Category Archives: Inspiration Boards

A Vintage Winter Inspiration board

Vintage Winter Wedding Inspiration Board

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Thanks to Helen Carter from Helen Carter Wedding Planning for sending through this gorgeous vintage winter wedding inspiration board – I love this one and I know all you vintage lovers will do too!.
Photography credits:
Venue: Claridges; Vintage glassware and bride: Ashlee Carter via Love My Dress; Fur stole: Amy and Stuart Photography via Style Me Pretty; Votives: Nordic House; Gypsophila centrepiece and chandelier: Ryan Phillips via Style Me Pretty; Wedding gown: Claire Pettibone; Tube station: Mark Bothwell; Ice skaters: A Polar Bear’s Tale; Flowers: Red Gallery Photography

A belated Happy New Year to all you lovely LMW readers! It’s great to be back and I’m delighted to share another of my design concepts with you. I’ve known for a few weeks that I wanted January’s design board to be a white winter wonderland with plenty of sparkle, inspired by frost-laden trees, fluttering snowflakes and glistening icicles. However, I didn’t want the monochromatic colour scheme to feel all chic and uber-modern, so I’ve added a vintage twist for something a little different.
For me this is most definitely a city wedding that would take place somewhere upmarket and sophisticated, such as the stunning mirrored ballroom reception at Claridges in London. It’s all about natural, understated elegance and seamlessly blending the old with the new. The use of silver and sparkle in this design is really important both in punctuating the backdrop of white and incorporating a wintry feel – mercury glass votives on tables, decadent chandeliers, crystal wine goblets and soft lighting all help to create an air of seasonal vintage chic.

I love the idea of using large spheres of white gypsophila (baby’s breath) to decorate the dining tables. Not only do they make for wonderfully simple and classic focal pieces, they also look like giant snowballs and so perfectly complement the winter feel of the design! Subtle decorative touches are also important in adding to the styling of this wedding – occasional smatterings of cut glassware and vintage perfume bottles dotted on windowsills, perhaps a silk shawl draped casually over a welcoming comfy armchair, and a collection of old books left lazily open on a coffee table.
The atmosphere of this wedding should be a delicate balance of traditional formality and luxurious relaxation, with an overall easygoing feel to the proceedings. I’d hire a fabulous cocktail pianist for the drinks reception, and for the evening would have waitresses serving French martinis on silver platters whilst a swing band plays classic jazz tunes from the ‘20s and ‘30s.
I hope this design has given you plenty of inspiration – let me know what you think!

Click here to look at all the wedding inspiration boards on LMW and also make sure that you check out Helen Carter’s site. What are your thoughts on this one….. PS you can look here at all the LMW vintage wedding ideas.

Winter Jewels - December Wedding Inspiration Board

Winter Jewels – December Wedding Inspiration Board

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As Christmas is nearly upon us and most of the country is knee-deep in snow (!), I felt that December’s design board should have a cheery festive feel. Now whilst red is one of the most popular colours for winter weddings, many brides want to break from tradition and are looking for something a little more unusual. One of my personal favourites for an alternative Christmas colour schemes is the delicious combination of deep purple and emerald green – rich, warm and definitely in keeping with the festive season.
Winter Jewels - December Wedding Inspiration Board

Colour palette for Winter Wedding Inspiration board

I imagine this wedding to take place in a beautiful stately home, with roaring open fires keeping everyone snug and scented candles providing delicate fragrances of cinnamon, spiced apple and mulled wine. The decor is a key component of this design, so I would use huge Christmas trees as focal pieces in hallways, and swathes of pine garlanding to decorate staircases and mantelpieces.
It’s important to keep guests warm at this time of year, so rather than the traditional champagne and canapés I’d serve warm mulled wine and mini mince pies for the post-ceremony reception, whilst carol singers entertain guests with favourite Christmas tunes. I love the idea of writing guests’ names onto baubles and hanging them on the Christmas tree in place of a table plan, and leaving brightly wrapped presents underneath in place of favours.
For the wedding breakfast I’d serve a traditional Christmas dinner, complete with individual flaming plum puddings, and after guests have danced the night away to a swing band would round the day off with a spectacular firework display and a mug of warm hot chocolate.
Merry Christmas everyone – see you in the New Year!

Photo Credits:
Bride and groom: Lisa Devlin via Love My Dress
Pine decoration, Christmas tree and log fire: Flickr here, here and here
Shoes: The Knot
Candles: Lakeland
Wedding gown: Pronovias
Purple bow: Spirit of Christmas Fair
Bouquet: Brides
Cupcakes: Martha Stewart
Bridesmaid dress: Dessy

Thanks to Helen Carter, for this wonderful December Wedding Inspiration Board – be sure to check out the other wedding inspiration boards that Helen has done for LMW in the past and let us know your thoughts on the choice of colours…..

November Inspiration Board

November Wedding Inspiration Board – Winter Sophistication

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Well it’s great to be back at LMW with a new design concept. When I was thinking about the style of this November board my first thoughts were of wintry frosts, chilly foggy mornings and long dark evenings tucked up in front of a nice warm fire, and this immediately translated into this glamorous design with a cool colour palette of midnight blue and steel grey.
November Inspiration Board
This wedding is all about style, elegance and sophistication – think Louboutins, Chanel and Vera Wang! I imagine the ceremony to take place in late afternoon as the light is fading, with the reception at a contemporary city venue with stunning night time views of the urban skyline. Guests would enjoy a post-ceremony cocktail and canapé reception to the strains of a jazz pianist, whilst the bride and groom brave the chilly air for some funky evening photos.
For decor I would use striking focal pieces and blocks of colour for a strong and glamorous visual impact. Large domed arrangements of pure white flowers would be used for centrepieces, whilst navy blue charger plates and silk napkins would add colour and contrast to the crisp white table linen. In the evening I would use coloured uplighting to wash the room in a wintry blue, with guests being served signature cocktails and dancing away the small hours to the sounds of a funky live band. Oh, and I just can’t resist the idea of hanging a giant mirror ball above the dance floor for a touch of extra glam!

Thanks so much to wedding planner, Helen Carter, for this wonderful November Inspiration Board – be sure to check out the other wedding inspiration boards that Helen has done for LMW in the past. I’m loving the November one…. what do we think ladies? (and gentlemen!)
Photo Credits:
Cake: JL Designs
Bridal gown: Pronovias
Candles: Alesia Barry
Invitation: Bella Figura via Style Me Pretty
Centrepieces: Jessica Lewis via Style Me Pretty
Bridesmaid dress: Lazaro
Table setting: The Knot
Shoes: Jose Villa via Snippet and Ink
Bouquet: The Bride’s Cafe
Wintry scene: Flickr
Bride headshot: Flo and Percy

Autumn Inspiration Board for Wedding

October Wedding Inspiration Board

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I’ve featured Helen Carter and her fabulous wedding inspiration boards a couple of times on LMW now, and I’m very lucky that she has agreed to share her creative inspiration with us on a regular basis so look forward to a monthly instalment from the expert …. over to you Helen….
Autumn Inspiration Board for Wedding
Shades of Autumn Colour Palette
A significant part of my work as a wedding planner is design-oriented. I’m constantly experimenting with colour combinations and looking for new and interesting decorative ideas, so I was thrilled when Emmie asked me back to Little Miss Wedding as a guest blogger to share some of my designs with you on a regular basis.
At the moment I’m really inspired by the change in the seasons, so I’ve created an autumnal-themed board that would be just perfect for a rustic October wedding. I’ve used a main colour of soft brown to reflect the colour of the leaves on the trees at this time of year, but rather than couple it with a deep red or vibrant orange I’ve incorporated ivory and warm champagne for a lighter feel.
I love the idea of this wedding taking place in a barn with open beams and bare brickwork, with soft candlelight creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. A mid-afternoon ceremony would allow guests to enjoy the last few rays of afternoon sun during the drinks reception, before heading indoors for a hearty and warming wedding feast.
In keeping with the rustic design I’d use wooden furniture combined with hay bales for seating, with plenty of snuggly blankets and rugs for guests to keep warm. I’d keep floral arrangements simple, and instead of a traditional wedding cake would provide a buffet of cupcakes, cookies and home-made pies for guests to graze on after dinner. In the evening I imagine guests dancing away the small hours to the sounds of a folk-group, and rounding off the day by sitting around an open fire pit toasting marshmallows and supping hot chocolate.

Photo Credits:
Bunting: Archibald Photography via Style Me Pretty
Invitation: Hello! Lucky
Bridesmaid dress: Jim Hjelm Occasions
Wedding gown: Monique Lhuillier
Cupcakes, bouquet and centrepiece: The Knot
Trees: Flickr
Fairy light canopy: Kate Harrison Photography via Green Wedding Shoes
Apple cider: Amy Atlas Events
Escort cards: In Photography via Style Me Pretty
Leaf-shaped biscuits: Country Living

I love October’s inspiration board – full of really warm, rich colours. I’d also love to feature some October weddings so anyone getting married (or photographing a wedding next month) do let me know. If you want to find out more info on wedding planning and Helen Carter, then do visit her website, Helen Carter Weddings, and show some support for Helen’s fab work in the comments section below :-)