But what if I told you there is another, even more powerful way to remember your wedding?

Scenting your wedding

Imagine this – it’s two years after your wedding and you come home from work, promptly boil the kettle and then sit down with a cuppa tea and light your Bergamot and Patchouli candle. You’ve just pulled it out of the box and smile seeing it. Sitting it down you tender a match to it and almost instantly, after that first sniff, the scent sneaks into your nostrils and immediately you’re transformed back to your wedding day.

The speeches are going on and you’re looking around the room at all the happy faces celebrating your day. As the aroma gets stronger you’re now suddenly back on the dance floor and its your first dance as husband and wife. You can almost feel his hands on you.

Then after your third sip, you’re at the end of the evening sitting around a table with your mum sharing a moment as only mothers and daughters do on a wedding day. The candle flame flickers and dances sending the scent skywards – your mum hugs you goodnight and then you leave back to your room.

Scent is a powerful memory enhancer – our sense of smell is closely linked with memory, probably more so than any of our other senses. One reason this could be has to do with the way your brain processes scent and memories. Smells get routed through the smell-analyzing region in your brain which is closely connected to your amygdala and hippocampus, regions of your brain that handle memory and emotion.

So, not only does scenting your wedding give you a wonderful way to evoke memories of that beautiful day that you can soak yourself in again and again every time you light your wedding scent, but it will also make it your wedding unique to you and your guests. Anyone can chose pink, purple or polka dots but choosing your own scent brings your wedding to life in a way that is personal and transformative to you and your guests only.

A single sniff will instantly transform you to some of the greatest memories of your life. And imagine the anniversary presents henceforth.

And now you can choose vegan soy wax candles that are sustainable and non-toxic to scent your wedding. Choose a Willow and Tea Luxury scented candle in scents like Coconut and Lime, Bergamot and Patchouli, Wood Sage and Sea Salt or for a Christmas wedding their Winter Cheer is beautifully Christmassy but not sickly and over done with cinnamon.

Scent your wedding knowing you’re choosing for you and the environment. Luxury scented candles add atmosphere, ambience and that special je n’ais se quoi that will be unique to you and remind you forever of your gorgeous wedding day.

Where to shop for a mother of the bride outfit

In the past, buying a suitable outfit on the High Street for a spring wedding would have been difficult. Up until fairly recently only specialist retailers really stocked the right type of clothing. But, that has definitely changed.  Now you can just go here for a range of styles that will work well for most women.

Choose an outfit that has a jacket

Because you can never be sure what the weather is going to do, it is very important that the outfit includes a jacket of some sort. On a bright sunny day, a sleeveless dress can easily be worn on its own, with maybe a luxury wrap. But, if on the day of there is a brisk wind this would not be practical. For a day like that, the mother-of-the-bride needs to be able to don a jacket for extra warmth. This is the case even if the ceremony is being held in an indoor venue. The majority of places of worship are so big that they are almost impossible to heat properly. This is usually also true of many secular wedding ceremony venues, especially barns and double-height rooms in historic buildings.

Spring wedding hat considerations

Most mothers-of-the-bride like to wear a hat. This is understandable because doing so really does make the whole outfit look really special.

When buying a hat for a spring wedding there are a few extra things that you have to bear in mind. Firstly, you need to be able to keep it on. The chances of a gust of wind whisking it off your head are higher in the spring than in the summer. So, be sure to choose one that enables you to use a hat pin or secure the hat in some other way.

The hat also needs to be able to endure a spring shower without losing its shape. You also need to make sure that it is colourfast. Should any dye be washed out from the hat, there is a good chance that it will ruin anything it comes into contact with.

Be particularly careful when choosing footwear

You also need to bear the weather in mind when choosing footwear. It needs to be waterproof and to be able to withstand walking through a puddle or two. Potentially, you can still wear satin, but you will need to follow the advice that you can find here.

More mother-of-the-bride outfit tips

If you would like additional tips to help the mother of the bride to choose her wedding outfit, you can find some here. The article is all about dressing for an outdoor event, but the advice there should still prove useful for a late spring wedding.

Don’t worry, you can still have your fairy tale dress and mobile bar if you really want, however, the guide below contains a few simple but money saving ideas that will hopefully ease the eye watering price tag of marriage!

Know your budget

This is crucial. Only when you know your budget will you know how you can tackle it and bring it down! Instead of asking yourself what you want, ask yourself what can you afford to spend? Remember, the key here is to stay grounded. A simple, close knit family and friends get together will be far more special and memorable than an expensive party for 250 people, most of who you haven’t spoken to for years.

Prioritise

Now you know your budget, you can figure out how much you have to spend on each part of your wedding. Prioritising what it is that YOU want. Yes, your soon to be mother in law might think a 4-tier wedding cake made of fruitcake and marzipan is traditional and therefore a must – but she’s not the one getting married, or paying for it! So, make sure you don’t fall into the trap of what is “traditional” and what you “must have”, times and styles have moved on, and weddings are more personal these days.

Discuss between you what is more important. Yes, you might want a fancy wedding car to take you to the reception, but would you prefer an all-inclusive, 5* honeymoon instead? Make a list and stick to it!

Choose your big day carefully

The venue itself is a huge chunk of any wedding budget, so to keep costs down, choose an unconventional day to get married. Unpopular days such as Fridays or Sundays will get you a cheaper price – as will midweek days. If you’re not superstitious then Friday the 13th is often discounted!

Many photographers will offer discounted prices during quieter periods, so you can also save money there too.
A midweek wedding might mean that some guests might not make it, but that could also save you money too. Every cloud

Talented friends

Now is the time to get in touch with those friends who have hidden talents and get them involved! Do you know someone who is a great baker who could create you a wedding cake? Do you know a budding photographer who could take photographs on the big day? Does someone you know have a classic car you could borrow for transport?

The possibilities are endless. With a little imagination you can have the wedding of your dreams for a fraction of the price!

Historically, 90% of the gym would be filled with men and the only exercise women would get is chasing after their children. But since we have seen a shift in society with women earning the same as men and being treated equally in the workplace, we have experienced a major gender turn in the fitness world as a result.

In recent years, with a wealth of information and resource readily available for women on how to exercise in the correct way, more ladies are beginning to steadily work their way up that fitness ladder – with many even becoming an inspiration for us all.

Do Something You Love

First thing’s first, it is important to choose a form of exercise that you are going to enjoy as there’s not much point taking up an activity that you are going to dread.

In the long run, doing something you don’t enjoy will only result in endless excuses and sessions being missed repeatedly until you drop off the wagon and end up feeling guiltier than you did to begin with! We all know getting in to shape requires dedication, determination, consistency and commitment, but to make the process a little less gruelling, it’s a good idea to pick something you look forward to – remember, motivation is key.

Don’t Feel Intimidated

Many women feel insecure about themselves in some way or another; it’s an emotion pretty much all of us have, but whilst you are criticising yourself, don’t forget, even that woman right at the front of Zumba class with her endless energy and abs of steel has insecurities too.

You have to start somewhere; no matter what sport you opt for; the experts, the athlete’s, the pro’s; they were all beginners once. They all started from the very bottom and will probably look at you with respect for starting your very own journey.

Manageable Milestones

Always ensure you begin with completely manageable goals, don’t promise yourself you are going to do an hour of exercise every single day if it is not something you can realistically commit to. Work out something you can fit into your life and stick to it – and if you just happen to do a little extra it’s a bonus – just ensure you set an achievable target.

If you have a short attention span then limit yourself to just 20-30 minutes of exercise per session; if you prefer endurance then you can give yourself a little longer – it’s all about what works best for you. You can be flexible with your regime; flexibility is key to sticking with something, so allow room for it.

Always Ask

If you are unsure about how to use something or where something goes, just ask! A lot of fitness and gym equipment can look confusing – even rigs like those from RB Fitness Equipment can look intimidating and you might end up getting put off before even knowing where to start! In reality, these kinds of rigs are good fun and you’d be surprised at the various types of exercise and moves you can do on them.

Many people in the fitness world will be more than happy to support you in any way they can; it’s often a great boost for them as they get to polish up on their own skills whilst helping you. You can also learn a lot from other people – for example, if you strike up a conversation on how to use the leg-press machine in the gym, throw in a question or two about what weight range would be the best for beginners and how quickly you could progress?

If you can apply some or all of the above tips, you could very well be on your way to a healthier, fitter you in no time. You will find that you will eventually get to a point where exercise is just a normal part of your daily regime and you’d feel completely lost without it!

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These have all come from various people and places and are each said to help you create the wedding of your dreams. With that said let’s have a look at what these trends are.

For Food

Local – More people seem to be realising that locally grown food is not only healthier, but it tastes a lot better too. As one of the trends for 2018, this should bring in more fruit and vegetable to the wedding menu. This particular trend is great for those on a tight budget as there will be no high delivery prices for food and it may even be that you make and deliver the food to the venue the day before in order to further save. However, as long as it’s locally grown and bought, it shouldn’t cost you much.

Fresh – Fresh food generally tastes better and offers a lot more nutrients. Whilst it may be a celebration it’s important that you give your guests a healthy option and the best food. Fresh food also goes hand in hand with locally grown food, this means that not only are you supporting local business and saving money but your food will be as fresh as humanly possible as it won’t need to travel far.

Creative – Something that is said to take off in 2018 is creative food. These are dishes that aren’t generally placed together but have been in order to serve a quirky dish. Not only can this be a creative way to serve but also unique, and you can also give your guests the option to choose which dishes they would like to mix.

For Drink

Go Hot – Although weddings are meant to be a celebratory occasion with alcohol, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the drink has to be cold. More weddings are supplying hot drinks that are mixed with alcohol, but of course, this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea so it’s best to give a wide variety of options. From luxuries such as premium coffee to vodka, give your guests the option to mix.

Cocktails – Cocktails have been a fashionable drink for some time, but they are said to become extremely popular at weddings. Ideal for those having a summer wedding this trend could be one that sticks around. Everyone likes a drink at a wedding and with a large variety of cocktails, theirs bound to be something for everyone.

To Serve

Minimalist – One trend that has appeared popular is to serve food in a minimalist fashion and it’s said to be trending way into the new year. This is ideal for any wedding and can look spectacular. However, it is a trend that your guests might not like. If there isn’t enough food on plates or menu then guests may be left hungry, so if you are going for a minimalist style, serve more.

Buffet – Buffets have been popular since they were first thought of and while they have been used as a way to serve food at weddings for years, it appears that this is a trend that has not died out. Giving guests a larger variety of food and allowing them to eat as much as they want has proven to be a great serving choice both with the wedding party and of course, the guests. Follow this trend into 2018 and you know your guests will be happy.

Some of these trends might be perfect for your big day but remember you don’t always need to follow trends, you can make your day unique by serving food and drink in a completely different way.

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Food plays such an important role in everyone’s Christmas – and if you’re in charge of the Christmas party food this year, then it can be a little daunting as to what to serve. How to serve it and can you actually please everyone?

But not to worry – here we’ve collected a list of party food ideas that’ll make your Christmas bash go with a bang! Even when the kids have gone up to bed!

Hog Roast

Yes. Sometimes the simpler ideas can really take your guests breath away! A hog roast ticks all the boxes. Not only does it look impressive, but it smells divine. Some may say that it’s not a traditional Christmas treat, but not everyone is a fan of turkey or goose! Many hog roast companies like you can see on this website, even offer different meats, should you want to cater for everyone’s tastes.

And the best part is: clean up is minimal. No extensive buffet tables to clean up, and plates and plates of uneaten food to throw away when everyone has gone. Most hog roast companies will take away any waste, leaving you with one less thing to worry about this Christmas.

The classic buffet

Now don’t be fooled. Many people think that buffets involve cold soggy sandwiches, and day-old turkey legs. But these days, a Christmas buffet is a totally different ball game. Firstly, the amount of effort you put into it, is entirely up to you. Whether you want to make 200 decadent sandwiches with the crusts cut off and a Christmas cake adorned with a sugar paste Father Christmas or you’d just rather buy frozen food and cook it as the party goes on, is completely up to you.

But the beauty of buffets is that you can cater to everyone’s tastes and dietary requirements. Making you an extra popular host if one of your Gluten-free guests doesn’t have to miss out on the festivities. If you really want to make your buffet sparkle, consider a table centre piece. Glitter and festive confetti in and around the bowls and plates. And always make sure your guests have their plates (and glasses) filled!

Cheese and wine

This one is strictly for grown ups, and perhaps only your nearest and dearest. Serving cheese and wine can be a classy and budget-friendly way of getting everyone feeling festive and is a nice alternative to a heavy plates full of food.

Supermarkets now have a wide selection of cheese from all around the world to locally sourced products from down the road. And as for wine? You don’t have to spend a bomb to get that classy Christmas feel. Many stores do great deals on alcohol so you can get a great selection of wines and spirits without breaking the bank this Christmas!

Searching for and finally discovering your perfect artist can easily become a stressful and daunting task. So where to begin? Here you’ll find a few hints and tips to help point you in the right direction, and get you down the aisle looking stunning – both inside and out.

Get to know stylists and artists in your area

Unless you are absolutely sure about what kind of hair and make-up you want to have for the wedding, you need to do some research. Check make-up artists and hair stylists in your area, and look at galleries of real brides on their websites – do you like their work? Do the pictures show a variety of styles? Check their testimonials as well. Someone like Sarah Meredith from Manchester is ideal for researching past wedding work.

However, if their website isn’t flowing with images, glittering testimonials and examples of their work, then perhaps move on.

Remember: The best way to judge someone’s work is to look at their work on real brides, so you can see actual hair styles that were created to last all day – not just for a photo shoot – and make-up that makes the average girl look amazing. Bear in mind that models get paid because they look fabulous on camera! By all means, if you find a look you like then make a note of it, but best examples of someone’s bridal works comes from their work on real brides.

Get in touch with your local salon

If you have a hair stylist you see regularly, and you are thinking about hiring them to work their magic, you need to enquire how experienced (and talented) they are at putting hair up and creating different styles – just because they are great at cutting and colouring, doesn’t mean they’ll be able to arrange your hair into an impressive style that has to last all day too!

If you do choose someone from a hair salon or an agency, be sure to check that the person who will do your trial will be the same one who will come to do your hair on your wedding day – otherwise there isn’t much point to the trial!

And remember!

Make sure you get on well with the person you choose – it’s as important as liking their work! You’ll be spending all morning of your big day with them, you may be nervous or anxious, and getting ready is a very important part of your day – you need to feel relaxed and at ease with the person you choose.

Above image: Linus Moran Photography

It is important to choose a theme that is really close to your hearts. So if your first date was to go and watch the Avengers at the cinema then you could go for a superhero theme. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the dress code is lycra and capes, just to have a little superhero twist to your look. For example, a Wonder Woman tiara or Superman cuff links or designer tie pins. You can always just have a fun theme for the evening do and keep it more serious and formal in the day.

Halloween – It is that time of year when people start watching scary films and going to Halloween parties dressed up as ghosts, evil characters and zombies. If you love this time of year then a Halloween theme could be ideal.

Princess – Always dreamed of being a princess? Well on your special day, you should be able to be whatever you want to be. You may remember Katie Price and Peter Andre’s wedding some years ago where she arrived in a carriage that looked like it had popped straight out of a Walt Disney film. They went on to release a cover of the Aladdin song ‘A whole new world’ just to squeeze in that extra amount of publicity. You probably don’t have the budget or inclination to match this but a princess theme can be classy and stylish and will stand out from the norm.

Festival – Maybe you met at a festival or you love going to them? Why not get married at a festival? You don’t have to book out a tent at Glastonbury, just bring the festival to your venue. With a couple of different musical acts and a nicely sized field, you could have the perfect festival wedding.

Victorian – Period dramas have been all the rage in recent years and nothing quite says ‘elegant wedding’ like a Victorian theme. With corsets and suit tails and a replica Victorian style dress, the ladies and gentleman of the manor will have a splendid time!

Museum – More non-traditional venues are now offering to host weddings like museums, zoos and aquariums. Marry your penguin-suited groom amongst the penguins or have a whale of a time at the aquarium. It definitely won’t be a wedding that is forgotten anytime soon.

Game of Thrones – The hottest TV series of the year had millions of viewers on the edge of their seats. Each week would slowly pass whilst awaiting the next instalment of GoT. If you loved Game of Thrones and its characters, then why not choose that as your theme. The Queen of Meeren and Jon Snow ended up in each other’s arms at the end of the last series, so the two characters could be ideal. It’s probably a good idea to only invite the dragons to the evening do, as you don’t want them to steal the show!

Make your wedding the most memorable of the year with a theme that will blow your guests’ minds!

Your wedding has a theme, you will no doubt have put in ample time considering the how you plan to decorate your venue. The colour scheme and style of decoration are key to ensuring that the big day is every bit as special as you imaged it would be.

Decorating the Venue

At this late stage of planning the wedding, you will have hopefully met with the venue on a number of occasions to discuss proceedings, such as the time you have the venue, the number of guests that will be attending and itinerary including catering. Often, the venue staff will be happy to assist with decorating, and may actually throw this into the package that they offer.

Before going out and buying decorations, liaise with the staff at the venue to find out what you can and cannot do. Some venues will be more willing to accommodate than others, and you will be the ones responsible for clearing up afterwards, so consider the logistics of what decoration you wish to use.

To save on the amount of waste, try to take an eco-logical approach with your wedding with decorations such as bunting and table covers. By using materials that can be recycled or, better yet, re-used another day, you need not worry about waste that could needlessly harm the environment.

Have Fun With Decorating

Decorating should be fun because you are able to get as wild and crazy as you like. After all, it’s your day and if any of the guests aren’t fans of how you choose to decorate your wedding, then who cares? Whether you’re a traditionalist or live life on the edge, your wedding day should be a representation of who you are.

No matter if you are organising a massive wedding or a small and private event, there are numerous ways in which you can easily decorate your big day to suit you. Lighting effects work brilliantly in venues big or small, and provide an inexpensive method of setting the mood without the need for shelling out for premium options.

If you are looking to keep to a tight budget but still want your big day to be magical, cut corners with disposable cutlery and use the money saved on more luxury decorations. After all, why should you pay out for expensive plates and cutlery if you are never planning on using them again? You already have the dress that will only ever be worn once…

Ask For Help

Ask your friends and family to help with decorating the venue before the wedding. You will only have a few hours before everyone starts to arrive when you can get in and turn the venue into your desired setting of choice. You will already have more than enough to stress over without ensuring that you have the right amount of flowers on each table.

Your bridesmaids and groomsmen will be on hand to carry out such duties; it is in their job description after all. Delegate, delegate and delegate some more. Don’t feel as though you need to take on every last small job this close to the finish line.

When you have the perfect decorations in place, all that is left is to say the ‘I do’s and get the party started.

But, it is important to remember that it is also a special day for the mothers of the bride and groom. They are there to witness their children taking a big step and, often, they will both play a big role in the proceedings. Naturally, these ladies want to look their best so that they can feel as confident as possible and enjoy the day.

The best way to find the right outfit is to have a clear idea of what you need before you go shopping. If the wedding ceremony is taking place in an outdoor venue there are a few extra considerations.

The weather

With an outdoor wedding, the weather is an important consideration. Understandably, most outdoor ceremonies take place in the warmer months. This means that everyone needs to take steps to avoid getting sunstroke or sunburn. Often it is a good idea to include a hat in the outfit. If you really do not like them you could consider using a lace parasol instead.

However, you should never assume that it will be warm. It may rain, or be overcast. Therefore, you need to be ready for that eventuality too. That means including a wrap or jacket as part of your outfit.

You also need to bear in mind the fact that it might be a bit breezy on the day. If you do want to wear a hat you will need to make sure that you can use a hatpin with it to keep it securely in place. You need to think about how you wear your hair. If you have long hair leaving it loose may make getting good photos difficult. It is wise to have a backup plan, for example, a wide hair band that blends in with your outfit that you could use if the wind gets up.

Practical footwear

For an indoor venue, strappy sandals are fine for a summer wedding, but they would be a terrible choice for a forest wedding. In that setting, you would want to wear closed in shoes that would stop leaves and twigs from getting in.

The theme

Regardless of the above, it is very important that the outfits that the mothers of the bride and groom choose fit in with the overall theme of the wedding. The idea is for them to complement the bride and groom. This certainly does not mean that they have to wear the same style suit or dress, but the overall look should fit in with the theme.

There are some beautiful examples of mother of the bride outfits that are suitable for an outdoor wedding, on this page. This retailer caters for women of all ages, size and body types, so they are a great place to find the perfect outfit. Their website is well laid out and allows you to search by colour and brand, which makes it easy to narrow down your options fast.