June 18th, 2013 |
Brides Up North: UK Wedding Blog
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Its holiday season here on the blog, and as the team take a break until to rest and recharge for the second half of what’s set to be the biggest and best year year yet at Brides Up North HQ, we’ll be leaving you with a reduced blogging schedule so that you still get your daily dose of wedding pretty.
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Usual service will recommence on 1st July 2013, but in the meantime watch out for recaps of our favourite Real Weddings so far in 2013, plenty of eye candy, new features that we won’t be able to wait to share, some special supplier showcases and a couple of surprises too!
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As soon as this beautiful Real Wedding landed in my inbox, courtesy of Brides Up North Featured Supplier Damian Hall Photography, I got to blogging! First shared back on Valentine’s Day this year, I couldn’t wait to spread the love with the prettiest pink peonies, the finest of details and the widest of smiles which really make this elegant and romantic country house wedding one to write home about.
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Just blissful.
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Michelle says: We got engaged in July 2010 at the beautiful Great John Street Hotel in Manchester and we were married on Saturday 19th May 2012 at St Oswalds Church in Askrigg, Yorkshire Dales and had our reception at Yorebridge House, Bainbridge, Yorkshire Dales.
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As soon as we arrived at Yorebridge House we fell in love with the boutique hotel. The setting is picture perfect with its beautiful and stylish décor, intimate surroundings and amazing food we knew it was perfect. The best thing was having the entire hotel to ourselves from the moment we arrived on the Friday evening till we checked out on the Sunday morning.
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We chose an elegant and romantic country wedding theme, with a colour scheme of ivory and pale pink.
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I chose ‘Susanna’ by Lyn Ashworth from Choola in Eccleshall, Sheffield. My dress was simply beautiful with a strapless lace bodice and a full silk and organza skirt. In the evening I added a sash to my dress that matched my bridesmaid dresses to make it look a little different. My gorgeous headdress was by HF Couture.
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My bridesmaids wore full length Dessy dresses in persian plum from White Lace & Promises in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire. My flower girl wore an ivory dress from John Lewis.
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We travelled in a silver Bentley Continental Flying Spur from Beaus & Belles. Our favourite part of the day was getting in the wedding car straight after the ceremony and going for some photographs in the most amazing locations, whilst sipping Veuve Clicquot!
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My flowers – by Mat at Red Floral Architecture – determined the time of year we got married as my favourite flowers are Peonies. I carried a bouquet full of ivory peonies with crystal and pearl detail and my bridesmaids carried bouquets of pale pink peonies with matching pearl detail. My table decorations were masses of pale pink peonies set on tall candelabras with ivory pearls hanging from the candelabras.
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We had a signature board with a picture from our pre wedding shoot (arranged through our photographer) for guests to write messages on instead of using a guest book. We had a wedding wish tree where guests hung their well wishes and advice for us to read. Our sweet shop proved very popular and looked really pretty after collecting different vintage jars from our travels.
We chose an ivory four tiered traditional cake by Diva Cakes with ruffles on every other tier. We had four different fillings; chocolate fudge, vanilla & jam sponge, cappuccino and lemon.
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We chose Samantha Murphy to sing at our reception. She sang everything from Adele and Eva Cassidy to Oasis and The Killers and got everybody on the dance floor.
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After the wedding we enjoyed a fabulous honeymoon – we went to Barbados for our first week and St Lucia for our second week.
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My top tip for other Brides Up North would be that feeling relaxed and comfortable with your photographer is paramount as they play such an important role on your wedding day with the planning and organisation needed. Our photographer Damian Hall Photography and his Wife Charlotte were amazing, they really made our day extra special and made us enjoy every minute of our wedding day. Their work really does speak for itself; we have the most amazing Queensbury Album that we will enjoy looking at for years to come.
April 28th, 2013 |
Brides Up North: UK Wedding Blog
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Although I’m officially “off duty” today – my first Sunday being busy doing absolutely nothing in quite a while bloomin’ ages, and for quite a while bloomin’ ages to come – I couldn’t resist popping in to share this beautiful Real Wedding sent to me by bride and groom Claire & John and Brides Up North Featured Supplier Damian Hall Photography.
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As a blogger (and avid consumer of anything pretty) I frequent lots of blogs myself – a very mixed bag of the wedding, celebrity, news, humour and lifestyle varieties – and I’m always saddened by the general weekend down time. Us bloggers do need weekends off sometimes too – a twice daily feature schedule, busy freelance schedule and nearly twenty Brides Up North wedding exhibitions and Brides Up North events in 2013 to organise does not a lot of free time make – but I do like to keep things interesting around here on a Saturday and Sunday.
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So without further ado, lets get stuck into today’s lovely celebration and meet our bride and groom (who make a rather cute comedy duo in their interview)!
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Claire says: We got engaged in St Paul’s Bay in Rhodes in August 2010 and were married on 6th October 2012 at Crow Hill Cottage in Marsden. We wanted an exclusive use venue where we wouldn’t bump into other people getting married on the day. We really liked Crow Hill when we first went to visit- it is a unique venue in a lovely location and has a marquee outside. Our families stayed at Crow Hill the night before and after the wedding, which really made the weekend special.
. John says: It was quite near me mam’s house, and the catering staff offered pie and mash as an option for the wedding breakfast.
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John: Our wedding coordinator Rebecca offered lots of different themes for the day (though you were free to design your own if you were feeling creative)! We opted for a clean, contemporary theme with crystals and candles and a silver and teal colour scheme.
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Claire: My dress was long and white with one shoulder strap. It was from Gorgeous Brides in Wakefield and designed by Venus Bridal.
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The bridesmaids wore silver dresses from Coast, with home-made white bands to match the wedding colour scheme.
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Claire: I chose to carry a bouquet of silk flowers from Ups A Daisy Bridal Flowers. They also made buttonholes for John, my Dad, John’s Dad and the best man, and a matching cake topper.
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Claire: We arrived by Ford Fiesta the night before.
. John: Which was a magical experience.
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John: Seeing Claire in her wedding dress for the first time took my breath away.
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Claire: Entertainment wise,John’s friend Leavon played acoustic guitar and sang during the ceremony and drinks reception and Damian Hall Photography helped us to set up a fancy-dress photo booth for the evening, which was a lot of fun.
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Claire: Damian and Charlotte Hall were our photographers on the day. They did a fantastic job!
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Claire: We had some absolutely amazing food! Tracey at Crow Hill did two options for the wedding breakfast; pie and mash, and Mediterranean grilled chicken. The canapés were lovely, and bacon sandwiches in the evening were a great touch!
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Claire: I am allergic to eggs and dairy so cakes are kind of difficult! Mum made some lovely dairy-free cupcakes and a big cake on top to cut.
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Claire: My favourite part of the day was when we entered the marquee and everyone was upstanding to welcome Mr and Mrs Barnard!
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John: After the wedding we had a mini-moon in Venice, and stayed in a very cute (and tiny) hotel near St. Mark’s square. It was a great first holiday as husband and wife!
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Claire: I’d definitely recommend picking a venue where you can stay the weekend as it prolongs the celebrations a little bit! Having a couple of meal options is a good idea too, to make sure everyone is happy. .
John: Though obviously, pie and mash will do that for you.
February 19th, 2013 |
Brides Up North: UK Wedding Blog
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Have you been living under a rock?
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If not – and especially if you follow the blog over on Twitter and Facebook – you’ll probably have guessed that I am just a little bit excited about our newest SUPER show on the block, theBrides Up North Bridal Bonanza Grand Wedding Exhibition at the gorgeous 4* Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield, County Durham.
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Whoot!
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We are very proud to run OFFICIALLY the largest and most exciting FREE ENTRY bridal exhibitions in the North East (our last epic event at Hardwick’s sister hotel, Ramside Hall, attracted over 2,000 visitors in one afternoon – now that’s big!) with two specially choreographed professional fashion shows and almost (and sometimes over) 100 exhibitors at each, tempting on the day discounts and stuffed goody bags tailor made for each event. I might like things big and exciting, but I also like them personal.
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And yes, you read that right, the events are FREE ENTRY. Cos I love ya, baby.
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So, get the first of our huge North East events firmly in the diary (in indelible pen please) and come along to support the most fabulous wedding suppliers in your area – I only work with the best, dahlings – for an inspiration packed afternoon of all that is pretty, new and super gorgeous in the wedding industry. And the most important bit? Local to YOU.
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VIP Bride-To-Be registration is open at the North East’s Most Exciting New Bridal Event – The Brides Up North Bridal Bonanza Grand Wedding Exhibition at Hardwick Hall Hotel – Make sure to reserve your VIP Goody Bag while stocks last.
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Sunday 24th February 2013
The Brides Up North Bridal Bonanza Grand Wedding Exhibition
To register for a free Brides Up North VIP Bride-To-Be Goody Bag fill in your details below, marking “Hardwick Hall” in the subject line and quoting “VIP”. You can collect your VIP Bride-To-Be Goody Bag upon entry to the Bridal Bonanza.
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You can also email julia@bridesupnorth.co.uk if you do not wish to use the contact form. VIP Bride- To-Be Goody Bags are limited and subject to availability. We operate a first come, first served policy.
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And can I vouch for the beautiful 4* wedding venue that is Hardwick Hall Hotel? Well, I chose it to host my own wedding day back in October 2012 – a smattering of images below – and what’s a better recommendation than that?!
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My team and I work really hard for months in advance to make these events really special for our visitors (we started planning this event back in August)! Just some of the wonderful wedding people you will meet on Sunday 24th February 2013 include…
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Brides Up North (of course!), Beckwith Events,
Belle Bridal Magazine,
Cavanagh Couture,
Celebration Cakes,
Chiyo McMillan Photography,
Cordelia & Co,
Damian Hall Photography,
Dandy Events,
Daniel Lewis Photography,
Debenhams Wedding Gifts Metro Centre,
Eve Photography,
Exclusively Yours,
Gray Events Ltd,
GS Studio Photography,
GW Holmes & Son, Ideal
Photos,
IsaBelles Brides,
Just Perfect,
Kellen Dance Academy,
Kellys Event Boutique,
Limelight Photobooth Hire
, Little B Stationery,
LMS Events & Entertainments,
Lovedub Cars,
Martin Ker Photography,
Mia Sposa Bridal & Menswear,
Mobeus Jewellers,
Nigel Playle Photography,
Paul Lytton Magician,
Pure Wedding Stationery,
Roger Burlison Photography,
Rosemount Designs,
Ruby Shoes,
Sarah Ford Textiles,
Sareli Jewellery,
Snaparazzi Photo Booths,
The Psyche Department Store,
The Wedding Guide,
Village Photography,
What Katy Did Next,
Grange Photography,
Wild & Wonderful,
Kiss The Bride Magazine, Love Is Sweet Company,
Greenwoods,
Vision Hair & Beauty,
Wedding APP UK,
Wedding Pages,
Enchantments Florist,
Susan’s Bridal,
Millennium Limousines,
Elliott McCarthy,
Glitz and Glamour Hair & Makeup,
LPG Endermologie Clinic,
Jeff Dingle,
Everything But The Dress,
House Of Fraser, Molton & Brown and many more… .
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So, with that lovely lot waiting for you en masse, we’ll see you on Sunday!
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NEW EXHIBITORS – we are about to close sales for this season. To be a part of the magic and for exhibitor and pricing details please email me at julia@bridesupnorth.co.uk ASAP. Front page ads are just about to run across every huge title in the North East area.
February 18th, 2013 |
Brides Up North: UK Wedding Blog
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In this new blog series, The Editorials, I share my pre-published offline content, online. I write on a freelance basis for numerous regional and National glossies, and rather than be relegated to being rather posh chip paper, I thought that my words might be useful to my online readers who didn’t manage to pick up a print copy of my features. Double the pretty!
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The second instalment in this series (click here to see the first, focussing on the trend for all white weddings) catches up on a column I wrote for Wedding Magazine before Christmas, all about giving your groom some va-va-voom!
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I wrote: The days of identikit grooms are long gone. You might be preoccupied with selecting the perfect wedding gown, but you can bet that your other half is also giving some careful thought to his own wedding day look. For him too, this is a day where he wants raise the style stakes and feel that little bit special.
Luckily, there has never been more of a sartorial selection for a groom to choose from. Whether he is a traditionalist looking for a classically cut morning suit or an individual wanting to cut a dash with quirky accessories, it’s now acceptable for the groom to look beyond a hired waistcoat and cravat. Whilst it’s true that his choice of attire should complement the overall style of the bridal party, some of my favourite wedding day images are those where the personality of the groom shines through.
If he wants to keep his look classic, help him to stand out from the rest of the wedding party by choosing a different colour of tie or more elaborate buttonhole.
Rather than sticking to the status quo, encourage your man to mix things up with by adding a special touch. How about a colourful bow tie, socks, braces, sharp shoes or a neckerchief?
For a relaxed celebration or destination wedding he needn’t be trussed up like a turkey. Work with the style of his surroundings and opt for light fabrics and a pale colour palette.
If he’s decorated, this is his chance to show it off. I also love to see a groom in national dress: kilts at the ready boys, it’s time to show some leg!
February 14th, 2013 |
Brides Up North: UK Wedding Blog
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As soon as this beautiful Real Wedding landed in my inbox, courtesy of Brides Up North Featured Supplier Damian Hall Photography, I got to blogging! I couldn’t wait to share the prettiest pink peonies, the finest of details and the widest of smiles which really make this elegant and romantic country house wedding one to write home about.
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Just blissful. And the perfect way to round off Valentine’s Day here on the wedding blog. Stay lovely!
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Michelle says: We got engaged in July 2010 at the beautiful Great John Street Hotel in Manchester and we were married on Saturday 19th May 2012 at St Oswalds Church in Askrigg, Yorkshire Dales and had our reception at Yorebridge House, Bainbridge, Yorkshire Dales.
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.
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As soon as we arrived at Yorebridge House we fell in love with the boutique hotel. The setting is picture perfect with its beautiful and stylish décor, intimate surroundings and amazing food we knew it was perfect. The best thing was having the entire hotel to ourselves from the moment we arrived on the Friday evening till we checked out on the Sunday morning.
.
We chose an elegant and romantic country wedding theme, with a colour scheme of ivory and pale pink.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I chose ‘Susanna’ by Lyn Ashworth from Choola in Eccleshall, Sheffield. My dress was simply beautiful with a strapless lace bodice and a full silk and organza skirt. In the evening I added a sash to my dress that matched my bridesmaid dresses to make it look a little different. My gorgeous headdress was by HF Couture.
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.
.
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My bridesmaids wore full length Dessy dresses in persian plum from White Lace & Promises in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire. My flower girl wore an ivory dress from John Lewis.
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We travelled in a silver Bentley Continental Flying Spur from Beaus & Belles. Our favourite part of the day was getting in the wedding car straight after the ceremony and going for some photographs in the most amazing locations, whilst sipping Veuve Clicquot!
.
.
.
.
My flowers – by Mat at Red Floral Architecture – determined the time of year we got married as my favourite flowers are Peonies. I carried a bouquet full of ivory peonies with crystal and pearl detail and my bridesmaids carried bouquets of pale pink peonies with matching pearl detail. My table decorations were masses of pale pink peonies set on tall candelabras with ivory pearls hanging from the candelabras.
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We had a signature board with a picture from our pre wedding shoot (arranged through our photographer) for guests to write messages on instead of using a guest book. We had a wedding wish tree where guests hung their well wishes and advice for us to read. Our sweet shop proved very popular and looked really pretty after collecting different vintage jars from our travels.
We chose an ivory four tiered traditional cake by Diva Cakes with ruffles on every other tier. We had four different fillings; chocolate fudge, vanilla & jam sponge, cappuccino and lemon.
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.
.
.
.
We chose Samantha Murphy to sing at our reception. She sang everything from Adele and Eva Cassidy to Oasis and The Killers and got everybody on the dance floor.
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After the wedding we enjoyed a fabulous honeymoon – we went to Barbados for our first week and St Lucia for our second week.
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My top tip for other Brides Up North would be that feeling relaxed and comfortable with your photographer is paramount as they play such an important role on your wedding day with the planning and organisation needed. Our photographer Damian Hall Photography and his Wife Charlotte were amazing, they really made our day extra special and made us enjoy every minute of our wedding day. Their work really does speak for itself; we have the most amazing Queensbury Album that we will enjoy looking at for years to come.
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Damian Hall Photography will be exhibiting along with the rest of Yorkshire’s finest at the first Brides Up North Luxury Wedding Exhibition of the year, at Allerton Castle. Come along and say hello – the event is FREE ENTRY and is open to the public from 12pm – 4pm.
