The growth in popularity of the humble cupcake as an alternative wedding cake has been impressive. Rather like wedding planners though, it sometimes seems as though everyone thinks they can do it and it's hard to find the great ones amongst the mediocre.

But, look no further for all your cupcake needs as I am delighted to be able to share with you the fabulous Sprinkles & Swirls. Based near Tunbridge Wells on the East Sussex/Kent border, Sprinkles & Swirls is run by a lovely lady called Tina, who I had the privilege of working with some time ago - and who was with me when I met my now husband for the very first time!

Tina and her team make gorgeous bespoke cupcakes (I love the heart detail on these beauties!) and top tier cakes and are ideally placed to cater for weddings throughout the South East. They offer a complimentary consultation, working together with each individual couple to create your perfect wedding cupcake tower.

I can personally vouch for Tina's attention to detail, organisational skills and creativity as I still remember her showing me her wedding planning folder quite a few years ago (and I thought I was organised!!!)

So go on, what are you waiting for - treat yourself to some cupcakes in the name of wedding planning research, you won't be disappointed!

Until next time,

Labels: caterer, style, supplier, trends

TIP 6

Design a menu of warming, traditional winter food so that even if it's cold and miserable outside, the atmosphere inside will be warm.

Think hearty soups, bangers and mash, cottage pie and seasonal vegetables and don't forget mulled wine. That's certain to warm your guests up!

Until tomorrow's tip,

Labels: caterer, supplier, tips

Hello and welcome to another Wedding Tip Wednesday video. This week I have a few tips for you to remember when you're planning the food for your wedding celebration...





Enjoy and, until next time, happy planning!

Labels: caterer, supplier, tips, wedding-tip-video

We love it when couples use their personalities, not just their bank accounts, to personalise their wedding day. Kenton & Jen became experts at this as they planned every aspect of their celebration to reflect their lives, their love and their shared interests. I was particularly excited to talk to them in the run up to their wedding about the wedding cake made of cheese that they had ordered. We have seen these at a number of weddings over the past couple of years and they are always a great talking, as well as focal, point.

Churchmouse Cheeses are based in Kirkby Lonsdale and have produced wedding cake cheeses since they opened in 2002. I had the pleasure of speaking with Julie in the weeks before the wedding, and to meeting and watching John at work on Saturday. They can and do deliver their cheeses across the country and so were understandably delighted that they could see their cheeses in situ for this wedding, less than 3 miles away from their gorgeous little shop.

Planned to tie in perfectly with the black and white theme, the combination of cheeses looked stunning as a simple tower, with 3 heart-shaped bries alongside. At this point John really got to work and produced a work of art. Super-shiny, almost black aubergines, whole garlic bulbs, sunflower seeds, blackberries, blueberries and strategically placed white stocks adorned the tower and the table it stood on. Within a very short space of time, John created a focal point that literally stopped guests in their tracks throughout the day, and delighted Kenton & Jen.

The staff at Hipping Hall then transformed the tower into delicious cheeseboards, delivered to guests on local slate tiles with the names of the individual cheeses chalked on. Their attention to detail was, as ever, exemplary and ensured this fantastic idea played a suitably important part at the wedding feast.

Now, I'm off to Churchmouse Cheeses website to indulge my own love of cheese!

Until tomorrow and the grand finale that lit up the night sky,

Labels: budget, caterer, decoration, style, supplier, testimonial, tips

It's no secret that we absolutely love our work - and we know how lucky we are to be able to say this. Every once in a while we have the privilege of working with a couple whose wedding plans literally take our breath away.

This is never about budget but is always about a couple who have prioritised early, chosen their suppliers carefully and understand that their best laid plans may go to waste without asking someone they trust, in this case Magic Dust, to ensure that everything goes to plan in the run up to, and on the wedding day itself.

Kenton & Jen's wedding this weekend was just such a celebration and has inspired me to devote a daily blog this week to tell you about some of the fabulous suppliers I had the pleasure of working with on Saturday. Do make a date with this blog tomorrow to read about a wonderful photographer, on Wednesday I'll be raving about cheese, Thursday a surprise planned by the bride and groom is made easy by an understanding, flexible supplier and on Friday I'll be summing up the things that Kenton & Jen did that made their day, in fact their entire wedding weekend, a truly wonderful celebration.

Today though, it's all about the venue. You know how important it is to choose the right venue and I've spoken in the past about the hard work that must go into finding it. The reward for taking your time and getting it right is that every other decision becomes easier as a result. Kenton & Jen chose Hipping Hall, a beautiful 17th century house nestled between the Yorkshire Dales & the Lake District near Kirkby Lonsdale.

Better known as a fantastic 'restaurant with rooms', the owners of Hipping Hall take bookings for a small number of weddings during the year. First and foremost this is an award-winning restaurant with spectacularly appointed rooms and is most definitely not a 'conveyor-belt style' wedding venue.

Long may this continue as it means there is flexibility for couples planning a small-ish celebration - usually less than 40 people - with Andrew Wildsmith, Hipping Hall's owner, taking personal responsibility for the management of the event. Exclusive use means a relaxed, informal atmosphere more like a very stylish house party than a traditional wedding venue and the opportunity to make a weekend of it.

In our experience it's the staff that can make or break otherwise fantastic venues and, at Hipping Hal, it's clear that every single member of staff not only thoroughly enjoys working there but is passionate about ensuring that guests have a wonderful experience. Without exception, everyone was flexible, approachable, friendly and focused on Kenton & Jen and their guests. I'd like to personally thank Andrew, Nicola, David & Jess for making my job thoroughly enjoyable and without a hint of stress, and to the wonderful people who worked so hard in the kitchen to produce delicious food on a seemingly never-ending basis. You have no idea just how rare your talents and excellent customer service are!

Before I started writing this post I was torn between telling you all about Hipping Hall and wanting to keep it a secret! I hope you've enjoyed reading about this gem of a venue and, if you get the chance, do visit for a meal, a weekend break or to discuss your wedding plans. I know you won't be disappointed!

Until tomorrow and a very special photographer,

Labels: budget, caterer, style, supplier, venue

When we discover fantastic suppliers it's all we can do not to shout it from the rooftops! Passionate people who are genuinely interested in the work that they do and care deeply about the service that they offer - these are the type of people we love working with at Magic Dust.

So you can imagine my delight at having the chance to get to know Carrie Harlington of Wines Unfurled a bit better this week. Wines Unfurled are the sole UK agents for nine independent wine producers and they pride themselves on working with undiscovered winemakers throughout the world who strive to produce the very best wines they can without compromise.

The result is a fantastic business, run by Carrie, her husband Jerome and father-in-law David, based in a beautiful converted chapel in Thame and dedicated to delighting people with their service, and of course, their wines!

If you're lucky enough to have found a venue for your wedding that allows you to either bring in your own wine, or where the corkage charges won't make this an unviable option, or if you're planning a marquee wedding on private land, you really should get in touch with Jerome and ask him for his advice about which wines to pair with your wedding breakfast. You'll almost certainly be pleasantly surprised by the cost of the wine and I know you'll be amazed at the level of customer service you'll enjoy.

If you live close to Thame then why not keep an eye on the dates of their wine tasting evenings. Excellent value for money and a wonderful opportunity to taste some new, exciting wines, find out about them from an expert, and enjoy canapes designed specifically to complement the wines on taste. A thoroughly lovely way to spend an evening - I'll see you there!

Until next time,

Labels: budget, caterer, supplier, tips

We get really excited when our website guru tells us how many people read this blog and we're always looking for ways to thank you for your loyalty! So, I'm delighted to introduce a new guest-blogger to the Magic Dust family who is expertly placed to offer tips and advice that will help you choose a caterer, make decisions about menus and highlight pitfalls to avoid.

Sarah Whitmore runs Flametree Catering, an Oxfordshire-based company. I've had the pleasure of tasting - well, scoffing uncontrollably actually! - Flametree food and can thoroughly recommend it.

Sarah is far too modest to mention this but, if you'd like to read more of her tips then make sure you buy this month's Delicious Magazine (on sale 28th May) and check out the article about DIY weddings.

Sarah, over to you...


Here are 3 of my top tips for those thinking of self catering at their wedding. It's a trend we're seeing emerge as couples try to rein in the costs by employing the culinary skills of friends and family and is particularly popular when hosting a marquee wedding. The tips are also perfect should you be hosting a pre- or post- wedding barbeque or picnic...

1) Even if money is short, go to the expense of hiring the crockery & glassware. This is not a great cost, you can return everything dirty (unlike when you 'borrow' from a supermarket) and it is a huge relief to family and friends not to spend the day after the wedding (more often in the early hours!) in the kitchen washing & cleaning.

2) Invest in a professional/trained front of house to oversee the serving of the food, drinks etc. Even if you have friendly & kind volunteers, it can still be stressful not having the reassurance of somebody being in overall charge.

3) With regards to food, stuff that can be done in advance is far easier to manage which is why I would recommend hot foods that can be prepared weeks before and frozen - and easily mass produced. It's surprising how popular curries, tagines etc. are and such a great change from the bog standard chicken breast that graces most wedding menus in a bid to please all. Don't forget, most salads have to be prepared on the day and if you're catering for vast numbers this always takes longer than you think. Whilst on the subject of food, unless you plan to seriously over-cater, make sure you have somebody to serve at the buffet. However lovely your friends are, there are always the eyes-bigger-than-tum brigade who pile their plates and leave the last tables to be called with nothing but the dregs leaving you looking ungenerous and your guests hungry.

Labels: budget, caterer, guest-blogger, supplier, tips

I love finding new, and different, suppliers who can help you create something special for your wedding reception. I've never been of the opinion that you have to throw money at things in order to have a fantastic celebration that embraces your personalities and Candy4U is no exception!

Fancy a 'candy bar' at your wedding, full of your favourite sweets (the list you can choose from is a big one!)? Perhaps you want table centre pieces that can double up as favours? Candy4U should be your first port of call - from just £4 per head (plus delivery and set-up) they will create something very special for you, and I bet your guests will be talking about it for ages - as well as leaving your wedding with pockets full of humbugs, sherbet lemons and chocolate eclairs!

We have recently announced the first set of dates for our 2009 Wedding Planners Master Classes and the response has been fantastic. If you are looking to become a wedding planner, or know someone who is, then there is no better place to start. Far less of an investment, and infinitely more valuable than the many online 'degree-style' wedding planning courses, this one day class will inspire and motivate you to make your dream a reality and become a successful wedding planner. So why not get in touch and see if we have space available for the Master Class of your choice - we're visiting London, Bath, Cheltenham and Milton Keynes in 2009.

If you'd like to see if we're free on your wedding date for 'On The Day' wedding co-ordination so you too can relax and enjoy every second of your day, or you would like to book a planning session to kick-start your wedding plans or you simply have a question that's been keeping you awake at night, please get in touch - we're here to help!

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: becoming-a-wedding-planner, caterer, supplier

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

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