Create a stunning theme on a bridal shoe-string!

A lot of brides recently have asked, how do I achieve a theme whilst staying on budget? What a fantastic question! Firstly you need to have a clear and concise theme in mind before you get started, this will simplify your decision making. Also having the ceremony and reception in the same place will reduce the amount of work you need to put into the decor. Choose your venue wisely - it is always easier to enhance what is already there, than to redesign it.

Louisa and Melissa from Little Big Company created this styled shoot to show DIY brides how they can achieve an elegant professional look themselves and keep to a budget. The shoot focuses on the bridal table and epitomises the elegant, feminine, glittery look that is right on trend this minute.

I am loving this shoot and loving that the stylist is giving away her secrets in pulling the theme together on a shoe-string!  I am going to be adding a few of our tips here and there also.

Before you start designing a dessert table it's important that you have your venue, caterer, cake maker and trusted family member or friend on board. You personally won't be able to set up the table on the day - so once you have everything you need, set up a dummy table in the lead up to the day and take photos so that your friend or family member can set it the exact same way.

Melissa and Louisa collected vintage brooches for $9 each from vintage stores to put on the ribbons on the jars. The glimmery table cloth? It is a party backdrop!! And only cost them $20.

The beautiful sweet treats were created by Just Call Me Martha. The gorgeous cupcakes, bejewelled cookies and the beautifully adorned cake pops. The cupcakes and cookies to put into the invitation box was made by Sweet Cheek Cookies and Cakes.

A clever visual trick when setting up a dessert buffet is to create different heights for the sweeties. The girls have used different shaped glassware, having height at the back and staggered down toward the front with flat platters. It is great to be just off symmetry - see how they have used candlesticks on one side and floral arrangement on the other.

The printables for all the stationery and backdrop were purchased online, they then printed them themselves. The paper backdrop was printed for $40 at their local print shop. Louisa says "The backdrop plays an important part to your wedding table." The backdrop ties the theme together and highlights the style so it can be seen from right around the room.

All the candy was purchased online and colour coordinated. Discuss subtle colour options with your cake designer.

The invitations were printed for $20, locally. Their tip is to ask for good card stock! They got all their printables online and the personalised versions cost around $50... "that is if you print it yourself." Louisa adds.