Engaged Wedding Magazine - July 2009

engaged July 2009

IT’S ALL MINE

Booking out an entire resort for your wedding

PHOTOS GALORE

Beautiful wedding photos

REAL WEDDING

Read all about Natalie and Pele’s amazing day

ROSY GLOW

Use candles to add romance to your wedding

WEDDING PLANNERS

Find out why you should use one

HAIR ACCESSORIES Find the perfect hair accessory to match your look

PLUS: Our favourite YouTube Wedding Videos!

Notes from the Editors...

Winter is definitely upon us! Whilst we sit here with the heaters on full and rugged up with scarves and beanies, Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel have decided to tempt us with an article about booking the exclusive use of a resort in Rarotonga. Can you please please please invite us?

Back on home soil, we have a look at the opposite end of the scale: a Registry Office wedding. Now, many of you might think couples make this choice for financial reasons only, but it is also an extremely romantic idea!

Cover Credits: Photography: Photography by Marijke

Advertising Enquiries: Email: info@engaged.co.nz Phone: 09 8455925 Post: PO Box 137101, Parnell Auckland 1151 Hamilton Media Limited accepts no responsibility for material provided by readers or advertisers. All material supplied is assumed to have been provided with the consent of the appropriate copyright holders Engaged is subject to copyright in its entirety. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication unless initally specified otherwise.

Aside from that, there are articles on making your wedding glow with candles, romantic horse and carriage tips and an interview that tells you all you need to know about wedding planners!

Lastly, here’s your opportunity to join our team. If you would like to be one of our new brides for our diary section, please send us a photo of the two of you and a short (500 word) story about how you met and your plans for your wedding. We would ideally like brides who are getting married in 2010.

You can email us at deborah@engaged. co.nz. Look forward to hearing from you,

Tim & Deborah

REAL WEDDING Read all about Natalie and Pele’s amazing wedding day

42 DOING IT THE EASY WAY Registry office weddings are making a comeback

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HAIR COMES THE BRIDE Get the perfect hair accessories for your wedding Page 4 : engaged : July 2009

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ROSY GLOW The romance of candles

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Dirty Dancing UK - Julia and James First Dance

CAPTURING THE ROMANCE Pages of beautiful wedding photos

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Embed Hits YouTube <object width="425" h Our favourite weddingURL related videos http://www.youtube.c

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TAKE A STEP BACK Arrive in style with a horse and carriage

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ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALL MINE Book out an entire resort for your wedding

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Hair Comes the Bride How to choose wedding hair accessories

You can picture yourself in your dream dress holding those flowers you’ve always imagined walking up the aisle... But what are you wearing in your hair?

Wedding hair accessories are often left to the last minute to purchase, but are a vital part of your entire bridal look. From a traditional veil to an avant-garde hair piece, there are so many option out there it is hard to choose your perfect accessories. Here are some tips to help you finish your look for your big day.

Working with your dress and jewellery When choosing hair accessories for your wedding it is important to take into account how they will look with your dress and any other accessories you already have.

• If you have a lot of beading and embellishments on the top of your gown, try a simple necklace or no necklace, with a beaded hair piece to complement your gown.

• If your gown has beading and embellishments around your waist or

hips, try a more elaborate necklace with either a collection of beaded hair pins or a fabric flower that matches your gown fabric. â&#x20AC;˘ If you have a bit of colour in your gown, bring out that colour by wearing a coloured hair piece or beaded pins.

Veil or no veil?

The traditional wedding veil is a timeless classic, but many contemporary brides are choosing alternatives to veils, or trying newer styles of veils. â&#x20AC;˘ If you have always imagined wearing a veil on your wedding day, remember there are heaps of exciting options. Veils can be made in more than just white. Or try going vintage, with a box veil or face veil.

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• If you wear a veil, you can also wear other hair accessories. A great combination can be beaded hair pins worn in front of your veil and through-out your hair.

• Remember, you probably won’t wear your veil all day, so think about how you want your hair to look without your veil in it. You can always have a complementary beaded hair comb in your handbag, and swap it in when you remove your veil.

What works with what?

When buying hair accessories keep in mind what colour your hair is and how you want to wear it on the day.

• Up or down? If you are choosing to wear your hair out, don’t think that this means you can’t have hair accessories; a beaded comb to hold back a fringe, or some hair pins that suspend pearls or crystals down

through your hair. If you hair is up, try placing 10 or 20 small pearls or crystals throughout your hair for that subtle glamour, or wrap a gorgeous hair vine around your hair.

• Combinations: Be bold by combining two different hair accessories.

A hair band, vine or tiara with scattered single beaded hair pins, or a hair comb with complementary fancy hair pins.

What’s hot?

This season wow your wedding guests with the hottest hair accessories.

Hair accessory trends for 2009 are: • Hair Vines – A great alternative to a tiara, a hair vine can be worn at the front, side or back and can be woven into or around your up-do or out-do.

• Vintage – Box veils and face veils. Think finger curls and feather combs.

• Pearls – The classic pearl is back, and don’t just think it can be worn around your neck. Try individual pearls scattered throughout your hair or a Pearl Comb or Headband for that classic glamour.

Many thanks to Helena Dinnisen from Charis for her extensive contribution to this article.

Charis have New Zealand’s largest online range of bridal hair accessories all handmade here in NZ. View their extensive range of bridal hair accessories at www.weddingjewellery.co.nz.

All hair accessories shown are available online from Charis at www.weddingjewellery.co.nz.

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The Rosy

Glow

Like moonlight, candlelight conjures up images of romance. With the ability to add shine and sparkle to a room, candlelight is one of the most flattering lights, bathing everything in a soft, warm glow.

So how do you incorporate candles into your wedding? Read on....

Safety First!

It goes without saying that candles can be a fire hazard.

Accordingly, placement is extremely important.

Candelabras should not be placed in walkways or where there could be children running. Table candles should be placed in the middle of tables, well away from peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleeves! Likewise, be wary of placing candles too close to curtains or floral arrangements or near open doorways where gusts of wind could cause flames to jump.

Finally, beware of dripping wax and the potential for it to fall on someone or something, causing harm or damage.

Make sure that you talk with your venue before you purchase any candles to see where you will be able to place them and whether they have any restrictions on the type of candles that you use.

Safety talk over!

There are many ways that you can incorporate candles into your wedding, both at the ceremony and the reception: they can be used in your ceremony, on the tables as centrepieces at your reception, in free-standing candelabras around the venueâ&#x20AC;Ś the possibilities are endless. They are a great way to add an air of romance to any venue.

The choices for candles are endless. If you can think of a colour, you can probably find a candle in that shade. You choose a scent, and you can probably find a candle with that fragrance.

Different heights, shapes and sizes are all available, so it should be no problem incorporating them into any wedding theme (OK, so choosing from so many varieties is hard, but a girl loves choices, right?).

To ensure that the candle gives the desired effect and lasts for as long as you want, you need to think about is the material the candle is made from and the burn time of the candles. No one wants a puddle of wax in front of them at the dinner table! As burn times will vary due the quality of the candle, the size, the shape and the wick,

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it is best to buy a couple of candles and test them out before buying the whole lot.

Types of candle There are a number of different materials that candles may be made of. Each one has its benefits and disadvantages and may be more suitable for various uses.

Parafin: The most widely available type of candle is made from paraffin.

You will most likely find a greater range of candles available in this material. Quality does vary however so make sure you try them at home first. Softer candles (which have a higher oil content) burn faster than harder candles. Candles that are in jars are often softer than, for example, pillar candles.

Soy wax: Soy wax candles are fairly new to the market. Developed as an alternative to petroleum or paraffin based waxes, soy candles are plant based and produce a clean flame, with relatively no soot given off. They burn for longer and give a brighter flame, reducing the number of candles needed to give the same light.

They also burn at a lower temperature than paraffin, which means that candlesticks or containers won’t heat up as fast and be in danger of splitting or cracking. And then there are the arguments for and against the environmental and health advantages of soy candles – something we won’t go into here as the jury is still out!

Soy candles are more expensive than parafin candles, but this cost can be negated by the fact that they normally burn for longer than the parafin candles, which results in you needing less candles.

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Don’t block my view!

Another issue with placement of candles is thinking about whether they could potentially block anyone’s view. This applies to both candles on tables as well as free-standing arrangements.

Try to keep table candles at a height that guests can see over, rather than them having to peer around them to talk to others. Place candelabras around the edges of the room or behind tables so that guests can see the bridal table and the speakers.

Bees Wax: An alternative to soy wax is beeswax. Another natural product, beeswax is clarified from honeycomb cells, often soften with vegetable oil to make it easier to work with. Again, there is some argument that beeswax candles burn more cleanly that paraffin-based waxes, but this is something that can be affected by the quality of the paraffin used. It is said that beeswax candles have a warmer, yellower flame than paraffin. They also have a rich natural aroma.

The sweet smell…

As well as providing a beautiful light, candles can emit wonderful fragrances, helping to create a mood in itself. Aromatherapists believe that true aromatherapy candles can help to alter the mood of your crowd. Try lavender to relax, bergamot to uplift or for outside candles, or try citronella to keep those pesky insects at bay!

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Doing it the

Easy Way With the big â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122; upon us, many couples are seeking to dramatically reduce the cost of their weddings. Elopement and registry offices are now not dirty words: for many people they are an economic necessity.

There is also a romantic side to it: there is a growing trend for couples to focus on the marriage, not the wedding. Falling in love and marrying the man of her dreams becomes the focus instead of the big party and expensive dress.

The Basics: A registry office wedding takes place at, you guessed it, a registry office (please see www.bdm.govt.nz for contact details). The Registrar will solemnise your marriage in the presence of two witnesses.

Prior to the wedding, you need to apply for your marriage licence, stating which registry office will conduct your ceremony. You should make arrangements

with the Registrar for a time and date for the ceremony so this can be included on your application. Registry office weddings are conducted during normal office hours, which are Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm.

The date for the ceremony must be at least three days after you give notice of your intended marriage, but not more than three months after the marriage licence is issued.

As mentioned earlier, the marriage needs to be witnessed. If you do not have suitable witnesses, the registry office can provide these.

For further details on the legal requirements for marriages, please see the very first issue of Engaged.

For Richer or For Poorer: The cost of a Registry Office is NZ$170.00, which includes the ceremony and your marriage licence. Very cheap, when you consider the cost of hiring a venue and engaging a marriage celebrant.

But does a registry office mean a ceremony devoid of beauty and colour? Most definitely not! You are free to take your own flowers, wear your own gorgeous gown, have your man wear a suitably handsome suit, take cake! Or you can wear something both you and he feel comfortable in â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how about what you wore when you first met or when he (or she!) proposed? You get to make your own choices. The ceremony can be all you want it to be, without the cost.

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Shhh…

What about those who elope to a registry office to get married?

Before all the friends and family reading this groan in dismay about missing out, think about why a couple would elope.

Aside from the cost factor, often weddings can be a very stressful event. There is pressure from family members as to how it ‘should’ be done, the migraine-causing choices involved in guest lists and table seating, political choices about bridesmaids and what they wear… Of course, the majority of the time, it is not like this and some couples revel in making wedding-related decisions and choices. Others do not.

For those that find all the decision-making tiring, the focus can get taken up by minute details, and quite quickly, couples can forget why they are getting married: it’s not for the big party and pretty dress, it’s because they are deeply in love with each other. Many couples are choosing to concentrate on their loved one the entire day and on the marriage.

Sometimes this needs to come at the expense of upsetting parents and friends and the easiest way to avoid this is to romantically run away and elope! Whilst family members might be hurt, gently remind them why you choose this route and that they should love you and the love between you and your spouse.

But of course, friends and family do not have to miss out – there’s always the party or celebratory drinks afterwards (or when everyone finds out)!!

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Wedding Shows September

October

The Wedding Show 13 September 2009 Aotea Centre www.theweddingshow.co.nz

The Spring Wellington Wedding Show 4th October 2009 Overseas Terminal Function Centre www.thewellingtonweddingshow. co.nz

Taupo Wedding Show 20 September 2009 Great Lake Centre, Taupo www.taupoweddingshow.co.nz Christchurchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Wedding Expo 20 September 2009 Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch www.bridalshows.co.nz

R O M A N T I C A L B E RTO N A lovely centrally-located historic Auckland venue for weddings, civil unions, wedding photos and functions. Indoor and outdoor options available. web: www.alberton.co.nz email: alberton@historic.org.nz phone: +64 9 846 7367

Capturing the Love 21 : engaged : July 2009 Images by PhotographyPage

by Marijke - www.photographybym.co.nz

T

his month we have invited Marijke Smith to showcase a few of her favourite wedding images.

Marijke (pronounced Ma-Ray-Ka) has an amazing sense of timing, capturing the true character of those who she photographs.

Enjoy her stunning photos!

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Tessa & Warren (& Emma!)

Married at Huka Lodge, dress by Maggie Sottero

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Norah & Cory

Married at The Elms in Tauranga, dress is Norahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Page 25 : engaged : July 2009

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Theresa & Mathew Married in Tauranga at kiwi360

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Christal & Pierre

Married on Hahei Beach, dress by A La Robe Page 35 : engaged : July 2009

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Step Back in

Time

The slow plod of the horse in front of you. The sweet smell of fresh air and leather. The pure romance of all that is a horse and carriage ride. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really quite fairy-tale like.

But is it for you on your wedding day?

Arriving at your ceremony in a horse and carriage is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular entrances you can make. It adds an air of romance to any wedding and looks amazing.

As well as providing a unique form of transport, a horse and carriage also provides a fantasic backdrop for your wedding photos.

When considering whether a horse and carriage is right for you, there are a number of things to think about.

Point to point Before selecting a horse and carriage as your mode of transport to the ceremony or between the ceremony and reception venue, think carefully about the distances between the venues and the route that needs to be taken to reach those places.

Realistically, a horse and carriage should only be used where the distance to be travelled is relatively short. A distance of 20 kilometres between venues will not be practical, given that a horse and carriageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top speed is about 6 km per hour!

When planning your route, aim to avoid any main highways.

Check your intended route with the horse and carrige provider when booking it to make sure that there are no problems.

Keep it clean It is a great idea to inspect the carriage before hiring it to ensure that you will be happy sitting in it in your wedding dress. This will also give you a chance to see whether it will fit everything that you will be taking (including your future husband!). If you wish to have the bridal party ride in the carriage with you on the way to

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the photo shoot, check whether the carriage is large enough for this.

If the carriage is open to the weather, find out whether there is a roof available in the event that the weather turns nasty. Getting drenched on the way to your wedding isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the best way to start your day!

When considering your route, check to see if the road you will be travelling on has any unpaved stretch: old carriages arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as impervious to dust and mud as more modern forms of transport.

Animals allowed?

It pays to check with your venue as to whether they have any restrictions on allowing horses in the vicinity. Although this is rare, it is better to ask!

Lastly, and as with all vendors, make sure you check what the contract for hiring the horse and carriage covers. Is the hire by time or by trip? Is there a difference if you have a different number of people? What happens in the event of a rainy day?

Prices for a horse and carriage varies significantly depending on how long you hire it for and the size of the carriage. Some firms hire out by the hour (expect to pay from $250 per hour), while others have wedding packages (these tend to start from around $850).

A horse and carriage is an extremely romantic way to travel and, as long as you do your homework, you can have the fairy tale entrance of your dreams!

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Real Wedding

&

Natalie Swart Pele Tanuvasa 08.02.09

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Images courtesy of Instant Wedding Photography www. instantphotos.co.nz

Natalie and Pele were married on a scorching summer’s day at Pauanui beach in the Coromandel.

They had met 18 months earlier on a C-130 Hercules while accompanying 50 foster kids on a scenic flight over Auckland. Natalie works for Child, Youth and Family and Pele is a Loadmaster in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

After a whirlwind courtship of six months, Pele proposed at Iguacu in Parnell after a long trip away. Natalie admits that she pretty much forced his hand though. ‘The writing was on the wall from the outset so I simply told him that he had better hurry up or I would do it myself.’

Natalie picked up the turquoise bridesmaid dresses in a Hamilton mall the following weekend without consulting a soul. ‘I knew they would suit them all so I made an executive decision on the spot and I’m so glad I did – they looked gorgeous against the beach backdrop’.

After doing the rounds of the Auckland bridal shops, she despaired and decided to give her wedding dress a crack herself, so she borrowed her mother’s sewing machine and set to work.

The dress comprised a full A-line skirt made of cotton organza with a raw hem and a separate silk organza tie that wrapped tightly around the waist and knotted in the front.

‘I fell in love with cotton organza – it’s a stiff, matte transparent fabric that used to be used to line petticoats. It has a really cool sculptural quality about it and it’s just a bit different from all the standard shiny bridal fabrics out there’

Things didn’t pan out so well with the bodice so she enlisted the help of a dressmaker with a few weeks to go for that part. She picked out hydrangeas early on as her flower of choice, also for their interesting texture.

Pele picked out the boys suits in less than half an hour at Executive Suit Hire in Auckland - the first suit hire store they went to. ‘They all baulked at the bright pink ties when they first saw them, I think they really made the boys outfits in the end, and they agreed when they saw the photos.’

Natalie thinks the key is to try to try to have at least five points of difference that will make your wedding memorable and also to think of really special ways you can involve your friends and family.

‘My Uncle trained up to be a celebrant just for us. He was really warm, informal and just plain fabulous. This enabled us to tailor the ceremony to our hearts’ content too.’

Being a musician himself, Pele had some strong opinions about their wedding day music. In the end Natalie walked down the aisle to ‘Crash into Me’ by Dave Matthews Band and the ceremony wound up with ‘Make it Wit Chu’ by Queens of the Stone Age. They also enlisted the help of some of theatre friends at both the ceremony and reception and they were a huge hit.

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Along with the custom-made menu was a short ‘love story’, a humorous account of Natalie and Pele’s courtship and ‘points of difference’. ‘I was really happy with the way this turned out – it proved to be a very original and meaningful keepsake’, says Natalie.

‘While we had a few dramas trying to get our three year-old nephew to actually relinquish our rings on the day, he was so proud of his special role as ring bearer- every time he gives me a cuddle now he plays with my wedding ring and says ‘I gave you that Aunty’.

Natalie was adamant she didn’t want a cake so she worked closely with the Chef to design a really decadent plated dessert. In the end her mother did make a cake and it was really lovely, but they didn’t make a focal point out of it.

One of the biggest successes of the day was the photography. Nat and Pele will be eternally grateful to Isaac and Amber de Reus from Instant Photos in Hamilton. They were exceptionally detailed and creative with every shot they took and it shows.

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Happy Planning!

This month, we talk with Emma Newman, a wedding planner based in Christchurch. We were keen to find out why you would hire a wedding planner...

I guess the biggest question for everyone is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;why choose to use a wedding planner?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Can you outline the biggest advantages?

Definitely. Like any consultant, you are hiring their expertise in an area or field of work. The planner will have a very good handle on venues and all other suppliers. In my case, I have lived most of my life in the South Island and I have come to know this part of New

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Zealand extremely well. Matching the right supplier to the couple is the key. Whilst it is great if the couple have all the time in the world and the experience to make that decision, many do not have the time or knowledge of what is available. I can provide this service for them once I get to know the couple first.

Wedding planners can save the couple money too with honest feedback on where they should spend their money and effort. Personally, I also spend much time calming and confirming things. Some brides enjoy an emotional connection with me; some don’t need it as they have others in their life that are there for them. I like the variety in that some do and some don’t.

A wedding planner is definitely a great idea when the couple are overseas. I work a lot with or without anyone’s family or otherwise living here.

What services are generally provided? Do you have different packages or are your services provided on an hourly rate?

Many wedding planners will have different packages. I provide an initial advice, which involves a meeting or chats on the phone or via email to get a thorough idea of what the couple wants and then matching all the suppliers they will need. A great list is provided and then they can take it from there or I can then do bookings as another stand-alone package.

For example, I can be hired for the time of the initial advice to the week of the wedding or just for the week of the wedding and on the day. I also have an hourly rate if they have one-off issues they need help with.

Flexibility is the key for wedding planners. I would hate to think that couples are put off as they are scared they have to outlay a lot of money to a wedding planner who they can’t get rid of! Like any professional, wedding planners should provide a written proposal at the start which the couple formally confirm and then both parties should sign the terms and conditions.

As my by-line says: for a little or a lot of planning.

Do you help and work with couples’ budgets?

Definitely. I feel very strongly about making sure a couple enjoy their day whatever their budget. I have weddings on my books which range from $20,000 (and less) through to $100,000 +. I had a wonderful wedding and we had to save on certain things. A good wedding planner should be sensitive to budgets and not put another layer of pressure on couples to spend money.

Do you ever have those times when you just have to say ‘no’? For example, brides ringing you at 2am in the morning to say they just ‘don’t really think daisy motifs will work and that roses would be so much better?’. And then calling you the next morning when they have decided that daisies really are the right choice?

Yes. This is where my experience and intuition come in as you can work out how to help couples or brides who are getting very worried and perhaps not helping themselves with all the details. I am honest but never hurtful and I like to think a couple can work with me to make sure we can get through it all.

I am a detailed person at heart - you couldn’t do this job if you didn’t enjoy that part!

So I have no problem waking up in the morning and finding 20 emails from a bride who has a good day in London on her wedding planning. I work through them and enjoy bringing it all together.

It is often helpful if couples know what to ask a wedding professional. What would you suggest a bride and groom ask a potential wedding planner?

Always give them an idea of what style of wedding you are wanting (lots of guests with a traditional marquee wedding or small and simple), this way they can tailor their proposal better to your needs.

Request a formal proposal – you would ask for a quote from a plumber, so definitely get one from your wedding planner for your wedding!

Ask about experience and be specific. Have they had experience in that locality?

For example, I am always honest about whether I have worked with a certain venue or say in an area – it doesn’t mean the wedding planner won’t be ideal for you but I think that honesty is imperative. I undertook two wonderful large marquee weddings in Blenheim this year for the first time. The couples didn’t mind that I had not had experience in that area and I think they appreciated the honesty.

Check they don’t mind getting their hands dirty. I have cleaned toilets, swept beaches of dog poop through to laying marquee flooring… it’s not all glamour for a wedding planner. BUT don’t expect them to be your slave for the day! A wedding planner is there to delegate and oversee more than anything, so don’t just think that they are there to do all the jobs – a good wedding planner will discuss who will do each job on the day anyway.

Try to have a chat with them in person even if you live overseas. This person will be working with you a lot and you have to get on to some degree.

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Lastly, a little more about you. How long have you been a wedding planner? Is it something you always knew you wanted to do, or did it evolve from your experience with weddings and wedding professionals?

I have been a wedding planner for seven years. ClichĂŠd, but I loved planning my own wedding and I come from a background of a lot of hosting of events and parties. I was also an Honorary Consul for Uruguay in NZ for eight years and so I have always worked with overseas guests. I have a rural background in the South Island and know the island well. I love people and what makes them tick. I LOVE pretty things too and what is prettier than a happy bride and groom? I cry at most weddings I attend!

My last bit of advice: if you have a wedding planner in your area give them a call or email, you may be very pleasantly surprised how they can help. In New Zealand we are not here to be so expensive that only an elite few can afford us. I love the variety and believe I am very cost effective.

WEDDING PLANNING & CO-ORDINATION

Images co u r tes y of Debby Heard Photography

11 Highgate Avenue, Merivale Christchurch

Phone: 03 355 2733 Mobile: 021 678 877

w w w.enwed d i ng s.co.n z

It’s All Mine!

Booking out an entire island resort for your wedding

A

n island wedding in the South Pacific is all about tying the knot while standing barefoot on white sands, the tropical beauty a breath-taking backdrop to your magical ceremony. Curious onlookers are a blur as you gaze into your partner’s eyes…

But why have onlookers at all? Generally you would book your wedding ceremony and reception venue and expect to have it all to yourself. Does it need to be different at a tropical resort? Not if you choose to experience the sweeping romance of your own private resort and make it truly all about you.

Te Vakaroa Villas in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, is one such resort promoting the exclusivity and tranquillity of mixing with only friends and family at their stunning location on Muri Beach, arguably the best white sand beach on the island.

Rarotonga – Emerald jewel of the Pacific Once a massive volcano, Rarotonga is the youngest of the Cook Islands southern group, now covered in a thick tropical jungle and ringed by tropical reefs and lagoons. Long white sand beaches, majestic mountains and crystal clear lagoons make Rarotonga a unique slice of paradise.

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Te Vakaroa – Jewel of Rarotonga A luxury beachfront property, Te Vakaroa Villas offers six brand new one-bedroom and two-bedroom villas. A gorgeous resort for a wedding party, it boasts luxurious interiors, full modern facilities, satellite reception, flat screen TVs, surround-sound music, together with an infinity fresh-water swimming pool and spa pool overlooking Muri Beach.

Tonia Timmins, Wedding Coordinator for Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel, has enjoyed the hospitality of Te Vakaroa Villas. “The minute you step into your villa you feel the warmth and luxury of your surroundings. Every little detail has been thought of, from the feather-down pillows on your bed to the well-equipped kitchen. But why cook when there are fabulous restaurants at your doorstep? There’s even the option of delivery to your Villa”.

Tonia explains the advantages of booking out Te Vakaroa for your wedding.

Flexible to your every whim Booking out an entire resort really means it’s all about you, with all staff dedicated to ensuring your special day is perfect! From accommodation and dining to your ceremony location – everything is flexible according to your desires.

Te Vakaroa Villas will provide complimentary return airport transfers, a welcome fruit basket on arrival, complimentary tropical breakfasts as well as the use of kayaks, snorkelling gear and beach towels. The high-end equivalent of going to nana’s for a holiday! Book out the entire resort and Te Vakaroa Villas will even let you bring children.

How to plan when you don’t know how many guests will come Booking an entire resort can seem on the surface a risky business. What if you end up not having enough guests? What if you have too many?

Te Vakaroa has addressed this issue with its small size (accommodating up to 20 guests) together with its superb location – it’s within walking distance of neighbouring Villas; a great option for guest overflow.

Booking out an entire resort Booking out an entire resort requires more commitment and planning than a typical island wedding. For example: Te Vakaroa Villas Conditions: • Property exclusive use requires a minimum of 30 nights booked by the party;

minimum per Villa stay time to be five nights.

• A two night deposit per villa is required at the time of booking with full accommodation prepayment required one month prior to arrival.

Special Offer: Stay 5 Pay 4 nights available at Te Vakaroa Villas until March 2010

Marriage licence in the Cook Islands: Application for a marriage licence must be made in person to the registrar of Marriages in the Cook Islands on arrival, with a minimum of three days notice required for the processing of an application.

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A feast of dining choices Exclusive doesn’t mean isolated. Instead your exclusive resort becomes your hub for the array of delicious dining options close by.

Adjacent to Te Vakaroa Villas is Sails Restaurant and Bar, which overlooks Muri Lagoon and has a tempting variety of Cook Island food on offer. Te Vakaroa Villas’ great location means other fine dining restaurants are in the close vicinity giving you choices galore for your wedding reception. All details can be planned well in advance with catering ranging from canapés, set menus, island buffet or a gourmet BBQ. Or join family and friends for a wedding breakfast at Te Vakaroa Villas.

Seek out your dream wedding location Beach or island chapel? Both are idyllic and fitting places to marry in an island setting, but there are plenty of other options to ponder.

From Te Vakaroa Villas, wedding ceremonies can be planned for a range of isolated beach venues, gardens, on a mountain with sweeping scenic views, at a local church or even on a motu (the lagoon island in front of the resort).

Picture yourself being paddled out to the motu by an island warrior while your partner awaits your arrival on the sandy white shore of the isle.

“Across the lagoon is an uninhabited island called Koromiri Motu where the bride can be paddled out in a traditional vaka by an island warrior across the lagoon to her waiting husband-to-be,” explains Tonia. “How romantic to not only have a resort to yourselves but to say you were married on the sandy shores of a deserted island!”

‘Te Vakaroa’ means ‘long canoe’ - a fitting name as the Villas are sited where many of the large voyaging canoes were carved in pre-missionary days.

Truly be yourself It’s as if you are teenagers and your parents are away for the weekend – go wild! Let down your hair amongst friends and family: make a fool of yourself with silly dancing, rouse everyone for a midnight swim or party until morning.

Luxuriating in your private resort is a perfect chance to relax and unwind, revelling in your own uniqueness as a person and the celebration of the beginning of married life.

No doubt guests will also enjoy this special opportunity – who knows what everyone will get up to and what stories will be treasured of a very unique island wedding.

Three tips for booking out an entire resort: 1.

Count your guests

It’s always hard to anticipate exactly how many guests will be able to attend your wedding, even more so when you plan to get married in the South Pacific! Obtaining exclusivity comes at the cost of commitment so be sure that you will have the minimum number of guests required (and the minimum time stay) and that there are quality accommodation options close by if you have an overflow of guests.

2.

Budget in advance

Generally a resort will manage the risk of your exclusive booking by requiring a chunky deposit at the time of booking, with the remainder due in advance of your arrival.

Give your guests plenty of time to plan for this, or choose to pay the deposit yourself to secure the booking and accept payment from your guests later.

3.

Make the most of it!

This is your time to absolutely be yourself and revel in the luxury of everything being about you. Resorts are likely to be very flexible to meet your particular requirements, for example allowing children even if the resort usually excludes children.

Page 58 : engaged : July 2009

Weddings in Paradise

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Choosing Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel to organise my wedding travel arrangements was the first decision that I made, and by far one of the best! Tonia has such a broad range of knowledge in destination weddings, her advice was invaluable! From arranging packages for my family all over New Zealand to helping me choose the right resort for our wedding. We not only had the perfect wedding, we also enjoyed a fabulous holiday with our family that we will never forget.â&#x20AC;?

Stacey and Chris Morunga October 2008

Expert in Paradise!

Tonia Timmins is our Wedding and Honeymoon Expert, using her exceptional organisational skills, travel expertise and creative flair to design beach wedding and honeymoon packages. All wedding packages we feature are at resorts Tonia has visited, enjoying the hospitality and charm of island paradises in the quest to find the best Pacific wedding and honeymoon destinations.

Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel CRUISES & TRAVEL

8a Cleveland Road, Parnell, Auckland Ph 368 6804 www.bonvoyage.co.nz

Advertise here for a little as $160+GST for 6 issues!

Visit engaged.co.nz for more pricing

Leonie Smyth Mobile Make-up Artist

Coco a Berry invitation by design p

fishyleo@orcon.net.nz 021 389423

WEDDING STATIONERY

Save the date Invitations RSVP Menus Order of service Thank You cards and more www.cocoaberry.co.nz 021 2636 147 info@cocoaberry.co.nz

Create your own unique jewellery.

Custom designs with delight.

Beads for embellishment. www.beadsgloriousbeads.com 6 Kingsland Tce, Kingsland, Auckland - Phone: 09 815 1177

BEADS

JEWELLERY

CLASSES

Mob: 021 458 687 diana@outside-the-square.co.nz

Through the Lens

Showcasing Photographic Excellence

Photograph by VisionWorks Photography

Page 61 : engaged : May 2009

Amy Schulz Photography

Website: www.amyschulz.co.nz Email: AmySchulzPhotography@gmail.com Mobile: 0211556071 Wellington and Nationwide

Page 62 : engaged : July 2009

Rob Driessen Photography

Website: www.rdphotography.co.nz Master NZ Institute of Professional Photography

Email: rob@rdphotography.co.nz Phone: 04 479 7769 Wellington

Emma Hughes Photography Website: www.emmahughes.co.nz www.weddingsonwaiheke.co.nz Email: emma@emmahughes.co.nz Phone: 09 372 8729 Mobile: 021 051 3292 Waiheke and Auckland Qualified Member NZ Institute of Professional Photography

Page 63 : engaged : July 2009

Brett Lees, Unique Visions Photography Website: www.uniquevisions.co.nz Email: brett@uniquevisions.co.nz Phone: 09 817 7014 Mobile: 0274 913 061 Qualified Member NZ Institute of Professional Photography Auckland

Jan Maree Vodanovich Photography and Art Website: www.janmareeart.co.nz Email: jan@janmareeart.co.nz Phone: 09 236 8553 Mobile: 027 281 5921 Auckland, Franklin, Hamilton

Page 64 : engaged : July 2009

Jeremy Hill Photography Website: www.jeremyhill.co.nz Email: enquiries@jeremyhill.co.nz Phone: (09) 8263394 Mobile: 021 2279196 Auckland

Vicky Broadbent Website: www.vickybroadbent.co.nz Qualified Member NZ Institute of Professional Photography

Page 65 : engaged : July 2009

Email: broadbent@xtra.co.nz Phone: 021 633 404 Coromandel and Auckland

Photography by Marijke Website: www.photographybym.co.nz Email: mail@photographybym.co.nz Phone: 07 572 4085 Mobile: 021 560 509 Bay of Plenty and Nationwide

John-Paul Pochin Website: www.WeddingPhotography.co.nz Mobile: 021 623 207 Nelson, Top of South Island

Email: John-Paul@WeddingPhotography.co.nz

Page 66 : engaged : July 2009

VisionWorks Photography

Website: www.visionworks.co.nz Email: tim@visionworks.co.nz Phone: 09 845 5925 Mobile: 021 44 88 17 Auckland

Page 67 : engaged : July 2009

Oldies but Goodies iller

Wedding Thr

Here are some of our favourite weddingrelated YouTube clips... This should keep you amused for a little while!

If you have any that you would like to share, email the YouTube link to us at info@engaged. co.nz - if they are up to scratch, we will feature them in next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue.

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Next issue out 1 August!

Page 70 : engaged : July 2009