Insight into... Love Umbrellas

I'm very pleased that you are back for another exciting insight into another company today after the first "Insight Into..." post on my very happy birthday two weeks ago!

Today I have an innovative and expanding company to share with you today, who took part in the very successful Springtime Romance photoshoot (which you can see featured on Whimsical Wonderland Weddings). Love Umbrellas is the brain-child of the lovely Klair, producing unique and creative products for all occasions and not just weddings.

These stunning umbrellas are durable and waterproof so are the perfect touch to any outfit at any occasion in the unpredicatble British weather! I don't want to say too much before Klair tells you all about Love Umbrellas but I can personally vouch for these fabulous products as I am the proud owner of one myself; cream with gorgeous red bow detail - straight from the Springtime shoot!

Wihout further delay, it is my absoulte pleasure to introduce Klair Lee from Love Umbrellas....

Mark Tattersall Photography

Tell us a little aboutyourself and how Love Umbrellas started.

I'm Klair, from Manchester and the owner of Love Umbrellas.

Love Umbrellas started when I took voluntaryredundancy from my Branch Manager role whilst I was on maternity leave. I made an umbrella for my Mum for her birthday, then friends and familykept asking me to make them one, as they'd never seen anything like it before.A Facebook page was set up, Twitter, the website came into exsistence, then Elaine came onboard, and now Love Umbrellas is what it is today!!
Elaine is my business partner who has come on board. We are two completely different business minds and we compliment each other really well.

(L-R) Klair and Elaine

What is your favourite part about doing Love Umbrellas?

I have so many favourite parts; seeing designs come alive, dealing with lovely people, customers as well assuppliers, and people in similar industries - I've met some amazing andinspirational people so far!!

What has been your favourite umbrella that you have created and what was it for?

My favourite umbrella would have to be the red button crazy one, requested byan old friend of mine, with a successful bikini business, and the idea was"buttons, and completely over the top!!" I think the end resultcertainly fit the order description!! The red button umbrella is my favourite so far as it was a real challenge to make, and really is show stopper!

Love Umbrellas is quite an unusual business, dealing solely in umbrellas.Have you had any unusual or exciting requests or from unusual or excitingsources?

We once had a request for 7000 umbrellas for a VERY large wedding in thePhillipines, which didn't end up going through due to very high shipping costs- but that certainly was an interesting request!!

Mark Tattersall Photography

What is your favourite event that you and your umbrellas have been a part ofto date?

We've been involved in some fabulous photo shoots, and the pictures that comeback from them are incredible!! I think my favourite is actually the one organised by Perfect Choice Planning because I loved the style ideas. We have been involved in a carnival shoot in Blackpool with the heart shaped umbrellas, which was really well styled ~ really quirky ~ but that was only with the heart shaped umbrellas, and we would have preferred to really showcase our different designs of umbrellas.
Other shoots have been on the Isle of Wight, in a castle hotel in Cheshire and at various weddings all over the UK.

Mark Tattersal Photography

What are your future plans for Love Umbrellas?

Future plans... Lots of them!!
We really want to establish the brand, have our umbrellas become instantly recogniseable, and move forward from there, maybe working together with some other well known brands too. We would love to see Love Umbrellas as a recogniseablebrand in boutiques up and down the country.

Mark Tattersall Photography

You recently got engaged - congratulations! Are your umbrellas going to feature in your upcoming nuptials?

I have a few ideas, maybe umbrella table centre pieces, definitely umbrellas featuring lots in the wedding photos, and lots of different designs and colours in there too!!

What would your top tip be for Perfect Choice Planning to help them pick theirperfect umbrella?

I would say go with something that complements your colour scheme / theme. Ourumbrellas look fantastic on your wedding photos, so it's certainly something toadd a little fun, and a little 'something different' to look back on.

Mark Tattersall Photography

The wedding industry is a fast-paced environment to be in with a lot ofchanging trends. How do you adapt yourself and your business to this?

We keep a close eye on anything that is going on in the fashion world, as wellas keeping up with wedding trends, and everything new on the market. Sometimesit's just about taking a chance on something you think will work alongside achange. Also, with all of our umbrellas being handmade, we can make a design /colour up within a few days, and see what kind of feedback we get throughsocial media - Twitter is fab for getting an honest opinion!!

What sort of pricing are we looking at for Love Umbrellas?

We have different pricing for different budgets, starting at £19.95 (so notmuch more than your standard ivory golf umbrella), and up to £89.95, with lotsof different price points in between. Postage and packaging is £3.50 for singleumbrellas and combined postage for multiples. We can post internationally too -our umbrellas are being used as far as Australia, Singapore, and Alaska - USA!!

Image by Barry Whitcher

Do you have any special discounts you can share with Perfect Choice Planningbrides?

There will be a 15% discount for brides ordering through Perfect ChoicePlanning.

Where can Perfect Choice Planning find you?

We can be found at our website, or alternatively you can check out our Facebook and Twitter pages to get in contact with us!

Image by Mash Moments

Everyone now needs to go and purchase themselves a gorgeous umbrella from Love Umbrellas - great for sun and rain!

Stylish and practical with a huge variety of styles, colours and even shapes, there is everything you could ever want in an umbrella. I get tonnes of comments and admiring glances as I walk through the streets protecting myself from the rain!

I hope you have all enjoyed Klair's insight into Love Umbrellas so please check back in a few weeks for another insight into one of my super recommended suppliers, it's going to be a yummy one!

Until next time...
Me x

Thank Crunchie It's Friday... I mean Thursday!!

Hello from Perfect Choice Planning HQ!


I hope everyone is enjoying Easter - lucky you if you're off work :o)


WellI thought as today is most people's Friday that I would bring my "Thank Crunchie..." post forward to give you all the Friday feeling. That, and I am off to the Lakes for a few nights to a gorgeous little campsite in the middle of nowhere with no signal - so no communication from me for a few days!


But that doesn't stop me sharing some loveliness with you today, in the form of some of my favourite blog posts from the past couple of weeks. I have to say the wedding blog of the week is Style Me Pretty - I wanted to show you EVERYTHING from their recent posts!

A lovely Lakeside Wedding with a hint of yellow on Boho Weddings

Image by Lace Hanky Photography

A surprise sparkly NYE wedding on Style Me Pretty

A super styled shoot turned SURPRISE engagement!

Fabulously easy DIY stamps


Love this laid-back Lake House Wedding

A fabulously inspiring post: Babies & Business on Rock N Roll Bride

Such a happy Scottish wedding day - and I LOVE the dresses!

Image by Archibald Photography

Modern Marie Antoinette inspired shoot in New York

A recipe for engagement - a tactic I may employ myself! - on Brides Up North

Stunning musical engagement shoot on Green Wedding Shoes


A happy, relaxed garden real wedding on Polka Dot Bride

Totally delightful fusion wedding on Ruffled

Another "OMG, how amazing!" wedding on Style Me Pretty 

Image by Heather Nan Photography

A beautiful DIY wedding - heaven! - on {WWW}

What does marriage mean to you? - on Love My Dress

Inspiring DIY string heart - so simple yet so effective!


I have Beach Wedding envy going on... :)

and again!... both on Style Me Pretty

I hope this has inspired you today, or even just given you that lovely Friday feeling that I got when I saw them. I also look forward to sharing the next "Insight into..." feature with you next Saturday so keep your eyes peeled for that lovely piece.

Just before I go, after recently seeing - and loving - The Hunger Games, I wanted to share with you (again) this lovely interpretation of Katniss and Peeta's wedding - if it was to happen. AND... If you haven't seen The Hunger Games then you should definitely go to see it!


Happy Easter Everyone!!

Until next time...

Me x

The Numero Uno - Insight into.... Look Darling

Today is a great day for me.

Not only is it my 25th Birthday, which I will be spending with 11 friends and family at Go Ape followed by a yummy slap-up meal at a fabulous restaurant with 25 guests BUT it is also the day that I can introduce my first/premier/opening/leading interviewee to you all.

For the inaugural interview, this wonderful lady has an equally wonderful online-business-turned-home-boutique-business, Look Darling, that aims to offer a selection of stylish and affordable 50s style wedding and evening gowns for lovers of vintage style, and who has also recently started writing the inspiring Fifties Wedding blog.

Bringing together the best in high-end vintage-inspired styles, Look Darling offers affordable tea-length wedding dresses from key designers, including top US brands Dolly Couture and Fancy New York.

As you may know, I have already advertised this gorgeous business to you all and can reveal that there are fabulous future plans a-foot between Look Darling and Perfect Choice Planning! But I don't want to say too much so it is my absolute pleasure to introduce the lovely Emma Lester from Look Darling....

Tell us a little about yourself and how Look Darling started.

My background is that I trained to be a solicitor and worked as a lawyer for a number of years. When planning my own wedding, I found it really hard to get the style of dress I wanted, which was a very classic, elegant and simple 50s style dress. 

All the bridal shops were filled with floor length strapless dresses with beading and trains, which just didn't suit me at all. It seemed from my internet searching and various threads on web forums that there was a whole community of brides out there searching for affordable 50s style dresses, and for years I would say to my husband, 'There's a business here, someone should do this!' 

Finally, after two years of talking and thinking about it, I set up my web shop and almost immediately thereafter I began converting the top floor of my house into a bridal studio, offering brides the opportunity to try dresses, shoes and accessories before buying. The bookings came really quickly and I have not really done any marketing or advertising, so the growth has been organic which is great.

Candice from the Look Darling Collection
Photography by Carla Thomas Photography

Emily
Fancy New York Gowns

Mimi
Rachel Simpson Shoes

What is your favourite part about doing fifties wedding dresses?

I love it when a bride walks in and says, 'At last! Dresses that I actually like!' (This has happened more than once!)

What has been your favourite business opportunity that you have been involved in to date?

The most exciting time for me so far has been becoming a stockist of Dolly Couture. The Dolly Couture label is so well-known and has such a fantastic reputation for quality and customer service, I am really proud to be able to stock the Black Label Collection and offer Dolly Couture to UK brides.

Summerville
Dolly Couture Black Label 

The Beverleywood
Dolly Couture Black Label

Have you had any unusual or exciting requests or from unusual or exciting sources?

I had a request a few weeks ago from a bride wanting to combine a couple of the designs from Fancy New York. I made an enquiry with the company, and was really excited to receive the response that they can absolutely combine different necklines, fabrics and skirt styles to create a dress totally unique for you AND for $100 (about £70) the designer will sketch the design for you and you can keep the original sketch! As if that were not enough, they will even name your dress after you. I think that's pretty cool.

Madelein
Fancy New York Gowns

Robin
Fancy New York Gowns

There are plans in the pipleine between Look Darling and Perfect Choice Planning, but can you tell us what your future plans for Look Darling are?

I hope to gradually move towards holding the Look Darling own label dresses in stock, which will allow for immediate delivery and also returns. This will widen the reach of Look Darling to brides who are unable to come and try before buying, and also to the increasing number of brides who are arranging their wedding to take place within a couple of months and need a dress right away.

I will shortly be receiving stock of the popular 'Ruth' dress and also a new design which is based on 'Ruth' but with a full lace overlay and lace 3/4 length sleeves. I hope to add further styles to the stock collection soon.


Ruth
Look Darling Collection
Carla Thomas Photography

What would your top tip be for Perfect Choice Planning to help them pick their perfect fifties dress?

Try everything, and don't make assumptions about what will suit you. You just don't know what will suit you until you put it on. I had always assumed that a high neckline would be unflattering on a larger bust but ended up having just this style myself as it's the cut of the dress that is key.

Many brides come to the studio and say they want to hide their arms, but end up ordering a sleeveless dress, or say that they are looking to wear strapless but then try something with straps or sleeves and find it more flattering. It's very rare for a bride to order the style they had in mind prior to their appointment - and more than once, a bride has ordered a dress that they have initially said they didn't like at all on the hanger! So just have an open mind and try everything on.

The wedding industry is a fast-paced environment to be in with a lot of changing trends. How do you adapt yourself and your business to this?

The fact that I stock the established labels Fancy New York and Dolly Couture enables me to regularly update the collections with new season samples - I have just received some fantastic new styles from Fancy New York from their latest season's collection. I also try to keep up with what brides are asking for. I had a number of requests for a lace dress, hence the introduction of a new 'Ruth' with lace overlay, which I am expecting to be very popular.

What sort of pricing are we looking at for Look Darling?

I aim to keep my prices affordable and the current range is priced from £295 to £795.

Do you have any special discounts you can share with Perfect Choice Planning brides?

Look Darling are offering a generous 15% discount on all Rachel Simpson shoes and Richard Designs accessories on their website for all Perfect Choice Planning brides-to-be.

Check out these amazing items and take advantage of this great offer by contacting Laura via email at perfectchoiceplanning@hotmail.co.uk for your unique discount code.

Marilyn
Rachel Simpson Shoes

You have recently taken over as the main writer and blogger for Fifties Wedding blog, and you're doing a great job. How did you find out about that opportunity and what made you decide to take it up?

I saw Charlie (Tomlinson)'s post saying that she was giving up the blog, and it just seemed a shame for it to stop so I contacted her and asked about taking over. I try to keep the blog separate from Look Darling, as in my view a blog should be about new and exciting ideas, products and inspiration.

What is your favourite part about coordinating and writing Fifties Wedding blog?

It's great fun hearing about new products and suppliers before everyone else - and it's a great networking opportunity too. There are a huge number of suppliers who are already familiar with the blog and it has been lovely getting to know everyone via the Twitter feeds and Facebook.

Carla Thomas Photography

How are you finding it running the blog and have you learnt or discovered anything that you want to share?

Writing a blog is much harder than I first thought - and hours and hours of work and research can often result in what seems like a single badly-written paragraph with a couple of pictures! Putting together a post that has plenty of interesting content and that flows well is exceptionally difficult, and I don't very often manage it. I have no idea how the major bloggers who update their sites several times a day do it! It's a lot of work.

I know personally that there definitately NOT enough hours in the day. How are you finding being a blogger, dress maker and supplier?

Busy! But it's always better to be busy than to be bored.

And finally, where can Perfect Choice Planning find you?

You can contact me on any of the links below

www.lookdarling.com

F: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Look-Darling-50s-style-wedding-and-occasion-wear/168358916548765

T: @lookdarling

www.fiftieswedding.com

F: http://www.facebook.com/FiftiesWedding

T: @FiftiesWedding

 

A huge thank you to Emma for her honest and wonderful comments, tips and opinions. If you're looking for your perfect fifties wedding dress and accessories, don't forget to cheak out the Look Darling website or for more vintage inspiration you should definitely pay a visit to the Fifties Wedding blog, and leave some comments for Emma to let her know what a great job she is doing!

Until next time...

Me x

Thanks Crunchie it's Friday

Good morning one and all!

I hope that everyone is having a good week, but if not chin up and think "Thanks Crunchie it's Friday!" I've had 'one of those weeks' this week but I intend to enjoy this weekend fully with a gathering of friends on Friday and celebrating my lovely Mum and my other half's Mum on Sunday for Mothering Sunday.

Speaking of which, have you all got your lovely mothers' something extra special?

There are some many lovely products out there for that VIP and here are a few ideas below:

(L-R) Top row:
1. Say it with chocolates from Hotel Chocolat
2. Stunning jewellery from notonthehigstreet.com
3. A floral feast for the eyes could be the perfect present (image: Laurel Weddings)
(L-R) Bottom row:
4. How about a lovely cupcake bouquet? Similar items available from Rocky Road Cakes (source)
5. An edible biscuit card from notonthehighstreet.com
6. A relaxing pamper session for a stressed-out mum (source)

Other than an exciting fun-filled weekend, I have lots of exciting plans in the pipeline for the next few months and I can't wait to share them all with you, but what I can tell you is that as of Saturday 31st March 2012 I will be doing a new feature on the blog: "An Insight Into...." featuring interviews with some extremely talented and highly recommened suppliers!

Also, I hope you will all buy Pure Weddings magazine (the wedding magazine side of Lancashire Life) from 6th April 2012 because included in that issue is an editorial about moi and why wedding planners aren't just for the rich and famous - excited much!

Watch this space!

SO, thank goodness it's Friday. To get you ready for the lovely weekend ahead, I would like to share some of my favourite blog posts that have been featured recently, starting with one styled by little ol' me!

Springtime Romance on Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

Mark Tattersall Photography

An stunning DIY English Country Wedding on Love My Dress

I want these fantastic spotty wedding shoes

Wedding budget wisdom on Boho Weddings

A perfect tea party picnic wedding on Brides Up North

Incredible Parisien delight by the fabulous Joanne Spencer Photography

Joanne Spencer Photography

An alternative wedding circus on Rock N Roll Bride

A little love heart inspiration

Super colourful deliciousness on Style Me Pretty

"Water For Elephants" inspired shoot and film

Love in Lavender - an inspiration shoot on Ruffled

Eddie Judd Photography

Innovative App for your wedding

A little carnival wedding inspiration on Brides Up North

Creative "Hunger Games" Inspired Photoshoots on Green Wedding Shoes

Honest Wedding Blog Wisdom on English Wedding

That's all for now folks, but I hope you enjoy the loveliness from the above links, and don't forget to tune back on 31st March for my birthday post introducing my first interviewee! Who could it be....?

Until next time...
Me x