HOT TOPIC

Our experts answer your questions

WONDERFUL WORLD OF WEDDINGS

We’re considering having a small wedding, even though restrictions have lifted. Do you think this is the new normal?

Meet the expert: Mark Slater is the suit buyer at Slater Menswear, a gentlemen’s outfitters offering a large selection of men’s wedding suits and accessories with a store on The Promenade in Cheltenham.

Mark says: Slater Menswear has researched what weddings this summer and beyond may look like now and some of the key findings were that there has been a 62% increase in Google searches for small weddings since last year, a 15% increase in searches for small wedding ideas and a 6% increase in searches for intimate wedding venues. There was also a 41% increase in sales of suits after the roadmap out of lockdown was announced.

Weddings taking place this year, and during 2022, will see smaller ceremonies remaining very popular. Rather than facing the possibility of having to un-invite guests or losing deposits if any more future guidelines are put in place, more couples are investigating the possibility of hosting an intimate ceremony. Whether it’s a way to save money on their budget or to simply avoid disappointment, the data suggests that more people are opting to have a smaller ceremony than in previous years.

Intimate wedding venues are here to stay. It’s not just the number of guests that we’ve seen shrink; more couples are choosing smaller venues, too. Of the 71% of British couples that are rescheduling their nuptials currently, one in five are opting for a micro wedding with 20 guests or fewer. This is partly due to a rising trend of ‘sequel weddings’ which means couples can officially tie the knot with a small handful of loved ones and then host a bigger bash at a later date to invite those who couldn’t originally attend.

Suit sales soar! Many couples believe that this is the year for their big day, small or large, and it’s a time to get suited and booted. Suit sales at Slater Menswear are increasing every day with more grooms feeling optimistic about their upcoming nuptials.

01242 224 494 | www.slaters.co.uk | www.facebook.com/ Slatermenswear | www.instagram.com/slatermenswear

BACK ON TRACK

We want to host a joint hen and stag day that’s fun for our adventure-loving friends – what can you suggest?

Meet the expert: Dan Jones is the operations manager at Track Days offering truly memorable driving experiences in cars and on bikes at venues across the UK including in Upper Castle Combe in Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Dan says: Bookings for stag and hen driving experiences have doubled recently (compared to when the country emerged from the first lockdown) as lovers head back to the track. Why not consider an extreme driving package with a supercar experience and get behind the wheel of a Ferrari, Lamborghini or McLaren? The Double Supercar Blast for two is one of the most popular experiences for stags and hens, as couples look to spend their last moments of single life not apart, but together.

The Extreme Dodgems package and the Group Kart Grand Prix packages are both proving hugely popular. There’s also rallying, drifting, off-roading and much more to suit all age groups.

As everyday life is returning to normal, including the resumption of weddings, stags and hens are, once again, choosing fun ways to party before the big day and often this is together as a group.

For the ultimate romantic gesture for your spouse, why not book an ariel adventure through www.flydays.co.uk?

01376 809 001 | www.trackdays.co.uk | www.facebook.com/ trackdays | www.instagram.com/trackdaysuk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C6vUb0npJg

Meet the expert: Anna Kremerov is the owner of Anna Medical Aesthetics located in Swindon offering non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

Anna says: With June being Acne Awareness Month, this is a great opportunity to highlight the issue of adult acne that’s suffered by many, including brides-to-be. Although acne can be more common in the teenage years, it’s important to note that anyone, at any age can suffer. It can be a frustrating and debilitating condition and can not only have an impact physically but mentally too.

It’s a common condition that many of us will experience in our lives. According to the NHS, around 95% of people aged 11-30 are affected by acne at some point. There are many different types of acne breakouts, such as blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules amongst others. Acne scarring can be a frustrating reminder of the acne that might now be under control – there are treatment options available for this.

Hormones, stress, genetics and medication can contribute to acne and there are different treatment options available that can control and reduce acne symptoms like the use of medical-grade skincare products at home. It’s important to note that maintenance of the skin and keeping acne at bay is a life-long commitment and does require some work.

As much as the treatments that you have and the products that you use are the most important elements to consider when controlling acne, there are a few other factors to keep in mind:

•CHANGE YOUR PILLOWCASE REGULARLY When was the last time you changed your bedsheets? According to a 1000-person survey by bedding reviewer Mattress Advisor, the majority of people change their sheets every 24.4 days. That’s more than three weeks of sleeping in the same sheets! Would you wear the same clothing for this length of time? If you’re suffering from breakouts, it might be worth ensuring your face is being placed on a clean pillow, not one that contains bacteria.

•TAKE YOUR MAKE-UP OFF BEFORE BED - PROPERLY! There’s no point investing in your medical-grade skincare products if you’re not going to use them properly. Take your time when cleansing, maybe even treat yourself to a double cleanse, and don’t rely on face wipes.

•BE MINDFUL WHEN PICKING HAIR PRODUCTS Ensure that you rinse your hair conditioner from your face (and try to avoid getting it on your face in the first place) because it’s designed to seal the hair and make it appear super-shiny and smooth. That’s great news for your locks but not such great news for your skin because conditioners can block pores and lead to breakouts.

Although acne can feel like the most frustrating condition, there’s nothing to be ashamed about. Acne doesn’t mean that you don’t wash your face properly. It’s a recognised skin condition that requires treatment and commitment to achieve the clear skin you’ve always dreamt of.

01793 959 010 | www.annamedical.co.uk www.facebook.com/annamedicalaesthetics www.instagram.com/anna_medical_aesthetics

SKIN DEEP

My hubby-to-be and I want to start an at-home beauty and grooming regime ahead of our wedding later this year. Can you help?

Meet the expert: Paula Pokora is the managing director of Nanshy, a leading Cheltenham-based cruelty-free and vegan skincare brand that’s expanding its range of products to bring salon-quality treatments to the home.

Paula says: The team at Nanshy, which is known for its exquisite selection of make-up brushes, bags, sponges, and brush care items is launching a new line of skincare tools for both women and men that are easy to use in the comfort of your own home, to look after your skin with no salon visit required. Because the past year has seen us all resort to at-home beauty treatments, the demand for at-home skincare is growing at a rapid pace. These new skincare tools address underlying problems to create smooth, healthy, and radiant-looking skin while maximising the impact of day-to-day self-care routines, something that couples can enjoy together. The new line is being launched with two introductory products that can produce professional, salon-quality results without needles or chemicals, perfect for a pre-wedding pick-me-up after lockdown. The first product launched in the new collection is the face roller, a metal device that’s rolled across the skin to strengthen underlying tissue and muscles, working to sculpt the cheekbones, jawline, and brows. It also promotes oxygen distribution to help brighten the skin and stimulates drainage to minimise puffiness.

The second exciting new product is the ‘gua sha’ inspired by ancient Chinese massage therapy tools. Helping to relieve tension in the face, improve blood circulation, and promote drainage, it can soften fine lines and wrinkles to minimise early signs of ageing.

Mandatory mask-wearing is also sparking new interest in skincare. Long-term mask usage is believed to be closely connected to spots around the mouth and nose caused by contact dermatitis and wearers are naturally seeking effective solutions to improve the appearance of their skin. Recent research shows that, during the pandemic, make-up sales have dropped by around 55% while skincare sales have risen 300% year on year.

Ring-a-ding-ding

County Wedding Magazines editor Melissa Barker shares her wedding planning journey

Like many of you, I’m currently trying to plan my wedding during a global pandemic – there’s a sentence I never thought I’d say!

My partner Dave and I have been together just under three years, and we’d talked about getting engaged a few times over the course of our relationship. My work colleagues were also giddy every time we went away thinking he would propose; after a fantastic trip to the Northern Lights and coming back ring-free none of us had any idea when it would be – but I kind of liked it that way!

He had planned to propose last July but, due to COVID-19, his dreams of a romantic trip abroad were quashed. He had several backup plans, all of which were ruined by lockdowns and restrictions, so in the end, he asked me in front of my family (virtually) on Christmas Day. It was a lovely moment, and we were both really excited and couldn’t wait to start planning.

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!

Having worked in the wedding industry for the last few years, I had a rough idea of where to start with the planning process. I’m highly organised and a big fan of making lists – there isn’t a folder in our house that isn’t colour coded, so the first thing I did was purchase a wedding planner to keep track of everything. I also looked through local wedding magazines, made a Pinterest board and joined a few Facebook groups, which are full of community spirit.

Next, Dave and I sat down and made a list of the people we wanted to come to our wedding. A great rule we followed was to only invite people that we’d spoken to in the last six months. It might sound harsh, but we both have large extended families and were concerned it may quickly turn in to a big list of people who we don’t really know! We narrowed it down to 40 day guests and an additional 40 in the evening. Once we had the list, we were able to start focusing on the dreaded budget, which has been one of my least favourite parts of the process so far. We looked through guides online and overbudgeted for everything to ensure we don’t have any nasty surprises further down the line. at venues. Due to the restrictions, this was a bit unconventional, with many properties only offering virtual viewings or only communicating via e-mail. Luckily, we managed to view our favourite venue in person the day before lockdown 3.0 began, and I’m so glad we did! We fell in love with it right away, and the staff have been amazing throughout the initial planning process. They were more than happy to answer all of our questions, in particular the dreaded COVID-19 related ones, and quickly set our minds at ease. It was exactly what we wanted with a gorgeous outdoor ceremony space and a barn area for the reception, perfect for our desired summer nuptials. We’re so excited to visit again, and for my mum, who is in full planning mode, to finally see it.

Based on our venue’s advice we reserved the date, checked that our local council had a registrar available and once that was confirmed, we paid our deposit – yipee! I’ve since seen online a few brides who have booked their wedding but have been unable to secure a celebrant or registrar for their date. I’m thankful we followed the advice and checked first, it’s meant we have had a drama-free start to the wedding planning and are excited to see our plans unfold!

Next issue, hear all about our plans for the food – my favourite bit – and finding our photographer!

Melissa. x

I love the idea of incorporating log slices throughout the day to add a rustic touch. Dave and I want quite a simple cake that’s full of delicious chocolate – yum!

Here’s my moodboard to help give you heaps of inspiration.

Hanging lights are a popular trend that we’re thinking of using in our venue’s grounds.

I adore macrame and have been learning how to do it in my spare time. We’re planning to make an arch to place behind us when we get married. Our plan is to hire long wooden tables mixed with a few round versions. We’ve decided on a sage green and blush pink colour scheme and want to incorporate lots of foliage.

Gold or rose gold cutlery is a must have!