Spring Issue - And so to Wed by And so to Wed

And so to Wed ISSUE 6 SPRING 2016

IN THIS ISSUE On the cover Spring Bride - Photography by Coral & Stone

Articles 5 A word from the editor 6 Get to know Amy Swann Cakes 13 Setting the scene 15 Spring blush 27 Let us entertain you 37 Top tips for getting the best hair and …….make up on your wedding day 38 Natural beauty 46 Make tea, not war 47 Get to know Glorious Tiaras 49 Pour l'amour des fleurs 57 7 must do's for every newly engaged …….couple 71 5 fabulous hen party ideas 73 Get to know Victoria Edwards Makeup 74 Handmade with love

Your weddings

29 Beautifully bespoke 32 Relaxed romance

The important bits 75 Our Contributors 76 Directory

A word from the editor It's Spring! I don't know about you but I feel ready for the beautiful outdoors and sunshine that undoubtedly come with the wonderful months ahead. Not to mention the start of wedding season and the gorgeous fresh colour palettes, romance and beauty that are involved at this time of year. We've had a wonderful few months with new vendors joining our Directory meaning we have even more creative pieces to offer you, our brides and grooms. We've also been working on our Summer and Autumn photo shoots, getting creative with some of the most talented people we know. And most exciting of all, we've shared lots of your fabulous wedding days with our readers. After our 2016 Bride post went viral on Facebook we know just how many of you are tying the knot this year and we're here to help you create a beautifully bespoke wedding. We have some truly inspirational pieces in our Spring Issue, including ways to keep children happy on your big day, how to make unique wedding favours, three stunning photo shoots to inspire you and two beautiful real weddings. We also have interviews with three ASTW small businesses who share what goes on behind the scenes allowing you the opportunity to get to know the people behind your wedding items. If that isn't enough we also have a breathtaking photo shoot from StĂŠphanie Fairweather that shows that less can definitely be more when planning your wedding photography. I hope you enjoy,

T h e

Tell us a bit about Amy Swann Cakes, what do you do? My passion begins with a love of flowers, colour, texture and design. All of these elements are at the heart of my work. I create one off wedding cakes which are designed as unique pieces of art. Each cake is a bespoke piece and designed to be a real show stopping centrepiece. I take inspiration from the beauty of nature in its most natural form. Over the years my work has also evolved into making non edible floral crowns and stationery to compliment my cakes. What do you offer wedding couples? I offer a very personal design service where I discuss colour, composition and themes with my clients. I sketch and plan the piece by creating mood boards and work on designs until I have come up with something that everyone is happy with. I consult on the design throughout the process until we have something really special. How was Amy Swann Cakes created? I had been working on commissions for friends and family for a few years until I saw a competition in Country Homes and Interiors magazine for the 'country business awards'. I sent in some images of my work and

within a couple of weeks had a call to say that I had been selected as one of four to be featured in the magazine. The rest as they say is history and things have gone from strength to strength ever since. What inspires you? Flowers are a constant source of inspiration , I am always in awe of the beauty of nature and the colours that can be found. Florists are being so imaginative in their compositions and colour combinations, I often refer to their images as a starting point for my designs. I also love trawling through Pinterest and Instagram to find new ideas. My degree is in textile design so the research process is really important to me. I can find inspiration from a beautiful exhibition, an old cup or piece of fabric - anything really. What is your favourite part of your job? I do love the research process, I get a real buzz from trying to create something beautiful. It's the initial inspiration that really drive my ideas. To see the designs coming to life and making people happy is also a real high point.

If there was one cake that sums you up, which one would it be and why? I adore the bohemian cake I created based on an old French tapestry I saw in Selvedge Magazine last year. It really sums up everything I am about and stand for from the initial inspiration and the colours to the final outcome. This cake was shot in the Italianate village of Portmeirion in North Wales which is close to where I grew up. Anything else you'd like to share with our brides? As well as cakes, I create nonedible floral crowns to compliment my cakes. I use the same techniques and design process to create a beautiful everlasting heirloom. These are a nice twist on the fresh floral crowns but can be kept as a lovely keepsake from the day. Many of my brides have framed them as a piece of art to hang on their walls. Discover more of beautiful work at

Amy's

www.amyswanncakes.co.uk Instagram - Swann.amy Facebook www.facebook.com/www.bande audamourbyamyswann.co.uk/ Photography by Jess Pertrie Photography www.jesspetrie.com Andrea Pennington Photographer www.andrea-pennington.com Lowri Pendrell Photography www.lowripendrell.com

As we move towards Spring, it’s a great time to look at all the fabulous themes that are emerging for this season weddings and take time to look at ways to set the perfect scene for your big day. Whether you are looking for simple DIY projects to inject some personality, or are looking for some off the shelf pieces to instantly create a fabulous backdrop, here’s a run down of what’s hot for Spring in the world of wedding décor. Woodland wonder… With warmer days on the way and with more brides opting for an 'au naturel' theme for their day, we are seeing the quirky vintage style décor items shifting towards more rustic finishes and more subtle colourings. Signage on bare wood, wooden table confetti and rustic style guest books are all becoming more popular. Some may even inject some bright colour, with a boho element running through choices for flowers and decorative props. Create unique signs with reclaimed wood and chalk paint – this may even be a great one for grooms to get involved in. Or if you don’t fancy the the pressure of the DIY, then there are some great décor pieces for this theme – we love these woodland inspired props, guestbooks and décor from the fabulous LoveLi – www.loveli.co.uk

Colour pop… Brides are no longer scared of using colour in their wedding day styling. Gone are the days of everything being pastel and soft hues, as couples are becoming brave with colour choices for flowers, stationery and décor. Think bright colour pompom garlands, paper lanterns and colourful backdrops. Why not get the girls together to make pompoms (come on, we all did it at school!) from brightly colour wool, then attach together to make bright garlands for high impact reception décor.

All that glitters… Metallics and glitter hit the wedding scene in a big way at the end of 2015 and this season will see this trend develop with glitter dipped accessories and a movement towards foiled paper elements for wedding menus and placecards. This theme is glamorous and is a great way to inject timeless style into any event. This theme can also be paired back and combined with rustic kraft paper elements to make an understated yet glam style for your big day. Let loose with the glitter and decorate everything from envelopes, escort cards to dipped feathers for your big day. If you don’t fancy getting stuck in on this element, then there are ways of implementing this theme on a budget with great off the shelf options.

Written by Lianne at LoveLi – Design for Love & Life For more inspiration visit LoveLi at www.loveli.co.uk Aloha fun… The final theme making a real impact this season is fun, bright and perfect for sunshine filled wedding days. Think pineapple décor, flamingos and totally tropical colour palettes for this one. Perfect for those wanting to set an informal and lighthearted atmosphere for their big day, this theme is going to be popular as we move towards the warmer summer months. Whilst not for everyone, this theme will allow you to have real fun creating DIY elements for your day. Why not use real pineapples as table centres – talk with your florist to create something that will have all your guests talking.

A romance inspired photo shoot by Coral & Stone Photography

Photographers: Coral & Stone Photography www.coralandstone.co.uk Hair: Alison Jenner www.alisonjennerhair.com Makeup: Ms Moo Makeup www.msmoomakeup.com Dress: Giling & White www.gilingandwhitebridal.co.uk Models: Model Students www.modelstudents.co.uk Flowers: Michele Gledhill www.michelegledhill.co.uk Silk Ribbon: Pompom Blossom www.pompomblossom.com Cake and Biscuits: Creative Cakerie www.creativecakerie.co.uk Jewellery: Zoe Ruth Designs www.zoeruthdesigns.co.uk Head piece: Florrie and Eve www.nadiaditullio.com Suit Hire: Brigdens www.brigdens.com

Children can be great fun at your wedding but if they're not kept busy it can lead to tantrums, mischief or upset. Here we have some fantastic ideas of how to entertain younger guests.

place, or for them to sit at whilst they wait for adults to finish their meal. There are also lots of good table ideas at Printable Activity Books. Pass the parcel – always a hit!

Goody Bags

Responsibilities

Think about toys and activities that don’t create too much mess, don’t make too much noise and that children can play with on their own, without a lot of parental supervision. Bubbles, colouring books, finger puppets for very young children, sticker books, activity books with word searches / puzzles and disposable cameras are all easy to source and reasonably priced. Put the treats in a fun bag or box on their chair, wrapped up like a present. If you haven’t got time or energy to make your own bags, then you can easily source these ready made.

Some children are full of energy and others are easily bored. Think about giving your young guests small responsibilities during key stages of the day. Older children may want to entertain younger ones for an hour or so during the speeches. Ask them to hand out orders of service, give out the wedding cake or make use of those disposable cameras by setting a treasure hunt of things they need to photograph. Is there a room at your venue which could be set up if young children and parents need a little break from the party? A quiet room maybe with a TV and some films. Don’t forget to check about baby changing facilities. Children can be a lot of fun at weddings and remember that it is their parents’ ultimate responsibility to keep them entertained and I have no doubt that ipods and iphones will make an appearance too!

Indoor Entertainment If your budget allows, then consider hiring a professional entertainer such as a caricature artist, magician, storyteller or a balloon artist. Set up a children’s craft table, cover with paper and let them doodle away whilst the speeches are taking

Keep Them Busy Outside Especially easy to do if you are having a summer wedding and your outside space is green and the venue is happy for you to use it. Lawn games such as hoopla, a coconut shy, giant Jenga or Connect 4 are all great fun for adults too. Stage a mini sports day with a three-legged race, running races and an egg and spoon race. All you need is an adult or two to run the games and it is sure to run off any sugar rushes from their pudding. For my more fantastic ideas and inspiration visit www.darbyandjoanvintage.co.uk Written by Karen, Darby & Joan

A truly unique and romantic wedding celebration

On 24th January 2015, Neil and Fiona got married at Abingdon Registry Office, celebrating their marriage on 13th September 2015 at The Rectory Hotel, Crudwell, Wiltshire. On the day of the wedding it was a beautiful sunny, cold, blue sky January day. Both of us got ready at home with both Mum’s around. My hair and make up artists were amazing and made me feel like a princess. I'd treated myself to a vintage mink fur jacket as it was a very chilly day and I'd anticipated I would need something to keep me warm. I had inherited my grandmothers 1920’s engagement ring which was now to be my engagement ring and Neil had bought me an antique 1920’s eternity ring. My father sadly died back in 2001 and so my brother Mark gave me away, wearing a pair of my fathers shoes so that Mark could literally walk in his Father’s footsteps. Luckily I didn’t know this until Mark mentioned it in his speech at lunch, otherwise if he’d told me before the service it would have ruined my make up before walking down the aisle. Our 4 year old nephew Alexander was responsible for giving Neil the wedding band. After a few photos we had a lovely intimate lunch in the private dining room at The White Hart before returning home for wedding cake. It was a very intimate day with just 8 people. For the September party, our inspiration was very much elegance, antique chic, homely, with a touch of vintage. We decided that we didn’t want the party to be all day so we decided on an elegant afternoon tea party that would be set in a character homely property, in the Cotswolds. The Rectory Hotel fitted the bill with it’s wood-panelled dining room, open log fires and comfy armchairs. It felt just like being in someone’s very large family home. With the inspiration of their elegant stationery of grey and off white they continued this on the decorations with grey and white linens, hints of blush pink in the flowers and Cotswolds green for Neil’s tie. We had arranged to stay over at The Rectory Hotel on the Saturday, the night before the party, with some family and friends and had afternoon drinks in the garden at The Rectory followed by a lovely relaxed meal that evening at The Potting Shed Pub in Crudwell. Sunday morning, before getting ready I met with the florist and the hotel team who were all busy preparing the rooms. I had my hair and make

up done so Neil went off to play table tennis with some friends who were staying in the hotel. Luckily Neil won a couple of games so he was happy, or maybe they let him win, who knows!! Once we were dressed and ready we walked down the grand staircase of the hotel to be greeted by the photographer and then the smiles started. The hotel team and the florist had worked their magic and added their designs to the decorations, it looked beautiful and just as we imagined. As we welcomed our guests at the front door of the hotel we felt like we were welcoming them into our own home, which was exactly how we wanted it to feel. The party started off with drinks and a selection of canapés in the summer room of the hotel. A glass of bubbles in the vintage champagne saucers was definitely now in order before more photos. Photos were an important part of the day as we wanted to extend our collection from the wedding and have some photo opportunities that we didn’t have back then. Before we knew it, it was time for afternoon tea. We waited in the summer room whilst everyone took their seats in the dining room and once announced

in to the room as Mr and Mrs Dawson, the emotions got the better of me and I couldn’t stop the tears from the happy smiles and applauding as we walked into the room. The afternoon tea party was a selection of sandwiches and miniature cakes. We had speeches first from my brother Mark, then Neil and then myself. More photo opportunities followed including the traditional confetti shot, family and friends photos, a few staged photos but mainly relaxed photos were taken from the day. The finale of the day was our first dance which was to the ballroom version of John Paul Young’s “Love is in the air”. No complicated choreography dance moves but a bit of jig on the dance floor rather than a slow soppy number. We said our goodbyes to friends and family and retired to our honeymoon suite having dinner in our bedroom and falling asleep with the lights still on, we were both so tired. The design of our monogram became a focal point for various design elements of the day. I knew I wanted an elegant classic design for the stationery, no strong colours just dark grey font on thick

quality white card. Kelly, my favourite and talented graphic designer, who I work with, helped in her spare time to come up with a stunning design. I found I was drawn to ideas on Pinterest of a monogram with foliage of sorts. I love the eucalyptus plant and knew I wanted this in our flower decorations, so I asked Kelly to design something from the ideas that I had seen. Once finalised, we then used the monogram on various pieces of the stationery and other elements such as the embroidered napkins and the gift tags for the take home cake boxes. A belly band was created to wrap all the invitation/rsvp cards together, again using the monogram on the band. The same concept was used to create a paper napkin ring that housed both the napkin and the name place setting card. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want the expensive cost of a full blown wedding cake and so chose an option from M&S where you could buy various sized and different flavoured cakes that could be tiered on top of each other and it meant I could decorate it myself with the cake topper and ribbon that I had sourced online. We really wanted a photo opportunity with everyone throwing confetti. We came across confetti cones during a google search and on reviewing the website,

we could see that they would be able to help as they could supply a mix of their colour theme and a mix of flower types, cones and cone holders. Really easy, cost effective and great customer service. Using Pinterest I was inspired with hundreds of ideas but narrowed it down to a colour theme of vintage style, blush pinks with creams and soft green/grey foliage. I found some inspiring photos showing flowers in vintage glass vases that attracted my attention so much so that I clicked through to the florists website and to my delight they were local to the party venue. I could tell instantly from their website that their style matched what we were looking for and set about requesting a quote and going from there. The florists advised on flower availability and I then carefully selected flowers available for the season. The bouquet was to be elegant, not perfect, not too structured and definitely with eucalyptus foliage. Buttonholes to match with clusters of small blush roses. Vintage glass vases, all different designs and sizes throughout the venue with small arrangements of flowers to match the bouquet. On the day the glass vases were showcased on the fireplaces and each table setting in the dining room and on the window ledges of the summer room. Then with the added extras of eucalyptus and the odd flower decorating the beams in the summer room and a eucalyptus heart. Flowers were even used for the table plan idea of buckets hanging on a rustic wooden frame propped up on an easel. Our advice would be plan your budget before anything else and stick to it. Yes it is your wedding day and needs to be special but it is only one day and it’s over in a flash, it’s not a competition to see who can have the best wedding ever. Don’t let cost take over, it’s not essential that you have everything that the wedding planners say you have to have, as long as you have your close family and friends with you to celebrate, that’s all that matters. Don’t pressurise yourself to do all traditions, again you don’t have to follow the recommended things, it’s just a guide. I do admit to letting the detail take over but I did so many things myself to save on costs I couldn’t have been happier and personally I got the look I was after without it costing the earth. It could have been so much more, but we kept in control of the budget throughout the whole process. Pinterest boards were essential for my inspiration, I had secret boards so that my friends couldn’t see my ideas. I took these ideas and found ways of recreating them without a major cost. Its such a great inspirational site. Make sure you plan your special day with the essential ingredients of love and happiness.

It’s amazing what you can plan and put into action in a very short space of time, it made me realise what was important and that I was marrying the man of my dreams and that’s all that mattered at the end of the day. We are one very happy husband and wife team and can’t believe we have just celebrated our first wedding anniversary with a celebratory meal back at The White Hart in Fyfield. We are looking forward to a very long and happy marriage together. With special thanks to: Venues: Abingdon Registry Office www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/abingdonceremony-room The White Hart www.whitehart-fyfield.com The Rectory Hotel www.therectoryhotel.com Wedding dress - Designed by "Essence of Australia" from Bride to Be www.bridetobe.co.uk www.essensedesigns.com Photographer: Tom Weller www.tomwellerphotography.com Confetti: Rebecca D’Arcy at Confetti Cones www.confetti-cones.co.uk Flowers: Laura at The Bloom Room www.thebloomroom.co.uk Flowers by Passion www.flowersbypassion.com Hair: Katie Jane Whitlock www.katiejanewhitlock.co.uk Make Up: Katie Burt www.katieburtmakeup.co.uk Afternoon tea party Vintage Champagne saucers and vintage cake stands Cotswolds Vintage Party Hire www.cotswoldsvintagepartyhire.co.uk Embroidered napkins: Heidi Lawton at Extra Special Touch www.extraspecialtouch.co.uk

For most women getting married is one of the most important days of their lives, therefore it is so important that everything is just right. Hair and make up is an essential part of how you look and feel on the day. You want to look amazing and yet still feel like you, you want a style that will compliment your features and your dress yet feel comfortable and have the staying power to last until the end of the day. When choosing an artist for your wedding day make sure you do your research. All experienced wedding hair and make up artists will have a body of work, a great opportunity for you to view other brides and to see the work that they have done. Consider all the options that are available from the artist and make sure you have discussed other party members (bridesmaids, mother of the bride etc.) and all additional travel options (most artists will travel to you on your wedding day, just make sure you have discussed location and additional fees).

When choosing an artist for your wedding day make sure you do your research. All experienced wedding hair and make up artists will have a body of work, a great opportunity for you to view other brides and to see the work that they have done. Consider all the options that are available from the artist and make sure you have discussed other party members (bridesmaids, mother of the bride etc.) and all additional travel options (Most artists will travel to you on your wedding day just make sure you have discussed location and additional fees).

It is important that you choose a hair and make up style that will also compliment your dress. If you are working with a stylist on this, bring as much visual information as possible to the trial. Have a strong idea of what you wish to create but be flexible as the stylist will work with your natural features and will create a version of the style you have in mind. You of course want to look your best in pictures, therefore you want a good make up application that is applied properly and guaranteed to stay. If doing your make up yourself on the day, you may want to consider using a primer or a setting spray. Otherwise make sure you have a good pressed powder with you so that you can deal with any shine that may occur during the day. Use a waterproof liner and mascara! If you are working with a stylist, insist that they use a waterproof product wherever possible. Also choose a good lip product that is going to stay. Try one out before the day to check it is going to last and have the lipstick to hand throughout the day for touch ups. Lipstick and Curls would love to discuss your special day further. Why not get in touch so we can offer more advice and tips on your chosen hair and make up style. Amanda x Lipstick and Curls www.lipstickandcurls.net

Photography by Dale Weeks My Beautiful Bride

A bride, a beach and a photographer captured by StĂŠphanie Fairweather

The purpose of the shoot was to be inspirational, I wanted to create beautiful portraits of a bride in a very simple, natural and minimalistic way. The beach provided the perfect empty background offering lovely tones of pastels of blues and beige. The weather was perfect (although also a bit challenging) as it supplied buckets of bright sun with clear sky, but then also clouds and tons of wind. This was the ideal time to use different lighting techniques mixing natural light and flash. The wind offered lovely floaty images of the veil and the brides hair. The dress that the model wore is in fact my own wedding dress, a 14 year old 2 piece ivory chiffon gown from Amanda Wyatt, bought for my summer wedding in France in July 2002. A strapless bodice and a fishtail skirt that I had altered 2 weeks before the wedding to accentuate the fishtail effect a little more. The veil is one I bought from a charity shop the day before the shoot! I thought that a cathedral length veil would work well with this simple gown (this is also a veil similar to the one I wore on my wedding day and I felt every bit of the (modern) princess without the frills). I asked Alice not to wear any jewellery and wanted her to have loose hair. The order of the day was ‘less is more’. We kept the make up minimal, we removed all jewellery and I decided at the last minute to leave

Out the bouquet and headpieces.

The location I chose was the beautiful beach of

Frinton-On-Sea in Essex. We had just under 2 hours before the tide came in. It was a little rushed to set up the equipment and search for the best spot, so although I had a certain type and number of images I wanted to get, I improvised and reviewed the brief last minute. After all this is what I am used to doing with real weddings, time is of essence and sometimes the time we allocated for certain images just isn't there, this is when thinking and working fast are key. These could well be images from an elopement, where couples opt for a simple downsized small event at a location of their choice. I can just imagine the couple getting married on the beach and opting for couple portraits at sunset - me, them and the sea - just before retiring to a beautiful little hotel on the coast with a room with a view. Photography: Stéphanie from Fairweather Photography Ltd www.fairweatherphotography.co.uk Model: Alice Wright Gown: Amanda Wyatt www.amandawyatt.com Location: Frinton-On-Sea, Essex

'Oh look how cute these are!' I hear you cry. 'They must be so tricky to make! Can someone as uncreative as me make these?' (Ok, this might just be me. But the answer is still yes.) Heart-shaped teabags are an absolute winner – an easy project, super customisable and versatile too. You could make them as a way of asking your besties to be bridesmaids, as favours for your guests, as part of your invites or you could incorporate them into the place settings of the day itself. They lend themselves well to having tea themed sayings:

Love is brewing! Just my cup of tea The perfect blend are just a few of our favourites! Play around with different teas and the world is your oyster – though fruity ones give the nicest pinky-red!

To make these you will need: Paper Tea filters Loose leaf tea, any flavour Needle Thread (Optional: Card & glue)

Draw a heart on your tea filter. Remember, your teabag will puff out a bit once it has tea in it, so don’t make it tiny! Make sure both layers of the filter paper are in the same place, and cut your heart out. That way you cut both of them at the same time! Begin to sew them together around the edge, leaving about 0.5 cm between the stitching and the edge of the heart. It’s good to start somewhere near the top, on the side. There’s nothing magical about this: backstitch will do just fine. (So you do a stitch as normal, as you would running stitch, but when you get to the space in between the two stitches, instead of just continuing on, your next stitch is to fill that gap – so it will go back into the hole from the last stitch it made.)

Stop before you get fully around! You need to leave about 3cm of space – then use this space to teaspoon your tea leaves in. (A a teaspoon is a recommended serving of loose leaf tea.) Continue to sew this gap together, coming back to where you began. You’ve made your teabag, well done! The reason it’s good to start at the side is so that, if you want to, you can leave a string to strain it with. To do this, leave some of the thread trailing. It looks super cute if you glue a little bit of card onto the end of the free end of the thread, for something to grab onto! Now all that is left to do is spread the tea love! Written by Ellie Kime

What are your favourite trends for this season and/or year? I am very taken with the 3D applique flowers that have been featured in many of the Spring 2016 wedding dress and veil designs. Jenny Packham, Ralph & Russo and Mira Zwillinger have all opted to pretty up their collections with this simple but effective addition. I’m so taken with it as a feature, I’ve decided that my next lace-making project will be to design and make a delicate lace flower to be used in one of my Glorious 2016 designs.

If you could handmake only one component of your wedding, which bit would you choose?

A hair accessory of course! A handcrafted accessory is literally the crowning glory of your wedding day look. It can transform a pretty up-do into something that catches the eye and truly reflects your style, be that romantic, vintage, glamorous, or quirky. A hand made accessory, differs from one bought ‘off the peg’ in that elements of it can be designed to compliment other aspects of your look. Many of my brides will bring me the sash from their gown to work from when designing a piece that is perfect for them, or they’ll share the close up detailing on the

What is your favourite part of the entire wedding process?

Many of my brides opt for a private consultation with me, in my Cheshire studio, ahead of commissioning me to design their wedding hair accessory. These consultations never fail to be an exciting, rewarding, and fruitful part of the design process. It is very special, and I feel so humbled, each time a bride takes the time to visit me to share her ideas, pour over Pinterest boards, show me pictures of her dress, and chat hairstyles over a cuppa, or over something chilled and bubbly! To be invited into a bride’s world and her planning is almost as good as planning your own wedding all over again!

shoulder or bodice of their dress to inspire something that compliments their gown to perfection. The other beauty of having your accessory hand made, is that there are opportunities to share the piece with the bride before completion, to add or take away from the design, to ensure that when completed itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perfect, and makes a brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart skip a beat when she peeks inside the tissue lined box it nestles in!

What's your ultimate advice for our crafty brides?

Handcrafting elements of your wedding should be a fun and relaxing way of adding an intimate and personal element to your wedding day, not something that leaves you frazzled and stressed out as you burn the midnight oil to complete your crafty projects in time. To keep things fun, find out who amongst your family and friends might have creative skills you could recruit to bring your projects to life, and arrange a few sessions with them where you provide coffee, cake and music, and they provide the help you need to bring your projects to life in plenty of time! Discover more from Heidi at www.glorioustiaras.co.uk

Photography: Coral & Stone Photography

in painting the picture - can you really do it on your own? What help do you need? Do you access to the level and type of help you need?

6. Be Open To Flexibility But Don't Be Forced To Compromise

1. Talk Money

Before you buy or book anything or visit any venues, agree and decide on your budget envelope. This is so important - all of your wedding planning decisions will depend on it - when you want to get married, where, who you want to invite, the style, the size of your wedding party, the list goes on. Be clear how much and from where and understand if any contributions come with 'strings or conditions attached or expectations.

2. Be You

Remember who you are and choose a wedding style that suits you - if you're comfortable with formality and formal is what you're looking for that's fine, but don't be pressured into opting for a style that just doesn't reflect who you are. This goes for choosing your suppliers too!

Remember it's your wedding day and as I've already said BE YOU. Don't be pressured into choosing something you really don't want (for example, suppliers or venues encouraging you to choose something that you don't really want because ''it comes as part of the package". Keep in mind your Must Haves and Don't Wants.

7. Look After Yourselves!

By all means enjoy your wedding planning and have fun but try not to get too obsessed with wedding planning - (I know that sounds a little strange coming from a wedding planner!) but you should take regular breaks from your plans to spend time with each other - enjoy being engaged rather than just seeing it as a gap between being single and married! Written by Benessamy Wedding and Event Planning www.benessamy.co.uk

3. Identify your 'must haves' & 'don't wants'

If you were buying a house you would have a clear idea of the area you want to live in, your budget and maybe a list of the Yes and No's - number of bedrooms, dining kitchen, good transport links into the city etc. The same applies to planning your wedding - if you want to get married and have your reception in the same venue, want accommodation on site for your guests or just for your wedding party, or don't want to have guests staying at the venue....set all of these requirements out on your list of Must Haves / Don't Wants.

4. Be Inspired

There are lots of fabulous wedding blogs like And so to Wed, the treasure trove of inspiration that is Pinterest, wedding shows and of course, wedding magazines, books and recommendations or referrals from friends, family and venue recommendations. However, be careful! Don't get distracted away from the type and style of wedding that YOU want.

5. Make A To Do List

This will help you with what you need to do and by when. It's important to be organised but also be realistic about the time and the skills you have. If the 'blank canvas' wedding appeals to you - in maybe a marquee or tipi or a church or village hall - do your homework to find out what will actually be involved

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Simon and Louise share their beautifully relaxed 'no theme' themed wedding

On 23 July 2015 Simon and Louise said 'I do' at a beautifully relaxed celebration at Oaks Farm, Surrey. Today they share their wedding with you. 'I did my make up with rusty, bronze and gold colours. It was very subtle but the colours were like those in a sunset, to go with our nature theme. I bought my shoes from Topshop. They are flat, emerald, sparkly loafers and were so comfy to wear all day. I always see brides taking their heels off after about an hour so think heels are sometimes a waste of money! I never wear heels, ever, so I wasn't going to start now. The bridesmaids dresses came from ASOS and were much nicer than any bridesmaid dress I found in a wedding shop. Go high street! We loved having our ceremony and reception in the same venue, a church wedding never appealed to us so Oaks Farm was perfect as it has the most beautiful chapel inspired ceremony room. We chose to cut the cake before dinner as everyone is always half cut by the end of dinner and it meant we could have our cake as dessert. My favourite part of the day was walking down the aisle and seeing my fiancĂŠ at the end. I got so emotional as it all suddenly felt real and having all of my friends and family there to see was just incredible. Also the speeches and readings were amazing, they were definitely a highlight.'

'We didn't really have a theme but we wanted everything to be really natural and were influenced by the colours you find in nature. We got engaged in Norway where there is a lot of woodland, lakes and green - I think that inspired us a lot. We had wooden holders for our candles and place name holders and the flowers in the bouquets were white roses, peonies and yellow roses. The bridesmaids dresses were a floral pattern to fit with the "no theme theme" and they all looked beautiful. We love travelling as a couple and so our tables were named after our favourite places, all tables came with personalised menus with stories about the places we had visited. My husband came up with that idea and people loved it. Our favours were mini bottles of alcohol you buy on planes which went down a treat. We also had subtle nautical symbols in our invites, we got engaged on a lake so we wanted to subtly get that in there too. I asked one of my university lecturers if he could supply me with a photobooth. When you look at the photos after the day it gives you an insight into the amount of alcohol people drank! And it gives your guests another favour they will actually keep.

We bought our wedding rings on holiday and got them made and shipped over. They are made from Canadian gold and I love Canada so that was another personal touch. We bought our own booze, if I can give one tip then find a venue with no corkage and buy from a stockist. It saved us a lot of money. Our advice would be: - To get a good photographer. I can't explain how important it was for us to have Alline from Beatrici Photography. She was incredible. - Don't worry about canapes, people will appreciate the free booze more. - It isn't important that the bridesmaids wear the same shoes, you will not care on the day. - Do your own make up. I did mine, my mum's, my sister's and one of my bridesmaids. You will spend hundreds of pounds on someone doing it for you but if you do it yourself you will be able to keep all the products and top it up on the day. If you are worried you can't do it then just practice loads beforehand. - Invite everyone you want. Even if it stretches you a bit, you won't care on the day. - Search wholesale for decoration. Shops will charge you an absolute bomb. - Get as many friends to help you as possible with setting up. It helps. - Get it filmed. It may cost a few quid but it is the one thing all my friends who got married before me told me they regretted. Just do it, you will forget some things after the day and watching it back is the best thing. - YSL waterproof black mascara is your best friend! We'd like to thank all our friends and family for making it the most perfect wedding day.' With thanks to: Photographer: Beatrici Photography Wedding dress designer - Rembo Styling Wedding cakes - Patisserie Valerie Flowers - Carla Allen Music - Gayle Rodriguez Hair - Ross McLaughlan Videographer - Stolen Hearts Productions Shoes - Topshop

The hen party activity is always a bit of a dilemma. While dance classes, cocktail shaking and karaoke are still firm favourites and a fairly safe bet for some fun clucking action, sometimes a bit of a risk can go a long way to really impressing the bride-to-be and her besties. After all, while baking bread and milking cows might have been a good craic the first time around, three hens later it might not quite have the same appeal. So, if you want to blow away your party, here’s five cool hen party activities that will keep everyone happy and wow the bride. NOTE! We have launched a new hen party booking marketplace on myhenplanner.co.uk where you can book some of the activities listed below directly with cool hen party businesses for a personal touch and no extra cost. 1. Suite Dreams How about booking a fancy hotel suite and having a girls’ night in! Wildfox have put the cool in girls night in. We think your bride-to-be would just love a cosy evening filled with glam pjs, bubbles, movies, popcorn, pizza and chocolate. This is the perfect opportunity to play lots of fun games. Check out our favourite the wedding dress game here. Bring her right back to her childhood with pass the parcel (hen party style!) or the panty game (always gets the giggles going). Fill her a scrapbook full of tearjerking and funny memories from all the years you have known each other. And most of all, appreciate how, sometimes, the simpler you keep a hen party, the better it is. After all, a sleepover will always be girly fun at its best. Hen Planner Tip Team the night in with My Hero Life Drawing, hotness without the nakedness! If hunky men in leotards and tights with pants over the top are your thing, then this workshop is for you! Get arty and draw a buff model decked out as superman, cupid, a cowboy or the hero of your choice. 2. Vintage picnic in the park Food ALWAYS tastes better outside, especially when the sun is shining! So pack your granny’s best picnic

basket to the brim with some amazing treats; we’re talking the good stuff here – bubbly, strawberries, chocolate and some cucumber sandwiches for good measure; and have a banquet on the grass. Don’t forget to check out The Hen Planner Boutique for pretty vintage napkins, plates and cups. Hen Planner Tip Why not go all out and dress up for the occasion. Pick a decade and go searching in charity shops for some cool clobber or book fun hen party vintage makeovers beforehand to make it extra special. Alternatively team it with a creative vintage hen party activity like Granny Crochet or bunting making. All activities mentioned are available in the UK via our new platform myhenplanner.co.uk where you can book directly with cool hen party businesses for a personal touch with no extra cost. 3. DIY scavenger hunt Trust me girls, the best hen party I’ve ever been to included one of these. And to say there were tears of laughter is an understatement. We’re talking floods! The bridesmaids drew up a list of challenges and divided the group into teams. Each team had to complete these challenges in public in a set amount of time, and best of all, we had to film everything for a big screening when we all met back at our hotel base. The challenges included, to name a few, pretending there was an earthquake, running through Primark and diving behind some clothes rails while singing the Mission Impossible theme tune, giving one of your team members a piggy back through a petrol station and pretending to fill up, getting into a shop window and doing your best mannequin pose, borrowing a hoover and reading a romantic poem to a builder up some scaffolding….I could go on, these girls had great imaginations! Hen Planner Tip Make sure you give the bride something special so that people know she is extra special on the day, a sash, a tiara, a wand, whatever she'd like. There is a cool range of hen party accessories available in The Hen Planner Boutique.

4. The DIY Bride Here at The Hen Planner we love a gal who likes a bit of the extraordinary. So why not give your brideto-be a hen party where she can put her flair for make ‘n’ do to good use. Even better, her girls could help her put together something special for the Big Day (or Big Night!) itself. Craft workshops are really enjoyable as it’s a good chatting session and everyone comes away having learned something new and made something AWESOME! Hen Planner Tip The bride may have already sent out her invites, but lino printing shows you how to create a stamp which could give the bride the perfect keepsake to use on her Thank You cards. OR is it just me or are all girls a fan of a corset? Everyone looks fab in one of these and you can't help but feel utterly glamorous (eh, honeymoon!) Book your corset making hen party here. You’ll also find lace knickers, funky head dresses, bra customising, garter workshops and a whole lot more crazy fun on myhenplanner.co.uk 5. Festival Road Trip Nothing spells lots of laughs like a girly road trip (think Thelma and Louise but better!), so why not hit the road to one of the music festivals taking place this summer. Take a look at this list for all the UK festivals this summer. If a festival is out of budget create your own and plan a glamping weekend. We all know about glamping but how many of you have actually done it? You still get to gaze up at the stars and munch on some tasty BBQ treats and at the end of the day there’s a comfy bed waiting for you in your luxury tent or pod. Bliss! And there is something really cool and free about being in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of friends roughing it. Hen Planner Tip If you really want to put the GLAM into a festival road trip or glamping, book a flower crown workshop and go boho style for your stay. To add a festival touch, our flash tattoos are an awesome accessory. Written by The Hen Planner www.thehenplanner-boutique.com

My name's Victoria and I set up my business, Victoria Edwards Make-Up, six years ago, after training at the Jemma Kidd Academy in London in Professional MakeUp Artistry and Bridal Make-Up Artistry. I have a love of make-up that goes far beyond simple aesthetics, and believe the way a person looks can really affect the way they feel. I'm privileged to be able to help ladies look their best on their wedding days, for their boudoir shoots, during their make-up lessons and for their hen parties. I use only the best products including NARS, MAC, Illamasqua, Chanel, Lipstick Queen and Laura Mercier to name but a few.

When she's happy with the final look, I write down all of the products I've used on a face chart so that on the day it's simple and straightforward. So many of my brides have said they love this part of the day, just sitting quietly amidst all the hustle and bustle and excitement and being pampered. Trials for Mums/bridesmaids can be useful too although they are by no means compulsory – I'm happy to just turn up on the day and do their makeup. I decant lipstick into small pots with lip wands for all those having their make-up done, so they look perfect all day. I can tailor hen party sessions to suit their requirements, whether that be just having their make-up done for their night out or incorporating a lesson into it as well. Whatever the format, it's always good fun! The make-up lessons work similarly, whether it be learning how to create a smoky eye and trying out lots of different lip colours, or learning how to do a quick five to ten minute make-up for work – it's entirely up to you! The boudoir shoots involve getting in a studio with a photographer and trying out lots of different looks, usually starting with a natural make-up for the first few headshots, then getting progressively more dramatic with each outfit and set change. They are a fabulous opportunity to have fun and really celebrate being a woman! Having always loved make-up, I feel so fortunate to have made it my career. I adore applying natural, flawless, longlasting make-up that leaves you still looking like you, just at your most fabulous! Although that's not to say that if you want something more dramatic I can't help you out... I love the rapport I build up with my clients and feel so honoured to work with them, particularly on their wedding day – it really is so special. I'll leave you with one of my favourite quotes, by Calvin Klein: “The best thing is to look natural, but it takes make-up to look natural”. Discover more from Victoria Edwards at www.facebook.com/victoriaedwardsmakeup

To explain a little of how it all works, I always recommend a trial for the bride which can take place in my luxurious designated make-up room at home, or at her house. We discuss the look she would like – she's welcome to bring pictures – then I create it for her.

Our contributors Jess Pertrie Photography www.jesspetrie.com Andrea Pennington Photographer www.andrea-pennington.com Lowri Pendrell Photography www.lowripendrell.com Amy Swann Cakes www.amyswanncakes.co.uk LoveLi www.loveli.co.uk Coral & Stone Photography www.coralandstone.co.uk Alison Jenner www.alisonjennerhair.com Ms Moo Makeup www.msmoomakeup.com Giling & White www.gilingandwhitebridal.co.uk Model Students www.modelstudents.co.uk Michele Gledhill www.michelegledhill.co.uk Pompom Blossom www.pompomblossom.com Creative Cakerie www.creativecakerie.co.uk Zoe Ruth Designs www.zoeruthdesigns.co.uk Florrie and Eve www.nadiaditullio.com Brigdens www.brigdens.com Darby & Joan www.darbyandjoanvintage.co.uk Abingdon Registry Office www.oxfordshire.gov.uk The White Hart www.whitehart-fyfield.com The Rectory Hotel www.therectoryhotel.com Bride to Be www.bridetobe.co.uk Essence of Australia www.essensedesigns.com Tom Weller www.tomwellerphotography.com Confetti Cones www.confetti-cones.co.uk The Bloom Room www.thebloomroom.co.uk Flowers by Passion www.flowersbypassion.com

Our contributors Katie Jane Whitlock www.katiejanewhitlock.co.uk Katie Burt www.katieburtmakeup.co.uk Cotswolds Vintage Party Hire www.cotswoldsvintagepartyhire.co.uk Heidi Lawton at Extra Special Touch www.extraspecialtouch.co.uk Lipstick and Curls www.lipstickandcurls.net Dale Weeks www.daleweeksphotography.co.uk My Beautiful Bride www.mybeautifulbride.co.uk Fairweather Photography Ltd www.fairweatherphotography.co.uk Alice Wright Amanda Wyatt www.amandawyatt.com Glorious Tiaras www.glorioustiaras.co.uk Benessamy Wedding and Event Planning www.benessamy.co.uk Beatrici Photography www.beatriciphotography.co.uk Rembo Styling www.rembo-styling.com Patisserie Valerie www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk Carla Allen Gayle Rodriguez Ross McLaughlan Stolen Hearts Productions www.stolen-hearts.co.uk Topshop www.topshop.com The Hen Planner www.thehenplanner-boutique.com Victoria Edwards www.facebook.com/victoriaedwardsmakeup Savon Claire www.savonclaire.co.uk