NEARLYWED NEWS

INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT CherryTop Weddings has developed a new Covid-secure interactive wedding entertainment experience that can be enjoyed by guests attending as well as friends and relatives watching remotely. (It’s also ideal for large celebrations when restrictions lift.) Everyone will receive a ‘Love Story’, which is a printed booklet personalised by the couple. It contains photographs of the newlyweds and activities chosen by them, including a quiz to find out how much their guests know about them, wedding speech bingo, word searches, drawing challenges and much more.

Couples design their own Love Story booklet using CherryTop Weddings’ content management system. There’s a range of designs and colourways to choose from that suit all wedding themes, and couples choose their design for the front and back cover. The package includes a personalised pen with each booklet, a special souvenir of the day, and activities for children.

There are different packages available to suit each couple’s needs starting from £150. For more information call 01872 713 344 or visit www.cherrytopweddings.com

PICTURE PERFECT

Budgies Balloons & Booths in Birmingham is offering a range of new products. The company was formed in 2014 from the closure of Budgies B’s Bouncy C’s and is owned and operated by Garry Blakeman. Garry has added a selfie post box, rustic heart booth and organic LED globe balloons to his services. There are a wide range of other products available, and some are customisable in either colour, shape, size or print.

Couples can choose from several packages that combine some of the company’s best selling items; from giant foil balloons to fabulous photo balloons, there’s sure to be something to suit your big day.

Check out www.budgiesballoons.com for more information.

NEWS Nearlywed

All the latest from around the West Midlands

CONGRATULATIONS! Local celebrant Jess May from Jess May’s Special Days has been nominated for Best Client Service 2021, Overall Best National Celebrant 2021 and The Celebrant Industry Award Global Celebrant of the Year 2021 at The Celebrant Industry Awards. As an industry first, these global awards are set to recognise those delivering excellence as nominated by fellow celebrants, industry suppliers, couples and families.

The founder of TCIA and The Celebrant Directory, Jennifer Claire Constant, tells us: “I’m so excited to finally launch these awards to shout loudly about our fantastic celebrant community and really recognise the talent we have. The past year has shown how integral celebrants are within the funeral and wedding industry, working and supporting families through life-changing events. I’m proud of how our members have come together and made a difference in times of such hardship.”

The winners will be announced and notified on Monday 31st May, 2021.

To find out more about Jess, visit www.jessmaysspecialdays.com

Award-winning hospitality group Caviar & Chips are rapidly growing their business and are set to create 50 new jobs in the Midlands. Caviar & Chips was founded in 2017 by Jonathan Carter-Morris and Marc Hornby, who together created a bespoke wedding catering company when Jonathan couldn’t fi nd a caterer that could help him with his own wedding plans. Since then, the business has added a 16th-century pub in Warwickshire and an 18th-century boutique wedding venue in Shropshire to its portfolio.

The wedding and events co-founder, Marc, tells us: “We were set to deliver around 100 weddings and events in 2020, but we ended up with three! The impact of COVID-19 was such a shock to the industry and, of course, all the couples who were planning their big day. Thankfully we’ve managed to help 99 per cent of our clients with a later date, and we’re looking forward to getting out and hosting again. When Jonathan and I fi rst created Caviar & Chips, we both said that we wanted to create a great place to work, no matter what we did. We also wanted to create a business that put our clients fi rst and was led by their choices. I think that’s helped us on our journey, and we’re so grateful to have navigated our way through the pandemic so far and want to create great opportunities for new people to join our team and make us even better.”

To fi nd out more, visit www.caviarandchips.co.uk

RING-A-DING-DING Infl uenstar is a new West Midlandsbased jeweller that champions sustainable but stylish jewellery. Each piece is made using recycled sterling silver which is then plated with gold – meaning each piece has had a previous life. Founded by Ruth Morris amidst the pandemic, the ethical brand sells a range of earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets and rings that are shipped in eco-friendly packaging.

“It was extremely important to me from the get-go that we’d be able to provide our customers with guilt-free, quality products that don’t compromise style or sustainability,” says founder Ruth. “Whilst many brands are introducing ‘conscious’ or ‘sustainable’ lines or ranges of products, my vision with Infl uenstar is to ensure that our entire inventory only consisted of jewellery pieces that utilise recycled materials and eco-friendly packaging. This way, we’re doing as much as possible to offer our customers a more sustainable option than fast fashion and helping to educate them on consumer responsibility.”

Visit www.theinfl uenstar.com for more information.

NATURAL BEAUTY

LUXE Hair. Beauty. Bridal, a new salon in Hinckley, has won Best Bridal Salon 2021 at the UK Hair & Beauty Awards. The salon was founded by Laura Timms Mowinski and Leanne Brown. Laura has more than 15 years of experience in the industry and a range of impressive qualifi cations, and together with Leanne, they make an impressive team.

The duo offers skincare treatments, hair and nail extensions, lashes and tans in the run-up to the wedding to ensure you look fabulous on the day. You can also have your trial hosted there and make a day of it with afternoon tea served next door at the Buttercream Tea Room.

To fi nd out more, visit www.facebook.com/luxe-106613084503903 AWARDWINNING

LMS Weddings have been recognised as Outstanding Wedding Planners at The Wedding Emporium – Wedding Industry Awards in Shropshire. LMS Weddings has continually marked itself by the quality of its work and has helped to improve the wedding industry by offering an exceptional service to its customers. The company offers a bespoke on-the-day coordination service for couples having their weddings in marquees, tipis or other DIY venues.

“We are very pleased that LMS Weddings has been recognised for offering quality service,” says Lynda Smallman, the owner. “It has been a tough 12 months, and we’re certainly not out of the woods yet, but to receive this award is fantastic.”

Head over to www.lmsweddings.co.uk for more information.

STYLED TO PERFECTION Some of Shropshire’s fi nest suppliers have come together to create a styled shoot with a difference. While weddings, as we have known them, have been on hold for over a year due to lockdown, there has been a lot of activity in the background. Stockton House near Bridgnorth and Ironbridge will be a new venue opening in April 2022, and the Grade II* listed building still has more than six months of renovation work and an exclusive restaurant yet to be built.

Jonathan Carter-Morris, the executive chef at Stockton House, said: “We loved the styled shoot at Stockton, and it was just nice to be able to host people and make some great food and serve a glass or two of sparkling wine. Stockton will be all about creating moments and memories, and it’ll be a wedding venue like no other. Hosting the styled shoot has got us even more excited about opening our doors next April.”

The suppliers involved were Nicola Gough Photography, My Little Wedding Shop, Up Close Wedding Productions, Big Little Things, Evelyn & Elliot, Mrs Kassi Mac, Amy Roberts Weddings, Hunkington House Kitchen, Tipples, Peter Posh Formal Suit Hire, Shropshire Petals and The Scotts Model Couple.

Check out the website www.stocktonhouseweddings.co.uk for more information.