Engaged Wedding Magazine - June 2009

engaged June 2009

REAL BRIDE Bec’s gorgeous wedding photos

FLOWERS

Find out what they really mean

PHOTO BOOTHS

The new phenomenon sweeping New Zealand weddings

CELEBRATE THE CELEBRANT

Choosing your celebrant

FASHION GALORE

Pages of wedding fashion

PERFUMES

Tips for choosing your wedding perfume

Chocolate Promotions Say it with chocolate

Leave your guests with a delicious memento of your special day.

We specialise in personalised bitesize portions of mouth-watering mint chocolate with your own unique message or image.

The perfect finishing touch to your table setting.

When friends/family are unable to attend your special day.

When family/friends come to view your wedding gifts and photos.

Ring us for a free sample

09 - 2711042 www.chocolatepromotions.co.nz

Cover Credits: Chad & Anais, photographed by Amy Schulz Photography

Speaking of vows, we have the low-down on how to choose and what to ask a celebrant. Your celebrant is an extremely special part of your day and you want to make sure you get it right!

There are also articles on choosing the perfect perfume, the history of wedding traditions, and what those flowers really mean.

To top it off, we have a massive amount of wedding fashion, including over 20 pages of photos from the fashion catwalk at The Wedding Show.

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.

Tim & Deborah

Notes from the Editors...

And the last of our brides gets married!

The absolutely stunning Bec and Phil got married in fine environmentallyfriendly style. You can read all about it this month, including the details of their very special vows and menu. Oh, and don’t forget the delicious photos!!

IT’S IN THE DETAIL Beautiful showcase from Amy Schulz

22 CELEBRATE THE CELEBRANT Tips for choosing your celebrant

38

18

PHOTO BOOTHS The new phenomenon sweeping New Zealand weddings

Page 4 : engaged : June 2009

6

50

REAL BRIDE Rebecca and Phil tie the knot

CAT-WALK BONANZA Beautiful fashion from the catwalk

PERFECT PERFUMES Choosing the perfect perfume for your wedding

42

table of contents Page 5 : engaged : June 2009

Page 6 : engaged : June 2009

The

Wedding

with a

Conscience

Rebecca and Phil tell us all about their incredible wedding day

Images by Danielle Allison - danall@hotmail.com

Probably one of the best things we did was to write down all the things that made our day amazing while it was fresh in our minds. After the wedding all I could think of was what went wrong, after spending so long planning the day.

On the honeymoon, whenever the ‘not quite right’ thoughts popped into my head, I would run through the list of good things we wrote down, and the smile was back on my face. Now after a few weeks, and when the honey moon is all over, all I can remember is the good things about the day. I would like to share them with you.

I was shell shocked with excitement and anticipation as I arrived at the venue to see the boys waiting on the jetty where the ceremony took place. Seeing how good everyone looked and how it all came together brought tears to my eyes before the ceremony even begun. I wanted to look at Phil from a distance, but I also wanted for me to be a surprise too, so I kept out of sight. We luckily had two wonderfully-behaved flower girls, my four year old cousin and two year old niece, walking down the aisle throwing flowers and presenting the rings, and three beautiful bridesmaids who set the scene for my entrance.

Page 8 : engaged : June 2009

Having my mum walk me down the aisle was a wonderful way to have someone to share and support the long walk to Phil. I was able to share all my feelings of excitement and nervousness as we held hands tightly during the walk.

Phil and I put a lot of time into our vows and really enjoyed sharing them with our family and friends and I’m sure they will be still meaningful to us in the years to come.

I think putting the ring on Phil’s finger was when it really hit home for me.

Although we knew it was something we were going to do, it is such a great symbol of the love we share and the pride we have that we found each other and will spend the rest of our lives together.

Our reception was intimate with nearly 70 people attending. It was just small enough that I felt like I had a chance to talk to everyone there. The

Page 9 : engaged : June 2009

food and wine was amazing and everyone loved it. Our menu was a set degustation menu of all local produce and matching local wines which minimised the wastage and kept the ‘food miles’ as low as possible.

Each guest received a tree as a gift from us and during my speech they were reminded of the trees’ significance in capturing carbon. I also thanked all our guests who offset their travel to the event, as some people came as far as from London.

Together all our family and friends ended up donating over $1500 to our favourite charities via the Karma Currency gift registry we had set up.

It is such a good feeling that we were able to give a little back to the community as part of our celebrations.

Page 10 : engaged : June 2009

Rebecca & Phil’s Menu Fingerfood

To be served with Moo

n Sparkling Marsanne

“2002” & Mitchelton Preece Sav Blanc “2007”

Smoked Chicken, Avoc

ado & Cucumber Crue

ts

Pumpkin, Fetta & Spin

ach Pastry Triangles

Rare Roast Beef Brusch

etta with crisp lettuce

Individual Mediterrane

an Tartlets with Char Gr

topped with caramelise

d onion

illed Capsicum, Eggplan t, and Semi Dried Tomato

Individual Margarita pi

zza’s with fresh Mozza

House made crusty brea

rella, Cherry Tomato &

ds on table accompani

torn Basil Leaves

ed with Nagambie Go ld Premium Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Entree To be served with Tahb

ilk Chardonnay “2005” Chicken Filo Pastry Parce l – Roasted breast of Ch icken with sautéed Baco Spinach encased in flaky n, Leek & English Filo Pastry served on a bed of dressed Snow Pe a Sprouts garnished with a Roasted Red Ca psicum Coulis

Main 250g Prime Angus Beef

To be served with Mitc

helton Shiraz “2006”

Fillet slowly roasted se ved on Creamy Garlic Mash with crisp Snow Peas and Beans drizzled with a Rich Beef & Red Wine Jus

Dessert

To be served with Mon ichino Botrytis Semillo n “2004” Wedding Cake – 3 tiers - Chocolate Ganache, White Chocolate noug at, limoncello To be served as shared Locheilan Farmhouse ch

Cheeses

platters with Monichin

o “2004” Carlo Vintag

e Port

eeses including Kaarim ba Soft, Camembert & Blue served with crack Crumbly Stilton style ers, fresh grapes, dried apricot & our famous quince paste

Page 11 : engaged : June 2009

Another thing that made the day not just all about us was asking family members to bring along their old wedding photos to put up on the walls at the reception venue. It was great to have a bit of family history at the reception and also a talking point, and of course everyone was very curious to see the original version of my Aunty’s wedding dress that I wore.

We really feel all the effort that went into planning the wedding paid off.

Although it was quite hard work leading up to the event, we had the honeymoon to look forward to and then really appreciated it when we were away. We tried to involve as many family and friends in the various parts of the ceremony and reception as we could which made it a bit more special, and doing all that we could to minimise the environmental impact meant we could celebrate with a clear conscience. We are really pleased that our wedding day was a strong reflection of our values and we were able to share it with people we value most.

Page 12 : engaged : June 2009

Our Vows Phil

I ask everyone here today to witness that I, Phillip Luke Hendy, take you, Rebecca Isabel White, to be my lawful wedded wife.

I promise that from this day forward I shall be open and honest with you and will refrain from closing up on you.

I shall make time to share with you because I love you and enjoy sharing time with you. However I shall also encourage you to spend time by yourself and with others so you are able to continue your dear friendships with others and achieve your own goals. I shall acknowledge the love we share on a daily basis and do my part in ensuring that every night for the rest of our lives we will both go to sleep happy that we are together.

Rebecca I ask everyone here today to witness that I, Rebecca Isabel White, take you, Phillip Luke Hendy, to be my lawful wedded husband.

I promise to support you and give you time to do things that are important to you. I promise to pay attention when you are trying to teach me things. I promise to be open with my feelings and will remember that you are always on my side.

I promise to make time that we can spend together as a couple and remember the reasons we fell in love. I love your smile and want to keep you smiling everyday for the rest of our lives. Let us be friends and lovers and grow old together.

Ring Exchange

The circle of a ring which has no definite beginning and is without end or base is a symbol of a love that is for eternity for Rebecca and Phil. Just as they feel like they have always known and loved each other, these rings will be a symbol of their undying love, for the rest of their lives.

Phil Rebecca, accept this ring as a symbol of the love we share and a constant reminder of the vows we have made. This is my promise that I shall continue to love you and be proud that you are my wife.

Rebecca Phillip, accept this ring as a symbol of the love we share and a constant reminder of the vows we have made. This is my promise that I shall continue to love you and be proud that you are my husband.

Page 14 : engaged : June 2009

Page 15 : engaged : June 2009

Page 16 : engaged : June 2009

Page 17 : engaged : June 2009

Behind the

Curtain This month, Engaged talks to Chris Dillon of Dillon Photography and Simply Photos about the newest addition to his stable: The Little Black Photobooth

E:

Photo booths are a relatively new thing for weddings in New Zealand. Can you tell us a little more about them and why you decided to introduce them to the New Zealand wedding scene?

CD:

Yes, photo booths are new to New Zealand, but are already an international phenomenon at weddings and events. The photo booth concept has been around for years but the old style booths were very slow and the prints took a long time to dry. Modern technology has sped up the process Page 18 : engaged : June 2009

to a point where most clients have not even left the photo booth before their prints are ready and dry!

One thing that hasn’t changed though is the sheer entertainment and excitement of popping behind the curtain and making instant memories. The curtain has a strange way of removing people’s inhibitions.

Above all, and we can tell by the laughter, it is just a fun experience for all.

E: How does it work?

CD:

I think we’ll keep away from the technical side of things so I don’t bore your readers to death. Basically our clients sit down in the booth (there is seating for four but the record so far is eight), they can then choose between black and white or colour with a simple touch of a button and, using the LCD screen in front of them, start striking poses. There are four poses per shoot with a small gap between, and for those who have had too much champagne, the whole process is text and voice guided. It really is that easy. Oh yeah, for those who are completely technophobic (or tipsy - I’m being polite) our attendant is there to help anyone who may need help.

E:

What are the advantages of having a booth at the wedding?

Wouldn’t disposable cameras on the table be just as good?

CD: Without being rude, I really think

disposable cameras have had their time. The shots aren’t always great, most get taken home by guests and lost forever and even if you manage to hold on to them the printing costs are not cheap (not to mention you have to wait until the next day to see if anything came out!). Little Black Photobooth (LBPB) has five distinct advantages over disposable cameras: 1. The prints are instant.

2. We always print two copies, (one

for you, one for your guests) 3. Every LBPB package includes unlimited shots and prints.

4. You can get a copy on DVD of every shot at the end of the night.

5. Every wedding package includes a Keepsake Album to hold the couples’ Funstrips and allow their guests to write comments and wishes.

6. It is just a heck of a lot more fun.

Ok, that was actually six!

One other thing... Not only do the Funstrips (that’s our name for the prints) replace disposable cameras but they are an instant keepsake for you AND your guests. Forget chocolates or sweets as a parting gift, the Funstrips will last a lot longer than the trip home.

Every Funstrip has the couples name and wedding date at the top. By the time you take away the costs of disposable cameras and ‘goodie

bags’ you will see LBPB is actually cheaper. You do not need to buy a ‘guest book’ either as our Keepsake Album is already included in every wedding package.

E:

And of course, we have to ask about the disadvantages?

CD: You can’t fit the photo booth in your handbag.

E: What quality are the photos?

CD:

Great question. And the answer is “we believe the quality of Little Black Photobooth ‘Funstrips’ to be the best available anywhere in the world”. We are not making this statement lightly. When we first decided to look at starting our photo booth company as an

extension to our already successful wedding photography studios: Dillon (www.dillon.co.nz) and Simply Photos (www.simplyphotos.co.nz) we trialled almost all of the photo booths currently available overseas and found the quality of print very disappointing. This is the main reason we decided to design, develop and build our own brand of photo booth. Little Black Photobooth was born. We have already had interest from hotel chains in purchasing our booths. It is very exciting.

E:

Can you Enlargements?

CD:

get

re-prints?

Yes, the DVD of every shot allows couples to enlarge and reprint the photos. Not only that, if you would prefer more than two copies on the night we can programme the booth to suit your needs.

Page 20 : engaged : June 2009

E: Does the booth also take video?

CD: No, that is what videographers are for. We are going to video a function in

the very near future to show clients the booth in action (it will be on the website) but the Funstrips really are enough. There is an old saying by Cesare Pavese, “We do not remember days, only moments”. This is a saying that I have embraced throughout my professional wedding photography career. It is the same for the LBPB.

E: What sort of costs are brides and grooms looking at?

CD: Two hour of unlimited shots and Funstrips, the Keepsake Album, the booth

delivered and set up in Auckland (the greater Auckland area does have a small delivery charge), and our photo booth attendant costs $795. Extra hours can be added to any package.

Compare that to ten disposable cameras ($450), 80 goodie bags ($400), and a guestbook ($100) and you can really see the value. Did I mention it is also brilliant fun and a real source of entertainment for all of your guests? Flower girls to Nanas, the Little Black Photo Booth has no age limits.

E: Is this an Auckland-only service?

CD:

Absolutely not! We are well aware there is more of New Zealand past the Bombay Hills and even north of the Harbour Bridge. (We’ve been there.) Of course, we are Auckland-based and so we do charge travel costs based on time and distance. Just give us a call and we can give you a quote.

For more information about the Little Black Photo Booth (LBPB), give Chris Dillon a call on (09) 527 3387 or email him at info@littleblackphotobooth.co.nz. You can also check out www.littleblackphotobooth.co.nz.

Page 21 : engaged : June 2009

evening shoes

bridal shoes

order online www.irisgift.com

flower girl shoes page boy shoes

Iris Gift Bridal Shoes ph: 09 826 3228

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

It’s all in

the Detail

Pageby 23Amy : engaged : June 2009 Photography Schulz Photography

Brad & Leanna Page 24 : engaged : June 2009

This month, we have invited Amy Schulz to showcase a selection of some of her favourite images.

Amy has a classic style which just exudes romance.... enjoy!

Page 25 : engaged : June 2009

Page 26 : engaged : June 2009

Page 27 : engaged : June 2009

Page 28 : engaged : June 2009

Chris & Heather Page 29 : engaged : June 2009

Page 30 : engaged : June 2009

Page 31 : engaged : June 2009

Chad & Anais Dress by A La Robe

Page 33 : engaged : June 2009

Carl & Vicky Dress by Harry Chilcott

This page and next three photos: Hannah Summers marrying Leighton Williams at Grace Page 35 : engaged : June 2009 Hill Vineyard 14th February 2009. Photos at Muriwai.

Page 36 : engaged : June 2009

Page 37 : engaged : June 2009

Celebrate the Celebrant Everything you need to know about choosing your celebrant

The serious stuff: OK, first up, the facts: There are two types of people that can legally solemnise your marriage: • A Registrar of Marriages; or • An authorised Marriage Celebrant.

Marriage Celebrants can be broken down into three separate categories: Ministers of Religious Bodies: Recognised religious bodies nominate ministers and these names are published in the New Zealand Gazette as authorised marriage celebrants; Organisational Celebrants: Certain organisations that uphold or promote religious or spiritual or humanitarian beliefs can nominate designated celebrants and these people are named in the New Zealand Gazette as authorised celebrants; Independent Celebrants: These celebrants operate independently of any church or organisation.

The marriage celebrant takes care of the legal parts of the ceremony. This means they must be satisfied that the bride and groom standing in front of them are the people named on the marriage certificate. They must also make sure that the marriage takes place at the venue named on the certificate and that the vows are made in front of them and at least two other people.

They are also responsible for ensuring the marriage registration papers are signed correctly and returned to the issuing Registrar within ten days of the marriage. Further, they must take all reasonable steps to make sure the marriage is registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages.

You should check to make sure that your marriage celebrant is registered as an official marriage celebrant not only at the time the marriage certificate is issued, but also at the time of the ceremony.

The New Zealand Gazette publishes a list of all registered marriage celebrants around March each year; additions and deletions from this list are made during the year on a case-by-case basis. You can check the current list at www.gazette.govt.nz.

The period of registration as a celebrant only lasts a year and must be updated.

Check just prior to your wedding to ensure your celebrant’s registration is current.

What happens when your nominated celebrant can’t officiate, either because their registration has expired

or he or she is sick? Any other celebrant can take his or her place, provided they are an authorised marriage celebrant.

Now for the more interesting part!

The fun stuff: Choosing a marriage celebrant might be a daunting task, but once you break it down into steps, it’s not so hard!

Firstly, if you are affiliated with a church or religious group and want to get married in that church or the group’s meeting place, then you will probably need to talk to your church or group to see who your choices are.

If you are using an independent celebrant, the choice can be a little harder. Start by asking around your friends and family to see if they recommend anyone. If that doesn’t provide any ideas, check with Births, Deaths and Marriages or with the New Zealand Gazette.

Once you have narrowed it down to a few choices, give the celebrants a call and arrange to meet them.

Your meeting with them should be comfortable and easy – you want to make sure you have a good rapport with the celebrant as they will be a big part of your day. Also look for someone who has a professional approach as you need to feel sure that all of your paperwork will be in order and that they will turn up at the right time on the right day!

When talking with the celebrant, you may like to ask them the following questions: • How much will you be involved in the ceremony?

Some celebrants like to write and deliver the whole ceremony; others like to work with what you have written.

• How do you work with couples? Do they like to have a couple of meetings to get to know your personalities and personal styles or do they just meet with you once before the wedding? It is good to meet with the celebrant a few times – most importantly to find out what they will say at the ceremony and whether it suits you and your vision for the day!

• How much do you cost? Celebrants tend to cost from $350 up to $800. If the celebrant you are speaking with is particularly cheap (or expensive!), you might need to find out why.

• What training have you had? How long have you been a marriage celebrant? This will give you an idea of their experience with everything from public speaking to handling unexpected problems.

• Can we speak to a couple you have married recently? Do you have pictures of the ceremony?

References are always good, and if you can see photos you can see how professionally the celebrant dresses when officiating. Remember they will be in a lot of your photos!

• Do you have any ideas for vows or readings that you can share with us? Is that part of your service?

Celebrants are usually a mine of information and will quite often have a resource kit of suitable ideas for couples.

Your celebrant is a big part of your day. They should be able to help you relax, yet take a controlling role in the ceremony so that it runs smoothly. They will feel honoured to have been chosen to help you celebrate and should make your day memorable for the right reasons, just like you deserve!

Smelling

Roses the

Choosing the perfect perfume for your wedding

T

here are two schools of thought when it comes to choosing your perfume for your wedding.

The first says you should stick with a fragrance that your groom especially likes: one he has bought you as a present or one that reminds you both of a special occasion, like your first date or when you got engaged.

The second says that your wedding day is the first day of your married life together and that you should have a special scent to remind you of that day.

Whichever school you choose to go with, there are a few things that you should know about perfume to ensure you not only look beautiful, but you smell that way too!

How to pick the perfect new scent Firstly, look at the theme of your wedding. If your theme is girly and romantic with loads of flower bouquets, then a floral fragrance would suit. Leather-grouped scents may be better for a ‘greener’ themed wedding (think wood elves and trees!).

Next, have a think about what a smell does to you. Aromachologists believe that certain smells can affect our moods. For example, jasmine and other white flowers are thought to relax, lavender is calming, and citrus scents can lower stress hormones.

Anything that can help relax you on your big day is a winner for us!

With this knowledge, visit your favourite perfume shop and ask to try on perfumes in your chosen group. Only try three or four perfumes maximum, otherwise your senses will just get confused. Use each wrist and the inside of each elbow as a test area and then wait 30 minutes, sniffing the perfume at various intervals to see how the perfumes notes work together (see below for more on this).

It is very important to test the perfume on yourself, as different scents smell different on different people. They also smell differently on a piece of paper.

Once you have chosen, make sure you check with your beloved that it is something he likes. And then resist the temptation to just keep trying it!

Lastly, think about co-ordinating your bridesmaids’ perfumes. They should come from the same family, and many recommend using single-note fragrances so as their perfume doesn’t compete with yours!

Notes about notes…

As with music, perfume is described as having three sets of notes. These notes work together to make a type of perfume harmony.

The first is the ‘top note’. This is your immediate impression of the perfume, so perfumers use them to sell the scent! These top notes evaporate quickly.

The ‘middle notes’ emerge just as the top notes disappear and form the main ‘body’ of the perfume.

The ‘base notes’ of a perfume appear as the middle notes fade, and bring depth to the perfume. Often the first impression of the base notes is unpleasant, so the middle notes are used to mask the initial scent. The base notes are not usually apparent until about 30 minutes have passed – this is why perfumers recommend trying on the scent and walking around the shopping centre before buying!

The bouquet Just as a perfume is made up of several different ‘notes’, it can also be made from several different sources and combinations of those. Often the type of perfume can be described by classifying it, according to its ingredients.

There are traditional and modern classifications for perfume: Traditional classifications include:

Prolonging the life of your perfume Make sure you keep your perfume away from heat and light. Many recommend storing your perfume in its original packaging to protect it.

As pretty as a special perfume bottle is, you may find that decanting your perfume from its original bottle into your own perfume dispenser may result in oxygen getting into your bottle, which can alter the smell of the fragrance.

• Single floral; • Floral bouquet; • Amber, which refers to the sweet, slightly animalistic scents, often combined with vanilla, flowers and woods; • Wood; • Leather, including honey and tobacco; • Chypre, meaning Cyprus in French.

This includes patchouli, bergamot, oakmoss and labdanum; • Fougere, meaning Fern in French, and built on a base of lavender, coumarin and oakmoss.

And then, with advancement in perfume technology, a new, modern system of classification has emerged: • Bright Floral, which combines the traditional single floral and floral bouquet categories; • Green, which is a modern version of the Chypre type, also featuring cut grass and cucumber scents; • Oceanic, Aquatic or Ozonic, a clean smell, often used to accent floral, oriental or woody fragrances and seen as an androgynous perfume.

• Citrus; • Fruity, using the fragrances of fruits other than citrus; and • Gourmand, which refers to scents that feel like they could be eaten. Think vanilla or cocoa bean or anything dessert-like!

So where do these smells come from? The list is endless: bark, flowers, blossoms, fruits (including leaves and peels), leaves, twigs, resins, roots, bulbs, seeds, woods, ambergris (oxidised whale fat), castoreum (from beavers), honeycomb, deer musk, lichens, seaweed, and, of course, synthetic or man-made scents.

How to apply perfume If possible, layer the fragrance: start with it in the bath, as you dry yourself lather in scented moisturiser and finally, apply the perfume.

Apply perfume to pulse points (wrist, crook of your arm and knee, base of your throat, behind your ear) as these are the points where blood vessels are closest to the surface of your skin, which results in these areas giving off more heat which in turn draws attention to the perfume.

Perfume, like heat, rises, so apply it to the crooks of your knees for added effect!

To achieve a ‘cloud of fragrance’ affect, spray perfume on your veil (just check that it won’t stain it!).

For something a little difference, but oh-so-romantic, spray perfume on the palms of your hands. As you move your hands, the fragrance will waft upwards.

Lastly, if you have dry skin, perfume may fade quickly on you, so you should carry a small bottle of your perfume to re-apply throughout the day. Those with oily skin should recognise that perfume may be stronger on you and that you may need to go a bit lighter!

Page 46 : engaged : August 2008

Your wedding breakfast is one of the major aspects of your wedding day. Its time for your guests to relax together, families to meet, and your wedding to be celebrated.

Ph: 03 443 4129 or 021 304 293

www.wanakacatering.co.nz

Page 47 : engaged : August 2008

Fashion

Forward For those of you who might have missed the fashion show at ‘The Wedding Show’ held at Aotea Centre, Auckland on April the 19th, we thought we would bring you some highlights!

The following designers showcased their latest fashion for the bride, bridesmaids and flower girls: Tutta Bella Bridal Nadia Couture Brides Of Botany Brides Of Albany Dandylion Flowergirls Bridal Brilliance Anna Schimmel European Bridal Designer Also, don’t forget that the The Spring Wedding Show is happening at Aotea Centre on Sunday September the 13th 2009 - visit www.weddingshow.co.nz to find out more.

Page 51 : engaged : June 2009

Page 52 : engaged : June 2009

Page 53 : engaged : June 2009

Page 54 : engaged : June 2009

Page 55 : engaged : June 2009

Page 56 : engaged : June 2009

Page 57 : engaged : June 2009

Page 58 : engaged : June 2009

Page 59 : engaged : June 2009

Page 61 : engaged : June 2009

Page 63 : engaged : June 2009

Page 64 : engaged : June 2009

Page 65 : engaged : June 2009

Page 66 : engaged : June 2009

Page 67 : engaged : June 2009

Page 68 : engaged : June 2009

Page 69 : engaged : June 2009

Page 70 : engaged : June 2009

Page 71 : engaged : June 2009

Page 72 : engaged : June 2009

Page 73 : engaged : June 2009

Page 74 : engaged : June 2009

Page 75 : engaged : June 2009

Weddings at Castaways Castaways - for the ultimate wedding experience.

Coastal cliff top ceremonies, stunning sunset wedding receptions, fine food, award winning service and luxury onsite accommodation.

More than 100 couples have booked with Castaways to celebrate their marriage in the past year.

See why - contact us now for your appointment to view Castaways and to meet with our team.

685 Karioitahi Road, Karioitahi Beach, Waiuku Ph 09 236 5161 Email info@castaways.co.nz Web www.castaways.co.nz

“Thank you so much for offering us more than our dream wedding�

(Castaways Bride, 2008)

~ lodge ~

Page 76 : engaged : June 2009 ~ events & functions ~

~ restaurant ~

Tradition has it W

hile last month was a trip around the world, this month’s issue focuses on our very own wedding traditions. Why does the bride wear white? Why does she wear a veil? And why on earth would the groom carry the bride over the door step?

Pure White It wasn’t until Queen Victoria wore white at her wedding in 1840 that white wedding dresses became popular. Prior to that brides wore brightly coloured dresses, signifying their joy at getting married.

It was the Christian Church that declared that white was pure, and therefore a good choice for blushing brides.

During the Middle Ages the length of a bride’s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train, the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.

Veils were added to the white dress as a symbol of the groom “capturing” their brides and also to ward off evil spirits: the bride’s head was covered to keep her from being recognised!

Be Gone, Evil Spirits! (Or Evil Rival Suitors!)

That wasn’t the only was evil spirits were foiled…

Page 77 : engaged : June 2009

These days the bridesmaids all wear identical dresses. In the past, the bride’s dress would have matched the bridesmaids. This was done to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor!

Women as Property?

A long, long time ago a female was considered her father’s property until she was “transferred” to her husband. This is the literal meaning of being given away!

Ringing in the Changes Thank goodness for this tradition! Prior to gold and diamonds (and platinum and titanium and rubies and emeralds…) becoming traditional, wedding bands were made of hemp or braided grass.

The longer-lasting metals signify a valuable and strong commitment.

Sealed with a Kiss Sigh, how romantic….In ancient Rome, the kiss between the bride and groom was considered a legal bond necessary to seal the marriage contract.

And Received with a Lucky Touch!

It’s not just the bride and groom that have physical contact on their wedding day.

It was also traditional for the couple to greet each guest as part of a receiving line: it was believed that the bride and groom would bring good luck to anyone that they touched.

Over the Threshold When a bride could be forced to marry her captor, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home.

The Roman reason for this tradition may be a little less caveman-like: they thought it was bad luck for a bride to trip over the threshold. To prevent that, the groom carried her.

Page 78 : engaged : June 2009

After-Wedding Bliss And we thought the honeymoon was all about…a-hem…relaxing and recovering after the wedding. Not so in ancient Ireland - when a couple married, as a fertility aid the parents would make sure the newlyweds had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. Yes, that is where the term honeymoon came from!

Something Borrowed, Something Blue The actual rhyme that this comes from is “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in your shoe”. For some reason the sixpence has been dropped (maybe because we don’t have sixpences anymore!).

The ‘old’ is usually provided by your close family and signifies continuity from generation to generation.

The “new” represents the future.

The “borrowed” should be something that brought happiness to its owner so you are effectually “borrowing happiness”.

The “blue” symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune.

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

Ali’s Celebration Cakes Ali's Celebration cakes for delicious, stylish and individual engagement and wedding cakes.

There will be no left overs with and Ali's Celebration Cake. We will style your cake to suit your wedding and your budget.

Call Ali for an appointment to discuss the options.

Wedding Shows June Ali Chamberlain - Ali's Celebration Cakes 3 Lake Road, Devonport Phone: 09 445 3426 Fax: 09 445 3247

www.aliscelebrationcakes.co.nz

Cornelius Jewellers Handmade Engagement & Wedding Rings

158 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland Phone: 09 376 9169 Mobile: 0272 484 409

www.corneliusjewellers.com

Manawatu Wedding Expo 7 June 2009 Convention Centre, Manawatu www.expos.co.nz The Waikato Wedding Expo 21 June 2009 Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton East www.hamiltongardens.co.nz

Through the Lens

Showcasing Photographic Excellence

Photograph by VisionWorks Photography

Page 81 : engaged : May 2009

Amy Schulz Photography

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

Page 82 : engaged : June 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

David Kerr Photography

Website: www.thewedding.co.nz Email: dave@thewedding.co.nz Phone: 0800 21 SNAP (7627) Mobile: 021 398748 Nationwide

Page 83 : engaged : June 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

Photography by Gary Hewlett Website: www.garyhewlett.com Email: info@garyhewlett.com Phone: 09 521 7269 Mobile: 021 439 538 Master NZ Institute of Professional Photography Auckland

Page 84 : engaged : June 2009

Veronica Gunn Photography

Website: www.veronicagunn.co.nz Email: photographer@veronicagunn.co.nz Phone: 04 976 4493 Mobile: 021 239 2991 BDes Photography, Hon. Wellington

Bruce Millar - The Photographer Website: www.thephotographer.co.nz Email: bruce@thephotographer.co.nz Phone: 09 634 4097 Mobile: 0274 897 587 Auckland

Page 85 : engaged : June 2009

Christine Syme Photography Website: www.christinesyme.com Email: christine@christinesyme.com Phone: 09 529 7499 Mobile: 027 285 4412 Auckland

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

Email: John-Paul@WeddingPhotography.co.nz

Page 86 : engaged : June 2009

VisionWorks Photography

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

Page 87 : engaged : June 2009

Emma Hughes Photography VisionWorks Photography Website: www.studioname.co.nz www.emmahughes.co.nz www.weddingsonwaiheke.co.nz Email: info@studioname.co.nz Email: emma@emmahughes.co.nz Phone: Phone: 09 123 4567 Mobile: 021 123 4567 09 372 8729 Mobile: 021 051 3292 Waiheke Auckland and Auckland Qualified Member NZ Institute of Professional Photography

VisionWorks Jeremy Hill Photography Photography Website: www.jeremyhill.co.nz Email: Website: www.studioname.co.nz Email:jhillphotos@yahoo.co.nz info@studioname.co.nz Mobile:09021 Phone: 1232279196 4567 Mobile: 021 123 4567 Auckland Auckland

Page 88 : engaged : June 2009

Russ Flatt

VisionWorks Photography

Website: www.russflatt.com Email: russ@russflatt.com Website: www.studioname.co.nz Email: info@studioname.co.nz Mobile: 021 997886 Phone: 09 123 4567 Mobile: 021 123 4567 Auckland Auckland

VisionWorks Photography

Website: www.studioname.co.nz Email: info@studioname.co.nz Phone: 09 123 4567 Mobile: 021 123 4567 Auckland

Page 89 : engaged : June 2009

Confetti Mania The throwing of confetti is an old tradition that originates in Rome. There, couples were showered with sugared almonds or confectionary, which is where the word confetti comes from.

We all consider confetti to be small, coloured pieces of paper. But with most wedding venues (and environmentalists!) now frowning upon the use of paper confetti, what are the alternatives?

Rice is nice‌ or not?

Firstly, there is rice. Rice is cheap and easy to obtain in bulk lots. You just need to place it in pretty containers for the guests and you have instant confetti!

Rice being used as confetti is not new: in ancient days a local seed or grain was thrown as a symbol of fertility. In some places it was wheat; however the most popular grain has now become rice.

Page 90 : engaged : June 2009

There is some argument that rice should not be thrown as birds eat it and it swells up in their stomachs, causing health problems. Of course, there is also the counter-argument that there is no evidence to support this!

Many supporters of the former opinion now choose to throw bird seed instead. One thing you need to be aware of when choosing seed is that the seed should come from native plants. The introduction of non-native species can upset the environmental balance.

Bubbly bubbles Secondly, bubbles are option. They are becoming very popular as there is no mess to clean up afterwards and they provide an endless source of delight for your younger guests.

Commercial bubbles are available in small, plain containers or you can use designer containers that match your theme. For those on a budget or environmentally conscious, you can make the bubbles yourself using dish detergent and water.

The only problem with bubbles is that they may stain clothing. Check the detergent level is not too high and try to do a ‘test run’ with a material sample from your dress to ensure it doesn’t mark your beautiful gown.

Roses only Thirdly, rose petals make visually stunning confetti.

Petals can be very easily coordinated with the balance of your colour scheme and there are several difference mixes and colours available – the hardest part will be choosing which to go with!

Outside petals blow away and biodegrade easily, which makes for a simple clean-up.

For all of the above, we have assumed the confetti will be thrown outside. Check with your venue if you intend to use any of these inside. In fact, check with your venue regardless as they may have their own special requirements.

Of course, there are non-confetti options such as dove or butterfly releases – see our March issue for details of these!

Page 91 : engaged : June 2009

Let Me Count the Ways...

I

n our first ever issue of Engaged we had a feature on flowers: what colour to choose, what bouquet shape to choose for your body shape and dress style, how to choose flowers on a budget, questions for the florist... one thing we didn’t consider in that article was the all-important meaning of flowers. How do you know that the flowers you have chosen don’t have a secret, unwanted meaning? It’s as easy as checking out this list!

S

o here goes...

Alstromeria

Amaryllis

Strength Pride

Anemone

Forsaken

Aster

Elegance and daintiness, virtue, love

Bells of Ireland

Good luck

Bluebell

Humility

Page 92 : engaged : June 2009

Page 93 : engaged : June 2009

Carnation

Solid colour Yes

Striped

No, refusal, sorry I can’t be with you, wish I could be with you

Pink

I’ll never forget you, woman’s love

Red

Admiration, My heart aches for you, I love you

Purple

Capriciousness

White

Sweet and lovely, innocence, pure love, woman’s good luck

Yellow

You have disappointed me, rejection

Chrysanthemum

Red

White

Fidelity, truth

Yellow

Slighted love, I’m sorry, I’m sad

Daffodil

Yellow

I love you, remember me

Regard, respect Chivalry

Daisy

Innocence, loyal love, I’ll never tell, purity

Delphinium

Ardent attachment

Fern

Magic, fascination, confidence and shelter

Flowering almond

Hope

Forget-me-not

True love, remembrance

Freesia

Trust

Gardenia

You’re lovely, secret love

Gladioli

Remembrance, I’m sincere

Heliotrope

Devotion

Honeysuckle

Generosity

Blue

Constancy

Purple

I am sorry, sorrow

Red or pink Play

White

Loveliness

Yellow

Jealousy

Hyacinth

Hydrangea

Thank you for understanding

Ivy

Fidelity, wedded love, affection

Iris

Flame, promise, faith, hope

Japonica

Loveliness

Jasmine

Amiability

Larkspur

Appreciation

Liatris

Gladness Page 94 : engaged : June 2009

Lemon blossom

Lilac

Fidelity in love Youthful innocence

Lily

White

Purity and virginity, sweetness

Yellow

Gratitude, gaiety

Lily-of-the-valley

Sweetness, return to happiness, humility

Magnolia

Perseverance, nobility

Maidenhair

Discretion, secret bond of love

Orange blossom

Purity, innocence, eternal love, marriage and fruitfulness

Orchid

Thoughtfulness and wisdom, love, beauty, refinement

Peony

Gay life, happy marriage

Poppy

White

Consolation

Red

Pleasure

Yellow

Wealth, success

White and red

Unity

White

Spiritual and true love, I’m worthy of you

Red

True love and desire

Pink

Sweetness, please believe me

Yellow

Friendship

Black

Farewell, death

Rose

Snapdragon

Intrigue

Stephanotis

Happiness in marriage, desire to travel

Stock

Bonds of affection

Sweetpea

Pleasure

Tulip

Red

Declaration of love

Yellow

Hopelessly in love, purity

Veronica

Fidelity

Violet

Faithfulness, virtue

Zinnia

Magenta

Lasting affection

Mixed

Thinking (or in memory of) an absent friend

Scarlet

Constancy

White

Goodness

Yellow

Daily remembrance

Next Issue out 1 July To subscribe, just go to www.engaged.co.nz

It's FREE! Page 96 : engaged : March 2009