Editor loves and inspiration

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."

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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."

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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

The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell is a luxurious bridal boutique in Crickhowell. “I have always had a passion for beautifully designed dresses and a secret obsession with the bridal industry,” says owner Yasmine John. “Close to turning 50, with children at home becoming emotionally needy teenagers, I felt it was the right time for a career change. So with the support of my partner, family and friends who said, ‘Why not?’ I launched The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell. Before opening The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell, I devoted almost 28 years to the field of health and social care, following my passion for caring for our older generation. With a wealth of experience in start-ups, business development and customer service, I felt I had the right skills to venture into the world of bridal. What could be better than seeing happy faces and helping dress them for their exceptional first day of marriage and the start of the rest of their new life? And so The Bridal Boutique was born! Within an airy, modern and private space, we specialise in bringing your bridal dream to life. You’ll find our full range of styles at your fingertips, including designers such as Pronovias, Nicole Milano, Stella York and more, as well as a comfortable viewing area for your friends and family. Refreshments are included with your visit and booking is required. With the rolling hills, tempting horizons and attractions that people travel from miles around to explore, you’re sure to make a day out of a visit to the boutique.”

Exclusively for Your South Wales Wedding, The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell is offering our readers £150 off a wedding dress and a free Saturday appointment with prosecco when you mention the magazine. To book your appointment, head over to www.bridalboutiquecrickhowell.com/book. Offer ends 31st October 2024.

See more offers in our Freebies and Offers feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download

One Vision Photography and Videography is passionate about capturing the moments and emotions that make life so special. “Our mission is to provide our clients with the highest quality photographic services and to create lasting memories of their special day,” says owner Michael Lundbeck. “We understand the importance of making each client’s experience special. Our talented team of photographers is dedicated to creating a one-of-a-kind experience for each of our clients, capturing the beautiful emotions and moments that so often get overlooked. We believe every wedding, engagement, family portrait, and event should be captured with the utmost care, detail and respect. We strive to tell the story of our client’s special day in a way that will remain with them forever. Our goal is to create memories that will last a lifetime, and we take great pride in providing our clients with a personalised experience.”

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

Having opened its doors in 1999, the Vale Resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a year’s worth of promotions that are taking place on the venue’s social media channels. Couples can get their hands on golf and spa breaks, afternoon tea, gin-making experiences, golf lessons and more.

The independent four-star Vale Resort was built by the Leeke family and is made up of the 143-bedroom Vale Hotel, two championship golf courses, extensive leisure and sports facilities, Wales’s largest spa, extensive conference and events facilities, restaurants, bars and Hensol Castle, an exclusive wedding and events venue that also incorporates a distillery.

Stephen Leeke, the managing director, commented: “When I started at the Vale Resort in 1994, we had a portacabin, driving range and nine-hole golf course. My father, Gerald, had a love for sports and a vision for a sporting hotel. It’s been the proverbial extension on the extension since then, which has culminated in the world- class facilities that you see today. Not only do we house the training bases for both Wales’s national rugby and football teams, but we can compete with the very best with our golf, leisure and business offerings. The ground-breaking opening of the Grade-I listed Hensol Castle as a venue tailored for exclusive weddings and events, incorporating a craft distillery in the cellars, is, in the words of my father, “the icing on the cake” and the feedback from guests has been outstanding. It’s been very much a team effort along the way, and I’d like to thank our staff, members, guests, colleagues and partners in the Welsh Rugby Union and Football Association of Wales for all they have done to contribute to our success.”

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

Rob caught Saz’s eye while she was out at a bar with her friends. “We exchanged a few words and ended up matching on Tinder a couple of months later,” says Saz. “We bonded over our love of festivals, music and rugby. We are both very outdoorsy people. We go hiking and camping quite a lot and have attended lots of festivals and concerts together.

“We were quite unconventional and there was no actual proposal,” adds the bride. “We had been together for a few years and one day we decided to get married. We went to see the Ceridwen Centre and we fell in love with it and booked it straight away. We gave ourselves some time to save and picked September because it’s my favourite time of the year.”

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

We love flowers here at Your South Wales Wedding, but with so many gorgeous blooms to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. To give you some inspiration, we’ve asked Petal Power to send in their one of their favourite creations.

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

Yasmine John from The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell gives her advice for finding the perfect dress while feeling concious about weight.

"First of all, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! It's completely normal to want to look and feel your best on your wedding day. If you find the right dress, you will look and feel incredible, whatever your shape or size. Keep in mind that designers now produce dresses for everyone; the same wedding dress in a size 8 and a size 18 will look equally beautiful and flattering. So consider trying on some dresses first rather than focusing on your weight or body shape. But if this is something you feel strongly about, then here are a few tips to help you as you embark on your weight loss journey while also searching for your dream wedding dress:

"Set goals: It's important to set realistic and achievable weight loss goals.

"Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to reach your weight-loss goals before your wedding day. This will help alleviate any stress or pressure and give you enough time to find the perfect dress.

"Focus on overall health: Instead of solely focusing on the number on the scale, prioritise your overall health and well-being. Incorporate a balanced diet, regular exercise and plenty of rest into your routine."

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