Thinking of getting married or honeymooning on-board a cruise liner? Before you set sail towards your dream day, get some expert help before you book...

The Cruise Specialists offer a range of different packages and destinations to suit all budgets, catering for parties from 2 to 200. 'P&O Cruises' offer a flexible new 'Weddings at Sea' programme. The current choice is between three different ships – all offering VIP extras and a service conducted by the Captain himself! Most cruise lines also offer an on-board wedding co-ordinator to assist you on the day.

Cruise Specialists arranged the very first P&O Wedding at Sea aboard the Arcadia in April this year. Some ships now even provide a live webcam link to their wedding chapels, so friends and family who can't make the wedding can still see tie the sailors knot!

The Cruise Specialists can help you marry or renew your wedding vows at sea or organise a large honeymoon group. They have also just extended their services to include cruise vouchers and a honeymoon 'gift list' service, providing a practical alternative to the traditional wedding present. Instead of receiving crockery or a toaster, you can request a donation towards your wedding at sea or honeymoon cruise. Couples will soon be able to host their own personal gift list online, from where friends and family will be able to purchase cruise vouchers directly. With a choice of vouchers from £25 to £500, there’s something to suit all budgets.

The Cruise Specialists are offering you £100 (terms & conditions apply) off the cost of your cruise wedding or honeymoon. To redeem your voucher, simply call 0800 0274936 and quote the following promotional code: Wedsite Scotland

For more information, visit the-cruise-specialists.co.uk/index/weddings_honeymoons or www.cruisevouchers.co.uk

It’s 10 years since brothers Brain & Craig Halley changed the face of the kilt business in Scotland.

Over the last decade they have had a whole host of stars beating a path to their door, providing outfits for the likes of Sean Connery, Ewan McGregor, Billy Connolly, Nick Nairn, Dougie Payne of Travis as well as TV design duo Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan to name a few.

And in sport too, the boys have their fair share of celebrity clients like Scotland manager Walter Smith, football pundit Ally McCoist as well as the legendry boxer Mike Tyson, rugby stars the Hastings brothers and Kenny Logan.

They believe a kilt is a great talking point, a good investment and, if treated with the reverence it deserves, should become a groom’s best friend for life.

Over the years the main part of the business has become the wedding market and at Slanj they have kitted out thousands of grooms from all over the world.

‘As well as our shop in Hope Street we have a very successful mail order business which means grooms can get a kilt wherever they are based,’ says Brian.

And while many kilt shops combine hiring kilts as well as selling them, the boys at Slanj are adamant that the hire market is not for them.

‘There are hundreds of guys getting married each year who do not want to get married in a ‘second hand’ hired kilt outfit,’ continues Brian, ‘we see the kilt is an investment, it should be a lifelong friend – to wear on all sorts of occasions.

So, from the boys who have dressed Sean, Ewan and Billy – grooms…you’ll be in good company!  Slanj, 116 Hope Street, Glasgow. Tel: 0141 248 7770 www.slanj.co.uk

Sometimes bride’s-to-be need a well earned break from the stresses and strains of planning their wedding – so ladies, gather your girlfriends and head for a luxury break of perfect pampering at one of Rocco Forte’s fantastic 5-star hotels.

It’s an unforgettable girls weekend and their 5 star hotels in Edinburgh, Manchester and Cardiff offer an ideal getaway to unwind, rejuvenate and spend quality time with the girls.

The special offer price of £220 per person per night includes a celebratory glass of champagne in the hotel bar, full breakfast in the Hotel’s main restaurant, and temporary membership to the hotel’s spa, fitness suite, sauna, relaxation rooms and pool*. Everyone who books the package will also receive the choice of a luxurious one-hour spa facial treatment or a relaxing one-hour massage.

Fully restored…you can enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne delivered to your room in the evening before you embark on a night in any of the fantastic city of your choice. What more can a bride ask for!

For more details of this luxurious weekend break, or to book, please contact Reservations on 0870-460 5040, quoting Wedsite-Scotland.
For further information on the Rocco Forte Hotels collection you can also visit their website www.roccofortehotels.com

The Hunting Tower is the ideal wedding venue and provides all a bride and groom could ask for.

The Huntingtower Suite, with every widow overlooking the six acres of splendid gardens created the perfect setting for a wedding of any season and creates a most memorable occasion in a wonderful photographic backdrop.

This fine country house has been recently restored to its former splendor and provides a warm and friendly service with cuisine and comfort to match.

The award-winning restaurant can create an interesting mix of dishes, from traditional Scottish fayre to provincial French using the best of local produce, complimented by the extensive wine cellars.

All this, and a host of tastefully furnished rooms, including an impressive Bridal Suite, which comprises an interesting combination of unique interiors all in keeping with the unique character of the building.

At Huntingtower, the possibilities are endless.

For more information contact 01738 583771, www.huntingtower.co.uk

Stuck for ideas? Looking for something different?

When it comes to stunning wedding dresses look no further than the name Alan Hannah.

Scots born Alan and his designer wife Marguerite are renowned for their creations – and this summer is no exception. Hand painted details, crystal dragonflies and beautiful draping are just some of the designs available.

Scottish stockist Carol Hutton of Charlotte Grace in Doune says:

“Brides feel stunning when they put on an Alan Hannah design. The design, the fabric, the cut and the attention to detail all combine to make a bride feel very special. And not only that but the dresses feel comfortable and are easy to move in – which is also important when you’re choosing a wedding dress.”

Alan Hannah’s designs can be found at Charlotte Grace, 2 + 4 the Cross, Doune, Stirling. Tel: 01786 842424

Fancy putting a personal touch to the flowers for your upcoming nuptials?

Launched at the end of May, the Scottish School of Floristry, situated in the West End of Glasgow can help you do just that.

The school will provide workshops and demonstrations tailored for both florists and for those with a keen interest in the top end of floral design. Anyone looking to immerse themselves in the more creative aspects of working with flowers will be delighted with the experience and training now available at St. George’s Studios.

Carol Pike, a respected and admired florist for more than twenty years, and founding partner in the floristry school says, ‘We recognised the real need for this sort of facility in Scotland, and anticipate huge demand for both the industry training and the non-florist courses. We plan to offer a seasonally appropriate and ever-changing election of designs that will satisfy everyone – and I’ll be satisfied when our students leave us all fired up with a real sense of passion and excitement about flowers and floral design.”

Get green fingered and check out the website www.scottishschooloffloristry.co.uk

Just when you though your wedding was all over, there’s always one last task that remains – cleaning and preserving your wedding dress!

To preserve your wedding dress and it’s memories it is essential that you have it cleaner and stored in a very particular fashion to prevent fading, damage and ageing!

Why risk using a High Street dry cleaner when Perry De Montaignac Ltd clean only wedding dresses, so are extremely experienced.
Using a state of the art CO2 dry cleaning technique – developed in the US – ideal for cleaning the delicate and sensitive fabrics within all wedding dresses. No harmful chemicals are used, there is no fabric distortion and little or no loss of colour. This gives not only an improved finish and feel but also a longer life to your dress.

To compliment the dry cleaning service, Perry De Montaignac Ltd also sell and extensive range of luxury wedding dress boxed (over 60 designs and patterns to choose from). These pH neutral boxes are handmade in the UK and have been designed with the aid of museum textile experts.

Every box is complimented with silk ribbon and lace trim, and once cleaned, each wedding dress is professionally packaged into the box wrapped in and filled with plenty of acid-free tissue paper.

Wedding dress boxes are the best way to preserve dresses – and as they look so pretty, they need no longer be confined to the attic but instead can be shown off as a decorative detail in any bedroom!

Not only that but Perry De Montaignac Ltd offers the complete convenience of a FREE nationwide wedding dress collection and return service!

For further information visit www.pdem.co.uk or contact Jonathan Perry at Perry De Montaignac Ltd on 0870 780 2848