Finalists Profiled: Best in Bridal

This year's category finalists in the Best in Bridal are; Timeless Bridalwear, Bernadette Kennelly Cakes and Bee Flowers. The winner will be announced at awards on Friday April 4th at the Headfort Arms Hotel in Kells.

Timeless Bridalwear - Trim

Is your dream wedding dress that cost a small fortune now a dishcloth or have you flogged it for little or nothing? An innovative, new bridal wear business in Trim is making sure that future and past brides all get to say ‘I do’.

Opened in early 2014, Timeless Bridal wear specialises in pre-loved dresses and is owned by mother and daughter team Lizelle and Adele Moran who are only “too aware of the exorbitant costs involved for a couple in advance of the big day”. They said: “Many brides pay thousands of euro to feel magical, elegant and beautiful and then the dress is zipped up in a bag and left in a wardrobe.

“We feel that this is such a shame so we set up Timeless Bridal wear to give stunning dresses another day to glow in the spotlight.” Offering an almost unique Irish service, Timeless is that “necessary link between a past and future bride”.

The duo will market, promote and advertise the dress for their client to get the sale and ensure that a new bride gets their dream dress at less than half the retail price.

“Many brides leave our boutique with a highend designer dress that they otherwise could not afford and with the sneaky possibility that they can now afford that extra week’s honeymoon,” they say.

Bernadette Kennelly Cakes - Navan

Making breathtaking wedding cakes is one thing but making stunning masterpieces when you were born with only one hand is pure class. That’s just what Bernadette Kennelly has been doing for the last 20 years from her home at Macetown, Navan.

The hugely talented baker has never let her disability stop her producing top-class wedding cakes for hundreds of couples down through the years. Before you even see cake samples, you’ll be bowled over by Bernadette’s customer-orientated approach.

As she says herself: “I make time to speak with people. It’s all about personality first, business second.” She goes on: “My aim is to create beautiful cakes for people who want a wedding cake that’s a little bit special.”

What started as a hobby became her ‘dream job’ after winning a gold medal with the Irish Sugarcraft Association of Ireland. “I felt this was a turning point and I realised this was my passion in life,” she added.

Bernadette will advise any customer on sizes and types of wedding cake and, among her specialties, are rich fruit cake, carrot cake, lemon Madeira, coffee and walnut cake and Baileys Madeira, while fillings include cream cheese, rich lemon filling and white chocolate and raspberry filling. With Bernadette Kennelly’s cakes, there really is a slice of happiness in each tier.

 Bee Flowers - Johnstown

Bee Flowers has blossomed into one of the most popular florists in the country since it opened in recent years. Owned by Colette Walsh, the professional service caters to both the public and corporate sectors from its base at Johnstown in Navan.

The expert bouquets can be arranged to taste and occasion, whether sad or happy, and delivered near or far, both nationally and internationally.

If you want roses for Valentine’s Day, orchids for a debs or lilies for Mother’s Day, Bee Flowers will make both the sender and the recipient feel like the Queen Bee! Colette and her team will also go the extra mile for sensitive occasions such as bereavements to ensure that the sentiments are reflected in the floral tributes – with the least hassle involved for those in grief.

In recent times, Bee Flowers has become the byword for weddings in the county and their church decorations and bridal party posies have been described as nothing short of spectacular. The feedback from one customer stated: “I didn’t even throw my bouquet. It was too nice to part with.” Another remarked: “Bee Flowers helped me in love. Such a happy, smiley, more friendly florist you could not find.”

So bee-fore you get any more flowers, bee it any occasion, check out Bee Flowers!