Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - October/November 2020 (Issue 79)

WITH LOVE From Bristol and Somerset, Fill your day with items from the regions’ most talented creatives MEET RACHEL RUDDLE OF FLOWER PRESERVATION WORKSHOP Tell us about your company… We create beautiful handmade paperweights designed with fresh flowers from your wedding, which are preserved in 3D and encapsulated into a paperweight of your choice. What’s your favourite product you offer? We love making our largest paperweights as we can enclose so much more plant material within them. They make a lovely keepsake of your big day to treasure forever. Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? Local suppliers tend to support each other and work within a network of talented artists who all offer exceptional quality at a fair price. It’s a delight to work in our industry, sharing expertise and offering excellent customer care. If you could design a product for a celebrity, who would it be? It would have to be Gemma Collins. She’s adorable, funny and so down to earth. As a team we watch her on our breaks and you can’t help but feel her enthusiasm for life. Visit www.flowerpreservationworkshop.co.uk O ur region is home to some incredible companies who design, make and sell gorgeous items for weddings. Not only do we love to support the local wedding industry, but keeping it regional helps reduce your carbon footprint too. We introduce you to some of our favourite indie companies, who put their heart and soul into what they do… HANDMADE PRODUCTS 61 www.stev eleephotoworks.com MEET ANNABEL HITCHEN OF ANNABEL ALLEN MILLINERY Tell us about your company… After a career in London’s fashion industry, I moved to Sydney and took up millinery as a hobby – I needed a hat for the races and making one seemed the best way to get what I wanted! I undertook several courses and an apprenticeship back in Bristol before launching Annabel Allen Millinery, which specialises in creating bespoke and ready-to-wear pieces made by hand using traditional skills. What’s your favourite product you offer? I love the elegance of Eve . Its sleek form is eye-catching without being too excessive for most people’s tastes. I was delighted last year when Princess Beatrice chose to wear it for the Colonel’s review. Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? Couples put so much thought into every element of their day and it’s such a shame if they don’t get what they want. Choosing local suppliers means they know exactly what they’re getting and that the person they’re getting it from cares about the quality of their product. They can also get friendly advice and guidance, which isn’t so easy when ordering online! If you could design a product for a celebrity, who would it be? To design a hat for Audrey Hepburn would be the ultimate dream; she was the epitome of elegance and style. She wore hats so beautifully, letting them talk but not drown her out. I believe hats should accentuate the wearer’s personality rather than override it. Visit www.annabelallenmillinery.co.uk www.stev eleephotoworks.com