Carmen Weddings bio picture
  • Love + Kisses' Makes The World Go Round ...

    Hello, I’m Carms + welcome to my Smitten blog. I’m a wedding planner, designer + day co-ordinator in England + this is a little place to share with you wedding world finds you’ll be truly smitten by for your big or intimate day. I believe your planning journey is to be as amazing as your destination – a wedding day which is incredible in every way. So, I'm here to inspire you along your way. Whether you’re the type to leave each other sweet post-it notes in the kitchen everyday or if you have to occasionally pen beautiful love letters sent by snail mail…I hope you’ll find a little treasure here; from real romantic days to pretty + gorgeous bouquets.

    Truly Smitten
    Carms Xx

Square Book Sunday : Page Two

Hello Sunday!

I hope you’ve had a wonderful week …the last 7 days for me really has flown by. This week I’ve been working on finalising some great plans for tomorrow. I’m working on a photo-shoot with a team of talented and lovely East Midlands based wedding industry colleagues and we hope it won’t be too long before we can share the photographs with you. Aside from planning the shoot, what else happened this week…

 

Meeting Kula Tsurdiu at The Lace Market Bridal Boutique…

I’ve also had a lovely afternoon with the very Kula Tsurdiu herself – the designer behind the beautiful gowns at The Lace Market Bridal Boutique. The very first time I saw Kula Tsurdiu’s gorgeous gowns were on the catwalk at The Luxury Wedding Show London back in the autumn. Kula Tsurdiu has a most pretty boutique based in the famous Nottingham Lace Market. As soon as you walk into the boutique, Kula and her team know how to make you feel at ease. If you’re looking for a stunning gown, please do contact them to make an appointment.  I promise, you will be in love as soon as you set eyes on the exquisite collection.

Business Thought Of The Week…Why Blogging Matters…

I’ve recently found that one of the very first things I do when I click on a website is visit their blog to see how current their work is. Blogging not only helps to keep your web content fresh and up to date but also clients {and potential clients} will know the person behind the website isn’t just a robot! Blogging will also help with your web Search Engine Optimisation {SEO} and the biggest reason for me, is so that clients can hopefully connect with me and I can share any latest news behind my planning business. If you have a website but no blog, do have a think about starting one. It doesn’t necessarily suit everyone but it will suit the majority of people and companies who are online, however, you must adapt your content and style which relates to you and your company.

 

Personal Thoughts On Blogging For Me…

Blogging made me realise how much I need to improve on with my written skills, vocabulary and grammar… and I will continue in pushing myself harder in this area. The more I blog, the more I’m learning {and hopefully improving!} I’m sure at times there is a much better way to express myself within my writing… so, if you wish to point out any mistakes, I’d be grateful!  I’m certainly not one who thinks everything I was taught at school is enough; especially as the first few years after arriving into the UK, not very much made sense as I made the transition from Dutch to English. I strive to become much better and I hope blogging is one way to allow me to learn to use the correct terms, teach myself a better way to explain myself and so forth. In the meantime, I hope I make sense at the very least and please forgive if I’ve ever used the wrong words to express myself. It’s not intentional. I promise:)

Alternatively, I could pay someone to blog for me but that really wouldn’t suit my business model since this is Carmen Weddings web-log!

 

What’s been keeping you warm this week?…

I hope you’ve been keeping warm this week…. which has definitely been at the top of my agenda as the week went on! As soon as I walk out the front door, if I forget to put on my gloves, I instantly need to rummage through my big brown bag for my hand cream, then my gloves.  It has been so, so cold. I’ve never been one to say it’s incredibly hot in the summer anyway, so when it comes to winter, I really feel the cold. Thankfully, hot chocolate and biscuits {lots of it!} have been keeping me warm.

 

Rounding Off With Cuteness…

… And here’s two cute photos to round off my Square Book Sunday. A sweet knitted cardi by my mum-in-law for our little nephew who is due in the summer and how could I not share this one of little Pugsie-Girl? She really knows how to melt me! I found her fast asleep like this on our sofa this week… snug as a bug in a rug.

Enjoy your Sunday too and stay warm… Carms Xx

 

 

Just a few hours after this post was written…

I was saddened by the news of Whitney Houston. I’ve grown up with her music and a woman of such great talent and a naturally gifted voice, it’s such a shame to learn of her death. She was still so young and it has clearly shocked the music business and many on Facebook and Twitter; from famous clothing designers to music artists to my old school friends.  May she rest in peace.

 

Wedding Tip : Fashion + Home for Inspiration

{Global Love} Wedding In Poland by Artur Jakutsevich

“Poland is a country of striking contrasts: contemporary city slickers fill the capital, Warsaw, while in the countryside horse-drawn carts negotiate peaceful lanes where the new millennium is just a rumour” – Lonely Planet

 

Just 902 miles from the UK, Poland really is not too far away from where I am today… and this is the very first Global Love from within Europe that I’m sharing with you. Please meet Julia and Slawomir… captured by Artur Jakutsevich

Julia and Slawomir both shared the morning of their wedding day together. They were in the same room when the beautiful bride slipped into her gown… they both travelled to the most incredible church together…  and as the day flowed into their reception, they never spent one precious moment apart on their wedding day.

I adore this photograph… The smell of a brides bouquet on the morning of her wedding is like no other scent. It’s one you very rarely forget too…

A church of incredible beauty and grandeur. The marriage of two people in love. The moment Julia and Slawomir became man and wife.

I look upon the amazing captures of the couples family and friends… filled with deep emotion and it seems they all tell their very own story and as if I can hear their thoughts. These are the wonderful captures of some of the bride and grooms 150 guests.

Congratulations to Julia and Slawomir and thank you to Artur Jakutsevich for sharing this collection with me… I’m also pleased that I shall be sharing a small selection of Julia and Slawomir’s engagement shoot in Prague very soon!

Seven Days Until Valentines Day

heart balloon valentines

Seven Days + It’s Valentine’s Day! I don’t personally have anything planned for it {does that make me a bad wife?} but that’s not to say my husband hasn’t. Maybe we won’t be doing anything other than cooking a nice meal at home or maybe he has a little surprise! I often like to wonder… and regardless of what he has in his diary for next Tuesday evening, I’m sure it’ll be wonderful. I say evening because one thing for sure is that we will both be working until 6pm at least! However something which would be quite cute is if he surprised me with some Geronimo Balloons… but being based in the UK, I know that’s not going to happen {for now, I hope!}

However, to all my US readers… you sure can give your other half a little hint-hint.

What do you have planned or are you a like me and wondering too?

 

Image Credit : Geronimo Balloons via Inspirations by Cynthia Martyn Events

{Global Love} Wedding In Uzbekistan by Lux Photo Studios

A very warm welcome to our very first wedding on Global Love World!

I feel so honoured to be able to feature this incredibly beautiful wedding. When I first started travelling through the world wide web for a wedding which took place in Uzbekistan, I have to admit it wasn’t the easiest. I then finally found New York based Lux Photo Studios and I couldn’t quite believe my luck. Not only is the bride a natural beauty, it’s a stunning wedding and beautifully captured… I had the opportunity in understanding some of their wedding traditions, as well as being able to soak in the traditional elements of a wedding which took place in Uzbekistan.

A day full of glamour, colour and grace.

Today’s bride wore a gown by one of the most respected bridal dress designers in the World – Vera Wang and her gorgeous shoes by Badgley Mishka.

I knew very little about Uzbekistan as a country but through my book of ‘A Journey Through Every Country In The World’, the team at Lonely Planet share the following -

‘Sharing borders with all five of the ‘Stans, Uzbekistan lies at the heart of Central Asia… Uzbekistan boasts a proud artistic history and diverse culture, exemplified by the most magnificent cities in Central Asia’

So please come and join me in today’s Global Love in Uzbekistan…

 

The Miami based bride had approached Lux Photo Studios to capture her wedding in Uzbekistan. After many months of planning, they flew over to Tashkent for this very incredible day. Bride and groom began their preparations in the Radisson Blu Hotel Tashkent, followed by their whole wedding day within this venue; a hotel with western standards yet filled with local touches, such as Central Asian motifs, colours and material.

The traditional Uzbek fanfares began once all the guests had been seated. The groom, whose family originate from Belarus, made his entrance into the ballroom and towards centre stage. As the sound of the fanfares began to silent, the lighting and attention had switched from the groom to the bride.

The bride, groom and both sides of their families exchanged hugs and kisses as their guests cheered and the gorgeous newlyweds began their first dance as husband and wife.

With weddings in Uzbekistan, it is tradition where performers entertain guests and this wedding was no different. Lux Photo Studios tells me they hired a dozen of different acts such as singers, dancers and musicians… all dressed in magnificent costume.

Traditional Uzbek wedding food was served throughout their wedding followed by a beautifully designed wedding cake – I cannot help but notice how all the colours from flowers, to entertainers and their wedding cake had all complemented the wedding perfectly.

The bride tossed her bouquet following western traditions – perfectly designed by florist designer Ruben Saakyan; based in Tashkent but travels worldwide for his talented floral designs.

I would like to thank today’s bride and groom and Lux Photo Studios for having me share such a beautiful wedding all the way from Uzbekistan… Congratulations to this beautiful couple and wishing you a lifetime of happiness from myself and the readers from the UK and beyond.

Lauren BluetwentyoneFebruary 6, 2012 - 1:54 pm

Amazing Colours!! and such a lovely post, looking forward to some more x

CarmsFebruary 6, 2012 - 8:50 pm

It is a wedding full of such amazing colours! Glad you like it Lauren + I look forward to sharing more beautiful World weddings :) Xx

Square Book Sunday : Page One

A very late Sunday hello after a relaxing day with my Husband and our little pup.

I hope you didn’t get stuck in the snow for 4 hours like I did late last night! It was a long ‘adventure’ but we eventually arrived home by 10pm and we were pleased it didn’t take us any longer to do the 30mile round trip! We were in need for food by then:)

 

What Is Square Book Sunday?

So this is a new blog feature and what is it? When I was younger, my parents used to take my brother, sister and I to Chinese school every Sunday afternoon – without fail. It was only for 2 hours of learning a most complicated language but those 2 hours always seemed to be the longest and dullest couple of hours in my life. I used to hide behind my book looking at what seemed like random characters – I am now pleased to say my parents efforts didn’t completely go to waste – I picked up some of the basic. Chinese characters fit perfectly into square boxes and this was how we used to learn to write.  Not sure if it’s a nightmare reminder of complicated characters or a sweet childhood memory, but none-the-less, square books were a big part of my life and now I’m bringing it back into my adult Sunday’s!

So from now, Square Book Sunday is going to be for completely random posts – whether it’s a little of what I got up to during the week or reflecting on my younger years – this is a little space for random thoughts and sharing what I’ve learnt along the way – and I don’t mean in the Chinese language.

This Sunday I don’t have any pretty flowers in my kitchen window like I normally would because after last nights crazy but fun drive, we decided to stay indoors, cooked a stew and relax before a new week begins.

Chinese New Year + Pretty Snowfall

This week we’ve had further celebrations with family and friends for Chinese New Year and Pugsie-Girl had her first ever Lai-See {red envelope} from me of course! We’ve also had most lovely afternoon at Jamie’s Italian with friends. We were then greeted with snowfall very soon after. When we were leaving Nottingham the beautiful snow certainly didn’t hold back from falling as fast as it could… and as usual, going out for a meal normally means 4 inch heels. Not the best footwear in the snow but I’m still a girl at heart and when I get chance to wear heels, I make the most of it.

Carmen Weddings Nottingham Snow

I Launched A New Blog Project + Shopping With Michele Gledhill

This week I launched and have been making a start on travelling around the World of weddings for Project Global Love. I also had an afternoon shopping trip with the lovely Michele Gledhill for a wedding shoot we’re collaborating on. This included visiting a most fabulous fabric shop in my local village. You can find beautiful rolls of fabric, lace and buttons in this cute little shop. It is a little bit of heaven.

Carmen Weddings Global Love

Square Book Thought Of The Week

In my mini interview for Hampton Manor I mentioned I had wanted to be a midwife in my younger years. Without writing an essay on how I didn’t fulfilled my childhood career goal {something I may share on another occasion} I can see one connection between the two. Both weddings and the birth of a child are such a milestone in most people’s lives and I want to be able to relieve any stress and ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible on such important days. However, as I’ve got older, I finally realised I would prefer for my life-long career to hold a clipboard over a gas and air tube or take care of a brides beautiful bouquet over a soiled nappy. However, when in need, I have no qualms in rolling my sleeves up and getting my hands dirty.

And not to say, each and everyday I don’t admire all the incredible people who work in the medical world. You all work so hard to try and make this world such a better place and I am thankful and full of admiration for you.

 

Business Thought of The Week

A couple of years ago I was trying to work out the difference between Twitter and Facebook. It took me a little time to grasp it – I was familiar with Facebook but not so much with Twitter {as someone who was new to it, it was a little confusing} but if you are new to either of them now, my thoughts are -

Your Facebook page is more about you or your business but still giving you the opportunity to connect with others and to share latest news and thoughts

Twitter – almost the same but the biggest difference is, it’s networking without physically being there. It isn’t so much about ‘your statuses’ but more of a place for conversation, connecting and listening to others in and out of your business or work industry.

 

I hope you have a wonderful week planned ahead. Keep warm and between now and next Sunday, I hope you’ll come back to enjoy some wedding posts I have in store for you! … a late Sunday-night-post good bye for now… Carms Xx

 

Image Credits : Carmen Weddings on Instagram

Wedding Tip : Contributions + Planning

Launching Project Global Love

Good morning… and it’s Friday! {Although the ‘Friday feeling’ very rarely applies to all you hard working people in the wedding industry!}

Today I’m very much ready to share a little project that has been bubbling inside my head for a few weeks.

I wrote about this project and had the link on my navigation bar since early January but the start of the year has been a very nice and busy month for my planning business and the Project had to take a back seat. I very, very almost erased the whole idea as it was just sitting there untouched for several weeks but in the end I couldn’t bring myself to actually pressing the ‘Move to Trash’ button because it actually meant a little more to me than just ‘blogging’.

So what stopped me from deleting it? Earlier on this week I spent a great afternoon in Birmingham with a lovely couple; who I’m so fortunate to be working for this year {I’m counting down the weeks with you!} In between our venue meetings {stunning venues may I add} we spent a good half an hour at Urban Coffee Company. We chatted about their wedding plans, the wedding industry in general and quite interestingly, listening to both their views on the explosion of wedding blogs. It was after this half an hour with my clients where I actually felt even more eager to chase this project of mine. So a huge thank you to you both. You know who you are;)

This Project I simply named Project Global Love. I say simply, when in actual fact it took several attempts to actually decide on a title I loved enough and fitted in well with the whole concept! Sometimes I over-think and really, the most simple words actually works the best… so I hope Global Love will be sticking around for some time as my own blogging project and you can read more about the reason as to why I decided to launch it here. Since Monday, I had actually begun travelling and have managed to gain some fantastic weddings to feature and of course share with you.

So, a very happy Friday to you and you’ll be the first to know as soon as we have that very first Global Love wedding live… Carms Xx

 

Image Credit : Urban Coffee Company