Continuing our wedding series, this week we spoke to personal trainer and former Olympian Gillian O’Sullivan about getting in shape for the big day, and the dreaded question of whether getting fit and enjoying wine were mutually compatible!

It has been well documented that wine can aid digestion and can help with overall well-being, however like all good and enjoyable things in life, there is a small price to pay. Unfortunately, the average glass of wine can contain 150-180 calories. So, an average of 3 glasses would total 450-540 calories. This equates to 27% of the recommended calories for women and 22% for men on a daily basis.

So how should soon-to-be brides and grooms go about getting in shape without taking all the fun out of preparing for their wedding?

The best way to get in shape for a big day like your wedding is exactly the same as doing it as a long-term lifestyle choice – through exercise and healthy eating.

Healthy eating is about making the right, informed decisions. Eating 3 good meals a day with plenty of fruit and vegetables and drinking plenty of water are the golden rules. In order to make any gains, you must cut back on the high fat products.

Exercise is the best way to burn the calories. Cutting back on calories by restricting food works but only for a short time. You need to get 4-5 days of exercise during the week. This can include cardio and weight training.

I get my clients to fill out food diaries and I can see what they are eating and drinking during the week. Many of them indulge in wine over the weekend, and sure isn’t it one of the more enjoyable aspects of the wedding preparations sampling the wedding wine?

The bottom line is that if you watch your food intake and exercise regularly and consistently, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy a few glasses of wine. If you use it in the right way, you can use it as a reward for the exercise you have done during the week. Also, if you drink wine, avoid overeating with the wine and the next day. Sometimes, this can be where the real damage is done.

Wine is a great social drink and by restricting yourself too much, it can turn you off all the effort of the diet and exercise. Exercise, eat well and allow a little indulgence and you’ll have the right formula to be in-shape and feeling great on your wedding day.

We say “YAY” to that!

Gillian O’Sullivan is a former Olympian, World Silver Medallist and World Record Holder and is now a qualified Personal Trainer in Cork.

In Week 4 of our wedding series, we asked Mary Foyle of Travel Counsellors Ireland to give us the benefits of her extensive knowledge and experience gained from years of helping couples organise the perfect honeymoon.

Your honeymoon should be the most magical holiday of your life, giving you time to unwind and enjoy each other’s company after all the excitement of your wedding day.

And just as your choice of venue for your wedding day reflects your own personalities, you will want a honeymoon destination that suits you both. Remember, there is no obligation to lie on a beach for two weeks. Nor is there an obligation to travel to some far off exotic island. There are plenty of beautiful honeymoon spots in Europe which offer luxury, interesting sights and beautiful beaches.

‘Sun, sea and sand’

Walking hand in hand through the surf on a white sandy beach is surely the definitive honeymoon scene. Just be sure, especially if you are the active types, that you really want to be lazing round for all that time. You might consider combining the tropical beach with some sightseeing or adventure activity. Popular honeymoon combinations right now are Mauritius followed by Safari in South Africa, the Caribbean followed by New York/Las Vegas, or what about the Great Barrier Reef, followed by Sydney and Ayers Rock?

‘To see the sights’

Perhaps you can think of nothing more romantic than sitting together in a café in St. Marks Square in Venice or wandering through the ancient temples of Luxor. Remember to leave plenty of time to wind down and relax after the wedding as a sightseeing holiday can be quite strenuous and you will be exhausted after the all the hype of the big day.

There are some great beaches in Italy on the Tuscany and Amalfi Coasts, or if you are travelling to Egypt, why not pay a visit to the Red Sea and chill out in a luxury hotel on the beach for a few days before heading to the temples?

‘A taste of adventure’

Perhaps you have both always wanted to do something a little bit different and adventurous. Whether it is an African safari, white-water rafting, snorkelling, diving or trekking, make sure you both have the same idea of what you are letting yourselves in for. Your honeymoon is not the time to try something unusual which you may not like!

Adventure options include walking the Inca Trail in Peru, diving the Great Barrier Reef, Bungee Jumping in New Zealand, or hot-air ballooning over the Masai Mara.

‘A quiet relaxing time together’

If all you want is time together and the stress of long haul flights is not your scene, then a beautiful hotel in the Tuscan Hills or a small villa with private pool in Portugal might do the trick.

Top tips for organising your honeymoon

1. Decide first of all which type of holiday you’d both like – see above for suggestions – then compile your ‘honeymoon wish-list’ which will help narrow down the options.

2. Decide on an approximate budget. Remember there is a honeymoon out there to suit every type and every budget.

3. Always check what the weather will be like in the destination you are travelling to e.g. December is not the time to travel to the Mediterranean, it will not be beach weather in Cape Town in June and it will be the skiing season in New Zealand in August.

4. Allow 2-3 days after the wedding before heading off on honeymoon.  This will give you time to relax and enjoy any post wedding gatherings.

5. Ask for advice! A good travel agent will be experienced in organising special holidays and honeymoons and will have valuable advice and tips on what to do and what to avoid.

Mary Foyle is a Travel Counsellor who specialises in honeymoons and holidays for special occasions. For full contact details click here, and for the Travel Counsellors Ireland website click here.

This week we asked Emily Doran of Emily Doran Photography in Cork to give us her top tips on preparing for your wedding photographs. Of course a good photographer helps, so over to the expert!
Prepare to be amazed

I think preparation is key for each wedding day. I always try to visit the ceremony and reception venues, and especially the bridal party photo shoot location beforehand. That way I can really get the most out of a location and don’t waste any time on the day. Your photographer should be happy be to do this – if not, how well prepared will they be.

Expect rain!

Always have a PLAN B for photos if its raining. Nobody wants rain on their wedding day but c’mon, we live in Ireland, it rains between 150-225 days of the year! It’s not the end of the world if the weather’s bad either. I think rain can be very romantic… a couple kissing under an umbrella in the rain, how cute is that? So, don’t forget to pick out a few nice umbrellas, just in case. Also, reception venues often have great areas for interior shots.

Practice makes perfect

Are you are a bit freaked out about having to pose for photos and feel like you’re not going to enjoy it? A lot of photographers offer a pre-wedding shoot. It’s like a practice run for the wedding day. When possible, I meet up with the bride and groom at the wedding shoot location for an informal photo session. It gives the bride and groom a great idea of what to expect, try out a few poses, and you’ll be more relaxed on the big day.

Delegate

Family photos can be difficult to organise. I think it’s best to take these shots just after the ceremony, before Aunty Sheila disappears off to the pub and gets a bit leery. Make a list of the family shots you’d like taken. Give a copy to the photographer and also to groomsmen/bridesmaids or friends who can help round everyone up and have them ready to step into the picture while you’re busy shaking hands with the congregation as they leave the church/ceremony location.

Ready, steady…

Getting ready to go to the ceremony. If the photographer is calling to take shots of the preparations, have a quick look around. If there’s a pile of washing in the corner of the dressing room it could spoil a great photo, just shove it under the bed or in the closet! There’s no need to go crazy tiding though. Mess is good, once its wedding mess! Dresses and shoes can come in beautiful packaging, there’s no need to hide these away.

Old, new, borrowed, blue

It’s great to get shots of little details. The shoes, rings, flowers, cufflinks. If there’s something special like a card or gift from the groom, the best man’s notes for his speech, even a romantic text message, leave these out for the photographer so they can arrange and photograph them.

Don’t worry, be happy

Finally, but most importantly, don’t worry! Loads of brides tell me they hate having their photo taken or are worried about double chins, wobbly bits or just don’t like the way they look in photographs. What can you do to make your photos look good? The answer – don’t worry, be happy! Its the photographers job to get great shots. Just enjoy yourself, have fun, don’t take it too seriously. Hold on tightly to the one you love, kiss, giggle, dance, sing, whatever. Then, when you’re looking back at your wedding photos in years to come, you wont see those wobbly bits you worried about, you’ll just remember what a great time you had on one of the happiest days of your life.

A graduate of Limerick College of Art and Design and the New York Institute of Photography, Emily Doran now runs her own photography business in Cork, specialising in weddings.

Our first guest contributor to our Wedding series is Paula Cogan of Cork’s River Lee Hotel. Here Paula gives some excellent (and very impartial!) tips on picking your perfect wedding venue.

Weddings, particularly in Ireland have taken on a life of their own in the past 10 years. The days of sherry receptions and sandwiches and cocktail sausages have been replaced with champagne and strawberry receptions and chocolate fountains.

While it goes without saying that a wedding day is certainly one of the most important days of your life, there are definitely some practical tips which will allow you to plan effectively and not break the bank while doing so.

One great piece of advice that I was given prior to my own wedding was to consider who would you be willing to pay €60 a head for dinner for and then plan your wedding guest list accordingly.

When choosing a venue, again it is important to view as many venues as possible that meet your general criteria.  Consider what you and your groom have in mind.  Are you looking for a country retreat, Urban location or something with a twist? Compile a check list as to what will be key for your particular wedding e.g. outside space for photographs, plenty of bedrooms for the wedding guests or a ballroom with natural daylight.

The web has opened up so many avenues for research to the bride to be.  Check out each venue and their website.  You can download menus, packages and also check out blogs where you will get feedback from other brides as to venues that have worked for them.

You will then have a good idea of costs and the specific packages that the hotel can offer prior to meeting with the on-site wedding coordinator. In the majority of hotels, it is also worth meeting with the Chef and the Events Manager to ensure that everyone understands your vision for the day.  It is important that you feel comfortable with the staff in the hotel, as you will be liaising with them on a regular basis for a number of months.

Every hotel will be delighted to sit with you and provide a free consultation and answer any of your enquiries.  They will also be delighted to assist with recommendations for entertainment, decorations and many other items, as they will deal with suppliers on a daily basis. If you ring in advance to make an appointment, make sure to ask when the hotel is hosting a wedding and pop in to see the room and make sure that you are happy with how it looks.

Of course negotiate on price.  If you are not a good negotiator bring a mum or dad to do the negotiating for you.  Many hotels will offer substantial discounts for mid week weddings, or Autumn and Winter dates. Ask for a written quotation, as well as all terms and conditions before signing a contract.

At River Lee Hotel, we specialise in the smaller size wedding, and provide a bespoke wedding day, not as much of a cookie cutter wedding, that the larger traditional wedding hotels can provide. Some of the most special weddings that I have been privileged to have helped organise over the years, have been for smaller numbers, 50 to 60 people. The wedding couples were able to spend a little more on a superb menu, nice wines and were able to really get to chat with all of their guests and enjoy the day.

Paula Cogan is Director of Sales and Marketing at Cork’s River Lee Hotel and has enjoyed assisting wedding couples with their plans for over 14 years.