Car Club, Petit Bisous, Sarah Jane Wai O'Flynn, Paul Antonio calligraphy

Laura's picks from Confex, the events showcase

I've just got back from International Confex, the leading exhibition for the events industry, and have arrived at our studio truly inspired. Olympia was filled with fantastic ideas for both corporate and private events.

The Apprentice's Karen Brady gave a motivating speech on her career and path to success, which started at the young age of 18 at the advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi. Now the vice-chairman of West Ham, 'the first lady of football' told of her excitement of the club's move to the Olympic Park in 2016 and its growing profits. In the 2014 New Year Honours she was appointed a CBE for services to entrepreneurship and women in business; most certainly well deserved. 

Clockwise from top left: Karen Brady, Le Mare Chocolat, The Roving Artist and Megabooth

I've highlighted below some of my favourite ideas from the show. 

Two companies, Le Mare Chocolat and Chocart London, showcased their wonderful designs on chocolate - detailed images, logos and text were reproduced onto delicious chocolate - what a fun idea for branding, invitations or wedding favours. 

I was particularly impressed with Megabooth and Smiley Booth for their innovative take on the photo booth. Megabooth most certainly stands out from the rest with their photo booths inserted into London taxis, Austin Minis and 1960's VW Beetles. Smiley booths come with large seats, and screens with an extensive range of backgrounds, creating an even more personal and interactive experience. 

ideasboxuk tempted me with their themed tricycles, serving a variety of scrumptious items, including espresso, popcorn and Pimm's. Immediately after, I was stopped by The Roving Artist whose silhouette artists were creating cameo portraits in less than 90 seconds.

My final recommendation is Unique Venues of London, a marketing consortium of 81 unusual and special venues for events, from palaces to art galleries to sporting stadia. 

Lounge in style with Olivia Von Halle

We've just been working with the gorgeous Olivia Von Halle and her team and couldn't resist blogging about her fantastic brand of luxury pyjamas. Stocked across London in exclusive boutiques and stores, keep an eye out for them.

For our brides, this is a piece of luxury that the whole bridal party can enjoy, whether on the hen or the Big Day. These aren't your regular jammies; made from silk, with stunning prints, you really can lounge in style and comfort. One's name can be embroidered onto the pyjamas adding that extra special personal touch - a truly wonderful keepsake of your special day.

Olivia von Halle has quickly become the go-to brand for brides looking for something elegant to wear on the morning of their wedding. Luxurious lounging pyjamas set a sophisticated tone during hair and make-up and make for stunning photographs on the wedding morning.

Monogrammmed pyjamas are a beautiful gift for bridesmaids – we recently dressed a bride and 10 of her bridesmaids on the morning of her wedding in Mauritius. And of course every woman should have a pair of silk pyjamas in her trouseau for her honeymoon…

Visit Olivia Von Halle for more details.

L'art du papier

At GG Print, we love working with our French clients on their various printing requests (the most popular items: birth announcements and wedding invitations). Here are some useful French expressions and vocabulary to get you started.  

Birth announcement card - Un faire-part de naissance 

(Nicholas & Arabella) are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter/son: 

... ont l’immense joie de vous annoncer la naissance de leur fille/fils

... share with (Oscar) the happiness of announcing the birth of (Martin): 

... partagent avec (Oscar) la grande joie de vous annoncer la naissance de (Martin)

Weight: le poids

Wedding invitation - Un faire-part de mariage

(Sophie and Peter) are getting married on ... :

... se marient le ... 

(Mr and Mrs Nicholas Davison) invite you to celebrate the marriage of their children:

... ont la joie de vous faire part du mariage de leurs enfants

They invite you to the ceremony: 

ils vous prient d'assister à la cérémonie religieuse

Which will take place: qui sera celebrée

Please join us: nous vous attendons

RSVP by: reponse souhaitée avant le 

Useful information: informations utiles

Accommodation: hébergement

Negotiated rates: tarifs négociés

Gift list: liste de mariage

Dietary requirements: exigence diététique

Seated dinner: dîner placé

Evening dress: tenue de soirée

Some other useful words:

envelope: l'enveloppe

tissue paper: papier de soie

high resolution: haute définition

raised printing: impression en relief

flat printing: impression classique

Have a look at these websites for some inspiration on French stationery: Carteland, Poppypress.fr, l'Art du Papier.

Links to Love 06/02/14

Photo by Kim Veldhuidzen at Bellagalla

Wedding special

• Rock N Roll Bride blogs on how to choose your honeymoon
• Boho Weddings has a step by step guide and a 12 month planner to help you organise your wedding
• Here are 7 modern tiaras put together by Brooklyn Bride
• If you need some tips on how to word your wedding invitations, here's an invitation etiquette guide by Lauren Conrad
• You're engaged, now what? 10 things to know when you get engaged at style me pretty
• 5 wedding colour palettes to look out for this year
• Top 5 do's and don't for your super cool Jewish wedding
• 3 inspiring outfits for your spring bridesmaids at Vintage Styler
• What do you think of these custom fingerprint and signature wedding rings?
• 7 least favourite and the 7 most popular cocktail hour hors d'ouvres for your wedding

Where to register your wedding list

A lot of our brides and grooms ask us for suggestions on where to arrange their gift registry so we have put together a list of some different ideas. We know that when you're planning a wedding you have a million things to do so we hope that this helps cross one thing off that list.

• The Wedding Shop, partnered with Selfridges, enjoys an extensive selection of different brands and products
• Specialising in wine, Goedhuis & Co or Haynes, Hanson & Clark are an alternative option for the wine connoisseur
• For luxury tableware, there's Thomas Goode
• For modern, high standard tableware and kitchenware why not try David Mellor
• The impressive Prezola provides a list of products from over 100 of the UK's favourite High Street and online retailers
• Wedding Presents Direct is another popular choice for our clients  
• The Conran Shop offers the traditional gift list with an individual gift card; contributions from guests will be combined for the happy couple to select items of their choice 
• Heywood Hill is the perfect option to fill the bookshelves of a new marital home. The team will create a unique list of stunning editions suited to the couple's tastes and interests.     
• If you're after some rarities and eccentricities, visit Off the List, an online antique emporium which offers unusual gifts
• For something a bit different, why not spoil the happy couple on their honeymoon. Wanderable offers this service whereby guests can treat the bride and groom to specific items ranging from meals and hotels to tours and experiences 
• Not forgetting the popular options: John Lewis and Harrods

GG Print favourites:

Tableware at Thomas Goode

Spinx bookends from Off the list

Pride silver plate cutlery at David Mellor

Marryoke Memorabilia

Marryoke (marry-oh-key) is the latest in wedding trend keepsakes that we love at GG Print. It's a bit of fun that the whole wedding party can partake in where a video montage is filmed of everyone singing along to the bride and groom's song of choice creating the perfect pop video.

Marryokes.com was set up three years ago by Billie and Katie May after having shot a video for friends which received 50,000 hits. They soon realized that they were on to something when they made a similar video for music producer Paul Higgins and his wife Clodagh McGeary, and with the help of an appearance by One Direction, it got more than 2 million hits.

Sharing photos and videos online is so much easier now than it ever has been that this marryoke trend just makes social sharing sense! For full story, visit The Daily Mail.

The 3D selfie for your wedding cake

3D printing is a technology we're hearing more and more about recently and these newlyweds have now incorporated it into their wedding. Emily and Carl Osgathorp, from Oxford, topped their wedding cake with mini printed statues of themselves. The couple stood on a rotating turntable to scan their body into a computer and the image was then passed onto a 3D printer, which two hours later produced the mini statues. Will looking for cake toppers be a thing of the past one day? To read the full story visit The Daily Mail.

Bridal Hair with Ondine Cowley

Last week I met the fabulous hair stylist Ondine Cowley who has styled hair for the likes of Kate Beckinsale, Courtney Love, Jenson Button, Kevin Spacey, and more. She has a real joy and passion for styling brides. Like us at GG Print, when it comes to your wedding, she does the utmost to ensure the bride is happy. Visit Ondine's Facebook page to get tips on caring and styling your hair as well as photos of her work.

'Weddings are the most important day of a woman's life. My advice is don't cut corners... it is so important to look yourself in a more glamorous and magical way. Wedding hair is my passion and it is all about you on the day.'

'A haircut should suit your personality and lifestyle, it is important to express who you are and what you do in life to your hairstylist to get the best look.'

Map it!

An increasingly popular service we supply are illustrated maps that work as a fun alternative to a regular map. A great option for weddings that can work either as a save the date or as part of the information sheet. Not only can you have directions, but also your story mapped out where you and your partner met, where he proposed or where you first kissed! 

Illustrated maps don't have to be for just weddings, they also make for a fun means of directions to your house, holiday home or even the office. We definitely had to have our own set of directions illustrated for our studio.

Top left - Save the Date couple's story map, Top right - Rome map from church to reception

Bottom left - GG Print map, Bottom right - house directions

Catch up with photographer Emma Myrtle

I had a meeting today with the fantastic photographer Emma Myrtle. She has photographed a lot of our clients' weddings, in London and abroad, and always receives a glowing report. She works in a discreet and unobtrusive manner, with a genuine passion for what she does, truly capturing the moment, whether through formal or informal shots. Although catering for all types of events, she's most definitely the one you want for your special day or baby portrait. A few of our favourite children shots are below.

Invitation trays: the perfect memento

If you're looking for an elegant and additional memento of your wedding day, we have an increasingly popular product that may be for you. You can have your wedding invitation printed onto a tray serving as a special reminder of the Big Day whilst also serving breakfast in bed to a loved one (optional).

You can order and purchase yours from GG Print for £95.00. Simply send us your invitation and we'll do the rest...

The South of France - the dream location for your wedding

I've recently been asked by a few of my clients if I knew of any special venues in the South of France.  I have 2 delightful ones to recommend; the first in the Cannes area, the second in Provence. 

Chateau Dieter is a magnificent Renaissance property situated in the heart of the French Riviera, with a real Tuscan feel.  The castle is located in the most picturesque setting, amongst an olive grove and gardens.  I went to this venue last summer for a friend's wedding. The ceremony took place in the gardens, the bride walking down a beautiful colonnade, followed by a stunning reception on the terrace.  We dined under the stars and moved into the Chateau to party until the early hours.  A truly magical evening.  

Chateau Grimaldi is located in Provence on a hill overlooking the village of Puyricard (10 minutes by car to Aix-en-Provence and 30 minutes to Marseille airport).  The Chateau has a fantastic set up: 5 hectares of delightful gardens, fountains, sculptures, a tennis court and swimming pool.  Ruins of the 17th century castle surround the pool, making a spectacular setting for my friend's wedding this summer.  The ceremony took place overlooking the hills, followed by a reception by the pool with local culinary delights.  We dined on the candlelit terrace of the house and danced the night away in the stunning old chapel.  A truly memorable evening. 

Who says old school photography is out of date?

 

A client of ours recently used these magnetic Polaroid photo frames as their table name cards. It is a great idea for any party whether it be a wedding, significant birthday or Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and a fantastic memento for your fridge. You can purchase online at Urban Outfitters. 

Why not also put disposable cameras scattered around the tables? More than often people tend to take more effort to compose a perfect picture when they know they can’t view it and you will be the ones to get them developed! 

Another idea, if one has room within their budget, is to have a photo booth at the party, producing either black and white or coloured images, which guests can then stick in a wedding book with a special message to you both. Fun props and accessories are usually included with the booth. We recommend The Photo Booth Company.