If you are interested in advertising with us please send me a quick email (sophie@darlingtonweddings.co.uk) and I’ll be sure to pass you on to our advertising team to get your name on those pages!

Right, now that the business side is done with let me tell you a little about our DIY Bride’s prep for her big day…

With 3 months to go we have had a Bridesmaid shopping day and the excitement of buying shoes and headpieces! The hair styles have been practiced and the gym routines are in full swing, so we’re reasonably organised at this stage. You’ll have to make sure you get a copy of issue 3 to see pictures from the wedding and an eyewitness write up from one of the Bridesmaids – me!

Next time on the blog… Addo Printing growing fast!

Craig Maddison and Katie Nicolle from Darlington Weddings with Sharon Hutchinson and Jamie Wintrell from Splash Print Management

Two local companies have teamed up to fly the flag for Darlington’s growing Wedding industry by printing a new glossy magazine aimed at brides-to-be in our area.

Darlington Weddings and Splash Print Management are working together on the project to ensure brides get the information they want about the suppliers they need to bring their special day together. It features and promotes all manner of wedding service providers from bespoke cake designers to chair cover suppliers and unique ways to entertain guests.

Now in its second issue, the magazine has more than doubled in size due to an increased demand for advertising space, allowing Darlington Weddings to expand into wedding fayres. The team hosted its second event earlier this month at Redworth Hall Hotel and it was a fantastic success!

Craig Maddison, owner of Darlington Weddings, said: “Weddings are a growing industry in our region and we aim to promote that so it continues to grow. The magazine was a logical step from the listings website because we already had links with so many local wedding service providers and we like to work with local companies and stay true to our name.”

“Our first issue was a success but we wanted to go bigger and become a ‘glossy’ magazine. Splash has worked with us to make sure we get a magazine which looks the part.”

Sharon Hutchinson (Splash) and Katie Nicolle (Darlington Weddings)

After a successful first year in business and a client list of national companies with a regional base, Splash Print Management, headed by Sharon Hutchinson, is working with a number of Darlington companies to promote business growth in the town.

Sharon Hutchinson, director of Splash Print Management, said: “We are delighted to be working with a local company to fly the flag for Darlington. When Craig first approached us it was a one-off job and now it’s flourished into a long term relationship between our businesses.”

Splash Print Management has brought together a team of people that are experienced in customer service and print. The company is transparent about outsourcing the production of print, enabling them to concentrate on adding value through their advice, customer service and getting the right supplier for each job.

Sharon added: “We identified a gap in the market to make a print management service more accessible. The big PLCs (Public Limited Companies) all use print management companies as they understand the benefit of having experts buy and manage on their behalf, but there was no one offering a scaled-down service for smaller organisations.”

You can find more print management news, special offers and advice on the Splash PM blog!

For more information about wedding service providers in the Darlington area, follow Darlington Weddings on Twitter!

A huge thanks to the team who, as usual, pulled it out of the bag and did a great job – even better than last time with so much more content!

I have for your delight, a little look at some pages from our all new Men’s section ‘For the Groom’. Here you’ll find everything from cool cars to show up in, to dapper dress codes to help you pick the perfect suit. Oh, and not forgetting possible Stag activities!

This issue is printing as we speak and there are so many more reasons to pick up a FREE copy at a Wedding Fayre or service provider in the Darlington area later this month.

Also inside: Cakes. Shoes. Headpieces. Bridal Fashion & Style. Gifts. Honeymoons. Stationery. Entertainment. Musicians… the list goes on!

Next time on the blog: Things I often wonder and why I think (the rest of) 2012 is going to be great!

Prism Planning won an appeal for Kirklevington Riding Centre, near Yarm to build a workers dwelling on site. This meas that the successful local business can expand and become an examination centre for the region, great news!

Read the full story here in the Evening Gazette.

Brides in the North East take note:

Darlington Weddings Magazine issue 2 is almost there and it’s all hands on deck for the proofing and editing stage. Wow it’s a big edition this time! We’ve gone bigger, better and bolder with a stunning fashion shoot and large men’s section. Not to mention all the shoes, headpieces, makeup tips and gift advice! Publishing date to be announced soon…

North East readers: Watch out for it at a wedding fayre near you next month!

Next time on the blog…

Magazine sneak peak and what I did when the family came to stay.

Keiran Bayley, owner of Addo Printing with his new ‘toy’ the Heidleberg SM74 5 colour

See their article in Print Week here.

Also, see their article in Print Monthly here!

Coming up: Prism Planning in The Evening Gazette.

Katie and I (photo by Stan Seaton)

I went along with friend and colleague Katie Nicolle to marvel at the fabulous fashion that’s right on our doorstep, and keep an eye out for modelling talent for the next Darlington Weddings magazine and Wedding Fayre!

Katie with Stan from Stan Seaton Photography

It was a fun night and even better knowing it was for charity. Well done to all involved!

Next time… NZ 2011 pt.2, yes I’m off again!

]]> http://sjourno.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/beyond-imaging-launches/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:13:17 +0000 sjourno http://sjourno.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/beyond-imaging-launches/ Photography company Beyond Imaging has launched and I’ve been helping out with portfolio shots (and getting myself some great pictures in the process).

Last weekend we headed up to Durham to make the most of the beautiful autumn weather, here’s a sneak peek at the results…

By the river

Outside the Cathedral

Beyond Imaging will offer a range of photography services including wedding photography and location shoots.

We are currently working on a website and blog – I’ll keep you posted as to when they go live!

]]> http://sjourno.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/prism-planning-in-the-media/ Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:37:34 +0000 sjourno http://sjourno.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/prism-planning-in-the-media/

Steve Barker, MD Prism Planning

Prism Planning also got media coverage in the Dewsbury Reporter and The Press News for the previously mentioned application.

This is great news for a consultancy who are committed to working towards sustainable initiatives and creating attractive, modern housing developments to benefit local areas.

If you would like to receive Prism’s monthly newsletter enter your details* and the word ‘newsletter’ here.

*You must leave your Surname for the newsletter sign up to activate.

COMING SOON…

• SJOurno Recipes
• Darlington Weddings magazine issue 2!
• Photos of SJOurno out and about
• A tour of New Zealand’s North Island!

Prism Planning, based in Darlington, have won an application to build a sustainable development of homes including a care facility on a former industrial site in Dewsbury.

The Planning consultancy has been in negotiations for over two years with the Local Planning Authority and Yorkshire Water over issues such as drainage, which have now been resolved.

This development will open up access to the canal to the public through a previously private site.

Read the full story on the Yorkshire Post website and find it on Page 8 of the West Riding edition today (18.10.11).

Keep up to date with local and national planning news by reading Prism Planning’s blog.

I got out of the office a few times to speak to the people of Middlesbrough about issues in the news and I even covered a Royal visit, when the Duke of Gloucester opened Acklam Grange School!

Other things I’ve been getting up to include article writing, research tasks and managing a client’s social media page – with great success, I am pleased to report.

With a weekend in London ahead of me there’s plenty to be getting on with in these next couple of days including organising interviews for the next edition of Darlington Weddings magazine-excitement!

Sophie x

I have read up on a lot of subjects and organisations including: UK Biodiversity policy, environmental aspects impacting aquatic habitats, DEFRA, National Planning Policy Framework, The National Trust, Traditional tap fittings, Vintage weddings, Lingerie trends 2011/2012, the history of Persian rugs and sooooooo much more.

In among all that I managed to find the time to make a Thai salad, crispy tray cake, dinner party desserts and THE best satay sauce of my life. Now that tells me I have some free time on my hands, so if you have any copywriting needs for absolutely any industry and/or platform then please don’t hesitate to get in touch and save me from my kitchen down time!

Don’t forget- I also do PR and work as a freelance reporter and I’d be happy to hear from you regarding this.

Sophie x

sophie@sjourno.co.uk

Keep up with what I’m doing on Twitter @sjourno

Here’s one of the pictures I have found that I love. It’s a clever scene of Hong Kong and I’d really like to go back there one day.

The very first (and free) issue of Darlington Weddings magazine will officially launch tomorrow (15.9.11) and be available from various spots in and around Darlington.

I have had the pleasure of working closely with the Editor and the rest of the Darlington Weddings team to ensure it is a success and I am excited to see it ‘hit the shelves’ as it were.

The process of putting together a magazine can be a lengthy and stressful one, but I have to say I have enjoyed every minute of it…especially our lunch break during an all day meeting where I found my new favorite bakery – Number Four in Sedgefield. From its inception this magazine has had a clear direction and goal which mirrors that of the popular listings website - to be the ‘go-to’ magazine for all things Wedding in Darlington and the surrounding areas – and I would have to say, in my humble and possibly bias opinion, that I think we’ve done pretty damn well for a first attempt!

So what’s in it? I hear you ask. Well, it’s a vibrant mix of interviews and features on real people and skilled professionals who have years of industry experience. Crafts people, cake makers, Wedding coordinators and plenty of insider insight has gone into creating content that is not only interesting for any reader, but of great use to Brides-to-be when planning that most special of days. We even have our very own ‘Bridezilla’ who is anything but, letting us in on her preparations for her fairytale Wedding next year.

And specifically? You’ll just have to pick up a copy to find out!!

Find Darlington Weddings magazine in restaurants, hotels, hair and beauty salons, photographers, bakeries and patisseries and many many more…

Join Darlington Weddings for their Wedding Fayre and Bridal catwalk show. Sunday 25th September at Hall Garth Hotel.