Wedding Supplier Spotlight – Daisy

March 6, 2012 By 1 Comment

Today I am delighted to introduce you to the very lovely Tara Cole AKA Daisy Icecream van!

 

icecream van for your vintage wedding

If you fancy something a little bit different at your wedding, party or event how about inviting along Daisy, my beautifully renovated vintage ice cream van.  I had a mad idea of rescuing  a clapped out ice cream van on Ebay last year and giving her a new lease of life, I had no idea how much fun, hard work and exciting times it would lead to, or how much I would learn about diesel engines and mechanics!!

vintage icecream van for your wedding

After lots of TLC and a lot of luck with some amazingly clever, talented people, Daisy has emerged as the prettiest ice cream van you will ever see, in cream, chrome and lilac I dress her up with fresh flowers and vintage style bunting and add a personal message on the back window for my Wedding couples.  She is fully stocked with heavenly Cotswold ice creams and sorbets with luxury waffle cornets, retro ice lollies, retro sweets, and for the evenings and cooler months hot chocolate, mulled wine and hot toddy’s.  Daisy is now fully licensed so you can even hire her as your Champagne bar.

wedding icecream van

I’ve never known anything to get such a fabulous reaction as Daisy does, and it’s the adults that come back four times, the children are always very well behaved!!  Daisy now has her own power supply and hidden behind a vintage stereo is an iPod so I can even personalise her music, usually she plays rock n roll and Motown tunes from the 40s through to the 70s.  To give the whole thing even more of a vintage 50s feel I dress up in full 1950s dress to really set the whole thing off.

wedding icecream van

I really like to give Daisy a personal touch for all my wedding couples so I match in with colour schemes and flowers whenever I can and you get to choose the flavours of ice creams and sorbets, I’ve added diabetic friendly ice creams too and do a little pot for the wheat intolerant.  You can even have a personalised ice cream sundae for your wedding and a Daisy T shirt as a souvenir of your special day.

wedding vintage icream van

I work out the costing for hiring Daisy based on the number of guests, the distance to travel to the venue and the treats you would like served, that costing covers 2 hours of serving unlimited deliciousness to your guests, you can book her for longer I just work out an hourly rate, and that’s it, no hidden costs or nasty surprises. Your deposit guarantees the date to you and you can book for the daytime or the evening when Daisy has her twinkly lights and lanterns.

I can’t wait for the wedding season to really get going, plus we have the Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year, and Daisy is certainly proving to be very popular for those.

wedding vintage icecream van

To find out more about Daisy or to book her fabulousness for your event or wedding, here are her contact details -

Website – www.daisyicecreamvan.co.uk

Telephone – 01344 885410

Email – Daisyicreamvan@hotmail.co.uk

More wedding supplier spotlights tomorrow!

Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic Ltd
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Wedding Supplier Spotlight – JW Blooms

March 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today’s wedding supplier spotlight is firmly switched on to the lovely Janet from JW Blooms….

 

Life as a Flower Grower and Florist

For years, like millions, I sat at a desk and typed all day for a living. Those days seem far behind me. Now I grow flowers.

When I first thought of starting JW Blooms, I envisaged running a regular stall at several farmers’ markets and supplying flower stands at local shops. Now, four years down the line, experience has taught me to avoid doing stalls if at all possible (way too much work for the rewards) and that stands in shops are just stalls with people who don’t care about the flowers as much as I do probably neglecting them.

english grown wedding flowers

These days, the bulk of my business comes from weddings and so, without really planning it, I have also become a florist. It’s a job of two halves. In the winter, from my secluded flower field in Somerset, I plan, rearrange, shovel, clear, weed and wonder if my fingernails will ever be clean again.  It’s hard work and I must admit there are times when the cold, the aching back and the financial instability make me ponder the possibility that a desk job might be preferable. But most days I look at my “office” and find it hard not to whoop with joy. To be outside all year round, aware of every little change in the season, using your muscles, nurturing seedlings and plants and knowing you’re doing it in an ethical, sustainable way is life-enhancing and truly something to be grateful for.

And then, come spring, the other half of the job kicks in. Yes, the growing and, especially, the weeding carries on, but the main focus shifts to weddings. Just like the growing side of things, wedding floristry is much harder work than it sounds. Everything has to be done at the last minute and it isn’t unusual for me to cram what most people think of as a week’s work into three days. On top of that, unlike conventional florists, whose flowers come already cut and conditioned, my floristry work is preceded by hours of back-breaking picking, trimming and prep work, usually at the crack of dawn. But – also like the growing side of things – overall it’s a privilege. Weddings are gloriously happy occasions. Working with people who are excited about their plans and about the new life they are about to embark upon is such a pleasure. Goodwill and optimism abound. I especially love the day before – preparing and creating on site, surrounded by excited, happy guests, full of joy. It’s fantastic!

English grown wedding flowers

 
Buying your wedding flowers from a local small grower is still a novel idea for many people and, especially when it is one of the biggest days of your life, you might be nervous about entrusting it to someone who invites you to a shed for your initial consultation! But don’t worry, the product is glorious and, by doing your bit to help expand the market, maybe you will be creating more opportunities for other people to spend their lives as I do. And that would be a fine thing!

Take a look at what I do at www.jwblooms.co.uk

Jan

 

You can also contact Jan on the following -

Telephone -  T: 01823 660870  M: 07939 093249

Email – info@jwblooms.co.uk

or follow on

Check out the blog again tomorrow for more fab wedding supplier spotlights!

Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic Ltd
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Wedding Supplier Spotlight – Celebration Invitations

March 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Welcome to the blog Helen from Celebration Invitations :-)

 

Hi, I’m Helen from Celebration Invitations,  I have an internet  business based  in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. I live in  Embsay, near Skipton, North Yorkshire.
My business has grown out of a love of my  12 year old  Crafting hobby.   A very popular thing now a days, through need and /or desire.  My story is no exception.
My son and wife asked me to produce their wedding stationery for their Wedding at Cricklade Hotel and Country club.
Day Invitation    
Evening Invitation 

My daughter and her husband had their son’s Christening reception at the fabulous Coniston Hotel, Coniston cold and asked if I
would do the invitations.

  My love of crafting and weddings began to bring enquiries from people to  produce  bespoke stationery and so encouraged me to develop the business.
Here is a very small selection of some of my work.  I have produced work for weddings in many fabulous English venues, Ireland, America and Cyprus to mention a few.

I am quite happy to produce stationery to any stage, for clients as items  often have  to be transported to a venue which can sometimes be literally thousand of miles away.  It has to travel well and be easily assembled by the customer so’s not to take up all there time ‘cutting and sticking’, when they really want to be enjoying themselves on their  big day.

My service until recently has been solely bespoke where I produce a selection of stationery unique to the clients.  Some people know exactly what they are looking for whilst other need inspiration so I aim to help in presenting several ideas usually on copy paper first and let things develop from there.  It injects the true personality of the couple into their big day and of course it sets the scene for their guests.

I always ask couples if they are happy for me to put images of their stationery collections into the public domain and they are usually happy for me to do that.  I never do this until after they are home from their honeymoon, so it doesn’t spoil any surprises.
The  one exception to my rule is from perhaps one of the most organised brides I have ever had.  She came to me in 2011 for a wedding in 2013 knowing exactly what she wanted.  It’s a Monochrome wedding theme and looks stunning so just this once I’ve asked to share it and thankfully she agreed.
Of course she can’t fill in the place names until she receives the RSVP but is enlisting  a friend who’s a calligrapher for that.  Being so far in advance she has been able to spread the cost and stay within her budge.  Something I’m very keen to help with, if possible, having been their twice with my own family, I know it can be quite a strain especially now a days.

In  January 2012 I have had my website redesigned and will be increasing the services I  offer to include a  ‘do it  yourself’  and ‘off the peg’ sections.  I am fully aware of the need  for this type of service as people want to have and input into ‘their day’ and be proud of their achievements, it’s also a way to keep the cost down.  So I hope this will help.  I’m keeping my bespoke service too as it’s been  very popular  and I’m hoping the website will in time become a resource of information and help to people.
I use only top quality products  to produce my stationery, purchasing as much as possible from local or British made manufacturers and try and chose my card and papers carefully with the knowledge it is from a sustainable source.

Finally, here’s a sample from one of my Summer Weddings at the fabulous Devonshire Arms Hotel in Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire.  It’s only a ‘stones through’ away from me but I’m able to produce work for anywhere in or out of the country.

Email: info@celebrationinvitations.co.uk
Tel: 0759 6782 445
Website: www.celebrationinvitations.co.uk  

I hope you’ve enjoyed the introduction to my work.

Helen

Thank you Helen, we have :-)

More supplier spotlights tomorrow!

Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic Ltd
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Wedding Supplier Spotlight – Abigails Collection

March 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today I am very pleased to introduce you to the very lovely Abigail from Abigails Collection, all things very wonderfull in the world of shopping for that very special dress!!

 

Here is Abigail…

 

When and why did you start in the bridal business?

?I launched Abigail’s Collection after my own wonderful wedding in 2005 – During my wedding planning I was really disappointed by the wedding shops that I had visited.  I felt that the experience should have been more memorable and more personal.  I decided that I wanted to create a really beautiful environment where brides were made to feel special and where customer expectations were exceeded.  That’s what I set out to do and that’s what Abigail’s Collection & The Groom’s Room in Colchester, Essex is all about.

Describe in a few words your business ethos?

?Exceeding our customer’s expectations, making Customers feel special and above all else making wedding dreams come true!

wedding dress supplier

What’s the shop like and what sets it apart??

We’ve tried to create a warm, friendly and intimate shop where Brides enjoy entirely private VIP style appointments.  Mood lighting and background music help to create a relaxed and pretty atmosphere.  We’re set across 4 floors and have 2,500 sqft of retail space but each bride is made to feel like the only bride.  Customers love the fact that we offer everything all under one roof, bridal, bridesmaids, menswear, accessories and Mother of the Bride outfits.  Proudly, we’ve won 14 awards – I think that reflects our professionalism, dedication, commitment and general business success.

What advice would you give to Brides when they start shopping for a wedding dress?

?Check out bridal mags for ideas and keep a scrapbook of your favourite dress pictures to show boutiques when you visit.  Don’t leave it too late – start looking at least 12 months before the big day.  Be guided by the shop’s Consultants they should know their dresses better than you.  Don’t take a huge entourage along with you, less is more especially when it comes to opinions!  Be brave and try on dresses that you didn’t think you’d try and last but not least ENJOY it and go with your instincts.

wedding dress supplier

How does a bride know when the dress is ‘the one’?

Some brides feel an instant emotional connection with a particular style and literally well up!  Some Brides prefer to analytically whittle it down.  Many Brides say that they just don’t want to take it off or that they feel a million dollars!  Body language says a lot, we find that when brides fall in love they stroke and swish!!

When you’re not busy at the shop what do you like doing?

?

Well life’s pretty hectic what with our adorable baby girl Arabella (6 months).  We spend as much time together as we can with my Husband (and business Partner) Rob and our yellow Lab Doggie Marney.  It’s incredibly rewarding being a Mummy but really busy juggling work, family, friends and play!  I often wish there were more hours in the day!

What are your bridal trend predictions for 2012/2013??

Overall bridal trends will continue with a strong vintage flavour.  Lots of designs will still feature lashings of lace in an abundance of fitted and fuller styles.   We’ll continue to see plenty of fifties inspired short n’ stylish dresses with generous puff petticoats and Audrey necklines, these are becoming increasingly popular for us too. Straps are definitely in and those who chose to show off statement pieces can continue to do so in popular fabrics of the moment; dupion silk, elaborate waterfall ruffles and slashed layers of organza and tulle.

wedding dress supplier

??Abigail’s Collection & The Groom’s Room is based in Colchester, Essex.  ?Abigail Neill and the team can be contacted on 01206 574575 or visit www.abigailscollection.co.uk for more info.

You can also find Abigail on    

Thank you Abigail :-)

More wedding supplier spotlights coming up…..

Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic Ltd
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Wedding Supplier Spotlight – Vintage Dorset

March 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today’s wedding supplier spotlight is all about Linda and Steve from the fabulous Vintage Dorset. Who and what are they? well in their own words…

A perfect place to step back in time for vintage tea parties, tasty local food, memorable events and vintage activities with loads of help for your own celebration or themed party. We offer vintage china hire, beautiful mis-matched crockery, accessories and trimmings, party planning and event styling – perfect for a traditional vintage party.

So now you know! Here are Linda and Steve….

 

Vintage Dorset

Starting out…
I guess Vintage Dorset is an unusual business. It began as an idea as far back as 2009 when Steve and I were doing lots of environmental stuff in the community, supporting local food producers and finding new uses for old things that were often thrown out.

We’d acquired quite a large collection of vintage “stuff” and wanted to build it into a practical local business where it could be loved! We’d seen the growing trend for vintage in many parts of the country – but Dorset still seemed pretty thin on its offer with no-one offering vintage china hire from within the county itself.

Vintage Dorset began with a party for just 50 people – but after 18 months, we’d built up a huge range of items, styled more than 40 events, appeared in Cosmo Bride and on German TV as well as designed our own gorgeous web-site to show everything off. Having great pictures has helped hugely – people see the vintage china and fall in love!

Vintage Events
Most of our accessories are used for weddings and big birthday parties, retirements and anniversaries – celebrating the happiest days people experience. We now have over 300 vintage teacups in stock so we can do really big events like the Strand Palace Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – but we’re just as happy supplying small celebrations or themed parties – the main thing for us is making the event look and feel beautiful.

Increasingly weddings include DIY elements from the bride and groom whether its decorating the venue with home-made Alice in Wonderland props, providing table flowers, adding your own favours or making tea lights in hand painted jam jars. On one occasion all of the guests brought in a tupperware container of food to be plated up on vintage cake stands – we’ve seen more and more couples style their own wedding for great value and a more individual feel and we love it!

Hints for Brides
As one-size-fits-all packages become less popular; weddings are appearing in really unusual venues and garden marquees where you have to design the day yourselves. Lots of local suppliers are willing to provide wonderful goodies for your wedding – but to make a vintage or DIY styled wedding really wonderful here are our top tips…

You can never have enough bunting! Inside, outside around the marquee and in the trees – people love vintage bunting – it gives a really lovely party feel and the more there is the better

Remember this is a fun occasion – keep it relaxed and everyone will muck in and help – its nicer if people can get involved

Find someone you can rely on to help co-ordinate things on the day. Whilst you can do lots of venue dressing the day before things like putting bunting up outside, setting tables and co-ordinating food deliveries or all need extra hands on the day itself

Don’t be afraid to mix it up! Lots of our weddings have a mixture of vintage, country garden, festival or fairground themes with loads of different colours and tones. Vintage china has lots of white and creams in it so the mixed colours add to the style and delight your guests. It means everyone feels unique!

When you’ve spent extra cash on beautiful vintage china, your mum has made your wedding cake or you’ve spent hours making a gorgeous guest book or loads of bunting – make sure your photographer takes pictures of it! Catching the ambience of the day includes all the details! Its what makes the weddings in the magazines look so gorgeous!

 

Fab Linda and Steve, and don’t worry as photographers who make sure no details are missed you can guaruntee we will capture all your fab pieces! :-)

To contact Linda and Steve a vintage Dorset for all your vintage wedding accessories, please use the following -

Website – www.vintagedorset.co.uk

Email – info@vintagedorset.co.uk

Telephone – 07967 366990

 

Stay tuned folks for more fab supplier spotlights right here on the blog tomorrow!


Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic Ltd
Filed Under: 2012 wedding planning, 2012 Wedding Planning Insiders Guide, Other stuff, Wedding Planning Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wedding Supplier Spotlight – Genii Cupcakes

March 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today on our wedding supplier spotlight, I would like to introduce you to the very lovely Laura Payne from Genii Cupcakes ….

 

Genii Cupcakes produce hand made designer cupcakes and baked goodies to order, specialising in American and unique flavours created in our Hampshire kitchen. Whether you are looking for wedding cupcakes, a giant birthday cupcake, mini cupcakes as wedding favours or simply a variety of baked goodies as a treat we have something for you.?For those people who would like to learn themselves how to make stunning cupcakes, we also run cupcake workshops and private parties.

When did you set up your company?

?Genii Cupcakes website went live on 17th May 2010.

What made you get into it?

?A bride was let down at the last minute by her cupcake supplier for her wedding so I stepped in and created her tower. I have always been a creative person and my love of food makes baking edible art the perfect outlet, so Genii was born.

What were you doing before?

?My background is in marketing and campaign planning, skills which are very useful when setting up your own brand and business.

wedding cakes

Where are you based and what geographical area do you cover?

?Genii are based just outside Romsey in Hampshire and cover London and the South with small occasion deliveries. However I am keen to travel and have nationwide enquiries coming in thick and fast for larger events and weddings.

What is the best bit about your job?

?I love surprising people with what you can achieve through baking. The standard cupcake and cake flavours and designs are well known, but that moment when you create a flavor or design that is truly unique to them is a fabulous achievement. I see baking as an artistic medium that has many end products such as cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, macaroons to name a few, and I love pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved.

What is your biggest achievement so far?

?I am really proud that in under a year since the website launched Genii has created a niche in the heavily competitive cupcake market, has a regular customer base and has gained national press coverage. Recently a customer saw one of our cupcake designs in a regional publication and knew instantly it was us. I was overjoyed that our style of cupcakes is becoming recognized and synonymous with Genii.

wedding cakes

What is your favorite cup cake??

That’s like asking who is your favorite child! I can’t make a single decision, but my favorite changes regularly depending on mood, season and occasion. You can’t beat an Apple Crumble cupcake in winter, New Forest Gateaux cupcake as dessert or Pimms cupcake in summer with a glass of bubbles. I also happen to know that Mr Genii’s favorite is the Cherry Bakewell.
If you were going to make a cup cake for anyone famous who would it be??I would love to set up an edible garden exhibit with everything made from cake, cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, chocolate and sweets. Included in the garden would be giant cupcake toad stalls and I would invite Heston Blumenthal to come and take a bite!

What do you really love??

Taking an idea from scratch and developing it into a baked product that exceeds expectations. This can be for any occasion from a styled photo-shoot to a themed wedding reception, I love developing flavors and visual creativity to really wow people.

And what do you really hate??

As much as I really do love what I do, the amount of washing up generated could definitely be put into the hate category

I agree Laura…definitely would hate the washing up! ;-)

To get in touch with Laura at Genii to make a wonderful creation for your special day, use the following -

Website – www.genii-cupcakes.co.uk

Email – Laura@genii-cupcakes.co.uk

Telephone   T: 023 80410786  M: 07725046767

More fab supplier spotlights tomorrow!


Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic Ltd
Filed Under: 2012 wedding planning, 2012 Wedding Planning Insiders Guide, Other stuff, Wedding Planning Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wedding Supplier Spotlight – No.10 Weddings

February 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Over the next week or so, I am going to be introducing you to some fabulous businesses in the wedding and events industry, I’m going to let them loose on my blog to tell you all about themselves and what they do!

So maybe you are still looking for a beauty and make-up expert or perhaps a talented wedding planner who can help you through the increasing complicated details of your day, or perhaps you are just looking for that something extra to wow your guests…a vintage Ice-cream van perhaps? ;-) Well, keep you eyes firmly fixed right here folks, because we ceratinly have some real wedding gems coming you way right here…..

 

And today, I would like to introduce you to the very fabulous…. Lester Gethings…Wedding and events planner extraordinaire!

 

About me

It’s always difficult to talk about ones self but I’ll do my best!! I’ve been told that I’m  friendly, approachable and professional in the way that I work. I also have a keen eye for detail and excellent taste! I have worked hard to build my business and it’s good reputation. Its very important therefore, that I work hard to maintain that reputation and give the best possible service to my clients.
It’s also true to say (so I’ve been told!) I have something of a reputation for directness within the industry and, that I’ve never been afraid to speak my mind. I hope though, that people who know me also respect my honesty and integrity and that I always have their best intentions at heart. I’ve always had a love of fashion and style and I’m very particular in the way that I present myself in business because, first impressions always count! Talking of first impressions, I’m also a stickler for detail. My clients engage me to provide an exceptional service so, come the big day I’ll be there making sure everything is a perfect as it can be!

My business

Having been involved in hospitality and events for over fifteen years, it seemed like a natural progression for me to move into the world of weddings, I’ve always loved a good party! Having thoroughly researched the industry and working for an established wedding planning company my goal was always to establish my own business and so, No.10 Wedding Design & Management was born.
As wedding planners we are selling service and, as such our websites are our shop windows. We all want our business’s to stand out so I made the conscious decision to make my website different from the norm, using a tonal colour palette, elegant script and, providing relevant information that clients are looking for, not overloading it with keywords and repeating information. I attract a sophisticated clientele many of whom are based internationally and are busy professionals, much of my work is also by personal recommendation, which is the greatest compliment for any business. I am still in touch with some of my couples and often meet up for cocktails or supper or catch up via email.

A Day in the life of a Wedding Planner

A typical day for me involves working through a weekly to do list. I don’t have a daily one as the work continually evolves so I prioritise my workload for the week. I also have a monthly and quarterly to do list which also evolves, and mainly consists of No.10 housekeeping such as website maintenance and updating, marketing, new business ideas etc. The majority of my day to day work centre’s on administration, which is not the glamourous image that most people have of a wedding planner, but it is the foundation of planning successful weddings and running a successful business. I love my spreadsheets!! I’m also a guest expert for a wedding websites where write a monthly article, I am also often invited to feature on blogs and magazines.  As well as my work in the office I also have to schedule in venue site visits, client meetings, many of which will take place in the evening due to clients work commitments, supplier meetings, menu tastings and networking events. I like to keep abreast of trends within the industry, I visit The Designer Wedding Show twice a year it’s a great opportunity to see new venues, new suppliers, new ideas and of course the catwalk for all of the latest wedding gowns. There is also the champagne bar where you will find my wedding planning colleagues and me sipping the odd glass of champagne!!

Wow…simply fantastic thank you for the insight Lester.

To contact Lester to help you with your Wedding or special event you can find him though the following media -

Website – www.noten.co.uk

Email – lester@noten.co.uk

Telephone -  T. 08455195428  M. 07816060640

or follow him on

More fab supplier spotlights tomorrow folks, stay tuned!

Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic Ltd
Filed Under: 2012 wedding planning, 2012 Wedding Planning Insiders Guide, Other stuff, Wedding Planning Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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