Featured

How to get your wedding body in less than 3 month

Wedding workout

Is your big day fast approaching but still want to shift a few pounds? Stuart Taylor, Founder of PerfecTone shares some last minute advice for blushing brides-to-be on how to get your wedding body.

It’s the moment you’ve been dreaming of since you were a little girl. It’s the day that you will remember forever. It’s that once in a blue moon chance to bring all of your loved ones together at the same time, in one place. This is the day that you will stand opposite the love of your life and say the words ‘I do’. On such a sentimental occasion, don’t you deserve to look and feel the best you ever have?

Pristine locks – check. 

Perfectly contoured make up – check. 

“The dress” – check. 

“The wedding day body” – not ‘quite so’ check. 

Shepherd Huts the new addition to the British wedding

Couple outside shephard huts

The new trend for the modern British wedding is both simple and luxurious and it takes the form of a shepherd’s hut. Adding a rural and traditional element to weddings and wedding venues, Blackdown Shepherd Huts have responded to an increase in requests for shepherd huts and have set about creating special for-hire huts that meet all types of wedding needs from bride’s dressing rooms to the ultimate honeymoon hut.

Will Vickery, who owns Blackdown Shepherd Huts in Ilminster, Somerset, says: ‘The demand for huts to be used at weddings has really increased recently. Shepherd huts appear to be bang on trend, probably because they’re beautiful to look at and work well as photo backdrops, as well as being idyllic and private, special and intimate.’

Goldsmiths reveals the most awkward etiquette issues

Bridal party

A wedding - one of life’s happiest occasions - for both the happy couple and the guests attending. Or is it? A new survey by leading high street jewellers, Goldsmiths, has revealed some of the most awkward etiquette issues when it comes to planning, and attending, the big day.

With more than a third (39%) of those questioned being outraged at the thought of being invited to a hen/stag do abroad when the wedding is also overseas, 75% wanting to pick out their own engagement ring, and almost a fifth of singletons being disappointed if they don’t get a ‘plus one’ to the wedding -

Start your love story with London Hilton on Park Lane

London Hilton

Steeped in elegance, London Hilton on Park Lane is the perfect option for sophisticated wedding of any size. From bright and airy rooms overlooking Hyde Park and Knightsbridge to the magnificent Royal and Presidential suites, there is something to suit every taste. 

London Hilton on Park Lane’s commitment to the finer details ensures all weddings held at the hotel are memorable for guests as well as for the happy couple. Celebrate in style in the dazzling Grand Ballroom with up to 1,250 guests, have an intimate affair in the Crystal Palace Suite, gaze out at the spectacular panoramic views of Park Lane and Hyde Park in the Wellington Ballroom and Harvest Suite or recite your vows while over-looking the London skyline from the iconic Galvin at Windows.  

Mr Kipling offers a wedding makeover!

New Royal Wedding Mr Kipling cakes

Mr Kipling launches a nationwide search to find a couple getting married on the weekend of the Royal Wedding! The lucky couple will receive a Mr Kipling style wedding makeover.

Wedding makeover cakesMr Kipling has revealed the wedding makeover package will be complete with a bespoke wedding cake, favours with a cake twist for all the guests and bou-cakes (that’s right, cake bouquets!) for the table centre pieces and the winning bride. 

Wedding guest list etiquette

Maryculter House Hotel

You’ve got the dress, booked the venue, agreed the menu and briefed your photographer. That’s the bulk of the work on planning your wedding done, right? Wrong! The trickiest part of planning any wedding – finalising the all-important wedding guest list – is yet to come.

As someone who has helped countless numbers of newlywed couples celebrate the happiest day of their lives, Maryculter House Hotel wedding and events manager Beverley Mackinlay knows a thing or two about how to get it right…and has lots of top tips on how to avoid getting it very, very wrong.

Top tips for a wedding day glow

Daiva wedding skin expert

Daiva, founder of Daiva’s Beauty, talks to us about how to get the perfect wedding day skin. So you will glow on your wedding day.

Everyone wants beautiful, youthful firm skin - and especially on the wedding day. When your skin is not properly maintained for a long time, your make-up not will help perfectly as we wish! That is why, if you want to look flawless on wedding day, you should take care of your skin as soon as possible. These steps are ideal to add into your routine and habits for every single day. 

Wedding Hair Trends for 2018

Flowers in hair wedding

For brides-to-be choosing your dream wedding dress is always regarded as the ultimate, agonising choice, but deciding how to wear your wedding hair for your big day definitely comes close second. 

In a bid to offer some guidance and advice, the hair and beauty specialists at online retailer Hairtrade.com have compiled a list of five wedding hair trends that are expected to be popular amongst brides in 2018. 

Choosing anything to do with your big day is a huge decision that requires careful thought and deliberation, but anything concerning the bride and groom’s appearance often takes precedence over everything else. 

Lartington Hall a heart-stoppingly beautiful wedding venue

Wedding at Lartington Hall

Lartington Hall is heart-stoppingly beautiful. We’d heard the rumours about ‘brides to be’ literally crying with happiness when they found Lartington Hall. Owner and interior designer Shona Harper-Wilkes reveals to Vows and Venues why Lartington is the venue to be seen at. Oh yes, and just why it makes brides cry.

Built in 1635, Lartington Hall is a private and exclusive hire venue, nestled in 75 acres of romantic and beautifully landscaped parkland, providing a dream wedding setting. Wonderful all year round, there is so much space to enjoy, both inside and out. The very definition of luxury, Lartington is beautiful, refined and every element is of the best quality; from the designer furnishings to our exceptional food.

Create Beautiful Bridal Nails for your Wedding Day

Bridal Nail Dr Remedy

Don't forget your bridal nails - Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, it is important that you feel happy, relaxed and confident so you are able to enjoy this special day. Organising a wedding can become a huge task from selecting the venue to organising the flowers, wedding rings, wedding cake, wedding cars, bridal dress, bridesmaid dresses, bridal hair and make-up, the list is endless! Once you have started your wedding preparations, it is time to turn your attention to your bridal nails to ensure they look their best when you exchange rings and say ‘I do’. 

Couple win wedding of their dreams at the Celtic Manor Resort

Winning wedding couple

A lucky couple who met at a cheerleading class have plenty more to sing and dance about after winning the wedding of their dreams at the Celtic Manor Resort.

School teachers Nicola Horton and Jack Withey from Cardiff won a prize draw competition for a wedding worth £5,000 at Celtic Manor and are now planning a very special big day at the five-star resort.

They have already met the wedding team at Celtic Manor for a celebratory glass of champagne and to start planning a lavish ceremony and reception at Celtic Manor’s Golf Clubhouse in August.

Pinterest Voted as the Ultimate Wedding Inspiration Tool

Bridesmaids with flowers

As couples around the world begin to source inspiration for those all exciting wedding plans, Debenhams Personal finance reveals just how influential social media is when it comes to planning the big day. Which social media platfom do you think is the ultimate wedding inspiration tool?

A recent survey conducted by Debenhams Personal Finance* has revealed that Pinterest was the social media channel of choice when it came to sourcing wedding inspiration, with over two thirds of couples (67%) using the site in their planning stages. The focus remains on image led social media platforms, with a quarter (25%) turning to Instagram for their all-important wedding research.

Ideal Home Show vote on royal wedding cake 

Wedding cake entrants

Visitors to the Ideal Home Show sponsored by Zoopla*, have voted on their favourite royal wedding cake from 38 towering masterpieces designed in celebration of the forthcoming wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Entries from both professional and amateur cake-makers are displayed at The Ideal Home Show at Olympia, London, with ideas ranging from a ‘whirlwind romance’ typhoon-style concoction to the more conventional multi-layer cake in traditional colours. 

Unusual hen night of chocolates or pizzas

Marco Pilloni

BRIDES looking for an unusual hen night and interesting activity to do with their bridesmaids and hens are invited to learn how to make chocolates or pizzas at a gastropub in Somerset this year (2018).

The White Hart in Weston In Gordano is offering brides the chance to book in for a masterclass on making truffles or an authentic Italian lunch in the pub’s garden tepee and open-air pizzeria. 

Alternative hen party ideas for crafty brides

Crafty hen party

SOMERSET brides-to-be can get crafty during a hen party with a difference at a shop in the county and learn the basics of chalk painting, so they can upcycle their own furniture at home.

The Emporium Somerset in Wellington says its chalk painting workshops are a great, crafty alternative for hen parties.

Cato Cooper, Co-owner of The Emporium Somerset on Mantle Street, which includes more than 50 different shops across three floors, selling thousands of home and gift items, said: “These days brides-to-be and their hens are looking for something a bit different to a night out on the town and we think our chalk painting workshops are a great idea for crafty brides and their bridesmaids, family and friends.

A Bridesmaid’s Guide to Hosting an Unforgettable Hen Party

i Heart wines

A hen party is a rite of passage for every bride-to-be - one last carefree and mischievous celebration with the girls before saying, ‘I do’! However, the humble hen do has come a long way since hot pink L plates, polyester veils and plastic tiaras. In fact, research shows that in the UK we now spend an astronomical £507 per hen party, as celebrations have become more extravagant than ever. 

Sound familiar?! Not to worry, with wedding season just around the corner, the experts at i heart Wines have created the ultimate DIY hen party guide to ensure you give the bride-to-be a night to remember – without breaking the bank!

Top five tips for picking a perfect wedding venue

Osbourne House

Traditionally, it is the summer in which most weddings take place, but we must not forget it’s the winter when we see the most proposals. Chillisauce, an international event agency, has found that it’s during the festivities in the Christmas period which drum up the most engagements all year, ready for those summer weddings. If you are one of these newly engaged couples, it is likely you will be starting the search for your ultimate wedding venue.

Weddings at Penshurst Place & Gardens 

married couple walking hand in hand

Penshurst Place in the Weald of Kent is a grand family home and gardens, welcoming up to 40 weddings per year to the 11 acres of formal grounds, and 2,500-acre wider estate. 

Dating from 1341 and at the heart of the house is the original medieval Baron’s Hall, which is available to couples for both ceremonies and receptions. It is adjoined by a further two historic reception rooms and a third outside space that can be also be used for ceremonies or entertaining. The private Inner Courtyard, which is only available for use by weddings, is a beautiful area to welcome guests for a drinks reception in summer, and in the winter, a lined-marquee can be erected as an additional reception option. 

Pre-loved wedding dresses sought for charity auction

The Welcombe hotel reception

A wedding charity dress auction at Hallmark Hotel The Welcombe, is seeking pre-loved wedding dress donations from local brides that would like to see theirs enjoyed once again while supporting a good cause. The charity auction, which is in aid of children’s charity Molly Olly’s Wishes, is due to take place on Wednesday 11th April 2018 at Hallmark Hotel The Welcombe, Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Molly Olly’s Wishes was founded in 2011 to help families with terminally ill children to cope with the emotional and financial struggles that can come with their children being in hospital. The charity launched after parents Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw lost their eight-year-old daughter Molly to a Wilms tumour.