ALTERNATIVE PHOTO BACKDROPS.

If you’re getting hitched this Summer you’ll most definitely be thinking about details and the little design elements that will make your day super special and personalised. If you’re looking for some inspo for a beautiful back drop for your guest photos, which is a little more sophisticated than a box of props in front of a red curtain inside a shoe-box sized booth, then this post may spark a few ideas. I didn’t have a photo booth at my own wedding because I wanted to have pictures of the day that were totally natural, but something can really be said for staging gorgeous group shots that you’ll treasure forever.

DRAPES
Cost effect and oh so simple to add a little interest to a wall or corner at your venue. Mix different textures of fabrics and also foliage in for a little more detail.

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Image via Ruffled

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STRUCTURES
Create a structure to add flowers to – From old screens and doors to metal frames and wire grids for something more contemporary.

ORGANIC
Talk to your florist about creating an organic wall feature. Use old ladders or frames to start the piece off. So beautiful as a stand alone feature on your big day. These pieces would work best hung or placed off centre for framing the shots.

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BOHEMIAN
Go for a bohemian corner or space for guests to relax as well as provide a stunning photo opportunities. Use peacock chairs or tipi frames as a starting point to build up the area and lay Persian rugs. Add candles for evening photography to be soft and intimate.

It’s about creating something beautiful and timeless and to look back at your wedding photos in years to come and enjoy them just as much.
The Little Lending Co. X

ALTERNATIVE WEDDING INSPO AT THE KEEPER AND THE DELL.

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For those of us that have followed us for a while you’ll know we love a photoshoot. It’s a chance to get together with like minded people and get those creative juices flowing. And theres always a new prop buy I’ve been wanting to style up…

So last year Lolly at The Keeper and the Dell asked us if we’d like to be involved with a shoot over at her incredible venue. A chilled out, eclectic shoot with Norfolk’s coolest suppliers with all the love and glamour of a Mediterranean gathering to be a loose theme of the day. In Lolly from The Keeper and the Dell’s words, “Imagine an artistic/celebrity couple with a true eclectic edge, wanting to marry in crazy England but with a Mediterranean connection. Capturing the feel of photographer Tim Walker (but staying this side of crazy) with the glorious glamour feel of a Dolce & Gabbana family gathering.”

Well it was just that. Extravagant staging, boho styling, romantic motifs, bold colours, a powerful sense of family and above all, a strong editorial shooting style….

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I loved mixing all the colour with this one, all the rules went out of the window creating something really eclectic and gave the nod to the Med we were looking for.

Supplier love :

Venue – The Keeper and the Dell
Styling and props – The Little Lending Co.
Stylists assistant – Ashlee Murrell
Photographers – Kev Foster and Camilla Andrea
Video – Capture Media
Florist – The Country Garden Florist
Catering – Florentina Events
Coffee Van – Crumpet & Trumpet
Light Up signs – Argent & Sable
Olive Trees & Plants – The Norfolk Olive Tree Co
Furniture & tableware – CMA Hire
Bridal Gown – Grace Loves Lace
Bridal two~piece – Daughter’s of Simone/Hearts a Flutter
Bridesmaids dresses – Asos
Floral headddresses – Bohemian Lovestory
Animal Headdresses – Animaleseque
Wedding Cars – Wedding Wheels~next~the~sea
Bar Set Up – Redwell Brewery
Bell Tents – Magical Camping
Wedding cake – BunsofFun
Stationers – Lucy Says I Do
HAIR – Sheree, Jackson, Jan at Millie Rose
MUA – Millie Rose
MUA – Leanne Maddock
MUA – Ellie Gibson
Models, Bride and Groom – Harry and Sophie
Best Man – Shamir
Bridesmaids – Ruby, Mabel, Izzie, MiMi, Abbie
Flower Girl – Manuela

Penny @ The Little Lending Co. X

INTRODUCING OUR NEW STYLED STATIONS.

Thinking about all the details of styling a wedding can be a bit overwhelming right? So we launched some ‘styled stations.’ Basically these are little set ups that you hire as a package and make for picture perfect styling at your venue. Adding to our super popular Welcome Drinks station, Outdoor ceremony package, Sweet station and Rustic Decor package we now introduce 4 brand new stations to hire :

THE LITTLE GRAZING STATION
THE BOHO CORNER
TIPPLE TROLLEY
KIDS TIPI

Scoll on down for more info folks!

Some of you might have spotted a gorgeous feature video on our Facebook page last week of two of our new stations. Did you see it, it’s pretty dreamy even if I do say so myself…

THE LITTLE GRAZING STATION.

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Stylish snacking sorted. Looking for a simple late night snacking platform. This is it.

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THE BOHO CORNER.

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A perfect spot to relax with your beau in a beautiful bohemian peacock chair with a persian rug under foot and hanging plants and geometric shapes above. What’s not to love!

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TIPPLE TROLLEY.

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A late night tipple trolley, one for the road anyone?

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THE KIDS TIPI.
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A sweet little space for little kids to run riot in the day and cosy down for a snuggle on the cushions in the evening.

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Huge thanks to Faye Amare photography for the photos and video and Godwick Great Barn for the stunning location.

If you’re interested in checking availability of these stations for your wedding date just drop us a note at thelittlelendingcompany@gmail.com – We’ll be adding them to ‘Our little range’ page on the site very soon with full details of what’s included in each package and pricing.

Penny @ The Little Lending Co. X

INTIMATE CHAUCER BARN MID-SUMMER WEDDING.

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Oh summer, I cannot wait to see you again. Mostly because we get to help set up and style more Norfolk weddings. It’s going to be fab.
We loved meeting and helping set up Julie and Matthews intimate pretty, pastel wedding at Chaucer Barn with our ‘Lend-a-hand‘ set up package in North Norfolk last summer.

Here’s what Julie had to say about us lending-a-hand.

“I loved thinking about the wedding and had an idea in my mind of how I wanted it to be, but I hated not knowing how to achieve it! Penny helped with this no end, both when we visited her to look at her collection of lends and when she lent a hand the day before to set everything up. She knew Chaucer Barn well so could visualise where we could put things and how much space there was and where etc.”

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“I thought of our wedding as classy traditional, with a touch of modern vintage (if you know what I mean!). Lots of hessian and lace. If you have a vision but, like me, aren’t sure how to bring it to fruition, then I’d absolutely recommend chatting to Penny about your ideas and she is so unbelievably creative and can add so many brilliant ideas!”

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“The lend-a-hand set up took the pressure off and helped me to get super excited about the venue! Penny really helped bring the wedding to life and I was so impressed by how out of her way she went to intertwine the things we had hired from her with the bits and pieces I’d sourced myself.”

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Supplier Love :

Venue : Chaucer Barn
Photography : Katherine Ashdown Photography
Hair Slide: Melissa Morgan Designs
Make Up: Love Moi Make-up
Hair Styling: Flamingo Amy
Catering: Andy Parle Event Catering
Props: Little Lending Company (others I bought from various places, borrowed from friends or made myself)

Thank you Julie for such blooming lovely words, really my head is swelling! It was such a pleasure to be a small part of your wedding day. And a huge thanks to Katherine Ashdown for these stunning images capturing it all perfectly.

Penny @ The Little Lending Co. X

NOMAD COASTAL STYLED SHOOT BY THE LITTLE LENDING CO.

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Way back in the Spring of last year I decided I had to do a fine art beach shoot, but with a Lending twist of course. I loved the ideas of a wild horseback runaway bride, running free on an open beach. It was important for me to keep everything very soft and natural with a nod to easy boho vibes. We asked the incredible Rebecca Lindon photography to capture it for us on film photography. There is something really beautiful about film photography and knew it would be a perfect fit for this shoot.

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“With a vision of a nomad costal shoot in soft, simple layers textures we mixed elements of luxe Protea flowers, mosses and succulents amongst a table scape of texture from hand dyed silk linens, painted feathers, antlers and a little shine from the antique brass candles on upturned crates in the sand. Simple silhouette dresses, windswept braided hair and barefeet we’re the perfect look for our bride adorned with rose quartz jewels. A palette of grey, indigo blue and fawn kept things contemporary and grounded with subtle highlights of pastel rose. A stacked ombre grey cake along with soft brushed stationery designs finished the set up.”

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Photograpaher – Rebecca Lindon – http://www.rebeccalindon.com
Concept, Props and Styling – The Little Lending Company – http://www.thelittlelendingcompany.com
Flowers – Swaffham and Fakenham Florists – http://swaffhamflorist.co.uk
Model – Kathryn Tighe
Hair – Chloe Khalil Chloe.starling@btinternet.com
Make Up – Rejuvenate at The Bullpen – https://www.facebook.com/Rejuvenate-at-the-Bullpen
White Bridal Dress – H&M – http://www.hm.com/gb/
Grey Bridal Dress – Maids to Measure – http://www.maidstomeasure.com
Bridal Accessories – Melissa Morgan Designs – http://melissamorgandesigns.blogspot.co.uk
Silk Ribbons and Napkins – Kate Cullen Styling – http://www.katecullen.co.uk
Stationery – Mint and Mustard – http://mintmustard.co.uk
Cake – Buns of Fun – http://bunsoffun.co.uk

“Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed. Maybe they just need to run free until they find someone as wild as them to run with them” – Carrie Bradshaw.

Are you planning something by the beach?
Penny @ The Little Lending Co. X

HELLO NEW LITTLE LENDERS.

This weeks been a whirl, I’ve not actually been sleeping well with all the excitement of what’s to come for Little Lending this year. Plotting and planning is keeping me up late (which means I’ve already broken my no work past 8pm rule for this year!) but I also think while there’s a buzz, ride it. And I don’t know about you, but when the house is quiet at night it’s the best time to get things done. Maybe all that new year, new energy stuff is pretty true after all.

If you’re new to this blog and well us, I thought it might be nice to actually say hello and introduce myself. I’m Penny, I am the creator of The Little Lending Company and I’m obsessed with stylish wedding decor.

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Photo of me (on the left) and Michelle of Swaffham Florists setting up our latest styled shoot. Taken by DKPhotography.

Perhaps you’ve wound up here because you got some fab new bling this Christmas?! Like, OMG! It’s the best feeling right? I couldn’t stop staring at my ring for weeks and took about 50 different photos of it from different angles…But apart from the bling, you have the most wonderful time ahead with your beau. It’s going to be the best.

So generally you’ll find a new blog post from us on Wednesdays which we share across our social media pages. We try to keep our little blog focussed on these 3 D’s : Decor, Design and Detail. There are lots of really amazing wedding blogs to peruse out there but as we love all things style and design we thought we’d keep the blog that way and focus on what we know and love. There might be the occasional post on what we’ve been up to, our styled shoots to inspire you, local collaborations or just general LL behind the scenes stuff and news.

I’m already working on a few ideas for new styled shoots for the Spring, which will feature some of our brand new props and I’m excited to work with more fab local Norfolk talent. We’ll be working with the wonderful Swaffham Florists on more collaborations too, we’ve just clicked working together and we’re always bouncing ideas about, I’ve definitely found my little floral sidekicks in those sisters! I’m also planning to create some new styled content for B.loved blog which I’m a contributor for, it’s a chance to work on little styling set ups which may expand to home styling too. I can’t wait!

DKPhotography at Sedgeford Hall Norfolk.
Photo of my styling our latest Midnight Luxe shoot taken by DKPhotography.

We’ve got a date later this month with Faye Amare Photography who will be shooting some of our fab new styled stations we’ve been planning for a while. WATCH THIS SPACE, I think some of you will love these as additions to your wedding day decor.

For all things social this is where you’ll find us most days :
FACEBOOK – Sharing weddings we find and love, new items for the range, blog links and more. Plus new ‘LITTLE LENDING LOVES’ coming soon!
INSTAGRAM – Daily snipers of Life as a Little Lending creative.
PINTEREST – Boards to inspire every element of your wedding and beyond but always cool, stylish and an eclectic mix of pins here.
TWITTER – Late night ramblings generally.

Don’t miss our *JANUARY OFFER* over on Facebook too until the 31st, offering you lovelies a little off our A LITTLE HELP GOES A LONG WAY styling package.

It’s lovely to have you on board, if you need to chat wedding decor with someone who loves it, I’m your gal.
Penny @ The Little Lending Co. X

HOW TO LIGHT UP YOUR WEDDING VENUE.

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Image via The Merry Thought.com

You’ve probably not given your lighting at your wedding much thought right? You’d be surprised how much lighting can transform your wedding space to from standard to stand out. Lighting creates mood and when it’s done well it will make everything look better, including you. From the cake, flowers, tables and more it’s worth the shedding a little light (pardon the pun) on your lighting ideas.

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Image via Flickr.

Here are our top tips and some beautiful lighting inspiration you could consider.

We suggest to visit your wedding venue at least once when it’s dark outside. Look at existing lighting at the venue and where it’s focused. Lights that illuminate the walls, windows, and ceiling draw attention away from the center of the room and you want to focus attention on the tables, dance floor, and each other.

Ask if the site has dimmers for their overhead lights and who will be able to control this on the wedding day. If there’s any florescent lighting, keep it turned off! If the kitchens have bright lights be sure to keep the doors closed to avoid ruining your lighting atmosphere.

Do ask the technical questions too about how much power you can plug in at the venue from maximum amps too with your lighting plans. Check where all the sockets are too so you can be sure to bring enough extension cables if it’s not near where you plan to have your feature.

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Image via Instagram.com

Consider a pin spot light for a focal point, your W-day cake, grazing station, favours or centre piece perhaps.

Maybe you’re thinking of a lighting backdrop for your ceremony?

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Image source Dolly and Oatmeal.com

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Image via iconsquare.com

Use lighting to change the mood through the course of the evening. Go soft, warm light and an abundance of candlelight for your wedding breakfast. Cocktail hour glowing orange light and step up the fun factor when the dancing starts with light up boards or letters and all the focus on the dance floor.

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Image via Style me pretty.com

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Image via Etsy. Personalise your own neon light and keep to hang in your home after, pretty perfect we think!

Get Practical lighting up your outdoor space. Bright festoons are the perfect solution, you may need some flood lighting to keep guests safe. If your site has a path or steps that people will be using throughout the night, keep it lit with candles or lanterns.

Go bold with a big lighting statement. Hanging lighting features over tables are having a big moment. Light up sign-writing and letters still add fun. We’ve pinned lots of different lighting ideas on our Pinterest and still love what candle light can do for your tables; they bounce light onto the flowers, crockery, cutlery and table glasses so perfectly. Think about brass and glass candle stick holders to really let the light shine around your centrepieces.

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Images via Ruffled Blog.com

How will you light your wedding space? More lighting Pinspiration this way.

The Little Lending Co. X

USING LIVING PLANTS IN YOUR WEDDING DECOR.

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Image Via Green Wedding Shoes.

More and More the idea of green, natural and organic wedding concepts are becoming a real wedding focal point. What could be better than having your wedding flowers for years to come, each time you water them your taken back to that epic day – Keeping the memory of your day really living on. If you’re a green-fingered bride the idea of home-grown and self-propagated plants may fill you with joy; from sedums, succulents, spider and plants inside to mixed planters and lavender bushes grown outdoors.

Here’s a few ideas to transform your wedding venue with living plants and blooms.

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The humble olive tree, can be hired locally in Norfolk via The Norfolk Olive Tree Company. Image via Style Me Pretty.

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Air plants are the go-to for modern, cool wedding foliage. Image source Ruffled.com

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How about a living wall feature? Perfect to tuck name cards into as an awesome table plan. Image Source Unkown.

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Macrame plant hangers by The Little Lending Co. These are brand spanking new to hire at £4.00 each. Create a back drop behind you and your beau at the top table.

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Think outside the box with your planters. Image via Free People.

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Terrific Terrariums as Table Toppers (Try saying that without your teeth in!) Image via Ruffled Blog.

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Suspend blooms from a wire grid, keeping them attached to the bulb with roots in tact to re-plant. Image via Nouba Blog.

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Go Green or Go Home. Big green ceremony set up looks so lush. Image via o.aolcdn.com

Are you going a little more green with your proceedings…
The Little Lending Co. x

HOW MUCH WEDDING DECOR DO I NEED?

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First off, there is no ‘one set fits all’ general rule here, but I am always asked ‘How much decor do we need to make it look good?’
I always think it’s about really using what you have in the space you have more than how many props you throw at a venue…

Customising your venue spaces to reflect you both as a couple is becoming huge, it’s about creating something totally unique and personalised with more couples wanting their day to be WOW in every way.

Our lenders have said they don’t want their venues to look barron and empty, with a blank canvas venue the panic can set in. Do I need to add more to my order I’m asked? Without knowing how you plan to use the venue its really so hard to say. But with four bare walls and a roof, anything is possible if you have the imagination. If the thought of filling your space fills you with dread, we’re on hand with our styling services, where we’ll visit your venue and make suggestions for props and decor placement and put your mind at rest.

But if you’re a DIY pair, I would always start by listing the main key areas of your venue and the amount of time people will spend there and which areas will be well photographed:

ENTRANCE – Guests will be here just a few moments but it’s so worth creating something fab to set off your space.
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Image via Cedarwoodweddings.com

CEREMONY – Lots of photos taken here so be sure to add lots of pretty at the head of the aisle.
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Image via Ruffled.

TABLES – A few hours spent here but be sure to make the top table and bride and grooms place settings special.
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Image via Junebugweddings.com

FOOD TABLES – A few moments through the day but give your cake (if you have one) a rad platform to shine.
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Image source Kara’s party ideas.

BAR – Just a few moments through the evening you’re guests will be here (unless they’re propping it up!), I’d always add plenty of candle light for your evening bar space, to give guests somewhere more relaxing that the dance space.
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Image via Ruffled Blog.

DANCE FLOOR – Here you can have some fun, from Pinatas to giant balloons and signage. This area should say Party.
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Image via Pioneersetter.com

Are you struggling to know how much decor to buy or hire? We’re here to help folks…
The Little Lending Co. x

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WEDDING STYLIST.

So you’re not too keen on the idea of pulling all your hundreds of Pinterest pins together the day before? The whole idea of dressing a wedding venue makes you want to run for the hills? That’s totally OK and exactly when you need to find a wedding stylist.

Your wedding stylist should inspire, not take away any of the control from you as a couple but bring their guidance and add a whole heap of creative and practical knowledge of what’s going to make your decor rock and importantly, work.

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(Photo of me at the F&P styling workshop 2015)

I’ll admit it, I do get a little bit over excited about the details. I like to bring a personal approach to my styling and make sure you’re heard through the whole process.

For our ‘A little help goes a long way‘ package it all kicks off with an initial meeting with me. It’s important you like me before I start working on your wedding. It’s a chance to bring visuals along, all your favourite Pins, magazine tears, favourite colours, fabrics, things you love as a couple, objects from home…You name it, this is what will get the creative juices flowing and as your stylist I’ll already have a heap of ideas whizzing around.

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Once you have a tonne of ideas that you want to try, the next step is to walk through with your stylist in tow at the venue to see what is feasible. With a designers eye often we’ll notice an area that would be amazing dressed, you get the most from a venue when you work with it. Your stylist can advise placements and how best to use what you have collected and sourced.

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Unlimited communication – Keep in touch through the whole of the planning, bring in ideas to the table over email. Often the logistics of the day need to be communicated with your stylist; where the caterers will be, will props need to be moved at any point in the day, is there a wet weather plan…Lots of queries can come up in the weeks before the day.

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Have a final walk through of where each and every detail will be going together at the venue a few weeks before the day. If there are other creative suppliers that are bringing props your stylist will ask for details and arrival times. Your stylist will then work out the timings for the set up day to ensure everything is in it’s place on time.

Then, relax. Let your stylist do what they love to do. Trust what they can do. They’ll have a full kit from irons for linen creases to cable ties for lighting, so you don’t need to worry about a thing.

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For a little more info and availability on our styling packages you can drop us a line here.

Gorgeous Photos in this post by Xander and Thea Photography.

Penny @ The Little Lending Co. x