If like me you have been waiting on the edge of your seat for the release of The Great Gatsby, you will absolutely love this Gatsby inspired shoot shot by the very talented Andy Griffin.

Andy along with London based Wedding and Event Planners and Stylists Perfect Events put together this jaw dropingly beautiful styled shoot to celebrate the release of the movie.

What if Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby got married?

The concept of the shoot is in essence Perfect Events take on Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby’s wedding day, with 1920s art deco styling, a palette of pastel shades with gold accents which is always so pretty and elegant for weddings.

Perfect Events selected a team of outstanding suppliers to collaborate with to bring their vision to life, choosing Down Hall a historic luxury Country House, situated in Hertfordshire/Essex countryside, which dates back to 1540 when it was sold by Henry VIII to a William Glascock, as the perfect location.

The shoot captured wonderfully by multi-award winning Andy Griffin Photography features amazing detail throughout with beautifully decorated cakes by Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium, exquisite venue décor by Mediterranean Occasions.

In true 1920s style the bride wears stunning embellished vintage gowns complete with accessories by Rock My Vintage Dress, hair and makeup by Bespoke Occasions, while the delectable groom dons attire from Cole’s Menswear.

A delightfully inspiring vintage themed shoot.

Enjoy!!

Credits

Images © Andy Griffin Photography

Perfect Events – www.perfectevents4all.com Concept, Planning and Styling

Andy Griffin Photography – www.andygriffinphotography.com Photography

Down Hall – www.downhall.co.uk Shoot location

Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium – Wedding Cakes and Dessert Table

Venue Stylists Mediterranean Occasions – www.venuestylist.co.uk Venue décor

Rock My Vintage Dress – www.rockmyvintagedress.com Vintage dresses, Brooch bouquets and bridal accessories

Over The Top Rentals – www.overthetoprentals.co.uk Table linen

Classic Crockery – www.classiccrockery.co.uk Vintage tableware

Lord Cars – www.lordcars.co.uk Vintage Rolls Royce

Bespoke Occasions – www.bespoke-occasions.co.uk Hair and Makeup

Rosetone Event Furniture – www.rosetone.co.uk Chiavari chairs

Picture Perfect Events – www.pictureperfecteventsuk.com Flowers and Stationery

Cole’s – www.coles-menswear.co.uk Grooms attire

Bride – Sally McDonald

Groom – www.ernestgromov.com Model

I am a huge fan of Etsy.com and it has become a complete godsend when trying to find cool stuff for my wedding.

With over 850,000 shops from 200 countries, Etsy gives you access to everything you could ever want to find. Whether you’re looking for handmade or vintage wedding accessories or a unique one-of-a-kind item Etsy is must-visit destination for brides.

From pretty bunting, flowery crockery and table displays, to retro hair fashion and stunning vintage wedding dresses, Etsy.com has all the inspiration a bride could possibly need to make her wedding day the most stylish in memory.

Below are a few of my favourite finds…

The ONE Dress Convertible Dress multi wrap infinity wear LONG Bridesmaid gown £83.47

These are the most amazing bridesmaids dresses ever!

They are multi-way dresses that can be worn in more than 10 different ways, making them the perfect dress to suit all different shapes and styles. The dresses can be worn halter, strapless, one shoulder and cap sleeves to mention just a few. They also come in two lengths, knee-length and maxi.

The idea is that your bridesmaids are all in the same colour dress but can each wear it in their chosen way to compliment their own shape and personal style. I think it is such a clever idea and it really does flatter everyone, it even looks fantastic on pregnant bridesmaids which is great as it can often be really difficult to find a dress that will work for both pregnant and non-pregnant bridesmaids.

They have full swing skirts that sway beautifully when you walk. The straps are then approximately 90 inches long (which is VERY long) at fist it’s confusing but as you start to wrap the straps around the body in different ways you understand why they are so long.

At £46 for the short dresses and £83 for the long dresses I think these are incredibly good value, especially as your bridesmaids can wear them to other occasions after the wedding.

The dresses come in 76 colours, so you will no doubt find the perfect colour for your wedding.

They are shipped from America, so be sure to order in plenty of time.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BLCouture

Read on…

On a cold winter’s day, the creative talents of some of the UK’s leading wedding suppliers came together for a styled shoot inspired by the Majestic Splendour of one of the UK’s most historic palaces, Blenheim Palace. I was very lucky to be invited to share some of the stunning images with you.

Given unprecedented access to the venue, the massive Orangery was transformed through the use of unique floral designs (the floral tree centerpieces alone were over 6 foot tall), floral artistry, inspired table settings, Chiavari chairs and specially commissioned thrones.

The hand embroidered couture gowns worn by the beautiful models were made from the finest quality silks, satins, brocade and lace and featured the most sumptuous embellishments. These were perfectly accessorised with tiaras, jewellery and brooch bouquets made from semi precious stones in rich colours such as amethysts, garnets, rubies and pearls.

The luxurious wedding cakes in matching colours were decorated with edible gold cameos, cherubs and expertly crafted sugar flowers whilst the impressively laden dessert table featured fruit including pomegranates, figs and grapes; cupcakes, mini cakes, custom made cookies with the Marlborough Crest, bon bon jars, meringues, cake pops, petit fours, cupcakes, fondant fancies, and hand made chocolates.

Beautifully captured by Cristina Rossi photography, the images will provide brides considering this stunning location for their own wedding a whole heap of inspiration.

Images © Cristina Rossi Photography

Venue: Blenheim Palace (with special permission from His Grace, The Duke of Marlborough)

Stylist: Cedar Events

Photography: Cristina Rossi Photography

Videography: Urban Cinematography

Wedding Dresses: Kosibah

Stationery and Brooch Bouquets: The Finer Details

Jewellery and Headpieces: Rosie Weisencrantz

Shoes: Marsha Hall Handmade Shoes

Cake, Cupcakes, Cake Pops and Sweet Tables: Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium

Flowers, Thrones and Props: Essential Flowers

Make Up Artist: Kemi Kings

Hair Styling: Kasia Fortuna

Linen: Over The Top Rentals

Gold Chiavari Chairs & Clear Beaded Chargers: iAM Wedding Hire

Models: Chloe Penney, Gayle Thompson-Igwebike and Olaya Diez Del Corral

The team is very grateful to His Grace, The Duke of Marlborough, for granting such unprecedented access at a time when he was in residence, and to the wonderful team at Blenheim Palace for their support and hospitality.

TV production company True North Productions are currently making a big, fun new series all about hen weekends. The 5 part series will be filmed from mid-April to May, and will be hitting our screens this summer.

Each episode will focus on two or three different groups of hens in different parts of the UK and abroad, all partying over one weekend.

They are urgently looking for great hen weekends to film, so if you are planning a brilliant last night of freedom and would like your memories captured on film, then get in touch!

For more information please email hens@truenorth.tv or call 01133 945 488

Tinies, the UK’s leading childcare agency has launched their mobile crèche service. Avoid disruption and ensure peace of mind with a Tinies Mobile Crèche, the only national mobile crèche business in the UK.

The friendly staff at Tinies crèches (www.tiniescreches.com) bring assurance to your wedding, corporate event or party keeping the little ones occupied and entertained to their heart’s content. With qualified childcare professionals, parents can relax and enjoy themselves in the knowledge that their children are being well taken care of in a fun-filled environment.

Experienced and trained staff will transform any room or area into a fantastic crèche, which is fun, stimulating, and safe. Each crèche has various ‘zones’ that include the Baby Zone, the Snooze Zone and the Active Zone and there is even the option of having your crèche designed to match the theme of your event! This brilliant service can be tailored to your individual requirements, depending on your budget, the age range of the children and the location. Children of all ages can enjoy anything from face painting and jewellery making to field games and fashion shows plus all the toys they could possibly wish for. Guaranteeing your guests have a good time couldn’t be easier!
Read on…

Top vintage brooch bouquet designer Debbie Carlisle has introduced a new range of off-the-peg designs – luxury super-sparkling bouquets made entirely of new vintage-inspired jewellery.

Debbie Carlisle has teamed up with Crystal Bridal Accessories to create two exclusive bouquet designs made from, and inspired by, jewellery from the brand’s very own Signature and Italian Luxe collections.

The result is two new exclusive bouquets –the small ‘Ava Teardrop’ and a large design called ‘Vintage Glamour’. Both bouquets combine Debbie’s trademark teardrop shape with Crystal Bridal Accessories’ high-shine Swarovski jewellery. The designs are exclusive to Crystal Bridal Accessories and can only be bought through their website.

The ‘Ava Teardrop’ and ‘Vintage Glamour’ bouquets are lovingly handcrafted using a mix of glass beads, fabric flowers and brooches from Crystal Bridal Accessories’ jewellery collections.

The ‘Ava Teardrop’ is a petite brooch bouquet designed to co-ordinate with the Ava stud earrings, necklace and bridal belt in the jewellery brand’s boutique.

The ‘Vintage Glamour’ bouquet is a magical display of clear crystal Swarovski brooches offset against wispy ivory flowers and translucent glass beads.

Debbie Carlisle’s exclusive crystal brooch bouquets designs for Crystal Bridal Accessories can be viewed on their website at www.crystalbridalaccessories.co.uk

From the creator of the internationally popular Vintage Boudoir^TM comes the new photo shoot experience, Antoinette Boudoir. Drawing on the exquisite style of the French Queen, Marie Antoinette, the experience promises to be sexy, stylish, and, most importantly, fun. “When you think of Marie Antoinette, the first things that come to mind are decadence, great clothes, and big hair. This shoot has all of these,” say Julia Boggio, photographer and creative director at Julia Boggio Studios.

All the clothing and accessories have been designed and sourced by the studio’s team of stylists and seamstresses, including the exquisite “Vive la Revolution” dress created in the colours of the French flag. Julia shares, “For that dress, I envisioned something grungy, but sexy. Our seamstress did an amazing job nailing the brief.” For the wigs, Julia commissioned a professional wigmaker to create the signature Marie Antoinette updo, so that women with long or short hair could book the experience. They’ve even created laser-cut paper eyelashes that say “Let Them Eat Cake.”

Julia’s biggest passion is that her boudoir isn’t just for skinny women. “When I create a new boudoir style, the most important thing to me is that it suits a range of women of all shapes and sizes. Like Vintage Boudoir, Antoinette works whether you’re a size 6 or 16. We have looks and costumes that will make you look amazing.”
Read on…

That’s right, for every pair of shoes ordered in October in either pink or with even a hint of pink, Shoes of Prey will donate £15 to Breakthrough.

Shoes of Prey is an amazing online shoe company, offering you an opportunity to design your own gorgeous shoes in any style or colour. They literally have thousands of design combinations to choose from and a large variety of fabulous materials, ranging from soft leathers, fish and snakeskin, Italian silks and many more, they even have a range of animal friendly, Vegan approved materials. You can design and make your own shoes ranging from ballet flats, to 5″ two tone wedges, right up to truely glorious 6″ heels.

Once your design is complete, they then pass it on to their technicians, who hand make your shoes exactly the way you’d like them, before delivering them directly to your door. The whole process takes between 3 to 4 weeks.

Prices range from £100 to £210! Being a bespoke service, it’s about fit as much as fashion, hence they provide a wide range of sizes, from a tiny child’s 12.5, right up to ladies 13.5 (European 31 to 49). They can even make one shoes bigger than the other, adjust widths and much more. And if they don’t fit perfectly the first time, They’ll make you a new pair without hesitation!
Read on…

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, a day which most couples spend months and even years planning every tiny details for. But one little details that has recently come to my attention is scenting your day. Lots of couples fill their wedding with flowers and this will often do the job in creating a beautiful smell will delight your guests, but not all flowers have such a strong fragrance.

A few weeks ago I attended a friends wedding and the moment I stepped in to the church I was greeted with the most divine scent, which I assumed was coming from the candles that were scattered around the church. When we arrived at the reception venue the same smell greeted us as we walked in and each table was decorated with a beautiful candle placed on a circular mirror with some scattered crystals. Not only had she created stunning centre pieces with the candles but she had created a signature scent for her day. We were also invited to take the candles home at the end of the evening and now every time I light that candle I am reminded of my friends wonderful day.

I absolutely loved her use of scented candles and will definitely be stealing the idea for my own day. So over the last few weeks I have been trying out lots of different ones and below is a selection of my favourites.

For the first time anywhere in the world, The Wedding Fairy officially launches National wedding Day across the UK… a chance for couples to celebrate the most sensational day of their lives all over again in aid of Cancer Research UK. Whoever said a girl only gets to wear the dress of her dreams once was lying because on National Wedding Day everyone has the chance to embrace and rejoice in that magical moment of saying I do every 12 months for an incredible cause.  And it doesn’t matter whether you were hitched in a church 10 years ago, are getting married in a registry office tomorrow, planning a civil partnership for later in 2012 or just got hitched on the isles of the Caribbean! Everyone is invited to this wedding reception with a difference to celebrate those nuptials all over again…
Read on…

To celebrate a year of documenting weddings from the matrimonial frontline, The Wedding Reporter is launching a newly rebranded website to coincide with the beautiful bespoke hardback books that brides and grooms can now commission for their wedding reports.

Launched in March 2011 by freelance writer Emma Woodhouse, The Wedding Reporter aims to create literary legacies for discerning couples who wish to have a firsthand, creative non-fiction account of their day. This romantic narrative acts as context to the images and films of a wedding, tying together the aesthetics with traditional storytelling and acute observation.

In collaboration with Leah Spicer Creative, the newly rebranded hardback books offer couples the opportunity to have their very own love story published for posterity.

With beautiful typography, bespoke illustrations reflecting details of the wedding and the opportunity to incorporate photos alongside the narrative, published wedding reports offer an ever-lasting way to cherish the wedding day memories.

Creator and director of The Wedding Reporter, Emma Woodhouse commented: “As well as being a beautiful aide-memoir for newlyweds to pass on to future generations, wedding reports are a fantastic gift for parents, bridesmaids and even guests who are unable to attend the wedding for themselves.”

For more information about The Wedding Reporter, visit www.theweddingreporter.co.uk.

What better excuse to finally get that fitness routine in to place than your big day. This year I have decided to really get my act together and improve my overall fitness, while hopefully toning up for my dress in the process.

After lots of research here are my top picks for the best fitness gear available…

If you are bored of bubbles and tired of traditional confetti then you will love these delicate Rice Butterflies which soar for up to five seconds while cameras capture the magic.

Rice Butterflies are beautifully packaged and eco-friendly. Made from rice paper, rice grain and rice glue only, they are biodegradable and available in five colours (natural/white, red, blue, green and yellow), with approx. 125 butterflies per pack. Each box costs £10.99 with each box containing 6 generous handfuls of Rice Butterflies.

The classy packaging fits with many themes, from vintage to contemporary, or for weddings with a butterfly motif, of course. Beyond the visual aspects, butterflies are also hugely symbolic, too. In many cultures, they are a symbol of transformation and celebration, perfect for marking a marriage.

Rice Butterflies are now available in the UK as an alternative to confetti and the sole distributor is www.ricebutterflies.co.uk

Et Voilà! weddings is the first French wedding planner agency in London. They offer brides and grooms-to-be a unique opportunity to have their French wedding organised by a French wedding planner that they can easily meet near home, after work or at the weekend in London. Also, with Et Voila! Weddings the couples are assured that their local wedding planner has the necessary knowledge and culture, both ways, to easily coordinate everything whilst perfectly understanding their needs.

Et Voila! Weddings was founded by Anne-Laure, a French event planner expatriate in London. Having worked for event companies, helping the teams with the coordination of events in France, Anne-Laure has realised how hard it can be for a UK planner to organise an event in France, culturally and linguistically speaking. That is why she has created a wedding planner service providing Uk based couples willing to get married in France with a French planner, here in London.

Thanks to their extensive network of partners, they can organise weddings in any region of France. This means that the couples benefit from a local planner in London, and from local contacts in France to ensure that they have access to the latest venues and suppliers.

Of course, Et Voilà! can also help with the organization of French style weddings in the UK.

Find out more at www.etvoila-weddings.com?

Stress Management has never been more relevant than it is today.  According to recent research stress levels have doubled in the last 4 years and with planning a wedding being statistically one of the most stressful events on your life it is more important than ever to get your stress levels under control.

We all have our own ways of dealing with stress but one of the most effective things you can do to lower your stress levels is to make sure you make some time to relax, time out just for you, where you are not thinking about weddings and your mounting list of things you need to get done!

Today is National Stress Awareness Day so I wanted to take this opportunity to share my top five ways to relax, try and do at least one each day to ensure you stay as stress-free as possible!

1)  Take a long hot bath with some relaxing music and candles

2)  Go to a yoga class or do a work out that you enjoy, exercise is a great way to relieve stress

3)  Book yourself a massage or buy some relaxing massage oils and ask your other half to give you one at the end of the day

4)  Make time to meet up with your girlfriends for non-wedding related fun

5)  Take a walk – whether its a long stroll in the park or a 15 minute walk on your lunch break, a walk in the fresh air is one of the best ways to clear your mind and gain perspective.
Read on…

Here is my 2011 Christmas Gift Guide, I have searched high and low to find all the must-have gifts for this season. Yow will find everything from stocking fillers to blow-the-budget ideas and even a round of my favourite festive food and drink. Enjoy!

Sky Living’s hit show ‘Four Weddings’ is back and they are looking for more brides-to-be to attend and score each other’s weddings. Each wedding is scored on the venue, the food, the overall experience and of course, the dress. The couple that scores the highest will win the luxury honeymoon of their dreams!

The production team would love to speak to brides who are planning their dream wedding. If you are lucky enough to be chosen and you win your episode, then you’ll be whisked away on the ultimate honeymoon.

If you are interested in finding out more, and are planning an elaborate or unusual wedding, then contact:

4weddings@itv.com or call 020 715 73803.

Leave details of your wedding including the date, type of wedding and location. Also, don’t forget to leave your name and telephone number.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have finally tied the knot today at the beautiful Westminster Abbey.

Kate Middleton looked stunning in her ivory and lace gown designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen and a diamond Cartier tiara belonging to Queen Elizabeth. Prince William looked dashing wearing the red military uniform and blue sash of the Irish Guards.

What better excuse is there to over indulge in chocolate than Easter! Well over the last few weeks I have been checking out all the Easter goodies on offer (all in the name of research of course) so I could report back on what’s HOT this Easter.

Chococo Chocolate Union Jack Egg
I like finding an Easter Egg that is a little bit different and this one from The award winning Dorest based artisan chocolate company, Chococo was a real gem of a find! They have created this wonderful Union Jack Easter made from the finest Venezuelan milk chocolate. The outside of the egg is a layer of white chocolate decorated with a British flag of red and blue coloured chocolate and this inside layer of the chocolate egg is laced with dried strawberries and raspberries. Absolutely divine, I was so disappointed when I looked down to find I had finished it all!
£12.95
www.harveynichols.com
Read on…

As more couples are opting for bespoke ceremonies and less formal receptions for their wedding day, finding the right venue often proves difficult. Most venues insist on a specific package, a minimum number of guests, drinks package, and the costs keep mounting up, and all you really have is the same wedding as the day before, just with a different couple and guests, well that is where Backyard Weddings comes in.

Backyard Weddings is a new company formed to deliver a complete wedding package to your garden. Carolyn Bavister is the owner of the award winning, unique and rural wedding venue Danby Castle and their flexibility or location was still not right for some couples. Over the past year it had become apparent to Carolyn that there was a big gap in the market place to service the needs of engaged couples who would like to get married and celebrate their wedding in their own or parents gardens, on a family farm or similar.
Read on…

Don’t Tell The Bride is back for another series and this year they are looking for couples who are going to have an even bigger and better wedding than previous couples.

To apply for this series simply email weddings@renegadepictures.co.uk or call 0207 449 3292

I am having a vintage themed wedding and looking for some great chair covers, any ideas?

Kelly – Guildford

Hi Kelly, Simply Bows and Chair Covers are a great company and have recently launched a fantastic new Vintage range in response to an ever growing demand for Vintage weddings. As well as chair covers they also offer vintage table runners, beautiful bunting plus ornate napkins and matching napkin ties to complete the look.

With 8 offices throughout the UK and the launch of their new Summer range coming out very soon, this is definitely a company worth talking to.

You can find out more on their website www.simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk

If you are looking for the perfect keepsake from your wedding then look no further…

Ex fashion designer Lindsey Napp runs a small Surrey-based company called Picture My Dress, offering bespoke fashion illustrations of brides and their wedding dresses. They make a truly personal and unique wedding keepsake. She set up her business after many years designing for world renowned labels such as Nicole Farhi and Elizabeth March to name just a few.

Each illustration is completely original. Working from photographs provided by you, Lindsey will recreate your dress in a hand drawn illustration, which will be presented in a high quality double mount, you can choose from either framed or unframed.

You can even choose the type of paper you would like for your fashion illustration. Choose from either Hand-Made Himalayan Paper (Vintage Sepia Look) or High Quality White Watercolour Paper (Classic Look). All portraits are hand-drawn using Graphic Design Markers, Ink and Designers Gouache.

She also offers gift certificates, which come in a beautiful presentation box and can be given as a wedding gift.

Find out more on her website www.picturemydress.com

January the 4th marks a very important day in Ireland for Gay couples. Today will be the first day couples hoping to have a Civil Partnership can register for their ceremony. Well known wedding planning duo Ant and Dick are offering their services to loved up gay couples hoping to tie the knot in April this year when the first Civil Partnerships in Ireland will take place.  They even have suppliers on board offering their services for free!!

Ant and Dick say: “The worlds press will be watching how Ireland handle the first Civil Partnerships and it could even influence other countries such as America in their decision to allow gay couples the same privilege”

“This really is the biggest thing to happen in Ireland since Divorce and for Ireland to have come so far so quickly since decriminalisation really is fantastic”
Read on…

Wedding girl, I am looking for somewhere recommended to buy natural rose petal confetti for my upcoming wedding.

C – Bristol

I have a great place for you, Shropshire Petals is a fabulous company that grow biodegradable natural petal confetti, wheat sheaves, dried flowers and poppy heads all handpicked from their farm set in the rolling fields of Shropshire.

Their website is packed full of ideas and packaging options of how you could use their beautiful petals (I love this idea to the right of the petals in the Martini glasses).

To help personalise your day they also have a pick & mix page for you to create your own unique confetti mix!  Plus they offer free colour samples.

For more information you can visit www.shropshirepetals.com

There is nothing I enjoy more than the indulgence of going for Afternoon Tea, it is a long standing English tradition and the perfect way to escape the snow and enjoy a cozy afternoon. Whether you are looking to enjoy an intimate date with your fiancé or a champagne filled afternoon with the girls, I have spent the last month visiting my favourite establishments in London so I can report back on their festive interpretations of this timeless treat…

The Ritz

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz has been enjoyed by a wide and varied audience over the last decade. It has become the quintessential British experience and has attracted patrons such as King Edward VII, Charlie Chaplin, Sir Winston Churchill, General De Gaulle and Judy Garland. It is my number one venue for an afternoon of decadence and glamour! It is everything that you could hope for and from the moment we walked in to the grand building we were blown away by the beautiful festive décor and elegant setting of the Palm Court dining room.
Read on…

I was delighted to hear the fantastic news of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s overdue engagement! The long term couple have finally decided to tie the knot after the prince proposed to Kate last month on their holiday to Kenya.

The romantic prince proposed using his late mother princess Diana’s stunning engagement ring, he declared that using his mothers ring is “my way of making sure my mother didn’t miss out on today and the excitement”.

The big day is set to take place next Spring or Summer and the couple will then be settling in North Wales near Prince William’s RAF base.

Here is my 2010 Christmas Gift Guide, I have been searching high and low to find all the must-have gifts for this season. Yow will find everything from stocking fillers to blow-the-budget ideas and even a round of my favourite festive food and drink. Enjoy!

To view the gift guide full size either click on one of the pages or click the link above.