Tuesday 31 July 2012

Simply Networking! We support the Bride's Up North Tweet Up's for second year running....



The Brides Up North Tweet Ups are networking parties especially for wedding industry professionals organised by Julia Braime creator of Top UK Wedding Blog Bride's Up North and supported by Wedding Ideas Magazine (If you are a bride-to-be you can also check out their packed calendar of events for you by clicking here).

For the second year Simply Bows and Chair Covers were delighted to not only attend these great events but support them by dressing them with our own fabulous style! 


Please find photographs below taken by the following wonderful photographers....

North East www.mandycharlton.com
Yorkshire www.indiahobsonweddings.co.uk
North West www.martinhambleton.com

The North East Tweet Up took place at As You Like it in Jesmond, a quirky venue that just needed a touch of flair to acentuate it's fabulous wooden chairs, tables and beams...


Simply Bows and Chair Covers MD Sarah with Sales Director at Close House, Elain and Wedding Flowers for You Director Claire.




The Yorkshire Tweet up took place at The Mansion, Leeds. The Mansion is the perfect romantic venue so we tried to reflect this with our romantic, wistful decor....





The North West event took place at the gorgeous Belle Époque in the beautiful town of Knutsford, a unique venue that we added a touch of oriental opulence to....





 



Thursday 26 July 2012

Simply Table Plans... help is at hand!

We often have brides and grooms ask us for our advice for recommendations of suppliers and for guidance on certain subjects and we are only too happy to help. One of the frequently asked questions as pressure mounts toward the big day seems to be about family politics and who should sit where, how do you work out who sits next to who, how do you do it without getting totally stressed out etc. We recently came across Top Table Planner via one of our brides and thought you may be interested in finding out a little bit more about this clever company.....


What is company name?
We are called TopTablePlanner.

What is your line of business?
We offer an online seating planning tool that helps to take the stress and headache out of arranging your wedding reception seating plan.

Instead of having to mess around with scraps of paper (that easily get blown around, moved by the cat or lost altogether) you simply drag your guests and tables around the screen until you’ve created the perfect plan.

If you want to make changes, it just takes a moment to load your plan and edit it, and because it’s web-based, you can make changes from home, work (just don’t tell your boss) or even on the train!



How and why the company begin?
Back in 2006, we were planning our own wedding and quickly realised how hard arranging the seating can be. Being from a technical background, I figured there must be a simpler solution to this and TopTablePlanner was born!

Are you married? If so tell us a little about your wedding….
Yes! Miranda and I were married at Windsor Guildhall (the same place that Prince Charles and Camilla and Elton John and David Furnish also got married at) in November 2006. Our winter wonderland themed reception was held at a restaurant in nearby Dorney – we even had a snow machine! :o) 




  What is in store for you in 2012/13
As always, we’ll be adding new features to the software and making it even easier to use than it already is.

We’ve already released a major update this year to make the software compatible with touchscreen devices such as the iPad and iPhone. To our knowledge we’re the only seating planning tool that lets you edit your plans on such a range of devices!



Tell us something super interesting about you or your business that we wouldn’t already know…?
TopTablePlanner has been used to plan the seating at a few celebrity weddings, and we’ve even seen Royalty on some guest lists!

Where are you based and where can you supply?
We’re based in Leeds, but the software can be used anywhere in the world! Since our launch in 2007, we’ve helped plan the seating at events in over 70 countries.

For more info on TopTablePlanner visit their website on www.toptableplanner.com 


Friday 20 July 2012

Simply Unique: Cheese Wedding Cakes!



What is company name?
Northumberland Cheese Company

What is your line of business?
Artisan cheese makers


How and why the company begin?
Since 1984 Mark Robertson has been making farmhouse cheeses in the heart of Northumberland. The Northumberland Cheese story began in the Rede Valley, where Mark had a small flock of sheep from which he produced a ewe’s milk cheese; Redesdale. It was such a success with the locals that our range expanded to include fine cow’s and goat’s milk cheeses too, and the accolades began to pour in.
In 1996 we moved to a 19th Century granary on the Blagdon Estate, South Northumberland. Here we have the capabilities to marry traditional cheese making craftsmanship with modern best practices. Our knowledge and expertise in the cheese industry has led to a full range of 16 artisan cheeses including our newest innovation; Blagdon Blue.
We have been providing brides with alternative and bespoke cheese wedding towers since about 2010 when they first came in to fashion. We love this diversification as it is a great way to showcase our handcrafted cheese and they look great garnished with fruit and flowers.


Are you married? If so tell us a little about your wedding….
No but I’m sure there will be cheese everywhere when I do!

Why do brides come to you?
We offer such a unique product with a really friendly service. When brides first speak to us on the phone or email we invite them to book a wedding cake consultation. This is a chance to come out to the farm and see the cheese being made whilst sitting and having a coffee upstairs. We give you a chance to try all of our cheeses and advise on good combinations (cheese to suit all palates at the wedding party). The look on customer’s faces when we bring out an 8kg cheese is priceless; it really is a big wheel of cheese!

What is your favourite design and why?
It looks really good when you alternate between cellar ripened cheese and the flavoured cow’s cheese. E.g. a big Nettle cheese at the bottom so you can see the flecks of herb, then a Brinkburn goat’s cheese with its mouldy rustic surface, then a chilli with flecks of vibrant red and a truckle of Blagdon Blue on the top to complete the tower with a blue mould. It’s not just about having your favourite cheese; it has to look good too!

We have seen some great designs for the finished cheese cake. As we supply the cheese undressed it is up to the brides to get creative with how they decorate. Fresh fruit, flowers and ribbons all look really good. And don’t forget the personalised sugar mice on the top.

What is the most popular item you supply and why?
Our best-selling cheese is Nettle. It is a really creamy cow’s milk cheese blended with dried stinging Nettles. It is such an easy crowd pleaser most brides have a nettle cheese at some point in the tower!

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Our main inspiration comes from our customers to be honest. We have some really unusual requests before that we would never think of ourselves but are always willing to be flexible and give anything a go. My favourites include making cheese in a heart shaped mould for one customer and also cellar ripening a Nettle cheese.
What is in store for you in 2012/13
Hopefully continue providing brides with bespoke cheese wedding cakes!

Who would be your dream client, and what sort of design would you envisage for them?
Wallace and Wendolene (of of Wallace and Gromit!)

What would be your top tips for brides when searching for a supplier in your industry?
I know we are biased but, it is much better to buy your cheese directly from the artisan producers or a local cheesemonger. Some supermarkets have started selling cheese cakes that are so generic; you don’t get any choice with sizes or cheese and they generally taste quite bland. When you come in to see us you can taste our range and chose the sizes. We make all of the cheese to your personal specification so it is truly unique.

Tell us something super interesting about you or your business that we wouldn’t already know…?
Did you know that in 2011 we made 40.8 tons of Northumberland Cheeses (the equivalent of about 7 elephants!) Pretty impressive as it is all handmade by our 2 cheesemakers.

Where are you based and where can you supply?
We are on the Blagdon Estate, South Northumberland (just 10miles North of Newcastle). We can supply the whole of main land UK and can also deliver your cheese directly to the hotel or wedding venue. www.northumberlandcheese.co.uk for more info!

How can I get in touch to discuss my requirements or place an order?
Please call if you would like to book a wedding consultancy to try our farmhouse cheese and discuss your wedding requirements. 01670 789 798 extension 1- ask for Heather or email heather@northumberland-cheese.co.uk. If you are too far away to pop in for a coffee please call for a phone consultation and we will sort something out for you.


Why do you like to work with Simply Bows and Chair Covers?
They cover a great range of wedding products and unique accessories that we love to see and read about!

Monday 16 July 2012

Simply Snap Happy! Supplier Spotlight on Artemis Photography, Aberdeen


What is company name?
Artemis Imagery

What is your line of business?
Professional Photographer

How and why the company begin?
Artemis evolved from a lot of hard work and experience in the creative industry. From my first taste of volunteering as a photographer’s assistant in a studio in Fife one summer whilst I was on summer break from university. Then I was offered a position as a photographer for a studio in Aberdeen where I worked for a several years. After graduating from Grays school of Art. This along with my Honours degree developed me into the person I am today. Giving me the confidence to start up my own photography business.
 Are you married?
Yes I am to my handsome hubby we got married almost three months ago.

 Why do brides come to you? 
I think my brides come to me because of my enthusiastic manner and fun personality. I understand how exciting their wedding day is to them and endeavour to capture the natural flow of their day whilst gently guiding them in the best light for their photographs which can last a life time.
What is your favourite design and why?
To be honest I do not have a favourite design I simply love to capture all the little details that the bride and groom put together in order to create their vision for the wedding.

What is the most popular item you supply and why?
I supply a lovely range of framed art work to my clients. The top seller of my product range has to be my digital images as they enable clients to share the images with their family and friends in the modern digital age.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from the actual people and animals I photograph. Since I was a little girl I have always loved to draw and interoperate their faces and learn about what angle suites their face best. When I discovered the excitement and fast results of photography I knew I had found my path.

What is in store for you in 2013
More wedding photography and I have been enjoying photographing equestrian and looking forward to photographing a lot more chubby little babies.

Who would be your dream client, and what sort of design would you envisage for them?
I would love to photograph Gwen Stephanie she carries so much fun, colour and glamour in her style. I imagine she would have a simple classic design such as candy pink or hot red bows on the back of her chairs.
What would be your top tips for brides when searching for a supplier in your industry?
I always recommend that they meet their suppliers as at the end of the day these are the people/ businesses that you are selecting to help piece together your perfect day and it is worth time researching and selecting.

Where are you based and where can you supply?
I am based in Aberdeenshire but am happy to travel to capture priceless memories for my clients.
How can brides get in touch to discuss my requirements or place an order?
Emails are good as I am often out and about on appointments toni@artemisimagery.com or calls are often fun too 07789332122

Why do you like to work with Simply Bows and Chair Covers?
Claire quite simply is just a delight to work with she is super efficient and approachable along with tying the best bows in town :)

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Simply Stunning: Wedding Inspiration

Not your average Fairytale wedding photoshoot but  Joanne who heads up our Lancashire Office wanted to arrange something a little different that would show off the stunning black and champagne flock organza sashes and chair veils she had recently made.  Having met Laura from Perfect Choice Planning at one of the Brides Up North Tweet Ups Joanne knew that Laura knew what would be involved to turn her vision into reality......



Here Joanne tells us more.....

There were several suppliers that I already knew that I wanted to be involved, and Laura suggested other local fabulous suppliers that she knew would fit the bill.  We searched tirelessly for a venue that would suit.  When we came accross Browsholme Hall, in Clitheroe, Lancashire we knew it was perfect.  From the wandering Lancashire countryside, to the purpose built Tithe Barn and the grand house, it had everything we were looking for and Rebecca, from Browsholme Hall was very accomodating.  



On the day of the photoshoot, I couldn't have asked for a better team to work with.  Alex from Alex Davies Photography captured the feel of the shoot perfectly, and worked tirelessly to produce perfect shots. 



Beth from Cakes by Beth had created heart shaped cake pops, cookies, mini blackforest gateauxs and a huge black birdcage cake.  




Matt from Red Floral Architecture provided us with the crystal bouquets and also all the flower arrangements that complimented the look I was after perfectly. 




Deborah from Grafted & Crafted had packed us lots of little goodies, from an unusual black feather and twig table plan, to black lace name cards, menu cards and table numbers.  




The make up and hair was all done by Nita from Silk Hair and Make-Up who 'got' the feel behind the shoot instantly and created many different styles for Katie using black hair extensions.  The hair peices were provided by Laura from Laurel Weddings who is normally known for her stunning floral arrangements, but I think you'll agree her jewelery is also just as stunning.  




All the exquisite dresses and suits were provided by Alison from Brides Gallery in Eccleston, Chorley who very kindly stepped in last minute when we were let down and let us choose from the vast amount they had in store- and boy did we have some fun!  




Lastly, I have to say a huge thanks to one of my best friends Katie and her boyfriend Sam, who (reluctantly on Sam's behalf!) did a magnificent job of being are models for the day.  Despite the rain and the cold, they never moaned once and pulled the whole shoot together for us.  THANK YOU!

A few more gorgeous shots....

 






Credits:
·  Organ­iser & Styl­ist: Per­fect Choice Plan­ning www.perfectchoiceplanning.com
·  Chairs & Table Cov­ers: Sim­ply Bows & Chair Cov­ers Lan­cashire http://www.simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk/
·  Pho­tog­ra­pher: Alex Davies Pho­tog­ra­phy http://www.alexdphotography.co.uk/
·  Venue: Brow­sholme Hall http://www.browsholme.com/
·  Suits & Dresses: Brides Gallery, Eccle­ston http://www.brides-gallery.co.uk/Home.html
·  Cakes & Sweet Treats: Cakes By Beth http://www.cakesbybeth.co.uk/
·  Flow­ers, Bou­quets & But­ton­holes: Red Flo­ral Archi­tec­ture http://www.redfloral.co.uk/
·  Hair & Make Up: Silk Make Up http://silk-makeup.com/
·  Hair Pieces & Acces­sories: Lau­rel Wed­dings http://www.laurelweddings.com/
·  Sta­tionery: Grafted & Crafted http://www.graftedandcrafted.co.uk/