Category Archives: Wedding Ideas

Style, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Tips

5 Tips to consider when choosing an engagement ring

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1.Practicality

Although the ring is removable, its shape and size will matter depending on the amount of handiwork she may be involved in. Remember the higher the positioning of the gemstone on the ring, the easier it is for it to get caught of clothes, surfaces etc thus a greater possibility of being knocked out. This goes to say you must put into thought your fiancee’s lifestyle, if she’s the real outdoorsy kind of girl, keep the gem positioned low, get a flashy rock for a fashionista and consider vintage for a girl with the same trait.

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2.Ring Size
Don’t guess her size! The last thing you want is breaking her finger while you are down on one knee.Just for this one time, ignore your conscience and steal one of her rings to have it sized by a jeweler and while you’re in her jewelry box, forget the penal code on trespass and take a few cell-phone shots so you can remember what she likes.

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3.Be selfish…

Just for today, she will most likely want the wedding bands to match her engagement ring. Dear loved one, remember your wedding band will also match hers. The only way to avoid having a band that gets people second guessing your orientation is treating the 4Cs with some futuristic seriousness! As fit as a fiddle? Just Customize Ask your jeweler if its possible. You may not exactly find what you are looking for or what she desires: go bespoke. Consider too you may not want to customize the ring just yet, but as the trends and century turns, it may be passed on in the family heirloom.

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4.Oh Yeah…This could shoot a hole!

Yes it might, and understandably so. But you don’t have to take a loan to put a ring on it. I believe by now you are thinking marriage, and so both of you know just how far you can stretch your cheque books. Prove yourself worth her life despite the post recession report!

5.One More Thing ….
Be nice to her friends, the ones who can keep a secret. Find out what she loves, what she dreams about what she has always wanted. If need be, sketch your covert mission with them. You are now

Wedding Ideas

Amazing Lace Gowns

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At Samantha’s bridal we always have our finger firmly on the pulse of developing trends as we seek to bring you the very best of weddings. we love this lace Pronovias gown show cased in Bacelona Spain.906275_10152471504019747_376187974400132105_o

Lace bridal gown is timeless style. Whether you choose an entire lace gown or even just some lace accents it will be romantic and popular. 2012/2013 saw a sharp rise in its use. The trend continues to gather pace and lace is now one of the most favored fabrics by bridal designers worldwide.

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When lace first gained widespread popularity in the 16th century, it became a status symbol since lace was exceptionally costly. A person’s wealth and social standing could be easily determined by the amount of this lavish decoration he or she wore.

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Once thought by many to be too old-fashioned and ultra-traditional, lace is one of the hottest things in bridal these days. This versatile textile simultaneously reveals and conceals and can be romantic or bold, classic or edgy, demure or sexy, formal or casual—all depending on how bridal designers choose to use it. Regardless of your style, there is a lace to suit your tastes. You just have to find the right lace for you.

From the Experts, Wedding Ideas

Bridesmaid Guide

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She asked you to be in her wedding, and now you’re wondering what the job entails.

The good news is that you don’t have to be an etiquette guru or event diva to play this role perfectly. Being a bridesmaid is ultimately about love and friendship. Being there for the bride in body, mind and spirit. It’s about learning to laugh even when you are wearing the worst dress and shoes of your life. It’s about finding special ways to celebrate friendship, and provides perfect excuse to party with the girls. You simply need to be your most fun and supportive self and handle a few basic tasks to nail your job with poise and grace. These are the Golden rules that every fabulous bridesmaid should live by;

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Be fabulous

Being fabulous is about being the best friend you can be, loyal, enthusiastic, fun, gorgeous, and true. This has very little to do with money but everything to do with attitude; that is feeling love and respect for the bride’ you if you don’t love and respect the bride, or you have doubts, think again about being on the line up. Imagine how you will feel after spending a lot of money, hosted parties, logged in hours of being supportive.

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Say yes to her dress

The simplest strategy of dealing with a not so flattering bridesmaid dress is to graciously accept it. Wear whatever and pay whatever the bride wants for as long as it’s reasonable of course.

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Know the bride

No matter how many bridal line-ups you have been on, every bride is different from each other. And every bride will want different things from her bride’s maids. Use your knowledge of her personality to provide the kind of support she may need. Does

She has an obnoxious mother in-law? Be the interface when the woman gets bossy. Or is she worried about getting the perfect dress? Take her for dress fittings in different bridal gown houses. As a friend you have everything it takes to be a good Bridesmaid especially of you think a lot around on how you can help instead of just assuming that you know her well enough to read her mind.

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Stay tech savvy

Just like any job, you must stay on top of technology trend and being a bride’s maid is not different. Check the Internet for bridal shower ideas; view different bridesmaids dress designs, look at different color combos and wedding ideas for the bride. It only takes a few minutes.

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Have no expectations

Getting married is very overwhelming and sometimes brides become neurotic. Please don’t abandon her when she needs you most! Your emotional support and sense of humor are the keys to her sanity. She may not be able to show gratitude in the way you expect for example sending formal thank you notes, gifts etc. so have no expectations and you will not be disappointed.

Be a bond girl

Bond with the rest of the bridesmaids whether you already know then or not. You are all the brides dear friend sand it’s her desire that you get a long. Having a tight knit bridal party is every brides dream

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Take direction

The wedding is a show, you are the cast and the bride is the director. And together you are going to put on fabulous show for all invited. This means you may have to sometimes keep your opinions to yourself most of the time no matter how knowledgeable you are on matters wedding, do not make assumptions

What the bride wants. It is not your wedding, just remember that. Take direction from the bride.

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Be good to yourself

Don’t sacrifice anything to dear for the bride or you might be very resentful in the future, be realistic about your schedule if you don’t live near and cant make if for some of the parties leading up to the wedding let her know in advance. Don’t get caught in petty drama with other bridesmaids. Remember the big picture, you love the bride, she loves you and weddings are a celebration of love and friendship.

Photography By Ben Kiruthi

Wedding Ideas

Pope Francis relaxes church rules on divorce

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Pope Francis delivering a message at the end Easter mass at the Vatican on March 27
Pope Francis delivering a message at the end Easter mass at the Vatican on March 27

Pope Francis today made public the conclusions of his two synods about family, in a document eagerly awaited by 1.3 billion Roman Catholics. The Papal document has been prepared for perfection for two years after holding two council meetings called synods. The 256 document termed as an Apostolic Exhortation entitled ‘The Joy of Love’ paves way for new integration into the Roman Catholic church for divorced Catholics but does little to soften the church strict views on hot topics like gay marriage, abortion and contraception.

He called for the Roman Catholic Church to be more welcoming and less judgmental, and he seemingly signaled a pastoral path for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive holy communion. Observing the diversity and complexity of a global church, Francis effectively pushes decision making to bishops and priests, stating that a different country or region can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its traditions and local needs.On the other hand Francis also made clear the vision he wants local bishops and priests to follow: as a church that greets families with empathy and comfort rather than with unbending rules and rigid codes of conduct. And he dedicates much of one chapter to discussing the manner in which priests can exercise in helping people who do not meet the church’s ideal of marriage. He calls for priests to welcome single parents, gay people and unmarried straight couples who are living together, even as he declares that same-sex unions should not be equated with marriage.

“A pastor cannot feel that it is enough to simply apply moral laws to those living in ‘irregular’ situations, as if they were stones to throw at people’s lives,” he wrote in the document.

 He further admitted that the church has made mistakes in alienating families and dedicates many passages to describing the pressures brought on families by poverty, migration, drug abuse and violence.

BBCs correspondent Caroline Wyatt, says the lengthy document shows exactly where Pope Francis stands as he steps into the minefield of Catholic teaching on the family.

 

Wedding Ideas

Daddy Owen set to wed his fiancee tomorrow

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The king of Kapungala Daddy Owen finally is set to wed his long term fiancée Faridah Wambui at an invite-only ceremony held in Nairobi. The Celebrated gospel singer will walk down the aisle tomorrow.

The two love birds have been dating for close to four years now and they revealed publicly about their relationship at his elder brother’s wedding Rufftone in 2014. The singer has been planning his wedding for close to one year, trimming his guest list.

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The vanity hit maker last year posted his wedding plans on Instagram and this was his post; ‘Trying to finalise the guest list for my wedding… jus wondering how do wazungu do it? They can hack wedo ya watu 20? My family alone tunagonga 100! Ama i borrow a leaf from my celebrity couple friends’

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And true to his words the ceremony will be an invited guest only ceremony where top celebrities and who is who in the media industry are invited there after a dining party will be held.

From here at Samantha’s Bridal we wish them all the best as they walk down the aisle and a happy ever after.

Budget, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Tips

Tips on Sourcing money for your Wedding

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Even the most modest wedding will cost some money, and many couples are left wondering how they are going to pay for their wedding. Raising money for your wedding can seem like a daunting task. With high wedding prices and rough economic times, it will be hard for many couples to afford their ideal wedding.

The Samantha’s Bridal believes you can have your wedding without breaking the bank. Some of these ideas will require work and a willingness to maybe go outside of your comfort zone. Decide what you want. Plan your budget. Work your plan. Have your dream wedding.

Open a Wedding Bank Account
The first thing to do when saving money for your wedding is to set up a separate bank account for wedding related funds. This might seem like a lot of work, but it’s totally worth it. Find a bank that offers a free savings account. It’s a lot easier to save money if you have a dedicated place to put it. You will be less likely to spend the money because it is in the bank, and you can easily track your deposits and account balance to determine what your overall wedding budget will be.

Saving up is the most common way to raise money for your wedding, but it requires discipline and time. If you have a year or so to save, you can put away a portion of your income every month into your wedding account. This will allow you to slowly build up a nice chunk of change to use for your wedding expenses.

Moonlighting
Moonlighting is basically finding an additional source of income aside from your regular job. If you have some extra time and some marketable skills, this may be a great way to raise money for your wedding.

Get Sponsors/Set up wedding committee
What is a Sponsored Wedding? A sponsored wedding is when you have different sponsors for the different parts of your wedding. These sponsors can be friends, family, or even wedding vendors that you plan to work with. With friends and family, you will basically be asking them to contribute to your wedding costs. A sponsored wedding involves asking these people for help. This may be uncomfortable or even slightly embarrassing, but many friends and family members are more than happy to chip in. At your ceremony, be sure to publicly thank these individuals who were willing to help. Just know that the Kenyan setup only helps those who also take part and burden for others and hence to form a committee to fund your wedding you also need to have supported others before.

Vendors may give you discount or offer their services for free if it can benefit them in some way, such as helping them generate more business through advertising.

Sell Your Stuff
Most people have lots of stuff, and that stuff might just be taking up space in your house. Turn that stuff into cash by selling them. Old furniture, clothes, toys, etc. are all items that people will buy. You can also consider selling items on OLX.

Wedding Loans
Wedding loans are becoming more and more popular because more young couples have to foot the bill for their own weddings. Nobody wants to start a marriage in debt; you definitely don’t want go further into debt to get money for your wedding. By getting a loan you will end up paying way more for your wedding and you will still be paying for it long after it’s over. If possible, borrow money from a family member instead of getting a wedding loan. At least then you hopefully won’t have to pay interest and fees. Don’t take a loan if you can avoid it.

Budget, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Tips

Budget for your upcoming wedding

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Once the engagement glow has faded, it’s now time to sit down and plan for the big day, you’ll find it very hard to get anything accomplished without a good wedding budget. A budget will give you an outline of what you should spend on each item, so as to ensure you don’t spend more than you intend to.

Who’s funding the wedding?

Although in Kenya traditionally the grooms’ parents pay for the whole thing, this has now changed, couples can now both help each other in funding the wedding. If you can pay for the whole thing yourselves, that makes things easier. If you want your families to help you out, or pay for it all, you should have a frank discussion with them about it. You should be prepared to answer questions, such as “How much do you think the whole thing will cost” and some other questions that you might not know the answer to.
There are several options:

  • Parents can say that they are contributing a specific amount, and then the couple decides on a wedding budget and makes up any difference themselves.
  • Parents can say that they want to pay for specific items such as the bride’s gown, or the catering. The couple then has to figure out how to pay for everything else.
  • The couple can set a budget and then ask to split it evenly. This is particularly a good solution for divided families.
  • Friends and relatives can set up a wedding committee but remember the African set up you have to be supportive to other people for you also to be supported.

Figure Out a Basic Wedding Budget

Start off by using a wedding budget planning worksheet to figure out the basics (below is a sample of the budget worksheet get the actual worksheet in the Samantha’s Bridal Magazine which is available at our offices).

Budget Worksheet
Budget Worksheet

If you already know some of the costs, such as the hall rental, put the actual figures, and adjust the other figures to make up for it. You can also ask other brides who have had weddings in your area what they spent on vendors to figure out if these numbers are realistic, or need to be adjusted.

Budget Worksheet
Budget Worksheet

Make room for what really matters

Prioritize what’s important to you, choosing 2 to 3 most important items. Writing down questions and filling them may help in this process. You may decide that you want to have a great photographer, but you’re happy to hunt for a bargain on the gown. If you’re having a small wedding, your catering bill won’t be big in the percentage of the budget. You can adjust your budget figures to reflect your priorities.

Save your wedding budget

Start by looking through the budget and crossing off anything that you don’t need. For example if you’re having both the ceremony and reception at one location, you might not need to include transportation. Use your contacts. Don’t be afraid to ask recently married friends who they used and what they paid. Ask friends in the wedding industry to help you out, and give you a discount if possible. If the numbers still aren’t working out, ask yourself what’s really important to you.

Once you’ve set a budget, stick to it. It’s easier said than done, but an important thing to do.

Flowers and Decoration, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Tips

Flower set Up for your wedding

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The wedding table set up has the power to judge a brides personality, quaky bride don’t go for elegance rather they go for a fun and playful feel.

  • Peaches and pinks are very classic and feminine, relaxed with no fuss. This set up fits a bride who loves flowers but in minimal doses. For a trendy look, use silver for base layer and drop in hints of coral between the different shades of pink. See the photo below:

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  • This set up is perfect for a bride who wants to fuse style with elegance, while maintaining an earthy and laid back feel on her wedding table setup. The table of white roses as the base layer before topping it over with natural wedding colors.

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  • For a bride looking at using minimal flowers on her set up, use a lot of glass in different shapes and sizes to achieve an elegant look. Placing candelabras as part of the decoration injects an abundant dose of elegance in the air.
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Photo: Digital Eye
  • While glitter on the wedding décor is not practical, blinged and glittering candles will add a fairy tale look on the set up. This will most fit the modern vintage themed bride. A touch of lighting on the décor sets the mood of the occasion, especially when installed in different hues.
Photo: Digital Eye
Photo: Digital Eye
  • This set up uses a lot of exotic flowers wound into massive, almost flamboyant bouquets which create texture and variety on your table.

As the specialists put it, when you are getting married, ensure your table reflects your personality.

Catering, From the Experts, Wedding Ideas

Party Is On

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Wine has been served in weddings since time in memorial but how do you know when to serve what?

Here are some aspects to consider when selecting the wine for your wedding reception. Matching wine with food is almost impossible so in this case opt for a light, well balanced and easy to drink wine both as red and white. For a more formal and plated meal, ask the advice of your caterer or your wine supplier and simply try the wines with some of the food yourself!

You’re Guests

What kind of wine do they like? How about your friends and family? Do they prefer red, white, rose, sparkling, or a dessert wine? Would your guests enjoy one or two really nice glasses of wine to sip as they socialize? Or is wine not that important to your guests?

Generally in Kenya, we have a sweeter taste for wines; so wines with a fruity and not too dry taste are normally a safe choice.

Time of day

Are you having a lunch or evening reception? People prefer to drink less at an afternoon wedding than an evening affair and they also prefer lighter wine. A good alternative for a lunch reception could be a nicely chilled rose wine. Some of the wines to look out for are South African wines. For an evening reception a choice of white wine and red wine is nearly a must.

Menu

If you intend to pair wine with food, you may want to ask yourself, are you having a buffet menu or a sit down and more formal lunch? A buffet offers several choices of food hence matching wine with the food is almost impossible. In this case opt for a light, well balanced and easy to drink wine both as red and white. For a more formal and plated meal, ask the advice of your caterer or your wine supplier and simply try the wines with some of the food yourself.

What’s your budget?

Most of us do not have an unlimited budget to spend on wine, and looking at cost is inevitable. So several options are available to you:

Ask for a wine package: generally for lunch, quantities of wine required can be calculated by 2 glasses of wine per person, sp approx ¼ ltr per person. If you have 100 guests you will need 25 bottles of wine. For a plated dinner, one should count at least 1 bottle of white wine 75cl for 4 people and 1 bottle of red wine 75cl for 3 people. These proportions can be reduced or increased depending on your type of guests as well as the drink selection you will offer.

For a drinks reception, count a maximum of 1 glass of wine per person especially if other drinks like beer, juices and soft drinks are also be available, if you ask for a maximum number of bottles, then you might want to consider a cash bar.

If the caterer or the hotel allows it, look into bringing your own wine bought from your reliable supplier, though be ready to pay for corkage (a charge paid per bottle up to kshs1000).

Discuss with your supplier to have your wines on sale and return basis, this means that if not all the wine is drunk, you will be able to return the unopened bottles to your supplier only make sure that the labels are not damaged.

By Phillipe Cauviere

Director-WWW Bar and Shop Ltd

 

Wedding Ideas

Cards Etiqutte

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Did you know there is a different approach and etiquette of how a wedding card should be prepared?

Hand made treasures takes us through different types of wedding cards and etiquette that they make for their clients.

see the video below don’t miss SAMANTHA’S BRIDAL WEDDING FAIR to get more on these card etiquette lesson.