How to avoid any in-law trouble

The date has been confirmed, and almost instantaneously, your neatly arrange personal wedding planner is bunged with dress appointments, wedding fair flyers and Wedding cakes sampling sessions. Yet in the midst of all this creative carnage, there may be a few VIPs left feeling a tad isolated… the in-laws.
It’s so easy to forget that there’s an entire family unit (equally important as your own) that may be completely oblivious to the upcoming wedding plans; and although many in-laws are perfectly happy with this scenario for others, it can lead to feelings of rejection and sometimes even resentment if they don’t feel the same level of involvement.

Out of nowhere tensions rise and emotions flare as you’re left wondering why you’ve been lumbered with such a treacherous display of family feuding. Is this a tiny glimpse of what to expect during married life? A moody mother-in-law offloading her dismay to anyone who’ll listen? Or worse still, comparing you to her other daughter-in-law who is seen as the definition of perfection.

Family planning

As we all know, a wedding day isn’t just about the Wedding Dress and elaborate selfies. It’s a time when two families become one, so make them feel that way before the big day. Organising fun family get-togethers can be a great way of helping everyone bond, relax and feel included. It’s always a good idea to start off with a neutral environment such as trying out a new restaurant together. If all goes well, keep up the momentum with joint barbeques, birthdays and regular catch-ups.

Dress it up

Inviting both mums along to help you pick a dress is a great way of making everyone feel extra special, particularly if your mother-in-law has no little girls of her own to coo over. However, if this seems a little too invasive then why not ask for her help with choosing the bridesmaids dress or accessories? It will really help in making her feel a big part of the leading ladies.

Don’t forget Daddy

Seeing as many grooms enjoy mulling over the manly aspects of wedding planning such as choosing wedding cars, then why not encourage your future hubby to invite his dad along for the day? The two men can spend an entire afternoon bonding over some vintage vehicles, maybe grab some grub and have a good old father-son catch up.

Talent spotting

If your groom’s dad is a whizz in the kitchen or his mum’s an expert in arts and crafts, you have the perfect opportunity to include their input for the important finishing touches such as making little edible favours or creating artistic centre pieces for the guest tables. You’ll be amazing at how thrilled they’ll be to show off their creative skills!

Keep in touch

Why not start out with a chirpy text message or email? At least they’ll know you’re thinking about them and aren’t as likely to feel completely left out of the loop.

Being able to build and maintain healthy relationships is something we all struggle with at the best of times, however regular communication can help avoid many unwanted feelings of exclusion. As they say, prevention is better than a cure.

Winter Wedding

So you’ve decided to tie the knot in winter, congratulations! Whether you’ve chosen it because it’s a fantastically festive time or so you can spend sensibly on wedding suppliers, you likely still have a few concerns.

Snow, chilly temperatures and red noses are all possible, so here’s your three-step winter wedding survival guide for an effortless and beautiful big day.

For you

  • Remember to purchase faux-fur wraps for you (and don’t forget your bridesmaids!) to keep the chill off. You’ll probably be outdoors at least for the photographs, and these fashionable wraps will make sure you’re cosy enough to enjoy them!

  • Tissues and makeup top ups will be your handbag essentials. Red noses and rosy cheeks might be commonplace in the colder weather, but you don’t want them colouring all your wedding photos. Reapply makeup regularly over any redder spots to keep your complexion picture perfect. These winter hair and beauty tips will be your best friend.

  • The colder weather, more muted colours and darker days will all benefit from a bit of brightening up. Choose sparkly embellishments on your dress and accessories to reflect the light and add some wintery charm.

  • On a more practical note, make sure you’ve got colour co-ordinated brollies and wellies on hand. If it’s wet or it snows, you’ll be perfectly prepared to stun in your photos still without getting soggy feet!

    For your guests

  • We all know and love the flip flop basket at weddings for comfy feet, but for winter weddings we recommend adding a blanket basket, too. Add a chalkboard sign encouraging guests to help themselves to make sure everyone stays suitably toasty.

  • Your wedding food can also help by offering winter warmer canapés and drinks. Think hot canapés like miniature fish and chips or steak and chip skewers as well as hot chocolate, mulled wine and s’mores galore.

    For your reception decor

  • Red, white and green, ice cool blues, glittering golds and ivory – whatever winter wedding styling you choose, decide whether you want warming tones or to celebrate the season’s iciness. Stick to one idea throughout for a cohesive reception style.

  • The days draw in quickly in the winter, so you’ll have more hours of darkness than a summertime wedding. This makes lighting an essential part of the winter wedding survival guide. Even if you’ll be embracing the atmospheric glow, ensure there are plenty of candles, fairy lights or alternative lighting available. This is also a great time of year to include fireworks or sparklers at your wedding because you won’t have to wait so long into the evening to do so.

Get your dream day for less

A is for Asking for help

Clever couples know that accepting the help of loved ones will save them a heap of cash. From making your wedding cake to helping put together the favours, use your friends’ and family’s skills.

B is for Bartering

If you don’t ask, you won’t get! When it comes to buying your wedding flowers, details and even booking your venue, there are always negotiations to be made. Can your venue throw in free corkage? Or perhaps your tailor made suits can get a discount for buying in bulk? Don’t be shy – it’s always worth an ask.

C is for Cocktails

For a cheap-but-chic drinks reception, ditch traditional bubbly and serve pitchers of your own bespoke cocktail. Give them a romantic name, too, like ‘Marital Bliss’ or ‘Love Struck’. Adding fruit juice makes pricier alcohol go a long way.

D is for DIY

Crafty brides will not only make their day personal and unique but also save a bundle, too. Make your own stationery, cake, wedding bouquets, hanging decorations and even set up a photobooth – it can be a really fun party of the planning process and the cost of materials will be less than ordering from a professional. Just make sure you don’t take on too much at once, or you could run out of time!

E is for Excel

Budget spreadsheets are an absolute must when planning your wedding. You must keep on top of your finances, and ensure you are going to meet all the payment deadlines.

F is for Flog it!

Increase your bank balance and wedding fund by having a mass clear out. Take all your things to a car boot sale or jumble sale and put every penny you make into the wedding piggy bank.

G is for Games

For great wedding entertainment or a small budget, hire lawn games such as giant Jenga, croquet or even a bouncy castle! It will go down well with all your guests… especially after a few cocktails!

H is for Honeymoon research

Do your research before you book your honeymoon. There are plenty of websites out there that showcase the very best packages, deals and last-minute offers. The later you leave booking the better price you’ll get on your trip.

I is for Imagination

Think outside the box. No cash for table centres? Display your favours on retro cake stands. Ghastly entrance? Use white drapes to cover any eyesores.

J is for Join our forum

You’ll find top saving tips and advice from other brides-to-be on a Wedding ideas forum, as well as get the opportunity to buy their wedding dress second hand.

K is for Keep to the plan

When you’ve set your budget, it’s very easy to be tempted to buy the odd little extra here and there, but these details soon add up. Make sure you stick to the plan and get only what you need.

L is for lists

To-do lists are an absolute must. With so many suppliers to deal with and details to buy, don’t leave it to chance that you’ll remember everything. There’s something quite satisfying about ticking things off as you go.

M is for Music

Every wedding needs good wedding  music to get the party going – but if a DJ is out of your price range, ask a budding rockstar friend to do a live set as their wedding gift to you.

N is for Nature

What better inspiration for your big day than the great outdoors? Hand pick flowers from your garden for your table centres, use pine cones as place card holders or fruit as favours.

O is for Old treasures

Rummage around in your cupboards and attic for old toys and treats that could be used at your wedding. Maybe an old birdcage could be painted and used for decoration, an old suitcase could be scrubbed up and used to hold the gift cards, or an old camera could be used to take old-fashioned photobooth snaps.

P is for Pom Poms

Easily made using sheets of tissue paper (the internet is packed with ‘how to’ guides), pom poms look fantastic hanging above your tables, outdoors or from the beams of your marquee, so rustle up style for pence rather than pounds.

Q is for Quality not Quantity not quantity

Don’t feel that you have to buy everything that has the word ‘wedding’ next to it. Be selective about what you buy and your wedding will look spectacular.

R is for Recommendations

If you’re at the age where all your friends and family seem to be getting engaged or married, take their advice! Ask them about the best value-for-money suppliers they’ve dealt with.

S is for Savvy shopping

Is there a Blue Cross sale on next weekend? What about the January sales? Can you get a discount at the National Wedding Show? Hold fire on buying finishing touches until the end of season sales.

T is for Tough love

One of the biggest costs per head is the guest list. Don’t be afraid to cut distant family members and friends that come in and out of your life. It’s the toughest job, but it will save you the most money in the long run.

U is for Unpopular dates

From a Monday or Tuesday through to Friday 13th, if it isn’t on a regular weekend, it will inevitably be cheaper. Don’t be afraid to negotiate when booking your venue – they’ll probably bite your hand off!

V is for VAT

You may think you’re getting a bargain, but often the price you see in front of you is minus tax. When this gets added in, it can all seem a lot more expensive. Make sure you check what’s included in the price before you set your heart on anything.

W is for Win

There are literally thousands of wedding-related competitions out there, so enter them all! You never know, you may land your dream honeymoon, decorations or accessories without spending a penny!

X is for X marks the spot

Entertaining children at a wedding is an added expense you could do without. Why not set up treasure hunt for them? It’ll keep them occupied for hours!

Y is for Your day, your way

There’s no point in buying those shoes just because your mum thinks they’re perfect for you. Spend your budget how you see fit, and don’t waste it!

Z is for Zero percent

You should always protect yourself when buying things for your wedding. Use a credit card with 0% APR or maybe choose a bank that gives you cash back the more you spend.

How to pay for your wedding

With the average cost of a wedding now reaching the dizzying heights of £21,000, big days are demanding big budgets to match, and many couples are left wondering how on earth they will finance their fairytale day…

Times change

Traditionally the task fell to fathers of the bride who would foot the bill for their daughter’s wedding, a spinoff custom from dowries of the past. While news that this tradition has had its day will garner a sigh of relief from your father, it does mean that there’s more to manage for you as a couple instead. Brace yourselves!

Budget first

Gather quotes from key wedding suppliers like wedding venues, wedding flowers and wedding photographers, as well as a ballpark figure for your dress (don’t forget the alterations!), and you can begin to work out a wedding budget.

 

Factor in breathing space for unexpected extras, then divide the total cost by the amount you can afford to save each month. This will give you the number of months it’ll take to save up enough to pay for your wedding, so you’ll know when you can afford to set the date for.

 

A lot of brides will tell you that doing the sums and making the spreadsheet is the easy part – sticking to it is much harder, but stick to it you must! It is possible, though, as these five couples prove with their own tips to avoid blowing your budget.

 

Family matters

 

By starting out with a wedding budget that you can afford yourselves, you needn’t stress so much about how much others might be able to help you, if at all. While fathers no longer have to fork out for everything, many parents still like to contribute in some way. Be aware that this won’t always come as a direct offer of money – your mother might offer to buy your dress; your in-laws might give you a free bar for the evening, or your aunt might make your wedding cake.

 

Just because one set of parents paid one amount doesn’t mean the others should do too – indeed, there is no requirement for families to contribute at all. Be grateful for whatever you may receive and treat it as a bonus rather than an expectation. Everyone’s circumstances, timings and wishes will likely be different.

Something borrowed

If you’ve drawn up a budget but are unable to finance it yourselves, try reining in your spending in the areas less essential to you. You can also use these tips to have your dream day for less.

Failing that, there is the option to borrow money to fund your wedding. Do so with caution: will you really want to be paying for your big day months, possibly even years, later? Remember that the interest will only make your costs climb further.

 

It’s a personal decision that should be made only after careful consideration, so take the time to mull your options over. An alternative you could try is to set up your gift list as a wedding fund and have guests contribute in place of giving presents on the day.

Embrace a 20’s Wedding theme

The Roaring 20s are a big one. This decade is full of Big Band Jazz, Art Deco visuals, and intricately adorned ensembles. Here are some ideas for your 1920’s Wedding theme:

  • For a 1920s theme, a classic palette of black, white and gold is easy to achieve and truly timeless and elegant. For the bride, we love the look of a trumpet-style gown.

  • Bridesmaids can be styled in simple LBDs with the addition of headpieces or fascinators, and the groomsmen will look dashing in classic black tuxedos.

  • Champagne towers are making a comeback, especially in Roaring 20s-inspired celebrations. We adore the look of sophisticated black and white striped linens.

  • For brides preferring something a little more colourful, jewel tones are the way to go! Think of the rich shades of a peacock feather for inspiration.

  • ​With vintage ​wedding cars you can show up in style and use this classic as a prop in your wedding photos.

  • ​For wedding entertainment, try a unique performer like a Charlie Chaplin impersonator. With a comedic 20s era presence, Charlie can make your guests feel like they’ve travelled to a time of satire and silent films.

  • ​For your wedding photos, ask your wedding photographer about vintage overlay options for development. Your big day will be captured with a nostalgic 1920s look.

We wish you a happy marriage and roaring celebration!

Packing for your Honeymoon

After you’ve said “I do,” you can finally stop stressing out about place settings, wardrobe mishaps, invitations, and everything else related to planning your wedding, and you can focus on relaxing a bit. We’re talking, of course, about your honeymoon!

1) Cameras, Chargers, Memory Cards, and Batteries

You’re going to want to take no fewer than a million photos, so make sure you bring everything you need to make sure you can. Along with your camera (or phone camera), you’ll want to make sure you have all of the components and accessories that it requires, like charging cables, memory cards, batteries, and the case so that it stays safe when you’re not using it.

2) First and Last Day Outfits, Plus More

Chances are you’ll take the most photos on the first and last full days of your honeymoon, so plan to bring outfits special for the occasions. Whether it’s a fancy dinner, a night of dancing, or a highly anticipated show that you’re doing, plan to wear something that you absolutely love and that looks great on you. Past that, you’ll want to make sure you bring a variety of outfits to choose from depending on your plans. Make sure you have swimsuits or warm jackets (depending on your destination!), something for upscale locales, and perhaps most importantly, comfortable shoes that you can walk in for hours to sightsee.

3) Backup Plans for Itinerary Interruptions

Even if you’re the type of couple who prefers spontaneity on vacation, you’ve probably got some things you definitely want to do during your trip. Unfortunately, we all know that even the best-laid plans can fall through, so it might not be a bad idea to come up with a few backup plans just in case. For instance, if the special restaurant you really wanted to see doesn’t have a reservation or is unexpectedly closed, or the weather is bad on the day you wanted to take surfing lessons, you’ll want to make sure you have something else to fall back on lest you have to scramble to come up with a last-minute activity.

4) Luggage with Enough Room for Souvenirs

No matter where you vacation, you’ll probably end up picking up some mementos to bring back home either to remember your trip or to give as gifts to loved ones. When it comes time to fly home, it can be a real let-down to realize that all of your things won’t fit in the bags you brought, and you’ll have to decide whether to leave things behind or find an emergency second bag, which you’ll probably have to check at the airport (which can be costly, depending on the airline). Make sure that you either pack light enough that there’s some room left over or that your bag is big enough to accommodate all the things you want to bring and then some.

5) To Enjoy the Moment and Be Present

This one’s intangible, but when you’re on your honeymoon, it’s important to remember to really relax and enjoy yourselves. That means letting your work emails go unanswered (even if you have to force yourself not to check or take it off of your phone for the duration of the trip), unplugging from social media (it’s okay to post a picture here and there, but make sure you’re not spending your whole trip trying to snap the most Instagram-able shots. Take the opportunity to really connect with your new spouse and enjoy your time alone together!

How to choose your wedding party

1. Think about your overall event size. If you’re having a 25-person or less wedding, having a large wedding party would just be awkward. Scale down your party in accordance with your event size.

2. Are you having a formal or casual wedding? For the most part, casual weddings are more suited to smaller wedding parties, where formal weddings can support a larger one.

3. Try to keep it balanced. While it’s perfectly fine to have more women than men (or vice versa) in your wedding party, do your best to keep it close to balanced so it doesn’t look odd in photos. If you find yourself with a large difference, consider narrowing down your wedding party to just one or two on each side to keep it under control.

4. Start with siblings. Especially if you’re having a small wedding party, invite siblings before you invite friends. Your family has always and will always be a part of your lives, so they should come first.

5. Consider their circumstances. Being in a wedding party requires a significant investment of time and money. Make sure that your invitation to serve as a wedding attendant won’t be a hardship on anyone.

6. Remember there are other ways to honour people. If you have a lot of people you want to stand up for you at your wedding but there isn’t room in the wedding party, consider inviting people to serve as ushers, guest book attendants, gift collectors, speakers, singers, or other important roles on your special day instead.

7. Pick people you can rely on. Your wedding party is meant to include people who do more than just stand beside you and smile for pictures. You’ll need to rely on them for any number of things before and during the wedding. Choose your party accordingly.

8. Consider how long you’ve known them. Once you’ve asked your family, it’s time to consider which friends you’d like to ask to stand up for you. I recommend beginning with the friends you’ve known the longest, the ones who have been there with you through thick or thin. Those are the friends who are most likely to help you out when you need it, and who will remain a part of your life after the wedding.

These are our quick tips on choosing your wedding party, but the fact is, there aren’t any hard and fast rules. Do what works best for you and your wedding.

Top tips for a relaxing Wedding day

You’ve spent tireless hours planning, crafting, revelling, and swooning over your wedding and the fact that you get to marry the person of your dreams. But guess what? When your wedding day finally arrives, all of your plans are going to be set in motion, and it is time for you to sit back and enjoy! Sadly, not everyone gets to do this for one reason or another… but if you adhere to the following things, you WILL get to fully enjoy the entire experience of your wedding day:

1. Limit your activities on the morning of your wedding.

Want to get a morning session of yoga in? Get in your workout? Great. But don’t plan an activity that doesn’t fall within your normal routine. You don’t want to end up sore from a 7-mile bike ride that you wouldn’t normally do on any other day. Or you don’t want be late for the rest of your day because you decided to go get pedicures on your wedding day. Getting ready on your wedding day will take time, so enjoy it. There is also no need to add any stress of completing tasks before the wedding, so make sure you have all your projects done! Be smart and be reasonable with yourself and make sure you’re not overdoing anything.

2. Eat and stay hydrated.

Seems like a no brainer but not eating and drinking water can ruin your wedding day. Staying hydrated will help your skin glow in your pictures. And in case you need US to mention the obvious… staying hydrated will also hopefully prevent you from over-drinking and getting sloppy from too much Champagne in the morning!

3. Turn off your phone.

Or at least only answer your planner’s calls. Live in the moment. Your wedding day will pass by so fast- you don’t want to regret spending it on your phone. Plus, if you’ve hired someone to help manage your day, there is no reason you need to be directing people or making calls on what needs to get done. Direct everyone to your hired wedding planner, but also friends and family- so you can enjoy your wedding day!

4. Trust your vendors.

You spend tireless time researching, vetting, studying, interviewing, and choosing your vendors. So you should definitely feel confident in them by now. You have been working with them side-by-side to plan this big day, so why stop trusting that they will do the best job for you on your wedding day? Give them space and have confidence they’ll handle everything for you. Especially your wedding planner. She is there to represent you and will do just that, but you have to trust she’s got it covered! Intervening and not allowing her to do her job creates confusion, chaos, and wastes precious time! You hired your planner (and all your other vendors) for a reason – remember that. Also, if there is a vendor who you feel like isn’t on par, discuss it with your planner and she can handle it for you. The whole goal is to not have to worry about anything, right?

So with all of this said… RELAX! Your wedding day will go smoothly with your team of highly experienced professionals. No need to worry about the tablecloth colour or whether it will rain.

Royal venues

Located in the heart of Kensington Gardens, 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 wedding 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 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 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.

A small but perfectly formed royal palace, Kew Palace is a Grade I listed property was once the home of Georgian royalty and can host up to 40 people for your wedding day. The palace is wonderfully picturesque and comes complete with the Queen’s Garden, an area laid out in a 17th century style, where only plants and herbs known in that time period are grown. Adjacent to the palace are the Royal Kitchens, which are suitable for dinner and a drinks reception. The former is particularly enticing for couples who adore history; your guests will dine whilst admiring the original scullery, bakery, silver room and cold store.

Cambridge Cottage

The former royal residence of the Duke of Cambridge (no, not that one), Cambridge Cottage became a part of Kew Gardens in 1904. The building is suitable for civil ceremonies and dining, with a stunning drawing room and gallery spaces, where botanical artwork adorns the walls. Both of these rooms open out onto the Duke’s Garden a brilliant choice for wedding photographs or outdoor drinks.

Nash Conservatory

The Nash Conservatory is the oldest of the 19th century glasshouses at Kew and is of major historical and architectural importance. It didn’t actually begin life at Kew; the building was originally built in the grounds of Buckingham Palace before being move brick by brick to Kew Gardens in 1836! Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, the building is served by an abundance of natural light and can hold up to 200 guests, depending on your requirements.

Princess of Wales Conservatory

A unique drinks reception venue for your wedding, the Princess of Wales Conservatory is the most complex glasshouse at Kew Gardens. Containing ten computer-controlled climatic zones, up to 200 guests are able to enjoy drinks and canapés whilst admiring the botanical wonders nearby. Will they be able to find the rare orchids or Chinese Water Dragons? A short stroll from the other Kew Venues, this is a fabulous celebration space for those who love nature!

Orangery

Perhaps the most popular venue at Kew from our perspective, the Orangery is a hugely popular building filled with citrus trees, that is just perfect for your wedding dinner and the dance that follows! We’ve provided a whole host of brilliant bands to play in this venue over the years, with the large, open plan design allowing a happy couple to customise the area to their delectation. High ceilings and arched windows help to add natural light to the space with spectacular views of Kew able to be enjoyed from the terrace in the summer months.

Sir Joseph Banks Building

Named after the famed botanist, the Sir Joseph Banks Building is a gorgeous modern wedding venue that can hold a maximum of 230 people and is also home to Kew’s Economic Botany Collection. Often hired in conjunction with the Orangery, the building is licensed for religious ceremonies and sports impressive large windows that provide vast swathes of natural light. Entrance to the venue is provided through the Atrium, which can be used to welcome wedding guests upon their arrival.

History themed weddings

Have you ever visited an incredibly stately home and thought to yourself, “Wow, imagine living there?” Here are the three Historical Royal Palaces in and around London that you might wish to consider.

Hampton Court Palace

King Henry VIII’s residence is certainly one of the most popular stately homes in the country, not least because it has a maze! Who wouldn’t love to have a maze in their back garden? It didn’t exist back in King Henry VIII’s time, but has still been there for over 300 years! But this is your wedding we are talking about so unless you have children attending, you might not be too interested in all that! Hiring Hampton Court Palace offers you a dazzling wedding venue 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. Gorgeous!

Banqueting House

From Little Banqueting House to Big Banqueting House! Hiring Banqueting House for your wedding 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

Located in the heart of Kensington Gardens, 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 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 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.