Welcome to my new resource, which will be jam-packed with details of all the best wedding shows, creative craft fairs and interesting workshops happening right now in the UK.*
I’m not a lover of those fluffy-stuffy shows, you know the ones I mean, tired salespeople, out-dated ideas and lacklustre ambience. So I’m determined to find ones that break free from this tradition, the ones who are striking out and doing something different, something exciting.
I will be adding to this list as I find more and more worthy of the Pocketful of Dreams seal of approval. If you think your show, workshop or fair should be added to this list then give me a shout and if I like what I see I’ll add you to the list, as well as popping along (to the ones I can) to report back to my readers.
To make it easier to sift through those listed I have colour coded them as follows:
- WEDDING SHOWS AND FAIRS
- CRAFT WORKSHOPS AND SHOWS
- BUSINESS / BLOGGING WORKSHOPS
(There is a slight focus on those in the North as that’s where I am based.)
JANUARY
Tuesday 17th January, Tuesday 24th January or Tuesday 31st January ~ Frog Flower Workshop
- Small and intimate 1-day workshop – up to 8 people, so French florist David Jayet-Laraffe can help you personally create to the best of your ability.
- Learn tips on conditioning and flower care, what tools and materials should be used. Find out the last flower trends. We will help you step by step on creating your own little work of art … to keep or give as a gift!
- £75 includes all materials and refreshments
- Venue: Frog Flowers Studio, Northern Quarter, Manchester
- See here for further details. To book or ask further information call David on 0161 833 3463 or pop in to Frog.
Saturday 21st or Sunday 22nd January 2012 ~ 1-day DIY wedding flowers by BAO Design
- 1-day course
- Students attending this class will be introduced to BAOD’s signature wedding design. Students wishing to do their own wedding flowers will learn how to create perfect wedding bouquets and buttonholes. Designs are simple and chic, Tony and Javier will also be there to offer advice on how to chose a bouquet for the bridal dress, mixing colours and seasonality of flowers. Students will learn the basics of wiring but bouquets will all be hand-tied.
- 10.30am-5.30pm
- £220
- Contact Javier Salvador via email or telephone – 0207 486 78 70.
- Venue: By Appointment Only Design Boutique, 38 Chiltern Street in London, W1U 7QL.
Monday 23rd January ~ 5-day Flower Course flowers by BAO Design
- 5-day course
- This fiveday intensive course will give students a kick start, a career or hobby in By Appointment Only Design day floristry. This flower arranging course is perfect for florists wanting to catch up on new ideas or anybody interested in By Appointment Only Design’s style and approach to flowers.
- 10.30am-5.30pm
- £995
- Contact Javier Salvador via email or telephone – 0207 486 78 70.
- Venue: By Appointment Only Design Boutique, 38 Chiltern Street in London, W1U 7QL.
Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th January 2012 – The Wedding Show, Tatton Park.
- Within the magnificent setting of Tatton park, The Wedding Show will give you the opportunity to meet and discuss your individual requirements with Wedding industry suppliers and professionals.
- Times: 10am – 5pm daily
- Tickets: Individual tickets @ £9 per person in advance £10 on the door
- See here for more details
Saturday 28th January ~ Signature Hand-Tied Bouquets by BAO Design
- 1-day course
- Their signature style includes using only blooms and no foliage in bouquets. Whilst students will be shown how foliage can be incorporated into designs, no foliage will be used. Students will learn how we make our signature hand-tied bouquets, our wrapping techniques and how we combine flowers and colours, texture and scent together to create the perfect gift.
- 10.30am-5.30pm
- £220
- Contact Javier Salvador via email or telephone – 0207 486 78 70.
- Venue: By Appointment Only Design Boutique, 38 Chiltern Street in London, W1U 7QL.
Sunday 29th January ~ Bridal Bouquets by BAO Design
- 1-day course
- 10.30am-5.30pm
- £220
- Contact Javier Salvador via email or telephone – 0207 486 78 70.
- Venue: By Appointment Only Design Boutique, 38 Chiltern Street in London, W1U 7QL.
Tuesday 31st January ~ 4-week Flower Course by BAO Design
- 4-week course
- This four week course is designed to give the student and in-depth feel of what requirements are needed to open a Flower Shop and also offer Event styling services. This intensive course is a strong foundation for any beginner or intermediate florist/event stylist wishing to work in the Flower/Event styling industry. Both Tony and Javier will teach many of the lessons on this course, giving students an unparalleled insight into their career and style. The Four Week Professional Floristry course is extremely hands on.
- 10.30am-5.30pm
- £4250
- Contact Javier Salvador via email or telephone – 0207 486 78 70.
- Venue: By Appointment Only Design Boutique, 38 Chiltern Street in London, W1U 7QL.
FEBRUARY
Sunday 5th – White Memoirs Vintage Wedding Fair
- Offering a complete vintage experience for brides
- Venue: Stockport Town Hall.
- Tickets: £3 in advance. 50 free tickets available for readers of Pocketful of Dreams see here for details
- Booking: To book tickets simply visit the White Memoirs website HERE
- Also taking place at this event are the: Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Made by You – headwear workshops by Silver Sixpence in her Shoe. From 1.30pm til 2.30pm. Brides have the opportunity to hand-craft their own headwear for their special day. Brides who book advance tickets that will be priced at £10 per person plus a £1 booking fee. Places booked on the day will be priced at £15. Silver Sixpence workshops usually start at £25 per person.
Friday 10th to Sunday 12th February - The Designer Wedding Show
- Bringing together both high-profile designers and less well-known names (those hard-to-find but brilliant-to-discover specialists), The Designer Wedding Show presents the most covetable collection of 130 companies offering everything for stylish weddings. And it makes the complex task of planning your wedding much simpler.
- Venue: Battersea Park, London
- Tickets: £16 in advance £18 on the door
- Exhibition times: 10am – 5pm
- See here for more details
Saturday 11th February ~ A Most Curious Vintage Wedding Fair
- For the not-so-blushing bride, helping you connect with suppliers who are creative, expressive and love a bit of vintage – just like you! And the good news is there’s two coming up!
- Time: 11am-4.30pm
- Venue: St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, NR3 1AU
- Tickets: £3 Entry – Brides to Be £2
- More details here
Sunday 19th February – The Vintage Wedding Fair
- By Discover Vintage be inspired to crate a vintage look for your special day
- Venue: St George Hotel, Harrogate
- Times: 12noon – 4.30pm
- Tickets: Entry £5 payable on the door
- See here for more details.
Sunday 19th February The Monastery Wedding Fair
- Times: 11.00am – 3.00pm
- Venue: The Monastery see here for more details
- A fantastic selection of the area’s finest wedding specialists will be on hand to provide you with expert advice on all aspects of your wedding day. Plus there will be two stunning catwalk fashion shows at 12pm and 2pm featuring exquisite bridal gowns, and live entertainment throughout the day.
- Wedding Ceremony Presentation by Cheshire East Registrars at 1pm.
- Free admission and car parking.
- Contact Weddinglink 0161 925 4289
Thursday 23rd February ~ ‘Classes for the Florally Curious’ Romantic Blooms
- Laura Coleman Flowers are proud to present ‘Classes for the Florally Curious’ a new set of classes perfect for flower lovers across the land.
- They will be taking place at the home of all things cakey, ‘And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon’, Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester.
- £35 for a two hour floral class starting at 6.30pm including tea or coffee, cakes and blooms
- You can book onto the next class online here or by contacting Laura on 07941 888654 or by email laura@lauracolemanflowers.co.uk
MARCH
Saturday 3rd March – Crown and Country Vintage Wedding Soiree
- An event full of vintage, handmade and eco loveliness along with much more. All you need to plan your unique Wedding Day under one very stylish roof.
- Venue: Longfield Suite, Prestwich, Manchester.
- Times: 2pm to 7pm
- Tickets: e-mail for more details mail@crownandcountryvintage.co.uk
- See here for more details
Sunday 4th March Belle Epoque Wedding Fayre
- A fantastic selection of the area’s finest wedding specialists will be on hand to provide you with expert advice on all aspects of your wedding day. Plus there will be two stunning catwalk fashion shows at 2pm and 4pm featuring exquisite bridal gowns, and live entertainment throughout the day.
- Free admission
- Contact Weddinglink 0161 925 4289
- Times: 1.00pm – 5.00pm
- For more details about the venue see here
Saturday 10th – Sunday 11th March – Blogshop London
- A Photoshop bootcamp for bloggers.
- A full weekend jam packed with training and techniques about how to make the images on your blog unique and eye catching, so you can take your blog to that next level of awesomeness.
- The cost to attend is $772.71 which works out about £497.00 at today’s exchange rate.
- There are just FOUR places remaining on the London Blogshop so hurry
- I will be interning at the London Blogshop, you can read all about that here
- You can book your place here.
Sunday 11th March ~ The Vintage Wedding Fair
- By Discover Vintage be inspired to crate a vintage look for your special day
- Venue:Chester Guildhall, Watergate Street, Chester
- Times: 11am – 4.00pm
- Tickets: Entry £5 payable on the door
- See here for more details.
Saturday 31st March ~ A Most Curious Vintage Wedding Fair
- For the not-so-blushing bride, helping you connect with suppliers who are creative, expressive and love a bit of vintage – just like you! And the good news is there’s two coming up!
- Time: 11am-5.00pm
- Venue: York Hall, 5-15 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PJ
- Tickets: £3 Entry – Brides to Be £2
- More details here
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Pocketful of Dreams creator, Michelle Kelly, is an experienced designer, planner and stylist of events and photo shoots for both commercial and personal clients.
Services include styling engagement and post-wedding photography sessions, unique and creative venue styling including dessert / sweetie bars to hire, as well as full design, planning and creation of your wedding or event.
For more information and to enquire about Events by Pocketful of Dreams please email: michelle@pocketfulofdreams.co.uk 
