Confetti Wedding Supplement - Autumn 2011

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• 3 course meal and sparkling wine on arrival for 25

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Valid until end of February 2012. Excludes December & Bank Holidays

Celebrate happiness • Share moments • Create memories Bishopsway, Meltham, Holmfirth. Tel: 01484 851413

Love is in the air

Love is in the air.... so start planning the big day

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ITH love in the air and church bells chiming, it can only mean one thing – the autumn wedding season is well and truly upon us!

It's no secret that planning a wedding is one of the most exciting (and hectic!) times in any couple's life – but luckily brides-to-be in the area have a wealth of experts on their doorstep.

From bridal boutiques and couture cakes, to designer florists and beautiful venues, the Huddersfield area is awash with wedding specialists.

So where should you start?

The key to any wedding is organisation.

Sit down with your partner and work out a budget, as well as deciding what type of ceremony you want and how many people you are going to invite.

These factors will help to give your wedding more focus and enable you to lay out its foundations.

One of the first things that many couples choose to do is find a venue.

It's one of the most important – and expensive – parts of any wedding and, as such, it's essential to pick somewhere that you both feel comfortable with.

It also sets much of the tone for the event and should reflect what type of wedding you want.

For instance, there might not be any point booking a formal hotel if you dream of having a BBQ. With this done, it's time to start looking for the other 'major' parts of your wedding. day.

Your beautiful wedding dress, along with the groom's suit and bridesmaids dresses will no doubt be near the top of your to-do-list, followed by the finer details like wedding transport, cakes, venue decoration, entertainment, catering, flowers, photography and hair and make-up artists.

There's also the small matter of booking the honeymoon and stag or hen dos!

Many wedding companies and venues can get booked up months in advance so it's worth bearing this in mind when it comes to making your decisions.

Don't forget to take time out and pop along to your local wedding fairs too.

They're a great place to pick up ideas and inspiration, and meet dozens of wedding companies in one place and take advantage of special deals.

Above all, make sure you enjoy it and don't be afraid to ask for help. Even the most intimate of weddings can become stressful, so enlist the help of your parents, as well as the bridesmaids, ushers, maid-of-honour and best man to share duties out accordingly.

Whether your big day is two weeks or two years away, you need to keep on planning!

Queensgate Market Wedding Fayre

WHATEVER YOUR BUDGET QUEENSGATE MARKET HAS EVERYTHING YOU WILL NEED FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY, ALL UNDER ONE ROOF F

• Live fashion show taking place @ 1.00 & 3.00pm

• Free entry to the bride of the year competiton

We are also having a Second hand wedding dress sale so if you looking to buy or to sell your old one - please contact us on the details below

01484 223730 Or email markets@kirklees.gov.uk For more information find us on Facebook kirkleesmarkets

Saturda Octobey 8 2011 r

Bridal fashion

Dress like a princess on your big day

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F you’re looking for someone to inspire you when choosing a beautiful dress for your big day, then who better than a ‘princess’?

Kate Middleton wowed people around the world with her stunning, embroidered lace gown, and this season’s trends have followed suit with lace featuring high on the agenda.

Whether you want a sleek, figure-hugging ensemble or a big, fairy-tale dress there’s an amazing selection, some with all- over lace, while others have simple touches to create elegance.

This delicate style is a perfect choice for brides wanting to look glamorous, stylish and sophisticated.

Another popular addition to many gowns is big ruffles and layers. If you

want to add a touch of drama to your special day and make sure you stand out from the crowd, plenty of flowing layers is one of the top trends.

You can even have your dress adorned with fabric in circular flower-style patterns which forms an impressive gown with lovely detail for your big day.

In contrast, simplistic dresses are hitting the boutiques and creating a stunning look.

Don’t be fooled into thinking simple means figure-skimming gowns are the only ones available.

Along with the beautiful silhouette creations which look amazing, this trend also introduces a hint of 50s retro, with gorgeous dresses being nipped in at the waist and kicking out with big skirts forming a chic,

modern vision.

Brides-to-be can also expect to see many gowns featuring one- shoulder straps and embellishments and the halter neck style is also coming back with new twists including ruffles and collars.

If simple isn’t for you and lace is a little too demure then don’t fret, bridalwear is still loving it’s relationship with the diamante and crystal.

Sparkling, luxurious gowns are still here to stay to ensure you can achieve that real fairy-tale wedding and look like a true princess.

So whether you want to feel elegant in lace or stunning in ruffles you’re sure to find that perfect wedding dress for your big day.

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The bridesmaids

It’s the year of the supporting ladies

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OT on the heels of Pippa Middleton and the runaway success of the chick flick Bridesmaids, 2011 is officially the year of your supporting ladies! And, with a stunning collection of gorgeous new gowns bridesmaids will no doubt be happy to have all eyes on them as they walk down the aisle.

For the year ahead, key trends are tipped to include unusual necklines, waist detailing and two-colour dresses with vibrant pinks, lime greens, burnt oranges, electric blues and emerald greens some of the most popular colours.

It's fair to say that today's bridesmaids have more choice than ever when it comes to gowns and there's something to suit every shape and size.

Be it flattering empire lines, cute prom dresses, flowing Grecian-style gowns or fitted columns.

If you have a specific idea of how you’d like your bridesmaids to look, why not organise a 'girls night in' so you can sit down and look at pictures over a glass of wine? The last thing you want on the day or in your wedding photos - is your nearest and dearest looking uncomfortable. Plus, your bridesmaids might have some good ideas themselves!

Bear in mind what your gown is like too. After all, it's your big day and the bridesmaids' dresses should complement rather than overpower your dress. For instance, if your wedding dress has a fishtail, opt for a slim-fit gown for your

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bridesmaids to accentuate your stunning curves.

Don't forget factors like when and where you’re getting married as well. Will this affect your ideas?

If you’re planning on hot footing it abroad floaty chiffon dresses and knee length prom dresses are perfect in warmer climes. While heavier materials like satin teamed with faux fur boleros are ideal for autumn and winter weddings.

If you really can’t get all of your bridesmaids to agree on one style though, the growing trend for bridesmaids to wear different dresses in the same colour could be the perfect solution.

Alternatively, you could make a real style statement and dress your bridesmaids in different styles and colours. Not only does it keep everyone happy, but it looks equally stylish.

Ask for advice from the expert staff in the bridal shops too. They have years of experience and should be able to talk you through their collection and make recommendations.

So with some stunning styles to choose from, the hardest part will be making sure they don’t upstage the bride!

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Bridal hair and beauty

Look beautiful on your special day I T’S often said that good hair finishes off any outfit perfectly, and never is that more true than on your wedding day. After all, you’ll be wearing the most expensive dress of your life, so ensure your hair is your crowning glory.

Good hair is the ultimate accessory – so choose your bridal barnet carefully and make sure that your hair complements your dress.

Whether you opt for soft, tumbling curls; an Audrey Hepburn inspired up-do to reflect your 50s-style knee-length dress; or a demure demi-chignon, like Kate Middleton, there are an abundance of beautiful bridal hair styles to consider.

First things first, do you want to wear your hair up or down? Many brides prefer up-dos because they’re classically elegant and ensure tresses stay in place all day.

However, if you have set your heart set on an up-do, you may need to grow your hair to allow it to be teased into the style of your dreams, so discuss up-do options with your hairdresser and consider extensions if necessary.

Current bridal hair trends include textured side buns;

curled tresses loosely pinned back; demi-chignons; vintage-inspired beehives; hair worn down in loose, luxurious waves and glam up-dos with plenty of volume at the crown in the style of Cheryl Cole.

For many women, veils are the ultimate bridal accessory (except of course for their new hubby!) and having once been relegated to the back of the bridal closet, veils are undergoing something of a resurgence at the moment.

Many modern brides are favouring the floaty hair accessory these days and, whether you opt for a traditional full veil or simply a veil comb to add the final flourish to your up-do, there are a wealth of veils to choose between.

To really make your hair your crowning glory, try wearing a dazzling tiara with an understated but oh-so-elegant veil, clipped in at the back of your barnet. Or, if you prefer to walk down the aisle without a veil, other on-trend bridal hair accessories include crystal or pearl hair combs, fresh flowers to match your bouquet, statement headbands, crystal hair slides and boho-inspired crystal head-dresses.

Beauty countdown

TO ensure you look and feel like yourself on your special day – just a more beautiful, polished version – preparation is key. Have as many trial-runs with your hair, make-up and tanning as possible and keep your look understated, elegant and ensure you’re comfortable.

To avoid any bridal beauty disasters, here is a timeline of things to consider: @A year before: Start any pre-wedding weight loss regime well ahead of your wedding, as you will need to have reached your target weight by the time the bridal shop orders your dress from the designer (typically around six to nine months before). @Three months before: It’s advisable to have a facial every three to four weeks, from three months before your wedding. Your last facial should be a week before the wedding to allow your skin to settle. @The week before: Monday: Go for your last hair colour and/or cut before the big day.

Tuesday: Get eye-brows waxed and tinted, as well as any eye-lash tinting, leg, bikini and under arm

waxes for your honeymoon. All waxing needs to be carried out 48 hours before applying self-tanning lotions.

Wednesday: Treat yourself to a relaxing massage to destress before your big day. Some massages can even help to tackle bloating and water retention – ideal for feeling that extra bit slimmer.

Thursday: Apply self-tan or go to your local salon for a self-tan treatment. Tip: Manual applications often achieve a more accurate finish for those close-up wedding photos.

Friday: Take time out to finish your beauty preparations with a manicure and pedicure.

Dry, cracked hands don’t look good on wedding photographs, so treat your hands to some intensive moisturisation today, so they look their best for close-up photos of your wedding rings, when you’re cutting the cake or signing the register.

Saturday: Relax and ensure your peepers are free from dark circles or puffiness by using a cold gel eye mask whilst you wait for your make-up artist and hairdresser.

Mother-of-the-bride

Stand out as the stylish mother-of-the-bride

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HIS season sees mothers of the bride and groom looking elegant yet stylish in bold colours, ensuring you stand out for all the right reasons on the

big day.

Figure-skimming dresses have become hugely popular, setting aside any oversized outfits that swamp your shape and style!

Finding the right colour is key too.

Bold shades are making an impression in the wedding world, from striking blues and plum shades which are beautiful for the summer season through to deep forest greens that are ideal for a winter wedding.

Pastel shades are taking a back seat in 2011/12, so it’s time to be a little daring and take on the world of vivid colour.

Floral themes are still making an appearance, but not in the dowdy sense.

With mother of the bride and groom outfits becoming more tailored, the floral fashion appears modern and on-trend.

Local occasion wear stores will be happy to help you discover a style and colour that is perfect for you as mother of the bride or groom.

It may even be worth both mothers getting together and comparing notes to ensure you don’t turn up wearing

the same outfit or something too similar.

Make sure you talk to the bride about the wedding’s colour scheme to ensure you don’t get something that clashes, yet still lets you make a positive impression.

Accessories are almost as important as the mother of the bride outfit, there’s shoes, hats, fascinators, jewellery and bags to think about.

Firstly you need to decide whether to opt for a for a hat or fascinator, both are beautifully in-season, but many mothers are choosing the more modern hair clip which can come in a range of shades and styles and even be colour-matched to your outfit.

If you’ve chosen a bold dress then it’s best to keep your jewellery simple, or maybe just opt for earrings you don’t want to take away any deserved attention from your attire!

Picking out the perfect shoes can be a challenge too, you need something stylish yet comfortable, after all you’ll most likely be on your feet all day, dancing right into the night.

Make sure you visit plenty of occasion wear boutiques before you make the final choice.

You’ll want to be completely happy with your choice, remember it’ll be in many photographs for years to come.

Stand out on this special day to enjoy happy memories for years to come.

The bridegroom

Cut a stylish figure on your big day

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HE wedding is undoubtedly the bride’s special day. She’s dreamt of this moment her whole life and all eyes will be on that dress.

But let’s not forget about the groom.

After all it takes two people to make a wedding!

While the bride will effortlessly demand most of the attention in her stunning frock, the male half can easily make his own statement.

And today’s groom is spoilt for choice when it comes to suits and accessories to choose from. It’s just knowing the type of look you’re going for.

So where do you start?

Ultimately you need to converse with your future missus. She’ll know all about colour-schemes and themes for the

big day, so check with her before you dive straight into the suit rails.

First thing’s first, decide whether you’re going to invest in a new suit or rent one, the latter obviously being the most reasonable option.

Then you need to find a decent suit store to get the ball rolling. The region has a number of specialist shops as well as high street giants for you to choose from and can be found through a simple online search.

Once you’ve made an appointment, think about the formality of your wedding.

This will influence the type of suit you will go for, from the classic black wedding suit to a more informal beige number, and everything in between. And that’s not to mention colours, fabric, and

accessories! After you’ve made all the decisions, measurements and fittings will follow - and we can’t stress enough how important it is to get the right size.

You want to be able to move in your suit without bursting at the seams!

And don’t forget about your groomsmen who will either wear the same suit as you, or one that is slightly different to enable you to stand out.

Then, once all the decisions have been made - in plenty of time - it’s time to put your feet up and look forward to the wedding without any last-minute rush and stress.

In the weeks leading up to the day, why not treat your groomsmen to a weekend spa retreat or a golfing break?

After all, you want to look relaxed and refreshed on your big day!

Tips for making your speech LET’S be honest, most of us dread having to make public speeches - and the wedding day is full of them!

Whether you’re the groom, father-of-the-bride or the best man, chances are the responsibility will be put on the males of the party to deliver a cracking speech.

So here’s some top tips on how to do just that... *Practice makes perfect. Know your speech inside and out. *Remember, a great speaker has great material to work with. Do your research and speak to friends and family to get the best stories. *Keep your speech short, sharp and to the point. You don’t want a hall full of snoozing guests! *Lay off the booze until after the speech.

You’ll need a clear head. *Take your time, act like you’re in charge of the show and make eye contact with your audience. *In honoured tradition, throw in the odd dirty joke or embarrassing anecdote. But remember that there will most likely be children present - and pensioners - so keep the expletives to a minimum. You don’t want people walking out in disgust.

The wow factor

Make the right choice of venue

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HEN it comes to choosing wedding venues there’s no shortage of choice. Whether a religious or civil ceremony, it’s so much easier to find the perfect location for your big day now that so many local venues have opened themselves up to hosting weddings and receptions.

Civil ceremonies are more popular than ever, with over half of all weddings taking place in a registry office or licensed venue.

This means that you have a rather stunning range of beautiful and memorable places to get hitched. The choice is yours.

Provided a venue has been granted a licence for holding weddings then you’re good to go (but make sure to book well in advance).

If you need inspiration, popular choices are hotels, town halls, historic sites (such as castles and stately homes), museums and theatres.

For something a bit more individual, how about the stadium of your favourite football or rugby team?

A directory of registered premises is kept by the General Register Office for England and Wales. Your local registry office should be able to tell you about the approved premises in the area.

Many venues offer a complete service including the hosting of the wedding ceremony, reception and accommodation, so that guests don’t have to travel from location to location.

Imagine the lack of stress involved in celebrating your entire day in the one venue – even providing you and your guests with a luxury room for the night and breakfast in the morning.

For most religious ceremonies, the couple feel it important to exchange rings and vows ‘in the sight of God’.

However it must also be recognised legally, so the clergyman has to be legally registered along with being the religious representative.

For a church wedding, the clergyman must agree to the ceremony being performed in his church. There is usually a requirement that either the bride or groom have lived at least fifteen days’ residence in the church’s parish. For that reason, a local parish church is often the preferred option.

Try to arrange an interview with the clergyman at least six months in advance to help you get the date you prefer.

With regards decoration for your ceremony, some venues registered for weddings may already have decorated the room for the day’s ceremonies.

For a church wedding the bride and groom would tend to choose their own flowers, though its worth checking this in advance in case there are other weddings scheduled for that day.

If that is the case, one cost cutting idea could be to arrange to share flower choices and costs with the other couples?

But, whatever venue you choose make sure the day is one to remember.

Go for the `wow’ factor

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HOOSING the right decoration for your wedding reception can change any space from a typical function room into the ideal place for your perfect wedding

party.

Getting that all important ‘wow factor’ is of genuine importance to budding brides, but no matter the venue, it’s possible to turn your blank canvas into an unforgettable wedding backdrop.

So don’t automatically write-off a room when you first set eyes on it. Use your imagination, because you can go from drab to fab by choosing a style and then seeing different ways in which you can make it work.

If your setting looks just about perfect already, a few bridal flourishes can really help bring some extra sparkle to a room.

But good advice would be to work with what you’ve already got. Look at the room and check what you can best do with the space, rather than planning something complicated in advance that might not work in the venue.

Your decorations should follow a theme, whether based simply on colour or something a little bit more specific.

Let your imagination run wild, but

before you set your heart on a certain idea, make sure you will be able to make it work. Will you be able to purchase table decorations, flowers and other accessories that match the colour scheme or the specific theme you have chosen?

Paula Dodd is a wedding planner for Top Table Wedding Services and she has noticed recent trends in colour scheme becoming quite bold, indeed.

“Traditional colours are still popular, cream and gold, for example,” said Paula.

“But I recently looked after a wedding that used black and green and another with black and cerise. If you’re a bit daring and are looking for something a bit different then it’s perfect and looks great.”

Everything from bouquets to chair coverings can be made to match. A nice touch might even be to continue the theme into your bridal suite. In terms of tasteful decorations that could brighten up any venue, fabric swags and sashes could mingle nicely with balloons and fairy lights to magic up the room.

Paula says that chair covers are the latest must-haves when it comes to venue decoration this year. “It used to be only the high-end weddings that tended to go

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for chair coverings,” she explains. “But these days all brides seem to want them.

Despite the cost, they would rather cut back in other areas.”

If you’re staging your do in a stunning suite, complete with chandeliers and murals, you have the minimum of work to do.

You merely need to add enough decorations to make it obvious that, for today, this grand room will be staging a rather special and quite elegant wedding celebration.

If the room is rather more of a blank canvas then you can feel freer to go to town with banners, streamers and the like.

Paula’s most popular item is her Twinkle Backdrop. “It’s a stunning backdrop lit by fibre-optics. It definitely has that ‘wow factor’ and there’s a matching table skirt and cake skirt too.”

Of course, getting the right balance so that the eyes are not overwhelmed by the spectacle is still important. Best advice would be to get as many second and third opinions as you can manage. Or, just take the stress out of it completely and get a professional to decorate the place for you – if money is no object, of course!

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The right venue

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Celebrate in style

T SEEMS a paradox. It’s the culmination of your big day, but the mark of a good wedding is how well your guests enjoy the reception! With a little careful planning you can ensure your guests have a great day and talk about your wedding for years to come.

Firstly, decide on a venue.

There are lots of places from which to choose, depending on your budget and the style of event you want to arrange.

A simple meal in a restaurant is often a nice way to celebrate your day.

However, if you intend letting your hair down a little later it might be worth choosing a venue with a dance floor.

Any number of establishments can offer this service, from social clubs to hotels, golf clubs or even the larger pubs, which sometimes have private rooms to hire.

Put some thought into how you want the day to run. Are you having a traditional wedding breakfast or do you fancy a more informal buffet type meal so your guests can mingle and chat to each other.

Are you having an evening reception?

These usually take the form of a disco and buffet meal so your guests can spend time with each other and chat over the events of the day.

Often people attending your big day won’t have seen each other for ages so it’s a great chance for them to enjoy a catch-up.

Enjoy your wedding breakfast

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NCE the formalities of the official ceremony are over, the next highlight of the day is the wedding breakfast, so make sure your guests remember the food for all the right reasons by choosing the right catering for your wedding.

Many couples these days choose to ditch the traditional wedding breakfast concept in favour of a more modern theme, so have a think about the overall style of your wedding and plan your catering accordingly.

Next you need to start researching potential caterers.

This should be done around six months in advance, as many reputable companies will get booked up early and this leaves enough time to try out different menus and get the right combination of food for your wedding.

Remember to keep things simple. The more complicated

things become, the more difficult it is to keep track of what’s going on, and also it can get really expensive.

Think about the time of year you are getting married, and how that relates to the menu.

Enquiring about locally sourced produce can help keep costs to a minimum, and offers a more personalised menu.

Gather catering quotes from nominated catering lists provided by your chosen venue, and check them out for yourself.

Make sure you have a tasting session and find out exactly what’s included in the price.

And if you want some inspiration for some stylish food ideas here are just a few suggestions: Buffets, barbecues or even a hog roast – all great ways to cater for large numbers of guests on a relatively small budget.

The beauty of this option is that not only is it cheaper, but it gives a

more relaxed atmosphere and allows you to cater for a wide range of tastes including vegetarian options.

Ever thought about a wedding picnic? Tasty hampers, bursting with succulent game pies, gourmet sandwiches or a superb selection of cheeses, with rugs laid out on the grass, are perfect if you’re planning a summer wedding.

This works well as an alternative to a wedding breakfast, and can be less costly than a sit-down dinner.

How about British classics with a twist?

Think pie and mash, bangers and mash, or fish and chips, all served in a contemporary style.

Have the wedding cake as dessert.

Many couples find their guests are often too full after the meal to enjoy the cake, so it goes to waste.

Incorporating it into the main menu can help reduce costs and means less decisions for you!

Be savvy on your big day

Never be afraid to cut costs and be wedding day savvy IF you’re in the process of planning your wedding then you’ll be only too aware of just how expensive it can all be.

With just a quick scan down the ‘to do’ list it can seem that everything about the wedding is a financial challenge. From invitations to clothing, venue to food, transport to accommodation, it all seems to burn a money-shaped hole in your pocket.

The last thing you want, when embarking on a new life together, is to start it in debt, so that’s why it makes sense to budget wisely for your wedding and cut costs wherever possible.

There are so many ways to make savings, it’s up to you to decide how important each area is and whether trimming it would have a negative impact on the q u a l i t y o f yo u r we d d i n g .

Something as simple as changing the day of your wedding to a weekday or Sunday could result in a cost reduction, or booking your wedding during less popular months of the year, such as the winter.

One great tip on how to potentially save on costs is to examine where you can ‘do-it-yourself’.

Make use of the talents that you and your friends and family have.

Some people even make their own wedding cake or bridesmaid’s dresses! And accept offers of help whenever they come along, even if it’s something as simple as offering to pick up products from a local retailer.

Even if it’s not really saving you money, it should save you time and stress and these things are just as important in the build up

to your big day.

Fo r ex a m p l e, i f yo u o r someone you know is a computer whiz, perhaps you could cut costs by designing and printing out your own wedding invitations?

Maybe you could send some or all of the invitations electronically, via email?

It could be a good idea to hire one company to do several things too. From chair covers and table centre pieces to balloons and aisle runners, many wedding decoration companies now offer a variety of services and are often more likely to offer you a discount when bulk booking. Plus, it’s well worth visiting local wedding fairs to see if you can pick up any special deals!

It varies upon the individual couple as to which areas of their weddings they are prepared to accept cost savings and where they feel they just can’t afford skimp. For some brides certain suggestions would be an acceptable and good way to save money while, for others, such cost cutting may not feel right.

It’s up to the individual to choose where to trim, but if you are on a tight budget, remember you will have to make savings somewhere, so budget fully beforehand and highlight potential cost saving areas.

Another way you can save money is to slim down the honeymoon to a mini-moon. If you’ve blown most of the budget on the wedding itself, why not opt for a no-nonsense retreat in North Wales? After all, it was good enough for Wills and Kate to hotfoot it back to Anglesey after their wedding.

Flowers and photography

A world of choice for your bridal flowers

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ROM petal perfect roses to wild meadow daisies, there’s a world full of choice when finding the right wedding flowers. An important part of your big day, the right flowers can instantly enhance your whole wedding, and with a vast array of beautiful blooms to choose between there’s something to suit every taste and budget.

Start by thinking about what theme or style you’re hoping to create, but keep an eye on your budget too, as more elaborate and unusual flowers can cause costs to creep up.

Once you’ve worked out how much you can afford to spend, arrange a few appointments with your local florist to see what arrangements they offer to complement your theme.

Remember that it’s important to choose a florist that shares the same vision as you.

You don’t want you wedding day to come around and be disappointed with your bouquet!

It’s not just your own flowers you need to plan – are your bridesmaids going to be carrying blooms? Maybe you want flowers around your cake table, or would like floral table centrepieces?

There’s lots to think about, so have a good look through plenty of websites and bridal magazines and collect the images you like to give your florist a better idea of the style you want to recreate.

One of the most recent bridal bouquet trends is small, natural hand-tied blooms. But depending on the dress you choose, a tear-drop bouquet may create more of an impact.

Don’t forget about the buttonholes, either.

No longer just a simple carnation, button holes can also make their mark with diamantes or delicate detailing to ensure they stand out from the rest.

Whatever you prefer, just make sure your petals make an impact. So what is the meaning of different flowers: White rose: Purity, beauty, eternal love Red rose: Passion

What a picture!

H AVING treasured memories of your big day is one of the most important legacies of any wedding, and choosing the right photographer is absolutely

Cala lilies: Elegance, beauty, charm Orchid: Love, beauty, magnificence Sunflower: Loyalty Daffodil: You're the only one/The sun shines when I'm with you

Pale pink rose: Happiness, grace

Honeysuckle: Devoted love

Tulips: Undying love

White lily: Innocence, purity

Daisies: Romance, innocence

Carnations: Devoted love

crucial.

Everyone is different, and what one person wants from their photographer may be completely different to someone else, so be prepared to really do your homework and don’t settle for anything less than what’s perfect for you.

How should you choose your wedding photographer? In a nutshell, you need to find a photographer who is going to capture the day exactly how you and the groom want it to look.

Think about the style of your wedding, and make sure your photographer complements it.

Most photographers have their own websites now, so do some research and check out their photo galleries to get an idea of their style.

Look out for tell-tale signs, like whether the pictures are nice and clear. Are the group photographs nicely composed? Do people look natural? Do the pictures make you smile? Have they captured the moment successfully? Has every detail in the picture been taken into account?

You don’t need to be a professional photographer to be able to recognise the hallmarks of a good picture, and with practice you’ll be looking at photographs with a professional eye!

There are a number of different styles of wedding photography, ranging from traditional, posed pictures right through to more natural, reportage-style shots.

Both have their own appeal but, rather than committing to one particular type of picture, you could be better advised to find a photographer who offers a combination of both traditional and the more modern type

of images.

Remember the quality of your wedding pictures isn’t just down to the photographer.

You need to work together to produce the perfect selection of shots from your big day.

So listen carefully to direction from your photographer and try and help him or her out if they are struggling to get everyone lined up for group photos.

It might be worth telling guests they can have some time at the end to take their own shots so the photographer can get on with taking the pictures he wants without everyone getting in the way. (And remember time is money as well, so there is no point in unnecessarily keeping the photographer there!)

Top tips:

*Book early. All the best photographers get booked up fast, so if you want your first choice, you need to get in there early. *Search the internet for potential photographers to make sure there aren’t any disappointed brides writing angry blogs about being let down. *Ask around and see which photographers are highly thought of. Personal recommendation is the best form of advertisement for any photographer, so use this to your advantage. *Make sure you get a written contract so you know exactly what you are getting for your money and then, if the worst does happen, you have got proof of what the photographer promised to deliver. *A nice quirky touch to your wedding is to give your guests disposable cameras. Even the best photographer can’t be everywhere at once, and you often get some really nice, natural pictures when you least expect them! *NO POSING: Natural shots are highly effective FUN: Follow instruction from your photographer and you should get some beautiful shots.

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Perfect gifts for both brides and bridesmaids.

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