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We propose a toast...
We get the low-down on toastmasters
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Real weddings
Be inspired by other brides and grooms
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Get budget-savvy
How to get the reception look you want... for less
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Wedding of the year
Meet our four finalists and find out who won the last heat
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A regal affair
Picturesque spots to tie the knot in Windsor and Ascot
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Hot topic
Experts answer questions on colour coordination
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Dress to impress
Ensure your groom looks the part with some expert advice
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Hidden beauty
Undecided about wearing a veil? Our guide will give you plenty of ideas
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Relax and unwind
Our guide to the best hotels with spas in the region
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Get your groove on
How to choose the all-important first dance song
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| Plus... |
| Regular features, news, events, Q&A special - and much more |
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| Next Issue Out |
| 23rd March 2012 |
| Win a venue styling package worth £750 |
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If you want show-stopping decor to wow your guests, this is one competition you can't afford to miss
Sometimes the smallest details can make all the difference and finishing touches can transform a room. Every couple wants their big day to be remembered for all the right reasons and hiring a florist and venue stylist can help make that happen. Seventh Heaven, based in Datchet, offers everything you could need to make your wedding extra special. The creative team works with couples to coordinate colours, themes and more to ensure your big day is memorable for you and your guests.
The company provides everything from fresh floral displays, table centrepieces, candelabras and confetti to linen, napkins and chair covers. Whether your dream celebration is contemporary, quirky or traditional, the team can help turn a vision into reality.
For more information about Seventh Heaven call 01753 546 555 or visit the website www.seventh-heaven-events.co.uk
Your Berks & Bucks Wedding has teamed up with Seventh Heaven to offer readers the chance to win a fantastic venue styling package. The prize is a voucher worth £750 to be spent on wedding decor, including:
- Fresh flower displays
- Centrepieces
- Chair covers, sashes and bows
- Candelabras
- Balloon displays
- Candlelit ceremonies
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| Enter here |
| Lights, camera, action! |
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| Image provided by The VIP Studio |
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A rainbow colour scheme and an opulent setting made Neha and Naresh's extravagant big day one to remember
Neha and Naresh met when they began working together as IT consultants in 2007, and their relationship blossomed as they travelled around the world together on the company's graduate scheme. "Our first official date consisted of Naresh cooking us fajitas at his place and then we went to watch Equus at a theatre in London," Neha tells us. The date went very well and two years later, Naresh popped the question in one of the most romantic proposal stories Your Berks & Bucks Wedding has ever heard.
"Naresh hid a series of envelopes around my bedroom and I was instructed to follow the clues on them. The first said to pack my passport and a bag then a taxi arrived and took me to the airport," Neha remembers. "There was a ticket for a flight to Edinburgh in the second envelope so I rushed through security and boarded. At the other end, a chauffeur picked me up and, in the car, he played a montage of photographs of Naresh and I sharing happy times over the past three years on the screens in the headrests - it really got the tears flowing! Next, I was taken to The Balmoral Hotel for a full body massage and facial," she adds.
"A taxi then took me to the Prestonfield Hotel where I was shown to my suite and saw there were clothes already laid out for me - a dress I had been saving for a special occasion - and told to be ready for 7.30pm," recalls Neha. "When the time arrived, the concierge collected me and took me to reception where Naresh was waiting on the
balcony with a bottle of champagne. We went into a private room where he got down on one knee, pulled out a Tiffany box and asked the all-important question. After I said 'yes', we went for dinner in a private room overlooking the hotel's gardens and Naresh pointed out that the menu had been changed to have our names and the date printed at the top. The dinner was divine and when we headed back to our suite, it had been lit by over 100 candles. It really was the perfect proposal!" says Neha.
We couldn't agree more and here, Neha explains all about how their big day came together on page 30 of the current issue. |
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| Getting married in Berks & Bucks or know someone who is and would like to receive future newsletters? To forward this email to a friend click here |
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| Wedding fever |
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One of the things I love most about my job is seeing all the fantastic real weddings drop into my inbox. The creativity and personal touches are thoroughly inspiring and give me food for thought when putting together features for you to enjoy. I am constantly drawn to the quirky details and fresh outlooks in the world of weddings, and I hope to provide you with some of that throughout the magazine.
What I love most is seeing the range of different themes couples opt for. I was inspired by a bygone era for my nuptials and filled the barn with grand candelabra, pale pink roses and wore a heavy satin Jenny Packham gown that was reminiscent of the fashions from the 1930s. Both the real wedding couples in this issue had very distinct ideas too; Neha and Naresh celebrated with an opulent and colourful big day while Joanna and David chose to tie the knot with an ethical wedding.
Happy reading!
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| Louise Prance, Editor |
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| Make sure you email editor@yourberksbuckswedding.co.uk to keep us up to date with all your news |
| Great news! |
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From the April/May issue, we will be incorporating Oxfordshire into our magazine and it will be renamed Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding.
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| Go off with a bang! |
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Sonning Fireworks, based in Reading, has recently launched a new wireless digital firing system that allows all firework shows to be set off electronically. The company caters for any type of display, from traditional fireworks to exciting pyromusical events. Couples can choose their favourite piece of music and have the team at Sonning synchronise the fi reworks to the beats, creating a colourful masterpiece befi tting of a show-stopping big day.
To find out more visit www.sonningfireworks.co.uk |
| A regal affair |
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Those wanting to wed in Windsor and Ascot can rest assured as there's a plethora of charming settings in the area.
Englemere
A former royal residence, Englemere is a traditional country house set in 12 acres of secluded gardens. The interior is in keeping with the venue's heritage and the Council Room - originally the ballroom of the house - is the perfect setting for ceremonies and receptions alike. Flooded with natural light, the suite is bright and spacious with many impressive features, including a grand chandelier, imposing fireplace and doors that open directly onto the surrounding terrace.
An array of stunning photo opportunities await each couple in the grounds of Englemere, including a vast water fountain at the foot of the formal gardens. Exclusive use of the house and grounds is offered to all those who tie the knot at the venue and receptions can take place in a variety of suites.
Did you know... in the grounds of Englemere stands one of the oldest oak trees in the country? It dates back to the era of King Henry VIII and looks particularly beautiful in spring when surrounded by bluebells.
Find out more... call 01344 630 815 or visit www.englemere.co.uk
For more venues in the area see page 17 of the current issue. |
| Hot topic: Weather |
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| Image provided by www.thebridalphotographer.co.uk |
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Wash out
Q - I'm getting married in mid-winter so the weather will probably be dull and dreary but I don't want this to show in the photographs. Do you think the bad conditions will effect the pictures? What tips do you have to ensure they still look good?
David Bostock says: Plan for the ceremony to finish no later than 2pm if you would like a reasonable amount of photos taken outdoors. If you have no choice than to have a later wedding, you may want to consider having some photos taken before it. It's not very common in the UK yet, but some couples choose to have their photo-shoot before the ceremony in the winter months. This is called a first-look shoot and is very common in the US.
The quality of light can be particularly lovely when photographing weddings in the winter as the sun doesn't get very high in the sky so you can end up with some very atmospheric images. My advice is always to have a pre-wedding shoot at your venue so you can discuss both indoor and outdoor locations and back-up plans if the weather is unkind.
Make sure you bring along something you can put on to help you stay outside for longer in the cold. A faux fur wrap or coat to put around your shoulders can be worn and taken off just before the photographs. |
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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.yourberksbuckswedding.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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| Find your local wedding suppliers... |
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| Man of the moment |
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| Image provided by www.bridestobe.co.uk |
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The bride-to-be might have been dreaming of the perfect gown her whole life but this is rarely the case for the groom. Local menswear experts give us the inside track on how men can look suave and sophisticated on the big day
Designer diva
Just because the groom wants to look good on the day, doesn't mean spending thousands of pounds on designer threads. "As long as the groom feels happy with how he looks in his outfit, that's all that matters," advises Stephanie Hawkins, managing director of Bride-To-Be and The Grooms Room. "Ask the assistants to help pick out a range of different options - including lounge suits, top hat and tails, and traditional morning coats - to find out what you like best. Saying that, hiring a suit has always been a popular choice too because it means you can wear a designer outfit without the extortionate price tag. If you want to wear something very up-market then hiring it can be a great way to go," she adds.
Is is a common misconception that sorting the groom's outfit takes quite a bit less time than the bride's but that's not always the case. "It depends on the type of ensemble you are looking for but couples often begin their search around a year before the big day and, once the exact outfits have been chosen, the fitting process can take around four months," James explains. Stephanie warns, "Most good shops will have a service where they can fit you last minute but the shorter lead time you have, the less choice will be available."
To read on see page 45 of the current issue. |
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