I am the UKs Best Wedding Planner 2008!!

I am absolutely thrilled and excited to announce that at the awards lunch at the Riverbank Plaza hotel, London (www.parkplaza.com) at a fabulous lunch hosted by the wonderful team at Wedding Ideas (www.weddingideasmagazine.co.uk), I was announced as ‘The UKs Best Wedding Planner’.
Thank you so much to all my clients past, present (and future?) who voted for me and for all the invaluable support and encouragement from all my colleagues at ‘All Things Bride & Beautiful’. A special mention to Donnalee and Caroline who never fail to make me laugh even at my most fraught!

Issue 53 is in the shops now listing all the other winners and nominees and you can see photos of the event in issue 54 out in March.

Also, check out page 146 in issue 53 - some wonderful wedding planner has written a great article about personalising your wedding!!!

Stop Press – or allergy sufferers!!

I get lots of emails asking me if I know a good cake maker that caters for people (like myself) who have food allergies or intolerance's. Well, I have good news! There is a fabulous company that creates cakes just for people like us!
London based Heavenly Cakes (http://www.heavenlycakes4u.co.uk) has the answer: a decadently delicious range of homemade, vegan delights that are free from eggs, dairy, wheat, soya, GM-ingredients and nuts (all products contain coconut oil2). Gluten-free cakes are available for the growing number of coeliacs in the UK and sugar-free cakes made with agave nectar provide a diabetic-friendly alternative.

Take a look at their website, they even produce and sell cookies and ice cream!! I feel a shopping spree coming on!

All Things Bride & Beautiful are expanding again!

And I don’t mean we are all putting on weight! Our fourth shop opens in mid February (Exact date to be confirmed) in Oxfordshire – watch this space and our website for more information as it becomes available.

Our new website

Has now been released!

www.brideandbeautiful.co.uk.

Its has had a face lift and now includes lots more information and a web chat facility – keep an eye out for times I will be available to answer your questions or one of the lovely ladies in one of our gorgeous shops who will be able to help you with any dress or accessory questions.

We will be advertising various event and special offers on here, so make sure you save it to your favourites and return soon.

Wedding Workshops!

It takes an average of 250 hours to organise your wedding day and at the end of it, that is what it is, a day, the rest, as they say, is up to you…..This is why so many ‘brides to be’ are trying to learn a little at the same time as organising their wedding days. An added extra to this is that you can create those all important special touches that make your wedding day memorable for your guests, often leading to budget savings!

So what type of ‘Wedding Workshops’ are available?

Do you like the idea of arranging your own wedding flowers? Now there are workshops that offer advice and expertise enabling you to do just that. http://www.suebillington.co.uk/index.htm Sue has 24 years experience as a professional florist and has begun to run classes on floral creations including wedding flowers. Courses include a day’s instruction on wired shower bridal bouquets and wedding reception flowers for only £65 for the day (10am – 4pm) these classes are based in Buckinghamshire.

For all you chocoholics, how about making your own chocolate favours? Chocolate Delight (www.chocolatedelight.co.uk) based in Bournemouth run their own chocolate workshop. The course lasts for 3 hours and is run by a master chocolatier who has worked in The Ritz! You will create 5 different filings before dipping them into real Belgium chocolate and creating your own toppings. You then get to take 25 handmade chocolates home with you! All this for £39.95 per person! How can you resist! The course as well as the chocolate!

Looking for an alternative to the traditional guestbook? Then how about designing and decorating your own signing plate? Gone are the days of offering a colour coordinated book for your guests to leave good luck messages in, now you need a signing plate! Your guests leave their messages on the plate with a special plate and then the specialist company take it away and gloss it to keep the messages pristine forever more. www.glazedexpressionsofolney.co.uk offer mobile pottery classes in the Buckinghamshire area so you can literally make your own!

Are you worried about who or how you will apply your make up on your wedding day? Then an evening with a make up artist would be the way to go. www.blush.uk.com are London based and prices start at £50 for a beginners class which covers the basics of colour analysis and make up application. Advanced and group lessons are also available where you will go into more detail on evening make up and achieving different looks. Blush also offer a wedding day make up service.

How would you like a day designing and creating your own wedding rings with your husband to be? Then you need to contact www.weddingringworkshop.co.uk. They offer two types of experiences dependent on the metal you decide to make your rings with. The day long workshop includes meeting with designers to discuss ideas, a demonstration if the making process and then under supervision you melt your metal, mill and shape your rings. They are then filed and polished and any engravings are discussed and then you get lunch and a glass of champagne to congratulate yourselves on your hard work! A great way to spend a weddingy day with your other half and add that special something to your wedding day and marriage.

Let your achievements go to your head when you design your own tiara! Susan King offers expert and practical advice in Richmond, London. You will be taken through tools, actual technique and also given advice on where to buy your supplies. Also covered is the history of tiaras and then the design process begins! Once you have designed your masterpiece you are helped to bring it to life! More details can be found on www.susan-king.co.uk. ‘Make Your Own Tiara’ packages are also offered and one to one or group classes can be catered for.

Happy new year!

And what a great start for me....

I have been nominated as a finalist for the award of 'The UKs Best Wedding Planner' by readers of 'Wedding Ideas' magazine. Thank you very much to everyone who voted for me. Fingers crossed for the 1st Feb when the winners will be announced. To view all the nominations and finalists buy this months wedding ideas magazine now (Issue 52)
www.weddingideasmagazine.co.uk

I am also mentioned in the article called 'Planned to Perfection' written by the lovely Becky Skuse on page 139 so a good start to 2008!!

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday season and are looking forward to the mornings getting lighter earlier again in a month or two like me!

Come back soon to see what I have in store for this blog and All Things Bride & Beautiful in 2008.