Transportation on your wedding day

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Bike

Vintage brides will love a vintage bicycle for this big day – they make a fun prop for your wedding photos or you could actually ride one to the venue. Just make sure the journey’s not uphill!

Walk

The ultimate Eco-friendly way to arrive at your ceremony! If you live close to the venue, or there’s a picturesque approach, why not make the most of it and walk there with your dad and bridesmaids?

Bus

This one is a great wedding transportation idea for the groom. If your man is nervous about arriving on his own, why not make the journey more comfortable – and exciting – and arrive en masse, in a classic Route master bus!

That way, you can all travel to the wedding reception venue together and chat about how incredible the ceremony was.

Cars

Whether you opt for a classic wedding car or the sporty kind, cars are still the most popular way of getting to the church on time. Think about the season in which you’re marrying before you book one, though.

A 1920’s classic might not be the best choice for a mid-winter celebration.

Tractor

If you’re a country-loving couple, why not ask the local farmer if you borrow one of his tractors? It’s a fun photo opportunity – you could even get some wedding wellies to complete the look!

Horse and carriage

If you’ve always dreamed of being a princess on your big day, there’s really only one way to arrive when it comes to wedding transportation – horse and carriage. We recommend hiring one with a hood, just in case of bad weather.

Helicopter

To make a Made in Chelsea-style arrival, a helicopter has to be the most cosmopolitan way to make your entrance. Again, grooms usually favour this mode of transport as most wedding dresses aren’t easily accommodated in the small cockpit interior! 

Tuk Tuk

Perfect for an oriental-themed wedding, a Tuk Tuk is essentially a motorised rickshaw. It’s highly manoeuvrable making it the ideal wedding transportation choice if access to the venue is tight. They’re unique, quirky and will certainly help make your wedding stand out from the crowd.

Elephant

If you’re tying the knot abroad, why not go the ‘whole wedding transportation hog’ and arrive at your beach ceremony riding an elephant!

Common bridal hair mistakes

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It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life. As the bride, you’ll be the centre of attention, and not only will your friends and family be present, but your photographs will capture the moment forever. On the big day, you want to look like yourself, only better. There’s nothing worse than a bride wearing a gorgeous gown, in the perfect location, whose hair is so dreadful that guests can’t keep their eyes off of it. 

Brides should always have a consultation with the stylist who will be doing their hair one to two months before the wedding date to ensure that their dream hairstyle fits in with their dream day. 

Here are 10 common hair mistakes that brides make.

1. You forget your veil or headpiece. The veil factors into your overall look, and its length and style may determine if you’ll want to wear your hair up or down. If the veil hasn’t arrived yet, ask the bridal salon to loan you a sample, or at least bring along a photo when consulting with your wedding hairdresser.

2. You cut your hair days before the wedding. Stay away from the scissors and don’t plan on getting a haircut right before the big day. Instead, do it a month or two prior to the wedding to ensure that you like the cut and it will work with the hairstyle you’ve chosen.

3. You don’t carefully choose your stylist. You will remember your wedding day forever, so choose someone you trust to style your hair. If your hairdresser doesn’t typically do wedding hairstyles, ask him or her for a recommendation, or speak with friends or other brides who have had hairstyles you’ve admired.

4. You experiment with hair colour. Talk to your stylist about how you envision your hair on the big day, and let your colourist know if you are planning on wearing your hair up or down. It’s also not advisable to dramatically change your hair colour before the wedding. You want to look like an enhanced version of you, not someone completely different. 

5. You only try one style. Just as you tried on several wedding dresses (even if you knew the first one was the best), have your stylist show you at least three different looks based on your description of what you want.

6. You go to your consultation without any ideas. Pictures speak louder than words. Gather photos of brides hairstyles you like. This will give the stylist an idea of the kind of style you’re seeking. The stylist can’t make you look like the person in the picture, but he or she can attempt to copy the hair as long as the texture and length are not an issue.

7. You forget about touch-ups. If it’s in your budget, consider having the stylist stay after the ceremony and throughout the evening to do touch-ups to your hair—or even give you a completely different look. If the expense is too high, ask the stylist for tips on how to touch up your own hair during the reception.

8. You forget about the dress. Your hair should always complement your gown. Select your gown first and then decide on the hairstyle with your stylist.

9. You think short hair is your only option. If your cute bob doesn’t jive with your dream of having long locks on the big day, ask your stylist for extensions. This temporary fix can be a perfect solution.

10. You forget about the groom. Although you’ll be the focus of the big day, you will want his hair to look just as good. Make sure the groom gets a good haircut a week before the wedding. 

How to lose a few pounds before the big day

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If you’re not particularly thrilled with your body, you’ve probably been dieting as your wedding day approaches in an attempt to reach your desired weight before the walk down the aisle.  Many brides do this but find that they are lacking a few pounds a week or so before the wedding.  If this sounds familiar, here are some important wedding tips to lose those last pounds. 

Eat More Often
Wow – didn’t know it would be so easy, did you?  That’s right.  If you want to lose those last pounds before your wedding day, eat more often but eat much smaller portions.  By doing this, you will be giving your digestive system a break as well as speeding up your metabolism.  As your metabolism kicks into overdrive, you will burn more fat and calories – and lose more weight.

Drink More Water
Another important thing that will help you lose those last pounds is drinking more water.  Most experts recommend that you drink 8 glasses of water each day.  Not only does this help you feel full for a longer period of time, but it aids the body in the natural fat and calorie burning process. 

If you find it difficult to drink so much water each day, there are a few different things you can do.  Go to bed after drinking 4 ounces of water and drink 4 more when you wake up.  This is one glass gone – only 7 more to go.  If you don’t like the taste of water, slip a wedge of lemon in to create a more palatable drink.

Cardio Exercise
Don’t neglect your exercise as you try to lose those last pounds.  Anything that gets your heart pumping and makes you break a sweat is an excellent exercise to do.  For instance, jumping rope, skating, dancing and even jogging can help you lose those last pounds.  While most people aren’t overly fond of exercise, doing it regularly will boost your energy and even your sense of well-being!  Exercise each day for about a half an hour to forty-five minutes at a time.

Skip the Sugar
In the last week before the wedding, don’t indulge in processed sugar at all.  Instead, fill your rumbling tummy with fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans and lean meat.  This will help get rid of those last stubborn pounds and you may notice that you feel a lot better too!  These foods are great for your health and provide important nutrients and vitamins.

By following the tips above, you can lose those last pounds and feel beautiful and confident in your wedding dress.

How to include your Mum in the ceremony

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Mums teach us a lot. They’re by our sides through thick and thin, and, with any luck, have been the major helping hand in many of life’s biggest moments like planning a wedding. Sometimes it seems near impossible to pay Mum back for all her love and support, but she is your Mum. And because she’s your Mum, we guarantee she’ll be as pleased as punch from even the smallest of gestures. 

1. Have her walk you down the aisle!

Don’t think you need to find a male replacement for that Moment if Dad’s no longer in your life then the perfect choice will be your Mum, or if Dad is still around why not have both parents walking you down the aisle?

2. Give her a flower before the altar. 

Dad still doing the giving away? Take a Moment before you step onto the altar to give your mother a flower from your bouquet. Purposefully singling her out right before you say your vows will show her (and everyone in attendance) how crucial her support has been in getting you there. The gesture will become even more special if you tuck one of her favourite blooms into your bouquet and present her with that. 

3. Set aside a space dedicated to her memory. 

If your mother has since passed, place a framed photo of her and her favourite flowers on the chair where she would have sat.

4. Include Mum in the getting ready fun. 

Book her a seat next to yours while you and your bridesmaids are getting your hair and makeup done. Involving her in this girls-only tradition will let her know that you see her as a friend and confidant, which is the ultimate compliment.

5. Recreate a moment from her wedding day. 

Sort through Mum’s wedding pics and select a photo you find particularly striking. Surprise her by bringing the shot to your wedding and recreating the pose with your photographer—we guarantee she’ll be touched by the gesture.  

Ideas for beautiful wedding venues

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Choosing a wedding venue is almost always on the top of a couple’s ‘to do’ list.  This is the place that you will remember forever, it is the place where you will kiss your new husband/wife for the first time, it is the place where you will take your children and your grand-children back to, all to show them where you had the happiest day of your life. 

So a wedding venue needs to be characterful with its own qualities that make it desirable for a couple, but it must also to be enough of a blank canvas that a couple can put their own stamp on it.

Kew Gardens is a beautiful venue.  There are a number of beautiful and completely different areas within the venue of Kew Garden, that offer endless possibilities for the big day

There is the cosy Cambridge Cottage that can hold up to 80 guests for both ceremony and wedding reception.  The Cottage is a former royal residence and has a clean and fresh décor, which allows the Bride and Groom to choose any particular colour to use throughout the wedding, happily knowing that it will not clash with anything will always look perfect.  The cottage is steeped in traditional horticulture with floral pictures on the walls, which some couples do like to combine with their own ideas; using very bright and expressive flowers to decorate the venue, or use flower names as table names.

With entertainment, the light and elegant tone of Cambridge Cottage lends itself perfectly to string instruments, particular the harp or string quartet for a ceremony or reception.  The cottage backs on to the gardens and the sound of a string quartet drifting through the air could not be more perfect for a warm, summer wedding.

For the evening, the intimacy of Cambridge Cottage means that either a 4-piece band or a DJ works really well and creates a flawless party atmosphere.

Within the Grounds of the Gardens there are also the 3 beautiful Conservatories – The Nash Conservatory is a nineteenth century glasshouse that has started being used for Civil Ceremonies this year and can hold up to 200 guests.  The Nash Conservatory is used in conjunction with The Orangery, which is available for evening hire for up to 400 guests for a cocktail reception

The Princess of Wales Conservatory can either be used by itself as a cocktail reception venue for up to 250 guests or in combination with The Orangery or Cambridge Cottage, as a venue for pre or post dinner drinks.  The Conservatory itself was commissioned in 1982 and was named after Princess Augusta, the founder of Kew.  Opened in 1987 by Diana, Princess of Wales, the Princess of Wales Conservatory is the most complex glasshouse at Kew, containing ten computer-controlled climatic zones, which only adds to this completely unique and interesting venue.

So with more than a few options for Weddings and Civil Ceremonies, it’s a great place to suggest wedding entertainment for – so many different acts work in the different spaces that the possibilities are endless.

An unforgettable day

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What evening reception would be complete without a party function band or DJ? Rock and Pop bands are by far the most popular choices, with soul, disco, and salsa offering something a little different.

DJ’s are a good solution if a band is out of your budget but are also often booked as well as a band to fill in the gaps between the bands performances. Also, ask if the band themselves can DJ in between sets as this is very often possible. 

Don’t just stop at wedding music though as all manner of wedding entertainment can be arranged. From top illusionists that will entertain your guests while they mingle, to traditional dancers and stage hypnotists, there’s no end to the fun that are there for the taking.

Whether your special day is a small registry celebration, or a large church gathering or a more personal non-religious ceremony, start as you mean to go on, by making the first day of the rest of your lives the best day of your lives.

Whatever your budget make it a day to remember

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Whether your special day is a small registry celebration, a large church gathering or a more personal, non-religious ceremony, start as you mean to go on by making the first day of the rest of your lives the best day of your lives.  

For a truly unforgettable day Wedding Branch will fulfil all your musical requirements with the pick of the country’s coolest party bands for a swinging evening reception, or perhaps a jazz band or swing band or classical music artists to provide background entertainment during the meal or the signing of the register. 

Starting with the wedding ceremony, a piper is traditional to play the bride in and out of the church. A string quartet or harpist are common choices to provide a beautiful musical backdrop during the wedding ceremony and immediately afterwards whilst photos are taken.

A jazz or swing band is an ideal choice to provide light background music during the afternoon reception, helping to settle guests and create an exciting atmosphere. It is also quite common for the string quartet from your ceremony to continue playing during the afternoon reception.

And what evening reception would be complete without a party function band or DJ? Pop bands are by far the most popular choices, with soul, disco and salsa offering something a little different.

DJ’s are a cost effective solution if a band is out of your budget but are also often booked as well as a band to fill in the gaps between the bands performances. Also, ask if the band themselves can DJ in between sets as this is very often possible.  

Don’t just stop at wedding music though as all manner of wedding entertainment can be arranged. From top caricaturist and illusionists to entertain your guests while they mingle, to traditional ballet dancers and stage hypnotists, there’s no end to the fun that can we can arrange for you.

What to do for your engagement

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Your engagement is a promise to marriage as well as the period of time between the proposal and your marriage. During your engagement you are said to be affianced, betrothed, engaged to be married, or simply engaged. Future brides and bridegrooms are often referred to as fiancées or fiancés respectively (from the French word fiancé).

Long engagements were once common in formal arranged marriages and it was not uncommon for parents betrothing children to arrange such many years before the engaged couple were old enough to marry. 

Engagement parties.

Some engagements are announced at an engagement party, traditionally hosted by the bride’s parents. These parties are given in the family’s usual style of entertainment. Traditionally, engagement parties were normal parties at which a surprise announcement of the engagement was made by the father of the bride to his guests. Therefore, it is not a traditional gift-giving occasion, as none of the guests were supposed to be aware of the engagement until after their arrival. 

In modern times, engagement parties often celebrate a previously publicized engagement.

Because it’s often the case that many guests don’t know each other very well, it’s important to ensure you have plenty of ‘ice breakers’. When two families are coming together for the first time it can be a nerve racking experience and so the more you can put guests at ease the better. 

Think about a magician or a caricaturist or maybe even a pianist to play light background music whilst guests arrive & chat. 

If you have space, then try a jazz band who could play up tempo lively music to keep spirits high and feet tapping whilst you great guests and show off your engagement ring! 

Ensure the drinks are flowing throughout the party and in no time the two families will be getting to know each other and soaking up the party atmosphere. 

Party themes…  

If you got engaged in an interesting location, you might like to theme your engagement party to suit. Hawaiian or beach themes are relatively easy to put together, as are New York, Las Vegas, Mexican, Australian themes etc.  

No party is complete without live music so if your budget can stretch to a party function band it will be a sound investment towards ensuring the success of your big night.  

It’s important to consider the age range of the guests who will be attending your party as grandparents, although actually some of the ‘most-likely-to-dance’ members of the party might not be quite so keen on hard rock or gangster rap.

A handy 12-month planner

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The perfect Wedding needs planning and we thought that this 12-month handy wedding planner maybe just the job to ensure you are organised for the big day;

12 months to go…

Have the budget conversation with your fiancé and your parents?

Fix a date and time
Decide on guest numbers
Visit reception venues and book one as soon as possible
Buy wedding insurance

11 months to go…

Send save-the-dates

Book your wedding photographer and videographer (Make sure the church or wedding venue allows photos and videos to be shot!)
Book the caterer, DJ and/or band
Make appointments to try on wedding dresses

10 months to go…

Choose your guests – bridesmaids, ushers and best man etc.
Decide on your dress (allow at least six months for a made-to-measure dress to be delivered)
Choose and order your bridesmaid’s outfits.
Start thinking about a honeymoon, including the costs, season and flights

9 months to go…

Find a wedding florist and discuss your flowers, including buttonholes, bouquets and arrangements for the church and reception venue
Taste and confirm your menu and drinks with your caterer
Choose and order your bridesmaid outfits

8 months to go…

If you’re getting married in a church, discuss readings with the minister or priest and music with the musicians
If it’s a civil ceremony, enquire about what readings and music are permitted
Order invitations and envelopes (allow one invitation per married couple or family), plus place cards, menus and a seating plan

7 months to go…

Book transport to the wedding venue and on to the reception for you and your bridal party (as well as a car to take you to your first-night hotel or the airport)

Order your wedding cake

Choose and order wedding favours

6 months to go…

Remind your fiancé to get his and the usher’s outfits
Choose gifts for the wedding party
Pick your wedding rings
Confirm the order of service with your priest or registrar, and then have guest booklets printed. If you have a choir, they need copies, too

5 months to go…

Go honeymoon shopping (Remember summer clothes aren’t easy to find in the winter and vice versa!)
Book a hairdresser and style consultation (do this earlier if you’re planning to grow your hair)
Book your make-up artist and trial appointments

4 months to go…

If you’re changing your name, renew your passport now or do it after you have your honeymoon. The officiating minister or registrar will sign the form
Find out if you need visas or inoculations for your honeymoon.
Discuss hen and stag night plans with your friends.

3 months to go…

Pick a company and start gift-list window shopping!
Book for a colour (if you get your hair coloured) and a trim
Organise a rehearsal and inform those who will need to be there
Attend a reading of the banns, if you’ll marry in a church

2 months to go…

Send out invitations six weeks before the day and keep a list of acceptances
Check that your fiancé has organised the rings, his wedding clothes, and your first-night hotel
Try on your whole wedding outfit, including headdress, shoes and underwear. Forgotten anything? Get it!
Book any other beauty treatments (nails, fake tans, etc.)

1 month to go…

Confirm numbers with caterers and do the seating plan
Discuss special requests with your band or DJ
Order honeymoon currency and traveller’s cheques
Visit the hairdresser to try out hairstyles with your veil and tiara, and have your final cut and colour
Have your hen and stag nights – after all that running around, it’s time to party!

Wedding venue personal to you

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With so much pressure to make the right decision, how does a bride make up her mind? We asked some newlyweds and brides to be to share how they made their choice to shed a little light on this planning selection. These answers which may inspire you:

“We visited our venue on a holiday before we got engaged and we both said, ‘That’s the place we want to get married.’ We got engaged there and now we’re marrying there next September!”
“We picked an area where we had our first kiss and it held so many sentimental memories for us too, we just had to get married in a place that meant so much to us”
“I picked a place that was not only cost-efficient, but when I went to see it, I knew that it was unique and I had it have it. I love my wedding venue and I absolutely can’t wait to get married there!”
“We wanted ceremony and reception in the same location, so we saw a few venues, but nothing said ‘us’ that was a romantic setting until we saw our venue. It’s perfect and I can’t wait to get married there. It’s my happy place, we both love it.”
“We must’ve seen over 40 wedding venues. We choose Disney because we fell in love with it! And, well we got some pretty amazing pictures.”
“My grandparents’ garden where I had pretty much grown up. It had so many memories and sentimental reasons to have my wedding where I grew up and learned so much.”

We hope that some of these ideas have inspired you to find your perfect wedding venue, just make it personal, after all this is a special day which you will want to remember for the right reasons!!