Simply a new dynamic duo! We welcome husand and wife Andrew and Jaimie to the team!

Introduce yourself, name, age, which region/ venues you cover...

Hi, we are husband and wife team, Andrew and Jaimie. We have recently taken over the West Northumberland and Cumbria office from Kristy who now works for Simply Bows and Chair Covers Head Office.

Andrew is in denial about turning forty in December and Jaimie is a little younger, but soon to be 37!

We are based very centrally in Alston, Cumbria. We can facilitate weddings and events in Brampton, Carlisle, Penrith, Appleby-In-Westmorland, Keswick, Armathwaite, Bassenthwaite, Wigton, Workington, Cockermouth, Gretna Green and all surrounding areas. We have close working relationships with all of the hotels within the region and are also preferred supplier to venues, such as, the family run Beaumont Hotel in Hexham, the majestic Langley Castle, the delightful Heather Glen and the unique setting of Tullie House to name a few.

 What is your background?

We are a creative husband and wife team who know full well the trials and tribulations of weddings and events having planned and organised our own wedding in 2005.

Before tying the knot, Jaimie worked for an event theming company in the South who work for notable companies from around the world.

Andrew is a qualified blacksmith, having made wrought ironwork commissions for the likes of Harrods Andrew made the copper bat weather vane which sits proudly on top of Chilling Castle.

Since being married, Andrew and Jaimie have gained 7 years' experience in the wedding and events industry, offering wedding and event planning services along with venue styling, table decoration and hire services. They pride themselves on customer service, coordination and attention to detail nothing is too much trouble!

Why did you take a franchise with Simply Bows?

Through our work in the wedding and event industry we received many enquiries from clients wanting to know who we recommended as a good chair cover supplier in Cumbria. We always recommended Simply Bows and Chair Covers for their high standards and the quality of the products that stand them apart from any other chair cover companies.

  Why do you love being a Simply Bows franchisee

The opportunity to be a Simply Bows franchisee means that we are privileged to be part of an award winning established business which emulates our high standards, the attention to detail we pride ourselves on and the need for great customer service. It also means that we can work together as a team we're not sick of each other yet!

Why do you love working for yourself

Working for ourselves means that we can be in control of our day, planning things to fit in with our lives without compromising on the customer care we provide. It also means we can indulge in our OCD, making sure everything looks the way it should do! The wedding and events business is a vibrant and exciting industry and this saying sums up how we feel about being a part of it

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." ~ Confucius

Which "look" that you can create is your favourite and why?

Simply Bows and Chair Covers franchisees have come up with some inspired and original ideas for dressing chairs and tables. It's hard to choose a favourite way of tieing a sash, but Andrew's top choice would be a side tied bow.

Heather Glen

 Jaimie would have to choose the two colours of sash tied in a traditional bow, fanned to show both colours.

Image supplied by Picture U

Why choose Simply Bows over another linen provider?

Our experience in planning and decorating for weddings and events centers around being creative and doing things differently. We liked the bespoke nature of Simply Bows and Chair Covers products and the inspiration they offer their clients. We love that nothing is too much trouble and as a specialist linen provider, anything can be made to fit a client's requirements rather than offering a limited choice.

How can Simply Bows blog readers get in touch with you?

Simply Bows and Chair Covers blog readers can get in touch with us by telephone or email and we'd love you to 'follow' us on Twitter @SimplyBowsNE_NW and add us as a friend on Facebook @Jaimie SBows

 Anything else to tell us/ share?

We met on a blind date and will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary next year!

Simply a brand new, stunning wedding venue: Askham Hall and their forthcoming wedding fayre

Askham Hall in Cumbria are opening their doors to the public to showcasing their brand new wedding venue on October 26th (This weekend).... Come along and see us there!

 

 

 

Simply an amazing opportunity to win your wedding!

Tullie House are giving one lucky couple the chance to win their wedding at Tullie House... we reveal more below....

 

For more information or to enter just click here

What are you waiting for!

Simply Beautiful: 'Winder Hall' Venue Spotlight

We are delighted to bring you another fabulous venue in our Venue Spotlight edition of the Simply Bows and Chair Covers Blog. We interview Kate Wilson, Business Development Director at Winder Hall.

Winder Hall

What is your venue name, industry rating and where is your venue located?

Winder Hall Country House, Low Lorton near Cockermouth

Five Star AA rating

What facilities does your venue boast?

We have a hot tub overlooking the fells and a summer house with sauna. We don’t have lots of extra bells and whistles, preferring to concentrate on offering a totally relaxing, intimate atmosphere that guests return to over and over again for “time out” from daily hustle and bustle! Of course, we have beautiful bedrooms, a gorgeous oak panelled dining room, cosy lounge and beautiful grounds, enjoyed by those who stay with us and those who choose to book us exclusively for their unique wedding “house party”.

On the terrace at Winder Hall- dressed by Simply Bows and Chair Covers

Does your hotel cater for weddings?  If so, what numbers can you accommodate and what packages do you offer?

Yes we cater for intimate weddings of up to 45 guests for ceremonies and formal sit down wedding breakfasts. There is flexibility for more informal dining options where the whole house can be used for a buffet style celebration. Each wedding is individually styled to each couple’s wishes – we don’t do packages! We also hold a few marquee weddings a year where we can cater for up to 200 guests. Our dining room and lounge are licensed for civil ceremonies

In partnership with Simply Bows and Chair Covers and Fantasweets, we also cater for fabulous high tea hen parties from a special afternoon celebration at Winder Hall, to an exclusive full house party with pamper packages from Amethyst. For exclusive bookings (just as for weddings) the minimum stay is one night midweek, and two nights at a weekend.

High Tea Hen Party with Simply Bows and Chair Covers and Fantasweets at Winder Hall

What about events, both large and small, what numbers can you accommodate?

The numbers are similar to weddings. Less formal occasions where people enjoy a buffet mean we can cater for up to around 70 in the house. With a marquee the numbers increase to up to around 200. We will tailor any event to suit the style of the person booking, and we guide people on what works best within Winder Hall. We also offer wonderful party and wedding celebrations at The Saints Rooms, our Baronial Hall in the historic market town of Cockermouth, where we cater from 40 to 140.

Civil Ceremony at Winder Hall- dressed by Simply Bows and Chair Covers

Can guests stay over at your venue?  What accommodation is on offer?

7 beautifully appointed bedrooms, including 2 four posters. These contain iPod docking alarm clocks, flat screen TVs, free Wi-Fi access, excellent tea and coffee facilities, bottled waters and stylish toiletries.

Winder Hall Views

 Tell us about your food/ menus/ wines...

We change our table d’hôte menu daily according to the freshest, local, seasonal food available. In keeping with the style and intimacy of Winder Hall, the experience is unique. Within the price of your dining, we welcome you with pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and invite you to linger over coffee after your meal. Three course dining £35 (two and four course also available)

We have an extensive wine list, ranging from reasonably priced Panul house wines to carefully selected special vintages and champagnes. Something for every taste!

Winder Hall Cuisine

 Do you have any sporting/ spa/ golf facilities on site?

Our summerhouse overlooking the fells has a sauna and an area to relax while you take in the views, and our hot tub offers an opportunity to sit back with a glass of champagne while you forget the stresses of daily life. In addition to this, we are delighted to assist with sourcing local facilities for our guests and advising on best places to go.

What sets your venue apart from others?

We feel it is our personal, friendly service, attention to detail and desire to go the extra mile for everyone we look after. The proof is in the pudding, so here are a few snippets out of the mouths of those who matter most!

Hotel Testimonials

“Absolutely fantastic! Great food, fabulous service – what more could we ask for!” Lisa & Dave, July 2011

“We have had a wonderful time. Just like being at a house party. Great food and staff – we will be back”Eileen & Kevin, June 2011

“It really is a secret treasure. Stayed in a lot of wonderful places, but never found such intimacy. Will definitely recommend and be back!” Laura & Dave, Manchester (February 2011)

Wedding Testimonials

We chose Winder Hall as the venue for our civil marriage ceremony purely by chance, Living only 15 miles away we had never heard of this enchanting place, which we feel is a good thing as it means it keeps its charm and secrecy over ”in your face” commercialism. Nick, Kate and the staff are pretty much what makes this an amazing place to stay (not that Winder Hall and its stunning views are anything less of a pull). Winder Hall is a place we love, … and when we open that door it strangely feels like were walking into a warm friendly home, If you are used to hotels etc where staff tend to be regimental and stuffy, you won't get that here. They will treat you as a close friend, nothing being too much trouble for them, as long as you feel relaxed and happy that is their aim. If it's warm, friendly staff and surroundings, stunning food and amazing food and views then this is the place to book.
Ian & Angela Cowan (December 2011)

“Thank you to Nick and all the staff at Winder Hall for making our ‘Dream Wedding’ a ‘Perfect Wedding’. Nothing was too much trouble; we hired Winder Hall for the weekend so we had total exclusivity for our family and guests. Our close family and wedding party arrived on Friday afternoon, everyone was made so welcome, and we all had dinner together. On Saturday the staff pampered to our every whim. The reception was exceptional the guests loved the food, and the fact that they could choose from an excellent menu. We then partied on into the night. We had everything we wished for in our wedding thanks to Nick and the staff at Winder hall, we cannot praise them highly enough. It is a fantastic experience” Love Pam & Derek Hawkins (July 2011)

“Words are not enough to describe the wonderful day we had. The wedding was perfect and will live long in my/our memory. Thanks to all the staff who helped to pull it all together. They were so helpful and the family atmosphere and amazing historic backdrop was the icing on the cake” Cheers Col & Ang (Oct 11). 

Outdoor dining at Winder Hall- dressed by Simply Bows and Chair Covers

Anything special that we should know about the venue?

We have been awarded the following this year:

Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2011

Breakfast & Dining Award 2011

And finally where can we get more information/ read more/ contact the venue?

www.winderhall.co.uk

www,winderhallweddings.co.uk

Winder Hall Country House

Low Lorton

Cockermouth

CA13 9UP

Tel: 01900 85107

Kate’s mobile: 07970 898180 (wedding enquiries)

Simply Hitched: A Simply Bows Real Bride: Marie

Simply Bows and Chair Covers present you with a real life Simply Bows and Chair Covers Wedding... Marie and Martin......

   Where and when did you get engaged?  

Martin wore a kilt and proposed to me one Saturday morning (my first Saturday off work in a long long time) just before we were about to move into the house we bought together in October 2009.

What was your wedding date and wedding venue?

Saturday April 16^th 2011 at the North Lakes Spa Hotel, Penrith.

 Why did you choose your venue? 

We chose Penrith for a halfway house between our two families in Yorkshire and Glasgow and we always loved driving past Brougham Castle on our travels to visit family.  We always thought it would be lovely to have our wedding pictures taken at Brougham Castle when we tied the knot and would have loved to have had an outdoor ceremony at the castle if it had been allowed. Not forgetting the gorgeous scenery of Lake Ullswater to go in with the bargain.  The North Lakes is virtually round the corner from Brougham Castle and just off the A66 and M6 junction so ideal for logistics for us.  Inside the hotel is beautiful with lot’s of great open fire places and a lovely spa and the staff were so accommodating and flexible to meet our needs as we were quite specific about what we wanted from our wedding and they delivered absolutely everything and then some more.

Did you have a “theme”? 

Our theme was based around our love of rock music as we got to a lot of live music gigs.  The tables were named after genre’s of music such as the Classic Rock Table and The Metal Table, our cake was a replica limited edition Marshall Amp stack, our music was a live band, Our ring holder was a ribbon bound drum stick, and Martin and I even performed a couple of songs ourselves at the evening reception

What was your wedding colour scheme?

Our favourite colours Cadbury’s Purple and Black. We had Cadburys purple pin tuck taffeta table overlays with Black damask runners and beautiful white chair covers with double bows of Cadburys Purple and Black as suggested by Kristy. 

Why did you choose Simply Bows and Chair Covers and what were they like to work with?

Having looked for different suppliers over the internet (having the wedding away form home meant a lot of research to get the best of our time in Penrith before having meetings which meant we had decided who to use before we arranged to meet, although the snowy weather conditions scuppered a visit where we were meeting with Kristy, our photographer and the hair salon all in one day so that was an interesting day!  The website looked very stylish and superior to the others we had viewed and demonstrated an ability to go a little extra to the usual white covers and a simple bow on the chair.  Meeting Kristy was absolutely wonderful and she set up a mock table for us and it looked absolutely beautiful, she made additional suggestions to us and gave us the idea for having Cadburys mini chocolate’s for our favours to match our colour scheme.  My initial instincts proved correct when choosing Simply Bows and Chair Covers early on from researching the websites.

What sort of dress did you choose and where from?

The dress was Honey from Berketex Bride, a strapless ivory A-line dress with a soft organza layer making it all floaty and with sequins and pearls and bugle bead detailing.  I loved this on the website but tried on lot’s of other dresses elsewhere first and nothing stood out, until I eventually got into the Honey dress, should have gone with the initial instinct as I did with the photographer and with Simply Bows and Chair Covers! 

I absolutely loved my dress and so did Martin.

What did your bridesmaids wear?

I had 1 bridesmaid, my 11 year old niece Rebecca, although her dress was from Suelisse in Hamilton near Glasgow so her mum and Gran had to help with dress fittings for me. Her dress was a Cadbury’s Purple down to the floor with drawstring back and sequins and bugle beads around the top edging. She looked so lovely and grown up on the day.

 Who was your photographer?

Rachael De La Mare, De la Mare Photography, Rachael was so fun to work with and made the experience so relaxing rather than stiff and posed.

What “special touches” did you add to your day?

There were so many that to us they were special touches because they were things that meant something to us and were exactly what we wanted for our day, nothing was a compromise to please anybody else.  Martin wore a kilt being Scottish and so did both Dads, our best man and usher, which was great.  We wanted the day to be relaxing and fun and casual where everybody could be themselves and enjoy the day rather than feeling uptight and uncomfortable so our meal was steak pie and our evening buffet was sausage and bacon rolls with chips – loved by all.  For the welcome drinks we had huge buckets of ice with Budweiser bottles in and glasses of red or white wine – a drink everyone will enjoy.  For the toast we gave everybody a voucher to pick their own drink from the bar so as not forcing beer drinkers to drink a glass of champagne but allowing the champagne drinkers the option to have that.  We created playlists of background music for pre ceremony and drinks reception which were all our favourite songs which mean something to us.  Our rock music theme with the replica Marshall Amp stack cake (a limited edition black and purple cake to match our colour scheme), the ring holder drum stick, the live band and the tables named after music genre’s was really personal to us.  One table was the Funk table which is actually an album name by my favourite artist Glenn Hughes formerly of Deep Purple, so my favourite artist was represented in the colour scheme and one of the table names.  The live band were friends of mine who I have been watching live for 11 years and are personal friends so the songs they played were songs that I have rocked along to for years, as well as some mainstream songs to allow everyone to get up and have a dance.

What was your favourite part of the day? 

There are so many, when I arrived back form having my hair and make up done I found Martin had arranged a present in my room with a lovely card he had made himself addressed to his wife – which made me sob, then I opened the present and it was pictures form our engagement shoot – one of the two of us laughing with a verse written over from Corinthians – one of my favourites, which we couldn’t have in the ceremony as we had a civil ceremony – I cried buckets and the make up was compromised but it was so lovely!  Walking down the aisle was a very strange experience – the moment Martin turned around – the whole room disappeared and it was just him and I getting closer to each other staring into each others eyes and it was such a joyful, emotional thing. Again I cried buckets.  I had a hilarious moment on the dance floor which is something only my friends and I will get but the band were playing The Wall by Pink Floyd and during the intro mixed in the tune Popcorn to which my friends and I were dancing the Robot Square Dance, a dance that features in a music video for a song called Robototron for a band we all like and go to see , an unplanned thing that just happened and I was in stitches at this.

Where did you go on honeymoon?

We planned an amazing route with lot’s of activities to do a fly drive around the West Coast of the USA but in the end before we booked everything we realised we were probably going to be pretty tired and in need of a relaxing holiday and so we booked a 2 week all inclusive holiday to Cuba – where we only had 2 days that we didn’t do anything and spent our time Scuba Diving, Horse Riding, Fishing, Driving Jeeps, Swimming With Dolphins, Snorkling and just having so much fun.

What would be your top tip for another bride to be? 

Don’t get stressed, be very organised and know what you want and make sure you communicate the exact details to everybody who is having a part in the day so that they know what is expected of them and where to be at what time.  Make sure your day is about you and your husband and not about compromising to please others, your taste may not suit everybody and knowing just the right things to blend in or make a larger feature is a skill to ensure that you are having your day for you but that everybody gets chance to have fun and enjoy the day.  I spent the entire reception on the dance floor with all of my friends and family having fun with me!

Simply Luxurious: Winder Hall

Winder Hall is a cosy yet luxurious, five star Country House Hotel in the Lake District. Nestled in a stunning setting away from the hustle and bustle of busy lives yet close to the popular attractions of Keswick and the historic market town of Cockermouth, Winder Hall is the ideal location for a relaxing retreat!

This enchanting hotel is a delight to work with for Simply Bows and Chair Covers. Its majestic standing and contemporary yet classical and elegant decor creates a unique image rarely seen in the Lake District.

It is a joy to wander around the gorgeous grounds and relax on the terrace with a drink. Guests can also take a dip in the hot tub or visit the sauna to unwind.

Not only is Winder Hall a great place to escape but it is also a great venue to host a wedding or a special event.

Civil Ceremony at Winder Hall dressed by Simply Bows and Chair Covers

Civil Ceremony at Winder Hall dressed by Simply Bows and Chair Covers

Special Occasion lunch at Winder Hall dressed by Simply Bows and Chair Covers

The magnificent Winder Hall Hotel have also teamed up with linen and event specialists Simply Bows and Chair Covers to introduce elegant yet fun ‘High Tea Hen Parties’ to the women of Cumbria!

With delicious sandwiches, vintage cupcakes, scones and cream cakes served in the exquisite grounds of Winder Hall dressed by Simply Bows and Chair Cover’s divine vintage linen you will feel like the ‘ladies who lunch’ of a bygone era. Champagne with strawberries will be served along with a traditional serving of tea and coffee and the staff of Winder Hall will be on hand to ensure your experience is one that you and your guests will remember for ever. High Tea Hen Parties start at £20 per person and we believe that for the women who like to be original and have something a little bit different, this is definitely is your answer!

Cakes by FantaSweets

Birdcage by Gardenalia

For more information on High Tea Hen Parties or any other events at Winder Hall please contact them on 01900 85107.

*Photography by Picture U