franki e EXTRA
SPECIAL EDITION:
Old, new, borrowed and blue! This very special wedding issue has everything you need for the big day and beyond!
very special wedding supplement issue
ÂŁ4.95 free for our lovely UK subscribers
Throughout this creative, sometimes stressful but always enjoyable process, we have come to understand what really matters to a bride to the point where we have become bridezillas ourselves; just without the wedding to match (Our boyfriends are getting scared). Whilst planning our non-existent wedding, we sung, shimmied and snapchatted to our favourite tunes, so we thought we would share them you with. To get you through the stresses and strains, see if you can spot the songs hidden amongst our pages, with songs that will even get your Granny on the dancefloor. With the sound of wedding bells in the distance, it’s time to get your wedding in order. Frankie says “I do” will provide you with venue advice, music ideas and a simple yet elegant hair style that any girl will be able to achieve. the frankie says “i do” team
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WHAT’S INSIDE
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04 something blue
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06 don’t worry, be ‘appy 08 spotlight on 11 i think i wanna marry you 15 the sweetest feeling 18 let it be 21 rain on your wedding day 22 his and hers 26 promotion 28 wilde thing 32 come fly with me
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34 play that funky music 36 all about that bass 38 going to the chapel? 42 i did it my way 47 we are family
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56 i’ll be hair for you 58 crafty bits 60 mamma mia!
something blue SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED AND SOMETHING BLUE. WHILE THIS MAY SEEM A BIT OUTDATED, SOMETIMES TRADITIONS STICK AROUND FOR A REASON.
A hair comb or hair pin is a simple and elegant way of incorporating your something old and something borrowed into your day. Borrow one that your sister, mother or grandmother wore on their wedding day, if they did and maybe keep it for your daughter or niece in the future.
Maybe you would like to give your flower girls and bridesmaids something that they will be able to use as their something old on their wedding day. This will be a perfect way for you to thank them for their help in your wedding but will also give them something they can use when it comes to their time to get married.
04 // FRANK BITS
Setting your grandmother’s or mother’s wedding china on your table will be a good way of following the something old tradition without having to wear it.
Borrow an old tie off your father or grandfather and wrap it around your bouquet. This is a great way to add to your something old and something borrowed. It will also be a way to remember a loved one that can’t be there on your wedding day.
A pair of striking shoes is the perfet way to incorporate your something new with the colour blue. Whether you opt for sapphire, navy or baby blue, a pop of colour will look amazing in photos next to your gorgeous gown. Alternatively, take a more subtle approach and pick a pair of blue lined shoes for a nod to the old tradition.
They’re your family, your friends and colleagues. They’re the most important women in your life, so help your bridesmaids sparkle on your big day with matching personal accessories and keep your something blue close to your heart. Available from www.etsy.com
If the fit and material of your dress allows it, pick out some beautiful bridal lingerie and keep your something blue under your dress. From slinky to supportive, we’ve picked out these four as a perfect starting point for any bride-to-be. Available from www.net-a-porter.com
With Watters bringing out yet another stunning collection of bridal gowns for A/W 14, don’t forget that your perfect dress can also be your something new. We’ve picked out the beautiful Penelope bridal gown in Ivory (see above) as our stand-out favourite this year.
You can count on Watters for the ultimate Bridesmaids inspiration with an impressive collection of 200 gowns for this A/W 14. We love the Brescia bridesmaids gown (above right) for its elegent A-line skirt and lace motifs. Available from www.watters.com
FRANK BITS // 05
06 // HELPING HAND
don’t worry, be ‘appy hiring a wedding planner can be an expensive job and sometimes more stressful than doing it yourself. that’s why we’ve compiled a list of apps that are useful when planning your own day. From gathering inspiration to figuring out the bridal party’s make-up, this list covers everything you’ll need to help plan your wedding from start to finish. WORDS LAUREN CHICK
Appy Couple Not a fan of paperwork? Eliminate it all with this nifty app. You can personalise a mini-website where your guests can RSVP to different aspects of your wedding celebrations from the hen or stag do to the ceremony itself. You can add your gift list to the site too so your friends and family will have no excuse to not get you a good gift. Price: free The Colour Genius This app from L’Oréal isn’t necessarily made for weddings but it’s app-solutely perfect for it. (Get it? App-solutely? Never mind...). If you’re not sure about the make-up you want for your wedding look, this app is a life saver. All you have to do is snap a photo of yours or your bridesmaid’s outfit and select whether you want a day or night look. It’ll give you options to match, blend or clash the look and voilà – you have the perfect wedding make-up! Price: free Met Office We all know the weather in the UK is a bit temperamental and if you’re worried about how it’s going to be on the day of your wedding, look no further. With detailed five-day forecasts, this app allows you to make any last minute arrangements should the weather take a turn for the worse. Price: free My Wedding This app puts wedding planning in the palm of your hand. You’ll get instant access to your personal wedding scrapbook whenever and wherever you may need to. It stores plans, inspiration, ideas and your guest list along with your budget so there’s no way you’ll forget or lose anything. The discussion forum gets brides chatting and giving advice so if you’re ever stuck, someone will always have a solution! Price: free
Pinterest This app is perfect for finding inspiration for just about anything to do with your wedding. From the outfits to the decorations to creative guestbook ideas – they’ve just got everything. You can even make different boards for each aspect of your day to keep things organised. Connect this app to Facebook and your friends will get a sneak peak into what they can expect from your big day! Price: free Wedding DJ The future has arrived! You can now plan and play music from you iPhone, iPod or even iPad for your big day. Create playlists to play before the ceremony, the processions and even for the entire reception. To change playlists, all you need to do is slide “next” and Bob’s your uncle. Why hire a band or a DJ when you can do it yourself? It’s so easy, even your Granny could do it. Price: £5.49 Wedding Party Useful for the bride, groom and guests, this app is a must have. Not only can you can collect photos from your friends, family and guests from your big day but you can also share the event schedule and location details to all of your guests who have the app. Available on Android and Apple phones as well as desktops, there’s no excuse for your guests to miss any details. Price: free Pic2Shop If you’re trying to keep an eye on your budget then this app might be the one for you. The original scanner app allows you to scan the barcode of a product and compare its price on thousands of online retailers. This handy app comes with detailed reviews of items, useful if you’re debating between two similar products. Price: free
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spotlight on: @ryderevansphoto The world wide web is absolutely crammed with wedding ideas, and we understand that after hours of scrolling sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between the good, the bad and the ugly. So to help you find your way we’ve featured Ryder Evans, a photographer based in Austrailia who posts some amazing Instagram photos, perfect for that internet inspiration. 1. Tonight’s wedding reception of Lindsay and Eleanor #epicday #raincantholdthesetwoback // 2. Dave + Noni got hitched yesterday and it was the mostest. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know these two over the past couple of years because I’m practically part of the furniture at their cafe, so needless to say, I was REALLY looking forward to this one. Congrats you two, an epic day! // 3. Bush fire stopping Xmas beer and food. Hmmm... // 4. Shooting a styled shoot in Byron bay. // 5. Tonight’s lighting at the reception // 6. ‘Tis the start of wedding season kids, and what better way than to kick it off with the awesome Bayley + John who I spent this fine Saturday with... // 7. Editing this wedding has been amazing. I can’t stop smiling there was just so much laughter and happiness, I can’t wait to show it to all of you. // 8. Day three, wedding three. #goingtoicemyfeettonight #dontcallmetomorrow #illbeasleep // 9. Tonight’s wedding reception. Open air reception at 10 degrees #freezing//
08 // PHOTO ALBUM
Apple, the Apple logo, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc.,registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
franki e
hey baby, i think i wanna marry you INTERVIEWS BECKY ARCHER
every proposal is special no matter where you get engaged. Whether it’s a place that is special to you both or just a picturesque setting, the memories will last you a life time. Meet three couples who share their engagement stories. We hope these stories bring you just as much joy as it did them. Jake and Helena have now been happily married for over a year. In that time, they have been on their honeymoon to Disneyland in Florida and had their second child. Here, they both take a look back on their engagment. Jake “I proposed to Helena outside the Tower of London, with the Thames in the background and the bridge to the left of us. It didn’t have any significant meaning to either of us but it was a scenic and beautiful setting for a proposal. The idea of proposing outside Tower Bridge to her came to me when I told Sara, her best friend, who lives in London. We were going to visit her and her husband Rich and we both thought it would be a great place to do it. Helena and I both like the city and it was a memorable setting. Luckily, she didn’t have a clue that I was going to propose. When we were at the Tower of London, I was in the process of bringing the conversation to a head when she realised we’d lost Ruby’s, our daughter’s,
blanket. We ran off to look for it and when we eventually found it, I popped the question. The only people who knew were my parents and her mum and dad because I asked them for permission first. I also told Sara and Rich, Sara’s husband, as we were staying at their house in London.”
I was about to pop the “question when Helena realised we had lost ruby’s blanket!
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Helena “I had no idea that Jake was going to propose to me but he seemed anxious in the few hours before. It never occurred to me that he was going to propose. I said yes straight away! When we got to my friend’s house, she had champagne waiting and the night was really special. We celebrated with Jake, Ruby and my best friends. It was perfect and he couldn’t have planned it any better.” LOVED UP // 11
After being together for over four years, Alan finally popped the question to Gemma. Paris was Gemma’s dream place to get engaged and Alan made that come true. They’re now planning their wedding and are looking forward to the big day.
Alan “I proposed on the 4th February 2014 at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. We were on holiday for our anniversary and we were staying in a private and romantic hotel. I thought that was a great time to propose, it was the ideal setting. I decided to do it on that date because it was the day of our three year anniversary. I then found a romantic setting and booked the holiday. Paris is a very beautiful and romantic place, which I knew she would love because she always wanted to go there. Throughout the planning and preparation of our week away, I thought she might have found out because it was for our anniversary. She seemed shocked and I was trying not to give anything away. Luckily, she had no idea. I just wanted it to be a complete surprise and it was. 12 // LOVED UP
I thought about proposing to her a couple of months before we went away. At the time, I thought it would be easier if I kept it a secret. I didn’t tell any of our close friends or family and I felt bad because I know it’s traditional to ask the father for permission but I just wanted it to be a surprise. For everyone.” Gemma “I honestly had no idea that Alan was going to propose. It was such a surprise but I was so happy and thrilled. I can’t believe how well he hid it from me; it was completely out of the blue! I was just so excited and full of emotions. I wanted to tell the whole world. When he went down on one knee, I started to cry. He did a speech before asking me the all important question. It was just perfect.”
Gemma had always “ wanted to go to paris. i thought why not make it extra special and get engaged there.
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Shaun and Megan have been together for four and half years and now have a baby girl, Darcie. Despite Megan’s mum knowing that Shaun was going to propose three months before, they both kept the proposal a surprise for Megan.
I thought we we’re “taking a break from
our walk as Darcie had fallen asleep in her push chair. Shaun “After Megan gave birth to Darcie, I knew I wanted to propose to her but I didn’t know where the best place would be. We were planning on taking a weekend away when our daughter was a bit older and I thought that might be the best time. We decided to go to Center Parcs because it wasn’t too far away for us to travel with Darcie as she was only five months old at the time. Neither of us had been there before. So, I thought it would be a great weekend away, with a surprise. I asked Megan’s mum for her hand and I told my parents as well, but they were the only ones. I wanted to tell my friends but I knew that I might regret that so I thought it would be best if I told them after we got engaged. Everyone was thrilled for us and Megan cried of happiness.
I don’t think the proposal could have gone any better! It was a memorable moment which neither of us would forget.”
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Megan “I honestly had no idea. It was such a surprise. He isn’t not very good at keeping secrets so this was a shock. He planned it very well because for the whole of the trip he gave nothing away. We were walking and he took me to a quiet area by the lake. I thought we were taking a break from our long walk because Darcie had fallen asleep. Then, out of nowhere, he knelt down on one knee. I started to cry but obviously I said yes. He put a lot of thought into the proposal. It was nice that our Darcie was there, even though she was asleep!” LOVED UP // 13
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14 // WHAT A GOOD IDEA
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the sweetest feeling these days, wedding cakes don’t have to be all about fruit cake and marzipan. why not give your guests a non-traditional treat? words DAnielle Skerrett
Whether you want to serve distinctive treats to reflect your style or a spectacular multi-tiered wonder to make sure your guests won’t forget your big day – these six alternatives will make you think twice about letting them eat cake.
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1. Who says you have to stick to sweet? The cheese wedding cake alternative is deliciously different and with over 700 named cheese’s produced in the UK, there’s bound to be a cheese to every guest’s taste. You can still have the pretty tiers, you can use ribbons and flowers to decorate and you can easily customise it to your theme. Not to mention it will last a lot longer than any cake with frosting or fresh fruit... After all, nothing goes better with a glass (or bottle) of wine than cheese and biscuits. 2. Add a modern twist to your wedding cake with a sweet French delicacy. They can be easily tailored to your theme and offer a chic alternative to the traditional wedding cake. Macaroon towers look super impressive and are easy to share with any number of guests. This ombré style tower serves up to 150 people, but you can add or take away tiers to suit your wedding party. 3. With this tiered cookie show stopper you can still have that special moment as newlyweds where you cut the cake. Cover your cookie cake in icing to give the impression of a traditional cake or keep the thick layers of cookie and frosting bare for a rustic look. Add chocolate chips, dried fruit or even Smarties to your taste. 4. Having you and your spouse’s favourite dessert shared with your guests is a great way to show your personal style. These petite Pavolas look gorgeous decorated with fruit and served on a tiered stand. You can mix it up and choose different toppings for each tier, or keep them all the same with traditional berries. 5. An unfrosted wedding cake is just the right side of understated. It’s a perfect idea for chocolate cake as it doesn’t make it too rich. If you think the chocolate sponge and white buttercream might look too simple, add your initials or your favourite flowers for decoration. We love these wooden 3D initials for a minimalist but personal touch. 6. Cupcake wedding cakes are perfect for the modern wedding. Your guests can help themselves to the mini cakes while the top tier is just for the bride and groom. The colour and flavour can tie in with your theme and if you’re using a range of flavours they can be perfectly identified with cute flags as labels. WHAT A GOOD IDEA // 15
18 // HELPING HAND
let it be It’s your wedding day and you’re stressed out about anything and everything. It’s normal to worry about some things, but take some time to enjoy yourself. after all, it’s your day too. Here are 10 things we think you shouldn’t worry about on your wedding day. WORDS LAUREN CHICK
1. Whether or not the food is to the guests’ taste. If they don’t like it, tough. At the end of the day, it’s free food for them so they’ll get what they’re given. They’ll probably be too drunk to even notice what they’re eating anyway. 2. Tripping over on your way down the aisle. You’re on the edge of having a nervous breakdown and you’re wearing at least 5 inch heels, it’d be odd if you didn’t. You’ll still be married at the end of it so what does it matter if you have the odd stumble on the way down. Plus, if someone records it, you could get £250 from You’ve Been Framed. 3. The weather. It’s not the be all and end all if the weather isn’t how you expected it to be. In fact, having distinct weather makes the day more memorable for you and your guests. Don’t fret about it, you can see page 21 for some expert advice on how to weatherproof your wedding.
6. Mingling. We’ve all been to weddings. We get that if you only talk to us for a total of 5 seconds, it’s nothing personal. No one will care if you don’t get around to talking to them. Set aside some time to spend with your new husband or wife, they’re the most important person at the wedding (apart from you). 7. Looking perfect in photographs. You hire a photographer to take photos of your big day and it’s them who should be worrying about making the photos perfect, not you. With the amount they take through the day, there should be at least one where you don’t look like a fool. 8. Being late. This should be the least of your worries. There should be at least two people in your party that are responsible for you getting to the venue on time. Besides, a play can’t start without the lead actor and your wedding can’t start without you.
4. Upsetting your single friends. Don’t feel guilty for being romantic on your big day, isn’t that what it’s all about? Just let them mope over a bottle (or two) of wine while you enjoy your day. It’s not your fault their relationships have failed.
9. Embarrassing toasts. These will definitely happen. If you had the opportunity to publicly embarrass a friend or family member, you’d probably do it in a heartbeat. So let them have their moment; there’s plenty of time to get your own back.
5. The day passing by too quickly. It’s always going to happen. One of the best bits about weddings is that there’s a gazillion photos from the day so you’ll always be able to look back at the special moments.
10. Everything going to plan. Big or small, there’s always something that could go wrong. It’s inevitable. Besides, what’s getting hitched without a few glitches? If it’s not perfect, there’s always next time.
helping hand // 19
Camp and Furnace 67 Greenland Street Liverpool L1 0BY Tel: 0151 708 2890 Email us: enquiries@campandfurnace. com Facebook: campandfurnace Twitter: @campandfurnace
it’s like rain on your wedding day... Despite the cliché trotted out by well-meaning maids and mums, a rainy wedding day can feel like anything but good luck. WORDS ELISE WILKINS
Alanis Morisette hit the nail on the head with this one. It’s your big day and the heavens have opened, it seems as though the day is ruined and life isn’t worth living anymore. Still, with some careful prep, grey skies don’t have to spell disaster. These few steps will help you see the sun through the clouds. Be realistic. As much as you want your guests to be playing croquet, sipping Pimm’s and relaxing on hay bales in the sunshine, this may not happen, so it’s better to accept that it just might rain on your parade. In advance, work out what changes can be made if you have to move everything inside. So if you’ve booked a band to rock the garden speak to them beforehand about what needs to happen to bring the party indoors. Love your back up plan. The worst thing you can do before your big day is cross your fingers, pray for sun, and fail to think beyond plan A. Your back up plan should excite you and make you (almost) pray for rain. Invest equal energy into both ideas so that you’re prepared for whatever the heavens decide to throw at you.
Bring the outside in. Work plants, trees, flowers, herbs and anything else green into your indoor venue so that even if you can’t go to nature, nature can come to you. Greenery adds to a rustic countryside theme, and also really compliments traditional wedding whites and ivories. So if Kate Middleton can bring trees into Westminster Abbey, so can you (just maybe minus the Westminster part, oh, and maybe the princess thing as well!) Picture perfect. Before the big day chat with your photographer about the photo options for any weather outcome. While sun will offer great lighting, rain will allow the photographer to get really creative. However if you really want a sunny portrait shot, think about hiring your photographer on another day for a post-wedding shoot. Maybe then the tell-tale bags under your eyes of how stressful this process has been may have disappeared. Call the shots. From the very beginning get to know the people who may be making any last minute changes on the day (i.e. the wedding coordinator) so they know what you want and how to work with you. Also, it’s a big help to nominate someone like your mum or a bridesmaid to liaise on your behalf on the day. Note down your back-up plans and hand them over to someone you trust. Let it go. Look, we get that weddings are stressful, but sometimes in the words of Elsa, “Let it go”. No one likes an angry and stressed bride. Plus, the frowns and stomping feet really won’t look good in the photographs. Occasionally the one thing that you didn’t plan for makes your day even better than you could have imagined and at the end of the day wellies are far comfier than heels! HELPING HAND // 21
his & hers INTERVIEW BECKY ARCHER
Ellie and Sam have been engaged for over a year now and are saving up for their big day. The church and their venue has been booked. now they have to dish out the invites, choose a colour scheme and most importantly, select the perfect wedding dress. we asked the love birds (separately), in the comfort of their own home, what they each thought about the big day.
22 // LOVED UP
SAM
ELLIE
What must go right on the day? I think that the vows is a really important part of our day. I’m really looking forward to sharing them with Ellie .
What must go right on the day? That Sam and I have a really good day and enjoy ourselves! And that nothing that goes wrong and nothing spoils our day.
What’s stressing you out the most? Getting everything organised so that the day will go smoothly.
What’s stressing you out the most? Sam’s mother! She disagrees with everything we want and say about our wedding.
What would you hate to go wrong on the day? Anything really, but the worst thing would be certain members of my family arguing with each other.
What would you hate to go wrong on the day? Something to happen that causes drama. I don’t want anything to happen that may cause upsets.
In three words, tell me what are the most important things you want your wedding to be? Everyone being happy.
In three words, tell me what are the most important things you want your wedding to be? Happy, exciting and memorable!
Is your wedding going to be themed? If so, what is it and why? Not necessarily. However, we are thinking of having little things dotted around the place that will make people think “Yeah that reminds me of him” or “Yeah that reminds me of her.”
Is your wedding going to be themed? If so, what is it and why? No, I don’t like the idea of themes as I want what I like and what Sam likes to be combined. I feel that will make your wedding more personal and unique and special to you, which I think is what matters.
What advice would you give to other couples who are planning their wedding now? Give yourself plenty of time to plan. Remember you don’t have to get married as soon as you’ve got engaged. Also, the best places get fully booked up 18-24 months in advance so if you want your dream venue, get it booked asap.
What advice would you give to other couples who are planning their wedding now? Be organised. Also get advice from anyone. Especially someone close to you who has been married before. My mum has been very useful. I’m terrified that I will forget something or forget to invite someone so definetly make lots of lists.
Sam’s mother is “driving me crazy!
She disagrees with everything we say!
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LOVED UP // 23
Nothing can wipe the smile off your face when flipping through our 2015 journal.
Hand decorated and sweetly bound in cloth, it is ready to keep you company all year long. Available from www.frankiepress.com.au
Personalised Children’s Wand. For £14.95, this bridesmaid’s gift is perfect for little princesses at your wedding. Both sides of the wand can be engraved and it’s perfect to keep the young ones entertained during the reception.
Bridesmaid bow necklace. This dainty piece of jewellery is the perfect way to say thank you to your bridesmaids. It’s £17 and you can give it to them to wear at the wedding or afterwards as a reminder of the day.
Personalised Pewter Hip Flask. Every best man loves a tipple at the reception, so why not get them a personalised hip flask. At £32, it’s a bit steep but it’s a small price to pay for the drunken entertainment!
Typewriter Initial Cufflinks. Your groomsmen probably aren’t going to want a sentimental gift with a soppy message attached. For £34.95, these personalised cuff links are a great gift – manly and useful.
[wedding party]
26 // PROMOTION
promotion all gifts found at www.notonthehighstreet.com
Polaroid Wedding Guest Cards. A unique idea incorporating pictures and words. At 50p per card, these cards will allow your guests to snap a happy picture then write a happy little message to match.
Wedding Fingerprint Tree. A simple idea for £15 which will look really great in your home after your wedding day. Just make sure there are wet wipes to hand on the day otherwise there’ll be a lot of ink smudges everywhere!
Wedding Guest Book Poster. This wish jar poster is perfect for asking your guests to share their hopes and dreams with you as a couple. At £22.95 this would look really nice hanging up, allowing you to remember the big day every day.
Vintage Glass Storage Jars. Ok, bear with us, while pasta and rice jars may not sound the most romantic of guest books, for £16 each, these jars will be perfect for storing your guests’ advice to the bride and groom on the big day.
[guest book ]
PROMOTION // 27
wilde thing FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER STUART WILDE DOESN’T FOLLOW TRENDS - HERE HE TELLS US WHY WEDDINGS ARE HIS FAVOURITE GIGS AND WHAT MAKES HIS WORK UNiqUE INTERVIEW DANIELLE SKERRETT
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I love what I do and the feedback that you get back afterwards is just the best. It ruffles your hair – what’s left of it!
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With over 25 years’ experience, freelance photographer Stuart Wilde knows a thing or two about how to take a great picture and has the stories to prove it. Having photographed over forty weddings, you’d forgive him for acting flashy. But down to earth Stuart is anything but a show off and doesn’t take himself, or his work too seriously. “It’s not about showing off, it’s about how you feel. For me, photography is all about soul. It’s 10% head, 90% soul,” he says. For Stuart, the most important aspect of photographing a couple on the biggest day of their lives is to get to know them. “Having a relationship with the couple is so important. You’ve got to be able to communicate with them.” Creating a relationship with the couple was most important for Stuart last year when he was booked to do a wedding which had to be moved forward. “The bride rang me up and said they had to move it forward a year when her dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I thought ‘man, that’s going to be a heavy day’. “I arranged to take some family photos of her with her dad and all her sisters before the wedding. The idea behind that was, I thought, if I go and meet them and know them, when it comes to the day which is going to be really emotional, it won’t be ‘Oh look the photographers here’, it’ll be ‘Hey Stu’ and it worked so well. Things like that, I think are really important.” Although wedding photography isn’t Stuart’s sole business, he only does a maximum of twelve weddings a year, he always looks forward to the wedding season. “Every wedding I’ve done has been my favourite. They’re always really lovely days and everyone’s pleased that you’re there, it’s great. They’re hard days, they’re long days, It’s pretty much non-stop. But hey! That’s my job isn’t it?” he says. “But these days weddings are great, I couldn’t have done it if it was twenty years ago. They’re more interesting now, and as a photographer you’ve got loads of stuff to go at which keeps it interesting.” With wedding days being notoriously stressful, Stuart keeps his head with a relaxed and friendly approach. “It is stressful but, for me once I’ve got some killer shots of the bride and groom after the service, then I can relax. “My approach is to be as relaxed as possible and as nice as possible.” TALK // 29
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As well as the all-important relationship with the bride and groom, Stuart credits the small tip-offs which he’s given before the day. “One time I had the best man ring me up and he said he’d stuck yellow post-it notes to the soles of the grooms shoes with the words ‘help me’ written on. It was great. The bride and groom didn’t know about it, so when they knelt down, everyone started laughing. But I had the shot framed and set up in advance, so I got a great shot out of it with the brides dress and her feet and next to her this note that says ‘help me’.” When it comes to set pictures, Stuart approaches each wedding from a unique angle. “I don’t go with a template in my head. Each of them are bespoke in how I approach them but I’ll always go to the service venue and the reception venue, so I can check it out and get ideas going in my head already. “At one wedding, the church didn’t really lend itself, it wasn’t great for bride and groom shots - it was a bit tombstone heavy,” he says. “So I had a think and in the end I took them off to a farm nearby which I’d checked out
beforehand. There was this dusty track and I got them going off into the distance, at sunset, and it worked really nicely.” Stuart keeps his photographs unique with a classic approach rather than following trends set by the “wedding factory”. “It does go in trends and at the minute, it’s having a black and white photo and keeping something colour. That kind of thing just destroys my soul. I am a bit of a snob when it comes to photography, but I think that transfers into your work,” he says. So are the long days and the stressed-out brides worth it all? Stuart tells us how he’s able to still take on and enjoy “wedding gigs”. “The feedback that you get back afterwards is just the best. That’s the best part of it. It ruffles your hair – what’s left of it! And it strokes your ego. But it also means that you know you’ve done a really good job. And you’ve made someone really quite happy.” “And you’ve given them something that in five years’ time, they’ll look back and go ‘you know what, we made the right choice with that photographer’ - I hope!”
To contact Stuart or see more of his fabulous work, head to: www.stuartwildephotography.com TALK // 31
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come fly with me Check out our alternative honeymoon Destinations that will help you make your honeymoon special. because not everyone wants to go to hawaii. words maxine sene
1. Glamping Whether your honeymoon is on a budget or you’re just looking for a romantic getaway out of the city, glamping could be the perfect solution for you. This is the perfect honeymoon option for the outdoorsy couple who crave some peace and quiet. Whether you want to stay local or travel abroad, want to stay next to the beach or in the middle of the countryside, the posibilities are endless. With prices starting at £35 a night, there’s no going wrong. www.canopyandstars.co.uk
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2. The Duck’s nest This is the place to go to if you’re looking for a way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. For only £95 a night for the two of you, there is no better way to spend some quality time after the buzz of your big day has worn off. Unwind under the pine trees and enjoy the picturesque views of the ducks at play. Wake up every morning to the sound of the stream right outside your window. With with the scenery of a fairytale, it’ll be the perfect way to start your happily ever after. www.lazyduck.co.uk 3. Hathaway Hamlet For all the history fanatics and literature admirers out there, we have hand selected a famously historic location for you. Hathaway Hamlet is situated in the quiet village of Shottery and only 200 yards away from the Shakespearian cottage where the lovely Anne Hathaway lived. Its attractive and comfortable beamed exterior is of similar style and period. With easy access to many other attractions and pubs, it will help transport you and your partner to a completely different time period and world. www.stratfordholidaylet.co.uk 4. The Beer Moth as another form of glamping, The Beer Moth is a 1954 Commer fire Service lorry has been coverted into a luxurous alternative to camping. With a Victorian style bed and a wood burner, it will transform into a cosy little space for you and your partner. As a little home on wheels, you will also be able to drive to your location of choice, open it up and enjoy the perfect scenary. www.canopyandstars.co.uk
WHAT A GOOD IDEA // 33
play that funky music While we all love Bryan Adams and Shania Twain, sometimes it’s better to shake things up and have a song that’s a bit different for a first dance. Whether you fancy a sway or a boogie, here are some tunes to help you dance the night away. 1. Tenerife Sea - Ed Sheeran, X // 2. That’s What’s Up - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Here // 3. I Was Made For You - She & Him, Volume One // 4. Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley, Blue Hawaii // 5. First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning // 6. Tethered - Sleeping At Last, Yearbook //
34 // MUSIC
36 // MUSIC
all about that bass Music can make or break a wedding celebration. The pressure is already on and to top it all off you have to decide whether you want a DJ or Band, or even both, to provide the Entertainment. Here’s a breakdown of the options to help make the decision process a little bit easier for you. words maxine sene
Band
DJ
Bands will ultimately have more of a presence on the day and live music is a great way to kick off the party and get people on the dance floor. They will also be a more memorable part of the wedding when your guests look back on the day.
DJs do tend to be the cheaper option when it comes down to music entertainment as they tend to cost from £300- £1000. The DJ will also have less equipment so not having them take up half the dance floor is always a bonus.
Hiring a band can cost anything from £500-£8000. When a band is performing you will get more emotion out of the songs and if chosen right, by you and your partner, they will give a more personal touch to your wedding day.
The music will keep flowing. Unlike a band, a DJ will not need many breaks and could leave the music running on in his absence. There will be no need to stop the party and that way you guests can dance the night away without any interruptions.
If you have guests who don’t particularly enjoy spending much time on the dance floor, they will still be able to appreciate the music by sitting back and watching the performance.
It will be much easier for a DJ to take song requests. He will most likely already have the song in his music library and will be able to download it in a few minutes if he didn’t.
You can also guarantee that they will put their own little twist to your favourite songs. This adds something extra to the day and just keeps it interesting .
Today the majority of couples do hire a DJ to provide the music for the wedding reception. This means it’ll be much easier for you to get recommendations off other couples on who to choose.
If your wedding follows a certain theme, such as a country theme, the band may be able to perform a country rendition of your favourite songs. This will fit in with the rest of your day perfectly.
A lively DJ can make a wedding reception really memorable, but a dull one could bring down the whole vibe. Make sure you meet beforehand so there are no surprises on the day.
Ellie McDonald can’t recommend a having band enough: “I hired The Emerald Thieves for my wedding last summer and they made it one of the best nights of my life. They were perfect for my country style wedding and had everyone on their feet dancing to their music all night.”
Hannah Norton chose to have a DJ as the entertainment for her wedding day. “We booked Anthony Parella based on the fantastic reviews he had received from previous customers. He was a fantastic DJ! He mixed songs into one another so the party never stopped and there was no time for anyone to leave the dance floor.
Find a band for your wedding at www.hireaband.co.uk
Book a DJ of your choice at www.alivenetwork.com MUSIC // 37
going to the chapel? gone are the days where you have to have a traditional church ceremony. we’ve selected three british wedding venues that think outside the box and refuse to conform to norms.
WORDS ELISE WILKINS
38 // WHAT A GOOD IDEA
the cliff top temple Castlerock, County Londonderry
Forget stately homes and hotel conference rooms; neoclassical 18thcentury rotundas are where it’s at. For those of you who love a bit of history, this temple was originally built as a library for an eccentric Earl. Mussenden Temple in County Londonderry is perched on a cliff top overlooking the wild coastal headland. The temple seats up to 100 guests in a theatre style space, and after the ceremony the wedding party can explore the beach below or go for a wander in the beautiful gardens of Downhill Demesne. “I couldn’t believe that this building was actually available for our wedding when I first saw it,” said bride Eleanor. “Also, it’s only a small thing, but because the space is circular it makes the ceremony a lot more intimate with your guests. The cliff top and the greenery looked absolutely amazing in the photos as well, which is always a bonus.” It is safe to say that this cliff top temple will definitely to make your wedding memorable, just stay safely away from the edge. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/downhill-demesne-and-hezlett-house WHAT A GOOD IDEA // 39
the walking wedding Lanwrtyd, Powys
Can’t decide on a single venue? Well why limit yourself to just one when you can get married on the move? That’s the idea behind Wedding Walks, who even put a contingency plan in place in case of rain. Whilst the ceremony won’t be legally binding, the company can arrange private, legal ceremonies beforehand. It can take place at any given al fresco spot, and with plenty of reception options like vintage tea parties and woodland wonderlands, this venue is anything but boring. Bride Sophie said, “It was so amazing! Peter and I have always loved this spot in a woods near our house, so when we heard about this comapny and what they can do it suited us perfectly!” “I really wanted a wedding different to anyone else’s and that’s exactly what it was. Luckily the weather was good as well, the gods must have been smiling down on us!” So grab your walking boots and maybe a map, and head out on your very own wedding walk. www.steppingbeyond.co.uk/walking_weddings 40 // WHAT A GOOD IDEA
the tin tabernacle Lewes, East Sussex
This is the ultimate in rustic chic. Tabernacle means a fixed or movable dwelling, typically of light construction and this delightful light green building located in Lewes, East Sussex fits that description perfectly. With a high ceiling, wooden floors and white washed walls, it is the perfect space for a small-scale and unique wedding. “Our venue was so amazing!” bride Jen said. “The owners were kind of vague and just left us to it, which was exactly what we wanted. I never wanted some stylish affair that we’d handed over to professionals – in fact the only professional we hired was our photographer. The rusticness of the building really let us make the whole day more personal. We were always planning on having a small wedding and fortunately we found this perfect venue that fit our dream.” There’s even a summer house out back perfect for the drinks arrival and the turnaround from dinner to dancing. Also, this space is dirt cheap to rent, so more money for booze! www.tintabernacle.com WHAT A GOOD IDEA // 41
i did it my way Law graduate and blogger Rebecca Stirling tells us how she DIY’ed her big day and what it’s like to be part of the younger bride generation.
married - we had already started planning the wedding before I had a ring officially on my finger!”
INTERVIEW Danielle Skerrett
“Back in 2012 we hadn’t chosen a stationery theme for our wedding, so I didn’t want to theme our save the dates too much or pay a lot of money for them. After looking around the internet, I came up with the idea of ordering a personalised rubber stamp from The English Stamp Company. The vintage luggage tags would be versatile enough to go with any theme and just a small something that people could hang up on a notice board or stick up on their fridge,” she says.
She crafted her way through the dreaded wedding plan, from save the dates and wedding invitations to table numbers and even some decorations. So where does the inspiration to ‘Do It Yourself’ come from? “From the start, one of my favourite parts of wedding planning was thinking of ways to personalise our day,” she says. The 21-year-old is pretty social media savvy so when it came to wedding planning she turned to Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration. “I was always adamant that I wanted to finish my degree before I started thinking about weddings but then I discovered Pinterest, blogs and all the incredible wedding boards and soon enough I was obsessed.”
Instead of shelling out for professional save the dates and invitations, the couple decided to get creative and make their own, putting a personal twist on the old traditions of a wedding.
Adding more personal touches, Rebecca created Instagram-inspired faux photo strips of their engagement photos to send out with the luggage tags, an idea which she picked up on Pinterest: “I decided to send out the small photo strips with the luggage tags. We tied this up with some string and sent them out to friends and family.”
Rebecca married Ben, her boyfriend of four years, on July 3rd 2014 at Notley Abbey in Buckinghamshire in front of 200 friends and family. But the planning began way before Ben’s romantic proposal in St Ives in 2012.
With the date sealed, Rebecca started looking into ordering invitations and again opted to create her own: “I wanted the invites to be really special and professional whilst still looking a bit quirky and vintage,” she says.
“We kind of did things in a back to front way in that we booked the venue, photographer and even the florist in advance. We had been together for about four years when we started discussing when to get
“I’m such a sucker for red hearts and brown paper so got in touch with a comapny through their website after seeing them on Pinterest and got started on personalising our invites. I love their unique rustic style.”
42 // PIECES OF ME
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WHAT A GOOD IDEA // 43
I love the unique rustic trend. “ I’m a sucker for brown paper and red hearts! ”
The couple continued to fit personal touches into each part of the day with a vintage travel theme. “Ben and I love to travel and from the start of our wedding planning process, we wanted to incorporate this as part of the theme for the day with antique suitcases and a seating plan theme. I’ve also got a bit of a thing for heart shaped maps, so I combined the two for a display on each table.” she says.
“Ben helped me make the luggage tags. We typed names into boxes on word using the typewriter font with a small red heart at the bottom and used a luggage tag label as a template to cut around for the shape. We wanted to make the brown templates look like proper luggage tags. We punched a hole in each and tied string around the frame pulling it tight and threaded the luggage tags through.”
They named each of their eight tables after places they’d visited together. “We chose eight of our favourite destinations, one for each table including the top table and looked them up in old atlases. After scanning the pages in, I used Microsoft Paint to cut out a heart shape around the map and wrote the table name in the middle with an old fashioned font for a type-writer effect.”
To finish off the pair screwed the frame onto an old wooden step ladder, decorated with flowers and put it at the entrance of the reception so it was visible to guests coming in.
“The frames sat on each table and we had St Ives at our top table as the place where we got engaged amongst flowers in jam jars,” she says. With wedding planning being notoriously stressful, Rebecca made sure to get the little things out of the way in advance. “After I framed the map hearts and a couple of quotes to display at the wedding, I packed them away until the day. It’s one of those jobs that if you know roughly how many tables you have, you might as well do ahead of time to get organised.” To fit the travel theme and stick to her DIY budget, Rebecca decided to frame an antique atlas to display the seating plan for her guests. “We couldn’t finish the seating plan until about a week before the wedding day. We wanted to double check all our guests were coming before we printed out the plan,” she says. 44 // PIECES OF ME
Rebecca and Ben also made their own confetti cones out of dried rose petals and paper doilies but Rebecca says the most memorable part of the day was their unique heart balloon release. “I ordered these balloons from eBay, 12 inch latex hearts that were helium quality and then I found a local balloon lady who came and blew them up for us. Together the balloons and the lady with the helium cost us less than £50!” “I loved our heart balloon release and getting all of our guests together for something a bit different, it really made our day.” After an eventful summer graduating from the London School of Economics and tying the knot, Rebecca’s wedding landed her a job with Cosmo’s wedding blog ‘So you’re getting married’. Rebecca also updates her personal blog and writes anything and everything to do with weddings every Wednesday. To see more from Rebecca you can check out her blog here: www.rosesandrolltops.blogspot.com
A place to organise the things you love.
Claire Pettibone couture bridal
we are family EVER WONDERED WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CRaZINESS OF PLANNING THE WEDDING IS OVER? wILL IT LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS? what will married life be like? We asked three women in the same family about their weddings and their experiences.
interviews maxine sene
TALK // 47
48 // TALK
Andrea Santiago GRANDMOTHER
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it was a miserable day, nothing about it was happy. i got married at 6am on 8th september 1956, like some sort of criminal so no one would see me.
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How long were you together before you got engaged and married? Johnny and I were together around two years before we got engaged. I was 19 and he was 20 years old. We got married two years after that. Did you have any specific reason to get married? We always wanted to get married but we didn’t have enough money to pay for the wedding. I was a dressmaker, it didn’t earn much and most of what I earned went towards helping my mother and father. Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to wait so we could have the wedding we wanted. I was forced to get married before we had planned because I was pregnant. What was your wedding day like? It was a miserable day, nothing about it was happy. I got married at 6am on 8th September 1956, like some sort of criminal so no one would see me. There was nothing on the streets other than the rubbish truck making its rounds. I wore a navy blue skirt and blazer that I had made myself as I was not allowed to make myself a dress. My parents didn’t come to the ceremony, only Johnny’s parents, my older brother and best friend attended. I wasn’t even allowed to get married at the altar, or in the church for that matter. I got married in the little chapel next to the church, as if God couldn’t see me there! There was no reception after the ceremony either. If you could do it again, what would you change? I wouldn’t let myself be rushed into marriage. I would have waited until I had saved up enough money to have the wedding I wanted and I would have made sure it was a happy day. Now that I look back on it, I don’t regret the marriage itself, but how it took place. I didn’t have any control over anything when it was meant to be my day.
What was the best memory you have of your wedding day? When I got home, my parents finally spoke to me after a week of silence. That’s as happy as it got I’m afraid. But I don’t want to be pitied, I still got to marry the love of my life that day and that’s what matters most in my eyes. Was being married everything you expected it to be? It was a lot more stressful than I thought it would be. He always loved to be the life of the party and was always out late socialising and drinking. Oh how that man made me worry! It’s a wonder how he was the one to pass away first. I would still give anything to have him here with me today. God took him from me far too soon. Has your time with your partner changed your views on marriage now? I now realise that marriage was a lot harder than I thought it would be. As you get older, you’ll realise that the fights aren’t worth it and that it is more important to forgive and forget and just cherish every moment you have together because you never know what tomorrow brings. It’s sad that it seems to take something as big as one of you passing away for you to realise that. What is your life like now? I’m now 77 years old and have been a widow for 27 years. I lost my husband to a heart attack that took him instantly. He was only 50 years old and still had so much life to live. I live alone but I’m always being entertained by my children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. I’ve lived a very full and happy life and I have no regrets. The only thing I would change would be to have Johnny standing next to me in this picture right now. TALK // 49
50 // TALK
Patrica Sene daughter
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it was an extremely rushed reception and a lorry broke down outside the church, blocking our car in which only made matters worse.
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How long were you together before you got engaged and married? Derek and I were together for two years before we got engaged and then we were engaged for another two years before we got married. We got together when I was 14 and were together nearly five years before getting married when I was 19 years old. Did you have any specific reason to get married? At that time you couldn’t really live together without being married. It wasn’t socially acceptable. We always knew we wanted to get married. We ended up getting married at that specific time because we then thought we were ready to move in together, and it just seemed like the next step to take. What was your wedding day like? It was a traditional wedding and the reception was also the typical wedding reception you would have back then, a buffet style arrangement with canapés and drinks. We did have a few mishaps throughout the day. Our schedule for the day was quite tights as we got married at nine in the morning and our flight for our honeymoon departed at midday. It was an extremely rushed reception and a lorry broke down outside the church, blocking our car in which only made matters worse. I didn’t even get to cut my wedding cake because I had to rush to the airport. It was a disaster! What was the best memory you have of your wedding day? The wedding was more of a means to an end than an actual event. We probably didn’t enjoy it as much because we were waiting for it all to be over so we could finally live together and use all the new things we had bought for our new house. The wedding day was enjoyable but we were really looking forward to returning and starting our lives together.
If you could do it again, what would you change? I wouldn’t have booked my flight for our honeymoon on the same day. I didn’t get to enjoy my reception because it was all so rushed. Even thinking about it now makes me panic. It was a pity because my parents had spent so much time and money organising it all and we didn’t get to experience any of it. That’s all I would change about my day, actually having been able to make it to my own wedding reception. Was being married everything you expected it to be? I don’t think I knew what to expect because I couldn’t really compare it to anything else I had ever done or been through. However, it was a lot better than I thought it would be and my marriage keeps getting better as time goes by. Has your time with your partner changed your views on marriage now? No, not at all. I still have the same views on marriage as I did back then. I thought it would be a great thing to share with the person you love and after living it for many years, I still think the same now. What is your life like now? Having been married for 36 years now, my three daughters are all grown up and two of them have children of their own. Our youngest daughter is at university and will also move out as soon as she gets the chance. We’ve had a great family life and still see each other most days. We’re pretty much living alone again as we did so many years ago, but that doesn’t mean we’re lonely. Oh how times have changed! Now, we always have our granddaughters running around the house keeping us young and on our toes. TALK // 51
52 // TALK
Francesca Davies Granddaughter
“
I was so caught up on the actual wedding, the dress and the honeymoon that my focus was not where it should have been.
“
Was being married everything you expected it to be? I wish that I had realised at the time that the significance of the whole wedding were the vows we were making to each other. I was so caught up in the actual wedding, the dress and the honeymoon that my focus was not where it should have been. I didn’t seem to realise at the time what a major commitment marriage actually is. When my husband got sick with cancer six years into our marriage, Did you have any specific reason to get married? our relationship really was tested to its absolute limits. I was expected Not really, we just loved each other and wanted to move onto the next stage in our relationship. We thought that we were ready for married life to be his rock throughout it all and that was when I realised that marriage was a lot more of a responsibility than I was ready for. at that point in our lives so we went for it. How long were you together before you got engaged and married? Lee and I had been in a relationship for nine months when he proposed. The actual proposal took place on a beach in Spain that was somewhere we went to a lot. It was all quite spontaneous, just like my husband. We then got married two years later.
Has your time with your partner changed your views on marriage now? It hasn’t really changed my views on marriage. Now that I look back on our marriage, even though I can still remember how horrible things got once he got ill and after he passed away, I can also remember all the amazing times we had before that. Times like when we moved into our new house, or when we had our beautiful daughter and all the little things that made us who we were together. Marriage will have its ups and downs and we went through them both quite drastically. I still think marriage is a wonderful thing but it has opened up my eyes to If you could do it again, what would you change? In hindsight I should have kept things simple to reduce my stress levels. I what it’s actually all about. think I would have probably enjoyed myself even more if the scale of the What is your life like now? wedding was smaller and I had less people and things to worry about. Our daughter Lauren is now six years old and reminds me a lot of her father, even though she was only two when he passed away. I recently What was the best memory you have of your wedding day? Without a doubt the memory that I treasure most from my wedding day had another child, Sarah with my fiancé Jean-Paul. Despite all the hard things I’ve had to face in my life, I’m very satisfied with everything as was the time we shared during our first dance as husband and wife. I it is now. I’m sure Lee would be glad to see that both Lauren and I are can still remember our conversation, and every time I hear our song it ok. I couldn’t really ask for anything more. takes me back to that moment. What was your wedding day like? My wedding was quite traditional and it was lovely. I had two years to plan the wedding so it was more than enough time to get everything ready for the day. My grandmother made my dress and my mother helped me plan and make my wedding favours. It was still a very stressful process and I did feel quite overwhelmed at times because of all the detail that went into all the arrangements. Everything on the day went perfectly, so I guess all the planning did pay off in the end.
TALK // 53
i’ll be hair for you WORDS BECKY ARCHER
This braided hairstyle adds a unique twist to the classic low bun. It makes you look sophisticated and classy on your big day with little effort involved. There’s no need to go out and buy fancy head pieces for this look, all you will need are clear hair ties and hair grips. This hair style is perfect for not only the bride, but also the bridesmaids. To make your life easier, we’ve made a video for you to follow. Check out our website frankiesaysido.blogspot.com for the full tutorial.
56 // HELPING HAND
Step 1. Brush through your hair to get rid of any knots and tie your hair up into a low ponytail. At the moment, it doesn’t matter if you use a colour hair tie as you won’t be able to see this once the hair is in the bun.
Step 2. Part your hair above the hair tie and pull the ponytail through the gap making sure you’ve gathered all the hair, so it looks like the photo above. Make sure you secure the hair tightly so it will stay in place.
Step 3. After, simply plait the rest of the ponytail and tie it with a clear hairband. Spray the plait with hairspray to fix in place. To jazz it up, you could add thin strips of lace or ribbon to the plait.
Step 4. Finally, push the plait into the same gap you pulled the ponytail through in step 2. Hide the end of the plait by tucking it under the bun. Secure the bun in place with as many hair grips as you need.
Tip
Tip
if you want to add a bit of sparkle then add hair grips, clips and anything else you can find into the bun. flowers would work well too.
For a more undone look, gently pull strands of hair down to frame your face. loosely curl towards the bun for a more natural style
HELPING HAND // 57
DIY hand-painted pegs CREATE THESE SIMPLE BRIDE AND GROOM PEGS AND ADD A PERSONAL TOUCH TO YOUR WEDDING DECOR.
TIP Use these nifty pegs as place settings on your top table or as a topper for your cake!
58 // CRAFT
1. Pencil in an outline of a tuxedo with bow tie and wedding dress onto a wooden peg.
2. Using white and black acrylic paint fill in the shapes to create your mini bride and groom.
3. Keep it simple but feel free to add details personal to you and your fiancĂŠ. E.g. rosy cheeks, jewellery, a veil.
4. Add a note to the top to display your table names, numbers or even use the pegs as decoration for your cake.
diy wedding favours These cute favours make great table decorations and treats for your guests. you can fill them with anything from your favourite sweets to potpourri.
1. Cut a patterned piece of paper into a square shape and roll up to make a cone.
2. Staple the cone into place and fill it with sweets, potpourri or anything else that takes your fancy.
3. Seal the package with tape or a sticker to ensure nothing will spill out.
4. Finally, attach a note and decorations to the cone to jazz it up a bit. You can use different patterns to mix it up!
TIP This cute cone is also perfect to hold confetti for after the ceremony.
HELPING HAND // 59
mamma mia! we asked brides for their worst mother-in-law tales and this is what they said. let’s hope yours is a bit nicer. INTERVIEWs LAUREN CHICK
“When I got married, it was my mum who was the monster, not my husband’s! Her wedding to my dad was small and so I think she wanted to live her dream wedding vicariously through me. It was a nightmare. She was giving me orders left, right and centre and completely took over the planning. In the end I just put my foot down and told her to stop. She was hurt at first but she apologised eventually!” - Claire, Brackley “My fiancé’s mother is contributing a lot of money towards our wedding which I’m so grateful for but she thinks that means everything must be approved by her first! She said some of my friends couldn’t come because she didn’t know them, but has invited her friends that we don’t know. To top it off, our guest list has gone over 100 and we can have 80 max and she said I must invite fewer of my friends as hers HAVE to be invited!” - Sarah, Derby
Monster-in-law: a meddlesome person who purposely lives to aggravate their son’s wife or daughter’s husband. Rude and oblivious human who speaks before they think about what they’re going to say. Can also be described as the worst “My mother-in-law was insistent that she wore the same colour as undeserved punishment life has for innocent people with good the bridesmaids! There was no easy way to tell her she wasn’t in the intentions. bridal party; I just had to tell it to her straight. Not sure whether it was “I bought my wedding dress and my future mother-in-law told me it was beautiful. She then all of a sudden decided to tell me that it was horrible and I needed to lose a lot of weight for it to even look a little bit nice. She also told me that she was pissed off that I was going to look better than her at my own wedding! The cheek! I’m incredibly jealous of anyone who has a kind mother-in-law!” - Holly, Newark “I used to be close to my future mother-in-law until my fiancé and I got engaged. She’s horrible about all the decisions I make about the wedding and tells people I’ve agreed to things when I haven’t. The worst part is when she blackmails me if I say no to something she wants – she’ll say things like ‘oh, his nan will be so disappointed’. She doesn’t have a daughter so I wanted her to be involved but now it’s turning into the wedding from hell.” - Melissa, Brighton 60 // TALK
worth it though, I still haven’t stopped receiving the snide remarks and my wedding was two years ago.” - Hannah, Bristol
“At my reception, my mother-in-law got so drunk that she did a pole dance! Thankfully, there was no nudity involved but she got very up close and personal with the pole. I thought it was hilarious but I don’t think my husband, or hers, was impressed!” - Roisin, London “On my wedding day my mother-in-law asked the DJ to play a song for a ‘mother and son’ dance, I’m not even kidding! I was chatting away to friends with my new husband and suddenly I heard the DJ invite Tom and his mum onto the dancefloor to share a special dance. And to make matters worse it was to Sweet Child O’ Mine. I don’t know if Tom knew about this plan, but he didn’t complain! I was just standing on the sidelines half lughing, half fuming!” - Nicky, Lincoln
63 WEDDING FAYRE AD