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

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

Grey will be the neutral IT color for 2011 weddings. With not a rainy cloud in sight, shades of charcoal, dove, stone, oyster and shell will be incorporated into wedding colour palettes for 2011 and we just love how grey pairs beautifully with vibrant hues such as fuchsia pink, coral and teal.  

The other colour of choice for 2011 will be navy and other deep blues thanks to Prince William and Kate’s royal wedding.  Navy and all dark blue palettes complement the moody greys and also work harmoniously with white, ivory, champagne and little pops of colour.

Here are some of our favourite ways to incorporate these colour palettes into your wedding day in 2011 and beyond:

• Navy and grey are generally darker accent colours, so choose a base colour for your wedding stationery, decorations and accessories such as ivory, white or champagne.  For example, with your wedding invitations, you might choose a white base and use a silvery grey printed text and a navy personalised ribbon as your accent colours;
• As with your wedding stationery and accessories, for the bride and bridesmaid dresses, choose a white, ivory or champagne base and accessorise with a navy or grey accent.  The bride might use a navy blue sash with her dress, a bold shoe, or even a sapphire wedding ring inspired by Wills and Kate.  Bridesmaids dresses in navy and greys are a stunning complement to this look and for the men, incorporate the colour palette through their ties, cumberbunds and handkerchiefs;
• Navy and grey won’t necessarily be the best main colour for your wedding cake!  Again, they make a beautiful accent with printed motifs and designs in navy or grey against the main neutral colour of ivory, white or champagne.  Two easy ways to bring colour to a neutral or simple wedding cake is with a coloured ribbon, which can be personalised for extra oomph or through a beautiful wedding cake topper.  Australia’s number one wedding shop, Pink Frosting offers both personalised ribbons and wedding cake toppers in many colours, themes and designs;
• Greys and blues can be hard to find in flowers, although hydrangeas strike a beautiful blue and grey hue.  You might choose white lilies or ivory roses as a base, and have your navy and grey colour scheme pop through the ribbons tying the bouquets together.  Big bows in satin make a stunning statement in your chosen colour and look lovely when draped down over a simple gown.
• For your table decorations, again use ivory, white or champagne as your base for chair covers, table cloths, and draping and accent in your colours of choice.  Navy and silver look beautiful as satin sashes against white on your reception chairs, you can incorporate a slash of colour through your table runners in navy or silvery grey and you might like to tie a big bow in satin ribbon in navy blue and silver grey around your table centrepieces and vases to tie in your colours.  Australia’s number one wedding decoration supplier, Pink Frosting, offers some beautiful wedding decorations in these colours.
• Silver or chrome bomboniere can be found in abundance and makes a statement about your sophistication as a bride and groom.  Many of the options for silver favours can include a navy accent such as silver miniature photo frames with an attached personalised navy tag or silver bomboniere almonds encased in a navy organza bag.

Kathryn

What was your favourite part of the day?

Fave part of the day….. mmm hard…  I loved it all….. I guess walking out the chapel officially married and being greeted by everyone who is dear to me.. people I haven’t seen for ages, family, friends, etc.  LOVED  the photo shoot. . . Our entrance as Mr and Mrs Battye…  Cutting the cake, first dance…. It was all exciting!

Who was your wedding day dream team?

The photographer was Mel Hill www.melhillphotography.com.au

The ceremony was at ‘Gold Creek Chapel’ and the Reception was held at ‘The Abbey’, both at Gold Creek, Nicholls, ACT. www.functionsatfederation.com.au.  The staff at the Abbey were FANTASTIC! Super friendly service and the meals were one of the best I have ever eaten. Anywhere Ever!!!!!!! Everyone commented on the food for weeks after the wedding.

I made the flowers myself and my makeup artist was Jacqueline Scott www.jsmakeup.com.au and my best friend did my hair.  She is so clever!

 Having “been there, done that” now, what five things would you recommend to other brides?

• Plan well ahead and be sure to meet with the people who you will be associating with on your special day – catering mgr, chapel staff etc…
• Choose a celebrant to match your personality – Ours was WONDERFUL! He had a great sense of humour and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the ceremony.
• Have a backup plan for the weather – make sure your photographer knows of alternate places to offer you – it started pouring as we walked out of the chapel and we had a garden booked for photos.
• Be sure to do a final check of the bridal parties appearance before you all walk down the isle – my son didn’t have his shirt tucked in and no-one noticed!! Eeeeek
• Keep a collection of photos (positions, locations, landmarks)  you like leading up to the day… You may be able to have these photos taken for your own collection.

As someone who works in the wedding industry, what advice are you now giving Pink Frosting brides that you learned from your big day?

• Be aware of time frames for bulk / personalised items.
• It is possible to sample items before purchasing bulk quantities.
• Have back up plans for weather permitting venues… Having parasols umbrellas just in case.
• Be organised and don’t sweat the small stuff-not everything always goes according to plan….
• Guest numbers will always change, so take this into consideration when ordering bonbonniere etc….

We hope you love these inspiring pictures as much as we did!  Thank you Carolyn for sharing your day with us and also for your work every day in making Pink Frosting’s customer’s weddings and parties just that much more special.  We adore you!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

For your wedding decorations and table centrepieces, keep it simple.  An elegant tall vase in the centre of the table with glitter tipped red roses makes the perfect centrepiece.  Then, over a white cloth, add a mirror base centre to the table, black diamond table scatters, damask votive tea light candle holders, timeless traditions coasters in black and white damask design and finally finish with a black and white damask themed wedding favour such as the damask personalised mint tins at Pink Frosting’s wedding shop.

This black and white table that we styled for one of our clients and shown in Cosmopolitan Bride magazine shows how you can combine black damask with modern black and white stripes and monograms to create a truly spectacular wedding table. 

You can bring the black and white damask pattern into so many of your wedding day accessories, including your wedding guest books, bridesmaid’s dresses, wedding parasols, wedding invitations and so much more.    The Pink Frosting wedding shop has a whole category dedicated to black and white wedding themes for your wedding day to make styling your wedding ceremony and reception with this beautiful design so much easier.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Yummy cookie favours are really one of my favourite ideas for wedding bomboniere.  Guests love a cookie and particularly one home-made and decorated with love and affection.  Our wedding dress cookie favours make a great bridal shower, rehearsal dinner or wedding favour for your guests and look spectacular as well as taste divine!  No guests will leave these scruptious favours on their plates!

To begin, you’ll need the 4 piece wedding cookie cutter set by Wilton at Pink Frosting.    You’ll also need a steady hand, disposable decorating bags and some extra cookies to experiment on before you get the techniques perfect.  Here is the Wilton how to adapted to help us Aussies:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon no-colour almond extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Makes: Each cookie serves 1.

Bling, bling and more bling!  If you can’t flaunt your ice on your wedding day, then when can you?   We love ice and to get the run down on choosing the perfect bridal accessories, we’ve asked the experts to come up with this comprehensive guide.  Ice, ice baby!

• Engagement ring.  Ah! The (almost) essential wedding day bling! Normally switched to your right hand during the wedding ceremony, your engagement ring is put on your left hand after the ceremony after your wedding ring (with the romantic notion that the wedder is closer to your heart).
• Wedding ring.  The wedding ring is that one piece of jewellery that is essential to your wedding day!
• Tiaras and headbands. According to leading international bridal accessories designer, Justine Murray, who owns Justine M Couture and The Tiara Room, we’re seeing a shift from the full, heavy tiara to a more subtle soft headband or hair ornament/comb look.  “Elements such as shells, feathers, velvet, ribbons, filigree and organic pieces are being combined in very interesting ways to create something new and exciting.  Although silver colours and sparkle will never go out of fashion, gold and champagne colours are back in full force, at least for now!”
• Earrings.  From tiny pearl studs, to long shoulder dusters, earrings can be such an elegant feature. Ms Polkadot from Polkadot Bride suggests that brides wearing a necklace and tiara should choose smaller earrings.  “Too much of a good thing is always too much of a good thing!” she says. If you are wearing no other jewellery – go all out and be ornate as you like!
• Bracelets.  Perfect to add as a little extra glitz if you’re staying simple with accessories. A thick, bold sparkling cuff can make a bold statement with a simple gown, whereas classic pearls can scream old world glamour and looks beautiful with a more ornate lace gown.
• Necklaces.  From an ornate choker to a simple beaded creation, a necklace is a great way to make a feature of your décolletage.  Ms Polkadot suggests a bold necklace can suit a strapless gown while a simple strand of sparkle or pearls will add elegance and simplicity, allowing your gown to take centre stage.  “Perhaps you could wear a necklace incorporating your birthstones, or borrow a beautiful piece from someone special to add meaning to your wedding ensemble.”
• Watches.  A watch is an unusual wedding accessory choice, but may be a lovely touch – especially if the watch is a family heirloom or has special meaning to you. Try going for a metal watch with a dainty feel rather than a heavy leather band watch.
• Brooches.  A perfect way to bring attention to something you want to feature – on your dress or pinned into your hair a brooch can look modern or vintage, bold or feminine and dainty. For something different, the stones in your brooch could pick up colours of your bouquet or wedding colour palette.

Pink Frosting’s online wedding shop has a beautiful selection of wedding day jewellery for the bride and her bridesmaids which are an easy, elegant way to add the perfect finishing touch to your wedding day style.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

I hear alot of brides say that they aren’t a veil type of bride.  Then, they find the dress of their dreams and the dresser says, “come on, just pop it on to see what it looks like.”  And, the tears flow.  They feel like a “bride”.

There are countless styles of bridal veils to choose from.  I hope this list of the most popular styles helps you find the “inner bride” in you!

The length of your veil, the number of layers, fabric, trim and shade you choose should all depend on the style of your dress.  Among the options:

• Angel: Long, straight veil cut wide at the sides like angel wings.
• Ballerina (or waltz): Ends just above the floor.
• Birdcage:  A short veil that covers the bride’s face, falling just below the chin, as she enters the ceremony.  This is a popular choice with brides who don’t want a full veil but would still like the elegance and mystery of a veil. It can tie in with a vintage look and can be worn on the back or front of the head.  Often worn with a small hat.
• Blusher:  The blusher is a short veil of two or more layers. It usually ends between the bride’s collarbone and bust, and a layer is worn over the face and is normally lifted before or after the ceremony for the newlyweds’ first kiss. Strict etiquette experts consider veils, particularly blushers, inappropriate for second-time or pregnant brides.
• Butterfly: Oval-shaped and folded in half. Ribbon edging follows a crescent rather than straight line.
• Cascade (or waterfall): Two or more layers of veil in various lengths (some of which can be removed).  A cascade veil can also work as a blusher. 
• Cathedral: A cathedral length veil is as long as bride wants it to be and creates a sea of tulle or lace behind the bride as she walks. Usually worn at formal weddings
• Chapel: The chapel length veil trails behind the bride as she walks. It hits the floor or bottom of the bride’s gown and is often worn with a sweep train to give the illusion of a longer train.
• Elbow:  This is essentially a blusher that reaches the bride’s elbows and creates a soft frame for the upper body and face.
• Fingertip: This style is the most common veil length. Touching the bride’s fingertips, the veil falls in soft folds and adds to the elegance of the dress.  This length works well with ball gowns and so is one of the most popular styles.
• Flyaway: Touches or just covers shoulders. Sometimes called a Madonna veil, this style is made from more than one layer of fabric to create a bridal look. Perfect for an added sense of drama or paired with a tea length gown for a fifties look.
• Mantilla: A long, Spanish-style, circular piece of lace that frames the face.  Its distinguishing features are the lace decoration and placement on the head. The veil is not placed at the back of the head, but is draped over the crown. Its length and placement means the veil falls over the shoulders and down the back.
• Waltz: The waltz length comes to around mid calf and is a graceful addition to the bridal outfit. Also known as ballerina or walking length, it gives the bride a longer veil without the worry of tripping or damaging the veil by stepping on it.

Australia’s number one online wedding shop, Pink Frosting, has a stunning range of wedding veils to choose from.  I hope you find your inner bride with your veil.  Every bride should wear one just for the feeling it gives!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

Caterina and Joe are one very stylish Canberra couple who tied the knot on Saturday 18th April 2009.  My involvement in their day was to style their wedding and honestly, with Caterina at the helm, they really didn’t need much help.  This is one glamorous lady.

Here are the gorgeous photos from Caterina and Joe’s wedding, styled by Pink Frosting and photographed by the very clever Steven from Creative Image.

Caterina and Joe were married at St Christopher’s Catherdral in Manuka, followed by a stunning reception at Rydges Lakeside Ballroom in Canberra City.

Caterina’s hair and makeup using Napoleon Cosmetics were by Bentley’s Bridal at the Jamison Centre, Canberra.

Caterina’s stunning gown is by Arushie Bridal Couture in Leichardt.  The ruffles and boning are so gorgeous.  When I first saw Caterina, she took my breath away.

Bridesmaid gowns in a soft mushroom latte colour, accented with black netting by Park Avenue Bridal Parramatta.

Yes, Joe and the boys also look great…  What a handsome bunch of Canberra boys!

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And the Pink Frosting team download underworld rise of the lycans movie did a wonderful job of styling the reception.  The Rydges Lakeside Ballroom has never looked better!  The team at Rydges loved it so much, they’re using our glamorous images in their advertising…

Caterina and Joe, thank you for letting us be part of your amazing day!

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn

One of our wedding planners, Samantha, is being married today in Canberra.  I am so excited to be attending a wedding as a guest rather than the girl running around like a headless chicken making everything look beautiful.  Samantha has insisted that she style and organise the wedding all herself, which she will have done spectacularly, I have no doubt.  However, with no centerpieces to fluff, no aisle runners to smooth and no flowergirls to chase, this leaves me in a position I rarely find myself in.  What do I wear as a wedding guest rather than the wedding planner?

The invitation says formal, which is always a little difficult to guage.  My wedding planning uniform of super-wide black pants and tuxedo jacket are out.  I want to feel feminine.  I want to feel different to the weddings I attend as a worker bee.  I want to feel gorgeous!

I have a wardrobe full of 70’s style maxi dresses.  Long before the fashion came back, my height and shape has dictated that this style is the best look for me.  I am leaning towards a gorgeous Leona Edmiston dress I have stashed away that I last broke out for my brother’s wedding.  But as the wind is incredibly gusty and the chill factor is likely to head well below zero, I need to be wary of staying warm… aaah, what is a girl to do?

Off to The Knot for their guide on wedding guest attire:

The invite says: “White Tie”

This is the most formal of all wedding dress codes (think state dinners and the Oscars).
He should wear: A tuxedo, a long black jacket with tails, a white pique vest, and a bow tie. Black, formal shoes and even white gloves for dancing are appropriate.
She should wear: A formal, full-length ball gown in a neutral color like dark brown or black. Glamorous makeup and dramatic jewelry and hair are appropriate.

The invite says: “Black Tie”

This is the next most formal wedding dress code and usually means the wedding is an evening affair.
He should wear: A tuxedo. A black bow tie, cummerbund, and patent leather shoes are also suggested.
She should wear: A chic cocktail dress or a long evening gown in a dark, neutral color like brown or black. The bride, wedding party, or friends can help answer questions about the appropriate dress length.

The invite says: “Formal” or “Black Tie Optional”

The wording here suggests something slightly less formal than black tie. This means that a tuxedo isn’t required but the event is still formal enough for one to be appropriate.
He should wear: A tuxedo or a formal dark suit and tie.
She should wear: A long dress, a dressy suit, or a formal cocktail-length dress in a dark, neutral tone like brown, gray, or black.

The invite says: “Beach Formal”

This suggests an elegant beach wedding — so dress to impress, but also dress for the elements (sun, sand, and water). Anything you’d wear to a nice restaurant on a summer day is appropriate.
He should wear: A summer suit with a linen shirt (no ties required), linen pants or khakis, and sandals.
She should wear: A formal summer sundress at tea- or knee-length with flat sandals. Makeup and hair can be natural and everyday.

The invite says: “Semiformal” or “Dressy Casual”

Depending on the time of the event, you’ll want to dress somewhere between formal and casual. Wear darker, more formal hues for an evening fete; opt for light colors and fabrics for a daytime wedding.
He should wear: A suit and tie, dark or light depending on the season and time of day.
She should wear: A cocktail dress or a dressy skirt and top.

The invite says: “Casual”

Generally, casual means anything goes. That said, jeans, shorts, and tank tops are probably not appropriate unless they’re specifically noted as acceptable. For the purposes of wedding wear, assume business casual to be on the safe side.
He should wear: Dress pants with a button-down shirt or polo.
She should wear: A summer sundress or a skirt or pants with a nice blouse. Makeup and hair can be natural and everyday.

Stay tuned. I think the Leona is the key, but I may have to scrounge through my grandmother’s amazing coats and shawls to find something to keep me warm enough to brave this chilly Canberra weather.

Whatever I decide, I’m so excited for Sam and Jon.  I know this day is going to be one never to forget.  Gorgeous people completely besotted with one another… a wedding should be about nothing else.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn