Lovebird Brides

Lovebird Brides

This weekend was the first anniversary of my Granny passing away, and as she didn’t know about our engagement I decided to honour it with a trip to my very first bridal boutique. Planning our wedding in York I really wanted a part of West Yorkshire to be present on the day. 

Lovebird Brides is a new boutique situated in the heart of Yorkshire. Addingham is a quaint village next door to the thriving town of Ilkley.  Open in October Laura has set up Lovebird Brides to incorporate her love for classic glamour and her keen eye for beautiful pieces.

The decor in the boutique fits with the classic and vintage feel of the dresses.  Filled with classic furniture and draped in gorgeous handmade accessories the boutique really makes you feel like you have stepped back in time. 

Lovebirds stocks English designers Maria Senvo and Charlotte Balbier and there isn’t a big fat gypsy wedding dress insight.  Instead Laura has cleverly picked designs which wouldn’t look out of place in Great Gatsby.  From 1920s Glamour to Vintage Chic, if you are interested in vintage and classic gowns this really is the place to be. 

Being my first bridal shop experience I really had no idea what to even pick off the rail.  All I had in mind is that the general theme of the day will be vintage decor and pastel colours.  Taking Laura’s advice I let her lead me as what to try on.  The dress which really stood out to me as soon as I walked in was a Charlotte Balbier ivory piece called Belle, this full gown was a princess style dress with a full skirt.  This gorgeous dress would fit perfectly in anyone’s romantic day; it really would make any bride the centre of attention.  The full skirt has delicate lace detail which really stands out and the bodice has elegant lace straps which cover the sweetheart neckline in an appropriate and classic way.  Though this dress really was stunning and when you picture a wedding this will be the dress most brides imagine, it really wasn't me. It seemed too girly and I would be far too worried I would trip over the full skirt.

The other dresses I tried ranged from full lace to satin with a lace top and without giving too much away all the gowns where gorgeous. This experience really made me realise that Charlotte Balbier is the designer for me. She really embodies everything I am looking for in a dress and I feel it would complement the overall feel of the day.  Her feminine designs are elegant and flattering and her styles will suit any bride who loves traditional glamour. Her pieces range in colour from the traditional white and ivory to gold’s, creams and blush which I found really flatter darker skin tones and are very warming.

One thing which really stood out to me about the boutique was Laura’s handmade accessories.  Lah De Da accessories are created using crystals and pearls . Her accessories range from hair pins to head pieces and belts to bespoke designs. These pieces really do finish an outfit. I was amazing how her creations transform a simple dress.  You may find you try a dress on that you like but are not amazed by, then you add a head piece and a belt and you feel like you have tried on a completely new design.  Laura really has an eye for which pieces competent each dress. She cleverly has included pearls into some designs which brings out the tones in the dresses and complements the lace and pearls in the designs.

Laura can also take old family pieces of jewellery and create them into a new design. For example taking an old set of pearls and transforming them into a bracelet, earrings or threading them into the dress. This would be a unique way to have a part of family history present on the wedding day.

At the beginning of the day I really wasn’t expecting to visit one bridal shop and decided not to go anywhere else. Laura at Lovebirds has done such a wonderful job with the new boutique and I really feel some of the more established stores in the area have just gained hot new competition.  I wish her all the success and I defiantly won’t be visiting any other boutiques.  I had no idea that the first boutique I visited I would find the one..... Watch this space; I think I have found the dress.

Faye

Flash back Friday

Today I am starting a new flash back Friday thread. Dedicated to the marriages I look up too, to the people who show me love and inspiration daily.  Today is dedicated to my lovely parents. Having just celebrated their silver wedding, your strength and commitment to each other is inspiring. The support and love you show each other, I hope in many years to come I can be this happy still.

Location dilemma

The first thing on the top of everyone's wedding checklist seems to be the venue.

Fifty years ago this would be quiet simple, you would be married in the parish of the village you live in and the reception would be in the church hall. 

But these days the possibilities are end less... Weddings at stately homes, outdoors, abroad on a beach, back gardens, you really can be married and hold a reception anywhere.

We have to decide between two choices, do we plan our day in York, the city we met, graduated University in and started our life together. Or do we go down the more traditional route and marry in my family's parish in my Grandma's church, she passed away a few weeks after we became engaged so this would be a way of having a part of her with me on the day.

For quite a while I found trying to make a decision on the location very difficult, my heart was being pulled from both sides. I just wanted to please everybody.

We decided to approach it from a different perspective, taking a step back for now and just have fun looking round venues and see what feels right.

Over the next few months we will be visiting venues across York and West Yorkshire, and here I will be sharing my honest (but kind) opinion.

We split our top venues into two lists, North and West Yorkshire and Sandburn Hall in York was top of our list for North Yorkshire. As we want to go down the vintage theme all the pictures I had seen on Pinterest and social media I instantly fell in love. 

When we arrived for our show around we where met by Lucinda, she was warm, welcoming and very knowledgable. It is fair to say this venue does not disappoint, the views over the golf course are amazing, we were lucky enough to visit on a sunny day and the weather really shows off the venue. The viewing started off with a great size reception room for the welcome drinks, equipt with its own bar, this room was intimate enough to hold our potential day quests and could even house a string quartet.

The stairs upto the main room where decorated with flowers for the days wedding, I could picture our bunting twirled around the banister. 

The first thing you notice when you enter the main room are the beams. Striped back to the bare wood it really is a big focal point.

This room really is a blank canvas for any theme wedding. We love all the DIY wedding ideas so could really imagine setting up the room exactly how we wanted it.

One thing I took away from the viewing was how accommodating the company seemed.  Nothing seemed like it would be too much trouble and they sounded really interested and positive about some of our ideas.

It is fair to say Sandburn Hall has shot up to the top of our York list, it really is going to be a tough act to follow.

Fulford Flowers Wedding Fayre

Lets start at the very beginning!

On June 1st, we indulged in our very first bit of wedding planning.  After following Fulford Flowers on Facebook for a long time, I became obsessed with their designs. 

As soon as I became engaged I knew I had to attend this wedding fayre, I knew this was an annual event at the York Barbican, but I was well aware I would look like a physco girl friend attending before I even became engaged. So when Leigh finally popped the question just a few weeks before, I made sure we had to be there.

In true Neal style, we arrived 45 minutes early... so we decided to walk into York and visit our lovely jewellers Bradley's on Petergate.  Kate and the team are so friendly and really make you feel like a princess, this was my first visit as Leigh bought the ring without me. The girls in the shop wanted to hear all about the proposal so it gave me the opportunity to show off my ring in person.

When we finally arrived back at the Barbican it was just in time for the doors to open.  With the most amazing cars outside and rose petals on the ground it really was the perfect entrance.

Once inside we where greeted and encouraged to enter a competition to win Ed Sheeran tickets. This was our introduction to the wedding world,  let alone our first wedding fayre I was amazed at how many stands there where.

At first I was a little over whelmed and didn’t know where to start.

Lots of businesses stood out to me and there where also lots of types of businesses I wouldn’t even of thought of.

Along with all the standard wedding services, something which caught my eye was the Le Creuset gift list, what a wonderful way to start married life than with a kitchen full of colourful cook wear!

One supplier which we were both in love with was Superior Motor Cars, the lady on the stand was so friendly, she was a friend of the company and had used the cars at her own wedding.  Having her perspective really sold this company for me.  Along with the cars at the entrance the gallery was amazing.  My Fiancée was really taken by the old American muscle cars, I think the appeal was that you could drive yourself to the venue (which the groom’s men would love), and I think he thought this would be the perfect way to start the day.

Meeting Sheryl the event organiser was a lovely part of the day, she runs Fulford Flowers and she really is a book of knowledge about weddings and local suppliers.  Amongst all the lot stands her company really caught my eye, the fresh flowers looked fantastic and I could really see myself being surrounded by her flowers on my big day.

As this was the first wedding fayre we had attended I really feel like I walked around in a massive daze. Trying to take everthing in and pick up as much information as we could, we came home with bags of information from suppliers and my little wedding planning album is now well and truly starting to take shape.

Below is a list of supplier which really stood out to me:

·         Superior Motor Cars- 01759 368544 www.superiormotorcars.co.uk 

·         Fulford Flowers - 01904 631791 www.fulfordflowers.com

·         Ambience Venue Styling - 07792 353092 www.ambiencevenuestyling.com/contact-us/york/ 

·         Hornington Manor Yorkshire- 01132 055204 www.horningtonmanorholidaylets.co.uk

·         Birds Vintage Tea Party - 07796360133 www.birdsvintageteaparty.co.uk