The most popular entertainment option for most couples Most DJs will be able to offer most eras and therefore cater for most tastes.
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There’s no such thing as “wedding season” anymore. Weddings are year-round, with many couples looking to monopolise a trend, theme or style for their big day. If you’re attending a wedding in the coming months, you’ve probably already planned out what you’ll be wearing. It’s an important day after all and the best excuse to hit the shops and find a new head to toe outfit.
After picking out a gorgeous dress (careful you don’t upstage the bride – unless you are the bride!) and some equally stunning footwear, you’ll be looking at how to accessorize in a stylish way to tie the ensemble together. This is often the hardest part. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Follow this advice, because there’s no more sure-fire way to make a statement than landing the right wedding hat.
Have you been given the task of organising a hen party or bridal shower? No pressure, right?! As you’ve probably already guessed, there are a lot of plates to spin to ensure everyone, especially the bride-to-be, has the best possible experience.
Once you’ve booked the perfect venue, sourced or made all the decorations and stocked the fridge with plenty of bubbly it’s time to start thinking about some fun activities to keep everyone in the party mood.
The first dance song is the most memorable one of any wedding. Couples can spend months deciding on the perfect tune but it shouldn’t become a stressful matter and ought to be very personal to the bride and groom.
Traditionally, the married couple performed the first dance to open up the dancing for their guests. In days gone by, this was usually a waltz, but these days any style of dance goes.
Photo credit: ISPWP
There’s a lot to remember when organising a wedding, so our checklist will help you stay on track of what to do and when to do it.
Don’t delay thinking about what to do with your hair until the last minute. It’s worth booking a professional; that way you can sit back and relax with a glass of bubby while they do all the hard work. Here are some top tips for booking your hairdresser and other beauty treatments for the big day.
Every bride wants to look fabulous on her wedding day and the best way to see what is right for you is to make appointments at bridal shops and try on a variety of dresses you like. Keep an open mind and take the advice of the experts in the shop as they are well practised at knowing what suits brides of all shapes and sizes.
THE PEAR
The pear-shaped bride is smaller on top than the bottom with hips wider than her shoulders. Princess dresses will help disguise fuller hips and emphasise your better half, balancing you out. Strapless ballgowns also work well in this regard and empire line dresses highlight the smallest part of your body.
Avoid: Tiered, trumpet and mermaid dresses which draw attention to your bottom. Sheath dresses are another no-no.
Wedding transport comes in all shapes and sizes and prices vary greatly so make sure you allocate enough of your budget to match your requirements. Firstly you should decide on what type of vehicle you would like.
If your journey from home or a hotel to the ceremony venue, and/or ceremony venue to reception is anything more than a local journey, make sure the car you book is suitable and comfortable for the length of time you are travelling.
Photo by brycecoveyphotography.com
Our travel guide suggests some perfect locations and the best time to visit them.
Comprised of 700 islands in 100,00 square miles of ocean, the Bahamas boasts some of the clearest water on the planet. You can see your toes as easily as you can the world’s third largest barrier reef!
November to April, although the trade winds bless the Bahamas with year-round weather, with winter lows averaging around 70f.
Although June to October is the hottest time of the year, these months also see the most rain, with a chance of hurricanes.
Fashion has travelled back to the Jazz Age since the release of Baz Lurhmann’s film of The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio as sartorialist Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as elegant socialite Daisy Buchanan.
The bridal industry in particular has taken inspiration from the lavish film based on the iconic American novel depicting the era when the rich got richer and style ruled.
In this post we take a look at some 1920s inspired dresses – perfect for that vintage Gatsby inspired wedding!
From stately homes to traditional fincas, rustic barns to contemporary hotels with the quirky thrown in, there’s literally hundreds of venues a bride and groom can choose for their big day in Mallorca, whether they want the whole day there, or just the ceremony or reception.
Don’t miss our top tips!
So, you’ve decided that a marquee either at home or in the grounds of a breathtaking venue is the way to go. There are bound to be things you haven’t considered so here’s your guide to making sure all goes smoothly.
The size of your marquee will depend on how many guests you invite, how you intend to use the space and how much space is available where you are erecting it. For 100 people seated you’ll need a marquee around 9m by 12m, but you might want to also consider adding on extras like “chill out” tents as well.
Make sure you are happy with the look and design of your ring. A traditional band is plain gold, however you might want something more modern and unusual. Consider the style of your engagement ring and make sure the two can be worn together comfortably.
“Oui” ring from Christian Dior
Traditionally the bride’s sister or her best friend, the chief bridesmaid needs to be someone who is unflappable, organised and there to provide a shoulder to cry on during the ups and downs of planning a wedding.
Think about important moments during your day. At the ceremony, do you want an organist/a string quartet/a choir? Do you want music while your guests are eating? And, if the wedding includes evening entertainment, will you need to book a band or a DJ, as well as other styles of entertainment such as magician or a caricature artist?
Choose the musical style according to the formality of the wedding. A grand venue and formal meal will be best accompanied by a live band. A funky DJ is more in keeping with a civil ceremony and coctails. If the rooms are large, remember to check whether speakers will be necessary – and if they are permitted.
Your guests are bound to be a mixture of ages and they won’t all share the same taste in music. You’ll find choosing a mixture of classics and modern songs will appeal to most people. If you want the dance floor heaving, 70s and 80s disco tunes are always popular.
The more performers you have the greater the cost so, if your budget is limited, think about keeping things simple: have just an organist for the ceremony; compile a CD of your favourite background music to play during the meal; and then book a DJ for the evening.
You need to find someone who shares your vision for your wedding. Arm yourself with pictures from magazines and expect to be inspired.
Although just about any flower is available all year round – at a price – using seasonal flowers for your wedding will look right and save you money. Find out from your florist what will be available and in what colours.
Be clear from the outset about how many floral arrangements you want and where you want them to go. Do you need a lot of flowers at the ceremony? Most time is spent at the reception, so this is where the majority of the flower budget should be spent.
It’s essential to find a florist who can come up with good ideas to suit how much you have to spend. If they trying to get you to spend more than you’ve allocated, this florist is not the one for you.
Make a list of your favourite flowers. If the blooms you would like are particularly expensive, remember that just a few can make an impact if used creatively.
Photo Credit: Married in Sheffield
The bride’s bouquet is the ultimate wedding accessory and you’ll want the work with your florist to create something extra special.
Blooms, usually a variety of roses, wired together or casually hand-tied. They work best at a contemporary wedding with a simple, modern dress.
A tight ball of flowers, usually without foliage, suspended on a ribbon that the bride hangs on her wrist. These are also very popular for bridesmaids of all ages.
Small, simple and usually hand-tied with ribbon. Lily of the valley makes the perfect minimalist posy.
The classic bouquet, usually consisting of larger flowers such as roses and peonies loosely arranged and tied with ribbon.
A waterfall-like spill of flowers wired to cascade from a handle. This is the most traditional and formal of the bouquet shapes and suits full-skirted dresses.
Photo Credit: Pam Scott Photography
Do you know anyone who has been married recently or have you seen a wedding album that you like? Look at the real weddings section on www.youandyourwedding.co.uk for inspiration or contact a professional association such as the Master Photographer’s Association.
Do you want photographes of every part of the day or just the ceremony and important moments such as cutting the cake? How much does the price drop if the photographer is there for only part of the day?
Prices vary enormously and you’ll need to do your homework, comparing what’s on offer to find the best photographer. It is important that you like him or her too!
Decide on the style of photos you prefer. Do you want traditional shots or a more relaxed, reportage style? Choose someone who specialises in your preferred look. Reportage photography may look easy but it takes a certain sill to capture unposed moments well.
Have you chosen a formal gown, which will be best complemented by an elegant bouquet filled with structured flowers and foliage? Usually these bouquets feature a single colour theme. Or will be wearing a cocktail, prom-style or flowing empire-lline dress, which will enhanced by gentle, delicate posies? For these styles, you could try wildflowers or cottage garden blooms in a mix of colours, loosely tied together.
Getting married abroad is becoming more and more popular and appeals to couples who have been married before or who simply want something informal in an often amazing location. A wedding abroad is usually a cost-effective way of marrying but you’ll have to accept that a lot of family and friends won’t be able to join because of financial or time constraints (which may, or may not be a good thing!).
Until de late 1950s, a Martini was nearly always made with gin, not vodka. Served ‘wet’ or ‘dry’, a wet Martini has more vermouth than a dry one. For ‘wet’, try a 1:5 or 1:10 ratio of gin to vermouth.
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
Pour vermouth into a chilled glass. Add gin to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir for 60 seconds. Strain through a sieve into the chilled vermouth. Garnish with a twist of lemon zest or green olive.
Fields and farms can provide the perfect setting. Often farmers will rent out a field for a day or weekend; some will even provide local produce. Ask if you can borrow straw bales for seating, and whether there are toilets nearby for your guests. Always check with the relevant authorities if you need either a marquee or liquor licence for the event, and make sure there is access for your tent hire company and any guests with disabilities. You can set up a small kitchen tent and hire catering equipment, although food prepared beforehand will mean less fuss.
Tipis and kata tents consist of a hand-crafted timber pole structure covered with natural canvas. The design allows for easy assembly and is intended to include a real fire in the centre. Giant Hat Kata tipis are huge and can be joined together to form beautiful arrangements with enough space for hundreds of guests. Hire companies can provide gorgeously rustic trestle tables and benches, which you can decorate with foliage and candies. During chilly evenings, lay vintage woollen or sheepskin blankets across the benches.
From heavenly chocolates to personalised cards, you can make all manner of gifts that will please your friends, young and old. Think of unusual options that say something about you as a couple.
Decadent little rounds of soft chocolate, dusted with fine cocoa powder, melt-in-the-mouth truffles are simple to make at home. Prepare them just a few days beforehand, and keep them cool. Continue reading
But regardless of whether you have been saving for years or are strapped for cash, you can still have a glorious wedding. Don’t be tempted to borrow money for your celebration – in my experience this simply leads to stress and worry. It is better to start your married lives together without this burden. Continue reading
You may have spent months, even years, preparing for your perfect big day, and carefully choosing your green products and services. And the bulk of this work usually falls on the bride. The result is a day to which a great deal of expectation is attached. Continue reading