CENTREPIECE Wedding Magazine
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The UK's digital magazine for brides size 16+ ISSUE 01 / SEPT 2014
Real Life Weddings to inspire and how you can recreate them
finishing touches to make your day unforgettable
How to make your own cen trepieces
What to wear?
Our guide to the hottest outfits to wear as a wedding guest
Something old, new, borrowed & blue
You know the saying but do you really know what it means?
1 Langford Court, Langford Bridge Farm, Ongar Road, Kelvedon Hatch, Essex CM15 0LB 01277 369908 Or 07412523349
Winner of Essex Wedding Awards - Best Bridalwear Retailer 2013.
Editor's Foreword Welcome to Issue 1 of Centrepiece! It's a great feeling to be able to say that and to know that finally someone other than me is reading it. This month's issue is packed full of real life wedding inspiration, DIY wedding ideas and more including our pick of the best Art Deco venues in the UK. We all know the rhyme "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" but check out page 10 to find out what the meaning behind it is and the history behind some of our other wedding traditions. Each month we'll also be highlighting a wedding supplier to give you ideas and inspiration for your big day. This month we've got a crafty take on the traditional hen party on page 29. Take a look at page 49 to find out about the extra features starting in next month's issue including a real bride's diary of the lead up to her wedding. I hope you enjoy this month's edition of Centrepiece and I look forward to welcoming you back next month.
Cass x As this is the first issue we would love to know what you think about Centrepiece. If there is something you would like to see more, or less, of in the magazine or you have a wedding question you want answered then please let us know. Drop us an email to: contact@centrepiecewedmag.co.uk or ask us here.
H www.minkiemoobakery.co.uk
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Contents On the cover 10 finishing touches to make your day Page 6 unforgettable Something old, new, borrowed and Page 10 blue. We all know the saying but what exactly does it mean? What to wear as a wedding guest
Page 12
DIY Centrepieces
Page 46
Monthly features Real Life Weddings
Page 18
Supplier Profile
Page 29
10 reasons to use a wedding planner
Page 34
Honeymoons & Destination Weddings Page 36 Cake Banter
Page 38
All About Flowers
Page 42
Here is where the fun begins
Page 44
Perfecting Lipstick
Page 46
Next month's issue
Page 51
10 FINISHING TOUCHES TO MAK
This collection of finishing touches will make any wedding day extra special. From the very beginning with tea towel invitations that your guests can keep forever, to wrist bands for your singletons to wear so that they can easily 1 - Sweety Heart from Sweety Heart Hire This sweety heart loaded with Ferrero Rochers or Toblerones will look fantastic at your evening reception or could even be used instead of placing favours on the tables. Place it next to your guest book and your guests will have something sweet to munch on while they think of something sweet to say.
1 2 - Wedding Tea Towel Invitations from The Original Wedding Tea Towels
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Before the big day even arrives you need to send out your invites. Why not send your invitation on a tea towel? This unusual but oh-so-beautiful invite will get used again and again and will guarantee to bring back memories of your big day every time. Not only will it be something your guests will want to keep but they're also great value for money. 3 - Heart Frame from Marrees Wedding Essentials This heart frame makes a unique alternative to a guestbook that your guests will love. Your guests' messages are written on the hearts and are then displayed in the frame.
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KE YOUR DAY UNFORGETTABLE
m spot who is taken and who isn't,.There's something here that your guests will o never forget. You can click on all of the images or headers in this feature to be taken straight to the supplier's website, social media page or youtube video. 4 - Bride & Groom place cards from Be-Licious Designs These place cards will definitely stand out from the crowd. They're perfect for some candid shots for yor wedding album. Just hold them in front of your face and snap away. Your guests Facebook timelines will love them too!
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5 5 - Personalised Chocolate bars from WrapperStar These UK made chocolate bars can be designed to match your day perfectly. 6 They've been described as a cross between Galaxy and Lindt milk chocolate and can be persoalised to 6 - Heart Umbrella from Love Umbrellas double up as your place settings and Heart umbrellas are a great gift to the femaletasty favour too. There's no minimum members of your bridal party. They can be order so will suit any size wedding. used on the big day regardless of the weather and long after you return from your honeymoon. Love umbrellas come in different colours and different designs to compliment any colour scheme or theme.
7 - Personalised Wine Glasses from Cheeky Vino These personalised glasses are available as wine glasses, champagne flutes and shot glasses! They can be designed to match your colour scheme and are available for your bridesmaids and the rest of your wedding party as well.
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8 - 'Heels off' Wedding Flip Flops from Wedding Flip Flops
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Heels Off Wedding Flip Flops are the perfect solution to remaining comfortable, safe and stylish on the dance floor, keeping your feet clean, safe and comfortable all night long! No more having to avoid all those nasty spills or worse, broken glass. Perfect for you to wear under your dress and for all your guests to keep the party going! 9 - Personalised favour names from Name The Favour Name the favour design and create bespoke place cards that can be used by your guests again and again, like egg cups!
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10 - New custom wedding song from Wedding Song For You If you're looking for a change from the usual wedding songs then check out the new custom wedding song from Wedding Song for You. Click on their logo below to be taken to the YouTube video.
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Hair Design and Make Up By Michelle www.bymichelle.co.uk Hair Design and Make Up by Michelle based in Binfield (Berkshire) covering Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire and the surrounding areas for wedding bookings. 0782781580
Something old, new, Written by Rachel Sprules
We all know the saying but
It’s an age old saying which is uttered by every bride/bridesmaid/mother of the bride at some point before the wedding…
“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.”
This traditional rhyme details what a bride should wear at her wedding for good luck. A lot of brides can be superstitious and weddings are shrouded in tradition. But where does this rhyme come from? The rhyme is well known and popular with the wedding party, often recited religiously to ensure that each of the four “somethings” are covered, although often the sixpence part of the rhyme is left out. It seems to originate in England from 1898, but can be traced back as far as 1871 where it is reference in a short story called “Marriage superstitions and the Miseries of the Bride Elect”. “Something old” represents the link between the bride and her family and their past, referencing the relationship between the bride
and her mother or grandmother. The something old is symbolic of continuity and the family’s closeness. This can be symbolised in many ways, the bride may choose to wear a piece of antique jewellery, a heirloom passed down through her family or have something present at the wedding which belonged to a family member of significance. A nice way of representing this link is to put a photo of the bride’s mother/grandmother in a locket or to take a scrap of fabric from an old wedding dress and place it in the locket. “Something new” represents good luck and the bright future which the bride and groom are about to embark on in their new married life together. Normally, the wedding gown is chosen to represent this, however items such as the rings, flowers or a symbolic piece of jewellery can be used. Wearing this item on the day of the wedding conveys the message of creating a new and lasting union which will endure forever. Let your something new be something of significance and quality so one day it can become someone’s “something old”.
, borrowed and blue what exactly does it mean? “Something borrowed” represents the love and friendships that friends and family offer the bride on her special day and for the future. The emphasis is on ‘borrowing’ the item and it should come from a happily married woman. This is supposed to share some of the woman’s marital happiness with the bride to carry on through her new marriage. Any item can be borrowed, from shoes to the veil to a piece of jewellery, but it must be returned afterwards. “Something blue” comes from an ancient tradition. The colour blue represents faithfulness, loyalty and purity. In olden times, the couple would wear blue bands on their wedding attire to symbolise their love, modesty and fidelity. Today, the blue item is often the garter and is worn under the dress. Another way to incorporate something blue into your wedding day is to have blue flowers placed within the wedding bouquet, or have them placed in a flower headdress. Today, some brides wear blue nail polish, blue shoes or even get blue tattoos! Whatever you chose to represent your “something old, something new, something borrowed and
something blue”, it must be personal and special to you and your husband. Each item should represent the core values and traditions behind the items. Wedding fashions and styles come and go, change and evolve, but wedding traditions remain the same. It's your decision whether to uphold them or not!
Rachel Sprules is the Wedding Co-ordinator for Longleat House, Safari and Adventure Park. She has worked in the wedding and event planning industry for the last few years and delights in being part of a couples’ special day, ensuring everything runs like clockwork!
WHAT W
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This Daisy Print Skater dress from Apples and Pears comes in sizes 14-32. It features a crew neckline with cut out detailing and zip fastening at the back. Great for summer or add a shrug and tights in the cooler weather.
This tie-dye jumpsuit from Tops y Curvy is perfect for a late summer or autumn wedding and can be paired with a blazer, heels and statement clutch for an effortless day-to-night look.
T TO WEAR AS A WEDDING GUEST This block colour dress from Topsy Curvy also comes in Coral and can be dressed up or down to match the style of the day.
This green sparkle party dress from Apples and Pears also comes in black and is available in sizes 14-32. Layered dress, with fitted top and flared skirt, and sparkle detail.
What to wear as a wedding guest This rose and leopard T-shirt Maxi dress from Topsy Curvy is available in sizes 14-28 and is very flattering for all shapes and sizes.
Make a statement with this zebra print dress. This dress skims the hips and ties at the back for a perfect fit. The black panel at the top is sheer and the cute cap sleeves mean this is a really flattering outfit. Available from Apples and Pears in sizes 16-28.
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This floral skater dress with belt from Topsy Curvy is available in sizes 16-26. It is perfect for a wedding late in the year as it will look fantastic paired with a cardigan and a pair of thick black tights and heels.
This textured skater dress from Apples and Pears is available in black, pink or green and is made from a cute textured fabric. The round neckline and flared skirt make this dress super-flattering for all shapes. Available in sizes 16-26.
Complete Wedding Floral Service Wedding Florist Guide All floral consultants are fully qualified and certified. They come to you at a time convenient to you. www.completeweddingfloralservice.com
REAL LIFE WEDDINGS Kicking off our monthly real life weddings feature, we have decided to feature weddings from our very own team. We know what its like to to plan a wedding as plus size brides and we wanted to share our big days with you. From the venue to the the cake maker, we've listed as many suppliers as we could and after each wedding we'll give you tips on how you can recreate the day for your own wedding. First up are Joanne and Kevine Cooke. Their vow renewal was influenced by Joanne's love of Art Deco and was filmed as part of a BBC documentary about Joanne's bridal boutique, Curves & Couture. Following Jo and Kevin is Editor Cassandra Davis and her husband Rikki. Cass and Rikki wanted a relaxed and lowkey day surrounded by close friends and family. They decided on hiring out a private house for the day and went with a white and royal blue colour scheme.
Joanne & Kevin Cooke The Nightingale Centre, Warley
JOANNE & How did you meet? Kevin was a friend of a friend who asked me for some legal advice, I ended up attending court with him & of course he won. I then sent him a drunken saucy text on Boxing Day………the rest is history! What was the proposal like? Text message How long were you engaged? We didn't get engaged, we decided and done it 3 weeks later on 23rd May 2003 Date of your wedding: Vow renewal 24th May 2014 Ceremony and Reception venue: Ceremony & Reception was at The Nightingale Centre in Warley
KEVIN COOKE Tell us about the dress: Photographer – Tracy Williams I loved it! I was so lucky, the dress wasPhotography, Emotions in Visions designed for me by the amazingly photography & Bassett Photography talented Jason Jennings of Veromia, it was made in just 3 ½ weeks. Jason Caterer – Premier Crew Hospitality himself brought the dress to me and was the first to see it on me. He loved Florist it – The Orchid Room so much that he has now included it in his new collection. Cake – Little Pop Cake Shop Tell us a bit about your day: Stationery – Yours Occasionally It was an evening service, followed by aJewellery – Bridal De Vine black tie reception.The reception itself was very informal, no seating plan, no Bridal Shop – CURVES & COUTURE (of sit down meal, just an evening of course) champagne, canapés, laughter & dancing. Formalwear – Matalan & Next How many guests did you have? Videographer – Angel Eye Media/BBC We had about 95 people Music / Entertainment – Effective Entertainment Did your wedding have a theme? Venue Dressing – Complete Entourage It was black tie with a dash of red. Inspired by my love of all things Art Jeweller – Michael Frank Deco Photo Booth – Boutique Booths What inspired you when planning your wedding? Hair/Make – Dawn Taylor Beauty Our actual wedding was a very, very Celebrant/Toastmaster – Linda small affair with only 6 people. This wasPalmer followed by our baby's christening and a family celebration What was your budget? We really didn't have a budget – it was a spur of the moment decision to renew our vow s and we only had 4 we e is to organise the whole. Thing as we wanted to do it on our anniversary. Where did you overspend and where did you save? I am so fortunate to have so many genuine friends in the wedding industry that many gave their services as a wedding gift and the others literally charged cost price. Who were your suppliers?
Real Life Weddings On the day
into doing it inside..
What made you laugh or cry? After the big day Cry - Seeing myself in the dress, the flowers, reading my vows, hearing Did you go on a honeymoon? If so Kev’s vows, seeing my daughter where did you go? crying as I walked down the aisle, myWe spent the wedding night in a daughters speech, Al’s speech., the hotel, but no honeymoon yet – I had overwhelming generosity of my to work the next afternoon. Being in colleagues & friends. the bridal industry it's going to be hard to find even a week for a Laugh – Doing a choreographed honeymoon any time soon. dance with Al to our theme tune “I Like Big Butts”. The Fabulous Photo Would you have done anything booth was so much fun., Kev doing differently if you could do it all over Sabrage, Al’s Speech, my daughters again? speech,. loosing my knickers ! Stuck to our initial plan of having the ceremony outside. What made your big day memorable and what was the most memorable What's the best advice you can give part? a bride and groom planning their We both wrote our own new vows, wedding? which were scarily similar. My dress Its your day – do it your way. You will from Jason was amazing, it was a never please all of the people all of one off that totally reflected my the time – so just please yourselves. personality – it wasn't the actual Remember to enjoy every single dress, but the thought and minute as the day flies by. Don't generosity behind it that makes it spend time worrying over things you even more special. can't control (like the weather). Did anything happen that didn’t go What’s the best thing about being to plan or you didn’t expect? married so far? We had originally planned on Exactly that – being married! renewing our vows outside – the weather was looking doubtful at about 3pm so we made the decision to do it inside. The weather at 5pm was glorious, so I was a little disappointed that I didn't go with my gut instinct and let myself be talked
How to recreate their day Joanne and Kevin had an art deco themed wedding. From invitations to venues, here are some ideas on how to give your day the art deco touch. This art deco style glass heart is perfect as a venue decoration or as an addition to your table centrepieces to add a personalised touch to your big day.
Some of the best Art Deco venues in the UK: The Arlington - Leigh on Sea, Essex The Daffodil - Cheltenham The Midland - Morecambe Eltham Palace - London The Sun Pavillion - Harrogate Kirtlington Park - Oxfordshire The Mayfair - London The Palace Hotel - Manchester
Personalise your dance floor with this 20's inspired floor decal. These are also available in miniature versions so can be added to your favours as well!
Cass & Rikki Davis Clevedon Hall, Clevedon
Your name and your partners name: Cassandra & Rikki Davis How did you meet? We met as teenagers as we worked in the same place. What was the proposal like? It was my birthday and we went out for lunch. Rikki was so nervous that he blurted it out so quickly, if he hadn’t been down on one knee I wouldn’t have had any idea what was going on! How long were you engaged? Just over 18 months. Date of your wedding: Sunday 17th March 2013
wedding? Our anniversary was St Patricks Day anyway so we decided to get married on the 17th March but we didn’t want a St Patricks day themed wedding. Even when I was little I always pictured having a blue and white wedding so we went with that. The suits and dresses were colour coordinated and the bouquets and button holes all matched. The rest of the day was just a simple day. What was your budget? £10,000. Did you stick to it? Pretty much!
Where did you overspend and where did you save? Ceremony and Reception venue: We spent the majority of the money on Clevedon Hall, Clevedon the venue and food. We were in the same place all day so we hired the whole thing Tell us a bit about the dress: out for privacy. We had canapés and a The dress was a Callista dress with the drinks reception while we had our most amazing detail on the skirt and pictures taken. We also had a starter and train. It was the first dress I tried on but main for the wedding breakfast with that didn’t stop me trying another 20 or wine but used our cake as dessert to so before I came back to it! save money. We also paid for a great DJ. My parents paid for my dress, the Tell us a bit about your day: bridesmaid’s dresses and the flowers. I The day was just what we wanted. It was made our wedding cake and we cashed low key and being in the same place all in favours with our friends to make the day meant that the day could just flow as day cheaper! One friend was the we didn’t have to finish in one place by photographer and another did my hair any specific time etc. and make-up. I also roped in another to help me design the stationery and my How many guests did you have? parents helped us make and send it all. We had 70 guests for the whole day. We Being in the same place all day meant we didn’t invite anyone extra for the didn’t need transportation. I got a taxi evening. from my hotel to the venue and got ready there and my father brought Rikki Did your wedding have a theme? in his own car. No, we just wanted it to be a relaxed day and a good party. What inspired you when planning your
Real Life Weddings Who were your suppliers? Photographer – A friend Wedding Planner – Ourselves Caterer – Parsnip Mash Florist – Croppers in Bloom Cake – Made myself Stationery – Made ourselves Jewellery – Borrowed from a friend Bridal Shop – White Lace & Promises Formalwear – Moss Bros Transportation – Own cars Music - The Wedding Players
Did you go on a honeymoon? If so where did you go? We didn’t go on a honeymoon as I was pregnant at the time but we’re planning on going to Hawaii in the next few years.
Would you have done anything differently if you could do it all over again? If we could do it all over again we would do what our friends did – get married legally in the registry office and then have the wedding wherever you want. On the day That way my uncle could have officiated What made you laugh or cry? the ceremony and we could have had the The speeches really ticked both boxes. ceremony and reception wherever we My father’s speech was just perfect. It wanted, which probably would have was funny and personal and really came been in a big marquee in a field from the heart. The best man made his somewhere. My grandparents own a pub speech up as he went along but he really so they could have sorted the bar and the surprised us. It wasn’t full of food would have been a hog roast and a embarrassing stories about my husband, good old fashioned buffet. it was a brilliant speech from one best friend to another. What's the best advice you can give a bride and groom planning their What made your big day memorable wedding? and what was the most memorable It’s your day, do whatever you want to do. part? If you want an intimate ceremony in your The whole thing was such a fantastic day local church with a few friends and but the most memorable part had to be family then go for it. Don’t be afraid to when I threw my bouquet. One of my not invite people. There are a few people bridesmaids and my aunt both went for it we didn’t want to invite who didn’t turn at the same time and ended up tackling up on the day anyway. We had to pay for each other to the ground as the bouquet their food and drink anyway so I wish I exploded all over the dancefloor! had been my usual stubborn self and just said no! Did anything happen that didn’t go to plan or you didn’t expect? What’s the best thing about being Rikki was 20 minutes late, which makes a married so far? change for the bride to be the one A few months after the wedding our waiting around! Thankfully my daughter was born, so for me the best bridesmaids kept me occupied so I didn’t thing has been being our own little even know until he told me afterwards. family. After the big day
How to recreate their day As Cassandra & Rikki's wedding didn't have a theme, we've focussed on how you can add colour to your wedding day.
Other great ways to give your big day some colour: Your bridesmaids dresses will add colour to your wedding album for years to come. Wedding Stationery including you stationery on the day such as your menus and orders of service will let your guests know your chosen colour scheme in advance. Your make up can also subtly add that extra touch of colour to your look. Once you've decided on your colour scheme you can then discuss with your florist which flowers will compliment this. Roses and carnations are always a good choice as they come in a variety of colours but make sure you plan your flowers in advance as the ones you want may not be in season for your big day. You can also opt for something other than a traditional white cake as per the cake from Minkiemoo Bakery (above) to match your colour scheme.
Make up By Lorna Freelance makeup artist based in Thame, Oxfordshire 07902665867
www.makeupbylorna.com
Supplier Profiles
Each month we'll be interviewing different wedding suppliers from across the UK. This month we have The Crafty Hen - they specialise in craft based hen parties including knicker customising, corsage and garter making and even customising nipple tassles! Find out more about them on the next two pages.
The Crafty Hen A short description of your business: We offer fun craft workshops delivered by professional crafts people for hen parties or pre -wedding groups. Our flock of friendly tutors will help you make many things to use and wear, perhaps even for the wedding or hen weekend. We can offer sessions in making garters, fascinators, nipple tassels or customising knickers. There is also a range of jewellery making workshops to choose from; including tiaras and hairpins, cocktail rings, textile corsages and accessories. You can even make your own bunting, why not work together and use this to decorate your wedding. Our workshops are designed as enjoyable activities where you work together to make and create and come away with an impressive result. How long have you been in business? We launched nationally early 2012, but operated in the South West for several years prior
crafty workshop and kept getting more and more requests for hen party workshops, it built from there. What makes you different from all the rest? We like a challenge. So if our crafty hens have something in particular in mind that they would like to make, we will do our very best to meet their crafty needs! We also tailor many of our workshop and materials to suit the wedding colour scheme or even the Bride-To-Be’s hobbies. We can even incorporate vintage fabrics and antique lace into your creations to suit a vintage themed wedding or hen do. Our workshops and parties are offered all over the country, we can come to your chosen location to run the session, or you can choose a venue from a range of specially selected cafés and bars in major cities across the UK where you can all enjoy afternoon tea or bubbly … whatever suits our crafty hens the best.
What inspires you? the little things, a pretty button, a bit of vintage lace, or a gorgeous piece of fabric. We just love putting How did you get into the industry? together materials based on the More by accident! Julie the founder groups requests! of The Crafty Hen has aways run
What do you love most about your job? All of it! Being part of someone special day and celebrations is such an honor. We love sharing our skills and creativity with lots of people in our workshops, and seeing the sense of achievement when someone has made something beyond their own expectations. What’s the strangest request you’ve ever had? We recently ran a superhero cape making workshop, as the bride to be was having a comic/ superhero themed wedding. We get lots of special requests, but we particularly liked the fun / quirky side of this one. What one piece of advice would you give to couples getting married? We love to see weddings that are really personal and special to the bride and groom. When our hens create things to decorate the wedding venue with such as bunting, table decorations or even the brides bouquet, it’s nice to know that on the big day all the guests will all be impressed with these personalised touches and the hens will feel a sense of achievement having
worked together to create these special touches. Which other suppliers that you’ve worked with would you recommend and why? Lots of accommodation suppliers, but particularly Acacia Cottages. We also work with The Bartender who provide a fantastic variety of cocktail based services and we love a bit of crafting with cocktails! Contact Details: http://www.thecraftyhen.co.uk/ 0117 939 5203 info@thecraftyhen.co.uk Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Little Lark
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10 reasons why you shoul By Haley Montgomery of Forever and Always Wedding and Event Planning
1. Experience working with service providers As a wedding planner we have the experience of working with different suppliers, therefore we know how to separate the good guys from the bad guys, as we've already done that. We know who would be the best at turning your dreams in to reality and this eliminates the worry that you may have as a bride about whether or not you have chosen the best supplier to create your day.
2. Good Listeners A wedding planner makes for a great, independent sounding board. We are not a family member, who would be emotionally involved. We listen to all your thoughts and ideas to know what you are looking for in your special day and we know how to make these thoughts and dreams become a reality.
3. Pillar of support
their workload, after all it’s their job to help you with your big day.
4. Dealing with only one person It makes sense to employ a wedding planner, as you don’t end up with piles of paperwork, reminders, and final balances to pay. You deal with one person and they co-ordinate all these matters. We source the suppliers and deal with all the paperwork, so that you can spend more time dreaming about your honeymoon.
5. Problem solving A huge benefit is that we are here should any problem arises. Problems are always going to pop up at some stage, we are here to get the problems solved without you even knowing that there was a problem in the first place.
6. Good knowledge bank
A wedding planner keeps Wedding planners are a great themselves up to date on all the support system during the latest trends. We know that any organizing phase of the big day. You bride wants to have a unique day can phone them with a to-do list that is always better than the last without feeling bad about adding to
ld use a Wedding Planner wedding she went to. To do that, we 9. Administration and ensure that we keep up-to-date on paperwork the latest trends, colors, must haves etc. to make each event more We can ensure that even the most special than the last. menial of tasks is made simple for you. Frominvites, RSVP’s, thank you 7. On the day co-ordination and cards and menus, even ensuring that you have applied for your support wedding license. All the less If needed we can be there on the big glamorous jobs can be completed by the wedding planner, leaving you day. This will ensure that you can relax and enjoy the special day and to concentrate on you and your not spend it worrying about what’s dreams. happening next or where Grandad is 10. Keeping families together supposed to be for his photo. We ensure that everything goes By working with you we can free up according to the plan that we have worked hard on in the build up to the important members of the family to help you instead of creating that day. inevitable friction that always arises between the bride and the mother of 8. Save money the groom. We can ensure that everyone is there to help and not Although there is the common add there thoughts in to what is misconception that wedding already a very emotive event. planners cost money and add expense to the day, we can actually save money in the long run. We can negotiate better prices on items across the day. After all it’s our job not just to get what you want but also to ensure that you get value for money.
Honeymoons and destination weddings Welcome to my first monthly feature for Centrepiece Wedding Magazine. I would like to introduce myself and details of what I will be including in my future features. I am Sandra Grantham, I live in Tilehurst Reading and I am a Personal Travel Counsellor working for Travel Counsellors, the Independent Travel Agent offering you a bespoke personal service for all your travel plans.
A honeymoon is a very special occasion that you want to have special memories to treasure for a lifetime, so it is important to make the right decision about things like where and when to go. After all you don't want your tropical paradise honeymoon in monsoon season! This is the sort of advice and information I will be writing about so you can make your dreams a reality.
The list of honeymoon destinations is always growing I have worked in the Travel and couples are able to choose industry for over 20 years and from just relaxing on a lovely have been fortunate to have sandy beach, to doing a twin travelled to a large number of centred honeymoon, getting a destinations including the cultural experience or an activity Caribbean, Australia, New holiday like trekking up Machu Zealand, America and Europe, so I Picchu! have a lot of first hand experience and knowledge which is useful In the future features I will be when advising and planning my concentrating on information on clients holidays. Honeymoon destinations, Planning a Wedding abroad and I am able to book and arrange featuring special offers available anything from a flight, weekend for honeymoon destinations. I break, family holiday, cruise, will also be able to answer any tailor made trip of a lifetime but I questions you may have by will be focussing on honeymoons contacting me via our 'Your and weddings abroad. Questions Answered' section on the website or on 01183913880.
Cake Bante By Debbie Levey of Minkiemoo Bakery
Hello and Welcome to our first ever ‘Cake’ article, for the first ever issue of Centrepiece Wedding Magazine. Giddy times! We are so very excited to have been asked by Centrepiece to put pen to paper for them and really hope over the coming months, you will grow to love and look forward to reading our Cake Banter. We’re not your usual run of the mill wedding cake bakery, so be prepared for some unusual reading. Trends… Fashions… Popular fads… are not something we tend to follow much, we like to make our own way in the world of sweet things. Which is what we feel each wedding cake should be – as unique as the bride getting married! Our cakes are made with passion and inspired by everything and anything we see along the way; it could be a photo, fabric, flower, an interior of a building or house – literally anything, but always having a strong penchant for the quirky and colourful. So we hope the content of our monthly articles will be much the same. We’ll do our research and hope to bring you useful cake stuff to help with the planning of your own wedding cake, along with a little bit of fun and entertainment. We thought we would begin by just telling you all a little bit about ourselves (our only bit of self promotion – honest!). Baking is very much in the blood. Starting with a great great uncle owning the local bakery in a little Gloucestershire village. A grandmother who’s homemade fudge was a speciality.
er A mother who made THE most amazing wedding cakes, and wedding dresses come to think of it. A brother who trained as a baker and a son who trained as a chef – he’s the development chef in our team, any new flavour combo has to get past him first. So the chances of getting away with: a) not having a sweet tooth and b)not loving to bake, was about as remote as getting away with being a size zero – nil! Our roots hail from a south coast seaside resort, being very lucky to grow up with the sea at the end of the road and the funfair only 10 minutes on the bus. Guess that’s why we love all things kitsch, colourful, and ‘Kiss Me Quick’. A retro feast of peanut brittle, sticks of rock, candyfloss, rum n raisin ice cream, and strawberry milkshakes… is it any wonder we love cake as much as we do, but we love wedding cakes the very best – just the sheer excitement that a wedding musters for all concerned – that’s enough joy to keep us going for ages! So that's us! Keep an eye out for our Cake Banter articles starting in October's issue or if you have a cake related question you want answered then ask me via our 'Your Questions Answered' sectio n on the website.
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It's all about Written by Pippa Webber
Every bride wants her wedding
case, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries spent $2,000,000 (approx day to be the most wonderful, £1.2million) on their wedding flowers, memorable day of her life. From the moment of the proposal whilst the majority of people spend you have thought of nothing else. approximately £1,000 to £5,000.
The wedding dress, how many bridesmaids? What colour shall I have? I hope the castle is available! I have always wanted sweet peas for my bouquet, I’m sure the florist can get them in December’ etc. etc. etc.
It is very dependent on your requirements; a bridal bouquet ranges from £75 for a posy up to £200 for a shower (depending on flowers chosen), whereby a floral arch can cost anything from £350 up to £35,000.
Your flowers are a huge part of making the day a spectacular one. Every bride is unique just as the floral theme for each wedding is unique.
Florists can take up to 3 hours to make your hand wired bouquet, and may take a few weeks to erect the props needed for more extravagant weddings, so you can see how the costs mount up.
There are no hard and fast rules for flowers, you can have what your vision If your budget is tight, remember that and bank account allows (depending if a few flowers mixed with good vases, the flowers you want are in season). candles and a bit of bling will still give you the wow factor without breaking With the advent of the internet, a the bank, talk to your floral consultant bride often comes to us armed with to get the best advice for you, your photos of what they would like for budget and your venue, or you can their up and coming day, and this contact me here at Centrepiece via our helps us to see their vision. Readers Questions section.
So what is the average cost of wedding flowers in the UK today? Let’s start by looking at an extreme
the flowers There are a variety of style solutions for brides of different ages and sizes.
“What do I mean by that”? The different shapes of bouquets can lengthen, shorten, widen or slim your body shape. For the voluptuous bride, you need a good size bouquet in a shower/teardrop style, this will lengthen and slim your body. If you have bridesmaids with a slim petite figure, you could use a round posy or hand tide bouquet, (remember! there are no hard and fast rules here).
Soon it will be winter! What common flowers are available to you from October to January? • Calla Lilies, • Altstroemeria, • Roses, • Ranunculas, • Delphinium, • Gerbera, • Lilies, • Lisianthus, • Orchids, • Hypericum and a lot, lot more, just ask your floral consultant!
Here is where the fun begins By Michelle Blackman of Hair Design by Michelle
There are many things to consider hoped, don’t be disheartened. You when deciding on your Bridal hair. can still achieve most looks by using Over the next few months we'll be hair extensions whether that is hair taking a look at everything from cuts pieces, clip in extensions or and colours, to various hair permanently attached extensions. extensions and the many different styles for you to choose for your big When it comes to weddings there day. If there is anything in particular are no rules. It’s your day so never you would like to see featured ask feel that a style is not “bridal” me here and I will do my very best to enough. The style and shape are cover it or mail you back with any important factors but equally as advice I can give. important is that the style suits your dress, overall look or theme and Every Bride is unique and with a that you feel amazing, comfortable professional Hairstylist you can feel and secure. So, you’ve found the stress free & confident that perfect man, you’ve booked the together you will create a look perfect venue and found the perfect that's both perfect for you, and your dress. Now comes the months of bridal party. Your wedding day is wedding planning and time to start one of the most important days of thinking of your bridal hairstyle.... anyone's life, therefore it's essential that you look and feel incredible for your big day.
I always say to my Brides “You should look and feel like you, but an exceptional you” Your wedding day is the one day of your life where you can have the hair of your dreams and I truly believe that with the right stylist there is absolutely no reason you should settle with anything less. If your hair is shorter than you had
The first thing to think about is finding a stylist you completely trust. Ideally this should be someone you already use or someone who comes recommended. Maybe you aren’t a regular visitor to the hairdressers. Don’t worry it’s never too late but it's best to find that stylist at least four to six months before the big day so you have time to feel relaxed with them and ensure that they get to know you and your hair to help get the best result I always advise that a trial is done at least 6-10 weeks before the wedding so that it allows plenty of time to create that perfect style for you. Many stylists work differently but I recommend that a trial should normally last a couple of hours and that several different styles are tried until you are happy you have created the perfect style for you.
recommend that you come wearing a top with a similar neckline to that of your wedding gown this ensures you get the closest look of how your hair will work on the day.
A few things to bare in mind whilst looking for your stylist... Do they specialise in bridal hair? Do they have a portfolio for you to look through? Will they travel to your venue or will you need to go to the salon? How many styles can you try during the trial? Many will only try one at each trial. Not only does this become expensive but unless you try a few styles, how will you know it’s the right style for you? Is the stylist passionate about what he/she does? This is a once in a lifetime event and they must appreciate how important this is to you. They should be calm, understanding and flexible.
During the trial your hairstylist should sit down with you and discuss everything about the day itself from your dress and flowers, to your venue and theme for the Do they listen to you? They should also be asking lots of day. This gives them a clear questions about your day, your wedding understanding of your individual style and ideas for the day. It is also gown, theme, jewellery etc. helpful if you bring your accessories Are they open to your ideas and opinions? such as a veil, tiara, headband, comb or anything else of your Do they have plenty of ideas themselves? choice, your jewellery and that you bring a collection of pictures of any hair styles you like. I also
Perfecting Lipstick By Lorna Shepard of Make Up By Lorna
Before you start to apply your professional product to use lipstick you should properly would be 'Lip Erase' by Mac (3). prep your lips to make sure the colour looks good and lasts. Lining your lips will keep the colour from bleeding out, and Exfoliating your lips is a good also help to hold the colour for idea if they are dry or cracked. longer. When you have chosen You can use a clean toothbrush the colour you like, find a to exfoliate them by gently lipliner that matches or is very rubbing it on the lips. If your lips similar to the lipstick. Line the are particularly sensitive you shape of your lips with the can skip this step. pencil and then lightly fill in the lips with it as a base for the Before you apply lipgloss or lipstick. lipstick you should moisturise the lips. A great product for this Apply your lipstick using a lip is Lip Conditioner by Mac (1), brush for best results. Put the but a product such as Vaseline colour just in the centre of your (2) would work just as well. lips and blend outwards until Apply the lip conditioner you reach the outline which will generously. Dry lips look bad, give a neat edge. Once you have and they also won’t hold colour done this, blot with tissue and for long. Once you’ve applied apply a second layer. this, you can leave it a moment to 'sink in' or you can blot with Once you are happy with the some tissue. lipstick, apply lipcoat to set it and make it last much longer. It After moisturising your lips, it is may tingle and/or sting slightly a good idea to create a base for for a few seconds but that's a the colour to be applied to. Your normal reaction. Then you're usual foundation or concealer ready to go! can be used for this or a more
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DIY: Bark Bowl Tutorial
You will need: Step 2: Thin the glue with Clear drying wood glue warm water Bark chips or Orchid Growth Medium Twigs and flowers A round bowl Cling Film Step 1: Pour some clear drying wood glue into a bowl Step 3: Pour the bark chips into the glue mixture to soak
Step 7: Slowly build up the bowl shape by adding the sticky bark chips one by one
Step 4: Stir the bark into the glue
Step 5: Cover a round bowl with cling film.
Step 6: Place the bark onto the shape
Step 8: Keep adding the bark pieces like you would build up a puzzle. Fitting the shapes but staying true to the form
Step 9: Once the entire bowl place the flowers in test is covered in bark, set it aside tubes and arrange in the bark to dry completely. Add more bowl bark, once it is dried to fill in any gaps
Step 10: Glue in twigs and Once you've finished you'll have the perfect centrepieces to decorate the tables for your wedding breakfast Christine de Beer is a floral artist who specializes in floral craftsmanship and design skills development. She writes and designs for The Canadian Florist Magazine and DIY Weddings Magazine and also demonstrates, competes in competitions, takes part in design shows and is a regular contributor to skills development programs. Her work is intricate and innovative with the focus on using traditional craft techniques in an unexpected way to create contemporary floral designs. Her online Creative Workbook started as a place for her to capture floral art techniques and designs, and grew into a design resource used by flower enthusiast from all over the world looking for inspiration or searching for design tutorials.You can also connect with Christine on Twitter @chris10 debeer
October's Issue October's issue of Centrepiece Wedding Magazine will feature the start of our Cake Banter and Honeymoon & Wedding Destination features. Also starting will be our 'Real Bride' column written by a real plus size bride, charting the ups, downs, trials, tribulations and humour on her journey to her big day in nine months time. Next month's issue will also feature a bumper pick of our favourite wedding dresses from the new collections of the top plus size bridal designers. Why not tell us what you liked about this issue or what you would like to see featured in future issues here or if you haven't already, sign up to our mailing list here to be the first to know about offers, news and exclusive content.
Want to ask a question or get some advice from wedding
professionals about your upxoming wedding? Ask us her e and we will post the answer on the website. Each month we'll also feature a select few questions and in-depth answers to feature in the magazine. The next issue will be available to download on Wednesday 1st October. In the meantime keep up to date with the world of weddings on our website www. centrepiecewedmag.co.uk
We'll also be adding a forum to the website very soon where you'll be able to chat with other brides, blow off some wedding related steam or take some time out from planning your day and just have a good old giggle.
www.centrepiecewedmag.co.uk address: 11 Sweet Briar Drive, Reading. Berks
email: contact@centrepiecewedmag.co.uk
Centrepiece Wedding Magazine
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