Confeti Spring 2013

CONFETI SPRING 2013

EXCLUSIVE Interview with Leading Bridal Designer

David

Fielden

Thai THE KNOT 50SHADES

of Gorgeous

CYMBERLINE THE CITY

and

EXCLUSIVE Interview with

Monique Lhuillier

Spain, Gibraltar and The Balearics’ dedicated wedding bible

la sala

watters.com

Inissue this SPRING 2013

CONFETII SPRING 2013

Spain, Gibraltar and The Balearics’ dedicated wedding bible

Image courtesy of Pronovias

by Manuel Mota - pronovias.com

Staff

PUBLISHER Andy Clark andy@iconpublishing.es

34 21

DESIGNER Constanza Martinez constanza@iconpublishing.es

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

Cover Stories

14 City Chic

Experience the finest fashions by the iconic French design house Cymbeline.

24 Designer Profile Exclusive interview with ‘designerto-the-stars’ Monique Lhuillier.

28 Bridal Insider Christie Holland talks to design talent, David Fielden.

37 Make Me Beautiful An insight into the finest beauty products for brides.

53 Honeymoon Hotspots

Discover the beauty of Thailand.

Fashion

9 Confeti Loves

What’s hot in the world of bridal?

13 Back to Black

Release you dark side...

miamiabridal.co.uk

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Gabriel Moya Gonzalez gabriel@iconpublishing.es

21 Fashion Focus Introducing the fresh and affordable Mia Mia.

Beauty

36 Beauty Bulletin

Learn the best way to ‘Fake It!’

Details

62 Location! Location!

The creme de la creme of divine destinations.

66 Eat Me

The latest cake news.

70 CONFETI Talks To...

The Weddings Company’s Dyana Dessar

CONFETI News

82 Confeti’s Address Book The best professionals, specialists and services

92 Love, Love, Love This...

Dress dilemma’s for pop star Miley Cyrus.

ASSISTANT DESIGNER Laura Faciolince Marbella Design Academy

EDITORIAL TEAM Christie Holland, Heather Sadtler, Padre Peter, Katja Mond CONTRIBUTORS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Natasha Johnson, Richard Ward, Jeremy Standley 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

Dear Readers:

W

elcome to the spring issue of CONFETI magazine, this issue we are proud to share with you, not one, but TWO exclusive interviews with leading bridal designers David Fielden and Monique Lhuillier. These two design talents share with us the inspiration behind their latest collections and invite us to learn a little more

about their personalities, styles, and designs.

We know all brides-to-be want to look and feel their best on their wedding day and our ‘Body Beautiful’ special will help you achieve just that. Hear what the professionals have to say about everything from getting in shape to the finest make-up, hair and beauty treats.

In addition our in-depth venue feature showcases some of the Coast’s finest wedding destinations, plus enjoy an up close look at the latest bridal wear from Vera Wang, Cymbeline, Mia Mia, Enozani, Pronovias and many more.

Once again CONFETI are proud to have been chosen as a media partner for White Gallery London.

Our summer issue will be distrib-

uted throughout this prestigious show and as always CONFETI will be on hand to bring you all the news and gossip .

Finally, don’t forget you can order CONFETI magazine online and keep up with the finest ideas and inspiration for getting married in Spain, Gibraltar and the Balearics from wherever you call home.

The Confeti Team

This issue we asked our team, where would you get married (again) and why?

“My dream wedding location would be somewhere by the sea, on a very calm day. There is nothing better than a view of the sea, with the sun on the horizon. After the ceremony we would take a walk along the shore feeling the sand between our toes… simply perfect!”

Gabriel “I don’t think I would do things that differently, a private ceremony with just family and close friends. Although this time around I would hire a wedding planner and a wedding photographer rather than depend on the good will of my friends. I would pick a place where all my guests could stay the night, somewhere private, remote and with nice views. If I got married in Spain, it would be somewhere like La Cartuja de Cazalla in Seville, or Finca Cortesin (assuming I don’t have any budget restrictions!)

Koni “If I could get married again, I would definitely do it in one of the amazing private villas or fincas Marbella has to offer. The flexibility this kind of wedding allows you is wonderful and you are not having to worry about the needs of other hotel guests, not to mention them staring at you as you walk through the lobby! There are some amazing venues out there, with serious wow factor.”

Heather

“There are some lovely little spots, both sacred and secular, dotted along the Costa del Sol, and many are far from the madding crowd. I would be hard put to choose between, say, the lovely little chapel at La Virginia in Marbella, the sunny headland, or the warm embrace of somewhere like La Herriza, where you stand under a tree and gaze across the valley to Europe’s largest cork oak forest. It really is a question of ‘you pays your money, and you takes your choice’!”

Padre Peter “I think it would have to be the stunning gardens of the Gran Meliá Don Pepe, the entire hotel exudes elegance with a touch of Spanish charm and I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful location to say my vows surrounded by my nearest and dearest.”

Christie “Having experienced a church wedding in the UK and a catamaran wedding in Mauritius, I think it would only be fair to let my future bride decide!

As long as all the wonderful people who have helped make this magazine the success it is today were in attendance I would be happy to say my vows anywhere in this

wonderful country.”

Andy

“I would get married all over again at TikiTanos as we had a magical day there (in September 2008). All my family and friends still rave about the lovely time they had. We all loved the setting, the views from the beach out to Gibraltar where we were legally married a few days earlier. The service, food and staff were all excellent and the manager, Scarlett held everything together perfectly.”

Katja

C

FETI CON LIST WISH

ONFETI loves...

Modern Hairlooms Sashay down the aisle with this standout hairpiece; the perfect finish for a softly tousled chignon or elegant side ponytail. ayedo.com

Naughty but Nice The Last Detail

These exquisite earrings will add a beautiful touch to a simple gown without breaking the budget. glitzysecrets.com

Show Stopper

It’s not just your wedding dress that needs a lot of thought, what you wear underneath is equally as important! This stunning Petronella set by Agent Provocateur is guaranteed to excite and impress your new partner and make your wedding a night to remember. agentprovocateur.com

Modern brides will love Lanvin’s exquisite champagne silk-satin gown. Subtle details add a timeless touch to this Grecian-inspired piece, from tulle inserts to a chic ivory waist tie, these understated accents ensure a stunning silhouette. Add a dramatic necklace for the ultimate finishing touch. €3,990 Lanvin at net-a-porter.com

Cutting It

Something Blue

From the queen of chic shoes, Charlotte Olympia, comes a covetable bridal collection handmade in Italy. Fashionable bridesto-be are sure to adore these lace and satin ankle boots with heart-shaped leather ties.

Each pair comes with blue-trimmed stockings to be worn as your ‘something blue’ on your wedding day. We think they’re impossible to resist! €840 Charlotte Olympia at net-a-porter.com

A Breath of Fresh Air

French design house, Cymbeline returns with a series of striking silhouettes synonymous with the sisters’ style, combined with soft feminine undertones.

The success of Cymbeline is the results of the sisters’ hard work and their desire to revolutionise the bridal industry, an accolade they have achieved with their latest collection. cymbeline.com

FETI CON LIST WISH

Beautifully crafted in solid oak, this little gem of a cutting board will develop its unique character over time and be a talking point at dinner for years to come. An instant heirloom that adds a touch of style, warmth and wit; this practical gift is an ideal addition to your newlywed kitchen. €99.02 notonthehighstreet.com

High Street Heaven

Who said your beau has to opt for a traditional tux? This heavenly pastel ensemble is a stylish alternative for a destination wedding.

The smart money this season is on slick suits and cool accessories. marksandspencer.com

CONFETI 9

C

ONFETI loves...

Darling Designs

Fairytale Romance

Bring some lustre to your big day with a dress that’s as flattering and romantic as candlelight. enzoani.com

Diosa from the Pronovias 2013 collection evokes a modern grace that comes from an original asymmetric bodice that hides an inner neckline. A single strap is decorated with silver embroidery that matches the spectacular brooch at the waist. A softly draped bodice hugs the body and a wide tulle skirt creates a wonderful princess silhouette. pronovias.com FETI CON -HAVE T S U M

Dress Code

Embellished with a stunning crystal detail at the bow front, this cutaway piece is the perfect way to take your look from ceremony to reception, simply unbutton the detachable floor-sweeping skirt for a flawless transformation.

Temperley at net-a-porter.com

Plump It Up

Do you want to radiate on your wedding day? Are you looking for skin that is beautiful, fresh and plumped? Chanel´s Hydra Beauty, a universally moisturising, beautifying serum, has the power to protect your beauty and restore all your radiance. chanel.com

Shine On

Award winning bridal designer Monique Lhuillier recently expanded her offering by creating a collection of engagement rings and wedding bands exclusively for Blue Nile.

Inspired by her romantic couture bridal creations, the Monique Lhuillier Fine Jewelry Collection reflects the sophistication and innovative spirit that defines her style. Every engagement ring is also adorned with a blush pink sapphire “lovemark,” symbolising a blushing bride. Each piece in the collection is designed to mirror the uniqueness of every bride, by capturing the essence of the moment and displaying a distinctively whimsical look. bluenile.com

Love Lingerie

From simple chic to bridal boudoir; Marks and Spencer´s underwear selection is guaranteed to meet all your needs and more. marksandspencer.com

Heart To Heart

These kitsch wedding invitations are guaranteed to create a charming, rustic theme you can showcase from beginning to end. littlejoydesigns.co.uk 10 CONFETI

TikiTano Weddings - you dream, we realize...

FREE on site wedding planners • Wedding Packages start from €99 per person incl. cocktail, dinner, drinks & decoration • All our Wedding Packages incl. wedding night at one of Marbella´s 5 star hotels TikiTano Beach Restaurant & Lounge Urb. Guadalmansa Ctra. N-340, Km 164 29680 Estepona, Málaga

TikiTano Beach Restaurant & Lounge

Tel: (+34) 952 79 84 49 email: info@tikitano.com website: www.tikitano.com

TikiTano_Spain

12 CONFETI

B notonthehighstreet.co.uk

ACK to LACK

Tackle two trends, volume and dark hues, with this voguish choice

by French designer, Delphine Manivet. delphinemanivet.com

beautifulhomesdirect.com

Say it from the heart with stylish invitations that are just so you! madewithlovedesigns.co.uk

chanel.com

accessoriesdirect.com

deliciouscakesandtreats.com

A symphony of floral designs and optical waves decorates this black and white dinnerware. The effect adds a sophisticated yet informal touch to dinner table which becomes an eloquent game of camouflage. patriciadarch.com tch.net

jasmineway.co.uk

weddinginateacup.co.uk

CONFETI 13

City Chic

BY CYMBELINE

14 CONFETI

CONFETI 15

cymbeline.com

T

he success of Cymbeline begins with the story of three sisters who decided to revolutionise wedding gowns. That was a little more than thirty years ago, in Nemours, in the heart of Seine et Marne. Most wedding attire at the time was formal and lacking any originality. In order to update the concept of the ‘Big Day’, the three sisters combined their dressmaking skills, suffusing them with childhood memories and set up their own manufacturing workshop in an old 17th century mill. They designed their very first gowns, full of freshness and fantasy, created for a modern and romantic bride, but it was not just a question of designing fancy costumes, Evelyne, Chantal and Monique insisted on quality and concocted a happy blend of craftsmanship and youthful dreams. For every new gown they adopted the most elaborate manufacturing methods, the kind used in haute couture. After a few years, the brand asserted itself on the market thanks to its creativity and quality of design. In the tradition of haute couture, these modern women were able to fashion forms and master the art of cutting, which then led to the invention of further graceful silhouettes. For this miniature, familyrun multinational, the challenge paid off. Present throughout the world, the three Cymbeline sisters have given thousands of brides-to-be the chance to share their dreams by combining quality, grace and originality.

16 CONFETI

Cymbeline’s 2013 collection offers a tour around Paris, throughout the past and present. The collection includes fluid lines in soft crepes and chiffons; the silhouettes accentuate lightness and elegance. The French design house boasts sensual gowns embellished with overlapping layers and deep plunging necklines, decorated with embroidery and encrusted with sequins and pearls paying homage to the 1930’s. In addition, the 1940’s are represented by designs with an architectural glamour. The collection follows into the bohemian period with chic silhouettes in Calais lace and silk organza, soft, fluid and enhanced with amorous flowers.

CONFETI 17

18 CONFETI

cymbeline.com CONFETI 19

Fashion Focus This season CONFETI takes a closer look at bridal brand, Mia Mia.

M

ia Mia offers brides-tobe the chance to own a Marguerite Hannah dress, the designer famed for distinguished brand, Alan Hannah, at a fraction of the price. The aim in creating Mia Mia was to offer a slice of couture in an accessible, ready to wear option, using luxurious fabrics and detailing. Mia Mia gowns, each boasting a bohemian feel with beautiful touches of beading highlighting their fluid silhouettes, are very affordable, retailing between ÂŁ1100 and ÂŁ1800.

Clematis is pure understated drama; beautiful and unusual applique lace with an eye-catching plunging back and an impeccable fit.

CONFETI 21

Fall in love

with beautiful bodices adorned with fluttery blooms, twinkling crystals and luxurious lace appliqué teamed with full, flouncy skirts made from the lightest tulle and softest silk organza. Be whisked away on a flight of fancy with the deliciously detailed 2013 collection from Mia Mia.

Edelweiss is ideal for fashion forward brides looking for a unique and stylish ensemble.

Dahlia, a truly sophisticated silk duchesse dress with a beautiful silk and organza tiered neckline and delicately beaded belt.

This stunning 50’s style classic Tamara (left) dress is made of duchesse satin with a belt to create a fantastic slim silhouette. Holly, a fashion forward slim column dress in tiered silk organza with hand-beaded belt offers a more contemporary option.

22 CONFETI

Peony

miamiabridal.co.uk

Oleander has a beautifully beaded French corded lace bodice and a silk organza skirt. The dress is pictured with its own optional shrug jacket, which is designed to give a lovely peephole effect at the back.

Cornflower (right)Â is all about a sophisticated silhouette and A line elegance with the option of belts and sashes to customize, according to your own personality and colour scheme.

This Lantana, silk chiffon dress boasts fabulous draping recalling the days of real silver screen drama.

CONFETI 23

D esigner P rofile

Monique Lhuillier This season, Associate Editor, Christie Holland caught up with Monique to learn more about one of America’s finest bridal design talents.

M

onique Lhuillier is internationally recognised as one of the world’s foremost bridal brands. Established in 1996

by Monique and her husband Tom Bugbee, the company is now considered one of the leading fashion houses in terms of design, quality and innovation. Monique Lhuillier’s signature style provokes femininity, allure and grace that have made her renowned for capturing the essence of sophisticated luxury. The brand has become synonymous with meticulous construction and unparalleled glamour.

Monique Lhuillier is available in 140 stores throughout the world, including prestigious retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Harvey Nichols, as well as the flagship boutiques in Beverly Hills, Minneapolis and most recently, New York City. Spanning 3000 square feet over two floors, the new boutique offers carefully arranged intimate rooms and nooks housing Monique Lhuillier’s entire ready-to-wear bridal and accessory collections, allowing each enclave to reflect the scale and charm of the original residence.

24 24 CONFETI

“ The New York

store marks an exciting new phase in the growth and development of Monique Lhuillier as a global luxury lifestyle brand. It is a dream come true for Monique to have a significant retail footprint in New York ” Tom Bugbee CEO Monique Lhuillier

Every time a I always dreamed of…be- bride chooses coming a fashion designer. I studto wear one of ied design at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) my dresses…I in Los Angeles, and I launched my first collection in 1996. I have my own factory in Los Angeles, which is great because it allows me to be involved in each step of the garment’s creation.

When I was looking for my own bridal gown…there were very

few fashion-forward options. I had gravitated toward bridal and evening gowns while studying at FIDM, and felt there was an opportunity to offer brides something more modern and fashionable. I showed my first collection shortly after, in 1996.

am honoured to be a part of one of the most important days of her life. It’s always gratifying to know that with all the beautiful gowns out there, someone has chosen one of my designs for their wedding day.

For Fall 2013 I wanted to create…a fairytale. It’s about fantasy. I love working with lace and tulle when I start designing a new collection – this season especially, as I wanted to give a sense of the bride floating through the room.

CONFETI 25

What is ins

to

re for you in Right now, the future?

I’m having fun designin knows wha g fo t the future holds, but I’m r all of my lines. Who expanding the world o looking forw f Monique L ard to boutiques. huillier and opening m ore

What epito

m

ises a Mon Confidence ique Lhuilli . Women a er bride? lways look beautiful. It their best w has less to hen they fe d o with a silh everything el ouette or tr to d end and every Moniq o with how the bride fe els in her g ue Lhuillier o bride to we feel specia ar a gown th wn. I want l for one of at makes h the most un er ique days in her life.

I’m inspired everyday life. Living When I’m not by… in California, there is so much designing I… natural beauty and I always find spend time with my kids, catch up with friends and family and I make it a point to spend a few weeks every year in Europe in the summer and visit the Philippines over the holidays.

inspiration in the diverse surroundings. Also, having young children is a constant source of inspiration because their perspective on what is beautiful is so open – they see the world through such an incredibly imaginative lens.

I’ve always My gravitated togreatest professional wards…feminine, opudesign so creating evening achievement lent and wedding gowns was a natural I love tulle, lace and embellishis… presenting my col- fit.ments, which are my design siglection at the tents during New York Fashion Week.

Showing your work on an international stage is a thrill and I still get just as excited as I did the first time.

natures. Those elements are timeless and will always be in style.

A Monique Lhuillier bride is…unique. There is not one

type of Monique Lhuillier bride, and I love that about the brand.

Every bride I dress is unique, but they all want to feel confident, beautiful and special on their wedding day.

I would love to dress…Michelle Obama.

26 26 CONFETI

She is the quintessential Monique Lhuillier woman – confident, sophisticated and glamorous.

I love designing…both my

ready-to-wear and bridal collections. Ready-to-wear is a bit more playful because there is more freedom with colour and separates, but bridal is so luxurious and special.

Expanding into designing shoes is…a natural

extension of my gown designs. I incorporate my signature design elements including lace, delicate details and subtle sexiness. I have always wanted to dress my brides head to toe, and it is exciting to complete the vision I have for each look.

Bridal designs in 2013 will be…a continuation of looks

that are romantic, ethereal and light. Lace, which is one of my signatures, will also be an important trend. When women are in love they want to feel feminine, beautiful and timeless, so those elements will always be present.

moniquelhuillier.com

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It has rooms available for any kind of event. Discover its terraces overlooking the Mediterranean sea, where you can enjoy a select appetizer or celebrate your wedding in a beautiful setting. The H10 Estepona Palace is the ideal location to celebrate your wedding.

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26/10/12 09:10

BridalInsider I

David Fielden

nnovative bridal designer, David Fielden is renowned for his original, fashionforward creations. His bridal and eveningwear collections have attracted the attention of everyone from Elizabeth Taylor, Julia Roberts and Bianca Jagger to Amanda Holden, Kate Moss and Kelly Osbourne. His philosophy has never wavered in his desire to create contemporary and exciting dresses, which also flatter and encompass a romantic edge. This season, Christie Holland catches up with David to discuss his inspiration, his career to date and his 2013 SPOSA collection.

CH: Can you tell us about the creativity and inspiration behind your latest collection?

DF: My 2013 SPOSA Collection has a soft, modern and feminine take on medievalism using satin, tulle and lace, accessorised with ‘edgy’ details like silver leather and metallic beaded mesh.

CH: What is your favourite design from your latest collection?

DF: My favourite dress is the opening dress of my Milan Show SPOSA SS-2013. (See page 30)

CH: Was it always your dream to become a bridal designer?

DF: No, it was not a conscious decision but a combination of my theatrical background and inheriting a fabulous vintage collection.

CH: How did your career progress?

DF: I used vintage laces with new fabrics and the leading magazines started to feature my dresses. We also started to show the collection abroad to great acclaim and then added an eveningwear collection, which very quickly also became established internationally.

CH: What does it take to become a top UK bridal designer?

DF: I have a unique handwriting, which stands out internationally, as the market is now global.

28 CONFETI

CH: Would you ever consider another career? What do you think you would be doing if you were not designing?

DF: I studied theatre design and dance, choreographing and designing my own ballets so if I was not working in fashion I would return to my first love, dance.

CH: What excites you most about bridal wear?

DF: I work in the business to create new and exciting ideas both in the design of the dresses and in the way I get my vision into the public domain.

CH: What is your biggest achievement to date?

DF: Still been able to run my own business after more than 30 years, whilst still staying true to my core beliefs.

CH: Who inspires you?

DF: My inspiration comes from everything around me. I have a great interest in the arts and music always conjures emotive ideas.

CH: What is your favourite city? Does travelling ever inspire your work?

DF: Havana; travelling inspires me in the respect that I can step out of my work mode which then allows my imagination to run riot.

CH: How would you describe a David Fielden bride?

DF: A bride who is confident enough to stand out in a crowd.

CONFETI 29

CH: How do you differentiate yourself from other bridal designers?

DF: The fact that you will not find another bridal collection the same truly differentiates my brand.

CH: What trends do you predict for the upcoming season?

DF: I believe the customer has now become more savvy and is spending more time researching her dress.

CH: What happens when a bride orders a David Fielden dress? The process?

Can designs be slightly adapted or do you prefer not to make changes?

DF: A bride can try on samples from our flagship store in Chelsea, London where we have about 100 unique styles or from one of our stockists.

Once she has decided on her dress we take measurements and if she wants some small adjustments we try to oblige.

CH: Who would you most like to dress and why?

DF: Tilda Swinton for her unique style and talent.

CH: You also have a successful eveningwear collection; do you have a preference between designing bridal gowns and evening dresses?

DF: Not really, I enjoy designing both collections. The customer is the same girl who is looking for a dress which is feminine and fashion forward with a twist.

CH: When you are not creating your stylish collections, how do you spend your free time?

DF: Relaxing in my cottage in Oxfordshire making chutneys and gardening and when I get my next Staffie, walking him.

CH: What are your plans for the next 12 months?

DF: To challenge and reinvent myself.

davidfielden.co.uk

Opening dress of the Milan Show SPOSA SS-2013.

30 CONFETI

PRODUCTION

&

DJs & Groups Stages & Dancefloors Event Management Sound & Lighting Audiovisuals Decoration Chillout Furniture

CATERING

Private Parties Cocktail Receptions Luxury Private Dining Weddings Corporate Catering Chef at Home Bar at Home

www.chezvous.es 路 info@chezvous.es +34 667 341 809

The White Way

Alan Hannah at White Gallery London

W

hite Gallery London has firmly established itself on the bridal buying calendar and is set to return for the fourth time this May in the prestigious riverside surroundings of Battersea Park. Proving to be the ideal environment for conducting business, White Gallery London brings together the finest names in bridal alongside the world’s most exclusive retailers and key international press. Since its inauguration, this affluent platform has become the showroom for the industry’s most influential talents, where the top retailers in the industry can view the latest collections in a luxurious and intimate environment.

For 2013 the ‘essential viewing’ fashion show will reveal not only the invitation-only designer shows, but a designer preview that will include collection highlights from a selection of the exhibitors from White Gallery London. Making their White Gallery London debut are Nicola Anne, Ivory & Co Bridalwear, Watters Couture, Daisi Daisi and HT Headwear with confirmed

New Talents including Emily Jean, Nymphi and Love Yu. Now a firmly established feature within the show, the New Talents area showcases designers who have not previously exhibited at White Gallery London and offers a launch pad onto the international bridal market. Irish milliner and jewellery designer Emily-Jean O’Byrne creates elegant headwear and jewellery collections, along with bespoke pieces using the finest quality fabrics, jewels and crystals. At the core of all of her designs is a sense of femininity, expressed using a wide variety of silks, satins, plumes, quills and

Stewart Parvin at White Gallery London

Ian Stuart at White Gallery London 32 CONFETI

t your Collec NFETI f CO copy o er 2013 Summ allery hite G W m o r f May. n this Londo

ribbons, evident throughout the range. Emily-Jean’s philosophy is simple; to design high quality, stylish, feminine headwear that always compliments the wearer. A tactile designer, Emily-Jean draws on multiple mediums to create her designs, often developing new techniques that allow materials to work together. All her designs are meticulously made by hand and focus on quality, using the finest materials from Paris, London, Vienna, New York and Milan.

Another New Talent, Nymphi, boasts distinctive and immediately recognisable style. Founder Varvara Dimitrea, had no trouble naming her new business, taking inspiration from her childhood in southern Greece, the designer incorporates Greek Mythology into her creations. Nymphi pieces are crafted by hand with only the highest quality tulles, laces, crystals and stones. Every piece is created with love, care and attention and is made for each bride; customised to ensure it meets her exact requirements.

Love Yu will also be debuting their beautiful bridal and bridesmaid gowns this season. Yu was launched in Singapore in 2006 as a cocktail and evening label.

The Yu collection comprises of modern silhouettes and a blend of natural fabrics like silk and cotton.

Ruched and finely draped dresses are Yu’s signature style, with every new collection being quirky, sexy and oozing with contemporary

Lusan Mandongus at White Gallery London

charm. In 2009, the bridal line Love, Yu was created, continuing and evolving the brand’s signature looks. Love Yu bridal gowns are simple, timeless and chic.

In addition, Roadkill Couture will display their controversial but highly acclaimed collection of bespoke garments and accessories created out of the pelts, feathers and bones of animals. Celebrating the exquisite design of nature, Roadkill Couture take animals that have been accidentally killed on our roads, have died of natural causes or have been killed and eaten as food to create exquisite high-end pieces of design.

White Gallery London truly brings together the finest and most exciting names in the world of bridal.

Victoria Kyriakides at White Gallery London

White Gallery London 12-21 May 2013 Battersea Park London, UK whitegallery.com CONFETI 33

Colour of Love Bold, beautiful, warm and intimate; what better shade defines romance than rich, ruby red. asos.com

Scrumptiously Sweet Dress your flower girls in a delicious assortment of sugared almond hues. pronovias.com

Simply Adorable Keep things crisp and clean with a classic choice for the children. laredoute.co.uk

WE’VE GOT IT

rubyray.com

Maid

B

The long and short of bridesmaid style

ridesmaid dresses are one of the most notorious parts of a wedding; many bridesmaid dresses hang in the back of closets thankful that they never have to be worn again. However an ugly bridesmaid dress or an uncomfortably dressed flower girl can attract all the wrong attention. Involve your bridesmaids in the selection process, you will be grateful when they walk down the aisle, with their head held high and a smile on their face.

Floral Delights Who said you have to opt for a block colour? Channel spring and go for a bloomy ensemble guaranteed to add a whimsical touch to your special day. phase-eight.co.uk

Think Pink Pink suggests a sense of softness and delicacy. With your bridesmaids dressed in pink, you will have an aura of feminity and romance around you. alfredangelo.com 34 CONFETI

WTOO by watters.com

asos.com

Deep Blue Sea Opt for fairytale grace in shades of sea and sky. monsoon.co.uk

Go Green Full of freshness and reassurance, green demonstrates imagination and a sense of living life to the full. marksandspencer.co.uk

Mix it Up Remember one style won’t necessarily suit all; try selecting unique dresses for each of your bridesmaids in the same hue allowing them to all feel confident on the big day. Watters boasts an exciting selection of dresses to suit all shapes, styles and budgets. watters.com

Convertible Couture TwoBirds bridesmaid dresses can be worn in an astonishing 15 different ways, providing complete versatility and sophisticated style. The gowns are made from a luxurious jersey blend fabric and feature bodice straps that can be twisted, tied, knotted and folded to create a range of flattering neckline and sleeve options, whilst maintaining a cohesive look for the bridal party. twobirdsbridesmaid.com

A Vision in White What was previously frowned upon has now taken the wedding world by storm; if it’s good enough for Kate Middleton and Kim Kardashian? A bejewelled belt or a bright sash can add just the right amount of flair. fiftyplus.co.uk

CONFETI 35

B

eauty

ulletin

Fake it

Every bride wants to look glowing on their special day; avoid tell-tale signs you’re faking it with our pick of the top self-tanners on the market.

Tanner to the stars, James Read, shares with Confeti magazine his TOP FIVE BRIDAL TANNING TIPS: Pick a self-tan that suits your skin tone and be sure to do a trial test a month before your wedding.

Apply your tan or get a spray tan at least two days before your wedding.

On the day of your wedding, rub talcum powder around the tight areas of your dress, this will stop your tan rubbing off onto your dress as you sweat.

Don’t wash your hands for eight hours to avoid the white-hand-brown-arms look.

Confeti Top Tip:

Make sure your old tan is removed before applying the new tan for your wedding, this will stop build up.

Exfoliate 24 hours before and on the day go over the dry areas of your body with a wet wipe.

Self Tan Lotion for Face & Body by Marks and Spencer This non-streaky, nongreasy, quick drying self-tan lotion provides an even natural looking tan in keeping with your natural skin tone, guaranteed to last well into your honeymoon. marksandspencer.com

36 CONFETI

Dot a small am ount of Vaseline along your brow s and next to yo ur hairline. Tannin g the face shou ld be treated with caut ion and dabbin g the jelly means that any slip of the ha nd will prevent dodg y marks appear ing on your face.

St Tropez Self Tanning Bronzing Mousse This superlightweight, easy-to-apply, velvety mousse delivers that ultra-even, allover tan you can only dream of.

Simply sweep on with an applicator mitt for a beautiful bronzed, bridal body. st-tropez.com

St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Lotion For brides who prefer a lotion application that develops into a fabulous golden tan and leaves you with a feel good glow, this award winning product is for you.

A unique blend of beautifully fragranced active tanning agents work their magic, leaving you looking subtly bronzed and ready to walk down the aisle. stmoriz.co.uk

p Tkipin:in good o T ti fe n o C eep your s hen it

elp w Try to k s it will h ake tan) bottle. a n io it d e (f con hitting th d moisturise to s e m o c a an e e mantr out of th Follow th when you step . d e b to y d every da before you hea spond or won’t re shower kin just s ry d , y Patch w. faux glo well to a

Lancome Flash Bronzer Face Gel This state-of-theart self-tanner is especially formulated for the face. Its fresh, skin-caring gel texture applies easily and evenly and dries quickly. Develops for a deep and even natural-looking tan in just one hour; for a radiant, healthy glow in a flash! lancome.co.uk

Hair and Make-Up by Lavish’s Top Tip:

Consider a trial ru n! Like other skin products, spray ta ns are all about finding the perfect hue for you.

There are many dif ferent products available and not every tan will suit every skin tone an d complexion. I strongly recomm end a trial before your special day.

Why not schedule the trial and mak e a day of it with a full body exfoliatio n that will leave you relaxed and loo king fantastic! hairandmakeupb ylavish.com

Xen-Tan Mist Intense Xen-Tan Mist Intense is ideal for brides who prefer a self tan spray and wish to avoid the classic smell which often accompanies fake tan. Ideal for the face and body, Mist Intense, creates a deep natural looking tan for up to seven days. xen-tan.co.uk

Aloe Sunless Tanning Lotion Aloe Sunless Tanning Lotion doesn’t streak, has no unpleasant smell while activating and is aloe based for additional moisturisation. Its special formula pampers your skin with a luxurious aloe-based blend of hydrating moisturisers for safe results producing a natural-looking glow. forevershopnow.com

Gorgeous

SHADES OF

Rouge Volumpte Pearle Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick by Yves Saint Laurent The ultimate bridal beauty accessory, this creamy and nourishing lipstick is enveloped in a luxurious gold case with the timeless YSL logo that speaks elegance. Lips instantly feel soft and supple and are drenched in gorgeous colour with a satiny-pearl finish.

Yves Saint Laurent at ysl.com

Colour Fever Bitten Lips Gloss

by Lancome This flawless, natural gloss is seemingly innocent making lips appear more luscious than ever. lancome.co.uk

Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation

by Benefit Hello... it’s flawless time!

Benefit´s new oil-free brightening liquid foundation builds from light to medium coverage for a natural complexion you can believe in. It’s you... just more luminous & healthy looking; what more could you want on your wedding day? benefitcosmetics.com

Nothing less than perfect is good enough for your special day, ensure you glisten and glow from morning until night with these beauty gems.

The Multiple Stick in Copacabana by NARS A does-it-all make up stick is a bride’s best friend. Its unique creamy formula and sheer colour blends effortlessly to create shimmering accents, contours or dynamic highlights on all skin tones. narscosmetics.com

Bella Bamba by Benefit Amplify cheekbones and create the illusion of sculpted features with this 3D watermelon blush. Laced with shimmering gold undertones, Bella Bamba takes eyepopping pretty to the third dimension...you’ll never use a traditional blush again! benefitcosmetics.com

Pore Refining Solutions – Instant Perfecting Makeup

by Clinique This is one to use before, during and after your wedding day as over time the clever formula softens and blurs the appearance of pores giving you flawless, camera-ready skin. clinique.com

Hypnose Mascara

by Lancome For hypnotising eyes try Lancome’s custom wear volume mascara. A CONFETI favourite; Hypnose avoids clumping or flaking so your can build up the volume throughout the day taking you from ceremony to reception. lancome.co.uk

Joues Contraste in Rose Initiale

by Chanel This unique powder blush offers buildable coverage ideal for during-the-day touch ups.

Apply high on the cheekbone, or near the eyes, to instantly ‘lift’ and soften the face for a more youthful look. chanel.com

The Powder by Crème de la Mer This deluxe finishing powder is so incredibly light it appears to float; a wedding day luxury.

Go on, you deserve to treat yourself! cremedelamer.co.uk

CONFETI 37

Beauty Crush Diana and Jessica of Hair and Make-up by Lavish show you how to work Jessica Biel’s chic look with natural make-up and easy-to-wear hair.

Play up your eyes with a soft sweep of dark eyeliner for a soft sultry vibe. Then use a lighter pencil in a silvery shade on the inner half of your eyes as this will help to define the eyeliner.

Curl your eyelashes then apply mascara on the top lashes, leave to dry and curl again.

Use MAC powder blush in a dewy pink hue along your cheeks followed by MAC blush in stardust on top of your cheekbones; the latter acts as a highlighter thus accentuating your cheekbones.

Outline your lips in a nude soft pencil, Revlon do a good one, followed by Guerlain lip pump and a natural lipstick.

Chanel Matte Lumiere Fluide Foundation followed by Chanel natural finish pressed powder will create a photo ready nude base.

FETI CON HESE ST LOVE OKS LO

To re-create Blake Lively’s flawless femme fatale style follow Lavish’s simple steps.

Dior Air Flash is the perfect choice for a light looking natural foundation, it provides great coverage and will ensure you are camera-ready all day.

Using a warm shimmery natural colour palette, start with the lightest tone and blend along the eyelid, use the deeper colour across the crease to add definition.

Then add plenty of mascara, Guerlain’s duo brush mascara is great for creating volume on the top and bottom lashes, apply several coats for a dramatic effect.

Add false eyelashes to give your eyes the extra boost.

Then use a soft cream pencil along the inside of your eye to make them appear bigger.

A touch of bronzer will add just the right amount of glow.

Lancôme’s ‘Rouge in Love’ lipstick is the final touch, add a slick of clear lip gloss if you prefer a glossy rather than matt look.

38 CONFETI

Hair and Make-up by Lavish Tel: +34 622 192 507 / +34 645 342 549 hairandmakeupbylavish.com info@hairandmakeupbylavish.com

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.

Long Story Visit your hairdresser…

Dry, split ends are an absolute NO on your big day! Make sure in the months spent planning your wedding you book in several trips to your hairdresser; every 6 weeks will massively improve the condition of your hair. Don’t make the mistake of never visiting the salon, leaving any cut any longer than 12 weeks will result in dry, scraggy ends with no style definition that just gets harder and harder to look good.

Fight the frizz…

Frizz is hair that is crying out for moisture. It’s caused by porosity or sensitivity damage to the cuticle and cortex, or main bulk of the hair. If this affects you it is essential in the run up to your wedding day to use a twiceweekly deep conditioning mask like my Couture Hair Intensive Masques, as its ingredients even out porosity in the damaged cuticles to leave hair smooth and glossy.

Choose the right home care products…

Choosing the right home care products really does make a difference to your 40 CONFETI

“For effortless glamour on your wedding day, beautifully conditioned hair is vital. Every bride wants their hair to look glossy and lustrous, so here are my top tips for guaranteeing gorgeous shine on your big day.”

hair. Manufacturers use more highly concentrated, specialist ingredients in professional and premium ranges which perform specific tasks – for instance there are certain ingredients that will help achieve shine. Every product in my new Couture Hair range contains a unique moisture compound called AQUARICH. This helps to counteract frizz and damage whilst increasing shine levels, leaving you with beautifully glossy, manageable hair – crucial for the big day!

Shine spoilers…

Shine is achieved when hair reflects light, and to do this the outside layer of the hair (the cuticle) needs to be flat. Think of it like roof tiles or fish scales – damage makes these cuticles rough up and if they are not flat, hair can’t shine. The key is making hair as healthy as possible and the right maintenance programme.

Hair shine is affected by: poor diet (not protein rich enough) damaged cuticles and poor homecare products.

Shine on…

To create instant shine and glamour on your wedding day, my Couture Hair Memorisier Holding Serum (£17) is a must-have.

Not only does it create stunning results, it will also give your hair a natural hold without the sticky build-up that other products can create. To use, distribute evenly through towel dried hair and style as desired.

Following these simple tips will ensure that your hair is sleek and full of shine for your big day.

Hair will also shine naturally if the cuticle is flat, so try using a natural bristle brush to smooth and condition the cuticle. This will leave you with ultra-shiny tresses.

Richard Ward Couture Hair is available from QVC online qvcuk.com or call: 0800 50 40 30 mycouturehair.com To book an appointment at the Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, call 020 7730 1222 or visit richardward.com

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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 and Aesthetic Surgery EBOPRAS • Full Member of the German Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery DGPRÄC • Member of the Colegio de Medicos de Malaga (No.29/2909452)

WINNER of ESSENTIAL MARBELLA

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2010 & 2011

Av. Ramon y Cajal, 7 - 29600 Marbella 0034 951 775 518 - Mob : 670 770 455 info@oceanclinic.net - www. oceanclinic.net

The Beauty 12 months before your wedding day you are no doubt selecting everything from venues to photographers, but don’t forget the most important element… yourself! Head Therapist, Lynn Shepherd of The Lipo Room shares with us the secrets to becoming a blissful bride.

Start with a course of three body wraps to detox and cleanse your body, loose inches and help set your mind on the goal you want to achieve. At this stage it is advised to join a gym, even if you only visit once a week, as it will assist in increasing your overall fitness.

After the three wraps, which would take a month to complete, begin a course of i-Lipo, a laser treatment that blasts stubborn areas of fat.

It is a non-invasive, painless treatment that needs to be done twice

per week and ideally on the same day as you go to the gym. (If you can push yourself to hit the treadmill twice a week!) The fat cells are blasted, shrunk and converted into energy therefore you would need to dispel that energy and stimulate your lymph system with at least a 30 minute work out. The treatment goes hand in hand with a gym workout and speeds up the fat loss process. A course consists of eight sessions, concentrating on one area at a time. Dependent

to go!

Hopefully by this time you will have lost a good dress size. It is advised to opt for another course of three wraps as an ongoing maintenance program. The next step would be to try the Arasys muscle toning treatment. This machine was invented by Gerry Pollock at London University in 1994. Pollock co-invented the heart pacemaker, which

uses the same technology as the Arasys machine. It is considered the closest treatment to the body working out in the gym. Pads are placed on the muscle and impulses are sent to the nerve endings that tell the muscle to contract and then rest. 17 minutes on this machine on your stomach is equivalent to 320 sit-ups!

to go!

The three main treatments the Lipo Room offers should all be maintained and on going but by now you should be very close to your target size and weight and really you

should concentrate on the refitting of your dress. Your dressmaker will no doubt be going crazy considering the amount she has needed to take it in!

to go!

At this stage it would be advised to undergo another body wrap and another course of Arasys and if you still have some stubborn areas of fat possibly another course of i-Lipo. You should already be drink-

ing at least eight glasses of water per day but if you want that real glow and the weather is hot increase to 12 glasses per day. We wash the outside of the body, we must wash the inside.

to go!

to go! to go!

42 CONFETI

on how many naughty areas you have to work on will depend on how many courses you undergo.

In addition to the aforementioned, The Lipo Room offers waxing with tea tree wax, eyelash and brow tinting and very firm and relaxing massages, all ideal for brides-to-be, waxing in particular should be completed a minimum of three days before your wedding to ensure all redness and swelling has subsided.

Your body is looking fantastic! Your skin is smooth and glowing! Why not book yourself in for a last minute massage to reduce any pre-wedding jitters!

The Lipo Room Avda. Manolete 20, Centro Romano 5 Nueva Andalucía Marbella Plaza de la Solidaridad 12, Quinta Planta, Málaga Tel. +34 952 906 688

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MARBELLA Avd Manolete, Centro Romano, Local 5, Nueva Andalucia MĂ LAGA Plaza de la Solidaridad 12, Quinta Planta

Tel 952 90 66 88

Real Weddings

At the Water’s Edge Jake and Laufey celebrated their timeless nuptials at the eternally stylish Villa del Mar.

Our love story began when Jake struck up a conversation in a queue for the cashpoint in London! Sadly the timing was terrible, as he had just booked a three-month ‘Boys Only’ trip to South America. However we kept in touch, complete with astronomical phone bills until Jake send me a plane ticket (much to the annoyance of his friends on the trip,) and suddenly South America became our own romantic holiday

44 CONFETI

and the beginning of the rest of our lives. Jake proposed in a restaurant in Paris in 2010 then a few months later I fell pregnant with twins hence our wedding plans got put on hold for a little while.

My vision for our wedding was sun, sea, flowers and glamour. I really wanted to get married outside, either on a beach or somewhere surrounded by beautiful blooms in the

Address Book Wedding Dress: Caroline Castigliano

Bridesmaid Dresses: Reiss Suit: Reiss Venue: Villa del Mar, Marbella Club Hotel Photographer: beckysharpe.co.uk

sunshine. About three years earlier Jake and I (newly engaged) were walking down the Marbella beach front and decided to go for a drink at The Marbella Club beach restaurant.

We then had a little walk through the hotel grounds and I instantly knew that I had found the destination of my dreams. The hotel’s private villa, Villa del Mar is beautiful and holds all of its charm from the 1950’s. I could visualise all the glamorous parties that took place there in the past and that’s how I visualised my wedding; classic, glamorous and timeless.

Initially I had a very different idea of how I wanted my wedding, I thought I wanted more of a hippy relaxed feel to everything but as soon as I saw the venue everything changed.

The entire wedding was perfect but I would have to say the most sentimental moments were the speeches and, of course, the ceremony.

Seeing all of our family and friends together and knowing that they had all flown in from across the world was amazing. The fact that they all enjoyed themselves as much as we did was truly the icing on the cake.

CONFETI 45

Real Weddings

Like in the Movies…

Jay and Sally tied the knot in a vintage ceremony embellished with personal touches from their favourite films and enriched with traces from their heritage.

Jay and I bonded over our love for movies. I am from Hull, UK and Jay is from Dublin, Ireland, having both worked for the, now sadly extinct, UCI cinemas, I was sent to train new staff in his hometown. Jay had by then left the company to become an architect but still kept in touch with his colleagues. We never met on this initial trip however our phone numbers were exchanged as Jay’s friend knew we’d be perfect for each other. Three months and some extortionate phone bills later, (I never knew so many digits went before a decimal point!!) we finally met and had the weekend of our lives in Dublin. Jay actually told me on the second night there he was going to marry me! Jay soon moved to Hull and we have been living together (mostly in happiness) for nine years.

In June 2010 we went to New York for a week with Jay’s sister Lyndsey and her fiancée Craig. We had a big day out planned to see the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and all the tourist sights but Jay insisted on going to the Rockerfeller Center to watch the sunset. After asking for a photo of just the two of us Jay came out with the line “This isn’t right” and before 46 CONFETI

I knew it he was down on one knee holding a ring, asking me to marry him! Little did I know he had serious problems all day skilfully negotiating many metal detectors and security searches at the various sights and attractions just so I would not see what his plans were! Of course I said yes!

somewhere ‘neutral’. What better place to get married than our second home! Of course the guarantee of great weather mixed with spectacular vistas always helps. As soon as we met Heather and Yvonne at Fiesta Sol we knew we were in good hands, helped in no small part by Alex’s stunning mojito sorbet!

We chose to get married in Spain for many reasons. Firstly because we love the country and Jay’s folks have a house on the Costa Brava so Spain has always felt like home but mostly because the majority of Jay’s family and friends live in Ireland and the majority of my nearest and dearest reside in England, so we felt the fairest solution was to get married

Our vision was a vintage themed wedding with elements of our love of movies and music incorporated.

We also wanted a strong theme running throughout of our origins, mine being the White Rose of Yorkshire and Jay´s as a son of the Emerald Isle. We achieved this through the use of white and green colours in the flowers, stationary, bridal party

outfits and Jay and his best men using Gaeilge (the Irish language) in their respective speeches. What we wanted to see as the final outcome was a massive party atmosphere from start to finish and for our guests to take away as many memories as possible. We always wanted to put our stamp on the wedding and achieved this through handmade tealight holders, made from jam jars and the pages of a vintage copy of Alice in Wonderland. I had been watching a program called ‘Choccywoccydoodah’ about a bespoke cake shop in Brighton. I fell in love with a cake on the programme called “All you need is love”. Fiesta Sol recommended the wonderful Sweet things by Fi who was able

“The highlight from me was easy. Watching Sal come around the corner and down the aisle perfectly in time with the line of the music she loved. She looked gorgeous and the smile on her face is something that will always live with me.”

- Jay, Groom

to recreate the cake perfectly, (and deliciously!)

Although Jay is usually suited and booted for his day to day workings in the architecture industry, I have never met a man who despises wearing shoes as much as he does! He asked me quite sheepishly one day could he wear some trainers on the day, I replied of course he could! We worked the suits around the idea that Jay & his groomsmen would wear the same trainers. Never in a million years could we have expected them to work so well and look so cool!

My crystal bouquet, which I had made featured pieces belonging to myself, my mum, Jays mum & our grandparents added a special touch and is truly a piece that will live through the generations of our family!

If I had to pick one moment that exceeded all others, it would have to be the speeches, in particularly Jay’s. It was so well delivered and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. It just summed Jay up, being able to make people feel the full range of emotions in quite a short space of time. Out of the whole day I revisit this part constantly.

Address Book

Wedding Planner and Caterer: fiestasol.com Venue: Hacienda San Jose, Marbella villaweddingspain.com Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses: Influenced by Rodarte’s pieces for the film Black Swan created by Jo at Wedding Wise in Hull, UK Hair Comb & Crystal Bouquet: Crystal Tiaras and More bespoketiaras.com Hair & Make-Up: princess-bride.co.uk Suit: moss.co.uk Flowers: flowersinconline.com Photographer: jeremystandley.com Cake: sweetthingsbyfi.com Drink Supplier: bwsdrinksdistribution.com Entertainment: ianprestonentertainment.com and The Supreme Girls roxstudios.webs.com Ceremony: Lizzie Marriage marriageweddingservices.com

CONFETI 47

Real Weddings

True Blue

Michael and Melanie married in a elegant two day celebration surrounded by their family, friends and son, Dexter.

OUR STORY… Michael and I met through working and living in Marbella, in the Real Estate sector about 8 years ago. I was working for a property developer and Michael for a renowned Real Estate company. He was professional, charming, polite and had a very kind way about him, with a hint of mischief in those blue eyes.

After a few years of not seeing each other, we bumped into each other again and decided to meet up for coffee or in my case tea, and hence forth became good friends. We were working for different companies by then and we would meet up to chat, laugh, tell each other our woes over a bit of lunch or dinner. Michael was my sounding board and confidante. We really enjoyed each others company, everything was easy and uncomplicated. One day shortly after one of my birthdays, (not telling my age of course) we met up as normal and things changed, ‘we kissed’ and Michael and Melanie was born.

Michael proposed 2 months later, on the last day of an amazing cruise holiday, with a beautiful ring. It was a wonderful surprise and before we could even start planning the wedding, I was pregnant.

48 CONFETI

OUR VISION… Spain holds a very special place in our hearts as we have both lived here for many years and our son Dexter was born in the Costa del Sol Hospital. Our vision was to share our wedding and this special time in our lives with our loved ones. We knew we wanted to get everyone all together and for our nearest and dearest to be a part of our initiation into married life and in addition, for some, who had not yet had the pleasure, to meet our darling son.

We chose Villa Tiberio as our location as it is decorated with such wonderful gardens and fountains. A simple colour scheme of just off-white and pale blue was selected, which perfectly complemented our simple and elegant vision. We adorned the main table with blue crystals and chose invitations, place cards and a stunning seating plan in the same hues.

The pale blue Spanish fans, embellished with our names

and the wedding date, given to all the ladies turned out to be a real treat and also proved to be an excellent memento for our friends and family.

OUR MOST TREASURED MOMENTS… It is hard to select just one moment from our wedding day as each and every minute was perfect. However when I entered the church and Julie-Ann our soprano singer began singing Ave Maria my heart melted. She also dedicated a song to us during the reception dinner, which created a very special memory for Michael and myself. I think the funniest moment had to be when my mother was doing her Flamenco dance and Dexter decided he couldn´t be without his grandmother, ‘Abu’ for even one moment so he decided to join her on the dance floor! Above all, having everyone we love and cherish together for two whole days ultimately made our wedding everything we could have ever wished for and more.

CONFETI 49

Real Weddings

A Marriage of

Minds

Simran and Chris married in a whimsical twoday celebration in the beautiful town of Sitges.

Chris and I met at McMaster University near Toronto, Canada. For seven years we travelled, laughed and encouraged each other to rise above all obstacles. Along the way, our love for cultural experiences and discovering new places led us to settle in Berlin, Germany. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made!

Our engagement journey from the West brought us to the East as we struggled to find the perfect ring in London, Amsterdam or Berlin.

Something just didn’t feel right with the styles and choices we were shown. We booked a trip to Istanbul, Turkey and miraculously on the last few days, experienced the joy of finding the perfect ring. It encompassed the unique journey of our past, present and future while a beautiful solitaire centred our love.

A true piece of art that without question continues to bring an emotional response to us both.

Chris was determined to continue on our discovery of new lands by planning a surprise proposal on the stunning volcanic island of Santorini, Greece. He whisked us away on a comfortable cruise, adventured to the stunning views of the caldera and finally popped the question on a secluded beach. He captured my heart and love with his emotional and compassionate proposal!

Our new journey had begun to find the perfect balance of travel, 50 CONFETI

embark on another adventure and create a wedding that had not been done before in our circle of friends and family. Living in Berlin, with our nearest and dearest scattered all over the world this proved to be a challenge. Where to get married?

We fell in love with Barcelona and Sitges and decided the sunshine, gorgeous sights, nightlife and sandy beaches spoke for themselves.

We knew we wanted every detail of our wedding day to showcase our individual personalities. From the sandalwood fans given to each guest and the beautiful roses handed out to our lovely ladies to flying in an eight-person band who astounded us with their soulful sounds after finding them on YouTube and selecting custom-

marine, which we believe reflect us, bright, bold and ever complementary to one another. A delicate balance of Punjabi heritage and Sikh spirituality, traditional instruments for the ceremony and modern embroidery work accenting our stylish lengha and sherwani. The morning was all about sharing our unique spiritual journey, while unifying our diverse group of guests with suggested colours for their Indian outfits. It was our rite of passage, guided by the principals and pillars of Sikhism.

made outfits from London and Berlin. Everything was perfect down to our caterer creating tantalizing Indian, Moroccan, Jamaican dishes along with a multiple range of cupcake centrepieces, and our incredible creative photographer.

The best way to describe the

wedding was it was ‘us’. Each detail represented a carefully thought out personality trait or vision of who we are. It was our unique way of celebrating our new journey and sharing this moment with our incredibly loving guests - a wedding they would forever remember!

The unifying theme that tied everything together together was our love for the colours, fuchsia and aqua-

Our creative talents were revealed in our unique evening ceremony of commitment. Memorable songs representing milestones in our relationship, sultry acapella sounds surrounding us in a blissful escape and our cherished friends relaying words of wisdom through poetry and spoken word for our journey ahead.

The evening was Chris expressing his individual love and commitment in an emotionally intimate surprise, time stood still as tears of joy and laughter enveloped every one of our senses.

We took away so many treasured moments from the celebration but walking hand in hand, laughing and

living every moment in Sitges, in particular, our photoshoot which allowed us to centre ourselves and finally release the stresses, anticipation and emotional journey we had just experienced, while anticipating the evening ahead, was one of the shining stars. We truly felt united! In addition, standing at the front of our cosy, candle lit rustic 18th century event room, looking around in awe and amazement at each of our loved ones and knowing that every single person had flown in from all parts of the world to be with us was a magical feeling. The room was buzzing with good vibes, new connections and electric excitement!

After months of planning, searching for the perfect items and corresponding with our vendors over hundreds of emails, we finally lived in our present and absorbed every moment of our special day. Thankfully time stood still and each moment is forever etched on our hearts and memory. Holding hands and looking into the depths of our souls. Feeling an ocean of words pass between us. We were here, together, finally!

Address Book Invitations: cutture.com

Wedding Dress: Bespoke lengha by Charmi Creations, charmicreations.com and Balay Magazas Shoes: aldoshoes.com, townshoes.com, Manolo Blahnik Suit Details: Bespoke Sherwani & Turban by Charmi Creations charmicreations.com and dolzer.com Venue: almiraldelafont.com Transport: dotorbus.com Flowers: floristeriavilaplana.com Photographer: jeremystandley.com Entertainment: jermainefleur.com Wedding planner: Judit Abalau with Wedding Barcelona

CONFETI 51

H

oneymoon ideaways

DISCOVER THAILAND

H

ome to white sandy beaches, elegant resorts, intimate retreats and crystal blue waters; Thailand is a honeymooner’s paradise. Whether you want to spend your time amidst a sea of tropical underwater species, relaxing in the comfort of your private villa, soaking up the sunshine or experiencing the Capital’s bustling nightlife; Thailand is every dream come true and the ideal destination for all your romantic endeavours. Your biggest decision will be choosing between the bright lights of the big cities or the peaceful luxury of the exclusive island resorts, or you could just sample both! Now that you’ve experienced the most special day of your life, relax and enjoy each other on the honeymoon of a lifetime in Thailand.

By Christie Holland

W Retreat Koh Samui CONFETI 53

CITY OF

Love Metropolitan by Como

B

angkok is renowned for its energy-charged ambience, vivacious nightlife, and captivating culture. Even if your ultimate destination takes you further South you should spend at least a few days in the capital taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of Asia’s most inviting metropolis.

Nestled minutes from Bangkok’s major shopping areas, the Metropolitan by COMO finds strength through simplicity.

The epitome of chic design, this timeless hotel offers a sense of calm amidst a city of excitement.

Fashioned by Singapore-based architect Kathryn Kng, the Metropolitan boasts 171 spacious rooms and suites each taking inspiration from the East and the West with details such as carefully sourced Asian antiques, furniture, mosaic and limestone bathrooms, Thai silk curtains and, in select suites, private terraces all gathered to create a sophisticated haven. The terrace rooms complete with a zen-inspired refreshing outdoor shower and private patio (a true rarity in Bangkok) provide an added romantic allure.

54 CONFETI

Bangkok boasts some of Asia’s premium eateries and epicureans needn’t step out of the hotel walls to sample Thai cuisine at its finest.

Australian-born chef, David Thompson, famed for Michelin-starred Nahm restaurant at The Halkin hotel in London, reaches new heights with his heterogeneous range of Thai offerings at the Bangkok establishment. Named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants by Restaurant Magazine, nahm, meaning water, emphases Thompson’s philosophy that a traditional Thai meal is an exercise in balance, focusing on the dynamic relationship between hot and sour, sweet and salty. The innovative chef uses robustly flavoured ingredients such as garlic, shrimp paste, chillies, and lemongrass and fuses them together to create a sophisticated, subtle elegance in which every element is equally balanced. If you are not a gastronomic expert, opt for the flexible tasting menu, enthusiastically recommended by the maitre’d, allowing you to sample a diverse medley of dishes (one canapé, relish, salad, soup (per person), curry and stir-fry) thus truly experiencing nahm in all its glory.

On completion of your feast, head to the trendy Met Bar and devour one of their decedent cocktails within the cosy yet fashionable atmosphere.

Alternatively, Glow, located on the first floor, serves wholly organic food, including delicious energising smoothies and salads, an ideal choice for a healthy, invigorating lunch prior to a day of sightseeing and exploring. Or in true honeymoon fashion if you find yourself unable to leave the plush comforts of your room, the room service club sandwich deserves an award all to itself.

After a day of absorbing Bangkok’s cultural gems, relax and rejuvenate at COMO Shambhala Urban Escape where their signature massage uses blended oils to completely calm the mind and gently soothe the body, if you want to really indulge the Shambhala Bath consists of a gentle exfoliation, an invigorating salt scrub followed by a relaxing massage leaving you feeling truly pampered. In addition the well-equipped gymnasium and 20m outdoor pool, plus a selection of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates classes are all available complimentary to every guest.

Colonial charm meets contemporary cool, The Metropolitan Hotel offers newlyweds the best of both worlds. comohotels.com/ metropolitanbangkok

CONFETI 55

Paradise FOUND O

nce a hippy haven, honeymooners now flock to Thailand’s third largest island, Koh Samui, for a multitude of reasons; serene snorkelling, scenic surroundings, rich history, island safaris and most importantly blissful beach resorts. For the ultimate in laid-back indulgence, Le Méridien, nestled on Lamai beach, offers a haven of serenity. Clearly created for honeymooners, this intimate resort boasts postcard perfect views and sugar, soft white sand beaches framed by palm trees and stunning scenery with lively bars and nightlife just a short taxi ride away, if you want them, and long shore-side walks and a heavenly spa if you don’t.

The exceptional Ocean Front Pool Villas are what honeymoon dreams are made of; with limitless views over the Gulf of Thailand, a separate air conditioned living room, ideal for sampling the decadent in-room dining, plush sun loungers made for two and an infinity lap pool.

However whatever room you choose you will be blown away by the distinguished, contemporary classic Feng Shui Thai décor and world-class amenities. We found a particular soft spot for the Pool Access Suites, offering direct entry to a private pool complex, complete with their own open terrace and relaxing

56 CONFETI

day bed, large enough for two.

The double bathtub and charming open-air bathroom with rainforest shower completes this enchanting sanctuary.

Le Méridien boasts two sophisticated eateries along with a pool bar and an extensive in-room dining menu, presenting you a multitude of possibilities without needing to step foot out of the resort. Latest Recipe, located adjacent to the swimming pool overlooking the priceless ocean views, uses local flavours combined with international delights to create a tranquil all day dining establishment. The elaborate buffet breakfast in particular, featuring a synthesis of East meets West, deserves a special mention. A chic coffee house by day and a luxurious wine bar by night, Latitude 9 offers the perfect opportunity to grab a bite, relax and read the daily papers or if you prefer not to miss a moment of sunshine, order a light lunch from Plunge Bar and devour from the comfort of your sun lounger.

The 224-meter floating pontoon nestled in front of the stunning resort is a true gem. If we can offer you one piece of advice, be sure to treat yourself to a private, romantic dinner aboard this enchanted pier. Leave the world behind and together celebrate your first journey as a married

couple amidst the intimacy of Le Méridien. Let’s face it; this is truly a little slice of paradise on earth.

Le Méridien Koh Samui Resort and Spa 146/24 Moo 4, Lamai Beach, Maret Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84310, Thailand T: +66 (0) 7796 0888 lemeridien.com/kohsamui

Weddings, Renewal of Vows, Anniversaries, Same Sex Weddings and Celebrations - Birthdays, Blessings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs The Weddings Company can make your dreams come true For further information please contact: Dyana Dessar Simmons Tel: +44 (0) 2033711766 +34 670636063 Email: dyana@theweddingscompany.co.uk www.theweddingscompany.co.uk 1 CONFETI

MAJESTIC

Opulence T

in the form of L’Espace, a stylish café offering everything from crisp salads and sandwiches to homemade pastas, soups, noodles and the indescribable New York vanilla cheesecake.

he Mandarin Oriental is all about old-school charm; located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, this iconic hotel is impressively cosmopolitan whilst still exuding classic, timeless style. When it comes to baroque luxury, Bangkok’s classiest residence stands high above the rest. Whilst Thailand’s capital may not be an archetypal honeymoon destination, the Mandarin Oriental perfectly combines the key elements of an island resort with the excitement and exhilaration of this electrifying metropolis.

Sophisticated, opulent design accessorised with distinctive Thai touches ensures each room and suite exudes a distinct style. If you desire the ultimate in luxury, The Selandia Presidential Suite, named after the legendary ship The Selandia, is as impressive as its name.

Exquisitely decorated in hues of pale ivory set against a background of hazy blues and rich scarlets and furnished with silk draperies throughout results in the highest level of luxury.

Celebrate your first few days as a married couple within this indescribable abode overlooking spectacular river views. Alternatively, the beautiful colonial-style Premier Rooms feature elements of the hotel’s long and il-

lustrious history. Vintage chandeliers and parquet flooring complemented by ottomans and comfortable sofas creates a stylishly eclectic feel.

The Mandarin Oriental boasts elaborate culinary variety, from renowned French cuisine at Le Normandie or a breath-taking buffet offering at the Riverside Terrace to the vibrant opulence of the 1930’s Shanghai Art Deco at The China House or

fine Italian fare at Ciao, there is no real reason to leave The Mandarin Oriental resort, which is ideal, as you are honeymooners after all!

However if you do decide to step out of the sumptuous walls, head to Siam Paragon, the city’s premium shopping centre filled with the finest designer names. Nestled in the heart of the mall you will find a little taste of the Mandarin Oriental’s elegance and culinary excellence

Located across the river from the main hotel, Sala Rim Naam, accessible directly from the hotel by boat, represents the best in Thai cuisine. The lavish buffet excites all the senses and the traditional Thai dancing show performed nightly delivers show-stopping entertainment. Within this Thai-style house you will also find the hotel’s awardwinning spa. The couple’s massage is a once in a lifetime experience, and quite simply a taste of heaven, (as long as your other half doesn’t snore throughout, not saying mine did!) If you have the time and are in search of pampering to the extreme, the three-day spa programme is guaranteed to ensure the start of your marriage is utter bliss.

If you favour something a little more active the world-renowned Thai Cookery School has taught thousands of pupils the art of preparing fine Thai cuisine. Learn how to create stunning Thai meals whilst discovering the country’s fascinating culture and traditions. Alternatively enrich your joy and understanding of the Kingdom of Thailand with the comprehensive cultural programme.

As the only country in Southeast Asia never to be colonised, Thailand’s cultural roots are fascinating, yet mysterious to many. However you choose to spend your days, the Mandarin Oriental ensures they are days you will cherish forever.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok 48 Oriental Avenue Bangkok 10500 Thailand mandarinoriental.com/bangkok

58 CONFETI

Beachside Bliss Samui is a divine tropical heaven; a fusion of traditional Thai hospitality and secluded island life. Whilst the beaches are recognised as some of the best in the world, the luxury retreats are the shining stars of this magical hideaway and the W Retreat Koh Samui surpasses all expectations and more.

From the moment you arrive at the stunning entrance, you step into paradise. The focal point, an extraordinary circular water feature embellished with panoramic views of the seascape and accessorised with outsized lamps, and inviting lounges and daybeds creates an indescribable vision. Following a delicious welcome juice and hotel introduction we travelled to our room nestled on the hotel’s highest point.

The Ocean View Escape boasts breathtaking views over the glittering sea and an oversized wooden deck outfitted with a private pool, (all the rooms at the W are blessed with this luxury!) For the ultimate romantic evening ask one of the hotels ‘W Insiders’ to arrange a dreamy candlelit dinner in the privacy of your suite. Imagine sipping chilled Veuve Cliquot champagne followed by devouring a five-course Japaneseinspired menu with wine and sake artfully paired with each dish.

Whatever you desire, the Whatever/ Whenever team will transform it into a reality.

Gastronomy excels at this exquisite resort, be sure to sample Koh Samui’s finest Japanese restaurant, NAMU overlooking the beach.

Experience a true culinary journey with everything from Gorgonzola infused lamb chops and Teppan grilled Wagyu beef to foie gras

enticingly combined with prawns, every dish surprises with an unexpected twist. The soft shell crab tempura rolls were so delicious, we ordered them twice, and contemplated returning the next day! Trendy decor and a magical aquatic feature infuse a captivating aura into the intimate setting. If you can, (and trust me it is very difficult!) save room for dessert, the molten chocolate lava is as decadent as it sounds.

For a moment of laughter and an impressive picture opportunity try the giant waterball located at WAVE. Described by the on-hand team as, “a hamster wheel, you get inside and run,” this inflatable cylinder will have you laughing till you cry. For something a little more subdued, relax with iPods, DVD players and board games as your soak up the sunshine upon the relaxing daybeds. If you wish to venture outside the resort (not that you need to!) one of the W Insiders will be more than happy to arrange idyllic snorkelling trips or other island attractions.

After sampling the impressive water activities unwind with a soothing treatment in the Zen-inspired AWAY spa. With seven breathtaking pavilion treatment rooms, this

contemporary spa offers every treatment you could wish for all with the added ‘W’ luxury touch. In addition, the SWEAT fitness center, open 24 hours a day, is equipped with premier cardio and weight equipment with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sparkling sea. If you and your new husband fancy taking part in a group activity, try traditional Thai boxing, refreshing aqua aerobics, or pilates in the 32-squaremeter fitness studio.

Nick, the General Manager explained the aim for the hotel was to create a ‘wow’ factor, having spent a couple of days in W hotel heaven, I have come to the conclusion that

the ‘W’ must stand for ‘wow’ as it truly the only way I could summarise our stay. If like us, you fall head over heels in love with this contemporary resort and are already planning your return, ask to view The Residences. Each individual villa and condominium boasts signature W features and amenities. Imagine enjoying access to the stunning beach, the gourmet eateries and the relaxing AWAY Spa whenever your heart desires!

W Retreat Koh Samui 4/1 Moo 1 Tambol Maenam, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand whotels.com/kohsamui

CONFETI 59

Jet Set

Honeymoon booked, wedding day getting closer… now for your biggest dilemma!

What to pack? You want to feel as beautiful on your honeymoon as you did on your wedding day, minus the big white dress, so here is CONFETI’s guide to keep you looking and feeling fantastic.

1. Mulberry’s fuchsia textured leather case and travel adapter will make your honeymoon a stylish affair. Featuring four different plugs and a detachable charger, it’s an essential investment for the jet set fashionista. Mulberry at net-a-porter.com 2. laredoute.co.uk 3. Keep your iPad safe and stylish with this gorgeous khaki green case from River Island. riverisland.com 4. Tap into the tribal trend with

this woven straw bag by Sensi Studio; ideal for keeping all your essentials safe and for adding a vibrant hue to your beach ensemble. Sensi Studio at matchesfashion.com

5. Keep your skin crystal clear with Clinique’s dermatologist developed three-step skincare set.

Clinique at debenhams.com

10.

This stylish snake-print one piece is guaranteed to turn heads and keep your husband smiling from ear to ear. elizabethhurley.com

15. Waterproof mascara is the

11. Watch your husband’s jaw drop as your sashay across the sand in this striking purple beauty. agentprovocateur.com

16. Mara Hoffman’s bold

12. topshop.com

only answer when hitting the beach and Sublime de Chanel Waterproof Mascara takes the crown. chanel.com

beachwear designs are ideal for brightening up your honeymoon wardrobe; this printed dress is a must-have piece from the designer’s latest collection. marahoffman.com

13. The perfect lipstick will

take you from morning to night; Chanel’s new Rouge Coco Collection delivers 8-hour hydration with a single application ensuring your lips are soft and supple all day, every day. chanel.com

5

14. Keep your honeymoon make-up simple; a flash of NARS Andy Warhol Satellite of Love Highlighting Blush will give you cheeks a light-reflecting luminous glow creating instant radiance. narscosmentics.co.uk

6. Diane Von Furstenberg at matchesfashion.com 7. This Gorgeous Getaways set

by Clarins contains mini samples of all your favourite products including Beauty Flash Balm and One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. clarins.com 8. For a sophisticated way to cover up after a long day in the sun, opt for Heidi Klein’s waist-trimmed swim vest. Wear this soft stretch-jersey style over a bright bikini for effortless honeymoon chic. Heidi Klein at matchesfashion.com 9. Let the honeymoon be a

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continuation from your wedding night and spice up your evenings with this royal blue and fuchsia set from Agent Provocateur. agentprovocateur.com

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12 10

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9

6 8 deben

hams.c

om

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2 1

CONFETI 61

THE PERFECT SETTING

T

for an unforgettable

he H10 Estepona Palace, located on the beachfront, 1.5 km away from the Estepona sports marina, provides a unique location for your ‘big day.’ Superb sea views, contemporary interior and unbeatable service creates a supreme combination with an intimate and natural backdrop.

The qualified hotel staff are specialised in the organization of weddings and events. Their goal is to exceed your expectations, taking care of every last detail to ensure

WEDDING

your wedding day is everything you could ever wish for and more.

With direct access to the beach via the idyllic pool area and tropical gardens, this exceptional hotel boasts two unique options to tie the knot accompanied by the sounds of the sea. The Terraza Mediterráneo allows your guests to witness the spectacular panoramic views of Gibraltar and the African continent whilst having a cocktail or welcome drink. The charming Thalassa restaurant is a perfect place to devour a wedding feast

with the beautiful lighting of pools and gardens, creating a magical, whimsical ambience. To finish the evening off in style you can continue the party in the Ronda disco club; make it a night to remember!

H10 Estepona Palace offers accommodation in a Superior Privilege Room for your wedding night plus a special rate for your guests. In addition, for weddings confirmed in 2013, the hotel invites you to a menu tasting for four, with standard floral decoration and prints.

H10 Estepona Palace is the perfect setting to celebrate your special day. Just relax and enjoy the company of your family and friends, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, stunning tropical gardens and the highest level of service.

Avda. del Carmen, 99. Playa de Guadalobón, Estepona Tel: +34 952 79 00 40 comercial.hes@h10.es hotelh10esteponapalace.com

CREATING

Magical MEMORIES

S

ituated in the centre of Puerto Banus, in the heart of the Costa del Sol and just 6km away from the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Marbella, you will find Hotel PYR Marbella!

Savour the Spanish surroundings at this Andalucian style abode nestled

amidst an array of subtropical gardens.

From a casual cocktail reception to a formal banquet for up to 200 guests, Hotel PYR Marbella can accommodate all your requirements, providing you with delicious food, drinks and memories that will last a lifetime. Say I do al fresco in the elegant courtyard and lush gardens then head indoors and celebrate into the early hours.

This dreamy location offers an idyllic backdrop to tie the knot, from sunrise to starlight, every moment can be completely personalized to suit your style and budget. Carefree elegance and creative service awaits you at Hotel PYR Marbella.

Hotel PYR Avda. Rotary Internacional Puerto Banús Marbella Tel: +34 952 817 353 booking@hotelpyr.com hotelpyr.com

62 CONFETI

The Choice is Yours Sunset Beach Club Hotel, located in an idyllic seafront spot in Benalmádena Costa, just 20 minutes from Málaga airport, boasts an array of wedding reception venues. This combined with their flexible services offers the ideal location for your dream wedding in Spain.

S

ala Málaga an elegant 7th floor fully air-conditioned banquet room with spectacular sea views, private bar and sound system provides the perfect wedding reception venue, any time of year.

If you prefer to celebrate your special day outside, the shaded Terrace at the Oasis Restaurant is the perfect al fresco choice.

Depending on your wedding date and the size of your wedding party, it is possible to reserve the entire terrace offering complete privacy and exclusivity for you and your guests.

Alternatively Sala Moonlight, with two private bars and a large stage for entertainment, offers a

unique venue for larger wedding groups that wish to party late into the night.

A selection of wedding menus are available at all of Sunset Beach Club’s stunning locations starting from just €48 per person including free-flowing wine, beer & soft drinks during the meal, cava for the speeches, a Spanish style wedding cake, beautiful table flowers, personalized menus and a matching table plan along with seat covers & chair bows.

Sunset Beach Club also has it's very own beach bar & restaurant "Luna Beach Club" which provides a tranquil location for informal celebrations, just 500m from the hotel. Smaller weddings can reserve a section of the restaurant, or depending on your dates and

the size of your party, the whole venue may be booked for a buffet style reception (supplements may apply). Luna Beach Club is also very popular for informal lunches or barbecues the day after your wedding giving you the opportunity to reminisce with your closest family and friends about your special day. Salitos bar on the seafront also provides a unique chillout venue for afterwedding parties.

Whatever location fits your vision; Sunset Beach Club’s onsite Wedding Coordinator and Wedding Planners can assist with

every last detail from the reception to the organization of your marriage ceremony, whether in a local Catholic church or a seafront blessing at the romantic Mirador in front of the hotel.

Wedding Coordinator : Claire Mitchell Tel : +34 952 579 410 (direct) Tel : +34 952 579 400 Ext. 7823 weddings@sunsetbeachclub.com sunsetbeachclub.com

CONFETI 63

Say I Do in

Luxury

The Hotel Gran Meliá Don Pepe is located in Marbella, just steps from the Old Town and only 40 minutes drive from Malaga International Airport. Imagine waking up on your first day as a married couple to spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and the north coast of África.

T

ruly a magical place to celebrate your wedding day, the Gran Meliá Don Pepe is surrounded by sun-drenched beaches, with stunning views of the sea and endless lavish facilities. Choose from a wide and comprehensive range of locations for your ceremony and reception. Discover an exquisite variety of elegantly decorated rooms, lounges and terraces. The magnificent interior and exterior spaces of this luxury resort in Andalucia offer an idyllic location to celebrate with the one you love.

Their 194 guestrooms boast splendid sea views and the

64 CONFETI

surrounding gardens, all individually designed, create a perfect harmony. For couples looking to spend their wedding night in premium luxury the exclusive Presidential Suite, two Penthouses and the new seven Ocean Suites offer the ultimate in privacy.

Begin your journey; welcome to the Gran Meliá Don Pepe, an elegant experience with an avantgarde touch.

Gran Meliá Don Pepe José Meliá s/n Marbella, Tel: +34 952 770 300 maria.villar@melia.com gran-melia-don-pepe.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

LET THEM

EYE

Candy Delicious Cakes and Treats creates everything from simple sponge cakes to extravagant seven tier cupcake towers for brides on the Costa del Sol. Owner, Daniella has attended some of the finest cake courses in London and only uses fresh ingredients to create her bespoke masterpieces.

If you can’t decide on a design Daniella has some fantastic ideas from personalised edible cake

Eat Cake toppers to colourful cupcakes with tasty decorations to suit all budgets. Delicious Cakes and Treats is renowned for their stunning classic designs thus creating maximum effect with the use of smooth lines, vibrant colours and delicate sugar details.

Delicious Cakes and Treats… made to order… made for eating! deliciouscakesandtreats.com

MEET

and

GREET Fiona, owner of Sweet Things by Fi, is very excited to announce that the first Sweet Things Wedding Cake Boutique shall be opening in Gibraltar soon. Sweet Things by Fi brides’ will be able to meet and discuss their wedding plans and cake designs in the comfort of the cake boutique.

For over 6 years Fiona has been designing couture wedding cakes, including her own. Her belief is that a wedding cake or a celebration cake should be the talking point of any event, and therefore creates show-stopping creations of edible art work - making your day just that little bit more special.

Every wedding cake we make is individually designed to suit your personal style and requirements.

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Whether you wish to incorporate the lace on your dress, your colour scheme, or the flowers in your bouquet, Fiona’s aim is to create a memorable cake that exceeds all expectations, a showpiece for your wedding. And it’s not just the look of the cake that is important, it’s the taste too! At Sweet Things by Fi’s new cake boutique you will be able to sample the most delicious flavours from ginger to orange blossom cake and raspberry ripple to decadent chocolate!

More information shall be announced over the next coming weeks on sweetthingsbyfi facebook page. sweetthingsbyfi.com

Whatever your catering or event planning needs, whether it is for a small reception of canapĂŠs, summer BBQ or a full wedding menu with live entertainment, we can promise a professional, first class service to ensure that your event is a huge success.

Contact: Dyana Dessar Simmons UK Office: +44 (0)203 371 1766 - Spain Mobile: +34 670 636 063 Email: dyana@purplepeppercatering.com Web: www.purplepeppercatering.com

Floral Flair T

oday’s floral trends are as diverse as a wildflower bouquet, so you’re guaranteed to find something that will fit in with your wedding theme, no matter how traditional or contemporary you want it to be. This season CONFETI caught up with Janne from Flor Valentin to find out her expert predictions of what blooms with be exciting brides throughout 2013.

Garden Glamour

Pretty Pastels

Brides are craving flowers that feel opulent but still natural. This look causes hearts to flutter and evokes the feeling of flowers fresh-picked from the garden of a great estate. With the continuing popularity of the beach and garden themes, brides wanting a more rustic and natural feel for their bouquet can add elements such as shells, starfish, feathers, berries or pine cones for a truly unique arrangement.

A beautiful pastel palette of blush pinks, pale peaches and washed-out foliage, combined with blowsy roses, papery blooms and unusual foliage, will give your day a true bohemian feel. Mint was the hottest trend throughout last year and its continuation throughout 2013 is apparent.

Besides looking fresh and chic, the colour also exudes a retro aura.

Viva Vintage Vintage has ruled the wedding world for some time now and when it comes to floral arrangements, it is still running strong, with hand tied bouquets incorporating lace, fabric and ribbon. Whether you desire an entirely vintage wedding or you’re just looking for a traditional touch, a beautiful lace binding can add a touch of class to your bridal bouquet.

Bling Brooches Searching for a touch of glitz and glamour? Add beads, brooches, jewels, pearls, crystals and monogrammed or rhinestone ribbon to dress up plain ribbon-wrapped stems and blooms.

A bridal bouquet of dusky pink roses combined with earthy greenery and hints of ivory create a timeless and au courant look.

Flor Valentin embraces contemporary trends and fashions and assists brides-to-be in creating the floral décor of their dreams. Whether you are looking for a chic arrangement or a classic creation, Flor Valentin guarantees something truly special.

Flor Valentin Tel. +34 951 311 086 / +34 669 061 234 florvalentin.es 68 CONFETI

www.marbellaflowers.com www.marbellapartyballoons.com

Established in Marbella in 2006, we pride ourselves on providing the best quality flowers for your special day, working alongside you, to create and achieve your dream wedding. From the most flamboyant affair to the most intimate, we can cater for all your requirements.

Over 20 years of experience in the floristry trade 31b Avenida Miguel Cervantes, La Campana, Nva. Andalucia

zoe@flowersinconline.com M: +34 606 278 765 Tel/Fax +34 952 907 986

Специализируемся на оформлении свадеб и других мероприятий.

Flor Valentín C.C. Centro Idea Ctra. de Mijas km 3,6 ES - 29650 Mijas - SPAIN

Let Flor Valentin design the bouquet you always dreamt of!

Photos by Anna Gazda - limelight.pl

www.florvalentin.es

janne@florvalentin.es

T: +34 951 311 086 M: +34 669 061 234

C

ONFETI talks to...

Dyana Dessar Simmons Director of The Weddings Company

Can you tell us about The Weddings Company?

The Weddings Company was founded about five years ago but I took it over last year and immediately realised that it needed a new lease of life, a totally new look. I have recently had the website rebuilt, adding new venues and suppliers to our lists and bringing us up to date within the social media world. This has made us more visible to potential couples as they can see what’s going on within TWC. The Weddings Company is run by a small team of very professional event co-ordinators. We know that we have a lot of competition along the Coast but we feel that we can bring something fresh to the art of wedding planning here on the Costa del Sol. Why did you decide to become a wedding coordinator?

I didn’t really decide to become a wedding coordinator; it has been a progression of events over time.

Previously, I have organised all kinds of functions over the years throughout the UK. I originally worked in the fashion industry and went from modelling, to organising the fashion shows for the manufacturing company I worked for in London. It then grew and I started D&Co Live supplying entertainment for all types of events.

In addition to the wedding itself, what other services do you offer?

We offer the whole package, starting with the very basic booking of venues, churches etc. We can carry the couple right through the entire 70 CONFETI

process, arranging the catering, entertainment, flowers, in fact you name it, we can arrange and co ordinate it.

What do you enjoy most about working in the wedding industry?

I really enjoy the whole thing! Working with brides and their families brings fantastic satisfaction and rewards. When we first meet a couple they always have a picture in their minds of what they want but they don’t know how to achieve it, especially when arranging it from another country. It’s great to see our ideas for each couple come to life and then get to see how happy they are on their wedding day. It is a very personal industry, we need to build a relationship but always remember what we are being employed to do.

What design elements do you feel are most critical when it comes to planning a wedding?

In designing a wedding it is so important to have a realistic time line to

work to, again especially when working with couples coming from abroad to get married on the Costa del Sol. So timing is critical, making sure that all necessary documents are in place and available and translated where needed, all dates are booked and confirmed in writing.

If a couple has a tight budget, what is your advice to them?

With the recession really having taken such a hold, many couples have had to really think about their budgets. In our first meetings or conversations we would discuss carefully what each couple feels is the most important elements of the day and we would advise couples to keep to a realistic number of guests. This is often very difficult as no one wants to leave anyone out, however it is their wedding day and couples should not feel under pressure to have more guests than they can afford for fear of upsetting someone, most people would understand fully.

Where does your inspiration come from? How do you come up with so many unique and creative ideas?

Working both here on the Coast and in the UK means that we always know what trends are coming and going. We are always looking at what’s going on in wedding fashion and what colours are popular. Having gone to Medway and Rochester art school I like to think I’m a bit of an artist so I’m lucky to have a good eye for colour and my years of working in the fashion industry gave me a good grounding.

Are you able to pinpoint your favourite wedding? Why does it stand out so significantly?

We had the pleasure of being involved with the most delightful family last year, not only was the whole guest list beautiful looking with the most amazing outfits they were really friendly and fun loving too. The bride was stunning and even though it was unbelievably hot everything went without a hitch. The whole thing was magical; the ceremony in the amphitheatre was lovely with one of my many great singers making the already very special ceremony fun but also emotional.

Do you have any advice for brides-to-be before they begin the planning process?

Yes… call TWC and let us do it all for you! But seriously, make a list, choose a date, make sure they know where things like birth certificates and any other necessary documents are, and then call us!

What trends do you feel will increase in popularity throughout 2013?

This year we will see many trends taking the wedding market by surprise, dresses will take on soft colours, with mint and pale lilac being the favourites on the catwalks.

These wonderfully soft but refreshing colours can also be used for shoes, cakes and centrepieces, flowers and stationery. Tables will be dressed in cream and taupe suede with coloured welting and candles.

Bling is back for bridal gowns with

happy couples and their families because then we really know that we have done our jobs well. The challenge is always making sure that nothing is left out or forgotten, it can be difficult on the Costa del Sol with the ‘mañana’ attitude so we just check everything twice! jewelled details and keyhole backs showing just enough seductive skin.

Lace and tulle being favoured by designers like Vera Wang, Christos & Kenneth Pool. Colour really seems to be important for 2013, even having brightly jewelled colours for the bridesmaids. For a fun element the photo booth is a great option, and the photos can be themed and instant so everyone can go home with a memory of the day.

What changes have you noticed in the wedding industry from when you began until now?

Things are changing all the time, one very significant change has happened recently, planners now have a new organisation AEWP which will help to give us credibility and will sort the boys from the men!.

Until now really anyone can say they are a wedding planner and then when there are problems it is very difficult to deal with.

What do you feel is the most challenging part of planning a wedding? And the most rewarding?

The most rewarding is the lovely letters we get after the wedding from

Can you talk us through a day at The Weddings Company office?

Well, we start by checking emails and answering any enquires and send information to potential clients.

It is so important to make sure that every email is answered as soon as possible, we are very aware that most brides-to-be will look on line for planners and probably email three or four planners with the same questions. It doesn’t guarantee us the job, but I know I would want to take an enquiry further with a company, if I got an informative speedy reply.

Once this is all done we have coffee and go over any weddings or blessings that we are working on, check everything that needs to be done and make sure we know which of us is responsible for it. Olivia Burns recently joined the team and she is responsible for all our social media so she will spend some time updating our pages with new blogs and pictures. We often have days out showing couples around the area and viewing venues and meeting suppliers or taking documents into the registry office in Gibraltar.

There is no 9-5 in this job we work until we are done for the day.Then

of course there are wedding days when it’s early start and all hands on deck.

How have the fluctuations in the economy affected people and events that you have worked with?

We have been affected and have even had some couples postpone their wedding a year to allow more time to save. Couples still adore the idea of getting married or having a blessing here on the Costa del Sol and in many cases a wedding on the Coast can still cost less than doing it in the UK plus of course they have the advantage of beautiful weather.

How do you choose the vendors that you work with?

TWC doesn’t ask for commission from service providers, we prefer the flexibility to be able to work with the right supplier because they have what we need at the right quality and price. We try to build relationships based on trust and respect not just on how much commission is supplied for bringing a new client even if I don’t really think they have the right product.

Can you summarise you job in five words?

Creative, fun, challenging, timing and rewarding!

The Weddings Company theweddingscompany.co.uk CONFETI 71

FOLLOW ME TO THE

Vestry…

By Padre Peter

I

“

remember on one occasion” said Fred, “how the happy couple were kneeling in front of the altar rail. I leant forward and said quietly “Follow me to the vestry”, before doing a smart about turn and proceeding thither with slow and measured tread. I waited.

I could hear the organ playing softly. I waited. The organ began to repeat itself. Suddenly, the door of the vestry opened violently as the bride measured her length across the hallowed floor. “It was very difficult” said a rather flustered groom as he came behind, still on his knees. “But she kept falling over the inside of her dress, and I had to keep pulling her upright”…”

Anybody who has tried to shuffle along whilst wearing a long skirt will feel for this couple! It never occurred to them to stand up!

Fred (now, alas, late), the brother of the late dearly lamented Harry Secombe, was Vicar of Cockett, Swansea, at the time. It was also he who ran foul of Blodwen who was dramatically late in arriving for her wedding. He met her at the church door. “Oh Blod,” he said, “we were nearly going home!

You’re late!” “Late!” she yelled, “Late! I could be f****ing dead!

Burned alive! Me f****ing mam with ‘er fag in ‘er f****ing mouth got me right in me f****ing ‘ead!”

Upon closer inspection Fred was able to discern a rather large burnt hole in the bridal veil, where the mother, in attempting to adjust it, had poked her lighted cigarette into the bridal ear.

72 CONFETI

But like Fred, every cleric has stories to tell of weddings which have not gone entirely to plan. Even when the weddings themselves have appeared calm on the surface, a fraught background may well have presaged the event!

On one occasion, as we lined up before the altar, I gazed brightly at the Best Man and asked the usual question “You’ve got the rings?” The look that dawned on that haunted face would have done credit to Hammer Horror.

“They’re in the taxi!” he stammered. The wedding was in Mojacar before the new road system was in operation. The airport was something like five hours away by road. The taxi driver, contacted on a rather primitive radio system, refused to turn around on the grounds that he was nearly back in Málaga. No problem! We borrowed rings. “Never mind”, I said, “we’ll just give out the Service Sheets”. I saw the same look.

“Don’t tell me,” I said. “You haven’t by any chance left the bride in the taxi?” He hadn’t, but from time to time even brides can prove to be slightly difficult, like the one who insisted that she wanted “Fight the good fight” to be played at her nuptials. “I love him, but I don’t want him to think that it’s going to be easy!” she confided.

It reminded me of the funeral of a local butcher, where the widow insisted that Bach’s Cantata 208 should be played; “Sheep may safely graze”.

Rings are, of course, important at any wedding. Normally, these are the responsibility of the Best Man, but from time to time they are presented by a favoured page boy. At one wedding, where this idea was to be put into practice, I told the Best Man at the rehearsal that it was important that when the page boy presented them to him, it should be easy to detach them from the cushion upon which they resided. “No problem, father!” he said. Came the day, and there in the front row sat the little angel, carefully double knotting each ring! But even when rings are readily available, mistakes can be made. At one very discreet small wedding, which had not merited a rehearsal, the groom, his two sisters and parents appeared, clothed “in white samite, mystic, wonderful” (Tennyson, ‘Idylls of the King’ if you really want to know!). Suddenly, at the top of the stairs, the bride appeared; in black from head to foot. She loomed like the spectre in ‘Don Giovanni’. When she proffered her finger for the ring, I hastily had to palm the smaller of the two and present the one which resembled nothing so much as a large curtain ring. This was also the location, on another occasion, when an American couple were getting wed. I remember her well. Her name was Pearl, and if ever a name suited somebody this was it. Fortunately, she also had a

magnificent sense of humour. As we all waited, the guitarista was getting steadily more inebriated.

He had arrived tiddly, and spent a considerable time finishing off any half-filled glasses that he located. Eventually, he appeared to be capable only of playing ‘Happy birthday to you’. It was gently pointed out to him that this was not suitable. “Aha!” he said happily, and burst into “Underneath the lamplight, by the garden gate”. Suddenly, the bride made her appearance at the head of the stairs. There was silence from the guitarista. His fingers twitched. She descended the stairs to the strains of ‘Happy birthday to you!’. As she confided to me afterwards, every time she heard that tune, she would be reminded of her wedding day. And at times people need to be happily reminded.

At the wedding of one soldier, it was evident that there was some nervousness in the air. In order to dissipate it, when the bride arrived, I said to the groom “Give her a kiss!” This he did, most willingly. I then looked at the congregation and said “That’s the way to do it! Now everybody, kiss the person next to you!” The ice was broken; the ceremony went swimmingly. At the conclusion a sergeant major stalked up to me. “Padre”, he said, “Upon your order I kissed my wife; for the first time in ten years!” I do hope that this was the beginning of a renewal!

CONFETI 73

A Helping O

Hand

By Natasha Johnson

rganising a wedding can be a daunting task for even the most organised bride and groom. Whether your wedding is to be a simple affair or a grand event there are still many factors that need to be taken into account concerning anything from your chosen venue to wedding etiquette. Here are Confeti’s five top tips for planning their big day.

issues do arise they will deal with them without you even knowing or needing to know. During the summer, planners are at weddings on a weekly if not daily basis, whereas you are only at your own wedding once, so take advantage of their experience, attention to detail, exhaustive list of contacts and knowledge of the area and start off your wedding day relaxed and raring to go.

USE A REPUTABLE WEDDING PLANNER The internet is without doubt one of the greatest modern inventions and for any couples getting married in Spain it is a useful resource in finding suppliers and ideas for weddings, BUT and it is a big BUT, as much as you may be able to pull everything together before you arrive, on the big day itself, you may find you are too busy yourself to oversee all of your plans, especially if you have more than twenty to thirty guests to cater for. It’s not a great start to a wedding day when an hour and a half beforehand, the bride is hanging up decorations and the groom is directing the band where to set up, when really the bride should be up in her room with her girlfriends, enjoying a glass of cava and the groom knocking back a whisky (or two) with his best man and ushers.

Wedding planners take care of all of this for you, so that you don’t have to. They think of things you will not even consider and if any

USE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER Everyone knows someone who is a photographer and although it may at first seem handy to have a guest at your wedding who can also take a good picture or who is a photographer, there is a big difference between asking them to take your pictures and hiring a professional wedding photographer. Firstly, your relationship with a professional photographer is just that, professional. They are there to take pictures on your behalf, because you have paid them to do so. They will get the pictures you want and the pictures you didn’t even know were possible. Like wedding planners, they spend most of their lives at weddings. They know what shots to look for and they know where to position themselves to get them.

Also, they live here, so they know about the Spanish weather, the light and whatever else they need to know for taking a good picture.

The last thing you want is to get

76 CONFETI

into an argument with your guest/ friend/photographer who is busy dancing and stuffing his face with cake! To ensure you get the quality mementos that you deserve for your big day, trust us and hire a professional photographer.

USE A HAIR AND MAKE-UP ARTIST Even if you always do your own hair and make up, it doesn’t mean you should do it on your wedding day. Your wedding day is a chance for you to relax, be pampered and have people to run around after you all day and having your hair and make up done professionally falls into this category. Again, as with the photographers and wedding planners, hair and make-up artists live and breathe Spain. They know how to do your make-up and style your hair to bear well with the weather and sunlight conditions that we have here and how to accentuate your best qualities for your photographs. Wedding hair and

make-up is a specialist art form, and you should take advantage of the wealth of experience that they have, so that you look the best you can on your wedding day.

USE A DJ/WEDDING ENTERTAINER A wedding DJ is so much more than a man in a bad shirt dancing behind his turntables (there is a compliment in that quote!) It is true that i-pods have revolutionised the way we listen to music, but it doesn’t always mean it is the best option for a wedding. A good DJ knows when to get everyone up on the floor and what songs to play to get the party started. For example, songs that you love listening to or love singing along to, might not be great songs to dance to and good DJs are well aware of that and will work with you to play the songs that you want, as well as stuff that they know will get people on the dance floor. DJs can also control your music for the start of your ceremony, end of the ceremony, your first dance etc,

which is much harder to do than you might think.

USE YOUR TIME TO RESEARCH WELL AND BOOK EARLY Every year there seems to be certain dates that are in demand, certain weekends that seem to be more popular than others. If you do your research early and you find someone you like the look of, book them! Because good suppliers do not have free dates for very long and they do book up very early. If you have a date in mind, and have found the venue/ wedding planner/photographer/ hair and make up artists/DJ/wedding celebrant etc. that you like the look of and are happy with the service that they can provide, don’t hesitate to seal a deal with them. Procrastination can lead to disappointment and to you not getting your first choice. There are so many amazing suppliers here, in all fields but you’ll be surprised by how quickly they get snapped up.

CONFETI 77

Pray Be Upstanding…

By Padre Peter

W

e had lost the Best Man. It was one of those weddings taking place in a marquee on a windswept lawn.The moment was approaching when all the guests would be safely gathered in from the cold around the trestle tables groaning with prawn cocktails, cold roast beef and Black Forest gateau. We scattered to look. The Toastmaster and I arrived simultaneously in front of the long table upon which was settled in all its glory the magnificent three tiered wedding cake. We paused. As we paused we heard the sound of panting and ecstatic groaning.

The Toastmaster, presumably to spare a cleric’s blushes, raised a hand, bent down, and with great delicacy lifted a corner of the tablecloth. He righted himself, dusted off his medals, coughed, and with an almighty crash brought his gavel down on the table next to the cake. “Pray be upstanding!” he intoned. The effect was instantaneous. The table, with the cake upon it, rose into the air as a Best Man reared from the Chief Bridesmaid like a bucking stallion. An elderly waitress, who had just come into the tent, made a rugby dive that would not have disgraced a Llanelli winger, and saved the top tier as it flew through the air. (I am pleased to say that she was paid a handsome bonus, but the Scarlets declined her further services). Unfortunately, this was not the case on another occasion, when Aunty

insisted, supported by a loyal bride, on producing ‘The Cake’.

These edifices are not to be trifled with. The traditional English wedding cake, based upon the spire of Saint Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, needs as much engineering as did the original spire. It was carried into the function room with great ceremony. Piers were placed upon the first layer. The second layer was placed upon the piers. Piers were placed upon the second layer. The top layer was placed ceremoniously upon the piers. Everybody stood back in admiration. Then, woe and alack, the top layer settled comfortably upon the second layer, driving the piers through the icing, whilst, not to be outdone, the second layer settled upon the bottom layer.

I draw a discreet veil over the attendant weeping, wailing, and gnashing of (in the case of Aunty, false) teeth.

But strange things can happen at a wedding reception, and one must always be prepared for the unexpected. At one wedding in India my dear wife received a gentle blessing from an elephant’s trunk right atop her head (I should emphasise that Orthodox priests are permitted to be married!). This was, of course, far preferable to the time in Oxford when she received a similar benediction from a careless punt pole, resulting in a bump emerging like something out of a Looney Tunes cartoon.

I fear that my urgent request for help in a nearby chemist: “My wife

has been struck upon the head by a punt pole”: was greeted with raucous laughter. But whilst on the subject of the east it is, of course, the custom in Korea to hurl a bag containing a live chicken amongst the guests. This is, perhaps, not so far removed from our own custom of the bride throwing her bouquet. But even this can go sadly wrong. There was one wedding when the bride arrived dressed as a corn dolly atop a hay wain. It was very pretty. In her hand she clutched a bouquet consisting of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots (for colour!) This was also very pretty. Unfortunately, when she threw it over her at the reception, it caught an elderly aunt on the head who, as she recovered with a glass of brandy under her nose, opined that she had no further intention of matrimony. But that particular aunt (why does it always seem to happen to aunts?) was saved the problem occasioned by a bride who insisted that she wanted goats to mingle among the guests at her rustic wedding (now, could I make this up?!). It had to be explained to her that goats do not come in neat twos, as they are unmanageable in that number, but in a minimum of ten, under the control of a chief goat. The goats duly arrived, and behaved themselves in an exemplary fashion, apart from one who deposited a little whoopsy upon aunty’s besandalled foot. Goat pooey, of course, is quite neat and clean, until you squash it. What did aunty do…?!

Sometimes, of course, wedding receptions are held in quite splendid locations. (In the following I have changed the names only to protect the innocent.) It was in a splendid Stately Home. If there was one duke present, there were half a dozen, with the rest of the peerage, glitterati, literati, and what- have-you in plentiful profusion. The host, a very genial man, invited me to join him the next morning to chat things over. When I arrived he met me gleefully in the entrance hall, brandishing what looked like a floral duster. “Dusting?” I remarked jocundly. “Look!” he said, and spread out what were clearly a pair of knickers. “What on earth…?” I began, but he interrupted me. “They’re knickers”, he said, unnecessarily. “I found them behind a cushion in the library! I’ve measured them. 42 inches round the waist. I’m going to make some telephone calls! Follow me to the study!” I followed. He produced a list with about a dozen names on it. He turned the ‘phone on to loudspeaker mode, and dialled the first number; a marchioness.

“Petunia!” he chortled when the ‘phone was answered. “Did you enjoy the party?” “But of course!” came the reply. “Ah” he said. “Did you leave your knickers behind?”

There was an indignant snort.

“Marmaduke! When I go to one of your parties, I don’t wear knickers!”

He replaced the receiver quietly.

“What are you going to do now?”

I asked feebly. “Let us have a little glass of something” he said nervously.

CONFETI 81

Confeti Local News What Dreams Are Made Of…

S

unset Beach Club is locally renowned as one of the most popular wedding destinations, however it isn’t just the ceremony they can host, this blissful resort is also the perfect choice for your honeymoon on the Costa del Sol. Their bridal suites are comfortably decorated and include a separate lounge, kitchenette and balcony. If you are looking for pure luxury, their “Romantic Night” upgrade package, which includes a bottle of cava on arrival, a special dinner for two (including welcome cocktail, three course dinner with wine, coffee and a liqueur), turndown service and romantic details in your room on one night during your stay, will add that special wow factor.

attractions, such as day trips into Málaga and other local towns/ villages, a visit to nearby Paloma Park & Benalmádena Port, cultural Excursions to cities such as Seville, Granada and Cordoba and Watersports in the local areas.

Although some couples may be more than happy spending their days lazing by the pool or taking romantic walks along the beach, Sunset Beach Club’s leisure desk can also help honeymooners make the most of their stay by providing a wealth of information regarding local activities and assisting with bookings for local

At Sunset Beach Club you can guarantee a honeymoon to remember.

Please note that advance reservation is required. To check availability and booking conditions of honeymoon suites and

Add a Sparkle to your Step

A

new trend has hit the coast; accessorise your shoes with Blingbacks, a shoe jewellery collection with a twist and the ideal way to transform your shoes from day to night.

Add a special touch to your wedding shoes whilst protecting them from rubbing and slipping with the discreet silicon strip. There are endless styles to choose from, all available on either black or clear silicon perfect for any shoe colour.

82 CONFETI

Blingbacks fit perfectly over the back of your shoe, protecting and cushioning your heels, whilst also dazzling and sparkling as they catch the light. Simply hang the soft lip of the Blingbacks over your shoe, then remove the sticky patch and hold in place for a few seconds.

The silicon is medical grade so will cause no irritation and can be detached easily without damaging your shoe.

Who knew shoes could be so

glamorous and comfy!

For more information or to purchase your own wedding day Blingbacks contact Jane on +34 952 198 749 +34 610 191 629 or visit dare-2-dazzle.com

romantic packages, please contact Sunset Beach Club’s wedding coordinator directly.

Wedding Coordinator: Claire Mitchell +34 952 579 410 (direct) +34 952 579 400 Ext. 7823 weddings@sunsetbeachclub.com sunsetbeachclub.com

Flower Power

F

loral Director Zoe Strutton opened her first florist at the age of 20, having served her apprenticeship with her mother, who was one of the first Interflora members in the UK some 60 years ago. With three generations of florists behind them, they themselves went on to become award-winning members of Interflora for 21 years.

Six years ago, Zoe relocated the business to Nueva Andalucía.

The Flowers Inc. team includes English, Spanish and Russian speaking staff, who all strive to provide a personal professional service, second to none. In addition to numerous weddings at some of the best venues on the Coast including, The Marbella Club, The Puente Romano hotel, Villa Padierna and Nikki Beach, Flowers Inc. were the resident florist for the Kempinski Hotel one of the “Leading Hotels in the World” which is, in itself, a testament to their reliability and calibre of work.

Your choice of wedding flowers represents your own personal style and it is therefore important to take time to choose exactly the right flowers to complement your wedding gown, bridesmaids and venue. Flowers Inc. understand that every wedding is unique and with this in mind, they like to take the time to get to know you in order to incorporate all your styles and wishes into your wedding day arrangements.

Flowers Inc. only uses premium grade flowers imported from Holland and Ecuador and ensure all their prices are reasonable and excellent value for money. In addition Flowers Inc. can provide decorations for your entire venue from organza tiebacks for chairs, hanging lanterns and bamboo canopies to archways and personalised fans and balloons.

Tel: +34 952 907 986 zoe@flowersinconline.com flowersinconline.com

Lights, Camera, Action

L

ooking for an exciting and dynamic live music act to impress and amaze your guests?

D&Co Live offer flexible solutions for every occasion, from intimate receptions to elaborate celebrations. Their established connections provide you access to an extensive selection of sensational acts, professional musicians, bands and DJ’s.

Selecting the right music for your reception is an essential factor for setting the mood, and making sure your guests can party into the early hours. D&Co represents a wide spectrum of artists with something to suit all tastes and genres of music from Swing, Blues, Soul, Jazz, Pop, Soft Rock and Motown to Spanish Guitar and Flamenco. In addition they can also provide magicians, tribute, specialty and comedy acts.

Choose from the likes of American jazz and swing singer, Peet Roth-

well and dance the night away to the sounds of Michael Buble and Frank Sintra or witness a tribute experience, from Moni Tivony as Lionel Richie, Matthew Winchester as Stevie Wonder and many more.

If you prefer to entertain your guests with a comedic genius, D&Co have a vibrant array of personalities guaranteed to fill the room with laughter.

D&Co Live also actively source and create new opportunities for their artists by finding imaginative and interesting venues to showcase their talent and are constantly searching for new artists and musicians to promote and complement our ever-growing event locations.

Whatever you entertainment needs, turn to D&Co Live to add that touch to showbiz to your wedding day.

D&Co Live dandcolive.com CONFETI 83

Confeti Local News Couture Clean

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any brides who have opted to marry abroad, decide to take their dress as hand luggage to ensure the dress stays with them at all times during the journey. However, even if you book a seat for your gown (yes the dress does deserve it’s own seat,) it is high likely that creases will appear.

A wrinkled wedding dress is one of a bride’s worst nightmares. The best move in these circumstances is to take the dress to a professional, who has extensive knowledge in the cleaning and pressing of wedding gowns.

Hot Off The Press in Calahonda, have over 30 years in house UK dry cleaning experience. Specialising in all wedding related garments, they offer a full turnkey service for wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, mother of the brides outfits, plus men’s suits and shirts.

Over the years, they have had the pleasure in caring for the most exquisite wedding dresses and couture gowns. From silk satins to

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Known for their highly specialised pressing skills, superior service standards and highly critical final inspection, their services range from pre wedding press and steam to post wedding clean with a guaranteed perfect finish. An alteration service is also available for any last minute hiccups.

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a fully custom designed Our gift service includes iconic including items from wedding gift service Italia, as Fendi Casa, B&B luxury brands such Homeware and other Missoni Dedon, Malerba, . marquies small world renowned

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home. and taylor your dream brides meeting prospective We look forward to you to select the ideal and grooms and helping

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By Becky...

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Local photographer and videographer Becky Sharpe shares with us a snippet from her popular online blog, this issue Becky talks... Matching Boobs!

The company advises pressing 1-2 days before the event and then to keep your gown creasefree until the wedding, you should hang it from a doorway.

If possible, attach the bottom of the train to a hanger and hang it up across the room from the front of your gown.

get everything right on the day, therefore they are always happy to go the extra mile to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Hot Off The Press appreciate that it can be a traumatic time for the couple trying to

Hot Off The Press Tel: + 34 952 930 392 hotpgreen.com

You want to look fabulous on your wedding day and Hot Off The Press can help make sure you do.

Deco Design

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patri

designer gowns, Swarovski crystals and Italian lace, their expertise has no boundaries.

atching napkins - yes. Matching bouquets for your bridesmaids normal. Matching breasts for your bridesmaids - What?! I discovered this peculiar concept - new breasts to go with the new bridesmaid dresses - quite by chance whilst researching a blog post. This idea being, of course, that the all MATCH, but doesn’t

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ocated in Ocean Village, Gibraltar, Patricia Darch offers glamorous, refined and contemporary interiors for your home. Their latest innovative gift vouchers available in £50, £100, £200 & £500 are an excellent alternative to the traditional wedding gift offering couples the opportunity to furnish their home with an array of stunning designs. The gift vouchers can be redeemed against everything from

furniture, upholstery, fabrics and decorative items to renovation and construction work.

it strain a friendship when a bride says to her girlfriend, “time to resculpt your body, I don’t like it the way it is!” I suppose the idea of buying your friends cosmetic surgery suddenly makes the dresses appear very reasonably priced! But jokes aside, it takes the perfectionism for how things ‘look’ on the wedding day a little too far, even for a photographer! The idea of

your hen party taking place in the cosmetic surgeon’s office is like something out of a Sci-Fi movie! We all know brides want everything to be perfect but remember you are gorgeous the way you are, and your friends are too! Why not treat yourself and the girls to a spa day, after a makeover and a spray tan you will feel like a whole new you!”

Patricia Darch Sotogrande: Av. Mar del Sur, 26 Torreguadiaro Tel: +34 956 615 350 pdi@patriciadarch.com Gibraltar: Ocean Village Tel: +350 216 77776 pdigib@patriciadarch.com patriciadarch.com

beckysharpe.co.uk CONFETI 85

Confeti International News A True Talent T he creative director and designer for Barcelonaborn label, Pronovias, Manuel Mota, sadly passed away earlier this year.

The Spanish couturier who specialised in bridal gowns for top models, including Doutzen Kroes, and high society, died at the age of 46. Supermodels Miranda Kerr and Bar Rafaeli appeared on the catwalks in Mota’s bridal creations during his 23 years with the Spanish brand.

President of the company, Alberto Palatchi, exclaimed, “The Pronovias family has lost one of its best loved members.

We are left with the memory of so many collections, so many catwalk shows, so much effort and talent. Manuel was a great partner, a great artist and above all, a great person. We will never forget him.”

A visionary and master of design from a young age, Manuel Mota’s collections boasted precision, detail and sophistication.

These key elements resulted in the thriving success of his three collections, the Pronovias mainline, a luxury range for edgier and urban brides and a selection of altering cocktail dresses.

He recently centered upon sartorial-savvy Kate Middleton as his inspiration in 2011.

Spanish model Ariadne Artiles, who wore a dress from Mota’s bridal collection at her own wedding, paid tribute to Mota, saying the designer was always incredibly patient with women’s dress demands. “I remember many fun times when I asked him for the impossible and he made it easy,” she announced via Twitter. “He was a delightful man, good-looking, fun to be with and one of the most sensitive men I’ve ever met.”

Weddings by Harrods

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orld-renowned luxury department store, Harrods is launching into the wedding world with their new wedding planning service; Weddings by Harrods. Famed for its grace and sophistication, Harrods has amassed an executive team of wedding coordinators to plan and execute the most elegant of weddings. Debuting this month the sumptuous service will have access to all of Harrods resources from designer dresses to gourmet wedding cakes, beauty experts and the ultimate gift list via the Harrods Gift Bureau. Each wedding package is tailor made to suit every couples individual requirements, including everything from locating the dream venue to arranging the perfect honeymoon in partnership with Abercrombie & Kent.

‘Weddings by Harrods’ is set to take the bridal world by storm and become the ultimate in lavish wedding planning for the rich and famous. harrods.com

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Be a Bridal Fashionista

O

nline retailer, Net-aporter has become the first and only online boutique to stock Roland Mouret’s highly anticipated, inaugural bridal offering; The White Collection. Mouret’s bridal concept is a natural progression of his already established signature silhouettes. Speaking of the range Mouret explains, “I want my bridal dresses to be a bit sexier. I wanted to create something that is about you and your partner, a one-to-one private relationship with the dress - not just something to please friends and family.”

‘The White Collection’ consists of five individual styles, in a range of white and cream hues, crafted from the finest fabrics with prices starting from just £1,600. net-a-porter.com

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Confeti International News Going Green

C

ongratulations are in order for designer Sanyukta Shrestha who was recently honoured with ‘Highly Commended Brand Leader in Design’ at the SOURCE Awards, the Global Awards for Sustainable Fashion.

The SOURCE Awards put the spotlight on the most innovative and inspirational businesses, individuals, and initiatives in the fashion industry, globally.

To be the only bridal brand nominated was not only a huge honour for the SS team, it is also an important stepping stone for sustainable fashion in the bridal industry.

This award recognises a new vision for bridal, which has proved to be desirable as well as ethical. The hope is that this will inspire other bridal brands to look into sustainable businesses.

The illustrious judging panel included Baroness Lola Young, Hilary Alexander, Mandi Lennard, Orsola de Castro, and several other leading experts in the fields of fashion and sustainability. The awards recognise excellence in 12 different categories, from design innovation to brand

leadership across women’s, men’s, accessories, and childrenswear etc.

With her ‘Love Green - Believe in Ethics’ ethos Sanyukta creates stunning gowns with her unique vision that embraces handmade luxury and sustainable eco-friendly fabrics.

Sanyukta’s collection offers desirable bridal gowns that express elegant style through beautiful silhouettes and acute attention to detail. Each style within her exquisite collection follows ecologically green guidelines, with fabrics from ethical and fair trade certified manufacturers around the world. Sanyukta’s decision to use these natural fibres in her collection underlines her commitment to the environment and development of ‘beauty with a conscience’.

Through blending sustainability with her ethical believes, Sanyukta also intends to create opportunities for village women in Nepal, by merging and turning their traditional skills into delicate fabrics and exquisite designs. sanyuktashrestha.com

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MAKE YOUR WEDDING GO WITH A POP Exclusively distributed throughout Southern Spain by Marbella Wine Warehouse simon@isi-spain.com / +34 638 161 514 / +34 951 89 40 26 / www-isi-spain.com

Fiestasol is Marbella’s premier catering company with fully licenced kitchen, tasting room and showroom in central Marbella.

Offering full hog roasts, wedding menus, Christmas parties, yacht catering and packages for any style or size of event, our prices are unbeatable whilst still providing the famous Fiestasol quality. Also offering lighting, marquees, and entertainment, Fiestasol is your one stop shop for any kind of event.

fiestasol.com fiestasolspain@yahoo.com Tel/Fax: +34 952 89 87 46 Mobile: +34 657 214 831

Y

FoodGlorious Food

our wedding meal is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable moments of your special day, therefore be sure to choose a caterer you can trust and who will deliver exceptional quality and service. You can expect to pay more for food and drink on your wedding day than any other aspect of your reception, so you’ll want to work with a professional.

Purple Pepper Catering & Events provides complete catering and event solutions, whatever your needs. Whether you require canapés for an intimate reception, a summer BBQ menu or a full wedding breakfast, Purple Pepper Catering & Events promise a professional, first-class service to ensure that your wedding day runs without a hitch.

Director and head chef Peter Cannon has over 35 years experience providing high-end catering for events in the UK and Spain.

During Peter’s time within the industry he has worked in Michelin Star restaurants, top London and country hotels, and has catered for numerous celebrities including Prince Charles, Anita Roddick and many others.

Following an introduction with Peter and Purple Pepper Director, Dyana Dessar, the team will produce a variety of menu ideas personal to you; from there you can customise each and every element until your dream becomes a reality. Dyana and Peter are committed to your vision and will offer you a variety of options within your style and budget, let Purple Pepper do the hard work so you can just sit back and enjoy every moment of your wedding day.

Menu Option 1 Menu Option 2 Cava Reception strol Brut (Selection especial), Blason

Cava Reception Marques de Monistrol Brut (Selection especial), Blason Esquide Rioja (Red & White)

Marques de Moni

Esquide Rioja (Red

Reception canapés Five selected hand made canapés

& White)

Reception cana pés Five selected hand made canapés

Fresh wood mushroom soup with madeira wine, thyme and double cream

A selection of hom emade spanish Albondigas in a tapas for the table tomato sauce, Gam bas pil pil, Manc Tortilla, Spinach hego cheese, Fresh and cream chee ly cut serrano ham, se croquettas, Fresh olives, Freshly bake d breads

Warm chorizo or

Iberian pork fillet with glazed apple s and a calvados wine

Fresh tomato soup with parmesan cheese and garlic croutons

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and fresh mixed berries

Chocolate and oran ge

pés Reception cana made canapés

Five selected hand

Main courses are served with a selection of freshly prepared vegetables Mange tout, glazed carrots, daupinoise potato

sauce Main courses are served with a selec tion of freshly prep Baby minted new ared vegetables potatoes, French beans, steamed young whole carro ts

Individual iced

e) Cava Reception Rioja (Red & Whit Blason Esquide ction especial),

istrol Brut (Sele

Marques de Mon

Baked chicken wellington Supreme of chicken wrapped in puff pastry, serrano ham, a duxcell of mushrooms and a Madeira wine sauce

cream sauce

Roast best end of Lamb with a fresh tarra gon and tomato

strawberry souf

fle

tional buffet table

Prepared as a tradi

d styles main courses serve Cold buffet two tables with the ared salads for

or Individual prep

Char-grilled fresh

Glazed raspberry crème brulee

A trio of handmad e desserts grand marnier mous se, Light raspberry and cream chee Vanilla ice cream se crumble, with marinated berries

go, date, sultana

en with a man Thai green chick

Fresh coffee with petit fours

Tomato and

Fresh coffee with

Price per head inclu

des red and white

petit fours

Wedding Receptio n canapé

ce leaves

of french lettu

Coleslaw salad in salad

urt and roast cum

Cucumber yogh

menu

Hot baby minted

, cutlery and waiti

Purple Pepper Catering & Events purplepeppercatering.com

ng staff

Baked goa ts Smoked

cheese croute

salmon

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Fresh coffee with

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Sesame

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Baked anc hov Aubergine

chutney

k olives

with blac feta cheese salad

A mixed selection

65.00 euros per person Price per head includes red and white house wine, house Cava, tables, chairs, china, cutlery and waiting staff

75.00 euros per person house wine, hous e Cava, tables, chair s, china

n

n, king tiger praw

salmon with lemo

ye of beef Finest roast rib-e

Grilled pan

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Menu Option 3

Baked fillet of salmon in filo pastry with shredded vegetables and a langoustine cream and chives

straws

pacho

avocado

apricot

Price per head

includes red and

ng staff person cutlery and waiti 60.00 euros per s, chairs, china, , house Cava, table

white house wine

Entire Occasions Events Weddings, Parties & Corporate

Performance Production & Hire HIRE LED “Starlit” Dance Floor Sound & lighting Video Projection Room Decoration Ceremony Shading

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Dyana Dessar Simmons tel. +44 (0) 2033711766 or +34 670636063

LoveLove Love

This

“The Enzoani Black Label gown suits Miley’s edgier fashion taste; bringing a flattering strapless style and original blue floral detail together to make a showstopping, out of the ordinary piece that aligns with what Miley’s personal style perceives.”

Enzoani

Since they announced their engagement last year, pop princess Miley Cyrus and her actor beau, Liam Hemsworth have shared their excitement in becoming man and wife. With 2013 set to be the year they say I do, we asked an array of our favourite bridal designers what style of wedding gown they would like to see the fashionable young actress walk down the aisle in.

“I chose this dress for Miley because it is a modern take on a red carpet look with a high draped front and a plunging back and would show her figure off while taking the emphasis away from the bust, instead concentrated on the back.”

David Fielden

“This Swarovski ice blue gown gives way to the rich Macramé and Alençon lace appliqués on the bodice. The soft blue hue is a non-traditional fresh option for Miley who has always pushed the envelope on the carpet.”

Ines Di Santo 92 CONFETI

Professional Connections

By Heather Sadtler Photos by Jeremy Standley

C

onfeti was delighted to be confirmed as a media partner of the newly founded Association of European Wedding Professionals (AEWP) and to sponsor their first industry workshop held on November 13th in Torremolinos.

The organisation founded by local wedding planner Jenny McCloy has been designed to promote and withhold professional standards within the wedding industry in Europe. A regulatory body for suppliers, this a way for them to become accredited and placed within the association’s directory; giving peace of mind to couples looking for professionals in whom they can place their absolute trust.

As Jenny states “in times like these, couples are nervous about spending their money with the right people and we want to help them make the right decisions in choosing their planners and vendors.”

This new affiliation with Confeti was an ideal one, based on shared ideals and the desire to support couples’ decisions to get married in Spain: “Confeti Magazine is synonymous with connecting newly engaged brides with quality, well respected wedding professionals,” shares Jennifer McCloy,. “Given AEWP’s goal to continue to raise the professional standards in our industry, this collaboration was the perfect fit.”

For their inaugural workshop, held at the beautiful Molino de Batan,

94 CONFETI

The AEWP invited US bridal consultant Meghan Ely to talk about subjects such as wedding trends, social media tools and how to sell and negotiate during a recession.

Ely is the owner of wedding PR firm OFD Consulting whose website states “We get you the brides.

You get to do what you love.”

Meghan started her career as a wedding & reception venue manager at various venues in Richmond, Virginia and then, having been involved with over 200 weddings, decided to start her wedding marketing career by launching her own agency.

She also shares regular tips for wedding planners and vendors on her blog “Illuminate: Tips, Tricks and Bright Ideas for the Wedding Professional.”

One of Meghan’s specialities is helping photographers and planners have their work featured on powerful US wedding blogs such as Style Me Pretty, JuneBug Weddings & Ruffled. This is a growing

“Confeti Magazine is synonymous with connecting newly engaged brides with quality, well respected wedding professionals”...

trend, particularly Stateside, and is an extremely effective way of marketing your wedding business.

Confeti was on hand at the workshop to take notes and gain wisdom from Meghan’s extremely knowlegable presentation. Copies of the latest issue were given out to all attendees and a price draw for a free one page ad was won by David Rodriguez from Hacienda La Herriza in Gaucin.

D IR E C T OR Y

SPAIN & GIBRALTAR

Browns: brownsfashion.com

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

Dare 2 Dazzle: +34 952 198 749 dare-2-dazzle.com

David and Marketa’s Chocolate Manufacture: +34 680 960 601; chocolatemanufacture.net Debbie Sheridan: +34 952 964 103 weddingcakesspain.com Delidelicius: +34 647 355 266 delidelicius.blogspot.com Delicious Cakes and Treats: +34 666 584 132; deliciouscakesandtreats.com

David Fielden: davidfielden.co.uk Monique Lhuillier: moniquelhuillier.com Net-A-Porter: net-a-porter.com Olivier Laudus London: +44 208 374 1239; olivierlaudus.com Florists Gibral Flora:+350 20042655; gibral-flora.gi Flor Valentin: +34 669 061 234; florvalentin.es

Sweet Things by Fi: +34 697 228 088; sweetthingsbyfi.com

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

Catering BWS: +34 952 373 233

Zoe Strutton: +34 952 907 986; flowersinconline.com

Chez Vous:+34 697 931 786; chezvous.es

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

FiestaSol: +34 952 898 746; fiestasol.com Marbella Wine Warehouse: +34 951 894 026; isi-spain.com Purple Pepper: +44 (0)203 371 1766 +34 670 636 063; purplepeppercatering.com Celebrants Humanist Wedding Celebrant: malagaminister.com Kurt Kettner-Borough: +34 952 817 099/ +34 637 408 194 weddingministerspain.com Liz Wilkinson: +34 952 448 916/+34 690 255 747 ceremoniesinspain.com Padre Peter: padrepeter1@gmail.com

Gibraltar Tourist Board: +44 2078 360 777; visitgibraltar.gi Hot Of The Press: +34 952 930 392; hotpgreen.com Health & Beauty Aria Medical Group: +34 952 895 088 /+34 671 639 353; ariamedicalgroup.com Kathryn Parr: +34 607 717 523/ +44 7875 447 721 kathrynparr.com Kristina N: +34 663 673 287 Lavish Hair and Makeup: +34 622 192 507 / +34 645 342 549; hairandmakeupbylavish.com Liza Mayne: +34 677 633 987: domayne.net Lipo Room: + 34 952 906 688

Paul Gill: +34 7740 949 698 costadelsolminister.com

Ocean Clinic: +34 951 775 518; oceanclinic.net

Entertainment Anna Lenkowska Sargeant: +34 952 778 822 / +34 629 22 55 13; harpmarbella.com

Reflections: +34 902 325 324; reflectionsmarbella.com

D & Co Live: +44 (0) 2033711766 +34 670 636 063; dandcolive.com DJ Nigel Davies:+34 697 931786 chezvous.es Musibodas: +34 660 75 32 46; classicalmusicweddings.weebly.com Fashion & Accessories Anthony Diamonds: +34 952 588 795/+34 609 529 633; anthonys-diamonds.com Aruna Seth: +44 (0)208 773 7859; arunaseth.com 96 CONFETI

Photography Agata Jensen: +34 633 921 231; agatajensen.com Boda Kids: +34 952 109 287; bodakids.es Elite Booths: +44 0581 010 496 eliteboothsuk.com Jeremy Standley: +34 607 717 565; jeremystandley.com Talia Giraudo: + 34 605 275 407; thoroughlygorgeous.com

Sound & Lighting Chez Vous:+34 697 931 786; chezvous.es

La Meridiana del Alabardero: +34 952 776 190; +34 618 236 778 lameridiana.es

Stationery Made With Love: +44 1457 838 838; madewithlovedesigns.co.uk

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

Wedding Lists Patricia Darch Interiors: Gibraltar: +350 216 77776; Sotogrande: +34 956 615 350; patriciadarch.com

Nikki Beach Marbella: +34 952 83 62 39; nikkibeach.com PYR Hotel: +34 952 817 353; hotelpyr.com

Zankyou: +44 8458 677 856; zankyou.com

Restaurant Mijas Playa: +34 952 493 749; mijasplayarestaurant.com

Wedding Planners Alhambra Weddings: +34 958 592 680; alhambraweddings.com

Sala Beach: +34 952 813 882; salabeach.com

Beau Rivaaj: +44 7956 392 787; beaurivaaj.com

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

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

The Rock Hotel: +350 20073000 +350 20073513; rockhotelgibraltar.com

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

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

Chez Vous:+34 697 931 786; chezvous.es

TikiTano: +34 952 798 449; tikitano.com

Fiesta Sol: +34 952 898 746; fiestasol.com

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

Granada Weddings: +34 958 521 875; granadaweddings.com

Videography Becky Sharpe: +34 617 134 806; beckysharpe.co.uk

Party People: +34 952 812 580; partypeoplemarbella.com Sala Events: salaevents.com Tarifa Weddings:+34 687 659 574; tarifaweddings.com The Weddings Company: +44 (0)203 371 1766; theweddingscompany.co.uk WCS Bespoke: +34 956 61 04 74 +34 607 49 48 02; wcsbespoke.com Venues Cortijo Del Marques:+34 958 34 00 77 / +34 678 334 884; cortijodelmarques.com El Oceano Beach Hotel: +34 952 587 550; oceanohotel.com

Boda Kids: +34 952 109 287; bodakids.es Scott Del Amo: +34 617 826 334; scottdelamoweddings.com

MALLORCA Entertainment Paul Martin / Mr Success: +34 971 572 295 +34 602 436 751 michaelbubletribute.es franksinatratributesinger.co.uk Rony B: +34 971 699 602 +34 609 633 912; mallorca-partyband.com

Fifty-Five: +350 200 79655; fifty-five.gi

Photography Jeremy Standley: +34 607 717 565; jeremystandley.com

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

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

H10 Estepona Palace: +34 952 790 040; h10hotels.com Hacienda La Herriza: +34 951 068 200; laherriza.com Holiday World Resort: +34 952 579 757; holidayworld.es La Cartuja de Cazalla: +34 692 141 816 La Sala Private Dining Room; +34 952 812 836; lasalabanus.com

Wedding Planners Gloria Events: +34 971 623 013; gloria-events.com Venues Restaurante Maxime:+34 971 837 579 / +34 605 138 145; maximevalldor.com Videography Scott Del Amo: +34 617 826 334; scottdelamoweddings.com

DATES FOR YOUR

Diary

Wedding events not to be missed!

The National Wedding Show

February 22-24 2013, London Olympia, London March 1-3 2013, 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.

Combining a comprehensive range of wedding experts from bridal gown designers to venues, wedding cake companies, groomswear and florists, planning your perfect day has never been easier. nationalweddingshow.co.uk

Claire Pettibone Trunk Show

March 1-3, 2013, Ellie Sanderson, 1 London End, Beaconsfield Old Town, Buckinghamshire, UK Head to the UK’s ‘best bridal retailer 2011 & 2012’ and find your dream dress from Claire Pettibone’s beautiful and whimsical collection at fantastic discounted prices. elliesanderson.co.uk

The Luxury Wedding Show

Image courtesy of Alan Hannah

March 3, 2013, Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa, Bedfordshire, UK March 24, 2013 Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, Wych Cross, UK The Luxury Wedding Show creates a platform for unique suppliers of wedding essentials to showcase their work in world class prestigious venues. It provides a stylish and stunning environment for potential customers; an opportunity to view the most unique collections of everything for the most luxurious of weddings. By bringing together a selection of the finest wedding suppliers and brides-to-be, The Luxury Wedding Show does something special and unique: it provides a forum for people who share a passion for style and luxury. luxuryweddingshow.co.uk

White Gallery

May 19-21 2013, Battersea Park, London White Gallery London showcases the bridal collections of some of the finest UK and international designers and attended by the world’s most exclusive retailers and media. For many, White Gallery London is the realisation of a long-held dream in which the finest design talents have the opportunity to showcase their collections to the most exclusive bridalwear retailers and press in the world. whitegallery.com CONFETI 97

Gifts Galore Patricia Darch provides the most stylish wedding list service allowing couples to fashion their dream home.

Create a Patricia Darch list and let your dreams come true…

Local artist, Jessica Darch is renowned for her art on canvas, Perspex and board. In addition, Jessica’s images and decorative paint finishes have adorned many walls from swimming pools and bathrooms, to libraries, lounges and even boats. The daughter of an artist, she grew up in a small village near Alicante, absorbing the vibrant visual influences that surrounded her: these have shaped the work she produces today; exuberant, joyful and zinging with colour.

TOP TIP: re, ing tablewa When select m u m xi a m think of the ple that you eo p f o er b num to a dinner would invite en add two party and th tch place se more! For ea ner plate; din ting allow a ; essert plate d ; te tea pla l; w o b p u side plate; so l bowl. erea and pasta/c For more than 30 years, the name Point a la Ligne has been synonymous with extraordinary quality, creativity, and design, earning a worldwide reputation as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of candles. Situated in Bordeaux, France, the Point a la Ligne candle-making shop first opened its doors in 1968 and has been handcrafting exquisitely beautiful wax shapes ever since. Artisans create sketches and then carve the moulds. When the perfect shape has been achieved, highestquality paraffin wax is poured. After the wax has hardened, the candles are hand-painted with intricate details.

This crystal centerpiece by renowned Italian design house, VG New Trend Italia will add a stunning aura to your living or dining room. Each of VG New Trend Italia’s pieces exude exceptional esthetic vision and are all hand-made using high-quality glass, crystals, ceramics, metal, leather and exotic wood thus creating truly unique, timeless classical and contemporary styles.

VG New Trend Italia creations are manufactured by skilled artisans from all over the world, thereby encouraging a wealth of traditions, techniques and manual skills that make each piece unique. The attention paid to craftwork and continual research into new materials and combinations results in classic yet avant-garde pieces.

TOP TIP: that Don’t forget ask o ls you can a hich w s, er for vouch en use you could th items! er towards larg

Patricia Darch stocks some of the highest quality brands including, Villeroy & Boch, David Marshall, Missoni Home and Swarovski along with Egyptian cotton toweling and luxurious bed linen.

Patricia Darch Sotogrande: Av. Mar del Sur, 26 Torreguadiaro Tel: +34 956 615 350 pdi@patriciadarch.com Opening times: 9am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm Monday to Friday Gibraltar: Ocean Village Tel: +350 216 77776 pdigib@patriciadarch.com Opening times: 10am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday 98 CONFETI

patriciadarch.com

THE FINEST IN BRIDAL DESIGN

NAOMI NEOH

HT HEADWEAR

RACHEL SIMPSON

SASSI HOLFORD

GEMY BRIDAL

CYMBELINE

IAN STUART

KATYAKATYA SHEHURINA

ILOVEGORGEOUS HAZAAR OF LONDON

BLUE EMILY JEAN KISUI

NICOLA ANNE

CHARLOTTE BALBIER

LUSAN MANDONGUS

VIVIEN SHERIFF

VICTORIO & LUCCHINO NOVIAS

AMANDA WAKELEY

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FREYA ROSE

SO SASSI

NOVIALINEAD’ART RAFFAELLI MADELINE ISAAC-JAMES LYN ASHWORTH HOLLYWOOD DREAMS HALO & CO

POLLY EDWARDS

ALAN HANNAH RITVA WESTENIUS

JENNY PACKHAM

EMMA TINDLEY

ANOUSHKA G

CHIC

YARWOOD-WHITE

BABE

ELIZABETH STUART HARRIET WILDE

JESUS PEIRO

FARA

IVORY & CO

NYMPHI

MALIS HENDERSON

ANNASUL Y AUGUSTA JONES

WATTERS WE LOVE YU

YOLAN CRIS

TERRY FOX

RAIMON BUNDO NICKI MACFARLANE MIA MIA

DAISI DAISI LITTLE BEVAN

Image by Gemy Bridal

COUTURE VEILS

SADONI

19-21 MAY 2013 B AT T E R S E A PA R K , L O N D O N whitegallery.com