** Featured Supplier** - Dan and Ali's Icecream Bike

Friday has rolled around once again, and that means another fabulous supplier for you all to meet! Today we have Dan and Ali's Icecream Bike to sweeten your tastebuds! Dan himself is here to fill you in!

" Dan & Ali's ice cream bike was started three years ago by my brother Ali and myself (Dan). Whilst at University I came up with the idea of running my own vintage ice cream bike hire business and turned the idea into a University project creating a logo, branding, uniform and website. 

In 2010 we purchased our bike and received a young entrepreneur grant from the government for our bike freezer. We started out selling ice cream from our bike at local fetes and charity events in and around North Walsham where our business is based. In 2012 our business was one of the contestants on BBC Three's young entrepreneur competition 'Be Your Own Boss'. The competition ran by Innocent Smoothies boss Richard Reed was a brilliant experience for us and really helped us to develop our business. We also received our first wedding bookings at the end of last year and had exhibited at our first wedding show, the Sprowston Manor for the Wedding Prom and Party Show. 

We really enjoy travelling to weddings and making people smile, when you hire our bike for your wedding you are buying an experience. Ali and I have worked really hard to create a unique brand for our ice cream bike and we really stand out from other ice cream business. 

This year we exhibited at the two day EDP Wedding Show at the Norfolk Showground and we had an amazing time meeting so many brides and serving our ice cream samples. Raspberry and Champagne flavour was certainly a good choice and we are really pleased that all the hundreds of brides that tried our ice cream enjoyed it and had so many nice things to say about our bike. We have had so much interest and a few bookings for weddings this year which is great for us because we want to become an established wedding hire business as we really enjoy making people smile and giving them something special for their big day. Our red vintage ice cream bike is the perfect addition to a summer wedding and will keep all your guests exited and refreshed. 

We cater for every type of wedding, from a back garden DIY wedding of 50 guests to a big stately home celebration of a couple of hundred guests. We serve luxury soft scoop ice cream or sorbet in cones or our branded red ice cream bowls. 

Our prices are the best in Norfolk and start from £200. Testimonials, booking information and flavours can be found on our website. 

This year as well as serving ice cream at lots of weddings we are hoping to start making our own ice cream."

 You can find them:

Website: http://danandalisicecream.co.uk/ (currently being updated)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/D-A-N-A-L-I-S-ice-cream-bike/232611193425455
Twitter: https://twitter.com/icecreamDan

The bookworm

For the literary couple what could be better than a book themed wedding?! At first you might think that this theme wouldn't be able to go very far; well think again. During my search for a bookworms ideal wedding I surprised myself with what fabulous ideas I found! 

So to begin there are the more obvious;

Book centre pieces 

Stacked book wedding cake

A series of book-related photos with the bride and groom

BUT then it gets interesting;

Book-page table runner, 

Book-page flowers, 

Even a (romance novel) book-page wedding dress!

And my personal favourite... The book arch. This is such a great idea.

I think what I love so much about this theme is that it's geeky but not technological and because of this it reaches out to a much wider range of people. Books are timeless and this timeless theme will look really amazing. 

Dotty for Polkadot

Are you trying to choose your wedidng dress but don't want to wear a plain dress? There are other options...

Wy not add polkadots to your dress. I don't mean that you should stick on dots to your beautiful dress...  How about looking at dresses with subtle patterns? I love polkadots and I love that they can make as much or as little of a statement as you want. The smaller the dot the simpler the overall look generally. I've found a selection of stunning dresses which I hope might inspire you. 

Of course there are alternatives... Stripes, sashes, bows, lace, colourful petticoats and skirts (as illustrated in Michelle's fabulous post earlier in the week).

But today I'm just going to focus on polkadots. This is a great theme to tie the brides dress in with the bridesmaids; imagine colourful polkadot 1950s tea dresses! The groom and groomsmen can also be brought into the theme with their ties and handkerchiefs.

And for a small dose why not choose a veil with polkadots? 

DIY Chalk Board Ideas

Good morning,

Gemma here today with my love of D.I.Y. wedding ideas. On today's blog we look at how easy it is to use chalk boards within your wedding, for just about everything!

From signs directing your guests to the ceremony, party, photo booth and bar, to how accessories your table with wine glasses dipped in blackboard paint to place mats with your guests names or menu on. Think of how you can incorporate this simple and easy D.I.Y. technique into your day and leave us a comment with your ideas.

Happy planning !! 

Gemma xx  

Catch the Rainbow!

Another Bank Holiday has rolled around, and once again the weather is looking good! And today I'm coming back to a wedding theme that I love, Rainbows. I wrote about this at the beginning of the year, sharing fun ideas to integrate the theme through your day. And today I want to focus on gorgeous gowns for you lovely ladies out there. Coloured dresses are on trend, so why not wear every colour!

With so many versatile options, from wearing bold and bright tones, to soft pastels blending in, you can enjoy idea of wearing something different, but being able to keep to your limits. Many brides opt to have a white or ivory dress with a hint of rainbow through the skirt, or by wearing a knee length dress and going all out with a rainbow-effect petticoat. As you'll see from the selection below, dresses go from elegant to extreme, so make sure you try the dress before you buy. Getting a dress from a picture you see online could be the completely different hues and brightness levels than what you thought you were getting!

Have a look at these beauties!

Weekly round up! 20th -25th May

Good morning and a Happy Sunday to all of you! It's Araminta here to give you a quick round up of the weeks blog posts for any of you who didn't catch them all. What a busy week it's been at Evissa! And what terrible weather we've had... At least it started to clear up yesterday in preparation for the Bank Holiday weekend! I hope you all have at least one BBQ planned and at least a little relaxing!

Monday 20th

Michelle started off the week with a great blog post with highlights of a shoot that Ashley from Mystic Magic Masquerade did titled Project Red. The incredibly talented Ashley created a fairytale mash up of all things red and beautiful, Inspired by Snow White and Red Riding Hood. I'd highly recommend that you check out those photos!

Tuesday 21st

Gemma brought us a selection of her favourite summer boho hair looks! And what a fab collection of dos! My favourites include flowers; the more the better!

Wednesday 22nd 

Today I discussed the idea of using lace throughout your wedding; from hair pieces to vase decorations to making your own lace covered wedding shoes!

Thursday 23rd

Alternative confetti was the blog topic on Thursday. For those of you not wanting to use paper this post provides a nice range of other options.

Friday 24th

Michelle told us all about this weekends wedding fair organised by S&D Roadshows! I hope you managed to get there and explore the great range of suppliers.

Saturday 25th

Gemma gave us her top 10 tips for planning your wedding. This is a must read if you're recently engaged!

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend everyone and keep reading!

10 Top Tips To Plan Your Big Day....

Good Morning !! It's a Sunny start to the last May Bank Holiday weekend, so fingers crossed we might be in for a nice day ! 

Today I reveal my top 10 tips for planning your wedding. Essential for any couple making the decision to commit for ever. 

People are wanting to spend less and less on a wedding nowadays and new figures this week show that weddings fees have dropped from £24,000 to £18,000. 

More realistically in Norfolk, customers I work with have a budget of between £2,000 to £8,000 so here's how to achieve a big wedding for a smaller budget ! 

1) Spread the word!! 

Everybody loves a bit of good news! Especially in these financially challenging times, start the ball rolling by announcing your engagement to immediate family, close family, extended family, close friends, work colleges and then everyone else. Your be amazing at the offers you get to help with your wedding. From an old auntie who loves making cakes or a friend setting up a independent florist, make the most of people offering to help!

2) Picking a date! 

Are you traditional ? Will only a Saturday do for your big day ?? Be More assertive when selecting your wedding date. Hotels and wedding venues often offer discounted rates for Sunday and midweek weddings, make the wedding about you rather than your guests.

3) Make your dream come true..

Every girl has dreamt about there big day. From fairytail castles to a tipi tent at a festival set your dream and follow it according to your budget. Add hints and tints of it if you can't afford Cinderella's castle, or bring a Boho feel with the use of wild flowers and natural products. 

4)Prioritise! 

The most important piece of advice. 

Work out what's most important to you and your partner. Don't spend thousands because other people did or told you so. If a photographer is more important than a car then choose the photographer. Remember it's a day to remember and treasure to the memory's. 

5) Set a budget.. 

Discuss with your parents or guardians from the word go if they are willing to contribute to the wedding. Work out what you and your partner can afford and open a savings account to pay suppliers and vendors out of. This will help you to keep more in control of what your spending. 

6) Draw up a guest list. 

Are you inviting everyone you know? Or is it more intimate and personal. Work out your numbers from the word go. It will help you when you do your venue search and be able to negotiate with suppliers. 

7) Be organised. 

Treat yourself to a wedding folder. 

Keep scraps of pictures and samples that catch your eye, pieces of ribbons or colour swatches all help you create a mood bored to keep your theme on the go. It's also great to be able to store your wedding party's contact details and lists of suppliers and vendors. 

8) Hire a planner/co-ordinator. 

Planning a wedding on any scale and budget can be stressful. Sometimes you need to take a step back before you end up missing the whole thing. A wedding planner can help by not only giving great advice and information but can organise your day and be there to oversee the details so you can enjoy your day stress free ! For free impartial advice, contact www.evissawedding.co.uk 

9) DIY! 

From bunting to favours, stationary to gifts there is so much you can do and make for your big day, use your bridal party to help make items and use it as special time out with the girls. 

10) And Relax! 

Wedding planning stress is the last thing you need the night before your wedding. 

Don't over do it! Relax the night before with a fruit cocktail (no alcohol - no fuzzy heads!) some Girly chick flicks, dressing gowns and slippers, and your best mates. Nothing relaxes you more than time with the closest people in your life. 

Remember a new chapter is about to start relax and enjoy it ! 

S&D Roadshows - Thomas Paine Hotel Wedding Show

Good morning everyone! Today on A Blushing Bride 2B we are giving you all the juicy details of this weekends's wedding fair organised by one of our lovely sponsors, S&D Roadshows.

The Wedding Show is being held this Sunday 26th of May at Thomas Paine Hotel in Thetford, Norfolk. Built from three 18th century cottages, it is a beautiful construction boasting high ceilings, stained glass windows, gorgeous beams and wooden floors, giving a romantic and stunning setting for a wedding and will be able to view on the day as well. And this Sunday it will be home to lots of fabulous wedding suppliers all wanting to help you achieve the day of your dreams. Here is who you can see on the day:

Sweet Treats

Sweet Temptations (Cakes)
Crazy Sweet Cake / Polish Dinners (Cakes)
Tout Sweet (Cupcakes)
Melting Chocolate Moments (Chocolate Fountain)
Rob and Steve (Sweetie Cart)

Photographers and Videographers 


Smiles Photography
Sally Lowe Photography
Dion Gallichan Photography (Bridal Boudoir)
Molly G. Production (Videographer)

Bridal Beauty

Bury Bridal Rooms (Dresses)
Gemma's Jewellery Box (Accessories)
Serenity Hair Design and Beauty (Beauty Therapy)
Sallys Wedding Co (Florist)

Entertainment

Paradise Fun Casino
S&D Roadshows
Claire Jemima (Vocalist)

Wedding Accessories

Jinetti Confetti (Stationery)
Kassie Berry Bespoke Wedding Stationery
First Impressions Last (Stationery)
Easy and Elegant Weddings (Chair Covers)
Covers by Gill (Chair Covers)
Jane Webster (Backdrops and Linens)
Chocolates by Janine (Wedding Favours)

Transport

DNG Cars

Not only will there be a free glass of bubbly for guests on arrival, but the venue will also be running a prize draw where you can win a ROMANTIC 2 NIGHTS STAY FOR TWO including breakfast in this stunning boutique style venue! On from 10am till 4pm and with free admission, make sure you pop in find yourselves some great suppliers!

It's all about the confetti

Do you want confetti at your wedding? When I hear the word confetti I instantly think of that coloured, thin, paper confetti in the shape of horse shoes, hearts and bells but actually there are far more options available;

Dried or fresh rose petals

The smell amazing and will biodegrade naturally. And for an added personal touch, and money saver, they can come from your garden!

Rice

Rice is what would have been originally thrown but it's not great for birds, so this option is best for an inside confetti throwing.

Bird feed

Throwing bird seeds is an amazing alternative to rice! And you're feeding the birds, perfect! Happy birds, happy bride.

Lavender

Like the petals, this lavender will smell AMAZING and is biodegradable. It can also be collected from your garden and will save you, and your guests money. You could even request that they bring their own lavender instead of paper confetti.

Sparklers

I love this idea for an evening wedding. If each guest has a sparkler the effect is stunning!

Bubbles

Every child's dream! Hundreds and thousands of bubbles to run through! It's likely that the bubbles will continue to be created throughout the night.

Bells

An adorable idea; each guest is given a tiny bell to ring as the bride and groom walk through the tinkling sea of sound,

Glitter

Perhaps not the most practicle idea; we all know how difficult glitter is to get off! However still a sweet option.

Paper airplanes

Who didn't love making and throwing paper airplanes as a child? Just aim for the air above the couple and not the couple themselves...

Leaves

For an autumn wedding this idea is fab! Biodegradable and colourful!

Ribbons 

For the ribbon twirler in all of us this is a nice option with no mess!

Which option suits you best?

White Lace

I think lace is beautiful! It's so delicate, feminine and vintage! The vintage look may not be for everyone but it certainly is fashionable at the moment! And I must admit, I'm a fan. I think using lace in your wedding can be fantastic. It can easily be applied to various objects to bring separate pieces together. Wrapped around a jam jar for example, or tied on the back of a seat. The following images illustrate the use of lace within a wedding. My favourite is the hair piece although the lace wedding dresses come a close second! And of course lace doesn't have to be white... But that's for another day. Today I'm sticking with simple white, cream and ivory lace. 

It's simple enough to make your own lace shoes too! Take a pair of plain shoes in your preferred style, some lace in your chosen colour, style and size, scissors and some spray adhesive. Work out the best way to cut your lace to fit on the shoes; do you want lace all over or just as detailing (perhaps just on the heel?). Spray and stick, maybe add a little more adhesive for luck and leave to dry. You can experiment with the base colour of the shoe if you are feeling adventurous. 

Gemma's Summer Boho Hair favourites

Good Morning, 

Today I bring my love of my Summer Boho Hair ideas to the blog. 

When I go to meet a bride for a bridal consultation, 8/10 brides ask for a boho inspired look. From long curly hair with drapes round the side, to messy sexy hair up's. Boho is the style to have. Accessorise with long veils, big floral headbands or tiny diamanté beads, its the perfect look for many brides. 

Flowers make the best Boho accessories ! 

 

This boho look with the red lips, began the whole British Boho shoot that I did in July 2012.

Images from various Internet pages

To contact Gemma Lamb Mua visit www.gemmalambmua.co.uk or through Evissa weddings on evissaweddings@gmail.com 

Project Red by Mystic Magic Masquerade

Now, everyone knows I love something a little different, and one of my favourite people, Ashley and Mystic Magic Masquerade, never fails to make me smile with glee! I am very proud to bring you one of his latest shoots, Project Red.

Project Red is a fairytale mash up of all things red and beautiful, Inspired by Snow White and Red Riding Hood. Mystic Magic along with the amazing photography skills of Chris Biele from PixBeat Photo and the beautiful model Nicola came together escorted by a pair of jolly policemen to a secret photo shoot location on the Queen's Sandringham estate!

In the shoot you will see several pieces from Ashley. First up is Ethereal, a stunning masquerade mask covered in 884 beautiful pearls with a luxurious white ribbon tie and perfect for the glamourous brides with its victorian-esque style. And secondly is Rose's Breath. This piece featured in Norwich Fashion Week 2013 in the Steampunk Couture collection. Made from a traditional respirator gas mask, and artistically reconstructed and spray painted in brass and bronze metallics, it is perfect for the Steampunk fan. With its studded spikes for attitude and clockwork pieces, it also boasts a hint of fairytale romance with blood red rose petals contained in the filters.

Perfect ideas for a wedding with a dark fairytale twist, well suited to the alternative couples who want to stand out from the crowd with a Gothic or Steampunk influence to the day. 

Credits:

Photography By Chris Biele  (Pixbeat Photo) http://www.pixbeatphoto.com/

Assistant photographers: Amy and Becky 

Model: Nicola Dorman (A little Bloomin Grace) https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-little-Bloomin-GracePhotography/442835789081948?fref=ts

Masks headwear and costume by Mystic Magic www.mysticmagiconline.co.uk