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So. I’m a little confused.  It appears to be January 7th, the Christmas decorations have come down (in fact, due to our home and office move, ours never went up – sob!) and I’m not sure if I can’t quite believe that it’s already January 7th, or can’t quite believe that it’s only January 7th.

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This Christmas season and (especially) this first week in January has been the busiest time ever here at Brides Up North HQ. And we are loving it!  Visits to the blog are looking seriously healthy (hello to our new readers, welcome!) and numbers over on our lovely Twitter and Facebook pages are swelling.  We look set to pip the 10,000 point soon over on Twitter!  Wow.  Join the party over there too!

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After a busy few weeks behind the scenes we also have some amazing new talents to add to our Featured Supplier Directory over the next few weeks and introduce to you here on these pages too.  Brides Up North would be nothing, nada, without the fabulous regional industry that supports it so wholeheartedly, and I am thrilled to be able to spread the news about these great wedding suppliers right on your door step.  Forget that train ticket to London, spend the cash on sparkly shoes instead!  That’s my kind of budgeting. 

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December was also a very social month for us at Brides Up North.  We hosted our first ever Christmas party at the wonderful Thorp Perrow, which was an unbelievably marvellous occasion – more on that in a minute – and also threw open exhibitor bookings for our brilliant set of luxury wedding exhibitions at hand picked venues across the regions for 2013.  You can read more about our choice of dates and venues – and get involved – by clicking here. 

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January will see a little more hibernation from me, as I get ready to welcome our first Brides Up North baby in a couple of months time, and that unfortunately means no jaunts to the capital to see who picks up the prizes in the two awards ceremonies that I was honoured to judge this season – The Wedding Industry Awards (this Wednesday) and The Wedding Ideas Magazine Awards (this Friday).  Aside from the fact that I have no sparkles and sequins to fit – and only sparkles and sequins will do – Champagne is off the menu and I get a little cranky past 9pm these days.  I hope that you all have a wonderful time and I’ll see you next year – when Champagne, sparkles and sequins will be very much back on the agenda! I only judged the Southern categories and those that didn’t include my Featured Suppliers, so I am rooting for my home grown talents to bring home the shiny mantelpiece furniture! Go guys!

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Just because I’m being a little quieter this month, that doesn’t mean that things here on the wedding blog will be!  If anything, I’m overcompensating (I’m like that).  I have an action packed schedule of gorgeous ready for you and am putting the finishing touches to those inspiration packed bridal events that I mentioned earlier.  Take note: this season is going to be good. 

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I also am joined in our new office by our first member of staff (say hello to Kate, I’ll be introducing her properly later on) who’ll be helping with bookings and generally being scarily efficient and organised, so at last I have someone to bounce my (sometimes crazy) ideas off!  If you come across her, as always, give her a kiss from me. Thing’s ain’t slowing down around these parts.  Why would they?  We’re Northern… we like challenges!

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Before we get too excited with all things new though, lets take a moment to look back and recap on the fantastic Brides Up North Christmas Party, with some pretty pictures from friend of the wedding blog, Ruth Mitchell Photography.

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On a cold, foggy night in December, over 150 (!) of the regional wedding industry’s finest (some travelling for up to four hours to be there – you guys are amazing) descended upon the beautiful stately pile that is CWC Events’ latest baby, and brand new Brides Up North luxury wedding venue, Thorp Perrow, North Yorkshire.

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Brides to be: if you haven’t booked your venue yet – you HAVE to check this place out.  Contact Clive at CWC Events who not only knows how to prep the perfect “advanced canapé”, but also has extremely good taste in wedding venues and will be more than happy to assist.

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We came, we cocktailed, we quaffed champagne, we feasted on those gorgeous canapés, we posed, we caught up and we partied.  And – I don’t say this lightly – it was truly fabulous (and very Christmassy).

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Massive thanks must go to the superbly talented Joanna at Twisted Willow Floristry, who worked tirelessly to turn the beautiful grand rooms into a floral paradise with her own “twisted” take on Christmas.  Twinkling trees, blood red blooms, flickering candles, piles of juicy apples, pale pink roses entwined around storm lanterns and a rather marvellous twiggy amaryllis Christmas tree festooned the place and created a wonderland.  Just the look we were going for!

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Live carols at the piano along with the dulcet Christmas swing tones of Glen Roughead (he’s seriously good) filled the air, followed up later with classic crackling Christmas and party tunes from Vintage 78 DJs’ decks.  Looking for music for your big day?  Look no further than these two original acts, whether it’s smooth swing or an authentic retro vibe that you are going for.  You can catch both of them at some of our Brides Up North Luxury Wedding Exhibitions this season. 

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Kelly’s Event Boutique lent their event dressing skills to provide some poser tables around which we could, er, pose, and Robineau brought along the tastiest mince pies to compliment CWC Events’ smorgasbord of delights and spicy mulled wine. 

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Steven from Forever Film was there to capture the action as it unfolded – more from him later on – and the girls from Limelight Photobooth Hire brought their roomy booth to capture the sillier moments.  Catch up on those photos by clicking here. 

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All in all, a cracking night in at Thorp Perrow, and one that I think the wedding industry will remember for a while.  As I fell into bed – absolutely cream crackered – at 2:30am, I felt really proud to know such a bunch of people who know how to party so fabulously.

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Until next time!

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If you would like to see this amazing wedding venue for yourself, and it’s even better in the summer, then make sure to diarise our first ever Brides Up North Luxury Wedding Exhibition at Thorp Perrow on Sunday 12th May 2013.  Over 40 of the region’s finest luxury suppliers will be in attendance in our marquee, and the house will be open for viewing too. 

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NORTH YORKSHIRE: Brides Up North Luxury Wedding Exhibition at Thorp Perrow, North Yorkshire– Sunday 12th May 2013 (12pm – 4pm, Free Entry) - The one everyone is dying to see, this newly-open-to-the-public venue throws open it’s doors with it’s first ever bridal event this Summer. Bring a picnic, you won’t want to leave!

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If you would like to beat the queues, gain speedy entry and grab yourself a FREE Brides Up North Goody Bag packed with treats from Brides Up North and sponsors like House of Fraser, Debenhams, Belle Bridal Magazine, Yorkshire Bride as well as HUNDREDS of pounds worth of on-the-day-only exhibitor discounts – while stocks last only – you can be an early bird and pre-register for VIP Bride to Be access now. What are you waiting for?

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Simply use the contact form below, stating “THORP PERROW” in the subject box and “VIP Bride To Be” in the body section. Only the bride need register for larger groups.

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You can also email me direct at julia@bridesupnorth.co.uk if you do not wish to use the contact form.

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EXHIBITOR ENQUIRIES: Exhibitors will be strictly limited by category and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. All ten Brides Up North events in 2012 were sell outs on exhibitor space with a record attendance for every venue. Consequently, we expect demand for these shows to be very high. Get in touch as soon as possible to guarantee your place.

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Please email julia@bridesupnorth.co.uk for exhibitor booking and pricing information. 

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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2013 Ruth Mitchell Photography & Limelight Photobooth Hire

CWC Mailings is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier, but this is not a sponsored post

Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier

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