a nice little beginning, a peak in the middle

Karen will enthuse about the ‘daring’ Louis Vuitton Monogram Idyllecouples she has worked with, such as the ‘unique’ pair who broke into a hip-hop routine mid-Foxtrot, or the ‘very special celebrity’ she recently helped create a ‘Frank Sinatra meets Bollywood routine’. But for classic wedding dance choreography, she adopts a tried and tested TV entertainment formula: ‘a nice little beginning, a peak in the middle and a great end’. Make your dance as complicated as you like, but this structure should be your foundation.

Years of delivering stellar performances, both on the punishing professional dance circuit and on live TV shows with global audiences, has not diminished Karen’s infectious sense of romance about the magic of partner dance: ‘That moment on the Strictly dancefloor is all about the couple. And that’s what a wedding day is about too –the glamour, the beauty, all eyes on you’. Revel in it.sew bra hooks on the inside of your dress, Karen suggests, allowing you to add temporary dress straps while you dance. If you have a train, have a drawstring added so that you can gather it up into a romantic bustle, leaving your feet free for fancy footwork.

if you’re still struggling to justify adding learning to dance to your ever-increasing wedding to-do list, remember that dance practice could chip away at those pre-wedding fitness goals. Dance is great for an overall workout, and particular styles will also target specific body areas. For toned arms go Latin: ‘the Cha Chas and the Salsas typically involve lots of arm decorations’, says Karen. Equally, ‘the classic ballroom top line, which requires holding your arms up at the right position, and keeping those two elbows in the same spot throughout, is a real burner’. Tango and Jive are ‘perfect for lower body shaping’ as the constant knee bending ‘really works your thighs and buttocks'.

When you commission a designer, it’s vital that you have a clear idea of what you want. Start by building up a picture of your jewellery style, collecting tear sheets from magazines and refining internet searches by using specific keywords, such as “Art Deco rings”. Pinterest is a great way to track your inspiration (my own Pinterest boards are saved under headings such as “rose gold” or “organic style rings”). Be sure to cast the net wider, though, as details of necklaces or earrings can inspire you too. For one woman I helped, an art nouveau flower illustration proved key in helping her designer understand what she was after.’

The Proposal should be accompanied by The Ring, a growing number of men are bottling it, choosing to propose with a stand-in, while their beloved selects her dream ring at a later date. Less romantic, yes, but Louis Vuitton Monogram Idylle Canvasever so handy if you’re the picky sort.