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February/March 2016 cover
cover
Cover image provided by Amy Breeze Photography, www.amybreeze.com
 
February/March 2016
A hidden treasure
Set the scene of a secluded secret garden for exclusive, enchanted nuptials

Tulle Britannia
Meet the designers making their mark on bridal across the UK

Prime time
Make your make-up work for you with the perfect primer

Blue for you
The on trend hue for this year's grooms

To top it off
Cake toppers for the pièce de résistance

Spotlight on... Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Solihull
The best spots to tie the knot

Glorious gardens
Our guide to the best al fresco backdrops

Diamonds are forever
Classic, statement or contemporary - how to choose your big-day bling.

60 ways to impress
Everyone loves a surprise, and when better than on your wedding day?

Style icon
Advice on the biggest bridal hair trends for 2016

Plus...
Regular features, news, events, Q&A special - and much more
 
Next Issue Out
1st April, 2016
Giveaways
 
For some terrific FREE TO ENTER competitions, giveaways and offers,
visit our website at www.yourwestmidlandswedding.com
Glorious gardens
 
Glorious gardens
 
Brinsop Court, HR4 8LS

Brinsop Court is a romantic English country manor house boasting ornate ceilings, wooden panelling and period features.

Surrounded by manicured lawns, encircled by a moat and nestled within a private 800 acre estate, it’s not hard to see why poet William Wordsworth spent time there to find inspiration for his writing.

Couples with a guest list of up to 70 for their ceremony should consider tying-the-knot in the venue’s impressive 12th-century banqueting hall, while those with more intimate numbers may wish to look at the Elizabethan Library which overlooks the gardens, or the stunning Queen Anne room which offers fantastic views over the moat. The maximum capacity for your reception is 150. Meanwhile, Outdoor ceremonies can take place within the inner court yard – a perfect backdrop for any wedding album.

Did you know... That newlyweds can make the most of the estate’s honeymoon cottage as part of their package – perfect for relaxation once the big day is over.

Ceremony licence? Yes
Contact: 01432 509 925
www.brinsopcourt.com

Check out more venues on page 27 of the current issue.
Proud as a peacock
 
Proud as a peacock
Image provided by John Charlton Photography
 
‘Win Your Dream Wedding’ competition winners Michelle and Ross wowed guests with their peacock theme at Fazeley Studios

Michelle and Ross were delighted to be selected as the perfect pair to hold their big day at Digbeth’s Fazeley Studios, having entered our Win Your Dream Wedding competition which launched in the April/May issue of last year.

“I decided to enter it without telling Ross, as I never expected to win, and now here I am, married to the love of my life,” says Michelle. The pair started dating in 2003 having met through mutual friends a few years before. It took 10 years for Ross to take the plunge, and his proposal was a complete surprise to Michelle, who admits, “It was a private moment at home and came completely out of the blue, as he’d always said he’d never do it!”

Ross worked on the refurbishment of Fazeley Studios a number of years ago and therefore it seemed the ideal place to tie the knot.

On page 41 of the current issue, Michelle tells us all about their big day.

www.johncharltonphotography.co.uk
Playing cupid
We can't believe it's come around so quickly but the final of our Wedding of the Year competition is in the latest issue. We wish our four finalists the very best of luck – make sure you check out the next issue to see which wonderful couple walk away with the prize!

Our regular features such as our honeymoon news, beauty buzz, grooms' section and fashion lowdowns are bursting with oodles of ideas too – so no matter where you are in the planning process, we've got it covered. But if you've got a specific question you want us to put to the experts, why not let us know? There's lots of ways to reach us – from good old fashioned snail mail to cheeky tweets – whatever your preference, get in touch and you could find yourself featured in Your West Midlands Wedding!

Happy planning!

Liz McIntyre, Editor
 
Make sure you email editor@yourwestmidlands
wedding.com
to keep us up to date with all your news
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Win a family-moon for four in Oman, worth more than £4,000
 
Win a family-moon for four in Oman, worth more than £4,000
 
Enter now for your chance to win a four-night stay for four in the Royal Suite at the Millennium Resort Mussanah in Oman

If your dream is to enjoy your honeymoon with your kids in tow, then now is the chance for all of you to visit the Sultanate of Oman – home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Middle East with rugged mountains and crystal clear fjords providing a dramatic backdrop.

With tranquil views of the surrounding Al Hajar Mountains, overlooking its very own marina and the Gulf of Oman, the four-star of the Sultanate’s top wellness destinations with a diverse range of pursuits, including leisure, sailing and diving trips, and stress-free family-friendly getaways – not to mention the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation at its spa.

The resort boasts 311 spacious, well-appointed rooms and lavishly decorated serviced apartments, complemented by a comprehensive array of leisure and lifestyle facilities that meet the needs of even the most discerning guest.

The resort is located in the South Batinah region of Muscat along the Gulf of Oman, on a private beach surrounded by date trees. Facilities include the Beach Club with the signature Zayna Spa, which offers relaxing treatments from around the world, and the Health & Fitness Club in addition to an outdoor fitness track park.

Millennium Resort Mussanah was built to host the second Asian Beach Games in 2010 and retains many of the world-class outdoor sporting facilities, incorporating Oman’s first ladies-only swimming pool and Jacuzzi, as well as two infinity pools. Olympic-size leisure pool and kids’ splash pool ensure plenty of opportunity for guests to cool off. Other amenities include two floodlit tennis courts, volleyball courts and 18-hole mini golf plus a fully supervised Kids’ Club.

Looking to be wined, dined and pampered? Try the culinary delights at any of the three à la carte restaurants; Maydan, Al Bahar and Azure, chill at the poolside bar or do like the locals and enjoy a Hubbly Bubbly at the Shisha lounge.

The resort is a major gateway to the Damaniyat Islands; a group of nine islands about 18km offshore. They are Oman’s only fully protected marine reserve and the stunning marine and island environments are still in pristine condition. The biodiversity is plentiful with some of Oman’s best-developed coral reefs, nesting sea turtles and a plethora of inquisitive sea creatures. Blink and you will miss something! The on-site PADI dive centre offers excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities year round together with training courses for kids and adults of all levels.

To find out more visit the website www.millenniumhotels.com/
millenniumresortmussanah


The prize
Millennium Resort Mussanah is offering a four-night stay for four people in the Royal Suite – with a daily buffet breakfast delivered to your 125m² luxurious suite that boasts a separate living room, second twin bedroom and stunning views of the Gulf of Oman.
 
Enter here
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To order, please visit our website at www.yourwestmidlandswedding.com or call us on 01376 514000
Hot topic: Going green
 
Hot topic: Going green
 
Confetti shot

Q I’m keen to avoid the traditional paper confetti and wondered if there were any eco options that don’t cost the earth?

A Petal specialist Katie Plant says:
Most venues don’t allow paper confetti any more as it has to be cleaned up and is harmful to wildlife. Natural petal confetti is biodegradable and eco-friendly; just like blossom from a tree. The most cost effective way to use natural petals is to buy a larger amount than you need for your throwing confetti and use what’s left for decorating tables or scattering down the aisle for a lovely finishing touch.

www.shropshirepetals.co.uk

Experts answer more questions on page 107 of the current issue.
Manor Hill Weddings
Warwick House
Sarah Russell Hair & Makeup
Register now for your personalised Wedding Planning Tools
Hair today, gone tomorrow
 
Hair today, gone tomorrow
 
Styling expert Fay Smith gives us the low-down on bridal hair trends for 2016 Ombre to Sombre

It’s not hard to guess that half-up half-down is the most commonly requested style for bridal hair, but what’s the modern twist? “Gone is the childlike look and feel of this option – stylists can now make sure that locks are twice as thick and twice as long,” says Fay.

Get the look
“A good bridal stylist will use hair pieces and extensions to achieve a bride’s dream hair. Brides want their half-up half-down look to stand out, so thicker and longer hair is the updated version of the traditional style. “Colour is also something to think about as we see less of the ombre look from 2015, and more of the sombre for 2016, which is much softer. "You can easily create this look yourself by using extensions. Learning how to use them properly is a great skill to learn as they’re also great for the honeymoon and on special occasions after the wedding.
    1. Part the hair starting in the nape from left to right and clip the hair above out of the way.

    2. Tease the root area of the section with a backcombing brush. I use the KENT dressing out brush.

    3. Apply the hair to that row, clipping shut securely as you go.

    4. Bring the next section of hair down over the last leaving about half an inch between rows.

    5. Continue until you reach the crown area.

    6. Pull the top section of hair away from your face and secure with pins towards the centre just below the crown.

Turn to page 67 of the current issue for more experts advice and hair trends for 2016.

To find out more about Fay and her fantastic team, visit www.hairhostess.co.uk

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