Your North East Wedding - September/October 2020 (Issue 40)

AS GOOD AS NEW Following a two-year refurbishment, The Common Room in Newcastle is now getting ready to open its doors for weddings from spring 2021. Formally known as The Mining Institute, the Grade II listed property is packed full of history and offers many stunning spaces for ceremonies and receptions. After the National Lottery Heritage awarded the venue with a £4.7 million award, the area closed back in November 2018, and has restored many of its features. Sales and marketing manager Philippa King-Williams says: “Stepping into The Common Room really is a breathtaking experience and we can’t wait to see the building come to life as the backdrop to wedding ceremonies and celebrations.  “We know that many couples have had to make changes to their plans this year and our team is on hand to help make sure that, whatever your situation, you have a day to remember.”  Also offered to couples is a live-streaming service, which allows those who are unable to travel to still witness the ‘I dos’ no matter what. For more information: www.thecommonroom.org.uk. Looking your best Lynne Young Millinery is excited to announce the opening of its first studio in Redcar, which will open for appointment only from the 1 st September, 2020. The studio has more than 150 designs available to hire as well as a brand new exclusive ready to wear collection, which will be available to buy.  Owner Lynne Young says: “Since qualifying as a milliner in 2009, I’ve produced stunning ranges of bespoke, beautiful hats and headpieces. I started the business from my family home in North Yorkshire and after 10 years working from home, I’m launching my first studio on the Northern Quarter, Redcar.” The business is known for its attention to detail, each item is handmade with the highest quality. Find out more: www.lynneyoungmilliner.co.uk BAKE OFF Sticky Sponge Cake Studio has been announced as one of the top 50 cake designers in the country for 2020, by Go Hen (www.gohen.com). O wner Graeme Venus says: “It’s always lovely to receive this kind of accolade and recognition, reassuring us we’re doing a good job, and all our hard work isn’t going unnoticed, especially during this very difficult year that we’re all having to get to grips with.” The business is also launching new options to give couples that something extra. As a lot of the cakes are highly sculpted designs, many customers don’t what to cut into such a work of art. That’s why the team is putting past skills (illustration and sculpture) to use with some new options, offering finished illustrations of the cakes that can be framed at an extra cost. Another option for couples is a small model replica of the cake, which can be created from clay and treasured for years to come. A new addition is the sculpted chocolate hearts (Sweethearts) that can be made as toppers or even as a present for that special someone. Made from part solid Belgian chocolate, these are highly sculpted and embellished to suit various interests and styles. Standing about five inches tall, the company can supply these boxed or encased in bell jars. The company will also have the option of creating the hearts from resin in the future. Find out more: www.stickysponge.co.uk PICTURE PERFECT After weddings got postponed due to COVID-19, many suppliers had plenty of time on their hands. Deb Parker, the owner of Imogen Kate Photography, used this time to help raise money for the NHS by visiting couples and families to capture images – perfect for those who had postponed their special day. This service was free, and all people had to do in return was donate to the JustGiving page, which was set up for the NHS charities. Within 10 days, it hit £400, finishing off at £1,200 at the end of the time period. All photos were taken at a safe distance, and no physical contact was made – the beauty of a zoom lens helped create images with a difference.  Deb says: “The response was so uplifting and kept me not only busy, but allowed for beautiful images, which could be printed and framed for people to look back on over years to come.” Find out more: www.imogenkate.co.uk YOUR ESSENTIALS 9