Editor loves and inspiration

To help make your wedding stand out for all the right reasons, it pays to get the entertainment right. For the happy couple, the big day may go by in a flash, but for family and friends, especially travel-weary guests or those with young children, any lulls in the proceedings can dampen the feel-good factor. Nothing brings people together more than laughter and shared experiences, so it’s essential that you hire a supplier who will keep your guests smiling throughout the day. To help give you heaps of inspiration, we’ve interviewed Bertie Anderson, also known as Bertie Bow, to find out more about her business.

Bertie Anderson, also known as Bertie Bow, is a musician with more than 20 years of experience. “I know exactly how to provide that magical musical sparkle to your day,” says Bertie. “I have curated an ever-expanding programme of violin repertoire, especially for weddings. Inspired by Bridgerton, I love playing pop and rock covers on violin with high-quality piano and guitar backing tracks, creating a sophisticated, contemporary atmosphere for a ceremony, drinks reception or wedding breakfast. I can provide my repertoire list on request, which also includes a varied selection of classical, film, music theatre and jazz music.

“I’m based in Cromer, Norfolk, but am happy to travel around East Anglia. I’m always keen to perform specific requests during the ceremony, for the bride or groom’s entrance, signing of the register and exit, to create your perfect soundtrack.”

Head over to our Music and Entertainment feature in the current issue to see more. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Salon Nine, a hair and beauty salon based in Suffolk, has won Bridal Salon of the Year for 2024 at the illustrious Hair and Beauty Awards (The HBA). Founded in 2021, Salon Nine has quickly established itself as a premier destination for brides-to-be, offering hair and beauty services tailored to create unforgettable wedding day experiences.

Rebecca Clark, the owner of Salon Nine, expressed her gratitude and excitement upon receiving the award: “Winning the Bridal Salon of the Year award is an incredible honour for our team at Salon Nine. We are passionate about making every bride feel beautiful and special on their wedding day, and this recognition is a testament to our dedication and hard work. We are immensely proud and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service to our clients.”

See more local news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Chloe and John first laid eyes on each other at work. “Chloe complemented my car one morning as we were arriving to work,” says John. “We spoke briefly and I rushed into work, not fully embracing her comment. We then met again during a work party. I set my eyes on her and thought she was lovely, but that I had no chance – not in my league! That turned out to be a false assumption and in summer 2016, we started exchanging messages and we went from there!”

John proposed on Christmas Eve. “We were warm and cosy at home by the Christmas tree,” shares the groom. “I think I surprised her by getting down on one knee and asking her to be my wife.”

“I worked at Hintlesham Hall Hotel for nine years overseeing weddings,” explains John. “We looked at several venues, but once we visited Hintlesham Hall Hotel, we agreed it had to be there. It’s a stunning, majestic location and I don’t think you can do any better. Tracy at the Hintlesham Hall Hotel gave us a tour of the beautiful hall and discussed all the highlights and what to expect to make our day as perfect as it was. We cannot thank Tracy, Yuriy, Jade and John enough for looking after us and all our guests for helping us have the best day of our lives!”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Make-up artist Lily Thomas reveals the latest make-up trends.

"Most brides want to glow and not look like a shiny disco ball; a pearlescent glow is the easiest way to get the youthful lite from within. Use a liquid pearlescent product like Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter for an all-over glow or Iconic London Illuminating Drops; lightly dab it over the skin with a beauty blender or brush once you’ve finished your foundation. I’d recommend avoiding the forehead area and focusing on the cheeks, nose and brow bone to enhance your features.

"Blush has made a real comeback in recent years and it’s definitely not just a trend. Use a liquid or cream blusher for a long-wearing look; apply a little more than you usually would to avoid looking washed out on your wedding day. I love Nudestix Nudies Cream Blush in shades Picante, Nude Peach and Cherie as it adds colour back to the cheeks.

"Dreamy matte skin is seamlessly blended to achieve healthy, fresh- looking skin without any shine. Use matte or satin-finish foundations and bronzers, set with a pressed setting powder like Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Setting Powder and Setting Spray to minimise shine. To add colour to the cheeks, buff a matte cream blusher using a fluffy brush. Soft pinks and browns work really well with this look."

Head over to our Looking Your Best feature in the current issue to see more. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Hair stylist Stacie Goodwin shares her tips for adding texture and volume to your wedding look.

"Long, fine hair can be tricky to work with, but there are a few things you can do to achieve volume and texture. Firstly, I would recommend adding clip-in hair extensions if you are considering a style that’s down or half-up, half-down. Not only will this give you the volume you need, but it will also help with longevity, especially if your hair doesn’t hold curls well.

"For adding texture, blowdry a product such as sea salt spray into the roots prior to styling, as this will add a layer of ‘grit’ to the hair and help you achieve volume and texture. Another tip I give to my brides-to-be is to use a clarifying shampoo in the lead-up to the wedding. This will help to remove any product build-up that can weigh the hair down."

See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Lydia and Leith met online. “We actually went to the same secondary school for a few years,” says Lydia. “Leith was a couple of years above me at school and I actually remembered him, but he had no clue. We connected almost immediately!

“Leith takes great pleasure in telling everyone that I had booked the wedding before I had the ring, which is technically true, but it was a joint decision,” shares the bride. “My dad’s health started rapidly declining towards the end of 2021 and we were hoping to get married before anything happened, but unfortunately we weren’t able to do so. But this had started us having conversations and we went to an open day and fell in love with our venue, so we booked it!”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

This photo shoot was centred around Pantone’s Colour of the Year: Peach Fuzz. “As soon as we saw this was the colour of the year, we thought it would be a great idea to show what a wedding could look like when incorporating this colour,” say organisers Modesta and Rohiny. “This allows couples who are planning their wedding this year to incorporate or accentuate peach fuzz or peaches themselves. Peach fuzz symbolises romanticism, which we wanted to see fit together with florals that have soft tones. Both dresses we selected symbolised bridal elegance, which fit into the softness theme really well. The tablescape featured peach tones, peaches themselves and hints of gold. The airy environment of Barrington Hall gave us the opportunity to tie the whole theme perfectly.”

See more from the shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Sarah and Daniel met at school. “We didn’t actually speak until a night out for my sister’s birthday 22 years ago,” says Sarah. “The day after, he jumped out at me with a bunch of flowers while I was walking to work.”

Daniel proposed in May 2023 during a holiday to Crete. “I was completely surprised and had no idea he was going to pop the question,” shares the bride. “He took me to a church by the sea where we were posing for a family photo when he dropped down onto one knee.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Content creator Katie Rayner put together this styled shoot with the help of local suppliers. “I fell in love with weddings and since I have family that work in the industry, I was looking for a way to join,” says Katie. “I heard about content creators becoming a new trend and thought I would research it further. The role described exactly the type of content that I would love to have at my own wedding, so I gathered the information that I needed and launched my business, Katie Anne Content Creator. I knew of a lot of suppliers in the industry, so I decided to organise a styled shoot at Hockwold Hall. The theme really fit with the venue and everyone worked together to create an amazing day.”

See more from the shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

To help you create your dream outdoor ceremony, we spoke to humanist celebrant Dawn Rees and asked for her top planning tips.

"As an experienced celebrant with hundreds of ceremonies under my belt, I know that an outdoor wedding can be absolutely stunning," says Dawn. "Choosing an outdoor wedding gives you lots of options and can be incredibly photogenic, but what criteria should you consider when selecting an outdoor wedding venue? Here are some top tips based on my years of experience:

"Visit the property at least twice and try to meet the staff you will be dealing with and get a feel for the place and the people. Consider what type of ceremony you want and share your ideas when you visit the venue. Is it going to be formal, informal, or have a party vibe? How many guests will be coming? Where in the grounds will the ceremony be held? Many venues have specific places where it is either shaded, woody, sunny, under a tree, or on a stone terrace. But what factors should you consider before making up your mind?

"Think about your guests. Is the site accessible? How far away is the car park? Is there a path for friends and family with mobility issues? Is the ground even or uneven? Is it a formal or informal space? What will suit your vibe? Think about how you will reach the ceremony site. How far is it from the main building and/or the reception area? Is your walk in music of sufficient length?"

Head over to our Outdoor Weddings feature in the current issue to see more. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download