Although the company is based in the US, you can use this site anywhere in the world to communicate to your guests about your upcoming nuptials – which is particularly handy if you have relatives in another country or are getting hitched abroad. Create a free website and get replies to RSVPs, make announcements, blog about what’s going on, share photos and pick up inspiration from their Ideas and Trends section (definitely worth a look even if you don’t need help planning your wedding!)

Check out these screen examples of a website made by Cordelia who has used it to plan her two ceremonies – one in Germany where she is from, and one in England, where she and her fiance live.

Wedding Events section to let your guests know what’s going on and when

Guestbook so that your guests can leave comments

RSVP section for your guests to reply

Louise looking radiant in her dress

Louise and Graeme were married at The Church of the Holy Cross

Gorgeous pinks and purples used in the bouquets

Making their way to the reception

The reception was held at home in Cakebread Cottage

What wonderful colours in the decorations!

The guests make their way to the marquee in the field behind the cottage

Scottish piper piped them into the marquee

Top tier of cake made by Graeme’s mum

Ceilidh dancing in full action!

The marquee lit up at night

Gemma wanted to keep everything as locally sourced as possible. The flowers were all grown in the grounds of Longueville Manor, and arranged by the hotel’s own florist. The vegetables for the meal were also all grown in the hotel’s vegetable garden. The bridesmaids gifts were bracelets made from Jersey Pearl.

The entertainment throughout the day was very well coordinated. Nick, the groom, is a musician so having music at their wedding was very important to him. First there was a string quartet when Gemma walked down the aisle. During the service, Nick’s fellow band members performed a song they had written especially for the couple. Then a jazz quartet played during the afternoon reception. After the meal, while the marquee was being made ready for the evening, an acoustic performance took place by the pool.

During this, suddenly a Scottish band walked onto the lawn, loudly playing their bagpipes and drums. It was a great surprise for Gemma and Nick – and it gave me goose-bumps is was so good!

Finally, Gemma’s father, a huge Beatles fan (being a Liverpudlian himself!) had brought in a Beatles cover band to play in the evening, called The Classic Beatles. They were the best cover band I’ve ever heard.

The party continued way into the night, and it was with great reluctance that I managed to tear myself away from the wonderful hospitality of the bride and groom and their families.

Gemma in her dress made from Portuguese lace

Arriving at the ceremony - both are very excited!

In the grounds at Longueville Manor

The bridesmaids looking like they've just stepped off the catwalk

Marquee styled by Grace & Tailor

The seating plan in an old traveling trunk

Table centre pieces and room decor - all flowers from the garden at Longueville Manor

Nick & Gemma

The acoustic band by the pool

The Scottish band

The brilliant Classic Beatles cover band

Party time

Gemma & Nick Swietlik - their own box of daisies

They chose to use colours of silver and white with a dash of aubergine. This was worked beautifully throughout: in the flowers, decorations and accessories, with the aubergine colour appearing in subtle ways. The top table had aubergine chiffon around their chairs whilst the rest of the chairs in the marquee had silver chiffon. Little bridesmaids complimented their ivory dresses with the same aubergine chiffon tied as a waistband. Even the cake had a slight colouring of aubergine on the fondant petals.

Andrew Fleming was the florist and he produced beautiful bouquets and amazing table centre pieces, as well as decorating the church with his wonderful displays. Again aubergine effectively featured throughout. Tall, silver candelabras were stunning when lit, giving the marquee such a warm glow.

Other lovely touches were the white grand piano, being played throughout the meal; the white dancefloor with sparkly lights; and decorative trees which surrounded the dancefloor with blue fairy lights.

Finally, we have to comment on the favours, as they were so very clever. Each guest had been bought a lottery ticket! Let’s hope someone went home richer that night.

Bouquet and confetti

Flowers in the entrance to the Church

Chair covers and lottery card favours

Marquee showing silver and white colour scheme

Centre piece and cake detail

Glowing candles and sparkley trees

The wedding was kept on schedule by the toastmaster, Vanessa King, and the moving images of the day were filmed by the lovely Damo at Reel60. If you want to see more of the images from the day, please take a look at our Flickr page.

Victoria getting ready

Outside Christ Church, Chorleywood

Victoria & Ben at Micklefield Hall

Guests in the gardens at Micklefield Hall

The group shot

Beautiful table flowers and the cake

Father of the bride and Ben giving their speeches

Granny on the dancefloor!

We thought this was wonderful alternative to the traditional thank you card. You could print an 8 page newspaper and send to all your guests!

As posted in a blog by a recent groom - www.crackunit.com

You could get married at the “Shilthorn” – the famous James Bond 007 location from “On her Majesty’s Secret Service”, which sits on a summit and has breathtaking 360 degree views over the snow covered mountains.

You could honeymoon by taking the famous train ride to the Jungfraujoch mountain – named the “top of Europe” – and then stop en-route back down to stay on the mountain surrounded by stunning landscape at the cosy Hotel Bellevue in Kleine Scheidegg, (http:www.scheidegg-hotels.ch). Or, if you fancy being in the hustle and bustle a little bit more (but not too much) you could stay further down the mountain in Wengen, a charming, picture postcard, car free village where we recommend the Hotel Regina (http:www.hotelregina.ch) for traditional alpine luxury.

Finally, if you fancy something more modern in style and design, we suggest staying nearby in Adelboden at The Cambrian. Listed with Mr & Mrs Smith hotel directory (http://www.mrandmrssmith.com) this hotel would make the perfect honeymoon stop, whether you want the winter thrill snow action, the summer serenity for walks, or simply to enjoy the spa while taking in the views!

Here are some photos of the areas described to wet your appetite and have you dreaming of a holiday if nothing else. Now, back to work … a busy summer of weddings at the ready… and where are those swiss chocolates?! ….

the mountain train

the valley

skiers in front of the famous north face of the Eiger

Wengen Village Church

The Bellevue hotel, Kleine Scheidegg

'The Start Bar' at the top of the famous Lauberhorn race, Wengen

Run by Josie and Dan – oh yes grooms-to-be, you can have your very own male planner – Savoir Weddings work with couples who want to do something a little bit different and step away from tradition. “We felt there were many companies catering for more conventional weddings but we wanted to offer something for those who wanted to do things differently” says Josie. In particular, Savoir specialise in planning festival style weddings (both Josie and Dan have a background in music events), green/eco friendly weddings, home receptions and weddings abroad.

Savoir Weddings can come in to help couples at all stages of the planning process. They offer a variety of services from sourcing creative and unique wedding suppliers to consultancy in a particular area, to full planning. “We like to think we make the planning process and day as smooth, relaxed and stress free as possible for all our brides and grooms and help them have a wedding they didn’t even know was possible!” concludes Josie.
http://www.savoirweddings.com

The following are some photographs from weddings Pearl Pictures have photographed in the theme of festival, eco and home reception weddings.

cool musicians

making use of existing materials

home reception

teepees - festival style

flowers from the garden