Darwin Classic Cars {excellent customer service in an authentic classic vehicle}

We are pleased to introduce you to Darwin Cars who are exhibiting with us next month in Birmingham.

What a beauty their Daimler is. Effortlessly vintage chic.

Darwin Classic Cars is a partnership of three family members and a friend, it was James Pearson-Jenkins who initially proposed the concept of a wedding car company based upon the vintage style.

James says ‘When we set the company up, we did not initially focus on the car and instead considered what a Bride and Groom would want on the most exciting day of their lives.  Our concept takes an holistic approach, putting the couple at the centre of the service.  Our philosophy is simple, excellent customer service in an authentic classic vehicle.  Many wedding car companies are using modern versions of ‘vintage’ looking vehicles, often based on modern vehicles, these are not authentic and this shows.  Although our vehicle is very loved and cherished, for us, the car is not the star, the bride and groom are: but the car frames them very well on the day and looks amazing in wedding photographs.’

They currently have one classic vehicle and another in planned restoration.  They are also respectfully continually maintaining our current Daimler to ensure safety, reliability and authenticity, a good example of this was the replacement of the interior headlining, completed by a classic car specialist from Jaguar.

James and his partners look forward to chauffeuring may couples in style to and from their wedding venues in the near future. We cannot recommend enough ♥

Darwin Classic Cars 01952 255330 or 07970 230112

E: info@darwinclassics.co.uk

All photos courtesy of Egner Photography

A very Vintage Chic 1920′s 30′s Inspired Bridal shoot at The Botanical Gardens

So last month we got together with some fabulous exhibitors who’ll be showcasing their work at our up and coming Spring fair for a 1920′s – 30′s inspired Bridal shoot at the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. Special thanks to Redcliffe catering for letting us use this spectacular venue.

The location very much influenced the styling for this shoot with the art deco shaped domes in the gardens and internal decor in the suite we used.

With massive thanks to Luxe Bridal, Darby and Joan, The Red Cake Company,Liezl Croft Photography plus make up artist Cheryl Williams and Hair stylist Emily Hall we are pleased to present to you a very Vintage Chic photo shoot!

Karen from Darby and Joan kindly offered to model for us and bought along some stunning pieces to style the shoot from her vast collection including some lovely crystal champagne glasses, silver teaware, gorgeous lace and luxurious faux fur coats and wraps. This was key in creating the all important glamorous look of the roaring Twenties. Her co model and our very good friend Ulle looked fabulous in feathers, a stunning up do and a 20′s inspired head piece.

The gorgeous gowns that Karen and Ulle modelled were from Luxe Bridal who are based at The Custard Factory in Birmingham. Becky and Shelley who own Luxe Bridal knew exactly what we were looking for choosing 6 different gowns and headpieces which were a match made in heaven. Just look at the stunning detail on the dress below as modelled by Ulle. Very good value too so if you’re looking for a bridal gown we cannot recommend them enough!!

We’d also like to mention and thank the stunning cakes by The Red Cake Company.Pam who is the owner of The Red Cake Company is very modest about her cakes and the most lovely person to work with. She bought along 3 different cakes which were all different in their own way but had synergy with our theme. From these images it is clear to see that her creations are expertly decorated and finished beautifully.

Lastly thanks to our photographer Liezl Croft for capturing these lovely images.

If you’ve enjoyed this blog post then you will most certainly enjoy what we have planned for you on 22nd April. I can’t tell you how much fun we all had and we hope this comes across in the images. xxx

Photography:  Liezl Croft Photography           www.liezlcroft.com

Styling: Darby and Joan Ltd                            www.darbyandjoanvintage.co.uk

Bridal Gowns : Luxe Bridal                             www.luxebridal.co.uk

Cakes: The Red Cake Company                      www.theredcakecompany.co.uk

MUA: Cheryl Williams

Hair Stylist: Emily Hall

I Am Staggered at Vintage Chic Wedding Fair

The great thing about wedding industry is how it continues to evolve and continue to come up with inspiration to make your day the best it can be.

Traditionally the Groom has had fairly little involvement in the planning of nuptuals and although most would claim that they just want to turn up to the church in a whistle and flute to say ‘I do’, alot of Grooms secretly want a piece of the action!

Thinking practically, as a wedding day goes, Grooms, their best man and ushers have alot of important jobs to do so this is where I Am Staggered comes in rather handy.

What is I am staggered?

In a nutshell it’s a wedding blog dedicated to guys and covers all aspects of wedding planning from a blokes perspective. It’s their big day too you know!

From proposal planning, speech writing, how to look good on the day, stag do planning, honeymoon planning and their overall role on the day.This blog has it covered and more.

The best news ever is that I Am Staggered are coming to our next fair so there’s another reason to bring along your beau and his bestest man.

They are going to be holding a Grooms clinic to include:

• Staggered speechwriting experts to answer any of your enquiries about putting together the speech

• Staggered style expert to give you tips on looking your best with (plus a competition to win a suit!)

• Staggered honeymoon expert 

•  The Staggered Groom Guide available at an exclusive price!

So if you’re future Hubbie thinks weddings fairs don’t include them think again!!

Tickets to our show available online at www.vintagechicweddingfair.co.uk  £5 each. Bring the boys!!  See you there….

Coterie Photos

When it comes to planning a wedding, there are certain things you shouldn’t compromise on and that is your photographer. They will be with you for most of your big day so not only have they got to be up to scratch but you’ve got to get on with them!

Each photographer will have their own distinct style in the way that they shoot, edit and present their finished product to you and it’s fair to expect that you’ll want to look back fondly on these special images for decades to come.

We’ve got to know alot of different wedding photographers and it is very true to say that they are all very different.

We are very pleased to introduce to you Coterie Photos who is our latest directory listing. Coterie Photos was created by Rebecca Willis (aka Bex) who studied photography at university and began her business back in 2007.

She specialises in wedding, portrait, engagement, and boudoir photography, but also captures bumps, babies and families too.

One of the first things you come to realise about this lovely lady is her friendly down to earth personality.  This comes through not only in the way that she deals with her clients and business associates but in also very much in her photography style too.

Bex says ‘I describe my style as spontaneous, joyful, dreamy, genuine and a little bit different, I love photography that makes you happy.’ These images portray this style perfectly.

Also important to note is that Coterie Photos provides  clients with a free engagement shoot so you’ll be confident that they are the right style for your wedding and get a set of stunning pre wedding photos to treasure forever! Also noted if that Coterie’s bridal package is also good value too:  )

So what’s in store for Coterie Photos?

‘In the future Iwould like to travel more, laugh lots, stay in love, use my crazy lomo cameras on jobs, get busier and busier, build the Coterie brand, have lots of fun and make lots of new friends along the way.’ says Bex. Sounds like a good plan to us!

So if you are looking for a relaxed, friendly spontaneous photographer for your wedding, take a look at Coterie Photos online. ♥

Exhibitor List Available Online

Where on earth does the time go….. March already?!

Not long now until our next event on 22nd April at The Centennial Centre in Birmingham where we will be showcasing over 40 vintage inspired suppliers.

In preparation for this we have now released the exhibitor list with a few more to be added very soon.

We’re chuffed to bits with the variety of these talented, passionate and creative suppliers. It makes us want to get married all over again! I’m trying to persuade my Husband that we should renew our vows which is not going down too well considering we are only 6 years in (this weekend!!) Sigh……

We’re also really pleased to tell you that we will be having some live demonstrations at this fair which is perfect for DIY Brides. Kris from Fusion Flowers is putting together some creations for you to be inspired by which will be easy to re create yourselves.

Simon Partridge will also be singing for us all day. We guarantee you’ll be humming his lovely tunes for days afterwards.

We also have one more imminent announcement which is something for the Grooms. Often they can be left out at wedding fairs. Not at this one. You’ll be staggered (a clue!) at who is coming to our April fair!

Tickets on sale now! xxx

1920′s {art deco and all that jazz}

As promised we’re going to be looking into vintage decades and eras in more detail. So to start with the 1920′s………

The Jazz Age

The 1920′s was an extremely inspirational decade and often described as the roaring 20′s. With world war one out the way, fashion, culture and art flourished once again. Think The Charleston, Great Gatsby and flapper girls….

Women became so much more liberated as they were allowed to vote, drink and smoke in public  for the very  first time and this liberation filtered through to fashion which became much less restrictive.

Hemlines and hairstyles became shorter with bobs and marcel waves becoming the signature style of the decade.

And The Bride Wore

Long slimline dresses were extremely popular with some taking influence from flapper girls.  Silk was a commonly used material with dropped waists and intricate beading. Long string pearls and gloves complete the look.

This stunning 1920′s inspired gown is from Luxe Bridal – www.luxebridal.co.uk (photo courtesy of Dowling Photography)

Floral bouquets were large and extremely elaborate incorporating cala lilys and roses. Ostrich and peacock feathers were also popular as decoration in headpieces or table decorations.

This paper bouquet  by Paper Me Happy is a stunning modern take on 1920′s inspiration.

A modern paper bouquet with 20's influences by Paper Me happy. Photography courtesy of Theresa Furey Photography

Head gear

Cloche hats were hugely popular during the 20′s and for weddings, headpieces came in all shapes and sizes.

It was also around this time that birdcage veils began to make an appearance too. This is a stunning veil created by Sharper Millinery (photo courtesy of Emily Quinton Photography

Art Deco Style

Art deco is a great source of inspiration for your 1920′s wedding. Founded in Paris, it represents the glamour and elegance of the decade,  characterised by symmetrical lines and curves with inspiration taken from art nouveau. Here’s a lovely image of Simon Partridge who will be entertaining us once again at our next event. Loving his Art Deco logo!

Image courtesy of Theresa Furey Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stationery

Invites, Save The Dates and Thank You’s really set the scene for a themed wedding and bring it all together. 1920′s style is distinct with it’s use of particular fonts and unfussy style.

The stationery above is by Studio Seed and just the ticket for 20′s inspiration.

This stationery below is by Perched Bird .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both perched Bird and Studio seed we are pleased to say are exhibiting with us April.

The 1920′s  era is set to become a big theme for up and coming weddings so come along to our next event in Birmingham on 22nd April to see some 20′s inspiration in all its glory ♥

Pocket Typewriter {creators of loveable stationery}

When it comes to stationery – it’s the little details that matter. I hang my head in shame when I think about the shocking DIY creations at my wedding **shudder!** Pocket Typewriter first came to our attention when we were …

Reasons To Visit Wedding Fairs {updated!}

Trawling wedding blogs and banter recently, we were sad to come across some less than positive posts about wedding fairs.

Naturally it got us thinking and we very quickly perked up when we thought about our own fairs.

Planning a wedding takes months and months of planning and organising and sometimes it can become utterly exhausting. Our own weddings were around 5 years ago and the change in the wedding industry in that time is just phenomenal.  If anything there’s too much inspiration these days!! Don’t get us wrong here. Magazines, Facebook pages and blogs are great immediate source of inspiration that can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home with a cuppa and jammie dodger.  However……..

Touch, feel, see, meet and hear.

The biggest advantage in attending a wedding fair is to be able to touch, feel, hear and see your potential suppliers work.

Try on that dress, taste some cake, see a photographers albums and books…… You can begin building a rapport with the people who you may go on to invest in to put your wedding plans into reality.  You can’t do that on line -fact.  It’s so true that people buy with their eyes but what’s on a computer screen may not be quite the same as the real deal!!

Photo courtesy of Theresa Fury Photography

 Discounts -grab a bargain!

Many exhibitors use a wedding fair to offer couples discounts if they book within a certain timescale. This is a serious advantage to attending a wedding fair – ker-ching!

Big or small

Ok so we’re biased but one thing we encourage our Brides to do is check out a fair’s exhibitor list first. Big fairs may offer a wide range of exhibitors but in our opinion a smaller boutique fair may offer you top quality exhibitors who are put off by the cost of exhibiting at massive shows.

Learn Something

We’re providing you with something a little bit different at our up and coming fair. Not only have we got the most fabulous selection of exhibitors but we’ve also got I Am Staggered providing Grooms with advice on speech writing, looking good and honeymoon planning.  Also we have Kris from Fusion Flowers doing some DIY demos for you to re create at home.

It’s fun!

We just love soaking up the atmosphere of our fairs. Meeting and greeting Brides, Grooms, their family and guests. Everyone is so happy!! Our mission is to provide Brides with top quality, independent vintage inspired wedding suppliers in a friendly and vibrant atmosphere.

We really enjoy putting together our fairs and put a great deal of time and effort into them. Most of all, they are for you the Bride and your plans for your wedding. 

 

Tickets To Our Next Fair 22nd April Now Available Online!

Morning all

Plans for our next fair in Birmingham on 22nd April are shaping up really well. We’re gathering a list of over 40 stylish, creative and inspiring exhibitors, some old, some new, who will not fail to impress you.

So get the date in your diary and grab your tickets!

For a video and some gorgeous pics of our last event {taken by the super talented Theresa Furey Photography} see our website www.vintagechicweddingfair.co.uk

Have a great day ♥

Timeless & Classic Vintage Eras

So there’s been some talk and twittering recently about vintage and whether it’s had its day. No, no, no we say! Trends and fashion will come and go….. and always come back again. It’s just the way it goes which is why vintage is fantastic inspiration for couples.

It’s fair to say that vintage inspired weddings have become extremely popular over the last few years with vintage china, birdcage veils and bunting featuring in many.

Vintage style is easily described as timeless and glamorous which is why it’s so popular as a ‘theme’ to draw inspiration from. It also covers many eras with each one having it’s own very different style.

A Quick Journey Through The Eras

The 20′s saw the rise of flapper dresses, cloche hats and wreath style headpieces. Grooms wore dapper pin stripe doublebreasted suits topped with a fedora hat. Bouquets were large and elaborate and art deco was the design of the day.

Move on to the 30′s and dresses became shorter and birdcage veils made an appearance.

Wartime weddings in the 40′s were understandably understated due to rationed resources. Make do and mend was the order of the day and 2 piece bridal suits were often seen.

1950′s sees pin up style with gorgeous prom style dresses. Think teddy boys and the rise of rock and roll.

There’s so much inspiration that you can draw from vintage eras so we’ll be breaking it down through the decades, going into each era in more detail for you.

We’d also love to know your thoughts on vintage weddings.

TTFN! ♥