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"Bridal & Girlie Things"
Issue 6, January 2004
The Official Ezine of
Affiniti Wedding Planning
Editor's Note
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS AND CONTRIBUTORS!!!!!
Welcome to our "Bridal & Girlie Things" ezine.
For more details of the services offered by Affiniti Wedding
Planning please see
www.essexweddingplanning.co.uk We welcome feedback,
advertising requests, competition sponsorship or maybe details of
your own weddings - so please contact us! |
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Issue 6 Contents:
1. Articles
2. Competitions and prize draws
3. Recommended websites
4. What's coming next?
5. Useful info
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| 1. |
Articles |
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"A Bride's Budget" by Julie Sherwood |
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January is the
perfect month to sort your bridal budget out. January often looms ahead
as a long, dark month waiting for pay day to arrive. But not for you, you
will be busy re-adjusting your bridal budget and action plan. Believe me
??“ it works and you will love it!
Once a week, and
once a week only, you will find you can sit down and run through your
action plan. This will help you reassess your money and also is a great
opportunity to assign ???jobs for the week??™.
Dawn, 28 a
graphic designer, used this technique when she married Andy last July.
???There was so much to do I felt overwhelmed???, she tells us, ???but sitting
down once a week made me focus and write lists of what jobs needed to be
done. It also was a good opportunity to make my boyfriend aware of what
was involved.???
Dawn has a
point. Many boyfriends, as much as we love them, do not have a clue of
what??™s involved in organising a wedding. My advice ??“ let them know from
the start. Otherwise they will lose the plot if you suddenly give them a
project half-way and will feel like they are being nagged. ???Let them feel
like they are in control with a job,??? Lisa adds, ???for instance they can be
in control of getting quotes from photographers, or designing your
invites???.
You??™ll also find
that your weekly action plan review will help those panics at 4am. They
won't stop it, but they??™ll help.
So here??™s a
pointer of what your action plan should entail:
You will need:
An A4 ring binder, some coloured dividers, plastic wallets with hole
punchers, a pen, a pad, a calculator and a large glass of wine. First
write a list of all the areas that you need to consider ??“ plan the day out
and use that as a guide: bridal make-up and hair, dresses, flowers, cars
to the ceremony, the ceremony, photographers, reception, invites etc.
And then sub-divide even more, for example ceremony will include, having
your banns read, paying for the choir, checking you don??™t need a video
licence, order of service etc. It sounds a lot, but you will be surprised
how organised and free you will feel once this all out on paper, and in a
folder.
Work out your
budget for everything. To the penny. Having the soup for
starter as opposed to the prawn cocktail could save you £300.
Honestly. See if you can cut back your budget ??“ think what is
important to you. Use local suppliers. A good supplier will
work around your budget so be strict with yourself.
Marie found this
with her florist, ???My first florist said I would not be able to get any
wedding flowers for less than £500. I believed her and booked her.
But a niggling doubt wouldn??™t go away so I found another florist who did
all my wedding flowers for £300 ??“ including table decorations and the
cake. They were gorgeous and perfect???.
The same
applies to your wedding photography. A good photographer will adapt to
your budget. If you like the style of a photographer but can??™t afford
him, consider having only 50 prints as opposed to 80. Or have him only
for the ceremony and reception rather than the whole day. This will all
help your much needed savings.
With many
brides to be, the memories of the day are what matters. So if you
really want a limo to take you to the church, but can??™t afford it because
of the cost of your dress, consider what Yvette did. ???I hired my
dress, and got an £800 dress for £300 and used the difference to hire a
car out. I will never forget the feeling of being in that car, and
feeling like Royalty, ??? Yvette explains. ???The dress was gorgeous,
but I have no regrets hiring it rather than buying it and then stuffing it
in the loft???.
Next with your
budget, work out where the money is coming from. Whether you are
lucky enough to have contributions, or how many pay days there are before
the Big Day. If you can plan your wedding just after pay day, you
have an extra boost for your honeymoon. Work out how much you need
to save each month to reach your target. And do this realistically.
???Rob and I made the mistake of trying to over-save and then we??™d get
depressed and blow £50 on a night out!??? explains Lisa, 31 who was married
recently. ???Instead we changed our plan to save less, and then if we
had any more money we felt better putting a bit more in, than taking some
out???.
Every bride wants the perfect
wedding and a lot of the time you can get side tracked by magazines and
celebrity weddings. Stay grounded, remember what you want and by talking
to other people you??™ll be amazed at other ideas can spring up. Try to
work on your bridal budget once a week and once a week only. You won't be
doing much else during January. So you might as well do something
productive to get you motivated for your best year yet. YOUR wedding
year. Good luck!
Words written by
Julie Sherwood, who was married last year. For more information on
weddings or writing contact Julie at
jsherwood@fsmail.net |
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"New Year's
Resolutions & How To Keep Them" by Ruth Rosselson of
You Can Life
Coaching | |
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Making resolutions that you stick to
isn't as hard as you might think. The most important thing is that
you have to really want to achieve the resolutions you've set yourself.
Usually people set resolutions because they want to change some aspect of
their life for the better. But instead of focusing on the benefits, they
focus on what they are giving up, and so they fail. Instead of thinking of
what you will be giving up, concentrate on the rewards instead.
For example, if you have decided to
give up smoking, look at what you will be gaining. You'll be in better
health, have more money to spend, more energy and better skin. That's
surely got to be a better motivator, than thinking about it as giving up
something you've loved and enjoyed for years. Keep focusing on these
benefits whenever you feel your resolve weakening.
Remember that you won't change the habits of a lifetime overnight. It's
just not possible. Instead, you need to take baby steps and break down
your goal into smaller segments. If your resolution is to lead a healthier
lifestyle, that's quite a big jump to make if you eat takeaways all the
time, drink and smoke a lot and never exercise. Instead set yourself
smaller targets like drinking 8 glasses of water a day, eating one portion
of fresh fruit each day and doing at least one session of exercise a week.
Once these things become second nature you can gradually increase the
number of healthy things that you do.
An action plan as to how you're going to stick to your resolutions is also
a good way to ensure success. Write down how you'll achieve these
resolutions and what steps you need to take each day. Involving someone
else in your action plan is also important, whether it's getting a friend
to exercise with you, or employing a life coach who can help keep you on
track.
Another reason that people often fail is that they tend to see things as
"all or nothing" so that if they don't manage something once, they'll
throw in the towel. Instead, be kind to yourself and recognise that no one
is infallible. Missing one exercise session doesn't mean you've failed to
stick to your resolution and should give up altogether, it simply means
that you missed one exercise session. Just because
you didn't manage something one day, doesn't mean that tomorrow won't be
different.
Tips for sticking to your
resolutions:-
Make your resolutions realistic and
something that you do really want to achieve.
Write a list of all the positive
reasons for sticking to them and keep it where you can see it every day.
Think of what you are gaining rather
than what you are losing.
Visualise what your life will be
like when you have achieved your resolution and keep returning to that
image whenever you feel your resolve weakening.
Involve someone else in your
resolution - you're more likely to succeed if you have someone (such as
a coach, partner or friend) to be accountable to.
Make yourself a concrete action plan
so that you have strategies for integrating your resolution into your
life. As part of that action plan, give yourself times and dates.
Don't give up at the first hurdle!
If you break your resolution once, instead of seeing it as a failure and
giving up totally, resist the urge to see things in black and white and
carry on as best you can. | |
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"Tiaras and
Tantrums" by Claire of
Curly Wurly
Creations |
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So, you've you've bought the
dress of your dreams??¦.
Now it's time to start searching for your tiara to complete the
transformation of turning you into a beautiful princess??¦.but, lo and
behold, each one you've tried on has either made you look like a
high-school prom queen or even worse??¦.a drag queen!
It is often the case that brides-2-be will purchase a tiara from the store
in which they've purchased their gown for the simple reason that they can
try on their dress and tiara together to get a better idea of the
'complete' look. However, bridal shops offer limited tiara designs, most
of which are pre-fabricated monstrosities??¦.exactly what you weren't
looking for??¦.
Not only is there limited choice, but, as I'm sure you may have already
discovered, the prices are usually monstrous too.
The alternative?....Employ your own personal designer!...
"The cost?" I hear you ask.
My reply??¦??¦ " Nothing, nada, ziltch??¦!", courtesy of Curly Wurly Creations.
Having a tiara designed exclusively for you has several benefits:
You are able to choose a piece that best compliments your face shape, your
wedding gown, your colour scheme and your chosen hair style.
You will probably have a design in mind already, however, the tiara of
your dreams may turn out not to suit your face shape. It is worth bearing
in mind that if you are looking at pictures in Bridal Magazines the girls
modelling the tiaras may have a totally different face shape to you, which
is why it will look fantastic on them??¦.hence the tantrum!
Here are the most common face shapes and designs to avoid:
Oval face - avoid very tall designs. This will only elongate the
appearance of your face and make it look out of proportion.
Heart shape face - avoid 'flat' designs. Try a design with a little bit of
height to balance your face. Anything too tall will look out of
proportion.
Round face - avoid 'flat' designs. Go for a design with a little more
height.
Small face - avoid tiny tiaras. Try a design that is both wide and tall.
Square face - avoid wide tiaras. This will only widen the appearance of
your face. Go for a dainty design.
Having a bespoke piece made means that you have total control over the
design. Don't be afraid to tell your designer exactly what you want. A
good designer will guide you through your design without compromising on
what you want. An important factor to consider is to choose a designer who
has the same 'taste' as you. Don't be tempted to employ a tiara designer
who makes only traditional floral pieces (however good their prices may
be!) if you want a design that is simple and contemporary.
Most designers will have access to a vast range of beads and materials so
don't hesitate to ask if you have something particular in mind??¦an example
of available beads are:
Freshwater pearls which come in many different colours, semi-precious
stones and irregular shaped chips, Swarovski crystals which are available
in many different sizes and shapes, sterling silver, silver plated & gold
plated wire.
Generally, if you purchase a tiara directly from a designer the prices
will be lower in comparison with bridal shops due to the fact that bridal
shops add a profit margin to cover their extra overheads.
For information on the FREE Personal Virtual Design Service offered by
Curly Wurly Creations please click
here
See more of the fabulous range of tiaras and accessories at
Curly Wurly Creations
They also have a new chat forum so pop along and introduce yourself! |
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"New Year Beauty
Resolutions" by Minnie | |
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Happy New Year Readers!
Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year.
It??™s that time of year when everyone makes their resolutions. Here I??™ll
look at some of the main ones and why they are so important for your
health and beauty. Some of the tips have been taken from my new book,
Regenerate!, available from
www.sidrashaukat.biz
which looks at scientifically proven ways to reduce ageing and disease.
New Year Resolution 1: Lose Weight
This has to be the most common resolution of them all. Gym memberships
shoot through the roof during January, but come February, the gyms start
looking very empty! The goal should be to achieve long-term weight loss by
a healthy diet and a challenging exercise regime. I know it doesn??™t sound
like anything new, but faddy diets are really not the answer, as they lead
to yo-yo dieting.
The best weight loss is by regulating your blood sugar levels, which in
turn calms insulin levels. It is high insulin levels that lead to excess
blood sugar being converted into fat. You can regulate blood sugar by
eating complex carbohydrates like brown rice and bread (brown is
beautiful) as opposed to refined carbohydrates, such as white bread,
pasta, cakes etc. Eating protein and healthy unsaturated fats at every
meal also controls blood sugar.
Daily exercise will increase your fitness and will get rid off extra
bulges. Brisk walking for around 30 minutes a day, every day should do the
trick. Try also to incorporate strength training into your routine to tone
up muscles (don??™t worry, you won??™t turn into Arnold Schwarzenegger!).
New Year Resolution 2: Give up smoking
Giving up smoking will not only help your health but it will also take
years off your looks. Haven??™t you noticed that smokers often look older
than their age? Smoking not only reduces the quality of air entering your
lungs (reduced oxygen) but the tar also increases risk of cancer. Smoking
creates lines on the lips and around the marks, the actual skin on the
lips becomes darker and harder. Smoke also collects on the skin and
creates extra wrinkling around the eyes. So, if you??™re not giving up
smoking for your health, at least give it up for your looks!
New Year Resolution 3: Give up chocolate
As a self-confessed chocoholic, I think we can be flexible about this
one. Chocolate contains a chemical that is the same as your brain releases
when you are in love, so it makes you feel good! The odd chocolate treat
can help your mood, but too much can play havoc with your healthy eating
plan. The additional empty calories and high sugar and saturated fat
content, will create a sugar ???high??™ but a corresponding moody low, shortly
afterwards. Too much chocolate and sweets will create high insulin levels,
and there more fat being stored. So, the decision is yours!
I hope you??™ve enjoyed my look at resolutions and be sure to stick to
yours!
Until next time, best wishes,
Minnie |
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| 2. |
Competitions and prize draws | |
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No 1 - Win cosmetics
from Mary Kay | |
 We
are giving away an eyeshadow compact with mirror
and applicators, filled with your
choice of two colours. Easily re-fillable by just "popping out" the shades
if you fancy changing your look. You can choose your colours from the
selection
here
To win just e-mail
jo@essexweddingplanning.co.uk with
your details before 29 January 2004. Please state your choice
of two colours in your e-mail. UK applicants only please.
SPECIAL OFFER:
£5 off your order of £30
OR
£10 off your order of £75 or more
before 29 January 2004.
Shop online at
http://www.marykay.co.uk/jhanby
Please quote "Bridal & Girlie Things" as your reference when asked. | |
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No 2 - Win two
Swarovski crystal snowflake hair pins from
Curly Wurly Creations | |
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11985/27317_hair_pin.jpg
"_blank" href="http://www.curlywurlycreations.co.uk/page29.html">
All you have to do is e-mail your
details by 29 January to
jo@essexweddingplanning.co.uk
Please let us know whether you would
like pins for brunette or blonde hair. Entrants must live within the
UK. | |
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No 3 - Wedding guest
album | |
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 Courtesy of "The
Otter Bindery" we have this beautiful hand-crafted wedding
guest album to give away. The guest album is bound in the material
of the photo album, shown behind the guest album.
Based in Surrey,
The Otter Bindery was established 10 years ago. Experts in binding,
whether in leather or cloth and with titles embossed in gold on the front
cover they also offer workshops where you can learn to restore books or
bind your own albums.
For more details contact
otter_bindery@lineone.net
or browse the website at
www.otterbindery.co.uk
To win just e-mail
jo@essexweddingplanning.co.uk with
your details before 29 February 2004. UK residents only please. | |
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No 4 - Win a copy of
beauty editor Minnie's book "Health Essentials: Natural Beauty" | |
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Back by popular demand! Each
month Minnie is offering a lucky reader a free
copy of her new book. The book is a simple, concise book on using
everyday things from your kitchen like sugar, salt, oil, etc. to create
effective and economical treatments in the comfort of your home. The key
is to pamper yourself with the knowledge of knowing exactly what's in the
product.
They are 100% organic, and even A-listers like Sophia Loren, Catherine
Zeta Jones and Julia Roberts use natural treatments. There are also
introductory chapters on reflexology, aromatherapy and massage, as well as
a special make-up section, on tricks of the trade.
To win just send an e-mail to
jo@essexweddingplanning.co.uk
before 29 January with the word "Minnie" in the subject
heading.
If you wish to
purchase the book, priced at £5.99, and also have your copy signed by
Minnie, please contact
jo@essexweddingplanning.co.uk | |
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Recommended websites | |
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For your wedding | |
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We'd like to introduce you to an
excellent wedding site that we've recently discovered -
www.net-weddings.co.uk. This site has just about everything the
bride and groom-to-be will need, from a national suppliers directory,
second-hand dress market, advice and Agony Aunt columns, articles,
features, competitions and a well stocked on-line wedding shop with just
about everything from designer veils to rose petal confetti.
Our friends over at net-weddings have
announced a new project that is sure to be of interest for couples
embarking on the wedding process - individual Wed Sites.
It's a wonderful concept that allows couples to buy their very own Wedding
Web Site for about the cost of a pair of shoes. The sites are designed
with the computer novice in mind and you can add and delete text and
images via a standard web browser such as Internet Explorer. The unique
thing about the net-weddings sites is the ability to edit and change page
and section names so that the sites develop as you do. Once the wedding is
over the Wed Site can become your Family site and you can use it to keep
friends and family up to date with all your happenings.
Watch out for the launch of Wed
Sites - coming soon! | |
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For women generally | |
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Bookstobuyandsell.co.uk is a great site we found recently.
It's an online venue for buying
and selling new and used books, registration is free and it is also free
to join. Loads of books from the newest releases to old, rare and signed
books.
We have been clearing out our book
cupboards recently and re-stocking avidly. Check it out now and
catch up on some old favourites or new releases! | |
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Are you a girlie girl or a glamour girl?
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Be who you wanna be at
lola-b.com,
an online retail store for fashion jewellery, trendy handbags and funky
accessories. Choose from casual chic to ethnic and trendy fashion items
from bracelets to anklets, earrings to toe rings, handbags to gift bags
and lots more....shopping is fun! 20% DISCOUNT now on! | |
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What's coming next? | |
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We are looking for
brides who would like their wedding diary profiled online at Affiniti...
If you are getting married next summer and would like to share your
thoughts on the run up to your wedding then we would like to hear from
you. Tell us about what you're choosing and how, any major successes
- perhaps tracking down your perfect dress in the very first shop you
tried! - or how you managed to overt any potential disasters! And if
you can supply photos at any stage then we would love to see those too!
E-mail
info@essexweddingplanning.co.uk with your details.
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Some of the things we are working on
at the moment for the next issues include:
- romantic engagements - our readers
tell all - contributions still welcome
- a prize from Lola-B, the online
retail store for fashion jewellery, trendy handbags and funky
accessories
- "Sexpert Sam" - more
from Sam's new column, where she will be bringing
you advice, tips and frank confessions
- the latest articles from Julia
and Claire
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Useful info | |
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Forthcoming weddings
fairs around Essex and the south east | |
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See us at The Five Lakes Resort's Wedding Fayre in Tolleshunt Knights,
near Maldon, Essex on Sunday 18 January.
Tel: 01621 868888 for details.
Sunday 11
January, 2004, 10.30am to 4.00pm
The Spa Hotel, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8XJ
For further information please telephone Majestic Events on 01892 520331
Friday 16th &
Saturday 17th January 2004 from 11am - 6pm. £4 in advance & £5 on
the day
London & City Wedding Show, Cabot Hall, Canary Wharf, London
The London & City Wedding Show will be the most exciting and interactive
show in the Capital.
For more information please contact Elliott Brown Event Management
Garry Luke & Scott Brown, tel 0870 2501091
email
mail@elliott-brown.com
website
http://www.elliott-brown.com
Sunday 25
January, 2004, 10.00am to 5.00pm
Cliffs Pavilion Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
For further information please
telephone 01702 559460
Saturday 21 &
Sunday 22 February, 10.00am to 5.00pm
The Essex FM Wedding Fayre, The Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road,
Brentwood, Essex
For further information please telephone 01702 323282 | |
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About us | |
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The "Bridal & Girlie Things" ezine is
published by Jo Hanby, owner of Affiniti Wedding Planning. If you
need help planning your wedding, e-mail
jo@essexweddingplanning.co.uk or see our website for more details of our wedding planning services at
www.essexweddingplanning.co.uk
We welcome feedback, articles for
submission, advertising requests and website recommendations.
Copyright ?© 2004 The
"Bridal &
Girlie Things" Ezine. All rights reserved. | |
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