A Timeless White Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas!


Today's post is a little off the topic of Weddings, and is a little more focused on the Timeless White christmas theme this year! Though, I have no doubt you will find something useful that could be used as decorative pieces at your Wedding. Infact, that is one tip we often tell our Brides, that Christmas time is actually a very opportunistic period to pick up some gorgeous deocrations and some fantastic Wine bargains!


So, here's how the Timeless White Christmas is beginning to look this year....

A Timeless White Christmas


Vintage Christmas is very much a hot trend this festive Season, with even Harrods re-releasing Vintage Christmas cards from their 1900's ranges, we have some gorgeous 1950 cards on order, you can see the entire vintage range at Harrods online, here. Other cards that we will be posting out this year include Ling Design Charity Cards with a gorgeous picture of Santa Claus enjoying relaxing by the fireplace (£3.95 for 10 from Dobbies Garden Centres) and a lovely cheerful pick of St Nicholas from one of many ranges at Asda (£2 for 20 or 3 packs for £5).


The Timeless White Christmas Post

 At Timeless White, even at Christmas we simply cannot exclude Flowers from our Decoration, and this year our imagination was captured by these unbelievably gorgeous clip on Flowers at Dobbies, available in a range of colours (£1.99 each). These are especially good buys as they can easily double up for a Wedding, used to decorate your Chair bows or Napkins. We have also used some simple Frosting decoartions which could also be used as Napkin or Chair Bow decorations, or you could even decorate a Wishing Tree with these! (3 for £3 at Asda).

Tree Decorations can easily be used at your Wedding

Our tree is beginning to get busy underneath with all of our Presents for our loved ones this year and we have decided to continue with the Vintage theme with our wrapping. Old-fashioned wrapped presents sit so well under a tree, there's something really lovely about receiving a gift that looks really wintry and like something that's been delivered straight from Santa's factory! So we used Brown Paper from John Lewis, a variety of Tartan ribbons from HobbyCraft, Marks and Spencer Wrapping paper (Which is year-on-year our favourite paper retailter!)  and some Red & Silver foil to bundle smaller gifts into. And, on passing, we simply couldn't resist a gorgeous gold sparkly gift box, complimented with a lovely twinkling bow from TK Maxx. available in Red too (£2.99 each).

Vintage Christmas Wrapping

We hope that you have found this post a good read, and leave feeling filled with ideas for themeing your Christmas, or even your Wedding! Think how beautiful those Flowers would be clipped onto a Gold ribbon around your guests napkins on their places, or how delicate touches of tartan could be added to your day by using Ribbon to wrap your bouquets stems in or on your Table Plan....

Wishing all our readers a very Merry Christmas and lots of love, luck and happiness (And beautiful Weddings if yours is planned!) in 2011.

With love, TW x

Royal Wedding - Finally announced!

FABULOUS!

Following the recent announcement of Prince William and Kate Middletons engagement, we at Timeless White couldn't be happier!

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Without doubt, on April 29th next year we will all have a truly spectacular, and not to mention trend-setting Wedding to feast our eyes on!

Whatsmore, Timeless White are extremely happy to announce the launch of our sister blog, "Fit for a Princess - Planning a Royal Wedding" where we will document all of the gossip, news, announcements and other Royal Wedding related issues as regularly as we possibly can to keep you in the know! Please visit the link to our Blog to begin following the fabulous Engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

With love, TW x

Fabulous Las Vegas - Cakes

Jean Philippe Patisserie, Bellagio



As many of you are aware, I have recently returned from my first ever visit to the well and truly fabulous Las Vegas. Of course, being a famed Wedding Destination, I couldn't help myself but to allow for a little research time in between sipping cocktails. Having stayed at the Bellagio, I was instantly blessed with the luxury of having a Jean Philippe Patisserie within close reach for Breakfast crepes and afternoon treats! Within the Patisserie a number of displays held some of the most spectacular cake designs I have ever seen...and I've seen a lot of cake! Here are just some of the cakes that made me think "Wow"...

Peacock Feather Inspired & Decorated with Ink

Followed by perhaps the most impressive cake structures I have ever seen...

Fairytale Cakes make the most spectacular Focal Point

Unfortunately on this occasion the lighting was not on my side for taking photographs, but none the less I hope that these photos provide you with some Cake inspirations!

With love, TW X

Affordable Winter Weddings - Hotel Du Vin, Glasgow

As the leaves are beginning to flutter from the trees and the dark nights are creeping in upon us, I can think of no better place to celebrate a Wedding than within a gorgeous old townhouse perectly placed on a Victorian Terrace. Yes, Hotel Du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow springs to mind.

The second venue featured as part of my “Affordable Winter Weddings” series, Hotel Du Vin has a hard act to follow, but without doubt will tempt you every bit as much as Balbirnie House Hotel did in my previous post. 

The Glenlivet Suite - Hotel du Vin

 A gorgeous boutique hotel, made up of 49 lavish bedrooms, Hotel Du Vin is astonishingly well-appointed to house your guests and dreams of modern luxury alike. It’s five stars speak volumes of the wonderful service and experience you can expect to have while in the care of Hotel Du Vin.

Hotel Du Vin’s Best Bit: The Secret Terraced Garden, for late-night stargazing in the frosty Winter air.

For lovebirds planning to be Wed in January, February or March 2011 or 2012, an exciting offer awaits. A huge 20% discount on Winter Weddings will apply to all Weddings hosted Sunday through Thursday! Hotel Du Vin's House 5 in it’s glorious entirety can be Exclusively hired for as little as £3950 at these times and 12 fantastic bedrooms will await you, your new spouse and your guests. With a capacity for 70 Ceremony guests, 80 Dining Reception guests and 120 Evening Guests, nobody will be left out in the cold.

Townhouse Bedroom for the Bridal Couple

Hotel Du Vin say: With welcoming open fireplaces, ornate corniced ceilings and beautiful bay windows, Hotel du Vin Glasgow offers a truly unique and romantic ambiance for your special day.  From the cosy surroundings of the whisky snug to the stunning candle-lit dining rooms, this intimate setting is the perfect winter wedding venue.

With 5 course Dining Menus starting at just £39.50 per person, you can be sure you will experience exquisite dining and truly outstanding value combined. Featuring Stornoway Black Pudding starters, Champagne Sorbet and Iced Armagnac Parfait for dessert, Hotel du Vin is sure to get everyones palettes excited!

For further information on Hotel Du Vins exclusive Winter and Spring Wedding offer of 20% off, please visit their website here.

Featured Wedding - Classical Glamour

This month’s featured Wedding design is one of my all time favourites – Classical Glamour. Combining the elegance of a bygone era with the luxuries of modern living, Classical Glamour can be tailored to suit any season, and with Autumn and Winter swiftly approaching, I felt that this was a perfect time to cover this theme. With a palette of warm Whites and Creams, adorned by the glow of candles and the striking classical sound of a piano you can be assured that a Classical Glamour Wedding Design is a traditional theme that will be remembered for all of the right reasons.

The Venue

The Sir Walter Scott Suite, Balmoral Hotel

Think old school grandeur and modern luxury for your venue – your venue is a key part to ensuring that your theme is obvious and apparent and it really should be just perfect! Two Scottish venues which are the epitome of Classical Glamour in Scotland are The Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street in Edinburgh and the soon to re-open Glasgow Grand Central Hotel. The Balmoral hotel, made fabulous not only by its luxurious 5 star rating and outstanding reputation but also for its beauty is a perfect host for an elegant reception. The Sir Walter Scott ballroom (above) will bedazzle your guests with its grand pillars, ornate cornicing and spectacular views of Edinburgh Castle. Or, if you’re looking for somewhere new to host your Wedding with a grand old twist then the soon to re-open Glasgow Grand Central Hotel is the ultimate location. An iconic hotel to Glasgow, the restoration taking place at the Glasgow Grand Central promises a stunning and sumptuous Wedding Venue in the heart of Scotland’s largest city – and who could imagine hosting a Classical Glamour themed Wedding anywhere other than in “The Grand Ballroom” (below)!

Artists impression of The Grand Ballroom, Grand Central Hotel

For more information on Weddings at the Balmoral Hotel please click here or for more information on the Grand Central Hotel please click here.

The Dress

Castigliano - "Wisteria"

In order to be Classically Glamorous yourself, you should attempt to find a beautiful satin, sultry dress resembling none other than something from a Bond Girls wardrobe - only in white! For that special, sexy but sophisticated gown, why not try on Caroline Castigliano’s “Wisteria” for size (above). The elegant crossover organza straps along with the soft fishtail skirt are truly a statement of classical sultry style. You can make an appointment at the beautiful Edinburgh Castigliano store by visiting here. Alternatively, something by the fabulous Australian dress designer, Essense of Australia, could fit the theme extremely well, for example this beautiful dress (D1126, below) would be certain to have all eyes on you, with the gorgeous bust detailing and the stunning cut-out back. Essense of Australia gowns are stocked within a number of Scottish stores across the country, to find the stockist nearest you, click here.

Essense of Australia - "D1126"

The Details

Serve a luxurious drinks reception of Champagne and Raspberries to your guests as they arrive to prepare their palettes for the timeless elegance that awaits them within your Reception room.

Focal point - Grand Piano

For a special ritzy touch, hire a Grand Piano and Pianist, make this the focal point by placing it in the centre of your Reception room and have your Pianist play while your guests dine. Local piano businesses, such as Gordon Bell Pianos in Aberdeen, often hire Piano’s out for special occasions and prices start from £300. Click here to visit their website.

Instant Glamour - Crystal cut Glasses

For your table centrepieces, have beautiful tall Candelabra adorned with flowers on each table and light the candles to set a cosy ambiance as the day transcends into night. For an extra touch of old school glamour, hire in some exquisite crystal cut glasses from John Brown Cater hire for a bargain price of roughly 90p per place. Click here to view prices and order a catalogue.

Voila! Classical Glamour in an instant!

As always, if you have any questions or queries related to this post, please feel free to contact me here.

Happy theming!

With love, TW x

(Images from; thebalmoralhotel.com, thegrandcentralhotel.com, carolinecastigliano.co.uk, essensedesigns.com, corbisimages.com)

Affordable Winter Weddings - Balbirnie House

Admittedly, though I am still enjoying the few and far between opportunities to bask in the Scottish Summer sunshine, it is dawning on me that the height of both the Summer and Wedding season is slowly drawing to a close. With this in mind, I gave a thought to the stunning contrast between Winter and Summer Weddings and how truly mystical Winter Weddings can be.

One of the most fantastic things about Winter Weddings is that there are vast savings to be made. Gone with the peak Wedding season are peak Wedding prices and those Brides who are happy to sacrifice a drinks reception on the lawn, for the warm glow of a fireplace are certain to find themselves a better deal when it comes to finances.

So, I've done some of the hard work for those of you looking to be Wed during the Winter months and this is the first of a series of Posts I have lined up detailing the best Winter Wedding offers at some of Scotland's most special Wedding Venues.

Balbirnie House Hotel - Markinch, Fife

Balbirnie House Exterior

With not a blade of grass out of place, Balbirnie House has the immaculate factor. Being married at Balbirnie has become something of a must in recent years, given the mind-blowing amount of awards it has received as a Wedding venue. The gorgeous and traditional decor, along with the fabulous food and the twinkling dance floor make for a perfect fairytale Winter Wedding.

Balbirnie's Best Bit: The Long Gallery for a glamorous Ceremony

The Balbirnie House "Platinum Package" is available to couples being married in November 2010 or January/February 2011. At a fantastic, all-inclusive rate of £52.95 per person, this package is truly one of the best out there. This price includes a generous Drinks Package, Canapes, 4 Course Dinner along with a Red carpet and Piper to welcome your guests, complimentary Chair covers for your Reception and the 4-poster Bridal suite complimentary to yourself and your new spouse.

The first dance on the Twinkling dance floor

The mouthwatering Menu options, featuring Smoked Salmon Salad, Roast Saddle of Lamb and Creme Brulee are sure to see your guests enjoy a delicious feast. Furthermore, the complimentary twinkling dance floor will make for a hugely romantic first dance!

"We had the most fabulous, snowy winter Wedding at Balbirnie...All of our Wedding guests had a brilliant stay and thought it was a wonderful place...All the staff have been incredible - Mr & Mrs Smith"

Having personally had a tour of Balbirnie House, I can acclaim for the exceptionally high standards that are maintained at this beautiful Scottish Wedding venue. For more information on Balbirnie house and the "Platinum Package", please visit their website here.

With love, TW x

Katie Price's Wedding Dress

OK, so Katie Price isn't exactly my cup of tea. But with all of the frenzy that has surrounded her tight-lipped Wedding Blessing which took place on Saturday the 3rd of July, I simply couldn't resist my Wedding Planner urge to tune in to her ITV2 show yesterday to begin divulging myself in all of the details. Evidently, I wasn't the only one around who tuned in for all of the Wedding Blessing gossip last night as I have today been asked three times (by people who also wouldn't describe Katie as their cup of tea) who designed the sparkly topped dress she tried on.

The dress that Katie seemed very much at home in, along with most of the others that the show aired her trying on is a stunning creation by couture designer Max Chaoul. The style that was shown for the majority of the dress-hunt footage was the "Celebration" dress, part of the "7eme Ciel 2010" collection.

Only available in the most exclusive boutiques in London, the superb creations that are a part of Max's collection have yet to be stocked on Scottish ground. If London's not your dream dress destination then who could say no to a Dress shopping experience in Paris - where Max has a fabulous boutique dedicated to his designs?!

And, if like me you can't help but love-to-hate all of the fuss surrounding Katie's Wedding Blessing - you will catch it on ITV2 on Wednesday 21st of July at 9pm. There's nothing like a guilty pleasure!

With love, TW x

Featured Wedding - Vintage Tea party

For this month's Feature Wedding, I took inspiration from the nice weather we have been experiencing over the last couple of months. For me, Afternoon Tea is something that rather suits the Summer sunshine better than the Winter climate and with this in mind, I have designed this Feature Wedding. This feature draws upon traditions of old, some glamour, and yet remains a relaxed ambiance for your guests to enjoy throughout your big day. Matte Gold's, Mirrored Glass, Pinks, Oranges and Yellow will create a striking effect that is soft rather than harsh but still bright.

The Venue

Hire a gorgeous Marquee complete with all the fittings and linings of your choice. Many marquee suppliers give you the option to select from a variety of carpet fittings, linings, sizes and shapes and even have fairy lights for you to string up! Best Intent marquees can provide you with a Marquee with all of the important fittings, furniture and loo's suited to 100 guests from £3,500 + VAT. Pop the marquee up at almost any venue you like – from your own back garden (Advisable only if it is fairly level!) to the beautiful grounds of a stately home. Steph, of Best Intent says "People expect marquees to be expensive, but we have had more interest than ever during the recession", "A marquee offers complete choice and flexibility, and as such a marquee package can be tailored to meet any budget". To view a selection of the gorgeous marquees and fittings available from Best Intent, click here.

The Food

Of course you'll be eating Afternoon Tea. Organise for your Caterer to have a buffet style Afternoon Tea, displaying scrumptious sandwiches, yummy scones and huge homemade cakes in their masses will have more of a Wow effect on your guests and will leave the centerpiece space on each table free for you to get creative with. Be sure to ask about including some classics on the Menu – like Tunnocks Tea cakes (Less than £1 for six in supermarkets) and Caramel Wafers. Look into all the lovely variations of Tea (and don't forget coffee's!) to serve up to your guests along with their traditional delicacies – Fruity Teas, Herbal Teas, English Breakfast and Earl Gray are all bound to go down well! Overall, this afternoon fine dining option should work out to be somewhat cheaper than a traditional 3 or 4 course meal, and it will also leave your guests with some steam to head into the evening with – Just be sure they don't go hungry later by serving up some Homemade soup and Rolls (And I'm sure they wouldn't mind if any leftover Sandwiches or Cakes appear either!).

The Dress

Keeping in mind the vintage but classic style and the relaxed atmosphere you'll have by serving a gorgeous buffet, opt for something simple but classic that leaves you with some room to breathe and that won't leave you feeling too hot in the heat! We love this Vera Wang number (right) from the 2009 collection but if that's a little out of your budget (£4000+), opt for something similar like this Atelier Aimee dress, £1257 exclusively available from the International Room at Caroline Castigliano in Knightsbridge, London (A good excuse for a Girly shopping spree with your Mum or Maid of Honor!). Additionally, many of Jenny Packham's designs would suit the day also – you can try on several of her styles at Perfect Bridal Rooms in Aberdeen, Anne Priscilla in Glasgow and the gorgeous Pan Pan in Edinburgh.

The Ceremony

Host it outdoors at a licensed premises, perhaps in a venue like the David Welch Winter Gardens in Aberdeen's Duthie Park, or the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. If you are planning on hosting your Wedding at a Stately home, you can be almost certain that they will have a space in which you can be married outdoors. Cover your aisle with petals for an enchanting effect to walk down the aisle – place some Hurricane lamps at either side to add to the ambiance in the space. You can buy a pint of Petals for roughly £10 from many Wedding favour and confetti suppliers and can hire some gorgeous gold detail hurricane lamps from 88 Events. Though be sure to check that this is in line with the policies of your selected venue as many disallow confetti/petals and naked flames.

The Details

Sleek some gorgeous Duchess Satin tablecloths in Timeless Ivory over your tables from 88 Events for a sumptuous sheen, top these with the gold lined crockery available to draw on the gold tones and add an interesting contrast between the crockery and the centerpieces. For your bouquet and centerpieces, bring the Summer sunshine indoors, make the most of the Summer blooms and use Pinks, Yellows and Oranges to brighten up your marquee. Place cake stands on round mirrored plates in the centre of your tables and fill them with Rose heads and petals, finish by placing 4-6 tealights around the centre to provide some ambience (Provided your marquee supplier allows naked flames inside the structure). Place your table names or numbers in shining mirrored photo frames for added effect. You can purchase Cake stands fairly in-expensively, especially if you aren't too bothered about them being brand new – EBay have a fantastic selection. You can also get some lovely and unusual designs from here

, and they can always double up as gifts to give to your most special female guests. You can purchase 20cm round mirrored plates from here for £1.59 each and grab some tealights and holders from almost any supermarket. Have some fabulous gold rimmed mirrors strung up around the inside of your marquee to give a feeling of more space and more glamour! String up a couple behind the bar to give people something to talk about while they are waiting to be served (The reflection of what's happening on the dance floor!).

That's all for this post, however if you have any questions or would like to contact me, please do here.

With love, TW x

(Images from; Bestintentmarquees.co.uk, Bridesmagazine.co.uk, Marthastewartweddings.com and EBay)

Youtube - "Forever" Wedding

After spending some time, admittedly procrastinating and browsing Youtube, I think I have found the ultimate feel-good wedding video.

The wedding of Jill and Kevin, viewed by over 49 million Youtubers is without a doubt the epitome of Wedding feel-good home videos! So, if your stressing over which flowers to choose, picking a band or the cost of your caterers - then I must redirect you here. I promise you that without a doubt you will be smiling after less than a minute! While this video is mainly humorous, I'm sure that it will leave you feeling excited for the wonderful day that lies ahead.

For something a little more quirky - there is also a staged interpretation of how the divorce proceedings may look for Jill and Kevin here. Thankfully, this isn't the real thing and is purely piggybacking on the success of the Wedding Entrance!

I think to summarise for this post, there's nothing that a little happy music and friends can't solve!

With love, TW x

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!

Today's post is dedicated to some of the most fabulous bridal shoe ranges that are appearing in the wedding market! Thank goodness! One of the most common problems amongst Brides seems to be finding the shoes of their dreams to strut up the aisle in! So, I have compiled a list of my Top 3 favourite Wedding shoe suppliers suitable for all budgets to help in combating your shoe dilemmas!

1. Christian Louboutin - £300+
This highly acclaimed celebrity shoe designer has featured at some of the most fabulous Wedding days, including the spectacular day of Coleen Rooney. For something a little special (and undoubtedly a little high) then Louboutin is your man. Styles like "Tahiti", "Fortitia" and "St Jeanette" are sure to get heads turning and will undoubtedly be worn again in the future. In Scotland, you can find Louboutins in stores like Harvey Nich's in Edinburgh, House of Fraser in Glasgow and Cruise stores across the country also have a limited range. If you can't quite find what you are looking for in store, search online, Net-a-Porter have recently launched a Wedding Boutique which is absolutely worth a browse if you can't find the time to get to one of the above stores. If the thought of spending so much money on a pair of shoes for one day makes you go weak at the knees - try experimenting with other colours and styles, perhaps the colour of your Bridesmaids dresses, this will increase the likelihood that you will wear them over and over again, typically styles outwith the Bridal range are also a little cheaper.

2. Faith Be Quick though as they are in Administration! - £50+
For shoes with elegance and a hint of designer inspiration at High street prices - Faith has got to be your first stop. The Faith bridal collection, I feel, is one of the most under-rated Bridal collections there is. With something for everybody, at a more palatable cost (especially if you only intend to wear the shoes for one day) and some truly lovely designs I can't encourage Brides enough to stop past your Local Faith store (or Debenhams, who typically stock them) and have a browse. Some of my personal favourites include; CequinB, LuxuryB and JanglaB. For something more obviously inspired by top designers (Louboutin, Jimmy Choo), have a look through Faith's normal range - styles like CleoT aren't very far away from the real thing.



3. Diane Hassall - £150+
If Frills, lace and sparkle are on your Bridal shoe checklist, then the Hassall collection is for you! Often featured in Wedding Magazines but wildly understated, the Diane Hassall collection is "Wow!". With fairytales in mind, the Hassall collection brings the Glass Slipper magic. With most styles typically available in Ivory, the Diane Hassall collection is readily available in Scotland stocked in Perfect Bridal Rooms (Aberdeen), The Hummingbird Boutique (Falkirk), Anne Priscilla (Glasgow) and Arabesque (Perth). If these stores aren't within your local reach, Hassall shoes can be purchased from Elegantsteps.co.uk though be sure to allow at LEAST one month for the shoes to arrive and to try them on. You can view the full collection at Rainbowclub.co.uk/Hassall-Brand.htm

I hope that this post will send many of you who are experiencing trouble finding the shoes of your dreams off browsing online and in stores.

If you have any questions regarding this post or would like any advice on where to find a specific style of shoe or shoe designer, please contact me at Emma@timelesswhite.co.uk

With love, TW x

Lasting Impressions...

Hello to all and welcome to the official blog of Timeless White Wedding Planning!

I can assure you that this blog will be packed full of useful information for Brides to be. As a starting point - I'd like to take this wonderful opportunity to introduce Timeless White to you.

Timeless White is a newly established Wedding Planning organisation, serving Brides-to-be across Scotland. The business places much pride on offering a top class service to clients and ensures this at every step of the process of working alongside Brides.

We know that as a Bride, you want to be as involved as you possibly can in the planning of your day - and that ultimately your day should reflect you and your fiances love for one another.

We operate based upon 3 simple approaches;

1. Exceptional or not at all - Timeless White will never commit itself to assisting you with your wedding if for any reason at all we felt we could not offer a truly exceptional and personal service. This will be applied at every point of contact with our customers, giving you the assurance that at every step of the process in assisting you that you will really be experiencing the best service we can possibly provide. Your wedding is once - and it ought to be perfect.

2. Knowledge is everything - While Timeless White dedicates itself to it's many fabulous Brides-to-be, we realise the importance of our industry knowledge, to you, the customer. Hence, when we aren't busy carrying out the many little tasks involved in planning your special day - we are continually building our industry knowledge and connections to ensure we are at the top of our game.

3. Transparent Pricing approaches - We know that Weddings are expensive and we want absolutely no part in charging you hidden or extra fee's. Prices quoted will be absolutely the price you'll pay.

I look forward to building relationships with unique Brides and special suppliers. It's been a delight writing my first blog post, here's to many more.

With love, TW x