Choose the one piece you want to make a statement. If you go for a dazzling tiara, then match it with a simple pendant and stud earrings. Alternatively you may choose a simple hair band and pair it with a statement necklace or earrings. Remember that less is more….you don’t want the attention taken off you by all your jewellery!

Consider the embellishments used on your dress, are they pearls, crystals, seed beads….look for these in the jewellery you choose.

For necklaces, your neckline will help you make the decision  If you are wearing strapless or a sweetheart gown you have the choice of pendants, necklaces and chokers – all will work well with this neckline. For a V-neck  a pendant would be the perfect accompaniment to your dress. If you have a high neckline, stay clear of a necklace and choose a pair of earrings that will draw some attention.

Before choosing your hair accessories, decide how you are going to wear your hair. If your having your hair in a neat up do a comb, hair vine or hair pins work beautifully. If you’re wearing your hair down you won’t be able to wear pins or combs as there will be no wear to pin them into! Tiaras and hair bands are great with any hair style and are a safe option if your not decided on your hairstyle. If your are a brunette pearls and crystals will look amazing in your hair, they will create a beautiful eye catching look and sill catch the light and compliment your look. For fair haired brides, pearls on their own tend to get lost in the hair. Combine crystals with pearls to catch the light and draw attention to the pearls. Fair haired brides might want to look at something a little bigger to get the best effect.

If you are looking for classic and stylish you can’t go wrong with pearls….they will always be timeless. For brides who like a bit of glamour, Swarovski crystals will shine and catch the light as you move.

No matter what you choose, make sure it reflects you and your personality.

Because of this video, I got thinking about same-sex marriage and decided I wanted to know more about where it is legal what is happening with the laws in the UK.

In the UK same-sex marriage is not permitted or recognised. Since 2005, same-sex couples have been allowed to enter into civil partnerships which is not classified as being married, but has the same legal consequences as marriage. In 2013 the British and Scottish parliaments are progressing the laws to allow same-sex marriage in England, Wales and Scotland. In February, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passed it’s second reading in the House of Commons. There will be a final vote in the House of Commons later this month. The Northern Ireland Assembly voted against same-sex marriage in April 2013. The Roman Catholic Church and Church of England are both against same-sex marriage as they claim it will undermine it’s status.

In the US Delaware has just become the 11th state to approve gay marriage. The bill will come into effect on July 1st. Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Iowa, Main, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington also allow gay marriage. The only downside it that a same-sex married couple still does not get the same federal treatment as a heterosexual married couple. 

As of April 2013, there are 11 countries that allow same-sex couples to marry. Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and Sweden. Both Uruguay and New Zeland have enacted laws to legalize same-sex marriage and this will come into force in August 2013. France have passed legislation in both it’s Houses of Parliament to legalise same-sex marriage but it is still facing procedural hurdles. Bills allowing legal recognition of same-sex marriage have been either proposed, are pending or have passed at least one legislative house in Andora, Columbia, Finland, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Nepal and Taiwan, as well as sub -national jurisdictions in Australia and Mexico.

As far as I’m concerned, if 2 people who love each other want to get married they should be allowed. It doesn’t matter what gender, religion, ethnic origin or country or residence. When you make that commitment it should be known as a marriage. Not a civil partnership, civil union or any other wording. You should have the same legal and moral rights. Hopefully as more countries pass these bills there will be more understanding and acceptance throughout the world.

Some people don’t want a lot of guests as they want it to be intimate, some are terrified about walking down the aisle in front of lots of people, some people have chosen a venue that limits the amount of guests they can invite and for others it is all about budget. Whatever the reason for culling your list, the following tips should have you.

Ask yourself the following questions.

Do they know your engaged??? If they don’t know your getting married how well do you know them?? How can they be offended if they don’t even know your getting married? You will have told everyone important to you that you are engaged so if they don;t kn ow how important can they be?

Have you seen them in the last year??? If not how good a friend are they? There may be a reason you haven’t seen them i.e. they live a long way away. But if they are a long lost relative or old neighbor that you haven’t seen since your Christening do you really know this person well enough to want them at your wedding? Do you speak to the person…not Facebook them, Tweet them to text them…..actually speak to them?

Would you be offended if you wren’t invited to their wedding? Would you expect just to go to their evening reception? If you would be offended at them not inviting you, amybe you should add them to your list. If not it would be safe to remove them.

Do you need to invite a plus one for each guest??? If some of your friends are single but know each other invite them on their own….they aren’t going to be sat not knowing anyone and it can save you quite a lot of spaces.

Unless you have a bottomless pit of money you are going to have to cut your list…..for once be selfish and make sure the people YOU want there are invited. Don’t give into pressure from other family members….explain to them the reasons you don’t want to invite the person. Be firm, but calm. You can always compromise by offering to invite the person to the evening reception if it is important to a loved one that the suggested person is involved in the celebrations.

There are so many photographers out there, how do you choose? The things I tell people to make sure of is that the photographer has liability insurance, they have plenty of examples of their work and testimonials and that you feel comfortable around them. Apart from your other half, you will be spending more time with your photographer on your wedding day than anyone else. I could reel off a list of photographers that I love, but you may hate the style of their photographs. Meet with potential photographers at their studio or your home. Ask them to bring along examples of their work. Ask for recommendations from friends, your venue, and also other wedding suppliers. Make sure you have a good look around and compare styles. Figure out what you like and don’t like.  Please, please, please do not choose on price alone. I know you may have a budget but I promise you will not regret spending that little extra on a brilliant photographer.

Do you know that after the pre wedding meetings and the 1o hours plus on your wedding day, your photographer will then spend a large amount of time painstakingly scrutinising and editing the photographs to make sure you get images that reflect your day and your photographer is proud to put their name to? This is what stands a professional photographer apart from the amateurs…there is no ‘that will do’. It is an art form and every photographer that I recommend has the passion and integrity to make sure every single wedding is documented to the highest standard.

My general guide to photographers in the North East of England is if they are not around the £1000 mark or above (without an album) they are probably not full time, professional photographers with a lot of experience. Of course someone who only takes photos part time at the weekend is going to be cheaper, it’s not their livelihood.  I’m not saying that some of these people will not make a good job of your photographs…..but a lot of them won’t!  Basically what I’m saying is I would personally recommend using someone who does this full time as their profession and pay over £900 without an album – generally the more you pay the more experience you are buying. Do you really want anything else to worry about on the day??? I’ve never had a bride say I wish I hadn’t spent the money on that photographer, but I have heard plenty saying they wished they’d spent more money and booked a professional. This is 1 day that you will never have back and if those photographs go wrong there is nothing at all you can do about it.

I’m in no doubt I’ll get negative comments about this blog post. I know there are people starting out that have to be part time at first and also that people need to build up their portfolio. In a couple of years when these people have gained lots of experience, I’m sure they will totally agree with what I have written above. This is my opinion and I have not tarred everyone with the same brush I’m just going from past experience.

I was lucky enough to borrow a couple of amazing dresses from Y.A.P Bridal Boutique in Newcastle, suits form Mia Sposa Bridal and Mens Wear in Newcastle along with chair covers from Favour-it-ism, a gorgeous pin wheel bouquet from Ribbons and Tulle  and props from The Design Studio.

We were so lucky with the weather – apart from being blown away!!!

These are a few photos from behind the scenes on the day and I cannot wait to see the finishes pictures and start on the brochure design!

12 months plus to go…..

• Set the date 
• Set a budget
• Buy wedding insurance
• Book your venue
• Book your photographer
• Book a time with your registrar (if your not having a church wedding)
• Start trying on dresses
• Send out Save the Dates (if your sending them do it as soon as you book the venue)

11 months to go…..

• Decide on a colour scheme
• Order your wedding cake 
• Book your videographer

10 months to go…..

• Book your florist
• Make a list of guests

9 months to go……

• Start planning your honeymoon
• Order your dress

8 months to go…..

• Book your entertainment
• Book your honeymoon
• Book hair and makeup artist

7 months to go…..

• Order invitations and any other on the day stationery you may need
• Organise wedding gift list
• Book your wedding decor company

6 months to go…..

• Choose bridesmaid dresses
• Book men’s suit hire
• Choose wedding rings
• Plan a visit to your wedding venue to go through details of the day

5 months to go…..

• Book your wedding transport
• Buy wedding jewellery for bride and bridesmaids

4 months to go…..

• Choose your first dance
• Choose your wedding menu
• Book candy buffet, chocolate fountain, candyfloss machine

3 months to go…..

• Have your hair and makeup trial
• Send out invitations
• Plan hen and stag do
• Buy your wedding shoes
• Get your wedding lingerie

2 months to go…..

• Sort out currency for your honeymoon
• Go for dress fittings
• Sort presents for the bridesmaids, best man and ushers
• Make a list of attendees and chase anyone who hasn’t replied to invitations
• Work out seating plan
• Organise favours

1 month to go…..

• Write your vows – if your having personal vows now is the time to get writing
• Make sure speeches are written
• Confirm timings with the venue
• Pack for your honeymoon
• Wear your wedding shoes in the house to break them in
• Confirm final numbers with the venue
• Bridesmaids fittings
• Pick up wedding rings
• Contact all suppliers to confirm all details

1 week to go…..

• Collect wedding dress
• Collect men’s suits
• Pack for your wedding night and organise dropping the cases off at your reception venue
• Relax and enjoy!

If this all seems a little overwhelming  I offer lots of different packages to help couples planning their wedding. If you want some help and advice or if you want help planning the wedding, contact me and I will do everything  I can to make sure you enjoy planning your big day and have everything you ever wanted.

As approximately 60% of British couples getting married on a Saturday and 20% on a Friday, it is always going to be more expensive to get married on those dates. Monday – Thursday wedding are less popular so there is more leeway for deals and offers.  On average a Monday-Thursday wedding costs 1/3 less than a weekend do! 

Apart from the financial positives, you will also find better availability of popular venues and vendors. Some popular venues are booked 3 years in advance for Saturdays in the height of summer and also romantic days such as Valentines. If you’re prepared to opt for a midweek wedding you could have your dream venue within 6 months. Good photographers also get booked upto 2 years in advance….you will find a better selection available for your date if it is during the week.

Newton Hall in Northumberland states on their website that they offer special deals for weddings taking place Monday to Thursday. Wynyard Hall in county Durham offer a reduction on room hire for 2014 weddings taking place Monday to Thursday. Their Chapel is reduced from £2500 to £1200, the Mirror Room from £2300 to £1200 and the Ballroom from £1900 to £1200 (all details correct as of 29/3/13).

If you are worried about your guests being able to make it, as soon as you book the venue send out save the date cards to the people you intend to invite…this way they can pre arrange time off with their bosses and ensure they are not away that week. If you give people plenty of notice there should be very little obstacles to stop them attending. Opt for a Thursday, as it’s nearly the weekend people like the idea of a long weekend and are more likely to let their hair down and not worry about going back to work. Your family and true friends will be just as likely to attend on a Thursday as they are on a Sunday…..plus their accommodation will be cheaper!

In 2008 there were 3.9% of weddings on a Monday, 2.8% on a Tuesday, 3.5% on a Wednesday, 5% on a Thursday, 18.9% on a Friday, 60.4% on a Saturday and 5.5% on a Sunday according to ONS.  In 2013 I expect these figures to be turned on their head as brides and grooms to be are so much more conscious of the savings that can be made.

If you would like any help or advice about midweek weddings, please contact me.

Everyone want’s their wedding day to run smoothly and be the best day of their lives, but sometimes things happen outside of your control and wedding insurance will save you a lot of time, worry and money. For a small investment you can be covered for most things that you can think of and others that you don’t even want to. As soon as you set your budget, get that insurance bought!

How much does wedding insurance cost?

Wedding insurance starts from around £18.49 for a £2,500 budget to £318 for a £70,000 budget. Not even 1% of your budget. Have a look at Compare Wedding Insurance who have information on several insurance providers all in one place. As with any insurance policy, the more you spend, the more you’ll be covered for.

What possibly could go wrong?

Well, what if your wedding dress got damaged, if one of you were ill, if one of your suppliers goes bust or your wedding photos go wrong? Without insurance you’re out of pocket. If you invest in wedding insurance you’ll be covered for any wedding day disasters you may encounter. If anything does go wrong you can relax knowing you’re covered, and if nothing does go wrong, brilliant! But knowing you have that cover will help you sleep sound on the run up to your big day, and that’s priceless!

What are you covered for?

Each policy varies so check before you buy, but you will normally be covered for:-

• Cancellation or rearrangement of the wedding or reception due to accident, illness or bereavement within the main wedding party
• Cancellation or rearrangement due to supplier failure
• Damage to the Brides dress, bridesmaids dresses or groomsmens suits
• Retake of photographs
• Loss of wedding rings
• Damage to the flowers and cake
• Wedding cars
• Wedding video
• Essential documents
• Personal liability and legal expenses

What’s not covered?

I strongly recommended that you check your policy wording to see what is and isn’t covered, however in general most policies would exclude cover for the following:-

• You change your mind
• Cant afford to go ahead
• Damage to wedding attire due to cleaning
• Theft

Who should get wedding insurance?

Everyone planning on getting married! Whether your getting married in a church or having a civil ceremony, getting married the UK or abroad, have a £2000 budget or £50,000 budget, there is an insurance policy to cover you. Before you buy the policy, check what it covers and if you need anything added call the company and ask them how much the premium would be to add on the cover you require. Never be afraid to ask.

Top Ten Wedding Insurance Claims…

1. Wedding dress damage
2. Wedding photo retakes
3. Cancellation due to accident, illness or bereavement
4. Lost wedding rings
5. Caterers fail to turn up at the reception
6. Weddig cars fail to arrive
7. Double booking of venue
8. Damage of property at wedding reception venue
9. Lost or stolen wedding presents
10. Suppliers going bust

So….can you afford not to take out wedding insurance?????

• Set your budget – Before you start looking at venues, dresses etc set yourself a realistic budget. It will save a lot of heartbreak in the long run and will help you focus your searches. Work out what your priorities are and make sure you budget for them.

• Insurance – A lot of couples think insurance is a waste of time or don’t take it out until nearer the time. You can get insurance from only £35.00 which will cover a £10,000 wedding or £70.00 for a £20,000 wedding. This is a very small cost in the grand scheme of things and will cover you for cancellation, supplier failure, wedding attire just to name and few and only has a £25 excess with some suppliers. I advise everyone to take insurance out as soon as they book their venue.

• Guest List – Work out how many people you will be inviting. This will have a large effect on your budget with the average day guest costing the Bride and Groom £75.00. This list isn’t set in stone but will give you a guide.

• Set the Date – Work out when you would like to get married. What time of year? Is there a special date you would like? If either of you are sports fans make sure your date doesn’t clash with a major sporting event. Are you flexible with your date to get the right venue? These are all things to have in mind before you go venue hunting.

• Church or  Civil Ceremony? – Would you like a church ceremony, or the local registry office, or the town hall or a lovely licensed venue. There are lots of options about where to hold your ceremony. Contact your local church or registrar for more details to help you make up your mind.

• Venue – Do you want city centre or countryside? Do you like modern or historical? Country house or castle? Before you visit a venue ensure it can hold the numbers you are looking for and will be within your budget. Try and put a list together of potential venues and visit them in one day so you can compare them. If you are  not sure on what style of venue you like, visit a few different places to get the feel of them. Don’t be afraid about making a second appointment to visit venues to ensure it is the right place for you.

• Photographer – This is one of the most important choices to be made. You need to like the photographer as well as their work. Ask people for recommendations and visit wedding fairs to get some details. Make sure you like the style of photography, the albums offered and that the photographer will take the photographs you want. Please ensure that whoever you book has full liability insurance just in case the worst happens. Please do not be lulled into the very low prices offers to photograph your wedding, any reputable photographer will never work for small sums due to the amount of hours that go into properly editing your photo’s and designing your album.

• Dress – For a bride this is one of the biggest things. You can start looking for your perfect dress as soon as you get engaged as it can take a while to find it. Most suppliers recommend you order your dress at least 9 months in advance of your wedding as they have to be made and altered. When you go looking for dresses, make sure you try different styles on so you can see which cut flatters your shape the best, you may be surprised by how different they look when you have them on.

• All the rest – There are lots of other things to think about after this like the cake, suite hire, bridesmaids dresses, accessories, rings, honeymoon but I just wanted to give you a guide of where to start. I always advise my brides to sort these things out before they think about everything else.

If you are finding the whole process too much we do offer a wedding planning service, supplier sourcing or just advice. Please see www.byginaevents.co.uk for details.