Cupcake Camp Bournemouth 2011

We are very excited to bring you news of the wonderful event  'Cupcake Camp' taking place on Saturday April 2nd 2011 2pm-5pm in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. We were asked a few weeks ago to help with the last stages of planning this event and were happy to donate our services for this gteat cause.  This is billed as the UKs second cupcake camp following the first in London last year and the line up looks really exciting for all the family.

 

Margaret Hitchman of Cake Heaven in Bournemouth has organised a family fun day filled with lots of exciting activities, exhibitors, music, arts and crafts, photography booth and of course plenty of cupcakes! 

Dozens of top bakers from Dorset, Somerset and as far as London are coming together on a great big bake off to enter their cupcakes into 1 or 14 different categories which will be judged.  There are categories for Royal Wedding cupcake, Best of British, one for the boys and many more - no doubt there will be lots of creative ways of bakers putting their own spin on the categories.  


The most exciting news is that award winning cake designer Zoe Clark of The Cake Parlour, London will be coming along to help to judge the competitions and will be on hand during the day with her books which can be purchased and signed personally by Zoe.  She will also be showing some of her fantastic cake designs and on hand to speak to with any of your cake questions.  What a treat!  Thank you to Zoe for agreeing to support this event and take part. For more information on Zoe Clark please see her www.zoeclarkcakes.com or her new shop The Cake Parlour www.thecakeparlour.com

 

 (image courtesy of lulubellescakes.com who are just one of the bakers taking part )

With over 30 cupcake bakers to choose from you really will be spoilt  for choice. Entrance to the event is free and you will be able to 'buy' vouchers for £1 in order to get your hands on some yummy cupcakes there is no maximum or minimum amount so why not spoil yourself and all the family.  Mothers Day is the day after too so this is a great time to select your favourites, get them gift boxed and wrapped in some lovely ribbons all ready to give your Mum on Sunday!

 (image courtesy of icemaidencakes.com who are also taking part)

 

(image courtesy of cakeheaven.webs)

  

 

For more information please visit the website of Cupcake Camp Bournemouth.


Hope to see you there to enjoy a great day. Everyone should eat cake!

x

Happy St Patricks Day

To all you Irish lovelies out there Happy St Patricks Day! And to all those out celebrating today, and enjoying a glass or two of Guinness or just a good Irish Whiskey - enjoy! I couldn't help but create a St Patricks Day inspired wedding board

Images Courtesy of:

Garter- juliansmith.wordpress.com 

Wedding Favors- talkcraftytome.com 

Flowers-flora2000.com 

Button Hole- lizimages.blogspot.com  

Shoes-marigoldevents.com 

Name Cards-weddinic.com

Collage-polyvore.com

Dessert Table-manolobrides.com

Table Setting- manolobrides.com

Bridesmaids- www.thefairamountbride.typepad.com

Cupcakes-harbourandjones.com

Frances Edwards

x

Could resist jumping on the bandwagon with this one....

Yes we know that the world has gone Royal Wedding crazy and people will be a little sick of it by the time the day comes but Frances could not resist putting together this lovely montage of images which made her feel all "Royal Weddingy"

Enjoy

x

Photos courtesy of-
Teacup strawberries- 5starweddingdirectory.com
Invitations- modern-wedding-ideas.co.uk 
Cupcakes-crumbsanddollies.blogspot.com 
Shoes-letsbuyit.com 
Flowers-arenaflowers.com
VW-omgimgettingmarried.com
Bunting-blog.bohoweddingsandevents.com 
Keep Calm & Get Married-misi.co.uk 
Bow-weddingspot.co.uk 
Stand up invites- blog.bohoweddingsandevents.com 
London bus- lisadawn.co.uk

The Carlton Wedding Fayre - Sunday 20th February 2011

We were delighted to work again with Menzies Carlton Hotel over looking Bournemouth's sea front on Sunday 20th February for their spring Wedding Fayre. Held from 11am-4pm it was jam packed with some of the finest wedding suppliers in Dorset.

A big thank you goes to the wonderful Ian Hamilton who took time out to photograph the show for us and has provided us with the images within this blog. Ian describes his photography style as "discreet" believing that a wedding day should be captured quietly and sympathetically creating a storybook of memories.  For more information on Ian and his fantastic photography please visit his website.

 

 

Couples had a really impressive 31 exhibitors over three different rooms at the hotel to enjoy and were treated to a glass of bubbly and canapes on arrival.  Another thank you has to go to  Party Proppers Plus Party Proppers Plus who set up The Causerie suite to showcase what it could look like for a wedding breakfast. They are the perfect contact if you're looking for some venue decorations from balloon arrangements to fairy lights also they can help to create some beautiful wedding stationery.

It really was a case of having everything under one roof from a selection of fabulous photographers, florist, gift list services, casino, chair covers, wedding rings and a DJ to name but a few. All those that we managed to talk to after their visit to the exhibitors were bursting full of ideas for their big day.

 

Whilst at the fayre couples were given the chance to enter a prize draw to win a selection of fantastic prizes. 

Prizes were:

- A sumptuous 2 course meal for two and a bottle of house wine in the Fredericks Restaurant at The Carlton Hotel followed by a one night stay at the Hotel and a delicious full English breakfast the following morning. 

- Beautiful bouquet of flowers courtesy of On The Wild Side Florist 

- An engagement style portrait shoot plus print credit with a combined value of £200 courtesy of Andy Rapkins Photography.

 

Gemma Rowlands - happy to win the bouquet of flowers prize 

A big thank you goes to the staff at The Carlton Hotel and to all those who came along to exhibit without you we wouldn't be able to put together such wonderful and informative wedding fayres. Also once again thank you to Ian Hamilton.

If you missed this fayre we have another coming up on Saturday 12th March at The RNLI Lifeboat College in Poole from 11am-4pm free entry and free parking. Come along and visit a large choice of contemporary suppliers to help put together your wedding day.  This is beautiful and unique waterside venue. Also on the day there will be a selection of presentations on a number of wedding topics giving you hints and tips to ensure your day is perfect which you can book in for in advance.  Check our facebook/Twitter for a full schedule which will be published in the next few days. 

UKAWP-The Wedding Sanctuary

The UKAWP Wedding Sanctuary is to be held on Sunday 20th March 2011 at the stunning Somerset House.

 

The Wedding Sanctuary is a show designed to offer top design inspiration, personal style advice and the best one on one planning support available.  Top names in wedding world will be on hand to answer any burning wedding day questions alongside some of the fabulous UKAWP Wedding Planners. With something for the bride and groom is really is going to be a superb event.

Bellissimo's own Melanie Kiani has been asked to present at The Wedding Sanctuary and is very delighted to have been given the opportunity.  She will be providing a short presentation on how to get the best out of your wedding suppliers.  There are lots of presentations going on throughout the day so a great opportunity for brides and grooms to learn lots of helpful advice for planning their wedding.

A taster of the fabulous people showcasing their work at The Wedding Sanctuary.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit The Wedding Sanctuary website. Or see below for further details. 

Bournemouth to be the first for UK beach weddings

Melanie was delighted to receive a call from a journalist last week who wanted to chat with her about the plans for Bournemouth to be the first town in the UK to offer the opportunity for couples to actually have a civil wedding ceremony on the beach.  Today, all the nationals are featuring the story and Melanie is delighted to have been quoted in various features.  

How exciting for Bournemouth!  Provided that planning permission is granted, the town will have a luxury cream coloured beach hut to serve as a "chapel" which will be located right on the beach so couples will be able to feel the sand between their toes whilst getting married and their guests would be positioned just outside the beach hut on the sand - either standing or seated to suit the couple. 

When Melanie chatted to the journalist about these exciting plans for Dorset she asked what the plan was if the weather was unkind.  We understand that the plans would be for the Council to work in conjunction with local hotels and venues so that a "bad weather plan" can be in place as back up as the beach hut would not be big enough to house guests in the event that the weather is unkind.

We think this is a great development for Bournemouth and will offer an opportunity for couples to actually have a civil marriage ceremony on the sand.  At the present time there are alternatives available by having the legal marriage ceremony performed in a licensed venue and then moving down to the beach for a re-affirmation of vows or a blessing from a civil celebrant but this will present couples a chance to actually marry on the sand.  The Council say that they receive around 60 enquiries a year for real beach weddings.

Let us know what you think - do you think this will prove popular in Bournemouth?  We would love to hear from you!

To read the full story in The Guardian please follow this link The Guardian