The Rendevouz Hotel Skipton, wedding fair.

Its been another one of those super busy weeks where I'd been hoping it was still Monday when in fact it was friday.

Tuesday saw an amazing experience for No 9 to work alongside the superb talents of my Yorkshire Dream Team, HF Couture, Leafy Couture and Just Darling cakes and a new addition to that team, pheomenal photographer James Melia.

Today we exhibited at our first wedding fair at Skipton Rendevouz Hotel where we happened to be the only bridal wear consession in attendance. All good for us however.

We were approached by photographers who wanted to set up shoots with us and local mens hire who wanted to have our frocks in their windows. Yes please!

However, it seemed to be our presentation that impressed fellow folk in the industry alongside brides-to-be, where at peak times, were queuing up to chat with us.

This week we employed the services of a design team (thank you Danny) situated in the studio on our floor of the Clock Tower to design our handouts and banner. So it only seems fitting to say a massive thank you to the amazing photographers who contributed to our handout and banner Rob Booker and James Melia.

Brides to be loved the accessories we brought along by HF Couture and Tiararama, both whom we stock in our studio.



They also loved the floral arrangement put together especially for the day by Leafy Couture.




However, the most memorable moment for me was when chatting to a bride to be who looked totally resentful about being at the fair with her mum. She hadn't exactly received the best of treatments in bridal salons she told us and as we chatted with her and passed on our 'Dream Team' contact details after our protfolio seemed to thoroughly engage her, she raised her hand in the air and 'high fived' me. In that single moment she looked like for the first time she could look forward to planning her wedding, that we could make her look amazing, but more important we would make her feel amazing.

That's why I love my job.

Of course the day was about promoting us, but it couldn't have looked more professional without the talents of (in no particular order)

Rob Booker

James Melia

HF Couture

Tiararama

Leafy Couture

Win a Wedding Gown Competition!

Last year to celebrate our 2nd year of sucessful dressmaking, No 9 Bridal Couture launched what we believe was a pretty amazing competition.

We teamed up with HF Couture and Xposure Photography to offer one lucky bride-to-be the chance of winning a very unique experience.

The winner would receive:
1. A bespoke wedding gown to the value of £1,000 hand crafted by ourselves.

2. An exclusive tiara or accessory made to their own design to the value of £100,

supplied by HF Couture

3. The choice of a ‘Model’ or ‘For Your Eyes Only’ professional photo shoot to the value of £300 as well as a slide show DVD containing a selection of the photographs taken by

Xposure Photography.

One runner up would receive a £75.00 voucher to be redeemed against a bridesmaid gown.

All we wanted to know was how your fiancé proposed.

Competition between our five finalists was pretty fierce, but we were delighted with our winner, Abi who married last weekend.

Abi chose a timeless style which consisted of silk, tulle and corded lace in ivory. We also had a beautiful hand beaded embelishment worked on to the gown by the very talented Jane at HF Couture to add a finishing touch of couture luxury.

Abi chose to take advantage of our personal dressing service and we arrived promt at 'Flash' at 8.30am.

The air was calm and peaceful inside the cottage. Not a hint of nerves or disorganisation anywhere. After helping her four lovely bridesmaids dress, I finally helped Abi into her gown just before 10am.

The competition was a huge success and we shall miss Abi terribly.

May I take the opportunity of wishing both Abi and her new husband the very best for the future.

Official photographer Helen of PH Weddings and a sneak into the day can be found here.

A Little R & R

Friday 9th September 2011

Mr D comes everywhere with me. Anything business related and he's by my side.

This weekend he's taking me to Sheffield to dress a very special bride. Our competition winner Abi gets married tomorrow and I rarely 'do' motorway driving, so we're up and off for 7am to prepare Abi for her big day.

Sunday he's taking me to Harrogate for the BBEH and Tuesday he took me to the Brides Up North Tweet up. In a few weeks, he'll also be by my side for our first ever wedding fair.

It's been non stop for us over the past year, a new studio move, magazine features and a brand new collection out Mid November, so we've never been in more need of a family holiday.

We recently returned from our haven. There was no mobile phone reception and eventhough there is Wifi, I ignored it.

We spent time relaxing and enjoying the peace and tranquility of our Devon cottage and I didn't want to come home! Infact, before we left, we booked next year.

We all enjoyed it, even the Cairn.

Our beautiful holiday cottage.

Home from home comforts

The view from our window.

Attention to detail.

The Cairn and the farm help, Jim.

Time out to go bug hunting with the family. We came across these wierd catapillars. We believe they pupate into Hawk Moths (let me know if i'm wrong!)

Time to enjoy scones with locally produced clotted cream and jam.

Strawberries and wine while reading on the lawn

Helping on the farm with the children.

Day outs to the beach

And visiting my son in his new Plymouth flat.

Everybody needs a little R & R. It leaves me refreshed and ready for the next mad few months!