Clifton Brides

186 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2XU Telephone: 0117 923 7928

www.cliftonbrides.co.uk

EVERYDAY OC CASIONS

At Avon Balloons and Everyday Occasions we specialise in transforming all events into something spectacular, including Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christenings and Corporate Events. We believe that every event should be different and reflect the individuality of each person organising it, and so we specialise in creating bespoke decorations for every customer.

Everyday Occasions are here to make your day easier, so you can spend less time worrying and more time with your guests

Colour choice can be completed from home or in store.

Avon Balloons offer large dance floor canopies which can also include the exploding balloon filled with up to 100 small balloons and confetti for that all important first dance.

We ar e a te am o f profes sional balloo decor n ators an d h ave f u ll c insura over nce

As a company we can also offer DJ's, Candy bars and much more.

369 Filton Avenue, Bristol BS7 0BD Telephone: 0117 9695451 Email: shop@everydayoccasions.co.uk

www.everydayoccasions.co.uk

Clifton Brides Clifton Brides was established 25 years ago, by Michaela and Brenda, who still own and manage the business on a personal level.

This has resulted in a reputation of professionalism, expertise and amazing dresses.

This brochure has been compiled to guide you through the planning stages of your wedding giving lots of useful tips and advice and also referring you to some local businesses you may like to discuss your requirements with.

Clifton Brides has always been at the cutting edge of bridal trends, yet still maintaining a timeless, classical essence to the collections offered. We represent some of the world’s most prestigious designers, to ensure you find the most perfect dress for your wedding day. Designers include Augusta Jones, for stunningly feminine lace designs, Benjamin Roberts, for simple stylish shaping, Marylise, a European designer offering something a little different and finally a new designer on board, Donna Lee. Prices range from £800 - £2000. Sample dresses are often available at reduced prices from £450.

With service you deserve from beginning to end, we look forward to becoming part of your wedding day memories.

Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 9.30am - 5pm Seasonal late nights by appointment www.cliftonbrides.co.uk

Clifton Brides

Planning your Special Day The Wedding Timetable

First Steps The first thing you will plan for your wedding is the budget. Talk between yourselves and your respective parents about the kind of service you would like. You will find that your parents will be of enormous help to you in discussing the budget. On your very special day you will want the best of everything, so plan carefully the style and tone of the day.

When you have decided, visit your Vicar/Priest or Registrar and make arrangements for your marriage ceremony. They will be of great help to you both, and explain everything you will need to know about walking up the aisle and saying ‘I do’. If you wish, a rehearsal can be arranged to set your minds at ease and to assure you that it will all be perfect on your wedding day. Take this opportunity to apply for a marriage licence if necessary.

Now might also be the ideal time to decide on who you will ask to be ‘Chief Bridesmaid’ and ‘Best Man’.

The Wedding Countdown 18-12 Months

Once you have decided the date and place of your wedding, it is important to remember the following points.

In descending order your family and friends will generally remember the following: 1. How beautiful the bride looked.

2. How wonderful the ceremony was.

3. The reception.

Think about it. Now is certainly the time to be choosing carefully both your wedding dress and your reception venue.

Other important things to be arranged now are as fo llows:

1. Book the photographer

2. Book the transport

3. Book the toastmaster if

4. Decide on the number

5. Order the invitations

required

of guests and make a list

6. Book the honeymoon an

7. Decide on the bridesm

8. Order the wedding cak

and videographer

d apply for passports

aids and ushers

e

You have now put in place an excellent framework for the build up to your big day. Hopefully, you now have a team of professio nals all working towards making sure it is a day to remember, and for all the right reasons.

6 Months Time for some fun! Lets organise a wedding present list.

(Don’t forget that a lot of stores will now help you with this.) Having already organised your dress you will probably have a colour scheme in mind for the bridesmaids’ dresses. Now is the time to be coordinating these as well.

Once the colour scheme is decided it is probably time to start ordering the flowers for bouquets, church, and reception if required.

Other items to arrange now are: 1. Hire of the suits for the bridegroom, best man, fathers and ushers.

2. Initial fitting of the dress.

3. Choosing the wedding rings.

While you’re on the phone, now might be the ideal time to organise appointments with your hairdresser and beauty salon, to make sure you look at your most beautiful on the big day.

Wedding and Events by Syreeta will help you plan your dream wedding!

We will work with you on every aspect of your wedding, and can customize our services to fit your needs. From finding a venue, to choosing a caterer, to recommending and hiring vendors, you can count on us. And on the big day, we will be there to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Wedding and Events by Syreeta 07712412310 weddingandeventsbysyreeta@gmail.com www.weddingandeventsbysyreeta.co.uk

Our team of friendly florists work closely with brides and grooms to give a personal service.

We offer a free consultation and take great care to ensure we understand the style of your wedding before developing your floral concept. We are keen to see any ideas you have for your day so that we can build up a picture of the whole event, creating a mood board of your flowers with other features so that you can get a clear overview of how it will all come together.

Lullah Belle 0117 9027989 info@lullahbelle.co.uk www.lullahbelle.co.uk

www.facebook.com/lullahbelle twitter.com/LullahBelleUK

Planning your Special Day The Wedding Timetable

3 Months Now is the time to be sending out the wedding invitations. This would also be the ideal time to be escorting the ‘mums’ into town to organise their outfits (Don’t forget the hats!)

Also:1. Choose the hymns and choice of music.

2. Arrange for the ‘Order of Service’ sheets to be printed.

6 Weeks You should now be fairly well organised and in the envious position of sitting back and relaxing for a couple of weeks in the full knowledge that there are a whole host of people out there worrying on your behalf. However, on your one weekend off between now and the big day, it might be an excellent idea to nip out and choose some presents for the bridesmaids, and perhaps some flowers for the mums.

4 Weeks The pace is starting to hot up now. It’s time to see whether everyone else has been as organised as you.

1. Confirm the reception venue booking, and numbers attending.

2. Confirm details with the photographer.

3. Confirm the wedding cars.

4. Confirm details with the florist and give final numbers for buttonholes.

5. Confirm travel and hotel bookings for the honeymoon. N.B. Check passport.

10 to 7 Days If you haven’t organised a rehearsal of the ceremony now might be a good time to meet with the best man, bridesmaids and ushers to finalise arrangements and responsibilities.

1. Practise your make-up.

2. Take the headdress to your hairdresser.

3. Give the ‘Order of Service’ sheets to the vicar.

And, perhaps most importantly of all...

START PACKING FOR THE HONEYMOON.

One Day to Go Try and delegate as much work as possible. Have your beauty treatment, finish off any packing that still remains to be done for the honeymoon, lay out your wedding and going away ensemble, relax and put your feet up.

The Wedding Day

Assuming a 2pm Wedding, the bride’s timetable will run something like this:-

8.00 8.30 9.00 9.30 11.00

Have a shower or relaxing bath Have a good breakfast Polish your nails Hairdressers Best man arrives to collect the luggage/greetings cards/telegrams 11.30 The Bridesmaids/pageboys arrive 12.00 Make-up 12.30 The Bride and Bridesmaids dress 1.00 The photographer arrives 1.30 The first car takes the mother and the bridesmaids to the church. The bridesmaids then wait in the church entrance 1.45 The second car takes the bride and her father to the church 1.58 Wait in church entrance and line bridesmaids up behind you. The verger will greet you 2.00 The Ceremony. GOOD LUCK

The

perfect place for your guests to stay This comfortable and elegant Bed & Breakfast is set in magnificent gardens opening onto the Bristol Down to the front, an open park of some 450 acres, and onto the Botanic Gardens to the rear.

It is ideally situated for the amenities of the City - but lies amid the uniquely peaceful surroundings of open parkland. The en-suite bedroom accommodation is very comfortable, with special attention to detail.

DOWNS EDGE Saville Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1JA T 0117 968 3264 F 0117 968 706 E welcome@downsedge.com W www.downsedge.co.uk

LAHOMA CAKES A friendly welcome awaits you at Lahoma Cakes. We specialise in custom celebration cakes and cup cakes for all occasions.

We also serve teas and coffee and a range of freshly made sandwiches, paninis and cakes. We would be delighted to discuss your requirements and offer quotes with no obligation.

0117 9681815 www.lahomacakes.co.uk 38b Westbury Lane, Coombe Dingle, Bristol BS9 2PP

Planning your Special Day Wedding Etiquette

The tradition and conventions of wedding etiquette will not suit everyone but it is important to be aware of them.

This explanation of who does what in the preparations and ceremony aims to enable you to make an informed decision on the best way to run your wedding day.

The Chief Bridesmaid The chief bridesmaid is chosen by the bride to assist her during the preparations. On the day itself, it is her job to make sure that all the other attendants are in their places. She will arrange the bride’s dress and veil when she arrives, ready for her entry into the church. During the service, she holds the bride’s bouquet.

The chief bridesmaid also signs the register, along with the best man. She is then escorted by the best man, and will be on hand all day to assist the bride.

Ushers The Bride The bride traditionally selects the type of service. She oversees all the preparations, which include choosing the date and the church, who her attendants will be, her own dress and accessories, as well as those of the bridemaids. She will choose the flowers, help with the guest list and seating arrangements, and attend to the many small details which will contribute to her perfect day.

The Groom The groom has to arrange transport for himself, the bride and the wedding party, as well as hiring the church and booking the honeymoon. However, this will be done with direction from his future wife. The groom chooses his best man and ushers, of which it is traditional to have three, and is conventionally given responsibility for little else! However, in reality, the bride and groom discuss most aspects of the day as it is, after all, ‘their’ wedding.

At the reception, the groom will reply to the bride’s father’s speech, thanking the bride’s parents and guests, and proposing a toast to the bridesmaids.

The Best Man Traditionally, the best man is responsible for his own dress and that of the groom. He sees that transport to the church for them both is arranged, and also organises the ‘Stag Night’, preferably several days or even weeks in advance, if he is to successfully fulfil his duty of escorting the groom to the church on time.

On the day, the best man has to ensure that the whole day runs smoothly, primarily ensuring safe keeping of the rings. After the ceremony, he is responsible for transportation of all the guests to the reception. The best man will speak at the reception, replying to the groom’s toast to the bridesmaids, and will read out a few cards and telegrams from guests unable to attend. His final responsibility of the day is to ensure that the bride and groom leave the reception in good time, and that their transport is arranged.

The ushers greet the guests as they arrive at the church. They will distribute the service sheets and show people to their seats.

If it is raining they will help escort the guests and bridal party from their cars to the church under umbrellas.

The Bride’s Father Much of the bride’s father’s responsibility lies with the financial aspect of the event, as traditionally, he pays the bulk of the costs.

Nowadays, though, it is likely that the bride and groom will meet some of the expenses themselves and also a possibility that the groom’s family will make some contribution.

On the day, the bride will be accompanied to the church by her father, who will escort her up the aisle and give her away during the ceremony. The bride’s father will sit next to the bride on the top table during the wedding breakfast, and will make the first speech, in which he proposes a toast to the bride and groom.

The Bride’s Mother The bride’s mother will help her daughter with the wedding arrangements and may have a major role in the decisions taken, especially if she is contributing financially. She will compile the guest list, in consultation with the groom and his parents. She may organise the sending of invitations, and the display of the wedding gifts.

The bride’s mother will not only stand proudly watching her daughter on this special day, but is there to oversee all the arrangements, as well as to stand in line to greet the guests, along with her husband.

The Groom’s Parents There is no specific traditional role for the groom’s parents, but it is important that they do not feel neglected. Today, it is not unusual for the groom’s parents to make a considerable contribution to organisation and payment. It is only good manners, on the part of the bride, to ask their advice and approval and ensure they are included as much as possible in the preparations.

Clifton Brides

Fittings and Dress Details The most important decision for any Bride when planning her wedding is made when choosing her dress. Like every Bride you will want to wear the most beautiful dress you have ever seen. It is best to go shopping with someone whose opinion you value, but don’t let them push you into a decision you may regret later.

Our advice is that you should fall in love with your dress as you did with your husband to be. When you find your dress you will know instinctively it is the one for you.

Please ensure you have your lingerie and shoes with you for all fittings.

Below we have provided space for you to keep a record of your fitting times: Fitting ........................................................................................................................ Date .......................... Time .......................

Notes ..............................................................................................................................................................................................

Fitting ........................................................................................................................ Date .......................... Time .......................

Notes ..............................................................................................................................................................................................

Fitting ........................................................................................................................ Date .......................... Time .......................

Notes ..............................................................................................................................................................................................

Clifton Brides

Tailors . Shirtmakers . Since 1898

71 Park Street, Bristol 01179 544 750 Unit SU18 Cabot Circus, Bristol 01179 279 890 29 Milsom Street, Bath 01225 464 563

www.tmlewin.co.uk

Creating the perfect setting for y Diamond Package is a family run business catering for your every need for your wedding or event, no matter how big or small.

Tracie and Michelle together with their team will make your day one to remember. We will work closely with you to ensure your wedding or special event runs stress free. We offer services such as Flowers, Dressing the Venue and Church. Favours, Wedding Hair, Beauty and Make?up and much more. A full cold buffet catering service. Menus available on request.

We cater for any celebration proms) and we also cater for your venue appropriately. We additional cost), a waitress this be required.

occasion (christenings, funerals. We can decorate can also offer (at an service at your event should

DIAMOND PACKAGE Telephone: 07717330312 or 07979318893 thediamondpackage@hotmail.co.uk

Clifton Brides

NOVOTEL Bristol Centre W

ith so much to organise on your special day, you can relax in the knowledge that NOVOTEL Bristol will take care of your every requirement, ensuring that your wedding day is everything you want it to be in terms of quality, professionalism and friendliness.

O nce your booking is confirmed we

Diamond Package • Silver Package • Ivory Package

Prices from £25 per person

guarantee that all details regarding your special day will be handled efficiently and competently in the hands of an experienced Wedding Co-ordinator to ensure your special day is a truly memorable occasion.

Novotel Bristol Centre Victoria Street Bristol BS1 6HY

+44 (0) 1179 769 988 h5622-sb@accor.com

www.novotel.com

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For information on how to advertise in this and hundreds of other publications, or to discuss how a bespoke publication for your own business can be produced at no cost to yourself contact Mediadz on 01229 430883

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Clifton Brides

Useful Telephone Numbers Throughout the build up to your wedding day it is important that you try and maintain contact with a number of important businesses and people whose services or time you are making use of.

Quite a number of these services can be found within the pages of this publication, and they will be delighted to offer you all the help and advice you need.

These people are professional in all that they do, and will help make your day one to remember.

Clifton Brides .................................................................................................................................................... Bristol - Tel: 0117 923 7928 Vicar / Registrar.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Hotel / Venue ....................................................................................................................................... Novotel Bristol - Tel: 01179 769 988

B&B ....................................................................................................................................................... Downs Edge - Tel: 0117 968 3264

Balloons/Party Shop ................................................................................................................... Everyday Occasions - Tel: 0117 9695451

Photographer .......................................................................... Country Studio Photography - Tel: 01179346683 or Mobile: 07888131892 Photographer .............................................................................................................. Bristol Wedding Photographic - Tel: 07737 301822

Wedding/Event Planner............................................................................................. Wedding and Events by Syreeta - Tel: 07712412310

Dental Surgery ..............................................................................................................................................................................................

Florist .......................................................................................................................................... Lullah Belle Flowers - Tel: 0117 9027989

Menswear ............ T M Lewin - Tel: 01179 544 750 (Park St. Bristol) or Tel: 01179 279 890 (Cabot Circus) or Tel: 01225 464 563 (Bath) Wedding Cakes ................................................................................................................................... Lahoma Cakes - Tel: 0117 9681815

Wedding Cakes ........................................................................................................... Cake - Tel: 0117 9078391 or Mobile: 07792746169

Hair Salon ................................................................................................................................................ MaximumFX - Tel: 0117 9230231

Florist, Caterer, Hair & Beauty, Favours, Venue Dressing ................................... Diamond Package - Tel: 07717330312 or 07979318893

Dry Cleaners ................................................................................................................................................................................................

Wedding Stationery ......................................................................................................................................................................................

Honeymoons ................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Beautiful, NATURAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY,

that blends effortlessly in to your wedding day

Bristol Wedding Photographic

Caroline Lyall: 07737 301822 www.bristolweddingphotographic.co.uk bristolweddingphotographic@blueyonder.co.uk