Confetti 2016

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Celebrating

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE BIG DAY

Taking sleaze out of the stag do

1986 - 2016

Wedding day traditions Mum’s the word Mother of the bride fashions Wish you were here Find the perfect venue

Creative ideas for flowers Big day beauty tips

GO FOR GLAMOUR Ian Stuart’s brilliant bridal dress designs

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Occasion Wear fashion inspiration

10% off occasion wear with this advert

One to one style advice ring to book your consultation 409 Ecclesall Rd Sheffield, S11 8PG Tel: 0114 267 1330

Shop online at www.sisteronline.co.uk

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8 Bold and Beautiful Despite his imaginative creations having taken the bridal market by storm, there’s much more to come from designer Ian Stuart

10 Get the look All you need for gorgeous DIY bridal beauty is the right products and a little practice

15 New Image Fabulous fashions mean you are certain to find your special wedding outfit at New Image

18 Something old, something new Just where – and why – did our modern wedding traditions originate?

Phoebe Seymour delves into the past

22 Tankersley Manor With its elegance and charm, Tankersley Manor makes the ideal venue for a perfect wedding

28 Floral Tribute Flowers will take centre stage at 2016’s weddings

32 Sobering up the stag do More and more husbands-to-be are opting for booze-free bachelor parties.

How are they seeking thrills instead? Adam Kay reports...

MANAGING EDITOR Chris Wilson EDITORIAL Stephanie Burns, Fiona Barber, Phoebe Seymour, Jordan Cutforth CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Richard Abbey SUB-EDITOR Richard Smith STUDIO MANAGER Chris Brierley DESIGN Dan Wray, Steve Levers, Charles Bradshaw OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Jillion Wood SALES PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Amanda Roy SALES EXECUTIVES Sam Warsop, Sally Wragg, Julie Shingler, Nicola Hoult, Terri Moore, Rebecca Hume, Lisa Dawson, Deborah Mourmouris, Melanie Jackson DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Chris Clayton ACCOUNTS Paul Barrett, Kelly Mann Published by: Regional Magazine Company, RMC House, 6 Broadfield Court, Broadfield Business Park, Sheffield, S8 0XF. Tel: 0114 250 6300. www.regionalmagazine.co.uk Not connected with any other company or group. Printed by Buxton Press, Buxton, Derbyshire.

The publisher takes no responsibility whatsoever for the safe keeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material. Any submitted material should be accompanied by an SAE. All material is the copyright of the Regional Magazine Company and is not to be reproduced without permission.

The placing of an order for the insertion of an advertisement in this publication shall amount to an acceptance of our terms and conditions, copies of which are available on request.

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Something Old, Something New, Something Goat & Something Blue A cheese wedding cake is the perfect alternative (or addition) to a traditional wedding cake. A beautifully decorated stack of artisan cheese is a wonderful centre piece and an economical way to feed your guests.

The cheese you choose can even tell a story, maybe you got engaged in Spain and want to include traditional manchago or your marriage is a union of two counties and your cake will be made of only Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire cheese.

Just like a traditional cake, your cheese stack and be left naked to show off the beautiful natural rind of the cheese or can be decorated to match your scheme and include fruit, flowers, ribbon, lace.....the list is endless.

At the cheese cave we will help you choose the right cheese for your taste and budget and guide you on how much cheese you will need to satisfy your guests. Drop by, ring or email to make an appointment to do some tastings and chat about your dream cheesy cake.

I’m always excited to meet you and be involved in your big day!

Email: info@thecheesecave.co.uk Tel: 01302 376366

perfect for weddings

Your wedding should be perfect beyond all expectations.

At Aston Hall, we will make it unforgettable! t: +44 (0) 114 287 2309 WORKSOP ROAD

e: weddings@astonhallhotel.co.uk ASTON

SHEFFIELD

w: www.astonhallhotel.co.uk

S O U T H YO R K S H I R E

S26 2EE

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Ian Stuart’s best-selling ‘flower bomb’ dress

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Bold and beautiful Despite his imaginative creations having taken the bridal market by storm, there’s much more to come from designer Ian Stuart, says Stephanie Burns.

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himsical, theatrical, flamboyant’. In three words, globally renowned bridal designer Ian Stuart perfectly sums up his signature style, a style that has been pored over by brides the world over for well over a decade and continues to attract great acclaim from both customer and peer.

Anyone who has taken even a passing interest in fashion or bridalwear will be familiar with Ian’s creations. Boldly taking his needle and thread where few have dared to venture, his more elaborate gowns wouldn’t look out of place in a Renaissance painting and are often held up as the pinnacle of bridal design. Deftly focused on fit, quality, styling and detail, each piece is a work of art inspired by three of the designer’s passions: old films, coffee table books and music.

I managed to grab a quick phone call with Ian at the beginning of the year as he was putting the finishing touches to his 2016/2017 collections – due for release in April – to discuss the highlights of his illustrious career.

In his line of work, days are anything but typical. In and amongst the designing, his time passes by in a whirlwind of meetings with fabric suppliers, modelling agencies, sales agents and jewellery designers, all the while cataloguing and storyboarding the fabrics, laces and trimmings he collects along the way.

Days after we spoke, he embarked on one of his regular fabric-finding missions in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.

From a young age, Ian was given a taste of a more international lifestyle than many children are. He was born in Holland in 1967 before moving to Manchester when he was five. Growing up, he adored theatre and the arts and almost signed up to acting school.

Instead, he studied design and graduated with a fashion degree from Berkshire College of Art and Design in 1989.

Before the course had ended, he had already been snapped up by David Sassoon of Bellville Sassoon – a Chelsea-based couture company that has counted Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and every member of the royal family except the Queen among its loyal clientele over the years – and chose, accordingly, to specialise in wedding dresses for his final project.

“It was a practical decision,” he admits. “I really wanted to do theatrical costumes but I realised that at that time there wasn’t that much work in it. Wedding dresses and eveningwear were the most similar things.”

At the age of 25, he secured a job at Sweetheart Gowns – in his words, ‘a big cheesy American bridalwear company’ – where he worked for ten years, winning Wedding Dress Designer of the Year in the USA – a major achievement for an English designer – in the process.

In 2002, having moved back to London, Ian set about creating his eponymous company along with fellow designer Peter Tague. “We converted a spare bedroom in the house, started up very small, made a collection, went to show it at a show in Germany and got a full order book. At that moment it [went] from being a dream into ‘this is really tangible and we now have to finance these orders and put them into production and actually make these dresses’.

So it made it very, very real.”

The Collection Designed by Ian Stuart launched the following year in West Dulwich and has since earned Ian the Bridal Designer of the Year award five times. “Seeing [my own company] get off the ground was a really proud moment because I felt that finally I was free and I didn’t have the restrictions and constraints that working for another company has. You only have to answer to yourself.” >>>

Antoinette

Chiquitita

Wanderlust

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Ian’s dresses aren’t for every bride; it takes a strong personality and style to pull off his more daring designs. Just take his bestever selling flower bomb dress as a case in point. Flower bomb, which Ian describes as encompassing all the magic ‘Ian Stuart’ ingredients, burst onto the bridal scene in 2011 and was an instant hit. Such was its success, it featured in the 2014 wedding dress exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum alongside dresses worn by Kate Moss, Dita Von Teese and Camilla Parker Bowles.

His latest collections, while still heavily featuring this signature style, have travelled in a more demure direction, with 1950s-inspired short styles and dresses with smoother, cleaner silhouettes. They latter may look easier to make than their frothier counterparts, but Ian admits they were even more challenging. “Those dresses look the simplest but they’re actually the most difficult because the draping is so complicated and the dresses are so plain, you can’t hide any mistakes with decorations,” he admits.

In April, he’ll no doubt wow yet again with a new shape of dress that would look as good down the aisle as it would on the red carpet. Alongside these Oscar-worthy designs, he’s also been experimenting with some interesting fabric and lace combinations. And his love affair with colour continues with some multi-coloured pastel creations that only he could pull off with style.

Unsurprisingly, given his passion for theatre and music, Ian’s favourite job is presenting these new collections and showcasing them with a good dose of his trademark flamboyance. “There’s always a runway show that’s just happened, then there’s the next one to plan ahead for so that’s constantly on my mind,” he says. “I love perfecting that. I love the whole presentation of it, from the music to the set design to the styling of the models.”

Since 2007, these shows have not only featured his bridalwear but also his muchloved occasionwear collection Ian Stuart London. And it is these two pillars of Ian’s career that led him to launch his first flagship store, Blewcoat, last June, which was officially opened by the man who gave Ian his break, David Sassoon.

Whether brides are shopping at Blewcoat or one of the boutiques hand-selected exclusively by Ian to stock his dresses – or, indeed, when buying any wedding dress – Ian is outspoken about his dislike for online wedding dress shopping and implores every bride to visit a boutique to find the right style

A preview of next season

rather than scouring the internet. “You need to be able to see what you’re going to buy in reality and you need to be able to look inside it and know that it’s got the correct construction that’s going to flatter your body,” he says.

“When a girl goes into a bridal salon, she’s given expert advice by the sales consultants that will give her guidance and help to eliminate the dresses that are not working for her. The internet is not going to be able to fit you in the dress and do your alterations. It’s not going to advise you on bridesmaid colours and how to pull it all together. I think it also ruins the whole experience for the bride because it’s a oncein-a-lifetime thing and it should be a pleasurable experience.”

For a man who has dedicated his life to ensuring women look and feel their very best on one of the most important days of their life, it’s easy to see why he remains so passionate about doing things the right way.

And still, no matter how many brides have sashayed down the aisle on their big day in an Ian Stuart gown, the designer has never tired of seeing it happen.

“I feel really happy and proud that somebody had so much choice but they ended up getting one of [my dresses] when there are so many other ones to choose from,” he says.

“That feeling when you see someone in one of your designs, it never goes away.”

Visit www.ianstuart-bride.com to find your nearest stockist.

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Riviera takes the current collection in a more demure direction

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MASCARA Use as little or as much of the eye-opening YSL baby doll mascara, £25, as you need to suit your own style. www.yslbeauty.co.uk

EYEBROWS Enhance the natural arch of your brow with Laura Mercier Brow Definer, £17.50. www.houseoffraser.co.uk

EYESHADOW The subtle smoky nudes of Urban Decay’s naked 3 eyeshadow palette, £38, will make your eyes pop. www.urbandecay.co.uk

EYELINER MAC’s Liquidlast Liner, £16, will give you a clean, sharp flick that lasts all day.

Come evening, build up for a more dramatic look. www.maccosmetics.co.uk

BLUSH Use Clarins Multi-Blush in rose, £18.50, for a naturallooking flush of colour. www.clarins.co.uk

HIGHLIGHTER Optimise your bridal radiance by adding a touch of Topshop Glow Highlighter in polish, £9, to the top of your cheekbones. www.topshop.com

FOUNDATION The buildable coverage and dewy finish of Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in deauville, £31, achieves the perfect fresh-faced result. www.narscosmetics.co.uk

Get the look All you need for gorgeous DIY bridal beauty is the right products and a little practice, says Stephanie Burns.

LIP TINT If you’re not used to wearing a heavy lipstick, a delicate swipe of Benefit Posiebalm, £14.50, is the answer. www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

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Relax and unwind after your wedding preparations and treat yourself or your loved one to...

100% NATURAL INGREDIENTS

Yt|ÜçàtÄx jxww|Çzá We have a choice of Fairytale Wedding Packages.

From the top of the range Shelley Package to the Grove Package.

Promoting good health & wellbeing naturally with pure aromatherapy oils.

and for the Groom & Best Man…

NEW Love Thy Beard Oil Pamper your beard with this exquisite beard oil that will smooth, condition and nourish your beard giving it shine and lustre.

Our Fairytale Wedding Packages include: • Free room hire • 4 course meal for 40 or 60 guests • Drinks package for 40 or 60 guests • One glass Bucks Fizz (for arrival/after ceremony) • One glass house wine (during the meal) • One glass sparkling wine toast • Evening buffet for 80 or 100 guests • Top table fresh flower arrangement • Silver cake knife & stand • Master of ceremonies • Personalised printed table plan & place cards • Chair covers with sash (colour of your choice) • Linen tablecloths & napkins • Red carpet welcome • Complimentary feature room for the Bride & Groom for the night of their wedding • Professional brides make up on the wedding day & pre trial

For further information, please contact our Wedding Co-ordinator on 01777 706 333 or email meetingsandevents@westretfordhotel.co.uk

Visit our NEW Online Store

www.devaiyaoils.uk/store Browse the Devaiya Oils store for purchases of our products including our gift sets. Purchases can be collected locally or delivered across the UK. ACHES AWAY • DREAM AWAY • FREE YOUR MIND • STRESSES AWAY AROMATHERAPY BODY TREATMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE

WEST RETFORD HOTEL 24 North Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 7XG

Call Ruby on 07438 908362 or email: info@devaiyaoils.uk for details www.facebook.com/devaiyaspa

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THE WEDDING RING SPECIALISTS

20% OFF Wedding Rings For a limited period only

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B R A M A L L S

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Herries Road South I Hillsborough I Sheffield S6 1QG

Tel: 0114 234 4852 Fax: 0114 233 6750 w: www.bramallsgoldroom.co.uk e: enquiries@bramallsgoldroom.co.uk

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Hair, Nails & Beauty

WEDDING PACKAGES Pre Wedding Package

Wedding Package Hair taken up, Air Base Makeup Full set Acrylic Nails Natural set of Semi-permanent Lashes

Gelish Nails or Extensions Semi permanent Lashes, Gel Pedicure

£100

£130 On The Day Package Hair taken up Air Base Makeup

£70 205 Middlewood Road, Sheffield S6 4HD Email: l.beautique@hotmail.co.uk Late nights open Wednesday til 8pm and Thursday & Friday til 7pm

0114 234 1230

The Cutlers’ Hall is without question a magnificent venue steeped in history and grandeur. This unique Grade II* listed building in the heart of Sheffield has all the right elements to create your perfect day. The hall is an extremely adaptable space; the Main Hall is perfect for weddings for up to 300 guests, whilst our smaller rooms are able to provide the ideal backdrop for a more intimate affair.

The winning combination of a spectacular environment, flexible room space, and outstanding service along with exceptional food and drink, make the Cutlers’ Hall a great choice for weddings. phone 0114 276 8149 | email sales@cutlershall.co.uk Cutlers’ Hall Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HG | www.cutlershall.co.uk

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Confetti Fabulous fashions mean you are certain to find your special wedding outfit at New Image.

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his year fabulous fashion boutique New Image is celebrating 30 years of providing individual fashion with a very friendly personal service.

Specialising in mother of the bride and groom occassionwear, owner Lesley Taylor and her team know how important it is to find the ideal outfit. Dressing for a wedding is as individual as the person themselves,” Lesley says. “We make sure everyone looks and feels their very best.”

With designers such as Condici, John Charles,Veni Infantino and Gina Bacconi lining the rails, you’ll discover a world of beautiful fabrics, styles and colours in sizes 8-22.

Condici has long been the chosen brand for ladies looking for something extra special. “No matter what size or shape you are, Condici will look

fantastic on you,” says Lesley. “It’s the way it’s cut and the quality of the fabric that offers the most flattering styles for everyone.”

A bespoke service is also available with stunning hats and fascinators by in-house milliner Darcie Mae. A fabulous finishing touch to any special occasion, the colour, size, shape and design can be matched to your exact specifications.There are also matching bags and shoes available to complete the look in style.

Though the above luxurious options are available, a great selection of other collections is also on offer, including Gina Bacconi and Michaela Louisa. Fabulous fabrics and fits are guaranteed.

You will also find a wide choice of special guest wear. And with an in-house seamstress on hand to fit and tweak any alterations, you are guaranteed a great look and fit.

As a mother of the bride or groom, you deserve to enjoy a wonderful experience at such a special time and New Image excels in making this happen; providing personal individual attention in a very relaxed environment.

New Image are looking forward to 2016 with great enthusiasm and optimism and look

forward to welcoming you. New Image are still very progressive and enthusiastic for the future in our prospects and trading.

Saturdays can be very busy so make sure to book an appointment.

New Image 277 Middlewood Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 4HD Tel: 0114 234 4880 www.new-image.co.uk

Weddings at Whirlowbrook Hall For the Third Year Running

Winner* of South Yorkshire Wedding Venue of the year *as voted for by Wedding Dates

Whirlowbrook Hall is renowned as one of the region’s best wedding venues just one look will tell you why • Set in 39 acres of landscaped Parkland • Breathtaking exterior • Fully refurbished beautiful interior • Guaranteed exclusivity • Complimentary parking • Bridal ready room • Oak panelled ceremony room Whirlowbrook Park, Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield S11 9QD Telephone 0114 3210209 • www.whirlowbrook.co.uk enquiries@whirlowbrook.co.uk @whirlowbrook

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YOUR LOCAL

AWARD WINNING CAKE DECORATORS We offer a one stop shopping experience supplying your cake, venue decoration, balloon art and favours all to your own bespoke design.

Our staff provide professional and friendly advice for your events and celebrations.

We can help you decide on a theme and colours you want to run throughout your celebrations, removing possible mis-matches and the extra phone calls incurred by using several suppliers.

Please feel free to contact us for further information or to arrange a personal consultation at our shop to discuss your specific needs with no obligation to purchase.

Hand-crafted Sugar Flowers We cater for all occasions – Birthdays, Baptisms Anniversaries, Proms, Corporate Etc… VAST STOCK OF SUPPLIES AT 5% DISCOUNT for those who make their own cakes

venue decor

Ensure your Wedding Cake is in good hands!

All four of our staff entered the CAKE INTERNATIONAL Competitions at the NEC Birmingham in March 2016 and all came away with awards ranging from Certificate of Merit to Silver. The competition attracts entries from all over the world from as far away as Australia, China, to the USA so the standard was extremely high.

It was the first competition ever for Gill, Chloe and Gail, and only the second for Debra, so they were extremely proud of their achievements. These high standards are second nature to all of us so you can be assured of something spectacular from THOSE FINISHING TOUCHES.

Our cakes are made from the freshest of ingredients and come in many flavours VISIT OUR SHOP AT: 20 Holme Lane, Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 4JQ Tel. 0114 234 4490 Mobile. 07846 216 149 OPENING HOURS: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm & Saturday 9.30am to 3pm

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GLOSSOP ROAD ’

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BROAD LANE

GLOSSOP ROAD

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Tapton Hall’s unique blend of elegant history and modern efficiency can make your wedding, corporate or special event truly unforgettable.

You can be assured of facilities to rival the most modern - but with a welcome and a standard of service that reflects the finest Sheffield tradition.

Tapton Hall hosts many events, meetings and special occasions on a weekly basis, from conferences and seminars to weddings and birthday celebrations, as well as running a very popular bar lunch service from Monday to Saturday. Bar lunches are available as a 'walk-in' service, but it is advisable to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Shore Lane, Fulwood, Sheffield S10 3BU Telephone: 0114 2660051 | www.taptonhall.com Tapton-Hall | @TaptonHall

We stock one of the largest selections of designer suits in the country.

For that special occasion.

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Something old, something new Just where – and why – did our modern wedding traditions originate?

Phoebe Seymour delves into the past.

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h, white weddings. Traditions such as the gorgeous dress, the towering cake, and walking down the aisle are what a brides-to-be’s dreams are made of. It may sound like a cocktail for the perfect wedding ceremony now, but if you got hitched a few hundred years ago when these traditions were in their infancy, you’d probably find them less than romantic. From warding off evil spirits, to stopping runaway brides, here are just a few of the reasons why we celebrate weddings in the way we do.

ORIGINS OF MARRIAGE So, why do we get married at all? The concept of marriage is about 4,350 years old. Anthropologists believe that before then, families consisted of large groups (around 30) of loosely related people, with several male leaders sharing a number of women and children.

As hunter-gatherers started to settle into civilisations and nurture the land, they wanted smaller and more stable family units. Marriage’s primary purpose was to bind women to men, and guarantee that a man’s children were truly his.

The first recorded marriage ceremonies between one woman and one man date back to 2350 BC, in Mesopotamia. Over the following several hundred years, marriage evolved into an institution recognised by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. Interestingly, marriage had little to do with religion or love to begin with.

Love became a motivating factor during the Middle Ages, whilst marriage was accepted as a sacrament by the Catholic church in the 8th century. Marriage was then written into canon law at the Council of Trent in 1563.

It was only later that the western world started adopting the wedding traditions we know today.

THE WHITE DRESS

Contrary to popular belief, the white dress wasn’t chosen to represent the purity and innocence of the bride, but became fashionable after Queen Victoria wore white for her wedding.

Victoria (the trend-setting Kardashian of her time) wore a plain white dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840 simply because she liked the colour. But, she wasn’t the first... Mary Queen of Scots wore white to marry Dauphin François of France in 1558. However, this was considered scandalous at the time, as white was traditionally worn by royal ladies in mourning.

The veil and train, on the other hand, originated in Roman times. Roman brides were swaddled from head to toe in a gigantic flame-coloured veil called the flammeum as it was believed its fiery appearance would scare off evil spirits. Similarly, bouquets used to contain garlic and dill, and bridesmaids wore similar dresses to the bride to confuse and ward off evil spirits.

The veil and train also prevented brides from running away from their grooms – and vice versa, as the bride’s face would usually only be revealed to him at the end of the ceremony.

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THE CAKE

CHALLENGING TRADITIONS Some of our wedding traditions are so well established in our society, we forget about the loopholes and how fluid marriage laws can be. Here are a couple of examples of wedding customs tipped on their heads:

LEAP DAY According to an old Irish legend, St Brigid struck a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men. The catch? They could only do so every four years on Leap Day – 29 February. Many women still think men should be the ones to do the proposing, but we say don’t wait for permission. Be a leading lady... and don’t forget that there’s one this year!

There are several possible reasons why we have tiered wedding cakes. In Ancient Rome, bread was broken over the bride’s head to bring the couple good fortune and in Medieval England, cakes were stacked as high as possible for the bride and groom to kiss over.

From the mid-1600s, a bride’s pie was served at most weddings. It was considered rude and bad luck not to eat it. This was eventually replaced with a bride cake made of plums or fruit cake, symbolic of fertility and prosperity.

Two cakes were then made – one for the bride and one for the groom. The groom would have a fruit cake which was usually smaller than the bride’s, whilst the bride had a simple pound cake covered in white icing.

And this is where the trend-setting Queen Vic comes in again. Sugar was very expensive, so icing really showed off the social standing and wealth of the family. When Victoria used white icing on her cake, she coined the term Royal Icing.

The first modern, tiered wedding cake appeared at Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany’s wedding in 1882.

SOMETHING OLD, NEW, BORROWED AND BLUE This tradition is believed to date back to 1898 and comes from an Old English rhyme which says, “Something olde, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe”, all of which are lucky charms carried by the bride on the big day.

Something old represents continuity; something new offers optimism for the future; something borrowed symbolises borrowed happiness; something blue stands for purity, love, and fidelity; and a sixpence in your shoe is a wish for good fortune and prosperity, although this last tradition does not seem to have stood the test of time.

In return, guests were traditionally given five prettily-wrapped almonds to represent fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness as favours. Nowadays, we tend to use anything from the classic sugared almonds, to CDs, to lottery tickets.

MEN WHO MARRIED MEN You may think gay marriage is a new concept, but you’d be wrong. Roman Emperor Nero, who ruled between 54 and 68AD, twice married men in formal wedding ceremonies.

Homosexual weddings were common in second and third century Rome, but worried many people including social commentator Juvenal, who pointed out that male “brides” would never be able to “hold their husbands by having a baby”, and the Romans outlawed formal homosexual unions in the year 342.

It’s taken over 1600 years, but same sex marriage was finally legalised in the UK in 2014.

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Weddings at the Leopold Hotel Celebrate your special day at

SHEFFIELD

We are dedicated to making each of our select weddings a beautiful and fabulous experience. With our unique historic grade II listed venue in the heart of the city centre, our passionate team can offer a wedding like no other.

Share your dreams with us and we will share our passion for excellence. From decadent afternoon tea celebrations to seasonal wedding savers, there’s something for all styles and budgets at the Leopold Hotel..

2 Leopold Street, Sheffield, S1 2GZ t: +44 (0) 114 252 4000 f: +44 (0) 114 252 4001 www.leopoldhotelsheffield.com events.sheffield@leopoldhotels.com

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90 decadent designer-led bedrooms including the ultimate in chic double height Mezzanine Suites

Set in the picturesque Leopold Square the Leopold Hotel offers classic modern British dining in unforgettable surroundings

4 Civil ceremony licensed private suites of individual flair and character

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Set the tone With its elegance and charm, Tankersley Manor makes the ideal venue for a perfect wedding.

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hoosing the perfect venue is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when organising your wedding. It sets the tone for the entire day and can influence many other elements – your dress, flowers, colour scheme and stationery may all tie in with your choice of setting.

Engaged couples looking for a blend of old-world charm and modern elegance will be delighted with the four-star Tankersley Manor.

Steeped in character, originality and history, it combines traditional old English stone, wooden beams and open fires with contemporary touches and is firmly established as one of South Yorkshire’s most popular wedding venues.

The hotel is built around a former 17th century manor house and is set in its own grounds, with great indoor and outdoor spaces for photographs and drinks receptions.

Civil ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and evening receptions are held in a choice of suites. So, whether you’re planning a wedding for 50 or 250 guests – or something in between – there is a suite to suit. The Tankersley suite boasts its own private entrance, reception area and bar and is ideal

for large weddings for 100-plus guests, who enjoy exclusive use of the facility. The Pennine suite and Manor suite, both located in the main hotel, also have their own private bar and cater for up to 100 guests.

The hugely popular range of all-inclusive packages has been created to take care of your every need. It includes a limited edition wedding package at £4.995 or, if you’d prefer something a little different, you can tailormake a bespoke package to suit your own individual style.

Experienced and dedicated wedding coordinators will help you to plan every last detail, from drinks and dining options to florists and photography. Their strong links with trusted suppliers include all the extras that make the day one to really remember.

Pre-wedding pampering is taken care of at the on-site Reflections Spa & Leisure Club.

With five spa treatment rooms, a double spa treatment room, an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room, a whirlpool and a gym, it has everything you need to relax before the big day.

Make the most of everything the hotel has to offer with the home-cooked Yorkshire food of the Bar & Brasserie – the ideal place

Limited edition wedding package –

to gather your closest friends and family for a more informal meal the evening before, or day after, your wedding.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for something extra special, private dining options are also available.

There are 98 bedrooms, family rooms and upgraded rooms – as well as plenty of parking – so your guests won’t have to worry about a thing. Accommodation discounts help to keep costs down, too.

If Tankersley Manor sounds like your dream venue, why not check it out for yourself by attending one of the many wedding open days throughout the year? And don’t miss the wedding exhibitions, held each February and September. Flexible appointments are also available on evenings and weekends, when a member of the team will be happy to show you around.

If you can’t wait to marry your fiancé, selected dates in 2016 are available with a ten per cent late availability discount. If you’re planning a little further ahead, there are still some dates left for 2017, too. But be quick, as they’re already being snapped up.

£4,995

For more information, contact the Tankersley Manor events team on 01226 744700 or tankersleymanorevents@qhotels.co.uk.You can also visit www.qhotels.co.uk for further details and to view the online wedding brochure.

Tankersley Manor Church Lane,Tankersley, S75 3DQ Tel: 01226 744700 www.qhotels.co.uk

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Looking good when it counts

BRIDAL WEAR & PROM

Mother of the Bride and clothes for other special occasions are where Anne Wilkinson excel.

Choose from our carefully selected collections from Condici, Ispirato, John Charles, Zeila and Ann Balon.

The boutique has three spacious bridal rooms and two prom rooms so you can enjoy the privacy and full attention of experienced staff.

CONTACT US TO MAKE YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

.

And for the remainder of your wardrobe. exciting clothes including Sahara, Gerry Weber, Olsen, Joseph Ribkoff, Betty Barclay and more, plus a new range by Rabe, will spoil you for choice.

We offer you a truly personal service. Our attentive, experienced staff will be pleased to help you look your very best.

Open Mon - Sat 9.30am - 5pm Except Thursday 10am - 4pm 3 Thorne Road, Doncaster DN1 2HJ Tel 01302 365601

www.jaynesbridalwear.co.uk

20 GROVE ST, RETFORD DN22 6JR. Tel: 01777 703148 (with its own customer car park) 4 SALTERGATE, LINCOLN LN2 1DH. Tel: 01522 526752

www.annewilkinson.co.uk

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Timeless...

Weddings at Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet Set on the banks of the River Sheaf, let the romance of this historic 18th century hamlet charm and inspire your special day.

For information about our civil ceremonies please contact 0114 2010618 or hospitality@simt.co.uk Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, Abbeydale Road South, Sheffield S7 2QW www.simt.co.uk

Nails • Beauty • Permanent Makeup Holistic Massage • Bridal Packages • Gelish • Luxury Facials • Tinting • Waxing • Pedicures • Silk & Gel Nail Extensions • Manicures • Permanent Makeup

We specialise in Wedding Packages The Stable Block Courtyard, Renishaw Hall, Renishaw, Sheffield S21 3WB

www.blushbeautysalon.com Call us on 01246 434 843 Blush Nails and Beauty

@BlushSheffield

OPENING HOURS Tues-Thurs: 10-7pm Friday: 10-4pm Sat: 9-1pm

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your dream wedding is here...

01423 770152 weddings@ripleycastle.co.uk

www.ripleycastle.co.uk

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COLANTE JEWELLERY

A Luxury Wedding Venue

All rings available in platinum, gold or palladium

Stockists of:

• A range of packages available to suit all wedding styles • Only one wedding a day ensures the whole team are dedicated to you and your guests.

• Licensed for both civil ceremonies & partnerships • Boutique hotel offering an exquisite bridal suite & 9 ensuite bedrooms • Our experienced wedding coordinator will also be on hand to help & advise you every step of the way

Leather Bracelets

Open 10am–5pm Tues–Sat 26 High Street, Dronfield, S18 1PY

01246 419 777

Whatever you’re looking for, we’ll make sure it’s the day of your dreams.Visit our website and request your free Wedding Brochure now.

The Maynard Main Road, Grindleford, S32 2HE Tel: 01433 630321

themaynard.co.uk

Makers of Unique quality jewellery, specialising in engagement & wedding rings

GOLD, SILVER, WHITE GOLD & PLATINUM Diamond rings, Bracelets, Necklaces & chains Precious stones supplied Quality repairs and restoration work undertaken Estimates OPENING HOURS Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 9am - 3pm

Unit 6 Craft Workshops, Orchard Square, Sheffield S1 2FB

Tel: 01142 729367

Email: mspencerjewellery@outlook.com website: www.michaelspencerjewellers.com

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www.whitleyhall.com | 0114 245 4444

FINAL

DISCOUNTS NOW AVAILABLE

Special Wedding Offers A complete Wedding Day package in the heart of the Whitley Estate to include (per person): • 3 Course Wedding Breakfast • Buffet for the evening celebrations • Drinks Package - Arrival punch, wine with your meal, bubbly for the toast • PLUS - the additional complimentary items below (See charges at bottom of page for extra guests.)

FROM £2310.00

£1259.00

EXTRA 20% OFF O

N ALL REMAINING DATES FOR 2016

• If you have your ceremony at the hotel, we will waive the charge.

• If you have your ceremony elsewhere, we will provide free canapés and coffee for your party • Complimentary Bridal Suite • Complimentary ceremony flowers worth £25.00

(Based on 20 adults)

FROM £3440.00

£1950.00 (Based on 31 adults)

FROM £5820.00

£3195.00 (Based on 51 adults)

• If you have your ceremony at the hotel, we will waive the charge.

• If you have your ceremony elsewhere, we will provide free canapés and coffee for your party • Complimentary Bridal Suite • Complimentary ceremony flowers worth £25.00 • Two Superior Bedrooms FREE of charge for parents*

• If you have your ceremony at the hotel, we will waive the charge.

• If you have your ceremony elsewhere, we will provide free canapés and coffee for your party • Complimentary Bridal Suite • Complimentary ceremony flowers worth £25.00 • Two Superior Bedrooms FREE of charge for parents* • Bottle of Champagne in the Bridal Suite • Complimentary Romantic Break for your anniversary • Drinks Package 3 replaces Drinks Package 1 (as in above offers)

For further information please contact our Wedding & Banqueting Department on 0114 245 4444 (option 2) E: banquesting@whitleyhall.com W: www.whitleyhall.com Whitley Hall Hotel, Elliott Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield, S35 8NR

Please add £62.95 per extra guest in each section for full package.

(Or £18.85 for evening buffet only.) *Complimentary Superior Rooms only apply when a minimum of 9 other rooms (Parker Suite) or 12 other rooms (Whitley Suite) are booked on the night. All offers are subject to availability. Terms & Conditions apply.

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Floral tribute

Flowers will take centre stage at 2016’s weddings, writes Molly McGreevy.

W

eddings and flowers have always gone hand-in-hand but in 2016, floral is taking over. No longer saved for bouquets and buttonholes, flowers will influence every aspect of your special day.

Floral embellishments were showcased by a host of designers at New York Bridal Fashion Week. Some dresses featured minimalist design, with a touch of floral design complementing an otherwise traditional gown. Others were brave and bold, covering their dresses in colourful floral prints, perfect for brides wanting to stand out from the crowd.

Replacing traditional tiaras, flower crowns are predicted to grace the heads of brides in 2016, especially at summer weddings. Crowns can vary from the bright and ostentatious, using dozens of fresh flowers to more simplistic, chic designs.

Bridesmaids won’t be missing out on the fun either, with floral patterned dresses predicted to bring a flourish of summer to

bridal parties, as well as flower accessories and hair pieces for those finishing touches.

Flowers have always been popular decorations at weddings, but this year the wilder the better. Alongside floral, bringing the outside in is set to be a huge trend in weddings in 2016, and is reflected in the flowers brides are choosing. For tables, foliage is replacing traditional flowers and

rustic arrangements of greenery, herbs and berries will take pride of place on tables.

Hanging decorations create intimate and romantic settings at weddings. Combining ivies and ferns with fairy lights can instantly transform any venue into a fairytale, woodland scene after dark.

To continue the flower power into your wedding food, use flowers for cake inspiration. Sugar flowers were incredibly popular in 2015 and the trend looks set to continue in the New Year. Tech savvy brides can really stay ahead of the crowd by using laser-cut flowers on their cakes, a new method relatively new to the wedding cake world.

Brides are also using flowers to decorate naked cakes, a rising trend in wedding cakes where no icing is used but flowers and fruit are used for decoration instead.

With flowers taking over this wedding season, finding the most stylish way to incorporate the beauty of nature into your big day will be a breeze.

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- THE PERFECT -

YORKSHIRE HOTEL FOR YOUR W E D D I N G DAY Our beautiful surroundings are the ideal setting for your perfect wedding and since there is only ever one wedding each day at Wentbridge, it will be exclusive to you. We take great pride in offering you our undivided attention to ensure the most wonderful and memorable occasion and would love to welcome you soon.

Wentbridge House Hotel The Great North Road, Wentbridge, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 3JJ www.wentbridgehouse.co.uk Please get in touch: t. 01977 620444 e. wedding@wentbridgehouse.co.uk

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One Wedding One Venue - Yours! weddings at the crown We can’t think of a better place for you to enjoy the most important day of your life. Here, at The Crown Hotel, we have carved quite a reputation for our weddings and we truly like to spoil you.

We believe this is ‘Your’ perfect wedding venue in Doncaster.

We’d love to chat with you about your plans, whether you are wishing to hold your ceremony or your celebrations here.

All our team enjoy helping you to create your special day.

Email our team now on events@crownhotel-bawtry.com or just call in!

the crown hotel bawtry T: 01302 710341 | E: events@crownhotel-bawtry.com

www.crownhotel-bawtry.com The Crown Hotel, High Street, Bawtry, Doncaster, DN10 6JW

crown hotel bawtry

@bawtryweddings

@crownbawtry

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Yorkshire’s Premier Wedding Photographers At Keyhole Weddings we pride ourselves in capturing the most natural and distinctive moments of your special day. With four custom-made packages to choose from we can guarantee to find the one that suits you, such as: Creatively edited video of your ceremony, speeches and first dance Various digital effects and editing for your photos Outstanding aerial imagery or video of your wedding party and venue Payment plans now available Packages from £500

With our exclusive professional photography drone, we can capture stunning aerial photographs and video of your wedding, an extraordinary opportunity for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

Your special moments locked forever in photos with Keyhole Weddings. t: 01302 231040 | e: info@keyholeweddings.co.uk

www.keyholeweddings.co.uk

Keyhole Weddings @keyholeweddings

f

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Sobering up the stag do More and more husbands-to-be are opting for booze-free bachelor parties. How are they seeking thrills instead? Adam Kay reports...

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S

o there is, apparently, a point to stag dos – a reason for the revelry, method in the hedonistic madness.

Apparently, the idea is to give the groom an evening of temptation to check he’s fully committed to his forthcoming marriage, to make sure he only has eyes for his bride-to-be, even when surrounded by other beauties. Which justifies the strip clubs and lapdances. Apparently.

And then there’s the whole thing about it being the groom’s ‘final night of freedom’, his last wild hurrah before settling down to a life of domesticity. Which explains away the boozing and the vomiting and the terrible, terrible hangovers. Apparently.

If we’re honest, these are rather flimsy pretexts. The stag do has long seemed little more than an excuse for doing what (some) Brits do best: getting drunk and behaving inappropriately. But the times, they are achangin’.

In the past few years or so, there has been a significant rise in stag dos at which the guests actually… do something. Like, something other than drinking. Revolutionary it may seem, but the ‘activity weekend’ is fast becoming the premarriage pastime of choice.

All this is precipitated by the fact that the stag do has replaced what was once the stag night. The hubby-to-be used to simply gather his closest mates for an evening of pints in the pub before the big day. Over time, this transformed into a weekend in Brighton or Blackpool, a mad charabanc of boozy indulgence.

Before long stags were travelling further and staying away longer in search of thrills: week-long celebrations in Dublin, in Amsterdam, in the party-loving capitals of Eastern Europe.Vodka flowed freely and pleather G-strings were on permanent display – and that was just the stags…

But now? Now British grooms are yelling a collective ‘NOPE!’, putting their feet down en masse at the thought of another pancreaspunishing foreign booze-up. The idea of a long trip away still appeals, but rather than spending

Military-style assault course

A thing of the past?

every second of every hour of every day with alcohol in hand, stags want to do something fun instead.

The stag do is a way for grooms (and their guests) to blow off steam, so it’s no surprise that many activity-based stag weekends simply move the action from the pub to the sports field. Whether a game of five-a-side football or a brisk round of golf, there are options to suit all tastes. Other activities are dictated by the do’s location: those braving colder climes may wish to hit the ski slopes, while in the Mediterranean sunshine the stag might like to indulge in a spot of watersports.

Increasingly, we Brits are letting our famous sense of humour come to the fore when choosing a stag do pastime, resulting in the rise of the ‘novelty sport’. These are games played for laughs: footgolf (swap the golf balls for footballs, bigger holes, use legs not clubs, away you go), goggle football (thick-lensed eyewear makes seeing the ball a challenge; hilarity ensues). The ultimate is zorbing, in which participants are placed in giant inflatable spheres – basically a massive bouncy hamster ball – and rolled down a hill. The dizzying end result is remarkably similar to the after-effects of a traditional stag do. No wonder it’s so popular.

The stag do has a reputation as something of a jolly boys’ outing – gangs of Neanderthals shouting “Lager, lager, lager!”, engaging in competitive acts of hooliganism, trying to outlout each other. But there are stag do activities which provide an alternative outlet for all that testosterone. Military-style assault courses offer stags and their guests the opportunity to clamber over walls, swing on ropes and crawl through mud to their heart’s content. And afterwards if they feel like ripping off their shirt and thumping their chest, gorilla-style, that’s fine as well.

Not macho enough? Would blasting something with a big gun be better?

Increasingly popular stag do activities include clay pigeon shooting and paintball (celebrate the stag’s impending nuptials by shooting them with a pellet!). Stags with the need for speed,

meanwhile, are catered for by a range of motoring experiences: go-karting, stock car racing, blindfolded driving, quad biking, hovercraft racing, the list goes on. Just make sure before you put him behind the steering wheel that the would-be groom doesn’t have cold feet – wedding jitters are normal, but it’s not easy trying to tempt someone back to the altar when they’re zooming away from you at 94 mph.

A stag do doesn’t have to be all adrenaline, however. For those of a more cultural bent, the trip abroad could comprise an educational sightseeing tour, or take in a theatre show or comedy club performance (watch out for the best man taking notes for his speech). And if a booze-free stag do is simply unthinkable, how about taking a classier approach with a wine or champagne tasting? Just remember you’re supposed to spit it out afterwards…

There is, however, another way. A new prewedding trend is growing in popularity, and it’s a big break from the traditional. The ‘hag do’ is a joint bash between guests from both halves of the wedding party (hence the name: ‘hen’ plus ‘stag’). It may take the form of an activity weekend, but more often than not it’s simply an excuse for a shared shindig.

Critics of the stag do will no doubt be pleased to see it moving away from the drunken debauchery it’s been associated with in the past. Now instead of tearing up towns and cities with their inebriated antics, stags are more likely to be running or racing or shooting an air rifle in the safe confines of a field somewhere.

Some may see the hag do as another way of curtailing the shenanigans of rowdy stags – a means for the bride-to-be to keep an eye on her betrothed and rein in his booze intake. But let’s keep a sense of perspective and equality to all this. To anyone who’s ever witnessed the unique spectacle that is the hen do – naked butlers, tequila shots and phallic drinking straws as far as the eye can see – it’s not the bride who should be worried about the groom, but the other way around…

Go karting

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Create the perfect day with our Wedding packages Award winning food & luxury accommodation Licensed venue with a choice of 3 suites Complimentary bedroom suite for Bride & Groom on evening of their wedding celebration For our latest and exclusive oers contact our experienced Wedding team on 01246 254999 or email events@casahotels.co.uk Casa Hotel, Lockoford Lane, ChesterďŹ eld, S41 7JB Tel: 01246 245999 www.casahotels.co.uk

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