Step Away from the Press Release

Kat

Made U Look

May 21, 2013

The first press release was written in 1906, created by the Pennsylvania Railroad who had just experienced a major accident in which 50 passengers were killed. They quickly released a statement to the press in order to nip any rumours that might be published in the bud. A sensible idea you might think, and yes, it most definitely was. However fast forward 100 years, and similar statements are being released by companies left right and centre, but without this same vital reasoning. These days every small start up business in the world thinks that PR lesson number one is to nail the perfect press release. I'm here today to tell you why I think this is a wrongful assumption and usually a completely pointless exercise.

Detoxing, Getting Healthy & The Clean Program

Kat

Made U Look

May 21, 2013

As some of you will know, I spent time in Los Angeles in March, probably the most health-concious and cleanse-obsessed place on the planet. Its no secret that I'm a 'grab what's available' kinda eater, that I have a penchant for wine and gin and that I'm totally allergic to exercise. However while I was in the land of buffed bodies, I did surprise myself by becoming quite the green juice junkie (something I have kept up since returning home!) and I even started to think a little more about how I treat, and what I put into, my body.

Gay Goth Biker Wedding: Luke & Wout

Kat

Lara Luz

May 20, 2013

Well that's something you don't read often is it?! And what a travesty because Luke & Wout's wedding is one of the coolest I've seen in a long time. Talk about doing things their own way, stuffing tradition and bucking all the wedding expectations. These seriously awesome dudes were adamant that their wedding would reflect them... and it does - in spades!

A South London Bunny Love Shoot

Kat

Ellie Gillard

May 19, 2013

It's no secret that I have a 'thing' for ridiculous headwear, and my obsession with ears in particular is completely unfaltering! So I was thrilled when I saw this cute 'bunny love' photo shoot by South London based wedding photographer Ellie Gillard. This world needs more brides wearing ears that's what I say. Why not be brave and do something quirky like this for your wedding day portraits... go on, I dare ya!

Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Superbloggers Masterclass

Kat

Devlin Photos

May 18, 2013

On a soggy Spring evening Lisa and I headed to London. It was Tuesday, and the night of the Cosmopolitan Magazine Superbloggers Masterclass. I was thrilled, honoured and damn right nervous as hell to have been asked to join an illustrious panel of experts at this prestigious event. The masterclass was a complete sell-out, with two hundred enthusiastic wannabe bloggers braving wind and rain to make it to The British Museum for the two-hour panel discussion and Q&A.

Business Bites: Being Hungry

Kat

May 17, 2013

Muppets, Movies & Rainbows: Melanie & Michael

Kat

I Do

May 17, 2013

A wacky, fun and rainbow themed wedding is always going to be a winner with me, and seeing Melanie & Michael's day, at Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz, was no different. I mean what's not to love?! "When we first began planning our wedding, we started with a list of things we didn't want to do", began Melanie. "We had been to enough impersonal ceremonies and stereotypical receptions in the past few years to have acquired a pretty substantial list! We wanted the event to be as engaging for the guests as for us, we wanted it to be silly but meaningful, and we wanted it to be the most fun wedding anyone had ever attended."

Thursday Treats: Breaking the Rules

Kat

May 16, 2013

Phew what a week! On Monday we launched two new dates for The Blogcademy (Austin and Melbourne) and as ever, we've been floored by the response. I can't wait to meet all these shiny new Blogcadettes that are signing up for these classes! Our secret forum is getting pretty packed out and it's so thrilling to get to know all these babes online before we meet them in the flesh in their respective cities. Yey for new friends!

One Bad Review

Kat

Made U Look

May 16, 2013

Why is it that one bad review can negate all the great things people say about you? One mean comment, one snarky tweet, one dissatisfied customer? You know this already, but just in case you've forgotten it I'm going to remind you again: you can't please everyone so don't waste your time trying.

A Touch of Vegas: Chelsea & Mike

Kat

Gaby J

May 16, 2013

Chelsea & Mike wanted to marry in Las Vegas but without doing the typical cheesy Vegas wedding thing. So instead of being married by Elvis, they opted for a simple ceremony (not photographed) at Little Church of the West, followed by a photo session around downtown Vegas with photographer Gaby J. "Our wedding them was 'a touch of Vegas', explained the bride. "We didn't want to go all out with an over the top Vegas style wedding equipped with an Elvis pastor. So we opted for something more subtle. I had my blue suede shoes and my bridesmaids wore gold sequin dresses."

DIY Vegan Wedding: Sarah & Steven

Kat

Toast of Leeds

May 15, 2013

There was no doubt in my mind that I had to share this wedding with you. My heart skipped a beat as I clapped eyes on the beautiful Sarah and her stunning movie starlet-esque red wedding dress from The Couture Company and I flicked through Toast of Leeds' photographs holding my breath. What an utterly beeeeeeeautiful wedding. "Our venue was Buckland Hall in the Brecon Beacons National Park, a country house in the Welsh mountains, that we could personalise and make our own for a long weekend", Sarah began. "We had free reign of the house and grounds, which we decorated with family photos and personal belongings that we've collected during our time together. Sixty of our guests stayed on the night of our wedding and close family the night before. The ceremony was held in a room with views of rolling park land, the River Usk and snow capped mountains beyond."

Laid Back & Vintage-Inspired Cripps Barn Wedding: Laura & Tom

Kat

Emma Case

May 15, 2013

Sometime late last Summer I strolled into my favourite wedding boutique to visit my friends, Laura & Emma, who own it. Whenever I'm in central London I always pop into Fur Coat No Knickers to see their latest pretty vintage wedding dresses, to drink some Cava and to catch up on all the latest gossip. But this fateful day in August was different. I was greeted at the door with squeals from Laura, "I'm engaged! Tom Proposed last week!" she shrieked. More Cava was popped and we started to discuss all things wedding - but this time not other people's - hers!

The Plateau

Kat

Made U Look

May 14, 2013

I don't know about you, but I always do my best thinking in the bath. I'm sure it's something to do with switching off, being away from technology and allowing my mind to wonder. Regardless, as I soaked in the tub one day last week I started to think about business plateaus, or more specifically, what to do about them.

Where is the Turquoise Tornado™ Going Now?

Kat

Made U Look

May 13, 2013

Goodness, what a rollercoaster The Blogcademy has been already, and today we're about to take another upside-down corkscrew followed by a loop the loop because we're adding even more dates to our 2013 world tour! Your headmistresses are nothing if not diligent, and when we announced the full wack of dates back in March, there were some outcries that we weren't going down to any of the Southern US states... Well, your wish is our command and so we've added an Austin date in August. BRING. IT. ON.

Ribbons & Rainbows – A Candy Coloured Wedding: Angelo & Candice

Kat

Erna Loock

May 13, 2013

For their March wedding, South Africans Angelo & Candice wanted a colourful day that oozed fun...so a rainbow theme it was! "Angelo and I are generally out of the box thinkers and the 'same old same old' wedding décor was not what we wanted", began the bride. "We knew we wanted colour and fun and we went from there. There were a few elements I needed to 'sell' to my parents but they went with most of my ideas (thankfully). Angelo and I are both involved in film and TV (Angelo is an actor and I am a Junior Creative Producer) so a strong film element had to be prevalent in our day. We had popcorn holding up our table numbers and a picture of a clapper board on our invites."

Lady in the Lake Bridal Shoot

Kat

Sarah Gormley

May 11, 2013

Shooting a bride in water is nothing new, but there was just something about this Lady in the Lake inspired shoot that spoke to me. I love the bride's beautiful blue, green and purple mermaid hair (obviously) and the simple yet edgy styling ideas are pretty damn awesome aren't they? I'd love to see a future real bride carrying a rustic and dramatic bouquet like some of these.

Industrial Eclectic Downtown Los Angeles: Phil & Joelle

Kat

Corey Nickols

May 10, 2013

Phil & Joelle were married at Studio Six01, an event spaces with a industrial vibe in downtown Los Angeles. They planned their wedding in just three months with the help of event planners Two B Events. "Because we had dated for so long, once we got engaged we knew we wanted to do a very short engagement", explained Joelle. "We initially planned on six months, but due to schedule conflicts that ended up being shortened to three months and a day. It was then that we realized we needed help, and Seth and Ziza of Two B Events came to our rescue. I wouldn't have done it any other way! Second to saying 'I do', hiring event designers was the best thing we did for our wedding. I loved every detail but my two very favorite things were the vows and the hanging edison bulbs (especially as seen in the chandelier built by Two B Events)."

Business Bites: Magazines & Mini Meltdowns

Kat

May 10, 2013

Yesterday Gareth & I hotfooted it to Brighton for a mini shoot with the inimitable Lisa Devlin for our magazine. Did I mention that I'm working - hard! - on the next issue right now? Oh yes, I am soooo super excited about it because I just know it's going to be even bigger and better than the last two editions. I'm actually taking the idea in a brand new direction and I'm super duper psyched to see what you all think about it! Onwards and upwards and all that...

Two-Day Welsh Waterfall Wedding & Seaside Blessing

Kat

Lucy Little

May 10, 2013

Dan & Charlotte had a two-day wedding celebration in Wales. They started off planning just the Saturday wedding by the beach with a pagan blessing, as this was what Charlotte really wanted. However they soon realised that legally, and for family reasons, they would need to have another ceremony with a registrar present, in a venue sanctioned for wedding ceremonies. "I did view having to have both ceremonies as a bit of a compromise", Charlotte explained, "But rather than just doing the legal bit in a quick service on our own in a registry office or something, we set about finding somewhere just as beautiful for that part and made it into it's own distinctive day. We also really wanted our wedding to last a bit longer than the usual one day which is why we split it into two. I would advise anyone planning their wedding to think about spinning things out a bit! It's all over so quickly on the day and we really treasured the extra time we gave themselves over the weekend to spend quality time with everyone that came to celebrate with us."

Thursday Treats: Spending time in the Sunshine

Kat

May 9, 2013

After a glorious start to the week (a bank holiday weekend with actual sun, who would have thunk it?!) it's starting to become a little less sun-drenched in the UK today, but that's certainly not going to put a dampener on my spirits. Gareth & I started the week with a trip to Bekonscot model village, a pub lunch and a walk... Christ how old are we!? But it was so lovely spending a whole day outside, away from our computers and spending some quality time together. We definitely need to do it more often.