You’ve just got married and moved in together to a new place: would you splurge on buying new furniture, like sofas, or try to fit the old stuff in?

When my husband and I got married, we never bought new stuff at first; in fact we spent the first few weeks on huge pillows on the floor! However, that was 13 years ago, when sofas were much more expensive than they are today. There were hardly any sales on back then, like today for instance everywhere you look there is a half price sale or some trade in offer. Also £500 13 years ago was a lot of money, today it is virtually nothing.

If I were to get married today I think I would purchase new items more so than years ago, these would include items such as a sofa, because you can get some good deals. Television would be new because of the new up and coming change over to digital. Electrical equipment was all new because of the good deals today including the guarantee. In fact the only time I wouldn’t buy new items for the home is if an item was handed down to me from a family member, and even then it would have to fit in with my home.

Most Kitchens today are fitted; therefore it is unlikely your old cooker or fridge freezer will fit into the allocated kitchen space, so their maybe a need to buy yourself new kitchen facilities. And the temptation of cookers being removed and CORGI fitted free of charge is a temptation to purchase a new one. All of my pots and pans would of course come with me.

I think with all the offers and new technology today, more and more people are choosing new items, and selling on their old items. It is unfortunate as soon as you buy an upgraded item; it is outdated within a year. But at least you are secure with the knowledge most new items have a two plus year guarantee and will last you for many years.

Six months to the big day, and … one… two … three - panic!

No, it doesn’t have to be like that!

It may be tempting to fling yourself into a crash diet, join a gym, buy brand new gym wear and flog yourself half to death on the treadmill, or even opt for the surgeon’s knife in an attempt to get into shape for that big day, but unless you have allowed yourself to develop seriously bad habits, it’s hardly essential.

Instead, with a generous six months to play with, there’s plenty of time to tone up. Start by taking a long hard look at your current diet and level of fitness. It may be that simply cutting out cigarettes and alcohol, or at least, cutting down, can make an enormous difference to the overall level of fitness. Worried about having bingo wings or a less than flat tummy? There’s still plenty of time to do a spot of toning and exercising to pep up those areas of the body that you may be less than proud of.

This doesn’t even need special equipment - doing arm curls with a bottle of water in each hand, or a series of sit ups and stomach flattening exercises can make big changes to your body shape with little real effort. In between booking the reception and choosing the bridesmaids, a few brisk walks in the fresh air really help to boost circulation and get that peaches and cream complexion. Try a deep muscle massage or a body wrap to improve the look of the skin - with no effort at all required on your part!

Do bear in mind, though, that making any kind of drastic changes to your body shape once you’ve chosen your dress will probably mean a few extra trips for additional dress fittings. Better, then, to tone up sooner rather than later, and you’ll walk down the aisle looking and feeling a million dollars.

Ah, the joys of planning a wedding! So many things to think about: the venue, the guests, the date, the cake and, of course, the bride. In fact, she gets a whole list of worries all to herself. Who is going to be her bridesmaid? What dress will she wear? How will she style her hair? But, I’ll be honest; I’ve never considered the choice of jewellery as another bridal worry.

I’ll admit I’m not the most traditional person out there. In fact, the idea of a white wedding makes me come over all sweaty and a little bit nauseous. So the question of how much I would spend on bridal jewellery is a simple one - not a lot. Don’t get me wrong, I love jewellery but I would much prefer to wear something that perhaps belongs to my mother or grandmother than go out and spend an extortionate amount on a new piece for the day. Sentimental value far outweighs actual value, as far as I’m concerned.

It just seems like yet another excuse to spend money and, bearing in mind today’s climate of easy debt and high interest payments, spending a lot of money on something that is not entirely necessary just seems a bit stupid. I would rather spend a little on the dress, shoes, hair etc for the big day and have a lot more to put towards a wonderful honeymoon. For me, it’s all about priorities and, unfortunately, bridal jewellery is not one of them!

Buying jewellery for what might be the most important day of your life won’t always be easy, especially when trying to decide how much to spend, but there are a few points you should always consider.

Never spend what you know you cannot afford. While wedding is your big day, you don’t want to be worrying about how you’re going to pay off debts while you’re on your honeymoon!

Shop around. You might find a piece you like and have your heart set on it, but often the same piece or one very similar can be found for much cheaper. Leave plenty of time to shop so you have time to compare prices. The internet can be really helpful in searching for great deals.

Try to find jewellery you would love to wear again, especially if you’re stretching your budget when buying certain pieces. It’s not worth spending a large portion of your budget on a piece that you will likely only wear for a few hours. Think about the future and shop for jewellery you can wear again and again!

As a groom, would you buy shirts and rent the suits for your wedding?

The cost of a wedding these days can be £15000 and upwards.  With church, reception, cars, bridal gown, along with bridesmaids, ushers and all the accessories, the price is just too high for many couples.  It is tempting to compromise on some of the costs involved, especially for formal wear, which tends to be packed in the loft, gathering dust for many years following the happy event.

However, brides tend to be sentimental over their choice of gown, lots of time is spent choosing materials, styles and cut.  Different shops and boutiques are visited before any decisions are made.  It’s a major part of the event and enjoyed by most females.

Males, on the other hand, tend to be more practical and concerned with cutting expense where possible.  Most grooms would be happy to hire their suit and accessories, especially considering the difference in costs between hiring and buying.

The first name people think of when hiring suits is Moss Bros.  If you hire four or more wedding outfits from them, the groom’s wedding suit will be free!  The price for hiring a three piece morning suit, plus shirt and cravat averages between £70 and £80.  The quality of material and styling is generally superb.

Many hire companies offer lower prices that this, depending on quality.  Most towns have specialist hire shops, many conveniently situated on the High Street.  The groom, best man and ushers can visit the shops, feeling the quality of material, style and cut.  They can try on various styles and check which suits them best.  Hire firms will also do alterations where necessary and deliver to the home, all at little extra cost.
A designer morning suit of similar style and quality would cost anywhere between £600 and £800 to buy.  There is such  a huge difference in price for a suit which would be probably never be worn again, that it’s no surprise that more grooms than ever before are choosing to hire!

As a bride would you buy your wedding dress ready made from a store or would you have one custom made for you?

I would definitely choose to have a wedding dress made exclusively for me rather than simply buying one from a store. It may seem rather an extravagance but getting married is such a special occasion that I think it is well worth spending the extra money and having a dress custom made, just like wearing expensive designer shoes. It is important to choose a good dressmaker, preferably one that has been recommended to you. Most dressmakers are happy to show you samples of their work and testimonies from satisfied customers.

Having a custom made wedding dress means that you can choose the fabric such as silk, satin, tulle, chiffon etc. You can also check how likely it is to crease as you will be sitting in it for some time and want to keep looking your best.

You can look at colour swatches and take advice on what colour suits your skin best. Off-white, cream, ivory or oyster - which is a pale pink, may suit you better than pure white. You might even decide to choose a coloured wedding dress such as a dramatic red or gold. I like the idea of having a say in the design of my dress too rather than just choosing one from a rail that would be identical to that chosen by thousands of other brides.

Custom made dresses are made to measure to fit the bride’s size exactly. The bride also attends several fittings whilst the dress is being made so that fine adjustments can be made if for example the bride loses or gains a little weight.  The finished dress would fit perfectly so would hang well and look stunning on that special day.

The dream wedding dress could be cleaned after the wedding and stored carefully. It may well become a treasured family heirloom in the years to come and maybe it would be worn even by any future daughter at her wedding too.

Every bride should look and feel special on her wedding day and having an original, personally designed wedding dress will make her feel gorgeous.

You have 6 months to your wedding day – what’s your fitness routine to get into shape for the special day?

Well you can always just go for designer jewellery, it will always fit. I got engaged in September and arranged my wedding for February. I am not a slim girl and needed to get myself in better shape for my wedding. I dreaded the shopping trip to find a wedding dress, I had previously done bridesmaid for my sister and found it quite humiliating looking for a dress when I was not the ideal 10 or 12. I was always told that wedding dresses are usually small fitting and therefore I would need a larger size for the big day, another nightmare to face. But before buying a dress, I surely needed some gym wear!

I realised that I would not lose lots of weight before my big day but I was determined to look better, and smaller, I set about on quite a strict regime. I had a healthy eating plan, cut out alcohol and took up walking and playing badminton with my sister. I also hoped that the stress leading up to the big day would help me lose weight, but it did not

My wedding was to be in the February and I put off looking for my wedding dress until the beginning of January, partly because I thought I might get one in the sales but mostly to allow me more time to get into shape. I must admit that the sensible eating and moderate did make some difference to my body, not so much to my weight but it definitely improved my body shape. I still found the whole finding a wedding dress experience a bit humiliating, hopefully something I will only do once.

My wedding was eight years ago so fitness techniques have probably moved on since then, but I think the basics of a sensible eating plan and moderate exercise should help most brides to be. I could not afford to go for special treatments or to join a gym with a personal trainer, it would probably be a very good idea to join a gym and get some professional help.

Weddings are not just about vows of ever after. It’s also about the symbols that represent every single milestone that got you to that very moment. If the quintessential symbol that literally turns heads at the ceremony is your wedding dress, then your reception is adequately represented by the ever present and ever marvelous wedding cake. That’s the reason why you can’t just pick any old cake, thinking that it’s going to be eaten and inevitably digested. That’s the reason why you have to take the time to get a wedding cake that’s not just right, but absolutely perfect.

The first thing to consider when picking a wedding cake is your wedding theme or motif. You want your cake to be the ultimate showpiece for the event, not stick out like a sore thumb. With this is mind, go for a wedding cake appropriate for your wedding theme and one that seamlessly blends with your motif. All you need are some fabulous wedding cake ideas to get you started.

The second - and just as important - thing to consider is the cake’s taste. After all, not only do you want to have your cake, you want to eat it, too. Case in point, this is probably the most fun part of wedding planning - cake tasting. Once you’ve decided on your cake’s design, you can then pay attention to its very core. Take the time to sample different icings, flavors, and fillings. Mix and match various combinations to determine which appeals to you most. If you can’t make up your mind, you can even go as far as request different combinations in each cake tier. Just make sure you don’t go overboard with the cake tasting, though. You still want to fit in your wedding dress, after all!

Indeed, when it comes to your wedding cake, you just can’t leave it to the last minute or as a mere afterthought. It requires a lot of planning in itself, and we would be quite happy to help you along. There’s sure to be a perfect confection in our wedding cake selection that will tickle your fancy.

Every girl dreams of donning the dress to rule all dresses - the wedding dress. If you’re not even of legal age, though, you’ll have to wait a few years before you could do so. Until the time comes that it’s your turn to walk down the aisle, you’ll have to settle for the second best dress - the prom dress. Of course, don’t just settle for any dress off any rack. It’s prom night, and you want to shine!

High fashion doesn’t necessarily have to be found in designer stores. You can get stylish couture from the Tulipia Prom Collection at very reasonable prices. You’ll stand out in intricate lacework patterns on luxurious fabrics adorned with classy accoutrements. This is the perfect collection for every fashionista. For the trendsetter, the J. Valentina Prom Collection features prom dresses inspired by the latest trends. Also made from luxurious fabrics, you can go from rich embroidery to intricate beadwork, depending on your special personal style.

For the potential Prom Queen, the After Six Prom Collection has the perfect gowns to make you the belle of the ball. The collection’s sexy, elegant designs will flatter your every curve, whether you’re petite or plus-sized. If you’re ready to party in a blaze of style, the Jasmine Prom Collection and its lavish array of stunning prom gowns is just the thing for you. From classy long gowns to hot cocktail dresses in beautiful jewel and pastel colors, you’ll be dancing the night away!

Speaking of dancing, the prom will be incomplete without a dance with your escort. The Aglaia Prom Collection has elegant couture ranging from timeless long gowns to provocative cocktail dresses that will get you swept off your feet with the finest fabrics in the most beautiful rainbow colors.

Indeed, prom night will go down in history as one of the most momentous occasions of your life. Of course, you’d want a dress that reflects your personality. You can choose from any of stunning gown from the Mori Lee Prom Collection. Whether you go for a sexy cocktail dress, a high-fashion long gown, or even a fun sundress, you’ll cherish the experience forever.

Evening soirees call for evening dresses. And as a lady of fashionable inclinations, you not only want to look your best, but you want to be dressed the best. Whether it’s for a cocktail party after work or your very own wedding rehearsal dinner, you simply can’t settle for anything off the rack. You can’t settle for anything less than the best evening dresses for those important social events.

The MoriLee Evening Collection has a fabulous selection of elegant, high-fashion evening gowns in very attractive prices. These are made in different styles, colors, and sizes, so you know there’s one perfect for you to wear on those charming black-tie events. If you want ultra-modern couture in beautiful designs, the Aglaia Evening Collection has something for you. These are made from the finest quality fabrics, so the social butterfly in you will feel good all night long.

Of course, why should you fit in when you can stand out? And stand out you shall with Tulipia Evening Dresses. This collection features classy designer originals that dare to be different. You’ll have heads turning your way - and definitely in a good way - with this couture line’s daring use of unusual combinations in fabric and design and interesting details and embellishments. For something slightly less out-of-the-box yet still trendy and classy, the Jasmine Evening Collection has a vast array of classic long gowns and sexy cocktail dresses that you can choose from.

The J. Valentina Evening wear Collection is known for the designer’s penchant for fitted designs and bursts of color that make the selection’s youthful, fun dresses pleasing to the eye. Whether you’re petite or plus-sized, there’s a J. Valentina cocktail dress or long gown to flatter your figure.

In any social event, you want to sparkle and shine like no other. The AfterSix Evening Collection has gorgeous eveningwear made from the highest quality satin that would feel divine against your skin. You’ll dazzle the crowd as you shimmer with every move you make.

Indeed, with any of these stunning evening dresses, you’ll find yourself the belle of the ball. And for such attractive prices, what more could you possibly want?