Brides the Show - This Weekend

Super-glam, and a great day out, if you're free this weekend, you won't want to miss Brides the Show. Taking place in London's Battersea Park, it's a brilliant opportunity to immerse yourself in all things bridal - play with make-up looks, try on gorgeous wedding gowns and create your own wedding day details in our Imagination Room. There's live demonstrations, daily catwalk shows, and tonnes of brilliant vendors, all packed with wedding ideas and inspiration. I'm a huge fan of wedding fairs - they're best enjoyed with a couple of girlfriends and/or your mum. Just make sure you enjoy a cream tea {plus a glass of fizz} half-way through the day, to keep you sugar-levels up! Tickets are available on the door, and it runs until Sunday afternoon at 6pm

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The French Wedding Show

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to partner up with The French Wedding Show. Organised by the lovely Anne-Laure from Et Voila Weddings, the show is designed to help couples planning their wedding in France, to meet fantastic French suppliers who speak English. Add in a heady dollop of wedding inspiration, lots of delicious cake, lovely people and buckets of French wedding venue ideas, and you've got The French Wedding Show in a nutshell. As I got married in Provence, I have real life experience of what it's like to plan a wedding in France, so Virginie invited to me along to offer advice and ideas. I had the MOST fantastic day, meeting tonnes of excited brides and grooms, and sharing my enthusiasm for destination weddings. One couple are even getting married in the same venue as me!! All the vendors were hand-picked, and top quality, and lovely people to boot. I can't wait till next year's show, but in the meantime, enjoy these stunning pictures of the day by Chloé from Caught the Light, who just happens to have been my wonderful wedding photographer! Click for more details of wedding fairs.

Brides who booked early received a very exciting goodie bag!

The French Wedding Magazine! Read your copy online here - it includes an article on How to Theme Your Wedding by me!

The stunning 20th Century Theatre venue in Notting Hill....which would also make a brilliant wedding venue.

Stunning dresses by The Mews, who stock a dreamy range of French designers, including my favourite, Delphine Manivet.

I love the vintage crate filled with baby's breath!

Beautiful wedding flowers by Jenny Moss, an English florist who lives in France (Tel: 0556 618 202)

Wedding stationery by Gemma Milly

Me & my fish-bowl of Haribo Heart Throbs wedding favours, DIY'd out of glassine bags bought from eBay.

I DIY'd the giant purple balloon decorations, using a lot of helium, and silver streamers, all bought from eBay. The hardest bit was tying the knot in the balloons!

Talking to brides and grooms!

Anne-Laure from Et Voila Weddings offering advice to brides and grooms.

Just a few of the fabulous vendors.....
♥ Jenny Moss - Stunning English wedding florist who lives in France (Tel: 0556 618 202)
♥ Gemma Milly - Beautiful wedding stationery
♥ The Mews - English stockist of French designer wedding dresses
♥ The Cake - Stunning wedding cakes in the South West of France
♥ Toni Lazzaro -A brilliant make up artist in Paris
♥ Ariane Douguet -A fantastic soprano singer
♥ Discotecnik - DJ, DJ live and bands in the South East
♥ Jazz Around Midnight - Jazz band in Paris and all over France
♥ Studio 80 - Videographers in Paris and all over France
♥ Virginie'e - A fantastic make up artist in the South West of France
♥ Carre Vert - French wedding florist

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Spring 2014 Wedding Fairs

Spring is wedding fair season! All the best wedding suppliers are getting booked up for 2014's summer weddings, and newly-engaged brides are hunting far and wide for wedding inspiration. Listed below are the details of the big events, although there will be local fairs unique to your area - just search online. Plus it's always worth trying the Brides Event Diary.

♥ First up is the Chosen Boutique Wedding Fair. We've got one taking place at The Paintworks Event Space in Bristol, on Sunday 26th January, and another in London at the Islington Assembly Hall on Sunday 27th April. Chosen showcases unique, bespoke and vintage British Heritage design for your big day. Exhibitors range from individual hand-makers to bespoke design houses, so you can be sure to find something original to add to your big day.

♥  The National Wedding Show is one of the largest fairs of all. Taking place from 21st-23rd February in London, and 28th Feb-2nd March in Birmingham, it's HUGE! With more than 250 exhibitors of exquisite wedding gowns and accessories, stunning cakes, bespoke stationery, and fabulous wedding photographers, it's a veritable treasure trove of wedding ideas. Click here to buy tickets.



♥ Brides living in London are in luck! A Most Curious Wedding Fair is on their doorstep. Brides looking for innovative and quirky ideas should note the 4th-5th April in their diary, and head down to trendy Hackney Downs Studio. A Most Curious has taken a solemn vow to bring brides and grooms the very latest fashions, with the foresight to be changeable, en vogue and never tired or standing still. If it's beautiful, fresh, fun and cool or just about to be cool, we will incorporate it into our wedding fair so it can, in turn, can be incorporated into your big day. Tickets are £5 for the 5th, and £10 for the glamorous press night!.

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The French Wedding Show & Before the Big Day

Only two weeks to go to my big day! Nope, I'm not getting married again, but this is nearly as exciting! I'm going to be the guest blogger as The French Wedding Show on 9th November. This fab wedding fair is taking place in Notting Hill in London, at the 20th Century Theatre, and it's sure to be FABULOUS. If you've considered getting married in France for more than a second, then you should definitely come down and get some advice from me, and Anne-Laure from Et Voila Weddings {wedding planner extraordinaire}. And then, once you've finished chatting with us, you can check out some of the best wedding suppliers France has to offer. Buy your tickets here, before they all sell out!

Just a few of the fabulous vendors.....
♥ The Cake - Stunning wedding cakes in the South West of France
♥ Toni Lazzaro -A brilliant make up artist in Paris
♥ Ariane Douguet -A fantastic soprano singer
♥ Discotecnik - DJ, DJ live and bands in the South East
♥ Jazz Around Midnight - Jazz band in Paris and all over France
♥ Studio 80 - Videographers in Paris and all over France
♥ Virginie'e - A fantastic make up artist in the South West of France

There will also be floral designers, a live painter, wedding photographers, marquee suppliers, wedding dress designers and a Venues Bar where couples can flick through Et Voila recommended venues! 

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A Most Curious Wedding Fair

Brides living near London and Norwich are in luck! A Most Curious Wedding Fair is on their doorstep. Now on their sixth fair, A Most Curious has taken a solemn vow to bring brides and grooms the very latest fashions, with the foresight to be changeable, en vogue and never tired or standing still. If it’s beautiful, fresh, fun and cool {or just about to be cool}, you can find it at A Most Curious Wedding Fair. Brides looking for innovative and quirky ideas should note the 20th-21st April in their diary and prepare for a trip to super-cool East London {where I live!}. Tickets are £4 on the door in London.

♥ Want to see wedding theme ideas? ♥ Or how about more quirky wedding ideas? ♥

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The Zoe Lem Vintage Wedding Fair - This Weekend!

It's looking like a sunny weekend in London, so why not celebrate the start of spring with a good dose of wedding inspiration care of the Zoe Lem's Vintage Wedding Fair this Sunday, 14th April. Taking place at The Bloomsbury Ballroom, Zoe and her team are bringing together a glamorous collection of fabulous vendors. With workshops to help you realise your vintage wedding dreams, advice on body shape, deportment, posing for photographers, dancing 1940s-style and lots more, it sounds like a fabulous day out with your bridesmaids. Buy your tickets - starting at £10, they're £25 for a VIP pass, for a private cabaret and fashion show.

♥ Want to see wedding videos? ♥ Or how about more vintage wedding ideas? ♥

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'Tis The Season: October Wedding Fairs

October is wedding fair season! All the best wedding suppliers are getting booked up for 2013's weddings, and brides are hunting far and wide for wedding inspiration. Wedding fairs are a fantastic way for you to bond with your mum and bridesmaids, so why not make a day of it, and enjoy a champagne cream tea as well? Ahead of my wedding I went to at least three wedding fairs, and they were fabulous! The fashion shows are particularly inspirational.

♥ First up for London brides is A Curious Wedding Fair, taking place this weekend on 6th October at York Hall in East London. Described as the wedding event for the not-so-blushing bride, and packed with fashion-forward and trend aware suppliers, tickets are only £4 on the door. Brides living further north will love the Norwich Curious Wedding Fair on 21st October at St Andrew's Hall.

♥ Brides preparing for their big day won't want to miss the National Wedding Show in Birmingham. Taking place this weekend {5-7th October} at Birmingham's NEC, organisers bring together hundreds of fabulous wedding suppliers under one roof. Book your tickets here. Combining over 250 handpicked exhibitors and the UK’s largest collection of wedding dresses under one roof, the show offers everything you could need for your big day. From stunning cakes to show stopping flowers and beautiful venues to bespoke dresses there is something for every bride and every budget.

♥ If you're a bride with luxury tastes, you're guaranteed to love the Designer Wedding Show. With more than 140 exhibitors of exquisite wedding gowns and accessories, stunning cakes, bespoke stationery, and fabulous wedding photographers, it's a veritable treasure trove of wedding ideas. Click here to buy tickets.

 ♥ Vintage brides will love all the treasure trove of wedding inspiration that is the London Vintage Wedding Fair in Clerkenwell, London on 28th October. With over 50 exhibitors, fashion shows, vintage DJ's, singers, tea rooms and copious quantities of champagne, you'll also love the wedding workshops. Learn about the history of vintage, how to dress for your body shape {with Zoe Lem}, the best way to cater for your wedding, and how to plan your wedding.

♥ Want more wedding theme ideas? ♥ Or how about more real weddings? ♥

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Before the Big Day at The In Wedding Show

There's huge excitement over here at the Before the Big Day studio, because the official photographs from The In Wedding Show have arrived! Taken by the lovely Summer {such a pretty name} from Neverland Photography, they have a dreamy, whimsical style, which perfectly matches the mood we tried to create with the Before the Big Day wedding stand. With six wedding themes to choose from, brides loved our pastel Pom Pom Factory pom-poms, Haribo heart wedding favours, Anges de Sucre macaroon tower and the vintage props {apple carts, haberdashery ladder and vintage typewriter guestbook}. I'll have more on how to create each of the wedding themes soon!

♥ Want more DIY wedding ideas? ♥ Or how about vintage wedding ideas? ♥

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Wedding Fairs & Events This Weekend

What are you doing this weekend? A little bit of wedding prep? If you're stuck for ideas, then I recommend heading out to a wedding fair. There's usually one happening every weekend, and this Sunday is a particularly exciting day, as I'm going to be the in-house blogger for The In Wedding Show. I'll have a fabulous inspirational stand with tonnes of theme ideas, and I'll also be hosting several special wedding inspiration sessions for lucky brides and grooms. Taking place at the beautiful Alexandra Palace, The In Wedding Show will bring together the UK's finest wedding professionals all under one roof. You can buy tickets for £5 on the door. If you're not in London, don't worry, I'll be featuring all my wedding show details on the blog over the next few days.

Meanwhile, if you're still looking for the perfect wedding dress and wedding shoes for your big day, don't miss the exclusive Belle & Bunty and Emmy Shoes Designer Day at Belle & Bunty's London boutique TODAY {21st April 2012}. They've joined forces with Emmy to offer brides the opportunity to pick their perfect Belle & Bunty Wedding Dress and then accessorise to the max with Emmy’s beautiful shoes, belts and headpieces to get your total bridal look all in one go! There will be fizz and treats on the day {with special offers for those decisive brides!} Appointments are limited so book yours now – call 020 7267 3322

♥ Want more wedding details ideas? ♥ Or how about wedding theme ideas? ♥

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Winners! Luxury Wedding Show London

Congratulations to the winners of the competition to win tickets to The Luxury Wedding Show London. Liz, Mari, Jenny, Paul & Grace and Kushla, you are all lucky winners of a pair of tickets worth £100! The Luxury Wedding Show London covers every aspect of planning your big day, from designer gowns and accessories through to top venues, honeymoon destinations, florists and photographers. The show is this weekend {22nd-23rd October} at the Saatchi Gallery, click here for a special offer of 2 tickets for the price of one {saving you £50}.

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Win VIP Tickets to the National Wedding Show

It's treat time for readers of Before the Big Day! The lovely people over at the National Wedding Show have given your favourite wedding blogger two pairs of tickets to give away for the London and Birmingham National Wedding Shows. All you need to do is leave a comment below, or send me one via Twitter {tag it @beforethebigday} and I'll enter you into the competition. Make sure you leave your email address and say whether you want tickets to London or Birmingham or either. The London show runs from 30th Sept - 2nd Oct, and the Birmingham one is 7th-9th October. I've got a pair of VIP tickets for each {normally £35 each}, and a pair of normal tickets for each. VIP tickets get you a free glass of bubbly, access to the VIP lounge and a good bag packed full of treats. Wedding fairs are a great way to bond with your mum or bridesmaids, so be sure to take them along for a day of fab wedding inspiration. I'll draw the winner on Monday 26th September.

{Product Credits} Dresses by Sassi Holford via Ellie Sanderson

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All the Autumn Wedding Fairs

Stuck for ideas? Never fear, the Wedding Fair is here! Targeted at brides and grooms who are planning their weddings, they're a great way to spot all the latest trends for 2012. And the best news? There's usually one happening every weekend! Listed below are the details of the big events, although there will be local fairs unique to your area - just search online.

{Product Credit} Rachel Simpson Shoes

♥  The National Wedding Show will once again be returning to London's Earls Court and Birmingham's NEC this Autumn, bringing with it over 300 exhibitors featuring everything from confetti to cakes, dresses to DJs and everything in between. The show runs from 30th September - 2nd October in London, and from 7th-9th October in Birmingham.

♥ For brides with a bigger budget, or those looking for luxe inspiration, don't miss the Luxury Wedding Show London at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea from the 22-23rd of October 2011. It will play host to the crème de la crème of wedding experts, with bridal designers including Temperley and Browns Brides, and premium wedding planner Mark Niemerko is setting up a consultation area offering one-to-one appointments {woohoo!}.

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Upcoming Wedding Fairs

If you're looking for fresh and fun wedding ideas to make your big day stand out from the crowd, then you're not going to want to miss the up-coming Spring/Summer Wedding Fairs. They're always chock-a-block with the latest fashions and trends in everything from dresses to stationery, and everything in-between. I'm particularly excited about the The Wedding Sanctuary, which I'll be attending on Sunday 20th March. See more details below, but if you can't attend follow my Twitter feed here, and prepare yourself for an onslaught of wedding inspiration.

♥ If you're a London bride looking for a venue and vendor ideas, don't miss The Wedding Sanctuary on 20th March. It's an innovative wedding show designed to offer top design inspiration, personal style advice and the best one-on-one planning support available. Top names in the industry such as Julia Boggio Photography, Sassi Holford, Zoe Clark Cakes and Emmy Shoes will be paired with the fabulous wedding planners who make up the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners to offer top tips and the opportunity to ask specific questions regarding every element of your wedding day.

Even the grooms will be catered for, thanks to the wedding bloggers from Staggered who will be on hand to help with suits, stag dos and speeches. The Alliance will also be offering a range of talks addressing the trickier issues when planning your wedding like how to set and stick to a budget, and how to get the best from your suppliers. You will also be able to have a personal tour of the sumptuous Somerset House and enjoy the splendid views and facilities on offer. Don't miss it!

Tickets only cost £10 for one or £15 for two, so it's a real bargain - click here for tickets

 ♥ Meanwhile just minutes away, Wimbledon bridal boutique Luella's Boudoir is hosting a Wedding Fair at One Marylebone on the 20th and 21st March.

They've teamed up with Cosmo Bride, plus experts from Bespoke Events London, Hayford & Rhodes, Rhubarb Food Design and the Little Venice Cake Company to provide all-round wonderful wedding inspiration! Add in some seriously gorgeous gowns thanks to designers like Charlotte Casedejus, Lisa Redman, Jaqueline Byrne, Caroline Atelier and Aussie designer Johanna Johnson {my favourite!}, and you've got a match made in heaven.

Yarwood White will also be showcasing their latest bridal hair accessories and jewellery. And there'll be stunning engagement rings on display, including unique oval cut diamonds.

Tickets cost just £12 each (or take along your mum or a friend and get two for the special price of £18) with £2.00 per ticket going towards The Eve Appeal. Click for more information.

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Wedding Frenzy

Wow, what a day!  I've just returned from an EPIC five hours at the National Wedding Fair.  Two huge thumbs-up to the stand-holders there, I've never seen so much wedding passion under one roof. Loved-loved-loved the catwalk show and inspiration session - just 2 two words of advice, go hungry (tonnes of tasty wedding samples, mmmmm), and wear flat shoes - Earls Court 2 is enormous!  I'm bursting with ideas, so stay tuned for more Before the Big Day inspiration coming soon.  And check out all the booty I lugged home!