confetti 2016

GO FOR GLAMOURIan Stuart’s brilliant bridal dress designs

Big daybeauty

tips

Taking sleazeout of the stag do

Creative ideasfor flowers

Wedding daytraditions

Mum’s the wordMother of the bride fashions

Wish you were hereFind theperfectvenue

1986 - 2016

Celebrating

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDETO THE BIG DAY

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Shop online at www.sisteronline.co.uk

409 Ecclesall Rd Sheffield, S11 8PG Tel: 0114 267 1330

Occasion Wearfashion inspiration

One to one style advicering to book yourconsultation

10% off occasion

wear with thisadvert


8 Bold and BeautifulDespite his imaginative creations having taken the bridal market by storm,

there’s much more to come from designer Ian Stuart

10 Get the lookAll you need for gorgeous DIY bridal beauty is the right products and a little practice

15 New ImageFabulous fashions mean you are certain to find your special wedding outfit at New Image

18 Something old, something newJust where – and why – did our modern wedding traditions originate?

Phoebe Seymour delves into the past

22 Tankersley ManorWith its elegance and charm, Tankersley Manor makes the ideal venue for a perfect wedding

28 Floral TributeFlowers will take centre stage at 2016’s weddings

32 Sobering up the stag doMore and more husbands-to-be are opting for booze-free bachelor parties.

How are they seeking thrills instead? Adam Kay reports...

regionalmagco.tumblr.com@RegionalMagCo Search ‘Regional Magazine Company’ RegionalMagazineCoSearch ‘Regional Magazine Company’

MANAGING EDITOR Chris Wilson EDITORIAL Stephanie Burns, Fiona Barber, Phoebe Seymour, Jordan Cutforth CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Richard Abbey SUB-EDITOR Richard Smith STUDIO MANAGER Chris Brierley DESIGN Dan Wray, Steve Levers, Charles Bradshaw OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Jillion Wood SALES PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Amanda Roy

SALES EXECUTIVES Sam Warsop, Sally Wragg, Julie Shingler, Nicola Hoult, Terri Moore, Rebecca Hume, Lisa Dawson, Deborah Mourmouris, Melanie Jackson DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Chris Clayton ACCOUNTS Paul Barrett, Kelly Mann

Published by: Regional Magazine Company, RMC House, 6 Broadfield Court, Broadfield Business Park, Sheffield, S8 0XF. Tel: 0114 250 6300. www.regionalmagazine.co.uk

Not connected with any other company or group. Printed by Buxton Press, Buxton, Derbyshire.

The publisher takes no responsibility whatsoever for the safe keeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material. Any submitted material should beaccompanied by an SAE.

All material is the copyright of the Regional Magazine Company and is not to be reproduced without permission.The placing of an order for the insertion of an advertisement in this publication shall amount to an acceptance of our terms and conditions, copies of which are available on request.


perfect for weddings

t: +44 (0) 114 287 2309 e: [email protected] w: www.astonhallhotel.co.ukW O R K S O P R O A D A S T O N S H E F F I E L D S O U T H YO R K S H I R E S 2 6 2 E E

Your wedding should be perfect beyond all expectations. At Aston Hall, we will make it unforgettable!

A cheese wedding cake is the perfect alternative (or addition) to a traditionalwedding cake. A beautifully decorated stack of artisan cheese is a wonderful

centre piece and an economical way to feed your guests.

The cheese you choose can even tell a story, maybe you got engaged in Spainand want to include traditional manchago or your marriage is a union of two

counties and your cake will be made of only Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire cheese.

Just like a traditional cake, your cheese stack and be left naked to show offthe beautiful natural rind of the cheese or can be decorated to match your

scheme and include fruit, flowers, ribbon, lace.....the list is endless.

At the cheese cave we will help you choose the right cheese for your taste andbudget and guide you on how much cheese you will need to satisfy your

guests. Drop by, ring or email to make an appointment to do some tastingsand chat about your dream cheesy cake.

I’m always excited to meet you and be involved in your big day!

Email: [email protected]: 01302 376366

Something Old, Something New, Something Goat & Something Blue


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Ian Stuart’s best-selling‘flower bomb’ dress


Bold andbeautifulDespite his imaginative creations havingtaken the bridal market by storm, there’smuch more to come from designer Ian Stuart,says Stephanie Burns.

Whimsical, theatrical,

flamboyant’. In three words,

globally renowned bridal

designer Ian Stuart

perfectly sums up his

signature style, a style that has been pored

over by brides the world over for well over a

decade and continues to attract great acclaim

from both customer and peer.

Anyone who has taken even a passing

interest in fashion or bridalwear will be

familiar with Ian’s creations. Boldly taking his

needle and thread where few have dared to

venture, his more elaborate gowns wouldn’t

look out of place in a Renaissance painting

and are often held up as the pinnacle of bridal

design. Deftly focused on fit, quality, styling

and detail, each piece is a work of art inspired

by three of the designer’s passions: old films,

coffee table books and music.

I managed to grab a quick phone call with

Ian at the beginning of the year as he was

putting the finishing touches to his 2016/2017

collections – due for release in April – to

discuss the highlights of his illustrious career.

In his line of work, days are anything but

typical. In and amongst the designing, his time

passes by in a whirlwind of meetings with

fabric suppliers, modelling agencies, sales

agents and jewellery designers, all the while

cataloguing and storyboarding the fabrics,

laces and trimmings he collects along the way.

Days after we spoke, he embarked on one of

his regular fabric-finding missions in Hong

Kong, China and Taiwan.

From a young age, Ian was given a taste of

a more international lifestyle than many

children are. He was born in Holland in 1967

before moving to Manchester when he was

five. Growing up, he adored theatre and the

arts and almost signed up to acting school.

Instead, he studied design and graduated with

a fashion degree from Berkshire College of

Art and Design in 1989.

Before the course had ended, he had

already been snapped up by David Sassoon

of Bellville Sassoon – a Chelsea-based

couture company that has counted Jackie

Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor

and every member of the royal family

except the Queen among its loyal clientele

over the years – and chose, accordingly, to

specialise in wedding dresses for his final

project.

“It was a practical decision,” he admits. “I

really wanted to do theatrical costumes but

I realised that at that time there wasn’t that

much work in it. Wedding dresses and

eveningwear were the most similar things.”

At the age of 25, he secured a job at

Sweetheart Gowns – in his words, ‘a big

cheesy American bridalwear company’ –

where he worked for ten years, winning

Wedding Dress Designer of the Year in the

USA – a major achievement for an English

designer – in the process.

In 2002, having moved back to London,

Ian set about creating his eponymous

company along with fellow designer Peter

Tague. “We converted a spare bedroom in

the house, started up very small, made a

collection, went to show it at a show in

Germany and got a full order book. At that

moment it [went] from being a dream into

‘this is really tangible and we now have to

finance these orders and put them into

production and actually make these dresses’.

So it made it very, very real.”

The Collection Designed by Ian Stuartlaunched the following year in West Dulwich

and has since earned Ian the Bridal Designer

of the Year award five times. “Seeing [my

own company] get off the ground was a

really proud moment because I felt that

finally I was free and I didn’t have the

restrictions and constraints that working for

another company has. You only have to

answer to yourself.” >>>

Antoinette

Chiquitita

Wanderlust


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Ian’s dresses aren’t for every bride; it

takes a strong personality and style to pull off

his more daring designs. Just take his best-

ever selling flower bomb dress as a case in

point. Flower bomb, which Ian describes as

encompassing all the magic ‘Ian Stuart’

ingredients, burst onto the bridal scene in

2011 and was an instant hit. Such was its

success, it featured in the 2014 wedding dress

exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum

alongside dresses worn by Kate Moss, Dita

Von Teese and Camilla Parker Bowles.

His latest collections, while still heavily

featuring this signature style, have travelled in

a more demure direction, with 1950s-inspired

short styles and dresses with smoother,

cleaner silhouettes. They latter may look

easier to make than their frothier

counterparts, but Ian admits they were even

more challenging. “Those dresses look the

simplest but they’re actually the most difficult

because the draping is so complicated and

the dresses are so plain, you can’t hide any

mistakes with decorations,” he admits.

In April, he’ll no doubt wow yet again

with a new shape of dress that would look as

good down the aisle as it would on the red

carpet. Alongside these Oscar-worthy designs,

he’s also been experimenting with some

interesting fabric and lace combinations. And

his love affair with colour continues with

some multi-coloured pastel creations that

only he could pull off with style.

Unsurprisingly, given his passion for

theatre and music, Ian’s favourite job is

presenting these new collections and

showcasing them with a good dose of his

trademark flamboyance. “There’s always a

runway show that’s just happened, then

there’s the next one to plan ahead for so

that’s constantly on my mind,” he says. “I love

perfecting that. I love the whole presentation

of it, from the music to the set design to the

styling of the models.”

Since 2007, these shows have not only

featured his bridalwear but also his much-

loved occasionwear collection Ian Stuart

London. And it is these two pillars of Ian’s

career that led him to launch his first flagship

store, Blewcoat, last June, which was officially

opened by the man who gave Ian his break,

David Sassoon.

Whether brides are shopping at Blewcoat

or one of the boutiques hand-selected

exclusively by Ian to stock his dresses – or,

indeed, when buying any wedding dress – Ian

is outspoken about his dislike for online

wedding dress shopping and implores every

bride to visit a boutique to find the right style

rather than scouring the internet. “You need

to be able to see what you’re going to buy in

reality and you need to be able to look inside

it and know that it’s got the correct

construction that’s going to flatter your

body,” he says.

“When a girl goes into a bridal salon,

she’s given expert advice by the sales

consultants that will give her guidance and

help to eliminate the dresses that are not

working for her. The internet is not going to

be able to fit you in the dress and do your

alterations. It’s not going to advise you on

bridesmaid colours and how to pull it all

together. I think it also ruins the whole

experience for the bride because it’s a once-

in-a-lifetime thing and it should be a

pleasurable experience.”

For a man who has dedicated his life to

ensuring women look and feel their very best

on one of the most important days of their

life, it’s easy to see why he remains so

passionate about doing things the right way.

And still, no matter how many brides have

sashayed down the aisle on their big day in an

Ian Stuart gown, the designer has never tired

of seeing it happen.

“I feel really happy and proud that

somebody had so much choice but they ended

up getting one of [my dresses] when there are

so many other ones to choose from,” he says.

“That feeling when you see someone in one of

your designs, it never goes away.”

Visit www.ianstuart-bride.com to find yournearest stockist.

A preview ofnext season


Riviera takes the current collectionin a more demure direction


Get the lookAll you need for gorgeous DIY bridal

beauty is the right products and alittle practice, says Stephanie Burns.

EYEBROWSEnhance the natural

arch of your brow withLaura Mercier Brow

Definer, £17.50.www.houseoffraser.co.uk

FOUNDATIONThe buildable coverage anddewy finish of Nars SheerGlow Foundation indeauville, £31, achieves theperfect fresh-faced result.www.narscosmetics.co.uk

HIGHLIGHTEROptimise your bridal radiance byadding a touch of Topshop GlowHighlighter in polish, £9, to thetop of your cheekbones.www.topshop.com

BLUSHUse Clarins Multi-Blush inrose, £18.50, for a natural-looking flush of colour.www.clarins.co.uk

LIP TINTIf you’re not used to wearing

a heavy lipstick, a delicateswipe of Benefit Posiebalm,

£14.50, is the answer.www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

EYELINERMAC’s Liquidlast Liner,

£16, will give you a clean,sharp flick that lasts all day.Come evening, build up for

a more dramatic look.www.maccosmetics.co.uk

MASCARAUse as little or as much ofthe eye-opening YSL babydoll mascara, £25, as youneed to suit your ownstyle. www.yslbeauty.co.uk

EYESHADOWThe subtle smoky

nudes of Urban Decay’snaked 3 eyeshadow

palette, £38, will makeyour eyes pop.

www.urbandecay.co.uk

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Browse the Devaiya Oils store forpurchases of our products including our

gift sets. Purchases can be collected locallyor delivered across the UK.

Relax and unwind after yourwedding preparations and treatyourself or your loved one to...

and for the Groom & Best Man…

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Our Fairytale Wedding

Packages include:

• Free room hire • 4 course meal for 40 or 60 guests• Drinks package for 40 or 60 guests• One glass Bucks Fizz (for arrival/after ceremony)• One glass house wine (during the meal)• One glass sparkling wine toast• Evening buffet for 80 or 100 guests• Top table fresh flower arrangement• Silver cake knife & stand • Master of ceremonies• Personalised printed table plan & place cards• Chair covers with sash (colour of your choice)• Linen tablecloths & napkins • Red carpet welcome• Complimentary feature room for the Bride

& Groom for the night of their wedding• Professional brides make up on the wedding day & pre trial

WEST RETFORD HOTEL24 North Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 7XG

For further information, please contact our Wedding Co-ordinator on 01777 706 333 or [email protected]

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B R A M A L L S G O L D R O O M

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Find us onFacebook

Herries Road South I Hillsborough I Sheffield S6 1QG

Tel: 0114 234 4852 Fax: 0114 233 6750

w: www.bramallsgoldroom.co.uk e: [email protected]


205 Middlewood Road, Sheffield S6 4HD Email: [email protected] 0114 234 1230Late nights open Wednesday til 8pm and Thursday & Friday til 7pm

Hair, Nails & Beauty

Pre Wedding PackageGelish Nails or Extensions

Semi permanent Lashes, Gel Pedicure

£100

On The Day PackageHair taken up

Air Base Makeup

£70

Wedding PackageHair taken up, Air Base Makeup

Full set Acrylic Nails

Natural set of Semi-permanent Lashes

£130

WEDDING PACKAGES

The Cutlers’ Hall is without question a magnificent venue steeped in historyand grandeur. This unique Grade II* listed building in the heart of Sheffield has all

the right elements to create your perfect day. The hall is an extremely adaptable

space; the Main Hall is perfect for weddings for up to 300 guests, whilst our smaller

rooms are able to provide the ideal backdrop for a more intimate affair.The winning combination of a spectacular environment, flexible room space,

and outstanding service along with exceptional food and drink,make the Cutlers’ Hall a great choice for weddings.

phone 0114 276 8149 | email [email protected]’ Hall Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HG | www.cutlershall.co.uk


This year fabulous fashion boutique

New Image is celebrating 30 years

of providing individual fashion with

a very friendly personal service.

Specialising in mother of the bride

and groom occassionwear, owner Lesley

Taylor and her team know how important it is

to find the ideal outfit. Dressing for a wedding

is as individual as the person themselves,”

Lesley says. “We make sure everyone looks

and feels their very best.”

With designers such as Condici, John

Charles, Veni Infantino and Gina Bacconi lining

the rails, you’ll

discover a world of

beautiful fabrics,

styles and colours in

sizes 8-22.

Condici has long

been the chosen

brand for ladies

looking for something

extra special. “No

matter what size or

shape you are,

Condici will look

fantastic on you,” says Lesley. “It’s the way it’s

cut and the quality of the fabric that offers

the most flattering styles for everyone.”

A bespoke service is also available with

stunning hats and fascinators by in-house

milliner Darcie Mae. A fabulous finishing touch

to any special occasion, the colour, size, shape

and design can be matched to your exact

specifications. There are also matching bags and

shoes available to complete the look in style.

Though the above luxurious options are

available, a great selection of other

collections is also on offer, including Gina

Bacconi and Michaela Louisa. Fabulous

fabrics and fits are guaranteed.

You will also find a wide choice of special

guest wear. And with an in-house seamstress

on hand to fit and tweak any alterations, you

are guaranteed a great look and fit.

As a mother of the bride or groom, you

deserve to enjoy a wonderful experience at

such a special time and New Image excels in

making this happen; providing personal individual

attention in a very relaxed environment.

New Image are looking forward to 2016

with great enthusiasm and optimism and look

forward to welcoming you. New Image are

still very progressive and enthusiastic for the

future in our prospects and trading.

Saturdays can be very busy so make sure tobook an appointment.

New Image277 Middlewood Road, Hillsborough,Sheffield, S6 4HDTel: 0114 234 4880www.new-image.co.uk

Fabulous fashions mean you are certain to find your special wedding outfit at New Image.

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Whirlowbrook Park, Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield S11 9QD

Telephone 0114 3210209 • [email protected]

@whirlowbrook

• Set in 39 acres of landscaped Parkland • Breathtaking exterior • Fully refurbished beautiful interior • Guaranteed exclusivity • Complimentary parking • Bridal ready room • Oak panelled ceremony room

For the Third Year RunningWinner* of South YorkshireWedding Venue of the year

*as voted for by Wedding Dates

Whirlowbrook Hall is renowned as one of the region’s best wedding venues

just one look will tell you why

Weddings at Whirlowbrook Hall


Ensure your Wedding

Cake is in good hands!

All four of our staff

entered the CAKE

INTERNATIONAL

Competitions at the

NEC Birmingham in

March 2016 and all

came away with

awards ranging from

Certificate of Merit to

Silver. The competition

attracts entries from all

over the world from as

far away as

Australia, China,

to the USA so the

standard was

extremely high.

It was the first

competition ever

for Gill, Chloe and

Gail, and only the

second for Debra,

so they were extremely proud of their

achievements. These high standards are

second nature to all of us so you can be

assured of something spectacular from

THOSE FINISHING TOUCHES.

those finishing touches

professionally qualified producers of celebration cakes & venue decor

those finishing touches that make your celebrations truely memorable

[email protected]

www.thosefinishingtouches.co.uk

Find us on Facebook

VISIT OUR SHOP AT: 20 Holme Lane, Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 4JQ Tel. 0114 234 4490 Mobile. 07846 216 149OPENING HOURS: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm & Saturday 9.30am to 3pm

venue decor

We offer a one stop shopping experiencesupplying your cake, venue decoration, balloonart and favours all to your own bespoke design.

Our staff provide professional and friendlyadvice for your events and celebrations.

We can help you decide on a theme and coloursyou want to run throughout your celebrations,removing possible mis-matches and the extraphone calls incurred by using several suppliers.

Please feel free to contact us for furtherinformation or to arrange a personalconsultation at our shop to discuss yourspecific needs with no obligation to purchase.

YOUR LOCALAWARD

WINNINGCAKE DECORATORS

Hand-crafted Sugar Flowers

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please ask for

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We cater for all occasions – Birthdays, BaptismsAnniversaries, Proms, Corporate Etc…

VAST STOCK OF SUPPLIES AT 5% DISCOUNT for those who make their own cakes

Our cakes are made from the freshest of ingredients and come in many flavours


Tapton Hall’s unique blend of elegant historyand modern efficiency can make your wedding,corporate or special event truly unforgettable.

You can be assured of facilities to rival the mostmodern - but with a welcome and a standard ofservice that reflects the finest Sheffield tradition.

Tapton Hall hosts many events, meetings andspecial occasions on a weekly basis, fromconferences and seminars to weddings and birthdaycelebrations, as well as running a very popular barlunch service from Monday to Saturday. Bar lunchesare available as a 'walk-in' service, but it is advisableto book in advance to avoid disappointment.

FULWOOD ROAD

BROAD LANE

CLARKEHOUSE ROAD

SHORE LANE ’

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Shore Lane, Fulwood, Sheffield S10 3BUTelephone: 0114 2660051 | www.taptonhall.com

Tapton-Hall | @TaptonHall

We stock one of the largest selectionsof designer suits in the country.

For that special occasion.


Just where – and why – did our modernwedding traditions originate? Phoebe Seymour delves into the past.

Something old,something new

Confetti


Ah, white weddings. Traditions such as the gorgeous dress, the towering cake, and walking down the aisle are what a brides-to-be’s

dreams are made of. It may sound like a cocktail for the perfect wedding ceremony now, but if you got hitched a few hundred years

ago when these traditions were in their infancy, you’d probably find them less than romantic. From warding off evil spirits, to

stopping runaway brides, here are just a few of the reasons why we celebrate weddings in the way we do.

ORIGINS OF MARRIAGESo, why do we get married at all? The concept of marriage is about 4,350 years old. Anthropologists believe that before then, families consisted

of large groups (around 30) of loosely related people, with several male leaders sharing a number of women and children.

As hunter-gatherers started to settle into civilisations and nurture the land, they wanted smaller and more stable family units. Marriage’s

primary purpose was to bind women to men, and guarantee that a man’s children were truly his.

The first recorded marriage ceremonies between one woman and one man date back to 2350 BC, in Mesopotamia. Over the following

several hundred years, marriage evolved into an institution recognised by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. Interestingly, marriage had

little to do with religion or love to begin with.

Love became a motivating factor during the Middle Ages, whilst marriage was accepted as a sacrament by the Catholic church in the 8th

century. Marriage was then written into canon law at the Council of Trent in 1563.

It was only later that the western world started adopting the wedding traditions we know today.

Contrary to popular belief, the white dress wasn’t chosen to represent the purity and innocenceof the bride, but became fashionable after Queen Victoria wore white for her wedding.

Victoria (the trend-setting Kardashian of her time) wore a plain white dress to marry PrinceAlbert in 1840 simply because she liked the colour. But, she wasn’t the first... Mary Queen of Scotswore white to marry Dauphin François of France in 1558. However, this was consideredscandalous at the time, as white was traditionally worn by royal ladies in mourning.

The veil and train, on the other hand, originated in Roman times. Roman brides wereswaddled from head to toe in a gigantic flame-coloured veil called the flammeum as it wasbelieved its fiery appearance would scare off evil spirits. Similarly, bouquets used to contain garlicand dill, and bridesmaids wore similar dresses to the bride to confuse and ward off evil spirits.

The veil and train also prevented brides from running away from their grooms – and viceversa, as the bride’s face would usually only be revealed to him at the end of the ceremony.

THE WHITE DRESS


SOMETHING OLD, NEW, BORROWED AND BLUE This tradition is believed to date back to 1898 and comes from an Old English rhyme which

says, “Something olde, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your

shoe”, all of which are lucky charms carried by the bride on the big day.

Something old represents continuity; something new offers optimism for the future;

something borrowed symbolises borrowed happiness; something blue stands for purity, love,

and fidelity; and a sixpence in your shoe is a wish for good fortune and prosperity, although

this last tradition does not seem to have stood the test of time.

In return, guests were traditionally given five prettily-wrapped almonds to represent

fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness as favours. Nowadays, we tend to use anything

from the classic sugared almonds, to CDs, to lottery tickets.

There are several possible reasons why we have tiered wedding cakes. In Ancient Rome, bread

was broken over the bride’s head to bring the couple good fortune and in Medieval

England, cakes were stacked as high as possible for the bride and groom to kiss over.

From the mid-1600s, a bride’s pie was served at most weddings. It was considered rude

and bad luck not to eat it. This was eventually replaced with a bride cake made of plums or

fruit cake, symbolic of fertility and prosperity.

Two cakes were then made – one for the bride and one for the groom. The groom would

have a fruit cake which was usually smaller than the bride’s, whilst the bride had a simple

pound cake covered in white icing.

And this is where the trend-setting Queen Vic comes in again. Sugar was very expensive, so

icing really showed off the social standing and wealth of the family. When Victoria used white

icing on her cake, she coined the term Royal Icing.

The first modern, tiered wedding cake appeared at Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany’s

wedding in 1882.

CHALLENGINGTRADITIONSSome of our wedding traditions are so

well established in our society, we

forget about the loopholes and how

fluid marriage laws can be. Here are a

couple of examples of wedding customs

tipped on their heads:

LEAP DAYAccording to an old Irish legend, St

Brigid struck a deal with St Patrick

to allow women to propose to

men. The catch? They could only

do so every four years on Leap

Day – 29 February. Many women

still think men should be the ones

to do the proposing, but we say

don’t wait for permission. Be a

leading lady... and don’t forget that

there’s one this year!

MEN WHO MARRIED MENYou may think gay marriage is a newconcept, but you’d be wrong. RomanEmperor Nero, who ruled between 54and 68AD, twice married men in formalwedding ceremonies.

Homosexual weddings werecommon in second and third centuryRome, but worried many people includingsocial commentator Juvenal, who pointedout that male “brides” would never beable to “hold their husbands by having ababy”, and the Romans outlawed formalhomosexual unions in the year 342.

It’s taken over 1600 years, but samesex marriage was finally legalised in theUK in 2014.

THE CAKE


We are dedicated to making each of ourselect weddings a beautiful and fabulousexperience. With our unique historic grade IIlisted venue in the heart of the city centre,our passionate team can offer a weddinglike no other.

Share your dreams with us and we will shareour passion for excellence. From decadentafternoon tea celebrationsto seasonal wedding savers,there’s something for allstyles and budgets at theLeopold Hotel..

2 Leopold Street, Sheffield, S1 2GZt: +44 (0) 114 252 4000 f: +44 (0) 114 252 4001

[email protected]

Celebrate your special day at

S H E F F I E L D

Weddings at the Leopold Hotel

90 decadent designer-ledbedrooms including the

ultimate in chic double height Mezzanine Suites

Set in the picturesque LeopoldSquare the Leopold Hotel offersclassic modern British dining in

unforgettable surroundings

4 Civil ceremony

licensed private suites of individual flair and character


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Choosing the perfect venue is one

of the biggest decisions you’ll

make when organising your

wedding. It sets the tone for the

entire day and can influence

many other elements – your dress, flowers,

colour scheme and stationery may all tie in

with your choice of setting.

Engaged couples looking for a blend of

old-world charm and modern elegance will be

delighted with the four-star Tankersley Manor.

Steeped in character, originality and

history, it combines traditional old English

stone, wooden beams and open fires with

contemporary touches and is firmly

established as one of South Yorkshire’s most

popular wedding venues.

The hotel is built around a former 17th

century manor house and is set in its own

grounds, with great indoor and outdoor

spaces for photographs and drinks receptions.

Civil ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and

evening receptions are held in a choice of

suites. So, whether you’re planning a wedding

for 50 or 250 guests – or something in

between – there is a suite to suit. The

Tankersley suite boasts its own private

entrance, reception area and bar and is ideal

for large weddings for 100-plus guests, who

enjoy exclusive use of the facility. The Pennine

suite and Manor suite, both located in the

main hotel, also have their own private bar

and cater for up to 100 guests.

The hugely popular range of all-inclusive

packages has been created to take care of

your every need. It includes a limited edition

wedding package at £4.995 or, if you’d prefer

something a little different, you can tailor-

make a bespoke package to suit your own

individual style.

Experienced and dedicated wedding co-

ordinators will help you to plan every last

detail, from drinks and dining options to

florists and photography. Their strong links

with trusted suppliers include all the extras

that make the day one to really remember.

Pre-wedding pampering is taken care of

at the on-site Reflections Spa & Leisure Club.

With five spa treatment rooms, a double spa

treatment room, an indoor swimming pool, a

sauna, a steam room, a whirlpool and a gym,

it has everything you need to relax before

the big day.

Make the most of everything the hotel

has to offer with the home-cooked Yorkshire

food of the Bar & Brasserie – the ideal place

to gather

your

closest

friends and

family for a

more informal

meal the evening

before, or day after, your wedding.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for something

extra special, private dining options are also

available.

There are 98 bedrooms, family rooms

and upgraded rooms – as well as plenty of

parking – so your guests won’t have to worry

about a thing. Accommodation discounts help

to keep costs down, too.

If Tankersley Manor sounds like your

dream venue, why not check it out for

yourself by attending one of the many

wedding open days throughout the year? And

don’t miss the wedding exhibitions, held each

February and September. Flexible

appointments are also available on evenings

and weekends, when a member of the team

will be happy to show you around.

If you can’t wait to marry your fiancé,

selected dates in 2016 are available with a ten

per cent late availability discount. If you’re

planning a little further ahead, there are still

some dates left for 2017, too. But be quick, as

they’re already being snapped up.

For more information, contact the TankersleyManor events team on 01226 744700 [email protected]. You canalso visit www.qhotels.co.uk for further detailsand to view the online wedding brochure.

Tankersley ManorChurch Lane, Tankersley, S75 3DQTel: 01226 744700www.qhotels.co.uk

With its elegance andcharm, TankersleyManor makes theideal venue for aperfect wedding. Limited

editionwedding

package –£4,995

Set thetone


20 GROVE ST, RETFORD DN22 6JR. Tel: 01777 703148 (with its own customer car park)

4 SALTERGATE, LINCOLN LN2 1DH. Tel: 01522 526752

www.annewilkinson.co.uk

Looking good

when it counts

Mother of the Bride and clothes

for other special occasions are

where Anne Wilkinson

excel.

Choose from our carefully selected

collections from Condici, Ispirato,

John Charles, Zeilaand Ann Balon.

And for the remainder ofyour wardrobe. exciting

clothes including Sahara,Gerry Weber, Olsen,

Joseph Ribkoff,Betty Barclay and more,

plus a new range by Rabe,will spoil you for choice.

. We offer you a truly

personal service. Ourattentive, experienced staff

will be pleased to helpyou look your very best.

BRIDAL WEAR & PROM

The boutique has three spacious bridal rooms and two prom rooms

so you can enjoy the privacy and fullattention of experienced staff.

CONTACT US TO MAKE YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

Open Mon - Sat 9.30am - 5pm Except Thursday 10am - 4pm

3 Thorne Road, Doncaster DN1 2HJTel 01302 365601

www.jaynesbridalwear.co.uk


Timeless...

For information about our civil ceremonies please contact0114 2010618 or [email protected]

Set on the banks of the River Sheaf, let the romance of thishistoric 18th century hamlet charm and inspire your special day.

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, Abbeydale Road South, Sheffield S7 2QW www.simt.co.uk

Weddings atAbbeydale Industrial Hamlet

www.blushbeautysalon.comCall us on 01246 434 843

Blush Nails and Beauty @BlushSheffield

• Gelish• Luxury Facials

• Tinting• Waxing • Pedicures

• Silk & Gel NailExtensions • Manicures

• Permanent Makeup

The Stable Block Courtyard, Renishaw Hall,Renishaw, Sheffield S21 3WB

Nails • Beauty • Permanent Makeup Holistic Massage • Bridal Packages

OPENING HOURS

Tues-Thurs: 10-7pm

Friday: 10-4pmSat: 9-1pm

We specialise in Wedding Packages


your dreamwedding is here...

01423 770152 [email protected]

www.ripleycastle.co.uk


Unit 6 Craft Workshops, Orchard Square, Sheffield S1 2FBTel: 01142 729367

OPENING HOURSMon to Fri 9am - 5pmSat 9am - 3pm

Makers of Unique quality jewellery, specialisingin engagement & wedding rings

GOLD, SILVER, WHITE GOLD & PLATINUM

Diamond rings, Bracelets,

Necklaces & chains

Precious stones supplied

Quality repairs and

restoration work

undertaken

Estimates

Email: [email protected]: www.michaelspencerjewellers.com

A Luxury Wedding Venue

The Maynard

Main Road, Grindleford, S32 2HE

Tel: 01433 630321 themaynard.co.uk

Whatever you’re looking for, we’ll make sure it’s the day of your dreams.Visit our website and request your free Wedding Brochure now.

• A range of packages available to suit all wedding styles• Only one wedding a day ensures the whole team are dedicated to you and your guests.• Licensed for both civil ceremonies & partnerships• Boutique hotel offering an exquisite bridal suite & 9 ensuite bedrooms• Our experienced wedding coordinator will also be on hand to help & advise you every step of the way

COLANTEJEWELLERY

All rings available in platinum, gold or palladium

Open 10am–5pm Tues–Sat

26 High Street, Dronfield, S18 1PY

01246 419 777

Leather Bracelets

Stockists of:


www.whitleyhall.com | 0114 245 4444

For further information please contact our Wedding & Banqueting Department on 0114 245 4444 (option 2)E: [email protected] W: www.whitleyhall.comWhitley Hall Hotel, Elliott Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield, S35 8NR

FINALDISCOUNTS

NOW AVAILABLE

• If you have your ceremony at the hotel, we will waive the charge.• If you have your ceremony elsewhere, we will provide free canapés and coffee for your party• Complimentary Bridal Suite• Complimentary ceremony flowers worth £25.00

A complete Wedding Day package in the heart of the Whitley Estate to include (per person):• 3 Course Wedding Breakfast • Buffet for the evening celebrations• Drinks Package - Arrival punch, wine with your meal, bubbly for the toast• PLUS - the additional complimentary items below (See charges at bottom of page for extra guests.)

Please add £62.95 per extra guest in each section for full package. (Or £18.85 for evening buffet only.)

*Complimentary Superior Rooms only apply when a minimum of 9 otherrooms (Parker Suite) or 12 other rooms (Whitley Suite) are booked on thenight. All offers are subject to availability. Terms & Conditions apply.

FROM £2310.00

£1259.00(Based on 20 adults)

• If you have your ceremony at the hotel, we will waive the charge.• If you have your ceremony elsewhere, we will provide free canapés and coffee for your party• Complimentary Bridal Suite• Complimentary ceremony flowers worth £25.00• Two Superior Bedrooms FREE of charge for parents*

FROM £3440.00


• If you have your ceremony at the hotel, we will waive the charge.• If you have your ceremony elsewhere, we will provide free canapés and coffee for your party• Complimentary Bridal Suite• Complimentary ceremony flowers worth £25.00• Two Superior Bedrooms FREE of charge for parents*• Bottle of Champagne in the Bridal Suite• Complimentary Romantic Break for your anniversary• Drinks Package 3 replaces Drinks Package 1 (as in above offers)

FROM £5820.00


Special Wedding OffersEXTRA

20% OFFON ALL

REMAININGDATES FOR 2016


Flowers will takecentre stage at 2016’sweddings, writesMolly McGreevy.

Weddings and flowers have

always gone hand-in-hand

but in 2016, floral is taking

over. No longer saved for

bouquets and buttonholes,

flowers will influence every aspect of your

special day.

Floral embellishments were showcased

by a host of designers at New York Bridal

Fashion Week. Some dresses featured

minimalist design, with a touch of floral

design complementing an otherwise

traditional gown. Others were brave and

bold, covering their dresses in colourful

floral prints, perfect for brides wanting to

stand out from the crowd.

Replacing traditional tiaras, flower

crowns are predicted to grace the heads of

brides in 2016, especially at summer

weddings. Crowns can vary from the bright

and ostentatious, using dozens of fresh

flowers to more simplistic, chic designs.

Bridesmaids won’t be missing out on the

fun either, with floral patterned dresses

predicted to bring a flourish of summer to

bridal parties, as well as flower accessories

and hair pieces for those finishing touches.

Flowers have always been popular

decorations at weddings, but this year the

wilder the better. Alongside floral, bringing

the outside in is set to be a huge trend in

weddings in 2016, and is reflected in the

flowers brides are choosing. For tables,

foliage is replacing traditional flowers and

rustic arrangements of greenery, herbs and

berries will take pride of place on tables.

Hanging decorations create intimate and

romantic settings at weddings. Combining

ivies and ferns with fairy lights can instantly

transform any venue into a fairytale,

woodland scene after dark.

To continue the flower power into your

wedding food, use flowers for cake

inspiration. Sugar flowers were incredibly

popular in 2015 and the trend looks set to

continue in the New Year. Tech savvy brides

can really stay ahead of the crowd by using

laser-cut flowers on their cakes, a new

method relatively new to the wedding cake

world.

Brides are also using flowers to

decorate naked cakes, a rising trend in

wedding cakes where no icing is used but

flowers and fruit are used for decoration

instead.

With flowers taking over this wedding

season, finding the most stylish way to

incorporate the beauty of nature into your

big day will be a breeze.

Confetti

Floraltribute


Wentbridge House HotelThe Great North Road, Wentbridge, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 3JJ

www.wentbridgehouse.co.uk

Please get in touch:t. 01977 620444

e. [email protected]

- T H E P E R F E C T -

Y O R K S H I R E H O T E L F O R Y O U R

W E D D I N G D A Y

Our beautiful surroundings are the ideal setting for your perfect wedding and since there is only ever one wedding each day at Wentbridge, it will be exclusive

to you. We take great pride in offering you our undivided attention to ensure the most wonderful

and memorable occasion and would love to welcome you soon.


Confetti

More and more husbands-to-be are opting for booze-free bachelorparties. How are they seeking thrills instead? Adam Kay reports...

Sobering up the stag do


So there is, apparently, a point to stag

dos – a reason for the revelry,

method in the hedonistic madness.

Apparently, the idea is to give the

groom an evening of temptation to

check he’s fully committed to his forthcoming

marriage, to make sure he only has eyes for his

bride-to-be, even when surrounded by other

beauties. Which justifies the strip clubs and

lapdances. Apparently.

And then there’s the whole thing about it

being the groom’s ‘final night of freedom’, his

last wild hurrah before settling down to a life

of domesticity. Which explains away the

boozing and the vomiting and the terrible,

terrible hangovers. Apparently.

If we’re honest, these are rather flimsy

pretexts. The stag do has long seemed little

more than an excuse for doing what (some)

Brits do best: getting drunk and behaving

inappropriately. But the times, they are a-

changin’.

In the past few years or so, there has been

a significant rise in stag dos at which the guests

actually… do something. Like, something other

than drinking. Revolutionary it may seem, but

the ‘activity weekend’ is fast becoming the pre-

marriage pastime of choice.

All this is precipitated by the fact that the

stag do has replaced what was once the stag

night. The hubby-to-be used to simply gather

his closest mates for an evening of pints in the

pub before the big day. Over time, this

transformed into a weekend in Brighton or

Blackpool, a mad charabanc of boozy

indulgence.

Before long stags were travelling further

and staying away longer in search of thrills:

week-long celebrations in Dublin, in

Amsterdam, in the party-loving capitals of

Eastern Europe. Vodka flowed freely and

pleather G-strings were on permanent display

– and that was just the stags…

But now? Now British grooms are yelling a

collective ‘NOPE!’, putting their feet down en

masse at the thought of another pancreas-

punishing foreign booze-up. The idea of a long

trip away still appeals, but rather than spending

every second of every hour of every day with

alcohol in hand, stags want to do something

fun instead.

The stag do is a way for grooms (and their

guests) to blow off steam, so it’s no surprise

that many activity-based stag weekends simply

move the action from the pub to the sports

field. Whether a game of five-a-side football or

a brisk round of golf, there are options to suit

all tastes. Other activities are dictated by the

do’s location: those braving colder climes may

wish to hit the ski slopes, while in the

Mediterranean sunshine the stag might like to

indulge in a spot of watersports.

Increasingly, we Brits are letting our

famous sense of humour come to the fore

when choosing a stag do pastime, resulting in

the rise of the ‘novelty sport’. These are games

played for laughs: footgolf (swap the golf balls

for footballs, bigger holes, use legs not clubs,

away you go), goggle football (thick-lensed

eyewear makes seeing the ball a challenge;

hilarity ensues). The ultimate is zorbing, in

which participants are placed in giant inflatable

spheres – basically a massive bouncy hamster

ball – and rolled down a hill. The dizzying end

result is remarkably similar to the after-effects

of a traditional stag do. No wonder it’s so

popular.

The stag do has a reputation as something

of a jolly boys’ outing – gangs of Neanderthals

shouting “Lager, lager, lager!”, engaging in

competitive acts of hooliganism, trying to out-

lout each other. But there are stag do activities

which provide an alternative outlet for all that

testosterone. Military-style assault courses

offer stags and their guests the opportunity to

clamber over walls, swing on ropes and crawl

through mud to their heart’s content. And

afterwards if they feel like ripping off their

shirt and thumping their chest, gorilla-style,

that’s fine as well.

Not macho enough? Would blasting

something with a big gun be better?

Increasingly popular stag do activities include

clay pigeon shooting and paintball (celebrate

the stag’s impending nuptials by shooting them

with a pellet!). Stags with the need for speed,

meanwhile, are catered for by a range of

motoring experiences: go-karting, stock car

racing, blindfolded driving, quad biking,

hovercraft racing, the list goes on. Just make

sure before you put him behind the steering

wheel that the would-be groom doesn’t have

cold feet – wedding jitters are normal, but it’s

not easy trying to tempt someone back to the

altar when they’re zooming away from you at

94 mph.

A stag do doesn’t have to be all adrenaline,

however. For those of a more cultural bent,

the trip abroad could comprise an educational

sightseeing tour, or take in a theatre show or

comedy club performance (watch out for the

best man taking notes for his speech). And if a

booze-free stag do is simply unthinkable, how

about taking a classier approach with a wine

or champagne tasting? Just remember you’re

supposed to spit it out afterwards…

There is, however, another way. A new pre-

wedding trend is growing in popularity, and it’s

a big break from the traditional. The ‘hag do’ is

a joint bash between guests from both halves

of the wedding party (hence the name: ‘hen’

plus ‘stag’). It may take the form of an activity

weekend, but more often than not it’s simply

an excuse for a shared shindig.

Critics of the stag do will no doubt be

pleased to see it moving away from the

drunken debauchery it’s been associated with

in the past. Now instead of tearing up towns

and cities with their inebriated antics, stags are

more likely to be running or racing or

shooting an air rifle in the safe confines of a

field somewhere.

Some may see the hag do as another way

of curtailing the shenanigans of rowdy stags –

a means for the bride-to-be to keep an eye

on her betrothed and rein in his booze

intake. But let’s keep a sense of perspective

and equality to all this. To anyone who’s ever

witnessed the unique spectacle that is the

hen do – naked butlers, tequila shots and

phallic drinking straws as far as the eye can

see – it’s not the bride who should be

worried about the groom, but the other way

around…

A thing of the past?

Military-style assault course Go karting


For our latest and exclusive off ers contact our experienced Wedding team on 01246 254999 or email [email protected]

Create the perfect day with our Wedding packages

Award winning food & luxury accommodation Licensed venue with a choice of 3 suites

Complimentary bedroom suite for Bride & Groom on evening of their wedding celebration

Casa Hotel, Lockoford Lane, Chesterfi eld, S41 7JB Tel: 01246 245999 www.casahotels.co.uk


confetti 2016

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