By Georgina Clatworhy

It is natural to want to look your best on your wedding day & for many brides (& grooms) this usually starts with wanting to lose some weight & tone up their appearance.

Unfortunately this can’t be achieved overnight & despite the many adverts you may see scattered across the internet, you can’t & shouldn’t attempt to loose a dress size in a week!  If you start early enough though you can loose those extra few pounds & shape up by your wedding day.  Here are some common questions & answers which may help you get started.

My wedding is in 3 weeks, how can I loose 20 pounds?

Truth is you can’t.  Whilst that may not be the answer you want to hear, it is a realistic one & being realistic is always a good place to start when it comes to loosing weight.  Healthy weight loss ranges from 2 – 3 pounds per week although you may find you loose more in the first ten days as your body eliminates excess water.

Embarking on an extreme weight loss course which promise 7 – 14 pounds week is not only dangerous but will probably not make you look any better.  Loosing that much weight, that quickly, is usually down to shedding excess water & muscle tissue rather than fat.  Plus loosing that much weight that quickly will not only have an impact on your health, it will also put you in danger of not being able to fit into your wedding dress.

How can I find the time for a workout with all this wedding planning?

Regular exercise is an important part of anyone’s lifestyle & even the busiest of lifestyles can still find some time to exercise.  Whilst decreasing your daily or weekly exercise regime is fine, you shouldn’t abandon it altogether.  Wedding planning is a stressful undertaking, but you can incorporate exercise into your daily schedule.  Take some time out to go for a run.  Running is amazing for distressing & clearing your mind, you’ll come back refreshed & ready to tackle the next task on your list.  Another option is to take dance classes with your fiancé.  Not only will you wow your guests with a great first dance but you will get fit too!

I want to tone my upper body for a more defined look for my wedding day, how can I do this?

First you need to take a look at your upper body.  If you have a lot of fat around this are you will need to burn some of it off.  In other words burn off more calories than you consume.  Join a healthy fitness program at your local gym which will include cardio, strength & flexibility exercises along with some nutritional advice.  Once the fat levels have decreased you can work on strengthening the muscle groups in your upper body to obtain the look you desire for your wedding day.  Try to perform 1 – 2 exercises specific to each muscle group, with 8 – 12 reps & 1 – 2 sets.  Stick to this & you should start to see the results in about 4 weeks.

How can I increase my motivation to exercise?

Working out with a friend can be a great motivator but both of you need to be able to motivate each other.  Another option would be a personal trainer who can tailor an exercise program for you & keep you going throughout. At the end of the day willpower isn’t available ‘off the shelf’ so you will need an element of self-motivation to achieve your goal.

How can I get a bikini body in time for my honeymoon?

Unfortunately getting a beach body doesn’t happen over night & you will need to embark on an intensive & comprehensive fitness program to achieve it.  When you look for a suitable program make sure it includes exercises which will target the specific muscle groups you want to enhance, such as your stomach, legs & butt.  Many of these can be done at home & for just a few minutes workout each day you will start to see a difference in just a few weeks.

By Georgina Clatworthy

When it comes to planning your wedding & looking for wedding vendors, your first stop will most likely be the internet.  The World Wide Web has no doubt enriched our lives & can help make organizing a wedding, a much easier process.  Online you can find everything you will need to make your dream wedding come true – reception venues, ceremony venues, florists, wedding dresses, accessories, favors, travel agents & jewelers, everything you could possibly want will be at your fingertips.  But with such as wide choice of vendors available how do you who is reputable & who to trust with your hard earned wedding budget?

To start you should familiarize yourself with the two types of wedding vendor you will find online.

Wedding Vendor Type 1) this is an actual store.  A physical shop which you may find in your local high & who has branched out into internet retails to enlarge their customer base.  The benefit to you from this type of vendor is that you can browse their ranges online & then visit their store to see the items in ‘the flesh’ & buy with confidence.  This environment is a good choice as you will have plenty of points of contact & a good level of service.

A possible drawback though is that they maybe more expensive than other vendors.  The cost of running a bricks & mortar store are higher than running an online store alone, which tends to push up prices.  Another drawback maybe that the bricks & mortar store is not within driving range for you to visit.

Wedding Vendor Type 2) this is store which only exists online & is probably run out of a warehouse somewhere. On the plus side a solely online store will be cheaper than those of vendor type 1 & you will probably find some great deals & offers available on a regular basis.  They can offer you great value for money & are available for you to shop with day or night 24/7.

However, you should be aware that this type of store is usually a ‘faceless’ environment. You will not meet the owner or store staff & you are to certain extent trusting them to delivery your order after you have paid for it.  This may not be an issue for some who trust in the online shopping system, but others may feel uncomfortable with it.

What to Look for in an Online Wedding Vendor:

1. Quality and selection: Check out the site thoroughly & take some time to get a feel for the image of the company & what they offer.  Look for customer information, privacy policies & an about us page.  Not all sites have them so don’t write them off if they haven’t.  Do you like the look of the products & services on offer?  Is the range extensive enough for you? Are your confident they can offer you what you are looking for? Your first impression is really the key here.  If you walked into a store on the high street but immediately didn’t like the look of it, you would probably turnaround & walk out, so don’t let it be any different online.
2. Availability and delivery: Look for their shipping rates, delivery times & any other information that may affect your order, such as minimum spend levels.  In some cases buying items in bulk, such as wedding favors will attract a discount on shipping costs so see if this is offered.  Also look for insured delivery methods & guarantees on delivery times. 
3. Physical address or mailing location: It is always advisable to shop with a store that has a physical address listed on the site.  You can check if this actually exists & who is resident there.  For many customers this is a sign of a trustworthy & dependable business.
4. Methods of contact: There should always be some method of contacting the vendor.  Many sites will have contact forms to fill in whilst others will provide you with live chat facilities, phone & fax numbers & email addresses.  As with a physical address general advice is to stick with wedding vendors that offer at least two methods of contact, that way you can have at least some assurance of being able to contact them.  If you are looking for more information many sites will have an FAQ page (frequently asked questions).  Check here first to see if your question is on the list. 
5. Helpful suggestions or advice: If you contact them, how quickly did they respond & how helpful were they?  A vendor who is prompt, helpful & informative is better than one who takes days to respond, is not very helpful or worse still never replies at all.
6. Experience: On some sites you will find a testimonials or reviews page, where previous customers have left feedback about the vendor.  You can also look for a press page which will outline any publications the vendor has been featured in. Good vendors will want to show how trustworthy, reliable & customer orientated they are.  Another alternative is to type the wedding vendors name into a search engine & see what is returned.  Former customers may have posted their experiences with the vendor on online forums & can give you a good insight into the level of service you can expect.
7. Free sample or trial options: Some vendors, particularly those who deal in wedding invitations & favors, will offer you free samples of their products to look at before you decide to purchase.  Others may give you a free trial option, such as a wedding website company.  Photographers & videographers may offer you the chance to take a look at their work with online slideshows or videos.  If you can’t get any samples or trials take a look at their refund & returns policies before ordering. 
8. Secure payment options: There are many online payment options.  Some will take your credit card details & process them online through their site, others will direct you to a third party payment processor such as Paypal or Worldpay.  You may also have the option to pay by check, money order or to call them on the phone with your credit card. Payment by check will mean your order taking longer than paying by other methods, as the vendor will wait until the funds have cleared in their bank account before processing your order.  Typically 7 to 10 days.

Shopping online is a wonderful thing & one which will make your wedding planning a lot quicker & simpler.  But make sure you are a savvy shopper & keep these tips in mind when buying over the internet.

And Saving Lots of Money in the Process

By Georgina Clatworthy

When it comes to planning the wedding reception, it pays to know exactly what your budget is.  The good news is that no matter what the size of your budget, large or small, there is a perfect reception venue available for everyone.

As a guide, your wedding budget should allocate 30% of the total to your reception.  Where costs can really start to mount is in the smaller details such as decorations, rentals & outside catering.  Here are some hints & tips to help you cut the cost of your reception food & drink, as well how to throw your reception on tight budget.

Renting a Hall

If you choose to rent a hall or large room for your reception, then there are several things that you will need to take in to account beforehand.  For example there is the cost of hiring the room, using their servers (many will have them include in the price & may not be negotiable), then there is the cost of decorations, flowers, food & beverages.

With hiring a hall there are several things that you will have to pay for, such as decorations & beverage. But some hall venues will give you a range of options to pick & choose as you like. 

Your choice of hall type will also have an impact on your budget.  For example a grand banqueting hall will typically cost more than a community hall.  Another consideration is if your budget is small to start with, then renting a hall could leave you with more effort & fewer options than booking a package with a different style of venue.

Here are some tips about renting a hall & keeping your costs down.

1.  Halls should only be considered if you have 50 or more guests on your list.

2.  Choose between an open bar or a cash bar for your reception, when renting a hall.  An good alternative is to provide beer yourselves & have a cash bar for those want a mixed drink.

3.  Choose a hall you can decorate yourselves.

4. If you need servers, then choose a hall that has them included in the price or one that will let you bring your own.

5. Make sure your choice of hall will cater to your needs & budget.

6. Avoid extra costs for catering & hire a hall that will let you supply your own food.

7. Save money on your catering with finger foods, vegetable & fruit trays.  This will also cater to the vegetarians among your guests.  

8. A casual style buffet reception will be cheaper than a formal sit down meal.  

9. Have a cash bar as an alternative to giving a wedding gift. It is a great way to accommodate your guests & will save you money on the hall hire.  

10. Choose a midweek wedding date as weekend dates are always more expensive.

11. Good rates can be had for winter time weddings.  

12. Pay by cash & negotiate a deal on the price for doing so.  Most venues will have to pay a charge to accept payments by credit cards so they are more likely to agree.  

13. You can save on your catering costs by holding the reception in the daytime & offer just canapés or snacks, rather than a formal evening meal.

Having a hall wedding reception needn’t cost you the earth, particularly if you pull some of the tricks I have mentioned.  Also consider holding your reception outdoors.  Some may think that an indoors reception is more elegant than an outdoors one, but this needn’t be the case & an outdoor event can be more fun & cost you less.

By Georgina Clatworthy

You may have started out with what you thought was a reasonable wedding budget, but quickly discovered that it wasn’t enough, leaving you raiding your savings to make up the shortfall.  But you can have a low budget wedding without demolishing your savings or leaving you drowning in debt.

Firstly, planning the wedding yourselves will save you a huge chunk of cash.  Hiring a wedding planner or coordinator can be very expensive, so ask yourselves if they can achieve anything that you yourselves cannot.  Keeping a record of all your wedding planning will also make for a lovely family keepsake in years to come. You can gain huge satisfaction from the fact that you have created your dream wedding, from favors to flowers & cake to catering, all yourselves. 

Producing a super-low budget wedding can take time & energy & a lot of creativity on your part, but you will reap the rewards when you realize the huge amount of money you have saved. This can then be invested in something more permanent in your lives, such as a house deposit or new car.

Having a lower budget doesn’t mean that your costs will break any different to having a pricier ‘do’.  There will still be scope to save money in every element of your wedding, but in order to do this you must do one thing – avoid the grand, formal wedding.

So where do you begin to cut costs?  Firstly you should realize what the most important part of the day is to you both.  This should be the ceremony & the actual ‘getting married’ part.  If it isn’t then I would seriously think about whether or not getting married is right for you both!  One way you could reduce costs quite significantly is to forgo the wedding reception & instead have an intimate dinner party with family & friends after a simple civil ceremony.  Plan to renew your wedding vows in the future & at a time when you could afford a larger, more formal affair.  Renewing your vows is a popular trend at the moment & it would be a very romantic way to mark a milestone or anniversary in your relationship.  I would suggest you seriously consider this, particularly if you are footing the entire wedding bill yourselves & the idea of beginning married life saddled with debt horrifies you.

However, for many their wedding is the biggest day of their lives & they want to splurge on a big day.  So if you’re budget is saying ginger beer rather than fine champagne then you will need to conjure up some magic if you don’t want to break your budget.  If you’re prepared to try every trick in the book then here’s an idea that could save you a fortune.

Focus on the Venue

An extravagant wedding reception will break your budget on its own, if you are not careful & rein your idea in.  One of the most obvious ways to save money would be to edit the guest list down.  You may also discover that your choice of venue will cost you a hefty sum, especially when all the essential ‘extras’ are added to the bill.  Take some time to find & secure a venue that is free or as good as ( after taking into account rental costs for chairs, tables etc).

Examples of a ‘free’ location would be your home or if that isn’t big enough, that of a family member or close friend.  Another option would be hiring a church or community hall.  These are usually very cheap to rent & can provide you with adequate kitchen facilities for preparing & serving food.

Ask around local eateries & see if they will offer a low cost wedding reception package.  These could include food & a limited amount of beverage, or rental of a function room with the option of a reception package.

Your venue will the key to saving a large portion of your budget, so it will pay to thoroughly research all your options.  Ask family & friends for recommendations, check out the internet & local press.  Look at unusual venues such as gardens, museums & vineyards as they may be able to offer you a low cost reception package.

Keep a record of all your findings, including the venue, package options & cost.  This way you will be able to work out which venue will offer you the best package for your money.  Remember, the cheapest option may not be the best.  Paying a little extra could get you twice as much as the cheapest option was offering.

Beating the Biggest Budget-Buster of All

Sadly, in today’s world the mention of one of two words is likely to push costs sky high – they are wedding & baby.  Commercialism is a massive part of the wedding industry today, with the majority of vendors hiking their prices for weddings because they assume you will naturally want to spend a huge amount of cash for such a special occasion.  Often this means that you will actually be paying over the odds for something.  Test my theory out by contacting a large venue & asking about their wedding reception packages, then ring back & ask about packages for a milestone birthday party.  I bet the packages are virtually identical with the exception of the price!

An example of this is the catering for your wedding.  The cost of feeding your guests can be more than the hire of the venue itself, so getting a good deal here & cutting the cost down is really a must.

However, a few ham sandwiches & cocktail sausages will not suffice. Your guests will more likely leave before the speeches & will slate your wedding day for all eternity!  One solution for those with a minute budget is to throw a potluck reception.  In essence you ask your guests to bring along a dish instead of a wedding gift.  It may sound absurd, but a potluck reception was once quite the done thing & is more traditional than the bride & groom forking out for expensive catering & 3 course menus.  They are also the best way to throw a fabulous party & have your guests leave feeling sustained.

If you are somewhat embarrassed about asking your guests to ‘feed themselves’ then dress it up as the ‘Old Time, Traditional Wedding Celebration’.  This naturally suits a potluck reception & no-one would think to question it.

Continue the theme in your decorations, flowers & favors, look to the 1920’s, 30’s or 50’s which are all in vogue at the moment, but fit the traditional theme nicely.

So how do you go about asking your guests to bring a dish with them?  Well, you could slip a note in with the invitation, such as this:

Our reception will be an “Old Time Traditional Celebration” with a potluck dinner.

____  Please check here if you would like to bring a dish for the reception in place of a wedding gift.

We kindly request a call for dish suggestions.

Ask them to call you & let you know what dish they plan to bring.  This way you will still have some say over the menu & can avoid any over duplicating on dishes.  Incidentally, no one is obliged to participate but you could be surprised by how many will.

It is also likely that many of your guests will go to town & will create some fabulous, unusual & extravagant dishes to grace your tables.  You may also find an element of competition arising between guests, as to who produces the best & most talked about dish on the day! Just make sure it doesn’t get out of hand!

How to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes People Make When Planning Their Wedding

By Georgina Clatworthy

• 1. A Lack of Personality
  This is the biggest mistake because so many couples fail to put their own personalities into their weddings. This doesn’t mean your wedding has to have a theme but simply that it should be about you, your tastes & your styles. Use a color scheme that appeals to you, choose music that is a reflection of your own tastes & add in a little of your own humor.
• 2. Wasting Money
  People aren’t kidding when they refer to the ‘wedding industry’. In my opinion the most expensive occasions in life are weddings & babies (house purchase excluded!). There are companies, businesses & vendors out there who are solely in business for weddings. This is great, but it is also a case of buyer beware, as specialist wedding retailers (with the exception of bridal shops) are notoriously expensive. Take advice where offered but don’t be talked into spending more money than you can afford or than necessary.
• 3. Forgetting What a Wedding Really Is
  Your wedding is about the two of you declaring your love for each & pledging to stay together for the rest of your lives – that’s it, pure & simple. You are not getting married for the sake of other people’s happiness, which is simply a by-product of your own happiness. Make it memorable but for all the right reasons.
• 4. Not Knowing the Master of Ceremonies
  When it comes to the wedding day proper, there are two people who should know you & you know them, very well. These two are the MC of the ceremony or officiant & the DJ or band leader (or whoever is providing your entertainment) Your officiant needs to add warmth & sentiment to your ceremony & be able to talk about both in such a way that it appears they have known you all their lives. Your DJ should be able to lead a party without being cheesy & should play the kinds of music that you like & that will appeal to your guests. Having a good relationship with these people is important & you should make sure you like them & are comfortable with them.
• 5. Thinking “It Could Never Rain on MY Wedding Day”
  With all the stress & anxiety that goes into planning a wedding, it is surprising that so many never make an kind of contingency plan should anything go wrong. So what will you do if it is raining & you reception is outdoors? Make sure you have a back up plan for any potential events, such as bad weather, which could spoil your day. Organize an alternative venue for the reception if it is raining & make sure you contact all your vendors so they know where to go.
• 6. Forgetting the Meaning of the Word “Budget”
  When you begin your wedding planning you probably start off with the best of intentions & at first stick well to your budget. But it is too easy to get swept up in wedding emotion & before you know it you have blown twice as much on your dress & ordered six courses for the reception when you only budgeted for three. It is easy to be seduced by glossy bridal magazines showing you the last celebrity weddings & your must haves for this year. Whilst your wedding is a special moment in your lives it is only one day & is not worth starting your married life thousands of dollars in debt.
• 7. Getting Trashed the Night Before the Wedding
  It used to be traditional to have the bachelor/bachelorette parties the night before the wedding. But we’ve all seen the TV programs where the stag wakes up hundreds of miles away from the wedding site, stark naked & in the middle of nowhere. Whilst we probably howled with laughter & watched as he desperately tried to get back in time, it is the last thing you want for your real wedding. Even a few drinks the night before could have an adverse effect the next day such as headaches, nausea or upset stomach. Skip the drinking & have an early night instead. Tomorrow will be a very long day.
• 8. Being Inconsiderate
  It may well be your special day, but there are other people involved. You are the hosts when all is said & done, no matter who the invitations were from. Be considerate with your wedding party & in particular the duties you are asking them to carry out. Be clear about your expectations & the commitment you expect. Provide something for your guests to do whilst you take your photographs rather than having them standing around waiting for over an hour. It is a good idea to have your photos taken during the cocktail hour so your guests can relax & have a drink whilst mingling together. Other considerations could be the time of year, provide some bottles of water, fans or parasols for a hot summers day or wraps & umbrellas for a mild fall wedding.
• 9. Not Involving Your Better Half
  Whilst traditionally the domain of the bride, in this modern age all wedding decisions should be taken together. It is his day as much as it is yours & you should include him on major decisions such as venue, menu & entertainment. He is probably more than happy to leave color schemes, flowers & favors to you, but make sure you ask his opinion.
• 10. Losing Perspective
  Don’t loose sight of what is important to you both. At the end of the day as long as you have a ring on your finger & a marriage certificate nothing else really matters. Don’t let yourself get bogged down with minor details that really aren’t important & make sure you delegate some of the tasks to others, you don’t have to do it all yourself. Stay cool, calm & in control. And above all don’t loose your sense of humor!

What to Do When the Credit Crunch Bites

By Georgina Clatworthy

It’s a nightmare scenario but one that, in this current economic climate, is all too possible.  None of us can be certain, when we book our wedding vendors that they will still be in business when the big day comes around.  In fact how many of us would even give it a second thought?  But with many businesses going bust everyday how can you try to protect yourselves & your wedding day?

You have no way of knowing the state of the business you are about to hire for your wedding.  Short of asking to see the books, you trust them to be a viable business, at least until after your wedding day.  So what happens should that business go bust?  Well, your rights will vary according to state law & a lot could depend on how much money you have handed over at the time of booking or in the build up to your wedding day.  If the firm has applied for bankruptcy you can apply to add your names to the list of unsecured creditors & hope that you will get some of your money back.  However, unsecured creditors will have to wait in line behind the secured creditors who will take precedence.  Usually they are paid off first & then the remaining money (if any) is shared out between the unsecured creditors.  Chances are you will get very little, if anything back. 

If administrators are appointed to the business then your booking may still go ahead.  For example, if your reception venue when into administration & you had paid some or all of your fee’s then they may insist that your reception still goes ahead, as it does mean there is still money coming into the business.  However, some companies, such as reception venues, can outsource many of the services/products it provides within it’s packages- things such as glass & china hire, table linens, catering, entertainment etc; these firms maybe reluctant to extend credit to this business seeing as they are in administration. An alternative scenario may see your deposit/fees refunded by the company or administrators, but this is unlikely.

If the chance of a vendor going bust before your wedding day is of real concern to you, then here are some tips to try & help you stay one step ahead.

• Pay all your deposits & fees with a credit card. Credit cards will usually offer payment protection on purchases (as basically you are borrowing the bank’s money!) they will refund all payments made to the business back to you. It is then up to the credit card provider to claim that money back from the company in question.
• Visit you local district attorney general’s office should a vendor go bust (or visit them before you make any bookings at all). They will be able to advise you of your rights & what you should do next.
• Make sure you have true business information – company name, proprietors name, a bricks & mortar address & a non-0800 telephone number. Generally this applies to the smaller firms, larger national companies are easier to find, but smaller independent firms can be difficult to track down if you don’t know all their contact details. Having all the correct details will help you build a case with your state attorney general’s office & get your money back.
• Draw up a plan ‘B’. If one of your vendor’s goes bust go back to your planning notes & look for another alternative from your original list. When vendors go bust, similar businesses are more than happy to pick up the customers left high & dry. They may honor the package you had with the original company or give you other incentives to book with them.
• Take out wedding insurance. Check the policy details to make sure you are covered should a vendor go out of business. If your chosen insurance company won’t provide insurance against a certain vendor you have booked with, it may be a good indicator as to the state of the business.

It is a sad fact that no-one is immune to the global credit crisis, even the biggest firms are going out of business, whilst the small ones struggle along.  Consumers & vendors alike are having to make difficult choices & I would strongly recommend you pay all deposits & fees by credit card, make a ‘plan B’ list of vendors & make sure you get the best advice possible should the worst happen.

Lose weight & tone up ready for your big day

By Georgina Clatworthy

When planning a diet & exercise regime for your wedding day it is important you stick to the 80:20 ratio rule.  This rule requires that you stick to your diet & exercise routine for about 80% of the time & have a 20% safety zone for this times when it all gets too much & you reach for the pre-wedding chocolates!

STEP 1

The basic rules

Never miss breakfast.  Aim to eat a good breakfast within 60 minutes of getting up as you will then gain from the maximum energy boosting benefits.

The ideal amount of calories you should consume in a day should be around 1700.  Try to avoid empty calories which have no nutritional value, such as alcohol.

Add a small portion of protein with each meal as it will leave you feeling fuller for longer.  Good options are fish, lean chicken, skimmed milk & eggs.

Five portions of fruit & veg a day are essential.  Eat dark leafy vegetables which is high in fibre & a natural source of iodine which can boost your metabolism.  With fruit try grapefruit, plums & pears.

Avoid adding sugar & salt.  Suge if high with empty calories & salt will only bloat you & promote water retention.

For good digestive health eat plenty of fibre.  Choose whole grains & high-fibre foods which take longer to digest & burn more calories in the process.  Opt for brown bread, pasta & rice.

Eat regularly & often, aim for every three to four hours to keep your metabolism running throughout the day.  Try to eat no later than 8pm or at least three hours before your go to bed & 30 – 45 minutes after your workout.

STEP 2

The superfoods

For a beauty boost stock up on these super foods  …..

Eat avocados which are high in healthy monounsaturated fats & will help you to get plump, wonderful looking skin.  Eat at least two per week.

Brazil nuts are great for hair, skin & nails.  Have two to three a day.

To imporve skin tone, texture & clarity drink a glass of pomegranate juice a day.  Pomegranates are high in vitamin C & antioxidants.

Carrots are famed for being high in vitamin C & beta-carotene which will help protect against harmful sun rays.

Grapes are full of antioxidants & can help prevent wrinkles.  They can also help against thread veins & sagging skin.  Eat a small bunch every day.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

Exercise is crucial to the success of any weightloss regime.  It will also help you stress levels, allowing you to take time out & have some ‘me’ time.  Exercise is also essentail to kick-starting your metabolism.  Team up with your bridesmaids for some fun social exercising.

 
STEP 1

Mini moves

   
Making small changes to amount of exercise you do on a daily basis is an effective way of burning calories.

Try performing plies every morning & night to help tone your hips & bottom.  You maybe surprised how much difference two minutes a day will make!  

If you regularly use public transport to get to work try getting off one stop early & walking the rest of the way.  As you get fitter increase the amount of distance you walk by getting off earlier.

Don’t sit at your desk during your lunch break, use the time for brisk walk.  A 10 – 15 minute walk will make a big difference to your fitness levels & will help improve your circulation, which in tunr will get rid of cellulite.

STEP 2

Timing

The time at which you choose to do your exercise can make a big difference to your calorie consumption.  Maximise your metabolic output with some time management.

Try exercising 3 hours before or after 6pm for the best results in endurance & muscle mass.

Carry out your exercise regime at the end of the day to help aid weight loss.

Workout after work to help your stress levels, which is a common factor in weight gain.

Working out regularly is the only way to aid in wieght loss & maximise your health benefits.  Try to do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, 3 – 4 times a week.

A guide to speeding up the wedding planning

By Georgina Clatworthy

For many the idea of planning a wedding within three months is just inconceivable.  For them the only option would be to elope, but a short engagement doesn’t mean that you can’t have the wedding of your dreams.  With some careful planning & determination you can pull off a fantastic wedding in just 12 weeks.  Here’s how.

The Wedding Location

Your options for location maybe limited as many places are booked well in advance, but there should still be a good choice of locations available & you may be able to negotiate a discount for booking at a late date.  Save extra time by choosing to have your ceremony & reception at the same location.  Look for inns, hotels or non-traditional venues such as film locations.  If you are having trouble finding a location then look to hiring a wedding planner, they can often find the places that aren’t booked up & will be invaluable in helping you to organize so much in such a short space of time.  Being flexible on date & time will expand your options & possibly help your budget.

Your Wedding Dress & the Bridesmaids’ Dresses

It is usual to order your wedding dress around 6-8 months before the wedding day, with your bridesmaids dresses soon after.  However, many bridal shops can offer a fastrack service if you need your dress sooner & some manufacturers can make dresses in 8-12 weeks.  For other alternatives look out for sample sales, where you can pick up a dress in store straightaway & usually at less than the tag price.  If you pick up a sample dress be prepared to have it cleaned & you may also need to find a seamstress to make an alterations for you.  Also look for the large bridal emporiums that stock a wide range of sizes ready for you to purchase immediately.  For your bridesmaids consider buying occasion dresses from department stores or high street stores.  Another option is to ask them to wear dresses they already have.

 Invitations

Ideally you will post your invitations 6 weeks before the wedding day.  If you want posh printed invitations you should look for a local printer who can provide a quick turnaround.  Otherwise print them yourself.  Check out websites which offer DIY printing services or find a software program such as PrintingPress to help make quick work of it.   To save more time set up a wedding webpage for your guests to visit & where they can leave an RSVP & keep up to date with all you arrangements.  You can also ask them to RSVP by phone or email.

The Food & Cake

When choosing your location a hotel or restaurant would be a good choice as they are already set up to provide catering.  Look for alternatives to French or Italian restaurants & have some fun at a Mexican restaurant or Tapas Bar.  It is also worthwhile ringing around local catering firms & asking if they can fit you in.  Some of the larger companies may be able to accommodate you.  If your restaurant or caterer can’t provide a cake, check out local bakeries & see what they can provide.  As an alternative to a tiered cake, choose a single cake & provide the kitchen with some plain cutting cakes for your guests.

How to Make Sure You Get the Best Service

By Georgina Clatworthy

When it comes to buying your wedding dress you should make sure your bridal store is giving you’re the very best service & attention it can muster.  Here is some good advice when it comes to choosing your bridal store. 

Make sure you get on with the assistants from day one, after all you will probably be spending most of the next 12 months in your uderwear with her!  When you enter the store for the first time make sure you get a friendly welcome & that you are offered a courteous service with help & information when you ask for it.  If you get none of these or the assistants are totally disinterested in you – leave!

Do I need to make an appointment?

Sometimes you can walk into a store midweek & you will not need an appointment but for most bridal stores a weekend appointment is necessary.

If you want to visit a specific store it is always advisable to ring & book an appointment.  Many bridal showrooms will only work on an ‘appointment only’ basis anyway so it si best to ring first to avoid disappointment.  Once you have an appointment make sure you are fully prepared before you go. Try & have some ideas of what you want & any other information the assistant will need to advise you.

Can I look through sample dresses myself, or am I restricted to dresses the salesperson selects for me?

If you have booked an appointment the assistant will prepare some dresses for you.  However, a good store should let you look through the samples for yourself.  Your wedding dress is your own personal choice & you should never feel pressured to try on dresses chosen by the store assistant.  That said, always have an open mind & consider the options presented to you, you never know, the perfect dress could be a million miles from the one you envisaged when you walked in.

When should I start looking?

The usual advice is to start looking about eight to nine months before the wedding.  This is so the manufacturers have time to make your dress & apply any alterations needed from subsequent fittings.  Many manufacturers will off a rush service if you need it in a hurry but this can add a considerable amount to the price.

What should I expect from a bridal shop?

A good bridal store should be well laid out, with dresses easily accesible on the rails & not packed together tightly.  The fitting rooms should be spacious & include large mirrors so you can see the dress from all angles & full length.  The staff should be friendly & knowledgeable, they should in no way be pushy or rush you to make a decision.  Good staff should be able to assist & advise you, not just with you dress but with the complete look aswell.

Ask around for recommendations or do some research online.  Check to see if a store is a member of any national bridal associations, even if they are not, they may still be a very good store, but you may want to do some further research.

What should I wear?

It is a good idea to wear comfortable clothes & there is no need to get all glammed up.  Usually within the first five minutes you will be changing, so the assistant really won’t notice what you are wearing when you walk in.

Who should I take with me?

It is always a good idea to take someone with you, for support, advice & to make sure you don’t loose you head or a huge chunk of you wedding budget!  Take a close friend or family member, such as your mom or sister.  Leave any small children or babies at home, a bridal store is no place for them & they will get bored very quickly.  Stick to just one or two people to avoid overcrowding in the fitting rooms.

What should I bring with me?

Although it doesn’t matter what you wear, it is a good idea to wear good, well fitting lingerie.  Some stores will have a selection of bras available for your to use with certain styles of gowns but is always a good idea to bring your own, just in case.  Another tip is to wear or bring with a pair of shoes with roughly the same heel height as the ones you want to wear on your wedding day.  Bring some hair bands & grips aswell so you can try out each dress with your hair up & down.

How many fittings are usual?

When it comes to fittings, two or three are usual.  After the initial fitting you will require another one to make sure the alterations from the first fitting are correct & after that you may need another one for any further adjustments to be made.

Will alterations be included in the price?

When you visit a bridal store you will try on dresses in the size they have on the rail, these are known as samples.  When you have made a decision the store will then order that style in your size from the manufacturer.  When it arrives you will be called in for a fitting to see what adjustment/alterations are needed (if any).  Some retailers will include the cost of alterations in the price on the ticket.  Others will charge for alterations on top & they should dicuss this with you first.  Again it is important to wear good underwear & bring shoes to the fittings.  If you buy a dress online or from a home trader you are unlikely to get alterations included, in which case you will need to find someone locally who can do them for you.

How will my dress be delivered?

It is usual to collect your dress from the bridal store where you ordered it from although some may deliver it to you for a fee.  If you are getting married abroad the shop may also offer to pack it for you.

How should I store my dress?

When you get your dress home, take it out of it’s bag or box & hang it up, covered with a long sheet to protect it & alow it to breathe.  This is good practice for before & after the wedding.

Can I change my mind and get the deposit back?

Check the terms & conditions of the bridal store.  You will usually have paid a deposit of around 50% when you ordered.  You may have period of upto14 days to change your mind & return it, but you could find yourself having to pay a penalty.

Increase Your Spending Power With Some Sneaky Savings Tricks

By Georgina Clatworthy

As the credit crunch takes hold & disposable incomes shrink, you are probably looking for ways to make your wedding budget stretch just that little bit further.  But before you dash to the bank & beg on bended knee for a loan, try these top tips for saving money just by changing a few things in your current lifestyle.  You may just be surprised by how much you can save!

Open a High Interest Savings Account

Ok so the current economic climate has made borrowing more difficult, which has resulted in lower interest rates, but if you shop around you can still find a good rate of interest for savers.  Opening a high interest savings account means that your money will actually earn more than if you left it sitting in an ordinary current account.

Kick the Habit

If you are a smoker then now is the time to give up.  Stopping smoking will not only make your feel & look healthier, but based on a twenty-a-day habit you could save enough in a year to buy a stunning designer wedding gown.  Check out resources online & at your nearest health centre on the best ways to give up smoking & sign up to support groups either locally or online to keep you going when things get tough.

Live Without the Latte

If you are partial to a morning coffee on the way to work you could save a fortune each month by swapping it for a cuppa at home or waiting until you get into the office.  Typically you could be saving $40 a month amounting to $500 over a year.  As an added bonus your fiance will be relieved by the lack of caffeine induced bridezilla mood swings!

Spend to Accumulate

If you are able to pay off credit card purchases in full every month, then change your card to one that offers cash back on purchases.  Some providers will earn you upto 5% cash back.

Give Yourself Pocket Money

Give yourself a weekly budget for spending money & stick to it.  Take that money out of the bank every Monday & make it last the whole seven days.  Resist the temptation to go back for more mid-week or use the credit card until the following Monday.

Out With the Old

Have a good old fashioned clearout & get rid of any unwanted junk – after all you will need to make room for all the nice new shiny stuff you will be given as wedding presents!  Have a yard sale, give it to charity or sell it on Ebay.  Just make sure any proceeds are put into your wedding budget.

Make Lists

When it comes to your weekly food shop, make a list based around a weekly menu so that you are only buying what you need, rather lots of items you think you may need!  Avoid the temptation to shop on a whim or just because something was on offer (unless it’s wedding related of course!).

Park Life

You are probably thinking about embarking on a fitness regime so you look in peak condition for your big day.  But instead of forking out on expensive gym membership, check out what is available on your doorstep such as the local park, where you can start walking or jogging – for free.  Ask a friend to join you or maybe you know of some other soon-to-be-brides who would like to join in.  Aswell as the extra motivation you will give each other, it is a great opportunity to swap wedding gossip!