Category Archives: Ideas

Late night venue ideas

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Chilston Park Hotel

Dating back to the 17th Century, Chilston park is the ultimate in countryside luxury. Surrounded by 23 acres of private grounds and lakes and with luxurious furnishings, open-fires and candlelight, it makes for a truly romantic backdrop to your day. Their late license is until 1am.

The Refinery

Tucked away from the bustling Euston Road, this urban-luxe venue overlooks the peaceful Regent’s Place. With no venue fees and purely a minimum spend, the fact this venue has a late license until 1.30am is the cherry on top.

Cripps Barn

This rustic old barn made of the gorgeous old Cotswold stone is a real feast for the eyes, perfect for a laid-back wedding venue. Set in the countryside near Bidbury, it has flag stone floors, an open fireplace and a large South-facing terrace with fire pits and a bonfire in the garden. Their late license means the bar stays open until 1am.

Lains Barn

Lains barn is the perfect location for a rural Oxfordshire wedding, with enough space for you to hold both your ceremony and reception in one place. The best thing about this self-contained wedding venue is that the bar is open until 2am so you can really make the most of the wonderful setting.

Fulham Palace

Set in the heart of acres of botanical gardens, Fulham Palace is an enchanting historical venue. It is an all encompassing venue, providing you as a couple with both a stunning private chapel, rooms for civil services and plenty of space for your reception too. This lovely venue has a late license of 2am.

 

Dogs at weddings

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Before issuing your dog with their very own gold embossed invite, there are a few things you need to consider about whether it will realistically work for you. So here are our best advice on how to master including your dog in your wedding day and ensure everything runs smoothly.

  • Get authorisation from the wedding venue – A lot of wedding venues can be quite anti pets, so it is crucial you check that they are actually allowed at your venue. If you need to put in a special request to have your furry friend there on the day, then you will need to give them enough prior warning to make the decision. They may wish to see the temperament of your dog so be prepared to visit the venue with your pet in tow.

 

  • Practice makes perfect – Whilst you may well be practicing your own walk down the aisle prior to the wedding, get your dog involved and ensure you’ve trained them up to know what they will be doing on the day. Whether than be a starring role down the aisle or just getting their general obedience around other people tip top, make sure you squeeze in a bit of training where you can.

 

  • Let your wedding photographer know – Your photographer will be wanting to capture lots of lovely moments of you with your dog at the wedding, so the more notice you are able to give them the better. Additionally, if your pet is acting as your ring bearer ,you will need to notify the photographer of this so they can ensure they’re primed and ready to capture it.

 

  • Think about your dog’s natural character – Is your dog quiet and obedient or loud and excitable? How do they react to large crowds and new people? Really have a good think about the various circumstances that may arise at your wedding day and how your  furry friend will deal with them based on past experiences.

 

  • Hire a Petsitter – If you have a pet sitter to hand, it’ll take a real weight off your mind about who will be looking after the dog on the day. Not only will you and your family be able to relax, but it will also mean your pet is getting the attention it needs throughout the day.

 

  • Safety first – As cute as your dog may look in his little bow tie and tux combo, make sure they are happy and not at a safety risk. If possible, allow your pet to wear the outfit around the house prior to the wedding to ensure they are happy wearing it for an extended period of time.

 

  • Give advance warning – Make it known to your guests that your pup will be in attendance in case anyone needs to flag up that they have allergies. If this does happen to be the case, then make the necessary amendments to ensure you keep everyone happy.

 

Being a Bride isn’t always easy

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So you’ve bagged a hunk and a sparkly ring, and being a bride is the best thing ever but it doesn’t mean it’s not hard work. There’s a whole ton of stress, drama and tears that come with it!

Married friend syndrome

When your recently-married friend is a self-proclaimed wedding expert and knows EVERYTHING there is to know. “You need this… You need that” – just because she’s planned her own wedding! Believe it or not, you want a unique wedding day not a replica of theirs. Try to keep others opinions to a minimum by not opening the elements of your day up for discussion.

Your mum is TOO helpful

Your mum just wants to help, and of course you appreciate that. But whether it’s writing the guest list, finding a wedding venue or what type of wedding flowers you choose, she just can’t stop offering advice on what ‘she would do’. For the super enthusiastic Mother of the bride, you may appreciate OUR guide to managing the endless opinions and without falling out with your mum!

The dreaded monster-in-law

Why does she need to wear an expensive white dress on the most important day of your life? Is she trying to upstage you?! Just make sure expectations or outfit preferences on YOUR big day are expressed early on in wedding planning to avoid any disappointment on both parts! Keep calm and discuss with them your plans in advance and everyone is happy! Just try not to say these things out of frustration…

The insignificant details

By this point you’re so exhausted from the wedding planning process that you’re no longer bothered about what colour the napkins are, or if your second cousin can bring a plus one. When it gets to this point – time to have a weekend off. Make sure you switch off from planning a wedding mode for a couple of days every so often.

It’s an emotional roller-coaster and you probably deserve an award. But don’t worry – it’ll be totally worth it and you’re going to marry the love of your life!

 

The lovely Lake District

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How about a mini-moon walking in the Lake District, staying at some fantastic B&Bs and a lovely hotel. If you are fair skinned the sun can be a bit problematic so when you come back from the Lake District, you’ll be suntanned in a healthy way.

Super-fun skiing

Some people would much rather be skiing down a mountain than on a beach. Some couples find beach holidays boring. If you have ever only skied in Europe, why not go to the States to try out the snow there? Jackson Hole in Colorado is very recommended for all your skiers out there. If you’re both serious skiers and want a more action-orientated sort of honeymoon this maybe the honeymoon for you.

Ice cool Iceland

If you fancy going somewhere different and literally cool in every way, then consider a visit to Iceland. Just three hours from London, you can watch the Northern Lights, visit hot natural springs and soak in the geothermal pools, scuba dive and quad bike. There’s also a big nightclub scene in Reykjavik, if that’s your thing. It’s a great winter and summer destination and if you go during June, July and August you’ll enjoy 20 hours of straight daylight.

Going Japanese

Love sushi? Always wanted to visit Japan? Your honeymoon should be a holiday to remember and Japan offers an amazing once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. It’s one of the top places to go skiing but if you go to the Hakuba Valley in the Japanese Alps you can also see the local snow monkeys keeping warm in the hot springs and dip into a hot tub yourself.

The skiing is amazing for both downhill skiers and snowboarders and you can choose from a luxury hotel to self-catering accommodation. There are plenty of English speakers to help you if your Japanese isn’t up to scratch and the village apparently has a great atmosphere. Get there on the bullet train from Tokyo (a lifetime experience in itself).

 

Wedding Breaks

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Where to spend your first break as husband and wife

Wedding breaks are fast becoming a must for newlyweds. They’re not a minimoon for a few days or a honeymoon for a week abroad. Wedding breaks are a post-wedding, pre-honeymoon getaway for a night or two, somewhere nice, near home. When planning a dream Wedding think of a small break away especially if you can’t spare the time…

Radisson Edwardian Heathrow

Just two miles from Heathrow airport, the Radisson Edwardian Hotel is the perfect stop-over for early-morning honeymoon flights and wedding breaks. This slick West End-style venue has a lively atmosphere that’s buzzing until the early hours. The Pegasus Health Spa and Gymnasium is the perfect place to begin unwinding after your big day. Expect to be pampered with a huge variety of treatments on offer, ranging from herbal saunas to massages and facials.

For the rooms, try The Presidential Suite – it’s perfect for wedding breaks for newlyweds. The other 458 rooms and suites boast all mod cons plus rich fabrics and marble bathrooms. This looks more like a chic central London hotel than an airport stopover.

The Scarlet

Perched on a clifftop overlooking the stunning beach at Mawgan Porth, The Scarlet is a luxurious hotel perfectly positioned on the Cornish coast. Cornwall is filled with pretty villages to visit and views to swoon over, but if you fancy something more active, it’s the perfect place to learn to surf. The hotel can arrange private lessons or why not join the surf school?

Not to be missed during your stay is The Scarlet Spa, where total indulgence awaits. The Spa focuses on wellbeing as well as beauty, offering a fab range of eco-friendly treatments. With chic interior design and furniture, plus the comfiest beds around, you’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep here. They have 37 stunning bedrooms in the hotel spread out over five floors. Each room boasts its own outside space, from private terraces to balconies – perfect for watching the sun go down together.

Peak Edge Hotel

The Peak Edge Hotel is the gateway to the Peak District in Derbyshire. Aside from the panoramas of rolling dales from every window, there is great local food cooked to perfection in the adjoining 17th-century inn, beautifully designed décor and an extensive activities package to keep you busy here. There are 27 brand new boutique bedrooms with picturesque views and sumptuous finishes. Bathrooms boast double-ended baths, rain showers and underfloor heating. You’ll also find LED flat screen TVs, decadent bedding and Wi-Fi internet to enjoy inside.

Blakes Hotel

Blakes in London is the sort of hotel that makes you want to stay in your room, sipping Champagne, indulging in room service! Locally you’ll find shops galore on Kensington Church Street, and Harrods is a short taxi ride away, as are the V&A and Natural History Museums. Each of the 47 rooms is designed by internationally acclaimed designer Anouska Hempel, and each is daringly different. We recommend the Corfu Suite, which boasts a huge four-poster bed, a separate dressing room, huge bathroom, wooden floors and distressed white mother of pearl embossed furniture.

The Royal Scots Club

The Royal Scots club is a members’ club situated in one of Edinburgh’s finest Georgian streets. It’s about a two-minute walk from the main shopping areas of Edinburgh, and it takes about 25 minutes to get to the hotel from the airport by car.

It’s quite a formal place to stay, oozing sophistication and class. It’s perfect for couples looking for privacy. There is no place for jeans and t-shirts here, especially at dinner time. The restaurant serves indulgent dishes, which are an absolute must try. The decadent decor, beautiful furnishings and the luxurious rooms create a cosy country manor house feel, despite their size.

Less travel more holidays

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There are over 1.8 billion transits and stopover flights annually that are more cost-efficient than long-haul direct flights. So instead of avoiding the extra hours, why not enjoy a longer stop and have two holidays instead of one? So that means if you’re going on your honeymoon, you can explore a new location and stay at one of these select hotels before taking their next flight. From stretching your legs riding a bike in Amsterdam to a rejuvenating jetlag therapy treatment in Bangkok,

Amsterdam

The Dylan, Amsterdam;

This stunning hotel is a destination for a swift visit. Wind down with a glass of delicious seasonal wine and savoury amuse-style bites, finely selected by the executive chef Dennis Kuiper. Guests can also stretch their legs and explore the Dutch city on one of the hotel’s private bikes.

New York

Loews Regency, New York

Guests can relax and restore in this stunningly renovated hotel after a long flight or even after a day of sightseeing, with Loews’s special restoring package. This includes two cocktails at The Regency Bar as well as a reviving spa session at Julian Farel’s salon in midtown Manhattan.

Zurich

Baur Au Lac: Zurich

Let time fly in the beautiful city of Zurich with Baur Au Lac’s delicious afternoon tea, and enjoy the historical atmosphere of the location through this culinary delight. Taste homemade scones, exquisite sandwiches and pastries in the hotel’s Le Hall after a tranquil walk by the lake.

So when planning your perfect wedding, think about travel that’s involved with these destinations and play it smart. Happy honeymoon!!!

 

A Mini-moon in the New Forest

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Mini-mooning is a growing trend among newlyweds when planning a wedding. Just 1.5 hours from London by train, the New Forest is fast becoming a top minimoon destination and with its stunning landscape, range of activities and beautiful couples’ accommodation, it’s easy to see why. Here, we explore what makes the New Forest so special.

Honeymoons are the perfect remedy to the busy and exciting wedding day. They give couples the chance to getaway and recuperate together and enjoy a well-deserved break month, if not years, of planning a wedding.

While traditionally a couple was sent off on their honeymoon straight after the reception, and therefore had no chance to chat with their guests until two weeks later, today’s newlyweds are choosing to postpone the longer break, or to substitute it entirely in favour of a shorter mini-moon. The New Forest is a world away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and provides the ideal setting for a romantic break.

Amazing accommodation

Let’s face it, you don’t want your run of the mill hotel for your mini-moon. A once in a lifetime event, it deserves accommodation that wows, and there’s plenty of that in the New Forest.

If you’re looking for a place to get away from it all, Beaulieu River View is a gorgeously secluded bolthole for two. Stood on stilts above the Beaulieu River, it certainly has the wow factor and mini-mooners have been visiting for years, drawn by The Wind in the Willows reminiscent surroundings and the open plan living inside.

Fantastic activities

A mini-moon in the New Forest gives couples the chance enjoys a wide range of activities together. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a novice looking to try something new, there’s something to suit everyone.

Walking is a very popular pastime in the New Forest, thanks to the miles and miles of exquisite landscape, approved walking route and plenty of wildlife to spot en route. What could be more romantic than rambling through the woodland, chatting away and getting a bit of post-wedding cake exercise thrown in too?

Other outdoor pursuits such as cycling, horse-riding and watersports like kayaking are also popular and there are lots of activity centres offering rental of equipment and organised trips. Take a look at New Forest Activities for their range of days out and shorter trips, including foraging trails and kayaking.

Not everybody like the beach…

Not everybody wants the ‘classic white sandy beach, azure blue swimming pool, hot sunshine, and cocktails at sunset’ type of a honeymoon. When planning a wedding why not take a look at some of those overlooked destinations that might not have a tropical climate but can still get you hot under the collar.

The lovely Lake District

How about a mini-moon walking in the Lake District, staying at some fantastic B&Bs and a lovely hotel. If you are fair skinned the sun can be a bit problematic so when you come back from the Lake District, you’ll be suntanned in a healthy way.

Super-fun skiing

Some people would much rather be skiing down a mountain than on a beach. Some couples find beach holidays boring. If you have ever only skied in Europe, why not go to the States to try out the snow there? Jackson Hole in Colorado is very recommended for all your skiers out there. If you’re both serious skiers and want a more action-orientated sort of honeymoon this maybe the honeymoon for you.

Ice cool Iceland

If you fancy going somewhere different and literally cool in every way, then consider a visit to Iceland. Just three hours from London, you can watch the Northern Lights, visit hot natural springs and soak in the geothermal pools, scuba dive and quad bike. There’s also a big nightclub scene in Reykjavik, if that’s your thing. It’s a great winter and summer destination and if you go during June, July and August you’ll enjoy 20 hours of straight daylight.

Going Japanese

Love sushi? Always wanted to visit Japan? Your honeymoon should be a holiday to remember and Japan offers an amazing once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. It’s one of the top places to go skiing but if you go to the Hakuba Valley in the Japanese Alps you can also see the local snow monkeys keeping warm in the hot springs and dip into a hot tub yourself.

The skiing is amazing for both downhill skiers and snowboarders and you can choose from a luxury hotel to self-catering accommodation. There are plenty of English speakers to help you if your Japanese isn’t up to scratch and the village apparently has a great atmosphere. Get there on the bullet train from Tokyo (a lifetime experience in itself).

 

A wedding poem

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Sometimes words are not enough and writing something for a bride who had been told she that only had a short time to live, she may want to write a poem for her groom thanking him for sticking by her, and loving her through tough times. Or writing something to be read at the wedding reception, thanking all their friends and family who helped her to put the wedding together so quickly. This of course can be a very precious keepsake.

Anything written by you is touching in their own way. A groom may want to write a poem for his bride about all the things he loved about her – right down to her not being the best singer in the world, but loved to hear her sing as it meant she was happy. You may have been through tough times, but against all the odds, you made it to the altar and are looking forward to the future together.

Little details make the difference, so in each case try to weave your personal memories and feelings into something that you are proud to deliver, either written down, or read aloud.

Poems are incredibly useful when used as best man speeches. Often the best man doesn’t have a lot of public speaking experience and it can be daunting, and so it can be nice to have the rhythm of a poem as something to focus on while they are trying to deliver their speech. Also, for a best man, what they really want to do is be there for their friend in the run up to the wedding, so having a poem to be used as their best man speech frees up their time to really be there for them. Then all they need to do is practice their poem, present on the big day and then sit back and take all the praise for their clever delivery!

Best Man poems can contain all the regular things you would put into a best man speech, so humorous tales from the groom’s younger days, and how he met his bride and what his friends think of her, messages from friends who can’t be there and thanks you’s and so on. They can choose to have their full speech as poem, or just a small part, perhaps to be used as the crowning glory and rounding off their speech.

Poems can be presented as gifts in a number of ways, as the main gift where the sentiment is in the words, or as thank you poems for the bridesmaids to go alongside any other little gifts that you may give them. They may want to simply write it into a card, frame it with a wedding photo, record themselves reading it and then share it, or have it transcribed into calligraphy.

 

Beautiful winter weddings

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The number of winter weddings taking place every year is increasing. Although off-season rates are a factor for many couple’s, there are lots of fun reasons to have your big day during the winter months.

  • As dusk falls early, you have an extended evening to celebrate. With endless possibilities for candles, fairy lights, and fireworks to light up the night sky, winter weddings are a great excuse to have fun with lights.

  • Every winter bride dreams of a magical sprinkling of snow. If you get married north of the border, the chance increases even further.

  • Most wedding venues and wedding suppliers will have off season rates, but many will also provide tempting incentives. Scottish venue Dundas Castle is offering complimentary bubbly, fairy light ceiling, and sparklers to all winter weddings in January and February 2017 as part of its ‘Winter Sparkle’ promotion.

  • Why not welcome your guests into your wedding venue that has a roaring open fire? You could also reflect on your day with a nightcap as the fire crackles – one of the great pleasures of winter weddings.

  • Winter is full of memorable dates to make your chosen day even more special. You could have a festive Christmas wedding, a romantic Valentine’s weekend wedding, or even start the New Year as you mean to go on – as a married couple.

  • Fly to the Maldives during Summer, and you’ll hit a monsoon! Winter is southern hemisphere honeymoon season, with no school holiday supplements. The chance to ski or get some much needed winter sun makes it a honeymoon triple whammy!

  • Getting married in winter totally eliminates ‘Will it? Won’t it?’ weather related stress. Guests will be expecting colder weather, so the focus will be on what’s going on indoors. That way, any snow or winter sun comes as an added bonus.

  • Your guests may have ‘wedding fatigue’ by the time your summer wedding comes around. A winter wedding will be a seasonal highlight too. This gives you and your guests a great excuse for a post-Christmas knees up.

  • Winter is still low season, making getting your ideal Saturday date a breeze. It’s also much easier finding accommodation for your guests, or bagging your dream photographer or wedding band.

  • Last but surely not least, a winter wedding is your chance to sport some stylish bridal wellies. If you’re less adventurous, winter offers a plethora of clothing options. Why not go for fake fur, feathers and capes to tempt the fashion conscious.

 

History themed wedding

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If you are considering having a historically themed wedding. Here are the three Historical Royal Palaces in and around London that you might wish to consider.

Hampton Court Palace

Hiring Hampton Court Palace offers you a dazzling wedding venue for hire in which to exchange vows, be it in the gardens or in the palace itself. Splendid formal gardens and elegant cobble courtyards are the order of the day around this Tudor marvel and the famous red brick makes for a stunning backdrop for your wedding photos. As for dinner and your reception? Well, you can choose from the Great Hall, the Undercroft and also the Orangery and Privy Garden or maybe even ‘Little Banqueting House’. All of these spaces have to be seen to be believed but we promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Banqueting House

Hiring Banqueting House for your wedding venue is certainly a compelling idea when you consider the awe-inspiring architecture by Inigo Jones and the incredible decoration of the interior; where else can you get married underneath an original Rubens ceiling painting? Specially created for entertaining back in 1622, Banqueting House is one of the most dazzling venues in London, both the Main Hall and Undercroft are fully licensed for weddings and there are some fantastic lighting options available to really make use of the space. With glittering chandeliers and vast windows that face onto Whitehall, you’ll be truly in for a day to never forget.

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is still home to British royalty and offers a timeless elegance and charm that delights all who visit. With beautiful gardens of its own, the venue offers an opportunity to get married in a building that has been home to British history for more than 300 years. Kensington Palace’s Orangery is a sight to behold and is licensed for wedding ceremonies as well as being suitable for dinner and dancing. With exceptionally easy access, we also don’t mind saying that the venue is perfect for ensuring that your wedding entertainment all gets in safely as well! Although you might be taken in by the Orangery, we also recommend considering a floral backdrop, with the Sunken Garden being a particularly beautiful and secluded choice for your family and friends to enjoy.