Following on to my post on January wedding fairs in the Cheshire area, here's the February list: 

4-5th February 2017 - Bride: The Wedding Show, Tatton Park, Knutsford, 10am - 5pm, £10 advanced ticket or £15 on the day

12th February 2017 - Crewe Hall Wedding Open Day, Crewe, 11:30am - 3:30pm, 01270253333

12th February 2017 - Cheshire Wedding Fayre, MacDonald Craxton Wood Hotel and Spa, Chester, 12noon - 4pm, Red Event, catwalks at 1:30pm and 3pm

19th February 2017 - Rookery Hall Showcase Day, Nantwich, 10-4pm, 01270610016

19th February 2017 - The Park Royal Open Day, Stretton, 11am - 3pm, 01925730706

19th February 2017 - Designer Asian Wedding Fair, Thornton Manor, Thornton Hough, 11am - 6pm, 01513531155, catwalks at 12noon and 4pm

26th February 2017 - Designer Wedding Fair, Thornton Manor, Thornton Hough, 11am - 6pm, 01513531155, catwalks at 12noon and 4pm, £5

The next Blue Lily Magnolia handmade collection is a range of wedding garters. Made with stretch and non-stretch laces, a bit of blue fabric (for Something Blue of course), beads, crystals and ribbon, the bridal collection will be available by the end of January / beginning on February 2017. So, in light of the current work in progress, I thought I'd check out what the Internet has to say about them for a little bit of fun trivia:

A long long time ago... 

... before the advent of elastic materials, garters were worn just under the knee. 

... both men and women used to wear garters commonly. 

... they were sometimes used by ladies to carry small valuables, in place of a purse. 

... they used to be removed from the bride by the groomsmen as a prize at wedding ceremonies. 

Some time ago... 

... in 1888 precisely, during the first long distance automotive journey, Mrs Benz's garter was used to insulate a broken wire of the vehicle, invented of course by Mr Benz. 

... at weddings, taking the bride's garter has some origins in the thought that taking an article of clothing of the bride would bring good luck.

... some believed that removing the garter was symbolic of deflowering of the bride.  

... garters used to be worn at proms (mostly in the US, in the 60s and 70s), and if given to the date as a souvenir, it would be hung from the rear-view mirror. 

And today... 

... thankfully, groomsmen no longer rush to get it off a bride. Instead, it is taken off by the groom and tossed at the groomsmen. A bit more acceptable I say. 

... the groomsmen who catches the garter is traditionally supposed to put it on the leg of the lady who catches the bridal bouquet. 

... according to superstition, catching the garter signifies that that person will be next to be married. 

... with a few exceptions, most women's garters are considered non-functional, and worn only as a tradition, fashion or for dressing up, but...  

... men's garters are still available to hold up socks. Although they're not a very common occurrence. 

... prom garters are still going strong in some areas in the US; the garters are worn in a colour and style that matches the prom dress. 

... a 'garter and tie' dance at a prom is followed by the girl exchanging her garter with her date's tie, in a public designation of them as a couple. 

So, whether you believe in tradition, superstition, or simply like the idea of wearing a garter, having a garter or tossing a garter for the fun of it, I hope that this little read has been interesting! Come back in a couple of weeks to check out what we have in store!! 

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Blue Lily Magnolia designs and makes bridal accessories, including bespoke items in colours and designs of your choice. My next collection is out end of January/ February 2017, a range of ivory and blue bridal garters, perfect as a gift to the bride-to-be for hen dos and hen nights, or even to build up your wedding lingerie stash. The collection will be available on my Etsy shop. 

Source of trivia info: Shamelessly, Wikipedia :) 

December is the most popular month for engagements, says most of the wedding surveys out there. A huge congratulations to you if you've just been recently engaged over the festive period! It so happens that January and February are generally heaving with wedding fairs - perfect for getting inspiration, making some contacts, and taking that first step towards committing to that big day. Here's a list of January wedding fairs and open days in Cheshire, for those of you in the area:

5th January 2017 - Grosvenor Chester Wedding Open Evening, Chester, 4:30pm - 8pm, 01244324024

7th January 2017 - The Park Royal Open Day, Stretton, 11am - 3pm, 01925730706

7th - 8th January 2017 - Carden Park Wedding Open Weekend, 11am - 4pm, RSVP event, includes a private show round, 01829731506

8th January 2017 - Rossett Hall Wedding Showcase Day, Rossett,, 11am - 3pm, 01244571000

8th January 2017 - Capesthorne Hall Wedding Open Day, Macclesfield, 12noon - 4pm, 01625861221

8th January 2017 - Crewe Hall Wedding Open Day, Crewe, 11:30am - 3:30pm, 01270253333

8th January 2017 - Rookery Hall Wedding Fair, Nantwich, 12-4pm, County Brides, 01942206446, Catwalk Shows at 1pm and 3pm

8th January 2017 - Wychwood Park Wedding Fair, Crewe, 01270829222, 11am - 3pm, KeeDays, Catwalk Shows at 12noon and 2pm    

8th January 2017 - Sandhole Oak Barn Open Day, Congleton, 12-4pm, 01260540007, Wedding ceremony showcase at 2:30pm

8th January 2017 - Oak Tree of Peover Wedding Fair, Knutsford, 12-4:30pm, 01656723337

10th January 2017 - Thornton Manor Open Evening, Thornton Hough, 5-9pm, 01513531155

11th January 2017 - Wedding Taster Evening, Crewe Hall, Crewe, 01270253333

19th January 2017 - Capesthorne Hall Open Evening, Macclesfield, 5:30pm - 9pm, 01625861221

22nd January 2017 - Willington Hall Wedding Fayre, Tarporley, 11am-3pm, KeeDays, 07738058656

22nd January 2017 - Vale Royal Abbey New Year Wedding Showcase, Northwich, 11am - 4pm, 01606301291

22nd January 2017 - Shrigley Hall Hotel Wedding Fayre, 11:30am - 3:30pm, County Brides, 01942206446. Catwalks at 12:30pm and 2:30pm

22nd January 2017 - Rookery Hall Showcase Day, Nantwich, 10:00am - 4pm, 01270610016

29th January 2017 - The Cheshire Vintage Wedding Fair, Chester Racecourse, 10am-4pm, Decorative Fairs, 01516538606, £3

29th January 2017 - Capesthorne Hall Wedding Fair, Macclesfield, 01625861221, 11am-3pm, Brides Up North Wedding Fairs, 

29th January 2017 - Winter Wedding Fayre, Crewe Hall, Crewe, Country Brides, 11:30am-4pm, 01270253333. Includes a wedding ceremony rehearsal at 2pm, catwalks at 1pm and 3pm.