Friday 27 January 2012

Guest Blog: Wedding Dress Designer Christine Kendall


It's only my humble opinion, but I think I found the best wedding dress designer in London. 

I'll blog fully soon on why I chose Christine Kendall, who is based in London, to make my gown. But in short she was head and graceful shoulders above the rest.

As important as her beautiful creations, is her approach to you. There's no sending the order to Hong Kong, sticking rigidly to a pre-made pattern or eye-watering hidden costs.

The concept - that a top designer makes the dress for you - might sound simple enough but as I found, is all too rare.

Over to you Christine.

Christine Kendall


Finding your dream dress is going to reflect your personal style and is one of the reasons why the choice is so important.

Not only do you have to choose the right silhouette and style for your figure type, fabric and detail too.  

This is the time when you will look at yourself in a mirror and analyse every inch of your body, every seam, neckline, hemline and detail on a dress as you have never done before.  

A Christine Kendall creation


Be discerning

There is so much choice that you may feel overwhelmed. Be discerning and only go to five bridal designers. 

Choose them according to your budget, your styling and the location.

Have a red herring too perhaps a designer out of your location or styling that is not so generic, keeping an open mind.  

By choosing just five designers it will help you to focus on the styles that each designer creates, the quality of make, the quality of the fabrics used, the general feel of the establishment and if you would receive value for money.

The personal touch


Know your body shape

When it comes to your first bridal gown selection it can be difficult to know what to choose and knowing your body shape and areas you want to disguise or accentuate will help you.

To give you an example, if you are well proportioned and petite a column dress will  give the appearance of lengthening you. 

If you have a waist that you would like to disguise and have slim hips and thighs then this silhouette of dress should be in your selection. 

A column dress drops straight to the floor in a narrow skirt often falling from a line under the bust. 

A fuller curvy figure often looks fantastic in fitted boned bodices with an A line skirt as this shows off an hour glass figure really well, hiding larger thighs under the skirt and controlling the upper body shape.

The Kendall touch


Spoil yourself

Wear nice underwear that makes you feel good as most wedding dresses need assistance with the buttons or nets and you will may be embarrassed in greying knickers or an old ill fitting bra.  

You will want to feel as groomed as you can in the wedding dresses so it is a good idea to prep up with bikini wax and remove underarm hair as it will help you to feel confident and relaxed.  Wearing the perfume you plan to on the day will make you feel special too and the scent will linger on the dress.

If you think your hair will be worn off your face try to arrive at the shop/salon with your hair emulating how you plan to wear it on the day.  

It doesn't have to be special but the hair, up or down can completely change the look of the dress and help to reflect your style of wedding.

Ooooh, fancy pants


Know the right question

You may be surprised/confused by the language of fabrics and different terminology for silhouettes and face a fast learning curve.  

The main question to ask about the fabric used to create the dress is if it is 100% silk.

This will help you to gauge the value of the dress as some dresses  that are made in polyester are exuberant in price.  

You need to hear the words 100% silk as some fabrics are identified by weave only such as Duchess, because it is a weave only term it can be made in either polyester or silk.  

Many sales assistants will tell you that the fabric is Duchess and those not aware assume it is silk. Don't assume and ask if the Duchess is silk and don't let them tell you that the Duchess is the fabric name - you now know better.

Most importantly..enjoy!


It truly is a wonderful time in your life, I wish you joy in your search for your dream dress and remember that the dress is not just for one day.  You will see the dress in photographs. And remember how you loved wearing it and you will treasure those memories for a lifetime.

Thank you Christine. When I see you next week, I'll be sure to have defuzzed and will be wearing my finest French knickers!

For more information, do have a look at a selection of Christine's dresses at www.christinekendall.com or say hello on Facebook.





Monday 23 January 2012

GUEST BLOG: PERSONAL TRAINER NICK RYDEN

Trust me ladies, Nick Ryden is the man to whip you into shape for the big day.


I enlisted his help just two weeks ago when I started an hour session three times a week at the famous Matt Roberts (www.mattroberts.co.uk) gym where Nick is senior personal trainer.
Nicklas Ryden
Already, I see the benefits on my body and have lost a couple of kilos as well as a centimetre round my waist. I feel myself toning up and most importantly, feel better.


We're all used to seeing articles on how to shape up but this Q&A is pretty special - because, should you choose to follow it, it will work.
Matt Roberts
They say blogs with too much text can turn readers off - but I hope you'll agree it's worth the wordage if it's the best advice out there.
Thank you for your questions. Over to you Nick.



Q. I've only got three months to my wedding. Have I left it too late to
make a difference? Realistically, what can I achieve? I want to lose half
a stone at least and go down a dress size. (Tanya, 31, Bournemouth)

A. It usually takes at least 5-7 days in my experience to notice a shift in tone and weight loss so there is plenty of time in order to get in shape for the wedding.




Now depending on how much effort you put in to training,
nutrition, quality sleep, hydration the results can vary from ok to very
good. Half a stone weight loss and losing a dress size is very doable in
that time frame.



Q. My problem areas are tummy and thighs. I don't want to bulk up, just
lose the flab. What exercises can I do? (Jen, 28, Brighton)


After

A. In general it is very difficult for anyone to bulk up. For women in
particular since they are low in testosterone (which is the main anabolic
hormone responsible for increasing muscle mass) so should not worry about
bulking up. 

The best exercises for tummy and thighs are squats, lunges, step-ups,
glute bridges, planks (front and side variations).

Protein in peanuts 



Q. If I exercise regularly, can I get away with eating more (or at least
the same as I normally do) without putting on weight? (Anne, 34, Glasgow)



A. Yes you can eat the same and possibly a little more without putting on
weight.
Combining resistance and cardio training is the best way to get in shape
as the resistance training will increase lean body mass thereby increasing
metabolism so you will burn more calories on a daily bases which means you
can eat the same and still lose weight.
Snack on tuna





Of course if you then try to eat 200-300 calories less each day in conjunction with the training 
that will be the best option.


In general excess protein won't be converted to fat as a lot of the calories will get burned off in the process, but extra carbohydrates get converted easier so the
recommendation is that if you are hungry try to snack on protein rich
foods such as yoghurts (natural, not flavored), tuna (in spring water), a
spoon of peanut butter or a handful of nuts.


Bingo wings + tats = wrong


Q. My dress is strapless and I have slightly soft upper arms. What can I
do to tone up for my wedding in six months time? (Susan, 36, Sidcup, Kent)





A. The best arm exercises in my opinion are press-ups, close grip press-ups,
trx inverted rows, barbell biceps curl, and triceps dumbbell extensions.


Flying without (bingo) wings





Q. What's the benefit of a personal trainer as opposed to going to the
gym?












A. A personal trainer can make all the difference when it comes to getting in
shape in a short period of time.
Your trainer will be able to push you harder than you would yourself in the gym, and he/she will be able to progress you when needed and scale it down the days when you are not 100% in form so that you prevent getting injured by over training or performing exercises with poor form.
Booze Culture
It is a fact most people don't push themselves as hard when they train by alone than with a trainer.






Q. I am happy with my weight but don't feel very healthy (long hours,
drinking culture at work) How can exercise help? (Paul, 27, not-a-bride-to-be, London)






A. Exercise will make you feel energetic even though you physically exert yourself during a session mentally you will feel refreshed and clear headed afterwords.

Also once you get into the habit of training regularly
you will notice that will start to eat healthier, drink less and sleep
better. It is a win win in my opinion.


Matt Roberts in action

Q. I jog for half an hour every day on the treadmill at the same speed
going quite fast and watch what I eat but never lose weight. What cardio
would work? (Ali, 45, Fife)



A. It is very common that people are stuck in an exercise routine that they have been doing for years.


So after a while once the body has adapted to the stress of the exercise the body stops adapting and you are staying in maintenance stage.








My recommendation is to get out of your comfort zone and try something new like a spin class, body combat or try interval training.

Challenge your body by working hard in 30 seconds with 1 min
rest.
Repeat that four times. This can be performed on the spin bike,
x-trainer, rower, and treadmill.





Q. I feel too scrawny and thin and want to put on a bit of muscle, especially on my arms which are boney. My big day's in six months. Is this possible? (Emma, 31, 
Manchester)






A. Yes with six months you can make a big change in how you look and feel. Of
course in addition to training; nutrition, hydration (plenty of water),
sleep, and a positive mental attitude will help you reach your goals much
sooner.





Q. What are your favourite success stories with clients?




A. My favorite stories are with 2 of my fat loss clients.
A women I trained lost 20kg in about 4 months just from stopping drinking and training very seriously, about 5 sessions week including 3 with me.



And a man I trained last year lost 4.5 stone in 4 months which was amazing as it changed both his body and mindset.





Q. Any other tips for food and exercise?






A. With food don't follow any crazy diets, because in the end you will put
that weight back on again.

Try to eat healthy proper food like meat, fish, vegetables, rice, some fruit, and nuts.


If you want to be serious about hitting your goals cut out all baked goods like cakes, biscuits, crisps and so on.

Only wedding cake allowed
Limiting bread and fruit intake seems to help as well.

Have a limit of two fruits a day if you want to lose fat. 

If you are happy with your weight then you can have your five a day.



With exercise make sure you know what you are doing as far as technique is concerned. 

If you are not sure seek a trainer who can help you with the basics and
set up a program for you.
You want to mix your resistance training with cardio training and preferably also some stretching routines or a yoga class.






A Swedish eye for grammar
Thanks Nick. Not only is your advice first class, it's hard to believe your native tongue is Swedish as your English is better than many a Brit.



For more information about the London-based training centres go to www.mattroberts.co.uk


And to read more about Nick's background - which spans slalom, football, athletics and martial arts..in Sweden, America, Australia and London click here.

Saturday 14 January 2012

COMING UP..

Guest bloggers who will be joining aisle-be-there.co.uk very soon are fabulous, even if I do say so myself.


Matt Roberts
  • Personal trainer Nick who works at Matt Roberts (www.mattroberts.co.uk)..Matt's never off the telly and only employs the best. 
Trust me, after a few sessions with Nick I know he's the man to whip you into shape for the big day.



    Top hairstylist Charley McEwen

  • Hairdresser to the stars Charley McEwen who styled Kelly Rowland's hair on the X Factor will be sharing invaluable tips on how get it right on the day. Take a look at his website charleymcewen.com to see his impressive client list.

Lace - there's a clue



  • My dress designer. Yes I've finally chosen one and I can't wait to share.


  • One of the finest make-up artists working on television shows today. She doesn't often do bridal make-up but has agreed to share the benefit of her experience with us.


If you have a question for any of the above experts, let me know and I'll make sure it gets to them.
There's so much to think about in the run-up so hopefully this site will become your one-stop-shop with lots of answers.


Wednesday 11 January 2012

GUEST BLOG: WEATHER EXPERT, SIAN WELBY


You see. Gorgeous.
I'm delighted to introduce Channel 5's gorgeous weather girl Sian Welby to aisle-be-there-co.uk
That's Sian on the right.
Here, she shares her advice on all things weather and wedding, offers a personalised forecast and my favourite - invaluable advice on umbrellas.
Over to you Sian.

Right ladies, you can plan every last detail of your wedding, down to the colour of your Bridesmaid's knickers, but the one thing that is out of your hands is the weather.

The weather is a key part of your wedding day and something you need to think about.  I can't give you an exact weather forecast for the time, date and year of your big day.

If I could I'd be a millionaire, but I can try and give you some tips!!

Firstly, take any forecast more than five days ahead with a pinch of salt.  It may give you an inkling as to what might happen, but might is the key word here and the best detail is always in a two-three day forecast.

Secondly, expect the unexpected. If you got married in December 2010 you'd have had a winter wonderland, but as you know, if you got married December last year, it was probably warm enough to stay out all night without a coat. 

Sian doing her thing
So don't presume that you'll get rained on in April or that you'll get baking sunshine in July as you might get an unwanted surprise.

Remember, it's Great Britain we're talking about so if anything plan for rain. Don't let the weather ruin your day. Give yourself options. 

THINK HAIR! You don't want your lovely updo becoming a soggy mess, so if rain is looking inevitable, happy thoughts are useless at this point and you need to be practical.

Make sure you have a few umbrellas ready.  If you want to make a feature of your umbrella you could get it customised, 'Mr and Mrs' or colour matching your theme. Make it fun so you can look back and laugh, instead of cry.


Top tip, get a clear umbrella that covers your whole head and shields you from the wind, so you can see where your going, stay looking pristine and avoid the inside-out-umbrella-look.

Long range weather forecasts aren't very reliable, because all it takes is for the wind to change slightly and it's snow instead of sunshine.

However it can be just as important to look back at weather.  If you're an outdoorsey couple getting married in a field with a marquee, it may be glorious sunshine on your big day, but in the run up it could have been raining non stop, meaning cars will be stuck in the mud if they park on the field and heels will be sinking into the grass.

To avoid a mud related rescue mission for your Maid of honour, get your route to the venue planned, even if it means putting cardboard or wooden planks down on the grass so people can walk in easily, or if you really want a laugh and have the budget you could even get your bridal party matching rain macs or pink wellies. A great idea if it's a intimate wedding!

If you plan for the worst, nothing will spoil your day and remember girls, I'm here to help, Monday to Friday 3 times a day on channel 5 giving you your weekly forecast. My Facebook and Twitter links are below and  I'll be happy to give you a personal weather report for your area and if you want a funny personalised report doing for your big day, I'm sure something can be arranged.

GOOD LUCK GIRLS!




Many thanks Sian. I owe you one of those Del Boy cocktails with an umbrella in it.
Martel x