Wedding

weddings The Malta Independent on Sunday 18 June 2017

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DRESS WITH A DIF nless you have held a life-long dream to float down the aisle in frothy layers of imitation meringue, choosing a less traditional dress could make it even more special. Whereabouts on a bride’s to do list does saying ‘yes to the dress‘ come? Top, in 99.3% of cases probably. And something traditional will almost certainly be the first thing that springs to mind. But white wedding dresses have been a tradition for only a few centuries. Prior to Queen Victoria setting a new trend, brides would often wear black. In some countries white is more a shade for mourning than marrying. Red is the most auspicious colour among Hindu brides, in India. It is also the choice in China, and in Iran a beautiful wedding outfit may well be in several shades of green.

But every bride has a perfect dress in mind and the way to find it is by combining fantasy with reality. Tears flow and tempers rise too easily if a bride, or someone in her circle, fails to see the relevant connection between her shape, budget, location and date of the wedding and the final choice.

Whether to choose designer couture, off the peg, a priceless retro piece once worn by a beloved relative or a spectacular statement creation intended to shock everyone to the core, because she is worth it, are other important considerations, of course.

Another interesting thing is that brides-to-be are looking at more than just the expected traditions associated with the dress and considering an outfit that will clearly have a life after its premiere appearance. It is a lovely idea that what you wear on for such hugely significant occasion can be tweaked into something you will love wearing for lots of other happy events. In fact even wedding gown specialists are now stocking dresses that could fill that role perfectly.

They are also waking up to the fact that there is a growing demand from brides getting married for the second time, or later in life after concentrating on studies or a career. Beautiful skirt and trouser suits, cut in soft, flattering lines and made of silks, chiffons and lace, in some gorgeous shades and prints, are popping up everywhere.

If you secretly find yourself stepping away from the traditional white wedding by all means go for it. After all, everyone knows that guests and spectators are always

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on tenterhooks to see what the bride will wear. Be original in your choice and give them something to twitter about for weeks.

Here are some short cuts to finally getting your dress from a figment of your imagination to a dream come true.

1. By all means take your mother/sister/ best friend on your search. But only if they promise to agree that you have the last word.

2. If you choose a custom made dress, have a clear ideas and a mood board to show your designer, but be prepared to listen to any suggestions to because he or she is the one who has to translate your wishes into a such an emotive garment.

3. Do not be swayed by coffee, prossecco, tinted macaroons, champagne, canapés, dreamy background love songs and the effusive attention of anyone trying to sell you a wedding dress, or any accessories. In all the excitement a school uniform could look alluring but these are simply sales gimmicks. So keep your head.

4. Try on a dress surrounded by mirrors. Twisting and turning to see it from every angle will alter the way it hangs. So will the shoes you wear so take a pair the same height as those you will wear on the day to fittings.

5. When you have shortlisted a few dresses try them on again. And this time sit in them, kneel, stand on tip toe and crouch down; these are all movements you’ll be making on your wedding day. Will the dress look amazing and feel comfortable when you are not just saying “I do”?

6. Do not be afraid of classic, simple, but well-cut styles.

They are timeless, very merciful to all figure shapes and will take years off a more mature bride.

Natural fabrics, in a suitable weight and volume for the outfit, and clothes with a lining will stay smart.

Otherwise, you risk creasing and uneven lines appearing throughout the day. This is where skimping on quality could lead to disaster.

7. Finally, don’t be bamboozled into buying extras, or going over budget. Decide what you want to spend and don’t even look outside that price range. There is such a lot out there and when you have made the right choice, you will look so happy and radiant that it will indeed, be perfect.

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FFERENCE

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Simple styles steal headlines for a bride A bride's hair should look beautiful and balanced and be comfortable and natural.

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ind a style that will look good with and without a veil or headdress, and from whatever angle the camera will capture it. It needs to feel secure enough to stay in place through endless hugs and kisses and whatever effects the weather can have on it. Remember how a gust of wind can suddenly blow up outside the wedding venue, or how heat and humidity can cruelly flatten a carefully coifed style.

Above all it must be comfortable. No bride can feel really radiant if she is walking down the aisle wearing a style that she is not absolutely certain reflects her true personality.

Decide who you want to be: the young, innocent, romantic country girl with flowers in her tousled curls or a chic, sophisticated city girl with a shiny bob or bun? And then there is classic and regal with hair smooth and silky under a shinning tiara, or intricate and arty with elaborate plaits and braids.

Confidence is about embracing who you are so by all means include some pretty twists and highlights for an extra special look. The idea should be to enhance everything a groom loves about his bride and not shock him with an elaborate, over-the-top up do, or a sudden change from blond to brunette. Remember too that for a large part of the ceremony guests will only see the back of your head, so intricate plaits, elaborate tresses and long, sleek sheets of hair will come into their own. If you have short or mid-length haired add interest with a veil, bow, ribbons or a sophisticated fascinator.

It is very important that the wedding dress and hairstyle totally complement each other so a tried and tested hairdresser is a must. At your first appointment take a picture or sketch of what you will be wearing showing exactly how the neckline will be, whether the fabric is rich, embroidered or beaded, or a lighter weight, textured or lace covered. Also take the veil,

tiara, garland or hair ornament you will be wearing.

Your stylist will make suggestions based on your ideas but also on things like the texture and length of your hair (extensions can be very uncomfortable if you are not used to them) your height, posture, the shape of your face and even the theme and location of the wedding. He or she will recommend products to help keep the style hold its shape and shine for possibly up to eight hours with the minimum of attention.

Have fun choosing your style with your family and friends, but be realistic. Don’t sigh over a stunning style that just would not suit you. Celebrities with millions of followers are not like us, whatever they want us to believe with tweets of their bad hair days and just out of bed looks. And vast amounts of money and countless stylists are needed for models before their big appearances. Your success will come from being the most glamorous version of yourself you can be and staying true to that.

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The patter of tiny feet How can you keep children amused throughout a wedding ceremony and calm during the reception, and do you really want to?

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t must, if only fleetingly, have crossed every couple's mind to declare their wedding a child free event, if only to give the children's parents a chance to behave with total abandon and not have to subconsciously censor every move they make. But ours is an island of family matters and it's not easy to ban anyone under the legal drinking age from even a life-changing event like a wedding.

Let us be honest, once the excitement of a new outfit/best dress, and a gratifying amount of "Kemm u sabbieh" from the grown up guests has died down there is not a lot left for children to relate to at a wedding. The gap from arrival at the reception to being fed can be interminable, if parents haven't brought

their preferred food with them. Too many of the adults are engrossed in renewing acquaintances, displaying their plumage, or drinking the health of the happy couple and it seems as if the cake and ice-cream will never appear. Bluntly they can become either over excited or extremely bored very early on and that becomes uncomfortable for everyone around.

Excluding children would suit people who would not want to bring their own, and will avoid children disrupting the event for others. It would also be kinder on your budget. You may have chosen a venue that is definitely unsuitable for children or want an evening wedding that will carry on way past their bedtimes.

One thing is certain. Once you have made your decision, stick with it.

Making exceptions will only create ill feeling. And it will make it easier to stand by it if you leave sentiment aside and focus on a few important considerations.

Are you going to have tiny flower girls and page boys, and will their parents be at the reception? Attendants, of course are members of the wedding party but they could be seen as creating a precedent.

Step-children, also part of the wedding party, are obviously an exception and very possibly the couple and their family, being more used to children around than young newly-weds will be happy to have children on their guest list anyway.

Will there be a sit down meal, with a menu not necessarily related to something the children recognise and regularly enjoy?

Is the wedding being held in a building or location that is perfectly safe for children to charge around without damaging themselves or a priceless artifact?

Will the celebrations go on well into the night, because unless parents are willing to keep an eye on their exhausted, sleeping youngsters, wherever they fall, they may have to leave just as things are hotting up.

Can you really guarantee that even your best friends can discipline their children to a standard that will satisfy venue managers, authoritarians and elderly relatives? There are still people who have never heard of verbal reasoning and naughty steps and are not convinced either has much lasting effect.

You do not need spoilt brats, however cute and amusing they appear to be at

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7 first. You will also not want a bill for broken property, or limbs. That concludes the case for no children.

If most of your guests are family or have children you have know for a long time, or would be heart-broken to be excluded issue a welcome to all and plan accordingly.

Suggest parents bring a minder or tip an older child some extra pocket money to look after the younger ones.

Give willing children a special job like handing out favours, confetti, or taking photos.

You might hire an entertainer or someone to organise children's games and activities in a safe area.

Make sure there is food and drink they can enjoy, perhaps by setting up a mini bar or pop-up stall with snacks to choose from.

There is no need to provide favours for all the children. A balloon and a little bag or box of sweets or stickers would be welcome. And if you have someone with a Polaroid camera or a photo booth to make sure they have a photo to take home, they will be well happy.

All couples getting married want to share their happiness with people who are special to them.

But it's a sad fact that you cannot please all of the people all of the time. If they are worth inviting in the first place most guests will be willing to accept a couple's wishes when they are presented with a reasonable explanation.

You are giving them a splendid event to enjoy as a way to celebrate your wedding. They are lucky to be invited and your welcome will be more than enough.

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HOME SWEET HOME Wherever it is your ‘just married’ home needs to be a haven.

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he honeymoon is over and in time honoured tradition a husband is about to carry his new wife over the threshold into their new home, or the first home of their married life, or the rental they are already living in while their ideal home is still in their dreams.

If you will be moving into temporary accommodation buy simple classic styles that can be painted, stained or decorated to suit your needs and taste and could also fit into your forever home if it needs to. Storage is more important than you could ever imagine, as the his, hers and our stuff mounts up.

Look for pieces that can play several roles like beautiful chests, old travel cases, self standing shelving, ladderlook towel rails with a mirror built in between two rungs. Interesting boxes look attractive and will keep keys, glasses, and odd bits and pieces you might suddenly need, safe if you are short of drawer space.

If you are staying somewhere furnished for a time, resist the temptation to replace what is there. Managing with what is provided leaves more time and cash to buy what you like for your own home, rather than trying to convert an only-for-now place to somewhere more appealing. Disguise the things that make you wince with a few paintings, cushions and personal pieces. It’s not forever!

Once you are in your permanent home, go for top quality. Very important are your bed and mattress, sofas, cooker hobs and ovens. It is also worth investing the very best you can afford on kitchen fittings and gadgets; bath-

room fittings, heating and cooling systems, water and electricity installations security systems and waterproofing the roof. You really don’t want to be sharing the early years of your married life with a fleet of builders and repairmen.

Save cash by avoiding seriously state of the art entertainment systems. These are constantly being updated so just begin with something cheap and cheerful and update regularly as required.

Bedding, curtains and blinds, soft furnishings, flatware, lamps and other nestbuilding necessities can be picked up from all sorts of sources without spending a fortune. Use your imagination and, as well as the obvious home furnishing stores, visit auctions, restorers, even car boot sales, to make your home one of a kind.

Wherever your home will be, use all the time you can to go over a few important basics like what colour schemes, period vibe and overall look you both have in mind for somewhere you want to reflect you as a couple. Working out where to fit everything from family heirlooms, dramatic posters, much-loved collections and other non-negotiables is best decided before booking the furniture van. And falling in love with a piece of furniture that will need a crane and the removal of a window to deliver is not a good start. In fact, there is a reason why moving house is in the top five of any stress-creator list.

But don’t worry, most couples get it right in the end. And your pride the delight as you show everyone round the place you have both created will making it all worthwhile.

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Weddings?... There’s no place like paradise!

Set off on the road to married life well prepared for whatever you may need

Plan ahead for your future security Start your married life by making sure you are covered for all eventualities.

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oo many people avoid talking about insurance or think of it as something they probably don't really need. It's a bit like making a will; something to be left till later or to feel superstitious about.

This is so not the case. It's a security blanket against any amount of flack that life can fling at us, which offers both reassurance and compensation when it is needed, and a tidy sum when an endowment policy matures.

And who can tell how welcome that will be when the time comes. For example, is it worth taking out cover in the event of something unforeseen sabotaging any of your wedding plans? Sorry, not to say anything will, just being practical.

As a couple, the type of insurance you will need depends on your lifestyle, property ownership, vehicle usage, health issues and whatever incidents or events you would like covered. If you already have a policy, how does it fit in with your new married status? Find out what choices you have and what discounts and benefits are available, especially on life insurance.

This is a mine field and you really should seek advice, on all aspects of each possible insurance policy, from a competent and well-recommended broker. Ask questions and make certain that you fully understand the terms and conditions of any policies you seek. They must provide exactly the cover you want, with enough flexibility to include changes if necessary, before you take out the policy. This is where the words 'small print' come to mind. Skip it at your peril!

The most important policy, of course, is life insurance,

but as a husband or wife which type of policy should you consider? Not all marriages are based on a double income and at some stage one parent might take a work break to look after a child or children. Since a combined life policy will insure the non-working spouse as well, is that an option?

In the case of health insurance do you go for a family policy, continue with a work group plan or take separate policies? Then there is your beautiful new home and all the appliances in it. What would it take to repair any damage that may arise or replace any items stolen from it? If you have already been paying premiums for insurance on property you will no longer be living in and are planning to sell or let it, these will need cancelling, or at least adjusting. The value of your new home and all your combined possessions will need to be reassessed to ensure you keep sufficient cover.

Then there are your wheels. Will you both want to drive each other's car? If so your premiums may alter.

Lots of companies regard married couples as safer drivers – quite. But this could mean a reduced bill so that would be welcome. Would cancelling your separate policies and finding a company that offers special rates for couples be the right thing to do? In many cases the saying 'two can live as cheaply as one' may be applied to getting excellent insurance cover.

The traditional wedding vows of looking out for each other in sickness and in health and the sharing of worldly goods are a reminder of the loving and giving side of married life. Surely providing the security to make sure they can be kept makes perfect sense.

Be it a wedding for 20 or 500 guests, we can definitely make it a day to remember as our catering and banquet facilities are second to none. Moreover the hotel s professional and capable staff will assume responsibility for the details large and small to ensure that your dream wedding comes to fruition. Venues include the Island’s Edge Lido beach, Captain’s Bridge pool deck and the Mosé Hall, all offering unobstructed views of the clear blue Mediterranean Sea. Why not have your wedding under a Bedouin tent on our private sandy beach? There is also extensive terrace space surrounding the outdoor pools overlooking the picturesque Paradise Bay, which can accommodate small or large parties. The private sandy beach is also an interesting option for an after wedding party. The choice of venues within the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel is endless!

Paradise Bay Resort Hotel... Malta’s best kept secret.

Marfa Road, Cirkewwa, MLH 9068, Malta T. (+356) 2152 1166 F. (+356) 2152 1153 E. events@paradise-bay.com W. www.paradise-bay.com

A day you will never forget Allow the wedding of your dreams to come to life in a setting reminiscent of the ardent romance. Our packages are designed to make certain your wedding is truly unforgettable and every bit as distinctive and enduring as the love you share.

Whether you are planning a lavish celebration or a more intimate affair, we do understand how important your wedding day celebration is to you and your loved ones. Through years of experience we do guarantee that your special day will be a huge success and filled with many happy memories.

Being built in a Maltese style with the colours and natural materials of the island, the hotel offers various venues, from Private & Romantic to Intimate & Stylish, perfect for morning and evening weddings.

Other services with compliments include: • Pre-wedding consultation with our wedding executive • Function manager on the day • Dedicated chef and patisserie • Personalised table plan, name plates and menus • Table enhanced with highly decorated white linen • Cake stand and knife • Sound system for the background music • Unlimited photo opportunities over the stunning surroundings • Complimentary one night accommodation including breakfast for bride and groom • Free menu tasting on confirmation Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa, George Borg Olivier Street, Mellieha MLH 1021 T. (+356) 2289 2000 W. www.maritim.com.mt

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Classic diamond earring and necklace set

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Elegant emeralds shine in this gorgeous necklace

Crystal clear aquamarine apatite is a perfect stone for a summer wedding

Amethyst and diamond earrings to enhance a simple dress

Pretty purple amethysts encourage calm and clarity of thought

Delicate wing earrings in lapis lazuli

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This originally crafted lapis lazuli necklace is distinctive and stylish

The pure, romantic shimmer of moonlight in a moonstone

All that glitters

Flattering diamond and pearl drop earrings

Naturally all brides shine on their wedding day but some well chosen pieces of jewellery add an extra touch of glamour.

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lot of things need to be considered when choosing which pieces to wear for your wedding so the overall effect is as romantic and attractive as you want it to be. The most obvious of these is the dress – its style, high or low neck, the length of the sleeves and weight of the fabric should certainly influence which pieces you pick. The other important issue is your hair style, which will influence the effect of any earrings that catch your eye.

You may already have family pieces you plan to wear. Otherwise, there’s a shopping trip to look forward to. Make some notes including what you like, the settings and stones, whether to choose your birth stone or one that reflects the colour scheme or theme of the wedding. If you are thinking of having a unique piece made, sketch out your ideas and give them to a jeweller or craftsman as early as possible.

The following information about some traditional and less traditional stones may help to narrow the search. The purity associated with pearls makes them a perfect choice. They flatter every skin tone, can be worn long after the ceremony and fashionwise they are a timeless staple in any jewellery box. They are also the birth stone for June – a particularly popular month for weddings.

Emerald is a traditional stone with the apparent ability to aid fertility, promote selfknowledge, bring peaceful dreams and encourage balance and patience.

Sapphires make a very popular wedding choice because they help with communication and are associated with, insight, intuition, inspiration peace and happiness.

You may decide to go for a lesser known stone. This would make an interesting and original choice and bring colour and romantic sentiments all of its own.

These five stones have clear charming colours, textures and associations that make them especially suitable to include in wedding jewellery. Apatite is a stone of communication which also helps fight viruses and promotes the blending of old with new in one’s life.

Nervous brides might like to wear amethysts which are said to calm the emotions, encourage clarity of thought and balance the emotions while assisting in the fulfillment of one’s destiny, Beautiful, blue lapis lazuli is an ancient stone of wisdom and awareness, representing friendship and truth and bringing about harmony in relationships.

Moonstones promote clear thinking, inspiration and receptivity, wish fulfillment.

Opals are stones that are strongly associated with such emotions as love and passion and also thought to promote spontaneity, imagination, dreams and healing – all to be strongly reflected in married life. Some people say they should be worn with diamonds to deter bad luck but they are so pretty they deserve to stand in their own right.

But, since a girl always wants her best friend at her wedding, diamonds are another classic choice. The brilliant and resistant diamond is the emblem of fearlessness and invincibility and invokes courage in a man and pride in a woman. This is important in a piece worn at a wedding ceremony which symoblises affection between a man and a woman, and is, of course, to last forever!

Drops of moonstone make a perfect bridal necklace

Pearl bridal necklace made with large, cornflake Keishi pearls and garnets