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| OUT NOW |
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Techno happy
Software and apps to help you plan your big day
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The perfect party
Get creative with your reception ideas
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A decent proposal
A collection of heart-warming engagement ideas
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Kensington and Chelsea
Elegant local venues
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Speaking of love...
Inspirational words and reading for your special day
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Inspiration
Ideas on how to create a circus themed wedding
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Wedding of the Year
Meet this issue's contenders
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Real Weddings
Be inspired by other brides and grooms
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To have and to hold
Shoes and bags to complete your perfect bridal look
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Written in the stars
How to plan your nuptials according to astrology with tips from Russell Grant
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| Plus... |
| Regular features, news, events, Q&A special - and much more |
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| Next Issue Out |
| 2nd September 2011 |
| Here come the girls |
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While all eyes will be on the bride on her big day, her bridesmaids are the friends that have provided much love and support throughout the planning; so they need to look their best too. We speak with experts to give you a helping hand on choosing their attire
Naomi Neoh
The romance and glamour of vintage Hollywood style is the inspiration behind the lovely bridal designs by Naomi Neoh, and the bridesmaids' collection is full of similarly chic creations. The selection of silk dupion dresses has an elegant, retro feel and the label has plenty of advice for finding stunning designs for the big day:- Get together - If you can manage it, it's often easier to make decisions about bridesmaids' dresses when all your girls are with you.
- Matching styles - It can be difficult to find one style of dress that will suit everyone. How about having different styles in the same color and fabric? If you keep the lengths the same your bridesmaids will still look similar, but you can keep them happy by adapting the design to suit each one, even if it's just changing the neckline or the detailing.
- Colour challenge - Getting a colour to suit everyone is also tricky. Mid tones are easier to wear than very pale, dark or bright colours. If you really can't decide on the shade for your dresses think about what flowers you would like - it's great to create contrast. While pink flowers with pink bridesmaids dresses won't show up very well, pink flowers teamed with soft olive designs look fantastic.
- Simplicity in style - If you choose a simple design you can personalise it with vintage accessories, brooches, sashes or corsages. Then your bridesmaids can easily wear it again after the wedding with party accessories.
- Be smart - Long is elegant, short is chic - but you can always shorten a long dress afterwards!
The Naomi Neoh studio is located in West Dulwich. For more information visit www.naomineoh.com.
To read on see page 75 of the current issue. |
| Kensington and Chelsea |
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Sleek and historic venues with refined features can be discovered in the Royal Borough. Check out some of our top finds in the area
Royal Hospital Chelsea
Home to the revered Chelsea Pensioners, the beautiful Royal Hospital Chelsea was designed by Christopher Wren in 1682 and boasts two reception rooms fit for royalty. The State Apartments consist of two adjoining spaces, The Ante-Room and The Council Chamber, which have a capacity of 200 people for a standing reception and 96 seated guests. This setting also has access to a private lawn, which is perfect for an elegant drinks reception.
Built in 1782 at the heart of the Royal Hospital, The Great Hall is dominated by an impressive mural of King Charles II and is hung with standards captured by the British Army on the battlefield. The grand space can host 400 standing guests and 250 people for formal dining, so couples can be surrounded by planty of friends and family.
Find out more:
www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk
For more venues in the area see page 17 of the current issue. |
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| Bright ideas |
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Creating a style statement is a great way to keep you ahead of the crowd for your big day. In our fabulous July/August issue you can check out our floral fashion feature on page 61 for some inspiration that will make you the belle of your very own ball. Once you've chosen your dream gown, don't forget about your bridesmaid's attire - after all, the girls will provide a much needed suport system on the big day, and the photographs will look far more vibrant if they all look their best too. Our feature on dressing the bridesmaids on page 75 should help you navigate this tricky yet terrifically enjoyable task so that you all feel like stars.
Planning a show-stopping celebration can leave you and your new husband feeling exhausted, and many couples look forward to their honeymoon as much as the nuptials. The world is bursting with stunning destinations to reinvigorate you, and this issue Rowena Marella-Daw decided to indulge our patriotism following the Royal wedding by exploring what the UK has to offer newlyweds. Turn to page 112 to see some pretty hideaways that will keep you looking on the bright side of your wedding planning.
Enjoy!
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| Jennifer Kettle, Editor |
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| Make sure your email editor@yourlondonweddingmagazine.co.uk to keep us up to date with all your news |
| Win a chauffeur-driven Mercedes for your big day |
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If you're looking to make a grand entrance on your big day then the Mercedes-Benz S-Class could be the perfect car for you. For the past two decades the S-Class has set the standard for modern motoring with innovations in the fields of comfort, safety and environmentally-friendly technology that have made it the benchmark for automotive progress.
The latest S-Class continues that tradition, achieving lower levels of emissions across the engine range, setting new standards for occupant protection, in-car entertainment and driver assistance while wrapping it all in an elegant and contemporary exterior - and with your transport being one of the most talked about aspects of your wedding, you may as well do it in style.
What Car magazine says of the S-Class: "This beautiful luxury car is built from the finest materials to exacting standards. Big on style and performance, this is one of the world's truly great cars. The car has all the space you could want, with dynamics and refinement to die for. It comes as no surprise then that this is our 2011 Luxury Car of the Year."
Mercedes-Benz Retail Group is proud of its reputation as the UK's leading retailer of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. For more information visit www.mercedes-benzbrooklands.co.uk
We've teamed up with Mercedes-Benz Brooklands to offer one lucky bride and groom-to-be the chance to experience one of the most prestigious wedding cars on their special day, with the free hire of a chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
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| Enter here |
| Timing your honeymoon |
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Q - We are getting married in September 2012, and we are eager to plan our honeymoon for just after our wedding.
How soon should we book?
A - Rowena says: Book your honeymoon as soon as you can. Autumn is a good time to go in terms of the weather. Having said that, September is still peak season for most destinations. If you're getting married towards the end of the month, then early October can open up better deals.
I strongly suggest that you speak to a tour operator that specialises in the region or destination you want to visit. Do your research and check if there is a major event taking place at the time of your visit. For example, you wouldn't really want to visit a city in the same week as when the World Cup finals are scheduled as most hotels would be fully booked, and accommodation rates would be much higher.
It's also worth asking if the company you arrange your trip with offers an online honeymoon wedding list service. Make sure that you get travel insurance for protection and peace of mind. |
| Hat's off |
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If you're in search of a creative and glamorous hen do idea, look no further than the brilliant Glam Hatters Hen Party workshop from talented milliner Janie Lawson.
Janie's hat-making workshops are pure girlie fun and give you the chance to create a fabulous fascinator for the big day. Choose from a dressing-up box of gorgeous feathers, veiling, beads and trimmings to come away with a beautiful accessory.
Workshops are either two or four hours long with a break for a well-earned, scrumptious vintage afternoon tea. The workshops take place at Janie's studio in Clapham and various locations across London.
For more information visit
www.janielawson.com |
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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.yourlondonweddingmagazine.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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| Our big day: Sophie & Danny |
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| Image provided by Andrew Olney Wedding Photography |
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Simply beautiful décor and boho details lent an elegant edge to Sophie and Danny's personal celebration in Hadley Wood.
A hostel in Australia may not sound like the most romantic of settings for the beginning of a lasting relationship, however, for Sophie Redburn and Danny Loomis it was indeed the location of a life-changing meeting. The pair first met while travelling in Sydney, 2008, and enjoyed an exotic first date in Koh Tao, a southern island in Thailand. Such a stunning spot was sure to inspire a successful relationship, and it was in another far flung, yet familiar, destination that Danny popped the question in November, 2009. "We were staying at Danny's family's home in Carmel Valley, California, when he surprised me with a proposal," says Sophie. "He had been carrying around his mother's engagement ring for six months, and said that the timing just felt right."
"Our florist, Jane Keogh, was absolutely fantastic and went so far beyond her normal duties. My bouquet comprised miniature white orchids and fine asparagus fern, and we used white roses in the décor as they have always been a family favourite. These blooms were incorporated in the table arrangements, with the addition of hydrangeas."
"We chose to hold our ceremony at my parent's home as it was the house I grew up in and I always thought I would get married there."
"I tried on about 10 gowns but it felt like I was dressing up in princess-style designs that didn't suit me. The gown I chose was simple, elegant and very flattering - my mum's reaction when I put it on for the first time helped me make my decision. It was just so obvious it was the right dress for me."
"We had a lot of live music throughout the day. My brother, my cousins and I all performed a few songs, but the the main entertainment was my dad's band, The Legendary Old Brown Growlers, who played a rock and roll set for about an hour and a half. Two of my good friends also DJ'd in the evening, and it was lovely to have so many people involved."
To read on see page 45 of the current issue. |
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