Big news from Bellissimo - Launch of Beach Weddings Bournemouth

We have been busy bees here at Bellissimo HQ for some time now working on a very exciting new project which is truly going to put Bournemouth on the map when it comes to deciding on a destination for your wedding.  Always fancied getting married on the beach?  Difficult to get away to distant shores because of finances, travel restrictions, family or friends who cannot join you on such a long and expensive journey?

Well look no further as your answer is here. For the very first time in the UK, Bellissimo are proud to bring you Beach Weddings in the UK - on the beautiful shores of Bournemouth beach.

Image credit : Ian H Photography

This truly unique wedding and event venue is officially launching to the public on Saturday 29th October and taking bookings from now for the 2012 season which starts on 1st April 2012 and beyond. 

Bellissimo have been awarded the Operators contract by Bournemouth Borough Council for 5 years which means that our well regarded high level of service and attention to detail can now be enjoyed by couples who wish to have their wedding or civil partnership ceremony on the beach close to the crystal blue waters.  This stunning venue is also open to people looking to renew their vows or hold a baby naming or welcoming ceremony.  Its also possible to hold a birthday party or celebration without a formal ceremony.

Image credit : Ian H Photography

Our venue has so many possibilities thanks to the large space available.  We have just over 800 square metres of sand which can be exclusively hired for your special event and a marquee can be erected within this space for your guests to enjoy a wedding ceremony and your reception.

We have set up a brand new, dedicated website and have a Facebook page which we would love for you to 'like' to keep up to date with all the latest news, gossip, photos and blogs.

Our official launch is on Saturday 29^th October and would be delighted if you would join us to see how the The Wedding Hut and marquee will be set up for weddings between 11am and 3pm. Please come along and chat to the team.  We can talk you through all of the possibilities with this unique venue and you can meet some of the suppliers who we will be working with over the coming years to bring you this stunning venue.  The Wedding Hut will be dressed as it would for a ceremony.  The marquee will be dressed for a part ceremony and part wedding breakfast to show you an example of what a marquee could look like.  We will also have stunning coastal styling displays for you to look at courtesy of the talented ladies over at Coastal Creatives and floristry in the Wedding Hut, the marquee and the Cliff Lift courtesy of Arcade Flowers, Ringwood. 

Shortly before opening up the venue for the public we will be lucky enough to have a photo shoot with our models of the whole venue and for that we need to thank our models Emma-Jayne and Rob who will helping is to get some amazing shots of the set up and thanks to IanH Photography who will be available for the whole of Saturday for couples to speak to about their own Beach Wedding photography requirements. 

We also need to say a big thank you to Laura McKenzie from Hair by Laura for her early morning start this week and for attending to the hair styling for our preview photo shoot and to Natalie and Liam our bride and groom for making such a stunning couple for our shoot.

Look forward to meeting you there. 

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Wedding Exhibition - The Menzies East Cliff Court Hotel - Sunday 2nd October 2011

With wedding season drawing to a close, wedding fayre season is upon us, so on Sunday 2nd October, Bellissimo Weddings hosted our first show of the season at the Menzies Eastcliff Court Hotel on Bournemouth's beautiful Eastcliff. And what a day to have chosen! It was nearly 30 degrees and the beach was absolutely packed! But luckily we had some determined brides-to-be that despite the glorious weather turned out to come and see what we had on offer. I did notice a few bikinis poking out of dresses though! And one couple even arrived with their beach towels under their arms!

Courtesy of dorsetbeaches.co.uk

Our guests were treated to a glass of bubbly and some delicious canapés on arrival courtesy of the hotel and then were free to wander around where all our exhibitors were on hand to talk to our brides-to-be about their wedding plans.

We were lucky enough to have FourT4 Photography take photos of the day and all the photos you see in this blog have been taken by Jon himself. Jon is a fantastic, very professional and unobtrusive wedding photographer who covers weddings, civil ceremonies and events around Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Jon's stand

We had three suites full of exhibitors so guests had plenty to see...

In the Ocean View Suite, Cake Cucina had the most amazing cakes and cupcakes on display...

All courtesy of FourT4 Photography

...and in the Garden Suite Simply Love Vintage displayed a selection of their fabulous range of vintage crockery, china, and vintage inspired accessories. They are available to hire for your wedding or event and add the finishing touches to your vintage themed day! 

Courtesy of FourT4 Photography

Flaura Boutique had created some gorgeous bouquets for the day, which were used by the models in the fashion shows...

Courtesy of FourT4 Photography

The fashion shows featured some absolutely stunning dresses by Bliss Bridal, Christchurch showed off by the five gorgeous models, Emma-Jayne, Sasha, Lauren, Anita and Julie. Bliss Bridal showcased bridesmaids and guests dresses as well as brides dresses to give brides-to-be and their guests some food for thought on what to wear on the big day. The models hair was expertly coiffed by Laura at Hair by Laura and the make up beautifully applied by Tara Sanger.

 All courtesy of FourT4 Photography

We didn't forget about the males of the wedding party either and Gibb Menswear of Southbourne were on hand to offer the men some style tips too!

At the entrance to the hotel we had a wonderful vintage car supplied by All Aspects Wedding Services which looked gleaming in the Bournemouth sunshine!

So an all round successful wedding show and if you like what you see and would like to attend or exhibit at a Bellissimo Wedding Show, please contact Melanie or Natasha on 01202 533014 or email us at info@bellissimo-weddings.co.uk.

And don't forget that the next show is the Wedding and Lifestyle Show at The Italian Villa at Compton Acres, Poole on Sunday 30th October between 11am and 4pm.

See you there!

Natasha

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Hen night ideas for Dorset

Hen Nights

Hen nights are like marmite…you either love them or you hate them! If the thought of wearing a pink tutu whilst drinking out of a willy shaped straw makes you cringe then read on for a few ideas of how to enjoy your hen night without a learner plate in sight….

Starting your weekend off with a spa day is a sure fire way to get you relaxed and in the mood for a chilled (or not so chilled!) girly weekend. There are several spas in the Dorset and Hampshire region which cater for hen parties but I have picked just a few to get you started...

With its prime position right on the beach, The Sandbanks Hotel, Poole is all about location, location, location. Their pamper days start at £110.00 and include morning coffee on arrival, therapeutic back massage, file and varnish on fingers and toes, prescription facial and lunch either inside or outside on the terrace.

The Captains Club is a hotel and spa situated on the River Stour in Christchurch. Spa packages start from £115 at weekends and they also do a fabulous afternoon tea which at £12 PP is value for money compared to other similar venues in the area.

The Chewton Glen is another very popular choice for spa days but at £138 per day it’s a slightly pricier option; the reputation of this hotel however more than justifies its prices!

A little further into the new forest is Senspa at Carey’s Manor, a stunning spa set within a beautiful country house hotel in Brockenhurst. The spa had a major refurb a few years ago and since has become one of the area’s top spas. Spa days start at £104 for a Saturday but if you can go on a Friday or Sunday you may just be able to save a few £!

www.careysmanor.2day.ws/

A jewel in the spa crown is Limewood. Situated in the heart of the forest, this newly opened spa has quickly become the most talked about in the area attracting a London crowd and even some local celebrities! At £185 for the day it is easily the most expensive spa in the area but it is definitely worth it!

www.telegraph.co.uk

So now you are totally chilled and refreshed and ready to hit the town for something to eat and a few cocktails!

If you are staying in Poole, then hit the quay and head to the newly opened Fishy Fishy which is famous in these parts as the restaurant that Dermot O’Leary co-owns! Another great eatery in the Quay area is Gossip, a family run Italian restaurant which serves up excellent pizza and pasta in a modern environment at competitive prices. Other favourites in Poole’s old town include Storm and Melanie's favourite the Guildhall Tavern.

harboursideholiday.co.uk

It is hard to know where to start in Bournemouth town centre as there are apparently more restaurants, bars and pubs in Bournemouth per square mile than anywhere in the country! A few of my favourites for quick and easy but good Italian food are Alcatraz Brasserie, Cuccinis or Valentinos. Or why not try Mandarin or Ocean Palace for a delicious Chinese. If seafood is your thing there are a couple of excellent places to treat yourself to some oysters and lobster. WestBeach is an award winning restaurant right on the beach by Bournemouth Pier that serves up fresh seafood daily. The Crab is across the road from the Bournemouth International Centre and also serves up fresh fish and seafood straight from local shores.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk

So after dinner you will probably be looking for a good watering hole to try a cocktail or two and 1812 delivers on every level with their extensive cocktail menu, laid back atmosphere and classic lounge feel. It’s hard to know where to start, but my favourites are the Gingerbread Man and the Apple Strudel…YUM!

If you are looking for something a little different, why not head down to Aruba on Pier Approach. The wrap around balcony lets you sip your cocktails al fresco with stunning views from The Needles all the way round to Old Harry’s Rocks. Try one of their famous frozen strawberry daiquiris or for something a little stronger try their 5 rum Zombie! But be warned, it’s called a Zombie for a reason!!

If however spas and cocktails aren’t your thing, Bournemouth has plenty to offer to keep you entertained on your hen weekend…

If you are planning your hen party during summer, enjoy the award winning beaches of Bournemouth by renting a beach hut for the day from Bournemouth Council's official beach hut hire website.

photo4me.com

And if you’re here and the weather is nice, why not get the adrenalin flowing with a private rib charter with  Bournemouth Rib Experience who will pick you up from Bournemouth Pier and take you for a thrilling ride around the bay!

If the weather is not so nice and remembering that we live in England where the weather is temperamental at best why not opt for some indoors activities…

Pavilion Dance is a newly refurbished specialist dance centre which has various classes on offer for hen parties such as learning how to dance like the dancers in your favourite music video! 

Chocolate is every girls best friend and if you have ever wondered how it’s made then look no further than The Chocolate Boutique Hotel chocolate making classes!! Check out  their website for the latest special offers.

And if cooking is your passion then why not try a cookery class at Flavours School of Cookery where you can take courses such as 'The taste of Thailand or 'Cafe Jamaica'!  

So I know we moved on from spas, but whilst newly opened Yutang Spa on Westover Road might be a spa by name, it isn’t necessarily what you think…Yutang is the first Kangal Garra Rufa spa in Bournemouth – that’s a fish pedicure to you and me! Let the little fish nibble away at your feet while you sip champagne and relax in their zen styled surroundings.

For something a little out of the ordinary why not try a pole dancing class?? Polz Apart have on/off classes available for hen parties, just have a look at their website for further details.

And finally if you are prepared to drive to Dorchester, which is a lovely town about 24 miles out of Bournemouth, then an afternoon's zorbing at Zorb South will surely get the adrenaline flowing!!

gothisplace.com

So, I hope that has given all you lovely ladies some inspiration for how to enjoy your hen night in Dorset...

Have fun!! 


Natasha


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