Brides,
get ready to fall in fashion love with the most beautiful dresses of the
season! SpecialDay & Appletons are holding a very special Donna Salado designer
weekend on Saturday 31st January & Sunday 1st
February. You’ll also get the unique chance to meet the designer in person and find out
what inspires her astonishing designs.
Image from Donna Salado website , dress style Babette
DonnaSalado is a talented British bridal designer, four times nominated for Designer
of the Year. As exclusive stockist in Bristol and South Gloucestershire,
Special Day & Appletons are proud to bring you the 2015 collection of Couture
designs – combining luxurious fabrics and beautiful silhouettes with attention to detail.
The
event is free to attend, yet by appointment only, so make sure you call to reserve
your spot! Don’t forget to visit our Twitter and Facebook pages and tell us which style makes your heart beat faster!
Favourite Twitter find:vintage wedding dresses by Vintage Lane Bridal
Hunting around on Twitter lately - as we do - we couldn't help but stop and notice these gorgeous vintage wedding gowns on display from Vintage Lane Bridal. This Bolton-based Mother-Daughter team have a large collection of vintage wedding dresses and we love the way they've been styled in these photos. Well done ladies!
Favourite television wedding: John & Mary Watson on BBC's Sherlock
How could we do a Miscellaneous Monday without referencing the TV wedding of the year (so far)? Like many of you, we were glued to our TVs a couple Sundays ago loving every minute of John & Mary's wedding - and Sherlock's rather 'untraditional' best man speech. Hilarity and mystery ensued while also creating such a heartwarming episode that we found ourselves reaching for the tissues. Well done, Sherlock. Well done.
Favourite style trend: brides with colourful hair
Warning: rant ahead!
So many brides feel constrained in their options for haircuts/colours/styles in the months leading up to their wedding. We can't count the number of times we've heard brides who are normally bold in their style choices talk wistfully about putting their daring side on hold because they're growing their hair out for their wedding, or postponing an exciting colour move because they're just not sure how it'll turn out in photos. Now - thought caution has its place - you can't move past the undeniable fact that you are getting married NOW and there's only so far you can go toward making your wedding styling and photos 'timeless' because in 20 years your hair, style choices, age, preferences, and so many other things will have changed. Why not embrace who you are today and let that bleed into your wedding photos? If anything, it might make those photos even more precious when you look back and remember what it was like on that day in time - and who you were then.
Rant aside, we honestly just love colourful bridal hair. If it's something you want to do - do it, and unapologetically. You've got our 100% support.
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
One of the latest trends in wedding cakes happens not to be a cake at all! Cheese wedding cakes have taken off in popularity, particularly in Britain, since 2004, and we here at West Weddings think every couple should at least consider this totally different take on a wedding cake as they plan their day. Before getting into the variety of options and things to consider, it's worth exploring the trend a bit more.
Image credit: Yorkshire Dales Cheese Co.
First of all, what is a cheese wedding cake? The idea is quite simple. A cheese wedding cake look like a traditional tiered white cake, but is formed of several rounds of a cheese of your choice. This is a terrific option for those who have less of a sweet tooth and would prefer indulging in a savoury cheese course. Second, let's talk about what types of cheeses are available? Of the more than 700 cheeses available in this country, some of the most popular for wedding cakes (according to the British Cheese Board) are: Cornish Yarg; Blue Stilton; Mature Cheddar; British Brie or Camembert; Creamy Lancashire, Cheshire, Wensleydale with Cranberries, White Stilton with Apricots and Red Leicester. One's options aren't confined to this list though! One of the great aspects of a cheese wedding cake is the flexibility to choose something more exotic, something you've never tried before, or perhaps support your local farms by choosing a cheese specific to your area. How much does a cheese wedding cake cost? For those worried that a cheese cake might be out of their price range, be reassured that prices are very similar to that of a traditional wedding cake. In terms of quantity, one will want to allow approximately 100g of cheese per guest (although this could be lessened if the cake is part of a buffet, rather than a stand-alone cheese course). If you care to save a slice, or have any leftover, cheese can keep remarkably well if properly stored and refrigerated or frozen. A few other bits to bear in mind when selecting a cheese wedding cake, as recommended by the British Cheese Board:
Be careful about selecting strong smelling cheeses - unless you are very sure that your venue is well air-conditioned
Make taste your primary reason for selecting the cheeses - the presentation will be made beautiful with a variety of accents and decorations, so don't let yourself fret over looks!
Ask the experts for help on choosing flavours that will create a balanced cheese board for your guests
For decor and accents, consider fruit or edible flowers - and be sure to ask your supplier for advice if you want to try anything more adventurous
Consider the sizes of the cheese you choose in order to create a balanced, graduated appearance
Image Credit: Yorkshire Dales Cheese Co.
Finally - if you're sold on the idea of a cheese wedding cake but still can't bear the thought of giving up a frosted traditional cake, there's nothing stopping you from doing both! Consider a traditional wedding cake for earlier in the day, and a cheese cake for the evening. Or perhaps try serving up mini-cheese cakes as centrepieces on each guest table.
The cheese wedding cake trend is not only a great way to indulge a personal love of cheese, but a wonderful way to participate in a growing British trend!
For more information and guidance on cheese wedding cakes, visit the website of the British Cheese Board: http://www.britishcheese.com/
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!
