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Beat the Wedding Stress Blues!

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Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful times in a bride’s life and everything from the major decisions like venue and dress to the seemingly more minor decisions like centrepieces and wedding favours can seem like an incredibly daunting and induce stress in even the calmest and most composed of brides.

While it would be ideal for your day to go exactly as you have dreamed of and have been planning for, it is important to remember that you need to take the time to destress and relax during the planning to ensure the run-up to the big day isn’t engulfed by stress but rather an enjoyable and memorable experience that you will have with your other half and closest friends and families for the rest of your life.

If you’re worried that you’re the only bride who’s pulling their hair out with all the competing pressures of planning a wedding – fear not, there are a lot more brides in exactly the same boat as you.

Fortunately, there’s a few easy and proven methods to tackle the stresses of planning for a wedding and some handy tips to help your day and its run-up to go as smoothly as possible.

Planning a Wedding is Not For The Faint-hearted – and the Statistics Prove It

According to a survey done by wedding company, Zola, on 500 engaged or newlywed couples, 96% of those survey called wedding planning stressful with 40% of those surveyed even going so far as to describe it as extremely stressful.

When probed as to the biggest stressors:

35% stressed most about getting everything done
20% stressed most about managing guest lists and RSVPs
14% stressed most about finding a venue

Perhaps one of the most interesting statistics to emerge from the survey however was the fact that 71% of participants said that wedding planning is more stressful than one or more of the following:

Public speaking
Finding a job
Having bad credit
Applying to college
Buying a home or moving to a new house

If you’ve been feeling the effects of wedding stress, you’re not alone. Many couples experience a high number of stress-induced symptoms when planning a wedding, as is evidenced by the results of the Zola survey, which found that of 86% who experienced on average three or more stress-induced symptoms:

56% had elevated anxiety
37% had difficulty sleeping
35% had mood swings
30% had shorter tempers
27% had headaches
15% had skin breakouts
12% had hair loss

Signs You’re Too Stressed

It is important to recognise that stress and pressure is part and parcel of planning for one of the biggest days of your life. It is highly unlikely you will meet a bride who has said that they didn’t find wedding planning stressful (and if you do, they’re lying). Some signs that you may be too stressed and on the verge of burn-out are:

You’ve got wedding on the brain – you are obsessing over the minor details all day, every day from when you’re in that work meeting, to when you’re lying in bed at night even so far as when you’re in the toilet
You start questioning all of your decisions – you want everything to be 100% right and you begin to overthink every decision you ever made
It’s not fun anymore – wedding planning is supposed to be fun and exciting, but it feels like more of a chore now
Your relationship with your partner is strained – you’re freaking out because your partner isn’t freaking out about all the things that could go wrong on the day and its affecting your relationship

It can be easy to lose the run of yourself and plans can spiral and become unmanageable. The best way to tackle this problem is to take a step back from the wedding and the venue picking, dress choosing, food tasting and band listening by making some time for yourself to relax. That way when you come back to it a few days’ time, you’ll have a fresh head and be able to approach your ideas much better and your wedding (and your guests) will thank you for it. Some of the best ways to beat the wedding stress include:

Get a Massage

A massage is not only a luxurious, indulgent break for both your body and mind, it also has proven health benefits and is well-recognised by healthcare professionals for its healing properties in the fight against stress, with many studies showing that massages reduce anxiety and depression.

Services like The Massage People who provide mobile massages in London and Match Skin Salon who offer Massages in Brighton & Hove are a great and cost-effective way to fit a massage in and get that golden relaxation time that your body and mind so desperately crave. What’s even better is that the therapists will always come to your specified London and address.

With loads of options of massages to choose from such as Swedish massage, Indian head massage, relaxation massages and full-body massages, it really is a relaxing experience like no other and a must for brides in the run-up to the big day. Why not kill two birds with the stone and incorporate some massages for you and the girls into your hen party or bridal shower?

Exercise

The benefits of this age-old remedy are two-fold: you’ll fight the creeping stress as well as contributing towards how good you’ll look in that dress on the day. Even something as simple as going for a walk is a great way to free your mind and will leave you feeling more focused and relaxed in the long-run (pun intended!).

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Reserve seating plan woes and dress shade troubles for strictly the day time. Your bed is the place to be resting not planning so before you settle down for the night, put your wedding thoughts in a box, get into a comfy pair of PJs and relax so you’ll get a restful night’s sleep

Take a Break

Whether it’s rock-climbing, reading or going for a massage, set aside a few hours every week where wedding talk of any sort is under a strict ban and let your mind go elsewhere. Stick to the wedding planning in the designated hours.

And remember, no matter how stressed you are, wedding planning is a joyous occasion and a memory you’ll have for the rest of your life so make the most of the madness and try not to let the stress bog you down as your day will always be great in the end!

July 25, 2018 0 comment

Wedding Makeup Ideas

5 Skincare & Beauty Products Every Bride to Be Should Be Using

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Every Bride wants to walk down the aisle with glowing, clear skin for all to see – but for many brides – this takes time and effort. The secret (as with most things in life) to beautiful skin on your wedding day is proper preparation, and we recommend working out a beauty regimen up to 6 months in advance of your big day, so you can look your best on your big day.

Below, we run through five products which we recommend using during this period, as well as sharing a few tips to help you overcome any skincare issues you may be facing.

Cleanser

Cleansing should already be a big part of everybody’s skincare regimen. Ideally carried out twice a day, it’s the ideal product to wake you up ready for the day ahead, as well as help prepare you for sleep – removing the dirt and grime that your face has picked up during the day.

Cleansing is one of the most enjoyable, and refreshing parts of any skincare routine. There are literally hundreds of cleansers to choose from – so try and choose a cleanser which has been designed to work with your skin type, such as the Clarins Cleansing Milk – designed for use with combination & oily skin.

Moisturiser

We all know how important moisturising your skin is, it not only feels fantastic – it also reduces the chance of breakouts, whilst helping your skin stay looking nourished, healthy and most importantly young. Again, it’s important to choose a moisturiser specific to your skin type, keeping the nutrient level of the skin balanced.

Ideally, you should also use both daytime and nighttime moisturisers – which have different consistencies for complete skin nourishment. Those with limited time, should choose a brilliant all rounder – like the Clarins Restorative Day Cream – which is suitable for all skin types.

Masks

Face Masks are a fantastic way of achieving excellent skin results, in quick time frames. These intensive masks can serve a wide range of purposes – with some focussing on exfoliation, and others concentrating on moisturising. Moisturising face masks are some of our favourites, these masks gently envelop the skin with nutrients – leaving you feeling refreshed and your skin looking fantastic. The Clarins Extra-Firming Mask is a great choice.

Targeted Treatments

For those with specific skin issues and complaints, there is a range of targeted skincare products – which have been scientifically developed to deal with, and improve certain skin complaints. One of the most popular products within this targeted skincare range is the Clarins Mission perfection Serum. This Serum targets everything from discolouration to pigmentation, red marks left behind by breakouts as well as overall redness.

Eye Cream

Eye Cream does an excellent job of specifically targeting and improving the condition and feeling of the skin around the eyes. Reducing wrinkles, improving skin tone and reducing bags is all in a day’s work for a scientifically developed eye cream. The Clarins Firming Eye Wrinkle Smoothing Cream is a perfect all round eye cream.

If you have any questions or comments about skincare products, and how they can help your skin on the run up to your wedding – leave them below!

July 11, 2018 0 comment

Gift Lists

Wedding Lists: What to ask for & how to ask for it

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Getting married is one of life’s most stressful events, and this stress is always added to when deciding what to do for a wedding list. Some couples choose not to have a wedding list at all, others choose to ask for specific items, whilst others simply ask for a cash gift towards the cost of a honeymoon.

In our experiences, it’s always best to have a gift list – across a range of items across many different budgets. Having a list keeps your wedding gifts on track, helping you and your wedding guests in organising your gifts. Not having such a list can make it very difficult for your guests to decide what to buy you – taking the fun away from gift giving.

Historically, wedding lists would be a list of goods which would help the new married couple setup a home, and family life. Today however, with most couples living together before marriage – the traditional list of white goods, simply does not apply. Today, couples should ask for items they ‘want’ rather than simply ‘need’

Below, we run through some perfect ideas for wedding guests lists – which guests enjoy purchasing, and married couples enjoy receiving!

Luxury Gifts

One of the best types of gifts we like to give and receive, we class as ‘luxury gifts’ these gifts can be excellent versions of everyday items, as well as more unique pieces.

In the case of everyday luxury items, umbrellas, pens, stationery, wallets and purses are all excellent options. For the more opulent gifts – think luxury speakers, keepsake collection jewelry, watch winders as well as luxury glassware – allowing you to enjoy every tipple, that little bit more.

Luggage

One of the most important things to upgrade in every home, is the luggage. Although it may only be used a couple of times a year – old, tired luggage not only looks bad, but also underperforms when it comes to protecting your possessions, whilst being a real pain to lug around airports etc.

In sharp contrast, modern luggage sets do an excellent job of protecting your property, are easy to manoeuvre whilst looking great.

Homeware

Although we understand that you probably are not in desperate need of 5 toasters, 3 cutlery sets and a range of everyday glasses – your wedding represents the perfect time to upgrade a lot of your homeware & accessories. In choosing to upgrade these pieces, you can expect higher performance, easier cooking as well as added luxury and style.

Popular choices include Champagne Glasses, Dinner Sets as well as Cutlery Sets.

Bedding

Bedding is also another area in which you can bring everyday luxury into your life – there’s very few things better in life than climbing into fresh, clean and luxury bedding at the end of a long day – helping you drift off and wake up refreshed, and happy (even on Monday mornings!)

Vouchers as Wedding Gifts

The ideal way of being able to choose exactly what you want, is to ask your wedding guests to purchase you vouchers, at department stores which offer all of the above and more. You could also ask for service vouchers, such as for a cleaning service like Gleam Clean Specialists. This allows the guest to purchase you a proper gift. Whilst giving you the control to purchase exactly what you want and need yourself.

Burton Blake source, select and test a wide range of great wedding gift products, from some of the finest manufacturers in the world. Their theory is, if we do not like it – you will not either. Our range is absolutely perfect for newlyweds, with thousands of luxury products available.

July 9, 2018 0 comment

The Dress

Selecting The Best Shapewear For Your Dress

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You’ve spent months, years, planning your big day. The venue is perfect, the service planned to perfection, with caterers, photographer, musicians and entertainment booked. Everything is in place, to the final buttonhole. Many months ago you selected the perfect dress and it’s been altered to fit your frame at the last minute. However, while some brides will lose weight with the stress of planning the special day, some will undoubtedly lapse last-minute if they’re dieting or exercising to comfortably fit into their dress.

When it comes to the overall look on the day, underwear is as important as outerwear. As we all know, the correct shapewear can dramatically alter the look of an outfit, and this is never more true than on a brides’ wedding day. The average spend on a wedding dress in the UK is just under £1,400 and with all eyes on you, it’s really important to make sure you fit the dress perfectly. With numerous foundation garment options available, including plus size shapewear for curvy brides, making the right choice for you can be a challenge. In order to help you choose, we’ve compiled the following tips, to make sure you’re comfortable, sleek and elegant on the big day:

Select the correct strength

There are four levels of control available – light, medium, firm and extra firm. We recommend brides choose firm control, but this will depend on the level of boning within your dress. You need to be able to comfortably sit, stand and dance, while knowing your shape is being snuggly controlled.

Always choose your correct size

Make sure you get properly measured and select the correct size for you. Don’t think that choosing smaller sized shapewear will achieve greater contouring. By not fitting you properly it will wrinkle up, roll down and make you feel really uncomfortable. It will also cause unsightly bulges that will make you look bigger. If you feel you need more support, go for an extra firm control garment.

Cool down before putting on

Getting ready can take a while and even the coolest of brides can get hot and flustered. It’s best to get your hair and makeup done before wiggling into your shapewear. This will ensure you’ve cooled down a bit after the frenetic preparations. If you have the correct size but are struggling to get into the garment, try applying a little talc to the inside of the material.

Go nude

Nude and natural colours tend to work best under white, ivory or cream dresses, rather than white, which can show through. It’s therefore more important to match your skin tone than your dress, you’ll also tend to find there are more shapewear options in nude colours, giving you greater choice.

Know the areas you want to target

Depending on your body shape and the style of your dress, there are plenty of options to chose from:

* Full coverage – If you’re looking for streamlining and control from your bust to your knees, then consider purchasing a full body, full body suit or shaper slip. There are also open bust options, which allow you to wear your own bra, if you don’t require help lifting and shaping your cleavage.

* Cinch in the waist – If you’re wearing a strapless dress and your waist is your problem area, then waist cinchers can be worn to reduce your waist measurement by 1-3 inches; boned corsets will provide more extreme shaping.

* Tone your tummy, hips and bottom– To target these areas, control briefs are your best option. Among the most popular shapewear out there, these will smooth, streamline and enhance your shape. If you need shaping control from under your bust, choose a higher waisted style or for more extreme toning an open bust bodysuit. This style of shapewear is popular for slinky, fishtail dresses. Unless your dress is lined, go for seam free shapewear.

* Slim down those thighs – mid-thigh shapers are similar to control briefs but come down to your mid-thigh or knees. Just check they’re not visible under your dress, if you’ve gone for a cocktail or tea dress. You don’t want them captured by the wedding photographer!

Keep it a secret from the groom

As much as he loves you, we recommend that unless you’ve chosen pretty, lacy shapewear, you have something else to change into once the dress comes off. This is especially important if your shapewear is more Bridget Jones than Victoria’s Secret!

July 3, 2018 0 comment

Ideas and Inspiration

Planning The Perfect Spring Wedding

written by admin

Once again it’s spring time. That season of the year associated with many beautiful things, blooming flowers, sunny days, singing birds and, especially, the merry sound of wedding bells.

Nearly everyone would agree that the time between the months of April and June is the best time to have an outdoor wedding. The perfect temperature and beautiful weather is enough to make that special day unique. And, for those of you who are newly engaged and planning to have your nuptials this spring, here are a few tips to set you in the right direction.

Pray for the sun, but plan for the rain –

Getting married in spring is such a lovely idea, the weather is amicable on almost every occasion. However, there are a few times when the clouds want to be a part of the festivities and they send a few raindrops down. Since you can never know if the sunny skies may give way to rain, it is better to plan ahead. There is nothing wrong with having a covered platform in an outdoor wedding. And a nearby basket of umbrellas will not only keep the rain off guests’ clothing, they will also make for great photo shoot props. Of course it may not rain, but if it eventually does, it will neither spoil your day nor your dress.

Get inspiration from the elements –

Spring is probably the most beautiful season of the whole year. Beautiful flowers are in bloom, the grass and leaves are green and lush, and everywhere you turn you see vibrant colours. If you are planning to have an outdoor wedding this spring, let the vivid colors around you be your inspiration. For example, use soft pastel colours for your bridal train and use in season flowers to beautify the venue. RachelPally.com suggests combining contrasting colours with pastel, to give a more exciting look. Pairing one or two vivid colours with pastel will create a memorable picture.

Use the season to its fullest –

Spring brings with it an abundance of beautiful flowers, breathtaking views, and great tasting food. It would be a crime if you didn’t take full advantage of these spring gifts when planning for your spring wedding. At this time of the year, the flowers are so romantic, it’s like they were made for your wedding. And what’s more? All these things are less expensive during this period, there is no point importing.

Use flowers like peonies, lilac, garden roses, and any other seasonal flowers that catch your fancy to tell the story of spring at your wedding. Combine it with a vibrant menu made up of lamb and vegetables like asparagus, spinach, and scalloped potatoes. Strawberries will make for the icing on the cake, in a manner of speaking.

A spring themed wedding cake –

But, of course, what else could it be but a spring themed wedding cake? Here are some tips on how to pick the best wedding cake for your special day:

For your wedding in the spring, consider hiring a baker who can give you an outstanding cake decorated with beautiful flowers made from rice paper. Of course, these flowers are just decorative but a really good baker will make them look like the real thing. However, if you want something different, you can opt for a chocolate-covered cupcake instead of the traditional wedding cake.

Go creative on the favours –

To a lot of people, wedding favours are a chore, but it doesn’t have to be so. With a bit of creativity, you can add a personalised touch to your wedding favours. People already have too many trinkets and silver frames. You can give personalised champagne glasses, personalised matchboxes with matches, or even handmade candles. Or you can consider giving something that evokes spring, such as a packet of flower seeds they can plant in their garden and remember your special day, as they watch them grow.

Book early

Just like the summer, the weekends in spring are booked up pretty fast for weddings. So, if you plan on having a wedding in spring, it is a good idea to do your venue shopping fast, so you can book on time.

Apart from the venue, you may also need to plan ahead for the caterer, the venue decorators, and the whole gamut of logistics that must accompany a wedding. The moment you find a venue you love, quickly secure it with a deposit, so that it is kept free for your day. The same thing applies to the caterers, florist, decorators, and so on. Make a firm commitment by putting some money down, so that they will make their time available for your day.

Plan your budget –

Brides to be are not often comfortable sharing details of their wedding budget, because they feel that contractors such as the caterer, florist and decorators will be influenced by the budget. This is true up to a point. However, it is important that you plan your budget from the very beginning so that you know if there is the need to cut out a few things, or include others. It is better to plan with a lower budget and have extra cash available than to have to start looking for cash later to handle financial commitments.

If you need a little help in saving up then this guide from Lending Expert gives some useful pointers.

Finally

There is actually no better time to have a wedding than in the spring. Everywhere is just so beautiful, it makes the day more special. If you are planning for a wedding this spring, the ideas covered above will help you immensely.

Have a blissful union.

May 16, 2018 0 comment

Ideas and Inspiration

Wedding Bands – What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

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Most of us dream of a flawless, fairy tale wedding with all our friends and family celebrating together to our favourite tunes of all time. The fact that this dream isn’t always realised doesn’t mean that we don’t deserve all of this – there’s just so much to keep on top of, it’s easy to let something slip through your fingers. Rigid organisation approached with military precision is the key to a mishap-free celebration. Here are a few potential potholes that could disrupt your smooth ride in the run up to, on the day of and in the period following your glorious wedding:

PRE-WEDDING

Expensive early Booking

The early birds among you might think you’ll be getting the juiciest of worms by booking your wedding band months in advance, but this economy is false. Function bands adjust their rates all the time in accordance with current trends plus their own experience, and will most likely be loath to give you a quote for an event too far in the future. Moreover, they may not even wish to commit to the gig at all, as the fast-moving life of a musician features many unexpected twists and turns. Members come and go, as do bands themselves, and popular wedding bands are often inundated with offers and could be holding out for a more lucrative opportunity. To circumvent such flakiness, don’t book your wedding band more than a couple of months in advance tops. Then, you’ll get a realistic quote and still give your band plenty of time to prepare for your big day.

Last Minute Leftovers

If you take a “last minute dot com” approach to booking a wedding band, you could well end up with one heck of a good deal. But you could also end up with a band whose style is at odds with your personal tastes – and by this stage, there’s not much you can do about it. You’ll just have to pretend that you wanted you traditional white wedding to be scored by a heavy metal covers band. Worse still – you could end up with no band at all, and have no choice but to let your overexcited cousin – who’s been dying for a chance to show off his spinning skills – behind the decks. It’s better to be safe than sorry, even if it means paying a little extra.

WEDDING

Nowhere to Go

You’ve just arrived, fresh from your ceremony, with plenty of love in the air, at the venue of your reception. The place is teeming with aunties and caterers, the tables have been perfectly set, and there’s a beat-up transit van waiting for you in the carpark with four disgruntled musicians leaning against it. Not only is there no easy access to the reception room – the stage area is also barely big enough for the drums. And not for the first time – all too often are bands treated as an afterthought. Please make sure they know where they can unload and where they can set up their gear – and give them plenty of room to perform. Yes, your friends and family’s comfort will be at the forefront of your mind, but extra stress and cramped conditions will have a negative impact on your band’s performance. Have a chat with your band, describe your venue to them, and have someone on hand on the day to show them where to go.

Messed-Up Timings

You’re going to want things to run as close to clockwork as is humanly possible on your wedding day – stress levels are going to be running high enough without people showing up at the wrong place at the wrong time. While you’re going to have to be flexible on the day – you can’t predict things like illnesses or vehicular breakdowns – at least have the framework ready. You don’t want a situation where the father of the bride tries to address the room while the band are still in full swing and your guests are still dancing; likewise, you wouldn’t want the announcement that you’re about to cut the cake to be drowned out by your specially chosen 80s cheese playlist. Make sure everyone has a copy of the same schedule – and make sure everyone has their phones switched on in the event of changes.

You also don’t want your wedding band to show up too late or too early – your guests will either be welcomed by an empty room, or a group of bored and annoyed band members. Give your wedding band the rundown of your wedding in advance, and warn them of any possible delays, and ask them to do the same for you – this way, you won’t be wasting each other’s time.

First Dance Disasters

An event second only to the bridal procession in iconic importance, the first dance is something you really don’t want to go wrong. Can you imagine looking into your partner’s loving eyes, waiting with baited breath for those first magical chords of your special song to chime in, only for an awkward, tentative count in followed by the sound of uncertain fingers struggling to find their place on the fretboard to shatter the spell instead? It is imperative that you let your band know in good time exactly what you’re expecting from them, or you’ll set yourself up for a horror show. As an additional safety measure, have your first song ready at hand on an iPod or similar handheld device, just in case your wedding band isn’t confident they can do it justice.

Unwelcome Requests

Wedding bands have differing views on this. Yes, it’s your wedding, and you have an entitlement to have whatever music you like – but, then again, they’ve played loads of weddings, and they know from experience what works and what doesn’t. It’s much safer to agree on what’s to be played in advance, so the band can prepare accordingly. There’s nothing worse for a wedding band than a drunken uncle stumbling up to the stage, grabbing the bassist by the shirtsleeve and demanding that they play his favourite 80s power ballad, then insisting that of course they do know it despite the band’s best efforts to shake him off and continue playing the song he’s interrupting. Hopefully this won’t happen at your wedding, but the point remains that while seasoned wedding bands will have seen it all before, it’s not safe to assume that your guests can just waltz up to them whenever they feel like it – so please make this known to them.

POST-WEDDING

Money Disputes

With wedding bands, you really do get what you pay for – so once you’ve got it, it’s time to pay for it. A professional wedding band will have put a great deal of time and effort into honing their performance and putting together their set list, and usually will have given you a quote beforehand based on this along with the level of experience they’ve achieved and the amount of time they’re required to be present for on the day.

However, things rarely go exactly according to our best laid plans. Things can easily overrun or change, and if you need your band for longer than expected, or require an additional service from them that wasn’t previously agreed, they’re going to want paying for it. Remember: you’re on their time. If you want them to throw in a DJ set and they’ve not expressly told you that it’s free, you can’t expect it to be. Also, if you want them to play a set earlier on, then the planned second set gets pushed back, that’s eating into the time they could be spending on other pursuits. Throw into the mix the stress and tiredness, and you’ll be faced with quite an irritable bunch of people unless you cough up!

Now you know what can go wrong, you can hopefully take measures to prevent such things from happening. Just remember – forewarned is forearmed. And while it may seem like having four arms would be a godsend when you’re juggling so many different responsibilities, all you really need when it comes to booking your wedding band is a solid plan and some strong, regularly exercised communication skills.

May 10, 2018 0 comment

Honeymoon Ideas

Unique Honeymoon Destinations Around the World

written by admin

After the knot is tied and the bouquet has been tossed, it’s time for the next phase of the nuptial journey – your honeymoon.

Where to go though? In the stress of wedding planning, the task of planning a honeymoon may be something you want to avoid. Here’s the good news: we’ve compiled a list of some of the best places around the world for your post-ceremony getaway.

Whatever matches your personalities, whatever takes your fancy; you could find the perfect location here. From tropical beaches and culture-rich cities to luxury venues and adventure-focused locations, this list provides a variety of honeymoon destination ideas for any couple.

Remember to play things safe and purchase insurance before you travel. You’ll want to enjoy your honeymoon without a worry in the world. Remember to check out AMI Travel Insurance for the necessary cover for your trip.

Now, to the list of exciting honeymoon destinations…

There’s plenty love in Thailand’s Koh Samui

The most popular honeymoon destination in Southeast Asia, Koh Samui is a prominent island resting on the Gulf of Thailand, featuring a stunning collection of beautiful beaches.

Graced with coconut groves, palm-fringed beaches and a mountainous rainforest, the island offers ideal scenery for honeymooners. There’s kayaking, snorkeling and diving activities on offer at the Angthong Marine National Park, while you can enjoy a luxury stay at any of the boutique hotels, resorts and spas dotted around the island.

A bit of Kiwi-style adventure – blackwater rafting at Waitomo Caves in New Zealand

Fore something a little more on the adventure side, think of an adrenaline-charged holiday that’s not for the faint-hearted. This trip promises fun to the max for couples ready to explore beautiful cave pathways in New Zealand’s North Island.

This caving trip involves swimming, sliding off waterfalls and crawling through cave passages. You’ll get completely wet, but not to worry, as you’ll be provided a shower after the tour.

This memorable excursion promises to leave you awestruck, but it’s completely safe and secure. Even so, maybe getting that all-important insurance cover isn’t a bad idea at all.

A romantic Whitsundays beach experience in Queensland, Australia

74 island wonders lie off the coast of Queensland. Of all these, only eight are inhabited, promising a secluded honeymoon getaway. Charming sunsets, turquoise waters and dancing palm trees make for a romantic ambience for your special time together.

Four Whitsundays Islands provide luxury hotels, resorts and spas for the perfect honeymoon. Enjoy beach-front views and watch the sun set on a horizon dotted with islands. You can go scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, or even hire your own yacht and sail and explore at your own pace.

Bask in the romantic excitement on offer at Jeju Island, South Korea

Jeju Island is pure honeymoon gold. Thousands of honeymooners are attracted to this island for a reason. It offers an ideal location for newlyweds and even features a theme park built in a primeval forest. Also, the impressive amount of natural attractions makes it even more exciting.

With a dormant volcano gracing its skyline, the world’s longest lava tubes, exhilarating walking trails, pink beaches, new boutique hotels, resorts and spas, Jeju offers the perfect post-wedding getaway.

Have sandy fun on the beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand

Honeymooning was made for New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula. With glorious beaches, warm climates and majestic Kauri trees, this stunning destination provides an unforgettable experience that will leave its mark for life.

The famous Hehei beach offers hiking, kayaking and romantic walks to the divine Cathedral Cove.

Enjoy a slice of paradise on The Cook Islands

Halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii lies 15 pristine islands perched in the heart of the Pacific.

The Cook Islands have warm weather, immaculate natural habitats, crystal clear blue lagoons and friendly locals. Head there to enjoy a piece of this little paradise for your honeymoon. The memories will linger long and bring romance to the start of your life together.

Demystify the Bermuda

People flock to the tiny island of Bermuda. This beautiful destination promises the ideal ambience for any honeymoon. The warm climate, picturesque blue waters, affluent beach front resorts and limestone cliffs make for a perfect setting.

Wake up to a beautiful sunrise on the palm-tree lined coastline. Enjoy the fantastic hospitality of the welcoming locals. Relax on the beach, snorkel or fish – the choice is all yours.

Feel like a star in the culture-rich city of Vancouver

If you’re looking to spoil yourself a little and indulge in some expensive shopping whilst on your honeymoon, then make the trip to Vancouver.

The romantic city is endowed with adventure, multicultural cuisines, huge shopping centers and an enthralling skyline that will provide lifelong memories to cherish. You can check out the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain and Vancouver aquarium whilst enjoying your honeymoon romance.

A gorgeous tropical experience in Hawaii

If your honeymoon plans coincide with a Southern Hemisphere winter, you might find yourselves headed to somewhere warm. Only few destinations in the world offer the exhilarating tropical experience that Hawaii rolls out with unfailing consistency. If you want the perfect summertime getaway for honeymooners, then Hawaii is a fantastic choice.

Your honeymoon will be the introduction to a long and blissful marital life. Whether you have an adrenaline-pumped adventure or a calm and cozy time beach-side is up to you.

May 3, 2018 0 comment

Ideas and Inspiration

10 Awesome Entertainment Ideas That Your Wedding Guests Will Love

written by admin

No one will hate you for being selfish on your own wedding day because, after all, it’s your wedding day and the focus is you. However, your guests deserve recognition, they shouldn’t feel neglected or feel like they could be spending their time doing something better if not for your invitation.

The concept of time won’t even cross their mind if they are having more than enough fun. What they will remember, and keep talking about when your name comes up at the end of the day, is the way they felt at your wedding ceremony, and not how your wedding specifically looked.

The thought of sitting amidst a sea of strange faces is already exhausting, not to mention going through another monotonous routine in the name of a wedding ceremony. Spice things up, deviate a little from what’s obtainable, create sparks that will leave your guests spellbound, and make your wedding a grand event.

If all of that seems too complicated, or too difficult for you to handle, you can always hire the services of a trusted entertainment agency. An agency that perfectly understands that moments gone by are the antecedents of memories, and incredible moments beget unforgettable memories.

Here are ten awesome entertainment ideas that your guests will love, and that will make your wedding an unforgettable event

Photo Booths

Photo booths are popular for a good reason. At weddings, they are a great way to have fun and to also create lasting memories. It’s fun to put up props in a photo booth, and the hilarious photos your guests take will make them laugh long after the event has passed. The pictures will also serve as good reminders of the fun they had at your wedding.

Casino Royale

This is one of the best ways to break the ice and stop your guests from being aloof and staying apart from each other. At the casino table, they get to chat with each other as they find some common ground. Not to worry, all you need do is provide some fake money that they can play with. Despite the fact that it’s not real, seeing the amount of money they can make in one night will have them really excited.

Ice Cream Stall

Everyone loves ice cream, fresh and delicious ice cream to tamper down the heat on a hot summer day. If you’re having a summer wedding, don’t forget to include this treat. Both your adult and child guests will thank you for it.

Bouncy Castles

Bouncy castles never fail to make both the children and the adults at your wedding laugh. Who doesn’t enjoy the idea of playing in a bouncy castle? Hardly anyone. There will be so much laughter!

Companies like Jump 4 Adan offer various types of bouncy castles ideal for occasions like these, from combined bouncers and dry slides to completely customized designs.

Magicians

Skilled magicians know how best to engage the minds of your guests, how to keep them occupied as they try to figure out the magician’s tricks. If you want guests that won’t be yawning. and eager to go home, hire skilled magicians to do the trick.

Wedding DJ

Don’t just hire anyone who claims to be a DJ, if you do, you might be in for a huge disappointment. A good DJ should know the perfect music to play, that will keep guests on their feet all night. Of course, there can’t be a wedding without good music.

Live Bands

If DJs don’t cut it for you, you can always go for a live wedding band. The most important thing is for you and your guests to have a special and incredible evening. A live band consisting of individuals who understand the definition and importance of good music will ensure that you have an exceptional wedding.

Wedding Nannies

Children often become easily bored of wedding formalities and when they do, they either start disturbing their parents or causing unwanted distractions. As a result, your adult guests will have their attention divided, and won’t be able to fully enjoy all the goodies you’ve put together for them. Hiring the service of a wedding nanny is the best way to avoid this situation. They will keep your little guests entertained and give their parents breathing space.

Solo Musicians

Hiring a solo musician is the best alternative for couples that can’t afford to hire a live band at their wedding, but want live music. A talented solo musician will keep your guests entertained and also provide a beautiful ambiance for your wedding ceremony.

Firework Displays

Mind-blowing firework displays are such a romantic way of bringing a beautiful and perfect day to an end. Everyone loves an incredible display of fireworks, and you can never go wrong by ending your special day with this type of show.

It’s your wedding day, don’t forget to make it memorable for both you and your guests.

May 3, 2018 0 comment

Wedding Makeup Ideas

Bridal Makeup Tips That You Won’t Forget

written by admin

With wedding season now well underway, Professional Makeup Artist and bridal expert Kiera-louise Harrison from KLMA Makeup Academy, gives you some top tips on bridal beauty that you wont regret!

You have the dress sorted, now its time to think about the look. Say nothing but “I do” to the following bridal makeup tips and

Have a trial 3-5 weeks before your wedding.

Its important as the star of the show that you are 100% happy with the look you choose before you embark on walking down the isle.

A flawless base is one of the most important factors to consider in makeup and never goes out of style! If you plan on using fake tan on the day, be sure to have a test run before your makeup trial so your artist can be sure to get you the perfect foundation match for your skin colour.

Ideas and Inspo

Its always good to have something to be inspired by. You will already have a vision of how perfect you want your day to be, so give the Makeup artist a helping hand by showing her some ideas and ensure your both on the same page going forward.

Look for photos and examples of the kind of look or makeup you want for your big day and bring them with you to your trial. Pinterest is a great tool to use for this! Be sure to take into account the models skin tone and colorings when choosing and be realistic with your expectations! … For example if you have the skin colour of Dita Von Teese, then the make-up of Kim Kardashian won’t necessarily translate on to you.

Be mindful of colour

On your wedding day you must be aware of the following two factors when it comes to colour. Bridal Makeup needs to have enough colour to compensate for how white the dress is. Neutral, brown and pale lip colours if not applied correctly can look washed out in photographs. Remember There’s a big difference between everyday clothes and a wedding dress, so there should be a difference in your makeup too!

Following on from this, your makeup will need to be slightly stronger than your everyday look to compensate for the lighting of the camera. A good makeup artist will be able to ensure your skin looks flawless without troweling it on, and in terms of flash, your T-zone should be kept matte with translucent powders as opposed to layers of makeup!

Be the best you

Your Bridal makeup should enhance your best natural facial features! Focus on the most important elements of your look, such as beautifully natural and radiant looking skin, softly groomed brows and feathery lashes. Choose individual lashes over strip if you prefer them to look more subtle, and differing lengths will create a really natural fluttery look. If you get these basic factors right, the rest of your makeup will fall into place.

Top Tip: Have a look at wedding nails ideas to match your professional make-up!

April 23, 2018 0 comment

Gift Lists

Kings & Queens Wedding Gift Guide

written by admin

Traditionally, a wedding was a time in which the bride and groom would ask for items which they needed for their new home. These days however, it’s most likely that most couples have lived with one another before they got married – meaning they already own most of the items they need to run their home. This means that weddings today, are the perfect opportunity for the married couple concentrate on improving and upgrading the items in their home which you use every day, namely your tableware, dinnerware and glassware.

At Kings & Queens, we have been providing the perfect gifts for weddings for years. Carefully choosing the very finest dinnerware, tableware and homeware from the world’s leading designers– before working hard to discount all of the items we supply.

In this article, we run through some of our most popular products and product groups bought as gifts, and also look at how our Bridal Lists work. The true beauty of these products, is that they can be used almost every day – turning everyday into a special occasion.

Dinner Sets

At Kings & Queens, we offer some fantastic dinnerware options that are perfect for use every day, or saved for special occasions (although we always opt for everyday) A massive range of dinner sets are available, from brands which really understand how people want to eat. There’s everything from dinner sets aimed at those who like to eat from platters and sharing, right across to more formal dinner sets which allow the owner to eat their food, from a truly beautiful plate.

Most of these designs are microwave and dishwasher safe – so they won’t hold you back in the kitchen. There’s everything from traditional designs from Wedgwood, right across to sleek and contemporary sets from Villeroy & Boch. So whether the dinner set is for a cottage in the country, or a sleek apartment in the city – there’s the perfect dinner set for all.

One of our favourite traditional dinner sets is Hibiscus from Wedgwood, inspired by an archive pattern dating back to around 2010 – it features rich blue hues, and all of the bone china collection has been embellished with Gold. On the contemporary front, Villeroy & Boch New Wave is one of the most impressive sets we have come across. Each piece in the collection has been crafted as if it is modern art, whilst remaining functional and durable enough for everyday use.

Cutlery Sets

If there is one thing which makes a significant difference in the enjoyment of any meal – it’s using the right, quality cutlery. When most couples move in together, times are usually pretty hard and quality cutlery is often a luxury which isn’t given a huge amount of importance. There’s a huge amount of cutlery sets available on our website, and all have been chosen (and subsequently) discounted from the likes of Amefa, Arthur Price, Aynsley, Belleek as well as Villeroy & Boch. The range encompasses cutlery sets of all sizes, as well as sets which just focus on serving cutlery.

One of our favourite suppliers of cutlery, is Viners, who began manufacturing cutlery in the early 1900s. It’s grown today into a well-loved and trusted British Brand. Our favourite set within the collection is the Titanium Range. This set is all about style and opulence, featuring a scratch resistance titanium coating which is available in either Rose Gold or Bronze.

Crystals & Glasses

Glassware and Crystal is also another area in which you can give the gift of an upgrade. Just like cutlery, many of young people’s cupboards are full of the cheapest possible glasses. We are proud to boast one of the most comprehensive ranges of glassware and crystal ware on the market, and believe each and every product within this collection helps make each drink, just a little more special. As a brief overview, there’s: white wine glasses, champagne glasses & flues, red wine glasses, beer glasses, G&T glasses as well as goblets, decanters and ‘everyday’ glasses.

The Promises collection from Royal Doulton is an excellent choice for a wedding/special occasion gift. All have been hand embellished with Swarovski crystals, and arrive in a presentation box.

Bridal Lists at Kings & Queens

We were one of the first e-commerce companies in our sector to operate our own bridal lists and have worked hard to make sure that the process is as simple as possible. (Weddings are stressful enough as it is) If you are interested in using one of our bridal lists for your special day, please just get in touch and we will be happy to help. You can view all of the information you may need, here.

March 20, 2018 0 comment

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