Wedding Workshop

• Do you love weddings?
• Do you live weddings?
• Do you want to make weddings your life?

Award winning Wedding Planners, Essentially You are sharing their knowledge, passion and expertise on all the things ‘wedding’.
In this one day workshop you will learn how to;

• Start out in the wedding industry
• Work with suppliers
• Pricing and consultations
• Build your business and your brand
• Get the most from PR & marketing
• Tips, tricks and a few industry secrets!

This exclusive ‘invitation only’ event will be led by one the industry’s leading ladies, Julie Tooby who has won Wedding Planner of the year for 2 years running. Alongside Julie will be Tamryn Kirby, author, journalist, broadcaster and acknowledged guru when it comes to weddings. Between them they over 12 years experience and have worked on more than 700 weddings.
So if you have ever considered a career as a wedding planner this is your opportunity to learn from the very best in the industry.
If you would like more information and for your personal invitation, please e-mail info@essentially-you.net , we look forward to hearing from you.
Essential Information

• Date: 8th May 2011
• Place: The Penta Hotel Reading
• Time: 9.30-4
• Cost: £185.00 lunch and take home packs provided.

Trends for 2011

As I sit here and look at all the weddings I have helped to create it has left me thinking about which new and exciting wedding trends will be coming our way in 2011.

I think that wedding colours will be bright with a hint of tropical fun such as oranges, emeralds, reds, violets and midnight/navy blues, but we will see slate greys and mochas to offset this for those a little nervous of a colour explosion.

Vintage themes will be big once again but perhaps less floral and more Hollywood glamour, with the vibrancies taken from the peacock feather and the exuberance of the art deco lines.

Something different for wedding cakes I think will be pop cakes. They can be used as after diner treats instead of mints or even easy take home pick me ups.

Moving on to wedding dresses, I think the romantic in us all will continue with organza paired with tulle and lace and textures that include crystals, layers and flowers. Also coming through are tea lengths and clean chic lines.

One thing's for sure, weddings later this year will be influenced by the important wedding we are celebrating on the 29th April. Yes Kate and her prince will map out what we will see for 2011/2012.

Article by Award Winning Wedding Planner Julie Tooby
First published by The Wedding Community

Fall In Love With A New Style Of Wedding Event

Sunday 27th March sees a brand new style of wedding event come to one of Berkshire’s most prestigious wedding venues. The Vineyard at Stockcross plays host to the first ‘Inspirational Wedding’ event organised by two multi award winning wedding experts and featuring the best suppliers in the area.

For brides fed up with the same old wedding fairs, this unique showcase event at The Vineyard will be a breath of fresh spring air. Informative workshops, makeovers, a West-End style fashion show from Award Wining Creatiques couture, design and theme inspiration and even interactive canapés and wine tasting from The Vineyard’s amazing chef and sommelier. The UK’s only ‘bridal coach’ will also be in attendance running sessions for brides throughout the day.

Organised by Julie Tooby, three times winner of the ‘Best Wedding Planner’ award at the Wedding Awards and Tamryn Kirby, twice winner of the same title and author of ‘Confessions of a Wedding Planner’ and ‘Tamryn Kirby’s Wedding Secrets’, you can be sure that you every need will be catered for at this event and everyone will leave loving your wedding plans.

The event opens at 10.30am and runs until 5pm. Entry is free but donations to charity are welcome.

Features of the Day:
• 3 Fabulous Fashion Shows (at 11.30am, 1pm & 3.30pm)
• Bridal Coaching (at 12.15pm & 1.45pm)
• Photography Workshops
• Floristry Workshop
• Planning Workshop
• Beauty Workshop
• Charity Raffle
• Wedding Design Zone
• Canapes & Wine Tasting
• Live Music & Magic
• Handpicked Suppliers
• Goodie Bags

NOTES:
For more information please contact Julie Tooby (07976 645480 or julie.tooby@essentially-you.net) and leave your details for your personal invitation

Creatiques an expression of style

18 years ago an amazing friendship was born and a true talent emerged. In a small town a girl was to be married and a then unknown designer was asked to help. Some stunning bridesmaids dresses were made with a flare and service that, for this young bride to be, was not seen elsewhere in the planning of her day. The night before the big day the bridesmaids excitedly decided to try yet again their dresses on and then disaster struck, one of the dresses was a bit tight, no fault of the designer but it was !! With a hint of panic the bride called the dressmaker and told him what had happened and with no hesitation he came to the house and fixed the problem with a smile. The next day went without hitch and the wedding party all looked amazing. So why am I telling you this ?? Well the bride that day was me and the designer was Mr Andrew West a rare and fantastic young man who went about life with zest and a determination to do things to perfection.

Sadly Mr West and I lost touch but thanks to a fabulous magazine called Wedding Ideas 17 years later we were to reunited and this time Mr West now Pearce was with his fabulous husband Rob and the two of them were running a Bridal Boutique in Southsea. Imagine my surprise when I heard of this not to mention further when I discovered we were both up for awards for being the best in the business at what we do.

Both of us won at the awards Creatiques for Retail and myself for Planner and so I decided to see if Andrew and Rob really were as good as their brides said and if the zest was still there. So last weekend off I went.

Creatiques though small is full of a warmth you cannot describe with an energy that lights the boutique. The boys run by appointment and so close the doors to all others whilst dealing with the very important client in front of them. Tea, coffee or bubbles? And they are off....

The time, care and attention to detail given to their clients is of extraordinary levels and it is easy to see why this boutique and it's owners won the award of Wedding Ideas ' Best Bridal Retailer 2011'.

Coming soon.... ' My Day at Creatiques and what went on at their Designer Show'


Words by Julie Tooby
www.creatiques.co.uk

Designer Wedding Show by Creatiques

The buzz is going on.

Be at the designer event of the year!!!

The Wedding Ideas Award Winning Bridal Retailer, Creatiques, will be at the Royal Beach Hotel on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th February for the Justin Alexander designer weekend, where you can see his new collection.

Also at the event will be Julie Tooby, from Essentially You - Director and 3 times award winning wedding planner, her expertise will make you realise that you may have never thought about a wedding planner, or on day coordinator but it really does take the pressure off of your day and simply is one of life's little luxuries you CAN afford.

We are also very pleased and lucky to announce that the gorgeous Pippa from Wedding Ideas magazine will be joining us on Sunday, come and meet Pippa and pick up the latest copy of the top selling bridal magazine but be quick as she will run out very quickly- it is the nations favourite!

Also appearing is some of the amazing talent the city of Portsmouth has to offer - Emma from Eden Florist will show you that there is more to flowers than flowers, its art.

Don't forget, if you can't make the show or simply want another look, you can view and try on the collection during the week after the show. The collection leaves the boutique on Friday 11th February, so book early to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to seeing you over the weekend, or by appointment at the boutique.

www.creatiques.co.uk

We did it again!!

3rd time in a row for Essentially You, voted UK's Best Wedding Planner 2011

The day is Friday the 14th January 2011, I've got my new shoes, evening gown and lipgloss on. I'm wearing a stunning hairpiece and necklace from Tantrums & Tiaras and I'm ready to go.

The venue is the Brewery in London, the Event - The Wedding Ideas Awards, an accredited yearly ceremony where the creme de la creme of the wedding industry gather and are recognised for their work by the public.

As I enter the room it is adorned by glitz and glamour and a buzz of excitement mixed with anticipation. As I mingle and sip champagne with the finest and most knowledgeable wedding guru's the enormity of the event hits me and I am so proud that Essentially You has been voted to the finals by all our fabulous couples, their friends and family and fellow suppliers.

After a lavish meal it's on to the awards, first up, the lovely Rachel Southwood, owner of Wedding Ideas Magazine who introduces the beautiful Jenni Falconer and then we are off. As I sit with a nervousness over me the category for "Best Wedding Planner" is announced by talented florist Emma Lappin, she reads out the 5 worthy finalist.... and then it happens "and the winner is ESSENTIALLY YOU" I cannot believe it.

As I walk to the stage to be met by the glamour upon it, I take a quick look around the room to see smiling faces and I am humbled that we have again be given such an accolade.

A massive thank you to all the brides, grooms, guests and fellow industry lovies that voted, without you we are nothing.

A round of applause to the nations favourite wedding magazine which goes from strength to strength celebrating all that is great in the world of weddings- a fantastic day that will be hard to top, well done team giraffe.

Lastly a thank you from the bottom of my heart to my family, children and wonderful husband who supports myself and Essentially You in all that we do and endeavor to achieve.

Article by Julie Tooby
www.TantrumsandTiaras.org
www.emmalappinflowers.com
www.weddingideasmag.com

Wedding Awards 2011

LOCAL FIRM SHORTLISTED AS FINALIST FOR THE 2011 WEDDING IDEAS AWARDS

Essentially You has been shortlisted in the Wedding Planner category of The 2011 Wedding Ideas Awards, the UK's only consumer wedding awards, voted for by readers of the UK's best selling monthly wedding title. The awards acknowledge the very best companies who deliver fabulous products for every bridal budget, coupled with exceptional customer service. There are 16 categories and there have been in excess of 8,000 nominations this year. It's been a record, recession-busting year in every way – for the awards, the magazine and the parent company – Giraffe Media Ltd.

The awards will be presented at a glittering awards ceremony at The Brewery by the Barbican in London on Friday the 14th of January 2011 , following a Champagne Reception and a delicious three course lunch. The evening will be hosted by TV presenter Jenni Falconer, entertainment by Andy Abraham and over 200 leading names from the bridal industry are expected to attend.

Rachel Morgan, the editor of Wedding Ideas magazine, explains the significance
of the awards:

"The 6th annual Wedding Ideas Awards will see la creme de la creme of the UK's wedding industry honoured for their work with real-life brides – the people who matter! Many of the nominees work with us anyway, and we are especially delighted that these people have been recognised for their brilliance, in these tough times and considering just how many nominations we had this year. We send our congratulations to Essentially You for being nominated for one of these prestigious awards."

For more information please contact Julie Tooby on 07976 645480 or julie.tooby@essentially-you.net

The winners will be announced in the Wedding Ideas Awards Special issue, on sale on the 26th of January 2011, available from all good newsagents and supermarkets. For more information on the Wedding Ideas awards please contact rachel@weddingideasmag.com or go to www.weddingideasawards.com. Follow The Wedding Ideas Awards 2011 on Facebook.