There's something magical about being able to incorporate a special family heirloom or antique into a wedding. For me, I am "making over" the same veil that both my mother and my grandmother wore when they were married.
I've ordered my veil, just a single layer, fingertip length white one. I intend to have a dressmaker add my mother's veil layers to it when the veil arrives, in about 10 days time.
I also inherited, from my paternal grandmother, my great-aunt's engagement ring. While it is gorgeous, the style is not something that is "me". I want to get a jeweller to melt the ring down into a plain gold band, and set the diamonds into it. A simple wedding band, that will match my engagement ring.
What was your something old? Or, what will it be?
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Decisions, in pictures
My Dress for the ceremony in Vanuatu
My boquet-white roses (From Special Occasions on FaceBook), bridesmaids to have something similar, but smaller
Ceremony & Honeymoon:
Sunset Bungalows, Port Vila, Vanuatu- check out their website
Photographer ( in Perth):
Terence Boylen Photography
Hair & Makeup (in Perth):
Flawless Flair-Nicole Hare, Napoleon Perdis certified makeup artist
Travel agent for ceremony & honeymoon:
Small Guide Travel/Go Vanuatu
My gown for our reception in Perth ( the arms are adjustable and interchangable, which is great because I don't like the way its's styled on the model)
Sunset Bungalows, Port Vila, Vanuatu- check out their website
Photographer ( in Perth):
Terence Boylen Photography
Hair & Makeup (in Perth):
Flawless Flair-Nicole Hare, Napoleon Perdis certified makeup artist
Travel agent for ceremony & honeymoon:
Small Guide Travel/Go Vanuatu
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Ramblings of a tight ass bride....
Reception options:
Number 1 (depends on if our house is built in time)-
Informal reception at our home. Think homemade finger foods, lots of champagne, round tables with white tablecloths, candles and lots of large bowls filled with an assortment of fresh fowers.
Cake, speeches,toasts and a viewing of the ceremony in Vanuatu for anyone who missed out.
Relaxed, fun. Sums up us in a nutshell.
Number 2 (if we don't have a large enough space at our home)-
Breakfast Champagne reception- we're off to the Hyatt for Keelin's hens breakfast this weekend, and for $35p/h, you get a full buffet breakfast ( danishes, muffins, croissants-the works), and champagne.
Easy!
We'd obviously "do" speeches etc there too, but the beauty is that there's someone else to worry about finer details such as decorating and "is there enough food?".
Depending on how our saving goes this year (have to remember it IS only February at the moment), we may very well be able to go with option one...
We shall see!
Number 1 (depends on if our house is built in time)-
Informal reception at our home. Think homemade finger foods, lots of champagne, round tables with white tablecloths, candles and lots of large bowls filled with an assortment of fresh fowers.
Cake, speeches,toasts and a viewing of the ceremony in Vanuatu for anyone who missed out.
Relaxed, fun. Sums up us in a nutshell.
Number 2 (if we don't have a large enough space at our home)-
Breakfast Champagne reception- we're off to the Hyatt for Keelin's hens breakfast this weekend, and for $35p/h, you get a full buffet breakfast ( danishes, muffins, croissants-the works), and champagne.
Easy!
We'd obviously "do" speeches etc there too, but the beauty is that there's someone else to worry about finer details such as decorating and "is there enough food?".
Depending on how our saving goes this year (have to remember it IS only February at the moment), we may very well be able to go with option one...
We shall see!
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Monday, 9 January 2012
Engagement Party- January 7th, 2011
So, we became an "engaged" couple almost a year ago. So we thought it was about time to have a party to celebrate!
Our party was held at Perth's Botanica Bar and Bistro, in Innaloo. The venue was perfect, the staff were incredible, and all in all- a fabulous night was had by everyone, the couple included!
It was a laid-back affair, with lots of food, candles and alcohol to be had by all!
My dad gave the most beautiful speech (completely by surprise), and it was so amazing to share the night with our friends and family!
I've posted a few shots from the night, however the majority are on Face.Book!
Enjoy.
Our party was held at Perth's Botanica Bar and Bistro, in Innaloo. The venue was perfect, the staff were incredible, and all in all- a fabulous night was had by everyone, the couple included!
It was a laid-back affair, with lots of food, candles and alcohol to be had by all!
My dad gave the most beautiful speech (completely by surprise), and it was so amazing to share the night with our friends and family!
I've posted a few shots from the night, however the majority are on Face.Book!
Enjoy.
Monday, 12 December 2011
Beautiful Wedding On A Budget
A friend of mine asked us how we're managing to keep the cost of our wedding down.
Here's how:
DO NOT TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE. At one stage, we were looking at a ceremony and reception combined. One day. $12,000. 150 guests. And the stress! Do we invite my relatives whom I only see once every few years? Mum and Dad's friends? Primary school friends? Where do you draw the line?
GO OVERSEAS!!!This string of questions led us to joking about eloping. Then we looked into booking our honeymoon as a distraction. That led to us investigating having our wedding ceremony and honeymoon combined in Vanuatu. My advice, if and where possible, The fact we're not shelling out extra money on TOP of a wedding here in Perth has meant we've got money for smaller things, and for our house deposit.
HAVE A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT!!! Easier said than done, I know, but be realistic about what you do need, what you don't need, and what you may be able to comprimise on/beg/borrow/steal.
Have a friend who is great with a camera? Wedding photographer. Someone close to you who is an amazing baker and cake decorator? Wedding Cake. Have a friend or family member with a lovely, big home or garden? Ask if you can have the wedding ceremony/reception there. Do not be afraid to ask. It never hurts.Do you really,really need a 3 couse, sit down meal AND cake? Do you really need wedding favours, flower girls, a horse and carriage to get there, a $3000 meringue dress? By defining what you will really, really need will help. For us it was a good photographer, an area for on outdoor wedding, alcohol and our honeymoon. The rest, we've managed to cut out or find alternatives.
ENTER COMPETETIONS!!!!!! We won our wedding photography by simply entering online. It was a complete fluke, but it took me about a minute. Go to Bridal Fairs/Expos- write down your details and enter every and any competition on offer. All of them. Take a friend and get them to help you! It's how we ended up choosing who to build our house with- at a bridal expo!
BE REALISTIC! Not the sort of person who wears a dress regularly? Don't go the whole hog in a meringue, white, tulle covered dress, with a full on veil and a boquet of 100 roses. Stick with what you're comfortable in. I am having a halter neck, cream dress that is very simple. It is lovely, but I'll feel like myself. Not the sort of person who is good a public speaking? Don't have a wedding ceremony and reception with 200 people. Keep it simple. Maybe don't even have anyone except witnesses. On a budget? Don't have the full on schebang wedding. If you explain, people will understand that your priorities lie in something other than spending money on one day.
FIND ALTERNATIVES!! Is there something you can't "let go of"? For me, it was the idea of roses for my wedding boquet. Then I got a quote for 3 post style boquets. $500, straight up. THEN, we decided to have the ceremony overseas. Does Vanuatu have roses? Probably not, being a tropical island.
Here's how we have found alternatives to pricey or unavailable issues
Decorations: Beg/Borrow/Steal. We're having a reception at home, and are planning to buy, rather than hire, a marquee. Hire- $5000 plus. Buying-$500. And we can use it again. Or just sell it. The decorations will be simple. Think fairy lights, candles and vases of flowers with a teal and white/cream theme. All of which have been purchased or borrowed for our engagement party. Re-use where possible!
Flowers: Look up Special Occastions on Facebook, then tell me you MUST have real flowers for your boquet. For a total of $250 covering postage too, I'm recieiving 3 boquets in cream roses, and 3 hair pins with the same colour rose attached. And I'm not talking small boquets, I'm talking really big, expensive looking ones. And I can take them to Vanuatu. And I don't have to worry about keeping them in water. And I can keep them. Maybe.
Dresses: Have a design, but they're all out of your price range? Get quotes from a dress maker. Is the style simple? Maybe a family member or friend can make your dress, or the bridesmaids dresses? Pale skin? Can't wear white- well, don't wear it! I have the most stunning "diamond" white dress, which suits my skin tone beautifully. A friend of mine wore the most stunning deep RED wedding gown. She looked amazing. Scour shops for ball dresses- see if they come in a more "bridey" colour. Ball gowns tend to be a fraction of the cost of a wedding gown.
DO NOT MENTION THE "W" WORD ( Wedding)!!!! As an experiment, I called a florist for a quote for a posy of white roses for a wedding. Then rang the next day for the same thing, but did not define the purpose. The difference in price? $100. Ring around. Get quotes, ask why the difference for a wedding is so vast. We're having our reception catered, but there will be no mention of a wedding. After all, it is really just a party. With a wedding cake. And music.
Here's how:
DO NOT TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE. At one stage, we were looking at a ceremony and reception combined. One day. $12,000. 150 guests. And the stress! Do we invite my relatives whom I only see once every few years? Mum and Dad's friends? Primary school friends? Where do you draw the line?
GO OVERSEAS!!!This string of questions led us to joking about eloping. Then we looked into booking our honeymoon as a distraction. That led to us investigating having our wedding ceremony and honeymoon combined in Vanuatu. My advice, if and where possible, The fact we're not shelling out extra money on TOP of a wedding here in Perth has meant we've got money for smaller things, and for our house deposit.
HAVE A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT!!! Easier said than done, I know, but be realistic about what you do need, what you don't need, and what you may be able to comprimise on/beg/borrow/steal.
Have a friend who is great with a camera? Wedding photographer. Someone close to you who is an amazing baker and cake decorator? Wedding Cake. Have a friend or family member with a lovely, big home or garden? Ask if you can have the wedding ceremony/reception there. Do not be afraid to ask. It never hurts.Do you really,really need a 3 couse, sit down meal AND cake? Do you really need wedding favours, flower girls, a horse and carriage to get there, a $3000 meringue dress? By defining what you will really, really need will help. For us it was a good photographer, an area for on outdoor wedding, alcohol and our honeymoon. The rest, we've managed to cut out or find alternatives.
ENTER COMPETETIONS!!!!!! We won our wedding photography by simply entering online. It was a complete fluke, but it took me about a minute. Go to Bridal Fairs/Expos- write down your details and enter every and any competition on offer. All of them. Take a friend and get them to help you! It's how we ended up choosing who to build our house with- at a bridal expo!
BE REALISTIC! Not the sort of person who wears a dress regularly? Don't go the whole hog in a meringue, white, tulle covered dress, with a full on veil and a boquet of 100 roses. Stick with what you're comfortable in. I am having a halter neck, cream dress that is very simple. It is lovely, but I'll feel like myself. Not the sort of person who is good a public speaking? Don't have a wedding ceremony and reception with 200 people. Keep it simple. Maybe don't even have anyone except witnesses. On a budget? Don't have the full on schebang wedding. If you explain, people will understand that your priorities lie in something other than spending money on one day.
FIND ALTERNATIVES!! Is there something you can't "let go of"? For me, it was the idea of roses for my wedding boquet. Then I got a quote for 3 post style boquets. $500, straight up. THEN, we decided to have the ceremony overseas. Does Vanuatu have roses? Probably not, being a tropical island.
Here's how we have found alternatives to pricey or unavailable issues
Decorations: Beg/Borrow/Steal. We're having a reception at home, and are planning to buy, rather than hire, a marquee. Hire- $5000 plus. Buying-$500. And we can use it again. Or just sell it. The decorations will be simple. Think fairy lights, candles and vases of flowers with a teal and white/cream theme. All of which have been purchased or borrowed for our engagement party. Re-use where possible!
Flowers: Look up Special Occastions on Facebook, then tell me you MUST have real flowers for your boquet. For a total of $250 covering postage too, I'm recieiving 3 boquets in cream roses, and 3 hair pins with the same colour rose attached. And I'm not talking small boquets, I'm talking really big, expensive looking ones. And I can take them to Vanuatu. And I don't have to worry about keeping them in water. And I can keep them. Maybe.
Dresses: Have a design, but they're all out of your price range? Get quotes from a dress maker. Is the style simple? Maybe a family member or friend can make your dress, or the bridesmaids dresses? Pale skin? Can't wear white- well, don't wear it! I have the most stunning "diamond" white dress, which suits my skin tone beautifully. A friend of mine wore the most stunning deep RED wedding gown. She looked amazing. Scour shops for ball dresses- see if they come in a more "bridey" colour. Ball gowns tend to be a fraction of the cost of a wedding gown.
DO NOT MENTION THE "W" WORD ( Wedding)!!!! As an experiment, I called a florist for a quote for a posy of white roses for a wedding. Then rang the next day for the same thing, but did not define the purpose. The difference in price? $100. Ring around. Get quotes, ask why the difference for a wedding is so vast. We're having our reception catered, but there will be no mention of a wedding. After all, it is really just a party. With a wedding cake. And music.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Dress
Forgot to post a link to the site with a sample of my dress!
( http://www.henryroth.com.au/our-gowns/informal-garden-weddings/india.html )
The style I ended up getting was in "Diamond White" in a.... size (!) 6, with an incredible amount of room for alterations.
I am in love.
This dress will be for the ceremony etc in Vanutau, and I am having a 2nd dress made for the reception at home;
Hoping to have something very similar to this made, but in coffee, with or without the lace overlay. We'll see....
( http://www.henryroth.com.au/our-gowns/informal-garden-weddings/india.html )
The style I ended up getting was in "Diamond White" in a.... size (!) 6, with an incredible amount of room for alterations.
I am in love.
This dress will be for the ceremony etc in Vanutau, and I am having a 2nd dress made for the reception at home;
August-Present
Last time I checked, we were planning to hold the ceremony and reception, on the 26th April, 2013, at Araluen Golf Resort.
At a cost of close to $12,000....
As many of you know, we're planning to save for a decent deposit and build a house by next August- that is where we want our money to go to.
SO, we revise our wedding, and found an amazing way to cut costs, have our dream honeymoon, and keep everyone happy,
Stop the press- new plan.
Vanuatu, 2013- October, most likely.
That is "the" plan. Comine our wedding ceremony with our honeymoon, those who care enough will be there. In total, for our ceremony, small reception and 8 nights in Vanuatu, at Sunset Bungalows Resort, it is costing us a total of approximatley $6000.
Much better than nearly 12k, that's for sure!
Then the plan is to have formal wedding portraits done when we return (more on the photography in a moment), and hold a casual reception when we're home again, at our house.
The best bit about it is that we can hire caterers, and still have all the bits and pieces we want, but for around $3000, including alcohol, caterers, decorations and buying a marquee.
I can see it- lots of beautiful fresh flowers, fairy lights and candles, as well as good music, surrounded by the people we love.
I have covered the "But we won't get to see you get married" whine too!
The plan is to have an informal, sit down, 2 course meal. Followed by speeches, toasts, and a video of the actual ceremony, followed by cake cutting, photography with family and friends, followed by bulk champagne.
I think we've negotiated this pretty well, and I am so stress free about it now, I am happy!
I even have someone ORGANISING the Vanuatu side of things for me! Amazing!
Oh, photographer!
A while back, I entered a competition to win our wedding photgraphy for free. I didn't win, and cast it to the back of my mind. Then, in September, I recieved and email from Terence Boylen Photography ( http://tboylen.info/ ). In a paragraph, we had to describe why we should win. This was my response;
"
At a cost of close to $12,000....
As many of you know, we're planning to save for a decent deposit and build a house by next August- that is where we want our money to go to.
SO, we revise our wedding, and found an amazing way to cut costs, have our dream honeymoon, and keep everyone happy,
Stop the press- new plan.
Vanuatu, 2013- October, most likely.
That is "the" plan. Comine our wedding ceremony with our honeymoon, those who care enough will be there. In total, for our ceremony, small reception and 8 nights in Vanuatu, at Sunset Bungalows Resort, it is costing us a total of approximatley $6000.
Much better than nearly 12k, that's for sure!
Then the plan is to have formal wedding portraits done when we return (more on the photography in a moment), and hold a casual reception when we're home again, at our house.
The best bit about it is that we can hire caterers, and still have all the bits and pieces we want, but for around $3000, including alcohol, caterers, decorations and buying a marquee.
I can see it- lots of beautiful fresh flowers, fairy lights and candles, as well as good music, surrounded by the people we love.
I have covered the "But we won't get to see you get married" whine too!
The plan is to have an informal, sit down, 2 course meal. Followed by speeches, toasts, and a video of the actual ceremony, followed by cake cutting, photography with family and friends, followed by bulk champagne.
I think we've negotiated this pretty well, and I am so stress free about it now, I am happy!
I even have someone ORGANISING the Vanuatu side of things for me! Amazing!
Oh, photographer!
A while back, I entered a competition to win our wedding photgraphy for free. I didn't win, and cast it to the back of my mind. Then, in September, I recieved and email from Terence Boylen Photography ( http://tboylen.info/ ). In a paragraph, we had to describe why we should win. This was my response;
"
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Updates!
Dress- completely different from the original plan. It is currently on lay-by, and it is amazing! Off white, halter neck, backless dress with dimonte accents, and...a train! It sounds OTT, but on, it is lovely! I fell in love with it as soon as I slipped it on. I hear horror stories of brides trawling from store to store, looking for "the one". Me? I try on the second dress, and know instantly that it is "the one".
Veil- I am planning to wear my mum's. It was worn by my nanna, then my mum at her wedding, so I thought it only fitting that I carried on the tradition.
My wedding band- I recently inherited a beautiful gold and diamond engagement ring from my grandmother. It used to belong to my great-aunt. I am planning to have it re-resigned to be a little more modern and to suit my engagement ring- think engagement ring minus the center diamond, that is how I am thinking.
Bridesmaids- Have found "the" perfect style and colour for the dresses, and they're available at a store in Perth, so just have to take the girls in and try them out. Think flowy, full length dresses in teal.
Venue- I KNEW I'd (We?) would find somewhere with a little patience. After the disaster of the last idea, I got referred (by a lovely man at a winery in Roleystone) to The Enchanted Valley: Araluen Golf Resort. It even sounds lovely! Have a look at the website for an idea of how lovely it is. ( http://www.araluenresort.com.au/welcome/index.mhtml ) If we build in the area/s we have narrowed down, it will only be about 15 minutes from home. Which is great! It's pretty direct to get to, no matter where and which direction you are coming from.
Theme: Cocktail style reception, think finger foods, champagne and...Wedding cake! Roaming wait staff, very laid-back. Still going with a teal/off white colour scheme, but seeing as the sit-down reception is no longer a go-er, I don't need to worry about tables, centerpieces and decorations!
Photographer- A friend of a friend is shooting our pre-wedding/Engagement photos for us. I am really looking forward to it, because even though Royce and I have been together for four and a half years, we don't actually have any super nice photos of us to send to the family and all of that jazz. So that's what the engagement shoot is for.
I have almost narrowed the wedding day photogapher as well. Zoe and I went to the E-Bridal expo on Sunday, and spoke to a lovely photographer. He was open, honest and even said that photographers who charge to take the photos AND to print them for the couple was "bullshit". I knew I liked him then! All we are after is photography for the preperations, the ceremony, formal shots of us and our family etc, and then the beginning of the reception. Probably about 5 hours of work. All of it on a disc, all images high resolution for us to do what we wish with.
This photographer offers this at a well priced $900.
Have a look at CK Images.
Date: ALMOST have it! After chatting, we realised a weekend would be better. So we've (I) narrowed it down to two weekends in April 2013- either the 20th, or the 27th. Looking like it will most likely be the 27th/4/2013. :D
Honeymoon: Probably the easiest thing so far- 7 nights in Vanuatu for $2,500. Easy. Done.
Engagement Party- Ummm, that. Seeing as the whole wedding is planned, may need to get onto that one!
Veil- I am planning to wear my mum's. It was worn by my nanna, then my mum at her wedding, so I thought it only fitting that I carried on the tradition.
My wedding band- I recently inherited a beautiful gold and diamond engagement ring from my grandmother. It used to belong to my great-aunt. I am planning to have it re-resigned to be a little more modern and to suit my engagement ring- think engagement ring minus the center diamond, that is how I am thinking.
Bridesmaids- Have found "the" perfect style and colour for the dresses, and they're available at a store in Perth, so just have to take the girls in and try them out. Think flowy, full length dresses in teal.
Venue- I KNEW I'd (We?) would find somewhere with a little patience. After the disaster of the last idea, I got referred (by a lovely man at a winery in Roleystone) to The Enchanted Valley: Araluen Golf Resort. It even sounds lovely! Have a look at the website for an idea of how lovely it is. ( http://www.araluenresort.com.au/welcome/index.mhtml ) If we build in the area/s we have narrowed down, it will only be about 15 minutes from home. Which is great! It's pretty direct to get to, no matter where and which direction you are coming from.
Theme: Cocktail style reception, think finger foods, champagne and...Wedding cake! Roaming wait staff, very laid-back. Still going with a teal/off white colour scheme, but seeing as the sit-down reception is no longer a go-er, I don't need to worry about tables, centerpieces and decorations!
Photographer- A friend of a friend is shooting our pre-wedding/Engagement photos for us. I am really looking forward to it, because even though Royce and I have been together for four and a half years, we don't actually have any super nice photos of us to send to the family and all of that jazz. So that's what the engagement shoot is for.
I have almost narrowed the wedding day photogapher as well. Zoe and I went to the E-Bridal expo on Sunday, and spoke to a lovely photographer. He was open, honest and even said that photographers who charge to take the photos AND to print them for the couple was "bullshit". I knew I liked him then! All we are after is photography for the preperations, the ceremony, formal shots of us and our family etc, and then the beginning of the reception. Probably about 5 hours of work. All of it on a disc, all images high resolution for us to do what we wish with.
This photographer offers this at a well priced $900.
Have a look at CK Images.
Date: ALMOST have it! After chatting, we realised a weekend would be better. So we've (I) narrowed it down to two weekends in April 2013- either the 20th, or the 27th. Looking like it will most likely be the 27th/4/2013. :D
Honeymoon: Probably the easiest thing so far- 7 nights in Vanuatu for $2,500. Easy. Done.
Engagement Party- Ummm, that. Seeing as the whole wedding is planned, may need to get onto that one!
Sunday, 14 August 2011
A change of plans...
So, bridesmaid #1 (Grace) and I took a trip to the potential Venue spot I blogged about previously.
According to the website, the place was open.
In a very abrupt fashion, we were quickly told that it was not.
So there went that plan.
Back to the drawing board.
I have stumbled across an incredibly lovely golf resort in the hills.
( http://www.araluenresort.com.au/welcome/index.mhtml ) Bearing in mind that I am *such* a fan of golf, I thought the surrounds were near on perfect.
We just have to finalise guest lists for both of us, and know roughly how many we'd need to cater for. Then, we can suss out the food situation and most importantly, drinks.
The cost of having a sit down recpeion following a simple outdoor ceremony is proving less expensive than I was first imagining.
Thankfully!
More to come :)
Emma
According to the website, the place was open.
In a very abrupt fashion, we were quickly told that it was not.
So there went that plan.
Back to the drawing board.
I have stumbled across an incredibly lovely golf resort in the hills.
( http://www.araluenresort.com.au/welcome/index.mhtml ) Bearing in mind that I am *such* a fan of golf, I thought the surrounds were near on perfect.
We just have to finalise guest lists for both of us, and know roughly how many we'd need to cater for. Then, we can suss out the food situation and most importantly, drinks.
The cost of having a sit down recpeion following a simple outdoor ceremony is proving less expensive than I was first imagining.
Thankfully!
More to come :)
Emma
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