Lets start with the glamour. Lunch at Fetcham Park on Friday
I had an agenda for the lunch at Fetcham. Like a professional cougar I had men in my sights...
First up Toni and Javier from By Appointment Only Design . Stylists, florists, planners - their 'so cool it hurts' shop in Chiltern Street in London is amazing, their flowers and styling are always in bridal magazines - both in editorial and in real life weddings. It was they who were commissioned to make a 30th birthday bouquet for the Duchess of Cambridge presented at the Warhorse Premiere in January.
Click here for the full story in Brides
In real life they are charming and handsome beyond belief and if I was planning a truly luxurious wedding they would be first in the 'Little Black Book!' On a teeny, tiny budget? Read the blog for regular inspiration and general cooing at glamour! http://byappointmentonlydesign.blogspot.com/
Also in my sights was hairdressing legend and handsome suave Frenchman, Severin Hubert, from The Hepburn Collection . I first became aware of his work via Annabel Beeforth of Love My Dress who has had many a fantastic vintage style 'do' by Severin.
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| Annabel and Severin - photograph by Katy Lunsford |
I was more than a little bit excited that he had heard of Miss Bush as I would love to work with him at some point. I was silly-excited as he has his work on the front cover of two national magazines this month - You and Your Wedding and Wedding - and because he has a very sexy voice. To read more about him from an equally smitten kitten follow this link to Annabel's interview with the man himself
http://www.lovemydress.net/blog/2011/09/hepburn-collection-severin-hubert-interview.html
Bless Laura Caudery and her seating plans - at lunch I got sat right next to handsomely dishevelled Adam Crohill - the 'man' at Rock My Wedding. In my train spotter fashion I had been desperate to meet RMW having read the blog avidly. I got to grill Adam on content, advertising, editorial policy - all at the same time finding out he was single and wondering which one of my young, single girlfriends I could set him up with. This may have overtaken any sensible discussion but I don't think he noticed!
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| Adam Crohill - Photography by www.chrisbarbermedia.com |
Two other men made the lunch complete. Firstly, Amaury from At Home catering. Another gorgeous Frenchman, if you are looking for outside catering I can highly recommend them as their Apple Tart and homemade ice cream barely touched the sides and I stuffed it with indecent haste in front of the lovely Adam! They also have a fab Deli in Cobham High Street with the best ever chocolate brownies and if I were a Chelsea WAG I would have them cater my every meal!
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| Food to make you swoon... At Home |
Secondly Adrian from Les Caves de Pyrene a Guildford based wine importer and retailer and provider of darn good champagne. The company supplies an impressive array of London's finest bars and restaurants and in Ripley the Michelin starred Drakes restaurant. Also, gossip fans, a favourite restaurant of Severin Hubert! Apart from him nearly choking on his champers over the cost of a wedding dress (that is such a man thing!) Adrian was splendid company and if you are providing your own wine and champagne for your wedding reception I would whole-heartedly recommend them. Fetcham Park recommend them as a wine supplier - and if you want to meet them and taste some wines - look at this list! I am actually going to go to all of them!
...tastings take place at Pew Corner on Friday evenings from 5.00pm until 8.00pm. These are informal events and our staff will always be on hand to welcome you and help you taste your way through 10 to 20 wines.
FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY – CHEESE AND WINE TASTING
We have been considering this idea for a while and have decided now is time to treat you, and ourselves, to a fantastic selection of English and “Foreign” cheeses matched to wines that we believe compliment them!
FRIDAY 23RD MARCH – SPRING TASTING
Spring will have only just begun but on Friday 23rd we will be offering you the chance to taste some new acquisitions, of which there are many, as well as some new vintages of established favourites!
FRIDAY 27TH APRIL – SPANISH TASTING
After numerous requests, we finally have a large enough Spanish portfolio to dedicate an entire tasting to the world’s largest wine producer. Our Spanish buyer, David, has been working hard for well over a year to bring us some truly weird and wonderful wines, just the way we like them!
FRIDAY 22ND JUNE – SUMMER TASTING
The final details of this tasting are yet to be confirmed but providing the weather is clement and our long awaited car park is finished it might be called “Al Fresco Tasting”! More information in due course…
Taste 10 to 20 wines? Don't mind if I do!!!!
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| Interior of Les Caves de Pyrene |
Big thanks and love to Jo from Something Blue, Kim from The Pink Pumpkin, beautiful flowers by Fairynff Flowers and Cakes by Krishanthi for hosting, designing, flowering and feeding. Simply gorgeous.
Saturday saw another in our successful series of pop-up shops. Juliet Mckee, photographer and all round fabulous woman and the lovely Stacey Marie Chalk - of Cherrytopped wedding planners were at Miss Bush HQ. Along with their Prosecco and tempting chocolates they dispensed all sorts of amazing tips, style inspiration and advice. The philosophy of the pop-up shop concept is to introduce amazing wedding suppliers I find to Miss Bush customers. There is no hard sell, there is no obligation to buy and there is no contract between Miss Bush and the various fabulous suppliers I have asked to join us.
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| Photos by Juliet Mckee from a styled shoot with Miss Bush and Cherrytopped |
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| Shoes, custom dyed to Juliet and Stacey Marie's design brief |
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| Styling and photography hand in hand |
I am though, notoriously hard to please, picky, exacting and a bit of a tyrant. The same scrutiny that I employ to choose dress suppliers is used to consider whether or not I will recommend another company. To be invited to 'pop-up' at Miss Bush suppliers need to be excellent at what they do - that goes without saying. More importantly they have to have demonstrated to me that they are not pushy, not divas, thoroughly professional in all aspects of their business and great fun to be around. These are the kind of characteristics that will make her bride love her wedding planning a bit more and reduce stress levels.
Brides visiting Miss Bush should always make a point of dropping in to the pop-up shops - even if you don't necessairily need, or think you need, what's on offer ( though a spot of fizz is always good.) The amount you can learn and the expertise on offer is truly fantastic.
Coming up this week is a visit to the Designer Wedding Show on Friday. I love having a browse at all the stands full or gorgeous wedding ideas and meeting up with wedding industry friends.
I also am going to start properly planning our Jim Hejlm trunk show weekend - taking place on the 23/24/25 March previewing all their new collections and kicking off with one fabulous party and fashion show on the 23rd. Tickets available very soon!
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| Dress by Jim Hejlm Blush - in store now |
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