It is expected that the mothers of the bride and groom should wear a hat to a wedding, but what about all of the other guests?
Hats come in a huge amount of shapes and sizes, so for those who may not be comfortable wearing something as large as this…
Louise Claire Millinery, Wallingford
why not opt for something a little smaller or even a fascinator? Read more »
Honeymoon this summer? Yves Rocher are launching a great new product perfect to give you a sun-kissed shimmer on the beach and with an added sparkle to take you into the evening.
Their Glow-Cheek Stain is enriched with floral witch hazel and leaves your skin with a natural tan whatever your shade of skin. Its watery texture lets the skin breath and isn’t sticky, although it does make it a little tricky to apply. For a brighter complexion to take you into the evening, shake the bottle before use to incorporate the extra-fine gold pearly particles.
The little bottle is small enough to slip into a hand bag and it smells wonderful.
There has been a growing trend in the last year for ‘English’ flowers and natural designs. However there are various meanings for this:
True English flowers are UK grown, seasonal and are reliant on the UK weather conditions; delphinium, lily of the valley, freesias and sweet peas to name but a few. However the down side of this is that when we have a bad spring (such as this year) the seasons can be behind and therefore flowers a bride has requested may not be in flower yet, or if seasons are ahead of themselves and flowers that would normally be available in mid June have already flowered and finished by May.
Cornflower and Rosemary bouquet – The Balloon Lady
Are you looking for somewhere really unusual to get married? Well how about the world famous Spitbank Fort, in the middle of the Solent, offering a luxury private island and very exclusive use! Not only does Spitbank Fort have 8 luxurious bedroom suites, private transfers, but you have use of the lighthouse, providing a stunning setting for your wedding photos.
Spitbank Fort
Giant balloons have become very popular over the last 12 months for UK weddings.
As these are very large balloons, they are not the most inexpensive option available, (each one using the same helium as 15 ‘normal’ balloons) but WOW do they have some impact and used carefully, small numbers of these balloons will really transform your venue.
Balloon Lady
So you want to do something a little different for your hen weekend. You like the idea of the great outdoors, but just don’t feel that you can live without hot water and your GHD’s? Glamping could be the answer!
During a typical glamping trip, the tents are often designed with bright designer colors and materials and can be rigged for electrical power, which means occupants can operate appliances. Some also have full-size air mattresses, or even regular spring mattresses provided by the outfitters!
For ultimate glamping how about these amazing eco pods…
Old Thorns Manor Hotel
With mother of bride collections now available from Ian Stuart and John Charles, your Mum can also have the outfit of her dreams to wear on your wedding day.
So with your Mum and Mother-in-law to be also wanting to look fab, why not look to some of the occasion wear specialists for the ultimate coordinated outfit, with matching dress, jacket and hat.
Gina Smart – Occasion Wear Specialist
Can you spot the fake?
Buying a wedding dress online can be a great way of saving money ahead of the big day, but there is no guarantee that those bargain designer gowns are actually genuine. Unfortunately, brides-to-be are finding themselves at the mercy of online counterfeiters looking to sell fake wedding and bridesmaid dresses. The rock bottom prices are often too good to be true, and what might seem like a real online deal at the time could turn out to be the opposite.
Read more »
Do you have a full length dress to wear on your wedding day and your feet are not going to be that visible, or do you have a 3/4 length dress with those lovely feet on show? Why not wear something a little bit different?
There are some really great shoes around at the moment at great prices. How about these lovely heels from Rocket Dog; just £47.99.
Rocket Dog – Ornella
Don’t worry Bridesmaids, you don’t have to miss out!
Read more »
Possibly the biggest day in your life, you want things to be perfect and choosing live entertainment for your wedding is an important decision. Using an agency can help, maybe you need a little inspiration too?
The Emporer
Using an agency like I Do Music makes hiring a wedding band or live wedding entertainment easy by providing hundreds of reviews from previous customers as well as videos of the artists. Read more »
You have just bought a £10,000 car, would you drive it uninsured?
So if you are you are spending a similar amount on your wedding, why would you not take out insurance?
Although rare, and of course extremely unfortunate, problems can occur – like the dress supplier going bust, the venue double-booking or cancelling, someone being taken ill or perhaps an overseas posting. For as little £45 you can protect yourself from these types of financial loss.
There are a lot of companies that now provide wedding insurance at varying prices, so make sure that the policy you choose covers everything you need.
John Lewis Wedding Insurance
We were asked by Oriflame to try their new Voluptuous Lipstick, which is the latest addition to their exclusive Giordani Gold brand.
The lipstick is formulated with high-performance Hydra Full Complex which helps to deliver clinically proven eight-hour moisturisation, rehydrating the skin from the outside and relieving dry and tight-feeling lips.
Does it work? Yes it does!
Oriflame Voluptuous Lipstick
Unbeknown to many of us, our water can wreak havoc with our hair – creating rebellious problems that just won’t go away. Soft water is often the cause of static, flyaway hair that simply can’t be tamed. Whereas, hard water can leave tresses feeling dry with a course, dull, tangled feel.
AreaH2O
In a lot of town’s around the country we have some beautiful Town Hall’s that are all licensed to hold Civil Ceremonies and Civil Partnerships. Town Council’s are now aware that their Town Halls can be used for a multitude of events, and are keen to promote themselves to brides and grooms.
Grand Hotel Villa Cora, Florence
We were invited last month to Florence to see a couple of Why The Best group’s hotels. Leaving intermittent rain and grey clouds in England we arrived to clear blue sunny skies and the perfect temperature to explore some of the cities amazing sights. There is good reason that Florence is considered a top romantic destination and Hotel L’Orologio and the Grand Hotel Villa Cora are among the city’s gems.
Vintage wedding transport was definitely the theme at last weekends UK Wedding Show at Event City in Manchester.
Go Goodwins Coaches
Whether you are getting married in church or at a venue, why not arrive in style?
Imagine yourself travelling in style in a lovingly restored classic VW van that’s certain to get you noticed. Complete with coordinated decor to match your wedding colour scheme and with plenty of room to relax in…
Dorset dubhire
We are delighted that another one of our advertisers has won another award!
The World Inspired Tents team are delighted to have received the acolade of ‘Best Marquee Hire Provider’ at last weeks West Country Wedding Awards; which follows on from their success in 2012 when they won ‘Best Marquee Provider’ at The Wedding Industry Awards.
Weddings under canvas give you the freedom and flexibility to create something really unique, but until now people have had little choice but to choose a conventional marquee. Read more »
The Wedding Tree Company produces bespoke wooden wedding products giving couples a unique way to personalise their special day.
The Bay Tree Hotel, Burford
It was great to see Cotswolds Inns & Hotels at the National Wedding Show at Olympia last weekend, flying the flag for weddings in the Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds is a hugely popular area for tourists, so why would weddings be any different? Read more »
Over the three days at the National Wedding Show every 10 – 15 minutes you could hear a group of men burst into song. These were the Singing Waiters!
Most of them are classically trained, so not only did they have great voices but they could perform a wide range of music from classical to rock.
Music aside the guys had a huge amount of charisma and certainly knew how to pull in a crowd and perform.
So if are looking to surprise your guests or your partner at your Wedding Reception, what a great idea!
This is the most amazing selection of tricycles that we have seen!
Ideas Box have a vast array of brightly coloured tricycles that they can bring to your wedding, offering popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream, and cheese! What a great idea for evening catering. Read more »
We saw a lot of fantastic businesses at the show over the weekend, but what a great idea ‘The Day That‘ is.
Everyday since Midsummer’s day in 2005, Chris and Gavan have taken a selection of amazing photographs of the dawn rising over the Cornish coastline.
Wow .. .what a surprise. It seems that black is out for the chaps, and traditional tails are being replaced with suits.
The trendy groom will be wearing coloured linens this year, as demonstrated on the catwalk by Moss.
Menswear from Moss.
Today marks the start of the three day National Wedding Show in London, and Nicky, John and Emily are there to check out what is happening on the catwalk and to see the latest trends on the trade stands.
The first fashion show of the day got off to a good start with every seat taken and some traditional designs from Ian Stuart. The general feel is for lots of lace and there is still a lot of vintage around.
Olympia National Wedding Show Ian Stuart
The bad news? slim fitting is definitely in so it is time to hit the gym! Read more »
“I am Chris Barber and I crash weddings with my camera. My style is different because it’s inconsistent. I could write what it is in this answer right now and by next week it’ll be something else. The thing that links in everything I do is expression with creativity and the desire to keep pushing my work as an artist… not as a ‘vendor’ – if that makes sense? Expressions are so important to me because you can’t pose them. Shooting a belly laugh requires so much more than qualifications and technical training – I have to interact and lose myself in what I do. I like to people watch and I’ve never seen a couple just casually romantically posing in the street. I see couples in fits of laughter all the time. So I like to shoot stuff that resembles who these people really are. All of my couples tell me they hate having their photo taken. I hate having my photo taken too. So immediately we’re on the same page and we work from there. For me, photography is all about the interaction between photographer and subject – not their technical abilities. These days – anyone with a half decent camera can take ‘good’ pictures. But there’s a big difference between ‘good’ pictures and pictures that actually speak to you. Read more »
Guest post by:
Mark Bradley – owner, Dodmoor House www.dodmoorhouse.co.uk
When Alex and Jonathan’s guests sat down to their main meal on their special day at Dodmoor House, they found that it was – quite literally – a wedding breakfast.
The main course was a Full English, with sausages, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans and egg, followed by pancakes and pains au chocolat for dessert. As an extra touch, they had even produced their own ‘wedding newspaper’ for each guest with hilarious anecdotes and photos (like a best man’s speech on paper!)
Safe to say, there were empty plates all around the room and lots of satisfied guests!
Vintage is a generic term for new or second hand items originating from a previous era, and it seems that Vintage wedding trends are still with us in 2013.
So, if you have chosen a vintage style dress you will need to ensure that your accessories support the style as well.
If you have a specific style of tiara in mind or are wanting a veil to match the lace on your dress, then you will need to consider something bespoke.
The advantage of using a besoke service, like that offered by Polly Griffin Designs is that they can cater for your exact requirements to compliment your theme.
Dodmoor House is a courtyard of Grade II listed barns near Weedon in Northamptonshire, lovingly renovated and opened in 2006 by owners Mark and Louise Bradley. It now hosts around 120 weddings a year.
It feels fantastic! We had an amazing time this year with the Wedding Industry Awards, winning two categories – best wedding venue in England and the best overall wedding website.
We had re-launched our website a year ago so to be chosen as the website winners by Brides for Guides was a tremendous honour. Our website partners, 1PCS, were also delighted as you can imagine! Read more »
• Tell us a bit about you and your company please?
I’m Erin, the illustrator and founder of BerinMade Illustrated Paper Goods. BerinMade is founded upon a love of whimsical illustrations and finely-crafted lettering.
My wedding collection celebrates fun-loving creativity and a feminine aesthetic for the spirited bridal couple, from Save the Dates to On-the-day accessories such as menus and escort cards.
I also do a lot of DIY tutorials and write regularly well known bridal blogs, as well as DIY wedding stamps for my clients who love a personal touch on their stationery! Besides Weddings, we also have a collection of greeting cards, social stationery and prints for the home. Read more »
