Candice and Ashley

Candice and Ashley were married on a lovely Saturday in March although things didn’t go entirely according to plan.  They were supposed to get married out in the courtyard of  Sherwood Receptions in Greenvale. The weather had different ideas and it started raining early in the afternoon, so the ceremony was moved indoors and they were married inside instead.

Candice and Ashley were set up by friends when they were 16, but didn’t really hit it off straight away. It wasn’t until some years later that they met up again when Candice was out with one of her best friends at a nightclub. Candice wasn’t too fond of the punk music or bad dancers that were occupying the downstairs section of the nightclub, but then she spotted Ash going to the upstairs section so she went up after him and politely offered him a drink. The rest is history.

Candice arrived at the venue with her two bridesmaids, in stunning vintage cars. She wore an amazing lace dress that was 3/4 length and had on some of the most amazing wedding shoes you have ever seen. Both her hair and makeup were stunningly beautiful and everything seemed to just ‘fit’ perfectly with the whole feel of the wedding. They had amazing music and everything just matched. Everything throughout the wedding had a vintage feel and the style of music chosen for the ceremony itself continued into the reception as well.

Candice’s love of cars was highlighted tastefully on the day along with Ash’s love of video games and comic books. All of the Groomsmen were fitted with custom made comic book shoes; Ashley had Spiderman, and his best men had Superman and Batman, I believe. It was a fantastic and unique way to let their own interests and personality shine through on their special day.

The bridesmaids were lovely; one dressed in a royal blue and the other wore yellow, which seemed to match  the whole theme of the wedding, from the handmade bunting all the way through to the invitations (check out my blog about the invitations from this wedding here).  The menus and the instagram photo list (read the blog about it here) all matched with the invitations and all of  the table decorations were stunning! The table floral arrangements were done by Lord Butler and were truly an amazing touch. This is the first wedding that I have been to where Lord Butler have done the table decorations and I was really impressed. The floral arrangements were all in glass jars and featured the loveliest flowers with mint added into the mix.

Candice and Ash also had a wonderful photo booth that had all sorts of props to go along with it.  It was made up of a photo frame that you could stand behind and the front of it looked like a photo wall in someone’s house with photos of people who were no longer with them, like wonderful old photos of their grandparents when they were young and in love and photos of friends that had a special place in their hearts.

The guests were on their feet in no time at all after the Bride and Groom cut the cake and shared their first dance.  There were so many people dancing and having a great time. It would have to be the busiest dance floor that I have seen at a wedding, and all dancing abilities were accounted for. Candice’s Aunty and her husband had won several ballroom dancing competitions and it was obvious when they took the floor, and they were almost matched with the very entertaining stripper-style of dancing from one of Ashley’s cousins.

It was a completely beautiful day which I was honoured to be a part of.  Check out more about Lord Butler and their stunning wedding flowers and decorations by having a look at their website. They do truly lovely work.

Staying calm before your big day

Your wedding day is a huge event and as the day draws closer it can all become quite overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s just just because there is so much to do, or because you feel that every time you cross something off your to do list you realise that you have another 2 or 3 things that need to go onto your list.

It is really important that you don’t let it the worry or stress get the better of you. Make sure that you ask the people around you for help where you can, but also remember that sometimes you need a break from it all;  and time to just have some fun.  In the lead up to your wedding, it can feel like all you do, think and talk about is all about the wedding.  Maybe try to have a night out with the girls and make a pact with each other that you will not talk about wedding things; do something fun, silly even, make sure that you have a chance to laugh and forget about all of the pressures that are associated with planning a wedding. Another idea might be to head to a day spa or just watch movies in your pyjamas and have a relax together.

For some people, it is a great time to plan a wedding free weekend, to go away just you and your fiancé and to go somewhere that you have always wanted to go. A weekend away from RSVP cards and table decorations with plenty of time to just get away and spend some time alone. Try not to have too many set plans, sleep in, get breakfast in bed and just enjoy each others company.

All of the planning soon will all be over and you won’t have all of the pressure of the big day looming over you. Enjoy yourself and re charge your batteries, it could be just what you need so that when you are back on the organising the wedding band wagon, you won’t feel like it has been going on forever.

Do you have any tips to share, on great ways to relax before someones a wedding or other big event?

Thank you again to Untamed Images for the use of their images on this weeks blog. Check out their website here, or go and like them on facebook  here.

Destination Weddings

There are so many things to think about with a destination wedding. I think that some people think it is a great way to avoid all of the stress of a planning a wedding and many people think it is going to cut down on the cost of their big day. It may be the case, but I don’t really think so.

I guess it depends too why you have chosen a destination wedding. Some people choose to have a destination wedding so that they don’t have to pay to have every person they know there, and an easy way to cut down your guest list. Perhaps consider eloping if you don’t want anyone there with you. However, there are going to people who still expect an invitation, and there will be some wondering why they are not invited, just like weddings in your home town. On the flip side you need to realise potential invitees to your destination wedding may not always be able to come and share your big day due to health or financial constraints. A destination wedding or elopement can be a wonderful wedding choice if you really don’t like being the centre of attention or speaking in public, or if who don’t like fuss. It is a great way to take the pressure off you both as a couple. However, be prepared to accept some of your friends and family may be disappointed that they were not part of your special day.

Some couples choose a destination wedding because it is a great way to start off a wonderful holiday and your honeymoon in an exotic, faraway place. It could also be a great way share it in part with family and/ or friends, especially if it is somewhere that you have both been before and really love, or somewhere that you both want to experience for the first time together.

Cost is a big factor. Some people seem to think that it is going to be a cheaper wedding alternative, but I don’t know this is always the case. It can be cheaper compared to a 150 guest sit down dinner at one of the top function centres, but not for example to simpler home catered options.

Paperwork such as passports and visas, and legal requirements are issues you need to take into consideration. Every country will have different laws about marriage, such as how long you have to be in the country before you can be married. If you decide on a country where resorts offer package deals, they may provide information, but you should still contact someone at the Australian Embassy and in  your country of choice and ask questions to ensure you abide by all legal requirements before your departure.

Something else that I didn’t really think about until I was discussing with my friend who had her wedding in New Zealand (check out the blog about it here) is that you need to take everything with you, or send it there in advance. She had to organise and transport the table decorations, gifts for the bridesmaids, and her dress. Luckily she did a couple of trips over there prior to the big day, but if this is not an option, you may want to think about this or find out what the venue can provide and what is specifically included in the package.  This can sometimes be a problem if you are the kind of bride or couple who have unique requirements and it may be difficult with a destination wedding to coordinate these things. It can sometimes become out of your control especially when you can’t visit the venue or speak to the event organiser in person. It may not be possible to have everything exactly as you have dreamed of and you may have to compromise.

Whatever your reason for a destination wedding there are pros and cons and lots of things that you need to consider. Did you have a destination wedding or were you considering one?

Thank you again to Untamed Images for the photos from this weeks blog, check out their website here, and go over and like them on their facebook page to keep updated with all of their photos.