Top 5 celebrity weddings of the decade....

Here are our top five favourite weddings from the past ten years....looking forward to seeing what weddings the next decade will bring!

ANDREA CORR AND BRETT DESMOND

Fresh-faced Andrea Corr married billionaire stockbroker Brett Desmond in a sparklingly lavish ceremony in August 2008. The beautiful bride wore a stunning strapless cream Vera Wang gown for the traditional church ceremony in County Clare, Ireland. The simple full-skirted dress featured a matching corsage adornment and satin waist bow. With her hair styled into a loose updo, Andrea embraced the typical bridal style with a floor-length ivory veil. The happy couple threw a lavish reception party for 400 of their closest friends, including the famous Corr family, Bono, Ali Hewson and Patrick Kielty.

IVANKA TRUMP & JARED KUSHNER WEDDING

500 guests were invted to the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey in October to witness the nuptials of Ivanka Trump and her publisher fiance Jared Kushner, including Russell Crowe, Natalie Portman and billionaire father-of-the-bride Donald Trump. The bride wore a delicate lace Grace Kelly-inspired dress with long billowing train.

GWEN STEFANI AND GAVIN ROSSDALE

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale exchanged vows during a traditional Anglican ceremony at St. Paul’s Covent Garden in London in 2002. Gwen wore a memorable custom-made pink and white silk Dior dress made by her friend and designer John Galliano, complete with an antique lace veil. Ms Stefani made a dramatic entrance after keeping guests waiting for almost an hour, before finally arriving in a blue Rolls Royce. To celebrate their first anniversary a year later, the happy couple took a special trip back to the church using the same car and driver. Sweet!

LIV TYLER AND ROYSTON LANGDON

When Liv Tyler married Royston Langdon in 2003 the couple had a double celebration, with a wedding in Barbados and one in New York. The bride looked stunning in an empire-line Alexander McQueen dress for the NY ceremony, where she partied with a host of celebrity friends, including Kate Hudson, David Bowie, Kirsten Dunst and Stella McCartney.

KATIE HOLMES AND TOM CRUISE

Following a whirlwind romance that became one of Hollywood's most talked about couplings of all time, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes wed in 2006 in a decadent ceremony at an Italian castle. Guests included Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez, the bride and groom both wore Armani and music came courtesy of Mark Ronson.

More weddings from the past decade can be viewed at Marie Claire.

Will you marry me? You are engaged!

Congratulations on your recent engagement!

The festive holiday season is a popular time for marriage proposals. Getting engaged is a very exciting time in a couple’s relationship. The initial whirlwind is a fabulous feeling of joy and excitement. Here are our top 3 things to do straight away when you become engaged (not necessarily in this order, the 3^rd tip seems a good one to start with!)….

Spread the word…

Don’t keep the news to yourself – spread the word! Start with immediate family and friends, everyone will want to congratulate you and be apart of your special news. Begin to think about your wedding party, do you have a best man or bridesmaid in mind? If so, then why not mention that you would like them to play an extra special part in your forth coming wedding celebration.

Pick a date/ choose a venue/ set a budget…

Even at this early stage it is good to discuss your preferred length of engagement and when you and your partner would like to get married. Set a rough date in your mind and mention it to your close family and friends so they do not plan any other events. Remember that the most popular months to get married will get booked up quickly, so if you wish to marry in the summer months (June – August) it is best to book your venue early and send out save the date cards. Planning a wedding takes many suppliers to book and co-ordinate for the celebration. Make a list of which suppliers are the most important to you. Each couple will vary, this could be the photography, the wedding dress, the cake or venue. Find out early on who is able to contribute to your wedding celebration (parents, grandparents, you and your partner) and discuss what you can afford with your budget in mind.

Pick the sparkler…

Maybe your partner has already presented you with an engagement ring or you could be off jewelry shops together. Remember to think ahead and consider your wedding ring, a huge engagement ring may seem a good idea now, but when combined with a wedding ring it may seem too much and difficult to match up.

Finally why not book an engagement photo shoot to celebrate your engagement? This will give you a little practice in front of the cameras before your big day! Sheffield based photographers, PH Weddings do a fantastic engagement shoot, The Wedding Daze can highly recommend them, their photography is fresh and unique in style.

Have a fabulous engagement & happy wedding planning!

Blog credit (image above): Style me pretty

Want to be featured on our wedding blog?

Are you a wedding supplier or wedding venue? Want to tell our readers about your product or service? Then why not be featured on your wedding blog.

If you would like us to feature your product or service then please email us:

emma@theweddingdaze.com or vincent@theweddingdaze.com

Look forward to hearing from you,

Emma & Vincent x

Wedding Calligraphy

From Facebook I found a fantastic supplier in the USA. Calligraphy by Jennifer is beautiful and elegant handwritten calligraphy for all occasions. Jennifer specialises in modern, traditional, and exquisite hand written lettering. This unique skill would look fabulous included in your wedding celebration. It could be added as wedding invitations, menu cards, envelopes, readings, poems, table names, name cards - the list is exhaustive! This beautiful hand written style, will wow your guests and make your wedding celebration stand out from the crowd!

Calligraphy by Jennifer will post to the UK, please visit their website for further information on this fantastic skill or join Jennifer's Facebook page

Take a peep above at the images for a taster of Calligraphy by Jennifer!

Wedding Wellington Boots...

The beautiful white snow is now beginning to melt in Yorkshire - boo! It has left the pathways and roads very slushy and wet. If you are getting married this winter, why not purchase a pair of bespoke wedding wellington boots! These are fabuous for keeping your feet nice and dry on your wedding day. They will also make for a very quirky set of wedding pictures, that will bring many memories for years to come.

The stunning pearlescent ones (pictured above) are from Weddington Boots and are available from January 2010. Designed by Jen Hewlett, Weddington Boots are hand manufactured using 100% high quality natural rubber, waterproof with soft cotton lining and EVA insole for added comfort. Available in gorgeous pearlescent white, they add a unique touch to your wedding day attire. Not only will your boots be the envy of all, but they can be customised to match any outfit or colour scheme with its changeable satin ribbon!

Why not stay a while & catch up The Wedding Daze blog posts......

Feel free to leave comments & follow our wedding blog! We would love to know what you think about us.

Wedding Music Alternative - Jukebox!

The wedding that we co-ordinated last week had a great alternative to a DJ or band - they had a retro style Jukebox! Jukebox hire is great for wedding receptions, house parties, office parties and corporate events. Jukeboxes are a great way of entertaining your guests and provide a visual showpiece. The jukebox provides an excellent focal point at your function. People enjoy choosing the music that they want to listen to and because they have had this input, more readily dance and enjoy themselves. It plays what you want to hear (unlike most DJs)! The Jukebox can play by itself whilst you are having your wedding breakfast or you can choose the tracks you wish it to play!

Jukeboxes are available to hire from £175 including delivery, set up and collection. We can highly recommend http://www.jukebox45s.co.uk

Lola by Marc Jacobs......

This recently launched perfume by Marc Jacobs is a personal favorite of mine. Lola's scent is a mixture of florals, exotic fruits, roses, vanilla, creamy musk, pear, and ruby red grapefruit are just a few of the elements that make up the eau de parfum. The bottle is stunning in design and the purple colour (very popular at the minute!) is eye catching.

This perfume would be prefect for a winter wedding. When choosing your wedding scent it is important that it refelcts your personailty as it will remind you of your special day for a life time....

Here are a couple of guidelines when choosing wedding perfume:

• When choosing your perfume, resist the temptation to try everyone in the shop in one visit, as soon you won't be able to distinguish one from the other. Take a notebook, and jot down the name of each one you like on each visit - trying only a couple at a time - 3 or 4 max.
  
• Don't pick your perfume according to what you smelt someone else wearing, as different scents smell very different on different people. Even your diet can effect how a smell is on you.
  
• If you have extremely oily skin, be aware that your perfume will be stronger on you than it would be on others. Meanwhile, if you have dry skin, pick a small bottle you can keep with you on the day as you will have to reapply it.
  
• If the perfume you choose also has a body lotion or eau de toilette in the collection, then applying these first thing in the morning, before adding your perfume later will build up layers of the scent, making it last longer.
  
• Be sure to apply your perfume to pulse points, as it is in these spots that blood vessels are closest to your skin. These areas give off more heat, to emphasise the perfume. Pulse points are your wrist, the crood of your arm and knee, behind your ear, and the base of your throat - all places you've probably always added perfume to, without really realising why!
  
• Perfume rises - so don't just apply it behind your ears otherwise it won't be long before the scent is lost. So apply it from your ankles upwards.
  
• Store your perfume, tightly sealed, in a cool dry place, as excessive heat and air can alter the scent.

Winter wedding boots....

Carrying on the theme from my last blog post, why not wear wedding boots if you are having a winter wedding. These fabulous lace up calf length satin bridal boot, with lace overlay are available with or without a glitter heel! They are also available in lace available in white or ivory!

These would definitely keep your toes warm on your wedding day and free from snow! They are from Bespoke Big Day, who stock a fantastic range of bridal shoes which are available to order on-line!

Winter wedding dress coat.....

The recent weather in the UK has been very cold! We have seen a dramatic drop in temperatures and lots of fabulous snow! It really does feel like Christmas! This got me thinking about all the winter weddings that are taking place at the time of year and what is the best attire to wear. You will still want to wear your dream wedding dress, but many dresses can be off the shoulder, exposing your neck and shoulders. To keep warm whilst on your way to your wedding ceremony or whilst having your photographs taken, why not wear a wedding dress coat. They are fabulous to cover your arms and neck and are still stylishly designed to complement any style of wedding dress. The silk wedding coat above is from Vera Wang, it is very beautiful and would fantastic in a winter wedding ceremony!

A festive thanks from Emma & Vincent...

We would like to wish all our past, present and future clients/suppliers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 2009 has been fantastic for us, it has been the start of a very enjoyable and exciting wedding and event planning business.

We are very much looking forward to continuing the business in 2010. This is a big year for us, as we are getting married ourselves (very excited!). We will also have a couple of exciting projects to announce in the New Year, so watch this space!

Once again, many thanks for your support - have a fabulous festive break!

Wedding wishes,

Emma & Vincent x x x

The Key to Love - Wedding Reading

A fabulous reading for your wedding ceremony, perhaps a bridesmaid or the groom's father could read this poem.....

The Key to Love

The key to love is understanding…

The ability to comprehend not only the spoken word

But those unspoken gestures,

The little things that say so much by themselves.

The key to love is forgiveness…

To accept each others faults and pardon mistakes

Without forgetting, but with remembering

What you learn from them.

The key to love is sharing…

Facing your good fortune as well as the bad, together.

Both conquering problems, forever searching for ways

To intensify your happiness

The key to love is giving…

Without thought of return,

But with the hope of just a simple smile

And by giving in but never giving up.

The key to love is respect…

Realising that you are two separate people, with different ideas.

That you don’t belong to each other,

You belong with each other, and share a mutual bond.

The key to love is inside us all…

It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients.

It is the continual learning process that demands a lot of work….

But the rewards are more than worth the effort…

And that is the key to love!

Author Unknown

Amanda Wyatt Bridal Wear

Vincent and I are getting married in July 2010 (very excited!), after many months of looking through the wedding magazines and websites I choose an Amanda Wyatt wedding gown from Hoops a Daisy bridal wear shop in Wakefield. I can not recommend these ladies highly enough, their service was fabulous and friendly.

I can not say which wedding gown I have chosen as Vincent might read this, but after July 2010 I will post images and reveal all! I was first drawn to Amanda’s collection by her stunning ad campaigns in the wedding magazines. Her simple one image of a wedding gown in a magazine, really caught my eye! I then became interested in Amanda and her background in designing bridal wear.

Amanda was introduced into bridal wear at a very early age, as her parents started in the bridal wear business whilst she was of the tender age of one. During her years at college she worked on a part time basis in the retail side of the business before spending some time living and working in the USA. She returned to take up a position in the manufacturing company and spent many years gaining extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of the industry. In January 1994 she took her knowledge, experience and flair to develop her own label - Amanda Wyatt. Since then the company has grown into one of the top names in the UK and throughout Europe.

I wanted to share this lovely family story with you, it is fantastic to know that Amanda was inspired from such a young age to be apart of the bridal wear business. Amanda has past this inspiration onto her daughter Charlotte Balbier. Charlotte came into the bridal world in 2003 and her wedding dress collection is also visually stunning with an added fairytale femininity it is a very beautiful collection. If I was to choose my wedding dress again, it would be difficult to decide between the two labels.

I hope this blog has given you a little insight into the history of Amanda Wyatt bridal wear and that you choose a dress from either Amanda's or Charlotte's collection.

Above is the dress named Geneva - I love the colour of this dress!

Grace Kelly's Wedding Dress - timeless classic

I wanted to share with you a timeless wedding dress style. Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929—September 14, 1982) was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and became styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, but was more commonly referred to as Princess Grace. I personally love this era, it is a time that will be remember for it's class, it's beauty and also it's elegance that only the 1950's decade can retain.

Grace Kelly's wedding dress was designed by MGM's Academy Award–winning Helen Rose and was worked on for six weeks by three dozen seamstresses. The 600 wedding guests included Hollywood stars David Niven and his wife Hjördis, Gloria Swanson, Ava Gardner, the crowned head Aga Khan, and Conrad Hilton. Frank Sinatra initially accepted an invitation but at the last minute decided otherwise, afraid of upstaging the bride on her wedding day! The ceremony was watched by an estimated 30 million people on television. It was and still is a memorable event in today's modern history.

From the images above, you can see that Grace Kelly's wedding dress was a traditional, highly laced, high neck style of wedding dress - much the style of this era. It is very detailed, long train and a tailored waist line. The wedding dress used twenty-five yards of silk taffeta and one hundred yards of silk net. It was a 125-year-old rose point lace was purchased from a museum and thousants of tiny pearls were sewn on the veil. . To accompany the dress, Grace Kelly wears a floor length veil and completed the look with pearl earrings. The Grace Kelly wedding dress look has been copied many times. Most recently by Ivanka Trump's at her wedding to Jared Kushner (see image above). The two wedding dresses are very similar in style and presence. Ivanka Trump's wedding dress was designed by the modern day wedding dress guru Vera Wang. This shows that over 50 years later, the traditional, stylish wedding dress can still look stunning in today's modern day wedding celebration.

Christmas themed wedding celebration

As the festive season is fast approaching, I wanted to share with you this collage of images I found. One of my favourite colours is red. The colour red can be used all year round, but at Christmas it is very popular and brings a festive look to any home. This got me thinking, if you are having a Christmas themed wedding, then why not use the colour red in your wedding theme.

The colour is fresh and vibrant. It can used as little or as much as you prefer. I personally think it looks fabulous in bridesmaid dresses or in a pair of red shoes for the bride. The colour theme can be carried throughout the wedding cake, flowers, favours and venue decorations - combine this with tea lights and twinkly lights and it will look fabulous! Red is one of the colours which suits all skin tones - so if your bridesmaids are a mixture of blondes and brunettes, this will be a perfect colour for them.

If you are getting married this Christmas have a fabulous wedding day! Feel free to upload your images to our Facebook fan page, we would love to see your special day!

Wedding Flower Images

A selection of images from my wedding flower ideas.... for winter wedding flowers. Read the blog post below for more information on these flowers and how to use them on your wedding day.