We love a summer wedding
LONG summer days, warm weather and hopefully glorious sunshine are all reasons why a large percentage of brides and grooms choose to get married during the summer months. Just picture the scene: lovely weather and warm sunshine as the bride arrives at church and again as she leaves as a married woman with her bridegroom at her side. All the wedding guests in their finery can relax in summer sunshine while they pose for photographs and enjoy the day. Venues are one of the first subjects couples tackle and, in summer, you are particularly lucky as pretty much anything goes. From romantic barefoot beachside ceremonies,
informal garden parties, huge marquees in the grounds of a manor house and traditional churches – summer weddings are the kind that little girls dream of. As for all the extras, including the cake, reception, favours, decoration and bouquets, picking a theme can be a quick and easy way to ensure everything looks fantastic. While, crisp white linen, bright organza ribbon draped over tables and wrapped around chairs, with lanterns delicately swinging from tree branches in the light summer breeze create the perfect setting for an al fresco reception under the stars. Don’t forget your big entrance either. Transport
to and from a wedding is often a chance for couples to be creative and really personalise the day. Why not make your hubby-to-be’s boyhood fantasies come true with a ride in his very own luxury car? Or, maybe it’s a stunning horse and carriage, open top Cadillac or vintage Rolls Royce that does it for you? Whatever it is, with the sun shining you’re guaranteed to make an entrance. Hair and make-up is another big part of any bride’s day, and getting it right is crucial. During summer, up-do’s are the hairstyle of choice for many brides as it keeps hair from having to battle (and lose) against the humidity. But, if you really can’t bear to wear your hair up, long, loose curls match the informal nature of summer and look
beautiful on any bride. For something a little special, accessorise with anything from tiaras, daisies, and jewels. Follow these simple rules and you’ll have wedding photos that you’ll be proud to hang on your wall this year, next year and in 20 years time. Summer weddings really are magical and, wherever or whenever you decide to tie the knot, just make sure that it’s a day that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life. A little thought, care and advance planning can help ensure your big day is a summer wedding people will be talking about for years to come and for the right reasons
Choosing a ring
platinum
wedding rings from
£199
Unlike a bridal gown, which is usually worn just once and spends the rest of its days gathering dust in the attic, a wedding ring must endure a lifetime and beyond - often becoming a treasured family heirloom passed from one generation to the next. Investing in a wedding ring is a big step but surprisingly many people often leave it until the 11th hour to choose their bands. The best advice is to put the wedding rings at the top of your list always listen to advice from a high quality respected jewellers. Designing your own wedding ring is increasingly popular as couples personalise their jewellery to make it more meaningful. As a result, many people are turning to professional jewellers for help. Skilled craftsmen are able to blend traditional techniques with the latest laser technology to create a dazzling range of jewellery including engagement and wedding rings. When creating a ring from scratch, the first thing to consider is what metal to use. Recently,
the lighter shades of white gold and platinum have been fashionable as well as titanium which is stylish grey in colour. It is lighter than gold but just as hard-wearing as platinum with the added bonus of being less expensive. Following in the footsteps of Hollywood's golden couple Brad and Jennifer Pitt, the latest trend in wedding rings is for fusing combinations of metals in the band, for example, platinum, gold and titanium. Classic round bands are always elegant but there are other profiles to choose from. You could go for a ring which is round on the inside and flat on top - known as a comfort fit - or a ring which is concave in the middle of the band. Increasingly popular are stone set wedding rings which are big news right now. A contemporary look is a plain band studded with inset diamonds. Lots of people these days opt for one band which doubles as both the engagement ring and wedding ring. Diamonds are a good choice because they are the most durable but people do opt for other stones.
Greenhead Masonic Hall Huddersfield
Proudly Opens It’s Doors For Wedding Reception & Functions Following a £150,000 refurbishment this centrally located venue boasts a superb ballroom, banqueting room & lounge bar. Plus car park with CCTV. No Public Rooms, Privacy Assured. For Early Appointments & Brochure Contact Michelle on 01484 423364
All our platinum rings are hand finished on the premises to the highest possible standard
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A new fashion emerging is rings containing coloured diamonds and the coloured diamonds really stand out against white metals. An important factor in designing a wedding ring is to make sure it complements the engagement ring. Anything goes with regard to colours but they need to fit together. A good jeweller should be able to match any rings no matter how complicated.
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4 BYRAM ARCADE, WESTGATE HUDDERSFIELD.TEL: 01484 544002 email: wilson.jewel@virgin.net
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Picking your venue
Raise a glass or two ‘The bride and groom!’ Be prepared to hear this toast throughout your wedding day, as guests share in your happiness and wish you both well. The toast is a significant part of your wedding reception and allows friends and family the opportunity to say a few words and offer their congratulations.
As your wedding will no doubt involve guests travelling from far afield and therefore incurring expense, it is important to ensure you provide ample to food and drink. The golden rule is therefore, obvious; don’t invite more guests than you can afford to properly entertain. When it comes to the drinks, it is essential that your guests are not left parched but are instead treated to free-flowing drinks which complement the food. The typical rule of thumb is to: ● allow one to two glasses for guests on arrival ● three to four with the meal (this is an upper limit, as most guests will be driving) ● a glass with the speeches and toasts. For most wedding receptions, champagne is the most popular and traditional choice, but it can be expensive, so many couples serve Suite Success! Competition winner Helen relaxes in 4 star comfort! Helen Crompton wins Examiner reader competition and enjoys a stylish stay at Cedar Court Huddersfield Back in February we invited readers to enter a competition to come up with a name for the newly refurbished Suite at Cedar Court, Ainley Top. The brief was to suggest a name in keeping with the local area and the prize on offer was an overnight stay in the luxury Suite for the Examiner reader whose name was chosen as the winner. The winning entry came from Helen Crompton, who lives in Golcar. Her suggestion was the ‘Yorkshire Rose Suite’.
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Stockists of D’Zage, Helen Marina, White Rose, Anu Pam and Alice James. Fabulous new 2009 collection bridal & bridesmaids now in stock. Massive Sale of all 2008 sample dresses. Please call for a personal appointment 01484 860404 www.perfect-daze.co.uk
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sparkling wine instead, and reserve the champagne for the speeches. During the meal it is normal to serve red or white-wine but beer is often popular. As an alternative, punches can be cost-effective, since the amount of alcohol used is fairly small. During the summer months, a refreshing choice is Pimms, while mulled wine is warming in winter. And, of course, don’t forget to cater for those who require soft drinks, in particular, those who are driving. A couple of bottles of water on each table, perhaps sparkling and still, is a must, especially if it’s a summer wedding, as there are those guests who may suffer from heat or too much champagne! Usually, your caterer or venue will provide the drinks and service. Remember to ask what they charge for corkage and add this into your budget. If you choose to purchase the drinks yourself, make sure you get them on a sale or return basis. For the evening reception, it is normally ‘the done thing’ to offer the first drink free. If you feel uncomfortable about guests paying for their drinks, why not donate the money to charity – that is, of course, if the venue will allow it.
EXCLUSIVELY YOURS
Book your wedding at the Hey Green Country house and get exclusive use for your special day also huge savings on winter and early spring weddings Contact us to request a wedding brochure or book a viewing date to visit the hotel. Why not combine your visit with Sunday lunch at the Hey Green or New Inn? Does not apply to any bookings already made. Terms & conditions apply
*Five or more in Hire Party
18/20 ACRE STREET, LINDLEY
511088
www.lhmw.co.uk
01484 848000 info@heygreen www.heygreen.com Waters Road • Marsden • West Yorkshire • HD7 6NG
With everything else there is to organise for your wedding, sorting out the venue can seem a bit of a headache. It is worth putting in the groundwork though as the standard of your chosen venue is crucial to ensuring your guests enjoy the day as much as you. Many venues these days provide their own catering but if you want greater freedom of choice or if you are having the reception at a private venue, you will need to organise the catering yourself. If you are wanting to use your own caterer you should check with the venue that they allow you to bring in outside caterers. Before you can even begin you need to write down a few points so you know exactly what you want from your caterer. ● Date and time of reception ● Facilities available at venue ● Budget per head and estimated number of guests ● Type of food you would prefer ● Any special dietary requirements (though you may not have a full idea until you get your replies back) ● Whether you want caterer to supply champagne and wine ● Whether additional items such as crockery, cutlery, table linen, serving staff, etc are included in the price Next you need to decide whether you are going for a formal sit-down meal or a buffet. This is largely determined by your budget. A buffet is obviously the cheaper option as not only does the food work out more econom-
ical but you need fewer people to serve the food. It also means that you can offer more variety so you can provide a number of vegetarian options and guests can decide for themselves what they want to eat. Many people still prefer to go for a proper sit-down meal even though it does prove more expensive. You need to choose the food carefully as there are fewer options. Even if you want to be adventurous remember you are catering for a lot of people with different tastes and preferences. It is better to go for dishes which you know most people like and remember you must provide a vegetarian option and find out if guests have any other dietary requirements. They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating so if you can, try and taste some sample dishes. Any good venue should be happy to organise this for you. Entertainment is also crucial to make sure your wedding party goes with a swing. You need to have a think about what style of party you are looking for and plan accordingly. Karaoke is a great way to get a party going but isn't everyone's bag so make sure whatever form of entertainment you go for is appropriate. Word of mouth is the best recommendation for any service so ask around for names of potential entertainers and musicians.
? d a o r b a d e i r r Gettirnagtemaat home ...celeb bar n suite with dining • Functio rmal fo r fo 0 • Up to 15 for wedding buffet 0 • Up to 20 ent - bands, inm • Entertatributes, etc. s Caterers disco, Patterson cuisine by y lit ua Q • Free • Ample k Call Janet on Car Par
01484 654052
Laund Hill
Laund Hill, New Hey Road, Huddersfield
CONFERENCE AND BANQUETING CENTRE
w: www.huddersfieldymca.co.uk e: info@huddersfieldymca.co.uk
Let us create your
perfect day At Huddersfield only 4 STAR wedding venue We pride ourselves on quality and flexibility to suit your needs. Wedding Packages available from as little as £1,600. Wedding Reception numbers from as little as 30 – 400 catered for. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies.
Cedar Court Hotels
H U D D E R S F I E L D / H A L I FA X
Contact our dedicated wedding co-ordinator on
0845 409 6509 Cedar Court Huddersfield, J24, M62, Ainley Top, Huddersfield HD3 3RH
Expedition 4x4
Classic Wave Limousine
1968 Pink Cadillac
Chrysler 300C
Ferrari F430
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II ( XJV 777)
Royale Windsor (JEZ 9572)
Bramwith Limousine (UIJ 348)
The Regent Landaulette
Beauford Convertible (311 XRB)
Bramwith Limousine (OUI 7897)
Beauford Convertible (491 TNY)
Bramwith Limousine Landaulette (876 ETR)
Beauford Convertible (641 AUS)
Beauford Convertible (UIA 641)
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Cartwright’s Courtesy Cars have the largest choice of vehicles in Yorkshire, with many years experience. All our cars are in pristine condition and the convertibles all come with full wet weather roofs.
For bookings, further info or to request our full colour brochure Tel: 01484 428 709 or 07850 784 200 Email: dick@cartwrightscars.co.uk To view our cars in more detail visit www.cartwrightscars.co.uk Albany House, Albany Rd, Kirkheaton, Huddersfield HD5 0QS