Since the change in the law in April 1995, it is possible to have a civil wedding ceremony in buildings other than a Register Office and there are currently around 4000 licensed venues in England and Wales including castles, hotels, stately homes, football stadiums and even zoos.

Statistics show that out of the 175,000 weddings taking place in the UK in the year 2000 there are over 90,000 civil weddings, with about 50,000 at approved premises.

Although register offices are no longer the cold, official places that they once were, the wedding ceremony is short and any personalisation of the service can be quite limited. An approved premises venue, on the other hand, allows you the choice of venue that is as grand and proud or as small and intimate as you want your wedding to be, with a personalised service that can include your own vows or commitment added to the statutory declaratory and contracting words. As time is less restricted you can include more of your favourite music, love poems and readings to make your wedding truly unique.

So, if you like the idea of a traditional white wedding, but without any religious associations then a venue wedding is the ideal choice. Also, if you have been divorced it is still often very difficult to find a religious minister who will agree to perform the ceremony and therefore a licensed venue can provide a wonderful alternative.

Legal Requirements

Licenses for premises are not granted to private building or residences because free public access must always be guaranteed. Parks, sports fields or other open spaces are inadmissible, as is any room that contains a licensed bar. You cannot marry on anything mobile so forget a ship or aircraft unless it is permanently fixed or moored, like the Golden Hinde on the Thames. The service itself is not allowed to include any religious symbolism including candles, hymns or religious readings and the building must not have any religious connections, either past or present.

The legal requirements for getting married at a Licensed Venue are the same as those for getting married by civil ceremony at a register office, but the attendance of a Registrar also needs to be arranged. To arrange a wedding at an approved premises, you must first get in touch with the venue to make a provisional booking. You should then contact the register office in the district where the premises is located to ensure that the Registration Officer can attend your wedding. If you want a humanist ceremony you should also make a provisional booking with a celebrant. Once these have been agreed you can then confirm your booking at the venue.

Notice of your marriage is given at the register office in the district(s) where you live, not where the venue is situated. Once you have been issued with your Marriage Authority this should be forwarded to the Superintendent Registrar in the registration district covering your venue for their records.

You should give notice of your marriage in the registration district(s) where you live and not in the district where the approved premises is situated (unless you live in that area). Once you have been issued with your Marriage Authority, you must forward it to the Superintendent Registrar in the district where you are getting married for their records. Notice can be given up to twelve months before your wedding date and the earlier you plan the more chance you have of getting your chosen date and venue. In addition to the standard fees for a civil wedding there is a further fee payable to the Registrar for getting married at approved premises.

Licensed venues have a greater flexibility than register offices regarding the times that ceremonies can be held. The available times are between 8am and 6pm on any day but this will be down to the individual venue.

For more information, see the article on Licensed Venues.

Preparing for a Wedding at a Licensed Venue

There are many advantages to holding a wedding and reception at a licensed venue. The rooms allocated for your ceremony are often larger and grander than a register office so you may not be as restricted in the number of guests you can invite. Also many venues have the facilities to hold your reception as well as your ceremony, which allows the day to flow more easily, but also eliminates any fears of losing any guests between the ceremony and the meal! Many venues have a honeymoon suite and overnight accommodation for your guests so you can easily make your day last an entire weekend by sharing a wedding breakfast with your guests the next day.

Before you view a premises take time to think about what you want and make a list of questions to ask and take a notebook with you when visiting venues for jotting down any relevant points, for example:

Do you both like the venue?

Can you afford it?

Is it formal/informal enough for you?

Can it accommodate all the guests you would like to invite to the ceremony?

Does it offer reception facilities and menus that you like?

Can you just have the ceremony there?

Can you just have the ceremony followed by a celebratory drink and then leave?

Can you have a blessing following your ceremony?

Is there a music system you can use or space for live music to be played?

Are the staff open to your ideas?

Will children be welcome and well catered for?

Is there a crèche?

Is the building accessible for all of your guests?

How far will guests have to travel?

Is there a good range of overnight accommodation available locally?

Are there restrictions on the time the event must finish?

Can you have music and dancing?

Can you decorate the venue as you wish?

Are there facilities for recorded or live music?

Will you have to pay extra for tables, chairs etc.?

Will the venue allow lighted candles? (many won't as they can be seen to have religious connotations).

Ask where photographs can be taken, indoors and outside?

Can you take your own drink? If so, how much is corkage? And how much are the drinks provided at the venue?

Can you use external caterers?

Check policy regarding holding bedrooms for guests.

Does the package include, changing room, toastmaster, cake stand, flowers, cake knife?

What happens between the meal and evening entertainment, do they supply another room while furniture is being moved etc?

What time does the bar close? Can a special license be granted?

What is the availability of taxis and alternative hotels for guests?

Do they provide they round or square tables?

Do they allow more than one wedding per day? This is important as you may find that there up to three or four weddings taking place on the same day.

H easy will it be for your guests to find and then park?

What do I wear?

What you wear at your licensed venue wedding is clearly a personal decision but with the variety of places to hold your wedding there are endless possibilities for creating a theme for your wedding, you just need some imagination and a sense of fun. Why not have a medieval theme in a dramatic castle setting, with you as King Arthur and Lady Guinevere and your guests as your lords and ladies? For something simpler you could have a colour theme, from your outfits to the serviettes and have your wedding room decorated to match. If getting married at your favourite football team's stadium is your idea of the perfect day, then you could go the whole hog and wear the team's strip, or at the very least incorporate their colours. A wonderful alternative is to have your ceremony in a beautiful theatre - simply pick a play and the stage is all yours to dress up in whatever your imagination can think of.

Introduction

It may sound obvious, but the essential difference between getting married in a church and in a register office is that the latter has no religious significance. This is the cheapest and fastest way to get married (taking between only ten and twenty minutes), and the ceremony is usually held in a room within a civic building.

Getting married at a register office was once the only option open to divorcees, those who had no religious beliefs, those wanting a quick ceremony with minimal fuss or couples marrying someone from a different faith. However, thanks to the 1994 Marriage Act which allows civil ceremonies to take place at licensed venues, the register office has rapidly lessened in popularity and many couples who choose to marry there want a simple, legal wedding prior to a more personal blessing, wedding abroad or Humanist ceremony.

You can often personalise your wedding with music, poetry and flowers but any amends to the standard ceremony are at the discretion of the individual registrar and must be agreed to beforehand. Often time restraints and the registrar's personal opinion will restrict any attempt to create a more personal service and you may prefer a civil ceremony in a licensed venue.

Legal requirements

You are legally entitled to marry at any register office in Wales and England, regardless of the area that you live in, although your notice of intention to marry must be given at the register office(s) where each of you reside. Make an appointment to see the Superintendent registrar at your chosen office as soon as possible to set a date and obtain a licence. Your licence is valid for twelve months from the date of issue, although register offices do not take bookings more than three months in advance. A Superintendent registrar is legally bound to perform a ceremony for divorcees provided you can produce your Decree Absolute.

You will find more information on the legal requirements to marry in a register office in our article, Marriage - Legal Requirements

Preparing for a Register Office wedding

The registrar usually shows you the marriage room when you 'give notice'. As a general guide, most marriage rooms seat around 30 people and may have additional standing room. Bear in mind that there can be as many as three ceremonies an hour taking place, particularly on a Saturday, which is why you may not have time to decorate the room or personalise your ceremony.

As with any type of ceremony and venue, there are no rules about what a bride and groom should or should not wear, including choosing a veil and white dress. Do make sure you check out the size of the marriage room and how much space you have to manoeuvre before opting for a full-skirted gown and voluminous train.

Parking for anyone other than the bridal party may be limited as many register offices are in the centre of town and guests may need to find parking arrangements nearby. It is always a good idea to check this out first and include details with your invitations.

What happens on the day

You are both required to arrive at least ten minutes before the ceremony is due to start so that you can meet with the registrar to confirm your details and pay the ceremony fees. In these days of bogus marriages and asylum seeking, they actually have to check that you really are the couple who are supposed to be marrying! If you prefer not to see each other before the ceremony, then you need to arrange beforehand to see the registrar separately.

Guests should also arrive at least ten minutes before the start of the ceremony so they have time to be seated. The registrar's assistant will tell them when it is time to enter the marriage room. As with a religious wedding, the front rows should be reserved for your bridal party, closest family or friends.

You then have a choice of how you make your entrance into the marriage room. You can enter after the guests, either with your groom or on your father's arm, or another person of your choice. Alternatively you can both take your places before your guests come in.

Most register offices allow video cameras during the ceremony, but the operator must not cause distraction from the proceedings or the solemnity of the occasion. Many offices will not permit photography during the ceremony but are happy to allow photographs after the signing of the register if there is enough time.

Introduction

Muslims believe in one God - Allah - who has complete authority over the destiny of mankind and the prophets through whom His revelations were revealed. Muslims believe that God's 'everlasting message' to man was disclosed to the prophet Muhammad.

This revelation, which was memorised and written down by the prophet, is know as the Koran (Qur'an). It is believed that none of the 114 chapters have been changed over the centuries, so the Qur'an is regarded as being the absolute unique text and is the primary source of every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the issues which concern mankind: wisdom, principles, worship and law, but the fundamental theme is the relationship between God and humankind.

Legal Requirements

UK marriage laws allow for mosques to be registered for the solemnisation of marriages according to the rites of the Muslim religion. The legal requirements to be fulfilled are those that apply to civil marriages. However, if the building in which you wish to marry is in a different registration district to where you live, you need to prove to the superintendent registrar that the building is your normal place of worship. If you cannot do this, you will be required to give notice in the registration district in which the building is situated after having met the necessary residency requirements.

If there is no mosque or registered building in the registration district in which you live, you will be permitted to marry in a building in the nearest registration district that has one.

A superintendent registrar may also need to attend the ceremony. If the building in which you intend to marry is not registered for the solemnisation of marriages, you must arrange a civil ceremony beforehand to comply with the requirements of the law.

Muslim weddings and divorce

A Muslim marriage is not a religious rite, but simply a legal agreement. Divorce is not common among Muslims, although it is not forbidden as a last resort. Before divorce is considered the couple are expected to attempt to reconcile their differences in the first instance between themselves. If this fails then a person from either family should arbitrate the situation. If these attempts at reconciliation fail and both parties agree then divorce can be considered as an option.

If after a divorce, a reunion occurs, it will be regarded as a new marriage. However, there can be no more than two reunions. The third divorce is the final one.

Customs

The Islamic religion recommends that a couple get to know each other before marriage is considered, however they are not permitted to be alone in a closed room or go out together unchaperoned. The parents usually arrange marriages through recommendation, but the couple must both be in agreement to the union.

Mahr

Mahr is the marriage gift that a new wife is entitled to and no marriage is regarded as being valid without it. It is a token commitment of the husband and may be paid in cash, property or material goods or can be non-material such as a commitment to teaching his wife to read the Qur'an. The mahr may be paid immediately or deferred to a later date. However, a deferred mahr is still due in the event of death or divorce.

The Marriage Ceremony

Marriage is considered to be a social activity as well as an act of worship (ibadah). A Muslim marriage ceremony (called Al Nikah) begins with an address of a marriage sermon (khutba-tun-nikah) by the officiator, who can be any worthy Muslim. The sermon invites the bride and groom, as well as their guests, to a life of piety, mutual love, kindness and social responsibility. Beginning with the praise of Allah, His help and guidance is sought. This is followed by the Muslim confession of faith that 'There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is His servant and messenger' is declared. Then the three Qur'anic verses (Qur'an 4:1, 3:102, 33:70-71) and one prophetic saying (hadith) forms the main text of the marriage. This hadith is:

'O by Allah! Among all of you I am the most God-fearing, and among you all, I am the supermost to save myself from the wrath of Allah, yet my state is that I observe prayer and sleep too. I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry woman also. And he who turns away from my Sunnah has no relation with me'. (Bukhari).

The officiator concludes the ceremony with prayer (duOa) for the bride, groom and their respective families, the local Muslim community and the Muslim community at large (Ummah).

After the consummation of the marriage, the groom holds a celebration banquet called a walima. The relatives, neighbours and friends are invited in order to make them aware of the marriage.

Introduction

Quakerism is a term used to describe members of the Religious Society of Friends, the movement started in the middle of the 17th century as a splinter group from the Christian Church. The Quakers believe that there is part of God in everybody, and that God works through people. The Quaker religion has no ministers or vicars and Quaker services, called meetings, are mostly conducted in silence.

There are four testimonies of the Quaker religion: peace, equality/community, simplicity and integrity, and members try to live their lives by these. Quakers are traditionally pacifists and are known as conscientious objectors during times of war.

Legal requirements

A couple wishing to have a Quaker wedding must make an application to the registering officer at the Friend's monthly meeting. This must be received about six weeks before the date of the intended wedding. The couple must state that they are members of the Religious Society of Friends when giving notice of marriage. If only one partner is a member of the Society, the other will be asked to state that they are in sympathy with the nature of the marriage and they must provide letters of recommendation from two other members. Sometimes, people who are not Friends wish to use the Quaker marriage ceremony. The members at a monthly meeting will decide whether to allow the Quaker marriage ceremony to be used by non-members.

Once the formalities have been completed, the registering officer will issue a form that needs to be taken to the superintendent registrar when notice is given. The legal requirements to be fulfilled are those that apply to civil marriages. However, if the building in which the couple wish to marry is in a different registration district to the area of residence, proof needs to be given to the superintendent registrar that the building is the normal place of worship. If this is not possible, notice needs to be given in the registration district in which the building is situated, after the necessary residency requirement has been met. If there is no building in the registration district in which the couple live, permission will be given to marry in a building in the nearest registration district that has one.

Once the certificate of marriage has been obtained from the superintendent registrar, it needs to be produced on the day of the marriage ceremony.

Divorce and the Quakers

Whilst the Quakers recognise divorce, it is seen as a failure - not only by the couple, but also by the people who silently promised during the wedding ceremony to help them. The couple deciding to separate will be offered support from other members, and be encouraged to make the separation as positive an experience as possible.

Already-divorced people are able to marry within a Quaker meeting, as long as they are legally free to do so and have satisfied the members that they are ready to make this commitment. A Quaker wishing to be remarried must explain their situation before the members at a monthly meeting, to get permission to re-marry in front of the meeting. The marriage may only take place once this has been granted.

Preparing for a Quaker Wedding

A wedding may take place at any time and in any venue, but is usually at the Meeting House. The Religious Society of Friends believes it is important that the marriage should be part of the ordinary meeting of the Friends, and should be quiet and simple, and, like their normal meetings, held on the basis of silent communication of spirit.

The bride and groom, as well as the guests, are dressed simply, in fitting with the rest of the ceremony. Sometimes the bride will wear white, but she may also choose something that can be worn again. The groom will probably wear a dark suit along with a buttonhole. Guests are generally not welcome to take photographs during the ceremony itself as this may disturb those in prayer.

A Typical Wedding Ceremony

Guests can be invited to the meeting, whether or not they are Quakers. The bride and groom sit at the front of the group and face everyone. At the start of the meeting it is usual for a Friend to briefly explain the procedures of a Quaker wedding. The congregation are free to stand and speak, or may choose to remain silent. There is no procession at the start of the ceremony, no music or minister present, although there may be more flowers decorating the room than usual.

Early on during the meeting, when they feel that it is the right time, the bride and groom stand up, hold hands and make their solemn declaration of marriage. The bride and groom will say the following words:

Friends, I take this my friend, Mark/Julie, to be my husband/wife, promising, through Divine assistance (or with God's help), to be unto him/her a loving and faithful husband/wife, so long as we both on earth shall live.

Elders may allow a variation to these words, and the form of the vows will be agreed beforehand. After the couple have taken their vows, the bride and groom and two witnesses, often parents of the bride or groom, sign the elaborately decorated marriage certificate, which is then read aloud to family, friends and members. The meeting is continued after the couple sit down again. A period of silence follows, during which anyone present is allowed to pray for God's blessing on the couple, and commit him or herself to supporting the couple however they can. The whole congregation will also sign the certificate, as they were all witnesses to the marriage, but this is often carried out after the meeting itself has finished.

The meeting continues in the normal way, with friends speaking as they see fit, or remaining quiet. Later two of the Elders stand and shake hands to solemnise the marriage and to show the end of the meeting.

The exchange of wedding rings is not a formal part of the Quaker marriage ceremony, although some couples like to incorporate it into the service after the vows have been taken. An increasing number of Quaker women retain their own family names as a sign of equality between the sexes.

Introduction

Legal requirements

You will find more information on the legal requirements to marry in a register office in our article, Marriage - Legal Requirements

Preparing for a Register Office wedding

What happens on the day

Introduction

Roman Catholics are Christians who believe that Jesus was sent by God to show people the right way to live. The Pope, based in The Vatican, is the leader of the Church and advises on matters of faith and morality over his world-wide flock.

Central to the Roman Catholic faith are The Seven Sacraments which are: Baptism, Penance (the confession and forgiveness of sins), Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders (where a person devotes him or herself entirely to God), and becomes a nun (bride of Christ), monk or priest, and relinquishes any right to marry, and Reconciliation (the final sacrament, preparing the dying for ever-lasting life). The main difference between the Protestant and Catholic beliefs is that Protestants believe that Holy Communion (Eucharist) is a remembrance of Christ's last supper, whereas the Catholic Church believe that the consecrated bread and wine actually becomes the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation). In addition, Protestants only have two sacraments, neither of which are Marriage.

Legal requirements

If you are both Roman Catholic, the publication of banns goes ahead as normal but they do not form part of the legal preliminaries. If only one partner is Roman Catholic, banns are not published and the priest of the Roman Catholic partner will have to give permission for the marriage to take place either in a Roman Catholic Church or a non-Roman Catholic church. The legal requirements to be fulfilled for a Roman Catholic wedding ceremony are those that apply to civil marriages. However, if the church is in a different registration district to where you live, you need to prove to the superintendent registrar that the church is your normal place of worship. If you cannot do this, you will be required to give notice in the registration district in which the church is situated after having met the necessary residency requirement. For further information on this subject, please refer to the Marriage Legal Requirements article.

Divorce and Roman Catholicism

Divorce is very difficult within the Catholic Church, who do not recognise a civil divorce. The only way to divorce within the Church is to receive an annulment. This is quite often a long procedure and will only be granted if the marriage suits the Causes of Marriage Nullity. However, a limited amount of priests are willing to offer a church blessing to a couple if one of them is divorced, especially if they are both regular churchgoers.

Introduction

The Salvation Army is a Christianity based religion, whose beliefs are ostensibly the same as the Church of England's. Great use is made of military terminology and prospective Salvationists sign a document called the 'Articles of War' before being enrolled as a Salvation Army soldier.

Members of the Salvation Army believe that, men have become degenerate sinners that are justly exposed to the wrath of God as a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience. It is also believed that repentance towards God, faith in Christ and restoration by the Holy Spirit are necessary for salvation. Members believe marriage is a voluntary and loving union that should last for life, at the exclusion of all others and a relationship of love, reflecting God's love for the human race. Salvation Army officers must marry another officer, although there are no such restrictions for other Salvationists.

Legal Requirements

A certificate or licence has to be obtained in the normal way for a wedding to be held in a Salvation Army Church, as no banns are read. The legal requirements to be fulfilled are those that apply to civil marriages. A superintendent registrar needs to attend the ceremony if the officer is not authorised to register marriages. For further information, please see the Marriage Legal Requirements article. Many Salvation Army churches are licensed to hold weddings, and most Salvation Army officers can hold weddings, so there will be no need for the couple to attend a civil ceremony.

The Salvation Army and divorce

While it is believed that divorce is a failure, Salvationists believe that Jesus would be compassionate to those struggling with painful marriages. Therefore, the Salvation Army realises the certainty that some marriages will fail, and allows its officers the option to perform marriage ceremonies for divorced people, if it is believed that a remarriage could lead to a positive outcome. Couples who have been married and divorced can re-marry in the Salvation Army churches.

Preparing for a Salvation Army Wedding

The Salvationist wedding is similar to any other Christian ceremony, although, apart from the legal requirements, there is a lot of flexibility in terms of choosing music and readings. There is no set text or liturgy. A Salvation Army ceremony normally lasts about an hour and is often very music orientated. Both members and non-members of the Salvation Army can get married in a Salvation Army church, but the preparation that a couple must go through before marriage differs from church to church and from officer to officer. The couple are helped to understand the meaning of marriage within the church, and the Christian significance of their ceremony and promises. The officer preparing the couple may use a variety of books and other resources to help the couple prepare for their commitment, and this will probably take place over the few weeks leading up to the ceremony.

The majority of people getting married in the Salvation Army do not wear the uniform that they may wear for ordinary services, but normal bridal clothes. Most people have the usual attendants such as bridesmaids, pageboys, and best men. However, if the couple both ordained Salvation Army officers, (the equivalent of two ministers getting married), they are expected to wear their uniforms.

In England it is necessary for a registrar to attend the wedding as Salvation Army officers are not automatically registered to perform weddings, however, this does not apply to weddings in Scotland.

Continue to Salvation Army ceremonies

A Typical Wedding Ceremony

For the wedding of Salvationists the flag should be held or placed behind the officiating officer. For the marriage of non-Salvationists the army flag may be used at the officer's discretion.

In the case of Salvationists marrying, the ceremony commences with a reading and explanation of the marriage articles. By means of these articles, Salvationists not only make vows to each other but also affirm publicly their joint dedication to God and his service. The officer should explain the special nature of a Salvation Army wedding, bearing in mind that usually some of the guests are not Salvationists and may not be committed Christians. This introduction is omitted for non-Salvationists.

If seated, the bride and groom should be invited to stand for the reading of the articles of marriage:

'We do solemnly declare that, although we enter into this marriage for reasons of personal happiness and fulfilment, we will do our utmost to ensure that our married status and relationship will deepen our commitment to God and enhance the effectiveness of our service as soldiers of Jesus Christ in the Salvation Army.

We promise to make our home a place where all shall be aware of the abiding presence of God, and where those under our influence shall be taught the truths of the gospel, encouraged to seek Christ as Saviour, and supported in the commitment of their lives to the service of God.

We declare our intention to be to each other, by the help of God, true Christian examples and, through the times of joy, difficulty or loss, to encourage each other to 'grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'.

The officiating officer will then say to the bride and groom:

If you wish to be married upon these terms, please stand forward.

As the bride and groom stand forward, the officiating officer then says to the congregation:

We are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which had been sanctioned and blessed by Jesus Christ, and declared in Scripture to be honourable among all men.

Then, addressing the bride and groom:

I exhort you both to enter into this new and holy relationship with reverent thought, honest intention, and in the fear of God, duly considering the purpose for which marriage has been ordained.

I require and charge you both in the presence of God and of this congregation that if either of you knows anything to prevent you from being lawfully married you do now declare it.

The bridegroom then says after the officiating officer, using all names:

I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I (name) may not be joined in matrimony to (name)

The bride then repeats the same statement

The officiating officer will then ask the bridegroom:

Toby, will you take Joanna to be your wife, to live according to God's ordinance in holy matrimony? Will you love her, comfort, honour, and sustain her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

The bridegroom answers: I will

The same question is then posed to the bride, who in turn, replies: I will.

The bridegroom then takes the bride's right hand in his and says after the officiating officer:

I call upon these persons here present

To witness that I (name)

Do take thee (name)

To be my lawful wedded wife,

To have and to hold

From this day forward,

For better for worse,

For richer for poorer,

In sickness and in health,

To love and to cherish,

Till death us do part,

According to God's holy ordinance;

And this I declare upon my honour

(Salvationists add):

As a true soldier of Jesus Christ.

The couple loose hands and then the bride takes the groom's right hand in hers and makes the same declaration.

They release hands and the ring is placed on the book. The bridegroom then puts the ring on the third finger of the bride's left hand, saying after the officiating officer:

I put this ring upon your finger

As a continual sign that we are married

Under the solemn promises

We have made this day

In the name of the Father,

And of the Son,

And of the Holy Spirit.

The officiating officer joins their right hands, holding them together by his own hand and says:

In the name of God, I declare you to be husband and wife.

Whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

The officiating officer shall then offer prayers for the couple and their new lives together, and the ceremony itself ends with words such as:

God bless you both!

God bless your family and friends!

The officer may then give appropriate words of guidance before the service is concluded with a congregational song and a benediction. The signing of the register can take place at a suitable point before or after the benediction.

Introduction

The word 'Sikh' originates from the Sanskrit word shishya, meaning a disciple and seeker of the truth. Sikhs believe in the existence of only one God, and in the teachings of the 10 Gurus (religious leaders or teachers), embodied in the Sikh Holy Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Sikhism teaches the universal ideals of honesty, compassion, humility, piety, social commitment and tolerance for other religions.

The Gurus taught the basic values of freedom, brotherhood, charity, obedience, understanding, sympathy, patience, simplicity, and piety and outlined the path to spirituality in life. They considered themselves to be simply servants and said that they were human and were not to be worshipped as Gods.

Legal Requirements

UK marriage laws allow for temples to be registered for the solemnisation of marriages according to the rites of the Sikh religion. The legal requirements to be fulfilled are those that apply to civil marriages. However, if the building in which you wish to marry is in a different registration district to where you live, you need to prove to the superintendent registrar that the building is your normal place of worship. If you cannot do this, you will be required to give notice in the registration district in which the building is situated after having met the necessary residency requirements.

If there is no building in the registration district in which you live, you will be permitted to marry in a building in the nearest registration district that has one.

Divorce and the Sikh religion

The Sikh marriage is monogamous. In the case of a broken marriage, divorce is not possible according to the Sikh religious tradition. However, the couple are at liberty to obtain a divorce under the civil law of the land. Marriage in Sikhism is regarded as a sacred bond in attaining worldly and spiritual joy.

Preparations for a Sikh wedding

Sikh weddings are traditionally arranged marriages where both families help to choose the marriage partner for their offspring. Both of their individual agreement is sought before marriage is considered.

An engagement (called the Kurmai) is not deemed necessary but, if desired, is typically performed a week before the wedding and is usually conducted at the temple or at the groom's home. If the ceremony is performed in the temple, the Gurdwara, it starts with Milni where, after prayers, the families greet each other with the ritual exchange of garlands. Kirtan (a simple ceremony and hymns from Sri Guru Granth Sahib) is performed as people enter the Gurdwara and, with men and women sitting separately, they stand for the Ardas (the common Sikh prayer). It is traditional for the father of the bride to place one end of the groom's patka (scarf) over the bride and groom's shoulders into the bride's hands, signifying her new life with her husband. After the ceremony, the friends and families unite for the Langer (traditional meal).

If the ceremony is performed at home, the bride's family visit the groom's house and in both cases he is usually presented with a Kara (bracelet), kirpan (sword) or Indian sweets. The bride's family are presented with an Indian outfit and sweets as gifts for their daughter.

Different Sikh families have different customs for preparing the bride before her wedding. Some families have five of the bride's close relatives to stay with the bride for the days leading up to the wedding day. They comb a mixture of henna, oil and water through the bride's hair, and paint her hands and legs with henna designs. On the day before the wedding, a party of the groom and his relatives, known as the Braat (various spellings), are welcomed, given food and entertained. The party either stay at the bride's home ready for the early morning service, or travel straight to the wedding location.

What to wear

Close family members of the same sex dress the bride and groom on the morning of their wedding. The groom is dressed in white and, in some communities, the bride wears colourful robes, which are usually red with gold embroidery. The bride wears a full veil, hiding her face from the groom until after the ceremony as Islam dictates.

Guests should wear traditional clothing if at all possible. If this is not an option, then women should wear long skirts that are preferably dark and vibrantly coloured, for example red or purple. White clothing is considered to be unlucky. Both men and women should wear a head covering and remove their shoes at the door. The guests will sit on the floor of the temple throughout the marriage service that will last for approximately one and a half hours.

Glossary of Terms

Amrit: baptism

Anand Hymn: written by Guru Amar Das and performed at Sikh weddings

Ardas: a common Sikh prayer

Asa di Var: Gurus' morning hymn

Braat: the groom's party of friends and family

Gurdwara: temple

Guru: religious leader or teacher

Kara: bracelet (one of the 5 Ks vital to Sikh tradition)

Karah Prashad: sweets

Kirpan: sword (one of the 5 Ks vital to Sikh tradition)

Kirtan: simple ceremony and hymns from the holy book

Kurmai: engagement

Langer: traditional meal

Lavan: marriage hymn with four verses

Milni: after prayers, the two families greet each other with garlands

Pathi: a good Sikh who officiates the marriage

Patka: scarf

Shishya: disciple, seeker of truth

United Reform Church Ceremonies

Introduction

The United Reformed Church is part of the Christian, and focuses on one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The church is a union of the Congregational Church of England and Wales, the Presbyterian Church of England and the Re-Formed Association of Churches of Christ.

Legal Requirements

Not all United Reformed churches are registered to hold weddings, so you need to check with the individual church. If the church is not registered, a registrar will have to be in attendance at the wedding as well as the minister. For more information on this subject, please refer to the Marriage Legal Requirements article.

Divorce and the United Reformed Church

The United Reformed Church has a more liberal view on marrying divorcees than many branches of Christianity, and it is often to this church that couples turn if they would like a Christian wedding ceremony after one or both of them has divorced.

Each minister has overall control of the activities in his community and can decide, after speaking with the couple, whether or not he will marry them

A Typical Wedding Ceremony

The pattern of a United Reformed Church is similar to other Christian wedding services so check out our article on the Church of England ceremony for more detailed information and a sample order of service. There will be Love Poems and Readings readings, hymns and prayers, as well as an exchange of vows and rings. The minister will probably speak about the nature of marriage in a religious context, and may invite the guests present to help the couple in their new lives together.

Salon Beauty Treatments

Every bride wants to float down the aisle looking a million dollars. The good news is that it doesn't cost that much to ensure that you look your very best on your wedding day. Beauty salons offer many and varied treatments to help bring out your best bits and to improve on the rest so why not indulge yourself and luxuriate in one or more of the beauty treatments on offer.

Remember to check out The wedding book of calm. A practical suggestion on each page to help you deal with the stress that builds in the run-up to a wedding. Just remember though - You don't have to do everything at once!

Stress- Relieving Treatments

Flotation

Floating frees your mind from every day anxieties, promoting a deep sense of peace. You float either on a soft water bed or in the tranquillity of a flotation room. This therapy relieves stress and pressure from muscles and joints and lowers blood pressure - an hour is said to be equivalent of a night's sleep.

Hydrotherapy

A general term for water therapies. A hydrotherapy bath relieves muscle tension, improves muscle tone and stimulates the circulation and lymphatic system. It involves different methods of applying water and a variety of seaweeds, mud and minerals for special healing effects. The most common treatment is the hydrotherapy bath - an all over body scrub is followed by immersion in a hot bath containing mineral-rich substances. After 10 minutes or so, tiny water jets pummel and massage the body, and your therapist may also use a hose attachment to massage specific muscle groups. After five minutes you will be left to relax for a further 10 minutes. Treatment is often finished with a body massage to leave you feeling totally invigorated and refreshed.

Just imagine a sandy beach, blue skies, a warm breeze, palm trees and the sound of the sea gently lapping on the shore. If this conjures up a vision of romance in your mind then getting married in an exotic location is for you. Maybe you prefer the notion of marrying beside an Italian lake, a wedding with a skiing theme, or in the compound of a safari park. Whatever you want will be available somewhere in the world and we will help you to arrange it.

Don't forget to take a pack of disposable cameras to capture all those magical memories.

View Weddings Abroad Suppliers on Confetti.co.uk.

Where to Start?

Getting help from specialist wedding tour operators, insurance, planning, health advice and popular wedding destinations worldwide.

The legal low-down

Residency requirements, affadavit's, passports & visa's, marriage blessings and more.

A typical day

Make sure you 've thought about the outfits, cake, flowers, photo's, music and of course transporting everything you'll need.

Destinations

Our total guide covers expected weather, and a region by region guide to obtaining a marriage licence, documents & legal requirements as well as types of ceremonies available.

. Europe

. The Americas

. Caribbean and Hawaii

. Far East and Pacific

. Africa and Indian Ocean

. All destinations

Marrying Abroad

Austria

One of the most densely forested and mountainous countries in Europe, Austria lies at the end of the Alps, which curve across the country, except in the southern and eastern regions. Lush valleys flank the river courses, the most famous of which is the Danube, Europe's longest river. Austria is a paradise for people who enjoy the outdoors, and is ideal for all types of skiing. Winter activities also include ice-skating, curling, tobogganing and rides in horse drawn sleighs, while in the summer you can enjoy walks, hikes, rides on horseback and mountain biking. So if you want an action packed wedding, with a difference, perhaps Austria is the place for you.

Weather

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

T 34 37 46 59 66 73 77 75 68 39 45 37

S 2 3 4 6 8 8 9 8 7 4 2 1

R 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.8 2.7 3.4 2.9 1.7 2.2 2.1 1.8

Key to symbols used:

T - Average daily maximum temperatures

S - Average daily sunshine hours

R - Average monthly rainfall (if higher than 0.5")

Flight time: 2 hours

GMT = or -: +1

Visa: Not required

Proof of ID: Your original birth certificates and passports must be produced.

Proof of Status: A Certificate of No Impediment must be obtained from your local Register Office not more than six months before your wedding date.

Divorced: If either of you is divorced you must produce your decree absolute.

Widowed: If either of you has been widowed you must produce the death certificate of your deceased spouse.

Age restrictions: The minimum age to marry without parental consent is 19 years old. If you are younger then you must obtain evidence of parental consent in the form of a sworn affidavit.

Name change: If your name has been changed by Deed Poll you must provide legal proof, stamped and signed by a solicitor. This also applies if you are a divorced woman and have reverted back to her maiden name.

Ceremonies

Austrian law recognises only civil marriages however, a religious ceremony may be performed after a civil marriage has been solemnised. Civil marriages are performed by officials of the Vital Statistics Office in the appropriate jurisdiction and can be followed by a religious ceremony if you desire. It is sometimes possible to arrange to have your civil ceremony somewhere other than in the Register Office, such as on a mountain side, but this is down to the individual Registrar, so if you have a particular preference for the location you must ask in advance.

Obtaining your marriage licence

You should apply for your marriage licence at the Standesamt of the first district of Vienna (see Further information for address). You must both attend in person taking all necessary documents with you. Originals or certified copies of documents must be sent to the Register Office where the marriage is to take place at least 8-ten weeks prior to your intended date of marriage. Any affidavits and your Certificate of No Impediment must be translated into German first.

Alaska

Alaska conjures up images of ice and snow, wild animals, deep river fjords, wilderness and the last frontier and that is just about what it is. Juneau, built between Mt. Juneau and the Gastineau channel, is Alaska's largest city in southeast Alaska and the capital and offers some of the best glacier viewing in the world. Fairbanks is Alaska's second largest city and was founded due to gold discovered near there which led to the ensuing gold rush of 1903-4 and Anchorage started out because of the need for a railroad to the interior of Alaska and is named after the first Post Office opened there in 1915. As Alaska's largest city it is has the highest population with nearly half of all Alaskans living there.

Weather

Southern Alaska (Average Maximum)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Temp 22.5 22.8 29.4 38.2 58 61 64 62 56 40 28.9 20.9

Sun 2 3 4 6 8 7 9 8 6 4 2 3

Snow 16 18 17 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 13

Northern Alaska

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Temp -13 -14.3 -6.7 11.4 32.8 57.1 66.2 57.5 41.1 17.4 -0.8 -12.2

Sun 2 3 4 6 8 7 9 8 6 4 2 1

Snow 14 16 17 16 9 0 0 0 0 5 9 12

Fight time: 10

GMT + or -: -8

Visa: No

Documents and legal requirements

Residency: There are no residency requirements and you can avoid the three working day waiting period before a marriage licence is granted by applying by post in advance.

Proof of ID: You will be required to appear in person at one of the marriage bureaus with your passports. (See Further Information for addresses).

Divorced: A certified copy of your decree absolute will be required if your previous marriage ended within sixty days of your application.

Widowed: If you are widowed you will be required to produce the death certificate of your former spouse.

Age restriction: You must both be eighteen years old or over. If either of you are below age eighteen you should contact a bureau office for additional instructions.

Ceremonies

You can have your wedding ceremony anywhere on land so you can choose anything from a glacier field (via helicopter) to a chapel on a lake or at one of the many spectacular glacier gardens. If you want a religious service you should contact the church of your choice direct. Details of churches are obtainable from Alaska Tourism (se Further Information).

Obtaining a marriage licence

There is a three-day waiting period before a licence can be granted. Application can be made in person, by phone, fax or letter. The waiting period begins once the necessary information is received. If your application is made by phone or fax a hard copy of the information must follow by mail. You must provide the following:

Both of your names, address and telephone number plus all the appropriate documents listed above. Once your licence has been issued it is valid for ninety days. You can also fill in the application form on line from dced.state.ak.us and fax it to the relevant marriage bureau.

Hawaii

Some one hundred and thirty islands, sandbars and reefs make up this pacific state and with its closest neighbour being the Christmas Island chain, some 2,000 miles to the south, Hawaii is the most isolated group of islands on earth. Discovered by Captain Cook in 1778, the Hawaiian Islands are now famous as one of the world's premier year round holiday resorts, which, for most people, conjures up visions of a tropical paradise.

Weather

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

T 80 75 77 78 80 82 89 82 82 82 80 78

S 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 10 9 8 6 7

R 2 3 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 2 3

Key to symbols used:

T - Average daily maximum temperatures

S - Average daily sunshine hours

R - Average monthly rainfall (if higher than 0.5")

Flight time: 16.5 hours

GMT + or -: - 10

Visa: Yes

Documents and Legal requirements

Residence: There are no residence or citizenship requirements but two full working days may be required to process documents in some instances.

Proof of ID: You both need a full 10-year valid passport and copies of your birth certificates.

Divorced: You must produce your Decree Absolute if you are divorced.

Widowed: If you are widowed the death certificate of your deceased spouse will be required.

Name change: If you have changed your name by Deed Poll the original, stamped document must be produced.

Age restrictions: The legal age to marry is 18 years for you both, however, with written consent of both parents, legal guardian or family court, it is possible to marry as young as 15.

Ceremonies

Ceremonies can be indoors, in a church, chapel or hotel, or under the sky in a beautiful location. You can take a helicopter flight into the forest or even write your vows in the sunken remains of a ship, just about anything goes in Hawaii.

Applying for your marriage licence

Application to marry must be filed with a marriage licence agent in the state (see below for address). Both of you must appear personally before the marriage licence agent as applications cannot be made by post. The licence is valid for 30 days from the date of issue, after which it will become null and void.

Fees: The fee for a licence is $25, payable in cash at the time of application.

Religious weddings - email sent 11/4/00

Making A Will

Introduction

Considering making a Will at a time of joy and happiness may seem to many to be somewhat morbid and probably the furthest thing from your mind. However, it is not just something that 'older' people should consider as it is a sad fact of life that tragedy can happen when you least expect it. The making of a Will is in fact an act of love and consideration. It is also a responsibility undertaken by those who wish to spare their next of kin further pain of worry and even hardship when they die, especially if their death is untimely and sudden.

What is a will?

A Will is a legally binding deed that states what happens to a person's property after they die. Clearly a Will does not take effect until after a person dies, meaning that it is possible to change or replace it with another that supersedes any previous ones. This allows for any changes in circumstances that occur during a person's lifetime.

There are many misinterpretations as to what happens to your assets after death and to what constitutes a legal will. The following list highlights some of the more common misconceptions:

A letter conveying your desires as to what is to happen to your property on your death constitutes a legal document - It does not.

The surviving spouse always inherits their partner's estate, which they must use for the benefit of the family - This is not so.

Your next of kin automatically acquires your property and has a legal duty to distribute it fairly amongst the members of your family - This is not so.

A final request by a dying person is always enforceable - It is not.

There are two essential prerequisites for a person to make a Will, you must be at least 18 years old and be of 'sound mind'.

Why have a will?

Everyone has an 'estate' whether it be assets worth millions or a few hundred pounds in savings and some treasured possessions with little monetary value, but priceless in sentiment. If a person dies without having left a Will, it can take many months before those left behind are able to gain access to bank accounts, savings and even life insurance. Your spouse will receive your personal possessions up to £200,000 (subject to change) or £125,000 if you have children (subject to change). A Will is an opportunity to make certain that your money goes where you want it to and to keep the taxman's share to a minimum. It also allows you to arrange guardians for any children.

Besides peace of mind there are plenty of other reasons for making a Will:

It will avoid family conflict. Not making a Will can often lead to disputes and bitterness between loved ones when it comes to sharing out your estate.

A Will allows you to choose who will best deal with your wishes after death. If you have not appointed executors, the courts, according to statutory rules, will decide who will act in this capacity. They will normally be people who stand to inherit your estate under the intestacy rules.

You can also appoint guardians for children under the age of 18. Guardianship is a particularly important consideration if you are the only surviving parent of young children. The Children's Act 1989 states that if you have not appointed guardians for children under the age of 18, the courts will do it for you.

You can make clear what you want regarding funeral arrangements and the final disposal of your body.

Making a Will is the only way you can ensure that your estate goes where you want it to without paying more tax than you absolutely have to. If the value of a joint estate is more than £500,000 you will definitely benefit from taking Inheritance Tax saving actions.

Single and two mirror wills for married partners or couples can be purchased online from the Confetti website. Your will is drafted by a real live solicitor, who will discuss any specific concerns you have.

Making A Will

The effect of marriage on your will

Any existing Will is automatically revoked upon marriage, a point that has particular relevance and importance to those marrying for the second or subsequent time. The law automatically presumes that your wishes will change once you have a new spouse to consider. Therefore, any existing obligations made before the marriage will need to be readdressed to ensure that the beneficiaries are protected and that your wishes are carried out without delay and misunderstanding. If you do not make another Will then, if the worst happens, you will die intestate and the statutory intestacy rules will be affected. The main problem arising from this is that if you leave less than £125,000 (subject to change), then any children of a previous marriage, or of your present marriage, will not inherit anything, as under the rules of intestacy, it will all go to your spouse.

When you plan to marry there is an alternative that allows you to make a Will in contemplation of marriage. This is a Will made before your marriage and is not intended to be revoked by the marriage. Such a Will can only be made with a particular person/persons in mind and cannot be used as a general Will.

A divorce has the effect of removing your ex-husband/wife from your Will, while the rest of the Will remains applicable. This is because the law supposes that as you are divorced, you will not want your former spouse to inherit any of your estate. Any property that may have been left to your former husband/wife will instead go to whoever would have inherited it had he/she died at the date of divorce. However, if you still want an ex-spouse to benefit from the Will, it must be clearly evident that the divorce does not affect it.

'Living Wills'

A 'living will' is a statement written while a person is in possession of all their physical and mental capabilities and refers to their future medical treatment. At this time there is no legislation that covers 'living wills', but as they have become more common the British Medical Journal has published a code of practice covering the subject. It was decided that a person could refuse medical treatment in advance if three conditions are met:

1. The individual must by fully aware of the consequences of the request.

2. The individual must have a clear understanding of any treatment and its consequences.

3. The individual must have anticipated the circumstances that have occurred.

However, a person cannot legally refuse basic care; the fundamentals to keep a person alive, although other renunciations may be legally binding, and for a 'living will' to be valid it must be witnessed and signed by all concerned parties.

Safe keeping

A will is an important legal document - keeping it in a 'safe place' at home is not therefore recommended. Apart from the problem of it not being found in the first place, there are the other risks, such as fire, loss and even interference. Also, a little known fact is that the first person to lay their hands on your Will can decide whether or not it is used, so it is important only you and your executor(s) can access your Will.

Wedding Stationery

Introduction

Wedding stationery can be obtained from a number of sources: mail order, printer, stationers and stationery designers or you can buy online from confetti.co.uk's extensive range of wedding stationery.

The range of items and styles is vast and it would be all too easy to get carried away. You may expect to simply choose the invitation style you want, it will be printed and supplied with matching envelopes and you are away. Certainly in some cases this may be so but wait until you see what is on offer:

Invitations - envelope seals - cake boxes - place cards-matchbooks - serviettes - serviette rings - coasters - favour boxes - menu scrolls - menus - guest book - adhesive bottle labels - seed sticks - personalised ribbon - acceptance - order of service sheets - thank you cards - you can even have chocolates with personalised wrappers!

It should also be said that many of these items provide delightful keepsakes and at least some are worth considering. They can also provide a wonderful way of continuing a theme for your wedding.

Invitations

Invitations are obtainable in virtually any design you choose and specialist companies can even offer you the option of having your invitation personalised. Don't forget that you will need separate invitations for those being invited to the evening reception only and there is also the option of including response cards together with printed envelopes.

Personalised stationery

Personalised stationery can set the tone of your wedding and can co-ordinate with your table theme and colour. All Confetti personalised stationery is made from the finest quality materials. You can find a range of quality boards, ribbons, foil printed and embossed designs. You can choose from over 85 colours and designs, 8 typefaces, a wide range of colours and links, luxury insert envelopes, boards, materials and designs.

Cocktail Capers

Whether you're after a Naked Waiter or a Naked Pretzel, this is the WGUK definitive guide to cocktails including our exclusive WeddingGuideUK champagne cocktail created especially for you. Whether you're planning a hen night or an evening at home, we have the ideal cocktail or mocktail for you.

For many of you, a hen night will be a slightly alcoholic affair but do you know your Pink Pussies from your Turtledoves? Don't worry if you don't - or can't - drink, mocktails can be just as fun with none of the side effects. So, if you're after a girls' night in, a women's night out or a celebration of self, we've thought of everything!

Instead of just looking at a list of cocktails with a bemused grin, why not theme your night to give it that extra fun factor? Stick to the classics and muse over a Manhattan or colour co-ordinate your night so each hen is assigned a colour and you're only allowed drinks with that particular shade in the title.

Some drinks cover various sections but are only mentioned once so Hair of the Dog is in the 'Alcoholic Tendencies' section but could just as easily be used for an Animal Magic theme. Take the time to mooch through each section and discover those special concoctions to make your evening go with a bang.

Introduction

Flowers can add a wonderful decorative touch to your wedding, and when chosen with care will give the finishing touches to your outfits.

You will express your personality by the colours and varieties you choose, while the symbolic meanings of flowers add individuality and symbolism to your wedding day, and make it that little bit more special.

Traditions

Flowers have been part of wedding ceremonies since at least Roman times, when both the bride and groom wore floral garlands. During Elizabethan times the bride's friends would give her groom sprigs of rosemary that symbolised faithfulness, to ensure future happiness for the bride. Some brides carried sprigs of rosemary tied with silver lace, which symbolised constancy and firmness. This led to the custom of guests dipping a sprig of rosemary into their wine before drinking.

Victorian bridal posies traditionally included myrtle, a token of love, and the popular shower bouquets of the late nineteenth century usually contained orange blossom, a symbol of chastity. Victorian brides would plant the cuttings of rosemary from their bouquets into their new gardens, to supply the bridal bouquets of their own daughters in years to come.

Centuries ago, bridesmaids planted myrtle bushes at the couple's new home, to ensure the couple happiness. It was also believed that the bridesmaids would soon marry if the bushes took root.

Even royalty took part in this tradition; the myrtle that was in Princess Anne's bridal bouquet in 1973 was planted from Queen Victoria's bouquet in 1840.

You may think you are holding a bouquet of beautifully coordinated colours, but to your ancestors you are clutching a collection of carefully coded messages. Flowers have had secret meanings ever since Greek mythology. The Ancient Greeks first developed 'The Language of Flowers'. It caught the attention of the Victorians in 1820, when the Language of Flowers was published and learnt, allowing lovers to communicate by exchanging flowers. Some flowers carry several (sometimes conflicting) meanings, whilst others have no hidden messages at all (perhaps because the flowers have only become popular recently). Each flower also possessed a different meaning when placed at different parts of the body such as in the hair, cleavage or over the heart. It was popular during the Victorian period for the bride to spell out a word through her choice of bouquet flowers, for example lilies, orange blossom, violets and euphorbia.

Another tradition is that of the bachelor's button flower. A single man would pick the flower early in the morning while the dew was still on the ground, and then put it in his pocket for twenty-four hours. He would be happy in marriage if the flower were still 'true blue' the following morning. The flower rarely kept its true-blue colour so many men remained single!

It is also traditional to tie love knots in the ribbons of the bride's bouquet, which not only represent the new union and best wishes, but are also thought to bring good fortune. A bridesmaid upon catching the bride's bouquet can increase her chances of being the next bride by making a wish as she unties one of the ribbons in the bouquet. The tradition for the bride to throw her bouquet is also an old one. The bride throws the bouquet backwards and over her shoulder towards the guests when she leaves for her honeymoon. The lady who catches it is supposed to be the next one to be married.

Preserving The Memory

You can arrange to have your bridal bouquet preserved, as a permanent reminder of your special day. The bouquet is photographed and the flowers dismantled petal by petal. These are then pressed and mounted on silk. If you choose to dry the flowers from your bouquet, you must place them in a box full of silica gel crystals, and leave until the crystals have absorbed all the moisture. Alternatively, a florist may be able to make a replica of your bouquet by using silk flowers.

You could arrange for a few flowers from your bouquet to be mounted into a paperweight, or you could take cuttings from the flowers and grow them in your garden. Tell your florist in advance that you wish to take cuttings, because some flowers are treated in a way that makes them unsuitable to take cuttings from. The flowers from your bouquet could be pressed and made into a framed collage. If you are going to traditionally throw your bouquet but wish to keep a few of the flowers from it, make sure you keep aside some of the flowers and give them to the chief bridesmaid or a friend to look after, before you throw your bouquet.

A large variety of stationery ideas are found on the Confetti website and catalogue.

Create your own stationery

You can create your own unique stationery at amazing prices. This enables you to print your own stationery at home and add unique details to your stationery. You can create your own from invitations to menu cards with a variety of creative outers and inserts that can be printed and trimmed at home. There is also a wide range of imprintables, and decorative trims where you can either print or handwrite your own invitations, and add decorative details on them. You can use the print centre on the confetti website to download free Word templates, enabling you to get a professional look at a lower cost.

A large variety of additional stationery ideas are found on the Confetti website and catalogue.

Custom designed stationery

Custom designed stationery is becoming more popular and really add something to the image of the occasion. Commissioning a designer to create your wedding stationery is one way of putting a personal mark on your wedding but remember that it will almost certainly take longer to deliver than pre-printed items.

Taking into account that invitations should be sent out no later than six weeks before the wedding and preferably eight to nine weeks before, a first consultation with the designer should really take place around four or five months before the wedding.

Prices will naturally be higher than for mass produced stationery but by how much will depend on the amount of work involved, the quality of the paper used and the number of items ordered. It is important to fix a deadline for completion and the price at the beginning in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Stationery Checklist

Save the Date: Send these to your guests in advance of your wedding to make sure they keep your special day free.

Invitation: Send these to your guests about 6 to 8 weeks prior to your wedding to make sure they respnd on time so you can plan accordingly.

Evening invitation: Send these to the guests not attending the ceremony, to invite them to the wedding reception.

Order of service: Give these to your guests at the ceremony to follow the hymns and reading of the ceremony.

Acceptance: Give these to your guests to respond to the invitation of your wedding.

Thank you: Send these to your guests to thank them for your wedding gifts.

Place cards: Place these on the tables at your reception to help guests know where they will be sitting.

Marrying abroad can bypass the headaches of invitation lists, booking venues, flowers, transport and so on. Either a tour company will take care of plans with a wedding package or you organise your own day on a much smaller scale than a traditional wedding at home.

Wedding packages are available in many hotels with some offering a free ceremony if you stay a certain number of nights, others charge up to £1000 or more. The service is nearly always civil although religious ceremonies and blessings can be arranged in most destinations. Most hotels have an area specially set aside for conducting wedding ceremonies but there are some wonderful alternatives including the beach, exchange vows underwater or on skis in the Alps. Packages tend to include just your basic requirements: the service, marriage licence, certificate and legal fees but these differ from hotel to hotel. If you want extras such as a video, photographs, flowers or cake then expect to pay more. Remember that any extras will generally be of a fairly basic nature compared to what you might expect if marrying at home. Always check in the brochure or with your tour operator for details.

You are bound to disappoint some members of your family and friends who cannot be with you on the day, especially grandparents who may feel unable to undertake such a trip. To appease any objections you could arrange to have a blessing service or reception when you return, but at the very least have a video made of the day so that you can share your special moments with those unable to be with you.

Be aware that many hotels in exotic destination perform more than one ceremony each day and you could also be the main attraction for hotel guests. Ask your tour operator or hotel for details but if you want to be certain of a private ceremony then consider a quieter or more unusual destination.

Budgeting For Your Flowers

Set out a budget for the amount of money to be spent on your flowers as soon as possible. Traditionally your groom pays for the flowers for the wedding party such as your bouquet and your bridesmaid's posies, while the your family pays for the flowers for the church and reception. Your groom is also responsible for organising a gift of flowers to present to your mother during the reception speeches. However, nowadays most couples have a combined budget that includes the flowers.

It is important to clearly set out the budget with the florist, if you decide to employ one, so that they can work within the limits and suggest the best arrangements for the set cost. The cost will depend on your choice of florist, styles and flowers. More intricate styles will be more expensive, and the bigger the venue, the more arrangements will be needed to make an impact.

It is impossible to state what the average total expenditure will be on bridal flowers, because it will depend upon the choice of flowers, the availability of them and the quantities required. Prices for flowers vary throughout the year, especially if out-of-season flowers are imported in. Advances in horticulture mean that most flowers can be grown in this country, although this may not be a cheap option.

Money Saving Ideas

There are several ways that you can save money on the cost of your bridal flowers, while still creating a fantastic floral effect:

If a variety of flowers that you would like is too expensive for your budget, ask your florist to suggest another variety that is similar in appearance at a cheaper cost:

Use the flowers for the ceremony at the reception too

Share flowers and their cost with the other couples getting married on the same day

Choose in-season flowers that are cheaper than having to order flowers from abroad

If possible, arrange for a friend or relative to take care of the flower arrangements, to save the cost of paying a professional florist. Alternatively, take care of the arrangements yourself

Try and borrow as much equipment as you can from friends and relatives

Use a few fragrant flowers in each arrangement, and then fill out with non-fragrant varieties

Doing It Yourself

Some brides choose to prepare the flower arrangements themselves. This is a large undertaking, which requires an amount of forward thinking and detailed organisation. It is better not to attempt this kind of task unless you are looking for a few, very simple floral arrangements, or have had an amount of experience in the field beforehand.

Most of the advice in the article below is relevant to brides doing their own arrangements, and there are lots of hints and tips to make the job easier.

In the planning stages, you will need to decide on the types of arrangements that you would like, the sizes and shapes of them, and the types of flowers that will be incorporated.

You will need to visit either a florist or market to see the kind of flowers that are available at the time of year you are planning your wedding. If you have the ability and facilities, you may like to grow your own flowers instead. Make sure to plant more than you need in case of drought or disaster.

It is worth asking family and friends to help wherever possible, as there is likely to be a great deal of work to be done. The helpers can also be called upon to provide or locate containers and equipment, as well as helping with the construction of the creations. It should be remembered that flowers are delicate, and will mostly be bought, arranged and placed at the venues a few days before the wedding or on the morning of your big day. It is here that an army of helpers will come into their own, as you will most likely be busy with other things.

It is advisable to have a practise run for your arrangements before the day, so that you do not have any last minute panics on the morning of your wedding.

As well as imagination and ideally some prior knowledge of the subject, you will need the following equipment if you decide to take care of the flowers yourself: wire, twine, florist's oasis, sharp scissors, gutta tape, ribbon, knife, secateurs, buckets and sufficient containers to hold your arrangements.

If your wedding is to be held in a church, make sure you speak to the resident flower arrangers. In addition to the advice in the church section below, find out:

Who keeps the key to the church

What equipment the church has, e.g. pedestals or other containers

Where the water source is

Where the rubbish is put and where cleaning equipment is kept, e.g. dustpan and brush

The times that access will be available to the people who will be decorating the church.

It is a difficult task to decide the number of flowers that are needed per arrangement. If you come across pictures of arrangements similar to the ones you intend to design, try counting the heads of flowers to give you a rough idea. It is in this area, as well as others, that some prior knowledge, or a skilled friend can be useful. When working out the quantity of each flower that you will need, break down individual arrangements into sections, to help you calculate the amounts required:

The focal flowers - these are the key flowers to which the eye is drawn.

The transitional flowers - these are the 'fill-in' flowers, which pad out the arrangements, usually smaller than the focal flowers.

The foliage - this is the greenery which complements the flowers.

Once you have designed the arrangements that you would like for your celebrations, sorted out the containers and floral content, you will need to purchase your flowers and foliage. Once bought, immerse the cut ends of flowers and greenery in water overnight, to stop them drying out. Try to keep the flowers as damp as possible, and make sure that any oasis used is well soaked. Give the blooms a good dose of flower food before the wedding, and remove damaged and unwanted leaves. Once your arrangements are in position, spray them periodically with water to stop them from drying out.

Some brides employ a florist to do the major arrangements, but make the buttonholes and corsages themselves. The amounts of flowers required are simpler to calculate, and the florist may be able to supply you with the flowers for you to arrange yourself. To make your own buttonholes and corsages, follow these simple steps:

Cut the flower to leave a stem of about 5cm/2inches.

Thread thick florist's wire through the base of the flower/top of the stem.

Push the flower about two-thirds of the way along the wire.

Bend the wire so that both ends are parallel with the stem of the flower.

Wind the longer end of wire around both the stem and the shorter strand of wire. Wrap green gutta tape around the stem and wiring.

Foliage or other flowers can be added after preparing them in the same way, and then tape the arrangements together with more gutta tape. To give leaves some support, use wire to make a small, horizontal stitch in the central vein at the back. Draw both ends of the wire down into the shape of a hairpin parallel to the stem, then twist one of the wires round the other end of the stem, and bind gutta tape around the stem.

Caring And Preparation Of Your Flowers

All the flowers to be worn and carried should arrive on the morning of your wedding boxed, well sprayed and covered with cellophane for protection. The florist will be able to offer you advise about how to unpack the flowers.

Store the flowers out of the reach of children and animals, and avoid the temptation to keep touching them. Keep them in a cool place that is out of direct sunlight. A garage is a suitable place, but a fridge may be too cold.

To keep flowers fresh, spray them freely with cool, fresh water. This should be distilled if your local tap water is very hard, since hard water leaves unsightly lime or chalky deposits as it dries.

Flower Checklist

Whether you do your flowers yourself or employ a professional, the amount of flower arrangements necessary for your celebrations depends on a variety of factors; the size of your venues, your budget, the amount of time you have to arrange your flowers, etc.

This is a checklist of the areas where flowers could be used:

Bride's bouquet

Bridesmaids' flowers

Flower girl's petals

Headdresses for bride and bridesmaids

Buttonholes

Corsages

Flowers for the mothers of the bride and groom

Ceremony flower arrangements

Reception flower arrangements

Choosing Your Flowers

Choosing A Flower Arranger

If you do not feel capable of arranging your own flowers you will need to employ a professional florist. There is a range of options to consider. A professional florist can be approached to wire bouquets, headdresses, buttonholes and corsages, and take care of the venue arrangements. When choosing a professional florist, consider the following:

Ask for personal recommendations from friends and relatives

Look in your local newspaper or the business section in your local telephone book

Ask several florists for their prices and the kind of services they can offer, to find one that suits you the best

Look at the photographs of previous weddings they have created flower arrangements for, before making a decision

Ask about visiting the shop early on the morning of another wedding to look at the flowers and the ways they can be arranged

The florist should be booked approximately five to six months before the wedding, if not sooner, and a meeting arranged at approximately six weeks to discuss and finalise ideas.

If your wedding is to be held in a church, and you don't want to employ a professional florist, try speaking to the church flower arrangers to discuss the possibility of the weekly arrangers taking care of the flowers. A contribution of money is polite and always welcomed, to allow for extra flowers to be ordered.

What Happens At The Meetings With The Florist?

If you have decided to have your flowers organised, arranged and delivered by a florist, you will need to meet to discuss your requirements. While planning this meeting, make sure that your wedding dress and the bridesmaids' outfits are finalised, otherwise you may choose the flowers before you have chosen the clothes, and clashes may occur. It is important that you discuss your ideas with the person who will be creating your flower arrangements rather than the person who will just take your order.

Prepare some ideas before you meet the florist. Look through bridal magazines for ideas of wedding flowers that will help to explain what type of flower arrangements you would like, and take along any sketches or pictures that you have collected. If you are on a tight budget, ask your florist if they offer any special bridal packages for a set price. This will usually provide the basis but you may be restricted to certain colours, flowers that are in season, less complicated designs and a smaller number of buttonholes.

Take swatches of your dress fabric and the bridesmaid's dresses, and if possible sketches or photographs of the outfits, to allow the florist to create a bridal bouquet that will complement instead of compete with your dress. You should also mention the length of your veil and the hairstyle that you intend to have. Experiment with different colour combinations before ordering your final choice, and remember to tell the florist the amount of buttonholes and corsages required.

The florist will be able to offer you all sorts of advice on which style of bouquet will suit the style of your dress best, and which flowers will best complement your hair colour and complexion. The florist should also be able to adapt styles and colours to suit your personality. Do not be afraid to ask the florist to do something slightly different or unusual that you think will compliment your celebrations.

Make sure you discuss which flowers will last all day without wilting, especially if your wedding is going to take place in the hot weather of summer. Wild flowers are generally not a good option for weddings because they will wilt quickly. Long lasting flowers include bird of paradise, carnation/pink, marigold, montbretia, peruvian lily, and sea lavender/statice.

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from hay fever, ask your florist to remove the pollen from the flowers. A good florist should deal with the pollen beforehand, but if the pollen is still in place then flick or lightly brush it away.

Do not feel restricted to fresh flowers; silk and dried flowers are also an option, which allow you to keep arrangements from your wedding day or to give them as gifts. It is possible to mix fresh and dried/silk flowers, providing a solid arrangement with good lasting power. This option is especially useful for flowers to be worn in the hair, as the artificial flowers will give strength to the stems of the real.

You should ask each florist the same questions, to ensure that you get comparable quotes from each.

These are some of the things to consider when talking to each florist.

When will the flowers be delivered (the night before or on the morning of the wedding)?

Is there an extra charge for delivery?

Will the florist stay at the ceremony and reception venues to arrange flowers, light candles and make sure that the flower arrangements are correct, or will the florist drop off the flowers and leave other staff to take care of it?

If you decide to have the church arrangements transferred to the reception, will the florist take care of the transportation?

Creative Ideas

There are many unique ideas that couples use for their wedding day. You may choose to do some of the following yourself, or to suggest some ideas to your florist, to add an extra touch to your special day:

Tie napkins with a piece of sprayed cord or ribbon, and slip a flower underneath the cord

Place a decorative bowl of water on each dining table. You can add fragrance to the water and fill these with floating candles and flower heads.

Incorporate candles or nightlights into the flower arrangements

Place terracotta pots planted with flowers on each table, decorated with gold and silver motifs

Use leaves for place name cards with the guest's names written on them in gold or silver pen

Incorporate objects into flower arrangements, such as ornaments, shells, feathers and even photographs

Spray flowers and foliage different colours, and sprinkle some glitter over them to add extra sparkle in the light

Freeze small flowers or leaves such as camomile, forget-me-not, violets, ivy and mint leaves into ice-cubes, to serve with drinks at the reception. They add style to the reception, but cost little to make

Incorporate fruits and vegetables into the flower arrangements, especially for weddings at harvest times. Suitable fruits and vegetables include aubergine, ornamental cabbage, chilli pepper, cranberry, currant, fig, grape, miniature leek, radish, squash, baby turnip, strawberry apple, orange, lemon and raspberry

For autumnal weddings, use leaves, berries and cones with a touch of gold

For winter weddings use the seasonal colours of green and red with candles to create a cosy atmosphere. Add a variety of nuts to each table arrangement again with a touch of gold or silver, to look like frost

For spring weddings, place pots of bulbs on each dining table, along with miniature Easter eggs incorporated into the arrangements which your guests will enjoy eating

For summer weddings, place fruits in the flower arrangements, which your guests will enjoy eating. Include strawberries and other berries

Fragrant Flowers

You will remember all the happy memories from your wedding day when you catch a smell of the same flowers that you had at your wedding. Fragrant flowers can be more expensive than others, but are a popular choice if used sparingly throughout the wedding arrangements.

Beautifully scented blooms include amaryllis, camellia, carnation, daffodil, eucalyptus, freesia, gardenia, genista, honeysuckle, hyacinth, japonica, jasmine, lavender, lilac, lily, lily of the valley, magnolia, mimosa, mugwort, orchid, pansy, rose, rosemary, sage, snowdrop, stephanotis, sweet pea, sweet william, violet, virburnum, and wisteria. Arum lily can be either sweetly or unpleasantly scented.

sweet smelling cacia, amaryllis, arum lily, carnation, freesia, heliotrope, hyacinth, lily of the valley, rhododendron, rose and sweet pea

spicy scent chrysanthemum, hypericum and stock

exotic scent gardenia, jasmine, narcissi, stargazer lily and tuberose

aromatic scent basil, broom, rue flowers and foliage, eucalyptus, laurel leaves, lavender, marjoram, myrtle leaves, orange blossom, rosemary and sage

citrus scent mimosa and wax flower

Your florist will be able to advise you on which flower fragrances work well together. However, if you choose to have silk flowers at your wedding, you will lose out on the appealing fragrances that fresh flowers possess. To solve this problem, you may decide to use a delicate floral fragrance that is easily sprayed onto the artificial flowers.

A floral room spray at a marquee reception will not only save you money on fragrant flowers, it will also eliminate the damp smell that sometimes comes from canvas. Another way around this problem is to put herbs on the floor of the marquee. As the guests move around they will release a delicate fragrance throughout the day. Herbs can be bought from supermarkets, or grown simply from seed in the run up to your wedding.

Colour Schemes

Some brides still choose to have the traditional white and cream colours for their wedding flowers, although many are now going for brighter colours like orange and pink. Burgundy and gold also seem to be very.

There are four different colour schemes made up from the colour wheel that will help to guide you with your choice of colours, although you are free to choose which ever colours you like for your special day:

Monochromatic - stay with one colour which is determined by the colour of your bridesmaids' dresses. For example, if they wear violet coloured dresses, you may choose pansies and violets.

Complementary - choose colours which are opposite each other on the colour wheel. If your bridesmaids are wearing yellow, the flowers should be violet; yellow and violet are opposite each other on the colour wheel. If the colour of their dresses is a light shade, the complementary shade should be light, and darker shaded flowers should complement darker shaded dresses.

Triadic - a colour triad is made up of three colours that are the same distance apart on the colour wheel, for example, green, violet and orange. You can either have your bouquet made up of three different colours, one being the colour of the bridesmaids dresses, or two colours with the colour of the bridesmaids' dresses being the third colour.

Analogous - this type of colour scheme involves using shades which are next to each other within the colour wheel, for example, green/yellow, green and blue/green.

You should consider the colour of your hair and your complexion before you decide upon the colours of your flowers. If you have dark hair and/or skin, then you should choose dark and rich coloured flowers. If you have light hair and fair skin, then choose softer and lighter colours as vivid colours can drain the skin and be overpowering.

It is a nice idea to choose seasonal shades for your wedding, to create a seasonal atmosphere.

Spring - yellow, lilac, blue and white

Summer - yellow, orange, red, pink, gold, hazy purple and green

Autumn - yellow, orange, red, gold, brown, russet (reddish-brown) and cream

Winter - strong dark red, russet, green, orange, gold, silver and white

Buttonholes and Corsages

In the past, buttonholes symbolised good luck and divine love, especially red ones that were the masculine symbol of love. Grooms wore them at their wedding to signify that they were bound with the promise to marry.

Traditionally the groom, best man, fathers of the bride and groom and ushers should all wear buttonholes. These are made up of a single flower and a piece of foliage, worn in their left lapel. Other honoured guests such as uncles, grandparents and close friends of the bridal couple may also wear buttonholes. Generally, it is safe to choose buttonholes that are of the same variety of flower or colour as the bride's bouquet. Some couples choose to provide all their guests with a buttonhole each. The most popular choices of flowers for buttonholes are carnations and roses. The stem is fitted through the buttonhole on the left lapel and fixed into place with a pin at the back and is positioned upright. To avoid any sign of the pin, simply thread it through one thickness only of the lapel material.

Corsages are a slightly larger version of a buttonhole, which are made up of the same flowers as those in the bride's bouquet, and should be worn on the left lapel. They are made up of two or three flowers, along with some foliage. The mothers of the couple will wear corsages, and so too may the grandmothers. If you would like to give other family members something to wear, you could give them a double buttonhole made up of two blooms. This will give them significance during the wedding, and can be used for family members such as sisters. It is important to make sure that the corsages match the women's outfits, so you should find out the colours of their outfits before ordering the corsages to avoid any colour clashes. Popular choices for corsages include carnation, orchid, rose, stephanotis and freesia. Buttonholes and corsages should be attached once you arrive at the wedding, to avoid the possibility of seatbelts ruining them during the journey to the wedding ceremony.

A corsage or buttonhole is a nice token of thanks and appreciation for other people who participate in your wedding day, such as those who give readings or sing during the ceremony. Some brides like to order matching corsage to wear with their going away outfit.

As an alternative for hay fever sufferers, a dried or silk arrangement could be made in similar colours and styles to the fresh ones.

Floral Headdresses And Hair Accessories

The florist will be able to offer you advice about the best flowers to use for hair accessories, which will last the whole day without wilting. Flowers and foliage can be threaded into long hair or secured to a shorter hairstyle with combs. There are several different styles which can be used to make the bride's and bridesmaids' hair attractive:

A circlet or half circlet of flowers

An alice band decorated with flowers. This is a suitable choice for bridesmaids, especially young ones if their favourite alice band is decorated

Place individual flowers in your hair

Weave flowers into the hairstyle, such as a french plait

Attach flowers to a large hair comb or hair slides

When you choose flowers for your hair, consider the following points and ask your florist to advise you on your choice:

Will the flowers last all day without wilting?

Will they last all day without slipping out of place?

Will they be comfortable to wear all day?

Do the flowers need the pollen or any sharp parts removed?

Asking your florist for a selection of loose flowers to wear in your hair, will work out cheaper and be much more versatile than a floral circlet or Alice band. An extremely complicated hairstyle with pleats and curls will not need an intricate floral headdress; a few loose flowers will complement the style much better. A popular choice at the moment is for a cluster of flowers to be placed on top of the head, or for single flowers to be placed in the hair.

Headdresses that are made up of spiky flowers and foliage may catch on the delicate fabric of a veil. Suitable flowers for headdresses include: daisy, frangipani, freesia, gardenia, gypsophilia, mimosa, rosebuds, tuberose and wax flower. Once you have decided on a few types of flowers that you would like to consider, arrange a consultation with your hairdresser to discuss your ideas and how they may be implemented.

Flower Arrangements For The Wedding Ceremony

A wedding is a very joyous occasion to celebrate, and the appearance of the church should reflect this, with the help of carefully chosen flower arrangements.

Visit the church or venue where you would like to get married, to decide on which areas are best to decorate, and how to best achieve the desired effect. Think about the backdrop to the flower arrangements - pretty and colourful stained glass windows, a brightly coloured carpet, stonework and woodwork. You should consider placing flower arrangements in dark areas to brighten them up, perhaps by arranging for lights to be placed around an arrangement.

The flower arrangements for the church should be discussed with the minister at your first meeting with him. You should check with the minister whether an outside flower arranger is allowed to take care of the flowers, and when the best time for the florist to set up before the ceremony is. Make sure you check with the minister if there are any places that cannot be decorated; some do not allow the altar to be decorated, to make sure that the cross is visible. Many churches do not permit flowers to decorate the church during certain festivals such as Lent (between Shrove Tuesday and Easter) and Advent (about one month before Christmas).

You should be able to place flower arrangements at some or all of the following positions:

Altar (the Communion table) Place an arrangement on the altar, a pedestal either side of the steps leading up to the altar, or drape garlands on the choir stalls

Pulpit (raised enclosed platform for preaching from) - Place a flower arrangement along the front of the platform, or drape garlands along the front

Lectern (stand for holding bible) - Place a small arrangement along the front of the stand

Windowsills - Allow the arrangements to drape over the edge, and perhaps pick out colours from the stained-glass windows

Font (contains baptismal water) - Place an arrangement in front of, or on top of it

Columns - Hang garlands or swags vertically, or wind foliage and flowers around the columns

Church entrance - You may like to arrange for an archway of flowers and foliage or garlands to be placed around the door, or topiary trees placed on either side of the door. You could also place an arrangement in the porch

Chancel steps (near the altar) - Place a pedestal either side of the steps

Pew ends - either tie swags or garlands to the ends or hang small hand-tied bunches of flowers from them

Lych gate (the roofed gateway of the churchyard) - Hanging arrangements such as flower balls, baskets, garlands or swags of blossom are suitable

You may choose to decorate every pew end, but if your budget is limited then you may like to decorate every second or third pew with a bow. Alternatively, you could choose to just decorate the first six to ten pew ends. Some brides choose to have flower trees on either side of the aisle, and coloured ribbon wound around the stems will complement the colour scheme of the other flowers.

If several weddings take place on the same day, it will not be practical for four or five sets of floral displays to be installed and dismantled. Instead, the cost of the flowers is divided between all of the couples that are getting married on the same day. You will have to liase with the other couples, and you will all have to meet the church flower arrangers to agree on which flowers you will all be satisfied with.

You may be satisfied with whatever flowers happen to be in the church at the time of your wedding. Certain times of the year such as harvest festival and Christmas, means that the church will be more greatly decorated. This may mean that you will not have to make a contribution to the weekly flower arrangers, with the benefit of having more elaborate flower arrangements.

In a register office, flower arrangements brighten up the marriage room and make it more attractive. The marriage room is usually decorated with silk or fresh flowers, although you can organise extra arrangements. There is usually an arrangement of flowers on the registrar's table, and the bride may choose to carry a bouquet. The men will also wear buttonholes like at a church wedding.

If you decide to have a marriage ceremony at a register office or a licensed venue, then your first meeting with the Superintendent Registrar or venue owner will decide whether you are allowed to bring in your own flower arrangements. If the register office is very busy, you will not be able to arrange for new flower arrangements to be positioned before your wedding ceremony. The flowers may be provided by the management of the registered premises, and you should discuss with them exactly what is usually provided and what kinds of decorations you would like.

For wedding ceremonies at licensed venues, you are usually free to place flower arrangements wherever you wish. You may like to arrange for an archway of flowers to be erected, under which you can stand for the ceremony. The décor of the premises will probably affect the type of flowers that you choose. You may like to compliment the historical period of the building, or to allow the flowers to enhance the theme of your wedding.

For weddings in synagogues, the style in which the synagogue is decorated must be discussed with the Rabbi or Secretary. Like churches, synagogues differ greatly in style and layout, and also have high echoing spaces. However, the 'Chuppah' is greatly decorated with flowers, the canopy under which the service is conducted. The Jewish Chuppah symbolises the home that the couple will now set up together.

Confetti

Not all churches and register offices will allow confetti to be thrown after the wedding, so as an alternative guests may like to use bubbles or dried flower petals that are biodegradable. You may like the flower girls to hand out cones or boxes of floral confetti as the guests enter the ceremony venue. Please contact your licensed venue to find out whether you can use metallic confetti.

Flower Arrangements For The Reception

The scale of the arrangements depends on the size of the room and the availability of space. The type of reception you have chosen to have will help you with your choice of flowers. For example, choosing a grand hall will indicate that large and formal arrangements could be needed.

If the florist is going to take care of the flower arrangements for the reception, they will probably meet with the venue's banqueting manager to view the venue and discuss the seating plan. This will enable the florist to know how many table arrangements are needed and the size of the venue. The florist will also need to meet with you to discuss where you would like the flower arrangements to be placed, and which styles and shapes you would like. The florist will also need to know when the flower arrangers will be able to access the venue. For a marquee reception, the florist will need to know the style of decoration, the colour of the lining, whether it has poles and if so how many need to be decorated, whether you want pedestal arrangements or hanging baskets and the quantities you are looking at.

Places where you may choose to position flower arrangements include:

The entrance

Window sills

The buffet table

Each dining table

Top table

Side tables

On the cake and the cake table

Pedestals

Around poles or pillars

You should choose a stunning arrangement for the entrance, to welcome your guests as they arrive. Remember that entrances are passed through en route to the main areas, so guests will only have time to appreciate the arrangement quickly; so plenty of variegated foliage with just a few flowers is suitable and money saving.

You may decide to incorporate fairy lights into arrangements that are in dull areas; decorating unsightly pillars with foliage, flowers and fairy lights will totally change the appearance of the venue and make it feel special.

The top table will traditionally have a long low arrangement, to allow the bridal couple and their guests to see each other. You could also hang a garland across the front of the table, to add extra decoration. Ribbons or other fabrics also add texture to the top table.

Each dining table should some decoration, either floral or otherwise. Make sure that the decorations are not too large, to enable your guests to speak over them and have enough room on the table for food, plates and more glasses than usual.

The advantage with table arrangements is that they are directly in the view of the guests, which maximises their effect.

Candles could be incorporated within the table arrangements to add a touch of interest. Alternatively, pot pourri could be placed on each table, or added to each floral arrangement to add a pleasing scent. Suitable flowers to choose for table arrangements include carnation, daffodil, daisy, fern, gerbera, gypsophilia, jonquil, lily, nerine and rose.

The wedding cake may also be decorated with a small flower arrangement. It is traditional for a small silver vase to be placed on top of the cake, containing a small arrangement of flowers. Your cake designer will be able to show you the various floral decorations that are available for wedding cakes. Flowers can also be used as decoration around the cake, to pick up on the colours used.

Trailing ivy is a very popular choice for reception arrangements, as it can be wound around poles, napkins and chairs and be used in garlands and table arrangements. A nice touch to add to each guest's chair is a tied bunch of flowers tied to the back of each, accompanied by a name label for each guest. Pedestal arrangements can be placed around the reception venue, to add colour to the walls. Most pedestal arrangements are made up of two or more pieces fitted together, usually the top bowl in which flowers are arranged, and the stem of the stand. If the budget will stretch, it is a nice idea to place a small arrangement in the toilet to brighten it up. Skilful use of foliage and flowers can conceal eyesores and accentuate attractive features.

If the reception is going to take place in a marquee, the marquee company will be able to provide rope or hooks on the poles, so that floral arrangements can be hung in the marquee like chandeliers. It is unlikely that the marquee company will provide the floral decorations themselves, although they may be able to give you the name of a suitable florist who often does flowers in their marquees. Use hanging baskets and chandeliers in marquee receptions, but make sure that they are planted well in advance to allow for growth. Ideal flowers include ivy, lobelia, fuchsia and petunia. To make the entrance of the marquee attractive and welcoming, place a topiary tree or other arrangement on either side of the entrance. For any reception, you could arrange for pomanders to be hung from the ceiling in the colours of the wedding.

If you have arranged to have the wedding reception outside in a garden, some pre-planning of which varieties and colours to plant out several months before the wedding will help to continue the colour theme throughout the whole day. Nearer the time, spaces in the flowerbeds can be filled with bought potted plants from garden centres. Remember that if the reception is being held in a marquee, guests may walk through the garden on their way to the marquee.

If the reception is going to be held at a hotel, the flower arrangements may be included within the hotel wedding package, although some hotels may charge extra for the service. You will need to arrange a meeting with the hotel management to discuss your colour scheme, the styles and positioning of the flower arrangements. Some caterers will also include flower arrangements for the reception as part of their wedding package.

Some brides may also arrange for flower arrangements at her mother's home, where she will probably dress on the morning of her wedding. Some photographers will take photographs of the bride at her mother's home before she leaves for the church, and the flowers serve as a decorative backdrop to these photographs.

To further decorate the inside of the house you may like to hang swags from doors and drape garlands round mantelpieces and banisters. You will have lots of visitors before and after the wedding wishing you luck and bringing gifts, so you may like to have the flower arrangements in place a day or two before and after the wedding.

The floral arrangements that are used in the ceremony venue could also be used at the reception venue. This would lower the cost of the flowers, especially for couples with a tight budget. You should either arrange the transportation of the arrangements to the reception with the florist, or alternatively ask several friends to take care of it while the wedding photographs are being taken. Once at the reception, the arrangements may be split up into smaller ones that can be placed on each table. Once the wedding is over, make sure that your table centres and moveable arrangements go home with your friends and relatives. Local old people's homes may be grateful for contributions in the form of flower arrangements.

Flowers And Colours To Suit Your Star Sign

When deciding on the theme for your flowers, try using the information below to help with significant colours and flowers.Why not make your bouquet personal by using the flowers and colours of your star sign:

Aries Blackthorn, carnation, fern, furze, gorse, gypsophilia, holly, poppy, red rose, thistle, wild olive and willow All shades of red

Taurus Blackthorn, cornflower, daisy, dandelion, forget-me-not, hawthorn, lily, rose, sweet smelling flowers, fruit, and willow Blue, green, pink

Gemini Airborne seeds, camomile, freesia, privet, tansy, yarrow, yellow iris, and yellow tulip, violet Dove grey, green, pale yellow, patterns, spots

Cancer Cedar, hawthorn, heather, holly, jasmine, linden, rushes, watercress, water lily, white and white day lily Cream, pale shades

Leo Almond, apple blossom, chamomile, dandelion, holly, lavender, marigold, tiger lily, sunflower and yellow flowers Pale brownish, yellow, golden, yellow

Virgo Almond, apple blossom, blackberry, daisy, grapevine, lavender, marguerite, indigo, purple, Michaelmas daisy, privet, sage and wintergreen Brown, grey, quiet colours, silver

Libra Apple blossom, pansy, pink, primrose, rosebud, strawberry, sweet smelling flowers together, night blue, and violet Black and white, pink, primary colours

Scorpio Black poppy, blackthorn, bramble, fuchsia, orchid and red rose Black, charcoal grey hemlock, dark/blood red

Sagittarius Dahlia, flame coloured gladioli, red carnation and reed Beige, bronze, denim blue, purple

Capricorn Blackberry, black poppy, camellia, hemlock, magnolia and sweet Pea and wild fruit All shades of brown and orange, black

Aquarius Azalea and gardenia Electric blue, fluorescent colours, silver grey

Pisces Lotus, water lily and white rose Aquamarine, mauve, purple, sea green

Flowers To Suit The Month Of Your Birthday

January Carnation and Snowdrop

February Violets and Primrose

March Jonquil and Violet

April Daisy and Sweet Pea

May Hawthorn and Lily of the Valley

June Honeysuckle and Rose

July Larkspur and Water Lily

August Gladioli and Poppy

September Aster and Morning Glory

October Calendula and Marigold

November Chrysanthemum

December Holly and Narcissus

The Symbolic Meanings Of Flowers

Flowers in general symbolise fertility and healthy children, and any purple flower symbolises Christ's blood, while white flowers symbolise innocence. Strong smelling herbs were thought to ward off bad luck, evil spirits and ill health by their strong smells, so were entwined around the flowers in the bride's bouquet. A red rose and white snowdrop separately mean joy and hope, but for the superstitious, red and white flowers together have a bad omen from the First World War, and have come to represent blood and bandages.

Orange Blossom worn in the bride's hair or on her dress used to signify virginity, and because it is an evergreen, it also symbolised the everlasting nature of the newlyweds' love for each other. An old wives tale states that a newly wedded couple are to destroy any artificial Orange Blossom used at their wedding otherwise they would experience misfortune. Forget-Me-Not has been a symbol of undying love even since before the Middle Ages.

You can personalise your bridal bouquet with hidden messages that are personal to you. The following list gives the meanings of many flowers and foliage that can be used at your wedding to create special symbolic meanings on your wedding day:

almond hope and indiscretion

amarylis splendid beauty and pride

ambrosia love returned

angelica soaring thoughts and inspiration sincerity

anthriscus sincerity

apple blossom better things to come, preference, perfection and good luck in the future

arum lily ardour

aster variety andii partake your sentiments

baby's breath / gypsophilia fertility

basil luck and good wishes

bay glory

bluebell everlasting love, constancy and kindness

broom humanity and neatness

buttercup / crowfoot you are rich in attractions

camelia gratitude and loveliness

carnation / pinks generally means love, good luck, divine love, deep love fascination and marriage. White Carnations mean constancy, and red ones are the masculine symbol of love. Pink ones in particular mean a woman in love. With Pinks, red ones mean pure love and white ones mean talent

cedar leaf i live for you

celadine joys to come

chrysanthemum red ones mean 'I love you', while white represents truth and constancy

clover faithfulness. a four leaf one means be mine.

cow parsley / Queen Anne's lace

festivity

cornflower delicacy and hope

daffodil / nacissus regard, chivalry and a sunny marriage

dahlia good taste, pomp and forever thine

daisy innocence, gentleness, sharing and a sunny marriage, while ox-eye daisy means patience

dill worthy of all praise and strength

dogwood durability - any kind of evergreen will bring luck

fennel strength and worthy of all praise

fern fascination and sincerity

forget-me-not true love and remebrance

fuschia scarlet ones mean taste

gardenia joy

geranium luck and true friendship

gilliflower / stock bonds of affection and lasting beauty

gladioli strength of character

gorse enduring affection

hazel reconciliation and peace

heaher white heather means good luck

hawthorn hope

heliotrope devotion and faithfulness

hibiscus delicate beauty

holly enchanment and foresight

honesty honesty and sincerity

honeysuckle generousity and devoted affection, bonds of love and sweetness of disposition

hyacinth generally means playfulness, in particular white ones mean loveliness and blue ones mean constancy

iris burning love, hidden message and compliments

ivy good luck, eternal fidelity, happiness, friendship and marriage

ivy geranium fidelity and bridal flower

japonica white ones mean loveliness

jasmine yellow ones mean grace and elegance, white ones mean amiability and Spanishpnes mean sensuality

jonquil (variety of daffodil) affection desired and returned

lemon blossom fidelity in love

lavender distrust

lilac mauve ones mean youthful innocence and white ones mean first emotions of love

lily generally means purity and chastity, while pink ones mean talent, white ones mean purity and modesty and regal ones mean majesty

lily of the valley happiness and the return of it, promise, purity, unconscious sweetness and renewed happiness

magnolia perseverance of love and nature

mallow consumed by love

marigold happiness and remebrance

marjoram blushes

mimosa friendship, sensitivity and secret or sweet love

mint wisdom and virtue

mistletoe 'I overcome difficulties'

moss maternal love

mugwart / sagebrush / wormwood luck and happiness, love and fidelity

myrtle love, fertility, peace and happiness

orange blossom chastity. fertility, everlasting luck, virginity, happiness and your purity equals your happiness

orchid beauty and a belle (handsome woman)

pansy think of me and you occupy my thoughts

parsley rejoice

passion flower belief and faith

peach blossom captive

poppy scarlett ones mean fantastic extravangance

primrose early youth

rhododendron true to the end and temperance

rose generally means romance, love, happiness and beauty. im particular, red ones mean romantic love, 'I love you' and will bring happiness and white ones mean purity, 'I am worthy of you', silence, innocence and worthiness in general

rosebud pure and lovely

rosemary remebrance and faithfulness

sage I think of you, esteem, strength, wisdom and domestic virtue

sea lavender / statice dauntlessness

snowdrop hope

speedwell / veronica fidelity

spindle tree your charms are engraved upon my heart

stephanotis exotic travel

stock lasting beauty

sunflower adoration and summer

sweet pea delicate pleasures, departure and innocence

sweet william gallantry and delicate pleasure

thyme activity

tuberose voluptuousness

tulip generally means fame and love, in particular red ones mean love and declaration of love, yellow ones mean hopeless love and variegated ones mean beautiful eyes

violet modesty and faithfulnes to the end

water lily purity of heart

wattle secret love and pure love

white heather happiness and luck

whitethorn luck

wisteria I cling to you

The Symbolic Meanings Of Flowers
Flowers in general symbolise fertility and healthy children, and any purple flower symbolises Christ's blood, while white flowers symbolise innocence. Strong smelling herbs were thought to ward off bad luck, evil spirits and ill health by their strong smells, so were entwined around the flowers in the bride's bouquet. A red rose and white snowdrop separately mean joy and hope, but for the superstitious, red and white flowers together have a bad omen from the First World War, and have come to represent blood and bandages.

Orange Blossom worn in the bride's hair or on her dress used to signify virginity, and because it is an evergreen, it also symbolised the everlasting nature of the newlyweds' love for each other. An old wives tale states that a newly wedded couple are to destroy any artificial Orange Blossom used at their wedding otherwise they would experience misfortune. Forget-Me-Not has been a symbol of undying love even since before the Middle Ages.

You can personalise your bridal with hidden messages that are personal to you. The following list gives the meanings of many flowers and foliage that can be used at your wedding to create special symbolic meanings on your wedding day:

almond hope and indiscretion

amarylis splendid beauty and pride

ambrosia love returned

angelica soaring thoughts and inspiration sincerity

anthriscus sincerity

apple blossom better things to come, preference, perfection and good luck in the future

arum lily ardour

aster variety andii partake your sentiments

baby's breath / gypsophilia fertility

basil luck and good wishes

bay glory

bluebell everlasting love, constancy and kindness

broom humanity and neatness

buttercup / crowfoot you are rich in attractions

camelia gratitude and loveliness

cedar leaf i live for you

celadine joys to come

chrysanthemum red ones mean 'I love you', while white represents truth and constancy

clover faithfulness. a four leaf one means be mine.

cow parsley / Queen Anne's lace festivity

cornflower delicacy and hope

daffodil / nacissus regard, chivalry and a sunny marriage

dahlia good taste, pomp and forever thine

daisy innocence, gentleness, sharing and a sunny marriage, while ox-eye daisy means patience

dill worthy of all praise and strength

dogwood durability - any kind of evergreen will bring luck

fennel strength and worthy of all praise

fern fascination and sincerity

forget-me-not true love and remebrance

fuschia scarlet ones mean taste

gardenia joy

geranium luck and true friendship

gilliflower / stock bonds of affection and lasting beauty

gladioli strength of character

gorse enduring affection

hazel reconciliation and peace

heaher white heather means good luck

hawthorn hope

heliotrope devotion and faithfulness

hibiscus delicate beauty

holly enchanment and foresight

honesty honesty and sincerity

honeysuckle generousity and devoted affection, bonds of love and sweetness of disposition

hyacinth generally means playfulness, in particular white ones mean loveliness and lue ones mean constancy

iris burning love, hidden message and compliments

ivy good luck, eternal fidelity, happiness, friendship and marriage

ivy geranium fidelity and bridal flower

japonica white ones mean loveliness

jasmine yellow ones mean grace and elegance, white ones mean amiability and Spanishpnes mean sensuality

jonquil (variety of daffodil) affection desired and returned

lemon blossom fidelity in love

lavender distrust

lilac mauve ones mean youthful innocence and white ones mean first emotions of love

lily generally means purity and chastity, while pink ones mean talent, white ones mean purity and modesty and regal ones mean majesty

lily of the valley happiness and the return of it, promise, purity, unconscious sweetness and renewed happiness

magnolia perseverance of love and nature

mallow consumed by love

marigold happiness and remebrance

marjoram blushes

mimosa friendship, sensitivity and secret or sweet love

mint wisdom and virtue

mistletoe 'I overcome difficulties'

moss maternal love

mugwart / sagebrush / wormwood luck and happiness, love and fidelity

myrtle love, fertility, peace and happiness

orange blossom chastity. fertility, everlasting luck, virginity, happiness and your purity equals your happiness

orchid beauty and a belle (handsome woman)

pansy think of me and you occupy my thoughts

parsley rejoice

passion flower belief and faith

peach blossom captive

poppy scarlett ones mean fantastic extravangance

primrose early youth

rhododendron true to the end and temperance

rosebud pure and lovely

rosemary remebrance and faithfulness

sage I think of you, esteem, strength, wisdom and domestic virtue

sea lavender / statice dauntlessness

snowdrop hope

spindle tree your charms are engraved upon my heart

stephanotis exotic travel

stock lasting beauty

sunflower adoration and summer

sweet pea delicate pleasures, departure and innocence

sweet william gallantry and delicate pleasure

thyme activity

tuberose voluptuousness

tulip generally means fame and love, in particular red ones mean love and eclaration of love, yellow ones mean hopeless love and variegated ones mean beautiful eyes

violet modesty and faithfulnes to the end

water lily purity of heart

wattle secret love and pure love

white heather happiness and luck

whitethorn luck

wisteria I cling to you

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