Butler & Taylor, The Vintage Lassies

Last year at the height of the summer we did a shoot for new business Butler & Taylor. These guys have a massive collection of vintage tea-sets, cake-stands, cutlery, props and ephemera all available for hire by the style-concious bride. They've now got their Facebook page up and running. Click here to find out more about what they can bring to your wedding (hint: pretty much anything retro!)

Also, you can chat with the girls in person at this weekend's Glasgow Girls Wedding Fayre. We'll be there too so please drop by our stand for a chat and leaf through our albums.

Milomade In Scotland

In our line of work we meet plenty of prospective brides & grooms looking for something a bit different.  Increasingly, traditional wedding favours and decorations are being replaced with eco-friendly handmade gifts.  Milomade - a Scottish company with the motto 'Too good to waste' - specialises in creating wonderful jewellery and charming craft pieces which would stand out at any wedding.

If you're looking for something unique to get your maid of honour, check out these beautiful antique rings.  Created from vintage British teaspoons, each one bears its original silver hallmark and is shaped to show the intricate craftsmanship which went into the original piece.  And when you're wrapping it up, use a gift-tag made from recycled sheet music. 

We spoke with self-confessed 'modern day magpie' Evie Milo about her products, methods and the mysterious art of 'upcycling'.
 
I see on your site that Milomade specialises in 'upcycling' - can you tell us a bit more about that?

Upcycling is taking something unused/unwanted and transforming it into something of greater use and value. My Milomade motto is 'Too good to waste' and that has sprung from the fact that I find it difficult to throw anything away - I am a hoarder and I collect all manner of things and turn them from trash to treasure. All Milomade products are made from items that are second hand, used and unwanted, but I often mix in new materials as well. I save a lot of paper, card and plastic as well as other items from going to landfill and instead make beautiful things from them.

I love working with old, used and often vintage items, whether these be buttons or fine silver tableware, maps or old comics, envelopes or even pieces of glass washed up on the beach – all these items have a history and also a tale to tell.  For instance, when I’m making a piece of jewellery from an old spoon I can’t help but wonder who used to stir their cup of tea with it. I've just revamped my website collections and you can find out all about my work and about the items I use to create my pieces by visiting this section of my site.

You must get a lot of custom from people getting married. What are your most popular items at the moment? Have you spotted any trends?

Funny you should say that, as I'm not married myself I've never really been aware of the so called 'Wedding Season' and started making my garlands and confetti as a means to decorate my house or as presents for friends. It was only until the Makers-Online website got in touch and asked if they could stock some of my paper products that I made the connection.  (You can read their feature on Handmade weddings here).

Since then I've been advertising my paper garlands and confetti specifically for weddings, occasions and events and I've had quite a bit of interest. I make the confetti by punching lots of little love hearts from sheet music or from magazines. The love hearts are very small [1cm and smaller] and can be used as table decorations or as traditional confetti. You get a small bag that contains approx 2000 love hearts. To match you could get a set of my Love Heart paper garlands and I've been making these out of sheet music as that's what seems to be more popular.  (There's a huge selection of lovely paper decorations over at the Milomade shop including a range of envelopes which would be perfect for sending out Thank You cards.)  I think there is definitely an interest in eco friendly products these days and more and more people are keen to get a handmade feel to their events.

Travel, Music and Films are popular themes for table decorations. What can you offer couples who are looking to do something along these lines?

As I've mentioned already I do a range of paper garlands - I currently make them from sheet music, maps, comics and magazines, but I'm happy to take custom orders and tailor make garlands to suit any event. People love the classical sheet music I find and use, but I've had requests to use music from specific West End musicals too. It does depend on what I can get my hands on but I am happy to work with someone's donations if they have something specific in mind and can provide the materials to make the garlands out of.

My garlands made from maps are great, as if I have a map of where you're planning to take your honeymoon or the location of your actual wedding, then the garlands can be made from that for that extra special personal touch - I have lots of old maps and so might even have something in stock that would suit, if not I can source something. The same goes for my confetti. Also if a couple have a specific idea in mind for their table decorations and want something handmade and eco friendly then I'm more than happy to discuss their requirements and come up with something original just for them. My standard envelopes made from maps, music and comics could be adapted and shrunk down in size and used as place holders containing little messages for each guest or they could be filled with confetti and sent out with the invitations for people to bring to the wedding. There are lots of ideas I'd be happy to play around with to give an event a personal special touch.

What can you offer the bride looking for something old, new, borrowed or blue?

As all my products are mostly made from upcycled materials I think there are a lot of items that would suit the 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' theme.  In fact this pendant made from a vintage blue button would be perfect. It's old, it's blue, the sterling silver used to make the setting is new [although I've given it an antiqued look] and to add a touch of the borrowed, you could use a different chain borrowed from your mum's jewellery box for instance. As I work with vintage buttons to create a lot of my jewellery, there's plenty there to choose from - pendants, earrings, bracelets and cufflinks, and I would be happy to take custom orders (see this collection on the website for further examples) 

I also work with antique silverware and make a range of rings, pendants and brooches from silver teaspoons. I only work with teaspoons that have recognisable hallmarks that define each item as British .925 sterling silver. I much prefer to use fine silverware as a starting point for my jewellery as this way I am upcycling rather than using up the planet's natural resources. There is a sense of history with each piece and I feel that as I am forming each ring, pendant or brooch and sanding and polishing it, I am capturing a memory or an essence of the past. In the 17th century there was a custom of making wedding rings from silver spoons and I like to think I'm bringing this concept into the present day. I've had a few people ask me whether I would make spoons from their family silver and I am always delighted to take a family heirloom and repurpose it and make it into something they can wear and enjoy rather than storing it in a box somewhere in a dark cupboard.

Will you undertake work on commission?

Most definitely - it's always a pleasure to work on pieces that are for someone in particular. I do a range of jewellery made from sea glass that I find and collect on the beaches around my home and it's so lovely when someone finds a specific piece within my collection that they love and asks me to make a ring or a pendant from it. It's as if they've picked the perfect piece for themselves and that makes the resulting piece of jewellery even more special as they've had some input into it's creation. It's always a joy to go out hunting for buttons as well, especially when someone has requested a pendant or a set of earrings in a specific colour or style. So, yes, I'm more than happy to work to commission.

Have Love Will Travel

If you're looking for inspiration for your table theme, look no further than the nearest atlas. Places you've been together and places you want to go are a great basis for an overall concept for your wedding decor.

Some couples like to use photos of themselves on holiday instead of table numbers. We saw these vintage postcards at a recent wedding and loved the idea. You might also consider plundering your bookshelves or trawling the local charity shops for vintage guidebooks. Place a book at the base of the stand which holds the table namecard.



These are a nice touch - heart-shaped confetti cut from maps.



We also love these map paper garlands which were designed and made by UK-based Milomade.

Wrapped Up in Books

With guest-lists getting bigger and celebrations getting longer, weddings in the 21st century have become much more than just a quick ceremony, dinner and disco. Nowadays a wedding is not just about the joining together of husband and wife, its also a perfect opportunity to catch up and celebrate with your entire family, old school friends and people who you just don't see often enough. But even with military precision timing you may not get a chance for a proper chat with everyone at the party.

That's where the guest book comes in. Passing the book round the room gives everyone a chance to send their love. Anecdotes and in-jokes will be scribbled down next to congratulations and will provide an amusing (border-line embarrassing) read when you're on your Honeymoon

Laying out a book for your guests to sign has long been part of wedding tradition, but lately we've seen some twists on the theme which bring it bang up to date.

Over in the States its common practice to ask guests to sign a big picture of the bride and groom and this trend is now catching on over here. Often couples like to use a picture from an engagement shoot, or you could tie it in with your table theme. This couple had travel as their motif so used a holiday picture which they had enlarged. After the wedding you get a gorgeous picture of yourselves autographed by your pals and filled with lovely messages - get it framed and it will look great on your living room wall.



There are countless easy-to-use wedding websites - too many to list here - which allow you to create a site to pass on info for your guests. Your site could become a cyber-guest book which lets your friends post pictures from the night and pass on their congrats. If you're not very tech-literate, you could set up a Facebook page which does the same thing - it takes 5 minutes to do and puts you in touch with your friends at the click of a button.

When Sam was planning her wedding she collected all of her ideas in a Wedding Book. Invite designs, notes on venues, menu ideas... everything went in during the planning stages, along with RSVPs and photos from the Hen & Stag nights. On the day of the wedding Sam asked everyone to sign the book and now has a complete record of the wedding, from engagement to Honeymoon.



Sam got hers from an art supply shop and there are plenty of stationers and department stores with a huge selection of notebooks to choose from. If you're stuck for something to do on a rainy weekend, you can decorate it with trinkets from craft shops - I favour stickers myself. Its a stylish way to record all your thoughts and then becomes something to share with your guests - they can see how your plans came to life on the wedding day itself.

DIY Buttonholes

Following on from our flower trend post I thought I would share this simple DIY buttonhole idea. I made the buttonholes for the menfolk at my wedding and here is a step by step guide as to how I did it...


Supplies:
1. Ribbon (roughly 25cm) 2. Florist's wire 3. Three contrasting pieces of fabric 4. Pinking shears 5. Buttonhole pin 6. Florist's tape 7. Flower stems


Cut each piece of fabric into a leaf shape with the pinking shears. Make each one slightly smaller than the other, the biggest will go to the back and the smallest at the front.


Arrange your flowers and wrap them securely with the florist's wire.


Place the flowers on top of your fabric and secure tightly with the florist's tape.


Wrap the ribbon tightly around the tape making sure to cover it all. Tie together and cut any excess ribbon, leaving a little flowing free at the end. Use the pin to fasten to the lapel.


The final product and my dad proudly wearing his at my wedding.

Les Fleurs

The flowers are always on our list of detail shots to capture at a wedding. The choice of colour and design can really dictate the whole style of the event.

Lisa Hamilton of Awesome Blossom says ‘We have recently noticed a trend for vintage style wedding flowers. From displays in vintage vases to nosegay style bouquets. The current fashion trend for pastel and nude tones has also been very popular.’




We have also seen a trend in brides creating their own flower displays. Doing so will not only save you money but it can add a real personal touch to the day. You may not want to consider doing all of the flower arranging yourself; you could arrange for a florist to do half and do the other half yourself. This will keep the budget down but not create too much stress.

If you do decide to do it yourself keep it simple. For your bouquet or the bridesmaids' bouquets you could keep it as subtle as just one flower. For table decorations you could fill interesting jars or a jumble of vintage vases with wild flowers.






Flowers from Awesome Blossom and Roots & Fruits & Flowers

Tea for Two Hundred

We wanted to share these pics of some beautiful table arrangements we saw at a Spring wedding. The settings were created by tatty mac, a vintage china and accessories company based here in Scotland. All the guests were hugely impressed by these gorgeous details - we saw more than one person take their placecard home as a souvenir.

The Light Fantastic

The first dance is a memorable moment in every wedding. Some couples just know the perfect track, Their Song since the first days of dating, but for others it can be a decision fraught with conflict. You'd like something classic - Night & Day or I've Got You Under My Skin, a touch of Sinatra to get the evening off to a swinging start - but your partner can't think beyond the boundaries of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. "But I saw them at Donnington! It was a life-changing experience!", your partner will claim as you veto their selection of Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast

Nevermind all that though. No matter what you choose, your first dance will be a highlight from your wedding day. The song you picked after weeks of negotiation will turn out to be perfect. And any awkwardness you feared over the prospect of Dancing in Public With Everyone Watching will disappear when you remember - Hey! I just got married! It was great!

I recently came across this article, a collection of some of the most entertaining first dances captured on video. It may give you some inspiration and will certainly put a smile on your face.

Flower of Scotland

We saw this beautiful table arrangement at a recent wedding and loved how the bride & groom incorporated thistle into their place settings. The groom, a proud Scot, wanted a piece of home on every table but didn't want the room drowned in taran. Small personal touches like this make your day extra memorable for your guests.

Finds

Pocket Watch