Wednesday 3rd August started with a train picnic along with my lovely blogger pals, Charlie of Fifties Wedding and Louise of Bijoux Bride, as we made our way up to Newcastle for an evening of vintage glamour and wedding industry ‘networking' at the much anticipated  Love My Dress Soiree.

We were excited about the night ahead…little did we know just what a fabulous night we had in store!

The Report:

Excuse me while I imagine I'm writing a swanky party report for the back pages of OK, complete with shameless name dropping!

{From left to right ~ Fee from We Adore Weddings, Charlie, me and Louise}

The Venue: The iconic Baltic Centre in Gateshead, Newcastle, UK had a beautiful rooftop patio with magnificent views over the River Tyne. We were greeted by gorgeous flapper girls with trays of prosecco at the entrance and were absolutely itching to get our hands on our pretty name tags and goodie bags.

The Decor: The main room was dripping with vintage style from the retro radios and classic typewriters to the antiquarian chaise lounges and the amazing disco ball that had the whole room shimmering. The florals adorning every spare surface by Bel's Flowers and By Appointment Only Design were insanely beautiful. There was a gorgeous vintage esque dessert bar featuring ‘heart pops', shoe cookies, pink macaroons and other such treats in charmingly eclectic jars and containers created by The Boutique Baking Company and Ava Event Styling.

The Refreshments: Flapper girls with trays of bubbly prosecco floated around the venue while dapper waiters handed out lamb skewers and duck pancake canapes and there was a delightful cocktail list including the delicious ‘raspberry romance'. There were also sweet treats from the dessert bar up for grabs ~ the mini pink meringues were lip smackingly good ~ literally. {It's hard to look elegant while scoffing a crumbly, chewy meringue but who cares when they taste so good!}

The Fashion: There were vintage glamourpusses & stylish gents everywhere. Think 60s lace prom dresses, sharp, tweed suits, 1920s cream bias cut floor length gowns, fur stoles {which were quickly hung up due to the warm summer's evening} the prettiest peep toe heels and exquisite, bejewelled, statement headpieces adorning a sea of perfectly coiffed hair.

{Me, Natasha of Natasha Jane Headwear and Charlie ~ notice how they're both wearing the prettiest of sparkly headpieces ~ I felt very under dressed!}

The Entertainment: Burlesque, Jazz, retro music, dancing and the fantastic Snapparazzi photobooth!

{Four squashed wedding bloggers: Charlie, Myself, Louise and Fee}

The Goodie Bags: ‘Pack lunch' style brown bags complete with fabric flowers, beautious Vicky Trainer bookmark, Doodle Love song words card, charming little Love My Dress badges & a mirror, alongside a plethora of sweet treats I scoffed the next day on the train journey home in my ‘delicate' state.

{Showing off our shoes/dancing round our handbags ~ inevitable with the fantastic tunes!}

The Host: Annabel of Love My Dress was a vision in a bespoke baby blue tulle prom dress by Dana Bolton of Once Upon A Time dresses and intricate headpiece by Kat Swank. Despite being in high demand throughout the evening she carried herself with such grace and greeted everyone in the room with warm, friendly smiles. She gave the loveliest speech, explaining how much her life has changed since she started Love My Dress and thanking everyone for coming.

I was so pleased to have a few moments for hugs, to congratulate her on a FABULOUS evening and grab a quick photo. Annabel has been such an amazing inspiration, not only when I was planning my own vintage wedding but she has also been so supportive of me and Bridal Musings ~ it was great to have the chance to thank her personally.

{Me, Annabel ~ our gracious host ~ and lovely photographer, Neda}

Being an early years teacher, and a shy one at that, networking, shmoozing, mingling and all those other scary words don't come easily to me ~ we don't do much of that in nursery! However, the atmosphere at the Love My Dress soiree was unlike any other wedding industry event I've attended ~ it was a relaxed, gathering of like-minded people who just happened to be dolled up to the nines!

To be honest, I didn't speak to half as many people as I would've liked to but I left that night feeling happy that I'd connected and reconnected with some truly lovely wedding industry folk. It was a truly wonderful night ~ well done to all involved!

I just want to say a big hello and thank you to the following people as they helped to make my night so very enjoyable:

It was great to chat to Cat of Cat Hepple Photography, who looked the epitome of glamour in a long, cream dress by Dresses at no. 9, fabulous Natasha of the equally fabulous Natasha Jane Headwear, always lovely Rebecca Norris who looked gorgeous in a slinky floor length dress and sparkly eyeshadow, Louise from Oh My Honey ~ a talented dressmaker who specializes in retro 50s prom dresses, Andri from Always Andri who is a creative planner I've featured on Bridal Musings before. I also got to meet lovely Rebecca, a real bride reader and fellow lace wedding dress lover who is going to have the most gorgeous wedding with a crack team wedding industry experts! Katy of What Katy Did Next ~ a sweetheart who makes the most beautiful accessories, wonderful husband and wife team Sev and Roz of Hepburn Collection, who styled the tresses of the most glamourous looking ladies of the evening, including Annabel. {And did my gorgeous wedding hair!}Sweet and chic Frankie of Love Audrey , charming and super talented Katy Lunsford , delightful Michelle of Pocketful of Dreams and a host of other lovely ladies including:  Liezl Croft Photography, Sarah Lauren Photography, The Bijou Bride, Tallulah's Trinkets. I hope I haven't missed anybody out ~ the night was a bit of a blur towards the end!

Here's some fab soiree write ups:

~ Annabel, has provided us with beautiful preview photos by Katy Lunsford and Helen Russel and a teaser film by Mintyslippers from the evening on Love My Dress! Go check it out…and join me in waiting with baited breath for her full report!

~ Neda has written a lovely write up that captures the glamour, yet the relaxed feel of the night. Big thanks to her for sharing her photos with me.

~ Madison of The Pastel Pirate Wedding Blog shares her experience of the soiree from a bride's perspective as does the lovely Frankie of Love Audrey who was sporting a classic, chic look that Audrey Hepburn would've approved of!

~ Charlie of Fifties Wedding treated us to a ‘Saturday Special' post full of all the juicy details and lovely vintage photos.

~ Michelle of Pocketful of Dreams‘ account is like a comedy of errors but despite the mishaps Michelle & her friend Jane had a fab time!