Confeti Spring 2012

CONFETI SPRING 2012

Blooming Lovely Find Your Perfect

FLORIST

The Bridal Diaries

OnceGetBitten the

TWILIGHT LOOK

Legally Yours Making Your Dreams A Reality

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

With Pronovias’ Creative Director

Manuel Mota

Spain, Gibraltar and The Balearics’ dedicated wedding bible

CREATE YOUR PERFECT DAY AT THE UK’S BIGGEST WEDDING EVENT A visit to the National Wedding Show is an absolute must for all those planning their perfect wedding. With over 250 exhibitors offering 1000’s of inspirational ideas for your big day, the UK’s largest collection of wedding dresses under one roof and our fantastic line up of features, the show offers something for everyone! Whether you’re a bohemian bride planning a vintage inspired day or a modern bride planning a cutting edge contemporary affair –there’s something to suit every style or budget.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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66 CONFETI

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CONFETI

SPRING 2012

CONTENTS

Front Cover: The Twilight Saga

Staff

Features, advice, tips, ideas and suggestions to help arrange THE PERFECT WEDDING IN SPAIN, GIBRALTAR AND THE BALEARICS

Fashion

COVER

STORIES 36 Master of Romance Exclusive interview with Manuel Mota

40 Everlasting Love

How to create Bella’s look

74 The Bridal Diaries What Kara did next...

Your Florist 78 Find All your questions answered

Loves 11 Confeti What’s hot in the world of bridal

Hot 16 White Chic looks straight from the runway

Bling 20 Faux Stunning diamond alternatives

Beauty Deep 46 Skin Experts Richard Ward &

Ariane Poole solve your hair and beauty dilemmas

52 The Beauty

Straits of Gibraltar

Details Me 83 Eat The latest cake news Pictures 87 Perfect Insightful interviews and our brides’ favourite photos

Dance 98 Let’s Giles Brown shares his verdict on hitting the dancefloor

Night of Freedom 101 Last Ideas for stag and hen parties

Confeti’s Notebook

Timeline

Location, Location

112 Confeti’s Address Book

Weddings 56 Real Our favourite fairytales over the last twelve months

8 CONFETI

Your Day 69 Rock Wedding snippets from the

106 Bridal Buzz

When to book in those procedures

Photo by Anna Gazda

PUBLISHER Andy Clark andy@iconpublishing.es

The latest news from the wedding scene

The best professionals, specialists and services

the Look 114 Get Create your own red carpet style

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Annalisa Turner-Sterling (English) Gabriel Moya Gonzalez (Spanish) DESIGNER Constanza Martinez ASSISTANT DESIGNER Luna Siebrasse EDITOR Nicola McGeorge info@iconpublishing.es FEATURES EDITOR Laura-Jane Bruce press@iconpublishing.es ASSOCIATE EDITOR Christie Holland christie@iconpublishing.es CONTRIBUTORS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Ariane Poole, Giles Brown, Natasha Johnson, Richard Ward, Anna Gazda, Gabriel Navas, Jeremy Standley, Owen Farrell, Ruth Jones, Scott del Amo, Simon Andrews, Talia Giraudo.

Confeti is published quarterly by: Icon Publishing S.L. Depósito Legal: MA 1559-2010 CIF: B93035210

All enquiries, please call: +34 600 812 418 or email enquiries@iconpublishing.es The views and opinions expressed by contributors to Confeti may not represent the views and opinions of the publishers.

Icon Publishing takes no responsibility for claims made in advertisements or advertorials in this magazine. No part of Confeti may be reproduced or copied in any way without the prior written consent of Icon Publishing.

www.confetimagazine.com

C

Luxury For Less

ONFETI loves...

Alexia Designs are young, fresh and affordable; new for the 2012 Bridal collection is a breathtaking choice of silhouettes, from svelte bodyskimming sheath dresses to big skirted wildly romantic gowns. alexiadesigns.com

Bling-backs

An elegant and classic peep toe slingback with a stiletto heel embellished with Swarovski crystals; the “Polly” is extremely stylish and will complement any shape of dress. £495 harrietwilde.com

Love Locked These Tiffany Hearts lockets embossed with the words “I Love You” make the perfect gift for brides to be. Note to maids of honour; leave out for fiancés, circled with arrows! tiffany.co.uk

Wonderwall

Don’t feel guilty about photos in albums or locked away on the computer; Memorywall captures images in a unique compilation displayed in one single frame for everyone to enjoy. £35 memorywall.co.uk

Mamma Mia

Mia Mia Bridal is the new pret a porter label from Alan Hannah offering a slice of couture in an accessible, ready to wear option, using luxurious fabrics and detailing. miamiabridal.co.uk

Star Crossed Lovers Behind the Seams

Maids to Measure offers a bespoke service online or by appointment, ideal when searching for a dress to suit your bridesmaids of all different shapes and sizes. Creating bespoke fitting dresses at reasonable, ‘non-bespoke’ prices. maidstomeasure.com

Looking for an engagement ring with a difference? Cindy Dennis Mangan’s distinctive, modern romantic style shines through in Luminous, a collection designed to stand out from the crowd. purejewels.co.uk

Top Three Favour Boxes

Beach favour box, £1.80 uniqueweddingfavours.co.uk

Ooh la la favour box, £4.30 madewithlovedesigns.co.uk

Ivory square favour box, £0.60 thelastdetail.co.uk CONFETI 11

C

OUR

ONFETI loves...

STAR

PHOTO

bodakids.es

Something Old This vintage rhinestone brooch is secured onto a comb and delicately beaded with 1940’s faux pearls. It will look stunning secured into a 1950’s side bun or at the side or back of the head. £220 gillianmillion.com

Spread the Love

My Cup of Tea

Hand made from reclaimed wood, this sign can be personalised with a song lyric, poem or your own words, making it completely unique. £25 delightfulliving.co.uk

We never get tired of the Alice In Wonderland theme for weddings. These Drink Me gift tags are ideal for place cards, party favours or even as quirky table decorations. £2.50 for five fromthewilde.com

Beau Bows

Whether you select a simple bow or an extravagant embellished brooch embossed with diamonds or pearls, these chair bows will add a pop of colour to any wedding ceremony or wedding breakfast chairs.

From €3 inbloommaryanne.co.uk

A Fine Vintage

Rock On

Who wouldn’t say yes to this elegantly designed engagement ring? H2B’s take note if you wish to dazzle your stylish loved one. arteygestionmarbella.es 12 CONFETI

Headbands are becoming increasingly popular alternatives to tiaras; this ArtDeco inspired vintage headband from Flo and Percy is ideal for injecting the wow factor to a simple up-do. floandpercy.com

Luxury in Marbella has its own name.

We invite you to discover our newest luxuries.

Calima restaurant – by Dani García – awarded with 2 Michelin stars Oyster & Caviar Bar the perfect place to start and end the evening enjoying our selection of oysters, caviar, sushi & champagne.

Cappuccino Grand Café our beach club set on Marbella’s promenade for cocktails and food all day long.

Timeless Luxury with Avant-garde Flair

José Meliá, s/n · Marbella · Málaga, Spain Reservations: +34 952 770 300 · email: reservasdonpepe@melia.com · www.gran-melia-don-pepe.com C H I N A • S PA I N • G R E E C E • I N D O N E S I A • I TA LY • M E X I C O • P U E R TO R I C O • V E N E Z U E L A

Fashion

Photo Courtesy of Ian Stuart CONFETI 15

WHITE Hot See the latest collections straight from the runway

STATEMENT

F

ashion-forward brides will enjoy the creativity evident on the catwalk this season. Dramatic and modern, this trend is not one for shrinking violets. Colour, texture and exaggerated shapes create iconic, statement gowns ideal for even the most fashionable and stylish of brides.

Designers, left to right: Jesus Peiro, Jesus Piero (White Mischief) at The National Wedding Show, Carolina Herrera, Marchesa (Browns Bride Boutique) at The Luxury Wedding Show London

S

leek silhouettes, beautiful draping, and elaborate beading are all key attributes of the roaring twenties trend reminiscent of old style Hollywood. Embrace the drama with a show stopping gown guaranteeing all eyes will be on you.

Designers, left to right: Pronovias, Novia D’Art, Pronovias, Patricia Avendano, Alan Hannah 16 16 CONFETI

HOLLYWOOD

GLAMOUR

M

inimalistic styles have featured heavily this season focusing on shape, beautiful quiet textures and refined details. Techniques such as box pleats to add volume without fuss and luxurious fabrics are utilized to create a sophisticated gown without the need for added sparkle. If you favour the no frills approach then this is the season for you.

MINIMAL Designers, left to right: Stewart Parvin at The White Gallery London, Rosa Clara, Cymbeline, Carolina Herrera

MODERN

F

ollowing the Royal wedding last year, lace is still at the forefront in bridal wedding design. It’s not only Kate Middleton who is inspiring this key trend, simple lace sleeves reminiscent of a more contemporary version of the voluminous sleeves that engulfed the young Princess Diana have also appeared on the runway. This portrays a classic, vintage aura that is truly beautiful and elegant.

Designers, left to right: Victorio & Lucchino, Temperley London at The Luxury Wedding Show London, Monique Lhuillier, Luella’s Boudoir at The Luxury Wedding Show London, Pronovias

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SHORT

&SWEET

S

hort dresses are back in a big way; there is a misconception that shorter dresses are less sophisticated than a full gown but designers have proven that a short dress can be classic and chic. In this case, less can be more. An alternative to this trend is the waterfall effect that is shorter at the front and longer at the back.

Designers, left to right: David Fielden at The Luxury Wedding Show London, Cymbeline, Matthew Williamson at The White Gallery London, Monique Lhuillier, Vivienne Westwood at The Luxury Wedding Show London

F

or spring, designers are focusing on the tiers and ruffles, an exaggerated form of the peplum hemlines from last season. A truly flattering trend that disguises hips and is the perfect solution for a pear shape. Depending on the size of the ruffles they are also a great style for plus size body shapes.

Designers, left to right: Pronovias, Jesus Peiro, Rosa Clara, David Fielden at The Luxury Wedding Show London

18 CONFETI

TOP TIERS

DiamondsGirl’s

Best Friend

By Sangeeta Laudus

tiararama.com 20 CONFETI

Alternatives to diamonds T

here is no doubt that there is something pretty special about a diamond and what bride would not feel a million dollars wearing diamond jewellery on her big day? However, not all budgets can stretch to Cartier diamond earrings or a Harry Winston choker and with the incredible alternatives available nowadays, you can still look and feel like a princess for a fraction of the price.

For brides who want to wear more classic jewels, this is where Cubic Zirconia (or C.Z. as it is also known) comes into its own. This stone is a fabulous alternative to the diamond and very hard to differentiate with the naked eye. Not many people know this but in order to produce C.Z., a substance called Zirconium Dioxide powder needs to be heated to an incredible 2200 degrees Celsius for three days non-stop!

As you can imagine this makes it very expensive in terms of power. Therefore some say that C.Z. originating from certain countries might show lines in larger stones because of the intermittent power supply. Apparently the best C.Z. is made in the US using power from the hydroelectric station at Niagara Falls. How romantic is it to think the sparkly stones you are wearing have been produced by the power from a waterfall!

C.Z. has a similar lustre and sparkle to diamonds and there are some who consider C.Z. purer than a natural diamond, since the only inclusions will be those which are meant to be there, and the structure (since it is man-made) is always perfect. It is particularly popular for wedding accesso-

ries, and when you think that a pair of 1 carat diamond stud earrings could cost as much as £4000, while 1 carat C.Z. earrings will vary between £20 - £40 there is a definite pull towards the humble C.Z. Costume jewellery has really come into its own in the last few years, resurgence of vintage chic and statement bridal pieces boasting faux pearls and diamante are very on trend for 2012. Diamante (or rhinestones as they are also known) are made from cut glass, gem quartz or paste and use a metal backing to reflect light. Less expensive than C.Z. they are fabulous in bridal jewellery, hair accessories and tiaras.

Last, but certainly not least, we have to mention the Swarovski crystal. Founded in the 19th century by Austrian glass-cutter, Daniel Swarovski, these stunning stones have endured the test of time and are synonymous with affordable luxury and quality. Not only can they be used for delicate bridal jewellery such as pendants and earrings, they also look great in statement necklaces, chokers and tiaras.

Martine Webster Dome Cluster Necklace £75 crystalbridalaccessories.co.uk

Vine of Beauty Cuff Bangle £32 glitzysecrets.com

Elma Wedding Bracelet £89.99 olivierlaudus.com

Baroque comb £180 victoriafergusson.co.uk

Kate Earrings £20 monsoon.co.uk

Maybe, diamonds are not always a girl’s best friend!

Sangeeta x For more information on Olivier Laudus visit their online boutique: olivierlaudus.com or call 44 20 8374 1239.

Olivier Laudus also ship to Spain and Gibraltar.

CONFETI 21

Embrace the Mediterranean flavour by focusing on great structure and fit yet still encompassing fashion and a touch of individuality

22 CONFETI

Melissa

Melissa is made from a beautifully crisp light weight ziberline fabric complimented with a crepe back satin and leather bow belt.

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Camilla

Camilla is a soft romantic dress with a draped satin chiffon bodice and a fluid full circle chiffon skirt.

24 CONFETI

Harmony

Harmony has a structured duchesse satin sculpting satin bodice with a narrow a-line organza skirt finished with a striking duchesse satin band around the hem.

CONFETI 25

26 CONFETI

Rosalba

Rosalba is a vintage style tea length dress made from blush pink fine French lace. The long under bodice creates an envious silhouette whilst the lace over the shoulders adds that touch of romance.

CONFETI 27

Stockist: stephanieallin.net

Bardot

Bardot is a fun, relaxed and playful wedding dress. With it’s sequined bodice and full circle tulle skirt it is the perfect mix between typical 50’s style and great classic glamour!

28 CONFETI

Alexander McQueen Pink Britannia Skull Clutch alexandermcqueen.com £1295

Monsoon Pippa Clutch Bag monsoon.co.uk £40 Coast Paloma Pearl Clutch coast-stores.com €78

Lulu Guiness Fifi Bag luluguinness.com £325

TO HAVE

& TO HOLD

Olivier Laudus Gigi Handbag olivierlaudus.com £47.99

Our selection of the hottest arm candy to add that special touch to your wedding attire Yves Saint Laurent Belle Du Jour Metallic Leather Clutch net-a-porter.com £415 Debenhams Taupe Clutch debenhams.com £22

Biba Faith Embossed Clutch Bag houseoffraser.co.uk £145 Valentino Bow Satin Clutch net-a-porter.com £520

Jimmy Choo Cosma Clutch jimmychoo.com £995 CONFETI 31

Theme your day Brass and Glass Crystal Stud Earrings

by Marc by Marc Jacobs €45 net-a-porter.com

18ct Yellow Gold Yellow Sapphire and Diamond Ring by Dominic Walmsley £3500 dominicwalmsley.com

Yellow Peonies Cake by Cake Couture €330 cakecouturemarbella.com

Alice Baby Daffodil Dress

by Little Bevan £195 littlebeven.co.uk

Lolita Bead Embellished Silk Georgette Gown

by Rachel Gilbert €1,508 net-a-porter.com

Image courtesy of dessy.com

Sunshine YOU ARE MY

Inject a touch of Spring to your wedding with this fresh and vibrant colour scheme

Sunflower Cupcakes sweetthingsbyfi.com

Jimmy Choo Cayla Patent Leather Clutch €795 jimmychoo.com

Yellow Floral Display €69 (not incl. glass container) florvalentin.es

Yellow Floral Display €59 (not incl. metal container) florvalentin.es Yellow Table Arrangement by In Bloom from €85 inbloommaryanne.co.uk

Bloom Daffodil Menu and Place Cards

by Made With Love Designs from £1.55 madewithlovedesigns.com 32 CONFETI

Sunflower Ring Cushion by Olivier Laudus £65 olivierlaudus.com

WHEN ONLY

White WILL DO W ith designers from all four corners of the globe joining to reveal their latest collections, White Gallery London is recognised as one of the leading international designer bridal trade shows. Returning to the stunning central London location, Battersea Park, this May for a third time, White Gallery London is the ultimate buying destination for the best in British and International bridal design attracting top-end retailers and media from around the world to the exclusive three-day event.

The latest line up has been confirmed with over 50 leading UK and International bridal designers such as Alan Hannah, Amanda Wakeley, Annasul Y, Anny Lin, Anoushka G, Augusta Jones, Babe, Blue, Chic, Cymbeline, David Fielden, Donna Lee, Elizabeth Stuart, Fara, Gatti Nolli Couture, Gemy Couture, Halo & Co, Harriet Wilde, Hollywood Dreams, Ian Stuart Bride, Ivory & Co, Jesus Peiro, Johanna Hehir, Katzi, Kisui, Lea-Ann Belter Bridal, Linea Raffaelli, Lusan Mandongus, Lyn Ashworth, Malis Henderson, Madeline Isaac-James, Mia Mia, Nicki MacFarlane, Novia D’Art, Ottavio Nuccio, Ozlem Suer, Pepe Botella, Peter Lang, Polly Edwards, Rachel Simpson, Raimon Bundo, Ritva Westenius, Sassi Holford, Sanyukta Shrestha, Stephanie Allin, Stephanie Browne, Stewart Parvin, Terry Fox, The Vintage Wedding Dress Company, Tobi Hannah, Victorio&Lucchino Novias, Vivien Sheriff and YolanCris. Dedicated catwalk shows by some of the most influential names in bridal fashion will be the highlight of this impressive event with designs by the likes of Anoushka G, Alan Hannah, Ian Stuart, Ritva Westenius, Stephanie Allin and Stewart Parvin taking to the catwalk.

Here is a selection of the 34 CONFETI

designers who will be showcasing their 2013 collections.

Jesus Peiro dresses are designed for the bride who is classic yet on trend. The sophistication of the line, harmony in the ensemble of volumes and fabrics, the hand finishing and exclusive embellishments, refined style and a touch of romance, set the identity of Jesus Peiro.

Buyers can expect nothing less than Ian Stuart’s world renowned creativity and innovative style when he showcases his 2013 collection.

Drawing inspiration from a recent

break in the French capital, Ian has used his masterful draping skills to recreate rippled fondant textures he saw used by couture confectioners, and created a sugary pastel colour palette as seen in the finest Parisian tea-room décor. In true Ian Stuart style, different eras are depicted and reworked for the modern bride. The 2013 collection includes hints of Edwardian, Jacobean as well as the style iconic of the 50s and 60s.

Expect drama and a few surprises from Alan Hannah; think big skirts, with the rustle of paper taffeta and sharp fitted

bodices in an array of fabulous beaded laces and damasks. The debutante styles are back with a real sense of drama and presence, cowl necklines in silk slipper satin with plunging backs and gorgeous accessories to give maximum sophistication and timeless style.

Texture is the key, using the most luxurious Italian silks with intricate detailing and hand beading. Lace is also prominent, but lace with a difference.

A truly flamboyant collection will be presented by Terry Fox, with inspirations drawn from Mad Hatter tea parties and

elements of Tim Burton’s eclectic influences, this collection will not disappoint. Featuring exuberant bursts of colour complimented with texture, patchwork and trademark layers.

Laces, silks, chiffon and tulle are hand blended with vintage pearls and aged coloured crystals which highlight the collection and add the finishing touches. Classic styles are given contemporary updates; find dresses with racer backs and sheer sultry skirts. Tea dresses are given the ultimate revival with up-to-date layering for a premium yet bohemian feel, a true Terry Fox contradiction.

In our autumn issue, Confeti will be featuring a full catwalk report, previewing the latest designs before they hit the stores.

Battersea Park 20-22 May 2012 whitegallery.com

Left Page, from left to right: David Fielden catwalk, Ian Stuart Over these lines, LusanMandongus campaign, Stephanie brown necklace. Right image Vivien Sheriff

ti Confe in ga a e is onc be a o t d prou r a p rtne media e Whit of The y, r e ll a G n Londo CONFETI 35

Designer P rofile

A MATCH made in

HEAVEN

36 36 CONFETI

Spanish designer, Manuel Mota started collaborating with Pronovias approximately twenty years ago, breaking away from tradition and offering cutting edge design to brides around the world. Today he is one of the most important figures in the bridal industry. In this exclusive interview with Nicola McGeorge, he talks about supermodel Kate Moss, his latest collection and his involvement in Rod Stewarts wedding.

When I was a child...

I saw a photograph of Audrey Hepburn, her beauty and attire amazed me, leading me to think it would be wonderful to make beautiful dresses for women like her. I started imagining and drawing them, without ever thinking that this could lead to a career.

Ieacham proud that... and every dress is made with the same loving care, including those which are made personally or exclusively. Every bride considers her wedding to be the most important occasion in her life, and we act accordingly.

The truth is that...

I had never even thought about creating wedding dresses, and

For 2O12 I have created a… tranquil, relaxed collection, in line with the growing popularity of

I have to be true to a style but...

art, books, fashion, jewellery as well as my friends, the street, the people of my generation. All new brides with their own personal styles are capable of sparking a new idea that will lead to a new line.

when the opportunity came along, I never imagined that I would be capable of creating anything more than just one white dress!

Well, I have been in love with my job for 2O years now and continue to create new, innovative collections every year. My mission is to beautify women with the most fantastic product; bridal fashion is essentially as close as you can get to Haute Couture.

at the same time offer new alternatives to ensure our clients look stunning on their magical day. This is a great challenge, but an enormous privilege for me.

Ithetry to stay away from... conventional characteristics of wedding gowns, suggesting

different styles for each bride until we find the perfect one for her.

My idea is to flatter the bride as much as possible; structuring the dress from within based on gentle corsets inside that support the gown. It is important to me to create soft, light, ethereal gowns... in short, what I want is for the bride to feel good, be comfortable and look beautiful in “her dress”.

civil ceremonies, choosing alternatives to the typical fabrics, such as organza and chiffon, and bringing back tulle, a timeless natural fabric, which is also very current.

I am inspired by…

I would advise a bride when choosing her dress to... draw attention to her most beautiful feature, highlighting it on her

wedding day. Many already know their strongest feature and, if not, we help them to discover what suits them best by trying on different styles. It is very important to find the most flattering neckline and shape and to define the line of the gown, deciding on one with more or less volume, with an empire or mermaid cut, but most importantly they should feel comfortable and happy with the gown.

CONFETI 37

My favourite bride of 2O11 has to be…

Kate Moss, her romantic look, her veil with lace was fantastic, the Bridal tastes have... changed substantially and conventions are decreasing all the

time. Brides have access to a great deal of information about fashion and are looking for a special gown for their special day, more from a leisurely than a formal point of view, which is why bridal gowns are becoming more and more like evening dresses. Sometimes the bride wants a formal gown for the ceremony, but wants a second, less formal gown for the celebration.

girls and boys, the entire wedding was perfect, with the same hippy and romantic look she always sustains so well.

Ievery love to dress... bride who comes to see me. Every bride is a challenge, or

should I say, the greatest challenge. She wants to look beautiful, look the best she can, see her dreams come true… and you are her ally. Every bride causes excitement, the excitement of seeing a smile of satisfaction appear on her face when she sees the dress you offer her.

I love working on my fashion shows because.. . it is like taking an exam. It is hard, but exciting at the same

time! The result of months of work by a great team such as the one at Pronovias, is unveiled to thousands of journalists and buyers from all over the world. In my opinion it is a luxury to have all these resources and to reveal how we are going to dress half the world’s brides.

One my favourite brides has to be...

Penny Lancaster. Perhaps because of the people involved

and my role in all aspects of the wedding. I have great memories of Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart’s wedding in Italy, which took place in a romantic monastery in Santa Margherita Ligure. We worked together for several months and formed a strong bond, meaning that together we were able to create her dream gown: a suggestive, flattering jewelled dress with vintage embroidery, a strapless neckline and two-metre train. It was a truly spectacular wedding that I will always remember.

38 38 CONFETI

pronovias.com

40 CONFETI

W As the entire Confeti team are the ultimate Edward fans and completely obsessed with everything surrounding The Twilight Saga, we couldn’t NOT include the infamous wedding. Bella’s dress exceeded our expectations and Edward was as drool-worthy as ever, if like us you dream of becoming Mrs Cullen then you’re in luck. Sadly we can’t guarantee you a date with Mr Patterson himself but we can share with you all these EXCLUSIVE expert tips on how to recreate Bella’s iconic look.

riter Stephanie Meyer and director Bill Condon chose this stunning Edwardian-inspired gown for Bella from 10 different sketches presented to them by bridal designer Carolina Herrera.

Following the completion of the design work, the dress was tenderly handmade by Carolina herself along with four seamstresses, taking six months in total to complete.

Made from crepe satin and French Chantilly lace, the dress was custom designed to fit actress Kristen Stewart’s petite frame. The long sleeves were trimmed with lace and finished with 17 buttons and an amazing 152 hand-covered buttons trail down the entire back length of the dress.

“

It is always a great pleasure to design any wedding gown, but this one was particularly special.

Kristen is a stunning girl and her character, Bella will make a beautiful bride, designer

”

Carolina Herrera told Confeti.

CONFETI 41

The incomparable, Manolo Blahnik, created Bella’s white satin and crystal encrusted, Gothic-inspired wedding shoes.

These satin pumps feature a crystal-beaded vine applique angled across the vamp and outer side and an almond toe with a 4 1/4 inch covered heel.

Bella’s incredible dress will go on sale at Carolina Herrera’s New York boutique this year as part of her 2012 collection. However if you can’t wait, Alfred Angelo have released an official replica of the gown.

With a recommended retail price of £549, this striking Edwardian-inspired dress is the easy and affordable way to steal Bella’s style. It has full length lace-trimmed sleeves and a dramatic cut-out illusion back with soft Chantillyinspired lace appliqué. Fabric covered buttons run down the entire back length of the gown and onto the sweeping chapel length train.

42 CONFETI

“To work on a project with so much anticipation surrounding this bridal gown was very exciting, and filled with high energy,” said designer Michael Shettel. The design team at Alfred Angelo worked in closed quarters for the past several months to bring Bella’s style to brides worldwide in time for the film’s release.

“

All elements of the gown, even sketches, were heavily guarded for fear of any design leaks, said Michael.

”

Alfred Angelo

It’s not only Bella’s outfit that Confeti have sourced, here are all the details of how to recreate the hair style Miss Swan showcased on her truly special day.

Celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward explains how to get Bella’s wedding day look in a few easy steps:

1

2

Start by washing your hair with a volumising shampoo and conditioner like my Couture Hair VoluMoist cleanser and conditioner (£16 each). Once your hair is washed, towel dry it so it’s 80% dry, and then spritz a volumising product throughout the roots like my Couture Hair Volumiser Root Booster (£19). Focus on the first two inches of your roots and then brush through.

Next begin to blow-dry your hair using a pure bristle radial brush, starting at the nape of your

3

neck. Divide your hair off into sections to make it easier to work with, and make sure to focus on the root area to promote lift, body and volume.

Once your hair is dry, create two small sections of hair either side of your face, and begin to plait each side around the back of your head. If your hair is a bit slippery, try adding some of my Couture Hair Memoriser Holding Serum (£17) through the ends first. Temporarily secure each plait with a hair band.

4

5

Gently backcomb the front panel of hair, starting at the crown of your head and working back towards the back. Smooth the hair over with a comb and create a dishevelled bun with the excess hair by twisting it around and securing it in place using Kirby grips at the nape of your neck.

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Finally spritz with a hairspray like my Couture Hair Stabiliser Hairspray (£18) which will provide hair with a flexible hold and a beautiful shine. Fix the veil between the plaits and the bun, and you’re ready to go.

Take the two plaits and secure them above the bun using Kirby grips. Remove the hair bands, and make sure to tuck in the ends so they can’t be detected.

CONFETI 43

Beauty Photography: Aga Tomaszek from photoTOM Model: Danielle Amber Make-up and Hair: Sarah Elizabeth Terry CONFETI 45

Award-winning celebrity hairdresser RICHARD WARD is one of the industry’s leading lights, and the media’s ‘most wanted’ hairdresser. Richard and his colleague James Pryce were responsible for Catherine Middleton’s hair on her wedding day.

TheRoyal Do

image courtesy of solarpix

“ The half up, half down or demi chignon, as made famous by the Duchess of

Cambridge, has become a real staple hairstyle for brides around the world.

It flatters most face shapes as it retracts width from around the widest part of the face, yet gives length which elongates and slims. If you’re thinking of showcasing this on-trend style, here are my top tips to ensure you wear it well.”

1

- Richard Ward

2 3 46 CONFETI

With a half up, half down style, condition is key.

At the salon we use Kerastase Le Scalp Diagnostic to analyse both scalp and hair health, and get clients on the right treatment plan to optimise hair health through the correct home care regime.

Make sure you show your hairdresser your veil, headdress and any combs or ornaments you are using. They can use them in a way to flatter your face shape and make sure they are used imaginatively. Also check out what on-trend accessories they can use for the season. Here at the salon we are using flowers and corsages in bridal hair, but make them out of real hair wefts for a stunning, natural take on the trend.

Keep your style on trend by adapting it seasonally. For spring/summer plaits are a great way of working this style.

4 5

Colour is crucial. This style is flattering as it softens the face shape so use colour to create texture and add to the softness of the look. A good colourist should easily be able to assess your skin tone and work complimentary lighter colours around the front area on sections.

Tendrils and loose strands give this style a softer edge, yet some hair works better if it’s neater or sleeker. Experiment with both, but make sure that you test the staying power of curly tendrils; the last thing you want is rats tails after a couple of hours!

To book an appointment at the Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, call 020 7730 1222 or visit richardward.com

Dr. Kai O. Kaye Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Full Member of the Spanish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery SEGPRE Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery EBOPRAS Full Member of the German Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery DGPRĂ„C Member of the Colegio de Medicos de Malaga (No.29/2909452)

Facelift Blepharoplasty Rhinoplasty Otoplasty Breast lift /reduction /augmentation Labiaplasty Abdominoplasty Liposuction Thigh lift Brachioplasty Scar correction Deep Peeling Botox - Filler Dental aesthetics Facial feminization

The Perfect Silhouette Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and on this special occasion, you want to look your most beautiful ever.

Whether you want to refine your body or give a new, radiant look to your face, our team at Ocean Clinic will help you to achieve your goal by offering you a free, professional and personalised consultation to assess your needs and give you a choice of possible treatments, from the smallest, non-invasive last minute touch, to a carefully planned surgical procedure.

At Ocean Clinic our goal is to help you look your best for the greatest day of your life.

Av. Ramon y Cajal, 7 - 29600 Marbella +34 951 775 518 - Mob : 670 770 455 info@oceanclinic.net - www.oceanclinic.net

Image Courtesy of Phillipa Lepley

Celebrity makeup artist ARIANE POOLE, whose clients have included everyone from Penelope Cruz to Uma Thurman, answers your bridal dilemmas.

Beauty Crush What advice do you have for a destination bride who doesn’t normally wear makeup?

My main advice to a bride who doesn’t normally wear makeup is, don’t pile it on, I always tell brides stay true to yourself. One item I would recommend is an anti-shine product, ideally something that is clear and colourless (they are also great for grooms!)

No one wants to appear shiny or see beads of perspiration in their wedding photographs, whether they are male or female. I would also suggest that the bride maybe uses some concealer or a tinted moisturizer with an SPF to even out the skin tone and to avoid burning. Finally to offer definition to the eyes a touch of eyeliner or mascara will make the brides eyes pop without looking heavily made up.

48 CONFETI

What items do you consider essential wedding-day makeup?

Waterproof mascara is a 100% must!

Never go without! No matter how much you tell yourself you are not going to cry it is so easy to get caught up in the emotion of the moment. Again, I would also recommend an anti-shine product so you can avoid using layers and layers of powder to control shine.

Brides consider a range of hairstyles before settling on the one they will wear on their wedding day. If the same applies to makeup, what are the styles of bridal makeup that brides should consider? And what distinguishes them?

Brides should look at their personalities when selecting their makeup style.

If you are known for your red lipstick and liquid eyeliner consider taking elements of that look into your wedding in some way shape or form. I would suggest staying true to yourself and

your style however if you do wish to be experimental start trying out ideas between four and five months before your wedding day so that you can live with the look and get reactions from your friends and family. Below are the four main makeup categories brides fall into.

NATURAL – Sun kissed, dewy, minimal, makeup only used to accent feature.

Example: Jennifer Aniston CLASSIC – A little bit more of a punch than natural, often soft rose colours, a truly timeless look.

Example: Kate Middleton DRAMATIC –Oozing personality, glamorous, prominent eyes and/or lips.

Example: Catherine Zeta Jones ROMANTIC – Not as bare as natural, soft pink and peachy colours, very pretty.

Example: Zara Phillips

How can you get the most out of a pre-wedding makeup session?

Learn as much as you can and ask questions, questions and more questions! Also bring pictures as it is a lot easier for the makeup artist to understand your vision when they see a picture.

For example, I also receive a lot of Kim Kardashian pictures, I know as soon as I see that, that the bride wants a prominent eye.

Make sure the makeup artist lets you put the make up on with your own hand as if you don’t do it yourself you will find it very difficult to recreate the look when you are on your own.

Ariane is available for bridal makeup master classes.

For more information go to arianepoole.com

Beautify

INSIDE AND OUT

Y

our wedding will be the most memorable day of your life and every bride deserves to look and feel every inch the princess. Spare a bit of time for yourself before the big day or get the girls together for a pre-nuptial celebration, a bridal spa day is the ideal way to prep before walking down the aisle.

Holiday World’s range of all-inclusive hotels offers the best leisure facilities available on the Costa del Sol. Their packages are designed with the newlywed in mind, so the lucky lady will go away feeling pampered, preened and fully prepared. Treatments include a relaxing full body massage, a skin consultation and a facial to ensure your complexion is radiant and glowing, a wax in preparation for the fabulous honeymoon and a manicure and pedicure. With full use of the spa facilities all day, you’ll be left feeling well and truly relaxed, refreshed and revitalised.

As any bride-to-be would know, it’s a stressful task preparing for a dream wedding, and after months of planning the last thing you want is to look dead beat and dozy. But don’t panic, a trip to Holiday World and you will be dazzling as much as the ring on your finger.

The Holiday Hydros Boutique Spa & Wellness Hotel, focuses on detail and feelings of pleasure and intimacy. This charming hotel has been built to stimulate your senses, sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. The art of creating sensations is the ability to awaken and heighten the five senses, through the care of the details that affect them. The luxury spa and wellness centre is the soul of the Holiday Hydros Hotel; a stunning glass dome allows you to enjoy fantastic views of the Mediterranean sea, whilst the 50 CONFETI

white marble covering the walls creates a relaxed atmosphere and transports guests to an unknown realm allowing them to discover inner peace. Wellbeing, health and beauty are some of the most distinguishing factors of the Holiday World Hotels. Their multiple spas offer a wide range of treatments, individual and combined, innovative and adapted to your needs, with highly qualified personnel to ensure your experience is out of this world.

If you have been a bit of a bridezilla, why not make it up to your husband-to-be with the ultimate Full Moon Package. Imagine a night lying under the stars with the light streaming through the glass dome, soft candlelight and the magical silence of the night, broken only by the whisper of the water and the tenuous relaxing melody surrounding you.

Copious civilisations have worshipped the moon in their mythology (including Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, Aztecs and Maoris) and associated the full moon with ceremonies and celebrations. These ancestral customs have lived on in modern times in the form of Hydros Spa’s “Full Moon Nights”, a celebration for the senses that is unique to the Costa del Sol. You will not want to miss experiencing the marvellous sensation of the water rippling under the moonlight combined with the magical influence of one of the Hydros Spa’s truly tranquil treatments. Their luxury therapies are designed to de-stress and revitalize, helping you to achieve a natural glow in preparation for your wedding day.

Make a vow to treat yourselves to a little indulgence - after all, this day is all about you. holidayworld.es

at Holiday World

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Bookings: +34 952.57.97.57 events@holidayworld.es

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The Beauty Timeline L

ook picture perfect and feel beautifully radiant on your special day with pre-wedding cosmetic plastic surgery and treatments. Rejuvenate your skin, enhance your lips or contour your body just the way you’ve always wanted. The Beauty Timeline below can help you select and schedule the cosmetic plastic surgery or treatments you most desire; enjoy walking down the aisle with glowing beauty and confidence.

Dr. Marco Vricella and his team from Aria Medical Group offer a wide range of cosmetic surgery procedures, using the most up-to-date techniques. These encompass the most popular and most requested facial & body cosmetic surgery procedures which will let you realise your true, personal beauty. Let them turn back the clock, giving you a more youthful look or correct features that are out of balance.

TREATMENT

RESULT

‘A Bride’s wedding day is the most magical day of her life’ confirms Dr Marco Vricella. He continues, ‘all eyes are on her, so it’s understandable that for many brides, as well as their bridesmaids and their mothers, this happy event is the motivation to have a cosmetic surgery procedure.

The most popular procedures are, without doubt, breast surgery and liposuction, together with tummy tucks and eye bag removal for the mothers of the bride and groom.

Planning is important so that there is plenty of time for recovery and to make sure that any swelling or bruising is long gone before the big day. We recommend procedures are performed at least six months before the wedding. Also, new procedures are becoming popular, including buttock augmentation, giving more volume, a better shape along with a lifting effect to the buttocks so brides fit their dresses perfectly.’

WHEN TO COME IN

Breast Enlargement

To improve the size, shape and projection of the breasts and/or to improve symmetry of the breasts

6 months before the wedding

Breast Uplift (Mastopexy)

To improve the position and shape of the breasts. Implants can be placed at the same time to improve upper pole roundness

6 months before the wedding

Breast Reduction

To improve the position and shape of the breasts and to relieve back/neck pain

6 months before the wedding

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

To remove excess skin and tissue from the middle & lower abdominal area and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. Can be used in conjunction with liposuction

6 months before the wedding

Arm Lift

To remove excess skin and tissue (“bingo wings” )

6 months before the wedding

Thigh Lift

To remove excess skin and tissue in the thighs

6 months before the wedding

Liposuction

To sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck, giving a refined silhouette

6 months before the wedding

Eyebag Removal (Blepharoplasty)

To remove excess skin and tissue from the upper and/or lower eyes, giving you a more refreshed and “awake” look

6 months before the wedding

Facelift

To improve the most visible signs of ageing by removing excess skin and tissue from the jowls and neck, whilst at the same time giving you a fresh, natural look. Often performed at the same time as Blepharoplasty surgery

6 months before the wedding

Nose Reshaping (Rhinoplasty)

To improve the size and shape of the tip and/or bridge of the nose; to narrow the span of the nostrils or to change the angle between the nose and upper lip, revealing a more refined profile

6 to 12 months before the wedding

Buttock Implants

To improve the size and shape of the buttocks

6 months before the wedding

Non-Surgical: Botox

Botox: To improve fine lines and wrinkles between the eyebrows, on the forehead and the “crow’s feet”.

Botox is also very popular with Brides as it can be used in the armpits to dramatically reduce sweating (hyperhidrosis)

2 months before the wedding

Non-Surgical: Fillers

For lip augmentation and/or enhancement; to reduce the appearance of lines around the mouth; to improve the nasolabial folds (the lines between the nose and the mouth) and to improve “smoker’s lines”

2 months before the wedding

52 CONFETI

ariamedicalgroup.com

Because you’re beautiful!

+ Breast Augmentation

+ Liposuction

+ Breast Uplift

+ Facial Injections

+ Breast Reduction

+ Face Lifts

+ Tummy Tuck

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+ Rhinoplasty

Book your FREE consultation

Cosmetic surgery procedures for Brides To Be

(+34) 952 895 088 in English (+34) 662 936 058 en EspaĂąol Dr. Marco Vricella is Director of the Aesthetic Surgery unit at HC Marbella Private Hospital.

Cosmetic Surgery

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e: info@ariamedicalgroup.com

www.ariamedicalgroup.com

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Marbella

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Madrid

Location, Location Photo by Stephani Allen CONFETI 55

Medieval Grandeur

Tia Seifert & Jim Clements married in a ruined castle nestled in the Andalucian hills.

MEANT TO BE… Jim and I first met in my hometown of Toronto in 2003 where we worked together at a publishing house and got to know each other over lengthy lunch breaks.

Jim eventually moved back to his birth city of London, England and we lost touch. Three years later, after deciding to quit my job to travel to India for my close friend’s wedding, I was at a loose end with what to do with my life, when a friend encouraged me to move to London and invited me to stay with his family. After settling into my new life in the UK, I was out one night when a friend spotted someone looking at me on the dance floor. It was Jim! He found his way over to me and we spent the rest of the year getting to know each other again and eventually spent the rest of my stay in London side-by-side until deciding to move to Dubai together in 2009.

SENSATIONAL SETTING Over the Christmas holidays of 2010-2011, Jim paid me a surprise visit in Toronto and 56 56 CONFETI

proposed in the city where we had first met. With another move on the horizon in 2012, we had decided that we wanted to get married in the summer of 2011, seven months after we were engaged. With friends and family scattered across the Americas & Europe, along with us planning the wedding from Dubai, this made choosing a wedding location quite challenging. However, since the majority of our guests and family would have to travel no matter where the wedding took place, it was actually quite liberating, as it meant that we had a blank slate when it came to choosing our location! We decided to have the wedding in Andalucía, Spain, as I left my heart in Spain the first time I went backpacking and wanted to share this amazing country with Jim. The dramatic landscape, hilltop villages, and amazing food and wine were an added plus as it really related to our idea of romance. Language barriers, time differences, and distances meant that we needed the help of a local wedding planner. We received the kindest, most enthusiastic, detailed, and open-minded response imaginable from Lucia Fraga of Caprichia Marbella, who gave us

confidence we could have the wedding we wanted. Choosing Lucia was the best decision we made since deciding to get married! With Lucia’s help, we found our dream location, a small Spanish pueblo blanco (white village) nestled in the Andalucían hills. We were married in a ruined castle on a mountaintop overlooking the town. For the reception, we did some digging and found a beautiful converted olive mill in a nearby town, which had a gorgeous inner courtyard for an outdoor dinner, and a large outdoor space with unspoiled views for the cocktail hour and dancing. The villa coupled as our accommodation for the week, which was a dream on two accounts: we were able to live in luxury and have the space we needed to organize things before the big day. We also found another villa, the owners of which agreed to let our family and friends have sole use of their property for the week building up to the wedding.

ALL THE DETAILS As Dubai has a very small bridal market, I knew that I might have to find my wedding dress elsewhere, which was the only real pressure I felt planning my wedding. A trip to New York with my sister found me a backless Pnina Tornai sold exclusively at Kleinfeld’s. When the designer herself walked out to add the cathedral-length veil, I was sold! As we were wed on a mountaintop (and thus far away from any power source), a cellist accompanied our ceremony. Jim had asked his talented friend Carl to arrange a special solo cello version of Sigur Ros’ Hoppipolla to use as our recessional song, as it’s the most joyous piece of music I’ve ever heard! Lucia found a local florist to provide rustic-

Tia’s Address Book Wedding Planner: Lucia Fraga of Caprichia Marbella, Couture Destination Wedding & Event Planning Andalucia, Spain caprichia.com Bridal Dress Shop: kleinfeldbridal.com Bridal Dress Designer: pninatornai.com looking Mataline roses in soft shades, with berries, eucalyptus and other foliage, and verdant ivy to wrap around the ceremony chairs. As an unexpected bonus, a big festival was underway in the town on the same day, so the town was decorated and I got plenty of attention from the local revelers as I was escorted through the town on a golf cart. Following the ceremony we shared a cava and cocktail hour with our guests complete with over twenty different canapés and custom drinks, followed by an exquisite four-course

meal with local flavours. We gave each guest a bottle of Andalucian red wine with their name hand-written in calligraphy on vintage-style luggage tags. Before we had our dance, Jim surprised me by turning up with his guitar, and serenading me in front of our guests with a beautiful song he had written just for the occasion.

Our wedding photographer, Anna Gazda captured the whole day in her energetic and candid style and we were able to relive the incredible experience through her work.

Groom’s Suit: dior.com Brides Shoes: eliesaab.com Groom Shoes: paulsmith.co.uk Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Thayer Goddess Dress shopbop.com Groomsmen Suits: tristanstyle.com Invitations: weddingpaperdivas.com Calligraphy: Laura Hooper hcalligraphy.com Photographer: Anna Gazda from Limelight limelight.pl

CONFETI 57

Je t’aime Celine married Mikael in a romantic autumn beach ceremony situated in an Andalucían paradise.

OUR STORY Mikael and I met in France in the Loire Valley where I was completing training in a restaurant and he was working as a chef. Both originally from France, we moved to Spain five years ago and toiled with a variety of jobs for approximately two years. Before the crisis hit Spain, we made the decision to move to Australia as my aunt lives in Brisbane. We bought a campervan and travelled all around Oz working in Port Douglas, Brisbane and in a ski resort near Melbourne.

We loved Australia so much that we continued our adventure for another year. Then the reality hit us; we were too far away from everything, especially from our family and friends so we decided to return to Spain and began working in a restaurant together.

Back to reality!

FUN & GAMES There was no typical proposal; it just felt right after seven years of living together especially after two years of being cramped in a campervan! We decided to begin planning our dream day in spring last year and set a date… for four months’ later! Not very 58 CONFETI

long to arrange all the details and invite our family and friends who live abroad. We had decided to get married here in Spain as it had become our home and we thought of it as an opportunity for all our love ones to discover our Spanish lifestyle. Our respective families travelled from England, France and Australia and stayed for a whole week. The wedding itself lasted three days and we enjoyed everything from a paddle tournament to a tapas restaurant flamenco experience and a sunny Sunday at the beach complete with traditional paella and lots of tinto de verano!!

RELAXED GLAMOUR We knew we wanted to have our ceremony on the beach and when my mother informed us of Tikitano restaurant it sounded ideal so we arranged a visit.

It was love at first sight and we booked the date there and then. The Balinese style roofs (we holidayed in Bali together so it holds a very special place in our hearts), the amazing views and the gourmet food ticked all our boxes. Our overall theme was casual with a colour scheme of grey and purple.

Every decision was made personally by us, except the flowers which I decided to leave to my mother as she is very talented in that department.

LITTLE DETAILS We opted for cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake and selected red velvet, lemon and chocolate flavours. All of the individual cakes were beautifully decorated with purple and white icing. They were to die for! My mother, bridesmaid and I bought our dresses from Pronovias. Mine was a flowing, Grecian style; perfect for the beach. I wanted to sustain the simplistic, casual theme, so I opted for natural and glowing makeup. My cousin’s girlfriend, Lotta is a brilliant makeup artist and did my makeup as well as my bridesmaid’s and my mother’s. The very talented Jonathan Yeadon from Reflections transformed our hair whilst still in keeping with the natural, casual ambiance of the day.

TREASURED MEMORIES My mum, dad, Aude my bridesmaid and my mother-in-law all helped me to get ready prior to the ceremony, where we enjoyed a glass or two of champagne given to us by Mikael’s family. Everyone was so calm which was brilliant for me as I was so nervous! Walking down the aisle and seeing all the people I love as well as Mikael’s emotional face is something I will treasure forever.

A SPECIAL TOUCH Mikael had his grandfather’s signet ring melted down to make our wedding rings which made them all the more significant and personal to us.

Celine’s Address Book Dress:pronovias.co.uk Bridesmaid Dresses and Mother of the Bride Dress: pronovias.co.uk Shoes: Fauno by Menbur sarenza.es Groom Tuxedo: zara.com Groom Waistcoat: Caramelo Groom Shoes: armani.com Hair: Jonathan at Reflections reflectionsmarbella.com Photographer: Talia Giraudo at thoroughlygorgeous.com Cake: cakemarbella.com Table Decorations & Flowers: deseosflorist.com Food & Venue: tikitano.com

CONFETI 59

Love

THE LOOK OF

Manish and Meredith added touches of their Anglican and Hindu roots to their passionate Spanish spectacle.

OUR STORY Manish and I met at University in Washington, DC. We had several classes together, but unfortunately we did not share any mutual friends. It wasn’t until we both studied in Spain and friends encouraged us to meet some fellow classmates near the bear statue in La Puerta Del Sol, Madrid that our lives changed forever. As I walked across the busy plaza I spotted Manish and stopped dead in my tracks. I couldn’t believe that the guy I had a crush on for over three years was standing amongst the crowd. I 60 CONFETI

nervously fixed my hair, took a deep breath and walked forward. Before I knew what had hit me, Manish came running up to me, gave me hug and dos besos on the cheek. He looked me in the eye and said, “Meredith! We can finally be friends!” When we returned to university our friendship continued to grow and evolve into the loving and laughter filled relationship we share today.

would be special, but still did not have any idea how special. After lunch we set out for a stroll and outside a tiny stone chapel, under a canopy of brightly colored fall foliage, Manish proposed and I immediately accepted. We each wrote a wish for each other and our marriage and slipped them into the chapel’s prayer box before ringing the bells and shouting, “We’re getting married!”

On a fall weekend in 2009, we headed on a road trip destination unknown. When we pulled into the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont I knew the weekend

Our dream had always been to get married in Spain. We decided on Granada because of its beautiful mountainous terrain, spirited hospitality, and musical roots. We

thought planning a wedding in Spain from America would be challenging, but as soon as we engaged the services of Theresa Guthrie of AWOL Granada any nerves were quickly settled.

OUR VISION We planned on honoring our Anglican and Hindu roots through dress, readings, and prayer services. We knew La Chumbera, Granada, would offer the perfect setting in surrounding us with breathtaking views, authentic cuisine, and passionate flamenco. Finally, we wanted

our wedding to be fun. Manish and I love a good party, we wanted our wedding to be an expression of our love of life and each other.

OUR STYLE We worked with a graphic designer to custom design all printed materials and create a wedding logo which incorporated a stylized red rose and chose navy blue, red, and lime green as our colour palette. We took great care in selecting the attire for our wedding party. The gentlemen sported navy blue suits with red silk patterned ties and the women fashioned red silk chiffon gowns, each unique, with a common rose detail. We selected a rustic and natural aesthetic for our flowers in blues, reds, and greens. The center pieces were candle lit which added a romantic glow to the evening.

To add an additional personal touch, we brought family wedding photos of our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents and set-up a display table. This allowed our guests to take a trip down memory lane and allowed us to honour family who were attending in spirit.

It was important to keep our colour palette and theme constant throughout the event. We designed our cake as a three tier polka-dotted confection with rose and navy ribbon detail.

Finally, as a late night snack, we sent out mini-silk bags filled with peanut M&Ms, our favourite pre-monogrammed candy!

THE FINISHING TOUCHES My mother and her maid of honour, Janet Hoover, tailored my mother’s original veil, which they made over thirty years ago. They spent countless hours on alterations, beading, and incorporating lace from my gown.

The result was a veil that seamlessly blended something old with something new.

It perfectly complimented the diamond earrings’ given to me by my mother-in-law which were a gift to her from Manish’s father. During our ceremony, the Ramos family presented us with a personalized box containing saffron.

They recited a traditional Spanish prayer and explained the marriage traditions of their village. These personal gifts made us feel surrounded by love and added to the joy we were feeling that day.

THE HIGHLIGHTS For our rehearsal dinner, we decided to dress in full Indian formal wear and host an Indian dinner at a local Spanish pub, selected by Theresa that specialized in international cuisine. Manish and I walked to the restaurant in our beaded dress and locals cheered and congratulated us.

On the day of the wedding, Manish’s cousins preformed a traditional Indian wedding dance and showered us with rose petals to bless our marriage. Finally, just before the DJ played all of our favourite

Spanish and English pop songs, Manish and I shared our first dance to a Pearl Jam cover of Elvis’s Fools Rush In. There were so many moments during the celebration we will treasure but perhaps the most memorable is the time spent laughing, dancing, and fully enjoying all that the city and Spain had to offer. We truly experienced our dream wedding and the best day of our lives!

Meredith’s Address Book Dress: sotteroandmidgley.com Suit: hugoboss.com Bridesmaids: amsala.com Wedding Planner: Theresa Guthrie at awolgranada.com Photographer: krismcguirk.com Make-up: Sabina Ulrich Venue: lachumbrera.com Hotel: hersperia.es CONFETI 61

An Idyllic Afternoon

Tara and Johnny enjoyed a vibrant and colourful celebration full of unique and quirky moments.

THE BIG I DO Jonny and I met at a friend’s birthday trip to Thorpe Park. My old school friend (and maid of honour,) thought Jonny and I would make a great match so when we all finally got together we were the topic of conversation! I got bashful and proceeded not to chat or sit next to Jonny on any of the

rides! It wasn’t until after Thorpe Park that my friend gave Jonny my email address and he got in touch to ask me out for a date. For our first date we went to two different bars in Soho; one thing I will always remember is Jonny getting ID-ed trying to go into the latter bar, Floridita! We continued to see each other and it wasn’t long before I fell for Jonny’s cheeky 62 CONFETI

and sometimes cheesy charms.

We planned a lovely holiday in Kenya in November 2010 visiting Diane Beach followed by a safari in Tsavo East and West. When we got back to our lodge Jonny asked me to come and look at the impalas in the watering hole, as I went to see he got down on one knee and proposed.

A STEP BACK IN TIME We both knew we wanted to get married abroad somewhere fun and hot and Spain was the natural choice as we have both been going to Spain on family holidays for many years. We also liked the idea of making it more of a weekend wedding.

After viewing approximately 16 venues in three days across the length

faces and most of all Jonny, put me completely at ease. The speeches ticked all the boxes! Both my dad’s and Jonny’s had twangs of gush and sentiment and plenty of jokes.

Jonny opted for two best man whose speeches included versions of the game ‘Have You Ever’ and a race between Jonny and his brother.

Once dancing commenced we were introduced to the Big Brother diary room, a gift from a friend. Throughout the night messages ranged from congratulations to drunkard dancing, singing and out right nudity! As well as taking care of the lighting and sound Nigel also DJ’ed for us and had everyone on their feet with his old-school tunes.

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

The short but sentimental horse and carriage trip I shared with my dad was a moment I will truly cherish and having my 94 year old granny at the wedding and on the dance floor was

Tara’s Address Book Bride’s Dress - Carolina Herrera brownsfashion.com

Jonny’s Suit - palzileri.it and breadth of southern Spain we arrived at La Almoraima with high hopes and it didn’t disappoint! The 16th century convent is the perfect set up for a wedding; the private chapel is available for the service, the large front patio is ideal for dinner and there is space for dancing in the courtyard. Our family and the bridal party stayed at the hotel for the weekend whilst our other guests took over the small village of Castellar de la Frontera.

A SPLASH OF COLOUR We wanted to bring the flavour of Spanish life into our wedding

through colour, food and drink.

I chose an ivory Carolina Herrera dress from Browns Bride in London and five different coloured bridesmaid dresses. The colours of the bridesmaid dresses; blue, red, green, fuchsia and turquoise, set the colour pallete for the entire wedding. As we got engaged in Kenya like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge we thought it would be fun to morph our faces onto the bodies of Will and Kate to create our replica invites and website.

This meant our guests were invited to ‘The Royal Wedding in Spain’!

Some of our guests thought the photo was actually of us and that

we had hired a luxurious venue to pose in! We continued the multicolour theme throughout the entire day with brightly coloured pompoms decorating the courtyard and vibrant fans for the guest to use during the ceremony. Nigel from Chez Vous dressed the trees and fountain with lights completely transforming the venue, something I didn’t think would be possible as it was already so beautiful!

FUN & GAMES Walking into the church I thought I was going to be nervous but seeing my dad, so many friendly, happy

Rings - taylorblack.co.uk Shoes - Paul Smith palzileri.it Catering - goyomarbella.com Lighting, Sound & DJ - Nigel

Davis chezvous.es

Band - The Maia Project Videographers - Alex Kiehl and Faisal Al-Jawad

Photographer

mccauleyphotos.photoshelter.com

Singer - Lizzy Pollot Venue - laalmoraimahotel.com

CONFETI 63

ARomance Rustic

Victoria and Jamie added small details from their travels to their globetrotting inspired wedding in the heart of the Granada countryside.

THE PROPOSAL We met in 2004 as students of Nottingham University and were together for most of our time there. During university we travelled a lot together visiting Europe, Asia, Morocco and Central America. I graduated in History and Archaeology in 2006, and then did a Masters in TV Journalism followed by a PGCE. Jamie graduated in Medicine in 2009, we then moved to Bristol where he worked as a junior doctor.

Jamie organised a weekend away in July 2010 to a surprise location, this wasn’t anything 64 CONFETI

too unusual as we often went for weekends away and one of us would sometimes organise it in secret. When he asked me to pack a particular favourite dress of mine, I became a little bit suspicious but didn’t want to get my hopes up. We drove to an airport hotel and I realised we were going abroad, the next day we flew to Rome, our favourite European city.

On arriving at a posh hotel my suspicions grew as we were used to staying in backpacking hotels or hostels. We spent the day visiting some of our favourite sites and then came back to get ready for dinner.

As we were about to leave the room, Jamie told me to open the balcony curtains. He had arranged for us to have dinner on our balcony. It was amazing and I started to get really excited and a bit nervous. After the meal arrived he snuck off, I turned around and saw him getting something out of the cupboard. He returned to the table, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was speechless, (for the first time in my life) and said, “yes, of course.” It was perfect!

We always knew we wanted to get married abroad. My parents live in Portugal and Jamie is half Spanish with a lot of family in Murcia so we decided to look for places in Andalucia, (between the two) as this is an area that we love.

THE PERFECT SETTING We wanted to be able to have most of the wedding outside and wanted an authentic Spanish venue with a bit of history in the Andalucian countryside.

We visited a few venues with my parents in April 2011, and although we liked a lot of them, none were quite perfect. Then on our last day I found out about El Cortijo del Marques, we went to visit and fell in love with it immediately. It is a stunning, family-run, old manor house situated amongst the olive groves north of Granada complete with its own breathtakingly, beautiful chapel, a picturesque courtyard and plenty of character and scope for personalising it too. The location meant that our guests could also enjoy spending time in Granada eating tapas and visiting the historic Alhambra.

OUR STYLE Al fresco, rustic, relaxed and authentic. I wanted a Spanish red/burgundy and ivory colour scheme as well as a lot of greenery to complement the rustic setting.

CREATIVE TOUCHES We had everything from polaroid cameras, chalkboard and slate signs going along the track to the venue; a world map table plan (which I made,) with each table named after one of our favourite travel destinations; scatter crystals and burgundy petals for the tables; sky lanterns released after the meal, traditional wooden fans for women’s favours; rose petal confetti and personalised toiletry baskets for each guest room.

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER I have so many memories from the occasion including going out for tapas with everyone in Granada two days before, the weather, relaxing by the pool with my bridesmaids before getting ready, walking in through the big chapel doors to Jamie’s cousins playing Pachelbel’s canon on the violin and piano and seeing all my friends and family in one place, seeing a patiently waiting Jamie turn around to smile at me, saying the vows in English and Spanish, Dad’s lovely speech which meant the world to me and a much needed Paella lunch with all the guests again the following day.

Victoria’s Address Book Wedding dress: maggiesottero.com Bridesmaid dresses: dessy.com Suit hire: frocksandtails.co.uk Venue and Paella: cortijodelmarques.com Buses: autocarestomas.com Flowers: floresdeleden.es Photographer: owenfarrellphotography.com Catering: cateringlavilla.com Guitarist: armandoguitarrista.es Fireworks: pirotecniamartin.es

CONFETI 65

Food for

Thought Doña Francisquita combines elite gastronomy with breathtaking locations.

D

66 CONFETI

oña Francisquita was founded in 1991 by Jose Manuel and Pilar. After more than twenty years in the hospitality sector, they decided to start their own catering company.

Thus the Dona Francisquita restaurant in Torremolinos was born, the catering division developed in parallel to begin with but soon became their main line of business.

In 1995 they took on the Guadalhorce Golf Club, followed by the Torrequebrada Golf Club in 1999 and the Torrequebrada Casino in 2006. Doña Francisquita has since become the one of the most innovative catering companies on the coast, having succeeded in perfecting the concept of authentic Andalusian and Mediterranean style food using the best products available and the latest trends from the world of gastronomy.

They are also responsible for the catering within the following three venues Finca La Tosca, La Consula and La Concepcion, whilst each is unique and individual they all share the commonality of offering a perfect location for all types of celebrations ranging from weddings and conferences to parties and dinners.

Doña Francisquita have experienced the pleasure of catering for the Prime Minister on his visits to the city of Málaga as well as numerous public and prestigious companies in the province. They have been awarded the Merit Award and the Tourism Award for Best Entrepreneur of Hospitality in Málaga.

Previously owed by Marques de Heredia and Marques de Loring , La Concepcion is also a Natural Museum containing historical, botanical gardens. The gardens were created in 1855 by the Marquis and Marchioness of Loring. They are home to an exquisite open-air collec-

La Tosca comprises of two distinct environments within one villa. The Mansion boasts wonderful views over the bay of Malaga whilst The Arab Gardens contain an array of foliage, shrubbery and a picturesque water feature. La Tosca not only provides a location for the reception, but can also accommodate a civil ceremony within the grounds.

tion of tropical and subtropical flowers and plant species from Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. The venue was officially declared a historical location in 1943 and is now considered a point of cultural interest. In spring 1990, the gardens were taken over by Malaga City Council, who opened them to the public on 21st June 1994.

La Concepcion is one of the venues provided by Mรกlaga City Council for civil weddings conducted by members of the corporation. donafrancisquita.com

CONFETI 67

CONFETI in

Gib

the The latest wedding news from Gibraltar Photos courtesy of owenfarrellphotography.com

SIMPLY SAY

I do

With minimal legalities and stunning views, the Mons Calpe Suite truly is the ultimate wedding destination.

T

he timeless rock of Gibraltar crouched at the Southern tip of Europe, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, has for centuries welcomed a wealth of couples to its shores to make their love official. Gibraltar legislation permits marriages to take place outside of the registry office. Local marriage law doesn’t contain any residential requirements, to get married at the registry office couples are required to present themselves to the registry, at the latest, the morning of the day before they wish to get married. Couples will then be guided through the simple paperwork and a marriage licence will be ordered the next day. Birth certificates, passports and if either the bride or groom has been married before, a copy of their divorce decree bearing the seal of the Court in original are the only administration requirements.

As the legalities are minimal and a Gibraltar marriage is recognised worldwide, the Rock, has become one of the number one locations for destination weddings.

Due to its years of history, siege and intrigue, Gibraltar is considered a city that embodies a passionate spirit, perhaps another reason why each year hundreds of couples visit to take or renew their vows. Gibraltar’s appeal as a romantic sojourn is not a new one.

During the 1950’s Hollywood stars Lawrence Harvey and Margaret Leighton said ’I do’ in Gibraltar.

Later, in 1962 the world became

spellbound by the numbers 007, when screen hero Sean Connery married actress Diane Cilento.

Sadly, this marriage was not to last but Connery’s affection for Gibraltar did as he returned in 1975 to marry his present wife Micheline Boglio Roquebrune. However, it is the marriage of Beatle John Lennon to Yoko Ono in 1969 that caused the biggest media sensation.

size weddings ranging from an intimate legal affair to an elaborate, glitzy spectacle. The magnificent circular room offering 220° views will make you feel like you really are on top of the world! The Mons Calpe Suite boasts its own private terrace with a retractable roof and is fitted with a state of the art audiovisual system that allows you to personalise your wedding down to the last detail.

Confeti highly recommends The Mons Calpe Suite located within the Cable Car Top Station. It is not only one of the most unusual venues to choose to exchange vows in Gibraltar, but also offers stunning panoramic views across the European coast and to Africa. The newly refurbished suite has been especially designed to cater for all

The experienced and helpful team can arrange all the details accommodating even the most demanding tastes and budgets.

From informal canapés and buffet selections to an a la carte superior dining menu together with an extensive list of fine wines, the gastronomy options are endless.

In addition the team are able to advise and organise everything from legalities, accommodation and decor to flights, transport, wedding cake, excursions and photography. When it comes to entertainment, the Mons Calpe Suite can provide live bands, musicians, DJs or, you can simply plug in your iPod, and dance to your own personal play list. As well as offering an extraordinarylocation and an exceptional array of amenities, the Mons Calpe

Suite boasts a commitment to quality of service, ensuring that whatever the occasion, you and your guests are looked after to the highest standard. Both Gino and David pride themselves on having an eye for detail and strive for perfection so that your wedding is everything you ever dreamed of. monscalpesuite.com CONFETI 69

GET HITCHED

without

A HITCH

P

lanning the happiest day of your life should be a fun and rewarding process however constraints of time, money and knowledge can turn a labour of love into a daily nightmare. Local specialists MedWeddings are on hand to spare you from an emotional meltdown with their dedicated wedding workshop at the Eliott Hotel on Friday 27 April 2012.

Jeanette Obytz of MedWeddings has been helping love struck couples get married in Gibraltar for over a decade and believes the wedding workshop will save brides-to-be time, money and stress.

Jeanette explains, “The majority of women only get married once which means they have no prior experience to draw on to create the perfect day. Our Wedding Workshop will gather together a range of professionals from photographers to florists, fitness

70 CONFETI

instructors to caterers, and each will impart their insider tips so that guests have the confidence and the know how to make their wedding a success.”

The first of its kind in Gibraltar, this five hour evening session will encompass every aspect of the big day. The Wedding Workshop combines elements of a traditional wedding fayre with the addition of guest speakers and presentations, a complete learning experience.

Experts will cover everything from legalities, location, travel bookings, invitations, the guest list, de-

sign touches and colour schemes to hair styles, make-up, flowers, the cake, table decorations, the all-important dresses and finally entertainment ranging from music, DJs and bands to photography and a video memory of the entire occasion.

knowledge. We’ll only recommend reputable suppliers and help them keep an eye on that budget to stop it spiraling out of control.”

Jeanette continues, “We want the wedding workshop to be fun. Nervous brides-to-be can meet others in the same boat over a welcome drink in a relaxed atmosphere and of course bring the fiancé, bridesmaids, mothers and even mothers-in-law to get some hands-on

Tel: +34 679 851 204 medweddingsexpress.com/ Wedding-Workshop-Gibraltar info@medweddings.com, Tickets also available from Serenity Beauty on Gibraltar’s Main Street, nº113.

The event is priced at just £35 for brides-to-be and £20 for each additional guest.

A picture paints a thousand words...

Visit Gibraltar For the perfect wedding abroad.

To order a brochure or for further information contact the Gibraltar Tourist Board: T: +44 (0) 207 836 0777

E: info@gibraltar.gov.uk

You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. facebook.com/visitgibraltar

twitter.com/visit_gibraltar

Details

Cakes by sweetthingsbyfi.com Image courtesy of jeremystandley.com CONFETI 73

S TO ONTH

3M

GO!

All about me…

My name is Kara Caradas, this year I am getting married at Buddha Beach in Puerto Banus to the love of my life Gary, and my twin sister Charley is helping me organise the occasion! I am documenting my glamourous celebration and not so glamourous planning process for Confeti in the hope that some of you brides-to-be can share my experiences and enjoy knowing you’re not the only one who changes their mind a million times, stresses out over EVERYTHING and becomes emotional as the slightest arrangements come together!

Top Secret So… I have found the one! No, not you Gary!

Hehe… My dress! It’s from Pronovias… however if you think you’re even going to get a glimpse of it before the big day… think again!

I’m not completely mean though, I have decided to share with you a few similar designs just to keep you in the loop. Hope you like them!

pronovias.es

pronovias.es

The Ultimate Choo

I’ve found my shoes! Eeeekkkk… I’m slightly nervous to wear them though as they are sooo stunning! I feel like they may be better suited to the prime position on my mantlepiece; they are that gorgeous! I knew I wanted Jimmy Choo’s and when I saw these, well… it was love at first sight! Sorry Gary!

I don’t want to reveal the exact “Choo” to you before the day, but here’s a sneak peak of them in gold, (mine are Gary had a look through Confeti in silver!) and fell in love with the suit from one of the adverts, he will look rather tasty in that too :) He and his groomsmen have opted for a relaxed style; they are all going to be tie-less and have open collars, my two little ones will look sooooo cute matching all the groomsmen!

Spotted!

TikiTano Weddings - you dream, we realize...

74 CONFETI

s,

Va Va Voom

When it comes to my hair, I’ve alwa ys had the motto… the bigger, the better! So when I met with cele brity stylist Jonathan Yeadon at Reflections, I wondered whether he would understand my vision.

Let’s just say we bonded over Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and Desperate Scousewives and from then on I knew I was in safe hands.

It’s guaranteed I will be stressed out while getting ready but I can already feel a massive weight lifted off my shoulders knowing that Jonathan will have me in stitc hes all morning, add a glass of champagne to the mix and I’ll be good to go. I had originally planned to have my hair half up and half down but when we were discussing where my veil would sit, Jonathan explained that with that style you either wouldn’t see my hair or wouldn’t see my veil; considering my veil cost almost the same as my dress, the latter was not an option and I didn’t wan t my hair to be covered either so he suggested an updo alternativ e; which I loved! Jonathan was brilliant, he asked me question after question to ensure he grasped my idea 100%, I explaine d that whilst I wanted my hair to have volume, I didn’t want to look like a fruit bowl! I don’t know whether I was more impressed he agreed with me or knew exactly what I was talking about!

Modern Classic

Inspired by the sweeping curves and geometric shapes of the Art Deco movement this dress from Delia Covezzi’s Autumn/Winter 2011-12 collection embodies the notion of ‘less is more’ and will ensure your bridesmaids convey pure elegance and sophistication. £450.00 deliacovezzi.com

Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend

What Dreams Are Made Of

Phillipa Lepley, one of the world’s leading Bridal couture designers, introduces ‘My Nirvana’. She has utilized her passion for detail, precision and embellishment. Romance and femininity remain at the forefront of Phillipa’s designs along with her mathematical obsession with proportion. phillipalepley.com

audus Olivier L 374 1239 +44 20 8 dus.com u olivierla

My jewellery arrived this week from Olivier Laudus Boutique in London, the Abbie diamante necklace and Monroe earrings are even more gorgeous than I expected! I have my dress, shoes, jewellery and veil! I’m pretty much all sorted! Now I just have the mission of trying to sort out the bridesmaids! Last issue I told you how I had found the perfect bridesmaid dresses… well turns out they weren’t so perfect! Trying to find something that I Beautiful love and suits six girls, all of different shapes and Accomplishment This year Watters is celebrating 25 yearssizes is NOT an easy task! I will keep you updated! in the bridal business. A lot can change in a quarter-century, but with Watters, a few things have remained at the forefront: simple style, trendsetting, and a sincere business strategy. These constants have helped Watters become a leader in the world of bridal couture. watters.com

The White Zone

Our fashion team’s pick of what’s hot for brides and their maids

I wa n it th t is big!

Flutter-by fabulous

Boxes of confetti are not allowed in many churches and venues across Spain however Rice Butterflies are beautifully packaged and eco-friendly. If you want a reaction from your guests, these delicate Rice Butterflies soar for up to eight seconds while cameras capture the magic. Children will be captivated, giving your pictures the wow-factor. ricebutterflies.co.uk

My Hearts A Flutter When I was looking through the last issue of Confeti, I noticed these rice butterflies and fell in love! They are such a cute alternative to traditional confetti and I know they will look truly unique in pictures. I had originally wanted to order them in purple but the colour I had hoped for wasn’t available so I chose white, which, now I think about it, will look amazing against the beach backdrop!

CONFETI 75

With Buddha not open until May, they suggested we trial the food at their sister establishment La Sala, so Penny, my eldest sister, Charley and I gathered in their new private dining room to try out the dishes we had selected. The food was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Thank god I didn’t eat breakfast; I’m sure you’re only supposed to sample the food at these tastings but we managed to devour the lot! There were a couple of changes as expected, we decided to opt for a non spicy prawn stir fry to accommodate more of our guests and I asked them to produce some of the chicken satay without sesame seeds to be suitable for my boys. We also decided on duck spring rolls rather than vegetable spring rolls and a wider variety of vegetables to accompany the pork. Is it wrong that I’m now almost as excited about the food on the day as the day itself?!

Tried and Tested

ach Venue: Buddha Be .com us an hb ac be ha dd bu tin Flowers: Flor Valen florvalentin.es

ivier Laudus

wellery: Ol Ring Cushion, Je m .co olivierlaudus rflies Confetti: Rice Butte om s.c lie erf ricebutt Shoes: Jimmy Choo jimmychoo.com

La Sala Restaurant Wedding Tasting: lasalabanus.com on at Reflections Hair: Jonathan Yead m .co lla rbe ma reflections

76 CONFETI

Char l stru ey: “Dud ggli e I’m n my speec g to writ e h, we soooo ’v o thin many s e got k t tione should b ories I d!” e me n-

Kara: “Yeh Charley I think I’m gonna need to agree the contents of this speech”

Flower THE

ZONE

How to find the perfect wedding florist‌ Choosing a florist for your wedding day can be almost as tricky as selecting your dream dress or reception venue. Ensure you pick the right one for you with these useful hints and handy tips from our floral design experts.

Full Name:

Deseos Florist /F

loristeria

Profile: We special ize in catering to all nationalities and tastes. Engli sh and Spanish is spoken in the shop. Our relation ship with our clien ts is paramount and we endeavou r to go the extra m ile to ensure great service.

Signature Style: El egant, with special attention paid to colour co-ordina tion and design.

Our designs are stylized and unclu ttered.

How much interaction should I expect with my florist?

Florists should be consulted early on in the planning process as often the themes created by the flowers as far as colour and design are concerned, can enhance the overall ambience of the wedding. It is important to gauge the personality type of your client and offer the best style that suits them with regard to flower type, colour and design. Flowers are an important part of any celebration and good coordination is essential. Samples and design ideas should be offered and discussed. The florist should, if possible visit the venue with the client to get a better feel for the atmosphere they are hoping to create.

78 CONFETI

I don’t even know where to begin! How should I start deciding on a floral style?

Over the months before the big day, collect colour samples, pictures of flowers you like, wedding themes etc. Once the florist has met you, she can determine what type of flower and style would suit you and bring together her ideas and ones that you might have not quite formulated in your own head.

Your shape, height personality and style should give the florist a good start in helping you to choose the best flowers for your wedding. deseosflorist.com Photos by jeremystandley.com

Panther, n In Bloom Flowers By Desig

Full Name: Maryanne

ers. I passion and dream, is flow Profile: I am so lucky that my grown up are rs now, all my children have been in Marbella 12 yea myself w thro l so , band travels also and have left home, my hus wedthe n whe and es, brid d to my into my work. I get so attache and email. ding is over l miss our chats ne is e from my clients, as everyo Signature Style: I find my styl at one Wh al. son per y ver is for looking different, and what they are t tha to in e e. So it’s my job to tun person likes, another will hat . ons visi and as ide ir iration from the person’s tastes and take insp

What are the most important things to consider when choosing flowers?

When it comes to choosing my flowers l am very fussy; I always pick the perfect blooms and the most luxurious of seasonal flowers.

Where should I look for inspiration?

I look for inspirations everywhere; magazines, the latest wedding shows, Preston Bailey whose ideas l adore, gardens, etc.

How do I make sure my florist stays within budget? l like to double up on flower arrangements for example; pew ends can be taken from the ceremony and used as chair backs for the bride and groom, ceremony table flowers

can then be used on the top table and so on. Also I always explain to the bride to select flowers that are in season, or use larger flower heads as this will keep costs down.

Are the best florists the ones who are very on-trend?

I don’t believe in floral trends; the most important thing to me is the bride, the venue and my understanding of her dreams. These elements drive my vision; I cannot follow a trend if my heart is telling me to go another way. inbloommaryanne.co.uk

e, ichele Osborn rist Stephanies Flo

Full Name: M

hed in 1997. t was establis is or Fl e ni ha ated busiProfile: Step ned and oper ow l ily m fa a e the finest flora They ar to offering only is ed at itt th m e m ic rv co , se ness , backed by fts gi d an ts arrangemen ompt. friendly and pr ern and ure style is mod at gn si y M e: Signature Styl innovative. or swatches of material to combine your flowers to your colour theme.

How can I make sure I get what I want from my florist?

Be as clear as possible with your likes and dislikes and most of all with your budget.

Your florist by knowing this will help you to keep within this budget making life simpler for you both. You could also take your florist some pictures you find in bridal magazines,

What´s the best advice you could give a bride?

Every bride wants her wedding to be memorable and her choice of flowers or arrangements should reflect her specific taste and personality. Her flowers should create a theme to make her wedding day special. It is her own personal

choice, as her own preferences are the most important part, as well as having a basic understanding of what works well for the theme she has chosen and her budget. She can also expect a good florist to provide her with helpful advice, so be prepared to ask plenty of questions and to run ideas past your florist once you reach that stage. stephanieflorist.gi CONFETI 79

Full Name: Janne

Valentin Lassen, Flor Valentin

ings. I have Profile: I am a Danish florist, specializing in wedd r shop for flowe my had have I lived in Spain for 18 years, and working close and good a up built ally 5 years. I have gradu in my ing result ers, plann ing wedd s variou with relationship s. style becoming sought after by bride romantic, but Signature Style: My personal style is rustic and as well; it all styles rn of course I also produce a lot of mode most importhe , wants she what depends on the bride and e and sugadvis , bride the to ully caref listen I tant thing is that the bride’s h matc gest an array of styles to ensure the flowers vision perfectly.

How should I go about choosing my florist?

I think it is important to meet your florist personally and preferable in their own flower shop to give you an opportunity to see other works they have created. It’s always a good idea to browse through magazines and books with your florist so you can both fully understand your vision.

Based on previous work, you can decide whether the florist can produce the flowers in the

80 CONFETI

style you are looking for.

Be prepared for questions from the florist like; • Do you have a budget?

• What colours do you like and not like?

• Do you have a picture of your wedding dress?

• Do you have any allergies or superstitions?

How far ahead of the wedding should I book a florist?

It is always a good idea to book your florist well in advance (6-12 months,) as this will ensure the florist you select is available on the day you require. You also need to ensure your flower selection is relevant to the season you are getting married. Your florist will guide you with the decisions and make sure the selections you make are available at that time of year.

How do you come up with a design concept for each wedding day?

I get inspiration from nature, people, the city, magazines, books, wedding fairs and firstimpressions of the bride. It is also important to get to know the bride and understand her requirements fully.

Do I need to be aware of the shape of my bouquet and how it will complement my dress?

Prior to meeting with your florist it is not necessary to be aware of the shape of your bouquet as a good florist will help you select the best design to complement your dress style and theme.

Many things come into play when it comes to the shape of the bouquet and the dress.

For example, a drop shape bouquet will make a bride look slimmer or maybe the dress is so striking, that you only need flowers for your hair, floral “jewellery” for your arm/wrist, or a very simple bouquet.

Finally your height, how much emphasis should be on the flowers compared to the dress, the overall style and theme of the wedding should all come into consideration. florvalentin.es Photos by Ruth Jones

For you…

the star of the day, the bride…

Let us design the bouquet you always dreamt of!

Flor Valentin your florist on the coast.

Centro Idea Ctra. de Mijas km 3,6 29650 Mijas Malaga, España Web: www.florvalentin.es / Email: janne@florvalentin.es Photo: Jeremy Standley

Tel: +34 951 311 086 / Mobile: +34 669 061 234

Unveiling the latest ideas from traditional tiers to mouthwatering miniatures … Now let the bake off begin!

Floral Flavours

The icing on the cake Cascading Creation

Omaya’s favourite wedding cake of 2011 comprised of a five-tier creation with edible flowers cascading from the top, all handmade to match the wedding bouquet, with a custom made wedding topper of the couple’s initials. Omaya designed a selection of cakes for the bride to choose from, with the final design combining an amalgamation of all. cakecouturemarbella.com

Daniella from Delicious Cakes and Treats created this Zebra inspired masterpiece for a truly unique celebration. A 2 tier cake, (as pictured) is available for €195, or a 3 tier cake can be created for €295. All tiers are sponge but can be substituted for fruit if required for an additional charge. For a special touch why not add colour coordinated cupcakes to the perimeter? deliciouscakesandtreats.com

Sweet Sensations

Sweet Trees are set to be one of the biggest trends for 2012. Maryanne from In Bloom can create an array of vintage inspired edible decorations with everything from Liquorish Allsorts or Marshmallows to Ferrero Rochers or Malteasers. Not just for the little ones, these little treats catch all your guests’ attention, no matter what age! inbloommaryanne.co.uk

A Magical Moment

Mad About Macarons

Move over cupcakes… French Macarons are stealing the show. They are fast becoming the popular choice for infusing one’s wedding with a fun, colourful, bite size treat that is sure to satiate the sweet tooth of all in attendance.

French Macarons are quite possibly the hottest, hippest, most adorable pastry on the dessert scene right now.

T: 622850435

One particular highlight of 2011 for Fiona from Sweet Things by Fi, was receiving an email entitled ‘Eloping to Gibraltar’. It read as follows ‘My Fiance and I are eloping to Gibraltar on Friday. We will be needing a very small 2-tier cake for just the two of us.

Is there any way we can arrange something with you on such short notice?’

Although already booked, Fiona being a hopeless romantic, could not refuse the opportunity to be a part of something so magical. Even though this was a small wedding for two, Fiona ensured that the design process was given as much attention as a four or five tiered cake. The bride loved ribbons and cameos, so using these aspects, Fiona created a romantic cameo cake featuring the brides style and colour theme. Several weeks later, Fiona received the following testimonial ‘Thank you for our cake. It was delicious!!

I seriously keep thinking about it and imagining it. Any chance you have a shareable recipe?? SO yummy.” sweetthingsbyfi.com

CONFETI 83

the table. We immediately warned her that our attempts would in no way mimic her beautiful designs and asked our photographer to be sure she snapped away at Fi’s samples just in case we were truly as terrible as we anticipated!

Get Crafty Indulge yourself in a delicious hands-on cupcake decorating class with Sweet Things by Fi

By Christie Holland Photos by Ruth Jones

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W

ith deadline looming the Confeti team have been enduring sleepless nights and hectic days so when we were offered the opportunity to sample Sweet Things

by Fi’s cupcake decorating class, we jumped at the chance. On a sunny Thursday afternoon myself, Confeti’s Editor, Nicola and Features Editor, Laura arrived at Fiesta Sol’s picturesque showroom in Marbella, the location for our creative tutorial. Fi, her normal bright and bubbly self, welcomed us in and directed us to our seats.

An array of intriguing looking tools were pitched in front of each chair, the layout was tremendously professional with each participant presented with their own individual decorating materials and utensils.

A stunning selection of perfectly decorated cupcakes adorned with handmade roses, bows, blossoms and pearls took centre stage on

We were each provided with six mouth-watering looking cupcakes and a selection of icing and decorative touches, I had to use all my strength not to bite into one of them as Fi was explaining… actually I’m not sure what she was explaining as I was so focused on the vanilla and chocolate bite size creations right before my eyes!

If she hadn’t been sitting right next to me, I would probably have been decorating five and not six!

“We will begin with a handmade rose,” exclaimed Fi, a few minutes later I questioned, “did you say it was just roses we will be learn-

ing today,” attempting to acquire the knowledge I had previously missed whilst drooling over the delectable candy. “No, we will also be fashioning bows as well,” Fi reiterated, I could see the half smile on her face at my blatant disregard of her previous explanation.

As Fi began to explain to us the step by step process we eagerly snapped up her crumbs of wisdom. Sheer concentration radiated from our faces, “I can’t remember the last time you girls were so quiet!” Nicola expressed, possibly referring to the general chatter that fills the Confeti office on a day to day basis. We began by colouring the white icing, a method that involved moulding in pink dye, five minutes in, Laura took the words out of my mouth exclaiming, “gosh it makes your hands ache doesn’t it!” It really

did! How an earth does she do this for an entire wedding cake!

Once we had handcrafted the base of our roses we moved onto the internal petals, I couldn’t quite believe the attention to detail that went into each individual petal and the time each flower took to produce, the procedure is a lot more technical than I had imagined, almost like a puzzle with each element slotting into its unique position. Understandably we were quite a lot slower than Fi, however I couldn’t even begin to imagine the amount of hours it would take to complete one of the elaborate cakes she is famed for.

The three of us gazed in admiration at our completed roses, “see,” Fi exclaimed, “I told you they would be as good as mine!”

I wouldn’t say they were AS good but considering two of us can barely boil an egg, the fact that they remotely resembled roses was a true accomplishment!

Heather, owner of Fiesta Sol came over for a quick peak and offered to play judge as she was unaware of which cupcake belonged to each of us. Laura, always the competitor, quickly jumped in, “good idea!” Considering Laura isn’t the girliest person I know, I was surprised she would want to pit our delicate creations against each other in fear of losing, that was until I saw her PERFECT

rose! “There is going to be another Sweet Things opening up soon if I’m not careful,” joked Fi. “That’s my favourite,” announced Heather. Before she barely finished her sentence I heard an enthusiastic roar of excitement coming from Laura’s way and noticed Nicola sulking at the other side of the table. Nevermind, there was still the bows to go! Fi was so helpful and so patient, reassuring us that we were doing each step correctly. Just short of three hours after our arrival we finished all six cupcakes, and surprisingly our bows, as Fi had assured us, looked quite beautiful… if I do say so myself!

On the drive home we couldn’t stop talking about our afternoon, and how much we had enjoyed ourselves. Whether your desire is to become the new Peggy Porschen, the new Fiona Dodson or you just want to spend an entertaining afternoon with the girls, Sweet Things by Fi’s cupcake decorating class is one not to miss! You might be surprised to discover a hidden talent… we were!

Cupcake class was shot at Fiestasol Wedding´s showroom in Marbella.

Tel: +34 952 898 746 +34 657 214 831 fiestasol.com

Cupcake Class hosted and tutored by Fiona Dodson Sweet Things by Fi Tel: +34 697 228 088 mail@ sweetthingsbyfi.com sweetthingsbyfi.com

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BRINGING

OUT THE

Confeti chats to Talia Giraudo, one of the Coast’s most in demand photographers What challenges you in your line of work?

The challenge is making every wedding individual, personal and relevant to each couple. This starts with the first moment of contact, gaining information about the bride and groom, their life and their relationship. I prefer to meet the couple in person but if this is not possible then good email correspondence with them is a necessity to enable us to form a bond of trust.

How long have you working within this field?

I have been a professional for 14 years, mainly as a wedding and family portrait photographer because that is what I enjoy the most.

As I have lived in many different countries and know people from different walks of life, I think that I have a sixth sense for what people want on their special day. I’m quite good at anticipating what’s going to happen, often the unexpected things as well. I know as soon as I look at someone’s face if they are going to start crying!

What are the particular benefits of working on the Costa de Sol? The colours in southern Spain are some of the most beautiful, rich and vibrant in Europe; from the flowers to the sky, and the sea to the sand, everywhere you look offers a perfect backdrop. The sunsets on the beach and the smell of the flowers in the warm evenings offer a sensational environment for photographs.

Is there such a thing as a typical couple?

Every couple is looking for something different, something unique.

For me, there is a huge difference between having a style and repeating the same shots over and over again for different couples. I try to reflect how each couple would like themselves to be showcased on their wedding day so no two albums ever look the same.

Describe your photographic style?

As I mentioned before, I like to get involved from the start and meet the couple, find out who they are and their expectations. Then on the day I try to be as inconspicuous as possible! Many times couples have been surprised at some of the photos as they didn’t see me. I’ve often heard, ‘I didn’t even notice you taking that photo’ which is a very important thing for me. I try to be completely unobtrusive and if a couple say that they don’t remember me being there for 70 percent of the photos, then that for me is a good day. I take care with every single shot from the first to the last. The wedding day is theirs alone and I believe that I should interfere as little as possible.

Tell us a little about the presentation of your images.

When I first started my business I realised that there was a no point in having natural, contemporary shots and presenting them in a heavy, brown leather album that didn’t suit

the photos, so I went to the UK and sourced Jorgensen albums which I believe are the best in the world.

They are a really amazing product and everyone who has received one of the albums has commented that it has exceeded their expectations. As they are personalised I can match every single style of wedding to the style of album.

My family and friends comprise of musicians, writers, photographers and painters. I love exploring cities, I love nature and I am always looking for beauty in things. I love family, because I am of Italian decent, I guess, I love working with children, I love chatting to people and if I’m asked to at the end I’ll stay for a drink or two!

What do you believe are your strengths?

Simply put, people. I like them.

Maybe being a woman helps me understand how a bride is feeling, maybe having a big family has given me a great experience of different age groups, maybe being fluent in Spanish and English can bridge possible complications. I’m very good at getting a “vibe” from the couple of what they want from the day and making it happen.

thoroughlygorgeous.com

What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from my life. I live here, in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The sea, the mountains, the blue skies, the trees and flowers are all around. I surround myself with art and creativity.

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PictureThis Confeti talks to the creative geniuses behind photography and videography team Bodakids.

Who are Bodakids?

We are a young and professional team specializing in wedding photography and videography comprising of two female photographers and three male videographers all with college careers and creative passion. This allows us to offer a unique style of wedding video film.

We tell stories of love, joy, passion and friendship and capture feelings of laughter, excitement and tears.

Why did you choose to work in the photography/videography industry?

We have all been passionate about photography since childhood, thus the reason we chose to dedicate our lifestyle and studies to it. For our videos we have a specialised team with degrees in audiovisual media, allowing them to completely master the technique and the equipment.

However, more importantly, all of our team feel this profession is a way of life, we love their work and feel true passion for it.

Why did you decide to specialize in weddings?

Bodakids was actually born in 2006 specializing in child photography and videography and it was only when a client prompted us to move our creatively fresh and original way of handling children to weddings.

Aerial Video

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What can a bride expect from Bodakids?

Professionalism, dedication, creativity, uniqueness and of course a good price.

Since 2008 weddings have become our benchmark of activity, creating a style that allows us to differentiate ourselves from competitors.

What are your career highlights?

The 100% satisfaction of our customers. To date, all the couples with whom we have worked with have been pleased with our work and this satisfaction is what motivates us to continue working in this industry.

Are you introducing anything exciting and new for 2012?

In 2012 we will incorporate aerial photography through RC helicopters as an option for the bride and groom.

What is your favourite aspect of your work?

For us it is not work, photography is our way of seeing and expressing what is happening around us.

What moves us is the gratitude of a happy couple and their testimonials.

Marbella, 01/06/2011: “ I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you so much for such a fab video!!! We love it. I showed it to the girls last Saturday and they were glued to it. They said it was like watching a movie not a regular wedding video.

They said even better than the film “The Notebook”. We loved all the touches you added.”

What makes you unique?

A creative attitude in every job makes it unique and exclusive.

Bodakids bring this creative attitude with us to all weddings. Our prices are adjusted to the needs of all budgets, we want to make this service available to everyone. We always find that all weddings have their funny moments, in our videos the couple can rest assured that we will grasp the fun part of their weddings, as well as the most emotional memories.

What style of wedding albums and wedding videos do you offer?

We do not believe that photography is a matter of style, but rather a question of art. Creativity and good work, never goes out of fashion. bodakids.com

BEHIND

The Lens Confeti catches up with experienced wedding photographer Ruth Jones who has been working on the coast and in the UK for the past five years.

I believe… it is so important

My wedding photography is…

My aim is… to work as silently

classic with a contemporary touch and above all natural. My aim is to create a set of beautiful photos that capture the essence of the day.

Being a female photographer… can sometimes allow the bride to feel a little more comfortable, especially in the early stages of the day when she is getting ready with her bridesmaids.

to have a positive and friendly relationship with the bride in order to make her feel comfortable and at ease.

as possible, not intruding, just capturing shot by shot all the elements of the day.

My inspiration… often comes from the couple themselves, meeting with the bride and groom and talking about their own ideas and thoughts allows me to capture their vision. ruthjonesphotography.webs.com

My One & Only

es real brid d e k s a i t their Confe s to pick m o o r g d ignant an able, po r o m e m most wedding ir e h t m o to photo fr cult task fi if d a ’s that’s day. It one but t s ju e l. s choo so specia it s e k a what m

COUPLE NAME: Georgina & Matt

LOCATION:

COUPLE NAME:

Granada

Laura & Fernando

“This image captures everything about the uniqueness of our wedding day. I have never seen a more poignant image of a bride before she takes that step into a new life, smiling her way past a gentleman going in the opposite direction. A beautiful image of a beautiful day.”

LOCATION:

PHOTOGRAPHER:

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Seville

“Every time I look at the photo I know I am the luckiest woman alive.” gabrielnavas.com

owenfarrellphotography.com

COUPLE NAME: Gillaine & Daniel

LOCATION: Benahavis

“My daughter is the most precious thing to me.

On our wedding day she behaved like a star, gave me lots of cuddles and kisses, which made the day very emotional! This photo will forever remind me of my little girl and how beautiful she is.”

PHOTOGRAPHER:

thoroughlygorgeous.com

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COUPLE NAME: Sarah & Mark

LOCATION: Antequera

“Mark and I love this photo, as it captures the day in such a magical way”

PHOTOGRAPHER: jeremystandley.com

COUPLE NAME:

Amanda & Patrik

LOCATION: Gibraltar

“After several glasses of champagne that night, this moment was a magical, wonderful, blurry memory.

Our own little paradise, within the walls of Gibraltar.”

PHOTOGRAPHER:

owenfarrellphotography.com

COUPLE NAME: Christina & Aaron

LOCATION: Barcelona

“It was amazing to steal a moment with each other.

We couldn’t believe what a beautiful celebration we were having - beautiful because we were able to share it with so many of our loved ones in such a meaningful location.”

PHOTOGRAPHER: jeremystandley.com

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COUPLE NAME: Inne & Michel

LOCATION:

Los Monteros “We wanted our wedding day to be special for us but mostly for our gorgeous little girl. It was a very emotional day and this photo will always remind me of her and how I felt.”

PHOTOGRAPHER:

thoroughlygorgeous.com

COUPLE NAME: Nick & Chloe

LOCATION: Hawaii

“ All my favourite people and things in the world, all captured in one photo – what more could you ask for.”

PHOTOGRAPHER:

scottdelamoweddings.com

COUPLE NAME: Yolanda & Carlos

LOCATION: Barcelona

“The night was such a blur, but certain moments like this one stand out in my memory – our first dance.”

PHOTOGRAPHER: gabrielnavas.com

COUPLE NAME: Casey & Sara

LOCATION: Hawaii

“I loved that we had a chance to laugh, relax, and soak it all in before the dance party got started inside. Whenever I look at this photo, it brings back the same excitement and emotion I was feeling in that instant.”

PHOTOGRAPHER:

scottdelamoweddings.com

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That’s Show Business

Wedding Of My Dreams

Confeti Magazine is travelling across the pond from southern Spain to attend The National Wedding Show

T

he nation’s biggest and bestloved wedding show returns to London and Birmingham this spring for another season of bigday inspiration. Whether your style is fairytale fantasy, contemporary chic or vintage delight, the show is sure to hold a wealth of inspiration for anyone seeking advice or ideas for their big day. For spring 2012 the National Wedding Show has been given a makeover and unveils a fresh new look and the exciting introduction of The Vintage Area.

In keeping with the growing vintage trend within the industry a new area is to be launched within the show compromising a collection of authentic vintage and vintage-inspired suppliers covering every aspect of weddings from fashion and accessories to stationery and venue styling.

This will culminate in a central English tearoom-style café area where visitors can relax with a quintessentially British cup of tea and a delicious array of cakes. Event Director, Alejandra Campos comments: ‘The Vintage area at the show is a reflection of the huge trend for vintage-style weddings that has been so popular in recent years. The National Wedding Show is consistently responsive to the needs of the visitors and exhibitors: brides are always turning their thoughts to the past when it comes to styling their weddings, and we felt that in keeping with the demands of our clientele a dedicated Vintage space at the show would be the best way to present this.’

The area will showcase such gems as Rachel Simpson’s beautifully unique shoes - an essential for any wedding outfit. Designed in the UK and hand-crafted in Spain, Rachel’s creations are available in a host of colours and styles, including gorgeous peep-toe T-Bars and a twenties flapper-style Mary Jane.

White Knot

The cream of the show’s bridal wear designers will be showcased in a stunning catwalk fashion show, where wedding dresses, groomswear, bridesmaid and mother-ofthe-bride looks from some of the country’s leading bridal retailers will take to the stage. Sponsored by Wedding magazine, the inspirational show will take place five times daily, with reserved seating for press and VIP ticket holders. Plus, with the UK’s largest collection of wedding gowns under one roof at the Designer and Boutique areas, as well as the stunning Catwalk Fashion Show, brides-to-be will be able to see some of the biggest names in bridal design.

From high street styles to one-off couture, designers will include Suzanne Neville, Stephanie Allin, Jenny Packham, Kate Sherford, Amanda Wakeley, Ian Stuart, Sassi Holford, Rosa Clara, and Maggie Sottero, to name but a few.

The fantastically popular How to Look Good Show will return for spring 2012, bringing back its expert big day beauty advice from former Clothes Show host Caryn Franklin and Jane Galpin, producer of How To Look Good Naked. With live step-by-step makeovers it’s not to be missed!

Former Britain’s Next Top Model judge Michele Paradise will be in house with her essential Bridal

Cotton and Crumbs

Coaching which includes indispensible guidance such as how to keep your cool on the big day, how to work the camera and how to walk in wedding heels, plus the team behind cult wedding blog Rock My Wedding will be at the show sharing their tips during their insightful seminars, All About The Pretty. If all that has blown you away, relax and unwind after a long day’s shopping with a glass of something bubbly at the Chambord & Champagne Bar, and toast to your perfect wedding day!

24-26 February 2012 London Olympia 16-18 March 2012 Birmingham NEC nationalweddingshow.co.uk

White Mischief

Traditional Flower Co.

Come and pick up a complimentary copy of Confeti Magazine from stand H51, at the NEC, Birmingham 16 – 18 March 2O12. Our team will be on hand to give you advice and recommendations.

shropshirepetals.com

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YOU SHOULD BE

Confeti’s GILES BROWN, who’s been known to get on the good foot and bust a few moves in his time, on wedding dance floor etiquette.

Dancing image courtesy of jeremystandley.com

T

he ceremony is over, you’ve got through the reception and speeches without making a complete fool of yourself and you may think that you’re into the home stretch. After all, it’s time to cut loose, fix the bridesmaid that you’ve been tailing like a hormonal cruise missile with your best George Clooney grin and unleash your killer dance floor moves.

Which is where it all goes wrong.

Dancing at weddings is nothing like dancing in your local, bar, club or, in certain cases, nearest Greek Restaurant. Unless you are the couple actually getting hitched, you are not allowed to hit the dance floor, do a couple of spins and bellow at the DJ to “Get this Ronan Keating shite off...” as you may find the bride and groom staring at you as they wait to start their first dance.

Yes, gentle reader, you will find that the first dance is nine times out of ten something by Boyzone, Take That or the dreaded Michel Bublé that has huge sentimental meaning for the bride. The sight of you doing your best whirling Dervish impersonation before the first bars of her favourite Carpenters number are over is likely to spoil the moment somewhat.

The second song can also be a balletic minefield. One of the recent trends has been for the bridesmaids to launch into a choreographed routine, normally to Beyoncé or some other diva, Single Ladies, Moulin Rouge… you get the idea.

Another factor to take into account is your fellow dancers. Maiden aunts, punchy Irish cousins and the usual smattering of angelic little un’s are lightly to be shocked, open mouthed and angrily unleashing a flurry of lightning fast punches (that’s normally the maiden aunts) if you start grabbing your crotch and hollering to all the “hoes in da house” to “suck on this” in your best Bad Boy fashion.

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Other dance moves to avoid during weddings are:

The Moonwalk

The moonwalk was originally invented by French mime Marcel Marceau and later perfected by Michael Jackson, America’s most talented white dancer. Sadly, much like Jacko himself, this dance craze went out of fashion more than a decade ago.

Unless you’re an actual astronaut or a one-gloved entertainer, you have no business trying to execute this tragically outdated move in public.

The Back Spin

The back spin is a favourite move among old school B-boys and a one-way ticket to your chiropractor.

Unless you’re 13 years old and can put your body through the head of a tennis racket, this is one trick you should leave out of your repertoire.

While you’re at it, you should also forget head spins, shoulder spins, elbow spins, arse spins, and any other bad dance moves that make your body resemble an out-ofcontrol top.

Hammer Dance

Albert Einstein once said, “Dancers are the athletes of God.” It’s a lovely little thought, but it makes one suspect that he never saw anyone doing the Hammer Dance. Popularised by MC Hammer himself, it is achieved by shuffling back and forth while keeping your legs wide apart and slightly bent. Naturally, it helps if your trousers contain 18 cubic feet of material.

Raise The Roof

If dancing is, as Constanze believed, “like dreaming with your feet,” then raise the roof is a bad dance move that is like enduring a nightmare that involves all of your limbs. This move requires the dancer to lift his palms heavenward while jutting his arms up and down like a pair of hyperactive pistons. It’s simple, it’s easily recognisable and it makes you look

like you should be starring in a House of Pain video circa 1992.

Finally, there is the Older

Uncle Dance Move. After a couple of beers, the bride’s uncle will feel compelled to show the world that he’s still “got it” and hit the dance floor. He hasn’t, and the bad dance move occurs when this rhythmically challenged individual concentrates too heavily on execut-

ing a dance move. The result is a protrusion of the upper teeth over the bottom lip and a narrowing of the eyes that makes it look like the dancer is passing a gallstone the size of a watermelon, while the rest of the guests try and work out if he’s dancing to the music, or the words.

Watching one particularly athletic and red-faced uncle dancing in a tight suit a few weddings ago, I was heard to remark,

“It’s only a matter of what gives out first. His heart or his trousers.”

HEN PECKED

ur life – the hen party of yo most fun t es b e th n la p d l the latest an one chance to it right with al et You only have g u yo lp can he CONFETI team dom. st night of free la ur ideas for yo

LET’S PARTY!

are er if you b m e m s, you P Re or mum TOP TI s d n ie older fr activity inviting nue or e v a e s oubt, choo y. If in d jo need to n e l il ges ryone w ious sta r a v o t that eve up in split it one can why not at every h t ter l a e am htclub la ig n a such as o ont nd then attend a r ones. younge for the

Ladies who Lunch

Spend the afternoon drinking cool cava and dining on a gastronomic feast at the beachside beauty, TikiTano. With uninterrupted views of Gibraltar and Africa and vibrant Polynesian style décor this chic restaurant provides the perfect location for a sophisticated and stylish alternative to the traditional hen do. tikitano.com

Quintessentially Quaint

Fairground Fun

Make A Day Of It

The excitement experienced over invites and floral displays isn´t just for the bride, why not invite your bridesmaids and friends along to The National Wedding Show and turn your shopping trip into a grand day out with their VIP experience.

Champagne, exclusive gift bags and a luxury lounge is all included making this the ultimate hen treat. nationalweddingshow.co.uk

Bring out your inner child and enjoy the adrenaline of the feria; stomach churning drops, youthful games and sweet and sickly candy – just the right amount of adventure before your special day.

Each town in Andalucía host individual ferias throughout the year however the picturesque town of Seville hosts the ultimate party in April and is the perfect backdrop for a vintage weekend. feriadesevilla.andalunet.com

Fancy a relaxing and authentically, Spanish long weekend in luxury surroundings? Why not visit La Vista de Medina, the enchanting gardens, invigorating pool and breath-taking scenery truly represents Spain as it used to be. Enjoy reminiscing of memorable occasions and discussing all the excitement your wedding brings over a decadent three course dinner before retiring to your deluxe suite. lavistademedina.com

Treat Your Feet

Enjoying a vibrant night out on the town before your big day? Why not start your hen weekend at the Beauty Centre at El Oceano; sample an Oxygen Lifting Facial, an Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap or a Ladies Luxury Pedicure.

The perfect pre-Puerto Banus essential, to ensure you are set to dance the night away. oceanohotel.com

Unique Memento

It’s not only your wedding memories you will want to treasure, why not arrange a glamourous photo session with all your girls and make your hen do one to remember. The images will also make ideal bridesmaids gifts; a unique reminder they can keep forever. limelight.pl CONFETI 101

LET’S PARTY!

STAGGERING ABROAD ry with Confeti’s Go down in a blaze of glo chelor party ba te top ideas for the ultima

Tee Time

Inject a competitive buzz into the air with a game of golf at The Tamisa Golf Hotel, an ideal way to refresh and rejuvenate before the celebrations commence.

Why not make a long weekend of it and stay overnight at Tamisa, you might even be able to fit another round in, in the morning! hoteltamisagolf.com

Feel the Breeze

Experience some adventure on your stag do; whether riding, cruising, jumping or surfing waves, kitesurfing offers you an adrenaline-charged opportunity to enjoy the sea. Tarifa is just over an hour away from Marbella, making it possible to visit for a day trip allowing you to journey back to the bars of Puerto Banus for an alcohol fueled evening. kitesurfingschooltarifa.com

Moves Like Jagger Get yourself on the dancefloor and show your stags what your made of.

News Café is the ideal spot to make the most of the true Puerto Banus experience. Nestled on the front line and offering the very best in funky house and R&B, News Cafe will keep you partying into the early hours. Just make sure this isn’t one you visit the night before the wedding! newscafe.es 102 CONFETI

Action Adventure

Find the child inside you at Aventura Amazonia Adventure Park in Elviria.

Spain´s newest eco activity park is sure to get even the most daring of stags excited. Featuring 73 escapades including zip wires between the trees and hanging bridges; this is one attraction not to miss. aventura-amazonia.com

Strike Out

Why not try your hand at ten pin bowling? It may not be the most traditional of stag do activities but look at the facts. It’s a great laugh, it’s competitive, the venue hosts an array of arcade games and pool to accompany the bowling, and it’s active! Plus you can play for the drinks that evening! What more could you ask for? megabowlmarbella.com

Image courtesy of owenfarrellphotography.com

CONFETI ‘S

Courtesy of notonthehighstreet.com

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Bridal Buzz Look no further to discover the latest news, hottest trends and leading wedding companies in Spain.

Five Star Elegance An insight into the opulent Mediterranean haven that is, The Gran Meliá Don Pepe

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he Gran Melia Don Pepe is located only ten minutes from Marbella’s most famous downtown and Puerto Banús, the extravagant shopping marina. Their aim is to redefine luxury and pampering with two opulent pools, Bali beds overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, a wellness and beauty room, 24 hour gym, lighted tennis courts, an extensive spa treatment list and over 40 golf courses in the area.

The Gran Melia Don Pepe offers guests an array of International dining opportunities, including a menu by Chef Dani García at Calima, which boasts two Michelin stars. A further three restaurants are available, as well as the newest additions to their portfolio, Cappuccino Gran Café Beach Club set directly on the promenade and the Oysters & Caviar Champagne Bar. Boasting 184 double rooms, 12 Junior Suites, two Senior Suites, two Penthouse Attic Suites and a two-bedroom Presidential Suite, the rooms are exquisitely decorated and equipped with all the facilities and services guests may require during their stay. The hotel is proud to guarantee maximum guest relaxation, not only thanks

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to the tranquillity of its rooms, but also to the special care and attention they pay to the preparation of your bed, using the highest quality bedding and also offering you a chance to choose from an extensive selection of different sized pillows or even special pillows for guests with allergies or special requirements.

The Gran Meliá Don Pepe provides a magical location for any wedding or private event; surrounded by sun-drenched beaches, stunning views of the sea and the widespread amenities. Choose from a wide and comprehensive range of facilities for the ceremony and reception and discover an exquisite variety of elegantly decorated rooms, lounges and terraces. The magnificent interior and exterior spaces of this luxury resort in Andalucia are famous for their idyllic sea views and gardens. With the availability to host up to 500 guests, the dedicated events team will ensure your wedding at The Gran Melia Don Pepe is everything you have dreamt of and more, no matter what scale of occasion you select. gran-melia-don-pepe.com

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Behind The Scenes

hotographer and photojournalist, Gabriel Navas was born in the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona but recently moved to Seville. “I knew that I wanted to be a photographer from a very young age, although it was not until 15 years ago that I pursued it as a career,” exclaimed Gabriel. “I love to be unobtrusive; I try to capture the highlights of each event as well as moments that you thought went unnoticed.”

His work has been described as magical, with every second of the emotion surrounding the day captured. Brides have recalled that it was only when viewing the pictures afterwards that they realised he was there, creating memories filled with harmony, passion and laughter. A true talent, he has the ability to capture the essence of every moment. “It is enchanting how he translates feelings, emotions and personality, playing with light, white

and black, colours and frames, then presenting them in such an original and innovative way,” recalled a recent bride.

“The connections between the bride and groom and between myself and the couple is the key to success,” he revealed. Gabriel advises a pre-wedding meeting with the couple allowing him the opportunity to get to know them, their personalities and to ensure

that he can understand their complete vision. He is also able to offer a pre-wedding photo shoot; this is a magnificent way to commemorate your engagement or as an additional component for your wedding album. “The pictures will be your lasting memories of the most important day of your lives… they have to perfect,” concluded Gabriel. gabrielnavas.com

Keeping the Faith

onfeti takes a moment to talk to cleric Padre Peter about his innovative and original ceremonies.

of things religious, but includes suitable readings from literature.

Interfaith ceremonies are also possible, where specific customs may be incorporated (such as the breaking of a glass) after discussion with you. I was present once at a wedding in south India where the bride and groom were showered with rice; coconut milk was poured over them; and they groped for their rings in a bowl of milk. This option is also available (although we may reduce it merely to groping for the rings in a bowl of rice pudding, which will then be poured over you.) And in South Korea, of course, the officiant hurls a live chicken in a bag at the congregation... Please let me know!

What types of ceremonies do you offer?

There are two forms of ceremonies available; “Religious” and “Secular”. In the case of “Religious” it is, naturally, what it says it is. In “Secular” terms the ceremony makes no mention

How personalised can you make the ceremony?

Participation by relatives and friends is welcome, although I would advise against the inclusion of Great Aunt Jemima delivering “How Horatio kept the bridge” in a voice resembling a silver flute

Image courtesy of jeremystandley.com

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being played in a bath of treacle.

On the other hand I was once confronted by a nine year old at a seashore ceremony whose voice was undoubtedly heard in the souks of Morocco.

Will the guests know that the ceremony isn’t official?

Whichever ceremony you choose, many of the guests often think that this is “the real thing”! It is a very meaningful and moving experience for many, at no stage is any reference made to any previous ceremony or marriage.

Image courtesy of spanishweddingphotos.com

Is there any information other than names and background that you require before the wedding?

Don’t forget to inform me if guests are to be present who do not speak English, and consequently require another language input (within reason! My Inuit is limited…) equally, as this is Spain, you may want a greater Spanish input. padrepeter1@gmail.com

Image courtesy of pierrerichardsonphotography.com

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The Designer Wedding Planner

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ounded by Lara Morato, a professional wedding planner and an expert in protocol, Casaos Comigo offers an exclusive service focused on the comprehensive organisation of bespoke weddings. Lara will assist you in making decisions and take care of all the preparations.

As they do not work on commission, Casaos Conmigo can ensure the highest standards of quality, their relationship with suppliers is completely independent, guaranteeing the choice of hired services is objective and transparent. Lara knows the market inside

out and can distinguish truly professional services from mediocre alternatives. She only works with the best, so you can rest assured that what she provides will always be tailored to your needs and to your budget, assuring you a distinctive, fashionable event and making your wedding dreams become a reality.

Having worked for more than 12 years as an Executive Secretary in multinational contexts, thus gaining broad experience in business organisation, Lara specialised in social protocol at the International School of Protocol in Madrid. She became a professional wedding organizer and an accredited mem-

ber of LWPI (Lovegevity’s Wedding Planner Institute), ACPWC (Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants) and AACWP (American Association of Certified Wedding Planners).

Her professionalism, experience, organisational abilities and knowledge of the wedding sector as well as her thorough understanding of attention to detail, her eagerness to be up-to-date on the latest national and international trends, the involvement and care she puts into everything she does, guarantees precise organisation that will lead to perfect results.

Lara is fully flexible, fitting her appointments into your schedule and is more than happy to travel as required, allowing you to enjoy the planning process without disrupting your daily routine.

Lara plans the ceremony and reception down to the smallest detail; she directs, coordinates and takes care of every aspect of the event, from the preliminary bureaucratic formalities to on-the-day coordination. She will keep you informed on everything, ensuring you are aware of how much progress is being made in the preparation of your event.

Casaos Conmigo has first-hand knowledge of the difficulties involved in organising a wedding in another country. Lara will adjust to your time zone so you can be in permanent contact with her and receive timely reports on your event’s progress, as well as pictures, samples, and other details.

Casaos Conmigo also organises and designs anniversaries, silver and golden weddings, baby showers, baptisms, first communions, coming out parties and any other family or social event.

Entrusting your wedding to Casaos Conmigo is the first step towards making your wedding day a truly unforgettable event. casaosconmigo.com

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The Sweetest Thing

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éline’s Macarons opened its doors in November 2011. Céline Pinna decided to share her lifelong passion of creating the ultimate macarons.

Born in Paris, macarons have always been part of her lifestyle, “the moment I tried my first macaron in Paris at the famous “Ladurée” bakery, I was hooked,” she recalled. Whilst spending four years at a catering school in France studying cooking & managerial skills Céline’s interest in these little gems developed further. Knowing how difficult they are to conquer she called upon the expertise of a friend who is a chef patissier and her husband, also a chef in the attempt to master the perfect recipe.

“There is often confusion between macarons and macaroons,” explained Céline, “although their names are very similar and both are gluten free by default, they are essentially two distinctively different cookies. The sandwich-

like French macaron is more of a meringue cookie, getting its light, airy texture from egg whites. The Southern coconut macaroon, on the other hand, is a hearty lump of confectionary made of shredded coconut and condensed milk.

While you can prepare coconut macaroons in about ten minutes, French macarons are a lot more time consuming.”

With such a great variety of flavours ranging from lemon and raspberry to salted caramel and white chocolate all from only €1.10 each you are sure to find your favourite! Céline offers boxes of 6,12, or 25, ideal as gifts for friends or family (or yourself), as well as magnificent wedding pyramids which make a striking wedding cake alternative or an innovative table centrepiece. In France, macarons are increasingly being used as an alternative to the traditional ‘piece montée’; they are very much in fashion in the same

way that cupcakes have totally taken off in the US and the UK. Truly versatile, these adorable bite size parcels also make wonderful favours that can even be themed to your wedding colour scheme or make the perfect accompaniment to the ever popular sweet tables. celinesmacarons.com

Your Perfect Wedding Singer

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k, so we have all seen the movie The Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler and had a good old laugh. Over the years, many people have looked down on wedding singers as cheesy entertainers; however wedding singers are now considered the best of the best singers in their field, singing at some of the most lavish weddings in some of the world’s top hotels and destinations!

So if you are looking for a quality entertainer who will appeal to every one of your guests but still have that wow factor, look no further than Paul Martin aka Mr. Success.

Paul has been one of the UK’s top Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tributes for years, however this year he decided to treat happy couples to his two exclusive new shows in Spain. ‘The Michael Buble Show’ is a mix of Michael’s greatest hits, plus a selection of modern songs by an array of other

exciting male stars. If you prefer something a little more seasonal, ‘Summer Jams’, is possibly the best sunshine show you could ever find, designed with beach weddings and parties in mind. Every song is a summer themed cool classic with songs by Michael Buble, Enrique Iglesias, Jason Mraz, Lionel Ritchie and many more! If you desire live music, Paul can add a Spanish guitar player or anything from an intimate three piece to a big swing band. Paul takes great pleasure in performing the first dance if requested by the happy couple and he and/or his band are available to play or sing during the ceremony. It’s not only the choral entertainment he can provide, this multi-tasker will also play the role of toastmaster and DJ at the all-important disco after dinner has concluded, a true one man machine.

Paul’s Buble Show includes all of Michael’s most famous hits including, Haven’t Met You Yet and Home & Sway. You can even liaise

with Paul to pick your favourite tunes and tailor make your own individual show. The Summer Jam’s show is ideal for anywhere with a Spanish feel or a beachfront location and includes songs such as Summer Breeze, Under the Boardwalk, Moves Like Jagger & Bailamos all you need for the ultimate wedding abroad!

Paul has bases in Mallorca and Marbella, meaning most of Spain and The Balearics are in easy reach.

Congratulations! You have found the perfect Wedding Entertainer in Spain!

If you wish to see Paul in action he is playing at Gibraltar 55 Private Members Club Fri April 27th Performing Michael Buble Show For Tickets & Info Contact Louise Hall fifty-five.gi michaelbubletribute.es ratpacksingers.com

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The One-Stop Solution

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hez Vous is the brain child of Nigel Davies and Curro Rodriguez. After working on numerous weddings and events and becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the standard of service that was on offer, Nigel saw a gap in the market. “I have been involved with the lighting, styling and sound department for high-end events for many years. However, on many occasions I was let down by other companies, whether it be the catering, the venue or even the decor. I decided to team up with Curro, who is responsible for the catering aspect and Chez Vous was born. Our personalised touch is our hallmark, we work with passion, dedication, and every event is created as a bespoke offering to our clients.” Chez Vous’ clients have included everyone from Saudi and English Royalty, the Prince of Brunei to one of Russia’s biggest pop stars.

Making Your Dreams a Reality

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ntroducing the creative geniuses behind Valentinas, a wedding planning company based in Malaga offering creativity and imaginative ideas. Valentinas believe there are no limits when it comes to designing something truly special.

They even have agents, who travel all around the world to meet with couples in person.There are a million details that need to be taken care of when planning a wedding

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What Chez Vous offer: Lighting “So many people overlook the power of wedding lighting when planning a special event,” explains Nigel. “If lighting is used in the correct way, it can add a magical atmosphere to any occasion.” Chez Vous provides professional, exclusive and affordable internal and external lighting and special effects equipment for any occasion, large or small. From projections to skytracers, ethnic/ Moroccan lamps and candles, trees and buildings to band lighting and disco effects as well as an infrastructure service i.e. generators with electrical support are also available.

Sound Often neglected or noticed for the wrong reasons! Sound always seems simple, but in reality it can be difficult to get it right. Chez Vous

and it can often be very overwhelming, not the time each individual detail takes but how tedious the overall process can be. Valentinas ensures that everything runs smoothly from the initial meeting with the couple to when the final guests retires from the dancefloor. “Our most serious concern is the coordination on the day of the wedding, to make sure everything happens as planned without compromising family or friends, and assuring that there is a plan b, c, even d, if necessary,” explains the Valentinas team. Unlike many other agencies they do charge commission as they believe in offering a clear, honest and transparent

have a specialist sound department who will propose a professional sound system that suits the requirements, the size of the venue and of course, your budget. They offer sound for ceremonies, dinners and speeches using their all white discreet speakers and larger systems with or without a sound technician.

Technical support for bands and performers from overseas is also available. Chez Vous have a handpicked team of DJs, groups and acts to really make your event go off with a bang.

Details With a vast knowledge of venues along the coast, you can be assured that Chez Vous can locate the venue of your dreams. Their large warehouse of furniture, props, marquees and tents means that you can let your imagination run wild. “One of the biggest trends for 2O12 will be chill out areas, which is one of our specialities and really adds the wow factor,” Nigel explains.

Catering The team enjoy providing fresh, innovative ideas, offering many unique options as well as the traditional wedding catering services. “We want our food to be part of the entertainment itself, think about live cooking and Moroccan/Eastern themes. Our Moroccan buffets will be served from a beautifully lit Arabian style tent.”

Chez Vous - perfect for couples who want to make their wedding day truly their own chezvous.es

service at all times. This also offers them access to the widest selection of supplied ensuring your dreams become a reality. valentina-s.com Photos by Dafne & Cloe

The Shooting Stars

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cott Del Amo Weddings brings together the talents of two experienced professionals of the video/photography world, Scott del Amo and Jasper Hawker. Scott, an experienced photographer and videographer, has worked in Los Angeles, New York and London, for Vogue, The Sunday Times, Hello, People, The BBC, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and Artisan Entertainment to name but a few. He was born and raised in LA where he studied psychology before becoming a fashion model, “I found myself more interested in being behind the camera than in front of it so I took up photography and discovered that I was good at it.” A few years ago, he decided to give up his hectic lifestyle in Hollywood and move to Spain with his daughter to raise her in a more relaxed atmosphere.

It was here that he teamed up with longtime friend Jasper Hawker to form a production company. “Shooting weddings is as demanding as any other field of professional photography and video recording, if not more so.

You only get one chance to get it right, and with my experience I know how to get great looking images from a major production,

your wedding. I love shooting weddings and look forward to each and every one. The partnership I have formed with Jasper Hawker is creative and unique and we strive to make your wedding an occasion that you will cherish for years to come.”

Jasper Hawker, a film maker and editor, has worked for various independent film companies in both Spain and the UK as well as Brussels. He divides his time between Mojacár in Almería, Spain and Fulham, London. “I was lucky enough to be brought up between Almería, Spain and London. Continuing the Spanish theme, I did a BA in Iberian & Latin American studies and began my working life here in Spain working on the layout and design for a local newspaper. I had my first break on an Indiana Jones production, and from there went on to work as a location manager. Curious about the mysterious process that took place between filming and the eventual release of a production, I went on to study editing, training on Avid. I worked primarily on independent documentaries before moving to Brussels to work on various projects for the EU.”

Jasper recently relocated to southern Spain in order to devote more time to his family.

His work would often take him away for weeks at a time so he decided to look for a way to continue making films but in a less pressured environment. “I have been lucky enough to join forces with a great professional, as well as an old friend, Scott del Amo. I’m extremely fortunate to live where I do and still be able to continue to travel for work in the exciting and challenging field of wedding videos.”

Combining their photography and video/film skills they offer several packages as well as an all-inclusive package.

Their aim is to provide comprehensive, overall coverage of your wedding at a reasonable price. scottdelamoweddings.com

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DIRECTORY

Cakes Cake Couture: +34 693 379 397; cakecouturemarbella.com

Reverend Alan Maude: +34 952 808 605 alanmaude@googlemail.com

In Bloom Flowers by Design: +34 687 757 470; inbloommaryanne.co.uk

Celines Macarons:+34 622 850 435; celinesmacarons.com

Entertainment DJ Laurie Scott: +34 952 592 133; weddingdjspain.com

Flor Valentin: +34 669 061 234; florvalentin.es

Delicious Cakes and Treats: +34 666 584 132; deliciouscakesandtreats.com Divinas Tartas: +34 610 691 176 / +34 616 988 569; divinastartas.com Sweet Things by Fi: +34 697 228 088; sweetthingsbyfi.com Catering Chez Vous:+34 697 931 786; chezvous.es Dona Francisquita: +34 952 376 162 / +34 952 374 910; donafrancisquita.com FiestaSol: +34 952 898 746; fiestasol.com Lepanto: +34 952 447 012; lepantomalaga.net Celebrants Humanist Wedding Celebrant: malagaminister.com Padre Peter: padrepeter1@gmail.com 112 CONFETI

DJ Nigel Davies:+34 697 931786 chezvous.es Paul Martin / Mr Success: +34 971 572 295 /+34 602 436 751 michaelbubletribute.es franksinatratributesinger.co.uk Sabering: +34 952 815 398 /+34 607 942 167; nermans.com Fashion & Accessories Anthony Diamonds: +34 952 588 795/+34 609 529 633; anthonys-diamonds.com Arte y Gestion: +34 952 857 558; arteygestionmarbella.es Browns: brownsfashion.com Net-A-Porter: net-a-porter.com Olivier Laudus London: +44 208 374 1239; olivierlaudus.com Florists Deseos: +34 952 811 301; deseosflorist.com

Gabriel Navas: +34 620 025 002 gabrielnavas.com Jeremy Standley: +34 607 717 565; jeremystandley.com

Stephanie Florist: +35 020 041 688; stephanieflorist.gi

Owen Farrell Photography: Spain +34 670 664 341/ Ireland +353 872682832; owenfarrellphotography.com

General Fireworks: +34 955 716 335; pirotecniablancapaloma.es

Scott Del Amo: +34 617 826 334; scottdelamoweddings.com

Gibraltar Tourist Board: +44 2078 360 777; visitgibraltar.gi Hair & Beauty Aria Medical Group: +34 952 895 088 /+34 671 639 353; ariamedicalgroup.com Ocean Clinic: +34 951 775 518; oceanclinic.net Princess-bride: +34 691 061 484; princess-bride.co.uk

Simon Andrews: +34 951 190 478; simon-andrews.com Talia Giraudo: + 34 605 275 407; thoroughlygorgeous.com Sound & Lighting Chez Vous:+34 697 931 786; chezvous.es Stationery Made With Love: +44 1457 838 838; madewithlovedesigns.co.uk

Reflections: +34 902 325 324; reflectionsmarbella.com

Wedding Lists Patricia Darch Interiors: +34 956 615 350; interiorsinspain.com

Photography Anna Gazda: +34 633 654 476; limelight.pl

Wedding Planners Caprichia Marbella:+34 676 482 388; caprichia.com

Boda Kids: +34 952 109 287; bodakids.es

Casaos Conmigo: +34 696 689 191; casaosconmigo.com

DATES FOR YOUR

Diary

Wedding events not to be missed!

The National Wedding Show February 24-26 2012, London Olympia, London March 16-18 2012, Birmingham NEC, Birmingham

The National Wedding Show is the UK’s biggest and best consumer wedding show. With more than 250 wedding experts and inspirational features, the National Wedding Show is the ultimate wedding shopping experience with thousands of ideas to plan your perfect day. The show offers visitors everything they need to help them plan their big day in one place. The National Wedding Show has it covered! nationalweddingshow.co.uk

White Gallery

May 20-22 2012, Battersea Park, London Leading names in bridal design debut forthcoming collections at White Gallery London. Anticipating the 2012 event to launch their 2013 collections at the beautiful riverside venue Battersea Evolution set in Battersea Park, Chelsea. A gorgeous buying environment, inspiring, easy to get to and very time efficient for the world’s leading bridal buyers and press that attends. whitegallery.com

pierrerichardsonphotography.com Elite wedding planners: +34 657 104 900; elitebodas.com Fiesta Sol: +34 952 898 746; fiestasol.com Granada Weddings: +34 958 521 875; granadaweddings.com Med Weddings: +34 679 851 204 / +35 058 008 355; medweddings.com

La Vista de Medina: +34 956 410 069 /+34 646 489 069; lavistademedina.com La Sala Private Dining Room; +34 952 812 836; lasalabanus.com

May 8-13 2012, Escoles Pies 6, 1º 2ª. 08017 Barcelona The most prestigious national and international firms will be present at Barcelona Bridal Week - Noviaespaña, the most relevant exhibition of its sector. The fashion show is set to be the highlight of the event with renowned designers including Rosa Clara, Yolan Cris and Cymbeline showcasing their recent collections. moda-barcelona.com

Mons Calpe Suite: +350 200 79 478; monscalpesuite.com

Sala Events: salaevents.com

Nueva Kascada Restaurant: +34 952 864 478 /+34 630 816 133; nuevakascada.com

Valentinas: +34 627 508 414; valentina-s.com

Small World Café: +34 952 771 046; smallworldcafe.com

Wedding Shows The National Wedding Show: nationalweddingshow.co.uk

Sunset Beach Club Hotel: +34 952 579 400; sunsetbeachclub.com

Venues Buddha Beach: +34 952 813 882; buddhabeachbanus.com

Tamisa Golf Hotel: +34 952 585 988; hoteltamisagolf.com

Cortijo Del Marques:+34 958 34 00 77 / +34 678 334 884; cortijodelmarques.com

Barcelona Bridal Week

TikiTano: +34 952 798 449; tikitano.com Tribeca 12: +34 657 277 713 tribeca12.com

El Oceano Beach Hotel: +34 952 587 550; oceanohotel.com

Trocadero Arena: +34 610 704 144; trocaderoplaya.com

Gran Meliá Don Pepe: +34 902 144 440; gran-melia-don-pepe.com

Villa Del Mar: +34 952 822 211; marbellaclub.com

Holiday World Resort: +34 952 579 757; holidayworld.es

Villa Padierna: +34 952 889 150; hotelvillapadierna.com

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LoveLove Love

This

Stars dazzle on the red carpet throughout the award season; take inspiration from Kate Beckinsale, Elle Macpherson, Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie and Jessica Alba who all looked divine in a wash of white and blush hues.

Kate Beckinsale in Roberto Cavalli

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace

Elle Macpherson in Zac Posen

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Jessica Alba in Gucci

Charlize Theron in Dior Couture