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Real Jewish Brides: Karen…. Just one week to go!

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One  week today! It’s real. It’s happening and I cannot wait! Mostly because I’ve worked so hard to make sure that all the fine details are arranged but now I’m ready to kick back and enjoy it all.

I decided at the 4 week mark to buckle down with preparations, in an attempt to avoid last minute stresses. Despite the temporary hibernation from my social life, it’s worked. Thankfully, my list obsession has paid off and my token catch phrase “Ok, I’m on it” has caught onto numerous family members. It’s the “Roger that” of wedding planning in my family! Addressing who’s flying in on which date, how many tables to order and arranging the seating plan has stripped the glamour and challenged my attention span. So it was with great excitement that I decided at the 1 month countdown, to take to the West End…and shop!

First on my agenda was Beauty and Skincare. Allowing time for any potential irritations I redeemed a voucher at Cowshed Shoreditch House for a signature Cowshed facial. It left my skin feeling refreshed and radiant and I would recommend doing this at least a month in advance, so you can follow up with a less intensive facial closer to the wedding. I’ve been using Clarins Blue Orchid Face Oil twice a week at night to maintain the positive results and their Eye Contour Gel to keep the eye area fresh and bright. A make-up kit is incomplete without Urban Decay’s All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray. This is a must-have for your wedding day as it sets your make up so well, it’ll beat all the happy-tears! I trialed it during the summer and even after two trips on rush-hour tubes my make-up hadn’t budged.

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Bridesmaid Gift Guide – Gift Ideas for your bridal party + BFF’s

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Those of you who follow me on Instagram Stories know that I saw my first Christmas Tree of the year (or do we call it a Chanukah Bush?!) in central London this week. What does that mean? It might just mean that the season of gift giving is just around the corner… and with the first night of Chanukah and Christmas Eve falling on exactly the same day this year, I thought it might be fun to do some gift guides. I’ll be curating my fave picks for you, your best girls, fiancà©(e), hubs, wife, newlyweds, and more!

Kicking off the series, I’m picking out the loveliest gifts for your bridesmaids, BFF’s, mothers, sisters, sister-from-another-mister… you get the gist — Happy shopping everyone!

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1. Personalized Champagne Flutes by Fox Blossom Co.  £13  //  2. Personalised bracelet by Monica Vinader from £85  //  3. Rotating Stamp & Ink Set by Kate Spade £20  //  4. Engraved Bridesmaid Bangle by Kate Spade  £50  //  5. In Bloom Book Collection by Rifle Paper Co.  £52  //  6. Personalised Bridesmaid Make Up Bag by Not On The High Street £12.50  //  7. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera £65  //  8. Personalised ‘The Adventures Of’ Memory Book by Not On The High Street  £19  //  9. Alphabet pendant by Monica Vinader from £150  //  10. Baies Scented Candle by Diptyque £42  //  11. ‘Same Mistakes’ Pencil Case by Kate Spade  £24  //  12. Personalised watch by May28th  £18  //  13. Eat Cake for Breakfast Thermal Mug by Kate Spade  £16  //  14. Charm + Alphabet pendant by Litzi from £70  //  15. Monogram Nail Polish by Not On The High Street  £7  //  16. Birchbox 12 month subscription  £100  //  17. ‘Bridesmaid’ Tote Bag by Not On The High Street  £13  //  18. Engraved personalised pendant by Monica Vinader from £35  //  19. Personalised Monogram Framed Print by Not On The High Street  £49

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A Jewish-Caribbean Wedding (in ‘Pride & Prejudice’ fancy dress!) at Cowley Manor, Cotswolds, UK

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Yes, a Jewish-Caribbean Wedding in period fancy dress is actually a thing — or at least Emma and James have certainly made it a thing. Think ‘Pride & Prejudice’ meets Jimmy Choo. Think the Hora and Caribbean steel bands. Think jerk chicken BBQ with salt beef sandwiches for midnight munchies. Too good right?!

And it’s all such brilliant fun. Of course it’s not just the creative ideas and details that make a wedding awesome, it’s how much of a good time everyone is having and this bunch are having A REALLY GOOD time. All I can say is gutted I wasn’t invited!

With thanks to the ever lovely Amy Murrell from Especially Amy for submitting the eye candy.

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How we met

Emma, the bride: We meet at a work summer ball, it wasn’t until 3am when we finally plucked up enough courage to talk to one another!

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A weekend wedding at Cowley Manor, Cotswolds

We wanted somewhere away from London so our friends and family would stay over and make a weekend of it. We regularly go on holiday with friends in the UK and the Cotswolds is a favoured location.

The uniqueness of Cowley Manor made it the perfect venue; from the quirkiness of the downstairs rooms, to the grandeur of the building and splendour of the grounds and gardens — we knew it was right for us the moment we walked in.

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Be sure to make each other laugh, even when you have made each other cry

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By the time this post is live, we will be 1 week away from the big day. As I’m sure you can imagine, the last few weeks have been just a little bit hectic and I still do have rather a lot left to do — I can hear my mother’s voice in my head saying “typical Lauren” right now. Whilst trying to think of what to write in my last pre-wedding post I struggled to come up with something specific and useful to write about that could shed some light on what it is like to be a bride at the final stages of prep, but nothing was jumping out at me as interesting.

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I felt that writing a post about the last minute tasks that I have to complete may actually add to my sleepless nights, but could potentially help focus me and force me to get those things done… so here is a small insight into my mind when I am lying awake at night thinking of all the things I need to do (please note that this was written over 2 weeks before the wedding day so I still have a little bit of time):

  • Sew up the chuppah canopy
  • Write the final signs and table names
  • Hammer the signs onto posts
  • Finish table plan
  • Sort out the children’s activities and packs
  • Make the table runners
  • Buy last few thank you gifts
  • Get outfit steamed
  • Final beauty prep — final hair appointment, nails etc.
  • Write the place  cards
  • Final meeting with wedding venue staff
  • Arrange transport for all signs, wine and props that we are providing
  • Write up our Ketubah (nicely!)
  • Write vows
  • Get married legally
  • Delegate some of the above!

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Get the Look – Modern Bohemian Luxe – from Francis Bridal

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Just imagine how Pippa Middleton is feeling? She’s already stunned the world once in that ivory Alexander McQueen thunder-stealing gown when she walked down the aisle in 2011 behind her sister at  Westminster Abbey. Now she somehow has to top that for her own wedding, to hedge fund manager James Matthews.

Will she decide to set herself apart from that now iconic maid of honour silhouette and choose a completely different style? Will she move more towards opulent and embellished, floaty and ethereal or minimal and modern?

The point is Pippa is no different from any other bride — yes she is in the public eye but at that very moment she finally chooses her dress, she is saying to the rest of the world “this is how I want to be seen on the biggest day of my life”.  And every bride is saying exactly that.

Famous or not, you’ve got to find your own true wedding style. After all it is a (beautifully elevated) representation of yourself.

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Francis Bridal Design — Bohemian Luxe

If that ‘look’ that you are envisioning is tumbledown tresses and beautifully finished, bohemian elegance then you are in luck, I have just the designer for you!

I’m delighted to introduce to STG, Francis Bridal Design – the first bridal collection from designer Trish Irving.

This look is modern, low-key luxe — serious boho if you like. Just take a look for yourself at these gorgeous unstructured, vintage-feel masterpieces.  

Each piece — designed and made in London – is created with the best, carefully selected fabrics (right down to their signature stretch satin linings), the detailing is exquisite, the quality is sublime and the result is delicate, radiant, free-moving, elegance. It’s such a fresh approach to bridal. Chuck out your corsets — this is a love letter to bohemia.

Immediately it’s clear with Francis Bridal’s collection that there is a distinct and coherent personality and a very accomplished character – from Etienne – the gorgeous silk georgette bridal gown to the beautiful ivory embroidered lace Albi dress.

And this definitely was the intention.

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If you build it they will come

New Zealand-born Trish began the Francis Bridal collection after struggling to find her own wedding dress. All the boho styles that she was drawn to were too skimpy and not particularly accommodating to the more, lets say, bountiful bosom. She also felt like boho was perhaps becoming a bit of a clichà© and wanted to introduce something a bit more modern in the mix.  

So after a 15-year career in luxury fashion, trained pattern cutter Trish Irving  decided to tap into this wealth of experience and harness her unyielding energy and creativity to orchestrate her own exquisite portfolio of elegant boho luxe dresses for modern brides.

I love her vision and totally understand her drive and passion. The idea for STG came to me when I was also preparing for my wedding and I couldn’t find what I was looking for (one single place that brought inventive and original ideas together for a style-focused Jewish bride). I knew exactly what I wanted but had to create it myself. Just as Trish has.

So I’m instantly drawn to Francis Bridal, not just because of the breathtakingly  beautiful gowns Trish has dreamed up, but because I know the intention and designs come from a very real place.  Continue ReadingContinue Reading