Thursday 31 January 2013

Angels Carrying Savage Weapons



Tel: 01623 448865


Angels Carrying Savage Weapons have been designing and making beautiful, handmade British fashion since 2005. Specialising in traditionally made steel boned corsetry, we create beautiful gowns, which are both elegant and unique but with a seductive twist giving our brides the dress of their dreams.



Taking our inspiration from the heavily structured Victorian corsets and the sophisticated, classically glamorous look of the forties and fifties, we have created a luxury brand which is both sensual and seductive, making our brides feel fabulous and empowered. We take women back to a time when they were truly glamorous, they had curves, were sensual and beautiful.



Our beautiful bespoke bridal corsets, lingerie and wedding gowns are entirely hand-made, one-off pieces. We use the most luxurious fabrics with the option of having unique embroidery, delicate lace, beads, crystals and embellishments. Our steel boned corsets gently encase your body giving you an amazing shape: flattering as well as elegant.



All of our evening wear, bridal corsets and couture gowns are cut for you from our own patterns in our studio based in North Nottinghamshire, making Victorian pattern cutting techniques work for the shape of the modern woman.



Come and see us at the Weird and Wonderful Wedding World show to see more or alternatively visit our studio to open up a world full of possibilities.

Friday 25 January 2013

Beyond Burlesque




Belinda Chorley
07787 505597

Beyond Burlesque is a specialist bridal and occasion wear brand, contemporary couture for women who want to look sexy and confident. The label was launched in 2008, driven by the design and production skills of designer Belinda Chorley, ably supported by a network of couture talent and specialist suppliers.



Beyond Burlesque garments are unique creations draped around a corset base exquisitely engineered to enhance the female silhouette. All Beyond Burlesque garments are tailor-made through fittings and design consultations in Crouch End, north London.

When you make an appointment with us, you will meet personally with designer Belinda Chorley to try different styles and discuss the garment you desire. Consultations are free and with no obligation.




Belinda’s unique style is informed by her own progression through club culture and fetish wear to high-end couture. After graduating in fashion and textiles in Bristol, Belinda began supplying her own designs to local boutiques and working with artists such as Massive Attack. Music and fashion continued to merge with a move to London in the design conscious ‘80s, where she dressed trendsetting artists such as Dead or Alive, The Pet Shop Boys, Cathy Dennis and Aztec Camera.

Street fashion and fetish wear were an important thread in Belinda’s evolution. Following work for cult youth labels Artificial Eye and UK Today in the ‘90s she opened her own fetish and club-wear shop in Brighton – the award-winning “Snog on Rocks”.




Belinda is also Vivienne Westwood’s specialist corsetiere, an affiliation that has cemented her graduation to luxury couture. In a working relationship spanning two decades, Belinda is entrusted with Gold Label red carpet commissions frequently seen in the media spotlight.

The cast of international leading ladies Belinda has recently dressed in the Beyond Burlesque label includes Angelina Jolie, Gillian Anderson, Rebecca Bottone, Greta Scacchi, Nancy Dell’Olio and Dawn French. Her corsets feature in the new film Anna Karenina, cinching Alicia Vikander and Keira Knightley.

Thursday 17 January 2013

Bristol Vintage Prop Hire




Ali Cook
07791898650 



Bristol Vintage has built up a reputation over the last 4 years for their amazing collection of beautiful mis-matched vintage crockery and for the annual Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair.  A lot of people don’t realise that Bristol Vintage also have a great collection of props for hire, love to source specific props and can help style your day too!

Ali Cook, the owner says “I’ve been collecting vintage pieces for years just for the love of it but when we started up the crockery business, we began to introduce lots of our interesting vintage finds into the collection.  We now have 4 typewriters from different eras, our gorgeous vintage bike, ‘Mabel’ (who’s soon to be joined by her male counterpart!), a vintage sledge, picnic hampers, candelabras, old birdcages, vintage books, 3 gramophones, suitcases, picture frames, cameras, china ornaments & much more.  I really look forward to the weekends when I go vintage shopping and if I’m ever on holiday I always seek out the vintage and flea markets – I’m completely obsessed!"



One of the things I love about running this business is the amount of amazingly talented people I meet.  There’s a great collaborative spirit in Bristol and people are keen to share their creativity and ideas, so my stand will be a showcase of my crockery, props and the work of some other great people including Joanna Shears, Sue Fyfe-Williams and Kirsten Butler.



I’ve been dying to meet Joanna for ages and you can read all about her company, Death & Glory, in her own blog piece.  Kirsten is one of the most popular stylists in the South-West and we quite often work together – she’s a powerhouse of great ideas and really goes that extra mile for all her brides.  Sue runs Aunties Vintage China and we work together as Jezebel Events to organise vintage events, currently including the really exciting re-launch of Clifton Hill Costume & Textiles on 18th April!  You can read about Sue’s stunning brooch bouquets below.



If you’re looking for crockery or vintage props Bristol Vintage is the place to come – we love what we do and we love sharing it with our clients to give their day a really authentic feel!”





I started making brooch bouquets in 2011 and am happy to say that I am now working on several commissions.

Brooch bouquets are for keeps; something to hand down from generation to generation as an heirloom.

I will meet with you for an initial consultation to outline shape, colour palette, design ideas and whether you have any family pieces you’d like to incorporate. I will gather the brooches and meet with you again with a mock up of the bouquet. Once you are happy with the content I will complete the bouquet and have it ready two weeks before your wedding. I can make a brooch boutonniere for your groom and smaller bouquets for your bridesmaids.

This is something unique and you could have something old, something new, borrowed and blue all at once.



Wednesday 16 January 2013

Death and Glory Taxidermy





Jo Shears is the creator behind Death and Glory Taxidermy. Death & Glory Taxidermy was established in 2011. With a deep fascination for the art form, Joanna has been a collector for many years and is a member of The Guild of Taxidermists. With a passion for the kitsch and the macabre spanning right back into her childhood she creates bespoke, sophisticated and unique taxidermy pieces.


Photos Courtesy of Death and Glory Taxidermy


"After planning my own wedding last year I can really empathise with those couples who are looking for something a little bit different."

Photos Courtesy of Death and Glory Taxidermy

Death & Glory Taxidermy specialise in bespoke pieces which can be customised to add a truly original touch to your special day.  Whether you’re looking for well dressed, elegant mice cake toppers, a little feathered friend to sit in your bouquet or perhaps a dandy rabbit to hold the rings, we can cater for all your taxidermy needs.  Death & Glory also create beautiful headpieces and grooms accessories.  What gentleman wouldn’t look dashing with Alfie the pipe smoking mouse perched in the brim of his top hat.

Photos Courtesy of Death and Glory Taxidermy.


Tuesday 15 January 2013

The Little Wedding Helper



kirstenjbutler@yahoo.co.uk



Kirsten Butler, a.k.a The Little Wedding Helper, is an award winning venue stylist based in the South West of England. Providing the extra set of hands that no bride can be without, Kirsten offers so much more than a styling service. Welcome to the creative world that is The Little Wedding Helper! 

Images courtesy of The Little Wedding Helper


Kirsten believes that the magic of weddings is in the finishing touches: 
“Wedding styling is about stepping outside the box and transforming your venue through the decor, details and those personal touches that reflect you both. It’s about sprinkling inspiration and creating a wow factor for you and your guests that will be talked about and remembered long after the confetti has blown away.”

So whether you are looking for somebody to pull together the finer details, prop hire, creative consultations, or simply constructive advice on how to create a day that is completely you, then The Little Wedding Helper is a must for your celebration.

Images courtesy of The Little Wedding Helper

Past clients Bree and Neil Lucas were thrilled with The Little Wedding Helper’s stylish touch on their wedding day.

“It was a relief to find someone on our wavelength and on board with our theme and sense of styling. When Neil and I saw our wedding day we were blown away. The vision was perfectly replicated and exceeded our expectations. Thank you Kirsten for everything you did, how easy you were to work with & for 'getting it'!”

Images courtesy of The Little Wedding Helper


The world of weddings is bursting with beautiful themes and trends, but with Kirsten’s guiding hand you needn’t feel overwhelmed. The Little Wedding Helper can help! Just drop her an email, give her a call on 07726 911951, or visit her website at http://littleweddinghelper.co.uk

 P.S. Only last week Kirsten won another aware – The Wedding Industry 2013 ‘Special Touches’ category – there’s just no stopping her!

Monday 14 January 2013

Crown and Glory





Images courtesy of Crown and Glory


In early 2011, Sophie King had a problem.  Floating in her mind was the image of the perfect hair accessory: delicate feathers, hand painted to form a single butterfly.  Why was this a problem? Because such a thing just didn't exist! Well, they say that if you want a job done well you should do it yourself, and that's exactly what Sophie did.  
  
The result of that first spontaneous project was Crown and Glory, which in the time since the first collection of assorted, hand painted butterfly pieces hit the internet has expanded into an international fashion accessories brand that boasts fans such as Teen Vogue, Grazia and Company magazines, popstrels Amelia Lily and Little Mix and Queen of Alternative Weddings, Rock n Roll Bride.  In 2012, Sophie and her lilac locks were hired by high street fashion chain Oasis to custom make headbands for excited punters at their party for Vogue's Fashion Night Out (staged in a window display on Oxford Street, no less) and accessorised the collection of Italian designer Danilo Gabrielli for his SS'13 collection at London Fashion Week. 

Images courtesy of Crown and Glory

Crown and Glory Hair Accessories are inspired by the whimsical, the ethereal and frivolous. 
Crown and Glory brides love multicoloured petticoats, strings of twinkling fairy lights and Irregular Choice shoes. You're safe in the knowledge that, whether you choose a piece from the existing collections or dream of a custom design exclusively for you, there's not a cluster of Coq feathers or diamante tiara in sight. It's ok, you can let out a collective sigh now.

Images courtesy of Crown and Glory

When she's not crafting up the latest creation to wear in your hair, Sophie is dreaming of being a mermaid, Instagramming photos of her cats and buying shoes (and dresses, and bags, and jewellery...) From the trend-led collection launched each season to the bespoke commissions her fabulous, creative customers challenge her with each week, Sophie and her team craft everything by hand here in the UK, so your new headwear will truly be one of a kind. 

Images courtesy of Crown and Glory


Photography Credits;
www.devlinphotos.co.uk

Sunday 13 January 2013

Strumpets with Crumpets




However obscure and wonderfully outrageous your wedding plans may be, no day would be complete without the delectable glamour of Strumpets with Crumpets!

Images courtesy of Strumpets with Crumpets


As the day draws in, Strumpets with Crumpets can provide the perfect accompaniment to help get the party in full swing. We have a menu full of heavenly crumpet treats; sweet or savoury, vegetarian or carnivorous, all lovingly served by our beautiful and bantering strumpets.

Our toppings include The Banoffee Pie, The Cream Tea, The Bloody Mary, Camembert and Homemade Red Onion Marmalade, Pancetta and Maple Syrup, Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese....and that is to name but a few!

Flexible to your every need, you can rest assured that our welcoming atmosphere, decadent decoration and fine music all insure that your guests and their tummies are in the very finest of hands.

For more information please visit www.strumpetswithcrumpets.com 

Saturday 12 January 2013

Karma Kars




Suzie Goodman
01242 248 190 / 07828 309 527 



Suzie Goodman is the proud owner of Karma Kars Cotswold, a wedding car company that ticks the unusual box many times over.  Not only is she rare in that she is a woman in what is traditionally ‘a man’s world’, she positively goes out of her way to be the exact opposite of the mainstream wedding car companies by providing a unique service.  

Images courtesy of Karma Kars Cotswolds

Suzie says,
“I offer an intimate, chatty and quite girly experience!  I pride myself on reading people’s moods as often Dad is nervous and quiet so generally my focus is on the Bride and her wedding.  My job is to keep her calm which is generally achieved with a good old girly natter.  When we get to the venue, I make sure I keep her hidden if guests are still arriving and then I give her a final check-over…dress, hair, veil, engagement ring on the right finger and even her bra straps! My attention to detail making sure she’s looking her best is my number one priority.”

Images courtesy of Karma Kars Cotswolds
   

Here’s what one of last year’s Brides wrote to Suzie… 
Suzie was a dream to have around on our wedding day! When she turned up at the hotel to pick me up as you can imagine I was nervous. She was so calm and friendly that I was instantly more calm. Her bubbly personality was lovely to be around on the way to the venue, and her timings were just perfect!

Images courtesy of Karma Kars Cotswolds


 Whilst Suzie is great at her job, it’s the car that’s the star of her business.  From the outside, the car looks a little like a Morris Minor but that’s where the similarities end.  Both bumpers are festooned with a headdress of exotic flowers but it’s the lavishly furnished interior that produces the gasps of delight from people.  Every surface from ceiling to floor has been painstakingly covered in rich fabrics of sequins and beads, transforming the car into a one-off, work of art.  Officially known as Goa Sunset but affectionally nicknamed ‘Her Outdoors’ by Suzie, this car will please couples looking for something totally different to add a splash of fun, quirkiness and colour to their wedding day. 

Images courtesy of Karma Kars Cotswolds

Karma Kars first started in west London in 2000 with four Ambassadors imported direct from Calcutta.  The cars were an instant hit, appearing in music videos for the likes of Lily Allen and Keane and boasting many a celebrity booking from the fashion set, including Kate Moss, Jade Jagger and Sienna Miller.  Suzie booked one for her own 2005 wedding in London and decided to bring the concept to the Cotswolds three years ago. 

Karma Kars Cotswold is available for weddings, civil partnerships, PR work and operates across the Cotswolds as far as Oxford, Bristol and Birmingham.