Amalie Loves... CHOCART

Again this Fab Friday something beginning with 'c': chocolate! I had an amazing time at the RSVP event at the Business Design Centre in Islington this week, mainly because I got to meet a host of amazing new artists and suppliers (and catching up with old ones of course!). One of my favourite new finds (and there were many so it was a very hard choice today!) were the fabulous ChocArt guys with whom the tag line “almost too beautiful to eat...” is a slight understatement.

They have a unique product whereby they use a top secret technique to print a thin layer of white chocolate onto dark chocolate to your specific design or even picture. These stunningly beautiful and completely edible chocolates have been made for both gift items and promotional material for some top names such as Estee Lauder, Roberto Cavalli, Dior and Elle to name a few.

I had a taste of the chocolate (couldn’t possibly refuse could I?!) and although the cocoa content is quite high at 70%, it was surprising creamy and unlike other brands of dark chocolate not bitter at all. The packaging is super chic and luxurious too and would make brilliant favours for wedding guests or special chocolates for when serving the coffee after the wedding breakfast.

ChocArt Rocks!

Amalie Loves... WEDDING ENTERTAINERS

My Fab Friday blog continues and this week it’s all about the fabulous 'Wedding Entertainers' Alison Russell and her partner in crime (well slight of hand anyway) Adam Keisner. I met this amazing London based duo at a wedding show a few months ago and was absolutely blown away by their talent and skill and urge anyone who has a little bit of budget left over to invest in these guys; they truly will not disappoint.

Alison is one of the few silhouette portrait artists left in the country (if not the world) and she can cut out a silhouette which not only is scarily accurate (see mine on the right) but in a matter of minutes too (while having a laugh with you at the same time I might add!). Adam also showed me some of his magic and while I don’t wish to divulge the magic circles secrets (yeah right like he told me!) I can honestly say it’s one of the best pieces of magic I’ve seen in a long time and truly leaves you wondering “how the hell did he do that!”

Being a team means you can have both of their talents and super lovely personalities to help entertain guests for a reasonable fee and they are more than happy to travel to venues outside of the London area.

*Love* them!

Amalies Nine Codes for Successful Planning

#1: Thou shalt not deviate from the BRIEF and honour the requirements of our clients.

#2: Thou shalt not go over BUDGET and honour the costs allocated by our clients.

#3: Thou shalt delivery the event on TIME and honour the schedule of our clients.

#4: Thou shalt honour all INTEGRATION with other suppliers and event partners.

#5: Thou shalt honour best PROCUREMENT practices with our suppliers.

#6: Thou shalt produce the highest QUALITY event possible.

#7: Thou shalt respect and honour all PEOPLE involved with the event.

#8: Thou shalt always COMMUNICATE with our clients and event partners.

#9: Thou shalt not ignore RISK and take appropriate actions against it.

The above codes are adapted from an Events Management bible of mine and comes from the nine areas of knowledge from the Project Management Institute (2000). I'm a firm believer in these codes and believe these to be the foundation in which the wedding and events industries should be based upon.

Amalie Loves... PRESTIGE SPORTS CARS

For the ultimate wedding day treat for the groom, why not spoil him absolutely rotten by organising the hire of a prestige sport car to get him to the church on time?. Not only will the groom think you’re amazing and super cool; it then gives the boys something to do and talk about before the wedding (and trust me, the boys get ready in half the time and it will delay them going off to the pub and having too many!)

This fabulous self hire service is available from companies such as Prestige Cars and Dream Car Hire and in my opinion would go down a lot better than your uncles space wagon!. They both offer a fleet of impressive cars including Ferrari’s, Lamborghinis, Maserati’s and Aston Martins to name a few. You can either set up hire for a day, or if you really want him to have time to enjoy it why not book it for the whole weekend?. Logistics could be an issue so I would enlist the help of the best man, brother or usher to help with the surprise; if for no other reason than to stop the groom having a tipple before it arrives!

I’m a big fan of this idea as why should it only be the bridal party who arrives in style?. Even though the security deposits can be quite hefty, the look on your grooms face when he’s handed the keys to his dream car *priceless*.

He just won’t want to give it back!

Amalie Focus: Bridal Stylists

For most couples using a wedding planner can seem the ultimate luxury; but what about using a stylist to source your perfect wedding wardrobe? It might seem extravagant at first but on further inspection it could save a significant amount of time, money and also reduce stress levels. Clients who desire to look amazing and bang on trend at their wedding (and let’s face it – who doesn’t?!) might consider a little extra help from someone with a comprehensive knowledge of both the fashion and bridal industries.

I myself love fashion and bridal wear and have been glued to web updates showing the new Spring 2011 bridal gown collections from the New York Bridal Market over the past few days (I dream of one day being in the front row!). This passion though is no substitute for someone who’s been in the fashion industry for years and who has a breathtaking knowledge of contacts, sources and design. Companies such as Threads Styling Consultancy are bridging this gap in the market and are offering brides a comprehensive service for only a one off fee. This is very reasonable when it includes at least an initial consultation, a huge amount of research and various visits to shops and boutiques until the perfect gown and accessories are found.

I went over the process with Threads owner and head stylist Sophie Hill who explained it’s a deeply personal and exciting time for brides to be. She strives to spend as much time talking to her clients as possible, gaining an understanding of their personality, fashion sense (if they have one!) and other important areas they might have concerns over such as self confidence or body issues. After this initial meeting which normally takes place 9 to 12 months before the wedding, a few months will then be spent exchanging ideas and growing a portfolio of favourites. 6 months before the wedding the stylist will arrange appointments at bridal boutiques and will attend with the bride and friends making it a fun and special day out. Once the dress is on order the brides accessories, bridesmaids dresses and even the menswear can be sorted out to reflect the style of the brides dress and/or theme of the wedding.

A lot of pressure is placed on brides and although shopping with your mum or friend can be fun, to have a professional with you to cast an experienced and honest opinion is something I think all brides should consider. Stylists will also ensure you get the most out of your budget and offer suggestions you might not have thought of.So for a unique experience which will ensure you have the best wedding dress, tailored suit or honeymoon wardrobe, visit the Threads website or contact Sophie on 020 7749 0784 for further details.

Amalie Loves... ENGLISH CHEESECAKE COMPANY

OK, you got me; I’m a bit of a foodie! Canapés, cupcakes, cocktails (not technically food but sometimes has fruit in it!) and cheesecake are probably the most loved foodie items by me (and they all begin with ‘c’?!).

Just to be clear, we’re not talking cheeseboard cheesecake stacked on top of each other (although those are fab too!), no, I’m talking crumbly biscuity base with creamy baked cheesecake all velvety smooth and soft when you delve into it with a fork...

Yummy; and a perfect idea for couples who would like their cake and eat it (with their guests for dessert I mean!).

These little beauties featured are made by the fantastic English Cheesecake Company who I met and helped scoff their titbit tasters at the National Wedding Show back in February. They can create up to a 5 tier cheesecake feeding up to 140 guests with different flavours (including chocolate, toffee and alcoholic cakes!) and toppings including fruit, flowers, or my personal favourite; profiteroles drowning in chocolate.

*Sigh* heaven!

Video stand v's Photo booth

As a wedding planner I’m a firm believer it’s the 'little extras' which can make your wedding stand out from the crowd. Surveys have shown after a few months most guests sadly won’t remember what they ate (unless it’s really bad of course!) or which fragrant blooms graced their table. What guests do remember is the entertainment and whether it was unique, fun and err entertaining! In this vain I’ve researched two novel ways of creating pictures or videos for the couple but not from the professional photographer or videographer.

Now Photo booths have been around for a number of few years and established companies such as Boothnation, Party Photobooth Hire & The Photo Booth Company will travel around the country setting up a bespoke booth for a wedding. Boothnation for example has the choice of both a glitter and a retro booth while The Photo Booth Company styles the photos produced with bespoke wording. Most of them have different packages one can select however most of them will offer props, a booth attendant and an interior curtain to match your colour scheme on the day.

The brilliant thing about the photo booths is guests end up having a fun and unique memento of either themselves or with their close friends or family (see picture to the right, I couldn’t resist popping in the one at the Designer Wedding Show!). The photos produced are given to the guests who 'pop in' and will also be copied onto a disc or placed on an on-line gallery for the happy couple to have a chuckle at afterwards. It creates a far more relaxed and fun record of the day with the photographer taking the 'proper' family pics and candid shots. Prices start from £500 for a basic package to £1500 for a very comprehensive one.

Video stands or kiosks (pictured left) is a relatively new concept with companies such as The Celebration Station and Wish You Well being able to travel a great area for not more than £400. These companies set up a stand in a quiet location at the reception venue, hit 'record' and let friends and relatives come and leave their well wishes to the camera. Obviously when alcohol is around things will become highly entertaining and slightly ruder as the evening progresses; however it takes the pressure off the videographer in having to drag people away from the party to give proper speeches to the camera. Most companies will then professionally edit the video messages onto a personalised DVD for the couple to cherish (or laugh at!) for a long time.To round up, photo booths are slightly more expensive but worth it for the pictures and the fun it creates for the guests. Video stands are great for couples on a budget and they have a brilliant selection of candid well wishes from family and friends they can keep forever.

Verdict: Love them both!

The importance of... LIGHTING

The potential use of lighting at a wedding should never be under estimated. It helps create ambience, provides depth of colour and injects additional personality and cohesiveness into the ceremony or reception venue. I’m sure we’ve all been to weddings which would have been transformed into something a little more special with the use of a few more light effects. Think of winter weddings struggling in the gloomy light or a summer marquee event with acres of dazzling white walls. The addition of clever, fun and interesting lighting can result in your wedding looking stunning; and the great news is it doesn’t have to cost the earth either!

Romantic candle light

Many couples will use either candles or candelabra’s at their reception; however you don’t have to use them just on the tables. Storm lanterns could be used to light up a driveway or entrance area creating some initial wow factor to arriving guests. Floor standing candelabras could be placed around the church or reception room to create further warmth and atmosphere. Additional candles could be placed on the cake table, around the seating plan or on mantle pieces. What about placing scented ones in the toilets? Alternative Occasions Ltd are experts in creating an amazing ambiance and offer a huge range of different candelabras and other lighting services. Even if your venue has a 'no naked flame' policy there are still plenty of battery candles to choose from and give the same flickering effect as real ones.

Atmospheric up lighting

LED lights are another great way to creative atmosphere, Duncan Owen from Effectevent Ltd specialises in creating a unique feel to any venue inside and out. Their huge range of colour filters means the lighting effect will tie in beautifully with the flowers, theme and venue. Duncan commented “lighting affects the mood of our celebrations. It also helps us to bring the event to life and gives you a really professional ‘finish’. It also gives a much better backdrop to the photos which will be treasured for years to come”. The lights can also be changed from day to evening lighting at a touch of a button. For example, a light pink glow can be changed to a dark cerise for a more dramatic backdrop in the evening.

Striking light curtains

For couples wanting a slightly more striking effect then a light curtain either behind the top table or the entertainment can be as dramatic or as romantic as you like. The Wedding Lounge team have transformed some rather dull and boring spaces into spectacular wedding venues, creating some serious wow factor. There is something rather simple and stylish adding light curtains, fairy lights and lengths of voile fabric; it also helps to cover up unsightly air conditioning units, office lighting or unsightly ceiling tiles which is always a bonus!

From top left clockwise pictures courtesy of:

Alternative Occasions Ltd dressing Pembroke Lodge for a stunning wedding.

Beautiful floor standing candelabra available to hire from Alternative Occasions Ltd

Warming up lighting effects from Effectevent Ltd

Effectevent Ltd creating a dramatic entrance outside Nonsuch Mansion using up lighting and storm lanterns.

Example of a stunning light curtain from The Wedding Lounge.

For brides on a budget and are thinking about hiring a school, village or town hall, these spaces can be dramatically changed into something special with the use of different lighting effects and drapes. Our recommendation is if you have either a small budget or if you have any budget left over; investing in additional lighting would be a very wise choice.

Amalie Loves... CUTICUP CUPCAKES

As it's "Fab Friday" I thought I'd give a shout out to the awesomeness that is the CutiCup cupcake. These beautiful little angels come in 6 different flavours with colourful creamy frosting and limitless topping possibilities including glitter and bespoke decorations to match any theme. Their range of quirky and beautiful wedding cupcakes means couples will have very happy guests munching on their own little piece of perfection either for dessert or as a special favour.

CutiCups creator Jeni Hall confirmed the quality of each cup cake: “CutiCups are freshly baked the day before your wedding and are individually iced and decorated. We are very proud to say that no additives or preservatives are added to our cakes. All you will find in our cupcakes are the finest ingredients such as lovely free range eggs, thick creamy butter and a lot of CutiCups love!”

Loving the on so on trend vintage inspired cupcakes and also the Easter range (not particularly relating to weddings we know, but they look exceedingly yummy!). View the full range or order now from their fab website www.cuticups.com

Every day should be a cup cake day!

Amalie Loves... ALESIA BARRY CANDLES

Now, lovers of all things beautiful are in for a real treat as Alesia Barry have just launched a fabulous new range of candles which are not only top quality but also smell divine too.

They are all beautifully hand-made from creamy soy wax (biodegradable, non-toxic, burns twice as long as normal wax), and the highest quality of fragrances and essential oils to create the gorgeous aroma. Because these are made to order, they take a while longer to make (up to a week), however they are seriously special and would fill the church or reception with a beautiful fragrance everyone will enjoy.

The owner Aleisa Broad told me earlier “the centrepiece candles burn straight down the middle which means the beautiful ribbon and Swarovski crystal detail remains intact. This means the client can keep the beautiful candle after the wedding or event as a keepsake”.

They are all reasonably priced too, especially as they are all hand-made using natural and eco-friendly ingredients and packaging. The beautifully votive candles would make awesome gifts for bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and groom or as wedding favours for guests. They would also make excellent gifts if attending a wedding and also Christmas or christenings (well just about any time really!!).

Please go to their fabulous website www.alesiabarry.co.uk to check out their full range.

Gorgeous!