HOT TOPIC

HOT TOPIC: wedding worries

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REST AND RELAXATION

My anxiety has been bad recently and my bridesmaids want to organise a spa trip to help me relax. I’m nervous as I’ve never visited one before, do you have any tips?

Whether it’s your first time in the spa or your 100th, we can all struggle to switch off our minds and get out of our heads from time to time. Here are my top tips on how to stay grounded and confident in the moment:

Celebrate your body – If body confidence is your weak point, instead of judging yourself for the negative thoughts you have, pivot your mind to recognising the role that your body plays in your overall wellbeing. As you look at yourself, appreciate every part of you (even the bits you sometimes don’t love) and celebrate all that it does for you. It’s important to remind yourself that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. If, when at the spa, you prefer to wear a more covered swimming costume over a bikini, then do! Whatever you choose, wear it with confidence for your beautiful body.

Finding a treatment that works for you – Spas are more accommodating than ever before, with each offering menus that can often be tailored to your needs. If you’re nervous, perhaps build some initial confidence with a facial treatment, and on your next trip, you might surprise yourself and want to book in for a whole-body massage!

Switching off during a treatment – One of my favourite ways to switch off is by reciting a mantra and sticking to it. If you’re still struggling to switch off, move your focus to the sounds around you. Listen to what you can hear, maybe it’s the birds chirping outside or the calming music.

Ensure you’re well-rested – When we’re tired, the mind will usually work overtime, and it’s harder to calm our thoughts down. So, the night before coming to the spa, it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. Try switching off your phone before you get into bed, and instead have a relaxing bath or read your favourite book. If you wake up and still aren’t feeling as well-rested as you’d like, try doing a quick meditation.

Plan your trip with people who empower you – While going to the spa alone can be just what you need, often spending the day with the people who empower can allow you to enjoy it that bit more. This quality time with someone else can boost both of your confidence and bring you to a state of mutual relaxation.

Penny Weston www.moddershalloaks.com

DELECTABLE DELIGHTS

Most of our guests have dietary requirements. How can we cater for everyone?

A grazing table is a great way to cater for everyone as it can be split into different sections to cater for various dietary requirements. Most grazing tables we create at Cranberry & Thyme have vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian and meat sections all on one table, with fresh fruit and raw vegetables, olives and dips to accommodate all needs without people feeling left out or having to bring their own food. For those with specific allergies, ask your supplier to create a separate platter just for them.

The recent Bridgerton trend has seen a rise in the subtle mix of modern and vintage. To give homage to Bridgerton in your décor and styling, my recommendation is to go big. A stunning concept would be large arrangments of pastel coloured flowers for the centre of each table, with candlesticks decorated with various coloured candles. Large candelabras or birdcages decorated in florals would also suit this style.

A beautiful mix of coloured vintage crockery and cutlery will add to the look. Keep the table cloths simple in white, ivory cotton or even lace. Don’t be afraid to mix colours whilst adding hints of elegance. Would Lady Banbury have it any other way?

Naomi Jade Francis www.facebook.com/vintagevenuestyling

LOVE LETTERS

What are the dos and don’ts of wedding stationery?

Before you start ordering stationery, consider what themes and colour schemes you want at your wedding. From then, you can begin collecting invitation samples to see what you like best. Not only does this mean that you can see the invitations in real life and check out their quality, but you can also try a few different stationers and see what their service is like. I recommend choosing your invites before the rest of your stationery and then matching them accordingly, as you don’t want to change your mind on your design halfway through your stationery journey.

Save the dates let everyone know the date of your wedding, and can include a few key details. These are some of the most important pieces of stationery to have as they make wedding planning easier, as well as give guests a sneak peek of your day. If you’re having a destination wedding or a wedding in a busy holiday period, you may want to send your save the dates up to a year in advance, allowing guests to book time off work, book hotels and flights, and save money for your big day.

Your invitations are your most important and anticipated pieces of wedding stationery, so make sure you send them with lots of time to spare. Take into consideration the time it will take for your stationers to create and deliver your invites, as well as how long it will take for you to choose, personalise, and send them to guests. Some wedding invitations can be bought as bundles, including guest information and RSVP cards. This makes ordering your stationery super easy with the cards all sharing the same design.

Make sure you include RSVP cards and guest information cards in your invitations. This makes managing your guest list so much easier and will help you plan the next stages of your wedding, such as meals and seating plans. Specifying an RSVP date is essential to getting your replies back and will prevent you from paying for unnecessary things down the line.

Of course, all the extras can be ordered at any time throughout your wedding journey, but we recommend you order these around two months before the big day so that you haven’t got so much to worry about at the last minute.

It’s hard to imagine life after the wedding, but sending thank you cards is an important final part of the journey so you can thank guests for coming and for any gifts that you received. We recommend sending these a couple of months after the day. This gives you enough time to settle into married life and go on your honeymoon without making guests wait ages for their cards. PLANNED TO PERFECTION

I’m a groom-to-be and want to be involved with the planning process. Do you have any tips?

Here are some things to consider when planning your big day:

Groomsmen – The groom chooses his best man and ushers. Just be wise when choosing your best man; you want someone fun, but they also have to be responsible as well. Don’t be pressured into choosing someone you don’t want.

Guestlist – Who are your must-haves on both sides? Start by writing a list of those who must be invited from your side and then begin on your second tier. You will be responsible for obtaining all addresses that your partner may not have. It’s also your responsibility to track down missing RSVPs from your side of the guest list and any missing menu choices, if applicable.

Attire – What you and your groomsmen wear will depend on your wedding colours and the formality of the event. Make sure the outfits complement what the bridesmaids are wearing and doesn’t overshadow you and your partner. If you all opt for the same or similar suits, I’d suggest the groomsmen have the same ties and being the groom, you should have something more unique.

Gifts – Thanking bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents for their help, support and appreciation is a wedding tradition. Personalised gifts with your wedding date or thank you note are very popular but as to what you get them will really depend on their interests, so give this some thought.

Vows and speeches – If you’re writing your vows, please don’t wing them! When it comes to your speech, you should thank your guests for coming, everyone at your wedding party, maybe add a note to your partner and you could even tell the story about how you met. Just remember to keep your speech short and sweet.

Host – Your wedding day will be one of the most important, meaningful and memorable days of your life. Wake up early and enjoy taking in every moment.