Enchanted Inspirations: Nyla Rose in the hot seat!

When I decided to do an "In The Hot Seat" post, I knew exactly who I wanted to offer the interview to.

I have been inspired in more ways than one by this wonderful, courageous and ambitious young Woman as I've followed her journey on Facebook, and as an added bonus the products she offers are truly beautiful and perfectly suited to a shabby chic garden themed wedding or vintage tea party. Allow me to share the story behind Nyla Rose Gifts and Interiors...

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your business?

A. Starting with myself, I'm Natalie, 30 and a mum of 1 (more of which later!) It has always been a dream of mine to run my own business and be in charge of my own destiny, I guess! I was made redundant whilst on maternity leave last year and decided to take the leap and since then it has gone from strength to strength. Nyla Rose is an online boutique selling all things pretty- shabby chic homeware, gifts and fashion (dresses and handbags). A one stop shop for loveliness :) 

Q: What was the inspiration behind Nyla Rose?

A. Without doubt my daughter Nyla Rose has been my inspiration. I set up the business when she was 6 months old and it has grown at a incredible rate in the past 13 months.
I genuinely want to make her name well known and to build a huge company that will make her look one day and say 'wow, my mum did that, I can do anything'. Cheesy but that's the honest truth- I want to be her inspiration and for her to grow up thinking she can do anything. If she wants to land on Mars, I'll tell her she can. 

Q: How are your products suited to Brides to be? 

We currently have some fantastic vintage style wedding dresses that are priced between just £30 and £50 that are perfect for a Bride on a Budget or a bride looking for that vintage style. This one is £50 and simply gorgeous! It is quite unbelievable to get a wedding dress of that quality at that price.
We also have a huge range of dresses that would be perfect as Bridesmaids Dresses. Our Audrey Range has been particularly popular. These are only £30 and we also offer a 20% discount when they are bought as bridesmaids dresses! They look fabulous with the petticoats underneath and provide a nod towards the vintage wedding look that is so popular.
Some of our brides have mixed up the colours of the bridesmaids dress for a 'rainbow' colour scheme- this works particularly well with the pastel shades and the bridesmaids could even wear dresses to suit their colouring. 

Q: What are your favourite products and why?

The problem with this job is I just want to keep everything for myself as I love all the products so much (I am the sole buyer for the company and my ethos is, if I don't totally love it, I just won't stock it!)
I am a big fan of these gorgeous sass and belle storage cases- they are great value too, at £21 they are a whopping £13 cheaper than Debenhams (I'm always checking out the competition!)
I also love our Cath Kidston inspired handbags and own several of the polka dot satchels, they are a great size and I use one as a baby change bag.  The bubble gum pink one is a Nyla Rose staple and the colour is really striking. The satchels are only £26 and brilliant quality.

Q: You do lots of competitions and giveaways on Social Media. What is the drive behind them?

A. Hand on heart, doing the giveaways is my favourite part of my job- I love the excitement that builds up and making someone's day when we announce a winner is something I will never get bored of. It is important to me for the Nyla Rose brand to be a strong one- I want us to be known as a happy, positive and genuine business and the giveaways are a large part of that. Of course, they have to work from a business point of view as well and they do wonders for our Facebook page. We run huge giveaways once a fortnight and each one gains us at least 4,000 new followers to the page as well as increasing all round interest in the products. For me, it's a no brainer and as we grow the page they are going to get bigger and crazier! 

Q: How do we get in touch?

Everything we sell is available on our website which is www.nyla-rose.com, we have worked really hard on making it girly heaven so hope you like it :) make sure you sign up to our newsletter too for exclusive offers and discounts.

Our Facebook page is crazily popular with over 62,000 likers and growing all the time! As mentioned we do giveaways galore and it's a great way to keep in touch with us. www.facebook.com/nylarosegiftsandinteriors

Our Instagram is #nylarosegiftsandinteriors and Pinterest is NylaRose

Q. Do you ship internationally?
We have lots of customers outside the UK and have posted all over the world! Please contact us prior to placing your order on the website for a postage quote.

Q. A final word from Nyla Rose
A. We totally love what we do and hope you do too!
Natalie x

Lindy Bop Vintage Style Wedding Dress, £50

Audrey Prom Style Dresses, £30 

Bubble Gum Pink Polka Dot Satchel, £26

Vintage Style Suitcase Stack, £21

All available at www.Nyla-Rose.com

A massive thank you to Natalie for allowing me to put her in the Hot Seat. Make sure you check out and 'Like' Natalie's Nyla Rose Facebook page for the chance to win one of her amazing giveaways, and let her know I sent you! 

Also, head over to my new page on Facebook! 

Www.facebook.com/Pinklemonadeproductions 

Until next time, 

Be inspired and make it happen!

Mrs Enchanted xoxo

Because there are no words...

This post comes simply as a dedication to the loving memory of two wonderful men whom were called up to join the stars too soon and taken away from us in the last few months.

Rest in peace, Pops and Uncle Gordon. So many of us will miss you.x

The Enchanted Bride is BACK!

This is a bitter sweet post unfortunately. 

Where has the Enchanted Bride been for the past five months?

Well, I became an Enchanted Bride in December, in an intimate and beautiful candle lit church ceremony with only closest friends and family present. You can read about that below in my only post of 2014 so far.

One of my Brides who had been a very close personal friend for many, many years took advantage in the cruellest way. I had started planning her wedding, offering her my very best and most beautifully creative ideas, because that's what friends do. I wanted her wedding day to be a stunning Winter Wonderland complete with snow machine, and knowing that I too was having my own winter wedding, I was very careful not to tread on her toes. I didn't even tell her about our wedding plans because I didn't want our wedding to over-shadow hers. Despite originally planning on an ice blue and silver colour scheme for our own New York winter wedding that we were hoping for, I changed it to midnight blue and gold so as not to steal her thunder. I bypassed a beautiful snowflake wedding cake because I knew that was what she wanted for her wedding. And instead of being met with the love and gratitude you'd hope a friend would give, I received an evening-only invitation and all of my ideas passed off as her own. Exactly the same as I did, she had customised shoes, a candy stand and frosted glass mason jars with candles inside. 

Then came the biggest blow of all; she went on to set up her own events company and pretended that Enchanted Occasions and Sugar Rush by Enchanted never existed. My company and blog that I had worked so hard to build up and the exams I studied so hard to pass...smashed in a soul destroying instant.

After spending a short while licking my metaphorical wounds and reflecting on my goals, I have used this betrayal and set back as an opportunity to put into play a whole new game plan. 

I've worked too hard for too long to let someone take it all away from me.

A very, very wise and wonderful man once told me "You must be first, best, or truly different."

By the end of this wedding season I plan to be all three. 

You read it here first; PINK LEMONADE PRODUCTIONS is the new baby of Enchanted Occasions and will offer a whole new line of exciting and brilliant vintage props and stands for hire for Weddings, parties and events.

Think carnival, village fete and retro cinema and you are halfway there!

It will take me longer to recover from the betrayal than it will take my company, but with a powerful new alliance between Enchanted and a few other small and talent based companies, World Domination is well within sight!

Despite all, I wish my former friend every success in her endeavours. 

I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank all of my beautiful brides and loyal readers for your continued support and encouragement. 

Stay tuned for more ideas, tips and tricks, and remember that true friendship has no price. Every set back is an opportunity.

Much love,

Mrs Enchanted xoxo

Mr and Mrs Enchanted 11.12.13

In my absence, I have gone from being Miss Enchanted, to Mrs Enchanted! 

Four years and two beautiful children later, my Fiance and I tied the knot on 11.12.13.

Mr Enchanted and I wanted a wedding that was intimate, understated, and personal to us, so planning and putting it together was a relatively simple process. We wanted our day to reflect who we are as a couple, but we didn't want to take ourselves too seriously, so we injected humour into the day by choosing the colour scheme of midnight blue and gold - The colours of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
Mr Enchanted wore canvas Mickey Mouse shoes that we had found in Disneyland Paris the month before our wedding, and I wore a pair of shoes decoupaged with the pages of a book to reflect Belle's love of stories. His suit was navy with a gold waistcoat and midnight blue cravat, and he wore a simple buttonhole of two cream roses and gypsophelia.
My bouquet was personal to me and so I made it myself; it contained ten cream roses, one to represent each year that has gone by since my beloved Father passed away. I added gypsophelia as a filler and tied it with an ivory tulle bow. My dress was simple with a draped tulle bodice and understated train, (the culprit behind my dragging the pew-end decorations back up the aisle as we exited the church; much to everyone's delight...including mine!) and I wore a fur shrug as my 'something borrowed' from my wonderful friend Michelle.

The candle-lit ceremony took place at 4.30pm at Saint Andrews Church in Melton, which is truly beautiful. Simple wicker stars were woven with gold thread and placed at the foot of each pew end.
I walked the aisle (solo) to the Piano Guys' instrumental of Christina Perri's A Thousand Years and we said
our vows in front of thirty of only our closest and most important friends and family.
We personalised our vows, and instead of saying "as long as we both shall live", we said "for as long as stars are above you".

Our reception was at Venue77 in Ipswich, where we welcomed our guests with Champagne cocktails. Our tables were decorated with a single pink rose lit by an LED light, which was placed under an upturned cylindrical vase and stood atop a stack of vintage books. The centrepieces were reflective of the Enchanted Rose. On our buffet table, we had book page wrapped mason jars with tealights inside.
The supplier for our linens, Ella's Events in Colchester, Essex, were absolutely brilliant, and their range of products available to hire is not only extensive, but incredibly reasonably priced, and the team couldn't do enough for us. 

For our buffet, we served sliced hot joints of pork and beef with soft and crusty bread rolls, a selection of salads and hot buttered new potatoes. We also had a large cheese board with sliced french stick and crackers, canapes, and a dessert table with cheesecakes and gateaux. We had so many compliments on our food, which we provided and the chefs at our Venue prepared and cooked, which frankly saved us a small fortune. We had approximately 60 guests which we comfortably catered for and STILL had so much food left!

Our first dance was to Ellie Goulding's How Long Will I Love You, which was less of a dance and more of an awkward shuffle with Mr Enchanted trying to avoid standing on my wedding dress! However, there was a beautiful Kodak moment when a confetti canon was released above us half way through the song.

All in all, it was an understated and emotional day, which was heartfelt and individual.

We didn't have an official photographer, but we decided that the people who knew us best could capture the moments that represented us as a couple. Unfortunately, amidst all the excitement, the details such as our table decorations, shoes and flowers were missed, but we have perfect memories of our special day because we did it all ourselves with the help of friends and family. 

Below are a few photos from the special day. 

I wish we'd had some proper photos taken but we still had a beautiful evening.

There were sadly a few loved ones who were unable to make it, so plans are in the pipeline to renew our vows and do it all again as soon as we can! 

Until next time...stay true to yourselves as a couple. Your wedding is about you, not everyone else.

Much love,

Mrs Enchanted xoxo

Wedding Etiquette 101

It saddens me a little that I've had to write this post, but recently it's become apparent that either people are not as well versed in Wedding Etiquette as they should be, or perhaps have just forgotten their manners.

There are certain "unspoken rules" that exist where Weddings are concerned, but since these may have fallen by the wayside...they are about to become un-unwritten. Oh, alright, they are about to become written. Nowhere near as fun to say that way, I'm sure you'll agree.

1) The very VERY first, and MOST important rule, is money.

Too many people ask "How much have you spent?" "What did that cost?" "How can you afford it?", without any specific reason other than to just, and I'm sorry for saying this, be nosey. Money is a topic that is uncomfortable at the best of times, and this is most certainly not the best of times. Please don't break this rule; it's just bad manners, and whilst you're sharing their special day, unless you are sharing the expense also, it's none of your concern. 

2) This has become a problem for SO many Brides. It's that sticky 'plus-one' situation. 

Never assume that you can bring a guest unless specified on your invitation. It's not fair to the couple for you to bring uninvited or unexpected guests, and if there is food being provided, it's downright rude. Guest lists are catered for; additional guests will throw out the numbers, not to mention the hard work it takes to chase up every single RSVP and  make a list, checking it twice. Brides, like Santa, need to be sure of who has been naughty or nice, and who can and can't attend. That list is deemed useless if the Bride's third cousin has decided to bring along his latest Flavour of the Month. Harsh, but true.

3) AWOL is just as unacceptable as turning up uninvited; it's equally unfair for the Bride and Groom to cater for Guests who have no intentions of turning up, despite sending a positive RSVP. Weddings are incredibly expensive as it is; one Bride catered for forty more Guests than turned up to her reception. All of which had confirmed this a mere 24 hours before. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you won't be missed; if you've been invited, the couple have deemed you special and important enough to share one of the most special days of their life together. It's an honour to be invited to celebrate this occasion, it's only fair to behave as such.

4) Following on from this, using a wedding as an excuse to get drunk and have a knees-up is appalling. You may not over indulge and make a fool of yourself- this is the biggest day of someone else's life. Show some respect for the people who, as previously mentioned, have deemed you special and important enough to share this day with. 

5) Don't assume you'll be invited to both parts of the celebration either; usually, numbers for the ceremony are more restricted that for the reception, and making the decision to bump someone off the day list may be a necessary evil, and especially difficult if the choice is between a friend and a family member.

If your invitation says "evening celebration" or similar on it, feel free to be inwardly offended, but try not to make a fuss. If you feel you should have been invited to the ceremony, chances are the Bride and Groom feel the same way, but it's not always possible. Health and Safety regulations in Registry Offices are particularly strict; numbers absolutely cannot exceed the maximum capacity, which I've known to be at 20; to include the Bride and Groom, two registrars, and two witnesses. That's down to 14 other guests, which is essentially just seven couples. This number is lowered again should the couple have children. Something to bear in mind before you get upset about being invited to the evening reception.

I can only apologise if this has seemed like a negative post, but if you are a Bride to Be suffering concerns of the above, a little link to this post on Facebook should subtly pre-warn you guests as to your expectations where their behaviour and etiquette are concerned. Which, coincidentally, are not high expectations at all.

Until next time, when I promise to be more upbeat...

Best behaviour...Santa is on his way, after all!

The Enchanted One xoxo

Have Groom, will Travel...

I've been considering doing a piece on Destination Weddings for a while now; after all, with some very clever planning and budget savviness, a Wedding abroad can save you a fortune.

Hosting your Wedding in another country means obvious cuts to your guest list; ideal if you'd prefer an intimate gathering to an all-out BWW (that's Big White Wedding to us insiders!), and this is becoming increasingly popular amongst Brides and Grooms to be, instead choosing to hold a reception on their return for absent guests. 

Here are a few of my favourite Destinations; prepare to get bitten by the travel bug!

Vegas

Honestly, what kind of Wedding Planner would I be if I didn't mention the obvious choice?

Vegas is the ultimate place to tie the knot and it can be done on a very modest budget. Cliche though it may sound, getting married in Vegas doesn't always mean Elvis and a drive-through ceremony.

For the Fun Factor, think Circus Circus; a hotel and casino on the Vegas Strip which houses it's very own indoor theme park! As do many of the big hotels in Vegas, Circus Circus has a Wedding Chapel inside which is licensed for civil Ceremonies. Wedding packages at Circus Circus start from just $325.

Chapel of the Fountain, Circus Circus Hotel

                                                   Image courtesy of Equallywed.com



New York
Central Park is a beautiful location to hold an intimate and elegant ceremony. From the Cop Cot to Belvedere's Castle, there are lots of different settings for the perfect 'I Do' moment. Beautiful all year round, Central Park is an iconic New York location where a piece of paradise can be found in the middle of a concrete Metropolis.
Alternatively, you could chose the 'When in Rome' approach and marry in true no-nonsense New Yorker Style with a quick and simple ceremony at the City Clerks office. Other New York locations include the Top of the Rock, the Brooklyn Bridge, and even Times Square. American Sky offer Wedding Packages from £650.

Times Square

                                          Image courtesy of American Sky


Belvedere Castle, Central Park

Image courtesy of www.powertripberkley.com

South Africa
So what about an African Safari? It's certainly got the 'wow' factor. Known as the 'Rainbow Nation', it boasts a plethora of different cultures and stunning scenery; making it the perfect place for adventure loving couples.
The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa is ideal for an intimate Wedding Ceremony, the hotel offers one of the most romantic and memorable locations in the world to get married due to it's position nestled beside the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and Table Mountain.
With exclusive Spa facilities and an in-house cinema, there are plenty of opportunities to unwind before the big day.
A Wedding Package at this stunning resort can be added as an addition to your holiday booking from £370 when booked directly.

                                       Images courtesy of the Twelve Apostles Hotel


Things to consider when choosing to Marry abroad
It's worth checking out the minimum residency period that applies to the country you've chosen as your destination. This can vary from 1 to 7 working days, so bear this in mind when budgeting for your trip. The residency period is a basic requirement that states how long you must be in the country before you can marry there.
The legalities can also be a factor; in some countries, couples are required to take a blood test to prove they are not related (yes, really!). Also, sometimes an Affidavit is required; this is a document that is obtained through a notary public that confirms your marital status. You will usually be advised of how to obtain any essential documents when booking your Wedding, but it's always worth double checking just to be sure.
Also ensure that provision will be made for transporting your Wedding Dress; the last thing you want is to be forced to pack it into your hold luggage. It will not only end up creased, but there is always the possibility that your luggage might get lost and you definitely don't want to be seperated from your gown for your Big Day.

Until next time...
Dust off your passport and book your flights!

The Enchanted One
xoxo

Real Life Weddings: Tahnee and Tony

The gorgeous newlyweds

Mr and Mrs Goodchild

When my wonderful September Bride Tahnee and her Mum Kim approached me in July and asked for my assistance in putting together a wedding in three months, I was both nervous and excited.

It would seem that I had nothing at all to worry about; Tahnee, her Fiancé Tony and MOB Kim had lots of ideas and were very hands-on in the planning process. 

With Gosfield Hall already being Their dream venue, and the very fashionable colour scheme of Hot Pink and Orange chosen, it was up to me to source some suppliers and tie up any loose ends.

The sun came out in time for the Drinks Reception

The 'theme' for the Big Day was cocktails and sparkle; the centrepieces were tall martini glasses filled with coloured gemstones on mirror plates with scatter crystals. Soft, romantic lighting was provided by a plethora of tea lights in jars and mini hurricane lanterns, which adorned the tables in the ballroom, the ceremony room and the terrace, where guests later gathered to watch a magical firework display arranged by the Tahnee as a surprise for Tony.

Tahnee opted for fresh flowers, including stunning lillies in the arrangements as a beautiful tribute to her late Grandmother. The special moments were frozen in time by the amazing Photographer Lucy Jones, who captured every gorgeous detail, with a passion apparent to all. 

Floral Arrangements by Lucy Bowman

The bride wore the absolutely breathtaking Cinderella from Alfred Angelo's Disney Fairytale Collection; which was aptly named as the entire day was truly magical. Her Bridal look was finished with a gorgeous tiara fit for a Princess and crystal drop earrings. 

The Bride's make up was soft and natural

Bridal Hairstyling was by Amie-Louise Snow

Lucy captures every thoughtful detail perfectly

Lending a hand with the Bridesmaid's Make up (That's me!)

All in all, it was an absolute honour to be part of this wonderful event, working alongside some absolute excellent suppliers. The event was intimate, personal, and most importantly, Enchanting.

The Ceremony was held at Gosfield Hall, Essex

Photographs courtesy of Lucy Jones Photography

Photos courtesy of Lucy Jones Photography

Until next time...

Live your own Fairytale.

The Enchanted One 

Xoxo