Kliq Weddings Blog

h tt p://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Dove Barn Wedding Fayre

2012-02-29T02:47:00.001-08:00

Come and see Kliq Weddings at the Dove Barn Wedding Fayre, this Sunday 4th March from 11 - 3.30!

http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Wedding Seating Plan Ideas

2012-02-28T06:56:00.001-08:00

The Wedding Seating Plan

I know it's something you've been trying to put off, but you are going to just have to face up to sorting out your seating plan and your top table seating plan.

Your wedding breakfast is a main feature of your wedding day and seating your guests in the correct place can make or break it.

Seating Plan - The Starting Point

First of all you should have already decided on;

the number of guests invited to the wedding breakfast
the venue and therefore physical size and guest capacity
the size and shape of the top table
the size and shape of all other tables

Knowing where you are going to have your wedding breakfast is essential for deciding upon your seating plan. The shape of the room will play a large part in determining the way in which the tables are arranged to best create a great atmosphere in the room whilst the physical size will dictate how many tables you can have and therefore how many people you sit at each table.

Remember, if the tables are spread too far apart your guests will feel very isolated at their tables. If you place the tables too close together your guests will feel uneasy and maybe claustrophobic. Too close could also leave your wedding guests without the room to extend their chairs in order for them to go and powder their nose, or go to the bar.

Ask the Venue Coordinator

Talk to the wedding or venue coordinator beforehand and ask them for advice on what works best for the number of guests you wish to invite. If you intend to have wedding entertainment during the meal, such as musicians or perhaps wedding magicians, make sure you keep your coordinator up to date with your plans, as this may also impact on the way in which the tables are arranged in the room.

The number of people you have at each table depends on how many guests you have, how many tables you have and how big the venue is. It is better to have fewer tables that are full, but not crowded, than many tables with a few people on each. If you have the luxury of space try to give everybody enough elbow room to be comfortable. If you are tight on space remember that children take less room and may help to space things out a little.

Seating your Guests

When you seat your guests try and bear the following in mind

try and seat guests that know each other together
avoid seating guests together that you know don't get on too well!
seat children with their parents
try and seat guests together who are of similar age, or have common interests
try wherever possible to seat guests next to someone of the opposite sex, as it provides more continuity to your wedding breakfast.

There are no hard and fast rules to your seating arrangements. You should arrange your guests in a way that works best for you and offers your guests the opportunity to mingle - you can only help encourage a good atmosphere - the rest is up to your guests!

The Receiving Line

This is the order in which the guests are traditionally received. The order for the receiving line would follow ;

The Brides Mother
The Grooms Father
The Grooms Mother
The Brides Father
The Bride
The Groom
The Chief Bridesmaid
The Best Man

This, however, can be time consuming and as more and more couples break from tradition, the Bride and Groom now tend to receive their guests without the assistance of Top Table party members.

For all your Wedding Photography and Video needs visit the Kliq Weddings website at: http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Wedding Flower Traditions

2012-02-27T06:22:00.002-08:00

Wedding Flowers – the Origins of the Tradition

Wedding flowers have been around for a long time. It’s hard to say exactly how long, but there are signs that it’s been a tradition since the earliest days of civilization.
Wedding flowers – the origin
The first recorded use of wedding flowers can be attributed to the Greeks. Flowers and plants would be bundled together to form a garland wreath worn upon the head, much like the better-known Caesar’s laurels. It was considered a gift of nature, and thus extremely appropriate for a wedding. Traditionally, the Greek bridesmaids would be responsible for this honor.

The garland bouquet would often contain bulbs of garlic. This wasn’t to make the wedding smell like your grandmother’s kitchen, but instead to ward off any evil spirits that might see fit to intervene in the ceremony or curse their future together.
The tradition of wedding flowers remains to this day. We might not fashion wreaths to wear, but the meaning and appropriate nature of flowers remains the same. That’s why it’s such a great idea to provide floral gifts to a wedding couple
Wedding flowers around the world – international traditions
Wedding flowers aren’t just a Greek tradition. They’ve been adopted all around the world due to their natural beauty and wide appeal.
· Wedding flowers in Sweden – In Sweden, it was tradition for young girls to carry small bouquets of fragrant herbs down the aisle. The groom would also put thyme in his pockets. The reasons? Warding off any trolls that might decide a wedding was a perfect place to find a tasty snack.
· Wedding flowers in Germany – In Germany, the bride and groom both would hold candles that had flowers and ribbons tied to them.
· Wedding flowers in England – In England, it was tradition for the bride and her bridesmaids to proceed to the church together, led by a small girl who would sprinkle blossoms in their path to assure long life and happiness for the bride. The tradition of “flower girls” remains to this day.
Wedding flowers – a lesser known reason
Wedding flowers and fragrant herbs played another important role in weddings during Europe’s middle ages. During that time period, it was traditional to bathe only twice a year. This was due to the labor involved in preparing enough hot water for the process, as well as the rarity and expense of soap.
These bath times usually fell before Christmas, an important time of year for everyone, and during the summertime. The problem was that weddings usually took place in the spring. The result of this was that the wedding party wasn’t usually at their most fresh.
A solution was devised using floral and herbal arrangements. Herbs would be sewn or placed into the dress, and the bride would carry a large bouquet of flowers (often wearing them in her hair as well). This masked any bodily odors and made the wedding more enjoyable for both bride and groom.
Naturally, this is no longer a problem today, but these popular traditions still remain. The appeal of wedding flowers is now purely aesthetic, however, and since this has been widely accepted a great deal of effort has gone into designing new and elaborate decorations for the ceremony.
Modern uses for wedding flowers
Wedding flowers have taken off in popularity to the point where you will be hard-pressed to find a wedding that doesn’t involve them in some way. Some of the new traditions include:
· The bouquet – This is perhaps, next to the bride herself, the centerpiece of the entire ceremony. A great deal of science has gone into developing a system of matching the blooms present in the bouquet with the season, with physical attributes of the bride, and with the location of the ceremony itself.
· The corsage – Another popular component of most modern dresses is the corsage. Worn about the wrist, it is usually designed to match the dress and bouquet.
· The boutonniere – This is a male tradition. Originally, flowers would be pushed through the buttonhole of a jacket, but nowadays it’s proper for the groom to have the boutonniere pinned to his left lapel. It’s also appropriate for it to match the bride’s corsage and bouquet.
· Table centerpiece – Perfect for the reception ceremony, an extravagant centerpiece on each table leaves guests with nothing but fond memories. It’s now standard practice to include these in every reception.
Conclusion
Wedding flowers are steeped in history and will likely remain tradition for many years to come. If you’re looking for an appropriate gift for a couple, and feel that a toaster or wine glass set is too impersonal, a gift of wedding flowers will always be appreciated. Delivery right to ceremony or the home of the newlyweds is one way to ensure they are able to enjoy your thoughtful contribution

For all your Wedding day Video and Photography needs please visit the Kliq Weddings Website. http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Asian Wedding Traditions

2012-02-27T06:04:00.001-08:00

There is something inherently mysterious and romantic about Asia…the mysterious Far East. And when it comes to weddings, the rich diversity of Asian cultures, traditions and religions makes for a wide variety of colorful and fascinating wedding customs.

In the land of the rising sun

In Japan, for instance, purple is the color of love and a young bride may choose to wear an elaborately-embroidered silk kimono covered in purple iris-flowers. Weddings are traditionally either Shinto, during which the natural spirits, the kami, are called upon to bless the couple, or it might be a Buddhist ceremony during which two strings of beads are interwoven, symbolizing the joining of two families into one.

The dragon and the phoenix

Chinese traditions held that the gift of a whole roast pig given by the groom’s family to the bride’s family was an appropriate engagement gift. The traditional wedding gown in China is bright red, symbolizing luck for the new couple. Chinese bridal gowns are traditionally adorned with elaborate golden phoenixes, chrysanthemums and peonies, symbols of wealth and good fortune. The groom traditionally wears a black silk coat over a robe embroidered with a dragon, and you can expect loud firecrackers at a Chinese wedding to scare off evil spirits.

The reception that goes on and on...

In Indonesia it is not uncommon for more than 1,000 guests to be invited to the wedding reception and it is customary for the bride and the groom to greet each guest in a long receiving line before the reception festivities can begin.

May good fortune always be yours.

In Korea it is traditional for a fortune-teller, known as a kung-hap, to look into the couple’s future before they are married in order to see if they will live harmoniously together. A harmonious union is very important since the engagement gifts alone for a traditional Korean wedding can cost upwards of $40,000.

A three-day wedding ceremony.

An early Filipino custom required the groom to throw a spear into the front steps of his intended-bride’s home. This was a dramatic symbol to everyone that she had been spoken for. Today this tradition has been replaced with a gold engagement ring. Today the majority of Filipino weddings are Catholic, but in days gone by a Filipino wedding lasted three days, with ceremonies performed each day until the third day when the couple joined hands and declared their love for each other three times and their hands were bound together with a chord and the priest declared them married.

The journey of a lifetime begins with milk and water.

In India and other countries with a Hindu culture it is considered bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other for several days before the wedding. As part of the marriage ceremony the bride’s parents wash the couple’s feet with milk and water as a symbol of purifying them for the journey of their new life together. As part of the ceremony the couple holds in their hands grains of rice and oats and green leaves, signifying wealth, good health and happiness.

Many cultures, many traditions with but a single goal: to unite two hearts into one.

Many Asian cultures, many traditions, but all are centered around the basic concept of a new beginning, a new journey down the path of life together, hand in hand, filled with love and a new commitment of two hearts joined forever as one.

For all your Wedding day Video and Photography needs please visit the Kliq Weddings Website. http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

The Origin of Something Borrowed

2012-02-27T05:59:00.002-08:00

The next line of this old saying actually hints at its origin. The complete phrase is:

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.
Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. "Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."
And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.

For all your Wedding day Video and Photography needs please visit the Kliq Weddings Website. http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

History of the White Wedding Dress!

2012-02-18T07:35:00.001-08:00

by Kelsey McIntyre

White has long been accepted as the traditional color of the wedding dress, but wedding gowns were not always white. The marriage of Queen Victoria to her cousin Albert of Saxe- Coburg in 1840 has had more influence on weddings than any other. Queen Victoria put the wheels in motion by marrying in white. Though brides continued to wed in gowns of different colors, white was now set as the color of choice for weddings and has continued ever since. In Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1849, this statement was printed: “ Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.”

There is an old poem about how the color of your wedding dress will influence your future: “Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey , you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen, Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

The Industrial Revolution also brought about change. By the 1890’s and the arrival of the department store, almost every woman could realize her dream of being married in a “new” wedding dress. The white dress was gaining popularity and in 1890, Ladies Home Journal wrote: “That from times immemorial the bride’s gown has been white”. Although this statement was not true, it shows how deeply accepted it was that a wedding gown be white. Although white was popular, some brides, especially the frontier brides, wore dresses that were more practical and could be worn after the wedding. As wedding dresses closely resembled the fashions of the time, only a little alteration was needed for the dress to be perfect to wear again.

Edwardian brides took the traditions of their Victorian ancestors to new extremes. Fashions became more extravagant as the decade progressed, but came to a screeching halt with the outbreak of WWI. Styles became simpler, and also reflected the changing role of women in society with hems getting shorter and the disposing of tightly laced corsets. Coco Chanel was a powerful force behind the change in women's’ fashions, and was the one who officially introduced the short wedding dress in the 1920’s. It was a white knee length dress worn with a long train. This cemented white as the universal color of the wedding dress.

When the Depression hit, brides made do with their “best” dress for the wedding. My great grandmother, who was married in 1928 had a new white wedding dress, but after the wedding she dyed it navy, keeping only the collar and cuffs white—a common practice at that time. During WWII, women considered it their duty to give up the traditional wedding , although most brides might be engaged only for a few weeks or even days before the wedding took place. This did not leave enough time to find a wedding dress so the best suit had to do. If the bride was set on having a white dress, one could be borrowed or rented for the ceremony. If both the bride and groom were in the military they were married in their respective uniforms.

After the war, prosperity made it possible for the large dream weddings inspired by the Victorian era to become a reality. Grace Kelly’s marriage to Prince Monaco garnered much publicity because of its grand fairy tale wedding. She wore a white silk and lace gown. The focus of wedding dresses has shifted since the 1950”s. The emphasis now is on the individuality of the bride. So whatever color you choose to be married in, you now know a bit more behind the tradition of the white wedding dress.

If you would like to find out how Kliq Weddings can capture your Wedding Day with our Photographic and Video services please visit our website at www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

The History of Weddings!

2012-02-18T07:21:00.001-08:00

The History of Weddings – Tying the Knot through the Ages

Freelance writer Matt Jacks guides us through the History of Weddings!

Precisely where and when the first wedding was held will never be known, but it was an important turning point in human society. The tribes of prehistory were nomadic in nature, grouping together for protection against predators like saber-toothed cats, wolves and bears, and also to make it easier to secure water and their own hunting territories against rival groups.
So contact between tribes was often probably a very tense affair, with deaths amongst the males, and often kidnappings of females and children. Although we now know early peoples were not as barbaric as is often stated.
Wars were not that frequent, archeologists know this because when finding ancient human skeletons from the stone age, only a relatively low number show indications of damage from flint axes or arrowheads, as would be the case in those who died in battle. Also, near some of these graves, especially those of children, the remains of flowers have been found. This, along with artifacts like flutes made of wood, horn or bone; show that the early representatives of mankind lived in a more sensitive world than is often portrayed.
The idea of a caveman bashing a cavewoman over the head before getting hold of her by the hair, which has been popularized by early movies as a Stone Age wedding, seems to be far from the truth.
Although little is known about our social history at this time, many experts suspect that group weddings were the first form of union, with a loyalty to the tribe being more important than the individual in times of hardship. Although recently, some doubt has been cast upon this, with the finding of a set of three footprints in clay from the very distant past. The first was of a man, and he was walking with a woman and a child, who both were following very closely behind him.
Although of course it is possible that this man and woman might have been a brother and sister, there is also the prospect of this pointing to individual identities and therefore personal relationships that were developing at an earlier stage than previously suspected. This might have been as a guard against incest, which although not known for sure, would most probably have been avoided.
As society grew and changed, tribes settled and formed agricultural communities, and began to trade. This advancement allowed for a mixing of peoples without conflict, so the necessity to kidnap women and children away from other tribes diminished and eventually disappeared.

It all began beside the Nile

Ironically, as incest became less likely due to circumstance, it was an integral part of the first civilization that recognized the idea of marriage in law; ancient Egypt. Many Pharaohs took sisters and daughters amongst their numerous wives, the idea being to keep their dynastic bloodline truer than it would otherwise had been. Although this practice was not that common among middle and lower classes. Here, the marriage also existed as a legally enforceable fact, and the wives actually had more rights in this ancient land than for a large segment of modern western history, including the right of divorce.
The engagement was also invented by the ancient Egyptians, for the couple to get to know each other better, and see that they were indeed compatible. The marriage contract stipulated all rights of both the bride and groom, and their duties as well, so they knew what to expect before the wedding itself.
The dowry was also in reverse here, where the prospective groom and his parents would go to the bride’s home, and he would pay her parent’s money to show he was capable of earning and keeping their daughter in good standing. He would also buy a personal gift for her, usually either made of gold or a gemstone.
The wedding itself would be a colorful affair, with a feast and much singing and dancing, before the newlyweds would retire for some private time together, with fresh wheat thrown into the air by the revelers to symbolize fertility.

Everyone is doing it

Other civilizations of the time soon also had wedding laws in their cultures, and it was generally seen as a positive and stabilizing factor in society. With males generally thought to be calmer with a wife and children, women thought to be less troublesome with a husband, and children better off with a mother and father they knew and trusted. The kinship between families and clans brought together through the weddings also was seen as a necessity to prevent serious feuding and the breakdown of civil order.
Indeed, the family unit is often pointed to today as an example of how the world could be a better place, with peace organizations talking of how we are all brothers and sisters in a global family. Here they are doing no more than copying the ideas of most religions and cultures throughout the ages, both for internal or external peace and security. Of course, this theory is fine but practice often did and does follow a somewhat different path.

Mighty Rome

The Roman Empire was no different in considering marriage as a highly important institution. They have also handed down to us the modern word `matrimony’ meaning marriage, this comes from the Latin word `matrimonialis’ which is itself derived from `mater,’ which means `mother.’
All the emperors sought a stable empire (if only perhaps, because it was easier to rule), and harmony within would lead to a bolstering of the defenses against the world without. The Emperor Augustus particularly thought this, and duly set down laws for the monetary penalizing of all men who put off their wedding day.
Two weddings, and one divorce, were particularly on the emperor’s mind as he prescribed this. Before becoming emperor, and changing his name to Augustus, he had been known as Octavian. One of the triumvirate, who with Marcus Lepidus and Marcus Antonius (Mark Anthony), he had avenged the assassination of his uncle Julius Caesar by their defeating of the chief conspirators Brutus and Cassius in the battle of Philippi in 42 B.C.
But Octavian found relations with Mark Anthony were strained, and so to pursue peace between them, his sister Octavia wed the man who also wanted to be Caesar’s successor. This truce did not last, for as we all know, a greater love for Mark Anthony lay in Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. He was to marry her whilst still married to Octavia, and when he did divorce her later, Octavian immediately declared war on Anthony and Cleopatra. This led to one of the most famous and tragic episodes in the ancient world; Anthony and Cleopatra’s joint suicide a year after their forces were vanquished by Octavian’s ships in the sea battle of Actium in 31 B.C.
So a divorce had caused a war, most Roman weddings though, were far less dramatic than this, thankfully for the longer lives of those involved, let us now take a look at what the typical Roman wedding was like.
Of course, because it was long lasting and widely spread, the habits of the citizenry of the Empire varied a great deal, but nonetheless a lot is known about the city of Rome itself, and more so in its later years.

Yea to Confarreatio, Nay to Diffareatio

Here the upper classes were involved with a form of marriage called `confarreatio,’ which required a complicated series of priestly rites called `diffareatio’ to undo, unlike a normal marriage which could be annulled relatively simply be either of the couple.
The father of the family usually arranged the marriages of his children with his opposite numbers in other families with whom links would be useful. Though this is not as entirely political as it sounds, as without the consent of both of the couple, then the wedding would not go ahead. In reality, many weddings were for love as well as money, and daughters would often take it upon themselves to get engaged, and then leave it to her father and the groom’s father to get to know each other and agree to the proceedings, rather than the reverse.

No slaves at the Altar

The first matter on the agenda was to check that a `conudium’ or right to marry between the couple existed. This would depend on the following: That they were not close blood relatives, that neither was already engaged or married, and that neither was a slave, although freed slaves could marry under certain circumstances. If the man was a soldier, then he could not be married until his service to his Legion had ended, though in this case he could see his betrothed as if they were married without eyebrows being raised. Weddings to foreigners were permitted, but with restrictions; and the final restriction to a wedding was the ages of the couple involved, the bride had to be at least twelve, the groom, thirteen.
If everything was okay, then things could be set in motion. The first tradition was a party to announce the engagement and for the groom to give his betrothed a present of fine jewelry. When the wedding came around, first the bride would make an offering of supposedly all of her childhood toys at her family’s altar to the Roman Gods. But some, especially the younger brides, would probably leave a more cherished toy hidden away somewhere, maybe claiming it had been lost if questioned.

Dressing the Bride

Then the bride would be helped with her appearance, and offered advice, by her female relatives. And wedding dresses were often made of white wool, and quite simple in appearance, and perhaps the bride had made it herself in anticipation of the big day. Although the dress itself was traditionally simple, there was also to be a highly complicated knot tied in the sash holding it up, to tease the groom and test his patience on the wedding night.
Her hair was important, and gathered in six locks, three on either side of her head, in mimicry of the style worn by Vestal Virgins, and she would wear a garland of fresh flowers and a orange or saffron colored veil. This veil was especially important, as it signified she wanted to be married until her death, and not opt for a divorce if things did not run smoothly.
This idea of the veil came from the women called Flaminica Dialis, who were the wives of priests called Flamen Dialis. This was a highly respected priesthood who could never divorce if they wanted to remain within their order. It was these priests who were officiating at a confarreatio wedding, along with a chief priest called a Pontifex Maximus.
The groom did not have any distinctive wedding clothes to wear, though most had to make sure his appearance was orderly and respectful for such an occasion. Neither did he have anyone in particular standing nearby to support him during the ceremony, unlike the bride, who had a female relative (usually her mother if possible) called a `pronuba.’ This relative or family friend had to be currently married, and not divorced in the past, for her to qualify for the position.
Attending the wedding were family members and friends of course, and amongst the number there had to be at least 10 male citizens to act as witnesses, for the wedding to be properly legal. The ceremony could vary, but central to it were the eating of a salted bread loaf by the couple, the holding of each other’s right hand as they gave spoken consent of their desire to marry each other, and the signing of the contract, which was involved with such romantic things as the size of the dowry (a gift of money from the bride’s family to the groom’s) and what would become of it if the marriage failed.

Hold a Parade

Next, after the congratulations, the groom and his family would leave first so they could welcome the bride at her new home, and a short time later, the bride would follow as part of a procession, after a traditional mock show of distress at having to leave her parent’s home.
Leading would be the pronuba and others, with lighted torches to pave the way, the bride herself would be led by three boys, one holding each of her hands and the third holding a torch. Musicians would also be a part of this march, and small food treats were often thrown to the crowds as the parade passed through.
Upon reaching her new home, the bride underwent a tradition of tying wool and spilling oil on the doorposts, before being carried across the threshold by either her groom or her friends where she would be welcomed with gifts of a small flaming torch and a vessel of water. A wedding feast would then begin around a symbolic wedding bed, and the happy couple would be given presents by all.
All roads might be said to lead to Rome, but all wedding traditions certainly do not stem from there. Around the world there developed many varied customs to celebrate that same union of man and woman. Let us now have a brief look at just some of the many ways a few different societies held their weddings.

The Land of the Rising Sun

In Japan, marriage arrangements were dealt with by a go-between called a `Nakodo.’ When a proposal had been accepted then an exchange of drinks, clothing and what were called `gifts of happiness and fortune’ were exchanged between the families through this intermediary, as well as a list of important family member’s names.
Not only did this go-between deal with the preliminaries, but he also attended the wedding with the couple, and in front of the relatives, and sometimes even read the oath as well, after the groom had on behalf of both himself and his new bride.
Thankfully however, the go-between was released of his duties at this stage.
The bride was not released fully by her family though, and the groom had to visit her every night in order to see her. Only later, when either a child was born to them or the groom’s parents had died (whichever came first) was she finally allowed by her family to live with him properly.

Viking Weddings

As might be expected from a culture not known for its shyness, Viking wedding festivities were a lengthy affair involving much rowdy feasting, music and drunkenness, which depending on the wealth of the families, could last up to a month! The guests here seemed to get a good deal, all this for free and they received a gift as well for their attendance, and did not have to reciprocate on this generosity.

Bonny Scotland

In Scotland though, the guests had to more than pay their own way. Each invited family at a Highland wedding were expected to thank the couple for their invite by providing their own food for the marriage banquet, as well as often pay extra for festivities that might occur, and to give gifts as well on the day after. So most couples did very well indeed out of their weddings, and were comfortable for some time after.
These benefits were to ease the early times of marriage, and woe betides any who betrayed their vows in these staunchly religious Highland communities. Any found guilty of such an offense, male or female, was forced to stand in a barrel full of cold water at the local church doorway before the day’s service. When the congregation had all arrived, the miscreant then went inside as well, sopping wet and wearing only a shirt (a loose one presumably in the case of a female, for obvious reasons, indeed, two obvious reasons) and stood before his or her local community. After the service had ended, the humiliation was completed by the minister explaining the particulars of the sinful act.

Down Mexico way

It wasn’t a barrel of water beside a Mexican church’s doors; it was often a couple getting married! This was the original way of doing things in this then all Catholic land, with them only entering afterwards to attend mass.
During a Mexican wedding, the couple would also be tied together quite literally by the priest, who, after the exchange of vows, would wrap a very large rosary around them at their shoulders, waists, or wrists in a figure of eight looping. Alternates to a rosary for this purpose could be a string of flowers, ribbons, wooden rings, or gold bands for more wealthy families.
Then after the wedding, guns would be fired into the air in true Mexican style, before a wedding feast was held. The first dance at this celebratory banquet was often the romantic tradition of everybody linking hands and surrounding the newlyweds to form a heart shaped design. At the end of the party, another tradition sometimes observed, was the mock recapture of the bride by her family, who would only allow her back to the groom after he made promises about helping them in the future.

Celebrations Everywhere

So weddings were and still are a varied selection of celebrations, the exchanging of rings seemed to be quite common, flowers of course, as did a parade, and the veil comparatively so as well. In Arabic history, although the prophet Mohammed advised that the couple should meet first, this recommendation was not always heeded, and sometimes the groom did not even see his wife at all until he lifted her veil after they were wed. A wide variety of emotions must have been experienced at that point through the years.
Wherever in the world it might have been, after the wedding, things tended to settle down in the community again until the next marriage came along. The honeymoon is a relatively recent addition to the wedding theme (although what happens on it is as old as the hills). This term comes from the time in the middle ages where a couple were given gifts of a mead wine, which was brewed from fermented honey and spices, to drink for a month. Honey from the mead and moon for the length of time.
So the history of weddings is almost as long as the history of humanity, and they’re not going to go away either. The dream still lives, even if the marriage may not always be as starry eyed as its beginnings can be. But weddings are not only about romance, they are also about duty. As the prophet Mohammed said: “When a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion, so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half.”

If you would like to find out how Kliq Weddings can capture your Wedding Day with our Photographic and Video services please visit our website at www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Day Traditions

2012-02-18T07:09:00.001-08:00

Wedding Day Traditions!
There are many customs and superstitions associated with weddings. In the past a wedding was seen as a time when people were particularly susceptable to bad luck and evil spirits. Many originated or are modifications of customs which began many centuries ago.
Some, such as the bride wearing something old, something blue ..., or not being seen by the groom in her wedding dress before the ceremony are known throughout the country and many other parts of the world. Others may be regional or even maintained within families from generation to generation.
They are maintained in the belief that they will bring good luck and happiness to the couple at a time when their lives are changing, hopefully for the better.
PROPOSAL
In the past when the marriage proposal was a more formal procedure, the prospective groom sent his friends or members of his family to represent his interests to the prospective bride and her family. If they saw a blind man, a monk or a pregnant woman during their journey it was thought that the marriage would be doomed if they continued their journey as these sights were thought to be bad omens.
If, however, they saw nanny goats, pigeons or wolves these were good omens which would bring good fortune to the marriage.
During Medieval times in Brittany the man proposed by leaving a hawthorn branch at the door of his beloved on the first of May. By leaving the branch at the door she accepted his proposal. She made known her refusal by replacing the hawthorn branch with a cauliflower.
SURNAMES It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers. The sentiment was summarised in the following rhyme:

To change the name and not the letter
Is to change for the worst and not the better

The bride should not practice writing her new name before the wedding. This is thought to bring bad luck by tempting fate.
CHOOSING THE DAY Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. Fridays were also considered unlucky particularly Friday the 13th. The famous old rhyme advises a wedding in the first half of the week:

Monday for wealth
Tuesday for health
Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday for no luck at all

Advice on which month to marry in is given by the following rhyme:

Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true.
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden and for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.

Marry in May and you'll live to rue the day

May has been considered an unlucky month to marry in for a number of reasons. In Pagan times the start of summer was when the festival of Beltane was celebrated with outdoor orgies. This was therefore thought to be an unsuitable time to start married life. In Roman times the Feast of the Dead and the festival of the goddess of chastity both occurred in May. The advice was taken more seriously in Victorian times than it is today. In most Churches the end of April was a busy time for weddings as couples wanted to avoid being married in May. Queen Victoria is thought to have forbidden her children from marrying in May.

Marry in Lent, live to repent

Lent was thought an inappropriate time for a wedding as this was a time of abstinence.
June was considered to be a lucky month to marry in because it is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage.
The Summer as a whole was considered a good time to marry and this is partly to do with the sun's association with fertility. In Scotland one popular custom was for the bride to "walk with the sun" to bring her good. She would walk from east to west on the south side of the church and then continue walking around the church three times.
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW ...

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in your shoe

The rhyme originated in Victorian times although some of customs referred in it are much older.
The "something old" represents the couples friends who will hopefully remain close during the marriage. Traditionally this was old garter which given to the bride by a happily married woman in the hope that her happiness in marriage would be passed on to the new bride.
"Something new" symbolises the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future.
The "something borrowed" is often lent by the bride's family and is an item much valued by the family. The bride must return the item to ensure good luck.
The custom of the bride wearing "something blue" originated in ancient Israel where the bride wore a blue ribbon in her hair to represent fidelity.
The placing of a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe was to ensure wealth in the couples married life. Today some brides substitute a penny in their shoe during the ceremony as silver sixpences are less common.
THE WEDDING DRESS
It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress.
It is also unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before until she arrives at the ceremony.
The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stich on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is completed.
WEDDING DRESS COLOUR Most brides today marry in white which symbolises maidenhood. This tradition started by the rich in sixteenth century. The tradition was given a boost by Queen Victoria who chose to marry in white instead of silver which was the traditional colour of Royal brides. Before the white dress brides wore their best dress. The colour was a matter of preference. The following is a traditional rhyme offering advice on dress colour:

Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Brown, you will live in town,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.

A green dress is thought to be unlucky unless the bride is Irish. The old expression that a woman has a 'green gown' was used to imply promiscuity, the green staining being due to rolling in grassy fields.
THE VEIL
Traditionally, brides have been thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits and many of the customs and traditions associated with weddings are to provide protection. The veil was originally worn by Roman brides. It was thought that it would disguise the bride and therefore outwit malevolent spirits.
The veil became popular in Britain in the eighteen hundreds. In this country it is associated with modesty and chastity.
In some Eastern ceremonies the bride is veiled and the groom is not allowed to see the bride's face until after the wedding ceremony.
In some Jewish weddings there is a ritual where the groom ensures that the bride is his intended before placing the veil over her face.
FLOWERS
Flowers have always been used for decoration at weddings.
Some people choose the flowers at the wedding on the basis of their symbolic meaning. For example orange blossom has always been associated with weddings because it signifies purity and chastity.
Peonies are avoided by some as they represent shame; azaleas represent temperance: roses symbolise love and snowdrops represent hope.
A combination of red and white flowers is avoided by the superstitious because they stand for blood and bandages.
However, people from different regions may attach other meanings to the same flower. For example lilies symbolise majesty to some but are thought unlucky by others because of their association with death.
The groom often chooses a flower for his buttonhole which also occurs in the bride's bouquet. This is a vestige of the time when a Knight would wear his Lady's colours to display his love.
ON THE WAY TO THE WEDDING
When the bride is ready to leave the house for the wedding ceremony a last look in the mirror will bring her good luck. However returning to the mirror once she has began her journey will result in bad luck.
Seeing a chimney sweep on the way to a wedding is though to bring good luck and it is still possible to hire one to attend wedding ceremonies. Other good luck omens when seen on the way to the ceremony include lambs, toads, spiders, black cats and rainbows.
Seeing an open grave, a pig, a lizard, or hearing a cockerel crow after dawn are all thought to be omens of bad luck. Monks and nuns are also a bad omen. This may be because the are associated with poverty and chastity. They are also though to signal a dependence on charity by the newlyweds.
Bad weather on the way to the wedding is thought to be an omen of an unhappy marriage, although in some cultures rain is considered a good omen. Cloudy skies and wind are believed to cause stormy marriages. Snow on the other hand is associated with fertility and wealth.
BRIDESMAIDS
Bridesmaids were dressed in a similar way to the bride for the same reason as the origin of veil. The bridesmaids were thought to act as decoys to confuse evil spirits and thus protect the bride.
THE COUPLE'S FIRST PURCHASE
It is said that the first partner who buys a new item after the wedding will be the dominant one in the relationship. Many brides ensure that they make the first purchase by arranging to buy a small item such as a pin from the chief bridesmaid immediately after the ceremony.
THE WEDDING CAKE
Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the ritual celebrations at the reception. The couple make the first cut together to symbolise their shared future.
Cakes have been associated with weddings throughout history. The Romans shared a cake during the wedding ceremony itself. This was not the rich fruit-cake we enjoy today. It was a plain confection made from wheat flour, salt and water. The Fijians and Some Native American tribes still incorporate cake in the wedding ceremonies.
In Britain early cakes were flat and round and contained fruit and nuts which symbolise fertility.
In the past the custom was to throw many small cakes over the bride in a similar way in which we throw confetti today. A modification of this custom was to crumble cake over the brides head and in some versions to break the cake over the Bride's head. In Scotland Oat Cakes were used for this purpose. This was done to promote fertility.
In Yorkshire a plate holding wedding cake was thrown out of the window as the bride returned to her parental home after the wedding. If the plate broke she would enjoy a happy future with her husband but if the plate remained intact her future would be grim.
Another old English custom was to place a ring in the wedding cake. The guest who found the ring in their the piece of cake would be ensured happiness for the next year.
The shape of the modern three tiered iced cake is believed to have been inspired by the spire of Saint Bride's Church in the City of London. It is said that unmarried guests who place a piece of wedding cake under their pillow before sleeping will increase there prospects of finding a partner and bridesmaids who do likewise will dream of their future husbands.
The top tier of the cake is often kept by couples for the christening of their first child.
CONFETTI
Confetti is Italian for sweets which in Italy are thrown over the couple as they emerge from the Church in that same way we use paper confetti. Raisins and nuts may also be used.
Before the use of paper confetti the married couple were showered with flowers, petals, rice or grains. This was to bestow prosperity and fertility on the couple.
SHOES
In the past there have been a number of customs involving shoes which were thought to bring good luck. The best known, which is still upheld, is to tie shoes to the back of the newlyweds' car. This has evolved from the Tudor custom where guests would throw shoes at the newlywed couple. It was considered lucky if they or their carriage were hit.
Less well known is for the bride's father to give the groom a pair of the bride's shoes to symbolise the passing of responsibility for the daughter to her new husband. A variation of the custom is for the groom to tap the bride on the forehead with one of the shoes to assert his dominance.
The custom of the bride throwing her bouquet shoulder, described below, was originally performed by her throwing one of her shoes over her shoulder.
BOUQUET
After the reception the bride throws her bouquet back over her shoulder where the unmarried female guest group together. Tradition holds that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next one of those present to marry.
A parallel custom is for the groom to remove the garter worn by the bride and throw it back over his shoulder toward the unmarried male guests. Again the one who catches it will be the next to marry.
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
After the wedding the bride must enter the new marital home through the main entrance. It is traditional for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold when they enter for the first time. The reason for this is uncertain. One explanation is that the bride will be visited by bad luck if she falls when entering. An alternative is that the bride will be unlucky if she steps into the new home with the left foot first. The bride can avoid both mishaps by being carried. A third explanation is that it symbolises the old Anglo-Saxon custom of the groom stealing his bride and carrying her off.
Hindu's have a similar tradition. The bride is carried by her new husband so that she does not touch the threshold when entering her new home.

THE BEST MAN
It is the best man's duty to protect the groom from bad luck. He must ensure that once the groom has began his journey to the church he does not return for any reason.
He must also arrange for the groom to carry a small mascot or charm in his pocket on the wedding day.
When the best man is paying the church minister's fee he should pay him an odd sum to bring luck to the couple.
THE HONEYMOON
The term "honeymoon" is though to originate from the times when a man captured his bride. The couple would hide from the bride's parents before marrying. The couple would remain in hiding for a further cycle of the moon after the wedding. During this period they drank honey wine.
In Scotland the custom was for a woman with milk in her breasts to prepare the marital bed to encourage fertility in the newlyweds.
In Ireland a laying hen was tied to the bed on the first honeymoon night in the hope that some of its fertility would be passed on to the couple. Eating a double yolked egg was also thought to bring fertility.

If you would like to find out how Kliq Weddings can capture your Wedding Day with our Photographic and Video services please visit our website at www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Choosing a Wedding Photographer and Videographer

2012-02-14T08:28:00.000-08:00

When you meet up with a wedding photographer or Videographer one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself is “can I spend a whole day with this person?” Your photographer and videographer will be with you for what will be one of the most emotional days of your life and it is so important that you like them and trust them.
When we’re approached by a potential client with an enquiry about photographing or videoing their wedding we always try and arrange an informal meeting where we can answer questions, show our work and start to get to know the couple.

The four Ps
There four things that a couple need to consider when choosing their wedding photographer or videographer. These are Price, Photography, Products and Personality. We’ve listed them in the order of importance that most couples who come to us order them.
Although listed last, we believe that personality is just as important, if not more so, as the other three.
As a one of the many photography and video businesses in a very saturated industry, we know that there are several companies that are able meet the budget and expectations of each couple we see. We don’t mind having competition as this is important for the industry as a whole, however at Kliq Weddings we work hard to offer something unique, modern and vibrant. We believe every Wedding is different and unique and this should be reflected in our Videos and Photography.
Most couples who come to us list price as one of the most important factors in choosing their photographer and videographer. Fortunately, the wedding industry caters for everyone and whatever your budget you will be able to find a photographer for you… BUT be aware you usually get what you pay for!
We always talk about budget at the very beginning of any contact with a couple and our emphasis is always on the quality of what we offer regardless of budget.
Once the question of budget has been discussed the next thing we discuss is what do they want from their photography and/or videography? The style of photography and videography is extremely important when choosing your photographer and is a subject for another blog as the list is endless! When a couple comes to us they have often made the decision that they like our style of photography and videos from simply looking at our website. The decisions they still need to make are more down to personality and chemistry.
My advice to anyone who calls us with an enquiry is, whether you choose Kliq Weddings or not, to make sure you contact a wide range of photographers and videographers and if you like their work, to meet up with them as soon as possible.
There is a photographer and Videographer out there for you
Wedding photographers and videographers come in many shapes and sizes and to make sure you find the one that fits you and your wedding, make sure you get to know a little about them before signing on the dotted line. On the whole we are a very friendly bunch and any good wedding photographer or videographer will be more than happy to spend time with you explaining what they do.

If you would like to arrange an informal meeting with us to discuss your wedding day then please contact us via our website: http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk, our email: weddings@kliqmedia.co.uk or phone: 07549 591069.

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Happy Valentines!

2012-02-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day from Kliq Weddings - Wedding Video and Photography.

Other sites you might be interested in:

Kliq Weddings Photography and Video

Fun Wedding Trivia Facts!

2012-02-14T07:39:00.001-08:00

Bet you never knew this...
Glynn Scotty Wolfe married 28 times and divorced 27.
According to Greek culture, a sugar cube into your glove will sweeten your union.
The longest wedding dress train is for a bride in China, it measured over 200 metres long.
Brittney Spear's marriage to Jason Alexander lasted 56 hours.
Sit Temulji Nairman was married to Lady Nariman, when they were five years old. The marriage lasted for 86 years.
According to English tradition, Wednesday is considered the "best day" to marry. Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health.
James Burgess and his wife Sarah Ann currently hold the record for the longest married British couple, their marriage lasted 82 years.
In 1840 Queen Victoria started the Western world's love of white wedding dresses. Before then, brides simply wore their best dress.
30,000 people attended a Jewish wedding in Jerusalem in 1993.
The most expensive wedding took place in Dubai for a Sheik's son. The wedding cost over £22 million and included a purpose-built stadium.
In 2000, the average bride was 24 years old and the average groom was 28.
The ancient tradition of bridesmaids dressing the same as each other and in similar style to the bride is because it was believed that evil spirits have a more difficult time distinguishing which one is the bride and putting a hex on her.
Stan Laurel was married seven times…but Zsa Zsa Gabor has been married nine times.
Ancient Greeks and Romans thought the veil protected the bride from evil spirits.

Octavio Guillen and Adriana Martinez were engaged for 67 years.
Minnie Munro from Australia was 102 years of age when she married a man of the age of 82 years.
Multimillionaire Peter Shalson and wife Pauline paid £2 million pounds to get Elton John to sing a song at their wedding.
If you would like to find out how Kliq Weddings can capture your Wedding Day with stunning, modern and vibrant Wedding Photography and Videography please visit our website. www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Dresses- The Right One For You!

2012-02-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

Wedding dresses: the one for you

Every bride should feel – and look – her absolute best on her wedding day. There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to choosing a wedding dress, but here are some general guidelines to help in your quest to find ‘the one’.

SHORTER BRIDES

A petite bride should steer carefully through the sea of over-the-top bridal designs that threaten to overwhelm her small frame.

A tea-length weddingdress – or knee-length wedding dress – can look stunning on a shorter bride and is a good way to avoid looking as if you are swamped by a giant meringue.

An empire-line wedding dress – a style with a seam under the bust line – is a romantic, flowing choice that can help even out proportions and give the illusion of height.

Avoid slim, straight styles, and overly full or elaborate skirts.

LARGER BRIDES

By choosing designs that flatter their curves and hide their least-favourite bits, larger brides can look breathtaking.
As with all shapes and sizes, there is no substitute for trying on many different styles of dress to see which works best for you.

Simple designs are usually best, and needn’t be boring!

Sheer fabrics can be a pretty way to provide extra coverage of your arms or upper body without adding bulk. They can be used as part of the dress itself or to make a separate shawl or beautiful ‘coat’.

Avoid NOTHING, unless you’ve tried it on and are certain it’s not for you!! Larger-sized brides will each have their own body shape, so it’s worth trying a range of different-style dresses before ruling anything out.

HOURGLASS FIGURE

This body shape is characterised by a well-defined waistline, often accompanied by a full bust and hips which are in proportion to each other. Think Marilyn Monroe and you’ll get the idea.

A strapless wedding dress can look fantastic on a shapely figure… Just make sure your bust has the necessary support!

A low-cut neckline is flattering to a full bust – as long as it’s within the bounds of decency, of course! Off-the-shoulder styles fall into the right category, and are well worth a try.

Avoid gathered or pleated skirts, which can add bulk around the hips. Bias-cut or otherwise clingy designs should also be approached with caution as they accentuate the parts you might prefer to skim over. High necklines can be unflattering to larger busts. And to make the most of your curves, go for a one-piece dress as opposed to a two-piece.

PEAR-SHAPED FIGURE

The combination of narrow shoulders and broad hips can be cleverly balanced out with the right choice of dress.

A two-piece wedding dress can be a winner when trying to balance the look of a pear-shaped figure.

A princess-line wedding dress or skirt is a flattering option. It’s similar to an A-line design (also flattering to most figures) but has no seam at the waist, so avoids drawing attention where it’s not wanted!

A detailed bodice can draw attention away from broader hips. Combine it with a simple A-line or princess-line skirt for best results.

Avoid straight or bias-cut designs, or styles that are gathered at the waist or on the hips. Halterneck designs are also unflattering to pear-shaped figures.

BOYISH FIGURE

It’s more straightforward than you might think to add shape to a straight-up-and-down figure.

A full-skirted wedding dress can give the illusion of a well-defined waist, but beware: it can also make your bust look smaller.

A crumb-catcher neckline is a simple layered effect that adds interest at the bustline – a good way to add definition if you’re small up top.

A two-piece ensemble (corset and skirt) can be more flattering than a one-piece dress when it comes to breaking up the straight lines of a boyish figure.

Avoid very straight or ‘column’ styles.

Four popular dress cuts

1. A-line. An A-line wedding dress is one of the most popular shapes, flattering most figures and giving a neat, up-to-the-minute look. When the skirt is kept slim, an A-line wedding dress can highlight the top half of your body and detract from the lower half.

2. Princess line. This has the same general shape as the A-line but without a seam at the waist. This gives a long, unbroken line that is very flattering to most figures. The skirt begins to flare just below the bride’s natural waist, which can help disguise a heavier bottom.

3. Empire line. With its seam just under the bustline and a long, straight-ish skirt, the empire line is straight out of a Jane Austen novel. The fact that the skirt starts so much higher than waist level creates an illusion of height, which makes it an ideal cut for petite brides.

4. Full skirt. This is the classic ‘fairytale bride’ look, giving a traditionally romantic silhouette but one that does not suit every bride.

Trash the dress

Once you’ve wowed your husband and guests in the most beautiful wedding dress ever, why not consider trashing it? It might sound mad, but the Trash the dress phenomenon is a growing post-wedding trend that many newlyweds find surprisingly liberating!
Post from: http://www.weddingpath.co.uk
If you would like to find out how Kliq Weddings can capture your Wedding Day with stunning, modern and vibrant Wedding Photography and Videography please visit our website. www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

More Photos

2012-02-13T08:16:00.001-08:00

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out about how we can capture your Wedding Day! www.kliqweddings.co.uk Video and Photographic.

Why you should choose a Professional Wedding Photographer

2012-02-08T06:07:00.001-08:00

Reasons why you should choose a professional wedding photographer.
Your Wedding location is planned and you think you want a photographer. After racking your brain about guests that can snap images, you recall that Uncle Harry has an expensive camera. Since he will be on the guest list why not ask Harry? Documenting the story of a Wedding day is an art form. It should not be pawned off on anyone that is less than a Professional Wedding Photographer. Her are a few of the reasons why you should hire a Pro. First of all, what is a Professional Wedding Photographer? I have heard other professionals say that a professional is anyone who has accepted money for images. I suggest that you call a Professional anyone who has captured, at least, 50 full Weddings, and I would like to see them capture at least 100+ Weddings. A professional wedding photographer should have been exposed to a large portion of the scenarios during a wedding day. Being able to respond to adversity and handle high stress situations is mandatory. The professional should manage time well and help all parties arrive on time and remain on task. Most of all, the professional is ready to adapt to changing situations and should have the foresight to see changes coming. Professional wedding photographers have multiple backup systems. Having one camera is not acceptable. I prefer to see two cameras on the Pro at all times. You never know when a camera will error out, break a shutter, or the card will malfunction. Most Professionals have backups to their backups. They understand that this is a once in a lifetime event. Backup is not an option, therefore trust a professional. Professional wedding photographers know how to make ladies look beautiful and men look handsome. You can spend tens of thousands of dollars on a Wedding, wouldn’t you want to look your best. Professionals know proper posing techniques and also proper angles of exposure to make the subjects look stunning. Do not trust an ametuer to your hotness. These are just a few of the reasons to book a professional wedding photographer for your wedding day. After you repack your bags and head back to work, your memories will fade but your professional wedding images will not. Please, I beg you, trust only a professional wedding photographer. Get lots of references, check testimonials, ask questions, and see examples of full weddings.
This advice was from US based Wedding Photographer - Paul Retherford

If you would like to talk to Kliq Weddings about your Video or Photography needs then please visit our website or call us on 07549 591069 or alternatively email us.

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Photography Styles Explained!

2012-02-08T05:41:00.001-08:00

We often get asked to explain how modern photography techniques are different from the traditional approach and what options are available. I found this great Wikipedia entry that might help explain some of those questions:

What types of wedding photography are there to choose from?
There are two primary approaches to wedding photography that are recognised today: Traditional and Photojournalistic/Reportage. Traditional wedding photography provides for more classically posed images and a great deal of photographer control interaction on the day of the wedding. A Photojournalist style of wedding photography takes its cue from editorial reporting styles and focuses more on candid images with little photographer interaction. These are two extremes and many of today's photographers will fall somewhere in the middle of these two styles.
A third style that is becoming more popular is a fashion-based approach. In contemporary/fashion-based wedding photography, photojournalist will combine candid images of the events of the day with posed images that are inspired by editorial fashion photography as would be found in magazines like Vogue or Vanity Fair. This style often involves more innovative and dramatic post-processing of images.
A fourth style that is popular in Asian countries, especially in China, is wedding studio photography (Chinese: 婚纱摄影; pinyin: hūn shā shè yǐng). Typically, couples will select a studio in a similar manner as western couples select a wedding photographer. They will then make an appointment with the studio for either in-studio or location shoot, which is becoming popular in recent years, to do "glamour wedding shots". In attendance will be a hair stylist and make-up artist in addition to the photographer and the couple. The couple will go through many changes of clothing and backgrounds in a similar manner to the fashion based approach.
What is contemporary wedding photography?
The term contemporary wedding photography is used to describe wedding photography that is not of a traditional nature. The emphasis in contemporary photography is to capture the story and atmosphere from the day, so the viewer has an appreciation of what the wedding was like, rather than a series of pre-determined poses. This term can be mistaken for meaning any photograph that is not posed or formal. The advent and advancement of digital cameras (and increased use of the internet) means that many people can offer their services as a wedding photographer, but contemporary wedding photography is more than taking informal photographs and involves the use of composition, lighting, and timing to capture photographs that have a strong visual appeal.
However, the landscape of Wedding Photography has constantly evolved, it is a creative discipline and those proponents at the leading edge of the industry are constantly feeding new ideas into the photographic community. As a result trends will develop, mostly based around the core elements discussed. Some will be transitory while others will remain a traditional part.

Kliq Weddings Photography and Video

If you would like to talk to Kliq Weddings about your Video or Photography needs then please visit our website or call us on 07549 591069 or alternatively email us.

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Videos - Everything You Need To Know!

2012-02-08T04:56:00.001-08:00

" I don’t understand my Wedding Video options. What should I look for and how much should I pay for videographers?"

If you find yourself asking yourself this question, you are not alone. The truth is that there is no way to know because each videographer and videography company is different. This is a list of the various factors that determine the type of coverage that you receive:

Style of Cameraman

This is the most important aspect of determining the quality and quantity of your wedding footage. As you watch one sample wedding video to another, pay attention to the aspects below to see that style they have and which style you are willing to pay for (note that the negative and critical connotations are for humour and a more human understanding):

Tripod

One thing that I feel has been a problem over the years is the multitude of videographers that only capture their footage using a tripod. Tripod use (or abuse) definitely has its purposes, which includes steady shots and smooth horizontal panning during the ceremony. However some untrained and inexperienced videographers may only use tripod shots. This can lead to very boring and unemotional footage being captured. The best videographers will use a tripod and remove the camera from its anchor and get quality footage that is only attainable on foot. At Kliq Weddings we always supply two camera operators for every wedding. One operator is on the tripod camera and the other uses the camera off the shoulder.

The Running Man

So why use a second camera? As stated earlier, one static camera can lead to boring unemotional footage, not want you want on your wedding day! A second camera used off the shoulder will be able to pick up the emotion of the guests, the intricate details of your wedding venue, the details such as flowers and decorations, reportage and candid shots and importantly as they are not fixed to a position the second camera has the ability to move with the action and pick the best angles for shooting so nothing will be missed. The second camera operator often has to move quickly around the venue back and forth to get other shots. If this operator is inexperienced or poorly trained this could be distracting to the ambiance of the ceremony or reception. However, a trained and experienced second camera operator will be able to move around the venue quietly and virtually unnoticed. At Kliq Weddings we only use trained and qualified camera operators.

Sound

One option or feature that you may see on a wedding videography package list or brochure is the use of "wireless microphones." This brings sound into the picture. Many people do not realise how important audio can be to the video, since what good is it having your best man speak words from the heart to the camera with "YMCA" peaking the audio. Again, see actual footage of actual weddings to see what you will get, especially in loud situations such as the reception and important situations such as your vows. Ask the videographer if he is prepared.

One example involved a wedding in a huge hall where there was a full brass band in the ceremony. My audio was peaking and distorting with the sound of the band and the layout was not ideal to pick up the ceremony from the camera mounted microphone. However, we were able to master the audio with effective sound editing and we had also given the Groom a wireless lavalier mic to wear. This made sure that everything could be heard crystal clear. A lavalier microphone is the type of microphone used in interviews, usually attached to the lapel. This also provides two audio streams where we, as the editors, have the option of choosing a mix of the two signals.

Editing

Many videography studios will charge extra for special effects, slide shows, and highlight reels. Again, take a look at final products to see what you are buying. Many editors are not professional editors, using purchased templates to make their final product. This often results in a "cheesy" feel (I have permission to use that word because my clientele prefer to avoid "cheesiness" and use that word commonly). Be wary of paying for special effects where it takes 20 minutes of work to plug in footage into a template. At Kliq Weddings we never use templates. All our weddings are edited from scratch on an individual basis. Every wedding is different and unique, your wedding video should be unique too! We also never have hidden charges, what our packages say you will get!

The final edit should be flowing, emotional and pleasing to the eye. The choice of appropriate transitions is crucial to this (A transition is how a clip moves into another clip). Remember the box and flying transitions from ‘Top of the Pops’ in the 70’s and 80’s? We won’t be using those! Many editors get plug-in packages that include wedding video transitions, for example the video clip morphs into a wedding ring and zooms off. This can cause what I call "effect overkill" and is the result of the person trying to let the editing program's options make the video good by including every possible feature. Here and there you will see photographers do the same, though it is generally tolerated less. A real, professional editor can make the footage look good with simple cuts and then adds special effects to carefully add emphasis to certain moments. Look at any movie that is done well. Most of the cuts and transitions are straight cuts or fade transitions that are well-placed.

Finished Product

The style of a DVD case is often representative of the dedication and style that the company has for its videos, though I would always say to not judge a book. However, the printing of the DVD is important. Adhesive labels will peel off in the years to come and may damage DVD players. At Kliq Weddings we print directly on the DVD.

Make sure that you know how many videos you will receive and how much it will cost to get any extra copies beyond that. If you have the option of getting the video hosted on a website, find out if there are any extra costs and for how long the video will be hosted for (some places only offer this service for six months).

Extras

Extras, like a love story option or slide shows, are great. Just remember that some places offer extras to make easy extra money, while the true purpose should be to give the client flexibility and options to satisfy personal preferences. See if the price justifies the service. Explore the options and flexibility of a videographer, it shows skill and talent to be able to cater to each unique client.

Pricing

The truth: Many studios take advantage of the insane markup on wedding services and price accordingly. The best advice I can give is to pay for talent and skill. Expensive video equipment and pre-paid editing templates do not always justify a budget-tightening price.

So when you are looking at wedding videography package options, try to see what they actually offer beyond flashy terms and "fluff." Many things should come by default with a wedding video package. Be wary of when things are waved around like a banner (like "including 20 special effects") when they have little bearing on the calibre of the production. The best advice I could give is to look around and weigh the price for the end product. Always see actual weddings, instead of flashy promo clips that do not reflect what you will show your loved ones in the years to come.

If you would like to talk to Kliq Weddings about your Video or Photography needs then please visit our website or call us on 07549 591069 or alternatively email us.

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Chief Bridesmaid Checklist!

2012-02-07T05:55:00.001-08:00

The chief bridesmaid is usually a sister or close friend of the bride. However, if she is already married herself or if the bride is a widow and is re-marrying, her title becomes Matron of Honour.
The chief bridesmaid will liaise closely with the bride during all the wedding preparations and help look after the other bridesmaids, flower girl and page boys.

At 9 Months

Help the bride to choose her dress and the bridesmaids dresses.

At 6 Months

Discuss the plans with the bride, groom and best man.
Discuss the dress or outfit with the bride, especially if being made. Ascertain who will pay for the outfit.

1 Week Before

Confirm final travel arrangements with the best man and any other ushers, including the time of arrival at the church or registry office.
Obtain for the best man a list of family and guests who should be personally escorted to their seats.
Attend the wedding rehearsal if required.
Have your hair cut.
Obtain large umbrellas.

The Day Before

Collect any hired clothing and accessories.

On The Day

Ensure bouquets are ready for the bride, bridesmaids and flower girl.
Help the bride with her hair, make-up and dress.
Help the other bridesmaids, flower girls and page boys to get dressed and give them any final instructions on their duties.
Leave for the ceremony 10 minutes before the bride.

At The Venue

Arrange the bride's dress and veil.
Follow behind the bride and her father up the aisle.
Hold the bride's bouquet during the ceremony.
Witness the signing of the register if required.
Leave the church accompanied by the best man after the bride and groom.
Depart for the reception with any other bridesmaids and best man after the bride and groom.

At The Reception

Stand in the receiving line and greet the guests.
Help to display and record gifts received.
Distribute slices of the wedding cake to the guests.
Have the first dance with the best man.
Help the bride change into her going away outfit.
Take care of her dress and accessories if required.

After The Wedding

Return any hired clothing and accessories.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Combined Wedding Video and Photography Package Pricelist!

2012-02-07T04:11:00.001-08:00

Save money with a new combined Video and Photographic package from Kliq Weddings! We have two new combined packages: The Classic Package and our top of the line Ultimate Package!

Classic Package: £1650

Video:

Includes the following:

* Start filming at the Wedding Venue

* Arrival of the guests

* Arrival of the Bridal party

* The ceremony

* Signing of the register

* The photo call of Bride & Groom, families and friends

* Filming of the confetti shower

* Bride, Groom & guests at the reception

* The receiving line (if required)

* Entrance of Bride & Groom into the wedding breakfast

* The speeches

* Cutting of the cake

* Throwing of the bouquet

* Video diary (guests best wishes) if required

* Recording the festivities up to, and including the first dance

* Highlights sequence of your day and closing credits.

* Includes full production with background music of your choice

*The final production will be copied on to Two DVDs.

Photography:

Includes the following:

* Photos of the bridal party getting ready at home.

* External photos of the venue.

* Guests arriving at the venue.

* Coverage of the ceremony.

* Signing the Register.

* Formal group and individual photographs.

* Coverage of the wedding breakfast.

* Coverage of the speeches.

* Cutting the cake.

* First dance.

* Coverage of the Reception until 8.30 p.m

* A Wedding Photobook or Album of your choice and design

from our Classic collection.

* A Photo CD of all your photographs taken on the day.

Ultimate Package: £2350

Video:

Includes the following:

* A photo montage to get your DVD off to a good start, this could include

childhood photos or photos from your engagement.

* Filming the Brides preparations

* Filming the Grooms preparations

* Start filming at the Wedding Venue

* Capture the Groom greeting your guests

* Arrival of the Bridal party and arrival of the Bride

* Full coverage of the ceremony

* Full coverage of the signing the register

* Filming the photo call of Bride & Groom, families and friends.

* Filming the confetti shower.

* Onward to reception to film arrival of guests, Bride & Groom

* Cutting the cake

* Full filming of the speeches

* Video diary (guests best wishes) if required

* Recording the festivities including the first dance, throwing the bouquet etc.

* Further recording for the remainder of the evening up to 11.30pm

* Slide show of stills from the day set to music of your choice

* Highlights of your day and closing credits.

* Includes full production with background music of your choice

* The final production will be copied on to four DVDs.

Photography:

Includes the following:

* Two Photographers present for the whole day.

* Photos of the bridal party getting ready at home.

* Photos of the grooms preparations at the venue.

* External photos of the venue.

* Guests arriving at the venue.

* Coverage of the ceremony.

* Signing the Register.

* Formal group and individual photographs.

* Coverage of the wedding breakfast.

* Coverage of the speeches.

* Cutting the cake.

* First dance.

* Complete coverage of the Evening Reception until 11.30 p.m

* A Wedding Photobook or Album of your choice and design from

our Designer collection.

* A Photo CD of all your photographs taken on the day.

* A Photo DVD Montage of your favourite shots set to music of

your choice.

For more info please visit our website or call us on 07549 591069 or email weddings@kliqmedia.co.uk

Bridal Shower Planning Ideas!

2012-02-07T04:00:00.001-08:00

Traditionally, a shower is a party for the bride and her closest female relatives and friends, where she is "showered" with love, good wishes, and gifts. Where to start to tackle the task? Don't fret. We've got shower-planning basics nailed down to ten easy tips.

Who Plans It

Shower hostess is in the honor attendant's job description -- but she should ask for help from the other bridesmaids, the bride's sis, even the bride's mom. Emily Post types might tell you moms shouldn't plan a shower because it looks like she's trying to get gifts for the bride, but lots of mothers are very involved in helping with this party -- especialy when her daughter is the host. Enlist anyone with the time and energy.

Pick the Right Date

A shower can take place six months before the wedding or it can be the week before. It can be a surprise for the bride -- or not. Up to you. Depending on where most of the guests live, you may need to schedule it far in advance so everyone can make their travel plans. If most people are local, you'll have more options. Once you've picked a date, set up a planning schedule. Brainstorm as a team about the party -- themes, locations, and entertainment -- early on. Divvy up tasks such as getting/sending the invitations, making the decorations, and coordinating the menu.

Decide On the Budget

Before you start fantasizing about a full spa treatment for fifteen, determine who is paying for this shindig and how much it is going to cost. For fancy fetes, it's kosher to ask all the bridesmaids to help out. Be clear about what everyone owes from the very beginning, though. And make sure all dollar exchanging takes place in advance.

The Idea

Is the bride a traditional tea party type of girl? Would she be thrilled about a cozy shower at home, or is she expecting the works in a hotel ballroom almost the size of her reception hall? Does she have specific passions (art, gardening, traveling, the color pink) that might lend themselves to a special shower? Keep in mind that themes often make planning easier -- and more fun, because you can use your imagination to add special touches to the invitations, gifts, food, and entertainment.

The Location

You can be as creative as you want about where to have the shower. A list of options: a picnic in a park or at the beach; a backyard barbecue; an Italian restaurant; a hotel salon; a botanic garden; a bakery. Keep in mind that party spaces get booked early in busy seasons, like during the holidays. Call about availability before you get your heart set on something. And obviously, prices may be a factor.

The Guest List

Everyone invited to the shower should also be invited to the wedding. Ask the bride to help out with the shower guest list. If it's a surprise, consult with her mom, groom, or sister. If it's a bridal shower (just the girls), make sure the bride's and groom's close female relatives are invited, as well as all the women in the wedding party and the bride's close girlfriends. If it's a couple shower, make it a coed guest list.

The Gifts

It's a good idea to suggest that the bride and groom register for gifts prior to the shower. In the shower invitations, include information about where guests can purchase presents. (Yes, this is okay etiquette-wise.) If you want guests to bring gifts in keeping with a theme, include special instructions. Just make sure there are related items on the registry so the soon-to-be newlyweds don't get unwanted gear. Investigate any special discounts you can pass on to shower-gift buyers.

The Invitations

Don't feel like you have to go nuts with the invites. They should reflect the formality (or informality) and theme of the shower, but they can be as simple as those cute ready-made cards available at any card store. Make sure guests RSVP to someone (the MOH, the bride's sister) by a date that's at least a few weeks before the shower. If many guests will be coming from out of town, mail the invitations at least two months before the party -- if not earlier -- so those who need to can make travel arrangements. If it's an in-town thing, four to six weeks should be enough time.

Make a Menu

If you're having an at-home shower, think about having the party catered -- food can be anything from a five-foot hero to fried chicken and potato salad to dim sum. If you're doing a theme shower, make the food match. Are the bride and groom honeymooning in Venice? Do an Italian theme with a full-on pasta bar. Don't forget hors d'oeuvres -- be it bowls of pretzels and chips, crudites (raw vegetables and dip), or the bride's mom's famous mini-pizza rounds! For dessert, serve cake, and/or pastries, cookies, pie, ice cream -- either homemade or supplied from the yummiest bakery in town. If you're having the shower in a banquet hall or restaurant, work with the manager/host to come up with a delicious menu. Keep in mind the bride's taste and any special guest needs such as vegetarian or kosher dishes.

The Entertainment

Primary activities at any shower: eating, laughing, and gift-opening. One bridesmaid (often the MOH) should keep track of which guest gave which present, and another should make sure cards stay with the right boxes -- then thank-you notes won't be a nightmare for the bride. Background music (in keeping with the theme, if it lends itself) is a good idea and some planned activities will keep the party moving at a nice pace.

First Published: Bridal Showers: The Basics

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

How Many Bridesmaids?

2012-02-07T03:53:00.001-08:00

Stressing over which friends and/or relatives will be bridesmaids? Choosing the bridal party is no laughing matter. Scan these deciding factors, and the selection process will be a breeze.

How Many Maids?

One of the first things to consider when selecting your bridal party is how many guests you're planning to invite. While bridal parties can range anywhere from a single maid/matron of honor to more than a dozen attendants, most wedding experts agree that a good rule of thumb is to have one groomsman and one corresponding bridesmaid for every 50 guests. (This doesn't mean, though, that you have to go ask a stranger to be in your wedding just because your fiance has one more attendant than you do. Life will go on if you have uneven numbers of groomsmen and bridesmaids.) Also, a large wedding party traditionally signifies a formal wedding. So if you're planning a small, intimate gathering, ten bridesmaids might be a bit too much.

More isn't Merrier

Speaking of size, remember that the more bridesmaids you have, the greater the potential for complications. In other words, you'll need to get more people to agree on a dress or decide on a bridal shower date. And if you're on a limited budget, think about who has to pay for all those bridesmaids bouquets. That's right -- you.

Blood is Thicker Than Water

If you're close to your sister or future sister-in-law, the thought of not including them in your wedding party probably never even occurred to you. But if you suffer from a serious Jan Brady complex, the thought of asking your sister (or sister-in-law) to be a bridesmaid probably ranks right up there with getting a football in the nose. Still, it's usually worth including family members just to avoid unnecessary conflict. Think of it as having more bargaining power when you're battling with your mom over the guest list.

No Backsies

You don't need to ask someone to be in your wedding just because she asked you to be in her wedding. Don't ask the college roommate you haven't spoken to in five years just to return the favor. Weddings are no time for quid pro quo. Period.

Location, Location

What do you expect from your bridesmaids? Will simple moral support suffice, or do you expect them to be your personal Pollyannas, addressing wedding invitations and tying tiny ribbons around your wedding favors? If it's the latter, think twice about asking friends who live far away or who have extremely hectic schedules. You don't want to find yourself getting frustrated with a friend you knew wouldn't be able to give you all the help you wanted.

Don't Assume

Try not to make hasty assumptions. Don't write off some friends simply because you think they don't have enough money to afford that Vera Wang bridesmaid dress you have your eye on. If you want to ask a friend whom you know is having financial difficulties, you can always say something like, "I'd love for you to be a bridesmaid, but I understand the tough time you're going through now. If you can't do it, I'd love to find something else for you to do in the wedding." (Or, you can offer to pay her way if you can't stand the idea of her not being in the wedding.)

Guys Count

A bridesmaid doesn't have to be a woman. Despite the prevalence of feminine pronouns in this guide, if your best friend is a guy, there's no reason why he can't be in your wedding. Today, many brides (and grooms) are including members of the opposite sex as attendants. In these cases, a man on the bride's side is simply called an attendant or bridesman, while a woman on the groom's side can be called an attendant or a groomswoman.

Other Honors

Still stuck? Keep in mind that there are plenty of other roles good friends can play in your wedding if they don't make the cut -- do a reading, hand out programs, or perform a song.

Spread the News

Once you make up your mind about your bridesmaids, you'll want to get the word out. The only thing worse than a coworker who thinks she's invited to your wedding is a friend who assumes she's going to be a bridesmaid. If you're afraid of hurting someone's feelings, remember that, as cliched as it sounds, any true friend will understand whatever decision you ultimately make. And finally, the sooner you make your decision, the sooner you get to check off one more box on your endless wedding checklist.

First published at: http://wedding.theknot.com

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Bridesmaid Gift Ideas!

2012-02-07T03:48:00.001-08:00

Who says bridesmaid gifts have to be generic boring objects with zero appeal? Charm your chums with keepsakes that challenge tradition -- your maids deserve much more than the usual key chain or faux strand of pearls. While shopping, keep each individual maid in mind, choosing imaginative and stylish gifts that come from the heart. From crafty and tasty to just plain indulgent, here are 50 unique ideas to inspire you.

Entertain Her

Set of videos themed around a favorite actor, director, or film era

Tickets to a musical or dinner theater

Magazine subscriptions

Computer games

First-edition favorite novel

Gift certificates to a local video store or movie theater

Cute, purse-size camera

Movie-themed gift basket

Tickets to a sporting event

Lavish Affection

Silk pajamas

Asian-inspired robe

Personalized stationery

Gift certificate to a great boutique

Monogrammed set of bath towels

Designer purse or note cards

Gift certificate to a luxury spa

Designer makeup bag

Beauty gift package

Do It Yourself

(be careful here, make sure your maid will appreciate as much as you do)

Jewelry

Candles

Whimsical soaps

Holistic beauty treatments such as bath salts and scented astringents

Hand-painted mug or vase, designed at a local ceramics studio and personalized with her favorite colors

Knitted scarf, throw, or other woolen delight

Hand-bound photo album or scrapbook

Assorted jars of homemade jam

Personalized poem

Play Off Her Passion

She's an antique buff? Check out flea markets, tag sales, and ebay.com for vintage ashtrays, lace bureau scarves, Depression-era glass, and more.

She ice skates? Give a subscription to a skating magazine and fluffy balls for her skates.

She loves to boogie but can't get her groove on? Try a gift certificate for an introductory ballroom, salsa, or flamenco dance class.

She's a fitness nut? Go for workout gear.

She has wanderlust? Try a flight bag bearing her initials or classy travel kit.

She's good with her hands? Treat her to an introductory pottery class.

She's obsessed with wellness? Try a gift certificate for a session with a personal trainer, reflexologist, or nutritionist.

She cooks? Think a hot new cookbook, dessert bowls, or a state-of-the-art pepper mill.

She's a gardening guru? Try new tools, a flowering plant, or decorative pots.

Wine and Dine Her

She's a coffee fiend? A French press is always elegant, especially with a pound of gourmet coffee.

You're a great cook? Host a five-course dinner party in your bridesmaids' honor -- feature the finest wine you can afford and the most sumptuous dishes you can prepare.

She's the expert entertainer? Give her all the props she needs to create the ultimate sushi-themed soiree.

She's a wine lover? Try a fabulous bottle of bubbly, a nice ice bucket, or enroll her in a wine club.

She loves to eat out? Go with a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant.

She sets a mean table? Search for luxe table linens.

She's got a sweet tooth? Maybe she'd love some decadent chocolates.

She has a weakness for fancy food? Treat her to caviar, foie gras, or a gift certificate to a nearby gourmet shop.

She loves the outdoors? Hook her up with a deluxe picnic basket.

She's a kitchen goddess? Dress her in an adorable apron.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

first published:http://wedding.theknot.com

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Gift List Ideas

2012-02-07T03:41:00.001-08:00

If you’ve already got all your pots and pans and are having trouble thinking of what to put on your gift list, here are a few ideas:

Honeymoon - contributions towards your honeymoon can help you plan that trip to remember. Alternatively guests can purchase specific items to add a bit of luxury to your trip such as a helicopter flight or bottle of champagne.
Garden – if you’ve always wanted to spruce up your garden, why not have a list at a local garden centre.
Wine – for the wine lovers among us, a wine list is a great way of building up your collection. You could always add on a trip to a vineyard.
Charity – if you have everything you need and want to do your bit for charity, why not ask your guests for donations towards your favourite charity instead or perhaps choose a gift list that consists of only fair trade items or a list that will donate a % of contributions to charity

Money to put towards a new kitchen or bathroom
A mix of all of the above!

Wedding Insurance

2012-02-07T03:36:00.001-08:00

A wedding is not only the biggest day of your life but also the most expensive. Nuptials often take months of planning and preparation, and the costs usually run into the thousands of pounds. The average wedding costs between £5,000 and £13,000, which is why it is prudent to protect against disaster.
Only about 15% of weddings are insured, despite the myriad of potential problems they are subject to. The invitations may need reprinting, the reception venue may go bust, the cake, flowers or marquee could be accidentally damaged or the wedding gifts stolen.
The most common problems experienced by unlucky couples are damage to the bride’s dress, photos needing to be retaken, cancellation due to illness, accident or bereavement, non-appearance by the caterer and loss of wedding rings. Insurance companies regularly cover these difficulties and many more.
It is advisable to take out insurance cover for your marriage as soon as you make any bookings that require deposits – for the venue or DJ, for example. Cover is available from many sellers, be they general insurance companies like E&L (http://www.eandl.co.uk) and MRL (http://www.mrlinsurance.co.uk, high street retailers such as Confetti (http://www.confetti.co.uk), Marks & Spencer and Debenhams, or specialist wedding insurers.
There are dozens of firms that fall into the final category, as a quick search on Google will reveal, bringing up sellers such as Wedding Plan Insurance (http://www.weddingplaninsurance.com) and WedSafe (http://www.wedsafe.com).
Most sellers will allow you to apply online, and there are often tiers of benefits available for a one-off payment of as little as £45, which will cover you against all of the eventualities listed above and many more (up to a specified amount and often after a small excess of around £25). Payouts are on any expenses you fail to recover, and some firms even offer stress counselling for traumatised couples and their loved ones.
However, there are some circumstances that won’t be entitled to a payout, such as the bride and groom deciding not to go ahead with the day, damage to attire through cleaning, theft from unattended wedding vehicles, theft of cash and gift vouchers from the reception, damage to the cake by atmospheric conditions or vermin, and damage to the marquee during erection or dismantling.
You also won’t be able to make a claim if you cancel due to circumstances known to you at the time of taking out your policy, or because you decide that you can’t afford to pay for your nuptials.
Here’s to a happy and disaster-free wedding day!
Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Unique Wedding - 10 ideas to personalise your wedding || Wedding Ideas magazine

2012-02-01T04:20:00.000-08:00

Unique Wedding - 10 ideas to personalise your wedding || Wedding Ideas magazine

http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Photography - It's All About The Details!

2012-02-01T03:45:00.000-08:00

So you are looking for a Wedding Photographer? Well there is more to it then just taking pictures of people! A good photographer will make sure they capture the feel of your day by making sure they capture the small details as well as the big ones! Things like table decorations, place cards, favors, venue decorations, bottles of bubbly...the list goes on!

I have put together some of our favourite shots from a recent wedding to illustrate the point.

If you would like to talk to us about your Wedding Photos then please visit our website at: http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk call us on 07549 591069 or email weddings@kliqmedia.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:

Small Wedding Ideas!

2012-02-01T01:24:00.001-08:00

Small Wedding Ideas For Those That Think Differently

I've been thinking about small wedding ideas for those looking for something a little bit different. Most weddings you see these days are quite large with massive budgets to match, but that's not to everyone's taste. Small is beautiful too and sometimes even more memorable. A little intimacy goes a long way and can make a great soiree.

Small wedding ideas: focus on venues

Having researched this article, it's actually quite hard to find licensed wedding venues besides your local registry office that are suitable for less than 60 guests. Most venues cater for upwards of 100+ guests and since we're discussing small wedding ideas, that doesn't really fit.
There are far too many wedding venues about that are all about big numbers and usual wedding chintz, which is not for everyone by any means. Working around the difficulties of large venue numbers, minimum guests or minimum spends can be a nightmare. I remember my friends having the ritual wedding venue search of days of trudging around venues with the usual blurb from the in-house planners..
A garden reception can be a great alternative to a larger venue. It's intimate, quiet and if the garden is well tended can be a beautiful setting for a wedding reception. There's also nothing quite like sipping champagne in the garden on a balmy summer evening (not something I usually do, but I do have aspirations). A word of advice, if thinking of a small garden wedding, make sure you have somewhere to go if it's going to rain: a marquee, reception room or any kind of cover. As romantic as a garden reception seems, that suddenly goes out the window when it's lashing with rain and only 16 degrees outside. Oh the British summer, don't you just love it?
So where else can you enjoy a wedding reception for a small wedding? Consider bistros, restaurants, private members clubs or pubs. There are a wealth of lovely little venues that are willing to give you exclusivity and a memorable venue for your wedding reception. Consider, for example, Bumpkin, a pub in South Kensington that offers an interesting mix of funky country style alongside locally sourced food topped off with a burlesque show (not inclusive) for small wedding receptions with up to 36 guests.
Other small wedding ideas might be a modern canapé reception in a creative space such as The Creative Venue in Hammersmith. It's an airy west London loft with an outdoor area. It seats up to 45 for a sit-down dinner and if decorated well could make a inspiring venue.
Alternatively, a superb little alternative venue is the Clifton Lido in Bristol. Catering in one of their rooms is up to 30 guests and the restaurant can hold up to 80 guests. With a back drop of a glittering Victorian swimming pool, your wedding will be remembered.
One of the other pleasures of an intimate wedding venue is the plethora of small wedding ideas the venue themselves can offer. From flowers to enticing wedding entertainment (note burlesque dancers above), they're willing to go that extra mile so that the details are just right. They're not usually 'wedding venues' and therefore they're generally willing to go out of their way to make an impact, accommodate your needs and do things a little differently.
For me, with a small wedding, you can go that extra mile with the details. Having fewer guests, mean that you can take a step up in stationery stakes with matching motifs, themes and colour-ways through all your paper goods and decor. It also means you can spend more time with your guests and your new husband, rather than being the social butterfly most brides have to be on their wedding day.
Cutting your numbers though, doesn't necessarily mean little budgets. A small wedding can still command big bucks, where the money is spent wisely and lavishly on just a few. Everyone has a good time.
First published: http://www.modern-wedding-ideas.co.uk
Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Poll of Favourite Wedding Video Songs!

2012-02-01T01:11:00.001-08:00

Here at Kliq Weddings we are always amazed by the variety of choices people make when choosing their music to feature on their Wedding videos. Everyone has their own opinions and this is one of the reasons I love creating Wedding Films!

Some of our recent favourites include:

Last Request - Paulo Nutini

Dream Catch Me - Newton Faulkner

Better Together - Jack Johnson

Better - Tom Baxter

We would love our followers to list their favourite songs that they would love on their Wedding Video!

Please comment with your suggestions!

Thanks,

Kliq Weddings Photo and Video.

Musical Wedding Themes.

2012-01-31T06:43:00.001-08:00

Wedding reception music sets the atmosphere

With your wedding getting closer and closer, you’ve probably been over all of your plans with the finest of fine-toothed combs, but have you missed one of the biggest things that’ll make that night a night to remember? No, I’m not talking about the honeymoon; I’m talking about the reception. Have you decided to take the easy option and pick a DJ over a live wedding band? Pity, you were so close to getting it right.
Ok, DJs have their place, but wedding receptions are just made for live wedding music. Just picture it for a moment – everybody’s sitting around, not wanting to get up on the dancefloor; the music is the sort of cheap compilation that a teenager might put together on a rainy Sunday afternoon; the DJ just stands there, fiddling with dials while looking for his ‘The Greatest Hits of…’ album; and people are actually considering going home. Not really what you want your wedding reception to be remembered for, is it?

Live party music gets the celebration going

Now, just how much do you think the picture would change if the music was live? Not all bands take requests, but they’re more likely to than a DJ who has a set playlist, and has probably never even heard of the song that Great Aunt Ethel wants him to play. If you use a wedding band hire company – and yes, if you want, you even get to audition the bands that play music from a certain era – then you can really make the reception jump.

So, which era do you want your music to be from?

If you’re going for musical wedding themes for the night, then there are few swinging decades that you might like to consider.

1950s

First off are the ‘50s. This was the decade when the music started to change. Rock’n’Roll was on its way up the charts, but there was still plenty of slow, ‘smoochy’ music; just what a newly-married couple wants when they’re up on the dancefloor. If you want to get friends and family involved in some harmless fun, why not get your live wedding band to play a bit of limbo? Let’s see a DJ do that, spontaneously.

1960s

If you want to move the music forward a little, and have a passion for the likes of the Beatles, the Stones and Elvis, then you’re going to want a live wedding band that can bang out the beats from the ‘60s. Although singing along is optional, and for many it should be prohibited, you’re going to find that many of your guests, both young and old, are going to know most of the words to these songs.

Traditional Irish or Scottish, ceilidh or barndance breaks the ice

How about a shift of themes away from the modern pop decades, and taking in a few more cultural tunes? No matter who you are, you’re pretty much guaranteed to feel your toes tapping when the Irish music starts playing. Ah, U2. Well, as good as they are, it’s probably the Irish or Scottish country music that’s going to get more people up on that deserted dancefloor.
Some of the traditional Celtic music is so much fun, and you’ll easily be able to find a live wedding band that can play it and, if you want, organise some country dancing, so that you’ll have a hard time getting people to leave; not that you’ll be too worried if you’ve already slipped out the back and are well on your way to your honeymoon!

Songs from the Shows add a touch of glitz and glamour

Seeing as this is the day for grandeur, why not have a reception night filled with Musical music? Now, before you start to wonder how you’ll get people up to dance to songs from ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, just remember that ‘Grease’ is a Musical, and there’s enough good tunes from that one show to get the party started. Who out there can resist doing ‘The Time Warp’ from ‘The Rocky Horror Show’? Ok, maybe Great Aunt Ethel, but you’d surprised. Just think; this will be performed by a live wedding band, playing live wedding music (or perhaps not-so-wedding music if it’s from ‘The Rocky Horror Show’!).

21st-century alternatives for a younger audience

Still all a little bit too ‘old’ for your tastes? No problem. You’ll be able to find a wedding band hire company that’ll have bands that play far more up-to-date music, showbiz or otherwise.

A Pop Party Covers Band can cover all the bases

If all of those choices sound good, and you can’t decide exactly which style of live wedding music you’re going to have, then why not have all of it? Kick off the night with some ‘50s music to get everyone on their feet, move steadily up through the decades and then, when everyone’s in full swing, switch to the Irish music. Now that’ll be a night and a half, won’t it? It might even be worth delaying the honeymoon for… well, for a few hours, anyway.
So, as you go through that seemingly endless wedding list again, ticking off all of the things that have been done, and those still to be done, cross out the one saying ‘hire a DJ’ and replace it with ‘find a wedding band hire company’ and ‘listen to live wedding bands’. As ‘traditional’ as getting a DJ to play a few tracks at your reception may be, you’re going to get so much more out of having a live wedding band, playing live wedding music.
First published at: http://www.theweddingsecret.co.uk

Visit the FreeRide Wedding band page to find out about the songs they can offer for your Wedding Reception.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

1950's Wedding Theme Ideas!

2012-01-31T06:30:00.001-08:00

Locations

A venue with a large central dance floor.
A marquee in an overgrown English country garden.
Maybe have the reception in an American themed burger joint or diner.
OverThemMoonTents.com supply great 40's and 50's style themed marquees and decorations.

VintageMarquees.co.uk

Decorations

Choose a candy colour scheme. Pastel pinks, blues and greens.
Cute girly patterns can be brought in, such as polka dots, checks or floral.
Lace, buttons, pearls, vintage floral fabric and bows can be used to decorate your venue in a variety of ways. For starters, consider using them to decorate vases and candles or placemats.
Hang colourful parasols to add a bit of brightness and colour.
Use piles of vintage suitcases to decorate the venue. Or if you have a vintage bridal car pile them up on the roof for some fantastic photos as you drive off into the sunset.

Music and Entertainment

Instead of a DJ why not hire a jukebox – then you can allow your guests to pick their own favourite 50's tunes.
Or try a live band who play 50's songs!! You could try the Wedding band FreeRide who play a mix of songs from all era's and styles.

Favours

Personalised matchboxes
Candles
Home baked cookies in retro shapes. Choose an icing colour to match your scheme and wrap in cellophane, then tie with pretty bows.

Food

If you're going the American route consider 'Diner Style' food. Hotdogs, burgers, waffles and Ice cream sundaes.
Consider having a 'sweet shop' to keep the kids entertained. Fill big glass jars with colourful sweets, or have cute little pots with a selection of sweets in each.
Cocktails became popular in the 50's. Why not treat your guests to any of the following; The Vesper, Classic Champagne Cocktail, Daiquiri or Martini.
You can hire mobile cocktail bars if you want the drinks to be flowing all night
With the cocktails you could serve classic canapés such as olives and vegetables wrapped in bacon.
What about treating your younger guests to milkshakes.
Hire an old fashioned ice cream van if you are having your wedding in the summer.

Clothes and Accessories

For a glamorous look consider wearing long gloves.
Pearls, lace and bows were all popular in the 1950's, you could try to incorporate any of these elements into your wedding dress.
Kitten heels were the shoe of choice.
Choose a plainer 50's style dress, then make it sparkle by pinning on a vintage brooch.

Travel

Hire or borrow a vintage 1950's car. Have a look on the internet to find companies that hire out MG TA'S, MG Midgets, Morris Minor's or VW Beetles. You may be able to find someone with a small collection locally that will let you hire one for a reasonable price.
Or go American and hire a Cadillac.
What about hiring a vintage London bus to get your wedding party from the ceremony to the reception?

Extra Touches

Instead of a guest book have your guests write messages on little pastel coloured hearts – these can then be pinned to black / white background for everyone to see. You can arrange your hearts at a later date into a scrapbook
Consider buying an authentic 1950's cake topper. Try ebay to find a bargain.
Instead of a guest book have a vintage typewriter for guests to write their wishes. You can bind the pages together at a later date.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Videography For Your Vintage Style Wedding Theme.

2012-01-31T06:24:00.001-08:00

Our earlier post talked about how photography can help you achieve your desired vintage wedding look. Videography can be just as important !

Most brides want crystal clear HD video with sharp stunning colours on their Wedding DVD, which is something we do here at Kliq Weddings. However, if you are having a vintage styled wedding then this kind of film may not be what you want to go with the vintage costumes and look of the day.

Most good wedding videographers will edit their footage on a modern computer editing suite. At Kliq Weddings we use the film industry standard Final Cut Pro Editing suite to create our Wedding DVD's. This and other good software is able to create a vintage inspired look for your wedding DVD. There are a number of ways to make your Wedding film look old. This could be using a black and white sepia look or adding noise such as dust and speckles to the image. We can even recreate the look of old 8mm film with it's jumping moving image. We can also manipulate the colours to make your film look old. There are many possibilities.

If you would like to talk to us about filming your themed Wedding then please visit our website at: http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk or call 07549 591069 or email: weddings@kliqmedia.co.uk.

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Photography for Vintage Styled Wedding Themes

2012-01-31T06:04:00.001-08:00

Vintage Wedding themes are on the rise at the moment. 1920's through to 50's seems to be popular. So how can photography help capture your vintage wedding day look?
Since the advent of Digital images we have all been used to crystal clear photographs showing every detail with amazing clarity and colour. That's excellent for most circumstances but if you are trying to go for a vintage vibe then why not go the whole hog and do some vintage photos?
Most professional Wedding photographers will have access to software to manipulate photos to give them any look you want. At Kliq Weddings we use Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom to create our Wedding Photographs. Using these powerful tools it is easy to create the look of vintage photos including Sepia, bleaching (makes a photo look like it is old and has been bleached form exposure to the sun) and film grain looks. Here are some examples of bleached and aged photographs.

Here are some examples of Sepia and Black and White tones:

Remember to talk to your Photographer about your options if you are going for a Vintage inspired Wedding!

If you would like more information about how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day in the style you want then visit: http://www.kliqweddngs.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Vintage Wedding Theme Planning Tips

2012-01-31T05:33:00.001-08:00

Vintage continues to be a very popular choice for many brides-to-be. Styles of yesteryear offer a timeless elegance that some modern day weddings find difficult to beat. Nothing could be more enchanting than vintage lace, pearls and muted antique colours throughout your flowers, cake, bridesmaid dresses and every smaller detail.

Vintage is normally associated with the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50's– an era that can be associated with everything from Art Deco and Hollywood glamour to Sinatra, Jazz and Swing.

If you’re thinking about having a vintage themed wedding, there are so many elements you can take from these decades to make your day truly reflect the period.

If you love the swinging twenties, why not have an Art Deco themed wedding. Introduce feathers in your flower bouquets; have your stylist create 20s inspired hair styles; drape strings of pearls over silver candelabras; have Art Deco themed wedding invitations; Martini glasses to contain your wedding favours or you could even hire a Swing band to play music by Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman.

If you prefer a more subtle approach, pick out an element, such as a certain colour or detail, and use throughout your wedding theme. For instance, if you love lace, you could have hand-tied flower bouquets with antique lace wrapped elegantly around the stems; lace added to your wedding cake or lace in your wedding dress.

You can be as obvious or as subtle as you like. Either way, it’s best to start with a vintage colour paletteand work from there. Muted mocha brown, dusty pink, sage green, antique gold and soft cream all make good choices. Be sure to pick one or two complimentary colours to match your wedding dress.

To bring the rest of your vintage wedding theme together, gather as many wedding magazines as you can, dig out some vintage books from charity stores or have a look online to uncover vintage styles that you like. Cut out or make notes of everything you like.

Then, take a step back and see which vintage elements jump out at you. You might find that you’ve picked out the same styles and details again and again. Using your collection of cuttings and clippings – and keeping your wedding dress and colour palette in mind – introduce further elements to your theme.

You should also take inspiration from your wedding dress. Does it incorporate lace? Pearls? Once you have your dress, colour theme and small details in mind, your vintage wedding theme will start coming together.

If you want to complete the vintage look then remember to ask your photographer and videographer about how they can capture your day in the vintage style.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Vintage themed Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Vintage Wedding Theme - Top Tips!

2012-01-31T05:04:00.001-08:00

Vintage 1950's Wedding themes are becoming very popular recently. But where do you start in planning one.....
10 top tips and vintage wedding ideas from http://www.littlemisswedding.co.uk

1. Mix new with authentic vintage items to create a retro feel with a fresh perspective for the 21st century bride.
2. The venue is hugely important in achieving the look, if you can’t find somewhere with the appropriate architecture or decor consider a plain backdrop such as a marquee or a glass structured building like an orangery against which your vintage details will stand out.
3. Choose your photographer well. A good photographer will be able to create retro style photographs by using different exposures, lighting and journalistic shots.
4. Be prepared to research – vintage dresses, accessories and often perfect venues are easily found in mainstream wedding shops and websites.
5. Live music will really give you a vintage feel over a DJ. Ask the band members to dress according to your chosen era, including hair and make-up for the ladies to give you ultimate authenticity.
6. Consider giving guests something vintage themed as their favour. For example if you are doing an American 1950s themed wedding, put lolly pops in vintage popcorn cases – this will make fantastic photographs when your guests dig in!
7. A wedding planner will really take the stress of planning all this detail away, however if you’d rather plan the wedding yourself you can still go to specialists to help source vintage wedding suppliers. LeKeux Events have fact sheets and even a ‘Vintage Wedding Starter Kit’ which can be purchased at tiny prices and will save you tons of time!
8. Be confident in your styling, commit to the look through your hair and make-up and get a skilled professional to help to achieve an authentic look. Vintage glamour is the ultimate in celebrating all that is feminine and sexy! Soon to come Vintage hair and make up tips.
9. Ask Granny! You’ll be amazed what you can beg, borrow and steal for your vintage wedding. Whether it’s Granny’s pearls, old lace table cloths or teacups, you’ll find something in those cupboards to help you achieve your vintage look.
10. Lastly…enjoy it! Choosing to have a vintage wedding doesn’t have to be about getting every detail perfect, so don’t sweat it if you can’t find everything you’re looking for, just enjoy being a glamorous vintage goddess for a day!
Vintage bridal accessories
As Lynsey mentioned above get a mix of old and new – its easy to add real vintage accessories and there are few really good designers making bespoke jewellery from original vintage pieces – Vintage tiaras, veils, bracelets, necklaces and hair accessories – there are loads of fab suppliers out there.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Advice For Getting Married Abroad

2012-01-30T06:20:00.001-08:00

Is it possible to legally get married abroad?

Yes, it is.

You could consider a Caribbean beach wedding, Bahamas wedding or a 'drive thru' marriage in Las Vegas, not forgetting the famous Gretna Green in Scotland.

Will our marriage abroad be recognised here?

Generally speaking yes, providing that it complied with the law of the Country where it took place and that the Bride and Groom were both lawfully free to marry under that country's laws.

If you are concerned about the validity of a marriage held abroad you should seek legal advice. In such circumstances it may be possible to petition the Courts for a declaration of status under Section 55 of the Family Law Act 1986.

If the marriage certificate you are given is not in English it may be advisable to organise a literal translation for official purposes.

How do I arrange to marry abroad?

This will depend on the country in which you wish to marry. There are many tour operators and travel Companies which specialise in arranging marriages overseas. We suggest that you ask at your local Travel Agent.

They should advise you on the documents you would need to provide, if there was a minimum length of stay in the country before you could marry and if you need to obtain a 'certificate of no impediment' before you go.

You may find it helpful to contact the relevant country's embassy for advice. There is also general advice available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office site.

What is a Certificate of No Impediment?

This is a document, required in some countries, which states that there is no known impediment to your proposed marriage. These certificates vary in the length of time they are valid for (sometimes just for a few months), so it is important to check the requirements which apply to your circumstances. Please also be aware that a Certificate of No Impediment may be insufficient on its own to allow a marriage to take place in a foreign country.

This certificate can be prepared by the Registrar at any of register office.

The cost of this certificate is £33.50 per person - you will need to take various identification documents with you, which will be explained to you when you telephone to book the appointment.

Subject to there being no complications, the actual Certificate of No Impediment will be issued between 17 and 23 days after your appointment.

Can we register our marriage abroad here?

A marriage which took place abroad under foreign local law cannot be registered here unless one of the couple is a serving member of, or is attached to, the British Armed Forces at the time of the marriage. This should be discussed with the Forces prior to the marriage taking place.

However, a record of the marriage may be lodged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office via the General Register Office, (telephone 0151 471 4803) by depositing an original marriage certificate: this only applies to certain countries and where it is possible a fee will be required. This means that in future a marriage certificate could be issued by the General Register Office here, should the need arise.

How do I get an apostille?

Certain countries may require an official document, such as a birth certificate to be further authenticated. Full details of this service are available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Flower Facts!

2012-01-30T06:07:00.001-08:00

Wedding Flowers: Customs & Traditions

Looking for ways to get symbolic with your wedding flowers? Put on your thinking cap and check out these flower facts.

The blossoms you select for your wedding day are rooted in rich cultural and historical traditions. From ancient Rome and ancient Greece to the Middle East, we've gathered the best flower-related customs we could find. Read on for a bundle of floral trivia.

In Thailand, the mothers of the bride and groom walk to the altar to drape puang malai -- flower garlands -- around the couple's shoulders to wish them good fortune in their life together.
Swedish and Danish grooms sew small pockets of strong-smelling herbs like garlic, chives, and rosemary into their clothes for good luck.
The Indian groom's brother sprinkles flower petals over the couple at the end of the ceremony to protect them from evil.
Ancient Greek brides often carried ivy at their weddings as a symbol of their never-ending love for their sweeties.
Ancient Roman brides carried bunches of herbs to symbolize fidelity and fertility -- and to scare off evil spirits.
The Victorians, who were fascinated by the meanings of different blooms, popularized the wedding rose, which represents true love.
Also in Victorian ages, the bride originally tossed her bouquet to a friend as she left the festivities to keep that friend safe (by warding off evil spirits, of course) and to offer her luck; this came to mean that the single woman who caught the bouquet would marry next.
In a Greek Orthodox wedding, crowns of orange blossoms were traditionally made for the bride and groom -- they even matched the delicate embroidery on the bride's dress. The blossoms symbolize virginity and purity because they are white and fragile, and they emit a sweet, delicate scent.
In Tudor England, brides carried marigolds dipped in rosewater and ate them afterward, since they were thought to be aphrodisiacs!
According to Italian tradition, the front grill of the Italian getaway car is decorated with flowers, paving the road to a happy marriage.
In the Middle East, the bitter herb artemisia is incorporated into bridal bouquets to ensure that marriages will survive bitterness as well as sweetness.
According to Indian tradition, both the bride and the groom sport a floral headpiece.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

From: Wedding Flowers: Customs & Traditions

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

How to Preserve Your Wedding Flowers!

2012-01-30T06:00:00.001-08:00

DIY Flower Ideas: How to Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet

You meticulously planned every bit of its detail, so why not protect your prized floral possession?

Make sure your flowers never lose their beauty with this guide to bouquet up-keep and preservation.

What It Is

You dry your bridal bouquet -- by yourself or via a professional service -- and hang onto it as a meaningful keepsake.

Why Do It

A preserved bouquet can be both a memento and decorative piece for the home.

How It Works

There are three methods: silica gel (quick-drying mode via immersion in a sand-like, silicon substance); pressing (press select blooms from the bouquet and flatten via a flower press and framed); and freeze-drying (pros spray the blooms with a starch to set the colors and then "bake" the bouquet in a freeze-dryer). All modes allow for beautiful presentation in frames, glass domes, etc. But freeze-drying is the only method that allows for "open arrangements" (they don't have protective covering), and yields the most true-to-life results in terms of flower shapes and colors.

Tips

Think about preserving just a few select blooms instead of the full bouquet. This will cut down on the cost of preservation. Also, it's important for preservationists to receive the bouquet in prime condition. So get a tossing bouquet, and, at the reception, leave your actual bouquet in a safe place where it won't get bruised or crushed (maybe have a bridesmaid handle this) as a precaution. Sometimes brides will immediately have the caterer store the blooms in the refrigerator, or, if it's a hand-tied bouquet, stick the stems in water.

DIY

If you want to try and preserve your flowers yourself try hanging the bouquet in a warm room such as an airing cupboard upside down. This will help the flowers to release their moisture and to dry out much more quickly.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Tips For Finding a Good Wedding Videographer

2012-01-30T05:09:00.001-08:00

Is your knowledge of video limited to clunky cameras and blinding bright lights? Like sequins, ruffles, and big hair, this part of the wedding process has also evolved. Today's wedding videos are shot with lightweight, high-tech digital cameras that require less artificial light sources, making them less obtrusive and more mobile. The editing process is also more streamlined, allowing videographers to turn out a wedding video that flows like a feature film. To find the "director" for your wedding story, heed these tips:

Get suggestions from already-married friends with impressive videos.

Get recommendations from wedding photographers, caterers, florists, or consultants. (Be sure to ask if such referrals are based on a commission being paid. If that is the case, the referral is not unbiased.)

Check out our local directory to find a videographer in your area.

Check wedding sections in regional or city newspapers and magazines. Be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau before contracting with an unknown videographer.

The Interview Process

Once you've found two or three promising prospects, set up appointments to meet each of them face to face. To stay organized, keep a record of videographers' names, addresses, phone numbers, price estimates, and who referred them.

Be sure you're looking at footage that the videographer who will be shooting your wedding shot, not that of other professionals who work at the same studio.

When reviewing demo tapes or DVDs, be sure the images are clear and that the lighting is not too dim or harsh.

Listen closely: How is the sound quality? Can you understand what everyone is saying? Does the music compliment or overwhelm the visuals? How extensive is the videographer's library of musical selections?

Are the transitions and special effects smooth? Do they enhance or clutter the story?

Note your chemistry with the videographer: Does he or she make you feel at ease? (Exceptional people skills are a must in this profession since videographers work very closely with you and your guests.) Is he or she receptive to your specific vision of your day? Do you like the videographer's personality but not their work? (Keep in mind that what you see is what you'll get, so don't be swayed by a person's charm.

And the Winner is...

Once you're sold, agree to a contract and start practicing your dramatic pauses!

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Post by: Wedding Videography: Finding a Good Videographer

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Boudoir Photography

2012-01-30T04:47:00.001-08:00

You may have heard of one of the latest trends in wedding photography. Hint: It involves the bride wearing a lot less than her gown. Boudoir photography is definitely gaining popularity among to-be brides, but what's it really all about? Find out whether these risque pics are for right you.

So, what is boudoir photography exactly?

Boudoir photography is a sexy new trend that's especially popular as a wedding day gift from a bride to her groom. Boudoir photos are usually taken wearing either just a little, or well, nothing at all. They're hardly X-rated though, but rather PG-13 -- as in classic pinup-inspired pics, or what the pros call 'implied nudes.' That means you're not wearing anything, but you're also not showing off anything either (think shot from the back, or lying on your stomach).

Who will take my pictures?

Many wedding photographers have embraced this trend -- your photographer may offer this as an additional service. An added bonus of going with a pro: Many brides like to have the best of their boudoir photos bound in a mini album just for their hubby, a service many wedding photographers are able to arrange. In some areas, you may also be able to find services that specialize in boudoir photography. While the shots you get may not be as high quality as those of a high-end wedding photographer, there can be other perks --like closets full of potential wardrobe items or props.

When should I schedule the session?

If you're spending time and money on an exercise and beauty routine, you may want to wait until a week or so before the wedding to show off the results. Plus, a fun and pampering photo shoot is a good way to indulge and take some time out from wedding planning. Though you might be inclined arrange for the session on the morning of your wedding, resist the urge. For one, you're not likely to feel very sultry if the rain clouds looming over your outdoor ceremony site are the first thing on your mind. Second, do you really want your to-be mother-in-law walking in on you while you're posing in just your veil? Stick with a separate shoot so you'll have time to really feel comfortable and get some great shots.

How long does it take?

Though it depends on the package you choose, your boudoir photo session will probably last about two hours. Why so long? It takes time for hair and makeup, plus the additional lighting setup. It may also take you a little while to relax. Most brides aren't used to lounging around wearing little, if any, clothing in front of the camera, so your first few shots will likely look a bit stiff.

What does it cost?

Cost varies considerably -- do a little investigating before you commit to a vision of what you want. Multiple set changes, renting props, or simply time spent can add up quickly. If you can add a private session onto your wedding package, you may be able to get a better deal than if you go with a different wedding photographer. The real key, of course, is whether you gel with your photographer -- if you don't feel comfortable, it will show on camera.

Where should I have it done?

Talk with your photographer to come up with the best location. Many photographers may be able to do a photo session in a studio. Another popular site is a posh hotel room. Your own home or a borrowed home is another option. The main key is to get an okay from your photographer on the locale -- a number of different backgrounds for poses are important, and they'll also need lots of natural light.

What should I wear?

The most important thing -- choose outfits that make you feel sexy. A good rule of thumb: Bring something white, something black, and something in a bright color so you can mix and match. A corset will create sexy curves. In addition to lingerie, don't forget shoes, jewelry, and that engagement ring.

Should I bring anyone along?

Though you don't want to turn your shoot into a three-ring circus, it's a good idea to bring a friend. Why? You'll feel more at ease if you can make a few jokes with a pal, plus she may be able to help with suggestions. Another idea: Bring a bottle of bubbly. A little champagne may help loosen things up. You'll be posing like a pro in no time -- but of course, this is a one-time-only exclusive for a very special audience (your very lucky groom).

Kliq Media can offer this service for you as an add on to your Wedding Photography Package or as a separate product.
Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Read more: Wedding Photography: The Wedding Boudoir Photography Trend

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Not Having a Wedding Video? Read This First!

2012-01-30T04:36:00.001-08:00

It's not what you think

Throw out the idea that a wedding videographer means lights-camera-action in your face all night. Today's videographers embrace a more documentary style of filming, meaning you might not even notice them -- until they're handing you a stunning video of your day. Video can also be taken in a variety of styles, talk to some videographers and ask to see examples of their work

Video captures the in-between moments

Yes, your photographer will get both posed and candid shots, but for everything in between, you need a videographer. And since there's no posing (you just keep enjoying the party!), you won't have to worry about looking stiff or awkward on film.

Videography lets you experiment with style

You want your wedding photos to be timeless (they're going to be displayed in your home for years to come), but your wedding video can be a little trendier while still looking classic.

Video means sound

It's an obvious one, but video captures audible moments, such as your mother's tearful words of wisdom as she helps you with your veil, your father's reaction to seeing you in your dress, or your grandmother's laugh as she dances with your grandfather. These are the memories you'll cherish long after your dearest relatives have passed, and a wedding video will preserve them forever. And whether you write your own or go traditional, there's no other way to document your vow exchange. Video can also capture important reception moments, such as toasts and songs for you to share with your family in the future.

Wedding videos aren't hour-long sagas

Banish the idea of a wedding video that plays out like a boring slideshow. Good videography companies will edit all of the footage captured during the day and piece it together into a smaller 30 min to 1hour long DVD. Good editing will mean that the emotion and important parts of the day are captured while not loosing any of the significant parts.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

How To Look Great In Your Wedding Photographs!

2012-01-30T04:27:00.001-08:00

Your wedding day will probably be the most-photographed day of your lives -- it's a lot of pressure, even for couples who consider themselves photogenic. After having your hair and makeup done and he's in his tux, you'll both look and feel fabulous. Here's how you can make sure that sentiment shows up in your pictures.

Strike a Pose (or Not)

Study your favorite photos. The key to being a glamorous bride in your photographs is to look composed without appearing overly posed. What do we mean? Think about some of your favorite pictures of yourself -- your ultra-rigid graduation picture probably isn't among them. The shots where you look happy and poised but your attention isn't directly on the camera (maybe you didn't even know that someone was taking your picture) are often keepers. Look at these, and take note of how you're standing and smiling. Then comes the challenge: Try to mimic that look on your wedding day.

Ignore the Camera

When you're taking your portraits, focus on each other rather than the camera. Whisper an inside joke to one another, remind each other how far you've come since your first date, or recall how you felt the first time he told you he loved you. These will leave you with much more natural expressions than simply saying "cheese."

Avoid Squinting

If the sun is making you squint when you're taking your photos, close your eyes while your photographer counts to three, and then open them just as the picture is taken.

Take Two

Another way to look great in your wedding shots: Book the same photographer to take your engagement photos. A photo session before the wedding can relieve day-of jitters because you'll be warmed up to the photographer's style. Since your family and attendants won't have that same benefit, recruit a lively member of your group to tell a funny joke as everyone takes pictures on your wedding day. Or just instruct them to blow out a deep breath to loosen cheek muscles.

Post by: How to Look Great in Your Wedding Photos

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Top 10 Wedding Music Myths.

2012-01-30T04:21:00.001-08:00

Myth #1: A DJ will talk too much.

You've probably heard about (or been to) weddings where a DJ, in a misguided attempt to emcee, talked more than he spun, with cringe-worthy results. But an experienced wedding DJ will only speak when it's appropriate. "Every time a DJ speaks, he should have something important to say, which you and he planned in advance," says DJ Dr. Drax, National President and Executive Director of the American Disc Jockey Association. To ensure that your DJ doesn't abuse his proximity to the mic, be specific about when you want him to talk and when you don't. If you're nervous that yours is a chatterbox, consider sending an example of what you find inappropriate. "You can find a litany of bad DJ videos on YouTube," says Dr. Drax. But handle with care so as to not offend.

Myth #2: Bands take a lot of breaks.

One common concern about hiring a band is that each 40-45 minute set they play will be followed by a 15-20 minute break filled with music from a compilation CD -- and that bored guests will vacate the dance floor. But you can manage your band's need for downtime so that it doesn't disrupt the party too much. Ask the band members to stagger their breaks so there's live music throughout the night (it may cost an extra fee); guests will stay entertained and the dance floor will stay full.

Myth #3: A DJ will play cheesy tunes.

Worried that your DJ has his mind set on "Y.M.C.A." and the Electric Slide, when you're thinking more along the lines of "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Unforgettable"? It doesn't have to be that way -- your DJ wants to play what you want to hear, but you have to communicate your tastes clearly. Don't rely on words alone, since terms like "dance music," "rock," and "slow songs" are vague and can easily be misinterpreted. To make sure you are on the same music style page, give him a playlist and a do-not-play list. "Brides and grooms should be able to customize the playlist," says Dr. Drax. "People today have grown up with choice and personalization, and good DJs understand that."

Myth #4: You can control everything.

One caveat to the last idea: You can give your DJ a mile-long playlist, but you shouldn't try to micromanage the music. To some extent, your lists should be guidelines for the mix master, not hard-and-fast rules. Your DJ should know the genre you're interested in, but let him choose the best way to mix the music -- after all, it's his job to keep people on the dance floor. Give your band some flexibility to react to the crowd and adjust the tempo accordingly. "When you hire somebody to bake a cake, you can tell them what flavors to use, but you don't try to tell them how much flour or what kind of sugar to put in," says Dr. Drax. "It's the same with DJs -- you need to trust that they know what to do."

Myth #5: Bands love line dances.

The days when it was de rigueur for a wedding band to encourage a conga line are over. But if you're worried about that kind of thing, be sure to see the band in action before you sign on. Ask for a DVD of a previous performance to get a sense of how they interact with the crowd. You should also try to see them live. But you can't crash somebody else's wedding -- find out if you can drop by to watch them play at another type of event. Just keep in mind that you can't alter a band's style as easily as you can tweak a DJ's. If their live act is rambunctious and interactive (complete with line dances), then asking them to change might hamper their performance, and you're probably better off going with a different group.

Myth #6: A band can't offer enough variety.

You'd be surprised by the musical depth a quality wedding band can offer. One indication that a band has versatility is if they have more than one singer -- if they have both male and female vocalists, for example, chances are they're open to a wider range of songs. Though a band may specialize in a style (like big band or soul), they're professional musicians and should be able to stray at least a little from their niche. And if a few of the songs you have your heart set on aren't in the band's repertoire, simply ask them to learn the songs before your wedding -- most bands will learn between three and five songs if you give them enough notice.

Myth #7: A DJ will save you money.

Although a DJ almost always costs less than a band, that doesn't mean you should cheap out on this vendor. "If you're willing to pay for a top-notch DJ, you can get way more than somebody to play songs," says Dr. Drax. "A great DJ will talk to your photographer and tell him which songs are coming next. Photographers capture the Kodak moments; it is the DJ's job to create the opportunity for them to occur." Dr. Drax knows a DJ who got a tape of the groom singing "You are My Sunshine" to his mom as a little boy and created a custom mix, bringing tears to everyone in the room during the mother-son dance. On the other hand: "I heard a story about an inexperienced DJ announcing a father-daughter dance, unaware that the bride's father had passed away," says Dr. Drax. Although the old adage "you get what you pay for" isn't always true, when it comes to your music it's certainly advice to consider.

Myth #8: Hiring a bar band is a good idea.

Unless they also have a lot of experience with weddings, using a band or DJ that's oriented primarily with nightclubs is risky, since they won't be adept at pleasing a diverse crowd. "It's much smarter to find somebody who has experience in wedding entertainment," says Dr. Drax. "If your wedding will be mostly your college frat buddies, then maybe your favorite campus band will be great." He's quick to point out though, that if you're inviting coworkers, grandparents, and children, the entertainment should offer something for everyone.

Myth #9: You have to hire a DJ or band -- you can't have both.

If you can afford it, you can have the best of both forms of entertainment. Either hire a DJ to spin while the band is on break (and to be your emcee), or divide the evening into two portions. Another option is to hire a band for your reception and a DJ to spin at the after-party. Or, if you can't spring for a whole band, see about combining just a few live musicians with a DJ. Some companies create packages where, for example, the musicians will play for the ceremony and during cocktail hour, then complement the DJ during the dancing, by adding percussion to a hot Latin set.

Myth #10: Slow songs first, followed by faster tunes after the cake-cutting.

Some couples request that their entertainers play '50s rock or big band-style songs early on to please their older guests, and then switch over to more lively beats so the younger crowd can dominate the floor until last call. But it can be more fun for you and your guests if you have your band or DJ mix it up throughout the night. Alternating between speeds, styles, and eras of music will keep wedding guests of all ages more engaged and encourage them to broaden the range of music they'll boogie to, with truly memorable results.

Post by: Wedding Music: Top 10 Wedding Music Myths

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Photo Example 2

2012-01-30T03:40:00.000-08:00

Wedding Photo Examples

2012-01-30T03:39:00.000-08:00

Favourite First Dance Wedding Song?

2012-01-30T02:34:00.001-08:00

Ok, here is a question for everyone reading:

What is your number 1 favourite first dance song of all time?

Please comment with your suggestions!

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings canhelp capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

FreeRide Wedding band: http://www.freerideband.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Silk Wedding Flowers!

2012-01-30T02:27:00.001-08:00

Silk Wedding Flowers

Silk wedding flowers provide a great alternative to fresh flowers. Brides choose to use silk flowers for various reasons whether its because they are getting married abroad or they want to keep them as a memento of their wedding day.
There are now more and more quality silk flowers in the shops to buy whether it’s via the internet or on the high street the quality has certainly improved over the last few years. It is sometimes really hard to tell the difference between the silk and the fresh. I created the bridal bouquet below with artificial peonies - and some of my colleagues thought they were real!

It’s worth paying for quality, I definitely think less is more when it comes to silk. If you haven’t got a huge budget just concentrate on the key artificial wedding flowers like the bouquets and buttonholes. Top quality silk flowers are definitely worth paying a little bit extra for if you can.
Some people will choose to make their own silk wedding flowers if they are creative or generally enjoy craft activities. Other people enlist family members to give them a hand, as it’s a perfect activity to enjoy with a close relative like a mum or sister. However if you’re not that creative or the prospect scares you then don’t worry; plenty of suppliers sell the finished article.
Online you will be able to find various suppliers who will make all your artificial wedding flowers from bouquets, buttonholes and centerpieces. Some suppliers provide a bespoke service where you can design your own unique silk wedding flowers.

Silk Bridal Bouquets

I always recommend that you should start with the bridal bouquet and bridesmaid’s flowers as you begin to plan your wedding flowers.
The picture on the left is of a phalaenopsis orchid shower bouquet that I created with silk flowers.
Your focal point might be the color theme for your day, a fashionable style like the recent vintage theme or your love of a particular flower. For instance, I know from years of experience that one of the most popular wedding flowers is the calla lily.
This can provide you with a great starting point when looking for your fake wedding flowers. See our page on silk bridal bouquets for more information on styles and choices of wedding bouquets.

Wedding Centerpieces

When buying or designing your silk wedding centerpieces, you just need to think carefully about the design of them. The most successful artificial centrepieces are those with a minimal but stunning flower design.
For instance here you can see a large goldfish bowl with twisted silk orchids and 'chinese lanterns'. This would look stunning for a Fall wedding theme. Likewise a tall slim vase with a stylish display of silk gerberas, beargrass and fake folded aspidistra leaves can look really effective.
Personally I think this style of centerpiece works better than a mass of mixed silk flowers, that can look slightly dated or fussy. It will also allow you to spend more on the individual flowers achieving a better quality, as you wont have to buy so many.

Don’t Forget the Men

To achieve that beautiful coordinated look on your photographs, it’s important for the men to have boutonnieres (buttonholes). You need to make sure that you use the same supplier for both the bouquets and buttonholes, as it’s essential that they all coordinate. This alone makes them look equally as good as fresh flowers.
I recommend choosing silk flowers for the buttonholes that are as near perfect to the actual size of real flowers. Overly large fake buttonhole flowers can look too artificial or fussy. Keep them stylish, simple and as smart as possible.
You might also want to ask any of the ladies in the close wedding party like the mums if they would like a corsage. Silk wedding corsages make a perfect keepsake.

Take Your Time and Enjoy

You’ll need to allow yourself plenty of time when planning and purchasing your silk wedding flowers. Not only will it take you time to choose or make your perfect flowers it may also take your supplier time to produce everything. But the great thing about using artificial flowers is that you can buy them well in advance.
From: Wedding Flowers Guide

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Tropical Wedding Flowers!

2012-01-30T02:18:00.001-08:00

Tropical Wedding Flowers

We've noticed that there are many more brides now that are interested in having tropical wedding flowers. A few of the reasons they are so popular include:

They are often brightly coloured
They are available year-round
They have a modern, chic look

Here are some of the most popular tropical wedding flowers:

Anthuriums

These beautiful flowers are extremely popular at the moment. They originate from Central and tropical South America, and are commonly known as Flamingo flowers.

They come in a wide variety of colours including bright red, green, pink and white. One of my favourites is called 'safari' and is burgundy with pale stripes. The photo shows pink anthuriums which we arranged into a 'thank you' bouquet.

Botanists will tell you that the brightly coloured parts are not flowers at all but modified leaves called spathes...but who cares! They look absolutely fantastic.

Anthuriums can work well in bouquets, but be careful which flowers you put them with. Their size and unusual shape shout 'look at me' and they easily overpower other flowers. Let them be the star of the show with other flowers as secondary.

They are also good in table arrangements. I created the centerpieces in the photo on the left with anthuriums and roses.

The size of anthuriums is useful when creating large arrangements like a pedestal arrangement for a reception. Here I do mix them with other flowers and this works well in these larger arrangements.

I made a short video here on anthurium tropical wedding flowers, if you want to learn more about these fascinating blooms.

Orchids

Orchids have long been a favourite with brides. There are a number of different varieties including Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) and Cymbidium orchids.

Phalaenopsis are delicate flowers that are well-suited to bouquets and also look good as buttonholes - as can be seen in the photo on the right.

Cymbidium orchids are robust, and are one of the most versatile flowers. Cymbidiums have large heads but still retain a refined elegance. The popular colours are white, pink, yellow and light green.

I have used them in tropical wedding bouquets, wedding boutonnieres, and in room arrangements. In fact, I just simply love using them!

Heliconia

Heliconia is a beautiful architectural plant. For this reason you'll find it in the receptions of quality hotels and corporate offices around the world.

It can be arranged into striking designs for wedding ceremony rooms and receptions. The yellow and red colours will brighten any room and make colorful centerpieces.

I created the arrangement in the photograph using heliconia as the focal flower and flanked it with dark pink tropical ginger.

Heliconia is originally from the tropical areas of Central and Southern America. It is transported by airfreight from countries like Costa Rica and is available year round.

I was delighted to see this plant growing in the Palm House when I recently visited the world famous Kew Botanic gardens in London. It must be a truly awesome sight to see it growing in the wild.

Tropical Foliage

In addition to the colourful flowers, tropical foliage (leaves) can make a huge difference to your arrangements.

They complement tropical wedding flowers but also work well alongside more traditional flowers such as roses and gerberas. Palm leaves, and Monstera (Swiss Cheese plant) leaves make an excellent base on which to create any type of large venue arrangement.

You can see this on the photo on the right where I have used palm and Monstera leaves to give shape to this arrangement. Tropical flowers including cymbidium orchids, white anthuriums and ginger were then added. Cerise pink gerberas add a final flourish to the arrangement.

Strelitzia leaves can also form an unusual backdrop for your tropical wedding flowers. Foliage can be romantic too - Anthuriums have lovely heart-shaped leaves that are most appropriate for weddings.

From: Wedding Flowers Guide

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

DIY Wedding Flower Tips!

2012-01-30T02:14:00.001-08:00

Make Your Own Wedding Flowers

Can 'DIY' Wedding Flowers really work?

We've noticed that many of our visitors are looking for ideas to make your own wedding flowers. But is it really possible to create good flowers arrangements for your big day? Or is it best to leave it to a professional, afterall you only get one chance of making an impression.

The answer really depends on you. If you want to create spectacular decorations for your guests to appreciate and you want minimum stress on the day, then choose a professional florist. If you're on a shoestring budget, and don't mind putting in a little effort then it is certainly possible to create your own wedding flowers that will still look great.

Tips for Making Your Own Wedding Flowers

Keep it Simple If you haven't had any training in floristry, you will be best off using simple yet elegant arrangements. It is amazing how much time it takes to make 12 wedding centrepieces if you are not used to it.
Be Organised As with all wedding planning it pays to be organised. Thinks about where you are going to buy the vases as well as the flowers. How will you transport the flowers to the ceremony, bride and reception on the day of the wedding?
Classic Flowers Choose classic flowers that will last well once they have been picked. The last thing you want on the day is a room full of your favourite flowers but they have all wilted. Roses and lilies are good to work with and last well.
Practice Have a practice run before the day. The morning of your wedding is no time to be experimenting with new flower designs.

from:http://www.wedding-flowers-guide.com

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Winter Wedding Flowers!

2012-01-30T02:08:00.001-08:00

Winter Wedding Flowers

Sometimes brides getting married in the winter worry there will not be any nice flowers available. Far from it! There are many winter wedding flowersavailable; some that come into season at this time include: amaryllis which make a striking table centrepiece and holly which can be incorporated into a Christmas wedding flower decorations.

Although cymbidium orchids are available year round, we tend to find that the best choice and prices are to be had now.

Other tropical flowers are also available now. You can see in the photo that I have used red tropical anthuriums together with branches of ilex berries (holly).

The vibrant colors of these have been offset with green Molucella (commonly called 'Bells of Ireland').

Another idea for winter weddings is to make a spectacular background to your flowers by using vibrant red dogwood stems and tactile pussywillow stems that are available now.

Spring Wedding Flowers

Spring is the time when nature bursts into life, and treats us to a spectacular array of colours. Flowering bulbs come into season now such as tulips and the wonderfully fragrant hyacinths.

Peonies also put in their seasonal appearance. This flower is available to florists from wholesalers during winter but it's real season is Spring.

The photo shows a peony bouquet that I did for a lovely bride who wanted the flowers in bud. If you prefer the flowers to be more open, just let your florist know.

Forsythia bears its yellow flowers in Spring, and is unusual in that the flowers appear on the plant before the leaves. Another popular spring wedding flower is Lily of the Valley. This delicate and wonderfully perfumed flower has a very short season around April/May. Lily of the Valley is one of the more expensive seasonal wedding flowers.

Summer Wedding Flowers

In summer you have a large choice of flowers available. The flowers in season at the moment include beautiful blue delphiniums, gladioli, and columbine (aquilegia). Irises have their season from late spring through to summer.

There's something about roses that always says summer to me. I'm not sure what it is, maybe because I always remember seeing roses in parents garden when I was growing up.

Although they are available from florists all year round (they are cultivated indoors under glass), roses can really give a 'summer feel' to a bouquet.

If you want a summer theme to your flowers, use roses in mixed bouquets with bright colors. You can see an example of this in the bouquet above where I have used pink roses together with lime green chrysanthemums.

Snapdragons (Antirrhinums) are available now. For many people like me, they evoke happy memories of childhood summers playing with the flowers and making their 'mouths' open and close. Other summer seasonal wedding flowersinclude cockscomb and Love-in-a-mist (Nigella).

Fall (Autumn) Wedding Flowers

When people think of Fall wedding flowers, it is often the colors as much as the actual flowers that are important. Rich reds, fiery oranges and beautiful yellows are the order of the day.

You can see these colors in the bouquet in the photo to the right. This bouquet was made in Autumn and is created from ranunculus, which had just started appearing at our wholesalers.

In autumn, some interesting fruits become available that can be used in wedding arrangements. Crab apples last from now through to the winter and can look very attractive.

The unmistakable Chinese lantern fruits (Physalis), make a very appealing flower for a centrepiece arrangement.

Other autumn seasonal wedding flowersthat are in season now include dahlias and ornamental cabbage.

If you're planning a fall wedding, you're in good company. We've noted a marked increase in the number of people opting to have their wedding in September and October.

Seasonal Wedding Flower Tips

The good news is that many flowers have a longer or even year-round season these days. This is due to imports from warmer climates, and commercial growers cultivating the flowers under glass, out of season.

For example, the photo shows a simple white tulip centerpiece taken as we were setting up a wedding venue. Tulips are a classic spring flower. But look more closely at the photo and you will probably notice the lazy rays of a winter morning sun coming through the window - this wedding was in mid-winter. Commercial growing techniques now mean that flowers like tulips are available out of season.

However, expect the best quality and lowest prices to be for seasonal wedding flowers that are in their normal flowering season.

The following are flowers that should be available all year:

Roses
Anthuriums
Orchids
Tropical flowers
Lilies
Gerberas (gerber daisies)

Post by: Wedding Flowers Guide

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:

DIY Wedding Catering

2012-01-27T08:45:00.001-08:00

DIY Wedding Catering

Doing your own wedding catering is by far the most cost-effective way to feed your guests. It’s certainly not a simple task, but with some careful planning and forethought, you can easily achieve success.Before you start planning, here are some essentials that you should think about so that you create the perfect catered wedding.

Keep it simple

The best advice I could give anyone thinking about doing their own wedding catering is to keep your ideas simple. Be sure not to overstretch yourself. Consider your abilities and timescales - work within these.
Choose menus that can be prepared in advance, are simple to make and easy to store. If you use complicated recipes then you increase the difficulty and the possibility of the dishes not turning out right. Go simple and you’ll reduce your stress.Choose dishes that can be served cold as cooking on the day will be a nightmare. You'll end up needing extra staff, facilities and money! It will also reduce the possibility of things going wrong at the last minute.

Spread the work

We all have relatives who are a dab hand in the kitchen. If you ask nicely I’m sure they’ll be willing to help you out with a couple of dishes and possibly the cost for those dishes too.
At one of my friend's weddings all the close friends of the bride bought something for the buffet table, whether sandwiches, sausages, cakes or crisps. It spread the cost, the work and stress but needed a just little co-ordination.

Hygiene should be a top priority

If you’re preparing your wedding food yourself, make sure you think carefully about health and hygiene.
It’s essential that this is a top priority as the last thing you need is a number of your guests getting food poisoning!
Follow the basic principles of wash your hands, clear up as you go, prevent cross-contamination of foods, cook thoroughly and chill correctly. For more food hygiene information, visit the Food Standards Agency.
For summer weddings, having enough fridge space to keep all your foods cold is very important. You can hire fridges from catering supplies and plant hire shops. The rule of thumb here is have too much space, rather than too little. We had three small fridges (the ones that fit in kitchen units) and two large, upright fridges for 100 guests. We could have done with more to chill the booze too!

Don’t forget about crockery, cutlery and tablecloths

f you’re doing the wedding catering, don’t forget to think about how you’re going to eat it! You will need plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, serving dishes, serving spoons, ice buckets, tablecloths and napkins.

Get help to serve the drinks and food

On your wedding day, the last thing you want to think about serving the food or drinks, who’s going to clear the plates away or do the washing up. Make sure you get some reliable help to do these little jobs for you.
Depending on the numbers at your wedding, two to five helpers will go a long way. It will be money well spent to take the stress away.
To find little helpers, try your local pub as they’ll know of young girls that are reliable waitresses. You could use your sister’s or cousin’s friends or perhaps try the local catering college.
You’ll need one waitress per 20 guests as a minimum. On the run up to the wedding, show them the venue and explain clearly what you want them to do. On the day, make sure you brief them thoroughly again, both verbally and with a written list of things they need to do.

Plan carefully

When doing the wedding catering yourself, you will need to plan very carefully.
Make sure you think about all the following points:

Your choice of menus and dishes
Make a shopping list
Timing of when you can make the dishes before the event
How to store the dishes
How long the dishes will store for
How do you want to garnish the dishes
When do you want the dishes to be served
How do you want the food laid out or presented
Timing of what happens when and what the waitresses will need to do

Your serving staff will need a timeline specifically for the catering and serving of drinks that corresponds to your reception timeline. You can give this to them during the briefing session.
Be as specific as possible with all of the points above, so you leave less room for errors. It will ensure a stress free day!

Don’t forget the small stuff

When doing your own wedding catering, it’s easy to forget the small things.
Items such as sugar, butter, salt and pepper, ashtrays, ice, ice buckets, bottle openers, banqueting roll, storage boxes, table water, jugs, serving dishes, serving spoons and condiments can easily get forgotten.
Think thoroughly about all the things that you need, speak to your mum, aunt or sister to brainstorm any things that might be needed. This will help ensure that you don’t forget any essential items!

Spread the cost

If you’re catering yourself, you can build up your stock up over time. Look for the special offers in the supermarkets so you get the best prices. By spreading the cost, you’ll make it easier on your wallet.
Just don’t forget to keep receipts and keep track of everything you spend!

Go local

Try and source your produce locally. You will get better quality and better prices – and best of all, you may even get your food at cost price and delivered free.
Post by: http://www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Cutting The Costs of Wedding Catering

2012-01-27T08:32:00.001-08:00

Top Tips for Cutting Wedding
Catering Costs

With most weddings these days, the wedding catering follows a set formula of canapés with the reception drinks before a three-course sit-down meal, followed later that evening with a hot buffet. With all this food, it’s not surprising that the catering costs are huge.
By moving away from this recent tradition you can easily slash hundreds off your wedding catering budget.

Reduce the number of meals you serve

It’s only in the last 15 years that couples have started providing a sit-down meal after the ceremony and then a further buffet towards the end of the night for the evening guests.
You could easily cut the evening buffet, as most of these guests will have eaten before they arrive and those guests that ate earlier are generally still full from the earlier three courses!

Opt for smaller companies

By avoiding the large professional catering companies, you’ll reduce your catering costs. Many small restaurants or small, local catering businesses are able to provide food for large events, including weddings. Going local and small will allow you to avoid the hefty price tag often associated with large companies.

Keep it simple

One of the best ways to reduce your costs is simplifying your menu. Consider serving up classic pub food such as bangers and mash or fish and chips (which was good enough for Kate Winslet!). They’re everybody’s favourites and will keep your costs low.

Do it yourself

Enlist the help of your family and cater yourself. If everyone pitches in a little you can make light work of catering. It will take a little planning, but with a simple buffet menu it is easily achieved.

Think differently about your food

There are plenty of food options available, so you don’t have to go down the route of a traditional sit-down meal. Consider providing party foods, snacks or plenty of canapés for a champagne reception. For a summer garden reception a BBQ or spit-roast would go down well. A dessert only reception would work well for a bride with a sweet-tooth or perhaps a picnic style buffet for a more casual affair.

Consider a catering college

In virtually every city there is a catering college and often these offer additional services. After all, the students need to practice their catering skills and what better way than at a wedding?
Contact your local education authority to source your nearest college. Even if they don’t do the catering, you may find a number of students willing to serve at your wedding.
The general rule of thumb is if you do what most of the other brides are doing, you’ll spend a fortune just like them. Try something a little different, simplify your plans or do it yourself and on the whole you’ll save yourself a packet.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Healthy Wedding Snacks!

2012-01-27T08:20:00.001-08:00

Healthy Snacks for Your Wedding Day

Planning healthy snacks for your big day is just as important as your wedding cake, so don't overlook it! (expert advice)

From the time you wake up until you finally settle into your honeymoon suite, your wedding day is going to be full of nonstop action. Where will you find the energy to play the role of the beautiful bride without any time to eat?

Planning healthy snacks for your big day is just as important as your wedding cake – especially since that bite of cake may be the only thing you put in your stomach! Start out your day with a light, but filling breakfast and ask your maid of honor to help you prepare a snack bag to bring along to the wedding.

Snacks to Avoid

You don’t want to stain your dress or destroy your makeup and you definitely don’t want an upset stomach to ruin your special day – those nervous butterflies are bad enough. Stay away from carbonated drinks, heavy or greasy foods, and anything that may drip, drop, or ooze into a potential wedding disaster. You’ll also want to avoid lots of sugars and carbohydrates or you may experience a crash rather than an energy boost.

Snacks to Pack

Choose healthy wedding day snacks that are easy to eat on the go. High protein foods will provide you with the energy you need to make it through the big day. I would suggest carrying along an insulated lunch bag to keep things fresh and remember to pack a few extra snacks to share with your groom – his day will be nearly as hectic as yours!

· Peanut butter crackers

· Beef jerky

· Trail mix

· Yogurt

· String cheese

· Peanuts

· Dried fruit

Bring along a few plain saltine crackers to nibble on too, just in case you experience any last minute waves of nausea.

Wedding Day Snack Station

Instead of carrying around snacks for yourself, you may want to organize a snack station for the entire wedding party to enjoy. It will be a busy day for everyone and nothing could be worse than a hungry, inattentive flower girl or the sounds of a groomsman’s growling stomach! Set up a table with vegetables and dip, turkey wraps, or crackers and cheese to keep those hunger issues at bay.

High protein, healthy snacks are a must for your big day. Whether you arrange a platter for the entire wedding party or just toss a few things into your tote bag, be sure you take a few minutes to munch throughout the day. Healthy snacks will give you the energy you need to create a picture perfect wedding.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Come and See Kliq Weddings at these Wedding Shows!

2012-01-25T09:14:00.001-08:00

Don't Forget to come and see Kliq Weddings at the following Wedding Shows:

Sunday March 4th at Dove Barn in Sudbury.
Sunday April 1st at Maidens Barn in High Easter
Sunday April 22nd at The Reid Rooms in Dunmow

We would love to see you at the shows to discuss your Wedding requirements.

http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Wedding Colour Choices.

2012-01-25T09:06:00.001-08:00

We asked hitched-wife.org which colour schemes were most popular for UK brides. Then we challenged wedding planner Lucinda George to find out what they mean - and how to use them.

Think pink
15% of brides surveyed chose pink for their colour scheme

Lucinda says: Pink is the colour of universal love. It represents caring, tenderness and acceptance. It spans the seasons as it comes in such a variety of shades, from summer-friendly cerise to delicate pinks that complement silver hues and wintery weddings.
Brides who choose pink do so shrewdly; it complements many other colours. Beige, brown, greens, blue and ivory all team perfectly with pink. For winter weddings, a pale bouquet of Femma roses looks stunning – especially with delicate ivory. Eucalyptus foliage works well with pale pink florals too.
For the dress, pink is in keeping with the ballet theme that has influenced bridal trends this year. Delicate pink tutus look gorgeous on young bridesmaids and soft pink hues for ladies are flattering for a spectrum of skin tones.
Pink lemonade is a must for the summer bride to refresh her guests!

Perfect purples
13% of brides surveyed chose purple for their colour scheme

Lucinda says: Purple is the colour of good judgment. It is used to symbolise magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Whether it’s a gorgeously fragrant lavender bouquet or grapes to decorate the cake, purple encapsulates elegance.
Purple needn’t be presented in a delicate hue. Bridesmaids in deep purple create incredible “colour pop” in photos. Clusters of hydrangea, anemones and viburnum berries look stunning, as do purple typefaces on ivory wedding breakfast menus and place cards.
Rich plum tones combine beautifully with gold to create a decadent feel to your celebration; Moroccan tents and twinkling tea lights in these colours are a spectacular sight on summer nights.

Bolt from the blue
12% of brides surveyed chose blue for their colour scheme

Lucinda says: Blue is calming, the colour of inspiration, sincerity and spirituality. Blue is perfect for brides who like peace and tranquility and for those who favour a nautical or travel theme.
There are many shades, which makes this colour versatile. Navy can be utilised in winter as it is rich in tone; paler shades are great for year-round glamour; and bright aqua evokes an exotic feel.
You can incorporate blue with peacock feathers in stunning headpieces for bridesmaids, aqua-coloured cocktails, and water features enhanced by blue-filtered lamps.

Classic ivory
11% of brides surveyed chose ivory for their colour scheme

Lucinda says: Ivory is for brides seeking purity, minimalism and clean lines - without losing warmth. A bride who chooses ivory has to have the confidence to pull it off; from cakes to chair covers, all must be in perfect keeping with the ivory tones. Ivory-themed nuptials need to be held in a venue impressive enough to create an abundance of grandeur.
Pistachio green wows with ivory, and stone, brick or marble surfaces are effective in providing a stark contrast.
For an ivory wedding, think cream sofas, romantic urns crammed with roses, and a venue with lots of natural light, such as an orangery. Add beautiful marble pillars and flooring, enhanced by a host of candles at sunset and this is a wedding with the wow factor.

Race for red
10% of brides surveyed chose red for their colour scheme

Lucinda says: Red is the warmest of colours and represents passion and lust. It is the colour of extroverts - perfect if you dare to be different.
Red is for the dramatic, artistic and festive-season brides who want to inject warmth and personality into their weddings. It works well in a music hall or a venue with exposed brickwork or stone - perhaps even a castle.
Strawberry cheesecake, romantic red roses and mulled wine immediately spring to mind, as do mini pots of strawberry jam with handwritten luggage tags to serve as dual purpose favours/table names. Or you could go really rustic with bunches of red daisies, raspberry cordial, and juicy red apples for munching on between courses.

Bright white
10% of brides surveyed chose white for their colour scheme

Lucinda says: White means purity, wholeness and completion. In many cultures it represents kindness, openness and truth - a good choice for celebrating new beginnings. White works perfectly for a beach wedding in an exotic location.
If you and your bridesmaids are wearing white, stand out by wearing a veil. Consider bold jewellery and a coloured sash, and give the bridesmaids bright bouquets to contrast with your own.
Complement the white theme with coloured lighting at your venue, and candlelight to create warmth and intimacy. Large white paper lanterns suspended from above look stunning too, especially in stark venues with high ceilings.

For the full colour scheme survey see: www.hitched-wife.org/wedding-colour-choices-in-2010/

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Day Beauty Countdown!

2012-01-25T08:50:00.001-08:00

From hitched.co.uk

From facials to fake tan, brides need to plan ahead to look their very best. As you prepare for your wedding, use our expert beauty calendar to make your pre-wedding routine easier and more successful.

9 - 12 months to go…

Expert nail technician Claire McAndrew (www.medusahair.co.uk) advises brides to start strengthening their nails with a protein-rich diet and vitamin D, slathering hands and feet in moisturiser every night before bed. She also recommends rubbing solar oil into nails and cuticles daily to avoid rough or split skin.
Hairdresser Leo Bancroft (www.leobancroft.com), suggests using a nourishing hair treatment once a week, wrapping a warm towel around your hair after applying the masque and leaving it to work for 15 minutes.
Facial guru Georgia Louise (www.georgiafacialist.com) says that now is the time to have any non-surgical treatments to tackle pigmentation, spots or soften fine facial lines: ‘Chemical peels and derma-rolling treatments require up to three sessions and it takes up to six months to see significant changes,’ she advises.
Let naturally thick brows start to grow now, so they can be waxed or threaded closer to the wedding. If your eyebrows are sparse, consider a boosting treatment.

6 – 8 months to go…

Leo says colour is just as important as your hairstyle, so if you’re thinking of drastically changing or lightening your hair, book two or three appointments now (six to eight weeks apart) to get your perfect shade in time for the wedding.
If you can’t afford regular spa facials, Georgia recommends doing your own. Start by cleansing and then massaging your face and neck for thirty seconds with a facial scrub. Open your pores by steaming your face for a minute or two over a bowl of hot water. Then apply a face masque suited to your skin type and leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water to tighten pores before applying toner and massaging your moisturiser into skin to encourage new cell growth and circulation.
If you want to permanently remove unwanted facial hair before the big day, Georgia points out that IPL and laser treatment require up to six sessions over an eight month period, costing around £30 per session.
To help you relax, Georgia recommends a full body massage. ‘You’re halfway through the most stressful period and need to reward yourself,’ she says.

2 - 5 months to go…

Now the wedding is getting closer, Claire says a regular spa manicure will soften hands and add moisture and shine to your nails. If you’re considering nail extensions, have a trial run so you get used to them.
The Ministry of Waxing (www.ministryofwaxing.com) says that ‘waxing virgins’ - or brides who have had a long break from waxing - should start treatment around three months before the big day.
If you want a spray tan, Rachael Stone from Tantruth (www.tantruth.co.uk) urges brides-to-be to research good, local salons. ‘It’s important to know and trust them,’ she says. ‘If you’re self-tanning, start experimenting with products until you find one that suits your skin tone perfectly.’
To get your skin in peak condition, Georgia rates dry-brushing your body with a natural bristle brush once a week. Start at your feet and work upwards in long, firm strokes, then apply a moisturising body lotion.
Finally, Leo advises brides to get their hair in top condition by booking regular appointments for trims in the last few weeks before the wedding.

1 month to go…

Get your eyebrows professionally shaped and book your last facial appointment - Georgia recommends asking for a gentle and hydrating facial, no steaming or deep cleansing.
So that your gorgeous hands and feet will last throughout your honeymoon, Claire says you should book your pedicure, nail extensions and/or manicure a day or two before the wedding.
The Ministry of Waxing suggests making a final appointment three days before the wedding in order to give skin time to recover, and Rachael advises having your final spray tan two days before. Finally, ask your hair stylist for a clear gloss treatment the day before your wedding. ‘It leaves hair super-shiny and really reflects the light,’ says Leo.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Winter Wedding Make-Up Tips!

2012-01-25T08:46:00.001-08:00

From: hitched.co.uk
Anyone tying the knot in a winter wonderland-themed ceremony may be keen to embrace the sparkling accessory on their big day and it can be easy to bring a bit of shimmer and shine to the occasion.
While some of you may want to dust your wedding flowers with a shower of sequins or even scatter them over the reception tables, other may want to incorporate it into their outfits.
Makeup is an easy way in which to do this and brides might want to follow the advice of one expert if they are keen to sparkle in their wedding photographywithout going over the top.
Celebrity makeup artist Ariane Poole said the best course of action is to choose two key areas of your face to apply the glitter and no more. This is because it should be used as an accent to highlight other features rather than being smeared all over.
She recommended "a glitter liner run along the base of the lashes" and this could be the perfect way to dazzle friends and family without going over the top.
Ms Poole continued: "If you have shimmer on your eyes then you can either leave it at that or you can choose to accent either the cheeks or the lips but not both. Too much glitter just makes you look a mess!"
It is not just the expert who likes to embrace a bit of shimmer, as Vogue reported at the end of September that the likes of Sass & Bride, Mark Fast and House of Holland all celebrated the trend on the catwalk with their spring/summer 2011 collections.
They may have been looking forward to next year, but we think a touch of glitter is the perfect choice to light up a winter wedding now.
Of course, not all of you will be keen to embrace a sparkly look with your make-up and if this is the case, why not try introducing it to your nails instead?
Ms Poole said there are a huge range of choices available so you can really take your pick when it comes to colours. While some of you may prefer a subtle, pastel tone with a hint of silver dust shining through, others may prefer to go for a quirky look and complement the shades of your wedding flowers with brighter alternatives.
For another idea why not got for a low-key body shimmer? This may be ideal for those of you who do not want to make a grand statement but are keen to add something special to your appearance.
"If there isn't one that you like you can make your own by mixing a little loose shimmer with your favourite body lotion," Ms Poole advised.
It can be as easy as that to really sparkle on your big day.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Beauty Tips For Brides!

2012-01-25T08:39:00.001-08:00

Whatever stage you are at in your wedding preparations, you can improve how radiant you look on the big day with your diet, cleansing routine and general lifestyle. There are also plenty of things you can do on the day itself to maintain that centre-of-attention look.
A six-month countdown is recommended to make sure you look as radiant and healthy as possible on your wedding day, but brides who only have a few weeks to prepare can still see some stunning results.
Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly are an essential part of the preparation.
Exercise will give your circulation a major boost and flush away the toxins that cause blemishes in the skin. Aim for 30 minutes of gentle exercise per day.
Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, drinking around eight glasses of water a day, reducing your alcohol consumption and cutting out smoking will help prevent your skin from looking dowdy and dull. Try to make sure you get a good night's sleep of about eight hours in the weeks or days before the wedding.
However, there's more to looking good on the day than just being healthy.
"It's important to cleanse, tone and moisturise every day to get rid of any impurities," says Joanne Leah, a beauty therapist of six years who's also a member of the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology.
Facials are also recommended as long as you start having them regularly a few months before the wedding. Trying one a few days beforehand is a mistake, as it could lead to a blotchy face.
Getting your hair in shape is also important.
According to the experts you should wash your hair whenever you feel you have to, usually every few days, and make sure it has a deep condition about once a month. This is where the product is combed through and left on for at least ten minutes.
Massaging your scalp with shampoo while washing will stimulate the blood flow and encourage the growth of healthy hair. And when dry, brushing will again stimulate the scalp and also get rid of any dead hair.
Advice from Vidal Sassoon says you should work out well in advance the way you want your hair to look. If you want to have it cut, make sure it's done about a week before the big day. This will make sure your style keeps its shape, but also has time to settle.
Your feet and hands shouldn't be forgotten either. Beauticians suggest a manicure and pedicure at a beauty salon every few weeks before the wedding, which normally includes a foot massage to stimulate the skin.
"At home, you should moisturise your hands daily and soak your feet in warm water for about ten minutes, twice a week," says beauty therapist Rebecca Hale.
"This basically leaves your feet feeling very refreshed, particularly if you use some essential oils, such as peppermint.
"When it comes to nails, it's important to file them two or three times a week and maybe push the cuticles back while you're in the bath."
When it comes to choosing your make-up for the wedding, caution is advised. The temptation might be to let a beautician pile on a lot of expensive make-up which may be totally inappropriate, especially for today's more natural look.
It's also important to know your skin colour. This might seem obvious, but you should check whether your skin is yellow or pink toned. Make sure your foundation matches your skin tone exactly, and check it in daylight.
If you are going to be applying your own make-up, beauty guru and professional make-up artist John Gustafson, from BBC's Looking Good Programme, has some sound advice: "Strong, intense shades for lips will be set off by neutral tones on eyes and cheeks.
"Play down eye colours to emphasise your lips. Choose a base eye shade that matches your skin tone and apply all over the eyelid."
He warns against using eyeliner on the top eyelid - it will look dated. And John suggests adding texture to eyes by applying a metallic lustre to the eyelid over a base shade.
Lips are also important on the day itself because of all that smiling, eating and kissing you are likely to be doing.
In order to make your lipstick last longer, apply a layer of foundation and powder to your lips before you put your lipstick on. This will give the lipstick something to grip to.
If you are having a separate evening function, it may be worth reapplying make-up, but don't apply more foundation over old foundation. It will look like rice pudding.
Remove foundation from areas of your face that have seen the most wear and tear. Reapply lipstick and lip gloss.
Finally, don't go to bed in your warpaint. If you don't clean if off at night you'll end up with stained pillow cases and a bad case of spots, which could well be a blemish on your honeymoon as well.
from:hitched.co.uk

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Get Fit For Your Wedding!

2012-01-25T08:35:00.001-08:00

We Found this article on: hitched.co.uk We hope you like it!

We asked UK fitness and diet experts to answer your questions on achieving a brilliant, healthy body for your big day and the beach.

Q. What kind of diet should I be eating?

A. According to nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston (www.optimumnutritionists.com)swapping animal fat, cholesterol-rich meat and dairy for a rainbow of fruit and vegetables gives your body a boost. ‘The fibre, extra vitamins and minerals help stimulate your metabolism and immune system,’ she says. ‘Green vegetables - full of minerals including magnesium – also help you to feel relaxed.’

Q. I want a sleeveless wedding dress. What can I do about my bingo wings?

A. Janey Holliday, director of Fit for a Princess (www.fitforaprincess.co.uk) says that women naturally store fat in their triceps. To deal with bingo wings Janey recommends doing simple arm exercises using a Dyna Band (an elastic exercise accessory providing resistance): ‘Just 10 minutes every other day makes a difference.’

Q. Is there a positive nutritional strategy I can use to lose weight?

A. ‘Protein is useful,’ explains Yvonne. ‘It makes you feel full and balances blood sugar levels to reduce cravings. Rather than adding all your protein into one big, evening meal, eat three meals and two snacks a day including some protein with each – such as seeds, beans, pulses and tofu - for steady energy release.’

Q. Do I need expensive gadgets to get fit?

A. Janey says that one of the simplest and most effective forms of exercise is walking. She advises pulling your abs in tightly, taking long strides and swinging your arms. Listening to music helps set your pace and for extra motivation, try a charity challenge like the Moonwalk (www.walkthewalk.org).

Q. I suffer from bloating. Is there anything I can do about it before my wedding?

A. ‘Wheat is a common cause of bloating,’ says Ailsa Higgins, a nutritionist at Champneys Tring (www.champneys.com). ‘Try swapping bread, pasta and biscuits for oat-based cereals, grains like quinoa and brown rice. Salt also encourages water retention so avoid crisps and processed foods, and choose chicken, fish and eggs rather than harder-to-digest red meat.’

Q. If I try to get in shape on my own, will I lack motivation?

A. If you can’t afford a personal trainer, Yvonne advises teaming up with a friend so you’re accountable to someone other than yourself: ‘The prospect of sharing your success - and failures – with a friend makes it easier to stick to your goal.’

Q. I’ve chosen a backless wedding dress – how can I look flawless in it?

A. ‘You never see a boxer with a flabby back,’ says Janey. ‘Boxing is fantastic for shaping the shoulders and toning your back, as well as helping your arms look great.’ If you can’t afford one-to-one boxing training, try a local boxercise class(www.boxercise.co.uk) or add shadow boxing moves (punching into the air) to your daily workout.

Q. We’re having a beach-based honeymoon and I’d love to look good in my bikini…

A. ‘Start body-brushing daily a few months before your honeymoon,’ says Jane Quenault, Champneys trainer. ‘It helps to increase circulation, so your skin looks glowing and healthy, as well as removing dead cells which make skin look dull and dry. Body-brushing is also great for improving the appearance of cellulite, so you’ll look fantastic in that honeymoon bikini.’

Q. Are there any cosmetic products that really make a difference?

A. ‘Epsom, or magnesium, salts can be added to a bath and absorbed into your body through the skin, helping muscles recover after exercise and reducing water retention and bloating,’ Janey explains. ‘They also calm your adrenals and nervous system, which is particularly useful for a busy bride-to-be.’ You can buy Epsom salts at most local chemists.

Q. I always lose patience with exercise and diet regimes. How can I keep going until my wedding?

A. Alongside the long term aim of achieving a brilliant wedding and honeymoon body, try setting smaller goals along the way to keep your momentum going. ‘Many people become frustrated when they don’t see immediate results,’ says Jai Street, director of Affordable Gym Hire (www.affordablegymhire.co.uk). ‘But with hard work and commitment you will see a change.’

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

How To Look Beautiful At Your Winter Wedding

2012-01-25T08:30:00.001-08:00

A winter wedding can be a beautiful and magical day, but it is important for the bride to think about her dress and makeup ahead of the big event.
When the date is set, the wedding invitations have been sent out and the venue is full of flowers, the bride and groom-to-be will undoubtedly be hoping for the perfect weather on their big day.
Blue skies, warm sunshine and not a cloud in sight could create a wonderful atmosphere as the couple leave the church under a shower of confetti. What is more, the wedding photography is bound to turn out well if the weather is fine.
However, getting married in the sun is not for everyone and tying the knot on an icy-cold winter day could still be a charming, memorable and beautiful event.
A frosty morning can provide a memorable yuletide backdrop as the bride wraps up warm in a beaded shawl and heads to the wedding venue for her big day.
Finding the perfect wedding dress may be something that takes a little longer if the ceremony is held in the colder months, as the lucky lady will have to keep out the chill. One way to do this could be for her to cover up her shoulders with a small jacket to match her gown.
Sam Walls Beasely, a custom wedding dress designer, suggests cashmere stoles, capes and boleros as great ways to complete a winter wedding look. She also thinks that some faux fur can add the perfect final touch.
Alice Sena, a manager at Sposabella Couture, agreed, saying that wraps can easily open up the number of options available to the bride when she is choosing her gown.
Speaking to the Brooklyn Paper, Ms Walls Beasely also offered some advice on the dress itself. "A much heavier silk should be used for winter wedding gowns, like beautiful drapes. And it should be lined," she explained.
Before the bride dons her wedding dress for the big day, she will also want to make sure that her makeup is perfect and this needs to be given some consideration if there are likely to be cloudy skies adding atmosphere to the big day.
While the bride may want to use bronzer to add a warm, summer glow to her complexion on a sunny day, a cooler palette with rose-coloured blusher could tie in perfectly with a winter wedding.
Caryn Franklin, a fashion and beauty expert, explains that people need to know what suits them when it comes to applying makeup and she believes that "just as each season brings the chance to make changes to our wardrobe", makeup should also be adjusted to suit the occasion.
Similarly, choosing the perfect hairstyle can also be important for a yuletide ceremony. With winter often comes rain and wind and to ensure a carefully-constructed 'do will not be ruined by the elements, a bride might want to choose a classic bun.
Cos Sakkas, artistic director at Toni & Guy, says that buns are "a true classic" that never fail to impress. Whether a low 40s-style chignon or a sleek ballerina bun with a decorative flower is decided upon, it could be the ideal, fuss free way to get hair looking perfect for the occasion.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Hair Advice!

2012-01-25T08:19:00.001-08:00

Whether you decide to have an up-do, a braid or wear it curly your wedding hair will ultimately complete your look and make you feel more beautiful than ever.
From up to a year in advance you should start to look at the different wedding hair styles that may work with your wedding dress and wedding venue. From changing the colour of your hair, to growing it long in order to wear it up for your wedding you will need to start planning well in advance. Having a wedding hair trial a month or two before your big day with a professional wedding hair stylist will ensure that you are happy with your final wedding hair do.
Your bridesmaids and maybe your mother might also be interested in having their hair professionally done for your wedding too, so try and book a multiple appointment so that you can all have your wedding hair done at the same time.

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Photography Checklist Ideas!

2012-01-25T01:50:00.000-08:00

Pre-Ceremony Shoot with Groom
These shots can be taken at the groom's house or can be scheduled to be shot anhour or so before the ceremony. Keep in mind that guests will start to arrive30 minutes before the ceremony starts, which will affect the scheduled timing.This is sometimes a good time to get a number of the family photos out of theway so that they don't cut into your photo shoot timing after the ceremony.

Closeups and Full Length - Alone
With your mother
With your father
With both your parents
With other family members
With the bestman
With the groomsmen
With ring bearer
Checking your tie and/or finishing up
Getting ready candids
Groom's Details, i.e. boutonniere,tuxes hanging, bottle of cologne, card/gift from bride, etc.

Pre-Ceremony Shoot with Bride
These shots can be taken at the bride's house while she's getting ready. Again,this is a good time to take some of the family photos to save time later.

Closeups and Full Length - Alone
With your mother
With your father
With both your parents
With other family members
With Maid/Matron of Honor
With bridesmaids
With flower girl
Putting on the finishing touches
Adjusting garter
Bride's Details, i.e. the dress, theshows, the bouquets, makeup, jewellery, card/gift from the groom, etc.

Ceremony
The majority of ceremony shots are standard and most photographers know what totake. The things that you might want to add to this list would be anything thatmay be cultural in nature and/or an event that you've added to part of theceremony that is not part of the standard ceremony fare.

Ushers seating guests and mothers
Bride's Arrival
Processional
Bride being walked down the aisle
Groom waiting at the alter
Bride being given away
Wedding Party members at the alter
Kneeling at the alter
Exchanging rings
Exchanging vows
Lighting unity candles
Exchanging kiss
Signing marriage license
With officiant
Recessional
In front of the church after ceremony
Candids outside with guests
Guests outside and inside the church.Some brides have elected to have shots done of all of the people attending thechurch ceremony.
Couple leaving in limo

Formal Photo Shoot
This usual happens after the ceremony, but if you are getting married in theFall months and/or you have a very limited time between your ceremony andreception, it might be beneficial to do this before the ceremony. Everyonemeets at a pre-determined photo location. You can consult with yourphotographer on where an appropriate place may be. Be sure to inform allindividuals that are required for your photos. Exchanging cell phone numberswith the photographer is beneficial in case there is a misunderstandingregarding where to meet.

Bride Alone
Groom Alone
Bride & Groom together - variouslocations
Bride with attendants
Groom with attendants
Bride with "the guys"
Groom with "the girls"
Bride with each attendant individually
Groom with each attendant individually
Entire Wedding Party
Hands with wedding rings
With children from wedding party
With best man and maid of honour

Reception Photos
This list covers all of the standard happenings at a reception. If you have anyspecial events scheduled that you think the photographer should know about, besure to be specific and add them. It also doesn't hurt to provide yourvideographer with a list of the scheduled events for the reception. Anyextended group shots, other than immediate family should probably be scheduledinto this part of the day.

Talking with guests at reception -receiving line
First dance
Cutting the cake
Toasting
With special guests
Dancing and candids at the reception
Wedding Cake before cutting
Food or desert tables
Organist and/or soloists
Musicians
Any decorations that you have spent alot of time and energy putting together.
Candid photos of everyone at thereception
Photo of the invitation with bouquets,toasting glasses and table centerpieces

That basically covers all of the aspects of your day in a veryspecific manner. Again, you may have a photographer that is very free flowingand photojournalistic ... a list like this could be very restrictive for them,so please keep that in mind.

FamilyPhoto List.

Bride with Mother
Bride with Father
Bride with Mother & Father
Bride with Siblings (you may want todo individually or as a group
Bride with Mother, Father and Siblings
Bride with Mother, Father, Siblings,their spouses and children
Bride with Grandparents
Family generation photo including allabove (you may want to wait and do this with the groom)

Groom with Mother
Groom with Father
Groom with Mother & Father
Groom with Siblings (you may want todo individually or as a group)
Groom with Mother, Father and Siblings
Groom with Mother, Father, Siblingsand their spouses and children
Groom with Grandparents
Family generation photo including allabove (you may want to wait and do this with the bride)

Bride, Groom and Bride's Parents
Bride, Groom and Groom's Parents
Bride, Groom and Both Sets of Parents
Bride, Groom and Bride's Grandparents
Bride, Groom and Groom's Grandparents
Bride, Groom and Bride's Siblings
Bride, Groom and Groom's Siblings
Bride, Groom and all Siblings
Bride, Groom and Brides entire family
Bride, Groom and Grooms entire family
Bride, Groom and both familiescombined

Visit the KliqWeddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture yourWedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Colour Scheme Tips!

2012-01-25T00:57:00.001-08:00

Colour your Wedding to suit your personality! This isn’t your Aunt Mabel’s wedding! You’ve got attitude and it’s your day to say it! colour your wedding! Vibrant, exciting? You don’t dress in pale colour and you don’t have to dress your wedding that way either!
Here’s a list of colours and their meanings in our society:
WHITE: Brides have been dressing in white since 1840, when Queen Victoria married in a white, opulent gown. Before that, brides wore any colour but black. White symbolizes purity, the innocence of childhood. In the Christian liturgy, it symbolizes the brightness of the day.
GOLD: In Christian liturgy, gold, like white, symbolizes the brightness of the day. In our culture, it often symbolizes riches. As a trim or accessory to earth tones (brown, green, orange) it may give vibrancy and glow. It also works well with bright and full colours such as burgundy, deep green.
BLACK: The traditional colour of mourning, but recently it has become the colour of sophistication. For a svelte wedding, it is perfectly acceptable to dress your bridesmaids in black, perhaps with white accessories and trim. It also can make a maturing accent with a bright or light main colour.
PURPLE/VIOLET: Way back to early Egypt, purple has represented royalty. During the Renaissance, purple, deep red and black were royal colours and, at time, ordinary people could be arrested for using those special colours. But you can use them! Purple, in Christian liturgy, symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ and repentance of sin. In China, though, purple is the colour of mourning.
RED: Usually a symbol of blood and fire, it is a conflicted colour: One side expresses war and violence, but the other side expresses love, warmth and compassion. Our brides don’t usually wear red, but in China it is the traditional colour for a wedding dress and symbolizes good luck. It is traditional in India, also. Consider using red, if you love it, at your wedding.
GREEN: Symbol of growth. Combines the spiritual aspect of blue and the emotional vibrancy of yellow. It combines beautifully with other earth tones as well as gold tones. In China is represents the Yin, the passive and receptive principle.
BLUE: colour of the sky, this colour is associated with spirituality, feminity (although it is true that boy babies often wear it,) fidelity, cleanness and freshness. There is very little negative aspect associated with this colour!
PINK: This is a "new" colour, invented in the 17th Century to describe the colour of the flowers called pinks. We think of it as a feminine, sweet colour, but in Japan, adult movies are called "pink" movies. In Catholicism is symbolizes joy and happiness.
YELLOW: Shine, light, knowledge, happiness, and joy. On the other side, it suggests deceit and cowardice. In Egypt it is traditionally associated with mourning, in Japan, courage. The Chinese connect it to the Yang principle of Yin-Yang–the active, creative male side.
ORANGE: It is reported that people who love life like orange. It is stimulating but warm. It adds verve to earth tones and, when used with white, reminds people of those childhood treats, vanilla ice-cream wrapped in orange Popsicle.
BROWN: Could be dull, but it is considered natural, down-to-earth, friendly, dependable. A neutral you can mix with many other colours to warm your celebration.
So consider your wedding image: Vibrant? Responsible? Warm? Gentle? Compassionate? A forever, steady relationship? Think about what your colours are saying!
About the Author: Sue Redman, Costumer/Owner of Costumes Galore at http://www.costumesgalore.com
Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography!http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

FreeRide Wedding Band - New Tracks!

2012-01-24T23:54:00.001-08:00

FreeRide the Essex based Wedding and Function Band have recorded some demos! Here are 3 of them for you! Contact FreeRide via email at: mark_ammon@hotmail.com.

Dock Of the Bay by FreeRide Can't Get Enough by FreeRide Hard To Handle by FreeRide

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

New Wedding Band!

2012-01-24T02:57:00.001-08:00

We just wanted to tell everyone about a fantastic new wedding band who are starting to take bookings for this Wedding Season! They are called Freeride and they play a mixture of songs from the 50's through to modern day tunes! They cover styles from Motown, Soul, Pop, Blues, Rock, Glam Rock and even a bit of Reggae! Visit their blog page at: http://freerideweddingband.blogspot.com/ to find out more or contact guitarist Mark at: mark_ammon@hotmail.com. They have a new website which will be online in the next few days. Watch this space!

Visit the KliqWeddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture yourWedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Best Man Speech Guide

2012-01-24T02:40:00.001-08:00

How to Write a Speech in 13 Steps by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

You can see my credentials in my bio. You should also know that I love to write speeches. In fact, I've been accused of being a better speech writer than speech giver! I'm working on that. ;-)
I'll tell you how to write a speech the way I do it, and I'll tell you how to make it great. Plus I'll give you some tips on what to put in, and what to leave out. I love this topic.
How Good Do You Want Your Speech to Be?
From the outset, you should know that how to write a speech depends on how good you want it to be, and how much time you want to put into it. I'll put the most important things first so that you can just go as far as you want, and stop when you run out of time. Remember to leave time to practice the speech three or four times. If you can record the second or third and listen to it, so much the better.
How to Write a Speech People Will Remember
In the old days, and I mean back in the time of the Greeks, much more emphasis was put on the writing of the speech, the content. Now people tend to emphasize presentation, style, vocal qualities, and technology. But writing a good speech is irreplaceable - I'm going to tell you how to get put content in, make it clear, and make an impact on your audience...how to write a speech people will remember.
Here's the process:
(Why 13 steps? It just turned out that way. But if you think public speaking is scary, it fits, doesn't it?)
1. Know your audience: if you forget this, everything falls apart. You can't tell dirty jokes to a Christian women's group. You've seen the commercial where the best man gives the wedding toast and goes on and on about how much of a player the groom was? Remember who's there and what they want to hear. What do they like and dislike? What kind of humor do they like? If they're a mixed audience, you have to be more mainstream in your language and manner. This is the most important part of how to write a speech.
2. Know your purpose: the only time you're allowed to break rule #1 is if your purpose is to shock or to inform people about something uncomfortable. In the latter case, you'd need to make up for the shock value by acknowledging it, comforting them, etc. Besides all that, your purpose determines everything else. Visualize a straight line from you through your audience to the purpose. If you want to persuade them, you have to take them from where they are to the place of persuasion. If you want to inform, you have to take their brains from where they are, to where they'll know your information. Knowing them, and taking them there is what it's all about.
3. Know what you want them to think about the speech later: This is another part of your purpose, essential to how to write a speech. If you want them to say, "you really showed compassion in that speech!" then you have to do whatever you can to demonstrate compassion. If more than anything you want them to remember a certain fact, then do everything you can in the speech to implant it in their brain - shock them, plead with them, amuse them, but make sure they focus on that fact.
4. It's not about you: the only time it's about you is if one of your goals is to impress them, build your credibility, etc. Other than that, forget your fear, your self consciousness, etc. Let those things go in the service of your audience and your purpose.
5. Writing is writing. Editing is editing. The first time you write the speech, don't criticize it, don't edit it, just let everything flow out. You'll organize it and choose better words and rephrase it later. Just be creative.
6. Organize your ideas into an outline. Make sure each idea follows the other logically. Ask yourself if your audience needs to know anything to understand any part of it. Ask yourself if any part needs more fleshing out
7. Rewrite it according to the outline.
8. Beef it up. Use examples for difficult to understand points or concepts. Find some jokes. If no one laughs at the first one, be careful, though. You might lose credibility if they think you're an idiot. You can also find great quotes online, even search on whatever topic you're writing your speech about.
9. Do an edit. Use MS Word for grammar checking. A big part of how to write a speech it editing. The next few steps involve editing and speaking. This step is about editing on paper. Replace long words and rephrase jargon. Imagine if it would make sense to your best friend, your mom, your grandma, etc. (caveat: if jargon is required to impress in business, use it)
10. Say it all out loud. Is anything missing? How does it sound? Change the words and phrases that sound unnatural when spoken.
11. Record it on a tape recorder or your computer. Is it missing anything? Add it. Are any parts of it boring, unneccesary, stupid, offensive? Cut off the fat.
12. Do it in front of a test audience. Get their feedback. Make sure they know your audience and purpose before you do the speech for the test audience.
13. Go give your speech to the real audience with confidence! If you're interested in tips on the presentation or voice sides of things, you'll need another resource, but...
Now you know how to write a speech!
About the Author
Brian has been a public speaker for five years, a guest on national radio shows, is president of his local speaking club, teaches medicine, and is the author of Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure.
Post by: http://www.bestmanguide.co.uk

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Tips for the Maid of Honour!

2012-01-24T02:32:00.001-08:00

Tips For The Maid Of Honour

Being a maid of honour is a very big responsibility. It’s an honour and a promise that you will be there next to the bride throughout the whole process.
You should be ready to attend and even organise every pre-nuptial party. This includes engagement party, bridal showers and hen party.
When it comes to the invitations you should be on hand to help write them, add any finishing touches and post them if required.
Depending on what the bride to be has arranged for favours, if they need to be made, you should arrange an evening for close friends and family to do this together. The bride to be will appreciate having her close friends and family involved in creating part of her special day.
You may be asked to keep the bridesmaids up to date with fitting appointments, rehearsal dates and anything else the bride to be asks.
On the day of the wedding you should arrive at the bride’s house as early as possible to help with hair, make up and help get the younger bridesmaids get ready.
You should be on hand to help with the veil whilst the bride is walking into church and make sure the bridesmaids are in the right order walking behind the bride.
During the ceremony the bride will pass you her bouquet to hold whilst they do the exchanging of the rings and reading the vowels out.
Once at the reception you should check that all the guests are happy and then relax and enjoy the rest of the day
Wedding Tip Provided By: Party Perfect

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Wedding Suit Tips for the Groom!

2012-01-24T02:29:00.001-08:00

Tips For The Groom - Tux or Suit?

Talk to your fiancée about the formality of your wedding. A formal wedding almost always calls for the groom, best man and ushers to wear tuxedos. However for a semi formal wedding a dark suit with an off white shirt is a popular choice and khaki or white suits are often a good choice for summer or destination weddings.
Rent or purchase – Estimate how many events where you might be able to wear the attire in the future to justify the purchase. If you don’t expect to wear it again within a couple of years, it will save you money to rent instead of purchase.
How should the best men and ushers tuxes differ from mine – While back in the day it was traditional for the wedding party to wear the identical clothing today it’s completely acceptable and practised for the groom to differentiate himself. This can be achieved by either wearing a totally different suit or you could differentiate by having a different coloured cravat or shirt.
Wedding Tip Provided By: Party Perfect

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Best Man Wedding Tips!

2012-01-24T02:25:00.001-08:00

Tips For The Best Man

Organise the stag party – Giving the groom a night to remember with all his mates is one of the most important things you’ll do. If your planning on eating before you start drinking it’s always nice to include the fathers and younger siblings who wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to be apart of the stag night.
Write your speech – Lets face it, we have all heard some interesting speeches in out lifetimes. Your goal is for your speech to be remembered for it’s classiness rather than the number of many embarrassing stories you can share with the grooms family and loved ones. The stories are great and should be a part of the speech, but remember to finish with something honest and heart-warming. Finally, don’t be nervous, it is one of the only occasion you will speak publicly where everyone is on your side.
Remember your best man duties on the day – Don’t forget some of the thing that your job title requires, including holding the rings and keeping them safe until they are exchanged and the signing of the marriage certificates.
The Reception – We all know how much fun you can have at a wedding reception. After giving your speech you will surely like to let loose and have a good time, just remember it is important that you are able to help a little after the party is over. You may be asked to take the newlyweds to the hotel or even the airport. If not you may be asked to help clean the reception room or help with the collection or storage of presents.
Wedding Tip Provided By: Party Perfect

Visit the Kliq Weddings Website to find out how Kliq Weddings can help capture your Wedding Day with stunning Videos and Photography! http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in:
http://www.wedding-film.co.uk
http://www.markammonphotography.co.uk

Kliq Media's photostream

2012-01-24T02:08:00.001-08:00

Kliq Media's photostream on Flickr.

wedding transport ideas

2012-01-23T04:23:00.001-08:00

Classic/vintage wedding car - The most popular type of wedding transport is a classic/vintage car such as a Rolls Royce, Bentley, Mercedes or Daimler. Classic wedding car hire typical costs between £295-£400 depending on the type and age of the car.
Modern luxury limousine - An alternative to the vintage wedding car is a modern luxury limousine such as a Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Jaguar or Bentley. Whilst they have less character, the typical cost is much less at £150-£250 depending on the make of car.
Horse drawn carriage - If you've always dreamt of a fairytale wedding, a horse drawn carriage is the perfect romantic option. They are however only suitable for short journeys. The time of year may also affect your decision as they tend to be suitable only in the summer, unless the carriage has a waterproof hood. Typical costs range from £350 for a single horse up to £600 for two horses.
VW beetle or campervan - If you love your VW's, why not hire a chauffeur driven Beetle or campervan. There are loads of suppliers cropping up all over the country offering a range of old and new Beetles, cabriolets, campervans and even Beetle limousines. You could even be driven to your wedding by Herbie! 3-4 hour hire including chauffeur and champagne will cost approximately £250.
Morris Minor - Another fun option to the classic VW is a Morris Minor cabriolet or Traveller with costs ranging between £200 and £250.
London taxi cab - London taxis are a popular option for the modern bride. They also provide lots of space if you have a lot of bridesmaids. White taxi's are the most popular colour - and some even have a sunroof. You should expect to pay anything from £150-£250 depending on your choice of cab colour.
Karma Kars - Karma Kars are a fleet of Indian made 'Ambassador' cars which have been lovingly styled with flowers and ornate interior decor. They offer the perfect choice for ethnic weddings or for those just looking for something a bit different. Visit the Karma Kars for more details.
Supercar - If you've always wanted to drive an Aston Martin or Ferrari why not hire a supercar. Typically, they cost between £350 and £700 depending on whether it is chauffeur driven or you drive the car yourself.
Helicopter -Travelling by helicopter is a fantastic option if you have a longer distance to travel, if you want to get to the wedding reception before your guests for photos or just because you've always fancied it. The venue will need to provide you with permission and you will need to ensure that there is sufficient space for the helicopter to land. Helicopter flights cost from £500-£1,000 depending on whether you require one or two journeys.

Flights are subject to the weather conditions - so you'll need to have back up transport arranged in case of bad weather
Family car - If you're on a smaller budget or want to save your money for something else, there is nothing stopping you being driven to the venue by a member of your family. Alternatively find out if any of your friends have a nice car they can transport you in. With a good clean and polish and a bit of coloured ribbon - you'll still be able to arrive in style.
London Bus - Using a classic red Routemaster bus is a great nostalgic option if you want to provide transport for your guests - seating either 64 or 72. Provide several bottles of champagne on board and the trip can double up as your pre-wedding breakfast reception - which could save you a fair bit of money.

There are quite a few suppliers who can provide a London Bus. Some suppliers specialise specifically for the wedding market and will provide a fully decorated bus - they may even put your name on the front! The cost to hire a London bus ranges from £500-£600 depending on the level of wedding decorations on board.
Coach - The advantage of coach hire is that most coach companies don't tend to mark up their prices just because it's a wedding. Coaches are a great way of taking your guests home to a hotel after the wedding reception as that they don't have to worry about ordering a taxi or picking their car up in the morning. You should expect to pay £200-£250 for a standard size coach (51 seats).

To find out how Kliq Weddings can Capture your day with stunning Wedding Videography and Photography please visit: http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk

Other sites you might be interested in: