So he has just popped the big question, if you’re anything like me you have been dreaming about this day since you first met!

For those of you who don’t already know, I am the girl who is obsessed with weddings!!! I kept a blog ‘The Wedding Girl’ to vent my obsessions in weddings so as not to scare off my lovely h2b.

Due to the popularity of my blog and the constant emails I was recieving from brides-to-be asking me for help with their wedding preparations, I decided to start this website ‘The Wedding Girl’s SOS’ to help answer those oh-so-important questions every bride faces in the lead up to her wedding.

I will be answering as many questions as I can to help make your big day run as smoothly as possible. As well as answering your questions, I will be posting about all of the fabulous things I find that I think you brides-to-be will love. You will also find great tips and advice from industry experts on many different topics and be sure to check out my reviews section where I will be testing and reviewing all the latest ‘must have products’ everything from spa treatments to the yummiest cakes plus lots more product and services, pretty much everything  you can possibly think of for your big day!!

If anyone knows how to achieve fantastic looking skin it is holistic skin therapist Julia Hart! Julia has worked in different fields of complementary medicine including various types of massage therapies and reflexology, and has learnt that treating the person as a whole is vital. She has over 15 years experience as a skin care professional and has worked in top London Day Spa’s and Skin centres and has worked on many a famous face! She now runs her own clinic in Kent.

Julia’s philosophy to skincare is simple: Optimum nutrition, exercise, stress management and of course effective skincare products! The holistic approach: basically trying to create a balance in many aspects of your life, so you will age well with less health issues – what are we without our health?

Julia has agreed to share all her tips and advice on how to achieve radiantly healthy, glowing skin on your wedding day…
Read on…

It’s official, for the first time anywhere in the World, George Watts (Wedding TV’s The Wedding Fairy) launches NATIONAL WEDDING DAY across the UK this Sunday.

Yes Ladies and Gents, it’s time to dust down your wedding dress, dry clean the morning suit and re-live your big day all over again. Whoever said a girl only get’s to wear the dress of her dreams once was lying because now you get to embrace and rejoice in the moment you said, ‘I do’ every 12 months and it’s all for an incredible cause!

NATIONAL WEDDING DAY is a chance to celebrate the most sensational day of your life. It doesn’t matter whether you were married 10 years ago, getting hitched tomorrow or even in 2012, this is your chance to celebrate your wedding day whilst at the same time, reaching out and helping vulnerable children across the UK.

Read on…

Calling all brides-to-be… The beautiful White Closet on Burton Road, West Didsbury is holding a Vintage Accessories Evening on Friday, July 30th at 7pm till 9.30pm.

Charlotte Balbier - one of the industry’s top designers - will be at this event, with her exciting new vintage-inspired accessories collection.

The evening will be a great opportunity for brides-to-be to try on Charlotte’s new accessories to help get that all important ‘complete look’ for the big day. You’ll get to chat to other brides over a glass of bubbly, finger sandwiches and, of course, melt-in-your-mouth cupcakes lovingly baked by Silver Apples, our lovely next door neighbours. Another local company, The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon, will also be providing their famous Vicky Sponges to tuck in to. Local musician Zoe Chiotis will be performing on the night.

Discounts and goodie bags will be on offer on the night. Places are limited, so book soon to avoid disappointment. To reserve your place on the guest list, contact info@thewhitecloset.com or call 0161 445 5678

I have recently come across a fabulous cupcake company Cupcakes To Go. Each of these cupcakes is a little taste of heaven! With light fluffy sponge and buttery creamy icing that melts in your mouth. All the cakes are baked to order and made with the finest (only happy hens eggs are used in their cakes) ingredients.

They offer 4 flavours of sponge, Vanilla, Chocolate, Lemon and Sponge.

They do a whole range of beautiful wedding cupcakes and their cupcake towers make a great alternative to a traditional wedding cakes. You can have from 24 to 500 cupcakes displayed on a stunning stand (available to hire) which can be customised with cupcake wrappers, ribbons, flowers etc to match your wedding theme.  You can also combine your order with some mini cupcakes as well, which are a perfect bite size portion.

They can also provide individual favour boxes for your guests to take home their cupcake.

Prices start from just £1.25 per cupcake.  This price includes basic decoration of sprinkles, and a flavoured/coloured butter icing of your choice. For more detailed decoration or flowers or hearts etc see their website www.cupcakestogo.co.uk or contact them for a quote.

Finding that perfect scent for your big day is really important, not only will it set your mood for the day it will also forever be a reminder of the happiest day of your life.

This month I have gone on a mission to find all the best Summer scents, some old favourites and some brand new ones, here is a round-up of all the best fragrances I have found…

Benefit Crescent Row So Hooked On ‘Carmella’

Benefit have just launched 3 new fragrances in to their Crescent Row collection, Eva, Rita and Carmella. They are all equally as gorgeous but the one that really stood out to me was Carmella, I can’t quite put my finger on what makes this fragrance so seductive but I can’t get enough of it and neither can my h2b! It has a sort of floral vanilla scent, which is made up of scents such as rhubarab, vanilla, amber and tiare flower. As well as the gorgeous scent I have to give a mention to the oh-so-cute packaging, if you haven’t already seen the Crescent Row collection, The fragrances are based on a fashionable strip of flats in Bath, which serve as home to several imaginary gals. each perfume comes in a fabulous bottle that sits inside a gorgeous box designed as an apartment that opens up from the front. Tres adorable! 30ml £29.50 www.boots.com

Ted Baker - Limited Edition Woman

I simply love this new Limited Edition Summer fragrance from Ted Baker, it is sweet and feminine and simply divine! With a decadant blend of musk, rose and jasmine topped with notes of pepper plum and bergamont this perfume
The limited edition bottle has been designed with a key print from this seasons Summer collection and will be available all Summer in all big department stores. 100ml £22.50 www.boots.com

Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Flora Nymphea

To celebrate 10 years of Aqua Allegoria scents Guerlain released this spring Aqua Allegoria Flora Nymphéa. This is a really unique floral fruity fragrance with citrusy top notes that are sweetened by touches of wild berries and heightened by green accents. The heart consists of orange blossom and syringa and magnified by honey, it is a very individual fragrance and really reminds me of being out in nature. 75ml £34 www.debenhams.com
Read on…

If you’re looking for a glamorous and unusual way to throw your hen party then look no further than the exclusive new Cupcake Decorating experience with Cake Boy, the cake emporium and cookery school owned by sexy French Pâtissier, Eric Lanlard, who has baked cakes for the likes of Madonna, Claudia Schiffer, Liz Hurley and Elton John.

Red Letter Days launched the Cupcake Masterclass to celebrate 21 years in business with a range of over 1000 experiences. So I went down to the very first class to check things out…

The hands on experience takes place in Eric’s gorgeous Cake Boy boutique, a unique cake emporium in London’s Battersea, which looks like it’s straight out of a scene from Sex and The City!
Read on…

I am getting married in August and my wedding has a vintage theme. I am looking for a cute fascinator or hair comb to complete my look. Can you recommend anywhere for me to look?

Stacey - Soutfields

Hi Stacey, I actually have the perfect place in mind www.oliviaroat.com. I only came across this designer recently but her pieces are simply gorgeous and will really add a bit of vintage glamour to your look. The designer is Olivia Roat, she is a very talented miliner who trained with Philip Treacy and hand makes all her pieces from her Chelsea studio. She works with each client to design something usinque and special just for them. I simply adore this Flower Comb and this 1920’s Pearl fascinator. Her prices start from £120.

To view more of her pieces visit www.oliviaroat.com/couture.php

Now I know I have a lot of women reading my blog who are already married but ca’t quite drag themselves away, well now I have a treat for the already-married couples. Holiday Inn has just introduced a second honeymoon rate at hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa for this summer only. So romance strapped couples can feed some love back into their relationships.

Traditionally a once in a lifetime event, the honeymoon is one of the most romantic experiences in a marriage. With one in three marriages ending in divorce and marriage on the decline, re-creating those magic moments has never been so important.

With the new Holiday Inn second honeymoon rate, offering a 25 per cent discount for stays between 6 July and 31 August 2010, there’s no need to fork out a fortune to make a bold romantic gesture.

The Holiday Inn second honeymoon rate is available at 163 hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in locations including London, Paris, Barcelona, Moscow, Turin, Valencia, Madrid, Vienna, Cape Town, the Algarve and Greece for stays between 6 July and 31 August 2010 (booked between 6 and 18 July 2010). Couples will need to present a second honeymoon rate voucher and a photograph taken on your first honeymoon, when you check in.  The voucher can be downloaded from www.holidayinn.com/secondhoneymoonrate

Starting today Caroline Castigliano will be holding an amazing sample sale for two weeks only at her Berner Street butique, with up to 70% off.

You must book an appointment as they have limited places. Call their Berner Street boutique on 0207 636 8212

Sale Location:

Caroline Castigliano

62 Berner Street

London

W1T 3NN

If you are anything like me then most of your treasured photos are either in a box at the back of a cupboard or on a memory card in a drawer. Well a new contemporary design company has come up with a thoughtful means of cherishing special events in your life so that rather than being tucked away in a dusty album or shoe box the special photographs of your wedding can be proudly displayed on the wall of your home.

All you need to do is send them a collection of your favourite photos and their skilled design team will create a beautifully personalised montage that tells the story of your special day. You can choose from a range of montage designs in contemporary and stunning shabby chic frames or on canvas, with anything up to 200 photos.

Wonderwalls come in all sizes and fall under three categories: The Little Wonderwall charts a child’s early years, The Love Wonderwall is an artistic montage of relationships and weddings and The Life Wonderwall presents a special opportunity to record a life history.

Following an initial consultation where individual preferences on style, event, possible wording and colour are discussed, Your Wonderwall produces a design and layout to suit your home in just three weeks. Each bespoke creation is individually designed to suit your home, your style and your occasion, with prices ranging from £140 - £400.

For more information contact Your Wonerwalls on 07973 943232 or visit www.yourwonderwall.com

Once a month I will be sitting down with some of the countries top wedding planners to pick their brains, asking them to spill the beans on all their tips and secrets. This week I interviewed the fabulous Julie Dawson of www.theweddinggenie.co.uk

What are the first things a bride should think about when starting to plan her wedding?
•    Set your priorities. Successful weddings are ones that truly reflect a couples style and personality. Decide what is really important on your wedding day, what you both absolutely want and won’t compromise on. Make a list of 3 -5 main areas and carry it wherever you go. It may be the venue, the photographer, the dress. Whatever they are, they are laying the foundation of your wedding plans.
•    Choose the Style of Wedding and Set the Date. Decide on a church or civil service, modern or traditional style for example.
•    Set A Budget!! Most important. If not you will run up your own national debt. You can apportion your priorities to it so that out of the money you have you should definitely spend on the areas that are most important to you. Everything can be moved around. Remember it’s your money and you can spend it how you like.
•    Make a guest list - Your guests make your wedding special so think about who you really want to be there. The numbers will also impact on your budget.
•    Choose a venue – do this early many popular venues can be booked up a year or so in advance.
•    Choose a photographer - this is really important, your photographs are what’s left of your day when everything is over. Good photographers get booked early too.
If you put these big rocks in place you will be well on the way to a great plan. Remember, planning is easier if you cut it up into bite sized chunks. Making too many lists is overwhelming and confusing. Most of all have the wedding you want and not the one everyone else wants you to have.
Read on…

I am very excited about the launch of the ‘State of Grace’ website www.thestateofgrace.com, London’s only bridal destination for wedding dress design, bespoke styling and personalised hair and make-up all under one roof.

The site offers a rare insight into the magical world of Founder and Creative Director, Lucia Silver who has been transforming the head to toe looks of the great, the good and the famous for over 10 years, whether for their weddings or for red carpet and other special occasion wear needs.

Using a top team of experts usually the reserve of red carpet celebrities, State of Grace is a fully integrated design, styling and beauty service that has the ability to transform women into the best they can be for their big day.

Wedding dress design & styling services are priced from £1200 for wedding dress and from £250 for bridesmaids’ dresses. There is also a beautiful selection of garments and accessories for mothers’ of the bride and groom and wedding guests.
Read on…

Lets be honest girls, after the dress the wedding cake has to be one of the most important parts of your big day! But the cost of wedding cakes seems to be getting out of control, so lucky for us Kenwood, the UK’s leading kitchen appliance maker, along with Eric Lanlard, award-winning patisserie and dessert chef have put together some top tips for making your own wedding cake. Yay!!

1.    One of the most important things you can do if you are going to make your own wedding cake is practise. Practise and practise again. Make sure you do this well ahead of the big day, too, you don’t want to realise the weekend before your wedding that you can’t make it.

2.    For the best icing results pop to any cake decorating shop, or specialised bakery, and get hold of a polystyrene dummy cake. You can then try icing it over and over again until you are happy with the results.

3.    If you aren’t convinced about your icing skills after all, you can still make your cake but then take it to a cake decorators, who will be happy to complete the icing for you.

Read on…

Stoke Park’s Palladian Mansion, set amongst 350 acres of outstanding beauty, is truly one of the most breathtaking wedding venues in Buckinghamshire and for the fifth consecutive year it will be holding it’s very own Wedding Open Day on the 31st of October.

An array of the finest wedding specialists will be on hand to guide you through and help plan every aspect of your special day to the finest detail. Dressmakers, florists, photographers, wedding cake designers and Stoke Park’s very own dedicated Wedding Co-ordinator will all be present to provide an extremely high standard of service.

On Sunday 31st October 2010, you will also be able to learn about the fully inclusive wedding packages that Stoke Park provides. With dining facilities for up to 120 guests, 13 SPA SPC treatment rooms situated in the award winning spa and 49 luxurious bedrooms to choose from, each individually decorated with fine antiques and all offer breathtaking views across historic gardens and landscaped parkland, Stoke Park will truly make your day a memorable occasion.

The Wedding Open Day will commence at 11.00am and finish at 4.00pm. Complimentary admission and a welcome drink will be given upon arrival.

The Sassi Holford Summer Sale starts on Saturday 3rd July and will be running through to Saturday 17th July. There will be amazing reductions of up to 75% on selected sample gowns from both the 2009 and 2010 collections.

In the Fulham Road, London boutique it will be first come, first served on the opening Saturday but by appointment thereafter, call 020 7584 1532 to book in your appointment.

The Taunton, Somerset boutique will also be offering huge discounts on sample gowns by Kate Sherford, Constantina and Blue by Enzoani: 01823 256308.
Both shops will also be giving a 10% discount on all new orders for 2010/11 winter weddings taken during the sale period.

For more information and dress details visit their website www.sassiholford.com

Luxury wedding dress designer Jenny Packham has designed a limited edition pin badge exclusively for Cancer Research UK’s wedding favours range.

The pretty pink and silver pin badge, in the shape of a cupcake and decorated with diamanté crystals, is in keeping with Jenny’s art-deco look and would be a stylish addition to any couple’s big day.

Couples planning to tie the knot can order a pin badge for every guest along with personalised favour cards incorporating the bride and groom’s names and wedding date.  The badges can be pinned to the cards or can complement more traditional favours.

All the charity asks is that couples ordering the favours make a suggested donation of £2.50 per pin badge, which goes towards Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.
Read on…

This week was very exciting for The Wedding Girl’s SOS as Look magazine ran a feature on successful bloggers and yours truly was aked to be part of it!

We had a wonderful photo shoot at Luella’s Boudoir in Wimbledon, a treasure trove of vintage dresses and accessories to-die for! The boutique made the perfect back-drop for the shoot.

I was a bag of nerves when I arrived but the stylist, hair & make-up artist and photographer were all fantastic and made me feel completely at ease, we spent all morning having a great laugh and hopefully getting some good pictures in the process.

You can pick up a copy of the issue in stores now or you can read the article by clicking here.

Thanks so much to the fab photographer Sam Jones of www.samjonesphotographer.com for letting me share the pics on my blog and to Rachel Atwell of www.luellasboudoir.co.uk for closing up her gorgeous boutique so we could hold the shoot there.

As most of you know I am a huge Freya Rose fan, I simply adore her gorgeous wedding shoes! So obviously I am very excited about the The new collection, the ‘Duchess Collection’ incorporates hand made flowers made from beautiful duchess silk, offering a chic and sophisticated look. The Mother of pearl collection is also stunning and beautifully compliments both bridal and special occasion attire. Using mother of pearl shell trims and their signature heels with hand mosaic mother of pearl. Also keep in mind that the shell also compliments any colour if shoes are to be dyed.

The new collection will be available at the end of June on the Freya Rose website www.freyarose.co.uk

If you’re looking for a glamorous and unusual way to throw a hen party then look no further than the exclusive new experience with Cake Boy, the cake emporium and cookery school owned by sexy French Pâtissier, Eric Lanlard, who has baked cakes for Madonna, Claudia Schiffer, Liz Hurley and Elton John.  Launched by Red Letter Days The Cupcake Decorating master class with Eric, is available now at only £49 per person.

You and your hens will be taught skills that you can replicate at home, using simple cake decorating tools. This hands on experience takes place in Eric’s gorgeous Cake Boy boutique, a unique cake emporium which looks like it’s straight out of a scene from Sex and The City! You’ll all learn to spread and pipe buttercream icing like a pro, use subtle and vibrant paste colours, roll and cut icing to create decorative shapes and adorn your cakes with glitter, sprinkles and more. All materials are provided, including plenty of unadorned cupcakes and everyone will get to take home 12 of their very own gorgeous cupcakes.

Also be in with a chance of wining £1000 for baking a cake…

If you fancy yourself as the next Eric Lanlard, Red Letter Days is also launching a national baking competition to celebrate its 21st birthday. Red Letter Days are inviting the public to bake it a birthday cake for the chance to win prizes, including an all expenses paid trip for 2 to Sri Lanka from Advantage Luxury Specialist, a cake making master class with Eric, and £1000 worth of Red Letter Days.   Cup cakes, fairy cakes, celebration cakes, any type of cake - there is no restriction on size, shape, colour or recipe, and entries can be submitted as photos or videos to social.redletterdays.co.uk, the brand’s new online community. Launching on 31st May 2010 and open to ages 12 and up, the competition will culminate in a birthday cake-off in London between 8 finalists on July 5th (the brand’s birthday), to be judged by Eric himself.

Let the cake-off games begin!

On Saturday  the of 19th June from 10 am – 5pm, the Bloomsbury hotel will be hosting their first wedding showcase. The Bloomsbury Hotel is one of London’s most desirable and elegant wedding venues. From the grand stone steps to the enviable range of chic suites and event spaces alongside a stunning alfresco terrace, this listed neo-Georgian building, designed by Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, blends original period features with modern and memorable luxury.

Hosting a Wedding Showcase for the very first time, The Bloomsbury Hotel invites brides, grooms and wedding parties to explore the wide range of rooms whilst meeting the accomplished wedding team over a glass of cool Pimm’s.

Dressed for the occasion, discover the breathtaking Queen Mary Hall and smaller, book-lined Library, both set up for ceremonies as each room has its own marriage and civil partnership license. Walk through the Grade II listed George V Hall to appreciate how this room becomes a lavish dinner and dance venue for up to 180, and take a moment to pause on the wonderfully rare alfresco terrace, perfect for summer receptions. With a stunning Chapel room completing the collection, The Bloomsbury Hotel is a truly unique wedding destination.

To reserve an a place at The Bloomsbury Hotel Wedding Showcase contact: Janaina Crane on 020 7347 1208, e: janaina_crane@doylecollection.com

The Bloomsbury Hotel
16-22 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3NN

To find out more visit www.doylecollection.com/bloomsbury

What if I told you that you could avoid the hassle and expense of a traditional wedding at home and say ‘I Do’ in a sun drenched paradise for FREE!!  Well it’s true, Breezes Resorts are offering couple a free wedding, with the choice of an intimate exchange of vows at Breezes Grand Negril and Breezes Rio Bueno in Jamaica or a traditional family friendly occasion at other Breezes resorts.

With a dedicated wedding planner at each of its 13 all-inclusive resorts around the Caribbean and Latin America, couples can sit back and relax, as their tailor-made ceremony is created specifically for them, safe in the knowledge that the location will be stunning and all the essentials will be included.  Breezes Resorts are located in Jamaica, Bahamas, Cuba, Curacao, Panama and Brazil.
Read on…

Not only can getting married be a costly affair for the bride and groom but also for the wedding guests as a new outfit, a wedding gift, time off work, baby sitters, and the cost of attending a hen or stag party are all part of the bill.  Hen and Stag parties have seen a shift from an evening celebration to long weekend breaks and even week long holidays in the sun. Whilst it’s an exciting time for those involved the event shouldn’t be marred with the stress of spiralling costs. So if you have been appointed the all important Hen Party Planner role, here are some top tips from our friends at GoHen.com….

Hen parties for the most part appear slightly different from stag groups in their approach to booking events. Typically a hen will be concerned about being exposed in any capacity to the group, she will worry more than stags but in most cases she will plan in more detail to mitigate any shortfall in preparation. Hens also book less as they fear being ripped off and will often attempt to organise various activities on a one-to-one basis as opposed to booking complete packages with a service provider. The key is to book with a reputable, recommended and reliable company like GoHen.com who provide excellent value for money packages, professional assurances, not to mention saving money in time, calls, confirmations, hassle, pressure, to do lists etc.
Read on…

Internationally renowned designer of luxurious bridal gowns Caroline Castigliano has unveiled her new website www.carolinecastigliano.co.uk

The new website introduces a fresh visual style, revolving around the bridal 2010/11 collection to inspire brides-to-be, you can enjoy watching clips from recent collection showcases as well as interviews with Caroline and behind the scenes footage from photo shoots.  The new site also enables you to share their ‘wish list’ dresses with friends directly and via social networking platforms and to join the Castigliano Exclusives membership clubs.

Check out the gorgeous new website at www.carolinecastigliano.co.uk

I was very excited to hear that Emma Lappin will be holding an afternoon of wedding flower inspiration on the 20th of June to guide you through the key aspects of putting your floral scheme together. Whether you have decided to do the flowers yourself or are using a wedding flower specialist, the afternoon will cover every different aspect of wedding flowers that you need to consider in order to create the most beautiful scene and backdrop to your day.

Emma will start off by showing you how to create a mood board, taking snippets from magazines and also using online tools and blogs. She will talk you through how to pick your colours and show you combinations that you may not have thought of. If you have chosen your dress, you may find it useful to find out what style of bouquet is going to work with the shape and material of your outfit.
Read on…

Every bride wants her hair to be looking its best on her big day, that is why I went along to the Errol Douglas Salon in Knightsbridge, London to see what they could do to get brides hair looking ship-shape!

From the moment you walk in you know you are in good hands, the friendly receptionist greeted me and handed me over to Karis my lovely therapist. Karis took me down to the famous Errol Douglas Hair Botanicals Lounge, it is a therapeutic environment with dim lighting and soothing music. The first thing I noticed was the fully reclined bed with backwash (I almost fell asleep while having my hair washed it was so comfy).

They offer a selection of services and they all include two hair and scalp treatments and are delivered with either a soothing or energizing shiatsu scalp massage, followed with a Biolage hot-therapie towel and the famous Errol Douglas Knightsbridge Blow-dry. Each treatment also comes with the Booster drink of your choice, I went for the scrummy apple, ginger and mint booster which was divine!
Read on…

My Sugarland in London will be hosting its ever popular Vintage Wedding Evening throughout 2010.
Shop owner and stylist to the stars, Zoe Lem will be hosting the event between 7.00pm and 9.30pm on Wednesday 14th July. It will be an evening of ideas, inspiration and pampering for budding engaged couples.

My Sugarland is a gem in the world of boutiques. The stunning dresses, separates and accessories lining the rails of their ‘Alternative Bride’ section are suitable for a range of discerning brides as well as wedding guests. The unusual selection of gowns and evening wear on offer sets this bridal range apart from any other, with delicate vintage creations and beautiful dresses and separates from hard to find designer labels including Minni’s Closet, John Rocha and SteveJ and YoniP among others.

Zoe’s highly developed aesthetic ensures she is able to find a stunning selection of unique pieces from the deepest of treasure troves and understands a truly vintage bridal look. And on this special evening, discount will be offered on all My Sugarland products.

My Sugarland will also be launching their first collection of vintage-style wedding dresses. In order to be able to offer their customers different sizes, colours and of course value, they are re-creating some of their most popular vintage dresses, all for under £1000. The first 4 samples will launch on the 14th July, with new designs released in the months thereafter. All the dresses will be made to order in the UK within 4 weeks.

But it’s not just about the dress. The Vintage Wedding Evening encapsulates all elements of wedding planning, from hair, make up and flowers to food, entertainment and photography. You will also walk away with a fabulous goodie bag full of treats and discounts.

For more details visit www.mysugarland.co.uk

I am so pleased to announce that today is the first birthday of The Wedding Girl’s SOS.

What a year it’s been, I have been busy running around meeting with some of the countries top wedding experts, from dress designers, to wedding planners and everyone between!

And what better way to celebrate than with cake!! This morning I was delighted to have a bespoke birthday cake hand delivered by Amanda Baird of The Utterly Sexy Cafe (see left) it was absolutely breathtaking and unfortunately my photo doesn’t do it justice. It was so pretty, adorned with gorgeous edible roses and the the yummiest icing that melts in your mouth. The bottom tier was a flavour I had never tried before ‘Cardamon’ and I have to say it was simply delicious, the top layer was Tangy Lemon sponge sandwiched with lemon curd butter cream, yum!!! My guests at my little celebration devoured the cake in no time, there wasn’t even a crumb left for my lovely mum when she popped along later in the evening.
Read on…

Well then you must check out PapaKata, they are responsible for providing teepee’s for the most unique and magical events, specializing in hiring out Kåta tents - teepee style tents that were pioneered by the Sami people of Lapland.

They are a family run business and the company prides itself on it’s personal customer service and ability to provide something completely different for your special occasion.

With prices comparable in cost to hiring a standard marquee, Papakata’s luxury teepee’s not only provide a beautiful open plan venue for Summer and spring weddings, but the addition of reindeer skins and crackling open fires create an intimate and inviting space for Autumn and Winter Weddings as well.

For more information visit www.papakata.co.uk or call 0800 612 9692

Members of Hilton Glasgow today ditched their chef’s whites and uniforms for wedding dresses as they started their training for the 5K Runaway Bride Relay race.  The race, which is organised by Hilton in the Community Foundation, takes place on Sunday June 6th at Kelvingrove Park.

Teams of “brides” will run a circuit in a relay style around the park in a wedding dress as part of Hilton’s Around the World in a Day event.  The effort in Glasgow is part of a national challenge in which Hilton team members, charity partners and the public will all be working together on the day in over 75 hotels and offices across Europe, collectively aiming to travel the circumference of the earth - 24,901.55 miles.
read on…

So many brides have emailed me to ask about babies and children attending weddings. It can be a really hard decision for many brides to make whether or not to invite children, on the one hand they want to be able to have the happy presence of children and on the other hand they want their guests to be able to relax and enjoy themseleves without having to run around after their little ones! Well now I think I have the answer for you…
Tinies Mobile Crèche is the only national mobile crèche business in the UK.  With Tinies you can avoid disruption and ensure peace of mind, the friendly staff bring assurance to your big day, keeping the little ones occupied and entertained to their heart’s content.  With qualified childcare professionals, parents can relax and enjoy themselves in the knowledge that their children are being well taken care of in a fun-filled environment.
read on…

A fabulous organiser is an absaloute must-have for any bride-to-be and I have completely fallen in love with this gorgeous leather Deco organiser from Filofax!

This month Filofax is celebrating its heritage with one of the most glamorous organisers ever made – the Deco.  Filofax was founded in 1921 – just as the Art Deco movement was starting – and the opulent organiser echoes the precise qualities that made the movement so successful – elegance, glamour and function.

This organise is crafted from the finest Italian leather in micro crocodile print, with a decadent diamond-cut clasp and soft suede lining, the Deco is available in two sizes and comes in ivory, ebony or ruby. It is perfect for keeping all your contacts in one place, your to-do-lists, budget and everything else you need to keep things running smoothly!

It can be pruchased for £191 from www.filofax.co.uk

Weddings By Ryan as of today has launched a brand new ‘budget buster’ wedding photography package aimed at couples who are getting married on a restricted budget.

With the news emerging last week that George of Asda has launched a new bridal collection that will kit out your entire wedding party for under 200GBP and Vera Wang to sell gowns at under £1000 it seems that despite the financial doom and gloom couples are still falling in love and vow to have their wedding of their dreams….just on a tighter budget!
Read on…

I was very excited to hear that between the 1st of May and 31 of October 2010 couples getting married in Bermuda, who stay on the island a minimum of four nights can then receive a refund on their return flights from London to Bermuda. By registering your interest between the 15th of April – 15th of June, British couples can take advantage of this fantastic offer, worth over £1,000.

To qualify, weddings have to take place on the island between the 1st of May – 31st of October 2010.  The bride and groom to be must email ‘I can’t wait to get married in Bermuda’ to ukweddings@bermudatourism.com to be eligible. The cost of two return economy flights with British Airways will be refunded upon their return to the UK.

With its world class facilities, sumptuous scenery and elegant colonial charm, Bermuda is the ideal backdrop for your special day! For more information visit www.gotobermuda.co.uk. Terms and conditions apply.

Once a month I will be sitting down with some of the countries top wedding planners to pick their brains, asking them to spill the beans on all their tips and secrets. This week I interviewed the lovely Isabel Smith of Isabel Smith Wedding Designs.

What are the first things a bride should think about when starting to plan her wedding?
When right at the beginning of the planning process, where do you start? With the Theme? The Date? The Venue? The Budget?

The truth is that all these factors are tied together. You can’t really set a budget without knowing roughly what things cost, so you start to see some venues but their prices vary depending on the date, but the date can influence the theme as your favourite flower might not be available at certain times of year– its no wonder that couples get completely overwhelmed!

At this point, it is vital to take a step back.

Make a list of your absolute top priorities for the day, trying to keep it to no more than 5. You may well find that this gives you an obvious place to start from which everything else follows.

For example, if you want to get married in a church, you should start in your own parish since you are entitled to marry there. If you decide to book that church, your search area for a reception venue can then be limited to no more than about 30 minutes from the church. Venues you look at can first be narrowed by size depending on your guest list, then by style depending on your taste, and finally by budget.
Read on…

As a big Beatles fan I was really excited when I heard about the Hard Day’s Night hotel in Liverpool, it is is the world’s first and only Beatles-inspired boutique hotel and it totally rocks!

The four-star, Grade II listed hotel is situated in Liverpool City Centre, right at the heart of the historic Cavern Quarter.  All 110 rooms are individually designed around the contours of the original building and elegantly furnished with specially commissioned Beatles artwork including photography by renowned Fleet Street photographer Bill Zygmant.

This Spring, wedding and events planner Marian Cotter will have helped over one hundred brides celebrate their special day at the Hard Days Night Hotel. With a dedicated team of professionals on hand to cater for every want and need, and three specially designed suites, including the Two of Us ceremony suite and the Hard Days Night suite which can hold up to 180 guests, the hotel is becoming increasingly popular with couples wanting something a bit different for their wedding.

Marian Cotter says: “We are such a unique venue that we are finding that a lot more couples are choosing for us to host their weddings rather than the more traditional venues.  However, although we are a Beatles inspired hotel, the Beatles “theme” is reflected with subtlety throughout the décor of the four-star, grade II listed building. There are no in-your-face gimmicks here, just a chic, modern city centre venue with a twist.”
Read on…

Very exciting news from John Lewis! They have just announced that from this week they will be offering an exclusive range of budget-friendly wedding dresses.

The range consists of elegant floor length dresses, retro cocktail dresses and modern day wraps, with prices starting from £45

I adore this Phase Eight gown for just £250. Many of the styles are lightweight so would suit brides marrying abroad.

Louise Salt, Online Fashion Buyer at John Lewis, says, “John Lewis is the essential destination for couples planning their big day, but until now been we’ve been unable to secure space in our stores to do a bridal dress range real justice. Our expanded online presence gave us the opportunity to finally offer our customers this new range and put the icing on the cake for our wedding offer.”

To view the John Lewis wedding dress collection visit www.johnlewis.com

I really hope you can help me wedding girl, I am about to go wedding dress shopping next week with my bridesmaids but I have a bit of a problem, I am really large busted and am worried that I won’t be able to find suitable underwear to go with the dress I pick that won’t look frumpy . Do you know a good company who makes ‘pretty/sexy’ underwear for us bigger busted ladies?

Sarah - Brighton

Sarah, I know how hard it can be for bigger busted women to find suitable underwear for their big day that doesn’t make them feel like a frumpy grandma. I am a huge fan of Bravissimo as they stock a fabulous range of bridal underwear for bra sizes D-KK and the range is far from frumpy!! I have asked the lovely ‘Bravissimo bra expert’ Anna Prince for her tips on picking out the right underwear to go with all different dress types. Hopefully with these tips in mind you will feel more confident when picking your dress.
Read on…

Hi wedding girl, I am hoping you can help me, I am the maid of honor at my best friends wedding next month and I want to buy her something special as a wedding present, something for both her and her husband that they can really treasure for years to come, do you have any ideas?

Thanks, Carly

Hi Carly, finding something really special for a wedding gift is not always easy but I have recently come across something that I think might be perfect. Motivation expert Lizzi Vandorpe has just launched a stunning book called The Blessings Book of Marriage.  The Blessings Book of Marriage was written by Lizzi Vandorpe a motivational public speaker, blogger and author. The book was created for anyone experiencing the joys of being in love, the pages within The Blessings Book of Marriage contain beautiful photography by Celia Mannings, Jason Harris and Martin Wilson, and quotations giving voice to the excitement of romance.
Read on…

For brides on a tight budget the news of Asda’s new budget range of wedding attire that has just launched will be a huge relief. The new collection which is available online, includes two wedding dresses for £60 each and a groom’s suit for £40 plus a £30 bridesmaid dress

The George wedding collection has been developed in response to the growing number of couples telling them they’ve had to put their plans to get married on hold because they can’t afford all of the costs associated with the big day.

The average cost of a wedding in the UK has reached an astonishing £20,000, with the wedding dress one of the biggest expenses, costing on average more than £1000.

You can view the new collection on their website www.asda.com

Are you planning a wedding or civil partnership between May-November 2010?

Have you organised the wedding of your dreams?

Would you like to win a luxury honeymoon?

LIVING’S hit show ‘Four Weddings’ is back and they are looking for more brides-to-be to attend and score each other’s weddings. Each wedding will be scored on the venue, the food, the overall experience and of course, the dress.  The couple that score the highest will win the luxury honeymoon of their dreams!

For more info please email 4weddings@itv.com or call 020 7157 3596 and leave a message. Please include the date of your wedding day and your telephone number!

Don’t miss your chance to receive up to 70% off an exquisite designer wedding dress at this amazing two-day sale. Over 1000 stunning dresses available from leading designers including Amy Michelson, Caroline Castigliano, Jenny Packham, Ronald Joyce and many more.

Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd May 2010

Tickets are strictly limited so visit www.bridaldesignersale.com to book them now!

The spa break is no longer a female preserve! A growing number of men are going to spas with their partners or friends. Men now make up nearly a third of all spa goers, and they’re not just signing up for sports massages and manicures. They’re getting facials, vichy showers, body scrubs and wraps, waxes etc. The reason? Spas have learned how to create agender-neutral atmosphere where both men and women feel comfortable, with treatments that are named specifically for men like the “Gentleman’s Facial¨

So for those men out there looking for something a little bit different for their stag weekend or for a little post wedding pampering you simply must check out  SIS – Spa In Spain, the Majorcan-based online booking agency specializing in Spa & Wellness trips to Spain, has made a selection of Spa packages dedicated to helping men discover the power of looking and feeling their best, through advanced skin and body care services.

To find out more visit their website www.spa-in-spain.com

I am very excited about the gorgeous new Sassi Holford ‘Decadence’ collection. Sassi Holford designs and makes classic, English wedding gowns with a contemporary edge. Exquisite lines and sumptuous fabrics echo the bride’s own style; nothing is spared in the structure and the detail to provide the renowned Sassi Holford cut and fit. The 2010 Collection, ‘Decadence’, has a 1940s feel - luxurious fabrics such as slipper satin and vintage lace, combine with vivacious fishtail and dramatic ball gown skirts.

Her Couture boutique is on the Fulham Road in Chelsea, London and she has a boutique in Taunton, Somerset; you can also find her designs with selected stockists nationwide.

To view the new collection visit www.sassiholford.com.

Don’t miss this glamorous event…

Sip on West Eleven’real cocktails in a bottle’ whilst enjoying exclusive bridal fashion shows launching the new Luella’s Boudoir 2010 styles.

Preview the new collections from Yarwood White, Victoria Ferguson, The Real Princess Company, Jane Taylor Millinery and Emmy Shoes.

Plus meet:

Cosmopolitan Bride’s Fashion Director Sally Dixon

Luella’s wedding planner Tiffany Grant - Riley

The Bridal Coach Michelle Paradise (as seen on How To Look Good Naked)

Experts from Benefit Cosmetics, Kerastase and Sanctuary Spa

When: April 21st

Where: One Marylebone (opposite Great Portland St tube)

From: 6-9 pm

To Book tickets call 0207 312 3708 or email weddingevents@natmags.co.uk

Polly Put the Kettle on run glorious afternoon teas and events, including glamorous but cozy afternoons for vintage loving brides looking for inspiration for their weddings. Teas are held at a secret East London location on a monthly basis. The next event is on Sunday the 18th of April.

On arrival, brides and their maids are greeted by 1950’s hostess Miss Polly and her whippet Enid, offered a cocktail and invited to tuck into a delectable range of cakes and fancies courtesy of decadent baker Yummy Nice Baking, such as the ‘Cathedral Victoria Sponge,’ and ‘Tipsy lady cupcakes’ (cupcakes with buttercream petticoats and miniature marzipan doll legs!).
Read on…

This Sunday sees the launch of the first London Vintage Wedding Fair. All the romance of exquisite vintage dresses, exclusive designs in antique lace, and a cornucopia of veils, antique tiaras and accessories make perfect outfits for brides, mothers, bridesmaids and friends.

Vintage fashion dealers will be there along with a leading makeup artist, hairdresser and fashion stylist to advise you on your complete look. There will be flowers, music and more plus a glass of bubbly and a goodie bag.

Tickets are £5 and can be purchased online www.londonvintageweddingfair.co.uk

Style D3015 is one of Eternity’s best selling gowns and we have secured a gown for one lucky bride-to-be. The gown has a flattering silhouette with asymmetric pleating and pick up skirt. The fabric is in a sumptuous Duchesse Satin available in ivory, white, deep navy or claret red. It has soft sweetheart neckline with encrusted beadwork and beaded appliqué detail on the hip. The gown has a medium length train, fully bonded bodice and lace up back. This ensures the bride has fantastic support and creates a flattening shape.

The gown is worth over £500. Available in sizes 4 to 30 in Claret, Navy, Ivory or White Duchesse Satin.
You can view the entire Eternity Bridal collection at  www.eternitybridal.co.uk

Click here to enter this competition

Terms & Conditions
The winner will receive their Eternity Bridal dress by courier. Any expenses incurred for alterations to the gown are the responsibility of the winner.
The prize is non transferable and there is no cash alternative.
The prize may take up to 18 weeks from the published closing date to be made available for delivery to the winner dependent on stock availability

Birtsmorton Court, one of the most sought-after wedding venues in the country, is getting ready to host the Midlands Wedding Show for the first time.

The prestigious event – which takes place on Sunday 11 April – will use the historic Tudor manor house to showcase the finest wedding specialists that the Midlands has to offer in the first instalment of the event’s 2010 tour around Worcestershire and the Midlands.

The inaugural visit of the Show is, according to Birtsmorton Court’s MD Simon Dawes, “recognition of the beauty, elegance and historical significant of the location – the very reasons why the Dawes family went into the wedding business in the first place

“From the Tudor Great Hall to the picturesque White Gardens,” he continued, “the Court is steeped in so much history that it lends a real ambience to any event, as we are sure it will do on Sunday during the Wedding Show.”

Nestled in the Worcestershire countryside by the iconic Malvern Hills, Birtsmorton Court has in recent years become one of the UK’s premier wedding locations. Despite having hosted wedding ceremonies for only 10 years, the family-run business has leapt into the top 100 wedding venues in the UK, according to Bride’s Magazine.
The Wedding Show on Sunday begins at 11am and ends at 4pm. The event will feature, among other attractions, a live catwalk showcasing wedding attire from a number of top suppliers and a £300 wedding voucher giveaway for a lucky winner to spend with exhibitors attending the event.

Find out more about Birtsmorton Court at www.birtsmortoncourt.com

Find out more about the Wedding Show at www.midlandsweddingshow.co.uk

If you are looking for something different for your honeymoon and want to stay a little closer to home then you must check out this fabulous new company Canopy & Stars, that launched last week.

Canopy & Stars is a new collection of quirky and beautiful places of a camping kind! But we’re not talking about any old camping experience and we’re not just talking about tents. Over the coming months they will have everything from stunning treehouses, luxury yurts, shepherd’s huts, safari tents, log cabins and Gypsy caravans - even an Iron Age roundhouse. Always comfortable and cosy, sometimes unashamedly eccentric, these will be Special Spaces to Stay for those in search of escape, mild adventure or the chance to Go Slow.

www.canopyandstars.co.uk is set to become the website for anyone wanting a honeymoon with a dash of eco-panache.

Tonight the ultimate battle of the brides is back on, Four Weddings returns this evening for round two! One of TV’s most talked about shows of 2009 returns with more battling brides than ever before. Each episode sees four brides-to-be put their special day under scrutiny, inviting three rival brides to critique their nuptials, all in a bid to win every newly wed’s dream prize – a luxury honeymoon.

From the beautiful to the bizarre, series two throws up a colourful mix of both conventional and quirky ceremonies, as each bride goes all out to be crowned the number one newlywed. Surreal ceremonies to look out for include a haunting Halloween theme, a Star Wars obsessive, a garrison service for a returning service man, and, in episode one tonight, a naturist couple revealing more than just their love for each other…

Competition for star wedding supremacy is just as fierce as eight famous faces go head-to-head in two special celebrity episodes (episode two and episode eight); with each star determined to lay on a wedding to remember, will it be tasteful or tacky as the designer dresses, mammoth marquees and all important celebrity turn out goes under assessment. With a £5000 donation going to the charity of their choice for the winner, it’s all to play for!

Read on…

Imagine your wedding ceremony set amongst the beautiful English gardens in Central Park, followed by champagne and canapés in one of New York’s most exclusive restaurants, or maybe a romantic reception overlooking New York’s famous skyline, completed with a beautiful horse and carriage ride snuggled under a blanket watching the stars.

The Bridal Consultant offers the ultimate tailored experience for exclusive destination weddings. New York weddings range from themes such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 50’s inspired weddings to more traditional ceremonies - anything is possible in the cosmopolitan city that never sleeps! Guests can even implement the famous sights of New York as part of the reception package, with visits to the ‘Sex And The City’ set, where you can walk around Manhattan a la Carrie Bradshaw or visit ‘Friends’ legendary coffee house ‘The Central Perk’ and Broadway, nothing is too much for the Bridal Consultant who can tailor every single aspect to make it the perfect dream wedding.

Read on…

The full-service deluxe Lancaster London hotel is hosting a special Wedding Open Day on Sunday 25 April 2010 to showcase its wedding services and facilities.

The event will present the hotel’s varied wedding spaces, as well as the wedding suppliers to the hotel, which can provide everything from beauty treatments to wedding cars, flowers to photographers.

The first fifty couples to arrive at the event will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne, and canapés will be available all day.  Attendees who register before 16 April 2010 will be entered in a prize draw to win some fantastic prizes, including dinner for two people to the value of £100 in the super-chic Island Restaurant & Bar.

The Lancaster London Wedding Open Day
Date: 25 April 2010
Address: Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace, London, W2 2TY
Room: Nine Kings Suite
Time: 10am – 16.30pm
RSVP: Wilmine Davids, wd@lancasterlondon.com

Caroline Castigliano and Jimmy Choo Couture, two of the world’s biggest names in bridal fashion, came together in the Middle East to showcase their latest designs in two fabulous events hosted by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.  The events were held at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Muscat and Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai and were sponsored by Oman Air.

VIP guests were invited to experience a “wedding reception” style dinner, where the main entertainment for both evenings were breath-taking fashion shows by Caroline Castigliano. A selection of stunning Jimmy Choo Couture shoes were also on display for admiration by all.

Read on…

Returning to the roots of the business, Olivier Laudus has added thirteen new designs to his wedding ring cushion collection. The idea of creating a range of luxury wedding ring cushions first came to Olivier Laudus in 2004 after he tried unsuccessfully to find one for his own wedding. It was then he decided to commission his own. The reaction, Olivier and his wife received from all who saw their ring cushion, convinced them to share this with others.

Six years on, his online bridal boutique offers a wide selection of beautiful bridal accessories; however it would be fair to say that Olivier is still the leading designer of wedding ring cushions and the exclusive collection features stylish unique designs which complement most styles of weddings.

Read on…

Ind?v?dual invites is a new, young and vibrant company offering contemporary wedding stationery. They offer a collection of set designs that are far from traditional, perfect for those wanting a more modern feel. Colours on all designs can be changed to perfectly match the colour theme of your wedding.

To complement their stunning collection of five key designs, they have recently launched two beautiful new designs for 2010 ? ‘Get me to the church on time’ and ‘Spring blossom’.

Ind?v?dual invites will take care of your complete stationery package,  from ‘Save the date’ cards, RSVPs and the Order of Service, through to seating plans, menus, table cards and thank-you notes. Alternatively, if you want to add a personal touch and design something uniquely yours, then they also offer a bespoke design service – simply book a free consultation. Everything is professionally printed, giving a high quality feel and finish.

To find out more visit their website www.individualinvites.com

Award-winning British chocolate manufacturer has been working very hard over the last few months to develop a range of NEW chocolate themed wedding and celebration cakes that mirror their innovative and contemporary approach to chocolate.  All of the cakes are bespoke and of course - they are all handmade with a lot of love!

Yola Harvey, professor of cake and twice Masterchef quarter-finalist, and Simon, co-founder and professor of good taste, have been working for three months to create wedding and celebration cakes which use only Montezuma’s award winning house blends of chocolate, lots of local West Sussex ingredients and most importantly hundreds of half truffles.

The cake designs reflect Montezuma’s unique approach which is to start with a clean sheet and think outside the box.  Yola and Simon took inspiration from the Eden Project Biomes, local South Downs ancient forts and the perfect geometry of the double helix. These are not your traditional wedding cakes!

But these cakes are not just about appearances and the cake within reveals Yola’s real talent.  From the more traditional fruit cake with a chocolate twist to carrot cake with white chocolate tendencies and full on double dark chocolate, the possibilities are endless for the perfectly customised cake.

To find out more visit www.montezumas.co.uk

I love the idea of GlobalGiving.co.uk, it is an organisation that enables you to support well-vetted, grassroots projects all over the world.
You can browse projects from all over the world. Most of the projects on GlobalGiving.co.uk are in the developing world where a small amount of money usually goes a long way, benefiting communities that wouldn’t otherwise have access to supporters in the UK. Over £17 million has now been raised for 1,500 projects, across GlobalGiving’s US and UK websites.

Visit their website and watch their video to find out more www.globalgiving.co.uk

You can also find out more about setting up your gift list here www.globalgiving.co.uk/gifts/registries.html

The wedding season is rapidly approaching and luckily Jackie Tyson is here to help all you brides-to-be with some great easy-to-achieve make-up looks, not only for the rbide but also for your bridal party and guests. With 20 years  experience making-over the stars of stage and screen, Jackie is now sharing her secrets…

For the Bride

“Your wedding day will have you posing in front of the camera more than you have ever done before. It’s important to achieve a makeup look that you are comfortable with and allows your personality to shine through.

It’s not uncommon to have a sleepless night before your big day so have an eye treatment on-hand to cure all the tell-tale signs of a rough night. Expert Tip: cold, wet teabags or cucumber slices are miraculous at reducing redness, bags and dark circles, or for something more potent and fitting for a bride-to-be try new eyeSlices that get to work in just five minutes, packed full of botanicals to get your peepers in optimum shape.
Read on…

For brides-to-be and their mothers Whatley Manor, the beautifully restored private manor house that nestles in 12 acres of Wiltshire countryside, has devised a series of two full day spa experiences and an overnight Mother & Bride-to-Be Spa packages to help mothers and daughters escape from the preparations and indulge in some exclusive pampering in the luxurious surroundings of its award winning spa Aquarias.

Aquarias spa is the only La Prairie five star ‘Art of Beauty’ centre outside of London. These centres are only found in the most exclusive spas around the world and are a sign of outstanding quality.

With a choice of two full day midweek spa experiences guests can select either a two hour or three and a half hour series of treatments. The two hour series of treatments includes a sixty minute facial and a Jessica mini manicure and mini pedicure per person, plus full use of the spa facilities followed by a light lunch and refreshments and  costs £195 per person. Or alternatively the three and a half hour series of treatments comprises a ninety minute facial, choosing from a host of luxurious and signature facials plus a Jessica mini manicure and mini pedicure per person and full use of the spa facilities. This is followed by a light lunch and refreshments served in the spa lounge for £310 per person.

For those that wish to extend the indulgence and treat themselves to an Overnight Mother & Bride-to-Be stay, packages start from at £555, based on two guests sharing a standard room (Midweek only - Sunday  to Thursday night), full English breakfast, use of all the spa facilities plus a 60 minute spa treatment and mini manicure and mini pedicure per person and a light lunch and refreshments served in the spa lounge. Prices for a Deluxe room are £595 and for a Suite £655 based on two guests sharing.

For further information visit their website www.whatleymanor.com

If you want your big day to be extra special (and sparkly!) then why not treat your guests to a wedding favour with a difference.

Breast Cancer Campaign is encouraging all brides to be to help beat breast cancer by treating their guests to one of its pink ribbon pin badges. Not only will they add a unique touch to your wedding, but using them as favours means you’ll also be helping the charity continue funding vital breast cancer research.

There are three types of pins available; either choose from the charity’s enamel pink ribbon or jigsaw pins (£1 each) or the elegant pink ribbon diamante pin (£5 each). Also, when you order the pins to use as favours Campaign will be able to provide small place cards to inform your guests of your charitable donation.

Don’t forget you can also support the charity by asking for donations in lieu of gifts. Campaign has a simple donation form for you to send out to guests with your invitations to make things as easy as possible and we can also help to ‘pink up’ your day by supplying balloons, banners, invitation cards and any other materials you may need.

For more information or to purchase any of the charity’s merchandise call 020 7749 3709 or visit www.breastcancercampaign.org

Every month I search high and low to bring you the best products for your Honeymoon! I have spent the last 4 weeks trying out all the best hair and beauty products so I can report back to you on which are the must-have, can’t-live-without products for you to take on your honeymoon!

SAVE – Treacle Moon The Raspberry Kiss Shower Gel £2.89
I am a huge fan of the Treacle Moon products, at just £2.89 this 500ml bottle of Raspberry Kiss is a real bargain. The shower gel smells absolutely divine and it lathers up beautifully! You can also use it as a bubble bath by just pouring a little in to your bath for delicious raspberry scented bubbles.
From Tesco Nationwide

SPLURGE – Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash £8.95
This is a gorgeous body wash from Weleda, it invigorates you with cleansing moisture and antioxidant-loaded, organic pomegranate seed oil. It leaves your skin feeling silky soft and it smells wonderfully exotic.
www.feelunique.com

SAVE - Just Desserts Body Custard In Strawberry Cheesecake
l recently discovered this scrumptious range of body creams called Just Deserts Body Custards. They have a wonderfully creamy texture and absorb really quickly, they leave your skin feeling fabulous and they really do smell good enough to eat!
www.getyourjustdesserts.co.uk

SPLURGE - Michael Kors Hollywood Fabulotion £34
This stunning body lotion from Michael Kors is part of the divine Hollywood range. It is creamy and feels fabulous on your skin, it absorbs super quickly leaving you with soft to the touch skin that smells out of this world!
www.debenhams.com
Read on…

Every month I test out dozens of product to bring you the very best hair and beauty buys for your Big Day! I only write about the products that I love so that you don’t have to spend lots of time and money testing things out before your all important day. I hope you love these products as much as I do…

SAVE – Anatomicals Rose & Jasmine Body Cleanser £5
I really like this natural body wash from Anatomicals, it has a gorgeous fresh, floral scent that lingers on your skin long after your shower. It lathered up beautifully and left my skin feeling squeaky clean.
www.asos.com

SPLURGE - La Vie Bath & Shower Crème £10
This a deliciously creamy body wash from La Vie that has a stunning subtle scent and can be used either as a shower gel or a bubble bath. It lathers up perfectly and my skin felt so silky and soft afterwards.
www.vieathome.com

SAVE - Korres Fig Body Butter– Fig £11.50
This gorgeously rich moisturising body butter not only smells divine but leaves your skin feeling amazing! Smother it all over your body, concentrating on extra dry areas such as elbows, heels and knees. The fig extract is rich in minerals and vitamins perfect for regenerating the skin. Shea butter in combination with sunflower, almond and avocado oils nourish and restore smoothness to the skin. After just one week my skin felt fantastic!
www.beautyexpert.co.uk
Read on…

Don’t miss your chance to receive up to 70% off an exquisite designer wedding dress at this amazing two-day sale. Over 1000 stunning dresses available from leading designers including Amy Michelson, Caroline Castigliano, Jenny Packham, Ronald Joyce and many more.

Tickets are strictly limited so visit www.bridaldesignersale.com to book them now!

When it comes to booking a live band for your wedding sometimes it’s impossible to even know where to start, luckily Susan Heaton Wright director of NSN Productions limited - ‘Live Music Solutions’ is here to share her wisdom…

When I attend business meetings and tell people what I do, I am often greeted with “I wish we’d known about you” – and then tell me a story of a ‘wedding disaster’ involving the musicians. In some cases this occurred a number of years ago, and still upsets the bridal couple; yet these problems could have been easily avoided. Here are my top tips for choosing and booking a band; what questions to ask; what to avoid and what to include in any agreement.

1.    Be clear about what type of music you want for the reception. You would be amazed at what a journey of discovery this can be for a couple when you realise your fiancé likes heavy metal and you prefer jazz! Ask bands for their play lists. Do they arrange ‘requests’? Is there a charge for this? How much notice do you need for requests?

2.    Ask for references and if it is possible go to see the band and listen to their sound samples.

3.    When receiving a quote, check what this includes. Are there any hidden extras – including sound systems, travel, VAT, lighting etc. Make sure you receive a fee which includes EVERYTHING before booking them.

4.    The band should have Public Liability Insurance certificates available for you to see as well as having all electrical equipment PAT tested. The former is a requirement by many venues; the latter is mandatory.

Read on…

I just came across these gorgeous personalised wedding notebooks from Funky Pigeon, they just launched a range of 6 Wedding note books to compliment their existing range of wedding products. You can personalise the front cover of your notebook with your name making it a gorgeous keepsake.

From Wedding Planner Noteooks to Photo Scrapbooks brides to be can note down all the finer details of their wedding preparations in a notebook designed especially for their big day. The perfect gift for a friend planning a wedding or a treat for yourself, it’s a great way to keep track of your plans and also a lovely memento for your marriage.

The notbooks can be purchased for £5.99 from www.FunkyPigeon.com

Every bride-to-be has a vision of the perfect wedding day. Yet common wedding mishaps abound from missing photographers and toppled cakes to embarrassing colour surprises. Wouldn’t it be nice to strike one potential misfortune from the list? Brides work meticulously to match their wedding colours – from bridesmaid dresses and shoes to flowers and invitations – but oftentimes, it just doesn’t come out right.

The Dessy Group, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid’s dresses and bridal apparel, and Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT) and the global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE WEDDING™ exclusively from Dessy. PANTONE WEDDING is a collection of colour tools that make it easy for a bride to achieve a perfectly colour-coordinated wedding – from inspiration to “I do.”
Read on…

Jamaica Tourist Board has joined forces with Virgin Holidays to entice couples to book a spontaneous break from only £799* per person

A romantic break doesn’t have to be about visiting art galleries or spending a fortune on candlelit dinners. Why not bin the clichés and book a holiday that you will remember forever?

Jamaica’s laid-back attitude combined with its diverse landscape, colourful history and irresistible reggae rhythm provides the perfect recipe for the most romantic getaway of your lives.

Why not start your holiday relaxing on the blissful white sand beaches of Negril? You can enjoy a romantic dinner of freshly-caught fish as you watch the sun melt into the sea. Afterwards, lose yourself to the beat of live music as you dance barefoot deep into the night.
Read on…

I have recently discovered a fabulous cosmetics company called Jelly Pong Pong, it is a treasure trove of gorgeous girlie make-up in irresistible packaging! So obviously I was even happier when I heard that they have just started doing a 50% discount on their products when purchasing wedding favors.

These heart-warming keepsakes are a wonderful way to show your female guests your appreciation! I love these cute Lip Orchids, a lovely lip gloss in an orchid embellished pot.

For further information visit their website www.jellypongpong.com

Whilst searching for a suitable wedding website product to communicate her own wedding day to friends and family, Lyndsay Samuel realised that although many of those currently available fulfilled some of her needs, such as information on herself and her partner, wedding & reception locations, travel arrangements etc. the things that all of these products lacked was the quality of their designs and their ability to involve her guests.

So the idea for Worldwide Wedding www.worldwidewedding.com was born, to include all of the features of what was currently available from other wedding websites, but with one other unique feature. once guests have been invited to the wedding website they can upload their own Photo Albums and Video Clips to be viewed by everyone else!

This allows both the wedding couple and all of their guests to view and comment on the images taken by each other at the wedding ceremony, reception, even the stag and hen parties! Keeping all of the media in one easily
accessible, central hub, with the option of guest access controlled through password protection, means you get to share your wedding experience online, only with those you wish to.

With people sharing so much of their lives with others through social media websites, such as facebook and twitter, Lyndsay believes that there has never been a better time for a customised wedding website product like Worldwide Wedding to be used as an integral part of a wedding couples plans.

Their wedding websites come in two forms  12 months and 18 months duration. Both packages benefit from all of the standard features of a wedding website and can both be upgraded with additional storage space and the duration extended at any point. Prices start from £29.95

You can find out more about Worldwide Wedding sor get started on your own wedding website at www.worldwidewedding.com

Originally a mill and later the head quarters of iconic British fashion label Mulberry, Kilver Court Gardens with its historical gardens has been re-launched by Roger Saul as the perfect wedding destination.

Previously a dream location for wedding receptions, from spring 2010 Kilver Court Gardens will be licensed to carry out wedding ceremonies within its breathtaking grounds.

A hidden secret in the heart of Somerset, Kilver Court Gardens offers an assortment of beautiful settings. Rolling lawns encircle a parterre, millpond, waterfalls and a rockery, whilst tucked away almost completely and accessible across a drawbridge, The Dovecote Chapel provides a wonderfully secluded spot for a ceremony.

Guests can begin the day’s celebrations with breakfast for up to 200 in Jardine’s Ballroom. The ballroom is a beautifully light and airy space with a stage for entertaining and a terrace fronting onto the gardens.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the gardens is the architectural backdrop: a vast Grade II listed viaduct built for the railway in the 1800s where fireworks can be let off as night falls.

On hand to make sure every second passes smoothly are a selection of trusted partners used regularly by Kilver Court. From the most daunting preparations down to the finest details, everything can be expertly taken care of.

Stylish marquees, accomplished photographers, caterers, florists, musicians and cake makers are all brought together to ensure that nothing is overlooked. With their extensive local knowledge, the staff at Kilver Court can help to source companies that add unique finishing touches such as vintage bunting, Bedouin tents or sky lanterns for an unforgettably special day.

Find out more at www.kilvercourt.com

Inspired by the romance of bygone days and the well known bridal saying “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”, the Chez Bec SS10 Collection is bursting to the brim with romantic, vintage-style pieces to fall in love with.  From stunning freshwater pearl and rock crystal tiaras to wonderfully delicate brooches and corsage-style bracelets, the Chez Bec SS10 Collection will not disappoint those brides searching for something special to wear on their Wedding day.

New to the Chez Bec SS10 Collection is a collection of divine, vintage-inspired brooches featuring an abundance of freshwater pearls, rock crystals and rhinestones. This is in response to a growing demand from brides looking to inject a little vintage glamour in to their dresses with something which can be worn time and time again after the Wedding instead of being packed away with the dress. Also new to the Chez Bec SS10 Collection is a small collection of freshwater pearl cufflinks and cravat pins which make the most perfect gifts for the boys in the wedding party.

Each and every piece within the Chez Bec SS10 Collection is beautifully designed and handmade by Chez Bec in the UK. With one of the largest collections of bridal jewellery available online, Chez Bec offers an exquisite, yet affordable, array of wedding jewellery, tiaras and hair accessories.

You can view the entire new collection at www.chezbec.com

Booking opera star Andrea Bocelli as your wedding singer, as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes did at their wedding, belongs to the realm of Hollywood stars. For us mere mortals, the good news is that professional band Reel Deal, who have performed at many celebrity weddings and parties such as HRH Prince of Wales, Ex England Cricket Captain - Kevin Pietersen, Lulu and many more, are available to turn up the heat at parties and private wedding receptions.

Whether guests want to groove to disco classics such as Le Freak and Carwash, or newlyweds dream of taking their first steps on the dance floor to a heart-stopping Stevie Wonder ballad, the magic of live music is brought to the stage with passion and authenticity by Reel Deal.

Reel Deal comprises a hand-picked line up of some of the UK’s most exceptional musicians who, between them, have worked with artists across a breadth of musical styles and genres from Lemar, George Michael, Alexander O’Neil to Rod Stewart and Basement Jaxx.

Mobo award winning musical director, Dean Mark, says: “Quality musical entertainment can really make an event, and Reel Deal has the talent and professionalism to deliver your all time favourite songs as they should really sound. And most importantly, we always ensure guests are dancing all night long which is the ultimate goal at a wedding”.

You can listen to a few of Reel Deal songs at their website www.reeldealband.com and take a look at our latest DVD by clicking on the
links to part 1 & 2 below:

Reel Deal Movie - Part 1

Reel Deal Movie - Part 2

To book Real Deal for your wedding entertainment call them on 0787 6615091 or email info@reeldealband.com

I love the new collection from Hassall, designed by award –winning designer Diane Hassall, it offers vintage styling coupled with contemporary comfort.

Inspired by her love of romance, this stunning collection is lovingly hand crafted using the finest fabrics and most luxurious embellishments, for the bride who appreciates fine craftsmanship and style.

Bows are a big trend for 2010 and the Summer Song (left) are right on trend, with beautiful embroidered organza and hand tied bows finished with Swarovski crystals.

Brides who wear Hassall have the option to have the date of their wedding on the sole of her shoe, making each pair a unique memory of her big day.

Hassall shoes are available from selected retailers nationwide. See the website on www.hassall.co.uk for details.

The Scottish Wedding Show, Scotland’s best event for brides-to-be, will take place at the SECC, Glasgow on 20th-21st February 2010.

The show will bring together over 300 of Scotland’s leading wedding suppliers under one roof, who will showcase everything needed to make the big day just perfect.

Feast your eyes on the largest bridal collection in Scotland and wonderful outfits to entice the Groom, Mother of the Bride and Bridesmaids. Sit back and enjoy our spectacular fashion show, which seats in excess of 800 people and boasts a catwalk of 60 feet in length - the biggest in the UK and state of the art AV equipment will create a show not to be missed. Book your tickets in advance for the Catwalk Fashion Show, which will guarantee a premium seat in the first three rows, at your preferred time.

For further information or to book tickets visit www.thescottishweddingshow.com

Choosing the catering for your big day can be a daunting experience.  In the current economic climate, many couples are trying to economise and financial situations are understandably shaping menus.  High quality food is still important however and this can be achieved on a relatively small budget with some careful thought and planning. John Hearn, Executive Chef of Tapenade shares his tips with The Wedding Girl’s SOS readers….
Start by selecting caterers at least six months in advance to give you time to discuss any requirements you have.  This also allows time to arrange tastings and tweak menus to ensure it meets your aspirations.

Most importantly, don’t panic!  Here are our top tips on shortlisting caterers and embarking on menu choices: Read on…

With so many of you off to wonderful snow destinations for your honeymoon, it can prove really difficult to find a fabulous honeymoon wardrobe now that all the shops have started stocking their Summer collections. Well I have been searching high and low to bring you the best capsule wardrobe that will keep you warm and cozy on your honeymoon, whilst of course keeping you looking gorgeous and stylish!

Slope Suede Boots £49.99
These ‘Slope’ boots from Rocket Dog are absolutely fantastic, they are suede on the outside with a cozy faux sheepskin lining that will keep your feet warm and snug. They have a cute toggle detail on the side and really durable soles that will stop you from slipping on the snow or ice. They come in 4 colour options - black, tribal brown, chestnut or bark.
www.rocketdog.co.uk

The Northface Women’s Nuptse Fur Boots £81.73
These gorgeous plush boots from The North Face are perfect for snowy destinations! The water-resistant upper is stuffed with luxurious 600 fill down insulation, so your feet will be kept warm no matter how cold the temperature. They have a toughand  durable, multi-directional lugged sole and feature a lace front with fake fur trim, they really do look fantastic with skinny jeans and a big Winter coat.
www.ellis-brigham.com

Read the rest of this entry »

Brand New BRIDES ON A BUS starts 15th February at 10pm, Exclusive to Wedding TV. Here Comes The Ride!

Join I’m A Celebrity’s David Van Day for Wedding TV’s new reality series BRIDES ON A BUS.

This UK Premiere series sees ten brides-to-be travel the length and breadth of the country on a traditional double-decker bus, as they compete to win an all expenses paid wedding in Gretna Green.

The bus will travel from Lands End to Gretna Green and a host of locations in-between, where the prospective brides will complete some of the most outrageous challenges Britain has to offer.

One by one, the brides will be booted off the bus until one winner remains – May The Best Bride Wed!

For more info, please visit www.weddingtv.com

Every month I search high and low to bring you the best products for your Honeymoon! I have spent the last 4 weeks trying out all the best hair and beauty products so I can report back to you on which are the must-have, can’t-live-without products for you to take on your honeymoon!

SAVE - Status Quo Conditioner £8.76
This conditioner from Status Quo is formulated from certified organic extracts and organic oils which help maintain the natural balance of your hair. It smells really nice and leaves your hair feeling wonderful while protecting it from UV damage.
www.organiccoloursystems.com

SPLURGE - L’Occitane Volumising Conditioner for Fine & Normal Hair £12
I really liked this silicone-free conditioner from L’Occitane, it made my hair feel really healthy and soft and it smells really fresh and invigorating, it really is a great every day shampoo.
www.loccitane.com

Read on…

Every month I test out dozens of product to bring you the very best hair and beauty buys for your Big Day! I only write about the products that I love so that you don’t have to spend lots of time and money testing things out before your all important day. I hope you love these products as much as I do…

SAVE - Balton Spa Rich Day Cream Description £19.99
The is a lovely rich moisturiser from Balton Spa! Unique Moor Water with its Herbs, Plants and Minerals, combined with Sweet Almond Oil and Aloe Vera, deeply Nourish, Moisturise and Hydrate dry skin. It feels really rich on your skin but absorbs quickly leaving your skin looking and feeling beautiful.
www.balaton-spa.co.uk

SPLURGE - Clinique Comfort On Call £35
This is a fabulous rich moisturiser that is perfect for dry, sensitive and reactive skins. It feels really soothing and is ideal for dry skin that has suffered the effects if this harsh Winter. It absorbed nice and quickly but left my skin feeling really hydrated and moist.
www.clinique.co.uk

Read on…

Dear wedding girl, I am getting married next week and the snow over here is insane. I want to buy some cute wellington boots that I can wear under my wedding dress. I am a country girl at heart so I think wellies will be appropriate under my gorgeous girly dress. I hope you can help.

Nina - Aberdeen

Hi Nina, I think wellies under wedding dresses are a lot more common that people think, especially with all this terrible weather at the moment. There are a few good wellington boot companies but one of my favourites is funky-wellington-boots.co.uk they stock a whole range of fantastic wellies priced at just £32. I love these ivory ones for brides, I have a pair and they are really comfy and have brilliant grip on the soles so you won’t go skidding on the ice in your beautiful dress.

Cheaper than the Caribbean whilst still offering beautiful beaches, azure seas and warm tropical weather… it is little surprise that Phuket, Thailand has been dubbed the “Jewel of the Andaman” and “Pearl of the South”.

Whilst many areas of the island have suffered from overdevelopment and tourism driven commercialisation, the past few years have seen a renaissance of sorts, thanks mostly to the opening of a number of luxurious and exclusive resorts such as the fabulous Evason resort and Six Senses Spa.

The Evason Phuket is located on Rawai beach which lies on the islands South Eastern shore, around an hour’s drive from Phuket airport, we went to find out if it was a fantastic as it sounded…

The sleek, shining new 5-series, complete with cold towels and chilled water, that arrived to deliver us from the airport to the Evason resort very much set the tone for what was to be an experience of utmost luxury. On its way to the reception, the car passes through the 64 acres of landscaped tropical gardens that surround the resort. Here we found giant palm trees swaying gently in the sea breeze and a series of picturesque ponds sprinkled with lily pads and a healthy population of colourful little frogs. The reception itself has an incredible view over the Andaman and is made up of four open-air salas (pavilions) which surround a mirror like lotus pond. At night, two burning braziers in the pond cast the whole area in a wonderful dancing orange light.

Read on…

I was very lucky to have a beautiful box of cupcakes delivered to me this afternoon from the fabulous ‘Vanilla Pink’ cupcakes. From the moment I opened the box I knew they were going to be delicious! Each cupcake was beautifully decorated with tiny hearts, and butterflies and glitter, the ultimate girlie cupcakes.

There was a fabulous variety of flavours to choose from all topped with the most scrumptious creamy buttery icing. The Flavours range from coffee, mocha, lemon, coconut, strawberry, banana and carrot to name but a few and of course classic vanilla or chocolate. My personal favourites were the Rose Water cupcake with pink Rose Water icing, which was the most subtle delicate flavour, and of course in first place it had to be the vanilla cupcake with white chocolate icing. The white chocolate icing really is perfect for those of you who want chocolate but don’t necessarily want the usual brown icing, these look stunning in a creamy white colour sprinkled with hearts or butterflies.

All the cupcakes are made with natural, locally sourced ingredients and there are no preservatives or additives.

For further information on Vanilla Pink, visit their website www.vanillapinklondon.com

Dear Wedding Girl.

I love your website and have found it a useful tool in planning my wedding. I was just wondering is it ok to give my bridesmaids pearl jewellery as gifts? I’m wearing a pearl necklace with a simple dress and my Mum and h2b’s Mum will wear simple fresh water pearl necklaces.   My bridesmaids will be wearing deep purple dresses from coast.
Can you recommend any jewellery to compliment their dress?

Janatu - Shropshire

Hi Jantu

I am such a big fan of pearls, they are so elegant and classy and they pretty much go with anything. I think as the dresses are a deep purple that Tahitian pearls or pink pearls would look just stunning. I would probably go for some simple drop pearl earrings or a single pearl pendant that each bridesmaid could wear. I know that Aye Do have a great selection of pearl jewellery at affordable prices.

Have a look at their website www.ayedo.co.uk, i’m sure you will find something perfect from their vast collection.

The wedding dance is important to every couple who is getting married and wants to impress on their big day. Whether you need to learn a wedding dance from scratch or just build up your dance-floor confidence, you can now do so in Strictly style at the exclusive Karen Hardy Studios in London.

Karen Hardy – one of Strictly Come Dancing’s biggest stars – offers private and group tuition on all dance disciplines from Ballroom to Latin at her luxurious dance studios. With a number of wedding packages available, not only can the bride and groom enjoy mastering the moves but can also choose that special piece of music that will leave their guests spellbound!

Karen and her team of professional dance coaches can evaluate your capabilities and create the perfect choreography for your music, all in the luxurious studio surroundings. Sit back and relax after your lessons with a glass of champagne in the Swarovski bar. The team can even organise a photographer to capture your special moments while you learn to dance.
Read on…

In the most impressively elegant collaboration to date, Sandals Resorts International (SRI) and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), introduce Sandals® Weddings by Martha Stewart™. Brides and grooms can now book a destination wedding for any time after 1st January 2010 at any of the 18 Luxury Included® Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts across the Caribbean. With six exquisite wedding themes, in the most romantic settings, Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart feature coordinated colour palettes, beautifully designed wedding décor, complementary bouquets, invitations, cakes and favours, along with à la carte items, creating a memorable experience to suit every couple’s unique preferences.

“A wedding is one of the most special moments in a person’s life,” says Joann Delgin, Director of Romance, Sandals Resorts. “We are honoured to be a part of this new relationship with Martha Stewart, offering our couples six customisable experiences from one of the most internationally-known wedding experts.”

Stated MSLO Founder Martha Stewart: “We’re delighted to be working with Sandals Resorts to guide engaged couples down the aisle and help make their destination wedding unforgettable. With an array of themes to choose from, each one offering coordinated elements and special details, every couple will be able to celebrate their special day in their own personal style.”

The six Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart themes include:
Read on…

Join internationally renowned designer Caroline Castigliano at the glamorous Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London on Thursday 28th January 2010 to launch her exquisite 2010 collection in a sensational bridal catwalk extravaganza!

The Castigliano 2010 collection is an expression of ‘relaxed feminine glamour’, each piece super chic and effortlessly luxurious. The collection holds a lot of soft tulle and lace gowns. There are key pieces with structured fishtails and statement organza gowns that are so much the signature handwriting of Caroline Castigliano. Each gown is meticulously handcrafted in England for a flawless result.

For an invitation to this exclusive event, please visit www.carolinecastigliano.co.uk

All you guests looking for something fabulous to wear will be pleased to hear that the Jacques Vert Spring/Summer 2010 collection has just launched.  The collection is led by smart, feminine and flattering occasion wear, all tailored to coordinate with weddings.

As ever, the collection moves through a spectrum of colours. There is an array of capsule ranges in colours to suit every figure and skin tone, and of course each outfit is accompanied by perfectly coordinating accessories in matching hues and patterns. Dusky pink and coco, lime and deep navy blue, lilac and cream and pearl and nickel collaborations will fit any theme, and capsules to appear for high summer feature clean white, cornflower and royal blue with crisp white capri trousers and soft chiffon layering to accompany key pieces.

Each capsule is supported by a line of colour-coordinated accessories, adding a touch of glamour to the outfit. This seasons’ headwear is fabulous, ranging from hats with wide, decadent brims and trims to more subtle yet chic fascinators available to match each collection. Shoes come in both leather and cooler coordinating fabric for summer occasions, elegant yet practical with kitten heels and comfortable slingback straps, and perfectly sized clutch purses and evening bags complete the ensemble.

You can view the entire Spring/Summer collection on their website www.jacques-vert.co.uk

This year, Beauberry House has been shortlisted by Wedding TV as Best British Wedding Venue.  In celebration of this achievement, Beauberry House are offering couples the chance to get married at the venue for a fraction of the normal price.

Weddings held at the decadent Beauberry House up to 31st March 2010 will enjoy a complimentary three course Wedding Breakfast for up to 50 guests (normally priced at £58.05 including 3 canapés, 3 course set menu and 12.5% service charge per person).  The Wedding Breakfast is traditionally the first meal shared by the married couple with their guests.

Beauberry House, a beautiful Georgian Grade II listed building set in leafy Dulwich (South East London) on the edge of Belair Park, provides the perfect setting for a romantic and contemporary wedding day. Beauberry House is one of the few venues in London that features a true country styled setting.  The venue is fully licensed to host wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships for up to 80 people.

Read on…

Calling all brides looking to save on their wedding dress or brides who are looking to sell their unused wedding dresses!!

I was recently talking to my good friends over at Savvy Cinderella about how many brides come to them with brand new wedding dresses that they want to sell for various reasons. We decided to team up and give all you brides a platform on both our sites where you can advertise your wedding dresses and where brides can put up wanted ads if they are looking for a specific dress. You can view all the dresses on our Find me a dress – Find my dress a bride page.

So if you have a dress that you want to sell, send me the details to dresses@theweddinggirl.co.uk including dress name and style, size, price paid for the dress, price wanted for the dress plus a picture and I will put that up.

If you are looking for a particular wedding dress, email me with all the details of what you are looking for including dress name and style, size, and how much you want to pay and I will put a ‘wanted’ message up.

Personal details will not go up on line – just the part of the country that you are from, all enquiries will be sent to me and then passed on to you.

All dresses must be unaltered and in excellent condition

I hope this becomes a really helpfull platform for all you savvy brides shopping for a dress on a budget!

Mira Zwillinger will be presenting her 2010 couture collection exclusively at Browns Bride on the 14th and 15th of January. You will have the chance to meet the designer whos gowns are the epitome of elegance and glamour and is renowned for sing the finest fabrics sourced from Milan and Paris.

Each bride will enjoy a champagne appointment and receive a goody bag, to make your appointment please contact brownsbride@brownsfashion.com or call 0207 514 0056/57

There is a £25 charge redeemable against any purchase.

Browns Bride, 12 Hinde Street, London W1

Lotus Journeys offer unique holidays swimming with wild dolphins in beautiful unspoilt locations worldwide, where you can fulfill your dream of swimming with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Their ethos is one of respect and sensitivity with the dolphins and they introduce you to this experience with expert care and guidance. They take people to beautiful places worldwide that are key locations for dolphins. In the summer they go to the Azores, in the winter they go to La Gomera in the Canary Islands. You will be welcomed into the company of people who have dedicated their lives to deepening human relationships with the dolphins and whales.

Their team love what they do with a passion. They offer a wealth of experience, expertise and sensitivity in how they introduce people to these playful and highly intelligent creatures in the wild. This provides you with the best opportunities to interact with them safely and appropriately.

Group trips or private tailor made trips are available from May-October. 7 nights starts from £780

To find out more visit www.lotusjourneys.com

Bradley House in Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, a lovely house that has been owned by the Dukes of Somerset since it was built 300 years ago and which is available as a venue for country house weddings, celebrations and corporate events, has just launched The Coach House as a party venue.

The Coach House is an adapted old coach house and Victorian stables sited in a cobbled courtyard next to the house. It has a dining room that will seat 60 people, a room for music and dancing, a bar and the Victorian stables that are used as a quiet area for “chilling out”.

Attached to The Coach House is a marquee that can be used where the number eating exceeds 60 people. It comes in three sizes – to seat up to 90, up to 150 and up to 180 people. In its standard format it comes with wood flooring, lining, lighting and heating.
Read on…

Dear wedding girl, I am looking for some jewellerry and accessories for my wedding day that will not cost the earth, I have quite a small budget. Any ideas where I should look?

Lisa - Cornwall

Hi Lisa, I would definitely check out the samples sale section on Yarwood-White.  The Sample Sale is a selection of some of Yarwood-White’s Jewellery which has been used previously in fashion or photo shoots.  The items are not brand new but are in excellent condition and never damaged. You will find everything from jewellery to hair accessories and tiaras and you could save up to 60% off the normal price.

A lot of their normal prices are quite reasonable too so you should definitely check out their website www.yarwood-white.com

Every month I test out dozens of product to bring you the very best hair and beauty buys for your Big Day! I only write about the products that I love so that you don’t have to spend lots of time and money testing things out before your all important day. I hope you love these products as much as I do…

SAVE - Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap – Rose £4.99
This Rose body wash with its beautifully blended natural essential oils has an elegant and romantic feel. All the oils and essential oils are certified organic to the National Organic Standards Program. Packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
www.lucyrose.biz

SPLURGE - Philosophy Unconditional Love Shower Cream £19.20
I am a big fan of Philosophy products, they are all superb and this Unconditional Love shower cream is no exception. This lavish, high-foaming formula gently cleanses, conditions, and softens skin and hair, all the while surrounding you with the scent of enduring comfort. Lather up in the shower or pour in to a hot bath for a relaxing soak… what a perfect way to start your wedding morning.
Available from John Lewis

SAVE - Treaclemoon The Raspberry Kiss Body Butter £3.97
I adore the Treacle Moon range from Tesco, all the products are simply irresistible. This delicious body butter is one of my favorites, it is a rich creamy formula that instantly makes your skin feel nourished and hydrated. The intoxicating sweet raspberry scent will linger on your skin making you smell delicious.
Exclusively from Tesco
Read on….

Every month I search high and low to bring you the best products for your Honeymoon! I have spent the last 4 weeks trying out all the best hair and beauty products so I can report back to you on which are the must-have, can’t-live-without products!

SAVE - Tigi Bed Head ‘Some Like It Hot’ Conditioner £7.50
This heat & humidity resistant conditioner is fantastic. The refreshing blend of avocado, grape, aloe and cucumber forms a barrier to guard against humidity, UV rays and thermal damage. It not only leaves your hair feeling soft and silky and ready to face the sun it also smells good enough to eat.
www.jasonshankey.co.uk

SPLURGE - Bumble & Bumble Deep Conditioner £20
This is the perfect treatment for undernourished, overstressed, chemically treated hair. Bumble & Bumble Deep Treatment is a twenty minute weekly protein feast designed to effectively nurture and moisturise your hair, ideal for when your hair has been over exposed to sun and been in the sea and swimming pools day in and day out. It smells divine and it left my hair feeling like new after a week of abuse in the sun.
www.lookfantastic.com Read on…

Award winning makeup artist Sarah Brock was the winner of the Wedding Industry Awards Makeup Artist of the Year 2008 (sponsored by BRIDES Magazine) and in 2009 won the Professional Beauty Awards Makeup Specialist of the Year. She is the Director of Makeup Artistry for Daniel Sandler and has appeared on Wedding TV as a makeup expert. Sarah is known as one of the UK’s top bridal makeup artists regularly works as a makeup artist for bridal Magazines and is now going to share all her beauty secrets with The Wedding Girl’s SOS readers…

If you do not have a budget for a bridal makeup artist or you simply want to do your own makeup, here are my top tips for a flawless look on your wedding day:
Read on…

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city and is best known for its numerous magnificent temples, lush tropical countryside and fiery northern Thai cuisine. It represents a slower paced and more rustic alternative to the bright lights of Bangkok and is a wonderful honeymoon destination for anyone looking for a taste of Eastern culture.

In the heart of the Chaing Mai’s old town, an area over flowing with spectacular Buddhist temples, you will find Tamarind Village which is an ideally located romantic haven from which to explore this amazing and exciting city.

The Tamarind Village was one of the first boutique hotels in Chiang Mai to be designed with Chiang Mai’s rich traditional northern Thai architecture in mind. The hotel, really a complex of smaller, individually styled cloisters arranged around a series of small courtyards and gardens, features elegant exposed dark timber beams, whitewashed walls and clay tiled roofs and is really quite beautiful. The tropical grounds are meticulously maintained and the paths that wind between them are lit-up at night by scores of candles. The centerpiece of the complex is a majestic 200 year old tamarind tree which towers over the central courtyard and was the inspiration for the hotel’s name. Read on…

Missy Mo Photography has joined forces with Jewel Piccadilly, London to bring you a Wedding Fayre like no other! It’s NOT just another wedding fayre…but a Charity Wedding Soiree. Brides and Grooms to be and their friends can enjoy a Bellini reception, an array of suppliers and an un-missable Fashion show.

Jewel Piccadilly (www.jewelpiccadilly.co.uk) is one of West Ends most chic lounge bar in London and has the perfect setting to host this unique Wedding Soiree.

Walk into the stylish and retro Bar Blanca, where you will have “access all area” to the pampering Boudoir. Beauty therapists, hair stylists and nail technicians have come together to provide you exciting tips and expert advice on gorgeous looks for your Big Day. They will be offering free 5 minute treatments so arrive early to book your place.

Make your way into the extravagant Jewel Bar to find Oscar-worthy wedding frocks, stylish bridesmaid dresses and seductive lingerie inspired by the roaring 20’s to the hippy 70’s.

Exclusive for your eyes only… Joe McCombe will showcase his designs in a fabulous 30-minute catwalk show. Gorgeous shoes are supplied by Rachel Simpson. Men will also be spoilt for choice with Vintage inspired suits supplied by Hugh Harris. Prepare to be WOWed!
Read on…

Madeline Isaac-James opens the doors to its flagship boutique to welcome in all brides-to-be to take part in week long celebrations to make their 1st Anniversary at the Farnborough boutique. Madeline Isaac-James took proud ownership of the exquisite Victoria building back in January 2008 and transformed the interior into an elegant bridal boutique haven.

From the 4th January until the 9th January all brides-to-be who visit the boutique (by appointment only) will be welcomed into the boutique by the designer herself, treated to vintage champagne and canapés as the bride-to-be gets the chance to view and try on dresses from the brand NEW 2010 collections created by the designer of the brand – Natalie Gladman. For any brides-to-be who order their dream dress during the Anniversary week will receive 10%* off the total price of their chosen Madeline Isaac-James dress AND receive a free veil** worth 69.99GBP. Before leaving the boutique brides-to-be will be presented with a Limited Edition Goody bag filled with useful wedding products! Read on…