Dresses

Having bought something ages ago from Harrods, I am on their mailing list. Most emails that come through are of no interest but the other day, there was a link to a very pretty dress which when I followed brought me to all of these - I think any of them would make beautiful wedding dresses. They range in price from £575 to £6,499.

Tiered Ruffle Gown By Chloé

Luxuriously crafted in Italy with pure silk, it boasts a sumptuous chiffon design with a floaty tiered ruffle silhouette and is accented with ladylike lace inserts. Simply complete the look with loose curls and a pink lip this season.

Sequin Balloon Sleeve Gown By Andrew GN

This dress offers a romantic tapestry of texture with heavy clusters of floral sequins and beading contrasting with delicate tulle in the semi-sheer balloon sleeves. Partner with gold strappy sandals and flowers of any colour!

Embellished Batwing Gown By Jenny Packham

This embellished silk gown sees a dazzling array of iridescent and matte sequins arranged in a zig zag pattern. Cut with a V-neckline and softly draped batwing sleeves, the floor-sweeping silhouette is as stylish as it is flattering. Delicate micro-beads and a cluster of sparkling crystals at the waist add further opulence to this head-turning number.

Floral Lace Peplum Down By Alexander McQueen

Draped in floral guipure lace with a grosgrain ribbon waistband and frilly peplum hem to accentuate the figure, this gown is elegance optimised. A round neckline and a sleeveless, columnar silhouette elongate the form, while pretty eyelash hems complete the piece. 

Broderie Anglaise Maxi Dress by McQ Alexander McQueen

Adorned with ladylike Broderie Anglaise detailing, this floaty maxi dress has been luxuriously crafted with a soft woven fabric and boasts a vintage folkloric-inspired design with a high neck and frilled finish - perfect for a vintage themed wedding.

Supernova Embellished Gown by Needle & Thread

Ruffled tiers of nude tulle layer in abundance to form this romantic piece. With an off-the-shoulder neckline and delicate self-tie straps, the Supernova gown has been intricately decorated with clusters of beads and sequins, creating a shimmering constellation effect. Lace inserts and a grosgrain waistband add extra depth and texture to the floor-sweeping silhouette. Well suited to a vintage themed wedding.

Gabriella Cut-Out Back Maxi Dress by Hervé Léger

From the elegant floor-sweeping length to the alluring open loose-knit design, it’s perfect for on your beach wedding. With cut-out detail to the back and imagined in a versatile ivory hue, it’ll have dawn to dusk covered. 

Yemanya Silk Embellished Gown by Johanna Ortiz

Oozing Latin flair, the Yemanya gown will certainly draw the spotlight! From the plunging V-neckline and cut-out wrap around bodice to the blooming floral print and tiered ruffle mermaid skirt, it promises head to heels glamour. Imagined in sumptuously soft silk, it’s calling for heeled sandals and exotic flowers.

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Valentine's Day

There is still time to send your loved ones a Valentine's gift from our shop. We can arrange delivery of our balloons in a box on 14th February.

Mickie & Minnie Heart - set of 6 balloons  £38.25

Mickie & Minnie I Love You - set of 3 balloons £30.50

Love You - 6 heart shaped balloons £38.25

I Love You - 5 heart shaped balloons £33.75

Valentine's Day

I've been inundated with emails for the past two weeks with ideas for Valentine's Day. With everything from balloons to seriously expensive jewellery. Bearing in mind everything is a variation on a theme, obviously, I thought I'd post some of the more unusual and some of those that I would like to receive (Who me? Hint? My daughter keeps an eye on my Pinterest boards and the blog and relays the info so there's no need to hint! And whatever I get is guaranteed to delight and be a surprise.)

 The Wiltshire Liqueur Company will customise the label on any of their liqueurs. Other ideas include Be Mine Forever, I Love You or Be My Valentine. Their flavours are Blood Orange Liqueur, Damson Vodka, Sloe Gin Liqueur and Wild Strawberry Liqueur. Also a fab idea for wedding favours or for Reception cocktails

Gin is very much in vogue right now and here are just a few specialist makes

Also try this Lemon Drizzle Gin with Prosecco instead of Buck's Fizz for breakfast.

And on the subject of breakfast here are two ideas to spread on your breakfast-in-bed-Valentine's-toast. Luxury - and available from Amazon!!!

 

 If jewellery is more your cup of tea - this delicate necklace features a distinct ivy leaf, cross & anchor and heart motif. In the language of flowers, Ivy signifies faithfulness so very apt for Valentine's Day.

This fab ring comes at the more expensive end of the price range of my suggestions. A wonderful engagement ring, or just a very pretty ring to own. It's rose gold with a black diamond held in a ten-prong basket with two inverted set diamond trillions on either side. It's by Anna Sheffield and available from Liberty.

 Pictures in black frames by Brigitte Herrod at Rockett st George 

Also from Rockett st George are these cushions

If you have a partner who loves bees, this is the ideal card from Rifle Paper Co. I tend to buy their products from Papermash who were one of the first stockist of the brand in the UK.

Back to Rockett st George for a comfort food cookery book. 

Here's a random mix of items that are on my wish list.

Peek-a-Boo! Comme des Garcons Converse 70s come in high and low top. Originally found them at Selfridges but they have now sold out of both styles in black and white but low tops in both colours and white high tops are available at Dover Street Market .

Socks are always useful!!! My husband's Godson makes a statement wearing a very corporate suit with his socks. Says he looks down and sees he's still there! Wonder how he would cope with these from Selfridges?

Do we not all LOVE a bag? These three are all contenders. I'd be happy with any one of them

From Harvey Nichols this is Ming Ray's Je T'aime leather box bag. It also comes in pink.

Next up is Sophie Hulme's rainbow sequin embellished leather pouch.

and last of the bags, from Mark Cross, a large leather box bag in teal.

And finally two cute heart-warmers from Bando at Selfridges - a phone case and a drink tumbler

If I had to choose one? The Eden Mill Love Gin to share with my love! 

And to give? The Bee's Knee card

Play Lists

This is a really random topic as I was actually researching Valentine's Day gifts. The radio is on playing "Gold" tracks and a song came on that reminded me of someone - long lost now. I did give my husband a cd I compiled some years ago for a Valentine's gift of "our" music - he didn't recognise any of it!!!!! Have you had a similar experience?

It will serve him right if he gets a bunch of balloons. Now there's a gift I would LOVE!!!

Back with more on Valentine's Day at the beginning of next week.

Small Wedding Cakes

I have been talking with bakeries in the Niagara region today about providing a small wedding cake for our "eloping" couples. Not everyone wants a cake but there have been several couples in the past who have enjoyed a cake and glass of sparkling wine after their ceremony. Co-incidentally Martha Stewart Weddings featured small wedding cakes today so here is a selection of them. I would point out that it isn't always just the look of the cake but the also the flavour(s) used. The cakes in North America tend to be more of a madeira sponge type rather than fruit and the icing is usually butter cream which is lighter than standard royal or fondant icing as is used here.

This Groom's cake was his favourite carrot cake

Raspberry crème and almond cake

Little cakes were added to each table. Flavours varied from shaved coconut cream to lemon chiffon to chocolate mousse ganache

Toppers featuring wedding words were on top of cakes flavoured with passion fruit curd, blackberry meringue buttercream and an almond cake with salted caramel filling.

The pale blue rose swirls cover a mint chocolate cake

This is a buckwheat cake with pickled blueberry and lemon cream

A hexagonal chocolate cake covered with vanilla buttercream with crushed pink rock candy added!

Small vanilla or chocolate gluten and dairy free cake with a plain topping

Ombré ruffles covering a coconut cake with ganache filling. The seahorses toppers is significant as seahorses mate for life

The elephant also mates for life and is on a cake with layers of chocolate fudge, biscuit and Bailey's spiked coffee!

These mini cakes were the place settings. All were covered in black and white but some were carrot cake others were pink Champagne flavour.

A yellow cake with chocolate buttercream filling. The Unicorn topper is from Etsy.

Coconut cake with vanilla frosting and lemon curd

Sugar succulents looking very realistic

Serve each of your guests a mini personalised cake

The two tier cake is chocolate ganache and whipped cream, one of the others is carrot flavoured and the third is Nutella hazelnut. 

Tiers of coconut passion fruit and ginger lime.

Blackberries and ivy decorated this cookies and cream flavoured cake.

A frosted olive oil cake topped with fresh strawberries and macarons

A very simple cake covered in gold fondant making a very big statement

Orange blossom honey sponge layered with kumquat Champagne confit topped with vanilla bean meringue buttercream

A S'mores delight. Chocolate cake with marshmallow crème, graham cracker crust with toasted marshmallow icing