Twinkleberry Brides is a wedding themed blog from Twinkleberry.

The Utterly Sexy Cafe

29 Mar in Cakes, Caterers | Comments (0)

8creamleaves_large1 I don’t know Amanda Baird personally, but I would be very surprised if she wasn’t an archetypal magpie with a healthy dose of “flower girl” thrown in for good measure! I first came across her fabulous array of cakes and fairy cakes and was completely delighted. Her primary style is “utterly gorgeous vintage” and I simply have to concur about the “gorgeous”!

Amanda’s cakes are not only exquisitely decorated but also made from fresh ingredients and free-range eggs. She has a large variety of options from tangy lemon sponge to rich brandy fruitcake or more exotic, Cardamom and Earl Grey tea soaked raisin sponge sandwiched with orange flower water butter cream, but for me, her designs are all about the icing on the top! Handmade sugar roses and leaves, colourful birds all dusted with glitter, perch on top of vintage cake stands – these are edible works of art.

6songbirds_large1 The Utterly Sexy Cafe can style your reception too, offering a catering service with food creatively served on pretty vintage china, silverware and glassware. Table centres are made up of English country garden flowers from Amanda’s cutting garden and Petit Fours or eclectic mixes of vases, Moroccan tea glasses and butterfly adorned birdcages, lit with twinkling lights and candles, the options are endless, and sure to be memorable.

The girls offer anything and everything from barbeque’s and outside cooking to a special afternoon tea, based on a substantial “quintessential Teatime” menu. Their enviable collection of vintage china and glassware is also available for hire, even if you don’t use any of their other services and they also can provide a marquee, should you need one.

The Utterly Sexy Cafe offer a mail order service for their cakes, fairy cakes and petit fours and offer a choice of unusual wedding venues around the Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Borders.

Images courtesy of Utterly Sexy Cafe

William Chambers Millinery

15 Mar in Bridal Wear | Comments (0)

featherspray1 I had a very hard time trying to choose just one image to use from William Chambers 2010 Bridal Collection. The Scottish based designer has been creating millinery masterpieces since 2007 and winning awards for his avante garde style. He has already recieved commisions from fashion luminaries amongst them, Tessa Hartmann, Director of the Scottish Fashion Awards and is regularly featured in Vogue.

The bridal collection is exquisite with designs which are sparkly and ultra feminine, but unmistakably unique. This is hardly surprising, as he acknowledges that he takes inspiration from sources as diverse as ethnic head-dresses, British birds and the Glasgow architecture. Apart from an array of feathers, sparkles and pretty pieces, William Chambers uses unusual fabrics and components – a flower garland could be created from latex and you might see some equally unusual shiny plastic or patent leather. The end result is always eye catching!

latexflowers1 William Chambers provides a free consultation service for exclusive commissions and will work with you to create the perfect hat or headpiece that will suit your dress. Consultations normally take place at his city centre studio, where William will discuss materials, style, colour, shape and size. Any designs seen on his website can be recreated in different colours, sizes and materials. Bespoke designs are encouraged if you have something specific in mind. If a hat or headpiece is required to match an existing outfit, you will be asked to bring this or a sample of the material along to ensure a good match. Customers living further afield can consult by phone or email. Once the design is agreed, production will usually take a few days to three weeks.

Images courtesy of William Chambers Millinery

West Tower, Lancashire

12 Mar in Venues | Comments (0)

Set within 8 acres of Lancashire countryside is the West Tower. This stunning venue was built in 1785 and has been lavishly redeveloped to incorporate 14 bedrooms and 2 executive suites as well as the dining hall, which can seat up to 120 guests for formal dinners and evening parties of up to 200.

The luxury hilltop country house boasts views of rolling farmland and could not provide you with a more romantic setting.

West Tower has a range of menus to choose from including Canape’s, Buffet and Banquets.

west-tower

Image courtesy of West Tower

Chartula Studio Couture Stationery

11 Mar in Stationery | Comments (0)

Butterfly kiss When I look for suppliers to feature on Twinkleberry Brides, I try to find people who are doing things that are that little bit different, or more creative, more edgy. I try to find things that are that little bit out of the ordinary – I think it makes me want to write about them and (hopefully..?) it will make you want to read about them. I like to find people who put their hearts and souls into their creations or businesses – and my heart certainly skipped a beat when I found the Chartula Studio site.

Rococo Charlotte Hewson, an illustrator and designer opened the studio in 2003 with the aim of creating beautifully designed, exquisitely printed, couture stationery, for the sophisticated and style conscious and I think she has certainly achieved this goal.

The range incorporates both modern and classic printing craftsmanship and technology, from classic engraving to laser cutting – and bringing it together is a passion for design, with styles ranging from contemporary or classic to formal or funky

Thistle and Rose And just in case you can’t find something you completely adore in the wide range of options, Chartula Studio also offer a bespoke service.

Personally, I love the colours and the sense of the romantic that her work encompasses. With a client list which includes Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, you couldn’t be in better company!

Images Courtesy of Chartula Studio

Absolutely Beautiful Wedding Show

10 Mar in Events | Comments (1)

This has to be the “must attend” event this month! The show is a collaboration of 12 exclusive wedding services in conjunction with Wedding Magazine. It’s an absolute who’s who – Sassi Holford, Emmy Scarterfield, Magpie Vintage, Nicki MacFarlane and Luella’s Boudoir will all be exhibiting.

The show is on Sunday 28th March – at Claridges in London.

Tickets are £15.oo and available from Absolutely Beautiful Weddings

Absolutely-Beautiful-show

Sugarplum Cakes

09 Feb in Cakes | Comments (0)

sugarplum-cakes Don’t you think this is the sweetest name for a cake company? I think it’s as nice as ….say….Twinkleberry! Sugarplum Cakes are almost 2 years old and Helen and Jan clearly delight in what they do. Their bespoke creations are fresh and pretty and they are keen to fit in with your style or colour scheme as well as your budget. When there is so much to do when you are planning your wedding isn’t it a relief to find a supplier who tries to make the process of deciding on your cake as fun and relaxed as possible?

Sugarplum cakes can not only create your dream wedding cake, but can also supply cupcakes or shaped cookies as a wedding favour alternative.

Image courtesy of Sugarplum Cakes

Couture Cakes

01 Feb in Cakes | Comments (1)

Lace-brooch-cake I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of work that the lovely Katie Watts puts into her works of art. Katie is the creative force behind Couture Cakes. Working from a studio which is situated on a conservation award winning family farm in Lincolnshire, Katie creates cakes which taste as mouth-watering as they look!

“To bake each cake we don’t just use the finest quality ingredients, but produce many of them ourselves so that you can be guaranteed superior trace ability. We use eggs from our free-range chickens and have our own organic wheat milled locally at Maud Foster Windmill to produce flour for the cakes. If you want a vanilla sponge we use jam made from our homegrown strawberries, the freshest most vibrant jam you will ever taste! Our promise to our clients is to design, create and decorate a cake of uncompromising excellence, exclusively for their needs”.

Katie is understandably proud of her dedication to uncompromising excellence. Each design is nurtured to ensure that the finished product reflects the personality of the client as well as the theme of the event.

Trained as a pastry chef and with a Bsc. Hons. in Food and Nutrition, Katie’s range is wonderfully diverse with options including Chocolate Truffle Cake, Vanilla Gennoise, Moist Carrot Cake, Cappuccino Cake, Sticky Banoffee, Rich Fruit & Nut Cake, Chocolate Fruit & Nut Cake as well as traditional fruit cake. The decorations are equally inspiring; Katie uses sugar fondant for a classic and elegant effect or chocolate for something more modern and sculpted.

Images courtesy of Couture Cakes

Sassi Holford

13 Jan in Bridal Wear | Comments (1)

Sassi-Holford-1 A wedding dress is the stuff of dreams isn’t it? It’s what we imagined as little girls, impossibly beautiful, magical creations, that would lift us from mere mortals to heavenly creatures. The reality of choosing that perfect dress can be the most exciting thing .

I loved the dress Autumn Kelly wore when she married Peter Phillips and so had to feature Sassi Holford, the Designer. Apart from now being known as a Royal Wedding Designer, Sassi Holford is renowned for her exquisite cut, flattering silhouettes and use of the finest fabrics.

Sassi designs classic, English wedding gowns with a contemporary edge, nothing is spared in the structure and the detail and it is this that provides the perfect cut and fit, tailored to a brides own style. The corset is an integral part of each gown and ensures a streamlined silhouette and the high level of comfort necessary for a wedding day.

The gowns are all handmade in the Taunton studio, by an exemplary team of cutters, seamstresses and hand beaders. The collection can be seen on the Sassi Holford site or in person at either of her 2 boutiques. Look out for Designer Days with Sassi, at her boutiques or with various stockists as well as her seasonal sample sales.

Images Courtesy of Sassi Holford: 74 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6HH and 6, The Bridge, Taunton, TA1 1UG

Compton Acres Wedding Fair

07 Jan in Events | Comments (0)

The Compton Acres Wedding Fair starts this weekend (9th and 10 Jan 2010) so if you’re in the vicinity then it’s sure be worth your while attending. The event is hosted in the Italian Villa and will provide inspiration and advice from over 40 leading photographers, florists and jewellers.

An interesting feature of the Fair will be a picture presentation of dresses throughout the ages. Fashions inspired by Audrey Hepburn, silk, organza and taffeta creations from the ’60’s and Princess Diana dresses from the 1980’s. There is bound to be something that catches your eye!

The entry fee is £2.00 and the event is open from 10.30 – 4pm

The-Italian-Villa-at-Compto

Image Courtesy of Vizzit Media

Bradley House

16 Dec in Venues | Comments (0)

I could not imagine anything lovelier than using a venue like Bradley House for a wedding. This Wiltshire country house has been owned by the Dukes of Somerset since it was built 300 years ago and is available as a venue for weddings, celebrations and corporate events.

Bradley-House

David Mattia, who together with his wife Kim, owns and runs Bradley House Events have just launched The Coach House, an adapted old coach house and Victorian stables sited in a cobbled courtyard next to the house. It has a dining room which will seat 60 people, a room for music and dancing, a bar and Victorian stables that are used as a quiet area for “chilling out”.

Attached to The Coach House is a marquee that can be used should the number of guests exceed 60 people. It comes in three sizes – to seat up to 90, up to 150 and up to 180 people.

Bradley-house2 This new development allows David and Kim to offer a new “one day event” option which means that people can use of the ground floor of the main house for a civil wedding, followed by a drinks reception. If they wish they can then use The Coach House, with or without a marquee, to entertain their guests and to “party”.

Up until now Bradley House has specialised in 3 day events where (for example) the bride stays in the house with her family and close friends (it sleeps up to 24) and gets married on the middle day either in the house or in the church that is right next door’, but with the addition of The Coach House they can also offer the property for one day events.

The main house could be called “a small Stately Home” in that it is certainly stately but it is not huge and therefore is not at all intimidating. In fact it is best described as a warm and welcoming family home; albeit a large one.

David believes that staying in Bradley House is not at all like saying in a hotel – in fact it is almost the opposite – “It is somewhere to relax and enjoy entertaining family and friends; which after all was a major reason why houses like this were built in the first place. Almost everyone who stays here says that they are delighted at how “friendly” the house feels and how easy it is to relax and enjoy themselves.”

David and Kim have definate ideas on how a venue like Bradley House should be run. “What we offer is great flexibility; a range of choices that enables our clients to arrange their event as they wish it to be. We work with a number of “partners” who we introduce to our clients – caterers, a wine importer (we do not charge corkage), entertainers, florists, in fact everyone that our clients may need to make their event a success. In this way they get a choice and that enables them to get what they want within their budget.”

Kim has over 25 years of experience as an event caterer and is available to help and advise. There is also a team of local staff, to help with whatever needs doing.

David and Kim are passionate about the house, the business they run in it and the clients they attract. ” Over the past two years we have had clients from, literally, all over the world, which makes our job even more interesting. We never want to loose those clients but we would love to add a new dimension: a local clientele. Now that we have “The Coach House” we can offer one day events and so that wish may just come true.”

Images courtsey of Bradley House

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