http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/rss.php?feed=newswire WeddingPath NewsWire en-us http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/45/1829/ Where are you placing your gift list? WP has some essential questions to ask before registering with a gift list company!So the golden rules are...1. Make sure that the company you choose offers plenty of choice - having two lists is always confusing for guests and you end up not getting what you want from either list. 2. Choose a gift list service that allows you to keep your list open for as long as you want and to open it whenever you want it to go live.3. Make sure the gift list service is flexible - if you put a fondue set on your list and someone bought you one independently, make sure that you can swap the list one for something else that hasn't been bought on the list.4. These days it's important that guests can see your wedding gifts and buy online, but make sure that guests also have the opportunity to buy a gift over the phone if they don't have internet access.5. Check out extra charges - you don't want guests to have to pay for the service and nor should you.©iStockphoto http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/44/1725/ Lego is not only our favourite toy, it is a funtastic wedding hotspot with a fabulous mansion overlooking Legoland and Windsor Castle. If you're a big kid at heart and want a bit of fun on your wedding day, check out St. Leonard’s Mansion, overlooking Legoland Windsor in Berkshire. Steeped in history dating back to the 18th century, the mansion provides the perfect elegant setting for your big day, while all the fun of Legoland lies spread below. Only one wedding is ever held in a day, with all the guest rooms on the ground floor of The Mansion House at your disposal. Both the Windsor and JFK Suites are spacious and have great views overlooking the park, with double doors leading out onto a spacious terrace where pre-reception drinks may be served. The Windsor Suite is a beautiful oak panelled room. ideal as a play room, a quiet space for guests or even as an evening buffet area. The room has two sets of double doors leading out to the garden terrace with beautiful views over the park and Windsor Great Park. Exclusive venue hire is from £1400 for the JFK Suite, Bar, Terrace and Foyer areas (Excludes Windsor Suite) of from £1800 for complete exclusive hire of the mansion (all ground floor rooms). Wedding packages start at £65 per head and include access to Legoland theme park for all guests during opening hours. To find out more, call 01753 626209 or go to legoland.co.ukClick to read more unusual venues:Theatrical Touch - rooftop location and access to costume hire.On the Farm - get married festival style in the countryside.Love Train - Rachael and Ian's wedding at Kew Steam MuseumClick to download your venue fact sheet: WP Venues Fact Sheet - everything you need to know and ask when choosing a venue http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/50/1092/ Making a speech can be nerve-wracking, but with a few good one-liners up your sleeve to break the ice you will soon have family and friends laughing. This week we review a handy new book. Top speech writer Mitch Murray has put together the perfect gameplan for making a speech. Including his own tips and techniques and masses of one-liners to be lifted and adapted for your own in-the-spotlight moment. Rather more than the title suggests, Mitch Murray’s One-Liners for Wedding Speeches (Foulsham £8.99) is a complete DIY kit for all those having to make a speech on the big day. It offers a rich selection of ideas, one-liners, quotations and quips you can adapt or import for the occasion. A successful speech depends very much on how the ideas are arranged and structured … it’s not what you say that counts, it’s the way that you say it! Mitch includes the gags. He shows you how to deliver them. He shows you how to structure everything for pace. And most of all, he produces everyone's dream, the successful wedding speech.click to read more on speech-making Photo © Freeman Photographics http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/47/1828/ St Lucia is still voted number one as a honeymoon destination - we check out this paradise island in the sun.Surrounded by the bluest of blue Caribbean waters, St Lucia is one of the most stunning islands in this tropical corner of paradise with its famous landmark Pitons, a pair of immense peaks that rise like towers from the water's edge.  Whether you get a bird's eye view of the island from a zip wire above the rain forest or soak up the last rays of sun on a sunset cruise, St Lucia has something for everyone.Amongst the best loved resorts on St Lucia, Windjammer Landing (windjammer-landing.com) is located on one of the most romantic beaches in the Caribbean. Hovering above a perfect crescent of sand, the resort has a seductive selection of suites and villas, all with stunning views across the deep blue water with huge decks and plunge pools. All villas have a fully equipped kitchen which means if you can resist the five gourmet restaurants you can have a romantic night in. As well as the fine sand beach where you can enjoy watersports, the resort has swimming pools, a luxurious spa and the island's best 18-hole golf course right on the doorstep.Best of all, Windjammer Landing is celebrating its 20 year anniversary with some fabulous packages and offers for newlyweds. Check out the 20%-themed offers, including four-night packages (from £1531 per couple) in an Anthurium Lily Premium Suite by calling freephone 0808 1781819 or email tanise@windjammer-landing.com. If the wedding is not yet booked, weddings at Windjammer are the stuff that dreams are made of. Choose to get married barefoot on the beach under a conch shell lined awning, in a gazebo by the sea with hurricane lanterns or under a canvas of tropical fruit and mahogany trees on the garden terrace. If you stay for more than 10 days, bookings made in 2010 come with a free wedding package!  More honeymoon reviews! http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/42/1196/ We all want glossy, “just stepped out of a Charles Worthington salon” hair on our wedding day so follow these great tips from Skye Norman of Anita Cox salon, and you’ll have shiny locks to rival Jennifer Aniston. Keep hair in tip top condition Have some in-salon treatments a few weeks before your wedding. You can also use gloss and shine products to keep the hair looking glossy and sleek all day long.- Wedding trials Book at least two or three wedding trials before the big day, as finding the right stylist and hair style is very important. Take a camera to get some second opinions – and don’t forget to take your tiara if you’re wearing one. Once you’ve chosen your stylist, pre-book her for your big day well in advance to avoid disappointment- Choose a style that will last the dayA sleek up-style would be ideal where wind or rain are quite likely to play a part on your big day. A good hairspray such as Air Fix by L’Oreal will help hold your style in place. Take a pocket-sized spray with you in case of touch ups. Two weeks beforeHave your hair cut and colour two weeks before the day to ensure your hair looks fresh for your wedding day and will give you time for any last minute changes.On the day Wash your hair the night before, but don’t use conditioner as this will make your hair slippery. To maintain your up-do and keep it secure all day, your stylist will backcomb it or set it in heated curlers to give a strong secure base for the grips to lock into.Top advice Changing your hair dramatically just before your wedding can leave you feeling sometimes a little unsure and uncomfortable, so keep to the colour that suits you best and maybe have some soft highlights put in to give it an extra edge.click to read more beauty ideasPhoto © iStockphoto, Yarwood-White http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/48/1462/ Clare & David26 January 2008 They Met Clare met David whilst doing his make up and costume for a production of ‘Guys and Dolls’. They immediately hit it off and soon started dating. Nine and half years later, David proposed to Clare on her birthday, during an outing to Richmond Park. Despite Clare having been expecting a proposal soon, it was a complete surprise when David popped the question!Wedding Venue The couple wed at St Barnabus Church in Dorking, and celebrated afterwards at Hartsfield Manor in Betchworth. They chose the reception venue because it was only a short drive from the church and the beautiful building had lots of places to take photos in, even if it was raining! They loved the colourings and vintage feel of the house, fitting perfectly in with their wedding.The Theme David and Clare chose a theme of elegant vintage, with a colour scheme of ivory, cream, chocolate brown, mint green and pink. It all started with the lace detail on Clare’s dress, with the reception decorated with ivy, strings of pearls and candles, adding a romantic feel. As table centres, three stems of Amaryllis, tied with lace, were placed in glass bases with roses and trailing ivy. The couple chose favours of cream-coloured crackers, which were personalised and filled with Quality Street chocolates, acting as name places. What They Wore The bride wore a stunning, fitted A-line gown with a fishtail, in French Chantilly antique-style lace and ivory Duchess satin. The dress was especially designed and made by Clare’s dressmaking mother. The bride teamed it with a satin bolero jacket to keep out the cold, as well as a veil and pearl beaded tiara. Clare also wore long earrings with pearls, crystals and diamante as well as her grandmother's bracelet and ring, and LK Bennett gold shoes.The groom wore a black tailcoat and trousers with a white 1850 wing collar shirt, all hired from Dapper in Dorking. David also wore a waistcoat of ivory raw silk with an ivory cravat tie and handkerchief, and a buttonhole of Dolce Vita roses with ivy.Clare had two bridesmaids who wore full-length, strapless gowns in cappuccino brown silk, with beading and pearl detail on the bodice. Clare’s mother made bolero jackets, matching Clare’s, accessorized with feather headdresses and cream satin shoes. The groomsmen wore the same as David except with brown ties and handkerchiefs.The Cake Clare’s family made the three-tiered cake of the couple’s favourite dessert, baked American cheesecake. It was decorated with white chocolate curls and three small posies of flowers with ivy trailing between the tiers.The Flowers Clare wanted her flowers to carry on the vintage theme and had a seasonal bouquet of white oriental lilies, Dolce Vita roses, pink Lisianthus and ivy with pearl pins. The bridesmaids carried smaller versions of Clare’s bouquet, with the church and reception decorated with the same flowers.First Dance The happy couple danced to ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, performed by a live band who were friends, and the music continued with covers of rock bands and the couple’s favourite music.Moment To Remember Clare loved cutting the cake with her brother’s ceremonial sword. She also enjoyed going to the reception on a vintage, green line bus with the rest of the guests, giving the couple an opportunity to talk to everyone. The day finished with an amazing sunset, which added an extra special touch.Honeymoon David had arranged a safari in Kenya but it had to be cancelled days before the wedding, due to the political instability. Rushing around to book another holiday – all without Clare knowing - David arranged a honeymoon on Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. They stayed in a 5 star hotel on the beach for a relaxing two weeks.Any Advice Clare says, ‘Look at what you think you would like first, work out how much it would all cost, and then prioritise on what you think is really important. Making things yourself and getting friends and family to help makes your day really personal and helps keeps the costs down.’ David adds, ‘Have lots of hankies ready - and I'd really recommend bacon butties at 10.30 pm!’Clare & David’s Contact Book:Venue: Hartsfield Manor, Betchworth in Surrey Photographer: Anna Rosell www.annarosell.comGroomswear: Dapper, Dorking Flowers: Thistles, Dorking http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/46/968/ Getting groomed up and perfectly shaved is not necessarily a run to the local barber, but could be more a case of visiting a spa near you! Why settle for a short back and sides when you could be in for an excecutive manicure or a four palm massage?Check out the treatments on offer at your local spa and you'll be surprised to see plenty of men-only experiences - just right for getting you perfectly groomed for the day. At The Refinery, a slick spa based in London's Brook Street as well as at ooh-la-la Harrods, you can go for a regular spring clean with Deep Cleansing Back Treatments (£60 for 45 minutes), a Salt Scrub (£45 for 30 minutes) and an Executive Pedicure (£65 for 60 minutes). Alternatively, you could opt for a Four Palm Massage (£140 for 60 minutes), guaranteed to leave you feeling deeply relaxed and revitalised. For The Refinery experience in your own home, a range of gunk-free products has been created with essential oils and cutting-edge technology. For squeaky clean skin, use Face Scrub (£18), a purifying Chinese white kaolin clay. And get into a pampered-man shaving routine with Shave Oil (£21) or Shave Foam Gel (£12) both with great skin enhancing ingredients. The products are available by Mail Order (08452 305605) or on the high street at your local Boots.Their advice to you? Try not to shave the day before the wedding as it gives skin a well-needed rest. On the day, get showered and shaved just before you are ready for the big day finery. click to read more grooming ideas  http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/41/1001/ Michelle Hinds, bridal stylist and founder of destination bridal boutique, Timeless Bride, unveils the styles to walk down the aisle in this season.Belting UpBrides with their finger on the fashion pulse this summer are making an impact with buckles and belts. Mirroring mainstream fashion trends, belts are sitting higher on the body to create a stunning, cinched-in silhouette. Simple, structured gowns are given a flash of interest with sleek belts, fastening with vintage style brooches or clasps. Modern BowsSet at quirky angles to cover zips and buttons, this is a perfect look for brides who want to make an impact. Add a bow to the bust of a dress if you’re petite, giving the illusion of volume to your décolletage and adding stature. Pretty SimpleThere are some perfectly simple, divinely cut wedding gowns available at the moment. Sumptuous, heavy fabric and a real nod to tailoring allow the gown’s silhouette to shine, without the need for lots of detailing. To add individuality to this look, brides are playing with accessories, from gloves, to veils, tiaras and jewellery and pretty shoes that peek out from under the hem of the gown.Glamorous BrideA sensational new silhouette giving a kick to bridal fashion is the fishtail. Sleek, tailored and body skimming gowns, flare out in a burst of volume below the knee for a show-stopping look. Ideal if you’re a curvy girl, the wider hemline, pooling into a train, creates real body balance. Audrey Hepburn-inspired brides are accessorising the fishtail look with longer length gloves, pearls and a tiara – pure wedding day glamour! Kiss the Bride!Romantic veils are gracing the aisle in a big way this season. For a face flattering look, take a tip from the bridal catwalks and wear your veil lower on the crown of your head, rather than covering your face. Cathedral length veils are adding drama to simpler style dresses and provide interest to the back of your gown, for guests to admire as you say your vows. And vintage style veils are a beautiful trend. Lace edging on an otherwise simple veil helps to tie together a pretty look.Loving LengthModern brides are playing with dress length! Shorter, 50s style dresses, or ankle length ballerina looks are set to become a big trend, especially with those opting for intimate, boutique style weddings - or maybe brides taking the plunge for the second time. click to read more wedding dress advice click to download the WP Choose Your Dress fact sheet© Mikaella, Paloma Blanca, Luci DiBella, Rainbow Club http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/43/972/ Cheesey but true, wedding cakes made from Stilton, Pecorino and Yarg are getting first tier attraction. Serving cake made from cheese, adds a cheese course to the wedding breakfast while the happy couple still get to 'cut the cake'. Tiered cakes made entirely from cheese are the latest fashionable wedding food says Nick Lindley who runs the award-winning Deli Select (0161 427 9255) at Marple in Cheshire. “People are now increasingly looking for something different from conventional fruit cake that is usually just handed out in little portions to guests, taken home and probably thrown away a few weeks later,” he said.Tiers of CheeseThe cake pictured here, with model “bride”, former Miss Manchester Louise Cliffe, is made with a base of Brie Meaux topped by a Cornish yarg, a Colston-Bassett Stilton, an Italian Pecorino Rossa, a local White Nancy goat’s cheese and soft Langres cow’s cheese from France.“But the combinations are almost endless – people can make up a cake with whatever cheese they like.- and we can decorate it with flowers and fruit such as figs and grapes that are the perfect accompaniment for cheese”. Something BlueIn Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, Stilton producers, Long Clawson say that it has to be Stilton. Available in multi-tiers of blue Stilton and white Stilton blended with blueberry or apricots, the Stilton cake is expected to be a massive hit with this year’s wedding season. Complete with cake boards, pillars and dowels, prices vary upon size and individual requirements. Starting at £19.99 for approximately 17 people and going up to £99.99 for 100 people. The Stilton cheese wedding cake is available through select Tesco outlets and direct via Long Clawson Dairy’s Occasion Cake Hotline 01664 821746.And finally...Cheese-inspired cake maker Liz Straw at Crumbs! (01295 771145) has joined forces with Neals Yard Dairy to offer delicious cheesey stacks made with the very best cheeses for farms all over the British Isles. Connoisseur's Choice is made with Kelsey Lane, Ticklemore, Berkswell, Gorwydd Caerphilly with enough to serve 100 portions and costs £265.click to read more wedding food ideas click to download the WP Wedding Catering fact sheet http://news.weddingpath.co.uk/newsdetail/45/912/ If you are looking for a gift list with a touch of luxury, check out celebrity florist Kenneth Turner's online wedding list service. As well as beautiful flowers, Kenneth Turner has scented candles, home fragrances and traditional gifts in pewter and crystal. Back in the sixties, Kenneth Turner first made his name in flower design by creating arrangements made with flowers, fruit, vegetables and any other organic matter. Roses and red apples soon became 'the thing' and Kenneth Turner now has a cool celebrity following for floral arrangements at events - including weddings of course! Kenneth Turner has also built a small emporium with the new wedding list service as the latest addition. If you place a wish list at Kenneth Turner, you'll be getting beautiful scented candles such as the white flowers fragranced candle called Love (£20) or coloured glass tealight holders (£9.50). And while you are checking out your gift options, you would be forgiven for impulse ordering flowers for mum - how about the Drama Queen Bouquet (£60)? To set up a list, insert your details and gift choices, add you designated code to your WeddingPath site and let guests know! Kenneth Turner manages your list, letting you know what gifts to expect and make delivery arrangements. To find out more about gifts and flowers at Kenneth Turner, go to www.kennethturner.com.For more gift list ideas read 'What I Really Want' Gift Lists and No Toasters Please, We're British! And if you are interested in going green with your wedding wish list in Nice Day for a Green Wedding. Or perhaps you want to know about putting travel vouchers on your list for the honeymoon? Then read Fly Away! Read More about Gift ListsDownload the WP Gift List fact sheet