6a0120a65f64b9970c0154344579f5970c 580wi

The Love My Dress Summer Soiree ~ A Preview…

Good morning beautiful people 😉

I must apologise for the absence of the past two days of any new blog posts.  Every once in a while (and I mean, a very long while), one needs a little break from the daily blogging routine to focus on other things.  On this occasion, the focus has been a day spent reflecting on the most wonderful and decadent of evenings that occurred on Wednesday this week, when I hosted my very first UK wedding industry networking event, at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts – the ‘Love My Dress Summer Soiree’, if you will 😉

Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Katy Lunsford and Helen Russell

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

I hardly know where to even start to explain the experience to you, but for today, I’m going to use ‘incredible’.  And in every way, and on every level, it was just that. From the huge effort every single supplier and team member involved in preparing this event put in, to the lengths to which my many wonderful guests went out of their way to travel and glam up for an evening, to the love that has been shown on Twitter and beyond, not forgetting the absolutely peeeeeeerfect warm, hazy sunny Summer evening. The whole thing was frankly, out of this world.

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

This post is purely a teaser/preview and full post dedicated to all the many people and suppliers who helped make the Summer Soiree a roaring success will follow in the next few days, but in the meantime, a list of links to other blog features about the event is provided at the end.

That just leaves me to say, a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who believed that this event could, and would be a success, who made the effort to support me and my team, surprise me on the evening and make for one fantastically memorable occasion. 

You are all completely amazing and I so hope you had a wonderful time 🙂

These photographs were taken by my two official photographers for the evening, Katy Lunsford and Helen Russell.  Please follow them on Twitter @katylunsford and @Helen__Little

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

LeLuxe Clothing, Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011 

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Scarlett Daggers, Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

AVA Event Styling, The Boutique Baking Company, Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

AVA Event Styling, The Boutique Baking Company, Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

AVA Event Styling, The Boutique Baking Company, Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Vicky Butterly, Burlesque Dancer, Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Fonix Music, Jazz Trio, Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

Love My Dress Summer Soiree 2011

….. I simply can not WAIT to share the full set of images with you! 😉

In the meantime, you can take a peek at the accounts of the night from these other people too. I had to number the list.  Long bullet pointed lists are a bit of a pet-hate of mine! Sorry! 😉

 

(1)  This is soooooooo funny!!! Hehe!!! Sent in by Photographer’s Chris & Dani Barber, who were the most entertaining guests on the evening… 

(2)  I adore this review of the evening by Aisling of the Any Other Wedding Blog – thanks so much Aisling! I loved partying on with you into the wee hours, you were a hoot 😉 xXx

(3)  Film makers Mintyslippers wrote about their experience documenting the whole evening {and day preparing} on film. By the way, you can see the teeny tiny teaser film here. The full film will be published soon )

(4)   I love this honest and fabulously written account of the evening from Miss Bush Bridalwear owner, Emma Meek… 

(5)  The gorgeous Michelle from Pocketful of Dreams wrote about the evening. Michelle is a regular contributor to Love My Dress and responsible for most of these pretty bridal inspiration boards.

(6)   One of my official photographer’s Katy Lunsford looking simply divine

(7)  Blogger Anna And The Ring tells us who was wearing her favourite dress

(8)  Photographer Neda Larodi-Blake writes about her experience as a guest… 

(9)  Photographer Chris Hanley captured these stunning images 

(10)  The Archibald Photographer looked to have had lots of fun with Lindsay Fleming Couture 

(11)  The Snaparazzi photobooth images are online for all to see ;))) 

(12)  My amazing Illustrator Charlotte Thomson-Morley wrote about her road-trip up to Gateshead where she painted a live model, Burlesque dancer Scarlett Daggers, on the evening of the Soiree. Amazing!

(13)  Kate Fletcher from Vintage Style Hire whose gorgeous props helped decorate the evening, shares her photobooth images 😉

(14)  Dress designer Linda Davey of Dresses At No. 9 blogged about her time on the very glamorous Quayside that evening…

(15)    Charlie from the Fifties Weddings Blog talks about the fun had on the night – thanks Charlie! ;))

(16)     Blogger {and gorgeous Bride-to-be} ‘Love Audrey’ blogs about her evening – I am so glad I met this lady, she looked divine ;))

(17)      The gorgeous Elizabeth from wedding blog Bridal Musings shares her experience. Thank you Lizzy! 😉

(18)      Madison from The Pastel Pirate Wedding Blog also wrote about her excitement, what a delightful writeup, thanks so much! 😉

(19)  And one of my fave Bloggers Anna of Anna & the Ring blogged about THAT dress {no, it wasn’t mine 😉 xXx}…

(20)  Love My Dress {and hair, and makeup} hehehe 🙂 Thank you Joanne Linder at Vintage Twee

(21)  A most fabulous glamorous make-over for the evening!

(22)  Mr & Mrs Lawson, along with Tobiah Tayo and his beautiful wife looking absolutley beautiful

(23)  Blogger ‘Only Gorgeous Weddings’ recounts her Cinderella Night 😉

(24)  I adore these photographs, espesh the ones of you Jay ;))))  Thank you, people of Blue Sky Photography! 😉

(25)  Photographer Paul Joseph describes his view of the evening – thanks Paul, I love those booth pics ;))

(26)  Accessories Designer Nicola from Silver Sixpence in her shoe wrote of the fun she had, and need to change to ballet flats by the end of the night 😉 {GOD I know that feeling!!}

(27)  Bride to be Becca, and Miss Pickering Protoge, spills the contents of her goodie bag…

(28)  Online wedding giftlist company Zankyou blogged about their visit

(29)  Stationery Elle of Elle is for Love wrote about the process of preparing to attend the Soiree – this is such a fun blog post!

(30)  Wedding Designer and Co-ordinator Andri of ‘Always Andri’ wrote about her experience….

 

♥    ♥    ♥

 

If I have missed anything from this list, please email me on [email protected] and I’ll add today!

I’d love love love to hear back from those who were there on the evening, or those who perhaps couldn’t make it but could be persuaded to come next time.

And there will be a next time 😉

Annabel xXxXx

 

The Soiree Team

Photographers – Helen Russell & Katy Lunsford
Film Makers – Mintyslippers
Venue – The Riverside Terrace Suite, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts
Catering/Canapes/Cocktails – Fresh Element
Overall Concept, Styling & Co-ordination – Me + Kim Groves
Hero Of The Day/All-Round-Handyman – My Husband {Thank GOD for him!}
My Outfit – Once Upon a Time Design + Emmy + BHLDN + Forever Vintage + Kat Swank

Stylists – Severin  Hubert of Hepburn Collection + Lisa Jones
Flowers – Bel’s Flowers + By Appointment Only Design
Calligraphy + Signage – Paul Antonio
Entertainment – It’s A Windup! {Vintage 78 DJ’s} + Fonix Music {jazz trio} + El Bucko {DJ}
Illustrator – Charlotte Thomson-Morley
Burlesque Artist in Feather Boah – Scarlett Daggers
Photobooth – Snaparazzi
Vintage Props – Vintage Style Hire + AVA Event Styling + Event Prop Hire + Chic-Osity
Vintage Style Dessert Feature –  AVA Event Styling
Additional Popcakes – Popcake Kitchen
Flapper Dresses on Models – LeLuxe Clothing, via Vintage Teasets
Models – Emma, Eve and Zoe, c/o Hauterfly Events 
Burlesque Performance Artist –Vicky Butterfly
Sound & Light Expert – JM Pro Audio
Stage Draping & Swagging – Amanda Hearn
Masquerade Masks – Samantha Peach + some of my own paper masks from Cox & Cox
Name Tags – Purple Peacock Stationery + Sugalily
Instax/Polaroid Hire Cameras –  You Snap
The lady with a pen documenting everything – The Wedding Reporter

Lady with the huge beehive – Stacie Stewart 😉

Meet The Author