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Black Pearl Weddings of London is
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Sunday, 17 August 2014

How to pick your wedding theme.


The time has come to plan your wedding, and you aren’t sure exactly how to select a theme, or whether you want a particular theme.

The advantages of having a theme are not only that it reflects your personal styles and tastes, adds a unique touch to your big day, but it also simplifies the process of choosing and organising all the aspects of the day through reducing the amount of options and giving you a clear insight into exactly the types of things you are searching for.

The best place to start is by thinking through the location. The venue will play a major part in choosing your theme. For example, if you wanted a beach wedding, you might consider a Hawaii theme using things such as feather garters or grass skirts.


Once you have selected your venue, it will vastly simplify the process of selecting your theme. The best way to think of the venue for your special day is considering your personal tastes. For example, if you love fairytale weddings, perhaps one of the magical castles in Bavaria (see our previous blog on Divine Destinations) might be the ideal location.

With the venue selected, it’s time to consider how best to incorporate your theme. Black Pearl Weddings would advise that instead of thinking too closely about the minutae, such as wedding favours and table cards, look at the bigger picture, and focus on factors such as colours, venue decoration, and even food. This will create the theme in itself, and you will probably find that the more finite details fall into place as the big day draws closer. Although the wedding dress and suits are a major aspect unto themselves, factors such as hair, make-up, even selection of wedding tie and matching handkerchief for the groom and best man can be coordinated to compliment the theme to finish it off beautifully.


The other major tip is to consider a theme you won’t look back on and regret. If you stop and ask yourself whether it is based on a lifelong favourite thing, or rather a passing fancy, you are more likely to come up with a style that will look impeccable not just at the time of marriage, but also when you look back on it years later, when you and your spouse are fondly remembering your nuptials.

With due thought given to these aspects, you won’t steer yourselves wrong, and by no means allow other people to tell you the sort of theme you want. It is a highly personal choice and must be tailored exactly to you, demonstrating to the world your happiness and exactly how you want to express your love for one another.

Sunday, 10 August 2014

The Urban Vibe


Following our recent blog about urban weddings, Black Pearl Weddings felt it was the perfect time to share one stunning caveat of this stylish theme – urban wedding cakes. The type of cakes in particular that we have really become infatuated with combines traditional cake styles, such as 3 tier, with urban styled icing.


Another sumptuous vogue in cake decoration is incorporating major city skylines on the icing – see below a few beautiful examples such as the London skyline and iconic New York sights.




It is also worth considering adding a few elegant and traditional wedding cake touches to such a style cake to really show how well the juxtaposition between urban and classic chic can really combine to create a beautiful niche style for your special day.


One of the loveliest aspects of urban weddings is that there is no right and wrong, and the way that things can complement each other is far wider ranging than most other wedding themes. It is really a chance to mash up current trends alongside favoured traditional wedding fashions to really reflect your own creativity.

Friday, 1 August 2014

Urban Weddings


One inspired trend that keeps on producing incredible result after incredible result, is Urban-themed Weddings. 

Providing a stand-alone style, Urban Weddings are the ultimate celebration of the time in which we live. With a plethora of architectural styles, matched with a barely, if at all unfurnished finish, some of the venues that one can find to host such a ceremony are all around us in the cities of the world, meaning that there is almost definitely something that will match your vision. 


With some of the most skilled artists in the world favouring graffiti or street art as their artistic expression, many of the buildings feature breath-taking decoration on the exterior that will compliment your photo-shoot in a truly unique way. The way has truly been paved by famed artists such as Banksy and Nick Walker to bring graffiti into the mainstream, making it a relevant and current style, perfect to add that modern edge to your day. Coupled to this, it fits well with the hugely popular conceptual art movement headed by names such as Tracy Emin and Damian Hirst.


The beauty of an Urban Wedding, though, is not just the actual building used for the venue, but the gorgeous juxtaposition that occurs through the traditional style of a wedding set within the venue, deriving a spectacle for all to appreciate. The contrast between vintage and contemporary culminates in truly glamorous chic.


Urban weddings don’t only compliment the traditional wedding style, but act as a canvas to showcase some sumptuous bold colours. One major advantage of unfurnished buildings is their adaptability for design. Virtually no theme or colour combination will look out of place in such a venue.

Sunday, 20 July 2014

A Ballet Beginning


Originating from the Italian Renaissance, and embraced the world over, Ballet is the most graceful form of dance in our opinion, and truly iconic. Ballet was in fact designed as a celebration of love, and pioneered to gesticulate the emotions felt between lovers during their wedding day. This began with the noblemen and women and aristocracy in Italy, but soon spread throughout Europe, developing presence in theatrics and becoming well beloved by all who saw it.


One way to really give your big day a ballet feel, you could hire a ballet dance troupe, or better still, for those lucky enough to have such talent, perhaps a ballet incorporated first dance to complete the finishing touches in an absolutely classic way. To attain the skills required to carry this romantic gesture out, it may be worth attending a few introductory classes to gain familiarity with the "5 Basic Positions".


The very essence of ballet style very much assigns the role of lovers and therefore, whether the dance is ballet or not, the imagery is very befitting of a couple deeply in love and celebrating their joining in matrimony.


Given Black Pearl Wedding’s Love of this mesmerising artistic expression, we have decided to celebrate it with our latest inspiration board depicting a beautiful ballet influence for your wedding theme, tied in with the 2014 wedding trend of combining pink and white into an elegant yet subtle theme.


Images Clockwise from the top left:
Flowers: Trends Eve , Ballerina: The Lovely Find , Chair: White , Cake: Two Little Fig , Decorations: Two Little Figs , Ballet shoes: South Bound Bride.





Sunday, 13 July 2014

Immaculate Manicure DIY Tips


Following our contribution to Julep’s “Perfect Pedi” campaign last week, Black Pearl Weddings feel that the natural follow up is a blog detailing some great advice for DIY Manicure Nail Art.


2014 has seen some spectacular Nail Art trends, and we would like to focus on a particularly pretty one, our personal favourite for the summer, Striping Tape Nail Art.



Effects such as ombre, strips, checks and a huge assortment of other geometrical patterns can be created using striping tape. Striping tape is increasingly available from many online retailers such as Amazon or Ebay, to name but a couple.


Striping tape is the simplest way to generate clean straight lines on your nails. You can apply two or more colours - striping tapes will make the manicure easier. In this example diagonal strips have been applied on top of white. Then the model has added some beautiful blue polish over the white. While it was still slightly damp, the strips are gently removed, and it is all left to dry, before a top coat is applied to protect the design.

For a range of great manicure products, visit Julep, who also have some fabulous tips, and a wonderful article on creating another style, the citrus slice, which is perfect for summer and very in keeping with the 2014 trends, Julep.
















































Sunday, 6 July 2014

“Perfect Pedi” campaign


As the British Summer heads towards its peak, the time to put aside thick socks and heavy shoes beckons. In preparation to don our sandals, flip flops and various other toeless shoes for the summer, there is one thing that we ladies cannot ignore – the need for an impeccable pedicure to complete the image.

And during these sunny months, many brides will also opt to wear open toe shoes, and so Black Pearl Weddings take the opportunity to share some of our tips to achieve the Perfect Pedicure, in conjunction with Julep’s “Perfect Pedi” campaign, to help women the world over have the ideal DIY finish to their divine digits.

Our first pointer is a rudimentary one. Ensure you have adequate supplies. Among the items we recommend that you will need are access to a bath or basin big enough for your feet, polish remover, exfoliating foot scrub, Cuticle Softener, toe separators, base coat, top coat, your polish colour of choice, a towel,  a foot file or pumice, manicure kit, and Plié Wand from Julep.


When you are satisfied that you have all you need to complete the perfect pedicure, fill your bath or basin with warm water, adding in the soap you have chosen, and soak your feet for up to 5 minutes, to soften the skin and nails and enjoy taking a few minutes to relax. 

Having allowed your feet to bathe, gently dry them with your towel so that they are still slightly damp, take your pumice or foot file and rub down the skin around the feet, paying extra attention to those harder areas such as callouses or build ups of hard skin around areas such as the ankle or toes.


Now that you have beautifully soft feet, place them back into the warm water in the bath or basin, and give them a soothing wash with your exfoliating foot scrub which will rinse away any final hard skin or particles that stuck to your feet, leaving them superbly conditioned and pedicure ready. Naturally, after this, it is vital to dry your feet down properly and wash your hands, ready for the next stage.


With gorgeously clean and soft feet, it is now time to pull out that manicure kit to use the clippers and nail file to trim and shape the nails to the style you like. We personally think that toe nails needn’t be cut too short, but not so long as to be impractical, so perhaps a 2 or 3mm lip will be about right. Always be sure to use your emery board to rub beneath the nail while shaping them to prevent breakage or damage to the nail.


It’s now time to put cuticle softener on each nail. Only a small amount is needed, about one drop on each nail, along the cuticles. Leave this for a couple of minutes, and then take out your cuticle pusher from your manicure kit. Softly push the cuticles back as far as you can, and if you choose, trim them down with a cuticle clipper, ensuring it’s only the white loose part you pay attention to, not the living cuticle that protects the nail bed. This will leave your nails now looking pristine, and ready for the polish. But first, another quick wash in the basin or bath to remove the cuticle softener and loose parts of the cuticles.


Begin by applying a base coat, which will be your chosen colour. Always allow each coat the time to dry properly before applying the follow up coat. With the base coat duly applied and set, now add your top coat. To achieve a perfect, equal and longer lasting finish, normally two thin coats are required. To assist with achieving the perfect finish, Juleps’ Plié wand proves an invaluable addition to your supplies.


Finally, once your polish has dried completely, give your feet a massage with your preferred moisturizing lotion/crème to condition them and leave them perfectly pedicured and sandal ready!

Saturday, 5 July 2014

GOWNS GALORE

Black Pearl Weddings are proud to publish this blog, guest authored by up-and-coming Wedding Planner Charlene Nwaka. Charlene has a particular interest in wedding gowns, and here, she has shared a few of her personal favourites. Over to you Charlene:

It goes without saying that every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day (of course). That said, with all the styles, fabrics and details, can too much choice be well, too much? NAH, not in my opinion anyway. Here’s a few I happen to like :)  from my favourite designers . 

First, Lillian West


This beautiful gown is truly a fairytale. Available in ivory and white with its sweetheart neckline and pearl beaded cummerbund bodice which cinches the waist perfectly, tulle buttons drape the back and finishes with a long length train. 
This slim line lace gown features a mandarin neckline and cap sleeves, fitted and flared at the bottom. Tulle covered buttons which flow behind effortlessly also showing off the keyhole back, available in ivory and alabaster. 

My Second favourite designer is Caroline Castigliano



This gown offers something different (which I love) strapless corded lace bodice, diamante cluster brooch, sash and lace beaded completed with an organza skirt.


This silk fish tale style dress features a gorgeous crossover back with organza straps, corded lace bust cups and pleated cumber band, floaty, flowy, fabulous. 

And for you curvier brides Madeline Gardner has designed a stunning, flattering collection known as Morilee.


This gown really compliments the curvier woman, classic and elegant. Sweetheart neckline, crystal beads on a lovely soft net over Chantilly lace, available in ivory and white.


This gown features a gorgeous delicate detail on the bodice and lower half. Thick straps for that extra support and finishing with buttons down the back, a real stunning look available in white, silver, ivory and light gold.

Well, that concludes my favourite wedding gowns for all you future brides

HAPPY WEDDING

Charlene N X