WEDDING GOSSIP Girl In A White Dress 19

Cheryl I'Anson - Wed 20 Aug 2008

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Our resident bride and wedding expert, Cheryl, is back from her big day and floating on a wedding-induced cloud of loveliness, and will be talking weddings with you every week...

The personal touch (1)
We all know how great and lovely weddings are – if you haven’t had yours yet and are still counting the minutes, you’ve surely pictured the grand aisle-strutting entrance, the gooey vow-saying moment and the amusing speech-telling bit, and probably you know exactly what the flowers, decorations and cake will all look like (because you spent more than a week’s wages in phone calls to the florist and cake maker just to be sure).

And once you’ve got the big stuff out of the way, like booking the venue and choosing the dress, you can start to think about the little details. If you’re a bit flummoxed about where to start, why not think about ways of adding a personal touch to your day.

I know of one brave bride-to-be who is planning to sing ‘Songbird’ by Eva Cassidy

to her new husband after the speeches, accompanied by her bridesmaids on backing vocals, which is a lovely idea and a beautiful song, although a little terrifying if you ask me!

But if you’re no Katie Melua and don’t fancy doing the whole serenading thing, there are loads of other ways of adding a personal touch to your day. Designing your own stationery is a great way of giving guests a preview of your wedding theme, while you and H2B get to have some Blue Peter-style fun with sticky tape and crafty things. Try The Wedding Crafter for fantastic ideas and sample kits.

To add special touches to our day, we made our own stationery based around a beautiful drawing my FIL had done of our venue; and because we tied the knot in Siena in Italy, we named each of the tables after the teams in the famous horse race that takes place in the main piazza there every year.

So until next week, let us know what you did to make your day a touch more special...

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BEAUTY Pretty Willow

Cheryl I'Anson - Wed 20 Aug 2008

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We love a bit of organic beauty here at WP - it's kinder to skin as well as to the environment. Which is why we’ve been checking out new organic beauty range Willow.

Willow offers a range of beauty products made with certified organic ingredients for total skin luxury and indulgence from head to toe.

The products contain ingredients from all over the world – with sensual oils from Kashmir and Egypt and hand-loomed Thai silk packaging all formulated within the UK. With products for face, body, hair and home as well as beautiful silk gift boxes, this range is perfect for brides looking to treat themselves to something special – and the box sets make beautiful gifts for bridesmaids and mums.

Based around fragrant fruit and flower oils, all Willow products are created from formulations of five fragrances: Jasmine & Geranium, Rose & Sandalwood, Orange & Lime, Lemongrass & Ginger and Ylang Ylang & Lavender so there is a fragrance to suit everyone.

Willow products do not contain parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate or any artificial chemicals or preservatives and even the candles are made of 100% natural organic oils and no paraffin. And Willow does not test its products on animals and uses only biodegradable packaging.

The new range includes luxury body lotions, bath and shower gels, hand and nail cream, eau de toilette, soaps, scented candles, shampoo and conditioner. Prices start from £15 for 50ml of bath oil. The Twilight Box (see top) containing Moisturising Face Balm, Exfoliating Guest Soap, and a Jasmine & Geranium Candle is £29.

So if you’re looking for something that’s good to your skin – and the environment – Willow is the place to shop this summer.
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FASHION Play it by Ear

Amanda Hinton - Wed 20 Aug 2008

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Wedding day jewellery is the final finishing touch for your big day outfit. So this week we have got together with the newly-opened Earring Boutique for some top tips on choosing the perfect earrings.

If chosen correctly, earrings can add instant glamour and a touch of subtle colour to your wedding day outfit. As well as adding individuality, your earrings can also direct the eye away from other areas of the body that you aren‘t particularly happy with. Stick to Hannah Sandlings 8 golden rules and you can't go wrong!

• Keep your earrings in scale with your face, small people and huge earrings don’t work.

• Don’t wear large round styles if you have a short neck - they will be too over powering for your overall body shape.

• Choose earrings in a shade that fill your face with healthy colour, not drain it.

• if you have a thicker neck or a double chin, longer earrings will be more flattering.

• Drop earrings are the perfect style for elongating a round face.

• You can use really dazzling earrings to help to draw the focus away from your least favourite feature!

• Avoid wearing too much large jewellery if your are petite, a pair of statement earrings will be enough and will keep the look uncluttered.

• Remember to match accessories to your outfit - so pick up on the little details such as the beading on your wedding dress.

To find out more about The Earring Boutique go to theearringboutique.com.

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PLANNING Happy Days

Amanda Hinton - Tue 19 Aug 2008

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All over the nation, thousands of couples walked up the aisle last week, because the second weekend in August is officially the most popular time of year to get hitched.

What’s more, an increasing number of couples are tying the knot on a Friday rather than a Saturday as you might expect. Over the past five years Friday weddings have increased in popularity by 5%. This equates to around 12,000 extra couples marrying on Fridays every year.

Over the same period Saturday weddings have decreased in popularity by the same amount, 5%. But there are no changes when it comes to August. It remains the most popular month to marry with 1 in 5 choosing this month for their celebration – that’s around 50,000 couples placing their faith in the British summer!

Wedding insurance manager Darren Mabley-Jones says,
“The traditional Saturday wedding in August remains the most popular choice for couples planning to tie the knot. However, many couples are starting to turn to a Friday for their celebration instead, perhaps to ensure they get the venue they want, but also to save money on hire charges."

The least popular times to get married are the month of January and Tuesdays. Less than 2% of couples chose to marry at this time. So if you are hunting out a venue bargain, go for a Tuesday in January - althoug bear in mind, the wedding guests might not be too happy!

These statistics are drawn from weddings Ecclesiastical insures direct and through Marks & Spencer.
* All survey data drawn from over 23,000 weddings insured by Ecclesiastical Insurance.
** 237,000 marriages in 2006 according to the Office for National statistics, 5% of 237,000 = 12,000.

Photo © Freeman Photographics

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REAL WEDDING Gold Dreams

Amanda Hinton - Tue 19 Aug 2008

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Colette & Paul
26 April 2008

They Met Colette and Paul met over the internet and chatted nearly every night for six months before meeting up. The rest, as they say, is history when Paul got down on one knee and proposed one weekend when he was visiting Colette.

Wedding Venue Paul and Colette started looking for their perfect venue two years before their wedding and eventually found Greenhill Hotel in Cumbria. It was ideal as they could marry and have their reception in the same place and they loved the fact that it had a homely and relaxed atmosphere but was at the same time elegant.

The Theme Paul had decided that he wanted to wear a brown suit which set the colour themes of brown, gold, cream and ivory.

What They Wore The bride wore a gorgeous ivory dress by Hilary Morgan, with gold and cream embroidery, and a touch of sparkling crystals as well as a long train, which could be hitched up, creating a bustle. The bride accessorized with a full crown tiara of diamante and pearls as well as dotted crystals and diamantes in her hair and a necklace and earrings to match.
The groom wore a brown pinstripe suit by Jasper Conran, with a white shirt and a champagne and gold coloured waistcoat with a matching cravat, along with brown shoes from the Officers Club. The groom chose a buttonhole of a large silk carnation with brown foliage, tied with a gold ribbon.
The bride had one bridesmaid who wore a champagne coloured dress with a buttoned back, to match the bride, as well as gold shoes and a gold bangle as a gift from the couple.

The Cake The couple chose a four-tiered cake with two layers of sponge, one layer of chocolate and the other of traditional fruit cake, arranged in a staggered display and decorated with cascading flowers from top to bottom. The cake was made by the bride’s mother who also provided the stand.

The Flowers The bride carried a bouquet of silk flowers consisting of cream gladioli, carnations and roses, interspersed with brown and gold foliage as well as small gold cala lilies with diamante centres. The bridesmaid carried a smaller replica, while flowers at the venue were made up of carnations, roses, baby’s breath and lilies, as well as brown thistles to tie in their Scottish connection - all arranged by Colette’s mother.

First Dance The newlywed couple danced to All I Have by Beth Neilson Chapman just as 14 huge party poppers showered them with streamers - a surprise organised by 14 family members. The dancing continued with a DJ who provided music and singing - and even dressed up as Darth Vader at one point!

A Moment to Remember Colette loved their first dance as husband and wife, as she felt really special to be dancing in front of all of their family and friends with her new husband, as well as the party poppers adding an extra touch of romance.

Honeymoon The couple spent their first night in the hotel where they got married, afterwards going on a two week Mediterranean cruise for their honeymoon, visiting the beautiful Naples, Rome, Cannes, Barcelona and Tunisia.

Any Advice Colette comments, ‘I was always told that the day passes very quickly, so I was ready for this and tried to take everything in. I also held back on the alcoholic drinks - as it is easy to get carried away with the celebrations.’ As well as suggesting to, ‘Have a strong, reliable person to help with the planning. It helps to have someone other than the groom to bounce ideas off.’

Colette & Paul’s Contact Book:
Venue: Greenhill Hotel
Photographer: 01461 206445  Trish Nelson Photography
Dress: Reeta Fashion, Glasgow 0141 552 5101
Groomswear: Debenhams



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Posted in category: Real Weddings

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GROOMS Ring True

Cheryl I'Anson - Tue 19 Aug 2008

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If your man is taking a while to pop the question – or has already dropped to one knee but you’re still waiting for the ring – there could be a reason why…

In a recent poll, 67% of married men admitted that the pressure of finding the perfect ring and finding the right time and place to propose meant they prolonged the special moment longer than they intended.

Apparently they found the purchasing process quite daunting, and weren’t sure where to start, what size ring to buy, how big should the diamond be, and how much to spend, etc, etc.

So if your fiancé is one of these men dawdling over the decision making, point him in the direction of online London-based jeweller Rumour Jewellery.

They can take away all the confusion and panic when it comes to choosing a ring by offering a professional, discreet and friendly service.

Rumour Jewellery is online and also has a showroom near Notting Hill in London. Handmade bespoke engagement rings, wedding rings and eternity rings are their specialty, creating bespoke, custom-made jewellery using precious diamond and sapphire jewellery of the highest quality.

They will work with your fiancé’s budget and will advise accordingly, with prices starting from £1000 for a bespoke engagement ring or wedding ring.

Once the ring has been made, which takes around three weeks, your fiancé will be invited back to the showroom to show him the final result as well as adding any finishing touches, such as a personal engraved message. Then it's just up to him to pop the question...

Visit rumouronline.com for more information.

Photo: iStockphoto

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Posted in category: Grooms

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COMPETITION Get Snapping

Amanda Hinton - Mon 18 Aug 2008

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Here is a competition all you budding snappers may be interested in as you could win some handy honeymoon deals, including car hire - or how about a Greek island cruise? It is being run by Stelios of the EasyJet team - so click on the link below to enter.

Following the success of last year’s “Snapped” competition, easyCar.com is once again asking the British public to get creative with their snaps. Moving away from tired landmark pictures, easyCar is driving happy snappers to use their imagination and become amateur travel photographers.

Anyone can enter; from a romantic camping trip in the Cotswolds to intrepid hiking through the Alps, easyCar wants to see some creativity. Replace those boring poses with intriguing shots of hidden gems to make your loved ones back home wish they had been there with you.

Simply upload your best travel pictures to photocompetition.easycar.com and canvas votes and rate others to get the chance to win some fantastic prizes, including free car rental for a week from easyCar, a seven night Greek island cruise for two people on easyCruise Life, and easyJet vouchers.

Photo © iStockphoto

Posted in category: Wedding Gossip

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FASHION Let's Shop

Amanda Hinton - Mon 18 Aug 2008

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This week we browse around the Ellie Sanderson bridal boutiqe in Buckinghamshire. An oasis of calm, the spacious shop is full of dream dresses from top designers as well as stocking bridal jewellery and hand made wedding shoes. Here are just three gorgeous gowns we have picked from the rails.

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SLEEK STYLE

Chic and modern, Augusta Jones' Sterling (£1850) is typical of the designer's style with sleek contours and simple lines. As the finishing touch - perfect for church weddings - it is styled with a gorgeous lacy shrug (£395).

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CLASSIC BRIDE

Ritva Westenius's classic gown, Alice (£1595) is made from luxurious silk with a bow detail (tipped to be a top trend for next year!). While we were shopping, there was an Alice included in the Sample Sale - so bargain hunters might want to check this one out.

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SWEET SASH

We love Sassi Holford's Maisie (£1795) with its luxurious sash reminiscent of the one she made for Autumn Kelly earlier this year. A beautifully structured gown, the fitted strapless bodice is figure flattering with an elegant A-line skirt falling into a puddle train.

Visit Ellie Sanderson at elliesanderson.co.uk or call 01494 674 440 to make an appointment at the boutique.

Photo © David Bostock

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Posted in category: Fashion

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Your Week 18/08

Amanda Hinton - Mon 18 Aug 2008

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We have just hit wedding bingo - the most popular weekend for getting married in the UK. And we are thrilled to see so many WP brides reporting back as JustMarrieds. With so much wedding wisdom on board, it is going to be another info and idea-packed week on WeddingPath whether you are still hunting for engagement rings or are fine-tuning your gift list.

To start the week we visit a bridal boutique to check out some of the highlights hanging on the rails. On Wednesday our fashion slot goes shopping once again - this time to a boutique that specialises in earrings. If your groom has proposed but you are still hunting for a ring, he might want to read our feature tomorrow on choosing an engagement ring. Our Real Wedding this week is on WP bride Colette and hubby Paul who tied the knot in stunning Cumbria. Cheryl has enjoyed finding some more organic beauty buys for Wednesday and loves the Liffey when she discovers a fab Dublin venue on Thursday. She also heads Stateside to explore what a honeymoon in Charleston has to offer and has some lovely ideas for making your wedding personal in her Girl in a White Dress. On Friday, you'll love the fragranced candles we've found - perfect for gifting or gift lists, as well as a spa package for hens and some gorgeous favours.

We hope you enjoy another fantastic week at WeddingPath and wish you fun planning your wedding. And a special welcome to all our new members - you are going to love it here!

Amanda Hinton,
Editor-in-chief, WeddingPath
amanda@weddingpath.com

Monday 18/08
Let's Shop... what's in store?
Get Snapping... photography competition
Tuesday 19/08
Ring True... engagement ring rules
Gold Dreams... WP wedding in Cumbria
Happy Days... wedding date trends
Wednesday 20/08
Play it by Ear... earrings only
Pretty Willow... organic loving
Girl in a White Dress 19... personal touches
Thursday 21/08
Irish Brides are Smiling... Dublin venue reviewed
Deep South... Charleston honeymoon
Celebrity Snippets... vote on Jessica Simpson & Tony Romo
Friday 22/08
Scented Glow... candles for you
Fabulous Favours... perfect tables
Happy Hens 9... spa time fun
Saturday 23/08
6am Wedding Week Notes... best reads of the week

Photo © iStockphoto, Ellie Sanderson

Posted in category: Wedding Gossip

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Wedding Week Notes 11/08

Amanda Hinton - Sat 16 Aug 2008

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Catch up with this week on WeddingPath by clicking on the links to some of our favourite reads. Can't find what you're looking for? Go to News Categories on the home page and scroll through the sections you are looking for.

11/08 FASHION Chic Boutique... new collection

12/08 GROOMS Airport Savvy... smooth moves
12/08 REAL WEDDING Tropical Love... Caribbean

13/08 FASHION Feet First... wider fittings
13/08 WEDDING GOSSIP Girl in a White Dress 18...

14/08 VENUE Join the Club... autumn find
14/08 HONEYMOON African Queen... wild side

15/08 GIFTS First Glass... cut crystal
15/08 RECEPTIONS To the Happy Couple... drinks

Have a great weekend!

Photo © iStockphoto

Posted in category: Planning

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