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Sweet thrills
Chic creations from some of the region's top cake designers
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Al fresco appeal
Beautiful garden settings in the region
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Real weddings
Readers share their stories
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The perfect party
Quirky ideas for a creative celebration
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Local news
All the latest from around the region
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Shoes and bags
Perfect pieces to complete your bridal look
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The groom's view
Ned Mawding realises it's time to face his first dance fears
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A decent proposal
Heart-warming engagement tales
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Going local
A look at venues in The Black Country
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| Plus... |
| Regular features, news, events, Q&A special - and much more |
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| Next Issue Out |
| 30th September 2011 |
| Our big day... Juliette & Joe |
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| Image provided by David Perkins |
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Seasonal flowers and a love of cricket meant Juliette and Joe's wedding was a celebration of the English countryside
The proposal came when Joe took Juliette to Rome for a Valentine's Day weekend. "I decided to take Juliette to a park, where there were rowing boats on a lake. We went out on a boat and yes, I did get down on one knee. However this made the boat rock more than a little and there were a few hairy moments to say the least!"
The happy couple finally tied the knot on 14th May this year, and here they share more about how the big day came together...
Juliette: As a children's entertainer, I get the chance to dress up as a princess on a regular basis, so I didn't want to wear anything too big on the day. I chose this white 1950s-inspired dress with polka dot overlay from designer Candy Anthony. The layers of underskirt gave the dress a classic look and made me feel feminine. To go with the dress I treated myself to some Louboutin heels which, although they were fabulous in themselves, I wanted to personalise. I found two matching floral brooches which I pinned to the heel of each shoe.
Joe: Juliette's parents had been building their dream house for many years and as it neared completion we knew we wanted to host our wedding there. The house provided an amazing backdrop for the day; it was a great personal touch and a testament to her parents' hard work.
Juliette: I wanted the day to have an English country garden feel, so I asked for the flowers to look as though they had just been picked. Our florist Anne Brown did a wonderful job. I gave her a list of blooms I loved and she
did the rest.
Juliette: I wanted to surprise Joe on the day with a cricket bat arch as we left the church, and it took quite a bit of organising. The best man, Sam, was my chief conspirator. He helped get enough bats together while I messaged all of Joe's cricket friends to get them involved. My favourite moment of the whole day was coming out of the church with Joe, under the arch, and seeing his surprised face. All the planning paid off!
To read on see page 28 of the current issue. |
| Bright and beautiful blooms |
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| Image provided by www.garyandsuephotography.com |
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Q - We haven't chosen a colour scheme yet but we have our hearts set on a really vibrant summer wedding. What flowers might look nice alongside colourful décor and rainbow bridesmaids dresses?
A - Louise says: So far this year, I have seen an explosion of colour. Opting for flowers, décor and wedding party outfits in varying shades is a great idea for couples who want to embrace colour on their big day. I recently provided flowers for a wedding where all five adult bridesmaids wore different coloured dresses, but the bouquets were neutral. The flowergirls, on the other hand, wore ivory coloured dresses and so they held posies which comprised colours from the bridesmaids' dresses. The result was a vibrant and fresh look.
Also, don't be afraid to experiment with solid blocks of colour - and even clashing colours. Coral pink, lime green, purple and hot pink all look great and there is a vast selection of seasonal blooms that come in these shades. In particular look out for peonies, roses and gerberas, and also tropical flowers such as eye-catching gloriosa and anthuriums, which will add excitement and interest to bouquets and centrepieces. |
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| From those in the know |
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Real weddings are a great source of inspiration when it comes to planning your own big day, and we have two great ones in this issue. While Katherine and Alex enjoyed an elegant April wedding with vintage touches, Juliette and Joe embraced their love of cricket for a day to remember. It was a wonderful wedding filled with seasonal flowers, friends, family and tons of fun, and I enjoyed every minute of interviewing them.
Meanwhile, September is the perfect time of year to embrace this season's must-have detail: whimsical floral appliqué. Turn to page 47 in the magazine for a selection of beautiful gowns. And, if flowers are your thing, then you're in for a treat when you check out page 23 for our feature on garden venues in the region. We're very lucky in the Midlands to have so many stunning settings.
Enjoy the issue,
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| Danielle Wilkins, Editor |
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| Make sure your email editor@yourwestmidlandswedding.co.uk to keep us up to date with all your news |
| Win your wedding day! |
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Celebrate a chic wedding in the heart of the city, courtesy of Fazeley Studios
When it comes to the big day, it's every couples' dream to create a wedding that's beautiful and memorable, and one venue in the region that has both qualities in abundance is Fazeley Studios. Located in the heart of Birmingham's artistic quarter, this characteristic building is perfect for cultured couples wanting a stylish city wedding to remember.
The venue opens up into the welcoming Grand Gallery reception area - a former 1870s Unitarian chapel that has been restored and decorated with Pre-Raphaelite art and limestone floors, perfectly combining history and contemporary design.
The Winter Garden is a light and airy space with beautiful landscaped views and is ideal for couples to add their own personal touches to, while the tranquil courtyard brings a touch of outdoors charm to pre- and post-ceremony drinks and is great for photographs.
Licensed for civil ceremonies, the venue has a number of flexible wedding packages to suit every couple, and enough space to comfortably accommodate up to 150 guests in total.
For more information, contact Tara on 0121 224 8200 or visit www.fazeleyevents.com
We've teamed up with Fazeley Studios to offer couples the chance to win their wedding at this stylish venue, worth £4,050. The prize includes:
- Exclusive hire of the venue and civil ceremony room on any available Sunday.
- A seated wedding breakfast for up to 50 guests.
- A delicious wedding breakfast menu worth £35 +VAT per head.
- A drinks package worth £12.50 +VAT per head.
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| Enter here |
| Sweet thrills |
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| Image provided by Ben The Cake Man |
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Whether you're having a country chic wedding or a sophisticated soiree, these decadent designs will provide the icing on the cake
Blooming tasty
These colourful creations from Ben The Cake Man, Birmingham, and Solihull-based Sugarbliss Cake Company, are ideal for weddings inspired by beautiful blooms. Incorporating pretty rose and anemone details, each one is beautifully hand-iced and made using the finest local ingredients where possible.
"When visiting your cake designer, it's helpful to have an idea of what colours are being used in other areas of the wedding, such as the bridesmaid dresses or stationery," advises June Gadd of Gadds Special Cakes in Dudley. "You could also take a flower that is in the bouquet or centrepieces and use this as inspiration for your design. If you don't have a recurring theme or colour scheme, or any idea of what you might like, be sure to visit a designer that has an extensive portfolio or showroom so you can be inspired by their own ideas."
For more cakes see page 69 of the current issue. |
| Dates for your diary |
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| Image provided by Emma Case Photography |
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The Designer Vintage Bridal Show
Where? Berrow Court, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3UB
Expect: Plenty more home-grown talent after the success of its debut show earlier in the year. Couples can wander through the Victorian house and gardens and chat to a whole host of suppliers including vintage boutique owners, photographers, event planners and bloggers. Brides-to-be can also enjoy catwalk shows and a spot of afternoon tea in the champagne bar. Tickets will be £12 on the door, or £8 when you preregister online.
When? Saturday 8th October, 10am to 6pm and Sunday 9th October, 10am to 5pm
Contact: www.designervintagebridal.co.uk |
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To buy a copy for just £2.95 post free or to order a subscription of six issues for just £15, please visit our web site...
www.yourwestmidlandswedding.co.uk or call us on 01376 514000 |
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| Take a look at our regularly updated Find a Supplier feature on our website where you find profiles, photographs and contact information from businesses in your area who will help you with your dream wedding. |
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| Find your local wedding suppliers... |
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| Style me pretty |
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| Image provided by www.davidmorphew.com Styled by LeKeux Events |
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Your reception is the ideal opportunity to indulge your personal sense of style. Danielle Wilkins speaks to the region's styling experts to find out how to create a fabulous do, and what trends we can expect for the year ahead
Getting started
So, the venue is booked, now is the time to get your thinking cap on. Designing an attractive setting for the big day is definitely one of the more fun parts of the planning for most couples, and it's also a chance to set free your inner artist. But with so many elements to consider, where do you start?
"Even the simplest of styling can completely transform a venue," says Rachael Clark of Ambience Venue Styling, which operates throughout Worcestershire, Warwickshire and South Birmingham. "Basics such as chair covers and table linen can make a huge difference to a room, but choosing a theme or colour scheme is the first decision that needs to be made. Couples usually have an idea of what they want for their bridesmaids' dresses and flowers so this will give the venue stylist something to work around for the décor."
"The second thing to take into account when deciding on the décor is the look and feel of the reception venue, after all, this is where you will be spending most of your time, so it's important to work with the room, rather than against it. "Sometimes a couple's chosen colour scheme won't work with the venue and in this case it's time to consider another shade that doesn't necessarily match the colour scheme, but perfectly complements it instead," adds Rachael.
"If couples come to me without knowing what they really want, I work with them to try and gain an understanding of the mood and atmosphere they want to create," adds Leeanne Andrews of Sienna Grace Design in Walsall. "Usually we can come up with some ideas pretty quickly.
To read on see page 35 of the current issue. |
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