Getting Married? Beauty Preparations You Need to Make

October 26, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

Wedding Beauty and Wedding Makeup Tips

wedding makeupHave you recently been engaged? If you have, have you started planning your wedding yet? If you haven’t, you will want to get started with the planning soon. Even if you have already started planning your wedding, have you made all of your beauty preparations yet? Beauty preparation are an important part of planning a wedding, if not the most important part. For that reason, you will want to start making your beauty arrangements right away.

When it comes to beauty preparations for your wedding, you will find that are a number of different steps that you will need to take. First of all, you may want to decide how you would like your hair and wedding makeup to be done. If you are also interested in having your bridesmaids’ hair be all the same, you may want to think about planning out their hair styles as well. If you find yourself having a difficult time doing so, you may want to think about hiring the services of a beauty consultant or making “testing,” appointments at your local beauty or hair salon.

Speaking of a beauty or hair salon, if you need to make appointments for you and the rest of your wedding party to get your hair done, you will want to make your appointments in advance. If your wedding is scheduled for “wedding season,” you will want to make your appointments as soon as possible, especially if you have your heart set on getting your hair done at a particular salon. Smaller salons can only handle one wedding party at a time.

In addition to getting your hair done on your wedding day, you may also be interested in getting your nails done or having your makeup professionally applied. If you are interested in getting your makeup professionally applied, you will likely have your wedding makeup done right after your hair is. As for your nails, you may be required to make an appointment in the days leading up to the wedding. If you or your bridesmaids need nail touchups, they can be done at the last minute.

Although you hope that everything will go well on your wedding day, you will want to prepare for the unexpected. In terms of beauty and fashion, the unexpected may include a tear in your dress or the dress one of your bridesmaids, a stain, or too much sweating. For that reason, you may want to think about having an emergency beauty bag on hand and with you at all times during your wedding, particularly before the ceremony takes place. Many times, the maid of honor will be responsible for coming up with such a bag, but you still may want to make sure that it is done.

As for the items that should go inside an emergency beauty bag, you may want to stock it full of anything that you think you or your bridesmaids may need. Items that you will definitely want to include in an emergency beauty bag include wedding makeup, deodorant, hand lotion, hairspray or hair gel, a brush, a comb, extra bobby pins, a small sewing kit, and emergency stain removing chemicals. Having these types of items and more inside an emergency beauty bag will reduce the number of unexpected events that may end up hampering your wedding day.

The above mentioned beauty preparation tips are just a few of the many that you will want to make. In fact, beauty preparation tips are just a few of the plans and arrangements that you will have to make. For instance, you will need to choose a venue for your wedding reception, a band or a DJ, a wedding cake, and so forth. With all of the preparations and arrangements that need to be made, you may want to think about hiring the services of a professional wedding planner or at least buying a wedding planning guide, which will hopefully include a detailed checklist for you.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

A new Generation Of Wedding Flowers

July 27, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

It is not your mother’s wedding, so quit worrying about doing almost everything her way. This is actually a time for you to express your individual taste and style. So what if she never ever would have dreamed of carrying “fake” flowers in her bridal bouquet. In her generation fake flowers were plastic. Naturally she wouldn’t have utilised them!

This can be a new generation and silk wedding flowers are the rage! Not merely have “fake” flowers evolved in leaps and bounds, but they’ve also grow to be really well-known as alternatives to fresh flowers for wedding bouquets, flower girl baskets, corsages and boutonnieres. From the exquisite cascading bridal bouquet towards the simplistic hand-tied wedding bouquet, silk wedding flowers lend themselves to each style imaginable!

Elegant silk calla lilies appear beautiful, whether or not cascading downward intermingled with ivy, or when in a hand-tied bridal bouquet. Silk roses in a rainbow of colors combine nicely having a selection of other flowers in a clutch bridal bouquet or in a cascading wedding bouquet. The appear is so close to that of fresh flowers that many people will by no means even know the distinction. But your checkbook will!

Buying silk wedding flower packages is what numerous intelligent brides are performing. Eliminating the tension of last-minute florist mix-ups, ordering your silk wedding flower sets from 1 with the on-line merchants is handy and cost-effective. With packages beginning under $300, silks have created wedding flowers inexpensive.

Beware of low-quality silks, even so. Be sure that you are finding top-of-the-line silk flowers if you would like to fool everybody that they’re actual. Good quality silk wedding flowers are so realistic that men and women will desire to smell your bridal bouquet! To fool them, attempt spritzing your wedding bouquets with rose oil or one more floral fragrance.

Flower girl baskets can carry a stationary arrangement or an assortment of silk rose petals to be scattered down the aisle for the bride to walk upon. Walking on rose petals is symbolic of each beauty and of the bride walking down the path of a brand new life that’s about to begin. One more alternative for the flower girl is for her to carry a silk floral pomander. The flowers can match those inside the bridal bouquet and your small flower girl will look adorable swinging her lovely pomander to and fro as she heads down the aisle. This is specially conducive to quite young flower girls.

The ring bearer’s pillow has an option at the same time. A fabric covered ring box might be carried down the aisle by your young attendant. This is actually a far more contemporary look for the ring bearer, who typically balks at carrying a lacy pillow.

In lieu of standard corsages, contemplate giving the particular females in the wedding tiny hand-tied bouquets for them to carry. With today’s flimsier fabrics, pin on corsages are at times too bulky to wear. Nonetheless, by making use of silk flowers, the weight of the corsages is drastically decreased. Possibly you could point that out as a benefit to your mother as you gently remind her — this is not her wedding right after all.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

How To Hold A Wedding Without Going Over-Budget

July 16, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

If you’re planning a wedding it’s tempting to go all out and spend money on extras that seem vital at the time. Later, when the bills come in, you may regret that you spent so much. You’ll find that it’s important to set a budget and stick to it as closely as you can, before and after the wedding.

Everyone likes to have nice things but you don’t always have to spend a fortune to get something worthwhile. It’s all a matter of perspective and remembering what’s important in life.

Let’s discuss one of the most important expenditures in the wedding – the wedding dress. True, the wedding dress will only be worn for a few hours on one day, but it’s something that everyone will remember. A bride wants to look her best on her special day so the dress may be something worth spending a considerable amount on. However, there are ways to save, even on a wedding dress. If you shop wisely, you can get a lot for your money. Look around, compare prices and quality.

Online shopping is always an option. A simple search will bring up numerous bridal stores and individual sellers. To save money, you may want to allocate the most money for the dress and borrow or forgo a veil. No one will probably see your shoes under your dress so, that could be one area where you can cut costs.

Scaling back on your wedding accessories is a great way to keep your wedding budget in control. There are many traditional wedding accessories that can be borrowed, rented or eliminated and save you money.

Let’s discuss your wedding jewelry. The only diamonds necessary are the rings. The bride’s necklace and earrings can be something less costly like pearls or gemstones. They are beautiful and can be worn on many occasions.

Another cost saving tips is to shop for your wedding needs in the off season. If you’re getting married in the summer, try looking through last summer’s dresses when they’re on sale in the fall. You can get some great discounts that way. Another cost saver is to shop sample sales.

It may take a little extra effort to shop for wedding discounts but it can save you a lot in the end. It will help you stay on budget so you won’t start your married life in debt.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Choosing the Right Music for Your Wedding

July 4, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

These days, more couples are being married outside the traditional church type of setting. Whether it be on a sunny beach in the Caribbean, or in a garden at a banquet facility, with this change, couples are putting their own unique spin on all aspects of the ceremony including the music being played.

When planning your wedding day, you have to consider the following four musical sections:

1. The Prelude:
The prelude music sets a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere for your guests. Ideally, this type of music selection should lend to a happy, yet expectant atmosphere for what will take place. The prelude can be either classical music, perhaps Latin guitar or a even a compilation of romantic toned songs by your own favorite artists. Plan the prelude to begin about 1/2 hour before the ceremony begins.

2. The processionals for the Bridesmaids & the Bride:
The music for the processional consists of usually two, but sometimes only one, instrumental piece. The processional is the showpiece music when guests and bridegroom will see the bride for the first time in her beautiful gown. We do not see much customizing when it comes to the choice of processional music. The most popular selections are

* Traditional Bridesmaids’ Procession: Canon in D by Pachelbel
* Traditional Bridal Procession: Bridal Chorus by Wagner

A few Alternative Choices might be:
* Air on a G String by Bach
* Spring (Four Seasons) by Vivaldi
* Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach
* Largo by Vivaldi
* Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke
* Water Music by Handel

Quite a few brides also still choose to use the Traditional Bridesmaids’ Processional for themselves, and another separate piece of music for their bridesmaids. But should the wedding party consist only of the bride and a maid (or matron) of honor, then they often will walk down the aisle with the same music.

A few important pointers to keep in mind: If you pick a vocal piece of music for the processional, either for the Bride or for the Bridesmaids, it is unlikely that you will not hear much of the song, and some many cases, perhaps only the introduction. In our years of experience we have noticed that no matter how many times you and your bridal party time coming down the aisle at just the right speed duuing the rehearsal, it always seem that on the actual wedding day, that everyone moves a little bit quicker, and often the bride is down the aisle in 45 to 60 seconds, and add in an average 30 seconds per bridesmaid. Therefore, it’s wisdom to choose the song accordingly to its length.

3.The Signing of the Register:
We like to recommend an extra slow song that is suggestive of the reception to follow for music at the .
signing of the register. With the time taking usually about just over four minutes on average, then if you factor in time for photographs and the time it takes for the couple to sign the marriage license, you will have enough time to hear at least one song, if not two. With this, you have an opportunity to bring something a little special to your ceremony.

A Pew Popular Music Choces for the Signing of the Register:

Modern Songs:
* All I Ask of You by Andrew Lloyd Webber
* Blue Moon by Rod Stewart
* Come What May by Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman
* Evergreen by Barbra Streisand
* Falling by Alicia Keys
* From this Moment by Shania Twain
* Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart
* Heaven (Candlelight Version) by DJ Sammy
* I Only Want to Be With You by Vonda Shepherd
* Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
* Michelle by the Beatles
* Moon River by Andy Williams
* Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole
* She by Elvis Costello
* Story Book Love by Mark Knopfler
* There is Love by Noel Paul Stookey
* Truly, Madly, Deeply by Savage Garden

Traditional songs:
* Ava Maria (Too many artists to list)
* Air (from Water Music) by Handel
* Clair de Lune by Debussy
* Chanson de Matin by Elgar
* Fur Elise by Beethoven
* Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach
* Minuet by Boccherini
* Morning (from Peer Gynt Suite No.1) by Grieg
* Prelude in C by Bach
* Variations by Handel

4. Music for the Recessional:
Couples now often are having a bit of fun with their musical selection for the recessional, and try to choose music that makes a statement about their relationship. We have seen clients leave to every type of song such as Happy Together by the Turtles, Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, Highway to Hell by AC/DC and Another One Bites the Dust by Queen. So, don’t be afraid to pick a piece that you can dance to, or at least bop back down the aisle. After all, it is the happiest day in your lives beginning a journey as as newlyweds. It is your time to celebrate! It is your wedding day and after all your hard work leading up to the big event, it’s time to enjoy the moment now that you are Husband and Wife. Your guests will talk about it and remember it for a long, long time.

Traditional Wedding Recessional:
* Wedding March by Mendelssohn
* Fun & Up Beat Recessionals:
* All You Need is Love by the Beatles
* Beautiful Day by U2
* Better Together by Jack Johnson
* Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe by Barry White
* Could You Be Loved by Bob Marley
* Everything by Michael Buble
* Happy Together by the Turtles
* I’m A Believer by Smash Mouth
* Let’s Get Married Remix by Jagged Edge
* Love Me Do by the Beatles
* My Girl by the Temptations
* Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole
* Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder
* Sugar Sugar by the Archie’s
* You’re My First, My Last, My Everything by Barry White

Remember:
With the advent of YouTube and the huge number of wedding music websites and CD’s has come numerous versions of the traditional music used for wedding ceremonies so make sure you specify exactly which one you are referring to when speaking with your entertainment supplier.

Want to find out more about planning a wedding in York Region, then visit Newmarket DJ Robert Hawkins at his Web site for more how to choose the best music for your Wedding event.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Top four Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer

June 26, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

Big wedding parties in times of economic difficulties are not sustainable, which is why a growing number of couples decide in favor of small romantic weddings abroad: the parents and the in-laws, the good company of the best man and maid of honor for a different wedding somewhere in the world.

Hiring a local wedding planner will relieve you of many tasks and make things easier and enjoyable: sit back and relax, plan places to see and things to do on your honeymoon.

Why is Italy such a popular wedding destination? Because of the variety of places it offers, as well as the choice in terms of wedding locations: the eternal city (Rome), the renaissance of Florence and Tuscany, the romance of the Amalfi Coast or Capri just to name few.

A Key aspect of getting married in Italy is choosing the right wedding photographer

It is customary for the wedding planner to propose one or more wedding photographers as part of the standard service.

Italy has so much to offer – there are so many ideal places to take photos it makes perfect sense to seek a top professional wedding photographer and save elsewhere – your wedding photo album should look its best.

4 Essential Elements you Need to Consider to Find the Right Photographer

Find Wedding Photos You Like Most and Bookmark Them

Your wedding photographer should have a significant online presence, a sign of international exposure essential for any couple getting married in Italy: a website written in poor English is most likely a signal of poor language skills which could make it very difficult to communicate properly before and after the wedding.

Use Google Images and Flickr For More Information and Wedding Photos

Start with Google.com and run a generic query for “wedding photos” and Google will suggest a limited number of thumbnail shots – if you click on one of them you’ll be taken to Google Images where you can explore the universe of wedding photos Google has indexed and identified – do the same on Flickr.

Flickr is probably the best photo sharing portal there is online today with a very passionate community and so many photos to view and comment.

Flick is a unique blend of Interaction and conversations all focused on photography, making this Social Media a world famous vertical, a reference point for photographers, both professional and amateurs alike.

Wedding Forums

If you’ve ever researched anything on the web you know how important forums can be to solve problems and learn what other people are saying about products and services.

There are hundreds of wedding forums on the web – simply search for “wedding forums” and find the wedding photography category : there will be plenty to read and learn.

When Was the Last Time They Won a Wedding Photography Contest?

Seek “wedding photography contests” and see if any one of your favorite photographers is listed as a winner or (at least) a finalist.

You’ll notice how most top professionals will be listed in these events – a clear signal these are the best and also the most expensive to have for your wedding day

Bonding with the Photographer

The personality and attitude of the photographer are very important: by reading blogs and forums you’ll get to know approach and style.

Read testimonials on wedding photographers but keep in mind how opinions may differ significantly from person to person.

You’re nearly there by now, with a short-list of candidate photographers compiled after hours of relentless research – how do you make the pick? Send them all an Email. Send the same request to all candidates at the same time: Who replied first? What was the level of detail? Was the information provided adequate? Did it put you in a position to fully understand services provided and costs? What were your feelings when you read the replies? Which reply gave the best impression? Now it’s up to you!

For the Perfect Wedding Italy contact Carlo Carletti andAssociates at weddingphotos.it, Professional Wedding Photographers for Luxury wedding ceremonies in Exclusive Locations throughout Italy. Carlo Carletti is an award winning Top Wedding Photographer based in Tuscany operating internationally

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Wedding Cakes

June 25, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

Nearly every family or social occasion includes the consumption of food and the imbibing or liquids in the celebration. Think of Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings. In this article, I would like to speak about that centre piece of any wedding reception: the wedding cake.

The guests come to eat, drink and be merry and the bride’s parents always put a great deal of effort into the preparation for the wedding party. The wedding cake is the focal point of the top table and the whole function in general. The wedding cake has traditional importance and it is usually thought bad luck not to have a piece of the wedding cake.

There are specific rules for the timing of the cutting of the wedding cake that have become part of tradition. For example, if the wedding reception takes place at lunch or dinner, it is traditional to cut the wedding cake just before the sweet is served.

However, if the reception is to take place in the late afternoon or early evening, the cake is served as soon as the guests arrive. In some traditions the bride and groom cut and eat the first slice together as a symbol of their vows to love, honour and obey each other. The remainder of the cake is generally cut by one of the assistants, like the maid of honour or a family relative.

It can be quite hard to choose the wedding cake. Traditionally, people opt for a white cake with white icing for weddings, however nowadays, people are becoming more adventurous and are picking more exotic flavours and colours.

Some couples prefer to have a wedding cake which has different flavours on each layer. While white icing is still the overwhelming favourite, people do order other colours like pink and yellow. Chocolate and mocha are also prevalent. These days you can have what you like. It is your day, after all.

Everyone likes the wedding reception. It is the favourite part of the wedding day and everyone looks forward to seeing the cake cut and sharing it with the bride and groom.

If you are thinking about becoming a cake decorator, you have a couple of options to go about it. You could buy a book or a course or get a video in order to teach yourself how to decorate cakes from the simple to the elaborate. You could also go to a night school class to learn the art or cake decoration.

Without a doubt, the very best way to learn cake decorating is to take a class. DVD’s, videos, and books are all well and good, but you cannot converse with them or ask questions. If you take a class for three months or more you will learn more and get a more profound understanding of the art of cake decoration. You will learn how to put real feeling into the decoration of the cake and you will be able to translate the wedding couple’s desires into a cake that you and they can be proud of.

If you are interested in a Welsh gold wedding ring, or Wales in general, go to our website at Welsh Products Online

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Surrey Wedding Make-up Steps

June 23, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

As the big ceremony approaches a lot of the bride’s thoughts concern how she will look on the wedding day.  The outward appearance is a major aspect of any wedding and wedding makeup plays a great role in the overall bridal outfit and there are several steps that need to be followed to when applying wedding makeup.

Face Preparation

  • The face has to be properly cleaned and moisturized before the application process and make sure that the moisturizer used is specific to your skin type.
  • The next step is to pick out the right foundation that will go with the tone of your skin. In case you are having a summer wedding, consider using   water resistant foundation.  It is also important to use foundation that is streak-proof to prevent makeup lines from showing.

Wedding Makeup for the Eyes

  • Make sure that the area to be applied with make-up is hydrated using cream and then apply neutral eye shadow on the eyelid and on the lash line
  • Use some mid tone hue on the outer corners of the eyes for some accentuation
  • You can now apply some eyeliner and when doing this try apply it in a straight line
  • If you have thick eyelashes use a curler and use a double mascara coat. If you are the type who cries a lot them the waterproof mascara would be the best option

Lips and Cheeks

  • Make sure the colours chosen go well with the gown and uses some blusher for enhancement
  • The lips should be prepared by first using lip balm. Moisturize and  exfoliate on a regular basis before the
  • Use lip liner to mark the area where the lipstick will reach
  • Apply the lipstick appropriately to fill in the marked area and choose a brand that ensures your lips are moisturized

Make sure that you do some trials before the big day so that you can be sure of the outcome and avoid any surprises.

Wedding Makeup – Things to consider

wedding makeupFor anyone getting married the thought of what to expect on the big day constantly runs through the mind. Walking down the aisle, cameras flashing and generally all eyes on you! Along with a perfect gown hair and accessories, the bride’s wedding makeup should be totally up to scratch. It is important for your face to look its best on one of the most memorable days of your life.

Solar Effect

Make sure that you try as much as possible to keep of direct sun for prolonged periods of time. Sunburn, skin peeling or tan lines are not very flattering. If you need a tan on that day you can try a self tanner, tinted moisturizer and some bronzing powder.

Lights… Camera…

Always keep the cameras in mind and to begin with consider foundation and moisturizer with yellow undertones which works well for flash photography. Try as much as possible to avoid make up that is excessively glittery or foundation that has a light refracting properties because it could turn many of your photographs into a shimmering mess.  A matte finish for wedding makeup is more desirable for photos because it does not cause any reflection of light from the flash.

When powdering try and use a brush rather than a sponge or pad which could cause you to over-powder due to the smearing effect.

Eyes

Try as much as possible to use natural contouring colors together with brown or black eyeliner which gives a naturally sensual look. You can smudge the eyeliner a little bit so that it looks natural.

Lashes

Before anything make use of a lash curler which will help to add some length and neaten up the eye lashes. Add a single or double coat of water-resistant mascara. Let the initial coat set in first before adding the next one. This will help the lashes not to clump up.

Brows

Fill in any possible gaps in the eyebrows by using a high standard eyebrow pencil. Keep away from excessive use of eye shadow or eye pencil on the eyebrows because that is not their use.

Cheeks

Rosy tones are the best but use in moderation and do not add shimmery creams or powders.

If you’re looking for a wedding makeup artist in Surrey to help you with your bridal makeup, visit the Surrey Weddings directory to find a list of them waiting to help you.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Ways To Go On A Honeymoon Without Spending A Lot

April 24, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

These days, it’s getting easier and easier to book affordable travel with discounted travel websites. What’s becoming more and more difficult is judging whether or not your travel deal is actually a deal at all. You should bear this in mind if you are planning a honeymoon.

No new couple wants their honeymoon to feature low-class amenities, less-than-stellar food, and a forgettable overall experience. You shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money either, so read on to find out how to travel with your new spouse and save.

Keep your desired activities in mind. Knowing what you and your sweetheart actually want to do when you arrive at your destination can help you save money and avoid unnecessary and money-wasting uncertainties.

It’s prudent to select your travel destination not just based upon where it is in on the map but what you can expect to do and eat when you get there. Keep this in mind and you’re virtually certain to pick out the right trip.

Do your reading on other traveler’s time at your desired location. You can’t expect a good honeymoon without doing good research on the web, browsing people’s testimonials about the amenities of each destination for pros and cons.

Make sure that you are reading enough testimonials about each potential destination so that you have a firm grasp on the benefits and drawbacks of each location. You should, at the end of this activity, have considerably pared down your list of potential honeymoons to a usable list.

What does all of this achieve? The first thing it achieves is a fair amount of time savings for you and your significant other on your honeymoon, with less time spent debating over activities and locations and more time spent enjoying each other’s company.

You have read up on a good amount of testimonials so that you’re confident in your list and certain that both you and your loved one will enjoy your activities and overall experience. Once you have found your ideal activities and locations, it’s time to head out on your honeymoon!

This author additionally regularly writes about subject like honeymoon vacation packages and tahiti honeymoon.

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

How to find the perfect wedding venue in Surrey

March 31, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

By Marine Kerivel-Brown, Wedding Planner, http://www.boutiquewedding.uk.com

Your wedding venue determines the style of your wedding or civil partnership so it’s no wonder that finding the perfect one for you can be both a daunting and very time-consuming task. Throughout the UK, there are thousands of wedding venues from castles to golf clubs, country houses, hotels, museums, stadiums and racecourses available for people to hold their wedding receptions. And that’s without considering venues abroad! So unless you intend to spend every spare time viewing wedding venues, how do you find the perfect wedding venue for you?

1.    Don’t start searching or viewing venues until you have finalized your wedding budget and guest list. Those two factors are critical in selecting wedding venues so resist the temptation of viewing venues until you know how much you can spend and how many guests will be coming. You could otherwise end up with a venue that is too big (costly mistake) or too small (very embarrassing mistake), or overspend and end up with a big wedding debt, which is definitely not a healthy way to start your married life.

2.    Establish right from the start your ceremony requirements: civil ceremony? Church blessing? Humanist ceremony? etc. It will partly determine if you need everything in one location or not.

3.    Write a vision of what your perfect wedding location should be and stick to it! So your mum wanted a fairytale venue but you want a barn in an organic farm? Just remember that this is your day. With your partner, write down a series of 5 to 8 key points the venue must meet (i.e in/ outside London; with or without onsite accommodation, with or without sound limit, etc). This list will help you rule out inappropriate venues straight from your searches on the internet, saving you time. Always revert back to your initial list when viewing venues to make sure they fit with what you’re looking for. And remind your mum: this is your day!

4.    Establish tight geographical parameters. 2 hours of London is way too vague. Instead, say Surrey and East Sussex for example. Focusing your searches will save you time and money. If you can’t find what you’re looking for (and trust me, I dare you not to find the right venue for you in Surrey!!), then move to another county.

5.    Think about the entertainment you want before viewing venues. Some venues have sound restrictions, others won’t allow fireworks, etc. knowing what you want from the start will help you eliminating unsuitable venues right from the start or avoid facing issues further down the line.

6.    Read the contract carefully and ask what’s included! Many venues will quote on a basic package so you must be sure of what is part of that package, and what will need to be paid extra. It will be too late to complain about it once a contract is signed so don’t get too excited about a place until you’ve checked all the details first!

7.    View venues with a rainy day in mind. This is England remember so rain in summer happens! Does the venue have a decent space for the drink reception if it rains? If not, hire a small marquee to host the drinks reception if it rains. The golden rule here is to never, ever gamble on the weather.

8.    Remember that a more impressive venue will save on flowers and furniture hire or props. A blank canvas might look cheaper but will be costly to furnish and decorate. So when you compare costs, keep this in mind or you’ll be in for a nasty shock at the end. Remember that if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is!

9.    Think about transport and car park for your guests when viewing venues. The last thing you want is guests showing up late or covered in mud because they couldn’t park their cars. Most venues will be able to help you find suitable solutions if their in-house car park is too small.

10.    If you’ve found the venue of your dream but can’t afford the price tag, ask what they could offer for a weekday or winter wedding. Many venues will offer serious discounts off peak. A bit of money is better than no money at all as far as they’re concerned. Or if you can get ready at short notice, ask if they have any late availabilities or last minute cancellations.

11.    Check if you’ll have exclusive use or not. And decide how you feel about it if you’re sharing a venue with one or more couples.

12.    No time to view venues? Get a wedding planner on board. He/ she will save you time and money! Remember that you can hire a planner to sort out the venue only since the vast majority of us offer a made to measure service.

13.    Follow your instinct. You will know when a wedding venue feels right for you or not.

Boutique Wedding Ltd are a professional wedding planning service, based in Reigate, South West London. For further information, please contact Marine at Boutique Wedding on 07766 246 845 or enquiries@boutiquewedding.uk.com

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Should the bride wear white to her second wedding?

March 10, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Advice

Whether widowed or divorced, these days women who are headed down the aisle for a second (or even a third) time don’t feel restrained by outdated etiquette and rituals of the past.

Just a few short years ago, second marriages were kept quiet. Brides wore street clothes such as a business suit or a simple dress rather than a gown. Guests, if any, were limited to close family members for the sake of having legal witnesses, or children from the couple’s previous marriages. The ceremony was often completed within minutes and held at a registry office rather than in a church or an elegant venue. Flowers, music, special readings or verses, and receptions were out of the question, and wedding announcements – if they were sent at all – were sent after the couple was wed.

These days, many brides and grooms will have been married before. If you’ve fallen in love again and decided to give it another go, why hide or act like you’re ashamed to be committing yourself to someone?

Contrary to popular belief, the colour white does not symbolise the bride’s virginity. Instead, it symbolises joy. So if you feel joyful to have found love again and you desire to wear white, don’t let objections stand in your way.

Some repeat brides take advantage of the opportunity to really shake things up. If you followed each tradition to a T the first time around (or even if you didn’t), your new life with your new love might be the perfect chance to toss all conventions to the wind and do what you really, truly want to do. Express your love in the most unique ways you can think of. Break the rules and enjoy yourselves!

Do you look fabulous in red? Wear that scarlet evening gown you’ve got your eye on.

Are you in better shape now than you’ve ever been in your life? Show off your fabulous arms and svelte figure in an elegant evening gown – or even (gasp!) a backless gown.

If a traditional gown is what you’ve got your heart set on, don’t let anyone talk you out of this choice, either.

Another concern for encore brides is whether to wear a veil. Traditionally, a long veil behind the bride and a blusher veil over her face have been symbols of virginity. While some guests might drop their jaws if you walk down the aisle with your face hidden by a blusher veil, remember this is your wedding, not theirs. If that fairy-tale wedding gown you’ve got your eye on doesn’t look complete without a veil, then by all means, wear it.

Alternatives to a veil include a tiara, beaded or jeweled combs, a fabulous up ‘do, or wearing your hair loose and woven with Swarovski crystals attached to strategic strands.

This is YOUR wedding – have it YOUR way!

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings

Next Page »