Look what catches the eye of the editor with a special emphasis on local wedding businesses, shops and suppliers in South Wales.
Wedding cakes are quickly becoming something more than just a sweet treat. They are works of art that can incorporate your personalities and the time of year. With so many options to choose from it can feel overwhelming, but don't panic, there is something out there to suit everyone. Start by thinking about how many guests are attending your big day; if you have 30 guests, then a three-tiered cake will be too much or too little if you have 200 friends and family coming. Once you have a rough number, your cake maker will be able to advise on how many tiers you need. Don't worry about there being any leftovers, as you can always provide cake boxes for your guests to take home or you can freeze the cake. Check with your supplier that it wasn't frozen previously and enjoy it for months to come; you could even save some for your first anniversary.
The time of year is a great way to narrow down the flavours, colours and design for your big-day cake. With this in mind, we've asked Scrum Diddly to send in one of their favourite seasonal creations to help inspire you.
See more from our Cakes feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
The team at All About Eve Bridal Ltd tell us how you can choose two dresses for a boho-themed wedding.
"It's becoming more common for brides to want two dresses for their big day. In the case of what can be done to differentiate the two, there are a multitude of options to keep in mind. Whether it be for a boho-themed wedding, black tie, or beach wedding, these tips can be implemented across the board:
"You could opt for a white or ivory wedding dress for your ceremony and a coloured gown for the reception. This is becoming extremely popular for the contemporary bride, whether it be a simple blush underlay or a statement black or red option. For a boho-inspired wedding, a subtlety-coloured underlay in nude, mocha, or blush may be a more appropriate choice for a second dress."
See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Sam and Iestyn first laid eyes on each other in a country pub. “We bonded over our love of the outdoors and good spiced rum,” shares Sam. “Our relationship grew and one evening, during lockdown, we just decided to get married. Craig Y Nos Castle and Dominic Lemoine Photography were both at the top of our list, so I emailed them with a list of potential dates. They were both free on the 1st October, 2022, so we booked them straight away and didn't tell anyone for months. We designed my ring together as I'm not one for surprises, and shortly after, we announced our engagement and told everyone that the wedding was already booked.”
See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Rhian Rees from Wild and Fabulous Flowers tells us how you can create two bouquets that complement each other.
"As a florist, I'm very aware of how flowers will look in photos. I always consider the blooms selected, styles and colours as they need to complement each other, or they will look strange when seen in a photograph. I think the same rule applies for two bouquets; they can be sisters and not twins!
"Lots of people choose to have their favourite flowers in their bouquet, these can be different but in the same colour palette. I always like to reflect a person's personality in their flowers, so maybe one bouquet could be a little larger and wilder than the other. Maybe one could be a cascading bouquet and one front facing, while still keeping within the same colour theme."
See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Joelle and Chris met at their local rugby club 14 years ago. “Chris persistently nagged me to go on a date with him,” says Joelle. “I eventually gave in, and I haven't been able to get away since.”
Years later, Chris threw Joelle a surprise 30th birthday party and popped the question. “I love the TV series Friends, so Chris created a slideshow with pictures and memories from my life and on each slide was a caption like the names of the Friends' episodes. The last slide was called 'The One Where He Proposed', and when I turned around, he was down on one knee accompanied by tears and cheers from our friends and family.”
See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Emily Jolly, the director at Gellifawr Woodland Retreat, organised this shoot as part of the venue's Christmas campaign. The theme was a timeless love story which comes across beautifully in this romantic set of images.
See more from the shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
SGDJ Weddings offer a range of services. “A wedding is a very personal thing, so we strive to provide a personal service,” says June Gould (DJ June Cecilia). “Each celebration is different, so making sure the music is special to you is important to us. It's essential to keep your guests entertained, which is why a combination of songs you have chosen and our response to the dancefloor creates a perfect formula.
“We can customise lighting,” adds June. “Whether you're filling a large room or a small one, we can create something romantic or fun. We can take care of your ceremony and reception music as well as your evening entertainment. If we are with you for the day, we can also record your speeches and vows and supply other options within the package price. We offer a custom monogram light, uplighting and a selfie wizard photo-sharing system as add on services. We always give you the option to meet up to plan and prepare for the day. Once booked, we won't let you down.”
See more from our Music and Entertainment feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Through the doors of Emily Kate Bridal you will find beautiful wedding dresses, chosen by Emily Kate. The boutique is located in Treorchy High Street, which was voted best 'High Street' in the UK.
“Our collection of designers are internationally renowned and are highly sought after by brides,” says owner Emily Kate Mander. “We welcomed new designers into the boutique this year from Madi Lane, Elysee Etoile and Allure Bridals alongside our other designers. The boutique also recently won 'Best New Wedding Business in Wales' at The Welsh National Wedding Awards."
See more news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Rebecca and Nathan met at medical school. “We were in the same year studying to be doctors,” says Rebecca. “We began our relationship as friends, and I loved how funny and incredibly intelligent he was. We attended regular events together and got to know each other throughout our studies. Nathan was the one to make the first move. He took up running, even though he hates it, to spend more time with me and with a little Dutch courage, he told me how he felt. We subsequently had our first date after one of our exams in a coffee shop.”
Nathan popped the question on the couple's third anniversary. “We had just begun working as doctors and were celebrating with a holiday to Lanzarote,” shares the bride. “I was oblivious that he was going to propose! We went out for dinner and Nathan had intended on popping the question on the beach afterwards, however it was a wet and cloudy evening, so we decided to go back to our apartment and pop some fizz on our balcony. I was impatient as Nathan was faffing in the apartment and popped the bubbly without him; I then turned around and he was down on one knee. Safe to say I cried!”
See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
You said 'yes', the ring's on your finger, so what's next? The dress, of course! For many brides-to-be it's one of the most exciting parts of the wedding journey and it's tempting to rush out to the shops straight away and start trying on gorgeous gowns. After all, it's not every day you get the chance, right? Not wanting to sound like a killjoy, but taking the time to do your homework first can help you avoid costly mistakes. There are many factors to take into account to make sure your dress is not only the right fit for you, but that it ties in with the style and feel of your day.
One of our favourite gowns is Lilia by Calla Blanche. This dress features the ever-so-sexy mermaid silhouette, a romantic sweetheart neckline, floral off-the-shoulder straps, and a luxurious tulle overskirt and matching veil are available. It can be purchased from Emily Kate Bridal.
See more from our Bridal Boutiques feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
