While your wedding day is a celebration of your love for one another, it’s become customary to shower your guests with a little affection too, in the form of a wedding favour. 

Originally introduced at high-society weddings in Europe as a way for the rich to provide their guests with a gift for attending their wedding, they were known as bonbonniere, a box covered in crystal, porcelain or gold, which was encrusted with precious stones. Inside the box were bonbons or other confectionary – which were particularly desirable at the time as sugar was an expensive treat. 

International artist, Sharon White has exhibited her exquisite artworks at London’s Fashion & Textile Museum and the Middle East, to include Dubai’s International Art Festivals.

Sharon graduated from Southampton University in arts education and went on to teach art at secondary school level for 17 years.

Planning your wedding is exciting, overwhelming and fun...but it can be daunting.  Here are my top tips on planning it right.

Know your budget:

Your wedding is one of the most special days of your life, but don’t let the funding of it take over the rest of your life.  Discuss and agree your budget and ensure there’s a 10% contingency included – then get planning...not the other way around! 

Make it personal:

·         Modest marriages: 56% of those set to marry in 2017 are planning a mid-range budget

·         High street is the new high end: 19% of Brides are planning on wearing a high-street gown

·         DIY before I DO: 26% of Brits have made homemade items to save on costs

·         Convenient collections: Two in five Brits opting to click and collect their wedding haul

We all know that weddings and money worries go hand in hand. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the planning of your big day; when you factor in the dress, venue, invitations, photography and food, the budget can pile up in no time!

With the average wedding in the UK now costing in the region of £27,000, it’s no surprise that brides-to-be everywhere are looking for ways to save money. More and more couples are taking a DIY approach to their big day. From homemade invitations to getting a friend to step in as the photographer, DIY weddings give your day a unique, personal touch while cutting down on all those unnecessary costs.

When you get engaged, what is the first thing you do in the planning process?  Some will choose their dress, some will choose a venue and some will choose their wedding theme.  Many couples are now opting to get married or have their reception in an alternative venue rather than hotels such as barns, warehouses and village halls. 

Deciding how to decorate your venue is another task you will need to consider.  Venue stylist, Lindsey Hunter loves the challenge of decorating alternative venues and talks through her tips on how to style a village hall, which tend to be spacious with high ceilings, perfect for creating something spectacular for your wedding.

Five reasons to have your wedding at home from bespoke caterer and event specialists Dine

If you are lucky enough to have space in the garden, there’s something nicely relaxed and intimate about being able to hold your wedding in your own home or in the home you grew up in.  Such an individual location enables you to buck the trend and create your own traditions by putting your own personal stamp on your day in a unique family setting.  Your home will already hold so many memories; wouldn’t it be amazing to add more from your own wedding day? 

1. Flexibility