Loved up aut win 2013 by Allies Group Ltd

LOVED UP MAGAZINE ISSUE 3 AUTUMN/WINTER 2013

RETRO MIX

BACK-IN-TIME BRIDES ROCK BOUFFANTS AND BIG SKIRTS

LOVE-FEST

WEDDING FUN IN A FIELD OF DREAMS

HIPPY VIBE POP STAR SPARKLE & A LUSH GARDEN PARTY

OUR WAY

REAL COUPLES - FROM HOLLYWOOD TO A COUNTRY CASTLE

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22/08/2013 15:41

Bespoke and timeless wedding collections... Brown & Newith • Breuning • Furrer Jacot • Charles Green Contour • Ti2 • Bramwells • Ungar and Ungar

www.bramwellsjewellers.co.uk

THE COMPANY OF MASTER JEWELLERS

FINE JEWELLERY AND DIAMOND SPECIALISTS

Prince Bishop Shopping Centre, Durham tel 0191 3845793 23/24 Post House Wynd, Darlington tel 01325 464175

LOVED UP MAGAZINE ISSUE 3 AUTUMN/WINTER 2013

contents

ere we go with another dose of wedding day drama, dreams and delicious inspiration in this new edition of Loved Up. We’re certainly finding that there’s no set prescription for a wedding day any more. Brides are getting more and more savvy about what they want with definite ideas about making the big day their own. With this in mind, in this edition of Loved Up, you’ll find the extremes of wedding day bliss, from a wildflowerfilled wedding in a field to a striking day of Hollywood glamour from a bride mad about Audrey Hepburn. For our own shoot with the backdrop of Crab Manor in North Yorkshire, we took a bit of inspiration from Dusty Springfield with a nod to the 60s and a sweep of eyeliner a la Adele. Super-pointy stilettos and very puffed up petticoats made for a dazzling bride. As always too, Loved Up is filled with stories of real brides from the North East. They’ve inspired us with some very stylish ideas hope you feel the same. Do get in touch and share your big day with us. Kathryn Armstrong, Editor kathryn@room501.co.uk

10 D is for Dress Dreamy, distinctive and very desirable - our pick of the gowns whatever your style.

28 pop goes hippy Former pop-girl Shirlie Kemp turns wedding stylist with a stunning whimsical-hippy shoot.

36 Floral abundance Blooms for bouquets and for special touches. Inspirational ideas from peonies to sweet peas.

50 we did it our way From Hollywood to country hillside. Real-life inspiration to make a mark on the big day.

64 Fields of dreams Outdoorsy ideas for couples who want to wed beneath the stars. An essential guide.

76 Blissful beach days Seychelles, sand and starry nights made for love.

86 Ask the experts In-the-know advice from the experts.

contacts room501 ltd Christopher March Managing Director e: chris@room501.co.uk Debi Coldwell Senior Sales e: debi@room501.co.uk Editorial Kathryn Armstrong e: kathryn@room501.co.uk Contributors: Imogen Nicholson, Katherine Weir

Advertising For advertising call Debi Coldwell on 0191 426 6300 Design & production room501 ltd. e: studio@room501.co.uk Photography KG Photography e: info@kgphotography.co.uk NR Photography e: nicky@nrphotography.co.uk

room501 Publishing Ltd, Spectrum 6, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham, SR7 7TT www.room501.co.uk room501 was formed from a partnership of directors who, combined, have many years of experience in contract publishing, print, marketing, sales and advertising and distribution. We are a passionate, dedicated company that strives to help you to meet your overall business needs and requirements. All contents copyright © 2013 room501 Ltd. All rights reserved. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies, howsoever caused. No liability can be accepted for illustrations, photographs, artwork or advertising materials while in transmission or with the publisher or their agents. All information is correct at time of going to print, August 2013. room501 Publishing Ltd is part of BE Group, the UK’s market leading business improvement specialists. www.be-group.co.uk Loved Up is published twice yearly by room501 Ltd. Next edition March 2014.

LOVED UP

LOVing this

pearly girly Fleur headdress, ÂŁ472 from Rosie Willet Designs www.rosiewillettdesigns.co.uk

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LOVED UP

Notebook WOO-FACTOR WEDDINGS Wynyard Hall is to woo wedding couples with the biggest marquee in the region. A spectacular grand marquee will be the sparkling centrepiece of a massive redevelopment of the estate’s historic gardens, including the stunning walled garden. The marquee will be able to accommodate up to 400 guests but the unique design will enable the space to be divided for smaller celebrations and a wraparound outdoor terrace and large French windows on three sides will give guests views over the grounds. Brides will enter through the beautiful walled garden through an arch of trailing wisteria and roses – unashamedly romantic. The hotel is also offering cool packages for girls’ and guys’ getaways - a stylish alternative to the rowdy stag and hen affairs. Deluxe Girlie Getaway packages offer a stay jam-packed with pampering treats in luxurious, self-contained cottages within the hall’s grounds, complete with outdoor hot tub with a bottle of pink champagne and nibbles. Meanwhile, boys can bond over the Gentlemen’s Retreat package, which offers three to six men the chance to play a round of golf followed by dinner in the Wellington Restaurant. The following morning there’s breakfast and a spa session.

The Deluxe Girlie Getaway package is £220 each, both based on between four and six people sharing a cottage. The Gentlemen’s Retreat costs £199 per person based on three to six people sharing. For further information about Wynyard Hall Hotel call 01740 644 811 or visit the hotel’s website at www.wynyardhall.co.uk

dressing up

D is for dreamy DELiCAtE, DRAMAtiC, DREAMy AND So DESiRAbLE. thESE GoRGEouS GowNS wiLL iNSPiRE LoVED-uP bRiDES-to-bE

DIVINE Helen gown by Diana Harbridge, £1260, YAP Flower hair garland, Victoria Forshaw

dressing up

dreSsing up

dressing up

LACY DAYS Paloma Blanca silk gown with sheer shoulder panel £2095, Darcy Weddings. Headpiece, Longbourn, £70 by ‘All Things Darcy’ for Darcy Weddings

Darcy Weddings

Bridal Wear • Bridesmaids mother of the Bride/Groom • race days eveninG Wear • hats & fascinators shoes & accessories

DARCY

EXQUISITE BRIDAL & OCCASION WEAR 4 & 6/6A Newgate Street, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 1BA tel: 01670 511705 www.darcyweddings.co.uk

dresSing up

dressing up

details, details Justin Alexander lace shoulder detail gown, style 8685, Mia Sposa. Flower hair comb by Victoria Forshaw

dressing up

darling delicate Lois silk column gown by Lea Ann Belter, ÂŁ2900, YAP Flower chain headdress, handmade by Victoria Forshaw

dresSing up

dressing up

peonies, pearls & pink Ronald Joyce Bernadette gown, £1,185, Darcy Weddings. Belt - Rosings, £80, Hair comb, £65, by ‘All Things Darcy’ for Darcy Weddings

WEDDING PLANNING SINCE 1995

Dawn Marie is the most established, independent wedding consultant in the North-East region with over 470 weddings planned since 1995

www.DawnMarieWED.co.uk 07717 220 556 19

dresSing up

How sweet it is Diango by Pronovias column lace gown, ÂŁ1340, Mia Sposa. Pink flower garland, Victoria Forshaw

dressing up

LOVED ALL THEUP DETAILS

all the details

Models Joy and Rebecca. Tyne Tees models www.tyneteesmodels.co.uk

Photography Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk Nicky Rogerson www.nrphotography.co.uk

Hair & make-up Victoria Forshaw www.pinspetalspowder.co.uk

Styling Kathryn Armstrong

Venue Horton Grange Country House Hotel, Ponteland 01661 860 686 www.hortongrange.co.uk

Gowns Darcy Weddings 4 - 6/6a Newgate Street Morpeth Northumberland NE61 1BA 01670 511 705 www.darcyweddings.co.uk Mia Sposa 18 Blandford Square, Newcastle, NE1 4HZ, Tel: 0191 221 1688 www.miasposabridal.com

YAP Bridal 6 St Marys Place, Newcastle. NE1 7PG 0191 340 7983 www.yapbridal.co.uk

Room Styling Dawn Marie Wedding & Event Design 07717 220 556 www.DawnMarieWED.co.uk

Stationery, Props & Dessert Bar Silver Birch Designs 07764 484 557 www.silverbirch-designs.com

Wedding Cakes & Dessert Bar Sara’s Kitchen 07837 399 003 www.saraskitchen.co.uk

Floral Designs Wedding Flowers for You 07732 918 023 www.weddingflowersforyou.co.uk

Chair Covers

Simply Bows and Chair Covers 07460 064 215 newcastle@simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk

WE’re LOVED UP

REAL-LIFE wedding Lisa and Shaune Crocker’s wedding reception was on the hottest day of the year at Matfen Hall in Northumberland. Guests were kept refreshed with on-tap French martinis! First met: We first met at a private dinner in Glasgow. Lisa had just been promoted to running additional hotels in Scotland and had gone for training to Glasgow with no plans in the evening. Lisa’s Dad and Shaune worked together and were having their annual meeting dinner and they invited Lisa for a drink. From the moment we met we just laughed and joked, we instantly hit it off. Lisa ate Shaune’s cheese which I don’t think has changed much! The proposal: The proposal was on a deserted beach on Captiva Island in Cape Coral, Florida. They had sailed out to it during a family holiday. The water is clear blue and the sand is dazzling white – they love it there and now call it proposal beach. The dress: Lisa tried on around 25 dresses and decided on an Ian Stuart dress ‘Vanity Fair’ from Rosina Brown Bridal. This glamorous 1950s-inspired gown had an on-the-shoulder portrait collar with a pleated silk bodice and 6ft train. A flower on the left hip opened up to reveal a tulle skirt. Rosina is a friend of the family and it just felt right to find a dress from her. To top it off Lisa wore elegant Gina swarovski crystal decorated shoes. He Wore: Shaune wore dark navy tails with an ivory waistcoat and dark navy cravat that matched the bridesmaids. Shaune, the ushers and the Dads wore matching orange and yellow socks and cufflinks. Bridesmaids: Lisa’s three closest friends looked stunning and wore elegant dark navy floor-length

dresses with a cowl neck. They had matching pearl jewellery and matching shoes. Lisa’s two-year-old god-daughter, Emily, was the flower girl with a beautiful ivory floor-length dress. Ceremony and Reception: The ceremony was at the historic St Peter’s Church in Bywell, where Lisa was christened and confirmed. The reception was held at Matfen Hall – on the hottest day of the year! Photographer: They chose Adam Faulkner who prides himself on his informal style and capturing all aspects of the day. He was fantastic and unobtrusive. Special touches: Natalya Ayers from Pyrus in Edinburgh, Shaune’s sister, designed all of the flowers which were stunning. She helped with making sure that the flower girl had her own flower wand – she loved waving it about! They also had a string quartet on the lawns at Matfen while two of Shaune’s closest friends, Jeff and Jim, kept the guests topped up with French martini cocktails. The first dance was sung by friend, Jamie Squire, and cake toppers were made by Angela, one of Lisa’s oldest friends. Bride and Groom wedding gifts: Shaune bought Lisa a personalised registration plate for her car as he has always joked that she should have a ‘vanity plate’. Lisa bought Shaune a vintage watch. Honeymoon: They spent just under a month travelling around California and visited all of the hotspots including Napa Valley, Vegas, LA and more.

splash out

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A romantic Sardinian getaway A craggy coastal landscape, private coves and sandy hideaways make the five-star Capo Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Orso the ultimate honeymoon getaway overlooking the almost unreal turquoise waters of the archipelago of La Maddalena in northern Sardinia. Chill out in the pools, hire a boat to explore the stunning coastline or hole up in a super-luxe villa overlooking the sea. A very special retreat indeed. Book on www.delphina.it

Wedding Events at

The White Swan Admission free

You are invited to look around the hotel and our famous Olympic Suite, and to meet the team who can help you create your perfect day. Thursday, 22nd August ~ Wedding Open Evening 5.00pm – 7.00pm Sunday, 24th November ~ Wedding Fair 1.00pm – 4.00pm For more information contact us on

01665 602109 Bondgate Within, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1TD www.classiclodges.co.uk | events.whiteswan@classiclodges.co.uk

30-7-13- White Swan - Wedding Events 106h x 148mm.indd 1

30/07/2013 14:34

pop-up wedding

Shirlie styles it up

shirlie Kemp was the epitome oF 80s pop. today her style and Job Couldn’t be more diFFerent hirlie Kemp has gone from 80s popster to noughties stylista. Achieving fame with the duo Pepsi&Shirlie and as backing singer for Wham, she went on to marry Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp. Their wedding was in St Lucia and Shirlie recalls, “I didn’t have much of a wedding, there were no guests and we just booked it when we were there. I looks as though I am wearing a tea-towel!” Nowadays, Shirlie spends her time styling and photographing weddings and events - and a full-on floral quirky vintage theme is very much her trademark. She styled this inspiring and gorgeous 70s whimsical vintage hippy shoot for Loved Up and told us about her work.

LU: how did the whoLe wedding stYLing thing come aboUt? sK: I accidentally fell in love with wedding styling whilst shopping in the Portobello Road in London. I discovered a wonderful shop called Jane Bourvis (www. janebourvis.co.uk ). It was like walking into an Aladdin’s Cave with layers of vintage lace, old tiaras, delicate velvet flowers, tutus and gowns that looked they had just come from a theatre set of

i love Stevie Nicks’ style, the whole boho-hippy thing, it’s magical and whimsical a romantic drama. I met the owner Jane who was so lovely and could see the passion she puts into her shop and her clients. Her dresses are not just for weddings but any special occasion. One friend had her daughter’s Bar Mitzvah dress made and another had her 40th birthday party dress made by Jane too. When a friend of mine asked if I could help style her wedding I said she should look at Jane’s shop first and believe it or not, the first dress she tried was the most perfect dress for her.

LU: whiLe YoU were in the pop worLd did YoU do YoUr own stYLing ? sK: Yes, absolutely. A huge part of being a pop star to me was all about styling and how we should look. Although, I will admit, the 80s is my least favourite era when it comes to fashion. I had the idea of wearing ball gowns with boots and long socks at first - we then worked on that and came up with a puffball dress, with long sock with bows and Converse boots. This look was very successful and Pepsi and I were lucky as we created our own clothes line which was sold in TopShop. The sad part is that we didn’t give our clothes brand enough attention and let >>

POP-UP WEDDING

pop-up wedding

it flitter away. I remember being told we had the number one selling dress in Top Shop and at the time it didn’t mean anything. It’s a case of ‘wish I knew then what I know now’. I would have really nurtured the designs and taken it far more seriously. LU: Your collection of vintage clothes – where does it come from? SK: I have collected vintage clothes for years. I have periods when I want to go out every weekend to vintage fairs, I’m scared if I miss out on

something really special! My favourite place to buy vintage has to be the USA. I am in Los Angeles a lot and there is an abundance of vintage clothes there and they are normally a bit cheaper than the UK. I drive my friends and family insane when I travel anywhere, if I have spotted a vintage store, I have to go in. It is when I start trying it all on that the look starts. I will be asked. ‘Where would you actually wear it?’, as I stand there in a multicoloured floral hat and ball gown. My answer is, ‘it would be good for a shoot!’

LU: As a pop girl you’re well known for the 80s look – the lovely 70s hippy chic shoot couldn’t be more different - what was the inspiration for that? SK: As I said earlier, the 80s are actually my least favourite era but I do have very fond memories of the 70s and 60s. I have always had a passion for the boho-hippy look, I love the unstructured free-flowing almost magical ease of it all. It looks kind and gentle, which is really important for me: you are looking at someone’s soul not just their clothes. I feel that’s who I am inside, I am quite easy-going and a spiritual person and have always been a huge fan of Fleetwood Mac and especially Stevie Nicks’ style. I never felt I could carry that look off so well because I have really fine hair and had to have it cut short all my life but it’s integral to that wonderful natural, hippy look. This shoot was actually inspired by the dress first, well to be more precise the sleeve of the dress. I loved how flowing and flared it was so I went from there and thought everything else should be relaxed and free flowing: candelabras dripping with mixed coloured flowers, fabric draped over tables but with a whimsical feel to it too, so just by adding fresh flower heads to the table it all creates a magical scene. We tonged the model’s hair into waves and then brushed it to give it a looser, more tousled wave. Shoes could also be flat hippy sandals or go all the way with bare feet! Personally, I think this look would work really well for a beach-style wedding or a magical barn wedding with lots of glass votives and ivy draped everywhere. LU: There’s lots of layering and opulence in this shoot - where did you start with it and how did you progress it?

pop-up wedding

drape accessories with grapes, ivy, dripping candle wax for an opulent touch SK: I have always loved layers and textures which I believe give more depth and a ‘feast for the eyes’. If you’re going to get married you may as well set the scene around you: create some kind of theatre. I love it when you can hear guests gasp and say ‘wow’ as they walk into the room and a wedding is the time to do that. It’s actually not that difficult to create opulence and layers, most people plan to get married well in advance and have plenty of time to start collecting bits and pieces, even if it’s just for the head table; lots of fruits can be added, drape grapes or exotic fruits, vases, branches, ivy, pearls, old books tied in ribbons - all of which can be picked up from charity shops. LU: You obviously really love flowers and they play

a key part in your styling what’s your favourite? SK: Oh yes, I love flowers, they have their own language and make a huge difference to the ambience of a room. As for my favourite flower, that’s a difficult one, I love all flowers, roses to meadow flowers, so will just have to say, all flowers! LU: What three tips would you give to brides who want an outdoorsy floral wedding? SK: To be honest, if you want an outdoor wedding, you may end up having to do what I did (go to St Lucia) and go somewhere hot! Research is key. Pinterest is a great place for inspiration but if you really want floral drama have a look at Preston Bailey’s arrangements. I have quite a

few of his books which are really stunning. Use a florist you know and can trust, show them lots of images, make a mood board so they really get what you want. LU: Your three tips for great photos SK: Lighting is so important, find the best little spots for light. There are lots of great wedding photographers around, check their portfolio and websites, once again create a little mood board of the type of pictures you want. The last thing on your mind should be where is the photographer. As a photographer, I think it’s very important to look for special intimate moments and nothing too contrived. LU: An inspirational wedding movie moment? SK: I always loved Steve Martin in ‘Father Of The Bride’, the swans in the garden always made me laugh. Bridesmaids was also very funny.

Check out more of Shirlie’s work and ideas on her blog http://www.shirliekempblog.com

WE’re LOVED UP

REAL-LIFE wedding stephen winter proposed to Kate Chambers in song on a Cd on Christmas morning. they were married at the radisson blu hotel in durham

the proposaL: After eight years of celebrating Christmas at their parents’ houses, they woke up on Christmas morning 2012 in their own home. After opening gifts to one another Stephen said he had one more gift to give and disappeared up the stairs and then reappeared with a wrapped CD box. Stephen asked her to look at the second song on disc one. There was written ‘Kate Chambers Will You Marry Me? By Stephen Winter’. Stephen then got down on one knee and asked the question again... of course, the answer was yes! the dress: Kate had no idea what style of dress she was looking for but soon knew when she tried on the final one out of the four chosen. It was designed by Maggie Sottero and she commissioned a local seamstress to custom-make her birdcage head-piece using Swarovski crystals. he wore: A three-piece, slim-fit, charcoal grey suit accompanied by a beige tie. His suit was complemented by a peach avalanche rose buttonhole which were also the wedding flowers. bridesmaids: Kate kept it simple and asked her only sister Jessica and 20-month-old niece Laylia as a flower girl. Jessica wore a stunning full-length crepe peach dress by Religion and Laylia, wore an ivory Ted Baker dress. ceremonY and reception: They didn’t visit any other venues as they both knew instantly the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham was perfect. They loved the fact both the ceremony and wedding reception could take place there within a private area of the hotel. Plus the hotel gave exclusive use and only caters for one wedding each day. The wedding breakfast was superb. The couple have had so many comments since from guests telling them how much they enjoyed the food. The members of staff who were involved in their day were so helpful and their attention to detail was impeccable. photographer: Simon Cardwell caught them in their most relaxed and natural poses which really captured the whole feel of the day. speciaL toUches: It was lovely to arrive back in the suite at the end of a perfect day to find a selection of antipasti and a congratulations card, compliments of the hotel! honeYmoon: Matsis Alila Resort & Spa in Rhodes. The perfect end to the perfect day and the perfect start to married life together!

A g

Tel ww

Celebrate in a stylish

& contemporary venue in the heart of

Historic Durham. Weddings at Radisson Blu All inclusive packages from £40.00 per person Licensed for civil ceremonies, exclusivity guaranteed. Sunday Wedding Packages Only £2500. Winter Wedding Packages available. 15% off our current package prices.

Why not visit our Wedding Fayre: Sunday 13th August 12pm – 3pm

Tel: 0191 372 7200 www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-durham twitter@radissondurham facebook.com/radissondurham

HOTEL, DURHAM

LET IT SHINE LOVED UP

Put a ring on it! INSPIRED BY SOME FAVOURITE, WEDDING-APPROPRIATE TUNES, THE JEWELLERY EXPERTS FROM BRAMWELL’S HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR OWN DAZZLING HIT PARADE...

MARRY ME, BRUNO MARS The proposal – and the ring to make you gasp. Beautiful, sparkly phoenix cut square diamond cluster with a white gold band, £4365 team it with a diamond cut edge 18carat white gold wedding band, £650.

GOLD, SPANDAU BALLET We’d like to think he’d rush in with a flourish, ring in hand, singing ‘You Are GOLD’ but if flamboyance isn’t his style this classic ring says it all. Nine diamond wedding/eternity band in 18 carat gold, £2150. Give him with a matching 18 carat 6mm gold band, £995.

The team have been helping couples choose their perfect rings for generations.

www.bramwellsjewellers.co.uk 22 34

LETLOVED IT SHINE UP

SHINE (LIKE A DIAMOND) RHIANNA The most beautiful ring for the most beautiful woman in the world you that is, not Rhianna. The ultimate diamond 1.1 carat ‘D’ coloured Candour diamond. Eyes will be shining bright with tears of joy for the girl who gets this one. £12250

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, SHIRLEY BASSEY ‘Touch it, feel it and caress it’, says the song. This is one statement ring that you will want to touch, feel and show-off. A dramatic three-tier white and rose gold diamond set band by Unger & Unger, £4250

PUT A RING ON IT, BEYONCE Single lady no more – and he gets one to match. Definite statement bands. Ladies’ 18carat, 9mm ring with a 38 diamond patterned band, £3650. He get a co-ordinating 18carat white gold diamond cut band, £2010.

Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham City Tel 0191 3845793 23/24 Post House Wynd, Darlington Tel 01325 464175

23 35

best blooms

FLORAL ABUNDANCE Flowers are one of the best things about weddings. Be inspired by these blooms... These paper roses, right, are a world away from the ‘normal’ artificial kind. From sweet rosebuds to blousy, full-blown blooms, they add a happy touch wherever they go. Twist these paper roses along chair backs, around noticeboards, or weave them through greenery. Six roses on each wire, £12. www.weddinginateacup.co.uk

Country chic at its sweetest – glass jars and ‘just-picked’ greenery is simple and elegant Begging to be piled high with blooms and sweeties. Bonbonniere, £24.95, www.nordichouse.co.uk.

This large floating Rose candle is just so pretty! Float them anywhere to add a romantic touch, £13.95 www.nordichouse.co.uk

Vintage bottles, greenery and peonies. Flowers Darling&Green, photography Ruth Mitchell.

Hanging mini bottles look pretty in trees and hooked around a room – fill them with anything to suit your theme

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bright as a button Pretty as a picture handmade badges. Place markers, people-pleasers and party organisers. In a choice of sugar pink, pistachio, pale lemon or pastel blue with a classic typewriter font. ÂŁ1 each. www.weddinginateacup.co.uk

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your floral fix

BOUQUET BLISS flower fabulous big day blooms Pretty maids all in a row. Roses, hebe and greens with gentle hues

Dramatic white blooms and soft greenery in a softly sculptural bouquet with a mind of its own

Lilac roses and drapey greenery in a dramatic bouquet with a soft vintage feel

Peonies and sweet peas have such a vintage feel and take centre stage in this soft hand-held bouquet

Flowers: Darling&Green Photography Ruth Mitchell, Eve Photography, Lindsey James, Becky Mitchell

LOVing this

Tags&ties Super-useful tags and ties have numerous uses and can be stamped with designs to suit your own theme. 25 for ÂŁ5.50. www.coxandcox.co.uk

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wishing&hoping

The Look of

Love

When Adele met Dusty â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always something there to remind us of a Sixties twist on wedding day fashion. Now flick that eyeliner girls...

wishing&hoping

living doll White satin and Nottingham lace Jeanie gown with threequarter sleeves and four-layer white petticoat, from £1545. White satin bow belt from £125. White tulle veil, price on request, all Candy Anthony. Gloves, £12 Truly Beautiful. Red vintage heels, stylist’s own.

wishing&hoping

love bug Sleeveless full-skirted gown by Lou Lou Bride, £675. Flower face veil, £88. Shoes, Freya Rose, Truly Beautiful. Pearl necklace, £155, bracelet, £72, ring, £30. Swarovski bangle, £119. All Market Cross Jewellers. Stilettos, stylist’s own.

wishing&hoping

Drive Me Crazy Short-sleeved gown by Lou Lou Bridal, £676, bow face veil, £79, Truly Beautiful. Mother of pearl bag, £88. Swarovski heart bangle, £79, heart clip earrings, £67, Market Cross Jewellers.

wishing&hoping

little darling Poppy the flowergirl wears dress by Tous Les Jours www.touslesjours.co.uk

wishing&hoping

the look of love Blush satin and tulle Dee gown with crystal trim, from £1395. Bouffant lace-trim veil, price on request, all Candy Anthony. Rebecca cuff, £150, ring, £119, Market Cross Jewellers, Diamante heels, £99, Truly Beautiful.

wishing&hoping

The guys William Hunt grey three-piece Prince of Wales check suit, £693.99. Eton shirt, £113.99. Hugo Boss, skinny tie, £63.99. William Hunt, three-piece satin lapel self check navy suit, £639.99. Hugo Boss, Lawrence double cuff shirt, £88.99. Gibson London, bow tie, £29.99, all Psyche.

wishing&hoping

Models Robyn at Tyne Tees Models www.tyneteesmodels.co.uk Ned Boughey, Louis Davison

Photography Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk

Venue Crab Manor, Asenby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3QL www.crabandlobster.co.uk

STOCKISTS Truly Beautiful, 7 Chaloner Street, Guisborough www.trulybeautiful.co.uk Candy Anthony, Oxo Tower Wharf, London. Tel 0207 803 0898 www.candyanthony.com Market Cross Jewellers, High Street, Yarm www.marketcrossjewellers.com Psyche Menswear, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. www.psyche.co.uk

Hair & make-up Victoria Forshaw www.pinspetalspowder.co.uk

Flowers Diana Kaye, High Street, Yarm & Fenwick, Newcastle www.dianakaye.co.uk Â

Campervan VW original split-screen campervan, Chaz, from Lovedub Cars who have a fleet of vans and original cars for wedding hire. www.lovedubcars.co.uk

your bridal style

Our Way Funky, floral, elegant or exotic? Katherine Weir discovers what’s rocking the bridal style stakes

Hollywood glam

aroline and Kev Holmes from Yarm met at work - Kev has his own digital web agency in Tees Valley and the company Caroline worked for was one of his clients. Kev arranged a picnic on a beach in Dubrovnik for his proposal, popping the question as the sun was just setting. Caroline loves the romance of old Hollywood movies and Audrey Hepburn’s simple elegant style and wanted to be able to look back at her wedding photos in years to come and for her dress not to have dated. Caroline’s dress was a design called Tallulah by Chanticleer which she bought from Kathryn Truman in Morpeth. She used ND Makeup and Carolyn Clayton Hair.

Caroline was pleased that make-up artist Katy persuaded her to go for red lips on the day – she had been a little unsure at first but it completed the old Hollywood glamour look perfectly. She used Estee Lauder Double Wear lipstick and the colour stayed on all day and didn’t need touching up. “My dad sadly passed away suddenly three years ago so my mum gave me away. I wanted my dad to be part of the day so the florist added a small locket to the front of my bouquet with a picture of my dad inside. That way I felt like he was with me when I walked down the aisle. There was very limited parking at the church in Yarm where they married so they hired an old London Routemaster bus to transport guests, handing out mini

Caroline loved the romance of hollywood movies and audrey hepburn’s elegant style 50

your bridal style

muffins to guests to keep hunger pangs at bay. They also bought old Polaroid cameras from Ebay and put one on each table. Guests were encouraged to take a picture of themselves and stick it in the guest book along with a message. Their reception was at Rockliffe Hall. For favours, Dream World Cakes made mini bride and groom shortbread biscuits. To save time and money after the wedding on thank you cards the couple asked their photographer to take some pictures of them holding homemade bunting with the words Thank you cut out. All friends and family commented on the cards and how they added a personal touch.

Photography by www.katymelling.com

your bridal style

Country style

We sewed a few quirky charms to the hem of the dress including my mum’s original wedding ring on the inside of the bodice

llen and Scott Mackay met in 2008, having been introduced through ellen’s best friend. unbeknown to them, they had grown up only a few houses apart but their paths had never really crossed. Scott popped the question two years later, on a crisp, cold day at danby Beacon on the north york Moors. Following on from this rural theme, danby Castle in north yorkshire became the location for ellen and Scott’s big day, with stunning views across countryside and the castle ruins. “our wedding day was perfect in every way,” said ellen, who married Scott in May this year. “Relaxed and informal just the way we’d hoped it would be.

We were concerned about the weather, but the sun made an appearance just after our ceremony had ended, just in time for the ice cream van and garden games.” Adding touches of personality to the wedding was very important to ellen, who made handmade jars of strawberry jam - personalised with the date of the wedding, their names and the message, ‘Spread the love’ - for all the female guests of her wedding. They also sewed a few quirky charms to the hem of ellen’s dress, and her mum’s original wedding ring was sewn on the inside of the bodice. “The day followed a very vintage theme - we had a sweetie table, vW camper van and Beetle, natural but

your bridal style

vibrant flowers, floral bunting and vintage tea party cups and saucers,” said Ellen. “Our guests enjoyed the prop room for photo fun time, and then joined us in dancing the night away to our live band, while filling up on fish and chips,” said Ellen. She wore a quirky yet elegant dress by Becky Mills at The Little Bride Company, which was very much in keeping with the vintage theme. She also made the oversized bow in Ellen’s hair that set the style off to a tee. The ceremony was held in the gothic Court Room of Danby Castle, with the reception in a marquee attached to the ruins of the castle. Offering gorgeous views, and an amazing opportunity for group shots, this venue was ideal for the rural and vintage theme of the day.

Photography by www.evephotography.co.uk

your bridal style

Exotic touch

ed was the colour of choice for this exotic nuptial offering from Lisa and Marty Lui. The couple met 12 years ago through friends in Leeds but didn’t initially hit it off, with only mutually empty invites for coffee exchanged in the following years. When Lisa was on a train to Newcastle and through fear of bumping into Marty, she arranged to meet him opposite the Monument at 1pm. “From that day on,” said Lisa, “I never stopped hearing from him and always looked forward to reading his texts. Then due to a sequence of fortunate events, I moved back to Newcastle.” Marty proposed last December in a New York hotel room. He had planned to pop the question while

walking through the Rockefeller Centre but lost his nerve at the last second. They married in a beautiful white wedding at Crook Hall in Durham, with close friends and family, followed by an Elizabethan banquet at Lumley Castle. Two days later they held a Chinese banquet on Stowell Street, where Lisa wore a stunning red dress with detailed gold jewellery. “Being the only daughter in my family, and the last son in Marty’s, both parents wanted me to be given away traditionally,” said Lisa. “Following this traditional theme, at the banquet, I wore a dress from Hong Kong that my grandmother had bought my mum as a wedding gift, 30 years ago. The hand crafted material is beautiful. They just don’t

your bridal style

I wore a dress that my grandmother had bought my mum as a wedding gift 30 years ago. They just don’t make them like that any more make them like that any more.” Guests at the banquet enjoyed a tea ceremony, with little touches including colourful flowers in Chinese food tins - that Marty’s sister had put together - and personalised tea favours for each guest. To add more splashes of red to the day, Marty wore a liberty pocket square with Lisa wearing a pair of gorgeous red shoes, a gift from her mother. “Even though our wedding was held over two days, it went so quickly that I can’t remember all of it,” said Lisa. “It was a happy, happy, happy time for us!”

Photography by www.thetwinsweddings.co.uk

your bridal style

Urban chic

ocation, location, location. Helen and Bob Wilson made the most of the North East landscape when they married in March this year, with the stunning urban backdrop of the BALTIC gallery. They met at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Newcastle, with Bob popping the question whilst they were on holiday in Tuscany, Italy in 2011. Bob proposed in a park on a day trip to Lucca, surprising Helen. “He got down on one knee and asked if I would be his wifey,” recalls Helen. “I thought he was joking, as I assumed I would always know when he was going to do it. It was brilliant and we celebrated with a bottle of champagne in the park.” With lots of friends travelling from various parts of the UK, Helen and Bob wanted to have a centrally located venue that showed off Newcastle. “We had a lot of friends who were travelling up, and we really wanted a venue that would show off the city. “We have always loved the BALTIC,” said Helen. “When we were looking at potential venues for our wedding, we thought the Baltic would be out of our league in terms of finances, but it turns out it was just the same price as all the country houses we had looked at, which we hadn’t been that keen on.”

your bridal style

He got down on one knee and asked if I would be his wifey! Helen and Bob fell in love with the open space and light of the gallery rooms, rising to the challenge of putting their own unique stamp on the blank canvas. To keep costs down, they took on a lot of decoration themselves with the help of Bob’s dad who is a graphic designer. From kilner jars filled with flowers, to homemade papier maché table numbers, they tackled it all. “One of my favourite touches on the day, were the favours,” said Helen. “We didn’t really know what to give people so we donated money to two charities that mean a lot to us, and gave everyone a pin badge as a favour. We really liked this idea and it was for such a good cause.” As the ideal urban location to tie the knot, the BALTIC proved to be a wedding photographer’s dream, with more architecture and scenery than you can shake a stick at. Surprisingly for March, the couple enjoyed enough good weather to take advantage of the landscape with some stunning photographs across the bridge. Helen wore a dress from Mia Sposa in Newcastle but had it shortened, added straps and a few extra sparkles to really make it her own. She also donned a Tiffany bow necklace and pearl accessories that matched beautifully Turning their back on a traditional wedding cake, the couple opted for a cheese wedding cake decorated with fruit, as well as wedding cupcakes made by their good friends, Canny Little Cupcakes.

Photography by www.katieleephotography.com

cutesy extras

MAID THEIR DAY Cute stuff for the little ones

Flora net-skirt dress, ÂŁ50 Bhs

cutesy extras

Clockwise: Fleur dress, £40 Bhs. Right, exquisite dress in delicate point d’esprit with a ravishing dusty pink crushed velvet ribbon trim. Fully lined in smooth cotton voile. This is perfect for parties or bridesmaids. Ribbon colour can be changed. Price: £56 www.britchicuk.co.uk. Below l-r: Odette dress, £46 www.monsoon.com. Jasmina corsage detail dress, £104.99 www.fever.co.uk. Dusty pink lace girl’s dress, £80, John Lewis. www.johnlewis.com

LOVED UP

REAL-LIFE wedding

THE

WEDD

Rachel and Gary Pattison married after his proposal at the top of the empire state building how to top that? First met: Rachel and Gary met through mutual friends when they were 17 but nothing serious ever came of it. Eight years later they bumped into each other and the romance started from there. The proposal: Gary was very nervous about this. He had no idea where he would do it - he just knew it would be in New York. After getting the ring through various security checks in New York landmarks, he popped the question at the top of the Empire State Building. “The most romantic and happiest day of my life and so unexpected,” says Rachel. The dress: A very plain sweetheart-neck ivory dress with a long train and pearl detail from Berketex bridal. After trying on only three dresses, she knew this was ‘the one’. He Wore: Gary had no idea of the style and colour he wanted. After trying on several suits he surprised himself by choosing tails – a deep charcoal colour. He decided to keep the groomsmen and ushers the same too and it worked really well. Bridesmaids: They didn’t have a colour theme in mind but decided on a peach/coral colour for the May wedding with dresses from Berketex. Ceremony and Reception: Rachel is a wedding co-ordinator so she already knew which venues were suited and which weren’t which helped in making their decision. After a lot of research, Ramside Hall seemed to tick all the boxes. From the moment they walked in, they knew it was perfect.

They fell in love with the beautiful ballroom and knew it was everything they wanted. They had a civil ceremony at Ramside and it was perfect. Photographer: Choosing the photographer was the easiest decision they had. Having known the photographer for years, Rachel knew they would receive an amazing album. Paul Stephenson at The Beautiful Image Weddings was professional, and made it all fun. Special touches: They decided to have a saxophonist play for the ceremony and drinks reception. Everyone who was there commented on how good he was. Matt Stacey added something different to their day. He enjoyed the day so much that he stayed and played through the entire wedding breakfast. Bride and Groom wedding gifts: Gary surprised Rachel with a beautiful silver jewellery box given to her by her maid of honour on the morning. From the It was engraved with special words and thismoment is where you step into co-ordinators are there to guide y the emotions of the day started. In return Rachel had a gift for Gary. The bridesmaidsA were given jewellery to choice of beautiful function ro match their dress and the groomsmen were given fine wines and super cufflinks to match their suits, including both fathers. Licensed for c They surprised both mums with gorgeous floral bouquets during the speeches. Sp Honeymoon: They decided on a few days away in Venice as Gary had never been to Italy. It was very romantic and followed up later in the year by a trip to Las Vegas.

WEDD

V No appointment necessa Wedding offe

For all enquiries: T: 0 Ramside Hall Hotel & Golf Club,

RAMSIDE HALL HOTEL & GOLF CLUB

THE ULTIMATE HE ULTIMATE

WEDDING DDING VENUEVENUES RAMSIDE HALL HOTEL From the moment you step into Ramside Hall until your magical day, our friendly wedding co-ordinators are there to guide you. We have an amazing venue catering for 10-450 guests. With a choice of beautiful function rooms, gorgeous gardens, 80 luxury bedrooms, fantastic food, fine wines and superb service, we really are the perfect Durham venue. Licenced for civil marriages & partnership ceremonies.

Ramside Hall Hotel & Golf Club Carrville Durham DH1 1TD 0191 386 5282 events@ramsidehallhotel.co.uk www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk

BOWBURN HALL HOTEL You wedding day is as individual as you are and at Bowburn

step into Ramside Hall yourformagical day, Hall the Hotel willuntil be exclusive your use, we host our only 1friendly wedding wedding on any day. At Bowburn Hall we tailor the day to guide you. We have an amazing venue catering and for 10 – 450 guests. provide exceptional service and food to meet your needs, so unction rooms, gorgeous gardens, 80 luxury bedrooms, fantastic food, that you can relax and enjoy yourself, safe in the knowledge and superb service We areof the perfect Durham venue. that you are..... in the hands wedding specialists. Bowburn Hall Hotel itself on attention to detail and ensed for civil marriages &prides partnership ceremonies. is constantly striving to enhance our reputation as one of the Specialising inreception Asianand weddings. best wedding civil marriage venues in Durham.

Bowburn Hall Hotel, Bowburn, Durham, DH6 5NH 0191 377 0311, gm@bowburnhallhotel.co.uk www.bowburnhallhotel.co.uk

WEDDING SHOWCASES 2012

HARDWICK HALL HOTEL Few places in the North East of England rival Hardwick

Hall Hotel. Within easy access of Durham, Darlington, Visit our website for dates. Sedgefield and Teesside, Hardwick is the perfect wedding nt necessary just come. along to view and meet the planners venue for your wedding reception. Once you visit the Best dding offers visit - www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk Western Hardwick Hall Hotel and Hardwick Country Park landscape with all its romantic history, you will soon realise there’s no better place to start one of the most events@ramsidehallhotel.co.uk magical journeys of your life.

ies: T: 0191 386 5282 E: olf Club, Carrville, Durham, DH1 1TD www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk

Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, County Durham, TS21 2EH 01740 620 253 events@hardwickhallhotel.co.uk www.hardwickhallhotel.co.uk

get gorgeous

aLL tHinGs BRidE and BEaUtifUL katharine capocci looks at the Big-day lifesaVers… and Beyond to honeymoon heaVen in FoCus Fans of liquid and gel eyeliners - and that includes the Duchess of Cambridge love them for the pop effect to eyes and the longevity. Which is why Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Zero-Smudge Liquid Eyeliner is perfect for the big day as it’s designed to stay put for up to 15 hours. It comes in four shades, £20, from counters and at www.esteelauder.co.uk

heaVen-sCenT L’Occitane’s new light, floral Jasmin & Bergamote eau de toilette, £49, is from their luxe Collection De Grasse range. Available at stores in Eldon Square, Newcastle and Metrocentre.

BronZed Look super-radiant with a touch of Clarins’ Bronzing Duo which illuminates the complexion with naturallooking colour, £28 on counter.

spiCy Origins’ Ginger Essence is a deliciously sensuous and warming scent ideal for honeymoons in warm climes. From £31, counters regionwide.

sCruB up Indulge with Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow, a skin-softening scrub. Mineral-rich salts and hibiscus cleanse and exfoliate, whilst an infusion of Tahitian monoi oil and frangipani flowers seal in moisture. Priced £36.50, www.timetospa.co.uk

get gorgeous FaCe iT Bridesmaids after a quick complexion freshener prior to their supporting role should try Origins’ Mega-Bright Illuminating facial. If you’re brave enough to have it done on counter, then it’s free and lasts about 30 minutes. Opt to have it in a treatment room at the John Lewis Beauty Retreat, in Newcastle, and it’s £25, redeemable against products, for 40 minutes of full-on pampering. Skin feels super-soft and lit from within by the end of it. Ring the Beauty Retreat on 0191 2113440.

nail iT Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Nail Polish, £11, in Pink Pearl shade is a subtle seashell pink and reliably long-lasting.

good aura Miss Aura by Swarovski is a good luck fragrance that’s fresh and fruity. The bottle, adorned with butterflies design and genuine crystal cap, is said to bring good fortune! Available September 2, from £29, from selected Swarovski stockists.

CheeKy Estee Lauder’s new Pure Color Cheek Rush, £24, is a silky, transparent gel that gives a pop of sheer, juicy colour for a fresh-faced look. From counters.

made up Glean masses of tips with a complimentary Bridal Beauty lesson with Bobbi Brown experts. The lesson lasts 45 minutes and will help you achieve a timeless look. Book on counter. Also try Bobbi’s Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick. It glides on tug-free and can be used to shade, define, smoke up and highlight eyes, rrp £20, and lasts up to eight hours.

LOVE-fest

fest in a field Victoria Blythe and David Carter picked June 21st for their summer solstice wedding, determined to make it a real festival affair. Imogen Nicholson reports on their big day and how to get a field-day all your own 64

LOVE-fest

he theme of our wedding evolved almost as an extension of my business www.lilyputts.co. uk,” says Victoria. “I hand-paint vintage furniture for a living and have a real passion for making things. I wanted our wedding to be rustic, with a festival atmosphere, lots of colour and a very personal feel which I knew I could create by doing everything myself.” Having decided to have their reception at Victoria’s dad’s field in the village of Kirklevington near Yarm, David, Victoria and their children Oliver and Lily led the wedding procession in a vintage VW camper van from the flower-filled local church to the rustic reception marquee. Guests wrote their messages of congratulations on an old typewriter Victoria bought on eBay placed at a writing desk decorated with photos, romantic old books and vintage postcards of the couple’s favourite places. Rather than a traditional seating arrangement, guests sat at long trestle tables with hay bales for seats, next to those they would socialise with best. The marquee was decorated with vintage hand-painted furniture, fairy lights and handmade bunting. Tables were set with hessian runners, tea lights, rose petals and vintage cutlery and crockery collected from car boot sales and tied together with twine and dried lavender. Creating her own bouquet, the bridesmaids’ flowers and even the button holes (eleven in total!) Victoria tied cream and pink Avalanche and gypsophila with hessian and lace for a rustic feel, whilst daughter Lily carried a cream bucket filled with roses. “The favours were made by myself and my mum over a bottle of wine by putting love hearts into small jams jars, covered by a rose print serviette and tied with twine and a hand-stamped thank you label.” Keeping cost in mind Victoria had her dress made whilst bridesmaids wore different lace dresses for an informal festival look. Oliver - as assistant best man - dapperly wore >>

guests sat at long trestle tables wIth hay bales for seats

LOVE-fest

chinos, a tweed waistcoat and braces instead of a traditional suit. In keeping with the informal festival theme, guests were treated to pink fizz and afternoon tea with scrumptious homemade scones, fresh cream and trifle followed by an evening BBQ using delicious local produce with toasted marshmallows around a campfire for dessert. Porta-loos were glammed-up with flowers, vanity mirrors, perfume and a gazebo decorated as a dressing room. A solo singer and guitarist played throughout the night with guests dancing barefoot in to the early hours. David and Victoria invited anyone who wanted to stay overnight to camp, so guests celebrated till late before snuggling down in to their tents and waking up the next morning for a BBQ breakfast of bacon butties and pots of tea. “To plan our wedding took an awful amount of time and effort as it is easier to go and buy everything off the shelf but the satisfaction it gave me when I saw it all come together on the day was definitely worth it,” she says. “My tips for any bride would be to do it yourself! P.S. I can’t sew so use a glue gun for all your outside bunting!”

guests were treated to pink fizz and scrumptious afternoon tea 66

LOVE-FEST

LOVe in a field

NoteBOOK try for yourself: festiVal-luXe weddings

loCaTion: Jolly days luXury Camping Fancy a magical, rustic woodlands wedding? Jolly Days Luxury Camping, set over 200 acres of woodland on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, only 10 miles from York city centre has an experienced team offering everything from entertainment to event styling whether you’re after a festival vibe, a posh tea party or a romantic Kate Moss style extravaganza. Wedding prices start at approximately £10,000 not including accommodation. www.jollydaysluxurycamping.co.uk

FloWers: darling&green FlorisTs Inspired by their beautiful surroundings in North Yorkshire, Darling &Green have an eye for unique details, delighting at combining their love of flowers with creativity to enhance joyful weddings, memorable gatherings and loving family homes with their very own brand of floral fabulousness. When the great British weather allows, Darling&Green use seasonal flowers grown in their own cutting garden. www.darlingandgreen.co.uk

loCaTion: eden hall CumBria Eden Hall estate is a dreamy wedding venue, perfect for a festival-style celebration. The owner Mark, is the kind of chap who just makes things happen - from yurt and giant tipi hire, to musicians and gypsy caravans, they can make it happen. Entire site hire priced from £3,500, weddings from around £14,500 including catering for approximately 200 guests, www.canopyandstars.co.uk/weddings

loCaTion: Vallum Farm, norThumBerland KRISTEN MAVRIC

Perfect country wedding venue - sit on hay bales and eat at benches in The Old Cow Barn. Chef Dave Kennedy will make bespoke menus using ingredients grown feet away. Ice-cream made with milk from the cows that will be watching your big day on offer too. A wildflower florist on site and bread baked just for you. www.vallumfarm.co.uk

dresses: dana BolTon Bridal Bespoke prices range from £2,000-£3,000 www.dressmakingdesign.co.uk

LOVE in a field dÉCor: The poppy Trading Company The Poppy Trading Company offers a unique and eclectic alternative to your wedding furniture. With a vintage-inspired collection, they have everything you need to make your wedding day unique from beautiful miss-matched chairs to rustic wooden trestle tables to vintage armchairs. www.unique-vintagerentals.co.uk.

Weddings at Bivouac near Masham are designed to wow as they get back to nature and simplicity, with touches of creativity and care that will be remembered for years to come. Have your photographs taken by the Druids’ plantation with 40-mile views over stunning Yorkshire countryside. Celebrate in amazing event tents, feast around fire pits and relax in rustic yet comfortable accommodation. For packages and prices contact Bivouac’s wedding co-ordinator Emilie at emilie@ thebivouac.co.uk. www.bivouac.co.uk

KRISTEN MAVRIC

loCaTions: BiVouaC

dresses: minna Geraldine dress, £450 - www.minna.co.uk.jpg

phoTography: eVe phoTography Charlotte Eve loves to photograph weddings that are that little bit different, those that are filled with personality and reflect a couple’s likes and loves. Capturing beautiful portraits is a fun time in the day, wandering around the venue and capturing images while chatting about the day. This approach to photographing weddings works really well if you're having a fun, festival inspired wedding as it captures all of the fun and frolics and details. www.evephotography.co.uk

Zinc utensil holder for a touch of French rustic style to your kitchen, £12.50 www.boutiqueprovencale.co.uk

on the list

Sparky seating, a very happy sofa, £749, www.marksandspencer.com

GREAT GIFT IDEAS

OnE Of tHOsE PLEasE...

Perfect poufs for stylish sitting, from £213.73 www. thevelvetlab.co.uk

Grey metallic tealights, £11 www.nordichouse.co.uk

Lights fantastic Toast lamp & shade, £25, Bhs

Culinary Concepts Champagne Bath, holds up to six bottles. What a nice idea. Filled please! £124, John Lewis

on the list

Cut-out clock cushion, £25, Linea, House of Fraser

Every home should have one. Roberts DAB Radio, £199, Littlewoods.com Happy tea-time bunny tray with a gorgeous black and white rabbit design by Becky Baur, £30 www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk

We’RE LOVED UP

REAL-LIFE wedding

Leanne Brabbs and Leigh Miller from Blaydon got together at his 30th birthday party – before long they were celebrating their wedding at Close House Hotel, Heddon on the Wall. First met: Leanne and Leigh have known each other for a long time as Leigh’s brother is married to her best friend. She was invited to Leigh’s 30th birthday party where they exchanged numbers and then started dating. The proposal: Leigh proposed in unforgettable Venice in May 2011. The dress: The designer was Chanticleer and the dress name, Cabaret, purchased from Kathryn Trueman in Morpeth. He Wore: A three-piece grey suit from Slaters in Newcastle. Bridesmaids: Donna Newby, a cousin, and Amanda Miller, Leanne’s best friend wore dresses from I Do in Hebburn. The dresses were by Romantica in peacock blue. Little flower girl, Aimee Liddle, wore a dress from Debenhams. Ceremony and Reception: Both the ceremony and reception were at Close House, Heddon on the Wall. The evening reception was in No 19, also at Close House. Photographer: Nicky Rogerson and her husband

Kev Gibson. Both Nicky and her husband fitted in great on the day and the couple were so pleased with the photographs taken and the storybook wedding album. Special touches: Aurora strings played during the ceremony and prior to the wedding reception. Leanne walked down the aisle to the Elbow track One Day Like This. Bride and Groom wedding gifts: Leigh arranged for wedding singer Peter Brown to go to Close House on the morning of the wedding while Leanne was getting ready with the bridesmaids and her mum. Peter sang three songs to her - You Are So Beautiful To Me, Isn’t She Lovely and For Once In My Life. He then presented her with a pair of diamond earrings. It was amazing, such a special touch and unexpected, says Leanne. Peter was very nervous as it was the first time he had a request to do this, however he was excellent. Leanne bought Leigh gifts such as tickets to see a comedian and aftershave, but she admits: “It was nothing compared to the gift he arranged for me.” Honeymoon: Two-week honeymoon in the Maldives, Kuramathi Island.

in the know

Julia Braime, editor of www.bridesupnorth.co.uk is excited about the new season’s bridal styling

Image by Bluelights Photography

caTWaLK Queen n the wedding blogosphere, things move at breakneck speed, and you can be sure that any wedding blogger worth her salt will have discovered, dissected and disseminated any trend worth trying at least a season before it hits the mainstream. As editor of www.bridesupnorth.co.uk, I visited White Gallery London - a huge exhibition and set of catwalk shows at which the big-name bridal designers launch their new season collections to the trade and press - to take a sneak peek at the gorgeous gowns that will be landing in bridal boutiques near you this autumn. Let me tell you, if you are in the market for a wedding dress this season, you are in for a treat! The collections this year had something for everyone with glitz, feathers, embellishment and lace, as well as simpler styles too. Skirts were either voluminous (with a nipped-in waist) or sleek and swishy. Many designers drew inspiration from bygone eras – with the 1920s and 1930s being popular influences – and whatever your hemline preference: short, long or even trousers, there was something for you. Favourites included Suzanne Neville’s Vintage Rose Collection, Stephanie Allin’s fairy-tale gowns and boho styling from Terry Fox Couture. Check them out soon at a Northern stockist near you.

Cuvee Rose by IAN STUART

blushing briDE The craze for adding a pop of colour to your wedding gown continues for spring/summer 2014 with a watercolour wash of pastel shades on the catwalks. Fashionista Ian Stuart led the way with his candy coloured Frill Me! collection. Talk about Great Gatsby! Where the silver screen leads bridal fashion follows, with drop waists, beading and gemstones more prevalent than ever for the new season. Add a bejewelled feathered headdress and some dancing shoes to complete the look. Daisy Buchanan, eat your heart out!

Kelly by STEPHANIE ALLIN

Vivaldi by IAN STUART

Brides Up North is one of the top bridal blogs in the UK and the only wedding blog especially for brides in the North. Visit www.bridesupnorth.co.uk for a double daily dose of real weddings, bridal fashion features, local supplier showcases, giveaways, discounts and more!

in the know Cute & Quirky Rarely seen in the past, there’s now a flippy little short number in nearly every designer’s collection, as well as jumpsuits and shorts making an appearance at the most cutting-edge design houses. If you still favour a frock, check out flirty T-shirt sleeves, deep pockets, daisy detailing and polka dot lace to bring the cutest dresses right up to date.

JESUS PEIRO Simply Divine Don’t despair if you like your styling fuss-free. Many designers kept things clean this season with a focus on structure and tailoring. Watch out for the new collection by Astral Sundholm Circa Brides for a refined and fresh look.

Daphne by AUGUSTA JONES English Vintage Contrasting with all that Hollywood glam, other designers like Sassi Holford, Charlotte Balbier and Caroline Castigliano stuck to what they do best – British beauty. If you favour the English rose look, their floaty skirts and frothy lace confections will be a dream come true.

Gatsby by SUZANNE NEVILLE

Join Brides Up North for their autumn season of Grand Wedding Exhibitions at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham on Sunday 8th September 2013, 12pm – 4pm and at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, on Sunday 29th September 2013, 12pm – 4pm. Both events are FREE ENTRY, with two professional fashion shows and everything you need to plan your big day. These are officially the largest free events in the North East so visit www. bridesupnorth.co.uk to pre-register for your VIP Bride To Be goody bag and speedy entry.

hot sand

Blissful beach time The white-sandy beaches of the Seychelles take some beating when it comes to a hand-in-hand honeymoon moment. Kathryn Armstrong reports on a loved-up location

he white sand, turquoise water and beachhugging palm trees are all you need to point you to paradise. Sitting on the beach of Anse Lazio on the island of Praslin in the Seychelles, it’s very hard not to keep pinching yourself. Yes, you’re on the beach that spells perfection. End of. The water is warm and welcoming but, this being the Indian Ocean, it has a bit of kick to it too – so it invigorates and livens you up before you hop back to your own personal sunbathing rock. You won’t find row upon row of sunloungers here which is nice; there’s an ‘in the know’ quietness about the beach even though it is the One Direction of paradise beaches – always in the top ten and with many, many fans. Unlike the boys though, it’s never mobbed.

Praslin is honeymoon perfection. It is one of the archipelago of six islands that make up this famously beautiful country. It is lush, green and welcoming, something of another world with its very own rainforest hidden within. Reachable from Newcastle airport via Emirates flights and a stopover in Dubai, Seychelles is a definite honeymoon indulgence. A short flight from the capital Mahe lands you in Praslin which is home to the recently-opened Raffles resort. On a hillside hidden within trees are 86 luxury villas. They on their own would be the perfect honeymoon hideaway with their own super-private outside terrace, infinity pool, outdoor shower and the best bathroom view you could wish for. Service at the hotel is impeccable. You can dine at home on your terrace or head for the hotel with its

hot sand

selection of bars and dine at restaurants where the freshest seafood is a fabulous speciality. Weddings in this little piece of paradise are a speciality. The hotel can accommodate any request – be it a beachside ceremony or, when we visited, a wedding in the spa lounge which had exquisite views of the ocean and islands and a dramatic stairway to make an entrance. The wedding planning team can make anything happen, co-ordinating flowers, cakes, ceremony and reception for just a couple or for larger groups. They will make you a petal-strewn beach walkway, find you the ultimate photo-op wave-splashed rock or just make sure that the champagne is chilled to perfection. We loved the idea of evening dining on the beach and experienced the set up of a waterside candlelit dinner with the exquisite setting on the sand between the

palm trees, the water just feet away and the moonlight dancing on the waves. Incomparable. There’s also an eco-forestation project at the hotel and every wedding couple plant their own tree which they are encouraged to come and see as it grows! Reason if ever there was one for a return trip. As a honeymoon destination Raffles can be selfcontained. Its own beach is stunning – you really don’t get blasé about that white sand and perfectly blue water. A gorgeous pool and pool bar will keep you cool and relaxed as will easy access to >>

staff can make you a petal-strewn wedding walkway or find the perfect photo-op beach rock 77

hot sand

equipment to snorkel, sail or kayak. However, there is plenty to keep you busy on this and the surrounding islands which really deserve a visit. On Praslin learn about the island’s emblem, the fruit of the coco de mer tree. It’s a prized object – roughly the size of a football and shaped like a woman’s bottom – what can we say? William and Kate honeymooned in the Seychelles and were presented with one of them by the Seychelles government after their visit. The Vallee de Mai is probably the most visited tourist spot in the Seychelles. People flock here to see the coco-de-mer, partly because it is the biggest seed in the world - a true botanical curiosity - and partly because of its shape – there’s a giant one at the airport on arrival too! It’s worth making a trip to the neighbouring island of La Digue which has a craggy and dramatic rocky landscape. It’s a gorgeous spot with some stylish oceanside restaurants for lunching - flat pathways and little traffic make it easy to hop on a bike and explore the island too. And certainly not one to miss is the island of Curieuse. There are vibrant coral beds at the Curieuse National Marine Park and it is also where you will find the giant tortoise population. These enormous creatures, some 500 or so, wander the shores of the island – which remains unpopulated. They are friendly and like a tickle under the chin! The island’s history intrigues - 1833, it was used as a leper colony and remained so until 1965. The colony was called Anse St. Joseph and the doctor’s residence, which dates from the 1870s, is a museum and educational centre today. The island is opposite the Raffles complex and an easy visit by boat. Its namesake at the hotel is the fabulous Curieuse Seafood Restaurant, enjoyed after a sneaky Praslin Sling aperitif at the pool bar. If post-wedding r&r is definitely on the menu then the Raffles spa is a place to make your home. The place is world-famous for its facilities, location and signature massages and treatments. There are ocean views from the treatment pavilions as well as twin treatment rooms for couples. Inspired by

the famous Black Pearls from the island of Praslin, localised spa treatments use therapeutic grade pearl powder renowned for calming the spirit, stabilising emotions and rejuvenating the complexion. Another unique treatment is the Seashell Therapy, which uses smooth heated seashells for an invigorating massage. Fitness itineraries can include rise-and-shine jogs, morning beach stretches, group fitness classes, sunset yoga or Pilates sessions on the beach. If that sounds like too much of a post-wedding exertion then just meander down to those surfy waves, run your fingers through that soft sand... and make a vow to come back for your first wedding anniversary.

Factbox Kathryn Armstrong travelled to Seychelles via Dubai with Emirates from Newcastle. Emirates offers two-centre luxury holidays with Raffles. Elite Vacations has 4 nights at Raffles Praslin Seychelles in a Bay View Pool Villa and 2 nights at Raffles Dubai in a Signature Room from £2049 per person, saving £800 per couple. Based on 2 people sharing on a B&B basis. Price based on stays 10 January to 30 March 2014. Includes 1 night free at Raffles Seychelles and an early booking discount of 15% if booked at least 15 days before arrival; this offer also available for other dates. Includes economy class return flights with Emirates from Newcastle, interisland flights in Seychelles and private car transfers in Seychelles and Dubai. Emirates flights also available from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow; supplements may apply. 01707 371000 www.elitevacations.com

the sweet sip

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We love the look of these cute and romantic floral-print drinking straws. Get your friends collecting plain glass jam jars to use as glasses for a fun and original effect, and serve juice or cava with lots of fresh strawberries and mint leaves - bliss! ÂŁ3 for 25. www.weddinginateacup.co.uk

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Latin love

Italy’s the land of love. Here’s our pick of tuscan party places packed with charm Wine-lover’s paradise The place for an intimate bash among wine-loving guests, Casa Selva is a charming villa in a respected wine resort, surrounded by vineyards. Careful restoration of this private villa has preserved its historic tradition and protected the luxury, country chic atmosphere. There is a very luxey swimming pool, tennis court and acres of nature. But the lure of wine cellars and excellent wines will be irresistible. Casa Selva is perfect for large group holidays or as a stunning backdrop to a wedding or celebration and can also be rented as the Casa Selva Estate with five renovated villas providing accommodation for over 30 guests. See the Casa

Fienile, Casa Guardia, Casa Oliveto, Casa Pergola and Casa Solata for all accommodation information.

The loved-up retreat Castello Romantico, as the name suggests, was made for weddings. In the heart of Chianti, your guests will love you for the invitation! A medieval castle surrounded by cottages, it’s hidden at the end of a long forest driveway. You find this enchanting castle, complete with a moat, antique furniture, vineyards and total peace and quiet. Each bedroom has been redecorated with antique furniture and gorgeous soft furnishings, but what will

gO latino really impress you in all these rooms are the beds: you will have a princess and the pea fairy tale moment! Delicious breakfasts await, a perfect cappuccino, freshly squeezed orange juices, fresh eggs from the local farms. The wedding party can choose to stay in the sweet self-catering cottages in the garden of the castle. Sleeps 36.

thE Cool party paD Villa Fontelunga is the one your trendiest mates will be impressed by. It has Italian chic by the bucketful with a combination of years of history and some trendy, bespoke decor. Forget about traditional Tuscan rustic style here. Sharp Italian design is where it’s at. Off the beaten track in southern Tuscany, it’s close enough for a trip to Rome. Outside, there are huge grounds to enjoy with a gorgeous swimming pool and funky furniture for outdoor dining. Sleeps 18, so nice for a close-buddy kind of do.

lights FantastiC Gimignano is in the midst of gorgeous, quintessential Tuscany – cypress trees and a vineyard landscape. The villa is light and airy inside and looks amazing at night with its outside lights and pool. A great house for children too, with fields to explore outside and lots of space for imaginative games of hide and seek!

FlounCE through thE turrEts Castello di Mago is definitely in the land of the fairytale with its grand turreted tower and characterful rooms.It oozes history as the former residence of Leopold II Grand Duke of Tuscany, and is between the cities of Siena and Lucca, in a triangle of dreamy wine-making such as Sassicaia and Ornellaia. It sleeps 20 and has all the modern comforts of the XXI century with lashings of historic atmosphere. Properties from http://www.simplyitaly.com Simply Italy runs a wedding concierge service at a selection of its properties

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Wedding fairs & open days 2013-14 Thursday 22nd August The White Swan Hotel, Olympic Suite Bondgate Within, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1TD Time: 5.00pm – 7.00pm Contact: Charlotte Kidd 01665 602109 Wednesday 28th August Lumley Castle Wedding Evening Showcase Chester-le-Street, County Durham DH3 4NX Time: 4:00pm to 9:00pm. Contact: 0191 3891111 or email reservations@lumleycastle.com Thursday 29th August Macdonald Linden Hall Wedding Open Evening Longhorsley, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 8XF Time: 4:00pm – 8:00pm Contact: Sophie Stewart on 01670 500017 Sunday 1st September The Brides Up North Luxury & Vintage Wedding Exhibition The Alnwick Garden, Denwick Lane, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1YU Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm Contact: contact@ bridesupnorth.co.uk. Visit Northumberland’s newest and most beautiful luxury & vintage bridal event in an extraordinary setting with Channel 4’s “Best Blog for Northern Brides” Brides Up North. Visit www. bridesupnorth.co.uk to preregister for a VIP goody bag. Hallgarth Hotel Wedding Exhibition Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 3LU Time: 12:00noon – 3:00pm Contact: events@hallgarth darlington.co.uk or 01325 300 400 Novotel Newcastle Wedding Fair Ponteland Road, Kingston Park NE3 3HZ Time: 11:00am - 2.30pm Contact: 03300 100 192 or visit www.weddingfairsnortheast.com Crathorne Hall Hotel Yarm, North Yorkshire, TS15 0AR

Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: Diamond Events on 07949 532172 or visit www.diamondeventsuk.com Wednesday 4th September Longhirst Hall Wedding Open Evening Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3LL Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm Contact: Sophie Coulthard on 01670 795116 Sunday 8th September The Brides Up North Super Showcase Grand Wedding Exhibition Ramside Hall Hotel, Carrville, Durham, DH1 1TD Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: contact@ bridesupnorth.co.uk With Channel 4’s “Best Blog For Northern Brides”, over 90 exhibitors, two professional fashion shows and all the details, this is officially the largest free event in the North East. Visit www.bridesupnorth.co.uk to pre-register for your VIP goody bag. Thursday 12th September ARC Stockton Arts Centre Dovecot Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1LL Time: 6:00pm - 8.30pm Contact: Diamond Events on 07949 532172 or visit www.diamondeventsuk.com Sunday 15th September The Brides Up North Luxury Wedding Exhibition at Allerton Castle Allerton Castle, Allerton North Yorkshire, HG5 0SE Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: contact@ bridesupnorth.co.uk Visit North Yorkshire’s most beautiful fairy-tale wedding venue with Channel 4’s “Best Blog For Northern Brides” Brides Up North. www.bridesupnorth.co.uk to pre-register for your VIP goody bag.

Monday 16th September Ramside Hall Hotel Wedding Showcase Carrville, Durham, DH1 1TD Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm Contact: 0191 3865282 or email sharon.banks@ ramsidehallhotel.co.uk Sunday 22nd September Hallgarth Hotel Wedding Open Day Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 3LU Time: 11:00am – 3:00pm Contact: events@hallgarth darlington.co.uk or 01325 300 400 Durham Wedding Show Emirates Durham ICG, Riverside, Chester le Street DH3 3QR Time: 11:00am – 3:30pm Contact: 03300 100 192 or visit www.weddingfairsnortheast.com Thursday 26th September Macdonald Linden Hall Wedding Open Evening Longhorsley, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 8XF Time: 4:00pm – 8:00pm Contact: Sophie Stewart on 01670 500017 Thistle Hotel Fry Street, Middlesbrough, TS1 1JH Time: 6:00pm - 8.30pm Contact: Diamond Events on 07949 532172 or visit www.diamondeventsuk.com Saturday 28th September The UK Wedding Show Harrogate International Centre, Kings Road, Harrogate, HG15LA Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm Contact: Ticket line 02476 571 020 or email infotheukwedding shows.co.uk Fashion shows 12noon, 2pm & 4pm both days. Tickets £5 in advance/£7 on door, children under 16 go free. Does not include booking fee. Alter-ed Ego - Wedding Fayre with an alternative edge Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4JA Time: 12:00noon - 3:30pm Contact: Leanne on 07969125976 or email leanne@tynetheknot.com

LOVED UP Sunday 29th September The Brides Up North Bridal Bonanza Grand Wedding Exhibition Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, TS21 2EH Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: contact@ bridesupnorth.co.uk With Channel 4’s “Best Blog for Northern Brides”, over 60 exhibitors all under one roof, two professional catwalk shows and all the details, this is one for every bride’s diary. Visit www. bridesupnorth.co.uk to preregister for your VIP goody bag. Matfen Hall Hotel Wedding Open Day Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 0RH Time: 12:00noon - 3.00pm Contact: Victoria Paterson 01661 855709 The UK Wedding Show Harrogate International Centre, Kings Road, Harrogate, HG1 5LA Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm Contact: Ticket Line 02476 571 020 or email info@ theukweddingshows.co.uk Fashion shows 12noon, 2pm & 4pm both days. Tickets £5 in advance/£7 on the door, children under 16 go free. Ticket does not include booking fee. Elite Wedding Open Day at The Croft Hotel Croft-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2ST Time: 12:00noon- 3:00pm Contact: Dawn Marie Wedding & Event Design 07717 220 555

Wednesday 2nd October Longhirst Hall Wedding Open Evening Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3LL Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm Contact: Sophie Coulthard on 01670 795116

Jesmond Dene House Wedding Fayre Jesmond Dene House, Jesmond Dene Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 2EY Time: 12:00pm – 4:00pm Contact: Abi Young on 0191 2126021

Sunday 6th October

Monday 14th October

Elite Wedding Open Day at Horton Grange Country House Hotel Berwick Hill Road, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE13 6BU Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm Contact: Dawn Marie Wedding & Event Design 07717 220 555

Bowburn Hall Hotel Wedding Showcase Bowburn, Durham, DH6 5NH Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm Contact: Nikki on 0191 377 0311

Sunday 13th October Elite Wedding Show at The Sage Gateshead - This Is The Big One! The Sage Gateshead, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2LR Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: Dawn Marie Wedding & Event Design 07717 220 555 Over 85 exhibitors across 3 floors plus massive entertainment hall. Fantastic interactive displays, demonstrations and advice from the region’s best wedding suppliers – stunning gowns, florists, cakes, jewellers, stationers, venues, photographers, GroovyHeads, photobooths, DJs, make-up, dental services and more! Admission free Vermont Hotel Wedding Showcase Castle Garth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 (next to the Castle Keep) Time: 11:00am -3:00pm Contact: Tanya Hedley on 0191 2331010

Explore Wedding Fayre at The Centre for Life, Newcastle Life Conferencing and Banqueting, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4EP Time: 12:00noon – 3:30pm Contact: Gina on 0191 3401414 or info@exploreweddingfayre.co.uk

Middleton Lodge Kneeton Lane, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, DL10 6NJ Time: 1:00pm – 5:00pm strictly by appointment only Contact: Sue on 01325 377977 or info@middletonlodge.co.uk

Quayside Exchange Sunderland Wedding Fair High Street Sunderland SR1 2AX Time: 11:30am - 3.30pm Contact: 03300 100 192 or visit www.weddingfairsnortheast.com

Radisson Blu Hotel Durham Wedding Fayre Frankland Lane, Durham, DH1 5TA Time: 12:00noon - 3:00pm Contact: Dawn Waldock on 0191 3727200

Wednesday 23rd October Jesmond Dene House Open Evening Jesmond Dene Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 2EY Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm Contact: Abi Young on 0191 2126021 Sunday 27th October Longhirst Hall Wedding Fair Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3LL Time: 12:00noon – 3:00pm Contact: Sophie Coulthard on 01670 795116 Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel Open Day 9-12 Priestgate Darlington, DL1 1NW Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm Contact: 01325 380 222 or email sales@mercuredarlington.co.uk Great North Wedding Show Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, Quayside NE8 2AR Time: 11:00am - 3.30pm Contact: 03300 100 192 or visit www.weddingfairsnortheast.com Monday 28th October Ramside Hall Hotel Wedding Showcase Carrville, Durham, DH1 1TD Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm Contact: 0191 3865282 or email sharon.banks@ramsidehall hotel.co.uk Thursday 31st October Matfen Hall Hotel Wedding Open Evening Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 0RH Time: 6.00pm-9.00pm Contact: Victoria Paterson on 01661 855709

LOVED UP Sunday 3rd November Judges Hotel Thirsk Road, Kirklevington, Yarm, TS15 9LW Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm Contact: Emma Williams on 01642 789000 Mercure George Washington Hotel Wedding Exhibition Stone Cellar Road, High Usworth, Washington, NE37 1PH Time: 12:00noon – 3:00pm Contact: Amanda on 0191 4029988 Wednesday 6th November Longhirst Hall Wedding Open Evening Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3LL Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm Contact: Sophie Coulthard on 01670 795116 Thursday 7th November Matfen Hall Hotel Wedding Fair Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 0RH Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm Contact: Victoria Paterson on 01661 855709 Monday 11th November Bowburn Hall Hotel Wedding Showcase Monday Bowburn, Durham, DH6 5NH Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm Contact: Nikki on 0191 377 0311 Sunday 17th November The Brides Up North Luxury & Vintage Wedding Grand Wedding Exhibition National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: contact@ bridesupnorth.co.uk With over 60 exhibitors, this is York’s biggest, best and most beautiful luxury and vintage bridal event with Channel 4’s “Best Blog for Northern Brides”. Visit www. bridesupnorth.co.uk to preregister for your VIP goody bag. Macdonald Linden Hall Wedding Open Day Address: Longhorsley, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 8XF Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: Sophie Stewart on 01670 500017

Thursday 21st November As You Like It Winter Showcase Archbold Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 1DB Time: 5.00pm-9.00pm Contact: Claire Davies on 0191 2812277 Sunday 24th November The White Swan Hotel, Olympic Suite Bondgate Within, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1TD Time: 1.00pm – 4.00pm Contact: Charlotte Kidd 01665 602109

Saturday 11th January Elite Wedding Open Day at Horton Grange Country House Hotel Berwick Hill Road, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE13 6BU Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm Contact: Dawn Marie Wedding & Event Design 07717 220 555 Sunday 12th January Crathorne Hall Hotel Yarm, North Yorkshire, TS15 0AR Time: 12:00 noon – 4:00pm Contact: Diamond Events on 07949 532172 or www. diamondeventsuk.com

Monday 25th November Ramside Hall Hotel Wedding Showcase Carrville, Durham, DH1 1TD Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm Contact: 0191 3865282 or email sharon.banks@ramsidehallhotel. co.uk

Sunday 19th January Ramside Hall Hotel Wedding Showcase Carrville, Durham, DH1 1TD Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: 0191 3865282 or email sharon.banks@ramsidehallhotel. co.uk

Wednesday 4th December Longhirst Hall Wedding Open Evening Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3LL Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm Contact: Sophie Coulthard on 01670 795116 Sunday 15th December Macdonald Linden Hall Wedding Open Day Address: Longhorsley, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 8XF Time: 12:00noon – 4:00pm Contact: Sophie Stewart on 01670 500017 Sunday 5th January Middleton Lodge Kneeton Lane, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, DL10 6NJ Time: 1:00pm – 5:00pm strictly by appointment only Contact: Sue 01325 377977 or email info@middletonlodge. co.uk Wednesday 8th January Longhirst Hall Wedding Open Evening Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3LL Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm Contact: Sophie Coulthard on 01670 795116

Elite Wedding Show at the Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park High Gosforth Park, Newcastle, NE3 5HN Time: 12 noon – 3:00pm Contact: Dawn Marie Wedding & Event Design 07717 220 555 Over 50 local exhibitors, two huge function suites, dressed marriage and dining rooms, entertainment zone, live music, free admission, free parking, complimentary reception drinks and more. This is the perfect opportunity to see all the Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park can offer Durham Wedding Show Emirates Durham ICG, Riverside, Chester le Street DH3 3QR Time: 11:00am – 3:30pm Contact: 03300 100 192 or visit www.weddingfairsnortheast.com Saturday 25th January The UK Wedding Show Metro Radio Arena, Arena Way, Newcastle, NE4 7NA Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm Contact: Ticket Line 02476 571 020 or email info@theuk weddingshows.co.uk Fashion shows 12noon, 2pm & 4pm both days. Tickets £7 in advance/£9 on the door, children under 16 go free. Ticket does not includebooking fee.

expert help

I would love a full-on Mad Men ‘wow’ style. How do you create a really styled ‘updo’? ViCtoria The 1960s were all about big hair and as seen in Mad Men, Joan Holloway has inspired a revival in the updos of the decade. Creating a good strong foundation is the key to a really styled updo. You can do this by following some simple steps. Using a mousse or blow-dry lotion applied to the roots, blow drying and setting hair in rollers are necessary steps in improving hair manageability ensuring that your style can be achieved with ease. To create your 1960s bouffant hairstyle, tease your hair around the crown area, then take your brush and using the very tip, lightly smooth over the top and begin to shape hair into a half up style securing with pins. Section the remainder of your hair twisting up and secure with pins. For a formal finish smooth away strays with your brush and hairspray or alternatively pinch and tease out sections to achieve a more lived in look.

planning I am having a ceremony at 4pm in a house we’ve hired for the weekend. I don’t want to waste the day – any suggestions? kathryn Why not kick convention out of the window and throw a pre-ceremony party first? Gather friends and family for champagne and canapés first so they mingle and chat. This will create a nice anticipation for the ceremony and a different party atmosphere. Make sure there’s some good music going on – maybe a cool jazz quartet. You could have a ‘starter’ course of food beforehand then the ceremony then a ‘mingle’ and then maybe an informal buffet. Your guests will love the unconventional nature of it all but the food will act as a framework. How can I get the guests involved in the party? kathryn One of the nicest and most memorable wedding receptions I have been to was in a marquee in a friend’s garden. It was a small-scale affair and beforehand everyone was asked to contribute ten of their favourite songs

which became a playlist for the night. It was great because you were really listening out for your own songs and there was a definite competitive edge in trying to think of a fun or quirky track that would make people smile or fill the dancefloor. There’s often a shared generation thing too – so everyone’s student favourites fill the floor – and the cringey ones always get people up! It makes it easy to avoid the first dance scenario too if you’re not into that – the guest whose first dance is ‘shuffled’ gets a bottle of champers! I am having a winter wedding - I’d like a dress that will take me from day to evening, even if it’s cold outside! Joy We’re really noticing the trend away from strapless gowns to those with covered shoulders and long or three-quarter sleeves. It goes without saying that these will work well on a cooler day and they are a lot easier to wear and can be more flattering. Wedding dress designers have seized on the idea of making gowns that have detachable sleeves so that in the evening you can take off the sleeves and have what looks like a completely different dress. The design is such that the sleeves fit really well so they do not look like a jacket or ‘shrug’, they are an integral part of the dress. There is a Pronovias gown called Domingo that shows this two-style design really well. I am a pear-shaped bride and really don’t need extra padding around my middle with a ‘big’ dress - what style would you suggest? Joy Think carefully about fabric and design. An A-line dress will flatter your top half and then gently flare. Any fabric too fluid might cling to your hips so go for a heavier fabric if you can. You want to emphasise your waist so you could draw attention to it with a belt in a toning colour or with a jewelled design - these are increasingly popular.

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filling the love Confetti, favours, thank yous or ‘save the date’ messages. These handmade paper heart envelopes will hold secret notes and pleasant surprises. £8.50 for a set of ten. www.coxandcox.co.uk

diary of bridE-to-be

In May this year loved up’s Tanya Hardman became Tanya Hedley. Here she tells us about her big day

keep calm and carry on I had 18 months to plan my just a few moments the room wedding. Working in the was still. Within minutes friends, industry I didn’t have to shop family and wedding around and gave myself more professionals began to spill in. than a year to plan each tiny Hair, make-up, photographs - I detail. Nothing was too stood in the middle of it all, my insignificant, from handmade, head swimming. The next few colour-co-ordinated bags of hours were a blur but when the confetti to customised guitar room began to calm down and plectrums on the tables – you people dispersed, my bridesmaid name it, I had it covered. For Lucy and I were alone. Lucy over a year my guest bedroom helped me in to my dress, I was resembled a storage facility. handed my bouquet and guided Having an intimate wedding of down the stairs to the ceremony. 45 day guests and 70 evening As the room fell quiet we heard guests I had to get the the music start, Des’ree’s Kissing atmosphere just right. The You, my wedding coordinator setting, the food and the music Becci gave me the nod and my had to be cleverly planned to Dad led me in to the room. I Do guarantee the right ambience stopped still and at that moment Customise your ceremony. Readings, and to keep the laughter flowing. I realised there was something poems, vows – this is the most The food was plentiful, we’d start very big that I’d given no important part of the day so make with tantalising canapés trays thought to at all. The truth is that it yours served after the ceremony, enjoy you can spend a lifetime Serve canapés after the ceremony. a heavenly three-course meal planning your wedding, but You won’t get any but your guests from Rockliffe’s culinary nothing you plan, buy or make, will thank you! magicians and then share a will ever prepare you for the Rely on your wedding professionals, hearty hog roast on the terrace feeling you will experience as they will guide you through the day to keep energy levels high on the you stand at the top of the aisle when you need them the most dance floor. Food and music with your future in front of you. Do not were at the forefront of the day. Take a deep breath and enjoy it. Underestimate the importance of Every song was handpicked and Each song was carefully music. Those special songs will stay we downloaded over 12 hours of selected. Our first dance was Ella with you forever music to ensure the vibe was just Fitzgerald The Very Thought of Rush home. Extend your stay; you right throughout the day. And You. When it came to the will breathe a sigh of relief when so when I crawled in to bed the dress(es) my day dress couldn’t you’re finally left alone to take it all in night before the wedding I felt have been more perfect Be late. Give yourself enough time to a blissful sense of contentment Grecian, floaty, ethereal. On the get ready so that you can enjoy the and achievement - I really had evening I wore a bias-cut dress morning without be hurried along prepared everything. Or so from Monsoon which swayed I thought... perfectly during our first dance. I woke up alone in a magnificent bridal suite dwarfed The bridesmaid Lucy wore a knee-length, ivory dress by an enormous bed. I watched the sun rise with a cup from Monsoon which complemented my wedding of green tea and nervously contemplated the madness dress perfectly. She had long blonde bouncy curls that was waiting for me on the other side of 7am. For and looked absolutely beautiful.

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