Bride interview: Top tips for styling your wedding day

Keeley Anna Williams and Matthew Francis Williams were married on 20th May 2016 at St Audries Park, West Quantoxhead, Somerset. A nod to the 1920s was subtly carried throughout their day, and portrayed through their choice of white petal lines and pale peach sequin chip linens. Here, I caught up with Keeley, who shares details of their gorgeous wedding day, as well as her top tips for all you brides-to-be, currently planning your wedding day.

Keeley, how did you find the wedding planning experience? 

My husband and I had a fabulous time planning the details of our big day. I have to admit that to begin with, it did all seem a little overwhelming. When it comes to weddings, you can invest so much time and money in the little details and completely forget what is really important. We wanted to avoid getting bogged down in it all and wanted to keep the planning and the wedding as simple as possible. Wedding planning should be fun.  You only get to do it once so don't stress the little things - a message I kept repeating throughout the process! 

One of my favourite parts of the planning process was picking the flowers and linens for the wedding breakfast room. We chose a very light and airy room inside a beautiful manor house for hosting our wedding breakfast.  We had a large number of guests so we did not want to over-clutter the room, and there was no need to as it was beautiful, even when bare. So, we ordered some gorgeous linens from Magpie Linens. And we finished the tables with beautiful pastel floral arrangements. Our florist also decorated some of the chandeliers with foliage to give the room an organic look.

We had no major hiccups and really did enjoy all aspects of wedding planning. I would say the thing I struggled with the most was finding a dress. I spent months visiting stores and tried on over 100 dresses before I found the one. 

Did you have a theme/vision in mind for your day and if so how did you achieve it?

We both love the fashion and theatre of the 1920s and decided to style our wedding around this era. We did not want a heavily style themed wedding or a colour scheme as we felt it was too restrictive so instead we dropped some subtle hints to the 1920s and mixed this with a complimentary pastel colour palette throwing in some champagne and sequins for good measure. Most of the styling was done through the use of Magpie's beautiful range of linens. 

Tell us what Magpie Linens finishing touches you incorporated into your wedding day.

We were keen for our 1920s theme not to dominate our wedding so we decided on incorporating only little touches of the theme here and there. This was done through stationery, confetti cones, bridal jewellery, the cake, the groomsmen's suits and favours. However, the linens we hired from Magpie were probably the biggest statement. We hired white petal linens to give the wedding breakfast tables a soft romantic feel, pale peach sequin chip linens for the top table to add a bit of 1920s glam and the same pale peach sequin chip linens and runners for the ceremony, cake and bridal tables. The result was fabulous!

How did you find their service?

The service we received from Magpie Linens was fantastic. Sophie and I were emailing each other back and forth for months before I finally picked the linens for our wedding. She was very patient and happy to provide samples and advice to help me make the decision. Sophie has a huge array of beautiful linens and the process of getting them to you and picking them up was seamless. I would 100% recommend Sophie and Magpie Linens to friends and family.Thank you Sophie :)

What advice would you offer anyone currently planning their wedding?

It has probably been said 100 times on various wedding blogs but the best advice I can give is not to sweat the small stuff. Getting married and planning a wedding should be fun not stressful.  Remind yourself that you are planning a party, a celebration of two loved-up people coming together.  And it's true, no-one will know if the band playing at your wedding is not your first choice nor will they notice that the second layer of your cake is the wrong colour pink.  Those details simply do not matter.  All that matters is that you had a fabulous time planning your wedding and you and your guests had a fabulous time enjoying the day.

For information on purchasing or hiring our collection of tablecloths and runners, get in touch here.

Top wedding planning tips

Celebrating a Christmas engagement? Congratulations! No doubt you are still basking in your new engagement glow, but soon will come the realisation that you have a wedding to plan, which begs the question, "Where to I start?" While there are some things that are good to know, such as trends and colour schemes, there are a few things that you definitely need to know. Before you panic, we're here to lend a helping hand. Check out our top wedding planning tips.

Let's talk numbers

The first step of your planning process is to begin with the number of guests. Believe us, if you get this out of the way first and foremost, it will save you many headaches! Before you begin looking at venues, determine your guest list so that you only look at venues which can accommodate your party size. Many venues now can host different group sizes so don't rule anything out just yet. And remember, as a general guide, 10 to 20 per cent of invited guests will decline, so take this into consideration when you are crunching numbers. If you find it difficult to cut guests out, check out this guide from Pinterest on who should and shouldn't make the list.

Determine your style

Another important aspect to consider is the style/theme of your day. Sit down with your other half and throw out some ideas together. What have you always envisioned for your day? Are you dreaming of a fairytale castle setting or is a more relaxed affair typical of your style? Do you want a religious church or civil ceremony? Remember, this is YOUR day so it should reflect your personality together as a couple.

Timing is key

You also need to consider when exactly you'll have your wedding. Are you a spring or summer bride, or do you prefer the autumn and winter months? As well as the season, you should think about the year. Don't risk planning a wedding in 6 months if financially you need longer to save. Finally, when it comes to location, think about whether you want to host your wedding close to home or if a destination wedding is calling out to you.

Focal points for your wedding day

Weddings can be an expensive affair and while you might have your heart set on various different things, the fact is that you may have to compromise a little. The best way to determine that you don't miss out on the things that are most important to you is to think about what it is that you both love. If you're fans of food, this should take priority. Or, if you love music, a live band will move higher up the list. All about the details? Focus on the finishing touches. 

Listen out for tips

The great thing about the wedding industry is that there are tonnes of amazing vendors out there. Our advice is to let one great person lead you onto another. Your wedding venue is the perfect starting point, as they'll be able to recommend loads of people they work with locally. These people are the best in the business so listen to their advice and you'll pick up plenty of tips along the way.

Stay organised

With several elements to plan for your big day, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. The best way to combat this is to stay organised at all times. It's time to get that wedding folder out and use it to keep a record of everything, from invoices to ideas, inspiration and lists. Fill it with everything related to your wedding and you'll never miss a thing.

Don't neglect the details

If you want guests to leave with a lasting impression of your big day, wow them with the finishing touches. Our tablecloths and runners are the perfect way to inject some magic into your wedding setting. From marvellous metallics to luscious lace, sparkly sequins and pretty petals, add a unique touch to your wedding day. For more information, click here.

Have fun

While wedding planning can prove a stressful time, don't forget that it should be fun. Never lose sight of why you are getting married and involve your partner as much as possible. Our favourite part? Definitely cake testing.

Happy planning!

2017 wedding trends

While we've had a fantastic year at Magpie Linens, spreading tonnes of sparkle to weddings around the world, we have to admit we're a little bit excited about what next year has in store. Although trends in the world of weddings don't drastically change from year to year, the fact that brides are daring to go bold or go home has seen a rise in new trends. If you're a couple who is looking to add oodles of personality to your wedding day, this blog post is for you!

Here, we take a look at the wedding trends for 2017, which are topping the bridal charts. 

Not so boring bridesmaids

Source: Pinterest

Gone are the days of bridesmaids blending into the background for fear of outshining the bride (which they could never do anyway). This year brides are decking their gals out in dresses with a difference. Yes, while their silhouettes may be traditional, brides are daring to mix and match styles and colour options to give their bridal party a distinctly different look, and we love it! And for those brides who prefer perfect coordination, you can easily nod to the trend without swaying too far from tradition. Simply opt for different headpieces for each of your ladies, or why not mix it up with different bouquets?! These subtle touches are sure to be remembered for all the right reasons.

Enchantedly embellished brides 

Source: Pinterest

And of course, with brides upping the ante for their bridesmaids, they're taking their own dresses to the next level. Fairy tale inspiration has never been more fitting. Expect to see brides showcasing a multitude of necklines (bye bye strapless), with everything from deep V necklines to cape tops and even long sleeves on display. And while the tables may be adorned with flowers, expect to see perfectly pretty floral displays on brides' dresses with a multitude of floral appliques and embroidery being taken to the next level.  

Marvellous metallics

One of our favourite trends (obviously) is the infusion of metallics into weddings. 2017 will bring with it the welcome arrival of the chicest combination of classic whites and modern metallics, effortlessly topping the colour charts. While gorgeous golds and shiny silvers will forever remain popular choices, this year we're seeing a shift towards softer, brushed metallics, which really pop against those white accents. The duo offers a partnership between contemporary and city, bringing industrial modernity to the forefront for a fashionably classy look. And of course, if you want to add a touch of metallic or sparkle to your day, check out our selection, available to purchase or hire here.

Green goddesses

Next year will see the spotlight shed on the great outdoors being brought inside. Brides are paying homage to the wonders of nature by choosing simple arrangements of leaves, branches and palms, with an infusion of greenery for minimalist vibes. As well as being budget friendly, brides are bang on trend and incorporating it throughout their entire wedding day. Not only is greenery taking centre stage in ceremony backdrops, we're seeing it on reception tables and also the wedding bouquets. And we were surprised to learn just how many different options there are. With greenery and foliage available in a multitude of beautiful shades, textures and shapes, the options to get creative are endless. Turn heads with a dramatic cascading bouquet or play up to the romantic and whimsical take on the trend with a simple all-foliage posy.

Pretty paper

Source: Pinterest

While it might be the marker of your first wedding anniversary, 2017 brings with it endless options when it comes to paper on your wedding day. Ranging from economical, eco friendly and unique, brides are incorporating paper in their wedding day decor for different reasons. From floral bouquets to dreamy decor, the theme is growing in popularity and is set to be huge next year. There are so many creative and fun ways to take on this trend and we can't wait to see the impact it has.

So there you have it! 2017 is set to be a spectacular year for the world of weddings. From dreamy dresses to fantastic finishing touches, we're sure you'll surprise us with your wonderful offerings. 

Top tips for a Christmas wedding

There's something truly magical about a winter wedding, and in particular, one hosted during the festive period. It's definitely the most wonderful time of the year, so why not choose the spectacular season for your wedding? Here, we share our top tips for having a Christmas wedding.

Snow problem

Winter weddings can be a cold affair so the advice here is to wrap up warm to avoid being your own something blue. When it comes to choosing your gown, heavier dresses in textures such as tulle and lace are more appropriate for the season, rather than lightweight chiffon which may be more appropriate for a destination wedding. The festive season is the perfect opportunity to get creative, so keep yourself warm with finishing touches such as a faux fur wrap or muff, which screams old Hollywood glamour.

Don't forget your leading ladies, as they too will feel the cold. Have blankets ready to wrap up warm between photos outside and keep a flask of hot tea on-hand.

While snow on your wedding day might not be ideal, it can look truly spectacular in wedding photos, instantly adding an air of romance.

Get creative with colour

While a festive frenzy of red and green may prove a little too much for your wedding day, we do love the combo of a candy cane inspired red and white offering. We're also drawn to sage green interspersed throughout so when working with these colours, it's best advised not to go overboard. Keep winter white as your main hue of choice and add pops of colour here and there with ruby red. For unique finishing touches, why not finish your dress off with a red sash or shoes for an unexpected twist? Or, you could opt for beautiful burgundy gowns for your bridesmaids to nod to the season.

Just add sparkle 

Sparkle is the perfect way to bring the festive touch into your wedding day. From twinkly fairy lights to romantic candlelight, we love it all! And of course, at Magpie Linens, we specialise in sparkle, shimmer and shine. Our classic silver and gold sequin tablecloths and runners are a popular choice for winter weddings, while our red and green offerings are perfect for the festive season. Or if your wedding day is a little more on the traditional side, white sequin cloths will add a classy touch. Whatever you have in mind, check out our full collection here.

Eat, drink and be merry

It wouldn't be Christmas without lashings of food and drink and so if you choose this period to say your I dos, take the opportunity to offer guests a true taste of the festive season. Why not greet guests at your reception with a warm cocktail, guaranteed to thaw them out! Hot chocolate and warm apple cider are always crowd pleasers, and of course, you can add alcohol if you wish.

For the main meal, there's always traditional turkey and ham, while other seasonal choices such as duck and beef are winners.

Call in a favour

Your wedding favours are the perfect way to pay homage to the beauty of the winter season. Sweet treats including candy canes and brownie mix jars are popular choices, while Christmas decorations are the perfect memento. For a fab end to the night, why not have a festive sparkler send off? Give guests mini sparklers and matches, complete with a personalised tag and end your night full of sparkle.

Whatever elements you choose for your Christmas wedding, we're sure it will be a truly magical affair!

Tips for your flower wedding day theme

There’s something undeniably romantic about flowers, and so their inclusion in your wedding day is a perfect choice. In recent years, couples have become much more adventurous when it comes to incorporating a flower wedding day theme, with the role of flowers no longer simply confined to just bouquets and buttonholes. As well as physical flowers, their symbolism can be carried throughout every element of the day and so here we take a look at ways to include flowers in your wedding day.

Fabulous floral wedding dresses

From left to right: Sassi Holford; Sabrina Dahan; Rico A Mona; Monique Lhuiller; Charlotte Balbier.

Definitely not one for the faint hearted, but if your notions of your wedding fall less on the traditional side, show the power of petals with a statement floral wedding gown.

If you’re looking for a showstopper, and a traditional white dress won’t do, nothing screams alternative more than a printed dress. Designers have long been playing around with floral fabrics but by sticking to traditional wedding dress silhouettes, the gowns still manage to have a distinctly bridal feel about them.

Designers who get the trend just right include Caroline Herrera, Austin Scarlette and Naeem Khan, with collections including everything from soft and subtle watercolour prints to bolder creations, ensuring you can find a style which perfectly matches your personality.

Blooming beautiful bridesmaid dresses

From left to right: Two Birds; Plum Pretty Sugar; ASOS

If you decide to air on the side of tradition, why not let your leading ladies nod to the trend, with blooming beautiful bridesmaid dresses? What’s great about floral dresses is that they’re easy to shop for and affordable, as you don’t have to stick to traditional bridal shops. Plus, your gals will get plenty of mileage out of them.

Floral dresses really add the wow factor to wedding photos and their unexpected twist will have guests commenting on their originality.

Flowers in your hair

If you think this look is strictly for spring and summer weddings, think again. Floral crowns and hairpieces have been given a makeover this season, with autumnal colour tones bringing the trend into line with the season. You can go as subtle or dramatic as you like, opting for artificial or the real deal.

Need a little inspiration? You’ll find tonnes on Pinterest. These are just a few of our faves.

Centre pieces

While floral table centrepieces have long been a traditional element of the table setting, we love how brides and grooms have upped the ante. For a real statement, go bold, choosing big bold blooms, beautifully displayed in ornate vases. It will instantly give your reception room a touch of sophistication and style.

Floral finishing touches

When it comes to your finishing touches and tableware, here at Magpie Lines, we’ve got it covered! If flowers are your thing, look no further than our collection of floral inspired tablecloths and runners. Will beautiful peony and soft petal options, their unexpected texture will definitely give guests something to talk about.

If glitz and glam is more up your street, we’ve got that covered too! We love how our sparkly sequin chair covers work beautifully paired with a flower finishing touch. Swoon!

Our collection of tablecloths and runners are available to hire here.

Autumn wedding trends to fall for

The days are shorter and there's a definite chill in the air, which means that autumn is well on its way. It may surprise you to learn that just as the seasons come and go, so too do the trends in the world of weddings. You'd be forgiven for thinking that every wedding is the same, but the fact of the matter is that from year to year, and season to season, different trends make an appearance. So if you're planning an autumnal wedding, here are some ways to add the finishing touches to your day.

A goulish affair 

One of the key dates in the autumn calendar is Halloween. If you think this theme is too garish to incorporate into your wedding day, think again. Here at Magpie Linens HQ, we like to keep things sophisticated. For our take on a Halloween theme, opt for black sequin tablecloths for a touch of luxe. Pops of orange and white will nod to the trend and you can go as simplistic or all out as you like. We don't do things by halves so say go for it! Finishing touches such as miniature pumpkins or light up accessories will help your theme flow effortlessly.

Go golden for autumn

Autumn's crisp colour palette offers welcomed hues of metallic tones. If gold, silver or bronze is your colour scheme of choice, look no further than our collection of sequin tablecloths and runners. Adored by brides worldwide and as seen in Brides, You & Your Wedding, Rock My Wedding and Bridal Musings, our collection offers an instantly luxurious touch to your wedding reception. Available in a wealth of colours and to hire or purchase, our range includes something for every taste. 

For brides getting married in autumn, our gold sequin runners and tablecloths, in particular, have been incredibly popular. Autumn's colourings are all about burnt oranges and crisp reds so go bold and combine your golden hues with a pop of colour. Or, if your personality lends itself better to a more classic approach, we love a neutral palette, with its beautiful beige tones offering a feeling of warmth and approachableness. It's easy to pull together, with pinches of gold throughout.

Let them eat cat

Autumnal foods boast a divine wealth of flavours, with the focus being on rich textures and flavours. When it comes to your wedding cake, a great way to give guests a taste of autumn is by providing cupcakes, as an alternative. That way you can mix and match fillings and frostings, focusing on autumn's seasonal flavours. Think carrot cake, apple and cinnamon or pumpkin mudslide! And of course, you can really make your display stand out with a sequin tablecloth.

Back to nature

With autumn being a subtle reminder of nature's beauty, it's only right that one of the season's hottest wedding trends is a focus on nature. Think simplistic, cream, brown and green tones, and finishing touches such as wooden laser cut name settings and beautiful hand-dried leaves. This is one theme that guests will definitely remember.

In bloom

Autumn's blooms are marvellous creations with the focus often being placed on big bouquets bursting full of colour, serving as a reminder of the wonders of the season. From jam jars filled with delicate posies, to statement centrepieces and delicately placed table settings, their use is limited only by the imagination.

Whatever theme you choose this autumn, we have no doubt that it will be beautiful!

Check out our collection of sequin tablecloths and runners, available to purchase or hire here.

Marvellous metallic wedding trend

Think every wedding is the same? Think again! What may surprise you about the world of weddings is that like fashion, each new season brings with it a whole new host of trends. Gone are the days of the cookie cutter weddings with more and more brides (and grooms) longing for something that little bit different for their wedding day, and we have to say… we’re delighted!

At Magpie Linens, while we may be involved in hundreds of weddings each year, we love the fact that each wedding breaks the mould and we’ll forgive you for thinking that if you’ve seen one wedding, you’ve seen them all.

So what trend has caught our eye this year? Marvellous metallics of course! Brides and grooms with sparkly personalities perfectly evoke this with lashings of sequins effortlessly placed throughout their wedding day.

Not only are weddings supposed to speak volumes about your personality, they should be fun, a fact which often gets lost during nights of planning, prep and pinning. As a couple, if you want to portray your fun side, sequins are perfect! And that’s where we at Magpie Linens come in. We’re masters when it comes to this much loved trend.

While sequins and sparkle may be popular (and showing no signs of leaving anytime soon), the good news is that with our extensivecollection, there are hundreds of versatile ways to inject a little sparkle. Whether you want to go all out or add just a hint, we’ve got it covered with our highly sought collection of tablecloths and runners.

 Metallics are extremely versatile, depending on how you want to incorporate them into your wedding day, and they effortlessly match any theme. They can be elegant, whimsical, ethereal or even natural. It’s simply all about how you use them. And you don’t just need to stick to gold either – our collection proves just that! When it comes to adding a touch of sparkle, you can introduce subdued tones of rose gold, blush pink or silver, or for pops of colour, opt for hot pinks, beautiful burgundy or ruby red for a true style statement.

Our collection lends itself to any season! For brides with a penchant for gothic touches, nothing other than a Halloween wedding theme will do and so our black sequin cloths are ideal, perfectly complemented with orange and white tones which instantly pop! Feeling festive? For weddings during the Christmas season, reds, whites and greens are always a winner.

It’s not all about blocks of colour either. With accent cloths adorned with chevron and vine prints, it’s easy to keep things distinctly different.

To nod to the roaring 1920’s Great Gatsby era, brides are opting for true opulence and so our collection of luxe sequin slips, sashes and ostrich feather chair covers are top of their list. These definitely add the wow factor to any wedding, leaving a lasting impression with guests. Again, various styles, colour choices and texture finishings keep things far from boring.

So if your wedding theme lends itself to the marvellous metallic trend, get in touch with Magpie Lines and allow us to add the perfect infusion of sparkle to your wedding day.