Wedding Hairstyles for Brides with Long and Short Hair

By Julie Ndagire

Every Bride's wish is to look her best on her special wedding day. To full-fill this, you have to choose the right hair do which will make you look great. Create your wedding hairstyles with beautiful hair accessories which matches your wedding dress our outfit. You can opt for an updo wedding hairstyle, a downdo wedding hairstyle a romantic hairstyle among others.

Take a look at some of the wedding bride's hairstyles you can choose from.

wedding hairstyles for blacks

wedding hairstyles for Africans

Wedding hairstyle

Simple Wedding hairstyle for Short hair

Romantic updo wedding hairstyle

Simple wedding hairstyle for long hair

updo wedding 

hairstyle

What is your Honeymoon Personality?

By Julie Ndagire

After months of planning and finally walking down the aisle, you might be shocked at your partner’s idea of a honey moon. Your personality types may affect your preference of honeymoon destinations. So before you rush to book a honeymoon location, each of you should think about what you would like. Do not concern yourself with finances. Let your mind wander! Think about what you would like to fill your days and nights with. This should help jog your memory;

What type of atmosphere do you see yourself stepping into?
• Do you picture a long stretch of beach?
• Acres of picturesque greenery?
• A lovely petite compound?
• A down to earth but clean and smart place?
• A posh city environment?
• Exotic, wild nature?
• Or it doesn’t matter as long as you have each other?
• Are there many tourists around?
• Are there many locals around?
• Do you see yourself interacting with others much?

Would you rather;
• Stay within the resot and taking advantage of only its facilities?
• Go on guided tours daily
• Stay indoors mostly?
• Create and go in search of your own entertainment?
• Or it doesn’t really matter?

What is more intriguing to you?
• A drink by the pool?
• A never before done activity like snorkeling?
• Do you visualize romantic evening strolls, holding hands and pinching each other?
• Or Romantic candle – lit dinner in the room?
• Or high energy party activities like gambling or dancing
• Or a sleep in with you lover?

Are you eating exotic foods and Pizza?
• Are you enjoying locale cuisine?
• Or it doesn’t really matter?

What would you pay extra for;
• A luxury room?
• A breathtaking view to die for?
• Execeptional customer care?
Awesome guided tours?

• What would you fear most on your honeymoon?
• Boredom?
• Being too secluded?
• Crowds?
• Being in foreign country?

What is most important to you?
• The room?
• The Service?
• The food?
• The facilities?
• The entertainment?

Armed with your answers to the above questions, both of you should agree whether to go to a beach resort, a safari in the wild, a swanky and posh location, a laid back gateaway, an adventure-packed location or a scheduled, romantic location specifically for honeymooners.

Wedding photos – A must-Have guide

By Betty Among

A wedding is a series of events revolving around the bride and groom. Therefore, this should be reflected in the photos of the day. For a day that will be cherished forever, it is essential that every detail of the day be captured on Camera.

Getting Ready for Wedding Photos.

A photographer is usually assigned to the bride’s side although the groom can also opt to have one. Here is a list of shots that should be taken from the bride’s side:

The wedding dress still on a hanger or on the bed or over the chair.
The bride finalizing on putting on the dress
The bride’s mother putting finishing touches to the bride
A close-up of the bride’s shoes.
A close-up of the bride’s bouquet
A close-up of the wedding dress details
The bride and bridesmaids putting on makeup
The bride hugging her parents and other family members
The bride with her bridal entourage
The bride touching up

The bride and her parents leaving for the ceremony.

From the groom’s side

Groom putting on tie
The groom all dressed up
Groom with parents
Groom with the rest of the family.

At the Ceremony Wedding Photos

The ceremony site outside (Church, Mosque, Registrar)
Guest walking into the ceremony site
The bride and the person giving her away entering the ceremony site
A Close-up of the bride before she enters the ceremony site.
The bride and the person giving away inside the ceremony site.
A photo of parents
A photo of the elders all settled in.
The maid of honour
The maids
The ring bearer with the ring
The groom waiting for the bride
The groomsmen
The officiant
The ceremony site inside
The ceremony musicians if any
The handover
The reading of the vows
The guests participating
The exchanging of rings
The kiss
Sigining of the marriage license
The couple on the steps outside the site
The couple with parents, friends and well wishers
The couple getting into the car
The bride and groom inside the car.


Wedding Posed Photos before the Reception (Studio or garden photos)
The bride alone in full length
A close-up of the bride
The back of her dress
A waist-up shot of the groom
The bride with bridesmaids
The groom with the best man
The groom with groomsmen
The bride with parents
The bride, groom and entire wedding party

The entire family together.

At the reception
Outside of the reception area
The guest inside
The wedding party arriving

The bride and groom greeting the guests
The décor
A close-up of the table settings
The high table

The serving area

The musicians or DJ table
The wedding cake
The gift table
Random photos of the couple
Several photos of guests
The speeches
The toast
The couple cutting the cake

The couple serving the cake
The couple receiving presents
The couple’s first dance
Guests dancing
The bride throwing the bouquet
The couple leaving the reception.


The list of guidelines can be explained or scaled down according to the couple’s religious affiliations, wishes or budget. The couple should communicate to the photographer their most important moments. To guide your photographer, you can write down a list of the shoots you need in the order they will happen.

Tip: Try taking photos before the function begins because the make-up is still fresh and the enthusiasm and energy in abundance.

8 Steps to Book your Honeymoon

By Alexa Ondra

Ever heard of the saying; “Proper prior planning prevents pathetically poor performance?” Most Ugandans are guilty of last-minute booking with no planning at all. This creates a headache for both the couple and the travel agents. Start planning your honeymoon along with your wedding.

Set a budget. Decide whether you would like to spend more on wedding or the honeymoon. How much money can you spend on the honeymoon? Remember it is possible to be in a particular location but choose the 5-star, 4-star, or 3-star option.

Lake Victoria Serena Hotel in Entebbe; One of the best honeymoon destinations in Uganda 

Decide what type of honeymoon to take. This is purely based on your personalities. Are you adventurous? Are you the type that prefers to be left alone? Are you water-loving? The choice is yours.

Seek advice from a travel agency. The world of tour and travel even within your own country is complex beyond your imagination. Things like connecting flights are best done by the pros else you end up spending four hours in transit while an agency would have sorted you out better.
With your budget and ideal vacation in mind, take your ideas and talk them over with a travel agent. A good agent should be able to produce a number of options that will be tailored to your preference and your budget.

Research your destination before sealing the deal; the internet, the tourist board or the travel agency can provide you with information. Check out activity ideas and weather.

Know the logistics before you go. Know the distance between your hotel and the other attractions you plan visiting during your honeymoon. Check out hotel amenities.

Find out about necessary vacations or diseases endemic to your preferred area for honeymooning. Visas, Taxes, Know it all.

Let everyone know you are on honeymoon. Hotel staff, restaurateurs, and drivers should be informed of the special occasion for your trip. Do not be shy, because divulging this information often results in special discounts, treatment or gifts.

9 month wedding planner for brides

By Betty Among

• Announce your engagement to family and friends
• Choose a wedding Date and a date for traditional obligations.
• Get cost estimates and work on the budget
• Choose a location and reserve your ceremony and reception site
• Compile a list of requirements for the ceremony. These may include blood test results and letter of consent from girl’s parents.
• Select venue and dates for wedding meetings.
• Select a steering committee.
• Begin a rough guest list
• Decide on who you would like to have as your attendants, especially your maid of honour and best man.
• Purchase a wedding planning book or magazine

Six to four months to the wedding

• Begin shopping for brides maid’s dresses
• Order your wedding goen and buy accessories like gloves, shoes and veil as well as undergarment that you will wear with it  (bring these to all fittings).
• Commence pre-marital counseling
• Choose and book service providers like Jewellerly, printer, caterer, cake baker, decorator, transporter and photographer/ video crew.
• Book your honey moon and verify that you have necessary travel documents including passports, Visas and possibly necessary inoculation.
• Book a room for your wedding night, if you will be leaving for your honeymoon the next morning

Four to two months to the wedding
• Make arrangements to move
• Arrange accommodation of out-of-town guests.
• Finalise your guest list an send out invites, this should be between three to four weeks to the wedding day.
• Purchase luggage and other travel necessities and attire for your honeymoon.
• Schedule an appointment with your beautician and hairdresser for facials and trials.

One Month to Go
• Purchase a guest book
• Plan an outing or dinner with your mum, dad, siblings or close friends.
• Plan to your wedding night room.

One week to go
• Contact your caterer with a final guest count.
• Print out a timeline of events for your wedding party and vendors. Incude contact information and mobile phone numbers
• Finalize details with all service providers
• Finalize your reception music and song list/needs.
• Schedule a final dress fitting
• Pack for your new home
• Pick up your wedding gown
• Pack for your honeymoon.

One day to the wedding day.
• Check your honey moon bag and add your toilet bag
• Treat your self to a day of pampering and sheer indulgence. While you’re at it, do your nails and if necessary part of the hairdo.
• Get your matron to pack an emergency kit which consists of
 Make-up
 Extra under wear
 Sanitary towels or pads
 Toilet paper
 Safety pins
 Comb and brush
 Lotion
 Disposable shaver
 Visine (or any eye Whitener)
 Hanky or tissues
 Needle and thread
 Scissors and razor baldes
 Painkillers, magnesium , anti running tummy, pills and band aid
 Snacks like Pringles
 Breath minths
 Bottled water
 Plus Whatever else you feel would come in handy for you

Steps Taken in Drafting a Wedding Budget

By Alexa Ondra

After the fairly dust has settled and the fact that you’re engaged to the most wonderful person in the world, there is now need to sit down to set some financial parameters and form a wedding budget.

There are ten most common steps when forming a budget and these include:

Step 1: Have a real long chat with your partner. Discuss what kind of wedding you both want, your dreams, visions, indoor or outdoor, laid back, buffet among others.

Step 2: Make a list of what you’ll need. Each wedding is different but if you want a standard wedding, get the budget from friends who have been there, or wedding meeting minutes to see the list. You don’t have to follow it though, feel free to create your own traditions.

Step 3: Priotise this list. What means the most to you? Is the cake more important to you than music? Select what you want to be handled first.

Step 4: If you’re not fully funding your own wedding and introduction ceremony, meet with friends and or Key friends to get a picture of what they are willing to contribute. Be nice even if they are not contributing financially.

Step 5: Analyse your own finances. How much do you have available or how much can you make available in the near future without going broke? Bear in mind that average Ugandan wedding costs sh15m and above.

Step 6: Come up with a cash plan to raise what you need whether on a personal note or from friends.

Step 7: Start vendor window shopping. Compare prices and do a full background check using other couple’s experiences.

Step 8: Go back to the drawing board; compare estimated costs versus real costs found and adjust accordingly or re-plan.

Step 9: Appoint a finance manager specifically for the wedding incase you are poor at financial management. It has to be a trustworthy person with a knack for accounts.

Step 10: Review your budget after purchases every two days to make sure you’re on track.

How To Look Beautiful on Your Wedding Day

By Julie Ndagire

It is every bride’s dream to look her Most beautiful on the special day but as we all know, weddings come with a lot of preparations like choosing a decorator, caterer, venue etc and so if one doesn’t have a wedding planner, it is easy to forget yourself until it is too late.
Do you want to get in shape? Do you know what hairstyle you want? What abot the make-up? Take time to plan for your beauty regimen ahead of time so that you look your greatest on your wedding day. Make a time table.

6 months to go
Start exercising, jog three times a day, eat right, go to the gym twice for aerobics classes.
It is around this time that you should visit a skin care specialist especially if you have problems with your skin.

3 months to the Wedding
If you want glowing skin on your special day, start a good cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine. You should start at this time to have monthly facials. It is advisable for the bride to get at least four facials before the big day.

If you haven’t got a hairdresser by this time, you should start looking at potential salons. You also need to book in advance because with the number of people getting married these days, you may have to book months before to avoid disappointments. Most salons require 50% deposit on booking.

You should also chose a make-up artist at this time and try on the make-up you want to use on your wedding day.

1 month to the wedding
This is the time to make the final decisions on hairstyles and make-up.

2 weeks to the wedding
Get your final hair cut. No more experimenting at this stage. Continue to eat right, load up vegetables, fruits and reduce on sweets and fatty foods.
Drink lots of water to re-hydrate your skin even as you make last preparations for the rest of the wedding ceremony. Continue to exfoliate and moisturize.
Confirm appointments with your salon and make-up person.

1 week to the wedding
Get a bikini line and underarm wax. Do not drink too much at the Kasiki or any other parties before the wedding because alcohol can have lasting effects on your skin.

Day before the wedding
Drink lots of water
Get a final facial, a professional pedicure and manicure, Take a long, relaxing bath. Get your hair washed and treated.

On Your wedding day
Arrive early at the salon to give the glamour squad enough time to work on your and your bridal entourage.

Wedding Cakes

There are various types of wedding cakes one can opt for. Chocolate, rosy flowered, castles, fruit shaped among others.
Below are some shapes of wedding cakes

Rossy-wedding-Cake

Castle-Shaped-wedding -Cake

Flowerly-Wedding-Cake

Lady shaped wedding  Cake

simple white wedding cake

How to Trim Your Wedding Invitation List

Balancing your budget against your buddies is painful, but it is essential to trim the fat so that you do not go mad on account of happiest day of your life.

The main rule about cutting the list is not necessarily cut by name, but by having objective standard for inclusion or exclusion. For example you could decide: “No children or dates invited.”

Here are suggestions on how to cut the list;
• First make you’re A- list which consists of all essentials, i.e. the people who must be there
• Next, make the B-list which contains of not very essential, but sort of essential people like coworkers.
• Decide whether or not you will invite children.
• Ask single people not to bring dates.
• Do not invite people simply to reciprocate for invitations or gifts that they’ve given to you.
• Cut out anyone you haven’t spoken to in a number of years
• Cut all co-workers you do not socialize with outside of work
• Cut the heavy drinkers or those prone to mannerlessness and any anti-social behaviour

Thing to note down
In the face of excitement, many a bride /groom casually invites the world to their wedding; be careful you might be careful you might be brewing an emotional storm, an economic meltdown or both.

Be flexible in the early wedding planning stages. You might find that your essential guest list is smaller or bigger than you’d expected. This will affect other wedding planning decisions.

Don’t think that small weddings are boring. One of the most memorable weddings I’ve ever been to had only 60 guests but the joy that filled that tiny house was all we needed to forever cherish their day.