Black Pearl Weddings Boxing Day Sale

To celebrate newly engaged couples who have taken the plunge during this glorious festive season, Black Pearl Weddings are offering a 50% discount on virtual services booked by 31/01/2015.

Black Pearl Remote Planning Service – a full and comprehensive planning and coordination service provided using internet and telephone support and resources. This service excludes “On The Day Coordination.”

Was - £1000
Now - £500

Black Pearl Wedding Helpline - Operating between 8am and 10pm, we will provide advice and reassurance around all aspects of the planning process through using telecommunications and on-line resources, including email, instant messaging, Skype, SMS messaging and of course, telephone discussions, structured to suit the clients preferred communication.

Clients can purchase Black Pearl Helpline Support in 90 minute increments and use this time to delegate tasks to us, such as sourcing information, researching venues or suppliers, discussing what they want & providing inspiration, arranging/scheduling meetings, writing correspondence to suppliers etc. in order to simplify the process and avoid becoming overwhelmed with planning your ceremony.

Was - £50
Now - £25

Black Pearl Wedding Helpline support must be scheduled in advance, and a suitable slot will be allocated according to the customers’ needs.

**All services require a period of notice prior to support delivery, and a suitable initial consultation appointment will be created.**

See Our Site For More -

http://www.blackpearlweddings.co.uk/virtual.html

"Ethnic Bride Series" - Destination Weddings Africa

Daily Mail

A magical continent, rich in culture and tradition, and with some of the most scenic landscapes on earth, Africa was a natural choice for Black Pearl Weddings to explore the destinations available for your weddings. This week, we take pleasure in sharing our three favourite so far..!

The first breath-taking location we discovered was South Africa.

This incredible country isn’t just steeped in political history and a bench-mark in social progression, but is also home to the awe-inspiring Waterberg area and Eastern Cape, home to the five big game animals. A malaria free zone, this is truly the pinnacle in outdoor (or “bush”) weddings; as well as boasting the “Garden Route” and area magniloquently known for spectacular flora and fauna, with possibly one of the greatest sites for beach weddings, as well as world famous mountain ranges.

Travel Nation

Secondly, but by no means inferior in any way, is Zambia. With the Royal Livingstone overlooking the formidable Victoria Falls, or South Luangwa Valley, truly the romantic heart of the African Bush lands encapsulating the divine Lake Malawi which offers heavenly islands to relax upon and enjoy your honeymoon, Zambia is also famed for the Lower Zambezi Valley, considered by many to be the most scenic place on earth. Boasting sunsets that offer insight into the universal worship of the sun among all cultures, the Lower Zambezi Valley turns golden during these unforgettable miracles of nature, and shortly afterwards, is home to  dream-like starlit skies.

Tongabezi

Finally, moving into Northern Africa, Black Pearl Weddings were stunned by Kenya. Famously boasting renowned Safari Parks populated by as many exotic species as one could possibly wish for and then some, Kenya is also home to truly leading architecture such as the KICC building, or” The One”, Africa’s Tallest skyscraper.

Diani Reef

However, while we have offered the above selection as our top three so far, it’s important to remember that a continent as large and varied as Africa has incredible features in every corner – keep watch for our second part to Destination Weddings – Africa.

Venues- (The info a bride should know)

When it comes to venues or more specifically ‘your’ venue knowing the possible hidden costs from the start will save you a lot more money than you think. Here’s a breakdown of what to look out for.

Venues

When deciding upon a venue it’s important to ask what’s included as well as the hire cost. Certain venue prices depend on the time of year and where in the country you decide to get married, reception halls tend to charge the highest fees for Saturday night weddings so a tip to bring the cost down would be a Friday or Sunday night celebration instead.

Some venues offer wedding packages that can include additional extras such as overnight accommodation or floral arrangements.

Contract

Ask the venue for a sample contract to take away and study before you sign to avoid any unwanted surprises, check if VAT is included and look out for the words ‘additional costs may be occurred’, ask about service charges/delivery/costs of set up.

Decorations

Be sure to find out exactly what your venue supplies, for example chair covers, don’t assume these will be provided and if not, remember to check if the venue have a recommended supplier as sometimes the chairs for use may be specially made so ordinary chair covers might not fit.

Catering 

Ask if there’s a minimum/maximum number of guests they cater for. The cost of waiters/ waitresses may need to be considered.

Cake cutting fee, the fee is for someone from the catering company or venue to cut the wedding cake and pass it out to guests. Cake corkage fee applies if you bring in a wedding cake from an outside vendor.

Alcohol 

Consider the cost of bartenders, corkage fees, check what the bar will serve as it may not stock the brands of refreshments wanted and you’ll have to pay extra to have these brought in.

Parking

Be sure to ask about parking for you and your guests as this may not be included when booking.

Outdoor wedding venues

Outdoor venues require a number of permits. From city regulations to fire regulations they will need to be strictly adhered to. Tents/marquees might have to be rented and every rental item in the tent will be your responsibility, including electricity generators, air conditioning, sound systems, heating, tableware, dance floor, drapes, lighting, bar/staff and toilets.

Overtime charges

Remember not to overrun your venue hire time as this will result in you being charged at supplement. 

"Ethnic Bride Series" - The Money Dance

The knot

A custom in Africa, favoured particularly in Nigeria, the “Money Dance” is a tradition actually enjoyed the world over.

The tradition is that the first dance, as the floor is being opened up to the guests, is carried out by the Bride, often with a backing group of dancers, or perhaps close female friends of the Bride such as the Bridesmaids.

As the bride undertakes the dance, guests and well-wishers dance toward her on the dance floor, approaching her to shower her with money, in note form. The customary showering of the bride with cash is to wish the happy couple well on their journey as husband and wife, with each donation being a token toward a stable and prosperous future.

As the dance progresses, the Groom will dance toward his wife, accompanying her for the first dance, as the well-wishers move away having deposited their kind gifts. This dance will then lead to the dance floor being available to all guests to come and share in the happy occasion and enjoy the party for the rest of the evening.

See the perfect demonstration of this elegant dance below..  

You Tube

Aside from the customary depositing of notes, often the guests will fashion items out of cash for the bride, such as garters made from bills or simple jewellery fashioned from coins.

Pinterest

In fact, so renowned are the spectacular Nigerian weddings and tradition of the "Money Dance" that a whole styled shoot was undertaken by photography byobi, following the inspirational Black Barbie shoot for Vogue Italia

Fash Afrique

"Ethnic Bride Series" - Ma Nubiah

Ma Nubiah, a London based greeting cards publishers  specialise in creating a wide
range of multicultural and ethnic designed products. Their inspiration is derived of the wide palette of diverse and dynamic mix of people and cultures in the UK, Africa, the Caribbean and beyond!

Ma Nubiah aim to produce quality, unique and stylish products that not only capture the imagination, but are also something beautiful to treasure as a keepsake from a special time.

Alongside greeting cards, Ma Nubiah also offer bespoke wedding invitations and stationery, as well as beautiful gift ideas.

In this latest installment of our "Ethnic Bride Series", we meet owner Josie Fadlin, and find out more...

Tell me about your business?

My name is Josie and I'm a greeting card publisher who is passionate about developing products that are reflective of my African/Caribbean culture and heritage. After years of being left disappointed with the lack of choice on the market in terms of accessing multicultural and afrocentric greeting cards, I decided to launch my own greeting cards publishing company Ma Nubiah, 2 years ago. Since then Our product range has expanded to include gift ideas such as Mugs, T-Shirts, Picture Frames and Cushions.

Our transition into designing wedding stationery was quite organic in that it happened through its own natural process! We were approached by someone from America who asked if we would design her invitations and we said yes! We were then commissioned by a Nigerian/Ghanian couple to design their wedding stationery as the bride explained she had exhausted the market searching for wedding invitations that would reflect not just her and her fiancée's personalities, but also their different ethnic cultures. Since then we have taken on several commissions and designing stationery is now an established part of the services we provide.

Tell us about your most popular range?

Every couple has their own unique style and preferences and so far all the invitations we've designed have been very bespoke, however there is clearly a central theme running through all of them, and that is they reflect the couples ethnic backgrounds. That said, currently our illustrated invitations are very popular and many couples are choosing to have illustrated images of themselves incorporated within their design.

Tell us how will your products benefit the ethnic bride?

From my own experience, ethnic brides struggle to source wedding products that allow them to incorporate elements of their ethnicity in their wedding theme. The benefits of using our services is that we are passionate about working with couples to bring their visions to life. The bride will be involved in every stage of the design process and they will have the guarantee that their wedding stationery is truly unique and most importantly, if this is a priority and necessity for her and husband to be, not to mention their extended family! their invitations will also be reflective of their cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

What advice would you give a couple when selecting wedding stationery?

Whether you choose to send a save-the-date card or an elegant invitation, your wedding stationery gives guests their first glimpse of your wedding theme. So choosing the right set of stationery is the first step in setting the tone for your big day! My advise to couples is to get your stationery designer involved very early in the process of planning your wedding. Ask to view samples of their work and start the process early. Unlike off the shelf invitations, bespoke designs can take at least 4-6 weeks to complete the design process and even longer if it is a large order with lots of hand finished details in the design.

Any new products for 2015?

The last two years have been amazing for us and in 2015 we are hoping to launch our sister company Adero Invitations! The name Adero is South African and means 'She Who Creates Life.' The Adero brand will follow the Ma Nubiah model, in that it will be specialising in bringing the ethnic bride's dreams of multicultural and Afrocentric wedding stationery and products to life. Our aim is to establish ourselves as the first choice for ethnic brides in the U.K.

Photos complements of Ma Nubiah

For more Information see Ma Nubiah's website - manubiah.co.uk

Black Pearl Weddings Meets Honey & Lace Cake Design

Cake-maker of excellence Nicola Gill, founder of Honey & Lace Cake Design has recently collaborated with Black Pearl Weddings to create this masterpiece "Urban Romance" for our soon to be released photo-shoot.

Experienced and skilled, Nicola is capable of creating luxurious cakes with magnificent designs, bespoke specifically to clients requirements with ease, and is a true consummate professional, recently nominated for a prestigious Hitched Breakthrough Award. Here Nicola tells us a little more.

"Urban Romance"

Please can you tell us a bit about yourself and your business?

I have always been a keen baker but it wasn’t until 2013, after many years of working as a scientist, that I discovered the magical world of sugarcraft. After reading rather a lot of wedding magazines whilst planning my own wedding last year my eyes were opened to the exciting possibilities.

Wedding cakes didn’t need to be a three tier fruitcake covered in white icing, they could become a unique representation of the couple’s style and personalities.

Honey and Lace Cake Design was born in early 2014. I have since  been asked to appear in the UK’s most popular wedding magazine as one of their top cake designers and recently was shortlisted to the Hitched breakthrough awards top ten new cake designers in the UK which is incredibly exciting. Making sugar flowers is my favourite area of sugar craft. I studied botany and enjoy gardening so I find nature a great source of inspiration.

What advice would you give a bride and groom when selecting a wedding cake?

Your wedding cake is a chance to express your style and a good cake designer will be able to work with you to create a truly unique cake just for you! Think about the design but also think about the taste, it's nice to have a combination of fruit cake and more modern flavoured sponges so your guests have a choice. Take some photos of cakes you like and maybe swatches of your colour scheme or your wedding invitation design to your cake tasting, these will be really helpful to give your cake designer a feel for your style.

What cake trends have you noticed over the past 6 months?

Metallics are still proving popular and I can feel there is a shift back to a more classic style of sugar flowers and hand piped royal icing. Personalised details, such as sugar lace matching the bride's dress, or monograms of the couple's initials, are also popular to create a completely bespoke design.

What do is you most popular products?

Couples are also getting more adventurous with their cake flavours, some of my most popular choices are rhubarb and custard and chocolate and Cointreau, not something you can find on the supermarket shelves!

What is the most elaborate cake request that you have had?

Perhaps not the most elaborate, but the most unconventional! I made a lovely personal wedding cake for a wonderful couple getting married at Lewes Castle. Their reception was at a beachside house in east Sussex and they decorated the garden leading to the beach with bunting, candles and fun board games on each table. They had a jazz band, magician and sparklers for the photographs. I was given a fairly free design brief - a teacup of roses, a motor bike and absolutely no pink! The result was a unique cake with wired sugar roses in the teacup topper, hand made models of the bride (in her gorgeous vintage tea dress) and groom sitting on their motorbike, tiny sugar bees taken from their wedding invitation design and finished with lots of bright flowers and piped pearls. They were utterly thrilled with the results!

For more information please see www.honeyandlace.co.uk. 

All images courtesy of Honey and Lace. 

"Ethnic Bride Series" - NayNay Make Up

The first episode in our "Ethnic Bride" series focuses exclusively on Naima Mohammed, founder of NayNay Makeup, an up and coming Make-Up Artist with a real flair for wedding style. Extremely talented, Naima has recently assisted Black Pearl Weddings with a styled photo-shoot, soon to be released for your enjoyment.

Developing her career, Naima is a versatile and adept artist with a speciality for Afro-Caribbean and African make up, although her prowess extends to European, Asian and traditional make up styles. 

Here we find out more about Naima and her vocation.

Tell me about yourself?

I have always been interested in make-up and the makeup industry, from a young age I was fascinated by Makeup as an Art form. I saw Art in media which developed my passion for creating makeup looks on my family and friends. I increased my knowledge by paying for several makeup courses. With further self-study I gradually built my skills and I became a Makeup Artist. I have been working as a freelance makeup artist for a year now. I specialise in creating that perfect look for weddings and special occasion, I know all of the secrets that include how the lightening affects the way make-up looks and how certain colours can make your best features stand out. I have the skills to provide the professional service that clients expect and deserve and I always stay updated on all the latest trends and styles. I am passionate about makeup.

What type of makeup do you specialise in?

I specialise in makeup for ethnic brides, bridesmaids and mothers and flower girls. I also do make-up for photo shoots for model portfolios and special occasion.

Do you have any makeup tips you can share?

"Set your foundation with a translucent powder, less powder goes a long way". The most naturally looking powder on the market is translucent powder, a white loose powder or pressed powder that applies clear and translucent. Translucent powder helps achieve an airbrushed look on your face and has blurring properties making your pores look smaller and your overall skin look smoother. Also it's great at keeping your face shine & oil free. However, beware if you apply too much powder it can cause a white flash in flash photography. It can be used as an everyday powder it not only sets your makeup like a traditional powder but it’s much more silky & finely milled so it looks airbrushed. My favourite translucent powders are Makeup Forever HD powder, MAC Prep & Prime, NARS Translucent powder.

What type of makeup suits an ethnic bride?

Ethnic women have the most beautiful features such as dark thick eye brows, almond shaped eyes and fuller lips which non ethnic women love to achieve in their makeup. In the makeup industry ethnic beauty is a trend which, celebrities and the media have helped promote. The main focus is the eyes when applying makeup for ethnic brides.

For my ethnic clients I like to enhance their strong features such as the eyes, eye brows and lips. I would enhance their eyes, by applying a natural eye make-up with eyeliner and lashes or an exotic smokey look of various colours, eye shadows of gold, green and red colours, and eye shadows of their choice. I would finish the smokey eye look with lashes. Smokey eye makeup suits an ethnic bride, however, most ethnic brides go for a natural look that that gives a glow, which can be achieved by matching the right foundation and getting the skin tone right, as most brides fear having ashy and heavy makeup on their big day.

For this beautiful bride picture above, I used a shimmery golden brown with dark brown Matt eye shadow from the corner of her eye and crease. I also pumped up her lashes with a few false individual ones and plenty of mascara. I also defined her brows to further enhance her eyes. Ethnic women vary in complexion tones from golden complexions to darker, richer tones. By choosing the right makeup colour for your specific skin tone, I can create an absolutely flawless look.

What advice would you give a bride when picking a makeup artist?

When choosing your Bridal Makeup Artist it’s really helpful to have a look at their portfolio, do they have real life examples of the Brides that they have made up? Does the beauty of the bride shine through? Are you inspired?

All Photos are courtesy of Naynay Makeup.

Ethnic Bride Series

Black Pearl Weddings are delighted to announce that our newest focus is going to be on “Ethnic Brides”.

We feel that the huge wealth of cultures around the globe provide some sublime design techniques, with styles and flavours unique yet transferable in a way that can compliment any theme.

So we invite you to take the chance to enjoy all we will be offering on this inspirational topic over the coming months on our Blog & Social Media sites.

Glamping

Ruffled Blog

As the season progresses fully into Autumn, there are some truly spectacular changes in the natural surroundings. Colours become rich, golden and brown, the air develops that comforting scent on the build up to winter, and food trends shift into hearty, warming meals.

Many intrepid couples will definitely want to incorporate the beautiful atmospheric autumn feel into their wedding, opting to style an outdoor ceremony or hold it in a venue with sumptuous grounds that will reflect in their wedding photos in a way worthy of stalwart romantic artistes from ages gone by.

Then there are those who adore the idea, but aren’t so inclined to utilize the great outdoors, instead preferring creature comforts.

Well times have certainly changed, and the two options are no longer mutually exclusive. If you are giving serious thought to planning an autumn wedding, and yearn for luxury, but are reticent at the cost of the stunning ambience of a truly romantic time of year, then fear not… Glamping is a relatively new and increasingly sought after alternative to “roughing it” in the countryside location of your dreams.

Combining the institution of camping in the countryside, and luxury fit for royalty, Glamping is a glamorous alternative which enables you to have all the beauty of nature from inside some virtually palatial yurts, bell tents, tipi’s, pavilions or even huts, with literally everything provided you could possibly wish for.

As Glamping has grown in popularity, there have been some truly splendid sites deciding to offer this sumptuous new trend for weddings, short breaks and even honeymoons.

So please take the opportunity to enjoy this selection of images that Black Pearl Weddings take great pleasure in sharing with you, to give an idea of just how exquisite a break in the woods can now be!

Black Pearl Weddings Meets Kevin Halfhill Modern Art & Design

Black Pearl Weddings feel privileged to have gotten to know the hugely talented Kevin Halfhill, of Kevin Halfhill Modern Art & Design.

Extremely skilled at taking your treasured images and reworking them with an edgy Pop-Art style, Kevin is capable of turning any photographs into exquisitely unique artwork, worthy of the most stylish penthouses, personalised phone cases, and much, much more.

With over two decades of experience in the art and design industries, Kevin is a true veteran that can bring knowledge skill and experience that leaves you rest assured that your memories will be turned into a masterpiece.

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your business?

My name is Kevin Halfhill, and I enjoy the occupation of Artist. I’ve been involved with creative endeavours for most of my life, and professionally for nearly 20 years. I spent the better part of my 20’s and early 30’s as an art director for both print and web-related projects. A few years ago, I found that I wanted to refocus my professional career on fine art. Thus, I closed my web design shop and opened a small art studio instead. I began working on various private commissions and fine art prints for charities and non-profit organizations. Somewhere along the way, I created a portrait as a wedding gift for my friend Noe, who had recently married the love of her life. Soon after that, I began receiving requests for wedding portraiture. Much to my surprise, I discovered that I enjoyed wedding portraiture more than anything else I had been doing. It quickly became the focus of my studio and now it comprises the bulk of my schedule.

Please can you tell us about your services and products?

I create beautiful, unique wedding portraiture through illustration. My illustrations are based on photos of the couple, either from their engagement or wedding shoots. The style of art that I work with would be best be described as modern, geometric collage. The result is a very unique portrait of the couple. My illustrations are hand-drawn, and output as Fine Art Prints (for framing). I also do Gallery Wrap Canvas prints on request. I try to make my work as affordable as possible, so as to complement (and not compromise) couples’ photography and invitation budgets.

Couples frequently work with me for both their engagement and wedding portraiture. While my portraits most often find themselves hung in a couple’s home as decoration, they’re also quite commonly used in invitations, thank you cards, and entry placards.

Recently, I’ve begun offering post-wedding portraiture services, too: sonogram/ultrasound portraiture, newborn/child portraiture, and family portraiture. The sonogram/ultrasound portraiture in particular has been receiving a tremendous amount of positive feedback.

What advice would you give a couple when using your service?

It’s always best to submit between 2 and 4 photos for an illustrative portrait. My artwork is collage work, and several photos gives me enough elements to draw from when creating the portrait.

It’s also a good idea to keep in mind where you intend to hang the portrait. I don’t advocate creating a portrait (which you’ll keep for years to come) for a specific location; decor can and often does change, even in the same home. But knowing where the portrait will hang can set a tone for the work; something you intend to put in the living room might turn out a bit differently than something for the entryway or bedroom.

Lastly, I’d suggest finding a quality framer in your area. My portraits are shipped ready to be framed in standard, off-the-shelf frames. But for something this special, I think there’s merit in having a professional framer’s input; matting, frame selection, etc. People are often surprised by how much more impressive a portrait like this is when professionally framed.

What are your most popular products?

My most popular product is probably the Large Wedding Portrait. It measures 16in. x 24in. (406mm x 610mm). It’s perfect for so many things: the artwork can be used by invitation and thank you card designers; it makes a beautiful wall decoration in the home; it’s the right size for an entry placard.

Many of my couples also buy matching phone cases for their iPhones. These phone cases (also available for Samsung Galaxy) have the portrait boldly printed on them. Couples most often order these as an identical pair of cases. Sometimes, however, they order matching “his and hers” cases, featuring the groom half of the portrait on one case, and the bride on the other.

How will they benefit a couple?

I’d say one of the benefits lies in the uniqueness of the work. Family and wedding portraiture (original, illustrative artwork) is somewhat a lost art in our society today, vastly overtaken by the photographic portrait. Photographs are beautiful, but an illustration allows us to add a very special something….extra. Photographs of the most magical and beautiful memories can become just a little bit more magical and beautiful, in a way that a photograph can’t accomplish. This is a fresh, modern take on a very traditional concept, and as such I think there’s a certain pride couples can enjoy in that.

The phone cases are fun and a nice way to personalize what has become an integral part of our everyday lives: the smartphone. It’s another way to carry those cherished memories with you every day. The style makes it far more unique than just having a photograph printed on a phone case; it’s customized, designer artwork that’s sure to catch more than a few eyes when you send your next text or answer your phone.

For more information, or to get a feel of Kevin’s style and work, please take a look at his website, http://wearehalfhill.com

WeddingDresses.com - Guest Post: How to stay comfortable in a mermaid wedding gown

Mermaid gowns have always been one of the most popular wedding gown silhouettes for brides. The tight style is stunning and flatters the womanly figure in the most fabulous way, but it does come with a price. A mermaid gown can often be uncomfortable, especially if worn for an entire day and evening!  No bride should have to endure any kind of discomfort on her wedding day so here are a few tips to make sure your mermaid wedding dress is completely hassle-free and fits like a glove!

Start With A Good Foundation 

With any wedding dress, it is absolutely necessary to start with a smooth and supportive foundation, and this usually means investing in proper shape wear. While it isn’t the most fun shopping experience, we recommended you visit a department store or specialty lingerie boutique to work with a specialist and find out what kind of shape you need. If you have a larger chest it is important to invest in a piece that supports and lifts your chest to avoid any accidents. Is your stomach more rotund than you would like? Find a piece that flattens out your stomach without cutting off oxygen.

Pick Your Straps

Mermaid gowns are often very sexy. For a bride looking to balance the bombshell look, pick a mermaid gown with thick straps or sheer sleeves. By being more covered, you will be more comfortable with the curve hugging design of your wedding dress. By choosing straps, you can also opt to have a low back mermaid gown - talk about a showstopper!

Don’t Forget Your Feet

One of the most desired features a mermaid gown provides is the flared bottom at the knees of the dress. This element gives beautiful curves and a true classic silhouette. However, this can also make it more difficult to walk and dance. Be sure to pick comfortable shoes that are easy to walk in and won’t get caught in the train or tail of the dress. Wedges, stacked heels and ankle straps are all reliable features for mermaid-footwear.

All images curtsey of  www.weddingdresses.com . 

A Black Pearl Weddings Welcome to Charlene

Black Pearl Weddings would like you to join us in giving Charlene Nwaka a warm welcome. You may remember our guest blog "Gowns' Galore" which Charlene wrote for us - well Charlene, a fully qualified Wedding Planner, has joined the Black Pearl team.

Charlene and Black Pearl Weddings would love to share this introduction with our readers...

Tell us a little bit about yourself ?

Hi I’m Charlene, a qualified wedding planner/consultant. Aside from my passion for all things weddings I have always had an interest and genuine love of fashion, vintage fashion in particular as I think it’s pretty cool to take an old item of clothing for example a mini dress from the 60’s and team it up with something like high tops (trainers). A little different admittedly but I love that.

Another of my interests is music, I grew up listening to everything from hip-hop to classical thanks to my family which I also think are responsible for the creative gene I seem to have as it definitely runs throughout ha-ha.

Like most people though, when I get the chance to have some down time my most favourite thing to do is relax with family/friends watch a DVD, eat some good food and enjoy great conversation, all the simple things.

What attracted you to wedding planning?

I remember I was quite young, it was family movie night in my household and we were watching ‘father of the bride’ (Steve Martins version), from the moment I realised that such a job existed there was nothing else I wanted to do but become a wedding planner and as I grew up that feeling only escalated. I loved the idea of a career so beautiful and different every day, to get ready for work knowing that I’m on my way to do something that I enjoy and have always had a passion for.

Wikipedia

What do you like most about being a wedding planner?

What I like most about being a wedding planner would be the fact that I get to create something special and memorable for the couple, I’m able to be a part of making that day everything they wanted and that’s incredible.

 Who is your favourite wedding dress designer?

It’s really difficult to select just one favourite wedding dress designer as I have a few different looks and styles that appeal to me so my 3 favourite designers are: Caroline Castigliano, Lillian West and Madeline Gardener. They all offer perfection in different forms, depending on the look your after for your day.

Are there any particular weddings (past or present) that stand out to you?

A wedding I always remembered and fell in love with was celebrities Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey’s wedding back in 2002. It was romantic, timeless and elegant; they used a pale colour pallet that included white, pink and yellow with plenty of candles which gave the wedding a soft cosy feel. Very much a day I believe would have been a treat to organise.

Glamour Vanity

What would be your ideal wedding to plan?

My ideal wedding to plan would be something simple, romantic with a hint of fairytale. Both the ceremony and reception held in a beautiful country house surrounded by stunning picturesque views, greenery that stretches for miles yet still has a cosy an intimate feel.

The Vision- A waterfall of flowers, yellows and white intertwined with greens.

The Theme- vintage love (yellow, white, green) depicting a love with longevity, somewhat traditional, equal and endless.

Images from the top right clock wise - Flowers - Forever yours weddings , Dress - Martha Stewart Weddings , Cake - Flickr , Drinks - Pinterest, Chairs, Pinterest. 

Upcoming Trends For Spring 2015

Carolina Herrera Bride

As the summer of 2014 reaches its fabulous crescendo, rather than reflect upon the divine trends we have witnessed through this year, Black Pearl Weddings are somewhat excited to look forward to the next range of breath-taking trends, set to take the wedding world by storm in 2015.

Acclaimed designers have opted for off-the-shoulder necklines as a main feature for dresses in this upcoming seasonal range, designed to show the beauty of the feminine shape enveloped within the gown.

Rosanovias

House of Mooshki

Oxymoronically, delicate lace collars are also destined to be a favourite with many designers, choosing to elegantly grace the neck with these stylish additions.

Dana bridal

Wedding Dress Online Shop

In terms of colour, 2015 will observe an increase in more subdued yet sophisticated colours, with greys, blues and pastel mint-greens showing their worth in the upcoming collections, marking an increased favour towards alternative colours to the traditional favourites such as white or ivory.

Wedding Inspirasi

Praise Wedding

The picture has been painted, the scene set, for brides to create a dramatic style with their bridal o attire, and a key feature accessory add emphasis to this illusion are capes. A reinvention of the style will see capes explode onto the market as a must have accessory for many of the glamorous gowns from esteemed around the world.

The Beauty Bridal

Chic Vintage Brides

And our final pick from the stunning spring range is the inspired Tulle overskirt adornments. Fitted around the dress itself, the overskirt can add an almost ethereal glow to the appearance of a bride on her wedding day; one superb fact is that while it provides an opaque effect to the outfit, this can itself be altered through choosing the colour of the Tulle lace to add a completely unique touch to your bridal beauty.

Wedding Inspirasi

Daily Wedding Ideas

Black Pearl Weddings eagerly await this sublime collection being released to the world, and cannot wait to see what else is in store for 2015.