Where to Sit?

Unless you're a party organiser, you've probably never considered the various weird and wonderful ways in which to tell people where to sit at dinner. But now it's your wedding day, and you want to make it stand out from the crowd, and make it unique to you as a couple.  So here are a few fabulous ideas for place markers - some with the added benefit of special offers for Before the Big Day readers!  And whatsmore, many of them have the double-function of acting as wedding favours - which for the uninitiated - are little gifts for your guests to thank them for coming.

ParDay are offering free shipping on all orders.

Orange 1 are offering 10% off orders of $15 or more until 01/01/10

Art Kitten are offering free shipping with code BIG DAY

Paper Acorn are offering free shipping on orders over $40 with code BIG DAY

Good Guest are offering 20% off with code BIG DAY

Paper Acorn are offering free shipping on orders over $40 with code BIG DAY

Real Wedding: Dayna & Mike

Maybe it's my girly side, but I just love baby pink, so this wedding immediately caught by eye as I was flicking through the fabulous e-zine Utterly Engaged.  Dayna and Mike met at high school, and after many twists and turns, celebrated their big day this September in a flurry of petals and prettiness.  They didn't have a big budget, so all the gorgeous details you see are DIY, which goes to show you can get fantastic, lux-looking results, with a dollop of imagination and a bit of legwork.

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Real Wedding: Stacey & Chris

There's something that really warms the cockles about a simple wedding at home. While it's great to hire a grand or stunning venue, and it's fun to travel abroad to say 'I do', ultimately nothing is more 'you' than celebrating your big day in your own garden. Thanks to their innate sense of style, Stacey and Chris came up with endless gorgeous and immensly steal-worthy details that added up to nothing less than DIY creative genius!  Check out the floral table-cloth, homemade signs and flowers, wish-tree tags and peg cake-toppers - it's wedding-heaven!  Huge thanks to the team at Simply Bloom Photography for their fantastic pictures.

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Guest Posting

It's hard to admit, but sometimes (okay often!) another fabulous blogger has a better idea than me, and today's posting is from the Truly Noted blog, which is run by lovely US graphic designer Colleen Kuerth. Check out her inspirational posting by clicking here. Of course, if you want to use her idea on your own invitations, check out Royal Mail's Smiler service, where you can design your own stamps.

BBD Theme: Flamenco Passion

Feeling inspired to add a touch of flamenco passion to your big day?  Well check out these items below.

Photo Credits - Roses and Lace Cake: Nikole Ramsay; Product Credits - Cake Toppers: Zime, Table Numbers: Tucci Paper Company, Cupcake Wrappers: Orange1,  Reversable Table Cloth: Tables Gone Wild , Lace Cards: The Paper Peony, Cupcake Stand: The Cupcake Tower

Product Credits - Clutch Bag: Chapulin, Fan Necklace: Eninaj, Filigree Invitations: Inky Livie, Black Lace Necklace: Live In Style, Fabric Flowers Hair Pin: Fleurette Jo, Hand-Painted Fan: Paloma Sia Designs, Beaded Hair Comb: Sonseeahray, Black Lace Hair Fastener: Stitch n Tyme, Rose Hair Clip: Shop Bonnin, Blossom Note Cards: Turtle Papers,  Flamenco Dancer: Red Clay Sculptress

Real Wedding: Meredith & Scott

It always rains in the UK - that's why so many of us get married abroad - 50,000 a year at the last counting.  But when the heavens opened on Meredith and Scott's big day, it didn't spoil their wedding, they just made a feature of the umbrellas, and smiled through the drips.  There's something particularly special about this garden celebration - you can almost feel the authenticity and affection shining through the pics - and that's thanks to photographer Jessamyn Harris - who's just brilliant at her job!

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Real Wedding: Christine & Michael

Don't you wish you were a bridesmaid at this wedding?  Beautiful bride Christine chose the most gorgeous dresses for her assistants - I love the low round necklines, the elegant cut and the stunning green-grey colour that seems to suit every colouring.  They really will be able to wear their gowns again.  I'm also loving Christine's dress and the pretty pink-and-white bouquets - groom Michael is a lucky man indeed! Thank you to Karen Wise for her lovely shots.

Real Wedding: Christabel & Devon

Fashion isn't really my forté, but I can tell an incredible dress when I see one, and Christabel's gown is a stunner! I just love the ruffles along her petticoat hem, and her shoes are making me a green-eyed monster.  Christabel and Devon kept their ceremony simple but sweet, and I adore the understated elegance of the white rose petals lining the aisle. Sometimes less is more. Big thanks to Christine Chang for her gorgeous photographs, including this first diptych, which was the first moment the happy couple saw each other in their wedding finery!

Happy Halloween!

Ever thought of celebrating your big day in spooky style on 31st October?  If you did, these cake-topper Frankensteins from Baby Gimp would be a must!  I love the detailing - the bride even has a spider-web tattoo on her elbow - how cute!