Latest news with #weddingplanner
The Sun
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
We ditched the UK for Cyprus & now get year-long sun, bills are so cheap, we work half as much & have even bought a home
A MUM has revealed why she packed up her life in the UK for sunny Cyprus. The mum-of-two took to social media to share how they moved to the country after Brexit. 3 3 3 In one clip, shared on The Mann's TikTok account, she and her partner said their plan A was to stay in England. Describing her life pre-Cyprus, she said it was a comfortable life and they could go on one to two holidays a year. But she said the limited hot weather and 'overworked' culture was something they wanted to ditch. They then decided they wanted more and headed to the sunny island to live out their dream. Now, they get hot weather all year round and no longer need to go on holiday abroad as there's so much to do on the island. She said they also had a better quality of life out there which was more slow-paced. The mum was also happy to say that her two children, who are in primary school, are now going to a local Greek school and have become bilingual. The mum revealed that they rent out properties in the UK to make income and she also works as a wedding planner in Cyprus. She revealed you need to earn £36,000 a year to live in Cyprus and you can work in the country if you are self-employed. The family have gone on to buy a house there to make it their forever home, and she says bills are super cheap too. All the free activities Cyprus has to offer For electricity, they spend around £87 a month, £17 on water, £13 on gas and £100 on council tax in a single year. Before buying their own property, she said rent for a two-bed villa with a pool was around £1,300 a month. The mum said that their 'plan B' for life has been going very well for them, and they don't see themselves heading back to the UK anytime soon. She said: "It's such a massive decision to leave your 'normal', weighing up all the options, writing down lists of pros and cons (we actually did this). "But we didn't want to live with any regrets and we always knew that the UK isn't going anywhere. If it didn't work out, at least we tried! Luckily it has!" The clip was posted to their TikTok account @ themannsofficial and went viral with over 138k views and 3,200 likes. Moving house hacks 1. Declutter Before You Pack Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load. 2. Create an Inventory Make a list of all your items. This helps keep track of everything and ensures nothing gets lost in the move. 3. Use Quality Packing Materials Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. This will protect your belongings during the move. 4. Label Everything Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much easier and more organized. 5. Pack a 'First Day' Box Include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes on your first day. 6. Take Photos of Electronics Setup Before unplugging your electronics, take photos of the wiring setup. This will make it easier to reconnect everything at your new place. 7. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury. 8. Colour-Code Your Boxes Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home. People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments. One person wrote: "This is so helpful! The price on council tax, water and gas, pennies compared to the UK!" Another commented: "I used to work in Rhodes and would love to go back! Since Brexit, I thought it would not be possible. This gives me hope, so thank you!" "Currently in the process of Plan B! Writing this from Cyprus on a house hunt," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: " ,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "
Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Missing harpists, demolished venues and an FA Cup drubbing: the ultimate wedding planner cock-ups
Share your wedding disaster stories in the comments section below. It's wedding season, and who better to ensure a smooth event than an experienced wedding planner? At least, until factors beyond their control encroach on the tightly packed spreadsheet. Last month, protests accompanied the lavish Venice wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez. The couple appeared unfazed, but their wedding planners, Lanza and Baucina, took the brunt of the stress with a last-minute change of venue for the final party, a raft of A-listers to transport and accommodate and a billionaire's wish list to tick off. Luckily, a wedding planner 's greatest quality is being unflappable, no matter what – as these British nabobs of nuptials explain. The harpist went awol Recently, I was organising a wedding for a well-off couple who had requested a harpist to play as the bride came up the aisle. As the wedding's start time drew closer, I began to worry – the harpist wasn't there setting up as agreed. I phoned her and she breezily said, 'But it doesn't start till 1pm – I'm still at home.' The wedding was at noon. As I tried to calm her, she threw on a dress, and arrived at the church panting and tear-stained with her hair still wet – we had to help her put it up so you couldn't tell. Angela Kames*, London The wedding boat ran aground My wife and I run the North of England Centre for Music and Arts at Standedge, and we support our work by taking on 10 weddings a year. It's by a lovely water basin and bridal parties often come up the canal by boat. The only problem is, if the water drops, boats can get grounded. A while ago, the wedding boat got stuck in mud on the way to the reception. They were trapped for an hour, and I urgently had to find a way to extract them. Thankfully, the Huddersfield Canal Society has an electric boat. It turned up and rescued everyone. At our own wedding, the venue we'd booked was demolished a month beforehand. We eventually found a replacement, having rebooked everything, then on the day, the bridal party didn't turn up. I waited for 40 minutes, until a message came through to say that her father had suffered a heart attack and that they were all at the hospital. Thankfully, he was OK – and we managed to get married. If I have one tip as a wedding organiser, it's this: always have a roll of white gaffer tape to hand. It solves almost every problem. Alastair Hanson, Yorkshire We had to drive the drinks bars up from London to the Highlands I design weddings for a very elite clientele – everything from the invitations to the look of the whole event. The couples I work with are driven, meticulous people who pay a lot of money for their version of perfection. Last week, I was in charge of designing a week-long wedding in Scotland for a New York billionaire. It was held over multiple sites, and as I was leaving the 'Highland Games' to finalise the next day's garden party, I looked at the set-up photo the crew had sent and realised the portable drinks bars were completely wrong – black not white, too small, and they looked awful. I knew the clients would be furious. I was trying to sort it out when my phone provider went down. I had to borrow a phone, and beg the bar company to have someone drive up the right bars from London overnight, at enormous extra cost. I was up most of the night tracking their progress, and exhausted all the next day, but the couple had no idea there had ever been an issue. Maria Elizabeth, Glasgow The bride forgot to pay the caterers I was asked to plan a wedding for a couple who kept arguing about who was doing what. I had a checklist, and 'pay caterers' was the bride's job. On the day, I went to the venue to help them set up and they told me they'd had the deposit but not the balance – and their contract stipulated 'payment in advance'. The bride was getting ready in a nearby hotel and I had to ring her and ask her to do a bank transfer, but she couldn't, as the entire wedding budget had been spent. She'd forgotten about the balance. In the end, rather than leave 100 guests to starve, I used my own company account to pay them the outstanding £7,500, then sent an invoice to the couple – I was dreading having to go to court, but, thankfully, they paid a week later via the bank of Mum and Dad. I'm glad I wasn't privy to that conversation. Ellis Weaver*, Cheshire The speeches were so terrible, I changed career I became a speech-writer because I'd endured so many terrible wedding speeches. I once sat through a best man's speech that went on for 50 minutes. He was heckled repeatedly and he still powered on like it was his Edinburgh debut. Another time, a trio of best men were so appallingly crude, the mother of the bride physically escorted them off the mic. We regularly have to talk parents out of turning their speech into a roast, with parents trying to sneak in barbed remarks about their son- or daughter-in-law and going way too far with 'affectionate teasing' of their own children. And there are so many of the old tired, sexist jokes – including lines such as: 'Apparently this is the last time I'm allowed to speak for five minutes without being interrupted… so I'm going to enjoy every second.' Heidi Ellert-McDermott, Gloucestershire It was the FA Cup final… Last year, I was booked to plan a lavish wedding in Manchester. There was a huge marquee, 150 guests, string quartets, a four-course dinner… The bride was exacting about what she wanted. Quite late on, the groom asked for a large television in the marquee, and I assumed that like many people, they wanted to show old videos of the couple during the evening. I hadn't realised it was the day of the FA Cup final, between Manchester United and Manchester City. The groom's side were all massive City supporters, and as soon as the drinks were served, the television was on and there was a huge cluster of yelling, boozing men around it. When United won, they plunged into despair, and it cast a huge pall over the evening disco – it was just sullen men, sinking pints while the women tried to cheer up the bride. Manda James*, Manchester The labrador ring-bearers got distracted by a squirrel I organised an outdoor country wedding where the couple insisted on their two labradors being ring-bearers, with the boxes tied to their collars. They thought it would be a lovely way to involve their pets. I hate working with animals as there's so much potential for disaster, but they promised they were 'really well-trained'. They were fine until mid-ceremony, when one spotted a squirrel and they both sprinted after it, barking like maniacs. The whole thing had to be halted while the groom and best man tried to round them up – it took 10 minutes, and then we discovered that one of the boxes had fallen off. I found it under a bush, 15 minutes later. It caused a massive delay and really annoyed the caterers and celebrant, who were all on a strict schedule. And that's why I no longer work with animals at weddings. Sarah Hillman, Devon
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wedding Planner Reveals the Common Ceremony Tradition Many Couples Are Now Choosing to Forgo
Wedding Planner Reveals the Common Ceremony Tradition Many Couples Are Now Choosing to Forgo originally appeared on Parade. Weddings can be such a big production, even if they're on the smaller side. There is a lot to plan and there are many details to consider. And sometimes, with all the hullabaloo of your upcoming nuptials, you might lose sight of what's really important: you and your partner. And not just you two, but what you both want out of your wedding. That's why some modern are forgoing old traditions, or putting their own unique spin on trend includes changing when and where you exchange vows, and it's gaining traction. It's a surprising tweak that's perfect if you and your partner want to write deeply personal vows, but don't feel like sharing them with your audience of wedding guests. To learn more, Parade spoke to Amy Shack Egan. She is the founder of Cheersy, a digital marketplace to book a day-of wedding coordinator, and owner of Modern Rebel, a full-service wedding planning company, 'helping couples rewrite the rules.' She gives more insight into what a ceremony would look like after this change, along with other rituals that some people are not incorporating into their weddings you're just curious about the way contemporary wedding ceremonies are changing in 2025 or you're taking notes for your own upcoming nuptials, these trends will likely leave you feeling inspired and While more people are moving away from classic ceremonies, even those who opt for a big, 'traditional' wedding in 2025 and beyond may get rid of a significant wedding ceremony custom. And that is a public vow exchange. Shack Egan tells Parade that this change comes from a couple's desire to bask in their love privately. 'For a lot of couples, the attention that's on them on the day of a wedding can be overwhelming,' she explains. 'Privately exchanging their vows is one way they can feel like themselves on a day that can otherwise feel a little bit of an out-of-body experience (especially for introverts).'But another reason for this trend is that it gives the couple a chance to have a moment for themselves and their love and commitment to each other. 'Exchanging vows privately also allows them to keep intimacy at the core of the event and remind them why they're hosting this event at all,' she says. Related: This particular reason is why a lot of people are now turning to private vows. For example, TikTok user @aubriecrivaro posted about how she and her husband did private vows on their wedding day, and it was her "favorite part of the day" because it was "so intimate and special.""We were so present, just the two of us," she finished in her on-screen caption. Related: In a non-denominational ceremony, the declaration of intent and vow exchange come after the opening remarks and readings, but before the ring exchange, pronouncement and first kiss. So, what does it look like if a couple chooses to forgo the vows during the wedding itself? Do they do them privately beforehand or after? In Shack Egan's experience, 'it can go either way.''... But it's usually right before the ceremony or right after. More often, before, but occasionally, after,' she says. 'They usually take 15-20 minutes just for themselves to have that sacred time alone to really ground themselves on what matters most.'Another popular trend, "the first look" (when couples see each other after they finish getting ready but before the ceremony), can be incorporated into this private vow exchange as well (but it doesn't have to be). 'It can totally work if they've had a first look,' she explains. 'A lot of times, [it] will just come after that moment (but after family photos too).'Related: Other people might choose to do their private vows before they even get ready, like TikTok user @kirstenalescio. She posted in June about how she and her husband-to-be exchanged vows before they "parted ways for the day.""I was sobbing, so I'm glad we didn't do that in front of everyone," she wrote in her again, if you aren't doing a first look and don't want to do it at the start of your day, you can still do private vows; it would just have to be after the ceremony, Shack Egan says. Related: Exchanging vows privately—not during the wedding ceremony—isn't the only major change that some couples are making in their modern weddings. Typically, nuptials have just one person officiating the wedding ceremony. This can be a priest or minister if it's a Christian wedding, or someone who's officially ordained or legally allowed to officiate a wedding (a justice of the peace, judge, government official, etc.). But Shack Egan shares that more people are choosing two officiants for equal representation. 'I've seen a lot of couples opting for more than one officiant so that both their sides are represented,' she says. 'Meaning, one of the marrier's friends is one of the officiants and the other marrier's friend is the co-officiant.' It's typical to think of 'I now pronounce you husband and wife!' as the seal-the-deal statement before the big wedding kiss. But not every couple getting hitched is heterosexual or wants such binary language. 'I also see a lot of couples opting for more modern language like: 'You may now kiss one another!' versus just 'Kiss the bride,'' Shack Egan says. Related: Just because something has always been one way doesn't mean that you have to keep it that way for your special day. This includes how you enter.'I've also loved seeing the creative ways couples process into a ceremony,' she says. 'With so many couples forgoing wedding parties, they are walking in solo, together or with both their parents.' 'I once had an introverted couple have a room just for introverts to take a break from the party hustle and bustle,' Shack Egan shares. 'I thought it was brilliant and the room did get used a lot!'Related: Deviating from the 'norm' can feel awkward, and if you're usually the go-with-the-flow type or someone who doesn't want to ruffle feathers, it can be daunting. How will it be perceived? Will people think it's weird that you're not going with a traditional ceremony? It's understandable to feel like you could be putting people off with your changes, especially if you're getting rid of something so traditional in a wedding like vows. However, Shack Egan says to 'go for it!' and not look back. 'This is usually the first time you're spending this much time, energy and money on an event, and the last thing you want is to walk in and for it not to feel reflective of who you two are as individuals and as a couple,' she shares. 'Trust me, your guests will feel that too. Lean into authenticity even if it's not the way you've seen it done.'Up Next:Amy Shack Egan, founder of Cheersy, a digital marketplace to book a day-of wedding coordinator, and owner of Modern Rebel, a full-service wedding planning company, 'helping couples rewrite the rules.' Wedding Planner Reveals the Common Ceremony Tradition Many Couples Are Now Choosing to Forgo first appeared on Parade on Jul 12, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Woman Calls Cousin 'Cheap' for Buying Secondhand Designer Wedding Dress. Now, She Wants to Borrow It
A woman on Reddit is asking if she's wrong for refusing to let her cousin borrow her wedding dress At her wedding, the cousin in question made snide comments about her wedding dress being secondhand, calling her "cheap" Now that the cousin's wedding dress won't come in time for her own big day, she's asking to borrow the poster's dress because it was "actually kind of nice for a resale dress"A woman refuses to loan her wedding gown to her cousin over some past comments about the dress. On Reddit's rAmIOverreacting forum, the 26-year-old woman shares that she got married last year and sourced her dress secondhand online. "It was a designer gown that I got cleaned and altered for a fraction of the original price. Everyone said I looked amazing, and I loved it," she writes. Though the poster was particularly proud of how the dress looked on her wedding day, she says her cousin wasn't as impressed, going so far as to make rude comments to other guests. "At my wedding, she made a comment within earshot of several people about how 'some people are too cheap to get a real dress' and 'I'd never wear a used gown, that's bad luck,'" the woman writes. Though she chose not to confront her cousin over the comments at the time, they seem to be coming back to bite her. "Fast forward to now, my cousin (24F) is getting married and asked if she could borrow my dress," the Reddit user writes. "She said hers won't arrive on time and she remembered how mine was 'actually kind of nice for a resale dress.' " Still feeling a bit scorned from her cousin's previous comments, the poster told her cousin she couldn't borrow the dress, which has led to quite a bit of drama. "I said I wasn't comfortable lending it to someone who mocked it and me, publicly. She got defensive, said I was being petty and holding a grudge over a 'harmless joke,'" the woman continues. "Now some family members are saying I should just be the bigger person and 'help out a bride in need.' " However, Reddit users agree with the poster for several reasons. "Can use her words, 'You said you'd never wear a used gown, it's bad luck. You also said I was too cheap to get a real dress,'" one person pointed out in the comments. "Don't let her use your dress. (Your family saw it on you just last year. Way too soon even if you did want to help her out.) Tell her to get on the phone and light a fire under someone so that her dress does arrive on time." "Not overreacting at all if she thought it was beneath her then, she shouldn't want it now," another commenter added. "Actions have consequences." Read the original article on People
Vogue
26-06-2025
- General
- Vogue
Handfasting Ceremony Rituals and Traditions, Explained
Did you know that the common phrase of a couple 'tying the knot' at their wedding comes from the ancient Irish handfasting ceremony? This wedding tradition serves as a symbol of the couple's bond and commitment to each other. The practice involves a wedding officiant, close friend, or family member wrapping the to-be-weds hands together with a rope or braided cord in a knot. While it isn't commonly practiced outside of Ireland, other cultures have similar rituals in their wedding ceremonies to mark the couple's connection, like the lasso ceremony or the Hindu granthibandhan ceremony. Want to incorporate this unity ritual into your own wedding? Read ahead to learn more about the history and practice of handfasting. What Is a Handfasting Ceremony? A handfasting ceremony is an ancient Celtic and pagan tradition that has become a beautiful ritual that still occurs at Irish weddings. 'It's the binding together of a couple as part of their wedding ceremony,' explains Tara Fay, a luxury wedding planner based in Dublin. 'It signifies a couple's commitment to each other and the binding together of two people. When tied properly and a couple pull their hands free from the ropes or cords, it should leave what resembles an infinity knot symbolizing their infinite love.' She adds, 'It is normally done with a single rope or cord, but ribbon or any type of binding can be used.' History Behind Handfasting So where exactly did this 2000-year-old ceremony come from? 'Its roots are in ancient Celtic and Pagan traditions,' says Fay. 'A couple had their hands bound together by a druid so they were tied to each other for a year as a sort of trial marriage—essentially a modern engagement. Either one of the couple could opt out over the course of the year. Otherwise, they would be married at the end of the year.' Today, the traditional practice was updated to occur at the time of the wedding rather than engagement. Many couples choose to do it as a nod to their culture, as well as a way to represent that they are linked together spiritually in their love and marital bonds. The Meaning Behind the Cords and Colors The meter-long cords for a handfasting ceremony can be found in a variety of colors—cream and green are particularly popular, but you can also use just about any hue under the sun. According to Fay, these shades don't have any traditional significance—rather, a couple can ascribe a deeper meaning to certain to colors if they wish. 'Sometimes, people use different color ribbons that have significance for them. We would usually plait these for ease,' she says. 'Sometimes people use cords to signify children or parents.' How to Incorporate Handfasting Into Your Wedding If you or your fiancé are of Irish descent or are planning a destination wedding in Ireland, you might be curious about incorporating this ritual into your nuptials ahead of your ring exchange. Luckily, all you need to prepare is to obtain a fastening cord and explain the ceremony to whoever is performing it. 'A great time to do this is either immediately after the vows or as part of the vows. Tying is symbolic of binding you to your partner so saying the words you mean while being bound together makes the vows even more significant,' suggests Fay. 'You do need to have someone assist, so sometimes we get the mothers or fathers or siblings involved.' The wedding planner shares that there is no exact method you must follow for the ceremony, but the couple will need to join hands and whoever is helping with the ceremony will need to tie them together with a knot. It's also a nice idea for your officiant to add an explainer of the ceremony to guests in their wedding script so everyone is aware of the meaning of this special tradition. Tips to Personalize Your Handfasting Ceremony There are plenty of ways to make the handfasting ceremony feel even more personal to your wedding. Fay says she has seen ceremonies where the couple used ribbons from their invitations as their fastening cord or add bell charms—another Celtic tradition—to the rope. 'The main thing that we always say if someone is doing this is you—the couple—are the only ones that know which way you want this exactly,' she says. The planner also encourages you to be thoughtful about who you choose tying the knot. 'It's a beautiful way to incorporate other significant people in your life into your celebration,' she shares.
