With the unpredictable English weather, getting married abroad has always been a popular choice. Whether you and your h2b are sun-chasers, adventure-junkies or just want to get away for your wedding day, make sure you avoid these planning mistakes…

Overinviting
Your best bet is to think not about all the people you COULD invite but instead, the people you just couldn’t imagine not being there. You might end up having to pay towards their travel or accommodation, so when it comes to a wedding abroad, you are better shortening the guest list as much as you can! Remember to send them out in plenty of time, too. 

You’ve got to remember that travelling abroad for a wedding, isn’t the same as going to a wedding that’s down the road from you. People may not be able to come. It’s not because they don’t love you, but rather issues of time, money and maybe even babysitting may arise. Don’t be disheartened! If getting married abroad is what you want to do, why not consider a little after-party for the guests who couldn’t make it?

Dismissing the legalities
It might not be the most amazing part of your wedding planning, but the legalities of the place where you’re getting married are important to consider. Can the marriage be made official there? Can a wedding even be held at your dream venue? Make sure you do your research! Or better still, ask a local planner to help you.

Not organising your packing
Be organised with what you take away with you, and think ahead to what you might be taking back. Edit your gift list and favour ideas to be suitable for suitcase travel, without going over your baggage allowance – or consider buying your favours there. Or what about personalising pebbles from the beach?

Going for an unsuitable dress
When it comes to a wedding dress for a celebration abroad, you need something light, something manageable, and something suited to the climate. A boho look is ideal for a beachy big day, have a look at some more dresses perfect for the bride abroad here. And remember to think of your bridesmaids, too! 

Picking the wrong shoes
Heels are most likely another sacrifice you need to make. You want to be able to walk down the aisle without getting your shoes stuck in the sand after all. Go for some pretty pumps or sparkly sandals to make a really nice beachy bridal look, which you can easily walk and dance in. 

 Choosing the wrong food
You’ve got to think about the heat again when it comes to your food and drink, including your wedding cake. You don’t want to spend a fortune on three beautifully iced tiers only for it to melt before you get the chance to cut it! Make sure you and your guests keep hydrated, too – perhaps consider serving a non-alcoholic beverage to start with at the drinks reception.

Not making the most of it
Don’t think you have to fly in, get hitched and fly straight back out again. Why not make the most of your gorgeous surroundings and stay on for your honeymoon? Ideally you could book two weeks away and get married in the middle of the holiday. That way, you’ll get the chance to pick up a nice tan for the photos beforehand, and a few days of relaxation after the confetti has settled.

Love the idea of getting married abroad but not on the sand? It doesn’t have to be a beach wedding, we love a chic city wedding too!

Attention, attendants! Your role in the wedding involves more than just Champagne and chiffon. Being a good bridesmaid or maid of honor takes time and energy. Luckily, your bride thinks you are up for the job. Here, how to go above and beyond for your friend.

Whether you're a DIY beauty bride or going pro, here's everything you need to know to look absolutely gorgeous.
 

Whether you're going for a natural look or for something with a little more oomph, chances are you'll definitely want to put your best face forward on your wedding day. Your makeup and skin have to look picture perfect -- and we'll show you that "pretty" is pretty easy.
 

Choosing a Look
When you envision yourself on the big day, what do you see? Something dramatic? Glamorous? Ethereal? Avoid nondescript words like "natural" -- that's a given. Every bride wants to look natural. (Really, you'll never hear: I want to look like Christina Aguilera on my wedding day!) But beyond expressing your penchant for au naturel, you'll want to be able to intelligently share style ideas with your makeup artist.
 

The Inspiration
Before you start ripping your favorite pages out of beauty magazines, look at favorite pictures of yourself. Maybe your eyes or your full lips make you stunning -- or perhaps you loved the rosy glow in your cheeks that day. Only after you know what it is that you love about yourself can you look to, say, Nicole Kidman for beauty inspiration. Afterward, look at the big picture of the wedding itself.
Where you're marrying and what time of day will affect the beauty specifics: A wedding on a beach might call for a bronze and dewy look; an evening affair always requires more drama against dim lighting. Next, consider your wedding style. (Vintage? City sophisticate?) For example, if your gown and your details evoke an all-American preppy, striking cat-eyes probably aren't going to work.
 

Make note of your day-to-day beauty dilemmas, such as mascara on your bottom lashes tends to give you dark circles or lip liner makes your lips dry, and share these concerns with your makeup artist. And don't be afraid to try something new -- as long as you test-drive the look before the wedding. You may find colors or combinations you are afraid of actually look great on you.
 

Bring actual photos of looks you love when you meet with your makeup artist. After all, your idea of what's "natural" or "elegant" might be different from hers.
 

Finding a Makeup Artist
A good makeup artist can mean the difference between a nice wedding face and a drop-dead beautiful one. As with any wedding vendor, you'll want to do your research. Look online, talk to the ladies at your bridal salon or your reception venue, speak with local brides and friends -- cover all the bases. Nowadays, you can hire a makeup artist through the same salons where you find your hair specialists. Many salons offer makeup applications, and often a line of cosmetics -- which can be a big help for a bride with limited cosmetic resources. Some salons offer a discount if you book both your makeup and hair professionals there.
 

You can also find a great makeup artist through local department stores. If you have a favorite makeup counter, head there for a free makeover (or visit 20 different counters and then pick a favorite). When you like what you see, ask the salesperson if she does any outside makeup work. She may be willing to come to you on the wedding day or, if not, maybe she can set aside an appointment at the counter for the morning of the wedding.
Finally, if you live near a big city, you can find makeup artists through agents (the same folks that represent models and photographers). Check the pages of your favorite magazines to find big makeup names, or scour the Internet for reps. Yes, those artists will cost a pretty penny, but you might find it worth the extra dough.
 

Once you find one you love, you'll need to set up a consultation. Many salons or professionals will charge a consultation fee -- anywhere from $25 to $100 -- and then a separate wedding-day fee, which can run as high as $1200. Others will charge only one price up front, slightly higher than a wedding-day fee, and offer a free consultation as part of the package. Take caution: The problem
with the latter option is that you sign on with the stylist before you've had a chance to critique her --
so don't be lured by the prospect of a free consultation (it's not "free" if you hate the results and
need to find someone else).
 

What many brides don't realize about a consultation is that this is a trial run -- which means, most
professionals will only want to give you an idea of the look you're after, not an exact replica of what
to expect on wedding day. Your artist might do the left eye in one color combination and the right in
another, so you have a comparison of which works better.
 

After everything with your professional is said and done, remember this: You know your face better
than anyone. Don't get talked into something you absolutely hate or won't feel comfortable with.
You're going to have to live with that face -- not only for the rest of the day, but in pictures for the
rest of your life.
 

No Expert? No Problem
We always strongly suggest that you should have a professional do your makeup on the big day --
mostly to spare you the extra stress of having to do it yourself. But if an expert isn't in your budget,
here are some things you'll want to keep in mind.
Since you're not just preparing for a day at the office, don't skip a trial run. Practice on your face in
all kinds of light -- outside, inside, daytime, nighttime. Have someone take a few pictures of you, so
that you can get a well-rounded idea of how the makeup will come out on film. And don't be afraid to
ask for help. It might be worth a trip to a makeup counter anyway so you can grab a few application
tips from the salespeople there.
 

What You Can Do
The great thing about being a bride is that you get to experience that all-day bridal glow, the
dewiness that makes every girl look amazing. Unfortunately, that glow does not work miracles -- and
neither do the best makeup artists in the world. Since much of your beauty condition on your
wedding day is completely in your own hands, there are a few things you’ll need to do before the
wedding to ensure your skin is in shape.
 

Get some sleep. Models might be able to stay out until 4 a.m. partying, because those next-day
photos are airbrushed into oblivion for the magazines. Your body requires a minimum of eight hours
of rest to rebuild and repair itself. In that time, it sheds dead skin cells, flushes toxins and excess
water, and regulates its natural moisture levels (among other things). Deprive yourself of sleep, and
expect to see dull skin, dark circles, and puffiness when you wake up in the morning.
 

Your skin reflects how well you take care of yourself. Excessive smoking and drinking can also leave
you with a pallid complexion. Since cigarettes and alcohol both restrict the circulation of oxygen
through your body, your skin does not get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to look healthy and
supple. Drinking lots of water (at least eight glasses a day) and getting enough exercise, however,
can help to increase circulation and flush out toxins.
 

Last, create a skin regimen -- one that you'll stick to. For the most part, this should include washing
your face twice a day with lukewarm or cool water (hot water evaporates the moisture from the
surface cells, prematurely aging skin) and afterward applying a moisturizer with an SPF. Since we all
tend to diagnose ourselves wrong (for instance, thinking you have dry skin when you actually have
oily), a dermatologist can give you specific instructions as to what kind of products you should be
using and how often.
 

Source: www.wedding.theknot.com

Every bride and groom want to keep their guests happy while they’re off having their pictures taken. So the team from The Wedding Gameshow has come up with five quirky wedding entertainment ideas that will have your friends and family giggling for hours.

Giant games
Whether you choose a mechanical rodeo bull or a huge inflatable pugil stick battle, giant games will keep children – big and small – happy for hours! Great fun for whoever is riding or playing, even more fun for everyone watching, these games provide affordable entertainment with a minimum of fuss. We’ve yet to see one at a wedding that doesn’t have a queue of inebriated, laughing guests waiting for a go.

Lookalikes
Let’s face it, unless you’re Lady GaGa, you’re probably not going to have David Beckham, Johnny Depp, and (unless you’re a really good medium) Frank Sinatra turning up for your big day.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have the all the fun of celebrity guests anyway… As long as you’re prepared to pretend! Having celebrity lookalikes mingling with your guests is not only a lot of fun, but makes for some great wedding day photos!

Dressing-up Box
Of course, you could always have your guests make their own entertainment! You just need to give them the means to do so, and after a few glasses of the fizzy stuff, who doesn’t like putting on a feather boa, a false moustache, and posing for the camera?
The beauty of having a dressing up box is that the scale of it is limited only by your budget; you can keep it as simple as having a few hats and masks, or as grand as entire costumes. Inexpensive and fun, the dressing up box never fails.

Living Statues
If a talking point is what you’re after, look no further than booking a few living statues to pose their way through your wedding reception (not to mention scaring to death anyone that didn’t look too closely before the statue moves!) A more glamorous option that will help people mingle as they ask one another ‘But what do they do when they need the toilet?’

The Wedding Gameshow
We’ve saved the best ’til last! If you really want to get the party started, or to avoid that after-dinner lull, then you need to book The Wedding Game Show: the big-screen, free-bottles-of-bubbly-winning live game show that will get all your guests mingling, laughing and shouting, as they cheer on their contestants!
The team stage a live TV-studio style gameshow right there at your reception or after your wedding breakfast, complete with contestant podiums, sound cues, music and their own giant screen, upon which you can play games based on the TV shows you know and love. The contestants are your guests, and the prizes are bottles of bubbly that they can win for their tables.