Weddings

Feb 22 2008

Something old... something new

When it comes to following traditions, tying the knot can throw up a wealth of dilemmas.

If you don’t go to church, hate the thought of a big white dress, or simply want to put a more original spin on your big day, perhaps a traditional white wedding just isn’t for you.

"A lot of decisions depend on who’s paying,’ says Kate Smallwood, editor of www.confetti.co.uk, the UK’s top website for all things wedding-related. "Today, people are getting married a little later in life and often paying for much of their own wedding. So unless your family are paying – in which case they really should have a say – it really is your own decision.’ Though older relatives may still balk at the idea of a savoury wedding cake or a bright red dress, you can often settle on a happy medium between the traditional and the trendy. The split between civil and religious ceremonies is currently half and half, according to Kate. In the UK, a religious ceremony is conducted in a church, but a civil ceremony can be in a register office or – thanks to the 1994 Marriage Act – any venue that holds a civil ceremony licence.

This has opened up a wealth of weird and wonderful locations for non-traditional brides-to-be.

"You can get married on the London Eye, or at a football club, so if you’ve got a really big interest in something, you can probably try and work that into your ceremony," says Kate.

Another option is getting married abroad, with around 10% of British couples now tying the knot overseas.

"If you’re getting married for the second or third time, marrying abroad means it’s completely different, and often more intimate. It’s also really easy – you can simply ring up, book it, and it’s all there when you arrive.

"White hasn’t been traditional for wedding dresses for all that long," reveals Kate. "It was because Queen Victoria wore a white dress. But before that, girls would just wear their best dress."

Today, a full-length white gown is commonly associated with purity. Bridal gowns of ancient times were actually brightly coloured to signify joy.

"A lot of girls stick to the traditional white dress, but they might choose it in a more contemporary style," adds Kate. "A lot of bridal designers have introduced coloured dresses as part of their range; it’s not seen as a particularly unusual thing to wear a colour or a dramatic trim. While personal taste plays a large part, Kate says it’s important to match your dress to your venue.

"There are various venues where a traditional white dress would just look daft. If you’re getting married somewhere really contemporary or on a beach, you don’t want a big white meringue."

However, if you are having a church ceremony, there should be an element of respect.

"The ceremony is the serious bit, so if you really want to do the cleavage thing, you might put a wrap around your shoulders.

"Alternatively, some girls will have two dresses and change from something virginal in the day to something sexy in the evening."

The wedding veil is also a moot point. Traditionally, it served to ward off evil spirits and hide the bride’s face until the groom had committed to the marriage. However, given that today’s grooms generally tend to know what their bride looks like, many modern brides opt for a tiara or flowers and a slick of lip gloss instead.

Let them eat cake? Essentially, the wedding cake is a fertility symbol, though fortunately, the Roman tradition of breaking the cake over the bride’s head has now fallen by the wayside.

The traditional British wedding cake is a fruitcake, with the top tier representing the couple and saved for the christening of their first child. While fruitcake can last a few months, it’s best to freeze it and re-ice it before eating if you decide to stick to this tradition. But, even if you opt for fruit cake, you don’t have to decorate it with regular white icing. Why not personalise it with an unusual theme, or create a novelty masterpiece?

However, if you’re just not into fruitcake, or are worried about nut allergies, Kate points out that there are acceptable alternatives: "Some elderly relatives will really want a fruitcake, so girls will often have a fruitcake tier, and then they might have a chocolate tier and a carrot cake tier."

Realise your dreams

CREATIVE, unique, cosmopolitan, Cambric Gowns draws upon a wealth of expertise to provide a complete bridal service within a professional and friendly environment in the historic market town of Mold.

Cambric Gowns provides the very best from the world of bridal fashion to create the perfect look for today’s bride, bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride, groom and guests.

This year Cambric Gowns, based at 43 High Street, celebrates its 10th anniversary and will mark this with extra special celebratory offers throughout the year.

Experienced staff are always ready to offer advice. Their expertise within the bridal and design industry and high level of customer service, is renowned throughout the area and further afield.

Since the business began, Cambric Gowns has developed a reputation for its extensive designer collections and exclusive design and couture service; the design team works with clients to create unique gowns – from elegant simplicity to elaborate glamour.

The talented team behind the couture service can provide a myriad of options – from the gown itself through to stunning, hand-crafted tiaras and jewellery – which add the perfect finishing touch to your look.

The extensive designer collection of bridal, occasion and prom wear, is sourced from leading worldwide bridal manufacturers.

To book a consultation, call 01352 753010 or e-mail designers@cambricgowns.com (appointments recommended, late night Thursdays by request).

Staff look forward to helping you realise your dreams.

Foundation of success

The gown is wonderful – an exquisite creation of satin and lace that took weeks to find but was more than worth the effort.

It’s incredibly romantic, the colour is perfect, the style simple but stunning. There is only one thing that could spoil this vision of bridal loveliness...the wrong underwear.

Brides spend so much time and effort choosing their gowns that often their lingerie gets overlooked – but it is as equally important.

Wearing the wrong underwear can spoil the look of the gown with lumps and bumps visible where smooth lines are essential. And not only has it got to look good and hold everything in place, but it’s also got to feel good.There is no point in choosing pretty underwear only to find yourself spending the whole of your big day adjusting your straps and knicker-line. When you go to choose your gown, try to wear seam-free, neutral-coloured underwear to provide as smooth a base as possible. Once you have decided on a gown you can then go on to think about underwear. Obviously, if your gown is strapless then you will need a strapless bra but apart from the basic shape, there are many things to consider.

Always make comfort a priority because you will have so many things to consider on the day other than your underwear. And always go and get properly measured for a bra.

All the good lingerie departments employ trained fitters and very often women who have guessed at their own bra size for years will find that they have been wearing the wrong size.

A good-fitting bra should stay in a level line around your bust and back all day.

If it rides up it’s an indication that it’s too big. If it digs in then it’s obviously too small.

Remember too, that there are lots of different styles now available to give you just the look you want. Small busts can be enhanced by padded, underwired or push-up bras which will help create a cleavage.

Putting on the style...

SUE Huntington's shop in Heswall boasts two floors of fabulous merchandise.

The ground floor is smart-casual and full of lovely spring colours, while the first floor is glamour all the way for mother-of-the-bride/groom and evening wear.

Sue’s staff are friendly and have the experience to help you put an outfit together – from head to toe, including the fabulous accessories. The shop is a major stockist of Whiteley hats and Renata shoes and bags and also keeps a range of jewellery.

Sue has two major charity fashion shows a year, the next one is on March 12 at Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight. Always a great night out, this has become a must in the diaries of the ladies of Wirral.

Tickets are available from Sue Huntington, 195 Telegraph Road, Heswall. More details on 0151 342 6434.

Beautiful bouquets

Flowers are the finishing touch to every wedding but, in their own way, just as important as the dress.

They set the style for the whole occasion so it’s important to find a florist you trust and one who shares both your dreams and your ideas of budget.

Make an appointment with your favourite florists and, if possible, ask to see photographs of flowers they have done for other brides.

Take along pictures of flowers you like, as well as wedding details: fabric swatches, dates, etc.

As a rough estimate, 5% of your total wedding budget is the average spend on all things floral. A good florist should be able to come up with designs you love and keep within your budget.

To keep an eye on cost, choose flowers that are in season. But if there is a particularly expensive flower you absolutely must have, you could use it sparingly, perhaps just in the bridal bouquet.

Sometimes simple can be stunning, especially when it comes to fragrance. Surprisingly few blooms are needed to create a lovely fragrance if flowers chosen are lily of the valley, hyacinths, frangipani, mimosa, jasmine, sweet peas or snowdrops – a couple in the table decorations can make all the difference.

Make a list of all the areas in your wedding where you would like to see flowers; at the church, reception venue, the bride’s bouquet, bridesmaids’ flowers, buttonholes and table decorations. Fresh petals can be scattered over tables or arrangements tied to the back of chairs.

Probably the most important flower arrangement of the day is the bride’s bouquet. Different flowers hold different meanings and colour and style should be matched to the style of the dress. A large bouquet could overpower a simple, elegant dress, for example.

However, this is the bride’s day, and if she wants a bouquet of pure white camellias or alternatively, a delicate posy of fragrant bluebells, then that is her prerogative and most florists would aim to do exactly that.