page001 weddings.qxd (Page 21)

An Isle of Man Newspapers Supplement
Front page pictures supplied by Bridal House
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Page 2
Weddings
❤
Wedding customs from
around the world
taly: The custom for throwing
confetti originated here.
Confetti is Italian for sweets
I
which were thrown over the
couple as they emerged from
the church.
first became fashionable here among the gentry in
the 16th century. For poorer country folk a
handshake sufficed as confirmation of an
engagement.
Korea: Traditionally the groom would give a live
Brittany: During medieval times
goose, a symbol of fidelity because it takes only one
the man proposed by leaving a
partner in its life, to his new mother-in-law as a sign of
hawthorn branch at the
his faithfulness
door of his beloved on May
to her
1. By leaving it there she
daughter.
accepted his proposal. If
Today, Korean
she replaced it with a
families
cauliflower he had been
substitute the
rejected.
live goose with
Scotland: A popular custom
a wooden one.
was for the bride to 'walk
China: The
with the sun' for luck. She
betrothal was
would walk from east to west
once looked
on the south side of the
upon as a
church and then continue
family
walking around the church
obligation. If an
three times.
engaged man
Israel: The custom of the
died before the
bride wearing something
wedding his
blue originated in ancient
intended bride
Gents - prepare - pamper yourself
before your big day. Keith from H G
Israel. A blue ribbon in the
was treated as
Group demonstrates his skills.
hair symbolised fidelity.
his widow.
Ireland: An old custom is to
tie a laying hen to the bed on
the first honeymoon night in the
hope that some of its fertility
It doesn't matter how avant garde the wedding is, as
would be passed on to the
a guest you will end the day with a piece of
couple.
crumbling fruit cake in your pocket.
America: The custom of
throwing the bouquet originated The wedding cake is central to the big day and has
been part of the ceremony for centuries, whether it's
in America. Whoever catches
a traditional fruit cake coated in marzipan and icing
the bride's bouquet will be the
sugar or something a bit different. At least, if you're
next down the wedding aisle.
the bride, you'll be spared the ancient Roman
Scandinavia: Engagement rings
custom of having barley cake crumbled in your hair
to invoke the fertility powers of Jupiter.
In the Middle Ages small sweet rolls were
piled between the bride and groom and if they
could kiss over the mound they would have many
children and prosperity.
And we should think ourselves lucky that these days
our wedding cakes have icing on top. Originally,
cakes were covered in lard to keep them moist
which was scraped off just before the wedding. Yum.
Before you order your perfect wedding cake you
need to consider how many guests will be taking a
piece away with them (see above), what colour
you'd like it to be, should it be stacked or pillared,
how much space should there be between the tiers,
what sort of flowers, if any, should be used, fountain
or stairs, flavour, filling and ribbons . . . the list goes
on. The best solution is to hand it over to the experts.
Take the plunge
2004 is a leap year when traditional roles are
reversed and women do the asking. The tradition
arose because this once-every-four-years date had
no legal status in times past. Women were able to
take advantage of the anomaly and propose to the
man they wished to marry.
So girls, get down on one knee and pop the
question this February 29.
It's a piece of cake And finally...
BRIDAL HOUSE
Tel: 814898
Bridal House welcomes Brides & Bridesmaids.
Friendly, professional service.
Evening appointments available.
Or browse our website. www.bridalhouse.co.im
est 1986
Weddings, Christenings, Sports events,
Parties, Shows, Celebrations.
Transfer from cline to VHS or DVD
and
Fabulous designer evening
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enquiries@tandkvideos.com
01624 663873 07624 480469
Organising and funding a wedding is a huge task
but it's important to keep a sense of humour. Here
are a few famous quotations on marriage to help
ease some of the stress of what will be one of the
biggest days of your life:
'I am' is reportedly the shortest sentence in the
English language. Could it be that 'I do' is the longest
sentence?' - anonymous.
'Love is moral even without legal marriage but
marriage is immoral without love' - Ellen Key, social
feminist circa 1900.
'If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men
for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married'
- Katharine Hepburn.
'I think men who have a pierced ear are better
prepared for marriage. They've experienced
pain and bought jewellry' - Rita Rudner.
Tel: 498592
day or evening,
whenever it is convenient
for you.
www.ibs.ac.im
pink by paradox shoes available at The Bridal
House, Ramsey. Tel: 814898.
Let us help tailor your figure for
your special day!
P U L S E
John Hempsall
The ideal venue for events
business meetings
Sefton Spa,
Sefton Hotel,
Harris Promenade,
Douglas,
IM1 2RW
training seminars
presentations
Telephone:
01624 668353
video-conferencing
‘away days’
corporate marquee
events
New for 2004
Marquees for wedding
receptions
in the grounds of The Nunnery
For details please contact
Gill Maddox on 693701
or e-mail: g.maddox@ibs.ac.im
EDWINA’S
For all your tableware and
crystal.
Wedding lists available.
St. Paul’s Square, Ramsey
Tel: 814004
Weddings
Page 3
❤
❤
Weddings in the Isle of Man
arriage laws are not the same in
the Isle of Man as they are in the
UK. A Manx wedding can only take
place in a registered church or at the
register office.
M
It means that the dream of a local couple to wed on the Calf of Mann
probably won't be realised. Ella Stiles, 21, and Grant Cleverley, 27 are
saving up for their big day and want it to be extra special.
Ella said: 'I think it would be really nice to get married on the Calf of
Mann. I don't particularly want a church wedding or to get married in a
register office. We want something a bit special.'
Even if Ella and Grant don't get the location they want for their
wedding they have a great engagement story for the grandchildren.
The couple made local headlines a year ago when Grant proposed
on the front page of the Manx Independent.
They had been planning to visit Lapland before Christmas but their
With Us Your Wedding Day Will
Be An Occation To Remember
A complimentary
suite or
penthouse
accommodation
for the Bride and
Groom on their
Wedding Night
including full
English breakfast
and a bottle of
bubbly
holiday was cancelled by the tour operator. Even more
disappointingly, Grant had been planning to ask Ella to marry him
during the trip. When the newspaper got hear about his story, he was
invited to propose via the front page - and Ella found out about it on
the steps of the Isle of Man Newspapers building, when she read the
article.
At the moment, Ella and Grant are busy saving. Weddings are a huge
expense these days. Research by Cahoot claims that in 2003 the
average wedding event cost £25,000 - including the wedding itself,
the reception, and travel and accommodation for guests.
But the general consensus is that there should be no expense spared
for the big day. So where do Ella and Grant want to go on their
honeymoon? Ella says: 'To Lapland, because we never made it there!'
Today, couples want fine wine, art and money towards an exotic
holiday.
To help guests, here's the top ten most wanted and most unwanted - presents:
Giving the perfect
present
Champagne, money, fine
wine, food hampers, books,
games – backgammon,
scrabble, monopoly, twister,
house plants/flowers, neutral
coloured towels, kitchen
knives, garden accessories.
A staggering £270million is spent annually in the UK on wedding gifts
for the bride and groom.
To help guests through the minefield of what to purchase, most
couples have a prepared list of presents they would like, and many
shops and chainstores offer a wedding list service. The message to
guests is, don't go 'off list'. Your gift could end up gathering cobwebs
in the attic.
According to research, the avocado dishes, fondue sets and hostess
trolleys that were on the menu in the 1970s won't do for the 21st
century newlyweds. Top items in the 1980s were food mixers and
cutlery canteens, while in the 1990s picnic hampers and washing
machines were popular.
Most unwanted:
Ornaments – especially animals, brightly
coloured and patterned towels, crystal and
over-sized brandy glasses, tea towels,
photo-frames – particularly made
of pewter, cushions, place mats,
comedy/cartoon aprons, mug
trees, table linen.
Most wanted:
You will want your wedding day to be special so choose an hotel that knows how
with a team of professional experienced staff.
The hotel’s ambience, tranquil reception area and superb facilities do everything
to make your Wedding Day one that will have lasting impressions.
There is only one hotel to choose...
For further details and personal attention telephone Brian Keenan on
(01624) 661155
‘Hold your Wedding Reception at
Follies....
and live happily ever after
Outside catering facilities available for marquees from numbers 50-200
The Empress Hotel, Central Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 4RA.
Tel: (01624) 661155 Fax: (01624) 673554
E-mail: empresshotel@manx.net
Catering specifically for your needs.
For a totally unique and relaxing setting...
...venue of your choice
...co-ordinating colour scheme
Call Candy at
♦
♦
♦
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19 Market Street, Peel • Tel 843336 • www.area-marqueehire.co.uk
♦
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From Champagne to Canapés
Fine wines and perfect setting
Relax and enjoy your special day
Decorations and flowers arranged
D.J., jazz music or themed music
Car parking to accommodate all of
your guests.
Treating your hair & body for your
special day will be our pleasure!
At
H C Group, Ramsey
Tel: 813845
Unisex Salon
BODY
Full consultation for our treatments including
aromatherapy massage.
NAILS
Specialist manicures
HAIR
If you are looking for a very special
venue then please contact our specialist
team for advice or information on
670332
From re-styles to hair-ups, we cater for all,
including perms, colours etc.
GENTS
If you have not tried this - book your personal
appointment for... Barber style cut... Inclusive
of upward and downward shave, pre and post
massage and much more.
‘What A Treat!@
Weddings
Page 4
❤
❤
Marriage in the 21st century
hile statistics show that fewer
people choose to get married
these days, and that those who
do tie the knot are more likely to divorce,
marriage is still regarded as the ultimate
commitment between two people.
W
Thirty years ago, 30 per cent of teenagers were getting married,
compared to four per cent today - yet more than eighty per cent of
teenagers still expect to get married one day. More than a quarter of
a million people get married each year in the UK, with the average age
for women being 28 and for men 30.
And despite the wacky and downright weird ways there are of tying the
knot these days, most couples opt for a traditional wedding setting in
which to make their vows.
Local couple Seonad Duggan, 29, and Peter Bashforth, 31, are an
almost perfect fit for today's
demograph. They have set their
wedding date for May 1 and will
be exchanging marriage vows at
Peel Cathedral.
The couple became in item in
April last year and became
engaged in July.
Seonad said: 'Peter took me to
Relax and enjoy your special day... in
Dublin which is where my father's a special place - Follies.
family is from. We went for a
walk in the park on a beautifully sunny day. He had lots of bulges in his
pockets, which sounds a bit rude, and I told him to empty his pockets as
he looked untidy! That's when he proposed. I said yes straightaway,
after asking him if he was joking.'
ffer one of the best ranges of men’s and children’s
hire outfits available in stock on the Island.
Tailcoats, frockcoats and jackets in blue, grey, burgundy
and black with contrast striped or matching trousers,
complemented by many different shades of waistcoat,
cravat, tie and handkerchief combinations to enable
perfect coordination with the bride’s and bridesmaid’s
outfits.
From ages two to 92 you are certain to find something
to suit at...
The Tailor’s Shop & Designer House offer a renowned
made to measure service for ladies and gentlemen. Where
better to find advice and the expertise enabling you to
stamp your individuality on
garments of your choice?
The shop has expanded to include
top designer names such as
Dormeuil and the Di Caprio range
of men’s suits which represent
excellent quality and value with up-to-the-minute styling
from only £187.50.
Finch Road, Douglas or Telephone 613710
when they will be only too happy to advise
Seonad Duggan and Peter Bashforth
Cathedral Wedding
Peter is from Peel and has lived there most of his life so the couple
decided Peel Cathedral was the right venue for the wedding. Seonad
will be wearing a wedding dress, although of course we can't reveal
any details as, in keeping with tradition, Peter won't see the dress until
the day itself. And this is where they depart from tradition - most of the
organising has been done by Peter.
Seonad said: 'He has done it all. For me, it's been a breeze. He has
sorted out the reception, the buffet, the honeymoon - all the big things.'
The couple will host a reception at Peel Golf Club, where Peter is a
member and, says Seonad, 'one of the best golfers at the club.'
She added: 'He works there as well and we thought holding the
reception there would be more
personal than going to
a hotel. The wedding is
a family occasion and
for very close friends
while most of our
friends will be coming to
the reception.'
In keeping with tradition,
Seonad and Peter will be
embarking on honeymoon
after the wedding. They are
planning - or, rather, Peter is - a
cruise down the river Shannon in
Ireland and a stay in a castle in
Dublin, where there will be
another big party.
They see marriage as a lifetime
commitment.
Seonad said: 'I suppose we are
quite traditional. Getting married
is what you do when you love
somebody. I think married life
represents a level of security
and getting married shows you
are making a long term
commitment and that you
have a future together. I
have told him that if he
marries me he is stuck
with me as there won't
be a divorce!'
win! win! win!
BRIDAL HOUSE of Ramsey has teamed up with Isle of
Man Newspapers to celebrate their 1st
Anniversary and are offering readers the chance to win a voucher for
£300 off the wedding dress of their
dreams
With collections by Pronovias , Alfred Angelo and
Watters & Watters, over a 100 dresses to browse
through and an outstanding personal service, you’re
sure to find your perfect dress at the Bridal House,
or visit our website: www.bridalhouse.co.im
To enter, simply answer the question below and
send it in to:
Isabel’s
Bridal House Competition,
Isle of Man Newspapers,
Peel Road, Douglas,
Isle of Man IM1 5PZ.
Closing date is Friday, 12th March 2004
✂
Q: Traditionally, a bride is
supposed to have ‘something
old, something new, something
borrowed..’ and what other item?
Traditional, Enchanting, Classical or
Elegant or even Totally
Unconventional
Come to Isabel’s for your wedding
flowers
Prospect Hill, Douglas
Tel 01624 627594
A: ....................................................
Address: ........................................
Chauffeur Drive
........................................................
We drive, so you can socialize...
Name: ............................................
Make- up consultation
and trial.
Spa manicure • Express facial • Eye lash tint
• Brow shape.
Approximately 3½ hours.
£89 inclusive of bottle of bubbly!!
Enjoy a relaxing experience with the professionals.
Tel: 816607
Other packages available, tailored to suit your
requirements.
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
Tel: ................................................
✂
Competition Rules
1. No employees of Isle of Man Newspapers, companies associated with the competition or their families are eligible to enter the competition.
2. All entries must be received at Isle of Man Newspapers by close of business on the stated closing date. 3. Lost, delayed, damaged,
incomplete or illegible entries will not be accepted. No responsibility is accepted for entries which are lost, delayed or damaged in the post.
Proof of posting is not proof of delivery. 4. The prize is as stated – no cash alternative is available. 5. The promoter’s decision is final and no
correspondence will be entered into. 6. The winner must co-operate for publicity purposes. 7. The promoter is Isle of Man Newspapers, Peel
Road, Douglas, Isle of Man. 8. The voucher can only be used against a new wedding dress purchase, it can not be used against existing
orders. 9. Expiry date for the voucher is 30th September 2004.
Weddings, Hen/Stag Nights, Airport/Ferry Transfers.
We will make it special.
Full package available - hourly, weekly, or daily.
Telephone 07624 472658