14 News IT IS THE BEGINNING of
another year, which means that soon more weddings will be taking place around the county of Ceredigion and to mark the occasion, people from all over were able to attend the annual Aberystwyth Wedding Show at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Sunday (Jan 29). Over the St Dwynwen’s Day
weekend, a fabulous day was had by all who attended the Wedding Show, which included catwalks, live entertainment, hair and make-up demos and advice from professional wedding coordinators. The Wedding Show has always
had a successful reputation in bringing wedding parties together for a full day of excitement and this year, 29 exhibitors from across the wedding industry gathered to help make the event an unforgettable one. Amongst the variety of companies
gathered on the top floor of the Arts Centre was ‘Cakes For Special Occasions’. Speaking to The Herald, owner
Amy Goddard tells us more about the business and how she became involved with the show: “At Cakes For Special Occasions, we supply beautifully handcrafted cakes and sugarcraft for all occasions at very competitive prices.
“I started making cakes for friends
and family 15 years ago and I have done it as a hobby whilst working full time and having a family. “When my main job came under
threat of redundancy, I decided to make a go of the cake business officially to sell to customers and started renting a premises in Aberystwyth town that opens full-time in March. My daughter
Rhian Boyt
rhian.boyt@herald.email
is my biggest fan! “I was approached on my business
page by one of the organisers of the Wedding Show.” On what she showed to the public
at the event, Amy continued to say: “I took three display models with me to show a variety of options and the different skills I had. I also took samples with me as I’m very confident in my product and believe if people taste it, they’ll be back for more!” Amy concluded the interview
by telling The Herald about how her business benefitted from the Wedding Show: “I think being present will definitely benefit the business. We not only had face-to-face contact with many brides and grooms, which makes a difference, as it puts a face to the name instead of just phoning or emailing.”
‘Herbalife Nutrition’ was also
there to provide constructive advice to those who needed a final push in the area of nutrition before their big days. Karen Prior, of ‘Herbalife
Nutrition’, talked to The Herald about their stall at the Wedding Show. “Many people are unaware that
Herbalife Nutrition can help with so many issues like energy, skin, weight loss, healthy weight gain, toning, sport performance and general well-being, and most brides and their party are looking for that special glow for their big day.” On how Herbal Nutrition got
involved with the Wedding Show, Karen said: “We contacted Marissa, who works for Calon Wedding Planning, for more information.
“Calon Wedding Planning events
are so well organised, professional and have a great atmosphere. We’ve loved having the opportunity to talk to people about exactly what we do.” On what items they displayed
at the show, Karen added: “We showcased our core nutrition products with particular focus on our six day Ideal Breakfast trial pack. “Statistics show that 48% of
people in the UK have no breakfast and 47% have a sugar-based (high carbohydrate) breakfast. This has a huge impact on how people feel throughout the day with energy and concentration levels, cravings and spikes and dips in sugar levels. “The Herbalife Ideal Breakfast is
a perfect start whether your goal is to have more vitality, sports performance, weight loss, muscle gain, or to look leaner and firmer. It provides you with all your nutrients, energy sources in the right amounts and is quick and easy to prepare, making it ideal for everyone.” Wedding parties at the show also
had the chance to examine the fantastic selection of flowers by ‘Expressions Florist’ displayed on the stall and featured in the runway show. The Herald interviewed the owner
of the business, award-winning florist Julie Amies-Carter, about the business and the event: “I have been a florist for 23 years this year, and have been running Expressions since 2000. I am fully qualified, holding my NDSF in floristry. Expressions began as a traditional retail florist until 2012 when I had my son. “Wanting to gain some work-life
balance, I moved the business to my home studio and began on my journey as a specialist wedding florist. So far, so good! I have a real passion for this aspect of the floristry business. “It’s a real journey from the initial
consultation to knowing after the wedding you played a little part in the big day.”
Discussing the products she had
at the show and why she decided to select them, Julie told The Herald: “In the last few years, fashion has played a huge part in the flowers brides choose so I try to display items I think will be in demand for the year ahead and try to add something unique if I can. “I chose to use scented garden
roses and loose foliage arranged quite informally. I used a very delicate colour palette of blush pinks and champagnes. “I try to create a few styles of
bouquet on my stand to appeal to everyone’s tastes and was very pleased to have them showcased on the catwalk.” Julie went on to say how
Louise Broome Wedding Pianist: ‘The sound of a piano adds extra sparkle to any occasion’
being present at the show has been successful for her business: “Not only is the Aberystwyth Wedding Show the biggest wedding show in the area, but it’s very well attended with well over a hundred brides through the door. “As I do not have a high street shop, it allows me an opportunity to
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Aberystwyth Wedding Show a success
Cakes For Special Occasions: ‘We supply beautifully handcrafted cakes and sugarcraft for all occasions at very competitive prices’
display my work, catch up with brides that have already booked for the year ahead and, of course, I am able to take further bookings. I was pleased to take a few on the day.” She concluded the interview
by saying: “It is also a very social event and an opportunity to see other suppliers that I work with through the year and meet new suppliers. Seeing the trends in cakes, dresses and venue styling give me a better feel for what is happening within the industry locally.” If wedding parties were looking
for very unique stationary for their special day, then they need not look any further than ‘Emma Rose Wedding Stationary’, run by mother-of-two Emma Rose Bates. With a wonderfully decorated
stall at Aberystwyth Arts Centre that attracted everyone’s eye, The Herald spoke to Emma after the show about herself and the business: “The business started in 2010 after I got married myself in 2009 and found it difficult to find a local supplier of stationery that provided bespoke and unique products for a wedding, rather than just the standard print job. “Since then, the business thrives
on supplying handmade items chosen by the couple themselves whether they want something floral, glitzy, classic - it is completely up to them! “I have created wedding passports,
theatre stage invitations, fairytale booklets, and gig tickets, to name only a few... the options are endless!” Emma further added: “I have
known Alaw from Calon Wedding Planning since she first started the business and have become friends. In the Ceredigion area, businesses thrive on word of mouth and we definitely provide this for each other. “She runs a well-respected
business and it is a delight to be at the Wedding Show each year. It is always such a well organised event and a complete success for all involved.” Telling The Herald about the items
she displayed for wedding parties at the Wedding Show, Emma said: “This year, I chose to display a lot of floral designed invitations and stationery as this is very on trend at the moment. “I also brought along a huge variety of other stationery but found the floral
to receive the best comments and the large table plan definitely encouraged people to come over and take a look!” Concluding the interview, Emma
told The Herald: “I have already received thre messages of interest since the event - two whilst the event was still on! - from brides requiring samples and meetings with myself. If this is all that I gain from the show, it would have been worth it.” The atmosphere was lifted for
many members of the public at the Wedding Show, as they were able to hear wedding pianist Louise Broome playing samples of her musical pieces. Speaking to The Herald about her
business, Louise Broome, of ‘Louise Broome Wedding Pianist’, said: “I have played the piano since the age of seven, and have more than 25 years of experience playing for weddings - as well as parties and celebrations of all kinds. “I perform at wedding services,
for the drinks reception afterwards, for the wedding breakfast, or for music afterwards - for whichever part of the day I’m required. “I help the bride and groom to find
the perfect piece of music, or selection of music, to suit their taste, and have a massive repertoire of many different styles of music to suit everyone. “I am always very happy to
learn particular pieces for a specific wedding when requested and am always learning the latest songs too.” Telling us how she began to
participate in the show, Louise stated: “I first met Alaw when she did the first wedding show at Cardigan Castle nearly two years ago. She is a brilliant organiser and such a safe pair of hands for a day that needs to run without a hitch.
“She and her team have everything
beautifully under control, so I was delighted to be invited to play at the Arts Centre - I love it there - and at such a big event. I was there with my keyboard and played throughout the day in order to demonstrate all the different styles of music I can provide for all the different parts of the day. “There is a wonderful atmosphere
created by live music, and the sound of a piano adds extra sparkle to any occasion.”
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