If you believe everything you read on Twitter, Shane Warne has confirmed that he is engaged to Liz Hurley - a confirmation by Twitter seems to be as cheap and nasty as the engagement itself.  Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing but admiration for Shane Warne as a class act sportman and I actually always liked Liz Hurley, but the way this pair has made their courtship, relationship, arguments, break-ups, make-ups and affair so public has done nothing for me at all.  I love a romance, but can’t help but feel that the publicity this pairing has garnered has spurred on the romance and it feels to me to be less authentic.

It’s reported that Shane proposed to Liz in a crowded restaurant at St Andrews in Scotland, which sounds romantic, and that all the other customers rose to clap the couple when Liz accepted the proposal.  Shane confirmed the engagement on Twitter, which seemingly has overtaken texting as his favourite form of communication.

Liz’s last wedding, to Arun Nayer was one of the most elaborate celebrity weddings ever, with dual ceremonies in India and the UK and millions of dollars spent on the celebrations, and one of the most beautiful weddings I had seen.  The ceremonies, while over the top, seemed romantic and very elegant – with wedding decorations that melded the two cultures.  What’s in store this time?  Plastic fantastic.  I can’t help but feel that it won’t be in the same league.

Happy Celebrating!
Kathryn

Here are some of our favourite parts of the Royal Wedding:

Dress #1

Image: AP Photo/Martin Meissner

The elegant gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen was a nod to the tradition of the British monarchy and also represented a new modernity.  I was surprised that Kate chose a gown that included lace as I glimpsed her in the back of the car before the wedding ceremony, but when she stepped out, my breath was taken away!  The bustle was my favourite part of the look – I am looking forward to bustles and lace making a welcome return to bridal fashion this year.

Dress #2

Image:  Insider Wire

The second gown that Kate changed into for the reception, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen with a stunning shrug cardi gives inspiration to ever winter and autumn bride!  I had a Collette Dinnigan beaded cardigan that I wore at my wedding reception when the weather turned cooler in the evening and I feel now that my choice was vindicated!

Pippa Middleton

Dubbed “Her Royal Hotness”, Pippa Middleton almost stole the show from Kate.  Her stunning cowl neck sheath dress will transform bridesmaid fashion and gives brides the choice to have cream, ivory and white for their bridesmaids on their wedding day.  She handled the pressure beautifully and was a modern picture of support and elegance.  The perfect Maid of Honour, and Lady in Waiting.

The Mateship of Brothers

Image: Photo by WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe

The great friendship between the brothers Prince Harry and Prince William was so apparent during the wedding.  Such a public display of mateship was wonderful to behold.  And how regal and handsome did this pair look in their regalia?

The Hats

I love a British wedding if just for the hats.  Millinary has never been more prominently on display as it was last Friday.  Tongues wagged for all the wrong reasons about the over-the-top choice of hat worn by Princess Beatrice, and for all the right reasons for the elegant head wear chosen by Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) and Zara Phillips.

The Mother of the Bride

I have an awful lot of sympathy for Carole Middleton, Kate’s mum.  She has been panned by the media for not being sophisticated enough for the royal family, but I fail to see what is wrong with a family oriented woman who has made millions of dollars from a business that she is passionate about.  I think she’s amazing and I was so excited that she looked so elegant and beautiful on the day.  There was not one thing to criticise.  She was amazing.  You go girl.

The Cake

The eight tiered wedding cake was a pretty vintage inspired cake that elegantly blended white and cream.  This restrained work of art included over 900 sugar flowers by master cake maker Fiona Cairns.  I love that it was wide, not tall so it wasn’t overwhelming and that it reflected some of the artworks in the room it was displayed in for the reception, with acorns, garlands and apple blossom flowers piped into the design.  Elegant and awe-inspiring.

The Kiss

Can you imagine kissing your new wife or husband for the first time in front of 2 billion people?  Then, doing it again!  Agh, just love the reaction of the little bridesmaid covering her ears.  My sentiments exactly… this is something you want to do not in front of a roaring crowd!

Getaway Car

Proving that they have a great sense of humour and modernity, the choice of using Prince Charles’ Aston Martin decorated in tin cans, ribbons and just married signs was one of my favourite parts of the whole wedding.  The perfect way to end a perfect wedding.

Congratulations Wills and Catherine.

Happy Celebrating

Kathryn

I simply can’t wait to see the big day and will be allowing my two young kids to stay up to watch as long as they want to.  We have friends and family coming to our home to watch the wedding too – regardless of how you feel about the royal family, everyone loves a love story and everyone loves a fairytale.

Here are some of my favourite royal wedding decorations and ideas that we hope Kate will incorporate into her big day, and you can have a part of these through Australia’s number one wedding shop www.PinkFrosting.com.au -

Personalised Wedding Reception Vases - 

No doubt Kate and Will will personalise their wedding reception with monogrammed and gold gilded napery, vases and napkin rings.  You can create a one of a kind look to decorate your wedding day celebration with the Affinity Wedding Reception Vase from Pink Frosting. With its dramatically curved silhouette, statuesque presence and unique personalisation, this distinctive vase will make a statement without ever uttering a single word. The amount of decorative styles is limitless for a vase as vivacious as this. Simply add fresh cut flowers, acrylic diamonds for a really royal look or a floating candle to create an ambiance that’s as unique as your love!

Clear Diamond Acrylic Scatters - Create the ultimate in expensive reception looks with stunning acrylic diamonds.  Kate and Wills will have a very chic look to their tables, and you can have a part of this too when you scatter these diamonds around your wedding reception tables or party tables to create a dramatic and expensive looking centrepiece.  The perfect finishing touch for any wedding table, we love these scatters for the head table, around your table centrepiece, around your wedding cake and to fill glass vases for a dramatic effect.

With this Ring Diamond Chrome Bottle Stopper Favour – Kate is sporting a mega-carat, multi-faceted sapphire and diamond engagement ring that belonged to her late Mother in law, Diana.  Get your own big bling with the huge diamond ring bottle stoppers in a pretty favour box to give to guests and use as a table decoration at your reception.  Wedding guests will get that same rush of excitement as Kate no doubt had when William got down on bended knee when they open this ultra-creative gift box to find—what else? An engagement ring sitting atop a bottle stopper! A simply breathtaking wedding favour!

Renaissance Crystal Wedding Cake Topper Letters – Kate and William’s wedding cake will no doubt be a work of art with gilded sugar decorations, scrolls and pretty monograms adorning a tiered cake.  Have your own slice of the personalised cake action by using a Crystal Monogram Cake Topper from Pink Frosting.  Wow your guests with a personal touch of crystal flair that is not only stylish, but elegant. Crystal Monogram Cake Top jewellery can take any ordinary cake, and transform it into an extraordinary cake.  Each piece is built solid, featuring premium sterling silver or 14k gold plating, which are all hand inspected to ensure the highest level of quality.  Simply gorgeous.

Bride and Groom Love Wedding Cake Server, Knife and Toasting Flutes Set - William and Kate will be toasting their future together in style with family heirloom crystal flutes and will no doubt cut the royal wedding cake with a traditional sword.  But, you can start your own new family tradition with the Bride & Groom Love Champagne Flutes & Cake Server Set from Pink Frosting. Fashioned with a dazzling, glitter epoxy finish, these reception essentials will label your celebration appropriately with the bold text of “Bride,” “Groom,” and “Love” flawlessly finishing the stems of each silverware piece. Featuring free personalisation and shapely silhouettes, both the champagne glasses and serving set are a signature for custom refinement.

We hope you enjoy your own Wills and Kate wedding party on Friday night and hope that we can help you bring a little royal chic to your wedding day with the beautiful wedding accessories from Pink Frosting.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Above:  Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld suggests a “Victorian wedding dress with a twist”.  Image:  Women’s Wear Daily.

Above:  Elizabeth Emanuel who designed Princess Diana’s wedding gown says “It’s entirely different from the Diana dress I designed, which was very much of the Eighties,” Emanuel told “Women’s Wear Daily,” “But it’s still fitting for a royal occasion. It’s a much more modern dress, but romantic and out of the ordinary.”  Courtesy: Women’s Wear Daily.

Above:  Jason Wu famous for designing for Michelle Obama said he loves “the idea of mixing traditional opulence with a very clean aesthetic” for Middleton’s walk down the aisle.  Image:  Women’s Wear Daily.

Above:  Monique Lhuillier said her vision for Middleton’s dress is a mix of “traditional and contemporary.” Image:  Women’s Wear Daily.

Above:  Valentino’s Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli designed a whimsical, “blossoming” dress for Kate. Image:  Women’s Wear Daily.

Above:  Vera Wang’s pretty gown included intricate flowered lacework on the bodice and veil.  Image:  Women’s Wear Daily.

I cannot wait to see the real thing on the day!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

If you had the choice between a royal horse-drawn coach steeped in history or a car to lead you to your royal wedding to become a princess, what would you choose?    According to all reports yesterday, Kate Middleton and Prince William have decided to forgo the horse-drawn carriage in favour of a more contemporary vehicle – the car.  I know Kate is not a traditionalist and I am all for that, but I do so wish they had chosen to arrive by carriage – isn’t that more royal?  More romantic?  More what we want from their day?!!

Royal commentators said the decision for Middleton to arrive at the church by car, rather than by carriage (image above Dawn Gallic), was an example of the families trying to keep costs down at a time when Britain is facing sharp cuts in public spending. The image of the princess-to-be arriving on four wheels will stand in stark contrast to the iconic images of Diana arriving at the church in a carriage.

So what do you think?  Carriage or car?

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Like it or loathe it (and we love it) Kate Middleton and Prince William’s royal nuptials on April 29 next year are set to reflect in weddings around the world for the next couple of years, with “fairytale bling” being the decorating style of choice.   And, the English royal wedding will create princess fever that won’t die down for some time yet!

The style we’re predicting is anything that glitters and is monogrammed will be the chic message for 2011 and 2012 brides.  The royal wedding itself will no doubt be very respectful of the traditions and customs of the royal family, but the every day take on the style of fairytale wedding will be very glittery with lots of sparkling wedding decorations and crystal and all stationery, decorations and wedding bomboniere monogrammed with the couple’s details to create a truly unique look.

Fit for a princess are dazzling acrylic diamonds, mirror bases on tables and crystal garlands dripping from high reception table centrepieces.  Wedding invitations will feature embossed monograms and gold or platinum foiled personally-created motifs.

Brides inspired by the royal wedding can style their wedding favours along the same lines by reaching for Antique Acrylic Place Card Frames, a diamond like place card frame which doubles as both a place card on table settings for wedding receptions as well as beautiful miniature photo frames for your guests to take home and Crystal Diamond Shaped Tea Light Holders which cast a twinkling glow on wedding table settings as well as make a beautiful wedding bomboniere for guests.

We hope you are truly inspired to create your own fairytale on your wedding day!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

For anyone who missed the story this morning, here is the report from Associated Press this morning:

Love it.  Lots of bubbles to the happy couple!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Favourite Wedding Trend for 2008: Black and White

Black and white ruled the colour trend for 2008.  From the largest celebration to the smallest soiree, black and white immediately shouted sophistication and “now”.  Black and white was celebrated with stationery, decorations, centrepieces, bridesmaid gowns and black satin sashes across a pure white gown.  It’s a wedding trend set to continue to rule in 2009, which is wonderful indeed.

Favourite Wedding Trends for 2008:  Monograms and Motifs

Personalising your wedding day became another big trend in 2008 that we really enjoyed.  Having a motif or monogram for the couple created is a special way to celebrate your bond and can then be used throughout your marriage on your stationery, napery and linens.  A beautiful trend that will stand the test of time.

Favourite Wedding Trends for 2008:  Small but Spectacular

Well before the economic crisis made us all look at our budgets a little more closely, a big trend has been for a smaller guest list featuring only those closest to you and really go to town to create a luxury event for these most special guests.  Instead of spending $80 a head on 100 people, the trend has been to take that same budget and spend it on a smaller guest list.  Whilst celebrities don’t have the same budget problems that we mere mortals have, the ultimate example of this trend in 2008 was the stunning wedding of Ellen Degeneres and Portia Di Rossi, which also happens to be my favourite celebrity wedding for 2008.  It will take a really long time for a celebrity to top this wedding for me.  All images above thanks to Ellen’s website.

Favourite Wedding Trends for 2008:  Familial and Familiar

The nod to family and the familiar was another trend we just adore.  Budget conscious, DIY brides and even those with unlimited budgets are celebrating family traditions, in familiar surroundings with casual aplomb.  Our favourite example of this trend was the real wedding of Nicole and Grant reported on Style Me Pretty.  The pizzas, the reception decor and the hand-made details really made this wedding a spectacular example of how amazing DIY can be.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Portia’s gown made me want to celebrate my favourite celebrity wedding dresses of all time. Here they are in all their glory:

Jessica Simpson in a glorious Vera Wang gown with daisy detailing was my favourite. I know it’s much talked about, much copied, much blogged about… but I just adore the detail and the whimsy of this precious gown.

Elizabeth Hurley in this swan like gown by Donatella Versace. I stopped counting all of the gowns Liz wore to her multiple ceremonies with Arun after this one won me for life!

Above all else, brides should look like the best version of themselves on their wedding day and for this reason I love this iconic picture of Yoko Ono and John Lennon on their wedding day. White knee socks, a sun hat and a mini skirt isn’t the most conventional bridal dress, but Yoko looks perfect just as she is.

You wouldn’t expect anything less than edgy from Gwen Stefani. The John Galliano gown for Dior made for Gwen matched the singer’s celebrity persona perfectly. Colour on a bridal gown is absolutely hot and Gwen carried it off with her trademark glamour.

Now I can’t believe I’m saying this… Tori Spelling, second time around. Such a pretty, unexpected beach dress without the trademark cleavage. I was very impressed.

And, for a controversial choice, my second favourite Australian celebrity gown (after Portia’s of course!) is Toni Pearen’s. The frothy baby doll has grown on me over time. She looked so gloriously happy and she made a statement. Go Toni!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Image: Hello! Magazine

When Katherine Heigl celebrated her wedding last year with a winter theme (see above), the popularity of icicles and fireplaces as a theme shot through the roof. Here are a few of our favourite winter wedding ideas:

Get married outdoors in the snow. Don your most impressive white faux fur and celebrate with your guests in the snow. OK, so in Australia your location choices are limited, but destination weddings work beautifully in the summer, so why not head to Banff, Bardonecchia or Queenstown for a magical fairytale destination celebration?

Image: blog.heibeck.net

Icicles=Chandeliers – Ice it up, baby! What better reason can there be than a winter themed wedding to serve up the ice? Crystal chandeliers, blingle candelabra and garlands encrusted in swarovski. Divine!

Image: kurtvinion.wordpress.com

Remember that winter isn’t all white, although this should be the basis of your winter themed wedding palette. The other hues of winter are shades of blue, soft green, blush, silver and taupe.

Board: Style Me Pretty

Serve warming winter fare for your guests. Beef casseroles, warming vintage red wines and deep puddings with winter berries and homemade vanilla infused custards.

Image: Tartelette

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn