Oh summer... where art thou...

Ok so after teasing us with good weather last week it is back to MISERABLE weather here in the UK and I for one am not impressed! I do not like cold weather it seems to suck all the energy out of me- so in order to brighten my day I decided to search Pinterest today in the hope of some summer inspiration and thought I would share some of my favourites!

I am in love with all the summer colours and dreaming of hot summer days, hopefully it won't be long!

Real life brides to be- Hannah

Ok so we have seen real life weddings (& will continue too) and tips and ideas from me, but thought it would be a good idea to follow along with some "real brides-to-be" to hear about their experiences and tips they want to share with all of you! I am really excited to get to know these brides-to-be and first up we have Hannah here is her story:-

About us:
So a little about me and Rob... I am from Edinburgh, Scotland, He is from Cwmbran, Wales. I was at school in America studying Psychology but am taking time out and working, He is studying Neurobiology at Cardiff University. I'm a girly girl and love my fashion, make up, friends and music, He is a guys guy and loves quad biking, his best friend Matt, working out, Chinese food and rugby when Wales are playing! We love One Tree Hill, visiting new places, cheesecake and each other!

• • 
    • • Our Story:
        Rob and I first met at the end of April last year. I had just decided to take time out of school in America and had all these big plans to be single for the next year and travel and work and get rich...but I think it is safe to say - like most things in life - nothing happened according to plan! The day after I got home I begrudgingly agreed to go on a double blind date with one of my friends. Don't get me wrong, even tho my plan was to be single for the year I was still totally up for going on dates..just not blind ones! Having been on more than my fair share of blind dates and knowing how awkward and cringey they can be it is safe to say I wasn't too keen! But I decided despite my past experiences I was gonna have fun on this date and it was an opportunity to make new friends if nothing else!
        When we first met on the date Rob was quite shy - probably because I was not being very shy at all and called him the wrong name right after I asked a second time what his name was again ha! Thankfully he was not too put off by this and we ended up having a lot of fun together that weekend! I didn't have a phone at the time so for the following week we messaged back and forth on good old Facebook until the next weekend when we ended up going to the same event. I guess you could say it was this weekend that changed everything - we had our first kiss and spent the whole weekend getting to know each other better and having fun! About 2 weeks later we were officially an item and on the day of our 9 month 'anniversary' of dating Rob proposed!! We are getting married 30th June 2012 and we are so so excited to share our special day with all the people we love! 

• • 
    
    

Leap year

Ok, I am sorry! It has been a few days and I apologise for the lack of posts.... talk to Virgin Media about it! Apparently they wanted to not have our internet working for the past few days! So anyway sorry annnddd moving on.....

So today is the day that the tables turn and its totally ok for women to propose to the guy of their dreams, Remember if you don't do it today you might have to wait another 4 years!!!!

Do you know anyone who has proposed to their man? Come like our facebook page and share their story herewww.facebook.com/pages/Happily-Ever-After/382836648398118

National Wedding Show

I am going here tomorrow with this girl and our mum....

and I am ridiculously excited! I am sure I will be coming back with TONNES more ideas for you all and some fantastic companies I am hoping to meet with! I would HIGHLY advise going along as there are loads of fantastic vendors there and lots with special show prices!

*Guest Post- Helen Rose Lifestyle Photography*

I am so excited to have Helen of Helen Rose Lifestyle here to do a little "guest post" for us! I first got too see Helen's work when she shot one of my closest friends weddings (here). Since then I have got to know Helen a bit better and been able to see some of her amazing work! Helen was nice enough to do a little question and answer segment for me and has shared some of her favourite shots!....

1. What made you decide to go into photography?

I have always enjoyed photography and from an early age I particularly remember attempting to fine tune my ‘movement’ photographs whilst on various family driving holidays.

But later in life I was forced to take a break from my degree in Primary Education, as I was diagnosed with CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome/ M.E), and to still feel involved when I would go out socially I would offer to sit and take the photographs! This led to then take a part time AS in photography, initially as a hobby, distraction and form of therapy for me.

I realised how much I loved what I was doing so decided to stay on to complete my A-Level.

With my health as it was, I wanted to change my career path from teaching to pursue a career as a Photographer, as I could then build work up gradually with what I could cope with. We then moved to Derby where I completed a foundation degree in Commercial Photography, and afterwards I opted for a furter ‘top up’ year to do a full BA (Hons) in Commercial Photography in which I graduated with a First Class Honours.

2. How long have you been taking photos?

Since I got my first camera, which was probably at the age of 7/8, but I photographed my first wedding 5 years ago!

3. What are you favourite photos to take?

I love to vary what I do, then I believe I don’t get stale! Like for instance I limit how many Weddings I photograph a year so that I can ensure that I can enjoy what I do and don’t get caught up in monotonous routines (especially in the editing stage), I want to be on form and not rush things also.

I really love to take newborn photographs, as there is nothing more special than a brand new life with all of its tiny individual features. Family photo shoots can also be funny at times! When working with children you just have to go with the flow and not force it too much as otherwise they won’t comply!

I love children and this was one of the reasons I was going to become a Primary School teacher first of all so its great that I can still use these skills and work with children in my current line of work! I am hoping to work on some new ideas with children’s photo shoots this year, so keep checking my website to see what evolves!

4. What are 5 words that describe your photography style?

Light

Fresh

Unique

Bright

Happy

5. Are you a full time photographer? What else do you fill your time with?

I am a full time photographer, wife and mummy to 2 gorgeous little boys. There is never a dull moment for us!

6. What advise would you give couples when searching for a wedding photographer?

I have had many people come to me for baby or family photographs and they then admit

to me that they regret the decision they made in choosing to have an amateur photograph their important day.  Whether it be a relative or friend doing it as a hobby or even a photographer who was doing it for a really cheap price, you do however tend to get what you pay for. In saying this I also appreciate that there are couples who have been happy with a cheaper alternate and they are some of the rarer lucky ones!

Don’t settle!

If you like a photographer then try to go with them as your photographs are the only thing you keep and display in your home for years after the big day so its important you have confidence in whoever is taking your photographs and are happy with the end result.

You cannot change time though so make sure you capture it well!

7. What camera do you use?

Canon 5d mk II – my other little baby!!

8. What do couples get when they hire you?

They get the ‘Helen Rose Lifestyle’ experience! This is in the form of a professional photo-shoot at a location of choice, editing, a certain number of images and a disc of images with a reproduction consent letter (meaning you can print the images any number of times, any size, any time) all for one fixed price.

The only thing you can opt to pay extra for is any additional products such as canvases and photo books but like I say these are an option and to be honest most of my clients choose to get them done else where themselves once they have the disc.

I now also include on the disc a separate file with ‘facebook ready’ photographs in – meaning they are a smaller file size and with my logo on which makes it much easier to upload for friends and family to see.

9. Are you inspired by anyone?

I am always inspired by photographers old and new as well as the world around me – especially when I am on location to photograph at a new place!

Some of my favourite traditional photographers include David Bailey, Richard Avedon, Fay Godwin and Ansel Adams.

Though I am always keen on keeping up with the trends and pinterest is a good place for me to monitor and tag what I like! 

Twitter @helenrosephoto

Facebook

The Bestest Man

So I looked at the responsibilities of a Maid of Honour a few weeks ago and thought it was about time to showcase the roles of best man!
So first up the most famous best man of the last year:-

So here goes:-
1. Plan the stag night/ bachelor night - ok this is one thing I do not get why do guys hurt each other on these? RANDOM! The way I see it if you as the best man are not married wouldn't you rather do something fun, memorable and enjoyable because lets face it it will be you one day!
2. Help sort out suit fittings and coordinate between the groom and groomsmen
3. This one I had NO idea about but after looking at lots of different "lists" it seems to be part of it.... assist the groom by organising travel to the honeymoon
4. Travels with the groom to the wedding (and make sure he gets there!)- My husband and his best man managed to get pulled over by the police because of their crazy antics..... NOT GOOD!
5. Help the groom get dressed (!) and hold onto any personal possessions the groom asks him too!
6. Oversees the groomsmen/ ushers and makes sure they do all their duties (another post another time.)
7. LOOK AFTER THE RINGS! If you do nothing else as best man this is the ONE thing you must do and do well.
8. The man thing the best man does at the reception (alongside looking good and standing/sitting where told) is the speech- make it funny/ serious/ emotional just make it you and make sure to practice - there is nothing more awkward than a best man speech when he has obviously not got a clue what he is going to say!
9. Load the bride and grooms suitcases in to their car
10. Organise with the groomsman/ushers and decorate the couples "getaway" car.
11. Finally it is your responsibility to get ALL of the suits and return them to the hire shop.

Yes there are lots of responsibilities but it is an honour.... so don't screw it up! This is the couples BIG day it has nothing to do with you but it should run smoother because of you!

The true cost of a wedding....

Always a good thing to think about!