Naked Cakes!

If you want something a bit different from the usual white iced wedding cake, or perhaps want to try making your own cake, then why not have a 'naked' cake? These are cakes which don't have any icing over them, so retain their simple sponge on display. That's not to say they're boring though - you can jazz them up with decorations like fresh flowers or berries, perfect if you're going for a more natural, rustic look. Foregoing the icing can also save you money, as you're not paying someone to expertly decorate your cake. 

For inspiration, here are some naked cakes I found using a quick google search:

 image from bowtiesandbliss.com

 image from yourweddingsupport.blogspot.com

 image from weddingwindow.com

image from weddingwindow.com

Even though my useless gluten allergy means I can't eat wedding cake, I think naked cakes are great! They look so much more fresh, natural, and tasty than ordinary, iced wedding cakes. Let's hope they become a popular feature in weddings this year.

Bramble & Wild Floral Emporium

Flowers can be a beautiful and fun part of your wedding, and you don't even need a lot of them to make an impact. A couple of bundles of fresh blooms can transform any venue, and instantly put your guests in a positive mood. It's very important to find a florist who understands what you want, as each florist will have a certain style that they're more comfortable with. Remember, just because it's a wedding doesn't mean you have to carry a bouquet of white roses - the world, or at least the flowers in it, is your oyster! 

With this in mind, I'd like to introduce the wonderful Bramble and Wild floral emporium. I met them whilst at the Top Hats and Tea Cups wedding fair in Bristol, and was immediately wowed by their eclectic display of flowers in jam jars, urns, and tea cups! Based on the quirky Catherine Hill in Frome, they specialise in rustic and vintage styled flowers, using local, English flowers where possible. Having seasonal, English flowers in your wedding is a great way to save money, as the less miles the little petals have to go, the less costs you'll need to pay. Sticking with things that are in season also means the flowers will be in the best possible condition and far less likely to wilt or droop as the day goes on.

Bramble and Wild have a friendly, personal approach to weddings. They enjoy getting to know their customers, and like to sit down with a glass of bubbly or a cup of tea to discuss all their requirements. They talk about all aspects of your wedding, to make sure their designs fit in perfectly and compliment your chosen colours and themes. 

Bramble and Wild pride themselves on "natural, rustic designs inspired by nature and our wonderful countryside", and enjoy using mosses, lichen, and other materials to give your flowers that 'just picked from a hedgerow' look. They cover weddings in Somerset, Devon, and Wiltshire, but are always happy to consider requests from further afield. 

Bramble and Wild are a brilliant choice if you're planning a rustic or vintage inspired wedding, and I think you'll agree that their displays look stunning! Contact them through their website at www.brambleandwild.com for further information.

The National Wedding Show - Birmingham NEC - 17th March

I'm going to put aside my 'wedding planner hat' for a little while and just speak as a bride-to-be. Planning your wedding should be, and often is, a fun thing to do. Despite the inevitable stress and nerves, I think most people look back with a certain fondness on how they managed to make their wedding reflect the peculiar bunch of qualities they have as a couple. Since Mr Moosh and I got engaged, I've been having a great time searching through the huge range of things on offer in the wedding industry to make sure we have the wedding we want (Mr Moosh doesn't like wedding planning so it's all down to me). This is what inspired me to finally take the plunge and start my own business so that I could help other couples do the same. One thing I've not been enjoying, however, in any way at all, is finding my wedding dress.

When I first got engaged, the last 'fair' type thing I'd been to was the BBC's 'Big Bash' in 1996, so I was curious to try at least one wedding fair before I got married. I chose the National Wedding Show because I thought I'd come away with so many ideas and things sorted that there'd be no need to go to another fair. Since then, I've been to a handful of local wedding fairs in Bristol, and particularly enjoyed the ones that had a vintage theme, but I booked tickets for the National Wedding Show anyway to enjoy a day out with my Mum and bridesmaid. I'd heard that there would be a large selection of wedding dresses to try on, and this was one thing I was particularly keen to see.

I came away from the National Wedding Show not brimming with ideas, but rather disappointed. Actually, not just rather disappointed, but very unhappy. That's a much better reflection of the emotions I went through when I'd found not one single wedding dress in my size. I hold my hands up - I'm a size 16 (UK) and not pretty. I don't expect there to be hundreds of things especially for me. On the other hand, it's not just film stars who get married. On the dress stands where they were having a sale I can understand there being a limited range - that's all they have left - but on the stands where bridal boutiques were showing their range of dresses, why not have copies of each dress in several sizes? Why was everything size 10 or 12? Don't they want to appeal to as many customers as possible? As I watched other women walk out of the various changing rooms and be admired by their friends and family, I was left feeling like I wasn't being allowed to get married. It's stupid really - it's just a dress - but choosing your wedding dress is meant to be a nice thing, not something that makes you wish you could get married in your pyjamas.

Aside from dresses, the selection of suppliers at the National Wedding Show was rather odd. There were an unusual number of stands dedicated to getting married in other countries. It's lovely if you want to get married abroad, but I'm probably right in saying that most brides at the show would be marrying here in the UK, and would prefer a few more UK suppliers. There was only one florist, tucked away in a corner. The cake makers we spoke to all did their usual thing of not wanting to deal with so many allergies. There was meant to be a special 'vintage area', but this turned out to be a little cafe where you could get tea and cake, and a tiny handful of stands where people had the word 'vintage' in their name. My Mum, bridesmaid, and I found the fashion show rather amusing, especially the part where a hapless male model had to dress up as a mythical faun 'Pan the piper' (at least that's what we thought it was alluding to). The popular blog, Rock My Wedding, were there, but the feedback from the microphone was so bad we couldn't hear what the poor lady was saying. Looking back on the day, the only highlights were finding the stand dedicated to getting married in Cornwall (we're getting married in Cornwall so this was relevant), and bumping into IDo Wedding Videographers who are based here in Bristol and who are a really lovely bunch and well worth checking out. 

So a word of advice: as with most things, it's better to go local when looking at wedding fairs. Oddly, you're more likely to gain inspiration from a smaller, local fair than something the size of The National Wedding Show. After all, if you can talk to a local florist and see the flowers they could provide, you can narrow down what you want because you can ponder whether that particular florist can do your wedding. If the only suppliers you can talk to are ones that cover parts of the country you don't live in, then it's much harder to think things through. Also, if you're not a size 10/12, don't bother going to the national show, because they won't have any dresses for you and it's not much fun being made to feel like an outcast. As for my own dress, the option of turning up in my pyjamas is looking more and more inviting.  

Top Hats and Tea Cups Vintage Wedding Fair

The nice weather we've been having here in Bristol continued today as I went along to the Top Hats and Tea Cups wedding fair, organised by Marry Me In Someset. It was a vintage-style fair, held at the rather grand Lord Mayor's Mansion House in Clifton. There was a lovely selection of exhibitors, and I'm pleased to say I got a free glass of wine on arrival (mmm...free wine). 

The Mansion House itself has several rooms available for weddings, and is licensed for civil ceremonies, meaning you can have your ceremony and reception all in one place. Catering is provided by Fosters event catering, who had their own stand at the fair and informed me they could cater for an eye-watering 2000 people! Speaking of food, I was also able to try a gluten-free cupcake from the wonderful Cupcake Cabaret, and managed to get chocolate all over my face, which wasn't the professional look I'd been going for!

Other exhibitors included Aunties Vintage China, who used to holiday in the same hotel I'm getting married in (it really is a small world), Bramble & Wild florists with their jam jars stuffed full of fragrant blooms, and Oscar and Rose Photography, who create amazing 'scrapbook' style photo albums after capturing your wedding. 

There was also a second floor of exhibitors devoted to bridalwear and accessories. Amongst them was the lovely Beth Philpot, (bethphilpot@mail.com) who designs bespoke bridal gowns and jewelry. I've been really struggling so far to find a wedding dress that I like and that would suit me, because I don't want the usual strapless, diamante-encrusted, big pile of fluff. This means I'm starting to lean more and more towards getting a gown specially made. At the very least, it would definitely mean no one else ever had the same dress as me! 

I managed to grab one photo of the Mansion House whilst I was waiting for Mr Moosh to come along in his car and pick me up.

'Living The Cream' ice cream tricycle

It's a lovely sunny day here in Bristol (or it was just before I started typing that, how typical), and the brighter weather is putting in mind one of summer's many pleasantries - ice cream. No longer is ice cream confined to queuing at a Mr Whippy van before running back to your windbreak on a crowded beach somewhere. Ice cream can be a great addition to your wedding too! 

Living the Cream is a brand new company who provide wonderful Somerset ice cream from a lovely old 'ice cream tricycle'. They also have a vintage gramophone, so your guests can mingle to the sound of a bygone era, and a seaside style peep through board, which creates a unique backdrop for those all-important photos. 

Jonathan Fletcher, who runs the company, left his job of 10 years in E-commerce because he was "fed up of being behind a desk and wanted something out in the fresh air and to meet people". And there's no better way of meeting people and putting a smile on their face than giving them a cone full of delicious ice cream! Living the Cream would be a great feature in a vintage style wedding and is a brilliant alternative to those expensive canapés. Serving ice cream is also a good way to keep your guests happy and occupied whilst you and your new spouse are off with the photographer having pictures taken.

Living the Cream is initially available within a fifty mile radius of Somerton, Somerset, which includes the cities of Bristol and Bath. Jonathan will be attending a wedding fair this Sunday at The Walnut Tree, and also a vintage wedding fair in Yeovil on April 1st. 

Living the Cream can be contacted through their website at www.livingthecream.co.uk

A 1920's Wedding

Yesterday was the 29th of February - the day that comes only once every four years, and the day when women are supposedly allowed to propose to their boyfriends. I'm not sure how I feel about a tradition that relegates one person in a relationship to a position where they can only speak up on a leap year. Then again, I was never a huge fan of the assumption that men should decide if, when, and how a proposal happens, putting all the pressure on their shoulders. Mr Moosh and I certainly took a non-traditional approach to the issue by simply walking into a jewelry store together and choosing a ring, the cost of which we split equally.


However the proposal happens, and once you enter the wonderful world of weddings, the first thing you'll probably want to consider is the 'theme' of your wedding. The word 'theme' does conjure up awful images of tacky, fancy-dress style celebrations, but it's best thought of as the look and feel that you want your wedding to have. After all, every couple is different, so every wedding is unique. Do you favour the traditional road, or perhaps something more modern? Would you like to pick from the range of vintage looks that are popular, or maybe make something completely different that embraces the history of you as a couple? With so much choice available, deciding on a theme can be something of a minefield, so with this in mind - and with The Great Gatsby set to hit movie screens this year - I've put together a 1920's style wedding below. 

The Venue
The opulence of the 1920s can be catered for by one of today's many modern city venues. London, of course, has a great many locations on offer, but if you're marrying in Bristol you won't be disappointed. The Mansion House, tucked away in Clifton, offers an exclusive and stylish backdrop, with its drawing room pictured below.

For sheer grandeur, it's hard to beat the Marriott Bristol Royal, which can accommodate over 200 guests and has a number of rooms in which you can hold your ceremony, including the majestic palm court.

The Stationery
When those all important invites go out, evoke the look of the 1920s by using an art-deco design. The online shop Etsy has a large variety of art-deco invites to choose from, but I particularly like this design by beetleandquill, which uses silent movies as its inspiration, and which you can have printed or print yourself.

The Dress
Fashion in the 1920s was all about the flappers, and dresses were short, bold, and rather cheeky. This dress from Chanticleer, appropriately named 'Betty Boo', uses six tiers of French lace and a diamante brooch to hark back to an era when women had the freedom to be daring in what they wore for the first time.

The Accessories
Accessories for a 1920s wedding should sparkle, as they capture the glamour of the era. Jewelry designers Flo and Percy have an entire collection of 1920s inspired pieces. Named the 'Gatsby' collection, it includes headbands, combs, and earrings that use diamante, beading, and sequins to compliment your dress. The Chrysler tiara, pictured below, would certainly be a show-stopper!

 For shoes, this pair by Rainbow Club are very evocative of the 20s. Heel heights back then were small or middling, so stay away from those towering platforms!

The Groom
Your groom should exude all the confidence and sophistication of the 20s by wearing either top hat and tails, or a smart dinner suit. For the daring groom, there's always the option of wearing a white jacket! Anne Harding in Bristol offer all these options in menswear hire, with their black 'tails' jacket being pictured below.

The Bridesmaids
Finding 1920s inspired bridesmaid dresses will likely be more difficult, as bridesmaid dresses tend to focus on colour rather than style. Consider a metallic colour such a silver to continue the glamourous sparkle. A more radical approach might be to choose black bridesmaid dresses. After all, nothing can beat the look of a little black dress, and your bridesmaids are more likely to find a dress they can wear again. Keep the style simple and elegant. The award winning Dessy range have a huge number of dresses to choose from.

The Decorations
When basing a wedding around an era of black and white films and photos, the colour scheme that comes to mind is...black and white! Dont worry, this doesn't mean your wedding will look boring. Black and white come in a lot more shades than we all might realise, and a wedding using these colours can look very sophisticated indeed. 

Flowers should steer away from loose, unstructured displays, and instead focus on tight bunches of one flower type. White roses would be a natural choice for this colour scheme, although lilies would also work well. To display flowers, use silver urns (silver is a great accent colour for this scheme) or black lily vases such as this one from Village Green.

These name place baubles from Cox and Cox would look great.

As would these table numbers from PinkOrchidInvites on Etsy.

For centerpieces, candelabras can be stunning, and they also come in a range of colours and sizes, such as these black and white ones, both from Essential Wedding Hire.

The wedding cake can also incorporate the black and white colour scheme, with some examples below. Remember, cake makers always enjoy a challenge, so don't be afraid to ask for more complex detailing.

A 1920s style wedding should capture the glitz and glamour of that era. They weren't called the 'roaring 20s' for nothing! Incorporate bold details like diamante accessories into your theme, and think about using black and white as your colours to provide an elegant backdrop to your big day. I hope this post has provided you with some inspiration, and remember that Strawberry Soufflé Weddings can work with you to create the wedding of your dreams, whether you'd like our full wedding planning service, or our venue dressing on the day. Call 07930396203 or email info@strawberrysouffleweddings.com for more information and to arrange a free initial consultation. 



Mansion Houe: http://www.mansionhousebristol.co.uk
Marriott Royal Hotel: http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/brsry-bristol-marriott-royal-hotel
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com
Chanticleer: http://www.chanticleerbrides.co.uk
Flo and Percy: http://www.floandpercy.com
Rainbow Club: http://www.rainbowclub.co.uk
Anne Harding: http://www.anneharding.com
Dessy: http://www.dessy.com
Village Green: http://villagegreenuk.co.uk 
Cox and Cox: http://www.coxandcox.co.uk
Essential Wedding Hire: http://www.essentialweddinghire.com