Wedding Planner Turned Bride - THE dress!!

Finally I have found the one - my wedding dress! To all you brides who were lucky enough to find it in the first shop you went to you well done, I was not one of those brides....

The dress hunt started in February and after a total of 8 dfferent shops and trying on at least 60 different dresses and obviously loads of fun I was losing all hope that I would ever get the feeling that every other bride was telling me about, the feeling where you just know!

Well, yesterday morning at the beautiful Eleganza Sposa on Bath Street, Glasgow with my Mum, I finally found it. I had a good feeling as soon as I walked in (loved the gorgeous corner sofa in the waiting area and there was loads of natural light pouring in from the huge georgian windows). Michelle who served me was just lovely and spent time getting to know what I liked, a few minutes later I was whisked through to the changing area (another gorgeous room) where all the dresses I had described where hanging waiting. It was the first one she put me in and knew it was the one and my Mum's reaction confirmed I was right, I didn't want to take it off! After that no other dress compared - I had finally found it!

Unfortunately I can't give away too many details for obvious reasons but be sure to check back in July next year to see the pictures! :)

Happy hunting for your dress if you haven't found it yet, trust me you will!

Rebecca xx

Scottish Wedding Directory - New Issue!

The new issue of the Scottish Wedding Directory arrived at the RBWD offices today! I just love seeing what new things the wonderful wedding suppliers of Scotland have to offer. Here are a few of my personal favourites...

Caroline Castigliano

I just love the glamour of one of Caroline's new creations (pictured below) how fitting that it is called Paris!



It is only enhanced by the wonderful silk duchess satin used to create it! See more of her deisgns at www.carolinecastigliano.co.uk

HoneyMoney

If like me you're struggling for what to do about a wedding gift list, then it might be worth you having a wee look at www.honeymoney.co.uk

HoneyMoney allows guests to purchase parts of your honeymoon in affordable amounts, whether is champagne by the pool in Mauritius or Italian cooking classes in Venice even flights and hotels; you can pick what you would like and then your guests can view your wish list and contribute towards whatever you have chosen. It is a far more personal way of guests giving money because they see where their money is going.

Juicy Stationery

Juicy Stationery have a fabulous collection of wedding stationery on offer with a wonderfuly twist in their unique designs. Whether it's from their pre-designed collection or you want them to create something entirely bespoke have a look at their website: www.juicystationery.co.uk for ideas. They are also offering some fab discounts!


I'll be sure to share any more great finds when I get the chance to read through SWD in more detail.

Have fun reading, and if you haven't got your copy yet order it online at: www.scottishweddingdirectory.co.uk

xx

image courtesy of carolinecastigliano.co.uk

Fabulous Gifts - Jo Malone

If you're trying to find an alternative thank you gift for someone, perhaps your mum or bridesmaid, or want something that oozes luxury for your favours then look no further than Jo Malone - the queen of heavenly scents!



For favours we adore the travel candles...



But then it really is just so hard to choose! I'm sure any guest would be thrilled to sit down at their place to find this in front of them...



Browse their wonderful products online at www.jomalone.co.uk or visit one of their stores in Edinburgh, Glasgow and now Aberdeen.

Happy spending!

xx

images courtesy of Jo Malone

Tea Party

As many of you will know, my favourite "meal" of the day is afternoon tea, there is something entirely decadent about eating gorgeously decorated cakes and sipping tea from a china tea cup, especially when sharing it with fab friends! Which is exactly what I spent the majority of Saturday afternoon doing in my newly decorated dining room...



..and I just couldn't resist colour coordinating it all, down to the icing on my freshly made cupcakes. It all started when I found the most beautiful striped wrapping paper by Caroline Gardner from John Lewis and then teamed it with coordinating ribbon and paper from Hobbycraft...





I spent most of the morning baking, much to the pleasure of my fiance who would magically appear to lick the bowl!

We indulged in red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting (my favourite)...





rocky roads...



vanilla cupcakes...



and a couple of treats courtesy of M&S...





and the final touch was some fresh white tulips...



everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we were all suitably stuffed by the end of it!

Rebecca xx

Working with colours: Breakfast at Tiffanys

On one of my many visits to the wedding section of Martha Stewart's website (if you haven't been already I would strongly recommend it!) I discovered some fab images of a New York wedding themed entirely around Tiffanys...



I love the subtle twist (tiffany blue alone is just too easy!) Through adding coral and blush pinks it lifts the tiffany blue and adds more depth to the colour scheme...



It's one of my favourite ways to work with colours, pick your favourite colour and either team it with different shades of an opposite colour or different shades of the same colour, the effect is always beautiful!

Happy colouring!

Rebecca xx

images from www.marthastewart.com

Advice Needed?

Is there something to do with your wedding that you need advice on? Do you have a problem and need help fixing it? Have you got a theme in mind but need some more ideas on it?

I'm starting a new line of posts where I help to answer your questions and provide helpful tips and hints for your big day. All you have to do is ask......

Just e-mail me with whatever it is you need help with, put "Blog Help" in the subject box and send it to rebecca@rbweddingdesign.co.uk

Rebecca xx

Wedding Planner Turned Bride - Venue Hunt Over!

After compiling my own venue wish list at last Paul and I have found a venue that ticks all the boxes! With me being a wedding planner it was a very difficult decision as I wanted somewhere that I was able to decorate and set up myself, obviously I can't do this on the morning of the wedding so needed somewhere that I could have guaranteed access to the day before. With that we started looking at venues that we could hire for a few days, which instantly ruled out quite a few places. We then wanted somewhere that was local to us and that architecturally was beautiful before we even start decorating it and so we decided on...The Inglis Memorial Hall in the picturesque village of Edzell.



The main hall inside has the most beautiful stained glass windows, as does the smaller hall next to it.



It really is like it has been built for the sole purpose of weddings as the layout couldn't be more perfect. It also has lovely gardens where hopefully we will be able to sip champagne if the weather is nice enough.

Getting very excited!!!

Rebecca xx

Wedding Planner turned Bride: Engagement Party

Well I am thoroughly enjoying being engaged, I still keep staring goo goo eyed at my ring, I guess I'll get used to it.

Paul and I had an engagement party at the end of January, we wanted a relatively low key affair and so decided to have a champagne afternoon tea (my favourite) at our house, just for immediate family and close friends. Although we didn't opt for an extravagant party I still wanted it to be special and not just a standard house party so set about turning our dining room into a pretty tea room...



With all the horrible winter weather we've been having I thought it would be nice to bring some Spring into every one's lives hence the choice of white tulips, hyacinths and guelder roses which I got from my local florist, Flowers by Puppetden. I bought vases from Marks & Spencer and ribbon from Hobbycraft and created a few simple displays...



We had hired lime washed chivari chairs and 88 Events beautiful Natural collection linen with cream taffeta seat ties...



We served finger sandwiches and other savoury nibbles with champagne and tea and of course a selection of cakes and tray bakes including red velvet cupcakes, my Grandma's amazing meringues and my Mum's heavenly scones. Everyone loved it and I was so sad to have to take it all apart the day after.

Next post in the Wedding Planner turned Bride will be all about our venue hunt.

Rebecca xx

Cakes by Fiona Barnett

When we exhibit at wedding shows, one of the highlights is meeting suppliers and seeing what new things everyone has come up with.

One of our favourite things was Fiona Barnett's lace cake, the detailing was exquisite and must have taken so long to do! By the way the last name is a complete coincidence, we aren't related.



Have a look on her website: www.cakesbyfiona.co.uk
Her cakes are all fresly made from scratch (no sign of any cake mixes here!) which we think is especially important in providing the highest quality service as obviously it is important that the cake looks gorgeous but it is just as importnat for it to taste yummy and I can assure you Fiona's chocolate cake is to die for!

Rebecca xx

Your Wedding Exhibition

Well January was a brilliant month for Rebecca Barnett Wedding Design, firstly because of the Your Wedding Exhibition. We always have lots of fun exhibiting and love meeting fellow wedding suppliers and of course all you lovely brides!

This year I designed the stand around one of my favourite colour schemes - Black and White. We then added fabulous taupe and black wallpaper and beautiful fresh flowers.



I decided to do a twist in the stand by having two tables both with the same colour schemes but showing different ways of putting it together. The first table took a more contemporary take but still remaining true to the RBWD style...



The second table was more timeless and elegant with just subtle hints of black and mirrored accessories...



The icing on the cake was definitely when we won runner up best stand, we received a framed certificate and a lovely bottle of bubbly! Congratulations to the other runners up Perfect Bridal Rooms and Nicky Walker Flowers and also Congratulations to the winning stand Avorio Bridal, the dresses were absolutely gorgeous!

Already looking forward to next year!

Rebecca xx

Your Wedding Exhibition - Aberdeen

I can't believe it's been a year since the last Your Wedding Exhibition at the AECC, time really does fly!

Hopefully we will see all you blushing brides there this weekend:

Your Wedding Exhibition
@ AECC Aberdeen
16th & 17th January
10am till 5pm
Find us at stand Cc3 in the Crombie Hall.
www.yweltd.com

Come and visit us, share your ideas and thoughts or just have a wee nosey at our latest stand design, we're going Jo Malone chic this time!

Rebecca xx

Wedding Planner turned Bride

Happy New Year to everyone, it has certainly been a hectic one over the last month and a half but lots of fun!

To those of you who don't know I have recently become engaged, Paul proposed at the wonderful Waldorf Astoria in New York while we were on holiday there at the beginning of December.

I am so excited and now begin the task of planning my own wedding, a daunting task given the expectations that have been placed apon me because of my job!

Anyway, I hope to keep you updated over the coming months on my progress in my new line of posts "Wedding Planner Turned Bride"

Rebecca xx