LOVE AND ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR!

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT TYING THE KNOT?

Interesting fact; June is still the most popular month to get married, followed by August, July, May, and September. The goddess Juno was the protector of women in all aspects of life, but especially in marriage and childbearing, so a wedding in Juno's month was considered most auspicious.

Now let's be honest planning a wedding is no easy task! When it comes to your big day, it’s very important that you sit down with your fiancé and decide what it is you BOTH want from your wedding day. Now is also the time you should have a very honest discussion about your budget and the kind of things that you will and won’t compromise on.

The first thing you should plan is the venue, with so many options available this can be quite a daunting task. It is however one of the most important decisions you will make relating to your big day, so have a good think as to what you want from your venue.

Here are a few tips on how to make the task of finding the perfect place to say “I do”. 

• Start with working out what size venue you need. Make a list of everyone attending and decide whether you want everyone to come for the full day and evening or just to have close friends and family for the full occasion and more guest just attending the evening do.
  
  
• Another factor in deciding your venue is going to be your budget. Once you’ve confirmed a guest list, most venues will be able to give you a price per-guest so you will then be able to calculate how much you can afford per person.
  
  
•  Where do you want to get married? Near where you grew up or somewhere that has a special meaning for you both? Once the location has been decided this will help narrow down the actual venues in this area.
  
  
• Next think about what you want your venue to provide. If you’re planning on a marquee wedding and arranging catering and entertainment separately, you might just need a picturesque field that’s near the registry office or church where you’re getting married. Alternatively, you might want somewhere that will provide the full package - ceremony, wedding breakfast, wedding planner and overnight accommodation for guests. 
  
  
• If you’re the sort of person who loves organising everything and has the time to dedicate to do the planning, you might want to choose a venue where you need to arrange things like; the caterers, DJ, transport and decorations yourself.
  If you’re a busy bride with not alot of time to give to your wedding planning, you might prefer to have all these decisions made for you by the venue organisers.
  
  
• Next for the fun bit – finding somewhere that fits in with your theme. Whether it’s a fairytale wedding in a castle, a rustic country affair on a farm, a BBQ on a hot beach or a calm and tranquil riverside affair, there will be a venue that matches your theme. 
  
  
•  Once you have a short list of venues ideally 3 or 4, its time to decide upon the right one for you. If your venue is catering the wedding, make sure you’re happy with the menu they’re providing. Most will offer tasting sessions and don’t be afraid to tell them if there’s something you don’t like or another dish you’d prefer.
  
  If you’re planning on bringing your own caterers to the venue, check what their policy is on corkage (extra charge for opening bottles of wine). It can add a substantial amount to your budget and you might be better off buying cases from them directly.
  
  
• Often it’s the little things that make a venue stand out from the others – the amazing view out of the windows, the wedding planner who gets exactly what you want, the fact that there’s no restriction on when the DJ has to stop or an incredible backdrop for photos. It’s your big day so don’t be surprised if it’s something small and sentimental that swings it for you.

CANAL SIDE SETTINGS MAKE WONDERFUL VENUES

If you are planning a canal side setting, then you may want to take a look at these great canal themed wedding venues we have put together for you. 

Fantastic canal based venues for your perfect day; 

Anderton Boat Lift 

Romantics wanting to tie the knot somewhere unusual will be pleased to hear that the Anderton Boat Lift has been granted a venue licence for civil marriage ceremonies. Issued by the Superintendent Registrar for Cheshire West and Chester Council, the licence allows couples to formalise their relationship at the ‘cathedral of the canals’, built by Edwin Clark in 1875 to lift cargo boats 50 feet from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal. Duty manager Graham Wood said: “We’re really excited about the future. Providing couples say the legal declaration in either the Lift View Function Room or the Lower Floor Exhibition Hall, they can get married on The Edwin Clark trip boat while going through the lift, or even on top of the lift.”

The Bond Company

Steeped in Birmingham’s rich canal heritage, just a short walk from the city centre, you will find The Bond Company. With a majestic front and  fine cobbled entrance, the collection of Victorian buildings and planted courtyards overlook the Grand Union Canal.

This idyllic oasis within the centre of Birmingham is recommended by The Birmingham Mail as one of the “Top 5 Wedding Venues in Birmingham” and would provide a stunning backdrop to your wedding day.  

Canal Boat Cruises

If you are looking for the ultimate venue for your next private event, then a celebration aboard Romance is the perfect choice. Cruising in the open countryside creates the perfect backdrop for your guests to have a wonderful and memorable time. Our experienced event organisers will work closely with you to ensure that your expectations for this big event are exceeded.

JUNE HEALTH TIPS Practice these healthy eating tips;  Monitor calories.   Eat a well-balanced diet.   Go for lean protein sources.   Make half of your meals a fruit or vegetable.   Make your grain choices whole grain.   Limit junk foods and processed foods.   Drink adequate amounts of water.  Take vitamin and mineral supplements.

KEEP FIT INSPIRATION June's exercise idea - Team training.Training with a friend/ partner can help keep you motivated and reach your goals.  There is an unlimited list of sports you can do with a partner, from power walking to racket sports and everything in between.  The important thing to do when starting to workout together is to choose a sport that you are both going to enjoy and keep doing.   *Always seek your doctors advice before starting any new life style change.

FOODIE IDEAS FOR JUNE

Seasonal foods available in June; artichoke, asparagus, aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, chillies, courgettes, fennel, french beans, garlic, jersey royal new potatoes, kohlrabi, lettuce & salad leaves, mangetout, new potatoes, onions, pak choi, peas, radishes, rocket, runner beans, samphire, spinach, spring onions, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild nettles apricots, bilberries, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, greengages, kiwi fruit, peaches, strawberries basil , chervil, chives, coriander, dill, elderflowers, oregano, mint, nasturtium, parsley (curly), parsley (flat-leafed), rosemary, sage, sorrel, tarragon, thyme lamb, wood pigeon cod, coley, crab, haddock, halibut, herring, langoustine, plaice, pollack, prawns, salmon, sardines, scallops (queen), sea bream, sea trout, shrimp, squid, whelks, whitebait Ingredients fit for a king!

THIS MONTHS TOP BOATING TIP Up-cycle your old boat parts, they don't have to end up in landfill... The Green Blue, the environmental project of the RYA and British Marine, gets to see quite a few ideas when out and about on site visits to clubs, marinas and centres. Help safe the enviroment and reduce your carbon foot print by recycling your old boat parts Remember your scrap could be someone else’s treasure! Find out more here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN THE MONTH OF JUNE WE CELEBRATE..

June, 2017 Daily Holidays, Special and Wacky Days: 1 Say Something Nice Day, 2 Leave the Office Early Day, 2 National Doughnut Day, 3 Repeat Day, 4 Hug Your Cat Day, 6 Drive-In Movie Day, 7 VCR Day, 8 Best Friends Day, 9 Donald Duck Day, 10 Iced Tea Day, 11 Corn on the Cob Day, 12 Red Rose Day, 13 Sewing Machine Day, 14 Bourbon Day, 15 Nature Photography Day, 16 Bloomsday,17 World Juggling Day,17 Eat Your Vegetables Day (should be easy with all the seasonal veggies available), 18 International Picnic Day, 18 International Panic Day, 19 Sauntering Day, 21 Daylight Appreciation Day, 22 Onion Ring Day, 23 Take Your Dog to Work Day, 23 Typewriter Day, 24 Swim a Lap Day, 25 Please Take my Children to Work Day, 26 Chocolate Pudding Day, 28 Tau Day, 29 Camera Day, 30 Meteor Watch Day

Looks like we are going to be VERY busy!

BOATING EVENTS IN JUNE

Stilling the flow exhibition

2nd June 2017 to 2nd July 2017
Come along to the National Waterways Museum and view artist, lecturer and boater, Jim Cooke's photography exhibition.      

Leicester Riverside Festival
3rd June 2017 to 4th June 2017 

Head to the 20th anniversary of the Leicester Riverside Festival this year.        

Long Eaton Canal Festival

3rd June 2017, 10am to 4th June 2017, 4pm 

Trent Lock
Come along to Long Eaton Canal Festival for a weekend of family fun.        

Anderton In Bloom

10th June 2017 to 11th June 2017 

Head along to the Anderton Boat lift for the Anderton In Bloom flower festival.        

Wildflower & Meadow ID workshop

10th June 2017, 2pm to 4pm 

Join staff from Natural England for a guided walk along the canal and through the wildflower rich meadows of the Melbourne and Thornton Ings Site of Special Scientific Interest.  

Foxton Locks Festival

17th June 2017, 10am to 18th June 2017, 5pm 

Head along to Foxton Locks over the weekend of the 17th/18th June for the annual Foxton Locks Festival.        

Father's Day breakfast and boat trip

18th June 2017
Treat Dad to something different this Father's Day with a delicious breakfast sandwich followed by a guided boat trip into Britain's longest, highest and deepest tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.            

Pennine Explorer Cruise

23rd June 2017 to 9th July 2017 

Come along and join the first Pennine Explorer Cruise from 23 June - 1 July.  

Chester Floating Market

24th June 2017, 10am to 25th June 2017, 5pm 

Head along to Chester Floating Market

IF YOU WANT TO BUY A NARROWBOAT FOR YOUR HONEY MOON!, COME AND SEE US SOON.