Call us old-fashioned (and not many people do), but we're delighted with the growing trend for hen and stag parties to stay closer to home, rather than flying off to foreign shores. There's less of that exhausting travelling and you're being conscious of your carbon footprint – not to mention getting more (excuse the expression) bang for your buck now the pound is plummeting against the euro. And staying at home – or nearby – doesn't mean being dull. If…

 Of course every bride wants a wonderful hen do, but in the end it's the people who make the party, not the place you hold it. And that means you don't have to shell out a fortune travelling to exotic destinations for lavish long weeks or weekends. Whisper it quietly, but over-the-top hen parties are beginning to be regarded as not only embarrassingly ostentatious, but also extremely stressful to plan and deeply inconsiderate of those friends who are a bit…

Streaky legs and stained hands are not a good wedding day look. So we're grateful to the hair & beauty experts at Hairtrade.com for this seven-step guide to fake tanning before your big day. From removing hair at least 24 hours before tanning to applying methodically, these tips will ensure you get that perfect, natural sun-kissed glow without risking the possibility of ending up Tango-ed. Joanne Dodds from www.Hairtrade.com said: 'We’ve all been there – we think we’ve followed the…

Worrying about losing weight before your big day is nothing new – brides have been doing it for decades and now new research has focused on the diet trends of the last century. The team at weight loss product Skinny Sprinkles, has come up with a guide to weight loss throughout the decades, looking at the ideal body goals from the 1920s to now and listing the popular diet trends through those eras. Among the trends are the 1930s grapefruit…

Planning a wedding can be an exciting but overwhelming experience for many couples. From flowers and favours, to dresses and decorations – there are a lot of big decisions to make, not to mention budgets to stick to. What is supposed to be an incredible time, can often leave many couples feeling frazzled. However, planning nuptials needn’t be a nightmare, according to one of Devon’s most experienced wedding co-ordinators.   Laura Coleman, from Holne Park House – the beautiful wedding…