The Tipsy Botanists Pop-up Cocktail Bar

I've never been one to turn down a cocktail and when I heard about The Tipsy Botanists, a new and exciting company setting up in my home-town of Bath, I had to share with you.

The Tipsy Botanists are a unique pop-up bar which specialise in creating "wild cocktails" using beautiful fresh, local ingredients that have been sourced from the rich Somerset countryside. They combine these with edible flowers and rare and unique flavourings.

Run by Gracie and Georgina, who met whilst working behind the same bar and bonded over a shared passion, The Tipsy Botanists craft many of their own syrups and also forage for some of their gorgeous ingredients, whilst sourcing others from local farmers markets so you can really trust them when they say that they believe in the beautiful.
Each season has been considered in their sample menus, using the best ingredients available at any given time of year, including peaches and blackberries in the summer and sloes and damsons during the winter.

The Tipsy Botanists offer a beautiful pop-up bar that is perfect for weddings and events, where they work closely with their clients to build a bespoke menu, to guarantee that the client and guests are always 100% satisfied with the options and give every event that special touch.

Also available are special Tipsy Masterclasses, which are run by Gracie and Georgina. These are a fun and informative two hour session where the group can learn to make a range of different cocktails, complete with non-alcoholic varieties which ensure everyone can join in. On arrival, each guest is treated to a seasonal Bellini before getting the chance to get involved and create two cocktails each.
What I find particularly lovely, and very true to the image of The Tipsy Botanists, is the "Infusion Class" that you can add on to the Tipsy Masterclass, where each guest also gets to infuse a bottle of sugar syrup to take home as a keepsake from the day, which seems a particularly nice touch for hen parties or birthday celebrations.

You can take a look at their website *here* and also find their beautiful sample menu which has me feeling envious *here*

Annie xx

The Weekly Wedding Fix #9

Hello,
Wednesday again. Doesn't time fly these days?!
This week for the Wedding Fix I have put together a lovely Destination Wedding theme for you in tribute to the beautiful weather that we've been having here in England recently.
Enjoy : )

1. Destination weddings are usually held in a hot location so you need to remember this when choosing a dress. A popular style to for destination weddings a Grecian dress which is very light and floaty. However, I have instead chosen this short, puffball dress as it is a more fun choice and allows you to show off your wonderfully sun kissed legs on your big day. If you're getting wed on a beach, it also avoids getting sand all over the hem of your dress.

2. I love this twist wrap dress from Dessy. The dress can be styled in many different ways to suit all of your bridesmaids and it is available in lots of lovely colours. The material is also easy to care for and will not crinkle easily which is an important consideration for a destination wedding.

3. Guests may become a little over heated if your wedding is held out doors or in a sunny room so these brightly coloured paper fans make the perfect favour for your guests. The handle can also be personalised so that people will always remember your big day.

4. It is likely to be difficult arranging flowers for a destination wedding so instead, why not make use of a beautiful parasol as an alternative option that is ultra feminine and will also keep the sun off your face, avoiding any heat related make-up malfunctions. You can get these in any colour under the sun so you are sure to find a beautiful parasol for you and your girls.

5. Destination weddings bring to mind visions of dreamy fruit cocktails for me and there is a whole host of wonderful options available to you. You could choose a drink that is a popular local choice or go for something more classic. I have chosen the Bahama Mama which is a Jamaican classic and truly delicious.

6. Footwear always provides a little dilemma when abroad I find. For smart occasions I want to wear beautiful shoes but my feet just get so uncomfortable. For a style that is both smart and comfortable, why not consider beautiful floral sandals similar to these from Office? They will stay comfy in the heat all day and allow feet to breathe, whilst still being fitting for the event.

7. To follow on from the theme of travel at your reception, you can make good use of luggage tags or labels as place settings. If you only have a small party of guests, you could even get them specially personalised as an extra touch.

8. The cake is another part of the day that can be problematic to plan from the UK but by rule you should remember that you will not need a large cake because you are likely to have less guests at a destination wedding, and people also have suppressed appetites in hotter weather. It would be wise not to choose a chocolate decorated cake unless you are sure it will be kept in a well air conditioned room until being served and over all. As a different option, why not try a local bakery on your pre-wedding trip to the area and ask them to provide individual cakes or pastries for the wedding.

So there we have a beautiful destination wedding. I hope you enjoyed this one because I loved putting it together.

I'll be back later with some photos of the lovely girls day out I had with my friend Kassi today and what I bought.

Annie x

The Weekly Wedding Fix #8

Hello lovelies,
Its that time of the week again so here we are for another Weekly Wedding Fix. This week in feeling the lovely spring vibes so I've put together a soft yellow wedding theme for you. Enjoy :)

1. A soft colour theme allows you to choose a pretty, delecate wedding dress. This fishtail gown with a lace overlay would look so pretty with any light clour theme and the fishtail adds a touch of fashionista edge.

2. Yellow is a very feminine, fresh colour but you need to be careful when choosing the style of dress as pale yellow is very easily made frumpy by an unflattering cut. This little dress from Forever 21 has a young looking, figure hugging cut.

3. Small scented candles make a sweet favour for your guests. If you were to burn the same scented candles during your wedding reception, the scent would also remind guests of your happy day.

4. Yellow is a tricky colour to pair up exactly, so instead of choosing yellow shoes for you and your bridesmaids, opt for either white or cream to match the wedding gown. These classic white courts from Office are perfect.

5. I love simple bouquets and I think that a pretty yellow bouquet of tulips tied simply with white ribbon would look stunning. And as they are a brighter shade than the other, softer shades of yellow, they will also stand out proudly.

6. Nature is beautiful. Bring it into your wedding theme with lemon name cards. They will look lovely and fresh sat on the table and guests can take them home after the event if they wish, if not, you can make use of them yourself.

7. The obvious choice of drink for this yellow themed wedding is freshly made lemonade. But because I can't resist a good cocktail, here is the recipe for spiked lemonade which tastes wonderful and is lovely and refreshing on a hot day.

8. With a lightly coloured wedding theme, it is possible to coat the cake with icing in a shade of the chosen theme colour. This yellow wedding cake shows this perfectly. The over all effect is sweet, tasteful and not over the top. Just be careful to go for a very light shade.

And there we have it, a pretty, light yellow wedding theme. I really like this one personally, especially the pretty cake and classic shoes. What do you think?

Annie x

Weekly Wedding fix #7

Hello,

Its time again for the Weekly Wedding Fix, and this week we have a pretty new header.

I'm sorry I'm posting this a day late. I travelled over to Canterbury from Bath yesterday and got here all worn out so went for a 30 minute nap which turned into me waking up at almost 10pm having fallen asleep at around 7 :S Oops!

Anyways, this week I have put together a pretty red wedding theme for you.

1. The obvious choice for a red bouquet is romantic red roses, but I think that this poppy bouquet makes a beautiful, less predictable arrangement. The slightly softer colour and visual appearance of the poppies also makes it a perfect choice for a less formal wedding.

2. This red Coast dress is a rather expensive choice for bridesmaids but the colour, style and length are wonderful. I often feel that full length bridesmaid dresses look a little too formal but the ruffles and edgy sweetheart style neckline counteract this and make it a beautiful and stylish choice.

3. This stylish cake offers an alternative to the traditional tiered cake decorated with royal icing and ribbons. Using small gemstones to add decoration to the cake is a lovely idea but you must remember that whoever is in charge of distributing the cake is aware that they are not edible and must be removed before being served. Alternatively, you could use edible silver balls to stud the cake and avoid the issue of removal afterwards.

4. I spotted these shoes at the weekend in Ted Baker and instantly fell in love. The photo does them no justice, they really are breathtaking. They are the perfect way to add a little glitz to your outfit. Think how lovely they would look amongst the white or ivy of a wedding dress for a fun and edgy alternative.

5. This eye catching cocktail is a Blood Orange Margarita. The beautiful red colour comes from the orange and would look wonderful against white table linen and crockery. The recipe is incredibly simple and sounds totally delicious.

6. With a red theme, it is very easy to go over the top when decorating tables. Instead of going all out and using red tablecloths, glassware, crockery and napkins and giving a complete over kill. Instead keep it light and use all white and just use a simple red floral arrangement as a centre piece and add small injections of colour such as a red napkin ring or red place settings. This cork name holder uses a simple red ribbon to add colour.

7. These sweet little heart shaped boxes filled with red chocolate treats will look beautiful on the table and also use the idea of just using very small amounts of the theme colour to create a light and pretty look.

8. Last but not least, is this beautiful wedding gown from Ian Stuart, my very favourite wedding dress designer. The Swan Lake inspired gown boasts layers of delicate tulle frills and graduates from a knee length skirt into a floor length train at the back. I think the soft, slightly unusual look of this gown works perfectly with this theme.

I hope you like this week's red theme, I had great fun putting it together, and I'm very sorry it's up a day later than planned.

Annie x
PS. Today is the last day to enter my first giveaway and win some pretty handmade gifts as well as a bonus secret beauty prize.

Struggling

Hello,
I hope everyone is having a lovely day in the sun.
I'm personally having a bit of a tough time of it today. I've been struggling a lot recently with motivation, especially when it comes to working for my Wedding and Event planning course and today it all seems to be coming to a head.
I'm writing an essay about organising events for corporate clients and I'm finding it a real struggle to put pen to paper and actually get anything down. This is hard for me because so far, I've never had this trouble before and its coming as a bit of a shock to me. I've always been one of these people who has felt that if you want something enough then you will go out there and get it, yet I want this so so much and still cannot find the motivation within me to force myself through it. I feel like a fourteen year old who spent her whole time trying to avoid doing her homework all over again.
I know there is no deadline for this essay and that you are meant to work through the course a your own rate, but dithering hardly seems productive yet I have no idea what to do as my tutor has given all the help she can, my lovely fiance did his best too and all I seem to be capable of is feeling sorry for myself.

Does anyone else find themselves in a pit like this? Have any of you got any tips on how to drag myself up again? I hate putting such a downer on a Sunday afternoon for such a small problem in the big scheme of things but if anyone has some great advice to help me then its going to be one of you lovely, supportive people.

Annie x
ps, my giveaway is still open and with only three entries so far there is a good chance you could win yourself some lovely goodies.

Weekly Wedding Fix #6

Hello again,
How is everybody this evening? I'm  feeling pretty good after having some lovely dinner, moisturising my hands with The Righteous Butter (everyone needs some, seriously!) and looking forward to a girly catch up and shopping trip tomorrow with one of my best friends, Kaii.

This week I've been feeling a little old school so I've put together An Old School Glamour themed board for you. Enjoy :)

1. A glamourous wedding allows for a show stopping dress. I was so excited when I discovered this gown in Yolan Cris' 2011 collection. The 1920's inspired design is perfect for an old school glamour wedding as well as accentuating your curves beautifully.

2. A soft pink is a good choice for bridesmaids as it is a classically feminine yet glamourous colour (think Audrey Hepburn).  I chose this full length dress as the gleam of the rose coloured fabric flatters the figure and the length of the dress is more formal than a shorter style.

3. Cream shoes are nearly always a safe choice for your girls, no matter what the theme of the day, as they are neutral, do not divert attention and can be worn again and again after the big day. This pair from Office do all of the above, yet they also follow the theme with their vintage look t-bar buckle strap. The heel may look a little chunky but it does allow for photographs on grassy areas with no damage to the heels.

4. I love everything about these bottle stopper favours from the vintage style packaging to the shine of the chrome. These provide a practical gift for guests that will not lie in a cupboard forgotten about. And there is something about shiny chrome goods that are oh so glamourous.

5. These beautifully simple place settings are perfect for an old school glamour wedding. Use lightly coloured vintage china and decorate with an ornate napkin ring and a single road for a stylish, formal effect.

6. With your bouquet, I feel that in this case, less can be more. A small, tight bouquet made up of one type of flower can look just as beautiful as a large, cascading one. This Lily of the Valley bouquet is small and sweet and as a little bonus, will smell wonderful as well. Lily of the Valley is an expensive choice but I think the look it gives is worth the money spent.

7. Again, less is more in the world of glamourous wedding cakes. Instead of going over the top with an elaborate design, why not stick to a classic white design and use white ribbon to decorate. Vintage brooches also make beautiful accent decorations.

8. You cannot have a classically glamourous wedding without a classically glamourous cocktail. For me, the only option here had to be a dry martini as you can't get much more classic than that. Even just holding a martini glass makes you look the part (think Pierce Brosnan as James Bond)

And there we have it, the ingredients for a beautiful old school glamourous wedding.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for details on how to take part in my first giveaway as well as a few other exciting things.
Annie x

Weekly Wedding Fix #5

Hello,
I've spent most of today travelling once again between Bath and Canterbury and this evening I'm relaxing with Daniel and our friend with a takeaway and a few glasses of Malibu and lemonade :)

This week I've put together a pretty golden wedding for you.

1.This beautiful dress from Phase Eight is a romantic yet sleek, understated design, and I think it would be the perfect choice for a golden wedding. The simple design allows the gold detailing to make a big impression and would look wonderful teamed with a boho inspired hairstyle.

2. Light gold is a sweet choice for the bridesmaid dresses which also have detailing in the fabric adding a pretty touch to the simple cut of the dress along with a touch of glamour. Darker gold dresses tend to be unflattering on certain skin tones so be careful when picking out your colour.

3. What girl can resist a pair of glittered up shoes? This light gold pair from Kurt Geiger are the perfect shade for this theme and they're currently in the sale. The across foot strap also makes them a comfier choice to party the night away in.

4. Elephants are considered to be very lucky in many cultures and this Lucky Elephant bookmark provides a lovely reminder for your guests of your big day whilst also showing them that you wish them well in the future. And lets face it, they're incredibly cute too!

5. Peonies are a traditional wedding favourite, and lets face it, they're beautiful. I love that this bouquet pairs the beautiful light peonies with fresh green buds which instantly lifts the whole display. A bunch of white roses would also be a romantic choice.

6. A gold theme allows you to go all out when it comes to extravagant decorations and this gold embellished cake shows that although too much gold can seem tacky, if you get the balance just right you can create a stunning effect that will wow your guests.

7. Charger plates are a beautiful way to carry your colour theme onto your tables. They add depth and visual interest to the table as well as making the overall effect more impressive. I really like the shining gold pattern on the crockery used here.

8. Believe it or not, this gentle peach cocktail is a take on the traditional Spanish drink, sangria. Made using peaches and vanilla beans it has a much softer, summery flavour and would be a lovely choice for a summertime wedding. 

And there we are for another week. I hope this post has given you some inspiration and that you're now ready to start planning your beautiful golden wedding day.

Annie x

The Weekly Wedding Fix #4

Hello,
Its time once again for the weekly take over from Sugar and Spice for The Weekly Wedding Fix.
I've always loved fairy tales and when I was growing up Snow White was one of my favourites. Bearing this in mind, this week our mood board is for a "Fairest of them All" wedding.

1. How could I create a Snow White inspired board without using Alfred Angelo's Snow White style 207 dress from his Disney Fairy Tale Wedding collection. A fairy tale wedding is the perfect opportunity to wear that dream princess dress.

2. Snow White dressed in blue and yellow and these royal blue courts are just the right shade to pair with the dark yellow bridesmaid dresses as well as becoming your something blue if you were to choose them for yourself.

3. I am a huge lover of homemade favours, they add a personal touch and show your guests that you have taken time and care to please them. These Apple Pie Pops are a cute take on the very popular cake pops. They will look lovely wrapped in a little cellophane and of course, as we know, when singing "One Day my Prince will Come" Snow White was merrily baking an apple pie!

4. When I saw this wedding cake, I just had to feature it. Simply decorated with blue ribbon and sugar pansies I think it is the perfect addition to this fairest of them all wedding. The sugar flowers reflect the sweet personality of every Disney princess as well as providing a laid back chic look for a modern wedding.

5. These apple place settings are a great way to guide your guests to their seats whilst staying on theme. They are also cheap and simple to create. To create the look of the traditional "poison apple" you should use a Red Delicious apple as they are a deep blood red colour. They would look very striking on a simply decorated table.

6. I've always been a fan of bright yellow bridesmaid dresses and this theme provides the perfect time to get your girls in sunshine bright dresses. This dress from The Dessy Group is a flattering style and length and in Mango is the perfect shade!

7. Looking sleek and elegant, this Poisoned Apple Martini is a great choice for a signature cocktail at your fairest of them all wedding. Smoother than a regular martini it uses apple schnapps to give a sweet apple flavour.

8. Dark red roses always make for a beautiful bouquet. They stand out beautifully against the white of a wedding gown and the deep red colour exudes passion and romance. Pair with deep red lipstick for a real show stopping look whilst also echoing Snow White's "lips red as blood".

Would you ever consider choosing a fairy tale theme for your wedding? Or do you feel that this would be a strange choice? I would love to hear what you think :)

Annie x

Sugar and Spice

Hello,
Some time ago now, I set up my other blog, Sugar and Spice.
When I got into writing Three Little Buhos so whole heartedly, it's sad to say that Sugar and Spice fell rather into disuse with no new posts for months.
I've now decided it's time to resurrect this other blog and fully utilise Sugar and Spice, posting regularly about all things wedding. I will share useful links, inspirational mood boards, give advice on finding the perfect suppliers for you, featuring some of my favourite wedding sites and suppliers, giving tips on DIY projects for your big day and of course posting lots of photos to give you all the inspiration you need to create the perfect day :)
If you're interested in following, then you can find Sugar and Spice *here*.
Annie x