Your UK Wedding Directory Blog

All Eyes Are On You!

2010-08-23T18:48:00.003+01:00

When you’re walking down the aisle, you really desire Makeup to be flawless. Professional Bridal Makeup Artist Isabelle Roberts of Makeup By Isabelle reveals the hottest tips for our 2010 brides.

Elegance. This is the key word for Brides. As a Bride you need to be brave and steer away from the natural look. The natural look always points towards a washed-out looking bride on her photographs. You need to start thinking grown-up beauty with a touch of glamour. Be brave!

There are many magic rules all Brides in the know can follow. Steer clear from the old myth of playing up either the eyes or the lips. You are one complete canvas and with clever techniques and a bespoke colour pallet, your entire makeup look will flawlessly seam together.

It’s all about definition. Sheer, pretty shadows teamed with a heavier lash line is both pretty and emphasising. You really don’t need 6 colours of eyeshadow and complex application. By choosing complimentary colours like pinks and silvers and peaches and creams, you are allowing the colours to do all the work for you. Add a little light-reflecting eyeshadow shimmer and your look is modern and fresh for that bright doe-eyed look!

Isabelle recommends making use of all the wonderful lash products on the market. Individual lashes can do so much to open up your eyes. By applying a few on the outside of your own lash line they will lift and open up the eye in an instant! There are also some amazing false lash effect mascaras out there that do just the trick. Concentrate on those outer lashes and comb between applications and you will literally flutter down that aisle!

For Liners, go for a soft and sooty black. Brown is dulling and can actually make you appear tired and sallow. Liquid liner can also be harsh and can look far too trendy and young on camera. You require your eyes to have a beautiful soft focus look to them so think smudgy.

For lips, they are glossy and sheer with a pop of colour. Your lips don’t need to be bright. It’s all about testing colours that will suit you and link to your look. One pro tip is to avoid all the long wear lip products out there. They tend to be drying and will flake over time. Sadly, re-applying your lip colour throughout the day is the only answer for beautiful plump lips. So keep your lipstick handy in your little bridal bag!

Brides are experimenting with colour and why not! One fabulous way to use colour is on the cheeks. There are some ultra pretty and feminine cheek products out there. Isabelle recommends using a cream blush to define your cheeks and finish off with a powder blush with a little shimmer to really give your cheeks that beautiful bridal flush. Combining the two products will prove a longer lasting colour and definition to the cheek. Colours that are beautiful are peaches and antique rose pinks. Try not to go for baby pinks which can make you look far too flushed. Think pretty and natural for that “pinch your cheeks” flush.

There are many wonderful products out there to be explored. Over her many years as a Bridal Makeup Artist Isabelle has discovered many brides feel overwhelmed with makeup choices. Isabelle always recommends her brides gather up inspirational photographs and colour swatches and bring them along for a makeup master class. Masterclasses advise you on colour and products to suit you individually and avoid you spending hundreds of pounds on products you may never use again. By gathering the information together, you will have a clearer idea of how you want to look on the say and not feel so bogged down by
the science of makeup!

So when it comes to planning your fabulous entrance, make sure you do it with confidence and glamour. Think colour, shimmer and fluttery lashes. Most importantly, be brave!

Isabelle is an established professional Bridal Makeup Artist and is available in the North West of the UK. Please visit her website for further information. Makeup By Isabelle

If you would like to visit Your UK Wedding Directory, you can find out more about Wedding Planning, Wedding Stationery, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Rings and Wedding Flowers.

Choosing lingerie for the wedding night

2010-08-04T18:57:00.000+01:00

Your wedding is said to be the most perfect day of your life, but what people fail to mention is that it should be the best night of your life too. It is important that your wedding night is just as special to you as the wedding itself. Most brides-to-be spend hours, days and even weeks searching for that perfect wedding dress, but neglect wedding lingerie. For the night to be as memorable as you want it to be, you need to feel and look like a goddess. Getting the right wedding night lingerie is an important part of making you feel a million dollars.

Every woman can find gorgeous lingerie that will make her feel beautiful and sexy. It is important not to rush when buying wedding lingerie. Many soon to be brides make a mad dash to the shops to find perfect lingerie, but come back disappointed. Wedding lingerie needs to be sexy, yet classy and elegant at the same time. You need to start looking for lingerie about a month in advance of your wedding.

Don`t go for lingerie that you will not feel comfortable in. You should feel proud, not embarrassed when you reveal your wedding lingerie for the first time so make sure you can imagine yourself wearing the items. Think about the material of your lingerie. Any items made from silk or satin will feel great against your skin and are bound to please your new husband. If you are feeling daring, go for something see through to get his pulse racing. If you are conscious of your figure go for items that combine cotton with sheer material. This will tease your husband and help you to cover up the bits you are less happy to reveal.

It is essential that you choose lingerie to flatter your body type. Many people pick wedding night lingerie without even considering whether it is right for their shape and size. You need to think what your best features are and play up to them. If you love your legs but hate your tummy, get yourself an empire waisted baby doll dress. This will accentuate your legs and disguise a wobbly tummy. A corset is a great option for all body types. However, it flatters women with athletic bodies in particular, as it creates seductive curves you never knew you had.

Remember to think about accessories. You may want a pair of stiletto heels to make your new husband go wild. Lacy suspenders are also a popular choice combined with sexy stockings.

When picking wedding night lingerie, go for a well known brand. This will ensure the pieces are well made and materials are of high quality. Alternatively go for a celebrity brand of lingerie. There are many available that provide stunningly beautiful, high quality items. For example, the Elle Macpherson intimates collection contains many luxurious items that would be perfect for the special night. In particular, the Boudoir selection will help give you and your new husband a night you will always remember.

If you would like to visit Your UK Wedding Directory, you can find out more about Wedding Planning, Wedding Stationery, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Rings and Wedding Flowers.

Tips for choosing the engagement ring

2010-06-26T11:08:00.005+01:00

This article has been provided to us by Article provided by Cred Jewellery

An engagement ring is a very special piece of jewellery that lasts a lifetime and symbolises so much, so it is important to get it right.

Style:
What style of ring do you want? A traditional diamond solitaire, traditional with a twist, or something more modern? Think about her fashion style or what jewellery she usually wears as the ring will need to fit in with these. But also bear in mind she will be wearing it for the rest of her life, so will need to suit her just as well at 66 as at 26.

Browse for some ideas online and get an idea of the designs that you like, or think she may like.

If you are looking for something completely unique, then you can speak to a designer about a bespoke design.

Stone:
The traditional engagement ring would be a solitaire diamond. There has been a lot in the press about ‘blood diamonds’ or ‘conflict’ diamonds’. The Kimberley process was set up internationally to ensure that all diamonds come from certified non-conflict sources, but there are companies that go above and beyond this to give complete traceability, are sourced from small-scale mines and have looked after the environmental processes too.

Or why not choose an alternative precious stone entirely? An amethyst, emerald or sapphire make just as dramatic a statement as diamond, and you will love bearing an unusual ring that is personal to the two of you.

A trilogy ring gives you the best of both worlds as you can have a central coloured stone straddled by smaller diamonds.

Cut:
For the main stone in the ring you have a few options for the cut – this makes a difference to the way the light is reflected around the stone. The two main cuts for diamonds are Brilliant or Princess. Brilliant cut is round, with slightly more sparkle than a princess cut because it has more facets wheras the Princess cut is a more modern square cut.

Setting:
There are many settings for stones which can be set into or above the ring. The setting enhances the beauty of the diamond and is designed to present the stone at its best and holding it securely for a lifetime.
Some of the different settings include:

Open – designed to let the maximum amount of light pass through to give the diamond sparkle.
V – Allows the same amount of light through as an open setting, but slightly is stronger & architectural looking.
Gallery – the most traditional setting for engagement rings giving a balance between secure setting and light getting through.
Cradle – a modern, secure setting, but the light still gets though.

Colour:
Do you wear more white-gold or yellow-gold jewellery? You’ll want to consider this carefully and get your wedding ring made in the same quality (i.e. 18ct or 9ct) to match the engagement ring, and possibly as each others wedding rings. Platinum is even harder wearing than white gold, but has a similar look.

Size:
Have your finger measured. Any jewellery shop will be able to do this for you if you have the finger to hand. Once you know your size you have the freedom to choose an engagement ring you have seen online.

However, if your proposal is a surprise you may want to secretly find out her ring size using a ring she currently wears. Download a free ring-sizer to lay the ring on, but be aware that this will still be an estimate without the real finger to measure so check that the ring can be easily re-sized if necessary.

More information on fair trade gold, ethical diamonds and tips on choosing the right engagement ring for you can be found at www.credjewellery.com, or call 0203 176 7839.

If you would like to visit Your UK Wedding Directory, you can find out more about Wedding Planning, Wedding Stationery, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Rings and Wedding Flowers.

Wedding Centrepieces – The Latest Trends

2010-06-23T11:14:00.003+01:00

This article has been provided by Sally Cherri of Bomboniera Events

There are many factors that go into planning a successful wedding, which could in fact be the most important social event of your life. Every detail helps add up to the grand picture of a truly memorable day, and wedding centrepieces are one of these details that can really help set up a unique atmosphere. These will be admired by guests during the reception, generally. You want to make sure that they are the ideal size, so that they will not overwhelm the table, but will manage to be a topic of interest and capture the imagination of your guests at the same time.

To this end, there are a number of prevailing trends that have gone into the current state of wedding centrepieces. Floral pieces are the most traditional, but they can receive a new shot of modernity if you arrange them in unique or unexpected combinations. One of the most popular types of floral centrepiece is one that utilizes tropical flowers, or orchids. These are classic yet have a bit of a twist or flair that will help saturate your wedding with colour. Displaying flower bulbs instead of fresh cut flowers can have a unique effect, and is another example of how to make your piece stand out.

Fruits and vegetables are another hot trend in wedding centrepieces. If the ultimate effect that you are trying to achieve is something that is eye-catching and colourful, these could do the trick much in the same way that flowers are able to do. Baskets of fruit give a festive feel and one of abundance, and are also traditionally thought to be good luck. Some of the little twists that wedding planners and decorators have been giving these arrangements include using carrots instead of flower stems, or filling a clear vase up with various coloured fruits. The possibilities are virtually endless variations on a theme.

Within the realm of fruits, flowers, and other accessories to liven up these various wedding centrepieces, you can also think about how to then place them on the table. They need not always go directly in the centre, and could be placed on their own mat or directly on the table. Placing flowers on mirrors can add extra dimension and depth to the arrangement, as this helps amplify the image. It’s a good idea to experiment with a variety of different arrangements before making this important decorating decision.

If you would like to visit Your UK Wedding Directory, you can find out more about Wedding Planning, Wedding Stationery, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Rings and Wedding Flowers.

Green Wedding Tips

2010-06-19T17:01:00.004+01:00

Article provided by The Wedding Planner School

Reducing the carbon footprint is very important but how do you ensure that you are environmentally responsible when it comes to your wedding. The Wedding Planner School gives their top ten tips for making your wedding not only eco-friendly that will also help to keep it in budget….

Keep it Local – Choose a wedding venue that is local to you or to the majority of your guests, which reduces carbon monoxide and other car emissions and saves money on fuel. When it comes to researching suppliers and venues think local and use the internet and telephone to do most of the research for your shortlist.
Potted Decorations – Instead of cut flowers that are generally imported from Holland or Africa and die a few days after your wedding, source potted plants & flowers that are grown locally thus reducing your carbon footprint and ensuring fair trade. Consider having organic non-genetically modified plants, which can be used both for decoration and given as favours or gifts at the end of the day. If you prefer the idea of candles adding to the ambience opt for those made from soyawax rather then beeswax.
Stationery & Communications – Using the internet and telephones to invite your guests reduces the need for paper, ink and postage. E-reply cards should also make for quicker responses. Where invitations need to be sent in hard copy choose a simple design on chlorine-free paper with organic inks or opt for a postcard design saving paper and money and don’t forget to recycle stationery such as Orders of Service. Consider a wedding website to provide details, directions and a gift list without doing any printing.
Wedding Planner - The Wedding Planner School offers a free graduate wedding planner service for brides nationwide. If you are enjoying planning your eco-friendly wedding so much you want it to last forever book yourself onto a course to learn how to turn your passion into a successful career, money saving tips and how to avoid nasty surprises!
Fashionable Green – Vintage dresses are very fashionable so you can be socially responsible and bang-on-trend. Consider renting or borrowing a dress or alternatively have a dress made to measure with locally sourced fabrics. Charity shops do second hand dresses, which are so popular that in 2007 stocks were exhausted, and you can donate them back afterwards.
Rings – Buy antique rings instead of new ones as diamonds, platinum, silver and gold always have to be imported and may contain blood diamonds.
Food Miles – Opt for locally sourced, organic food, which is in season. Thus reducing food miles and the use of chemical fertilisers.
Gifts – If you have already set up home have an ethical gift list so that your guests can make donations of time or money to charity.
Transport – A romantic horse-drawn carriage is a very eco-friendly way to travel to your venue or you might want to walk if it is nearby. Imagine how beautiful a procession of your guests led by you and new husband would look strolling through town. If you want to arrive by car consider using a regular car rather than a limousine or vintage car, which only do about ten miles to the gallon.
The Honeymoon – You don’t have to go abroad to enjoy a wonderful honeymoon so consider honeymooning in the UK or if you do want to head abroad use public transport to reach your destination. Some travel agents will actually calculate the carbon footprint resulting from the honeymoon so you can plant trees to offset the carbon emissions.

If you would like to visit Your UK Wedding Directory, you can find out more about Wedding Planning, Wedding Stationery, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Rings and Wedding Flowers.

Fairytale Themed Wedding Tips

2010-06-19T16:20:00.006+01:00

Article provided by The Wedding Planner School

Every bride wants to feel like a fairytale princess on her wedding day. If you want to bring some magic and sparkle to your big day too, The Wedding Planner School, trainers of top wedding planners worldwide, offers some great ideas for all budgets…

Stationery Fit for a Princess – Model invitations in the form of Cinderella’s shoe, which needs to be returned to its owner as soon as possible or as a story book, where guests can read all about the fairytale wedding. Name your tables after fairytales with Cinderella (top table), Sleeping Beauty etc and why not have carriages holding your place cards or table centres.
Colour Scheme – Silver and pink are the colours of a fairytale princess. Incorporate them into all aspects of the big day from pink champagne to silver candles; decorate the venue with swathes of pink and silver fabric – tulle and net are on trend for bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses in 2010.
A Magic Castle – Castles are a big feature but if they are out of budget introduce some regal decorations instead such as swan ice sculptures, sparkling chandeliers and if Posh and Becks can have thrones so can you!
Glass Slippers – Maintain that soft fairytale look by contrasting the feminine pinks with your dashing groom in grey tails or a chic white suit. Don’t forget the all important shoes, which are available as clear ‘glass’ slippers.
Romantic Ringlets – Soft up or half up hairstyles with romantic ringlets held in place by your very own tiara!
Storybook – Have the story and pictures of your lives and your fairytale romance displayed in a storybook for all your guests to read.
Horse and Carriage – The perfect arrival for a princess in your own horse drawn carriage (provided they don’t turn into mice)! You could even have some doves (or dove balloons) to release after the ceremony.
Flowers – Roses with their thorns removed so that ‘Prince Phillip’ can reach his ‘Sleeping Beauty’!
Fairy Cakes – A wedding cake made up of lots of little fairy cakes would bring the fairytale and modern tastes together. Alternatively opt for a beautiful castle-shaped cake or a plain tower with an icing shoe on top!
Fairy Godmother – No fairytale would be complete without a fairy godmother overseeing events and ensuring that everything is magical for your special day. In other words …. a wedding planner. The Wedding Planner School offers a free wedding planner service or to learn the tricks of the trade, why not book on one of their courses for yourself!

If you would like to visit Your UK Wedding Directory, you can find out more about Wedding Planning, Wedding Stationery, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Cakes and Wedding Flowers.

Free For Brides

2010-05-25T19:34:00.004+01:00

Getting Married? Would you like your WEDDING DAY planned or co-ordinated for free?

The Wedding Planner School requires engaged couples from various locations across the UK who would like either a free consultation or free wedding day co-ordination to help their newly qualified wedding and event planners get some hands-on work experience.

The students will be given full guidance and instruction before the placement and they will be on the other end of their phone during the wedding itself.

If you feel you could benefit from some help from the most enthusiastic and devoted wedding & event planners in the country, please download this information sheet and application form or contact the school office for more information now.

You are not obliged to pay the graduates while on work experience placements and they are fully insured under The Wedding Planner School's employers liability insurance. A contribution to travel expenses is welcome, but not compulsory.

Brides needed from all across the UK - especially in and around London and the Home Counties to have their weddings co-ordinated for free during 2010

Are you a wedding planner who would like to have a work experience candidate to help out? They are willing to assist at live weddings or during the planning phase...some may even like to help with your marketing...

We do ask for a deposit from all couples of £95 to secure their commitment. In the past The Wedding Planner School have had couples let down the planners or not treat them very nicely, so this helps to encourage polite interaction between all parties. If the placement goes through smoothly, your £95 will be refunded in full on request, no delays. The Wedding Planner School hope this is acceptable to you.

For more information please see The Wedding Planner School website.

Please visit Your UK Wedding Directory for more on Wedding Planning.

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2010-03-09T18:58:00.002Z

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Wedding Gift List Etiquette

2008-12-04T19:00:00.005Z

Article written by Nearly Married

Again, many thanks to Nearly Married for providing Your UK Wedding Directory with another great article. This article explores all the possibilities that comes with providing your wedding guests with a gift list.

Gift list etiquette can be confusing and conflicting - partly because wedding gift lists are a relatively new phenomenon. Nearly Married Ltd., the wedding gift list provider, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about wedding gift list etiquette.

We're not sure about having a gift list because we don't want our guests to feel obliged to buy us a gift. What should we do?

Guests understand when couples get married it's because they love each other - not because they're looking for wedding gifts! If you decide to have a gift list you can choose your wording carefully to ensure that your guests don't feel obliged to buy a gift. For example, a popular phrase to use is "It's your presence, not your present, that we want!"

Even if you don't want your guests to buy gifts for you, you'll find that most people still want to give a gift as they feel it's the right thing to do - and they want to mark the occasion with a gift. Without a gift list to guide your guests you could find yourselves inundated with gifts which you don't really want. If you really don't want any gifts for yourselves, why not consider charity gifts? Or you could ask for tree gifts which will grow and mature (just like your marriage!) as well as offsetting carbon emissions.

Should we send details of our gift list with our wedding invitations?

When couples started using gift lists it was not accepted etiquette to include details of a gift list with a wedding invitation. However, as gift lists have become increasingly popular, times have changed and so has the etiquette. It has become much more the norm - and it's simpler - to let guests know where a gift list has been set up and saves guests trying to contact the bridal party to find out. It's highly unlikely that guests will take offence. Most gift list companies can provide you with invitation inserts which you can send to guests.

If you don't feel comfortable including your gift list information with invitations and you've got a wedding website, this is a great - and discrete - way for guests to get the all-important details about your wedding and your gift list. All couples who register with Nearly Married get a free wedding website which they can add lots of info and pictures to and their gift list is automatically integrated into their wedding website.

Should our evening guests be given details of our gift list?

If you don't expect your evening guests to give you a gift, don't include information about your gift list with their invitations. If you've got a wedding website this is a great way for them to find out if you have a gift list, without having to ask.

Is it OK to ask for money for general use or our honeymoon?

Many couples already have the traditional household items which were often given as gifts such as toasters, kettles, towels and bedding. That's why couples often feel that it would suit them better to ask for money which they can use towards something special, such as their honeymoon. If you're saving towards a deposit on a house, furniture or a new kitchen and would appreciate money towards that why not ask for contributions on your gift list? It is becoming far more the norm for couples to ask for money - but our advice is to let guests know what the money will be spent on so that your guests feel that they've contributed towards a specific item rather than giving money which could be spent on household bills or your entertainment expenses! The Nearly Married gift list service lets you customise gifts of money with your own gift name, description, price and picture so you can ask for anything you want!

We don't need household items and we're asking for other types of gifts on our gift list - how should we explain this to guests?

Many couples enclose an information sheet when they send out their invitations. The information sheet could have all sorts of important information such as directions, transport and accommodations options and information about the gift list. You might be able to add this info to your gift list if your provider offers this option. If you've got a wedding website this is another great place to add this info.

Suggested Gift List Wording
If you want to explain to your guests that they don't have to buy you a gift, or if you want to tell them a bit about your gift list here are some suggestions:

Please don't feel obliged to give us a gift - all we really want is to have a lovely wedding which we can share with our friends and family.
Your presence is more important than a present!
You probably know that we usually like to do things differently - so it might not be a surprise to you that our gift list is a little bit different too!
As we already have a lot of household items, we hope you won't mind us asking for money instead of traditional wedding gifts. We're planning to spend the money on...
To celebrate our wedding we're going on a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon which will give us memories we'll always remember. Our honeymoon gift list shows some of the trips we've got planned so you can see how we plan to use your kind wedding gift.
We've decided to set up a charity gift list. If you would like to give a gift, this is a perfect way for our wedding to help others less fortunate than us.

More information about gift lists and wedding planning is available at www.nearlymarried.co.uk where you can also download a Free Wedding Handbook.

You can also visit the Your UK Wedding Directory to find out more about Wedding Gift Lists

Wedding Websites - The Ultimate Accessory!

2008-12-03T16:46:00.004Z

Article written by Nearly Married.

Wedding websites are becoming the ultimate wedding accessory because they're a great way to share the details of the big day. Couples don't have to be technical gurus to set up a website and - best of all - they can be available for free!

A basic wedding website will normally include the all-important details such as the names of the couple, their wedding date, time and place as well and other helpful information for guests such as directions, transport, accommodation options and maps.

But most couples like to personalise their websites and often include photos of themselves and perhaps members of the bridal party, photos of the venue, honeymoon info, stories about how they met (which could be two different versions!), hen and stag night information and details of any extra social events before or after the big day. Couples will also sometimes provide links to online photo albums so that their guests can look at the wedding or honeymoon photos.

Another popular use of wedding websites is to ask guests for extra things such as photos or stories which could be used in speeches, any special requests for the DJ - or anything else which might not be mentioned in a formal wedding invitation.

And wedding websites are a great place to include information about the gift list - particularly if couples don't feel comfortable about sending gift list information with their wedding invitations. Telling guests about a wedding website is a discrete way of pointing them to a source of information about the wedding without actually giving them the information directly. It's also a great place to give guests some background info about the gift list, especially if the couples are looking for money (towards something special or the honeymoon) or if they want to stress to guests that they don't need to buy a wedding gift.

For couples wanting to set up a wedding website they can build it themselves from scratch, pay a wedding website designer or buy a wedding website online.

Nearly Married is a popular wedding gift list service which provides a free wedding website to all couples who register, free of charge, at http://www.nearlymarried.co.uk/ The couple's wedding website is automatically created as soon as they register and they can start adding details straight away. The pre-formatted templates make it easy to add info and pictures with up to 10 pages - all with pictures - available free of charge. There are also password protection options to keep all, or some, important details private. A direct URL to the couples wedding website is also available. So couples don't need to worry about registering a domain name, building a website from scratch, hosting or backing up information as it's all done for them.

Wedding planning tools are also provided free of charge by Nearly Married. For example, there's a handy guest list tool which enables couples to maintain their guest list online and update each guest's record once they've replied to their invitation. And there's a convenient 'Thank You' card management tool for logging which cards have been sent.

By combining a wedding website with a gift list service it's easy for guests to find everything they need in one place.

This article was kindly written for us by Nearly Married.

You can also visit the Your UK Wedding Directory to find out more about Wedding Gift Lists

Gift List Services - a comparison of features and drawbacks

2008-10-29T20:20:00.006Z

Gift Lists are a very important part of preparing for the wedding, especially if you have a lot of guests to invite. Here is a great article written by Gift List Company The Bottom Drawer on deciding who to choose!

When deciding on which Gift List company to use, there are some important factors you should take into consideration.

Is the gift list service a money contribution type or an actual purchase type?

What's the difference? Well, the traditional department stores that you see on the busy city High Streets are the "actual purchase" type. In otherwords, when you add an item to your list and one of your guests' buys that item, that item has indeed been physically bought and neither you nor your guest can change your mind about it. With the specialist gift list services like The Bottom Drawer, the list is a "money contribution" type which means your guests make a contribution towards your selected gifts but the gifts aren't actually bought until after your list closes. This gives you the flexibility to change your mind. This is worth bearing in mind because if you have your list at a department store you may well end up with odd dinner plates or glasses from a larger set which you then either stick away unused in a cupboard because you don't have the full set, or you end up having to pay out yourself to complete the set. If you use a more flexible gift list service for those items you can decide when your list closes whether to buy the complete set or use the money received to buy alternative items you can afford instead.

Am I limited to the items that store sells?

With the traditional lists at department stores in the cities and towns, yes you are limited to just the items they sell. You might think this isn't a problem as they offer so many items after all. But, remember it also means you are limited to the price they charge for those items - which could be a very expensive mistake to make. At flexible gift list companies such as The Bottom Drawer you are able to add any item, from any store to your list. The gift list company simply collects your guests contributions for you which you are then able to spend at any store you wish. To show how much difference this could make, here's an example with data taken on the 15 February 2007 from John Lewis, an independent store and The Bottom Drawer. Say you really wanted your guests to contribute towards a new LCD TV. At John Lewis you would have had a reasonable choice though at the independent store if you wanted one over 20" you would have had a choice of just 1, the Panasonic TX23LXD60. At The Bottom Drawer you could choose from every TV available on the market. But let's stick with the Panasonic to give a fair comparison. At the independent store the price was £795 for this TV, if you had your list at John Lewis and selected this TV you would have had to pay £745. However, if you held your list at The Bottom Drawer you could choose from the best price available, which a Kelkoo search showed to be £494! So going with an independent store or other city High Street Store could mean you pay more than £250 over the odds! It is only at the specialist gift list companies where you can really have a unique gift list. For example, how about a garden makeover paid for by your guests? At The Bottom Drawer this becomes a reality as they can arrange for a local landscaper to produce a quote for you which then forms the basis for your gift list so each square metre of patio can be one gift, each plant another gift and so on! They can also arrange similar services for a new kitchen or bathroom or your dream honeymoon! Other unusual gifts couples have recently obtained through The Bottom Drawer include a hottub, a piano and a horse box trailer!

What if I want gifts from more than one store?

Traditionally, you may want some lower priced gifts from Argos to go with some more exclusive gifts from John Lewis. In the past you would need to set-up two separate gift lists at two separate stores and send out two lots of invitations. With a flexible gift list provider you can have all your gift items on one list (and yes you can often even add items from John Lewis, Next, Argos and the other traditional department stores!)

What about the charges?

With the traditional department stores it is usually free to set-up your list and in fact they may offer incentives to draw you in such as vouchers to spend in their store. But remember you are limited to the items that store sells, at the price that store charges which could be quite expensive (see point 2 above)!

You should also check delivery charges as whist some will be free, others will charge a separate, small delivery charge to each guest which can add up to quite a significant amount of wasted money.

Pay for your honeymoon using your wedding gift list

With the alternative flexible gift lists the charges are normally split in two ways: charges to you to set up and use the list and charges that are levied against the value of the gifts your guests make to you. You need to compare carefully to know the full charges you will be paying. Many of the services that offer a free facility to set-up the list then go on to charge 9% or more on to the orders from your guests. Not only can this add up to an awful lot of money but your guests won't be too happy either! Some services such as The Bottom Drawer are set-up in such a way that potentially there is no cost for you the couple to use the service AND no cost for your guests to make contributions as they earn income by selling items direct to you or from commission received from the companies they work with to provide gifts. You should also check that all payment options are supported for your guests so that those that prefer not to pay by credit or debit card have the option to pay by cheque and over the phone too. One final thing to bear in mind is that the money collected may be used to purchase gifts from stores other than the flexible gift list company - so you should check what the delivery charges will be from the store(s) you will eventually be buying your gifts from.

Security

Naturally when several thousand pounds is potentially being collected via your gift list you need to feel certain that your money will be safe in the hands of the gift list company. No matter what the size of the company they can never totally guarantee to be around forever - witness some household names (not wedding related!) that have disappeared over the years. But there are ways you can limit the risk. For one, any transactions that your guests make using a credit or debit card must be handled over a secure server using encrypted technology. This is fairly standard these days. Also, fairly good protection is offered when your guests use a credit card or Visa debit card as the card companies can often be obliged to refund any money if a company gets into difficulty and can't fulfil on its promises. But this doesn't apply to other debit cards or cheques. A good thing to do is check the small print for the company you are dealing with - do they openly tell you about the directors of the company? If it is a limited company it is much easier to track down who is behind the company in case something goes wrong - if you are dealing with a small internet company it could be very difficult for you to get any comeback if the company goes bust. Finally, consider how secure your own information is - what if someone hacked into a site, pretended to be you by obtaining your details, and asked for your gift list funds to be transferred to THEIR bank account! Only one gift list company in the UK is certified by Hackersafe, the worlds leading compliance company (who also monitor Microsoft sites) - and that's The Bottom Drawer. Their site is tested daily to make sure it is secure against all known hacker tricks.

Conclusion

So our advice is to think twice before going with the traditional department store - there is much more choice to be had elsewhere. And if you opt for a flexible gift list service then always check the (sometimes very) small print to know what ALL the charges - both to you AND your guests - will be. Finally, consider how secure your gift list funds will be with that company. Only The Bottom Drawer offers Hackersafe protection.
The Bottom Drawer © 2008

You can also visit the Your UK Wedding Directory to find out more about Wedding Gift Lists

Transform your venue from dull to delightful with chair cover hire

2008-10-07T17:03:00.007+01:00

Just by adding that little bit extra can transform your wedding!
Vickie from Elegance Chair Covers has this information on using chair covers at your wedding!

In recent years chair covers have become a must-have wedding decor item as couples strive to create the wedding of their dreams. They can transform uninspiring rooms, village halls and any space into something truly magical. Even the most stunning of venues can benefit from the transformation that simple white or ivory chair covers and a beautiful organza sash can bring. Couples no longer have to put up with chairs that don't match their scheme or that are a bit shabby. By hiring chair covers they can cover up ugly chairs and match the room to their colour scheme perfectly to create the day of their dreams.

There are many things to consider when hiring chair covers:

Price - most couples work to a tight budget when arranging their wedding day, so it's important to find a company with a service to suit their budget. When it comes to chair covers you don't necessarily get the best covers or service from the most expensive or biggest company. Couples should hire chair covers from a company that they feel comfortable with and trust to deliver the service they have booked.
Set-up or DIY - this goes hand-in-hand with budget. If you want a company to come and set the chair covers up for you, then expect to pay for this service. Alternatively, you can choose to have the covers delivered to your venue to either set-up yourself or have the venue do it for you. This option can help to keep costs down and make chair cover hire more affordable for many people.
Colour - most companies offer white, cream and ivory covers. When considering which colour cover to hire it is best to match the covers to the table linen at the venue rather than the brides dress. Nothing looks worse than ivory covers, hired to match the brides dress, set around a white tablecloth.
Sashes - most companies offer organza sashes, but some also offer satin. They come in a range of colours so that the sash can be matched to the couples colour scheme to create a fully colour co-ordinated event. Look for companies that offer a good range of colours and ask for swatch samples to ensure the colour matches the wedding scheme. For more unusual colours or to get a specific shade, look for a company who can make sashes to match your colour scheme.
Range of covers - there is no such thing as a cover that fits all chairs. Chairs come in many shapes and sizes, and covers do to. Make sure that you hire from a company that has an extensive range of shapes and sizes. Provide the measurements of the venues chairs to the hire company to check that they have a suitable chair cover before booking. It is also worth asking if they have a sample service so you can 'try before you buy'.
Professionalism and reliability - unfortunately, not all companies provide the service that they promise. Look for examples of the companies previous work on their website - most have a gallery to showcase previous weddings they have done. Also have a look for customer feedback, testimonials and go onto the wedding forums to ask if anyone has experience of the company that you are looking to book with.

Forums are an excellent place to find out about good companies and also the ones to avoid. Do your research to ensure that you are not let down and disappointed on the biggest day of your life.

As told by Elegance Chair Covers

© Elegance Chair Covers 2008

You can also visit the Your UK Wedding Directory to find out more about Wedding Chair Covers

Top Tips For Finding The Perfect Wedding Band

2008-10-01T19:02:00.007+01:00

Find that band that will fit into your wedding plans!

The following article was written by the band 'Hard To Handle'!

On average it's estimated that if you're planning a wedding this year, you can expect to spend approximately 250 hours bringing this most special and important day to fruition. How much time will YOU spend finding the perfect wedding band? HARD TO HANDLE band are one of the busiest wedding bands working in the UK today. Try following our five top tips for finding the perfect wedding band!

Shop around

Take a good look at the type of band you may be interested in booking. It's best to prepare questions to ask in advance. Are you sure that the eight piece band you have found will be suitable for the wedding reception venue you have booked? Do they play UK wide or are they based in one particular area? Will they provide you with a contract to safeguard your rights?

Be sure the band is suitable for your function

Not all bands are suitable to perform at wedding receptions. The band you see playing at your local bar may sound great, but will they be able to perform the type of music suitable for a wedding reception? Bar and pub bands play loud music often in one genre. That might be great for a little while, but bands that specialise in playing wedding receptions know that the key to success is a broad repertoire, from classic hits to modern music.

Be sure that the band is suitable for your venue

The venue you hire for your wedding reception will probably have certain requirements of the band you book. Many venues have installed sound limiters designed govern how loud a band can play. This means that if a band plays over a certain level of sound, electrical power will be cut. The result? No music! Ask the band you are interested in booking if they have experience working with sound limiters.

Beware of hidden charges

As with all the services you book for your wedding reception, you need to be sure that you are getting the best value for money. When you ask a band for their price, ask them if this is their final quote. Some bands will attempt to add extras fees to their quote at a later date - fees for accommodation, food, even hire of equipment.

Part-time vs. Professional

You wouldn't entrust the repair of your car to a part time mechanic, or a call plumber who has a day job working in an office, so why consider booking a band that only perform part time? Many function bands only play once or twice per month as a hobby and work in "normal" weekday jobs. Do you really want to risk booking a band whose members may be stuck in rush hour traffic after finishing work on the day of your wedding reception?

Hard To Handle band are a highly versatile function band and have performed at literally hundreds of wedding receptions UK wide. With a wide ranging repertoire and top class musicians, the band is one of the most sought after acts performing in the UK today!
For more information on how Hard To Handle can help you make your wedding day a little bit more special, visit our website at:
http://www.hardtohandleband.co.uk/
Hard to Handle copyright 2008.

You can also visit the Your UK Wedding Directory to find out more about Wedding Live Bands

Blog goes live!!

2008-09-21T13:45:00.002+01:00

Hurrah!!!

After toying with the idea, Your UK Wedding Directory now has it's own blog. It is as much our blog as your blog though. If there is anything you would like to see featured in this blog please don't hesitate to contact us at info[at]yourukweddingdirectory.co.uk. Please replace the[at] with @. This is to stop us getting lots of spam emails!!