experience

Here comes the bride - faster than you'd expect

Hollins Hall’s wedding co-ordinator Tanya Lattimer looks at the growing trend for short-lead weddings

Working in the wedding industry for the past decade, Tanya, has helped couples organise all styles and sizes of wedding, but a trend she has witnessed in the past few years is the move towards short-lead weddings – organising the big day to happen very soon after the engagement.

Here, Tanya explores this trend: “It used to be couples were engaged for 18 months to two years before they eventually said ‘I do’, but now we are seeing an increase in people wanting to celebrate their big day less than 12 months after the engagement takes place.

How to plan a non-traditional wedding for brides who hate weddings

From the designer dress right down to their something blue, many brides will have their perfect wedding planned before they have even met their future husband. However more and more women are becoming increasingly agitated at the thought of a fairy-tale wedding and now is a better time than ever to get planning an out of the ordinary day which will give your guests something to talk about. 

Picture perfect for your wedding day

On your wedding day, you want everything to be just perfect. From the weather, cake, dress to makeup.  

We all have an idea how we want to look on the day but  when it comes to the wedding photos; it can be a daunting experience.  How do you look picture perfect with a confident smile?

There is no point in having the perfect lipstick shade for your complexion,  when you your teeth are the same colour as your fake tan!    A very visible part of your appearance in photos, your teeth need to be a big part of your big bridal beauty routine.

Photo Perfect Teeth

Q&A with private wedding jewellery concierge Neil Geddes

Q&A with private wedding jewellery concierge Neil Geddes

Neil Geddes is the owner and managing director of NJ Geddes Fine Jewellery – an exclusive jewellery concierge and private couture diamond buying company based between Leeds, Manchester and London. 

Working with some of the UK’s wealthiest and time poor individuals, Neil established his exclusive jewellery concierge service in 2008, in order to create a truly personalised, bespokeand luxurious jewellery buying and investment experience that stands for exquisite quality and attention to detail.

One of Neil’s important areas of specialism lies in helping couples source or create the perfect wedding jewellery for their big day, including engagement rings and wedding bands.


Michelle Clarke at Breadsall Priory – Embracing the great outdoors

Breadslall Priory wedding photographs Autumn Elen Studio Photography

Michelle Clarke is a senior event manager and wedding co-ordinator at one of the Midlands’ most iconic wedding venues, the 13th Century Marriott Breadsall Priory in Derbyshire. With 14 years’ experience in the industry, Michelle and her team have helped hundreds of couples say their ‘I Dos’ in style. Michelle writes exclusively for Vows and Venues and shares her expert hints and tips for the next generation of brides-to-be.

Bringing the inside out A key trend for 2016 is romance. This means delicate bridal make-up, favouring light matt pink lips and gently blushed cheeks to whimsical floral arrangements and simple, elegant pastel colour schemes.