Elizabeth's Cake Emporium

There can be no denying that a wedding takes a huge amount of planning, finding and booking all your various suppliers can be a daunting task, even for the most savvy couple. The financial implications are rarely small, so it pays to do your homework when choosing a photographer that will make your day special and unique to you.

Yvonne White, one of the loveliest wedding vendors that I have come across, runs White Gold Images, a Wedding Photography business based in north London. She offers her clients a distinctive photography style - a fabulous mix of classic and contemporary images that blend together seamlessly to tell the story of your day. 

Her love of photography started over 30 years ago when she received her first camera and 8 years ago she became a professional photographer.  Photography to her is not just a job; her passion and enjoyment shines  through in every assignment she takes on.

She regularly gets positive feedback about her ability to make her clients feel relaxed and enjoy being photographed which results in the most amazing images.

Yvonne offers a variety of packages that eases some of the financial burden and this way the majority of her clients couples are able to opt for a bigger, better album than they might have done had they been forced to pay for it all before the day.  So whatever your preference, she will help you plan effectively.

Below is some advice from her on choosing a photographer that's right for you:

•       Get personal recommendations from friends, family, colleagues, etc

•       Google search your area, venue and possibly even photographic style if you have very fixed ideas about what you want. Check out featured photographers in bridal magazines and on wedding blogs. Blogs of other suppliers like this one are particularly useful as they will usually only recommend or feature photographers they know and are confident in passing on as part of protecting their own reputation.

•       Get a list together of possibles from your research, discounting anyone that is not to your taste style wise or beyond your budget [we will come back to budget shortly]

•       Remember different photographers will have different ‘styles’ so you will need to think about the kind of pictures you want. Just as an example of this, ‘vintage’ processing is fashionable at the moment, which is great if you are having a vintage themed wedding, but if not, will you still like it when you look back at your pictures in 10 years time?

•       Now is the time to start talking to your list of possibles and this is where the crunch can really come – do you actually feel you can get on with the wedding photographer? Is there a rapport? You need to have a good relationship with your photographer, afterall, the only person you are likely to spend more time with than the photographer on the day will be your new husband/wife.

•       Once you got yourself a shortlist, arrange a meeting with them before parting with any money – any photographer serious about your wedding day will do this. Ask to see some albums so you can see a range of pictures and the product quality you will receive afterwards. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, such as whether they have insurance and what sort of equipment they will be using.

•       Finally, armed with all this information, you can make your decision and book and remember, this is your wedding day and your choice of photographs, so make sure you get the one you want based on what you like. 

Whist you musn't feel pressured into booking by an overly keen photographer you are not entirely convinced by, remember that when your special day is over, what is left to keep those memories fresh for years to come are the photographs.

A good photographer will put many hours into ensuring everything is captured in all it’s detail, far more than you will be aware of on the day and many more before and afterwards. Look at your budget and ask yourself if you have allowed enough – if you find yourself dismissing a lot photographers you otherwise like based on costs, then you might need to consider some re-budgeting. Settling for second best might just leave you feeling less than happy in those years that follow. 

Contact Yvonne 

Call 020 8445 2848 or 07712 928000

At Elizabeth's Cake Emporium, we are very excited about London Fashion Week 2012.

According to The Guardian: 

"There is a new mood of seriousness at London fashion week. The opening honours fell to Sir Philip Green, and the presence of both Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, and Ed Vaizey, the minister for culture and the creative industries, reflects how successful the British Fashion Council has been in getting the coalition on board with the message that fashion, being an arena in which Britain still leads the world, is an industry worth shouting about.

London fashion week has recently emerged victorious from a decade-long battle to defend its credentials as a serious player on the global stage, and successfully fought off attempts by rival cities to squeeze it off the schedule. Rave reviews for London's designers in the global fashion press have become standard"

So far we've been very impressed by the collections of the big designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith and the collection by Bora Aksu and Peter Pilotto.

We are looking forward to the next few days but in the meantime, enjoy our recent fashion inspired cakes.

Having spoken to fellow business owners and wedding vendors, almost all of them have horror stories with regards to their websites. Escalating costs, broken promises, links that don't work, the complaints are endless.

After years of dealing with a number of IT 'frogs' I was very lucky to be referred to Simon Oliver of So Creative who happened to be the 'Prince' of all things digital.

So Creative is a digital studio that offers cost effective marketing and simple, clean and vibrant design.

The studio uses a network of freelancers and experts to reduce the costs and keep overheads down. It also  takes on large and small projects for start ups, charities and an eclectic mix of small businesses.

Simon Oliver set up the design studio in 2005 as a freelancer to sharpen his skills and to take on fresh challenges. Since then the company has been growing gradually and last year it changed its name to SO Creative.

With over 15 years in the industry he is able to bring a huge amount of experience to each project. Simon also overseas all the work in the studio and believes in working closely with his clients till they are  happy.

So Creative's philosophy is simple. Good design is at the heart of everything they do. On offer is a range of design and website services to fit all needs. These include logo design, website design, hosting and search engine optimisation.

Most importantly they offer several website packages and plans from simple brochure sites to online shops and complex function driven websites.

IT and web technology can be daunting for some of us to use. Using the latest innovations they ensure people like me feel comfortable with their websites and have a good experience.

They understand that great design can cost and a lot of start-ups have small budgets. With this in mind they have created payment plans for 6 months and a year so your budget does not have to limit the design vision you have for your business.  

So if you are in need of a digital marketing solution, give Simon a ring, or better still go round to his studio for a lovely cup of tea and a very sympathetic listening ear.

SO Creative Digital

443 New Cross Road, London SE14 6TA
0208150 6726
info@socreativedigital.com
www.socreativedigital.com

Bruce Russell Chiasson is one of the UK's premier event planners with over 15 years experience working with world famous hotels such as the Plaza, New York and Savoy, London. Already an insider’s favourite for wedding design, he has steadily built up an established list of clients based in London and the South West. In 2011 he launched by 'By Bruce Russell' - a business coordinating wedding celebrations, civil ceremonies, private social occasions and corporate party planning.

An event "by Bruce Russell" promises originality and style while maintaining a personal touch. Bruce is passionate about every aspect of event planning; from design to detail, turning events into unforgettable memories.

A consummate professional who is a delight to work with, clients have often said that he is the equivalent of having their best friend plan their wedding to perfection.  His calm and cool attitude he makes it all seem effortless and Bruce is an authority on trends and tips for entertaining; his expert advice is sought regularly from industry media and lifestyle brands.

 Bruce believes that each wedding or event should be unique, reflecting the clients’ personalities and individual style. With consummate integrity, he insists on recommending only the most reputable vendors in the industry based on their suitability to your event.

Even in his personal life Bruce enjoys all aspects of entertaining. From baking, to throwing inspired dinner parties for friends - his creativity and passion goes hand-in-hand. Having developed a love for travel over the years, his ideal getaway includes a white sand beach and a good book – of course champagne, great food and the perfect travel partner are also a must!

Contact details: Bruce Russell Chiasson | by Bruce Russell | 079 1267 6717 | info@bybrucerussell.com | www.bybrucerussell.com

This week we are spotlighting the premiere online boutique for 
planning luxury wedding celebrations 
5starweddingdirectory.com

For those planning an extravagant wedding in 2012/13, 
this little white book of luxury wedding suppliers is the ‘go-to’ 
site for inspiration and ideas.
5 Star Wedding Directory’s popular blog (over 100,000 unique users), 
provides a host of wedding related material to help couples plan their
big day. 
From exclusive interviews with industry experts including 
Harrods wedding planner, celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward and 
highly acclaimed dress designer Caroline Castigliano. 
The blog also features a wealth of news and reviews on suppliers, venues and 
destinations for honeymoons, weddings and luxury hen dos.

 
The website is also a valuable resource for professional wedding 
planners seeking out premium ideas for their client’s special day. 
From haute couture wedding dresses, fairytale venues, 
gourmet cakes from Elizabeth's Cake Emporium, 
stylish photography and top make-up artists; 
the site is an unrivalled collection of the UK’s most inspiring wedding brands.

 
Founder, Yasmine Torab explains “We have carefully handpicked each supplier 
to exacting standards so that brides and planners know when they visit our 
site, it will only offer the best of the best.

 
5starweddingdirectory.com is not about creating a wedding with 
designer labels everywhere but instead about offering a choice of beautiful products, 
venues and destinations, some of which may be more well known than others, 
but all of an equal ilk when it comes to quality and style.”
 
So whether you are looking for a contemporary interior designed hotel or
 the opulence of a grand castle in Scotland, bespoke invites using 
speciality card stock or perhaps a tailor made hat from a royal
milliner, you will find a wealth of distinguished recommendations at
5starweddingsirectory.com.
 

Here at Eliabeth's Cake Emporium, we've been busy litte bees. Last month, we launched a new collection of cakes - The Inspired 2012 Collection, that has had everyone talking.

The couture collection is a tribute to the most iconic wedding dresses by notable designers including Oscar de la Renta, Helen Rose, Priscilla of Boston, Kosibah and Alexander McQueen.

Designs were crafted from custom made moulds and other sumptuous embellishments demonstrating our commitment to providing exceptional quality of service and meticulous attention to detail.

We are so thrilled with the lovely feedback but the best reponse we've had so far was from a very high profile and extremely knowledgable  bridal editor who immediately contacted us to say that she wanted some of the cakes for a special photo shoot as she had never seen such designs before. We were of course very happy to oblige :) and we will let you know when the magazine is published.

So enjoy the photos and let us know what you think!

This week I introduce  to you Donna Obstfeld from DOHR, the HR specialists with a passion for making any workplace a better place to be.



She is the brains behind the Business Essentials Conference, an event that provides vital information about legal and regulatory requirements and the implementation of best practice for businesses throughout the United Kingdom.


Born out of the desire to help her clients, this HR and Best Practice event has been tailored for small business employers like us.

Regardless of the sector your business operates in, as an SME, the following will be very familiar to you:
* The desire to do the right thing
* The lack of funds to go all out on extras
* The interference of HR and legal issues with the desire to be entrepreneurial and just get on with the day job
* The information overload about changes in legislation and compliance

If any of the above resonates with you, please attend The Business Essentials Conference. It  is a tool, a way of bringing you and other SME employers together to give you an amazing experience and most importantly the  information to drive your business forward.


It is probably one of the best investments you can make this year and you will get  absolute value for money at only £120 for a full day’s programme with seminars, networking and lunch – you would normally pay that for just one hour with each of the presenters!


If you book before Friday this week, you will be entitled to a 25% discount.


For more information, visit www.businessessentialsconference.co.uk

Yesterday's Luxury Wedding Show by organisers Bridget York and Lois Beaumont of Entire Affair was simply one of the best bridal shows I've been to by a mile.

The Grosvenor House iconic ballroom was utterly transformed and in addition to two catwalk shows featuring designs from the best bridal designers such as Ritva Westenius

Suzie Turner

Onitaa

there was lots of entertainment with hand picked vendors showcasing some of their beautiful products and services. Enjoy more images below and over the next few weeks, we'll be featuring some of these vendors on our blog.

Bespoke Place Settings and Favours by Something Divine

Lily Pea Event Stationery

Samay 29

I have the absolute pleasure of introducing another friend of Elizabeth's Cake Emporium Amelie Chocolat to you this week. They make the most delcious chocolates and by very popular demand are expanding into the wedding market. Having tasted these delights a number of times, I have been very impressed by the quality of the chocolates and the exquisite presentation.

Founded in 1986 by husband and wife team Philip and Natalie, Amelie Chocolat has been a labour of love. The original shop, which traded under the parent company name Natalie Belgian Chocolates, was a beautiful little Dickensian shop tucked away in a quiet pedestrian avenue in Holborn, opposite Bloomsbury Square.

In order to stand out and capture the heart of continental chocolates, they found Chocolaterie Ickx, a small factory located in a rural area outside Antwerp. This was the start of a relationship that would see both businesses grow tenfold in the following years.


Sadly the shop in Sicilian Avenue no long exists, however in 2004, almost twenty years after the original shop opened its doors, Philip and Natalie decided to offer their chocolates online.

So now, customers anywhere in the world, from as far afield as Australia, could go online and send a beautifully packaged gift box of chocolates with a personalised message to their friends and family no
matter where they lived. The most remote delivery address prize, so far, goes to a lighthouse off the Orkney Islands!

These wonderful chocolates are also ideal as bridal favours, gifts and after dinner treats and are certain to
leave a lasting and delightful impression with guests.

TO PLACE YOUR ORDER CONTACT AMELIE CHOCOLAT BY EMAIL AT:

sales@ameliechocolat.co.uk
info@ameliechocolat.co.uk

The newly refurbished Emeral Suite will be holding it's first Luxury Wedding Show tomorrow. Doors open at 11am and close at 4pm.

Elizabeth's Cake Emporium will be introducing new cake flavours which are already getting rave reviews.

We are very excited to be a part of this awsome event and look forward to welcoming you to our stand

Below is the blog from Seyi Olusanya at Cedar Events about how we were inspired to create a wedding cake based on one of Kosibah's amazing designs.

Today we have an exciting post with one of our previous guests on our Getting to Know features. The wonderful Elizabeth Solaru who has given us the first glimpses of her latest catwalk inspired creation. We will be briefly going through how this piece of cake art came to reality.

The inspiration for Elizabeth was the amazing designer Yemi Osunkoya, her favourite wedding dress designer of all time. In honour of Kosibah’s 20th anniversary celebrations she wanted to reproduce one of his stunning gowns in cake form. The dress that she wanted her cake to resemble did an amazing job at highlighting the beautiful silhouette of his female model, as you can see below.

Now whether you could actually eat this cake or just gaze lustfully at it is a different story. Let us know your thoughts and comments on this masterpiece in the comments box. Elizabeth is such a talented and gifted individual who has certainly done Yemi’s dress justice. For all our lucky subscribers you’ll be excited to know that Elizabeth will be one of our VIP Award Winning speakers at the Cedar Events Inspire 101 wedding and events workshop.

The three-day Inspirational, Educational and Experiential program (IEE Program) will hosted at the grand Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in Knightsbridge, London.

We will be supported by our VIP dream team of award winning industry experts whose clients include royalty and celebrities such as multi award winning Yemi Osunkoya of Kosibah, Award winning Queen Of Cake, Elizabeth Solaru of Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium, BAFTA Award Winning Photographer Pippa Mackenzie of Pippa Mackenzie Photography. Extensively published in national and international magazines such as Conde Nast Brides, OK and Hello they are rated as amongst the best in the UK.  The collaboration of these amazing individuals plus many more to create an inspirational and experiential workshop is something that you do not want to miss out on!

To see more, visit Aphrodite's Wedding Blog at http://www.aphroditesweddingblog.com/blog/

E: aphrodites_wb@hotmail.co.uk

F: www.facebook.com/aphroditesweddingblog

T: @aphrodites_wb

Photographs provided courtesy of 

Mandy Charlton Photography

Tamara Kuzminsky

Nightingale Photography

Inspire101

The Wedding & Special Events Workshop

Are you involved in the wedding industry or considering starting a successful career in wedding and events planning? Would you like to attract high end clientele?

You can now learn the secrets of how to provide luxury service to high end clients by becoming an expert wedding planner in the sumptuous and luxurious surroundings of the exclusive Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in Knightsbridge, London.

The Inspire 101 wedding and events workshop promises to be an insightful 3 days of candid discussions about the opportunities available to today’s wedding & events professional.

This is a 3 days Inspirational, Educational and Experiential program (IEE Program)

Attendees will leave with real skills to enable them grow their business and take things up to another level.

Numbers of participants will be restricted in order to ensure that each person receives the one to one attention they truly deserve.

Providing a practical, hands on learning experience, Award Winning Seyi Olusanya will be supported by her dream team of award winning industry experts whose clients include royalty and celebrities. Extensively published in national and international magazines such as Conde Nast Brides, OK and Hello they are rated as amongst the best in the UK.

Amongst our celebrated wedding industry experts are:

Yemi Osunkoya of Kosibah, multi-award winning couturier

Yemi Osunkoya is the designer behind the Kosibah label. Kosibah is an exclusive brand specialising in figure enhancing bespoke bridal, evening and formal daywear.

Kosibah specialises in contemporary and elegant couture bridal, evening and formal daywear using luxurious fabrics and sumptuous embellishments. Yemi’s signature use of corsetry and boned bodices cleverly recreates the classical and elegant hourglass figure, producing gowns that curve, shape and flatter the wearer. All gowns are made to measure.

Pippa Mackenzie – multi-award winning photographer

Pippa Mackenzie Photography is made up of the multi-award winning wife and husband team Pippa Mackenzie & Ian Hearnshaw. Specialising in documentary and fine art photography, they have risen over the last five years to be one of the UK’s leading wedding photography businesses. They have both travelled worldwide and have worked for a number of high profile clients.

Pippa specialises in telling a story, and has extensive experience in documentary photojournalism (Discovery Channel and National Geographic) and documentary television (where she won a BAFTA). This background has given her the perfect foundation to become an award winning wedding photographer. She is a true people-person and it is her passion, energy and out-going nature that brings out the best in our couples.

Elizabeth Solaru – Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium

Elizabeth Solaru is the founder of award winning cake company Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium. Creating amazing cakes that dazzle the eye and the taste buds of any bride and groom, the company has a prestigious list of clients including royalty, celebrities, TV shows, five-star hotels and glamorous West End stores. Renowned for her intricate designs, Elizabeth’s cakes are adorned with amazing bridal inspired sugar flowers, peacock feathers and jewellery. Structures include tiered, traditional and towers of treats, and flavours such as Triple Chocolate Delight, Elizabeth’s Secret Recipe Fruit Cake and the Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake are best-sellers. Designs have attracted a great deal of media attention, with wedding cakes featured in glamorous national and international publications including OK, Conde Nast Brides, Squires – Wedding Cakes, Party Cakes, Magie de Zuckers and Hello.

In the course of delivering cakes, I meet a number of vendors. For the most part, I am often impressed by their professionalism and dedication. However, some are particularly outstanding in their field.

One such vendor is Gold Star Venue Decor. Founded by George and Sophia a bubbly young couple, they bring something different to the world of venue styling.

Based in north London, they started the business four years ago offering only elegant chair covers. Their services have grown immensely since then and they now offer a stunning range of decoration services for your wedding reception including starlit dance floors and mood lighting. Other services include ceiling canopies, backdrops and lighting effects. 

George and Sophia have not only built up a great reputation for offering the 
highest quality products, their friendly personalities and superb customer 
service have got them where they are today. 

George and Sophia stated:

"We work with you to choose beautiful decoration to suit you and your venue. 
We believe our services are at the highest standard. There is nothing worse 
than tacky chair covers and quickly assembled backdrops. We pay every 
attention to detail and ensuring the simplest things are done right is 
essential. Transforming your venue to look even more fantastic really can 
enhance the atmosphere on the day which you and your guests will never 
forget!" 


Visit the website www.gsvenuedecor.co.uk 
Or follow them on twitter at @GSweddingdecor 

It's that time of the year again and at Elizabeth's Cake Emporium, we are excited at the prospect of meeting more potential clients. We love doing wedding shows and on the 22nd January we will be exhibiting at The Emerald Suite .

Set within the prestigious North London Business Park, The Emerald Suite is truly an ideal location for weddings and special occasions.

We will be on hand to advise brides and grooms on cake styles and flavours for their special day and once again, we will be introducing new cake flavours. So pop by our stand to say hello!

Introducing to you, the amazing team at FO Photography. They are Funmi & Adrian Omotade-Tan, a wonderful couple who bring something beautifully different to wedding photography.

If you're a fun-loving, life-to-the-full kind of couple and are expecting plenty of sparkle and fun on your wedding day, then FO Photography would love to capture that spirit in your wedding photos.

We have a contemporary and playful style which really suits couples that want to catch the vibrancy and the vivid atmosphere of the day. This stems from our own personalities and photography is a way of letting us express that! As a couple, we love sharing our passion for photography and working together at weddings. Funmi has been developing her love for photography since 1996 and Adrian has been perfecting his skills since 2007. As it's a love we both share, time tends to fly when we're working with your photos.

In terms of our personality, friends, family and special moments are really important to us.It's one of the reasons photography sparks an interest in us. We love to capture those moments that make life magical, so sharing the joy of your wedding day is a special privilege that we never take for granted.

Here's an example of the website that we offer our lovely couples: http://lizandtom.fophotography.co.uk.  

Enough about us, this is your day and we're looking forward to finding out more about you during your pre-wedding planning session. If you're in love, excited about your wedding day and want to enjoy every minute of it, we're going to get on fabulously!

Drop us a line at funmi_omotade@fophotography.co.uk or give us a call on 07813253608. You can also follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/FO_Photography) & "Like" us on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/fophotography.

Last year I got to know some amazing wedding vendors and I was determined to showcase some of them this year. The first vendor to be featured is Claire Ogden of Claire Ogden Designs. She creates amazing one off fashion accessories for the discerning bride. In the following interview she tells us a bit about herself.

 Tell us a bit about you …

I am a very determined passionate individual with the drive and determination to push myself into the demanding industry populating it with beautiful, handmade and very individual bridal headwear. I pride myself on making stunning pieces that stand the test of time and make that everlasting impression, Once Seen, NEVER Forgotten.

 Tell us a bit about your business and what you offer …

I have been established for two years. I design and create handmade jewellery and more so bridal pieces on a ‘off the peg’ and ‘bespoke’ option and offer an excellent customer service. I listen to what you want and create the perfect pieces for your dream day.

Why are you different?

I create one of a kind designs, unique to each bride. I love working closely with the bridal party and I love watching the design unfold before my eyes. I am different because I create unusual designs at affordable prices that create such an impression and adore every minute of it.

What inspires you and where do you find your inspiration?

When I am resourcing new materials or pieces for a bespoke design I tend to pick pieces that I connect with from this the idea for the design develops simply from me choosing that particular piece, I often ‘see’ the finished product as a photograph in my mind and then produce a quick sketch, when I have finished the design and go back to my sketch it is quite scary how alike the two are!

I also adore the whimsical fairy tale theme, I love magic and enchantment and delicate florals, I have a couple of new ranges yet to launch but until I find all the materials I want to use you will simply have to wait.....watch this space! 

I wanted to create themes that would be classics and never date, I have recently launched LOVE Wonderland (which is Alice and her Wonderland inspired) and Charming Fairytales(which are all things fairytale charm bracelets) both these ranges are fast sellers and very sight after (I seriously need to create lots more for my store)

I find I create what I like rather than follow fashion and trends, I am not sure if this is the correct way to do things but it makes my jewellery a lot more unique and individual and I do get a lot of repeat business so I guess I must be doing something right.

I want to create a very bold gothic style range that is completely unique to me and very rich and lavish but again at affordable prices. Watch this space for 2012.

Are you self-taught or have you a degree or professional training etc?

I am self taught, a have to admit I keep at something until it is perfect too, I have very high standards!

Do you have a studio/workshop at home? Where do you make your creations?

I work in my study at home, if the sun shines I work in the garden but all my computer work and purchasing is done in the study.

Do you make bespoke pieces for brides and bridesmaids based on their own ideas/themes? If yes, describe the process of consultation and design from first contact to finished product.

Yes, it tends to me more on their themes, colours and era rather than their own ideas, it begins with making lots of contact, I work very closely with each bride to be or bridal party, I get a feel for what they are trying to achieve and draw up some sketches, take photographs (lots of them) of materials and the sketches, alternative designs and materials I feel may work better and colours that may not have been considered. I am always touching base with my clients and discussing all the different aspects, I sketch up ideas from our discussions and then the odd one or two as an ‘alternative’ that are more elaborate or outrageous, (more often than not these are the chosen sketches) and send everything through via email or

meet up for a consultation, once the sketch has been agreed on I go away and create. Budget and costings are always outlined in the beginning and timescales and delivery dates are set out as a priority. 

Once I have finished the piece it is them photographed and sent through via email and I touch base yet again to hear their thoughts (this is always the very best bit).

How long does a tiara take to make?

Between 4-7hours if you don’t include all the sourcing of materials, telephone conversations, sketching and photograph taking!

What is your favourite piece that you make/have made?

My all time favourite is Breathless but I also have a love for many of the bespoke orders I have completed. The piece I made for my recent award win is very unique and people adore it!

Have you ever had a last-minute ‘rush job’ to ensure delivery before a wedding?

Yes! I had just launched my bridal range and was asked to create 2 bracelets, 2 haircombs, 1 necklace and a pair of earrings all in one week (after a consultation on the Saturday before) that left me 5 days to complete the order! I managed it with beautiful results but I have to say I am very glad things are not always so rushed.

You pride yourself in being individual and unique; how do you achieve this?

Every piece is one of a kind, it is unique to you, it can’t be bought in a chain shop and it will not be made again. I put so much time and effort into every single piece that is has to be unique and if I feel it isn’t I will not sell it!

Talking of ambition, where would you like your business to be 5 years from now?

Hopefully working full time on Claire Ogden Designs. My dream is to break the wedding industry and be on demand LOL, there is no harm in dreaming!

We’re in a global recession – how did you find your business during 2011?

I have to admit I have had a good year, my wedding side has boomed (people are always getting married) and my new ranges are selling well too. As jewellery is a luxury I never expect people to buy in the masses, I design and create and add to my shop and people buy why they see it and fall in love!!

Do you promote your work purely online, or do you attend shows, stock stores/galleries etc?

I sell online, have a stockist in Macclesfield (Mootiful) and attend various craft shows / fairs / vintage sales.

What can we expect from you in 2012?

Lots more beautiful designs, hot news and amazing blog posts. I have loads planned so you really do have to watch this space!!

Where are you based?  Online 24/7, Saddleworth

What areas do you cover? Worldwide

Contact number: 0843 289 9379

E-mail: mailme@claireogdendesigns.com

Website: www.claireogdendesigns.com

A happy 2012 to you all! Here at Elizabeth's Cake Emporium, the year has got off to a flying start for us.

We've been informed that we've been listed in London's definitive cake directory of the best cake places called,

Great Cake Places. It is the brain child of two amazing individuals, Jeffrey Young and Jacqueline Malouf.

We are one of the only twenty premier wedding cake designers featured and only one of two to have a whole page listing dedicated to our company. This means a great deal to us, as we were selected strictly on merit. Considering we get most of our business through word of mouth, it is humbling to find ourselves in the company of some of the world's grandest hotels, artisan bakeries and sugar artists.

The book is available to buy online for £9.95 and please look out for our page!

The second bit of good news is that one of our cakes was featured in a wonderful German cake decorating magazine called Magie des Zuckers The Editor has been an admirer of our work for years and fell in love with our Chandelier Wedding Cake (our version of the iconic Sex and the City 2 Wedding Cake). She was kind enough to approach us for its inclusion in her magazine and we were happy to oblige.

The attention we have been receiving from our fellow cake makers abroad is wonderful and there are plans for more collaborations in the future.

We will continue to keep you up to date about what we are up to, so please watch this space.

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