Planning Your Wedding – Insider info from Heartfelt ceremonies

January 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

So to continue our series of articles from wedding suppliers today I would like to introduce you to Sandra from Heartfelt Ceremonies. Heartfelt create and perform unique ceremonies anywhere anytime! Here’s Sandra:

Having previously worked as a Registrar I often met up with Courtenay at the wedding ceremonies I attended in the venues around the county of Dorset. Although we had stunning castles and beautifully located hotels with licences, legal restrictions still prevented couples from having the freedom to make choices that would create their perfect day.
I decided to start my own company dedicated to giving families the opportunities to celebrate their special occasions in their own personal style. With 15 years experience working with brides and grooms and new parents and having personally performed over 1,000 ceremonies, I had a good idea of what people really wanted when it came to making their ceremony a really special and memorable event.

The ceremony location is more than just a place to hire for 30 minutes to repeat preset words in a predetermined way. It is an emotional choice, a place that holds special meaning to you as a couple/family, somewhere you feel relaxed and comfortable and will remember for ever. Creating the perfect atmosphere sets the scene for the entire celebration, with guests witnessing a totally unique ceremony they will hear vows and promises that reflect your own personalities. A ceremony that has been created for you and your celebration alone, professionally performed without restrictions or time limitations. Large flamboyant ceremonies held in grand manor houses through to small intimate ceremonies held in homes and gardens, all tastes and requests can be considered and customised especially for you.

Let me share some real examples to give you some ideas.

A couple who enjoy water sports chose to make their wedding vows on the beach in a cove at Weymouth. A beautiful summer’s evening meant there were hundreds of spectators in the form of holiday makers, thrilled to witness a bride arrive in a gold Rolls Royce. A marquee adorned with flowers created an intimate atmosphere, with a backdrop of blue sea and the sound of gentle rolling waves. The reception was held in the beach side café, with all the entertainment on the doorstep – sea sand and sunset.
A family living in Singapore brought their newborn twin sons home to meet their family, along with their 4 year old son. A triple naming ceremony was arranged to take place in their parents beautiful garden and would give them a wonderful opportunity to announce their son’s arrival, their choice of names along with the meaning, and to introduce everyone to their extended family. The day arrived along with a typical summer rainstorm so everyone moved to the local village hall, food toys and anything transportable! The atmosphere resembled a street party, with children and adults having so much fun we almost forgot the reason for the gathering. Vows and promises were made to each child individually by the parents, the three sets of God parents, the two sets of Grandparents, plus lots of lovely baby readings by uncles, aunts and friends, interspersed with toasts of champagne and cuddles all around. Certificates marking the event were signed by all the people taking part and everyone had a moment to say how much it meant to have the family home in England for such a wonderful event.
A beautiful medieval barn near Sherborne was the chosen venue for a couple wanting to make their wedding vows somewhere rustic and rural without restriction. A theme of farm hands and milking maids was adopted with the barn was dressed out in gorgeous raffia’s, flowers and ribbons. A band was hired to play barn dances, the reception dinner was a hog roast, and additional marquees housed a bar, a lounge and a kiddies play room. The guests were transported in coaches from London and each one had thrown themselves fully into the fancy dress, it resembled a scene from a film set! The surroundings had set the scene perfectly allowing the couple to fulfil their ideas and their guests to have a day of unrestricted fun and relaxation.

So just a tiny example of stories from a very large selection of ceremonies that I have had the pleasure to create and perform. Whether it is a Wedding, a Naming, a Renewal of Vows, or an Adoption ceremony, the choices are absolutely limitless providing you have the imagination. Please visit the website for more information www.heartfelt-ceremonies.co.uk or contact me to chat about your own ideas, I would love to hear how I may be able to help you make your celebration one that will be remembered for ever for fulfilling all your expectations and maybe your dreams.

Wedding Photography Dorset – Courtenay Photographic

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Planning Your Wedding – Insider info from Impact Disco

January 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Continuing our series of top tips and articles from wedding suppliers, today I have the pleasure in introducing you to James Murphy from Impact Disco. James is a great DJ who will really get your party jumping, I would also recommend you sign up to his pod-casts they are also really entertaining. Here’s James:

Hi my name’s James Murphy, and I run Impact Disco Entertainment, based in Weymouth, Dorset. Although I have had the pleasure of working alongside Courtenay at many a wedding, one in particular stands out – last summer on one of the wettest days of the year, and yet even though it was a marquee reception, it was a great wedding, and one that everyone enjoyed.

(James doing his thing for Chloe & Ben’s first dance from last years wettest wedding!)

Now it’s your turn to have a function and so you’re looking for a Disco and a DJ for your entertainment. It’s not something you do on a regular basis and you’re not sure what you should be looking for, after all, discos are all the same aren’t they?

Choosing a DJ for your function is one of the most important decisions you can make to ensure the success of the event. Everything else can be perfect, but if the music isn’t good, the party will fizzle. Selecting the right Disco for your party can be confusing. There are over 15,000 DJs in the U.K. all promising they’ll do a great job for you. So how do you pick the right one for you? Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide you with some guidance to help you make the decision easier.

The best and easiest way is to find a DJ you’ll like is to hire one you’ve already seen. If you’ve been at a wedding or party where the DJ was great, find out who he or she was. If you didn’t get their card, ask the host or the manager of the function room where the party was held.

If you haven’t seen a good DJ recently, ask your friends. Your friends probably have the same taste in music as you. Maybe they’ve been to a function you missed. Let them know ahead of time you’ll be looking, and ask them to keep their eyes and ears open.

If the first two suggestions don’t work, your job gets tougher. You might have to go to the Yellow Pages. Look under Disc Jockeys, Mobile Discos, Music and Entertainment. Circle the ads in which the DJ mention the type of party you’re planning. For example, if you’re planning a wedding, a DJ whose ad says ‘We specialise in Weddings’ would be a good one to call. You’ll probably find several DJs whose ads look good. Alternatively, you can search the internet. There are many good directories to check such as the Wedding DJ Association www.weddingdja.co.uk which will even help you find DJs and Discos in your area.

How do you tell which one is best? Probably the worst way to choose a DJ is on price alone. Some DJs are more expensive than others. Prices can range from £120 to £800+ for a 4 hour event. That’s quite a difference, and it would be very tempting to choose the cheapest alternative. If that’s all you can afford, then you have no choice. But, consider the law of supply and demand. There is a reason that some DJs charge more than others. They are usually worth it. More expensive DJs tend to be the more experienced DJs. They can charge more because they have a lot of jobs, and they have a good reputation. Generally, the DJs on the low end of the price scale are new to the business, and trying to get established. They could do a good job, and might be worth a shot if your party is on the informal side. But there is probably more at risk with a less experienced person.

As you speak with the DJs, pay attention to their professionalism over the phone. It tends to spill over into their DJ style. The most important thing to ask is their experience with your type of event. If you are planning an event like a wedding, it would be normal to expect a professional DJ to have performed for at least 25 of these events. A number in the hundreds is actually common for a DJ who is well established.

DJs with less experience might also do a good job. And they’ll usually cost less. If you talk to one who sounds interesting, ask them for references. Get 4 or 5 names and phone numbers of people who have recently hired them. Call these references and ask about the DJs performance. Any DJ can easily give you 2 or 3 names. Getting more names is a better test of the quality of their performance.

You might also ask the DJ if they are performing in a location where you could see them. If so, make a visit, unannounced. Observe how the DJ interacts with the crowd. Are people having fun? Are people dancing? Is the music too loud? Is the DJ dressed appropriately? These are all good clues to the DJs skills and personality.

Always ask the DJ about their policy on requests. The best DJs will take requests from the audience and work them into their routine. However, do not expect the DJ to play every request. Many requests are simply inappropriate for the mood of the event. A good DJ is not a jukebox. He will blend requests with songs he feels will properly motivate the crowd. The art of DJing is timing, and this takes experience. Forcing a DJ to ignore his or her instincts by making them play every request will result in an ‘uneven’ (and less fun party). On the other hand, the DJ should try to play as many of your audience’s requests as possible. Try to get a feel for their philosophy of requests as you interview them. It is also appropriate to give a DJ a list of 5 or 6 songs you ‘must have’. Just don’t make that list 15 or 20 songs long.

Many DJs boast about the number of songs they have. While variety is great, the fact is that they will only be able to play 60-70 songs in a four hour shoe. Having the right 60 songs is a lot more important than having 20,000 songs your crowd doesn’t want to hear. After you tell the DJ what type of party you are having and who the audience will be, ask him what type of music they’d suggest. You should feel comfortable with most of his or her selections.

Many DJs also boast about having great equipment. Unless you are familiar with professional audio gear, you probably won’t know which brands are great and which are budget. However, your DJ should at least have professional grade equipment. If they list brand names you are familiar with at the local electronics retailer, that is a cause for further questioning. Home stereo equipment is not designed to stand up to 4-5 hours of high volume use. It could fail in the middle of your party! For example, typical professional DJ power amplifiers usually have 200-600 watts per channel, where consumer amplifiers that are considered powerful may have only 100 watts per channel.

Some DJ companies have more than one DJ working for them. In this case, it’s important to get references on the particular DJ who will be assigned to your show. Even if the company has been around for ten years, they might have hired your DJ last week. He might be a pro himself, or he may be newly trained. Be sure of who you’re getting.

The perfect DJ for you will be affordable, experienced at your type of event, and have great references. There are probably a lot of DJs who fit that description. As you search remember that above all, you want your event to be fun. Also remember, you need to feel comfortable with your DJ.

I hope this helps you, as you look for your entertainment.

James Murphy owns Impact Disco Entertainment and has been performing in the Dorset area since 2006, even though he has been involved in the DJ/Entertainment field since 1977. He can be contacted for questions by email – impactdisco@aol.com or telephone (01305)815656 or (07786) 387338. His website is www.impactdisco.com
NEW FOR 2009
Why not have a listen to my weekly podcast www.jamesmurphy.podomatic.com

Wedding Photography Dorset – Courtenay Photographic

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Planning Your Wedding – Insider info from Cupids Corner

January 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

To continue our series of articles from top wedding suppliers, today I would like to introduce you to Becky and Tina from Cupids Corner who do all things lovely in Bridal (and Groom) wear!
Over to you girls:

DREAMING OF THAT DRESS!
You’ve got the perfect man, booked the date, now all you have to do is find the most incredible dress you will ever wear. Seems a bit of a daunting prospect doesn’t it? After all, it is you, the bride, that everyone will be looking at on the day. However, luckily no-one expects you to achieve perfection on your own, at Cupids Corner we can give you all the guidance you need on styles that will be most flattering to your own unique shape.
We could write volumes on which styles suit each type of body shape, but really it is a question of trying dresses on and assessing how you feel in them, as well as how wonderful you look! We always suggest that brides attempt to put their logical mind to one side when choosing the dress, and just see how they react on an emotional level to each one. Think about your special day, the venue you have chosen, the colour scheme, your groom’s reaction…… all of these things will have a bearing on what kind of wedding gown you will feel a million dollars in, but don’t get too caught up with analysing every last detail!
Remember, you are the bride, and if you feel like a princess because you know you are wearing what is right for you, you will look radiant and get maximum enjoyment from your wedding day.

Tips for tinies: Empire lines are a great feature for those of you who are smaller in the bust, and also good if you are not so tall, as the high bust line tends to lengthen the body and give the illusion of height. We recommend going for lighter fabrics such as silk and chiffon, and lace is good as long as it is dainty. Generally, slimmer line dresses without huge volume in the skirt to swamp you, will work best.
Tips for larger ladies: Ruching, and asymmetrical lines are the most flattering for bigger sizes, and remember, once you are in the right dress you will look and feel beautiful. With a little guidance you will discover your waist and look perfectly proportioned! Trust me, I have seen girls who were very negative about the way they looked, transformed into confident, happy brides, simply by putting on the right dress to make the most of all their best features.

So, what is the look for 2009? Well, you will find plenty of ruching, pleating and soft folding in gowns this year, all of which are extremely flattering and ultra feminine. Stunning new fabrics include soft Italian Metallic which gives a very contemporary look and feels fabulously light to wear, available in white, ivory and champagne. Lace still features prominently as overlays on various fabrics, such as taffetas, satin and silk, and gives a vintage feel to modern styles which is really pretty. We have also introduced a new type of satin into our collection this year called Angel Satin. It is sumptuously soft and drapes beautifully giving a gorgeous curvy look to gowns. This is available in Ivory, White, Magnolia which is a little warmer than Ivory, and the most unusual Pearl, which is kind of pinky silver if you can imagine it!
The silk collection now includes gowns from the stunning Martina Liana collection, which is the latest addition to the Essense of Australia portfolio of gowns.

If you have only just begun thinking about your wedding, and are unsure in what order it is best to proceed with the all important things, like ordering dresses etc. we suggest that you start looking as early as possible, anything from about a year ahead of the big day is good. This will mean that you can approach the whole experience in a relaxed way, and so find it far more enjoyable! Having said this, don’t panic if you have less time available to you, we can always work with a bride’s time schedule even if it means perhaps buying a dress from our selection of sample gowns, or ordering a new dress on a “rush charge”. Ordering on a “rush” enables the dress to be delivered up to 4 weeks earlier thn a standard delivery, and usually adds a cost of approximately 10% on to the cost of the gown. However, I am sure that you are all highly organised brides and will be so keen to get everything underway, that this won’t be a problem!
Bridesmaids dresses take about the same time to order as wedding gowns, so try not to leave this too late either, as a rough guide, you will need to allow at least 3-4 months from date of order until gowns arrive in store. Add to that at least 2 months for fittings wherever possible, and that gives a minimum of 6 months before the wedding……….as an ideal.

Once all the girls in the party are sorted, it is time to remember the boys!! With a fantastic selection of formal hire on site, we can offer the full package to co-ordinate perfectly with your chosen colours etc. Previous brides have commented that being able to see all the outfits they have chosen together in one place, has made everything so much easier as for instance, they don’t have to try and remember what the wedding dress looks like when in the men’s hire shop. Instead, they can actually see it next to their choice of suit, and the bridesmaids dresses…..not in front of the men of course!!

With all this in mind, we would just like to say, when looking for such special outfits,make sure you are 100% happy you are comfortable with the shop you are buying from. We like to really bond with our brides and make sure they feel really special and supported by us in this most important venture. It is to our great delight that brides will often come in with wedding photos and thankyou cards, and even a year or so after the wedding,we have visits from ex brides proudly showing us their new babies…..aaah!
www.cupidscorner-bridalwear.com

Wedding Photography Dorset – Courtenay Photographic

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Planning Your Wedding – Insider info from Lisa Notley Cakes

January 22, 2009 By 1 Comment

Okay to continue the series of articles we started yesterday, today I would like to introduce you to Lisa Notley from Lisa Notley Wedding cakes Not only are Lisa’s cakes simply to die for, she’s a really lovely person too…. here’s Lisa:

I’m really not sure how this happened, but an hour ago I found myself saying YES to Courtenay when asked to write a piece for his blog…..

“Wedding cakes” he said, “write something – anything, from whatever angle you wish”

Now writing / paperwork really is not my forte, but give me a cake to bake & then decorate for a brides special day, well that’s what I love, which I suppose is how I came to be doing this…..

Cakes….cakes …..Cakes…..

I love cakes, well anything sweet really, from an oaty biscuit (oh those childhood memories) to carrot cake, chocolate mousse to sticky prune & date cake. One thing though is important with any cake that I bake & eat or want my family, friends & brides & her family & friends to eat, is that it must be made with passion, care & fabulous ingredients.

Ingredients, always, always use the best that you can find. Butter, please don’t use a “margarine” which has lots of added unnecessary ingredients, just butter with a little salt added, I use Wyke Farms, truly scrumptious farmhouse, which I can highly recommend. Eggs, fresh & local are my motto, Foots from Bishops Caundle produce great eggs. Flour, again use a good quality, ours comes from the Cotswolds. We use a fabulous Belgium rich dark chocolate couverture, which we use to bake & decorate our cakes.

(Rhian & Mark cutting into one of Lisa’s very scrummy wedding cakes last summer)

Recipes, for the wedding cakes I use time tested ones, which I have modified, to suit my ingredients, oven & environment. I do however enjoy trying out new recipes; though do tend to return to my favourites! I never ever give the recipes that we use for our weddings cakes to anyone….so please don’t ask…..I will however share this one with you, it’s probably the first biscuit that I baked with my mum many years ago & I think the first that I baked with my daughter Maddie. It’s really so easy that anyone could do it….

OATY BISCUITS

1oz golden syrup
4oz castor sugar
4oz butter
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
4oz self raising flour
Oats to bind

Baking trays lined with baking parchment. Heat oven to 170 – 180 c (depending on your oven)

Sift together the flour & bicarbonate of soda.

Melt the sugar, butter & syrup together over a low heat. Allow to slightly bubble around the edges.

Mix in the sifted flour & bicarbonate of soda.

Add oats to the mixture, the mix needs too be able to almost hold its shape, but not too stiff otherwise the biscuits will be a little dry. They should be soft & chewy…

Place spoonfuls, teaspoons or dessertspoons of the mix onto the baking trays well spaced as they do tend to spread.

Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, until they are golden brown.

If they don’t all get eaten, store in an airtight tin / container.

Well I’m off to collect my kids from school & back home to make these biscuits with them. We have some over ripe bananas in the fruit bowl & I did see a new recipe for banana muffins……

Enjoy & have fun….

Lisa.

Tel: 01300 345139
Email: cakes@cakesbylisanotley.co.uk

Wedding Photographer Dorset – Courtenay Photographic

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Planning Your Wedding – Insider info from New Vision

January 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

As so many of you are now in full swing with your wedding plans, we thought it might be helpful to read some articles from our recommended vendors. These are all wedding professionals we have met whilst working, businesses we not only like personally but who we have no hesitation in recommending to our brides – businesses we know we can rely on to do an absolutely brilliant job for you, each and every time. And like I said – not only that, but they’re all nice people too! Some have written articles introducing themselves, some have some funny stories to tell, and some have simply provided some great advice and tips to consider when planning your wedding.

So, first in the series is….

Videography by Jamie Wonnacott from New Vision Media

Every wedding couple have high hopes and expectations about their wedding day… and it’s no wonder considering all the time and effort put into planning the big day!
Fortunately, all those hundreds of personal decisions lead to a day that is very unique and unlike any other wedding day… So Yes, take a sigh of relief… all that effort you are putting in is totally worth it!!!

One of those important decisions you will make is in choosing your photographer. Now hopefully the fact that you are reading this blog means you are already acquainted with our man Courtenay.. so congratulations you’ve just made an excellent decision. Having worked with Courtenay on many occasions (and many other photographers) I can assure you he is the best man for the job. Not only does he take breathtakingly beautiful photographs, but if you need to touch up your lip gloss you can guarantee he’ll be carrying the necessary accoutrement in his bag to assist… Tissues… mirror… in fact I reckon he’s also got a tool for removing stones from horse hooves (although that is unconfirmed)!

(Jamie doing his thing at Sarah & Adams wedding last year at Wardour Castle)

So you know that following your wedding you are going to take delivery of a beautifully crafted set of wedding photographs, but let me ask you a question… What about the wedding video?
This is a much debated question between couples for a number of reasons. Historically wedding videos have been shi… rubbish! Shaky camera work, boring shots, poor sound and perhaps too many shots of the cameraman’s shoes… and all delivered to you on that big VHS tape… great! Also, most people dread the thought of being on camera and even worse hearing their own voice. And sometimes it’s purely down to a cost issue!

Well how about if I give you a different perspective on things?
Speak to any bride at about 9pm on her wedding day and she will tell you that it’s all been a blur and she doesn’t know where the time has gone. The ceremony, the vows, the guests, the meal, the speeches… she was there throughout but can’t really tell you anything specifically because there was just too much to take in all at once.

And so this is where I come in… my name is Jamie and my talent is in documenting your wedding day and conveying the love you share. I can remind you when you are 60 years old how much you love each other and why you chose to get married in the first place!

Moving behind the scenes I work quietly to tell the story of your wedding day. The venue, the arrival of the guests, groom and bride, the ceremony, drinks, reception, speeches, dancing, socialising and most importantly… the Love, Tears and Laughter. And I do all of this without you noticing so you always appear natural… and not like a rabbit caught in headlights! Back in the office I then mix the video with music… weaving the songs throughout the video like a thread that holds everything together.

Words can only go so far to explain what I do… its best if you see for yourself. There are some sample videos on my website to wet your appetite, but these are only a fraction of the final DVD. If you like what you see I’d be only too happy to show you some full wedding videos.

www.wedding-day-video.co.uk

So, before I sign off I have one piece of advice to all those planning their wedding day. Please… enjoy every single moment! Whether it’s choosing a venue, a dress, the cake or flowers… it’s all part of the wedding day and will be over so very quickly so have fun every step of the way.
Wishing you all the best and a Happy New Year.

Jamie Wonnacott
Creative Director (and Hopeless Romantic)

Wedding Photography Dorset – Courtenay Photographic

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