dress for wedding guests

I'm loving the new range of Lila Calypso dresses on ollyander.com perfect for a summer wedding or for a rehersal dinner or the day after the wedding..especially love the white and blue dress for the day after the wedding.

Spring is on it's way - fashion post

Well, have finally cleared away the very last of the Xmas stuff, although bits and pieces keep on croping up here and there..Xmas cards and bits of puzzles under the sofa, tree ornaments hidden under my daughter's pillow ect..

Moving on swiftly..I am SOOO impressed with the Sandwich range of spring/summer clothing for 2014, I adore the subtle but bright colours and the quirkyness of the range and that pieces are wearable and can be worn for everyday life. I will definitely be investing.

You can read more about the range at o'leary & daughters blogspot

and buy and see more of the range at ollyander.com

Fashion photo shoot Vintage insipred styles

I've been planning a photoshoot for O'Leary & Daughters for quite a while, as a gentle introduction to our launch party, but have held off, just waiting for some of our lovely Autumn Fashions to arrive and to find the right team for the shoot. In the end it was easy, so many talented people around my home town of Bandon...and we all had great fun on the day, although it was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

Hope you enjoy the first sets of photos which feature some of our  vintage inspired clothing lines.

Buy this dress at ollyander.com

Photography: Phillip Cullinane Photography

Model: Hope Hickey

Make up: Time for You

Hair: Jan and Di's

Dress and Shoes O'Leary & Daughters and online at ollyander.com €64.95

Location: Duchess tearooms in Bandon Town

Buy the skirt at ollyander.com
Buy the top at ollyander.com

Photography: Phillip Cullinane Photography

Model: Hope Hickey

Make up: Time For You

Hair: Jan and Di's

Clothes and shoe: O'Leary & Daughters

Top: Online at ollyander.com €52.95

Skirt: Online at ollyander.com €52.95

Jacket and shoes instore only

Location: Bandon Town

Buy the dress online at ollyander.com €110.00

Photography: Phillip Cullinane Photography

Model: Hope Hickey

Make up: Time For You

Hair: Jan and Di's

Dress and Shoes: O'Leary & Daughters

This is just a sampler..so stay tuned, 

xxx

Special offers

If you love

vintage style

as much as I do, or if you're planning a

vintage style

wedding, then you've probably already visited  No. 9 on our free wedding printables page, a set of free downloadable vintage style wedding labels designed by Lunagirl.com for wordlabel.

But just in case you missed No 9 on the list here's a sample...

I'm delighted to announce that the generous Karen over at Lunagirl  is offering a 10% discount to all our lovely readers, all you have to do is mention this blog,  wedding4less.ie when you place your order.


Lunagirls "Image CDs and digital collage sheets are an excellent resource for altered art, scrapbooks, handmade cards, paper piecing, mixed media, digital art, digital scrapbooking, fabric arts, jewelry and other crafts, as well as collecting, artistic inspiration ... so many possibilities."

Image courtesy of lunagirl
.
BEWARE all vintage lovers...you will loose hours on the Lunagirl site.

sunshiney day

sunshiney day by susan-oleary featuring flower shirts

Ted Baker rose print dress
$305 - vanmildert.com

Orla Kiely flower shirt
$305 - orlakiely.com

Miu miu heels
miumiu.com

Kate spade bag
katespade.com

Retro vintage dresses

I'm looking for a pretty cotton summer dress to wear with shades and wedges. I'm loving the retro vintage look...and if it's polka dot, floral or has a bird print then I'm hooked.

Wedding Inspiration from Etsy Ireland

Lovely linen and lace Mr&Mrs wedding banner from aroominthecottage

Well, I took a little visit to Etsy Ireland today and I am now hooked.!!!

What a lot of talented crafters we have here in Ireland and so many of them gathered under the roof of Etsy Ireland. A great place to shop for Irish made products.

If you're looking for wedding inspiration and would like to source handmade and unusual products, at very reasonable prices, then etsy.com is well worth a visit...warning, you may get lost there for hours.

Here are a few of today's favourite Etsy Ireland shops and products.

Pics 1 and 2 If you're looking for a bridal wrap for your autumn or winter wedding why not consider a romantic ruffled tulle wrap with handmade gold corsage available fom bonzie's shop over on etsy ireland.

Pics 3 and 4 Don't get me wrong! I love floral bouquets at a wedding. But... I love this crafters take on the heirloom brooch bouquet. These unique bespoke jewel and faux flower bridal bouquets from bouquetboutiqueire offer a gorgeous alternative to the traditional floral bouquet.

Pic 5 JulesJewellery stock a huge array of bridal  jewellery and hair accessories..but I just love the simplicity of this bridal sash with a single rhinestone rose covered in tiny crystals a matching hair accesory is also available. The hair comb in Pic 6 is a really lovely ivory pearl and crystal comb.

 Pic 7 and 8 Irish bridal Jewels based in Cork, stock an array of pearl and crystal bridal hair pins in a staggering choice of colours, at very reasonable prices.

All of the above pieces can be shipped internationally.

Free printable Owl calendar

I'm taking a little deviation away from the wedding theme because I am so blown away by this free printable, I just have to share it.
I'm loving owls at the moment, very on trend as a print on scarfs and tees and am presently lusting after an owl print jumper.
This amazing owl print calender 2013 is FREE and customisable and is a collaboration between My Own Barn and over 40 artists from all over the world. The images are amazing...don't take my word for it, take a sneek peek at the images below then rush on over to My Own Barn for your free download.

Weddings4less.ie pick of Easy Peasy DIY wedding crafy projects

I've  compiled an ever-expanding list of my favourite  free wedding printables,  some of the printables actually qualify as simple and easy diy wedding projects and in case they are overlooked, I'm cross posting here .

My first addition to this new cross list

1)  All you need is a roll of sandwich bags, your free printable download from creature comforts, a printer, bulk sweets or cookies, cardstock and a stapler and voila..wedding favors done...how satisfying.

2) Creature comforts also provide us with a lovely tea bag wrapper and tag  (no 59 on free wedding printables) . The free printable is lovely an all...but combine it with a flowering teabag and then you have a really unique and memorable wedding favor....

Flowering teas make amazing and suprising, unique wedding favors.

All of these flowering trees, the jasmine arch, the dragon eye and Jasmine peach, also taste great and can be bought online from Jing tea.

3) The easiest wedding project ever ..is to make your own wedding banner. Bunting is so on trend at the moment. This gorgeous print from shanty 2 chic is pure genius, a simple a classic design, fits in with almost every wedding color or style making it very versatile. In addition, the creative minds over at shanty 2 chic have provided a download for every letter of the alphabet AND a loveheart. So you can create a "Just married banner" for your car or "bride" and "groom" bunting for the back of chairs or "Happily ever after" bunting for your venue or use the bride and grrom names in banners...and in addition to being totally free the folk over at shanty 2 chic also provide a tutorial...couldn't be easier now could it?

4) If you're planning an easter wedding this free downloadable favor box template box with cute matching tag designed by Angeli is available download over at Living Locurto

5) DIY favour box..all the way from France a gorgeous free printable favour box by unbeajour with a circus theme.

Wedding ideas

 

I've been slacking recently. Sometimes life just smacks you so hard and in the face that you land on your butt and for a while you just can't get back up..

Anyways, I am back now with a quick post. Came across this idea from simplemom.net and think it adapts perfectly to wedding cards.

I am a hoarder and an untidy hoarder at that. My wedding cards floated around the house for years after we got married, I still come across the odd collection and my regret is that I wasn't more organised and didn't think to file them all.

All this DIY wedding project requires is a punch and a cute binder to create a lasting memory.

DIY wedding craft project

When you're a DIY bride looking for  DIY wedding decorations for church, you will often find yourself  tettering on the border between tackyland and stun city. If you find yourself shaking your head in bewilderment as you ponder the inticacies of  "crochet angel center pieces"  then you know that you have strayed into tackland, my friend..

It slowly dawned on me that I had wasted way too much time in tackyland. With new found confidence I strode past  the "tatty pieces of curtain lining, tied to a curtain pole, proclaiming itself to be the ultimate wedding back drop", without a backward glance and continued on my journey to stun city.. but the journey was long and just when I was  beginning to loose all hope and think that I had  totally lost my way and that  I would  never ever reach stun city..I came across a tutorial for paper pomander balls. The bells stared ringing and Alexandra Burke started singing Alleluia!!

As a DIY wedding craft project,these pomander balls tick all the boxes. They are decorative, they are stunning and pretty to look at, they are a low cost DIY wedding craft project... AND they are EASY to make...I could totally make these, if I followed the tutorail provided by thoughts by Alice


Supplies needed for this DIY Wedding project:

1) Coffee filters- shouldn't be too hard to come by, widely available, when in doubt visit Dunnes stores or Tesco's. Cost approx €1.50 for a pack of 40 melita filters, you'll need 3 packs to create 25-30 petals/posies, so total cost of filters per pomander ball is approx €4.50.

2) For dyeing the petals you'll need tea and red food dye, available in homebaking section of most supermarkets for approx €1.50.

3) The tutorial calls for polystyrene balls. I've saved you all a whole lot of time. Polystyrene balls are stocked by the crafters basket, based in sligo, available to order online polystyrene balls 8cm (3.5") costs 50 cents, 10cm ball (3.94") costs 60 cents.

4) Craft pins: also from crafters basket €3.80 for a shed load 25gms.

So total cost of this diy wedding project is approx €7.00.

Time between dyeing and constructing is 24hrs max.

Satisfaction value..limitless

 

Can you ask for money instead of a wedding gift?

Photo courtesy of tax credits


In modern day Ireland there are many reasons why couples would prefer to receive money instead of a wedding gift. With many young couples living together before the marriage ceremony, owning homes in negative equity, with job loses and pay cuts, reduced working hours, now more than ever, wedding guests are becoming more understanding and open to request for cash gifts.

Even the older generation who may have traditionally felt that a wedding registry was in poor taste now recognise the financial strain that young couples are under and are becoming more accepting and comfortable with the concept of giving money as a wedding present.

Some couples struggle with the idea of asking for money as a wedding gift, they ask themselves  "Is it okay to ask for money? Is it rude to ask for money? Will I offend people if I ask for money? How can I ask for money?"

but you know what....It is okay to ask for what you need. Most guest's are honoured to be asked to share your wedding day and they want to give a gift to mark this very special time in a couples life. They want to give a gift that will be appreciated, not something that will be hidden under the stairs for the next 5 years gathering dust, until you eventually get around to giving it the charity shop or selling it on ebay, or giving it to your mother in law for a Christmas present. If cash is what you need right now, then it's absolutely okay to let your guests know.

However, I still think that care needs to be taken around the method that you use to request money as a wedding gift. A note included in the wedding invitation with your bank details into which guests can deposit money is probably not the way to go! It's a bit too upfront and likely to offend or receive a tut of disapproval at the very least.

A much nicer way is via word of mouth, or to have a wedding wishing well or wedding card box at your reception. Australian's are a very straight-forward nation and wedding wishing wells are common at weddings and nobody bats an eyelid..

Below, are a few poems which you can include with your wedding invitations to introduce the subject to your guests.

"Dear Family and Friends,
Because we have been together for a little while now,
we’ve collected all our household things.
At the reception there will be a wishing well in which
we would love to receive your best wishes.
If you would prefer to follow with tradition and give a gift,
it would be gratefully accepted.
Most of all we look forward to sharing
our special day with you."

"Because we’ve been together for a little while now,

we’ve collected all our household things, before we took our vows.

If you were thinking of giving a gift to help us on our way,

A gift of cash in our ‘Wishing Well’

would really make our day."

"We don’t want to offend, but have it all
All household goods and so much more.
To save you shopping, sit back and rest

A gift of money is our request.
Don’t go overboard or rob a bank
Any little thing will be received with thanks.
We will supply the ‘Wishing Well’
No wrapping, an envelope and who can tell
Now that we’ve saved you all the fuss
Come along and celebrate with us."

"We love our family and what we share

Our home has been made with love and care.

Most things we need we’ve already got,

And in our home we can’t fit a lot!

A Wishing Well we thought would be great

(but only if you wish to participate),

A gift of money is placed in the well.

Then make a wish…but shhhh…don’t tell!

Once we’ve replaced the old with the new,

We can look back and say it was thanks to you!

In return for your kindness, we’re sure

That one day soon you’ll get

What you’ve wished for!."

"More than just kisses so far we’ve shared

Our home has been made with love and care.

Most things we need we’ve already got,

And in our home we can’t fit a lot!

A Wishing Well we thought would be great

(but only if you wish to participate).

A gift of money is placed in the well,

Then you make a wish…but do not tell!

Once we’ve replaced the old with the new.

We can look back and say it was thanks to you!

And in return for your kindness,

We’re sure, that one day soon you will get

What you wished for too."

"Because at first we lived in sin

We've got the sheets and a rubbish bin

A gift from you would be swell

But we'd prefer a donation to our Wishing Well!!"

"Now we are to be Mr & Mrs

We don't need a wedding list of dishes

we have two kettles, two toasters, two microwaves

We require a house for which we have to save.

If you would like to give us a gift,

A cheque or vouchers would give us a lift

We like to think of it as our 'Wishing Well'

Which will be filled with your love, we can tell."

"We've been together a few years now;

we have pots and pans and linen and towels;

we have glasses and toasters, really quite a few;

so instead of more gifts, we suggest this to you;

if it doesn't offend and it won't send you running;

what we would really appreciate is quite simply money;

we know choosing gifts can be such a pain;

and this way there is no chance of bringing the same."

"If finding a gift is hard to do
our wishing well is just for you!
A gift of money is placed in the well,
then make a wish but do not tell!
If it is however a gift you find,
please feel assured
we will not mind"

Wedding trends and ideas

photo courtesy of Tiffany Dawn Nicholson

There are many ways in which you can add your own special touch to your wedding day. It's the little details that guest really appreciate and make a wedding extra special. I've put together a list of  some of my favourite trending wedding details, many of these ideas are inexpensive and won't cost a fortune to incorporate into your own wedding.

1) Wedding bells have played a role in Irish weddings for many a year. Read more about the role of bells in Irish wedding traditions and customs here.


A lovely modern adaptation is the

kissing bell

 I love these tiny tinkly bells which function as both place cards and wedding favours. These kissing bells tick all the boxes, they are functional, inexpensive and make a great keepsake for your guests. The bells are rung by guests as the bride and groom enter the reception room.


Kissing Bells Wedding Placecard Holder (Set of 24)

The placecards hold a poem on one side, "Today, as we gather together, wish us a love to last forever. If you would like us to share a wedded kiss, ring the bell for lifelong bliss.", with room on the opposite side to write your guests name.

Wedding signs

are becoming really popular but can be hard to source in Ireland.


Gisela Graham Wooden Wedding Arrow

personalised wedding sign from special pressies in Cork

Heirloom brooch bouquets

make a lovely keepsake of your special day and are a great talking point for guest during the reception.

See more about heirloom brooch bouquets in ireland here

.
As many couples have already set up home before the marriage ceremony, cash gifts have become more acceptable and desireable, especially in the present economic climate.  Many brides and grooms are now electing to have a

wedding card box

or a

wedding wishing well

at their reception to collect their gift cards. Here are a few of my favourites, all really inexpensive and accessible.


Wedding Cards Post Mail Receiving Box Wishing Well - in Soft White (Off White)

Large Wedding Wishing Well Card Posting Box

Wedding Card Box 30cmx 30cm x30cm

Wedding wish tree's

are a lovely alternative to the traditional wedding guestbook.. Tags are provided to the guests who can then write their own personal messages which are then hung on the tree to make a lovely decorative centre piece during the reception and all the wishes make a sweet keepsake of the day.


Silver Wedding Wish Wishing Tree Table Decoration 32 inch

This lovely decorative birdcage could also be used as an alternative to a guestbook. Just provide postcards or tags for your guests to write their good wishes on, then place in the cage.


DECORATIVE BIRDCAGE ROUND CREAM METAL WEDDING MEDIUM SIZE

Mad Libs

are a fun and interactive alternative to the traditional guestbook. This example is free to download over at Love vs design

Bunting

..especially for your shabby chic, marquee or vintage wedding.


Vintage Style Shabby Chic Country Garden Cotton Fabric Bunting


Check out these

table plan holders

, they make a nice alternative to the usual white board displayed at most wedding functions.


Vintage Style Cream Square Heart Wedding Table Plan / Card Photo Holder



Aora Large Wedding Table Plan Holder

Well, hopefully, I've given you a little food for thought ....Happy planning. XXX