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Venues in the city
Top spots to tie the knot in Cardiff
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Real weddings
Be inspired by other brides and grooms
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Winter accessories
Perfect additions for a glam look
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Get budget-savvy
How to get the reception look you want... for less
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Black magic
Ebony tones are en vogue but would you dare to go dark?
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Desert dreams
Danielle Wilkins explores the romantic side of Sharm El Sheikh
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Rustic charm shoot
An inspirational shoot in one of Wales' most stunning venues
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Jewellery inspiration
All you need to know about buying your wedding jewellery
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In the spotlight
Cardiff milliner Robyn Coles reveals the inspiration behind her work
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Catwalk style
Be inspired by this season's trends
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| Plus... |
| Regular features, news, events, Q&A special - and much more |
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| Next Issue Out |
| 2nd March 2012 |
| Our big day: Anna & David |
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| Image provided by Jake Morley Photography |
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Anna and David's homespun celebration reflected a love for all things vintage
Despite knowing one another for years after attending the same secondary school, Anna and David didn't officially become a couple until they were 25-years-old.
"I'd always found Anna attractive when we were at school but I didn't really get a look in until we'd left and I became the handsome man I am today," jokes David. Anna adds: "I knew Dave liked me, but I didn't think I had feelings for him until one Valentine's Day. I guess I started seeing him in a different light," she admits.
Fast-forward to Christmas 2009, when David surprised Anna with a trip to New York. "He didn't reveal anything about the trip until Christmas morning and I was so happy, I cried," recalls Anna. "David proposed to me on New Year's Day in Central Park. We had enjoyed the wonderful celebrations the night before and the following morning was cold and snowy. After I accepted, we enjoyed some champagne together by the fire inside the Loeb Boathouse."
Once back home, the couple set about planning their big day, which followed a vintage-inspired shabby chic theme. "We wanted our day to be as personal to us as possible so it featured lots of homemade details, including shortbread baked by Dave's mum, vintage lace tablecloths belonging to members of our family and I also used my grandmother's brooch in my bouquet," says Anna.
After a ceremony at Christ Church Govilon, near Abergavenny, the couple celebrated at Peterstone Court.
Turn to page 80 of the current issue for Anna's account of the big day. |
| Get your rocks on |
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| Image provided by Jon Richard and Alan Hannah's Devoted collection |
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There's no better time to invest in fabulous jewellery you'll treasure forever than for your wedding day. We seek out advice on buying the perfect pieces
If as a little girl you would spend hours dipping in and out of your mum's trinket boxes trying on her wonderful selection of necklaces, rings and bangles, chances are you've been a lover of accessories ever since. And while on the big day some brides will choose to wear more pricey family heirlooms passed down through generations, others will seek out bargain high street pieces to complement their gown.
"With so many other things to think about, jewellery for the big day can get pushed further and further down the list of things to do. This will inevitably lead to last-minute decisions and impulse purchases without really thinking about what you're buying," says Neil Rayment, owner of Advanced Jewel Craft in Cardiff. "However, it is a special occasion and your rings and jewellery are just one of a few things from the day you can physically keep and treasure, so it's worth investing time and money into them."
To read on turn to page 45 of the current issue. |
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| New year, new inspiration |
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I can't help but always be on the lookout for the hottest wedding trends, be it the latest bridal looks, new and exciting floral inspiration or quirky themes and colour schemes. I'm constantly scouting the catwalks for the newest bridalwear talent and chatting to wedding planners to find out what kind of weddings they've been coordinating lately - it is my job, after all. But, more often than not, I find the biggest inspiration of all is you - our wonderful readers.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I couldn't agree more. Lots of you are keen to get in touch to share ideas on how you can achieve the wedding you want on a budget; to inspire other readers with your ideas. Our real weddings this issue feature Rachel and Tom, who opted for a romantic winter wedding in the heart of Cardiff, and Anna and David, who chose to hold a shabby chic-inspired day in the Brecon Beacons countryside. Their wedding was full of lovely DIY details, and I hope you enjoy swooning over the fabulous photography as much as I did.
Enjoy the issue,
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| Danielle Wilkins, Editor |
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| Make sure you email editor@yoursouthwaleswedding.co.uk to keep us up to date with all your news |
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| Win your wedding photography worth £1,100 |
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Capture beautiful memories of the big day courtesy of Jenny Potter Photography
As a member of The Society of International School and Events Photographers and The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP), Jenny Potter is a highly experienced wedding, portrait and events photographer based in Usk, Monmouthshire. She focuses on capturing a mix of reportage and posed photography on the big day and offers a number of flexible wedding packages to suit all budgets.
To see more of Jenny's work, or to read some of her testimonials, visit www.jennypotter.com. You can also call Jenny on 07983 556 966 or email jennypotterp@aol.com
We've teamed up with Jenny Potter Photography to offer readers the chance to win a package worth £1,100. The prize includes:
- Eight hours of photography coverage from the bridal preparations to the first dance.
- A private password-protected online viewing gallery for the couple and their family and friends.
- One 12 x 12 inch 25-page wedding album with 50 photographs.
- The couple's favourite photograph printed on canvas.
And if you don't win? Don't worry. Jenny is also offering 25 lucky runners-up a £100 gift voucher to put towards their wedding photography when they book with her before 1st October, 2012. |
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| Enter here |
| Hot topic: Keeping the guests happy |
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| Image provided by The Bee Orchid Bridal Florist |
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The perfect floral gift
Q - We're going to have lots of gorgeous flower displays at our wedding and, as we're planning on spending quite a bit on them, we'd love to give them away in small bundles as thank you gifts at the end of the night. With this in mind, what sort of displays would work best? We haven't decided on a theme yet, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
A - Claire Jones says: Arrangements that work well for this are usually placed in an Oasis foam base, as they can be easily removed from the display. For example, you might want to choose blooms styled in a mirrored cube vase, or a tall Martini glass. The arrangement can be placed on top and lifted off at the end of the evening to give to guests. They can also be used as a nice table arrangement for family and friends at home, and if they continue to keep topping them up with water, they should last a while.
You have lots of options as to the style of your arrangements, but displays that don't work particularly well for this are floating flowers (for obvious reasons) or arrangements made in goldfish bowls as you will need to pick these out one by one to wrap them. Once you have chosen a theme or colour scheme, ask your florist for advice on choosing blooms to match. |
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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.yoursouthwaleswedding.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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| Is this the bride? |
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With Vera Wang's latest collection having a distinctly gothic palette, non-white dresses are officially en vogue. But will you still feel like a bride if you go to the dark side?
Catwalk-side trend-spotters watched bug-eyed as models paraded Vera Wang's latest collection at New York Bridal Fashion Week. The creations, as always, bore the designer's mark of excellence. They were romantic, elegant and beautifully made with the most luxurious fabrics.
They were everything a bride would expect from Wang, the wedding dress fairy godmother to thousands of contemporary Cinderellas.
But this time they were black. And if Wang is stepping away from white, it is almost certain other fashion houses will follow her lead.
Indeed she is not the only designer dismantling the traditional bridal palette this season - the UK's own Vivienne Westwood has created ripples with her formidable scarlet wedding dresses.
But while colour may be the latest way to make a statement, there are many things to consider before turning your back on white.
To find out more turn to page 63 of the current issue. |
| Beauty advice from those in the know |
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With more than 20 years' experience between them, make-up artist Jinty Day and our resident beauty expert Sascha Martini have collaborated to bring Welsh brides-to-be Swansea's very first Academy of Make-up.
As well as offering high-fashion professional courses to budding make-up artists, the pair have launched a non-professional course especially for brides-to-be who are interested in learning the tricks of the trade in order to do their own make-up on the big day. Guided by Jinty and Sascha, brides will learn how to recreate popular looks step-by-step, as well as how to master techniques such as the perfect smoky eye. Jinty and Sascha will also explain how brides can plan their look ahead of time and get the best out of their make-up to enhance their features.
For more information about prices and course dates, call 0845 408 9492. |
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