Diary of a bride

I saw this photo by Henri Cartier Bresson the other day. Oh how it makes me smile. It got me thinking all about photos, which got me thinking about smilebooths. They are just starting to pop up at weddings here and there. Basically your photographer sets up a camera station with a handheld remote - First you pose, then you click... and voila! Look how much fun you can have.





Jonathan Ong


Oh Darling Photography


Our Blog of Love


Smilebooth


Sitting In A Tree Events

A tribute to the silver screen

Our hearts are aflutter with Fiorenza's stunning new 2011 collection.
Pina has been in the business of creating incredibly beautiful dresses for 20 years now, and next year's collection doesn't disappoint. She has cleverly drawn inspiration from the silver screen icons of the 1920s and 1950s.
Vintage belts, soft trimmings and texture give a luxurious feminine look reminiscent of yesteryear's elegance. Simply divine!





A bit of eye candy? I'll say!

Visit Fiorenza Bridal to find out where you can try on one of these amazing gowns.

It's a numbers game

I can ignore it no longer! Yes, this Sunday's date will be 10.10.10. My desk is swimming in press releases, post-it's and papers all alerting me to the importance and significance of the date.
Thousands of brides across the globe are rushing to fix this Sunday as their wedding date and not only because it will be an easy date for their new hubbys to remember, but because it's a particularly unique date that holds significance for many people.
The Internet and media are abuzz with discussions about the rarity of the date; is it divine? Lucky? Or perfect Feng Shui? Or does it just sound pretty cool? Whatever the answer, it certainly is a popular date!
An estimated 63,000 couples will marry on Sunday and over the entire weekend more than 100,000 will tie the knot.
"I was booked for 10.10am on 10th October 2010 many months ago," Elaine Searle of Australian Marriage Celebrants told Sydney Daily Telegraph. "I have booked two more ceremonies during the day and could have booked, probably about six more, but three is my absolute limit!"

The next fun date? 12.11.10

If you are getting married this weekend, let us know. Was the date particularly special to you?

Sydney Wedding is coming

The day started with a champagne breakfast at the Modern Wedding office, personally I think every Friday should start this way. A happy Friday was not the only reason for our lavish morning, we are celebrating the fact that we have just finalised our 20th anniversary Sydney Wedding magazine. The whole team has done an incredible job and we have the biggest issue to date hitting the shelves in December. It is always such a long wait before we have the finished product in our hot little hands - perhaps another champagne breakfast for when we do?? Hmmm... I'm really an ideas person!
It was almost impossible to pull ourselves away and get onto work, but with our 15 other bridal magazines calling our names and deadlines waiting to be met, we managed to find our way back to our desks.
I would love to show you the highlights of the Sydney Wedding magazine, but I'm going to wait 'til we are closer to sales date, or you may find yourselves as anxiously awaiting the new mag as we are - I wouldn't do it to you.
The latest issue of Modern Wedding (volume 48) hit newsagents just 2 weeks ago and we have been flooded with praise (always a nice ego boost). One of the most common comments we hear are about our stunning shoots, so I thought I'd post a few pics for you to drool over before the weekend (to compensate for not showing you Sydney Wedding quite yet...)

Gown: Halo Australia
Accessories: Say Bella

Accessories: Say Bella
Gown: Abbey Bridal

Gown: Essense
Accessories: Say Bella

Gown: Ella
Accessories: Say Bella

Fabulous stylist: Gail Macdiarmid
Wonderful photographer: Tim Robinson
Beautiful Makeup and hair: Marianna Grillo

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!