Wedding jewellery – pearls, sparkle or both?

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Stephanie

It’s very exciting for me to be able to wear my wedding necklace and earring as part of my bridemaid costume. The bride doesn’t mind don’t worry! It’s kind of like ‘something old’ for the bridesmaid. We’ve all got such different tastes that she’s let us chose something we would like to wear – as long as it’s sparkly. No problem!

The  great thing about wedding jewellery is that there are so many choices. Whether discreet or bold, traditional or modern, there’s so much to choose from. Although not a great fan of pearls on their own, pearls and weddings do go together like jelly and ice cream. So i really like the simple neat pearls on my sparkly silver necklace from John Lewis. It’s a very pretty combination.
Continue reading →

Posted in Weddings

Hen do planning

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Stephanie

Hen do planningWhen it comes to hen do’s, what do you do for the best? Go all out with strippers and drunken merriment. Or go for something a little classier. I’m not sure that the former is to our bride’s taste. She’s already warned us that she’ll run for the hills and never speak to us again if we get a stripper. That sounds like a challenge to me!

But if that’s what she doesn’t want, that’s what she’ll get. it’s her big day.

We’re looking for a great venue for a meal with some entertainment involved. Continue reading →

Posted in Hen do, Wedding planning, Weddings | Tagged , ,

Bridal and bridesmaid bags

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Stephanie

Bridal and bridesmaid bagsWhen you’re going to be a bridemaid, you want to look your best. And that means a whole host of make up, hair accessories, essentials, perfumes, plasters. The list is endless.
So it’s important that you have a great bag for the occasion.

Although it’s unlikely that the bag will be part of your splendour, I’ve never seen handbags in wedding photos, you still want something to match even if it spends most of the day sitting on a chair out of sight.

I’ve just found a great bag from Zanex Handbags. Ordered through Amazon it arrived the next day and was a snip at around £10.99. Wthout giving too much away, the soft flower detail matches some of the bridesmaid dresses design, and the bag is a good size to look after everything from my lippy and comb, to my camera and mobile. Continue reading →

Posted in Bridesmaid, Wedding fashion, Weddings | Tagged , , ,

BrideMania’s back and raring to go! It’s time for wedding shoes

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Stephanie

Wedding shoesPlease forgive BrideMania for being a bit quiet these lat few months. We’ve just moved house and anyone who has been through that will know that it takes over most of your life! But now we’re moved, some of the stress has gone so it’s time to get back to all things weddings!

It’s also only 3 month until I’m going to be a bridesmaid and all the plans are hotting up and taking shape. Our dresses are lovely and have been ordered, due about March I believe. The bride has her dress and is actually going for a fitting today. Very exciting, it brings back many great memories.

What else. Well, we have our shoes. A very nice pair of strappy, purple and diamonte shoes from BHS which are the perfect height.

Continue reading →

Posted in Wedding fashion, Wedding planning, Wedding shoes, Weddings | Tagged , , , ,

Bridesmaid dress shopping this weekend

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Stephanie

Bridesmaid dress shoppping at Bride ManiaThis Saturday will be mostly spent trying on fancy dresses and sparkly shoes as we go, for the final time, bridesmaid dress shopping. Saturday will be decision time as the wedding is in May so we need to get cracking on ordering the dresses.

There is a short list we’ve all agreed on so I’m excited to see which will turn out to be the chosen one. Continue reading →

Posted in Bridesmaid, Wedding planning, Wedding shoes | Tagged , ,

A wedding with a difference

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Stephanie

BrideMania talks Wedding planningWhen you think of weddings you think of all the traditions. The first dance, the wedding cake, the top table, the formal photographs. Not the wedding we went to on Saturday! This was a wedding with a difference. The happy bride and groom from my latest wedding wanted to be a bit different. And the results were brilliant!

This was a wedding ‘more like a party than a wedding.’ For this couple who are into their sports, travel and adventures, the theme of their wedding was fitting to their personalities, and it was great for us guests to experience something a little different.

As we arrived at Stoke Newington Town Hall, we were greeted by the Ushers who gave us confetti to throw at the appropriate time, and we were escorted to the balcony of the hall to watch the ceremony. The ceremony was simple and classy, with live guitarists and readings. After the ceremony, and when Jason and Rachel were completely covered in potpourri confetti, we were treated to champagne, before being whisked off to the Easton gastro bar (by double decker London bus might I add!) for the reception.

BrideMania talks wedding transportOnce there the food was good and the wine was flowing. It was soon enough time for the speeches and Rachel’s Dad, Best Man Shane, Groom Jason and even the Bride gave a speech which went down a storm. All too soon it was near the end, and as we marched back through London to the train station, it was great to reflect on a definite ‘party-themed’ wedding.

Continue reading →

Posted in Wedding planning, Weddings | Tagged ,

iPad Bridesmaid video

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Stephanie

Has technology gone mad? Now it’s time for virtual guests. Now that’s one way to cut back on wedding costs!

Posted in Wedding planning, Wedding seating plans, Wedding videos, Weddings | Tagged , , ,

Surprise wedding video

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Stephanie

This is a pretty brave thing to do. What a lucky groom, hats off to him!

Posted in Marriage proposals, Wedding photography, Wedding videos, Weddings | Tagged , , ,

The second Royal Wedding of the year

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Stephanie

Bride Mania talks Royal WeddingsWe all love a Royal Wedding, and I’m so glad that Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall’s big day went well, and wasn’t overshadowed by the previous amazing spectacle Royal Wedding.

True to form, the bride looked amazing in a simple but elegant ivory silk gown designed by Stewart Parvin, and Mike Tindall looked the dashing groom in smart tails. Zara has always been one of a kind and this wedding seemed to have the individuality you would expect from the former Royal rebel.

Wishing them all the best for the future.

Posted in Celebrities, Royal Wedding, Wedding dresses, Wedding fashion, Weddings | Tagged , ,

BrideMania’s wedding anniversary!

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Stephanie

Anniversary roses for BrideManiaWell today is my wedding anniversary! I’ve no idea where the past two years have gone; they’ve just flown by in a maize of reflecting after the wedding, decorating the house and trying to moving house. So to celebrate the big day, I did what any self-respecting newly wed would do and got my wedding dress out of the loft, tried it on (it still fits, hooray!) and sat with my hubbie and watched the wedding video!

It was so lovely to watch it again and reminisce about the big day. I still love it that the speeches make me laugh, and that the kid’s in the family have shot up and are now taller than their Dads. It’s also great to see family members who we don’t often see having a great day and catching up with each other. I could just watch it over and over again, but I’m going to resist and save it to watch each anniversary.

Roll on the next married year; I just know its going to be another great one. And check out my anniversary roses!

Posted in Wedding Anniversaries | Tagged