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EXCLUSIVE! Fired But Fabulous! A Styled Shoot With The Apprentice’s Laura Hogg Of Laura Reece Bridal

May 12th, 2012 | Brides Up North Wedding Blog

Laura Hogg of The Apprentice by Focus Wedding Photography

I’ve been glued to the telly every Wednesday night for the past few weeks keeping track of the latest hiring and firings on The Apprentice which is, in my opinion, TV gold. I’d love to give it a shot someday, but I worry that I might not be the chirpy wedding blogger that you all know and love with all those early starts, boardroom grillings, a camera constantly in my face and a team full of egotistical maniacs. I’ll just watch and judge from the comfort of my sofa thank you very much!

One lady who did dare to do it was the fabulous Laura Hogg of Laura Reece Bridal and friend of the blog. Hats off to her! As you can see from this earlier blog post, I was rooting for her to go all the way, but alas it was not to be. Well she may be fired, but she sure as hell is fabulous, as this styled shoot by Focus Wedding Photography goes to show!

Laura Hogg of The Apprentice by Focus Wedding Photography

Lorna of Focus Wedding Photography says: This bridal fashion shoot was arranged at The Glasshouse Hotel in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago with Laura modelling some gorgeous wedding gowns from her shop. We were fortunate that the weather was kind to us and we got the only dry day that week which enabled us to get out onto the gorgeous rooftop gardens which overlook the Calton Hill and into the beautiful balconies overlooking Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth.

Laura Hogg is owner of bridal boutique, Laura Reece Bridal in Glasgow but more recently she will be known as a candidate on this years series of The Apprentice. Her boutique has been running for nearly two years and next weekend (19th/20th) she is hosting a rather exciting designer weekend with one of her main brands, Kay Mason Bridal. With the opportunity to meet Laura and the designer Denise available appointments are flying out the door! Visit Laura Reece Bridal to make an appointment.

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In the light of her recent firing from the hit BBC series, Laura is remaining positive and very much throwing herself back into her bridal business. She is looking to expand the bridal accessory hiring service she currently offers in her shop nationally. It will allow brides to personally choose their own packages for tiaras, veils, underskirts and hire them for their wedding day at a fraction of their normal retail price. On other news, she has also just been welcomed into Entrepreneurial Spark, a business start up community in Scotland and she is working with them on a separate project to be announced soon. For details on this you can keep in the loop at www.laurahogg.co.uk.

Laura Hogg of The Apprentice by Focus Wedding Photography

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For this shoot the dresses were a combination of Ella Rosa Gallery by Private Label By G (£550) and Just For You (£499).

Laura Hogg of The Apprentice by Focus Wedding Photography

Our inspiration for the shoot was to get some gorgeous portraiture of Laura using the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh and the stunning features in The Glasshouse. It is really a beautiful wedding venue and it was a pleasure to photograph there. We have been involved with a number of shoots with Laura over the past couple of years.

Laura Hogg of The Apprentice by Focus Wedding Photography

The ultra cool and contemporary contours of the 5-star boutique hotel, The Glasshouse, are perfectly combined with the medieval gothic architecture, perfect for a wedding in the heart of Edinburgh. The Glasshouse’s unique and beautifully landscaped roof gardens and alfresco terraces overlook the world famous Calton Hill, the Royal City and as far as the Firth of Forth, providing a distinctive and memorable venue to enjoy your wedding reception.

Little Black Book

Photography – Focus Wedding Photography

Laura – Laura Reece Bridal and Laura Hogg

Hair – Kennedy Hair

Venue - The Glasshouse, Edinburgh

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Come In? Do You Read? A Brief Bulletin From The Ski The World Challenge

March 31st, 2012 | Brides Up North Wedding Blog

If you caught up with the news on Thursday, you’ll know that I am currently in Courmayeur, Italy, taking part in the Ski The World Challenge with Ski Solutions and Graham Bell in aid of the fantastic Make A Wish Foundation, in my freelance capacity with Wedding Ideas Magazine.

I thought I better drop by with a quick message to let you know that I am still alive… just.

Legs Of Jelly

This is no leisurely press trip! The aim of the challenge is as one of a team of 2 or 3 skiers, the height of the largest peak in each continent across a weekend – that’s 43,314 vertical metres over 3 days.

I’ve been hitting the slopes hard all day as part of a team of three, including the lovely Ms Katy Dartford and this inspirational lady. You can read more about Squash Falconer and her amazing achievements over on her blog. We have skied over 49 300m runs today. Read that again! FORTY NINE 300m runs. It’s safe to say that my legs are feeling it! In fact they are pure jelly.

This is a deliberately short post – I’m desperately in need of a long muscle soak in a hot bath before the third and final day of the Ski The World Challenge commences – but as well as reassuring my Mum that I’m A-Ok, I also wanted to remind you that you can donate your pennies to this amazing charity – The Make A Wish Foundation – by clicking here. Thank you so much for your support.

To learn more about the Make A Wish Foundation, see my earlier blog post.

I’ll see you on the other side. Have I got some cracking wedding inspiration saved up for you next week!

Over and out!

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Posted in Charity, Me, Press, UK Wedding Blog | Filed Under | 1 COMMENT so far, click here to join the discussion! »

Ski The World Challenge: Make A Wish Foundation

March 29th, 2012 | Brides Up North Wedding Blog

If you are a regular wedding blog reader you will know that as well as running Brides Up North online and our wedding and networking events, I also write on a freelance basis for lots of different bridal publications. If you are interested, the best way to check out some of my recent work is via the links on the blog’s “About” page.

One of the magazines that I particularly enjoy contributing to is Wedding Ideas Magazine – such a fun title and a lovely team of people – and I was made up when they asked me if I would like to cover a little press trip for them.

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog: Ski The World Challenge

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you will know that I am keen skier so this one was right up my street – even though I am feeling more than a little bit nervous: I’m usually more of a leisurely ski plus rhum au chocolat and straight to apres ski kinda gal.

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog: Ski The World Challenge

This weekend, I will be joining an intrepid band of fundraisers with Ski Solutions on the slopes of Courmayeur in the Italian Alps for the Make A Wish Foundation Ski The World Challenge.

The aim of the challenge is to ski, as one of a pair of skiers, the height of the largest peak in each continent across a weekend – that’s 43,314 vertical metres over 3 days. So, really easy then. Hmm.

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog: Ski The World Challenge

The whole point of the challenge is to raise awareness and money for the Make A Wish Foundation. This is an excellent cause, which grants magical wishes to children and young people aged 3-17 fighting life-threatening conditions. Over 25 years the charity has granted more than 7,400 magical wishes. Their wishes transform lives!

Make A Wish Foundation say: Over 20,000 children in the UK are living with a life-threatening condition, a figure validated by research commissioned by Make A Wish. At a human level, we believe few things can be more important, or more deserving, than giving a seriously ill child the chance to have their wish come true, with all the hope, expectation and happiness that brings.

This year alone 1,400 children will turn to us to have their special wish granted. We want to grant a wish to every one of these. For many families the Make A Wish memory can be the last happy memory they have of their child having fun in a magical world, surrounded by family and friends – rather than memories of days and weeks of painful treatments and hospitalisation. The memory of the wish may be of their child laughing and enjoying being a princess or zoo keeper for the day or meeting a favourite celebrity. In years to come, the family can look back and remember that special time.

At present we are granting around 75 wishes a month and our ambition is to grant 85 wishes every month by the end of 2012. We need to raise at least £6.8 million this year if we are to realise this aim.

So, I’ll be leaving on a jet plane first thing tomorrow morning to ski my heart out for this superb cause.

“Wish” me luck, and if you would like to support this amazing charity, please dig deep and make a donation here.

Make A Wish Foundation also have an alternative wedding favours service, where you can make a donation to the charity on your guests’ behalf instead of buying 100 bags of sugared almonds. Click here to find out more.

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In The News: Recent UK Press For This Lil’ Ol’ Wedding Blog

March 11th, 2012 | Brides Up North Wedding Blog

As regular readers of the wedding blog will know, I regularly work with wedding magazines as a freelance contributor. My background (before a six year career wrong turn as a solicitor!) is in magazines and despite running a successful online blog, I still get a thrill from seeing my work in print.

I have a big feature coming out soon in Bridal Buyer Europe (Brides Up North in Dutch and French no less!) but here is what I’ve been getting up to on these shores…

My regular Rock The Dress With Brides Up North feature was published in Hitched Magazine at the start of the month. I’m an associated contributor to Hitched with a recurring column, so if you fancy rocking your dress in my next feature, contact me.

Hitched SS 2012

Hitched SS 2012 Page 1

Hitched SS 2012 Page 2

North East newspaper The Journal featured my top picks for Spring in their recent wedding supplement.

The Journal

… and Brides Up North was nominated as Best Wedding Directory by The Bridal Magazine readers. What a lovely surprise! Voting is now closed, so we will await the results at their Fabulous Affair in mid April. Thank you to everyone who voted for this wedding blog.

I’ve actually got a few writing projects to finish off today, so it’s back to work for me today. I hope you are having a more relaxed Sunday, but to be honest, sitting at my desk doing what I love with the sun streaming through the blinds and a warm crumpet with my name on it ain’t so bad!

See you later today!

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog- Images © 2012 as credited

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In The News: Recent UK Press For Brides Up North Wedding Blog

January 7th, 2012 | Brides Up North Wedding Blog

As well as organising the Brides Up North Wedding Exclusives with Dine Venues in Yorkshire, the Brides Up North Super Showcase in the North East, three more Brides Up North Tweet Ups, blogging here twice a day and that thing called Christmas… this wedding blogger has also been busy doing a bit of freelancing too. Here’s what I’ve been up to away from these swirly silver pages…

A double page spread fashion feature for Pure Weddings Spring 2012 (the same feature appeared in North East Life).

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog: Pure Weddings Magazine

Two double page spreads for the wonderful Wedding Ideas Magazine (sponsor of the Brides Up North Tweet Ups for 2011 and 2012 and all round set of good eggs), in their “Best Ideas Blogged” series, December 2011 and January 2012.

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog: Wedding Ideas Magazine

December 2011: Focus On Centrepieces

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog: Wedding Ideas Magazine

January 2012: Focus on Accessory Ideas

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog: Wedding Ideas Magazine

By the way, if you are wondering, that gorgeous headpiece in the main image above is by Brides Up North Featured Supplier, HT Headwear, and was taken by super snapper Elizabeth Lois. “Belinda” is available to buy priced £85 from the HT Headwear website. Watch out for the full range of gorgeous headpieces by HT Headwear and shot by Elizabeth Lois coming soon on Brides Up North.