Nothing beats having all your loved ones with you on your wedding day. But it’s not easy to pass such milestones in your life without remembering those friends and family that have died and mean so much to you.
Two things in life that most women love are shopping and having fun with the girls.
There’s one night out – the hen do – that’s seen as the ‘last night of freedom’ or rite of passage before getting hitched. Organising a hen party can be a minefield: there are so many different ideas that it’s difficult enough to decide on a theme, let alone a venue.
It’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of looking fabulous for the big day. There’s nothing quite like having an important date in the calendar, such as your wedding, to get you motivated – it gives you a focus.
The thought of wearing a hat to a wedding scares the living daylights out of some people. Many women are convinced that hats don’t suit them when the reality is that they haven’t found the right one for their face shape.
Years ago when I sent out my wedding invitations, a dear friend replied straight away that she would love to attend but only if the invite extended to her new partner’s 10-year-old daughter. I thought it was a bit cheeky especially as I’d never met the child but I wanted my friend to be there, so that was that. I remember seeing the girl on my big day looking fed up and as if she’d rather be anywhere else than at a stranger’s wedding.
Do you want to keep your surname? It’s something that more women are asking themselves before getting married, as the custom of a bride taking her husband’s surname doesn’t make sense to them. For independently-minded women, there are many reasons why they want to keep their name.
Along with the photos and video, the wedding guest book is one of the treasured mementoes of your big day. After the honeymoon, it’s great to be able to sit back and read through the touching and fun messages that family and friends have written.
Finding the right piece of jewellery goes beyond the symbol of love and union for a growing number of newly engaged couples. For them, it’s important to make a statement about ethics as much as aesthetics when buying a wedding ring, so they shop with a clear conscience by choosing ethical jewellery.
Music is an integral part of a wedding celebration and can be the difference between fun and disaster. The big question is: do you love live music and have a big budget, or do you have a tighter budget and prefer your songs to be played perfectly just like on Spotify? If it’s ‘yes’ to the last question, then a DJ is the answer.
The reception is what most guests look forward to, so it needs to be memorable, personal, relaxed and fun.
With careful planning, it can seamlessly come together, and it all starts with the wedding breakfast. When it comes to the celebratory meal, put some thought into your seating plan: getting the right dynamics between people is the key.