BABES IN THE WOODS - OUTDOOR FUN WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

We're giving an honourable mention to the wonderful 'Babes in the Woods'.  They can't be with us this year but we're really going to miss them and I promised I would mention them as I love what they do!   Sarah wrote a lovely piece on them which says it all: 

It's always a dilemma - you want to do something a bit different for your hen weekend but you don't want to traipse the streets searching for somewhere to dance, and the cost and logistics of organising plane travel & hotel rooms are just too much of a headache.  What you really want is quality time with your girlfriends, a bit of pampering and a truly bonding experience that you'll always remember.  Well - Babes in the Woods can offer you just that!

Founded by Hetti and supported by The Kitchen table and The Yurt Catering Companies and a fabulous team of hosts, Babes in the Woods offers a totally different, wild opportunity "...an invitation to learn some ancient bushcraft skills, connect with people who are important to you, and mark the marriage of the bride to be".

Set in either the original 300 acres of mixed woodland in a secret pocket of beautiful Devon, a short stroll from the river Dart, or a magical  spot in the Malvern Hills with birds eye views, a roaring camp fire and ancient winding paths await to greet your party. You will be offered a bubbly reception, shown to your luxury Californian dome 'billionstar" dome accommodation, and given a wild walk tour of the area. 

Taking 'glamping' to a new level, the Babes have coined the term 'Woodlounging'!  You get exclusive use of the site and will be offered breakfast in bed or an earlybird yoga/meditation session, with the option of massages, cream teas, bushcraft sessions, or musicians and storytellers to serenade you beside the fire under the star studded night sky.

But don't let the 'outdoors' scare you - you'll learn about ancient survival skills while wearing your best dress & feather boa - you don't have to dress in camouflage gear!  The Babes' ethos is that you have fun as you learn how to create fire, build shelters and find out about wild food.  Remember those childhood sleepovers - well this is 100 times more fun - spending the evening laughing and dancing by the camp fire, under the stars, being served rustic gourmet out-door cooked lunch and dinner and then sinking into your bed in a cosy furnished Californian bedroom dome ... or even sleeping out in your own hand-crafted shelter if you're feeling brave!

But don't just take my word for it - take a look at the testimonials page and read the blog and you'll soon be dying to step into this magical outdoor world.

A totally unforgettable experience, this is the ultimate bonding weekend and a perfect way to mark your friendship before the big day.  It's also a great way to bring all your girlfriends together so that on your wedding day they'll have so much to talk about .. .the stags will be incredibly envious!

BABES IN THE WOODS - CHAMPAGNE HEN NIGHTS ... WITH A TOUCH OF THE WILD!

It's always a dilemma - you want to do something a bit different for your hen weekend but you don't want to traipse the streets searching for somewhere to dance, and the cost and logistics of organising plane travel & hotel rooms are just too much of a headache.  What you really want is quality time with your girlfriends, a bit of pampering and a truly bonding experience that you'll always remember.  Well - Babes in the Woods can offer you just that!

Founded by Hetti and supported by The Kitchen table and The Yurt Catering Companies and a fabulous team of hosts, Babes in the Woods offers a totally different, wild opportunity "...an invitation to learn some ancient bushcraft skills, connect with people who are important to you, and mark the marriage of the bride to be".

Set in either the original 300 acres of mixed woodland in a secret pocket of beautiful Devon, a short stroll from the river Dart, or a magical  spot in the Malvern Hills with birds eye views, a roaring camp fire and ancient winding paths await to greet your party. You will be offered a bubbly reception, shown to your luxury Californian dome 'billionstar" dome accommodation, and given a wild walk tour of the area. 

Taking 'glamping' to a new level, the Babes have coined the term 'Woodlounging'!  You get exclusive use of the site and will be offered breakfast in bed or an earlybird yoga/meditation session, with the option of massages, cream teas, bushcraft sessions, or musicians and storytellers to serenade you beside the fire under the star studded night sky.

But don't let the 'outdoors' scare you - you'll learn about ancient survival skills while wearing your best dress & feather boa - you don't have to dress in camouflage gear!  The Babes' ethos is that you have fun as you learn how to create fire, build shelters and find out about wild food.  Remember those childhood sleepovers - well this is 100 times more fun - spending the evening laughing and dancing by the camp fire, under the stars, being served rustic gourmet out-door cooked lunch and dinner and then sinking into your bed in a cosy furnished Californian bedroom dome ... or even sleeping out in your own hand-crafted shelter if you're feeling brave!

But don't just take my word for it - take a look at the testimonials page and read the blog and you'll soon be dying to step into this magical outdoor world.

A totally unforgettable experience, this is the ultimate bonding weekend and a perfect way to mark your friendship before the big day.  It's also a great way to bring all your girlfriends together so that on your wedding day they'll have so much to talk about .. .the stags will be incredibly envious!

Babes in the Woods

Bristol Vintage is thrilled to introduce you to Babes in the Woods.

Babes in the Woods run wild woodland hen do’s in secluded Devon and beautiful Malvern.

With their signature Californian domed tents, wild walks and woodland wedding favours, Babes in the Woods host great alternative hen weekends.

A hen party with Babes in the Woods  is all about comfortable woodland living, complete with champagne and Devonshire cream teas.

Hens can spend the weekend indulging in good times, champagne and luxury camping.

Other activities include the chance to learn bushcraft skills, such as fire and shelter building, ‘wild walks’ of the area, chill out time in front of a roaring fire and even the opportunity for some proper girlie pampering.

2014 will include the option for wild swimming in the river at Devon or a mini-trek to one the Malvern Hills called, Chase End.  Hens can use their ‘wild’ experience to make unique and seasonal ‘wedding favours’ for their guests such as hedgerow jams, garlic pestos or hedgerow lip balms.

Everything is organised so all you have to think about is enjoying yourselves.

So release your inner Ray Mears and find out more from the Babes themselves. They'll be on hand at our next Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair to answer all your questions. If you can't wait and you need to be glamping right this minute, take a look at their website, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Lily and Louie

Bristol Vintage is excited to welcome… Lily and Louie.

Lily and Louie create bespoke wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and headdresses. 

Inspired by many eras their styles tend to be vintage and often quirky, from tea-length silk dresses with fluffy, coloured petticoats, to elegant art deco inspired draped dresses.

They also make headdresses and veils to complement your look, with birdcage veils for the shorter 1950’s dresses, rose garlands for a country themed wedding and long silk tulle veils for those romantic, flowing lace dresses.

These bespoke dresses and accessories are made by designer Jayne Miller. 

She's currently based in London, so you can arrange an appointment by emailing studio@lilyandlouie.com. But good news for brides in the South West! Lily and Louie will be moving to Devon before the end of 2013 and the move will give them more space to display more dresses and accessories.

Come the New Year Lily and Louie will start designing a new vintage-inspired range.

This gorgeous range will see the addition of some flowing 1930’s inspired lace dresses and a couple of shorter dresses - perfect for the more informal wedding. Samples of the new designs will be ready for display around spring 2014.

But if you can't wait, then you're in luck, because Lily and Louie will be exhibiting their stunning dresses and beautiful accessories at our next Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair in March 2014. Come and meet them and get the dress of your vintage-inspired dreams!

Ivory Flowers

Bristol based florist, Ivory Flowers, are the creators behind these beautiful floral designs.

Owner Xanthe Ivory studied floristry at the respected Bicton College in Devon and has been a professional florist for 5 years. Her passion for flowers and organic design dates from a childhood spent in the countryside. 

Ivory Flowers source locally grown flowers whenever possible. They offer local deliveries within Bristol City Centre and surrounding areas, but you can find them most often at Bristol’s own Tobacco Factory in the Cafe/Bar entrance on Raleigh Road, Southville – they’re the only florist in the Southville area with premises open 7 days a week

Ivory Flowers strive to make your wedding completely unique to you, with their fully bespoke flower displays and bouquets - no two weddings are ever the same. Their seasonal bouquets can range from full and wild, to tight posies, and everything in between.  All of their boutonnières, corsages and headdresses are truly individual and styled to suit each bridal party perfectly. “Working with brides to create beautiful bouquets and arrangements is absolutely one of my favourite parts of my job." -Xanthe Ivory

This year is going to be all about the scented country vintage garden style – think sweet peas, green iris, lily of the valley and dahlias. Hair flowers are going to be big in 2013 too; lots of brides have booked to have them already and we’re only in February! In fact, flower accessories of all kinds will be big – think flowers on shoes and bags, to name but a few.

Pop down to the Tobacco Factory, call Ivory Flowers direct on 07971 165 021 or email ivoryflowersuk@gmail.com - you can even find them on Facebook. No budget is too big or small for Ivory Flowers – Xanthe will make your wedding flowers work for you! Her expert advice is the perfect way to get the ideas flowing and discover new inspiration, but don’t forget to come and see these gorgeous flowers at our next Fair on March 10th - see you there!

Babes in the Woods

Glamping is where it’s at for alternative hen do’s these days and Devon-based company, Babes in the Woods offer a fabulous and totally new concept that will appeal to the more discerning bride to be – champagne and a touch of the wild!

When you go wild with Babes in the Woods, you’ll learn how to make something seasonal to take home.  This is a great idea for wedding favours – you learn how to make your own little pots of wild garlic pesto, hedgerow lip balm or hedgerow jam and can then create your own favours for your wedding day.

Babes in the Woods have branched out with a new woodland hen weekend Malvern location for 2013 – think Californian domed tents, champagne and wild swimming. Groups of 8 and 20 can stay in the domed bedrooms with comfy camp beds and a wood lounging area with wood burning stove. Activities include the chance to learn bushcraft skills such as fire and shelter building, ‘wild walks’ of the area, chill out time in front of a roaring fire and even the opportunity for some proper girlie pampering. For brave hens there’s even the chance to sleep out in the wild under a handcrafted shelter.

On the practical side of things this new location means that it’s easily accessible to hens and their friends travelling from Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, London and Bristol, with the nearest train station Gloucester just 20 minutes away.

Come and meet the Babes in the Woods at our Fair in March.  They’ll have a brand new launch offer of a free place for the ‘hen’ for groups of over 12 if you book on the day, but have plenty of other options to suit your budget. Check out their website for more details.

With Babes in the Woods, everything is organised so all you have to think about is enjoying yourselves. The California Domes are set up ready for you, meals of local produce are prepared and served to you around a banquet table in your woodland grove and in the morning a ‘breakfast buttie’ can be brought to you in bed as well as a cereal and fruit buffet. The bushcraft experts are on hand to help you release your inner Ray Mears! For early birds there are even optional yoga or meditation sessions which can be arranged before breakfast.

Babes in the Woods are operational between 1^st March and 31^st October and weekends are available in both the new Malvern location as well as Devon. The launch date for the Malvern site is: 6^th April 2013. For more information visit their website or call 020 7193 8633 or 07850 401759.

Babes in the Woods

Forget L-plates and embarrassing nightclub shenanigans, glamping is where it’s at for hen do’s in 2012.  Devon based company Babes in the Woods offer a fabulous and totally new concept that will appeal to the more discerning bride to be – champagne and a touch of the wild!

Set in 300 acres of beautiful woodland at a secret location on the Raleigh Estate in South Devon to the north of the historic town of Dartmouth, your hen party will be all about comfortable wooodland lounging, champagne and Devonshire cream teas. Your accommodation will be stylishly furnished bell tents with comfy camp beds inside and the many activities on offer include the chance to learn bushcraft skills such as fire and shelter building, ‘wild walks’ of the area, chill-out time in front of a roaring fire and even the opportunity for some proper girlie pampering with massages and yoga.  All your activities and meals are included as well as the all important luxury camping for the night.                                                                                                                                       

Having a hen night with Babes in the Woods is a chance for you to relax in comfort under a canopy of tree-tops with your closest friends.  You’ll leave with a host of new skills and a seasonally made craft item such as homemade jam, a handcrafted survival shelter or even some hedgerow wild herb ointment, and of course some fantastic memories. Everything’s organised for you, so all you have to think about is enjoying yourselves.

They’re operational between 1^st March and 31^st October and the parties are suitable for groups of between 8 to 20 hens with three different packages available, all with that luxury touch.  Prices start from £195 per person and stays can be extended for up to two nights at a supplement of £35 each.

For visitors to the Wedding Fair and if you book on the day, Babes in the Woods are offering a free bottle of champagne for your hen party on arrival.  Come along and meet founder Hetti Dysch who can tell you much, much more about how you can create a truly magical weekend that your bride and her friends will never forget. 

For more information visit their website or call 020 7193 8633 or 07850 401759.