How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring for Your Future Spouse

You’ve made the decision. Your partner is officially “the one,” and you can’t imagine spending your life with anyone else. As the phrase goes, it’s time to “put a ring on it” — which ring, though? That’s a whole other debate. Choosing the perfect engagement ring for your future spouse can be a mammoth undertaking. Here are a few tips on keeping it simple but effective with these five steps. 1. Set Your Budget & Understand Value According to Harper’s Bazaar , the average engagement ring costs $9,900 in the US, which translates to £7374, which is in my mind an excessive amount but luckily I'm not the only one who thinks that way, with many couples paying far less but for something just as sentimental.  The final price is often dictated by how diamonds are sourced (lab-grown or mined), their size, and their quality but lots of modern couples are also opting for less traditional rings using other kinds of semi-precious gems. There’s no singular approach to budgeting — ultimately, ......

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A guide to packing for your couples retreat or honeymoon

Whether you are planning your first couples retreat or getting over the chaos of your big day, there are some essential tips you need when travelling as two. Packing for a honeymoon or couples retreat is an event in itself. When life is busy, these kinds of holidays are a chance for one-on-one time with your significant other. In other words, you want it to be as stress-free as possible. It goes without saying that preparation is key so here’s a guide to packing for your couples breakaway. Essential travel documents and requirements Heading abroad? Passports and visas are the most essential considerations. Your passport should have at least six months of validity (from the start date of your honeymoon), as some countries will deny visitors at border control if the expiry date is looming. Visas or travel authorisations might not be necessary, but it’s wise to check in advance  GOV.UK has plenty of advice on foreign entry requirements. Check for any necessary vaccinations or certifi......

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How to Plan an Autumn Wedding

Are you dreaming of a wedding surrounded by warm-coloured landscapes and filled with a cosy atmosphere? An autumn event could be the perfect option for you. Blend the charm of classical autumnal décor with seasonal modern trends to make the day feel both stylish and personal. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, the guide offers ideas and advice to make your nuptials truly memorable. Choose a Venue and a Date Immerse yourself and your guests in the autumnal landscape by selecting the right venue. This could be outdoor spaces like woodlands or rustic barns where seasonal elements can be easily incorporated into the décor. Autumn in the UK is known for cool and sometimes wet weather, so a flexible setup with indoor options is essential. Embrace a Bold Colour Palette Merge traditional earthy tones with vibrant accents to create the perfect autumnal colour palette for your wedding. Opt for colours like burnt orange, rich gold, and maroon to reflect the hue......

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Why you should consider a wedding abroad

If you are in the planning stage of your wedding then why not consider a wedding abroad? There are many fantastic reasons for going down this route and if you are someone who is looking for something unique and has a passion for travel, this could be the perfect option.  Here are a few reasons why a wedding overseas is a great idea.  1. Perfect for couples looking for less fuss Many people don't want a big wedding and rather have a smaller more intimate affair. Getting married abroad will make it much easier to reduce numbers (you have the perfect excuse to not invite "that one cousin") and help keep things simple.  2. Guaranteed Sunshine  While no destination is sunny 100% of the time, many are far more reliable than the UK. If you are especially keen on a beach or outdoor wedding, then opt for warmer climates with consistently good weather such as Spain, Greece or even further afield like South Africa are all good choices.  3. Combine a wedding and honeymoon H......

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Why Small Weddings are the new trend for 2021

*Contains affiliate links  We all know that Covid has caused chaos for a variety of reasons this year, with many of us feeling like our lives are on hold. Many events and celebrations have been cancelled and everything from shopping to visiting friends has changed. For many of us, we have reduced or travel, stayed local, shopped local and avoided large gatherings, the environment has also benefitted from society slowing down and that really has been a good thing. I have never been one that feels like bigger is better so it's good to hear that the trend of less is more and going small is the new thing, including weddings. If you needed convincing on why a small wedding is a great choice then here are a few non-covid reasons to help persuade you (as well as save you money).  The Benefits of a Small Wedding The more you consider what a small wedding will be like, the more you'll come to the realization that this should have been your first choice in the first place. Here are all ......

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The best destinations to get married this leap year

*Associated Post  As 2020 rolls on, it’s worth remembering that February will have an extra day, as we are in the midst of a leap year. Coming around every four years, leap years give us an extra day on the calendar – February 29th. A mythical date – just what do you do if it’s your birthday?! – Feb 29 has been long associated with the Irish custom of Bachelor’s Day, which states women can ask men to marry them, although in modern times it's, of course, no matter what your sexual orientation, whether in a traditional relationship or a same-sex one, you can propose to your partner. If you are thinking about proposing having a bit of a whirlwind ceremony, I thought I would share 5 beautiful destinations for the leap year that are also LGBTQ friendly 1. Cape Town I may be a little biased as I grew up in South Africa's mother city but honestly, it's a fantastic place to get married with reliable sunny weather, white sand beaches and an array of private wine f......

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Getting Married? A guide to finding the perfect venue

As we move into spring and slowly closer to summer there are many looking ahead to their Big Day, having worked for a while as a wedding photographer after graduating and having attended a variety of weddings I thought I would put together some things I learnt about what does and doesn't work. Planning your wedding is an exciting time but there’s always a lot to organise for the Big Day. One of the first decisions you’ll have to take is where to get married. Your choice of venue will usually be determined by 3 key factors:  What sort of ceremony are you hoping for?   According to recent figures, just under a third of couples choose a religious ceremony so if you don’t want to get married in a church, you could have a civil, humanist or another type of ceremony or blessing.  The format of the day will set the tone for the mood you want to create. Generally speaking, formal wedding receptions are better suited to hotels or country house settings, while ......

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Gift Ideas when buying for couples

When it comes to buying a gift for a couple it can be two times as difficult (if not more!) trying to please two people at the same time with one thing is a big ask but not impossible. If you do manage get the gift right, then you’ll kill 2 birds with one stone which can potentially save you some money and stress. As you get older purchasing gifts for couples becomes more of a regular thing as friends start to settle down and buying a wonderful gift for a couple that’s close to you can sometimes be tricky, since in most cases you’ll tend to know one person better than the other, so while you know how to make one person happy you will be less sure for the other. Well after a few years of having to navigate this situation myself I've decided to put a few helpful, original and amazing gift ideas together that I perfect for two. Before we dive head first into these suggestions though it's not only Christmas that you may have to purchase a couples gift but also anniversaries......

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No More Cookie Cutter Weddings

While I was at Uni studying photography I assisted at a few weddings then after graduating started my own business (although realised it's not really for me) have attended a fair few weddings, add in the weddings of family and friends as well and you would think that I would be a bit jaded by now, but when someone does something a little different it's still so much fun to attend them. Over the years, the way people organise their weddings has changed drastically and I must admit I am a big fan of this change. These days’ people seem to feel free to hold a wedding that suits them and their family and friends. Most of todays modern weddings are a reflection of the personality, tastes and values of the bride and groom. In the past, especially in the 80s and 90s, people seemed to be compelled to do things in a certain way. Most people got married in church, the majority of grooms wore morning suits and the bride pretty much always looked like your archetypal fa......

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