How To Know When Its The Right Time To Get Married.

William_and_Kate_weddingWith royal wedding fever hitting an all time high there is a high number of women wondering if there boyfriend will pop the question. Kate waited by Prince Williams side for nearly a decade, earning herself the nickname ‘waity Katy’. It would seem that Kate, or Catherine as she now wants to be called, has had the last laugh. However, not all women want to get married, or remain undecided. While most men need quite a bit of a push in my experience. So, when is it the right time to make the commitment? What do you need to know first? Read the point below to find out if now is the right time to get married.

Are you in love?

There are many reasons why people think they should get married. Whether its peer pressure or because you have kids. Truth is, there is only one reason why you should get married: You’re in love. As long as you love someone it does not matter what life throws at you. They are the constant in your life. If you are unsure whether or not you’re in love; you’re not. If you are unsure if your boyfriend loves you, ask him or read this: How to tell if your boyfriend loves you

Are they your final emotional destination?

When you marry someone you are not just sharing your life, but also your soul and your DNA. You are forever joining together. Marriage is something to be taken seriously, do you really want to be with this person? It’s okay to have doubts, we all do. It is always possible that Angelina Jolie or George Clooney will want to marry you later, but the thing is; if you have found someone who loves you and you love them back you are blessed, people spend lifetimes trying to find the love of their lives. Don’t throw that away.

Are you just sliding into it?

Do you really want to get married or are you just sliding into it? Marriage is a mistake that’s hard to get out of unscathed – whether that be emotionally or financially. Being in a loveless marriage is something nobody should have to put up with. Don’t just get married because your mother is nagging you.

Do you just want a big day?

They say the most important day in a women’s life is her wedding day. I like to think this isn’t true, but it is still something women, and men!, buy into. After the dress, the presents and the honeymoon you will have to spend the rest of your life with this person. Not really worth one glamorous day.

Are you getting married because you (think) you are cracking on a bit?

Getting married because your nearly thirty isn’t a good enough reason. Although a women’s biological clock doesn’t work in her favour, marrying someone you don’t love – or worse, having a kid with someone you don’t love; a child ties you to that person forever- just because you feel pressure from society or your mother will never make you happy. Think of all the other thing you could do with your life; travel, focus on your career, study. There is a big world out there. You don’t need a husband (or wife) for that.

Do you know each other? Does the other person listen?

You have to know the person you are marrying. Can you communicate with them? Can you talk openly? If you tell your partner that something annoys you do they make the effort to change? If someone love you they will do anything they can to keep you around, they will care about your thoughts and feelings. You also have to accept the other person, good and bad.

And another thing…

 

Talk about finance, children, future goals together. It’s okay to be nervous, to be unsure, relationships are hard, but if you really love the person you are with, what are you waiting for?

The Wedding Survival Guide: How To Plan Your Big Day Without Losing Your Sanity is available in printebook and Kindle. The Kindle version is only £2.99.

 

 

Kate & William: Get Free Glass Of Champagne At Gilgamesh

Celebrate The Royal Wedding at Gilgamesh

To celebrate Wills and Kate tying the knot, acclaimed Camden restaurant Gilgamesh is throwing a lavish Royal Wedding Reception.

As well as screening the ceremony live, Gilgamesh will be serving an English/Pan-Asian brunch, featuring dishes themed around all things Royal.

On Friday 29 April, the renowned North London hotspot will be the perfect place to celebrate the Royal Wedding. From 11am-5pm diners can choose from fantastic dishes including Sandringham Ham with Poached Free-Range Eggs and Hollandaise Sauce, Buckingham Hot-Pot and Lady-in-Waiting Chocolate Cake.

As an added bonus, guests named William or Kate will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne on arrival, provided they show photo ID.

So head to Gilgamesh for a day that promises to keep the corks popping. For bookings contact reservations@gilgameshbar.com or call 0207 428 4922(ext 2).
GILGAMESH

Camden View

Camden Stables Market

Chalk Farm Road

London NW1 8AH

Tel: 020 7482 5757

www.gilgameshbar.com

Royal Wedding highlights those hidden calories as summer wedding season gets underway

The wedding season is well and truly upon us with the nuptials of William and Kate providing a dramatic start for 2011.

But while most of us will see the pounds flying from our wallets with outfits and presents we often overlook the pounds that we pile on during the celebrations.

Fitness First Personal Trainer of the Year Katie Ford said that weddings can see us eat up to 5,000 calories in one day – and that’s without the excesses of a hen or stag do and a large fry up following the wedding day.

“As summer and the wedding season approaches it’s easy forget how many calories we can actually consume over the course of a day,’’ said Katie.

She says that with Champagne at 90 calories a glass, a few canapés at 200 calories each, a three course celebration meal at 1,000 calories and a single piece of wedding cake 650 calories you are already at around 2,500 calories.

“Add to this wine, beer, breakfast before the ceremony and a tasty evening buffet and you can easily consume 5,000 calories,’’ said Katie.

“It is difficult to avoid those extra calories and so we still need to exercise in order to keep in shape and not totally abandon our fitness routines.’’

Katie suggests a number of short workouts which are perfect for burning those extra calories, all of which can either be done at home, outdoors or in the gym. “You can fit these in around any kind of summer celebration where the calorie count is high from a wedding to birthday parties or BBQ.’’

Katie’s wedding workout recommendations
· One glass of Champagne = 90kcal
Try 10 minutes on the cross trainer or power walking up hill
· Glass of red wine = 135 kcal
Try 20 minutes of a group exercise class or video – for example Get Fit with Mel B group exercise class or Video Game
· 1 pint of beer = 225kcals
Try 30 minutes of a Body Attack class
· One/two canapes = 291kcal
Try 30 minutes of running or jogging, either on the treadmill or in a park
· Slice of wedding cake = 650 calories
A Zumba class can easily burn off 650 calories – and you can have fun at the same time.
· Half pork pie = 245kcals
Try 30 minutes of an RPM/Group Cycling class or an hour’s bike ride
· Wedding meal with wine = 1,000 calories
Complete all of the above classes and exercises.

Pictured – Katie Ford – Fitness First Personal Trainer of the Year

RIGHT ROYAL REBUFF AS 83% OF BRITS SHUN ROYAL WEDDING MEMORABILIA

· 83% of Brits will not be buying Royal Wedding souvenirs to commemorate Prince William and Kate Middleton’s marriage[1]

· Almost a quarter (22%) say that Royal Wedding souvenirs are a waste of money; one in six (16%) view them as ‘beyond tacky’[2]

· One in five Brits (22%) believe commemorative items are good for British business – but just one in ten (12%) say they are a nice memento while only 8% think they are collector’s items[2]

· Over six in ten (62%) claim to have never owned royal souvenirs while just 2% of Brits have theirs proudly out on display[3]

· Of those who will be shelling out, top purchases are: chinaware (49%), commemorative coins (38%) and tea towels (20%)[4]

· Royal wedding souvenir hunters will be spending £23 on average[5]

Eight in ten Brits (83%) won’t be buying Royal Wedding souvenirs[1] according to new research out today from InvisibleHand, the free online shopping tool. Despite expectations that Will and Kate’s wedding would spark a souvenir shopping frenzy, the majority of Brits will be shunning souvenirs with almost a quarter (22%) branding them a waste of money[2].

While previous generations may have enjoyed owning a piece of royal memorabilia and passing it down through the family, modern Brits have very different views. Over one in ten (13%) say that royal souvenirs are a complete rip off while 16% think they are ‘beyond tacky’. Just one in ten (12%) think they make a nice memento of the day, while only 8% say that souvenirs are collector’s items. Incredibly, only 1% think of royal souvenirs as a family heirloom[2].

Over six in ten people (62%) claim to have never owned royal souvenirs – 7% claim to have got rid of the souvenirs they did own. And while one in ten people (13%) hide their royal souvenirs away in the loft, just 2% have them proudly out on display[3].

Despite this lack of appetite, almost a quarter of Brits (21%) agree that Royal Wedding souvenirs are good for British business[3]. And maybe they are right as those people who will be buying commemorative items will be spending £23 on average[5]. The top items on royal souvenir hunters’ shopping lists are: chinaware such as plates and mugs (49%), commemorative coins (38%) and tea towels (20%). More niche items, such as Will and Kate face masks, which have provided a lot of laughs on social media, will only be snapped up by 2%[4].

Most popular Royal Wedding memorabilia[4]

Percentage who have/will buy[4]

1. Chinaware

49%

2. Commemorative coins

38%

3. Tea towels

20%

4. Flags / bunting

14%

5. Books / annuals

12%

6. Teddies / cuddly toys

6%

7. T-shirts

4%

8. Clocks

3%

9. William and Kate masks

2%

Source: InvisibleHand

Robin Landy, founder of InvisibleHand, says: “Despite the fact that eight in ten Brits say they won’t be snapping up royal wedding souvenirs, I suspect that in reality many more will get caught up in the occasion and will end up buying something. We all like to think we’re too cool for school, but look in people’s lofts and attics and you may find more royal memorabilia lurking than most of us would like to admit.

“Whether you are a Royal Family fanatic or someone who plans to view the event from the sidelines, if you are going to buy memorabilia it’s essential to get value for money. Shopping around online will enable you to get the best deal for your hard earned cash plus make it easier to hunt down the more quirky items that will raise a smile.”

InvisibleHand is free to download in less than a minute via the website, www.getinvisiblehand.com.

CREATE THE PERFECT ROYAL WEDDING CENTREPIECE

Celebrate the Royal Wedding in style on April 29th

TOP TIPS FOR THE DINING ROOM

1. Royal Britannia is all about traditional British style. Think royal crowns, British bulldogs and timeless tweed for a look that says country manor chic.

2. For a truly British celebration, think home-grown. UK-manufactured tableware and a traditional, home-grown menu will complete the quintessentially British experience.

3. Think about seating your guests. If you need to bring in extra chairs, a few union jack scatter cushions will hide any mismatched furniture.

4. Vintage influences are a big trend at the moment and work extremely well alongside the Royal Britannia theme – don’t be afraid to experiment. For instance, tiered cake stands look fantastic as a table centrepiece.

TOP TIPS FOR THE STREET PARTY

1. For a magical outdoor setting, go overboard with the fairy lights and homemade decorations. Get the children involved and make your own bunting and paper chains the night before, and string them up at the last minute for the wow-factor.

2. Plastic tableware needn’t be unglamorous. Acrylic glasses look elegant but will not break if dropped outdoors, meaning no risk of shattered glass. Alternatively, plastic champagne flutes are the ideal disposable option for an outdoor celebration.

3. Little touches can make a huge difference – patterned napkins and tablecloths are a cheap and easy way to inject character and interest.

Royal Bouquet Predictions from Celebrity Florist Nick Priestly

Kate Middleton will be guided by royal traditions in most areas of her wedding but she will want her flowers to say something personal about herself and her relationship with William but what will they say?

 

“Kate’s relationship with her florist will not be unlike the one she has with her dressmaker” says celebrity florist, Nick Priestly. “They will obviously discuss her preferences, but will also look for flowers that symbolise something of her life. Increasingly brides don’t make decisions purely on colour schemes but want their choice of flowers to mean something personal to them.”

 

Apparently Royal brides are ahead of the times in this respect as they have been saying something with their choice of flowers for generations. All since Queen Victoria have had trailing style bouquets with combinations of flowers often representing key references in their lives.

 

Nick says “Thoughout history, royal brides appear to have a duty to follow tradition, however it is clear that each had their own preferences considered when choosing their wedding bouquet. HM The Queen chose mainly whole sprays of orchids signifying her role as leader of the Commonwealth, while Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, included white heather symbolising her native Scotland.

 

Nick’ Predictions

 

Nick, who has designed flowers for many stars including: Rihanna, Kylie Minogue and Keira Knightley, believes that Kate’s flowers will reflect her elegant, understated style. “It is unlikely that Kate will choose anything too far from the royal norm. As a contemporary princess she would suit a spring themed, hand-tied bouquet of white ranunculus and lily of the valley but will she and her florist be brave enough to make such a floral statement on the day?

 

“An alternative twist would to be to add a touch of sapphire blue colour to match her stunning engagement ring in the form of muscari, hyacinths or delphihiums. This would of course draw attention to the late Princess Diana’s ring and evoke her memory.”

“My prediction is that Kate will have a traditional shaped bouquet of trailing wired flowers to include calla lilies (her favourite flower), white daffodils to signify the fact William is one of the Princes of Wales and Fair Trade Kenyan roses to signify William’s charity work in Africa and the place of their engagement. Her bouquet is also likely to include royal staples such as jasmine, lily of the valley and a sprig of myrtle which has been included in all royal bouquets since Queen Alexandra’s back in 1863.”

 

“The other key factor to look out for will be the size of the bouquet. Personally, I think it would be good if the bouquet is relatively petite and elegant compared to some royal bouquets in the past, which would reflect Kate’s understated stle. I also think it’s unlikely that in times of a recession, Kate’s bouquet will be too ostentatious.  However it is a royal wedding and her flowers are sure to make a statement. “

 

Getting the Royal Look:

 

Whatever Kate chooses, her floral preferences will filter down to the wedding flowers of “commoners” over the coming months and years.

 

“Kate’s flowers will be as hotly coveted by future brides as much as the style of her wedding dress. Brides will be looking to their florists to get the royal feel without the royal budget.

 

The Royal Wedding flowers are likely to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. Some “royal” favourites, such as lily of the valley, are already expensive blooms, however we can expect demand for Kate’s choice of flowers to soar at the Dutch auction houses in the coming months.”

 

“In the same way that royal brides do, brides will continue to choose flowers which have significant meaning in their lives.  A Scottish bride marrying an English groom will often choose a combination of roses and thistles, a couple who met in Australian will include elements of Australian flora such as eucalyptus into their wedding flowers, and a couple whose loved one has passed away may use flower symbolism to include them in their special day, for example including their loved one’s favourite flower in their bridal bouquet.

 

Nick’s experience:

 

Nick Priestly has been a wedding florist since 2003, managing a business that looks after over 200 weddings a year. From classic white weddings using peonies and roses to dreamlike winter wonderlands using iced flowers and exotic weddings using hundreds of stems of vibrant pink phalenopis orchids, Nick know that every bride has her own preferences and style.

 

“A good florist’s role is to work within any given budget and translate a bride’s ideas and wishes into beautiful wedding flowers. Brides have become much more knowledgeable about flowers in the past few years and often know exactly what they want and there are many brides who follow the tastes of brides in the public eye.

 

Over the years, brides have asked me to recreate the bridal bouquets of celebrities such as Hollywood actress Eva Longoria and style icon Colleen Rooney as well as Sarah Jessica Parker’s ficticious character Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. I look forward to recreating Kate Middleton’s bouquet in the months and years to come.”

The Gall of Prince of Wales {Carl Packman}

Have you ever said out loud: oh my, how have they got the gall to say that? Occasions arise when the gall of your heroes can come back to hurt you. I’m on the political left, and as such I quite like the words of Polly Toynbee, she’s very well skilled in saying things that I want to hear, but she does have some gall.

There was the time when the lads at Though Cowards Flinch noticed that Polly was writing in support of outsourcing to ‘improve standards’ instead of supporting workers’ rights in the public sector. Then there was the time on Question Time when Richard ‘why bring up the world war, just actually why, why‘ Littlejohn outed Polly for her fancy foreign houses (Littlejohn hates foreign houses).

Toby Young, Tory boy of such popular cultural hits as How to show Cameron in a bad light and still love him to bits, pointed out that Toynbee had gall for criticising free schools when sending two of her three own children to private school for part of their education.

When someone finds this out on twitter, I believe it is shortly followed by the hashtag #fail.

Toynbee is someone who ought to represent my political viewpoint, but by night she illustrates a perversion of that view. And it hurts those to whom she writes for the most.

Now that I’ve shown myself to take this approach to people I used to respect, I can now turn to people I have never had respect for, and show them to be gall-ish too.

Prince Charles, it turned out, earned £271m in property deals in 2008, making an estimated £43m in profit.

The Mail reported back then that:

The Prince’s income from the Duchy [created in 1337 by Edward III for his eldest son Prince Edward to provide an income for the heir to the throne] in 2007 was £16.3million or £12.8million after tax.”

This was after a massive £1m pay rise the year previous.

Yet he now comes out in support of ordinary people against property developers.

As the Guardian puts it:

“It is an unlikely claim for a prince who enjoys a £17m private annual income and employs 16 gardeners but Clarence House today said that Prince Charles believes it is his duty to defend “ordinary people” against profiteering property developers.”

This emergency budget is set to make 1.3 million people unemployed. My suggestion for him showing his support for all ordinary people is by contributing to the cuts, by getting his Mother to wave ta-ta to Edward IIIs outdated financial model, and giving up the Duchy. Then campaigning for the abolition of the monarchy, while throwing support at the scheme to nationalise all ex-royal buildings, thereby safeguarding tourist money to the country.

Until then, the man has some gall.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/29/prince-charles-planning-property-developers