Tag Archives: dress code

The Wedding Diary: Invites

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First, I have to apologise for not updating my Wedding Diary as often as I should. I assure you the wedding is being planned but I underestimated how hard it would be to run a magazine, publish a book while writing another one, be a freelance writer, act and go to auditions, finish two scripts and plan a wedding all at once. I am also sure I missed something out there. To top it all off: we are also moving a couple of days after our wedding. That won’t be stressful at all….

weddinginvitationsSo for my first of many catch-up entries I am going to start with the invites. Now a lot of wedding invites are incredibly expensive. You are talking hundreds of pounds for a piece of cardboard. We were shocked at the prices. If you add in save the date cards and thank you cards, it would be easy to rack up a thousand pounds if you include postage. So what is a frugal girl to do? Ebay. Obviously.

We got beautiful, personalised invitations for a very reasonable price. I won’t show the exact ones at the moment because I haven’t sent them out yet and we don’t want to ruin the surprise of people getting them (or have stalkers turn up at our wedding. I have had a few bad experiences in the past). The invitations are beautiful, come with envelopes and are well made and high quality. Just put ‘wedding invitations’ into the search function of Ebay and you can get some amazing ones for under £50.

We didn’t send out save the date cards because of environmental reasons, and also cost. We emailed and called people instead. The wedding industry is a £10 billion industry in the UK so don’t buy something just because you feel you have to.

When it came to the design of our invitations, we wanted something that reflected us and who we are. Family members will probably try and pull you in a certain way, but we wanted ours to be fresh and fun. Our invites are white, with a multicoloured tree. We are in our twenties so we wanted something to reflect that: nothing stuffy. They also came in a very handy, protective plastic case.

If you want to spend more on your invitations then John Lewis do some beautiful ones, and so do Marks and Spencers and VistaPrint. If you are good at DIY you can also make your own.

What to put on your invites

Your names (we included our surnames as we weren’t sure people would know who we were!)

Date and time of the wedding

RSVP details. Include a non-email option for the older guests. Include a deadline for the RSVP. Needed for the catering and seating.

The venue address and the reception address too if it is different.

Your wedding gift list number. We went with John Lewis and Prezola.com

Other options

Parents details. We decided not to do this but you can include either parents or both.  As in: ‘Mr and Mrs Smith invite *guest name*  to the marriage of their daughter, Chloe, to Matt Fox.’

Dress code. We didn’t put one on as everyone knows weddings are formal. I would only include a dress code if it is anything other than formal. For instance: a themed wedding or black tie.

You can, of course, put whatever you want on your invitations. It is your wedding.

What will you put?

 

My wedding book is out now. If you are getting married then check out my book The Wedding Survival Guide: How To Plan Your Big Day Without Losing Your Sanity, it has everything you need to know about planning your dream wedding.

 

 

Royal Ascot Style Guide: What To Wear

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Royal Ascot is just around the corner, and for many, the unique dress code, that is so synonymous with the five day festival, can be a sartorial mine field. Fortunately we have a ten step guide to looking your best and avoiding any awkward faux pas.

Royal Ascot Fashion

1)   In general: Sartorial Sage and Former Editor of Vogue, Diane Vreeland once said, “Elegance is refusal” and the same goes for Royal Ascot – understated elegance is always a winner.

2)        Ladies’ hats: An essential accessory at Royal Ascot and from top hats to berets, flying saucers to feathered fancies, hats of all shapes and sizes will no doubt be on display. Show pieces are all very well and it’s fine to be bold but make sure you don’t scare small children, animals, or for that matter, horses. Avoid the much-maligned fascinator.

3)        Morning Dress: Formal gentlemen’s dress from the 19th century and obligatory if you’re in the Royal Enclosure. Make sure it’s well fitting and neither too tight nor too big. In the words of tailor Matthew Cartwright of Noden & Winsor, “If you don’t know your chest size, find out before it’s too late.”

4)        Top Hat: The fit’s key. Not so big it falls down over your ears and not worn at a jaunty angle.

5)        Dresses: You may well end up in a club after racing but the dress code stipulates that daytime dresses and skirts should be ‘of modest length, defined as falling just above the knee or longer. Straps on dresses should be at least one inch wide. It means anything strapless, or that’s too short or tight should be consigned to your wardrobe.

6)        Pants: For men and women are essential, but should never be on show. Ever.

7)        Shoes: Opt for comfort as you’ll be on your feet all day (hopefully). Chaps, shiny shiny, pointy shoes are not a good idea – patent is out and is not due to make a resurgence any time soon. As for stilettos, girls be aware you will sink on turf. Low-heeled courts are ideal and will avoid you having to purchase a cheeky pair of plastic flip flops at the end of the day, because your brand new heels have made your toes bleed.

8)        Umbrella: It’s Britain. In June. It shouldn’t rain but it might so make sure you’re prepared.

9)        Accessories: Diamonds are acceptable, you’ll be pleased to know. But leave the big shiny watches at home. If it’s large enough and shiny enough to blind a small child (or jockey – they’re around the same height) avoid.

10)     Enjoy: Royal Ascot is one of the most glamorous and exciting weeks of the year. Dress up, enjoy the people watching and cheer on the horses in each of the 30 races taking place over the week.

Royal Ascot runs from Tuesday 18th June to Saturday 22nd June. Featuring 30 top class races, including seven QIPCO British Champions Series contests, it will be broadcast live on Channel 4 for the first time this year from 1.45pm until 6pm each day.