NEARLYWED NEWS

When the country, and most of the wedding industry with it, ground to a halt during Covid lockdowns Weaver Family Limousines found itself with little to no business with their poor couples forced to postpone their weddings. Owner David says, “A wedding day is a huge event in anyone’s life and it should be special, complete with all the planning and anticipation. Instead couples’ dreams were dashed with uncertainty replacing that excitement.” But, the team set to work doing everything they could to support their brides and grooms – moving dates at a moment’s notice, honouring bookings at no extra cost and generally trying hard to give their nearlyweds much needed hope and encouragement. “Where we could make a wedding happen, we did. Where we could rearrange, we did,” David says.

In the face of adversity this determined wedding supplier decided to take a significant risk and increase its fleet, enabling it to offer a wider variety of services to help couples focus on new plans. The latest exciting additions to the fleet are a beautiful white Rolls Royce Silver Spur, a stunning silver Bentley and another silver Mercedes S350 Executive. The former has a special history having been built to special order by Rolls Royce for a princess. It’s one foot longer than standard and is finished in diamond white with an elegant white leather interior. What’s more, Weaver Family Limousines is still offering fixed prices and bookings will be honoured even if your date needs to be moved.

Check out www.weaverfamilylimousines.co.uk

FASHION WITH LOVE

If sustainability and ethical shopping are crucial to you when looking for your big-day dress and accessories, pop along to The St Barnabas House Charity Wedding Boutique in Worthing. It has a huge selection of both new and pre-loved wedding dresses, bridal accessories and bridesmaid dresses.

The Wedding Boutique is open by appointment only and upon arrival you’ll be greeted by one of the team who’ll help you find the dress of your dreams. There are plenty of styles to choose from both in ivory and white, with silhouettes including ballgown, mermaid, A-line, tea-length, fit and flare and vintage. There’s certainly something to suit everyone. What’s more there’s also a wide range of sizes available.

Best of all, not only are you helping a charity to provide hospice care when you buy your dress here, you’re also making an ethical bridal fashion statement. To find out more, check out www.stbh.org.uk/wedding or call 01903 823 424 to make an appointment.

Nearlywed NEWS Catch up on the latest from around the county

TIP TOP

Brighton-based hat designer and milliner Rachael Clunie of Avant Garde Couture and Rachael Clunie Millinery, has been awarded a scholarship from The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, a charity supporting excellence in British craftsmanship. This prestigious award will fund her further training, enabling her to learn specific skills from master milliners Dillon Wallwork and Maor Zabar.

Rachael’s work features both contemporary couture hats as well as more off-the-wall designs, including her spring/summer 2019 collection made from locally-sourced seaweed and beach litter. Previous works have seen her use recycled plastic from regular household products and lights.

She says, “I’m overwhelmed and honoured to have been seen as talented enough to be accepted and supported by this wonderful trust. I’ve been totally shocked as I made it through each stage and to find out this wonderful news is just mind-blowing. I can’t wait to start this new journey as one of its new scholars and QEST family member.”

So, if your mums are looking for something super-special to crown their wedding-day look head over to www.avantgardecoutureuk.com to find out more.

https://youtu.be/ao2k31XKOEU

BORN TO SHINE

Richard Talman and Hugo Johnson are the incredibly talented gentlemen behind Haywards Heath-based bespoke jewellers RTFJ. Both regulars on your TV screens (Richard on The Repair Shop and Hugo, 2021’s All That Glitters champ), the pair have super-high standards when it comes to their work and customer services. Your Sussex Wedding editor Kelly Andrews caught up with them for a virtual chat about their experiences working on such well-loved BBC shows.

Thinking of your time on The Repair Shop Richard, what’s the most challenging repair you’ve ever had to do? It would have to be the sapphire and diamond engagement ring that was run over on a driveway, followed by the very first one I did back in 2017 on series three. Whenever you’re dealing with such precious heirlooms, coupled with the fact that you’re out of the workshop you’re used to – that made it really challenging.

With the tiny margins for error you’re dealing with and the cameras on you, the pressure must be immense - you must love what you do! What do you love about repairing vs. creating? In a way, my love of repairing has overtaken my love of creating. I’m a bit of a sentimentalist – I struggle selling a car because I get too attached! But further to that I abhor waste – anything from food to jewellery. You can’t throw anything away as far as I’m concerned, as long as there’s a use for it. Someone might come in to the workshop with their late husband’s ring having been told by another jeweller that it’s beyond repair and that they should just replace it – that’s the sort of thing I love doing. I always think it’s a bit like taking your 12-year-old dog to the vet and being advised to just get a new one! My passion is keeping people’s memories alive.

Hugo, huge congratulations on winning All That Glitters, we were cheering for you all the way! What was your favourite piece that you made? I would say the sweetheart brooch in episode two. I combined a penguin with a treble clef for the bespoke challenge where I was able to apply the skills I’d learnt throughout my training for the first time on the show. Also, we’d done some casting, which was either going to go one way or the other, it was a real gamble, but it all paid off and went very smoothly. So, that on top of some classic diamond mounting made that my favourite piece.

What meant the most to you on the show – having the client choose your bespoke piece or the judges awarding you jeweller of the week? Personally, the highlights were when the bespoke clients chose my pieces. When it comes to judging another maker it’s natural to lean very much towards your own personal style, which biases you. Having a bespoke brief, where you make something especially for someone; putting your time, effort, creativity and design into it then having it chosen by that person from a selection, that’s a really special moment.

Click play for the duo’s advice on selecting your all-important wedding rings and read the full interview at www.your-sussex.wedding/news-headlines where Richard and Hugo talk trends, bespoke jewellery and the future.

Also, check out www.rtfj.co.uk

WINNING WAYS

Andrew Brownsword Hotels and the team at Amberley Castle are celebrating after learning that the hotel and restaurant has been named a Tripadvisor 2021 Travellers’ Choice award winner. Positioning Amberley Castle in the top 10 per cent of all hotels worldwide, the accolade is the result of reviews and ratings from travellers across the globe. This local beauty spot boasts 1,796 reviews on the popular site, more than 87 per cent of which rate it as excellent or very good. Comments include: “The hotel is amazing, the staff could not be nicer,” and “I felt like royalty.”

General manager Piers Vowles comments, “Awards are always lovely to receive of course, but those voted for by our customers are our favourite, so we’re particularly pleased with this one!” To find out more about hosting your big day at Amberley Castle, head over to www.amberleycastle.co.uk

A WORLD AWAY

This summer, Wilderlands is hosting a series of family-friendly Wild Weekends where people of all ages can come together and spend time amongst nature, with the aim of supporting both physical and mental wellbeing. The events, in partnership with August’s Into the Wild festival will take place every weekend from 21st May to 19th September at a campsite in the woodlands of Chiddinglye, West Sussex.

Each weekend will offer a mix of activities for adults and children. In addition to live music, a woodland spa, country walks, an ethical clothing boutique, wild nature and a craft brewery on site, world-leading teachers, speakers, musicians and foragers will also be invited to take part. You’ll find the opportunity to learn new skills with workshops including denbuilding, wood carving, bird language, Celtic blacksmithing, relaxation and meditation, and storytelling. You may even find something that you can put to use in your wedding. There’s the option of pitching your own tent or hiring bell tents or a woodland cabin. Plus, delicious organic food is available to purchase from the on-site cafe and Curry Leaf Truck.

If an escape from the stress of wedding planning sounds ideal to you, you’ll find all the info over at www.wilderlands.co.uk