Tag Archives: wedding

5 Top Songs for Your First Wedding Dance

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Getting married is often one of the best days in a person’s life. It’s a day where partners affirm their love for one another, make important vows to stay together for the rest of their lives, and spend the day in company of their nearest and dearest.

If you’re already married, I’m sure you’ll be able to relate to exactly what I’m talking about, but if you’re waiting to marry The One, you’ve got all of the excitement to come.

Organising the perfect wedding takes months of meticulous planning; with every tiny aspect to consider, from flowers, the dress, venue hire and even what wedding favours to choose, it’s easy to get lost in the thickness of the wedding planning jungle. In fact, you’ve got so lost amongst all of these details that you’ve completely forgotten one of the finer details of the big day; the first dance song.

The first dance at a wedding is often an intimate moment for those getting married, with many often choosing a song that personally relates to their relationship. However, it’s not unusual for a couple not to have a chosen song for their big day, preferring to opt for just a simple, classic love song.

So, if you’ve got your dream day coming up and are completely stuck for ideas when choosing your first wedding dance song, here are some ideas to get you started:

1. The Wannadies – You & Me Song

Forget the usual slow-dance love song. This classic song starts with a fairly slow tempo, but as soon as the chorus kicks in, it’s a great first dance song for those who want to have a bit more fun with their loved one.

With its lyrics “you and me, always, and forever”, it’ll be the perfect fit for your special day.

2. Robbie Williams – She’s The One

When hiring a wedding DJ for your entertainment, it’s pretty likely that there’ll be a Robbie Williams song somewhere in the playlist.  And, you can’t get a more romantic song than this classic. If you and your partner are after that perfect slow dance song, then this should definitely be a contender.

3. Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You

It’s probably one of the most dramatic ballads ever written, and it’s because of this that it’s one of the most popular song choices for wedding first dances. With the poignant message lying in the title itself, it’s utterly romantic for your big day.

4. Take That – Rule The World

Ah, Take That; the ultimate boyband. They’ve churned out plenty of love songs throughout their time. But, rather than choosing the classic ‘Back for Good’, or ‘A Million Love Songs’, this relatively new track is a great alternative to many of the frequently chosen, older tracks.

5. Florence and The Machine – You’ve Got The Love

Whether you choose Florence’s version, or the original by The Source ft. Candi Staton, this song is fast becoming a popular choice for the first dance. Similarly to The Wannadies ‘You & Me Song’, its upbeat tempo allows couples to have a little more fun on the dance floor, whilst still having the romantic, meaningful lyrics.

 

If you are getting married then get your hands on a copy of The Wedding Survival Guide: How To Plan Your Big Day Without Losing Your Sanity. It has great advice on planning your perfect wedding and is written by our editor, Catherine Balavage. It is also available in Ebook format and is a great guide for wedding planning.

 

 

 

Keep Calm and Marry On: Dos and Don’ts of The Wedding Video

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Avoiding Disaster: Dos and Don’ts of The Wedding Video

With the release of The Wedding Video across our cinema screens this weekend, professional wedding and events planner Ailish McDonnell, from Keep Calm and Marry On, advises on how to avoid a wedding day video disaster.

Ailish says: “Couples want to relive their wedding day exactly as it happened, preserving on film one of the most memorable occasions of their lives. The last thing you want on such a precious day is to dread watching the video back in case it doesn’t live up to expectations.

“In my experience, if a couple are debating whether or not to have their wedding filmed, if they can afford it, I would always advise on having a professional videographer film it. The day passes so quickly and with having all those special moments captured, it’s better to be able to see your ceremony, your first kiss and dance as a married couple, than regret not having recorded any of it.”

Award-winning Cheshire wedding videographers, Unforgettable Memories, know only too well the importance of capturing a wedding day on film.

Craig at Unforgettable Memories says: “A lot of wedding video suppliers have a bad reputation, but that’s because they haven’t moved with the times. They are still in the age of the large shoulder mounted camera which they point at people and expect them to “perform”, having a video doesn’t have to be like this nowadays.

“Don’t have a relative or member of the wedding party shoot your video, as they do in The Wedding Video, unless of course, they are a professional videographer. Remember these people are guests at your wedding and may well be busy with being a guest as opposed to capturing your big day.”

Wedding Planner Ailish from Keep Calm and Marry On and Craig from Unforgettable Memories suggest the following tips to bear in mind when choosing your wedding videographer:

Decide on what elements of the wedding you would like to capture: Bride getting ready; Groom getting ready; guests arriving; bridal party and bride arriving to the ceremony; the ceremony; drinks reception; bride and groom entrance to dinner; dinner and speeches; cutting the cake; first dance; party with guest dancing.

When choosing a professional videographer make sure you know what style you would like – standard static or fly-on-the-wall documentary.

Always meet and discuss your ideas with your videographer well in advance. You need to make sure your personalities don’t clash and that they are sensitive and respectful of your needs on the day.

You should also try to secure your videographer as far in advance as possible. The more popular your chosen professional, the greater chance you’ll be disappointed if you leave it too late to book him or her.

Be clear about what your ‘package’ includes and what, if any, add-ons are required to meet your final film requirements and that it matches your budget so you don’t have a hefty surprise bill.

There is a rising trend in couples having a pre-wedding shoot in the build-up to their big day. This may involve having a pre-wedding party filmed. Likewise, some also have a post-wedding shoot, such as a family gathering the day after the wedding and this might be something to consider.

Prices will vary depending on the type of equipment the videographer uses, whether they’re a part-time or full-time business, if they use broadcast quality, the number of people in their crew and so on.

Always ask to see previous examples, speak to past clients and if it seems too cheap and too good to be true – it probably is.

Remember, a golden rule is that ultimately you get what you pay for.

For advice on any aspect of planning your wedding or event please contact Ailish McDonnell on 07732531910 or email info@keepcalmmarryon.com. For more information visit www.keepcalmmarryon.com.

Prince William Praises Queen For Help Planning Wedding

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A new book about the Royal Family has revealed that when Prince William was first handed his wedding list, he did not know anyone on it.

The book, called Our Queen also reveals that the Queen advised him to bin the official guest-list for his wedding to Kate Middleton and start again.

He said: “I came into the first meeting for the wedding, post-engagement, and I was given this official list of 777 names – dignitaries, governors, all sorts of people – and not one person I knew. They said: “These are the people we should invite”.

“I looked at it in absolute horror and said, ‘I think we should start again’. I rang [The Queen] up the next day and said, ‘Do we need to be doing this?’ And she said, ‘No. Start with your friends first and then go from there’. And she told me to bin the list.”

“She made the point that there are certain times when you have to strike the right balance. And it’s advice like that, which is really key, when you know that she’s seen and done it before.”

He also revealed that it was the Queen that insisted her wore his Irish Guards uniform for the wedding.

This Month's Magazines; September: Adele Takes Vogue Cover, Angelina Jolie Takes Vanity Fair.

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This Month’s Magazines; September: Adele Takes Vogue Cover, Angelina Jolie Takes Vanity fair.

This month’s magazines are a bloody good read. It has taken me hours to get through them, here is my monthly round-up.

[Note: Magazines are published a month in advance, so September’s magazines are actually October.]

On the cover of British Vogue is the beautiful and gifted Adele is breaking boundaries and stereotypes. Glamour magazine previously had her on the cover. There is a good interview with Adele inside where she states that: “I’ve seen people who want to be thinner or have bigger boobs, how it wears them down- I don’t want that in my life”.

There is an article on legendary designer Azzedine Alaia and Silvia Fendi. Christa D’Souza writes about crying and Alexandra Tolstoy writes about finding the right couture for the Royal Wedding,

Good articles on David Hockney and Ceclia Birtwell’s collaboration and a good Lara Stone editorial.

There is a now infamous interview with Wendi Murdoch, where she revealed that Tony Blair is godfather to one of her and Rupert’s daughters. The interview gives a good snapshot of a women who rarely gives interviews, and clears up some of the rumours about her.

Vogue has a special on the English women and her style. Of course, Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge features, so does Diana Athill, the England Cricket Team, Amy Childs, Jane Birkin, Tacita Dean, Felicity Jones, Julia Sarr-Jamois, Florence BB (Brudenell-Bruce, Prince Harry’s ex).

Also: how to get ride of freckles and lots of Autumn clothing.

Vanity Fair has one of my favourite actresses on the cover, Angelina Jolie. Jolie interviews well and talks about her directorial debut, In The Land of Milk and Honey. She also wrote the screenplay. Jolie says: ‘I have never felt so exposed. My whole career, I’ve hidden behind other people’s words.”. She also says that she is ‘not pregnant, I’m not adopting…[there’s] no secret wedding.” and says that she doesn’t really watch films and falls asleep watching them; “There is some of my own I have never seen.”

There is a interview with Scott Schuman and Garance Dore of the Sartorialist show Vanity Fair their cool stuff, Elizabeth Olsen and Jane Lynch are interviewed in the Vanities section, There is articles on Comic-Con, the News Corp/Murdoch Hacking Scandal, Vivi Nevo, The 2011 New Establishment is a brilliant annual list and is very interesting reading this year; lots of change.

Conrad Black talks about his experience of being in prison, the amazing Joan Didion has written another book, this one on the death of her daughter, there is a very good article on publishing, China and Ernest Hemingway.

Tatler have Zara Phillips on the cover and a post-wedding interview. She denies that the Duke of Cambridge sang Bon Jovi records at her wedding reception and talks of her love of horses.

Angela Missoni gives her mood board (design influences), Morth models watches (yes, really), The Serpentine Summer Party is covered – with lots of pictures, there is an article on the ‘thinking girl’s crumpet; Nouriel Roubini and Alain De Botton feature on it, Balthazar Fabricius talks about launching bookies Fitzdares and being in debt to Zac Goldsmith to the tune of £50,000.

Film producer Stephen Evans is interviewed, and riders are photographed with their favourite horses. Elon Musk and Talulah Riley talk of their love, One Direction are interviewed (weird choice for Tatler) How the Rich stay safe bodyguards and mercenaries apparently) and how to clear up bad skin. Tatler also comes with their annual Schools Guide.

Glamour has Britney Spears on the cover and a comeback interview inside.

Lara Stone is interviewed, there is article on the horrendous London riots, how to tweet proof your career, how Cameron Diaz gets her body, the Truth about Fashion Week, a message to the Norway victims from a Columbine survivor, there is a big section on dating and finding love, Rob Brydon interview, the Downtown Abbey girl’s are interviewed; as are the Made in Chelsea and The Only way is Essex girl’s and Sofia Vergara.

Orlando Bloom, James Cordon, Matthew Macfayden, Luke Evans, Taylor Lautner are also interviewed in the TV special.

The new style bloggers are interviewed, stars give their beauty secrets, Eddie Campbell and a good article on when it is the right time to have a baby.

PART TWO IS HERE

 

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Kim Kardashian is to invite "at least 1,000" guests to her wedding.

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The 30-year-old socialite – who is to marry NBA star Kris Humphries later this summer – wants her nuptials to be a huge occasion which will eventually air on one of her reality TV shows.

A source told National Enquirer magazine: “There’s no location yet, but Kim is already invited at least 1,000, and the list is getting longer. The original idea was to have a wedding on each coast, but she now wants one huge wedding.

“She’ll probably reveal where the ceremony is. She hopes to make a huge entrance. She’s having guests sign confidentiality agreements.

The brunette beauty is also hoping to follow in the footsteps of Prince William and Duchess Catherine by having a wedding that attracts the attention of the world, and she and sister Khloe have already met with designer Vera Wang on a mission to find a show-stopping dress.

The source added: “Kim and Khloe met with Vera Wang to discuss the dress. Kim wants it to be tight-fitting, with a magnificent train. And she’s having diamonds embroidered on it!

“When she leaves after the ceremony, she wants everyone watching her just as she waves. Just like William and Kate!”

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert: 'Runaway' Brides Dress

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Giorgio Armani wanted modern dress for Charlene

Giorgio Armani wanted Charlene Wittstock’s wedding dress to be “completely modern”.

The Italian designer created the South African beauty’s gown she wore to marry Monaco’s Prince Albert II on Saturday and says he was conscious for the dress to be different from Albert’s late mother, Princess Grace.

Writing for vogue.com. Giorgio said: “The idea was to go for a completely modern look, without an obvious sense of nostalgia or revivalism. I felt this was appropriate given that there would inevitably be comparisons with Princess Grace, and though such comparisons are of course a sign of admiration, each person has their own individual and unique style, and style is an expression of the times.”

 

Giorgio says former Olympic swimmer Charlene was a pleasure to work with and the perfect muse, saying: “Charlene is without a shadow of a doubt very beautiful. Tall and slim, she is sporty and at the same time has a natural elegance about her. Dressing her is such a pleasure – she knows how to wear my creations with the nonchalance and confidence of youth. I believe Charlene has the ideal figure to show off great dresses, because they highlight the fine curves and beautiful structure of her back and shoulders.”

The dress took 2,500 hours to create, including 700 hours for the embroidery alone, and featured 40,000 Swarovski crystals, 20,000 mother of pearl teardrops and 30,000 stones in gold shades.

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

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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 print, ebook and Kindle. The Kindle version is only £2.99.

 

 

With News Of A Royal Wedding: Amazing Wedding Venue.

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News of a certain engagement today will get many thinking of their own special day and Amazing Retreats can offer a venue to make you feel like royalty! From a Scottish Castle, which has played host to many a celebrity bash, to country manor houses and even a fort in the Solent, Amazing Retreats has secluded wedding venues aplenty!

Ackergill Tower, Amazing Retreats’ flagship property, is a perfect location for a romantic wedding, overlooking clear blue sea, atop a secluded white sandy beach, combining the very best service with a stunning backdrop. The castle has played host to celebrity weddings and can offer seclusion and privacy, away from prying eyes!

With 27 individually styled bedrooms, Ackergill Tower can welcome up to 52 guests who can stay in discreet luxury, enjoying all that this unique venue offers in complete privacy. It is also easy to reach, being just five minutes from Wick Airport, which benefits from the services of two airlines, or a two hour drive through stunning countryside from Inverness, the highland capital.

Ackergill Tower from the airwedding outside Ackergillbride and bridesmaid on lawn

Helen McKenzie Smith General Manager for Ackergill Tower says: “Ackergill would be a stunning venue for the latest royal wedding, and they would be in good company! Newlyweds who have been fortunate enough to be married here leave with lingering memories of a dream wedding come true. We also work with some of the best in the business, including Stephen Seedhouse, who provided the stunning floral creations for Madonna’s wedding and when in London was florist to Princess Diana. With our experience and connections, we can help organise a stunning wedding in just over six weeks!”

If a castle isn’t to your taste then Amazing Retreats’ extensive portfolio offers smaller, intimate and unique venues to enjoy wedding receptions.

Spitbank Fort, The Solent

One mile out to sea from Portsmouth harbour, Spitbank Fort can host a party of up to 60, with 10 bedrooms for overnight stays. The Fort offers Sun decks, hot tub, gym, museum, lighthouse suite, pump house with fresh water pumped from 400 feet below the sea bed. Currently undergoing refurbishment, Spitbank will be available from August 2011, why not be one of the first to experience nautical nuptials in the Solent?

Plas Cilybebyll in South Wales

Sleeps 18 in the main house and 4 in the separate Bakehouse. Plas Cilybebyll comes complete with a luxurious indoor swimming pool, three acres of grounds and a hard tennis court.

The Mill, Bedfordshire

Sleeps 18 in 9 bedrooms in contemporary luxury. With a fully-stocked recreation room, underfloor heating, surround sound and set in six acres of riverside.

Morley Hall, Norfolk

Sleeps 10 in 5 bedrooms. A three storey Elizabethan moated house on its own garden island.

Beaucastle, Worcestershire

Sleeps 14 in 7 bedrooms. A fairy tale Arts & Crafts castle with views from the Tower across Worcestershire. Set in 12 acres of gardens with views of the Worcestershire countryside.

By Catherine Balavage