Wedding resources

To conclude our wedding series I thought it might be a good idea to share some great resources I have come across:

Pinterest:

One of my favourite places to find inspiration! and it's an excellent way to keep track of all the great ideas you find online. Simply pin all your finds to your board and you will easily be able to get back to them. And use the search function to find lots of other great ideas from people around the world. Here's a link to our wedding board: http://www.pinterest.com/pixieparty/weddings/

I also recommend: Hostess with the Mostess - they have heaps of boards and quite a few are wedding related so have a look through the list.

And just type 'weddings' in the search box to find heaps more!

Facebook:

Weddings in New Zealand is a new facebook group which has just been set up to help people getting married make connections with those in the wedding industry, in New Zealand. It's a closed group so brides can speak openly and ask questions of suppliers without 'giving anything away' to friends & family - if you would like to join here's the link to request to be added: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingsinnz/

Wedding magazines:

There are heaps to choose from at your local bookstore but don't forget all the free online magazines as well. Head over to http://issuu.com/ and type 'wedding' in the search box and you will find heaps to choose from including Magnolia Rouge which is published in New Zealand - it has a beautiful images, lots of inspiration, and features weddings from around the world.

And a lovely new wedding magazine has just been launched in New Zealand - Blush. Blush Magazine is a bridal journal and bridal lifestyle magazine all rolled into one and features real wedding stories, fashion shoots, interviews with people in the industry, a men’s wear section and articles on couples from their first date to the moment they fell in love, and so much more, all laid out on gorgeous organic wood free paper.   The editors are Aleisha Liebezeit from "The Love Collective Ltd" and Renee Calder from “Renee Calder Design”.  Based in Nelson but selling New Zealand wide & overseas. Magazines can be bought direct here. And we are lucky enough to have one of their first editions to give away - check out our facebook page to find out how to enter!

Regional guides:

Here's a few regional guides which will help you connect with local suppliers in these areas:

Auckland: www.aucklandweddings.co.nz

Christchurch: www.christchurchweddingplanner.co.nz

Dunedin: www.dunedinweddingplanner.co.nz

Wedding Expos:

Here's a few I've seen advertised lately that are coming up over the next few months:

Hitched Wedding Show, Rotorua - 1st June 2014: www.rotoruaweddingshow.co.nz

Waikato Wedding Expo - 29th June 2014: www.weddingexpo.net.nz

Mid Canterbury Wedding Expo - 27 July 2014: www.effortlessevents.co.nz/wedding-expo-ashburton

These are just a few resources, I'm sure there are 1,000's more! Feel free to post links to other resources as a comment below. 

And don't forget to pop over to our facebook page to find out how to get in the draw to win a copy of the first edition of Blush magazine (NZ residents only, will be drawn 8pm NZ time 10/5/14)

If you are planning your big day have lots of fun planning a magical day and we hope our wedding blog series has been helpful and provided some inspiration :0)

5 Steps to Planning a Wedding your Groom will want to help organise

In this issue of our wedding blog series Letitia from Quintessential Concierge shares some wedding planning tips ...

We believe it’s important that the Groom be wholeheartedly involved in the planning process of your big day. This is so his tastes and preferences can be encompassed with yours to make for the day you both desire.

Men need to be wanted and needed by their partners, so include him by asking him some questions to help define your personal taste, preferences and style i.e. Is there a hobby or pursuit that he would like to incorporate into the wedding in some way?
{editor's note: if you're looking for some fun ideas check out our earlier blog post: what about grooms favourite things?!}

{image source: stylemepretty.com}

Once you’ve got him on board here are a few tips in planning that perfect day together:

1. Start planning early. If you start late this could drastically reduce your options and you’ll end up with your second choice. Try to have at least 3 months before the big day.

2. Get organised. Create a document that includes supplier names, contact numbers and other important details. Not only are all details in one place you can hand it to your bridesmaids on the day!

3. Be smart with the budget. Keep your wishes realistic. If the budget is tight, spend a little less on things like wedding favours.

4. Send out the wedding invitations. Do your research on design well in advance. Keeping in mind time for printing and delivering. Send your invitations around two months prior to the wedding date.

5. Make it about you and your groom. Keep the day personal, guests love when couples make weddings individual, being pleasantly surprised with unusual and quirky variations.

What are you waiting for, get that gorgeous groom involved and start planning!

To get in touch please view Quintessential Concierge’s website and facebook page. Letitia is your lifestyle management specialist - your personal assistant on your wedding day!

Including your pet in your wedding

Continuing with our wedding series, Kelly O'Neill from Happy Pawes shares some ideas for including your pet in your special day ...

As much as we want our wedding to just be about being a happy bride and groom it really does become a family affair.

We have all been there choosing our guests, deciding who is in the bridal party and most importantly of all who will keep hold of the rings at the alter? Will it be the very reliable bestman or our wonderful dog who is being a part of your big day and who has been asked to be ring bearer.

 Having your pet take part in the wedding ceremony is now becoming more common than you think, most dogs will either have the rings clipped to their collar so that they are easily accessible or they will wear a little cushion on their collar to show off the rings while walking down the aisle.

Some families even choose to have their dogs as bridesmaids just to add a bit of cuteness, they of course do not wear a dress but they may have a little flower clipped to their collar of the bridal party colours.

Lots of outside venues in Auckland are allowing dogs to be part of the wedding party, it doesn't suit all dogs as they must be able to respond to their name, sit patiently and quietly and walk nicely on the lead, for some dogs they need just a little bit of training but for some the reality is it would be to stressful for their dog to take part.

We really do see our dogs as part of the family and we really want them to be involved as much as possible on a day that is so special and we at Happy Pawes try and help to make the process as easy as possible which includes some basic training if required, making sure your dog gets to and from the venue and looking after them during the ceremony.

I have to say it is a fun part to the job we do and so lovely to see how much impact our dogs have on our lives and also to be a part of our clients special day.

To find out more and get in touch with Kelly and the team at Happy Pawes head over to their website or facebook page. As well as this great service for weddings they also have other services including a doggy daycare. dog training, cat training and cat minding.

2014 Bridal Hair Trends

Want to know the latest trends for bridal hair? Here's a run down from Cherie of Cherie B Hair & Makeup in Hamilton.

Boho chic hairstyles are as popular as ever with today's brides. However, if you are after a style that is going to set you apart from the crowd there are a few key trends for 2014 you should consider.

The first trend, seen on this seasons runways, are braids. From Monique Lhuillier to Rachel Zoe, this look was seen in various stylings. A braid can take a simple style to the next level. Whether it be incorporated into a down-do or made into an elaborate up-do. This trend is a gentle transition from the usual Boho look.
 

{image sources: 1. Beauty-Zone (beauty-zone.org); 2. Getty images (bellasugar.com); 3. IMAXTREE/Getty (magazine.fourseasons.com)}

The next trend focuses on a Vintage Ethereal theme. This was shown in its finest form at the Jenny Packham Fall 2014 collection. To replicate this beautiful look, think voluminous curls teased into a faux bob.

{image sources: 4.Getty/Randy Brooke (fabsugar.com); 5. Getty/Randy Brooke (hellomagazine.com)}

Stepping further into elegant beauty, the next trend takes you in the direction of the Sleek Modern bride. The styles are endless with this trend.......side-swept ponytails,  french twists, chic chignons, and sleek centre partings all made an appearance on designer runways such as Jason Wu, Vera Wang, and Carolina Herrera.

{image sources: 6. Getty images (nadyana.com); 7. Carolina Herrera Bride (carolinaherrerabride.com); 8. Carolina Herrera Bride (carolinaherrerabride.com); 9. Getty images (glamour.com); 10. Getty/Handbag (elleuk.com)}

Probably my favourite was displayed on the models for Romona Keveza ......think Nicole Kidman at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.....gorgeous!

{image sources: 11. Getty/JP Yim (zimbio.com); 12. Getty/JP Yim (brides.com)}

Finally, hair accessories also play a big part in 2014. Flowers are continuing to be a popular choice, from a halo to delicately placing in a braid. Jeweled headbands made their way onto the Jenny Packham models, and large statement pieces are a lovely alternative to a traditional veil.
 

{image sources: 13. Getty images (weddingideasmag.com); 14. Beauty-for-brides (Beauty-for-brides.com); 15. Getty/Astrid Stawiarz (popsugar.com.au); 16. Getty images (dailymail.co.uk)}

Whatever hairstyle you choose, make sure to consult and work closely with your hairstylist, to come up with something that works well for you. They will be able to guide you into finding the perfect look for your big day!

To contact Cherie pop over to her website. Cherie is available for all occasions where you find you need that professional touch with your hair and makeup. From weddings to balls, birthday parties to one on one consultations, Cherie can work with you to achieve your desired result!

Feel radiant and gorgeous on your special day

Whether you decide to do your own make up or have a Make up Artist do it for you, here are some tips from Bronwyn, personal image consultant from Look Great to help you look and feel radiant and gorgeous on your special day.

{image source: beautymakeupartistry.com}

Looking after your skin on both the inside and outside will make a big difference to how your skin looks. Eat foods with lots of skin boosting nutrients.  Maintain a good skincare routine and exfoliate your face 2-3 times per week leading up to your wedding day. Treat yourself to a facial  2-3 days beforehand and have your eyebrows groomed and shaped and have any other beauty treatments done.

Your wedding day is not the time to experiment and try something new so that you end up not looking like yourself, so avoid any trend driven looks and instead opt for a more classic look.  Your makeup should enhance and complement your natural features and be an exquisitely polished version of how you usually look. Have a trial beforehand to make sure you are happy with how it will look on the day.  Look for photos of looks you like and remember that wedding make up needs to have enough colour to compensate for the whiteness of the dress if you are wearing white or cream.

{image source: www.prweb.com}

A face primer will even out your skin tone, help with any blemishes and help your make up last for the day. Your foundation colour should match your skin tone and avoid going too dark. If you are going to have a spray tan you may need to go a shade darker so that your face blends with the colour on your neckline. Wear a foundation suitable for your skin type. If you have oily skin you should wear an oil free foundation. If you have dry or more mature skin then wear a foundation that provides good hydration and light reflecting particles. Concealer is good for covering dark circles under eyes and any blemishes.

Ensure your eyebrows are well defined with an eyebrow pencil or shadow. Wear contrasting eye shadow colours that will enhance your eyes. Soft neutrals such as beiges and browns may not show so well in photos. Instead choose from shades of blues, greens, pinks and purples. Applying eyeliner on your top and bottom lids will help define your eyes even more. Waterproof mascara is the best option and if you don’t have naturally long lashes, you may like to have eyelash extensions or have your eyelashes curled.

{image source: ladylovehairandmakeup.com.au}

Your lipstick colour may need to be a shade or two brighter than what you might usually wear so that it shows up well in photos. To make sure it lasts the distance, apply lip liner to both outline and fill in your lips. Apply a coat of lipstick then blot your lips with a tissue before applying another coat. After all you want to make sure it remains on your lips after kissing your handsome groom.  Have your lipstick handy on the day to reapply before photos and after eating.

{image source: heliweddings.co.nz}

For the final touches, apply a translucent powder to set your make up and a stroke of blusher to your highlight your cheekbones. 

Enjoy being an even more gorgeous version of yourself on your special day!

For more great tips & ideas or to find out more about Bronwyn's personal image consultant services please pop over the Look Great website. You might also like to follow Look Great on Facebook.

Planning the perfect wedding… with stationery to match

As we continue our wedding theme here are some really useful tips & ideas on wedding stationery from Graphic Designer, Amber from Cre8tive

They say it takes over 200 hours to plan a wedding... When it came to my wedding some say I was lucky, I won a radio competition and was whisked away to get married on a plane heading for Fiji, but that didnt mean that I stopped planning... I knew what I wanted, even if it was on an extremely tight time frame! and lets be honest, even if you havent been planning your wedding since you were 5 years old, we are strong independent ladies that know what we want for our big day!

When I talk to people about what I do I hear the same phrase ALOT... “oohh have you worked with many Bridezillas” and to this I have the same response, I LOVE Bridezillas, they know what they want and they are not afraid to tell me what that is! and in my job that makes life so much easier.

So what is it that I do... I am a Graphic Designer that has a passion for wedding stationery. Wedding stationery will be the first thing your guests receive from you to tell them you are getting married and could very likely be the last... from Save the date cards to thankyou cards, seating plans to table name cards and flat card invites to pocketfolds I do it all! Your theme, your style, your personalities... so I know a little about wedding stationery!

So what are my top 10 frequently asked questions when it comes to wedding stationery;

1. Do I need to send save the date cards? 
Honestly no, but it cant hurt right... there is nothing worse than sending out your invites only to find out that there is another wedding that weekend or everyone is heading off to the 7’s and no-one can come. Sending a save the date card is just that, a notification to save the date, if you are getting married on a budget your can always send an electronic Save the Date and avoid the printing and postage costs... my top tip, the more notice you can give the better, especially if you have guests travelling to be at your wedding and they will need to book accommodation.

2. When should I send my Save the date cards and wedding invites?
Again, dont leave it to the last minute - I always suggest 6-9 months ahead of time for the Save the date cards and 3-4 month ahead of time for the invites, with RSVP’s about 1-1.5 months from the wedding date that way you can chase up the last few and give numbers to the caterer on time. When in doubt... send it out, you can never give you guests enough notice.

3. How long does it take to make my wedding stationery?
Wedding invitations take longer than you might think, so the more notice you can give the designer the better. As a rule of thumb I would work with 2 months, by the time you give them the information, get it designed, check it, make alterations, get it proofed and ultimately printed 2 months will fly by!

4. How many invites will I need?
I tend to work on the policy of half the number of guests and add 15... so for 100 guests I would suggest about 65 invites, but you are always best to check your guests list as you may have more families or singles and need to adjust that number, most designers will be able to get additional invitations printed should you require more last minute ones.

5. Why should I get a designer to do my invites when “Aunty Sarah” can do them for me for nothing?
We all know how expensive weddings can be, but more importantly how stressful they can be... I get asked alot “why should I use a designer for my wedding stationery when my sister/auntie/cousin etc can do it for nothing” - and this is my honest answer; I suggest a professional designer for the following reasons; they are a professional, they have no emotional attachment to your wedding and will design exactly what you ask for not what they think looks best, they will use a commercial printer to print your wedding stationery, they will deliver on time, they have been through this before and know what to look for... what can go wrong.

6. Using a Designer is too expensive?
Most of the time the money that you will spend on creating your own invitations and wedding stationery will be the same or less if you go with a professional designer... what you don't take into account is the hours upon hours that you will have to spend glueing and cutting and sticking and folding and printing and cutting and glueing.... you have enough to plan without spending days on end creating wedding stationery and they have done it all before so they will have a system.

7. What wedding stationery is available?
Anything is possible when working with a professional, I have been asked to do everything including; save the date cards, save the date luggage tags, flat card invites, pocketfold invites, postcard invites, Seating plans, table name cards, menu cards, table numbers, fingerprint trees, wishing well signs, ceremony programmes, favour swing tags, posters for the walls with key quotes, thank-you cards and wedding websites. If you have something in mind check with the designer and they will tell you if it is possible.

8. Pre-designed vs individually designed stationery?
There are a number of online stores that sell pre-designed wedding stationery, you give them the wedding information and they change the text, this is a good option if you are working to a budget but want a professionally designed invitation, just remember if you want to start making significant changes to the template most of the time they will charge you for the work.

9. How much should I spend on my stationery?
Experts say you should look to spend about 5% of your total wedding budget on wedding stationery, so if you are spending $25,000 on the wedding all up then the cost of the wedding stationery and favours should be approximately $1250, if your wedding budget is $10,000 then you should be looking at approximately $500. It is important to make sure the invitations you purchase fit in with your budget. You don’t have to be extravagant to find quality invitations. Go with your priorities. Let the designer know what your budget is and how many people you are inviting and they should be able to come back to you with some options to choose from.

10. Final Tips and hints with your wedding stationery
* Square stationery will usually cost you more in postage.
* Always get someone else to proof read the stationery, the more you look at it the less chance you have of spotting the mistakes.
* Always ask for a proof before you go to print.
* Ask if there are package discounts for a number of items, ie, save the date cards, invites and thankyou cards.
* It is ok to have a child free wedding, if you are having trouble finding the right words ask your designer as they have probably had to include similar wording before and can probably give you some options.
* Shop around, ask a couple of designers for quotes, but more importantly ask to see some previous work to make sure that they have a style that you like.
*The internet and Pinterest can be a great starting point for wedding invites... take a look and find things that you like, that will help speed things up with the design, even if it is the font from one design, the colour from the other and the style from another... they can make it work for you.
* Know approximately how many invites you require and whether you need envelopes before you ask for quotes, also have a good idea on colours or themes, this will help the designer provide you with a more accurate quote.
* Have a good idea the wording you want to use... ie, formal or more casual, do you want Robert and Sarah Jones and Rodney and Carol Smith invite you to the marriage of their Son William and Daughter Jane or William and Jane and their families invite you to celebrate their marriage... or something in-between.

And last but not least... Your wedding stationery is the first thing your guests will see and acts as a little teaser of what to expect from your wedding day, whether you are spending $10 or a million dollars always remember that this day is about you both and your stationery should be to. Send what makes you happy, even if it is a post-it note with a day and time on it.

Cre8tive can provide wedding stationery nationwide and is more than happy to provide a no obligation quote on request. To find out more about how Cre8tive can help with the perfect wedding stationery to fit any budget please email cre8tive.amber@gmail.com or visit our website or Facebook page. Use the keyword "Pixie Party Supplies” to get 10% off any full stationery package!

Trend alert - Ombre Wedding Cakes!

In this issue of our wedding blog series Janine from Temptation Cakes tells us about the latest wedding cake trend ...

Ombre Cakes for those who are new to the Wedding cake scene are the next hottest trend and WOW I can see why. Made with yummy dreamy creamy butter cream (not fondant) its a cake for those of you who always throw the fondant icing on standard wedding cakes to the side and only eat the actual cake!

They can be made in ANY colour imaginable with as many as 12 shades graduating slowly up the cake till its white on the top tier - its just such a beautiful effect.

My recommendation on the best colours would be to go with pinks/reds/oranges as purple goes through a grey colouring when ombreing it.

They just ooze the summer wedding vibe in pinks, purples and apricots.

I also did one at the weekend using PASTELS so lilac, pink , peach lemon up to white/ivory on the top tier and it looked stunning.

They are also a great option also for the budget conscious and I also do in 2 tiers for the smaller wedding.

You most often see the cakes stacked directly on top of one another but you can also use a stand between the layers like this lovely example

As they are not fondant they can be stored in the fridge on extremely hot days until the cake is put on display for the guests which can be a total life saver in hot humid Auckland conditions where at times fondant work cakes can be very tricky indeed to deal with around humidity.

Ombre cakes look great with flowers either in bunches or just a single flower. You can also adorn the stand with flowers.

And if you don't want flowers, these simple hearts matching the darkest shade of the ombre also look great as toppers. These would also make a lovely cake for an engagement party.

Textured Ombre cakes can also be made solely in white, here is an awesome example of a 4 tier created for a Wedding recently at Mantells in Mt Eden. The cake I delivered on the day of the Wedding and the bride arranged for the cake to be adorned by her florist at the venue. What an awesome idea! and quite an economical one.

And here's a white on ivory ombre wedding cake with rosettes on top - petite for those small weddings of less than 40 guests 

I hope you've enjoyed looking through some of Janine's amazing work! To get in touch please head over to the Temptation Cakes website and facebook page. Janine does cakes for all occasions, not just weddings and has a great gallery of examples of her work on her website.

7 must have items for your wedding day emergency kit

In this issue of our wedding blog series we have asked Annalise from Little & Sorted to share a few of her tips for what you should pop in your wedding day emergency kit ...

It’s your wedding day and everything is going to be perfect.  Isn’t it? Well, in reality most wedding days do have a few hiccups here and there.  Perhaps it’s a bit windy, and your hair goes a bit crazy for the photos, or you spill your coffee on your gorgeous (and very expensive!) dress.   These little things can be easily fixed by thinking through the possibilities, keeping calm and being prepared.

It's clear that a wedding day emergency kit is a great idea.  But what should you put in them?  We have done the thinking for you - here are our top 7 must have items for your Wedding day emergency kit – and they each have an alternative use:

Lip stick

You will most definitely want to touch up your lipstick before the photos, reception, or even just before the ceremony.  Check with your make-up artist exactly what colour she is using and purchase your own to add to your kit.

Alternative use – With the right shade of lip stick you can use it as a blusher as well if you need a touch up.

Stain Remover

Arguably the most important item in a wedding is the dress, and generally it is white or close to it, so it will be unforgiving if you spill something on it.  And of course – all eyes will be on you!  Having some stain remover wipes on hand means you can wipe away the stain and no one will ever know!

Alternative use – If you don’t end up spilling on your dress, you can use the wipe to clean your shoes too!

Handkerchief or tissues

Both the ceremony and the reception can be emotional events, so it is nice to have a lace handkerchief on hand to wipe away those tears.  Even the groom might have a tear in his eye.  Tissues will also do the trick, but a lace handkerchief is that little bit nicer.

Alternative use - You can also use a handkerchief to blot your face before photos to take away the shine.

{image source: chicagoweddingdjs.com}

Pain killers

The stress and emotion that weddings bring, often bring with them a headache, which is the last thing you want to spoil your big day.  So having a few painkillers of your choice in your kit are a must. 

Alternative use – if you don’t need them on the day, keep them for the next day.  You might need them!

Comb and bobby pins

Hairspray can hold that gorgeous style in place, but if you are outside and it is blowing a gale, you will be very thankful to have a comb and some bobby pins on hand.

Alternative use – if your zipper pull breaks off, you can use your bobby pin to pull up your zip.  Or they can be used to hold speech cards together.

{image source: weddbook.com}

Toothbrush, toothpaste and floss

You want to look perfect on your wedding day, and parsley stuck in your teeth is not a good look.  So make sure after eating you brush and floss your teeth to make sure you are looking the way the beautiful bride should. You could also use a dental wipe if you don’t want to take your toothbrush and toothpaste along.

Alternative use – your toothbrush can also be used as a eyebrow comb and the toothpaste can be used to get marks off white shoes.

Bottle of water and a straw

Getting married is thirsty work, especially if it is the midst of summer.  Make sure you have water on hand to keep hydrated.  And drink through a straw to keep lipstick intact.

Alternative use – Use the water to wash your hands after touching up make up to make sure you don’t transfer it to your dress.

Other items to consider:

Sewing kit	Earring Backs	Bandaids
Deodorant	Mirror	Blotter Paper
Sunscreen	Pen	Paper
Hair Ties	Paper Clips	Hand sanitiser
Mints	Tampons	Chapstick
Moisturiser	Cotton buds	Hair spray
Nail polish	Nail polish remover	Corsage pins
Black socks	Heal protectors for walking on grass	Spare underwear
Double sided tape	Lint remover brush	Energy drinks
Snacks	Bluetac	Medicines
Rescue remedy	Hair ties	Safety Pins

You can always start your wedding day emergency kit off, with a Little and Sorted Wedding Assistant kit.

These cute little kits (RRP $29.95) from www.littleandsorted.co.nz  include: 

• 2x Bobby Pins • 1x Earring Back • 2x Safety Pins • 2x Clear Bandaids • 1x Dental Finger Wipe • 1x Dental Floss • 1x Comb • 1x Compact Mirror • 1x Sewing Kit • 1x Sunscreen Sachet • 1x Lace Handkerchief • 1x Stain Remover • 1x Deodorant Wipe.

You can check out more of Little and Sorted’s handy little just in case kits over on their website, facebook page, on Pinterest, Twitter or sign up to their newsletter here