Big day to remember; fashion Reader Rachel Kershaw is attending a winter wedding - her parents' - and wants to look glamorous. SUHAINE STEVENS helps out

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Sept 29, 2007

Byline: SUHAINE STEVENS

WEDDINGS are exciting and wonderful occasions, but finding the perfect outfit can be very difficult indeed. This week we met up with Rachel Kershaw.

Her parents are having their wedding vows renewed today so we hit the shops to find an outfit which would make her the second most beautiful lady at the wedding... with her mum claiming the top spot as the gorgeous bride.

Rachel, 26, is originally from Rochdale, but has been living in the North East since she graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2004.

She now works as a creative writer and producer for a local radio station and spends her days making the on-air advertisements.

Rachel's parents, Lynn and Gordon, have been together for 28 years and decided to renew their wedding vows on Lynn's 50th birthday, which just so happens to be today.

When they first married, they had a small service in a registry office with just two witnesses, so this time they have decided to have a big celebration with all of their friends and family present.

Rachel is really looking forward to their special day, so we decided that some primping and pampering was the order of the day!

Our first port of call was J3 Salon in Sandyford.

After a consultation with owner James Wilkinson, Rachel had a full head of highlights in light blonde and golden blonde to give a natural multi-tonal look.

James then chopped into Rachel's hair to add texture and shape.

For glamorous make-up suitable for this special occasion, we turned to the Yves Saint Laurent counter in John Lewis, Eldon Square, where make-up artist Pat Thompson worked her magic.

Pat used a mixture of subtle charcoal and pink tones to enhance Rachel's eyes and used Perfect Touch foundation to give a flawless look.

To finish off the day in style we went to Royal Quays Marina and Rachel relaxed with a glass of bubbly on board a luxury motor cruiser from Cool Breeze Charters, while the photos were taken!

Special thanks to: Charlotte Dunlop and James Wilkinson at J3 Salon, Sandyford, (0191) 260 3331, Pat Thompson at Yves Saint Laurent, and Eileen Connelly, both John Lewis, Eldon Square, Leah at Cool Breeze Charters. For sea school and boat charters, please contact Leah on 07917 691 950 or log on to www.coolbreeze.org.uk.

Do you a deserve a makeover?

or know someone who does? Following a pampering our deserving reader will then take part in a fashion shoot. If this appeals to you, or you know someone who would be cheered up by a makeover, write to Jennifer Bradbury Evening Chronicle, Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NEI IED.

CAPTION(S):

MAKING A SPLASH - John Lewis Ghost prom dress pounds 120, complemented with a Finesse pearl necklace, pounds 25; PRETTY PATTERN - Coast dress, pounds 115, teamed with bracelet, pounds 8, from John Lewis; STRIKING IN SILVER - Principles dress pounds 79, John Lewis silver cuff pounds 10