Beauty Weddings

New Year a New Wedding

2015-03-02T15:33:00.000+00:00

As you know I gave up my wedding planning business in 2013 due to personal reasons that were outwith my control.

However, a few weeks ago, I was contacted by a Friend of a Friend, who had heard all about me and she wanted me to coordinate her wedding in July this year.

After chatting away to her, I realised that I actually missed it so after a bit, I have agreed to work with her on her wedding planning and coordination.

Am I excited...you bet I am! The theme for this wedding is vintage chique, lots of beautiful flowers, china and fairy lights, but no bling in sight! I am seriously excited about the prospect of this.

Over the coming weeks I will share (with the brides permission of course) some of the ideas and images that we will be working with, to help give you the ideas and inspiration for your own wedding.

Are you following us on Pinterest yet you can do that here https://www.pinterest.com/beautyweddings/

Looking forward to sending you updates as the wedding draws closer.

Fiona

Beauty Weddings are back!

2013-11-06T18:12:00.001+00:00

After a bit of a break from wedding planning to take care of family business, we are now back and raring to go.

We have lots coming up in the next year and lots of bookings for On The Day Coordination. Blog writing for the amazing Ice The Cake, showcasing some really great companies, running competitions and lots lots more.

I have to admit I was albeit pleasantly surprised by the uptake in couples option for on the day coordination services. This includes 3 to 4 meetings with the couple apart from the Initial Consultation, to get details of all their suppliers, help with timings for the day, confirming suppliers on the couples behalf and problem solving any issues that arise on the lead up to the day. On the day itself, working with all the suppliers and for them to have one point of contact throughout the day, incase of any delays etc. Making sure the day goes to plan and that the couple themselves are looked after and their guests are happy.

Many venues have their own wedding cooordinator, but their duties are tied to the venue and not the couple. The venue coordinators will make sure things are in place on site, but anything else they won't deal with. More and more couples are telling me they don't want their friends and family running around at the last minute on the day itself, but want them to enjoy it as much as they will.

We have also a new look website, easy to navigate and easy to contact us.

Watch out for updates and offers over the next couple of months, there might even be a Christmas special offer ...

See you soon.

Fi

Best Wedding Planner Scotland

2013-05-03T18:45:00.000+01:00

Well its been a bit of a roller coaster couple of weeks with lots of recognition for the hard work and effort that goes into every single wedding that we help plan.

On the 22nd April 2013 I attended the Scottish Wedding Awards and was a Finalist in the Wedding Coordinator of the Year category, even though we didn't win this, the achievement of being in the final itself was incredible.

Then days later on the 30th April 2013 we were excited to learn that we were Winners in the Wedding Industry Experts Awards 2013 in the Best Wedding Planner - Glasgow and Best Wedding Planner - Scotland categories, it was such an honour to know that my previous and current clients as well as my wonderful suppliers took the time out to show their support for the work that we do, I can't thank them enough.

We are so lucky to have been nominated for Awards over the past couple of years, we have achieved Highly Commended Awards as Finalists in the Ice The Cake Awards the past 2 years in the Best On The Day Support Category, which in itself is a great achievement.

We don't go looking for Awards to be chasing every year, these awards are purely the recognition that everyone I work with has felt I have deserved and I am so honoured and lucky to be in that position, and that is what makes these symbols of achievement even more special. Thank You <3

Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy: Time; such a precious commodity

2013-05-03T18:22:00.001+01:00

Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy: Time; such a precious commodity:

Check out this article, a must for all our brides to be! Wise words from Maggie Graham...

Scottish Wedding Awards 2013

2013-04-10T10:59:00.002+01:00

Can you imagine my surprise and absolute delight when I discovered that Beauty Weddings & Events are Finalists in the Scottish Wedding Awards 2013. These Awards are in their first year, so to be included is a great honour. I am looking forward to attending this event on the 22nd April 2013, when we found out if we have won. It's always fantastic to have our work recognised on a National level and drives us to make continuous improvements to the service we deliver, but it wouldn't be possible without the amazing suppliers that we work with.

The awards have been produced in association with Peppermint Aesthetic Clinics part of the Peppermint Group. The Peppermint Group is an award winning group of practices consisting of Peppermint Aesthetic Clinics, Peppermint Lashes Clinic and Peppermint Studios. Peppermint offers bespoke cosmetic clinical facial, dental and body aesthetics. This collaboration promises to result in a dazzling evening for this prestigious awards ceremony.

Dr Rita Poddar & Miss Leanne Divers, Co-CEO’s of the Peppermint Group said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring this years awards and look forward to supporting the elite talent that the Scottish Wedding Industry has to offer”

With a public voting system, the Scottish Wedding Awards is very much a celebration of local talent. Winners are a true reflection of quality and customer service as chosen by members of the general public. To enter the competition, dress makers, florists, photographers, caterers, and others wedding suppliers throughout Scottish have been nominated by devoted clients that have experienced exceptional service. Nominations have come in from far and wide for an event which is destined to be a sparkling evening in the Scottish event calendar.

The event which will be taking place on 22^nd March 2013 at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow promises to be a glittering affair with guests attending to support the industry which makes our wedding days the best they can be.

Hosting this glamorous affair will be the Clyde 1 FM Late Night Live presenter Gina McKie.

The official charity partner for this year’s event is the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, with donations raised on the night going straight to the charity. Make-A-Wish FoundationUK grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. Since being established in the UK in 1986, they have granted over 7,800 wishes.

For further information

Creative Oceanic (www.creativeoceanic.co.uk) is part of the Oceanic Group (www.oceanicgroup.co.uk)

Scottish Wedding Awards (www.weloveweddings.info)

Peppermint Aesthetic Clinic (www.peppermintaestheticclinics.com)

Gina McKie (www.ginamckie.com)

Make A Wish Foundation UK (www.make-a-wish.org.uk)

Top 10 Wedding Planning Tips (2nd Edition)

2013-03-18T19:25:00.002+00:00

I was looking through some old posts today and came across this one, and do you know that even though that this was posted in July 2011, it all still applies, so I've decided to repost this today to help all those newly engaged couples with their wedding planning!

So here it is in its entirety.....

Congratulations, you are now engaged to be married. It has suddenly hit you that you need to plan your wedding and you don't know where to start!! Here are my Top 10 tips for starting your planning process.

Source

1. Decide on your budget!! This is the most crucial part of your planning process. There is no point having that bespoke venue and inviting 200 guests if you aren't able to afford it. You will be surprised just how fast the costs mount up. The easiest way to break down each element is to allocate a percentage of your budget for each part. Here is an approximate breakdown of what this should be.

40% for your Wedding Breakfast & Reception. (included decor, favours etc)
10% for entertainment/music
15% for all your flowers
15% for your bridal wear
10% for photography/videography
5% for your stationery
5% for your ceremony & transport

Setting and sticking to your budget can make the planning much easier.

2. Visit Venues within your budget and get detail costs for each before making your final decision, check which dates are available. Sometimes going out of season can save you alot of money, so it's always worth considering. This will also determine how many guests you can realistically have to share your special day with you.

3. Book the registrar and set the date, send out Save the Date cards or Fridge Magnets to your guests.

4. Book your photographer, the really good photographers are booked up well in advance so it's important that you start this process early in your planning. So many photographers say that they have couples coming to them a few weeks before the wedding, you need to be able to build and have a good relationship with the professional who is going to capture your day, it makes a huge difference to the images that you get afterwards, as you are more relaxed and comfortable with them.

5. Decide on your theme, there are so many ideas out there it's good to do a bit of research, visit wedding websites, photographers websites, look in magazines and make yourself a mood board and play around with ideas and colours to get that perfect look. Shop around to get yourself the best deals.

Source

June Brides

6. Bridal Wear is also so important to start looking early. Many bridal stores need at least 6 months notice to have your dress ready for the day, this includes having it made, you will need several fittings as most brides believe it or not drop a dress size on the lead up to their wedding. Give yourself plenty of time to shop around, visit wedding shows to get inspiration, watch out for sales you might even bag yourself a designer gown at knock down prices.

7. Flowers again are something that many couples leave until the last minute, thinking about this early and deciding what you really want is so important, the flowers can complete the look of your outfits on the day, you want them to compliment your dress/outfits as well as tying in with your colour scheme. Consider the time of year you are getting married and what blooms are in season at the time.

8. Family arguments!! This is a very common theme for many weddings and the way to avoid confrontations and resentment is to lay the ground rules down early on. This is your wedding and you want it done your way, it's so crucial that you never lose sight of that. Involve your bridal party and family in the planning, assign tasks and roles to everyone, listen to their ideas and implement the ones your like. If you don't like an idea be tactful and say something like "I like that idea, but would like to think about a few others before making a final decision"

9. Think about hiring a Wedding Planner/Consultant. Seriously, it can make such a huge difference. Forget the Hollywood portrayal of wedding planners in real life it's not like that at all. Wedding Planners don't take over your wedding and don't cost a fortune, they can actually save you money, by recommending suppliers, being able to source decor items. Most importantly they give you the support you really need especially on the run up to your big day (the last 6 weeks are the most stressful). Not only will you be de-stressed you will have the confidence and assurance that your day will go without a hitch and be as perfect as you dreamed it would be.

10. The most important thing of all.... have fun! Enjoy your engagement, have fun in the planning and look forward to one of the biggest and happiest days of your life.

Wishing Tree

For more information on wedding planning services, visit my website or drop me an email

Matrix Nails

2013-03-17T21:13:00.001+00:00

I am excited and delighted to be able to introduce to you Matrix Nails.

Gillian Hay who owns and runs Matrix Nails is not only great fun, but a fantastic Nail Technician. I have personally had my nails done by Gillian a couple of times now and they have been fantastic.

My own experience is that I had acrylics done with a neutral Gellux polish, after 2 weeks (no breaks or chips! ) I went back, instead of infills, Gillian spent quite a while filing them down and applying the most gorgeous purple Gellux. I had that set of nails on for a total of 4 weeks and 2 different colours of Gellux, which didn't chip or lift the whole time. Now to put that into context, I am the worlds worst for not using the oils, never use rubber gloves for dishes or housework and generally quite heavy handed, those nails managed to withstand 4 weeks of ME!

I have so many photo's of Matrix Nails work that there seems to be way to many to show on here, visit their website for lots more, but in the meantime here is a taster.

Gellux gel polish which is a high gloss,fast drying and hard wearing alternative to nail polish. You do not have to worry about accidentally chipping or smudging your manicure. Gellux lasts approximately two weeks,protecting your natural nails from damage allowing them to grow. Perfect for fingers and toes.

Matrix Nails can design bridal nails to compliment your bridal gown,theme or colours and offer a similar for service for bridesmaids with a huge range of colours in gel polish. Let's not forget the Mothers of the Bride and Groom, and last but not least our little flower girls with their little polish.

Price List:

French £18
Coloured and nail art from £25
Gellux polish £15 (with sparkle £18)
File and polish for flowergirls £5

Also available are pearls, swarovski crystals, diamonds and bows are also available as fabulous accessories.

Matrix Nails are based in Bishopbriggs in Glasgow and provide mobile services or you can visit her at her home Salon if this is more suitable.

I am so impressed with Gillian at Matrix Nails I have included some of her testimonials here are a couple:

"I have been getting my nails done by Gillian at matrix nails for months now, and I know I wouldn't go to another salon or technician now, based on the quality of the nails and the variety of what I can have done with the help of Gillian."

Geraldine Dolan, Glasgow

Gillian @ Matrix nails, is by far the best nail technician I have ever come across. I have never had a set of acrylics that stayed on and I was happy with before I found Matrix nails. From the first visit, I remember asking, what is this step, what is that step, I've never had that done before, etc. The result, my nails were gorgeous and not only that they lasted and I was able to have in fills done, when it came time to have them off, they were all still in place. I have continued to have my acrylics and they are always the same, perfect! Gillian is very person centred and will design to suit the occasion, personality or mood, so I always have something different each time I go, her portfolio is extensive and as I say, she is happy to personalise. I was particularly impressed with her attention to hygiene and also detail, very impressive! I have also more recently had the Gellux polish which was a fantastic alternative on my own nails, the gellux, its gorgeous, shiny, and lasts for ages. I have no hesitation in recommending Gillian, I can guarantee any new client will be 110% satisfied, and will become a returning customer. Thanks Gillian, you are stuck with me and my nails Katey Jamieson, Bishopbriggs

There are several ways that you can contact Gillian at Matrix Nails.

If you have a question regarding treatments, enhancements or whether you wish to book an appointment.

Please feel free to give her a call on:- 07522480146

or drop her a text, if she is busy and she will call you back as soon as possible.

You can also contact her via email @ gill_hay@btinternet.com

Or alternatively you may also catch up with her on facebook !

50 Life Hacks to Simplify your World «TwistedSifter

2013-01-25T10:56:00.001+00:00

50 Life Hacks to Simplify your World «TwistedSifter:

'via Blog this'

Some more great ideas

50 Creative Ways to Repurpose, Reuse and Upcycle Old Things «TwistedSifter

2013-01-25T10:50:00.001+00:00

50 Creative Ways to Repurpose, Reuse and Upcycle Old Things «TwistedSifter:

'via Blog this'

Weddings In Las Vegas

2013-01-24T09:04:00.000+00:00

Our guest blogger today is Claire, who plans weddings in Las Vegas (www.lasvegasbridesmaid.com). She often hears from couples who know they want the glamour and glitz of a Vegas wedding, not to mention the guaranteed sunshine, but they find that they are overwhelmed with the choices of wedding location in the city.

Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the USA, if not the world. The state of Nevada issues an average of 120,000 marriage licenses each year, so it is not surprising that there are so many wedding options to choose from!

Almost every hotel and casino on the Strip in Las Vegas has a wedding chapel inside it, quite a lot of them have pretty pagoda-style areas in their gardens for weddings, too. If you have guests accompanying you for your wedding, often the hotels will offer a wedding package that includes all the rooms that you need, often with a suite for the bride and groom. Having everyone stay in the same hotel will be handy if the groom needs to sleep in a different room from the bride the night before the wedding.

Many people come to Las Vegas with the idea of a classic old-school Downtown wedding chapel in mind. There are lots to choose from, and some are nicer than others. These chapels are where couples can explore the true diversity of Las Vegas weddings. You can have as much romance, as much glitz and as much fun as you like, and many of these smaller chapels can give you a completely personalised ceremony if you are creative enough. Everyone knows about the possibility of having as Elvis impersonator perform the ceremony, but there are lots of other impersonators in Las Vegas, and many of them are licensed to perform wedding ceremonies, and they can serenade you with your favourite singer's songs during the ceremony. The smaller chapels can be set up to your taste and in some cases, decorated just as you wish, although it is likely that there will be a charge for this. Of course, if you are in a rush, there is always the option of the drive-through wedding!

Las Vegas is in the heart of the Nevada desert, and less than an hour's drive away is some of the most breathtaking scenery you will see this close to such a metropolis. Weddings can be performed in Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire, two outstanding areas of beauty near to Las Vegas. If you like the idea of getting married outdoors in the desert, choose the time of year carefully. July and August will be uncomfortably hot in the middle of the day, but almost any other time of year a wedding in these areas would be spectacular.

There are some lovely parks and preserve areas in and around Las Vegas where couples can get married. There are some parks close to natural springs and lakes, so are the sort of green and lush areas that you would never expect to see in the middle of the desert! Many of these places were ranches many years ago, so are set up to take groups of people – ideal for a wedding. Afterwards, couples can return from making their union with nature as a beautiful backdrop, to party in the fabulous city of Las Vegas.

Contact Claire for more information on Las Vegas wedding location suggestions at claire@lasvegasbridesmaid.com or visit her website for more Las Vegas wedding (http:www.lasvegasbridesmaid.com) tips.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas !

2012-11-30T13:57:00.000+00:00

Christmas is coming and personally it's one of my most favourite times of the year. I love the magic that comes with it and the build up towards the day itself. I'm not talking about the commercial side of things with the Christmas shopping and bustling crowds, I'm talking about walking through the city seeing all the lights twinkling, going ice skating and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows. I love seeing the little kids with wide eyes and big smiles at the thought of Santa coming and the excitement that it generates.

Many of us will be putting up the tree and decorating it over the next few weeks, that can lead to its own challenges. In our house my kids are in early adulthood now but there is a certain tradition that we stick to..no laughing please! I have always tried to create a tradition where we do the tree together and have that little bit of family time that is so precious as the kids grow. However, this reality is this:

1. I get the tree and decorations out of the garage
2. My daughter joins me to get everything ready (I have one of those trees that you have to build branch by branch! )
3. The cats jump in the bag that the tree is in and into the box with the baubles.
4. I start to build the tree, I turn round ...my daughter is gone... I continue to build the tree
5. I string the lights (600 lights go on my tree so it takes a while)
6. I start to put the baubles on...my daughter reappears and hangs a few..then disappears again!
7. I get to putting the tree topper on...daughter reappears and insists it's her job to put the star on the tree.
8. The tree is done and my son appears!! Says "yeah that's nice" and disappears
9. Cats take an interest and start knocking the baubles off the bottom branches and proceed to play "football" with them.

And this is how it is every year! but they do still take great pleasure in "sorting" out the presents, trying not so successfully pretending that they are not counting how many each have and are sorted into their respective piles, even at 16 and 18 they still do it!

Christmas can be a time of stress especially if you are having loads of family round and having to cook, shop, clean etc, tempers can get frayed, arguments follow and sometimes you can wonder why you do this to yourself every year. My tip is don't stress over it, it depends just how traditional you want the day to be and what you want to get out of it.

It is a fairly laid back affair in our house and certainly not stressful, I'm not saying that it was always like that, it wasn't until about 5 years ago, when I had a really bad dose of the flu and it came to Christmas Eve and I was still feeling like I had been hit by a bus, but had nothing in for dinner (luckily the gift shopping had been done a while before) So on Christmas Eve around 2pm I dragged myself out with my husband, went to 3 local supermarkets and realised there was nothing left! We ended up in Aldi's and they still had plenty of everything, we got the food we needed for the next day and all was well, but it did make me realise that there really is no need to go all out with mountains of food and a really expensive food bill.

Click to get this recipe

We might be in the minority but we don't actually like turkey that much so we always have chicken instead. This year I have bought lovely big chicken breasts which we are going to wrap in bacon, we will do the rest of the trimmings as usual,but there will be no waste and we won't be eating turkey sandwiches, currys etc for the following week, we will save a fortune as the price of turkey is ridiculous at this time of year and I refuse to bow down to the retailers, just because it's Christmas. I have bought some gorgeous diced steak and will make my own Steak Pie on Boxing Day. Tradition is whatever you and your family make it not what the media tells you it should be.

So my tips for this Christmas are:

Make your lists NOW of what you need to do
Don't stress, make sure you take a bit of time out to have a bit of fun
Have the dinner you want to have, minimise waste, it will have a positive effect on your pocket too!
Enjoy what time off you do have, snuggle up in front of a Christmas movie, wrap up warm and go for a walk in the park and crunch on the leaves, people watch...go for a coffee in town, sit at the window and watch the world go by.
SMILE! no matter what trials and tribulations you have been through in 2012, you have done exactly that you have come through it and its time to just relax a little.

So, I'm now off to get the tree out the garage and start our Christmas traditions........

Happy Holidays Everyone have a good one! xxx

Crystal Nails and Tanning - Highly Recommended

2012-09-10T13:34:00.001+01:00

When I recommend my suppliers, it's not just because I have made contact with them, I have actually tried out their services myself and for my brides who are having a spray tan and nails done, it can be quite daunting trying to find the right one to look her best on the day.

Well I have one fantastic supplier that I can't recommend highly enough and is in the Falkirk area. I travel from Glasgow to Falkirk to get my treatments done so that speaks volumes in itself.

Crystal Nails and Tanning are a new business established only this year, and Sara Dwight is the owner.

Sara is constantly updating her packages and offering new services to her clients. She has a gorgeous treatment room at her home address so you can be assured of privacy and a high level of service.

I have personally sampled some of her services including the amazing Shellac Nails and Brown Blitz Spray Tanning.

I will start by praising the tan... I have had several spray tans over the last few years, and I have to say by far this is the best one yet, not only did it look great straight away, but it didn't streak or go blotchy, it was even from the start, it faded beautifully and I was able to wash it off after just a few hours, and it continued to develop overnight which was great, no tan stained sheets! Not only that it smelled gorgeous. It lasted over a week and have to say can't wait to get another soon.

The Shellac Nails are fantastic, I confess to being a nail biter for most of my life, but thanks to my dentist who fitted new crowns, it means that I can no longer nibble! The result is for the first time I have lovely long nails that I am incredibly proud of. The Shellac is gorgeous, long lasting and non chipping, making my hands look great all day everyday. I opted for the French Manicure because for me it was the most versatile and am still not into painting my nails every few days, perfect solution.

Sara herself is great, she has a fantastic bubbly personality and immediately puts you at ease.

She has some really fantastic offers on at the moment including:

Bridal Nail package includes for: Bride, Mother of the Bride and up to 3 Bridesmaids: Shellac £100

Spray Tans - Book and pay for 4 spray tans in advance and get your 5th tan free. Cost £40.00

Get yourself a fabulous Brown Blitz Spray Tan and gorgeous Shellac Nails for £25.00

Check out her website for more offers especially coming up to Christmas!

To contact Sara at Crystal Nails and Tanning you can

Visit her Website: Crystal Nails and Tanning

By Phone: 07514 209376

To book online: Online Booking

Crystal Nails and Tanning

House of Elliot Clearance Sale

2012-07-06T14:02:00.000+01:00

I had to share with you today the amazing clearance sale from House of Elliot. These are all going fast so if you fancy something extra special and a special price then get in quick.

These shoes are reduced from £175.00 to £60.00 and are available in a Size 5

Also available in black if you wanted something different or if you are planning to change in the evening.

Also available are these rather gorgeous Keepsake Boxes, they come fully assembled and are covered in highest quality interior design paper. Perfect for you precious memories no matter what the occasion.

Check out their website for more gorgeous goodies including garters, boots and much much more.

http://www.houseofelliotcollection.com/

Tefal Kitchen Machine and Jamie Oliver Bakeware Product Review

2012-07-04T06:00:00.000+01:00

How excited was I to be able to try out the Tefal Kitchen Machine and Jamie Oliver Bakeware for Cupcakes, here is the press release and our review is at the foot of the page

The trend for cupcakes is ever-present at weddings up and down the country, with brides opting for this individual, quirky approach over a more traditional three tier confection.

There are a lot of advantages to a cupcake wedding, these smaller cakes can be individually coloured to the theme of the wedding, are easier to distribute without the venue having to cut them up and, crucially, they can be made at home for a valuable saving on your wedding costs.

There’s been an increase in cupcake bars at receptions, so all the blushing bride needs to do is provide un-iced cupcakes, and a variety of frostings and toppings so guests can create their own delicious memento of the happy occasion

There’s no question it’s easier to bake a lovely batch of cupcakes than a three-tier royal icing creation but it can be tricky to produce a moist, spongy, deliciously-light cupcake. It's quite simple really - the secret to baking the perfect batch is getting enough air into the mixture to begin with

The Tefal Kitchen Machine (£199, www.tefalfreshexpress.co.uk) uses a planetary movement system to reach the whole mixture, gathering all the ingredients and adding air into your mixture, creating cupcakes that rise beautifully and are so mouth-wateringly light, you'll be able to eat two!

There's no point whipping up the perfect mixture if it's not going to cook evenly. We've all made a dozen cupcakes before where 6 happily rise and the rest seem utterly reluctant. Achieving that elusive even finish is heavily dependent on even heat distribution. Hot spots can cause some parts of a cupcake to rise faster than others, not to mention leave the bottoms burnt in some places and undercooked in others. The 12 muffin tray from the Jamie Oliver range of bakeware from Tefal (£13, www.tefal.co.uk) is made from tough carbon steel which eliminates hotspots and ensures you turn out perfect cupcakes every time.

Try some of these great suggestions for jazzing up you cupcakes:

Classic Vanilla
For just the right amount of creamy sweetness add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, or fresh vanilla straight from the pod to your cupcake mix, and top with fresh buttercream

Mocha Cupcakes
The grown up’s cupcake – mix in half a cup of coffee and a generous helping of cocoa powder for a delicious mocha flavour. For the real coffee lover try whipping up a decadant espresso icing to go on top

Earl Grey cupcakes with a hint of lemon
Just two tablespoons of earl grey tea with add a delicate flavour to your cupcakes, for an authentic earl grey taste top with buttercream infused with a hint of lemon juice

Double chocolate
The addition of melted dark chocolate and cocoa powder to the initial cake mix, and melted chocolate to a buttercream topping, makes for the ultimate indulgent treat

Beauty Weddings Review

Firstly I am going to review the Tefal Kitchen Machine. I am the first to admit that I am not the keenest baker in the world, in the past when I tried to bake a cake it would sink in the middle, was unevenly cooked or was just like a brick! I'm sure that many of you have been in the same boat at one time or another. This machine is brilliant, not only does it look good and would take pride of place in your kitchen, but it also makes baking fun and more importantly in my case ..easy! So I decided to make some cupcakes. Assembling the mixer was straightforward and the instructions clear. Mixing the ingredients was easy to do and the splash guard stops the splatter mess. The mixture came out exactly as promised. Taking it apart to clean was also easy to do and I was cleaned up in no time at all. I couldn't actually find fault with this machine, so if you are looking for a new kitchen machine, this Tefal model for me is definitely the way to go.

Our Rating

Jamie Oliver Bakeware As I said before baking isn't really my "thing", however, my faith in my ability has been restored. I have cooked several batches of cupcakes with this tray and it really does work fantastically, that I have went out and bought one for myself. I must have made about 10 batches of cupcakes over the past few weeks and each time they turned out perfectly, the tray is so easy to clean and it still looks brand new. So if you are planning on making your own cupcakes for your wedding cake, this is a must buy. Great value for money and perfect cupcakes every time, what more could you ask for!

Superdry Product Review

2012-07-03T09:30:00.000+01:00

TRAVEL IN STYLE WITH NEW SUPERDRY STEEL AND BLACK

HANDY SIZE 40ML

Whether you’re off on holiday or simply heading to the gym, Superdry’s new Steel and Black travel size is the ideal companion when you need to be space and weight conscious.

Developed for day-to-night appeal with sleek, bold lines and embossed glass, the touch-soft packaging makes these fragrances the perfect travel companion.

Superdry Steel

A refreshing, effervescent statement fragrance, with top notes of lime and bergamot, a heart of cardamom and violet leaves and rich base notes of cedarwood and moss. The sleek silver steel and embossed blue glass bottle creates an indispensable new scent for the modern man.

40ml £29.50RRP

Superdry Black

An aromatic heart of lavender, jasmine, thyme, coriander and nutmeg, sweetened by a juicy lime note and rich ripe fruits completed by a deep base rich of sandalwood, balsam, incense, leather and moss for a fresh take on fragrance. 40ml £29.50RRP

Superdry Steel and Black are available now from Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, larger Debenhams stores, larger Boots stores, selected independent department stores, Superdry stores and online at www.superdry.com.

Beauty Weddings Review

We tried the Superdry Black for our review. I had always associated Superdry with clothing so was a little sceptical as to whether or not they could pull it off with a fragrance. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The packaging was pretty funky and looked great on the bathroom shelf. This is a gorgeous men's scent that has fantastic staying power and lasts all day. Our tester was delighted with this and has now said that it is his scent of choice. The price point is great value for money. A good all rounder and is excellent for both everyday wear and special occasions.

Our Rating

Coast Collection from National Trust

2012-07-02T13:16:00.000+01:00

Escape to the seaside with the beautiful scent of the

Coast Collection from National Trust

Be transported to the seashore, along sandy beaches and rugged coastline with the National Trust Coast Collection.

The collection is made in England using fragrance extracts from British fruits, flowers and plants, features four distinct fragrances inspired by the coast, countryside, gardens and woodland looked after by the National Trust.

Every purchase will go towards supporting the National Trust’s work as an independent charity preserving special places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

National Trust Coast – Rock Samphire and Driftwood reflects the stunning setting of Holnicote Estate in Somerset, with its spectacular coastline and panoramic views from some of the most dramatic cliffs in England.

Rock Samphire grows on the shingle beach which sweeps around Porlock Bay. Its fleshy, aromatic leaves deliver an invigorating aroma with a spicy kick that encapsulates the fresh sea air and rugged coastal beauty.

Driftwood creates a full scent that adds depth and blends with refreshing Rock Samphire to produce a richly aromatic fragrance.

The National Trust Coast Collection is available now at selected National Trust shops, leading Department Stores and Premium Garden Centres and Gift Shops or Online at www.nationaltrust.org.uk .

Beauty Weddings Review:

I have tried the hand and body lotion and I have to say I absolutely LOVE it, not only does it smell absolutely gorgeous, it leaves your skin soft and silky too, it absorbs beautifully. I actually love it so much that it is now my everyday moisturiser. If you are looking for a lotion that smells great, does the job and every purchase goes to helping preserve those special places and towards the hard and deserving work of the National Trust.

Our Rating:

Beauty Weddings Product Reviews

2012-07-02T12:31:00.000+01:00

It's been a busy time over the past few months for Beauty Weddings and we are in full swing of the wedding season. Whether you are getting married in 2012 or in the next couple of years we can help with your planning and accessories.

Over the next few weeks, I will be reviewing a variety of products that may provide you with inspiration and ideas for your wedding needs.

There are some very exciting things to have a look at and every product I have tested myself, so you can be sure that the review is honest and reliable.

Also Beauty Weddings website is getting a complete redesign, which I am very excited about, it will be more interactive and user friendly, as well as special offers and competitions coming up in the future. Its all very exciting stuff. I am happy to share with you the new banner for our new website

Why not subscribe to our blog to make sure you don't miss out on any of our exciting and inspirational updates.

Fiona

Planning Your Wedding - Part 6 After the Wedding

2012-04-21T13:38:00.001+01:00

All your hard work planning and organising has now reaped its rewards and the wedding is over and you are now a married. You may have had your honeymoon, so what now? Many couples don't realise just how intense the whole planning of a wedding can be until its all over and you might be feeling a little deflated and at a loss of what to do next.

There are still some things to be done, your photographs will be ready to view and your favourite images need to be chosen, your thank you notes need to be sent out to your guests, your dress needs to be cleaned and stored, it's time to tie up the loose ends as life returns to normal.

Photographs & Video
Whether or not you had a professional photographer and videographer, you will still have hundreds if images to go through and you will have fun doing this, choosing your favourites and creating your wedding album. Watching any videos that may have been taken throughout your day, you will see many things that you missed, this is a fun part of reviewing your day and over the coming weeks you will look back fondly on your day.

There are a number of ways that you can let friends and family have a copy of your favourite images, one of mine was to create a photobook from Kodak Galleries . This allowed me to upload my favourites and create this delightful photo album for our parents and family. Not only is it affordable (starts from £5.99) it is a wonderful keepsake. I also made an extra copy for myself so I could show friends and colleagues. This allows you to show off your images without your wedding album getting worn and possibly damaged. It also allows you to include images that maybe friends and family have taken too.

Thank You Notes/Cards
You have hopefully taken careful note of the gifts you have received and from whom on the run up to and just after the wedding. It's so important to do this, after all, your guests have taken the time to think about and choose a gift for you. It's only right that you thank them properly after the wedding. There a whole range of ways that you can do this, you can buy pre printed notes, but I always think it is nicer to add a personal message to each guest. You might get stuck with what to say, here are a few ideas .

Whatever you choose to do, try and send these out within a month of your wedding, don't leave it too long.

Dress Cleaning
Many dry cleaners will offer to clean your dress, wrap it and box it up for you to store, the cost can be from around £65 upwards, depending where you get it cleaned. The cleaners should be insured and reputable and take advice from friends and family who may have used them in the past. What should you expect? Your dress should be cleaned by an expert team, pressed and folded into acid free tissue paper, to avoid discolouration of the fabric then placed in a specially made box to protect your dress from light but allow the fabric to breathe. I know that this might seem like another expense, but the likelihood is that you have spent a significant sum of money on your dress, it's not a huge sum to pay to have it cleaned.

I will share with you what I did with my dress although I would not recommend it as a normal course of action. My gown cost £1200 and after the wedding it had red wine stains, fake tan stains and under the train was grubby. One evening about a year after the wedding I had the mad idea of putting it in the washing machine! I turned it inside out and rolled it into a ball, put the washing machine on a gentle wash, after they cycle was finished I took it out and it was absolutely fine, I hung it up on a coat hanger to dry over night. The next morning it was like new again (phew!!). It is now stored away in my wardrobe. As I said before I took a risk with my dress and have to say that 45 minutes it was in the machine were the longest of my life! Would I do it again? Not in a million years, which is why I will always recommend having it cleaned professionally. I got lucky, but I do know that if it had gone horribly wrong I would have been devastated.

So what next?
All your loose ends are now tied up you have found a home for all your gifts and life is settling down. If you are still feeling at a loss, take on a new project like decorating a room, taking up a new hobby (or picking up an old one), catch up with friends, invite them round for dinner. Most of all spend quality time with your new spouse, after all that's what the whole event was all about, both of you starting your new life together.

I hope you have enjoyed our series on Planning Your Wedding and that you have picked up some useful hints and tips along the way. Beauty Weddings are here to assist, advise and guide you through one of the happiest and exciting phases in your life. Don't get married without us!

Planning Your Wedding - Part 5 The Wedding Day

2012-04-15T16:16:00.000+01:00

The big day is here at last! This is your day, where you and your future spouse start out on your new lives together as a married couple. This is a day of celebration and it should start as it means to go on.

Available to buy from Gorgeous Gifts

For the Bride
Get up early, shower and have a light breakfast. Breakfast on today of all days will be the most important meal that you eat, as it could be hours before you get to eat or drink again, and this will provide the much needed energy you are going to need.

Do not start stressing about things that might be going wrong, there is very little that can't be sorted, replaced, rearranged in the worst does happen. My previous post titled It's my wedding day what could go wrong addresses this. What you need to do is delegate and it will be taken care of.

Enjoy having your hair and make up done, have a glass or 2 of bubbly but not enough to get your tipsy, you don't want to remember your wedding day for the wrong reasons!

Cherish the moments when getting dressed, if you are calm and relaxed you will be surprised by just how emotional and special the moment can be, as you share a special moment with your friends and family, and remember those who maybe can't be with you, in the last minutes before you make a life transition by creating a family of your own.

Many brides have a few jittery moments in the hours leading up to the wedding, this is the day that you have been meticulously planning and organising and its finally here and you start to panic hoping that it all goes to plan, just take a moment, take deep breaths and it will pass. Everyone knows what they should be doing, trust them to get on with it.

You are dressed, have your flowers in your hand and you look and feel beautiful, the car has arrived and its time to go. (or if getting married in the venue, its time to join your guests! ) Before leaving, take a deep breath, relax and SMILE.

Walking down the aisle can be a very emotional moment, no matter where you get married. The ceremony may be the shortest part of the day but it is the most important and most meaningful part of the day. When you say your vows to each other, face each other and look into each others eyes, its each other you are making those promises to, to the celebrant. I have seen so many couples over the years that don't look at each other when saying their Vows, they have missed out on such a special moment where it feels as if it's only the 2 of you in the room. I know that sounds soppy and romantic, but isn't that how it should be on your wedding day? The rest of the day is going to go past in a flash, enjoy every second of your wedding ceremony that you can.

The Groom

Exactly the same as the bride: get up early, shower and have a light breakfast.

You should have everything ready the night before so that there is no last minute panics, your attire is hanging up and ready to wear (Tip if you have a new shirt wash it a few days before - this will avoid any irritation caused by over starched collars and smell fresh too!) You have the rings, your speech prepared, never leave it to the last minute, have everything laid out the night before that way you won't forget anything.

Avoid going to the pub before the wedding, have 1 or 2 of course, but don't get drunk, there will be plenty of time for that later on in the day. This is your wedding day too, enjoy every moment of it.

At the ceremony, when you hear the music begin, turn and face your bride as she walks down the aisle towards you, it's okay to shed a tear when you see her, you are making the woman you love your wife in just a few minutes and the moment can be very emotional.

As she arrives at your side, tell her how beautiful she looks and that you love her, she will appreciate it more than you will know.

After the ceremony if you plan on drinking, try not to consume too much before making your speech, nothing worse than a drunken groom trying to tell his new wife how lovely she looks as he tries to stay upright. I don't think I have every come across a Groom who isn't nervous before making his speech. Hoping that he has covered everything and has practised enough. If you make a mistake just laugh it off. My husband referred to me as "my bride to be & I"! which resulted in much heckling from family and friends, we just laughed it off, what he was meant to say was "my wife and I". I still tease him about it sometimes.

Dinners over and now its time to party... enjoy.

Both of you
When you say your vows to each other, face each other and look into each others eyes, its each other you are making those promises to, to the celebrant. I have seen so many couples over the years that don't look at each other when saying their Vows, they have missed out on such a special moment where it feels as if it's only the 2 of you in the room. I know that sounds soppy and romantic, but isn't that how it should be on your wedding day? The rest of the day is going to go past in a flash, enjoy every second of your wedding ceremony that you can.

The Ceremony is over, it's time for photographs, videos, cocktail reception, wedding breakfast and of course the wedding reception itself. You will probably only come together occasionally throughout the rest of the day as you mingle with your guests and pose for many more photos as the day progresses. Take time out with your new husband for half an hour, whether that's finding a quiet spot in the venue, going for a short walk in the grounds or going to your room, just to enjoy a few precious moments of quiet and share your thoughts on the day so far.

Enjoy every moment of your wedding day, it about both of you and the promises that you make to each other as you start out on your married life together.

Next Week: Planning your Wedding - Part 6 After the Wedding

Planning Your Wedding - Part 4

2012-04-08T15:28:00.000+01:00

The Lead Up to the Wedding

The final 6 weeks before the wedding is the most stressful for any couple. All those plans that you have been putting into place now need to be pulled together.

I am going to give you a few hints and tips to make this time just a little bit easier.

Forget the previous lists that you have done, and create a new one! you might want something like this:

Dress fitting appointment made

Dress fitting - let everyone know that needs to be there

Shoes found
Shoes bought
Underwear search done
Underwear bought
Make up purchased
Rings ordered
Rings collected
Groom and Groomsmen outfits ordered and fitted
Marriage licence
Officiant booked/confirmed
Venue for both ceremony and reception confirmed (by phone if you like)
Timings checked and finalised
Reception - food chosen and confirmed
Cars booked and confirmed
Flowers chosen and confirmed
Cake Chosen and confirmed

Invitations sent and system to collect RSVPs in place

Photographer booked and confirmed

Hen night and stag night arranged

Gifts for bridesmaids

Flowers for mothers ordered (optional)
Evening entertainment booked/confirmed
Hair Trials booked
Fake Tan appointments booked (don't forget to have a trial run approx 6 weeks before so you can check that the colour of the tan is right)
Nail Appointment booked
Make up trial booked
Honeymoon confirmed (if applicable)
Glass of something strong and preferably of the alcoholic nature in hand after you have ticked stuff off this list! :D

I always find it useful to colour code it so that you can see at a glance what you have completed. Like this

Dress fitting appointment made

Dress fitting - let everyone know that needs to be there

Shoes found
Shoes bought
Underwear search done
Underwear bought
Make up purchased
Rings ordered

Red = Urgent Amber = Needs to be done soon Green = done

The most important thing is to make sure you make a start on the confirmations and appointment bookings as soon as possible, so in the case that anything might have to be changed then you will have plenty of time to do this. Many brides will employ a wedding coordinator at this point as it can be very overwhelming to try and pull it all together, especially when you are working full time and it feels that there just isn't enough time in the day. This is also the time when you as a couple need to spend as much quality time together as possible without discussing wedding plans.

Delegation is something that you really need to do at this point, you will be surprised at just how many people are willing to help out at this time, even if it is a small task. You don't have to do it all by yourself!

This is the time that should also be the most exciting, you have your hen/stag nights to enjoy with your friends and its a great time to let your hair down and have some fun.

You will be starting to receive some wedding gifts from your guests, either write your thank you notes now or make sure that you have a list of who sent you what and when. Never send a generic thank you note, always make it personal, don't forget that person has given some thought and effort into choosing your gift, returning the favour in your personalised thank you notes is the least you can do. You don't have to start these before the wedding itself, it's something that can wait until after the wedding.

Most of all its important that you stay organised and relaxed, if something does go wrong, take a deep breath and relax, don't go off in a panic as you will most likely make a rash decision that could be worse in the long run.

Next Week:

Planning Your Wedding - Part 5 The Wedding Day

Planning Your Wedding - Part 3 Choosing your Suppliers

2012-03-30T06:00:00.000+01:00

Planning Your Wedding - Part 3

Choosing your Suppliers

Your suppliers can be anything from your florist, photographer, videographer, cake, cars & transport, venue decoration, fireworks, entertainment, bridal wear, groomswear, caterers and of course your venue.

Choosing the right ones can be a minefield when you start looking, here are a few bits of advice that I can offer to help you make the right choices at the right time.

First, don't be hasty in making your decisions, take your time, it's much better to wait and make the right decision than rushing in, paying your deposits, then finding something you like better later on. Most deposits are non refundable so mistakes can be costly.
Shop around, speak to suppliers, go and visit them, see and touch (where you can) what you will be paying for.
Recommendations from friends and family who may have used suppliers in the past is normally a good sign, it means that they have received good customer service and have tried and tested their products or services already.
When you have decided what suppliers you are going to use, make sure you get something in writing and a receipt for any deposits paid and how much is left to be paid and by when. Read Terms and Conditions carefully before you commit, this can save a load of headaches later!
If you are using a wedding coordinator make sure that they have a list of all the suppliers, contact names and phone numbers, this will allow them to coordinate the suppliers on the run up to and including your wedding day.
A wedding coordinator/planner will also have a range of suppliers that they use and have worked with closely in the past, who they know are reliable, affordable and deliver only the best service to their clients. It might be worth having a conversation. Some planners will charge for this Supplier Sourcing at Beauty Weddings we do this free of charge.

Photographers/Videographer

I would advise looking for your photographer as early as possible. It's all very well a friend saying that they will take your photo's for you, but, there is always a risk that the images won't turn out as you would expect. Speak to several photographers, find out if they are available on the day of your wedding, look at their websites to see examples of their previous work, go and visit them and see how you get on with them, all these things are so important to make sure that you get the best images of your day. Photographers and Videographers get booked up quickly which is why it's so important that you do this early.

Florists

Think of the time of year that you want to get married, what kind of flowers are in season? Do you have a colour scheme in mind? What style is your dress? all these things are factors to consider when choosing your bouquet. Go into florists, see, touch and smell the flowers, ask them to show you examples of their work. Find out when they would have the bouquets ready, will they deliver them on the day of the wedding and when. Again shop around and don't rush in.

Wedding Cakes

The choice of cakes out on the market is huge. There are so many different styles, textures and flavours to choose from. Decide how much you want to spend on your cake. Do you have a style in your head. Many of the wedding shows and fayres will have several stands where you can look at cakes and get an idea of what is on offer, and at the shows there are usually offers available if you book on the day.

Cars/Transport

It depends on your needs, you might want a vintage car, limo, horse and cart. Whatever you have your heart set on you need to do this early, as they will be booked up well in advance. Never just book over the phone! Go along and have a look at the cars, are they clean and presentable, what is the chauffeur like, are they interested in you and your wedding, when will they arrive, what route will they take, how do they charge - by the hour or 4 hourly?

Entertainment

Choosing your entertainment can be fun, it depends what you are looking for. Do you want a band for the evening, or maybe a DJ or a mix of both. It's a great excuse for a few nights out with your betrothed, to have a look at bands playing in venues, visit websites and listen to their music, and have a chat with them to find out their availability.

Venue Decoration

You will want your reception venue to have the WOW factor when you and your guests enter the room. Prices can vary hugely across the industry so shop around look at testimonials, look at photo's and meet with the person that will be decorating your venue for you. Do they understand what it is you want? are they able to visualise it with you? Do they offer advice and ideas? This is your wedding, you are paying for a service, you can have it any way you want it.

Caterers

Regardless of whether you are having a wedding in a big hotel or a community centre, your food is something that you want to be right. If it's your venue that is going to be providing the catering, go there for lunch or dinner before you book anything, bit like a secret shopper if you like, see what the service and food are like before making your decision. If it's an outside caterer, find out if they are preparing the meals / buffet on site or if they will be bringing it with them, sample some of their menu's, is their attention to detail the way you want it. All these things are important when making your final decisions.

Finally

Remember to set your budget before you book anything, speak to several suppliers to see what special offers they may have, see, touch, feel and taste as much as possible, and never put a deposit down on anything until you are absolutely certain you have the right person for the job. If in doubt.... don't!

Next Week.... Planning your Wedding - Part 4 The Lead up to the Wedding

Planning Your Wedding - Part 2 The Bridal Party

2012-03-23T06:00:00.002+00:00

Planning Your Wedding - Part 2

The Bridal Party

Your bridal party are the ones who will be the biggest help and support to you on your wedding day, it is so important that you get this right. When trying to decide it can bring up all sorts of issues and pressure from the family, and before you know it there can be tension generated.

First and foremost, This is YOUR wedding! Couples can get tangled up in the thinking that they have to have their 2nd cousin etc as a bridesmaid, usher etc. No you don't! You can have whoever you want, and it really shouldn't be up for discussion with anyone else.

Brides attendants

Your Maid of Honour/Chief Bridesmaid is one of the people that you will rely on most. So its is vitally important that you choose wisely, this person will most likely be the one who you will laugh, cry and rant with during your planning process, they will be honest but never condescending when you ask for advice and will listen when you are just talking weddings! Whoever in your mind fits that description is the person you should choose.

Your Best Maid really has a joint role with your Maid of Honour doing all of the above and should have similar qualities, this person will also be responsible for the younger attendants on the day up until the end of the ceremony, but they will also be looking after you.

If you are having more bridesmaids/flower girls have who you want to have, you don't have to have your nieces or cousins, this is your wedding you can have all your best friends if that's what you want.

Whoever you choose, someone, somewhere is going to feel put out. You have to be clear right from the outset that whatever decisions you make in the process of planning your wedding, they are Your decisions and they should be respected. It's all to easy to lose sight of what your wedding is all about while others wound up.

Grooms Attendants

The Best Man! This is the grooms choice, it can also be a difficult one. The Best Man is responsible for ensuring that the Groom gets dressed, and turns up on time and also have the responsibility of looking after the rings until they are safely deposited on your fingers.! Some grooms will choose their best friend or brother and what if the bride to be doesn't like that person, well that's where compromise comes in. That person is important to the Groom, it is his wedding too, so why shouldn't he have the person he chooses.

Ushers/Groomsmen

These again are the Grooms choice, he might just want all his best friends to be at his side, or if he has brothers he might want them, he can give them jobs to do on the day so that they feel included and valued in being chosen to stand by his side on what will be one of the most special days in his life.

How to get the best out of your Bridal Party

Now you have selected everyone, what does that mean for you and for them. For you its the people who are going to be with you every step of the way, until you say I Do. For them its special, and they will want to do what they can to help. Have everyone involved so that they feel included in the planning process. Delegating some tasks, giving your party roles on the day itself can make your planning so much easier.

For example you could ask the most confident of the Groomsmen if they will be MC for the day. That would be ushering guests into the ceremony venue before the bride arrives, announcing the speeches, just being the voice of the day. Make sure you give plenty of notice that this will be his job, not 2 days before the wedding!

You could assign the role of the younger members to hand out Orders of Service as guests arrive, or at the wedding breakfast instead of having favours on the tables, have the youngsters pass them out personally. They will be wearing their lovely outfits, why not let them show it off.

You could ask if they would like to do a reading at your wedding ceremony? this can add that extra special touch to their role.

This is your Wedding Day, the day that you make your promises to each other and share the love that you have for each other with your friends and family, making it a day to remember.

Next Week - Part 3 Choosing your suppliers

Planning Your Wedding - Part 1

2012-03-16T06:00:00.009+00:00

Planning Your Wedding - Part 1

Setting the Date & Finding your Venue

This part of your planning can be the most time intensive and probably one of the most stressful in planning your whole wedding. There are various things that you have to take into consideration before doing anything. Breaking your planning down into workable parts is the most effective way of making sure that your plans are as organised as possible.

Okay here are things that you need to consider.

What type of ceremony do you want? Religious, Civil, Humanist, Pagan (indoors/outdoors?)
What time of year do you want to get married? What season?
Approximately how many guests do you want to come to the wedding - this is a ball park figure at this stage, I will explain later why this is important.
What type of venue do you want? A hotel, country house, marquee, pub, back garden etc
Very important What is your budget for the wedding? you must be realistic as costs can spiral out of control very quickly.

Now lets look at things a little more in depth.

Religious Ceremony

Having a religious ceremony is the first choice for many couples who want to have a traditional wedding or whose beliefs require it. This means that you have to take into account other factors.

Is there a wedding venue (of your choosing) reasonably close to where the service will be?
Can it accommodate all your guests?
Will you have to provide transport for your guests to get there? (coach - do they have availability on that day?)
Are both venues available on the same date?

You may need to go back and forth between the venues and transport providers to make sure that they all have the same date that they can accommodate you with.

Civil Ceremony

There are 4900 licensed wedding venues in the UK which can be found here This option means that you can get married and have your reception all in the one location, and for a lot of couples this is the ideal option, as it cuts down on costs (unless your are getting married in the Registry Office of course).

Humanist Ceremony

Marriage by a Humanist Celebrant is becoming more and more popular by couples. What is Humanist Wedding? A Humanist Wedding isn’t religious, but it is saying important things about you and what you believe, your values and your ethics. It’s about publicly making serious vows and promises which mean something to you, and which are legally recognised and legally binding. All this doesn’t mean that the Ceremony has to be dull and boring – far from it. It should be full of joy and laughter, and have the music and readings, which mean something special to you as a couple. You’re free to ask friends and family to take part, not just as bridesmaids and best man, but to take an active part in the ceremony by reading or speaking if you’d like them to. Your wedding can be almost anywhere (as long as it’s safe and dignified) and can be on any day and at any time you wish. Source

At this point in time Humanist Ceremonies are only legal in Scotland (except Civil Partnerships) and must be supplemented by a Register Office wedding in England and Wales.

Pagan Weddings (Hand fasting)

This is a traditional wedding that goes back to ancient times and was traditionally called hand fasting. This is due to the tradition that the wedding ceremony would start by "bonding" a man and a woman who wanted to get married by tying their hands together with a red cord and after one year they would then be recognised as husband and wife. These days this isn't a requirement and the Pagan wedding can be a lovely ceremony. As with Humanist ceremonies, this isn't legally binding and must be supplemented by a Register Office wedding.

When to get married.

Think about this carefully. The "peak" wedding season is normally May to September and December of each year. Expect to pay more for your venue during these times. It can really help your budget to get married outwith these months. Even consider the day of the week to get married. You will ultimately pay more for a Saturday wedding. Many venues will do deals during the quieter months and you will get much more for your money just by having your wedding a month either side of the "peak" season or even midweek. Unless you have your heart set on somewhere, shop around, you will be surprised what deals can be done. Other money saving tips are : you might be offered a "package" from the venue, can this be broken down into elements that you can do yourself cheaper. For example; table centrepieces - can you provide your own? How much do they charge for linen? Can they incorporate your own colours? Will they charge extra? Its likely you can do those elements yourself for less. (in most circumstances)

How many guests

At this point its not necessary to have exact numbers, a guestimate will do. This will allow you to find out if your desired venue is able to accommodate the amount of guests you want to celebrate your special day with you. If it can't, you may have to rethink your options and consider other venues. It will give you an indication of the total cost of hiring your venue, your wedding breakfast, drinks package and evening buffet. Many hotels will give you the honeymoon suite (if there is one)free of charge or a room to change/store wedding gift. They will often give special rates to any guests who might be staying at the hotel/venue on the night of the wedding. Bear in mind the greater the number of guests the greater the cost.

Type of Venue

This is purely a personal choice, you might have your heart set on a country house, a city centre hotel, local community centre or even a marquee in the grounds of the local pub.

Remember, you will have to leave deposits which are usually non refundable so choose carefully. Take time, do your sums and make sure your can afford it, this will save a lot of headaches later. Make sure you give yourself enough TIME, whether you want your wedding in 3 months or 3 years time, you need to make sure that you are able to pay for it by the time the wedding comes around. Remember suppliers won't wait for payment until after the wedding they will want it settled in full either a few weeks before or on the day. Avoid disappointment by budgeting carefully.

Next Week - Planning your Wedding Part 2 - The Bridal Party!

Not to be missed - Planning your Wedding - step by step!!!

2012-03-13T15:08:00.005+00:00

Congratulations, you have had the romantic proposal (hopefully! ) you have a gorgeous ring on your finger, all your friends and family are so excited for you and you feel on top of the world. So what's next?

Beautiful diamond ring available from
Pebbles Jewellery Ltd

It's time to start putting the wheels in motion to plan your wedding, one of the biggest days in your life, when you are making promises to each other and starting out on your new life together as husband and wife. But where do you start! There are tons of websites out there that will give you ideas and tips, but that can seem so overwhelming. Over the coming weeks I will be covering the main tasks for your wedding planning step by step. Of course it does help to have a wedding planner/coordinator, but remember if you are set on doing it all yourself, most planners will give you the initial consultation free of charge, at least you can bounce some of your ideas off them or even gain a few of your own for your forthcoming plans. Even if you don't take up their services at the end of the day, the meeting can be a very useful exercise. But also remember they can be a really valuable source for suppliers, that not only go the extra mile, but are reliable too.

Over the next few weeks, I will be covering everything from the process of how to set the date - you may think that's the easy bit... it's not and can be the most time consuming part of all your planning, finding the right venue for you, catering, flowers, dresses, cars etc. and how to bring them all together so that your day goes off without a hitch.

Make sure you don't miss the first instalment this Friday 16th March 2012

It's my Wedding Day....what could go wrong?

2012-03-11T15:32:00.000+00:00

I don't think I have met a bride yet (including myself on my own wedding day) when I was paranoid that something was going to go wrong. Of all the days this is one where you want it to be perfect. But such is life, mishaps DO happen, its how you deal with them that's important.

So what could go wrong on your special day?

1. You are up bright and early, feeling excited as well as a little nervous, this is perfectly natural, but what you need to do is EAT and DRINK (not alcohol!!) Have a proper breakfast as this will set up you up for the long day ahead, what will happen if you don't...you are likely to Faint or feel Dizzy especially when saying your vows.

2. Your flowers arrive and they aren't what you ordered, first don't panic, get onto the florist right away and Delegate someone or let your wedding coordinator go along and get the correct flowers from the florist, don't wait for them to be redelivered. When you order your flowers take a photo of them so you can have a record of what it is you wanted them to look like and in the case of a slip up, the florist can make amends right way.

3. To avoid any unsightly stains on your dress from spray tans etc, get your tan done 2 - 3 days before the wedding, this will allow any excesses to be showered off properly before the big day, but should you get a bit of staining on your dress as you are putting it on or before you leave use stain removal wipes or unscented gentle baby wipes and DAB don't wipe. Something that happened to me at my own wedding, red wine got spilt down the front of my dress, don't panic just get yourself immediately to the ladies room and run the offending stain under cold water, then dab it dry.

4. Some guests don't turn up or others who didn't RSVP turn up, venues are accustomed to that, if you have a wedding coordinator they will just fix the problem, rearrange the table settings to accommodate, you won't even know anything about it. If you don't have a coordinator make sure that your MOH is aware of your table plans and she will be able to sort out the problem for you. It's not a big a deal as you might think it is, this kind of thing happens all the time.

5. The car breaks down on its way to pick you up or on the way to your wedding, panic starts to set in, don't worry it's a little glitch, the car company should be able to replace the car, if not the worst case scenario, call a taxi! just make sure that someone calls ahead to the venue to let them know that you are running a little late and the reason why.

6. A brides worst nightmare tripping as she goes up the aisle! Don't get upset, make light of it and make a joke of it, it will break the ice and your guests will forget it happened.

7. The caters have got your menu selection wrong. Okay this might seem the end of the world, but is it really? It will be too late to do anything else about it at this point, so you may just have to go with what they have, as long as the dietary requirements of your guests are met. Get your wedding coordinator or MOH to speak to the caterers discretely and calmly, let them know that its wrong and that compensation or reduction in the bill is required. This is something that can be dealt with at a later date.

8. The band doesn't turn up! Most venues will have an "emergency" back up most likely in the form of a DJ, but its better than nothing, you are unlikely to find a replacement band who can turn up at very short notice but a DJ can. Go with the flow and worry about it later.

9. Someone stands on your dress and rips it!!! That can be an awful moment for any bride. Make sure that you have your emergency wedding day kit with you (your wedding coordinator will have one) and have someone put in some emergency stitches, along with a few strategically placed safety pins. It will get you through the rest of the day, without worry.

10. To help avoid all of the above, the week before the wedding contact ALL your suppliers to make sure that what you have ordered is correct and what time things will be delivered and write it all down and who you spoke to and when. If you have a wedding coordinator they will make sure all this is done for you and will liaise with the suppliers on your behalf to make sure that it all goes to plan.

The most important thing to remember is you are getting married and what that stands for, all the other logistics are just a part of the celebrations. You are still going to be married after your wedding day and starting your new life together, that's what is really important.