Tuesday 27 September 2011

A White Wedding

Since the Royal Wedding and the Hollywood Wedding (Kim Kardashian) theres been an influx in demand for white bridesmaids dresses. And after seeing how stunning Pippa Middleton and the Kardashian sisters looked, who can blame brides to be for wanting white bridesmaids dresses?


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/, http://www.weddingdressblog.org/, http://www.hellomagaine.com/
So I did I spot of research and here is what I found on the highstreet...

Available from Monsoon, Miss Selfridge, Monsoon



And if you've got a few more pennies to spend how about these beauties...




All the above are available from the Dessy Group.

And who can resist a cute little Flower Girl...

Available from Debehams (the dress that is, not the child)
And its not just white dresses that are causing a stir.  White has been a very popular theme for local lancashire weddings.  So in keeping with the theme, this moodboard provides inspiration for simple. yet stunning venue decoration.  Think crisp diamonds, wildflowers, candlelight and fresh crisp linen...

http://www.stylemepretty.com/

So what do you all think of a white wedding? Or would you prefer a splash of colour in your big day?
Answers below please!

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Moodboard: Fun at the Circus

It all started with a bouncy castle.  Chorley Bouncy Castles is the new business venture of my better half.  So I thought why not combine the two businesses and do a fun themed photoshoot.   Think bright reds, yellows and blues, clowns, candyfloss and balloons. Chair covers in red and white stripes with cath kidston pop table runners. 

All props and tableware available from etsy.com, star fabric by Cath Kidston

Now all I have to do is find a photographer willing to shoot on a bouncy castle!

Friday 16 September 2011

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Taking inspiration from an article I read the other day, here's a new feature to showcase The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of the wedding dress world.  Starting out with just the unusual and finishing with, well frankly, the god awful dresses! I'd love to hear your opinions so be sure to leave a comment.

THE GOOD


THE BAD

Ian Stuart
THE UGLY


But the question is, would you walk down the aisle in any of these?

Thursday 15 September 2011

Wedding Fair at The Wyrebank

Well its wedding fayre season once again and the lovely guys at Wyrebank Banqueting Suite have teamed up with the Lancashire Evening Post to hold their own  fayre on Sunday 25th September from 12-4pm.


For those of you who haven't booked your venue yet, as I've said before, this place is definitely worth a look.  To contact Wyrebank call Stuart on 01995 605455.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Keeping Up with Simply Bows and Chair Covers

I may not have a reality series on E! Entertainment channel but I do have this reality blog to update you all.

Last week I had the week off the day job to catch up on all the mundane boring jobs that having a business entails i.e. accounts.  But I also had 3 fantastic weddings to dress.  A tiffany blue at Ribby Hall Village in Lancashire, ivory at Carden Park in Cheshire on the Monday (a wedding on a Monday?!) and then I dressed a stunning wedding at Rowton Castle in Shrewsbury last Friday.  Here's a few sneak peaks, I'd love your feedback on them.

Tiffany Blue at Ribby Hall, Lancashire (chair covers are venues own)

Ivory on white chair covers at Carden Park

Alternating chair veils at Rowton Casle

So I'm excited to get into the new wedding fayre season.  On Sunday I was at Brockholes, the only floating wedding venue in the north west and it is an awesome venue.  So unique and so beautiful, it is definitely worth checking out if you haven't booked your wedding venue yet.  I decided to go with a natural, organic display to fit in with the venues ethos, I even used the Lavender from my own garden (it's the only thing that has successfully grown!).


Over the next couple of months, I will also be at The Hilton in Blackpool on 18/09, The Marriott in Preston on 25/09, Knutsford Bloom Wedding Weekend on the 1st & 2nd October, Whalley Abbey on 06/10 and The Invincibles Suite on 23/10.

I am also tres excited to be working with a very very local florist.  Helen will be taking over Budz Florist in Adlington, Lancashire, which just happens to be down the road from me! More info will be coming to the blog soon. Oh and I've also been asked to guest blog for http://www.soontobemarried.co.uk/.  Check out my article on how to do orange correctly without it looking like its Halloween and let me know what you think.

Love Lancashire Bride x



Tuesday 13 September 2011

Lancashire Bride In Demand

I recently was asked to do a spot of guest blogging about venue decoration for website www.soontobemarried.co.uk.

I decided to tackle a difficult subject... Orange!


The article has now been posted so make sure you check it out at
http://www.soontobemarried.co.uk/wedding-ideas/orange-theme-wedding-orange-wedding-theme-/153/

Please let me know what you think and what ideas you'd like to see in the future x

Sunday 11 September 2011

One Glamorous Launch Party

You may remember me blogging a few weeks ago about the new Bridal shop, Glamour Bridal & Prom, in Bolton.   Well, I went along to the launch party last week, and heres a few pics from the fab boutique.


We sipped on bubbly and ate the hot pink cupcakes made by our favourite cake maker Helen from Cats Whiskers Cake Design whilst we looked in awe at the stunning gowns that Glamour has in store.  From the romantic Charlotte Balbier to Calista by Alfred Sung for the curvier bride, Debbie at Glamour has a dress in store for everyone.  Debbie even made her very first brides dream come true when she found her dream dress at Glamour.

I hope all you brides to be have booked your exclusive appointments! And while you're there, don't forget Simply Bows and Chair Covers are featured in Glamours Supplier Showcase so check out our Indian Summer display in the window.

Love Lancashire Bride x

Thursday 8 September 2011

A Taste of Lancashire: Cats Whiskers Cake Design

Today I'm back with the 'Taste of Lancashire' feature, where we feature all the best and local suppliers that Lancashire has to offer, and today is no different with the magnificently talented Helen from Cats' Whiskers Cake Design.

Welcome to Lancashire Bride Helen! So how did you get into making cakes?

"I kind of grew up with cake decorating! My mum took night school classes when I was small so I was always around fabulous birthday cakes and other cakes she did as a hobby. When my brother got married in 2003 I helped her making his cake and I was hooked! Twelve months later I was doing night school classes and the business developed on a part time basis from there. In September 2009 I was made redundant from my job in Finance and took the plunge into full time baking and the business has grown from there."



Where can we find you? And which area do you serve?

"I work from home in Ramsbottom, but cover all over the north west really. I’ve had cakes collected to be taken to celebrations all over the country too."

What kind of cakes can you make? Can you supply anything else?

"I make bespoke wedding and celebration cakes, designing something specifically for you to make your cake unique. This may be a novelty cake or a three tier traditional wedding cake, cupcakes or miniatures and be something simple or something ornate with my handmade sugar flowers or beaded cake jewellery."



"I also make iced biscuits, cupcakes, treat cakes and bake-your-own kits too and can supply favour boxes. The millionaire’s shortbread by mail has proved to be very popular as well as the build your own gingerbread house kits."


"Oh and there’s a book as well! It’s called ‘The Recipe Tree’ and is designed for you to record an informal family tree alongside well-loved family favourite recipes that have been passed down to you. It came about as a result of me using old family recipes as part of my baking, It makes a fabulous and personal wedding gift."


Do you have a favourite cake that you have made?

"I think the ring cushion cake has been my favourite of late. The lady who ordered it really wanted it to look like a cushion, and I love a challenge! I also love this set up of miniatures that we did – I think the pink and minky brown colour scheme is lovely."




What does the rest of 2011 have in store for you?

"The rest of the year is set to be busy! I have a number of wedding orders still to go this year and we’re already in full Christmas flow preparing designs and steaming Christmas puddings. The autumn bridal fairs are also about to start and alongside that I’ll be at various Christmas markets too. In addition, one of our products will be appearing in the notonthehighstreet.com Christmas catalogue!"

Where can our readers meet you?

"You can meet us at any of the events we attend, or if you’d like to arrange a consultation you’re more than welcome to come round for a cup of tea and to discuss cake! The website is http://www.catswhiskerscakedesign.co.uk/ and you can contact me via there. You can also find me on notonthehighstreet.com – just search for Cat’s Whiskers Cake Design."


I've tried Helen's cupcakes and believe me they are scrumptious and they look so great that its almost mean to eat them! (Almost but not quite!)  Helen is also part of the supplier showcase at the newly opened Glamour Bridal and Prom, so I'm hoping I'll get to taste much more scrummy cake in the near future!

Tuesday 6 September 2011

A Lancashire Wedding: To Laugh Often and Love Much

I LOVED sifting through the photos of Zac and Steph's wedding album.  This picture should explain why...


Jonathan Bean definitely caught the real and cheeky side to this couple!






Now over to Jonathan to tell us more about the big day.

"I just loved Steph & Zac's wedding day. From the off when I arrived at Steph's parents house in Lancaster I was made to feel as welcome as an old friend, and there were just so many big smiles throughout the day it would have been impossible to have come away without one too!"



"The service took place at St. Pauls Church in Scotforth, Lancaster, just up the road from where Steph was getting ready, and one of my favourite church wedding venues in Lancaster. It's such a pretty venue with great grounds for the pictures and it helps that the vicar is just a little bit bonkers (in a really good way!)"





"The rain just about held off, with only a few short drizzly spells, and we mostly enjoyed some lovely summer sunshine. The beautiful bouquet and flowers were once again provided by the fabulous Flowers by Catherine."





"From Scotforth we went onto the very popular Garstang Country Hotel for the reception and wedding breakfast part of the day, where we heard some great speeches before the meal moving Steph and Zac, family and friends alike from fits of laughter to some very touching tears in the briefest of moments."



From the midnight blue bridesmaids dresses to the exquisite flowers, I have to say that I love this wedding and all the emotion it carried.  Its exactly what a wedding should be, lots of emotion but still lots of laughter.  And not forgetting, how gorgeous Steph looks!



And we couldn't leave this cheeky one out either!


With thanks to Jonathan Bean Photography and the newly married Zac and Steph x

Friday 2 September 2011

A Sneak Peak at Kim Kardashians Wedding

So no officially photos have been released yet (due on 5th September in People Magazine), but what Lancashire Bride hears about the Hollywood Wedding of the Year is that it was a magnificent black and white charming but jaw droppingly expensive affair.  If these sneak peaks are anything to go by, we can't wait to see the official photos!

Dessert: The ten-tier black and white wedding cake is put in place inside the enormous marquee
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Going against the tradition that no other guest should wear white to avoid upstaging the bride, guest had to adhere to a strict dress code of black and white.  And in true William and Kate style, the Bridesmaids were yet again in white.  (I see a trend starting.)  Even the staff had to abide to the dresscode...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
 
Eonline.com reports that Kim's Vera Wang dress "was strapless, with a fitted bodice, a full, rather traditionally cut tulle skirt, and an epic train. The shoes were Guiseppe Zanotti. Her hair was up and her veil remained off her face as she walked down the aisle, the veil topped by a jeweled headpiece with diamonds that dripped onto Kim's forehead."
eonline.com
And the 30 minute ceremony alone was quite eventful.  It included a touching tribute from Kim to her late father and a near miss when sister Kourtney, almost tripped carrying her son Mason (the ring bearer) down the aisle.  Little Mason, however, rescued the situation by making the nerve reckoning jaunt down the aisle himself.

If rumours are to believed Kim Kardashian (or Humphries should we say) sets to make more money out the wedding than what it actually cost. Thats one savvy bride if ever I saw one!