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| OUT NOW |
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Inspiration
Ideas on how to add that 'something blue'
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Saying 'I do' in Southend
We look at venues around the area
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Summer styles for grooms
The season's must-have looks for the man of the moment
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Sorbet shades
Beautful accessories in this season's pastel colours
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Setting up home
Gorgeous glassware for your home
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The big day after
Fun ideas to beat the post-nuptial blues
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| Plus... |
| Regular features, news, events, Q&A special - and much more |
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| Next Issue Out |
| 18 June 2010 |
| Princess for the day |
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Emma and Kevin's wedding at Leez Priory was a fairytale day in every way.
Early days
Emma, 24, and 31-year-old Kevin met during work Christmas festivities, where Kevin became the subject of a £5 bet between Emma and her friends. "I thought he was gorgeous when I first saw him," she recalls. "Six weeks after meeting him I moved 250 miles away to live with him, and three-and-a-half years later we're married!"
Setting the scene
"I have always dreamed of a princess-themed wedding in a castle with beautiful grounds," says Emma. "So one look at Leez Priory and I knew it was the one. It offers exclusivity and seclusion, as well as accommodation, which meant that our friends could drink and let their hair down without worrying about driving from one venue to another.
It actually becomes your home for the day, and guests can explore the house and gardens at their leisure."
Looking good
The bride Emma wore a gown that she found at the National Wedding Show in London. "After doing some research through magazines and online, I realised I had to have a Hollywood Dreams dress, and after trying on three other dresses I found my perfect style, called Imogen."
For more information and pictures of Emma and Kevin's fairytale wedding, see pages 65-67 of the current issue.
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| Getting hitched...without a hitch |
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Just got engaged but have no idea where to begin? Read our practical guide to arranging the most important part of the day - the ceremony.
If you've just cried the affirmative to that million-dollar question - Will You Marry Me? - you're bound to be buzzing with ideas. A dream wedding in a traditional church; that beautiful bias-cut gown you saw in your local boutique; a menu that will have your guests lost for words... but when you're in the throes of so much excitement it can be difficult to know where to start.
Well, as much as we hate to be a stick in the mud, the most important thing to think about is the practicalities of tying the knot. It is the ceremony, after all, that's the pivotal part of your day, so getting it booked - and knowing how to go about it - is pretty darn important in our opinion.
The chances are this marriage business is a brand new thing for you, so we've put together a first-timers' guide to getting the ball rolling.
For our full helpful guide to getting hitched without a hitch, see page 77 of the current issue. |
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| Utterly Inspiring |
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May is an exciting month for one member of our team, Sophie, who will be tying the knot at the Reid Rooms.
Naturally, I can't wait for her big day - after reading and writing about so many every issue, I'm delighted to be able to finally go to a friend's.
I'm especially looking forward to seeing the finishing touches she's put to her wedding. The last I heard she was trawling charity shops for pretty blue vases to decorate her tables with, and I'm sure she'll have plenty of personal, creative details up her sleeve, too.
That's the thing with weddings; there's always something different you can do. Just yesterday I saw a place name which was made using Scrabble tiles.
Just when I thought I'd seen it all, some bright button of a bride has an inspired idea, leading me to ponder the endless possibilities of creativity.
For some inspiration of our own, make sure you take a look at Laura Binder's ideas on a fresh blue colour scheme (pg 45) or flick through the honeymoon pages (110-114) for some great ideas on the perfect honeymoon destination for you.
Enjoy!
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| Lisa Morgan, Editor |
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| Make sure your email editor@anessexwedding.co.uk to keep us up to date with all your news |
| Win a weekend 'hair holiday' |
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Give your locks some much-needed pampering before the big day, with a break in The Cotswolds courtesy of celebrity hairstylist Stuart Holmes.
Top hairstylist Stuart Holmes relocated from London to Cheltenham in 2003, where he established his luxurious hair and beauty salon with his wife Sara. After the move, many of his clients started to regularly travel from London for their appointments so Stuart decided to team up with two of the area's most exclusive hotels to launch the Hair Holiday package. This enables clients to make a relaxing weekend of having their hair done and enjoying some pampering too. Over the past six years the Stuart Holmes Hair and Beauty Spa has gone from strength to strength and now employs 20 professional staff.
For more information about Stuart Holmes and the Hair Holiday packages, visit www.stuartholmeshairholiday.co.uk |
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| Enter here |
| Storybook settings.. |
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Five novel-inspired venues for bookworm brides..
If you like... The Secret Garden
You'll love... Mangapp Manor, Burnham-on-Crouch
Owners Kate and Ben brought the gardens of this picture-perfect country house to life after spotting the venue's potential as an idyllic wedding spot. With roses and petunias aplenty, spring/summer couples can have a fantastic garden party reception - think Pimm's, ice cream, bunting and garden games. Mangapp Manor also has a gazebo in the middle of the lake, upon which bridesand grooms-to-be can say their vows. Apparently, it's the only place in Essex where you can get hitched completely surrounded by water, so it's perfect for those after something different.
"Iris and white lilies rose out of the grass in sheaves, and the green alcoves filled themselves with amazing armies of blue and white flower lances of tall delphiniums or columbines or campanulas" - Frances Hodgson Burnett.
To see more storybook settings for your big day, see pages 21-24 of the current issue. |
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www.anessexwedding.co.uk or call us on 01376 514000 |
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| Take a look at our regularly updated Find a Supplier feature on our website where you find profiles, photographs and contact information from businesses in your area who will help you with your dream wedding. |
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