Wedding belles

72 Walsall Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B74 4QY Tel / Fax: 0121 323 4033 Email: info@weddingbellesbridal.co.uk www.weddingbellesbridal.co.uk

Creating beautiful bespoke cakes for weddings and all other special occasions

I offer a free, friendly, no obligation, taster consultation service to discuss your specific requirements and try different cake samples.

Each cake is exclusively designed for your needs We can also offer edible wedding favours and sweet tree centre pieces

Cake by Sarah Batchelor Tel: 0121 308 7406 / 07870 611225 Email: sarahbatchelor534@btinternet.com www.cakebysarah.co.uk Facebook: Cake By-sarah Twitter: @cakebysarah

About Us - Wedding Belles has been assisting brides and their parties for over 18 years. We are a friendly family run business whose aim it is to ensure that every bride who comes into our shop feels comfortable, gets excellent service and most importantly has fun trying on a selection of our beautiful gowns.

We understand the importance of choosing the right gown and will always give you the time you need to make the right decision.

Our Range - Our sizes start from 6 and go up to size 30. Prices range from ÂŁ1000 to ÂŁ2300. Our dresses are supplied by some of the best designers in the business including the beautifully stunning Maggie Sottero, the contemporary Sottero and Midgley and timeless and romantic Colet Bridal to name but a few. We are proud to offer one of the largest collections of bridesmaids dresses in the West Midlands, including fashion forward trends by the Dessy Collection. We are constantly updating our gowns, keeping up with the latest trends, colours and designs so whether you are looking for a simple beach wedding gown or a fairytale wedding dress we are sure to be able to help.

Accessories - We offer a wide range of accessories which include beautiful soft veils, exquisite vintage headpieces along with traditional tiaras.

Our Service - You can pop into our shop at any time and we will be happy to talk to you about your requirements. We do not insist on appointments, however, by making an appointment you will ensure that you have specific time allocated to you and will be able to receive our full attention. If you have not made an appointment you may have to wait to be seen.

Excellent customer service is as important to us as it is to you.

We treat every customer with respect and do as much as possible to assist with any requests.

Thank you for taking the time to read through the brochure. It has been produced to give you ideas as well as pointing you in the right direction for services you may need on your big day. We hope it has been useful.

If we can be of further assistance please contact us at: Wedding Belles, 72 Walsall Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B74 4QY. Tel: 0121 323 4033

Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10 - 5pm Friday10 - 3pm, Wednesday and Sunday - Closed

Regards

Claire & Melanie

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 follows:

1. Book the photographer

2. Book the transport

3. Order the flowers

4. Decide on the number

5. Order the invitations

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 9. Book the toastmaster if required

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 co-ordinating 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.

BEAUTIFUL BESPOKE WEDDING CAKES, HANDMADE WITH LOVE For the full range of colours and styles please see www.catherinethomascakes.co.uk Photography by Graham Pritchard

Email: catherine@catherinethomascakes.co.uk Tel: 0771 979 2224

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

Vixen Velvet

WEDDINGS & EVENTS

Vintage and Alternative Wedding Planning Whether you are looking for Gothic, Rockabilly, Gatsby, Steampunk or another alternative style, we are here to make your day true to you.

392A Boldmere Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B73 5EZ Tel No: 07535666676 Email: www.vv-events@outlook.com Web: www.vv-events.com

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.

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 ..............................................................................................................................................................................................

Grimscote Manor Hotel The Grimscote Manor Hotel in Coleshill, Birmingham is a unique setting for your special day

Grimscote Manor offers couples their perfect wedding venue. One of the benefits of having your wedding reception at Grimscote Manor, is that you will have exclusive use of the Hotel’s grounds throughout your special day.

Our experienced team can help plan your day from start to finish. Our GeorgeLewis suite and bandstand is licensed to hold Civil ceremonies for 85 people and the Guild suite for 50, then your reception naturally moves to our marquee, which will hold up to 160 people for your wedding breakfast. We handmake and decorate the marquee to your own individual tastes, style and colour scheme.

Grimscote Manor Hotel offers a unique backdrop for your wedding photos, take advantage of the Stenhouse bridge and Waterfall, the ornate steps, the Victorian oriental bandstand as well as our 4 acres of picturesque gardens and woodland.

Please call our Wedding co-ordinator on: 01675 464 222 Grimscote Manor Hotel, Lichfield Road, Coleshill, North Warwickshire B46 1LH

Tel: 01675 464 222 Fax: 01675 462 134 info@grimscotemanor.co.uk www.grimscotemanor.co.uk www.warwickshireweddingvenue.co.uk

GERARD SPECIALIST CLEANING Cleaning and finishing of wedding dresses and accessories including bridal shoes, bridesmaid's and mother of the bride outfits.

Our service includes special storage boxes and packaging

GERARD SPECIALIST CLEANING 70 Walsall Road, Four Oaks, West Midlands B74 4QY

0121 323 2166

We are a family run business with years of experience.

We will not disappoint. Attention to detail is paramount with the highest quality of work at the best prices.

Quite simply... unique weddings & events All types catered for

Tailor Maid Events offers bespoke venue decoration at very competitive prices l l l l l

Chair covers with sashes Centrepieces Favours Cast iron birdcage post box Starlight table skirting

l l l l l

Table linen hire Wishing/Manzanita trees Decorative balloons Table swagging Starlight backdrop

52 Roebuck Road, Walsall, West Midlands, WS3 1AL Telephone: 07826 854319 Email: tailormaid.events@yahoo.co.uk Find us on Facebook: Tailor-Maid-Events

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Table runners Bay & topiary trees Wooden wishing well Table confetti

Packages to suit every budget

Beautiful Flowers for your Special Day

Let our team of florists make your special day one to remember Our flowers will be hand-picked and shipped in to ensure freshness and quality.

Our flowers area designed exclusive to you as you are most important on your special day.

144 beacon road, great barr, birmingham b43 7bn t: 0121 360 1920 www.bramblehedgeflorist.com

MACARONS Galore We know how important your special day is to you, no matter how big or small.

Our team takes extra care in crafting every macaron to the highest standard.

Every order is customised to suit the theme of your wedding.

For enquiries please contact Benedicte on 07896729412 or email info@macaronsgalore.co.uk Please visit our website www.macaronsgalore.co.uk and Facebook page Macarons Galore

Barry Balmayne

The Midlands Most Popular Professional Wedding Toastmaster and Master of Ceremonies

Specialising in Weddings, and splendidly dressed in Scarlet, Barry’s renowned expertise and highly pleasing personality assures you all of a very happy, stress-free and most memorable and enjoyable day Taking all the anxiety, tension and worry out of your ‘Very Special Day’ by skillfully blending together and professionally managing all those carefully made plans and arrangements and ensuring that it all flows to perfection on the day, is the job of the experienced man in the Red Coat.

FOR A FULL WEDDING LEAFLET TELEPHONE OR EMAIL NOW! OR JUST CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE! Telephone: 0121 357 5875 Mobile: 07778 281190 Web: www.barrybalmayne.co.uk Email: barry@barrybalmayne.co.uk

Special Day Services Our fleet of six cars has been hand picked and our goal is to make your big day special and memorable by offering a tailored package based on your specific requirements.

Covering a 15 mile radius, we have six beautiful cars that can be decorated with ribbons and flowers according to your requirements.

All our cars are chauffer driven by fully trained and uniformed drivers and we are a long standing member of the British Chauffeurs Guild.

As a local family run business based in Rushall, Walsall, Special Day Services has been in operation since 1991.

Telephone: 01922 631 060 Email: info@specialdayservices.co.uk

www.specialdayservices.co.uk www.facebook.com/SpecialDayServices

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.

Wedding Belles of Four Oaks ................................................................................................................................. Tel/Fax: 0121 323 4033

Vicar/Registrar...............................................................................................................................................................................................

Toastmaster.............................................................................................. Barry Balmayne - Tel: 0121 357 5875 or Mobile: 07778 281190 Vintage & Classic Wedding Cars.............................................................................................. Special Day Services - Tel: 01922 631 060

Hotel / Venue .......................................................................................................................... Grimscote Manor Hotel - Tel: 01675 464222

Wedding & Event Planner ................................................................................................................ 3 Tier Occasions - Tel: 07425 179927

Make up .................................................................................................................................... The Perfect Make-up - Tel: 07970 503 462

Wedding Hair ............................................................................................................................ Bridal Hair Specialists - Tel: 07980 838576

Wedding Photographer .................................................................................................. Daffodil Waves Photography - Tel: 07895 151242 Framing ...................................................................................................................................... All Aspect Art & Print - Tel: 01543 482878

Dry Cleaner ..................................................................................................................... Gerard Specialist Cleaning - Tel: 0121 323 2166

Wedding & Event Planner ............................................................................................................. Tailor Made Events - Tel: 07826 854319 Stag / Hen T-Shirts ....................................................................................................................................... Multiprint - Tel: 01922 625651

Macarons (Wedding & Events) ....................................................................................................... Macarons Galore - Tel: 07896 729412

Wedding Cakes .................................................................................................................. Catherine Thomas Cakes - Tel: 07719 792224

Wedding Cakes ........................................................................................................ Cake by Sarah - Tel: 0121 308 7406 / 07870 611225

Florist ................................................................................................................................... Bramble Hedge Florists - Tel: 0121 360 1920

Wedding Planning ................................................................................................................................... Vixen Velvet - Tel: 07535666676

Milinery................................................................................................................................... West Midlands Millinery - Tel: 07449 615110

Designed and marketed by Mediadz Ironworks Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 2PG Tel: 01229 823392 Email: mediadzadmin@hspmilners.com Mediadz is a trading division of James Milner (Barrow) Limited. Registered Office: Ironworks Road Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria LA14 2PG. Registered in England No. 396 653

Weddings and events planner Have you recently got engaged & would like to start planning for that special day but don’t know where to start, or Have you been engaged for a while & have now set a date but could do with some help Let me help make your dreams reality, from your first free consultation we will have an idea of how you wish your special day to be, contact Claire on 07425 179927 or email ca3tieroccasions@yahoo.com

Weddings / Civil Ceremonies / Civil Partnerships

There are three wedding packages to choose from that I can also tailor to your specific detail.

For a review of all packages please visit website www.3tieroccasions.co.uk

Stock & Custom Designed T-Shirts for your big night out Also: Work & Schoolwear, Sports Kits Promotional Clothing, Corporate Clothing

MULTIPRINT Telephone: 01922 625651 1, Townend St, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 8LP

www.multiprintuk.com RECEIVE A SPECIAL DISCOUNT WHEN YOU MENTION THIS ADVERTISEMENT

Natural and romantic wedding photography by

www.daffodilwaves.co.uk

07895151242

nicola@daffodilwaves.co.uk