Meet West London Flowers

West London Flowers has over 20 years experience in providing high quality, fresh flowers for Weddings or Funerals. We are totally committed to offering the finest floral service in West London. Your peace of mind and satisfaction is our number one priority.

We are privileged to have spoken to West London Flowers owner Beryl St Marti, to find out more her and her business.  

Please can you tell me a little bit about your business?

In 2006 I closed my flower shop which I ran for a number of years, to do what I enjoy doing most, creating beautiful flower arrangements for weddings.

What type of services do you offer?

Working from my studio makes it easier for me to meet with my clients and have a chat about their wedding flowers at a time and place to suit them.

All flowers are bought in fresh for clients individual needs, sourced from the dutch auction rooms and shipped to the UK over night.

What type of venues have you worked with?

We have provided flowers for a variety of venues such as hotels, stately homes and iconic buildings in and around London. Some of the most famous being, Fortnum and Mason, Highclere Castle, St James Palace, Middle Temple, Syon Park and Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park to name but a view. I have a list of venues on my website: www.westlondonflowers.com

How does your service appeal to couples?

Couples are really busy working and have little time at the weekends to cram everything in seeing suppliers and to have some time to relax. I can  answer a lot of their queries via email and have arranged whole weddings this way only to meet the bride on the wedding day. I realise that means that the couple have to trust you to deliver so to speak and I am very flattered by this.

What can your service add to a wedding?

Most couples are on a set budget so we can advise them on how to save money using a few of our tricks to cut corners and save.

Images curtsey of : West London Flowers
Visit:  West London Flowers

Having problems fitting in your ideal wedding dress?

 Svelteshape.com offers - Lipo Slim Cavitation , the incredible revolutionary technique which helps a person lose anything from 1cm to a maximum of 10cm or 4inches in a session.  

We have taken the opportunity to talk Sharika Raman the owner of Svelteshape.com to find out more:

Please can you tell me a little bit about your business? 
SvelteShape came about as a result of wanting to help people get from their weight to their desired goal. Knowing how medical conditions can arise from a heavier body frame, I found the solution to this , had gone from traditional liposuction in an operating room to the same results being achieved without any of the processes involved. It is taking the world by storm and it excites me to know that I will be part of the process where lots of people look and feel good by using this treatment.

What type of services do you offer?
Fat-loss over the chin, neck area and over the entire body area are easily possible with the brilliance of this treatment, in no more than 1 hour, a client can see themselves gradually lose dress sizes .Radio -Frequency treatment which helps to tighten loose skin around the body and face has a transformative effect on your over all look after the course of treatment has finished.The business will also offer in under 6 months, a vibrational plate which will tone and further sculpt the body in a 10 minute session to maintain the new body shape. As well as this there will be a product range of vitamins and minerals from a leading chinese health and fitness company for all the clients to purchase. The range of products is comprehensive.

 What can your service add to a wedding? 
The first thing a bride thinks about how they can look as beautiful as possible for there is nothing like their big day. Even ifa bride wants to lose 1cm or more over all to fit into their dress, or are interested to have smoother firmer facial skin,the products the business uses can achieve excellent results as early on 7 days from the date of their treatment, using radio frequency and after the 1st session using cavitation treatments.  It is refined enough that the reduction of fat or cellulite can be targeted so that only one area can be worked on, until the client is happy with their appearance. Both men and women can receive these treatments provided all medical questionnaires show that they will be no -reactions that are contrary to the treatment process.With advanced bookings all clients should continue to their wedding destination with a glowing feeling !

Are they are concerns that a person should consider with Ultrasonic cavitation ?
The benefits sharply out-weigh the efforts a client would make such as 1 hour of their time be taken , while allowing themselves to relax and enjoy the experience. There is no pain, as this is not an invasive procedure, with no time needed to recuperate. The treatments can be done in a lunch hour and this goes to show how easy it is for the client to resume their wedding preparations after that. Young brides and older brides would have the same regenerative effects bought to them by undergoing a radio-frequency treatment, to gain smoother skin, or lose a necessary 1 inch if they would like. They can have as many treatments as they need to fit into their bride's dress.

I am a mobile practitioner and therefore it is quite possible for the bride and groom and any other member of the wedding party to be treated in their hotel room. Short-notice bookings are also possible, and if there is availability in the diary they are welcome to take advantage of that. www.SvelteShape.com is currently running some amazing offers for all body and face treatments and I would be happy to liase with Kelle to organise a treatment time for you.

For more information please see the website:
svelteshape.com

BLACK PEARL WEDDINGS COMPETITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH WEDDDINGDATES

                     WIN Bespoke Wedding Planning from Black Pearl Weddings!

Competition time! Black Pearl weddings are offering one lucky bride this fantastic prize on Wedding Dates Facebook!

 Black Pearl Weddings of London is a boutique wedding planning and consultancy service. Black Pearl Weddings provide an exquisite service, inimitable in its level of style and added mystique, similar to the Black Pearl itself, the rarest gem from the sea, long sought after by distinguished clientele. An established network in both the wedding and fashion industries enables Black Pearl to tailor each and every aspect of your occasion with a sublime service, to ensure your inner radiance will be reflected in a ceremony like no other.

   
WeddingDates is a website that allows engaged couples to select a county and see a list of wedding reception venues available on their chosen wedding date.
  

The winner will receive a fabulous Black Pearl Bespoke package (worth £900) consisting of:

Black Pearl Venue Search and Selection – the winner will receive assistance with sourcing and selecting the perfect venue for the ceremony and/or reception.

Black Pearl Supplier Sourcing and Contract Negotiation – a selection of relevant, reputable suppliers, and support negotiating the best deal will be provided.

Black Pearl Style and Design – Black Pearl Weddings will help bring your desired style/theme to life for your and wedding and will undertake the task of bringing your vision to reality, ensuring every last detail is impeccably acknowledged

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize simply click the Enter below! 

ENTER

Tiffany & Co reveals stunning Art Deco ranges

Tiffany & Co Jewellers are one of the finest Jewellers on the globe. Producing magnificent collections for some of the highest profile ad most elegant stars of the Silver Screen, many are familiar with their association to the beautiful Audrey Hepburn from the classic movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Following our recent article on Art Deco and its influence on weddings, we had the pleasure of discovering a new range of jewellery released by the exquisite Tiffany & Co.

 The Black Onyx Daisy Ring and Pearl the ring from the Ziegfeld collection. Images courtesy of Tiffany & Co, and can be viewed at

As always, the elegant and sophisticated range is truly Haute Couture, and priced between 250 & 875,000 it is aimed at all markets, with affordable pieces for the budget conscious and highly priced jewels for those seeking the ultimate accessory at any price.

Art Deco style Chandelier Earrings and a Daisy Brooch made of yellow and white diamonds, from the Jazz Age Collection, designed by Tiffany & Co with Catherine Martin, costume designer for the Great Gatsby

This is another awe-inspiring example of the resurgence in Art Deco style, which Black Pearl Weddings are truly excited about. The elegant pieces could be exactly what you are seeking to complement your wedding apparel

The show stopping savoy headpiece; the true pinnacle of this elegant collection. 

We are truly looking forward to the next examples of this gorgeous style becoming the in vogue flavour for fashion and weddings.
 

All Images have been sourced from Tiffiany & co website

Black Pearl Weddings Meets The Pelham Hotel

 A luxury five star boutique hotel in the heart of South Kensington where uniquely traditional English style mixes with unexpected modern flair.

The Pelham is a unique, stylish boutique hotel in the very heart of South Kensington.
Each and every room has been individually designed by Kit Kemp, blending the enchantment of English style with modern colours and flair, The Pelham has been described as one of London's finest townhouse hotels.

The wood panelled drawing room and library, together with the 51 individually designed rooms make a truly stylish base to explore what has been described as the "21st arrondissement of Paris". South Kensington is awash with boutiques, bars and bistros not to mention our own Bistro Fifteen and BAR 15.

Minutes from the Victoria & Albert and Natural History Museums, Harrods, Hyde Park and The Royal Albert Hall, The Pelham really is the perfect foundation for your sophisticated stay in London.

Having already played host to events for high profile clientele including Vogue, Bafta, Citigroup, the Royal Albert Hall and even the English National Ballet.

With this glorious history, Black Pearl Weddings have taken the opportunity to meet with Victoria, the Event Manager at the Pelham, to gain an insight into this luxurious hotel.

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and the Pelham Hotel?

My name is Victoria and I am responsible for all meetings and events here at The Pelham. I am dedicated in the planning and organisation of each event, working with the client on a personal level in order to create a completely bespoke event, with a professional finish.

2. Which three words would best describe the Pelham hotel?
  
Boutique, Charming, Vibrant

3. What can you offer to couples who wish to get married at your hotel?

Couples getting married at The Pelham will receive a luxurious and memorable stay, right from the moment they walk through the doors. Our most desired suites are available for the nights' stays before and after the ceremony, and the opportunity for an in-house massage from the beauticians at Santi Spa on your wedding night. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner can be arranged in our fabulous Bistro Fifteen, as well as a relaxing coffee in one of our lounges. The actual ceremony can take place in all of our event spaces, and can be arranged according to the organiser’s desires. A private dinner can then ensue, with a choice from various different private dining menus, and a party space can be set up complete with a DJ and dance floor to keep celebrations going until 2am. A post-wedding brunch the next day is also a lovely touch to the end of a beautiful experience here at The Pelham.

4.  How long will you work with the couples before their wedding day?

I can work with the couple before their big day for as long as they need and can be in very close contact with them should they wish me to be.

5. Wedding couples are always looking for ways to save on their budget, how can you help with this?

We can be flexible here to work towards a budget, if the couples have one outlined. There are always various packages I can arrange and offer if this is more desirable for the couple.

 6. Tell us a little bit about the team at the Pelham Hotel?

The team at The Pelham are really at the heart of the hotel. It is because of the genuine care that each of our staff possess for each guest that contributes to the five star level of service that they are sure to receive. The couple will certainly meet the staff in person, and the trust and passion for both the wedding itself and the couples’ needs will be at the forefront to the quality of their experience here at The Pelham.

Black Pearl Weddings would like to extend our sincere thanks to Victoria for her time and assistance.

 

Pictures Compliments of The Pelham Hotel
Pelham Hotel Website

Art Deco Influence On Weddings

Art Deco is a style that many will be familiar with, and often without even realizing it.

A seminal artistic movement born in 1920’s France, and really flourishing throughout the 1930’s and early 40’s before waning Post-World War Two, this influenced culture throughout much of the Western world.

The visual nature of Art Deco inspired not only painters and illustrators, but in fact was so influential a style that it became a highly sought after commodity, employed by architects, clothing designers, hair stylists, cinematographers and theatre producers,  and even motor car manufacturers.

 Classic 1938 Bugatti Type 57c Atalante

Art Deco embodied luxury, glamour, and symbolized the growing belief in both social & technological progression, epitomizing a style that embraced symmetry and lent itself perfectly to the concept of mass production. This was a growing trend, adopted within the Haute Couture industry, to enable designers to create a “collection” or range of garments of the finest quality, to be revealed during fashion shows, that could easily be produced on a greater scale according to demand.

So how has Art Deco influenced weddings, and still maintained a presence within style and design of ceremonies?

As Art Deco grew in popularity, not only the elite circles of high society desired its influence, but it rapidly became the style from which everyone sought inspiration. Social events required suitable dress style of the time, hair styling and even venue selection. This was no different for weddings, and the more elegantly the style incorporated the event was a statement of how exquisite the ceremony was.

Examples of this influence are:

Elegant hairstyle and headpiece in the traditional Art Deco style

The Lobby at Claridges Hotel, London

Dashing style demonstrated by iconic Silver Screen star Cary Grant
The trend in Hollywood at the present clearly demonstrates the resurgence in the theme of Art Deco, with one major example being the Great Gatsby, another seminal story based in the roaring twenties, with fabulous set pieces, costumes and design.

Soundtrack CoverMovie Poster

As you can see, the promotional artwork for this movie is a perfect example of the design style favoured in Art Deco. 

So here at Black Pearl Weddings, we anticipate that seeing stars of this calibre demonstrating the inherent elegance of Art Deco style in their costumes will have influence on the development of fashion for the 2014 collections and really inspire collections to incorporate the theme, with Bridal gowns and groom suits being no exception.

Here is some Art Deco Wedding Inspiration

 Art Deco-Inspired Wedding Dresses

Art Deco Cake

The age of Haute Couture and its influence on modern wedding styles

This week our guest blog has been featured on UK Alliance Of Wedding Planners Blog,

Haute Couture is a phrase we all associate with cutting edge fashion. However, not everyone knows the true meaning of Haute Couture, its origins, and the influence it holds over so many wedding styles.

Whilst the literal translation of “Haute Couture” can vary from High Fashion, High Sewing or High Needle-work, the meaning associated to the phrase is the creation of exclusive, custom fitted garments, made from the finest materials and finished by only the most adept of seamstresses.
Born in France in the mid 1800’s, Haute Couture is accredited to Charles Frederick Worth, an Englishman living in Paris after relocating to design drapes. The humble beginning of Haute Couture was the process of Mr Worth designing and creating simple dresses for his wife. These dresses soon caught the attention of the Parisian society, who regularly commissioned the production of similar garments for themselves.

As the mass market developed, Mr Worth opened his own boutique dress makers and fashion house, the House of Worth, which soon garnered the attention of French high society, the aristocracy and even the Empress Eugenie. Mr Worth is accredited with the implementation not only of labeling his clothes, to verify their quality and maker, but also had the foresight to devise the original form of today’s catwalk fashion shows. He realized that having become hugely popular, it was becoming increasingly unrealistic to make individually designed pieces for all of his customers, and so began the process of designing a number of dresses which were showcased four times each year, worn by models for the approval of his increasing clientele. Such was his success, he often turned custom away, in favour of working on what is now termed, his collection(s).

One of the most seminal creations of Mr Worth was his “Court Presentation Dress”, a garment made of heavy silk, with lace trim, exquisitely detailed embroidery, intricate and beautiful floral design and long trains. These dresses were highly expensive, and worn by debutantes, the equivalent of modern day socialites, at the celebration of their reaching womanhood, and therefore attaining a position within the social elite circles.

It was this eye for design, and innovation on the design and creation of garments that spawned the entire way in which the fashion industry now operates. The bi-annual Haute Couture fashion shows include a bridal gown, with a distinct feel often somewhat avant-garde, that distinguishes them as being of the highest calibre, and eye catching attention to detail that cannot go unnoticed.

The influence of Haute Couture in weddings is an important transition into how marriage ceremonies are themed and designed. The Haute Couture elite of designers are the few who determine fashion trends, and subsequently, the wedding trends. From appreciating the natural beauty of spring and reflecting it in designs that incorporate butterflies or birds, through to revisiting the renaissance artistes such as Michelangelo, inspiration is cascaded down into gowns each year, to give a twist on the subtle softness of the traditional wedding dress, through to a complete overhaul of the expected, with some eye catching works like nothing else that will ever be seen at a wedding.        

Presently, wedding dresses do not necessarily come made specifically for the bride, as this is often too expensive for the majority of young couples. Whilst many would opt for custom made gowns of the highest quality, the reality is that this is less possible, and visiting purveyors of wedding dresses will normally yield a closely resembling garment to that desired by the bride. With a suitable selection found, the retailer generally offers alterations to the dress, which includes amending the size to compliment the brides figure, and the addition or removal of details, crystals or embroidery, introduction of colours, themes or prints into the dress etc.

So clearly the ethos of Haute Couture, and its founding father, Mr Charles Frederick Worth, has not only stood the test of time, but has actually proven one, if not the main, of the strongest movements in fashion, and ergo wedding fashion.

But dress making is not the only area influenced so; the importance of Haute Couture extends to all the aspects of the wedding industry. From beautiful, unique hair styling and make-up for highly skilled beauticians, to, delightfully indulgent and individual wedding cakes, through to gorgeous shoes, spectacularly opulent jewellery, and even the layout of the ceremony and reception halls, the custom design and creation of unique pieces has spread to cover every facet of a wedding.

Some images of truly breath-taking Haute Couture images that demonstrate the true power of “High Fashion”.

Images in order from the top downwards.
Bride having custom made dress.
Court presentation dress created by Charles Worth that was worn during a presentation to the Danish Princess Alexandra at Queen Victoria’s court
Distinctive Avante Garde style dress
The juxtaposition of dress styles in Haute Couture
Beautiful Brides