I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.
Charles R. Swindoll
Happiness must be cultivated. It is like character. It is not a thing to be safely let alone for a moment, or it will run to weeds.
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
Ok, it’s August and we’re having a great summer, not perhaps the time to be talking winter weddings you’d think! However, if you’re going to be a winter bride then now is the time to be planning……
What could be more romantic than a candlelit winter wedding in your very own castle? Wadhurst Castle, a licensed wedding venue in East Sussex, is picture perfect all year round but in winter it takes on a truly fairy-tale quality.
Imagine yourself as a snow bride in a stunning setting with a backdrop of panoramic views over the beautiful Sussex countryside.
Georgina Hovey, the wedding co-ordinator at Wadhurst Castle, says: “The Castle is both grand and intimate. Its stunning interiors lend themselves to candlelight and lavish trimmings, so you really can create a truly magical, romantic setting for a winter wedding here. “
The castle is available for exclusive hire, so you can create your own winter wonderland theme. It can accommodate up to 100 guests within the castle itself, and there is a choice of three rooms that are licensed for marriage ceremonies: The Drawing Room; Moncrieff Room and the Winter Garden.
A special package is also available for weekday weddings for up to 30 people; there is a choice of a midday ceremony and wedding breakfast, or a 5pm ceremony followed by an intimate dinner. The package includes catering and event management with a menu of choice – anything from bangers and mash to Boeuf Wellington!
The castle also boasts a luxury 3 bedroom house in the grounds, Castle Cottage, available for short breaks and ideal as accommodation for relatives or close friends.
For more information please visit the website, you can also follow them on Facebook.
Experience is not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you.
Aldous Huxley
Aisle runners were traditionally used to protect the bride’s dress from mud and dirt, although these days that’s not usually necessary with most weddings performed indoors! However, an aisle runner can add to the decoration in a church or wherever you are holding your ceremony.
As Danni from The Sparkling Party Shop explains: Each runner is hand painted and personalised with whatever wording the bride or groom would like. They can have butterflies, flowers, hearts or any other graphic painted, crystals, glitter and pearls can also be added. There is a massive choice of paint colours and every runner is given utmost attention to detail. They come in various sizes from 5ft-100ft with prices starting at just £30. We have been providing runners since 2009 and were the first UK company to offer handpainted aisle runners. We supply many wedding planners as well as household brand names.
Usually the bride and groom names go at the top (nearest the altar) with a quote of your choice in the middle and the venue and wedding date at the foot of the runner. The runners are made from a thin rayon mix fabric with a choice of backgrounds (hearts, flowers or pain) which is ideal for putting over plain flooring or carpet, however for an extra charge the runner can be lined with some extra fabric if it is to go over a patterned floor or carpet.
To view the full range please visit the website. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Diamond Store Guarantees Ethical, Conflict-Free Canadian Diamonds
UK Diamond retailer, The Diamond Store, is the UK’s only online retailer selling conflict-free, ethical Canadian Diamonds. The Canadian Diamond is discerned as the most ethical, conflict-free diamond in the world with its unique and comprehensive registration process.
Unlike other diamonds from around the world, Canadian diamonds are fully traceable all the way from the mine; they are the only diamonds in the world that can be traced in this way.
In an effort to assist its customers in choosing conflict-free diamonds, The Diamond Store clearly labels all Canadian diamonds on its website. Called ‘the perfect ethical diamond’, the Canadian diamonds are mined, cut and polished under Canadian government supervision and come with a 100% guarantee that they are not only completely conflict-free but also have not been mined at the expense of the locals or without consideration for the surrounding environment.
The diamonds are mined in accordance with principles of sustainable development and to the highest environmental standards in the world. In turn, this has brought economic prosperity to the North Canadian region.
The Diamond Store Managing Director, Gary Ingram, is excited about the offering and knows his customers will appreciate the peace of mind. “The origin of diamonds and the process to bring them to UK shores is an ongoing concern for both The Diamond Store and its customers. It’s important to us to be able to offer an entirely ethical, conflict-free option to our clients who often express concern about the life of their diamonds before they reach them.”
The high quality diamonds are sold with a Canadian Diamond Certificate, an Independent Grading Certificate and a Unique Identification Number inscribed on the jewel that is invisible to the naked eye.
Arguably, this makes the diamonds more valuable. Ingram continued, “Should the diamonds ever be sold, the seller can not only prove the colour, clarity, carat and cut, but they can also prove the jewel’s history and pass on the diamond’s passport to the new owners.”
Owners can see the location and date their diamond was mined, its original size, manufacture date, and final weight, colour and clarity. All of this information can be found on The Canadian Diamond website.
To find out more and to purchase these Canadian diamonds visit The Diamond Store website, you can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs … one step at a time.
Joe Girard
Vintage is the new black this London Fashion Week with Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair.
Vintage has always scored style points amongst the fashion crowd but Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair has seen a rising trend in converts to fashion that doesn’t merely reference modern fashion’s formative eras but are actually a part of it.
Thanks to the likes of Dawn O’Porter’s Channel 4 show ‘The Old Thing: The Vintage Clothes Show’ this summer which aims to show high street, fast fashion junkies that there’s a vintage style to suit everyone and that vintage shops aren’t dusty junk yards, vintage is the new black!
Certainly no second-hand tat market, The Vintage Collections at Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair held every London Fashion Week is the definitive event to pick up designer vintage and on-trend pieces that have stood the test of time. Always attracting a crowd of international stylists, top fashion house design teams, models and bloggers who take time out of their busy London Fashion Week schedules, the event is also popular with our regulars and newcomers who want to celebrate the most important date in London’s fashion calendar. Unlike the exclusivity of London Fashion Week catwalks, Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair has become a welcoming and well-loved event open to the public as well as building a fantastic reputation with the fashion industry.
Now in its fifth year, the Vintage Collections brings not only the finest womenswear, menswear and accessories from 1800s to 1980s but a traditional tearoom where you can put your feet up with a slice of delicious homemade cake and enjoy live music from our resident jazz chanteuse. Book yourself into our nail bar for a good old fashioned pampering and for that extra special touch, our on-the-spot alterations team can fix up the perfect fit on your new purchases too. Our regulars will tell you it’s easy to spend a whole day at the fair whether you’re new to the world of vintage fashion or a seasoned connoisseur!
Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair’s Vintage Collections fair takes place on Sunday 14th September 2014 from 11am until 5pm at the Old Finsbury Town Hall, Rosebury Avenue, London, EC1R 4RP. Entry is £4 for public and £2 for students.
I’m a huge fan of vintage weddings and the elegance and grace of the 20’s and 30’s is my favourite era.
Couples marrying at prestigious and exclusive Combermere Abbey are in for a unique gift to complement their choice of venue – the use of a beautiful and rare 1927 Crossley Motor Car, manufactured by the Abbey’s current owner’s great-grandfather, Sir Kenneth Crossley.
Sir Kenneth, had expanded the family engineering business in Manchester with the manufacture of motor cars at the turn of the last century. His family home was Combermere Abbey.
The Crossley was a match for more established high calibre marques, including Mercedes and Rolls Royce. In fact in 1906, one of his cars won the record for the ‘London-Monte Carlo’ rally, completing the journey in just over 37 hours. The Crossley Company went on to support the First World War effort and became the country’s second largest producer of aircraft.
It has been Sarah Callander Beckett’s dream to own one of his cars and at last after years of searching, a suitable model has been acquired from Ireland.
Sarah Callander Beckett, owner of Combermere Abbey, commented,
‘I’m thrilled to have a Crossley car made by my great-grandfather at the Abbey once more. It’s in great condition inside and out! It seems most fitting for our brides and grooms to have the use of such a beautiful classic car, especially with its links to the Abbey’s history’
The stunning 1927 Crossley Classic Car
With its classic design and gleaming navy blue bodywork, this rare and beautiful classic car will be used and wedding car for couples marrying or hosting their reception at this prestigious, award-winning venue. It is sure to bring many admiring glances from guests and will certainly complement photographs at this historic venue. This unique gift to couples will be available for weddings from 2015.
Combermere Abbey is a privately-owned estate on the Shropshire/Cheshire borders. The Abbey itself is a family home, exclusive weddings and events are hosted within the Walled Gardens; stylish and eco-friendly luxury accommodation for up to 49 guests is located in the converted stables and coach house.
The Walled Garden
The Glasshouse at Combermere Abbey
For more details on this beautiful venue visit the website, you can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Lilguy Weddings 