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

Notebook: magazine is an Australian favourite for anyone who loves entertaining and decorating.  It’s got a homey, happy feeling that speaks to most Australian women.  They have a great website which is full of resources on decorating, DIY projects and how-to’s.  This is one from the Notebook: Magazine site I really found useful for weddings.  How to make a floral buttonhole for a wedding, Christening, formal or other really special occasion for the special men in our lives.

What you will need

• White roses;
• Ice plant (Sedum);
• Camellia foliage;
• Parafilm (a green floral tape that adheres to itself when stretched);
• Floral wire;
• Green ribbon, white ribbon, pearl head pins (from floral supplies stores).

Want to know what you need to do in a lead up to a big day?

Photography: Scott Hawkins. Styling: Jada Bennett

1

Wire each piece of foliage separately. We used camellia leaves. Cover with parafilm.

2

Wire each rose and each piece of ice plane (Sedum). Cover with parafilm.

3

Add each leaf and flower to form a balanced arrangement, applying parafilm after each addition. Cover ends in ribbon. (main image)

I’ve always found that the old fashioned way of arranging seating is the best. Literally cut out mini tables (just circles of paper or cardboard) and a little tag representing each guest. You could colour code the tags for each side of the family and friends if you like to make it even easier. Then, grab a glass of vino, sit down with your fiance and get puzzling!

Photo: Good Things by Martha Stewart.com

Remember, this is probably the hardest part of any event, and you can’t please everyone. Most people are simply excited to be at your wedding or event and will appreciate all of your effort.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

We think we have the answer! In the States, the most popular thank you gifts for the wedding party are personalised ones. It is a special way to say thank you to those who have put in a special effort and it really shows you’ve thought about the gift.

Cathy’s Concepts is the leader in the personalised wedding gift market in the United States and Pink Frosting is very excited to be their distributor in Australia and New Zealand. Cathy’s Concepts offers free of charge personalisation on most of their range which includes travel accessories, wedding accessories, jewellery, cufflinks, unity candles and much more.

Here are a few new items from the Cathy’s Concepts range which might be of interest if you’re stuck for the perfect gift for your flowergirl, usher, ring bearer, groomsmen, bridesmaids and more…

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Take inspiration from my Dad: keep your speeches short and real, and only ask those who are truly comfortable to take part and the speech part of your day will definitely be the icing on the cake.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s best wedding tip – number 9!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

In my experience, the best weddings are ones where the couple make the decisions, not the bride herself. It really is supposed to be a celebration of your love for one another – representing both your desires – not just a day left solely for the bride!

What do you think?


Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

The Hollywood actress wanted to keep the arrangements secret, so used a friend’s castle for the event. You may not have a friend with a castle, but if your intention is to stage a secret ceremony, do enlist the help of your nearest and dearest and perhaps organise the hold your ceremony at a friend’s beachside unit or your brother’s house on acreage.

Marquees can be elegant for a garden reception and excellent to cope with inclement weather. Do think about the sort of draping you will use in the ceiling of the marquee and the flooring should always be wood. These two simple details, whilst expensive, will make an enormous difference to the look and feel of your reception.

In a break from tradition, Liz reportedly asked guests to give pigs and cows as wedding gifts to stock her country estate where she wants to build up her organic farm. Whilst you may not be interested in livestock as pressies (!), guests are very happy to bend to your requests with wedding gifts. Think outside the square – perhaps guests could contribute to a more elaborate honeymoon than you could afford yourselves.

The festivities for Liz’s wedding went on for a week. Having a smaller guest list with activities over a longer period is becoming more and more popular with modern brides. I personally had a four day celebration for my wedding and recommend this to everyone as it allows you ample time to see your guests and for guests to get to know one another well too.

Following on from the celebrations in England, the couple moved the party to Mumbai and the desert state of Rajasthan. Hindu rituals were performed in the tradition of Liz’s new husband’s family. Following traditions at a family wedding is a beautiful way to pay homage to your family and cultural background. Where possible, do add some traditional elements to your wedding.

And finally, Liz found ways to have her son participate in the celebrations, both formal and informal. If you have children or are welcoming new step-children into your family, do try and make them feel part of the celebrations. There are plenty of jobs for children to perform – traditional roles such as ring-bearer and flower-girl, but also in helping choose the cake, decor for the day and performing a reading if possible.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

The reality often hits home when a bride realises that her wedding day is not 100% her own. Her fantasy needs to combine with other important people in her world including her groom, her parents, the grooms family and her friends. All will have a vision of their own and depending on the personalities involved, often this can become a source of tension in the planning process.

One of the ways a great wedding planner (aka your personal counsellor at this special time) can help you deal with this tension is by helping the bride decide on the really important aspects of the day that she absolutely will not compromise. Whether you have a planner or not, make answering this question a priority for you and your husband-to-be: what is truly important to you about your day? Sit down together quietly and answer this question honestly. Write down your answer and keep it handy for reference in the future.

Once your priorities for the day are understood, it is possible to negotiate through the web of ideas and opinions of those involved in your wedding. There are always things you can “let go of”, for example, why not include Aunty Berryl’s favourite hair pin as part of your bouquet rather than in your beautifully coiffed hair?

Most of the time, the smallest things that people ask can be accommodated if you think laterally. The trick is to stand back and take a big breath and think about it fully before you leap in and think the worst.

Having said that, don’t compromise on the really special elements to you. It’s most important that you love your day and remember it with such glee that you can’t wipe the smile off your face!

A great wedding planner can help you resolve any tension and include everyone’s needs in the day by helping you think outside the square. If you have any questions about how to resolve family tensions, please email me.

Happy celebrating!

Kathryn