JLife’s Wedding & Valentine’s Day Special 2010 is packed with ideas, inspirations and tips for your big day or Valentine’s Day celebration.

With the wedding season underway and Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to start planning your big day or making arrangements for 14th February. JLife’s Wedding & Valentine’s Day Special 2010 features everything you need to help create your fairytale wedding. There are listings of top local suppliers, from kosher catering and quality venues to production specialists and beauty experts, who can help ensure your dream day comes true.

The economic woes of last year have failed to halt the excitement of getting married as weddings are set to become more elaborate. A new survey by Cancer Research UK shows that the majority of guests (29 per cent) spend between £101 to £200 on going to a wedding, which goes on items such as gifts and outfits, whereas very few (12 per cent) spend less than £50 to attend a wedding. Weddings are an investment in a day to remember for all the right reasons; this guide also features local wedding experts who can help apply the all important finishing touches to ensure the smooth-running of your big day.

JLife readers have also opened up their wedding albums and here they share their photos and memories, plus we reveal some truly unforgettable wedding proposals.

Don’t know what to wear on your wedding day? Glamour is back. Local designer Anita Massarella provides information on top style tips and buying trends.

Where do you start in planning one of the biggest days of your life? Elizabeth Catherine Myers (author of Your Pocket Wedding Planner: How to Prepare for a Wedding that’s Economical and Fun, and Wedding Planner: A Step by Step Guide to Your Special Day) provides some helpful starting points:

• Budget – work out how much you can afford to spend on each item and then stick to that budget. If family members are contributing to the cost, it’s advisable to discuss with them at the outset what they can afford to contribute and which items they would like to pay for to avoid misunderstandings at a later stage.
• Planning – Break down everything into small manageable tasks. If you can easily tick things off your checklist as you do them, it will make you feel as though you are making progress, and by taking small steps you can easily accomplish all the big tasks that go with organising your wedding.
• Suppliers – Search for suppliers offering the services you require, narrow your list to three or four, compare what they are offering (e.g. for price, product/service, examples of previous work) and then make a decision about which supplier offers you the best options. Make sure you agree everything with your suppliers in writing.
• ‘Wedding Free’ Days – Try to keep some evenings and weekends ‘wedding free’ in the run up to your wedding. Have a soak in the bath, go out for a walk or go to the cinema but ban all talk of menu choices, florists and dress fittings.

Wedding Wish List
A guide to local wedding experts and suppliers who can make your wedding wishes come true, from kosher catering to health and beauty experts.

Andrea Ubhi York
Thinking of improving your smile before your big day? Dr Andrea Ubhi, Dentist of the Year 2005 (The Probe Awards), and her team work from an exclusive clinic in York providing smile makeovers.

The team at Andrea Ubhi York sees many people in the run-up to a wedding day who want to improve their smile. If you are embarrassed about your smile, it can make the photography or the speeches seem very daunting. By having improvements made to your smile, it gives you the confidence to relax and enjoy all that the day has to offer.

Andrea Ubhi York offers a range of services, including Californian porcelain laminate veneers, No-Preparation veneers, DaVinci veneers, smile makeovers and tooth whitening, as well as treatments involving quick orthodontics, dental implants and dentures. 

Balloon Studio
Whether you want your wedding to be tailored and traditional or funky and fabulous, Balloon Studio offers a complete event dressing service and has been transforming venues for over 20 years. Owner Janice Delroy has now introduced a contemporary range of luxurious linens and chair covers.

BAR Staff UK
BAR Staff UK can help ensure your wedding celebration is hassle-free and a success from start to finish. Help is at hand with the company’s range of qualified and professional staff who are available for hire; they include cocktail bartenders, waiting staff and audio engineers.

Claire Ross
Claire Ross offers a large selection of beautiful designer outfits for the mother of the bride or groom. The team consults with you every step of the way to ensure the outfit is perfect for you and there are many fashionable brands to choose from, including Condici, Ispirato and Pezzi Pazzi.

Creative Catering
Creative Catering is the leading kosher caterer in Leeds, presenting high quality cuisine for weddings of all sizes and styles within the community. The highly trained staff pride themselves on smooth service and flawless food and constantly strive to improve standards and introduce innovative new menu ideas to provide a perfect wedding day.

Creative Catering also offers a full wedding coordination service, assisting with organising the finer details and liaising with your photographer, florists etc. ensuring the smooth running of the day.

Flowers by Karen
Why not treat the one you love with an exotic alternative to a dozen red roses? Flowers by Karen offers a range of beautiful lilies, orchids and a stunning selection of unusual tropical flowers, ideal for Valentine’s Day and perfect for a wedding bouquet. The team at Flowers by Karen delivers an expert bespoke service, ensuring you find exactly what you’re looking for.

HYPOXI-Studio
HYPOXI, a fat and cellulite-burning treatment favoured by celebrities, is an ideal way to get in tip top shape for a wedding or special occasion. HYPOXI-Studio recently opened in Harrogate and features the full range of equipment making it as prestigious as the Harrods’ branch of HYPOXI. It’s a natural, non-invasive alternative to liposuction and is tailor-made to the individual.

Leeds Marriott Hotel
Leeds Marriott Hotel in the heart of Leeds city centre provides the perfect setting for your big day. Its Thomas Ambler Suite caters for weddings of all shapes and sizes, creating an ideal space in which to entertain your guests. Romance is also in the air this Valentine’s Day, as lovebirds can enjoy the special package featuring an overnight stay (Saturday), champagne and chocolates, plus a romantic meal and sumptuous breakfast.

Linda Abrahams & Co.  
Established for over 15 years, Linda Abrahams & Co. offers everything you need for the perfect wedding, from beautifully designed invitations and bespoke table accessories to complete wedding coordination and event management. The expert team can tailor-make the finer details to make your big day extra special. 

Production Light & Sound
A beautifully lit room can create the ideal atmosphere in which to deliver a perfectly pitched wedding speech. Placing the spotlight firmly on the newlyweds, Production Light & Sound is expert in providing smooth sound and muted, romantic lighting for weddings. A bespoke, high quality service is delivered to suit any style or theme; no wedding is too large or too small, too traditional or too flamboyant.

With over 20 years’ experience, Production Light & Sound offers a co-ordinated, professional service to match whatever requirements you may have, from equipment hire to full event management. Any venue can be transformed with the latest sound and lighting technology.

Purple Piranha
Purple Piranha offers an extensive range of high quality wedding invitations and stationery, providing a broad selection of print applications that caters for many tastes. Purple Piranha sources its paper from mills across the world and features exclusive American designs unavailable through any other suppliers in the region, ensuring it delivers stellar service every time.

The Barefoot Gallery
Whether you seek a wedding gift with a difference or would like to show the one you love how much you care this Valentine’s Day, why not purchase a piece of beautiful artwork from The Barefoot Gallery? Offering original paintings and stunning glass art in an array of colours and designs, The Barefoot Gallery provides beautiful, unique art pieces to treasure forever.

The Crown Hotel
Situated in the heart of Harrogate, the Crown Hotel is one of the region’s premier venues following a recent multi-million pound refurbishment. It is well-equipped for weddings of up to 700 guests and has facilities for kosher caterers. Its lavish suites, superb food and romantic setting also make it ideal for a Valentine break.