Tell us all about you!!

I am Ali Fleming, I am based in the East Midlands, lucky to be living in an area surrounded by fields, cows, horses and sheep. I love the countryside but I love the sea much more and being an Aquarian am happiest by the sea. I regularly have to visit the Gower coast to top up my ions.  I am married, have the two most amazing sons, 3 step grandchildren and have a golden labrador called Carla.  I love music, gin, great company and laughter!

How did you first get your business started?

I had been a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Derbyshire for 12 years prior to starting up my business. I faced my lightbulb moment when a close friend approached me to marry her and her fiancée wanting the ceremony to be at their home, outside in their own large garden, the outcome was I married them legally at the Register Office where I was working, then working with them, listening to what they both wanted out of the day,  involving  their children from  their previous marriages, wrote and delivered a unique ceremony as part of  A Mad Hatters Tea Party theme. It was purely magical!

Because of all the different restrictions that registration law creates in marriage ceremonies,  everyone having the same ceremony content with limited choices and lack of  flexibility, I looked into ways of being able to offer ceremonies just like the one I had created for my friends.  The world of celebrancy completely opened my eyes to what I would be able to offer couples. I therefore completed my thorough training and qualifications to be a celebrant, leaving my full time job behind me.

What makes your business different? 

My passion is to be able to offer all couples the opportunity to fulfill their dreams in being able to have a completely bespoke personalised ceremony  with whatever choice of content they would like and anywhere they would like it. The chosen place does not have to be licensed. I provide suggestions to put meaningful parts into their ceremony, involving important guests and family. Everyone can be involved! Sitting watching boring ceremonies are so “old hat”. With my expertise in the wedding industry coupled with my unique ideas as well as listening to your own ideas, all can be brought to  reality.

What do you love most about weddings? 

Having the privilege of sharing the couple’s journey and seeing that all come to fruition on the day and how everyone is wowed by the ceremony, which starts the whole day off in such an amazing way.  I just love the fact that the couples feel so relaxed on the day and can enjoy their ceremony so much – because after all, they have written it !

Any tip for brides looking into your type of service? 

Osmaston Park is an ideal venue for holding your whole day, from ceremony through to reception all in one place, why not have your ceremony outside overlooking the amazing lake?

So if any of you are planning a civil ceremony, please come and talk to me first – this is one of the most important days of your lives. Ensure that you have found out about all your choices and yes there are many!!

If you are not able to get to speak to me on the day of the show, please contact me on 07961 668996. With no obligation whatsover.

Are there any special offers available for the wedding show?

Yes there will be special offers on the day!

Anything else you’d like the world to know? 

I do have to confirm that all celebrant ceremonies are not legally binding and a straight forward, low cost, legal process must take place at your local register office before your ceremony day.  I am happy to talk and guide any couples through this process.

I want to tell the whole world how it is possible to have the most amazing ceremony ever, it can be held in a field, village hall, a private garden, a boat, a beach…. anywhere that you choose!! It can have religious parts as well as civil – a mix of both or either, no restrictions on candles, content of music or readings, we can have singing, dancing, we can have dogs, llamas,  a pet rabbit to bring the rings or quite simply a traditional ceremony. “Your day Your way”…… Spreading the Cariad Love….

Business Name:    Cariad Personal Ceremonies

Contact:                   Ali Fleming
Email Address:     info@cariad-personalceremonies.co.uk
Website:                   www.cariad-personalceremonies.co.uk

Tell us all about you!!

I grew up in London and have been working as a fashion designer for the past 15 years. Therefore, I feel quite a Londoner and I love it here. For me, it’s the fashion capital of the world. Fuelled by its diverse people and a sense of chaos, London provides me that inspiration and adventurous spirit that makes me wake up in the morning and be part of the city’s creative spirit.

I’m very fortunate to have been brought up in two distinctive cultures, British and Indian. They’re intrinsically part of my life, hugely influencing my creativity. I’m fascinated by the architectures, elegant designs and silhouettes of the West and by the flamboyant colours, exquisite fabrics and the hand craft of my birth place in India. I love 50’s fashion and a style inspiration of mine is the legendary actress Audrey Hepburn – to me she epitomises elegance in fashion. My first collection carries the hallmark of all my inspirations and my dual heritage.

Apart from my supportive family and friends, three other things that lift me when I am down is a good film, chocolate and red wine.

How did you first get your business started?

While studying for my fashion degree I started taking on small projects from family and friends, designing and making special occasional dresses in my mother’s dining room. I realized then that people began to like what I was creating. This was a real boost in confidence and my passion in fashion grew immensely.  After graduating I pursued my passion and quickly found myself working as a designer for a reputable UK high street brand. Though it was exciting and I felt proud seeing my designs hanging on shop rails, I was also little sad as there wasn’t any recognition for my creation. That’s when I decided to work for myself and start my own business.

To my friends and family I am known as Neeva D and that’s where the name of my brand drives from. ‘Neeva D London’ was launched in 2015 which is known for its hybrid couture womens wear. I’m most proud of my first couture collection ‘Neo Colonial’.

I actually came into bridal wear by accident. I began to get interest from people who wanted to wear my occasion wear as wedding dresses, and my cocktail dresses as bridesmaid dresses. I have now added a small capsule of flower girls dresses to compliment my current collection. This will be launched at the The Giant Wedding Show, that I am really excited about! I hope you can all join me.

What do you love most about weddings?

I love everything about weddings! The best part is seeing everyone spreading so much love in the space. From the bride and the groom to the older couples that you can still see the adoration in their eyes for each other. I love the fact that its one day when one girl/woman made to feel very special as she walks down the aisle in the arms of her proud father.   In an Indian wedding I always feel very emotional when bride and the groom make their vows as they go round the fire seven times. I love the fact that everyone makes an effort to look at their best. I adore the little children dancing and the bride and the groom just loving life, fresh and people throwing confetti as they leave ready to take on the world.

Any tip for brides looking into your type of service?

Make sure you have a great fitting bra. Wearing the perfect bra—in the right size—will make your dress fit better. Once you have selected your wedding dress, ask the sales person what type of bra would be best for you and your dress — strapless, corset, halter?  You want to make sure the cups fit right so you are not spilling over the top and out the sides. A lot of brides try to lose weight before the wedding to fit into their gorgeous dress. Therefore I would recommend that brides go to a reputable lingerie specialist shop and get measured properly before their final trial so that they are wearing the correct band size, which ultimately ensures both perfect fit and total comfort.  And remember to take the undergarments you plan to wear on your big day to each and every dress fitting.

Are there any special offers available for the wedding show?

Exclusive offer to all attending the Giant Wedding Show – 15% discount will be given to all orders over £100.

Anything else you’d like the world to know?

Style and fashion is very personal, so if you choose your clothes carefully and spend little more and invest on a few good classic pieces, you will find that these have longer shelf life as these can be worn over and over again very creatively. As Audrey Hepburn said ‘Style is Ageless’ and I would add to that and say ‘Fashion is Timeless’.

Business Name:    Neeva D London

Contact:                   Neeva Debnath
Email Address:     neeva@neevadlondon.com
Facebook:               www.facebook.com/NeevaDLondon/
Website:                   www.neevadlondon.com