Chair sashes are a great way to add a splash of colour to any wedding venue. They can also add a bit of elegance and modern flair to an otherwise dated room. Sashes are so versatile, you can get them in a large assortment of sizes, colours and materials and they are not as expensive as you might think. Here at UKGirlThing we might be the experts at organising Hen Weekend Activities but we also like to think we know a little about venue decoration as well.

The great thing about chair sashes is that you can be as creative as you want with them. And I’m not just talking about colour. Typically sashes come in either satin or organza but there are plenty of other material options out there. Have you considered Burlap or ribbon? And as for displaying them on your chairs, you don’t have to go with the standard traditional bow. I love the quirky ways you can tie these sashes to add a bi of individualism to your event, so below I show you some more of the unique ways you can tie your chair sash.

The traditional Bow Sash

There’s no denying that the traditional Bow tying method is pretty and it is pretty simple to do. You tie the sash as you would do your shoe laces and fluff the ‘ears’ of the bow up so that it looks symmetrical. But have you thought about adding a diamanté buckle to really add some sparkle and luxury to your venue chairs?

The Knot

Perhaps you are looking for something a little simpler to adorn the backs of your chairs? Then perhaps the Knot is the one for you. Simple but elegant, or you can add a twist by covering the knot with one of the loose ends of the sash, or alternatively slot a single stem flower through the knot so that it sits on the back of each chair. This is a lovely way to tie you chair decorations in with your table centrepieces.

The One Loop Bow

The method is extremely simple but gives a unique and elegant finish. You simply begin to tie the sash as you would a traditional bow but only pull one loop through the knot. You can then pull the knot tight and splay out this loop until it sits perfectly.

The Side Bow Sash

If you’re intention is to have the chairs at your ceremony covered then the side bow sash is perfect for those chairs that will sit along your aisle. By tying the bow to one side it effectively creates a beautiful ‘pew end’ decoration to really highlight your aisle. To add a quirky twist why not tie the sash diagonally across the back of the chair?

The Diagonal Sash with Bow

If the chairs for your event look pretty in their own right and you are quite happy to have them ‘naked’ but just wish to add some colour, have you considered the diagonal sash with bow? This method is really quirky and unusual. You simply tie the sash as a loop but weaving it between the spokes of the back of the chair, tie a pretty bow so that it sits in the bottom left corner of the back of the chair and voila!

The Vertical Sash

For something really different take a look at the vertical chair sash. This method is best used on ‘naked’ chairs however it is really effective and would certainly add some wow factor. Rather than tying the sash horizontally around the middle of the back of the chair tie the sash vertically along the centre of the back of the chair and finish with a knot or a bow.

So there you go, my top 6 different ways to tie a chair sash, now all you need to do is pick your colour sash and decide which way you want to tie it!

This blog was written by Rebecca Lee of UKGirlThing.co.uk. The Number 1 Hen party planning company providing hundreds of Hen Weekend Activities

We think that most brides face a gargantuan task when it comes to planning their wedding. Unless money is not an option there is a battle between wanting the best for your wedding and sticking to a budget. This is the most important day of your life so far so why shouldn’t you have the best? Luckily for you we have a few tips that will make sure you still have fantastic wedding table decorations without blowing your budget.

1. Confetti – Did you really expect to come to a confetti website and not come across some confetti? It is actually perfect for decorating a wedding table on a budget. It can be bought in bulk (so to speak) and even comes in multipacks of individual table packets. This way you are saving money and also have the correct amount chosen to fill an average sized wedding table. Plus, the different designs and colours available mean you can choose the confetti to suit your colour scheme and really make the tables shimmer and sparkle.
2. Place Cards – Do not underestimate the impact place cards can have on your table. It really helps guests to feel special by giving them that individual touch. They also come in different colours, cards, and patterns, so they can really complement your wedding table lay-out. The best thing is though they are basically paper or card, so are inexpensive. You can also buy in bulk to reduce the cost down even further.
3. Disposable Cameras – Okay, so cameras may not seem like an obvious choice for cutting costs but these are disposable remember. In this digital age the price of disposable cameras has shot  right down – if you once again buy several you can get them for a couple of pound a table. This is low when you consider how much enjoyment and memories can stem from them; and you can find some inoffensive and nice looking ones that won’t spoil the look of your tables!
4. Bubbles – By this we mean small bubble blowing accessories that can be placed on your wedding tables. Every guest needn’t have one so 2 or 3 per table would do just fine. A large pack is inexpensive anyway so you can decorate a lot of tables for little money. Are you beginning to see a theme here? Buying in mass is definitely the way forward.
5. Sugared Almonds – These may seem a little clichéd but in fact they are just traditional and have been for some time. In fact, sweet almonds have been associated with marriage for thousands of years so you are giving your guests a bit of history as well. Simply find some decorative dishes or something attractive to wrap them in and dish them out per table or even per person. You can purchase sugared almonds by the kilo so it really isn’t going to drain you.

As you can grasp the key is to buy in bulk and reduce the overall costing. These are all wedding classics that will really adorn your wedding tables beautifully and affordably. Next time we’ll be talking about some hen party ideas so until then have a great day!

This blog was written by Luke Mulligan of Henstuff.co.uk. Henstuff is your number one online shop for all hen night accessories.

Confetti can often be seen as something reserved for Weddings, birthdays, and Christmas. But this just isn’t the case. There are plenty of opportunities to add an element of ‘Party’ throughout the year and your Hen Party Activities are no exception. Let me explain some of the ways of incorporating beautiful confetti into your Hen Party.

Real petal confetti can add an element of indulgence and a sense of luxury to a room for pamper treatments. Whether you have opted for a full destination spa package for your hen weekend or are treating your girls to some treatments at your home or hotel why not add some real petal confetti in the Bride-to-Be’s favourite colour to the room? It will help create the perfect environment for relaxing massages and facials. Ahhh bliss!

You may be staying at home for your Hen party or venturing further field and staying in a hotel. Either way, add a little bit of luxury to your surroundings by adding some gorgeous rose petal confetti and candles to the bathroom and bedroom so that whilst you are soaking in the bath before getting ready for your big night out you can soak in the relaxing atmosphere and leave feeling chilled out and ready for the nights events.

Confetti also makes the perfect addition to any gift. Why not treat the girls on your hen and give them a Hen Party Gift Bag full of Hen Party goodies such as a sash, a badge and perhaps a shot glass and sprinkle in some pretty confetti too to add that personal touch? Or even fill a pretty organza bag with a handful of confetti for the hens to shower over the Bride to be on the dance floor during your night out and include this in your gift bag?

If you’re going out for a meal as part of your Hen Party why not add to the party atmosphere and sprinkle some confetti on the table along with some Hen Party poppers? They can really set the party mood for the evening and everyone loves to pull a party popper right?

There are plenty more ways you can include confetti in your hen party but we hope this article has inspired you!

This blog was written by Rebecca Lee of UKGirlThing.co.uk. The UK’s Number 1 Hen party planning company.

The colour of wedding table decorations has the power to set the vibe for your guests, so you need to choose wisely. And, with it being springtime, there’s a myriad of colours to choose from.

Melt, a manufacturer of beautiful scented candles, is here to help you with some popular wedding colour ideas for spring.

Spring weddings are always fun since the season represents rebirth and renewal, which is ideal for a couple who is beginning their life together.

While there’s several colour combinations introduced each year by designers for spring, depending on style, there are a few shades that always remain the same.

So, when choosing your confetti, candles and other tables decorations, consider using these colour combos.

Orange

Soft colours really work well in springtime, so pairing orange with a vibrant green will work great for your decorations. If you green isn’t for you, try orange and grey, which will go well with the groom’s tux.

Incidentally, orange scented candles with floral scents would work really well with this combination as a table centrepiece.

If you do opt for a candle for your table centrepiece it needs to be large.

Handmade, wholesale candles are, of course, the best quality. Also, ensure you use a high-quality candles retailer, especially because it’s a romantic occasion. There is no skimping on quality when it comes to your wedding.

Blue

Talking of soft, baby blue looks fantastic when combined with white. Also, combining a bolder blue with white and violet will work just as well – it’s very popular and is likely to continue to be a spring favourite.

Pink

A classic spring and wedding colour, pink can be combined with white or blue for a really lively colour scheme.

There are lots of shades to choose from, and most will work equally well. Pink scented candles are also great as table centrepieces in spring.

Yellow

Spring and yellow are synonymous…and when mixed with grey and white, it really does feel like springtime. If you decide on white, opt for a soft of golden.

Violet

Rich violet mixed with white is a real spring classic. If you are looking for a modern, vibrant try using violet mixing it with a deep turquoise blue.

It also goes well with a little pink, for a traditional colour scheme.

Arrangement

Arrange your decorations in a creative and personal way. Using some freshly cut flowers or some luxury scented candles can make all the difference.

Real petals scattered on tables are a great way to add the finishing touch. Rose, delphinium and hydrangea are all popular choices and add that extra essence of springtime to your wedding- these are also perfect to use as confetti.

Thanks to The Melt Company for this guest article.

Here at UKGirlThing we aren’t just full of Hen Night Ideas, we’ve compiled a list of the top ways to use your left over confetti.

1. We’re in no doubt that yourself and your new husband or wife were showered with gifts on your wedding day. Now that the honeymoon is over and the toaster has taken pride of place in the kitchen it’s time to thank all of the lovely people who attended your special day. Why not use your left over confetti as an added special touch by including a small amount with your thank you cards. The recipient will be surprised when it flutters from the envelope and they will be reminded of the wedding day.
2. Most new brides will keep a few memento’s of their wedding day in a keepsake box so that they can gaze fondly back at them in years to come. Along with the RSVP’s, place cards and garter why not also include a little organza bag filled with a handful of your confetti?
3. If you used real petal confetti on your wedding day and have some left over why not sneak some on honeymoon with you and scatter them on the bed for an extra romantic touch. You could even scatter them on the table at dinner or in the bath with some candles for a super romantic evening.
4. Your 1^st wedding anniversary is a special one, if your new husband knows what’s good for him he will mark the occasion in some way such as taking you for a meal. The symbol for the 1^st wedding anniversary is paper so what could be more fitting than to scatter the dinner table with confetti from your wedding day? Major brownie points will be earned and we’ll let him have this brilliant idea for free!
5. If your next step after getting married is getting your first house together, you could celebrate crossing the threshold for the first time by throwing some confetti. Or why not add some sentimentality to the housewarming party by using your left over confetti as decorations?
6. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage! You could always safely store away any leftover confetti until the pitter-patter of tiny feet is heard and then use your wedding confetti to celebrate the christening or naming ceremony either to throw or to decorate the tables on your child’s special day.

Whatever you decide to do with your left over wedding confetti we hope that we have inspired you and given you some ideas.

Thanks to UKGirlThing for this guest article.

It can’t just be me who gets excited when you are on the road and see a car all trussed up with ribbons. I’m the one in the car next to it at the traffic lights trying to crane my neck to catch a glimpse of the bride in all of her finery!

Whether you are hiring your transport or providing it yourself, adding ribbons to your ride adds that extra special touch, looks great in photos and is relatively cheap and easy to achieve. Confetti Heaven do a fantastic range of car ribbons and easy to assemble sateen pull bows in a huge range of colours to suit your wedding or party theme. You don’t need to worry about trying to tie professional looking bows yourself, with the sateen pull bows you simply pull two strands of ribbon and voila, a perfect bow to sit on the bonnet of your car.

If you are travelling to another city for a hen party or a birthday night out why not surprise the party girl by dressing up the mini bus that you are travelling in. It will help get all the girls in the party spirit and certainly turn a few heads on the motorway.

You could also decorate the inside of the car, limo or mini bus with Party poppers, Streamers and some more bows in order to surprise the Bride to be or birthday girl. Add a bottle of champagne and your favourite music and the party has already started before you have even arrived at your destination!

Thanks to UKGirlThing for this guest article.

Amongst the other thousand things on your list, wedding table decorations do at some point need to be thought about.  It’s the time where you want to put on a display for your guests and give them a ‘wow’ before you and the groom make your grand entrance.  Let us help you today and give you a list of essential wedding table decorations so that at least half of the job is done for you – Then you just need to select what you want!

Table Petals

Table petals are a great as you don’t need any neatness or arrangement when it comes to scattering these.  As they are so beautiful by themselves, simply scatter them in any arrangement and then place your other wedding table decorations amongst them.  Trust us, you don’t need to do much more.  Depending upon your budget you can get real petals or traditional – both equally will satisfy your needs.

Diamante Crystals

Similar to table petals (in how they can be scattered) Diamante Crystals offer a shine and reflect the light making your tables look sparkly.  If you have chose to scatter table petals, perhaps you could build a centre piece of a nice glass tub and fill it with diamante crystals.  As simple as that you will have a stunning centre piece for your tables.

Name Cards

Give your guests a bit of importance and make them feel that you have thought about them (which of course you have!) and use name cards.  Place these above the plates and your guests will love seeing their names on their table.  A simple but nice touch and more importantly, personal.

Wedding Confetti

A couple of weeks ago we wrote an article about the different times to throw wedding confetti.  Well why not give your guests some each on their tables.  You can buy individual packets and then place these at each table place.  Then its up to your guests to shower you whenever they feel!

Disposable Cameras

Who said disposable cameras are gone!?  Add some character and a bit of fun to your wedding tables by giving your guests their own disposable camera.  Let them capture all of the fun and then add a bit of ‘oldskool’ by later going to a photo development shop and having their photos developed!

I hope these suggestions for wedding table decorations have given you some help, and as always, get in touch if you would like any more information.

Author : Confetti Heaven

Traditionally, sugared almonds were popular wedding favours but modern couples have branched out and are thinking of new and creative gifts to present to their guests.

Wedding car and limo hire specialist Limo-Scene has put together a quick list of ideas to make the day that extra bit special.

 Confectionary

Almonds are still a popular choice for traditional couples but chocolate has now become the sweet of choice, usually in the form of hand-made luxury brands, presented in decorative boxes and organza bags, tied with beautiful ribbons.

But don’t feel confined to chocolates or almonds – there are hundreds of possible confectionary gift ideas! Since weddings are so personal, many people put a message on these items. Names, dates and personal messages are often written and decorated onto biscuits, cakes and, a more recent trend, fortune cookies.

Confectionary is easily adaptable and is the perfect gift for budget wary brides. Beware though – these gifts are not suited to warm temperatures and can attract insects to outdoor weddings.

Personalised keepsakes & gift bags

With personalised items, your guests can have a keepsake from the wedding. They come in many forms, from edible items to bottle opens and wine stoppers. Items can also be sentimental to a married couple and can relate to the theme of their wedding.

A gift bag or box will help set the tone and add to the room’s décor. Try blending them in the theme of your wedding and colours. Surrounding them with flowing typography with words of love will really make them stand out.

Confetti & table gifts

With confetti and table gifts, you can provide guests with some added entertainment, as well as allowing the happy couple to get something in return.

Confetti, streamers and party poppers can be thrown on the bride and groom after the ceremony before getting into the limo hire after the ceremony.

Scratch cards and disposable cameras are also great gifts for the table, allowing guests to take shots that the photography might miss. Gifts are becoming increasingly more creative, with personalisation taking over.

Memos, in the form of beer mats and table napkins, allow guests to leave a little message to the happy couple. Name cards are a popular and simple way to introduce a personal touch and allow guests to feel welcome. They are often saved as a keepsake item.

Wedding supplier Confetti Heaven provides the tools to create the perfect mementoes. Here are some quick ideas for gifts for your guests:

Personalised balloon place settings

Miniatures and gift bags for the journey in the limo that you hire.

Personalised Chair ties

Rose petal filled organza bags

Individual chocolate boxes for guests

Disposable camera gift bags with chocolates and name card

Thanks to Limo-Scene for this guest article.

Wedding favours are an age-old wedding tradition dating back centuries. For the bride and groom wedding favours are a lovely way to thank your wedding guests for being a part of your special day. Choosing what to give as your wedding favours can lead to some serious headaches! There are so many options out there, from the new craze of cake pops, cupcakes or even charity donations to the more traditional chocolates or sugared almonds. Do you want to purchase your wedding favours all packaged up and ready to hand out or do you like the idea of making them yourself and presenting them in a pretty organza bag? You could even make your own wedding favours during one of your hen party activities and go on a chocolate making class or cupcake decorating class with your hens if you wanted to be super organised and efficient (and could resist eating them as you make them!).

Although sugared almonds can be seen as old fashioned and boring you probably aren’t aware of the history and significance of the traditional sugared almond wedding favour. So let me enlighten you with my top five historical facts about sugared almonds before you write them off completely!

1)       Back in the 13^th century almonds coated in sugar were known as Confetti.

2)       Almonds are naturally bitter and sweet in flavour and they were given to signify the bitter sweetness of life. The sugar coating was added to the almonds in the hope that the newlywed’s life would be more sweet than bitter.

3)       Sugar was expensive in the 13^th century and sugared almonds were seen as an expensive gift only afforded by the wealthy. As time went by the price of sugar cheapened and even the more modest couples could afford to give them as gifts.

4)       Sugared Almonds are traditionally given in sets of 5 and there is a reason behind it. The odd number of 5 is indivisible and this was to symbolise how the newlyweds will share everything and will remain undivided. Each of the 5 sugared almonds represents a wish for their married life, Health, Wealth, Happiness, Long-life and fertility.

5)       In Greek tradition an unmarried woman should put the almonds under her pillow and myth has it that she will dream of her future husband.

So sugared almonds are quite romantic really, and as an added bonus they are relatively cheap to buy and can be displayed in lots of pretty ways on your wedding tables. Colour coordinate them with your wedding theme by putting them in a pretty organza pouch or personalise them and put them in colour coordinated box with a personal message from the bride and groom to the guest.

Thanks to UKGirlThing for this guest article.