BelfastBride

Sparklers are the new Fireworks! (and cheap & charming too)

2011-06-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

Snap it up!

2011-06-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

House of Fraser are in a big summer sale at the moment and there are lots of wedding gems to snap up. Including half price earrings, shoes and that amazing ultimate strapless Wonderbra I mentioned before. I know from two brides already that these Dune shoes are really comfortable and flattering. And who can go wrong with pearls...another pearl tip, there is a beautiful contemporary drop pair in Jaeger on Donegall Sq West for £25 in sale. Ps not on sale but cheap anyway and simply elegant is the ivory guest book in Paperchase for £12.95.

First Dance...

2011-06-01T03:45:00.000-07:00

I'm really in a pickle about the first dance song...you see we have 'songs' of our relationship but to date they have included Queens of the Stone Age when my fiancé was a little tipsy and played it on repeat and told me he loved me....The Black Keys concert...when I returned the feeling. We have Metallica from two great concerts (which I don't think I would have ever considered until we met)...so you can see the pattern here not exactly first dance material! Along the way we have also encountered some music with great fun and meaning such as John Prine, In Spite of Ourselves (to rude for family I think), Home, Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros (too quick and jumpy) and Joshua Radin, Today which is beautiful if a little slow and quiet to one of my favourites so far, 'With this ring' by The Platters. Anyway, still totally undecided. In the meantime I'm also on the hunt for reasonably priced dance classes...have been calling the Crescent Arts Centre & Clarkes Dance Studio to date. I think if we combine the right song and the right teacher we might get there! Will keep you posted.

Perfect Peonies!

2011-05-30T04:51:00.000-07:00

I'm not a summer bride (I think?!) so I won't be selecting Peonies. Peonies are a very (very!!) popular wedding flower choice and you can see why, they are beautiful, but they are only in season for a few months. Picking flowers in season will save you money and also, I once read that nature is very clever...flowers are in season for a reason, so that they complement that season. Therefore picking flowers in season works with nature & your budget! So this is peony season and as luck would have it Marks & Spencer’s are stocking them for £20.00 a bunch in white/ ivory & pinks. Any wedding florists reading this will kill me, but if you really are on a tighter budget and have the guts to take on your own flowers you could definitely do it with the M&S peonies (the one at Sprucefield is the best).

Wedding Words

2011-05-20T02:43:00.000-07:00

My cousin Emily spotted this wedding invitation...too lovely not to share! Just a different way of approaching the traditional wedding wording while telling your story. I was at a wedding once before where the bride & groom had their story printed on the back of the wedding program and it was honestly lovely. Makes you realise what all the wedding fuss is about...the magic of two people and their personal love story!

Suits you Sir!

2011-05-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

I have a rather laid back (read he has decided seeing that the budget is heavily weighted towards me, then so are the tasks) groom who has decided to be very particular about certain things, one being his suit. I showed him some skinny boys in very cool modern suits (which the wedding magazines are full off, but how many Northern Irish fellas can pull that off, right?) and he just sniffed and said they weren't wedding suits! So I did a little dig and showed him a range of suits...turns out in his head a wedding suit is a morning suit! Go figure. So he's booked morning suits, if that's his thing it works for me, and to be honest as a rugby loving fella it suits him too (pardon all the puns). Next up, I was ticking off things that are done and mentioned a pocket square...which he straightaway said, yep that's what he wants...who'da thought...I just assumed (and why would I) that he would go for a boutonniere. Ah well, I think I'll go with whatever he wants as it isn't just about me & I'd hate it if it was, and it really does feels lovely to have his wishes included.

French Manicure

2011-05-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

Ok not that manicure...and can I give a wee word of advice, don't do the nail stick on, extensions whatever...a good friend of mine and beautiful bride said to me at her wedding, as she looked forlorn at her nails...I wish I could take these off, they feel so false and they're sore'...not how you want to feel (Take note, same applies for heavy wedding dresses, another friend just couldn't wait to get that off...not how you want to feel about that dress you spent forever dreaming about and picking!). So instead I'm taking a 'Vogue Idea' from an article I read by a lovely and very sophisticated former french model who said use Dior Crème Abricot Fortifying Cream For Nails and you will never need a manicure (she did also say it will wreck your bed sheets...but sure so does red wine). Another lovely bride also recommended Perfectil Skin, Hair & Nails (available at all good chemists and usually 3 for 2) which she started 1mth before her wedding, and I can vouch, her skin was perfect(il) ha! So I think overall approc £17.00 for the creme & £15.00 for your supplements tallies up well compared with a salon based budget!

Ahhh I'm gonna be the bride photos

2011-05-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

Twinkle, twinkle little star

2011-05-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Woohoo new post (don't know if anyone else is excited, but I am). Busy isn't even a word, so I'm back and blogging. So today I'm writing about sparkly wedding bits. Mostly because I really need to locate a particular item myself and have been looking at a few sites (can't tell you which items, giving enough away already!) What I have found is that there are a few tasteless companies & designers jumping on the 'Vintage' bandwagon and I can't see the pearl for the faux pearl to save myself. I've seen more than enough junk put together in bridal boutiques, made of glass beads and fishing wire and called 'vintage' than I can cope with! Also, a lot of the stuff is so bright, sparkly and seriously tacky! So I've discovered a few sites that aren't too bad, Liberty in Love, particularly the items by Stephanie Browne, also Glitzy Secrets and Ebuni.com. Or if you do want the real deal there is also the Decadence Vintage Bridal Fair on June 12th at Malone House. Last time I was there there was a lady who can also make you any bridal jewllery you desire. So if you have also found any good sources for wedding jewellery I would be delighted to hear from you? You can look on ebay, but type in vintage or antique and you will get a back a disaster list of irrelevant rubbish...so enough rant from me, I'm off shopping! :)

Was hoping for more magic!

2011-04-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Such as this Valentino prediction...

Engagement Shoot with Campbell Photography

2011-04-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Through this blog (yippee!) I had a really lovely message from the even lovelier Kristi Nicole Campbell offering me an engagement photoshoot. This is something done more often (again) in America than here but here's a few reasons it is really a lovely idea and very useful. For starters it is an informal way for you and your fiancée to get more comfortable posing, kissing (ooh) and canoodling in front of the camera (kinda hard to pretend they're not there ) & it is also a way of recording this lovely, exciting period of anticipation before the big day. Like everything it will be over before you know it. So, Kristi proposed the idea and I said yes of course, especially when she sent me a link to her previous work on flickr . Kristi & her husband Neal make up Campbell Photography and together they are both a wonderful couple (who met on flickr admiring each others work...very sweet) and a dream team for wedding photography. They shoot on film and digital and the quality of the film photos they take is just beautiful, shooting on an old vintage american camera. I think I need a whole separate post on how the shoot was organised and how it worked but below is just a little taster of the moodboard of my own initial thoughts for the shoot and the quite surprisingly gorgeous results! If they can do this for two hung-over people...what could they do for your wedding photographs!! x (Just a preview...more to come)

Here's what it's all about!

2011-04-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

Beauty's where you find it! Vogue Wedding Issue!

2011-04-12T02:57:00.000-07:00

I rushed home last night as we were driving out to look at our wedding car (which is amazing...can't reveal). So I came home to my boyfriend cooking dinner! This was/ is of course always lovely. BUT…then checking through the post there was a little card, which I opened to discover, was a very sweet Happy Easter card from him. I was then directed to look under the cushions for a little pick-me-up and what did I find there…Vogue May 2011 which is dedicated to all things wedding! PLEASE Buy…you will LOVE! X

A Gal with a Plan...

2011-04-12T02:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday night I was reading Grazia and the journalist was yattering on about reasons she is not married. Anyway that's grand, but one comment struck me when she started discussing the crazy prices of wedding dressses relative to other purchases. and I thought in a way she's right. I've always said my ultimate gift to self would be a Chanel 2.55 handbag and I have to say I currently could not justify that, but on the otherhand I'm pretty much spending that on my wedding dress. So...there in lies the plan! My dress is by one of the main fashion bridalwear designers at the minute and so far I've spotted it either in ads or fashion stories in Elle Sposa, Vogue Sposa, Brides etc etc, so I think post wedding I will sell my dress (so that some other lovely bride can use it) and with the proceeds buy myself a Chanel 2.55. This way the idea of parting with my wedding dress and all the lovely memories will be all wrapped up in a beautiful classic bag that will never date? See, perfect! x

BIG Dress & Accessories Sale!

2011-04-08T02:20:00.000-07:00

My friend at Bows Bridal Boutique is having a BIG Closing Down Sale with up to 70% off dresses & accessories from Paloma Blanca, Sassi Holford, Marylise, Charlotte Balbier & Rembo Styling. Here are a few of the dresses I tried on in my first bridal appointment there & 1 or 2 ... (Big Disclaimer...I don't know what dresses are no sale...these photos are just to show the quality of the owners choices!)

Drama and stunning!

This model does nothing for this dress!...very Jackie O

on and was definitely nicer on me with a veil :)

Would have tried...

Classic but beautifully made and VERY flattering!

Wish list...and still on lust list!

Nice Day for a White Wedding!

2011-04-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

Everyone dressed up with all the tacky veil's and L plates and now we're all trying to do chic...if I decide to wear bridal attire for my hen party I want to channel Stephanie Seymour in Guns & Roses November Rain...

Ghost Town

2011-04-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

As you may have read from a previous post, I visited quite a few bridal shops in Northern Ireland while deciding on 'The One'. As I was driving past Forever Bridal, Finaghy I seen one of them in the window and my heart did a little flip. Not because I wished I'd picked that dress, but because going in hopeful, trying on dresses and going home and thinking them over, breeds an emotional attachment. Perhaps that's why that girl ended up with 9 dresses on her wedding day! It reminds me of that episode of Sex and the City when Carrie talks about the ghosts of relationships past...I now feel like greater Belfast is littered with the flings of dresses I've loved and left! So in the spirit of this I thought I'd share with you the dress that started it all and some of the memorable dresses and where I tried them in the city.

The bride that started it all...
Ivanka Trump in Vera Wang!

Esther by Vera Wang

at Selfridges, London (£££££)

Felisha by Enzoni at
The Bridal Suite, Holywood (£££)

Hemera by Jenny Packham at
Blush Boutique, Lisburn Road (££££)

Wallis Simspon by David Fielden at
Blush Boutique, Lisburn Road (£££)

T450, Jasmine Bridal at
Haven Bridal Studio, Moira (££)

Beatrice by Sassi Holford at
Bows Bridal Boutique (£££)

2052 by Tara Keely at
Petticoat Lane Bridal Boutique
Hillsborough(£££)

Honey by Mia Mia at
Petticoat Lane Bridal, Hillsborough (£££)

Jesus Peiro at Forever Bridal Boutique,
Finaghy (££)

Lusan Mandongus at
Forever Bridal, Finaghy (££)

Clio by Jenny Packham at

Castle Couture, Galgorm (£££)

Jenny Packham at

Castle Couture, Galgorm (£££)

Jenny Packham at

Castle Couture, Galgorm (£££)

Remember when you were at school...some more hair inspiration

2011-04-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

Cute Wedding Shoes found locally!

2011-04-01T06:36:00.000-07:00

I was walking back from lunch today and was stopped (yes stopped) in my tracks by these Vivienne Westwood shoes in the window of Rio Brazil, Wellingtion Place. I had seen them in this very cute & intimate wedding (see below) just the other day and now I've tried them on. Perhaps not ideal with a very classic wedding dress, they could be great for the day after or on honeymoon or for a more unusal wedding dress option. For honeymoon you could team with this lovely 'Postcard' dress from Laura Ashley & a big old school basket bag. Very hollywood movie star on honeymoon...just add big sunglasses! x

Save the Date

2011-04-01T03:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a wee idea we used for our Save the Date Cards. Not something we always do over here, but ours doubled up as our Engagement Party invites and are also particularly useful for out-of-town guests so that they can book flights, hotels, time of work etc. Ours where fashioned from photobooth photos we took in a cool bar in New York, The Lakeside Lounge with a bit of crafty trickery added on later.

Rattle & Hum...what ever happened to this tradition?

2011-03-31T07:53:00.000-07:00

I remember we were driving driving in your car

The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk

City lights lay out before us

And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder

And I had a feeling that I belonged

Going to the Chapel & We're Gonna Get Married!

2011-03-31T07:26:00.000-07:00

Not sure if any of you out there have or are going to do any kind of pre-marriage course, but having completed part A of ours last night I would definitely say it is something worth doing, even if you just decided to have some drinks and chat through some thoughts you have yourself. I was actually amazed at what a nervous wreck I became just as we sat down at the table. My heart started to pound and I went a wee bit lightheaded...but that all passed once we got into it. Think it was just the proximity to the chapel and the reality of ticking the 5mths to wedding box! We were lucky that our course is a just a questionnaire that is then sent off, analysed and the results presented back. But I have to say that I can see the positives. It does a few things, reaffirms all of the things that are strong and great about your relationship, but it also highlights the things you maybe haven't discussed in final detail. Like for example, have you discussed and agreed your approach to savings and debt, or would you be able to accept if your partner couldn't have children. Our evening afterwards was spent discussing and chatting how we each approached answers, and I have to say (without any of you throwing up please) those kind of chats can only bring you closer to the wedding and each other. As one very forceful bridal boutique owner said (when I mentioned that a dress I was trying on felt very serious)...'it doesn't get much more serious than this honey' (gulp)! So it's at least worth a chat about how you feel about some of the big things that life brings.

Fresh & Classic Bridal Hair Thoughts

2011-03-31T06:56:00.000-07:00

I 'm posting this as a meander through my own bridal hair thoughts. Not to give the game away at this stage, some of these are just looks I love, others are on the shortlist. All are takes on bridal hair that I think are fresh, pretty, and ultimately attractive & sexy...least we not forget it might be nice to get an approving nod from the groom as well. No over spraying, helmets or crystal spirals in sight! I know I mentioned Vintage Rocks before; another lovely girl worth checking out is Kelly at Ashby Girls (part of Ashby Gents). Very pleasant and helpful on the phone 07841144601.

I get by with a little help from my friends...

2011-03-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post today (went a bit post crazy yesterday). I'm trying to keep this wedding as stress free, personal and well straight forward as possible, and to this end it is always worth sitting back and taking stock of what you need and what is the best way to meet this need. For example, my lovely friend Sandy who is a graphic designer in New York has offered to design our invite suite as our gift. I've asked another friend who is a beautiful illustrator to illustrate the maps for the invites that will guide guests from the chapel to the reception, and I have my lovely cousin Emily Rose Conlon singing in the chapel and doing my bridal makeup. So, sit back, sip some wine and take stock of all the lovely friends and family who I know will love to help out and take part...Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends. P.S Recently married friends can also be a great source of recommendations, stockists and time and money savers to help you weed out the bad experiences. Learn from their mistakes or their successes! (NB: Image from Google Images)

Elizabeth Taylor, one heck of a bride!

2011-03-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

Local Flower Fairy

2011-03-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

A bit late posting this as the appointment was Saturday a week ago. But anyway on that Saturday we went to see the lovely Siobhan at Flower in Dunmurry. Siobhan had done the flowers for a few friends’ weddings, and they were all beautiful and bespoke to each bride's wedding style and themes. So with eager anticipation we visited her and were not disappointed in terms of her service and knowledge. Siobhan spent a good hour/hour and half discussing themes, colours, seasonal flowers ways to save money and ways to get a similar look to say peonies without the hefty price tag. She also had local knowledge of the chapel we are marrying in which was helpful and created a lovely experience for us. Siobhan's background is in art and I think this helps to sidestep some bouquet disasters. She was delighted to discuss all my likes and dislikes and I felt very comfortable leaving that she would come back with suggestions we would like. (NB: Flower Pic not actually Siobhan's) To see some of her work visit her on Facebook.

Happy Hen Party Banner

2011-03-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

More Invite Leftover Activity. Using nvite leftovers from a 'Lilac & Mink' wedding I made this pretty homespun 'Happy Hen' banner for the brides shower/ bachelorette party.

Bridal Trousseau...

2011-03-24T03:29:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of this until flicking through a recent American bridal magazine, and well any excuse to gather more clothing is always welcome. So, what is a Trousseau. Traditionally, it was a kind of dowry or 'the clothes, linen, etc., collected by a bride for her marriage'. Now, dowry I think of Mary Kate Danaher wrestling John Wayne in the Parlour, but that's not it. Young girls would sew away in the years before their marriage to gather together the clothing & linens they would take with them to their new marital home. The word Trousseau comes from the French (you know they have to be involved when there is something chic mentioned) 'a little bundle'. Now...girls if you had to up and pack and over to the grooms house would it be a little bundle…eh no! So, I had seen a beautiful photo of a Trousseau (now...if I could find it) and it was made up of mostly silk lingerie, night slips and nightwear...that I could see as a 'little bundle'. So I think you could consider your bridal underwear and honey-a-moon (as Nanny Sally likes to call it) your Trousseau. And here we begin. A lot of thought is put into bridal underwear, luxury, attractiveness, fit, comfort and of course invisible under wedding gown. So far I don't know of too many modern brides whose grooms have actually seen all of this effort. I know of one bride who had to sleep in her dress because she cried too much thinking of taking it off, and one bride who's groom was too tipsy to undo the tiny buttons (I recommend going for buttons with a concealed zip!) and she had to knock a few hotel rooms to get a wedding guest to help her. One item I would recommend is the Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless, available in nude and nude lace, it has metal hands inside that literally support you as if you were holding them up and in yourself. Available at House of Fraser, Next and Online. Recommended by a bride who married last year, I have since tried and tested it on a few dance floors and it doesn't move...it is hands ‘up’ the best strapless bra I've tried. Then, for sheer luxury there is the Agent Provocateur Bridal Range....just beautiful! If you can’t stretch to the whole range, even just the garter is stunning (be careful though with any slimmer silhouettes as it will probably show through).

For a Lovely Lace Bride...

2011-03-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Under the brief of classic, lace, pearls and twinkle here are a few (there were a good few more) of the invites I drafted up for a recent bride. Every brief yields a bespoke approach, so if anyone is interested in discussing handmade stationary, classic, quirky or personal, just email me at gracecatherinecousins@gmail.com .

Martha Stewart Weddings Spring 2011

2011-03-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

Having been out off action sick I needed to make sure I got my copy of this first before telling all of you that it's in stock :). Get your copy now at Eason's Royal Avenue. P.s Eason's Lisburn don't stock it.

Diamonds on the soles of her shoes...

2011-03-22T03:09:00.000-07:00

She's a rich girl, and she don't try to hide it...Waiting in the car the other week Paul Simon, Diamonds on the soles of her shoes came on and all alone in the dark I started to really dance to it. Later last week, off sick (which explains the silence) with a stack of wedding magazines and some left over supplies I wonder where I got this idea. Cute if I have to kneel at the alter...x

Kate Moss...Le smoking bride to be!

2011-03-10T07:10:00.000-08:00

Pretty Placenames

2011-03-09T02:59:00.000-08:00

Whether pebbles from weekends in Donegal or paper doilies from Makro here's a couple of lovely alternatives to placecards.

Hipstamatic Bride

2011-03-08T04:20:00.000-08:00

If you're reading this (and I hope there are some of you out there) you might already know about the Hipstamatic App for your iphone. I recently bought it and although I LOVE the effect hadn't totally worked out nice opportunities to use it, but in the meantime I just love poking around it and having fun with the different effects. It basically turns you iphone into not just one but several old school cameras, giving your snaps a lovely tattered, old effect. I think it could be cool for some of your more off the cuff wedding and engagement photos. I'm a big believer in gathering up guest photos etc and compiling a second casual wedding album (the one you will probably really enjoy looking through). I think I will definitely be putting it to use this weekend at our engagement party. x

Groom's Cake? The Cigar Bar.

2011-03-07T04:32:00.000-08:00

The first time I ever heard of a groom's cake was watching Steel Magnolia's when they made the Armadillo cake with the grey icing. Groom's cakes aren't typically something we have here, but I suppose the sentiment is to have something at the wedding that signifies that the wedding isn't all about you :). I read about the idea of having a cigar bar at the reception for the groom and quite liked it. Basically, at the bar or somewhere at the reception set up a little counter of cigars & matches and invite the gentlemen (or ladies) at the wedding to enjoy. And hey its a nice way to introduce those diner matches I'm collecting.

Tablescapes

2011-03-04T03:37:00.000-08:00

Our wedding reception is in a white room...so with a white dress, white walls and white tableclothes our guests could begin to feel like they were inside a cloud...not to mention the dreaded chair covers if I had opted for them. With this in mind I am thinking of buying into a trend that you see much more in America, coloured or patterned tableclothes. In the spirit of this blog I am thinking of aquiring some 'once loved' ;) tableclothes and dying them to tie in with my (our) colour palette. Dylon dies for example are not what they used to be, they are really easy to use and don't (and I have tried it) wreck your washing machine. Also I've shopped around a bit and I think that Dunelm Mill on Boucer Road have by far the biggest and cheapest selection, and don't forget to buy the salt (I thought the supermarket would have it cheaper, but to be honest it's not and also the Dunelm packets are perfectly measured for what you need). x

With a Perfectly Raised Eyebrow...

2011-03-04T00:07:00.000-08:00

...you will probably try and veto the 5 day stag party! But in the meantime...you could take your bridal lead from the ever classic bride Grace Kelly and make sure you have her classic Hollywood brows for W-day. I haven't touched my eyebrows since November and instead I've been visiting lovely Lucy in her brow and lash salon, The Lulu Lounge . Lucy has trained with Infamous Anastasia (of Beverly Hills...famed for grooming J.Lo, Naomi Campbell, Penelope Cruz, featured in Vogue, yada yada yada) and is an eyebrow master. Apart from the fact she greats you with bubbly and wraps you in blanket if you like, she is also a master at what she does. She is a big fan of the stronger Hollywood brow and her eyelashes are feather light! You can get the 1 day lashes or semi permanent ones that should see you through the honey-a-moon as well. Little antidote...I arrived one day just after a slightly 'tired and emotional' customer had been treated to a blanket and Berocca while having her brows tweezed! x

Hollywood Hair

2011-03-03T06:54:00.000-08:00

In th spirit of the week with the passing of Jane Russell, I thought I'd take the chance to tell you about a brilliant group of lovely girls at the Vintage Rocks hair salon in Belfast. I first went to these girls when the really lovely Claire Asfer offered to style our hairs for the Living Vintage shows for free all in the name of charity. The salon is great fun to be in and their styles are 100% Old Hollywood!

Something Old!

2011-03-01T05:22:00.000-08:00

The tradition of wedding favours...was something I was going to cut out in favour of saving some money! BUT then I (a) had a cheap and chic idea that I really like and (b) really actually liked the meaning behind the original tradition of wedding favours. Wedding Favours used to be sugar cubes (as it was an expensive commodity), then sugar became sugared almonds, then the 80’s happened and we all eventually hated sugared bloody almonds as wedding favours. Well, the thing is that the 5 sugared almonds you traditionally got represented fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness and the bitterness of the almond and the sweetness of the sugar represent the bitter sweetness of a marriage. So back to modern day wedding favours. Here’s my idea...it’s a trend, particularly in America to have branded matchbooks to give out to guests with names and date of the wedding, well I’ve a different idea. On any trip to America I like to seek out old school diners and as a little souvenir usually try and nab a book of matches. Long story short, ebay (your best bridal department store) is full of bulk lots of vintage matchbooks from all the cities we visited on our trip, Las Vegas, LA, San Francisco and all the diners in between. So I think I’m going to pick up someof these, customise them a little and put them in bowls at the wedding as little ‘Hollywood’ style takeaways. Also, most of them will be from our very lovely engagement trip, including Chateau Marmont where we celebrated our engagement.

And the Oscar goes to...

2011-02-28T04:23:00.000-08:00

Bridal Fashion Designers at the 2011 Oscars including Monique Lhuillier and Marchesa. Always nice to see what you could come up with if you did have the Vera budget! x

Something Blue

2011-02-26T00:35:00.000-08:00

I was walking past Steensons http://www.thesteensons.com/ on Bedford street recently and they had this really nice window display of rings by birth stone. My month is November which is blue topaz and I just thought here that would be cool for my 'something blue'.

Little Bit Pretty....Little Bit Rock & Roll

2011-02-26T00:25:00.001-08:00

Perfect Bridal Boutique

2011-02-25T05:14:00.000-08:00

I started out thinking I was going to flick through lovely magazines, spot my dress and maybe try 3 bridal shops one sunny day, before my mum would cry at me in the perfect dress, we'd all go for champagne and that would be it, decision made. Didn't happen! First bridal appointment someone crashed into my sister's car while we were in the appointment and then drove off without a word! Another appointment the electricity went out in the whole block while I was standing in the full dress and veil. Finally one appointment (and probably better, if I don't say where) I tried on a dress and got a nose bleed, leaving two tiny specks of blood down the front of the dress. This all might all seem bad...but I think it was all leading me through 12, yes 12 bridal boutiques to my perfect boutique Castle Couture ! Here I found a beautiful collection of Jenny Packham and David Fielden dresses and the lovely owners, including Marie, who include all your fittings free when you buy your dress there. I was only recommended this place late in my dress shopping by two married girls, and I'd rather tell you now than have you suffer through some of the horrible dresses you could do. Other boutiques with lovely people and lovely dresses include Bows Bridal, Blush, Forever Bridal and Petticoat Lane. x

Red Velvet Wedding Cake

2011-02-25T04:29:00.000-08:00

Last night was our wedding cake appointment to sample our cake. We met with the lovely Sarah from Marshmallow Grove who makes the most amazing Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. I'm having this as a lovely alternative to fruit cake which costs a fortune and noone really (tell the truth) eats. I've loved red velvet from trips to America, and now the groom loves it too. And seeing as we got engaged there it's a nice way to incorpoate something we both like and will enjoy. I also like the fact (apart from the taste and price) that you can meet will Sarah and discuss in detail, alternative ways of approaching your cake, whether you want it exposed (lovely layers) or covered with deilcious cream cheese frosting/ icing, or opt for cupcakes. I also like the idea of avoiding the wee people on top of the cake and having a topper that ties in with our invitations. I will be able to make this and just stick it in the top of the cake. She can also look at suppling some amazing hand made macaroons! x

Unexpected Bridal Magazine Outlet in Belfast.

2011-02-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have already discovered that Eason's sell Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and I'm wishing winter away to get the Spring edition, but this morning I discovered somewhere new. I went to the Rail News in the Glengall arcade...(the one on the way into the Europa Bus centre, beside Boots) at lunchtime and nearly hyperventilated when I seen the selection of bridal magazines that they have including some of the big American publications...Grace Ormonde Weddings, Brides and Real Weddings. I don't know what it is about the American publications but they just make me delirious (unlike some local publications!).

2011-02-24T01:45:00.000-08:00

So, a little short post this morning. Here are two wedding blogs that I love. They are like wedding porn! Enjoy x
http://junebugweddings.com/
http://blog.lemonlimephoto.com/

I hate chair covers!

2011-02-21T07:30:00.000-08:00

I 'm not sure who the Bridal Bill Gates was, but someone somewhere decided to tell everyone that the chairs in their wedding receptions weren't good enough and that we should all start covering the chairs in dust sheets and tying coordinating bows on them. Now...this would be fine if we have options, but here in NI I haven't seen too many. So I was lucky enough to have done a bit of work with a company McLaughlin Event Hire and recently decided to see if they hire chairs. To my delight :) they hire chairs that they call their 'chiv green lime chair' which doesn't sound to romantic, but is the picture perfect chair that I've seen in every American movie I've ever fallen in love with. The chairs are pictured with a green cushion, but speaking to Peter and Paddy they actually come with an ivory chair seat. These chairs are particularly pretty in a smaller or marquee or outdoor venue as they don’t bulk up the space like the dust sheets and bows can. UPDATE: I have now started a new business which hires these chairs in limewash white or in gold, both with ivory seat pads, to hire contact Grace & Saviour x

Hello!

2011-02-21T07:07:00.000-08:00

Hello if you're reading this, I'm delighted! And if you're the lovely bride/groom to be congratulations. So, why have I started this blog. I am trying to make my wedding personal and not identikit and I want to do this while profiling the local suppliers I use along the way. I was lucky enough to be in America when I got engaged and started to buy up american bridal magazines and become obsessed with The Knot & Junebug Weddings . It just seemed to me that they approach weddings a little differently than they do here in Northern Ireland. So for the next 6mths in the lead up to my own wedding I will be documenting all the little details of how I hope to get the day we want with the budget we have! Hope you stay along for the ride x