Latest news with #brides
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I'm a wedding expert - here's what's not worth splashing out for your big day (and what you should splurge on!)
Couples are splashing out as much as £20,000 on average for their weddings - but one expert has warned that the splurge is not always worth it. Nearlyweds hoping to curate the happiest days of their lives will likely be more tempted to spend more in hopes of an unforgettable experience. And with everything from videographers, to live painters and trendy photobooths on offer for nuptials these days, it's perhaps no wonder that the bride and groom to be may find themselves enticed. However, Zoe Burke, editor of bridal outlet cautioned against getting caught up in the euphoria of photographers, customised napkins, and bougie decor. Speaking to MailOnline, she explained that there are some things where an extra penny makes a difference - but in other instances, it's much more sensible to save the cash... SAVE Save the dates 'Honestly, I've never paid much attention to save the dates.' Zoe admitted. 'If it's a loved one's wedding, I will most likely already know the date (even if it's only the month and year) and will plan my life accordingly. 'If it's a more minor friend or colleague, I'm not going to skip my dream holiday if it clashes with their wedding.' She assured that if you are anxious about guest availability, or want to give people a heads up for a wedding in a busy time period or abroad, a handy solution is a wedding website. 'It's much easier to access repeatedly (instead of a piece of card),' Zoe added. 'And you can update it in real time.' SPLURGE The best photographer and videographer you can afford Zoe says that these are, in her opinion, the most important spend on your wedding day. 'It's your main keepsake from the wedding,' she added. 'You need a photographer you gel with and like, as they'll be around you more than anyone else on your wedding day, and you need to make sure you love their work. 'It used to be pretty common to skip the videographer, but I'd caution against this. 'Your day will go in such a blur, you'll be so grateful you can watch it back. Even if you just have one for the ceremony and the speeches - those are bits you're going to want to remember forever.' SAVE Enormous guest lists 'Unless you're incredibly popular and you have loads of friends and you adore them all - bail on the pressure to invite everyone,' Zoe advised. 'The average wedding guest costs couples over £260 - think about whether you'd realistically be comfortable spending that much money on each of your guests.' She advised not to invite 'colleagues, distant cousins and cantankerous great aunts'. 'Keep your guest list lean with the people you really want to celebrate with,' she added. 'You'll save money and you'll have a better time as you won't feel resentful when you spot Great Aunt Gladys filling her bag up with bread rolls.' SPLURGE Zoe said that she believes it's well worth it to invest in something that will get everyone up and on the dancefloor. 'Whether it's a DJ, a band, a singer, roaming musicians - find a wedding entertainer that suits your style and brings the vibe,' she urged. 'Spotify playlists just don't cut it for your wedding - a professional entertainer knows how to build the atmosphere in the room and elevate a party.' SAVE Evening guests 'Similar to the above - if you don't want them at the full day, do you really need them at your wedding at all?' Zoe questioned. 'I say this as someone who has been an evening guest - it's a bit annoying, especially when you have to travel and pay for accommodation, for what is essentially an evening out. 'It's also annoying when you arrive and everyone is already really tipsy and you feel out of the loop. Do away with it, save your B-list guests the faff and save yourself the money.' SPLURGE A celebrant 'I love a celebrant-led wedding,' the expert admitted. 'I get that it's not convenient or practical for everyone, especially in England or Wales where you'd then need to pay again to legalise your wedding, but even taking the time to add personal vows into your wedding ceremony makes all the difference.' She advised not to rush through the wedding ceremony - as it's 'the most important part'. 'Take the time - and honestly, that is all you need to invest here - in making sure your ceremony reflects the two of you and celebrates your love,' Zoe added. 'It's so special.' SAVE Oversized wedding cakes 'Now, don't get me wrong - I LOVE a wedding cake. But smaller wedding cakes look so chic and they often contain ample servings,' the pro explained. 'You don't need a slice of cake for every guest, as most guests don't eat it after they've had their meal and hit the evening snacks.' She added that you don't need to worry about having 'four tiers to serve 80 people'. 'But if you love the look of tall cakes, speak to your cake maker about dummy tiers - or even cool perspex tiers you can fill with flowers to go in between layers of your cake,' Zoe continued. SPLURGE Catering A dry chicken breast no longer cuts it. Make sure your wedding catering reflects you - choose wine from the country you got engaged in, serve food that pays tribute to your cultures. 'This is where I really lean into the idea of smaller guest lists,' Zoe said. 'Especially if it allows you to invest more in catering. 'Serve a meal you love that means something to you - after all, it's one of the most significant meals you'll ever eat.' SAVE Traditional wedding favours 'It kind of pains me to say this, as I do personally love a favour. But if you're looking to save money on your wedding, skip giving each guest a favour that you've bought,' the expert warned. 'We're seeing a rising wedding trend right now of couples writing personalised notes to their guests - it doesn't cost a thing, and it means so much more than a chocolate truffle. 'If you don't have the energy to do that, instead invest in some interactive entertainment, such as a live wedding illustrator or a magician (they've had a glow up!) and you'll likely spend less, but your guests will get more out of it.' SPLURGE The right venue Your setting is everything - look for a venue that meets all your needs - they're out there. Zoe advised: 'Whether you want a late license, glamping, a romantic, intimate vibe - you name it, the right venue exists.
Vogue
06-06-2025
- Business
- Vogue
Simon Miller Pre-Fall 2025 Collection
The Simon Miller girl is growing up. While Chelsea Hansford has always envisioned her customer as a working creative, she has spent the last several years tailoring the brand's look to mid-career professionals. 'We've been honing in on our audience that's a little older—thirties, forties,' she said. 'She's an interior designer, she's an artist, she's a gallerist, she's a businesswoman, the founder of VC.' Hansford is catering to her audience of free-spirited venture capitalists and gallerinas with an expansion of suiting and poplin pieces. Perhaps the biggest boon for business: this season, for the first time, Simon Miller is offering a sleeveless version of its staple Lock top, a poplin button-up with an open back flap and an adjustable waist-cinching tie. But there is also an abstract floral suit and a knit mini shift dress worn over matching pants, both of which could work for an 8-to-8 kind of day. As weddings have become multi-day events, Hansford is also thinking of brides who don't want to break the bank. A white sequined pantsuit befits a City Hall wedding, while a body-skimming strapless dress could suit a rehearsal dinner. 'It doesn't necessarily mean we're the go-to destination for gowns, but we want to be her destination for guest of wedding, and fun parties, and events, and cocktails as well,' she said. Hansford recently opened the first brick-and-mortar Simon Miller store in California in downtown Los Angeles's Arts District, counting Hauser & Wirth and hip eatery Manuela as neighbors. For her, its location—and company—are indicative of where Simon Miller is heading. 'I wanted to do our own thing that represented where we're going as a brand and champion the arts, and that's more of the working creatives,' she said. 'That's our customer.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Opinion: We've lost out on so much more than just the shopping experience
May, the month when people in the Middle Ages had their annual bath. June, the most popular month for weddings in the Middle Ages because the bride and groom were still fresh from that yearly bath. They were, however, starting to get a bit whiffy, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to distract from the body odour. The custom of carrying a bouquet lives on today. Few brides getting wed this weekend will know that the reason they have ordered an expensive confection from the florist was to mask their personal pong. Anyway, no need for flowers now when there's all-body deodorant to reach the parts run-of-the-mill underarm deodorants miss. Adverts for this squirt-everywhere solution to embarrassing stink are everywhere. You can't get through a TV advert break without a naked gang running along a beach with rolls of undulating fat to illustrate how those folds and crevices could be shower-fresh all day with sprays of all-body deodorant. But the advert that really makes you look up from your knitting is the one when people are sniffing each other's bottoms, canine-greeting-like. Yes, someone actually puts their nose to another's bottom, and another to a stranger's crotch in TV advertising to sell a product to banish every kind of body odour. It's clear this new anti-smell weapon hasn't been invented because of any weird phenomena that's making us all smellier, but because we're bigger and the obese have more hiding places for bacteria to multiply and smelly stuff to grow. I'm all for openness and attacking bashfulness about bodily functions but every other TV advert is about leaky bladders, piles, disguising sweat in places previously unspoken about and, the latest, celebration and pride about going for a number two at school or at work. It might be something even royalty do, but do we really need it satellited into our sitting rooms every night? The background, apparently, is that a large percentage of children refuse to go to the loo at school because they are embarrassed. The same for grown-ups at work. This campaign is attacking that taboo, so anyone anywhere is comfortable with public loo pooing. A noble cause – constipation medication manufacturers are missing a trick not putting their own advertising after the Proud to Poo ads – but what's happened to cause this onslaught of in-your-face advertising about body topics once only whispered about? Are we becoming more self-conscious than ever, or more comfortable to talk about what goes on under our clothes? How far we've come since the trite advertising 20 years ago about how young women with periods could enjoy skiing, swimming and skating like anyone else. Probably a step – and a poo – too far. A woman posting on social media "set fire to [asylum] hotels for all I care" is guilty of inciting hate. Lucy Connolly can shout she made a mistake as loud as she likes but deciding that this was an appropriate contribution to the aftermath of the Southport murders in the context of a rising swell of hatred against a section of society deserved punishment. Yes, she may be being made an example of within that context but however hasty or knee-jerk to an inflamed situation doesn't lessen that statement. Her husband said this week after she lost her appeal against her 31-month prison sentence: "My wife has paid a very high price for making a mistake and today the court has shown her no mercy." Mercy is something she wasn't thinking about when she made that revolting post. No mercy to the human beings – individuals – living in those hotels. She argued she wasn't encouraging anyone to do it, merely saying she didn't care; didn't bother if what resulted was a pogrom? Being "really angry, really upset" when she wrote the post is not an excuse, and she should not be excused or spared punishment. My fear is though that she will become a martyr because there are hideous people who believe there was nothing wrong with her words and are filled with hatred towards people because of where they come from and want them gone, willing to employ their own vile solutions. My thoughts last week about offering more than shopping in town and city centres to draw people in sparked much comment and debate. After a coastal walk last weekend, I popped into Holt, admittedly a rarefied untypical town which sustains a busy shopping centre because its clientele is largely visiting or well-off well-heeled locals. What pulls me into the town every time I'm 'up north' is the high street greengrocers. The simple joy of wandering into a haven of freshness where fruit and vegetables smell and taste like they used to is heaven. It makes you realise how easy to please we have become with our vacuum-packed taste-of-nothing supermarket produce. Talk about taste the difference – there was no comparison. That little detour for a shopping experience that brought such pleasure to the senses and satisfaction yet felt so sad that it is such a rare experience that so many miss out on unless places like Norwich Market are within their reach. Again, we wanted the convenience of supermarkets, but we ended up losing out on so much more.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
You Can Now DoorDash a Wedding Dress. Yes, You Read That Right
Last-minute brides can now get a wedding dress delivered right to their door in under an hour, thanks to an exciting partnership David's Bridal recently confirmed it was teaming up with DoorDash to allow those planning to tie the knot the ability to order dresses, accessories and more "David's takes the stress away so you can focus on celebrating and feeling beautiful and confident for any special occasion," the company's CEO, Kelly Cook, said in a previous press releaseDavid's Bridal has a new service for brides who might need a wedding dress — fast. The 75-year-old bridal boutique recently announced it was teaming up with DoorDash to provide brides-to-be the option to get a wedding dress delivered to their door in under an hour from its 180 locations nationwide. Since the launch with DoorDash, David's Bridal has made over 2,000 deliveries with delivery under an hour, with the majority of orders coming from Las Vegas. This marks the first time DoorDash, which is the largest food delivery platform in the U.S., has branched out into the wedding and special occasion category, a previous press release stated. Customers "will have quick and easy access to everything they need with a few taps of a button, to make every occasion special, take the stress out of the wedding and event planning process or solve last-minute snafus," the release added. Kelly Cook, CEO of David's Bridal, said, "We are thrilled to partner with DoorDash. When we tested the partnership in the market, customer feedback was fantastic! Our 'Anywhere Commerce' strategy means just that - anywhere she wants it. 'I can't believe it, how fun?!' was our favorite customer quote," per the previous release. "We're already seeing dresses, accessories and intimates as the top David's product categories being shopped through DoorDash," Cook said in December. "Whether you prefer the convenience of doorstep delivery to help save time during the planning process, need a perfect dress for a last-minute holiday party invite, a save-the-day solution to a suddenly stained bridesmaid dress on the big day or a fabulous pair of 'party-all-night' shoes - David's takes the stress away so you can focus on celebrating and feeling beautiful and confident for any special occasion," she added. Cook told CBS MoneyWatch this month that approximately 17 percent of David's brides are looking for dresses for weddings that are less than three weeks away. "So we have to serve the last-minute brides," Cook said, per the outlet. It's been an exciting few months for David's Bridal, as the company just opened a "new boutique bridal experience" store called Diamonds & Pearls in Delray Beach, Florida. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to a press release: "With bespoke styling appointments with David's expert Personal Stylists, exclusive in-store product offerings, and thoughtfully designed interiors, this location further reflects David's commitment to showcasing exceptional artistry and craftsmanship, extending from its carefully curated collection of bridal attire to every detail in the thoughtfully designed interior space, unlike anything David's has done before." The launch comes just over two years after David's Bridal announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2023. It was acquired by CION Investment Corporation in July of that year, Forbes previously reported. Read the original article on People
Vogue
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
How Modern Korean Brides Are Upholding This Traditional Joseon-Era Beauty Look
'Oftentimes, my Korean brides will ask me to do a more Western beauty look for their Western ceremony, then when it's time for the paebaek later in the day, we will change up the beauty look entirely,' Ahn says. 'We'll adjust the makeup into something more traditional.' That starts with creating even, bright skin. Anybody who has even a passing interest in K-beauty is unlikely to be surprised that it all starts with a sheet mask. 'Koreans are obsessed with skin care,' she says, with a laugh. 'Having porcelain-like skin is something that has been valued since the Joseon era.' From there, a small amount of blush is applied across the cheeks before the most striking part of the beauty look is added: the red spots. 'Traditionally, the red spots are meant to ward off evil spirits,' Ahn says, cheekily adding that she uses Avery stickers applied directly to the cheeks on her brides. 'But for us modern Korean women, having the red dots on the cheeks more represents a youthfulness and playfulness. It embodies the excitement of the moment, seen through our beauty.'
