Wine for your wedding: Brown Brothers’ Cienna & Cienna Rosso

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I was recently sent some samples of sparkling wine to review for English Wedding Blog readers. Providing your own wedding wine can be a good way to save money; it’s also a necessity for weddings at home, garden party wedding receptions and for village hall weddings which are all becoming more and more popular with UK couples.

Wine for your English Wedding? Photo credit Simon Hudspeth Photography

The wines I reviewed were both from Brown Brothers: their Cienna 2009 and Cienna Rosso are both low alcohol sparkling wines, from the Cienna grape variety which is unique to Brown Brothers and bred by crossing Sumoll (a Spanish grape) with Cabernet Sauvignon.

I do love wine – but I’m no expert wine taster so I enlisted my parents to help me review the wines.

My Mum and Dad (who you may have seen on the English Wedding facebook page) know their stuff when it comes to wines so while they gave their expert verdicts on taste and quality, I thought I’d share a little extra information with you on choosing wine for your wedding day. See more...

On Frienemies in the wedding industry

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Place Hotel photography by Vickerstaff Photography

Photo credit Vickerstaff Photography. Click to see more from the Place Hotel Wedding Ideas Shoot

I opened the blog post on Rock n Roll Bride last week thinking, “What’s a Frienemy?” – and that pretty much sets out how naive some of you reading might think I am. A frienemy, it turns out, is a bit like a work acquaintance: someone you have to get along with even though you wouldn’t be friends if it wasn’t for work.

Like having a professional relationship with someone? No. Like pretending to be friends, when really you can’t stand each other.

Frienemies: a wedding industry issue?

It almost makes sense if you work in an office where everyone goes out for drinks together or to regular office parties. But in the wedding industry? Why is having frienemies a big issue for us? See more...

New sponsor welcome – Aaron Collett Photography

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I’ve been having a lovely email chat with Northamptonshire wedding photographer Aaron Collett since May, when he got in touch to share Hannah and Nathaniel’s fabulously colourful wedding on English Wedding Blog. Two days before the wedding took place, Aaron had already emailed to tell me, “They get married this Saturday and I think its going to be awesome…” – it really, really was!

wedding photography by Aaron Collett (3)

Photo credit: Northampton wedding photographer Aaron Collett www.aaroncollettphotography.co.uk

Wedding photography in Northamptonshire

This enthusiasm and passion for photographing weddings really strikes me with Aaron Collett. Reading how he describes his work on the English Wedding Showcase, his love of photographing weddings is inspiring. He talks of images which you’ll cherish for a lifetime, and says, “I always regard it as a great privilege to photograph a wedding, one of the most important days in anyone’s life”.

It’s the sign of a very genuine and compassionate man that Aaron talks about your wedding so much: while he’s a skilled and talented wedding photographer, his focus is – as it should be – on his brides and grooms. See more...

A detail-filled real wedding at Fazeley Studios

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Hello there! I hope you’ve had a deliciously sunny weekend. If you’re one of my new blog subscribers please get in touch, let me know what you think of the newsletter! How’s it going? (If you’re not, you can sign up here.)

Today’s wedding blog is all about Esme and Graeme, who were married in June at the very charming Fazeley Studios in the heart of Birmingham. Fazeley is a unique wedding venue, gorgeous on the inside as you’re about to see, and with tons of potential for all kinds of weddings. Esme and Graeme’s wedding has so many lovely details you’re bound to take ideas for your big day from this post.

The photography is by John Charlton, who is based at Fazeley Studios (he loved it that much!). Esme and Graeme have told me a little about their day – I hope you enjoy their story!

A real wedding blog from Fazeley Studios, Birmingham

The bride and groom: Esme and Graeme See more...

Subscribing to English Wedding Blog just got better

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subscribe to english wedding blog

Hello! I’ve just been making some improvements behind the scenes, and have set up a much nicer, prettier, singy-dancy-sparkly new way to subscribe to English Wedding Blog.

Current subscribers will notice the changes – updates should be landing in your inboxes looking gorgeous in their entirety: no more ugly feedburner updates!

I’d love some new subscribers, and I could use some testers to let me know it’s all working beautifully! So if you have a sec to sign up you’ll make me a very happy girl 🙂

subscribe to English Wedding Blog

Let me know what you think about the newsletter – your thoughts are always welcome.

Claire xx

New luxury invitations from WBD Designer Wedding Stationery

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Hello, wedding fans and paper lovers… and that’s a very special hello because it’s you I’d like to treat this morning. I have been chatting to my lovely sponsor Wendy Bell recently and she emailed me some images of her most recent bespoke wedding invitation design to show you.

Photo credit WBD Designer Wedding Stationery www.wendybelldesigns.com

Isn’t it gorgeous?!

Wendy told me, “This was an “all in one” invitation design, effectively a tri-fold which included the invitation, information and RSVP postcard (which guests have to cut along the dotted line and affix a stamp to the reverse). Some of the photos show matching address labels and coordinating personalised Royal Mail stamps.”

Elegant designer wedding invitations

Photo credit WBD Designer Wedding Stationery www.wendybelldesigns.com

Photo credit WBD Designer Wedding Stationery www.wendybelldesigns.com

Ever the curious wedding blogger, I asked Wendy about the design process. I wondered how she could step from a blank sketch pad or piece of card, to such an ornate and luxurious design. How much of the design comes from the bride and groom, and how much is Wendy’s own input as the Designer? See more...

New sponsor welcome – Simon Biffen Photography

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Welcoming new wedding photographers as sponsors of English Wedding Blog is always a pleasure. This is especially true for Somerset wedding photographer Simon Biffen – a first class photographer who clearly gives 100% to every bride and groom he works with.

photo credit Simon Biffen Photography (1)

Photo credit Simon Biffen www.simonbiffenphotography.co.uk

I was impressed by Simon’s dedication straight away as he told me about his wedding photography.

A great wedding photography experience

He’s there for you from the beginning and wants your wedding photography experience to be flawless – for this he’ll meet you, get to know you, visit your wedding venue, chat about your plans and be available before your wedding day for advice if you need him to be.

Reassurance like this is a wonderful thing – so do have a look at Simon’s English Wedding Showcase Page to find out more. Simon is based in Somerset and will happily travel far and wide to photograph a wedding!

photo credit Simon Biffen Photography (2)

Photo credit Simon Biffen www.simonbiffenphotography.co.uk

photo credit Simon Biffen Photography (3)

Photo credit Simon Biffen www.simonbiffenphotography.co.uk See more...

Kirstie Allsopp’s Vintage Home Wedding Calligraphy

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There are so many secrets I know, but can’t share in this blog post. Don’t worry – I won’t. Let’s just say I think the most exciting thing for me this whole year will be seeing Kirstie’s Vintage Home Wedding on telly in the autumn, and the next most exciting thing (it’s a very close second) will be buying the book to accompany the series.

Calligraphy for Kirstie's vintage home wedding

My calligraphy, for Kirstie Allsopp’s Vintage Home Wedding programme – close up

I love Kirstie – she’s inspiring, funny and has done so much to raise the profile of crafts in the UK, from baking to mosaics and scarecrows… and when I heard (on the phone) that she was making a programme about a crafty vintage wedding I was over the moon!

Especially as there was a chance she’d use some of my calligraphy.

Kirstie’s Vintage Home Wedding – coming soon!

For now, everything is under wraps. Kirstie herself has tweeted one photo of the day, saying she’s not allowed to share more. It’s a tantalising glimpse into Amy and Craig’s wedding styling and I can’t wait to see close ups! See more...

Top 10 ways to propose to a girl… US style

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Sometimes I read wedding infographics and cringe. Other times I have a wry smile – and in this case I quite enjoyed reading about the Top 10 ways to propose. The last way mentioned is my favourite – and I’m not sure about the puppy (rescue an older dog instead, folks!)

I know you’re probably all engaged already. Did your bride- or groom-to-be propose creatively or was the proposal simply the most romantic moment ever?

Catch up with recent real wedding blogs on English Wedding Blog to read even lovelier proposal stories – and check out the blog posts coming up, as I have some really, really wonderful proposal stories in my inbox this week!

Claire xx

A vintage country garden home made English wedding in Cheshire

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As you might guess from the title, today’s English Wedding Blog is packed to the rafters with ideas, from a home made wedding dress (which is jaw-droppingly gorgeous) via a quirky and eccentric country manor venue to a “guest being locked in his own car boot”.

I really don’t know where to begin! This is fantastic…

The beautiful images are by Cheshire wedding photographer Adam Riley. The wedding venue is Frogg Manor (about 15 minutes from Chester), described as “Unashamedly bourgeois, eccentric, original & quintessentially English”. And I have a wonderful wedding report from the bride – Angela looks out of this world – the perfect English bride. (Ben too is gorgeous – they’re a match made in heaven!)

Enjoy xxx

Ben and Angela’s wedding at Frogg Manor in Cheshire

The groom and bride: Ben & Angela Goodwin

Who proposed, and how?

My fine husband proposed to me on a rooftop overlooking picturesque Amsterdam after a night out on the town. See more...

New sponsor welcome: Lightworks Photography Cambridge

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Wedding photography at Lightworks, Cambridge www.photographyatlightworks.co.uk

Can I introduce Andrew Hind and Lightworks Photography twice? I have two reasons for recommending him – and I feel passionately about both! So…

Beautiful wedding photography in Cambridge

Lightworks Photography in Cambridge specialises in beautiful photojournalism, telling the story of your wedding day with enchanting images and photographic skill, capturing precious moments and saving your memories forever.

and…

A fantastic Cambridge wedding photographer

Andrew Hind of Lightworks Photography is a fantastic wedding photographer. His images are gorgeous – and he cares. Read his FREE “Stress Free Wedding Planning for Beginners” guide and discover sensitivity, honesty and a genuine interest in helping you plan your wedding – and enjoy the process.

Wedding photography at Lightworks, Cambridge www.photographyatlightworks.co.uk

Wedding photography at Lightworks, Cambridge www.photographyatlightworks.co.uk

I can’t stress enough the importance of choosing a wedding photographer you can trust because they care. Friendliness is on a par with photography skill – and with Lightworks Photography you’ll get both. See more...

Wedding dresses for 2013 – Stephanie Allin

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Stephanie Allin’s ‘Night and Day’ wedding dress collection launched over the weekend at her London boutique. First revealed on the catwalks in May, these fabulous dresses inspired by the romance of beautiful Marrakesh will be available from stockists all over the country.

Stephanie Allin wedding blog UK (14)

I think the styling is divine: Stephanie says, “Marrakesh is an amazing place to gain stimulation, painted entirely in an enchanting salmon pink the city is fondly referred to as the “Rose City.”

The new Stephanie Allin 2013 collection has been created with dashes of rose-hued toned fabrics as well as more traditional ivory silks…“

Night and Day wedding dresses by Stephanie Allin

Stephanie Allin – beautiful dresses for every UK bride

And the beauty of these wedding dresses is they’ll look beautiful no matter what figure you have – traditional shapes and contemporary styling means this is a collection which will be loved by many UK brides in 2013.