Two  years  on  from  the  Royal  wedding,  royal  author  and journalist  Marcia  Moody  looks  back  at  the princess brides who have made a statement through the ages...

2011 - Zara Philips and Mike Tindall

The  bride’s  dress  had  pockets  and  the  groom  had a  bruised  face  from  a  moped  accident, while guests included  Una  Healy  from  pop  group  The  Saturdays and  actress  Catherine  Kelly from Coronation  Street. The wedding was in Scotland, like Zara’s mother’s, and the church was filled with stargazer  lilies  and beech  branches.  Princes  William  and  Harry  read from  Zara’s favourite  childhood book  The Velveteen Rabbit, and guests were served Snow Leopard cocktails made of amaretto, rum, cream and coffee.

2011 - Prince William and Catherine Middleton

To  ensure  Kate’s  dress  was  pristine,  lace-making  needles  were  changed  every  three  hours, while workers  washed  their  hands  every  30  minutes.  There  were  two  cakes;  a  traditional fruitcake decorated with roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrocks to represent all of the United Kingdom, and a nursery favourite of William’s made from bashed-up Rich Tea biscuits. Ellie Goulding sang Your Song for the  first dance and canapés included sausages, fishcakes and miniature roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.

You and your h2b have no doubt put a lot of thought into your first dance song, but one of your most important  pieces  of  wedding  music  is  the  processional.  It’s  the  piece  of  music  that  will  be playing when  your  groom  first  lays  eyes  on  you  as  a  bride,  and  what  will  play  as  you  walk down  the  aisle towards  him.  If  you’re  determined  to  get  his  lower  lip  trembling,  then  you need  that  music  to  be emotional  –  here  are  a  few  of  our  suggestions  for  processional  songs that  will  have  him  feeling overwhelmed!

Chasing Cars, by Snow Patrol
It goes without saying that a lot of grooms won’t be swept off their feet by Beyonce or Taylor Swift. Try choosing an emotional song from a band that he loves and he’s far more likely to connect to the music. This gorgeous track from Snow Patrol has the perfect crescendo for the entrance of the bride, and has lovely lyrics too!

Ára Bátur, by Sigur Rós
This  Icelandic  band  create  some  frankly  stunning  instrumental  music,  and  you  won’t  have  to worry about the lyrics, as they’re all either in Icelandic or made up! This beautiful song builds slowly and is nearly 9 minutes long, so you’ll have plenty of time to get a large bridal party down the aisle before the entrance of the bride. By the time you appear, your groom is likely to be seriously choked up.

Never Stop (Wedding Version), by Safetysuit
This  one  is  all  about  the  lyrics.  If  you’re  choosing  a  song  like  this,  listen  to  the  words together beforehand, so that when the song’s played on the day the full importance of them will hit you both. They almost act like an extra vow! There are actually two versions of  Never Stop  –  this pretty piano wedding version, and the much rockier original for brides who don’t want to be subtle. We love them both!

Moon River, originally by Henry Mancini
If  your  h2b  loves  the  classics,  then  he’s  sure  to  love  this.  This  is  an  incredible  version  of  the  song Moon  River,  which  you  may  have  seen  being  sung  by  Audrey  Hepburn  in  the  film Breakfast  at Tiffany’s.  If  your  ceremony  space  is  grand  and  formal,  then  this  powerful  rendition  by  the  London Philharmonic  Orchestra  will  blow  everyone  away,  and  the  harmonica  solo  will  provide  the  perfect point for the bridal entrance.

She’s Always a Woman, by Billy Joel
This song might seem a little less romantic lyrically than other options on this list, but we think it’s a fantastic  choice.  It  will  reflect  that  your  groom  loves  you  for  both  your  good  and  bad qualities,  and that he’ll always remember how you look walking down the aisle towards him no matter how old you both grow. Pass the tissues…

Here, There and Everywhere, originally by The Beatles
If  you  and  your  h2b  can’t  decide  on  a  song  that  has  a  personal  connection,  then  choosing  a classic love song from a band like The Beatles is a smart decision. Most people will recognise and love it, and it  will  remain  a  classic  for  years  to  come.  The   original  version  of  this  song  is amazing,  but  we  also love this acoustic version arranged by Per-Olov Kindgren – it’s an excellent pace for a processional.

Grow Old With You, by Adam Sandler
Songs  from  film  soundtracks  are  very  popular  for  modern  wedding  ceremonies,  as  they  are  often instrumental  and  nearly  always  elicit  powerful  emotions.  This  is  no  epic  instrumental, but  it  is incredibly  sweet.  If  your  h2b  loves  this  movie,  then  he’ll  have  fond  memories  of  this  song  and  its lovely message.

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“It  was  all  very  emotional  actually,  sadly  my  mother  was  very  ill,  and  we  just  found  out she  had  a week left to live,” explains Catherine. “Poor Ollie had been hiding the ring for weeks, but each time he‟d gone to ask me, it just hadn‟t worked out. Amazingly, though, he did it just in time. My dad took a  message  to  the  hospital  where  my  mum  was  staying,  by  writing  on  a  piece of  paper  „Today  Ollie Asked Catherine To Marry Him‟ – her reaction was „wow‟, with a great big beaming smile on her face. We had one more amazing week with her, and then she left us. I know she was definitely with us in spirit  on our  wedding  day.  I  like  to  think she  was  also  in  charge  of all  the  dramatic  weather  on our day, too.”

“I decided I wanted to design my own dress, and so I found a wonderful lady called Mary Treacy in London who was like a mother to me while we worked on the dress together,” remembers Catherine. “I  found  this  one  of  the  hardest  things  about  the  whole  planning  of  the  wedding,  because  I wouldhave  given  anything  to  just  have  my  mother‟s  thoughts  on  my  dress.  But  Mary  was incredible  andtogether we made the most beautiful flowing dress that was light, delicate and dream-like,” she adds The groom’s outfit Ollie wore a genuine vintage tail coat, along with „puppy tooth‟ trousers from Hackett. His  gorgeous wife also designed him some personalised cufflinks (she‟s a jewellery designer) to wear with his great grandfather‟s waistcoat

Catherine‟s  wedding  helpers included  little  flowergirls and  pageboys,  along  with  the  couple‟s  lurcher Fox-In-Socks!

The ceremony

Was  a  classic  church  ceremony  that  included  two  readings  and  three  hymns.  Two  of  the couple‟s friends also sang  Will You Go Lassie Go –  a Scottish folk song that originated not far from where the bride grew up

Catherine  and  Ollie  hired  lots  of  different  shaped  tents  from  Space  Intents  to  create  their festival atmosphere. Crafty bride Catherine and a team of helpers made a stunning „indoor‟ blossom tree to fill their marquee. “We got so good at making pom poms by the end!” laughs Catherine. “They were attached  by  wire  onto  branches  we‟d  collected  from a  fallen  tree,  to  create  the  effect  of a  beautiful pink blossom tree,” she adds

“Ollie  kept  it  a  secret  from  me!”  says  Catherine  –  and  we  love  this  idea!  “Originally  he told  me  we were going to the Shetland Islands, but it wasn‟t until we were going to leave he said you might want to re-pack – we‟re going to Rio de Janeiro!”

P.S This guy really knows his stuff – providing live entertainment (a saxophonist!) on his advice at our 60th Diamond Edition launch party was one of the best things we did!

Why choose live entertainment?
Entertainment  creates  the  mood,  it  awakens  emotion  in  people  –  it’s  an  extremely  powerful tool  in any  event,  more  so  at  a  wedding  which  will  already  be  an  emotionally  charged  event to  start  with. Events  can  be  planned  down  to  every  last  detail,  but  you’ll  never  know  how your  guests  will  be feeling  on  the  day.  Live  entertainment  ensures  that  there  is  someone  on the  ground  reading  the crowd,  feeling  their  energy  and  interacting  with  them  to  create  a fantastic  experience  –  the  human element is so  crucial to the dynamic nature  of  your event. We can see when people are touched by the atmosphere or when people clear the dance floor –  it’s our role to keep our finger on the pulse. You would never have a celebrant perform the ceremony over Skype so why would you leave such a critical part of your special day up to an iPod or juke box?

What  should  brides  and  grooms  consider  when  organising  live  music  entertainment  and entertainment in general?

Your  two  big  influences  are  your  surroundings  and  your  guests.  Your  surroundings  will  often dictate the size of the entertainment and the kind of supporting electrical equipment needed to ensure that the  entertainment  is  making  the  most  out  of  the  acoustic s.  Your  surroundings  also include  your theming – if you’re going to have a religious reception for example, your entertainment choice should complement  that  theme.  Just  as  a  beach  wedding  would  also  be  best  for mobile entertainers  and  a small space best for a compact group.

Your guests will also have a vibe and a personality of their own and you want to give them a party to remember.  You  know  your  guests  and  are  in  the  best  position  to  know  how  they’ll  react  to entertainment  –  a  younger  guest  list  might  best  be  suited  to  a  rock  band  whereas  an  older crowd may mean you look into novelty bands, swing bands or even themed bands (ie Gatsby).

What  live  entertainment  options  are  available?  From  your  experience  what  is  the  most popular/successful at a wedding?
To  have  successful  live  entertainment  at  a  wedding,  you  need  artists  with  personality  and talent. During the ceremony, strings are always a favourite –  especially in churches and religious buildings  –and  we  have  also  had  instances  where  we’ve  shipped  in  a  grand  piano  for  some background  vocals and piano.

For the reception, a band is always a big seller and a definite way to get the guests on their feet and keep them there. Another, more affordable option is something that we specialise in  –  we offer a DJ as  a  basic  option,  but  the  unique  part  is  that  you  can  add  additional  live  elements…  Have  a saxophonist wander the dance floor playing to the tunes, or a percussionist with their range of drums and shakers (guests love to get involved) or even include a singer which can ramp up the love songs or the dance floor encouragement.

The  imagination  is  the  limit  when  it  comes  to  entertainment  and  we’ve  seen  it  in  full  form at  some recent  weddings  where  we’ve  had  anything  from  bugles  to  trumpets,  harpsichords and  bag pipes  –anything is possible.
 


Are there any necessary preparations if a couple chooses live entertainment?
The best preparation is to know how much involvement you want to have and a list of key songs you
want  played  throughout  the  day. Some  couples  want  to  be  involved  every  step  of  the  way  with  the
wedding entertainment already planned to a T and others are quite happy to leave all entertainment preparations  to  us  with  no  clear  requirements  –  both  are  completely  fine  arrangements.  For most couples  we  provide  a  guidance  list  of  the  places  during  the  day  where  music  is recommended  and required – from guest arrival to ceremony to bridal couple   departure. We look at where we fit in and where they can handle the music or entertainment themselves.

What kind of services does Evan Powis Entertainment offer?
Our  services  run  from  solo  artists  to  string  quartets  and  from  DJs  to  big  bands.  It’s  not  limited  to music  either  –  magicians,  MCs,  comedians  and  even  the  ‘left  of  field’  entertainment  like  an  aerial dancer and a ukulele band are all part of our services.

All our artists are transferrable too so we love to mix and match  –  adding live percussion to a DJ as
we  mentioned  before  or  perhaps  adding  horns  or  wind  section  to  a  rock  band  give  a  unique
entertainment experience.

Essentially, we are all about translating needs into reality. When it comes to your wedding day, more
often than  not the couple  will already have a vibe in  mind before they  come to  us. We listen to the
atmosphere  they  are  trying  to  create  and  then  we  brainstorm  and  translate  that  into  artists,  energy and  song  choice.  We  are  all  musicians  and  entertainers  with  thousands  of  weddings,  functions  and private  parties  under  our  belt  so  you  know  that  the  advice  we’re  providing  comes  from  years  of experience.

Radio  1  DJ  Matt  Edmonson  and  his  new  wife  Bryony  got  to  grips  with  a  luxury  kind  of life on  the magical Maldivian island of Baros... 

For our honeymoon, we hoped for the cliché of a sun-drenched paradise isle and in our search for the 

perfect destination we visited travel agents, asked friends and scoured the web. 

We kept coming across the Maldives as a picture-postcard location, but when we saw Baros we called off the search. It’s a tiny island resort  with  individual  Water  Villas  sitting  over the  ocean offering complete privacy, amazing scenery, great beaches, vibrant marine life and speedy transfer time from the airport. Every box was ticked! 

  

ULTIMATE ARRIVAL 

No sooner had we landed on the island of Malé, than we were greeted and escorted to a boat which brought us to the Baros shore in just 20 minutes, the coolest and possibly most seamless arrival on holiday we’d ever had.  From  the  moment  we  arrived,  it  became clear  this  was  the  most beautiful place we’ve ever visited in our lives. 

The  island  itself made  us  think  of  those  dream  sequences  in movies  of  what  heaven  looks like – where everything is in soft focus. Except we really were in paradise. 

  

LIFE'S A BEACH 

Walking along the jetty to our Water Villa, we looked down to see crystal-clear water with a turquoise shimmer and stingrays and tropical fish swimming around above a pure white sandy bed, it was like nothing we’d ever  seen  before.  Inside  the  villa,  the  décor was  in-keeping  with  rustic Maldivian style, but with all the luxuries of a honeymoon resort: an enormous twice-the-usual-size bed, air con, iPod speakers and a television. 

Our bathroom had a huge bath with a little window looking out over the ocean and a blind for privacy – but no need since the view was one big expanse of sea. Stepping on to our decking we discovered another double bed which formed the most luxurious sun lounger we’d ever laid on, and an infinity pool which seemed to stay at the perfect temperature all the time, as well as steps down into the sea. 

At  certain  times  of  the  day  we  could  see  a  tiny  sandbank,  almost  like  a  little  desert  island, just  a short walk through the water away. We discovered other larger sandbanks dotted around the island and one day went on a boat to one for breakfast before a sunrise yoga session. 

  

FLOAT ON  

I’d never tried yoga before, but I figured if I was going to learn how to bend over backwards, a remote island in the middle of the Indian Ocean was probably the place to do it. Luckily, we had a very patient instructor! 

  

It was the first of many firsts for me; I had never been scuba diving before so a tour of the reef by the resident  marine biologist  was  a  real  eye-opener.  She  talked  us through  the  varieties  of  fish and their homes; showed us a cleaning station where smaller fish clean the big fish; we saw sharks and at one point a turtle even came up to say hello. It was the most incredible experience. 

The resort gives you your own snorkel gear when you arrive on the island so you can literallysnorkel 

everywhere  from  your  villa  to  the  restaurant  to  the  spa.  We  also  went  on  a  dolphin  sight seeing cruise where we travelled out on a speedboat, which felt very James Bond-esque given the location. The dolphins came and jumped out of the water doing flips, swimming alongside the boat. 

  

RELAXED ROUTINE 

Although  we  did  some  form  of  water  activity  most  days,  the  rest  of  our  time  took  on  a blissful schedule  of  eating  and  relaxing  in  the  sun.  As  each  day  faded  into  sunset  we  would head  to  the beach bar where there were double bed loungers on the waterfront. There we sat back with a game of Bananagrams, sipped cocktails and studied the ocean. 

One day we saw a stingray come up to us and on another we watched crabs making a home in the rocks. That’s the beauty of this island, even when there’s seemingly nothing to do, there’s always something to see. 

  

FOODIE HEAVEN 

The food was mouth-watering with lots of fish fresh from the ocean, as well as something for every 

taste bud. Baros hosts visitors from all over the world, so the breakfast menus are really diverse, with 

anything from curry to pancakes on offer. Likewise in the evenings we sampled from a seafood or a 

barbecue buffet, or chose to eat at one of the three restaurants. 

The Lighthouse had to be one of our favourite experiences, you can eat on the top deck looking down at the sea which they illuminate so you can see all the fish. After dinner we'd head back to the beach bar where there would be entertainment in the form of a singer, drummer or band. 

  

FOREVER MEMORIES 

It can be hard to find a holiday where you forget about your life at home, slow down and completely disconnect with the outside world, but Baros is so beautiful and relaxing with friendly, attentive staff and such a sense of privacy and peace that all you can do is lament on the fact that a place like this 

really exists and then savour every second of it. 

The island was apparently close to full capacity during our stay, but somehow it felt like we were the only  people  there.  We  have  a  fantasy  now  where  we  go  back  and  see  all  the  staff,  sit  on  a sun lounger and look out over the ocean. 

  

Even if we don’t physically make it back there I know we’ll always remember its magic. Although,our honeymoon pretty much ruined every other holiday we’re ever going to go on with its greatness, it was so good I’m sure nothing will ever compare.  

Source : Wedding and Wedding Flowers, 29th July 2014

So you’ve decided on tying the knot in winter and you’re contemplating themes. Here at Wedding Ideas, we love a winter wedding, and we think that nothing beats a classic all-white theme – so, if you can’t guarantee snow, why not have a beautiful white winter wedding day? Here are a couple of ideas to get you started! 

An all-white wedding 

One of the easiest, least expensive and most effective wedding themes is all white. It doesn’t have to be  dazzling  white – you  could  use  ivory  or  creams – but basically you’re looking for an absence of colour. The overall effect is classic, simple and beautiful, and you won’t have to struggle to match 

everything to one particular shade! 

As well as your big white dress, you can put your bridesmaids in white too – hey, it worked for Pippa Middleton! Carry an all-white bouquet and give your flowergirls and bridesmaids winter white posies.You  could  also  get  white  confetti  for  the  flowergirls  and  scatter  it  on  your  wedding tables  as decoration. Keep your stationery simple and monochromatic, and get your groom and his best men to wear white waistcoats, cravats and buttonholes. 

At  the  reception,  decorate  your  tables  with  white  tablecloths  and  for  a  really  stunning  effect have white chairbacks too. Of course any candles and table centres need to be white, cream or ivory – we don’t want any pops of colour here. 

Sticking  to  a  one  colour  palette  can  be  very  effective,  but  maybe  draw  the  line  at  the  buffet – we can’t imagine all white food would be very interesting! 

A ski lodge theme 

If the pair of you are keen skiers, then why not incorporate this into your wedding theme? We’re thinking of a traditional ski-lodge high in the Alps. You could serve warming gluhwein to everybody on  arrival,  decorate  your  wedding  invitations  with  retro  images  of  skiers  and,  if  you  can, prop  old-fashioned wooden skis and sledges up outside your venue. 

This wedding by photographed by Mark Tattersall used a ski lodge theme, with cozy blankets on the chairs for guests and snow globe table numbers. As it was a New Year’s Eve wedding, everybody wrapped up at midnight to go outside and sing Auld Lang Syne. 

Scandinavian 

Another theme we like is Scandinavian style. Think red and white checked or striped tablecloths, tea lights in little glass vases, cut-out heart details, and table centres in hollowed out wooden containers. These wooden birch bark heart containers would be perfect as flower holders or lanterns. 

Your invitations can introduce this theme right from the beginning – we’re loving these Scandinavian folk art invitations from Etsy. 

For a true Scandinavian feel, remember to keep things cozy, but also bring a touch of the outdoors inside by hanging branches painted white with tea light lanterns as decoration. 

You could give DIY wedding favours like these heart decorations, which are red and white are intrue 

Scandi winter style. 

Let it snow 

If you’re lucky, you  may  have  a  snowy  wedding  day,  but  you  can  still  turn  your  reception into  a winter wonderland even if it doesn’t snow. 

Kate  Middleton  had  green  trees  lining  the  aisle  when  she  walked  down  Westminster  Abbey. For  a similar  feel,  you  could  spray  bare  branches  white  and  use  them  to  frame  doorways  to recreate  the feeling of a snowy forest. 

You’ll find plenty of inspiration for decorating your tables in the Wedding Ideas Shop. Sprinkle silver snowflakes and table crystals over white tablecloths to make the room shimmer with welcome as your guests arrive. You could write people’s names on pretty white and silver snowflake place cards, and put tea lights in special snowflake candle bags. 

Try and keep your lighting low around the room. Hire some outside lanterns to decorate the exterior of your venue and put large white church candles inside for a gorgeous, cozy feel. 

For  a  look  with  impact,  hang  giant  white  snowflakes  from  the  ceiling.  Ikea  has  some wonderful 

‘Strala’ snowflake lights which you could use to create a curtain of illuminated snowflakes aroundthe walls. 

If your budget stretches to it, have an ice carving on the main table, and as for wedding favours – how about all white homemade coconut ice? 

For more inspiration, chat to other brides on our Forum about winter wedding themes and see what ideas you can share with one another. There’s nothing like talking through your ideas with friends who are going through the same wedding planning highs and lows as you! 

Source : Modern Wedding 

Bells N Whistles, the creators of amazing events with style, have dedicated this month to the groom… fondly renamed Groom June! Founder and director of Bells N Whistles, Jennifer Kennedy, shared  with Modern  Wedding  some  tips  to  help  grooms  get  more  involved  in  planning  their own wedding  and increase the pre-wedding day groom-volvement. They also took some cheeky snaps of a world where women act like groom & groomsmen.

Well,  lets  face  it,  without  the  groom,  there’s  only  half  a  wedding.  Yet  grooms  don’t  get  half  the attention.  Brides  can  dominate  the  wedding  planning  and  wedding  day.  Groom  June  is  all  about celebrating amazing men and encouraging them to be more involved in their BIG DAY.
Men  can  and  should  get  more  involved  in  their  wedding  planning.  They  are  50%  of  the couple, therefore  being  more  involved  in  the  planning  means  that  the  day  will  reflect  both the  bride  and groom’s personalities and interests.

Choosing flowers might not be a guys  most favourite way to spend a Saturday afternoon  –  however there are tons of ways to involve your groom.

1.  Photography:  Choosing  a  photographer  can  be  an  experience.  There  are  so  many wonderful photographers  out there  –  so encourage your groom to research photographers that suit your style, budget and personality and schedule consultations 12 months before the big day. Photographer Tony Potts recommends you meet with at least three photographers face to face before making a decision.

2.  Flowers:  Susan  Avery  says  that  it’s  important  for  a  groom  to  feel  100%  comfortable  with his appearance  .so  drag  him  along  to  floral  appointments  so  that  he  can  choose  his  own boutonnière!  Knowing how to put one on, properly, is also so important!

3. Suits: Whether you  are buying or hiring, “shopping” should happen as early as possible, trying on
suits to compare the cuts, colors and styles. Staff at Peppers Formal Wear are trained to help not only
with the fit, but the style as well, this is a trip that can be undertaken with the best man as well.

4.  Transport: Have  your  groom  take  care  of  the  wedding  day  transports,  this  is  his  chance  to test drive everything from a Porsche to a Vintage Rolls Royce.

5. Is he handy? Ask him to help design and create props and furnishings for the wedding that he will be truly proud of. Items like  signage, photo booths or props for the photbooth.

6. Catering: Task your groom with taking care of the food and beverage choices for the wedding, or have  him  arrange  an  outing  for  you  and  the  bridal  party  to  sample  the  menus.  Working  with  a bartender to create a signature cocktail is another way to stamp his style on the big day.

7. Budget: If he  never failed a math test, managing the wedding budget is the  perfect task for  him. Use a spreadsheet to manage, update and keep tabs on your costs and for  outstanding payments  – use an online calendar to remind you to pay your suppliers.

8.  Music: Encourage  your  groom  to  research  bands  and  DJs  and  send  you  samples  or  arrange viewings and have him create a playlist of all your must have dance floor tunes. There are so many other little hints and tips that we can offer and like to share with our clients, says Jennifer  Kennedy from  Bells N Whistles  Events.  The  key  is  to  ensure  that  our  grooms  are  actively involved in their weddings, rather than leaving it to their bride and turning up to their own wedding,
only to be surprised!

Whether  you’re  the  maid  of  honour,  a  guest  or  the  bride–to-be  herself,  there’s  one pre-wedding event  you  all  can’t  wait  for  –  the  hen  party!  Drinks,  dancing  and  general debauchery  are  all  on  the cards,  but  to  keep  things  from  lagging  you’ll  want  to  have  a  few tricks  up  your  sleeve  to  keep everyone in fine form.

From  fun  off-the-cuff  games  to  those  that  take  a  little  more  organisation,  experts  Chillisauce have rounded up the top 10 hen party games to ensure that your night is remembered for years after the wedding!

Banned words
Fun, easy and as naughty  as you like! Choose a list of words that cannot be spoken throughout the night  –  make  sure  you  choose  words  that  are  hard  to  avoid!  You  get  to  decide  how  severe the penalty is for breaking the rules, such as doing a shot, paying a fine or doing a dare.

Hen night bingo cards
This  one  takes  some  organising,  but  it  works  a  treat  over  daytime  cocktails  or  afternoon  tea. Have guests write down what gifts they think the bride-to-be will receive, and as she opens them, mark off any  of  the  presents  written  down.  Once  a  guest  gets  five  in  a  row,  they  shout  out Bingo!  The  prize can be as silly as an extra slice of cake or a second glass of Prosecco!

Balloon question time
This  one  is  a  lot  of  fun,  and  manages  to  take  care  of  the  decorations  too!  Write  down  20 embarrassing  questions  and  place  them  in  20  separate  balloons.  Throughout  the  evening,  have guests pop the balloons and make the bride either answer the question or take a shot! Perfect for a giggle over a few drinks – just make sure your party venue is happy with all the balloon popping!

Consequences 

This one calls for the following headings:

Fold  over  each  piece  of  paper  after  each  heading  and  pass  it  to  the  person  on  the  left.  At the  end, unfold each piece and read out your story! True or not, it’ll have everyone roaring with laughter.

Male model
This  one  calls  for  some  crafts,  so  come  prepared!  Split  the  hen  party  guests  into  teams  and have them  create  male  body  parts  out  of  play  dough.  Double  points  for  realism,  or  optimism as  the  case may be! We can all guess which body part most will opt to craft…

At the end, award prizes how you see fit – with drinks, treats, or a dance with the best-looking guy in the bar!

Pass the balloon
Another  great  one  for  using  decorations  creatively!  Divide  the  party  up  into  two  teams,  and using long balloons, each team member must grip the balloon between their knees and pass it up the line to the rest of their team without using their hands. You have to start again if a balloon is dropped or popped! The first team to get their balloon to the end wins.
You  could  combine  this  game  with  the  ‘balloon  question  time’  game  above,  by  placing  an embarrassing  question  in  each  balloon.  The  winning  team  can  then  force  the  members  of  the other team to answer the question!

DIY bride
This one can be messy, but is plenty of fun, especially when everyone is feeling giggly! Split the party into two teams and have them create a wedding dress and a maid of honour dress using  only toilet roll! You could also try this with safety pins and a sheet. Best dress wins a prize of your choosing, but we think shots will be appreciated!

Post-it note game
Each  party  guest  must  write  a  short  sentence  about  the  bride,  or  even  a  memory  they  have of  her. Once everyone is finished, place them all in a bowl and have the bride pick them out one by one. She then has to read them aloud and guess who wrote  which  one! This  can be a really nice  start to the evening.

The question game
If you only play one game at your hen party, this has to be it! Light -hearted but hilarious, you’ll need to rope in the groom-to-be to pull this one off. The aim of the game is to ‘test’ the bride to see just how well she knows her future husband. With the cooperation of the groom, devise a set of questions to  ask  her  about  him.  You  can  step  this  up  a  notch  by  having  guests  wager  bets  on  how many  the bride will get right. Take turns asking the questions and get the drinks flowing!

Story time
Last but  certainly not least, this great game can be as naughty or as nice as  you want it   to be. Get every guest to anonymously write down an embarrassing or unusual experience they have had (make it an embarrassing date story if you want to spice things up!). Then put them all in a bowl and have guests take it in turns to draw one and read it aloud. Everyone has to guess who wrote the story, and you  can  fish  for  more  embarrassing  titbits  once  you  find  out  who  it  is!  This  is  a  great game  to  get everyone talking and laughing. Mix in a few drinks and your hen is off to a great start!

Here’s a gorgeously intimate boudoir photography gift idea from you to your new husband.
Imagine your H2B’s face, when, on the morning of the wedding he unwraps a gift you’ve left for him that is discretely marked, ‘For Your Eyes Only.’

Inside  the  layers  of  black  tissue  paper  and legant  packaging,  he  finds  nestled  a  photo  album containing the most stunning, jaw dropping photographs of his new bride, how no-one else will ever see her.

He’ll  feel  like  the  luckiest  man  alive,  and  he’ll  have  the  ultimate  proof  that  you  are  every  bit  as beautiful, sexy and stunning as he’s always told you you are.

Sound exciting?
Before you rush in and sign up for your very personal boudoir photo shoot, here  are a few questions to ask yourself:

How can you be sure that you’ll look that beautiful?
Ok, don’t tell anyone we told you this, but the girls at For Your Eyes Only Portraits have a few secrets up their sleeves that guarantee a flawless finish, whatever your size or body shape.
For  years  these  expert  photographers  have  perfected  lighting  techniques  and  body  sculpting poses that elongate legs, lift  bottoms, flatten tummies and slim thighs. From Plus size to Petite, the girls at FYEO  have  seen  it  all  and  there’s  nothing  they  love  more  than  proving  you  wrong about  your imperfections.

Who would be in my shoot?
This is really important. To feel completely comfortable and to make sure that your H2B doesn’t see red when he hears about your photographer, you need to guarantee that you will be one -to-one with a  female  photographer  in  a  closed  studio.  The  studio  should  be  darkly  lit,  and  you  should feel comfortable, relaxed and have fun. You’ll soon be friends and be giggling together as you follow her very detailed instructions to get the absolute best out of your body.

What sort of pictures would he like?
Do your research, take a look at the For Your Eyes Only website  and view the galleries for ideas and
inspiration.  Have  a  look  at  some  of  the  customer  feedback  at  the  same  time  so  you’ll  get  real reactions from people who have recently been in.

What would I take?
The chances are you may have bought some new lingerie in the run up to your wedding, whether it’s something  special  for  the  honeymoon  or  some  elegant  corsetry  hiding  under  that  d ress.  You may have  made  a  little  extra  effort  with  your  beauty  regime  to  so  now’s  the  time  to  enjoy it.  These photographs will give you a lasting memory of how you are now and show your groom a more private side  to  your  new-found  glow.  You  could  also  accessories  your  shoot  with  heels, jewellery,  veil  and tiara.  This  type  of  photography  is  very  personal  so  bring  anything  that  makes  you  feel  gorgeous,  or that you know he really loves you in.

Could I find out more from a photographer?
If  you  want  to  know  if  this  really  is  right  for  you,  ask  for  a  telephone  consultation  with  a photographer.  This  is  absolutely  free  and  will  give  you  all  the  information  you’ll  need  to plan  your perfect personal wedding gift.

Inspired  by  secret  gardens,  faeries  and  daydreams,  the  essence  of  magic  is  alive  and  well  in this unique  take  on  a  rustic  vintage  theme.  You  may  recognise  this  shoot  from  the  cover  of our  Styling Handbook  (which  is  available  as  a  FREE  e-book  when  you  subscribe  to  our blog!)  but  with  a  NEW styling  handbook  on  it’s  way  we  thought  it  was  high  time  we shared this  gorgeous  garden  weddinginspiration with you on the blog.

Some  of  our  favourite  wedding  suppliers  combined  forces  to  create  this  whimsical  garden wedding including  The Bridal Collective,  Chanele Rose Fowers & Event Styling  plus  Amy Chan Hair & Makeup. Jenny Sun has photographed it like a dream, making it hard to resist the call of the garden.

In this whimsical garden wedding we find chairs and tables entwined with vines, and overgrown with moss giving a sense of fairytale enchantment, while a dessert buffet overflowing with the fruits of the forest, and divinely decorated sweet treats offers the  perfect centrepiece.   Our bride looks willowy in
soft, flowing garden wedding dresses and loosely styled hair.

So let your hair down, trim it with flowers and hold your celebration at the bottom of the garden.

There  is  something  so  romantic  about  a  garden  wedding…  A  garden  wedding  style  suits  the free spirited, fairy chasing, unicorn beleiving bride rather than the classic princess.

I fell in love with the idea of a wedding film well before I was even engaged a short snapshot of the day, set to beautiful music, capturing all those precious moments in a dreamlike fashion was exactly how I wanted to remember the day. 

When my husband and I met with Dave Sheerman of Sheer Image Photography we shared with him our vision, inspiration and of course the idea of a wedding film. Dave was completely on board with everything  and  brought  all  our  ideas  to  fruition.  His  amazing  ability  and  eye  resulted  in  afilm  far better than we ever imagined. 

A fishtail braid is a low-maintenance way to wear your hair on your wedding day - although they are 

notoriously tricky, so if you're doing your hair yourself, get practising in advance! 

  

Make  like  Blake  Lively  and  wear  yours  over  your  shoulder,  with  soft,  loose  sections  twisted free  to add an extra hint of boho-beauty to your big-day style.  

  

Match a beautiful floral crown with a loose braid - perfect for a bohemian bride! 

  

Tie your hair into a low, side-pony. Plait your hair and secure with a clear tie; once you've finished, 

massage the plait to loosen sections. Match with pretty over-sized blooms... Hello, gorgeous!  

Incorporate braids into a bun for a sleek but romantic 'do on your wedding day. 

  

Seperate small sections of hair and plait loosely, securing with a clear hair-tie. Twist your hair into a 

knot or chignon, including the braids; pin in place and spritz with hairspray.  

  

The crowning plait is the perfect choice for a bride who wants to wear her hair down, but still include pretty-plait detail. 

   

Taken  from The  Hairstyle  Directory by  Christina  Butcher,  £14.99,  Christina  Butcher  (published by Apple Press). Hairstyling, photography and modelling by Abby Smith/Twist Me Pretty. 

For a romantic twist on the classic Heidi braid, opt for one side plait and sweep the rest of your hair 

into a loose bun. 

  

Get creative with your plait-pinning; consider where (if you're wearing one) your veil or headpiece will sit and position your braid accordingly. 

You can't go wrong with a classic plait - especially on your wedding day! 

  

Make the bridal braid your own by pinning pretty blooms from your bouquet in to it. Instant pretty, 

and a low-maintenance 'do that will last you from the aisle to the dance floor! 

Fancy something a bit different? Opt for an asymmetric side-braid, pinned in place behind the ear.  

  

First of all, decide where you want your braid to sit. Once you've chosen a position, pick a section of 

hair, French braid and pin into place. It's that simple!  

  

Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh rocked Heidi-style braids on her wedding day.  

  

Get  the  look: Seperate  your  hair  into  two  sections;  plait  each  section  and  tie  with  a  clear band. 

Using bobby pins, take one of the plaits, and position it so it ends just above the opposite ear. Clip in 

place and repeat with the other plait. Pull out a few tendrils for a more relaxed, bohemian take on the 

trend.  

Source : Wedding and Wedding Flowers