Monthly Archives: May 2008

Guest at Collette and Robin’s Wedding

My husband and I were invited to ‚ a ‚ friend’s Wedding in Stirling yesterday, with ‚ a Catholic Service held in St Mary’s Church, and the reception held at Glenbervie Manor House near Falkirk. ‚ The special day was a union of Irish and Scottish, so many had travelled from afar to join the couple ‚ witness their vows.

The Bride ‚ looked stunning in a ‚ ruched bodice ‚ dress accentuated with ‚ a feathery bow detail ‚ on the hip, holding a bouquet of cream calla lillies with diamante. ‚ The Groom (my flatmate from our University days) and his Best Man, wore traditonal kilts with a button hole of a single cream calla lily and a blue Scottish thistle. ‚ The Bridesmaid wore an elegant yellow dress (the colour for this fashion season) with a posy of yellow calla lillies.

The Bride and Groom left the Church in a jet black Volvo, with the top down and “All you need is love” by the Beatles playing. ‚ On our arrival at the Glenbervie Manor House, a Scottish Bagpiper played us in and we were treated to a champagne reception. ‚ Whilst the photographs were being taken, the local peacock was displaying his feathers at their best.

Their Table Plan had been created with a difference, with each table identified by a South American place which turned out to be the Bride and Groom’s destinations ‚ for their Honeymoon. ‚ The centre piece of each table was a lit candelabra sitting on a circular mirror. ‚ A beautiful five course meal was served, with a short break to stand and toast the Haggis! ‚ The evening entertainment had a twist too, with a group of young Irish dancers in costume to kick us off.

Thanks Collette and Robin for a wonderful day x

All you need to know about Troon

If you Google “Troon”, Troon Online is the first hit every time and everything you need to know about Troon can be found there, including:

How to get there
A variety ‚ of accommodation
Where to eat and drink
Local ‚ Churches
What’s On

Sarah’s Creative Occasions is based in Troon, which is why we chose to advertise our Wedding and Party services with Troon Online.

If you have never been to Troon, then do use Troon Online as a starter, and browse the selection of images available of the wonderful views Troon has to offer.

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Blair House’s Open Day near Dalry

We are just back from a glorious afternoon spent at Blair House near Dalry, visiting their private gardens which were open for charity as part of Scotland’s Garden Scheme. ‚ My husband and I walked hand in hand around the large expanse of mature gardens, ‚ which were set off by the:

variety of Rhododendrons in flower
fresh red foliage of the Acers
mass of Bluebells under the shade
huge leaves of the Gunnera

We then sat on the front lawn ‚ with an ice cream, and one of the estate’s dogs curled up beside us.

Jane, ‚ the Estate’s Marketing & Events Manager, then kindly showed my husband inside the house so he could view for himself ‚ the splendid Drawing Room. ‚ ‚ Humanist and Religious ceremonies can be held in the Drawing Room, and Civil ceremonies can be held on the sundial lawn.

For those wishing a grand occasion in fine surroundings, Blair House can provide it, so if you are interested in finding out more about the facilities Blair House can offer, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah’s Creative Occasions.

Jo’s 40th Birthday Party in Ruislip

Jo ‚ asked me to help out with her 40th Birthday celebration in January 2008, which was ‚ to be held near her home in Ruislip. ‚ Her wishes included:

A funky party to remember with her friends
To enjoy a buffet with ‚ some chilli in a pot
To boogie on down with a 70s disco
At ‚ minimal cost

Sarah’s Creative Occasions ‚ created Jo’s invitations, based on a contemporary monochrome design, which were then printed and mailed in jet black envelopes to Jo’s 50+ guests.

Jo had a couple of surprises, with a birthday cake ‚ presented by a friend, and a magician to entertain her guests.

Blair House near Dalry Private Gardens Open for Charity

This Sunday 25th May, one of my favourite venues in Ayrshire, ‚ Blair House ‚ near Dalry, is opening its private gardens for charity as part of the Scotland’s Garden Scheme. ‚ For those who have never been to Blair House, it will be a golden opportunity to view one of the most spectacular houses in the area and a chance to walk around their private gardens, as well as; enjoying some tea, browsing the plant stalls and watching the children have their faces painted.

My husband and I will be there to wander, and to gain ‚ inspiration from the gardens.

Our paths may cross, so do say hello.

Exhibiting at the Ayr Flower Show in August 2008

For the first time, the Ayr Flower Show will have a Wedding and Special Occasion Planner exhibiting amongst their floral displays, garden nursery stalls and arts & crafts, Sarah’s Creative Occasions will be there!

The Ayr Flower Show ‚ will be open to the public ‚ on Friday 8th August through to Sunday 10th August 2008, ‚ at the ‚ Rozelle Estate in Ayr.

Our application for a Trade Stand in the Craft Fair indoor marque has been accepted, and we are now busying ourselves designing the look of our stand, and deciding which suppliers and products to use and perfect our display. ‚ Follow our design with future posts on our News Blog.

So if you don’t already have the date in your diaries, please do plan a day’s outing with your friends and family to the Ayr Flower Show, as there will be so much to see, do and indeed purchase.

Hope to see you there.

We have joined AABW

On 8th May 2008 Sarah Plant was successfully enrolled as a member into the Ayrshire Association of Business Women (AABW).

The AABW’s Code on Conduct ‚ refers to a number of qualities expected from their members, including:

Professional
Courteous
Respectful
Helpful
Friendly
Non-political

The AABW meets monthly, allowing a regular forum for their members to network with like minded business women over dinner, as well as to indulge in the presentation from a guest speaker.

Guests are welcome to any of the AABW events. ‚ The next event takes place on Tuesday 20th May 2008 from 1830, at the Barcelo Troon Marine Hotel, in Troon itself, with guest speaker Linda Lawson, the General Manager of Hourstons Department Store in Ayr.

A Spring Church Blessing at Mouswald

We created a Church Blessing for a couple this Spring, ‚ at Mouswald Church near Dumfries, for them to renew their vows in the company of their extended family, ‚ the majority of whom had travelled up ‚ from ‚ East Anglia.

Sarah’s Creative Occasions wrote their personalised vows, and helped to select their readings, hymns and organ accompaniment. ‚ We also crafted ‚ their Order of Service.

It was their choice of Church, which sits prominently upon a hilltop overlooking the Solway Firth, and we found them a country house hotel where they could arrive from their service to a champagne reception, followed by a beautifully prepared ‚ three course meal for the whole family to enjoy.

Sarah’s Creative Occasions organised the table settings, table plan and provided wee treats for the youngsters to keep them occupied for the evening.

An Autumn Wedding at Blairquhan

Sarah’s Creative Occasions planned this Autumn intimate wedding for Sarah and Brian at Blairquhan Castle, on the edge of the Galloway Hills, in 2007.

Their key requirements included:

Venue to be grand and exclusive, yet friendly and comfortable
Party to dine elegantly around one large table and enjoy a feast
Colour scheme to match their meaningful orange Montbretia (Crocosmia) ‚ flower

Aspects where ‚ the Clients ‚ chose to save costs:

The Bride and Groom selected their own Wedding music, and we connected up ‚ their own pc system to play; the accompaniment to their Ceremony, as background music to dinner and to dance the night away in the evening.
Sarah’s Creative Occasions both ‚ designed and printed ‚ personalised stationary for the couple.
With such a hearty meal selected for dinner, ‚ there was no Wedding Cake.
Guests stayed over at the venue itself, and as both the Ceremony & Reception were held at the one venue, there was no need to ‚ organise any ‚ special transportation.
The photographs were taken by Kinetic Photgraphy and their package included a CD of all the photos taken on the day, which ‚ Sarah’s Creative Occasions ‚ then used to create albums as gifts for the ‚ families.