Wednesday 29th February, from 5pm – 9pm visit the Frontline Wedding Fair at Brands Hatch Place Hotel and Spa, Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NQ.

Best Brides Wedding Exhibitions, working with Help For Heroes and Quality Wedding Suppliers in the South East are giving back to those that keep us safe at home and abroad. You could save a minimum of 10% off the cost of your wedding! All the companies at the show are offering B2B’s and G2B’s a minimum of 10% discount on the services they provide! PLUS Fantastic offers and prizes throughout the show, including:

♥ Win you grooms suit hire – Courtesy of Well Suited For Men (www.suited-well.co.uk)

♥ Win an engagement photo shoot – courtesy of Photogenic Images (www.photogenicimages.co.uk)

♥ Win a fabulous hand tie bouquet – courtesy of Isis Flowers (www.isisflowers.co.uk)

♥ Enter into a Prize draw to win £200 worth of Flowers – courtesy of Limeginger Floral Designs (www.limeginger.co.uk)

AND there are free magazines, goody bags and much more all just for you!

Stuck on inspiration? Visit the styling event which is jam packed full of decorated tables in this season’s hottest colours Vintage Rose and Cream, Lace, Diamonds and Pearls, Gooseberry and Ivory, Strawberry and Ivory and Purple and Orange (this season’s top tip)

Looking the perfect venue? Tour the fantastic Brands Hatch Place Hotel which as everything you need to make your dream wedding day come true!

Whatever stage you are in your planning, visit The Frontline Wedding Fair at Brands Hatch Place for everything you’ll need to create the perfect day!

Best Brides and the wedding professionals at the show have raised a fantastic £500 for Help For Heroes with much more fund raising to be done during the show.

Help For Heroes will be at the show to raise awareness and to help raise more money for this fantastic cause.

You can pre-register online here – Admission is free for you and your party!

We look forward to seeing you at the show

The Best Brides Team x

Just a quicky from me this morning to announce that the winner of our competition for a pair of tickets to The National Wedding Show 2012, London Olympia, is…………………………………………….

Natascha Thompson

Huge congratulations and an email will be heading your way shortly with details on how to claim your prize.

Don’t forget to check back later this afternoon for our regular Monday Moodboard!

Much love,

Emma xXx

Image Source: I Like, I Wish, I Heart via Pintrest

Well it’s been another busy week here at MWD and the time is just flying by! So much is happening at the minute – so exciting!!

First of all I need to apologise for the delay in posting this weeks ’365 Things That Made me smile’ – this will now be on the site tomorrow afternoon.

Also, just a quick reminder that the competition to win a pair of tickets to the National Wedding Show 2012 at London Olympia next weekend finishes today at 6.00pm so be sure to get your entry in quickly! I will be picking a winner at random later this evening and this will be announced on the site tomorrow morning at 10.00am!

So, a round up of last weeks posts just incase you missed them….

♥ Moodboard Monday – Valentines’s Day

♥ Happy Valentine’s Day Noel

♥ Real Wedding – Marce & Thomas Neumann

♥ Competition Time! Win a pair of tickets to the National Wedding Show 2012, London

♥ Dreamy Dresses

♥ Very Inviting!

♥ Friday’s I ♥

♥ Musings of a Military Wife – Guilt

Now to spread the love a little, here are my  5 ‘Must See’ posts from some of my favourite blogs – Enjoy!…

Image Source: Pic 1 and Pic 2

♥ Dot to Dot Spotty Nail Tutorial  – London Bride (I so know what I’m doing next week – and how gorgeous does the new site look!!)

♥ Cozy Portland Wedding Inspiration – Ruffled

♥ Gorgeous English Country Chic Wedding – OMG I’m Getting Married

♥ An Open Air Affair At Notely Abbey – Rock My Wedding

♥ Napa Valley Wedding part 1 & part 2 – Style Me Pretty

That’s it for this week my lovelies but I’m back bright and early tomorrow morning so be sure to check back!

Much love,

Emma xXx

Since Noel went away on Boxing Day I can actually count on one hand the number of times I have been out socially with friends/family – this is VERY unusual!

The first time I went out was just two days after he went away as there was an extremely important football fixture that I just couldn’t miss so headed back into London for a trip to the pub with the family.

I was worried it might have been a bit too soon after he’d gone away as the last thing I wanted to do was break down in tears after a couple of drinks or when anyone asked me how he was doing (it’s our local pub so Noel has a lot of friends there) but I was great and held it together really well! Infact, I ended up consoling my Sister because she was missing him so much already – she wasn’t as sensible with her drink as I was lol!

I felt a bit odd the next day though as I was left wondering if I had done the right thing by going out so soon after he’d left. I didn’t want people to think ‘gawd look at here – her husband’s only been gone 10 mins and she’s out enjoying herself’ BUT it was actually him who told me to go into London to watch the game as he hated the thought of me watching it at home on my own (which is what I had planned to do).

A couple of days after, I met up with the lovely Amanda, Joyce, Sheridan and Terri for a few drinks. This was the first time I had met most of these gorgeous ladies and the night just flew by!!

The next time I went out was for the Wedding Ideas Awards which was two weeks later – what an amazing and emotional evening that was! I really felt lost without him that night, he would have LOVED it that night and I guarantee he would have been first onto the dance floor lol! He’s got the pictures and videos to look forward to when he gets back!

That was my last night out and I just need to get myself out of this rut – or is staying in something I should be doing??

Every time Noel phones, his first question is ‘what you been up to hon?’ and for the past 4 weeks it’s been the exact same reply ‘nothing really hon, just working hard!’ I’m blooming getting bored of hearing myself say it let alone poor Noel having to listen to me! The poor sod phones me twice a week and I NEVER have anything to tell him lol. He sounds like he’s having more fun than me heading off for a ‘brew’ with his pals before he goes to bed!

I know that Noel would HATE to think I was purposely trying to keep myself away but I have come to realise that it really does bother me what kind of opinion people would take if they seen me out enjoying myself while my husband is away on tour and I need to man up!

So, I am off into London on Sunday and going out with my Dad (football again lol!). I’m gonna let my hair down, hey I might even have one (more likely a couple!!) extra vodkas and I’m going to enjoy myself! Well this is the plan anyway – will let you know how it goes next week….

Please tell me I am not alone in this whole ‘guilt’ thing! Do you feel it too or am I a complete loon and possibly just being a bit hard on myself?

Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Much love,

Emma xXx

Image Source: Dorothy Perkins

How blooming cute is this!! Very Little Mix-esque don’t you think.

I am defo going to have to add this gorgeous little number to my wardrobe and to be fair, it’s a bit of a steal at just £28.00! The black version is really cute too!

There are loads of different ways you could wear this jumper – It’s so versatile. It would look fab with a pair of boyfriend jeans for that nice snugly relaxed look, you could rock it with denim shorts, black tights and boots for a night out or team it with navy cotton peg trousers and a pair of Converse or Toms for a kind of ‘afternoon walk along the beach look’ – that’s the one I will be going for!

How would you wear yours?

Emma xXx

Tie the Knot – Hello Lucky

I am a HUGE fan of the designs at Hello Lucky. Most are quite simple yet very effective!

They have a wide range of  stationery – I ♥ the Dreams & Musings Journal. Will have to add that to my collection very soon!

Tie the Knot range start at £4.08 per card and are available in a wide range of colours so there’s sure to be something that fits your theme!

Image Source: The Wedding Shop, Colchester

♥ The slight heart neckline

♥ The pleated design

♥ The layered chiffon skirt

♥ Hand beaded appliques on the bodice

♥ Light and floaty look

This dress is just beautiful. Makes me want to get married all over again!

Stockist: The Wedding Shop, Colchester

I pass this shop every week when I’m in town (must pop in one day!) and their gorgeous window displays never fail to wow me. They have recently moved out onto the High Street and I must say the shop looks stunning! So spacious and bright – a must for any local bride!

This spring sees the return of The National Wedding Show to London and Birmingham, bigger and better than ever and with a gorgeous new look! Planning the perfect wedding has never been easier – with over 250 of the UK’s finest wedding experts at hand, from dresses and cakes to venues and favours, The National Wedding Show is the only destination for engaged couples.

Whether the style is fairytale fantasy, contemporary chic or vintage delight, the show is sure to hold a wealth of inspiration for anyone seeking advice or inspiration for their big day. Plus, with the UK’s largest collection of wedding gowns under one roof at the Designer* and Boutique areas, as well as the stunning Catwalk Fashion Show, brides-to-be will be able to see some of the biggest names in bridal design. From high street styles to one-off couture, designers will include Suzanne Neville, Stephanie Allin, Jenny Packham, Kate Sherford, Amanda Wakeley, Ian Stuart, Sassi Holford, Rosa Clara, and Maggie Sottero, to name but a few.

This year a new vintage area is to be launched within the show, featuring a collection of authentic vintage and vintage inspired suppliers covering every aspect of weddings from fashion and accessories to stationery and venue styling.  This will culminate in a central vintage café area where visitors can relax with a quintessentially British cup of tea and a delicious array of cakes.

The Designer Flower Zone* brings together the leading lights in designer floristry. With an array of different styles and stunning displays, brides are sure to find inspiration!

The live features at the show are not to be missed.  For beauty and fashion guidance make time to watch the How to Look Good Show hosted by TV style gurus Caryn Franklin and Jane Galpin and their team of award winning stylists where they handpick visitors from the audience for a live bridal make-over on stage!  Take your seat at the popular ‘Bridal Coaching’, hosted by former model turned life coach Michele Paradise. Focusing on both the ‘inside and out’ helping with all the ‘wedding’ emotions that go on when planning your big day and also offering practical advice for issues like how to walk in your fabulous shoes, working on posture and posing for photographs – so you will look and feel fabulous on your big day.  Plus the team behind cult bridal blog Rock My Wedding will be presenting live seminars throughout the weekend, full of expert advice on  perfecting your wedding décor and getting the most out of your big day!

Where better to round off an exciting day than in the stylish Chambord &Champagne Bar? Glass of bubbly in hand, you can kick back, relax and toast to future happiness.

Military Wedding Discounts has teamed up with The National Wedding Show to offer 1 lucky reader the chance to plan their big day in style by winning a pair of tickets to the show of their choice.

For a chance to win simply email your details (with the subject to read: National Wedding Show London Competition) to emma@militaryweddingdiscounts.com by 6.00pm on Sunday 19th February 2012. A winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday 20th February.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

1. Tickets valid Friday 24^thor Sunday 26^thFebruary only

2. No cash alternative will be offered.

For more information visit the National Wedding Show website www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk

SPECIAL OFFER

If you aren’t one of the lucky winners, fear not – you can still take advantage of the National Wedding Show’s great advanced booking offer, saving you money* against buying on the door. For more information visit www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0844 581 1404.

*save £3 on standard tickets and £5 on VIP tickets when booking in advance

An extra special valentines day treat for you today with this super gorgeous wedding from a super sweet couple!!

♥ Name of the couple: Marce and Thomas Neumann

♥ Wedding Date: Saturday, November 12, 2011

♥ Location(s): Good Shepard Presbyterian Church in Los Alamitos, CA. The secondary location for the bridal/groom shoot was in Yorba
Linda, CA.

♥ Photographer: Simply Jamela

As the photographer of this beautiful wedding I wanted to capture everything that was red and gold: The flowers outside, the invitation on the cherry wood bench, everything. The wedding was both in English, Spanish, and interpreted in Sign Language. It was quite neat! The bridesmaid dresses were long gorgeous red dresses that captured the color. Marce wore two bridal garter, one was “something borrowed” from her motherin-law and the other garter was a military camoflouge. I tried to capture the details of his uniform and was able to catch a special mother/son moment. Thomas wore his special gloves during the ceremony and took it off to wear his ring. They had cut the cake with his Navy sword and ended the evening showered in bubbles. The couple had a cake and punch reception at the church hall.

♥ Suppliers used:

invitations: Viv Furlong vivfurlong@gmail.com

Hair: Sarah Dizon sarahdizon@gmail.com

A HUGE thank you to both Jamela from Simply Jamela and to the gorgeous Marce and Thomas Neumann for allowing us to show your wedding – wishing you all the very best for the future!

Much love,

Emma xXx

This time eight years ago I was off men! I swore blind that I would never go near another man after having yet another bad encounter. I had declared myself a free independent woman and nothing and no one was going to change this – well so I thought!…

Little did I know that just over a month later, on the 24th March 2004, I was going to meet the most wonderful, kind, loving man and my life was about to change forever!

As soon as I met Noel I just knew that was it. I’d laugh at people who said these things and find it so hard to believe but I honestly knew from that first night he was the man I was going to marry! I surprised myself with these feelings – especially considering he fell asleep while I was talking to him (in the middle of a packed bar I might add!) – I mean I know I can go on sometimes, especially after a few drinks BUT I’m not that bad! Even after that I was still delighted when he contacted me for a second date.

The next 8 months just flew by! I introduced him to my family and friends and they all LOVED him and we got caught up in that whole ‘new relationship’ bubble and spent all the time we could together.

On the 11th November 2004 he proposed and made me the happiest girl alive! We got married in July 2006 and do you know what – that ‘new relationship’ bubble still hasn’t burst!

I get butterflies in my tummy when I see him and we still walk around the supermarket holding hands. He makes me laugh like no one else can and he makes me feel so safe and secure. He’s my best pal and I love him more each day. I can’t wait to see what the next 8 years bring!

Happy Valentines Day Noeland!

xXx