Fairies Hill Moorings - Reflect Magazine

20 The Perfect Day
21
If you’ve recently taken the plunge and got engaged, Reflect
would like to offer our ‘Congratulations’ to the happy couple.
However, once the initial glow has died down and your face
no longer aches from smiling 24 hours a day, it’s time to get
planning.
Unless you have unlimited funds, chances are your wedding day will have to be
done on some sort of budget. If your budget doesn’t stretch to the UK average
of £18,500 (http://www.weddingsday.co.uk/average-wedding-cost), then you’ll
not only need to open a bank account to save for your big day, you’ll also need
to plan carefully to avoid starting married life in debt.
The venue you choose for your wedding day all depends on the type of
ceremony you’d like. A marriage ceremony is basically the same whether you opt
for a religious or civil affair: it’s a public declaration of your love for one another
and it will give your new, legal status as husband and wife. Many brides dream
of a traditional white wedding, in church with all the trimmings, whilst others
dream of declaring their love in an ancient castle, a charming country estate or
a contemporary city hotel. A survey, carried out by Condé Nast Brides Magazine
in 2009, discovered the average couple will spend £1,679 on a ceremony venue
and a further £3,500 on a reception venue; if you’d like to cut this figure, the
advice is not to tie the knot on a traditional summer Saturday date and opt for a
weekday wedding or a winter date, where prices can lower by up to 50%.
12 Months to Go
With a year left, it’s time to think about your dress, plain or elaborate, off the
peg or designer, the earlier you make a decision the better. Book the wedding
reception and organise all the trimmings including musicians, DJs, caterers,
photographers, transport and florist.
9 Months to Go
Book the honeymoon and choose bridesmaids’ dresses and outfits for the
ushers.
6 Months to Go
Book the toastmaster and decide on the best man – speeches take time! Order
wedding stationery, choose bride & groom’s wedding rings and decide on your
shoes & accessories.
3 Months to Go
Visit the hairdresser and beautician to have a run-through of what you’d like
on the big day. Issue guests with a wedding list and don’t forget to buy the
wedding licence.
1 Month to Go
Reconfirm everything (in writing if possible)! Arrange wedding rehearsal and
organise hen and stag nights
It’s The Final
Countdown
Image courtesy of Bill Haddon
www.photographybybillhaddon.co.uk
Organising your big day may seem more like a logistical nightmare than an
exciting experience, but don’t panic, forward planning is the key to success…
18 Months to Go
Finalise the important details such as date, budget and whether you want to get
married in a church or register office. Start searching for your wedding reception
venue.
1 Week to Go
Wear in your wedding shoes and double check everyone knows their role in the
big day!
1 Day to Go
Relax, it’s too late to worry now!
A Beautiful Symbol Of Your Love
Thanks To AVANTI
Many people will agree that the most
significant purchase of their lives, both
financially and emotionally, is theirs and
their partner’s wedding ring. Whether it‘s
18ct white gold, yellow gold or platinum,
no other single piece of jewellery will ever
be as important or carry as much magic and
sentiment.
A family-run business, Avanti Jewellers in Dig
Street, Ashbourne, stock a fabulous selection of
exquisite classic and more modern engagement
and wedding rings, as well as specialising in
beautiful, sophisticated bespoke jewellery,
handmade and designed by proprietor, Alan
Matkin and resident goldsmith, Ron Fairweather,
in collaboration with customers.
Alan and Ron are fully aware of how much it
means to a couple to find and choose the perfect
rings to seal their union; rings that are the symbol
of their hopes and dreams for the future. Alan,
Ron and the team at Avanti are passionate about
exquisite jewellery so if customers don’t find the
wedding rings of their choice, Alan and Ron will
help couples design it. The customer is involved
at every stage of the process and from
an initial pencil sketch, a 3D image can
be produced, of the final piece, using
the latest computer technology.
Weddings rings from Avanti start from
around £250, but from there, the sky is
really the limit. Alan, Ron and the team
understand that buying a wedding and
engagement ring is a very personal
thing, which is why they can cater for every taste
and budget; they strive to offer something to
please everyone. Avanti is not a brand-led store;
the team would rather their customers choose
something that’s a little different, more them, or
have a bespoke piece made to their individual
specifications.
Alan, Ron and the team at Avanti are happy
to advise customers on their choice of stones,
as well as choosing the appropriate metal.
White gold is still very popular, although there
is a movement back to yellow gold. Platinum,
although more expensive, continues to be
sought after, but Avanti offer an affordable
alternative; Palladium 950 is a platinum group
metal which is naturally white, will never change
colour, is hard wearing, hypoallergenic and is
affordably priced.
As well as engagement and wedding rings,
Avanti also cater for the bride and gifts for the
bridal party, such as diamond earrings and
pendants, pearls and seawater and freshwater
cultured pearls.
Open Monday to Saturday from
9:30am until 5pm.
For more information,
please call 01335 348961 or
visit www.avantijewellers.co.uk