summer

If your summer wedding is approaching it’s likely you’ve selected your dress, décor, venue and menu.  You’ve probably deliberated for hours about the flowers and pondered over the travel and transport plans. But have you thought about which drinks you’ll serve to guests as they celebrate your ‘I dos’? Summer wedding cocktails could provide the anwser.

“With so many other decisions to make, drinks are not often a high priority,” says Sarah Miller, wedding coordinator at The Barton Grange Hotel near Preston. “Many couples simply opt for champagne or Prosecco, with wine and beer for the tables. It’s a classic drinks menu that’ll appeal to many, but for those looking for a little something extra, cocktails can take your refreshments to another level.

The parents of the bride and groom will pay out the most, followed by the best man who will spend more than the maid of honour. Attending a wedding is an exciting event to have in your summer calendar however, it can also be quite stressful especially in terms of money but new research has revealed what each party member can expect to be paying.

A bride's parents will still pay the most for their daughter’s wedding, forking out up to 113% more than the parents of the groom, according to the survey conducted by short term loan provider Wonga.

The poll of 1,000 adults that included parents of the bride, parents of the groom, best men, maids of honour, bridesmaids, ushers and wedding guests, looked at who pays the most money to be part of the big day.

Five reasons to have your wedding at home from bespoke caterer and event specialists Dine

If you are lucky enough to have space in the garden, there’s something nicely relaxed and intimate about being able to hold your wedding in your own home or in the home you grew up in.  Such an individual location enables you to buck the trend and create your own traditions by putting your own personal stamp on your day in a unique family setting.  Your home will already hold so many memories; wouldn’t it be amazing to add more from your own wedding day? 

1. Flexibility

As autumn approaches, our wardrobes have gone from summer dresses to thick jumpers almost overnight. With colder days and darker nights comes the desire to stay in, and watch TV while the wind is blowing outside. Gone are long, hot summer evenings, taking with them our energy and joie de vivre.

However, you can combat the winter blues and re-live your summer memories with one simple beauty essential – your fragrance. Here, industry leading experts Fragrance & Beauty, explain the key tricks to keeping your summer scent alive during the new season.

With all the focus on the bride and groom, it’s easy to let children’s entertainment slip at a wedding. Whilst children love the joyous occasion of weddings, they will require some form of amusement to help keep them entertained throughout the day. The good news is, with a bit of imagination and creativity, you can keep children entertained at a wedding without too much difficulty. If you’re getting married this summer or are attending a wedding with children, take a look at the following tips on keeping kids amused.

Before we know it, Summer will be here and many of us are looking longingly (aka jealously glaring at celebs’ Instagram pictures) at beach scenes while we count down the days a well-deserved holiday or honeymoon!  Nothing sets off stunning swimwear more than some serious body confidence, so Barreworks founder Vicki Anstey has created a series of DIY workouts to help you feel fantastic.

Barreworks is a studio totally dedicated to ballet and barre workouts, designed to benefit your whole body with low impact, high intensity movements that help to lift bottoms, trim thighs and define arms. If you can’t make it to the beautiful studio in Richmond, you can enjoy online classes at www.barreworks.co.uk.

They say a wedding is one of the biggest days of your life but it can often turn out to be one of the most expensive ones too. If recent statistics are anything to go by, the average wedding will cost you a hefty £21,000. All brides-to-be know that it’s important to stick to a wedding budget and identify opportunities for cost savings wherever possible. Making your own items such as invitations, thank you cards, bunting and table centrepieces is a great way to save some cash whilst putting your own personal stamp on your big day.

Rebecca Howe used the Lemon Detox in the run up to her wedding with great results

"I’ve always been a fit and healthy person but in my late twenties I noticed the weight slowly creeping on. Over the next few years, my busy job as an accountant often meant I was getting home late and choosing ready meals or takeaways instead of healthier options. I wasn’t happy with my weight but I had no real incentive or method of losing the weight.