Nothing captures the spirit of your wedding day like a beautiful wedding photo album crammed full of wonderful moments captured forever on film or a candid and fun video of the whole day. Choose your wedding photographer or videographer carefully as you only get one shot at your wedding with no retakes.

An inept wedding photographer or videographer will certainly ruin your big day, and all the years that follow, if they take poor pictures or miss the best moments. Find a reputable wedding photographer and videographer by asking previous brides who they would recommend. Make sure they get it right first time and do a good job. Read more »

The single most important quality of the successful party host is to recognise the need to supply absolute comfort and enjoyment to each and every guest whilst at the same time keeping a watchful eye open for drunks, bores and badly behaved children of all ages – not an easy task! For a smooth running party, that maintains its air of conviviality, it helps both hosts and guests if a few basic rules of etiquette are followed. There is no real mystery about etiquette, it is just another word for good manners and consideration but it can be helpful for both party givers and guests to have some firm guidelines . Read more »

It is an established tradition that, to show their appreciation for all the help and support they have received, the bride and groom purchase gifts for all members of the wedding party.

In addition to the bride and groom (who will find something really special for each other) the wedding party normally consists of the best man, all the bridesmaids - including the chief bridesmaid or matron of honour, page boys, flower girl, ushers and of course both sets of parents.

This charming custom means that carefully chosen gifts ensure that parents and attendants, who give their time generously, are made to feel special and fully recognised for all the hard work they have put in both before and during the wedding. Also in years to come they will have a happy reminder of your big day. Read more »

A wedding gift list has traditionally always been a way to help set up newly-weds with a few home comforts. Friends and family of the happy couple have access to a list of what the bride and groom would like to receive as a wedding gift.

It is a polite way of saying exactly what you want and then hoping that a few generous souls will cough up for the digital TV or the brass bedstead. It is also a way of allowing less well off guests get you something you really need at a price they can afford. Read more »

Cocktail parties are one of the most flexible and easy ways to bring a large gathering of people together. You don’t need to worry about table plans, guests can circulate freely and more or less come and go as they please. A cocktail party is a great way of returning hospitality as without the complications of of organising formalised seating. Also, another huge advantage of holding a cocktail party is that many different social or business sectors can mix far more easily, feeling comfortable that they can move on round the room if they are bored or start to feel out their depth. Read more »

Wedding insurance is vital because no matter how well you plan for your wedding to be one of the best days of your life, things unfortunately, can still go wrong.

You may have to postpone the wedding because of an accident or sudden death of a relative, your dress may get ruined just before the wedding or your wedding venue could burn to the ground - yes believe it or not this has actually happened! Read more »

Years ago hen nights were fairly sober affairs when women would get together to examine the contents of the bottom drawer and exchange gossip, with a bottle of champagne or a few drinks. Now, however, women are liberated, adventurous and often well-heeled enough to push the boat out in the most extraordinary fashion. It has now become passé to settle for a few drinks in the pub, most brides-to-be these days want to have a last fling before settling down to marital responsibility. Read more »