Apart from the hibiscus, there’s perhaps no other flower that says beach wedding than gorgeous fragrant frangipanis.  Frangipanis or plumeria as they are also known are blooming everywhere along our beaches at the moment.  One of our iconic beach flowers, they make the perfect beach wedding decoration or flower motif for Australian weddings. 

Image credits: Frangipani wedding cake, photo by Nicole Pearce.  Frangipani bouquet and aisle decoration images from Lindsay Van Roy Photography for Brett and Erin’s wedding.  Frangipani beach aisle by Aloha Island Weddings at Simply Chic Wedding Ideas.  Frangipani link ring by Stasita New Zealand.  All stationery by Alannah Rose at Pink Frosting’s beach wedding shop.  All beach collection wedding accessories and decorations at Pink Frosting’s beach online wedding shop.

Here are our top tips for using frangipanis to theme your Australian beach wedding:

• Bunch them closely.  Frangipanis in tight formation are simply chic.  Look at our gorgeous frangipani bouquet above – chic and gorgeous!
• If you choose yellow frangipanis, your best colour choices for ribbons, accents, glassware, napery and decor is buttercup yellow, ivory, crisp white, black or sand.
• Frangipanis work beautifully with massive blossoms such as fully blown roses, hibiscus or lillies.  We’re not fans of frangipanis and other waxy flowers such as orchids, but they can look lovely together if you use a master florist.
• Generally, frangipanis don’t need foliage to complement them.  Think of the flower in its natural state – the flowers are clustered and the branches are fairly sparse.  Take your cue from the flower in its natural environment and don’t use leaves as part of your table decorations, aisle decorations or bouquets.
• Frangipani leis are so easy to create.  It’s a fun way to spend your night before the wedding with your best girls – simply use fishing line and a large needle to thread frangipani blooms.  A beautiful favour for your guests.
• Incorporate frangipanis into your wedding ceremony with large garlands of frangipani flowers laced together like a long leis.  Such a versatile idea – you can then loosely hang them between your chairs down your aisle or decorate a garden trelise with them behind the bride and groom.  Also, give your flowergirl frangipani flowers to toss when she walks down the aisle.
• Create a heart using frangipani flowers for the bride and groom to stand in when they marry.  This simple but beautiful idea works a treat on the beach or on grass in a garden wedding.
• For table decorations, choose faux frangipani flowers and either scatter your frangipanis loosely around the table, lay one on each table setting for a contemporary chic look, or use miniature beach buckets filled with starfish, sand and frangipanis (see the beautiful beach buckets by Pink Frosting above – we also used Swarovski crystal encrusted starfish to complement the yellow frangipanis).
• You can incorporate frangipanis in your wedding theme in many ways.  Here are some other ideas:
  • Your wedding invitations – frangipanis on the beach or in a heart make a glamorous stationery idea.  Some gorgeous styles from Dream Day Wedding Invitations and Alannah Rose make a real statement;
  • Your wedding accessories – use frangipani flowers in your bridesmaid’s hair and in your groomsmen’s buttonholes;
  • Your parasols – choose a plain wedding parasol and glue on frangipanis around the centre and border to create a unique wedding day accessory for photographs
  • Your  wedding bombonieres and favours – choose a favour with a frangipani motif such as personalised candy jars (yummy filled with yellow jelly beans), flip flop candles with a frangipani toe; or a photo frame with a frangipani flower attached to the swing tag – gorgeous!

Here are some beautiful ways to use frangipanis on your wedding day:

Image: Aloha Weddings

Frangipani Cupcakes by Consumed Cakes

Frangipanis and Lillies Wedding Ceremony Site by Aloha Island Weddings

Frangipani Themed Wedding Tables by Disney Resort

Beach Bucket with Starfish and Frangipanis by Pink Frosting's Wedding Shop

There are so many ways to use these gorgeous flowers in your beach wedding.  I’d love to see your photos if you have some to share!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

I love a sale!  Particularly one on some of our most popular wedding supplies.  Australia’s number one online wedding shop, Pink Frosting, is offering many of its most popular wedding hand fan favours on sale at up to 30% off the recommended retail prices!  This massive sale is only on while stock lasts.  We wanted to give brides the opportunity to get in early for their Summer and beach weddings now while the weather’s cooling down.

My favourite styles of wedding hand fans are most definitely the paddle fans in so many colours that you could really create a rainbow effect with your guests in a pic (wow, what a great idea!), and the ever popular silk hand fans in blue and pink which are so delicate and fine.

Anyway, get shopping if you’re having a beach wedding this year!  The sale won’t last long at all.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

My best friend, Shannon and her gorgeous man Al married yesterday in beautiful but freezing Tasmania.  We have had the most wonderful time with their family and friends, decorating and celebrating their wedding.  Shan and Al shared their first kiss at Richmond Bridge, Tasmania five years ago exactly, which is why they chose the 4th of August to exchange vows.  Truly sentimental, the poignancy of the day was heightened at every step.  The bouquets, handcrafted by the bridesmaid (me) and the groom, included handmade sugar hearts that Shan and Al made together last week; Al composed the music that Shan walked down the aisle to; and Shan recited some of the “80 things she loves about Al” as part of her vows, a list she wrote when they first began dating.  This was a truly romantic celebration of love.

Here are some of my favourite happy snaps from the day.

David (my husband) and I took these cute happy snaps during the day, so I can’t wait to see what the professional comes up with!  This was a beautiful wedding – filled with tears and laughter and love.  Congratulations Shan and Al – may your lives together be as filled with love as the past few days.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

I simply adore wedding photos using wedding parasols as a prop and as far as bridal parasols go, we think the Pink Frosting buying team have hit the jackpot with these stunning new wedding parasols featuring a swirly beach print.  I can’t wait to use them at our spring and summer weddings here in Australia – perfect for our climate and stunning locations.

Wedding parasols are the perfect outdoor event accoutrements for guests and are an essential accessory for the bride and bridal Party, who typically withstand up to three hours of exposure at outdoor weddings from arrival through ceremony and photos to departure. 

Swirls of leaves printed on rice paper give this wedding parasol a dramatic look.  Perfect for beach and garden weddings in the outdoors, as a beautiful photograph prop or for shading the bride from the sunshine as she exists the car.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn ]]> http://www.australiaentertains.com.au/2009/07/31/swirly-beachy-parasols-arrive-for-spring-weddings/feed 0 http://www.australiaentertains.com.au/2009/07/01/beach-themed-bomboniere-and-favours http://www.australiaentertains.com.au/2009/07/01/beach-themed-bomboniere-and-favours#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:49:15 +0000 Kathryn http://www.australiaentertains.com.au/?p=1570

We’ve organised countless beach weddings over time here at Australia’s number one wedding shop, Pink Frosting.  From bright tropical themes to rich nautical colours to muted neutrals inspired by the sands and rocks, beach themed wedding are our absolute favourites.  Whether you are planning a beach ceremony, a destination wedding at Hamilton Island, a party on a cruiseship or at a beach resort on your favourite overseas island, you’ll find that bomboniere and favours for a beach themed wedding are a cinch to organise with a little imagination.

Here are our favourite ideas for beach themed bomboniere and favors:

• Keep ‘em cool – paper fans in a myriad of colours and styles (which can be personalised for that special touch) are both decorative and functional
• Keep it fresh – give a taste of the season with fresh fruits such as a tropical mango wrapped in decorative paper and finished with a personalised ribbon saying “eat me”!
• From the sea – give bags of shells, starfish or sea glass – decorated with your monogram in a hessian bag or an aribica net 
• Flip out – with flip flops or thongs in your wedding colours
• Fill up – stuff mini canvas beach bags with candy and goodies which is a great idea for a destination wedding when you don’t have many guests
• Protect – protect your guests with a bottle of personalised sunscreen in SPF 15+ and a natural parasol given to each couple attending your wedding ceremony to shade your guests from the beating sunshine
• Light up – tropical lanterns blowing in the breeze and marine themed silver fog lanterns are practical reminder of your special day for guests and a favor they are sure to use at their next barbecue

The professional event stylist team at Pink Frosting has hundreds of practical beach wedding ideas and inspirations to help you put together the perfect beach themed wedding.  Visit the Pink Frosting website for more great beach wedding ideas.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

So natural, easy and breezy.  Gorgeous.  Paper parasols are readily available from Australia’s leading online wedding shop, Pink Frosting, in so many colours and styles, you may have trouble choosing!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

The gorgeous Gold Coast is one of Australia’s loveliest destinations for a wedding or any celebration.  With some of the world’s best coastlines and beaches, rainforest hinterland, leading golfing resorts, sailing clubs, and one of the world’s only six star resorts, this is a location offering varied options for creating a wonderful wedding day.  For the next in our Destination Wedding Australia special, we interview Kristy Marek, the couture wedding stylist behind Imbue Weddings, a wedding planning and styling company located on the Gold Coast.  Kristy started Imbue Weddings with the intention of filling a gap in the bridal industry of Queensland, providing a service to couples which shuns the ordinary. Her vision for the company is reflected in her eye for detail and style and ensures that the personal service Imbue Weddings offers is second to none.  Kristy also writes the wonderful blog, Be Imbued, which is definitely worth a daily visit.

Q. Please tell us a little about yourself, your company and your experience in the wedding industry.

Imbue Weddingswas created with the desire to offer something to couples in Queensland beyond the norm.  The company has evolved since to provide a service to couples with the “couture” wedding in mind.  We believe every wedding should be an expression of individuality.

My philosophy in life is to live with all five senses everyday and I try to keep this in mind with all our weddings, making sure each event is a sensory delight to everyone involved.  I absolutely love my job.  I get to meet some wonderful couples and share in a time in their life which is so much fun.  After months of hard work I just love the moment when I see the bride and groom turn to their guests and are pronounced husband and wife.

 Q. You organise weddings all over southern Queensland .  What are your favourite wedding destinations and why?

There’s such a multitude of options for locations in this little corner of Queensland.  We’re blessed with stunning coastline, a vibrant city as well as an oasis of sub-tropical calm in the hinterland.  If I had to pick a favourite in each they would have to be as follows:

Beach – Burleigh Headlands

City: Hillstone St Lucia

Hinterland: Mt Tamborine

Q: For each of your favourite destinations, can you tell us your favourite venues, ceremony sites and anything special about the locations?

In Burleigh Headlands (image below by Xes photography) there is a great bit of parkland which borders the beach with a stunning view of the ocean.  In Queensland the council regulations for a beach wedding are quite restricting.  For beach weddings there is a maximum limit on chairs which is 10 and guests which is 50.  For parks the chair limit raises to twenty and there is no maximum number for guests.  Burleigh Headlands gets around this by having a bit of parkland right on the beach so it’s perfect for couples wanting a beach wedding with more guests.

Hillstone St Lucia is lovely.  I love their ballroom which has white French doors that open onto a wide verandah overlooking the gardens.  It’s a gorgeous venue.

Mt Tamborine is a quaint little village sitting on top of a plateau mountain.  On the main street there are restaurants, tea houses and antique stores with stunning views of the hinterland.  There’s also many little boutique wineries at the base and on the top of the mountain.  Avalon Gardens(pictured below) is a lovely little wedding venue providing perfectly manicured gardens for outdoor cocktail style weddings.

Q. Do you have any tips for couples contemplating a Queensland wedding? 

Check the average temperature for the time of year you plan to come in.  Also buy some skin care products suitable for this climate whilst you’re here, as the humidity tends to be quite a shock for some people and you don’t want to break out before the day.    A lighter wedding gown may be the way to go if you are planning to have your wedding during the warmer months and a reception venue with air conditioning would be ideal for those from cooler climates.  Oh and flowers in Queensland tend to be a tad more expensive than in other states, so if you stick to tropical blooms rather than cottage style flowers you’ll save money and they won’t wilt as quickly.

Image:  White Pearl Photography.

Q. What are your best tips for a destination wedding?

Hire a professional to make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.  Also arrange for transport from the airport to the accommodation for your guests or include an information pack on the area with your invitations.  You may also like to tell your family and friends where you’re planning to be married before asking them to be a part of the bridal party so that they have the chance to politely decline if they can’t afford the ticket.

Q. For 2009 and 2010, what are the trends on the horizon for weddings?

Printed or floral bridesmaid’s dresses and wedding gowns with striped detailing using embellishments like ribbons or pin tucking are becoming more and more popular.  I have noticed a trend toward embracing things that are quintessentially Australian and giving them a new twist.  Australian natives like Eucalyptus and Geraldton wax create stunning bouquets which contrast well with a vintage lace.  Colour wise, blue is huge for 2009, especially when complimented with neutrals and metallic colours.

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Image:  White Pearl Photography.

Q. Anything else you’d like to add?

I know it sounds like very biased advice, and well it is, but hiring a wedding planner and stylist can help you bring your vision to life.  It’s very hard to work full time and plan a wedding.  We work full time planning weddings so we know our stuff.  If you do plan the wedding all by yourself try to get all your loose ends tied up one week before the big day.  That way you have one whole week to just relax and enjoy anticipating the moment when you say “I do”.

And, here are our favourite accessories for a Gold Coast wedding from Australia’s online wedding shop, Pink Frosting:

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

I am even more excited now about tomorrow’s wedding fair.  Fingers crossed for some more Kiwi wedding inspiration. 

Today’s post and my trip to NZ is also good timing for reminding us of ANZAC Day today.  I missed this morning’s ceremonies at home (we live not far from the War Memorial in Canberra) but we have been reflecting on the importance of today as we walked around Auckland’s picturesque streets.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

 Q.  You are located in Perth, but shoot weddings all over WA.  What are your favourite WA wedding destinations and why?

I love photographing weddings in the small country towns, on private properties where the bride and groom are married because the location means a lot to them. I recently shoot a wedding in Pemberton where the couple were married under their big favorite tree and have their reception in a marquee in a paddock, to me it was the perfect wedding.  I grew up on the South Coast, so I really enjoy being able to head back down there and  love being able to photograph weddings on the nearby beaches or farms. Basically anywhere in the South West corner of Australia is absolutely beautiful, the climate is great in summer and the light is absolutely amazing.

Q.  For each of your favourite destinations, can you tell us your favourite venues, ceremony sites and anything special about the locations?

For Dunsborough weddings, I love Meelup Beach for ceremonies and location photos. Most people seem to dream of getting married on the beach, with the sand between their toes, Meelup is the perfect beach. I also really love the rocks at Redgate Beach near Margaret River and William Bay in Denmark is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Most people who have destination weddings down south, generally have their receptions at one of many wineries in the area. Wise Winery near Dunsborough is in a beautiful location sitting on top of hill with views looking out to the ocean.

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4.  Do you have any tips for couples contemplating a WA wedding?  e.g. is there a good time of year to be married in Perth, Broome or the Margaret River?

Best times of year to get married in Perth I believe, is October, November, March, April and early May.  January and February the wedding season seems to quieten down a bit as Perth weather seems to sit on average around 35-40 degrees. Even though the nights are pleasant, having your photographs taken in 40 degree heat is not the best idea :) November is by far the most popular month and all the best vendors seem to book out 18 months in advance. Lately winter weddings are becoming more popular, and if you do not think you would mind the occasional shower on your wedding day, this is a great idea, as you have the pick of wedding venues. In my opinion a little rain is better then a 40 degree day.

Albany / Denmark weddings are better for March and April, the weather seems to co-operate a little better at this time of the year.

As Perth is “the most remote city in the world”, trying to do something different from the norm can sometimes prove to be a hard task. Once you head into the country, this even proves to be a harder task again. My best advise is to keep it simple and search the internet for unique and different ideas.

As for Broome and the far north of the state, the best time of the year is definitely the dry season, this is from May to September. You don’t want to plan a wedding and then find out a week before cyclone is heading into town!

Q.  What are your best tips for a destination wedding in WA?

Hiring a wedding planner /coordinator is a great idea if you are planning your wedding from overseas or interstate. We have some great wedding coordinators here in Perth that do fantastic jobs and make the day run so smoothly.  We also have wedding decorators, that can come in and decorate your wedding ceremony site and reception.  The small details can really a wedding venue look absolutely amazing.

Q.  For 2009 and 2010, what are the trends on the horizon for WA weddings?

Photobooths are coming popular at weddings. As hard as a photographer tries, its generally an impossible task to photograph each and every person at a wedding. Photo booths are the perfect answer to this, and will provide you with many silly and slightly random photographs of your guests!  I have another business that specializes in just this,  check out www.pushthebuttonphotobooths.com.au

Other trends I am noticing, is that brides are spending much more thought and attention on details on the wedding. A lot of brides are looking over to the US for ideas and also sourcing many items also from the overseas businesses thanks to the internet and inexpensive shipping. (ed’s note:  Pink Frosting, an Australian company, has most of the unique and exciting new products from the US in Australia for those brides looking for something a bit special and different.)

Q. Anything else you’d like to add?

My best advice is to book your vendors in early! If you have a favourite vendor get in quickly, there is nothing worse then finding out the vendor you want is already booked out! The most popular vendors generally book the most popular wedding days 18 months in advance.

Thanks Samm!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Drumroll please!  Here’s the one we’ve all been waiting for… the ultimate Australian destination wedding location: Byron Bay.  Today I’m talking with the gorgeous Hayley Newport from Divinity Weddings Byron Bay, who is the woman in the know about how to get the best out of this gorgeous Australian beach destination.  Take it away, Hayley…

Q:  Please tell us a little about yourself, your company and your experience in the wedding industry.

I am the wedding planner behind Divinity - a boutique agency creating fresh, elegant weddings in Byron Bay.  I love what I do and I believe that shows… in attention to detail, listening to what my clients want and going that extra mile to make sure everything is perfect.  Divinity has operated in Byron since 2001 and has earned a reputation for style and professionalism with clients and local suppliers, creating truly special days for each couple.  Divinity is definitely not a “wedding in a box” style company.  Each wedding is completely individual, cultivated from the couple’s ideas and polished with stylish simplicity.

My husband and I have a wealth of local knowledge, as we were born and raised in the Byron region.  We have recently returned home to raise our children in idyillic Byron Bay.  In this spectacular region, I am fortunate enough to indulge my passion and zeal for delivering beautiful events for my clients.  I bring a wealth of experience to Divinity Weddings, having spent a decade working in Events and Communications in London, Brisbane and Sydney.  I also serve on the board of the charitable organisation, Stars with Heart, since 2007, managing PR and charity events.

Divinity creates fresh, elegant weddings that are unique to each couple – weddings that reflect who you are and your distinctive way of celebrating your marriage together.

Q: You organise weddings all over the Byron Bay region.  What are your favourite Byron wedding destinations and why?

It is so hard to pick a favourite destination for Byron Bay it is such a spectacular region offering great variety. I think a classic and simple beach ceremony is beautiful, while the hinterland has a lot more to offer than you would expect.

Beach ceremonies are beautiful, a truly natural setting, a heartfelt exchange of vows with your friends and family celebrating with champagne on the beach, acoustic music, candid photos and then a casual but stylish get together.

I am doing more hinterland weddings (above) of late and I love the variety, character and uniqueness that this region has to offer. The hinterland provides unexpected surprises for my clients and their guests, not to mention the spectacular views the hinterland has to offer.

The region has so many amazing venues to offer, while new and beautiful venues are popping up all the time.

Q: For each of your favourite destinations, can you tell us your favourite venues, ceremony sites and anything special about the locations?

Beach Weddings:

A long time favourite for beach ceremonies is the grassed area at Wategoes Beach, it really is such an idyllic setting. It offers the convenience of a grassed area with the feeling of being on the beach.

For a small intimate wedding Beaumonts on the Beach (above) is the perfect spot for a small marquee right on the beach.

For a bigger budget small wedding Wategoes House is the ultimate in luxury and privacy.

Byron Hinterland:

Deux Belettes is a new favourite of mine, a beautiful French style chateau which offers a truly unique and beautiful wedding experience. It is so beautifully and thoughtfully constructed, it is the perfect wedding venue, no detail has been left  undone at this beautiful property.

Coorabella House has long been a favoutrite of Divinity, it again offers the client a truly unique experience to clients, from the beautiful views to the beautifully appointed interiors.

For reception venues with spectacular views you can’t beat Koonyum Range Retreat,  The Summerhouse (above) and Emerald Valley Villa. All of which offer a luxurious experience for intimate  and beautiful weddings.

Q: Do you have any tips for couples contemplating a Byron wedding?

Plan ahead for your guests, accommodation books up early in Byron Bay, especially during school holidays.

Byron provides the opportunity for a unique wedding, make sure you make the most of it. Take your time to view all the different properties around the area to find something that is suitable for you, don’t fall into the trap of having a “package” style wedding that does not make the most of your personality.

Plan to come to Byron at least a few days before your wedding. Byron Bay is the perfect place to unwind with family and friends before your wedding. There are great spa facilities, health and wellbeing and beauty services in and around Byron Bay to help you prepare for the big day.

One thing I offer my clients is a wedding website for their guests. This provides travel information, accommodation specials and discounts on activities for my clients and their guests to enjoy. These are a great idea, it helps your guests in planning their trip, and allows you to easily arrange group activities so you can make the most of your time in Byron Bay with those people most important to you.

Q: What are your best tips for a destination wedding?

• A destination wedding is your chance to spend quality time with your guests.
• Plan a few days of events to make the most of the time away, a ladies spa day, mens golf day, a post wedding brunch or a cocktail evening are all popular options.
• Remember that all your guests are travelling for your wedding as a testament to how important you are to them. Make sure that you go to extra lengths to look after your guests while they are in Byron Bay celebrating your wedding. Offer travel information with your save the date cards and plan for transportation for your guests to and from the wedding. Plan events for your guests to get to know each other before and after the wedding.
• Make your event is as unique and individual as you are.
• Plan to enjoy the most this beautiful region has to offer.

Q: For 2009 and 2010, what are the trends on the horizon for Byron weddings?

Despite an economic downturn weddings in Byron Bay are proving more popular than ever.

More and more clients are moving away from formalities to casual beautiful events. This is not only cocktail style, but roving entrees, long leisurely lunches and casual sit down events with speeches scattered throughtout the event.

My clients are getting so imaginative with their events, it is wonderful to see all the beautiful styling ideas that have been coming out recently. Use your wedding to indulge your creative side!

Functions on private properties are becoming increasingly popular as they offer a completely unique experience. Using a private property allows you to tailor all aspects of your wedding from your catering to your music and decorations.

Thanks Hayley!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn