Wedding Wonders

Cheese wedding cakes

2011-12-07T16:59:00.000Z

Cheese Wedding Cakes offer a modern, delicious alternative to traditional cakes and are an eye-catching feature at your Reception. They are practical and good value and are great for when your guests get a little peckish later in the evening! Some couples will opt for both a Cheese Wedding Cake and a traditional cake to satisfy both savoury and sweet toothed-guests!

Local cheese specialist La Cremerie, based in Nettleden near Berkhamsted, designs bespoke Cheese Wedding Cakes from petite cheese cakes to feed 40 guests up to gargantuan towers of cheese to feed over 250 people.

La Cremerie’s cheese expert Emma Dandy uses delicious British cheeses in the cakes, with more than 100 different cheeses to choose from. She offers brides and grooms a free cheese tasting and consultation to find out which cheeses you do (or don’t) like in order to design a suitable cake. She will stick to your budget and ensure you have sufficient but not too much cheese.

Contact Emma Dandy at La Crèmerie on 01442 870508 to arrange a private consultation or email emma@lacremerie.co.uk.

http://www.lacremerie.co.uk

Buying Your Summer Flip-flops

2011-06-24T10:49:00.000+01:00

Follow these tips for buying your summer flip-flops to avoid injury, pain and permanent damage to your feet (adapted from the American Podiatric Medical Association).

You should not be able to bend or twist your flip-flops
They should only bend at the toe
Look for arch support which improves stability and cushions the feet
Flip-flops made of cheap plastic often cause blisters; choose leather or fabric instead
Ensure your toes do not hang over the edge as this can cause tripping
Don’t wear your favourite pair year after year, check for wear and tear and discard
Poorly fitting flip-flops encourage clawing of the toes and ankle injury
Do not wear them for gardening, sports or walking long distances
Do wear sturdy flip-flops around the pool or on the beach

If you follow these simple tips, you can still enjoy wearing your flip-flops this summer

I recommend and stock Orthaheel (Vasyli) flip-flops. Please contact me for more details.

Lorna Pullman - Foot Health Practitioner tel: 07860 927958

The Perfect Wedding Diet!

2011-04-26T17:24:00.000+01:00

The perfect wedding diet isn’t just about cutting calories – it’s about attitude!

Brides, naturally, want to look fabulous on their wedding day – and who wouldn’t? A stunning dress and beautiful accessories are key but can only take you so far to look and feel amazing in those all-important photos.

Forgive me for saying but if you want to lose weight and tone up, a perfect wedding fad diet is not the answer. This sounds crazy, right? But crash dieting through extreme caloric deprivation is dangerous and more likely to set you up for failure since it is impossible to maintain. In fact, abandon the notion of dieting altogether.

Instead, incorporating simple changes into your daily routine will gradually improve the health and look of your body. Choosing to adopt these new habits as a lifestyle will keep up your energy levels, maintain nutrient intake and ensure a safer, permanent weight loss. Following are 7 of my 20 top tips I advise my bridal clients:

1. Give your body ample time for reshaping. Plan to lose a maximum of 2lbs a week, therefore taking 7 weeks to lose 14lbs. If you want to lose a lot of weight, give yourself 6 months. Don’t wait, start today!

2. Don’t stop eating or excessively starve yourself of calories. This will slow your metabolism and make it harder to lose weight. Eat five or six small meals throughout the day to boost your metabolism and burn fat.

3. Looking good starts with lots of water. Healthy skin is derived through proper hydration from water and herbal teas. Add a slice of lemon, orange or mint for taste if you find water boring.

4. Eat protein at each meal – meat, fish, dairy, eggs, tofu, pulses, legumes, nuts – to feel fuller for longer and drive up metabolism to make weight loss easier.

5. High fibre foods also promote satiety making you less likely to overeat. Found in whole grain breads, pasta, rice, beans, fruits and vegetables these complex carbohydrates are positive and against the notion that all carbohydrates are evil.

6. Give fat a chance. A small daily amount of unsaturated fat promotes shiny hair, clear skin and strong nails. Add nuts to a salad, avocado instead of butter in a sandwich or olive oil in a stir fry.

7. Smart snacking on fruits and vegetables increases your fibre intake that boosts energy levels. These alkaline foods make it easier to lose weight rather than acidic, processed crisps, crackers and baked goods. Graze on baby carrots, cherry tomatoes and sugar snaps.

Exercise, of course, will help tone your body and give you the ‘feel good factor’ to keep you on your nutritional track. Intermittent exercise is the most effective at burning calories; for example 3 minutes walk/2 minutes walk, etc.

Achieve your wedding ambitions by embracing a positive attitude to nutrition and fitness that focuses on inclusion rather than deprivation. Then this new way of eating will become your normal routine and keep the weight off after the big day. In private consultations, I tailor nutritional plans according to personal requirements and setting realistic goals. I also treat holistically by investigating potential physiological reasons that may prevent weight loss and may include stress relief strategies like Reiki, Bach flower remedies and ear acupuncture.

Sophia Villiers

Sophia is a Nutritional Therapist practising at:

The Pain Management Centre

148 High Street

Rickmansworth

Herts

WD3 1BA
07758 643164
sophia@nourishnaturally.co.uk

2011-03-28T19:04:00.003+01:00

Wedding Feet

Whether planning a beach wedding, traditional wedding, exotic honeymoon or a Hen weekend, spare a thought for your feet.

Here is a suggestion for a foot care plan which can be included as part of your beauty routine:

3 Months to Go

Visit a foot health professional for a check-up and advice on how to tackle any problems you may have
Start using a foot file or foot scrub to remove rough skin
Moisturise every night

1 Month to Go

If you have not started a foot care plan, start now
Choose your colours for your pedicure and book your appointment
You can massage your feet using a light oil. This encourages circulation and encourages skin and nail growth

2 Weeks to go

Maybe visit a foot health professional to remove any stubborn hard skin, especially on the heels, thin thickened nails, etc. You are then ready for your pedicure

1 Week to go

Why not book a paraffin wax treatment or try some reflexology? Both are relaxing and good for the skin

1 Day to go

Enjoy a professional or home pedicure knowing your feet are more beautiful than you ever remember.

On your wedding day you want to be confident about every part of you, so do not ignore your feet – and don’t forget the groom’s feet too!

Lorna Pullman - Foot Health Practitioner tel: 07860 927958

When is it too late to call a wedding planner?

2011-02-17T16:45:00.001Z

People ofter say to me that they know someone who is getting married but that they've already planned everything themselves. That's great, but who's going to look after everything for them on the wedding day? Who is going to make sure that all the details the bride has so meticulously planned are actually going to be done?

Often, the reception venue has a co-ordinator and that's great too, but will that co-ordinator be there on the day of the wedding or will it be an 'operations manager' who has never met the bride and groom? Will they be looking after more than 1 event on the day?

Who is going to help the bride get laced into her dress, do any last minute pressing or alterations, tie the groomsmens' cravats, pin on the buttonholes and do all those other jobs that need doing before the ceremony?

Who is going to ensure everything happens as and when it's supposed to happen and deal with any issues which may occur?

Who is going to be there in the evening to ensure the gifts and cards are safely stowed away, that the top tier of the cake doesn't get cut, that the vases and candles get put away for collection the next day?

Who do you know who could step in to look after a wedding at less than 36 hours notice and get a comment like this from the bride:

"I understand you were stuck in Egypt & we were both so impressed with how Debbie (Wedding Wonders) took over the reigns so smoothly in your place...

Everyone commented on how good the food & service was & Debbie in particular was brilliant - helping the boys with their button holes, helping me with my dress, meeting us with drinks as we arrived at the venue & generally being on top of what was happening."

If that's how good Wedding Wonders can be with less than 36 hours notice, can you imagine how brilliant we are when we actually meet the bride and know all the details of the wedding!

Wedding Wonders - Turning Your Stress Into Success

It's never too late to talk to us - unless your wedding has already taken place!

On the Day Co-ordinator or Toastmaster?

2010-05-09T17:20:00.002+01:00

On the day of a wedding, I usually set off at around 9am with the following items loaded into my car:

• Umbrellas (hopefully not required!)
• Locking post box for cards to be collected
• Large emergency kit bag
• Small emergency kit bag
• M&S sandwich order form

My first stop is at M&S to collect the pre-ordered sandwiches for the bride and bridal party – it’s a long time between breakfast and sitting down for the wedding breakfast at around 5pm.

At around 10am, I arrive with the bridal party where I am available to iron the wedding dress, bridesmaids’ dresses, make cups of tea for mum, dad, bride, hairdresser, make-up lady and anyone else who is there.

I can do any sewing that needs doing and anything else that anyone needs me to do.

Before I leave, I lace the bride into her dress or do up all the tiny buttons and leave the white bridal umbrellas for the bridal party if necessary.

I then set off for the ceremony venue. Once there, I ensure everything is set up and light any candles, put tissues in place for the mums and put ‘reserved’ signs on the seats for the family, bridesmaids, speakers and witnesses.

When the groom and his groomsmen arrive, they invariably have their cravats on untied, even if I have emailed them a picture guide of how to tie them! I ensure they all have their ties or cravats tied in the same way and pin on their buttonholes for them.

If it’s raining, I escort the ladies into the ceremony under my large golf umbrellas, then wait for the bridal party to do the same for them.

When the ceremony has finished, I take the flower displays from the ceremony venue to the reception venue (if this is what has been agreed).
Once I am at the reception venue, I ensure the welcome drinks are ready for the arrival of the guests and the bride & groom. If there is a Toastmaster, he will be there and will have already done that.

If there is a Toastmaster, I leave them to help the photographer get the guests organised for photos while I check the place cards, favours, flowers etc are all in the right place. I get drinks for the string quartet and photographer and make sure the bride and groom get a drink and also make up a plate of canapés for the bride and groom otherwise they will miss out.

This is the only part of the day where the Toastmaster and On the Day Co-Ordinator would actually perform the same role. If there is a Toastmaster, they will make any announcements that need making which means I might actually get a bit of a break!

While the wedding breakfast is taking place, the Toastmaster will eat at a separate table in the same room as the guests. I will be ensuring that the evening entertainment has arrived and is ready to set up. I will also be taking wedding gifts up to the bridal suite so that there is no danger of them going missing.

Once the wedding breakfast is over, I will assist in the turn-around of the room for the evening, change and relight any candles which are getting low, and sprinkle table confetti to cover any stains on the table-cloths!

It is quite likely that the Toastmaster will have left by now, so I will announce the bride and groom’s first dance and then the opening of the evening buffet.

Before I leave at around 9.30pm, I ensure that all the gifts and cards are safely locked away in the bride and groom’s room, the top tier of the cake is kept safely if required and that all the suppliers have been paid.

A Toastmaster charges around the same as an On The Day Co-Ordinator (I charge from £375) – which would you rather have?

Wedding caterer stuck in Egypt - part 1

2010-04-20T10:03:00.001+01:00

So there I was on Thursday evening, looking forward to Friday’s Cappuccino Connections in Berkhamsted,lunch at Brent Cross with my friend Caroline followed by a lovely, relaxing weekend off when a text arrived which changed the course of the next few days.....

‘Hi Debbie I am stuck in Sharm El Sheikh due to the volcano. I have a wedding for 120 on Sat. Is there any chance you can help me out if I am not back in the UK tomorrow night. Alison xxx’

Wow, first person I’ve heard of affected by the volcano, but I can think of worse places to be stuck! I send a text straight back ‘No problem. Just let me know and I’ll do whatever I can tomorrow and/or Saturday’. A friend in need and a wedding in jeopardy - count me in to help.

Ok, first challenge – let’s find out which Alison this is as I know a few! Turns out it’s a fellow Athena member and she’s a caterer. I hope I don’t have to do the cooking for 120 guests – gulp!

Next text from Egypt – ‘Thanks so much. Will keep you informed tomorrow – what will your fee be? Ali xx’
My reply ‘Don’t worry about fee – we’ll sort something out. I feel lots of white chocolate coming my way xx’ (standing joke between us is my love of white Lindor – yum!) I hadn’t even thought about a fee to be honest. We just need to make the wedding as good as we can for the bride and groom.

Tweeted about her plight (without mentioning any names) and immediately had a number of offers of help from friends – a few of the offers coming from previous Wedding Wonders’ brides. What did we ever do without the internet!

Friday morning, after a few texts and calls, lunch has been moved earlier and I’m to report for duty at 2:30 at Ali’s house. Lunch with Caroline was wonderful but I couldn’t relax wondering what the afternoon had in store.

Reported for duty and met Ali’s son and another Debbie who was doing all the cooking. Lucky guests – they don’t have to rely on my cooking now! Off to the cash & carry then get a call to say Tesco delivery only contains 7 cartons of gravy instead of 20.

Ok, next stop Tesco then! Very long story, but spent about an hour trying to source the gravy (no pun intended!) in other stores as they didn’t have any, before Debbie came up with an alternative option and I was able to return to the house.

Got home and devised a timetable for the day so at least we all knew what was happening. Thank goodness Ali’s son didn’t go on holiday with them or we wouldn’t have had access to all the equipment we needed! He has now forwarded all the wedding emails to me so I can get up to speed. I’m relieved to find that I already know the people who are providing the bar and I know they will help us out if we need them to.

Part 2 to follow ........

Wedding caterer stuck in Egypt - part 2

2010-04-19T11:03:00.000+01:00

Saturday .....

It felt really strange not going to see the bride in the morning as I normally do, but then I had no idea who or where the bride was!

Load up the van and my car at Ali’s house then we’re on our way to Stanmore. Found the venue but no way to get in. Double yellow lines along the road, so Debs and I park round the corner and I run back to the venue to see if I could find how to get in. Ring the bell of Church House and the caretaker’s wife appears saying ‘don’t ring the bell like that’ – Oops!

The bar company’s van is already parked there and there’s only room for 2 vehicles, so they’re asked to move it. I hop in the front with Myles from the bar company to get a lift back to my car as the only parking space big enough for his van is the one Debs and I are parked in. I think Debs is quite impressed that I’ve pulled so early in the day!

The place is amazing – a really lovely old barn, although the grounds out the back look a bit dodgy with the choice of either a grassy slope or crumbled brick steps to the lawn!

I leave Debs, Josh and the other girls to lay the tables while I go and sort out tables for the welcome drinks, a chair for the harpist and see if I can find out a bit more about what time things are due to happen.

I feel much better now I know more about what’s happening and I’ve done a bit of rushing around! We finish laying the tables and everything is going okay-ish in the kitchen. As is always the way with the kitchens in these type of places, there’s not enough space and the ovens are too small. Looks like Debs has everything under control.

3pm and the guests are due to arrive. Have to find something to prop the entry door open, then have to stand there to show people the way in as the sign for Church House is 100 yards further down over the gate! What a pain – lots to do but have to be an usher!

First guests get dropped off at the Church House sign so I have to wave to them to attract their attention. Strangely, the first group of guests include a bride I’ve been to see to give a quote to who hasn’t come back to me yet......maybe today will sway that!

Next guests include the bride’s mum who looks gorgeous and the bridesmaids in pale pink. Bride’s mum asks if I’m Alison and I tell her I’m Ali’s ‘front of house’. No problem there.

Bridesmaid re-appears and asks me where the biscuits are. Good question – what biscuits? Run down to the kitchen and find some containers with home-made heart-shaped shortbread biscuits in them. These are to go in baskets with the welcome drinks. Charlotte quickly gets that organised.

Bride’s father and a couple of ushers arrive. First question from the bride’s father ‘Alison’s abroad isn’t she? Is she stuck somewhere?’ Oh, I wasn’t expecting that straight away! I can’t lie, so I explain that yes, Alison is stuck in Egypt but that all her chefs and her usual staff are in the kitchen and that I’ve done front-of-house for her before and that I’m a wedding planner. He says that as a business owner, you have to have a contingency and it’s fine. Phew!

More guests arrive and hand me more containers with shortbread biscuits. Run down to the kitchen and manage to grab a sample of shortbread from a small pile of broken ones – yum!

All guests seem to be here so go back to the kitchen to see how it’s all going. They are starting to put the rolls on the starter plates with the salads. Now I love bread rolls, but these look a bit odd. I give one a squeeze – that feels as though it needs cooking to me! Josh & Debs read the label on the box and find that the rolls need to be cooked! Oops - that would have been embarrassing!

Nip out to the drinks marquee and get some drinks for the kitchen staff. They’re happy to give me those free of charge even though it’s a pay bar. I love it when all the suppliers pull together.

Part 3 to follow.......

Wedding caterer stuck in Egypt - final part

2010-04-18T17:33:00.000+01:00

And finally.......

4pm – grab 2 glasses of bubbly and go to wait by the entrance for the bride and groom. No idea who they are but hopefully the outfits will give me a clue!

4:10pm – car pulls up and a girl in a beautiful lacy white dress steps out – must be them then! Hand them each a glass of bubbly, point them in the direction of the garden where all the guests are and then rush to the kitchen to get the 2 home-made cup-cakes which were made for them.

Right, let’s see if there’s something I can do to help in the kitchen. Nope, the girls and Josh seem to have everything under control so I wander out into the garden to check on the guests.

At 4:30, we decide to put the starters out and I go along the tables unscrewing the tops of the red wine bottles. I’ve never seen so much wine on the tables – there’s a bottle of red and a bottle of white between every 4 guests!!

The usher who is acting as MC is supposed to start seating the guests at 4:40, but Debs asks me to delay it as the oven is not hot enough and the food is taking a bit longer than planned. I have a word with the usher and tell him I’ll check in with him again at 4:50.

Go back to find the usher at 4:50 but some numpty has already started seating the guests so we can’t hold them back any longer! Hey ho, the best laid plans.......
I manage to move the table plan in to position just before the rest of the guests start going in for the wedding breakfast.

While they’re going in, I clear away the basket of home-made shortbread biscuits – wouldn’t want them going stale, would we? The bride’s mother tells me that we can finish them off and we don’t need telling twice!

The groom comes to find me in the kitchen to tell me that a lady guest is a vegetarian. It’s really frustrating – we knew there was 1 vegetarian and I know where he is sitting, but why oh why do people not say anything until the last possible moment! I check with Debs that the vegetarian meal will stretch to 2 and it will, so that’s okay.

The groom comes to find me in the kitchen again to tell me that the harpist, who is sitting down to eat with them, is also a vegetarian. Well, let’s hope that the 3 vegetarians aren’t too hungry then!

We do a fantastic job of clearing the starters and serving the main courses between us! We also manage to top up a few water jugs and I have swapped a few bottles of wine around where people are drinking more white than red and vice versa.

While the main courses are being eaten, the girls and Josh are plating up the dessert. I busy myself taking food out to the bar staff and getting drinks for the kitchen staff, topping up more water jugs and swapping more wine bottles around.

Plates cleared and desserts served so it’s time to hand round the champagne. Josh helps me – I carry the tray and reverse down the length of the table while he hands the glasses out 2 at a time. Each time we get to the end of a tray, Charlotte appears with a full one – what a team! We’re on the final row but this time I’m following Josh and there isn’t much space as we’re right against the wall. We get half way down the row and I’ve got 7 glasses on the tray when Josh suddenly backs into the tray! 1 glass goes flying in my direction, hits a 2nd glass which pours itself all over the back of a guest who fortunately is wearing a dark suit jacket! How the other 5 glasses stayed intact I have no idea, but thank goodness the damage is minimal. I have done this hundreds of times and never spilt a drop, so I’m mortified. (I take the blame as I didn’t want Josh to feel bad)

I speak to the guest and his wife, but they’re fine about it. They tell me the suit needs cleaning anyway! Phew, it could have been so much worse but I still feel bad about it.

We leave them to get on with the speeches and carry on clearing up the kitchen and taking turns to eat. I have 3 bread rolls (cooked!) and butter with a bowl of fruit salad – lovely!

At 7:30, the best man is still in full swing- he’s been speaking for about 20 minutes now! I have to go and stand by the entrance door to usher the evening guests through to the bar.

The evening guests aren’t too happy to be sent out to the bar, but the best man is still waffling on! Every now and again someone comes out of the dining room. I ask if the best man is still talking and they just nod and look bored!

Finally, at 7:45, the best man finishes and there’s a mad dash for the loos! We fight our way up and down the rows to clear the tables as quickly as possible. I get a few ushers to help remove some tables and we move the remaining tables and chairs around for the evening do.

The bride’s parents keep saying how well everything is going and thanking me. One of the guests says that it’s the best wedding meal she’s ever had. I pass on all the comments to the guys in the kitchen, but I can’t help wondering how this would have worked without me being there. I know caterers usually have a ‘front of house’ person, but I know that I’m doing a lot more than I ever did when I worked as front of house for other caterers.

I have double checked, and they definitely want the evening buffet at 8pm, so as soon as we have cleared the tables, the evening buffet food comes out! Even more unbelievably, some of the day guests are getting stuck in to it already!

I spend about an hour wandering from one end of the place to the other collecting up dirty cups and saucers, finding odd napkins on the floor and clearing empty glasses. Some of the kitchen staff have now gone and we’re really just waiting for the bride and groom to cut the cake.

9pm, I manage to persuade Lisa and Matt to come and cut the cake, so I get the band to do the announcement. Once they have done that and everyone has taken photos, I whisk the bottom tier off to the kitchen to be cut up for the buffet.

I go back and get the middle tier which is met with groans in the kitchen as this one is also to be cut for the buffet! It sounds easy, but each trip to collect cups, linens and cake is a major challenge as I have to negotiate my way round loads of guests for the full length of the building.

Debs cuts the cake and I arrange it on the platters. Finally it’s all done and everything has been cleared away into the van, my car or into the boxes to be collected by the hire company tomorrow.

I take Josh with me and introduce him to the bride’s mum who thanks us both and tells us how fantastic their day has been. Josh then disappears and I say goodbye to the bride, groom, the bride’s father and the bar staff.

Josh is going to come round tomorrow to collect the stuff that’s in my car as I can’t face unloading tonight. I’m half-way home when I realise that we’ve left the tables in the marquee! I try to ring Josh and then Debs, but neither of them answer. There’s no point in me going back as i know they won’t fit in my car.

As always, I cry most of the way home. I’m often asked if I cry at weddings and people are always a bit surprised when I say yes, I cry on the way home! I think it’s the relief after the adrenaline buzz of the day.

When I get home, all I want to do is talk about it but my husband doesn’t really want to hear about it. Never mind, I’ll tell the cats all about it tomorrow!

20th March - Sherrie & Dax's wedding

2010-03-21T15:59:00.014Z

I've been so excited about this wedding - it's my first booking via Facebook!

Shame the weather isn't look as though it's going to be kind to us. Woke up to pouring rain and get soaked loading the car.

Off to M&S to pick up snacks then it's straight to the venue to meet Liz, my favourite florist. Flowers are looking gorgeous!

The bride seems very calm, hair and make-up well underway.

The time is whizzing by, setting up candles, confetti, place cards, favours and soon it's time to lace the bride into her dress.

Lovely ceremony and then the weather brightens up enough for a few photos outside.

No ushers at the wedding, so left to me to get everyone into the dining room. They're all looking forward to their food, but not yet - the speeches are before the meal. (I wouldn't recommend anyone does this unless they have had canapes with the drinks reception).

While the guests tuck into the Wedding Breakfast, the photographers and I take a break in the conservatory. We're discussing how bad it is to have another celebration party booked in the hotel tonight using the same bar as our guests - we didn't know the man listening was the hotel manager! Oops! He's not happy but I tell him what I think which it that I believe the hotel being greedy taking multiple bookings. I think he forgave me later as he gave me his card and invited me to come in for a coffee and a chat in the next week or two. Maybe he wants to offer me a job - he's got no chance!

After the meal I manage to get everyone out to the bar so we can turn the room around. At least they're changing the table-cloths (think that may be for my benefit!)

Candles replenished, table confetti scattered and lights dimmed - looks lovely! I think I may be over my OCD - I don't have the urge to turn all the 'Just Married' confetti the right way up!

Why is it as soon as I decide all the evening guests have arrived and it's safe to empty the post box and take all the cards and gifts to the bridal suite, I come back to find 2 more cards and another present? Do they wait for me to empty the box and then sneak them in? Oh well, another trip upstairs won't kill me - will it?

With the buffet being devoured and the guests partying the evening away, I sneak off and leave them to it. Looks as though the bridesmaid has had enough already...

Wedding at The Grove, Watford, Hertfordshire

2010-03-13T12:25:00.037Z

How exciting – church wedding with reception at The Grove! Gorgeous venue and very close to home – hurrah! Bride is sister of my 7th July 07 (07/07/07) bride so I know the family – makes it even more fun!

9.30am, car stuffed to the roof with bits and bobs, set off and arrive at The Grove 8 minutes later. Into the Ivory Suite – tables and chairs are all over the place!

There’s a lady polishing the cutlery and someone laying table cloths that look as though they’ve been slept in! Back out to the car for my trusty iron. Didn’t think I’d have to iron the table cloths at The Grove but you live and learn!

Table cloths ironed, place cards on tables, tables in the right places and correct number of chairs round each table. Everything in place apart from 6 large tubes of Smarties for the children as I need to pick up ribbon from the bride’s house. Leave those in a large carrier bag and head off to the bride’s house.

Make-up lady in full swing, I put the kettle on and get the bridesmaids’ dresses ironed. Cuppas all round.

Get the bridesmaids into their dresses and now it’s time to get the bride dressed. Wedding dress has loads of tiny buttons rather than being a lace-up, so crochet hook comes in handy.

Everyone in their outfits - time for me to leave for the church. Wonder how many cravats I’ll have to tie today!

2 minutes later I’m at the church. Wow, they’ve cheated and got ties instead of cravats! Get buttonholes pinned on correctly and give ushers a quick lesson in ushering.

Now it decides to rain – not part of the plan, but the Wedding Wonders supply of umbrellas will come in handy. Get soaked escorting mother of the bride and then bridesmaids into the church under a brollie. At least they stay dry!

Lovely ceremony although pageboy Owen, bride’s nephew, didn’t seem to think much of it. Poor Owen’s dad spent most of it outside the church. At least it’s stopped raining.

Everyone out of the church, I'll get a couple of photos and then get off to The Grove. Oops, think I might be in the photographer's way!

All set for guests to arrive. I’ll just tie the ribbon round the Smarties tubes.........now where have they gone? Extensive search reveals that someone has snaffled my 6 large tubes of Smarties! Wow, you can’t trust anyone these days!

Managed to rustle up 6 tubes of jelly beans in very smart ‘The Grove’ glass tubes – they’ll have to do.

Drinks reception over – time for receiving line but it’s like herding cats trying to get the parents in the line-up! Groom looks like he’s gasping so keep nipping behind to pass him his beer.

Speeches before meal – not always the best plan but seems to go down okay. Take wedding gifts and cards to the bridal suite – 3 trips! Lovely suite! Decorate the bed with rose petals. Back down to reception – I’ve walked 5.3 miles so far today!

Food being served and time for us to eat too. DJs turn up also expecting food- hopefully they’re joking! Manage a few mouthfuls but then need to get back to the action.

Meals over, cake cutting then get everyone out to the bar. Couple of tables removed, candles replenished and table confetti sprinkled over gravy stains!

Evening guests arrive – another 2 trips with gifts and cards to bridal suite. Starting to flag now.

Emergency – someone put their arm round bride and veil has come away from comb. No problem. Trusty, ready-threaded needles to the rescue – crisis averted!

First dance is lovely and the evening buffet looks good. Time to call it a day. Tissues at the ready – I always get emotional when my part of the wedding is over.

7.2 miles walked but the drive home takes 8 minutes. I love my job, but it's lovely to get home and put my feet up!

(All photos courtesy of http://pkphotovideo.co.uk)

My day at the Hanbury Manor Wedding Salon

2010-03-11T17:48:00.000Z

The Wedding Salon at Hanbury Manor was advertised as being a 'Wedding Show that is glamorous, indulgent and unashamedly glamorous' and attendance was by invitation only. This is the account of my day at the Hanbury Manor Wedding Salon.

The weather was really awful and all I wanted to do was curl up at home and read my book but I’d said I would go, so I set off in the pouring rain for Hanbury Manor.

I arrived early so I drove round Hanbury Manor a couple of times looking out for the ‘Wedding Salon parking signs’ which were promised in the flyer. Sadly, there weren’t any, so I found a space in the car park and made my way past the empty Becks bottle on the lawn and into reception.

There was nobody there so I wandered down to Poles Hall and there was nobody there either! Wandered into the next room where the wedding suppliers were setting up.

I went back to reception and there were 2 ladies taking names of people for the Wedding Salon. I wasn’t on the list which was a bit concerning! I told them there was an empty Becks bottle on their front lawn and they said they would get it removed.

Went into Poles Hall and sat down. A lady came in and gave out brochures and also gave everyone except me a little pile of cards with their name, phone number and email address on. Good idea for brides to hand over to the suppliers so the suppliers can contact them!

What would have been really nice would have been someone to greet people as they arrived and to be given a drink – even orange juice or water! The flyer said ‘imagine being greeted on arrival with Cosmo’s, Appletinis and Margaritas.’ and that was all we could do - imagine it!

We sat in Poles Hall listening to a string duo from NSN Productions for 45 minutes. Nothing happened during this time apart from the toastmaster coming in and saying there was a problem getting the bride across to the hall due to the weather. We had no idea what he was talking about – what bride? The toastmaster saying that the weather was giving them a problem and causing a delay didn’t give the venue a lot of credibility!

So, 45 minutes, no drinks, no canapés and it’s 12:30 – everyone is hungry and thirsty, but finally a model in a wedding dress walks up the aisle in Poles Hall for no particular reason that any of us could fathom! More music from NSN Productions then we were allowed into the ‘wedding fair’ part of the salon. Hurrah – drinks and a canapé. Surely there will be more canapés.......but not for a long, long time!

Why have they arranged this ‘do’ at lunchtime and then left us all to starve?

We all wandered around the ‘wedding salon’ for a while and then wondered what next. There was nobody there telling people what was going on or sending people to some of the other rooms so that we didn’t all arrive at the same suppliers at the same time. Such a shame and a real wasted opportunity – a bit of organisation would have really helped!

This was the most disorganised event I have ever been to! A couple of the venue ladies were very helpful but they didn’t really know what was going on either.

The 2 and a half hours between nothing happening in Poles Hall and the fashion show debacle was really far too long – everyone was bored and wandering around aimlessly! A lot of the brides and their mums ended up in the suppliers’ tea room as there was nowhere else to go!

I found my way into the fashion show room, searched around and eventually found a seat with my name on and sat down to read my book. I was distracted from my reading every now and again to watch a member of the event management team attempt to choreograph the fashion show. Why this wasn’t left to Andy of Mr H, who is an expert at these, is a total mystery to me. Paul was managing to annoy all the models , musicians and everyone else at the same time – good job!

The brides and their guests were all queuing up outside as there was nothing else to do by this time. They missed out on the rehearsal which was a shame as it was highly entertaining!

The doors were finally opened and then chaos ensued as everyone walked around trying to find the chair with their name on! Why was there no seating plan? Ridiculous!

More champagne and orange juice, but everyone I spoke to was absolutely starving!

The brochure of dresses for the fashion show was excellent. Sadly the promise of ‘The catwalk catalogue for each bride-to-be has photographs of each dress together with designer details and price. So what happens when you see the dream dress pass down the catwalk? Simply raise your catalogue....’ didn’t actually happen!

The models in the fashion show were some of the most miserable I have ever seen at a wedding fair. This was probably due to the dreadful choreographing! Kelly from Mr H came on to sing a couple of times and she was excellent.

The best bit of the fashion show was when the lights all went out – fantastic! This did not exactly fill anyone with confidence that their wedding was going to run smoothly!

NSN Productions saved the day by singing a cappella so the models could finish the show.

We were then led into a room which was called the ‘shoe and bag room’. I’m not sure why as there were hardly any shoes or bags in it!

So then it was back to Poles Hall for afternoon tea. This time there was actually a seating plan - hurrah! Each table was set up differently by the ‘wedding salon’ suppliers and they all looked amazing.

Afternoon tea was finally served. I love cream teas, but the bite sized scones were so overcooked that they were as dry as biscuits! The cream and jam seemed to be rationed so we ran out after about 3 dried up scones on our table. It was a relief to get a cup of tea but it would have been nice to have a second cup!

By now everyone was tired and just wanted to talk about their weddings. It was at this point that we were subjected to 10 minute talks from the various suppliers. Good idea, but too late in the day and nobody was really in the mood to listen. Most people left before all the speakers had finished which was a shame for the suppliers.

So, was I surprised to still see the empty Becks bottle on the lawn on my way out of the front door – no, not really! I wonder if it’s still there nearly a week later.........

Bella and Laurence's Wedding

2010-03-10T19:04:00.006Z

One of the most glamorous London weddings of the last autumn season was that of Hertforshire girl Isabella Holleyman to Lieutenant Laurence Wells of the Royal Logistic Corps. Isabella, who grew up in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire is a former St Clement Danes pupil. She and Laurence got married at Holy Trinity Brompton, which has been Isabella’s church for the past 5 years. The church, situated in South Kensington, is home of the famous Alpha course, and is particularly popular with young people.

Isabella had seven bridesmaids and a Flower Girl, and Laurence appointed a Guard of Honour from his fellow officers. The Guard of Honour held their swords in the traditional way over the couple as they came out of the church, and lifted Isabella up in the church gardens in between showers of rain!

The reception was held in the conservatory of the nearby Millennium Gloucester Hotel, its full size illuminated palm trees forming a beautiful backdrop to the black tie occasion. Isabella agreed that a military wedding has a glamour of its own, but was keen to emphasise the serious side to the ceremony as well. She explained: ‘We wanted it to be a thanksgiving for the recent safe return of Laurence and his friends from Afghanistan, but we were conscious too of those who did not return and those who have been injured’. Like other army wives, she highlights the importance of supporting our troops, whatever our political views might be. Isabella and Laurence are keen supporters of the charity Help for Heroes, who support our wounded soldiers. They have now set up home in Chorleywood.

The mother of the bride was relieved that everything went so well, and paid tribute in particular to Debbie Diggle, the wedding planner who oversaw everything, and over a period of 18 months, became a true friend of the family!

Wedding Information Booklets and Orders of Service

2010-03-06T12:43:00.025Z

When one of my brides needed information sheets to go with her invitations and asked me to help, I decided to create something that looked as classy as her invitations.

Why would you spend money on lovely invitations and then send them out with a photocopied sheet of A4 showing a hand-drawn map and a little card from a department store giving a gift list reference?

Our lovely leaflets and booklets are now much sought after by brides to go with their day and evening invitations and also as the order of service for their ceremony.

Please contact info@wedding-wonders.com for more information. Prices start from 60p per leaflet.