Daily Archives: May 29, 2012

Grooms step up to wedding planning

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The groom’s way

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Move over brides, weddings aren’t just about you. Experts, including wedding planner Karina Lemke at Karinalemke.com, say grooms are taking bigger planning roles for their big day. Here are some groom-centric trends in Canada.

Goodbye rental tux
Grooms are suiting up in either a bespoke suit (custom-made) or even a new, off-the-rack suit.

Shifting gears
Say bye-bye to the white wedding limo and hello to a yellow Ferrari, Porsche or red Lamborghini. “Modern grooms are arriving in style and self-driving to their weddings in luxury automobiles.”

Bar bill
Grooms upgrade to the deluxe bar package — even though most guests really don’t care or know what brand they’re drinking and it will add thousands to a budget.

Midnight snack
Grooms are all about late-night dining with requests for poutine and burger stations, and late-night food trucks to visit the venue and serve the revellers gourmet bar-type food.

Groom’s dens
A party within a party with a stag atmosphere. “A smaller men’s lounge with billiards or card tables, scotch or Tequila tastings, cigar rolling and scantily-clad servers giving a ‘bottle service’ type experience to the men … I hate the idea, but it is a current trend so I do get requests which I do my best to squash.”

Move over, brides! The wedding industry is getting well groomed.

Rules of engagement are changing as grooms mark their territory in a traditionally women-only industry and say “I do” to planning the big day.

Taking the lead is leading man Brad Pitt – he designed Angelina Jolie’s $500,000 engagement ring and celebrated with a family trip to the Galapagos Islands. The thoughtful groom is also reportedly restoring an estate in southern France for the much-anticipated nuptials and is taking charge of other important arrangements, including flowers and ceremony.

It’s no longer her day, it’s their day, chorus wedding planners, who are seeing growing groom interest and involvement in all things nuptial, as vendors offer miles of aisles of groom goodies, including custom-made suits, fast cars and man caves.

The shift in the past five years has been incredible, says wedding expert Karina Lemke. Many grooms are getting in the game from the get-go. In the past, “I would usually need to ask, ‘who is the groom’ when I walked into the rehearsal — that is just how far removed he was from the planning.”

Typically, the groom was told what to wear and when to arrive, adds Lemke, a Toronto-based wedding planner and proposal coach at Karinalemke.com.

“Sober and on time” were the only responsibilities of the groom, adds Canadian premier party planner David Connolly. “How did it become such a female-dominated, bride-centric, grooms-not-welcome industry in the first place?”

Well, it’s his party too and he’ll plan if he wants to.

“It is just as much about him … it is an important life marker and likely the most pricey party he will ever host, so why not be involved?” adds Lemke.

All things groom is a boom growth area, second only to destination weddings, says Ophellia McKnight, of Bridalaffairdestinations.com.

Guys are lending their voices and personalities to the process to make their wedding truly a celebration of the couple, by the couple, says Mcknight, who produces the Groom Show, billed as the first wedding show for men, which takes place in Toronto spring of 2013 (Groomshow.ca).

“The modern groom is trendy, savvy and stylish and wants to bring aspects of his style to the wedding,” says McKnight, a Brampton wedding planner. With many couples footing the bill, “grooms want to have a say in where those wedding dollars go, including a great suit, a bar stocked with their favourite premium liquors, maybe cigar and scotch after dinner, and an amazing honeymoon.”

Man up and don the tux — the days of grooms being innocent bystanders at their own weddings are long gone, says Chris Easter, who runs an online wedding registry for grooms called TheManRegistry.com.

“Grooms are incorporating personal interests and hobbies into the wedding planning — for example, writing custom music for the ceremony, designing the couple’s wedding website and even forging custom wedding bands,” says Easter, author of Be the Man, a practical guide to help grooms navigate the wedding minefield. He expects to see TV shows and publications dedicated solely to grooms in the future.

“One of my favourite groom-centric trends of 2012 is food-truck catering for the rehearsal dinner — an event that the groom and his family traditionally pay for,” says Easter. “From tacos to barbecue to grilled cheese, the possibilities for creative eats are virtually endless. They’re also lighter on the pocketbook than traditional catering.”

Grooms are big business: Easter is also seeing Mad Men-themed weddings, man wedding showers, destination bachelor parties, and grooms creating blogs to document their wedding planning journey.

Involvement can only get more extreme, forecasts Lemke.

“As wedding vendors begin to realize that they need to target the men, you can certainly expect to see more things which will get them to loosen the purse strings.”

The unprecedented industry transformation is fuelled by couples getting married later in life and paying their own expenses, adds Connolly.

Step aside, Bridezilla

Groomzillas are on the loose.

“There is a difference between being an involved groom, wanting a voice in the wedding plans and assisting their betrothed, and someone who becomes a groomzilla,” says Karina Lemke, Toronto wedding planner.

Bridezillas and groomzillas are both equally ugly. “Taking over, treating friends, family and vendors poorly,” says Lemke, of Karinalemke.com. “This is a special, hopefully once-in-a-lifetime event and it should still retain elegance, charm, timelessness and grace and the couple should attempt to tackle it with a united sense of purpose.”

Lemke says to be on the lookout for these groomzilla red flags:

  • Your guy has a file of possible wedding venues before he has even proposed.
  • He insists on helping you select the wedding dress.
  •  He corrects you when you say the flowers will be in shades of green and pink, announcing the wedding colours as “sage and blush.”
  • His wedding app shows various members of the bridal party and families in different outfits and hair/makeup styles. “I did have a groom pull his laptop out to show me all the various possibilities for bridesmaids’ gowns and hair options.”
  • He knows the difference between chiavari chairs and ghost chairs and can spend hours worrying about the merits and pitfalls of each for the reception.

Grooming for grooms

Grooms, go for your personal best, with tips from party planner extraordinaire David Connolly of Davidwconnolly.com:

Brawn: Identify your physical insecurities and fix them the best you can in the time that you have. “Invest in the trainer or the meal delivery plan or massage, acupuncture to stop smoking or teeth straightening/whitening … whatever is going to give you the confidence and energy you’ll need to enjoy every minute of your wedding and your honeymoon.”

Beauty: Say yes to the manicure, eyebrow trim, bronzer, new natural colognes — experiment long before the day to see how and what you like. “Barbershops are back. Straight razor, hot towel shaves and any of the haircuts, plus ties, shoes, coats, as seen on Mad Men.”

Personalize your wardrobe with elements to make you feel uniquely you — especially if in a rental tux. “Socks, cufflinks, tie bars, hats, monogrammed cuffs, different cuts of vests – you’ll be surprised the difference their shape and colour make or contribute to the design of your biggest style statement — your boutonniere.”

Brains: Think of her first. Do something that surprises her every day to lighten her load, relieve her stress, make her laugh, relax or sleep more soundly and longer. Budget time and money towards this task. Prioritize it over all others on your list.

Beating the $27000 wedding

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Image: Bride and bridesmaid (©Stockbyte/Photolibrary)Kendal Perez, who got married six years ago, would like to point out that some wedding “traditions” are negotiable. She nixed a bridal shower, let her attendants choose their own dresses, decided against wedding favors, did her own makeup and drove to and from the ceremony in her own car rather than hire a limo.

The shopping-deal expert, who blogs at Hassle-Free Savings, is just as married as the folks who pay the $26,984 that the average wedding now costs (according to The Knot, which runs two wedding websites).

 

“No guest approached me with complaints about missing out on monogrammed matchbooks or pouches of customized MMs,” she says. “No complaints from guests hoping to shell out even more cash (on shower gifts) to attend my big day.”

You get to choose what your wedding does and doesn’t have. Get creative about meeting your wedding needs, though. Make every available dollar work hard, and you’ll be able to afford some wedding “wants,” too.

Here’s how some other couples did it.

Something old, something new
Go paperless. Digital invitations are increasingly popular. Some are free, according to Stephania Andrade, a San Diego reader who’s helping her sister with a summer wedding. Look for sites such as SmileBox.com and PaperlessPost.com; choose one with an RSVP feature so you can keep track of attendees.

Cheaper paper. Don’t like e-vites? By all means use paper invitations, but skip the paisley or multicolored models. “Simplicity screams ‘elegance,’” notes April Masini, who writes Ask April, an online advice column.

 

Feeling lucky? Once you’ve set the date, enter every wedding-themed contest and sweepstakes you can find. Julie Vlahon recommends this strongly, having won several thousand dollars’ worth of bridal supplies that way. Use this Facebook app to search, specifying keywords like “wedding,” “bridal” or “honeymoon.” Note: Start a new e-mail address for this because you will at least get e-mails from the sponsors and may even have your contact info sold; if a phone number is required, read the rules carefully to make sure you aren’t also signing up for ringtones, texts or any other cell-related spam. (Post continues after video.)

Something borrowed. Before you buy jewelry for the wedding, see if you could use pieces owned by family members. “It is more meaningful, and your mother and/or grandmother will be so touched that you asked,” says planner Marisa Manna of So Eventful in San Francisco.


Getting there
Travel costs. When Sara McKinniss’ brother got married, the bride’s mother donated frequent-flier miles to pay for a hotel and plane tickets to Hawaii. “It saved (the couple) thousands of dollars,” McKinniss says.

  • Bing: The origin of “something old, something new”

Playing your cards right. My daughter’s engagement lasted two years. During that time she and I each got airline credit cards and earned enough miles for her honeymoon. Opening and later closing a card need not affect your credit scores, incidentally.

Wedding wheels. Consider skipping the luxury transportation, suggests wedding photographer Catherine Fiehn. “Rent a convertible or an exotic sports car,” says Fiehn, who’s based in Darien, Conn.

Keep it small. Speaking of transportation: Cristin Frank’s minimalist approach to attendants — a maid of honor and a best man — meant the entire bridal party fit into a borrowed convertible. Photos were easy, too. “We could actually get close-ups of the four of us, instead of a group (shot) that looked like an eighth-grade graduation picture,” says the Williamsville, N.Y., resident.

Watch for deals
Make an offer. Ask wedding planners and suppliers about canceled nuptials. Someone who’s already paid for linens or lighting will want to get rid of these items. Texas reader Marjorie Asturias says she’s “not superstitious” and had no qualms about getting the silver cake slicer that way. No qualms about the price either: $10. Don’t think of it as profiting from another couple’s misfortune; think of it as helping them get some of their money back.

Bid on it. Watch for charity or benefit auctions, which often feature goods or services suitable for weddings. You might find your florist or hairdresser that way. Michelle Baylin paid $800 for a fancy wedding venue that would have cost up to $4,000.

Hunt for discounts. Sites such as Dealnews and MyBargainBuddy.com may have just the right bridesmaid gift or trousseau item. Online coupon sites like RetailMeNot, Savings.com  and FatWallet.com can get you discounts on everything from wedding dresses to table linens.

Look everywhere. Mei-Ling Uliasz found decorations for her Halloween-themed wedding at thrift stores and yard sales. Many items were in “free” boxes “since many folks were wanting to get rid of them,” she says. Don’t rule out Craigslist; my daughter sold a lot of her wedding-related items that way. You might even luck out with The Freecycle Network.  

 

More frugal tactics
Budget booster. Most of the food and beverages for my daughter’s wedding were covered by free gift cards from MyPoints. (Hint: Wal-Mart gift cards are accepted at Sam’s Club.) Sign up for sites like MyPoints and Swagbucks as soon as you set the date. Ask family and friends to sign up, too.

Frugal feeds. If you’re having a simple ceremony, a cake-and-punch reception might be the perfect capper. Or consider a potluck; Lauren Rathvon of Sarasota, Fla., asked each guest to bring a small dish, “something that was their specialty or one of their favorites.” This not only resulted in a splendid variety, it also ensured that those on special diets (vegan, kosher, gluten-free) knew there’d be at least one dish they could eat.

Make it snappy. If you plan to marry within six months, a site called BrideRush specializes in discounted, date-specific deals on venues, photography, videography, DJs and other wedding needs. There’s a “request” feature if you don’t see the deal you want, and the site has a blog focusing on last-minute weddings.

Flash wedding. I just heard about a young man who invited friends to a surprise birthday party for his girlfriend. When everyone was there he announced the real surprise: They were getting married right there, right then. No bridal shower, no bachelor party, no worry about what to wear — just the two young people, their families and their best friends. It worked.

Readers: Did you think outside the box for your wedding? Have any ideas to share?

More from MSN Money:

  • Affordable places to get hitched
  • Wedding feasts on the cheap
  • Save a bundle on wedding flowers

Senior center set to host a mock wedding

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May 29, 2012 1:00PM




JOLIET — Senior Services Center of Will County will host its summer dance with theme One Wild Wacky Mock Wedding.

The dance will be at 11:30 a.m. June 14 at the Barber-Oberwortman Horticultural Center, at 227 Gougar Road.

At noon, Cutting Edge Catering will provide lunch consisting of fried chicken, roast sirloin of beef au jus, rotini pasta salad, bread and butter, cake, coffee and punch.

Eddie Korosa the Boys from Illinois will entertain from 1 to 3 p.m., playing many classic wedding reception tunes along with waltzes, line-dances, rock ‘n’ roll and polkas.

Dressing for the theme is not a requirement, but guests are encouraged to join in the spirit of the mock wedding celebration by wearing attire ranging anywhere from wedding formal, business casual, recycled bridesmaids dresses, vintage leisure suits, ill-fitting sports coats or anything in between.

Bring a wrapped “white elephant” or re-gifted gift to add to the fun. There will be many comical surprises for the guests.

Pre-registration and payment are required by June 6 by calling 815-723-9713. No walk-ins at the door.

Vintage wedding gowns inspire brides to make their own style – Galesburg Register

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If your wedding dress isn’t to be found in today’s bridal magazines, or if you can’t afford a one-of-a-kind couture creation, consider showing off your unique style with a vintage bridal gown.

From Gatsby-inspired flapper dresses to ultra-feminine, tightly cinched, full-skirted ‘50s fashions, to the short-skirted barefoot bridals of the ‘70s, there’s simply no end to the choices.

“A vintage dress really highlights a bride’s personality. She has decades of styles to choose from, which allow her to set herself apart from the army of other brides in the world,” said Lauren Naimola, owner of the Etsy shop Dear Golden and the Dear Golden vintage shop in Ypsilanti, Mich. “Vintage feels special, and a bride wants to feel special.”

In addition to being beautiful, special and unique, vintage dresses are a wonderful option because they offer “quality of construction, fabrication and design,” said Paula Cooperman, owner of Mill Crest Vintage, Lambertville, N.J. “Many dresses were hand-constructed with exquisite attention to every detail, which is why they have been able to stand the test of time.”

So how does a bride go about upscaling a previously worn wedding dress? Should she raid grandma’s closet, shop online or head to a vintage shop?

“Grandma’s closet isn’t always the walk through fashion history one may hope for and vintage clothing stores, especially ones that carry vintage wedding attire, are not as abundant as say, Starbucks,” Cooperman said. “Thank goodness for the internet. Nowadays, brides can turn to their computers and shop the world over for the perfect vintage wedding dress right from the comfort of their own homes.”

The search is on

Approaching the search for a vintage dress is no different than searching for a current one, Cooperman said. The best place to begin is the bride’s own closet.

“Strange as it may seem, the style of dress that best flatters her figure will ultimately guide her to the style of wedding dress she will choose for her wedding day,” she said.

If you can, visit a vintage shop that carries wedding gowns and try on era-specific dresses to see which looks are flattering to your body type, Naimola said. Then you can open up your search online.

“Once the style is narrowed down — there may be several depending upon body type — then narrowing the choices down to the era and details in the dress will be much easier,” she said.

What era is right for you?

It’s recommended to choose a style that suits one’s body shape, but nearly all vintage pieces can be altered to achieve a customized fit. Consider body shape before considering size, Cooperman advised.

Since these dresses have been worn before they may come with signs of love like stains, rips or broken zippers. Many construction problems “can be remedied either by a professional dry cleaner or an experienced seamstress,” said Cooperman. Things that can be considered “deal-breakers” for Naimola include stains on satin or rayon/crepe, underarm stains, dry rotting, excessive breaks or tears in lace or tears that are not on a seam.

*****

Era guidelines

1920s: Loose-fitting sheath cuts, narrow shoulders and no waistbands. Best for petites and apple shapes, small busts and small to medium hips.
1950s: Fitted waists, full skirts in tea or full length. Best for pear, curvy, petite and plus sizes.
1960s: Empire cuts and short, slightly A-line shifts. Best for petites, straight, apple and full figures.
1970s: Loose and flowy with narrow skirts; peasant/prairie inspired; Victorian revival with puff shoulder. Works for a variety of shapes.

Jennifer Hudson Moves Forward With Wedding Plans?

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With William Balfour’s trial completed and some amount of closure, Jennifer Hudson
and fiance’ David Otunga are poised to wed sooner-rather-than-later.

“Jennifer feels she can now close the door on that terrible chapter in her life and start
again by planning a wedding-and that her late mother would approve,” a source told
the National Enquirer recently. “She said she couldn’t have a celebration like a
wedding until there was a conclusion to the murder trial, so she put it off. Her fiancé,
David Otunga, was supportive and agreed with her completely.”

Hudson and Otunga were engaged over a year ago and have one child, a son,
together.

While it is unclear when the wedding will take place, it may just happen this Fall in
Chicago.

As previously reported, Hudson is getting back to work as well. She will star in a new movie
titled Lullaby with Terrence Howard.

Weddings And Social Media: How Social Is Too Social?

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Picture this: A beautiful bride walks down the aisle. The bride and groom say their romantic vows with happy tears in their eyes. They say ‘I do’, kiss, and then, while standing at the altar… post to Facebook? Believe it or not, it’s happening more and more. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for social media — it’s what I do for work every day and I find great personal and professional value in it — but maybe it’s time to draw some social media etiquette lines. It’s great to use for organizing and keeping in touch with friends, but taking it to the altar just seems a bit too much. When is enough, enough when it comes to social media? We are clearly a generation obsessed.

According to this study 48 percent of 18-34 year olds check Facebook when they wake up, with 28 percent doing so before they even get out of bed. Some people use Facebook and Twitter obsessively and often forget to tell big news in person before posting it to their social media world. For example, the motivation for writing this article? I recently found out my brother is engaged — by reading his girlfriend’s Facebook post. Seriously, true story.

Some things, such as your engagement announcement (I am speaking to you brother) should be done in person or at the very least over the phone. However, social media CAN be very helpful when planning your wedding. There are a lot of great tools out there that are helpful and won’t take you into that ‘you’ve gone too far’ zone.

· Social wedding planning tools such as a blog or wedding website allow you to update all of your guests on any changes that may affect them. If there’s a last minute time or venue change this is a good way to get the word out. Wedding websites also allow your guests to leave comments and questions for you. And as a bonus it’s always nice to hear congratulations and well wishes from those you love.

· Get in touch with vendors using Twitter and Facebook. Most vendors keep their social media channels up to date so you always have the most current information and, as most upkeep is done daily, they are readily reachable by sending a message.

· On a smaller scale, if you’re looking to keep your bridesmaids on the up and up, consider using a specific Twitter hashtag or creating an invite-only event on Facebook.

· Get inspired. This is where social media really shines. Pinterest has exploded with fabulous wedding inspiration and ideas in recent months. It is definitely a place to stop and create some boards to help in your planning. Some advice: be specific. Create boards that are easy to go back to and reference when making your final decisions. Have separate boards for wedding food, wedding flowers, bridesmaid dresses, DIY ideas, etc.

· If some of your favorite people can’t make your wedding, live stream it! Use a service like Live Vows or webcastmywedding.net

These are all great ways to use social media as it was meant to be used. To share information and converse with those you care about. What you don’t want to do is inundate your loved ones with daily updates and rants and raves. Sure, they all love you and are excited about coming to your wedding, but they may not be interested to hear why your florist isn’t working with you on particular day or the detailed account of your food and wine tasting. What they do want to hear about is the how/what/when and important information that will help them make their journey to celebrate with you.

And, please, after you say ‘I do’, don’t pull out that smartphone. Instead look into each other’s eyes and take in that moment like no other.



Follow Carey Gordon on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/careylgordon

Wedding Anniversary: How To Plan A Perfect Anniversary Date

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Summer is quickly approaching and since it is the most popular time of year to get married, that means many of you will celebrate a wedding anniversary soon. Many couples just get into the habit of going out to a nice dinner for their anniversary. Some even take trips for big milestone anniversaries. But as a Romantic Date Planner, I always tell my clients, it isn’t what you do for your anniversary that counts, it is the details that go into it.

So how do you come up with an anniversary date that is special and filled with details? Here are some tips I have learned in the romance industry on how you can infuse meaningful details into your special night and be sure you outdo your last anniversary!

Send an Invitation

No matter where you go or what you do this anniversary, tell your spouse you want to take them out for a romantic evening by presenting them with a personalized invitation! This will spice things up a bit since people rarely give their spouses formal invitations. To really score points and show your sentimental side, use your original wedding invitation as inspiration. Try to recreate the theme of the wedding invite and use the same colors. You don’t even have to spend a lot of money on this detail since it will be even more adorable if you make the invite by hand. Incorporating your old wedding invite into an anniversary is a thoughtful detail that won’t go unnoticed!

Find a Babysitter

If you have children, you know how precious alone-time can be. Just this one time, arrange for them to spend the night at your parents’ house or at a friend’s house that you trust. This will leave you the whole night to spend together and you won’t have to worry about your private time being interrupted.

Get Creative

Again, trying to make your anniversary date really special will take some creative brainstorming. Spend some time really thinking about what kind of anniversary date your spouse would like. Has she been dying for a night of dinner and dancing? Think of a unique way to incorporate that into a date.

Is he really adventurous and always begging you to take him bungee jumping? Use adventure as your theme. Take him out to do something that he loves and follow that up with a really nice romantic evening filled with personalized details.

Don’t Forget the Details

No matter which date concept you choose, the most important part of your anniversary date is personalizing it with details. What does personalizing the event with details mean? It means showing your spouse you really “know” them. If she is in love with peonies, MM’s, and the color blue, find a way to include all of those things into your anniversary. If you need help figuring out a way to incorporate these crucial details into your anniversary, you may consider hiring a Romantic Event Planner.

If you follow these steps this will be an anniversary that she talks about for years to come. The only problem you will have is trying to outdo yourself next year!

Michele is a Romance Expert, who specializes in Romantic Date and Proposal Planning. She owns The Heart Bandits and has been featured on Fox News, Houston Chronicle, Orange County Register, and KTLA news. Contact The Heart Bandits to have them plan your romantic date or marriage proposal. For more information about The Heart Bandits, visit www.theheartbandits.com

Mixed gathering: Cleric arrested over dancing death decree

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The women allegedly sang Mahiyas (folk songs) at a wedding ceremony and danced in the presence of Na-mehram (those who one can marry in Islam). DESIGN: S. JAMAL

ISLAMABAD: Police on Tuesday arrested a cleric accused of sentencing six people to death for singing and dancing at a wedding in Kohistan.

“Police have arrested a cleric and his companion for issuing the death decree, but they totally denied it,” local administration official Aqal Badshah Khattak told AFP.

“The cleric has said he had no role in the decree and his name was misused,” Khattak said.

Police told AFP on Monday that clerics sentenced four women and two men to death after mobile phone footage emerged of them enjoying themselves at a village wedding in the mountains of Kohistan district, 175 kilometres north of the capital Islamabad.

The men and women had allegedly danced and sung together in Gada village, in defiance of strict tribal customs that separate men and women at weddings.

But on Tuesday, district police chief Abdul Majeed Afridi said it appeared to be a case of tribal rivalry and an attempt to defame a family.

He said the video was recorded three years ago and then edited in an attempt to implicate the party goers.

“I am satisfied that there is no danger to the life of the girls,” he said.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, at least 943 women and girls were murdered last year after being accused of defaming their family’s honour.

Should Your Wedding Present be Cash?

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<!–

Personal Finance
Wedding insurance news
Should Your Wedding Present be Cash?

–>

Published: 29 May 2012
By Peter Thompson Leave a Comment

With the wedding season in full swing, what should you give as a wedding present – should it be cash, vouchers, something from a wedding list or perhaps nothing at all?

Wedding Insurance

Research from first direct shows most prospective newlyweds prefer to ask for money or vouchers as their wedding gift.  This is much the same as when the research was carried out last year.

However, it seems couples are now giving their guests more choice as 20% would rather they gave a gift of their own choosing and a further 19% would prefer not to receive a wedding present at all.

The use of a wedding gift list or registry is falling in popularity, down 9% this year compared with last. Interesting just over 10% of couples don’t know what they want – perhaps both of these findings may be a reflection of the increasing number of people living together before they walked up the aisle.

This year, not only does giving cash or vouchers top the list of what couples would like to receive, it also tops the list of what guests would like to give too – up from 21% in 2011 to 33% in 2012.

People still feel embarrassed about the size of their gift and would rather the couple didn’t know how much they’d spent.

Of particular note though is that the number who think that giving money towards a mortgage is a good idea as a wedding gift has risen from 18% to 21%. Perhaps this is a result of the difficulties people are facing getting on the property ladder?

Richard Tolchard, Senior Mortgage Product Manager comments: “By offsetting their wedding cash against their mortgage newlywed homeowners could save money, knock years off their mortgage term and have access to vital funds if they need them.”

MoneyHighStreet comments: “If you are planning your wedding no doubt you will have a wedding checklist to follow. Perhaps ideas for a wedding present will feature on it but so too will there need to be such as buying a wedding dress, buying wedding rings, organising a honeymoon and so on.

“Don’t forget to at least consider buying wedding insurance – with the average wedding costing some £20,000 you really do need to make sure you have everything covered.

“Your wedding should be the most memorable day of your life – and for the right reasons!

“That’s why you need to strike a balance between the cost of your wedding insurance, and what it covers.

“For real peace of mind, we recommend you start your search with companies that specialise in wedding insurance, and have an excellent track record of putting problems right – fast.

“Three companies that are particularly popular are John Lewis and Debenhams (both of which also offer excellent wedding list services), and Weddingplan. Insurance from all three can be used to cover civil partnership ceremonies too.”

Wedding inspiration at the Royal Show

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INLSA

The Pietermaritzburg Caledonia band at the show.

To find out what’s hip and happening when it comes to the latest in wedding style trends, the place to be is the Daily News Special Occasions Hall at the Pietermaritzburg Royal Show. From designer dresses to groom garb, the expo is full of magical ideas sure to inspire.

Whether your vibe is modern, vintage or classical, wedding planners agree that the colour theme will set the tone for your special day.

“The blue side of the spectrum, particularly the bright and deep blues, are today’s new and exciting colour choices. Navy is being used in a big way for the first time, paired with silver/white or with a contrast colour such as bright pink or lemon,” says Miss Turner wedding co-ordinator Gelinda Turner.

“Other hot colours are purple, particularly the deeper shades and tones of sassy red paired with silver, rather than the traditional gold. Orange and spring green give a fun and lively feel and are great shades for spring and summer weddings.”

Wedding gowns on the international catwalks are romantic and flowing floor-length styles with ruffles, satin sashes (at the waist), and delicate floral details.

“Most dress silhouettes are refined and include the delicate overlaying of fabrics such as chiffon, tulle and lace,” says Kim Clarke, owner of Belle Bravado’s, which offers affordable retail and hire of wedding attire. Strapless wedding gowns are perennial favourites, but this season has brought back the off-the-shoulder look for brides who want to accentuate their neckline or draw attention to gorgeous jewellery.”

Shorter trains and veils, especially the birdcage veil, are popular, as are pretty boleros and shawls.

For a touch of stylish sparkle, pearls, diamonds, rhinestones and crystals remain the top jewellery choice for necklaces and earrings.

Consider accenting with a Swarovski brooch on the dress, in the hair or on the bouquet handle.

When it comes to dressing the man of the day, the fashion mood for 2012/13 is grey – from pale dove through to dark charcoal. “Shirts are generally white with the colour coming in the tie,” says Rudy Queijo from Suits On The Move.

For a beach wedding, the groom in a casual linen suit or pants and jacket in a pale beige or white with a white shirt hanging out is a handsome look.

The expo closes on Saturday.