Wedding Plates...

I've just seen that www.Reg-plates-ireland.com offer special wedding plates with your names, the date and the hotel - they come complete with the IRL symbol. These plates are ideal for putting the finishing touches for your photos with the car.

Free Tickets to RDS Bridal Fair!

If you would like one of my 5 Complimentary Tickets for the Bride of the Year Show on Saturday 26th January 2008 just contact me. There are two fashion shows during the day which are a great way to see the latest Bridal dresses and bridesmaid fashion.

These little babies are worth €10 each if you have to pay at the door!

Looks a bit familiar....

This is Chidi Ogbuta of Allen, Texas. She always wanted a doll made of herself. So she had her wedding cake created in her image.

According to the I-Report one pastry chef made the body while someone from another city created the head. More photos here...

Fairy Godmother turns up.....

It's bound to be a great day when your Fairy Godmother turns up to prepare your way for your Red Carpet Moment!

Linda and Ivan had a great day - even though it was the middle of winter, they had sunshine (unlike several weddings in July, 2007) on a windless day - almost as nice as a New Zealand Summers day.... according to kiwi Ivan but he may have been talking about the day, his bride Linda or the wine - at the time I was quite busy trying to follow the accent to work out which...

Starting in Booterstown Church, they went down to the Marriot in the Druids Glen in Co. Wicklow for the reception; which was spectacular.

Merry Christmas

From us!

It's never too late!

Nice to see that it's never too late for love!

102-year-old Lithuanian man Stanislovas Grigas has become the Baltic country's oldest recorded bridegroom after tying the knot with his 76-year-old fiancée Brone Mikutiene. They were married on Saturday in a ceremony in Kaunas, Lithuania's second city.

I'm sure there wasn't anyone at the ceremony asking if the 26 years difference was too much of an age gap!

Our Wedding was at home after dinner....

This week sees new rules for celebration of civil marriages in Ireland, allowing you to get married in your place and your own way! Soon there'll be no need to traipse off anywhere, you can do it all at home.... maybe even after dinner.

Other venues, than registry offices or Churches and Temples will very shortly be allowed to be used for marriage ceremonies provided they have the prior approval of the Health Service Executive. The details of the requirements have not, as yet been finalised.

According to reports private home-owners who organise a wedding in their house or grounds will be forced to admit members of the public, whether they are on the guest list or not. As a spokesman for the HSE stated approved wedding venues have to be open to the public. Therefore home owners and hotels will not be allowed to turn away members of the public, even if they were not invited to the wedding. The 2004 Civil Registration Act is due to come into force next month but the necessary regulation details have not yet been approved by the minister.

The other principal changes include:

Residency requirements for civil marriages will be abolished. The three months’ notification of intention to marry will have to be given to a registrar in person, rather than by post.

All couples giving notification must sign a ‘‘declaration of no impediment’’ and obtain a marriage registration form.This is issued by the registrar after they have completed the notification procedures and satisfied the registrar that they are free to marry.

More details here.

Blooming Awfull!

I've never seen anything like this story in Ireland. I think nearly every single Irish Bride is delighted with the flowers at their wedding. It is rare to hear complaints. Any wedding I've ever attended have always had the best of blooms - I've also never heard of anyone spending nearly €20,000 on flowers either.

I think Irish brides can expect, and do get really nice arrangements both as bouquets and arrangements in the Church. Certainly the florists I see at weddings are always proud of their work and their efforts are a testament to their artistic flair.

As to table centrepieces - while some hotels off this as part of the package - some couples opt to get arrangements placed by their own florists in other places.

The top 10 avoidable first dance tunes....

According to Askmen the following songs are to be avoided as your first dance and, to be honest I'd agree with the choice they may be romantic classics but there are plenty more to choose from.... unless of course one of them is "your Song" and if it is - definitely use it! After all its your wedding!

Here is the suggested songs to avoid:

1. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
2. I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
3. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams
4. You Are So Beautiful - - Joe Cocker
5. Back At One - - Brian McKnight
6. Wicked Game - Chris Isaac
7. This I Promise You - - ‘N Sync
8. Without You - Mariah Carey
9. Against All Odds - Phil Collins
10. Every Breath You Take - The Police

The RDS Wedding Show

This time, we'll be there on the corner stand near the main entrance and exit - Stand F2 . Admittedly it is the same stand we've been at for the last few years, but it is the first under the new logo and brand www.couple.ie.

If you're planning to go, it is one of the biggest of its kind in Dublin with over 100 exhibitors ranging from Candle and Cake suppliers to Florists and Cars. It is an ideal spot to get all your wedding organised in one go and it is on this weekend - if you're there, be sure to call over and say hello!

What do you think of this cake?

Ok, it is not so big on the chocolate - most of the Wedding cakes featured here I recently noticed tend to covered in chocolate - not sure why! Well this is a bit more traditional. Well traditional in a different way....

This was a Christmas cake bought in the local Lidl shop on the way to the wedding and it became the centrepiece to Miriam's wedding last weekend. She had vowed not to have a wedding cake; but her guests ignored her, as they felt there would be a a gap in the wedding photos and so they brought this along so she could get her photos!

The M&Ms were added for colour because it was Miriam and Marks big day - so the M&M theme seemed appropriate; a big thanks goes to Sitha and Tom for getting it organised in secret.

All new website!

I've been working on a new website for about a year, and it is finally out of testing and ready for everyone to see!

couple.ie is the new name to accompany the website. There are LOADS of pictures on the new website... well worth a visit!

The old www.roslynstudio.com site will not disappear it is just showing it's age a bit and, to be honest, I've a lot more photos that I'd like to share!

Rather than overhaul the site I decided since we work in a team format - it would be best to acknowledge it so we went with a new name and fresh new logo.

Feeling Geeky?

I've been very busy for the last few weeks, since it was "wedding season" and so I've been going to weddings... and I'll be sharing some insights again now it has slowed down again!

The geeky bit is that I've also been doing up my new website and to be honest it was a much bigger task than I'd envisaged. However I can now confirm - officially - yes, I take a lot of pictures at weddings!

So I thought why not start again by showing you a chocolate wedding cake - not just one but three, dark, milk and white. Then I thought maybe someone wants to make their own geeky ones and were looking for inspiration - so here is the appliance of science.

And for the chocolate loving Dr Who fan in your life you could conjure up this one....

Finally, this summer I've also built a whole portrait studio in my garden which I like to call "The White House". It is completely state of the art (maybe a bit future proofed too) as it has a full ceiling mounted lighting rig, with 7 floating rails, a motor winding background unit and - oh yes! It has it's own vacuum cleaning robot.... watch the video it is nearly as good as seeing him in action!

Pre-Marriage Course

At a recent pre-Marriage course in Dublin recently at the part dealing with communication in the marriage a couple - who I'll call "Tom" and his fiancée who we'll call "Mary" listened. We'll call them that to save John and Sarah's embarrassment.

Anyway to the instructor, "It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other."

So he asked "Tom" (yes, John it really was you), "Can you tell us your fiancée's favourite flower?"

"Tom" leaned over, touched his wife-to-be's arm gently and whispered, "It's self-raising, isn't it?"

The rest of the story gets rather ugly, so I'll stop it right here......

You want it THAT big?????

I'm thinking photo prints here; you can get very large prints from my photos - I've a 80 by 50 cm at the moment waiting for some one to pick up it's been here for a while now....

People often ask can someone print from the CDs or DVDs I supply of pictures and the answer is - yes - they've been sized for a very high quality print at A4 in size. The reason I do it at that size is to keep them to a reasonable size on the disks.

I also do prints up to A0 (roughly 3 feet by 4 feet in old money, and will easily fit the wall in your hall.... ) on canvas or metallic finish paper and even framed.

Inevitably to people who are not involved a photo that size could be viewed as being a bit "Beckhamesque" if it is just you getting ready for your big day - but not unreasonable if it is that picture of you both coming down the aisle!

Rant on new book....

I was flicking through Sarah Traynors "How to Have a Champagne Wedding on a Buck's Fizz Budget" (and yes, I'm refusing to link to it!). I was not impressed with her "money saving tips" - I just didn't see them as being practical...

For example; if you've just spent €600 on a wonderfully iced cake which is after all, the centre piece of your reception - why not spend the extra €50 on getting it delivered? If you are delivering the cake to the hotel and that €600 cake falls in the car, or you trip or drop it because you are in a rush - it's your problem. If they drop it they need to fix it and anyway they are used to carrying cakes you're not! For the sake of a small saving the risk seems excessive. She also mentions about using a student photographer; I would really advise you to think carefully about this... they're just learning and you won't see the results until it is definitely too late!

Don't get me started on the idea of using silver wedding bands, that is plain daft! A proper gold ring can cost as little as €50 - if you are so stuck for cash to seriously consider this "tip" maybe you should reconsider getting married and spend the license fee on a nice meal for the two of you.

All in all; the book seemed less Bucks Fizz and more Sqeez breakfast orange juice.... try and follow it and it'll end in tears!

Billion Dollar Brides!

Since Billion Dollar Brides are coming to Dublin - it probably worth a sneaky peak in to their website. The event is in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, so it is easy to get to. To get your VIP tickets to attend, simply log onto the link below, stating you heard about the event through SimplyWeddings.com!

http://www.bdbinvite.com/

What was she thinking???????

It's one thing to have a gown to show off your figure.... but this isn't it - certainly not in a good way.

Not much to be added really - but she wasn't a bride at any wedding I've been to... and you should be able to tell by the photo!

Really, some people should listen to advice!

That dress is rubbish...

This is a dress that is certain to be part of the tidy up after the event! It is a disposable Wedding Gown - now, I appreciate this is practical to the point of "why bother?" - but we need to push the envelope.

Your big day is a red letter day, you've had reams of planning, ruled in some guests, put stuff in the margin and been in stitches, nearly folded under the pressure but through it all you've never creased.... so it is a paper dress, and a nice simple elegant one at that.

The Disposable Wedding Gown was designed by Tuija Järvenpää (tuija.asta@muu.fi) and therefore is not likely to be featured in double page ads in Confetti.... unless you remember they're both made from the same stuff!

She's just scarlet....

I saw this online and I think that it's not just a bridesmaids dress but it really could be a guests dress too. And, yes, it depends on the shape of the bridesmaids!

I'm told that Green is the new black (well, for bridesmaids dresses) not that I've noticed so far this season. I think a stunning red is fantastic in every weather as it will add a certain va-va-voom to every photo!

This is from a Bridal Fest in San Diego which is happening in a fortnight - so you've plenty of time to get there!

That old Whiskey Bottle tradition...

As you know I love these whacky US new "Irish Traditions" invented in the US, probably in this case by the Jameson Marketing department; It's lucky to hang a bottle of whiskey from a nearby tree branch.

Unfortunately my information doesn't stretch to where this whiskey bottle is hung, or if it is full or empty or whether it should be near the house, church or reception venue.

So if full; I suppose you could carry it around with you.... or if you give them a glass it could be a popular chore for the more nervous in the wedding party. It might be best if they're not due to give a speech because it might be a bit too memorable and may not be very lucky!!!

In a Lotto Favour

Thinking about what to put on the tables as your wedding favours? I've seen two ideas this week that are totally different - but each was a similar idea while differently executed to reflect the personalities of the happy couple.

The idea was to add a random element for guests to the day;

• Lotto scratch cards - one per person in a small envelope with the guests name as a place holder.
• Using the money that bags of sugared almond would cost for 100 guests; the bride and groom bought a mens and womens Armani watch and held a raffle using the name place holders!

Perhaps not to everyone's taste (like the loveheart sweets....) but a great addition to the big day and reflection of the attention to detail people will go to for their big day!

Big Day - Big statement!

In Belgium weddings are now getting political.... so 700 couples are getting "married against Racism" not quite "Rock against Racism" but I suppose everything else had been tried!

The people are symbolically getting married because three couples previously refused to be married by an official, who is Belgian but just happens to be black....

Anyway since there's 700 of them holding the reception- it shouldn't cost that much per couple though the cake will probably be quite big!

Just for the record - I really enjoy multicultural events, especially weddings - there's ALWAYS great photo opportunities!

First Dance gets serious....

You don't have to get the whole Riverdance crew in to entertain - why not do it yourselves? I've been looking at a few videos of first dances that are worth seeing - we've all seen the whole wedding party approach and we've seen the quaint couple approach which didn't quite pull it off while others probably should have worked on the routine for a little longer.

If both of you don't quite feel up to the job - why not go it alone? The bride can step out with her bridesmaids or even the groom can just strut his stuff to audience approval....

Of course if you're the more traditional types - and all of this terrifies you as a prospect you can always just do some lessons - call Michelle Alonzi (086 - 3038593) the dance instructor I met at the RDS - she will sort out your Quickstep from your Slow Waltz - making it a Foxtrot Oscar moment in your Wedding day!!!

Quaiche and easy gifts....

I got a gift from a client recently and on the label saw this website address and was hugely impressed with it's range of gifts - who wouldn't be up and jumping around after one of those A Get Well Soon Gift Packs????

Under "Weddings" they sell a Sterling Silver Large Quaiche Bowl with Celtic Handles for €520.00 (€429.75 ex. VAT), while its supposed to be a Scottish drinking bowl - I have my doubts with that "Quaiche" bit - it looks suspect..... I doubt too many homes are so incomplete that they need one either.

I figure if you're thinking flowers for someone who really doesn't "do" flowers - say just the Dad - a Coffee Brewer's Basket for €42 is probably certain to hit the right spot!

Restaurant Food

There is a very special place in West Wicklow just outside Dublin, on past Poulaphuca. This is a special retreat for many couples at weekends and isn't well known for its weddings because they're only available mid week - making it ideal for Monday weddings and those long weekend weddings!

The beautiful House is filled with old world charm and it is a proper Country house; complete with stables, golf course and wonderfully warm homely welcome - Rathsallagh House Hotel just outside the lovely village of Dunlavin off the M7 at Kilcullen or beyond Blessington if you're coming from Dublin.

What is particularly different is that they offer proper Restaurant meals, not "function" food, the meal is cooked and served when the guests and you are ready, not when it suits the kitchen. The menu for your reception is exactly the same as the menu for restaurant and not a special selection.

If you do drop in, don't forget to ask Catherine to show you my sample album there!

Picking your pics....

For the smaller Bridesmaid...

You may be surprised but not every bridesmaid is a jaded socialite, living a life of endless Redbull and vodkas in Night Clubs. Some face a day in school in the morning and still have to do homework in the evening.... wearing the gúna álainn may be a whole new experience!

So why not encourage her to record her own big day?

Without Bigging Up "Something Original" too much, (tel 01-2887236) in the Stillorgan Shopping Centre - they are selling "This is my Day as a Bridesmaid Playbook" which is fabulous - it is a pack with a small photo album, a reusable camera with flash (ok, I accept it IS creating competition for me but I think I can handle it....) and the album allows the owner to document their own day.

The best part is the warning sticker on the outside "Please note, that these packs are not intended for unsupervised use." A message that has me completely baffled.... What can this mean????

Rings'n things... (II)

This is a constructive addition to Aisle-do....

Genevieve and Chris recently decided to cement things properly, put in a corner stone and on a solid foundation for their marriage....

I could now go on about the beaming smiles, stairways to happiness, keystones of success and perhaps make a reference to their guest being floored by the rings...

I'll leave out any mention of snag lists or bright spark comments and level now: Chris's ring has a concrete centre. It was made for him in Paris.

Reluctantly, I think I'll finish this now with one last comment: Oh yeah! It Rocks!!!!

Bubblycious....

Veuve Clicquot, Yellow Label NV| €42.00 Style: Dry White Origin: France - Champagnes & Sparkling Drink with: Smoked Salmon, Aperitif, special occasions

I really think this is nicest Champagne I've had; it has, according to the experts, "Intense, fruity nose, fine mousse, flowery, fresh and lively with great balance and length. Superb aperitif."

I've got to agree with the motto of Madame Clicquot - "One quality - the finest!" and you can actually taste it. The idea remains at the very heart of everything in the company today - like mine! I really recommend "On the Grapevine" in Booterstown, it's very handy to me and tell Bill - Roslyn sent you!

Bridesmaids Fashions (III)

Champagne flutes...

As I was looking at various crystal Champagne glasses the other day in BTs, it struck me that the Waterford Crystal isn't all that expensive and it looks a lot more funky now:

Swarovski
Toasting Flutes €323

I also read some American "Traditional Irish Wedding" rubbish: "The top tier of the wedding cake should be an Irish whiskey cake which is saved for the christening of your first baby. A slice of the cake is saved to be eaten on your first anniversary." Most Cakes I see have a Chocolate Biscuit layer on top!

More American "Traditional Irish Wedding" rubbish: "Many Irish brides favour wildflower wreaths over elaborate veils...and also carry wildflower bouquets. Lavender is a favourite." In all my many weddings - I've NEVER seen that!

Eclipse by Waterford
Toasting Flutes €95

My final contribution of American "Traditional Irish Wedding" rubbish: "It's good luck if it rains on your wedding. That's true! (Of course, in Ireland, it would be a rare day when a little rain didn't fall...)" It makes me cringe with all these old Piseogs and charming Irish superstitions - many of them several months old and invented on East 21st Avenue, off 7 th Street, Polk County, Idaho or somewhere equally traditional and obscure.

Eclipse by Tyrone
Toasting Flutes €75

As to rain - the internet has the last word on this!

De-stress your day!

Simple modifications in posture, habits, thought, and behaviour often go a long way toward reducing feelings of stress and tension. Here are 8 quick and simple things you can do immediately to help keep your stress level under control.
1. Don't get annoyed:
Just let it go - you only have one day! Watch for the next instance in which you find yourself becoming annoyed or angry at something trivial or unimportant, then practice letting go - make a conscious choice not to become angry or upset. Do not allow yourself to waste thought and energy where it isn't deserved.
2. Breathe:
Breathe slowly and deeply. Before reacting to the next stressful occurrence, take three deep breaths and release them slowly. Take a few minutes, try out breathing exercises such as meditation or guided imagery.
3. Slow Down:
When you feel overwhelmed by stress, practice speaking more slowly than usual. You'll find that you think more clearly and react more reasonably to stressful situations. Stressed people tend to speak fast and breathlessly; by slowing down your speech you'll also appear less anxious and more in control of any situation.
4. Complete One Simple To Do:
Jump start an effective time management strategy. Choose one simple thing you have been putting off like looking at the table guest arrangements and do it immediately. Just taking care of one nagging responsibility can be energising.
5. Get Some Fresh Air:
Get outdoors for a brief break. Your grandparents were right about the healing power of fresh air. Don't be deterred by foul weather, even five minutes on a balcony or in the garden can be rejuvenating.
6. Avoid Hunger and Dehydration:
Drink plenty of water and eat small, nutritious snacks. Hunger and dehydration, even before you're aware of them, can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress.
7. Do a Quick Posture Check:
Hold your head and shoulders upright and avoid stooping or slumping. Bad posture can lead to muscle tension, pain, and increased stress.
8. Have a laugh!
Yes, it is possible to enjoy yourself when you're stressed - you will find the fun is heightened and the pleasure of a good laugh on your wedding day can't be over "stressed" - if you know what I mean....

Want to save money? It's licked..

Did you know you can save on your Stamps for the invites? If you buy them now you'll still be able to use them later - The Wedding stamp is so new no one has seen them yet - it only came out this week and they are available in a self-adhesive booklet of ten stamps.

This Wedding stamp is denominated at the National Rate or N Rate and is currently at 48c. The N Rate means that if the National Rate changes, these stamps will then automatically be re-valued at the new National Rate, whatever that may be.

So stock up now in case An Post gets it's price increase between now and your big day!

You nose it'll be great...

According to the Guardian in the UK, 50%of brides would consider plastic surgery before their wedding... They are not alone a lot of people apparently are looking for a surgeon to perform a nip, a tuck or more before taking that walk down the aisle. Cosmetic surgeons and others report seeing many more wedding party members seeking procedures before the nuptials.

This bride, "R.L",. shopped around among surgeons for some pre-wedding surgery by reading doctors' websites for information about their training and background,. She then ventured to face-to-face interviews of three. Like picking her photographer or florist; one in particular impressed her with price, training, patient testimonials and a warm beside manner. "My nose was an absolute atrocity," says R.L., who works in marketing in New York City and just married a graphic artist.

"I knew I had to get it right this time," R.L. says. "When I went in for surgery, my nose was twisted, and the left side was collapsed so badly, I could not breathe through it. In the past, when a picture was taken, I made sure the photographer was far off or that only my good side was pictured. Once my nose was finally straightened, I couldn't believe I had been walking around so long, looking that badly." I suppose relying on a good photographer sometimes isn't enough for some people! [details]

The Surname Round...

Did you see about the New Zealand bride and groom who played 18 holes of crazy golf to decide on which surname to use?

Greg Marshall and Adrienne Foley wore their wedding outfits for the high stakes game.They agreed on the contest after Adrienne complained: "Why do they always take the guy's name?"

She got a hole-in-one on the 9th ; but after nearly a lifetime of practice - he got ahead at 17th and and won. [details]

He's THE best man...

As we all know, some people should be labelled and now there is a way but subtly with an unobtrusive use of Cuff links!

Indeed I spotted these "Best Man" cuff links for €29.95 in "Something Original" (tel 01-2887236) in the Stillorgan Shopping Centre this weekend - beside the Post Office and very near the bookshop.

It is a nice shop for home and "Gifting" - I never knew it was a verb - "a gift" always seemed so much of a noun... For those planning a wedding they also do place name holders, and other little knick knacks. I don't want to build it up - if you're in the area it's nice to drop in to, it's probably not worth driving 5 hours from Clonakilty to visit it!

Rings'n things... (1)

A little boy was at a relatives wedding. As he was coming down the aisle he would take two steps, stop and turn to the crowd (alternating between bride's side and groom's side). While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar.

So it went, step, step, "ROAR," step, step, "ROAR," all the way down the aisle. As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit.

The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing, and was also near tears by the time he reached the pulpit.

When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."

Top 10 tips for the Church!

1. Check if there is enough room for you to sit on the Altar. If not; decide where to sit during communion – warn the groomsmen they'll need to move the furniture!
2. Leave the front pew or bench seat available for the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
3. Ensure there is a man available to escort the mother of the bride up the church
4. Time the length of the Aisle for your music
5. Keep the area in front of the church free so the photographer, videographer and the bridal party cars can park
6. If you are using a red carpet ensure it is securely fastened and there are weights on it if it is wet and windy – sticky tape will pull away.
7. Ensure the church balcony is open for easy access for the photographer and videographer.
8. Make sure the heat is put on early if it is a winter wedding.
9. Volunteer or designate people to move the flowers to the reception venue and remember to leave a flower arrangement in the church.
10. As confetti is rarely allowed at churches plan to use bubbles if it isn't too windy!

Worse things happen at sea...

I see that the romantic idea of being married by a captain at sea can now be a reality on P&O cruise liners. You can have a whole ship as a backdrop for your wedding!

It is a long-held misconception that a couple can run away to sea and be married by a ship's captain. In reality it's far more complicated. You operate under the regulations of the country where the ship is registered and under Britain's Marriage Act of 1949, weddings can only be held in a "permanent and identifiable place''. Apparently, a ship ploughing through the Atlantic does not meet the lawful requirements.

So to facilitate providing a quiet service or a lavish affair with dozens of guests, flowers, bottles of bubbly and everyone joining the honeymoon cruise - P&O Cruises has announced Oriana is giving up British registry and switching to Bermuda.

All of this just proves it is much easier to marry at home and then go away - rather than get married abroad…. and crucially you'll also have all your photos to look forward to when you get home from your honeymoon!