NEARLYWED NEWS

What a great start to 2022 the team at Celebration Roadshow had! Having won The Wedding Industry Awards’ South West regional title six times previously, the icing on the cake came as they were announced this year’s national winners at the gala held recently. These are the only awards in the industry voted for by the nominees’ own clients, so to win one is a real stamp of approval. Phill Makepeace says, “We put our heart and soul into our work as wedding DJs so winning the national award is a fantastic achievement for the whole team.”

Music is, of course, vital to a wedding celebration. Having a DJ who can read the room and get the party going makes a huge impact, ensuring the evening bash is memorable for all the right reasons. Phill continues, “We love being part of a couple’s big day and this award helps us demonstrate the level of service we provide. The recognition we have received from our couples shows that we’re trustworthy and skilled. It makes all the hard work and dedication worth it.”

Find out more about Celebration Roadshow at www.celebrationroadshow.co.uk

ONE GOOD TURN...

Wedding cake maker Emma Whitehead has an interesting and inspiring story to tell when it comes to the reason she set up her charitable business. “I started baking for charity in a more focused way in November 2016 as I had a ballot place in the 2017 London Marathon and wanted to raise money for five charities close to my heart and my husband’s: Great Ormond Street Hospital, JDRF, Mariposa Trust, Miscarriage Association and Tommy’s,” she explains. Over the five years the page was open she’d www.williamlanephotography.com raised an incredible £8,754 (£10,247 with Gift Aid). She then decided to start raising funds for new charity, Bowel Cancer UK, in memory of a dear friend who sadly lost her battle with the disease.

Emma regularly invests in her skills and techniques, makes sure she’s insured, keeps her food hygiene and safety qualifications current, and notifies the local EHO that she bakes. As a venture outside of her full-time job, she gives her time, ingredients and materials, and her customers donate via her charity page. She continues, “I bake pretty much anything, but being trusted to make a wedding cake is always extra special – such a privilege although a little nerve-wracking!”

Follow Em’s Charity Bakes and Cakes at www.instagram.com/ems_charity_bakes_and_cakes

NEWS Nearlywed Catch up on the latest from around the region

DOWN ON THE FARM

If you’re looking for a fun-filled hen, stag or sten do idea this summer, check out Farmfest, which is returning to Somerset after a sell-out year. 2022’s festival boasts a swirling musical orchestra of some of the best new and established left-ofmainstream performers on the scene. More than 100 acts in the electronic, indie, folk and world music genres have been booked to entertain 5,000 visitors for that intimate festival vibe. The weekend manages to combine everything from early morning workouts to riotous jumbles of jazz, brass-based bonanzas, stand-up comedy and poetry. There’ll also be opportunity for some rest and relaxation at the Kanga Spa and Wellness retreat.

Taking place on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th July 2022, Farmfest’s 15th year headliners will be Elder Island, Joy Orbison, and Gentlemen’s Dub Club. Adult tickets are £99, teens are £66 and children under 13 are free. Find out more at https://farmfestival.co.uk

VINTAGE CHIC

Bristol-based WearMyWardrobeOut offers highly-curated, ondemand garment, accessory and shoe rentals from its website, which now includes it’s 2022 range of wedding attire. Founder Maria Loria created the startup in order to bring sustainable, earth-friendly solutions to discerning fashion aficionados. Her mission is to re-educate consumers, improving their relationship with fashion and altering buying behaviours to reduce wastage. She asserts that affordably renting vintage and pre-loved outfits instead of buying, results in financial savings as well as avoiding adding to landfill.

WearMyWardrobeOut restores its items with the help of its dedicated alteration and repair service. There’s even an alteration service for customers who already have an outfit but are looking for an improved fit. All of the glamorous and timeless items are hand-picked and available to rent for a fixed four-day period from anywhere up to 90 days in advance.

Check out the chic, vintage bridalwear collection at https://wearmywardrobeout.com

GOING FOR GREEN SOMERSET-MADE SKINCARE

The zero-mile concept is going beauty. Just like the farm-to-table concept relating to food, beauty is adopting the ethos and ensuring every step of the supply chain is local. This means growing, formulating, manufacturing and packaging all in one place, wherever possible.

Lyonsleaf, The Republic of Natural Skincare, has employed the concept since opening, growing some of its ingredients on its Somerset-based family farm. Founders Ben and Vicky Lyons are committed to creating affordable, natural and active skincare with sustainability at the forefront of their minds. Vicky says, “Our products are 100 per cent recyclable – we’ve even switched to using paper packing tape. We try to produce as little waste as possible and any we do produce is virtually all recycled. We’re proud that nothing from the business goes into landfill.”

All Lyonsleaf products use calendula as the main power ingredient, a herb that has been used traditionally for hundreds of years to sooth inflammation and promote healing. Cult products include The Beauty Balm, Zinc & Calendula Cream and Natural Body Butter.

For clear wedding-day skin with a conscience, discover the brand for yourself at www.lyonsleaf.co.uk

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https://bettybhandari.com

From locally-sourced ingredients and organic cuisine to cruelty-free spa products and an acre of beautiful natural gardens, The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa offers an idyllic setting for a green wedding, honeymoon or romantic retreat.

Located in the heart of the 250-year-old Grade I listed Royal Crescent in the romantic city of Bath, the Hotel offers a delicious fine-dining menu comprised of locally-sourced ingredients, including herbs grown in its very own garden. The team can also create a vegan wedding breakfast menu and even has contacts at a Somerset vineyard, so you can toast your nuptials guilt-free. What’s more, the Hotel boasts an acre of natural, secluded gardens, including the exquisite Wedding Garden featuring bountiful roses and lavender, which provide food for all sorts of wildlife including three rescue hedgehogs Beatrix, Jane and Daphne.

Other environmentally-conscious initiatives include the use of traditional room keys on leather fobs, rather than disposable plastic ones. And toiletries are provided by Noble Isle, whose products are vegan, cruelty-free, environmentally-friendly and presented in recyclable packaging.

All weddings at The Royal Crescent Hotel are bespoke and the team takes great delight in helping anyone who wants to celebrate their wedding in a sustainable way, connecting you with reputable local suppliers with this ethos at their core.

Find out more about the Hotel’s green credentials at www.royalcrescent.co.uk