The Wedding Affair Blog

A Wedding for All Seasons Designer Wedding Show... the Bridal Show of the Year!

2012-03-01T14:22:00.001Z

Yorkshire's finest Wedding Show is coming soon! Don't miss this one, it’s a different concept of wedding fairs and we really mean that, it’s not only for the girls but for the boys too..

Our belief is that there are some exceptionally talented people in the wedding industry and lots of them live in the North! We wanted to create a show that followed our usual format of fabulous suppliers, brought together in the house or grounds of a Stately Home or historical building but that was much bigger and far more interactive, ultimately the North of England's finest Wedding Fair.

We spent the best part of a year trying to work out the best location for this show - the logistics needed to be just right. We wanted a Stately Home rather than a corporate environment, but we needed to have the right space, be not too far from a main city and have sufficient parking for a high number of cars. And then we found it... but even then, we didn't mention anything to the venue and instead arranged a 'normal' fair to test the water.

The fair was a fabulous success and it confirmed our thoughts that it was exactly the right place to bring our ideas to reality. We are incredibly lucky - the venue have a fantastic 'can do' attitude and jumped on board with the plans the second we announced them. Have you worked out where it is yet? For those not in the know, it's the absolutely stunning Newburgh Priory, in Coxwold, 20 minutes outside of York, just off the main A19 near Thirsk. This venue is truly gorgeous for a million reasons and we can't wait for you to see it.

Which brings me to the 'New' Show - of course lots of things will be the same - fabulous suppliers, stunning Stately Home and The Wedding Affair team to pull it all together, but there's also going to be a few different things too. We always wanted to provide that spectacular interactive fair, with so much to be involved in, the Brides and Grooms could be there all day and still want to come back! And so we arrive at A Wedding For All Seasons....

To purchase tickets please go to ORDER NOW!

Here's some of the highlights of the Show:-

The Design Quarter
We wanted to inspire our brides and grooms and allow them to step into a wedding theme - therefore we have a marquee housed in the beautiful ruins of the old ballroom, divided into four quarters to represent each season and designed and styled by some of the best florists and venue stylists. You will be amazed at the colours, accessories and styling involved in making each wedding unique.

The Wedding Affair Boutique
Wouldn't it be fabulous to have an on-site boutique that brides can talk to Yorkshire Designer's and see the latest trends and accessories.

The Limelight Catwalk Shows
We've got three amazing Catwalk Shows a day delivered to you by The Model Experience, showcasing designs not only in the Seasons but the latest Designer fashions from Bridal, Menswear Millinery and Jewellery...

The Adventure Zone
We haven't forgotten those adventurous Brides and Grooms amongst us and they can step into the Adventure Zone to ride quad bikes through the woods or have a go at archery and the climbing wall. For the quieter Groom try your hand at Black Jack or Roulette and bring out the gambler in you! All activities are included in the price of the admission ticket and a competition will be run for an Adventure Weekend for Four for the highest score with 3 arrows on the weekend.

The Wedding School
We are delighted that we will have an on-site wedding school for brides to get back to basics with a fabulous planner. Wedding planning, inspiration and advice on the sofa with Nikki from I Do Designer Weddings, Full Member of the UK Association of Wedding Planners!

The Cocktail Bar
We've had a sublime cocktail created especially for us from Spiritus Events, layered in our corporate colours and fabulously tasty. Lucky VIP Brides will have the opportunity to sample this as part of their ticket but it will be available on sale too!

If you are a Bride or Groom and would like to attend the fair, please visit A Wedding for All Seasons Registration or alternatively to purchase tickets please go to ORDER NOW!

Admission will be £5.00 per person or £15.00 for VIP's. VIP tickets will include the entrance fee, a Wedding Affair Cocktail, Invitation to a private Champagne Reception on Friday 23rd March, a luxury gift bag, priority wedding school and adventure zone sessions and various discounts from selected suppliers.

This is going to be the finest Designer Yorkshire Wedding Show, you'll ever see... we would love you to be a part of it and join us for this incredible event.

For further information about all our Fairs in 2012, visit www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

Before you love, learn to run through the snow leaving no footprint ..... (Turkish Proverb)

2012-02-11T19:59:00.003Z

Anyone we've worked with knows that we like to plan, and I mean really like to plan!

There is usually a phenomenal amount of work in ensuring that our photo shoots are as fabulous as they can be, so Tuesday's Winter Wonderland shoot was certainly something different for us. It started around about Monday lunchtime when Lisa calmly said 'How do you fancy doing a photo shoot tomorrow? It would be such a shame to miss the snow'. Well, you see, that's another thing about us - we can't resist a challenge and there was no answer other than yes!

So within the space of 3 hours, Lisa had sorted everything for our mini photo shoot. We were incredibly lucky that the fabulous Helen Guy Make-Up Artist had already booked the equally fabulous Jim Poyner to take some promotional shots for her so we asked them if they would kindly switch location to the stunning Sutton Park Stately Home, just outside of York. We love this venue and we know you will do once you've seen these gorgeous winter wonderland pictures.

Beautiful isn't it? Well feast your eyes on these pictures and indulge in our Winter Wonderland...

Amy looks absolutely beautiful in this gorgeous Justin Alexander dress, shoes and accessories, available from Mia Sposa, York.

It's so difficult to choose, but for me personally, this is one of my favourite shots...

OK - I've sneaked in a 'behind the scenes' shot, but doesn't she just look gorgeous? Absolutely freezing cold and still smiling - well done Amy!

She wasn't our only beautiful model for the day though. Here's Jess, in another gorgeous Justin Alexander dress and accessories from Mia Sposa, York.

What an amazing job Helen has done with the hair and make-up. We wanted a look that was a little more dramatic than normal and she captured it perfectly.

It wouldn't be a Wedding Affair photo shoot without the hugely talented Elaine from Cakes for All Occasions Yorkshire... Her winter wonderland cake and cupcakes were stunning and oh so delicious... the team could certainly testify to that!!

We'd like to say a huge Wedding Affair thank you to the following people for helping us create such a fabulous shoot in such a short time!

Venue - Sutton Park - www.statelyhome.co.uk
Models - Amy Martin and Jess Johnston
Dresses and Jewellery - Mia Sposa, York - www.miasposayork.co.uk
Photography - Jim Poyner Photography - www.jimpoyner.co.uk
Hair and Make-Up - Helen Guy - www.helenguy.co.uk
Cake and Cupcakes - Cakes For All Occasions Yorkshire - www.cakesandsweets.co.uk
Flowers - Alice & Rose Floral - www.aliceandrosefloral.co.uk
Weddington Boots & Styling - The Wedding Affair - www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

If you are interested in holding your wedding ceremony and/or reception at Sutton Park, please feel free to email suttonpark@theweddingaffair.co.uk and we can send you further information about this hidden gem!

Win an Engagement Shoot with the fabulous Richard Wynn Davies Photography!

2012-02-01T19:13:00.000Z

Valentine's Day...

Supposedly the most romantic day of the year (although shouldn't we make the same effort all the time?) One fabulous thing about Valentine's Day is the proposal stories and we're not the only ones who love them.

The fabulous Richard Wynn Davies Photography have launched a competition to win an engagement shoot with them and trust us, this is a prize you will want to win. They are being extra generous and giving 5 lucky brides and grooms a prize. Wow!! We thought the best way to explain it was to use Richard and Caroline's words and they have been lovely enough to share their own proposal with us (we have to say well done to Richard - it was beautifully executed!)...

'We love proposal stories. Some are funny, others romantic, others just plain ridiculous. Most are simple and heart-warming. When we spend quality time with new clients, often strolling around on their engagement shoot, it’s one of the first things we ask about. It helps to get them feeling all romantic for a start, and as I said, we love to hear everyone’s’ story, from how they met to their first date to popping the question.

It will hopefully not have escaped your notice that Valentine’s day is nearly upon us, and to celebrate we are giving away 5 fabulous prizes of an engagement shoot with us, and a £100 voucher to spend on printed photographs, digital files, albums or frames. The only pre-requisite to enter is that you need to be engaged and planning to marry within the next couple of years. Because, you see, we would like your proposal stories.

Don’t worry!!! It doesn’t have to be weird, wacky, witty, or wild (although fine if it is!). And we don’t need an epic unless you fancy writing one. Every proposal story is unique. Feel free to tell us as much or as little as you like. Where/when/how? Who did the proposing? What was the reaction? How quickly afterwards did your bookshelf resemble the wedding magazine rack at WH Smiths?!

Entering is easy peasy. Click on this link to go to our wedding homepage, then click on “Valentine’s Competition” and away you go!

To get you thinking, here is my story of when Richard proposed to me!

First thing’s first I was not expecting it …at all! An early holiday in April took us to the gorgeous Spring sunshine of Cornwall. A week of exploring coastal paths led us to some of the most beautiful deserted beaches and stunning landscapes and evenings saw us enjoying great food, local ciders and visiting many cosy village pubs (as long as they had Sky and it wouldn’t be too hard for a certain someone to sneak a look at the football scores).

So to the proposal – we had been walking along the coastal path a few miles from Sennen Cove, when we spotted one of the deserted beaches I mentioned earlier. There was no path we could see so we decided to take a more perilous route over a swathe of rocks to the soft sand and turquoise sea below. It was stunning to say the least.

We sat on a rock, and dipped our toes into the (freezing) sea, Richard was sat behind me whilst I splashed about. He said my name in that tone of voice I know so well, I didn’t turn around, I just said “no, you’re not watching the match tonight!”. So he said my name again and this time I did turn around to find him holding what suspiciously looked like a diamond ring! I’ll forgive him the clear absence of a bended knee. To be honest I can’t really remember what he said next as I think I went into shock, but I’m assuming it was something along the lines of “will you marry me.” So naturally I burst into tears and said “Yes”!

Oh yes, and then I fumbled the ring and came within a whisker of dropping it in the water. If you know me, that is fairly typical. Good job our camera lenses are shock proof.

So what are you waiting for? Share your proposal story to be in with a chance of winning such a fabulous prize. We're a little bit gutted we can't enter really!

01757 228647

capture@richardwynndavies.co.uk

www.richardwynndavies.co.uk

2011 - The Year of The Wedding...

2011-12-18T21:28:00.032Z

OK, we all love a good celebrity wedding, let's be honest. We all want to know what the people with those limitless budgets spend them on... so as 2011 draws to an end, we're looking back on five of the best weddings of the year.

5... A Royal Bride
No, not THAT one! This is the wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall, Royal bride and party loving rugby star. How on earth was their wedding going to live up to that of the real Royal Wedding, earlier in the year? Well it didn't, and that's part of why we like it so much. Zara and Mike seemed completely unfazed that they were in the limelight less - in all honesty, they probably appreciated it.

So after having a very low key wedding ceremony in Edinburgh, with Zara in a beautiful Stewart Parvin dress and Jimmy Choo shoes, they partied away until the early hours with William, Catherine and Harry, and in fact it is alleged that they didn't return to their suite until the next afternoon! The one major break with tradition for Zara? She didn't take her husband's name, believed to be because of her equestrian career... a truly modern Royal bride, Zara, we salute you.

Image Courtesy of BBC News

4... Once, twice, three times a bride!
No, we're not talking about a serial bride here - just Luisana Lopilato - or Mrs Michael Buble to the rest of us. If you think she looks familiar, that's because she starred in the video for 'Just Haven't Met You Yet' and ironically it was the first time they met. The first ceremony was in Buenos Aires with Luisana in a fashionable violet coloured, short mini-dress.

Image Courtesy of People.com

Wedding two was a religious ceremony which took place 48 hours later, with 300 guests and the bride looking absolutely beautiful in a Sylvie Burstin gown....

Popsugar.com

And finally, wedding number three, in Vancouver, Canada, with 500 guests and a sublime gown by Argentinian designer Jorge Ibanez....

We're quite impressed with Luisana - not only does she manage to marry one of the most eligible bachelors (breaking a million hearts in the process), but she does it three times.

3... So who could possibly take place number three?
Well, this honour goes to our very own Kate Moss, with a fabulous vintage style country wedding, a three day festival reception and the coolest guest list ever. Enough said...

Image Courtesy of Mirror.Com

2... Our Happy Ever After bride is Lily Allen
She's made no secret of the fact that she wanted to quit the showbiz lifestyle, move to the country and have a family, and she's finally shown us that dreams can come true. Her beautiful wedding dress was by French designer Delphine Manivet and this, along with a beaming smile from Lily, hid the secret that she and her new husband wanted to share at the reception - that they were expecting. Having already suffered two late miscarriages in recent years, this was the news everyone wanted to hear and we're delighted to confirm that although no official announcement has yet been made, Lily and Sam have allegedly given birth to a baby girl. What a fantastic year with a true fairytale ending....


Image Courtesy of Mirror.com

Image Courtesy of Hji

1... Well who else could it be?
2011 was the year of Catherine Middleton and her prince and WOW, what a wedding it was. An already beautiful girl became an even more beautiful bride as she shared her ceremony with millions around the world, with a calm and poise that was truly amazing. Almost upstaged by her gorgeous sister (with a silhouette that any woman would kill for!) and with every choice being analysed and discussed, the pressure was phenomenal. But despite this, there wasn't a dry eye in the house as she married the man she loves, and now, the entire nation loves her in return. Two dresses, one Prince and most definitely our most favourite wedding of 2011.....

Image Courtesy of heraldson.com.au

Image courtesy of Otoloso

Courtesy of Getty Images

So, you may agree with us, you may not, but these are our top 5 weddings of 2011. We're looking forward to seeing what 2012 will bring.

In the meantime, if you're interested in seeing more of what we do, then check out our website www.theweddingaffair.co.uk where you can find over 350 pages of inspiration, ideas and fabulous suppliers.

A Wedding For All Seasons at Newburgh Priory on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March, 11.00am to 4.00pm is the finest Designer Wedding Show of the North with over 70 exhibitors, Design Quarter, Adventure Zone, Entertainment Zone, The Wedding Boutique, The Beauty Room and The Wedding School.... join us for the event of the year.

You can find further details and purchase tickets at www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

0843 289 8504
enquiries@theweddingaffair.co.uk

A Wedding For All Seasons...... Design, Adventure and The Limelight....

2011-11-24T23:02:00.024Z

Yorkshire's finest Wedding Show is coming soon! Don't miss this one, its a different concept of wedding fairs and we really mean that, its not only for the girls but for the boys too...

Here's some of the highlights and as the date approaches we'll share more with you:-

The Design Quarter
We wanted to inspire our brides and grooms and allow them to step into a wedding theme - therefore we have a marquee housed in the beautiful ruins of the old ballroom, divided into four quarters to represent each season and designed and styled by some of the best florists and venue stylists. You will be amazed at the colours, accessories and styling involved in making each wedding unique.

The Wedding Affair Boutique
Wouldn't it be fabulous to have an on-site boutique that brides can talk to Yorkshire Designer's and see the latest trends and accessories.

The Limelight Catwalk Shows
We've got three amazing Catwalk Shows a day delivered to you by The Model Experience, showcasing designs not only in the Seasons but the latest Designer fashions from Bridal, Menswear and Milliners...

The Adventure Zone
We haven't forgotten those adventurous Brides and Grooms amongst us and they can step into the Adventure Zone to ride quad bikes through the woods or have a go at archery and the climbing wall. For the quieter Groom try your hand at Black Jack or Roulette and bring out the gambler in you! All activities are included in the price of the admission ticket and a competition will be run for an Adventure Weekend for Four for the highest score with 3 arrows on the weekend.

The Wedding School
We are delighted that we will have an on-site wedding school for brides to attend and have sessions on etiquette, planning their wedding and inspiration. It's back to basics with a fabulous planner! Perhaps you would like some tuition on wowing your guests in the first dance, this is the place to do it.

The Cocktail Bar
We've had a sublime cocktail created especially for us, layered in our corporate colours and fabulously tasty. Lucky VIP Brides will have the opportunity to sample this as part of their ticket but it will be available on sale too!

The Beauty Room
Forget going to a Spa that weekend, come to A Wedding for All Seasons, where you'll be pampered with beauty treatments and complimentary hair and make-up consultations. This is the ultimate day out for Bride to be.

Bride & Groom Competitions
Don't forget when you register for tickets to enter our Competitions. We've got a fabulous Designer Couture Dress from Jane Elmer Couture worth £1,500, a delicious Wedding Cake or Cupcake Tower from Cakes for All Occasions Yorkshire, an Adventure Weekend for 4 from our Sponsors Maximum Adventure, win a pair of Weddington Boots courtesy of ourselves and various other fabulous competitions running throughout the weekend. You've just got to come and see for yourselves!

To purchase tickets please go to ORDER NOW!

This is all just for starters and we have many other ideas that we are currently working on - our ideas are limitless! We'll be releasing more details soon with Blogs about our fabulous sponsors, those people involved in the areas mentioned above, and more sneak previews of what will be going on. We can't wait to share them with you.

If you are a prospective supplier or sponsor then please email enquiries@theweddingaffair.co.uk as we now have very limited spaces available.

If you are a Bride or Groom and would like to attend the fair, please visit A Wedding for All Seasons Registration or alternatively to purchase tickets please go to ORDER NOW!

Admission will be £5.00 per person or £15.00 for VIP's. VIP tickets will include the entrance fee, a Wedding Affair Cocktail, Invitation to a private Champagne Reception on Friday 23rd March, a luxury gift bag, priority wedding school and adventure zone sessions and various discounts from selected suppliers.

To purchase tickets please go to ORDER NOW!

This is going to be the finest Yorkshire Wedding Show, you'll ever see... we would love you to be a part of it and join us for this incredible event.

For further information about all our Fairs in 2012, visit www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

Sometimes, when things come to an end, there's nothing but sadness...

2011-11-21T19:23:00.154Z

That is unless it's an end of season event at The Wedding Affair! Sunday, 20th November saw us descend on the Legard family's beautiful home, Scampston Hall, enveloped in a mystical shroud of fog, once more for our last fair of the season and what a fabulous fair it was!

Despite a thick fog, the brides just kept coming - firstly having the opportunity to view the stunning Hall and then the magnificent marquee provided by Your Marquee www.your-marquee.co.uk. And whilst the weather outside was a little miserable, the atmosphere inside was decidedly party like! This may have been due partly to the fabulous 10ft Christmas tree which glittered and sparkled away in the centre of the marquee.

We were very lucky to have the talented Nicky Chadwick www.nickychadwickphotography.co.uk on hand to take photographs of the event so that we could share it with those that were unable to make it. I've said it many times and I will say it again - a picture speaks a thousand words so here's some of the stunning shots that Nicky took for us. Aren't they just beautiful? We're so grateful that she gave up her Sunday for us!

Thanks to the lovely Beth and Sarah for modelling!

Our gratitude and love go to the following for their continued support and help on the day:-

Scampston Hall - www.scampston.co.uk

Friends for Dinner - www.friends4dinner.co.uk
Helen Guy Hair and Make Up Artist - www.helenguy.co.uk
Plush Bridal Boutique - www.plushweddingboutique.com
Mia Sposa - www.miasposayork.co.uk
Alice & Rose Floral - www.aliceandrosefloral.co.uk
Nicky Chadwick Photography - www.nickychadwickphotography.co.uk

With special thanks to the Legard family, our fabulous suppliers and the many lovely brides and grooms who attended the show yesterday. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Although this was the last fair of the 2011 season, we have a list of events for 2012, including our two day designer show, A Wedding For All Seasons on the 24th and 25th March. This will undoubtedly be the biggest and the finest fair in the region with over 70 suppliers, a Design Quarter, Adventure Zone, Wedding Boutique, Beauty Room, Wedding School, The Limelight Catwalk, Champagne & Cocktail Bar, an Entertainment Zone and much much more. Visit our website www.theweddingaffair.co.uk for further information on this event, plus over 400 pages of inspiration, high quality suppliers and fabulous photo shoots.

Wedding Fairs in 2012:-

The Wedding Affair at York Marriott - Sunday 22nd January 2012, 12pm to 4pm (50 Exhibitors_
A Wedding for All Seasons at Newburgh Priory - Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March 2012, 11am to 4pm (70 Exhibitors)
The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park - Sunday 29th April 2012, 12pm to 4pm (45 Exhibitors)
The Wedding Affair at Sutton Park - Sunday 27th May 2012, 12pm to 4pm (40 Exhibitors)
The Wedding Affair at Goldsborough Hall - Sunday 24th June 2012, 12pm to 4pm (35 Exhibitors)

For details about exhibiting at our Fairs in 2012, contact us at enquiries@theweddingaffair.co.uk or ring to book your stand on 0843 289 8504. If you are a Bride or Groom and would like to register to attend our Fairs, go to www.theweddingaffair.co.uk/registration.html.

We look forward to seeing you soon at one of our Fairs!

'I don't want realism, I want magic!' Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire

2011-11-13T20:22:00.069Z

I'll be honest - I've always hated magic.... and then I met the fabulous Mark Waddington. This guy is, well, Magic!

He is very much a cheeky chappy but this adds to his charm and you can't help but find yourself completely lost in his weird but wonderful magic world! So what makes him such good wedding entertainment? Well, you will have to see him yourself to judge that, but in the interim we asked Mark himself to spill the beans on why having a good magician is worth it's fluffy rabbits in gold!

Keep your guests entertained

The most obvious reason for hiring any kind entertainment is for them to entertain people! At a wedding, there are undoubtedly a few periods of time which are quite long and drawn out for your guests. One of the times where you really need to provide entertainment for your guests (and is often forgotten about to be honest!) is during the photograph period. As the happy couple, yourself ands your partner will be really busy getting them perfect shots for the wedding album which will leave you little time to go round and chat to your guests, so that will just leave your guests at the bar waiting around to either see you or wait for their call for photographs. By hiring a magician for this time slot, it will keep your guests entertained whilst they wait to take a more active role in the day! Typically the photograph period would last 90 minute to 2 hours, and is usually tied in with the drinks reception.

Another time during the wedding day where entertainment for your guests is crucial is at that point between the wedding breakfast and the evening reception. Some guests may want to go back to their hotel room for a bit, but yet again, more often than not your guests will just be left in the bar waiting for the next part of the wedding proceedings. Put a magician in at that point where it’s a bit more relaxed and a bit more informal and it will go down an absolute treat. It also shows to your guests that you have really thought about them. This period of time also can last about 90 minutes, so if you are considering hiring a magician for this period of time, why not book him for about 2 hours (depending on how many guests you have of course!) so then they can entertain guests that have been invited to the evening reception too!

Bring your guests together

At a wedding, two different families are being brought together in the bond of matrimony, and the chances are that the majority of them will have never met one and other before the wedding! By hiring a mix and mingle magician, the two families will have something to talk about amongst themselves (y’know, like how good the magician was, and scratching their heads in unison over the perplexity of the situation that happened literally inches away from them, that sort of thing) and as a result the bridge will have been crossed and conversation amongst them will be so much easier for the rest of the day. This also reinforces why it is good to have a magician during the photographs, as this is the first chance during the wedding that guests have an opportunity to mix with each other, making it a perfect time to throw something in to get the conversation going!

Make it easier your guests

Weddings last all day, and by keeping things fresh and different for them, it will keep them interested, keep their energy up and give them something to remember the day by! A magician gives your guests a common talking point for the day (“ooooh, did you see the magician? He was dead good, and my wasn’t he attractive…” – you get the idea) and that extra something to remember your big day by. Of course they will remember your wedding day for what it is, but they will have something extra to remember, and years down the line when reminiscing about the whole occasion the subject of the magician will crop up again.

Stand out from the crowd

Having a wedding magician is still a relatively new concept. There is on average 300,000 weddings a year in the UK alone, and I perform at probably about 70 weddings in a year, it is still a very different thing to do and you will be safe in the knowledge that you were probably the first one in your group of friends that has hired a magician for the wedding! (But obviously, all your friends will want to book the magician when they see just how much fun they can be, so make sure you tell your friends who you booked, then you can be safe in the knowledge that you were the trend setter!) Brides want something a bit different for their wedding day, so why not have a magician for that purpose!

Wise words from Mark there, and we are in complete agreement with him. We've worked with him on a number of occasions and he makes such a difference to an event, and even now, I'm still wondering how on earth he did the trick with the sponge rabbits. If you want to know what I am talking about, then book him. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed! www.yorkshireweddingmagician.com

If you would like to see Mark in action at one of our Wedding Shows, pop along to The Wedding Affair at the York Marriott, Tadcaster Road, opposite York Racecourse on Sunday 22nd January 2012, 12.00pm to 4.00pm. Free admission too! Visit this 50+ Exhibitor luxury wedding fair and take away a gift bag as well as seeing Mark at his best! To register your free place go to Free Wedding Fair Registration 2012

A stunning family home, a walled garden and a boat on a lake - picture perfect!

2011-11-11T20:58:00.000Z

If you haven't seen previous blogs about this gorgeous venue then where have you been?

Scampston Hall is a truly beautiful venue, surrounded by gorgeous gardens and a fabulous boating lake. It inspired us to do our Alice in Wonderland themed photoshoot there and the result was amazing.

Alice in Wonderland at Scampston Hall, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Alice & The White Rabbit at Scampston Hall, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Topsy Turvy cake courtesy of A Cake for All Occasions

But Alice in Wonderland aside, we have something else to shout about. The Wedding Affair at Scampston Hall will be taking place on Sunday, 20th November, with 30 of some of the finest wedding suppliers in the area, all housed in a fabulous marquee, provided by Your Marquee www.your-marquee.co.uk. There will be live entertainment, competitions and luxury gift bags, sponsored by Molton Brown of York www.moltonbrown.co.uk (who doesn't want a relaxing free facial courtesy of them during a stressful planning and organising time?!)

Scampston Hall from the Marquee, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

The Lake at Scampston Hall, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

Alice in Wonderland and her Bridesmaids at Scampston Hall, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Come up the sweeping driveway into the Hall and you can view the rooms that are available to you on your special day - these rooms may be grand but they also somehow manage to be intimate and informal - I believe this is due to Scampston Hall still being a family home, with photographs of the Legard family growing up, dotted around. You can't help but feel comfortable here - almost ready to kick off your shoes and relax on the sofa...

Scampston Hall, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Alice in the Looking Glass, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

When you have finished taking in all there is to see in the Hall, step through the Alice in Wonderland windows (you will see what we mean when you get there!) and out onto a terrace, then down to the marquee. Beautifully decorated, we can guarantee that amongst these fabulous suppliers, you will find ideas and inspiration, and the people who can bring these to life for you.

Alice in Wonderland at Scampston Hall, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Alice in Wonderland in Scampston Hall Gardens, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Alice and The White Rabbit at Scampston Hall, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

Indulge in a glass of champagne and canapes and enjoy your time here, with the experts on hand to provide you with a luxury experience. Visit our Exhibitor Listing.

If you would like to pre-register, please do so via this link: http://www.theweddingaffair.co.uk/registration.html . Whilst you are there, check out the other fabulous events we have coming up through 2012.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Wedding Affair at Scampston Hall on Sunday, 20th November between 12.00pm - 4.00pm.

www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

Our very own Signature Cocktail... thank you very much indeed!

2011-11-07T21:53:00.000Z

Wow, wow, wow!! Those fantastic guys, Sam and Oli, at Spiritus Events, www.spiritus-events.co.uk have made a signature Wedding Affair cocktail for us.

We met up with the guys a couple of months ago to discuss working together for A Wedding For All Seasons - our designer two day show being held at Newburgh Priory on 24th and 25th March 2012. This show is truly going to be something else with over 70 exhibitors, workshops, a boutique, an adventure zone including quad biking and a stunning inspiration zone housed in the ruins of the old ballroom. And that's all just for starters.

The idea of a signature cocktail came up in conversation and so, after explaining to the guys what we felt was the epitome of a Wedding Affair bride - elegant, sassy and knows what she wants - they designed something that not only looks amazing (layered in our corporate colours no less!) but tastes absolutely gorgeous.

So what makes this cocktail so gorgeous? Here's the recipe...

The Wedding Affair Cocktail

12 mls Creme De Violet

12 mls Hendricks Gin

12 mls St Germain Elderflower Liqueur

Shake all the above ingredients with ice until chilled and strain the liquid into a champagne flute. Then using a long spoon to slow the flow of liquid, top up with Champagne.

Sam from Spiritus Events confirmed 'The Wedding Affair is a full flavoured floral cocktail, with flavours of cucumber, violets, and elderflower, all being complimented by the crisp taste of the Champagne'.

Serve chilled and garnished with a Violet......

We had a mini taster session at our last networking event and the positive response was overwhelming. The cocktail tasted fabulous! The lucky VIP brides at A Wedding For All Seasons will get to try this cocktail masterpiece as part of their experience when they attend the show but the cocktail will also be available to purchase at the bar.

For further details on A Wedding For All Seasons, visit www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you there!

A fairytale castle, beautiful owls and Autumn loveliness......

2011-11-05T00:18:00.000Z

What a fabulous day we had at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park on Sunday, 30th October - we love visiting this truly stunning venue and every time we drive up that sweeping driveway, we are completely in awe of just how beautiful it is!

Swinton Park, photo courtesy of Lissa Alexandra Photography

This time round, we had a glorious, crisp autumnal day with a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, browns and yellows from the ivy and the trees. It's hard not to envision yourself being married here at this time of year, along with fireworks, toffee apple favours and a sea of candles......

The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park, photos courtesy of Lissa Alexandra Photography

Back to the day itself, we had 43 fantastic suppliers ready to showcase their products and services to brides in a stylish and inspirational way. If you look at these photographs you will see what we mean!

The Angels at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Curvy Bridal at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Cakes for All Occasions at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Ecurie 25 at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

The Harrogate Wedding Lounge at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Hart Company at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Homebaked Heaven at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

HF Couture at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Handmade by Jane at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Joe Dodsworth Photography & Jim Poyner Photography at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Louisianna's at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Mellow Moments at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

MissDeal Fun Casino at the Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Sue Watkiss, Pianist at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Ragdoll of Pudsey at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Simply Bows & Covers at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Smooch at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Simon Philips Sushi Chef at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Townsend Jewellers at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Twisted Willow Floristry at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Noble Fine Art at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

Weddington Boots by The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

The White Wedding Company at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park

The stars of the show really did have to be Swinton Park Birds of Prey and the beautiful owls. Surprisingly, they love the camera and were happy to help with getting these amazing shots, although we do have to thank our fabulous photographer too! Lissa Alexandra Photography www.lissaalexandraphotography.com very kindly gave up her afternoon to get some truly gorgeous photographic memories from the day - we are sure you will agree that they are just stunning! A huge thank you also to Abie and Ruth, our lovely models from Curvy Bridal www.curvybridal.co.uk for looking so gorgeous!

Finally, a thank you to Hannah and the rest of the team from Swinton Park www.swintonpark.com and all the exhibitors who were involved on the day. It was a fabulous day and we are now looking forward to our next visit on Sunday, 29th April 2012 between 12.00pm - 4.00pm. Come and join us - you'll love it!

To all our Brides:- to pre-register for our Fairs, go to Registration Link for further details.

The Wedding Affair Outlaws - Wanted Dead or Alive!

2011-10-24T22:54:00.001+01:00

For quite some time, we've been looking at ways to work with the absolutely fabulous Papakata team www.papakata.co.uk. Their teepees are truly stunning and when they suggested having our next networking event a couple of nights before their latest Open Weekend, we jumped at the opportunity. And wow - what a night it was!

We always tailor the event to the venue which is hosting the networking - it's a fantastic way of sharing the history or having a great talking point. In this case, as we were going to be in these beautiful teepees for the evening, it made sense to have a Cowboys and Indian theme - and so The Wedding Affair Outlaws and the Papakata Posse were born.

As you'll see from these fabulous photographs, taken by James Melia - www.jamesmeliaphoto.com - the teepees looked absolutely stunning. We had 96 Wedding Suppliers and Venues book their place and I believe around 88 were able to make it on the night.

A huge thank you to Fiona from www.firenzafloraldesign.co.uk for the beautiful floral decorations.

Our sessions can never really be described as 'normal' as we genuinely believe that it's much better to network in a fun, relaxed environment - and that's where the entertainment comes in. Think hilarious photobooth sessions www.boothrevolution.com, highly competitive but seriously enjoyable Blackjack and Roulette tables courtesy of www.missdealfuncasinohire.co.uk two rather handsome but incredibly skilled guys flairing cocktails www.spiritus-events.co.uk and all accompanied by the gorgeous voice of Cara Jemison, professional singer www.carajemison.co.uk.

Still thinking that we do 'normal' networking sessions? Add in optional fancy dress, and a fantastic, ridiculously tasty 'Papakata' cake courtesy of Elaine www.cakesandsweets.co.uk and it was a seriously fun night. Top outfit of the night does have to be awarded to the lovely Lee from LMX Creative - what do you think of this outfit? Pure genius!

Final shout out has to be for the gorgeous Jo Bilham, Make-Up Artist www.jobilham.co.uk - she did a fabulous job of making Lisa and I look glamorous in our cowgirl outfits. Thank you Jo!

It was a brilliant night and the event carried on much later than it should have done - we hope this is a sign that everyone else enjoyed it as much as we did!

Keep your eyes peeled for our next networking evening - who's up for a Christmas party? And when we say party, you should know that we mean party! See you there!

Something old or something new?

2011-10-20T10:41:00.001+01:00

I love blogs - even if I've been pitifully bad at writing them lately! Whether people consider them to be for an 'average bride' or not, they are a fantastic source of inspiration, ideas and recommendations for those preparing for the big day. I love the fact they are not just for brides and grooms too - they are great for people within the wedding industry to share ideas, promote services and be a general soundboard (contentious or otherwise!)

The Harrogate Wedding Lounge at The Wedding Affair at Goldsborough Hall, photo courtesy of James Melia Photography

And that brings me to today's blog..... I have to get something off my chest. You may agree, you may not, but here goes anyway...

The wedding industry is here to stay. Even at the time of a recession, today's bride is still getting married - she just knows what she wants and is savvier at how she wants to spend her budget. Partly this is due to the plethora of blogs, magazines and wedding fairs out there, all wanting to help, advise, inspire and support. So what happens when a company promotes themselves as being 'an entirely different concept'? What happens when brides turn up a fair and, actually, there is absolutely nothing different at all?

Function 54 & Twisted Willow Floristy at The Wedding Affair at Goldsborough Hall,
photo courtesy of James Melia Photography

When we started The Wedding Affair just over two years ago, our aim was to organise wedding shows in venues that were of an exceptional quality (particularly stately homes, castles and historical buildings), which promoted high quality suppliers that we had personally vetted, and which gave the bride and groom an excellent, trustworthy platform from which to make decisions. Anybody who knows us, is aware that we have worked very hard to ensure our reputation is unquestionable and brides and grooms recognise our brand as being a superior one, associated with quality.

The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park, photos courtesy of Steve Ramsden Photography

So here's the reason for writing this blog - we had the pleasure of visiting a fair in recent weeks which advertised themselves as being entirely different to traditional wedding shows. We popped along to have a look as we were very interested to see what they were doing differently. The answer? Absolutely nothing. We were quite disappointed to be honest. After all, if someone is telling exhibitors and brides that they are going to be involved in the next big thing, wouldn't you be? Don't get me wrong - the event was beautifully laid out and there were, for the majority, some fabulous suppliers there (many of whom we work with regularly), but that was it. Nothing different to go away and rave about - nothing away from the norm. Nothing particularly interactive to engage the bride and groom and give them the amazing experience that was promised. In itself the Fair was lovely but not what it said on the tin!

We love competition - it's healthy and natural and we welcome it as it ensures we strive to better ourselves constantly (hence the reason we spend almost every Sunday visiting as many other wedding fairs as we can and we have no lives!). But it really does get me riled up when people portray themselves as something different when they clearly are not. In all honesty - it can be difficult to find ways for some suppliers to exhibit in an alternative way depending on their product and the main aim of the show is to marry brides with the correct suppliers (no pun intended) but don't promise something you won't deliver. It gives fairs a bad name!

Helijet at The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park, photo courtesy of Jim Poyner Photography

Again, there are fairs that promise the world and are badly organised with very few exhibitors, no advertising or marketing to shout about and the venues just expect the Brides to turn up! These fairs also give the industry a bad name. Certain venues by all means should find ways to attract Brides and Grooms but don't advertise as the best wedding fair around and then under deliver. A lot of exhibitors are saying that the market is being flooded with small badly run fairs and we would agree. We are appalled by some and really don't understand why they bother. If you've got less than 30 suppliers exhibiting with more than 10% in each category or very few Brides attending the Fair, then it's just not going to be successful for your paying exhibitors or your visitors. If you can't do something well, don't do it at all.

Should I just not care? Should I really not get so annoyed - after all, we should probably just concentrate on what we do and let everyone else get on with what they do. But we're passionate about the industry and passionate about being the best that we can be and intended or otherwise, it feels like an assault on us when they describe their fairs as something different, the ultimate or the best shows.

Rant over - thanks for listening...

For now, we'll just continue to provide high quality fairs in stunning venues with fabulous suppliers, whilst bringing to fruition all our plans for A Wedding For All Seasons at Newburgh Priory on the 24th and 25th March 2012 - now that IS a different type of fair with a genuine luxury and interactive experience for brides.... check out our website www.theweddingaffair.co.uk for further details.

Contact us by e-mailing enquiries@theweddingaffair.co.uk or call 0843 289 8504

Shoot the Shoot, Jane Austen style...

2011-07-26T17:33:00.000+01:00

There are so many photographs from the fabulous Jane Austen inspired shoot that we're undoubtedly going to have a few more blogs from all this material. The fact we have a lead photographer and a 'Shoot the Shoot' photographer automatically doubles the work of course!

We were very lucky to have the lovely Nicky Chadwick as our 'Shoot the Shoot' photographer for this event and wow, did she take some fantastic pictures. We love them!

The whole reasoning behind the 'Shoot the Shoot' is to allow people the opportunity to step behind the scenes with us and experience a little more of what we actually see. I love the relaxed and intimate feel that you get from these natural pictures.

Whilst we had two gorgeous models on the shoot, it's not difficult to see who the real star of the show was - Ben, an absolutely magnificent racehorse now used for eventing. I think everybody on the shoot fell in love with him, even just a little bit, and with these stunning pictures taken by Nicky, it's very easy to see why. Isn't he just beautiful - and doesn't he just know it?!

It's the details that often make the difference in a shoot, and we are renowned for being rather particular about those details! Hence, our bridal model for this shoot needed to be comfortable on a horse. Of course, being comfortable wasn't enough for us and we booked Anastasia, the current Miss York, who is not only beautiful, but an accomplished showjumper and horsewoman. As a result, we have gorgeous pictures with her in motion..... captured so well by Joe Dodsworth, lead photographer, and Nicky.

I hope you've enjoyed sharing a little bit of our world, thanks to the fabulously talented Nicky Chadwick. There's more to come from both photographers, so watch this space!

Venue - Newby Hall www.newbyhall.com
Lead Photographer - Joe Dodsworth - www.joedodsworth.co.uk
Shoot the Shoot Photographer - Nicky Chadwick - www.nickychadwickphotography.co.uk
Hair and Make-Up - Alison Clegg, Beauty Call - www.beautycall.co.uk
Bridalwear - Plush Boutique - www.plushweddingboutique.com
Flowers - Lucy MacNicoll - www.lucymacnicoll-flowers.com
Military Uniform - Dress Circle of York
Models - Anastasia Smith and Chris Johnstone
Ben provided courtesy of Noel Wilson Racing Stables
Design and styling - The Wedding Affair - www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

More Swoons from Nicky Chadwick Photography...

2011-07-26T16:02:00.014+01:00

Oh my word! Not only are these fabulous pictures by Nicky Chadwick totally swoonsome, but they have been sat waiting to be blogged for far too long. Sorry Nicky! We've been a bit overwhelmed with all the amazing pictures that came out of this Jane Austen inspired shoot at Newby Hall and combine that with manic wedding season and squeezing in a much needed but unexpected break, the blogging has shamefully fallen by the wayside a little.

Being completely honest, waiting this long to blog them hasn't done them justice! They are truly gorgeous and deserve to be shared with our brides and fellow industry colleagues instead of being kept under wraps in our office!

I've said many times before that a picture speaks a thousand words and this is most definitely the case again. I hate to use words unnecessarily. Yes, it makes my job easier to not have to write much but it's not about that. It's about appreciating the fabulousness of this shoot and the talent of all those involved, but especially Nicky Chadwick. So please just enjoy these gorgeous pictures.....

The gorgeous dress and jewellery are from Plush www.plushweddingboutique.com, hair and make-up by Alison Clegg of Beauty Call www.beautycall.co.uk and the authentic uniform is from Dress Circle of York. Flowers are from the very talented Lucy of Lucy MacNicoll Flowers www.lucymacnicoll-flowers.com We'd like to thank our gorgeous models, Chris and Anastasia, and also Noel Wilson Racing Stables and Katy, for bringing along the true star of the show - Ben.

Last but not least, huge Wedding Affair thanks go to the Compton family of Newby Hall for allowing us to use their stunning venue (www.newbyhall.com) and also to Lucy Wright, their fabulous wedding co-ordinator.

'Beware of fainting fits. Beware of swoons....' Jane Austen inspired shoot at Newby Hall

2011-07-15T08:01:00.016+01:00

When we decided to do a photoshoot at the stunning Newby Hall in preparation of our October wedding fair, we looked to its history for our inspiration. For those who don't already know, an adaptation of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park was filmed there a few years ago and there we found our answer - a Jane Austen inspired shoot. Perfect!

As always, before each shoot, a mood board is produced that allows us to show everyone involved exactly what we have in mind. This mood board did feature Rupert Penry Jones (a rather handsome actor for those not in the know!) but as he was unavailable, we had the next best thing. Be still our beating hearts - the picture above introduces you to our male model, Chris. Doesn't he look fantastic in his military uniform?

Anastasia, our beautiful female model, has just been crowned Miss York and as this blog post is being written, is competing in the Miss England finals. Good luck to her. Not only is she stunningly gorgeous, she is an accomplished horse rider... which brings us to our final star of the show.....

Anyone who knows us is aware that we do everything possible to make our shoots authentic - and fabulous. As Newby Hall was open to the public on the day of the shoot we had to scale down our props. So we reduced the number of items but increased the size - meet Ben, a handsome 17hh racehorse who is now used for eventing. He certainly captured our hearts on the shoot.

Proof that our beautiful model can ride too... stunning. We think this would be a fantastic way to arrive for your wedding!

As with all of our photoshoots, the entire crew had a great day with lots of laughs behind the scenes and despite the serene looks on our model's faces in this shot, Ben completely gave the game away! Love this shot!

How fabulous are these shots with the black cloak? Anastasia looks amazing.....

The photographs in this blog are courtesy of the very lovely Joe Dodsworth www.joedodsworth.co.uk. The gorgeous dress and jewellery are from Plush www.plushweddingboutique.com, hair and make-up by Alison Clegg of Beauty Call www.beautycall.co.uk and the authentic uniform is from Dress Circle of York. Flowers are from the very talented Lucy of Lucy MacNicoll Flowers www.lucymacnicoll-flowers.com

We'd like to thank our gorgeous models, Chris and Anastasia, and also Noel Wilson Racing Stables and Katy, for bringing along the star of the show - Ben.

Last but not least, huge Wedding Affair thanks go to the Compton family of Newby Hall for allowing us to use their stunning venue (www.newbyhall.com) and also to Lucy Wright, their fabulous wedding co-ordinator. Nothing was too much for her on the day, even when we drew a crowd with the visitors (and a stray American tourist or two dashing off the coach to take pictures!).

As with all our photoshoots, we had a 'Shoot the Shoot' by the fabulous Nicky Chadwick Photography www.nickychadwickphotography.co.uk Watch out for part two of the blog, showing you some of her fantastic pictures. You're going to love them!

"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop"... Alice in Wonderland by Annemarie King Photography...

2011-06-27T18:14:00.000+01:00

As you will have seen from our first blog featuring the Alice in Wonderland themed shoot at Scampston Hall, we have been absolutely spoilt by the two photographers who we had the pleasure of working with on this project. Having already given you an insight into some of our favourite photographs, we're now going to focus on each of them in turn. There are just too many beautiful pictures to only have one blog post so here we focus on the gorgeous Annemarie King and her stunning interpretation of our Alice in Wonderland ideas.....

'In my world, the books would be nothing but pictures' (Alice)

It must be very difficult for photographers to interpret and translate our thoughts and produce pictures which bring our visions to reality. But we feel that Annemarie has done just that. The shoot took place at the stunning Scampston Hall, near Malton which has beautiful walled gardens and grounds and a picture perfect lake. From the first time we stepped through the windows and out into the gardens (in true Alice fashion!) we knew it was the perfect location to tell our Alice story - our very own Wonderland.

'Well i've often seen a cat without a grin, but a grin without a cat?
It's the most curious thing I ever saw in my life!' (Alice)

With our vision and planning, Annemarie truly grasped the story we wanted to portray. Narrowing down the sites we could use was probably the most difficult as Scampston Hall is rich with places perfect to tell this fairytale, but between us we almost managed it! A further trip may be necessary...

One of the main focuses of our shoot had to be The Mad Hatter's Tea Party and this was probably the area we had the most fun with, excluding the smoke machine of course! (More about that on the next blog) Having located a fabulous site next to the lake, The Wedding Affair set to work providing Annemarie with a feast of colour to photograph. The final pictures are the epitome of the fabulous, over the top scene which can be easily adapted for a wedding.

'Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting' (The White Rabbit)

'Do you care for tea?' (Mad Hatter)
'Why, yes. I'm very fond of tea' (Alice)

'The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today' (The White Queen)

We have no doubt that you will be in full agreement - Annemarie did an outstanding job at this shoot and we can't wait to work with her again. We are so very lucky to work with some exceptionally talented people and love the fact that each shoot, although incredibly hard work, is filled with a lot of laughter too.

With lots of Wedding Affair love, here's the list of fabulous people involved in this shoot. We would highly recommend Brides and Grooms to use their products and services, here are links to their websites for your information:-

Location - Scampston Hall www.scampston.co.uk
Shoot Organiser - The Wedding Affair www.theweddingaffair.co.uk
Lead Photographer - Annemarie King www.annemarieking.co.uk
Shoot the Shoot Photographer - Chris Milner www.chris-milner.com
Wedding Attire - Plush Bridal Boutique www.plushweddingboutique.com
Jewellery - HF Couture www.hfcouture.co.uk
Alice in Wonderland Cake - Cakes For All Occasions www.cakesandsweets.co.uk
Florist - Elise Flowers www.eliseweddingflowers.co.uk
Hair and Make Up - Alison Clegg & Camilla of Beauty Call www.beautycall.co.uk
Wedding Stationery - I am Nat www.iamnat.co.uk
Fabulous models Amy, Adam, Kay and Charlotte
Event Props - Event Prop Hire www.eventprophire.com

'When I get home I shall write a book about this place.... if I ever do get home' Alice in Wonderland Shoot The Shoot by Chris Milner Photography

2011-06-26T16:00:00.030+01:00

Well we did it again - bright, glorious sunshine for a shoot when days either side had been raining. Apparently that's not the best thing for photographers though - they like a little bit of cloud or grey sky but for the rest of the talented team that we pulled together, it was bliss! The fantastically clever Chris Milner was assigned to do the Shoot The Shoot on this occasion - Alice in Wonderland at the beautiful Scampston Hall near Malton.

People seem to like our 'Shoot The Shoot' concept and we love it. It's our opportunity to give you an insight into our world. It takes a phenomenal amount of work to organise a shoot of this calibre and to bring together a team who are so incredibly talented and hard working. We are always so amazed at the lengths people will go to in order to help us bring our visions to reality.

'It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change' (Alice)

It is hard work - we promise! As it was such a glorious day, we brought a picnic for the team to enjoy by the lake.

'If I were looking for a white rabbit, i'd ask the Mad Hatter.......' (Cheshire Cat)

'Would you like a little more tea?' (Mad Hatter)

It's always about the detail for us, right down to the placement of a flower or the sourcing of a particular product and Chris has certainly captured that with these fantastic images. Whilst he was only assigned to take 'Shoot The Shoot' pictures, it's natural for photographers to keep pointing the lens and as a result he has ultimately achieved some beautiful images that had to be included in the blog.

Anyone who is involved in our photoshoots knows that we always have something very particular in mind - we produce mood boards prior to the shoot and have meetings (or very lengthy telephone calls!) with the people involved. With this in mind there were a number of props introduced at the Alice shoot, including a smoke machine. As you can see from these pictures, the results are outstanding.

We'd like to thank everyone involved in making this shoot such a success, for giving us many laughs on the day, and for contributing to such stunning images. Huge Wedding Affair hugs to you all!

Location - Scampston Hall www.scampston.co.uk
Shoot Organiser - The Wedding Affair www.theweddingaffair.co.uk
Lead Photographer - Annemarie King www.annemarieking.co.uk
Shoot the Shoot Photographer - Chris Milner www.chris-milner.com
Wedding Attire - Plush Bridal Boutique www.plushweddingboutique.com
Jewellery - HF Couture www.hfcouture.co.uk
Alice in Wonderland Cake - Cakes For All Occasions www.cakesandsweets.co.uk
Florist - Elise Flowers www.eliseweddingflowers.co.uk
Hair and Make Up - Alison Clegg & Camilla of Beauty Call www.beautycall.co.uk
Wedding Stationery - I am Nat www.iamnat.co.uk
Fabulous models Amy, Adam, Kay and Charlotte
Event Props - Event Prop Hire www.eventprophire.com

'What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations?'

2011-06-26T15:31:00.006+01:00

'What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations?' asked Alice. Or in the more commonly used quote - a picture speaks a thousand words. And in the case of our Alice in Wonderland themed shoot at Scampston Hall, that is incredibly true.


Scampston Hall, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

It's been said at times that I have some random ideas and I have to admit that's a fair evaluation. So when I came up with an Alice in Wonderland theme for the latest shoot it seemed like a fabulous idea and for once, I was right! We chose the stunning Scampston Hall, with its beautiful grounds, lake and walled gardens - our very own wonderland.

As always, there was a lead photographer and a 'Shoot The Shoot' photographer - in this case the lovely Annemarie King and Chris Milner respectively.

We now have hundreds of truly fabulous images from our day in the sunshine and as a result, felt that the first blog should feature some of our favourites, just to give you a taster of the whole shoot. We've chosen a few pictures from both Annemarie and Chris which I can assure you was no easy task.... we hope you love them as much as we do.

Rather than bore you with lots of our thoughts in this blog, we're going to let the pictures speak for themselves - after all, what is the use of a book without pictures or conversations?

Alice in Make-up, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography


Alice in Wonderland, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Alice in the Looking Glass, courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

Alice in Waiting, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Annemarie King, the intrepid explorer, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

Alice lost in the Forest, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Happiness, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography


Alice and her Bridesmaids, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Eat me! Photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Anyone for Tea? Alice and The White Rabbit, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Alice at The Mad Hatter's Tea Party, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

Alice and the White Rabbit, photo courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

Chris Milner, Shooting the Shoot!, photo courtesy of Annemarie King Photography

The Alice in Wonderland Team Photo, courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

Two more blogs to follow, concentrating on the best of the best by Annemarie King Photography, followed by a fabulous Shoot the Shoot by Chris Milner Photography...

We hope you have enjoyed what was a fabulous day out for all of us... Thank you again to each and everyone listed below who made this Photo Shoot, so special...

Location - Scampston Hall www.scampston.co.uk
Shoot Organiser - The Wedding Affair www.theweddingaffair.co.uk
Lead Photographer - Annemarie King www.annemarieking.co.uk
Shoot the Shoot Photographer - Chris Milner www.chris-milner.com
Wedding Attire - Plush Bridal Boutique www.plushweddingboutique.com
Jewellery - HF Couture www.hfcouture.co.uk
Alice in Wonderland Cake - Cakes For All Occasions www.cakesandsweets.co.uk
Florist - Elise Flowers www.eliseweddingflowers.co.uk
Hair and Make Up - Alison Clegg & Camilla of Beauty Call www.beautycall.co.uk
Wedding Stationery - I am Nat www.iamnat.co.uk
Fabulous models Amy, Adam, Kay and Charlotte
Event Props - Event Prop Hire www.eventprophire.com

The Wedding Affair at Goldsborough Hall - Sunday 12th June

2011-06-26T10:11:00.000+01:00

What a fantastic day we had for The Wedding Affair at Goldsborough Hall on Sunday, 12th June. This was our final fair of the season until it all starts again in September and this might be why it felt a little like a party for us - just a gathering of some of our favourite suppliers at a venue that we love. It was destined to be a great day!

Despite weather forecasts to the contrary, the day actually started with glorious sunshine and this continued until after the fair opened at 12.00pm. We always knew that lots of brides would like to visit Goldsborough Hall as a potential venue but even we were surprised to have them actually queuing to get in from just after 11.30am which is a record for us!

It's no surprise really - we do work with some absolutely fabulous suppliers who not only have great products or services, but they also provide excellent customer service and they're generally quite lovely people too! That's why we like them and want to recommend them.

The weather changed it's mind for the later part of the afternoon and unfortunately, we were hit with torrential downpours. Nevertheless, the brides still kept coming.

We'd like to throw some Wedding Affair love to James Melia Photography for taking the gorgeous pictures that you see on this blog.

We'd like to say a huge Wedding Affair thank you to Goldsborough Hall for welcoming us and looking after us so well. Thank you also to The Event Music Company and Sue Watkiss, Pianist, for providing musical entertainment throughout the day. A final thank you goes out to all those suppliers who exhibited (with such beautiful stands) and to the brides, grooms and their families who attended on the day. If you would like to get in contact with any of the Exhibitors that were there on the day, please click on this link:- Exhibitors.

Our next Fair is The Wedding Affair at The York Marriott on Sunday 18th September from 12.00pm to 4.00pm with 45 fabulous exhibitors, bridal competitions and luxury gift bags. Free admission...

We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Goldsborough Hall - www.goldsboroughhall.com
James Melia Photography - www.jamesmeliaphoto.com
The Wedding Affair - www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

Goldsborough Hall - A stunning family home fit for royalty and a wedding fair.....

2011-06-06T21:17:00.000+01:00

Join us this weekend at this stunning wedding venue... we're very lucky to work with some of the finest historical buildings in Yorkshire and one of our personal favourites is the magnificent Goldsborough Hall, now the family home to the lovely Oglesby family.

Pictures courtesy of Chris Milner Photography

Goldsborough Hall, a 17th century Jacobean stately home and former residence of Princess Mary, is a venue that is both unique and unforgettable. The Hall stands in 11 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds which boast unspoilt elevated views over tranquil parkland, and as it is still a family residence, feels welcoming and homely. The Hall and its grounds are available for hire on an exclusive basis throughout the year and we feel that it is one of the most perfect locations at which to have your wedding.

Above pictures courtesy of Cat Hepple Photography

It's not every day that you get the chance to stay in the former residence of a Royal Princess. And, as such, six luxury suites within the main house have been refurbished to the highest standards for guest accommodation. In keeping with the history of the property, the rooms have been named after families who owned the Hall during the first 400 years of its existence and each one carries a story of the history that surrounds it. These rooms can be hired as part of an exclusive wedding or function at the Hall.

Pictures courtesy of Cat Hepple Photography

We fell in love with Goldsborough Hall the moment we saw it and every single time we visit, we fall in love all over again. It's the epitome of all things romantic.....

The Wedding Affair at Goldsborough Hall takes place this Sunday, 12th June 2011 between 12.00pm and 4.00pm and will have 30 fantastic high quality suppliers, including Bridal Wear, Menswear, Photographers, Floristry, Musicians, Jewellers, Chair Covers, Venue Stylists, Entertainment and Cars, along with luxury gift bags for the first 100 brides, sponsored by Dior at Browns of York, and Molton Brown.

Please do come and say hello, its free admission!

www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

enquiries@theweddingaffair.co.uk
0843 289 8504

With thanks to the following:

Goldsborough Hall - www.goldsboroughhall.com
Chris Milner Photography - www.chris-milner.com
Cat Hepple Photography - www.cathepplephotography.com

Award winning? Of course they are!

2011-05-31T11:36:00.000+01:00

Things are so busy at Wedding Affair Mansions lately I'm a bit behind on the blogs. Shameful really, but when you see what's happening in our world, you'll understand why!

In the meantime, I thought I would share with you some fantastic news about two amazing photographers that we have the pleasure to work with. We are always quite vocal about the fact that we work with the best and this just proves it.

At the recent British Institute of Professional Wedding Photographers Yorkshire Region Awards 2011, both Steve Ramsden and Annemarie King emerged as winners. No surprise to us of course, but we are absolutely delighted for them both.

Steve is the well deserved winner of Classic Wedding Photographer of The Year 2011 with this stunning photograph....

The winning image was photographed at a winter wedding at Swinton Park, Masham, on the 3^rd December 2010. More photographs from the wedding can be seen here:http://www.steveramsdenstudio.co.uk/blog/index.php/2011/01/20/winter-wedding-photography-swinton-park-masham-north-yorkshire/

Steve was also the proud runner up of Contemporary Wedding Photographer of The Year 2011 and Classic Wedding Photographer of The Year 2011 x2. He also achieved Overall Social Photographer of The Year 2011.

BIPP Yorkshire Region Contemporary Wedding Photo of The Year 2011 Runner Up

BIPP Yorkshire Classic Wedding Photo of The Year 2011 Runner Up

Not to be outdone, the gorgeous Annemarie King also carried off the award for Yorkshire Contemporary Wedding Photographer of The Year 2011 with the following stunning photograph:

Yorkshire Contemporary Wedding Photographer of The Year 2011

She also achieved merits for a number of other beautiful pictures, shown here:

Well done to both Steve and Annemarie. Fantastic achievements by such talented people. We're proud to be associated with you!

Thank you to Chris Milner Photography for the pictures of Annemarie, Steve (and us!) at The Wedding Affair Network at Goldsborough Hall in April 2011.

'A diamond is just a chunk of coal made good under pressure' .....

2011-05-12T16:15:00.000+01:00

We were recently contacted by a lovely lady, Andrea, from Burnley in Lancashire, who emailed late one evening asking for our help. Her son's wedding was rapidly approaching and she had an idea for a bespoke necklace using a rather unusual material which held significant sentimental value - no pressure there then!

We knew just the person to take on this challenge - if anyone could do it, it would be Iain Henderson of Iain Henderson Designs - a fantastic bespoke jeweller www.iainhenderson.co.uk

Photo courtesy of Jim Poyner Photography www.jimpoyner.co.uk

So we emailed Iain that night with our SOS followed by a quick email to Andrea to let her know that we were on the case. Her lovely response made us even more determined to get this sorted:-

'Thank you for your reply especially so late in the day... I was both surprised and impressed to get such a positive response'.... Andrea

Not surprisingly, Iain and his team took on the challenge and boy did they succeed! They've written the following blog to tell the story and they've done it so well it's better to share their own words! So here goes......

‘A diamond is just a chunk of coal made good under pressure’- Henry Kissinger

When our partners at The Wedding Affair got in touch with us to see if we could make a piece of bespoke jewellery for a customer in under a fortnight, we said of course. Brilliant, they said, but there is a slight catch. We waited with anticipation only to be told the customer would like her necklace creating using a rather sentimental piece of coal. Used to working with precious gems like diamonds and sapphires, the team at IHD couldn’t resist the challenge of working with such an unusual material. And with Henry Kissinger’s quote ‘a diamond is just a chunk of coal made good under pressure’ ringing in our ears – we were confident we could create something special.

So why coal? And why the quick turnaround? Our customer had envisioned a special piece of jewellery steeped in sentimentality and designed specifically to be worn at the wedding of her son. Having been let down by the first jeweller she had challenged, she was left with less than a fortnight to turn her idea into a reality. Andrea had taken a piece of coal to her own wedding as a good luck talisman and wanted to keep the good luck flowing by taking the same piece of coal to the weddings of her children but didn’t want to keep it wrapped up in her handbag. She imagined a necklace created with three pieces of the coal to signify her wedding, her son’s and eventually her daughter’s.

Coal is often given to the bride and groom on their wedding day as a way of offering the newlyweds a warm home literally and symbolically. Traditionally, chimney sweeps were also present at weddings to bring the bride and groom good fortune after they were declared lucky by King George II after a sweep saved him from near certain tragedy by stopping a bolting horse some two hundred years ago. And the significance of coal goes much deeper than superstition for Andrea who comes from a family which has many connections to the railway industry. Indeed, her son’s wedding venue was the National Railway Museum in York and with many steam engine drivers in attendance; her necklace was bound to become a real focal point for conversation and reminiscing. With such wedding myths firmly maintained and the sentimentality from Andrea’s own special day, using coal for wedding jewellery actually makes perfect sense!

Working with coal was an interesting experience. Cutting the coal to the required shape was the first difficulty as it splintered and shattered using our traditional jewellery making tools. Determined not to be defeated, we got a builder friend over with a diamond stone cutting blade to angle grind the pieces we required. The coal was then carefully shaped so that it would fit snugly into the pre-created silver setting. The sides of the setting were designed to be higher than those usually used to protect the fragility of the coal. Fixing the coal into the setting was the next difficulty – applying heat was definitely out as we didn’t want to set fire to the stone and any pressure used would make the coal fracture – so we utilised industrial strength glue to carefully bond stone to setting. Following Andrea’s instructions we left the larger central piece natural and polished the two smaller, outer pieces giving an exceptional finish, guaranteed to be a talking point on the top table at the wedding breakfast.

Andrea collected her bespoke coal necklace from us the day before her son's wedding in York and was simply delighted with IHD's creation saying 'you've saved the sentimental value for posterity'.

So here's the fabulous necklace that they created - all we can say is wow!

Well done to Iain and his team for creating something so special for Andrea. We have to confess that we've got a bit of a rosy glow at matchmaking this amazing collaboration....

01274 551224 info@iainhenderson.co.uk

www.iainhenderson.co.uk

2011-05-03T09:38:00.001+01:00

The Wedding Affair requests the pleasure of your company at an

Charity Catwalk Show

Grays Court, York
Chapter House Street, Off Ogleforth
York YO1 7JH

Saturday 21st May 2011

6.45pm to 9.30pm

'LIFE IS THE OCCASION’ has burst back onto the world’s fashion stage for Spring/Summer 2011 and once again, L.K. Bennett has taken the inspiration from you, their customers.

Helen from Grays Court was chosen as an Ambassador for L.K. Bennett as part of a nationwide casting to front this season’s collection, as she juggles the requirements of a demanding lifestyle yet wants to look and feel the very best she can every day.

After all, life is the occasion and for every occasion there’s L.K. Bennett.

Do join us on Saturday 21st May for a fantastic evening at Grays Court in York raising much needed money for the deserving Charity, York Special Care Baby Unit at York Hospital. All proceeds will be going to the Charity hopefully buying them relief, care and treatment of premature and sick new born babies by providing and assisting in the provision of specialised medical or surgical equipment and improved amenities and facilities including education and vocational training.

Itinerary for the Evening...

6.45pm Drinks reception with canapés

7.00pm Introduction from SCBU

7.15pm Collections from:-

L.K. Bennett

Suzanne Gill Millinery

Azendi Jewellery

Plush Bridal Boutique

8.15pm Raffle Draw

8.30pm MissDeal Fun Casino & Shopping Experience

9.30pm Carriages

We will have live entertainment, Miss Deal fun casino, hair and make-up demonstrations, image consultant advice, various shopping experiences and a fantastic prize draw raffle... which is only £5 per strip!

Gift bags will be given to all those who attend, enclosing details of those involved, discount vouchers and some luxury goodies to take home...

We'd love to see you there, come and have some fun, bring your friends, daughter, mother and business colleagues, the more the merrier. Only 100 tickets available... going fast!

To book your exclusive tickets at £25.00 per person go to:-

Book Tickets Now

Proceeds go to the York Special Care Baby Unit

The Wedding Affair would like to thank so many people for helping us raise money for the York Special Care Baby Unit, especially for their time, products and services, they deserve a very big round of applause and of course your support:-

Grays Court
LK Bennett York
Suzanne Gill Millinery
UK Entertainment
Greg Scott of Minster FM
Azendi Jewellery
Plush Bridal Boutique
Fusion Hair Design & Choreography
Estee Lauder
Beauty Call
Miss Deal Fun Casino
Get Your Frocks Off
Swing Daniels

We would also like to extend a very big thank you to all our Raffle Prize Draw donations, more to come:-

Champagne and flowers from The Wedding Affair

Afternoon Tea for 4 at Grays Court

Dinner for 2 at Grays Court

Azendi Jewellery

LK Bennett Jewellery

Suzanne Gill Bespoke Hat
Estee Lauder Make-up

Tea for two at Goldsborough Hall, near Harrogate

Preserve Hamper from Grace

Piece of bespoke handmade jewellery from Samantha Agnew

A Happy Hopperz from Cheeky Monkeys Party Hire

A pair of Mistress Knickers (colour and embroidery to be the choice of the winner) from Mistress Collection

Free Makeover courtesy of Beauty Call

Afternoon tea for two – Yorkshire Teas

Cupcakes – Curiositea

Vintage Tea Cup Candles – Sue Audsley, Classic Crockery

Cake – Cakes for all Occasions

To book your exclusive tickets at £25.00 per person go to:-

Book Tickets Now

Don't forget to book your exclusive tickets at £25.00 per person go to:-

Book Tickets Now

Sharing the Papakata love.....

2011-05-01T19:53:00.035+01:00

We're not ashamed to say it - we love Papakata. If you haven't seen them yet, then where have you been?

Papakata describe them as beautiful tents for amazing events and we couldn't agree more. If you're looking for something a bit different to a traditional marquee then Papakata is for you. These teepee style tents pioneered by the Sami people of Lapland are utterly gorgeous and we're more than a little bit in love with them!

Lisa and I had the pleasure of visiting Amanda, Richard and the rest of the team at their recent Spring Open Weekend. The weather was glorious and the event was packed with lots of brides and grooms who had flocked to the Escrick Park Estate over the duration of the weekend so that they could see the teepees in situ.

Visiting an Open Weekend is the perfect opportunity to meet the Papakata team and chat about design options for your big day, some of which are on display. The opportunities are limitless and you can really let your imagination run wild. If you would like details of the fantastic suppliers who provided styling and catering for this event then please contact Papakata directly. As always, they will be more than happy to help!

We'd like to thank Amanda, Richard, Sally and Emily, and the rest of the team for being so welcoming despite being so busy! A big thank you also to Tom Ullrich of Fossca Photography www.fossca.co.uk for allowing us to kindly use these photographs.

Check out their website and see more pictures at www.papakata.co.uk

Keep your eyes open for the next Papakata Open Weekend and make sure you pop across to say hello and experience some Papakata loving! You won't be disappointed!

The Wedding Affair 1950's Dior Inspired 'Shoot the Shoot'

2011-04-25T19:02:00.000+01:00

We love doing photoshoots - I mean really love doing them. And so far, we've worked with incredibly talented photographers who have either taken what's in our heads and brought the vision to life - or who have had come up with a theme that has quite literally blown us away with the end result.

The photographers we work with aren't the only incredibly talented people though - don't forget the hair and make-up artists, florists, dress and suit suppliers, jewellery designers and of course the gorgeous models, to name a few. We couldn't put the shoots together without them and as a result, we felt it would be great to once again share a 'Shoot the Shoot' this time from The Wedding Affair 1950's Dior Inspired day.

Whilst the fabulous Cat Hepple directed the shoot and pointed the lens at the models, the equally fantastic Joe Dodsworth quietly and unobtrusively captured what was happening behind the scenes. In all honesty, I often love these photographs as much as the posed shots, as those natural pictures open a window into our world..... and it's lovely to share it with you!

A huge Wedding Affair thank you to all the people involved in this shoot and, on this occasion, special thanks to Joe Dodsworth Photography www.joedodsworth.co.uk - all the pictures you see in this blog are his work.

Also to the following :

Clare and Mark Oglesby, Goldsborough Hall - www.goldsboroughhall.com
Cat Hepple Photography - www.cathepplephotography.com
Alison of Beauty Call - www.beautycall.co.uk
Hayley, The Harrogate Wedding Lounge - www.theharrogateweddinglo unge.com
Jane, HF Couture - www.hfcouture.co.uk
Joanna, Twisted Willow Floristry - www.twistedwillowfloristry.co.uk
Models provided by The Model Experience - www.themodelexperienc eu k.com

As always, these are only a sample of the pictures and the remainder will be on our website www.theweddingaffair.co.uk very soon.

Now we're back to working on the next photoshoot and we hope you will love this one just as much.

The Wedding Affair Network at Goldsborough Hall - For Your Eyes Only.....

2011-04-22T16:42:00.070+01:00

Most people readily confess that they hate networking.

Let's be honest, standing in a room full of strangers making painfully slow conversation isn't everyone's idea of fun and it's not ours either. When we first decided to launch The Wedding Affair Network we knew that we wanted things to be different.... and judging by last night we definitely achieved it!

Goldsborough Hall was our choice of venue for this event - for a number of reasons. Firstly - it's just gorgeous and we love being there. Secondly - we are fast approaching THE Wedding of the Year and in honour we wanted to host a networking session 'By Royal Appointment' (very tongue in cheek of course!). Goldsborough Hall was the former home of Princess Mary and therefore could not have been more fitting. Thirdly - it was the Queen's birthday yesterday so once again, the perfect location and date. Fourthly (and finally) we have The Wedding Affair at Goldsborough Hall on Sunday 12th June and we wanted to showcase this beautiful home to our suppliers.

And so we did what we always do.... pulled together some of the best suppliers in the industry to entertain our guests working with a James Bond 'Quintessentially British' theme. We like to have fun at our events and if we are having a great time, then everyone else should be too!

We would therefore like to say a huge Wedding Affair thank you to all those involved in entertaining our guests - Mark Oglesby for his witty and interesting insight into the history of Goldsborough Hall, Richard 'Swing' Daniels for his fabulous singing, Miss Deal Fun Casino for allowing everyone to release their inner gambling demons and Mark Waddington for being THE magic man!!

And last, but definitely not least, thank you to Booth Revolution for keeping us laughing all evening long. There is so much to tell you about them that it's a whole different blog altogether!

We know you won't believe us, but this is work! A very warm welcome went out and huge thanks go to our guests for joining us at Goldsborough Hall for our fourth Networking event. We feel that networking should take place in a fun, relaxed and friendly atmosphere and our events are getting a bit of a reputation for it now! We're not sure how to raise the bar for the next session but as it will be our 2nd birthday celebration, we can guarantee it will be a party not to be missed!

A huge thank you also to Chris Milner for taking all the fabulous shots you see in this blog. The full portfolio from the night is available on our website www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

Here's the official roll call for all those fabulous people involved in making last night the resounding success that it was including Alison of Beauty Call who very kindly treated Lisa, Clare Oglesby and myself to a make-up and hair session prior to everyone arriving. Much Wedding Affair love to all of you....

Mark and Clare Oglesby, Goldsborough Hall - www.goldsboroughhall.com
Chris Milner Photography - www.chris-milner.com
Peter and Susie, Booth Revolution - www.boothrevolution.com
Richard Daniels, Swing Singer - www.swingdaniels.co.uk
Mark Waddington, Magician - www.yorkshireweddingmagician.co.uk
Michelle, Miss Deal Fun Casino - www.missdealfuncasinohire.co.uk
Alison, Beauty Call - www.beautycall.co.uk

So if you would like to join us for our next Wedding Affair Network then keep your eyes peeled, the date and location will be announced very soon.

We'd love to see you there!

Please feel free to tell us how you would like to network in the future to make it different and exciting. If there are any venues of interest to you, do let us know.

Website Wednesday

2011-04-20T08:39:00.000+01:00

Every Wednesday The Wedding Affair Blog will have a nugget of website advice.

Is your website working for you or against you?

Have you heard the age old saying “you only get one chance to make a first impression”?

Often the first impression your customer will get of you is your website, as more and more people use the internet to find wedding suppliers you need to ensure you don’t get overlooked.

Just take a moment to look at your website and answer the following questions…

Do we look like a company that our potential clients would spend their money with?

Do we look professional & show knowledge of our product?

Do we stand out against our rivals?

If you’re not sure, why not give us a call, we will take a look for you and give you an honest opinion of our first impression.

We can also help you improve your existing website or design you a new website to make that first impression.

One of our suppliers "The Occasional Table" is an excellent example please take a look at their websites.

Who would you choose?

The Old Website

The New Website

It is also possible to design your own website but remember the golden rules if you cannot answer yes to the above questions perhaps it’s time to bite the bullet and get The Wedding Affair to build you a new first impression.

The Harrogate Wedding Lounge Accessories Evening

2011-04-16T18:08:00.015+01:00

We are always keen to support those suppliers that we work closely with (and we admit we are usually quite easily swayed by the offer of a glass of bubbly!) Therefore on Wednesday the 20th April, you will find The Wedding Affair ladies at The Harrogate Wedding Lounge.....

Hayley is holding an accessories evening between 6pm - 9pm. There is no appointment required, you can just pop along and be welcomed with Fizz & cupcakes as well as the lovely Debonnesse giving mini hair trials to show how you could wear your accessories. There will also be an amazing 10% off every item on the night (which is a fantastic bargain!) Items include Veils, Tiaras, Headbands, Jewellery, Shoes and Garters. Leading designer collections will be available to view and purchase, from Chez Bec, Richard Designs, Madeline Issac James, Rainbow Couture & more.

Please do come along and check out Hayley's fabulous shop full of all things gorgeous, sparkly and stunning - it can be found at 38 Forest Lane Head, Harrogate, HG2 7TF. We'll see you there!

The Wedding Affair 1950's Dior Inspired Photoshoot at Goldsborough Hall

2011-04-15T17:04:00.000+01:00

We have been known to organise the odd photoshoot, allowing us to get some stunning photographs of the venues we work with, and giving us an extra opportunity to showcase some of the fabulous suppliers that attend our fairs. A photograph from the previous 'Rule Britannia' photoshoot has just been used in the latest edition of Vogue Magazine.

If you haven't already seen them, we produce gorgeous A5 colour invitations which are sent to brides by post before each fair, and whilst Lisa was preparing one for The Wedding Affair at Goldsborough Hall we hit upon organising another photoshoot.

We had wanted to work with Cat Hepple, an amazing photographer, for some time and as she will be exhibiting at this event it seemed ideal that she be behind the camera at the shoot. In fact, it was her idea to use the 1950's and Dior as inspiration and we were bowled over with this. As a result, we yet again brought together a fabulous team of people to bring this idea to life and we are sure you will not be disappointed with the results.

We'd like to give a shoutout and a huge Wedding Affair thank you to all the fantastically talented people who helped to make this happen:

Cat Hepple Photography - www.cathepplephotography.com
The Harrogate Wedding Lounge (Bridalwear) - www.theharrogateweddinglounge.com
Beauty Call (Hair and Make-Up) - www.beautycall.co.uk
HF Couture (Headdresses) - www.hfcouture.co.uk
Twisted Willow Floristry - www.twistedwillowfloristry.co.uk
Dior at Browns of York (Perfume and props) - www.brownsofyork.co.uk
Models Matt, Sean, Abby and Amy provided by The Model Experience - www.themodelexperienceuk.com

Last but not least we must of course thank Clare and Mark Oglesby and their team at Goldsborough Hall for allowing us to descend en masse and fill this stunning venue with gorgeous models, sparkly dresses, beautiful flowers and lots of laughter!

In all honesty, there is little else we can say about these photographs as each picture speaks a thousand words. They are stunning, beautiful, breathtaking and just wow and we know that we will want to use them again and again.

We're onto planning the next photoshoot at another fabulous venue now but the question on all our lips is:- 'How on earth are we going to make it as good as this one?'......

The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park April 2011

2011-04-14T12:53:00.053+01:00

Swinton Park and Helijet Aviation

The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park on Sunday, 10th April was blessed with glorious blue skies, sunshine and lots of brides-to-be. We also had classic cars, a gorgeous horse and carriage, birds of prey, a dove release and even helicopters which brought the fair out to the fabulous grounds of this stunning castle.

The Bridal Boutique

Brides and grooms-to-be were able to dine on sushi and we even went a bit ‘Tom Cruise’ with a fabulous cocktail waiter who mixed drinks on the spot for them.

Entertainment for the day was provided by The Event Music Company, and Booth Revolution who allowed visitors to have their picture taken for posterity. We’d like to say a huge Wedding Affair thank you to both companies!

If you are still looking for a venue, we cannot recommend Swinton Park and their team enough. If you would like to discuss having your special day here then please do give Hannah a call on 01765 680971. She’s very good at what she does – and very lovely too!

White Horse Carriages

Birds of Prey Centre Swinton Park

We’d also like to thank Jim Poyner Photography for taking some fabulous shots on the day.

The next date for The Wedding Affair at Swinton Park will be announced very soon.

Watch this space!

Sharing the love..... The Wedding Affair Fairy Godmothers!

2011-04-08T19:30:00.027+01:00

Wedding planning is a really lovely job - we get to share the bride's excitement in the run up to the day and it gives us the opportunity to run a little wild with our ideas sometimes! Of course there are times when it can be very stressful or frustrating - we've been employed by brides who want us to get involved when things have gone wrong with a venue or supplier or because family arguments have escalated beyond control. But there's one thing that hasn't happened before now and that's being involved AFTER the wedding!

Lovely bride Rebecca was very upset after a mix up with her photographer meant that most of the pictures did not include one of her two gorgeous little boys and it wasn't realised until the photographs arrived after the wedding, when of course it was too late. Being the wedding fairy godmothers that we are, we couldn't resist the opportunity to sprinkle a little Wedding Affair magic and give Rebecca a rather special experience.

You may remember us telling you about our Rule Britannia photoshoot at Newburgh Priory a number of weeks ago. We had a fantastic day just having fun on the shoot but ultimately, there was another reason why the day felt so special. We arranged for Rebecca, Ben, Alfie and Henry to come along and have some new photographs taken by the fabulous Jim Poyner www.jimpoyner.co.uk. And whilst the venue and the outfits were different, and we didn't have all the family and friends there, it was still so heartwarming to be able to help Rebecca and Ben have pictures that they can treasure for years to come.

So here's a shout out to all the amazing people who helped us bring this to life for the Morrison family....

Photography - Jim Poyner www.jimpoyner.co.uk
Wedding Dress - Plush Bridal Boutique www.plushweddingboutique.com
Suit Hire - Greenwoods Menswear York www.1860.com
Flowers - Alison Massingham Flowers www.alisonmassingham.co.uk
Hair and Make-Up - Alison Clegg from Beauty Call - www.beautycall.co.uk
Headdress - HF Couture www.hfcouture.co.uk
Classic Car - Superior Motor Cars www.superiormotorcars.co.uk
Venue - Newburgh Priory www.newburghpriory.co.uk

We think you'll agree that the photographs are fantastic and Rebecca looks stunning...... and yes, she definitely brought a tear to my eye when she came to say thank you and goodbye. Arranging this shoot reminded me of all that was good about our job, and also just how lucky we are to work with seriously talented people who don't think twice about taking time out of their day to spread the magic.

Enjoy your pictures Mr and Mrs Morrison x

Helicopters, An Award Winning Designer Dress and Lots of Sunshine.....

2011-04-05T11:47:00.030+01:00

It feels like ages since i've blogged - although to be fair, that's probably because it is! The days just seem to run away with themselves right now. Can someone please just find a way to increase time?

I thought it would be good to share some pictures of The Wedding Affair at Newburgh Priory on the 27th March as it really was a glorious day. This fair really had it all - helicopters, an award winning designer dress and fabulous sunshine, all combined with a stunning venue and an incredible 42m marquee supplied by Your Marquee (www.your-marquee.co.uk).

Here is the amazing dress, by up and coming designer Kate Harrod, which deservedly won the British Bridal Exhibition Harrogate (BBEH) Student Designer of the Year Award. It was no surprise that this dress, inspired by the Russian Royal family, was judged by Ian Stuart as the winner. We are delighted and very proud to have Kate on board to showcase this spectacular dress. If you missed the chance to see it this time round, then she will be with us again at The Weddding Affair at Swinton Park on Sunday, 10th April 2011.

Kate's dress wasn't the only fantastic work on show that day, as we had over 40 of the finest suppliers in the region introducing brides to their products and services in a location that can only be described as sublime. In all honesty, what's not to love about this venue?
Many thanks to The Beat Collective for providing such fantastic entertainment throughout the day, along with Richard Daniels (one of the best swing singers i've ever had the pleasure to listen to!) and Mark Waddington Magician - you'll love this guy! If you'd like their contact details then visit our website www.theweddingaffair.co.uk

There are lots more photo's of the day posted onto our website so please do check them out. We'd like to send huge Wedding Affair thanks to Jim Poyner for being a superstar with the camera again www.jimpoyner.co.uk

So it's back to finalising details for the next fair at Swinton Park this weekend. Come and see us!

All for a good cause.....

2011-03-29T18:13:00.021+01:00

We're always happy to support charities wherever we can, and therefore giving a shout out via the blog about a charity event being organised by one of our suppliers has been an easy decision to make.

On the 6th May 2011, Michelle of Miss Deal Fun Casino is organising a Monte Carlo Charity Night, presented by Minster FM's very own David Green. The event is being held to raise funds and awareness for children with Leukaemia. Originally, Michelle set off on her fundraising mission on behalf of a very special little boy who lived locally and who wanted to fulfill his need for speed by being a passenger in a super car. We're delighted to say that Michelle achieved this aim, and the boy and his family experienced a day at Elvington race track being very well looked after by the Track Days Team. Well done to all concerned.

Although this young boy's dream has been realised, Michelle is still looking to raise funds for other children who are suffering from leukaemia and the Monte Carlo Charity Night looks set to be a fantastic way of achieve this. There are a host of prizes to be won at the event, including a day at the races or a Texas Hold 'Em table (courtesy of Ripon Races and Miss Deal Fun Casino respectively). A silent auction will also be held on the night and the top prize is a ride in the helicopter used in the 007 film, Goldfinger, courtesy of Hields Aviation.

Also on the night, there will be a Monte Carlo style racetrack - buy a model car with a number on the bottom and everyone will win something when you match the number to a prize.

Would you like to join Miss Deal's Monte-Carlos winners at Caesars Restaurant? Tickets are priced at £25 for a three course meal and fun casino etc. £5 of the ticket price goes directly to the charity fund. Please contact Michelle from Miss Deal Fun Casino Hire for more information and availability or if you would like to donate a raffle/fundraising prize. She can be reached on 01757 241813 or 07915 263967 or via email: missdealcasinonights@yahoo.co.uk

Michelle has asked us to include her personal thanks to Selby Chambers and Minster FM for all their support.

We think that Michelle is doing a fantastic job and urge everyone to do anything they can to support her. Contact her directly if you feel you can help in any way or if you would like to buy tickets to the Monte Carlo night. We're sure it will be a fantastic event!

Arriving in style.....

2011-03-23T21:03:00.032Z

Everyone wants their wedding to be different and memorable and one way to do that is to arrive in style. There are so many options for your wedding transport and at The Wedding Affair at Newburgh Priory on Sunday, 27th March, we will be showcasing three of the best....

Firstly, for something a little more traditional - how about selecting from one of Yorkshire's finest post war classic car collections? The beautiful 1939 Rolls Royce Wraith pictured above is courtesy of Superior Motor Cars, located near Pocklington. They really do have amazing cars to choose from and we know that their service is second to none which is why we have recommended them time and time again. Check out the full collection at www.superiormotorcars.co.uk

How about arriving in a beautiful carriage pulled by two stunning white shire horses? If you like this idea then check out Ebor Carriages, based just outside York. Brigadier and Boson are father and son horses who originally worked at the Sam Smith's Tadcaster Brewery and so have been a commercial pair for quite some time. The boys both have a fantastic temperament and personality and are extremely well behaved when it comes to the noisy, busy roads they need to travel on. (They will also love you even more if you bring them rosy apple sweets - they seem to be a favourite!) Contact Annabelle or Cara via www.eborcarriages.co.uk to check dates or make an appointment.

Last but most definitely not least, we have Helijet Aviation (www.helijet.co.uk) who will be bringing two helicopters to The Wedding Affair at Newburgh Priory - if you really are wanting something to wow your guests and which is a little bit different, then think of arriving in a helicopter - very James Bond and we can guarantee your groom (and all the guests) will be suitably impressed! We'll have some fantastic photographs taken on Sunday so they will follow next week but why not come and see the real thing? You won't be disappointed.

Join us at The Wedding Affair at Newburgh Priory on Sunday, 27th March between 12.00pm and 4.00pm - to pre-register your entry into five competitions go to Competitions - pre-registration and attendance on the day is necessary. Terms and conditions apply.

Above photographs courtesy of Jim Poyner Photography (Superior Motor Cars), Ebor Carriages and Helijet Aviation.

Spreading the word.....

2011-03-21T18:50:00.029Z

We've got a wedding fair at the fabulous Newburgh Priory this Sunday - as you probably already know! And if you do know then it is going to be due to the extensive marketing and advertising campaign that we carry out before each event. We spend a significant amount of time and money ensuring that all those lovely brides and grooms know what is happening in The Wedding Affair world - double and single page spreads in glossy magazines, beautiful colour invitations sent by post to 1000 brides before each fair, banners, website listings and numerous social media updates. And this list is most definitely not exhaustive as every possible and practicable avenue is explored!

As Lisa was doing another facebook update today, she made a very interesting comment - 'If each of the suppliers at this fair had three of their brides visit the event, then that would be 120 brides.' Seems simple enough doesn't it? Don't get me wrong - it is our responsibility to do all we can to make the event a successful one - after all - that is what you are paying us for. And we do know that the suppliers we work with are very proactive and forward thinking, but how many actually send the invitation to all their brides and grooms? Even if you have already had a booking everyone will benefit from increased exposure and your bride will also think you are marvellous for introducing her to so many other fantastic, high quality suppliers - all in one place!

So when you book into a Wedding Affair event, please just take the time to send the invitation to all your brides, prospective or booked, if you are not already doing so. And if you are - then thank you. Not only does it help to make our events more successful, but it also helps to make happy brides!

Finally - if you are one of our suppliers and you have some news, please do keep us informed of what's happening in your world as we love to share it with the brides and grooms!

Feeling peachy.....

2011-03-18T17:56:00.012Z

It was quite a while ago that Lisa and I were talking about colour schemes and trends and my my comments were 'Peach is making a comeback, you mark my words'. She looked at me as though I was a little strange (it won't be the first or the last time!) probably due to the fact that she already knew that the official Pantone colour for 2011 is Honeysuckle.... but I was right!

Peach flowers do bring back memories of eighties weddings and arrangements can look wonderfully modern yet feminine if mixed with the right flowers - think David Austin Roses (pictured left), with peach tulips, monochrome anemones, and cream stocks as recommended by David Austin in the latest issue of Wedding Flowers Magazine (April 2011). For your table arrangements use pretty duck egg blue containers or gorgeous vintage mirrored vases and your reception will have the wow factor.

Or why not just have beautiful peach hued 'Juliet' roses - they look absolutely stunning all by themselves with only minimum amounts of foliage, allowing the flowers to take centre stage. An example is this bouquet (right) created by Claire Cowling for David Austin.

We are sure that whatever you choose, it will be absolutely gorgeous - and if it's peach you will be bang on trend!

Photographs courtesy of the David Austin Roses website www.davidaustinroses.com