Is Wales Set To Become The Most Popular Wedding Destination in the UK?

The Western Mail claims that Wales in 2013 will be the wedding destination hot spot of the year. The paper claims the average wedding venue has a 2-3 week longer waiting list that their English or Scottish counterparts. So what can you expect of a Welsh wedding?

Sheep, Leeks & Male Voice Choirs, well, no!

For those wanting the Fairytale wedding experience - Wales has a lot to offer. There are sixty different castles and manor houses which offer wedding venue hire. A great example of the 'fairy-tale' experience is Castell Coch. Castell Coch is a popular wedding hot spot. The castle was built in the nineteenth-century by a wealthy aristocrat. The gothic architecture is reminiscent of the fairy-tale castles of the brother's Grimm fairy-tales  The venue has a 5 month waiting list. However, their summer allocation is booked until 2016.

With such a diverse collection of varying venue sites Wales is a prime location for Weddings. The manor houses of South Wales and the many castles and manors of North Wales mean you can find the right venue for your needs. For more information visit CADW regarding the hiring of Welsh castles and palaces.

Agriculture is a big part of the Welsh economy. This is great for people planning  a wedding  with such an abundance in terms of available foodstuffs. There are a myriad of boutique farmers selling Grouse, Guinea-fowl or wild Boar work alongside traditional farms and growers. So whatever your needs the farmers and growers of Wales will be able to better help you find the right menu ingredients.

With the many different amenities and markets anyone planning a Welsh fairy-tale wedding can do no worse than think of Wales in 2013.

British Wedding Trends for American Brides

If 2012’s weddings were anything to go by, American brides take a lot of influence from British wedding trends. However, while 2012 was a year of emulating Kate Middleton’s classic white lace style, 2013 and 2014 are going to be a shift away from it.

According to the Daily Mail, this year’s British weddings are influenced by My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. With big gowns, and over the top styles, British brides are also opting for purple as the go-to dress color. The color is also popular with celebrity brides, such as Dita Von Teese.

What’s more, this year’s British weddings are also seeing grooms pay a lot more attention to their appearance. Many are dieting before the big day, with a quarter also opting for botox to look their best. They are also investing in whiter teeth before their weddings, with as many as 90% of British grooms having a whitening process or veneers as part of their wedding preparation.

So can we expect the same trends to land on American shores over the next year? Quite possibly. More American brides are also opting away from the white dress and traditional styles influenced by the Royal Wedding for this year’s wedding season.

To find out more about all of the coming year's best wedding trends, come to one of our bridal shows!

Angelina Jolie Denies Secret Wedding Rumors

Despite the appearance of a gold band on Angelina Jolie’s ring finger, it looks like we’re going to have to wait a bit longer for the much-anticipated Brangelina wedding. The actress and fiancé Brad Pitt have denied that they had a secret wedding.

The actress was spotted wearing a gold band in the place of the diamond engagement ring she’s been sporting. This immediately fuelled speculation that the couple had somehow managed to sneak in a wedding so private nobody knew it happened.

However, when Angelina returned from a humanitarian trip to Africa, she stopped the rumors. A TMZ cameraman asked her if the band was a wedding ring and she said “no, it’s not.”

Brad and Angelina are expected to get married this spring, with most guesses centered on them having a May ceremony at their estate in the South of France. Whenever, and wherever, they do get married, it’s almost guaranteed that it will be a very private ceremony!

If you're planning a wedding, one of the best ways to get your planning done is to attend a bridal show. Find out about our next show here!

Spring 2013 Wedding Trends

Spring is the biggest season for weddings, and that means that there are plenty of great wedding trends to enjoy. This year is likely to be no different, with a few trends looking like they'll be especially big this season.

Bird themes are popular this spring, and are very seasonal. They're the perfect touch to welcome in the warmer seasons, and bring to mind all the beautiful birds that come out this time of year. Bird themes are perfect for elegant or rustic style weddings, with many variations of the theme available. Bird cages are also set to be a popular addition to many weddings' decor.

Pastels are always a spring wedding favorite, and this year there will be some twists. More brides are moving away from the traditional white or ivory gowns, choosing instead to wear a pastel dress. Pale pink and mint green have been especially popular on the catwalks and with celebrity brides.

To find out about more great wedding trends, come to our next show!

Lady Gaga and Jennifer Aniston Prepare for Weddings

It's a busy time for celebrity brides! Jennifer Aniston is getting ready for her wedding to Justin Theroux, and Lady Gaga is prepping for her nuptials to Taylor Kinney. Both stars have been getting their dresses finalized, though it's likely they'll be choosing very different styles.

Gaga has been working with Donatella Versace for her wedding gown, and is stepping away from many of the traditions. The singer has said that she finds white wedding dresses boring, so is opting for a black and gold gown. The dress itself is reportedly going to be a silk gown with diamonds worked into the bodice. It will also have a removable skirt and train so Gaga can change her style for the reception.

Jennifer is likely to go far more traditional for her big day, which is reportedly going to be a destination wedding in Hawaii. The Friends star is working with Valentino, one of her favorite designers for red carpet events, including the recent Oscars. Jennifer has had input on her dress, and it is expected to be a soft, feminine, romantic style.

What do you think these two celebrity gowns will look like? Give your predictions in the comments.

If you're planning your own wedding, join us at one of our upcoming Southern California shows!

Bridal Showplace Bridal Shows - Where Brides Meet SoCal's Top Wedding Professionals!

Join Us for Bridal Showplace 2013:

May 19 - Hyatt Regency, Long Beach

July 28 - Hyatt Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach

Aug. 11 - The Queen Mary, Long Beach

Sept. 8 - LA Marriott, Burbank

Sept. 22 - Marriott, Long Beach

Oct. 6 - Knott's Resort Hotel, Buena Park

Nov. 3 - Hilton Hotel, Pasadena

www.bridalshowplace.net

What's Your Wedding Budget?

Setting a wedding budget is an important part of wedding planning. Knowing what you have to spend will help you decide which dress to wear, what venue to book, and what menu to serve. Sticking to your wedding budget can be a challenge, but one that every bride should take seriously.

According to the Real Weddings Study, published by TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com, the average wedding budget has gone up for the second year in a row. Southern California ranks in the most expensive places to get married, according to the survey of over 17,500 brides. While the national average is around $28,000, a Southern California wedding is $33,000 to $35,000, on average.

Knowing your budget can actually make wedding planning easier, and certainly save you from a few heartaches. For instance, if you know your dress budget is $1,211, the national average, you can steer clear of the gowns with a $5,000 price tag.

Of course, whatever your wedding budget, getting your planning done early can save you time and money. When you come to a Bridal Showplace wedding show, you can meet all the vendors you'll need. It's also a great day out, so get your tickets for the next show!

Do You Have Your Tickets: Garden Grove Show

Our next show is just over a week away, and it's shaping up to be a great one! Do you have your tickets yet? If not, buy them now!

Garden Grove is a lovely place to have a wedding, and the Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort is an amazing venue. If you're planning a wedding in Orange County, or planning a wedding anywhere in Southern California, you'll want to get to this show.

In addition to seeing the Crowne Plaza, you'll be able to meet with plenty of other wedding vendors. Each of our shows has 100+ companies to meet with, and many can be booked there and then. Attending a wedding show is a great day out for you and your bridal party. It's also a really easy way to get a lot of your wedding planning done in one day.

To find out more about the exhibitors at the March 10 show in Garden Grove, or to find out more about any of our shows, visit our Exhibitor directory.