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.