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Washington Post
7 days ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
Couple tie the knot in flooded church amid Typhoon Whipa
World Couple tie the knot in flooded church amid Typhoon Whipa July 23, 2025 | 12:23 PM GMT A couple waded down the aisle of a flooded church in Malolos, Philippines, on July 22, amid heavy rain and deadly flooding brought by Typhoon Whipa.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bride and Groom Charge Their Wedding Guests for Water at Sweltering Hot Outdoor Wedding
A guest, who shared the story on Reddit, said they were "drowning in my own sweat" after sitting in the sun for the ceremonyNEED TO KNOW A bride and groom charged their wedding guests for water at their wedding, which was held outdoors on a hot and humid day One of their guests, who shared the story on Reddit, said they were "drowning in my own sweat" after sitting in the sun for the ceremony The guest also griped that they got sick from the buffet food at the receptionA bride and groom tied the knot in an outdoor ceremony on a sweltering hot day — and their thirsty guests were forced to pay for their own water. One of the guests detailed what they described as the "disaster of a wedding" in a post on Reddit's "Wedding Shaming" forum. They wrote that the event was "a mess" from "start to not-even-finish" because they ultimately ended up bailing and leaving early. "It was an outdoor wedding on a humid 95° and sunny afternoon (thought it was indoor because I looked up the venue)," the OP (original poster) wrote, describing how guests — who were given little information about the event setup — differed in their approaches to dressing for the occasion. "People were in shorts, tees, and slip-ons, and others were in floor-length gowns. One lady was in a full white dress," they noted. After sitting in the sun for the ceremony, the OP said they were "drowning in my own sweat" by the time the cocktail hour began. "All I want is water," they recalled. However, when it was the OP's turn in line at the bar, they were disappointed — and taken aback — to discover that there were "no free beverages — not even water." The bar staff said a water would cost $2 — and only cash would be accepted. Things went from bad to worse during the dinner when the OP went up to the buffet and saw that the food was "homemade" and attracting flies. "There's flies ALL OVER the food. Seriously, all up in the food," the Redditor claimed. "I take the smallest amount possible to be polite. I was so hungry and desperate that I did take a few bites. Within hours, I was creating jobs for local plumbers," they continued, seeming to imply they got sick after eating the buffet food. As for the dessert, the OP said guests were left to eat it without plates, forks or napkins because the buffet equipment had been cleared. "So I watched as people walked around holding dessert in their hands," they wrote. The unfortunate series of events culminated during the speeches, when the groom got into a fight with a relative that "got taken to the lawn," according to the OP. Needless to say, the OP took that occasion to "slip out" and go home. "I truly don't feel like this was real life. Like this had to be a practical joke, right??" they concluded their post, adding, "I may politely decline invitations I have no information about moving forward." In the comments, many readers were shocked by the OP's story, particularly the lack of free water. "Yikes. I'm glad no one got dehydrated and passed out or worse. I'm both glad and amazed," one person wrote. Another wrote, "How could they subject their guests to an outdoor wedding in the heat & humidity & not provide any free water? There should've been beverage dispensers placed throughout the venue so nobody would have to wait in line for a drink of water." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I don't care how small your budget is, those are details that should not have been overlooked," the same commenter continued. "People could've gotten heat stroke or food poisoning. I wouldn't want that to be the memory of my wedding day." Attempting to make light of the OP's bleak wedding experience, another reader joked, "This wasn't a wedding. It was a survival challenge." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Times
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Why the Cotswolds is this summer's destination for mega-weddings
A couple of years ago the society wedding planner Lavinia Stewart-Brown was asked an unusual question by a bride and groom: could she source two elephants to stand outside the marquee and greet the guests at their Cotswold wedding? It took her a moment to realise that they were joking, but the idea took hold. 'We found them a pair of mechanical elephants that looked so real — they moved and even blinked,' Stewart-Brown says. The happy couple were delighted; their 200 guests spent the evening taking selfies in front of the robot Dumbos. No elephants were harmed in the making of this wedding. If weddings have become bigger over the past decade — glitzier, splashier, more expensive, more designed for Insta — nowhere does this apply more keenly than in the Cotswolds. Getting hitched in the land of honey-coloured villages and bursting hedgerows has become a status symbol, but it won't come cheap. For a mega-wedding in this part of the world the starting figure is £1,000 per guest, but it can shoot up fast. 'For a three-day event with 200 guests, you could be looking at a million — easily,' Stewart-Brown says. According to several weary planners, three-day weddings in this golden, moneyed patch of the country are now the norm. Would you like your destination wedding in Santorini, Lake Como — or Bourton-on-the-Water? Preparty on the Friday night, big do itself on Saturday, recovery brunch on Sunday. 'Before Soho Farmhouse it was old money rather than new,' one planner says of the boom in Cotswold mega-weddings. 'But since then, and with the celebs moving in, it has changed. There are lots of Americans. I did a huge American wedding last year and the couple live in London, but it was very much, 'We want the Cotswolds because 80 per cent of our guests are flying over from the States.' '' Next month another American, Eve Jobs, the 27-year-old daughter of the tech bro Steve Jobs, is marrying the British Olympic showjumper Harry Charles, 26, in these parts. Nobody's squeaking about where, but one wedding planner tells me he knows there's a 'biggie' happening at the ultra-hip members' club Estelle Manor later this year, which can be taken over exclusively for the right kind of fee. What fee is that? 'They can basically name their price,' my mole says. The guest list is a similarly closed secret, but you can expect other tech progeny (Phoebe and Jennifer Gates, daughters of Bill and Melinda, are pals), other young Olympians, models from New York and a smattering of twentysomething aristos. Think Shiv's wedding in Succession but stick it somewhere near Burford. ' 'The Cotswolds has become a brand,' says Henry Bonas, who's often described as 'the king of Cotswold parties'. I went to an eye-popping wedding he organised a few years ago, not far from Stow-on-the-Wold. There was a marquee for 300, dozens and dozens of candelabra dotted along the tables, thousands of tealights, the entire annual floral output of the Netherlands, and a moment during the speeches when the mother of the bride was handed — literally handed — two rare-breed ducks for the lake by her new son-in-law as a thank-you, and we all felt rather nervous about her Catherine Walker suit. • Wedding etiquette: from bridesmaids to reception and photos Bonas points out that the Cotswolds is, technically, a vast chunk of land spanning five counties, but in the past decade — as the number of members' clubs, trendy pubs and rich Londoners moving there has boomed — it has become synonymous with a certain kind of fairytale Englishness (pretty stone houses, endless wisteria), which makes it an obvious wedding choice for fashionable brides. At another Cotswold wedding I went to not so long ago there was even a cricket match during the reception and the bride gamely picked up the bat and made a few barefoot runs in her Monique Lhuillier dress in the field beside her parents' house. Bucolic. Many of the weddings Bonas organises are at private homes, but if you're an arriviste American who doesn't have a big posh house there, you could always con-sider Badminton (the Duke of Beaufort's home, but hireable if you have the dosh), Blenheim (the Duke of Marlborough's gaff), Kirtlington Park (Capability Brown gardens, splendid for social media), Cornwell Manor, Elmore Court or Sezincote. All available for thousands and thousands of pounds and rising steeply, and that's before you even get on to catering, booze, flowers, entertainment and the rest. If you want to go properly swank, the flower bill alone can reach £100,000, a source says, and the florist you need is Paul Hawkins. This summer, he tells me, the vibe for his Cotswold weddings has been Titania's lair meets Studio 54, 'which means achingly delicious roses, English-grown, lots of cow parsley and masses of foliage, so you literally have to cut down a whole wood. But it's all composted afterwards.' To fit in dress-wise, look to Caroline Castigliano, Reem Acra or Emma Victoria Payne. And you want a marquee from Original Marquees, run by a charming man called Harry Jones ('His tents are always pristine and very beautiful,' Stewart-Brown says). The photographer to book is Lara Arnott, not only because she takes ravishing photos but also because every single guest falls in love with her. Another reason the Cotswolds is handy for mega-weddings, says Jamie Simon, director of Banana Split, one of the UK's swankiest party planners, is that you can chopper in and out relatively easily. 'Plenty of space for helicopters,' he says breezily, 'and it's handy for Heathrow too.' This is helpful for both guests and entertainment. Banana Split can get you pretty much anyone you want to sing your first dance —Ed Sheeran? Adele? Stevie Wonder? One client wanted Paul McCartney, so they called him and he said, 'I don't do private events, but this is my fee.' Alas, Simon won't tell me Macca's fee. • How to be a cool bride in 2025 — from the hen do to the wedding dress Anyone involved in organising a mega-wedding for an actor, a toff or a tech bro will now almost certainly have to sign an NDA ('Oh, the NDAs …' one exhausted supplier says with a sigh), but the issue of privacy can also be less fraught in the Cotswolds. 'Lots of these estates are very private,' Simon says. 'Hidden away, so they're quite easy to secure.' Although paparazzi trying to use drones are an increasing problem, he notes. 'We have to plan some of our events now like low-level military operations, but you're not really allowed to fly drones over private land.' If you don't own a stately home in the Cotswolds, Simon says the next best thing is to take over one of the hotels. Such as Lucknam Park or Barnsley House, the latter of which has recently become another outpost of the Pig. 'If you take a 30 or 40-bedroom hotel, you've got your own private home.' A few years ago Banana Split organised a wedding at Barnsley House for a British couple that kicked off with a team-building event on the Saturday morning. 'Everyone woke up to wellies and boiler suits in different colours for their teams, and we went to a nearby farm and did duck-herding and bale-throwing,' Simon explains. 'A whole morning of activity. It was super-fun.' The rich, as they say, are different. Don't simply assume the wedding is 'somewhere near Soho Farmhouse'. The Cotswolds is an 800 square mile landmass. Plan accordingly. Do triple-check what the church is called, if there's a church involved. Which St Mary the Virgin do you want? The one in Bibury,the one in Fairford or the one in Tetbury? Don't do the Hugh Grant thing of screeching up just as the bride arrives. Do read the invitation properly and check what kind of transport arrangements have been made. At a recent Cotswold wedding I tried to drive to the church in my frock, only to realise they'd laid on minibuses because the local roads were so narrow. I had to reverse about a mile down a road marginally wider than a footpath, sweating heavily into my De La Vali. Do check the name of the pub you're staying at. Much as with churches, there are plenty of Bulls and Bells in these parts. Do book a taxi. You won't necessarily be able to Uber from a field at 1am. Don't say yes to the lunch on the Sunday. Hard rule. Get up, get breakfast, get on the road. The M40 can be bloody ona Sunday afternoon.
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Charli XCX will marry The 1975 drummer George Daniel in Sicily
Charli XCX and her fiancé George Daniel will be living la dolce vita when they marry later this year – after choosing to say 'I do' in Sicily. My marital mole told me the Brat singer has chosen to wed The 1975 's drummer on the island, which is just off the coast of Italy. And the couple aren't holding back when it comes to the budget, with insiders saying the final bill is close to six figures. The insider said: ' Charli and George fell in love with Sicily and knew they wanted to get married there. "It's incredibly secluded and romantic. There will be no expense spared. It's costing tens of thousands of pounds and visually it will be mesmerising. 'Charli and George said they wanted a massive party and there are no restrictions on when the bar has to close, so it can go on all night. 'They have both had such a busy summer with massive shows, but from mid-August they're able to slow down and focus on their big day. 'It's going to be pretty star-studded too, with plenty of their celeb mates making the journey over to Sicily to watch them say 'I do'. Charli and George are so excited to become man and wife.' It's the perfect end to an amazing year for the pair, who smashed their incredible sets at Glastonbury last month. Bizarre revealed in November 2023 that they had got engaged after dating for a year. On plans for her wedding, Charli said earlier this year: "We're both very chill and we kind of just want to have a party. 'Neither of us are particularly formal about marriage or care about the formalities of the ceremony or whatever. 'We just want to be together forever and have a party with our friends.' Given there's no cut-off for the music or bar, I think this is going to be one epic celebration. Hailey's a beach Bieb 9 9 Hailey Bieber is tuning in to the holiday vibe with this cute bikini. The model, who is married to Canadian singer Justin, has been sunning herself in Spain all week. Hailey headed to Majorca to shoot a new advert for her skin brand Rhode, as well as launching a pop-up beach club on the island. Hailey told fans: 'We're kicking off Rhode summer with our first ever beach club at Gran Folies, to celebrate the launch of our new lemontini peptide lip tint and summer blushes.' I'm sure a few of the Love Islanders will be drowning their sorrows there after being booted out of the villa. Olly way is Essex for Park weekend 9 As if I needed another reason to love Radio 2 – the station has just added one of my favourite singers to its In the Park line-up. It has been confirmed my Essex neighbour Olly Murs will perform at the event in Chelmsford on Sunday, September 7. The former X Factor contestant will join Bryan Adams, Def Leppard and Belinda Carlisle on the bumper bill across the weekend, along with Suede, Louise and David Gray. Meanwhile, Price Tag singer Jessie J is also tipped to perform at the event, in her first show since she got the all-clear from breast cancer. There's going to be a hell of a lot of celebrating that weekend. 9 He's not normally one for a big cheesy grin, but there's a pretty good reason why Bob Geldof is smiling today. The Boomtown Rats and Band Aid frontman has accepted a special honorary award from the Official Charts Company. It's for the release of an album of hits from Just for One Day – The Live Aid Musical, which features eight UK No1 singles and eight No2s. A total of 17 artists produced the tracks included on the original cast recording. The record is out today and marks the 40th anniversary of Live Aid this Sunday. Amber: lessons from Sabrina so worth it 9 9 Amber Mark has had a stellar year so far after Sabrina Carpenter picked her as support act on her Short n' Sweet tour. And following her performance at American Express Presents BST Hyde Park at the weekend, the Worth It singer, right, told me: 'I've learnt so much from Sabrina. 'She presents herself publicly in such a beautiful way. 'She has been in the public eye for a long time, ever since she was a child. She's used to it and knows how to present herself. 'She's had the whole spectrum of treatment through being an artist and musician.' On the advice Sabrina, inset, gave her, Amber added: 'Whenever I have worries in my own career, she reminds me it's about being your authentic self.' Music legend Bob Dylan is going back on tour and heads our way later this year. The American superstar, left, will bring his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour over here this November. Keen to reach every corner of the UK rather than just the major spots, Bob will play venues in towns and cities including Brighton, Swansea, Coventry, Leeds, Glasgow and Belfast. Tickets go on sale next Friday. Lewis joy at tour sell-out 9 Lewis Capaldi sold out his comeback tour in seconds. The singer will play 15 UK gigs in September, including three at London's O2 Arena. But after working himself into the ground in 2023, he won't be adding more dates – for the sake of his health. Lew said: 'Seeing this tour sell out faster than any tour I've ever played is the most incredible, surreal feeling. Thank you to every single one of you who got a ticket. 'There won't be any other shows for now. I want to make sure I don't push myself too far too soon.' Lewis, above, will release an EP this year, with his third studio album tipped for 2026. Welcome back. Boy, have I missed you. For an inside track on the best celebrity stories, tune in to our weekly Showbiz Fix free online. The latest episode includes updates on Brooklyn Beckham's feud with Posh and Becks, what to expect from Oasis this weekend and who's hot on TV right now. Unsurprisingly, it's not Gregg Wallace. Head to Tyla's summer sparkle Tyla is clearly enjoying the heatwave and has dropped summer banger Is It? for us all to dance to. The Grammy award-winner, pictured here in hotpants and glitter, joins other artists who have new tracks out. Flo and Kaytranada have released The Mood. Mahalia has also dropped a new summer bop, Instructions, while my favourite rising-star band Ecko have put out, Overkill (Live at Ameritz). Cat Stevens, aka Yusuf, marks his American Express Presents BST Hyde Park show tonight by announcing a new Greatest Hits album – On the Road to Findout – released on September 5.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a wedding planner – here's the five things I'd skip on my own big day, it could save you thousands
GETTING married is one of the happiest times of your life - but planning a wedding can be as stressful and expensive. Your dream big day can cost thousands of pounds, and wedding budgets can very quickly start to spiral out of control. 3 3 There are so many different things to consider - from the venue and the guest lists to the menus, cars, flowers, and much more. So it's no wonder that brides and grooms can quickly find it becoming overwhelming - both financially and mentally. Luckily, one expert is on hand to help engaged couples celebrate their special day in style, but without breaking the bank. Nick Bramer from Country House Weddings has urged couples not to include every trend they see on social media, no matter how tempting. The wedding planner has spent years helping couples create their perfect day and has learned what elements truly matter and which ones simply aren't worth the investment (or should just be outright avoided). And he even revealed the five things he would never do for his own wedding - and why other couples should think twice before adding them to their plans. Nick said: 'After organising hundreds of weddings, I've learned that the most memorable celebrations aren't necessarily the most expensive ones. "They're the weddings where couples focused on what truly mattered to them and their guests, rather than trying to tick every box they'd seen on Pinterest. 'The wedding industry is brilliant at making couples feel like they need everything to be perfect, but perfection often comes at the cost of personality and genuine enjoyment. "Some of my favourite weddings have been the ones where couples said no to half the extras and instead invested in great food, good music, and making sure their guests felt welcome. Your wedding should reflect who you are as a couple, not what magazines tell you it should look like." Stunning coastal wedding venue in Scotland with spectacular views reveals major £750k revamp 1. Hiring an expensive photographer without seeing their full portfolio It's a common belief that the best suppliers are the most expensive, but this isn't always the case. Just because a photographer charges premium rates, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will deliver the best results. Wedding photography can cost anywhere from £1,000 to £5,000, but those on the higher end of the scale could be basing their price on their marketing rather than their actual skill. Nick explains: 'I've seen couples spend £4,000 on a photographer who promised the world, only to receive bland, cookie-cutter shots that looked identical to every other wedding they'd shot that year. "Price doesn't guarantee creativity or the ability to capture your unique story." Instead, he suggests meeting potential photographers in person and reviewing complete wedding galleries, not just highlight reels. The most memorable celebrations aren't necessarily the most expensive ones. They're the weddings where couples focused on what truly mattered to them and their guests Nick Bramerfrom Country House Weddings 2. Booking entertainment that doesn't match the crowd One of the biggest mistakes that Nick says couples make when planning their wedding is booking the wrong style of entertainment. The wedding planner said he often sees too many couples choosing entertainment based on what looks impressive rather than what their guests will actually enjoy. And this can actually throw off the whole vibe of the day. He suggested considering the guest list carefully before booking any kind of evening entertainment. For example, if most attendees are over 50, a classic covers band might work better than a DJ spinning the latest hits. He said: "I once saw a couple hire a string quartet for a crowd that clearly wanted to party. 'By 9pm, half the guests had left because there was nothing to keep them engaged". 3 3. Splurging on designer wedding favours Wedding favours are, in theory, very sweet reminders of your big day and a lovely treat for your guests. However, most guests actually leave them behind or throw them away within weeks. And considering that couples often spend hours planning to get their perfect thing and often spend hundreds of pounds on them, Nick says they're just not worth it. He explains that he has seen couples stress over personalised candles, miniature photo frames, and custom sweets that end up sadly forgotten on tables. Instead, he suggests that couples opt for something they can enjoy on the day, like a high-quality treat like chocolate. Or even put the money they'd spend on favours towards something else, like a couple of hundred pounds on better food or drinks at the bar. Nick explains that this is something guests would probably appreciate more - and you'd get more value for money. He explains: "Couples spend an average of £3-5 per guest on favours, which adds up to £300-500 for a typical wedding. "I've never seen guests genuinely excited about taking home a miniature jam jar with the couple's names on it". 4. Choosing a venue based on Instagram photos Social media doesn't often reflect real life, and something that might look magical online might not look that great in person. As a result, Nick has warned couples against booking a venue based on their filtered photos on social media. Lighting, angles, and editing can hide serious flaws that will all become obvious on your wedding day. Instead, he suggests always visiting potential venues in person - preferably at the same time of day as your planned celebration. Nick says: 'I've seen couples fall in love with venues online, only to arrive and discover the 'spacious' room is actually cramped. 'Photos rarely show practical issues like poor acoustics or limited parking.' Expert's seven tips to keep wedding costs down IN a bid to help couples save some cash, one expert has revealed their seven tips to keep costs down for the big day. Claudia Postigo, founder and Head Wedding Planner at The Planner Co, reveals how couples can save significant money on wedding aspects that many go overboard on. Choose off-season dates - "By choosing to have your wedding during the off-season, such as winter or early spring, when demand is lower, you can save a considerable amount of money on venues, caterers, and other services.' Leverage DIY décor - "DIY projects help to add a personal touch to your wedding, while having the added bonus of saving you a lot of money." Book non-traditional venues - "Non-traditional venues tend to be more affordable and provide a unique and memorable wedding experience." Reduce the guest list - "This both cuts down on catering costs and creates a more intimate and meaningful atmosphere for your special day.' Go digital - "In an era where most things are digital, it makes sense to go paperless for your wedding invitations and save-the-date cards." Recycle, Reduce, Reuse - "When it comes to wedding décor, why not try recycling and reusing items from previous weddings or events?" Consider a smaller wedding cake - "To save some money, opt for a smaller wedding cake for the ceremonial cutting and a larger sheet cake for guests to enjoy.2 5. Going overboard with unnecessary extras that add no real value It's so easy to get carried away when planning a wedding and want to do everything and buy everything. But Nick says that there are so many unnecessary extras that couples often spend a fortune on but don't add any real value. Wedding vendors excel at selling add-ons that sound amazing but provide little actual benefit. Things like chair covers, upgraded linens, and premium flower arrangements can quickly double your costs. However, they don't significantly improve your guests' experience. Nick has urged couples to think carefully about little extras and if they're really needed. This might help keep costs down and give you fewer things to stress about on the big day. He said: 'I've seen people spend £800 on chair covers when the venue's chairs were perfectly fine. "Focus your budget on elements that directly impact your guests' comfort: good food, decent drinks, and reliable sound systems.'
