blog

Black Pearl Weddings of London is
a superior boutique wedding planning
and consultancy service.


Sunday 25 August 2013

Don't forget the kids.


When planning your wedding, it is vital not to forget the younger guests. Inevitably, a portion of your guests are going to bring their children. Therefore, consideration has to be given to their shorter attention span so that the experience can be as enjoyable for those of more tender years.

With this in mind, Black Pearl Weddings are sharing some of our favourite ways to keep children of all ages entertained.

Firstly, a simple way to keep the children occupied during the ceremony, which can seem lengthy for the younger ones, is perhaps to have portable/hand held computer games or tablet pc available, with a selection of games. By using the silent setting or having the volume turned down low, disruption can be avoided while preventing our young guests from becoming bored.

With the ceremony out of the way, it's time to look at making the reception child friendly.

One of the key points is to remember the entertainment. Whilst wedding planning will usually incorporate sourcing ideal entertainment for the adults, the children will benefit even more from carefully selected entertainment. Whatever style you choose, be it music, magic, comedy or anything else, take the opportunity to methodically vet your entertainer, ensuring that the act is able to appeal to children of all ages, and has ample acts to truly capture the attention of the younger guests. If possible, go and see the entertainer in action prior to booking, to get a real idea of what is on offer.

Another simple but highly effective treat for the younger guests is to provide a create your own desert table. This sure fire success will please everyone and can be achieved on a lower budget.

Consider a kids corner, room or tent set up with games or computer games, that will serve as a way to bring the children together and really interact. It could be worth setting up an arts and crafts area, or even offer a team building set of exercises like sports or the tug of war, with adequate supervision.

There are some old fashioned traditions that simply cannot be overlooked. Bouncy castles, fancy dress, face painting and party bags are all tried and tested activities that never fail to please younger guests, and really liven up their day.

Whilst it is great to offer these activities, it is also worth having a chat with the parents prior to the day, so that the kids can bring their favourite toys; therefore they will have something that is familiar and comforting.
It is also absolutely crucial to allow the children the chance to come and join the adult activities; kids will always light up the dance floor and show real appreciation for great entertainment.

A final suggestion is to have professionals on hand. A mobile crèche or professional babysitter will come at a reasonable price, and knowing that your children are well looked after and safe while they are enjoying the day will give the parents in attendance a chance to let down their hair and enjoy themselves free from stress.

Sunday 18 August 2013

Matrimonial Mocktails


A tradition that began in the 1980's, which has found itself becoming increasingly popular, is celebrating occasions with Mocktails, the gorgeous alcohol free cocktail drinks that can be enjoyed by all.


A tasteful alternative for a stunning wedding toast, Mocktails offer a multitude of benefits. Providing a selection of some of the most delightful combinations of flavours, aesthetically pleasing, and a perfect way to really personalise your toast with a drink that will reflect your tastes, this is a sure fire way to really capture the imagination of your guests.

Mocktails are more than just visually stimulating drinks though, as they yield a multitude of benefits. From enabling the younger guests to participate in the toast, or including any pregnant guests (or possibly the bride), choosing this non-alcoholic substitute also offers health benefits, with a wide range of vitamins and nutrients in each drink, eliminating hangovers, and keeping the atmosphere light hearted. It will also allow non-drinking guests to fully enjoy the occasion without feeling conscious, and is especially well suited for Sunday weddings, with the guests able to imbibe as many drinks as they wish, sample every flavour, and still feel great the following day.

Black Pearl Weddings would like to share with you a list of our favourite Mocktails and the recipes to create the perfect non-alcoholic beverage for you and your guests.

First we would like to present the recipe for the indomitable Virgin Mojito

Virgin Mojito

Ingredients:
1 oz Lime Juice
4 oz Soda Water
6 Mint Leaves
2 tsps Brown Sugar

Prepare in glass

Preparation:

Add the lime juice, brown sugar and mint leaves in a Highball glass.
Bruise a few mint leaves using a spoon so that their juice can get out.
Let this mix rest for a few hours for best results.
Fill the glass with ice and stir.
Top with Club Soda (or Sprite).
Add a twig of mint for decoration.


Next, the legendary classic Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple

Ingredients:
1⁄2 oz Grenadine
4 oz Ginger Ale

On the Rocks

Preparation:

Add grenadine in a highball glass half-filled with ice cubes.
Top with ginger ale. Some use Sprite instead.
Garnish with a Maraschino cherry and/or and orange wedge.


Another classic we absolutely have to share is the delectable Cinderella

Cinderella

Ingredients
1 part Orange Juice
1 part Pineapple Juice
3 Lime Wedge
1 Lemon

Prepare in shaker


Preparation:

Muddle lemon and lime.
Shake with pine and orange juice over ice.
Strain into a prechilled tulip glass over ice.


This take on the Bloody Mary is a serious contender for any chic occasion

Virgin Mary

Ingredients:
4 oz Tomato Juice
1 dash Lemon Juice
2 drops Tabasco
1 pinch Celery Salt
0.5 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
Method: On the Rocks

Preparation:

Rim a tall glass with celery salt.
Fill the glass with ice.
Pour in all ingredients, keeping the tomato juice last.
Stir.
Serve with a celery stick.



And Finally, a favourite among younger guests

Elimary cocktail

3 oz Pineapple Juice
1 tsp Grenadine
4 oz Lemonade
2 Raspberry
1 part Lime Wedge

Prepare in glass

Preparation:
Put lemonade juice in a wine class
Add Pineapple juice
Drop slowly 2 raspberries
Add a piece of lime and a straw

Sunday 11 August 2013

Neon Nuptials


With the 2013 Wedding Season truly at its apex, Black Pearl Weddings are already looking to 2014, and the trends emerging in the forthcoming wedding scene.And so, we thought what better place to start our journey that with wedding fashion. 

The use of bold neon colour is a fashion that has become so beloved recently, that it promises to continue as strongly in 2014, if not even more so. While such daring colour may unnerve the cautious, bright neon styling can prove an extremely fun and visually pleasing option when done with care.


The injection of splashes of colour in a subdued setting can create a truly delightful atmosphere; we have all learned that colour has powerful stimulation on the brain, with positive benefits including heightened senses of excitement, happiness, and increased energy and enthusiasm. This shared impact will definitely impact upon the pleasure of the occasion.

Neon colours can be used on everything from flowers, to table decoration, to the wedding dress itself. And though less is sometimes more, keeping the theme throughout your styling in an elegant way is one sure fire way to really make your wedding a day for all to fondly remember.


One Parisian treasure we find is a breath of fresh air in wedding fashion is non-other than the spectacular and accomplished Max Chaoul. With his bold use of Neon colour, coupled up with the use of varied classic design styles, he has truly managed to collaborate vintage chic with edgy contemporary twists. 

With worldwide acclaim, and adoring clients from every corner of high society, Max Chaoul designs are absolutely revolutionary to the traditional wedding styles, creating a whole new set of opportunities to put flair into your styling and design.


With such a wealth of inspiration, Black Pearl Weddings could not help but create our latest stunning inspiration board, showcasing the beauty of Neon colour.


Image Sources
(Clockwise from the top left)
Image 1: Brides Magazine
Image 2: All Women Stalk
Image 4: Pinterest.com
Image 5: Polka Dot Bride
Image 6 : Max Chaoul Couture

Monday 5 August 2013

The Splendid Swinging 60's


The 1960's was a decade that proved a major transition in fashions, spawning many styles that are still in relevant within current day designs.


Black Pearl Weddings feel that as the British summer reaches its crescendo, this is a milestone in our history and culture that deserves reflection. In this weeks blog post, we will be considering the influences the decades social revolution has over weddings and fashion even today.


One of the first and main aspects of the 1960's that comes to mind is the "Hippy" movement. The principles that drove forward this movement include "Non-conformism", "Flower Power", "Free-spiritedness" and "Spreading love and peace", all of which will strike a chord to some extent with those planning their wedding. These principles can prove a strong guidance in styling your wedding, in that it encourages individuality and unique styling, whilst remembering that the day is a celebration of the love shared between two people, and the love others have for the happy couple.

In keeping with the social beliefs of this era, outdoor weddings can easily incorporate and reflect the love of our natural environment, as appreciated with tree hugging, self sufficiency and the use of tents and the forever classic VW Campervan, the 1960's offers a wealth of inspiration for gorgeous outdoor ceremonies and festival-esque reception parties that will be impressive and enjoyable by any standards.


It would be impossible not to reminisce the music scene of the 1960's, with some of the most memorable acts in the last century peaking during what was a seminal era for the global music scene. With acts such as the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys or of course the unforgettable Glastonbury and Woodstock festivals, the list of artists can continue for hours. A huge amount of the current music scene is still influenced by these artists, and with an almost endless array of tribute acts, it is easy to garner inspiration for your wedding music to really enhance the happy and loving atmosphere.


Equally, it was at that time that the world became more inclined towards vegetarianism and veganism, another aspect of the Hippy lifestyle. Some cuisine of the highest calibre is produced by and for vegetarians, with famous chefs such as Yotam Ottolenghi, Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson or Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall proudly producing sumptuous dishes that would have been celebrated throughout the 60's. One huge advantage of selecting vegetarian cuisine is that it's pallatability is suitable for everyone, and some of the greatest imaginable flavours can be created without the use of meats.

And finally, it would be utterly impossible to appreciate the nostalgic influence of the 60's, without paying our credence to the enduring advancements in fashions. It was at this time that the world was introduced to the legendary photographer David Bailey, photographer to the fashion industry ad stars of the time, among his interests, who helped to truly revolutionise the methodology of styling photo shoots.


At the forefront of the fashion revolution were designers including the esteemed Mary Quant, Pierre Cardin, John Rocha, and Barbara Hulanicki, famed for pioneering mini skirts, flares, flowing dresses and skirts, headbands, and using beads to embroider or as an accessory. Neatly trimmed and flat outfits with lavish displays of bold colours became increasingly popular, as did flat shoes and kitten heels. The pervasive influence of this use of colour and at the time revolutionary style and shape of clothing still inspire designers season after season.

Image Source

Image 1 - Henry Roth
Image 2 - Bridal Musings
Image 3 - Max Chaoul
Image 4 - Photography Farm
Image 5 - The Beatles
Image 6 - Styleite.com