The wedding fair held near to Basingstoke opens at 11:00am on the 12th of September.

Entry is free and to get you into the spirit there will be  complimentary glass of sparkling wine waiting for your arrival!

Old Basing Wedding Fair

There will be a huge range of exhibitors to help you with your Basingstoke Wedding.

Alan Bowman Wedding Photographer will be there to show his recent wedding photo albums and work.  Gemma from Handmade by Gemma will be showing her wonderful hand made wedding stationery.  Jayne Anne Bridal will have a huge range of wedding dresses for you to see and she will be hosting a Bridal cat walk at 12:30 and Trevor Cruickshank from Cruickshank’s Cakes and Events Catering will be showing some of his award winning cakes and wedding catering.  Gold Finger wedding rings will be showing their individually made wedding rings.

You will also see the following Basingstoke Wedding Professionals:

• Balloons 4 U
• My little wrapper
• Fun Casino
• Chandelle Travel
• Scentsation flowers
• Blue Bella
• Frenzy Balloons
• Absolute Disco
• Cornwell Photography
• Cathy Laney’s Flute Guitar Duo
• Frog Prince Tiaras

We look forward to seeing you there !

The fair will close at 3:00pm.

Please note the complimentary wine is for visitors aged 18 and over only.

More local Wedding Fairs can be seen on our Basingstoke Wedding Fair page.

Paul Smith has been performing professionally for around twenty years and can be heard playing piano in the restaurant most Monday evenings at Tylney Hall Hotel.

Wedding entertainment is not just limited to the piano. The saxophone is also available (accompanied by backing tracks many recorded by Paul Smith). This is immensely popular and is often booked in addition to the piano to add variety. A superb jazz quartet and a seven piece band specialising in Traditional Jazz and Dixie complete with the straw hats cover the increasingly popular jazz styles. Finally, a ten piece function band specialising in Soul and Blues with many pieces by Van Morrison add to the flexible line up available.

Paul Smith particularly enjoys playing swing music as it is up-beat and ‘lifts the soul’.

The ‘day job’ stays with music. Paul Smith teaches woodwind at the City of London Freemen’s School and Yateley Manor. A great source of satisfaction can be found in running the various ensembles at the schools including a very professional sounding Concert Band who recently performed Shostakovich’s Festive Overture at the Dorking Halls and a competent and ever growing Jazz Band.

Paul Smith has two web sites; paulsmithmusic.co.uk and paulsmithmusic.biz where more information can be found including demonstrations and repertoire lists of the ensembles. You may also contact him via mail@paulsmithmusic.co.uk.

Paul Smith has been performing professionally for around twenty years and can be heard playing piano in the restaurant most Monday evenings at Tylney Hall Hotel. Paul Smith mail@paulsmithmusic.co.uk paulsmithmusic.biz paulsmithmusic.co.uk

The Perk Scheme is run by Destination Basingstoke and offers up to £1,800 worth of local shopping and leisure offers for its members. You can now buy individual cards for yourself or family for just £20 – (was £30). The perk card contains offers with around 60 different local businesses including Basingstoke Weddings suppliers, Handmade by Gemma, Cruickshanks Cakes, and Wedding Entertainment by Paul Smith.

How can you save Pennies?
You can make savings at all sorts of places including: Cinemas, Restaurants, Health & Beauty Salons, Hairdressers and Jewellery Stores and now your local wedding suppliers!
Below are the offers you could take advantage of when planning your wedding if you purchase a perk card:
Handmade by Gemma will offer a 10% discount on wedding stationery orders when presented with a valid Perk Card. Terms and conditions apply.
Cruickshanks Cakes & Event Catering-
15% off any celebration cake and 15% off any catering booking over 30 people when perk card is shown. Terms and conditions apply.
Paul Smith’s Wedding Entertainment-
Receive 10% off Paul Smith Wedding Entertainment when you present a valid Perk Card.

Terms and conditions may apply on these offers so please check directly with the supplier.

Helping the town of Basingstoke
Your Perk membership fee goes to Destination Basingstoke – a not-for-profit marketing agency for Basingstoke and the surrounding area. It aims to promote the Borough as an attractive place to live, work and visit, and as a first choice location for business.

Profits from the membership scheme will go towards the marketing and promotion of Basingstoke so the more members we have, the more we can promote the town.

Terms and conditions do apply to individual offers but most can be used repeatedly until 12 months from when you signed up. If all offers are taken up, and those that allow unlimited usage are used four times, then the total package is worth around £1,800.00.

How do I join to get great discount on my wedding?
For more information about how to join the ‘Perk Scheme’ and get great discounts on wedding suppliers contact the perk scheme directly on 01256 461167 or visit the website at destinationbasingstoke.co.uk

For more information about the suppliers listed and what they do best please contact them directly or visit their websites.

Handmade by Gemma- handmadebygemma.com

Cruickshank’s Cakes & Event Catering- cruickshankscakes.com

Paul Smith’s Wedding Entertainment- paulsmithmusic.biz

Handmade By Gemma

Beechdown is ideally located  midway between the M3 and Basingstoke town, and prides itself on providing attentive service and well appointed rooms to stage events of all types. Beechdown’s new Deluxe Wedding Package has been carefully designed to include everything that you will need to complete your day in the most cost effective way.

It takes some of the stress away from you but you can still take complete control and make the package unique to you. You will enjoy working with some of Basingstoke best businesses in the wedding industry who will provide you with a personal and professional service from start to finish. Handmade By Gemma is proud to be one of these.

The price of the package below has been based on 48 guests including the Bride and Groom, however the venue can quote you on any number of guests. Beechdown Deluxe Package includes:

• Hire of Beech and Cedar suites for the whole day
• Hire of the Willow Suite for arrival drinks
• Wedding Co-ordinator
• Dedicated Events Manager on the day
• Red Carpet Arrival
• Arrival Drinks
• Chair Covers with Sash
• Cake Stand and Knife
• Balloon Arch over the Top Table
• Flowers for the Top Table
• Flower Pedestal
• Table Balloons
• Dance Floor Balloons
• Coordinating Table Plan with table numbers by Handmade by Gemma
• Coordinating Place card for each guest by Handmade By Gemma
• Carvery with a choice of Meats
• Evening Buffet
• Evening Disco

All for only £2491

If you would like to upgrade the Table Balloons for Flower Centre Pieces please add another £72.50

The table plan, table numbers and place cards offered by Handmade by Gemma are uniquely designed to fit in the the theme and style of your wedding. Gemma will visit you at home or meet you at the venue to discuss designs. It is always helpful to bring along colour swatches, fabrics and patterns should you have any. Whether you are having traditional hearts or flowers or something a little different Gemma will accommodate it and create you the perfect table ware package. The package is very flexible and can be upgraded easily to accommodate personalised table favours etc.

Speak directly to Gemma about your options If you would like more information on Beechdown, the package or any of the services provided in it  please do not hesitate to contact Rachel or Charley at Beechdown on  01256 352211 or by email ateventsoffice@beechdown.co.uk. For more images and directions please visit beechdown.co.uk.

If you would like to know more about the table plan, place cards and table numbers provided by Handmade By Gemma in the package please feel free to contact Gemma directly on  07834 902570 or by email at contact@handmadebygemma.com.

Gemma is a wedding stationery designer based in Basingstoke. She specializes in high quality bespoke design and is dedicated in providing Bride and Grooms to be with beautifully handcrafted stationery for all aspects of their big day. Her portfolio includes invitations, order of service, menus, table plans, favours, name cards and much more. Gemma’s passion for design and paper craft is shown in her elegant and stylish approach- both of which are things your wedding day shouldn’t be without! Handmade by Gemma 07834 902570 contact@handmadebygemma.com www.handmadebygemma.com

Work by Trevor Cruickshank

The prestigious Salon Culinaire International De Londres at Hotelympia in London, runs every two years, giving experts in lots of different fields the chance to compete with the best of the best in one of the highest and most recognised awards in the industry.

Work by Trevor Cruickshank

Trevor entered three different pieces and his handmade sugar mask was judged to be the best!

Work by Trevor Cruickshank

Our congratulations go to Trevor and his fine work which you can have at your wedding, call him on 07593 145969 to discuss your Wedding Day on or visit his websites cruickshankscakes.com / cruickshankscatering.com.

Trevor Cruickshank is an award winning Wedding Cake maker. With over 13 years of experience, he makes tradional and modern cakes for weddings in and around Basingstoke. Cruickshanks Cakes 07593 145969 cruickshankscakes@hotmail.co.uk www.cruickshankscakes.com

GlobalGiving.co.uk

These days the traditional wedding gift seems a little out of kilter for some. Many couples have already set up home and are now looking for alternative ways to channel the generosity of their guests in celebration of their ‘big day’.  Giving to charity to help those more in need is fast becoming a favoured wedding gift alternative, and with Global Giving’s on-line Wedding Gift Registry, a couple can choose the charitable projects that mean most to them, asking guests to donate to the cause instead of buying yet another toaster!

It’s quick and easy to create a Wedding Gift Registry page on Global Giving and let guests know how to start giving. Your wedding registry page is easy to personalise and there are over 350 charitable projects to choose from all over the world. Everyone and anyone can choose a cause, give, and see the impact of their donation. It is fast, easy to use and allows someone to make an informed choice when giving to charity

The betrothed can easily sign up for an account with GlobalGiving.co.uk and then create a wedding list. Then pick the projects that they would like their guests to donate towards. You can pick as many projects as you like to put on the list. You can then send the list to your guests directly from the Global Giving website and the guests can then donate to your chosen causes. A running total on the site is kept showing how much has been raised by the guests so that you can thank your guests.

Global Giving can also handle Gift-aid so any donations by guests from people within the UK will be eligible for Gift-aid so the lovely tax-man doesn’t get involved and the whole donation goes to the cause.

See Gregs website for more details professionalvideo.tv.

Shay and Katie were married just before Christmas at All Saints Church in Crondall, Hampshire. With lots of snow around, it was very romantic and eye catching.

Greg Hawkes has been producing memorable wedding video since 1989. He lives in Basingstoke with his wife Jeannette who helps with the administration and phone calls. Greg’s approach to wedding video is to be unobtrusive and he produces DVD wedding videos of the highest quality using the latest Sony professional wide screen high definition cameras. Greg Hawkes 01267 817926 professionalvideo@gmail.com www.professionalvideo.tv

Over the last year we have posted over 30 articles about weddings, services and things of interest for those planning a wedding in and around the Hampshire town of Basingstoke. We have had over 3500 visitors. Mostly from around the area, but some from much further afield.

The team of Wedding Specialists who write and illustrate the articles of BasingstokeWeddings.com have over 250 years of experience between them.  That is a massive amount of knowledge that you can use to make your wedding a wonderful occasion.  With such a diverse set of skills and the huge amount of experience, they are best wedding specialists you can find in and around Basingstoke.

This year they have done more weddings than ever before and they are on track already to do even more next year, giving many more happy couples the benefit of their experience and knowledge.

Its been a challenging year in many ways for everyone, but their expertise in the wedding business has helped hundreds of couples from Basingstoke and the surrounding areas to have a wonderful day that they will remember.  Over the year they have all added to their offerings, made improvements and worked very hard to ensure they deliver the best possible service.

Some of our many visitors from the last year according to Google have come from London, Basingstoke, Reading, Woodley, Pudsey, Southampton, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bracknell, Windsor, Immingham, Newquay, Sheffield, Bristol, Glasgow, Crowthorne, Edinburgh, Milton Keynes, Wokingham, Wembley, Chelmsford, Winnersh, Chineham, Winchester, Ewell, Coventry, Oxford, Bournemouth, Poplar, Woking, Aldershot, Eastleigh, Portsmouth, Cleethorpes, Slough, Wallington, Edgbaston, Binfield, Derby, Watford, Teddington, Dundee, Hinckley, Sale, Newbury, Salford, Cardiff, Abingdon, Bath, Salisbury, Batley, Walton-le-Dale, Billingham, Frimley, Caerphilly, Flitwick, Liverpool, Northhampton, Burnham, Walton-on-Thames, Farnborough, Romsey, Camberley, Newcastle upon Tyne, Esher, Solihull, Plymouth, Nottingham, Stockport, Croydon, Bagshot, Egham, Harrogate, Worthing, Langford, Chatham, Ascot, Marlow, Warrington, Hemel Hempstead, Rock Ferry, Winsford, Cosham, Thatcham, Ipswich, Lasswade, Thurrock, St Albans, Rotherham, Letchworth, York, Stevenage, Cookham Dean, Northampton, Wombwell, Dartfort, Leicester, Swindon, Guildford, Bradford, Aveley, Totton, Aldermaston, Ely, West Moors, Royal Leamington Spa, Compton, Luton, Tipton, Iver, Wakefield, Lambeth, Maidenhead, Dunmurry, Huddersfield, Thames Ditton, Norwich, Dunstable, Greenock, Langley, North Tyneside , Meriden, Waterlooville, Andover, Leighton Buzzard, Virginia Water, Exeter, Hove, Rochdale, Halifax, Histon, Royston, Brierley Hill, Rainhill, Uttoxeter, Paisley, Somercotes, Matlock, Kilwinning , Ampthill, Chertsey, Brighton, Bolton, Redhill, Westerham, Belfast, Perth, Blackburn, Gravesend, Denmead, Dumbarton, Wednesbury, Hull, Hindhead, Waltham Cross, Rushden, Doncaster, Gateshead, Dudley, Kirkcaldy, Livingston, Harwell, Colchester, Fareham, Rusper, Beaconsfield, Haddenham, Sutton, Stourbridge, Ashford, Leyland, Stanwell, Cheltenham, Rayleigh, Cheshunt, Hastingwood, Stoke on Trent, Boness, Silchester, Connahs Quay, Gloucester, Chichester, Chandlers Ford, Hengoed, South Cernery, Alton, Henley-on-Thames, Carlisle, Walsall, Loughborough, Darlington, Fordingbridge, Mossley, Havant, Kirklees, Lancing, Shipley, Conwy, High Wycombe, Lincoln, Westhoughton, Kensington, Chorley, Clacton-on-Sea, Birkenhead, Bletchley, Swallowfield, Hereford, Chester, Biggleswade, Sutton in Ashfield, Kenilworth, Odiham, Sunderland, Calne, Bedford, Avon, Macclesfield, Kempston, Mansfield, Banbury, Overseal , Kettering, Rutherglen, Neath, Wigan, Northfleet, Newport, Evesham, Rugby, Basildon, Newcastle under Lyme, St Ives and Hastings.

We are looking forward to the next year and all the weddings that we will help with!

On Sunday you will be able to buy dresses with massive discounts, see and sample Trevor’s fine Wedding Cakes which are again available with some huge discounts, especially for early bookings!

The event will be held at
Ridgeway Centre – Map
Blackdown Close,
Buckskin
Basingstoke
RG22 5BN

For more information talk to Jayne Ann ( 01256 406650 )  and Trevor Cruickshank ( 07593 145969).