Editor loves and inspiration

Lauren and Rob met through work in 2015. “I thought he was really charming and we got on really well,” says Lauren. “Our relationship grew and in 2023, Rob proposed while we were in Cardiff. We went back to the first hotel that we stayed in together and I had no idea that he was going to pop the question. It caught me by complete surprise.”

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

Sarah Scorey from Withmylittlecamera Weddings put together this styled shoot with the help of talented local suppliers. “Elyn Boutique approached me on Instagram to ask if I would be interested in organising a styled wedding shoot at a venue they were styling, and I just had to say yes,” says Sarah. “Once they showed me the colour scheme they were thinking of and the flowers and décor that would go with it, I was extremely excited to begin planning the shoot. I wanted to create something elegant and romantic to highlight all of the amazing suppliers’ hard work and showcase our talents in the best light, and I definitely believe we achieved that. It was a fantastic day (even if the weather didn’t always cooperate) filled with lots of laughter and creativity.”

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

Ryan and Gareth from LetThemSeeCake reveal the things you should take into consideration before booking a cake maker for your wedding.

"With a long list of tasks to sort through before your big day, choosing a wedding cake should be one of the more enjoyable (and tasty) experiences of the whole process! You need a supplier with the experience to be professional and straightforward, and they need to give you confidence that they’re able to deliver a fabulous cake that will have your guests talking about it all day. How can you be sure that the cake maker you’re hiring is a true professional who will fulfil all their promises on the big day? Here are our top tips and essential questions to help you find a reliable and skilled wedding cake maker:

"Food hygiene rating and insurance: All top cake makers should have these as standard; the higher the rating, the better. Many wedding cake makers display their ratings on their websites or studio windows. However, if you’re unsure and want to confirm it yourself, you can always visit the Food Standards Agency’s website. While these hygiene ratings won’t reveal how tasty or visually stunning the cake will be, they are the best way to ensure your wedding cake is safe to eat. You can also ask if the cake maker has both product and public liability insurance; most will have one, but the top ones will have both!"

See more tips on planning your dream wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download

Bridal Reloved Cardiff is Wales’ first eco-conscious bilingual bridal boutique, selling pre-owned and ex-sample designer wedding dresses.

Bronwen Barclay, from Bridal Reloved Cardiff, tells us: “I decided to start the business after recently getting married and seeing that no local bridal shops offered pre-loved or sustainable dresses alongside a personalised experience. So, I took a leap, leaving my job after nearly a decade of primary school teaching, to give brides-to-be in my hometown unforgettable ‘say yes to the dress’ experiences.”

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

Megan and Simon met in their third year of university. “I was running a social for some of the students and a mutual friend introduced us,” says Megan. “Simon immediately caught my eye, and the three of us ended up getting dinner before the social started. We started out as just friends, but there was a clear connection there from the beginning; we had the same sense of humour, enjoyed the same movies, were both close with our families and loved dogs. A few months later, we had our first official date on Valentine’s Day and the rest is history.”

Simon proposed in February 2022, around six years after they first started dating. “My mom had flown over from the USA, where I’m from, a few months prior and had given Simon my grandmother’s engagement ring, so I knew it was going to happen but wasn’t sure where or when,” shares the bride. “Simon initially intended to propose on a sunset walk in Llanelli while we were visiting his parents, but at the last moment his sister tagged along for the walk, so he wasn’t able to. About a month later, he brought the ring along on another walk with the intention of proposing, but when we got there, it was so muddy that we could hardly walk and were falling over, so he chose to wait again. Finally, it ended up happening at home in our living room, following a conversation about our future that was totally spontaneous. Not the most romantic location, but it didn’t matter to me; I was just happy to finally be engaged and to get to marry my best friend.”

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

Sarah Louise from Sarah Louise Wedding Planner tells us her top tips for planning a small wedding.

"Some people dream of a grand, fairytale wedding while others dream of a smaller, intimate affair, with the latter gaining more popularity moving into 2025. In our Instagram-driven world, it’s easy to get carried away during the planning process. Regardless of the size of your guest list, a wedding planner can be instrumental in keeping you on track, ensuring your vision aligns with your budget and holding you accountable to plan the day you both want.

"Planning a wedding typically takes around 400 hours, ideally starting 18 to 12 months out, as suppliers tend to book up quickly. I sit with my couples and create a comprehensive list of everything they might want at their wedding; we then categorise each item as either essential or desirable. I source the essentials first and revisit the desirable later. My advice is to prioritise securing your venue, registrar/celebrant, photographer, videographer and florist. Once these are confirmed, you can move on to the design elements, always keeping your budget in mind. It’s important not to get too attached to a particular trend when looking at the ‘vision’ for your day. For example, bows and pastels are in for 2024. When considering a trend, I recommend evaluating whether you genuinely love it or if you’re drawn to it simply because it’s all over your Instagram and Pinterest feeds. Ask yourself how you’ll feel when you look back on your wedding day in 10 years, and if you still love it, go for it, but ideally, be original and authentically you!"

See more tips for planning an intimate wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download

Make-up artist Phillipa R.C.Hughes shares how to get flawless-looking skin in the run-up to your wedding.

"Step one to a flawless face is a good skin regime to balance, nourish and hydrate. If your skin isn’t hydrated, it will absorb moisture from the foundation, leaving you looking cakey and patchy. Take time to really massage skincare in to boost blood circulation and get the ‘inner glow’ in photographs. I adore the award-winning Tropic Smoothing Cleanser for this, plus the citrus scent enlivens tired skin and smells delish.

"Remember, less is more! The better the skin, the less product is required, ensuring a beautiful, natural and radiant finish. My bridal clients benefit from a ‘beauty concierge’ service to get ‘skin fit’ following a trial to ensure I am working on balanced, hydrated skin on the big day. Build up using thin layers of product; you can always add, but going in too heavy too soon won’t be flattering. Work from the centre of the face outwards. About five to ten minutes after your skin care, apply a primer for your skin type: textured or oilier skins need mattifying primers; wide pores use a silicone-based pore-minimising primer (such as YSL Blur Refining Primer); smoother or dull skins opt for illuminating and brightening ones, respectively, such as Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Under Makeup. Next is foundation: for drier skin choose a serum or hydrating foundation, and for oilier or textured skin, opt for a mattifying foundation. Follow with concealer and set lightly with translucent colourless powder (such as Laura Mercier) for a long-lasting radiant finish."

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

Harriet and David met through mutual friends. “We lived in neighbouring villages and when a friend shared our numbers, we started texting,” says Harriet. “I had absolutely no interest in David to begin with, then he convinced me to go on a date with him, to which I reluctantly agreed. He made me laugh like no one has before and that was it! We’ve been inseparable ever since! We definitely believed we were each other’s other half and it’s still the same nine years later!”

David proposed in January 2022. “We bought our first home together in February 2021 and got our first dog, Otis, in October 2021,” shares the bride. “I decided I wanted to take Otis on his first ever beach day. Little did I know, my ring was sitting in David’s pocket the whole time! David found a little quiet area of the beach and got down on one knee! I always joke that he never listens, but he clearly does! I have mentioned through the years that if he ever was to propose that it would have to be a Clogau ring, as I’m Welsh and incredibly proud of it. I immediately said ‘yes’ and we started planning straight away!”

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

The team at Diamond Centre Wales share their advice for finding the perfect piece of jewellery for mother-of-the-bride/groom.

"On such a special day, giving your mother a beautiful piece of jewellery is a heartfelt gesture that will make her feel cherished. At Diamond Centre Wales, we are dedicated to creating pieces that hold special meaning and beauty. If you’re searching for a gift that symbolises both elegance and emotion, we suggest an exquisite diamond and pearl pendant complemented by matching dropper earrings.

"Pearls symbolise wisdom and purity, while diamonds represent strength and everlasting love. Together, they create a harmonious blend of timeless beauty and modern sophistication. It’s a piece that will make your mother shine with pride and joy on your wedding day and beyond.

"Complementing the pendant, our dropper earrings are designed to add a touch of classic glamour. The pearls elegantly dangle while the diamonds sparkle, offering a radiant look perfect for the occasion. These earrings are not just accessories; they are heirlooms in the making, destined to be treasured for generations."

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

Haley and Kristian met while Haley was working at a pub in Neath. “I became friends with a regular called Ryan,” says Haley. “I didn’t know at the time that Ryan had a brother, so when Ryan walked into the bar one day and I asked him about his trip away to Butlins and he told me he’d just returned from Egypt with his girlfriend, I was confused! Later on, Ryan came in again and was dressed in a different outfit! It turned out Ryan and Kristian are brothers and looked exactly the same to me. It was then that Ryan introduced me to Kristian, and well, that was when our story began. We were both in relationships, so we just enjoyed being friends. Kristian was so nice to me and he became my best friend. He broke things off with his girlfriend and I called things off with my then-fiancé, and we remained friends. As I wasn’t ready to begin another relationship, we closed the door on us for a few months. Fast forward and I became seriously ill and ended up in the hospital. Kristian found out and was at my bedside in no time. He temporarily moved his job to Cardiff and moved in with me to help me get better and the rest is history.”

Kristian surprised Haley by proposing in 2021. “We had booked a week off work and the weekend before Kristian was in Scotland with the boys,” shares the bride. “While he was away, I had the family around to stay. We were having Sunday lunch when Kristian called and told me to pack my bags as we were going away the next day. I managed to get the family to leave and I packed. Monday morning came and we drove up to a log cabin. We had been there twice already and we usually empty the car right away, but he told me to go straight in. When I did, there were rose petals on the floor, leading up to the stairs and out to the balcony. When I turned around, he was down on one knee, talking 100 miles an hour and the rest is a blur. It was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing. I just wish that my nan was there to see it all and see how happy I am. My nan brought me up and she really loved Kristian. Apparently, before she moved into a home in 2020, he had told her he was going to marry me. She had dementia, so she would have forgotten, but the thought was there and that meant everything.”

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