This week has literally flown by - must have been all those lovely sunny, but cold, days putting a spring in my step!

I managed to find time this week to meet up with a few suppliers. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll know that we don't have 'preferred suppliers' who incentivise us to recommend them (where's the integrity in that?).

What we do have are suppliers that we prefer! When we work with suppliers who are great, we won't hesitate to recommend them to other people; if we hear people we trust raving about suppliers, we'll make sure you hear about them too and, when we are approached by suppliers we use our judgement and can spot a like-minded business man or woman at 20 paces!

Finding like-minded suppliers who have the couple getting married at the heart of their business really does make my day. It gives me faith in the good side of the wedding industry and inspires me to continue to challenge it to always put you, the people who keep us in business, first.

Check out these 3...

Kate Everall Photography The first line on the home page of Kate's website says, "I just love taking photographs" and that speaks volumes. Check out the gallery of her wedding section and see if you can get through it without welling up at the emotion she has captured in every shot (I know I couldn't!). Mix all this with the fact that Kate is a lovely, friendly person who really wants the couples she works with to enjoy their day rather than spend majority of it posing for photos that will never see the light of day, and you've got a photographer in a million. She's based in Milton Keynes but will travel so do get in touch and tell her I said hi!

Elsie Florence vintage china hire When I spoke to Sara this week (she's the brains behind Elsie Florence) she was working in France, her car had just broken down, she had a husband and children in tow as she multi-tasked her way through half-term and she was still smiling and upbeat! Her vintage china is beautiful, she has enough to cater for a sit-down wedding breakfast for 150 people and she tends to hire it out within Somerset, Devon, Wiltshire and Dorset. That said, she works closely with a trusted courier, and so is happy to arrange transport to venues further afield. For an English country garden feel or a shabby-chic stately home, this is just the sort of personal touch that we love! It makes me want to get married all over again.

Robbie Honey floral design Robbie Honey is a genius. His creations regularly feature in bridal magazines and on TV and his passion for his craft is inspiring. But what I really love about this company is that they don't take themselves too seriously and they make it easy for people to sample their services. Check out the 'About Us' section of their website and particularly Violet, the dachshund, their company mascot! And then, unfortunately only if you live or work in London but it does mean your flowers are fresh, order one of their bouquets and marvel at all the flowers and the lack of greenery - the stuff that some, less fabulous, florists use to 'pad out' mediocre bouquets!

I'll have more fabulous suppliers for you next week but if you'd like to talk to me about organising a 'Girls Night In' wedding planning session, check if we're free on your wedding date for 'On The Day' wedding co-ordination or just need an answer to a question that's keeping you awake at night, please get in touch!

Until next week,

ps - you can get regular wedding planning advice from magicdust's regular newsletter, simply click here to subscribe (and don't worry, we don't give your details to anyone else - we'll only use them to send you the newsletter)

Labels: caterer, florist, photographer, supplier

Labels: tips

Actually, it's Sunday already and I'm just back from working at a fantastic wedding near Warwick yesterday! The whole celebration had been planned to within an inch of its life - but we had a lot of fun doing it and it was definitely worth it just to know that everything would happen when it was supposed to, and with the minimum of stress for the bride and groom.

The day always seems to fly past for me but I'm sure that's because I'm busy from the minute I get to a venue to the minute I leave - there's no time for clock-watching!

I'd like to send a big congratulations to Sarah & Ben - thank you for asking Magic Dust to be involved in planning your wedding and an special thank you for the beautiful flowers which I'm looking at on my desk as I type! I'm really looking forward to catching up with you after your well-deserved honeymoon.

The only thing we couldn't have planned for yesterday was the absolutely gorgeous weather. The newly-weds walked out of church, just before 5pm, into glorious warm sunshine and the photographer couldn't have been more pleased with the light - I know she'll have captured some great shots.

I had the pleasure of working with a caterer - Delightful Dining - who I have worked with before. In fact, since first working with them, I have yet to find another caterer that even comes close to them!

I've waxed lyrical about the food before so this time I want to pay tribute to the waiting staff. A friendlier, more professional group of 'beautiful people' you couldn't hope to meet. From the minute they arrive until the minute they leave, they work incredibly hard, are always smiling and do their utmost to ensure that guests are looked after properly. I really mean it when I say that working with Delightful Dining is always a pleasure, never a chore!

What do you do if you're not a big fan of traditional wedding cake, you don't need to serve your cake as dessert, but you want to have something and are happy to go 'quirky' and throw tradition to the wind?

Why not head for Paxton & Whitfield, buy a selection of round cheeses (they're very happy to advise on suitable sizes and quantities) and set them up like a traditional cake!

That's what we did yesterday and I decorated the 'cake' with ribbon, figs & grapes, and the flowers from a couple of buttonholes that weren't needed - really simple but very effective. The 'cake' was then dismantled and served as an evening snack complete with crackers, oat cakes, chutneys and fruit, and proved to be a real talking point, as well as being absolutely delicious.

Finally, I know it's been a good wedding when I have to drag myself away! As I was leaving last night the DJ - who played at George Michael's 40th birthday party - was playing the kind of music that made me wish I'd had my dancing shoes on... I just know they had a great party!

If you'd like to talk to me about organising a 'Girls Night In' wedding planning session, check if we're free on your wedding date for 'On The Day' wedding co-ordination or just need an answer to a question that's keeping you awake at night, please get in touch!

Until next week,

ps - you can get regular wedding planning advice from magicdust's regular newsletter, simply click here to subscribe (and don't worry, we don't give your details to anyone else - we'll only use them to send you the newsletter)

Labels: caterer, photographer, supplier

About a year ago I was introduced to a lovely lady called Lindy Smith, who is an absolute wizard when it comes to designing, making and decorating cakes. I bumped in to Lindy again last week and was delighted to discover that she's about to have her 8th book published - and I've had a sneak preview.

It's all about cookies and there's an entire chapter that shows you how to create fabulous wedding favour ones. From a wedding cake-shaped cookie to heart-shaped ones decorated to look like the happy couple, Lindy gives you a step-by-step guide to recreating these and many others. I'm pretty certain any one of these designs would go down a storm with your guests - especially when you tell them they're home-made.

Why not get your bridesmaids together and have a 'bake night' (so 'Desperate Housewives!!!) to make it even more fun? The book is called "Bake Me I'm Yours... Cookie" and it'll be in all good bookshops at the end of this month.

I'm often asked where to find unusual gifts for bridesmaids so I'm going to share one of my favourites with you all. Red Direct is an online shopping emporium run by the same people who publish my favourite monthly glossy magazine!

The November issue of the magazine has just gone on sale and has Red Direct's Christmas catalogue with it. What a treat! Here are just a few of the things that have already caught my eye...

- the gorgeous rhinestone clutch on p25 that any bridesmaid would love but that any bride could justifiably treat herself to too;

- the lovely and affordable silver-coloured heart charm earrings and necklace on p31

- and the shabby chic photo frame on p44 that would look fantastic with 6 photos of your wedding in it!

Oh, and if you're having a winter wedding and are struggling for place setting ideas, check out the glass bauble card holders on p43 - adorable!

I recently received an email from a lady who had subscribed to our regular Tips & Advice newsletter. She just wanted to thank me and tell me how much she had enjoyed reading my blogs and tips and hints over the last year. I was really touched and it was so lovely to find out what a success her daughter's wedding had been. Thank you very much for taking the time to get in touch - you know who you are and I'm very grateful to you!

If you'd like to talk to me about organising a 'Girls Night In' planning session, check if we're free on your wedding date for 'On The Day' wedding co-ordination or just need an answer to a question that's keeping you awake at night, please get in touch!

Until next week,

ps - you can get regular wedding planning advice from magicdust's regular newsletter, simply click here to subscribe (and don't worry, we don't give your details to anyone else - we'll only use them to send you the newsletter)

Labels: caterer, style, supplier