As Jason and I are getting older, both the quantity and frequency of wedding invites that land on our doormat (and are delivered straight to our hands by Teddy, the ever-eager postman’s assistant), is without shadow of a doubt on a serious incline. It seems that every time we blink, another of our friends or family members are announcing engagements and setting wedding dates, and it’s such a thrill! And hey, we’re contributing to the trend ourselves!

Whilst my own outfit for that Big Day in July is pretty much set in stone (bar the endless last minute panics about hair styles and accessories I’ve been having…), I always think that the task of dressing for a wedding as a guest is a tricky one. You’ve got to contend with the ‘no white/cream’ rule, and the fear of accidentally showing up a dress that looks like you’ve come as a bonus bridesmaid. You need shoes that’ll carry you through the whole day blister-free, and that’ll stand up to at least 4 hours of shimmying on the dance floor. You’ve got to try to match the tone and feel of the day (will it be super formal, or a relaxed affair?) without looking like you’ve tried too hard. It’s a minefield!

And so, to help navigate this etiquette-laden minefield, this summer I’ve teamed up with Anthropologie to assemble not only the perfect summer wedding ensemble (or at least, I think it’s pretty perfect anyway!), but a charming and personal gift for the happy Mr & Mrs too!

Hold onto your fascinators friends, because we’re going Off Registry… ;)
 

T H E   O U T F I T

If you ask me, the most failsafe choice for a summer wedding is a patterned maxi.

In opting for a patterned dress, your chances of committing the Oops I Look Like A Bridesmaid faux-pas (can you tell I have a mega paranoia about that?) are reduced to 0.01%- trust me, I’ve done the maths. And a full length gown will look glamorous and elegant and all those other wonderful things, *but*, it’s also comfortable and effortlessly bohemian AND you don’t have to wax/shave/tan your legs! A no brainer, right? This beautiful one is soft as can be (it’s made from jersey), and just begs to be danced in.

For the extras (shoes, accessories, you know the drill), I say go timeless and versatile.

A chunky heeled sandal is, as every woman knows, just about the comfiest high heeled shoe imaginable, and these ones are so heavenly I’m debating whether or not to do away with the inevitably painful ivory stilettos I’ve got lined up as my wedding day shoes, and to just wear these instead! ;) They’re the sort of shoe that’ll pair with any dress imaginable, and for those among you who, like me, obsess over a new pair of shoes and like to wear them as often as is humanly possible, they also work just as nicely with jeans as they do with dresses.

What I’m wearing ::
Dress - Nova maxi
Shoes - Talena heels
Bracelet- Gilded Paths cuff
Clutch - Rosie Raffia

T H E   G I F T

I remember my Grandma telling me years and years ago about the old fashioned concept of a ‘bottom drawer’. It was, so I learnt, a little set of crockery and linens and all sorts of other homewares that a young couple would collect together and save, ready for when they could afford to move into their own house and set up home together. I thought that that concept, of a little collection of gathered pieces with which to furnish your first home, was such a charming and sweet one that it captured my heart and has stuck with me ever since.

This little wedding gift box is a nod to that sweet ‘bottom drawer’ tradition of gathering. Instead of the usual registry selection or vouchers, I propose picking out some lovely activity for the couple to do together, and putting together a gift box filled with items around the theme. Perhaps pizza making (think pizza stones for creating crispy bases, basil plants, and a wooden serving board) or a cocktail kit (shakers, martini glasses, muddlers, and a bottle of the couple’s favourite spirit)?

For this one, I’ve gathered up all you’d need for a beautiful and lazy weekend morning breakfast in bed- sweet blue-edged glasses to sip fresh juice from, cups as big as side plates to hold froth-topped coffees, beautiful handmade bowls (perfect for granola or oats or for catching the syrup running off a stack of pancakes) and even love-themed porcelain spoons to eat it all with. And, to round out the set, candy striped napkins (for colour and also to act as bed linen protectors…), and a sweetly scented something to brighten up the morning.

Charming, unusual, and oh so personal.

Summer wedding season? We’re ready for you.

* This post was created in collaboration with Anthropologie. *