Love Colour event

Looking for some inspiration for your bridal make up? Why not check out the Love Colour event at Space NK. This fab event is taking place on 30 April at all UK stores. Beauty experts will be on hand to show you how to wear the latest spring colours, top tips for perfect lips, the prettiest way to wear blush and chic ways of applying coloured shadow.

To take advantage of this expert advice you will need to book a 1-2-1 session. There is a £10 booking fee but it is redeemable against any purchase on the day so not a bad offer! As an extra bonus, they are giving away a Space NK Lash Curler with any purchase of £50 or over.

Why not drag your bridesmaids and/or your mum along and turn it into a mini hen do with a lovely champagne lunch!!!!

Beach Calligraphy

Continuing with the sunshine theme, I recently came across a unique photo opportunity which could be incorporated into your wedding especially if you are getting married abroad or having a beach or summer holiday theme.

Andrew van der Merwe is a professional calligrapher who has freelanced in Cape Town for the last 15 years. Having started out using sticks to create an impression in the sand he then started fiddling with different tools and methods to create beautiful beach calligraphy. The artwork, taken on a Nikon D700 camera, can then be supplied for a variety of uses including invitations, thank you cards, or the production of a large canvas print as a gift for the bride and groom or to be displayed on an easel at the wedding and kept as a momento.

Andrew likes to understand a little about the couple in order to personalise the image and ideally needs a weeks notice to take the photo (depending on the weather). Prices start from £100 with two or three image choices per name. If you were looking for a number of images, for example bride and grooms name, a monogram and thank you, the unit price would reduce if they could be shot as a set.

Why not read some testimonials to see what past clients thought of Andrew's work. For more information please contact Andrew direct.

Summer breeze

If you're like me, when you look out of the window in the morning and see a beautiful blue sky and the sun shining it really does make me smile. How much easier is it to get out of bed knowing you can go out and feel the sun on your face? I'm not sure how long it is going to last but let's make the most of it.

So, inspired by this lovely sunny spell, I have put together this mood board made up of baby pinks mixed with a bright yellow. I picture these colours working really well for an outdoor country wedding providing a great backdrop for a fab and fun wedding day. I think this would work well for a more relaxed setting with guests dressed in floaty summer dresses and open neck shirts without ties drinking a few snazzy cocktails on the lawn.


Of course, you can use this pallet for any style of wedding as I'm sure you'll agree the colours make a perfect match!

Photo credits:
Candy Floss: Martha Stewart Weddings
Invitations: Martha Stewart Weddings
Table setting: Wedding Style Guide
Gerberas: Australian Cycling Forums
Cocktail: Open Salon
Polka dot favour boxes: Brides Magazine
Dresses: I am blessed
Paper flowers: Martha Stewart

Alesia Barry - luxury wedding candles

I recently came across a beautiful range of natural handmade wedding candles which I wanted to share with you. Alesia Barry have launched a fab range of candles which can be used as table centres, favours and gifts for mother-of-the bride/groom, bridesmaids or anyone who has played a special part in your wedding day.

Specialising in two main products - scented container candles and pillar candles - and finished with ribbon tailored to match your wedding theme or colour. The candles are available in a variety of fragrances and ribbon colours. They would make the perfect addition to any wedding providing a beautiful setting and a fabulous scent.

Made from Soy wax, these candle are idea for those of you who are looking to replace traditional products with a greener option. All packaging is either made from recycled card or is recyclable.

Reasonably priced, soy wax burns 50% longer than paraffin wax. Burn times (below) are approximate depending on where they are placed (drafts can make a big difference) but they should last throughout your ceremony or wedding reception.

Travel tin: 5-8 hours
Glass votive: 10 - 15 hours
Table candle: 20 - 30 hours

Pillars are dependent on size but the largest will burn for around 100+ hours. The pillar candles are also designed to burn through the centre leaving the decorated outer in tact, so that they can be kept as a momento.

For more information visit the Alesia Barry website.

Little Venice Cake Company

Having attended the Wedding Planners Conference in February, I had the pleasure of hearing an inspirational talk from Mich Turner, Founder and Director of the Little Venice Cake Company (LVCC). Mich, referred to by Gordon Ramsey as the 'Bentley of cake makers', has been awarded harpers Bazaar & Chanel Entrepreneur of the Year and has written three books. Her first book - Spectacular Cakes - was voted Best Dessert Book in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

The LVCC, founded in 1999 and based in London, is renowned for designing couture wedding, birthday and celebration cakes. These exquisite and mouth watering cakes have attracted a number of celebrity clients including David Beckham, Pierce Brosnan, Paul McCartney, Cheryl Cole and Madonna. The company has quickly established itself at the leading edge of couture cakes.

Mich kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us, so here is what she had to say......

What first interested you in cakes?

When my A level lecturer asked me to decorate her wedding cake.

What was the inspiration behind setting up your business?

I thought it would be something I could run from home whilst raising a family.

What did you do prior to this?

I was a buyer at Harvey Nichols in bakery and patisserie - having a BSc Degree in Food Science and Nutrition.

What do you consider to be your USP?

Urivaled prestige, innovative: clean, classical and contemporary design; flawless intricate craftsmanship; luxury, premium and totally indulgent cakes.

How would you describe your style?

Clean, classical and contemporary. Flawless attention to detail.

What do you do to relax in your spare time?

Not much - clean, run and quilt.

What are the current wedding cake trends?
Smaller overall sizes of wedding cakes with 1-2 tonal colours, all about the intricate craftsmanship and detail.

What are the top three tips to a bride and groom when choosing a wedding cake?
Choose one that reflects your personality, is the correct size for your wedding and save the top tier for a future christening.

Describe the best wedding cake you have ever worked on?
My own! 4 tiers of hand embroidered lace in royal icing, pale gold, ivory and caramel with sumptuous fresh flowers.

Have you ever had a disaster on a job? What did you do to fix it?
Never - I am the ultimate obsessive planner! Did have one time when the van was clamped in London and we had to get the cake to the bride at Highclere Castle. I had to bribe the transport clampers on the phone with cake to come and release us immediately!

Have you worked with wedding planners and if so how do you consider they change a wedding?
Plenty of occasions - they really do ensure the day runs smoothly as they are experienced in knowing what should be done when. They are the single point of accountability and really can make rational decisions.

Visit the LVCC website to find out more. Alternatively, go along to the Spirit of Summer Fair at Olympia taking place 13 - 16 May where Mich will be hosting masterclass demonstrations.

Oscar de la Renta

Having been such a fan of the Oscar de la Renta dress worn by Cameron Diaz at the Oscars I thought I would take a closer look at the designers bridal range.

Born Oscar Aristides Renta Fiallo on July 22 1932, Oscar studied painting in Madrid where he began to take more of an interest in sketching and quickly attracted the attention from top fashion houses. This earned him an apprenticeship with Cristobal Balenciaga who is famous for couture pieces. He then moved to Paris as an apprentice for Lanvin before working for Elizabeth Arden in New York.

After Elizabeth Arden, he went to work for Jane Derby Ltd, where the clothes lables read "Oscar de la Renta for Jane Derby". In 1969, after Derby's death, he took over the company and renamed it Oscar de la Renta.

While all of the dresses from the Spring 2010 bridal collection are totally beautiful, here are a few of my favorites. Check out the rest of the collection at Oscar de la Renta Bridal.