Your North West Wedding- April/May 2020 (Issue 61)

READY, SET, FIRE! My hubby-to-be is looking for a fun activity for his stag do. What packages should we look for and how many people can they cater for? There are a range of fun activities that your partner could book. Here at Michael Coates, we run clay shoots and archery at the Wild Boar Inn at Crook. Your partner can choose to do one activity or combine them to fill a whole day. We spend a lot of time going through everything so we can teach you the correct position and technique. We’re so confident that if anybody completes the clay shoot package and can’t hit a clay, we will give them their shoot for free! In the archery package, you’ll learn about stance and technique before moving into the field to hit a moving target. Just in case the weather isn’t perfect, don’t worry, we have a covered area to coach under. The cost is £49 per person, which includes private tuition for your group and axe throwing can be added at £15 per person. Michael Coates Entertainment specialist michael-coates.co.uk ACCESSORISE AND SHINE I love the look of flower crowns, but I’m worried it may look overwhelming next to my heavily-beaded dress. Do you have any ideas of how I could wear one without overdoing it? A flower crown makes a beautiful hair accessory. It should enhance your look by accentuating your gown rather than overwhelming it. Everyone is different, but as a general rule, I would suggest you look for a half-crown rather than a full crown. These work well with a couple of statement blooms or a row of delicate flowers. For a more subtle look and depending on what style suits you and your chosen hairstyle, I would suggest wearing this to the side or back of your head rather than across the front of your forehead. Work with your hairstylist and use your trial to test out different looks. Visiting bridal boutiques will allow you to try out different looks to help you make your decision. Julie Berry Flower crown specialist flowercrownmagic.com REST AND RELAXATION I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the planning process. What are your top tips for planning a stress-free wedding? Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. While the process is magical, there are often hugely stressful bits. Here are my top tips for planning a stress-free day. ❤ Buy a journal. There are so many gorgeous wedding planners out there and trust us yours will become your bible. Good ones will prompt you with questions and tasks you need to complete before the big day. List all your suppliers and their contact details in there, so everything is in one place and keep all the ideas you collect at wedding fairs in it too. ❤ Getting wedding insurance. Before you do anything else, look into wedding insurance. It usually costs around £100, and although that seems like a lot of money, it’s worth it to give you peace of mind and protect you if anything goes wrong. ❤ Make sure you have contracts in place. Before you hand over any money, it’s wise to ensure you have a written contract from your chosen supplier. It’s tempting to do things verbally, but it’s important to get everything in writing. ❤ Don’t try to please everyone. You’ll find as soon as you get engaged people will start sharing their opinions. Pick the things that you’re happy to compromise on so family and friends still feel valued and included. ❤ Look after your wellbeing. Meditation, breathing exercises, yoga and gratitude journaling are all ways you can improve your mindfulness. Listen to music, look at wedding imagery and spend time in nature to help relax and de-stress. ❤ Stay healthy. Many brides chose to undertake a new beauty or skincare regime to look their big-day best, but it’s important you do it in a way that will improve your health rather than making you feel more anxious. ❤ Ensure your venue has a dedicated wedding planner. Before you book a venue, consider how much the staff will help you plan your day. Celia Gaze Founder of The Wellbeing Farm thewellbeingfarm.co.uk shanewebber.com nessworthyphotography.com EXPERT ADVICE 43