I can’t really believe I’m putting this photo on my blog…. eeek it’s my least favourite one in the whole album and it shows up every single blemish and cried off bit of makeup.  I have to admit I did cry buckets during the ceremony and the make up just wasn’t up to it… but why oh why did I not reapply when I arrived at Tillmouth Park??? 

Let me start at the beginning, I was a very low maintenance 25 year old in the beauty scheme of things, I wore makeup but that was about it, and I knew I would want to make more of an effort for my wedding day.  So off I toddled to House of Fraser and put myself in the hands of the least scary looking lady at the Clinque counter.  Well, the results weren’t quite what I anticipated I looked like I was about to tout for business… I was brain washed into buying a load of products then made for the loos to wash it all off.

On the morning of our wedding I did my own makeup a whole lot more successfully than at Clinque and I was more than happy with the results (I only wish I sorted the caterpillars above my eyes out… how did I come so late to eyebrow grooming????)  but way back then I had no idea how to make it last.  The lesson to be learnt, if you doing it yourself make sure you have time for touch ups and have lessons before hand in how to apply it to last, and more importantly don’t do it yourself.

If I was to marry this year I would undoubtedly put myself in Jo Bilham’s magical hands.  I’ve been lucky to have been transformed by her on several occasions and she really is a genius and by god does it last!  This photograph was taken at the Love My Dress Soiree in August and I look a darn sight better (albeit it 10 years on) than I did on my wedding day… what can I say lesson well and truly learnt.

Hair was a different matter and one purely of communication, I had seen the hair style I wanted on somebody else but I hadn’t even heard of google back then… well maybe but I was limited in what I knew I could do… and didn’t know where to start in describing it to the hairdresser.  So firstly it didn’t really come out how I wanted and secondly got totally destroyed by my veil.

I would still wear it up but this time with more interest at the front, my hair coming down over my face more and more intricate at the back the likes of which I’ve seen the amazing Kizzy of Charisma Hair, do.  The photo below is one of Kizzy’s works of art, that just happens to be on one of my brides from last August, isn’t it just stunning!

Not all my wedding posts will be this critical, I have started with the aspect I regret most, you’ll have to prepare yourselves for lots of soppy reminiscing now

I got married way back in the dark ages… well 2001 but things were so different back then it’s like a whole different era!  Or maybe I just think that because I wasn’t involved in the wedding industry?  I had very clear ideas what I wanted (I say I, because apart from the venue and church… I seem to remember making most of the decisions ) but looking back it was very traditional and elegant …  would I still make those choices knowing what I know today?

I think for alot of the big decisions I probably wouldn’t change them, the venue was beyond gorgeous, I loved my dress but it’s more the small details and frills that I would add to or change… for the things I wouldn’t change I will also blog about them but it will be purely self indulgent reminiscing… so apologies in advance.

So I’ve decided to replan my wedding in blog form, discussing things that I would do differently, or the same… if I was to get married in 2012 rather than 2001…

I will start with hair and makeup… my biggest wedding bugbear in the next post….beware mine was shocking!

A little while ago I received an email from Kate Murray at Cake Toppertastic asking if I would like to see her handmade cake toppers.  Kate and Jo handcraft gorgeous cake toppers from wire and jewels and buttons in Birmingham and can send them all over the country. 

Although I do make cake toppers they tend to be the icing variety and I was intrigued how these would look on my cakes.  Kate and Jo made the trek up to the studio and brought lots of sparkly things for me to see, I was very impressed!  They are really pretty and unique a gorgeous compliment to a well designed cake, but also ideal for making a shop bought cake into somethingn really special.

I will leave you with these images of their work but do check out their facebook page or drop them a line at caketoppertastic@virginmedia.com.

I’m a cake designer, I love creating designs, making cakes, icing cakes… paperwork tends to overwhelm me slightly.  After such a busy summer I’m now pretty far behind, my accounts are screaming at me, I need to conquer mail chimp and start sending out my newsletter and I generally need to get my self in gear and do some self promotion.  Generally when I think about everything 0n the list my body shuts down and I want to sleep.  It’s not that anyone thing is impossible just that the whole of it makes me quake with fear and I end up panicking and not getting anything constructive done.

So, I’ve decided to face the fear and bite of small chunks to work at, bit by bit rather than worrying about getting everything done at once… I’m bound to make some progress that way?  Right?  Well, I hope so and this is the start a mini blog post for my much neglected blog.  I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like this as must people who have their own businesses must be more passionate about one element than the other?  Any hints and tips how to get myself organised/motivated/keep sane, leave below, they’ll be most welcome.

Happy Wednesday everyone, hope it’s a productive one xxx