A Suit That Fits

For the perfect fitting vintage suit, grooms are going to want to come along and meet the guys from A Suit That Fits. Whether you’re after a Mad Men or Boardwalk Empire look, these talented Style Advisers will design you a suit from a host of different eras and still give it a modern fit.

From your first consultation in which over 20 separate measurements are made, you can utilise the vast experience and knowledge of your own Style Adviser, giving you the opportunity to discuss your requirements and discover what suits you.  Your profile will be saved and these guys can design any suit you can think of [whether you can see an example online or not].

It’s so simple.  A Suit That Fits has a massive range of fabrics and are always extending their range.  They encourage the groom to bring in any colour swatches for the wedding and these little details can be translated into button hole stitching or reflected into the lining; so subtle, that you can wear the suit again and again.  You can also use your own fabrics if you’ve sourced something you already love and in terms of style, these guys can recreate anything you like whether it’s vintage, double-breasted or simply adding some fabulous turn-ups. 

A suit takes between 6 and 8 weeks production time although there are fast track options available.  They recommend however that you book in for your consultation at least 3 months before your wedding so they can work to get it just right.  The consultation and measurement fee is just £25 but this covers all [that’s all!] alterations needed.  As everyone wears a suit slightly differently, this is a real saving.

Although they’re London based, they have more than 30 UK locations, which means the best man, the brother or father of the groom can get measured wherever they are, without having to travel to one place.  In Bristol, they’re located in Queens Square overlooking the courtyard, but their tailor stops range from Exeter right up to Scotland.  The also have a wonderfully easy to use website, a style blog and you can find them on Facebook and Twitter, but do come along and meet these clever Style Advisers on the day of the fair.  They’ll be giving out £50 vouchers for attendees of the fair to put towards a suit - a little treat for the grooms!

Cox & Baloney

For owners Amy and Joney, vintage-style tea parties with a twist are the order of the day.  From their gorgeous shop on Cheltenham Road, Bristol they run a delightful vintage-style tearoom amidst their full to the brim with treasures and gems shop. 

A hen party with Cox & Baloney would begin with the very best tea and some gooey homemade cakes.  There would be Babycham from teacups, all served in your own private room and followed by a workshop of your choice.  You could try your hand at making knickers, nipple tassels, hair fascinators, tutus or having a vintage Hollywood-style hair and make-up lesson.  They’ll organise everything you need and make sure you have a wonderful time. You can even let your hair down and try on as many vintage outfits as your heart desires. Of course, if you need a little help, they'll be around to help you achieve exactly the right look.

It’s not just hen parties Cox & Baloney can make special.  The morning of your wedding is a busy time and they can ease the pressure by delivering a sumptuous hamper of delicious goodies to you and your bridesmaids.  You’ll find mid-morning snacks, pastries and of course, some champagne!  They’ll make sure you don’t forget to eat and bring some extra sparkle with them.  

On the day of the fair, both Amy and Joney will be around, so do make sure you come and ask them about their hen party ideas.  Don’t forget to pop into their lovely shop if you’re passing too.  They have everything you could possibly need for creating a truly vintage lifestyle, from original clothing (ladies and gents) to furniture, homeware, books and a dressmaker who can make wedding and bridesmaids dresses.  There’s also a beautiful 1960s wedding dress for sale and it comes complete with a photo of the original owner wearing it.  Their tearoom is open for quintessential English favourites at elevenses or for a traditional afternoon tea served on delicate china and you simply must ask about the Cream Tea Towers!   

Everything Cox & Baloney stock has been lovingly hand-picked and is either original vintage, designer or limited edition.  You can find them on Facebook and Twitter as well as in store and if you’re planning a hen party with a twist - they really can host a perfect afternoon.  Think of lashings of clotted cream and fresh strawberries as you enjoy a good gossip over a piece of cake and a fresh cup of tea.  Think.. why am I not already there?

Cool Classy Campers

For a special way to get to your wedding, look no further than Cool Classy Campers.  Owners Philip and Sarah Heaton have three of these gorgeous VW Camper Vans they hire out for weddings and honeymoons all year round.  They’re both passionate about these gorgeous vehicles; not only smitten with the bags of spirit and personality they possess, but with the whole exhilarating experience of hitting the open road and driving anywhere you wish, turning heads as you go!

It's an experience they want you to share... and now you can! Each bespoke VW Camper Van is beautifully restored with a gorgeous finished interior.  For your wedding you can hire one in red, blue or white, the latter affectionately known as ‘Gus’.  You’ll be chauffeur- driven and can be as creative as you like with flowers and vintage ribbons.  You can opt to hire it as your honeymoon car too.  Each VW is fully equipped with a double bed, stove, sink and water as well as a fridge for your champagne.  There’s even a flip screen dvd; they really are something special.

The new website is currently under construction, but very soon you’ll be able to meet one of their cool VW Camper Vans at the fair.  ‘Gus’ will be parked in the Zoo car park and both Philip and Sarah will be on hand to answer any queries and tell you all about the history of their charming vans.  Don’t forget to ask about the new, fourth van too.  Currently being fully restored, this 52-year old Camper VW will become a completely mobile cocktail van, ready for your wedding and garden parties this summer.

For enquires call 0117 962 3442 or email enquiries@coolclassycampers.co.uk

The Bristol Magazine

We're delighted to be featured in Bristol's biggest monthly magazine and did you know it's available online?  Check out pages 48 and 49 - you'll see our poster for the Wedding Fair and just across the page, we're featured in 'I Do, In Style'.  

If you pop along to their website you only have to click on the cover to read the whole issue.  There's heaps of articles inside celebrating all that's wonderful about life and living in Bristol.  Enjoy.  http://www.thebristolmagazine.co.uk/

Shellac Sound

Gramophone DJs?  Yes please!  Matt Jones and Kate Wright are Bristol based gramophone enthusiasts Shellac Sound, playing music from the 1920's, 30's and 40's on original wind-up gramophones.  They’ve played at art galleries, art deco hotels, music concerts, cinemas, birthday parties in church halls and tea parties in the park as well as some fabulous wedding receptions.  Drawing on their large collection of 78rpm records, they play a varied mixture of dance bands, popular vocal, jazz, chanson and latin, but are happy to tailor a set to completely suit your tastes.  

Using two 1930's His Masters Voice 102 gramophones [widely regarded as one of the best sounding portable gramophones] and one horn gramophone, these are surprisingly loud and clear, but can easily be amplified using microphones if necessary.  With a daytime guide rate of is £150 for the first hour and £50 per additional hour, there are additional charges for travelling further afield and for evening events, so best to talk through your event with them in detail.  

They've been gramophoning since 2003 and are passionate about bringing the machines and the music to gatherings and celebrations.  Their website is delightfully retro and you can be inspired by samples of the fantastic music with their ‘listen’ section.  At the fair, Matt will be playing records in between the live music and doing his very best to have a chat with you all whilst changing gramophone needles every three minutes!  Catch him while you can and let yourself be lost in the magic of the music.

Life’s a Picnic

For a totally unique and utterly charming idea for a wedding or anniversary present, Life’s a Picnic creates classic picnic hampers with a delicious twist.  Each set is unique and contains pretty vintage china, cloth napkins and proper cutlery; everything you need for dining al fresco.

Mother and daughter Elly and Evie have been making one-off vintage picnic hampers since 2005.  Based in Bristol and Nailsworth, they do all the sewing and leatherwork themselves, as well as sourcing the fabrics and contents from all over the country.  Each of their traditional willow hampers is totally unique and they’re classy as well as fun.  They come with 2 x side plates, cups and saucers, 2 x knives, forks and teaspoons; 2 x napkins and a tablecloth, which can vary in size and best of all?  It’s vintage!  You also get a lined and padded removable wicker basket sectioned for cups and glasses; 2 x tumblers (toughened glass), champagne flutes (acrylic), hands-free champagne-glass holders; a corkscrew/bottle opener and a bottle stopper. 

You can also order a bespoke hamper, perfectly tailored to your taste.  So for a more personalised service and if you have a specific period, style, colour or pattern that you love, they can make a hamper just for you and a bespoke label to go with it.  Just tell them your ideas and they can come up with a combination of china and fabric that’s perfect for you or the bride and groom.

Based online, both Evie and Elly will be bringing a large selection of their natural, hand-woven picnic hampers as well as swatches of fabric for bespoke hampers to the fair, so this is a real opportunity to come and see these up close and start thinking about your own designs.  You can also find them on Facebook or read about what they're designing right now on their blog.  What a brilliant vintage idea – Life’s a Picnic!

Bristol Vintage

We’ve been showcasing some wonderful exhibitors for this year’s Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair and as it's not only #WW today [that’s Wedding Wednesday, you know] but also the #Wedding Wednesday of the year, I [that’s Sarah here, *waves hello*] thought it might be nice to tell you a little more about the lady who makes the annual Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair possible and what she does when she’s not organising this brilliant event.

I expect you know already that Bristol Vintage is a Bristol based company co-founded by Ali Cook and Katie Daniels and, since the birth of Katie’s baby girl, is being run by Ali.  She has over 10 years experience organising boutique events, weddings, parties and film premieres and the idea for the company was inspired by her passion for vintage and love of tea-cups and cupcakes.

It was after attending a number of fairs and realising that they were looking for something that little bit different, that Ali and Katie realised a dedicated vintage wedding fair was exactly what the South West needed.  They came up with the idea to hold their own and last spring held the very first Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair at the Clifton Pavilion.  

This year’s fair is bigger and better, as they welcome back some wonderful exhibitors and showcase some new ones for you, each handpicked and offering gorgeous vintage dresses, fabulous corsets, brilliant headgear and stunning cakes as well as exceptional photographers, beautiful, bespoke stationery, fantastic florists and more.  There’s retro and romantic entertainment and of course there’s always cake served on Bristol Vintage’s very own crockery.  Like last year, there are goodie bags for the first 250 visitors and entry is completely free.

Last year was incredibly exciting for Bristol Vintage with growing wedding orders and even supplying crockery for the fabulous Miss Marmite Lover for her festival pop-up dinners.

This year Bristol Vintage has a few more things up its sleeve and, having just supplied the M-Shed with Babycham glasses for it’s fabulous Norman Parkinson launch Ali is now working with the RWA on a Mother’s Day afternoon tea in the stunning RWA building.  So if you'd like to get in touch or you're planning a wedding or party, come along to the fair on 26th February and meet Ali in person, or you can email Bristol Vintage at info@bristolvintage.co.uk

Days of Grace Vintage

Days of Grace is the place for beautiful vintage style dresses and stunning accessories.  These one-off designs are made from antique lace and vintage textiles and are perfect for country, barefoot on the beach or beautiful summer picnic style weddings.  They’re totally romantic dresses with a boho edge and each original ranges from the late 1800's right through to the 1980's. 

At Days of Grace you’ll see exquisite beadwork, beautiful draping fabrics and laces.  Alongside the wedding gowns in the back room there are medieval style hand woven silk bodices from the 1980s.  There’s brand new fine lace and slipper satins from sourced designers with a vintage inspired twist, always unusual and completely unrepeatable. Owner Linda Duriez finds these discontinued gems from designer archives and brings them to life, each totally unique, such as her current Jenny Packham 30s inspired pieces.  A visit to Days of Grace Vintage is a delight because you never know just what treasures might have been added to their collection and with these often hidden away in store, it’s always best to ring ahead to let them know exactly what you’re looking for.

A click onto the website lets you sample some of the vintage and retro pieces available or you can find their treasure trove of a shop at 15 Fore Street, Budleigh Salterton [although they recommend you book an appointment in advance, to avoid disappointment].  You can also find their sister shop Pirouette in Exeter and online.  Based in a 16^th century merchant’s house in the old West Quarter, you can explore the very different designers showcased including Maggie Sottero, Sottero & Midgley and Annasul Y. New designers arrived recently include Amanda Wakely and Yolan Cris. A wedding gown specialist, the Pirouette range is forever changing.  Think delicate gowns, beautiful veils, hand made jewellery and tiaras. 

Whether you’re looking for something vintage or vintage-inspired, perhaps even vintage re-created, Linda will be at our fair with some beautiful dresses to showcase from both shops.  There’s something for everyone, but you’ll have to be quick as there’s only one of each gorgeous dress.

91 Magazine

91 Magazine is a quarterly online magazine that features news, style tips, shopping ideas, interiors, features on craft and vintage style as well as proudly supporting small businesses, designers and crafts people.  

Their second issue is out today and our Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair is featured on page 12 as part of the Vintage Lovers Guide to Bristol alongside a lovely photo from photographer Liza McCarron.  

It's a incredibly stylish magazine and we're delighted to be featured.  Do check it out and let us know what you think.

Chrome Occasions

On the day of the fair you’ll find something quite unusual in the Zoo car park – a fabulous 20 ft long 1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville.   It’s finished in ivory with contrasting black & white original leather interior and you won’t quite believe it till you see it!

The 1959 Cadillac was the most flamboyant of all the models produced and has become a design icon, so if you’re looking to arrive in the ultimate style and comfort on your special day, this '59 Cadillac is the perfect car for you.  It has fours doors, for the convenience of the bride (and her dress) and not forgetting the iconic rear fins and dazzling chrome work.  Your chauffeur on the day will arrive in full uniform and all wedding packages include colour-coordinated ribbons of your choice. Fresh flower  arrangements can be supplied as an optional extra.

Based in Weston-Super-Mare, Chrome Occasions can provide their lovely car for wedding hire throughout the South West region.  For all enquiries, contact them through their website but make sure you come to the fair.  Owner Cheryl Hodges will be on hand to tell you much more, but as she feels you can’t really appreciate just how wonderful this car is until you see it in person, her partner Ed will also be there to show you round it. 

Dawn Wilkins Photography

Bristol Vintage has their very own photographer for the day!  Bristol-based Dawn Wilkins will be taking pictures at the fair, making sure every aspect of all things wedding and vintage are covered.  There’ll be classic car [and bus] shoots as well as fashion shots of our models in their beautiful vintage dresses.

When she’s not documenting our annual fair, Dawn Wilkins specialises in wedding and portrait photography and has recently added engagement shoots and hen dos to her repertoire.  Imagine a photoshoot somewhere like Goldbrick House with tea and cake and an optional makeover by a local makeup artist all followed by a fun photo session.  It’s great practice for posing on the actual wedding day and Dawn’s friendly and warm approach enables her to capture people at their most natural.

Booking with Dawn is easy as she’ll be around all day at the fair, so just stop her and have a chat.  Her website also details the wedding and civil ceremony packages she offers which include an optional engagement photo shoot before the wedding, post production and retouching of all photographs, all photos on a disc in high resolution, plus a DVD slideshow of 100-150 best photos set to music
.  

Dawn also offers gorgeous wedding albums; magazine style photo books in hardback with dust jackets.  She’s really able to offer you a different perspective on your vintage wedding day.  Take a look at her blog for more examples of her work and don’t forget to smile on the 26^th Feb!

Pedal Power Transport

On the day of the fair there’ll be a handsome man dressed in top hat and tails standing next to a beautifully decorated rickshaw.  Meet Sam Harris, owner of Pedal Power Transport.  He’s the man to talk to about how to get yourself and your guests from the wedding ceremony to the reception using one of the most environmental and sustainable ways possible!

Pedal Power Transport is a friendly, green alternative to transport in the city of Bristol.   They transport an array of important things already and are now offering some brilliant wedding, hen and stag party packages.  It’s a taxi service with a difference.  Their pedal power rickshaws have zero emissions and they’re here to cut congestion, pollution and carbon from the streets of our beloved Bristol to help make it a nicer place for us all and offer you something that little bit  different for your wedding.  On the day of the fair Sam’s rickshaw will come bedecked with ribbons, but for your hen night or wedding you can go wild with flowers and vintage inspiration, using any eco products you like to decorate the cab. 

So, whether you’re a big fan of biking, the environment or just fancy the romance and fun of a rickshaw adventure ride on your big day, come along and meet Sam.  He runs a brilliant website, Facebook page and he’s on Twitter.  You can also email him at info@pedalpowertransport.co.uk.  It’s a fresh look at wedding transport and it’s sustainable, but most of all it’s pretty cool, don’t you think? 

Cuffy

When visiting our fair on 26^th February, make sure you catch the wonderful Cuffy and his Spanish guitar.  He’s a professional flamenco guitarist with over 20 years experience and he’ll be playing on and off throughout the day, adding a splash of sunshine and romance to our event. 

Cuffy studied in Spain and has played with numerous Flamenco musicians, singers and dancers.  He’s a member of Flamenco Trio *Calima* and plays with world music Group *Up Bustle & Out*.  Most recently he’s been playing with Israeli Ladino singer *Yasmin Levy* on her USA & European Tours.  He’s experienced playing big events and lucky for us, that includes weddings.  So you too can have a dash of the Mediterranean at your wedding ceremony and a romantic ambient background to your wedding breakfast or reception.  Come and meet Cuffy at the fair.  He’s always happy to discuss any musical requests that may add a ‘special something’ to your day.  

If you can’t wait till then, try his Facebook and Myspace pages for music and samples or his about me page for more information.  For bookings, email him at Flamenco_cuffy2@hotmail.com

Britten Bags

Brides and Bridesmaids… for handbags and vintage-inspired accessories, look no further than the Britten boutique, home to all kinds of bags, bouquets and feather fans.  With a cornucopia of 1920s influenced bridal and wedding products, you’ll find everything from hair accessories and button-holes to cake decorations and garters.

Based in England, just outside Bath owner Sarah designs and make each and every one of the products in her studio.  

Believing you should only own things you want to cherish forever and hating the idea of mass-produced items, one thing she’s absolutely passionate about is working with people to create an accessory totally unique to them. A graduate of Cordwainers College at the London College of Fashion, Britten has been a dream of hers since 2002 and was officially launched in 2010.  In 2011 Sarah launched her wedding range and this year she’s been working on a new range of vintage-inspired bridal bags, which she’ll introduce at our fair!

Prices range from £15 for a pearl garter to £88 for a feather fan.  You can shop at her fabulous online boutique with its host of beautiful images or contact Sarah directly about a custom piece.  Don’t forget to stop off to read the lovely Britten blog to find out more about the items for sale and all things vintage and then come along and meet Sarah in February.  It’s her first ever vintage fair and we’re delighted she’ll be joining us.

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.