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Kate Beavis - Magpie Wedding Photo by Kate McCarthy "Welcome to the second issue of BOND Bride Magazine, the digital magazine from the team behind the creative blog and show - Magpie Wedding. We are really excited about this issue as it incorporates our 5 core values that are at the heart of what we do. These are being fully inclusive, ethically minded, choosing wellbeing over weight-loss, supporting UK indie businesses and holding feminist values. With this in mind we are excited to share ideas for having a plastic free wedding, our favourite vegan makeup, tips on how handle the limelight if you are an introvert plus a really informative article about planning a wedding if you have guests with disabilities. There are tonnes of pretty frocks too, with 6 real weddings, new Shop The Look pages that are totally clickable - just click to buy - as well as make up trends, bridal trends and the best flowers ever! We hope that you enjoy it and would love to hear your feeback!"
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Get involved with BOND Bride Magazine If you have a real wedding that you' d like to submit to the magazine or blog, or want to be featured within our Shop The Look sections, email us at uniquebride@outlook.com or DM us via Instagram!
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Cover image: Lee Allison
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A Goth Rock 'n' Roll Wedding
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An Ethical Vintage Wedding
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Industrial Manchester Wedding
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A Colourful Tipi Wedding
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Our Favourite Bridal Trends
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Flowers - Go big Or Go Home
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Key Makeup Trends
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Tips For Introverted Brides
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Creating An Accessible Wedding
AMY & ANDREW
"I was never a traditional person" This Australian outdoor wedding is just dreamy! With a black wedding dress, dramatic red, black and ivory styling and a little bit of goth thrown in, it's far from traditional and we love it! The Meeting Andrew was going abroad the next day but decided to join his friends at the local pub anyway. Amy recalls him being incredibly shy at first, but - like all of us - after some liquid courage and a whole load of cheek, he asked to borrow her mobile phone and ended up calling himself to get a hold of her number! Very clever may we add! The Proposal In what appeared to Amy as a spur of the moment decision, having been in Hong Kong for a friends wedding, the couple decided to extend their trip to go to Kyoto in Japan - Amy's favourite city! Little did she know, this had all been cleverly planned in advance. While standing outside the Fushimi Inari Temple he knelt down and asked Amy the four word question! She recalls to us feeling so floored after Andrew asked her because the first thought she had was "why is he doing that - is he offering me a chocolate?" The Dress Amy always knew she would wear a black dress; her tattoos from head to toe, and altogether alternative style, suits the bold colour perfectly. She told us of her journey working with a designer to carefully collaborate the more modern styles she loves whilst still satisfying her Gothic obsession! A tricky balance to find, but didn't they pull it off?!
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The Planning Continuing on with the theme of the dress, the couple were certain in the fact that they wanted a Gothic themed day; shades of black, red and orange. Not everything went quite to plan though (as to be expected)! A floral feature that cascaded over the dance floor that Amy had visions of black and red flowers for, became a permanent sea of white flowers the day before the wedding. However, Amy told us now that when she looks back at the pictures she loved the contrast it created. "A brilliant outcome and I saved some money." Result! The Best Part "Being walked down the aisle with both parents on each side at the ceremony will always be a really special moment in my life. Being announced as husband and wife too of course, and shocking all the guests when Andrew and I made our entrance at the reception, head banging to a metal song (Face the Pain by Stemm)!" Words of Wisdom We love Amy's short and sweet piece of advice on how to get the most of the day - we think every bride to be should hear this! "Just enjoy yourself... surround yourself in the positive vibes that family, friends and unity brings, and try not to sweat the small stuff!�
"Just enjoy yourself, surround yourself in the positive vibes"
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CREDITS: Photographer: Zee & Cee Studio
Bridesmaid Dresses: Shona Jay and ASOS
Dress: True Love Coture
Hair and Makeup: Martha and Bell
Shoes: Sherington
Ceremony Venue: Eschol Park House
Grooms Suit: Brent Wilson
Reception Venue: Villa Capri
Wedding Stylist: Anna Wang
Cars: Unique Wedding Cars
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Black wedding dress by River Elliot Bridal Black necklace by Jan Knibbs at Atelier 19 Black veil by Offbeatstyle Feather headpiece by Gemma Sangwine Black wedding cake by Crumbs to Creations
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She's your lobster. C'mon you guys. It's a known fact that lobsters fall in love and mate for life. You can actually see old lobster couples, walking around their tank, you know, holding claws. ... See? He's her lobster! PHOEBE BUFFAY
ZARA & DANIEL
"I knew he was a very special soul" The classic fairytale wedding of two dancers who fell in love - is anything more perfect than this... With an explosion of dreamy pinks and crisp white and not forgetting the most amazing wedding car Zara and Daniels wedding day has us all swooning and it even has the classic Dirty Dancing lift!
The Meeting As expected the couple met through dance when Daniel came to Zara's dance school in Canberra four years ago! Zara recalled to us how she knew Daniel was 'the one' as soon as she got to know him "I knew he was a very special soul and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him" The Proposal This Christmas Day proposal made us chuckle: having come back home from a romantic morning walk around a beautiful part on Melbourne, Daniel took Zara into a quiet room of his parents house and asked her to marry him. Having jumped, cried, and laughed in his arms, she playfully revealed to him that she thought he had adopted a dog for them both, but I think we can all agree that a stunning diamond ring more than makes up for the lack of a dog that Christmas Day!
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The Planning Having been inspired by their recent trip to Italy and falling in love with the Tuscan Countryside, they allowed themselves to choose a rich, warm and rustic vibe, that can be seen through choices such as the venue, Stones of the Yarra Valley, that made them feel as if they were back in Italy. The Dress Zara's dress journey was not straight forward. Following her first local dress fitting she came away feeling disappointed with the fact that every dress would have to be heavily altered to even remotely reflect her taste. That was until she found Milva, by chance online, who is located in Russia. This normally would be a huge issue as any bride would understand that they couldn't try on the dress and jump ship, but not Zara - finally she had found something she loved and would not let go! A few incredibly detailed emails later from the designer outlining Zara's favourite dresses, she came away with two!
"We chose a rich, warm and rustic Italian vibe"
The Suit Now this story is quite the opposite; Daniel has always been a fan of the designer Arthur Gallan, and having walked up to the stairs of a local tailor shop in a little side street in Toorak near the same corner of Arthur's own boutique store, he was then greeted by no other than Arthur himself! Of course after that he couldn't say no, and the rest is now history! Daniel wore a stunning pink suit designed and styled by Arthur himself with fabrics ordered from Russia and Italy to compliment his fiance's wedding dress. The Best Part of The Day “Everything! But a few very special highlights were: seeing each other for the first time that day as I entered the Chapel, and our first dance as husband and wife! Amidst a lot of smiles we also cried a lot.” Words of Wisdom "Personalised vows make for a very special and emotional moment that you, and your guests, could never forget given the verity of words coupled with a moment of raw emotions that just cannot be anticipated.”
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CREDITS: Photographer: Rick Liston
Groomsmen's Suits: Arthur Galan
Wedding Dresses: Milva Russia
Bridesmaid Dresses: Shona Jay and ASOS
Shoes: Ralph and Russo
Venue: Stones of the Yarra Valley
Hair: Sammy Fyfe
Cake: Miss Lady Bird Cakes
Makeup: Victoria Jade
Florist: Victoria Whitelaw
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ADVERTORIAL Corset by Charlotte Raine Hair combs by Bee Lavish Pink wedding cake by Crumbs to Creations Engagement ring by Clean Origin Veil by Karen Dornellie
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Image by Debs Allan
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GEMMA & PHIL
"It was so special seeing everything & everyone come together"
Vintage, DIY, local suppliers, family heirlooms and sustainable elements, this wedding has it all, including tons of personality. It is a true reflection of how you should do your wedding day, your way, no exceptions. Gemma and Phil's wedding was perfect for them, just the way it should be! The Meeting Gemma and Phil were both working as personal assistants for a young man with lumbar dystrophy and connected over shared interests and similar ethics; as they were both vegetarian, meditation lovers, and obsessed with animals. When Gemma left for another job the two colleagues stayed in touch and from that, their friendship grew into something more. The Proposal Unlike most proposals theirs went completely unplanned. Whilst on a spa day at their local hotel they were simply relaxing when Phil made a passing joke about getting married, as the spa were offering wedding packages. After a short while Gemma realised he wasn't joking and when Phil created an engagement ring out of a paper napkin she said yes! The Planning Shortly after, a gorgeous engagement ring was made by their silversmith friend by cleverly re-using a rose gold band that belonged to Gemma's granny. They incorporated motifs that had meanings to them such as leaves, berries and even hedgehogs! The nature theme continued from there, within many aspects, such as their invitations that feature a magpie and crow that the couple felt resembled them.
The Venue The couple were both absolutely convinced that they wanted to hold the wedding at Matara as they both had such strong connections with the place. They felt the unique venue allowed plenty of space for their guests, and themselves, to explore and relax.
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The Dress Having always been obsessed with vintage clothing, when Gemma's friend found an original silk velvet 30s gown for sale locally and it was the perfect fit she knew she had to have it! From the beginning she had planned to dye her dress but was so unsure on the colour until she was introduced to natural plant based dyes and it all fell together perfectly... All of this, and a selection of hand made ribbon flowers created by her close friend that Gemma used to make a belt (the night before the wedding?!), and her bridal look was complete.
"Choosing vintage Add heading means you get something really special and unique"
The Suit Phil's outfit was a nod to his spiritual beliefs . The jacket was tailor made by local designer Emily McNair, using fabric from Artique, a local shop to them that sells Asian antiquities. Once they had the jacket the hunt was on to find a suitable hat, in the end Phil found an emperor’s hat which Gemma recovered in left over fabric to match the jacket. The finishing touch was a bespoke hand woven silk scarf by Nick of Leto & Ariadne. The Bridesmaids The couple took an alternative approach to the usual 'maid of honour' and 'best man'; Gemma wanted her closest friend Nick to be her mate of honour as they had known each other from textiles school, and Phil gave Ulta the responsibility of best woman as they had collaborated together on many music projects. The one thing they wanted to ensure between their bridesmaids and page boys was that there was no specific outfit and that they could wear whatever they wanted - as long as it included a hat! Gemma, however, did make the page boys, Phil's grandsons, matching bow ties and button holes out of the off cuts of Phil's jacket. The Best Part of The Day "We enjoyed every minute of the day but the best parts were meeting with and chatting to our guests as they arrived, both in the day and evening. It was so special seeing everything and everyone come together, all our friends and family united to celebrate our wedding day, we felt truly blessed. And the sunshine helped too!�
The Theme “Choosing vintage means you get something really special and unique, beautifully made from the best quality materials. It is an ethical choice; the fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters and often uses cheap labour in unsafe working conditions, so by sourcing second hand you are opting out of this cycle of exploitation. It can also be a more affordable option, and a vintage garment will hold it’s value so you can always re-sell it afterwards!"
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“It also made sense to go with vintage for the table centres as this meant each one was different and as we hired, rather than bought, the individual items would be re-used again and again, bringing joy every time. The overall effect was beautiful and opulent, which would have been much more expensive to achieve if we’d had to buy it all new.” Words of Wisdom “Most people love a wedding and are happy to help out if they can, so if you have friends and family whose skills you can call on then don’t be afraid to ask! The more you can share out jobs and delegate roles the more they will feel invested in the day and it makes the planning easier for you. On the flip side, this can mean giving up some control so this approach is not for everyone, especially if you are a perfectionist!”
CREDITS:
Hair: Jutazorubiene
Photographer: Camilla Reynolds
Florist: The Cotswold Posy Patch
Dress: Hannah Wyman at The Textile Treasury
Grooms Suit: Emily McNair
Dress dyed by: Babs of Botanical Inks
Silk Scarf: Leto and Ariadne
Ribbon Flowers: Atelier19
Venue: Matara
Accessories: Gemma Sangwine
Stylist: Delight Vintage Tea Set Hire
Makeup: Aine Thomas
Rings: Elaine Day
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Olivia crown by Glorious by Heidi Hat by Gemma Sangwine Green velvet dress by The House of Foxy Hair combs by Gemma Sangwine Crystal cake by Little Button Bakery
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ROCHELLE & PETER
"It was perfect because it was private and incredibly emotional" A Las Vegas Wedding and a desert beach shoot, what more could you ask for from a destination wedding! There is so much swoon-worthy photography here and its uber cool vibe has us hooked! The Meeting At first, Peter and Rochelle both hid their mutual feelings towards one another. That was until Rochelle plucked up the courage, on Valentines Day, to ask Peter on a date. The Proposal Peter had devised a romantic proposal plan that involved the perfect mix of sunsets and beaches. It was all going to plan until a restaurant reservation mix up acted as a catalyst to a nightmare evening, it was followed shortly after by an argument and a closed beach (due to a storm)! As you can imagine, the couple headed back to their hotel feeling rather glum, but despite feeling discouraged, as soon as they entered the room Peter asked Rochelle to marry her. Rochelle recalls it being 'perfect because it was private and incredibly emotional. They finished the evening with more tequila! The Planning Having joked numerous times about running off to Vegas and eloping, Rochelle and Peter did exactly that! They had exhausted other options and found that this idea allowed them a stress free, intimate wedding followed by a relaxed dinner with friends and family.
The Location The couple had always known they wanted to get married outdoors and having looked at numerous venues, they visited the wedding gardens of Caesars and fell in love instantly. This allowed them to have their relaxed wedding but still invite their nearest and dearest.
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The Dress The Australian designer, Anna Campbell took Rochelle's attention immediately when she discovered her dresses online. The bride to be was able to find a stockist in her local city of Manchester and got the earliest appointment possible; the rest was history!
The Suit Although it was predicted that Rochelle and Peter would be getting married in 40 degree heat, Peter still insisted on a three piece suit! All the men wore suits from Slaters Menswear for the main ceremony and switched it up with bow ties and floral braces from Topman for the reception.
The Bridesmaids The group decided on an ASOS dress they had found originally and always came back to. This was because they loved the way that the bow on the back would match that of the bride. The Details 'DIY' was the chosen choice of decor for Rochelle and Peter's big day. They used tons of fairy lights, foliage, candles and of course...GIN BOTTLES! They continued the boozy trend with themed favours that included a hangover kit and sunglasses for their open top bus tour of the bright lights of the Vegas strip. The Best Part of The Day "It’s so hard to choose just one part of the day, or days! But aside from getting married, it has to be the open top bus tour of the strip. It was just after we married and was the first time we both relaxed that day. We sat down as husband and wife (with a gin in hand) and felt so fortunate to have our favourite people here with us to share this special moment. We all danced, laughed and celebrated, whilst watching the bright neon lights of Las Vegas – it all felt so perfect." Words of Wisdom "My biggest piece of advice would be to do what is right for you. With so much advice online, and opinions from friends and family, it’s easy to be swayed by others and their ideals. It was a hard decision for us to make to keep our ceremony so intimate. Make sure you bring both of your personalities into the wedding and don’t despair if things go wrong. Lastly, take some time to spend alone together on the day and enjoy every moment because it really does go so quickly!"
"We all danced, laughed and celebrated, whilst watching the bright neon lights of Las Vegas – it all felt so perfect.""
CREDITS: Photographer: Two for Joy
Grooms Suit: Slaters
Dress: Anna Campbell
Bridesmaid Dresses: ASOS
Shoes: ASOS
Venue: Juno Wedding Garden, Caesars Palace
Jewellery: Tiffany & Co
Cake: Classic Cakes
Hair: Paisley Gamble Hairdressing
Florist: Frog Flowers
Makeup: Olivia Morewood
Flower Crown: Folky Dokey
WANNA BE YOURS I wanna be your vacuum cleaner Breathing in your dust I wanna be your Ford Cortina I will never rust If you like your coffee hot Let me be your coffee pot You call the shots babe I just wanna be yours
Secrets I have held in my heart Are harder to hide than I thought Maybe I just wanna be yours, I wanna be yours. Let me be your 'leccy meter and I'll never run out And let me be the portable heater that you'll get cold without I wanna be your setting lotion, Hold your hair in deep devotion At least as deep as the Pacific Ocean I wanna be yours
ARCTIC MONKEYS
Secrets I have held in my heart Are harder to hide than I thought Maybe I just wanna be yours, I wanna be yours
ANNE & JAMIE
"It all was just pretty magical" For Jamie and Anne it just had to be Manchester, with it's industrial cool vibes and Northern culture, it was the perfect place for them. They opted for a traditional ceremony venue and a quirky reception which suited them and their personalities perfectly! The Meeting Anne and Jamie met at their work, The Spinal Injuries Association, in 2010. 7 years later, following their daughters birth, Jamie proposed on their anniversary at L'Enclume in The Lake District. 9 months later the couple were married! The Planning Despite wanting a more relaxed and informal affair, food and music was really important for the couple; this meant that when choosing a venue they had to take into consideration where would allow them to bring their own caterers. Likewise, somewhere that would also work for a band. In the end they found the Fairfield Social Club that had the benefit of a long beer list, and tons of rooms for the little ones to run around. The Location For them it couldn't be anywhere else but Manchester, and to embrace the industrial background they chose the traditional Manchester Hall for the ceremony and then a quirky disused railway arch for the party! Given Jamie being a wheelchair user, this allowed them to have a place that was easily accessible.
The Dress Anne chose a dreamy vintage 70s dress for the big day. Having been to Elizabeth's Boutique she fell in love with all the dresses and actually preferred more of an evening gown look rather than a wedding dress or jumpsuit that she had first thought she would end up in. Anne then changed into a coral vintage maxi dress from Retro Rehab for the evening that only cost her ÂŁ34! The Suit Jamie opted for a brown, 3 piece, tweed suit that was made to measure by Tweed Addict. He was then fortunately supplied a walker boot by the NHS as he broke his leg 5 weeks prior to the wedding day! The Photography After they had confirmed the registrar day, Lucy was the next person that Jamie and Anne needed to confirm could do it. Lucy had shot another family members wedding and taken photos of their little girl when she was only newborn. The couple recalled Lucy having an intimate, engaging style that even their guests picked up on. Now, every time they look at the photos they feel transported back to their special day.
"Focus on the things that are important to you"
The Theme "We both have always been lovers of all things vintage; for me I love the idea that a dress has had a former life before I’ve worn it, so my wedding dress was especially special given its history." The Best Part of The Day "The ceremony was probably our favourite part, even though we did think beforehand that this was just the formal part and then the fun happened! It was a beautiful venue and seeing all our friends and family in once place was pretty overwhelming. Our registrar was really friendly and made it feel special for us, the music...the readings it all was just pretty magical." Words of Wisdom "Focus on the things that are important to you...for us it was music and food, so they were the first things we sorted, and spent most time/money on. Everything else just fell into place. It’s a cliché...but don’t sweat the small stuff, it doesn't really matter...folk just want to celebrate with you. No one notices flowers, place cards, bunting....even though you think all of that is crucial in the lead up."
CREDITS: Photographer: Lucy Little
Bridesmaid Dresses: Rock The Jumpsuit
Day Dress: Elizabeth Avey Vintage Wedding Dresses, Greenwich London
Girl's dresses: Joules Oliver for Mothercare
Hairband: Ivory & Co
Hair and Make-up Artist: Rebecca Anderton
Shoes: Rachel Simpson
Florist: Northern Flower
Evening Dress: Retro Rehab
Venue: Manchester Hall / Faifield Social Club
Groom's Suit: Tweed Addict
Caterers: The Ottomen
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Vintage dress by Magpie Wedding Bridesmaid dress by Monday's Child Vintage dress by Vintage Lane Bridal Vintage headpiece by Crystal Heirlooms Cape by Stephanie Moran Couture
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CLAIRE & MATTHEW
"Walking down the aisle was a special moment for both of us"
Matthew and Claire took inspiration from the Mexican street food and art that they always enjoyed at a little restaurant down the Lanes. From this they included sugar skulls, Papel Picado bunting and loads of colour! The Meeting Claire and Matthew had first met one another in infancy school, at 4 years old! However, despite being in the same school their whole lives they never really crossed paths. This was until they were re-introduced by what was their Maid of Honour and Best Man No2 (who were also married!). From that moment the two of them became absolutely inseparable. The Proposal The proposal was relaxed and intimate. It took place in Brighton, Claire's favourite place, on a family day out with their newborn twins! Whilst down the Lanes, Matthew told Claire to pick out a ring. She thought he was joking at first! The Planning Like most couples, Matthew and Claire found the planning process fun, but very stressful. They decided on a DIY theme to save on the budget, and to allow for something different and out of the norm. They made everything from the ribbon arch to the table plants. They were also lucky enough to have tons of support from friends and family, Claire's mum made their wedding cake, and Matthew was good friends with Tim at Five Oaks (the owner of their chosen venue), and he was able to suggest some brilliant suppliers, saving them loads of time.
"Remember to enjoy planning your wedding amongst all the stress"
The Location Matthew had always wanted to get married outside during Summer, and with Tim being the owner it made complete sense to use Five Oaks as their venue. The blank space also allowed Claire to use her creativity freely. The Dress Claire recalled to us that she had always wanted to get married in a Vera Wang dress, but that was until reality set in and they got a mortgage and had twins! Claire knew that despite this, she didn't want to be traditional. Funnily enough the first dress she tried on she actually bought! We also can't help but mention that the dress was called Austen , and their little boy is called Austin! Since the big day she has contacted a charity that recycle used wedding dresses to make funeral gowns for newborns. She also mentioned to us that her veil will be given to her daughter. The Suit Matthew wanted to go less formal for the big day choosing something in-keeping with the venue. He had desperately wanted tweed, despite the boiling weather. It is safe to say jackets didn't stay on very long, and all the groomsmen ended up just in their waistcoats.
The Bridesmaids Claire chose to dress the bridesmaids in navy so not to clash with the wedding colours. They also wore crystal effect sandals to match Claire's headband. The flower-girls wore light summer dresses to help keep them cool and comfortable.
The Details The couple opted out of dessert and into a huge sweet table with cakes, a donut wall and candy floss pops! They also ordered over 60 cactus and succulents which they potted and then gave to their guests as favours.
The Best Part of The Day "Walking down the aisle was a special moment for both of us and having a small wedding party and knowing that everyone in attendance is really important to us and being able to spend time with each and every one of them on the day."
Words of Wisdom "Remember to enjoy planning your wedding amongst all the stress. Invest in a good photographer, Rafe has blown us away with his amazing photos! Don’t plan your seating plan too early as you will end up changing it daily due to illness and unforeseen events. Make as much of the decorations as you can. Start planning and making earlier than you think you need to so you can enjoy the build up to the big day."
CREDITS: Photographer: Rafe Abrook Photography
Wedding co-ordinator: Events by Helen
Dress & headpiece: WED2B
Lighting: Paul Simon
Makeup and Hair: Melissa Wright
Catering: The Mobile Pizzeria
Shoes: M&S
Venue: Five Oaks
Grooms Suit: ASOS
Celebrant: Nick Myers
Bridesmaid Dresses: Dorothy Perkins
Flowers: Blossom Flowers of Horsham
Body art by Painted Peach Iliana crown by Glorious By Heidi Make your own rings - Laila Smith Jewellery Paper decorations on Etsy Celebrant - Exclusive Ceremonies
Image by Khali Ackford
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BRIDAL TRENDS OUR FAVOURITE BRIDAL LOOKS CREATED BY UK INDIE DESIGNERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEE ALLISON
HAIR AND MAKE UP JENNY BUCKLAND MODELS: EMMA JOHNSON AND EMMA CARGILL
SHADES OF GREY If you're looking for an alternative style statement for your big day then grey is definitely the way to go, from sultry silver tones, to smoky hues or a mixture of both, you'll be sure to make a bold statement on your wedding day. Do away with a traditional white dress and vamp up the drama. We are in love with this embroidered beauty by Bowen and Dryden DRESS: BOWEN DRYDEN
ETHEREAL CAPES Capes are becoming increasingly popular in the world of weddings, they're perfect for almost every season and can add some serious sass to your dress; the ethereal styles are our faves by far and can completely change the your day to night look for the big day! DRESS: THE WEDDING WORKSHOP HAIR ACCESSORIES: ASHLEY WILDE BRIDAL
1930S VIBES Oh viva vintage! The 1930's style is hitting the bridal world with force with it's slim, sleek and chic silhouettes that ooze style, glamour and sophistication. It's sure to make you feel like a Hollywood star on your wedding day HAIR ACCESSORIES: ASHLEY WILDE BRIDAL
DRESS AND CAPE : THE WEDDING WORKSHOP
PRETTY PASTELS Pastels, pastels and more pastels were seen all over the catwalks this year! Beautiful shades of soft pinks, cloudy greys and perfect for "your something blue", baby blues! They add romanticism and alternative glamour to any gown! DRESS: THE WEDDING WORKSHOP
SLEEVE-TASTIC Sleeves, sleeves, sleeves, with 70's looks covered the catwalk this season. We've seen sleeves galore and we are in love; fitted, floaty and embroidered, the bridal world has it all. Perfect for a seasonal British wedding, the key is to go big with loads of drama! DRESS: BOWEN DRYDEN
CHANEL VIBES Chanel vibes will always win in the classic style war! Pair a sleek tailored trouser and androgynous box jacket for a chic bridal look; jumpsuits are becoming more and more popular and thus more widely available for brides...perfect for this trend led bridal look! JUMPSUIT AND JACKET : THE WEDDING WORKSHOP
CITY CHIC With more and more city weddings, outdoor venues and a need for something more than a dress, sometimes a big ball gown just doesn't cut it! Make way for the city chic look that has us all swooning. We love this alternative bridal look! JUMPSUIT AND JACKET : THE WEDDING WORKSHOP
MAXI RUFFLES We are partial to a ruffle or two here at BOND Bride and this skirt is the perfect look for a uber cool wedding vibe. Go big or go home. Ruffles, ra-ras and tiered skirts are bang on trend - team this bridal separate with casual top or a slinky silk cami, its versatility means you can have two looks for your wedding day. SKIRT: RIVER ELLIOT BRIDAL HAIR ACCESSORIES: ASHLEY WILDE BRIDAL
CASUAL VIBES Who says you can't have casual vibes on your wedding day? It's about being you after all! Relaxed understated elegance is what it's all about and bridal separates are the way to go to achieve this look now widely available they give you the freedom to be able to create your own look... your way! SKIRT: RIVER ELLIOT BRIDAL HAIR ACCESSORIES: ASHLEY WILDE BRIDAL
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IN BLOOM THIS YEAR CHOOSE OVER SIZED FLOWERS TO COMPLETE YOUR LOOK PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEE ALLISON
DRESS & SKIRT BY BOWEN DRYDEN
JUMPSUIT BY BOWEN DRYDEN DRESS BY WEDDING WORKSHOP
HAIR AND MAKE UP JENNY BUCKLAND HAIR AND MAKE UP ASSISTED BY SIAN REVILL FLOWERS BY VV RAVEN HEAD PIECES BY CC MILLINERY CREATIONS LACE DRESS BY BOWEN DRYDEN DRESS BY WEDDING WORKSHOP MODELS: CHISHIMBA KABOLE, CATHY WILSON, EMMA CARGILL & EMMA JOHNSON
"I kept mine because that’s the cultural norm where I’m originally from." Nina YK
"I kept mine. It just seemed odd to change my name, it's part of what makes me, me. Taking on someone else's name seemed a bit like becoming a different person." Sarah Winstone
"I've kept my last name because it's one of those patriarchal traditions that really puts me off marriage in the first place! But ironically I know my surname is my father's surname, not my mother's....I would have been happy to go double barrelled so we would both have taken on each others names, but in the end it's just easier to stay as we are. My sister and I are also the last of our family line, it's an unusual name and does feel like part of my identity. It's my business name too." - Gemma Sangwine "I'll be keeping mine - my fiancé is French, and I cannot for the life of me even pronounce his name." - Nicola Prebble
"I kept my maiden name as a middle name (not double barrelled) & my children are the same; my maiden name as a middle name then my husband's surname, I wanted us all to have the same surname. Tried to persuade my husband to take my maiden name but he said it was too feminine!" - Laura Fearne Baker
"I feel it’s an outdated tradition... I also love my name and wouldn’t want to change it! It’s my identity." - Marie Chandler "I kept mine because I'm not obliged and didn't want to become a 'new person' with somebody else's name." - Samantha Ferrer
CHANGING YOUR SURNAME? WE TALK TO BRIDES WHO DECIDED NOT TO TAKE THEIR PARTNER'S NAME TO FIND Ceremony OUT WHY - WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS TOO!
OUR WELLBEING FAVOURITES
Sleepy Me by English Tea Shop Getting your beauty sleep the night before the big day is essential, but with nerves and excitement taking over, getting some shut eye can feel like a nightmare. The English Tea Shop Sleepy Tea is a relaxing blend of Lavender, Hop and Valerian Roots, pleasantly unified with organic Lemon Balm to produce a tea that creates a gentle relaxing effect. RRP £3.02
Peace Silk Eye Mask by White & Green Unlike conventional silk production which kills around 3,000 silkworms for every pound of silk, peace silk is cruelty-free and made from harvested cocoons after the silkworms have emerged naturally and flown away as moths. RRP £32 The Lavender, Rose and Camomile Luxury Diffuser by VOYA A sweet, subtle and calming scent that will evoke instant tranquillity and create a sense of relaxation on the big day. Brides can experience the gentle floral uplift of lavender and geranium and let it unfold like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers – their key accessory. RRP £38 Violet Dreams Bath Salts by I LOVE Soothing Bath Salts are enriched with delicious fragrance so just relax and unwind in their beautiful aroma. With 99% of naturally derived ingredients including ACB Bio-water Bamboo and natural fruit extracts they will leave your skin feeling silky soft and lightly fragranced. RRP: £8
Evolve Tropical Blossom Body Polish by Evolve This oil based vegan body polish contains fine particles of organic sugar to buff skin to smooth.With every purchase of the Evolve Tropical Blossom Body Polish 18ml, you'll get an Free Evolve Sunless Glow 50ml. RRP: £22 Spotify Playlists by Magpie Wedding We have created our very own playlists to help you get through all scenarios of your wedding prep! Whether you need to chill out the night before, have the courage to walk down the isle or even get in the hen party mood, we've got your back! And the best part about it? As long as you have a Spotify account it's free!
1 2 Listen to your body. If you are starting to feel tired, honour your emotions. Know your limits and respect them. Don’t keep going because you feel you should do.
3
Ask for support from those close to you. Many introverts prefer to talk to one person or a small group rather than holding the attention of a crowd. Gain the support of your partner or bridesmaid when talking in big groups. Ask them to make sure you are not left alone to hold a long conversations and ask them to get involved. Get help from more extroverted friends.
Change your self-talk. Our self-talk has a huge impact on our resilience. So, instead of convincing yourself that you may find your wedding day difficult as an introvert, tell yourself that you will be able to handle it. Use encouraging statements such as ‘I am really looking forward to a wonderful day where I feel great and energised all day’.
13 CONFIDENCE TIPS FOR THE INTROVERTED BRIDE
BY LISA PHILLIPS FROM AMAZING COACHING
Having spoken with our brides in our Facebook group 'Unique Bride Club' we know that many of you are in need of some simple, smart tips to overcome your introverted ways on a day when all the attention is on you! We caught up with Lisa from Amazing Coaching for some much needed confidence tips.
4. Remind yourself that it is good self-care to look after your emotional needs on your wedding day. This is not selfish, this is self-care. Don’t start worrying about ‘what other people will think’ – make your own emotional needs a priority. 5. Make time for solitude on your wedding day. Have a room or quiet space available for you to retreat and regain your energy. If you start feeling overwhelmed or exhausted, retreat to this room to restore your energy. 6. On the morning of your wedding, take time to relax and ground yourself. Do some yoga, meditation or go for a walk. If you can start your day feeling grounded, then you have far more chance to end the day feeling grounded. 7. It is likely that many people will want to talk to you. If you find someone particularly draining, cover your solar plexus with your hand. This will stop you picking up negative energy . It will also help you protect your own precious energy. 8. Limit your time with draining friends and relatives as this will only drain your energy. As much as possible, spend time with people who add to your energy, instead of removing it. 9. You may want to give yourself specific’ time out’ times during the day. For example, after the service, after your wedding meal and before the evening reception. Let your bridesmaids know that you will be retreating to a quiet space for a while to gain some solitude. 10. Make a note of what triggers you. What will leave you feeling overstimulated? Will it be greeting relatives or at your evening reception? If you know what is likely to trigger you, put self-care steps in place to find workarounds for whatever particularly overstimulates you. 11. If you find yourself stuck in a conversation that is draining you, don’t be afraid to be assertive and excuse yourself. Remember, you are the only person who is responsible for maintaining your wellbeing. 12. In a conversation, allow the extrovert to do most of the talking rather than feeling obliged to keep up. 13. Accept who you are. Being introverted is not a bad thing – it is just your personal preference. Be honest with people that you are feeling tired and are going to take a break.
OUR VEGAN BEAUTY FAVOURITES
Hydrating Lipstick by Emani This lipstick can give you a rich colour whilst maintaining an intense hydration. It is infused with a high concentration of natural apricot and sunflower oils. This, combined with its high impact pigment gives lips a smooth, plump finish. RRP: £19 Age Defense Broad Spectrum Remedy by D'Alchemy A comprehensive formula to reduce the most problematic symptoms of hormonal skin ageing. The cream provides intensive skin regeneration, lightens up discoloration, fills up wrinkles, and prevents loss of firmness and density. RRP: £48 Mosaic Blush by Emani Achieve multi-dimensional radiance with this hand-blended Mosaic Blush compact. Formulated for long-lasting wear, the stunning tones are carefully combined to achieve the perfect balance of pigments and give skin a flawless, HD finish. RRP: £18
Organic Face Oil With Coffee Oil Combined with jojoba, sea buckthorn and rosehip oils, this face oil has multi-uses and is also excellent as a hair or beard oil. This is because the jojoba oil softens hair whilst rosehip keeps the skin beneath healthy and reduces irritation. RRP: £14.99 Rose Blush Trio Palette in Floral Fantasy by Milani This Rose Blush Trio features three colour coordinated, highly pigmented shades that can be worn together or alone to amplify and define cheekbones. RRP: £10.70
Mineral Eyeshadow Palette In Blooming Nude by Lavera The six gorgeous colours complement each other to enhance your eyes, adding colour with a variety of nude and natural eyeshadows ranging from light to deep intense shades. RRP: £24.95
Advanced Pro Formula Selftanning Mousse in Ultra Dark by St Moriz Created by self-tanner experts, the St. Moriz advanced Pro formula collection is St. Moriz's most advanced self-tanner range yet. The salontested formulas, with improved ingredients and confirmed results, will revolutionize and seal the perfect tanning look. It promises to transform your self-tanner experience! RRP: £7.50
WEDDING MAKEUP TRENDS
FROM BRIGHTS TO A DEWY GLOW, MAKE UP ARTIST AND TEACHER JENNY BUCKLAND SHARES HER TOP TIPS FOR CREATING AN ON TREND WEDDING LOOK. PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEE ALLISON HAIR AND MAKEUP BY JENNY BUCKLAND AND SIAN REVILL MODELS: CHISHIMBA KABOLE AND CATHY WILSON
DEWY GLOW Dewy or "lit from within" skin is created by using fine layers of make-up rather than one heavy layer. Prepare the skin with a primer such as the Becca backlight; this will create a radiant glow and help minimise pores. Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser will give you an illuminating finish building on the primer which comes in different tints to match your undertone. Adding some highlighter in the spots the sun usually hits the face will add some extra dewy glow: I like the Delilah aura highlighter as it contains different tones, is milled beautifully so its powder is fine and can be swept on in small amounts. Instead of using a powder brush, switch to a domed eyeshadow brush to avoid applying too much and looking sweaty! Finally, finish with a setting spray such as Milani who make it dewy- spritz some of this over your face from a distance and you're good to go.
Dress: Stephanie Moran Couture
BAT FOR LASHES This popular catwalk trend will give you extreme over the top lashes, whether it be bright, feathery or just extreme lengths. Seen on Lady Gaga and Lizzo, you can go theatrical with this look or keep it understated. You can choose an array of lashes from most make-up counters; the key is to make sure you trim them down to fit your lash line. The most common complaint from my clients is that lashes never stick and the glue goes every where. You need to run a small amount glue along the trimmed lashes and let it dry before applying along you lash line. The glue goes tacky and will adhere right away. I prefer to use a dark glue however if you use clear it will take a good few minutes to turn clear once it is dry so you will see some glue residue for a short time. If you're new to applying lashes, try with a smaller pair first. Why not buy different lashes and customise them yourself to create your own look. Cape: Stephanie Moran Couture
SOMETHING BLUE You don’t have to have blue eyes to make this trend work, in fact metallic blue will work on all eye colours. Trousers & Top: The Wedding Workshop Earrings: Ashley Wilde Bridal
The Huda Beauty sapphire eyes pallet will give you a hit of blue that is perfect to create this look. A mixture of matts and metallic creams will enable you to create the look from one pallet! Preparing the eye will help the longevity of this look and minimise any creasing in the eyelid. First, prime the lid using NYX waterproof eyeshadow primer. A thin layer over a clean lid will be perfect. Metallic eyeshadows tend to be of a cream consistency and work better if applied with a finger (a clean finger!). Your finger will warm up the cream meaning it will glide over the lid and leave a great payoff of pigment. Once the primer has dried, take a sweep of the metallic cream shadow over you lid. Keep the application with your mobile eyelid and avoid touching the brows. To make sure the cream stays in place use a domed eyeshadow brush to pat a small amount of the bright blue shadow from the same Huda pallet, tap off excess and pat this over the cream shadow to ensure it stays in place. Finish with black eyeliner on the water line or go for a contrasting turquoise to change the look up.
GOTH VIBES Make up holds no boundaries when it comes to creating a black lipstick look which is dramatic and eye catching. Dress: River Elliot Bridal Necklace: Adorn By Ashley
The key to any great looking lip is to prepare your lips to remove any flakes use a toothbrush with some lip balm to gentle buff away any flaky skin. The lip balm will help to add moisture and will prevent your lips from drying out. Blot the lips to remove any excess lip balm. I used a black eye pencil in place of a lipliner as it will give the same effect so long as the pencil is not to hard. Lining your lips will prevent the dark colour moving into the skin around the lips and help it stay in place longer. If you have uneven lips you can bring the pencil out of the lip line slightly to create a fuller looking even lip. Darker colours of lips tend to show any imperfections so you can correct these quickly and easily by using a lip pencil. One you have the outline, then fill in the whole lip area with pencil which gives the lipstick a great base and deeper intensity of colour. The main reason I do this is that if your lipstick does wear, you will have colour all over the lip and not just an outline! My favourite matt black lipstick is Illamasqua matt lipstick in pristine. This highly pigmented lipstick will help you pull of this trend with ease. For precision use a lip brush to help enhance the lip line you have already created with the pencil. The ‘my line and curve’ from My Kit Co will help apply the lip colour with ease. You can of course apply direct from the bullet if you prefer, just be careful you don’t go over the lip line and if you do, have some ‘my on point mini buds’ from My Kit Co to touch up.
GLITTER ADORNMENTS Adding festival vibes to your make-up look is easy, fast and fun! Dress: Marie Chandler Bridal
You can add as little or as much as you like. Use a cosmetic glitter as it designed for the face meaning it is finely milled making it friendly for your face. The Lottie.London glitter is bio-degradable and comes in a glass bottle making it easy to recycle. You can coordinate the glitter with your outfit or go for an array of colour. Using a glitter glue will give the glitter further staying power you want. You can also use a glitter balm or gel. My preference is a glue as they are safe for the skin and will keep your glitter in place so you can party the night away without any worries. I use the NYX glitter glue, the small tube means you only use what you need. Apply a thin layer on the skin where you want the glitter to adhere to. Work quickly before the glue dries and you are good to party. Gems come in packs that you can stick straight on to the skin. However, they do not stick well over lots of make-up. You may need to expose the skin a little so peel off the backing and press to apply. If you want them to be extra secure, then you can also put a little glue on the back on the gem, press and hold on the skin for a few minutes to keep in place. This is useful if it is hot! Dress: Bowen Dryden Shoes: I Am Florence Clips: Ashley Wilde Bridal Skirt (above): The Wedding Workshop
PLANNING AN ACCESSIBLE WEDDING Planning a wedding can be an overwhelming yet exciting process as there is a lot to remember, therefore it is completely understandable if you forget things along the way. However, one thing you do need to consider is whether any of your guests need extra support. Here is some valuable advice from Ami Tricker, a disability blogger who has also been planning her wedding recently.
ACCESSIBILITY Accessibility is the first and foremost aspect you need to consider for your guests, however it is not just about being able to get through the front door – there is much more to it! All doors must be 80cm in width, at the very minimum, to allow wheelchair access. If the venue has 1 or 2 steps upon entering, ask yourself whether your guests will require assistance when walking or would they need grab/hand rails? If a guest is wheelchair-bound, they would require a portable ramp to be used to enable access. Check with the venue if they are able to provide a portable ramp, if not, this then gives you plenty of time to find or hire a ramp. If you were to find out that the venue does not provide a ramp, at the last minute, this would then cause a lot of distress for you and your guest. If ramps are used, it would be useful to place a non-slip material underneath. A lift in the venue would be beneficial to those who have difficulty climbing more than a few steps and wheelchair users. Ensure that the doors to the lift are wide enough to fit, at least, 1 wheelchair and 1 person. All venues have a duty to facilitate 1 disabled toilet. Venues do comply to the regulations and requirements, however some venues do not provide enough space to manoeuvre and transfer safely. Changing Places is the next step up from a standard disabled toilet; they provide additional features, such as a ceiling hoist, a self-standing hoist and an adult-sized changing bench, which accommodates disabled people with more complex needs.
Before the reception, an act of kindness would be to spare a few minutes to guide your guest which will enable them to familiarise themselves with different ways of access. Photo by Rafe Abrook
Tip: It's handy to make yourself aware of the regulations and double-check the venue(s) when viewing. When arranging the seating plan and layout of your reception, ensure that there is plenty of room for wheelchair users to manoeuvre – there's nothing worse than reversing into the table with the cake on! If your guest uses a cane/white cane then it is best NOT to place floor decorations directly in the middle of a pathway, otherwise this would cause barriers. Tip: Before the reception, an act of kindness would be to spare a few minutes to guide your guest which will enable them to familiarise themselves with different ways of access.
TRANSPORT & PARKING Will you be arranging transport for all of your guests? Then make sure the form of transport is accessible. Cars, buses, taxis are accessible but it is worth booking in advance (especially taxis) incase you need to book more than one. Does your venue(s) have plenty of parking space? Ask your venue about the ability to allocate and reserve parking spaces. Then you are able to offer your guests (wheelchair users and people that have difficulty with walking far) a designated parking space.
HEARING IMPAIRED GUESTS Having a hearing impairment can make us feel really lonely. Does your guest communicate via BSL (British Sign Language) or lip-read? Invite their BSL interpreter or the person who they can communicate best with. Are they sensitive to noise? Discuss with your DJ/Entertainment about the noise level. Ask the guest to bring sound-blocker headphones incase they start to become distressed with the level of noise. Speak with your venue and arrange a quiet side room to enable the guest to have some respite.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED GUESTS Is your guest visually impaired? Ask if they would like a seat reserved which is closer to the front. When sending out invitations, RSVP’s and dietary requirements (menu/directions if applicable), make their stationery to be printed in large print – an act of inclusion goes a long way and they will truly appreciate you for it! Make a note on their invitation to bring along someone they know well, not only will this prevent loneliness but the person they bring with them can give detailed descriptions of the wedding venue(s), the attire, the decorations, the cake and so much more! Are they sensitive to lights (including people with Epilepsy who are prone to seizures)? Again, speak with your DJ/Entertainment about lowering the speed of flickering/bright colourful lights to a comfortable level for the guest. Speak with your venue and ensure there is a side room available should the lights become too much. Does your guest have a guide/assistance dog? Double-check with the venue that they can accommodate for, and provide adequate space for the dog to exercise throughout the day.
Additonal acts of inclusion Will you be having a sit-down meal? Ask if your guest requires adaptive cutlery and crockery. With regards to buffets, ask if they would prefer a member of staff/someone they know to serve them their food and drink, also if they need any further assistance. What activities or entertainment will you be having? Whether it be a physical activity, or something that is mainly focused on visuals, for example, a magician – the person, who is accompanying your visually impaired guest, will be able to describe the events taking place to retain the same level of magic that any other person would experience! In case of an emergency make disabled guests aware of where to go, should they need first aid, and any fire exit routes, this will ease any anxieties they may have and decrease any feelings of panic.
"Rent reusable plastic cups for the beer tent/bar if you aren’t allowed or can’t use glass." Jen Gale "Think about what your food is going to be served on and eaten with. Hire in your crockery, tableware and glassware from a local supplier so you can have a plastic free wedding and reduce waste by not using disposable plates, plastic cutlery and plastic cups. Hiring vintage crockery, glassware and cutlery for your wedding is the perfect eco-friendly choice!" - Helen Baker
"Speak to your makeup artist about what single use items they use in their kit, and if it's possible to use something different or recycle them in some way afterwards. The only single use plastic I use any more is disposable mascara wands, for hygiene reasons. But I collect them all up after every wedding booking and save them to send to an animal sanctuary who use them to clean small animals." - Sarah Winstone "Have jugs of tap water on the table, and also freely available for the ‘after party’ so people don’t have to resort to buying plastic bottles of water." - Jen Gale
"I’m all about reusing waste and of course there’s lots of plastic going to waste, so bring what waste you have to me, and I’ll make them into the most amazing headgear and/or decor.Your headpiece will never disintegrate and I can retrieve the table decos and reuse them for other projects!" - Chloe Haywood
"Try making your own confetti with leaves, or flowers! This is an easy way of not only saving money but also the planet!" - Jen Gale
"Avoid table sprinkles and glitter, they're instant landfill." Jen Gale
HOW TO GO PLASTIC FREE Advice from wedding suppliers & eco experts who have put ethics at the forefront of what they do - check out our free ethical wedding guide too!