Dolce Sposa

McQueens Wedding Flowers

dolceSPOSA — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:11:55 +0000

I came across another very talented wedding florist in London called McQueens. Kelly Ellis, the woman behind the very successful flower shop is known in the wedding industry for creating some of the most beautiful wedding flowers to London’s prestigious hotels like Berkeley, The Connaught to name a few. When she started in 1991, she said her aim was “To sell simple, stylish flowers, beautifully presented, that the people of London would love.” Since then, Kally has established McQueens as the premier name in a business that crosses all floral boundaries.

At a Glance

Package - McQueens will always work to any reasonable budget and will make suggestions to fit within a theme and concentrate on particular areas and times within a wedding where flowers are more important or necessary. Here is a short list of their prices to give you an idea of how much wedding flowers can cost:- (bridal bouquet £80, bridesmaid’s £40, buttonholes £6, table centres £60)
Style – We occasionally draw inspirations from current trends and fashions that may appear in magazines or on the catwalk. But we work within any style set by the client for their special event and use the inspirations set by them and their preferences.
Wedding venues – The Grove, The Berkeley and The Connaught and the majority of top wedding venues within London
Destination Wedding – despite being based in London, we work nationwide and also worldwide, providing flowers in the United States, Italy and Japan
Wedding Tip: Be realistic! Set your budget before meeting up with your florist and work within the budget to achieve your desired look. Your florist will suggest flowers that are suitable, try not to deviate away from these suggestions as you may chose flowers that are out of season and are therefore more expensive and harder to get.

McQueen’s style is based on purity and seasonality within contemporary design using the flowers as a natural art form. Here are some of our favs…

Wedding Florist – McQueens LLP

70 – 72 Old Street

London EC1V 9AN

T +44 (0) 20 7251 5505

E events(at)mcqueens.co.uk

W www.mcqueens.co.uk (opens a new window)

Photos courtesy of McQueens

Yellow and White Wedding Mood Board

dolceSPOSA — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:50:33 +0000

This mood board is fairly similar to the one I shared earlier – grey and yellow wedding, but this one focuses only on white and yellow. Love all the wedding elements and wedding flowers used! A pair of yellow shoes for that extra wow and unique factor! If you are a big lover of yellow, why not?!

What do you all think of this one and which one do you prefer?

Yellow and Grey Wedding Moodboard

dolceSPOSA — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:53:46 +0000

Working on a wedding mood board is something I really enjoy doing – it is fun and truly inspirational. I’ve got a few on my file and I thought it is about time that I start sharing it to our readers.

One of my client (who is also a good friend of mine), told me that she likes pale yellow for her special day. We both haven’t really gone in to all the details yet, but the beautiful colour have already inspired me to think of styles and other colour combinations that can compliment it perfectly well.

To start it of, here is my yellow and grey wedding mood board inspiration. I hope you all like it…

I love how the grey bridesmaid’s dress enhances the vibrant and happy yellow colour. Together, these two colours compliment and make the white bridal dress stands out more. I think it will look great in photos – feminine, romantic and chic!

Oh the Calvin Klein grey suit looks absolutely stunning too…

Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire – Wedding Venue

dolceSPOSA — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:03:49 +0000

Stoke Park is one of the country’s finest stately mansion – very elegant, luxe and understated! It is a beautiful wedding venue to consider on your special day and you will be spoiled with the amazing facilities they can offer. The spa is pure bliss and the golf course is loved by all (even James Bond!) (we’ve also featured Stoke Park amongst our selection of the most romantic golf course wedding venues).

At a Glance:

Accommodation – 49 bedrooms from £225 B&B
Architecture – Grade I Palladian Mansion
Capacity – maximum 120 guests
Ceremony –Licensed for Civil Ceremony (see church list below)
Children – Very welcome
Exclusive Use – n/a
Facilities – wedding planner, spa, golf course, restaurant, helipad and 350 acres of historic parkland and gardens
Location – Buckinghamshire
Marquee wedding – n/a
Room Hire – included in the package
Style – Grand Mansion and Luxury Hotel
Transportation – Slough and Gerrard’s Cross (National Rail)
Transportation – 20 minutes away from London Heathrow by car
Wedding Package – starts at £150.00 per person*

*Prices include room hire, food & bevarage, stationery, bridal suite to name a few. Exclusive of music, registrar fees and other wedding costs. Please get in touch with Stoke Park to get further details.

Click here for Stoke Park’s 2011 Wedding Brochure

I love the wedding photography opportunities at Stoke Park for both day and night time shots! Make sure to hire a good wedding photographer, you will be guaranteed lots of amazing wedding photographs on your special day.

Wedding Venue – Stoke Park

Park Road, Stoke Poges
Buckinghamshire, SL2 4PG
Tel: +44 (0) 1753 717171

High Wycombe Registry Office

Easton Street, High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire HP11 1NH

T: +44 (0) 1494 475200

E: chilternhillsregistrars@buckscc.gov.uk

St. Giles – Stoke Poges (Church of England)

The Vicarage, Park Road
Stoke Poger, SL2 4PE

T: +44 (0) 1753 644803

Church of St. Teresa (Catholic)

40 Warwick Road, Beaconsfield
Buckinghamshire, HP9 2PL

T: +44 (0) 1494 673018

Photos courtesy of Stoke Park

Kenneth Pool Wedding Dresses 2010

dolceSPOSA — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:33:28 +0000

Known as a true modern couturier who never fails to impress the bridal world with his sense of glamour and technical expertise. He specializes is in grand silhouettes and opulent embellishment that are extremely elegant yet beautifully wearable.

This season you will love the special emphasis on unique fabrications and couture details. Organza ruffles, sensuous silk jersey, and creamy duchesse satin dominate, whether artfully draped, elaborately beaded, or delicately trimmed with Swarovski crystals.

Kenneth Pool’s sophisticated and striking bridal designs evoke the drama and glamour of past eras while maintaining a thoroughly modern edge.

Here’s some of our favorite Kenneth Pool wedding dresses for 2010. They are all Ultimately Feminine, and epitomises KENNETH POOL’s signature brand of sexy, opulent, unapologetic glamour.

Bridal Shops – Castigliano International Room

154 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1HX

Tel: +44 20 7993 9622

Acclaim Food

dolceSPOSA — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:52:59 +0000

Acclaim Food is another wedding caterer we would like to recommend to all our lovely readers. To start it off, we would like to share with you a helpful wedding tip on How to Choose a Wedding Caterer which was kindly given to us by Scott Milne of Acclaim Food.

“There is so much to consider when choosing your caterer; budget, style of food, do they charge corkage? Once you have agreed the style and cost of catering, make sure you get at least 2 or 3 proposals that appeal to your theme and budget and go with the one that you have most rapport and confidence with. It’s important that your caterer can give you flexibility when it comes to last minute changes in numbers, menu additions, dietary requirements. The less stress for you, the better.”

Acclaim Food

Acclaim Food prides itself on being the caterer of choice for over 150 brides each year. Our friendly and personal approach from enquiry stage to the big day itself takes all the pressure away from our brides leaving them to enjoy their day. Every aspect of the day is covered in our detailed event plan.

With over 15 years experience at many of the top venues in London and the south-east, our aim is to make your day memorable with fantastic food at a budget you can afford. Our tasting service enables you to pick your favourite dishes and discuss your plans in depth.

Wedding Caterers – Acclaim Food

82 Barwell Business Park, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2NY
Tel +44 (0) 20 8397 8999

Email: info@acclaimfood.co.uk

Photos courtesy of Acclaim Food

Caroline Castigliano, Cheshire

dolceSPOSA — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:04:59 +0000

Caroline Castigliano, the UK’s premier designer of luxury bridal gowns and evening wear, today announces the re-launch of her exclusive boutique in the heart of Wilmslow. Heralded as the ‘destination boutique’ for brides to be and Cheshire’s ultra-glamorous residents, the formerly named ‘Per Sempre’ boutique has been fully refurbished and will carry the designer’s extensive collection, with many gowns that until now have been ‘exclusive’ to the Knightsbridge boutique.

The boutique will feature a stunning collection of this season’s most glamourous, must-have bridal, evening and party wear, all bearing the unmistakable signature of designer Caroline Castigliano, who has dressed some of the world’s most stylish women for their weddings and red carpet events. Cheshire’s brides, leading trendsetters and savvy fashion-forward residents can look forward to relishing in the super chic and effortlessly luxurious designs that are beautifully tailored and epitomise the ‘relaxed feminine glamour’ style for which the brand is renowned.

Set to be the most luxurious bridal boutique in Cheshire, it will provide an experience never to be forgotten, offering a stylish and intimate environment where clients can relax and enjoy a glass of Champagne as they view the stunning collections of bespoke, made to measure gowns.

For years, Castigliano has been the designer of choice amongst many of the world’s most glamourous women. Castigliano said today, “I am so excited about the new boutique. So many Cheshire women love to dress up for events so I have created some wonderful pieces to really make a statement in”.

This exclusive boutique becomes the seventh stand-alone destination in the UK featuring the Castigliano brand, which next year celebrates its 20^th birthday!

Bridal Shop – Caroline Castigliano

40 Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5BG

T: + 44 (0)1625 536 262

Caroline Castigliano Summer Sale

dolceSPOSA — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:01:14 +0000

Seasoned Events

dolceSPOSA — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:09:45 +0000

Due to popular demand, we are now slowly compiling a list of reputable wedding caterers for all our readers to see. Not all wedding venues have their own in-house caterer so it is quite common that couples will have to source a wedding caterer they can trust in helping them create mouthwatering food for their special day.

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Seasoned Events. It is one company we look forward to working with in some of our future wedding events.

For many, Seasoned Events is synonymous with inspiring food and events and symbolises stylish, imaginative food, scrupulous attention to detail and professional, charming staff.

The flagship of the award winning Crown Group and one of the UK’s leading independent catering and events companies, Seasoned Events has over 35 years experience in producing fabulous food and memorable events.

Seasoned Events can offer some of the most prestigious, stylish and unique venues in and around London. Whether you are looking for somewhere to hold your Wedding Ceremony, Reception and Wedding Breakfast or just the Drinks Reception, we have a stunning collection of venues for your special day.

Wedding Caterers – Seasoned Events

13 Bishop’s Gate, London EC2N 3BA
Tel +44 (0) 20 7334 3958

Email: lesley.healy(@)seasonedevents.co.uk

Photos courtesy of Seaoned Events

Wedding Speech Etiquette

dolceSPOSA — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:28:38 +0000

The famous wedding speech: the curse of the groom, best man and father of the bride (and also the guests if they are forced to sit through 20 minutes of bad jokes and boring anecdotes).

If you have been called upon to give a wedding speech, fear not: wedding speeches are fun, relaxed affairs that even the world’s worst public speaker can master with a few simple tips.

Best Audience

Always remember with a wedding speech that this is the best audience you are ever likely to get for a speech. They will be in the mood to laugh and get emotional, especially if they’ve already had a few drinks. Just keep them happy and your speech will be remembered fondly.

Here’s a brief guide to the main speeches for the groom, the father of the bride and the best man. Remember that all the speeches should be funny, relaxed, with a few jokes thrown in and a few more sincere moments as well. Never go over 10 minutes, but try to keep it to between five and seven minutes if possible.

The Father of the Bride’s Speech

The father of the bride’s speech is normally the first of the wedding speeches because, as far as tradition goes, he is paying for the wedding.

Firstly, make sure to welcome everyone, especially welcoming the groom’s parents into the family, and say how pleased you are that your daughter has found such a great groom. Thanks is usually expressed to the organisers, caterers and anyone involved in the day.

The speech is then usually focused mainly on the bride, and should include a bit of a joke and a story about the bride’s past, as long as it is not too embarrassing. Jokes can focus around married life, but it is usually also a sincere speech as the father gives his daughter away.

You should then finish by proposing a toast to the bride and groom, and then introducing the groom (unless you have a master of ceremonies to do it for you) for his speech.

The Groom’s Speech

The groom’s speech is the second of the wedding speeches, and he is responsible for thanking all those who have played a part in organising the wedding, especially those who have made a special effort. Traditionally you then thank the bride’s parents for granting you her hand in marriage, but it is now more common to simply congratulate them for raising such a wonderful daughter.

The speech should include some kind words about the bride, and a few stories about how you first met, as well as a few funny anecdotes from the last few months or years of the relationship. It is then the groom’s responsibility to propose a toast to the bridesmaids and to thank the best man for coming. A few words about the best man then follow, leading onto the introduction of the best man’s speech.

Best Man’s Speech

This is the last of the wedding speeches, and it is usually the funniest. It is also focused mainly on the groom. Start by responding on behalf of the bridesmaids, and also thank the groom for choosing you for such a distinguished role.

The speech should contain a lot of jokes and a few funny stories about the groom. A bit of gentle ribbing is good, but try not to go too far and spoil his day. A nice word about the bride always goes down well too.

It is the best man’s responsibility to read out the ‘telegrams’, which are usually cards these days, from people who couldn’t make it. You can then propose another toast to the bride and groom if you wish, but this is not customary.

Finish by wishing everyone an enjoyable meal or day, or direct them to the next activity which could be the cutting of the cake.

Do it Your Way

Wedding speeches involve a number of protocols, but remember that these can all be changed. Find out from the wedding couple what formula the speeches are to take, but they may simply tell you to do what you want. As long as you keep the speech short, funny and sincere you will be well thanked for it.

Photos courtesty of CKP Weddings and David Pullum

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