Working with a Theme

We all love a challenge here and recently worked on a "gothic" themed wedding at Cain Manor in Hampshire. The colour scheme was black and purple and our clients provided some fabulous pillar candles for the fireplaces, mantles and sills with black and purple striped and swirls. Our brief was to decorate the main barn with pealights, drapes and lighting to complement these colours.

For the table centres, we were given the following brief by the client: Silver twigs, feathers and pealights in a tall vase on a mirror surrounded with fur. We pride ourselves on our ability to sketch and frequently use sketches to demonstrate to our clients our ideas, bespoke building projects, room layouts and decoration suggestions. Following acceptance of our sketch, a mock-up was produced enabling the client to see exactly what they would be receiving. The finished article is then seen below in context.

For the ceremony, we provided black chair covers with purple organza sashes. Pealights wound around all of the beams and a pealight curtain over the main window behind the registrars table added to the look and later came into their own as light fell. A purple voile drape with ivy decorated the gallery and uplighters around the walls in purple and magenta complemented the theme.

Following the ceremony, the room was turned around for the wedding breakfast and table centres were added. The table centres with their pealights in twisted willow added to the overall twinkly effect and worked well with the pealights elsewhere. Silver twisted willow arrangements around the walls of the venue added extra interest and finished the effect.

Other items provided at Cain Manor and not shown above include pealight decoration to the Gazebo, hanging lanterns in the weeping willow trees, lanterns on the patio tables, flambeaux outside the main entrance, storm lantern or pealight decoration to the fireplace and mantle in the lounge areas, and pinspot lighting to the tables.

Transforming School Halls

As everyone will know, we love transforming venues! Featured below are a school hall and library which were the location for a 10th anniversary party for staff and their partners this weekend.

The colour scheme within the school is blue and we decided to work with this to create a cool, ice blue effect - much appreciated by everyone on the hottest day of the year so far! Ice blue uplighting and silver willow with cool white pealights lined the walls. Tables were dressed with ice blue milan striped cloths and a contrast was provided using silver chairs with royal blue seat pads, pale blue water glasses and silver 68cm candelabra on silver mirrors. Frosted votives provided additional candelight.

The Library was used for arrival drinks and then for dancing following dinner. Computers were screened off using a starcloth which also provided a storage area for furniture. Black drapes covered bookcases and uplighting in magenta provided a warm atmosphere plus a contrast with the other rooms. Star gobos were used to decorate an otherwise plain suspended ceiling! Spiral candelabra with battery candles, poseur tables with black cloths and votives with tealights completed the look.

Shoji screens were used in the entrance hall to hide photocopiers and pigeon-holes and uplighting, silver twisted willow and pealights provided further decoration whilst working in conjunction with the blue colour scheme throughout the school.

The main entrance was simply dressed with two bay trees decorated with fairy lights.

Country "house-party" Weddings

This weekend we worked for the first time at the Cotswold House Hotel in Chipping Campden. In the middle of this chocolate-box market town, the hotel offers stunning gardens, contemporary function rooms and exclusive hire at reasonable prices. There is even a new spa for those wishing to pamper themselves before or on their big day!

Following a church ceremony, the guests walked back to the Hotel and enjoyed a drinks reception in the gardens. A five-course dinner was served in the Montrose Suite which was decorated in Winter Wonderland style with cool white pealights in willow and garlanding, ice blue uplighting and fabulous floral arrangements featuring blue delphiniums, silver wire and thistles.

Following dinner, guests moved into the Juliana Suite for a disco. The theme continued with pealight curtains covering all of the windows and the doorway leading into the Suite. Icicle lights decorated the two bars.

Dressing School Halls with Marquee Linings

Last weekend we decorated Rookesbury Park School near Southampton. This private school offers great facilities for a wedding with an impressive approach, lovely gardens with amazing views for arrival drinks and a very pretty conservatory for the wedding breakfast.

The downside for many is the school gym, which is used for evening dancing and in this case for the bar and a small chill-out area.

As this was a Spring wedding, our client had a "bluebell wood" theme. Our brief was to decorate the gym to resemble a bluebell wood.

Before ...

After ...

We began by lining the room with a flat ivory marquee lining. This provided a blank canvas against which we could project light effects and install furniture. To create a woodland effect we fitted a woodland backdrop at one end of the marquee. This was supplemented with blue uplighting to create the effect of bluebells and a haze machine to provide mist along the woodland floor.

Before ...

After ...

The remainder of the marquee was decorated with blue lighting to the floor and green lighting to the ceiling. Gobo projections in shades of green provided the effect of a leaf canopy over the dance floor, while alternating green and blue uplighters brought the leaf canopy and bluebell floor together.

Twisted willow arrangements added to the mystical effect and for a summer wedding, we would use birch branches to provide "real trees" around the outside.

Other items supplied included gas flambeaux at the entrance, brass lanterns to line the approach, storm lanterns for the table centres (containing sweets, with each table named after a different sweet), candelabra and a smokers gazebo.

Further details on Rookesbury Park School can be found on their website http://www.rookesburyparkschool.co.uk/ or by contacting the lettings manager Heather on 01329 833108.

Ideas for decorating an Aisle for a Civil Ceremony or Partnership

1. Use low table centres to line the aisle - flowers are redeployed following the ceremony:

2. Dress the chairs adjacent to the aisle and hire an aisle carpet runner to add definition:

3. Rope off the aisle with pillars dressed with muslin and flowers and swagged together with cord:

4. For a traditional look use a hand-tied floral arrangement attached to the side of each chair by a sash around the base of the chair back:

5. For venues with high ceilings these candle stands with triple-wick candles provide a contemporay look:

Designer Wedding Show

Our stand this year at the Designer Wedding Show - visit us on stand 110 from 12th to 14th February in Battersea Park:

Designer Wedding Show

Don't forget to visit us at the Designer Wedding Show, Battersea Park next month from 12th - 14th February 2010. We will have samples of our stock and some new photos available to view. We are on stand 110 and look forward to seeing you there!