How to achieve dream hair for your wedding day

Our celebrity hair stylist Errol Douglas shares his top tips on how to achieve picture perfect hair for your wedding day

Start Early - it is vital that you have a good consultation which allows you to think about colour and growing short hair long

Watch the bleach on the beach - if you are having your hair bleached you need to consider the adverse effects strong sun may have on the look of your hair. If you are getting married in an exotic location or planning a beach honeymoon, make sure you consider which products you use very carefully.

Make sure that your veil is not too heavy, time after time I see brides who have amazing hair that is immediately flattened by a veil that is too heavy.

Practice makes perfect, make sure you have at least 2-3 trials including the use of any hairpieces well before your wedding day.

Never wash your hair on the big day; it will simply strip your hair of the natural oils which help the finished look stay looking great for longer.

Never style your hair with too much hair on your face as what looks great in real life can act as a mask in photographs. Your wedding album will be kept forever so you must consider how your hair is going to look when photographed.

Most importantly of all wearing your hair up is not for everyone if you feel it doesn’t suit you trust your instincts and wear your hair in a way that makes you look best.

www.erroldouglas.com

The Exhibitors Story – Part 3

OMG. I know things are stressful when we are communicating in acronyms. With only two full days left in the office (one by the time you read this) before we have to pack everything up and take it down to Earls Court for The National Wedding Show, our favourite acronyms in indisputably ASAP.

Please can we have the leaflets ASAP? Please can you arrange special delivery for those shoes, ASAP? Artwork for posters? Ah yes...ASAP. AAMOF I would LOL if I wasn’t so PANIC stricken. And that’s not an acronym, in case you’re wondering, it is in BIG letters because it is BIG panic.

However, we are making progress now. The backdrop to the stand is now printed (cough..hum..nearly) and all the artwork for posters and leaflets is signed off. We have enquiry forms (you’d better do some serious enquiring, people) and a fantastic Alter Ego competition and exclusive show offer.

Our outfits for the show are planned, we know who is working on which days, and the hotel rooms are booked. I have an email to confirm that our exhibitors’ passes are ready, and we’ve even got down to the nitty-gritty ‘flowers’ and ‘sweets’ level of detail – which is reassuring.
I have to admit, the costs do grow as you get closer to the show. We started with a really detailed budget but still there are little add-ons which creep up. One of the biggest areas for this, for us, has been printed items. My advice to any potential exhibitors: really plan your printed material to make sure it is ‘multi-functional’ (for example, we have one form to handle enquiries and competition entries) and shop around to get the best prices. However, it still is, without doubt, one of the most cost-effective ways of talking (properly) to 20,000 people.

So, more importantly, about that competition I mentioned. We will be offering one bride a complete Alter Ego Vintage Hen Party for up to four people in our free prize draw. The lucky Hen will get to bring her three Chicks to the studio for a full day of pampering and vintage styling. In addition to the fab sets and props, inspirational photography, and wonderfully friendly team...we’ll also provide a light lunch and a few glasses of bubbly. Plus every guest will get a gorgeous, complementary framed print of the day. I can promise you with absolute confidence (and experience), it beats propping up the bar in some dodgy nightclub hands-down. It is classy, relaxed, indulgent and hugely good fun – and you will have the pictures to treasure for a lifetime.

We are all getting exceptionally excited about Friday. I simply cannot wait to see what the stand looks like in real-life, speak to the visitors at the show, and find out what they think about Alter Ego. And, as this is the first wedding show we have attended, I’m sure it will be a real eye-opener.

This will be my last post before the show (you haven’t seen my to-do list), but I can’t wait to meet you all over the weekend. If you’ve got this far...thank you for listening!
The last few weeks have, as they say, been emotional...
B4N!

Erica

Erica from Alter Ego Portraits:http://www.alteregoportraits.com/www.facebook.com/alteregoportraitsor call 01604 871187

The exhibitor’s story – Part 2

One minute we were four weeks away, and then – we blinked – and now there are only two weeks left. How did that happen?

The National Wedding Show is looming large on our horizon at the moment. Have you ever had one of those dreams where you turned up at your wedding with no frock and a bad-hair day? (No? Maybe that was just me then....erm...anyhow...) Well, I have definitely had a dream that we were standing at the wedding show in an empty stand – or ‘shell scheme’ as the exhibitors’ pack calls us..

So, what have we done? Firstly we have moved up a gear today. Gone are the chocolate hobnobs, we’re on the serious stuff now. Oh yes. Krispy Kreme doughnuts are now powering our organisational skills.

We have spent the last two weeks designing, and redesigning, stand graphics. Taking a brand and converting it into a 2m x 2m stand, we have found, is a tricky business. As with all forms of marketing, people look at different media in different ways – what works in a gift voucher pack, isn’t necessarily going to work on an email – and all the team had different ideas about how Alter Ego should be presented.

We did all decide that it needs to be simple and striking, but we decided to get advice and ask the experts – so we picked up the phone and called (the wonderfully patient) Gabi, the Marketing Manager at The National Wedding Show. Her advice was to think about our objectives and to consider doing something interactive on the stand. For example, do we want to hand out three thousand leaflets, or do we want to be able to talk to people after the show?

In previous years, exhibitors have created interest by having stilt-walkers on the stand and women in wedding dresses – both of which made the stands and the companies memorable. Gabi also recommended continuing the themes from our website and gave the example of the lovely lady from a business called Shoot It Yourself who pulled this off perfectly and had great success at the last show.

In addition, she suggested overlaying the shell scheme with beautiful wall paper or a back-drop to create an environment which draws people in, and encourages them to investigate further.
So, we now have a background which we all love. It is simple, elegant and carries on our branding from all of the other work we are doing in the studio, in our literature, in the press and online. We had a fabulous vintage hen-party shoot last week, and the girls have kindly said we can use some of these fantastic shots for our literature. And, we also have a few tricks up our sleeves which will hopefully cause a bit of a stir during the show. We just need to find a way of getting all of the equipment down to London on the set-up day. Van anyone?
Erica from Alter Ego Portraits:

http://www.alteregoportraits.com/
www.facebook.com/alteregoportraits
or call 01604 871187

Tips for brides speeches on the big day!

I gave a wink to our MC and took the microphone. No one knew I was going to make a speech and up until that point, I was not sure if I was going to do it either. There were some things that I wanted to say too, and anyone who knows me realises that I am not one to keep quiet!!! However standing up in front of the most important people in your life can be quite daunting. The best advice I can give when making your wedding speech is look at it like as if it is a skirt – long enough to cover the essentials, but short enough to be interesting! I was also told – don’t try to be funny – you wont be, but I am pleased to say I had them all laughing in their seats just from my general anecdotes and stories of situations that might arise in day-to-day life. The point of my speech was to toast to friendship – they give me a unique blend of affection, loyalty, love, respect, trust and best of all - loads of fun!!

If you would like to say a few words, but like me are not sure if you have the confidence in front of your guests, visit the Bridal Confidence coaching Clinic at the National Wedding Show. Michelle Paradise is on hand to give you tips to feel confident in yourself and keep your emotions in check. If you use her tips to help you through the ceremony and posing for your pictures - by the time you get to the point of standing up in front of 100 guests you will be feeling fabulous!

Just one last thing to remember – everyone who will be sharing your special day loves you and will be embracing the magic. Enjoy it!!!

An exhibitors story - Part 1

Yesterday, life in the studio was cracking on as merrily as ever. Today, panic has set in and we are all sitting looking at the longest to-do list any of us has ever seen. What happened? What else – The National Wedding Show of course.

I’m not sure who’s idea it was, although I think we all talked each other into this (helped in no small amount by the lovely Kelly at The National Wedding Show team) but I have a feeling life is just about to get very, very busy.

It will be brilliant. We have no doubt. The National Wedding Show is the perfect place for us to showcase our services and, as this is the first time that Alter Ego Portraits has done anything like this – we figured we ought to do it properly!

So, where to start? The contract has gone back, and we know the stand number (K2, just in case you are wondering) which we have chosen because it is in the corner of the exhibition space near to the toilets. Unlike in a restaurant - this is a positive thing. Apparently, there is reliable research which demonstrates visitors at the show go to the toilet 2.4 times during their visit, so everyone is very likely to see us at least 2.4 times after they have powdered their noses! You have to admit, it makes sense.

The first step this morning was to consider the space we have. We have marked out the equivalent size space on the floor in our studio using masking tape. Then, we all stood in it and wondered how we would fit everything in. Then we sat down, had a coffee and some biscuits (think this could be a regular feature of the next few weeks) and looked at the masking tape for a bit longer. It didn’t make it any bigger. However, the coffee and the biscuits did the trick and we now have a plan in our minds for the furniture we need on the stand.

Practical stuff first. We have albums and pictures that we need to display, so we need something for them to be perched on. However, this display needs to draw visitors onto the stand, not block their access. We need storage space for leaflets and vouchers, and we need to make sure the stand feels open and welcoming. Do we build it ourselves (this could be a very interesting set-up day), or do we find existing pieces we can personalise? I feel a trip to some well know furniture shops coming on....

Erica from Alter Ego Portraits: http://www.alteregoportraits.com/ , www.facebook.com/alteregoportraits or call 01604 871187.

Win a Benjamin Roberts wedding dress at the show courtesy of hitched.co.uk

No one said that planning a wedding was easy. From viewing and choosing the perfect wedding venue to booking the photographer, DJ and honeymoon a wedding planning couple work hard together as a team to create and organise a magical day.

One of the biggest parts of a wedding budget, and something that will guide the style of any day is the all important wedding dress. Typically this would be something that a bride purchases with the help of her bridesmaids or mother, however how would you like to involve your groom and give him the chance to win you your beautiful gown!

Hitched.co.uk know how important your wedding dress will be as you walk down that aisle, and therefore we are giving your groom the opportunity to play a major part in what will be one of the most important moments of your big day.

By simply playing and winning 3 straight games of pool in a row your groom, or yourself, will be entered into a draw to win a Blue by Enzoani designer wedding dress, plus a cocktail dress from the LOVE collection for the evening, or A £1200 contribution towards an Enzoani collection dress plus a cocktail dress from the LOVE collection for the evening.

If your groom has taken a back seat when it comes to helping you plan your big day then bring him down to the hitched.co.uk stand at the National Wedding Show for a game, or 3, of pool. The hitched team will be at both London and Birmingham in order to raise awareness to your grooms on how important your wedding dress is to you, the fabulous bride.

Visit http://www.hitched.co.uk/ for further information

A hen for the weekend

Our blogging bride Grace celebrated her official send off to married life at the weekend surrounded by her hens

After 10 months of planning my much awaited hen weekend was finally upon us, and despite the torrential rain (well it is England) a fantastic time was had by all. 17 of my bessie mates, family and family-to-be descended on Bournemouth for a girly weekend from as far afield as South Africa.

On Friday night, a girly night was planned – my maid of honour Katherine, arranged for a pamper party service to come to the house (decked in Hen Party decorations!), so we had treatments such as massages, facials and pedicures in between sips of cocktails and girly banter. National Wedding Show exhibitor ‘Blush’ offer a great pamper party package; see the website for more details http://www.blush.uk.com/parties.php. My bridesmaid Louise also surprised us with some fun games which were a hoot after a few rounds of drinks.

On Saturday our beach picnic was rained off so we had afternoon tea which my maid of honour planned – as I have mentioned in a previous blog, I am a cake fanatic so it really was my heaven!
In the evening we all got glammed up and went to an amazing restaurant overlooking the sea – my mum had arranged for us to hire the private room, which was basically a glass box perched on a cliff, very dramatic and the food was amazing. No hen party is complete without dancing the night away, my bridesmaid Louise arranged for us to go to a club where my all time favourite DJ was playing; I was over the moon!

All in all it was a wonderful send off for me into the world of marriage-hood, spent with the people who mean more to me than anything. My bridesmaids’, friends and family went to so much effort to make sure it really was perfect!

A hen party should be something personal to you, for some more unusual ideas for hen parties, the National Wedding Show has it all – from haunted house experiences with Haunted Happenings http://www.hauntedhappenings.co.uk/ to bridal confidence coaching with an ex supermodel Michele Paradise https://mail.goodresults.co.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.micheleparadise.com/bigday, dance workshops with Dance Experiences https://mail.goodresults.co.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.dancexperiences.co.uk to bespoke millinery courses with luxury hat maker Janie Lawson www.janielawson.com/janielawsonmillc.html

Hitched.co.uk have teamed up with the NWS to give you the chance to win a designer wedding dress plus a cocktail dress for the evening

Play and win 3 games of pool!

Simply play and win 3 consecutive games of pool against 3 different opponents to be entered into a draw to win.

You could even double your chances by bringing along your husband to be!

Win yourself a Blue by Enzoani designer wedding dress, plus a cocktail dress from the LOVE collection for the evening

or

A £1200 contribution towards an Enzoani collection dress plus a cocktail dress from the LOVE collection for the evening

Additionally, visit the hitched.co.uk stand and register with us to be entitled to a 10% voucher towards an Enzoani wedding dress to be redeemed at participating stockist's. Plus a 10% voucher towards the hitched.co.uk Wedding Shop.

Visit www.hitched.co.uk for further information

Terms and Conditions Apply

Food Glorious Food…

Our blogging bride Grace continues on her quest to plan the perfect wedding

Steven and I are unashamed to confess that we are real foodies! One of the massive draws of our chosen venue Haberdashers’ Hall was the award winning caterers that accompany it, Chester Boyd. We knew deciding on a menu for our 80 guests was going to be tough, so we ‘roped’ in my Mum and Dad to help us decide so they came along for the day. I hasten to add they didn’t need much persuading!

We spent a wonderful afternoon at Haberdashers’ Hall, we pre chose options for each course to taste – two amuse- bouche, two starters, two main courses and two desserts – all washed down with champagne! Each dish was as delicious as the next and we are still trying to decide between lamb or duck for a main.

With our gorgeous Ivy Ellen http://ivyellenweddinginvitations.co.uk/bespoke invites now in the post, we are eagerly awaiting our guests to RSVP so we make all the final arrangements with the venue and start the all important and much daunting task of the table plan!

Next stop - Bananas about cake

Next on the list of wedding ‘to-do’s’ was to choose our cake – as a passionate cake baker this has to be something really special! With so many options to choose from cupcakes, dessert cakes, cheesecakes, even Whoopie Pie cakes – my first stop was to ask some National Wedding Show exhibitors for advice – all of whom suggested that we go with what we really like rather than what is in fashion.

We decided pretty early on that we wanted a cake that looked very traditional (in keeping with our venue and theme) but should have a bit of a modern twist. With banana cake being my ultimate favourite and chocolate being Steven’s, we have chosen a layer of each to accompany the traditional fruit. We hope the four tier creation will impress our guests!

If you too are looking for a London based company to fulfil your cake dreams:
You will find stunning bespoke cakes at The Little Cakery http://www.thelittlecakery.co.uk/

For the ultimate cupcake tower The Humming Bird Bakery will impress http://hummingbirdbakery.com/

If traditional isn’t your bag, indulge in the ultimate dessert cake at The English Cheesecake Company http://www.englishcheesecake.com/

Wedding-tastic week! First stop – DRESS!

Bride to be Grace Dewhurst has had a wedding-tatsic week - managing to fit months of planning into a few days - we salute you!

Wow what a week! We seemed to do more in five days than five months. I started with the first fitting of my wedding dress and got see my beautiful ‘Samantha’ in the ‘flesh’ so to speak. Sassi Holford had certainly worked wonders as the dress did not need any alterations at all, and felt light as a feather despite the multitude of tulle!

Now I just need some suitable accessories to accompany ‘Samantha’ – I have chosen to have a mid length veil with simple satin edging and no blush so a sparkly headpiece would look fabulous.
A National Wedding Show favourite of mine, Juliann Beads http://www.julieannbeads.co.uk/ offer some really gorgeous combs – which are a lovely modern twist on a traditional wedding favourite. You can also order brooches to match which will really suit the drop waist line of the dress. My favourite range is Moonlight, which is a vintage style bridal chic mix of pearl and crystal.

For our first engagement anniversary Steven surprised me with Diamond earrings to match my engagement ring – so I will wear those for the day as my ‘something old’. I am hoping Mum might lend me her diamond necklace as my ‘something borrowed’!

Next stop - sorting out the cake..

Grace xx

Is it a Fashion Show...a Premiere...no it's a Wedding!!

I remember being at a wedding waiting for the guests to be seated and the bride to arrive and for a minute it felt like I was waiting for a fabulous couture fashion show to begin. There was this quiet chatting amongst the people waiting for the wedding to begin and the energy in the room was full of anticipation, excitement and optimism Although the ‘audience’ was calm, the music was soothing and atmosphere was electric, I knew that was going on ‘backstage’ was controlled chaos. There would have been months of preparation for the fashion show. A considerable amount of money is spent on music, the venue, the clothes, transportation, hair and makeup, shoes, fittings, photographers, videographers and the rest. You’re probably now confused as to which one I’m talking about, the fashion show or the wedding!

As the time nears for the music to start and the bride to walk down the aisle accompanied by her friends and family, the energy in the room intensifies...with the bride and bridal party as well as the audience members. And this is where the similarities end. The supermodels have been trained, have practiced and have done this many times before. They look calm, full of confidence and walk seamlessly down the catwalk as though they are walking down the street. They know where the cameras are even though they don’t acknowledge them. They look comfortable in their own skin and the new and extraordinary clothes they are wearing. Whereas the bride has probably never done this before and may have concerns about how they look, how to walk in the dress with high heels and a veil and not trip, what people think of her, will it be perfect, how will she look in the pictures, do they like her hair, her makeup, her shoes? How will she cope with being the centre of attention as she has never done that before? Questions, emotions, panic!

Relax...you can learn how to be the supermodel of your wedding. Models weren’t born knowing how to glide seamlessly down the catwalk even if they have the wrong size shoes on! You can too. I know this is a new concept but you spend so much time worrying about flowers, invitations, guests, cake, music, venue and many other things but how are you doing? You’ve probably never organised such a large event before and in addition to organising it you are the star of the show! That’s where I come in. I can teach you, quickly, how to feel confident on the inside and reflect that on the outside. How to buy the perfect wedding shoe and walk in it gracefully. How to work with the camera to get the best photos, find your best angle and not end up looking like a meringue, even if you have chosen reportage photos!

If you would like to feel more confident on the inside, look more confident on the outside, walk seamlessly and painlessly in your shoes, learn how to have great posture forever, find your best angles for the camera and thoroughly enjoy your big day, be sure to visit my Bridal Confidence Coaching sessions at the National Wedding Show – or, if you can't wait until then, visit http://www.thebridalcoach.co.uk/ for more information.

Invitation Inspiration!

We had to apply for a special licence from the Arch Bishop of Canterbury in order to get married at St Bartholomew the Great and just received confirmation today! Yay - so relieved, so the hunt for THE PERFECT invitation is now on. We want something unusual but to tie in with the antique theme of the wedding and my girly side…I have found almost sheer perfection on the Ivy Ellen website http://ivyellenweddinginvitations.co.uk/ and the ‘DIY’ option offered is a great idea to help save some pounds.

When the samples arrived on our doorstep from Ivy Ellen, the decision was instantly made, ‘Butterfly Love’ was heaven itself and with a colour choice of 55 – we can match our theme perfectly. The design even matches my wedding shoes, with butterflies and Swarovski crystal sparkles! We wasted no time in ordering the ‘ready made’ option of Wedding and Evening invitations. Now we just need to finalise the guestlist, easier said then done!

Grace x

Princess for a day!

Three months (of pretty much constant searching) later, I finally chose and ordered my beautiful Sassi Holford dress, I feel like such a princess in it. I wanted a dress that looked like a modern day version of Grace Kelly’s wedding dress and I found it! Although with its full tulle skirt, I do worry whether I will fit down the aisle. I spotted a fantastic shoe designer at the National Wedding Show last year in Luella’s Boudoir stand, www.luellasboudoir.co.uk her name is Aruna Seth. My shoes, gold leather with Swarovski crystal butterfly embellishments are very extravagant and exactly what I wanted for my big day (if I can resist the urge to wear them before then!).

At the last National Wedding Show, I spotted some stunning bridal designers with a penchant for all things vintage for example Ellie and Charlotte www.ellieandcharlotte.com and Vlasta Collu www.vlastacollu.com both make bespoke gowns with a classic twist, I particularly love the 1950’s style prom dresses in the latest collection - perfect for the bride looking for something a bit different from the norm.

If you want to add some accessories inspired by the bygone era to your special day, look no further than Rachel Simpson Shoes – the vintage styles are stunning http://rachelsimpsonshoes.co.uk/

Grace x

Venue fit for a queen!

Grace Dewhurst has worked on the PR team for NWS for many seasons and has recently gotten engaged to the lovely Steven. It’s so exciting for one of our own team members to be getting married! Grace has begun her mission to prepare for the big day and is letting us share her journey with her through her blog.

With the UK’s largest consumer wedding show at my finger tips, The National Wedding Show, I thought planning my own wedding would be a doddle. However, with just nine months to plan the perfect ‘City Wedding’, we’ll see how easy it really is…

My fiancé, Steven and I chose our church and venue almost immediately. We both loved The Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield Market, London, for its rich history and spooky interior (so spooky in fact, Steven had nightmares after we visited the Rector!) Also, we are both massive film fans and the church has played a big part in many films including Sherlock Homes, Four Weddings and a Funeral , Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and The Other Boleyn Girl to name just a few…followed by a reception at Haberdashers Hall, also in Smithfield Market.

We wanted a venue close by to the church and one that complemented the age of it (St Bartholomew the Great is more the 1,000 years old!). Of course, Haberdashers Hall was a perfect choice, modern in design but seeped in history, the hall is just a few second stroll. Although apparently on her last visit, the Queen took a chauffer from St Bartholomew’s to Haberdashers Hall!! Hopefully none of our guests will be feeling so regal.

With the venue sorted, it’s onto the next task on the list – tracking down the dream dress. Wish me luck!

Grace x

If you too are opting for a city chic wedding then why not check out the following National Wedding Show exhibitors:

The Grand Connaught Rooms www.grandconnaughtrooms.com
One Whitehall Place www.thistle.co.uk
Army and Navy Club www.armynavyclub.co.uk

Shoes glorious shoes!

I’m obsessed with shoes and Chris is obsessed with Whiskey and so we have decided to name half of our tables after Scottish Single Malts and the other half after my favourite shoe designers. Our guests will either sit at Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, Talisker, Ardberg, Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, or Terry de Havilland tables.

Yesterday, I was at the UK Fashion Export Awards and to my delight so was Terry de Havilland. I was so excited to meet the man himself and introduced myself to him. I gushed about how much I loved his shoes and told him I was actually going to name one of my wedding tables after him. He and his wife Liz were so sweet and we chatted for hours. They make bespoke shoes and said they would be able to make me my wedding shoes. I can’t believe it, I’m going to have a one-off pair of shoes made for the most important day of my life by one of my favourite designers. It’s so exciting!! Because my wedding dress is so traditional I’m going to go for really amazing shoes in the colour of my bridesmaid dresses (think Cadbury dairy milk purple) as I think it will add a really interesting twist. They’ll be something I cherish forever and knowing that nobody else in the world has a pair like them will make them all the more special.

There are lots of shoe companies that can create bespoke shoes for your big day and a number of them exhibited at the National Wedding Show. It’s a great way of having something really personal and unlike your dress you’ll be able to wear them time and time again. They are definitely worth investing in.

Luce x

No going back now the dress has been chosen

I’ve done it. I’ve made the decision. I’ve paid the deposit. I’ve started the diet… The dress has finally been chosen and there is now no going back. I’m still not sure if it’s The One as I just didn’t get that feeling that everyone talks about. Plus, because I work in fashion everyone expects me to go for something really “out there”. I’m actually going for something really traditional which goes against every initial thought I had but I’m lucky enough to have borrowed some amazing dresses for Awards ceremonies including Matthew Williamson, Escada and Vivienne Westwood in the past so I feel like I’ve done that and wanted to wear something that is totally different to anything I have worn before. The dress I’ve chosen is by Maggie Sottero who retails at the National Wedding show. I won’t tell you which one as I’m keeping it a secret from everyone but will promise to post a picture after the day. I’m actually getting married while the National Wedding Show is on in October. It’s such a great place to go for ideas. I went a few weeks after I got engaged and it really helped me to organise myself. If I wasn’t getting married while it is on I’d definitely go again!!

I have less than 5 months to go and have ordered the dress a size smaller than I am now so I definitely have some work to do. I’ve started going to Zumba which is a new exercise craze which is based on Latin/Street/African dancing. I’m not the most coordinated person so I’m hoping that this will help me squeeze into my dress and also help me with the dreaded first dance!!

Luce

xx

Planning a perfect day can seem easy compared to being the perfect bride!

There is so much to think and worry about on the big W day let alone the idea of being the centre of attention, having hundreds of photos taken, saying your vows in front of all your family and often the dreaded first dance... I am sure many brides out there love the limelight but some wall flowers amongst you may well be dreading certain elements of the big day. Thats why we have introduced a new feature to the Autumn National Wedding Shows focusing on Bridal confidence both ''inside and out''

Former model turned life coach, Michele Paradise will be holding 3 different sessions a day focusing on different needs of the modern bride, she will be teaching you how to exude confidence and remain calm during your ceremony as well as offering practical advice on how to walk in your fabulous wedding shoes, how to achieve the perfect posture and how to work the camera, baby!

Michele’s advice will ensure you look and feel fabulous on your big day and we are very excited to have her on board.

Were always keen to know whats keeping you awake at night - so feel free to comment and let us know, you never know we may have the perfect solution

Location, Location, Location

I’ve done it! It’s taken over 3 months, scores of venue visits and a few tears but I have finally set a date, secured a church, booked the venue and practically decided on my dress. I was so determined not to become bridezilla that I went the other way and became so laid back that I was complacent. Don’t make the same mistake!!! Thankfully the main elements of the day have been arranged so now I can just enjoy planning all the fun bits. Phew!

My venue* is the totally gorgeous Number One Marylebone, www.onemarylebone.com , voted no.2 in a list of the Top 20 venues in the UK by Event Magazine last year, and I’m thrilled to have managed to get the date I want. So on October 2nd 2010 I will leave the title of Miss Walsh behind and become Mrs Stott (except for work that is, well a girl has to keep some of her identity doesn’t she?).

My day will start at 2pm with a Roman Catholic service at the beautiful Farm Street Church in Mayfair. It’s right next door to Guy Richie’s pub the Punch Bowl so I can guarantee that my groom will be in there for a bit of Dutch courage before he steps foot in the church. I’m sure half of my guests will probably pile in there too on the off chance of seeing a celeb.

Now I have to find a florist who can really make everything come to life so if you have a suggestion for a London based florist I’d be thrilled to hear from you. I am looking into Zita Elze www.zitaelze.com and Mathew Dickenson www.mathewdickinsonflowers.com/ at the moment!

6 months to go and counting, I’m really rather excited!!

Speak soon,

Luce

*If you too are organising a chic city wedding, why not check out The Grand Connaught Rooms www.grandconnaughtrooms.com or even The White House www.whitehouselondon.com

The Personal Touch

We went to a wedding the other week which was so personal to the couple it really reflected their personalities. They are incredibly funny and the whole day was side splitting including the bride walking down the aisle to Star Wars Death march (incase you don’t know what that sounds like click here) www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8 and the tables being named after dead pets!! OK, it’s not to everyone’s liking but what it did show is how important it is to make your wedding about you. It got me thinking about what personal touches Chris and I could do to make our wedding day memorable. Chris is a real whiskey fan and so we’re going to give all the male guests mini bottles of Laphroaig single malt whiskey as wedding favours. They are so cute and come in a little presentation case. For the ladies I’m going to give them little crystal perfume bottles from Lavenders of London which I found at the National Wedding Show www.lavendersoflondon.com/Wedding_Accessories/Favour_ideas/


I absolutely love hot food, the more chilli’s the better, so I’ve found miniature Tabasco bottles that you can have a personalised message on printed on. I’m going have our names and the date of our wedding added and tie them to each napkin with a red ribbon as something for people to remember the day by. I’ve also decided to have chilli’s placed amongst the flowers in my bouquet and in the flowers at the reception which I think will look really great and be totally personal to me.

It’s definitely the little quirky things that I remember from other peoples weddings and I hope that what we’re doing will make people smile.

Let me know if you’re doing anything that you haven’t seen before or if you’ve been to a wedding that had a really great point of difference.

Luce x

Maids with a difference

I have managed to find some fab 1950’s style bridesmaid dresses for my bridesmaids. I am having 3 adult maids and want their dresses to look like different variations along a similar theme. I have decided to go for prom style dresses in a really rich red with huge petticoats of the same colour. My 3 maids will each have a different neckline meaning they can personalise their dress and wear the shape that suits them best. I’m now worried that they might look better than I do walking down the aisle so I really need to up my game and find the perfect wedding dress.

Luce xx

What would you like to see at the October shows?

The National Wedding Show team are beavering away planning the October shows. Having taken on board all post-show research from the Spring shows we are looking at new and exciting ways to enhance your experience. The team have lots of meetings planned over the next coming weeks to confirm new features for the Autumn shows, we want to make sure the shows are offering you everything you need to plan your big day, so please let us know if you think were missing anything.

Let us know what you would like to see at the show by posting a comment and we will see what we can do...

Tickets for the October shows taking place from the 1-3rd October 2010 at London Earls Court and the 8-10th October at Birmingham NEC will be on sale shortly!

Kate was wowed by the exhibitor offering at the London show

I think my feet have finally forgiven the high heels and recovered from a busy weekend at London's National Wedding Show.

It was a fabulous three days and made me even more excited about this exciting industry. Fourteen years ago when I first started out as a journalist, there were a few innovative companies in the UK bridal industry. But, I still found myself flicking through US magazines for inspiration when it came to wedding cakes and flowers. Today I'm constantly 'wowed' by the creative talents of people in this country, and so many of them were exhibiting at the National Wedding Show.

It was wonderful to spend some time with Eric Lanlard of Savoir Design whose cake designs I am in awe of. And, florists including Mathew Dickinson and Mary-Jane Vaughan created hugely impressive arrangements around the show.

Looking at the exhibitor list for next weekend's show at Birmingham's NEC, I know there are many more treats in store for all those lucky brides... and I can't wait. Do come and see our Inspiration Sessions where we'll be chatting about everything from cakes and flowers to planning and budgeting - I'm very much looking forward to meeting you!

Find your dream dress, perfect venue, inspirational flowers and more at The National Wedding Show

The National Wedding Show last week at Olympia was amazing. I came away with loads of inspiration, a camera full of ideas, a fab goodie bag and professionally inserted false eyelashes!

There were so many suppliers there who were all really friendly and helpful, I think I must have spoken to each and every one of them including florists, wedding dress companies, stationers, and reception venues. The Show was really busy so if you're going to the Birmingham one I suggest getting in there early and definitely wear comfy shoes and it's a big show with lots to get around. I had a VIP pass which meant that I received a glass of bubbly in the VIP bar which set me off nicely and a goodie bag which I suggest you collect at the end so you don't need to carry it round all day (it's packed full of goodies so is quite heavy). I did a quick once round to get my bearings and then sat and watched a really fantastic fashion show. There were so many beautiful dresses in scores of different styles that there is without doubt something for everyone. I've totally decided that I want to have my three bridesmaids in fifties prom dresses, Candy Anthony http://www.candyanthony.com/ and Fur Coat No Knickers http://www.furcoatnoknickers.co.uk/ had the most sublime dresses. Look out for the gorgeous yellow bridesmaid dress on the catwalk which has a huge full yellow petticoat skirt. They're not cheap but they will look totally gorgeous as they proceed you down the aisle. After the catwalk was an inspirational session about flowers which was really useful. They said that you shouldn't have big displays that stop your guests from talking across the table as they will just end up on the floor. Good advice indeed! While I'm talking about flowers the displays on show were totally divine and the florists really created wow pieces. Ask if you can take pictures to give inspiration for your florist. They all said yes when I asked.
Brides magazine had the most exquisite tent which they shared with Shu uemura make-up, it was a little oasis of calm and I had gorgeous lash inserts and a delicious cupcake while flipping though their glossy mag. The editorial team are one hand to offer advice and calm brides down. There were a few who looked a bit panicked when they entered but after a quick chat and a visit to the lash bar they left looking wide eyed and calm. I'm going to book a make-up artist from Shu uemura for my wedding day as I know my hands will be shaking on the day and applying liquid eyeliner would be a disaster.

Wedding photography was one area where I was totally in the dark. There are numerous photography stands and many were offering a show discount which was up to as much as 30%. My favourite ones were the ones which created a story book of your day and followed you from when you were getting ready to the first dance. They really captured the mood of the day. Take time to look through some of their books and talk to them about how they go about capturing those fleeting moments. My favourite one was Andre Dugas http://www.adugasphoto.com/ who was the photographer for Leah Woods, well if it's good enough for the Rolling Stones it's good enough for me. They are offering a 30% discount and were soooo nice so definitely go and see him.

Lots of the stands have competitions and I entered every one going, well somebody has to win don't they. My fingers are crossed but I'm not holding my breath.

Finally, food...The best place for food is without doubt the Champagne Bar which serves huge plates of smoked salmon and salad. At £9.50 they might look expensive but they are so big you could definitely share one with a friend and still not be able to finish. And of course you should wash it down with a glass of bubbly, well you do have something to celebrate after all!

Chic London Pad or Rural Country Manor? Lucy shares her venue dilemmas

I've been engaged for one month and 8 days. The total bliss I initially felt has been replaced with a mild sense of panic. Does anyone else feel like this?

This started when we began our search for a venue for our reception. It is soooo stressful. We have 140 guests (so far...) which means finding somewhere to seat that many people is difficult to say the least. We scoured venue websites like http://www.hitched.co.uk/ and http://www.weddingvenues.com/ which were really useful and found some that we thought looked good. However when we went to view them they were really awful. Why do venues put up pictures that don't look anything like they do in real life? It's like going on a date with somebody you met online only to find out they are 2ft shorter and 10 years older than you were led to believe. You're bound for disappointment!

I was starting to feel really despondent when we went to see the Criterion on Picadilly Circus http://www.criterionrestaurant.com/. WOW!!! It's totally gorgeous. It's a Grade II listed building and the architecture is stunning. Everything seems to sparkle thanks to glittering gold tiles on the walls and ceiling. Although I really loved it and thoroughly enjoyed a delicious cocktail there I don't think it's right for our wedding as it's so central it would be a nightmare for people to park but I would definitely recommend going for a cheeky cocktail. Why not go after you've been to the National Wedding Show?

It's so hard to know what kind of venue we want as we don't have any ties to anywhere other than London. Do we go to the country (if so where?) and hire a castle, a stately home, a marquee or a barn or stay closer to home and have a chic London celebration in a great restaurant? If anyone has any suggestions for good venues I'm all ears. The only thing I know for sure is that I don't want any kids at my wedding. This seems to really divide people. I've been to too many weddings where you can't hear the vows due to some noisy brat screaming while their parents coo over them. What is the polite way to announce this to friends and family?

I have a few more venue visits booked in and I am going to talk to more at the National Wedding Show this Friday, so I'll let you know how they go but if we're planning on getting hitched in September I need to get a wiggle on. I can feel that panic rising!!

Luce x

Get ready for some inspiration from Kate Smallwood at the UK's biggest wedding show

This time next week I'll be packing my bags and getting ready to head to the big smoke for the spring National Wedding Show. We have an exciting fortnight ahead and, as always, I can't wait to meet some excited brides (and hopefully a few grooms) to chat about all things wedding. If you're in the midst of planning, come and see some of our Inspiration Sessions. I'll be on the main stage with some fabulous florists chatting about how to choose your bouquet and your reception flowers. I'll also be talking to celebrity cake designer Eric Lanlard, and spending a few minutes every day helping you with that all-important budget.

When we're not on stage, we'll be at the Inspiration Lounge - a great new feature at the London show giving me the opportunity to meet as many of you as possible and help with any wedding questions you might have. Once again, I'll be joined by some talented florists and cake designer May Clee-Cadman from Maisie Fantaisie. I can't wait - in fact I'm rather envious of all of you having a wedding to plan. It's one of the most exciting times of your life and I hope you enjoy every second!

Welcome to our new show blog!

Welcome to the National Wedding Show Blog, we have introduced the blog for visitors like you to let us know how your wedding plans are going and to share your tips and advice on planning the biggest day of your life!

Real life bride-to-be Lucy Walsh, Commercial Director of Drapers Magazine, will be keeping us updated, as she plans the biggest day of her life! From choosing the all important dress, right through to the venue, flowers and honeymoon, Lucy will share her thoughts, experiences and indeed top tips she receives along the way. At the forefront of the fashion industry, Lucy is sure to create a wedding that is both on-trend and yet unique. Check out her blog for regular updates on how her planning is coming along! Feel free to post a comment and share your experiences too.

HOORAY I'M ENGAGED!!!

We got engaged on 2nd Jan. It was meant to be Christmas morning but Christophe, my fiancé (a term I'm still getting used to) was struck down with swine flu on Christmas Eve, 20 minutes after he bought my beautiful Tiffany ring. I don't know if it was the shock of spending a small fortune or the realisation that he was actually going to ask me after nearly 7 years but it meant that he spent the next week in bed pondering if he was making the right decision, luckily he thought he was.

I've found "The One" now I need to find the "Other One" by which I mean the most important part of any girls big day...the dress! I tried on my first wedding dress on Saturday, I thought it would be scary but it was actually really good fun. I went to the Bridal House http://www.the-bridal-house.co.uk/ near Aylesbury with my whole family in tow, mum, two sisters (Ainé and Tara) who will be my bridesmaids and my brother (Alan) who is giving me away. I had an hour appointment and was looked after by a lovely girl called Jenny who gave us all a glass of Bucks Fizz and asked what I had in mind. As I didn't have a clear picture of what I wanted Jenny helped me pull out about 15 dresses all of different styles and helped me try them on. What I thought I'd love (simple, understated, chic) I ended up finding boring and what I thought I wouldn't be seen dead in (strapless, bejewelled, meringue) were the ones that I gravitated towards. Apparently that is a common phenomenon, I feel like such a cliché. Putting the veil on was the weirdest thing, I suddenly looked like a bride and started to shake a bit. It was a bit of a shock as it suddenly felt so real. My two favourite dresses were both by Benjamin Roberts http://www.benjaminroberts.co.uk/ but I am not ready to commit to "The One" just yet. I feel like I'll know when I try it on, like it will somehow communicate with me that it is "The One" and that there wont be any doubt in my mind when it happens. So the search is still on, I'm going to go to the National Wedding Show at Olympia and already have my VIP tickets. I can't wait for the Catwalk and the Designer Area as I know I’ll get loads of ideas there.

I was given these top tips for trying on dresses and really recommend them all:
Do your hair and make-up. It's amazing how much difference it can make.
Bring a pair of high heels with you as they change your posture and how you look and feel.
Go with somebody whose opinion you trust but don't be swayed if they're too opinionated (like my sisters were)
Be aware of your budget and don't try on a dress if you can't afford to buy it because if you love it every other dress will fall short.
Try on styles that you wouldn’t normally go for as you may just end up in the total opposite of what you thought.

I am going to be blogging right up to the big day (not quite finalised yet) about all my wedding plans, joys, trials and tribulations so keep following me here.