Tag Archives: preparation

Why not indulge in a Wedstival??

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With the festival season in full swing, we’re thinking beyond music, camping and mud, and looking at the celebrity trend of “Wedstivals!”

While their marriage may not have lasted long, the setters of the latest wedding trend, Russell Brand and Katy Perry began their married life with a lavish THREE-DAY wedding party.

The couple created a long weekend of entertainment in Jodhpur, India for their special guests, who were lucky enough to be able to rest their party feet in five-star tents costing around £600 per night.

Trend setters

Since their lavish wedding in India, lots of celebrity couples have been following in the footsteps of Brand and Perry with notorious festival attendees. Kate Moss and Jamie Hince spent three whole days of partying in marquees that were specially constructed at the rear of the model’s mansion to celebrate their bohemian style wedding.

Hollywood star, Matthew McConaughey hosted his wedding and party to the gorgeous Camila Alves in Austin, Texas, taking the festival theme a bit further but still with a slight lavish touch. Guests were glamping on the grounds of McConaughey’s estate!

With more details about newly engaged Holly Valance and Nick Candy’s wedding festivities comes to light, we now know that one day celebrations are not enough for them either. With wedding invitations worth £300 each and another three-day long wedding, it’s pretty obvious there is no excess for this couple.

Would you plan your wedding to last a whole weekend and keep the party going despite the weather? Is a traditional one-day bash not enough anymore?

Colour Schemes

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A soft yellow and grey colour scheme is a great choice for a spring wedding. These colours will look beautiful in any wedding venue! These fab finds will help you create this delightful theme.

Bright bridesmaids

Dress your maids in pretty yellow dresses with silver details to add a bit of sparkle.

Stunning wedding stationery

Pretty teacups wedding invitations are so sweet and it will give your guest the clue to your colour scheme they will have been waiting for.

Pretty petals

Get your guests involved with you colour scheme on the big day by handing out confetti where you can mix petals to fit your theme, this mix is a lovely combination for your yellow and grey theme.

Amazing accessories

Add a touch of colour to your wedding outfit with this sparkly hair comb, and you can wear it after the wedding too! It’s super glam.

Wonderful wedding cake

Have a beautiful wedding cake with its hand painted flower detail is so pretty and a can also double up as a magnificent centrepiece for your reception.

Fabulous favours

Think of your colour scheme such as a yellow and grey colour scheme.

Flaunt your footwear

Primrose yellow shoes will look gorgeous as a little hint of colour under your dress. Alternatively, if your bridesmaids are wearing pale grey dresses these will complete their outfit perfectly!

With so many combinations of colours it’s sometimes hard to think, you want it to look good and not have any regrets.  We think that in the Spring Yellow and Grey look fab and even the gentlemen guests won’t mind wearing a bit of Yellow and Grey!!!

An Introduction to Wedding Fitness

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It’s no surprise that brides often feel a crazy amount of pressure to look good on their wedding day. Not only is there the worry of fitting into your dream wedding dress, but an endless amount of pictures will also be snapped over the course of the day.

Unsurprisingly, over 90% of brides hope to shed extra pounds before getting married. However, perhaps more shockingly, as many as one in three will resort to crash dieting in an extreme bid to get their ideal bridal body.

The good news is that crash dieting is completely unnecessary – which is great seeing as it has no benefit to your overall health and is unlikely to give you the results you want anyway.

When Should I Start My Fitness Regime?

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to when you should start your wedding fitness regime. It really does depend on your starting point and how much weight you want to lose. The sooner you start the better. Don’t wait until the last minute to try and lose weight and then expect miracles.

You should be thinking about your diet and exercise plan as soon as you start your wedding planning, so that you don’t end up resorting to a crash diet in a bid to lose pounds at the last minute. Ideally you should aim to reach your weight loss goal within 4 weeks of your wedding, in time for the final dress fittings. That way you’ll be able to focus more on the finishing touches of the wedding planning rather than worrying about fitting into your dream dress.

Set Yourself Short Term Goals

Make sure you take regular exercise over the first four to six weeks for general fitness, then start to target specific areas such as your stomach, thighs and bottom. Keeping a fitness diary will also monitor your progress and help you to feel good about your achievements.

What if I’m Short on Time?

Finding the right kind of exercise regime to suit your needs and schedule can vary from a brisk walk to a full workout in the gym or an exercise video that you found online.

If you have a demanding work and life schedule that rarely allows you to fit exercise in, then try to make lifestyle swaps wherever you can. For example, ditch the car and walk to work or the shops and try to take the stairs instead of the lift – even just taking up small exercises like this will help you keep trim.

High intensity interval training (known as HIIT for short) is great for a busy bride. This consists of short bursts of intense exercise mixed in with small rests, which could benefit you more than a long session in the gym.

You need to start sweating and exercising alongside a healthy diet to make great changes to your body but this doesn’t mean that you need to spend hours on a treadmill.

Above all, have fun and don’t beat yourself up if it takes a while to get the results you want. Getting fit and losing weight healthily takes time, but stick with it and you’ll feel fabulous inside and out when you finally get into that wedding dress. 

Are you planning a beach wedding?

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Once you find the perfect wedding dress and booked an amazing seaside wedding venue, you need to start thinking about your look. 

What constitutes beachy wedding hair for you? Braids, texture with waves. A fresh unstructured playful look.

What should a bride do if she’s marrying on a beach in a humid climate and is prone to frizzy hair?

The best thing to do would be to have braids or twists in the hair, or have the hair pulled back fairly tightly. Always embrace the texture and using salt spray to add to it, perhaps have some braids around your face for some pretty detail and then it doesn’t matter so much if the rest of the hair gets a little frizzy as it adds to the look. You can also use a strong hairspray to seal the hair but it can look quite fixed so although it seals away moisture it may not fit for a relaxed look as much.

What styles work for a breezy beach in the UK and why?

It depends on how warm it is, but if it’s really breezy, a loose chignon of some sort to keep the hair away from the face. A look with loose tendrils and texture would be ideal, nothing too fixed and neat. Then if it isn’t too structured the odd hair being blown about will add to the look and it will not look as though anything is out of place.

How can a bride master boho, beachy waves?

The conical wand is best to create natural looking waves in the hair, and salt spray for adding texture is brilliant. Adding a few fishtail braids woven through or around the face can look very boho; a fine floral crown looks amazing with this style or a few small flowers dotted through the hair also will look beautiful.

What type of wedding hair accessories would you recommend for a beach wedding?

Definitely a flower head crown– Or a few faux flowers dotted through the hair.

Make sure your dancefloor is never empty

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Book a live band

A great wedding band will be experienced and know exactly which music to play to get your guests on the dancefloor, and how to keep them there! There are lots of different styles and sizes of bands to suit all tastes and budgets, making this decision especially difficult. Booking through a reputable wedding directory will help to guarantee great quality, and with our easy booking process, pretty much all eventualities are covered.

Dim the lights

This is extremely important, because you want your guests to feel comfortable and relaxed on the dancefloor. Having bright lights will make them too self-aware so bring the lighting right down. Ideally roving or flashing lighting will create an illusion of a busy dancefloor, which will encourage more guests to join in.

Get your timings right

The biggest mistake many brides and grooms make is for their evening reception is to start the entertainment too early. Your day guests will have just eaten dinner and your evening guests won’t be relaxed (or drunk) enough yet. Don’t be afraid to let everyone ease into the evening rather than rushing through and trying to force a good time – 9pm is usually the ideal time to start your band or disco.

Check your space

You need a dedicated dancefloor space but it can’t be too big or too small for the number of guests you have. A huge dancefloor will intimidate your guests while a tiny dancefloor will give the impression you are not expecting anyone to dance. Another point to remember here is that having the bar in a separate room will take your guests away from the dancefloor, leaving it looking a bit empty and sad.

Be present

As the bride and groom you are the stars of the show and your guests will generally want to be where you are – on the dancefloor having the time of your lives! You can also prepare or recruit some close friends who you know are more confident to be the first ones up and dancing, to help get the party started!

Unique weddings

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Brides across the country are striving to make their wedding unique. Research shows that this is the main cause of anxiety for 53% of couples in Britain planning a wedding. Almost two thirds of couples said that, although their wedding was the best day of their lives, their day lacked distinctiveness. The areas where bride and groom felt they could have added a more personalised touch was through their wedding decorations and what they served to guests.

Save the dates

Create a really unique save the date card by sending a customised beer mat. You can follow this up by sending invites on a personalised label on a beer bottle with details in a scroll inside.

Party favours

You can expand on your save the dates by decorating the tables with colourful beer steins or personalised beer labels. Additionally, visiting a brewery with your husband-to-be makes for a fun pre-wedding event; it can also be a chance to provide guests with a very special, personalised gift.

Welcome reception

A welcome dinner or drinks reception is a great way to break the ice between your out of town guests before the big day. The local pub is a perfect location for this.

Guest welcome packs

Create guides for your guests who are visiting from out of town. Include tips on local pubs and leave it in their hotel rooms. You can also include a local beer as refreshments for the rooms.

Venue

Use dried barley or fresh hops to decorate the wedding venue instead of flowers. You can also use them in your bouquet! For a really rustic feel, you could have your wedding reception in a brewery or a barley field. Another idea is to use vintage beer crates for seating or to sign your vows on an oak barrel.

Seating

Instead of traditional cards, use personalised beer caps or coasters to tell people where they are sitting. An even better idea would be to use actual bottles so that guests can enjoy a drink whilst they find their seats.

Food

Use beer as a main ingredient in meals, such as beer battered fish or steak and ale pies. You can also pair your dishes and canapés with your favourite beers. This way, your guests are introduced to a new beer match with everything they eat! You can also put a twist on a traditional wedding cake by using beer as a key ingredient. For the best of both worlds serve a chocolate wedding cake made with a stout beer. This decadent treat will definitely be something to be remembered!

Drinks

A beer inspired drinks menu is a really nice touch. Serve beer based cocktails using a brew you created or choose beers that represent special times in your relationship. For instance, a beer from the country where you got engaged or the beer you were drinking the night you met.

Toasts

If your fiancée is not a fan of champagne, serve beer during the wedding speeches. Ditch the bottles and serve beer to your guests in tasteful chalices. There are many elegant beers with signature glassware, such as Leffe which has a cork and foil top.

DIY Decorations

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You don’t have to spend a fortune on wedding decorations. Have a go at a project today and give your day a personal touch with handmade creations…

Fabulous fans

How about making some brightly coloured pinwheels for your marquee reception. They add a real pop of colour to the venue, but if you want a softer, more subtle look, try pastel shaded pom poms.

Vintage bunting

You could use pastel coloured cloths and vintage style bunting to pretty up your vintage tea party reception. You can pick up table cloths pretty cheaply on eBay to get a similar look.

3D table numbers

Make cardboard 3D table numbers and then cover them in pretty, shabby chic style fabric. A simple and effective idea that you can easily make at home with old off-cuts of fabric. Mix up the patterns and colours for an eclectic look.

Hanging old pictures around your reception venue is a sure-fire way to get guests talking. Personalise the room with photographs of all your loved ones, then let guests find their faces. You could adapt this for use in your table plan, too.

Pretty pom poms

Draw your guests’ eyes upwards with a ceiling full of paper pom poms and lanterns dangling from the rafters. This year’s hottest wedding designs and decorations are to be found on the ceiling. 

Rustic jars

Ask your friends and family to keep all of their old jam jars as they make cute arrangements for a rustic theme. Mix and match different shapes and sizes and fill them with cheap wedding flowers like gypsophilia for a feminine, just-picked-from-the-garden look.

Trend alert!

This potted plant table plan is such a lovely wedding decoration idea, perfect for a country themed wedding. You can pot them up yourself, use them as a table plan, and then hand them out as thank you gifts at the end of the night. Double DIY delight

Top table runners

Long trestle-style tables work brilliantly with table runners down the middle – go for gingham if you’re planning a country-style celebration like this couple or hessian if you want a more rustic look. A striking runner will mean you won’t have to go overboard with your flowers, either.

Bridal beauty dos

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You’re going to want to look your most beautiful on your wedding day and you’ll want your groom to gasp as he sees you arrive. To help you achieve this we’ve asked some top beauty experts and wedding make-up artists for their advice. Because you don’t want to be making any mistakes with your big day look.

Natural beauty

Try all your make-up on before your wedding day and view it in natural daylight, make-up can look very different indoors and outdoors. Wear waterproof eye make-up where possible, especially mascara for the emotional I Dos!

A good foundation

Have your foundation colour matched to your skin tone and bear that in mind if you’re having a spray tan for the big day. Moisturise your face 30 minutes before applying your make-up, to allow time for your moisturiser to sink in and do its magic.

Always wear a primer before applying foundation to give a smoother appearance and keep your make-up on for longer. Also always wear an eye make-up primer to hold your eyeshadow in place and prevent creasing. Keep a small powder compact to hand to touch up any shiny areas towards the evening.

Set in place

Use a setting spray when your make-up is finished to give it lasting power. If applying your own make-up on the day, try to have a professional go through it with you before the big day, to show you how to do the best application.

Look after your skin

Begin a good skincare routine. If you have any issues book a series of facials to get your skin in tip top condition. Get a skin consultation with a professional so they can advise you on which products will suit your skin type.

Use an SPF daily to protect your skin from the sun and keep shoulders covered if you’re wearing a strapless dress on your wedding day as strap marks are difficult to hide.

Get in shape

Have your eyebrows shaped two days before the wedding as shaped eyebrows make all the difference to the make-up.

Hands up!

Do have manicures because everyone will want to see your ring. Soft silky hands and manicured nails will look amazing in your photos.

Beauty don’ts for brides

Don’t risk a break out

Don’t have a facial too close to your wedding day, You’re risking your skin breaking out just before the big day. Also don’t try new products on your skin in the month up to your wedding. It takes a good 30 days to see results on skin. Don’t over exfoliate your skin, some products can be too harsh and aren’t made for daily use. Don’t have a fake tan if you’ve never tried it before – it’s always best to have a trial run first so you can see how long it lasts and always ask if it will rub off on your dress.

Bad hair day

Colour treatments or cuts should be avoided in the week approaching the wedding. The last thing any woman wishes to worry about is unnecessary hair troubles on such a gorgeous, picturesque occasion.

Make-up don’ts

Don’t wear foundation with SPF included as this can sometimes reflect light off your face in professional pictures.

Don’t over powder your make-up, or layer on too much as this can give a ‘cakey’ appearance and don’t try any new make-up looks on the day. Also avoid using heavy eye make-up with a strong lipstick, always choose to emphasise eyes or lips. And lastly, don’t forget to wash your hands before putting on your dress!

Unhelpful helpfulness

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1. Keep people occupied

Delegate jobs to your most enthusiastic wedding guests and they won’t even notice what else you’re working on. Choose research tasks that they can really get their teeth into – whether it’s asking your mum to make a Pinterest board for cakes, or your dad look up wedding bands, give them a brief and leave them to it. They’ll be so flattered you trust their taste that they won’t even ask about the other stuff.

2. Manage expectations

The earlier people know what you’re planning, the less likely they are to kick up a fuss if things don’t go how they imagined. If you’re eloping to France with couple of close friends, let everyone know early on so that your aunties don’t go out and buy their hats. If you’re open about what you want, there can’t be any disappointments.

3. Keep their good intentions in mind

An overly zealous family member is a huge compliment – after all, they just want to make you happy by making your day as perfect as possible. So don’t get angry if you feel harassed, but see it from their point of view. If they won’t let something go, ask yourself why they feel so strongly about it. Maybe they didn’t have a good time at a similar wedding, or regretted that detail about their own day? Once you know their motives, it’s easier to reassure them that your way will work out.

4. Make some things a secret

A confetti bomb for the first dance, fake snow at a winter wedding, or a magician working the crowd: it’s the fun finishing touches that make a wedding stand out. However, once the ‘tacky’ word raises its head it might curb your enthusiasm, so surprise people on the day and they’ll have such a good time and think everything is wonderful.

5. Pay for some of it yourself

One of the biggest reasons why couples bend to their parents’ requests is because, as they’re the ones paying, it seems fair to give them a say. But wait a minute, if they’re treating you to a wedding dress, would you let them have a say in that? Accepting cash is no reason to sacrifice your wedding dreams, but it can definitely take away some of your ammunition in a debate.

6. Meet up with them regularly

If someone’s constantly bombarding you with wedding emails, it could be a sign that that they feel out of the loop and are trying to muscle back into your wedding bubble. They’ll back off if you get some drinks dates in the diary, as it’s chance for everyone to share the buzz and excitement in one place.

7. Use a referee

Do you have an ultra-diplomatic member of the family who can charm people to putty? Tell the most persistent meddlers that you’re really busy, so you’ve asked that person to play wedding planner for a while. Then you can get the low-down through them and choose which advice you take, without having to tip-toe around anyone’s feelings.

8. Please yourself

The only person you need to please is yourself and your groom. Do you want to look back at your day and think it represented you as a couple, or your Mum? Your wedding is the most personal event you’ll ever plan, so you’ll regret it if you feel like a guest on your own special day. You’re never going to please everyone, so you may as well please yourselves.

9. Stay firm if you feel strongly

Ok, there are some things you might want to let go. Is it really so bad if the disco DJ is your dad’s friend from his bridge club? But when it comes to the things that really matter to you, leave your compromising self at the door. Big decisions such as the venue or food menu are worth disappointing people over because as soon as they see how happy they are about it; we guarantee they’ll share your excitement.

Valentine’s Wedding for 2017

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February is the month of romance and passion. In February, many like to blow their salary on expensive tasting menus in top restaurants and embark on lavish weekends away in remote country spa hotels. For those who prefer to be more resourceful with their Valentine’s budget, it’s often a challenge to prove your love in another way.

Luckily, for those looking to escape this Valentine’s one recognises that whisking your partner away for a romantic weekend doesn’t need to be expensive. To help those looking to escape, they have come up with five ways to save money but still impress your other half next February.

Be realistic

Before deciding how to plan your wedding, what to do, where to go, where to stay, decide on how much you are willing to spend and work with it. By establishing this early on you will become more resourceful with the money you have and it will certainly go further.

Be original

A great way of proving to your partner that you love them is to think outside of the box. Why not choose a destination they wouldn’t think of going and surprise them? Even the most expensive cities in the UK have accommodation which is affordable but still offer a good spot to rest your head.

Be spontaneous

One of the best ways to be romantic is to be spontaneous. Tell your partner that you are taking them away; you can even tell them where you’re taking them if you’d prefer. The trick is to save all the little trips and adventures for them to find out the weekend goes on. This makes the trip more exciting and unpredictable.

Be tasteful

While being on a budget often rules out pricey experiences, one thing money can’t buy is taste. When choosing activities for your getaway pursue cultural experiences such as museums, art galleries, and landmark sites as oppose to gimmick activities that you can do at home like bowling, ice skating and laser quest. It is also worth taking advantage of upmarket restaurants and bars which offer cheaper menus between certain times of the day. To get ideas, TripAdvisor often have lists for popular destinations like ‘Things to Do in (a place which means something to you) etc.

Be true

Finally, like taste, no amount of money can buy true love. Ensure you spend plenty of time talking to one another, planning your next adventure and relaxing. Everything else will be an added bonus.