Thorton Hough's hidden gems

I have realised now is the time to get really serious about the wedding. In fact my next few weekends all revolve around weddings-I am driving Rich nuts especially as I am trying to drag him to wedding fayres!!

Last weekend I was at the Thornton Hall wedding show which I found very useful as there were lots of local suppliers. I want to support local business as much as possible so I was really pleased to see the variety on offer.

While I was there I booked in to try some lace dresses on with Cherish the Bride in West Kirby (http://www.cherishthebride.co.uk/)

I also met two lovely ladies from Anna May Couture (http://www.annamay.co.uk/) who could make me a bespoke dress for the same price as I was looking to buy. Who can resist a bespoke dress? When we met our photographer John at Studio900 (http://www.studio900.co.uk/) he showed me photos from 2 recent weddings and the brides were wearing the same dress. I really really don't want that to happen!!! Plus then I can get the dress I want and have been sketching away. I know what I want in my head. In fact the image came to me when I was spinning last night! I actually planned all the colour schemes in my head-it made spinning go quicker!!

I also met a stationers that could put a picture of the church on the invitations and a pic of the Hillbark for the evening invitations an idea that I quite like but not decided on! Think Rich will like that idea.

Maria Murphy of Personal Travel Solutions also had a stand. She works from home and offers bespoke honeymoons. I really like the idea of having a honeymoon guest list where people can buy us excursions on our honeymoon or gift vouchers. W e had thought about setting up a bank account but I don't think people like just giving money-they want to give a gift. Plus we don't have many pennies for our honeymoon saved up so this way we can have something a bit special without plunging into mountains of debt. (www.personaltravelsolutions.co.uk)

There were lots more but I can't remember them off the top of my head!! I know that is quite bad esp as I met a lovely lady who does makeup and I can't remember her name -I have it at home.

Yesterday I went to do an interview with Ling Warlow of Dragonfly Couture Stationery for a piece in the ECHO next week to promote Confetti the ECHO's wedding show at the BT Convention Centre on January 24 and 25. (http://www.confettishow.co.uk/)

I won't tell you what the interview was about because then you might not read it in the paper!!

Ling set up the company in the Turret in 2007 and it has gone from strength to strength. When you walk into shop you can see why. The stationary is beautiful. Ling is the only person in the north to offer letter press which results in some truly stunning designs. (http://dragonflycouturestationery.com/) I tried putting some pictures up but I can't for some reason- I think I have written too much!!

After chatting to Ling (I will post the story on here next week) I went down the chat to Sue at Daisy Hill Cakes. Sue was really lovely and warm and kept apologising for the state of the shop-couldn't see anything wrong with it myself! The cakes were lovely and I am looking forward to popping in on a Saturday and getting a box of samples - yummy! There was a greater choice of cake fillings then I have come across before and I wouldn't be able to choose just one! (http://www.daisyhillcakes.co.uk/) I felt like I had wasted her time though as I haven't made any real decisions about anything!! One minute I wanted cup cakes the next I wanted a simple but beautiful cake. Think I need to get the dress sorted asap first!

Right think I best go! Sure most ppl fell asleep paragraphs ago! The Weight Watchers diet is going well :) stuck to it very well so far and have played netball and gone spinning! Pleased with myself so far :)