Country Garden Tea Party

Hi everyone,
To accompany our current 'Country Garden Feature' in Buzz Magazine we have put together an afternoon tea party window. Last week, I met a lady from Vintage Camelia who hires out fantastic vintage china and tableware for weddings and parties. She has absolutely loads of fabulous things so if you are thinking about hosting your own garden tea party but don't have the time to hunt round all those vintage and charity shops looking for good pieces, then give Charlotte a call or visit the website at www.vintagecamelia.co.uk.

She has kindly loaned me a few pieces for my window display and along with my cake from www.thelittlethatchamcakecompany.co.uk it makes for a great display. Add to the mix, the brilliant new Luccia from Charlotte Balbier (which only came in on Friday but has caused quite a stir in the window already) and you have a picnic fit for a princess!

Come and have a look yourself and try on the new Luccia. She has a very unsual circ 1930s esque neckline with a lovely lace skirt and a very glamourous organza train which comes out from the waist. She has spent more time off the mannequin (and upstairs being tried on of late!) so come and be one of the first to try her!

The beautiful Luccia by Charlotte Balbier £1299

Mrs Jones x

Buzz Magazine New Feature

Hi Everyone,

I am very pleased to share with you something I have been working on with a few colleagues!

Buzz Magazine is a local community magazine circulated to circ 40,000 homes in the Newbury area but also available in Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsburys and other local shops and businesses. I have been working on a regular column for the magazine and the first is out now! I got together with couple of wedding colleagues who offer excellent service and quality to write a feature on all things weddings....

There will be a different topic for each edition and the three of us will write from our different perspectives; myself regarding the dress, Karen from Allium Design re flowers and Lesley at Memories Thru a Lens for all things photography! The aim is to share our experiences and ideas and give a little bit of inspiration to those planning a forthcoming wedding!

Our first topic was all about creating a very 'English Garden Wedding' and unsurprisingly I wrote about lace dresses and how to create that soft boho look!

I hope you like it - next one is out in November!

Mrs Jones x

 

Sample Sale Update and Another Royal Wedding!

Hi all,
After a successful (and tiring!) sample sale weekend I am pleased to report things went very well. We had a record number of girls through the doors as Carly and I were fully booked all day Saturday (and then some!). Thanks to everyone that came down. We also opened Sunday (our first) and this was fully booked all day too! I even had to ask Mr Jones to help out getting our brides drinks and nibbles!

Due to the high demand, we will be extending our sale for another two weeks. There are still quite a few bargains to be had including some of the Caroline Parkes dresses and some Amanda Wyatt so do give us a call or pop in to make an appointment and/or look round. After the 2 weeks we will be removing the samples so please don't leave it too long if you are planning a visit!

So, another Royal Wedding this weekend and this time it was the Queen's grand-daughter Zara Phillips to Mike Tindall. Although I was very busy working, I made time to look at the photos of course!

Stewart Parvin was the chosen designer this time (the Queen's favourite who recently achieved the Royal Warrant of Appointment as Her Majesty’s couturier) so I suppose it is no great surprise. A thoroughly charming guy (I met him in May) and he has a great eye for detail with his signature style being simply cut dresses in fabulous sumptuous fabrics. Zara's dress reflected this - well cut, classic and simple with silk tulle shoulder straps  and quite an exquisite skirt. Take a look at his blog excerpt on the day of the wedding
http://bridal.stewartparvin.com/blog/30th-july-2011


'Officially released' photo - BBC News

Love this photo of Zara and Mike Tindall. They both look so relaxed and in love! Zara's dress was very 'her' - unfussy yet exquisitely cut in a sumptuous duchess silk satin - perfect for a 'down to earth' and 'gutsy' princess! The Queen also wore Parvin - a pale pink jacket and hat which looked simply stunning!

We wish Mr and Mrs Tindall all the best and congratulations to Stewart on a fabulous dress which will firmly cement him as the bridal designer for those wanting impeccable style and quality. Apparently it cost just £7000, so relatively accessible, and certainly a snip compared to Kate's £250K McQueen!

Mrs Jones x

Super Sample Sale - this weekend! More dresses...

Morning all,
I am very excited about our first sample sale this weekend. Not least because we have a large number of sample dresses in excellent condition at discounted prices but also because we have some new additions to the sale!

To make room for some new collections we have decided to sell off 15 samples. These are sold as seen (ie you buy the dress in the shop) but as they are mostly 2011 collections and only been in our shop max 8 months they are in excellent condition! They are available in a range of sizes and any alterations needed will be carried out by one of our excellent seamstresses! As well as those advertised in the previous blog, there are a few further teasers below so make sure you come down early or better still book yourself an appointment!

In addition to our Amanda Wyatt, Charlotte Balbier, Benjamin Roberts and Blue samples I am delighted to announce that we will have some very special Caroline Parkes Couture samples... Caroline Parkes is an established designer who up until recently had our own workrooms and showroom on the Fulham Rd in London. She studied at Hardy Amies on Saville Row and has had a very successful career designing fabulous bridal gowns for all sorts of clients including some very prestigious! Caroline is well known in the industry and I am extremely lucky to have her - she actually does my alterations and is thinking of starting a new collection.... More news on this another time...

Caroline lives in Newbury now and has a selection of samples she has kindly given us for our sale. These gorgeous lace, silk and chiffon dresses are an absolute bargain and will sell out soon so come down early to view them! I am quite excited that someone will get a real bargain and be dressed by Caroline herself who will alter them to fit their perfect owner! Some of the dresses would have retailed by Caroline for £3000+ and we have them at just a snip from £399-£799

So what are you waiting for? Call now on 01635 35113 or email laura@mrsjonesbridal.co.uk to book an appointment. We are open until 7.30 pm Friday night (tomorrow) all day Saturday until 5.30 pm and Sunday 10-4 pm!

See you there

Mrs Jones x

Garbo by Charlotte Balbier. Size 14. Was £1299, Now £799.00

Benjamin Roberts 2212 Size 12 Ivory. Was £1149, Now £699.00

Daisy by Charlotte Balbier Was £1299, Now £699.00 Totally beautiful and different - a real bargain!

SUPER SAMPLE SALE WEEKEND!!

Hi everyone,

I am very pleased to announce that our Super Sample Sale Weekend will be taking place on Friday 29th July - Sunday 31st July! We will be discounting over 15 sample dress in the collection to make way for new stock in the coming months. All dresses are only 6 months old so they are in great condition and the price includes any cleaning necessary!

Come and grab a bargain as all dresses are reduced by 30-50% ! They really are a steal. Sizes vary from 10-14 but can be adjusted for the perfect fit by our seamstress. Whether you are getting married this year and need a dress quickly or want to plan early for next year and grab a bargain, see you there!

Here is just a taste of what's on offer.. Book your appointment now and don't miss out! Open late Friday night (if you want to pop in after work), all day Saturday and Sunday 10-4pm! These dresses will go quick and they are availble at these prices for one weekend only!

One of my favourite dresses (will be hard to say goodbye)
Olympia by Charlotte Balbier. Was £1399, now £699. Save 50%! Size 12
This is a total bargain and I expect her to be nabbed quickly!

The Lovely 'Dijon' - Blue by Enzoani. Fab dress at a fab price. Was £1499 Now £899. Size 12

Ambiance by Amanda Wyatt Was £999, Now £550! Save 45%! Ivory size 14.


All dresses are priced between £525-£899 and up to 50% off!

That's just a taster for now but prices are reduced for that weekend only so hurry, book an appointment today at laura@mrsjonesbridal.co.uk or call 01635 35113

See you there!

Mrs Jones x

Three 'Celebrity' Weddings - Boho, Regal and Contemporary

Hi all,

Hope you all had a good weekend? Busy weekend for 'celebrity' weddings this weekend, and all very different!

Boho Chic - Kate Moss and Jamie Hince


First of all, Kate Moss married Jamie Hince in an elaborate 'Cotswolds Affair' mixing boho chic with Rock n' Roll! They married in the beautiful village of Little Farringdon and Kate wore a John Galliano gown. It was gold, sequined and sheer - very 'boho romantic' with sophisticated embellishments which gave it that luxurious look.

I thought it was fab, very reflective of her style and it got me thinking about Kate Middleton's recent Jenny Packham creation of sheer sequined fabric which looked fresh and floaty.

I loved her vintage esque long flowing veil - again very boho and the perfect compliment to the dress!






Pictures courtesy Daily Mail www.dailymail.co.uk and www.Instyle.co.uk

Love her style - try Alice from Charlotte Balbier. Deep ivory gold colourings with simple straps, perfect for Country Chic!

A Right Royal Affair - Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock

Prince Albert of Monaco wed Charlene Wittstock this weekend (although it wasn't without controversy) but leaving that aside, Charlene wore 2 dresses (like Kate!) both designed by Georgio Armarni

The first was her 'official' wedding ceremony dress was an off the shoulder white duchesse satin gown with fabulous embroidery and detail on the bodice with an impressively long train. According to reports, the team at Armani took 2,500 hours completing the dress. The thousand plus swarovski crystal and embroidery detail on the bodice took up 700 hours alone! Teamed with very '1930s esque' hair which I particularly loved, she looked as demure and graceful as Kate but with her own unique style.

The evening dress was a more playful Armani tiered gown, a great compliment to the heavier and formal structured dress for the blessing.


www.youandyourwedding.co.uk


www.bbc.co.uk




www.hellomagazine.com


Love the look? Try Olympia for Charlotte Balbier for a tiered one shoulder dress with long lace bodice - very elegant and graceful! Cora by Amanda Wyatt for an off the shoulder regal feel and Isabella by Charlotte Balbier for a simple silk satin stately look.

Olympia by Charlotte Balbier

Isabella by Charlotte Balbier

Cora by Amanda Wyatt

Contemporary Country: Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch

Abbey married footballer Peter Crouch at the Stapleford Park Hotel in Leicestershire, probably the most low key affair of all three! Abbey chose a dress from less well known designer Giles Deacon and it was one to reflect a more contemporary style for the day.

The flattering bodice really showed off Abbey's tiny figure while the big romantic skirt was fun and indulgent . Coupled with the simple rose bouquet and her trademark long flowing blond locks, it was a more contemporary twist on the 'English Country' wedding. I loved the very rich and sumptuous silk fabric, pleating and rouching.

Abbey wore it with red nails and vampish heavy eye makeup for quite a dramatic look!



Photos courtesy of Daily Mail www.dailymail.co.uk

Love her Look: Try a longer fitted bodice with an unusual skirt in a fishtail style like Casablanca by Blue by Enzoani or for something fuller, try  Dabra from Blue by Enoani - long fitted bodice with statement size skirt!

 Casablanca by Blue by Enzoani

Statement skirt Dabra by Blue by Enzoani

Congratulations to them all - hope it gave you a little bit of inspiration or simply just a gossip!

Mrs Jones x

My Best Friend's Wedding - The official photos and read her story!

Further to last week's blog post and the lovely feedback, here are some of the 'official' photos! Charlotte and Kaz look even better and more in love, now they have been professionally shot! Love some of the black and white shots and of course the fabulous pictures of Charlotte looking radiant in her fantastic 'Pixie' from Charlotte Balbier . Of course the dress was from Mrs Jones Bridal Boutique where we have lots of similar dresses from Charlotte Balbier - perfect for that quintessential 'Country Garden Wedding!'

Read her story below..

Congratulations again Mr and Mrs Miles!

Photos courtesy of Maria Ashby-Giles Photography
Venue: The Olde Bell at Hurley
Dress and hair accessories: Pixie by Charlotte Balbier at Mrs Jones Bridal Boutique



My Story:
We wanted to keep our wedding simple, personal and fun. We both love food, fine wine, cooking and music and enjoying all four with good friends, so we wanted more of a party than a 'wedding'.

We chose the Olde Bell at Hurley as it has a very rustic feel, serves amazing food and wine and we just fell in love with the Malt House - its self contained 'old malt' building which was a fantastic blank canvas to add our personal touches to and large gardens for photos (it even had a vegetable garden which I loved!)

We created the invites ourselves, with a little help from family and friends. We backed each one in off cuts of luxurious home furnishing fabrics which meant each invite was different and added a little bit of interest to set the scene for the day. I wanted to keep the flowers very simple and seasonal - I had built up quite an eclectic mix of glass vases and ceramic milk jugs, all borrowed from family and bought in charity shops, and we filled each one with flowers so the colour and scent was in abundance all day! We used homemade chalk boards for menus and table plans which went perfectly with the venue.

For the dress I wanted something light to wear (and thank goodness I did as it was a fabulous day and very hot!). I'd been drawn to Charlotte Balbier dresses as I really liked her unique style, use of lace and little touches. After trying on a few styles I decided on 'Pixie' as I wanted a dress with lace straps and I just loved the way the lace fell over the train, and the little belt added that something extra! It went so perfectly with the venue and was such a perfect reflection of my style.

I love cooking so I made little jars of chutney and jam as favours which went down well and I called on a few favours for decorations - my Mum made 60 ft of bunting which looked fab hung up along the walled garden! We served slow cooked lamb for the wedding breakfast and each table elected a 'chef' to carve for everyone - great fun - and we broke with tradition in having a 2 tier chocolate ganache torte wedding cake decorated on top with summer berries! Finally a cheese and biscuits platter ensured we certainly didn't go hungry!

The day went so quickly (everyone says that!) but it was the perfect refelection of us both. I am only sad I can't wear my beautiful dress again!

Charlotte Miles