Everybody knows that your wedding is your day, but there are a few little things that really make it for your man too (besides knowing he’s going to be spending the rest of his life with you of course). From the moment he sees you taking those first steps down the aisle and you can see his eyes well up (but not really) to the moment he first steps up to the bar after he’s a married man (more likely), and your first night together as husband and wife (most definitely), there are parts of the day that you know he will always remember.

There is one moment in the day though that you can’t help but feel is just for him. Even though you really want that horse and cart you know that your man really wants to drive off in an Aston Martin with “just married” written on the back window, and let’s face it, that’s not too shabby for you either.

Most car dealers will be able to tell you the best choice for renting out a wedding car, but you could let your fiancée be in charge of this one thing (and only this thing!) If your husband wants something sporty then the aforementioned Aston is probably a good choice, but a shiny new (or even a classic old) Jaguar will be sure to light up his little face too. And then there’s always the real classic that’s definitely not something to be sniffed at: a Rolls Royce is definitely going to make your friends jealous, make your man’s day, and make sure you’re a lot more comfortable than you would have been bouncing along after a horse.

photo credit: Tab McCausland Studios

It’s easy to talk about your wedding day only coming once in your lifetime, but there’s plenty that comes with it that you shouldn’t wish away either. From trying on your dress, to choosing your flowers, every second of your engagement should remind you of how great this time of your life is, and your honeymoon should be better still.

More and more people are coming around to the idea of having a wedding abroad with only a few close family members, but it’s always been the thing to go somewhere exotic on your honeymoon, so you can come back with a tan and something to brag to your friends about, and so you’ll always remember more than just those few minutes you’re walking down the aisle and the best man’s horrifically embarrassing speech.

Your honeymoon is the first time you’re together alone as man and wife, and such a special time deserve to be spent in a special place. Some of the more popular destinations at the moment are in places that weren’t really thought of as romantic until recently. From Dubai and the Far East, to Africa, there’s somewhere to please every bride, and that is sure to provide plenty of beautiful photographs.

African honeymoons are becoming more popular because of the fantastic weather, as well as the rich culture that it wasn’t quite so easy to immerse yourself in until recently. Whether you want to see beautiful cities such as Cape Town, or breath-taking landmarks like the sublime Victoria Falls, African honeymoon holidays with Mahlatini.com have so much to do and see that you’ll seriously think about getting married again in future.

Photo Credit: Barbi Cameron

Finding the perfect bridesmaids dresses can be tricky as you want to make sure that they fit the wedding’s theme as well as making sure that the bridesmaids will love wearing them. Both the dresses and the bridesmaids come in different shapes and sizes so you need to find a dress that everyone is comfortable wearing. Here are some steps you should consider during your hunt to finding the best dress. Let’s hop to it!

Bridesmaid dresses available here.

1. Consider the preference from both the bride and the bridesmaids
While you probably have fairly fixed ideas in mind about what you want your bridesmaid dresses to look like, it would be a good idea to ask each one of your bridesmaids about their opinion. If the bridesmaids are allowed to contribute towards the decision, your wedding day may go even smoother as they all will look and feel fantastic.

2. Compliment the bridal outfit
The bridesmaid’s dresses are not supposed to look horrendous just to make the bride look spectacular in comparison. Instead, it is supposed to fit the theme of the wedding and compliment the bride by being simpler in design.

3. Listen to the bridesmaids suggestions and concerns
Again, ask the bridesmaids about preferable colours, length, design, transparency, tightness of fabric etc., as these things concern comfort – and in the end it is not the bride who is going to wear it.

4. Can the dress be used in a different occasion in the future?
If the bridesmaids are going to spend lots of money on a dress, most likely they would want to make sure that they can use the dress for a future event as it can be seen as a “waste” to spend that much money on a one time occasion.

Finding the perfect wedding gift can be a tricky process. A lot of the time you are only familiar with one of the couple and don’t really know anything about the tastes of their significant other, you don’t want to offend! You also have to think about price and how much you think other people are spending on gifts as you don’t want to look like a cheap skate or that you are trying too hard. You could always go for something traditional like a toaster or salad tongues, but won’t everyone else? The married couple don’t want to be completely inundated with kitchen appliances!

There are so many present buying pitfalls to avoid, but luckily there have been some recent developments to the practice that are designed to help out both buyer and recipients of wedding gifts. The first is the idea of registering for gifts. You can now do this online and have a list within certain department stores where people are able to order the gift from a list accessible to them on the shop’s website. This takes all the worry out of a gift. It means that you don’t have to think about over or under spending and you know it is something the couple actually want!

Many couples are now asking for donations to be made to a charity of their choice in lieu of wedding gifts. If you are particularly close to a couple who have given up their presents for the sake of a worthy cause, perhaps you would like to give them a gift on top of your donation?

A great idea for this would be to club together with some of your friends and family and buy them something they can enjoy together. Perhaps you could pay for a romantic experience such as a hot air balloon ride for two or maybe a romantic getaway to soothe the stresses of the big day; you could book a luxury spa hotel with spabreaks.com where the happy couple will be pampered to their heart’s content!

Although the weather might not be acting like it, summer is actually upon us, which means that wedding season is in full swing. I’ve been invited to three weddings this summer, and I find dressing for them particularly tricky – especially when part or all of the festivities are happening outside – and particularly if the weather insists on being this changeable, but after some hard shopping (tough job, but someone’s got to do it!), I’ve found three great dresses and have put together some easy to recreate looks for you, based on the outfits I’ll be wearing to weddings in the coming months.

Royal blue and lace have both been massive trends recently – no doubt thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge, who is a massive fan of both. This Diane Von Furstenberg dress combines both trends – and there are loads of copy-cat dresses available on the high street at the moment so you should be able to find one to suit your budget no problem. If you think the skirt is a bit too short for a wedding and/or you’re worried about feeling chilly, pop on a pair of black tights. Personally I think this look works best with bare legs, gold accessories and red shoes for a bit of contrast.

Coral is a classic summer hue, and the detailing on the front of this shift dress adds a bit of quirk. Of course if you’re not a fan of the tie detailing, a plain dress in this colour would work just as well, as would adding a belt round the waist. I’ve paired this dress with a neutral bag and animal print shoes, but something in a clashing colour would be just as chic.

Traditionally, you’re not meant to wear black to a wedding but it’s not a hard-and-fast rule for most modern ceremonies. The pattern and bow detailing on this dress is cute, and the skater style means it’s flattering for most figures. If you’re going to a wedding that involves a lot of time outdoors, throw a blazer of it to keep you warm if the weather’s looking dubious! I’ve chosen shows that pick up the piping on this blazer, and a bag in a different colour to break the ensemble up a little bit.

Liberty-Belle Howard is a UK-based blogger and freelance writer currently writing on behalf of Matches Fashion.

I had to blog about this cool Love is Art Kit.  Get home from your honeymoon unroll the white canvas and make your own piece of art together to share in your bedroom or anywhere in your new home.  Come on now that’s cool right?

Also from the same company Bride and Groom Voodoo Dolls…..I would totally give these to someone getting married LOVE!