In the Spotlight...Melisma Music

The first time I saw Sarah-Jane Morris of Melisma Music was at a wedding fair.  I literally heard the voice of an angel, and there was Sarah-Jane performing the most beautiful aria.   She is one of the most warmest people I have ever met, she is so so friendly and well, happy!  But I guess if I could sing like she does I would be one very happy lady too.

I was delighted when I caught up once more with Sarah-Jane at the Weddings in Surrey Tweet-up at Fetcham Park, where Melisma Music was one of our showcase entertainments.  This is what Sarah-Jane had to say about Melisma Music and what they can offer for wedding entertainment in Surrey.

Sarah-Jane Morris of Melisma Music

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself, who you are and what you offer couples planning their weddings in Surrey.

 
Melisma Music is unique because it is run by performers.  We have many years of performing experience and have built up a long-term client base because clients know that they can rely on us.  We love working with couples to organise the music and entertainment for their Weddings. Our consultancy is run by myself, Sarah-Jane,  and my husband Andrew. We are both professional singers – Opera and Jazz and we offer friendly advice. We have the best musicians and entertainers in the country, all vetted by us, and so you can relax knowing that your entertainment will be the best it can be.

When and why did you launch your business?

The company was formed in 1997 after numerous requests to provide musicians and singers for various events after hearing us sing.  We only provide musicians and singers of the highest calibre to make your occasion memorable.  We then choose the artists who will complement your event to the high standard that you expect.  We have a wide range of music to choose form.In 1997 we organised around 10 events, we now organise over 600!

Who inspires you the most in the wedding industry? 

I admire anyone who has a passion for what they do. I am lucky to work with lots of wonderful suppliers and venues.

What is the most amazing request you have had?

Well, we do music on a regular basis at Wembley Stadium and I have sung at the Royal Albert Hall, in Russia and for lots of wonderful audiences.

What is your greatest achievement in either your business or personal life?

Our two children who now want to help in the business.  We have also won a number of awards and get a real buzz when someone recommends us.

What is the one piece of wedding planning advice you would give to couples

Keep to your budget and have what you want within that budget. Prioritise and make sure you don’t overspend but don’t compromise on quality.


Melisma Music can provide Classical, Opera, Jazz, Traditional Music, Pop, Disco, Magic and Cartoons and much more including Harpists, String Quartets, Opera Singers, Pop Bands, Ceilidh and Barn Dance, Saxophone, Piano, Gospel Choirs and Jazz Bands.   They have lots of lovely musicians waiting to play for you so please contact them for a no-obligation chat! 

www.melisma.org.uk

Melisma Music is an approved wedding supplier on Weddings in Surrey's extensive directory for Wedding Entertainment Surrey

W.  www.melisama.org.uk
E.   sarah-jane@melisma.freeserve.co.uk
T.   01737 249839

Introducing Moonrise Lingerie....

 New to Weddings in Surrey - Moonrise Lingerie are an exciting stockist of stunning bridal lingerie.  Brides spend hours choosing their wedding dress and accessories, but often leave what goes underneath until the last minute.

I well remember changing my mind about my 'sensible' underwear for my wedding just 2 days before, and spent hours frantically shop hopping trying to find lingerie that made me feel as special as my dress did.  After all, the dress has to come off at some point and big knickers just didn't complete the look!

Moonrise Lingerie have an endless range of bridal lingerie including basques, corsets, bra and pant sets, babydolls for the honeymoon and a fabulous selection of stockings.

They have placed an emphasis on providing lingerie for brides with a curvier figure or large bust and also provide shapewear, if you want to nip those bits in a little more.

They have a passion for lingerie and a wide range that you will not find on the high street.

Exclusive to Weddings in Surrey - place an online order before 31st March 2012 and receive a free pair of Wedding Bell stockings worth £9.99.  Enter discount code WEDSRY at checkout. 

www.moonriselingerie.co.uk
enquiries@moonriselingerie.co.uk

Wedding Bell Stockings FREE with any order

Butterfly Corset

Floral Lace Corset

Jonquil Bridal Bra Set

Low Back Floral Corset

Padded Push-up Bustier

Hollywood Starlet Inspired Shoot

Poppy Rogers, a bespoke vintage jewellery designer from Connie and Dolly wanted to create a bridal inspired shoot that was a little bit different.  Connie and Dolly (named after Poppy's grandmothers) influence comes from the Vintage era and this shoot is based around original 1920s and 1930s jewellery.  Put that in the mix with Charlotte Bridal, a British bridal designer who features Art Deco inspired designs and wedding venue Nonsuch Mansion and you have one amazing shoot. Nonsuch Mansion has beautiful grounds, and original features with luxury contemporary touches.. The Orchid Room with its light flooded windows and opulent wallpaper was the perfect backdrop location.

Charlotte Bridal - Jennifer

Poppy explains "I wanted to create a bridal inspired shoot that was was a little different.  The team, Emma of Emma Lucy Photography, an alternative wedding photographer and Carla Ramsay of Carla Hair & Make-up and I met in a busy cafe in Knightsbridge London to discuss ideas. I loved Emma's alternative approach to photography and Carla did my own hair and make up on my wedding day in  May 2010 and I couldnt wait to work with all of them." 

And so the Art Deco Vintage Bridal shoot idea came to life..

Emma had recently worked on a Halloween inspired photoshoot using Charlotte's gowns and recommended Jennifer as being the perfect dress.  It had a mix of old school Hollywood and pretty touches like the heart on the back of the dress.  Complimenting the gown, was a matching ivory faux fur jacket and accessories from the Connie and Dolly collection.  Any vintage bride must have a pair of bridal shoes by Emmy shoes they perfectly set off the deco inspired look which come in a range of colours and styles.  The bridal look modelled by Alex was kept innocent with soft-rolled hair 

Photography by Emma Lucy Photography

Emmy Shoes - Evelyn 

 

Credits:

Accessories - Connie and Dolly:

A selection of original 1930's diamante jewellery, 1930's ivory sheer gloves and a 1920's diamante beaded purse.

Mina  

Emina
Cora   
Aliya   

Bridal Gown - Charlotte Bridal:

Jennifer 

Shoes - Emmy Shoes

Evelyn

PHOTOGRAPHY
Emma Lucy photography www.emmalucyphotography.co.uk  An alternative wedding photographer covering London, Surrey and Sussex

HAIR AND MAKE UP

Carla Ramsey www.carlahairandmakeup.co.uk  A highly experienced hair and make up artist covering London, Surrey and Sussex (specialises in bridal looks but has a large portfolio of tv and film work)

 
DRESS

Charlotte Bridal www.charlottebridal.co.uk A surrey based bespoke bridal wear designer specialising in corsetry trained at the London college of Fashion

ACCESSORIES

Connie and Dolly www.connieanddolly.com  A Surrey based internet business Poppy sources vintage jewellery/materials from 1910-1960 and reworks them into bridal hair accessories 

SHOES

Emmy shoes www.emmyshoes.co.uk  Vintage inspired bridal and occasionware shoes with a boutique based in Islington.

VENUENonsuch Mansion www.nonsuchmansion.com  Surrey historical wedding and business venue

 
PROP HIRE

Love to Hire www.lovetohire.co.uk  A hire company specialising in vintage china and crockery based in Surrey and  Devon

 

Excited Winner of The Beautiful Wedding Company competition!

Lots of couples do not allocate a spend in their wedding budget to use the services of a wedding planner.  Believing that planning the wedding is the fun part; full of their ideas and what can a planner do that they can't do themselves!  Then you get to the last month when all of your hardwork and months of planning come to a head together.  The couple are working hard during the day, there is probably a Hen and Stag party that takes up valuable planning time, and there are just not enough hours in your working week, to check over those final details.  MELTDOWN TIME.

So we were delighted to team up with The Beautiful Wedding Company to offer a competition to win a Final Countdown Wedding Package. Clare Ridd, Director of The Beautiful Wedding Company, which is accredited by the UKAWP, is giving one lucky winner the opportunity to have the final details of their wedding planning organised by her.

Included in this amazing prize is:

• A detailed meeting to discuss plans so far, highlight problems and suggest solutions
• Provide recommendations for any outstanding suppliers
• Liaise with all suppliers regarding the arrangements for the day
• Prepare a detailed intinerary for the wedding day
• Provide unlimited email and telephone support
• 3 face-to-face meetings
• Attend on the day for 9 hours co-ordination service
• Layout place cards, menus, favours, ensure flowers are arranged as planned
• Support the Best Man and Ushers in their duties
• Co-ordinate suppliers, speeches and ensure the day runs to time

The competition closed on 31st January and Clare and I picked a winner at random using randomizer.org.  The lucky winner was Joanna Crowley of Chertsey in Surrey.

Joanna and Andy

Joanna was so excited about winning and here is what she has to say about how she and Andy got engaged and her wedding planning so far.  We hope to keep up the story of Joanna' wedding plans over the next year.

How did you meet?

I was at university in Stoke-on-Trent and Andy went to Loughborough but was doing a placement year in Stoke at the same company as one of my housemates. He'd moved to Stoke with 2 other lads from Loughborough but none of them knew anyone else, so my housemate Sara adopted them and brought them home to meet us and they never really left!

Tell us about the proposal

I proposed to Andy on his birthday last year! (it's leap year this year - lol). I'd been dropping some major hints for a while and on many occasions joked that if he didn't do it soon then I would be asking him (I've never been the most patient of people!), not really thinking that I actually would. But I'd always thought that if he proposed I'd like to give him something as well, so in the hope that he would propose at some point I began looking at watches. Eventually I found one online and at the check-out it asked if you'd like to have the box engraved, so in a flurry of nerves I had it engraved with the words 'Marry Me'. With no real intention of actually proposing with it any time soon, I put it out of my mind until it arrived on the morning of his birthday and I just thought 'why not?!' so before we were heading out for dinner I simply handed him the box and told him to read it. It took him a moment to figure out what it said - the writing was quite squiggly! - but then he just grinned at me and it was done.

Where are you getting married?

Field Place, Worthing, West Sussex

Do you have a colour theme so far?

Berry colours (deep pink and purple) with grey

Who is the designer of your dress?

It's vintage so I have no idea!

Where did you buy your dress?

Fur Coat No Knickers - London

How many bridesmaids?

Four in all.  Tammy who has been one of my best friends since we were 4 years old, Izzy who has been my constant companion since we were 14 and Sara and Becca who I lived with at uni and quickly became like sisters to me

What style of wedding are you having?

There's no theme as such, we just want something fun and relaxed with good food and fantastic music.

Have you chosen a honeymoon.

We're going to have our honeymoon later in the year and are planning to do a roadtrip up the west coast of America, though we will have a few days away after the wedding at our favourite hotel in Cornwall - Watergate Bay.