When you look at the following facts:

♥ the average cost of a wedding in the UK tops £20,000

♥ increasing numbers of couples are marrying after they have already set up home together

♥ most couples plan and fund their own weddings nowadays

it’s no wonder that:

♥ couples are now looking for alternative ways to pay for their weddings (rather than having to depend on family contributions, loans or credit cards)

♥ couples planning their weddings don’t require traditional wedding gifts to furnish their home with such as housewares and fine china

The conclusion which can be drawn for couples planning their weddings nowadays is that what they need more than anything is financial help with their spiraling wedding costs.

As I mentioned in my previous blog in the last couple of years online honeymoon gift registries such as Traveler's Joy, Honeymoon Wishes and Honeymoon.com have become hugely popular. Couples planning their nuptials turn to these websites to save themselves money as their wedding guests contribute funds towards their dream honeymoon.

One step on from the honeymoon gift registry is Youbuymywedding.com, an innovative website which allows couples to pay for their wedding by inviting guests to make financial pledges online towards their wedding costs rather than buying them a traditional wedding gift. I think that this is an ingenious concept.

As featured on Five News, Youbuymywedding.com encourages brides and grooms-to-be to opt for money rather than traditional wedding presents and thus take the financial strain off of their wedding plans. For couples who want a dream wedding but find that it is beyond their restricted wedding budget this website is perfect as rather than having to scrimp and cut corners you can share the wedding costs with your guests.

According to Youbuymywedding.com its aim is to

“help couples finance their weddings by inviting their guests to share the cost of paying for the big day, instead of buying wedding gifts in the conventional way”.

So how does Youbuymywedding.com work? It appears to be quite simple. You set up your own personalized wedding page using the website and choose the pledge items you want to be covered, using up to 20 categories covering every aspect of your wedding, including invitations, flowers, reception, cake, car hire, honeymoon, rings and even the dress. Next, decide how much you want to raise for each category. Your guests can then visit your personal wedding page and browse through your selected pledge items. A great feature is that the website also indicates to your guests which items have received the most support, and which still need contributions. Guests can make a donation towards their choice of wedding expense using the secure online payment service Paypal, and they will receive an email confirmation of their pledge, which can be made anonymously if they prefer. Once they have made their pledge Youbuymywedding.com will also notify you by means of an SMS text alert.

So that you can keep up-to-date with your wedding budget you can check your wedding fund balance on the website any time and make withdrawals at any time (in the form of a bank transfer or cheque) to pay for or book items in advance of your wedding.

I think that this website has advantages too from your wedding guests’ point of view. Rather than them having to find and buy a possibly unwanted or duplicate wedding gift, they can save time and effort by simply logging on to your website and give you the gift you really need – money!

Whilst honeymoon gift registries have proven to be a popular choice with modern couples who want to register for alternative wedding gifts, I think that unique websites such as Youbuymywedding.com will also be popular amongst couples who already have everything they need for their marital home but who could use some financial assistance to bolster their wedding fund.

So, if you don’t want to rein in your wedding plans, restrict your wedding budget or have to finance your wedding using a loan or credit card and start married life in debt then why not take a look at Youbuymywedding.com.

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THE BEST WEDDING TIPS ON THE INTERNET

Each week you can receive a great wedding tip by simply filling in this form:

After you have clicked on the "Send My 1st Tip" button follow these 6 easy steps to ensuring you receive a free unique wedding tip every week.

The most important step is that you you click on the confirmation link in the email sent immediately to your inbox - if you don't you won't get your wedding tips!

A TESTIMONIAL :

"Hi Elle, I just wanted to give my thanks for the generous, often funny and thoughtful planning tips I have received. Our wedding is in just over two weeks time. It's the first time we're getting married (as for many people), and inevitably, there are things we had not considered. I really appreciated many of the planning tips for this reason, also because they were very practical and down-to-earth. Great job, and many thanks again. It must be great to know you are making a positive difference to the marrying couples that receive these. Best Wishes" - Marcela Read more testimonials here

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You will also send you a Free "Wedding Dress Ideas" Report with your first tip!

Have you checked out Get Married yet? The interactive wedding website and television show has moved network to Lifetime TV and now also boasts host David Tutera, one of the nations premier event designers.

As I mentioned in my previous blog this show makes perfect viewing for those of you who are looking for some fresh and unique ideas for your wedding planning, have a question you need answering by a wedding expert or simply need wedding inspiration.

Get Married in on every weekday at 7:30am. What is great is that if you miss the show you can view all of the episodes at the Get Married website. For further details of upcoming features on their show check out their website at GetMarried.com.

Happy viewing!

If you are having trouble finding your dream wedding dress then why not have a look at these. Last week at New York's Bridal Fashion Week top US designers presented their latest bridal gown creations. The newest trends amongst these gowns included lots of dramatic poufs and layers, high empire waists (very flattering) and stunning gowns inspired by red carpet glamour.

Vera Wang’s bridal collection featured fishtail and one-shouldered gowns, 40’s inspired glamorous dresses and a unique minimalist capri panted pajama suit (which I personally think is cute but not suitable for a bride on her wedding day!). Wang’s distinctive creations also offered eye-catching back details such as dramatic trains, floral appliqués and intricate pleating.

Amongst the superstar designers displaying their work at New York's Bridal Fashion Week was Monique Lhuillier, who famously dressed Britney Spears on her wedding day. According to ETonline.com Monique’s favorite trend for bridal gowns this season are colored sashes, usually in silver or a muted color to accentuate the bride’s waist.

Keep up-to-date with bridal gown trends and take a look for yourself.

One of the much anticipated highlights of New York's Bridal Fashion Week was the unveiling of the "Kirstie Kelly For Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings" inaugural collection. Designer Kirstie Kelly produced her very own themed wedding gowns inspired by classic Disney heroines including Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Belle and Jasmine. The dresses, priced between $1,100 and $3,500, are said to be designed to be perfect for any princess on her wedding day. Take a look at the collection and see whether any of the Disney princess styles appeal to you.

Happy dress hunting!

When a couple get married traditionally the bride changes her maiden name to her husband’s surname. This is certainly the most preferred option of brides I have met, bar a few who have kept their maiden names which they have built their careers under.

Changing your maiden name to your husband's surname is certainly the simplest option. It makes life easier once you are married to share the same surname (for social, financial and domestic matters) and much less confusing once you have children together. If you (or even your husband) are not keen on sticking with the tradition of you taking his name then how about one of the following options:

♥ You could use a double barreled combination of both of your surnames - this has become an increasingly popular choice amongst couples. The two elements of the new surname could either be linked by a hyphen or kept separate.

♥ How about using your surname as a middle name for both of you.

♥ You could “mesh” your maiden name with your husband’s surname to make a brand new surname for you both – it could be great fun choosing a new name together!

♥ Alternatively, if none of these options appeal to you both then there is no reason (if he is agreeable) why your husband cannot change his surname to your maiden name when you get married.

Although many couples in recent years have chosen to combine their last names it is still unusual for a man to take his wife’s surname upon marriage. Whilst I might have pondered this with newlywed friends and even discussed the topic of name changing with my own husband prior to our wedding, I have never really considered it to be a serious option (unless the man’s surname is so humiliating that it just is not an option for the bride to consider taking it!). I wondered after reading this story if it might well become a new wedding trend in years to come. According to wzzm13.com Seattle newlyweds Donna and Mike Salinger were met with chuckles and confusion from their wedding guests last November as they were announced on their wedding day with the wife’s surname. Mike bravely chose to take his wife's last name instead of her taking his.

"Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it would have caused as much of a stir as it did," says Mike Salinger, 27, who was married in November. "We knew people might be surprised, but we figured they'd say 'Huh' and get on with it.”

This is a very unique and modern idea and one which I don’t think should be ridiculed. Personally I think that with all of the new trends in weddings this break with the norm is refreshing.

According to abcnews.go.com in January of this year groom-to-be Michael Buday decided that he wanted to honor his fiancé’s family by taking her name upon their marriage. The only obstacle in his way was the law! Under California state law he needed to pay more than $300 and comply with their laborious and strict legal requirements before his name change could happen. He decided that this was unfair and alongside the ACLU decided to go to court to battle it out. Abcnews.go.com states that,

“California is one of 44 states with unequal name change laws for people getting married. Right now, only six states — Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York and North Dakota — explicitly allow a man to change his name through marriage with the same ease as a woman can.”

Is it right that women can change their names so easily upon marriage yet men are forced into an expensive and laborious labyrinth of red tape in the USA? Without doubt it is a lot easier for men in the UK as they need only execute a change of name by Deed Poll, pay up the £29.99 fee and this guarantees that their new surname is legal and accepted by everyone without question.

Whether newlyweds choose to merge names, create a completely new one or both be known by the bride’s surname, isn’t the most important thing that it should be personal choice for them how they wish themselves to be known upon their marriage?

I am happy to announce that on the 26th January wedding dress designer Caroline Castigliano is opening a new store called the Castigliano "International Room" at 154 Brompton Road in London SW3 1AS. The store will not only showcase all her fabulous designs, which are made individually and start at £2000, but also those of several carefully selected international designers.

The other designers have similar price points and share Caroline's commitment to quality and style and making each and every bride feel special. They include:

Amy Michelson - her signature look is sexy, liquid elegance, with designs that are cut to flatter the female form. Amy is the recipient of the prestigious Couture Bridal 2001, 2003 and 2004 “Designer of the Year” Award.

Atelier Aimee - an Italian collection using the finest lace and jewels with exquisite detailing.

Kenneth Poole - pure Hollywood glamour ! A truly modern couturier who refined his skill while working for Vera Wang.

Mariage - a collection of pure romance soft colours and layers with charming floral finishes for the girly bride.

Oleg Cassini - old style glamour brought to the modern world. Famous for developing Jackie Oasis's signature look of timeless elegance.

Sharon Hoey – based in Dublin Sharon has won many coveted awards including a Late Late Show Fashion Award and the Bridal Designer of the Year.

Caroline's own collection is updated each season to incorporate current trends using the finest fabrics and attention to detail.

Fittings are by appointment only and can be made by calling 020 7993 9622 or by booking online at the website.

Back in October I wrote about a site called Bloglines.com that I use to keep me up to date with all the wedding industry news on a daily basis. I highlighted the ease with which it is possible for me to read various stories without having to visit the actual web sites if I don’t want to. This all happens due to the magic of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds, certainly every blog has such a feed – though not all web sites do. This might not be news to everyone, but for those brides discovering it for the first time you will certainly enjoy the luxury of having all your news in one place.

One site I am always excited to hear the latest news from is the Wedding Podcast Network (WPN), at WeddingPodcastNetwork.com, run by husband and wife team Robert Allen and Holli Ehrlich. They provide an alternative to mainstream wedding planning advice in a portable, on-demand format you can listen to where ever you are. WPN allows brides and grooms to easily listen to advice on wedding planning and obtain valuable information in an entertaining and educational format that can be downloaded to an iPod, MP3 player, mobile phone or on the computer free of charge. I love the idea of downloadable audio giving me the opportunity to control which specific wedding programs I hear, when, and even where.

Listen To Free Wedding Advice Today:

I recommend you open a Bloglines account and subscribe to the main Wedding Podcast Network feed today.

Robert Allen, WPN co-founder and executive producer says:

“We wanted to establish an authoritative resource for brides and grooms that are planning their wedding, but realize they have busy lives, whether they are commuting to work, working out at the gym or running errands. Wedding Podcast Network is like listening to wedding talk radio on-demand on your iPod or computer.”

Robert and Holli offer not only authoritative but also entertaining and fun shows to listen to. You can keep copies of your favourite shows and play them over and over again.

The Wedding Podcast Network features seven original internet radio programs including:

♥ Meet the Masters - Listen To Show Here - Exclusive interviews with the wedding industry’s foremost style shapers and consultants. Guests have included Preston Bailey, Ron Ben-Israel, Sylvia Weinstock, Laura Geller, John Mahdessian of Madame Paulette, and celebrity wedding planners Ann David and Nicky Reinhard.

♥ Bridal Scene - Listen To Show Here - Trends and happenings including exclusive, behind-the-scenes interviews from the industry’s premier shows and events. Some of the subjects of on-site guest interviews have included bridal registry trends, destination weddings, bridal beauty, scrapbooking, invitations and honeymoons. Recents podcasts include a couple of entertaining shows from the Bridal Market in New York City (part 1 and 2).

♥ Lovecast - Listen To Show Here - Relationship advice from The Love Doctor, Dr. Terri. Dr. Terri teaches listeners how to accept differences, communicate, and resolve conflicts. Fun quizzes, valuable advice and important life lessons about one’s significant other and each other's families are part of the programming. Men and women differ greatly how they talk about the relationship with their partner - listen to these podcasts to find out why!

♥ Newlywedcast - Listen To Show Here - Real couples recount their wedding stories and share firsthand advice from a purely personal perspective. Listeners hear unique proposal stories, surprising confessions, original ideas
and secrets to planning a successful wedding. Listen to newlyweds, Kim and Quint, share the details of their April destination wedding in Lake Tahoe, California and wedding at the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. Or how Jamie and Daniel planned their wedding in just 4 days!

♥ Wedding Workout - Listen To Show Here - This fitness-focused podcast offers advice and tips on how to lose a size and get gown ready before the walk down the aisle. So get pumped! get motivated! and become a buff bride today! Listen to Real Pilates owner Alycea Ungaro discuss how exercise is an enormous stress reliever which is critical during wedding planning.

♥ Grooms with a View - Listen To Show Here - Grooms offer their perspective on the big day. In the first show Craig Michaels, author of Thirty to Wife (see my review here), talks about what every prospective groom should expect at a wedding. Craig shares some great cost saving ideas without cheapening the affair.

♥ Planet Bride - Listen To Show Here – Michelle and Henry Roth, sister and brother design duo, share their three generations of family bridal tradition and take you on a unique wedding planning journey. Hear how to get real and how to deal from a pair that know the wedding business like no other. In their first show Henry & Michelle discuss the ever important pivotal component that sets the tone for the whole wedding - the wedding dress!

If you have any questions about RSS and podcasts just pop me an email and I will do my best to help.

Confetti.co.uk now offer a superb wedding list service where by you can receive the gifts you really want, from honeymoons to house deposits. As a couple you simply ask for money to be placed on a Confetti Wishlist prepaid Maestro® card in place of gifts. Guests do this simply by visiting your very own customised web page and making a contribution online. The web page link can even be changed to include your own names and wedding date. You can then share this link with your guests by sending an email from the wish list service, or by using the template online to create a gift list card that can be slipped into your invitations.

These cards are perfect for all couples whatever their financial situation. For couples getting married later in life who have all the basics, this is a unique opportunity to ask for gifts and experiences which aren’t normally available on the high street. Imagine you can add gifts such as donations to your favourite charity, a piece of art, a trip round around the world or plants for the garden. Equally if a couple are on a tight budget the Wishlist Card would be ideal for helping with wedding expenses, honeymoon costs or car and house deposits. Basically you can use the Confetti Wishlist Card wherever you see the Maestro® acceptance mark, including shops, restaurants, online or on the telephone.

Research has shown that over 50% of couples would prefer to receive money but are too embarrassed to ask for it directly. In fact guests are happier to give money if they know what it will be spent on. They have the ease of buying online 24 hours a day with no need to put cash or cheques in the post or ask for the couple’s bank details. The Wishlist Card ensures your guests no longer have the age old problem of finding a wedding gift in a specific price range, as they can now easily group together with other guests to contribute towards any gift they like.

As always don't forget to read the small print, Confetti provide a comprehensive FAQ and the terms and conditions, including what happens if your card is lost or stolen and how long it remains valid. I urge you to read all these pages in their entirety, like you would with any other financial product.

Sign up for your Confetti Wish List card at ConfettiCard.co.uk today

Further Confetti.co.uk Reading:

Confetti.co.uk Coupon - Free Delivery On Orders Of £75 Or More
Confetti.co.uk Launch Their New Site - New Improved Layout!
Review Of Confetti's Glasgow Store by Elle Brown.
Compare Confetti's Wedding Insurance to other UK products.
Confetti's New Must-Read Magazine - Confetti Receptions
How To Use Confetti.co.uk For A Stylish Christmas - a one stop shop for wedding and party advice.

DISCLAIMER

1. The information provided on this Wedaholic.com web site has been compiled for your convenience. Wedaholic.com makes no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this web site.
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Financial Disclaimer

Wedaholic.com does not accept any liability for any financial decisions made on the basis of this information. This web site does not constitute financial advice and should not be taken as such. Wedaholic.com urges you to obtain professional advice before proceeding with any financial product.

Trademarks

Maestro® is a registered trademark of MasterCard

Following the National Wedding Show at Earls Court, nearly two weeks ago, comes another top class wedding show for all London brides. This time it is turn of The Designer Wedding Show at Battersea Park on November 3, 4 ad 5. There will be more than 130 quality creators of wedding gowns, accessories cakes, stationery, entertainment, cosmetics, shoes, tiaras, hats, cars, favours, gift lists, caterers, venues, - basically everything you need for the perfect wedding! I can thoroughly recommend it as I went in 2005.

The exhibitors include Ben De Lisi, Alice Temperley, Vera Wang, Susan Neville, Jenny Packham, Stewart Parvin, Christiana Couture, Pronovias Valentino Sposa, Elie Saab, Manuel Mota, Monique Lhuillier, Peter Langner, Oscar De La Renta, Reem Acra, Sharon Cunningham, Wedding Shop, Caroline Parkes, Christine Kendall, Simultane, Candy Anthony, Louise Selby, Sarah Owen, Sarah Treble, Sassi Holford, Hello!Lucky, Somerley, The General Trading Company, The Wren Press, Emmy Shoes, Goodwood House, Linda Fripp Cakes, Alastair Lockhart, Italian Secrets, Louise Richardson Stationary, Borrowed Blue Press, Abercrombie & Kent, Rachel Trevor Morgan, Jamie Aston Flowers And many more.

For more information, see DesignerWeddingShow.co.uk.

Key Facts About The Designer Wedding Show:

Location :
The Designer Wedding Show
British Genius Site
North Carriage Drive
Battersea Park
SW11 4NJ

Enter by Chelsea Bridge Gate on Queenstown Road

Click here for location map

Box Office : - 0870 190 9098 or book online here.

Tickets : cost £16.50 online (including £1.50 booking fee) and £17.00 on the door.

Door Times : 10am - 5pm daily.

Show Info : Catwalk Show - Included in ticket price & takes place 4 times each day - 10.30am, 12noon, 2pm & 3.30pm.

Food : Gourmet caterer Italian Secrets will be providing a choice of restaurants and bars. The restaurant will serve coffee and breakfast pastries until 11.30am, a two-course lunch from 12 noon and afternoon tea with a selection of Italian cakes will be served from 3pm. Click here to book a table and here to see the menu. The Pol Roger Champagne Bar will be in the centre of the exhibition.

Cars : Look out for AA yellow directional signs to the show.

Parking : Parking: Limited pay & display parking is available in & around the park and disabled parking is available adjacent to the exhibition hall.

Nearest Tube : Sloane Square (District & Circle Lines)

Nearest Station : Battersea Park - Overground from Victoria or Clapham Junction.

Complimentary Shuttle : Leaves from outside The Sloane Square Hotel every 10 minutes.

Bus : Numbers 44, 137, and 344

Email : info@designerweddingshow.co.uk

Organiser : Foxglove Events Ltd Po Box 28860 London SW13 8WT

Next Show : If you can't make this show one in November there is always the next on the 16 - 18 February 2007

Whilst at the National Wedding Show I had the pleasure of meeting a number of exhibitors from Woburn in Bedfordshire. They were there to promote why Woburn is the perfect place to get married. I was quick to learn that there are a number of wonderful venues for a bride and groom to consider - from the elegance of the Sculpture Gallery to the unique setting of the Safari Lodge or the historic Inn at Woburn. It really was a fantastic opportunity to meet a team of people who offer everything you would need to make your day run smoothly and effortlessly, from the wedding cakes to wedding cars, photographers to fashion.

In particular it was lovely to speak to Chris Southgate from the Questor Woburn Bridal Boutique (01525 290658) and Hollie from The Wedding Workshop (01525 403233). I highly recommend you take a look at their websites and give them a call if you don't live too far away.

Luckily though they will both be attending the Woburn Abbey Wedding Fair in January, the details are as follows:

The Woburn Abbey Wedding Fair

Location: The Sculpture Gallery situated in the South Court of Woburn Abbey

Dates: Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th January 2007.

Starts: 10:00am, Last Entrance 4:00pm

Entry: £2.50 per person - brides and grooms enter free of charge

Fashion Shows: Start at 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Featuring the Wedding Workshop in Ampthill, Fogarty Formal Hire of Leighton Buzzard and Mother of The Bride, Eleni's Fashions.

All couples stand the chance to win a fabulous two week honeymoon from Thomas Cook worth £4000. (Sponsored by The Wedding Guide).

The Workshops will feature:

1. Carrying your flowers with confidence with Tracy Goodwin and Sara Whitehouse from Creations.

2. Timing to perfection - how to plan your wedding day and the action plan fro the arrangements with Andrew Coy, Directory of Hospitality, The Sculpture Gallery.

3. Top tips from Park7 Studios to help you look and feel great in your photos from Di Fisher LMPA LBIPP

4. Wedding etiquette - fact or fiction? given by Richard Heywood, Professional Toastmaster.

Contact Details:
Woburn Abbey, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9WA
Tel: 01525 290333
Fax: 01525 290549
Web: DiscoverWoburn.co.uk
Email: enquiries@sculpturegallery.co.uk

Hopefully many of you were able to visit the National Wedding Show at Earls Court last week. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Friday and if you did happen to miss it I thoroughly recommend the next one on 13th to 15th October at the Birmingham NEC. You can book your tickets here.

The bridal collections displayed on the catwalk were certainly mesmerising with a breathtaking choice of bridalwear, groomswear and outfits for the wedding party. The catwalk included a dazzling selection of wedding dresses, from top designers who create gowns for celebrity clientele to high street fashion brands, covering all budgets and tastes.

Dresses in the first catwalk scene, entitled Cinderella's Footprints, opened the show with plenty of glamour from designers Chandrika Thomas, Raishma Couture and Marion Thomas whose dresses showed off strong lines and structure to flatter the bride's curves.

It was true to say a plethora of colour dominated the catwalk with eye-catching lilac groomswear from Marc Wallace. There were plenty of dresses in different shades of blues as well as pastel pink and peach seen in the collections displayed by It Fits Bridal, Wizard of Gos, Fiorisimo Bridal & Couture and a stunning purple dress from Mamfi Brides.

Catwalk exhibitor, Sarah Arnett, designer for Simultane, who created dresses for leading British model Erin O'Connor, wowed visitors during scene three with her chic gowns, which evoked a feeling of couture style and Grecian swathing with empire lines.

Berketex Bride presented the OK! Exclusives collection designed by David Emanuel showcasing simple, traditional yet spectacular wedding dresses including a flirtatious shorter length dress. In complete contrast, brides wore black in scene four, with designers such as Marion Thomas, Rivilino Bride and Malcolm Hall showing off their most unique and unusual creations.

For bridesmaids dress ideas, everyone was inspired by the adorable and colourful frocks worn by the catwalk show's littlest models as Nicki Macfarlane Bridesmaids and Nene.D displayed their exquisite designs in a range of vibrant, sumptuous silks and fabrics.

It wasn't just all about brides, as there were plenty of ideas for grooms - Moss Bros Hire, Anthony Formalwear and Couture Pour Homme provided inspiration for groomswear and pageboy outfits.

Asian inspiration prevailed in the finale with a large variety of richly embroidered dresses from designers Merchants of India (Izzy Izaiah) and Seasons Asian Designer Wear. The Asian theme was completed with the ethnic groomswear available from Debenhams.

All in all it was a fantastic show and I look forward to the next one!

Future show dates for 2007: 16-18 Feb NEC Birmingham, 23-25 Feb Olympia London.

See you there!

The new Confetti catalogue has just popped through my door! Having had a look at it I definitely recommend you request your free copy by visiting this page now.

Confetti's new catalogue is packed full of inspring ideas and products to help you create your perfect day. There are 115 pages divided into seven sections, namely: planning (p4-5), stationary (6-37), create your own (p38-63), table decorations (p66-87), party (p88-97), gifts (p98-107) and memories (p108-112). I can guarantee you will find things to make your wedding personal and unique.

Remember Confetti isn't just for weddings, but any event requiring a unique celebration - engagements, christenings, birthdays, anniversaries etc.

Further Confetti.co.uk Reading:

Confetti.co.uk Launch Their New Site - Wedding Planning Just Got A Whole Lot Easier!
Review Of Confetti's Glasgow Store by Elle Brown.
Compare Confetti's Wedding Insurance to other UK products.
Confetti's New Must-Read Magazine - Confetti Receptions
How To Use Confetti.co.uk For A Stylish Christmas - a one stop shop for wedding and party advice.

I have been reliably informed that the Autumn/Winter 2006 bridal collection appearing on the catwalk at this year’s National Wedding Shows in London and Birmingham will reflect the ‘wow’ factor normally associated with the catwalks of Milan, Paris, New York and London. The dresses will be glamorous with lines and structure that accentuate the bride’s curves. I have also learnt that colour is also a strong feature for this Autumn and all the shades of blues can be seen as well as pastel pink, peach and green.

Susi Rogol, Editor of Bridal Buyer comments:

“The choice is as breathtaking as the gowns themselves. Sumptuous Marie-Antoinette multi-layered skirts topped by tightly sculpted bodices (Sophia Coppola’s movie will make this the look); 50s-style flirty-skirt shorties with pretty princess necklines; slinky body-skimmers in soft, fluid fabrics worn with tiny lacey bolero tops, gossamer-fine shrugs, or short tailored jacket with high collars. Taffeta is the big-news fabric – crunched, scrunched, swathed and ruched to accentuate curves. Look out for colour – softly, softly pinks, blues, greens and rich topaz golds. There couldn’t be a better time to be a bride.”

The overall theme of the catwalk show is The Four Seasons. Brides, grooms and mother of the bride will find inspiration for all types of wedding.

Spring: Enchanted Garden with fauna and flora inspired decoration and Dressing Up Box with vintage inspired gowns.

Summer: Beach Bride will include a selection of chiffons, silks and natural fibres in neutral colours while Tropical Island will be the same in bold hot colours.

Autumn: Magic Carpet will showcase ethnic influences bridalwear as well as menswear followed by Medieval Heroes and Heroines in their rich and opulent fabrics and styles.

Winter: Snow Palace featuring cloaks and capes.

The catwalk shows will include a dazzling selection of wedding dresses, from top designers who create gowns for the stars to high street fashion brands, covering all budgets and tastes.

I can hardly wait!

If you are in or near London next week I highly recommend you take the time to visit the show. The dates are: London Earls Court Sept 29-1 Oct / Birmingham NEC Oct 13-15 Oct.

Next week sees the The National Wedding Show at London Earls Court from the 29th September to the 1st October and later on at the Birmingham NEC on the 13th to 15th October.

The Shows aim to provide everything a bride and groom could want to create their perfect wedding, all found under one roof. From designer dresses to fancy favours, wedding cakes, flowers and accessories, amazing honeymoon destinations to fireworks and photographers, there is inspiration everywhere!

The shows will include a dazzling selection of wedding dresses, from top designers to high street fashion brands, for all budgets and tastes. Visitors can admire exclusive wedding outfits by Simultane who have designed dresses for Erin O’Connor; a chic and elegant collection from top designer Marion Thomas; traditional be-spoke styles by Antonia Pugh-Thomas. Paul Simonson, a designer for ultra feminine fashion label Ghost, will be showing his own exclusive bridal range.*

Couples can sample gift lists from John Lewis, Argos, Wrap It and Debenhams. Floral arrangements will be displayed throughout the show, along with scrumptious wedding cakes from Linda Fripp Designs and Cake Couture to name a few. There will be accessories from hand made jewellery to stunning headpieces including tiaras from Isabel Kurtenbach, as well as sweet treats from Swizzle Matlow and The Original Chocolate Fountain.*

To help the bride and groom choose the honeymoon of their dreams there is an impressive selection of perfect destinations including exhibitors: Italian Retreats, Sunset Faraway Holidays, the Bahamas Tourist Office, Transpacific Holidays, Safari Consultants, and Seychelles Travel and many more.

Wedding planning can be stressful and lengthy, so the National Wedding Shows aim to make the decision processes as easy and as fun as possible. Each event features a choreographed Catwalk Show with designs to inspire the imagination, including the latest range of colours from designer dresses and suits to the high-street alternatives.

Style expert Caryn Franklin, best known for her appearances on GMTV and This Morning and as host of the BBC Clothes Show, hosts a live make over session at the ‘How To Look Good’ stage. The top tips and wedding day advice given throughout the session are tailored for a lucky bride to be, picked at random from the audience, who is transformed live on stage. A team of experts including celebrity makeup artist Ariane Poole and hairdresser Errol Douglas* will accompany Caryn for the session.

For fun and informative interaction, live Inspiration Sessions are hosted throughout the day. Celebrity florist Mathew Dickinson and patissier to the stars and royals, Eric Lanlard from Savoir Design, will be bringing their ideas to life on the stage, helping to supply top tips for the big day.

Visitors can begin the celebrations with a touch of sparkle, with the option to sit back and relax in the Champagne bar.

Tickets are available on the National Wedding Show website with ticket prices starting at £10 for the Birmingham Show and £12 for the London show. Alternatively, callers to the Box Office can purchase tickets by credit card on 0870 730 0064.

* please note that exhibitors and guest speakers differ for each show, please consult the Press Office team to check latest exhibitor information.

Future show dates for 2007: 16-18 Feb NEC Birmingham, 23-25 Feb Olympia London.

See you there!

The Woodland Lodge has arrived at the Enterkine Country House Estate near Ayr, and promises to be the perfect overnight venue for honeymooning couples, anniversary stays and those who just want to get away to somewhere different. The inside of this magical lodge offers a relaxation area, underfloor heating, a built in wardrobe and dressing area, plasma television, Grohe shower room and magnificent bedroom. The lodge set amongst 350 acres of woodland estate, will be the first one in the UK provided by the Bothy Lodge Company, based in Ayrshire.

The cost is £185 including Scottish breakfast and VAT for an overnight stay.

Click the image below for a full virtual tour of the interior.

Whether you are planning a winter wedding or simply celebrating the festive season in style, Confetti has all the pieces to create a truly stylish affair. Order from the most popular wedding website in the UK (Confetti.co.uk states that over 90% of brides use their website at some stage in their planning process) or visit one of their five stores nationwide, in London, Reading, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow.

Confetti is a one stop shop for wedding and party advice and planning, with a huge array of wedding suppliers and expert advice as well as exciting and innovative products.

I recommend you decorate a festive table in stunning white and silver or classic gold and red for an occasion guests will never forget. Begin with stylish personalized stationery to set the tone, and then dress tables with an assortment of stationery and accessories, stylishly co-ordinated and beautifully presented.

Let me take you through some of their offerings for this coming Christmas:

♥ Snowflake confetti sprinkled on tables adds a touch of sparkle and glitter to any winter celebration.Snow confetti £1.99 and Mini Frosted Filled Votives £0.99 each

♥ These cute wired doves will sit merrily on top of the cake, twist in to a floral decoration or bouquet or can be wired on top of a favour box for a truly special decoration. £12.99 for 6.

♥ Add a touch of festive fun to favours with personalized ribbon in burgundy and gold – select from a variety of colours to suit any winter theme.
10 mm Personalized Ribbon £14.99 for 10 m
Chocolate Coins £4.99 for 200g
Ribbed Favour boxes £5.99 for ten

♥ These wonderful place name holders are perfect for the Christmas table – choose from "Perfect Angel" or "Cuddly Santa".
Angel/Santa place name holders £0.99 each.
Blank name cards £1.99 for ten.
and Choc Balls £9.99 for 775g.

♥ Create your own table planner with Confetti – guests will know exactly where to sit and the planner remains a beautiful keepsake of a special day.
Table Planner kit £12.99.
Organza Bows £1.99 for twelve.
Petal Confetti £19.99 for 150g.
Ribbon Favour Boxes £8.99 for ten.

♥ Christmas is a time for fun – break the ice with these fabulous trivia sets from Confetti.
Paper trivia £9.99 for six.
Paper Chance £3.99 for four.

♥ Let the season commence with a personalized fabric advent calendar – place chocolates in each pocket for extra fun! Who can resist the excitement of Christmas Eve? Increase the pleasure by hanging up a personalized stocking – a gift to remember year after year.
Advent Calendar £14.99.
Stocking £12.99.

♥ Personalized presents make lasting gifts – Confetti has a wide range all year round.
Personalized Champagne Glass £9.99
Personalized tankard £9.99

♥ Commemorate a special Christmas with these fun personalized baubles – why not give one to every member of the family to enjoy and build up a wonderful collection to last forever?
Baubles £9.99 each.

Whether celebrating a wedding or simply planning a magical family Christmas, Confetti has everything to make the season glow.

Good luck with your festive wedding!

Further Confetti.co.uk Reading:
Review Of Confetti's Glasgow Store by Elle Brown.
Compare Confetti's Wedding Insurance to other UK products.
Confetti's New Must-Read Magazine - Confetti Receptions

If you are local to Glasgow then you should definitely check out the Confetti store on Queen Street. As mentioned in my blog on 8th July, I visited this shop to see what they had to offer couples planning their weddings.

I was very impressed with how much they had managed to fit into quite a small shop. The store contains a cornucopia of stylish and traditional wedding must-haves from silver chocolate balls to biodegradable confetti. Confetti have thought of everything from battery operated candles to personalized paper napkins. If you wander round this shop you are unlikely to overlook any aspect of decorating your wedding venue!

Great layout and presentation

The shop’s layout is easy to move around with well thought out displays of the products for sale and signs identifying each separate section. Each section of the shop seemed to have a different theme too with 4 large round tables set up for a wedding reception in 4 unique styles. The presentation of the tables was superb. If you have looked at Confetti’s website then you will be familiar with their ubiquitous attention to detail and distinctive style. One of my favorite Confetti looks is the burgundy marabou feather in the wine glass on the tables and I was pleased to see this on one of the tables in the shop!

Table styles

My cousin (who is a bride-to-be herself) and I agreed that the most stunning table in the shop was the Scottish themed table (we might be biased as we are both Scottish!). One of its many features was the Black Watch tartan ribbon tied around white linen napkins and decorated with tiny purple thistles,. They were set off beautifully against the silver charger plates, purple organza bags and blue favor boxes which were decorated with tiny co-ordinating flowers. If I was getting married this would definitely be my perfect table setting!

I love the way that Confetti shows you how to create the look yourself for your tables with inspiring ideas for centerpieces, favours, place settings, glassware, napkins, table decorations, name cards and subtle touches such as scattered confetti, candles and even chair decorations.

Shopping assistance

The sales staff in the shop were attentive and friendly without being domineering. From what I saw, they were letting the customers in the shop browse but were more than happy to lend their opinion when asked. When I asked a member of staff for assistance with an item which appeared to be sold out she could not have been more helpful. I also noticed a couple ordering their personalised wedding stationery and the Confetti sales assistant helping them seemed very efficient. The staff at this store seem to have a real knowledge of the wedding business and all of Confetti’s products - they are not just working the tills!

What is on offer?

The shelves in the Glasgow branch of Confetti were brimming with products, including:

♥ An entire wall of table decorations.
♥ A fantastic selection of candles and huge display of favor containers from heart shaped plastic moulds to miniature top hats.
♥ A “Create Your Own” section, which was the most popular area on the day that I visited. Here they have a beautiful range of paper in a huge array of colours with all the trimmings for you to create your own stationery.
♥ There was a party section which included lots of things suitable for a hen or stag party (lots of giggling ladies hanging around this area of the store!).
♥ I loved the huge columns of different flavoured jelly beans in the centre of the shop which you can use as table decorations or as favors – either way they look and taste great!
♥ There was a whole wall devoted to their selection of wedding guide books. The variety available was amazing and I think every area of wedding planning was covered. Personally I liked the essential mini guides which are a bargain at £2.99. At this price you could buy them for your bridesmaids, best man, mother of the bride as charming gifts at the outset of your wedding planning, so that they can feel involved too!

Best-sellers

I was told that the best-selling item in the Glasgow branch were the small metal buckets (which you can fill with jelly beans or other sweeties) which are a snip at £1.49 and the white umbrellas (which cost £19.99) which I suspect are more popular in the Glasgow branch of Confetti than they are in their sister branches in the south of England!

There were some items which I think are totally unnecessary and cannot imagine anyone buying, such as the pink coloured “Just Married” passport cover or the keyrings with “Father of the Bride” etc on them. Overall though the majority of the products in the shop have made an appearance at weddings or parties I have attended.

Bargain hunting

I think that Confetti’s prices for most things are quite reasonable. If you are a bride-to-be on a tight budget though there are bargains to be had. I saw a whole section of sale items which were reduced in price. Keep a look-out in your local Confetti branch for when the items you are after become sale items and then snap them up!

Do-it-yourself

I guarantee you will come away from a visit to Confetti’s shop and want to get stuck in to some do-it-yourself wedding projects yourself. Their inexpensive yet cute organza sachet bags are crying out to be filled with scented candles or love heart sweeties. I love the way that Confetti give you ideas of how to put together favors yourself rather than paying over the top prices for ready made ones. It means that you can really personalize your wedding and ensure that it is truly unique. Confetti are encouraging bride-to-be’s to come up new innovative ideas of how to fill their favor boxes, bags, buckets and bombonieres.

Even if you are not ready to start buying items for your wedding just yet I definitely recommend you take a look at Confetti’s products as they cannot fail to give you great ideas for how you could style your wedding. Whether its sparkly confetti or party poppers you are after, get down to Confetti and be inspired!

This Saturday the Glasgow store have organised a wedding cake and sweet tasting session to mark their first birthday. They are also running an in-store competition for customers to win a £100 Confetti gift voucher.

You can find Confetti at:

15 - 17 Queen Street
Glasgow, G1 3ED
0870 766 9237
Printer friendly map and directions

Their opening times:
Monday 9.30am-6.00pm
Tuesday 9.30am-6.00pm
Wednesday 9.30am-6.00pm
Thursday 9.30am-8.00pm
Friday 9.30am-6.00pm
Saturday 9.30am-6.00pm
Sunday 12.00pm-5.00pm

Further Confetti.co.uk Reading:
Compare Confetti's Wedding Insurance to other UK products.
Confetti.co.uk Coupon - Save £10, ends 31st July 2006
Confetti's New Must-Read Magazine - Confetti Receptions