Day 1 of the Ayrshire Wedding Show is already over, it actually went dead quickly today which is a shame, but great because that means I was kep busy, with a nice steady flow of brides-to-be and their friends/family through the doors.

So if you were one of those, then thank you so much for popping by to see us on Stand 42 and I hope you enjoyed seeing what I had on display with our vintage table setting and hand-crafted favours, place-cards & post boxes.

Remember you can also follow us on Facebook for tips, ideas and news, so just browse on Facebook under Sarah’s Creative Occasions and perhaps even “like” us please

Thank you

Yes it’s that time of year again, with the eve of the Ayrshire Wedding Show upon us.  As usual, I was set-up early and away before most of the exhibitors had arrived.

So if you are attending the show at some point this weekend, it’s open from 10am to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday, please do pop by Stand #42 and see our vintage styled table setting and our sample selection of hand-crafted favours, place cards and post box designs, all which can be personalised to suit you and your wedding day!

Well I had a wonderful day at the Glasgow Girls Wedding Fayre in Pollockshields Burgh Hall yesterday and what a fine venue it is for weddings and special occasions.

Such a busy day, with 987 visitors, so thank you everyone for popping by.  Here’s a few images of my display at the event:

• table setting styled in ivory and silver with crystals, we can supply and fit for example; chair covers, organza sashes, table centres and accessories
• hand-crafted favour boxes filled with home-made tablet and a piece of trivia for guests to share with each other, personalised with a coloured ribbon of your choice or embelishments, such as; feathers, pearls, buttons or flowers and with the guest name printed on each
• place cards for glasses personalised to co-ordinate with your colour and theme, and your guests names hand-written onto each

Please do not hesitate to get in touch for an Estimate of any item identified here, or for any other help needed ahead of or on your wedding day

Happy Wedding Planning!

I really can’t help singing “Vital Statistics” like Johnny Vaughan used to do on the Big Breakfast, but anyway, having collated over 200 set of wedding details from Clients sharing their wedding date, I have been able to create a bar graph showing the popularity of months to get married.

Most popular is July, closely followed by June and the least popular month is January, with February and December joint least favourite.

So the peak wedding season is generally April to September, which suits wedding planners like I and other wedding suppliers, as the wedding fayres tend to take place in January, February and October.

Speaking of which, my first fayre of 2012 is this Sunday!

Next Sunday I will be at the Glasgow Girls Wedding Fayre at Pollokshields Burgh Hall on the south side of Glasgow from 12noon.  Sarah’s Creative Occasions will have on display a beautiful elegant ivory, silver and crystal themed table setting for you to view and be inspired.

There will be bagpipes and champagne on your arrival, plus beauty trials, cake sampling and much more.

So do pop along, it’s FREE entry!

The second of our Creative Gift Fayre’s will be taking place in Prestwick at the Prestwick South Parish Church Hall on Saturday 11th February 2012, with an array of local Ayrshire businesses proudly selling their wonderful goodies to treat yourselves or family for Valentines and Mothers Day.

FREE entry too, so you are most welcome to pop in and browse, enjoy our group of local Ayrshire fiddle players entertaining us with some lively reels and take up the offer of a hot cuppa in our cosy tea room.

If you are recently engaged, congratulations, a good way to seek some inspiration for your wedding day and see what is on offer from a wide variety of suppliers throughout Ayrshire and Scotland, is to head along to a wedding fayre near you.

We have plenty taking place in and around Ayrshire for the New Year, and here is a selection for you to pen into your diaries.

• Sunday 8th January 2012 is the Burnhouse Manor Wedding Fayre from 12noon
• Sunday 22nd January 2012 from 12noon is the Glasgow Girls Wedding Fayre at the Pollokshields Burgh Hall
• Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th January 2012 from 10 to 5pm is the Ayrshire Wedding Show held at the Ayr Racecourse
• Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th February 2012 is Scotland’s Exclusive Wedding Event from 10am in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow
• Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th February 2012 is the Scottish Wedding Show at the SECC from 10am to 6pm each day
• Sunday 26th February 2012 is the Wedding Fayre at the Menzies Hotel in Irvine from 11am
• Sunday 4th March 2012 is the Park Hotel Wedding Fayre in Kilmarnock from 12noon

Sarah’s Creative Occasions will be attending a select few of these Fayres, with details to follow here on our Blog, but also on Facebook.

The Scottish Wedding Directory is now published 4 times a year, instead of just twice, and the latest edition (January 2012) is just as jam packed as previous issues.

It’s such a good read and my bible for all wedding related news, tips and suppliers in Scotland.  Sarah’s Creative Occasions, as usual, is listed on page 300 under Co-ordinators.

You can order you copy on-line here!

Before I start on our plans for 2012, I just wanted to share a quick look-back over 2011 as it’s been our best year yet for the business with a variety of different events organised, great involvement made with the local community plus we have really extended our book of contacts, from clients to new local suppliers.  My personal highlights include:

• I was proud to be a part of Claire & Frank’s beautiful wedding day at Turnberry last March, which resulted in my first TV interview!
• Had fun creating a hollywood glam party for a 50th birthday party, which included the hire of a giant Oscar statue
• With my local church in Troon, I helped organise their May fair and also create the scenery for the Christmas panto Mother Goose
• I pulled together one of the most difficult weddings, but also the most romantic, for Sophia and Geordie in their chosen venue in Ayr.  I absolutely loved the look we created for their wedding ceremony, breakfast and reception.  They just wrote to me over Christmas to announce that they were expecting their first child next Summer, which is just fantastic.
• Enjoyed hand-crafting favour boxes, sourcing a cake and creating balloon arrangements around a “fishing” themed 18th Birthday bash at the Brig O’Doon in Ayr.
• Wintertainment in Troon went off without a hitch, care of myself and other dedicated members of the community, which has been said to have been the best ever Wintertainment, so dead chuffed with that result.
• We organised our first ever fayre, our Creative Gift Fayre in Prestwick which was open for the public to enjoy some shopping and seasonal music in the lead up to the festive season.
• I helped out at the world-of-work-week, by presenting to primary school pupils about being in business.
• And if I count up how many wedding and craft fayres I attended with a display or a stall, it amounts to believe-it-or-not 16!

So thankyou for a wonderful year & may our 2012 be just as rewarding!

I have previously advertised in the Dumfries & Galloway Life magazine and the latest issue (#50 for January 2012) has a wonderful poem in it about the Jay and I just wanted to share it with you over the festive season.  These 4 verses are titled The Nutter and it has been written by Jack Wren.

I watch with delight the noisy jay

Planting acorns like a boy at play

On a patch of woodland spread

Marking each in his bright head,

Beneath the earth in tidy rows

One by one his account grows

Until by stealth they all amount

To make a healthy bank account,

The wood and him reap dividends

As Spring arrives and Winter ends

When new Oaks sprout in gratitude

From acorns that are un-rescued,

I take my hat off to this bird

Who is arrogant and absurd

Full of colour in a loud way

A complete nutter I say.