Kelly Hood's Page

Welcome to Monday everyone! to try and ease you into the week I have a rather gorgeous wedding for you, from my home town of Fowey in Cornwall. (where we shot my Beloved shoot) It has been sent in by Richard Raynor who is Devon based photographer.This wedding is very personal to me, as it's the same place that Nik and I got married when we had our 'legal' wedding ceremony in the UK. we went down to Cornwall 2 weeks before our proper wedding in Ibiza to get the legal bits done. There was only 8 of us in total, so a very quite low key ceremony but we still wanted to do it somewhere that meant something to us, so Fowey it was and what better place than Fowey Hall Hotel!Foewy Hall Hotel It's a gorgeous venue with superb staff, the accommodation is split into the old house and the new modern wing, me and Nik opted for the modern side! after the ceremony we had champagne on the terrace and then spent the rest of the evening in Sams pigging out on scallops, Lobster and cocktails! yum yum!This wedding is of the gorgeous Chan and Ben, unfortunately I havn't been able to get any info from them about their day at Fowey Hall Hotel, but I will let the pictures do the talking! they look like such a fun couple! and I just love the shots of tehtm both on the trampoline! For more information on Richards work go tohttp://richardrayner.comhttp://richardrayner.com/bloginfo@richardrayner.comhttp://twitter.com/#!/richrayner07769 189017See More

Wedding Dress shopping is one of my favourite bits of the whole planning process; every girl loves to play dress up, right? Well some of us do, while others find the whole experience completely stressful, so much emphasise has been put on finding the perfect dress that it can be very daunting!By following these simple bits of advice the whole process should be made a lot easier for you.Research:Think about dresses that you normally wear and what style makes you feel good, most people have a good idea about what flatters them and what doesn’t. Also think about the bits of your body you like and you don’t like. If you like your neckline and shoulders, then maybe you want to show this area off more than say your waist?Have a look through the wedding magazines and websites to look at styles and designers that you like, this will give you a better idea of where to start when you get into the shop.If there is a specific designer that you like then find out who stocks it. Each dress shop will have a different selection of designers, especially if they are in the same city, so you need to find the right shop if you have your sights set on a certain designer.Make an appointment:Most shops especially on a Saturday will have an appointment only service. If you just want to pop in and have a look on a Saturday don’t think the shop staff are being rude if they don’t let you in, they are simply attending to the brides already in the shop.Mid week doesn’t tend to be so bad and most shops are happy for you to just pop in if they are free they will see you.But to save disappointment call the bridal shop before hand and find out what their appointment policy isTake someone with you:It’s always good to have someone with you when choosing your dress, but think very carefully about whom it is you want with you.Think about whose opinion you value, who will tell it to you straight and has your best interest at heart. Sometimes taking you mum isn’t a good idea if she is going to talk you into something you don’t like.Also try to take just one or two people with you. There is nothing worse than tacking all your bridesmaids and having a huge shouting match as no one can agree on the right dress for you. Remember it’s your day and you’re the one wearing it, no one else.Set a Budget:This is true for any part of your wedding planning, but very important when choosing the dress. You need to know how much you can afford before you go and try them all on; this will also dictate which bridal shops you go to.Dress the part:It’s always an idea to make an effort with your appearance the day you try dresses on. This will help to visualise how you will look on the day. If you already that your hair will be up or down, then wear it that way on the day, as it will give you a better idea of the whole ‘look’. Put some make up on, even some fake tan, so you know what the dress will look like once you have had your bridal pamper.Also take shoes with you and make sure you have good underwear on. You are not gong to feel bridal like with your old grey saggy knickers on!Take a camera and notebook:Some shops don’t like you tacking pictures of the dresses, but most are OK, ALWAYS ask first though! If you are unsure about a dress it is always good to look at your own picture the day after instead of trying to use your memory! Also if you do find ‘The’ Dress then it’s always good to get a picture of it so you can match up your accessories.A pen and paper will help you as well to keep notes of each dress, price style numbers etc.Make sure you leave enough time:Most dress shops work with very long lead times, the dress you try on in the shop won’t be the dress you buy (unless it’s in the sale) Once you have chosen your dress it will normally need to be ordered in so you can then have your fitting, either that or your measurements taken so it can me made to your size. This whole process can take about 6 – 9 months, so leaving the dress shopping to the last minute could leave you disappointed!Get a recommendation:It’s always a good idea to ask friends and family about certain dress shops. It’s always good to get a recommendation about the service, the staff and the quality before you spend your money there.Be open minded:You may have a clear idea in your head what you want, but try on as many different styles as you can. Most brides will tell you that the dress they chose was nothing like the dress they imagined they would wear. Try on different styles and see what suites you the most, don’t choose something because it is fashionable, choose it because it makes you feel like a million dollars and is comfortable.Alterations:Most dresses will need to be altered, and most of the time this price isn’t included in the price of the dress. Find out exactly how much this is before you commit to anything.Style of the day:Think about the style of your day and the venue when trying on your dress. You dress needs to fit the theme, however sometimes it will be your dress that depicts the theme. If your getting married in a big castle, then maybe a more traditional full on wedding dress would suite the occasion, however this style dress isn’t going to work if you are getting married abroad. If you are going for a Vintage style wedding then the dress needs to work with the style as well.The Fitting:Once the dress has been ordered and arrived you will need to go back to the shop for a fitting. If you are loosing weight for the wedding then this is the date you need to try and be your target weight! You will also need the shoes you will be wearing on the day, so the length can be adjusted correctly and also your correct underwear.Again try and wear your hair the way it will be on the day.Enjoy it:Remember wedding dress shopping is one of the best bits in the whole preparation process, it’s so much fun trying on all the beautiful dresses; don’t let it stress you out. You dream dress could be the first one you try on, or it could take 10 different shops before you get there, but don’t worry you will get there! Be patient and don’t stress about it!Kelly Hood - Boho Weddings & Eventswww.bohoweddingsandevents.comkelly@bohoweddingsandevents.comSee More

So you’ve just begun to plan your wedding, but where to start? Planning to some people is a dream, to others it can be a nightmare, there are so many different things to think about when planning a wedding, but if you get yourself in order and take one job at a time, you will avoid the stress and may actually enjoy the whole process.Most things these days come with an instruction manual, but not weddings!! Here are a few of the things you should be thinking about to get yourself on the right road.Do it together:Sit down with your partner and talk through you ideas together. Ask each other what sort of wedding the other has envisaged, you may both have completely different ideas, so you will need to come to some compromises first of all. Is there a particular time of the year, style or theme you were thinking about?Get organised:Get a folder together containing divider cards and plastic envelopes. Make a section for each thing you can think of; venue, photographer, cuttings from magazines, etc this way nothing will get lost. Here you can keep all contacts, contracts, emails and quotes in one place. If you are more technically minded then pull together a spreadsheet with all the details on it; a to do list, guest list, budget planner etc. Keeping everything in one place will help later on in the planning process and make your life a lot easier.Set a date:Decide when you both want to get married and check with important family members before you book anything.What sort of ceremony:What sort of ceremony do you want? Church or Civil Ceremony? This again will determine the decision you make on your venue. If you have a Church ceremony then it will probably need to be local due to the laws of marrying within your parish, where as a Civil Ceremony gives you more freedom and flexibility, it also opens up more options for things like Humanist ceremonies.Budget:It may sound dull but sorting out your budget now is the most important thing you will do and will save you many an argument in months to come.Talk about what you can afford, what you have saved and how much you can put away each month. Also find out if family members are going to be contributing, and if so how much? Don’t presume, it’s always good to know at the beginning stages.Put together a spreadsheet and keep a track of it, this will help you manage your spending and make sure you don’t go over budget.Remember, be realistic and don’t get carried away (unless you have a limitless pot) you don’t want to start married life in debt because of your wedding, so only spend what you can afford. And make sure you have a contingency fund, normally 10% of the final budget……….just in case!Guest List:Getting your guest list decided at the beginning stages will sometimes determine what sort of wedding you are going to have. But remember don’t let numbers get the better of you, only invite the guests you want to invite, don’t feel obliged to invite people you don’t want to share the day with you.Prioritise the important things:Discuss with your fiancé what is important to each of you. For one a photographer may be the most important thing to get organised, the other it may be the entertainment, but you may not be too bothered about the car. This way you know where you need to spend your money and where you can save it. By doing this now you won’t make any mistakes further down the line, by not allotting each supplier enough time, money or attention.Keep a check list:Once you have an idea of what needs to be done don’t over face yourself by trying to do everything at once. List each job to be done and then break down how many months you have to do it all before the wedding, then allot each month a list of jobs. Keep this list in your wedding folder and tick off each job as it is done.Don’t let the planning consume you:Far too often when you plan a wedding it is all you can think about. Try and allot your self chunks of time to do you’re planning. Doing a bit here and a bit there, will end up with you doing it every day. Your time may be better spent by putting a day aside every month to get the jobs done. This way you won’t let the wedding run your life.Make decisions together:Try not to let just one person plan the wedding, in most cases the man doesn’t want to get involved until the bill comes and then it’s too late. Make time with each other to discuss things, make sure the other person is involved and feels part of it as well.Do your research:This may be time consuming but don’t take the first option given to you, or make hasty decisions. Each supplier needs researching, what was good for one person may not be good for you! By spending time looking at all of your options you will not only save your self money but create a more personal wedding with your own style.Forget the little details for now:Don’t get tied down with the tiny details at this point. It is tempting to be thinking about shades of napkins or what make of roses to have, but let’s get the big bits done first. As time goes by the little bits and bobs will fall into place.Remember it’s your day:You will spend a lot of your time trying to make other people happy, especially your family and guests, but it’s your day, don’t forget that. Yes you have to be sympathetic to other people’s needs and wants, but the two people that have the final say are you two.It’s your day, have it the way you want it!Hire a Wedding Planner:(I know shameless plug!) A wedding planner can be used for any level of your wedding planning. Here at Boho I have a selection of packages to accommodate everyone’s needs and budgets. I don’t just plan the whole day, I can help with guest management, wedding day management, venue searching, I even have a Planning Workshop to help you ‘kick start’ your planning and a Boho Rescue remedy.I’d love to help you plan your Wedding day. For more information contact Kelly on: www.bohoweddingsandevents.comkelly@bohoweddingsandevents.com07989431821 / 0114 2854532See More