With This Ring: March 23, 2018

34 With This Ring
BAGS OF
Style
A handbag is the final touch for your
wedding ensemble. Unlike everyday
handbags and totes that contain
absolutely everything, a wedding handbag
only needs to carry the essentials for a few
hours.
Evening bags and clutches are brilliant and
beautiful; beaded, embroidered, silk, satin, leather
or metallic, they can be soft or hard sides with
clips, clasps, domes or zips.
Fashion fanatics recommend choosing a bag that
either matches your shoes, or complements an
outfit in a similar or contrasting colour. But for
a wedding you also need to consider the size and
shape of the bag, so that the overall impression is
balanced. If it is metallic, match the bag to your
other jewellery and if it’s a clutch bag, look for the
practicality of a shoulder strap or fine chain to
keep hands free for greeting guests, clasping a glass
and managing canapés!
THE CLUTCH BAG is the overwhelming
favourite for weddings and evening wear.
Carried in the hand or under the arm, it can be
unobtrusively elegant or supremely sassy with
decorative details. The structure and material
define the formality of the bag; leather, satin, silk,
manmade fibre or metal and its modest size forces
you to de-clutter so that it does not bulge or spill
out your essentials. For practicality it should close
securely and fit your cards, keys, phone and lippy
at the very least.
THE POMPADOUR BAG is a soft material
pouch with a drawstring worn round the wrist.
Originating in medieval times to carry money
and a sweet-smelling pomander, its popularity
re-emerged in Jane Austen’s regency era and in the
1920s when they were made of the same material
as the flapper girl’s dress and were embellished
with jet beads, fringing and embroidery. The
pompadour is a pretty option for
a flower girl or a way
of introducing
vintage style to
bridal party
gowns and
wedding
outfits.
In Awe of MUMS
Mums are special and never more so than on the day you get
married. She will be so proud of you, so why not pay tribute
with some thoughtful ideas that say how important your
Mum(s) is to you.
INCLUDE HER in your wedding
planning, choosing a gown,
bridesmaid pamper sessions,
hens' night celebration and the
excitement on the day of getting
ready together.
PHOTO CALL and get some
special images just with you and
your Mum. In the busy-ness of the
day it’s a perfect pic opportunity
that is sometimes overlooked with
later dismay.
SOMETHING OLD, NEW,
BORROWED OR BLUE often has
extra special meaning if it has come
from your Mum. So ask her and if
nothing springs to mind, consider
replicating her own bridal bouquet
to represent an older era, new
flowers, a borrowed design and a
blue ribbon or blossom!
PUT IT IN WORDS and invite
your Mum to do a reading, a speech
or a toast at your wedding if she is
agreeable. But don’t forget to thank
her in your own wedding speeches!
A NOTE OR MESSAGE of thanks
is often all she needs. Send her a
note of thanks on the morning
of the wedding, present her with
flowers at the reception or give her
a little gift the day after.
ARM IN ARM with your Dad and/
or Mum and Dad down the aisle is an
increasingly popular trend. Or you
may ask her to be a matron of honour
– there are no rules, just wishes.
VIP OR MVP make her a special
sign, decorate her chair or reserve a
place at the top table.
SALUTE her signature specialty
from the kitchen by including it on
the reception menu or the wedding
favours.
FOCUS ON FAMILY with a table,
photo board or power point of
family occasions which also show
her role in your life growing up.
NEVER FORGET – even if you
no longer have a Mum she can still
be part of your special day – carry
her photo, wear her gown or her
jewellery, play her favourite music
and toast her memory.