We get really excited when our website guru tells us how many people read this blog and we're always looking for ways to thank you for your loyalty! So, I'm delighted to introduce a new guest-blogger to the Magic Dust family who is expertly placed to offer tips and advice that will help you choose a caterer, make decisions about menus and highlight pitfalls to avoid.

Sarah Whitmore runs Flametree Catering, an Oxfordshire-based company. I've had the pleasure of tasting - well, scoffing uncontrollably actually! - Flametree food and can thoroughly recommend it.

Sarah is far too modest to mention this but, if you'd like to read more of her tips then make sure you buy this month's Delicious Magazine (on sale 28th May) and check out the article about DIY weddings.

Sarah, over to you...


Here are 3 of my top tips for those thinking of self catering at their wedding. It's a trend we're seeing emerge as couples try to rein in the costs by employing the culinary skills of friends and family and is particularly popular when hosting a marquee wedding. The tips are also perfect should you be hosting a pre- or post- wedding barbeque or picnic...

1) Even if money is short, go to the expense of hiring the crockery & glassware. This is not a great cost, you can return everything dirty (unlike when you 'borrow' from a supermarket) and it is a huge relief to family and friends not to spend the day after the wedding (more often in the early hours!) in the kitchen washing & cleaning.

2) Invest in a professional/trained front of house to oversee the serving of the food, drinks etc. Even if you have friendly & kind volunteers, it can still be stressful not having the reassurance of somebody being in overall charge.

3) With regards to food, stuff that can be done in advance is far easier to manage which is why I would recommend hot foods that can be prepared weeks before and frozen - and easily mass produced. It's surprising how popular curries, tagines etc. are and such a great change from the bog standard chicken breast that graces most wedding menus in a bid to please all. Don't forget, most salads have to be prepared on the day and if you're catering for vast numbers this always takes longer than you think. Whilst on the subject of food, unless you plan to seriously over-cater, make sure you have somebody to serve at the buffet. However lovely your friends are, there are always the eyes-bigger-than-tum brigade who pile their plates and leave the last tables to be called with nothing but the dregs leaving you looking ungenerous and your guests hungry.

Labels: budget, caterer, guest-blogger, supplier, tips

This week's 'Wedding Tip Wednesday' video focuses on the big differences that a nattily tied napkin can make to your celebration. All you need to do is speak to your venue or caterer - whoever is supplying the linens - and arrange to collect the napkins a day or two before your wedding, then get folding! A little bit of time and effort for no extra money will create a simple, stylish addition to your day.



See you again next Wednesday and, until then, happy planning,

Labels: style, tips, wedding-tip-video

The promise of a sunny Bank Holiday weekend certainly spurred Magic Dust on to new and interesting projects this week!

We launched our new Wedding Tip Wednesday movies on our blog which are designed to share some of the many tips we've gathered over the years, as well as giving us an opportunity to actually show you how to incorporate simple, effective ideas that neither cost a fortune nor force you to compromise on style. Make a date with us every Wednesday for your mid-week wedding planning fix!

As a bit of fun for our blog readers and website visitors, we've produced a map that links into Twitter to bring you worldwide 'tweets' about weddings! Watch as brides-to-be, wedding guests and suppliers talk about all things wedding - take a break and indulge in a browse through the world's latest messages here.

We're keeping it short and sweet today as we're sure you're as anxious as we are to enjoy this spell of gorgeous weather before it disappears. Paul & Sophie, looks like you picked the perfect weekend - here's to a wonderful day tomorrow, let's use the umbrellas as sunshades!

Until Wednesday,

Labels: style, tips, wedding-tip-video

We are absolutely delighted, and more than a little bit excited, to bring you magicdust's first 'Wedding Tip Wednesday' movie.

Every week, these short, info-packed videos will share some of the many wedding planning tips we've gathered over the past few years as well as 'how-to' guides to ensure your day is full of simple, effective ideas that neither cost a fortune nor force you to compromise on style.

It is our hope that they will make your life a little less full of wedding stress and a lot more full of fun!



Look out for next week's 'Wedding Tip Wednesday' when we'll be getting natty with napkins...

Labels: tips, wedding-tip-video

I have a reminder in my diary for the middle of May each year and it says, "Find some peonies". In my mind, this 'appointment' marks the start of fabulous flower season and so I have a vase of beautiful white and pale peach peonies taking pride of place on my desk this week. They may only be in season for a few weeks every year, but peonies do seem to have a special place in the hearts of many wedding floral designer, and prospective brides.

How beautiful is this bridal bouquet of white peonies (source: www.marthastewart.com)? I have this image displayed in my office because it literally makes me smile every time I see it...

I thought I'd share a few tips with you today about the questions you should ask when you're 'interviewing' florists for your wedding day. Experience has taught us that taking a little bit of control and responsibility, as well as building a rapport with your florist from the very first conversation really does mean you'll enjoy a more positive experience.

Here are my top five questions for florists...

1) Are you available on our wedding date and how many other weddings will you be providing flowers for on that day?

It's good to establish a florist's availability as soon as possible so as not to waste their time, or yours. Equally importantly, finding out how much work they're prepared to take on for a single day will enable you to make a judgement about how important your wedding is going to be to them - and how flexible they are going to be able to be with any last minute changes to your order and delivery details.

2) Can you provide what we need within our budget?

Use the expertise of the florists you're talking to, after all, they will know a lot more about flower combinations, volumes of blooms needed and the viability of your ideas, than you will! It's important to establish that the things you want are achievable within your budget and, if not, what alternatives you could consider.

3) Who will be delivering, and setting up, the flowers on our wedding day?

Find out if the florist sends a qualified floral designer out with their orders or if local couriers are used. This will enable you to decide if you're going to need to look at additional help on your wedding day as couriers are employed to literally deliver the order and leave, whilst a floral designer will spend time ensuring your flowers are set up as previously discussed.

4) Have you worked at our ceremony/reception venue before and, if not, would you be prepared to visit with us?

Florists who are familiar with your venue(s) are worth their weight in gold, as are those who are happy to meet you at the venue(s) to discuss your requirements. Money can be saved, arrangements can be dual-purpose and nothing will come as a surprise if you're working with someone who knows, and has provided flowers for, your venue(s) before.

5) Please could you put us in touch with some couples you have recently worked with?

As with every other wedding supplier, a good florist will happily put you in touch with couples whose weddings they have recently worked on. It's important that you follow up and contact them in order to get an objective description of the service they enjoyed from the florist(s) you're considering. Whilst it's highly unlikely that they'll put you in touch with unhappy clients, it's still extremely useful to get an idea of what working with individual florists is really like.

And remember, floral arrangements don't have to be flowers to be stunning. One of my favourite images is of these voile-covered bay trees, lining the entrance to the wedding ceremony (source: "The Best of Martha Stewart Living", Potter). Absolutely stunning and totally achievable as many florists now hire out bay trees and lengths of voile and ribbon can be bought inexpensively and transform these trees into a magical scene. You could even add battery-operated white fairy lights for extra sparkle!

If you would like to talk to me about how we can kick-start your wedding plans and help you enjoy the planning of your wedding, please get in touch. We'll happily chat to you, with no obligations, about our services and if we leave you feeling confident and capable of planning the day of your dreams (not anyone else's), that is our reward!

Until next week,

Labels: florist, style, supplier, tips

It's been a busy week that began with Magic Dust being quoted, not once, but twice, in a 'Wedding Ideas' magazine feature about venue decoration and culminated in a bumper week for 'On The Day' co-ordination bookings. We're certainly looking forward to putting our feet up tomorrow and recharging the batteries before it all starts again on Monday!

There are few things more rewarding than the first conversation we have with prospective new clients. Whether they're newly-engaged and need help kick-starting their wedding planning, or are nearing the end of the planning journey and are looking for someone they can trust to ensure that all their hard work doesn't go to waste on the wedding day itself, every chat reveals what it is that makes our job such a pleasurable one.

If I had a pound for every time one of these conversations ends with, "I feel so much better having spoken to you", or "I feel like I can relax and look forward to our wedding day now that you're on board", I would be writing this blog from my private villa in The Bahamas!

The only feeling better than that is knowing that every single one of the services we offer is designed with the couple getting married in mind, and that it is this, coupled with a passion for fantastic customer service, that ensures the feedback we get after the wedding day is even better! One of my personal favourites - so much so that it brought a tear to my eye - was Sarah & Ben's comment that they "don't know how anyone gets married without Magic Dust'!

I'm sure you can imagine how much I've enjoyed this week, with all the new couples it has brought our way.

Whilst flicking through 'Wedding Ideas' earlier this week, I happened across a bridesmaid dress that literally stopped me in my tracks. Believe me, this doesn't happen as often as it should! But, I have to agree with the editorial team at 'Wedding Ideas' who have confessed to loving Dessy. Check out Style 2762 - the 'name' really doesn't do it justice - and see if you agree with me. The colour, the shape, the length, the accessories, I just can't fault it. The wearability factor is an added bonus as this is exactly the type of dress that could be worn again and again.

All I need is for someone to ask me to be their bridesmaid and I can tell them the dress is already sorted!!!

And finally, we launched Magic Dust's search for the most ingenious wedding planning tip in our newsletter this week. We invite you to send in the tips that have proved invaluable to you and in return, we'll publish a selection of them on our website and the person who sends in our favourite tip will win a bottle of Clarins delicious 'Eau Dynamisante' perfume in a handy handbag-sized bottle.

If you would like to talk to me about how we can kick-start your wedding plans and help you enjoy the planning of your wedding, please get in touch. We'll happily chat to you, with no obligations, about our services and if we leave you feeling confident and capable of planning the day of your dreams (not anyone else's), that is our reward!

Until next week,

Labels: style, supplier, testimonial, tips

It must be one of the most exciting yet emotional day in a father's life to see his precious daughter getting married.

He offers his arm to his daughter to lean on while he walks her down the aisle. His opening speech is a trip down memory lane of their lives together so far.

The Father and Daughter dance usually comes after the bridal waltz and this is your special and intimate moment you will have with your Dad alone. When you choose your song don't be concerned if it is not on the latest hit list or the beat is not hip enough. This song is just for you and your Dad.

Try to find a song where the words and the music have a meaning to you both. Something from your childhood perhaps, a song where you both use to hum to or a song which you both danced for the first time together. Even if is only a rhyme which you both hopscotch to. Go ahead and hopscotch again at your wedding day, it meant something to you both a long time ago and it will never be forgotten.

Make it special, after all he is, apart from your husband, one of the most important men in your life!

Cheers,

Cathrin D'Entremont
Cathrin D'Entremont Weddings (Australia)

Labels: guest-blogger, tips