Silverlinings Midlands Wedding Guide - Autumn/Winter 2018

Autumn/Winter 2018 | silverlinings.co.uk

GUIDE

Planning A Marquee Wedding

PRIZE DRAW

Win £1000

24 INSPIRING BRIDAL DRESSES

towards your wedding rings from Steffans Jewellers

3 Real Weddings to inspire

Wedding Fairs AN IMPORTANT PART OF PLANNING

ESSENTIAL PLANNING TOOLS

PLANNING COUNTDOWN FOR GROOMS

Planning timeline Local venues Trends

FREE

wedding

Prize draw

One lucky couple will be picked in December 2018

TOWARDS YOUR RINGS FROM STEFFANS JEWELLERS To win, all you have to do is: -R egister for our fairs at www.silverlinings.co.uk -A ttend any of the fairs you have registered for

Terms & conditions may apply see our website for more details

PRIZE DRAW

WINNERS A huge congratulations to Chelle Wells and Daniel Berry on winning the Spring/Summer 2018 Prize Draw of ÂŁ1000 towards their wedding rings from Steffans Jewellers.

Chelle and Daniel are getting married at the stunning Crockwell Farm in December 2019. We wish them all the love, luck and happiness.

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The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

l Chelle & Danie A huge thanks goes to Wes Suter at Steffans Jewellers for being our Prize Draw sponsor.

Free goody bag packed with magazines, discounts and offers

NORTHAMPTON MARRIOTT WEDDING FAIR Sunday 9th September Eagle Drive, Northampton, NN4 7HW

Pre-register and attend to be in with a chance of winning £1000 towards your wedding rings from Steffans Jewellers*.

THE BIG KETTERING WEDDING SHOW AT WICKSTEED PARK Sunday 23rd September Barton Road, Kettering, NN15 6NJ

Winner will be announced in Dec 2018.

Pre-register at www.silverlinings.co.uk

Want to Exhibit?

Contact us at hello@silverlinings.co.uk or 07732 285617

* Terms & Conditions apply

THE BIG MILTON KEYNES WEDDING SHOW AT TOWCESTER RACECOURSE Sunday 16th September London Road, Towcester, NN12 6LB

OXFORD TOWN HALL WEDDING SHOW Sunday 30th September St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1BX AVIATOR HOTEL WEDDING SHOWCASE Sunday 30th September Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire, NN6 0BN HILTON WATFORD WEDDING FAIR Sunday 7th October Elton Way, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 8HA THE BIG NORTHAMPTON WEDDING SHOW AT THE NCCC Sunday 14th October Northants County Cricket Club, Northampton, NN1 4PR HILTON MILTON KEYNES WEDDING FAIR Sunday 21st October Kents Hill, Milton Keynes, MK7 6HL CHRISTMAS WEDDING FAIR AT THE GUILDHALL Sunday 25th November St Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE All fairs are open from 11am - 3pm Free Admission (unless stated otherwise)

Contents

in this issue...

REGULARS

With the stunning weather we’ve been having of late, it’s hard to believe this is our Autumn & Winter edition! As much as we hate to say it while we’re sitting here eating ice cream, a little part of us is already looking forward to the darker nights, blazing fires, hot chocolate (with lashings of cream), and cosy nights in.

Autumn and winter weddings are all about embracing the rich, dark hues and velvety fabrics. We love throwing in some metallics, like gold and copper, to add some sparkle to the decor.

We have a fantastic diary of wedding fairs for you, starting on the 9th September at the Northampton Marriott. Don’t forget to preregister for the Steffans Jewellers Prize Draw!

We’re sure you’ll find this guide and our wedding fairs useful in planning your special once-in-a-lifetime wedding day.

4 Prize Draw To Win £1000 Of Rings

33 Northamptonshire Wedding Venues

5 Diary Of Wedding Fairs

42 Bridal Inspiration

10 What You Need To Do & When

66 Mood Boards

18 Legal - Taking On Your Wife’s Last Name

FEATURES

38

Something Borrowed, Something Blue 14 Why You Should Go To Wedding Fairs 48 Counting Down To Your Dress (Or Suit!)

Cover photo: Sarah Vivienne Photography We love our real life bride & groom cover models, Lucy & Matt Mendham who were married at Norwood Park. Lucy’s dress is from Francis Bridal and her hair & makeup by Alison Jenner Hair Stylist. Matt’s buttonhole was from Jacaranda and Lucy’s hair accessories were from Debbie Carlisle.

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CONTACT US Editor Emma Tuckley hello@silverlinings.co.uk Midlands Manager Jennifer Hughes jennifer@silverlinings.co.uk Art Director Chris Bunt - Desine adcopy@silverlinings.co.uk Contributors Lindsey Civil - Sywell Grange Emma Silvester - Strong Bird Fitness Rob Gower - Dragonfly Traveller

KEEP IN TOUCH... silverliningsweddingfair silverlinings_wedding_guide Twitter (use logo) - wedding_fairs

COUNTDOWN FOR THE GROOMS

72 Unusual & Quirky Cakes 80 Planning A Marquee Wedding 88 The Tech Dream Wedding 96 T op Honeymoon Destinations

VENUES

REAL WEDDINGS

24 Venue Spotlight: Lyveden New Bield

54 Real Wedding: Caroline & Spencer

28 Venue Spotlight: Sywell Grange

61 Real Wedding: Nicola & Joseph 75 Real Wedding: Dawn & Ian silverlinings.co.uk

7

H O T E L

&

T H E A T R E

WEDDINGS AT

Kilworth House Exclusive Hire from £9945 A picturesque country house set amid rolling parkland is the perfect setting for your fairytale wedding.

Turn your dreams into a reality surrounded by stunning scenery, architecture and the exceptional service of our dedicated team.

Let your happy ever after begin here...

Wedding Showcase SUNDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2018 & SUNDAY 13TH JANUARY 2019 11.30am – 3.00pm Meet our dedicated event coordinators and specially selected local suppliers for all of your wedding requirements and take away wonderful ideas for your special day.

WEDDING OPEN EVENINGS Join us on the last Thursday of every month 6.00pm – 8.00pm

To discuss your wedding requirements or for a full brochure please call

01858 880058

www.kilworthhouse.co.uk/weddings

Beautiful

Individual

Personal

Bespoke

Beautifully designed Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings & Eternity Rings...

By Appointment Only Monday to Sunday

The Studio @ 53, Mears Ashby Road Earls Barton, NN6 0HQ Mob: 07768 775095 | Tel: 01604 810005 www.weddingringsbynatalie.co.uk natalie@weddingringsbynatalie.co.uk /weddingringsdesignedbynatalie

Affordably Exclusive

Planning

What you need

to do and when 12 MONTHS BEFORE Choose a wedding date Decide on a budget Make a list of guests and decide on numbers Book your church or ceremony location Book your reception venue/caterers Send out “Save The Date” cards Choose your Bridesmaids, Ushers and Best Man Start looking for The Dress!

Choose and book your photographer Choose and book your videographer Take out insurance cover Start thinking about the honeymoon

8 MONTHS BEFORE Choose bridesmaids’ dresses Choose the music, hymns and readings for the ceremony

Give Notice of Marriage

Order wedding stationery

Order venue decoration/chair covers

Book entertainment

Select your wedding rings

Choose and order your wedding cake

Book a make-up artist/hairdresser and arrange a trial

Make an appointment with your chosen fl orist Select a Toastmaster

10

6 MONTHS BEFORE

The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

Purchase or hire menswear

Choose a Gift List

Planning

1 MONTH BEFORE Arrange a fi nal fi tting of your wedding dress Telephone guests who have not responded to your invitation Buy a wedding gift for each other Arrange for a fi nal fi tting for your bridesmaids, ushers and best man and arrange when to collect the outfi ts Confi rm timings with the venue and all relevant suppliers

2 WEEKS BEFORE Make a note of wedding gifts as they arrive

4 MONTHS BEFORE Send out your wedding invitations

Confi rm the date and time of the rehearsal with the relevant people Arrange to change your name if appropriate Speak to all your suppliers to confi rm details

Check your passport expiry date Check if you will need visas or vaccinations for your honeymoon destination Choose attendants’ gifts Buy shoes, lingerie and accessories Order favours Start thinking about a seating plan Book your wedding night accommodation Attend initial fi tting for your wedding dress Make arrangements for Hen and Stag parties Arrange fi ttings for the menswear Buy a going away outfi t and honeymoon clothes Organise a rehearsal with the relevant people

1 WEEK BEFORE Arrange to collect your wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses and the menswear Arrange for your order of service to be given to the minister Pack for your honeymoon Have all your beauty treatments Book the groom a hair cut Organise an emergency kit for on the day Drink plenty of water and have some early nights Relax and enjoy this time – all your hard work is about to come to fruition

silverlinings.co.uk

11

Winter Weddings at Kettering Park Hotel & Spa

When it comes to creating the most special day of your life we love nothing more than to help.

With beautiful gardens for stunning photographs - perfect for night shots under the stars, roaring log fires and beautiful suites, you’re sure to have a Magical Winter Wedding full of excitement and sparkle.

Plus, save up to 25% on 2018 winter dates!

For more information please contact Emma Hayes, our Wedding Manager on 01536 416666 Kettering Hotel & Spa, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6XT ketteringparkhotel.co.uk

FAWSLEY HALL HOTEL & SPA FAWSLEY, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

The perfect venue ďż˝ Vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and soft shades of ancient stone, Fawsley Hall could lie at the heart of any fairy tale.

Situated in the Northamptonshire countryside, this historic mansion house has striking function rooms, space for romantic outdoor ceremonies overlooking the lake, and an elegant master suite, once playing host to Queen Elizabeth I.

Wedding showcases: Sunday 13 May - 11am to 3pm Sunday 01 July - 12pm to 4pm Sunday 16 September - 12pm to 4pm Sunday 02 December - 11am to 3pm

Step back in time and make this the setting of your extraordinary dream wedding.

Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa Fawsley, Near Daventry NN11 3BA T 01327 892004 E enquiries.fawsley@handpicked.co.uk handpickedhotels.co.uk

HOTELS B U I L T

F O R

P L E A S U R E

Planning

WEDDING

WHY YOU SHOULD GO TO

You’ve just got engaged, and the first question you’re asking yourself is “where do I start?”

ANSWER: WEDDING FAIRS! On any given weekend during this wedding fair season (September to November) you’ll be within 10 miles of a number of wedding fairs. They range from the huge national events attended by thousands, to small and intimate afternoons at local venues. No matter what their size, the purpose is to inspire you and make planning your wedding easier.

HERE ARE 8 REASONS TO ATTEND A WEDDING FAIR:

Find your key suppliers Your suppliers will be part of your planning (i.e. your life!) for up to 2 years so it’s important you like them! There is no other place to meet so many suppliers in person, and many couples will book a supplier not just because their work looks amazing, but because they make a fantastic impression – pleasant, reliable, easy to talk to, confident.

THEY ARE FUN Your first fair is truly an amazing experience, and an opportunity to take your mum and girlfriends along to indulge in a day of wedding planning. There willl be lots of freebies to make your experience special, like Champagne on arrival, goody bags, bridal magazines and samples. Wedding fairs with catwalks or bridal shows are a real highlight, giving you the opportunity to see dresses on a model rather than just a hanger.

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The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

BE INSPIRED...

Even though you’ve probably already created your Pinterest wedding, nothing compares to seeing everything for yourselves. Wedding fairs are full of inspiration and often have the unusual and quirky suppliers attending who you may not have come across while wading through the huge amount of information on Google.

Being able to touch and feel things, or talk to different suppliers who

can show you what they do may even give you a different view on things you’ve dismissed. Seeing bridal gowns on models during a catwalk can show you what a dress looks like on and you may consider dresses you had previously overlooked.

Planning

Top Tips

FAIRS 04

FOR WEDDING FAIRS – Wear comfy shoes –P ut a pair of heels in your bag if you’re trying on dresses –S tay hydrated with a bottle of water

...AND BE UNINSPIRED For the same reason wedding fairs are a great place to inspire you, something you may have thought ‘wow’ in a magazine or online may not be the same when you see it in person. Scrub it from the list and move onto the next idea!

–U se a camera - photos will help you remember suppliers –B ring a pen and paper to make notes

Latest trends Suppliers will want to show you what they can do from the traditional to the on-trend. You will soon notice what stands out across the suppliers.

LOOK OUT FOR THE DISCOUNTS & OFFERS Not all suppliers need to meet up with you to put a bespoke package together, and many will offer a ‘book now’ price if you’re happy to commit there and then. Even if you do need a meeting to discuss options, you’ll find reduced prices or something extra if you book an appointment at the show.

If you don’t want to make any decisions at the fair, make a note of the deal being offered and speak to the supplier at a later date (just make sure you give the supplier your details so they know you were at the show).

08

HAVE CONVERSATIONS

FOOD FEST A great part of wedding fairs is the food and drink samples!

It’s fun but also an important part of making informed decisions when choosing your cake maker or caterer.

You want to eat your cake at the wedding so you want to ensure it looks amazing and tastes heavenly.

Chat with suppliers and ask them a heap of questions; it can be much easier than sending emails and waiting for replies, which invariably raises more questions! They will be able to tell you about their experiences and give you guidance or suggestions to help in your wedding planning. silverlinings.co.uk

15

Harlestone Park

Perfect Countryside Wedding Venue Hidden gem in the heart of Northampton Photo: Dennis Tyrell

countryandcoastweddings.co.uk harlestonepark@countryandcoastweddings.co.uk | 07732 285617

Situated just moments from the historical town of Kenilworth and set within 32 acres of grounds, Woodside offers a romantic setting for a wedding. With a range of ceremony and reception rooms, and the opportunity to marry outside in our beautiful gazebo, you can celebrate your whole day here, from the all-important ‘I do’ right through to your final dance of the night. We can hold weddings for up to 130 for a wedding ceremony, 120 for a wedding breakfast and 185 for an evening reception.

For more information, visit www.sundialgroup.com/ws-silverlinings or call us on 01926 852217

Woodside, Glasshouse Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2AL 01926 852217 | woodside@sundialgroup.com www.sundialgroup.com/ws-silverlinings

01604 609286 events@nccc.co.uk www.northantscricket.com

The tranquillity combined with the historical and picturesque setting of the Cricket Ground makes us the perfect location for your wedding day.

With years of experience planning weddings and events, our qualified team will be on hand to ensure your dream day is brought to reality.

The County Ground is proud to ensure clients have one central point of contact; from the moment your initial enquiry is processed through to the day itself.

We will then smoothly hand over the details of your day to our experienced operations team who will be with you every step to ensure everything runs without a hitch. With our friendly and flexible approach we will ensure your event runs effortlessly and exceeds all your expectations.

We are now licenced for civil ceremonies from 10 to 550 guests and with a variety of spaces, many with natural daylight and pitch side views we can offer the perfect location for your big day.

Please contact our events team today and organise a convenient time to pop down to The County Ground and have a look around. Like many of our clients, you’re sure to be impressed!

Wedding Fair here on 14th October 2018

Legal

TAKING ON YOUR

LAST NAME While many women still go the traditional route by taking their husbands’ surnames, more and more heterosexual couples are exploring alternatives such as taking the woman’s last name instead, hyphenating their names or creating a new last name altogether. Here are 5 reasons why some men chose to take on their wife’s surname: 1. An act of love.

2. T hey like their wife’s surname better.

3. T hey want to distance themselves from their former surname.

4. A symbol of support.

5. A testament to a couple’s stand against gender norms.

If you want to take your wife’s surname (or even doublebarrel both surnames), a Deed Poll is often required.

Although some companies and organisations will change their records to your new surname upon presentation of your marriage certificate, many will not, particularly the financial institutions e.g. banks and building societies. A Deed Poll will guarantee that your new surname will be accepted by everyone without question.

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The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

There are two options to consider in respect of the timing of your application for Deed Polls: Apply in time for signing on your wedding day If you wish to make the signing of your Deed Polls part of your marriage ceremony, you should apply for your Deed Polls at least three weeks before your wedding. After signing your Deed Polls after your ceremony (not before), keep them safe at home and upon your return from your honeymoon start the process of letting everyone know of your change of name

by Deed Poll.

Apply upon returning from your honeymoon You can apply for your Deed Polls upon returning from your honeymoon and start the process at that point.

You can of course still order before your wedding, particularly if you want your Deed Poll documents to hand for signing upon returning from your honeymoon.

REMEMBER not to change anything if you’ve booked your honeymoon in your birth name

For more information on Deed Polls, visit deedpoll.org.uk

Legal

USEFUL INFORMATION FOR PASSPORT CHANGES

WHO YOU NEED TO NOTIFY – The passport office – The DVLA (driving licence, vehicle registration)

– HMRC & Benefits – Local Authority (Council tax & electoral register)

– Land Registry – Employer & pension providers – Bank / building society & loan companies – Credit card & store card companies – Mortgage provider

Changing your name on your passport: You can change your name on your passport up to 3 months before the ceremony. Your old passport will then be cancelled. The new passport is ‘post-dated’ which means it is valid from the date of your ceremony and you can’t use it before the ceremony. Some countries won’t issue visas for post-dated passports so do check with the country’s consulate.

To renew your passport you can either: – Apply online –A pply using a standard passport application form which you can pick from any Post Office branch.

–Y ou must also send A ‘Post-Date Form 2’ along with your application.

The religious minister or registrar who will conduct the ceremony must sign this, as must you with your current name and signature. For more help and advice, visit gov.uk/passport-advice-line

– Student Loans – Doctor & dentist – M otoring organisations (breakdown cover)

– Utility and phone / broadband providers – I nsurance company (motor, home, travel, pet)

NameSwitch.co.uk is an online name changing service that simplifies the name changing process silverlinings.co.uk

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STOKE PARK PAVILIONS A magical Northamptonshire venue for bespoke and exclusive wedding receptions.

Weekend dates available through 2018.

e: info@sweet-events.co.uk

ï‚‚ /stokeparkpavilions

www.northampton.gov.uk/theguildhall ďˆ° Guildhall Northampton

The Guildhall, Northampton offers a unique & memorable setting for your wedding The building features period features and majestic Victorian architecture set in an enviable location offering an impressive backdrop for your perfect day.

We have a choice of stunning rooms allowing us to cater for small intimate ceremonies for as few as 4 guests up to large celebrations for 220 guests.

For more information, call 01604 838400 or email guildhalloffice@northampton.gov.uk

Wedding Fair here on 25th November 2018

Autumn/Winter

.uk

gs.co 2018 | silverlinin

Planning A ding Marquee Wed 24 INSPIRING SES BRIDAL DRES

FREE

wedding G U ID E

PRIZE DRAW

Win £1000

towards your wedding rings from Steffans Jewellers

3 Real Weddings to inspire

Wedding Fairs AN IMPORTANT

Want to advertise with Silverlinings?

Call Emma on 07732 285617 or email hello@silverlinings.co.uk

NNING PART OF PLA

PLANNING N COUNTDOW FOR GROOMS

ESSENTIAL OLS PLANNING TO eline Planning tim Local venues Trends

www.silverlinings.co.uk

Are you a wedding business looking to reach more couples getting married?

ADVERTISE IN THE GUIDE

FIND US ON /silverliningswed

dingfairs /wedding_fairs

A breath taking wedding for an

The Orangery offers luxurious interiors and wedding photographs. Rushton Hall is licen

To arrange a viewing of the Oranger W

HOTEL

•

SPA

•

DI

Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa, Rushton, Northamp

WWW

A breath taking wedding venue, flooded with natural light and sim for any wedding or celebratory event.

The Orangery offers luxurious interiors and is surrounded by historic gardens and parkland wedding photographs. Rushton Hall is licensed to host Civil Ceremonies and can cater for

To arrange a viewing of the Orangery please call 01536 713001 or email weddings A breath taking wedding venue, flooded with natural light and simply perfect for any wedding or celebratory event.

We look forward to welcoming you.

The Orangery offers luxurious interiors and is surrounded by historic gardens and parkland, a fantastic setting for your wedding photographs. Rushton Hall is licensed to host Civil Ceremonies and can cater for weddings H OupTto E 280 L guests.

• SPA

•

DINING

•

CONFERENCES

To arrange a viewing of the Orangery please call 01536 713001 or email weddings@rushtonhall.com We look forward to welcoming you.

Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa, Rushton, Northamptonshire. NN14 1RR | Tel 01536 713001 E

HOTEL

•

SPA

•

DINING

•

CONFERENCES

•

WEDDINGS

WWW.RUSHTONHALL.COM

A breath taking wedding venue, flooded with natural light and simply perfect for any wedding or celebratory event.

Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa, Rushton, Northamptonshire. NN14 1RR | Tel 01536 713001 Email enquiries@rushtonhall.com The Orangery offers luxurious interiors and is surrounded by historic gardens and parkland, a fantastic setting for your WWW.RUSHTONHALL.COM wedding photographs. Rushton Hall is licensed to host Civil Ceremonies and can cater for weddings up to 280 guests.

To arrange a viewing of the Orangery please call 01536 713001 or email weddings@rushtonhall.com We look forward to welcoming you.

HOTEL

•

SPA

•

DINING

•

CONFERENCES

•

WEDDINGS

Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa, Rushton, Northamptonshire. NN14 1RR | Tel 01536 713001 Email enquiries@rushtonhall.com

WWW.RUSHTONHALL.COM

Venue spotlight

LYVEDEN NEW BIELD CELEBRATE YOUR SPECIAL DAY IN ONE OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE’S MOST ROMANTIC AND HISTORIC SETTINGS.

With a fascinating history, the unusual building was designed and built by Sir Thomas Tresham, the fervent Roman Catholic of Rushton Hall, from 1595 to 1605.

Just as at Tresham’s smaller folly, Rushton Triangular Lodge, the New Bield has a religious design full of symbolism.

The incomplete summer house or garden lodge overlooks fields, with a wooded backdrop in the heart of the Rockingham Forest. It’s surrounded by the remains of an Elizabethan moated garden and acres of wildflower meadow. Lyveden was intended for entertaining guests, allowing them to gaze out over the estate.

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The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

It lies virtually unaltered from when work stopped. Sir Thomas died in 1605 and his son, Francis Tresham, couldn’t finish it as the family’s wealth had been severely depleted. He ended his days in the Tower of London following his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot, along with his cousins Catesby and Wintour.

This unique marquee venue offers stunning photography opportunities; among the apple trees in bloom, or winding your way up the spiral snail mount, Spiral Mount, or at the South Door and East Wing where new wives in Elizabethan times would have been carried across the threshold.

WITH THANKS TO:

PHOTOGRAPHY: Gemma Willis Photography SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER: White On Blue Photography MENSWEAR: Suitors Menswear BRIDAL WEAR: Courtyard Bridal Boutique DECOR: The Little Details Company MAKE UP MODELS: Polly, Eloise, and Dan HAIR & MAKEUP: Rebecca Chantrell PRODUCTION: Country & Coast Weddings FLOWERS: With Love & Roses

Venue spotlight

GET IN TOUCH 5AT Lyveden, Nr Oundle, PE8

07732 285 617n ede nationaltrust.org.uk/lyv

Owned by the National Trust and managed

by Country & Coast Weddings, the marquee garden is just beyond the East Bield Bank and has Lyveden as a backdrop, giving your wedding a truly unique feature. With a capacity of upto 400 guests, Lyveden is only available for select dates between May and September.

silverlinings.co.uk

25

CORBY - KETTERING A43

Highgate House is an elegant 17th century country house, full of English charm and character in rural Northamptonshire. Set with beautiful grounds, it offers a romantic setting for a wedding, and with a range of ceremony and reception rooms to choose from, you can celebrate your whole day here from the all-important ‘I do’ right through to your final dance of the night. We can hold weddings for up to 120 for a wedding ceremony, 170 for a wedding breakfast and 220 for an evening reception.

For more information, visit www.sundialgroup.com/silverlinings or call us on 01604 505505

Highgate House, Grooms Lane, Creaton, Northampton. NN6 8NN 01604 505505 | highgate@sundialgroup.com www.sundialgroup.com/silverlinings

Venue spotlight

GET IN TOUCH Managed by

countryandcoastw eddings.co.uk

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The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

Venue spotlight

Images: Ania Ames Photography aniaames.co.uk

We’re surrounded by stunning Northamptonshire countryside which seems ever changing.

WE SIT DOWN WITH LINDSEY CIVIL TO TALK ABOUT HER COUNTRYSIDE HOME, THE PERFECT MARQUEE VENUE OUTSIDE SYWELL. LINDSEY, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO YOUR LOVELY HOME. TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT SYWELL GRANGE...

Sywell Grange has been in our family for over 30 years. Built in the 1880’s it is a typical Grange with a traditional Victorian farmhouse surrounded by outbuildings. We’re surrounded by stunning Northamptonshire countryside which seems ever changing. It’s very much a family home, with our children and their friends constantly coming and going.

Sunday lunch on this big farmhouse kitchen table is always a chaotic meal!

WHEN DID YOU START HOSTING WEDDINGS? We started the wedding business over 6 years ago after our daughter got married; a couple saw the marquee in the distance and popped up on the off chance to see if we were a wedding venue. My husband Neil, eager not to miss an opportunity, booked them in for the following year! We only host a small number of weddings a year to keep it special.

silverlinings.co.uk

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Venue spotlight

We always want couples to feel that the marquee site is an extension of their own garden.

YOU SAY ‘SPECIAL’, WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL? We always want couples to feel that the marquee site is an extension of their own garden. It’s over 2 acres and can accommodate most marquees! We have very few limitations - there is no cut off time, there is no corkage fees from us, friends and family can camp over - just as if they were at home!

The hire period is nearly a week so they have all the time they need to come over and decorate the marquee, or just leave others to it! It is lovely to see everyone coming back the following day for a BBQ... some guests are still there from the night before!

And if they’re lucky, guests will be wowed by an impromptu air display from The Blades, the aerobatic team founded by former Red Arrows pilots and based at the aerodrome across the field!

HAVE YOU GOT A WEDDING THAT STICKS IN YOUR MEMORY? We have seen all sorts of weddings at the Grange, all unique to the wedding couples themselves.

Apart from our own family weddings, one of my favourites was a intimate affair, where the marquee was filled with baskets of herbs as a form of foliage...the smell wafting round the marquee was absolutely glorious.

Last year we had our first tipi wedding; it looked outstanding in the evening, with the fire lights and fire pits glowing well into the early hours.

WHAT WEDDING THEME WOULD YOU LOVE TO SEE AT SYWELL? The beauty of a marquee or tipi is being a blank canvas so it’s always exciting to see what the theme of each wedding is. I would love to see a horse and carriage, trotting up the long avenue of trees or a bride and groom go off in a hot air balloon.

Contact emma@countryandcoastweddings.co.uk to view this unique venue.

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The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

Sedgebrook Hall

Chapel Brampton | Northamptonshire

01604 821 666

www.sedgebrookhall.co.uk

CELEBRATE IN SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

St Mary and St Peter Lois Weedon, No rthamptonshire Contact: Carole Peters, 01327 860798

R A WEDDING FO ALL SEASONS

Whitfield St John the Eva ngelist The Avenue, Wh itfield, Brackley, Northamptonsh ire NN13 5TE Contact: Carole Peters, 01327 860798

WhittlebU ry St Mary Church Way, Wh ittlebury, Northamptonsh ire NN12 8XH Contact: Paul Mc Leod, 01327 858101 WiCken St John the Eva ngelist Wicken, North amptonshire Contact: Diane Whittaker, 01908 542043 Woodend St Mary Church Street, Blakesley, Northamptonsh ire, NN12 8RB Contact: Caroly n Oley, 01327 860507 yArdley go bion St Leonards Junction of Hig h Street and Moorend Road, Yardley Gobion, Northamptonsh ire NN12 7UB Contact: Diane Whittaker, 01908 542043

Vintage Chic

Never out of sty le, take shabby to a whole new level Search out spe cialist vintage we dding dress dea to create a uniqu lers e look.

Commission a bespoke crysta l bou granny’s old bro quet made from oches.

Hold an afterno on tea reception in a traditional hall, simply dec vill orated with bal loons and buntin age g.

Raid charity sho ps for mix n’ ma tch crockery, can holders and vas dle es.

Ask friends and fam centre pieces and ily to collect jam jars to use as table decorate with gar of material from den twine and strips old shirts and blo uses.

Liven up crisp white made from off-cu tablecloths with table runner s ts of pretty cotton fabrics.

yArdley hA stings St Andrews Church Lane, Hig h Street, Yardley Hastings, Northamptonsh ire, NN7 1EH Contact: Paula York, 01604 891885

E PERFECT LP YOU PLAN TH A GUIDE TO HE PTONSHIRE UTH NORTHAM WEDDING IN SO

ll SeASo nS

A Weddin G For Al l SeASon S

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A guide to help you plan your perfect wedding, here in the beautiful district of South Northamptonshire.

With useful local information about where to get married, venues, caterers and other suppliers, it brings together all the very best we have to offer, plus lots of great ideas to help you create a memorable day.

Visit www.southnorthants.gov.uk/gettingmarried for an online copy

Northamptonshire Venues 78 DERNGATE 01604 230166 www.78derngate.org.uk

CORN MARKET HALL 01536 534279 www.kettering.gov.uk

A ABINGTON PARK MUSEUM 01604 838110 www.northampton.gov.uk

COURTEENHALL ESTATE 01604 864290 www.courteenhall.co.uk

ALTHORP 01604 770107 www.althorp.com AVIATOR HOTEL 01604 642111 www.aviatorhotel.co.uk B BARTON HALL HOTEL 01536 515505 www.bartonhall.com BEST WESTERN ROCKINGHAM FOREST HOTEL 0844 387 6278 www.rockinghamforest.com BOAT INN 01604 862428 www.boatinn.co.uk BOUGHTON HOUSE 01536 515731 www.buccleuch.com

CRANFORD HALL 01536 330608 www.cranfordhall.co.uk CROCKWELL FARM 01327 361358 www.crockwellfarm.co.uk CROWN HOTEL 01280 702210 www.thecrownhotelbrackley.co.uk D DEENE PARK 01780 450278 www.deenepark.com DELAPRE ABBEY 01604 760817 www.delapreabbey.org DELAPRE GOLF CENTRE 01604 764036 www.delapregolfcentre.co.uk

BRAMPTON GRANGE 01604 844717 www.bramptongrange.co.uk

DE VERE STAVERTON PARK 01327 302000 www.deverevenues.co.uk/en/venues/ staverton-park

BRAMPTON HEATH GOLF CENTRE 01604 843939 www.bramptonheath golfcentre.co.uk

DODMOOR HOUSE 0845 241 3511 www.dodmoorhouse.co.uk

BRIDGE HOTEL 01832 732128 www.thebridge-hotel.com

DOVECOTE FARM 01536 742227 www.dovecotefarm.co.uk

C CASTLE FARM GUEST HOUSE 01832 226200 www.castlefarm-guesthouse.co.uk

F FALCON INN 01832 226254 www.thefalcon-inn.co.uk

COCK HOTEL 01908 567733 www.oldenglishinns.co.uk

FAWSLEY HALL 01327 892000 www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/fawsleyhall

COLD ASHBY GOLF CLUB 01604 740548 www.coldashbygolfclub.com

FRANKLIN’S GARDENS 01604 751543 www.franklinsgardens.co.uk

COLLINGTREE PARK GOLF CLUB 01604 700000 www.collingtreeparkgolf.com

FREEMASON’S HALL & CONFERENCING CENTRE 01604 714673 www.northants-hunts masons.org.uk silverlinings.co.uk

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Northamptonshire Venues G GARDEN ROOM AT TOP FARM 07793 866201 www.thegardenroomtop farm.com GOALS NORTHAMPTON 01604 876777 www.goalsfootball.co.uk GRENDON HALL 01933 666830 www.northamptonshire.gov. uk/ outdoorlearning/centres/grendon GRENDON LAKES 01933 665303 www.grendonlakes.co.uk GROSVENOR HOTEL RUGBY 01788 535686 www.grosvenorhotelrugby.co.uk H HAMPTON BY HILTON 01536 211001 www.hilton.com HARLESTONE PARK 01604 845155 www.harlestonepark.co.uk HARROWDEN HALL 01933 677234 www.wellingboroughgolfclub. com/weddings.asp HELLIDON LAKES GOLF & SPA HOTEL 01327 262550 www.QHotels.co.uk HIGHCROFT HOUSE 01327 351383 www.highcrofthouse.co.uk HIGHGATE HOUSE 01604 505505 www.sundialweddings.com/highgatehouse HILTON NORTHAMPTON 01604 700666 www.hilton.com HIND HOTEL 01933 222827 www.thehind.co.uk HINWICK HOUSE 01244 571208 www.hinwickhouse.com

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HOLDENBY HOUSE 01604 770074 www.holdenby.com HOLIDAY INN CORBY - KETTERING 01536 401020 www.hicorby.com HOLIDAY INN NORTHAMPTON 01604 622777 www.holidayinn.com/northamptonuk HOLIDAY INN RUGBY 01788 824810 www.hirugbyhotel.co.uk HOME FARM 07769 589459 www.homefarmevents.co.uk HOPPING HARE 01604 580090 www.hoppinghare.com HUNSBURY HILL CENTRE 01604 702444 www.northantsacre.org.uk K KELMARSH HALL 01604 686543 www.kelmarsh.com KETTERING CONFERENCE CENTRE 01536 414414 www.ketteringconference.co.uk KETTERING MASONIC HALL 01536 512810 www.garleycatering.com/Venues.html KETTERING PARK HOTEL 01536 416666 www.shirehotels.com KNUSTON LODGE FARM 07766 003361 www.knustonlodgefarm.com L LAMPORT HALL 01604 686272 www.lamporthall.co.uk LANGHAM HOTEL 01604 639917 www.langham-hotel.co.uk

Northamptonshire Venues LYVEDEN NEW BIELD 01832 205358 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyveden M MEADOW SPIRES FARM 01295 768989 www.meadowspiresfarm.com MERCURE DAVENTRY COURT HOTEL & SPA 01327 307000 www.mercure.com N

Q QUINTON HOUSE 01604 752050 www.quintonhouse.co.uk R RED LION HOTEL 01604 770223 www.redlionthornby.co.uk ROADE HOUSE RESTAURANT & HOTEL 01604 863372 www.roadehousehotel.co.uk

NARROW BOAT INN 01327 340536 www.narrowboatatweedon.co.uk

ROYAL & DERNGATE 01604 624811 www.royalandderngate.co.uk

NEW FRENCH PARTRIDGE 01604 870033 www.frenchpartridge.co.uk

RUBY LOUNGE AT DIANAS 01933 277344 www.rubys.co.uk

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 01604 514490 www.nccc.co.uk

RUSHDEN HALL 01933 316216 www.rushdentowncouncil.gov.uk

NORTHAMPTON GUILDHALL 01604 838400 www.northampton.gov.uk

RUSHTON HALL HOTEL & SPA 01536 713001 www.rushtonhall.com

NORTHAMPTON MARRIOTT HOTEL 01604 667604 www.northamptonmarriott.co.uk

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SARACENS HEAD 01604 770640 www.thesaracensatbrington.co.uk

OVERSTONE PARK HOTEL 01604 647666 www.overstonepark.com

SARACENS HEAD HOTEL 01327 350414 www.oldenglishinns.co.uk

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SAXON HALL 01933 622087 www.raunds-tc.gov.uk

PALM BEACH WEDDINGS 07814 859423 www.clubpalmbeach.co.uk PARK INN BY RADISSON NORTHAMPTON 01604 739988 www.rezidorparkinn.com PIPEWELL HALL 01536 760563 www.pipewellhall.com PLOUGH HOTEL 01604 230554 www.the-plough-hotel.co.uk PLUM PARK 01327 811515 www.plumpark.co.uk

SEDGEBROOK HALL 01604 821666 www.principal-hayley.com SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT 0844 3750 740 www.silverstone.co.uk SILVERSTONE GOLF CLUB 01280 850005 www.silverstonegolfclub.co.uk SKYLARK FARM 01327 300471 www.skylarkfarm.co.uk

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Northamptonshire Venues STOKE PARK PAVILIONS 01604 862329 www.sweet-events.co.uk

THE STANWICK HOTEL 01933 622233 www.courtyardstanwick.co.uk

SUNLEY CONFERENCE CENTRE 01604 892020 www.northampton.ac.uk

THE WORLDS END 01604 414521 www.theworldsend.org

SYWELL GRANGE 07732 285617 www.sywellgrange.co.uk T TALBOT HOTEL 01832 273621 www.thetalbot-oundle.com

TRAVEL PLAZA HOTEL 01536 764789 www.travelplaza.co.uk V

THE BARN RESTAURANT 01327 349911 www.thebarnrestaurant.net

VINE HOUSE HOTEL & RESTAURANT 01327 811267 www.vinehousehotel.com

THE CASTLE 01933 270007 www.thecastle.org.uk

VINEYARD RESTAURANT 01604 633978 www.thevineyardnorthampton.co.uk

THE CHEQUERED SKIPPER 01832 273494 www.chequeredskipper.co.uk

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THE CHURCH RESTAURANT 01604 603800 www.thechurchrestaurant.com THE DECO 01604 622749 www.stage-right.co.uk THE GRANARY AT FAWSLEY 01327 361730 www.granary-hotel.com THE GRANGE FIELD 07732 285617 www.countryandcoastweddings.co.uk THE RITZ BANQUETING & CONFERENCE SUITES 01536 763510 www.ketteringvenues.co.uk THE RAVEN HALL 01536 202313 www.theravenhotel.com THE SAMUEL PEPYS 01832 731739 www.samuel-pepys.com THE SNOOTY FOX 01832 733434 www.thesnootyfoxlowick.com

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TOWCESTER RACECOURSE 01327 353414 www.towcester-racecourse.co.uk

The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

WADENHOE HOUSE 01832 720777 www.wadenhoe-house.com WALNUT TREE INN 01604 859551 www.walnut-tree.co.uk WARWICK HOUSE 01926 815738 www.warwickhouse.co.uk WESTONE MANOR HOTEL 01604 739 955 www.westonemanor.com WHITTLEBURY PARK WEDDING VENUE 01327 850040 www.whittleburyweddings. co.uk WICKSTEED PARK 01536 512475 www.wicksteedpark.org WINCHESTER HOUSE SCHOOL 01280 702483 www.winchester-house.org

Are you a Northamptonshire venue but not listed? Please let us know and we’ll ensure you’re listed next time!

Contact us at info@dunchurch.co.uk or call 01788 528149

Visit us at Northants Country Cricket Club Wedding Fair on Sunday 14th October!

Special ‘Winter Robin’ Late Availability Offer from £3,500 for 60 guests From Jan - March and Oct - Nov 2019 Plus... 5% Golden Ticket discount will be available on the day!

Visit us at dunchurch.co.uk/weddings for more information

Dunchurch Park Wedding Open Evenings Monday 9th July 2018, 18.00 - 20.00 Monday 10th September 2018, 18.00 - 20.00 Monday 19th November 2018, 18.00 - 20.00 Dunchurch Park Wedding Fayre Sunday 7th October 2018, 12.00 - 15.00

We have a complete range of packages to suit all styles and budgets!

Image: tylerrye.com

Bridal

SOMETHING

BORROWED SOMETHING

Embrace the blue with a pale blue wedding dress

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Bridal

>

Garter keepsake pin, keeping your loved ones close to you

>

>

Cobalt blue diamante shoes to add some bling!

Using beautiful blue hydrangeas for bridal bouquet

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somethingturquoise.com

Bespoke hair combs with Swarovski crystals and deep blue sapphires

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Marbled Opalescent wedding bands making ‘something blue’ a permanent feature on your finger

Sapphire earrings, a perfect present from your husband-to-be

>

etsy.com/uk/shop/DivineJewel

Delicate lace navy blue garter

Blue embroidered handkerchief to send a simple message etsy.com/uk/shop/KKweddings

>

>

etsy.com/uk/shop/MinterandRichterDes

Luxurious baby blue lingerie

Image: kissesandcake.com.au

silkgarters.co.uk

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Wedding Fair here on 9th September 2018

DOCUMENTARY STYLE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Tel: 07973 883 452

Email: brillpix@gmail.com

www.brillpix.com

Bridal

RUFFLES & VOLUME 1. MGMY: madelinegardnernewyork.com Available from Elizabeth Rose Bridal elizabethrosebridal.co.uk

2. Maggie Sottero: maggiesottero.com Available from Serendipity Brides serendipitybrides.co.uk

3. Donna Salado: donnasalado.com Available from Stunning Bridal stunningbridal.co.uk

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BACK DETAIL 4. Donna Salado: donnasalado.com Available from Stunning Bridal stunningbridal.co.uk

5. Alan Hannah: alanhannah.co.uk Available from Courtyard Bridal courtyardbridalboutique.co.uk

6. Enzoani: enzoani.com Available from Elizabeth Rose Bridal elizabethrosebridal.co.uk

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Bridal THE MEGHAN EFFECT 7. Monique Lhuillier: moniquelhuillier.com Available from The Wedding Club: thewedding-club.co.uk

8. Ronald Joyce: ronaldjoyce.com Available from Icon Bridal: iconbridal.co.uk

9. Paloma Blanca: palomablanca.com Available from Icon Bridal: iconbridal.co.uk

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LAYERS 10. Pronovias: pronovias.com 11. Badgley Mischka: badgleymischka.com Available from Serendipity Brides: serendipitybrides.co.uk

12. Lillian West: justinalexander.com

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Bridal

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METALLICS 13. Jenny Packham - jennypackham.com Available from The Wedding Club thewedding-club.co.uk

14. Elizabeth Fillmore elizabethfillmorebridal.com

15. Marchesa: marchesa.com

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JUMPSUITS 16. Viktor & Rolf: viktor-rolf.com 17. Justin Alexander: justinalexander.com Available from Courtyard Bridal courtyardbridalboutique.co.uk

18. Rivini: ritavinieris.com

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Bridal

BLUES 19. Ian Stuart: ianstuart-bride.com 20. Hayley Paige: jlmcouture.com Available from Fairytale Weddings fairy-tale-weddings.co.uk

21. Katya Katya: katyakatya.co.uk

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BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS 22. J ustin Alexander - justinalexander.com Available from Courtyard Bridal courtyardbridalboutique.co.uk

23. A lan Hannah: alanhannah.co.uk Available from Courtyard Bridal courtyardbridalboutique.co.uk

24. Marchesa: marchesa.com

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Wedding Hirewear at Warwicks Dressing Grooms Since 1868

Kettering | 8 Lower Street, NN16 8DH | 01536 481862 Wellingborough | 33-39 High Street, NN8 4HW | 01933 224981 Northampton | 281 - 283 Wellingborough Road, NN1 4EW | 01604 627700

facebook.com/warwicksretail

www.warwicksmenswear.co.uk

Bridal

COUNTING

DOWN TO YOUR DRESS

When to start preparing your body and mind It’s the one of the biggest days of your life and you want to look your best! But where do you start and when? There are so many different approaches out there to lose weight, tone up, get the perfect bum, shape your arms etc. How do you know if it’ll work for you?

Ask yourself a couple of questions: “what’s your goal?”, “how much time until your wedding?”, “is it realistic?”, “have you got time to commit?”

These are all important questions; for example if you want to lose a stone (14lb/7kg) but only have 48

The Silverlinings Wedding Guide

3 weeks to do it, then unfortunately unless you do something drastic and unsafe you’re not going to be able to achieve it.

You need to get prepared, keep it simple, start early and be consistent.

If your goal is weight loss and you have 8kg to lose for example, give yourself at least 12 weeks to do this; to lose the weight, to shape your body and then start maintaining it as a healthy lifestyle.

Bridal

At Strong Bird Fitness, our 12 week package goes through those three stages, each focusing on one of the three elements but personalised to the individual, it can be repeated too:

1

- workouts to burn fat

ST

STAGE

- eating a healthy balanced diet - t echniques to help stress, to stay positive and help create healthy habits

weeks 12-8

2

ND

STAGE

RD

STAGE

Key Points to think about: – You need to be consistent

– r esistance workouts to start shaping your body – some high calorie burn workouts – continued healthy balanced eating

weeks 7-5

3

Getting started is the hardest part, especially when you have so many other things going on so investing in a Coach to help you achieve your goals, doing the leg work of planning for you and supporting you through your journey is worth the money.

–E at a fresh, healthy and varied diet of food – Do regular exercise – Get organised and start early, don’t wait until a few weeks before the big day –G et help sooner rather than later to support you

–m aintaining the weight lost and the new shape achieved –k eeping up the healthy diet to aid strong mental balance

Editor - thanks to Emma at Strong Bird Fitness for her advice

weeks 4-1

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Groom

COUNTDOWN FOR THE GROOM

BROWN I POINTS E

Arrange for a little gift o r love note to be d elivered to y our bride-to-be on the morn ing of your wed ding and th e gesture will be one she remembers forever.

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Groom

JOB: CHOOSE YOUR TEAM WHEN: AS SOON AS YOU GET ENGAGED It’s time to decide which of your friends gets elevated to best man status.

Think long and hard about who you want by your side on your wedding day. Make sure your wingman knows his best man duties, especially if he has a busy life too.

Top tip: Be clear from the start what you need from your team which will save any issues further down the line; don’t be disgruntled if they feel it’s too much for them to take on.

JOB: ARRANGING THE LEGAL PART WHEN: DECIDE WITH YOUR FIANCE THE TYPE OF SERVICE YOU WANT AND DO YOUR RESEARCH Whether you’re going religious or civil, the rules vary accordingly, so research the specifics for your ceremony. For a civil ceremony, you must both give notice of your plans to wed in person at the local registry office at least 15 days beforehand (but you can do it as far as a year in advance). For a Church of England ceremony, you need to have the Banns read in both the parish where you live and the one where you’re getting married. They’re read out for three Sundays during the three months before the wedding and most clergy will expect you to attend these services (as a minimum).

Top tip: Most registry offices will provisionally book your registrar before you can give notice, so during the busy months make sure your date and time has been pencilled in.

JOB: SUITED & BOOTED WHEN: 6 MONTHS BEFORE You want to look your best on your wedding day and your suit will be the most important outfit - after the bride’s dress, of course! So make sure you get a well-fitted suit that complements the style and feel of the wedding as well as the colour scheme. Unlike a bride’s wedding dress, your suit can be worn again, so it’s worth considering investing in a beautiful bespoke suit which will be your ‘best suit’ for years to come. Bespoke formalwear can take upwards of eight weeks but ideally, allow four to five months for the whole process. If you’re going for off-the-peg, hiring in peak busy periods can reduce your choices so make sure you put your orders in early.

Top tip: Northampton is the town of shoemakers - indulge in a pair of handmade shoes.

JOB: SORTING THE TRANSPORT WHEN: 6 MONTHS BEFORE It can be a logistical headache! You’re in charge of booking the wedding cars for the day including arranging transport for your bride, your mothers and fathers, and the wedding party to and from all venues throughout the day. From home to the ceremony location, onward to photographs, to the reception and then home again.

If you’re thinking this is a great reason to hire a Ferrari for the day, don’t forget you’ll be there earlier than most of the guests so no one will see you arriving in style!

Top tip: If you’re using the family’s classic E-type or rugged Defender, make sure you’ve got a backup!

JOB: HONEYMOON SHOPPING WHEN: SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS IN ADVANCE IS OPTIMUM TO MAXIMISE AVAILABILITY, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL OFFERS AND/OR SET UP A HONEYMOON GIFT-LIST SERVICE. Traditional wedding etiquette holds that one of the groom’s responsibilities is planning the honeymoon as a surprise for his bride. But today, most couples want to take on the honeymoon planning together. And even if your bride is involved, you can still plan fun excursions and dates she won’t know about until you get there.

Top tip: If the weather at your honeymoon destination isn’t at it’s best when you get married, have a mini-moon after the wedding and save your honeymoon for when the weather is perfect. silverlinings.co.uk

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Groom

EXTRA

BROWN I POINTS E

In the last co uple of wee ks, send your bride, her mum an dh MOH off on a de-stress sp er a day if you’ve forg otten to do somethin g you migh t be forgiven!

JOB: RINGS WHEN: SIX MONTHS BEFORE This is something you will want to do with your fiance; she will be wearing it for the rest of her life so it should be something she loves! Once you’ve decided on the style, make sure you order the rings at least six weeks before the wedding to leave plenty of time for sizing. Most importantly, make sure to store them in a safe place and don’t forget to bring the rings on the big day!

Top tip: Just before your wedding, arrange for your fiance’s ring to be cleaned as it’ll be on show all day.

JOB: WRITING YOUR SPEECH WHEN: TRY NOT TO LEAVE THIS ONE UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE! The groom’s speech is one part of the day guests look forward to. This is your chance to thank everyone for attending, and all the people involved in helping out with the wedding. It’s also your chance to tell your wife how much you love her!

Unlike the best man’s speech, there is no pressure to make everyone laugh; speaking from the heart is the best route to go. Finally, give yourself plenty of time to prep and practice. Feeling prepared is your best weapon against nerves.

Top tip: Nothing beats the opening line “On behalf of my wife and I”.

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JOB: GROOMING WHEN: 12 MONTHS IF YOU WANT TO LOSE A FEW POUNDS OR DO ANY DENTAL WORK Many guys feel awkward putting effort into their appearance, with many of those who do getting ripped into by their mates. But who cares? This is your wedding and you deserve to look and feel as great as your fiancé. You’ll be photographed hundreds of times and the wedding photos are something you’ll be proud of for the rest of your life. Good wedding day grooming is essential - as a minimum a great haircut and clean shave are a must.

Top tip: Take your groomsmen to the barbers in the morning for a hot towel shave and an ale!

JOB: ENTERTAINMENT WHEN: 6 - 12 MONTHS BEFORE This one should be made a priority - it’s often difficult to get the band of your dreams on the right date. Same goes for your ceremony music and DJ if you intend to have one, or both.

Separating a professional wedding DJ from a record-spinning basement junkie can help you avoid a wedding with bad music, a DJ who shows up late or not at all, a DJ that doesn’t take guest’s music requests or a DJ with improper equipment.

Top tip: Personal recommendations from friends and family are essential - no one will care if they’ve seen a cracking band at the last 3 weddings they’ve been to!

Real weddings

SPENCER & CAROLINE

LAMBERT-PINE WEDDING DATE - 30TH SEPTEMBER 2017

We stayed in the honeymoon suite at the Warwick Arms Hotel the night before our wedding.

We got up early for breakfast and were both very nervous.

Lara Boot arrived at 10.30am which meant there was plenty of time to do my hair. Lara was friendly, calm and professional which made me feel very relaxed. The make-up artist, Stacey, arrived at 11.00am and did our bridesmaids make-up first and then my make-up. She was absolutely amazing.

During this time the photographers were taking photos of everything and, even with so much going on, they were excellent.

I travelled to Warwick Castle with my Dad, who was also very nervous! When we arrived the staff at Warwick Castle were amazing, especially Siobhan, and everything was so well organised.

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We were greeted by the Master of Ceremonies, who was dressed in the appropriate costume for the Castle, who led our guests into the State Room were the ceremony was taking place.

The Master of Ceremonies announced my arrival to our guests, who then stood as my Dad & I entered the State Room.

As I walked down the aisle with my Dad I saw my Husband-to-be, who looked very handsome in his suit, standing at the end of the aisle with all of our ushers. Everyone looked exceptionally smart in their suits.

After the ceremony we had photographs taken outside in various areas of the Castle grounds. Following the group photos, Champagne, fruit juices and canapes were served to our guests as my new Husband and I had photographs taken with our families, bridesmaids and ushers.

During this time our guests were able to look at the seating plan for the Great Hall.

Real weddings

With the outdoor photographs having been completed, the Master of Ceremonies led our guests into the Great Hall to take their seats. With everyone seated, he then announced our entrance into the Great Hall.

The Great Hall looked amazing, as did our flowers which decorated the room and tables. Our wedding cake was set up on a separate table ready for us to cut, with a sword.

For our favours we made a donation to Cancer Research UK, which is very close to our hearts. Cancer Research UK provided us with lovely cards for all our guests upon which there were badges; in the shape of ribbons for the females and top hats for the males.

Following the traditional speeches (which made us laugh and cry) and the toasts, we all enjoyed a fantastic three course meal. silverlinings.co.uk

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Wedding Fair here on 30th September 2018

Hold your wedding ceremony and reception in the heart of Oxford.

From intimate ceremonies for two, to large celebrations for 300 or more, Oxford Town Hall can be the ideal backdrop for your big day.

Real weddings We booked an acoustic singer, Scott Walters, to perform at various times throughout the evening. Scott has an amazing voice, which, together with a big repertoire and brilliant guitar playing, thrilled and entertained us and our guests.

After Scott’s first song we cut the wedding cake then had our first dance to Flashlight by Jessie J. Everyone then danced the evening away to the songs played by the DJ, who was provided by Warwick Castle.

At the end of the evening we returned to the Warwick Arms Hotel for our first night as a married couple. Several of our guests also stayed at the same hotel and joined us for breakfast the following morning before all going home.

WHO THEY USED: VENUE: Warwick Castle, warwick-castle.com HOTEL: Warwick Arms, warwickarmshotel.com HAIR: Lara Boot Hairdressing laraboothairdressing.co.uk

We had a memorable time, in a spectacular setting, with fantastic guests.

MAKEUP: Stacey Paxton-Rhodes makeupbyspr.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY: Ayelle Photo ayellephoto.com BRIDAL WEAR: WED2B wed2b.co.uk BRIDESMAIDS: A Bride’s World abridesworld.co.uk MENSWEAR: Warwicks Menswear warwicksmenswear.co.uk FLOWERS: With Love & Roses withloveandroses.co.uk CAKES: The Creative Cupcake Company via Facebook SINGER: Scott Walters lastminutemusicians.com

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Luminex Wedding Photography www.luminexphotography.com Nick Callaghan - 07713 064070

www.srurwinweddings.com steve@srurwinweddings.com 07793 459404

Cr a i gHowk i nsPhot ogr a phy www. howk i ns phot ogr a phy . c om |howk i ns . phot ogr a phy @y a hoo. c om Mobi l e :07 7 761 037 61|Home:01 48035 0027

Award winning, Professional wedding photography by Steve Green.

Documenting your magical day in a fun & relaxed, unobtrusive way.

With his award winning speciality WOW Shots you receive the very best of candid, natural, relaxed & informal with WOW.

www.treasuredmomentzweddings.co.uk

Award Winning Cake Designers ~ Wedding Cakes ~ Celebration Cakes ~ Afternoon Tea 07790 927664~comptonandkennedy@gmail.com

www.comptonandkennedy.co.uk

Real weddings

Nicola and

Joseph Tapp WEDDING DATE - 8TH FEBRUARY 2018

is We chose the date as haitve close to w hat would ay. been my Nan’s birthd

WHO THEY USED: CHURCH: Normanton Church normantonchurch.wedding VENUE: Normanton Park Hotel normantonpark.co.uk VIDEOGRAPHY: Shoot It Yourself shoot-it-yourself.co.uk MENSWEAR: Young’s Hire youngs-hire.co.uk BRIDES WEAR: Wedding Rooms Kidderminster theweddingrooms.co.uk HEADPIECE: Ivory & Co ivoryandcotiaras.co.uk BRIDESMAIDS: Little Mistress little-mistress.com HAIR: Hair by Nikki MAKEUP: Rochelle O’Brien rochelleobrien.co.uk FLOWERS: By Arrangement Florist byarrangement.org CAKE: Compton & Kennedy Emporium comptonandkennedy.co.uk DANCEFLOOR: Revolution Discos & Leisure revolutiondiscos.create.net BAND: Taylormade taylormadeliveband.co.uk LOVE LETTER & PHOTO BOOTH: Living The Cream livingthecream.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY: Jon Whiles Photography jonwhilesphotography.co.uk silverlinings.co.uk

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Advice: Plan with lists like you’re Monica Geller; anything to make the day itself stress free because you will want to be relaxed as possible to take it all in before it’s over.

The idea was ‘winter woodland’ as my partner is a wood coatings specialist and it fitted well with the time of year.

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The colours derived from the theme as I wanted burgundy and berry colours and the grey was then added to compliment my dress.

Our photographer, Jon was an old school friend of Joe’s. We messaged him once we had booked up the venue and then went on to see him as one of the Silverlinings wedding fairs. He did a great job under horrid cold weather conditions; he even perched precariously on those church rocks for a good shot! He never made me feel like the camera was in my face too much and it was all quite natural.

I spoke to Caryn Franklin (former Clothes Show fame) at one on the many wedding exhibitions I went to and she said I’d suit a coloured dress, maybe a champagne or oyster. I went to the NEC to try on dresses and found the Wedding Rooms Kidderminster. I found a grey Amanda Wyatt dress, the second I tried on that day, and loved it.

We later added a veil with a tinge of grey to match the dress; it seemed like it was made to match!

I wore my late Mother’s earrings and found a necklace to match. My Ivory & Co headpiece was from a lovely lady who was unfortunately shutting her business down and was selling off stock.

I found the gorgeous grey fur on Etsy.

I knew I wanted velvet for the bridesmaids and I found a couple of burgundy velvet dresses from Little Mistress. Their furs came from Dunelm Mill of all places and were a steal at £11 for the pair!

The amazing tutus for the flowergirls came from Etsy (Flowers and Confetti).

The suits came from Young’s. It was difficult to get everyone together due to locations and work commitments so when I found out you could order online to try on at home it made perfect sense.

The cufflinks were a present, homage to his love of cars as they were VW Camper Vans. For button holes I brought artificial flowers from Whittington’s Flower Shop in Leicester and made them myself, along with the bridesmaid bouquets and flowergirl wands. I also made the charms; one of Joe’s Dad for his buttonhole and one of my Mum for my bouquet.

Cake is a big topic as I make cakes occasionally so wanted to incorporate this in many aspects.

I met Compton & Kennedy at the same Silverlinings wedding fair as my florist. I had toyed with the idea of making my own but after the effort it took to make my sister’s wedding cake I realised that it would be too stressful. I got them on board after a cake testing at their HQ which was amazing.

We talked of many things including my hen do that I was stuck for ideas on; they suggested an afternoon tea as they have a travelling caravan that they could serve afternoon tea from. Their next event was a barn which was decorated out like a winter wonderland but it is cold. I wasn’t deterred by that especially when Lindsay and Gwen said there would be fizz and blankets! They went on to provide a beautiful cake of 3 tiers - lemon, Biscoff biscuit and Cappuccino. I also had a Bake Off table where a few family and friends made cakes for me to ‘blind’ judge.

I made all the stationery, signposts, card box, table plan, table numbers, memory door and table signs myself. The real credit goes to my sister for the baking board poem, and also to the Old Potting Shed who made the rest of my signs including the ‘Welcome to our wedding’ sign and guest book which was fab! I especially loved the ‘Here Comes Auntie Nic Nic’ signs my nephews carried.

We recently lost my Joe’s Dad so to honour him and his love of cars we kept his BMW and used it as one of the wedding cars. Cars featured a lot in the wedding as each table was named after a car we had owned throughout our relationship.

I was let down for the dance floor last minute but Ashley from Revolution Discos & Leisure stepped in with an even better dancefloor that did all sorts of crazy colour patterns! The band Taylormade Duo couldn’t do enough for us. They did a great job of the first dance, an acoustic version of ‘We found love in a hopeless place’, and not forgetting the karaoke; they let us join in on Starship ‘Nothing’s gonna stop us now’ which is our theme tune - so lovely we got to sing it with them, twice!

I met Helena from By Arrangement at a Silverlinings wedding fair; she totally got what I was after for my bouquet - the perfect colours!

I have since sent my bouquet off for preserving and I have pressed some of the top table flowers to feature in my own memory frame which I am making at the moment.

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Contemporary, traditional, informal and imaginative.

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“The details of the day you have captured make us both smile with happiness, exactly as we felt on the day, and as I am sure we will feel each time we look at them�

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Natural & Creative Photography

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Mood boards

AURORA

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Mood boards

LACE

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Mood boards

MARBLE

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Mood boards

PLUM

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Call Kate / Katie on 07984414374 / 07763679419

Littledetailsco@gmail.com

Homemade Cakes THAT YOU DESIGN

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JLR Baked Kreations Get in touch with Becky on 07484073611 or b.johnston1978@hotmail.co.uk Registered & Insured

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Inspiration

AND QUIRKY

1. angesdesucre.com 2. doughdoughnuts.com 3. Unkown Artist 4. neviepiecakes.com 5. choccywoccydoodah.com 6. choccywoccydoodah.com 7. sonndacatto.co.uk 8. mcgowanweddingcakes.co.uk 9. giftedheartcakes.co.uk 10. marksandspencer.com 11. nadiaandco.com 12. finecakesbyzehra.com 13. Unkown Artist

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Redefine what it is to have a wedding cake with one of these outside-the-box ideas.

For some brides, their wedding cake is the key theme of the wedding, with every other part falling into place around it. We are surrounded by incredibly talented cake designers who are keen to explore the boundaries of what is possible to make out of cake, icing sugar and chocolate!

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• • • • • • • • • •

ENGAGEMENT RINGS WEDDING RINGS ETERNITY RINGS HANDMADE JEWELLERY GIA GRADED LOOSE DIAMONDS PRE OWNED: ROLEXCARTIER-OMEGA WATCHES CHAINS/BRACELETS PENDANTS BANGLES PRE OWNED JEWELLERY

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Finchy’s Cocktail Bar

Licensed Mobile Cocktail Bartender & Team

A drinks menu chosen by you for your party, at a location of your choice.

Call us on 07527000595 www.finchyscocktailbar.co.uk  /finchyscocktailbar

Real weddings

TOP TIP

WEDDING DATE - 10TH APRIL 2018

Make it whatever YOU wan t your day to be - we knew that at least 30% of our guests would not und erstand the FRIENDS references at all.

And we knew some may decline the invitation due to driving over an hou r from their home. But we loved our them e and our venue and were so happy with the day and the outcome.

WHO THEY USED: VENUE: Dodford Manor dodfordmanor-venue.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY: Sky Photography skyphotography.co.uk BRIDAL WEAR: Clifford Burr Bridal cliffordburr.co.uk BRIDESMAIDS & MENSWEAR: Debenhams debenhams.com CHILDREN’S OUTFITS: Ann Bridal annbridal.co.uk CAKE: Gardners Bakery gardnersbakery.co.uk TABLE PLAN: Julieanna Kay etsy.com/shop/Julieannakay CHILDCARE: All Events Childcare alleventschildcare.co.uk MAGICIAN: Lee Smith walkaboutmagic.com DJ: 1Entertainment 1entertainment.co.uk

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Real weddings WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE VENUE? Visually stunning - beautiful stone and wood barns, enclosed courtyard for the kids to play in safely, stunning natural beauty that required so little extra decoration, exclusive use of the venue, excellent event management team who made us feel nothing was too much trouble.

THE THEME? The wedding breakfast onwards had a surprise FRIENDS TV show theme with a couple of hidden/subtle nods to this theme at the ceremony lobster pin on the bridal bouquet, lobster cufflinks for the groom and a orchestral version of the FRIENDS theme tune mixed in with the background music. We were so excited to see everyone’s faces when they entered the wedding breakfast and saw all the decorations and FRIENDS references. We are both massive FRIENDS fans and often challenge each other on who knows it best. Our friendship originally started around FRIENDS quizzes we used to write for each other during long work meetings many years ago.

PHOTOGRAPHY - SKY PHOTOGRAPHY Sky Photography offered a two-person operation meaning we would capture kids as well as adults and many moments we know people miss with only one. They also manned our photobooth after the wedding breakfast meaning we could capture some great professional shots using the FRIENDS props. We also chose them due to the quality of their portfolios. Their blend of romantic and natural shots were a real draw for us.

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FLOWERS Dawn handmade all of the flowers at the wedding from paper. Dawn used YouTube videos to learn and copy how to produce them.

This took hours of work with it taking around an hour to make 6 flowers and each bouquet containing 45-50 flowers. We had chosen not to have real flowers at the wedding, partly due to cost, and partly due to the venue needing so little decoration.

Plus we wanted something more unusual and original.

It has been very rewarding seeing the finished results and having the bouquet as a keepsake afterwards.

Real weddings TABLE PLAN - JULIE ANNA KAY Central Perk themed table plan is now on display in pride of place in our home as a reminder of the day.

Dawn designed, wrote and created our invitations, name places, menus and signage with a rustic feel to fit the venue and with FRIENDS quotes on the reverse of the menus and name plates to match the relevant table character.

DRESS - CLIFFORD BURR BRIDAL Dawn shopped around for a full skirted dress with lace and illusion neckline, having visited several salons found ‘the’ dress at Clifford Burr.

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES & SUITS - DEBENHAMS We found excellent and great value bridesmaids dresses in Debenhams which set the colour scheme for the wedding.

Dawn’s mum did some minor alterations however they were pretty much perfect from the initial purchase online. I was very keen from the start to have a blue suit and after much searching I found the perfect shade also in Debenhams where the value was superb for the quality. Being able to get both mine and my best man’s at the same place was proving difficult due to size differences.

CAKE - GARDNERS BAKERY Our FRIENDS themed cake was produced

by Gardners Bakery in Northampton, having seen Gardners Bakery at a wedding fair at the Marriott Northampton in September 2017. We discussed our ideas with them and together came up with our cake design. The “My Sandwich” episode is one of our favourites so that is on top of our bottom tier, you couldn’t have a FRIENDS wedding cake without a lobster so that’s our middle tier, and on top we have the famous yellow peephole frame and the clapperboard with our tagline “The one with the FRIENDS wedding”. The bakery also produced FRIENDS themed cookies which we used as our wedding favours and featured some of our favourite quotes.

CHILDREN’S OUTFITS - ANN BRIDAL Our son, Jackson (aged 3) was a ring bearer and our daughters Imogen (aged 6) and Penelope (aged 1) were our flower girls. The seamstress did a fantastic job advising us and completing some major alterations as we were only able to purchase them in sizes that were too large due to them being no longer in production.

CHILDCARE - ALL EVENTS CHILDCARE Knowing that we had 22 children attending the wedding and wanting our kids to enjoy the day as much as us.

On the day they set up a whole children’s entertainment room, including qualified and CRB checked nannies along with all manner of toys and games for the kids to enjoy.

In the evening they provided a teddy bear workshop and film night as well as roll away beds for tired little heads to sleep on. We included the details of this in our invitation and have no doubt this encouraged our guests to bring along their children, all of whom did, and created a really fun family wedding which is exactly what we wanted. silverlinings.co.uk

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Preserve the memories of a special occasion with a custom watercolour painting of a bouquet or flower arrangement. A lovely gift or keepsake!

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Marquees

PLANNING A

MARQUEE With Emma Tuckley

DON’T FORGET

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Our sister company, Country & Coast Weddings, manages marquee venues across the county, so we have a fair idea what goes into planning a marquee wedding.

Marquee weddings are the reason I started wedding planning; they are a blank canvas, they can be put up anywhere, and they can accommodate any size wedding.

But the idea of a marquee wedding puts many couples off the idea as there are various logistical and planning considerations to take into account when organising a marquee wedding. Let’s start with the marquee and tipi options.

CLEAR SPAN MARQUEE This marquee is now the ‘standard’ or ‘traditional’ marquee option for the majority of couples. It’s called a clear span as there are no poles in the marquee, the span is clear! They are watertight (usually!), warm (if heated), easy to size according to guest numbers (using sections), and are readily available (most marquee companies supply them). They are perfect for a wedding any time of year, and I especially love the clear plastic sections which make it feel like you’re outside even when you’re inside!

POLE & ROPE MARQUEE I refer to these as the ‘old traditional marquees’ as this is what a marquee was 20+ years ago! Picture a summer fete tent or a circus tent and you’ll be able to visualise one of these. They are held up by 2 or more giant posts through the centre, smaller poles around the sides, and lots of ropes! They are perfect look for any festival, boho, or vintage wedding. On the downside, they are not always watertight or warm so best kept to the summer months.

CAPRI TENT In all honesty these should be kept to parties or as a cover for a drinks reception!

GIANT TIPIS A tipi is the iconic festival wedding option! It encompasses the non-traditional, fun, colourful, informal, casual feel of a festival wedding. They are super cool and we love them! Couple of downsides (or require compromises?) are that they aren’t as weather proof as a clear span, they take a little longer to put up, and they can be expensive to accommodate your guest numbers.

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Discos for all Occasions, Across Northamptonshire & Surrounding Counties WEDDING PACKAGES INCLUDE:

r Evening function disco r Background music and PA for afternoon wedding with disco for evening functions r Room lighting hire and installation for creating that perfect room setting Reliable DJs r Great music from the 60’s to current Competitive prices r Experience spanning over 30 years

For more information please call Joe on 07479 681291 or email Joe@jlxdiscos.uk jlxdiscos.uk

STUNNING ILLUMINATED LETTERS FROM ELLIS ELITE EVENTS Our stunning 5ft letter lights make the perfect focal point & can be tailored to match any colour scheme!

FINISHING TOUCHES Our Silk Table & Chair Covers, Silk Runners, Room Decoration & Flower Panels provide the perfect finishing touch on your big day.

For more information, photos and videos please visit elliseliteevents.com or facebook.com/elliseliteevents Call us on 07949 487629 or email info@elliseliteevents.com

PHOTO BOOTHS

Marquees

So, now you know the differences between the main marquee and tipi options, what else do you need to know?

STYLE Knowing what style of wedding you want will help make the decision on which marquee or tipi to have a little easier. If a classic wedding is your style, with a room full of white blooms and crisp lines, then the clear span is the marquee for you. If Afternoon Tea with lots of colour and bunting, then go for the pole & rope marquee.

LOGISTICS When you’re looking for, or have found, your marquee venue you’ll need to think about logistics such as: site access – is there suitable access for a lorry, will parked cars be able to leave if there has been rain parking – is there sufficient parking for everyone, plus lighting for the evening water – does the site have water and is it drinkable power – can you take power from a source on site or will you need a generator toilets – are there any close by or do you need some posh loos Almost all marquee companies will arrange a generator, posh loos, and a water source for you so you it isn’t something to worry about.

CATERING When it comes to wedding catering in a marquee, think outside the box! There are usually no restrictions on what type of caterer you can have and in almost all occasions caterers working from a van will be able to park right up to the door.

How about a few ideas… food stations – sushi, crepes, pies, tacos, fish & chip vans, pizzas served from a Land Rover Defender, Ploughman’s lunch as sharing platters or picnic style or a Great British Bake Off cake table. silverlinings.co.uk

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Portfolio Advert_V Print.pdf

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Originating from a small family business in 1984, Portfolio Events is now one of the leading local event caterers. We work regularly with a number of prestigious venues and have extensive experience working in marquees. We are also just as happy to cater for a private dinner party or celebration in the comfort of your own home.

GREAT BRITISH FOOD Whether you’re planning a wedding, an intimate dinner party or a sophisticated ball for hundreds, Portfolio Events Catering can offer a solution based on over 20 years of wedding and event experience.

We can offer solutions for every budget, ranging from the simplicity of delivered canapĂŠs to a full scale banquet. Superb food choices with a repertoire of dishes both contemporary and traditional, along with an excellent service guarantee that Portfolio Events will create a menu that is tailor made for your special occasion, providing you with hassle free entertaining.

01604 215606 or 01223 955401 | team@portfolioevents.com | portfolioevents.com

Marquees

WEDDING INSURANCE & LICENCES Without a doubt make sure you have wedding insurance if you’re planning on a marquee wedding. Venues have lots of backups in place so little can go wrong, but there are so many elements in a marquee wedding, it is better to be prepared. Most wedding insurances offer an ‘add on’ for a marquee wedding, with policies costing somewhere around £150.

We are often asked if you need a licence for your wedding marquee, and the short answer is maybe! There are 8 activities which require a licence but only 3 would mainly apply when thinking about your wedding in a marquee: 1. a performance of live music 2. entertainment of a similar description to live music, recorded music or dance.

3. t he sale of alcohol (either at a cash bar or as part of a ticket price)

Now, before you rush out and get a Temporary Events Notice (TEN) just ask yourself if the music is “for a consideration or with a view to a profit”.

The answer is probably not, so you don’t need a TEN. But if you are selling alcohol then you will need one. Most bar companies will have this in place, so you don’t need to worry. But make sure you keep it in mind if you are running your own bar. If you do need a TEN, it is easy to obtain, it costs just £21, and it needs to be done through your local council.

WEDDING COORDINATION Seriously consider hiring the services of a wedding planner to coordinate the day. Mainstream venues will have a wedding coordinator on hand to deal with any problems during the day, whereas most marquee weddings are reliant on the couple or their family & friends to step in should something go wrong.

A wedding planner will be the main point of contact for the numerous of suppliers who will be involved in your day. They are the person who opens up in the morning and turns off the generator at the end! Plus they can do any last minute venue decoration, keep an eye on timings, and act as an unofficial Toastmaster (although you can’t beat the real thing!).

niki@eclipsemarqueehire.co.uk | 01933 356499

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Your day, exactly how you want it to be...

Our unique setting offers you complete freedom to design your own bespoke marquee wedding Post wedding BBQs are welcomed & camping overnight is encouraged!

There are very few restrictions...

No set finish time • No sound limiter • No corkage charges

Find out more at

sywellgrange.co.uk

Sywell Grange, Holcot Lane, Sywell, NN6 0BE

07732 285617 • sywellgrange@countryandcoastweddings.co.uk

T&L Marquee Hire Marquee And Furniture Hire Company

Creating Stunning Weddings For Over 12 Years

An extensive range of ‘high end’ wedding marquees, accesories and furnishings available for hire with professional guidance and advice.

01604 859748 07719 966116

info@tlmarqueehire.co.uk www.tlmarqueehire.co.uk

> A GOPRO BRIDAL BOUQUET TO CAPTURE HIDDEN MOMENTS Here comes the bride with her own unique perspective on the day.

Slip a GoPro into your bridal bouquet.

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Weddings and technology aren’t always a match made in heaven...

Some couples prefer to opt for tech-free weddings, while others impose rules about social media usage on the big day. But, for some couples, it’s all about embracing technology at their wedding. Here’s just a few ideas how you can have a ‘tech wedding’!

WEDDING WEBSITES...

GETTING MARRIED A completely free wedding website that’s super easy to use and allows you to build a bespoke website in minutes. gettingmarried.co.uk WORLD WIDE WEDDING With packages starting from £29.95 (where you pay for a huge amount of storage space and a wider range of designs), this wedding website is well worth the money. worldwidewedding.com

WIX Wix isn’t just for wedding websites, but this does-all site builder is one of our favourites. Free, easy and with a seriously slick and professional edge, this is the techy couple’s website builder of choice. wix.com

But in our opinion you still can’t beat receiving a beautiful invitation in the post!

THE WEDDING... >

> GRAB A GO-PRO Everybody grab a GoPro! Set up a station with an instant digital download.

3-D PRINTED WEDDING CAKES Have your cake baker create a simple wedding cake and add amazing 3-D printed shapes to the top and sides for a truly modern look. Or create an incredible 3-D printed cake topper like this one.

> CHARGING STATIONS Make sure no one runs out of power! Keep the photos coming with a handy charging station.

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Inspiration

> DIGITAL GUESTBOOKS Download Guests (www.guests.businesscatalyst.com), a digital guestbook app for your iPad. Wedding guests simply tap and follow the prompts to add a photo and message.

> WEDDING CAKE LIGHT PROJECTIONS Disney made the idea mainstream when it unveiled its line of wedding cakes with digital mapping projections.

You can map literally anything you want onto your cake, from pretty flowers to old-school photos and even meaningful song lyrics. > STAYING FIT Be gorgeous and fit on your special day with an elegant fitness band cover.

ENTERTAINMENT GIANT IPAD Most people have their own favourite iPad game, such as Angry Birds, Candy Crush or Fruit Ninja. The giant iPad can be fitted with controllers for racing and sports games or even used as a giant presentation screen, maximising your impact.

>

>

SNAPCHAT What’s better than a Custom Snapchat filter for your wedding?

Your guests will be amazed by the attention to detail this Snapchat Geofilter gives!

Customise text, color, layout!

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Inspiration PHOTO SHARING APPS >

WEDDING PARTY It’s easy to use, and you can even download and print free, customized information cards to put on your guests’ tables so they can immediately join in on the fun! The app has a quick setup, enabling guests to view and share photos immediately.

> DIGITAL GRAFFITI WALL With no mess and no fumes, infrared technology means that your guests can try their hand at wielding a spray can with no risk attached.

Photographs are projected onto a digital wall and then add various colours, effects and stencils.

And for something completely different… > THE TOUCH RING by simply touching your ring, it lets you see and feel the real time heartbeat of your beloved person directly on your ring.

WEDDING SNAP Wedding Snap instantly compiles guests’ photos in an online album that can be viewed anywhere around the world in real time. Photos can be downloaded into multiple albums, each with a unique album code, for up to a year after the wedding.

WED PICS Couples can create a personalised dashboard with a wedding bio and cover photo, where guests can not only upload photos but can “love” and comment on the pictures as well! It’s more like a social network exclusively dedicated to your wedding.

WED SOCIAL The couple can enter all of the wedding info and, with a tap of an app, you can get turn-by-turn directions to the venue through Wed Social’s partnership with Google Maps. Features include bios of the couple, where they met, how he proposed, engagement photos, and pictures from pre-wedding events.

The funniest feature: Enter guest info to let your ‘maids find the eligible bachelors! silverlinings.co.uk

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Arrive in Style in our 1978 classic blue Bentley

• Limousine size so plenty of room for your wedding dress - a point not often considered.

• Luxurious interior with the rear seats in dark blue savoy velvet often seen in the Royal Bentleys and Rolls Royces - so special.

• Bentley4Brides provide a uniformed chauffeur, ribbons and bows on the car to give fantastic and memorable images for your wedding album.

• Other wedding cars available for bridesmaids and guests including a majestic long wheel base traditional 1958 Bentley limousine available autumn 2018.

Contact John Kelly at john@bentley4brides.co.uk or Telephone: 07771 537524 www.bentley4brides.co.uk  /bentley4brides

Your Personal Travel PA

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We understand the importance of making a strong, lasting impression, which is why we go above and beyond with every piece of design we produce...

Wedding Stationery Website Design Logos & Branding Leaflet Design

There’s a whole world of honeymoon destinations to discover. From romantic to unforgettable. From fairytale paradise hideaways to exciting, metropolitan adventures in 24-hour, non-stop cities.

And, as your Travel Counsellor, I can introduce you to them all.

Because it takes three people to create the honeymoon you’ve always dreamed of; the happy couple and their personal travel expert – taking care of everything, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy.

Now, where shall we go from here?

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Inspiration

CHOOSE THE PERFECT HONEYMOON with memories that will last a lifetime

Planning a wedding can be stressful so it’s important to choose a honeymoon that’s right for you both and allows you to just ‘be’ as a married couple, relaxing and enjoying activities and excursions that you can look back on in years to come with fondness.

Most couples find that what starts out as their ‘big day’ soon means making allowances or compromises to keep other people happy. When it comes to your honeymoon you only have yourselves to please and you can make it anything you want it to be! You might decide that a tropical paradise is just what you need, or that a snowy mountain with log fires is more your style. The wonderful thing is, there is so much choice out there and even if you can’t find an ‘off the shelf’ package holiday that fits, there are other options out there that will mean you can create your own version of paradise.

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So where does Rob recommend for that incredible honeymoon location?

Rob and Lisa Gower are a husband and wife team who run Dragonfly Traveller, a travel company that offers a travel PA service. They are passionate about helping couples arrange their once in a lifetime honeymoon and take away all the stress that comes with planning it – all you have to do is turn up with your suitcase packed and your passport!

BALI “What could be more romantic than the ultimate tropical paradise which is what you will find in beautiful Bali,” says Rob. “A spiritual island, home to lush landscapes, superb beaches and waterfalls, captivating culture, deliciously exotic cuisine and, of course, its enchanting people. Bali will give you the chance to take on challenges you never thought you could… scuba dive, cliff dive or simply meditate, relax and experience hospitality like no other. April to October is a great time to visit.”

Rob says: “We understand that it’s the tiny details that make the biggest difference. We listen to our customers – their likes and dislikes, hobbies and dreams, and create a bespoke honeymoon just for them, complete with added extras and personal touches. And this doesn’t mean it will be more expensive than a package holiday either. Many of the resorts and hotels we work with have special offers for honeymooners, and sometimes for that little something extra special, you just have to know the right people and we know the right people!”

PARIS “Paris is the romantic capital of the world,” says Rob. “It has so much to offer from the Eiffel Tower to a boat cruise down the Seine, taking in the sights with a glass of champagne. Or how about a night dedicated to the Moulin Rouge?

Put on your best outfit and make your way to the Pigalle District to pay homage to the birthplace of the can-can.

This is a great destination all year round.”

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MALDIVES “The Maldives is the place of dreams, The perfect location to relax by flawless white powdery beaches, turquoise waters, pristine coral reefs and some of the most incredible underwater life on the planet.

Enjoy the freshest of seafood and fragrant curries, as well as an array of fresh fruit and vegetables. Dine in underwater restaurants, or on the beachfront for the ultimate dining experience. Visit during November to April.”

Switzerland

SWITZERLAND “For a more action-packed honeymoon, Switzerland is a smart choice,” says Rob. “With its Alps backdrop, Switzerland looks just like a beautiful Christmas card scene. You can spend the day skiing on the slopes and then enjoy a romantic evening in front of a log fire in your cosy lodge. January and February are the best times to catch the snow.”

BORA BORA “For the perfect island escape, look no further than Bora Bora,” says Rob. “Simply lie back, look out onto the crystalclear waters of the South Pacific and relax. Or stay in a luxury floating villa with glass floors to view the underwater world of the lagoon. November to April is a great time to go.”

GREECE “With its spotless beaches, centuries of history and traditional towns, Greece makes the perfect honeymoon destination,” says Rob. “Enjoy its warm climate, excellent culture, delicious cuisine, outstanding landscapes and a deep history from April to October.”

Bora Bora

Dragonfly Traveller is a member of the award winning The Global Travel Group and holidays are fully ATOL protected.

For more information call 01604 661100, email enquiries@ dragonflytraveller.co.uk or visit www.drafonflytraveller.co.uk.

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