House of Elliot

What can I say about these amazing hand made lace boots and wedding shoes from this wonderful supplier, but WOW!  Their product range is just beautiful and I am delighted and excited to be able to share this with you today.  If you are looking for that something extra special for your wedding day then look no further.


I asked for a little more information on House of Elliot and here is what they had to say.



House of Elliot is more than a beautiful website created to tantalise your wardrobe with the most beautiful lace footwear and its lingerie temptations. You will find love, care and  attention to detail on every page. With detailed and thoughtful images showcasing a little slice of inspiration, we aim to breathe life and love into your online shopping experience.

We welcome our customers from across the water and thank you for your continued interest from as far as the USA, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Finland, Slovakia and Sweden.

They are also looking for resellers to stock their gorgeous products, they said ..

Here at House of Elliot we have been very busy with the re launch of our new Website which along with our beautiful products has been very well received by both Retail and Trade clients. House of Elliot has been trading since May 2008 and we are looking for companies who are willing to commit to us and who will assist us in growing the brand throughout the world, in return we will offer all the help and assistance you would expect from a company that stands out from the crowd!
We are keen to hear from Retailers in the UK and around the globe, and dependent on your stock commitment to us we will assure you a degree of exclusivity.

You can read what our customers have to say about our beautiful products and follow our success story on Facebook & Twitter
http://www.houseofelliotcollection.com/Testimonials/What-our-customers-say-about-us

In the meantime, if we can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us at trade@houseofelliotcollection.com or call us on+44 (0) 1473 604831 where we will be very happy to assist. A Trade Proposal will be sent upon request to both big and small enquiries

For more information and how to contact House of Elliot you can find these here:

www.houseofelliotcollection.com

kim@houseofelliotcollection.com

http://www.houseofelliotcollection.com/Testimonials/What-our-customers-say-about-us

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOcbjoaYfFU

Riverside Place
124 Bruff Road,
Ipswich, IP2 8GW

Tel: 01473 604831
International : 0011 44 1473 604831

Scotland Exclusive Wedding Event - Beauty Weddings

Well last weekend was Scotland's Exclusive Wedding Event and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, and what a weekend that was.   We had so much fun over the weekend meeting brides, grooms, their families and friends, we just wish we had more time to spend with you all.  

We also had our amazing Prize Draw with the First Prize being a Wedding Day Photography by Julie Vance Photography, the winner was Jennifer Wagner.   I found out from Jennifer's lovely fiance that they were just going to get friends to take their photo's as they couldn't really afford a professional.   Well now they don't have to they have Julie to capture the precious moments of their wedding day next May.   So a massive congratulations to Jennifer.


Our other prizes and winners were:

A Free Live Wedding Stream of the Ceremony & Reception from Events Live.  Winner:  Louise Weir

Case of Wine from Discovery Jobs.  Winner:  Ashley Long

Handmade bespoke Guestbook from Wanderlust.  Winner:  Dawn Ramage

Gift Voucher from Hastings Crystal:  Winner.  Kerry Noon

Beauty Voucher from Lomond Beauty :  Winner.  Stacie Conden

Bridal Bouquet & Buttonholes from Ribbons n Roses.  Winner: Katrina Leer

Engagement Photo shoot and Desk frame my McAvoy Photography.  Winner: Julie Robertson

40 Wine Glass Charms Created by Wine Glass Charms by Tracey Taylor and donated by Beauty Weddings.  Winner:  Diane McGill

Gorgeous Crystal Tiara by Inizi Dolce Bridal.  Winner:  Lynn Sweeny

£250 towards a wedding cake by The Sweetest Thing.  Winner:  Nicola Thomson

A huge Congratulations to all our winners.

Many of our visitors would have got to taste the amazing marshallows that we were giving away if you are interested in these for wedding favours contact Anne at Vanilla Buffets 

I also got to catch up with some of amazing suppliers that I speak with on both Twitter and Facebook, it was really good to put faces to you all, and you are all so lovely :D 

Our Stand was opposite One Fine Day & The Finer Detail who were such a lovely family run business.  Their cakes were gorgeous and their bridesmaids dresses and tiara's were just amazing.   Definitely worth a visit to their website.

We also had a lot of interest in our table centrepieces that we have available for hire and I will do a separate blog on them later in the week. 

To contact us either visit our website at Beauty Weddings,  Email us or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

I am sure we will back again in February for the next show at Scotland's Exclusive Wedding Event.

Captured Memories

This week I want to showcase something with a difference.   When I first saw this product, my first reaction was WOW!   To me there is a real gap in the market for something so special and bespoke as these Memory Books by Illustries. 


I had a chat with Emma about Ilustries,and I was truly inspired by her story and I am delighted to be able to share that with you today.

Just to explain where we came from, when I looked for something for my own wedding, I couldn't find what I wanted - a less formal album where we could also add text and keepsakes. Sam is a fab designer and I am a  seasoned copywriter and we'd worked on other projects together, so we had a go at creating that elusive 'memory book', and some time later, here we are - with a really exciting new company and a great friendship! We live a couple of hours  away from each other so Skype and dropbox are our best friends, and when we meet up, tequila joins the party almost every time, leading to some really creative ideas...

We describe our Illustries as memory books, but really, they are a repository for all the fabulous details of the big day - we see them as a great alternative to a traditional album, which so often gets left to gather dust on the shelf. We find that Illustries get passed around families and friends, and every Illustries customer has said that just opening their Illustry puts them right back in their special day. We include everything - vows, speeches, readings, menus - so all those bits and pieces are centre stage rather than lying forgotten in a box somewhere.

The Illustries themselves take a fair amount of time to create - I write every detail of the couple's story, from when they met to 'happy ever after' including plenty of interviews and Sam makes sure that the design reflects their day in every way possible. We don't have wordcount limits, we don't use any template software, and all the ideas have been developed from scratch - with elements like our 'Life Map' (a flow chart of their relationship), 

Recipes for Love (Jamie, Nigella and even Gordon style), and our 'Wedding by Numbers' and 'A-Z' features (that capture all the quirky little details). 

We have a style to suit most couples - Classic, which is elegant and modern.

Avant Garde, which is quirky and fun

and our CELEB magazine, which lets the couple start in their very own celebrity magazine.

We are absolutely delighted with the feedback so far and we already have expansion plans. We're really focusing on networking as we would love to work with like-minded photographers so that our books can be built into their photography package, we have Illustries for all of life's memorable moments in the pipeline, and we're looking forward to launching our new website and hitting our first wedding fair season in September!

So, that's our story - in a rather large nutshell! 

I am sure you will be as taken with these as I was, I think it is an absolutely fantastic innovation and something that can be treasured forever.

To contact Emma and Sam click on the links below.

                               

Special Wedding Discounts

I have the real pleasure of being able to bring some real savings for couples planning their weddings in conjuction with Big Day Discounts.  With so many wedding related websites out there, I always feel it's important to get to know my Partners and Suppliers and not just their products or services  I spoke with Terri who owns this fantastic site and asked what was the inspiration behind it.    

1. What inspired you to create Big Day Discounts?

We know that weddings can cost a small fortune and with the current economic climate the way it is at the moment, every penny counts. Couples are still spending big on their wedding day but are trying to look for savings where they can. Our idea is to bring suppliers discounts straight to the couple via our newsletter (due to launch within the next couple of weeks) and through our website too

2. What sets you apart from the competition?

Our website is dedicated to just discounts and offers from Wedding suppliers making us a one stop shop for couples wanting to take advantage of some great savings!

3.. What are your biggest successes so far?

Seeing our idea right through from the planning stage to our website going live and working around any obstacles/issues put in our way.

4. Where do you see Big Day Discounts going in the next few years?

We hope to be the number one wedding discount website and to be able to take the concept to other countries.

5. What is the best part of your job?

We love all things wedding related so to be able to to work within the wedding industry is great and we get to work with some lovely suppliers too. We also like the freedom of working for ourselves and that no two days are the same.

Here are some of the exclusive discounts you can find on their fab website:

10% off all tiara and jewellery prices and a free shabby chic metal tea light holder. When you mention www.bigdaydiscounts.co.uk

Free RSVP return addressed postcards with each order of wallet style invitations (worth over £35.00 on orders of 50 invitations or more) when quoting BDD1

Free Prop Box when booking.When quoting BigDayBox

10% off your order and free pair of Groom socks - Quote BIGDAY when ordering

£50 reduction when quoting A Big Day with CoverStar at the time of enquiry

For more fantastic offers and savings you can find Big Day Discounts here:

        

Top 10 Wedding Planning Tips

Congratulations, you are now engaged to be married.   It has suddenly hit you that you need to plan your wedding and you don't know where to start!!   Here are my Top 10 tips for starting your planning process.

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1.   Decide on your budget!!   This is the most crucial part of your planning process.   There is no point having that bespoke venue and inviting 200 guests if you aren't able to afford it.  You will be surprised just how fast the costs mount up.   The easiest way to break down each element is to allocate a percentage of your budget for each part.  Here is an approximate breakdown of what this should be.


40% for your Wedding Breakfast & Reception. (included decor, favours etc)
10% for entertainment/music
15% for all your flowers
15% for your bridal wear
10% for photography/videography
5%  for your stationery
5%  for your ceremony & transport


Setting and sticking to your budget can make the planning much easier.

2.  Visit Venues within your budget and get detail costs for each before making your final decision, check which dates are available.   Sometimes going out of season can save you alot of money, so it's always worth considering.  This will also determine how many guests you can realistically have to share your special day with you.

3.  Book the registrar and set the date, send out Save the Date cards or Fridge Magnets to your guests.

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4.  Book your photographer, the really good photographers are booked up well in advance so it's important that you start this process early in your planning.  So many photographers say that they have couples coming to them a few weeks before the wedding, you need to be able to build and have a good relationship with the professional who is going to capture your day, it makes a huge difference to the images that you get afterwards, as you are more relaxed and comfortable with them.

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5. Decide on your theme, there are so many ideas out there it's good to do a bit of research, visit wedding websites, photographers websites, look in magazines and make yourself a mood board and play around with ideas and colours to get that perfect look.

6. Bridal Wear is also so important to start looking early.   Many bridal stores need at least 6 months notice to have your dress ready for the day, this includes having it made, you will need several fittings as most brides believe it or not drop a dress size on the lead up to their wedding.  Give yourself plenty of time to shop around, visit wedding shows to get inspiration, watch out for sales you might even bag yourself a designer gown at knock down prices.

7.  Flowers again are something that many couples leave until the last minute, thinking about this early and deciding what you really want is so important, the flowers can complete the look of your outfits on the day, you want them to compliment your dress/outfits as well as tying in with your colour scheme.   Consider the time of year you are getting married and what blooms are in season at the time.

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8.  Family arguments!!  This is a very common theme for many weddings and the way to avoid confrontations and resentment is to lay the ground rules down early on.   This is your wedding and you want it done your way, it's so crucial that you never lose sight of that.  Involve your bridal party and family in the planning, assign tasks and roles to everyone, listen to their ideas and implement the ones your like.  If you don't like an idea be tactful and say something like "I like that idea, but would like to think about a few others before making a final decision"   


9.  Think about hiring a Wedding Planner/Consultant.   Seriously, it can make such a huge difference.  Forget the Hollywood portrayal of wedding planners in real life it's not like that at all.  Wedding Planners don't take over your wedding and don't cost a fortune, they can actually save you money, by recommending suppliers, being able to source decor items.  Most importantly they give you the support you really need especially on the run up to your big day (the last 6 weeks are the most stressful).  Not only will you be de-stressed you will have the confidence and assurance that your day will go without a hitch and be as perfect as you dreamed it would be.


10.  The most important thing of all.... have fun!  Enjoy your engagement, have fun in the planning and look forward to one of the biggest and happiest days of your life.

For more information on wedding planning services, visit my website  

Gorgeous Gifts

This week I am delighted to feature an amazing supplier of gifts that would delight any couple on their wedding day.  Not only that they can provide some amazing items that will enhance the decoration of any wedding and have your guests talking about them for a long time after.  I asked Gorgeous Gifts about their company and what inspired them.


What inspired you to create Gorgeous Gifts?

Gorgeous Gifts launched at the end of Nov 2010. My background is in Sales & Marketing at National Account Head Office level in Food & Beverages and latterly toiletries, gifts, home fragrances and beauty! Although that's a bit dull probably!  I moved to Devon to be close to the sea, my sister lived here and had a shop for 5 years and decided to move to online with the occasional retail show after selling the shop.

We are a small company with all the integrity that brings but with big ambitions and ideas.

We are all so busy these days, I wanted to create a one stop shop for all your gift buying needs. We live in the country here and don't have access to a wide variety of shops so I wanted to create an online boutique style shop which would bring gorgeous products to you without you having to leave your home.

Many peeps live in rural areas or do not want to pay parking and do not have time to traipse around the shops but do love beautiful things and I wanted to make these things more accessible.  Ideally I'd like to stock more British made and British designed products and more individual pieces than we do but we have opted to stock a more populous range coupled with some designer/maker pieces in the current economic climate. We have items that range from £1.00 to £150 so hope to have something for everyone, including those hard to shop for men!

What were the biggest obstacles you faced when setting up the site?
Getting the web designers to think the way I thought.  Although web people tell you everything is bespoke (unless you are buying an off the shelf model) they really just build everything on their last model and tweak.  I had a long list of requirements and I'm a perfectionist so the re-writes were huge despite a very detailed brief initially.  But I'm pleased we incorporated most of my requirements such as zoom on products, product reviews, the ability to send a Wish List complete with clickable links to your own email contacts, a reminder service you can set up to remind you of events or special occasions that you might need to buy gifts for and a gift wrapping service which can include your own personalised message.

You can buy at one address and ship to another (surprisingly uncommon) and you can ship worldwide.

There's still things on my site that annoy me and my snagging list is on going!

What are your favourite / best selling Wedding items?

Twiggy heart is very popular as it's so versatile: It can be used as table decorations, pew ends, hall decoration etc.  You could even add it to your gift wrapping on your present. (A personal favourite of Beauty Weddings! ) 

For gifts the entwined lovers' heart flutes are popular as they symbolise love and come boxed.  

What are your biggest successes so far?

We have just had 3 products featured in Period Living Magazine which has brought us more traffic to the site and also people who do not normally shop on the internet and this has encouraged us to think about producing a catalogue

Where do you see Gorgeous Gifts going in the next few years?

We would like to expand our handmade and British sections with smaller companies/individuals that might not have a strong web presence and also vastly increase our wedding section to include favours, stationery, table decorations and accessories.  Plus longer term we'd like to start a wedding list service.

And we would like to offer personalised products.

If you are a wedding supplier making something gorgeous that you think will fit with us - we'd love to hear from you  

What is the best part of your job?

Sourcing new products of course!  What's not to like about shopping?

What a delight it was to find out more about Gorgeous Gifts and here is a small sample of more of their amazing products, I just wish I could put them all on here to share with you, but you can visit their website to browse and buy, and you can be guaranteed fantastic service from them.

Website: http://www.gorgeousgifts.co.uk/

Email :   enquiries@gorgeousgifts.co.uk

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