De-Stress Summer Issue 2010

Photograph by kind permission of Johannes Roux�

© Johannes Roux - www.johannes-weddings.com�

De-Stress�Summer Issue 2010�

How to Choose a Wedding�Photographer�

Why use a Make-Up Artist�on your Wedding Day�

Stress Tips for the Bride-to-be� Sean & Karina’s Story�Married in Las Vegas�

The Pros and Cons of getting�married abroad�

The A to Z of Weddings�

Wedding Special�

Whatswhat.ie is an online business directory for Ire-�land and businesses that supply a service to Ireland.�Whatswhat.ie provides a service to the general pub-�lic and other companies that are searching for a�business, product or service in Ireland, e.g. Plumb-�ers, Hotels, Electricians, Accountants, Pet Shops,�Cinemas and much much more. The user can search�locally or nationally.�

Having been online over 8 years we now have over�70,000 businesses listed and are getting more than�6,500 visits a day. We are bringing at least 300 of our�750 categories to the first page of Google.ie results�and there are at least 25,000 companies on those�categories – to the first page of Google.ie!!! These�figures are growing daily.�

Whatswhat.ie is the first Irish online directory to�provide Social Media Links on our directory – Twit-�ter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Youtube. All paid ad-�vertisers can avail of this extra service at no extra�cost to their normal subscription.�

You can list your business for free on Whatswhat.ie�or why not upgrade to get more of your listing for a�little cost. You can avail of a Premium listing for�only €5+vat a month and can cancel at any time.�

Alternatively you can be above your competitors�and go for a Top Ten Listing for only €200+vat a�year. All the advantages for both are below.�

ü� Top Ten in the category – first come first�served *only Top Spots�

ü� Will not rotate – guaranteed on first page�of your category *only Top Spots�

ü� A direct link to your website (great for�SEO)�

ü� Add 20 keywords to optimise your expo-�sure on the directory�

ü� Add 20 products or services�ü� Add a special offer on the Special Offers�

page plus become involved in the popular�Prizes page.�

ü� Add a 300 word paragraph about your�company�

ü� *NEW* Add your social media links too –�Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube�

ü� Your web address and contact details will�be shown in your company description�area�

ü� Add your logo to your listing�ü� Your company will be listed above the�

Premium and Free listings *only Top�Spots�

ü� You’ll receive a login and password to�change your details at any time�

ü� If you pay for the listing immediately by�paypal or credit card you will be on the�home page for at least one week *only�Top Spots�

If you cover Nationwide you will come up in the�search results on Whatswhat.ie for every one of your�keywords for every town in Ireland searched. That’s�a lot of coverage.�

Please visit http://www.whatswhat.ie for more in-�formation and contact details.�

Whatswhat.ie�The No.1 Irish Business Directory online.�

A Word from the Editor�

Hi, I'm Catherine A Connors�and like many of you, I know�first-hand what it's like to live�with the challenges of today’s�modern and fast paced world. �Many people are now turning�towards a more holistic and�natural way to live and deal�with day to day life.�

I'm a Stress Management�Consultant, Time Manage-�ment Consultant and a holistic�therapist, trainer and teacher. �This combination puts me in�an unique position where I can�offer professional guidance with�the added touch of deep under-�

standing that can come only through personal experience and knowledge.�

This magazine is an in-house magazine and was created to bring advice and knowl-�edge to anyone suffering from stress. This magazine is lucky to have many highly�experienced contributors and you can read and enjoy their articles here.�

As a Stress Consultant and holistic health expert, I have much experience dealing�with health issues relating to the mind-body connections and welcome any questions�you may have as regards health, holistic living or therapies and natural solutions.�These questions will be answered either on the magazine or on my web-site, please�remember to put ‘Ask Catherine’ in the subject heading.�

If you would like to see a particular article appear within this magazine, are special-�ized in a particular area which may interests our readers and your would like to�contribute, you are welcome to send your suggestions by emailing�[email protected]�

De-Stress is an in-house magazine and is published quarterly by Stress Solutions 4 Life. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without�the permission of the publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this magazine is factual and correct at the�time of press.�

The opinions expressed in this issue are not necessarily those of the editor or Stress Solutions 4 Life. Articles, advertisements and information�in ‘De-Stress are provided for education and debate only. The information contained with the magazine in not intended to be used by�non-medically qualified readers as a substitute for, or basis of, medical treatment, since some material may be speculative and/or not in�agreement with current medical practice. Always check with your GP before trying any remedies and in particular always seek medical advice�if you are pregnant or taking medication before following the advise given in articles or advertisements in this magazine.�

De-Stress Magazine - Summer 2010 - Page 3�

Contents�Page�4� The A to Z of Weddings�

Page�7� Why use a Make-Up� Artist on your� Wedding Day�

Page�8� Stress Tips for the� Bride-to-be�

Page�10� Inviting Children to� Weddings�

Page�11� How to Choose a� Wedding Photographer�

Page�16� Stress Free Weddings...�

Page�17� Pros and Cons of� Getting Married abroad�

To learn more about Catherine A Connors and her�work please visit her website at -�

www.stress-solutions4life.com�

You can also read more about�Stress Management and Natural solutions by�

visiting Catherine’s blog sites -�

www.stresssolutions4life.wordpress.com�www.naturalsolutions4life.wordpress.com�

By Jennie Byrne of TheVenueShop.ie�

Alcohol: The main aspects are;�Drinks Reception, During the Meal and�Toast Drink. Make your decision on what�goes best with your budget whether it is�Tea/Coffee, wine, champagne, cocktails�or beer etc.�White & red wine is normally a 60/40�rule and to reduce costs don’t include a�toast drink or see Favours further down�about making your toast drink and wed-�ding favour into one.�

Budget: The wedding budget is�ultimately the most important aspect of a�wedding and the most overlooked. There�is no point in having a dream wedding�when you can’t afford it. Both of you�write a list of what the important ele-�ments are for your wedding – the venue,�the music, having everyone there etc.�Swap lists and cross reference each�other’s ideas. You might be surprised of�your partner’s ideas. List the important�factors starting with the most important�right down to the least important. Get�prices for these and then decide on what�you can afford. If you have a strict price�guideline that you can afford – STICK TO�IT. If a supplier is too expensive move on,�there are plenty of suppliers out there�you can afford. My motto has always�been to spend the money where matters.�What do people notice the most – Venue�(Food), Band and obviously the couple, is�it worth spending a fortune on things�that won’t even be noticed??�

Tip: Create a spreadsheet, Negotiate,�Look for Deals Online, Avoid Costly Sur-�prises, Be Savvy & Research, Be Creative,�Open a Bank Account Dedicated to Wed-�ding Savings, and Keep a Positive Atti-�tude. The cheapest or most expensive�isn’t always the best.�

Cake: While the look of the cake�is important the flavour is ultimately vi-�tal, people will remember a bad tasting�cake. Meet with potential suppliers and�arrange a tasting. If your budget doesn’t�stretch to fancy decoration or your�colour scheme remember you can buy it�plain and do some DIY decoration your-�self with ribbons, flowers and a brooch�(no one will know the difference) Also�bear in mind that you can put dummy�tiers on the cake, if you what a 4 tier cake�but you feel it will be either too much or�out of budget make the top tier a dummy.�

Dress: Lots of choices out there,�research bridal boutiques online and�book an appointment. Try on lots of dif-�ferent style dresses to see which one�suits best. Don’t be afraid to shop around�and negotiate. Remember it could take�up to 8 months to order in your dress and�that doesn’t include time for alternations�etc – so start dress shopping ASA�

Emergency Kit: Can be vital on�the day and you will be thankful of it,�things to include should be:�

- Hair Clips�- Hair Spray�- Nails, Glue, File, Clippers & Polish�- Tweezers�- Tissues�- Makeup�- Mints�- Deodorant�- Perfume�- Safety Pins�- Plasters�- Flat Shoes�- Sewing Kit�- Spot/Stain Remover & While Chalk�- Pain Killers�

Favours: Again lots of options�available for wedding favours, Candles,�Sweets, Chocolate etc. For a great DIY &�cheap option write a brief personalized�note to each guest. Be creative and dou-�ble use your favours as place settings –�name on the box or sweet wrapper.�

Alcohol miniatures are my favorite wed-�ding favours as they can double up as a�toast drink.�

Guest-list: To begin creating a�guest list create a spreadsheet with “Yes”�“No” & “Maybe” columns (the “No’s” are�for those you remove from the other col-�umns) Sometimes it is handier to create�sub lists for Brides List, Groom List, Par-�ents List etc but ensure not to duplicate.�Excel has a formula for deleting duplica-�tions so make sure to use this. Sit down�with the Groom or Parents and go�through the list – if you are trying to keep�numbers down CUT CUT CUT. My motto�with guest lists is to keep the line dead�straight. Once you have your final guest�list create a spreadsheet similar to the�below that will help you manage RSVPs�

Here is a sample wedding guest list lay-�out:�

Honeymoon: Go to a reputable�travel agent for advice and guidance. Re-�member to research the seasons accord-�ing to when you wish to travel. Also�


check expiry dates of passports as some�countries only accept passports that are�no less than 6 months away from expiry.�

Invites: DIY, bespoke, retail or�high street it comes down to your per-�sonal choice, time and budget. DIY invites�are great, if you have the creativity and�patience. Bespoke invites can be expen-�sive but you are getting a unique one of a�kind invite, great if you have an idea in�your head but can’t find or make it your-�self.�

Video invites are becoming very popular�and if given some consideration and�imagination could save you money while�standing out from the crowd.�

Just a Reception: This is becoming�very popular; couples are having a very�intimate wedding day with just immedi-�ate family (Ceremony then dinner), going�on honeymoon and on return have a�party with all family and friends.�

Kids: at weddings is all down to�personal choice (and the size of your�family) you may have lots of young nieces�and nephews you want to share your�special day with, or just the bridal party�(pageboy & flower girl) whatever the�case if you are inviting kids to your wed-�ding ensure that they are entertained in�some way. A wedding can be a long day�for young kids & the parents minding�them. Hiring a clown, face painter etc can�be one way of keeping them entertained�but think about colouring books or toys�to play with at the table during the meal�also.�

Lighting: Add impact and ambi-�ance to your wedding with creative light-�ing. Candles, Tea lights and Lanterns are�cheap to buy and can make a wonderful�romantic setting. Fairy lights or Chinese�lanterns are great for decorating outdoor�areas. While up lighters around the ban-�quet room will really set the tone.�

Music: Is a great way to reflect�your personality and set the tone for�

your wedding. Here are some helpful tips�to guarantee a perfect day:�

- Check in advance if certain music isn’t�allowed during ceremony (some priests�don’t allow modern music)�- Don’t be afraid to give performers (DJ,�Band, Singers etc) a list of songs that you�DON’T want, also good to give it in writing�- It is hard to please everyone music wise�but I would suggest to try have a good�mix of different genres, this way you are�guaranteed a full dance floor. Remember�it is a long night of music; younger guests�will be around for the whole night, while�the older ones probably won’t. Keep mu-�sic for the younger guests until later on in�the night.�

Negotiating: This should be�done for EVERY element of your wedding�- your venue to your music, dress, shoes,�hair, makeup, suits, flowers, cake etc -�EVERYTHING. Don’t be afraid to ask for a�discount or something thrown in. Re-�member all those savings can go towards�your honeymoon.�

Organisation: Being organised�simply means knowing where the infor-�mation is when you need it such as con-�tracts, phone numbers, pictures etc it�doesn’t have to be hard work, simply cre-�ate a Wedding folder. Pre made folders�can be bought in book shops or you can�create your own by buying a ring binder,�plastic inserts and dividers. Create sec-�tions in your folder for each specific area�allowing for quick reference, such as�

- Photographer - store all contact details,�contracts and receipts�- Bouquets - create mood boards for ar-�eas of your wedding with pictures of the�things you like either found on the inter-�net or in magazines.�- Guest-lists etc�

Tip: Keep a ‘To Do’ list as a reference�guide to keep you on track�

Photographer: The photos of�your weddings are basically memory�catcher and something you and your fam-�ily and other generations will look back�on in years to come. Don’t rely on a friend�

to take the photos of your day, hire a�professional. Research local photogra-�phers, meet with them and view their�work. Most photographers can do a pack-�age deal which will include the video or�can recommend a good videographer.�

Quotes: Get at least 5 written�quotes for each element (photographer,�cake etc) do not accept quotes over the�phone, ask suppliers to send a confirma-�tion email outlining the quote and what�exactly is included for that price.�Registration: One of the top ‘To Do’�things on your list is to find out the de-�tails of registering marriage/marriage�notification process etc depending on�where and how you are getting married.�

Speeches: A nerve racking time�for most people, the wedding speeches is�one of the key highlights to the day.�There are lots of techniques to overcome�the nervous of public speaking, such as:�

- Eye Contact�- Speed - speak slowly�- Posture - stand still�- Natural - be yourself and mean what�you say�- Time - don’t drag it out�- Smile�

Table Centrepieces: To create an�extravagant wedding ambience, what-�ever the budget, the centrepieces should�be given some serious consideration,�whether you hire them or do a DIY ver-�sion it can really give your venue the�‘WOW’ factor. There are lots of different�types of centrepieces available and it re-�ally depends on your taste and budget,�here are just some of the different types�

- Floral�- Candelabra (With Ivy, large, small, crys-�tal, etc)�- Glass Bowls (With floating candles or�flowers)�- Glass Vases (With a single flower or a�full bouquet of flowers & beads)�- Candles (Pillar or tea lights)�

For something totally unique try:�- Fruit�- Feathers�


- Birdhouse/Birdcage (filled with flowers�or decoration)�- Clocks�- Fish Bowl with a goldfish (or fake fish)�- Favours (favours that double as centre-�pieces)�

Unique Ideas: Don’t be afraid to�think outside the box, personalised your�special day with some of your own�unique ideas. Get some inspiration from�magazines, websites and blogs.�

Venue: Some tips for choosing�your perfect wedding venue;�

- Have a rough idea of your guest num-�bers - no point in finding the perfect�venue and it doesn’t fit all your guests�- Write a list of the key elements you�require and score each venue based on�your requirements, such as location,�grounds and size etc�- Take photos of the�venues (get permis-�sion) so you can look�back over the photos�- Have your church�picked (or idea of�church location) so�you can work out trav-�elling time�- If going for civil mar-�riage - does the venue�cater for this?�- Get the venue to give�you a "walk through"�of the day, where you�will come in, where�your guests will be di-�rected etc. This will�give you a great feel�for the venue�- Suss out the sur-�rounding area for�photo opportunities�- Make sure the prices you are quoted are�for the year you are looking to get mar-�ried in and if it’s a midweek or weekend�rate�

Questions to ask the venue:�

- Is there an extra charge for catering for�people with dietary requirements, such a�vegetarians etc�- What time is the bar open until?�

- Is there a charge for bar extension?�- What time is the residents bar open un-�til?�- Are the menus flexible? (if there is�something you dislike)�- Is a menu tasting included?�- What are their booking & payment�terms? (a lot of hotels are asking for full�payment one week before the wedding)�- What is their corkage charge?�- Are they child friendly? (if you plan to�have children at your wedding)�- Is there a special accommodation rate�for guests?�- What is included in the price? - red car-�pet, T&C on arrival, cake stand etc�- Where are wedding photos taken?�- If your thinking fireworks - double�check with the venue if it’s been done�there before or not, they will know if�there are any restrictions on this or not�

Wedding Planner: Is not just for�the rich and famous. Yes they do charge a�

fee but you are paying for their experi-�ence, creativity and most importantly�cost saving tips. A wedding planner will�provide you with vital advise, organisa-�tion, contacts, savings and tips. They all�should be flexible to your needs and re-�quirements. A wedding planner could re-�ally come in handy if you work full time�and are finding it hard making the time to�research wedding suppliers or if you are�

looking for specific wedding suppliers�and ideas but can’t execute them yourself.�

Remember a wedding planner can be�your personal PA on your wedding day,�you don’t have to ask a family member or�friend to check has the church been deco-�rated or have the bouquets arrived, your�wedding planner will have this all sorted.�Arrange a meeting with your local wed-�ding planner to see how they can help�your day be as stress free as possible.�

Xtra Entertainment: Besides�from the wedding band & DJ, couples are�looking into creating more xtra enter-�tainment for their guests, with such�things like Fireworks, Magician, Singing�Waiters, Caricaturist, Casino Tables,�Dancers and Video-Guest Book.�Tip: If your venue is not permitted to�have Fireworks on the grounds look at�hiring Fire Performers instead.�

Your Flowers:�You can go as flower�mad as you’d like (or�can afford) main areas�to cover are: Spreads�for Ceremony, Brides�Bouquet, Bridesmaid�Bouquet, Button Holes�for Grooms men & Fa-�thers, headpiece or�bouquet for flower�girl. Also don’t forget�arrangement of flow-�ers for Granny, Moth-�ers and anyone else�who has helped you�out.�If allergic to flowers or�would want something�different why don’t�you try: Feathered�

Bouquets, Fruit Bouquets, Butterfly Bou-�quets, Shell Bouquets, Button Bouquets,�Pinecone Bouquets, Crystal Bouquets.�

ZZzzzzzzzz: Coming up to your big�day ensure to get plenty of sleep and re-�laxation. Make sure to get plenty of fresh�air and exercise, it will help switch off�your mind and sleep. Stay stress free and�positive.�


I’m sure that’s a question many brides-�to-be have asked themselves. Or indeed,�been asked by their finace/mother/�mother-in-law!�“You do your own make-�up every day? Why get someone in to do�what you already do yourself?”�

I’m going to take you through all the fac-�tors of bridal make-up and explain the�how's and whys.�

As a make up artist with 14 years expe-�rience, I’ve done the make-up for more�brides than I can count. Each one had an�individually designed look. Some�wanted dark smoky eyes, others wanted�soft, barely there neutrals and every-�thing imaginable inbetween. The one�factor they all had in common? They all�wanted to look their absolute best.�The�wedding day is the one day when�looking perfect is imperative!�

So you need to take into consideration�these aspects:�

Longevity -�This make-up needs to last�all the day. And night! You don’t want�to be touching up your eye-shadow and�re-concealing half way through the day.�Good make-up artists have tricks a�plenty up their sleeves when it comes to�achieving that long stay finish. I always�pay close attention to the skin and ad-�dress any underlying issues before I�even touch it with base. Then there’s�setting the make-up without looking dry�and powdery, stopping the eyes from�creasing and liner from smudging.�

Photography -�Flash photography can�have a huge effect on the make-up you�wear. It can change what looks like a�natural make-up into a ‘nothing at all’�look. That smudge of kohl pencil and�quick coat of mascara won’t stand up to�the job. Without enough definition�

around the eyes, they’ll disappear (not�literally, just photographically). The art�is having enough on so your features are�defined but not so much that you feel�over done. I have a technique where I�press linger into the roots of the lash,�this gives the right amount of depth just�where its needed. Plus, its water proof,�of course!�

When it comes to foundation, having a�base on that doesn't reflect well can lead�to a washed out complexion. I’m a stick-�ler for ensuring the skin looks as flaw-�less as possible without even looking as�though there is any make-up on. A�make-up artist will have a variety of�shades in his/her kit, that way, if you’ve�had a spray tan or used a self tan at�home, your face will match your body�exactly. There’s nothing worse than�your face looking like its stuck onto�someone else's body.�

I painstakingly custom blend the foun-�dation on the day to get the perfect�shade and texture. Also, be very careful�not to use light reflective products, un-�less they’re being used for clever high-�lighting and contouring, they can reflect�back a white tone, especially around the�eyes and can be spotted a mile off.�

The Look -�We, as women, are super�critical when we look in the mirror! It’s�hard for us to be objective when it�comes to our own faces. That's why we�so often get stuck in make-up ruts. A�make-up artist looks at you differently.�

I look at my client and I see the beauty in�her face. I see what I want to enhance�and emphasize, as opposed to what I�want to cover. This gives a fresh take on�styles and colours that you may have�never though of. A good make-up artist�will bear what you do every day in mind�

and create you a look that combines�your own style with new ideas. The idea�is not to make you look like someone�else, just a more polished, perfect ver-�sion of you! Don’t be afraid to show clip-�pings from magazine of make-up that�you’ve seen. Sometimes it’s easier to�show than to describe. That’s what tri-�als are for....�

Time -� Don’t underestimate how manic�the morning of your wedding can get. I�like to take the bride off into another�room to do her make-up. This gives her�a break from the mayhem and lets her�focus on the most important thing, her-�self.�

It’s one of the things my brides always�comment on, how relaxed they feel by�the time their make-up is done. Be-�tween myself and the hairdresser, we�get the bride ready first and then it’s�time for the bridesmaids, mother-of-the-�bride and everyone else. Then, when ev-�eryone is done, I return to the bride.�

By this time, she’s hopefully had some-�thing to eat and drink. It’s time for a�small sip of champagne and the last�touch ups. I put her lips on last, check�the bride has her touch up items in a lit-�tle bag. I then have a look at her back,�shoulders and arms for any blemishes�that need camouflaging, get those cov-�ered and seated and wait for the dress to�be put on.�

Finally, I take a picture on my digital�camera to check there’s nothing reflect-�ing badly with the flash. Then I show�the bride so she can see how amazing�she looks.�

Thanks to Katy from�www.makeupbykaty.com for submit-�

ting this article.�


As someone who is married herself,�helped out closely with the weddings of�family and friends, and who has been�running a bridal shop for the past 6 years,�I have been able to see firsthand many of�the stressful episodes that couples can�encounter, and hopefully provide a little�insight to these, coupled with a few tips�on how to avoid them!�

From the perspective of someone who�sells wedding dresses, one of the first�things I would say is don't leave it too late�to go looking for the dress of your�dreams. Most bridal shops will ask you�to give them 6 months notice for order-�ing a dress. This is to allow the dress to�be made, delivered, fitted and altered. I�would advise looking about 10 - 12�months in advance so that you don't end�up 'panic buying' because you know�you're leaving it tight! The last thing you�want is to be told by a sales assistant that�you need to order 'this week!' and even in�doing so, the dress will be due two weeks�before the wedding. Things completely�out of anyone's control can delay things -�take Icelandic volcano cancelling flights�and playing havoc with deliveries for ex-�ample. So if you give yourself plenty of�time, the pressure will be off.�

I would also advise to take only one or�two close friends or family members�with you to choose your dress. Many�girls land with groups of 6 or 7 'helpers'�to pick a dress, and you can bet your last�cent that they would all pick different�dresses out as their favorite. The worst is�when a bride is looking at herself in a�dress and a very opinionated friend or�sister screws up her face and says that�the bride looks like a doll on toilet roll�holder. A recipe for a very stressful�

dress-finding exercise. So choose your�helpers wisely!�

It is a good idea to set a budget for your-�selves too. This doesn’t just apply to�wedding dresses. Set yourself a budget�for each item, and try to stick to it. If you�go over budget on one thing, try to cut�back on another. No couple wants to�start married life up to their ears in debt�due to out-of-control wedding day spend-�ing. If you visit a shop and tell them what�your budget is, the staff will only be too�happy to show you what they have in that�range. There’s no point trying on 2500€�wedding dresses if your budget is 1000€�max. Don’t be bashful about picking up�the phone and asking the price range.�People do this all the time in my shop,�and I can always either re-assure them�that my dresses are in budget, or if not, I�can help point them in the right direction�or tell them about a forthcoming sample�sale.�

Sample sales are a great way to get a�gorgeous dress at a fraction of the price.�It’s a much better option than going�down the internet route. I have had sev-�eral brides landing to my shop in tears�over the past few years, where they have�cut costs by ordering a wedding dress�online. Most of these ‘cheap’ dresses are�poor quality copies of designer dresses�(that may not even be the right size or�colour) and most girls wouldn’t dream of�wearing them when they actually see�them in the flesh. No bride wants the�added stress of having to look for a last-�minute dress for one of the most impor-�tant (and most photographed) days of�her life. Or worse still, to have to wear�some of the really bad ones I have seen.�

In relation to the planning stages of a�wedding, there can be a lot of stressful�tensions in a family when an engagement�is announced (sometimes over a son or�daughter’s choice of spouse which is a�really tricky one). For many, it could be�disagreements with parents over who to�invite. Most couples nowadays are pay-�ing for their own wedding and want to�keep numbers down, asking only those�who they want to invite. This can be a�tricky one when a parent feels obliged to�ask certain friends or relatives that you�haven’t counted in. I have noticed a lot�more couples more recently who are opt-�ing to have a very small and intimate�wedding with 30 – 40 guests and then�having a bigger ‘evening do’ later that day�for everyone else to join in the celebra-�tion. Many brides and grooms also get�nervous and stressed out about taking�their vows in front of a huge crowd of�spectating guests, and this is often a good�compromise to take the pressure off.�

Many also go abroad to save costs (and�hassle) and take only their closest friends�and family with them, and then organise�a big party when they come home. It can�be a good idea if the destination is short-�haul, and the guests can make it their�annual holiday. Italy and Cyprus seem to�be the two most popular destinations at�the moment, and your travel agent will�team you up with a wedding co-ordinater�who will make sure everything runs like�clock-work. Most brides tell me that it�doesn’t work out much cheaper overall�having this type of wedding, but they love�that fact that a huge chunk of the stress is�cut out and they find the wedding prepa-�rations are much more relaxed.�


By Ciara Dubby�


One thing I tell all my customers is not to�be afraid to delegate in the run up to the�wedding. Bridesmaids and groomsmen�aren’t just there to look good in their�dresses and suits on the day! Delegate�members of the bridal party to pick up�suits, pick up dresses, collect cakes and�help with errands for last minute things.�Chances are, they will only be too happy�to help out where they can, freeing up�time for you to organise things like seat-�ing plans, final numbers, menus, and of�course all those trips to the salon to make�sure you are looking your best on the day!�

The week of the wedding will be a busy�time for visitors coming with gifts and�cards, and my in-laws had a great idea for�taking the pressure off of having to enter-�tain a continuous stream of people arriv-�ing. About a week and a half before the�

wedding, they announced they were hav-�ing a ‘night’ in the house for everyone to�come around with their gifts and to see�the bride and groom. They had plenty of�supplies in to give the visitors a wee�drink and a bite to eat – everyone had a�great night’s craic – and the week of the�wedding there was only a trickle of visi-�tors. A complete contrast to our house –�there were visitors every night of the�week of the wedding to be entertained –�we were practically kicking some of my�uncles out the door at 3am the night be-�fore my own wedding! So much for us�girls having a quiet night in to paint our�nails, have a glass of wine or two, and an�early night!�

I hope that anyone reading this will pick�up a few tips that will make the run up to�their wedding a little less stressful! And�

remember the most important thing of�all. It’s not all about putting on an im-�pressive wedding day and for everything�being perfect. The wedding day is the�first day of a marriage where two people�will spend the rest of their lives together.�Try and make decisions together in the�preparation for your marriage – letting�one person call all the shots is not a good�foot to start off on! Share the workload�and try to organize as much as possible�together (but I do draw the line at having�the groom help pick the dresses!) And�don’t lose sight of the fact that the most�important thing is that you will be marry-�ing the person who you want to be with�forever, all the days of your life…�

Thanks to Ciara Duddy of�www.beautifuldaybrides.co.uk for�

submitting this article.�

Beautiful Day - Bridal Cottage.�Vale Centre, Greysteel, Co Derry, N Ireland.�

Tel 02871 813682�

Stockists of Wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mens hirewear,�formal, special occasionwear and Communion wear.�

www.beautifuldaybrides.co.uk�

Package deals available - 10% off bridesmaids when you buy your�wedding dress with us. Order 6 mens suits, and the groom goes�

free! Huge selection of Maggie Sottero wedding dress.�


Little Wedding Crechers is here to help every couple with the dilemma�of whether to invite children to their big day or not. Making a decision�to not have children at your wedding can often cause great stress to�the couple, family and friends. It can often be a case of damned if you�do and damned if you don’t.�

And that is why we are here to help. You may wish to book us for your�full day or maybe just for the meal and speeches, or even just for the�ceremony, whatever your needs we are here to help. We will tailor a�programme of activities for your exact needs to suit the profile of your�little guests. Whatever package you choose we will make each of your�

little guests feel like they were cen-�tre of attention while you relax and�enjoy your day.�

Full details about Little Wedding�Crechers can be found on their�

website -�

www.littleweddingcrechers.com�

There are many considerations on invit-�ing children to a wedding. If you have�not made concrete plans yet it is�strongly advised to figure out who�among the possible guests has children -�their ages, whether family of your guests�live nearby to babysit, and whether�some are attending from afar. Also im-�portant is whether your families have�small children - this becomes very sticky�because the wedding is a mini family re-�union and to un-invite children means�you could be creating world war three in�the family since aunts, uncles, and�grandparents may only see the children�on events such as weddings.�

Waiting until 6-8 weeks before a wed-�ding to say it’s child free when you knew�13 months ago is potentially asking for�trouble. Parents are often aware of�needing to buy their children new wed-�

ding clothes, babysitters can be hard to�find, and if the parents expect the kids�are invited they already be excited about�the day.�

Expecting everyone to know wedding�etiquette is a lot to ask of anyone, espe-�cially most of your guests who are long�ago married or who are so used to bring-�ing the children they wouldn’t even no-�tice the lack of their names.�If you are aware that feelings may be�hurt it is much better to get it out in the�open as soon as you know the event is�child free rather than letting people as-�sume children are invited and waiting�until too close to the date to inform�them.�

The reality is you can avoid a lot of�stress if you chose to not invite children�by spreading the world as soon as you�

can or letting it be known when it comes�up. Having "a line" that you give to your�parents and in-laws will help keep the�hurt feelings to a minimum. Something�like, "they came to the really difficult de-�cision that with the space, budget and�time of the wedding it was best to have�an adults-only wedding." Something that�allows for the awareness that hurt feel-�ings may arise, but the decision was not�simply about you not liking their chil-�dren.�

Another idea could be providing child-�care on the day, this gives all the parents�a much needed break during the day�while providing fun and entertainment�for the smaller guests. This is becoming�far more popular with weddings and is�highly recommended for anyone who�wish to have children at their wedding�stress free.�


A drawer opens and inside an warn box�reveals itself. What is this you think to�yourself. The mystery is too much and�without thinking about it too long you�free the box from the dark holding of the�drawer and place it beside you on the�bed. Excitement springs to life inside�you, you look around the room, its your�bedroom in Granny's house, the one she�always prepared for you when you�stayed over on school holidays. You look�at the box again and wonder why you�have never seen this box before. Its not�the first time you have looked through�these drawers.�

As a little girl you used to love going�through all the drawers and wardrobes�pretending you were a princess in a�magical land finding magical friends and�lost treasures in Granny's house. Your�22 now and it is your wedding tomor-�row... you look at the box again and de-�cide to open it. White tissue paper�reveals an old photo album still in mint�condition, Wow you think and with a big�smile you look up and find your granny�standing in the door smiling back at you�with so much love. Suddenly you know,�this is Granny's wedding album and�knowing you so well she left it in the�drawer for you to find.�

As the two of you page through the al-�bum she tells you all about her wedding�day, who designed he dress, where the�material came from, how long she was�looking for those white satin shoes, how�much the flowers cost, the roast beef�they had and how much your great�grandfather enjoyed the wine. The pho-�tos showed your grandfather, tall and�proud with a hairstyle fresh of the cut�and how proud he was holding your�grannys hand, looking at her with so�much tender love. With every page turn�you could see how the photographs one�after the other brought new life into her,�it was as if she could feel every details of�her special day and thats when you�know you made the right choice in book-�ing that professional wedding photogra-�pher. Now you too would be able to�share your wedding day indetail with�your grandchild some day.�

So you have a proud hand glittering with�the sparkles of a precious stone�wrapped elegantly in that shiny metal,�your date is set and the venue is booked.�Yes, it's time to shop for a photographer.�However, shopping for a wedding pho-�tographer is not really the same as shop-�ping for flowers and bridal fashion for�one simple good reason: you don't get to�see what you are buying until way after�

you’ve made your purchase. The reality�is that, your purchase is based largely on�good faith and interestingly enough (yet,�understandably so in todays financial�climate) so many couples allow price to�be the primary determining factor. My�question thow is: does this really make�much sense, when you consider that�your photographer really just have one�shot to get this right - right..?! (does this�sound to strong?)�

Well - where do you start.. you may�ask..?!�

You should start with some good educa-�tional resurge on wedding photography,�as a) there are a number of "styles" (e.g.�traditional, photojournalism and illus-�trative) photographers may prefer and/�or can use to photograph a wedding and�b) there are also a good number of very�talented wedding photographers out�there with very reasonable price tags. �

So, before I start with a small introduc-�tion to the main styles out there, allow�me to give you some food for thought. �

• What time is your ceremony?�• What time is your reception?�• How long will it take you to get from�the ceremony to the reception?�

by - Johannes Roux�Photograph by kind permission of Johannes Roux�



• How many guests do you expect at the�ceremony? - Have you considered the�time you will allocate for every one to�congratulate you after the ceremony? -�Say there are 100 guests and you allo-�cated 30 seconds for each guest you will�spend around 50 min only on shaking�hands, sharing kisses, hugs and real lov-�ing words, which are all very special ex-�periences and I strongly encourage this�interaction with your guests. - Account�for this time though, as it can if not ac-�counted for - eat into your time schedule�creating a nock-on effect to your sched-�ule.�• What time of year are you getting mar-�ried? - How much daylight can you ex-�pect at that time? - Will it be in a rainy�season? - Are you prepared for the ele-�ments?�• If you feel strongly about your photog-�raphy and want your day to be photo-�graphed with all its opportunities and�moments, it would be wise to allocate�the right amount of time for it. Talk to�your photographer, share your ideas,�needs and wants in transparent detail�and ask them how much time they�

would need to make it happen. Consider�their response - is it reasonable and�does it make sense?�

Traditional style:�

Wedding photography started with the�traditional style approach. This is a�timeless style of photography that�you've probably seen time and time�again. The bedrock of this style is well�posed photographs of the key moments.�Pros: Traditional photographers usually�shoot a planned photo list, meaning you�will get all the important photographs.�Cons: This approach can become time�consuming if not managed correctly, re-�sulting in the bride and groom spending�less time with their guests. Your wed-�ding album will look very attractive, but�might be a little bit predictable.�

Wedding photojournalism:�

This is a contemporary style also known�as reportage and documentary photog-�raphy, which has become a very popular�style in years of late. It is essentially a�

collection of candid photographs cover-�ing the day as it unfolds. Pros: Wedding�photojournalism will give you a series of�unique photographs aimed to reflect the�story of your wedding day. Cons: There�is no guaranteed photographs as with a�planned photo list, there is only the pho-�tographer's instincts and photographs�are unpredictable. It is very important to�get the right photographer here as cou-�ples may regret the absence of some tra-�ditional and expected photographs.�

Illustrative style:�

This is a style where photographers�place there clients in certain settings to�take advantage of really good lighting�and background conditions. With the�scene set, the bride and groom are free�to be themselves, resulting in spontane-�ous, fun and sexy photographs. It is basi-�cally an amalgamation of the traditional�and photojournalistic styles, allowing�the photographer to take advantage of�artistic opportunities still capturing real�moments between the couple and there�bridal party.�




This style is often used in pre wedding�shoots and is becoming very popular, as�it is seen as the best of both worlds.�

Now, armed with a better understand of�what styles are out there it is time to stat�a list for wedding photographers in your�wedding diary. Build your list by asking�friends and relatives for some recom-�mendations. Visit online wedding web-�sites, your favorite wedding magazine,�wedding blogs and do a general search�in google for wedding photographers in�and around your area and the area�where you plan to have your wedding�at. �

Visit each photographer's website and�carefully review their portfolios. Focus�on photographs, but also how they pres-�ent their business online as this can be a�good indication and extension of the�photographers attention to detail. Good�photographers will usually show off full�weddings in their gallery sections and�their most recent work on their blogs. If�and when the photographers work ap-�peal to you, add them to your possible�

meeting list. You will know when you�feel the "click"..!!�

With a short email or a quick phone call�you can establish if the photographer is�availability for your wedding date, what�type of style the specialties in (e.g., tradi-�tional, photojournalism or a combina-�tion, etc.) You can also get a rough idea�as to what their fees are and what you�come to expect of their wedding packag-�es. This entail contact should also tell�you more bit about the photographer’s�personality and character.�

At this point you can arrange meetings�with the photographers who sounded�promising. Have a close look at there al-�bums, photos and other products. Be�sure to write down all your questions�before your meeting and take notes dur-�ing it. Be sure to share your likes and�most importantly dislikes that you might�have on photography. Remember, there�is no such thing as a dumb question, so if�in doubt - ask. The more questions you�ask up front, the more relaxed and confi-�dent you will feel about your photogra-�phy on and after your wedding day.�

Here are some questions worth asking:�

1) What can I expect from your packag-�es?�2) What exactly can I expect from a�booking?�3) What time do you start and when do�you finish?�4) Do you work with an assistant?�5) Will you be taking the actual photog-�rapher on my wedding day?�6) Is there an extra cost involved for�photoshop work on my album photo-�graphs?�7) When will my photographs be ready�for viewing?�8) How will you show me the photo-�graphs for selection? (e.g. contacts�sheets, online gallery, in studio or home�projection, etc.)�9) Will you help me choose the final�photographs?�10) How long do I have to make up my�mind as to which pictures I want in my�album?�11) How long will it take before I have�my album? �




12) How about engagement session?�13) How can friends and family order�reprints?�14) How long have you been in busi-�ness? �15) What’s your philosophy to photo-�graphing weddings? �16) Do you have travel fees? �17) How much is your overtime fee? �18) What do you plan to do at my wed-�ding to make my wedding photographs�unique and personal to me? �19) Do you have a backup? �20) Who will I be dealing with after the�wedding? �21) What's your payment policy - wed-�ding-date changes - an unforeseen can-�cellation, etc.? �22) If I do go ahead with a booking, what�will your plan A, B and C be..?�

As you can see there is a number of pos-�sible questions you can ask your photog-�rapher and most professional�photographers will provide you with a�clear insight to their services prior to�any questions being asked. Many of�them have full and transparent packages�that include albums, digital files, en-�

largements, time, etc., and should be�very clear on what level of service and�final products you can expect. Now at�this point, you should know which pho-�tographer is for you, whether they are�available, and if their service is worth�the price. Keep in mind that photogra-�phers are trained professionals and that�they deserve to be treated as such.�Therefor go to your meetings prepared�to sign a contract and leave a deposit to�book and secure your date. �

In the ideal world, there is no budgets�and I would like you to consider the�risks and opportunities with allocating a�small budget to your photography as it�is possible to make a saving with your�photography by allowing a friend, family�member or even a new wedding photog-�rapher to photograph your wedding day.�In fairness we all have and had to start�somewhere. However, before you go�down this road it is worth knowing your�risks and do your best to minimize them�or at the very least, test the photogra-�pher's ability to shoot under pressured�conditions. Arrange a pre-wedding or�engagement shoot in a very public place.�

This is diving into the deep end with�your photographer to test their ability to�direct and produce good photographs�with an audience. If you are happy with�the results and you feel the emotion in�there work you might have a winner.�But do sleep on it..!! Good wedding pho-�tographers are much more than just�someone turning up to take a few photo-�graphs on your wedding day. They are�talented and creative people that spe-�cialize in creating and capturing mo-�ments, emotions, style and beauty that�will be reflected, remembered and en-�joyed for as long as the photograph sur-�vives what time throws at it.. By�choosing your wedding photographer�carefully you can rest assured in the�knowledge that this is undoubtedly one�of the best and most intelligent decisions�you've made in planning your wedding,�and that you will have a stunning wed-�ding album that shows you at your best�for years to come.�

Congratulations on your engagement�and may your wedding be the fairy-tale�you always dreamed it to be.�




Johannes Weddings specialize in telling�a beautiful story of love, romance and�friendship through a series of special�pictures that create concrete memories�and are guaranteed to become family�heirlooms�

Johannes Photography LTD�

+353.86.077.4644�www.johannes-photography.com�[email protected]�

www.johannes-weddings.com�[email protected]�



This is De-Stress’s�guide to the meaning�of your wedding�flowers.�

Sunflower - Adorta-�tion�

Alyssum (sweet) and�Amaryllis - Beauty�

Althaea and Alcea -�Deeply in Love�

Honeysuckle - Devoted affection�

Holly - Domestic Happiness�

Ivy, veronica and lemon blossoms�- Fidelity�

Purple lilac - First Love�

Sweet basil - Good wishes�

Yellow violet - Happiness�

Stephanotis - Happiness in Mar-�riage�

Rose, red chrysanthemum, myrtle�and orchid - Love�

White camellia - Loveliness�

Lavender (also�luck) and orange�blossoms - Purity�

Forget me not -�True Love�

White Chrysanthe-�mum - Truth�

Amaranth - Unfad-�ing Love�

Wedding Stress Tips�

Stay healthy:�Don't neglect yourself. Eat properly.�Get aerobic exercise. Make sure that you get enough�sleep. It helps to alleviate stress and all of the health�problems that can result from too many life pres-�

sures. When you're angry and frustrated, go out for a�walk or run. Go walking with your spouse to be and�

have time for conversation.�

De-Stress Magazine Recommend�

Buds and Berries offers a unique and special�Wedding Flowers service. They are a creative�

floral design company specialising in weddings,�and corporate events and examples of their�

work can be viewed on their website.�

They are located in County Kildare, Ireland.�

Buds and Berries�

Website: www.budsandberries.com�


I remember as a little girl playing with�my barbie and pretending to walk up the�aisle to meet my ‘Ken’. My sister and I�used to make our barbie wedding dresses�out of tissue! It’s amusing to think of it�now, but what is clear is that from a very�young age, many of us girls dream of our�wedding and what the day will go like.�Obviously nothing ever goes wrong, and�the whole thing goes off with out a hitch!�

Then you meet that special someone and�he gets down on one knee and the plan-�ning really starts. While it’s so exciting,�that this amazing day is about�to finally happen, it can quickly�become stressful.�

1. The first thing to remem-�ber is that you will get stressed,�so expect it. There are so many�things to think about such as�the hotel venue, wedding book-�lets, florist, photographer, band�and DJ, the dress, the rings and�so many more things you can’t�even imagine! With so many�family, friends and vendors in-�volved, things will go wrong.�Try to remember that you can’t�control everything, so If some-�thing does go askew and you�can’t do anything about it, Don’t�worry. Don’t expect perfection,�because with so many things�that need to be organized, it�would be a small miracle for�everything to go perfectly.�

2. Don’t try to please everyone – be�aware that everyone will have their own�opinions on what type of day you should�have, which may not be what you had�planned yourself. By all means listen to�

them, but keep a clear picture of what�you want as a couple and stick to it. Learn�to say ‘No’ assertively but politely!�

3. Research your suppliers well. Try to�get personal recommendations from�other brides if possible. Insist on a con-�tract, (most vendors will supply one any-�way) and go through it with a fine tooth�comb. When do you need to make pay-�ments, what exactly are you getting for�your money . If you are getting a photog-�rapher, discuss with him/her beforehand�where you will have photos taken, a back�

up location just in case the weather takes�a turn for the worst, and a list of must-�have shots for the day.�

4. Don’t be afraid of having a smaller�wedding. - While researching newlywed�

feedback, it became apparent that a large�percentage of couples would have been�happier with a smaller wedding that con-�sisted of really close friends and family�only. Some brides mentioned that they�felt under a little pressure to have as�many people there as possible, or found�themselves not being able to say no when�parents etc insisted on person X, Y and Z�being invited that you haven’t seen in�twenty years!�

5. Don’t forget the person you’re�marrying! – some couples get so busy�

while in the midst of planning,�that they forget why they are�getting married in the first�place. Make time to spend to-�gether and do something you�both enjoy that doesn’t involve�anything related to planning the�big day. Sometimes, it’s helpful�to take a step back and remem-�ber that while your wedding is a�momentous occasion, the most�important bit is that you are in�love and starting a new life to-�gether.�

For the day itself, some ad-�vice from recent Irish newly-�weds;�

1. If possible write down a�rough schedule of the day so�everyone knows what they�need to do. But don’t underesti-�mate the time needed for hair�

and make up, photos, getting to and from�the hotel. Often things will be delayed,�which will then have knock on effects for�the rest of the evening. Accept that tim-�ings will slip.�

Article by www.firedropdesign.com�

2. Ensure that a groomsman or�bridesmaid has a list of all your suppli-�ers and their phone number, just in case�they go AWOL on the day.�

3. Ask you hairdresser and make-up�artist to arrive half an hour before they�need to start, just in case they get de-�layed. Make sure that you are the first to�be done. This will give you some time to�relax. Make sure to eat!�

4. Bring a reliable bridesmaid with�you to your dress fittings. This will en-�sure that there will be someone else be-�sides you, that knows how to get you in�and out of your dress and how to bustle�it on the morning.�

5. Bring cover for your dress for the�day after when you want to bring your�wedding dress home�

6. Have your bridesmaid bring some�lip gloss, powder, some money and a�

spare pair of comfortable shoes in her�bag for you.�

7. Put a little emergency pack to-�gether that has deodorant wipes ,great�for freshening you up but also great for�getting stains out of your dress or his�shirt!, needle and thread, perfume and�plasters.�

8. Ensure that you get some time�alone with your new partner at some�stage during the day. You certainly don’t�want to be like ships passing in the�night.�

9. Spend time with your guests at the�reception, Enjoy the fruits of your fer-�vent planning!�

After the big day,�

1. If possible leave it a day or two be-�fore you leave on honeymoon, you’ll�have been so busy in the few days lead-�

ing up to the day itself, that it’s often�beneficial to have a few days to relax at�home before having to get ready for a�long haul flight.�

2. Be prepared for the post wedding�blues! Many Couples feel deflated after�all the months of avid planning come to�an end. Routine will settle in rather�quickly and some do find it difficult to�realise it’s all over. Perhaps plan a re-�union weekend for family and friends, or�keep a little box of wedding mementoes�on your desk.�

Most importantly, remember you are�committing yourself to be with the one�you love for the rest of your life, and that�your wedding day is just one great day�in a life full of happiness and love that�you have to look forward to. Marriage is�one of the most difficult but rewarding�things you will ever do.�

Article by www.firedropdesign.com�

Cathy designs wedding stationery for the savvy bride and much more, which are�available to purchase through her online store at www.zazzle.co.uk/�

cards_by_cathy* or directly from firedropdesign.com�


The best things about getting mar-�ried abroad were that we only had to�please ourselves. No one was going�to argue with us over small details�and it also allowed us a great deal�of flexibility on the day as to what�we did next. We went for Vegas be-�cause of the ease of getting married.�They are experts at it and helped us�with every detail. Of course the loca-�tion might seem cheesy to some�

however where else could you stroke a dolphin, have a gondola�ride and see white tigers all on our wedding day.�

It was an amazing experience, the only negative aspect was not�having family and friends around however in some ways we�made up for it on our return as we had organised a party with a�

live band. Anyway I�strongly recommend taking�the plunge and going for�your own personal wedding�especially if it is your second�marriage as was the case in�our situation.�

From a fathers point of view�if my own daughter's were�getting married I would�want to be there however I�would respect their decision if�they decided to do things�there own way.�

Sean and Karina�

Sean & Karina’s Story� Married in Las Vegas�

The decision about whether to get mar-�ried in your home country or hold your�ceremony abroad is the key to all your�wedding planning. This list of the pros�and cons of getting married abroad�should help you pinpoint what really�matters to you and provide the founda-�tions to help you start planning your�wedding.�

The pros of getting married abroad�

Choosing to get married abroad means�the world is your oyster. The venues and�locations are almost endless.�

Many couples choose to get married�abroad to make sure they have great�weather for their wedding which can�seem like a huge bonus when you come�from a country where the weather is less�dependable, like Ireland.�

Believe it or not weddings abroad can be�a lot cheaper than getting married at�

home. Although you do have greater�transport costs, you are still likely to�save money. Many hotels and package�companies provide excellent value deals.�

Holding your wedding abroad can also�be a lot less stressful. Many packages in-�clude a lot of the wedding co-ordination.�There will usually be a lot fewer guests�to organise.�

You can combine your wedding abroad�with your honeymoon.�

The cons of getting married abroad�

One of the main things which puts cou-�ples of getting married abroad, and un-�derstandably, is that they are usually�limited as to the number of guests they�can invite. It is common to ask very close�family and friends to join you for your�marriage abroad, but beyond that it is a�lot to ask other people to pay out and of-�ten isn’t practical. Couples may feel�

guilty about this. One thing to remember�is that getting married abroad is an in-�creasingly common choice which people�are used to. Also, a popular way around�this is to hold a party and/or blessing�when you return home so that all your�friends and family can be included in�your celebration.�

By planning your wedding abroad from�afar, you are less likely to be able to�check out the venue beforehand and you�may worry about things going wrong. If�you do decide to marry abroad look out�for testimonials from other couples who�have married there. Also make sure that�you keep in touch with a contact at your�destination or hotel. They should be able�to reassure you.�

Hopefully this has clarified some�thoughts and allayed a few fears about�getting married abroad. Time to start�planning!�

Jen Doyle designs and makes jewellery and hair accessories for all occa-�sions, and specialises in bridal design. She has a wide range of wonderfully�unique designs to choose from and is constantly evolving her collection of�work. Jen's work was recently featured in the January 2010 issue of the�Irish Brides magazine.�

Based in Co. Donegal, Jen takes her inspiration from nature and the wild�Atlantic ocean scenary close to her home.�

Visits to the studio are always welcomed, but are by appointment only.�

“Buying a handmade makes a more thoughtful gift. The person who received a handmade gift gets a�present that is one of a kind, well made with care, skill and craftsmanship that is generally missing�from mass produced products. The person who gives handmade gifts has the satisfaction of knowing�

that they have supported an artist /crafter directly. Buying handmade�helps us to reconnect to local and human sources of goods”� -� Jen Doyle�

Visit Jens website to learn more about her work and to view her collection�of beautiful jewellery.�

Why not wear an unique and beautiful piece of jewellery to complete your�Wedding day....�

www.doylejewellerydesign.blogspot.com�

Wedding� Stress� Tips�Expect stress:�There is no�way around the pressures�that are related to a wedding�and it is unreasonable to ex-�pect nothing but peacefulness�and bliss leading up to the�wedding day. Expect it and it�won't surprise you. It can�help you to anticipate and�plan for problems.�

Don't expect perfection:� The�higher your expectations, the�greater the disappointments.�High expectations lead to�greater stress, both in the�

preparation process and the�wedding day itself. Know that�whatever happens, you will�be married at the end of the�ceremony. Realize that some-�times the flub-ups are the�most enjoyable things to rem-�inisce about. Know that�spending more money does�not insure perfection. Don't�"blast" friends and family�who make mistakes. If you�have children in the wedding�party, don't expect anything�even coming lose to perfec-�tion.�

Be content:�Be happy with�what you can afford. Be philo-�sophical about how things�turn out. Focus on what you�do have instead of what you�don't.�

Don't try to please every-�one:� Everyone has a vision of�what a wedding should be.�There is no way in the world�to reconcile all of these views.�Be polite, but don't see it as�your job to make everybody�happy or to smooth over ev-�ery conflict.�

Draw your boundaries:� It is�okay to compromise on issues�that are not of high priority�with you and your spouse to�be, but on the essentials -�stand your ground. Let people�know when they are tram-�pling on your rights or taking�too much of your time. Be as-�sertive, not aggressive. When�setting boundaries with oth-�ers, try not to act out of anger.�Plan out what you want to tell�

the other. Learn to say "no"�and mean it.�

Get premarital counseling:�It is rather foolish to spend so�much time on the preparation�for a ceremony and reception�that will be over in a few�hours and ignore the relation-�ship itself. Prepare for the�marriage, not just the cere-�mony.�

Don't neglect your spouse-�to-be:� It is very easy to get so�wrapped up in the prepara-�tions for the wedding that�time spent with your future�spouse gets neglected. Con-�tinue to date and talk about�the future (after the wedding�ceremony).�

www.giftsandvouchers.ie was launched in�November 2008 by local Businesswoman�Sian Maloney. Sian is originally from�Bettystown,Co Meath and realised that�there was a need for an online business�that promoted local shops and businesses�that may not have an on-�line presence. She began�with just over 20 busi-�nesses on�www.giftsandvouchers.ie�and this has now grown�to over 60.�

www.giftsandvouchers.ie�sell luxury Gift Vouchers�and Gifts on their behalf�and these can be sent to anywhere in�Ireland. They also have a Wedding and�Gift List facility allowing clients to select�their gifts from any of their huge Partner�Business database and compile one Gift�List that their guests can choose from and�have them delivered at a time and date�that suits them.�

www.giftsandvouchers.ie have a huge se-�lection of gifts covering every special oc-�casion. They have everything from�

Newbridge Silver and John Rocha to�Handmade Chocolate Wine Hampers.�And for the more outdoor types you can�select from golf at the prestigious Baltray�Golf Course or Hot Air Balloon Rides�anywhere in Ireland. They also have�

vouchers that you can�purchase which can be�spent in any of the stores.�Perfect for those Staff�schemes and tax breaks�also!�

Sian is presently looking�at expanding the delivery�option to the UK market�and also developing an�

online E-Voucher system which will en-�able shoppers to email their vouchers and�spend them online. She is also launching�her new Shopping Forum�www.talkshop.ie�

Sian can be contacted for any gift queries�at [email protected] or on Twit-�ter at http://www.twitter.com/�giftsandvoucher�

Please support Local Businesses.�

De-Stress Summer Issue 2010

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