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| New Issue OUT NOW |
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Inspiration
Ideas on how to add that 'something blue'
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Summer Fashion and beauty
Lightweight gowns for a stylish bride
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Do me a favour
Table treats for your quests
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Knot how it used to be
We take a peek at big days from the '50s through to the 'oos
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Precious paradise
Rowena shares the Far East's best kept secret...the Palawan Islands
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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 |
| As time goes by.. |
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Ever looked back through your grandparents' or parents' albums and wondered what it would have been like to get married 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years ago? Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we love to hear about weddings old and new, so we thought we'd share our favourite big days from the past five decades to show you just how things have changed.
The 1960s
Warwick King and Rene Rickett got married on 29th September, 1962, when fashion was having a bit of a breakthrough, pop music was all the rage and the rigid attitudes of society were beginning to feel much more relaxed. The couple had a church ceremony with 50 of their family and friends, just five minutes from where they lived. This was followed by a casual reception at home, with a home-cooked buffet and glasses of ginger wine. "My dad refused to have alcohol indoors," recalls Rene.
With women starting to experiment more with their clothes, it's no wonder Rene chose to wear a beautiful classic white gown with delicate bow detailing. "It was very simple but pretty, and is something that would have been quite contemporary at the time," says Rene. "It cost just £22.50."
For more information on weddings over the years, see pages 43 - 46 of the current issue. |
| 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 |
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| Then and now |
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My parents recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. Keen to snoop into their life in 1959 BC (Before Children) I got out their album and scrutinised the pictures. Other than my nana's hat making me smile, what I did notice was that the style of my mum's wedding dress didn't look as dated as my cousin's '90s getup in the photo sitting on my parents' bookshelf. Out of this observation came a feature idea, and on page 43 we take a look at weddings over the past 50 years.
Elsewhere, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks find themselves in our venues spotlight, while nature lovers will be interested in the gorgeous gardens we've highlighted on page 19.
Happy reading.
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| Emma Cant, Editor |
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| Make sure your email editor@yourkentwedding.co.uk to keep us up to date with all your news |
| Precious paradise |
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The Palawan islands are the Philippines' last frontier and the Far East's best kept secret. Rowena Marella-Daw discovers why this piece of heaven is worth keeping to yourself..
There are two types of travellers: those who play safe and follow the familiar route, and those who prefer to explore the lesser trodden path. If you're the latter, then the islands of Palawan in the Philippines have some surprises in store.
Of the 7,107 islands that make up the archipelago, the province of Palawan takes the lion's share in terms of exceptional beauty and biodiversity. In fact, in the November-December 2007 issue of National Geographic Traveler, an independent panel gave Palawan the highest score among island destinations in east and southeast Asia, beating more popular destinations such as Bali, Lombok and Phuket.
Considered the country's final frontier, Palawan is protected by the Sulu Sea to the east and the South China Sea to the west.
Its many limestone cliffs cradle deserted white sand coves, tranquil lagoons and mangroves, while beneath its emerald waters, coral reefs teem with life. On land, dramatic landscapes provide the perfect habitat for endemic species such as the swiftlet, Palawan hornbill, peacock pheasant, bearcat, and the anteater.
For more ideas for your dream honeymoon, see our honeymoon pages 108 - 111 of the current issue. |
| The right chemistry |
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Vanessa and Vicente spent a perfect day in the sun with family and friends.
The look of love
Vicente's real reason for leaving his native Valencia was to work in the UK as a pharmacist, but when he arrived on British soil he soon found love. As Vanessa explains: "We met just over six years ago while working for the same company, and we have been a couple ever since."
Will you marry me?
Although Vanessa and Vicente had discussed marriage, it wasn't until they saw Turkey Mill in Your Kent Wedding that they decided to tie the knot. "We knew that we wanted to get married and when we saw a picture of the venue's stunning gardens in the magazine we knew instantly that it was the place for us," says Vanessa. "In a way we did things a bit back to front. It was a mutual decision to get married and we booked our wedding at Turkey Mill before wehad even officially got engaged."
For more information and pictures of Vanessa and Vicente's big day, see pages 35 - 38 of the current issue. |
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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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| Find your local wedding suppliers... |
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| All in good taste |
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How easy is it to use local produce for the wedding catering? We spoke to Kate Davis from Beaubray Catering to find out.
All in the timing
Before you throw in the towel and resign yourself to flying in lamb from New Zealand and new potatoes from Israel remember that just because your food may not have been grown in the county, it can be sourced locally and so have no air miles attached to its arrival in Kent. This is where the idea of seasonal produce comes into play.
"A seasonal menu is a great idea because even if the ingredients are not grown down the road, at least they are less likely to have been flown in from the other side of the world," says Kate.
So now your green conscience is clear, where on earth do you start with choosing a wedding breakfast menu? Firstly, think about the style of your wedding. Do you want a formal sit-down meal, a relaxed outdoor do, or is it something a little quirkier that tickles your tastebuds? "When choosing a wedding menu you need to know if the caterer can provide for your style of reception and dietary requirements," says Kate.
For more fantastic ideas for your wedding food menu, see pages 49 & 50 of the current issue. |
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To buy a copy for just £2.95 post free or to order a subscription of six issues for just £15, please visit our web site...
www.yourkentwedding.co.uk or call us on 01376 514000 |
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