AND THE BRIDE WORE VINTAGE

AS TIME GOES BY

2010-10-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

Last night's Living Vintage Fashion Show at the Mourne Golf Club in Newcastle showed the true romance of a vintage gown - the perfect choice for the bride who wants to channel her inner Grace Kelly.

More images of fabulous vintage dresses from the show will be added to our Frock Around The Clock blog this week.

A REAL GEM!

2010-09-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

Diamond Dolls at Dream Jewels of Moira currently has a sale on wedding dresses with dramatic reductions! Owner, Brenda, has a great eye for all things gorgeous and glamorous and her boutique is one of Northern Ireland's best kept secrets. Divine vintage dresses, jewels, hats and bags sit alongside contemporary designer pieces in the art deco style surroundings, dazzling visitors at every turn.

Brenda's wedding dress collection is a mix of vintage and vintage-style new gowns at very attractive prices, and is offset to perfection by the vast range of vintage headpieces, jewellery, gloves, and hand-crafted tiaras and fascinators by local designers.

If you are searching for something really extraordinary for your wedding or other special occasion, Diamond Dolls at Dream Jewels should be your first stop. Brenda sources her stock from all across the globe and her care and attention shows in every detail of her gorgeous boutique and vintage collection.

Diamond Dolls at Dream Jewels is located at 84 Main Street, Moira, BT67 0LQ. Contact Brenda on 02892619279 / 07752891140 or by email to info@diamonddollsdreamjewels.com.

The website http://www.diamonddollsdreamjewels.com/ is coming soon!

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

2010-08-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

Check out the website of The Vintage Goldsmith, specialists in vintage-inspired jewellery who are committed to providing unique pieces at any budget.

Based in Northern Ireland, The Vintage Goldsmith sells both vintage-inspired fine jewellery and upcycled genuine vintage jewellery whereby a genuine vintage piece is returned to new condition and kept true to the original design.

You can view a portfolio of their current collection on the website, and also in their Etsy shop.

2010-07-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the long delay in posting - things have been hectic since the Vintage Bridal Fair on 13th June, but I'm getting back into my stride. I anticipate that I will be holding the event again next summer so will continue to bring lots of alternative wedding ideas to this blog in the meantime.

Well, you have probably already read my earlier posts about Sharon Hay from Innocent Chaos introducing her vintage brooch bouquets to an adoring public at the Vintage Bridal Fair. These little darlings are proving to be very popular with brides and Sharon has been coming up with lots more ideas on the theme.

You can now keep up to date with her creations at her own blog http://innocent-chaos-jewellery.blogspot.com/. Check out the bouquet that she made using only vintage butterfly brooches. She is now in the process of of creating one that features vintage cameos and I can't wait to see the finished design.

Sharon will be appearing at our next Vintage Sunday at the Empire -

Sunday 1st August, 12 - 4.30pm at the Empire Music Hall, Botanic Avenue, Belfast. Admission £2.

NICE DAY FOR A WHITE WEDDING

2010-06-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

600 visitors flocked to Ireland's first Vintage Bridal Fair last Sunday, 13th June at Malone House in Belfast and were treated to some fabulously unique bridal exhibits. From vintage wedding gowns and accessories to jewellery, tiaras and fascinators, as well as unusual creations such as bouquets made from vintage brooches, there was everything that the modern bride could possibly need to create a vintage style wedding.

Here are some images from the day:

We will be posting less regularly now, until we decide on a date for future vintage bridal fairs. However, you can keep up to date with our other vintage events and goings-on at http://frockaroundtheclockvintagefairs.blogspot.com/

FROCK ME

2010-06-11T02:23:00.000-07:00

There will be frocks galore at our Vintage Bridal Fair this Sunday - vintage bridal gowns, prom dresses, evening gowns, and day dresses for special occasions.

Bang Boutique have sourced a large selection of old shop stock which includes a number of fabulous 1950s and 60s dresses, all with original tags attached. Perfect if you are looking for a unique dress to wear to a wedding, a garden party, day at the races or for afternoon tea with your girlfriends.

Other items in the Bang Boutique collection will include 1950s satin bullet bras with matching suspender belts, again in unworn condition with original tags attached, and stockings in original packaging.

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Bridal Fair will take place on Sunday 13th June at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Malone Road, Belfast from 12 - 5pm. Admission costs £5 and there will be goodie bags for the first 100 lucky ladies to visit the event.

GOODIES! GOODIE GOODIE YUM YUM!

2010-06-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

The first 100 lucky ladies to visit our Vintage Bridal Fair this Sunday will receive a goodie bag containing free gifts and a multitude of discount vouchers which can be used against wedding stationery, cakes, flowers, gowns, jewellery and much more!

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Bridal Fair will take place on Sunday 13th June at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Malone Road, Belfast from 12 - 5pm. Admission costs £5 and there will be goodie bags for the first 100 lucky ladies to visit the event.

PEARLY QUEENS

2010-06-09T01:03:00.000-07:00

The pearl has long been a symbol of unblemished perfection which makes it the ideal jewellery choice for weddings as they signify innocence and purity. On the wedding day, pearl jewellery is traditionally presented by the Father of the Bride or the Groom to symbolise love, virtue, spirituality and prosperity. They also make lovely gifts for the bridesmaids.

Another beauty of pearls is that they can be worn time and time again after the wedding day as they are a classic fashion accessory (think Coco Chanel) and usually form part of every woman's jewelry collection. Symbolising a girl's past, present and future they are often passed down from one generation to the next.

You can expect to find pearl jewellery and accessories in all shapes, sizes and designs at the Frock Around The Clock Vintage Bridal Fair this Sunday from a variety of designers and sellers. Here is a sneak preview:

Cream pearls by Sharon Hay @ Innocent Chaos

Pearl and watch pendant necklace by Sharon Hay @ Innocent Chaos

Hair accessory by Fionnuala Eastwood @ Fionedesign

PIN UP BRIDES

2010-06-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

Burlesque classes are a fantastic way to have fun and let your hair down with the girls, so what better activity could there be for a hen party to celebrate female solidarity? Whistle Bait Babies, Northern Ireland's premier burlesque troupe, come to the rescue with their fabulous classes teaching the beautiful art of burlesque!

Whistle Bait Babies burlesque classes are suitable for all women regardless of age, shape and size, and there is no nudity involved. The fabulous Pixie will teach you how to pose, strut and shimmy, some basic chair dance techniques, how to remove your gloves and stockings seductively, and a number of other little tricks to boost your body-confidence and delight your loved one on your wedding night.

Image © Whistle Bait Babies

You can meet Pixie at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June to discuss your requirements and book your hen party. Come along to Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Belfast from 12 Noon to 5pm. Admission costs £5 and there will be goodie bags for the first 100 lucky lady visitors.

IN THE MOOD

2010-06-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Mood Event Decoration will be exhibiting at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June, providing you with highly creative and inspirational solutions to venue decoration and styling. They create boutique themes with innovative centrepieces, striking room decor and exquisite table styling all to suit your individual style and budget, ensuring that every detail of your special day is perfect.

We are loving these vintage-chic style birdcages which make beautiful table centrepieces. Other centrepieces available for hire include table top chandeliers, candelabras, apothecaries, luminaries and illuminated vases, to name but a few. Mood Event Decoration can also provide a bespoke service for table centrepieces and styling - visit their stand on 13th June to discuss your wedding reception requirements.

Images © Mood Event Decoration

A POCKET FULL OF POSIES

2010-06-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

The bridal bouquet is one of the best-loved wedding accessories; the size, shape and composition having changed as often as fashions for the wedding gown. And now it is time for something completely different with a beautiful bridal bouquet made from vintage brooches and other treasures. Totally unique, eco-friendly and utterly gorgeous, these works of art will never lose their blooms and will remain a beautiful keepsake of your wedding day forever.

These one of a kind Bridal Brooch Bouquets are designed and created by Sharon Hay from Innocent Chaos, and are handcrafted from new and vintage brooches, pins and earrings arranged together to give your wedding ensemble that extra bit of Vintage gorgeousness! Sharon will create a Bridal Brooch Bouquet to order using a design and a colour scheme of your choice, and can incorporate your own sentimental treasured jewellery into the piece to complete the time-honoured something old, something new, something borrowed something blue tradition.

Something tells us that you won't want to be tossing your bouquet at the end of the Big Day!

Gentlemen’s buttonholes and Flower Girl bouquets are also available on request. The range is available at http://www.innocentchaos.co.uk/, Atelier Belfast and of course at Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fairs! Sharon's Bridal Brooch Bouquets will be making their debut at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June, where you can visit the Innocent Chaos stand to discuss your bouquet requirements.

TEA PARTY

2010-06-02T02:08:00.000-07:00

Vintage china teacups and cakestands have made something of a big comeback in recent times, what with our love and adoration for cupcakes and other retro sweet-treats but, for some of us, vintage china never went out of fashion as it is definitely true that a cup of tea tastes best when served in a china cup! It is time to rediscover the joy of an old fashioned tea party.

With pretty chintzy patterns and delicate little handles requiring them to be held elegantly in a dainty little hand, it is no wonder that vintage teacups have become the choice of the modern bride to add a vintage touch to the wedding proceedings. I met one bride-to-be recently who was buying up all the vintage teapots that she could lay her hands on as she was planning an 'Alice in Wonderland' themed wedding!

Tea Party will be exhibiting at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June with a beautiful selection of vintage china teasets, cakestands, glassware and linens - perfect for creating a vintageously elegant table setting! And why not make your way to the Ani & Lulu's Cupcakery stand to purchase some deliciously decadent frosted cakes to go with your china? (if you can manage not to eat them on the way home!)

Or what about one of these cake stands made from vintage cups and saucers by the very talented Sharon Hay of Innocent Chaos? They also make wonderful jewellery display stands - a great idea for bridesmaid gifts!

GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME!

2010-06-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

There is nothing quite like the elegant styling of a classic or vintage car, which makes them the perfect choice of wedding transport for the vintage bride.

Classic Dreams offer a dedicated personalised wedding car hire service using original classic cars, helping your wedding day run like a dream. Choose a stunning 1964 Bentley in a light champagne colour with red leather, carpets and polished walnut interior to add a real presence to your photographs, or a 1955 Riley RME with two tone bodywork, black over white, a dark tan leather interior and a fantastic art deco dashboard. Or how about a 1969 Daimler Saloon in old english white with red leather interior and lots of chrome?

Classic Dreams dress their cars with fresh flowers for every wedding, which come as a simple white arrangement or can be colour coded to your requirements, and for the Bride and Groom champagne is provided for the trip from the ceremony to the reception, all provided at no extra cost.

You can visit Classic Dreams at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June to view a selection of their cars and discuss your wedding transport requirements. The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Bridal Fair will take place on Sunday 13th June at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Malone Road, Belfast from 12 - 5pm. Admission costs £5 and there will be goodie bags for the first 100 visitors.

VINTAGE INSPIRATION

2010-05-31T03:31:00.000-07:00

So, you are inspired by a certain era and know exactly what you want your wedding gown to look like but you can't find a vintage original - what is a girl to do? A beautifully designed and hand made vintage-inspired gown could be the answer, so we are lucky to have Lizzie Agnew exhibiting at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June.

Inspired by some of fashion's most glamorous eras, Lizzie Agnew designs and makes beautiful vintage style gowns and dresses from her studio and award winning boutique, Atelier, in Queen's Arcade, Belfast. Since attending St. Martin's School of Art in London, Lizzie has spent over 20 years designing and creating beautiful garments, her work has appeared in numerous publications including The Guardian and The Irish Independent. She offers a unique design service and by working closely with the client can create a fabulous gown for any occasion.

Whether it's a wedding dress, evening gown, or just a gorgeous frock Lizzie's beautiful designs, and her use of luxurious fabrics such as fine silk dupion, shantung, taffeta and velvet will make any woman feel sensational in a classisc garment which can be treasured for years to come.

Also very popular are Lizzie's 'Dresses To Go'. These pure silk, vintage style, wrap dresses are available in a wide range of colours. If you have a particular colour in mind, Lizzie can make up a special order for you - perfect for bridesmaids! There are three parts: a 50's style tiered petticoat, fully lined silk skirt & matching bandeau bodice. Size is not an issue! It will fit most figures - from size 8 to 14 - and as with the colour, sizes outside this range can be made to order.

ALRIGHT PETAL

2010-05-28T05:10:00.000-07:00

Wedding flower specialists The Camomile Lawn offer old-fashioned, friendly customer service so we are happy to have them exhibiting at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June.

Florist Carolyn Webb prides herself on attention to details; tied with her artistic flair, experience, passion and drive, you are sure to receive flowers of an exceptional standard. Whether you desire wedding flowers that have a vintage feel or are cutting-edge contemporary, Carolyn will assist you in achieving the look that you have always dreamt of.

Telephone 07988865662 to arrange a wedding consultation - a warm welcome awaits you!

The first 100 lucky ladies to visit our vintage bridal event will receive a goodie bag which will contain a voucher entitling them to 10% off the total value of any wedding flowers booked with The Camomile Lawn before 31st December 2010!

HEAVENLY BODIES

2010-05-26T03:16:00.000-07:00

Every bride wants to enhance her natural beauty and radiance on her wedding day, with many indulging in several well-deserved pampering and beauty sessions before the big day. With this in mind Beauty Haven will be offering tasters of some of their popular treatments at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June.

Ladies visiting the event will be able to avail of free indepth skin analysis using the Beauty Haven skin scanner. Also available will be arm and hand exfoliation and mini manicures. Perfect for making hands beautiful in readiness for close-up photographs of the rings!

In addition to this the first 100 lucky ladies to visit the event will receive a goodie bag which contains a voucher entitling them to 20% off any beauty treatment at the Beauty Haven salon on Stranmillis Road, Belfast.

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Bridal Fair will take place on Sunday 13th June at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Malone Road, Belfast from 12 - 5pm. Admission costs £5 and there will be goodie bags for the first 100 visitors.

HOUSE OF CARDS

2010-05-24T01:21:00.000-07:00

Sunday 13th June is not just the date of Ireland’s first ever Vintage Bridal Fair - it is also the first big outing for Arbee Cards Wedding & Occasion Stationery, a brand new company specialising in custom-made invitations and vintage-inspired designs.

Owner & designer Rachel has over 10 years experience in designing & creating invitations, at first just for family and friends’ weddings, engagements and other celebrations, but word of mouth spread and demand grew until Arbee Cards was formed in Spring 2010. Arbee Cards believe that every bride and groom deserve something uniquely theirs to celebrate their special day. Rachel says 'that’s why we only do custom designs for each wedding, with the design inspired by and always remaining unique to that couple. We pride ourselves on making beautiful, unusual, quirky or elegant stationery and work with all styles and all budgets. We really love the chance to design something more unusual, or we have plenty of great ideas if you just don’t know what you want! Come and have a chat with us at the Fair'.

Arbee specialise in vintage-inspired design, with much of Rachel’s inspiration coming from her collections of vintage magazines, photographs and old haberdashery buttons and bows. A new range of vintage-inspired greetings cards will also be on sale at the Fair, plus a special discount voucher and complimentary gift for all the lucky goodie bag holders.

Email: hello@arbeecards.co.uk
Web: http://www.arbeecards.co.uk/
Blog: http://www.arbeecards.blogspot.com/

THE LADY IS A VAMP

2010-05-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

We all want to look seductive on our wedding night, and let's face it the old towelling dressing gown is just not going to cut the mustard! There is nothing quite as sexy as the lingerie worn by the stars of the silver screen in the days when slinky gowns in luscious silks and satin trimmed with decadent lace and frou frou frills accentuated womanly curves rather than revealing too much naked flesh.

With the current revived fascination for pin-up glamour it is only natural that our love of vintage clothing extend to the boudoir, and with this in mind Elayne McNicholl of Revamp has sourced a selection of deadstock luxury nightwear and lingerie from the 1930s to the 1970s to bring to our Vintage Bridal Fair. Perfect for the wedding night, honeymoon, and for simply lounging around the house while your loved one admires and adores you.

Revamp will also be selling vintage wedding gowns, veils and accessories, bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, mother of the bride outfits and 'alternative' wedding dresses. Or how about this vintage girdle to give you a svelte outline under your gown?

THINK PINK

2010-05-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

Choosing wedding stationery is an important decision for brides in the preparation for the big day. The wedding invitation is the formal announcement to guests of the impending nuptials, and it sets the scene for the ceremony and reception. The chosen design not only reflects the personality and style of the happy couple but it also usually indicates whether the wedding is going to be a lavish affair or a more relaxed occasion. In other words, the wedding invitation is the first glimpse that your guests will have of your special day and you will probably want your wedding stationery to be as perfect as your bridal gown. Certainly, with all the choice that is out there, choosing your invitiations can be just as difficult as choosing your dress!

We will have three very different exhibitors of wedding and occasion stationery at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June, all of whom make delightfully romantic handcrafted cards.

First of all you are invited to step out of the ordinary and into the unique…

Into the world of Pink Elephant Cards, a world where heartfelt sentiments come wrapped in sumptuous satin bows, paper butterflies and a sprinkle of glitter. By choosing Pink Elephant Cards for your special occasion you will be supporting the training towards employment of people with learning disabilities/difficulties.

Wedding stationery and cards for all occasions are designed and created at Stepping Stones - a Lisburn based organisation who provide training and support to enable people with learning difficulties / disabilities to fulfil their work potential.

For more information, visit their website http://www.stepping-stones.org.uk/ or contact them at the following address:

Pink Elephant Cards
Stepping Stones N.I. Ltd
39 Seymour Street
Lisburn
BT27 4SY

T. 028 9266 7124

E. pinkelephant@stepping-stones.org.uk

THE LOOK OF LOVE

2010-05-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

Claire McEvoy is one of Ireland's top make-up artists and we are proud to have her on the Frock Around The Clock beauty team. Having worked regularly on magazine photo shoots, fashion shows and advertising campaigns she has a vast commercial portfolio, but is also in great demand for occasion and wedding make-up.

Claire will be available at our Vintage Bridal Fair on 13th June for make-up application and advice, and to help you design a signature make-up look for your wedding day, or other special occasion. Brides are radiant with love on their wedding day but professional make-up will enhance that natural beauty, creating a flawless finish that will be caught on photographic film and video. Claire's experience at creating beauty looks for the camera will ensure that the bride's beauty is captured to perfection for the wedding album. Here are a few of the looks that she created for our vintage bridal photoshoot.

BAND OF GOLD

2010-05-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

We recently featured Jennifer Robinson of Robinson Goldsmiths on our Frock Around The Clock blog when we fell in love with her vintage stamp jewellery http://frockaroundtheclockvintagefairs.blogspot.com/2010/05/stamp-duty.html.

We are pleased to announce that she will be appearing at our Vintage Bridal Fair on 13th June when she will be exhibiting a beautiful range of antique gold jewellery. Wearing a piece of history on your wedding day takes care of the 'Something Old' in the well known adage that we all like to honour to bring good luck to the proceedings. A piece of antique jewellery also makes a lovely and unique gift for a bridesmaid.

The award winning family run jewellery business also specialise in sculptured wedding rings to fit any shape of engagement ring. There will be a goodie bag for the first 100 lucky ladies to arrive at the Vintage Bridal Fair which will include a voucher entitling them to 15% off wedding rings and £10 off Rhodium plating at Robinson Goldsmiths, so those in search of a band of gold should make sure to stop by Jennifer's stand.

FASCINATION

2010-05-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Fionnuala Eastwood of Fionedesign will be exhibiting her bridal headwear at our Vintage Bridal Fair on Sunday 13th June. Inspired by a fascination of old Hollywood movies, and incorporating the use of vintage textiles in her creations, Fione Designs are the perfect choice for the vintage-style bride.

Visit Fionnuala's website http://www.fionedesign.com/ for more details and designs.

Visit http://www.northernirelandvintage.com/ for more details.

HAIR COMES THE BRIDE

2010-05-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Looking for inspiration for a vintage hairstyle for your wedding or other special occasion? Kelly McLean of Ashby Hair will be in attendance at Ireland's first Vintage Bridal Fair, allowing you to indulge in the glamour and decadence of days gone by. Whether you want to create an era-specific hairdo to complement a period gown, or you just want to add some pin-up star glamour to your bridal beauty look, Kelly will discuss ideas with you and create a tailor-made hair design to suit your individuality and style.

Kelly is the resident hair artist for Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fairs and has worked on various vintage-style photoshoots including AU Magazine, Mid-Ulster's Next Top Model, and has been featured on Radio Ulster's Saturday Magazine. Here are some styles that she created for our recent vintage bridal photoshoot.

Vintage bridal-wear by Decadence

Hair by Kelly McLean

Make-up by Claire McEvoy

Photography by Ryan Wilson

I SHOULD KOKO

2010-05-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Appearing at Ireland's first Vintage Bridal Fair this June is Koko Designs. Applied artist Karen O'Kane will be selling her beautiful handpainted evening bag designs which she not only creates in vintage styles of the 1920s - 1950s but also handcrafts them from upcycled fabrics and trimmings of the period. Each bag is handpainted by Karen, ensuring that each piece is completely individual.

These colourful and delicate designs are perfect not only for special occasions, but also for everyday use as they are much too exquisite to hide away.

For a preview of what to expect at our Vintage Bridal Fair, visit Karen's website www.kokodesigns.ie

Wristlet bag with detachable corsage - image © Karen O'Kane

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Bridal Fair takes place on Sunday 13th June at Malone House, Belfast. Visit http://www.northernirelandvintage.com/ for more information.

LOVE IN A CUP

2010-04-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

Food is an especially important element of wedding hospitality and the wedding cake surely has to be the centrepiece of the wedding feast. The traditional wedding cake in Ireland for most people until recent years has been a fruitcake iced with marzipan and royal icing; the richness of the cake thought to symbolise fertility and future prosperity for the happy couple. Sharing the wedding cake with others was said to signify the bride and groom sharing their happiness with others, and there is an old wives tale that would lead us to believe that if we sleep with our slice of the wedding cake under our pillow then we will dream of our future spouse. Another Irish wedding tradition states that if the bride doesn't have a good relationship with her mother-in-law, then this can be rectified by the mother-in-law crumbling the first slice of cake over the bride's head!

Not everyone actually likes rich fruit cake which could account for a shift towards more contemporary cakes as the bride's choice for her wedding, and the cupcake is a popular alternative as they not only make a spectacular wedding display, but their size also makes them ideal for wedding favours. Although the cupcake phenomenon seems to be a relatively new arrival to Ireland, these sweet little treats have actually been around since the early 19th century. Maybe their popularity with adults is that these diminutive little confections remind us of childhood, and nostalgic memories of apron-clad mothers or grandmothers allowing us to lick the spoon make us feel all warm and fuzzy. Their connotations of nostalgia make them the perfect choice for vintage events, and for this reason our cake exhibitor at the forthcoming Vintage Bridal Fair will be Ani and Lulu's Cupcakery.

Ani & Lulu's create spectacular wedding solutions to make your wedding unique and even more special. They can create a a beautiful tower of cupcakes tailor-made to suit your requirements and you can give as much or as little guidance as you like. To create a sophisticated and stylish look they can also supply a top-tier cake in keeping with the tradition of the happy couple cutting the cake. Their muffin-sized cupcakes are available in a multitude of colours to suit your bridal theme and can be topped with a range of sprinkles, edible pearls and diamonds, photo cupcake toppers, fondant or even fresh flowers.

At Ani and Lulu's the cupcakes are also available in mini sizes, or giant to sit atop of a tiered stand. They can be gift boxed and tied with ribbon to be used as favors or as table centerpieces. They have a range of flavours on their classic and luxury menus but also take requests for your favourite flavours. For guests with a particularly sweet tooth there is also the option of a retro candy bar filled with chocolates and candies. Not only will this be the talking point of the day, it also acts as an attractive room decoration with colours matching your bridal theme and is a good substitute for wedding favours.

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Bridal Fair takes place on Sunday 13th June at Malone House, Belfast from 12 Noon to 5pm.

ANGEL DELIGHT

2010-04-01T06:22:00.000-07:00

We are excited to have the first release of images from our Vintage Bridal photoshoot, and they are stunning! Our beautiful models show off the timeless elegance of the vintage gowns to perfection. I will let the photos do the talking.

Photography by Ryan Wilson
Hair by Kelly McLean
Make-up by Claire McEvoy
Vintage bridal gowns by Decadence

Lucy wears a 1940's beaded satin gown with train

Marabou feather bolero is my own and head piece is hand made by Kathryn McLean

Susan wears a 1930's ivory panne velvet gown

Una wears a 1950's lace dress, pearl necklace and hair clip from Decadence

Watch this space for more coming soon!

LIFTING THE VEIL

2010-03-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

The photoshoot in preparation for our forthcoming Vintage Bridal Fair took place yesterday at Ashby Hair on Stranmillis Road, Belfast. The salon was taken over by 5 models, a photographer, hair stylist, make up artist and wardrobe mistress. Fuelled by endless cups of tea, the odd Ulster Fry, Cadbury's Creme Eggs, and chocolate cake we worked hard and had great fun. The models were stunning and the creative team of Ryan the photographer, Kelly the hair stylist and Claire the make up artist was fabulous. Here is a wee taster of the day, but you will have to wait until next week before the end result is unveiled. It will be worth it, I promise!

QUEST FOR THE DRESS

2010-03-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

Every bride wants to look beautiful on her wedding day. Maybe she knows exactly what she wants, or maybe she will take many months in the search for her dream dress, but at the end of the day she wants to look and feel special. What counts is that every woman is unique and deserves a dress like no other.

A vintage wedding dress is just as individual as you are. It wont have been seen on the catwalk or hanging on the rails in a bridal boutique. It will guarantee that the wearer looks truly original on her unforgettable day.

Our Vintage Bridal Fair will be like no other bridal fair that you have visited. We are just as unique as you are. Vive la differénce!

SAVE THE DATE

2010-03-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

What could be more memorable than the timeless romance of wearing a vintage gown on the most important day of a girl's life? Our Vintage Bridal Fair has been especially created for blushing brides who want to wear something completely original on their wedding day so whether you are looking for the perfect wedding gown, a beautiful bridesmaid's dress or a stunning outfit for the mother of the bride, this is one special occasion you don't want to miss.

We will have perfect outfits and ideas for the bridal party and guests. Everything from traditional and alternative vintage wedding gowns, special occasion dresses, accessories, jewellery and vanity items to vintage-themed hair and beauty, cakes, flowers, cards, transportation and everything else you need for inspiration.

What's more, in the run up to the big day (13th June) we will be bringing you, via this blog, tips and ideas for adding vintage glamour to your wedding day.

WEDDING BELLES

2010-03-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

Ireland's first Vintage Bridal Fair takes place on Sunday 13th June 2010 at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Belfast.

Around 40 exhibitors selling traditional and alternative vintage bridal gowns, special occasion wear, accessories and jewellery, combined with hair, make-up and beauty treatments, wedding car hire, cakes, wedding stationery, flowers and photography, all with a vintage theme, will provide inspiration and ideas for the vintage bride, bridesmaids, mother of the bride and guests.

Watch this space for more details coming soon.