Exciting Times !

Well this HAS been an exciting week so far - and it's still only Thursday !


Work on our new studio has been progressing nicely and yesterday the new flooring was completed - this has made a dramatic change to what was up until then quite a bleak space as you can see from these Before and After pics !

Now we can't wait to move our bits 'n' bobs in this weekend and be ready to re-open for business on Monday 13th.


Other exciting events this week include the launch today of our NEW revamped website www.blenheimweddings.co.uk - Ellie from EMW Online has worked tirelessly on this over the last few weeks and amazingly just about managed to resist the temptation to set about Jan with her keyboard despite Jan's constant changes of mind in the final week of development. Ellie's patience paid off though and the website is up and running.


To celebrate the launch we are running a competition in conjunction with Virgin Active, Barnwood to win a free One Month Family Pass to the club worth £100 ! The competition is totally free to enter and everybody that does enter gets a free one day pass as a Thank You. Click HERE to enter !


As if all this excitement isn't enough for one week, on Saturday night Jan is photographing the Winston's Wish Firewalk Charity event at Brickhampton Court Golf Complex - made extra special because Jan's partner Ian is actually one of the firewalkers ! He was a late entrant, originally on board to assist Jan working but then last week decided to have a go himself in aid of this wonderful charity. He's so close to his £150 target now that he can almost touch it, but still needs a few more pounds to get there - if you get a chance please sponsor him, even just for £1 - every bit helps. Click HERE to sponsor Ian.


That's it for now folks - I've just realised that there is only ONE tea bag left and so must dash out on an emergency run to the Co-Op now - I think you all know me well enough now to understand the importance of that journey ;-)


Jan x

Er... where did January go please?

Ok - so one minute I'm making it my New Year's Resolution to keep this blog updated on a weekly basis and then all of a sudden.... it's the 24th of the month already. What happened???

So what's our news  then.... well, January has been, as usual, a month of studio work - keeping up with our Cherubs baby sessions and sorting out the pre wedding shoots for our 2012 couples that haven't been in yet so far. And lots and lots of ADMIN. Bleurgh.

On a more exciting note, we have now signed the paperwork for our new studio ! We will be moving shortly from Unit H2 to Unit AA, still in building 13 - a much brighter, bigger unit and much easier for customers to get to. Sanchia will now have her own dedicated Make Up area again which she is very excited about, and we will have a lot more room to spread ourselves out. We will be having a "Freebie Weekend" after we move in with free portrait sessions on a first come first served basis - watch this space for more details !

Wedding signs by http://www.iheartyou.co.uk/

Last week I also stumbled across a new supplier - well, new to me anyway - "I Heart You" Wedding Stationery - what caught my eye were these FAB "Wedding Reception" signs styled like road signs -  I love them so much I want one for the new studio !

Check out their website http://www.iheartyou.co.uk/ for loads of other lovely, original ideas for your wedding.

On Sunday we exhibited at the Deer Park Hall Wedding Showcase, in Pershore - I always enjoy exhibitions and wedding fayres as many of you know because I can talk the hind legs off a donkey, and this give me a chance to natter away to lots of new people, and this show was no exception. For those that aren't familiar with the Deer Park, it's a stunning wedding venue on the Worcestershire/Gloucestershire border and a firm favourite with Andy and I. If you're looking for a venue for YOUR wedding, we urge you to check this one out.

At the show we met lovely ladies Julie and Anne on the neighbouring stand from The Smart Exchange, Pershore - this lovely dress agency buy and sell pre-owned designer pieces for all types of occasions, including Mother Of The Bride and other formal wear - and now they also buy and sell designer wedding dresses that are less than 3 years old. 

Their stand was VERY popular on Sunday, and we saw lots of very happy Mum's leaving with gorgeous designer outfits ready for their son or daughter's upcoming big day. As we all know, weddings are expensive things - if you're looking for a stunning designer outfit or wedding dress for your big day and want to keep the cost down, go and speak to the ladies at The Smart Exchange !


So what's coming up for the rest of the week then? We this weekend we have a full day in the studio on Saturday, and then on Sunday we will be at the first  Hatherley Manor Wedding Open Day of 2012 - 11am til 3pm, they will have their wedding suites set up for you to view and their staff will be on hand to discuss your individual wedding requirements.


In the meantime though..... I think it's time for a cuppa, don't you?


Jan x

Looking forward to a good year !

Well - 2012 is going to be a busy year here at Blenheim Weddings and I can't wait to get cracking on the first wedding of the year which will be at Clearwell Castle in a couple of weeks time.


2011 was busy mind you - we were lucky enough to share 40 couple's special day with them, we took on a new studio (which was a surprise even for us !), I became the Cherubs photographer for GL2 and then in November I passed my Master Photographer's Association Licentiate qualification as well as my Diploma in Photographic Practice. This gives me the chance to show off some letters after my name, but more importantly gives my customers the reassurance that me and my business now have the backing of the MPA. The DipPP bit means that the association, of which you can only be a member if Photography is your full time job - have researched my business and deemed it to be operating to their standards, and the LMPA means that my work also complies with their standards of photographic excellence.


The new studio is busy too - we've nicknamed it "The Pod" and while I'm keeping it busy with a throughput of portrait and Simply Secretive bookings, Andy is also doing his fair share of the more arty stuff in there and is always looking for models by the way !

So what's new for 2012 then? Well, for Simply Secretive we've got a new Make Up artist on board, the fantastic Kate Lester - she will be working for us on Mondays when we will be doing special priced boudoir packages called "Monday Makeovers" - check out the Simply Secretive website for more details ! 


We're also - due to popular demand - re-introducing the Simply Secretive Hen Party Package ! 


For Blenheim Weddings we've got a new range of products to show our happy couples including a lovely "signing book" and a ready framed "signing frame" to showcase the pre wedding shoot images at the wedding reception - judging by the enquiries we've already had for these I think they're going to be popular.


So - onwards and upwards into 2012 then folks - it's gonna be an exciting year for us all I think !


Jan x

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

So - what is in the list of office resolutions for New Year then? Well, resolution number one is to remember to update our Blog !

2011 was another incredibly busy year for us and this poor blog got relatively forgotten - hopefully we can put that right for 2012 and keep you all up to date with news about what we're up to.

January 2012 is going to be another busy month for us after having a wonderful 2 week break over Christmas and New Year - it will be back to the grindstone for us getting ready for all our lovely 2012 couples weddings which we are really looking forward to.

Wishing all our Blog readers and very Happy New Year for 2012 - see you on the other side of midnight folks !

Stepping back in time.....

Katherine in her grandmother's dress

Yesterday's wedding in Cheltenham was slightly different to our usual weddings - our bride, Katherine, is originally from Philadelphia and so had added a more american twist to proceedings. 


Katherine had decided to follow a family tradition and during the day was wearing the 70 year old wedding dress that both her grandmother and mother wore for their weddings, planning to change to a modern dress from the meal onwards.


In America it's not considered bad luck for the groom and bride to see each other before the ceremony and so we all assembled at the reception venue prior to going to church to do the formal photographs. 

Dress number two !

With a studio set up in Pittville Pump Room's Oval room we then recreated a selection of formal shots from the dress's two previous outings before setting off for St Gregory's for the ceremony.


After a beautiful wedding ceremony we then returned to Pittville where, luckily, the weather was kind to us for the rest of the day.


A lovely wedding and lovely people !


J x

There is a light that never goes out.....

THE most perfect first dance tune I've heard EVER I think - with Ruth and Ed's "Love You Til the End" by The Pogues coming a close second. Had THE most brilliant day on Royal Wedding Day at Carla and Andy Vasey's wedding at The Bowden Hall, Upton St Leonards.

The day started at Hotel Du Vin where Carla was being expertly "prepped" by Erin Wheatley (make up) and Sheena Warltire (hair) - poor Carla got a tiny bit ignored around 10:45 when Kate Middleton appeared on the telly and guest Meagan and I crowded round the telly to give our expert opinion on "The Dress".


However we all paid attention when Carla got ready - Carla was also wearing a vintage designer as it happened, a beautiful Christian Dior evening dress that had once belonged to her mum and she'd had altered to fit - and she looked amazing.


The flowers were by Bev at Bloomers Of Cheltenham and the ivory blooms complemented the dress perfectly.


The day went by without a hitch and everyone seemed to have a fantastic time - the happy couple are off now on honeymoon and I am looking forward to finishing the edits of the day to show them on their return.


So what of this week? Well tomorrow we have the wedding of Nicola and Gareth at Eastwood Park and then on Sunday we will be at the Hatherley Manor Wedding Open day so come along and say hello if you're a prospective bride or groom to be - we'd love to meet you !


J x

By Royal Appointment....?

Well - ok - maybe not. But appointed by Carla and Andy today to photograph their wedding at The Bowden Hall Hotel, Upton St Leonards. Andy and Carla booked their wedding way before "the other two" chose the date and so while the rest of the nation sits glued to their tellys and has street parties, we'll be in our own wedding "bubble" - a bit surreal really !


Early start for me at Hotel Du Vin to photograph Carla's preparations and currently fuelling with the obligatory tea to get me through the morning !


Suppose I'd better shake a leg then - don't want to get caught up in any Royal Cavalcades.....


J x