By Georgina Clatworthy

Most of us like to make resolutions on New Year’s Day & promptly break them on January 2^nd!  For most our resolutions revolve around going to the gym more, cut back on the drinking & chocolates & donate more to charity.  Happy New Year! 

But if you’re getting married this year then your resolutions will probably have had a deeper meaning & you are probably still sticking to them.  I know it is a bit late in the year now, but if you haven’t got any resolutions here are a few suggestions you may want to consider taking up:

• 1. I will not be a Bridezilla.
  Bridezilla-ism’s can hit the best brides at the worst moments. The stress of planning a wedding is enough to drive even the most patient of us to unleashing fury at our nearest & dearest because the napkins are the wrong shade of white or you’ve broke a nail. If you find yourself on the verge of a bridezilla episode, take a deep breath, get some perspective & work around the problem.
• 2. I will stick to the wedding budget. Well, I’ll keep it inside the strike zone of the budget. Ok, I’ll try to maintain the same number of digits as the original budget.
  Starting married seriously in debt is not a recipe for a harmonious marriage. So when you fix your wedding budget – stick to it. If you can’t afford something, find an alternative or get creative & make your own.
• 3. I will not sacrifice romance in favor of wedding planning. Avoid letting the wedding planning over shadow everything & try to stay in the real world, at least once a week. Set aside some time to spend with your fiancé when you can be alone & ban all talk of weddings! Have a day out, go for a romantic dinner or simply have a day in bed! Just as long as you remember what it was that led you to get married in the first place.
• 4. I will remember that not everything about the wedding has to be absolutely perfect.
  Nothing can be perfect. There will always be something that you think should be improved or was just ‘not quite right’. The important thing is that you are both there on the day, you both say ‘I do’ & that your guests leave the day feeling well fed, happy & talking about what a lovely time they have had.
• 5. I will not do all of the wedding planning.
  It is impossible for one person to complete all the wedding planning by themselves. So delegate anything & everything possible to your fiancé, mother, mother-in-law & chief bridesmaid. Even if it is only booking the transport, collecting the flowers, picking up the dresses or suits & collecting the wine. It is one less thing for you to worry about. A good idea would be to write a list of his & hers task at the start of your wedding planning, then each of you you’re your responsibilities.
• 6. I will try to get along with my future in-laws during wedding planning.
  It can be difficult. Many Mothers-in-Law will have very set ideas on how their beloved son should be married. But try to understand that a wedding is a stressful if joyous occasion for everyone concerned. Try to include her in the decision making & ask her to carry out some of the wedding planning tasks. This way she will feel important & included. And if she becomes too much to bear at times – smile, take a deep breath & try to be diplomatic.
• 7. I will try to take a break from wedding planning every now and then.
  Ok, similar to resolution no.3. But time out on your own is equally as important. Go for a run, have a manicure or just have lunch with the girls, but make sure you banish all thoughts of the wedding during this time. It will help focus your mind, keep you relaxed & help you to return to the wedding planning with a fresh perspective.
• 8. I will remember to enjoy myself during this joyous time!
  Yes, weddings are supposed to be fun. It may seem like it in the months leading up to the big day, but if you enjoy all that you do it will show. Never allow yourself to loose sight of what the end goal is.

How to Wear Your Wedding Dress on the Big Day

By Georgina Clatworthy

As your wedding day draws near you are bound to be feeling excited, anxious & nervous about what the future holds.  But before you can begin the next chapter in your life you have to put on the performance of a lifetime at your wedding. 

The bride is probably the most important person during a wedding.  She is the person everyone will be looking at, scrutinizing & talking about long after the day has ended.  You have to look radiant, elegant & not in the least bit nervous!  You also have to be at ease in your dress, able to glide down the aisle in it & look comfortable all day long.  Likewise you will need to be able to spend most of the day in your shoes, be able to walk in them & not fall flat on your face during the first dance!

In the run up to the wedding, you are likely to be very stressed, panicking about every little detail, worried that you have forgotten something or that everything is going to go horribly wrong.  But if you are well prepared everything will run smoothly & you should take this last few days to try to relax, pamper yourself & practice your makeup, hair & walking in those shoes!

A relaxed bride will have a healthy glow about her on the day, so here are a few tips to help you de-stress, relax & get prepared.

Avoid over doing the fake tan

If your tan is too dark it can distract from your dress & you could end up looking more orange than blushing bride.  If you are really pale & want a sunkissed look then go for a light tan which will give you a healthy glow.  Just remember to err on the side of caution – less is more, as they day.

Practice your posture

With all eyes focused on you throughout the day, good posture is a must.  Practice at home by sitting cross-legged on the floor, relax your shoulders & raise your neck upwards.  Roll your hip bones forward, hold in your stomach muscles & breathe.  An alternative posture exercise is to stand on one foot & try to keep your back straight for 20 seconds.  Put on your wedding shoes & practice walking slowly & gracefully in them.

Cover your tattoos

Many brides may become conscious of their tattoos when they put on their wedding dress.  Tattoos can be a distraction, especially if they are on your back so consider covering it for your wedding day.  Try some cover up makeup in different shades to find one which give the best coverage. 

Give your dress the once-over

About a week before the wedding take your wedding dress out & inspect it.  If you discover any flaws, marks or imperfections that weren’t there when you bought it take it straight back to the bridal store to get it fixed or cleaned.

On Your Wedding Day

The most important thing on your wedding day is to try & stay relaxed & stress free.  Delegate anything that crops up to other members of your wedding party & don’t let any little problem ruin your day.

Your breakfast on the morning of your wedding is vitally important.  Don’t be tempted to skip it because you’re nervous or worried that you will feel bloated & your dress won’t look right.  Your wedding day will be extremely long & will feel even longer between breakfast & your reception.  Eat something healthy & which will release energy slowly, such as porridge.  The last thing you want is to faint at the altar because of a lack of food.  And don’t sup too much of the celebratory bottle of champagne either!

After breakfast inspect your dress.  If you see wrinkles get it pressed straight away with a dry iron.  If your veil is wrinkled hang it up in a steamy bathroom & they will all drop out.  When it is time to get dressed put your garter & shoes on first, then have your make up done before you put your dress on.  After your hair has been done then attach your headpiece/tiara & veil.

Just in case something does go wrong, make sure you pack a bridal emergency kit & entrust it to a member of your wedding party.  As you travel to the ceremony, try to walk carefully & slowly & if at all possible try not to sit on the back of your dress.

When the time comes to walk down the aisle, walk slowly & gracefully – don’t rush.  Hold your bouquet level with your naval (belly button) so your guests can see the beautiful bodice of your dress.  Holding your bouquet to high & with white knuckles will make you appear nervous & tense as well as hiding your dress.  And don’t forget the most important part – smile!

When you reach the altar stand up straight, all that posture practice will have paid off when you stand at the alter looking taller, leaner, more radiant & full of confidence.  Try not to fidget!  If your dress is strapless, resist the temptation to keep hoisting it up.  This looks just as bad as pulling the skirt out of your behind!  If you have bought the right foundation garments you shouldn’t have problems. 

At the reception avoid drinking anything which may stain your dress, such as red wine, coffee & dark colored sodas.  Stick to champagne, white wine & water.  You maybe able to knock back bottles of beer with the best of them, but on your wedding day avoid bottles & drink from the glass instead.

Above all on your wedding day, make sure you are radiating happiness, keep smiling, stay positive & don’t allow anything to spoil your day.  If you are happy your guests will be happy & your wedding photographs will be enchanting!

By Georgina Clatworthy

A wedding planner can be a valuable asset to your wedding planning.  They will be able to negotiate with all your wedding vendors, offer up adive, tips & ideas & save you a lot of time, money & stress too.

But before you rush to hire a wedding planner, there are some important factors to consider to first.

Hiring a wedding planner should require you to apply the same diligence as you would apply to any other aspect of your wedding.  Do some research on local wedding planners, ask friends or family who have recently got married for recommendations & find out about their experiences.  Visit some bridal fayres where you can meet wedding planners in person & do some research online too.  Online forums are a good place to learn about the reputation of someone & other bride’s experiences. 

Draw up a shortlist of potential wedding planners & then arrange to meet with them face-to-face.  It is important that you hire someone who is not only competent but with whom you feel comfortable with.  Some people we just instantly connect with, others not so.  Trust your instincts when making your final decision but make sure you do some investigating first to back them up.

When you meet with a potential wedding planner try to have a list of questions ready to ask them.  Ask to see references & perhaps a portfolio of their work.  Another good tip is to check them out with your local Better Business Bureau to find out is any complaints have been lodged against them, find out about any formal credentials & ask to see a list of events they have recently been hired for.  Good planners will cover other events besides weddings.

Ask them about their capabilities & the duties they expect to carry out.  Go through these with them & add or remove anything that is relevant or not to your wedding.  By asking them to produce this list rather than doing it yourself will show you just how much they can achieve for you, including those things which you may have though unessecary.

If budget is an issue you can hire a wedding planner to take care of just a few elements of your wedding planning.  Perhaps hire them to negotiate a package with a particular vendor or to get you a good deal with the catering.  Some brides will choose to hire them to take care of all the wedding planning & manage the entire event, but you should be confident of your budget before you go down this route.

When you meet with your potential wedding planners one of the most important aspects will be their charges & how they charge for their services.  Some may set their fees based on the number of guests, whilst others may charge an hourly rate or a % of the total wedding budget.  Whatever their fee structure make sure you get everything in writing including the expectations of both parties & how fees will be paid.

Hiring a wedding planner can be of enormous help to you with your wedding planning & ultimately the creation of your dream wedding.  They will be able to negotiate packages, deals or prices with vendors that you could only dream of, they will have numerous contacts & could potentially give your wedding the kind of details you never thought you’d be able to afford.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Without a sound wedding buget you are unlikely to achieve the wedding of your dreams (at least not without bankrupting yourself first).  So when it comes to your wedding planning your budget is one of the first tasks.  But there is more to a wedding budget than figures on a piece of paper.  It is about identifying what aspects of the wedding are of most importance to you, where you can perhaps negotiate discounts, package deals or additional freebies & perhaps more surprisingly, where you shouldn’t look to cut your costs.

When it comes to hiring wedding vendors make sure you hire people you feel comfortable with & whom you trust.  Do some research first on the reuptation of local vendors & get recommendations.  When you first meet with potential vendors ask to see references, examples of their work & portfolios.  When it comes to hiring someone make sure you know exactly who will be handling your wedding & get everything down in writing particularly your requirements & expectations from them, the service they agree to provide & all costs.  Make sure you get contact details including names, addresses & contact numbers including email, there is little point hiring them if you have no way of contacting them.

If you are looking to cut costs here are few tips to consider:

• Although it isn’t recommended, the closer to your wedding date you make a booking the more likely you may be able to negotiate a better rate or discount. But be careful, good vendors are usually booked up months or even years in advance, so be prepared to compromise on your preferred vendors.
• Always try to negotitate for a better deal or added extras. For instance as about a discount for booking your ceremony & reception at the same venue; using their catering services; a free photo album with your wedding pictures; free buttonholes if you purchase all your bouquets & flower arrangements.
• When it comes to photographers, you can save money by hiring a professional to take photographs after the ceremony & then ask a competent friend to take photographs at the reception.
• Book you wedding on a weekday instead of the popular & more expensive Saturdays. Sundays are also a cheap day to get married on. Consider holding a Sunday brunch for a few guests which will also save money on catering.
• Save on your drinks by only providing wine & beer during the reception & serve sparkling wine instead of champagne for the toasts. In the evening have a pay bar for guests.
• Flowers are expensive, especially if your choice of bloom needs to be imported because it is out of season locally. Choose locally grown & in season flowers & you will save a fortune. Your florist will be able to guide you on what is available within your budget.
• If you particularly want an expensive flower, then use it sparingly & infill with inexpensive green foliage.
• Rent the groom’s tuxedo from the same place as the groomsmen’s tuxedo’s. Usuaully you will get offers like ‘grooms tux free with groomsmens’ or ‘hire two get one free ‘.
• When it comes to your wedding dress negotiate for some free accessiories or a discount if your buy your dress, shoes & accessories from the same store. You can likewise ask for a discount if you order your bridesmaids dresses & accessories from one place too.
• If your budget is really tight, consider hiring your wedding dress. You can rent a fabulous gown for a fraction of the cost of buying it outright.
• Hire a wedding planner – although it may cost you, they can negotiate some great deals with vendors & be able to use contacts to give you special offers & deals on packages such as decorations, invitations & furniture hire.

Finally there are two vendors on which you shouldn’t scimp on cost.  These are your wedding photographer & your wedding entertainment.  Both are important to your day & you should aim to hire the best you can afford.  Look for professionals rather than amatuers as you will likely only end up disappointed with the results.  Don’t get a friend to take your main wedding photographs i.e those of you together after the ceremony & with your family & friends.  You want your wedding pictures to last a lifetime & not give you nightmares everytime you look at them!  Your guests will also remember good entertainment when they were able to dance the night away.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding favors are an integral part of your wedding planning & you maybe left scratching your head at the wide variety of choice available.  But have you considered giving your guests little goody bags as wedding favors?

These can be a great idea if you are having a small intimate wedding or even if you have a large budget to play with.  Whatever your budget, you will find a choice of favors which are relatively inexpensive & which you can add to your goody bag wedding favors.

To begin you should decide on how big your bags will be or how many items you want to put in them.  Think about the time of year of your wedding, if your wedding is taking place in hot weather it maybe nice to include some items to help your guests stay cool in the heat of the day or you may want to theme your bags according to your wedding theme.

Some ideas on things to put in a goody bag favor could include:

• Scented votive candle
• Edible treat such as a personalized cookie
• Wooden fan/ bottle of mineral water
• Miniature photo frame
• Paperweight or ornament

You could also theme your bags with certain types of favor, for instance a gourmet bag could include:

• A sachet of coffee or tea
• Chocolate truffles
• Miniature bottle of liquor/brandy, whiskey/wine or even champagne
• Bottle stopper
• Selection of herbs & spices

Other ideas for themed bags could include his & hers, sports themed, chocolate lovers, kitchen utensils & if your wedding is taking place somewhere with a range of famous local delicacies, why not include a few samples.

When it comes to packaging I would suggest small glossy bags similar to the ones you get in up market boutiques shops & cover the top of the goods inside with some tissue paper in your wedding colors.  You could also personalize them with your guests names & use them as place cards.

There is really no limit to the possibilities of things to include in your goody bags.  I would recommend always including an edible favor of some kind, just make sure it won’t spoil in the heat of a summer wedding.  You can make your bags as luxurious & decadent as you like or simply a collection of pretty, simple & useful objects.

Look to buy in bulk as you will usually get a better price & check out dollar stores for some budget options.  You could also include some hand made items such as poems, recipes, cookies, cupcakes or candies.

Just make sure your wedding favors convey your thanks to your guests for joining you on your special day & that they are a reflection of your own personal tastes & style.

By Georgina Clatworthy

When it comes to hiring a photographer for your wedding day, you should look for talented photographers that can bring artistic vision to your pictures & who have a high technical expertise.

Traditional wedding photos showed contrived poses, with each of the protagonists looking stiff & unnatural in the setting.  A good photographer should be able to take pictures which will tell a story, show the emotion of the day, show the love between the bride & groom & capture the story behind the scenes of the day.

Much of the wedding photography industry will still produce photos along the traditional lines – pictures of the ring, bouquet, wedding group & one of the cake.  But modern couple’s are looking for a more contemporary approach & want their pictures to be unique & show an element of their personalities.

Photo-journalism is becoming a popular trend for weddings.  The idea is centered around photographs captured without any direction from the photographer or interference from any other party.  These kind of pictures capture events throughout the day, as they happen.  These pictures are more realistic than the posed shots of the past & give the bride & groom a wedding album unlike any other.  The advantage with this style of photography (or disadvantage depending on your view) is that if it doesn’t happen during the day, then no photographs will exist for it.  This will include all those posed family groups, wedding party shots, cutting the cake etc.

Many wedding photographers these days are wising up to the wishes & want of modern couples & will offer a hybrid package which will include both traditional posed pictures & photojournalism style shots.  This approach will not only document the day with a sense of realism, but will also make sure nothing is missed out, such as posed shots of the happy couple & the wedding party.

Another trend taking hold in weddings is the fashion photograph style.  Inspired by high end magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Cosmo etc, the wedding photograph is charged with making the couple’s dreams come true & produce shots which show the couple at their best & in a glamorous light.  These pictures will be a romantic parody of the couple & ones which will make them look like celebrities.  For these pictures to truly work, the photographer needs great attention to detail & artistic talent.  Although the picture is taken with a camera, it is the computer editing & manipulation that follows that will make the finished photograph a unique work of art.

The choice of style for your wedding photographs will be a personal choice between yourselves.  But it seems a growing trend for couples to want photographs with a sense of realism & which capture all the details of the day in a way which is natural & not directed.  Others have a fantasy about how they want their photographs to look & choose a style which oozes glamour & style.

As with many of your vendors, ask to see examples of their work first, to discover if their style of photographer fits with your vision for your wedding photos.  No matter what your choice of style though, do make sure that your choice of photographer is the best you can afford & who is experienced & is a master of art with a camera.  Your wedding moments will only happen once, so make sure your photographer doesn’t miss them!

By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding entertainment will be an integral part of your wedding reception & evening party.  Hiring an entertainer is an important undertaking.  Choose a bad entertainer & your guests will remember it for a long time, choose a good one & they will remember all the fun they had at your wedding.  The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ is a good saying to follow, so when it comes to hiring a DJ here are some important things you will need to consider before you sign the contract.

1. Who will be your DJ? A lot of large DJ companies will have more than one DJ on their books.  Find out who will DJ at your wedding, get it in writing & make sure you meet with them before hand.

2. How many years experience does your DJ have with weddings? Almost anyone can be a DJ, but a good DJ will know how to put on a good show, work the crowd & play a variety of music pleasing to all. Can they perform the kind of show you are looking for?

3. Can the DJ get all the guests involved in dancing or do they just play music? If you want a DJ that can keep your guest dancing find out what they will play to achieve this, will they just play popular music or will they play a random mix including fun songs like the hokey cokey, conga or chicken dance?

4. Will the DJ be dressed appropriately? If you want the DJ to dress according to your wedding style, then ask them to do so.  Formal dress includes tuxedo or suits. Semi-formal will include dress pants, shirt & tie. Casual means polo shirt or company shirt. Ask them to be dressed appropriately before & after the guests have arrived & left the reception.

5. What is the DJ’s fee? Find out up front about fees, overtime charges, tips, any optional extras or extras excluded from the basic fee.  Ask if there is an additional charge for travel to & from the venue & if you are paying only for the time the DJ is performing.

6. Does the DJ have a contract? Make sure you have written confirmation of the booking, including all the services provided & costs.  Be sure to furnish your DJ with all the details of your wedding, including venue, time & date.  Sounds silly, but also make sure you all know each others names before the wedding day!

7. Is the DJ company professional? Do they have adequate insurance? Are they members of professional bodies like ADJA or NAME?  Membership of such bodies is a good sign of professionalism.

8. What kind of equipment does the DJ use? Ask what type of equipment they use. Top brand names include: JBL, Community, Denon, Gemini, QSC, Crown, etc. Find out if they have back up equipment should something go wrong or not work on the day.

9. What music do they play? Ask to see track lists & find out what kind of music they can provide & if it will fit with your wedding. Ask them if they will take requests, both before & after the event.  Don’t be tempted to limit the DJ to only playing music you like, the best option is to choose music that will get people up & dancing. Just make sure that anything the DJ plays will not be offensive to any of your guests.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

So you’ve got the venue booked, the caterer, the florist, the cake is ordered & your dress is being made.  Time to sort out your wedding favors!

Your wedding favors will form an integral part of your wedding, although you may not think it.  They are personal gifts from you to your guests to thank them for coming to the wedding, so it is a nice idea to make them as personal & unique as possible.

Whilst you could purchase ready made, ready packaged favors, trimmed with ribbon & tied with thank you tags, it is not as nice as making your own.  Packaging up your wedding favors & finishing them with all those little details makes them a unique & personal gift to your guests & one which your guests will appreciate for all the time & effort you have put in.

But if you are having a big wedding with a large number of guests, the thought of putting together all those favors can be a daunting one.  With all the wedding planning, will you have the time to do it all yourself?  Answer is probably no.  It could take you weeks to get them finished!  This is where holding a favor party comes to the rescue.

A wedding favor party is a great excuse to get the girls round & make a night of it, putting together your favors, having a drink, a laugh & a gossip.  Here are some ideas for making your wedding favor party a great night in.

Spa & Beauty
Invitation: Make invitations from Emory boards, written up with a sharpie pen with the date & time.
Food: Has to be healthy! Set up a smoothie & salad bar in one corner so your guests can help themselves.
Music: Play some relaxing tunes to help you all unwind & de-stress.
When the wedding favors are complete: Treat yourselves to manicures, pedicures & facials.

Junk Food & Movies
Invitation: Use candy wrappers as your invites, writing on the date & time etc on the plain inside.
Food: Order take-out such as pizza or Chinese.  Or make some burgers & fries.
Music: Pick some lively tunes to keep you all in the mood.
When the wedding favors are complete: Put on a favorite movie or DVD of a favorite TV series with some popcorn.

“Just Us Girls” Martini Party
Invitation: Use cocktail coasters!
Food: Make up canapés or appetizers & serve up cocktails with light cubes in your glasses.
Music: Play some jazz, soul & R & B.
When the wedding favors are complete: Chill out, listen to the music, sink a few more cocktails & have a good gossip!  

These are just a few great ideas for making your wedding favors a breeze & having a great time as well.  I am sure you will come up with some great party ideas of your own!

By Georgina Clatworthy

I have to say I love champagne!  Not only the drink but the color also!  A champagne wedding color scheme can create a sublime look incorporating formality, elegance & vintage style.

Champagne as a color sits somewhere between ivory & taupe but you will see many variations in shade between manufacturers.  As an alternative to traditional white or ivory you can’t go wrong with champagne.  It coordinates with many of the favorite wedding colors & can give your reception & other wedding details a wide range of looks & styles.

Below are some color schemes for you to try out.  The charts show the main colors along with some coordinating accent colors for you to consider.  Colors showing as orange & grey are denoting gold & silver (although in some schemes grey does work too).

 Champagne, Ivory & Eau de Nil

This has to be the classiest combination & probably my personal favorite.  The combination of these three colors creates a timeless elegant feel.  Perfect for formal & casual weddings alike. 

Use these three colors in a plain & simple format for a formal wedding with an elegant & sophisticated feel.  Add textures such as lace & ribbon for a vintage feel & if you want glamour add in some small gold details in matt shades of antique or old gold.  For a touch of glitz add in crystals & small silver details for a hint of sparkle.

Use textures such as damask fabrics, laces, large floral arrangements filled with roses & peonies & candles for a really romantic feel.

Champagne & Blue

Champagne & blue combine beautifully & make a great scheme for a beach wedding if you wanted to avoid the nautical feel of blue & white.

Pale blue on its own can feel cold & icy but the addition of champagne warms it & creates a beautiful elegant scheme.  You can use champagne as your main color or switch it to just accent pieces, such as dress sashes for your bridesmaids, napkins, flowers & other small details.

Champagne will coordinate well with many shades of blue, from pale blue to navy.  However I would suggest that darker shades work well for formal weddings whilst paler shades are good for more low key or casual weddings.

Combine a champagne & blue scheme with gold for an opulent feel.

Champagne & Green

This may seem an unusual combination but it does create a rather natural looking scheme.  Combining champagne with pastel green & pastel pink is a perfect scheme for a spring wedding.  Choose slightly darker shades for a summer wedding.

A pale metallic green also looks good when paired with champagne & helps to keep the scheme looking fresh but with a touch of warmth as well.  Stick with pale greens & maybe mid apple/grass green.  Darker greens such as emerald may not work on their own with champagne although emerald green in very small details can work as an accent to pale green.

Champagne & Chocolate Brown

Brown has been a favorite wedding color for a number of years.  It is formal & elegant & when combined with champagne creates a stunning sophisticated feel.

I would add in a third accent color such as matt silver or gold to help lift the scheme & stop it looking flat & boring.  Add some damask fabrics in your table linens & metallic colored charger plates & cutlery for a more luxurious look.

These two will also combine well with pale greens & blues which is a nice choice for a less formal wedding or a beach wedding.  Keep champagne as your main color & use brown as an accent in textured pieces such as dark wooden trestle tables or charger plates.

Pale pink will also combine well for a vintage feel & is a nice scheme for an informal wedding.   

Champagne & Red

For those who want a touch of vibrancy but don’t want the harsher contrast of red & white, champagne & red works beautifully.  This scheme combines elegance with a touch of fun, with the bright red catching the eye & breaking up the champagne color.

Again, keep champagne as the main color & use red in your table centers & floral arrangements (red roses are perfect); add in red lacquer charger plates & include a touch of red ribbon in your wedding favors.

For a more festive feel to your scheme add in some dark green foliage, gold charger plates & tall glass hurricane lamps.

Champagne & Black

These two combined create a formal scheme & a fabulous alternative to black & white.  In fact the two together create a dramatic & luxurious look, which you don’t get with black & white.

Champagne & black lend themselves best to formal weddings in grand settings.  Again add in some old gold colored chargers & cutlery, with some opulent cut glass glasses & lavish floral table centers.

For vintage glamour add in some crystal accents, such as buckles on your wedding cake.  Or for a touch of Parisian chic add in blush pink roses to your floral displays & blush pink accents to your tables & wedding favors.

I love this combination with mauve accents too.  It has a dramatic & mysterious feel, whilst looking very sophisticated.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Through out the build up to your wedding & through the big day itself your bridesmaids will not only be your loyal supporters but also your closest friends.  The best bridesmaids will have helped with all the stress & worry of the wedding planning & will see through the nerves, anxiety & excitement when the wedding day finally arrives.

The role they will play for both you & your fiancé shouldn’t be underestimated & for that reason they deserve a gift from yourselves that says just how much you appreciate them & all that they have done for you.

Traditionally you would give out your gifts at the rehearsal dinner, but some couples will choose to do it after the speeches at the wedding reception.  This is a great way of letting all your guests know just how much the bridesmaids have contributed to the wonderful day they are enjoying.

But if you’re struggling to find some gifts that are suitable then here are some tips & ideas to help you with your choices.

Quite often brides will choose the same gift to give to all her bridesmaids.  This could be jewelry, a favorite being a silver cross or locket, or maybe a photo frame or album.  But if you wanted to give each bridesmaid a gift that is unique to them it is important to consider each one individually.  Think about the aspects of their personality, their likes & dislikes & their personal style.

Jewelry is always a great choice.  It represents a token of affection & appreciation & if you choose wisely something that will be treasured always.  Necklaces are easy & you could choose simple pendants on silver chains or lockets as mentioned above.  Charm bracelets are a nice idea & you could include a wedding related charm as well.  A pair of pretty stud earrings is also a good & safe choice.  I would avoid anything dangly or very big, unless you know it is to their taste. 

Buy the best quality jewelry you can afford.  Silver plated pieces are cheap but may not wear as well.  Sterling silver is a affordable, especially from high street stores or online, where you will find a wide choice of styles & designs to choose from.  If your budget will stretch then plated or 9ct gold is also a good option & a valuable keepsake.

Watches are another good choice.  You can purchase watch faces separately & have straps made up to your requirements.  Try some grosgrain ribbon in your wedding colors & get it embroidered with your wedding date or a short message of thanks from yourself.  You can also select watches from a jeweler & have the back of the watch engraved.  A watch makes a wonderful & useful gift which will remind them of you every time they look at it!

Many brides choose to gift their bridesmaids their dresses or accessories instead of giving them something extra on the day.  If you do go down this route it can be worth allowing your bridesmaids to pick their own with you.  This way they will get something they like & are likely to wear again, instead of your choices which they may not like all that much.

Other choices could include silver plated photo frames, engraved ornaments such as decorative glass plates or bowls, or even some gift tokens perhaps for a spa day or day out.

Whatever your choice of gift for your bridesmaids make sure it something that conveys how much their help & support has meant to you both & how much you value their friendship.