volume 7 the style issue
from dress to decor
find the perfect look
gorgeous real weddings
real weddings 06 dani & dave 18 ebony & mitchell 54 emma & mark 80 laya & peter ideas & inspiration 30 style icons 47 finding your style 52 be adorned 66 la vie boheme 76 plan, style, celebrate
This issue is dedicated to style – encompassing not just fashion, but all of the ways your personality can be expressed on your wedding day. Whether they’re hosting a rustic, festoon-lit soirée or chic urban celebration, each of our featured couples brings a signature style to their wedding day. A show stopping gown, love of food and wine or a vision of gorgeous florals can all act as the first inspiring thread of a beautiful concept. Four of Australia’s iconic wedding dress designers share their take on what it really means to ‘have style’, and styling experts also weigh in with insights on how to choose your wedding day decor and bring your look to life through the planning process. In short, this issue is a feast for the senses and we hope you will come away inspired to showcase your unique style on the big day!
Danielle & Kathy xx
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Dani & Dave Dani and Dave’s friends always thought they’d be a good match, but it wasn’t until the power went out and Dave came to the rescue that their love story began. From a sweet proposal delivered by their pet pooch Maxx, to their relaxed outdoor wedding, the details are gorgeous and the smiles contagious!
the planning “The most important thing about the wedding was that it represented Dave and I and how we like to spend time with our friends and family. We wanted the atmosphere to be relaxed, but fun. Overall it was an enjoyable experience - we did a lot of the decorating ourselves which can be stressful, but it’s also very rewarding when you see it come to life.”
wedding day style The look of the day evolved as planning progressed, “From the start I wanted the wedding to be vintage, however I started to go a bit more rustic and bohemian the further along we went.” When it came to choosing a colour story, “The bridesmaids were in a peach colour and the boys wore maroon bow ties, so our florist created flowers that would complement and tie the colours together.”
the dress search Finding ‘the one’ was totally unexpected, “I had a different dress in mind the whole time. One with lots of beading and a bit more vintage. I tried a dress on at a bridal store which had a princess skirt and was surprised how much I liked it. I wasn't totally sold, so I went to Loui Col Designs and we talked about what I wanted. She was outstanding and created my dream dress!”
The Ceremony Dani and Dave chose a serene location for the ceremony, “We were very lucky to be able to have a Catholic ceremony outside. Dave's dad made us a beautiful cross for our backdrop and the setting was decorated with lots of flowers. We also had picnic blankets so people could relax during our ceremony.�
cocktail hour Looking after guests post ceremony was a priority, “Outside during canapés, there was a Pimms station and giant Jenga - everyone loved it! We had furniture on the grass for guests to relax and wheelbarrows around the area filled with bottles of water.”
stunning centrepieces Florals played a big part in the look Dani was after for their day, “The reception had flowers everywhere. I wanted the table settings to all be different, with the flowers spilling out of wooden boxes. Gold wine bottles were scattered around the venue with long candlesticks and lots of candles lighting up the whole area.�
Reception Details “Our seating plan was on an old door that one of my bridesmaids had. We chose walnut tiffany chairs to compliment the rustic boho theme. The menus were on cream bohemian paper and homemade chutneys, jams and curries were our bonbonnieres and doubled as place cards. Festoon lights were hung all around and gave the room a whimsical feel.�
best advice “Don’t stress about things you cannot control. No one will even notice the things you can't have or need to change. However, people also appreciate attention to detail and making the wedding more personal. That is what will set your wedding apart!�
Photography Ben Yew Photography Venue Fonty's Pool, Manjimup, WA Priest Fr Tony Chiera Flowers & Styling Mary and Ivor Lighting & Furniture Professional Misconduct Cake Cherish the Cake Gown Loui Col Designs Shoes Jimmy Choo Bridesmaids Dion for Brides Makeup Bianca Craven Make Up Hair House of Haylo Suits Jack London Bow Ties Gentleman and Scholar Invitations Paper Fusion Transport Warren Bus Service
s r e h & his R T S D E S S E
E TA B L
Sweet desserts customised to your style and vision for the perfect soirĂŠe!
AJCoPhotography
Email: his.hersdessertstable@yahoo.com
Ebony & Mitchell After a romantic proposal on a Croatian beach, Ebony and Mitchell wanted a relaxed wedding day shared with family and friends. Classically elegant with an old world twist, it features incredible blooms and sweet DIY set in a soft palette of pink, peach and grey.
Most important
“We kept things very casual and relaxed, which is very much the way we take on life day to day. Above all else, we loved having everyone together to enjoy the laughter and high spirits of such a special occasion.”
The planning experience
Ebony and Mitchell were surprised by how much was involved in the process, including the little details that aren’t considered in the beginning, “Things like coat hangers for the dresses so they look nice in photos; picking accommodation that will look good in the prep photos and have enough room; and even finding a nice knife for the cake cutting!”
A simple search
Ebony knew exactly the look she wanted for her wedding dress, “I had a pretty specific idea in mind, so I wasn't expecting to find it quickly. I found it in the second store we looked in on the first day - just luck I guess!�
Bridesmaid style
“The style I had in mind was ‘old world elegance’. I wanted it to be a soft colour, with lots of detail. When the girls and I went shopping, I was quite stressed out about the whole thing and trying to find something in one day. We ended up buying three bright blue dresses, which looked lovely on the girls, but not what I had in mind - we exchanged them the next weekend! We were meant to just change the colour in the same dress, but then I spotted these hanging with the gorgeous shawl and knew straight away that was what I wanted. The style just suited them all so perfectly.”
Favourite moments
Mitchell: “For me it was watching Ebony walk down the aisle in her dress. I had been hearing so much hype about it and was so excited to finally see it on her! Secondly the dancing and laughs at the reception, and listening to the memories, stories and advice from those who gave speeches.” Ebony: “I enjoyed the ceremony, it was so personal to us. I loved hearing Mitch's vows - they were beautiful, he was so organised and had them ready way before I did!”
Ceremony details
The secluded, hedged ceremony space featured a stone bench backdrop, decorated with a flowing runner, delicate bud vases, tea lights and lanterns. White organza draping and crystals from an antique chandelier also created a beautiful suspended centrepiece.
Personal touches
“We tried to keep clear of the wedding traditions as we were aiming for something more personal and unique that we knew we would enjoy, like writing our own vows and having our closest friends perform readings during the ceremony.�
The reception
“We went for tiffany chairs, romantic candlelight and floral centrepieces. Each of the candles were hand painted and the vases individually collected. The floral arrangements were put together by my bridesmaids and I the day before, and glass baubles with tealights were hung from the ceiling as a finishing touch.�
Family affair
“We asked people to help with the things they enjoy. My mum loves everything craft, so she was thrilled to work on the stationery. I also spent a weekend with Mitch's mother and grandmother making homemade strawberry jam to be given to guests as a favour at the reception."
Time capsule
Mitchell and Ebony asked guests to write notes of love, a favourite memory, their best marriage advice or predictions for the future and place them in boxes, to be opened on their first, fifth, tenth and twenty fifth anniversaries.
The cake
Three tiers of butterscotch, white chocolate mud with caramel ganache, and chocolate mud with Toblerone ganache.
Top tips
1. Always talk things through when they don’t go exactly to plan. 2. Stress less. Nothing is worth tears or tantrums on such a special day and everything will fall into place as it should when you have the wonderful people in your life working with you. 3. No matter when during the day, be sure to take 15 minutes out, for just the two of you. These moments to just talk and think will be so rare on the day!
Photography Raconteur Photography Venue Hillstone St Lucia, QLD Celebrant Paul Voge Flowers Flowers by Forrest Cake Deliberately Delicious Gown Elizabeth De Varga Bridesmaids Forever New Makeup Joanna Luhrs Hair Heidi Dann & Amy Reid Suits Connor
a little vintage bliss Wedding Hub
The Savvy Bride's Meeting Place The Wedding Hub is a 'chillaxed' place for brides to come to obtain information on selected high quality vendors. We provide brides with a comprehensive meeting to assist them in connecting with the very best in the wedding industry in South East Qld.
Open by appointment at 1/9 Kohl Street, Upper Coomera Tricia Tirado 0411 510 441 Facebook - alittlevintageblissweddinghub Website - www.alittlevintageblissweddinghub.com.au
Style Icons Many brides confess that they never expected to choose the gown they did for their wedding day - in an instant, their definition of personal style was changed. We asked four of Australia's most celebrated wedding dress designers to explore what style means to them, and share their advice for brides wanting to discover and showcase their unique style.
Karen Willis Holmes
What does style mean to you? “Style means something that stands out to me. I feel that it shows your personality through clothing.”
How did you discover your signature style? “I discovered my style through my lifelong love of fashion, influenced in particular by the 18th century and the 1940’s. My personal style is classical with a twist. I always wear minimal colours, no patterns and adding tailoring. These always work for my signature style, and I always factor these elements in when designing for my brides.”
What are your golden rules for wedding day style? “Making sure that you are true to yourself, and not only making sure the gown physically suits your body shape, but that it suits your personality as well.”
"Style shows your personality through clothing." - Karen Willis Holmes
Gwendolynne
What does style mean to you? “Style is being consistent in how you present yourself, believing in who you are and being true to your nature, and not buying into looks that you don’t really relate to. When I think of style, I imagine a look of the utmost elegance - style comes from within.”
How did you discover your signature style? “Playing, experimenting and taking risks. I am much braver in my clothes choices than others and try and inject my slant on things by designing clothes that are a little more forward.”
What are your golden rules for wedding day style? “Be yourself. Always do a hair and makeup trial to ensure you are happy with the total look, and take some images of yourself in hair and makeup you’ve liked before, not just references of other people. Also you do not see your shoes in a long dress but you do see the look of pain on your face if you choose an uncomfortable shoe. A peep toe wedge that takes the pressure off your feet, doesn’t sink into the grass and can be slipped off under the table when no one is looking is ideal.”
"Style is believing in who you are and being true to your nature."
- Gwendolynne
Anna Campbell
What does style mean to you? “For me, it is that moment where you can look at something and be completely wowed by it. Your eye isn’t jumping from one element to another, it is one unified, gorgeous piece of work.”
How did you discover your signature style? “It just evolves naturally, and will continue to evolve as we do. If it is aesthetically pleasing to our eye, we follow that path. If not, we move away from it and re-focus.”
What are your golden rules for wedding day style? “There is really only one rule – that your wedding day should represent the style of the couple. Style is unique to all of us, so you can never please everyone! If your wedding sings out your style and personality loud and clear, then that is enough. Just don’t have a wedding that feels like you are bending to create someone else’s style, or what you think you ‘should’ have. Just make it you and it will be perfect – for you.”
"Style evolves naturally, and will continue to evolve as we do."
- Anna Campbell
"Style is a fight against invisibility and an act of creative expression." - Jason Grech
Jason Grech
What does style mean to you? “Style means something different to each person. To me, style is about celebrating one's self, it’s a way of being. It's a fight against invisibility and an act of creative expression. It defines the way we choose to express our individuality across all facets of life.”
How did you discover your signature style? “I discovered my signature style by expressing who I am and what I love. I'm a huge fan of metal and silk belts, studs, leather, sharp beautiful shapes and skirts that move. I've incorporated all these in both my Red Carpet and Bridal collections. It took a couple of years to get the mix right for me and I am very blessed that people are drawn to it.”
What are your golden rules for wedding day style? “The only rule is staying true to who you are. The most beautiful weddings are those that represent the Bride and Groom. We are all sick of the generic weddings, so show us who you are as a couple. I want to walk into a wedding and instantly feel as though I know the couple personally because of the vision they have created.”
Photography Kirsty Duchet Venue Cameron Lodge, Mt Macedon VIC Styling Oh Perfect Day Flowers Flowers in a Vase Macarons Dessert Diva Gowns Karen Willis Holmes, Gwendolynne, Anna Campbell & Jason Grech Hair Platinum Perfection Makeup Melonie Santos Models Mary Vitinaros, Julia Gribble & Natalia Kalinowski
Finding your style Wedding day style is as much about the atmosphere you create as the gown you wear! Planner and stylist Jane Lovejoy of Oh Perfect Day shares her tips on personalising your style and developing a consistent vision from start to finish.
Must haves Always make sure your style reflects your priorities for your day. We call it our 'top ten' exercise - where we ask the couple to tell us what their top 5 'must haves' and 'must avoids' are. For example, if a relaxed atmosphere is one of your 'must haves', it might cancel out a traditional style of wedding set in a grand ballroom.
Searching widely Draw inspiration from a wide range of places. Wedding blogs and magazines are a great place to start but there are other sources to consider. Look at home style, your favourite cafĂŠ, nature, architecture, furniture, festivals, etc.
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Connect the dots Analyse your Pinterest boards and look at the links between each of your selections - what are the common threads running through your images? Are many of them featuring natural materials and textures? Do most have clean, modern touches? Slowly you will start to see some themes emerging.
Limiting labels Don't stress too much about trying to narrowly label your style or feel too constricted by your chosen style. For example, there are hundreds of interpretations of 'vintage' - yours might be more retro, someone else's could be a little industrial. You can also combine two styles to create something unique - contrast can be beautiful!
Perfect pairing Work with, not against your venue. Some contrast is great, but trying to compete with or change the nature of your space is not. Select elements that enhance and complement your surroundings.
Staying true The biggest mistake brides make is forgetting who they are, what they love and what inspires them every day, and copying what everyone else is doing for their wedding. A bride's perfect style can only be achieved when they express themselves in an original and personal way that is true to them.
Photography Kirsty Duchet Venue Cameron Lodge, Mt Macedon VIC Styling Oh Perfect Day Flowers Flowers in a Vase Macarons Dessert Diva
Be Adorned From heavenly veils to intricate headpieces, no wedding day look is complete without the perfect accessories. Designed by some of Etsy's most talented artisans, you can own any one of these stunning creations simply click on the images you love to visit the product listings.
Emma &Mark From a sweet, carnation-filled ceremony to reception under the stars, Mark and Emma's heartfelt celebration perfectly reflects their personalities. Their relaxed and stylish event is full of creative inspiration, with every detail thoughtfully planned and beautifully delivered.
Love story They met in high school, but Mark and Emma didn’t start dating until ten years later after a chance meeting at the gym. “We got engaged two years after that - Mark had made a year book, as he did at the end of our first year together...it was full of photos, and at the end was a proposal!”
The planning experience The couple stayed focused on what was most important, “We looked at it as a big party to celebrate our love, surrounded by our favourite people, so we kept it fun and relaxed! We loved sharing the excitement of it all - it was a great excuse to have lots of close times with our loved ones.”
Choosing a venue “We really wanted a venue that reflected who we are and what we love something relaxed yet classic, outdoors and fun. Fig Tree Restaurant was all of those things. We also wanted to have the wedding out of town but still close enough to home, so we could have a full weekend of celebrations with our family and friends.�
Finding the dress “I knew what I was after before we started shopping. I found the dress on the first day of looking... it was actually in the first shop I went to. I kept looking around all day, but went back for it because I just loved it!�
The best moments “The ceremony was beautiful and surreal - it was so special formalising our love in front of our favourite people! Our parents blessed our rings which we loved, because they are our role models. We also loved the speeches - hearing our closest family say a few words was perfect. And the dancing! We had so much fun dancing with all of our family and friends. It really was a perfect day and night.�
"We always said that as long as we had good food, wine and music, everyone would love it."
Bridal party styling “For the girls, I knew I wanted baby pink and something that wasn't typically bridesmaid-y! We found beautiful dresses in Review - they could be tied lots of different ways which was great. For the boys, we just wanted classic navy and brown, so they were pretty easy!”
Entertaining guests “Josh Boots Duo played during canapés and cocktails and created a really nice vibe so everyone could just relax and catch up. We also had a DJ play later in the evening, so everyone was up on the dance floor- it was great fun!”
Details, details “Our stationery design was fun, beautiful, timeless and very us, so with the help of the styling team at our venue, we carried that through the event. Our wedding was outdoors, so we had lots of gorgeous lighting, and used a combination of wood, navy, baby pink and white throughout. We also bought lots of custom items like signs, vow books and a ring box - Etsy was a great place to find these things!”
Best advice
LIFESIZE, LIGHT-UP LETTERS
“You can easily get carried away with the small bits and pieces particularly with some Pinterest inspiration! But on the day, having the perfect vases or favours doesn't really matter.” INFO@EVENTLETTERS.COM.AU | EVENTLETTERS.COM.AU
Photography Ivy Road Photography Venue & Styling Fig Tree Restaurant, Ewingsdale NSW Celebrant Katrina Holt Flowers The French Petal Cake Love In A Cake Gown White Lily Couture Bridesmaids Review Hair & Makeup Julie Corbet Groom The Black Label Groomsmen TM Lewin Invitations & Stationery The Wondery Entertainment North Coast Entertainment
☎ 0430 369 367
/EVENTLETTERS
La Vie Bohème
She's a free spirit, dancing barefoot through the lush and varied landscape of a mist filled valley, catching dreams on the gentle breeze and collecting wild blooms in her travels. If simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, this bohemian bride inspires natural beauty and effortless style with three looks named after the florals she carries. This is la vie bohème...
e Regal protea e
A white wicker peacock chair serves as a delicately detailed throne for this celebration of colour, with hanging amaranthus, yellow billy buttons, blue cornflowers, proteas and perfumed pink sweet pea contributing to this artful floral display. Our bride's gorgeous gown features a handcut, French lace bodice, illusion neckline and soft skirt tied gently at the waist, with a statement side braid, rose pink lip and defined eyes completing this bright and beautiful look.
{ Vintage rose{ This romantic look features a strapless lace gown with sweetheart neckline. Long, flowing locks in soft waves are paired with a glossy pink lip, delicate floral crown and feminine bouquet of cabbage roses, trailing garrya and hypericum berries. A plush, dusty pink lounge with dark timber edging nestles comfortably under a scented pine, the perfect place for this ethereal beauty to recline.
c Wild orchid c
A hidden glen offers this entrancing look its moment on a natural stage. Our woodland bride wears a stunning backless gown, complete with detailed sleeves, scalloped lace and dramatic train. A smokey eye and relaxed upstyle add elegance, with a unique bouquet of spectacular white orchids and gumnut clusters finished with trailing white ribbon.
“She wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes.” - Arundhati Roy
Photography Casey Jane Photography Venue Private Property Flowers Wedding Flowers by Julia Rose Furniture & Decor A Little Vintage Bliss Gowns Grace Loves Lace (1) & Made with Love (2 & 3) Hair & Makeup Brush & Blush Model Styling The Wedding Playbook Model Rachael Ogle
plan, style, celebrate It's one thing to come up with an amazing idea for your wedding and another to make it happen! Sarah Johnston, Director of planning and styling team Girl Friday Weddings, shares fresh inspiration and insights on managing all of the moments from "Yes!" to "I do".
how do planning and styling fit together?
what trends you are loving at the moment?
Event planners are focused on bringing all the components of a wedding together and the successful running of an event. Styling is a subset of planning, and different stylists offer different things - some will focus on the table decor, and others will help with everything from flowers to lighting.
Last season saw a shift away from cupcake towers (or no cake at all!) to couples taking up the trend of naked cakes. These work really well at less formal events but can be very fragile. Another new trend is cakes with watercolour painted effects, which work well with a more formal style of wedding.
do you have a favourite concept to plan or style? I really enjoy working with blank canvas venues. These are empty spaces where we bring everything in and transform it, and it’s amazing what you can do once you have all the right lighting and styling elements.
which styling details make the biggest impact? Definitely lighting, linens and flowers. Often lighting and linens are overlooked because of budget constraints, but these are the most impactful elements to create ambience.
what can sometimes be forgotten during planning? Brides can forget some of the finer details, like where programs, place cards, menus and bonbonnieres need to go and who will set them out. All supplier timings, from the limo driver to the florist, also need to be confirmed and one point of contact provided for the day in case something unexpected arises.
how do you make a difference during the planning process? Our clients have usually never planned an event like this before, so to have a professional ear as a sounding board can be the biggest help. It can take us a few minutes to solve a problem and save them weeks of agonising over the issue.
can you tell us a time when you had to solve a wedding day emergency? We had a Croquembouche topple over at one of our beachside weddings on a very humid day. We quickly had to shift the cake out to the kitchen and do some TLC to reassemble.
what are brides often surprised by? That what they felt was a luxury expense by booking the planner, actually became a necessity by the end of the event.
besides hiring a planner, what's one great way to guarantee a stress-free experience? Planning a fantastic honeymoon, because that’s usually what couples look forward to most of all!
wedding style ideas rustic country "Barn and cellar door weddings are always popular. Hay bales and food trucks are always a fun idea, and they look great in the photos too!"
modern restaurant "Black tie is always a stand out when it comes to modern restaurant weddings, with opulent floral centrepieces, fantastic lighting and classic linens."
classic garden "Garden games such as bocce and croquet are always a hit, as well as refreshment tables styled to the nines." Photography Sarkodie Photography Venue Bendooley Estate, NSW Styling Girl Friday Weddings
Laya & Peter After six years together, Peter proposed to Laya during a romantic ski trip to Japan. Their modern wedding is full of vibrant colour and spectacular blooms, beginning with a stunning beaded gown and ending with a beautiful, candlelit reception.
the dress search “After trying on various designs I had a clear picture of what I thought would suit me and had decided on the style. I thought this would make the task of finding the right dress a lot easier, but it took months of searching. When I finally came across it online, that was it. When it arrived, the fully beaded dress weighed three kilos and I was a little nervous, but after trying it on I had no regrets. A few alterations later and I was done!�
bridesmaid style “For the bridesmaids I wanted a simple, fresh but feminine outfit and the earthy pink was the perfect colour.� Sleek ponytails, silver accessories and opulent bouquets featuring peonies and roses completed this beautiful look.
“The day was a perfect combination of everything we loved - friend s, family, music and celebration.�
Plan b Creative thinking from the couple's suppliers in challenging weather conditions resulted in a uniquely styled ceremony and extra wow factor for their reception! “Unfortunately our arch collapsed before the ceremony started due to some unexpectedly strong winds. Our florist managed to salvage flowers to place in an arc around us, and the remaining went towards the hanging installation for the reception. I was thankful to have such lovely professionals help out.�
Reception Details The reception styling centred on celebrating bright florals, with petals and assorted flower heads scattered amongst tea light candles. A botanical themed menu and soy candle bonbonnieres added a personal touch, with a floral chandelier providing a beautiful focal point for the dance floor.
The Cake Pete and Laya chose a creative cake flavour that wowed the crowd, “We had a pink ombre, piña colada cake. It was exactly the colour and style that I wanted - and guests loved the taste!”
best advice 1. Prewedding photos - these are a great way to get an idea of how you photograph, from your smile to your posture. In many ways it’s nice to have a practice run ahead of time. 2. Have a plan for the order of events on the big day and be sure to share that with someone you trust who can coordinate for you. 3. On the day - smile, laugh and have fun!
you've read their story, now see the film...
Photography Jerome Cole Photography Film Lovely Day Films Ceremony Venue Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne VIC Reception Venue Carousel Celebrant Sally Hughes Decor & Furniture The Wedding Zone Flowers Pomp and Splendour Cake Sweet by Nature Gown Theia Shoes BHLDN Bridesmaids BHLDN Hair & Makeup Zoe Karlis Groom M.J. Bale Groomsmen Formal Red Entertainment Baker Boys Band Transport Triple R Luxury Car Hire
Discover more inspiration here...
www.theweddingplaybook.com