The Wedding Playbook Volume 4

volume 4 lavender & light

the ultimate bridal shower gifts for your groom

gorgeous real weddings

from the editors www.theweddingplaybook.com We're very excited to bring you this issue after a fantastic (read: crazy) start to 2015! A recent trip to Melbourne saw us collaborate on a photo shoot with designer Anna Campbell and an incredible team. Inspired by the lavender fields of Provence and enviable French style, our beautiful cover is just the start. Experience la vie française from page 64.

Our featured couples share plenty of personality and some truly fantastic ideas – think an art gallery ceremony, reception filled with suspended flowers and fun s’mores station, complete with open fire for marshmallow roasting (yum!). There’s also a stunning bridal shower with plenty of tips on hosting the perfect girl’s day out, as well as interactive mood boards featuring gorgeous gold details and unique grooms(men) gifts.

Happy planning!

Danielle & Kathy xx

playbook creative A talented group of suppliers who do great work with great style!

Click on their artwork to visit their websites for more info on how they can (and will) make your day amazing.

get featured We'd love to share your stories, ideas and inspiration. Send your real wedding, styled shoot or article to submissions@ theweddingplaybook.com.

A Little Vintage Bliss - vintage hire & wedding styling -

blu wren photography

contact tricia on 0411 510 441

www.alittlevintagebliss.com.au

real weddings 07 michelle & adam 28 leah & nathan 48 pat & luke 92 mieke & dan 110 liz & aaron ideas & inspiration 64 lavender & light 131 the ultimate bridal shower interactive features 26 heart of gold 108 gifts for the guys

The Trilogy Ring An enduring symbol of the past, present and a beautiful future together.

Unique and timeless with beautiful designs and stunning diamonds – celebrate your love with an exquisite Hardy Brothers Diamond Engagement Ring. hardybrothers.com.au | 1300 231 393 Brisbane • Sydney • Chatswood • Melbourne • Chadstone • Perth

Michelle + Adam From a vintage inspired ceremony to reception washed in gold, Michelle and Adam’s wedding is stylish and heartfelt. With DIY including a gorgeous cocktail station and ‘love’ up in lights, there are plenty of sweet details to linger over!

The Proposal

"We were together for almost three years when we decided to travel to Europe. On our third night in Rome, Adam got down on one knee in the middle of the St Angelo Bridge, with a castle one side and Vatican City on the other...It was the most breathtaking moment and I will never forget it."

The Planning

“We had close to two years to plan our wedding. Adam and I are very laid back people, so we set out to make it as fun and stress-free as possible. We honestly had an absolute blast throughout the entire process and would do it all over again given the chance."

The Dress

“Finding 'the' dress was probably the most difficult part. I shopped for 12 months straight before co-designing something with Vanessa from When Freddie Met Lilly and having it custom made. In hindsight, it was worth every minute spent going from shop to shop. I could not have been happier with my dress.�

Michelle paired her gown with a pretty pastel mix of David Austen roses, sholtzia, lisianthus and dusty miller wrapped with twine.

The Ceremony

“I love all things rustic and vintage, so from the get go we knew this would be our theme. We immediately began searching second-hand stores, garage sales and demolition yards for all of the beauties that were part of our day.

Our ceremony was in a big, open park just 200 metres from our reception venue. We used the venue’s tiffany chairs and had a beautiful wooden arbour and vintage door entrance to the aisle.

We also used a pink vintage dresser as a cocktail stand for guests to enjoy on arrival. I designed a 'Welcome to the Wedding of' chalkboard sign, which sat on a big wooden easel to greet guests.�

Most Important

"The first word which sprang to mind when discussing what we wanted our wedding to be like, was 'FUN'. When we pictured our wedding, we imagined lots of dancing and everyone smiling from beginning to end."

New Tradition

“My dad walked me down the aisle.

Rather than him giving me away, our parents were both asked to come forward at the start of the ceremony and asked to accept each of us into their families. It was such a beautiful and heart-warming moment.”

Special Moments “I'll never forget the moment that dad saw me in my dress for the first time and seeing Adam's reaction when he saw me step in to the aisle.

Also, flipping up the photo frame on our signing table which had my final present in it - my puppy!”

"It was a day full of love, fun, sharing, happiness and not a face without a smile."

The Reception

“Once we had decided to base our reception theme around our engagement in Italy, the first things that came to mind were the beautiful cottages in Tuscany. I imagined an open fire, wood fired pizzas, gold tones and lots of wood... and that is exactly what we were able to achieve at Osteria."

The Cake

Michelle and Adam's wedding cake was a chocolate lover’s dream of dark chocolate with dark chocolate ganache, white chocolate with white chocolate ganache and choc-almond with Nutella ganache. The look was completed with gold fondant and an arrangement of sugar flowers in shades of pink.

The Details

"We had big Italian feast share tables, where everyone had to interact and really get involved.

It was such a hit! The beautiful mahogany tables and tiffany chairs were the perfect base for our styling. We added some simple linen table runners, gold spray painted mason jars, gold candelabras we found at Spotlight and gold charger plates. We love the look of rustic chalkboards, so everything from our invitations to menus and table names were all chalkboard. Our tables were named after a city or province in Italy and placed in ornate gold frames.

The table florals were based on my bouquet, with a little baby's breath mixed in. They complimented the gold detailing beautifully!"

Sign of Love

"The star prop of the wedding would have to be the light up LOVE letters that my dad made. They were placed on the dance floor and lit up the entire room! I can't imagine not having these in this space - it really completed the look of the room.�

wedding lighting

BY AV IDE AS

WWW. WED D I NGL IGHTI NG.COM.AU

Best Advice

1. It’s very easy to get carried away talking wedding every time you speak to your friends. Take some time to plan get-togethers that have nothing to do with your wedding they will thank you for it!

2. When you walk down that aisle towards your groom, the size of the place cards, the placement of those napkins or the one misspelled name on the seating chart is not going to matter one bit.

3. Hire an on the day coordinator - the last thing you want anyone to be worrying about is setting and packing up. Having a coordinator will ensure everyone can relax and focus on your special moments.

Photography Figtree Pictures Celebrant Sean Fernance Venue Osteria, QLD Styling, Props & Furniture She's Louise... Event Hire & Style Charger Plates & Linen Runners Gold Coast Wedding & Event Hire Flowers Gold Coast Floristry Management Cake Delicious by Sara Gown When Freddie Met Lilly Hair & Makeup Closeup Makeup & Hair Bridesmaids Cocotion Suits Tailor4Less Stationery Bride & Csquared Design P/L

Heart of Gold

Indulge in all that glitters with these luxurious golden details! From delicate accessories to invitations and cake toppers, click on the images you love to visit the Etsy listings.

Leah + Nathan Wanting a unique location for their wedding, Leah & Nathan turned to the elegant Art Gallery of South Australia. Fittingly, their celebration features many lovely artisanal touches, from Leah’s stunning designer gown and custom made ring to Etsy sourced products for their dÊcor.

First Date “Nathan and I met at work and were friends first. On our first date Nathan, who loves cars, picked me up for a drive in his Black Nissan 180. We made it as far as around the block when a fuse caught alight, starting a fire under the carpet below my feet.

Although not romantic, it’s safe to say there was a spark from the beginning!"

The Proposal "Nathan proposed in our tenth year together with an engagement ring that he had designed himself with Pure Envy Jewellery. The proposal was perfect with the ring sitting on top of my favourite flavoured ice-cream cake decorated with roses.”

The Dress “I invited my bridesmaids, mum and mother in law to come wedding dress shopping with me. We made it a girly weekend and even managed to fit in some cake tasting! We visited several different bridal shops and I was able to try on many amazing dresses, however as soon as I walked into Alexis George and saw my gown displayed on a dress form I knew I’d found 'the one'.

It was covered in Elie Saab lace and was one of a kind - I loved it instantly and fell in love even more once I tried it on!”

The Flowers Leah accentuated her gorgeous gown with a bouquet in tones of cream, palest pink, sky blue, peach and apricot. It featured dahlias, hyacinths, David Austin roses and delphiniums, with dusty miller foliage and an antique lace wrap to finish.

The Experience “We gave ourselves a little less than twelve months to plan our wedding and enjoyed the entire process. Nathan and I made most decisions as a couple, but included our families in dress and suit shopping, cake tasting and meeting the photographer. We also had a wedding planner, Alice from Alice Mary Events, which was the best decision we made. She made the entire process stress-free and handled any situation that arose.

Above all, we wanted our day to be special and personal. I enjoyed the dress shopping, writing our ceremony script and the final week before the wedding, when we were able to see all of our plans finally coming together!�

First Look “Nathan and I chose to meet before our ceremony for our ‘First Look’.

This allowed us to first lay eyes on each other in an intimate setting and to spend some special time together, just the two of us. Only the photographer was present to capture the moment, which made for some unforgettable photos.”

The Ceremony “Our ceremony set-up was simple, allowing the Elder Wing of the art gallery to speak for itself. We hired timber bentwood chairs for guests and a vintage table for signing. Posies in creams and soft pastels were tied to guest aisle chairs. A string quartet added to the elegance of the setting and played songs that we love.

It was very intimate and personal, as Nathan and I wrote our own vows together, including stories of our first date and how Nathan proposed.

We wanted our guests to feel part of the ceremony as they are the most important people in our lives, so we included vows for them to recite too.�

Including Loved Ones “Nathan's sister was a bridesmaid and my brother was a groomsman. It was important to both of us that our siblings could share the entire day.

My mum and mother in law spent the wedding morning with me and my bridesmaids getting our hair and makeup done.

Nathan and I prepared a 'Hand Holding' script that a close friend and family member read at our ceremony. The night before the wedding, we celebrated by inviting family and close friends to share dinner with us.

This was the start of our celebrations!”

Most Important “We wanted timeless, classic photos that would last a lifetime and to feel comfortable with our photographer - Life in Still Photography was fantastic.

Styling was important to me as I am a details girl, with flowers number one on the list.

We were looking for an intimate setting for our reception and high quality food and wine, which we found at the Gallery Restaurant. Guests were served canapés and pre-dinner drinks, followed by a three course meal accompanied by wines from the local wine region.”

The Reception “An elegant outdoor lounge area was set up for pre-dinner drinks, which included our signature cocktails, ‘Blushing Bride’ and ‘Suit and Tie’.

Tables featured floral centrepieces in creams and soft pastels in large, cut crystal vases. We added champagne and blush chevron sequined table runners for a touch of elegance. Place cards and menus were printed in letterpress and we purchased crystal cut glass candles for a hint of vintage style.

The mood in the room was warm and romantic with soft gold feature lighting. Candlelight on the tables ensured a romantic glow as the sun went down. We placed pillar candles in cylinder vases around the dance floor and champagne draping provided a backdrop behind our bridal table.

A feature table was set up with flowers, a guest book and vintage suitcase for our wishing well. We both wanted the reception to be a big celebration, with our guests up and dancing all night!”

Leah's Etsy Finds Custom gold and white striped cake bags stamped with ‘Hugs and Kisses from the Mr and Mrs’.

Custom tags for a sparkler send-off: ‘Let Love Sparkle’; ‘Light the way for Leah and Nathan’ and, ‘Send off at Midnight’.

Vintage table numbers, featuring white card with matte gold font and stainless steel holders.

Chevron sequined table runners in white and champagne.

Vintage wishing well suitcase.

Wedding guest book personalized with names and wedding date, with satin ribbon and small pearl finish.

Photography Life in Still Photography Celebrant Bronwyn Lindsay Venue Art Gallery of South Australia, SA Wedding Planner Alice Mary Events Furniture Hire Sash Events Flowers Poppies Flowers Cake Sugar and Spice Cakes Gown Alexis George Hair Hair Art By Liz Makeup Che Make-up Artist Bridesmaids Bridesmaids Only Suits Gerry's Suit Hire Stationery Deciduous Press Transport Carrington Wedding Cars

Pat & Luke Pat and Luke wanted a bright, fun wedding which felt like a house party! Featuring a lovely, natural ceremony space and reception styling inspired by their travels, there was plenty of entertainment to keep the party going – including a taco truck for late night snacks.

love story "Even though people in our lives knew each other, in ten years we’d never crossed paths. After both moving to Canada, a friend suggested that as expats we get in touch. When we met, I was in a white dress and Luke was all in black, just like our wedding day.

When we were leaving Canada, Luke surprised me with what he calls, "The Tour of Love". We drove to every place in Vancouver that was special to us, from the first house he stayed in when we started messaging, to my sister’s apartment where we met, to the restaurant we had our first date, our apartments, the bar we got kicked out of…everything! There were a lot of tears and laughs. At the end, he took me to my favourite spot overlooking the Burrard Street Bridge and dropped down on one knee. It was perfect!”

the planning “We really enjoyed planning the wedding. It took two years as we started a business at the same time so didn't want to stress ourselves out. When we first got engaged, we took ourselves out for a long meal and before we spoke to anybody else, wrote down all the things we REALLY wanted. We both knew we wanted the colours of the Canadian fall and that our mutual friend GG should marry us, as he is funny as hell. We both wanted Luke’s brother and Pat's sister and niece in the bridal party. We preferred a small wedding, with no more than 60 guests and that it should be in a big house on a big property.

Once we were definite on what we wanted, we just had to find it.

Stanley Park was it! The venue suggested awesome vendors and we met with them and booked… simple. We enjoyed working together on it - we do work together so we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”

the ceremony “We were very worried the ceremony would be long and boring so we did everything we could to make it fun. Right before the kiss, GG said, ‘you may high five the bride’ and we both jumped up and high fived. We've done it for our entire relationship and jokingly did it at the rehearsal and GG said, ‘We're sooo doing that!’ Our vows included Luke promising to bring me a coffee every morning so I’m less of a Frankenstein. I vowed to listen to his insanely long stories even though I’ve heard them twice before!”

finding the dress “It was super easy! I knew I wanted a long sleeve dress as my Mum was married in a similar sleeved dress and she is smoking hot. I also wanted lace.

We had a look at a few stores, tried a few on and found "the one" on its own, in my size, on sale. Apparently they couldn't sell it as nobody wanted that big a dress near the beach – I couldn't believe my luck! I had the whole family with me on this particular day, including Luke (we aren't very traditional).

It was one of those moments where it was completely silent, nobody talked, they all just nodded.�

favourite moments Luke: “Watching my Patty walk down the aisle. I have never loved her more.

And our vows - they were so perfect and we still say them to each other all the time. I loved that they were our words, not somebody else’s.”

Pat: “Laughing throughout the ceremony and hearing all of our favourite humans laughing too. I remember thinking, ‘We're so lucky'. There was a lot of love the entire day. I also loved watching everybody playing lawn games, while we were getting our photographs done. I loved the atmosphere.”

styling “To be honest, I give full credit to the team at the Wedding Designer. They are rock stars! We told them what we wanted and they made it ten times better than we could ever have imagined.

Our must haves were a ‘Mash’ style sign with all of our overseas guests’ countries and places we have visited with km's from the venue. Fairy lights galore; family wedding photos, mismatched chairs; couches for the ceremony for the oldies and lawn games while waiting for reception. We asked for a colour palette of red, orange and yellow to match our Fall inspiration.”

postcards “We loved the ‘free postcards’ stand, with personalized messages that doubled as place settings. We had a postcard theme throughout - the RSVPs were postcards and the thank you cards too! We have travelled so much together and separately all around the world so it seemed fitting.”

reception fun “Flip cup and beer pong is something we’ve done together from the moment we met. Our friends were super excited to see the set up at the wedding.

Our RSVP cards had a section on it where our guests could choose a song that they'd like to hear at the reception. Most chose songs that were significant to fun nights we’d had, or special moments in life, so every time a new song came on, everyone was up!

Lastly, the taco truck at the end of the night could not be more "us".

Luke in particular is Mexican food obsessed, but we both love food trucks and late night snacks. It was a hit!”

Dessert tables  CanDy buffets  butterCream Cakes  nakeD Cakes maCaron towers  CupCake towers  bonbonniere  prop Hire

The Cake A delectable design featuring 'naked' caramel mud and white chocolate raspberry tiers. Decorated with fresh berries and styled on a wood round for a rustic touch, the couple also included a map of Australia and Canada as a nod to their international love story!

best advice 1. Make sure you take time before you speak to anybody else to sit online, with a glass of wine (optional) to research and find out what it is you BOTH really like.

Make a list and begin.

2. To avoid stress, stay organized.

Use calendars, folders, lists, reminders - all the good stuff.

Think Monica from Friends.

3. Book the best. We have had so many comments on how amazing our photographer, cake, venue and wedding designer was. Our hairdresser was perfection, so talented and helpful from start to finish. Our makeup artist and beauticians were kind, considerate and did such an incredible job.

the send off “The last song at the end of the night was, ‘Don't Stop Believin’ by Journey. The entire wedding sang it in the middle of the dance floor.

Even after the DJ packed up, we just kept on singing another chorus and another chorus…"doooon't stop. belieeeeeving!" Incredible. Or maybe it wasn't that incredible...

Meh, we'll just hold onto the champagne soaked memory!”

Photography Lauren Anne Photography Celebrant Belinda Stenhouse Venue Stanley Park, Fullerton Cove, NSW Styling The Wedding Designer Flowers Lovely Rita Design Cake Wild Rose Sweets and Styling Gown Alfred de Angelo Jewellery Tiffany and Co & Samantha Wills Hair The Glam Lab Makeup Chic Artistry Matron of Honour Rachel Pally Flowergirl Tree of Life Suits Ted Baker & Mr M Conte Stationery MOK Design and Craft Taco Truck Casa de Loco Newcastle

Lavender & light Including lavender in your wedding bouquet is an old Irish tradition - a beautiful symbol of love, loyalty and a long-lasting union. Pair this sweetly scented flower with a setting inspired by French Provincial style, and you’ll find yourself swept up in the romance of rolling lavender fields, stunning vintage dÊcor and breathtaking gowns.

the arrival There’s nothing like a grand entrance in a vintage motor vehicle finished in luxurious black and burgundy. One of only two of its kind in the world, this roaring 20’s beauty once transported royalty and now delivers our bride to a spectacular estate nestled in spa country.

the stationery From the invitation suite to place cards and menus, flowing script in muted grey on white conveys an effortless elegance.

the ceremony

An abundance of florals and greenery entwined in a wrought iron arbour creates a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. A fresh palette of purple, green and white keeps the look light and soft, perfectly complementing the picturesque lakeside location.

the bar Beneath an opulent chandelier, an antique dresser is adorned with flowers, cut glass dispensers and cocktails featuring sprigs of lavender. Guests are invited to pop, fizz and clink with this pretty presentation of welcome drinks.

the reception The epitome of relaxed sophistication, the reception table is styled with ornate plateware, crisp linen, plush dining chairs, crystal glasses and textured silver votives. Lavender infused macarons complete each place setting as a French inspired thank you gift for guests.

the cake Featuring subtle lacework and an exquisite flower fashioned from sugar, this gorgeous cake is displayed on a trolley overflowing with purple hued blooms and vintage glass bottles.

the gowns Our lovely bride moves seamlessly from settings rustic to refined, swathed in detailed lace with delicate embellishments. Each timeless design is accessorised with intricate headpieces, cuffs and jewellery, with natural makeup and a softly rolled bun completing this ethereal look.

the film

Concept & Coordination The Wedding Playbook & Anna Campbell Film Purple Ribbon Weddings Photography Agent 86 Photography Venue Sault Restaurant, Daylesford, VIC Styling Anna Campbell & Oh Perfect Day

Gowns Anna Campbell Jewellery Samantha Wills Flowers Cecilia Fox Cake & Stationery Cake Ink. Hair Momu Hair Makeup Melonie Santos Car Automobiles of Yesteryear Model Mary Vitinaros, Giant Management

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Mieke and Da n

W jimbourweddings.com /JimbourWeddings E tanya@sassaffair.com

Mieke and Dan wanted a relaxed, rustic wedding – an intimate celebration of their fun loving relationship which began almost a decade ago.

love story “We met at a university pub crawl. It was op shop themed, so I was dressed as an old granny with gloves, stockings and all! Dan dressed in just the most hideous clothes imaginable. It was love at first sight and we haven’t looked back since! Being together for so long, all our friends know each other very well and we’ve spent numerous music festivals, weekends away and parties together. Dan proposed with a video on Christmas day - I was so shocked and surprised as I had no idea it was coming!”

the ceremony “The part I enjoyed most was probably helping our celebrant put together our ceremony and writing our vows. The ceremony really reflected us as a couple.

Nicola even arranged secret questions for Dan and I to answer about each other, with the answers announced on the big day - such a good surprise!"

the styling "Having a toddler, working full time and planning a wedding was always going to be full on, so I gained the help of a good friend and amazing stylist, Kelly Richards from Drift Events.”

The ceremony styling featured many lovely details, including everything from a canopy adorned with flowers to tissues for 'happy tears'. Other thoughtful touches?

“Wedding programs printed on paddles with fun facts about the bride and groom and 'Keep Warm' blankets in crates for guests.”

including loved ones “We have a beautiful son whom we absolutely loved having at our special day. He had little jobs throughout the day and our vows were a promise to look after him and be good parents - not a dry eye in the house!”

Extended family were also included, “Mum made the bridesmaid dresses and my brother and sister-in-law held our rings and presented them to us at the ceremony.”

"As family members were my bridesmaids, I wanted to involve my girlfriends in other ways - they are really important to me. I just couldn’t choose only three! I asked one to be our MC and another to do a reading at the ceremony. Other friends helped with the planning and choosing the dress!”

the dress “To be brutally honest, the wedding dress experience was probably one of the least enjoyable! I am an indecisive person and all the dresses are beautiful - I thought every dress I put on was the one! We had a short engagement, which also meant potentially extra cost if I wanted to order and make sure I had the gown in time. I finally found a dress from Karen Willis Holmes which was stunning. It was off the rack, so there was no hassle with waiting or fittings. My dress was fully sequined with a tulle overlay which I took off for my first dance - I loved it!"

With a colour palette of pink tones and fresh green, Mieke’s bouquet of David Austen roses and ranunculus gives a gorgeous pop of colour.

Arrangements of Baby’s breath for the bridesmaids offer a pretty complement to their dusty pink gowns.

handmade projects DIY was also part of the plan, “Our stylist helped us with a stack of DIY projects, including making a backdrop for our photo both from ribbons, lace and bunting. We decorated jars for the tables with lace, twine, hessian and glitter.

We did all the flowers ourselves, getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the flower markets!”

Mieke and Dan also created a lovely memento of their relationship, “We made a photo guest book of our years together and included pictures our friends could write next to."

best advice “Ask for help (your friends and family are dying to help you!) and relax because everything will work out. No one really cares if you get the pink flowers or the yellow – it’s going to be an amazing day regardless!”

favourite moments Mieke’s favourite moments were all about the emotions of the day. “Sharing a wedding car with my family to the ceremony and having time with my son before the madness. It gave us a chance to remember my grandparents and think about how much they would have loved the day. Watching my son walk in front of me and stack it whilst running to daddy was hilarious!

I’ll never forget Dan’s face when he saw me.

Also, our first dance to ‘What A Wonderful World,’ by Louis Armstrong. This is a song my grandfather used to sing, so it’s very special to me and my family. Karaoke with our band (such a party!) and finally, our goodbye in a sea of sparklers.”

Photography Emma Hampton Photography Ceremony Rose Garden, Botanic Gardens, NSW Reception The Grounds of Alexandria Celebrant Nicola Juliet Ceremonies Styling, Planning & Flowers Drift Events Cake Oh What A Cake Gown Karen Willis Holmes Hair Joselyn Bancs Makeup Sabrina Friedrich Makeup Artist Bridesmaids Mother of the Bride Suits Spurling Formal Wear Entertainment Tom and Dave Show Stationery Chipper Jay Graphic Design

gifts for the

guys From brewed beer soap to engraved whiskey decanters, we’ve rounded up the best gifts for your groom and his men that are anything but traditional! Click on your favourite products to see all of the details on Etsy.

Liz + Aaron

Liz and Aaron’s romantic wedding is a masterful mix of styling ideas in a subtle Americana theme. Nestled amongst the mountains, it includes a breathtaking woodland ceremony, intricate floral centrepieces and delicious s'mores station for dessert!

Love Story

“We met the summer after our high school graduation and there was an instant connection and familiarity. We both went away for college and became really good friends. Four years later we started dating - half of the time it was a long distance relationship as Aaron went to school for a second bachelor's degree and I went to graduate school. It was really important to us to accomplish all of the things we wanted to, and we were together for eight years until we finally got married!"

The Proposal

“Every year we go to Las Vegas for Aaron's birthday with friends. He reserved a private room for us to celebrate, we had an awesome dinner and then the cake came out. We were all singing happy birthday and on the plate it read "Will you marry me?"

The Dress

“For the life of me, I couldn’t find a wedding dress that I loved, but I heard about a dress maker in Salt Lake City and thought I'd check it out. I took her photos of gowns that I loved certain elements of and we designed a dress together. I love, love, love my dress!”

The Planning

“When I first started planning I was determined to have everything done and settled and just enjoy the week of the wedding. I couldn't understand why people waited until the last minute to get things done! The night before our wedding I was up until 3am, but when I woke up on our wedding day, I had this great sense of peace.�

Most Important

“The number one thing we wanted was for everyone to just come, have the time of their life, and feel the spirit of love. Many people told me that they left the wedding knowing us better. It was really important for every little detail to be personal to us from the design, to the flowers, the background music, to the overall feel of the event.�

"A wedding is about celebrating the vows and commitment you make to each other - we wanted it to be personal , short, sweet, and magical ."

The Styling

“We love the romantic, whimsical look, but our day to day style is very classic, so we had to combine the two. The whole inspiration for the design details of our wedding came from getting married on Fourth of July weekend. We definitely had an Americana theme – instead of having red, white and blue as our colors, we toned it down to blush, ivory and navy blue.

Instead of a cake, we did cake pops that made up an American flag. The cuisine was American comfort and there were stars on our escort cards and table numbers. We sewed table runners and pillows for the décor, made our own table numbers from wood slices and purchased gold chargers. We also used around fifty framed photos to decorate.”

Best Advice

“I would say to just prepare yourself for things to not go exactly the way you planned, but to remember what the day really is about. Our bus transporting the majority of our guests got lost and was 45 minutes late!

Include your groom in the decision making process. You want him to feel like it's his important day as well. Get everything in writing so there’s no confusion about what’s included and ask every detailed question you can possibly think of at the beginning.

Overall, I think the most important thing is to find the perfect venue. It sets the tone for the wedding and each venue will bring a certain feel and ambiance to your event.”

Photography Alixann Loosle Photography Venue Aspen Meadows, Colorado, USA Catering Culinary Crafts Flowers Blom Floral Design Gown Custom design by Penelope's Hair & Makeup Hair and Makeup by Steph Shoes Jimmy Choo Bridesmaids & Flowergirls Dress for Less Suit Ralph Lauren Tie Kiriko Portland Shoes Cole Haan Stationery Rowley Press

the ultimate

Bridal Shower This wonderfully feminine bridal shower is sophisticated, elegant and full of sweet surprises! Bride to be Meriam tells us about her gorgeous day, and we share our tips on how to plan your own pre-wedding fun.

who planned the event and what was the inspiration behind it?

where did the idea for the suspended cake come from?

“It truly was an amazing day. I owe most of it to my wedding and event planner Diane Khoury, who helped put everything together.

I trusted her to surprise me on the day - she knew exactly what I loved and brought it all together leaving me absolutely speechless!”

“Diane and myself fell in love with the idea of a suspended cake when we went to visit Faye Cahill to discuss our options. We wanted something unique and different and this was perfect!”

what were some of your favourite aspects?

your dress is stunning - how did you decide what to wear for the event?

“Having those closest to my heart by my side sharing in such an amazing day would have to be the highlight of my whole experience.

That along with seeing everything we had planned for so long come together - it was magical.”

“I was inspired by a lot of Elie Saab designs. I love soft pink as it's summery but also very feminine. George Elsissa, such a talented couture designer, helped custom make this dress of my dreams - his work is phenomenal!”

tell us all the details about your experience. “I tried to keep the shower as intimate as possible with only my closest family and friends invited, a total of around 50 guests. It was a 12-3pm event. Dunbar House proved to be the perfect venue with the gorgeous backdrop of the coast and Sydney Harbour Bridge, as well as amazing service and endless food options.

Along with delicious desserts provided by Sweet Blooms, refreshing mocktails provided by Drinkalicious and cake by Faye Cahill - what more could a girl ask for?�

what activities were organised for guests?

“The bridesmaids put together three to four games that were extremely entertaining. These included cupcake decorating contests, 'The Price is Right' having to put groceries in order of cheapest to most expensive and marshmallow eating, where I had to eat a marshmallow for every question I had answered incorrectly about my fiance (he had previously answered them all so the bridesmaid had a cheat sheet). It was lots of fun!”

any advice for other brides considering a shower?

“Have the time of your lives and don't forget to stop and soak it all in. It flies by but it leaves you with memories that last a lifetime with all those you love.”

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how to host the

Perfect Event The bridal shower was introduced to help a bride set up her new home, with useful gifts being ‘showered’ upon her. If you’re picturing a flood of kitchen utensils – times have changed! There are no longer any hard and fast rules; it can be a joint celebration with your groom or a fabulous girl's day out. Just match the entertainment to suit the crowd!

Who organises?

Usually the bridesmaids – they plan the details of the day with the help of your mum, including invitations, location, food, drinks, decorations, games and prizes.

a fresh idea

Ask your guests to write down a unique fact about themselves and put it in a bowl. “I can ride a unicycle, I dated a member of a famous band...” Then pull them out one at a time and ask people to guess who it applies to. Correct guesses can receive a prize, or at least plenty of laughs!

What to do?

This is one you can brainstorm with your girls or leave up to them - are you a tea and scones or champagne and canapés girl? Whatever you plan, keep the setting relaxed and comfortable, so it's easy to mingle as a group.

Who's invited?

Your nearest and dearest of all ages are welcome - feel free to give the hosts an idea of who you would like to celebrate with. The rest of the details can always be kept a surprise!

When & how long?

From six months to one week before the wedding. With everyone’s busy schedules, find a time when most are available – especially immediate family and close friends. Length of event?

Usually two to three hours is a good timeframe.

What about gifts?

From practical, to fun and personal, gifts are usually inexpensive. Let guests know of any registry details or if you’re happy simply with the pleasure of their company!

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