Tag Archives: planning

A Lotto Ticket’s A Winning Wedding Favour

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When you get married, part of the fun is coming up those little different touches which will make your special day stand out in people’s memories, and one way to do this is to think carefully about the wedding favours you have on the tables at the reception.

If you’re going to a lot of weddings at the moment it might prove difficult to come up with ideas that haven’t been done before, to make you stand out from the crowd.

One way you could potentially give a whole lot back to your guests is to buy each of them a lottery ticket. In many ways a lottery ticket is the perfect small gift – it doesn’t cost much but it has the potential to absolutely transform a person’s life! Of course, you’re going to have other favours to go with the lotto tickets on the tables, but those little tickets could end up meaning the most. Make it more fun by asking guests to choose the ticket from a basket as they sit down at the table – thereby doubling the role chance has to play!

Today, it’s so much easier than it used to be to take part in the lottery. You can buy tickets online and when you play lotto in UK you can check the results online at any time. And it’s not just the UK lottery that you can get involved in when you play online – you can buy tickets for other big lotteries in different countries. For example, UK residents can now buy tickets for MegaMillions and Powerball in the States, and what’s more, if you won either of these, you’d take home more than an American winner who is taxed heavily on their winnings. Maybe you could spread the chances of your wedding guests winning – by buying some UK lotto tickets and buying others MegaMillions or Powerball tickets.

Even if no-one from your wedding party wins a big prize, it’s a fun idea and one that will stay with your guests long after you’ve headed off on your honeymoon!

 

Hints And Tips On Choosing The Perfect Wedding Wines

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hattie wineThere’s so much to think about when organising a wedding, but planning (and most importantly tasting) your wedding wines should be fun. So we’ve worked with Hattie’s Wines to bring you the top 10 tips for anyone thinking about wine for a wedding day.

1. Before you do anything else, work out what your venue will allow. Can you bring your own wines? Will they charge ‘corkage’ (a fee per bottle to let you bring your own)? Or do you have to choose from their wine list?

2. If you have to select from their list, make sure you ask to taste the wines that you’re thinking of choosing, ideally with the food you’re having, to check that you like them. If you’re struggling with the venue’s wine list, you can upload it to Hattie’s Wines for some free help, if you’d like.

3. If you can bring your own wines (yay!), the next step is to be clear on your budget, bearing in mind any corkage you might have to pay on top. On balance, while it’s great to splash out on some fabulous wines for such a special occasion, it’s also really important to make sure you don’t run out halfway through the meal, so if your budget is limited then consider some of the great value for money wines we’ve suggested below.

4. Next up, think about the food you’re having but also think about the people coming (younger crowd, trendy crowd, boozy crowd?!), the weather (if you can predict it!) and the time of day. Red wines can get quite heavy after a while, especially on a summer afternoon.

5. Most of us know the broad rule of thumb is to pair white wine with white meats and fish and red wine with red meat dishes. But like everything else you’re organising, this is your day, so do it your way. You might prefer to have a white wine with the starter and a red with the main, or both on the table at once for people to pour for themselves. In this instance, think about the weight of the wines and the foods – lighter wines with lighter foods and bigger wines with richer foods.

6. When you look for a wine supplier, make sure you’re able to get some good advice on what you’re buying – whoever you buy from should be happy to have a look at what you’re trying to achieve and help by advising you on the best wines for your needs and budget.

7. Don’t forget to consider the delivery options. It will probably be much easier for you if the wines are delivered direct a day or so in advance, then it’s one thing off your to-do list.

8. Get tough with your supplier, especially if you’re buying lots! Look into wine companies that can give you some kind of offer for a bulk purchase, e.g. free delivery or money off when you spend over a certain amount.

9. Don’t forget the bubbles! There are lots of times you may need to serve something sparkly, perhaps while guests are waiting for you to have your photos done and of course during the toasts. Splash out on Champagne if you can but if not don’t worry, there are some fantastic Proseccos and Cavas out there which will suit just as well.

10. And our final tip? Don’t worry about over-ordering – whatever you don’t drink can be taken home for you and your beloved to enjoy whilst perusing your wedding photos.

Some wedding wine suggestions from the Hattie’s wine list:

Aperitif / during photos:

Bach Extrisimo Semi-Seco Cava, £8.99. For those of you who don’t like their sparkling wines really, really dry, this will be music to your ears. It won’t make you suck your cheeks in (think lemon sherbets, or Victoria Beckham). Made in the Cava region, this is all apples, citrus and almonds in liquid form. A great alternative to Pimms.

White wines:

Clique Viognier, £8.99. This is a wine stuffed with gallons of juicy exotic fruits, from pineapple to grapefruit, but is still dry and highly drinkable. This is not the moment for British reserve – it’s time to kick off your shoes and dance like nobody’s watching. This is punchy, unabashed, unembarrassed joy. Oh and the label looks fab on the table!

Or splash out on Coulaudin Bussy Chablis Premier Cru, £14.99. A wonderfully fresh, lemony wine, but with real backbone. It’s ‘Premier Cru’ (more Marc Jacobs than Mark Owen) which means it’s even better quality than the average Chablis. This is the Chanel handbag of wine – a classic that accessorizes anything, and oozes style and sophistication – just like your big day.

Red wines:

Domaine d’Aumieres Merlot, £7.99. This little gem of a wine comes from a family that started making wine in this region over a century ago. So, they really know what they are doing. The beauty of this Merlot is in its simplicity – ripe, juicy and soft with baked plum fruit flavours. A definite crowd-pleaser!

Or splash out on Le Blason du Prince Chateauneuf du Pape, £14.99. It’s time for a celebration. A big classy celebration. Even the scantest French skills will pick out ‘prince’ and ‘chateau’ here, and should tell you that you’re dealing with something pretty regal. The flavours manage to be both restrained and powerful at the same time: a sophisticated glass of dark brambly fruit. The quintessential posh red wine – a princely bottle for the day’s princess!

Toast:

A toast to the happy couple deserves Champagne, and why not go pink with the Louis Massing Champagne Premier Cru, £19.99. Light and delicately done, but with lush redcurrant fruit flavours, and a twinkle in its eye.

From Yes To I Do: The Wedding Guide For A Modern Bride Review | Weddings

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From Yes To I Do: The Wedding Guide For A Modern Bride, Review, book reviewAfter the initial joy of being engaged comes something else: realising just how hard and expensive it is planning a wedding. You need all the help you can get. I am planning my wedding at the moment and, trust me, it gets overwhelming. Step in From Yes to I Do: A Wedding Guide for a Modern Bride Can this guide save money, tears and tantrums? Let’s find out.

I immediately have faith in the book when I read that Lucy Tobin is married and has planned a wedding. Few things are worse than a guide book from someone who has no experience of the subject at hand. The book gets all of the nitty gritty our of the way first: the administration and finer details. The budget, the practical business of getting married…even then the book is not boring. It is well written and not stuffy. I love the graphs, tables and the ‘I wish I’d thought of that’ scenarios from real couples.

The Top 10 Money Saving ideas is brilliant and has already saved me a ton of money. There are so many things you just don’t think of. The book also tells you how much other people spend on weddings, and what celebrities paid: the depressing thing about the celebrity list is how many of them are actually still married; five out of twelve. I love the illustrations in the book too.

From Yes To I Do covers everything from the running order, the speeches and what music to use when. This guide really is invaluable. The chapter on how much booze to have and how to save costs is invaluable. I love all of the facts that I have learned and it is fun too. Don’t get married without it. A wonderful and thoroughly researched book. And a bargain when you think about how much bridal magazines cost.

From Yes to I Do: A Wedding Guide for a Modern Bride

Quintessentially Weddings launches luxury Atelier: The world’s finest wedding artisans, all in one house

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This October will see the launch of the Quintessentially Weddings Atelier, bringing the world’s finest wedding artisans all in one house for the discerning, style conscious bride and groom.

Reimagining the wedding show, the Quintessentially Wedding Atelier presents a unique, ‘behind the scenes’, experiential showcase of couture designers, artisanal crafts and luxury products, from statement designer gowns to fine jewels, innovative wedding gastronomy to the ancient art of calligraphy.

Hosted over two days on 26th and 27th October, the By-Appointment-Only event – held at the beautiful Robert Adam Georgian Townhouse, 29 Portland Place – will allow guests to immerse themselves in authentic luxury as designers and luminaires reveal the secrets of their highly skilled crafts.

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Headlining with a Spring and Fall 2014 Bridal Collection – the latter being seen for the first time in the UK – iconic fashion house Oscar de la Renta will be making their debut onto the London show scene at the Atelier with a selection of beautiful gowns from their bridal collections. The house (first established in 1965) opened a store on Mount Street earlier this year with a dedicated bridal salon that will be brought to life as part of the Atelier.

Diamond master craftsmen, engravers and gemologists from iconic jeweller, Tiffany & Co will be demonstrating their skills in a pop-up version of their New York emporium alongside archival pieces, including a diamond brooch given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton.

Guests will discover interactive master classes and workshops with some of the world’s most coveted luxury brands and designers. There will be a stunning parade of gowns throughout the event from world class designers including Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Johanna Johnson, Valentino, Peter Langner and Marchesa in association with Browns Bride, as well as access to the experts from Alice Temperley and Roland Mouret, who will showcase their collection designed for the thoroughly modern, fashion conscious bride. Quintessentially Vodka will be mixed by The Connaught Hotel’s world champion mixologist, and canapés and tasters will be provided by legendary luxury department store Harrods, debuting their gourmet catering. Royal photographer Hugo Bernard and Royal Wedding cake maker Fiona Cairns will be on hand to add a regal touch to proceedings.

Winston Churchill’s beautiful stately home, Blenheim Palace, will collaborate with artisan stationers Cutture to create a 3D theatrical set and upstairs, hidden in an intimate boudoir, Agent Provocateur will introduce their latest never-seen-before collections and lead talks on the Trousseau – the ‘hope chest’ received by a bride upon her marriage overflowing with gems, lacy sweet nothings and ballgowns to entertain in.

There will be a Groom’s Tailoring Salon for bespoke attire, sartorial elegance classes from insider experts, as well as top tips from leading make-up artists, stylists and nutritionists.

Adding substance to style, the Quintessentially Weddings Atelier will showcase the knowledge, passion and talent behind each expert. The Atelier will provide an unrivalled opportunity to forge connections with brands and talent that can transform a wedding into a luxuriously adventurous and truly memorable affair. With further names to be announced, stay tuned…

26th – 27th October 2013

10am – 6pm

29 Portland Place, London

Tickets are complimentary. Places are limited.

For further information and to register visit

www.quintessentiallyweddings.com/atelier

How to create the perfect event

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Planning the perfect event can be time consuming and stressful, so you must be prepared for every outcome. Make sure you have a responsive and hardworking team helping you to make the event as successful as you wish it to be. To help plan the most successful event, follow the steps on the following infographic:

Planning the Perfect Event Created by Total Displays

Weddings – do and don’t: Creating magical weddings

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Julia Dowling of Snapdragon Parties, the leading luxury wedding and event planners, shares some trade secrets on creating an amazing wedding.

The idea of planning your own wedding sounds like fun to the uninitiated.  But unless you feel confidently creative, are commercially savvy and know how to find the best suppliers out there, it can be daunting.   As professional wedding planners we are most often asked for our top wedding planning tips.

Wedding bride and groom

  1. Do set a realistic budget and stick to it

Even a modest wedding costs a great deal.  Build a budget based on some Internet research and your judgement of how much you are prepared to spend.  As a guide, your budget should be split about forty per cent to catering, ten per cent each to venue or marquee hire, clothes, entertainment, photography and flowers with everything else coming from the remainder.  Don’t assume that hosting your wedding at home will be cheaper, because the entire infrastructure needs to be brought in.  Have honest conversations with all concerned about who will contribute and how much, and do get wedding insurance. Use your budget to guide your choices.  We always start wedding planning with a budget and then help to choose a venue and style of wedding.  Once you have set a budget, stick to it by negotiating hard with suppliers, especially if they were recommended by your venue; they will often be paying commission on your booking.

  1. Don’t pick a venue until you have a clear idea of the type of wedding you want

Many historic buildings impose restrictions on their use; a grade 1 listed castle full of ancient treasures is likely to prohibit use of candles, so if your vision is a candlelit wedding ceremony pick an appropriate venue.  Depending on when you plan to marry think about the likely weather (always have a wet weather plan) and the availability of local accommodation.

  1. Do find ways to weave in your own personality and style

There is much more to styling a wedding than copying an idea from a glossy magazine or adhering to conventional traditions. I often start by asking couples what impression they want to leave their guests with and how we can incorporate elements of their personality into the design scheme.  Other considerations include the season, the exact location, the size of the guest list, favourite colours, the level of formality which is desired and the budget.

In terms of dressing a venue, think macro and micro.  Macro styling means lighting the outside of a building, transforming the interior space and fusing the venue’s character with the nature of your event.  Micro styling means the way you dress the tables, the folding of napkins and your choice of china, glassware, place cards and favours.

Really talented florists will happily interpret your concepts with flowers, candles, feathers, wood, glass or foliage.

  1. Don’t settle for the same old wedding fare

Most caterers’ and venues’ standard menus are pretty boring.  Britain exports some of the finest food all over the world.  While no one goes to a wedding primarily for a gourmet experience, serve your guests some food that they will really appreciate.

  1. Do plan the day from a guest’s perspective

On your wedding day you may be the centre of attention but you are also the host, and so you need to think about the whole day from your guests’ perspective.  This means making sure that it flows naturally, that people aren’t left standing around without a drink while you have pictures taken and that everyone gets to spend at least a little time with you both.

  1. Don’t be afraid to save money where guests won’t notice

Wine needs to be good, but not necessarily a First Growth Bordeaux and you would be amazed at how good a wedding cake from M&S can be (yes, I’m being serious).  Once your florist has constructed something colourful between the tiers, your guests will think you spent a fortune on it!

  1. Do make your wedding stationery stand out

The invitation offers the first indication your guests receive about the character of the event.  While the skilfully engraved traditional invitation undoubtedly retains its timeless appeal, an intricate laser cut creation can be equally impressive.  When picking a stationery style and colour, remember that you have to carry it through for orders of service and table stationery.  Anything too outlandish may make it hard for guests to read the hymns or placecards.

  1. Don’t cut corners on photography

Apart from the marriage, the photographs are the only part of your wedding that will last a lifetime.   There are four basic styles of wedding photography and the best photographers can generally achieve a seamless mix of them all.  The traditional style is ideal for the posed family portraits, contemporary photography tends to be more informal and capture the spirit of the occasion.  Reportage is the fly-on-the-wall approach that captures the detail and flow of your day and the artistic approach, as the name suggests, aims to create the poster shots.    Even if you aren’t particularly traditional you should be cautious about too contemporary a style as you won’t want the photographs to look out of date in a few years.

  1. Do hire a professional to coordinate things on the day

Appoint someone as the coordinator on the day.  This could be a friend, or ideally, a professional.  Without a coordinator, you will spend the whole day worrying about the details yourself, which will significantly reduce your enjoyment.   They need to reconfirm all the details with suppliers, create a detailed running order and oversee the day.  Many wedding venues will offer you an event coordinator but remember that they won’t coordinate anything other than at the wedding venue itself.

  1. Don’t forget why you are doing this!

If you haven’t employed a wedding planner, there will be times during the planning process when you will wonder why you’re doing all this; it will inevitably get pretty stressful at times.  When the bills are flying in and you are worrying about all sorts of seemingly inconsequential details, remember that it will all be worth it in the end – and, after all, you will remember your wedding day forever!

www.snapdragonparties.com

Tax year end: last minute pension planning tips

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  • Investors are urged not to forget the ‘forgotten’ allowances
  • Falling annual allowance emphasises the importance of making hay while the sun shines
  • 50% tax relief is only available until 5th April
  • Bed and Sipp
Use your earnings related pension contribution allowance. For the past three years, we have seen a steady erosion in pension contribution allowances, with both the annual and lifetime allowances being cut. Both the Liberal Democrats and Labour have threatened to go further and limit the rates of tax relief available on pension contributions. If you have spare capital which you are looking to invest for your retirement, then it makes sense to get on and do it before 6 April.
Tom McPhail, Head of Pensions Research “Pensions are sometimes the forgotten allowance at this time of year when attention tends to be focused on ISAs, but with retirement saving tax breaks coming under increasing pressure from the Chancellor, wise investors will make hay while the sun shines. If you don’t use the allowances now, you may not get the chance next year.”
Non-earner’s pensions
It makes sense to share household retirement savings to take full advantage of the tax free personal allowance in retirement. Non-earners can contribute up to £3,600 a year to a pension and enjoy tax relief on their contributions. With personal allowances set to rise to £9,440 in 2013/14, a couple in retirement could enjoy a household income of nearly £19,000 a year without having to pay any tax – but only if they have shared their pension saving equally between them.
It is also possible to make pension contributions for your children – an effective way to give them a head start on their own retirement saving, as well as reducing a potential inheritance tax bill.
Bed and Sipp
Use existing investments to make a pension contribution. Even if you don’t have cash available to invest in a pension, you can potentially use other investments.
For example: Peter has some shares which he bought 10 years ago for £10,000. Today they are worth £15,000. He sells the shares, realising a gain of £5,000, which falls within his Capital Gains Tax allowance of £10,600. He invests the proceeds in his pension and immediately repurchases the share portfolio within his Sipp. As well as having now sheltered his investment within a pension for tax purposes, he also benefits from immediate tax relief of £3,750 which is added to his pension. If he is a higher rate taxpayer Peter can claim a further £3,750 after the end of the tax year.
Take advantage of the 50% tax rate.
For the (un)lucky few who pay 50% income tax, it makes sense to invest in a pension before the end of the tax year. Any contributions made from 6 April onwards will only be eligible for relief at 45%. If using carry forward as well, this could mean up to an additional £10,000 in tax relief.
Carry forward unused relief to boost contributions. If you have the capital to spare, then provided you also have the earnings to justify the contribution, it is possible to carry forward unused pension tax relief from up to 3 years ago. This means it is possible to make a pension contribution of up to £200,000, which for a 50% tax payer could then result in up to £100,000 of tax relief.
Plan ahead for flexible drawdown.
You’re not allowed to make any pension contributions in the same tax year in which you start flexible drawdown. So anyone planning on using flexible drawdown may want to top up their pension with any final contributions before 6th April – any contributions after that date could mean having to wait up to another 12 months before getting full access to their pension funds.

Morrisons Christmas Range: What To Buy For Christmas

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It may seem strange to see a Christmas article so early but there is a reason: most companies have their Christmas PR days in July. There is always a lead up needed for Christmas articles. It is the same in acting, you film the Christmas specials six months early. By the time Christmas comes I feel I have been celebrating it for at least half the year.

Morrisons has launched an excellent Christmas range. The food is well-selected, reasonably priced and sourced by professionals in their field. Here are some reasons why I think Morrisons is great for Christmas….

Morrisons source livestock straight from farmers. They also sell black summer truffles at £99.99 a kilo…which means you can buy your own truffles for £3 or £4.

In 2011 they pledged to have more than 50 promotions each week to make it cheaper for customers to get their 5 a day. They average 93 promotions a week.

None of their fruit or veg goes to waste, what is not good enough for customers is given to animals.

I was lucky enough to taste some food made by Neil Nugent who is Morrisons Executive Chef and Head of Innovation, Ray Craven, meat specialist and Martin Clayton, bakery specialist. I have picked out my highlights below from the UK’s fourth-largest grocer.

Mince Pie & Cream Flavoured Popcorn.
The acronym OMG was made for this popcorn. It just tastes divine. Available from October 15.

Morrisons Best Champagne Brut has won the Which? Best Champagne Award twice.
“I am very prod of our Morrisons Best Champagne Brut as I handpicked the blend myself. It is multi-award-winning and adds a certain elegance and style to any meal or celebration.” Arabella Woodrow, Wine Specialist. I have tasted a lot of champagne and this is now my favourite. It just tastes amazing. No wonder is has been voted Best Champagne twice.

Beetroot Smoked Salmon, Smoked Halibut and Smoked Salmon
This salmon is delicious. I really liked the Beetroot salmon. The halibut was good too. A tip from Morrisons is to buy your salmon in advance and freeze it. Salmon has a long shelf life.

Christmas Tree Tear and Share Bread
This tastes great and it looks fun too. Wrap uneaten piece in cling film to make them last longer.

Panettone
Freshly baked and with 15% more fruit this year. Morrisons makes good panettone. I will be buying this again for Christmas.

Other highlights: Soda bread by Bryn Williams, White Christmas Pudding created by Claire Clarke MBE, Crusted Turkey by Nigel Haworth and Rustic Country Pate created by Pierre Koffmann.