Diary of a bride

Did I mention I like tea? I like tea. A lot.

What would a garden party be without a tea station? Complete with BYO teacups and sugar cubes on old teaspoons. In my wedding inspiration searches I have come across mini tables with teapots, Japanese vintage sets and also elaborate spreads with tea in every flavour.

I have been cutting and gluing pictures of tea stations into my new gorgeous wedding planner - it is a life saver, particularly if you like paper and books.


These tea stations make me smile.







From top Wedding Planner Kikki K Iced tea station Jay’s Catering Stephanie is getting married The Vintage Kitchen Classic Bride

Ms Grace's vintage style

These stunning photos are bringing my inner girly-girl out - the one who isn't afraid to throw on killer heals and lippy and head to the supermarket; the girl who loves having her hair done, then slipping on silk and lace.
These Fletcher & Grace jewellery pieces are vintage inspired and are made for women who enjoy crystal and champagne, chandeliers and dinner parties and who are thrilled by beautiful things.

Ms Grace Channeling 1950s glamour in Fletcher & Grace jewels and vintage inspired Corston Couture dress.


Ms Grace is in bloom in Fletcher & Grace jewels and Mrs Press dress


1950s glamour doll wearing Fletcher & Grace jewels and vintage inspired Corston Couture dress

Photography: Thomas Gallane Photography

Inspire yourself

I'm in the middle of writing an article for Modern Wedding mag and I've chosen to write about scrapbooking. When I say scrapbooking, I mean more an inspiration board/book, rather than the decorated photo-album style scrapbooks that have taken the crafty-minded world by storm.
In the digital world we are living in today, a lot of tech-brides are gathering their ideas onto an online scrapbook (Modern Wedding has a scrapbooking tool in the Planning Tools if you choose to start an electronic scrapbook). I personally think you can't go past the original hard copy inspiration book, but because a large chunk of your research will be done online, it's wise to have both.
In a nutshell: Scrapbooking is really the best tool for planning your wedding - it is a treasure book/page of all your ideas and inspirations so that your day will have a cohesive theme. These boards are also great for idea generation!
These three facts became glaringly obvious after I had done my research. Scrapbooking brides:
- Have a concise idea of what they want
- Are getting in-touch with their creative side (so much so they are deciding to add their own personal touch to their wedding with DIY)
- Can more easily make decisions and are less confused/stressed.

If you haven't started yet - start one today! Go to Modern Wedding's scrapbook tool and start adding images and articles. Easy instructions are below.
Also you need to go and buy yourself a hard-cover art book and start cutting out inspirational images from magazines, keep ribbons you love, feathers, dried flowers, shells, whatever your heart desires. Stick all these goodies into your new book and watch your wedding's theme, atmosphere and mood emerge.

Here is a sample inspiration board I have made to hopefully inspire or re-inspire you to get onto your scrapbooking. This didn't take long and it was great fun!


To start your Scrapbooking on Modern Wedding:
1. You need to register (very easy, FREE and heaps of benefits)
2. Browse through articles (in inspiration) and galleries
3. Click on the button 'Save to Scrapbook' - Hey presto it is in your scrapbook.

Have fun! If you have an inspiration board you are working on and want to share it with your fellow brides, take a snapshot or photo and post it on the Modern Wedding facebook page or email it to enquiries@modernwedding.com.au and I'll put it on an upcoming blog for you!

Diary of a bride

At last. We cannot avoid it any longer! Venue upon venue upon venue are trickling in to my inbox. We are filtering through them at a rapid pace whilst taking every opportunity to ask friends for ideas. In general we are keeping a wary eye out. My eye can at times be a little too on the look out – there have been moments when I have made absurd suggestions of impossibly small cafes to Mr husband-to-be that we have happened to be sitting in. He has gently helped me see that we may need something a little bigger.

Now there is a collection of venues of the 'we may have to visit' type (oh…if we have to – of course this is a joke, you cannot keep me away from these restaurants and gardens!). Some have dainty rustic style, others a whimsical garden romance, and we have even stumbled across the occasional gem for a Victorian vintage wedding. Oh my!

Please observe just a teeny tiny taste of the heavenly places our wonderful Sydney holds.

From top Athol Hall, The Mint, Foxglove Spires via Outdoors Webshots, Gunners Barracks, The Boat House, The Victoria Room, Gazebos Wine Suites

If you know of other venues of this type out there, we are open to suggestions!

Reward your bridesmaids

Let's face it, our bridesmaids put up with a lot! Brides on the whole are quite a needy bunch, and we rely on our bridesmaids for... well everything. They need to be a constant support, a wealth of information and ideas, a personal assistant and above all a really good friend. They keep us level-headed and hold our hands through the most exciting and stressful time of our lives.

All this hard work deserves a little reward! Often it is hard to think of a thank you pressie, especially when your girlfriends already have everything they want or need!
Here are some fabulous ideas to get you thinking...


Beaded Silver Jewelley Box with engraving - $65

Engraved Heart Compact Mirror - $49.95

Engraved Wide Cuff Bracelet - $39.95

Engraved Rhinestone Toggle Bracelet - $39.95


Circle of Friendship Bracelet - $49.95

Kelly Pearl and Crystal Earrings - $98.00

Engraved Silver Makeup Brush Tube - $45

Purse Valet Stainless Steel Handbag Holder - $4.95

The Cosmopolitan Monogrammed Jewellery Pouch - $15.75

Little Black Purse Patent Leather Five Piece Manicure Set - $6.95

Bride & Groom Bottle Holders - $5.95


Create your own Chocogram gift - $13.50.
Say it in chocolate - what girl wouldn't love this?

There are so many great gifts you can find right here, as well as the ones above! You don't have to spend up big to tell your friend how much you appreciate her, she will love the fact you thought of her!

Aileen's wedding dance!

A few months ago I showed you the glorious wedding photos of a couple Aileen and Marty, who got married in the Adelaide hills earlier this year. I have since been in contact with Aileen and she has shared this great wedding dance video with us and you...
You can tell that everyone had a fantastic night, so good to see!



Thanks for sharing Aileen and Marty!
Our very own Carly Simpson, office manager is dancing just behind Aileen - Nice moves Carly, you can't even tell you had a few Champas!

Wedding video by Anthony from Otto Studios.

If you have a great wedding dance video or if you did something a little different at your wedding let us know! enquiries@modernwedding.com.au

Diary of a bride

I’ve noticed that guys and gals have been putting some thought into engagement shoots these days. Well, I've been thinking, why not?

To be honest, my mind is full of logistical details: times, assignments and lists. Never-ending lists. So... To the internet! I need some wider inspiration.

It is not difficult to see that it seems 'the more creative the shoot the better' these days. Time to hop on the band wagon and see where it takes us… Is it too obvious to say that travel is a potential theme of choice for my beloved and moi?

Postcards, vintage photos, travel books and a world of adventure trinkets await. I love these pictures as a starting spot for a travel inspired engagement shoot.











Enjoy tags Crafty Pagan, Leather tags The Fountain Shop , French pictures Piddix, Airmail - Vintage boxes Little Byrd Vintage, Vintage bicycle

Modern Wedding's Green & Black Party

Modern Wedding recently celebrated becoming the number one wedding magazine in Australia by hosting a cocktail reception at the divine Doltone House.
We welcome Victoria Green to our team as Fashion Director so now we have a Victoria Green and Victoria Black, hence the Black & Green theme.
The Doltone House venue, Darling Island Wharf, is Australia's only six-star green venue. It was just perfect for our Black and Green theme!
Much to our delight, our guests (the créme de la créme of Australia's bridal fashion industry) embraced the theme in true style.
We also announced the launch of our 'Bride's Beware' educational program, which seeks to inform brides of the huge pitfalls involved in purchasing gowns from unscrupulous online companies.
The night was a huge success and we are looking forward to the next one...





Special thanks to:
Decorative Events for the beautiful decor
MM Photos for the great photography
Doltone House - the venue was superb
Abraham Joffe for the cinematography
Acts on Show - entertaining entertainment

Wedding surprise

Check out this fantastic video - Vanessa's Wedding Surprise!



Are you planning a surprise for your bride/groom?
We want to know about it!

Exciting fashion news

Brides in NSW and Victoria can now rejoice! Beautiful Simone Carvalli gowns are, as of this month, being stocked at Raffaele Ciuca in Victoria and Bridal Secrets in Sydney.

The stunning new collections from Simone Carvalli include 100% silk gowns, which boast sophisticated sillhouettes, exquisite Swarovski crystal beading and modern, yet classic designs.
Their range is just perfect for the elegant, stylish or chic bride... The photos speak for themselves.





Wow!
To try these on, visit Raffaele Ciuca - 1088 High Street. Armadale VIC 03 9509 8731. Available from 18 September 2010.
or
Brides Secrets - Lvl 1,60 Macquarie Street. Parramatta NSW 02 9635 3311. Available now!