It’s a well-known fact that a beautiful table setting complements almost any style of food.  Never forget that first impressions are nearly always determined by decoration and layout of the table and the that they set tone of a meal . Here are some tried and tested basic rules to help you set the perfect table.

Try to match the style of your table to the type of food you are serving, e.g. a country lunch in the open will look much better served on a pretty gingham tablecloth with plain crockery than on a starched white linen cloth laid with cut glass, bone china and polished silver. Read more »

Your child’s first birthday party is both wondrous and joyous. It is a formal recognition that the baby you were expecting with such excitement has not only been born but is now old enough to celebrate its very first birthday party! This however is the one birthday party that will probably mean more to you and your family and friends than it will to your child. A small baby will not even be aware that he or she is the guest of honour and will therefore have no expectations whatsoever. Read more »

In times past getting engaged was the first step towards a lifetime of “wedded bliss”. Protocol was more rigid than today, for example it was the norm to ask a father for his daughter’s hand in marriage and long engagements were not unusual while a couple saved hard to put a home together. Things are much more free and easy these days, but nevertheless it pays to understand the implication of becoming engaged and look at a few down-to-earth questions and answers.Should your man ask for your father’s permission to marry you?

It really depends on your dad since he would only be asked as a matter of courtesy. Judge whether he would be flattered and also check out whether your man would be too embarrassed to broach the subject. Read more »

You may marry by either civil or religious ceremony. A civil ceremony is allowed to take place in a register officer or other approved premises licensed for marriage – hotels, stately homes etc. By law these premises must have a roof and be a permanent structure, for example you may get married on a permanently moored boat but not one that is moving up and down a river. Neither may you get married in a garden, but you may find a licensed conservatory, which opens out onto a beautiful garden. Read more »

Candles have been around at parties for centuries, more than any other form of lighting, and are still very much used today as nothing captures a romantic mood like the flickering glow of candlelight. Even the most drab venue can be transformed with the clever use of candles. Take a look at some of our candle ideas which may inspire you to come up with a few of your own. Do remember to never to leave lighted candles in an unsupervised room, as they are always a potential fire hazard - no matter how safe they look. Read more »

It can be difficult at times choosing which type of wedding ceremony to have on your big day. Deciding between a traditional church wedding or a relatively straight-forward civil ceremony can sometimes be a bone of contention between the happy couple and their close relatives or even, at times, a source of disagreement between the bride and groom themselves. If you are really stuck on choice consider the options laid out below. Read more »

Flowers for your party or event are one of the final decorative touches that pulls everything else together. For this reason alone they should be chosen with great care as they are not only a visual expression of the occasion but also of your personality and taste. Choose a florist preferably from personal recommendation or if necessary from the internet or yellow pages. Arrange a meeting first of all to make sure that you gel with the person who is going to have a prominent role in your party plans. Read more »