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Well helloooooooo Brides Up North!  It’s 2013!

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We survived apocalypse (and Mum’s trifle) – so lets blearily prise open our glitter heavy lids and welcome in this brand New Year with a bang!  Whether you just slipped your sparkler onto that ring finger (Congratulations you!) or are preparing to say I do imminently: it’s all to play for, and I can promise you another – bigger and better – 12 months of gorgeous weddings, helpful features, supplier showcases, diary dates, inspiration galore and of course, some very special collaborations and surprises here on these swirly silver pages.

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It’s pretty, it’s useful and it’s local to you.  And it’s coming right up.  Welcome to the Northern Revolution!

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I’ve spent a lovely Christmas break relaxing with friends and family, catching my breath after a whirlwind year (if you are just joining the party then you can read all about a busy 2012 here, find out all about me here and about the wedding blog in general here) and preparing for a fast paced start to 2013.

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As well as getting ready to welcome our first Brides Up North baby – currently cooking nicely! – welcoming a new member of staff to the team, putting the finishing touches to a raft of freelance bridal features and planning some rather snazzy tweaks to this here website (coming soon!), I’ve been up to my ears in packing boxes as we get ready to ship out to our brand new home and Brides Up North’s sparkly new headquarters in a few days’ time.  Phew.  After all, if you don’t do it all at once, why do it at all?*

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*Not advised

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I’ve adored recapping some of my very favourite Real Weddings from 2012 on the wedding blog over the last week or so – there was a whole lot of stunning going on last year!  If you’ve had a break from your computer screens over the last 10 days then why not take some time to catch up.  Inspiration overload! 

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And you know what? I think things are only going to get prettier around these parts in 2013.  I already have an inbox busting with beautiful submissions that I can’t wait to share with you.  Come to think of it, the packing can wait!

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We are also looking ahead to a full season of Brides Up North bridal events – across three regions this season – at painstakingly selected partner venues packed with the very best of each area’s bridal supplier talents.  What these people and places can add to YOUR big day is unfathomable, and it’s all there and waiting for you.

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I LOVE meeting our readers in real life – and have so many tips, hints and recommendations up my sleeve to share with you in person – so make sure to diarise at least one of our free entry (yep, you read that right) Luxury Wedding Exhibitions this season and come along to say hello.  If you can’t make an event, make sure to check out our Directory of the regions’ finest too. 

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YORKSHIRE: Brides Up North Luxury Wedding Exhibition at Allerton Castle, Knaresborough – Sunday 17th February 2013 (12pm – 4pm, Free Entry) – 40 of the region’s very finest suppliers in this stunning North Yorkshire castle setting, rarely open for public viewing. This venue is magical and has to be seen to be believed.

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NORTH EAST: Brides Up North Bridal Bonanza Grand Wedding Exhibition at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield – Sunday 24th February 2013 (12pm – 4pm, Free Entry) – A huge show with 80+ of the North East’s best bridal exhibitors at this 4* country house venue – the setting for my own wedding, actually, with huge banqueting spaces and beautiful parkland. Throw in two professional fashion shows and this will be a day jam packed with wedding inspiration

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YORKSHIRE: Brides Up North Luxury Wedding Exhibition at The Mansion, Leeds – Sunday 3rd March 2013 (12pm – 4pm, Free Entry) - One for the fashionistas, this chic private wedding venue on the edge of Roundhay Park will host the most beautiful celebrations and will be full of the area’s best suppliers for one day only.

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NORTH EAST: Brides Up North Super Showcase Grand Wedding Exhibition at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham – Sunday 17th March 2013 (12pm – 4pm, Free Entry) - The big one! Our biggest event in the calendar sees over 100 of the North East’s most fabulous suppliers all under one roof, plus two professional fashion shows. Don’t miss it! Seriously.

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YORKSHIRE: Brides Up North Luxury Wedding Exhibition at Nostell Priory, Wakefield – Sunday 7th April 2013 (12pm – 4pm, Free Entry) - This stunning stately home and newly renovated event space is one not to miss from your venue hunt. Browse the National Trust gardens and parkland before stopping by to meet over 35 of the area’s top wedding suppliers.

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YORKSHIRE: Brides Up North Luxury & Vintage Grand Wedding Exhibition at The National Railway Museum, York – Sunday 21st April 2013 (10am- 5pm, Free Entry) - A huge and premium brand new show at a VERY exciting new venue! Join over 60 of Yorkshire’s absolute finest exhibitors at Brides Up North’s first ever luxury and vintage event in the heart of York. The beautiful vintage trains will keep the boys happy 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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NORTH WEST: Brides Up North Luxury & Vintage Wedding Exhibition at The Bowdon Rooms, Altrincham – Sunday 19th May 2013 (12pm – 4pm, Free Entry) - The North West’s most fabulous will be joining us for a day of inspiration at this beautiful, authentic space. Our first show in the North West, and one most definitely for the diary.

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All our Brides Up North events in 2012 were sell outs on exhibitor space with a record attendance for every venue, so if you are an exhibitor please do get in touch for details soon to avoid disappointment.

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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 THE EVENT VENUE OF YOUR CHOICE e.g. “Hardwick Hall” 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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I’d also love to hear from those of you who tied the knot in 2012 and perhaps even feature your own Real Wedding on these pages.  I accept submissions from brides and grooms, photographers, planners and other wedding vendors, and as well as weddings, I also love to see engagement session photographs, couples shoots, trash the dress, cherish the dress and styled session photographs. I accept wedding submissions of all themes, sizes, religions and gay weddings.  From intimate do-it-yourself-dos with a difference to big budget blow outs, I believe that every wedding is special. I want to share in your day and help to inspire tens of thousands of other brides to be across the North of the UK and the wider web. Click here to see some of the most recent beauties on the blog. And it’s so simple too! Just click here to find out how to submit a Real Wedding.

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Before we say goodbye until tomorrow when the usual twice daily blogging schedule resumes with gusto and I let you get back to whatever you should be doing this first morning back in the office (I know, I’d make planning your wedding a salaried role too, but they just haven’t caught on upstairs yet) make sure that today is the day that you click through and join our community over on Twitter and Facebook.  I can’t always fit all the newest news and offers from my Featured Suppliers into a blog post, so that’s where you’ll find all the hottest gossip first.  Plus plenty of extra pretty, musings and tips.  Go, go, go!

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I’d also love to encourage even more interactivity here on the blog pages in 2013 too.  Never feel shy to leave a comment on a post, ask a Featured Supplier a question at the end of an interview, tell our real brides exactly what you loved about their wedding, track down where items were sourced from or just say hello.  It’s dead easy and we are all ears.  This is YOUR blog, so get the discussion going! 

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To start you off, why not leave a comment on this post to tell us about your wedding plans in 2013, your perfect proposal or simply say hola!  I’d LOVE to hear from you.

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Happy New Year!

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Julia x

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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2013 Karen McGowran 

This is not a sponsored post

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

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