competitions Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Smashing the Glass

Win a romantic night for two in London’s breathtaking St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel

15/05/2015 by Karen

Call me a romantic (or a bit geeky… either will do) but I’ve always had a fascination with that wonderful golden age of railways: the enchantment of travel, tearful goodbyes, joyful reunions… and the awe-inspiring gothic architecture that just blows you away.

And encapsulating all of this is the devastatingly impressive St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel. I attended a beautiful Jewish wedding there, not long after its refurbishment (a dizzying £150 million was spent on the makeover!) — and was bowled over by its seductive mix of grandeur and contemporary chic.

Getting married here is nothing like your traditional hotel wedding. For a start, you can see the Eurostar from the bar (and I always get a shiver of excitement when I think of that thrilling connection to Parisian adventure). Fancy Paris straight after the nuptials? Just pop out, and hop on…

Win a luxury overnight stay at The Hospital Club, London’s coolest private members’ club and wedding venue

27/03/2015 by Karen

Hospital-Club
The Hospital Club in London’s Covent Garden is the only private members’ club designed specifically for those in creative industries, and as a member since 2009, it’s been my ‘home from home’ for many years.

Founded by musician Dave Stewart, of Eurythmics fame, and Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, the Hospital Club opened in 2004, as a hub where creative types could create, connect, and collaborate. Spread over seven floors with stunning interiors including cocktail bars, lounges, a restaurant, 36-seater cinema, TV studio, art gallery, and 15 extraordinary bedrooms, it caters for creative professionals who are looking for something super cool, friendly and collaborative.

As well as being London’s hippest private members’ club, it’s also the perfect space for couples looking for somewhere really stylish and different for their wedding venue.

It boasts a range of versatile spaces each with its own unique style and flavour, as well as a team of chefs and mixologists who can tailor-make and prepare the perfect menu (kosher or just Jewish-friendly!) whatever your theme and budget.

A couple of months ago in January 2015, fifteen sumptuous bedrooms were added to the mix which means that for the first time ever the Hospital Club is opening it’s doors to non-members. The rooms are luxuriously appointed with leathers, velvets, sumptuous woods and jaw-dropping works of contemporary art, and I’m giving one lucky reader and their companion the chance to sneak in, party hard, and crash out in comfort in the Hospital Club’s top suite, complete with dinner in the club restaurant, and breakfast the following morning.

The suite (a.k.a. the crash pad of your dreams) comes complete with a private terrace, separate lounge area, erotic minibar by Holloway Smith Noir, brain power tool kits by the School of Life, insider guides to London, and a 7pm cocktail trolley with your own personal bartender!

For the duration of your stay, you’ll also be able to make full use of all member privileges including the club’s 3D cinema, pool room, cocktails bars, and the enviable schedule of member events.

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Win a personalised framed ‘Our Story Lifemap’, by Illustries worth Â£175!

05/11/2014 by Karen

Anyone who knows me will be aware of how much I’m obsessed with good design and beautiful typography. In fact, in a past life I ran a design consultancy where I lived and breathed graphic design. So I’m totally thrilled to be teaming up with Illustries to give one lucky reader a stunning ‘Our Story Lifemap’ printed on deliciously thick premium paper, and beautifully framed.

So what is a Life Map? It’s essentially a completely bespoke piece of wall art using hand-drawn illustrations, funky and fun notes and designed in your wedding colour scheme, to ensure that the piece is totally personalised for you!

It would make the perfect gift to yourself and your fiancà© (or for another happy couple that you know), and I think it would also make for a really fun reception talking point.

I’m speaking at ‘Brides The Show’ and to celebrate I’m giving away 20 pairs of tickets!

18/09/2014 by Karen

Today I have some very exciting news for all UK Smashing The Glass brides-to-be! I’ve been asked by the wonderful team at Brides The Show to speak at their fabulous super luxe wedding show on Sunday 5th October, and I couldn’t be more thrilled!

I’ll be sharing the sofa with the lovely Charley from London Bride and together we’ll be telling you all our secrets on how to source the best bridal inspiration online, and what the top planning resources on the internet are.

Alongside our On The Sofa chat, you”ll also find an absolute dream line up of exhibitors, an awe-inspiring Imagination Room, and a breathtaking catwalk show. Oh, and you’ll also be able to pamper yourself with bubbles from the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar, and test out your big day look with a team of professional make up artists.

Everything’s been carefully curated under one roof to help you plan your perfect wedding, and put it this way, if the show were a department store, it’d be Liberty! It’s so gorgeously curated with an assemblage of brands so carefully edited that it makes for the ultimate wedding “little black book”, and I’m so delighted to be a part of it.

Brides The Show is running from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th October 2014 at Islington’s Business Design Centre in North London, and I’m giving away 20 pairs of tickets for Sunday 5th October (the day I’m speaking!) to you, my lovely readers.

Win a romantic overnight stay at the capital’s hippest new luxury hotel, Rosewood London

01/08/2014 by Karen

I’m the first person to suggest that you try and think outside the (fancy hotel) box when it comes to choosing your wedding venue, but on visiting the sumptuous new Rosewood London, I had a change of heart — I was most definitely wowed.

On entering the Edwardian cobblestoned courtyard (formerly used for horse-drawn carriages) the tone was set, and the more I explored it the more I loved it… British heritage combined with contemporary twists, a hip aesthetic and lots of thoughtful touches. Rosewood London stands out from other luxury hotels in that there isn’t an air of stuffiness or passà© about it — it oozes a breezy, sophisticated vibe and their playful and idiosyncratic details really appealed to my creative side.

The hotel opened nine months ago following an £85million makeover and is already set to be central London’s most in-demand wedding venue for fashionable nuptials, indeed one of their beautiful Jewish weddings has already been featured on the pages of Smashing The Glass!

I’m prone to spoiling my lovely readers and now one of you lucky lot (together with the love of your life) is going to experience the amazing Rosewood London for yourself. Yes, I’m giving you the chance to win an indulgent romantic overnight stay at London’s hippest new luxury hotel!