A Little Inspiration For Your Big Day
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Ah Weddings! A wonderful thing, committing to spend the rest of your life with one person.  A day to share your love with your family and friends, or perhaps not.  There are loads of different ways to get married and not all of them need to cost you the earth.  We’ve pulled together three different weddings shared by three very different couples that will hopefully inspire you when choosing your special day.

The Slight Hitch

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Photo credit: Shorsec

 

Chris lived in Kabul, Afghanistan for 8 months of the year.  Whilst Nancy was based in the south of England.  The pair knew that they would need to plan their wedding around his breaks from Afghanistan.  Except Chris had a pretty epic idea for his stag do.  He wanted to ride home to the UK from Kabul on his motorbike. The only issue was the trip was going to be unpredictable when it came to timing.  So the two decided not to tell anyone else what they were up to and to head to Gretna Green where they could be more flexible with dates.  Chris made the 4000 mile journey on his motorbike for the charity Mission Motorsport.  He was delayed by 2 weeks at the Caspian Sea and arrived in Dover 24 hours before they were due to get married.  They jumped in a car and raced to Scotland.  Got married.  He returned to Kabul 3 days later.  The couple said the wedding cost them the grand total of £600 (£300 being the Christian Louboutin shoes Nancy bought to go with a £40 dress) and Chris raised £40,000 for the charity.  

 

The Home Stayers

Tom and Aisha both had a love for family and decided straight away that their family home was the perfect place to hold a very boho wedding.  The whole event was staged in their garden with Aisha wearing a vintage wedding dress which was the inspiration used when designing Caroline Bramley.  The guests sat on hay bales and the bride rode her beautiful white horse bareback down the aisle.  All food was produced from their own customised vintage catering van.  The couple said they spent less than £1000 on the whole wedding which was less than half what they spent on a month long honeymoon!

 

The Modern Couple

 

Ned and Pauline were based in Calgary, Canada.  They knew that a lot of members of their family wouldn’t be able to travel from Europe to share in their special day.  So instead of having guests, they nipped off on their work lunch break, to a stunning waterfall in the Rockies and set up a live feed for all their relatives at home.  It was winter and Pauline wore a dress borrowed from her mother whilst Ned opted for jeans and a shirt.  Both the bride and groom went back to work and spent their first night as a married couple at home doing exactly what they would normally do on a wednesday night.  The wedding cost them $300 and they both said it was the best $300 they have ever spent.  

 

Make your wedding completely unique for the two of you.  Because it is your love that matters.  That should come first.  

Fall in Love with Your Skin and be a Glowing Bride
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Hello gorgeous brides!! The lovely folks at DHC Skincare sent us some wonderful samples to try out and we LOVED them! If your wedding coming up and you are looking for ways to look and feel even more beautiful on your special day, check out the amazing products DHC has to offer!

I absolutely loved their Deep Cleansing Oil, which is an olive-based formula. How awesome is that?! I was a little weary when I first tried it as I always get nervous about putting more “oil” on my skin but it was awesome! It not only helped to dissolve my makeup but it also helped to remove my excess skin oil and dirt! It left my face feeling and even looking super soft! And, who doesn’t want that?!

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Photo credit: DHC

Another super cool product that they sent us is their Face Wash Powder. Yes… I said powder! This product is SO cool! It is PERFECT to travel with because it is so light weight. Don’t get me wrong though, just because it’s light weight doesn’t mean that it isn’t a heavy fighter against all things that ruin your complexion. I could feel it working and thought that the powder-to-foam wash was super simple and easy to use. It didn’t leave my skin feeling dull or dry. It actually exfoliated and left it feeling refreshed and hydrated.

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Photo credit: DHC

They also sent us their Eyelash Tonic which helps nourish strong and healthy lashes, the Clarifying Pore Cover Base which minimizes pores and combats shine, their Q10 Mask which helps promote firmer and younger-looking skin and their Olive Virgin Oil Swabs which are convenient, individually wrapped olive oil enriched swabs to help cleanse delicate areas, sooth cuticles and erase makeup mishaps as well. I can’t say enough!

So, if you’re looking to vamp up your skincare routine and get gorgeous, healthy and glowing skin for your BIG day, like the bride below, be sure to check DHC out!

 

How to Choose the Right Engagement Ring for the One You Love
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Proposing to the one you love is a nerve racking enough life event, without the extra added pressure of whether or not they’ll like the ring that you’ve chosen. From worries about whether they’ll say yes, to whether you’ve picked the right time or place, by following this guide there’ll be one less issue to worry about as you’ll be sure to have the perfect ring to put on their finger when you pop the question.

Surprise Her

If you’re confident that you can pick the perfect ring for your partner then don’t doubt yourself. It’s always helpful to speak to her close friends, or family members such as her mum or sister, to check with them first whether they think she’ll like it. If you can organise it secretly, why not arrange to go ring shopping with them. Before picking a surprise ring be sure to get her size right. If a surprise goes down well, it’s easily the most romantic and best way to propose.

Go Shopping Together

Some couples who’ve been talking about getting married for a while prefer to go shopping together. This is probably a good idea if your partner is expecting you to propose soon and you’ve already been planning getting married in the future. Take a look at the beautiful selection available at F Hinds online to get you feeling inspired for styles and shapes or head to the shops and try and few on for size to see what styles you partner likes. This way you’ll be 100% sure to get it right and it also helps couples who’re on a budget as you’ll be able to budget for how much to spend and only consider rings within a certain price range. Although less romantic, the most practical way to engagement ring shop and a sure way to not end up with a disappointed finance.

Ask Her

If you’re partner has her heart set on a certain type of ring, size of diamond or type of band, then it obviously bear this in mind when making your choice.  The best way to find out without giving it away that you’re going to propose it to get her friends and family to find out and feed you the information so you can pick the right ring. If they’re the type of person who has already selected a ring they have in mind and have gone out of their way to make sure you’re aware of this, then finding the perfect ring is made much easier as all you have to do is get the right one. That way you can be sure to please and will have a very happy fiancé on the big day.

More Than A Disco: Wedding Entertainment Ideas With A Twist
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If there’s one form of guaranteed entertainment at a wedding, it’s music and dancing. After all, what’s a celebration without music? However, if you want to knock it out of the park when it comes to how enjoyable and memorable your big day is, a disco (or a live band) shouldn’t be the only entertainment that you have on offer.

 

Your wedding day entertainment should blow your guests away; it shouldn’t give them the same memories that every other wedding they’ve ever been to has. You want to be as unique as possible when it comes to the entertainment that you offer, to ensure that your wedding really is a show stopper.

 

So, with that in mind, below are some truly unique wedding entertainment ideas that are guaranteed to make your guests’ day.

 

Incorporate games

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Photo credit: Flickr

 

A great way to ensure that everyone enjoys your big day and has a laugh with you is to incorporate an array of games that everyone can get involved in. We’re not talking board games – although giant versions of these can also work well, more like garden games, such as boules, ring tossing, and playing cornhole. The great thing about these types of games is that you can opt to personalize them to fit your wedding theme and style. For example, you could order specially designed wraps for your cornhole board from a specialist site like www.LetsPlayCornhole.com/cornhole-wraps/, to personalize the boards to fit your big day perfectly. Or, for instance, you could opt to create a ring toss that links to your wedding in some way or another – perhaps you could have one ring toss pole with a bride on and the other with a groom on? Get creative and have some fun, and you can make sure that your big day is as fun and memorable as possible.

 

Bring out your inner child

 

Weddings are all about having fun, so why not bring out your inner child and celebrate your nuptials in style? To make your big day even more enjoyable for everyone in attendance, find ways to bring out your inner child and have some fun. One way to do that is to hire a bouncy castle for you and your guests to bounce on. Believe it or not, there are plenty of bouncy castle hire companies that offer adult bouncy castle hire, perfect for weddings (and other events). Just make sure that if there are any kids in attendance, that before any adults get on, the kids get off. Or, if you’re holding your wedding somewhere with plenty of outdoor space, why not hire a giant slide for everyone to have a go on? Or, what about booking swing boats? If you want to ensure that your big day is remembered for all the right reasons, getting creative with your entertainment is a must.

 

Make capturing memories fun

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Photo credit: Wikimedia

 

A big part of any wedding is making memories, which is why it’s so important to ensure that you get creative when it comes to capturing memories. Yes, having a wedding photographer is a must, but that’s not all you need. As well as natural-looking photographs and group shots captured by the photographer, you also want to ensure that there are some more fun and quirky photos taken. To do this, hiring a photo booth is a great option, especially as if you ensure that there’s a bucket of props on offer too, having a photo booth can be a whole lot of fun. Another option is to have a life-sized photo board of you and the groom created with cut-outs where your faces should be, for your guests to stand in and snap photos. Or, how about hiring a caricature to come and draw pictures of your guests – these could make great wedding favors.  

 

A wheel of truth or dare

 

Truth or dare is a lot of fun, especially when you’ve had a few drinks, so why not incorporate it into your wedding with a wheel of fun? If you or the groom are handy with woodwork, perhaps you could make your own DIY wheel, if not, you could always opt to have one custom-made via an online site. Either way, having a wheel of fun with a combination of truth questions or dares, can be a lot of fun. Aim to personalize the things on the wheel, to make the game more fun. For example, perhaps you could have dates like ‘tap cousin Lisa on the head and run – don’t let her see you’ or truths like ‘who is your favorite uncle?’. Get creative and see what you can come up with. The more creative you can make the wheel, the more fun you will have. For more ideas, resources like www.moncheribridals.com/wedding-ideas/ can be useful.

 

Sports day activities

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Photo credit: Pixabay

 

Another great way to ensure that your big day is enjoyable for everyone in attendance is to plan an array of sport’s activities for everyone to get involved in. Think sack races, egg and spoon races,  relay races – get creative and come up with a range of ideas that anyone who wants to, can get involved in. Perhaps you could even give out little medals and trophies for the winners to up the ante a little? For ideas of ways that you could personalize the sports activities that you have picked, have a browse online – sites like Pinterest should have plenty of ideas that you could try, so it’s more than worth taking the time to have a browse.

 

Yes, every wedding needs a disco (or a live band) – what’s a wedding without dancing? But that’s not the only entertainment that you should offer – get creative and come up with some unique ways to keep everyone entertained throughout the day and into the evening. Hopefully, the ideas and suggestions above will help you to do that, but if you’re still a little stuck, there’s sure to be plenty of ideas online, it’s just a case of finding the ones that are a good fit for your big day, that’s all.

Wedding Favor Favorites
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In some ways, the now-established tradition of giving favors to those who attend your nuptials is quite strange. After all, you just bought your bridesmaids, groomsmen and all your guests dinner and drinks. You provided entertainment and sought to ensure they were happy and comfortable… and now you give them a gift at the end of the night? Nice!

 

Of course, it’s all a part of the day. We all want to send our guests off home with a smile on their face and, most importantly, a memento of the day. We open up our marriages to share them with others; it’s no surprise we want that memory to last in the form of favors.

 

When it comes to choosing the favors for your own wedding, you have several options. As ever, some of the decision-making process comes down to budget – but we’re not going to tangle with that. Instead, let’s examine the concepts behind the areas you can source your favors from. That way, regardless of your budget, you can find a concept that suits you and spend whatever you see fit within the confines of it.

 

Concept One: Traditional

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Photo credit: Pixabay

 

Traditional wedding favors with be sugared almonds or foil-wrapped chocolate. Something small and delicate that can sit prettily on the table during the meal then subsequently dropped into a handbag as guests leave. It’s the perfect option if you’re otherwise sticking with tradition.

 

Concept Two: Comedic

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Photo credit: Pixabay

 

Not all weddings have to be serious and focused on true love and nothing but. If you’re a couple with a sense of humor, then it makes sense to incorporate that into your favors. Silly posed photos in frames, novelty gadgets, and custom bobbleheads all give a sense of whimsy to your favors while still achieving their main goal.

 

Concept Three: Cheerfully Inexpensive

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Photo credit: Pixabay

 

Note ‘inexpensive’ rather than ‘cheap.’ Disposable items make for great wedding favors, such as paper fans or small bags of nostalgic candy. You can keep it simple and still make an impact. You’re trying to make people smile, not provide them with a favor worthy of being an heirloom they pass through the family for years to come!

 

Concept Four: Digital

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Photo credit: Pixabay

 

Our lives are lived online in the 21st century, so why not harness that for your favors? You can still provide guests with a physical piece of card, on which you can print a QR code. When scanned, this could link to a website where you plan to post pictures and memories of the wedding day itself. You could also link to a specific playlist that you’ve set up of songs that were going to be at the wedding or a YouTube dedicated channel for people to upload their own footage. It might not be a favor in the conventional sense, but it will keep the excitement going even as you head off on honeymoon.

 

Concept Five: Personalized

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Photo credit: Pixabay

If you have a small guest list, then it might be viable for you to look to personalize gifts. Wine bottles, magnets, and pens are common choices – all embossed with the names of the guests and perhaps your wedding date. At least they won’t have an excuse for forgetting your anniversary, anyway!

Creating A Wedding Day That Your Guests Will Remember Forever
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It seems that often, there are two types of people when it comes to weddings. There are those couples who want a private, intimate affair – sometimes the kind of ceremony when only the immediate family are in attendance, or maybe no actual guests at all. Then, there are those couples who long for a big, flashy wedding, with lots of friends and family around to see them say the words ‘I do’. If you fall into the latter category, you probably see your wedding as just as much about your loved ones as you do about your partner. After all, it’s a chance for everyone to come together and enjoy a great big party, and the opportunity to catch up with people they maybe haven’t seen for a while. But a large majority of your guests will probably have been to many weddings before yours – so what can you do to make your big day stand out among your guests?

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Photo credit: Flickr

Have a theme

Okay, so themed weddings either make you jump for joy or make you cringe until you can cringe no more. But whatever camp you sit in, there is always a way to tie a theme into your wedding day in a way that suits you. It is a great way to grab your guest’s attention and from the outset you know it will be a wedding to remember. You can go as full on or as subtle as you like depending on your own personal tastes. For example, if you are a huge lover of Disney but don’t want your wedding day to be taken over by princesses, fairies and flying elephants, you can inject your theme in a more muted manner. This could be by wearing some Disney inspired jewelry, or even naming your tables after famous films.

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Photo credit: Pexels

Deliver the goods when it comes to the food

Wedding catering is notorious for being typically poor – but many highbrow companies have seen this gap in the market and have seized it with both hands. Browse the market to find reputable  catering services for events and weddings that may be able to help you feed the masses on your big day. Weddings are very long days in themselves, especially for your guests that attend both the ceremony and the reception – so make sure you have some good food and drink on offer to help replenish them!

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Photo credit: Wikimedia

An amazing venue

They say it’s not about where you are, it’s who you’re with. While this is certainly true for many occasions, on your wedding day, it’s only natural to want to have a great venue at your disposal. Obviously, most people are limited in where exactly they can pick for their wedding as location is usually the prime factor. But, as venues are typically the most expensive part of the wedding package, you need to make sure you get it right. Stately homes and castles are pricey but provide a stunning backdrop to your special day – or why not go quirky by getting married on a boat or outdoors?

Design Your Own Wedding Ring with These Top Tips
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Photo credit: Kristyn Hogan

Your wedding ring is important. It is a symbol of the love and commitment you and your husband have for each other. You love is unique, and your wedding ring should be too. More couples than ever before are choosing to create their own wedding rings, rather than simply picking out something generic, which could be seen on the fingers of countless couples, from the store.

 

If you like the idea of designing your own custom wedding ring, but you don’t know where to start, take a look at these top tips for creating your own ring:

 

Keep Calm

 

The most important thing to remember when designing your own wedding ring is to keep calm. So many brides add to their already ample stress levels by worrying about their ability to create an attractive ring, but what they forget is that there are professionals who will help them create the ring – they are not alone in the process and neither will you be!

 

Seek Inspiration

 

If you do not come from a design background, then it stands to reason that you won’t be able to pluck a beautiful ring design out of thin air. You will need to look for inspiration. Luckily, inspiration is everywhere. It can be found in the shapes of nature, the jewellery of famous designers and on websites like Pinterest, which aggregates thousands of design pictures for you to peruse at your leisure or https://antwerpdiamonds.direct/ where you can find fabulous lose diamonds to use in your wedding ring designs.

 

Try Rings for Size

 

Just because you are planning to design your own wedding band, does not mean that you can’t try a whole bunch on. Looking at pictures and inspiration boards will only get you so far, you need to try the ring on for style to see if you really truly love a particular design, whether that be retro or minimalist, to see if you really love it.

 

Find a Designer

 

Finding a bespoke wedding ring designer who you click with and who listens to your ideas is a vital part of the process. Unfortunately, you will not get on with every ring designer, and some will specialise in certain styles that you are not interested in, so you need to do your homework and check out the portfolios of multiple designers before you settle on the one for you.

 

Check the Small Print

 

When you do find the right designer for you, it is imperative that you check the small print on any contract before you sign it because many designers will require various amounts of money at various times, whether in the form of deposits or final payments. Once you start the process, it is almost impossible to back out without losing money, so you need to be absolutely certain of what you are doing.

 

Cost

 

Another thing you will want to consider before designing your own wedding ring is the cost of doing so. When you’re creating your own design, costs can quickly spiral out of control, so you would do well to let your designer know that you have a firm budget in mind, which cannot under any circumstances be exceeded if you want to stick to your wedding budget.

 

Forget Trends

 

There is nothing wrong with being interested in the latest trends, but when it comes to wedding rings, do you really want to be a slave to them? After all, your wedding ring is going to be on your finger for the rest of your life, so choosing something which is classic, but which also speaks to your individual style is a much better idea than choosing a piece which is currently in fashion, but may not be quite so pleasing as you grow older.

 

Let Your Freak Flag Fly

 

That being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using a design that most people would find strange, but which has personal meaning to you. For example, if you and your hubby to be have a special song, don’t be afraid to engrave the lyrics onto your ring. Some people have been known to have their favourite film quotes, scientific formulas and even Klingon messages on their wedding rings!

 

Bone Up on Stones

 

Whether you’re opting for a classic diamond or another stone, it is important that you are able to recognise the quality of stones. Stones can differ immensely in price depending on their condition, colour and appearance, with a very clear diamond costing several times as much as one with even a slight impurity, but as long as you know your stones, you will not be in danger of getting ripped off.

 

While we’re talking about stones, don’t be afraid to choose something a bit different, if you adore opals or have a passion for sapphires, don’t shy away from including them in your design just because it’s not traditional.

 

Study Metals

 

Of course, your wedding ring is likely to be made up of more metal than stone, which is why you should also get to know your precious metals. Sometimes, metals can cost more not because they look better or are more precious, but because they are heavier, and knowing this, for example, can help you to save money in the best possible way.

 

Plan Well in Advance

 

When you are having anything custom designed, you need to leave plenty of time before the date it is needed, not only because creating a ring from scratch takes time, but also because things can and do go wrong, and there so no guarantee that a ring will be ready on the day you need it. So, aim to leave at least eight weeks between your first design appointment and your wedding day, but ideally, you should be looking to have your ring created as soon as you start planning the wedding seriously to avoid any hiccups.
If you take note of these tips, put in some time to understanding the design process and the logistics of wedding rings, and you pour your heart and soul into creating something you will treasure forever, there is no way that you will ever be disappointed by your wedding ring.

It’s In The Details: Your Wedding Checklist
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The one thing that trips up most brides is the details. You can gather your bridesmaids and groomsmen together to help you plan a wedding day but every single bride in the world will always panic that she has forgotten one of the details of her wedding day. It’s like that dream where you’re standing naked in front of everyone you know; you don’t want it to happen and it’s embarrassing if it does!

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Photo credit: Del Sol Photography

Forgetting wedding details doesn’t have to be a huge deal as long as the detail you forget isn’t one of the big ones. For most, being organised is key and the biggest day of your life should be meticulously planned. If you are able to you should absolutely hire a wedding planning service that can be on hand to help you out and make sure you stay calm. Otherwise, get a notepad and pen, you have a list to write!

  1. Outfits: Quite an obvious one but you should be very clear to your groom about colours and styles you want on your wedding day. While you’re thinking of your wedding dress, you need to remember your wedding night lingerie, your shoes and a bag to hold your phone and other bits in. it’s not always all about the dress – the details count!
  2. Venue: Planning your venue is fun but remember to check exactly what comes in the package you get for your chosen place. You want to make sure you’re getting good value for your money so find out whether costs include table and chair covers, the cake knife and stand and a DJ. These details may sound trivial but when it comes to your wedding day, you cannot forget these!
  3. Food: Have you checked whether any of your guests are vegetarian? Sometimes, trying to cater for different tastes and diets is a little too hard but if you’ve ordered finger food catering from Diamond Blue Catering or other such companies, you would be able to order a variety of food that is set for every taste.
  4. Invitations: While you may have remembered the invites, have you included absolutely everything in them? Have you given your technologically-challenged guests a phone number or postal address to respond to in case email isn’t their thing? Have you included the time of the service if you are having a church ceremony? The smallest details can really throw off your guests and if you are choosing to get married in an obscure location, make sure you spend time making up maps to send to each guest.
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Photo credit: Pexels

The smallest details can really derail a wedding but as long as you’ve made lists, mind maps and you’ve asked, asked and asked again, you should hopefully have every detail fulfilled far enough in advance that you can fix any last-minute mistakes with the minimum of stress. Getting hitched should go off without a hitch and you should know how every second should go. Go and get married; you’re ready!

Sensational Ways To Include Your Mother At Your Wedding
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Brides generally come with an entourage of people in the lead up to the big day. Whether you are newly engaged, in the middle of prepping your wedding, or on the cusp of the biggest day of your life, you have very likely got a flock of people around you at your beck and call. That’s not to say you’ve turned into a demanding Bridezilla, ripping people to shreds with a mere cut of the eye. It’s just that friends, sisters, cousins, aunts, your soon to be mother in law, your mum…all these people PLUS hairdressers and make-up artists will be hovering round you and waiting for instruction. The most important person in that entourage is your mum. She’s been there from your first breath, first steps and first words. It’s only fitting that she should be there by your side to see you take the next set of first steps in your life: as a bride.

All the attention can get a little overwhelming, so take some time to step back and look at the big picture. Look at the women in your life who have come together from two families to make your day beautiful. Think about how you can honour what they’ve done for you. Perhaps your mum has been your automatic wedding planner, helping you write lists and making plans across a calendar so the timing is prompt and efficient. Perhaps she actually paid out for an actual band of Luxury Wedding Planners to take the stress out of your hands for your day. So how can you honour your mum on your wedding day? The day may be about you, but without her you wouldn’t be standing where you are now.

  • Get traditional on the day. If there’s a necklace, piece of precious jewellery or even a tradition that your mother hopes you could do for your wedding day, honour it. Wear the jewellery with pride and make it your ‘something borrowed’.
  • Get giggling! Prepare your wedding favours together, arrange freshly cut wildflowers together, take a calligraphy class to write place cards together. Any wedding job can have a fun injection just by sitting and being together.
  • Let your photographer know that there has to be a few photos of your mum and you together without anyone else in the picture. This woman brought you into the world and taught you how to do everything you know how to do now. Cherish that in print.
  • A special gift goes a long way. An embroidered handkerchief with a poem describing your love for your mother is a keepsake gift as well as a place to capture the tears.

Weddings are emotional ceremonies. It’s your day and about you as the bride, but don’t forget where you came from and how you got to where you are now. Even if your relationship isn’t the best friendship in the world, you can still include and be grateful for the mother you have by your side on your wedding day.

Preventing The Lesser-Known (But Still Terrifying) Threat of the Bridemaidzilla
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Photo credit: Pixabay

Your wedding should be, in theory, the happiest day of your life. Well, at least one of the top five. There are the days your kids are born, if you have them. There is your first paycheck. And then there’s the day you realize you paid the store clerk with a single and they gave you change for a ten. Those are all pretty sweet, also.

But I digress. It should be the happiest day of your life, but the thing about a wedding is this. Although it has two leading characters, there is a sizeable supporting cast. While the two of you may give virtuoso performances, there’s always the risk of some scene-stealing further down the card.

It may be for the best of reasons – a giggling fit during the vows, a funny best man speech or the priest catching the bouquet. It may also be because of a spectacular tantrum pulling focus from the happy couple. How do you avoid the lesser-known wedding day disaster – the Bridesmaidzilla?

Picking Your Bridesmaids

As noted before, you do need to be decisive when picking bridesmaids for a wedding. It’s the bridesmaid’s choice in the end, and you have to pick who you’re happy with. That said, if there is a chance of one bridesmaid being miserable because her sister couldn’t be one, think. Does it make a huge difference to have five instead of four?

Picking The Dresses

Outside of the shallower Hollywood rom-coms, you rarely get a group of four friends who are identical in shape and size. Picking the right dresses for your crew, then, can be a tense process. You may have three who are delighted with the cut and the color. There may then be one who looks at what you’ve bought and says “Oh, they’ll look great! I will look like I’ve dressed up for Hallowe’en!”

That’s why sites like alanavivi.com are so useful. You can decide on a color theme, but allow each bridesmaid to choose their cut and style. No need to play the percentages, everyone can look drop dead gorgeous. Just a bit less so than the bride, of course.

Maid Of Honor/Head Bridesmaid Fiascoes

The bridesmaids at any wedding should usually be the best friends of the bride herself. The best, best friend will be the head bridesmaid or maid of honor. However, do you know who your best friend is? Do they? And more to the point, do those who are not your best, best friend know that? This is something that requires clarity early on.

It may be worth making the decision that you won’t be having a maid of honor at all. Should the decision be questioned, explain that they’re all bridesmaids because they mean the world to you. Putting one of them above the others would just be too difficult emotionally on such an important day.

The one caveat to this is if you have been asked to play the part of maid of honor to one of your own party. In that case not returning the favor would look like a snub – and guess where that leads?

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