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Wedding wishes

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Find everything you need to create the wedding of your dreams in our special guide.

The Village Wedding Show 2010

Whether your dream wedding is a huge, no-holds-barred extravaganza or a more modest, intimate affair, the first thing to do is to decide exactly what you want and get it organised as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

This counts double if you’re keen on marrying during the summer months, which are still the most popular even though there’s really no more guarantee of sunshine than at any other time of year! And if you want a Saturday wedding, the same applies – although other days of the week, particularly Friday and Sunday, are increasing in popularity.

Our seven-page guide to the vast array of wedding services in this area will give you some great inspiration for most aspects of the big day, from the venue to the cake to the honeymoon.

The venue is probably the first thing you’ll want to organise, since most of them get booked up quite far in advance, particularly when they are as popular as some of our local hotels and restaurants.

For instance, the stunning surroundings and top-notch facilities at the stylishly refurbished Hillscourt make it an ideal location for a wedding, with beautiful grounds, two licensed ceremony rooms and a super-stylish bridal suite.

Also based at the foot of the beautiful Lickey Hills is the Old Rose & Crown Hotel, which is licensed for civil weddings or traditional receptions for up to 140 guests. Only one wedding is catered for at any one time, so you are assured exclusive use of the hotel for your guests. More than 50 couples have already used the venue for their nuptials in 2011.

If you fancy tying the knot in the heart of the countryside, Manor Hill House at Upton Warren is a great choice – the boutique-style venue offers civil ceremonies, large reception rooms and luxury accommodation.

And if you’ve already found a place to hold the actual ceremony, perhaps in a local church or register office, how about choosing Bromsgrove Golf Centre for the wedding breakfast and reception? The self-contained Premier Suite has a dance floor, bar and views over the golf course, as well as top-class cuisine.

Once the venue is organised, it’s time to think about another very important aspect – fashion and beauty! All the women involved, from the bride to the guests, will want to look their very best, and there are plenty of local businesses on hand to assist.

Sheree and Zoe with Miss England

Bliss Hair Therapy in Alvechurch and its sister salon Siren in Studley can add some true glamour to your day. Owned by twins Zoe and Sheree, the salons are specialists in Great Lengths hair extensions, made with 100 per cent natural human hair.

Whether you choose flowing length, vivacious volume or striking colours, extensions are a fantastic way to change your style without the permanency of dye or the tedium of waiting for your hair to grow.

Sheree and Zoe (pictured left with Miss England, Alize Mounter) were recently invited to be VIP guests at the Miss England Grand Finals at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham, sponsored by Great Lengths – so if you want to look as stunning as a beauty queen on your wedding day, let Bliss and Siren work their magic!

If you really want to relax during the sometimes-stressful run-up to the wedding, check out Green Space Salons in Cofton Hackett, which recently opened with the aim of creating a relaxed and calming atmosphere. Using only organic, vegan and natural products, the salon offers a wide range of holistic and spa treatments, including acupuncture.

Meanwhile, Beauticle can take care of your nails and tanning requirements, with mobile beautician Dawn Kordan visiting clients in the comfort of their own homes or at the Well-Fit gym in Bromsgrove. Sienna spray tans, all-natural Calgel nails, Shellac non-chip varnish and ultra-trendy Minx nail design are all offered.

And if you’re keen to get in shape before the wedding and honeymoon, All About Hair 2 in Barnt Green has a novel solution – the salon, which also offers a full range of hair services, has recently introduced the Wobble Away vibration plates, which offer a high-speed workout with 20 minutes equating to an hour in the gym.

With hair and beauty treatments organised, the next item on the agenda is the outfit, and Continental Collection of Barnt Green has something for everyone. The friendly boutique is packed with elegant and unusual occasion wear from top labels such as John Charles, Joseph Ribkoff and Ian Stuart, plus beautiful bridesmaid or prom gowns in myriad colours.

Continental Collection also specialises in fashion for the mother of the bride (or groom), and offers hat hire and a selection of matching accessories. And if you’re a second-time or non-traditional bride who doesn’t want a long white dress, you could find your perfect alternative here.

You’ll need jewellery to complement the outfits, and RF Collyer of Rubery has been providing a fabulous selection for more than 60 years. As well as gold, silver and fashion jewellery, the firm also has a range of giftware suitable for weddings.

For the personal touch, Coconut Pink of Blackwell offers delightful handmade jewellery featuring vintage and contemporary beads and charms, with each piece unique. Individual commissions are also accepted – a great idea for brides, bridesmaids and guests alike, or a lovely thank-you gift for those who helped with the preparations.

Once the main elements are organised, you can spend some time considering the finishing touches that will make your reception extra-special – these can include anything from chair covers and balloons to chocolate fountains and fireworks. But there’s one thing that brides and grooms always look forward to choosing, and that’s the cake!

Whether you choose a traditional white-iced creation with sugar flowers, a brightly-coloured design in a wacky shape, or a trendy tower of cupcakes, Bromsgrove-based Flavour Cakes can help. With all cakes homemade with locally-sourced, fresh ingredients, you can be assured that your centrepiece will taste as good as it looks!

Your reception will also require some music to help with the party spirit and keep guests entertained during the inevitable lulls in proceedings, and local guitarist Stuart Toogood of Occasional Guitars is an excellent choice – this talented musician has a varied repertoire of songs from the musicals and pop classics by the likes of Elton John and The Beatles.

Now that all the elements of the perfect wedding have come together, you will want to record the special day for posterity, so it’s important to pick a photographer whom you trust. Jodie Bromley of Alvechurch-based Amaranthine Photography offers couples a high degree of flexibility, ensuring that their pictures turn out exactly they way they wanted.

Meanwhile, if you wish to record the sounds as well as sights, ALC Create offers professional videography to capture the special moments without intrusion.

Finally, when it’s all over, you can relax with a romantic honeymoon – and local travel counsellor Jane Ward will take the stress out of organising the holiday of a lifetime. Jane is also able to assist with the arrangements for weddings taking place abroad, such as the recent nuptials of local couple Ward and Jodi. The pair chose to tie the knot in Ibiza, and invited seven other couples to join them – and this is where Jane’s expertise came in.

Ward and Jodi's wedding

Mal Dykes, of Lickey, takes up the story:

“Having known Ward since he was a “Dribbler” – he then went on to play for Bromsgrove Rovers – we were thrilled to be invited to his wedding in Ibiza.

“All seven couples wanted to travel together and stay in an excellent hotel in a great location, which was not only near to the wedding venue but also met all of our needs.

“We had already experienced Jane’s tailor-made holiday expertise, so we thought it was time to call her in to help. Jane spoke and met with each couple individually to discuss their requirements and budget.

“The package Jane organised for us and our friends, which was no mean feat, was fantastic – we even think she organised the beautiful weather! We had no hassle at Birmingham Airport and all travelled together. 

“We all stayed at the Sol Ibiza Hotel in Santa Eulalia, which was a few minutes’ walk into the spectacular town, with easy access by water ferry to the rest of the Island and the wedding.

“The whole holiday experience was perfect, especially as we hadn’t quite known what to expect, having heard mixed reports over the years of Ibiza.”