Wedding World Exhibition in September and November!

This Autumn, Bristol's largest wedding exhibition will be taking place on three dates at three locations, featuring hundreds of wedding experts and exhibitors from around the West. West Weddings is excited to be partnering with Wedding World to present these fantastic shows in September and November.

Sunday 14th September The Bristol Marriott Hotel, next to Cabot Circus, Broadmead

The largest & most exciting not to mention prestigious Wedding Exhibition in The South West – Featuring over 100 selected exhibitors from the UK & South West from High Street names including John Lewis, Debenhams, & Hotel Du Vin to luxurious brands, boutiques & bespoke wedding specialists. A wonderful day out to realise all your Wedding Day Dreams.Wedding World at The Bristol Marriott is the highlight of all future brides & grooms calendar with so much & more on offer!

Sunday 2nd November Westonbirt House, Opposite The Arboretum, Glos

“The Downton Abbey of The Cotswolds” presenting over 100 wedding experts, services & suppliers from Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire & North Wiltshire in a truly outstanding and inspirational venue.Less than 30 minutes from Bristol, Bath, Cirencester, Cheltenham, Glos & Stroud. This exhibition will be a unqiue “Downton Wedding Experience” for all future brides & grooms, family & friends. To ensure of a relaxing day out, the wonderful Westonbirt Cafe will be open for coffee and homemade cake (great if you have any important bridal decisions to make on the day!) or you may wish to take a stroll in the spectacular grounds.

Here's what to expect - 

All Exhibitions offer a glass of bubbly on arrival, goody bag & ample parking. All exhibitions are on ground floor.

The highlight of each Wedding World Exhibition are the two professionally staged & choreographed bridal catwalk shows with preshow wedding entertainment too! The bridal fashion shows are truly spectacular featuring all styles of dresses and suits for the bride & grooms, not to mention kilts too (!), bridesmaids & boys, flower girls and even Mother of The Bride outfits too. We're told that visitors should be on the lookout for some secret surprises throughout the day as well!

As a family business with over 20 years event experience, all Wedding World's exhibitors are carefully selected to ensure a very professional standard – with lots of research & informal chat to establish their business. They pride themselves that some of our exhibitors are still exhibiting with us since the creation of Wedding World, expanding & changing with them.

Wedding World keeps a strict balance of services too, so not only the brides and grooms have the greatest of choices but are not bored by seeing too much of the same service/product – this too is another reason why exhibitors love to exhibit there and brides and grooms love to visit.

If you've been to one too many disappointing wedding fairs where you've walked pass fewer than 20 stands in uninspiring venues with poor catwalk shows, then Wedding World is aiming to be the precise opposite. This is why Wedding World is an Exhibition rather than Wedding Fair – offering selected exhibitors, a variety of carefully chosen services, copious choices with over 100 stands and feature professionally staged & choreographed bridal fashion shows.

Consider each Wedding World Exhibition to be your biggest ever local bridal 'pop-up' shop!

Wedding World exhibition in September - in association with West Weddings

Are you a bride or groom in the South West planning your wedding? Then thank us already – we’re here to remind you about Wedding World in association with West Weddings: the one-stop-shop for everything you need, featuring more than 100 exhibitors all under one roof!

Join us at the luxurious Bristol Marriott on Sunday, the 14^th of September for the twice-annual Wedding World Exhibition. This event is unique in that it features two professionally choreographed catwalk shows, displaying all range of bridal fashion (from the bride, to the mother of the bride, and not forgetting our grooms either!).

For further information, visit the Wedding World website, and keep coming back to our blog and Twitter (@WestWeddingsMag) where we’ll be keeping you up-to-date on all news and announcements!

Tickets are £2 at the door, and include a free goodie bag and glass of bubbly! Free tickets can be booked ahead of time, however, by emailing emma@weddingworldexhibitions.co.uk

Fashion Friday: Silver Bridals

Silver Bridals is a bridal shop in Kingswood, Bristol that has been serving brides from the South West region since 2009, and are celebrating their fifth anniversary this year.

Lisa from Silver Bridals prides herself on helping brides select the perfect gown for them. And she truly goes the extra mile, promising that they won't sell you a dress until you're 100% satisfied with your choice. She knows what a big choice this is in a woman's life! Silver Bridals are also able to answer all your gown-related questions, and offer advise about fit, cut and shape, so that you leave with a dress that you know will flatter you completely.

For today's Fashion Friday we're excited to share some of our fashion favourites from among Silver Bridals' wide selection!

For further information:
Silver Bridals

Address:
12 Regent Street
Kingswood
Bristol
BS15 8JS

Telephone: 0117 961 3858
Email: enquiries@silverbridals.co.uk

www.silverbridals.co.uk

Miscellaneous Monday: Loving Local!

Normally on Miscellaneous Monday, we collect our favourite wedding finds from across the web – spanning different countries, many times! – but today we thought we’d share some of our recent favourites from closer to home. The West Country has a thriving wedding industry that we love being part of, so we don’t have to think twice about showing off local suppliers.

Favourite inspiration: Willy Wonka photoshoot by @WWWWBristol

Last week we blogged about Weird & Wonderful Wedding World that’s coming to Bristol for a second time this year. To really set the theme for the event, the creative behind this unique event did a Willy Wonka themed wedding shoot and we are loving every snap! Here are just a few of our favourites, but you can see more over at the WWWW site.

  

Favourite cakes: novelty cakes by Ann Pickard of the Icing Centre

Ann is far from being your typical wedding cake maker/designer. Not only does she specialise in novelty cakes – but each one is unique to the bride or groom that requests it. Also – forget picking out a cake topper that (let’s face it) doesn’t in any way actually resemble you. Ann also specialises in making sugar models of people – so your cake topper will ACTUALLY look like you and your spouse-to-be! Amazing. Here's one of our favourite designs (full galleries are at the Icing Centre website).

Favourite limited-time offer: The Pop-up Bridal Boutique

Designer Charlotte Smith launched her bridal company in 1998, specialising in ultra-wearable, low-maintenance styles and alternatives to traditional wedding gowns. This year, she’s branching out by launching The Pop-Up Bridal Boutique, which will be resident in The Galleries, Broadmead for 50 days only, starting on the 15^th of April. The boutique will feature her collection, which ranges from elegant, streamlined dresses and tailored jackets, to contemporary culottes and short dresses, employing a diverse scope of fabrics. Charlotte herself will be available by appointments for one-to-one consultations and fittings.

Wedding World in association with West Weddings is hosting two extra exhibitions in 2014!

Wedding World in association with West Weddings is planning two more huge exhibitions in the West Country this autumn, in addition to their annual September fair.

Historically, Wedding World has thrown their prestigious wedding exhibitions twice at year at the Bristol Marriott (in January and in September) but – due to popular demand have added two more dates in October (Holiday Inn, Filton) and November (Westonbirt House).

"Every year Wedding World gets bigger and more exciting too, with all our exhibitors offering the very best to make your wedding day dreams come true,” says Emma of Wedding World.

She also hinted at something extra-special for the September exhibition: “This year at the Bristol Marriott on Sunday September 14^th, we have even more surprises too. If you are getting married later this year or next, it will be an exhibition that is not to be missed.”

Wedding World is a Bristol-based family business with more than 20 years of experience in the crazy wide world of wedding industry, and they’re prepared to give you all the help you need, put you in touch with the best suppliers in the region, and answer even the most perplexing wedding questions!

We here at West Weddings love anything that will give brides and grooms the help they need as they plan their weddings so we’re thrilled to be participating in this event. Look out for our stand and make sure you come by to say ‘hello’!

If you’re a bride who likes to plan ahead, you can book free tickets ahead of time (which entitles you to a goodie bag and free glass of bubbly at the event!) just email emma@weddingworldexhibitions.co.uk. Tickets will be £2 at the door.

Dates & Information

(visit www.weddingworldexhibitions.co.uk for full details)

Sunday, 14^th September – Bristol Marriott Hotel (next to Cabot Circus, Broadmead)

The region’s largest wedding event, featuring more than 100 hand-picked exhibitors from the UK and South West, ranging from high street names (John Lewis, Debenhams, Hotel Du Vin, etc.) to boutiques and bespoke wedding specialists. For further information, visit the event page on the Wedding World site.

Sunday, 12^th October – Holiday Inn (Filton, Bristol)

Back by popular demand, this event will feature more than 70 exhibitors, representing Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire – from high street names to vintage and bespoke wedding specialists. Further information can be found on the event page on the Wedding World site.

Sunday, 2^nd November – Westonbirt House (opposite The Arboretum, Gloucestershire)

Referring to the picturesque location as the ‘Downton Abbey of the Cotswalds’, Wedding World will be running with the theme of early 20^th century glamour as they help you style your perfect day. More than 100 exhibitors will be on hand to help you style your day as you enjoy this unique ‘Downton Wedding Experience’. Further information can be found on the event page on the Wedding World site.

Off to Wed Wedding Fair: A wedding fair that’s all about YOU

Off to Wed Wedding Fair

Date: 23^rd of February, 2014

Time: 11am-4pm

Venue: Paintworks Event Space

Entry: Free

Off To Wed is running its first Bristol based wedding fair at the Paintworks Event Space on Sunday 23 February. With its modern, stylish approach to a wedding fair, Off To Wed will advise and inspire you to create your perfect wedding.

With both free entry and parking, the Off To Wed event does everything that it can to help kick start your wedding planning or provide ideas for those final touches. The Paintworks Event Space is an amazing venue and unlike some of the more sterile wedding fairs, it will play host to an enjoyable experience on your search for a florist, photographer, dress and all of the other services that you’re looking for.

In the spirit of fun, live music will be played to help you select a band and you can grab a bite to eat at a street food inspired stand run by the amazing Minno Kitchen. To add that little extra excitement to the day Off To Wed are offering a free glass of Fizz on arrival. To receive your free drink all you have to do is visit this registration link to pre-register your attendance.

Bristol's largest wedding exhibition happening THIS WEEKEND

If you're a Bristol bride getting married this year, then this message is for you! Wedding World, in affiliation with West Weddings, is putting on the largest wedding exhibition in the South West this Sunday, January 12th.

You'll find more than 100 wedding vendors all under one roof at the Bristol Mariott, in addition to getting the chance to attend two catwalk shows being put on during the day. The shows will feature wedding fashion ranging from men's suits to mother-of-the-bride dresses, so it is truly a one-stop shop!

For a complete run-down of the list of exhibitors, visit http://weddingworldexhibitions.co.uk/exhibitors-links/

As a reminder, entry is free if booked ahead (£2 at the door), and each guest (of age!) will receive a free glass of bubbly.

Professional catwalk shows at Wedding World in January 2014

A couple weeks ago we announced Wedding World - Bristol's largest wedding exhibition in affiliation with West Weddings - taking place in on January 12th from 10:30am to 4:30pm at the Bristol Marriott. One of the highlights of the day will be two professional catwalk shows that will show off the latest in bridal fashion - from wedding gowns, to men's suits, to bridesmaids dresses and mother-of-the-bride dresses.

The two catwalk shows will take place at 12:30pm and 3pm, and there will be seating for the first 150 attendees, with additional space for standing. This is truly a unique offering among wedding exhibitions as it allows you to see a wide variety of looks walk the runway, while also having the opportunity to speak to the exhibitors behind the scenes throughout the day.

For more information - and to get free tickets to Wedding World, visit weddingworldexhibitions.co.uk.

Come along and join us for a complimentary glass of bubbly - we'd love to see you there!

Bridal Masterclass from Host

On the 10th of October, Host is hosting a Bridal Masterclass - an interactive wedding event to gather inspiration for your big day. Bring your mum and bridesmaids for a jolly good night out!

Tutorials to include: hair and make-up demonstrations, table stationary, venue styling/new trends, supplier sourcing and hints and tips to DIY and save time and money. Tickets only £20 per person to include a goody bag, cupcake and cocktail. Contact Olivia at info@hosteventmanagement.co.uk for further information and for tickets: www.bridalmasterclass.eventbrite.co.uk

Wedding Showcase & Fair THIS weekend!

This weekend The Wedding Works in Bristol is holding its own wedding showcase & fair. On Saturday the 5th of October from 11am-3pm, the shop will throw open its doors for couples to come and have a look at the services it offers, as well as having the chance to enter prize draws and enjoy canapés‎, cakes, fizz and goody bags.

This original destination store for al things wedding opened its doors in October 2010 and then moved to larger premises on Gloucester Road in 2012. "We chose Gloucester Road for its eclectic mix of independent and unusual shops and, as our idea is unique within Bristol, we felt it was the best place in town to be!" says Peri, The Wedding Works' owner and venue decorator. Moving to the new premises has really put this pretty shop on the map and this past year has seen a big increase in bookings and footfall.

Come along this weekend to find wares from 13 different wedding vendors all housed under one roof at The Wedding Works - allowing you to create your entire wedding day, from photographer to seating covers!

Address: 427 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8TZ
Telephone: 07931 859986
Website: www.theweddingworksbristol.co.uk

Feeling Fresh Faced: A Dr Hauschka facial experience at Harvey Nichols

Last week West Weddings was invited to the Dr Hauschka counter at Harvey Nichols, Cabot Circus in Bristol to try a facial. Since we at WW Towers love researching local beauty experiences (it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it), we were chuffed to be asked by this cult skincare brand and sent editor Helen down there to check it out.

I’ve been a bit stressed recently, and my skin was definitely reflecting this, so the offer to try a Dr Hauschka facial came at just the right time.  I’ve always heard good things about this brand, which uses only natural ingredients and no nasties such as parabens and PEGs in its body and facial care range, so I was excited to see what it could do for my poor, tired skin to make it look better for the hen weekend I had coming up.

The counter manager at Dr Hauschka Bristol is Alex, who made me feel right at ease. The treatment room in Harvey Nichols is a lovely, relaxing space, very quiet and peaceful, and, with its very comfortable treatment couch, a great place to spend half an hour after a busy morning at work!

Alex started off by asking me a few questions about my skin type and skincare regime, and tailored the facial accordingly. She took off my make up with cleanser and then applied a gently warmed flannel to my face and neck, delicately scented with lemon water, which smelled delicious and was very refreshing. There is also a lavender version, but she warned me that it might put me to sleep at this time of day!

A cream-based face mask was then applied and left on my face for five minutes, during which Alex massaged my hands with Dr Hausckha hand cream. At this stage I was gently drifting off, and could quite happily have had a snooze!

 

The final step of the facial was an application of the legendary Rose Day Cream, beloved by Anne Hathaway and other women across the world. I was offered the normal one or the lighter version, so I opted for the former. I think this was perhaps a little too rich for me, though, as it took a long time to sink in, but that was only a minor point in what was an altogether lovely experience. Alex also thoughtfully noticed that my lips were quite cracked and so gave them a good slathering of lip balm!

The facial lasted about half an hour and I left feeling revitalised, rejuvenated and oh so relaxed. Alex was very knowledgeable about the different products and how to tailor them to my skin type, and on leaving, gave me some shower gel samples, perfect timing for my weekend away.

I would highly recommend a Dr Hauschka facial as a great pre-wedding treatment and a good chance to try out its products on your skin. While you’re at the counter, do also check out the brand’s great range of plant-based make up, which includes bases, mascaras and lip colours.

The Dr Hauschka counter in Harvey Nichols, Bristol is offering 30 minute facials for £25, redeemable against any purchase. Call 0117 916 8865 or email contactbristol@harveynichols.com to book.

West Weddings was the guest of Dr Hauschka. We always strive to give an honest opinion on products and experiences, however, and if we don’t like them then we would say so!

Spotlight on: Pretty Amazing Cakes

Anne Gliddon takes pride in her romantic, vintage-styled cakes and cupcakes, which she provides to brides around the west country through her small (but in her words, ‘perfectly formed’) Bristol business: Pretty Amazing Cakes.

She crafts each cake from scratch, and tailors it to every bride and groom’s specifications, putting to use her attention to detail and eye for elegance.

One of the cakes that Anne made for our Winter 2012 ‘Anna Karenina’ bridal shoot, garnered so much interest from our readership that it’s become a much-requested classic!

Anne also produced another beauty for our shoot in the Spring 2013 edition of West Weddings. This gorgeous, pastel-coloured, romantic-to-the-hilt cake, styled by The Little Wedding Helper, became another instant favourite (at least among the entire West Weddings crew, who couldn't stop ‘ooh’ing and ‘ahh’ing over it when they saw the photos!).

Pretty Amazing Cakes is not only limited to cakes of the 3-tiered variety, however. She has a range of wedding cupcakes that particularly suit the ‘vintage afternoon tea’ reception.

If all of these offerings aren't enough, Pretty Amazing Cakes is inspiring a new trend in beautifully decorated cookie wedding favours. These delicious treats are sure to be much appreciated by guests, and have the unique trait of being able to be matched perfectly to your wedding colours and theme.

All of Anne’s cakes and cupcakes, as well as her booking information, can be found on her website at: www.anniescakes4u.co.uk

Wedding Feature: Tom & Anneka

You may remember Tom and Anneka from our series on planning a wedding without breaking the bank - but we thought it was high time to feature their lovely Bristol wedding in full as inspiration for those of you planning your own weddings (or those of you who - like us - just enjoy having a peek at others' beautiful days!).

Also, as an aside, West Weddings would love to feature more weddings photographs on the blog! If you are a bride who would like to show off some beautiful photos of your special day, or are a photographer wanting to share some of your favourite wedding snaps - please let us know! Tweet us at @westweddings or email us at westweddingsbristol[at]gmail.com!

Like what you see? Feel free to pin it!

Note: All photos belong to Kate Hacker Photography and were taken by Kate Hacker and Sarah O'Driscoll.

Let them eat cake

Pretty Amazing Cakes is one of those fabulous companies that do what they say on the tin – delicious and fantastic-looking cakes for weddings and other special occasions. 

You may have seen one of their creations in our last issue – for our Imperial Russia shoot, we had a beautiful four-tier cake with deep red sugar roses balanced on top. 

The opulent cake was a real hit, so we thought we’d spread the word about how good these cakes are.

Based in Bristol, Anne Gliddon designs and bakes bespoke wedding cakes, cupcakes and cookies to make any day that little bit more special. Whether you’re looking for a vintage style, or something original and funky, Anne can take a design idea and turn it into a reality. Even better, consultations are free and you get to partake in some cake tasting while you discuss your ideas!

As well as wedding cakes for the grown-ups, Anne has also been known to make something fun for the kids to enjoy as well. Most recently she’s created a Dolly Mixture Delight – a specially made sponge cake with dolly mix lining the tiers and jumping out of the top with wiring. The multi-coloured icing stars made it look even more fantastic.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Anne’s cookie favours are a delicious way to delight your wedding guests. With a personalised name tag, they can also double up as place settings. Like her wedding cakes, Anne’s cookie favours can be personalised to tie in with any part of your wedding theme, from the colour of your bridesmaids’ dresses to the bouquet. Available in a variety of flavours, including classic vanilla, ginger spice, and lemon lush, previous shapes have included glam shoes, birdcages, and matching brides and grooms. 

Designs can be adapted or originals drawn up. Alternatively, wedding cupcakes are a popular choice, and can come with a matching top tier for the traditional cutting of the cake. 

Like the celebrations they’re served at, Anne’s Pretty Amazing Cakes are unique and memorable – and tasty too! For more photos of her fantastic creations, check out Anne's Facebook page.

Mercure Grange Hotel Wedding Fayre

The Mercure Grange Hotel in Winterbourne, Bristol are holding their own wedding fayre on Sunday 14^th October 2012 from 11am – 3pm. It’s completely free entry with a goodie bag on arrival.

Set in 18 acres of landscaped gardens, the Mercure Grange Hotel promises an elegant setting for your special day. Just a short drive away from Bristol and with room to seat up to 150 people for a banquet it is the ideal size and location.

There will be over 20 exhibitors and the hotel will be doing some wedding set-ups to see how it would look on your special day. Don’t worry if you have booked your venue already why not come along anyway and see the wonderful exhibitors or for a spot of lunch.

Twinkle, twinkle

We here at West Weddings are a bit like magpies. We love bright, sparkly, pretty things, which is why we love new specialist boutique Bridezillas.

For brides searching for the perfect accessories, Bridezillas is definitely set to become your new favourite shop. With tiaras, jewellery, shoes, gifts and more on offer, this bridal emporium is full to the brim of beautiful trimmings to make your day even more special.

Bridezillas is the brainchild of Amanda Davis-Harrison and came about after she was making arrangements for her own wedding. “I spent far too much time trekking around department stores, high street shops and searching the internet for the right accessories. It was then that my dream of Bridezillas was born. I want to give brides a wonderful experience and provide them with somewhere they can bring their maid of honour and bridesmaids to relax, have fun and take time to try on and choose their accessories,” says Amanda.  And Bridezillas provides just that. For the full special experience, brides can even book a VIP appointment and benefit from having the entire shop to themselves and the undivided attention of Amanda and her capable staff. We love the idea of having the time and privacy to browse to your heart's desire - a great way to ensure you end up with just the right accessories.

Bridezillas is found in Keynsham, ideally placed between Bath and Bristol. Stocking designers such as Amanda Wyatt, Ivory & Co and Fifi, you'll definitely find something to treat yourself with!

West Weddings Winter 2011 out soon!

West Weddings Winter 2011 is out next month.  To wet your appetite here’s a sneaky peak at what to expect inside: Keep your eyes peeled for our beautiful shoot at Cadbury House with modern and vintage styling (spot the oxymoron readers).  We have a feature on pregnant brides, the infamous best man speech and reception entertainers.

Lily Allen looked stunning in her vintage inspired wedding outfit

and the cast of Sex and the City look fab for Miranda's big day.

But what will our verdict be?

Both Lily Allen and Sarah Jessica Parker are cropping up in the’ What’s Hot and What’s Not’ feature this edition.  But who’s is hot and who’s cooling faster than an unattended bath?

Find out next month!

Hannah xxx

Calling all West Country brides!

Are you a bride in the Bristol area? Do you fancy helping to celebrate the Royal Wedding? If so, read on...

Brides are being urged to contact Brunel’s ss Great Britain if they want to help create a giant heart shape on board ship on April 23rd, to celebrate the royal wedding.

A photographer will capture the event, with the best image used to make a unique ‘ship-made’ wedding card for Prince William and Kate Middleton, who marry on April 29th.

Brunel’s ss Great Britain will welcome brides from Bristol and beyond for this once-in-a-lifetime photo shoot – including those who were married or held their reception on board the historic ship at the heart of Bristol’s stunning harbour.

It doesn't matter when and where you were married, as long as you're in your wedding dress! Event organisers will guide everyone into a romantic heart on the ship’s wooden Weather Deck (Top Deck) from 9.15am on April 23rd before the attraction opens to the public. The shot, taken from a distance, should be reminiscent of a timeless and romantic love heart carved into a tree.

Photographer Paul Blakemore has been given special permission by Linden Homes to use one of the apartments overlooking the ss Great Britain to capture the shot. Each bride will be given a copy of the photograph as a memento or to use on Facebook.

The ss Great Britain has long-standing links to royalty. Prince Albert launched the ship in 1843; Queen Victoria visited the ss Great Britain in 1845; Prince Philip was on board ship when she returned to her Dry Dock in 1970 and was the ss Great Britain Project’s Patron; Prince William and Harry both visited as children; Prince William’s uncle Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is the ss Great Britain Trust’s current Patron.

Events Manager for Brunel’s ss Great Britain, Bronwen Rolls, commented: “We are asking brides from Bristol and beyond to contact us if they want to help the ss Great Britain Trust create a stunning image. This will be used to make a wedding card for the royal couple, wishing them all the very best for their future lives together.

“Brides don’t need to have been married or had their reception on board Brunel’s ss Great Britain to be involved, they just need to be in their wedding dresses.”

A second card will also be made, using the image, for the next royal couple to marry this year, Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall.

Organisers need at least 40 brides to promise their support by emailing marketing@ssgreatbritain.org by 12 noon on April 21st, for the event to go ahead. 

I think this sounds like a fab idea - the ss Great Britain is a beautiful venue (we had a great time there doing the photoshoot for the spring edition of West Weddings). It's also a chance to get your wedding dress out of the cupboard and on again for some more photographs!

 - Helen