Perfect planning

Are you in the final stages of your wedding plans, stumbling over the intricacies of cufflinks and the all-important bouquet? Or are you simply in need of some inspiration? You have no need to panic, as on Sunday 8th July there are two wedding fairs happening in Bristol to help you plan these all-important details.

Love Actually Weddings will be holding another of its incredibly popular wedding shows at Colston Hall, a beautiful venue where modern meets heritage. The show will be held from 11.30am to 4pm meaning that you and your partner can make a day of it. 

The atrium at Colston Hall

“It will be full of entertainment,” says David from Love Actually. “We are looking forward to listening to the three fantastic bands we have performing throughout the day, with Mama Stones being our main act around lunchtime”. With lots of entertainment, the opportunity to talk to a range of top wedding professionals and also suppliers from the region, you will have all the support you need. 

As well as all of this, you can make the most of your surroundings. Colston Hall is a newcomer to Bristol's licensed venue for weddings and boasts great facilities. A favourite is the terrace bar with panoramic views over the city - a sensational spot to hold your ceremony.  As with all Love Actually Wedding fayres, admission is free of charge and you will be greeted with a complimentary glass of bucks fizz and an information gift bag. 

Sunday 8th July is also the date for Bristol's first ever gay wedding fair, hosted by Pink Partnerships at the Council House in Bristol.

The beautiful Council House in Bristol

The event is taking place between 10.30am and 4pm, and will be a one stop shop for everything from outfits, rings, catering and accessories. “We guarantee that everyone you meet on the day will be gay-friendly,” said Lisa Cullender from Pink Partnerships. “This is about making sure gay couples are exposed to the very best wedding suppliers in the Bristol area.”

Entry on the day is £2, although you can still buy discounted tickets in advance, and admission includes a goody bag and a glass of bubbly on arrival.

Bristol's first ever gay wedding fair

If you're a gay couple in the south west planning your nuptials, then you'll be pleased to hear that Pink Partnerships, Britain's first ever gay wedding ring specialist, is hosting Bristol's first ever gay wedding fair this summer.

The Gay Wedding Show will be held at the The Council House in Bristol on Sunday 8^th July from 10.30am to 4pm. It is an exclusive wedding fair for gay couples with everything you'll need for the planning of your wedding under one roof, including wedding outfits, catering, rings and venue exhibitions. 

 

“We guarantee that everyone you meet on the day will be gay-friendly,” said Lisa Cullender who has organised the event with her assistant Kath Pratt. “This is about making sure gay couples are exposed to the very best wedding suppliers in the Bristol area.”

 

Lisa launched Pink Partnerships last year, after already setting up and running a successful jewellery business, Add 2 Attract. The idea behind Pink Partnerships is that it is aimed solely at gay couples choosing their engagement and wedding rings. “We didn't just want to add the words ‘civil partnership’ to our existing advertising material,” Lisa said. “We wanted our gay customers to know that we would go out of our way to make them feel welcome." As specialists in ring design, Pink Partnerships provides a bespoke service, in relaxed company and love to celebrate your engagement with you. The company believes that your rings should be as individual as you are and will design your perfect rings free of charge, to suit all budgets.

 

Pink Partnerships was launched at Bristol Pride, and Lisa was overwhelmed by the reception it received. “People were shaking our hands and thanking us for making this kind of service available to them.” The reaction, though, prompted Lisa and Kath to dig a little deeper, and what they found really surprised them. “From our research we were horrified to learn that many gay couples had experienced prejudice in the run-up to their special day. As far as we are concerned planning a wedding should be a wonderful and enjoyable experience, regardless of sexuality," said Lisa.

Lisa also knows from this research that a lot of gay couples don't feel comfortable attending traditional wedding fairs, which is where the idea for The Gay Wedding Show was born. Pink Partnerships wants to make the planning of your special day as much fun as the actual wedding day itself. You'll be greeted with a glass of bubbly, and a fabulous and exclusive range of exhibitors will delight in helping you to plan the wedding of your dreams. There is sure to be a fun and vibrant atmosphere…with a few surprises throughout the day! The aim is to make The Gay Wedding Show an annual event at this central, easily reached location.

 

For more information on the event and to purchase discounted tickets please visit Pink Partnership's website or call 0117 961 8107.