Richard and Sarah’s Devonshire Wedding

Today I have another wedding from the utterly fabulous Owl and Pussycat Wedding Photography.

Richard and Sarah had been planning their wedding for  two years. That’s the way they do things down in Devon. No rushing.  All in good time.  We were the first people they booked, and then it was another year before they confirmed the venue. Still, it was worth waiting for – St Elizabeth’s House a stunning new boutique hotel just outside of Plympton. It’s run by Teresa and her daughter Elena.  The perfect setting for what was going to be a very special day of family celebration.  Sarah looked a dream in her exquisite figure hugging dress came from Prudence Gowns in Plymouth.  Shampoo Planet  styled Sarah’s hair,  while stylist Becci looked after the bridesmaids hair. Make up was by Jemma at The Body Shop. The bridesmaids dresses came from The Wedding Company in Plympton.  The gorgeous flowers were by Watts Florist and the cake from Dizzys  For the girls Sarah chose a stretch limo from Westcountry Limos  while Richard had a rather more rakish tourer from Harewood Cars.  The evening entertainment was a family affair withChris,  Richard’s brother-in-law, AKA the groove meister of Small Print Discos spinning the discs, and old friends Night School Band laying down some of the meanest licks this side of the River Tamar.  As a sea port, Plymouth has a long tradition of evening entertainment.  It might not be sea shanties anymore but this lot know how to party!

The World of Monty Manatee

Did the race for life in Penzance Wed night with my mum, auntie and friend. We were with the wimps (walkers) but quite pleased with our time (52 mins) even though my husband has reliably assured me that it is a RUBBISH time! charming! Have pulled something in the top of my leg that is still hurting and I am now hobbling around like an old goat, dragging said leg behind me. Will post some pics of race (prob just the before ones!!) at the weekend. Hope everybody looking forward to the longest weekend in history – how exciting! fingers crossed for beach-weather. Regular readers know that chair cover offer ended yesterday but due to my fantastic mood I will extend it to Jubilee Tuesday (£1.50 each chair including set-up and sash) If you want to discuss – please ring me.  Also don’t forget to enter my competition to win bespoke wedding favours for your guests. All you have to do is like my facebook page. V easy. Must be 2 winner. Competition also ends Jubilee Tuesday. Have a fantastic weekend everyone x x

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers and run regional wedding forums

Win Wedding Favours

Win Wedding Favours

I have run this competition before but nobody won because the competition rules I imposed were too strict (and badly explained) I have learnt my lesson (hopefully). There must be a winner! In fact there must be 2 winners!

The Prize:

I have two sets of 70 bespoke wedding favours to win for your guests. The wedding favour boxes will be printed with your own design, personal and unique to you and your wedding and filled with sweets or chocolates!!

Closing Date: Tuesday 5^th June 6pm

How to Enter:

“like” my facebook pages (if you don’t already like it): Monty Manatee Weddings and Art

Then get your facebook friends to like it too.Easy!

Probably the best way to do this is update your facebook status a few times with something like:

“hey everyone, I’m trying to win a wedding competition – please could you like “Monty Manatee Weddings and Art” for me and then let me know when you’ve done it. Thanks!”

The closing date is Jubilee Tuesday 5th June 6pm – so if you regularly update your facebook status with this message over the next few days you should be in with a chance. Make sure you know which of your friends have liked my page and email me their names (as proof) sometime before the closing date and time – I will know their names already as I will be able to see them on my likes list – what I won’t know is to whom the friends belong!

THE TWO PEOPLE WITH THE MOST FRIENDS TO LIKE MY PAGE WILL BE THE WINNERS!

The two winners will be announced on Thursday June 6th

Good Luck!

The World of Monty Manatee

I needed some advice on sourcing chair covers last week so rather than blindly forage my way through the internet, I called up someone whom I thought would be able to advise me and she did. Word of mouth is definitely the best recommendation you can get. If someone you know has insider knowledge – you’re more likely to listen to them. This is what I believe, which is why I set up the Regional UK wedding forums. These forums are a place where brides can discuss and swop tips on wedding products and services they have used. You can find out more about them here.

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers and run regional wedding forums

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

Photo: Lifeline Photography

Karen and Bruce’s Traditional, Scottish Wedding

The next in my real weddings features is Karen and Bruce’s wedding.

Karen and Bruce married at Sprouston Church with a reception at Springwood Hall, at the Border Union Showground.

The photography is by the brilliantly talented and passionate wedding photographer:  Pictorial Photography

About Sarah of Pictorial Photography:

“I hope you can see that I totally love what I do, whether it’s creating and photographing meaningful, fun experiences for those you love, capturing the best day of your life or ensuring that your business is represented at it’s very best.  It’s just fantastic to meet and get to know my clients, people like you who value the importance of great photography.

I’ve been a professional photographer for 10 years now and have built my business, Pictorial Photography since 2006.  I feel that the success of Pictorial Photography lies not only in exceptional customer service but also in my ability to put people at ease in front of the lens, using an intuitive approach to create a very personal and unique style of contemporary portraiture.

My fundamental aim is to really capture the spirit and personality of everyone I photograph.  To me, successful photography is all about being natural and spontaneous and of course having loads of fun.”

The World of Monty Manatee

There is a brand new range of unique Monty Manatee save the date cards in the offing. I’ve been working on them while I’ve been in Cornwall and I hope to be able to reveal them next Tuesday. They are blooming ACE if I do say so myself (and I do!)

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers and run regional wedding forums

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

DIY Boutonnieres and Buttonholes

Top tips for DIY boutonnieres or buttonholes

DIY buttonholes (or boutonnieres) are actually quite easy to make if you’re a crafty sort anyway (and you’re safe to be left alone with hot glue) Treat the project as if you are going to make a brooch (albeit one which ties in with your wedding colours and theme and is going to be worn by a man)

Take the your buttonhole / boutonniere materials (flowers / buttons / recycled whatever) and make sure that the way you put them together, includes a long stalk or stem of some kind. Apply hot glue to the stem and wrap ribbon around it, up and down, round and round, so that it covers the stem completely. To the back of the ribbon, once the glue has dried – add a safety pin or badge back so that the buttonhole / boutonniere can be fastened onto your clothes. For some novel ideas please see my boutonniere / corsage inspiration board.

The World of Monty Manatee

A new jubilee weekend competition to be launched tomorrow – win all your wedding favours! I have run this competition before and it was very popular but I made it too complicated and too restrictive. I’ve learnt my lesson, you’ll be pleased to here and this time there must be two winners! As long as at least two people enter, two people will win – bespoke, personalised wedding favours for your guests! WOOOOO

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers and run regional wedding forums

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

photo: lifeline photography

Do men wear engagement rings?

Do Men Wear Engagement Rings?

Michael Bublé famously did! Male engagement rings tend to be less elaborate than women’s rings, with just a few very small stones or an inscription set into a band. One thing to be aware of is that possibly more traditional family members, upon seeing the engagement ring, will assume that is is a wedding ring and that the wedding has already taken place. That said, the male engagement ring is increasing in popularity. Here’s a few great wedding jewellery blogs: Cushion cut engagement ring, purely diamonds, Designer engagement rings Andrew Geoghegan,

The World of Monty Manatee

I’m in Cornwall this week and  I’m doing the race for life. You don’t have to run it, do you? I don’t even have any trainers..it’s the taking part that counts, right? Met a beautiful Cornish bride in Truro today (with a fantastic, unusual wedding colour (purple, but not as we know it) Looking v. forward to working with her and her husband to be…

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers and run regional wedding forums

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

Photo: http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/michael-buble-and-the-man-gagement-ring.html

Cupcake Bouquet

Cupcake Bouquet

I’ve heard of button bouquets but a cupcake bouquet? Really? Really! There is a company called cupcake bouquet who decorate and package cupcakes to look just like real flowers. Totally unique. Totally nuts. You’d be tempted to chomp wouldn’t you? You’d have to have a little taste, just a tiny one, to check that they were as delicious as they look. How long would you wait? Until after the ceremony? Oh, come on! A couple of glasses of champagne while you get ready needs to be washed down with a few cupcake crums….if only to line your stomach..Note to vendor: It is a lovely idea but I do hope you send a sample cupcake alongside the bouquet, to stop the nibblings of a curious bride…!

The World of Monty Manatee

My house has been overrun with chair covers! I need you to hire them – I need them out the house as often as possible! Help me out! Thursday is the last day at my rock-bottom offer prices, so get in touch asap

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers and run regional wedding forums

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

Photo: Cupcake Bouquet

Beautiful Boat and Beach Wedding

I have a fabulous Cornish beach wedding for you this afternoon, brought to you by none other than the fantastic Morwenna photography, who, not only are  generally wonderful but  also have been finalists in the West Country Wedding Awards for the last four years!!

About Morwenna Photography

“We are a husband and wife team (Allan and Kim Gouldson) working with son Joe Hogarth and assistant photographer Julia Hobday. Although we do cover all areas of photography we specialise in Wedding and Portrait Photography.

You will see from our testimonials that we work hard as a team to ensure that we do achieve the best results for our clients.

We hope that you will take a look at our Portfolios and Galleries and want to find out more about what we can do for you.

Our Studio at Stratton View Business Park is “Open by appointment only” but we are always contactable by telephone seven days a week from 7am until 10pm ( 01288 356504 – there is an answer phone, please leave a message and we will get back to you) or by email morwenna.photo@btinternet.com“

And here are the pics: Beverley and Martyn’s wedding took place at The Bullers Arms, Marhamchurch, Bude 12th May 2012.  The couple look so genuinely happy throughout! A beautiful wedding!

The World of Monty Manatee

I’ve been sorting out designs for a couple of Cornish-wedding brides this week, both of whom have extremely good taste! I could make some comment about us Cornwall folk being an inspiration to us all and how we should pay close attention to all things Cornish (but that’s such an obvious fact, I don’t want to bore you all he he) Anyway it’s always a a delight when the spec given is right up your street! While I draw away my toddler son sits besides me and makes his own designs (usually variations on cloud or snake-shapes with elaborately poetic names, such as “a car and a tractor crashing at nighttime with snow on a mountain” New designs on here soon…along with some fab new save the dates!

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers and run regional wedding forums

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

The Wedding Toastmaster

What is a wedding toastmaster?

A toastmaster announces the different wedding ceremonial procedures, such as the receiving line, the speeches and cutting the cake. He / she directs everybody to make sure they are in the right place at the right time and that they know what they are doing, as well as what is expected of them. Phew! Quite a task! The toastmaster is a formal accessory to the wedding but one which is invariably useful. He / she will make sure the whole reception runs smoothly.

If you don’t want to pay for a professional toastmaster, you could simply appoint a best man or bridesmaid in the role (preferably one who does not mind addressing a crowd) and inform them of their duties, which consist of managing all reception events to ensure they run smoothly and that wedding proceeding occur in the right order.

• He or she will announce the receiving line, meals, speeches, toast and cake-cutting.
• He or she will make sure the guests and hosts know what they are doing and that they are in the right place at all times
• He or she must smooth over any problems or disagreements the guests might have
• Professional toastmasters often help in the planning stages of the wedding too.
• Essentially, the toastmaster takes the stress out of the day for the bride and groom by keeping everyone happy, trouble-shooting and generally managing the day so the couple don’t have to
• Some v.professional-looking wedding toastmasters are Andrew Morgan, Richard Palmer, Timothy Lee, Allen Stocken and Jonathan Waterman (tends to be blokes!?! If you have any recommendations, I’d be grateful if you’d  leave them as a comment below)

The World of Monty Manatee

My luuurvely new chair covers arrived this week. How sad to get excited about a chair cover! They are white damask with such a pretty pattern. I am not ashamed to say that I put the sample on my own dining chair and ate my tea, sat upon it! How some people live, eh?! I admit I regretted it a bit when baby G wiped his yoghurty mouth along the hem. Pic of new covers (before yoghurtgate)

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers and run regional wedding forums

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

Photo: toastmasterdevon.co.uk/toastmastertestimonials

Top Tips for Beautiful Bridal Nails

Top Tips for Beautiful Bridal Nails

• (If you’re a nail-biter) To be in with a chance of good nails on the day, you need to kick the habit 6 months beforehand
• (If you’re a nail-biter) Wearing nail varnish might help you to stop biting as it protects your nails and also pretty nails might make you think twice about ruining them
• Clip your nails regularly to promote growth
• Keep a nail file on you, so you’re not tempted to bite rough edges
• Use a hand cream to keep your hands moisturised and without hard skin
• Wear gloves when washing up, to protect from washing up liquid
• If you’re going to have your nails done professionally, have a trial run to make sure you like them

You can see my bridal nails inspiration board here – lots of differently beautiful nails

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers.

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

Chair Covers:

The chair cover offer is only on until the end of the month. For all details see here:

Please like my facebook page to be in with  chance of winning a wedding thumbprint tree guestbook in my monthly draw

Regional UK Wedding Forums

To share advice with brides in your area about local wedding suppliers, venues and services please see my regional wedding forums

Photo: Lifeline Photography

Sweet Bar Inspiration

Vintage Sweet Bar

Sweet bars are great! Who has not been thrilled to discover a sweet bar at a wedding you’ve been attending? Even if you think you don’t want sweets, you do! And, for some reason sweets don’t seem to make you fat. How can this be? All my friends who are crazy about chocolate have a definite tendency to put on weight, but those who like sweets; all terribly skinny! Sweet bars are all the rage at modern weddings and what better way than to say thank you to your guests for their support and generosity, than by ordering a sweet bar- beats favours any day! I can provide fully-stocked sweet bars of all shapes, styles and colours for the extremely reasonable ongoing sum of just £90 – BUT HANG ON…I can feel an offer coming on…I’ll charge £75 for a sweet bar that caters for 100 guests, if you order before the the 6th June. The sweet bar will be  personally styled to your wedding and include (with the sweets and their holders) scoops, signs and bags (signs and bags will also be styled to your wedding) I’ll even send you a photo of a mock-up of your sweet bar before your wedding, so you’ll have a chance to make any changes to the design you might wish. To enquire please email or ring me…

Some Sweet Ideas:

Rustic Sweet Bar

Carnival Sweet Bar

Christmas Sweet Bar

Simply Purple Sweet Bar

About Monty Manatee Designs : I do original, affordable wedding stationery, wedding favours, wedding styling and wedding chair covers.

If you enjoy reading this blog I would be very grateful if you would nominate me for the next-cosmoplitan blog awards. It will only take two seconds of your time and all you have to do is give your email address and my URL which is www.montymanatee.wordpress.com (I think you can win next vouchers for nominating too!)

Current Offers

Wedding Chair Covers £1.50 (including sash and set-up)until end of May. See link for details.

Please like my facebook page to be in with  chance of winning a wedding thumbprint tree guestbook in my monthly draw

Regional UK Wedding Forums

To share advice with brides in your area about local wedding suppliers, venues and services please see my regional wedding forums