Summer Weddings

Summer is fast approaching and many brides are putting the finishing touches on their weddings. Summer weddings can be great.

Almost always you are guaranteed great weather and its perfect for outdoor and evening weddings as balmy nights add to the atmosphere. Summer weddings can also be a bit of a disaster with heatwaves, insects and natural disasters and even the unlikely event of rain and storms!

Here are our recommendations to keep your summer wedding a success....
The Bride and Bridesmaids
Dresses

Keep them light and floaty. Having a full skirt in heavy silk will add weight and bulk to your gown and on a hot day. Opt for fabrics such as lace, organza, chiffon and tulle.
Hair and Make Up

Keep your hair up and off your shoulders and neck as this will keep you cooler. Having natural, light make up will ensure you don't have it melting off your face as you say “i do”
Accessories

If you are going to be in full sun all day have a few parasols or cute umbrellas handy for the bridesmaids to shelter under. Make sure you have a shady area (either a tree or marquee) for you to take refuge under after the formalities are done. Having open toes shoes or even better, sandals is a good idea, your feet will thank you for it later on.
Flowers

Choose a hearty and long lasting flower for your bouquets that wont wilt in the heat.Some flowers that are in season in the summer months are: Calla Lily, Christmas Bells, Dahlia, Delphinium, Frangipani, Freesia, Garden Roses, Gardenia, Jasmine, Lavender, Lisianthus, Pansy, Peony, Pineapple Lilies, Privet Berries, Queen Anne's Lace, Sweet Pea, Tuberose, Water Lilies.
The Groom and Groomsmen

Light weight suits and cotton shirts in light colours are going to help the guys feel more comfortable in the hot weather - try linen. If the wedding is informal, get the guys matching flip flops. If they are wearing shoes, offer them light silk socks rather than heavy cotton or wool.
The Guests

If the ceremony and reception is outdoors consider having a more relaxed dress code. Make sure you have lots of seats for those that may need it and have a shady area for people to congregate prior to the ceremony. Have plenty of water on hand if the weather is hot to make sure your guests stay hydrated. Keep some tropical scented Sunscreen on hand for guest who need to slip, slop and slap!
Food and beverage

Having “frozen” or cold canapes is a great way to get the reception started. Think colourful shaved ice cones and icy cocktails (think mojitos, margaritas and crushed ice drinks) Keep the menu light (think seafood, salad and fruit) will mean your guests will feel satisfied.
The Ceremony and Reception

Keep the ceremony as short as possible if guests are standing in direct sunlight. If possible have large fans circulating. Some reception venues also have “misters” that they are able to turn on to keep guests cool. Take advantage of the season and decorate your venue with splashes of colour using lanterns, garlands or torches and candles.

Learn to resolve conflict, before your big day!

Research suggests that two people in love, and about to get married, have just under a 50 percent chance of getting divorced in the future and of those who remain married , only 50 percent claim to be happy.

Fortunately, Pre Marital Education is reported to reduce the chances of participating couples divorcing, by 30 percent, and enrich their relationships.

Communication And Conflict resolution

There have been many good books written about the importance of communication, conflict resolution, and gender differences, in maintaining happy marriages and relationships, such as “Men are from Mars, and Women are from Venus.” and “Why Men Don’t listen and Women Don’t Read Maps.”
These books are based on some very solid research on marriages and relationships. Based on this research, Pre-Marriage Education teaches couples how to communicate and resolve conflict more effectively. In addition, couples are taught how to manage important differences between themselves such as culture, religion, morals, values and expectations, which have been found to cause marital problems.

Concerns about Pre-Marriage Counselling

Some people don’t wish to participate in Pre-Marriage Education, due to fears that the course may damage their happy relationship, due to exposing difficulties, and extreme differences between themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pre-Marriage Education, helps couples to deal with these issues, so the issues don’t damage the relationship in the future.
It is a positive learning experience, which is about strengthening, and building, happy, loving relationships.

Conflicting family events

When you get married you gain a whole new family. This usually means you have two families, which is absolutely wonderful. Most of the time. Sometimes, however, it can lead to conflict. For example, it can mean having to choose which family to spend time with. Which family gets to see the grandkids, etc. Conflict in relationships, particularly with families is something that ought to be avoided. So, consider the following tips for dealing with conflicting family events.

1. Anticipate them. It is true that you can't always help it when a family event conflicts with a separate family event, but it does not mean you have to be ignorant about them. For example, most families are going to have a get together of some kind for Christmas. Most families get together near the holidays, birthdays, and other big events. Most families also have annual or regular get togethers such as reunions, etc. So, if you know that both sides of the family are going to have a Thanksgiving dinner, and you are going to have to choose between them, try to come up with a system that makes it easier for everyone. For example, you can tell your family that since you spent the last holiday with them, this one is with the other side.
2. Switch off. There are two ways to employ this technique in order to avoid getting in trouble over conflicting family events. The first option is to switch off every other for the specific holidays. So, this means having Christmas this year with your family, and Christmas next year with your spouse's family. Just be sure to keep careful track so that no one feels shafted because you went with the same family two years running. The other option is to switch off every other holiday regardless of the holiday. So, let's say you get married in October, and spend Halloween with your family, that would mean Thanksgiving is with your spouse's family, Christmas with yours, New Year's with your spouse's, you get the picture!
3. Do both the best you can. In this, usually both sides feel contented, and you are the one that semi-misses-out. So, for example, on Thanksgiving, make sure that one family does an afternoon lunch, and the other an evening, that way you can go to both. Of course, in order to do this, you have to live within close proximity of both families. This can get tiring, and can wear you out, but it usually means everyone is happy.
4. Do neither. If you have conflicting family events, one of the ways to avoid anyone thinking you are playing favorites, is to not attend either event. Instead, do something on your own, with your spouse and children if you have them. This is kind of the everyone loses option, but it does prevent anyone from accusing you of favoritism.
Whatever you choose to do, just be conscious of the feelings of those involved. It can be difficult for a parent to see their child constantly choose their spouse's family over theirs. It can create rifts, frustration, and irritation.

Gifts and Registries

Deciding what to put on your wedding registry can be an exciting task, but it is also one that must be done properly to avoid disappointment. Here are a few tips to help you on making the most of your bridal registry.

As you begin to compose your wedding list it is important to think ahead to your new future together with your partner. What type of place will you be living in? Will it be an apartment, townhouse, unit, house etc.? What kind of colours and themes do you intend to decorate the house with? Will you be entertaining?

You also need to decide whether to place the list at one or more department stores, use an online registry (which may be convenient for interstate or international guests) or arrange to do it yourself.

There are essentials items that you may need like toasters and kettles but you can also put a variety of different items on the list such as dvd’s or cd’s or tools for the home and garden. It is a good idea to give guests a list, which contains inexpensive items, and more expensive items that guests can band together and purchase together. It is also a good idea to put quite a few more items on the list even if you don’t anticipate getting all of them. This gives your guests a good choice when it comes time to buy a gift for you.

When including items on the registry be sure to be specific if you have your heart set on a particular product or item. Include:

    The brand name
    The model number or name
    The colour
    The size
    The quantity required
    And if necessary
    Where it can be found

However if you aren’t too fussed on the brand or model you can help the guests by being a little more descriptive. Instead of putting ‘toaster’ why not put ‘toaster – 4 slice’ and minimize your chance of receiving something you don’t want or need.

Be sure to keep a record of what gifts you receive and from whom so that you can write thank you letters afterwards.

Having the right registry can ensure that the start of your new life together can be a smooth and enjoyable transition into wedded bliss!

Insider's Guide to wedding planners

The excitement and euphoria of a marriage proposal is often soon replaced by panic and confusion when the time comes for wedding planning and coordination!

That’s why hiring an event coordinator is more than just a good idea. You can hope for the best, but make sure you plan for the worst!

It's not easy turning your dream wedding into a reality. Some brides want a fairytale wedding with a horse-drawn carriage and a Cinderella-like ball; others want a freaky event with a three ring circus and a white tiger by their feet. Either way, wedding planners have the experience of knowing exactly which florists, musicians, lighting and décor designers need to be called upon to create that vision whilst ensuring your wedding remains tasteful rather than tacky.

Wedding planners have some advantages; they can save you time by doing all the planning legwork for you, scouting potential reception venues and wedding service providers to make you a list of feasible options within your budget, saving you an enormous amount of time and effort.

Wedding planners can also save you money. Some are able to obtain trade discounts unavailable to the general public and their experience in negotiating with service providers means that they know how much a vendor's services are worth and will be able to secure the best deal for you. They also know how to avoid paying the hidden costs that some vendors try to charge. They also know how to ensure that your wedding runs to schedule so you're not billed overtime and how to avoid being charged for things such as guest no-shows.

We have heard of some wedding planner disaster stories but these are generally few and far between. These days we tend to find that wedding planners are reserved for couples who not only can afford them, but also cannot afford the time to arrange their own weddings. With the advent of more and more online wedding planning tools, it's worth thinking carefully about what you would like to achieve for your wedding and assessing whether or not you actually need the help of a wedding planner.

That being said, what ever you decide to do, we recommend contacting a few wedding planners just to chat about what they can offer you, what they charge for their time and if it would be worth while employing their services.

Remember, we at brideonline.com.au are always keen to learn about your experiences, so when you're ready feel free to contact us and let us know what your experience was like with wedding planners.

The Basics of Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations set the theme of the entire wedding with the style and design of your invitations indicating to your guests what to expect on the day. The wording of the wedding invitations is extremely important as it will convey to your guests the dates and times and the type of wedding you are having. It is therefore important to ensure that your invitations reflect who you are.

Begin by shopping around for invitations. This may include looking at wedding invitations online, comparing wedding invitations you have received or visiting several invitation stores for ideas. Keep in mind what colours, fonts, sizes and media you wish to use.

Determine what the trends are or what kind of style you are after. Will your wedding invitations be contemporary, romantic or informal? What colours will be used in your wedding? Your colour palette will depend largely on what you have in mind for the wedding. The wedding invitations should compliment your decorative plans for the day and the same or similar design should be used for envelopes, reply cards, name cards, wedding programs and all stationery that will be used on the day.

As a general rule of thumb wedding invitations should make up 2-5% of the wedding budget. Prices range enormously depending on the type of invitation you want, the type of paper you are using and the quantity in which you require it, however there are many cheaper alternatives which are just as effective and look as stunning. So whatever your budget, there is an invitation to suit!

In addition to the wedding invitation you may also want to send your guests a map of how to get there and accommodation in the area. Reply cards and Wedding gift registry information cards can also be included.

Multiple parents on father's and mother's day

Having multiple parents on any holiday can be especially challenging for any child. Even those who have grown up in a multi-parent situation continue to struggle with the logistic and emotional issues associated with having more than one mom or dad. Mother's day and father's day are especially challenging as these two holidays are specifically dedicated to parents. So what do you do? Well, every situation has different dynamics and so there is no one answer that we all can dictate our actions from. However, relationship and family experts have provided some guidelines that can help to give you some direction as you decide how to best honor the parents in your life.

One of the best things that you can do to best deal with the issue of having multiple parents on mother's and father's day is to be fair. One thing that must be clarified right off the bat is that fair does not always mean equal. Determining how to fairly allocate your time can be determined by a number of factors, many of which are geographical. In today's world mobility is much more convenient than it once was. For many families who live relatively close to each other, getting in the car and visiting each parent on their special day presents little conflict. Of course there are situations where both parents are not in the same geographical area. In these cases, parents and children may have to search for more creative ways to make sure that parents get fair visitation on their special days. In the most amicable of situations, both parents can come together to share their special day with the child or children. Having both mothers or both fathers together and with the child on mother's or father's day, not only minimizes scheduling conflicts, but it also provides a unified front for the child which is undeniably beneficial.
When time or travel does not make it possible for a child to physically visit each parent, alternate solutions include alternating years for mother's or father's day (much like many married couples deal with holiday situations in a situation where there are two sets of parents). If one parent must be chosen over another for special attention, experts generally suggest that the child discuss plans with the biological parents first. It is understood that there are some situations where the biological nature of the relationship is not as important as the emotional connection between parent and child, and in cases like these it is best to put the emotions of the child first. Be gracious and think of what will make the child happiest in what could be an uncomfortable situation. It is recommended that children be spared from the emotional baggage that may be associated with situations where there are multiple parents. As the child grows and matures, they will be better able to have a part in the decision making process.
While there are some awkward and uncomfortable feelings that may be associated with having multiple parents on mother's or father's day, it is beneficial to see the positive in the situation. It can be a great blessing to have multiple parents. While logistically scheduling holidays may be stressful, the bottom line is that the child is able to benefit from that many more caring and loving parents who only wish the best for them. Looking at the situation from this angle may make choosing how to spend your mother's and father's day a little less stressful and the overall experience a bit more enjoyable for everyone who is involved.

Choosing a Wedding Location

Selecting the perfect wedding location is dependent on a variety of things such as your own personal style, your budget and how many people you will be inviting. From a natural and informal out door wedding to a classy hotel venue the possibilities are endless but here a few things you should keep in mind.
Hotels, Reception Centres and Restaurants

    Consider the number of guests you have attending. Will there be enough space for a sit down dinner, a dance floor, an appropriate area for band/DJ and the cake?
    In most instances hotels, reception venues and restaurants will provide their own caterers. Many are able to cater for any special requests you may have and also the dietary needs of your guests. If you are planning to use an outside wedding caterer be sure to check if the venue will allow this.
    Ask if there will be adequate parking spaces to accommodate your guests. If parking fees apply it may be necessary for you to arrange to pay for your guests parking in advance.
    Hotels may have restrictions on the way you want to decorate your room so remember to ask if you are allowed to move tables and chairs around to a way that best suits your needs for the day. In addition to this, some hotels may also have restrictions on the type of music you are allowed to play and the level at which it is allowed to be played, so be sure to check this with staff as well as if there are sufficient power outlets.

Government owned parks and gardens, outdoor venues

    Research and ensure that the necessary paper work is done. Are there fire restrictions? Do you need a permit for cooking appliances, serving alcohol or erecting a marquee? What time must you vacate the premises?
    Is there a supply of water, electricity and gas? Will you need to hire or buy a generator, gas tanks and water supplies? Are there any toilets?
    How far is the location of the reception from the parking lot? Consider having your  wedding reception in a place that is easy to find and not too far from the car park as older guests may have difficulty venturing far distances on foot.
    It may also be convenient to set up a tent where the bridal couple can change clothes or touch up their makeup.
    Will the caterers, decorators, florists be willing to travel to your remote location? Will you be able to dump your rubbish in council provided bins or must you take it all back with you?
    Remember to remind guests to dress adequately depending on what season you are having your wedding. It is also important to plan ahead and to try to accommodate Mother Nature in your plans- keep in mind that uninvited insects may prove highly annoying, and check to see if your evening beach party has the potential to be swamped by the rising tide!

With all wedding locations remember written contracts are important in making sure that your day runs exactly how you planned it. It makes sense when sending out invitations to include a detailed map on how to get to your dream wedding location!

Choosing a Wedding Location

Selecting the perfect wedding location is dependent on a variety of things such as your own personal style, your budget and how many people you will be inviting. From a natural and informal out door wedding to a classy hotel venue the possibilities are endless but here a few things you should keep in mind.

Hotels, Reception Centres and Restaurants

    Consider the number of guests you have attending. Will there be enough space for a sit down dinner, a dance floor, an appropriate area for band/DJ and the cake?
    In most instances hotels, reception venues and restaurants will provide their own caterers. Many are able to cater for any special requests you may have and also the dietary needs of your guests. If you are planning to use an outside wedding caterer be sure to check if the venue will allow this.
    Ask if there will be adequate parking spaces to accommodate your guests. If parking fees apply it may be necessary for you to arrange to pay for your guests parking in advance.
    Hotels may have restrictions on the way you want to decorate your room so remember to ask if you are allowed to move tables and chairs around to a way that best suits your needs for the day. In addition to this, some hotels may also have restrictions on the type of music you are allowed to play and the level at which it is allowed to be played, so be sure to check this with staff as well as if there are sufficient power outlets.

Government owned parks and gardens, outdoor venues

    Research and ensure that the necessary paper work is done. Are there fire restrictions? Do you need a permit for cooking appliances, serving alcohol or erecting a marquee? What time must you vacate the premises?
    Is there a supply of water, electricity and gas? Will you need to hire or buy a generator, gas tanks and water supplies? Are there any toilets?
    How far is the location of the reception from the parking lot? Consider having your  wedding reception in a place that is easy to find and not too far from the car park as older guests may have difficulty venturing far distances on foot.
    It may also be convenient to set up a tent where the bridal couple can change clothes or touch up their makeup.
    Will the caterers, decorators, florists be willing to travel to your remote location? Will you be able to dump your rubbish in council provided bins or must you take it all back with you?
    Remember to remind guests to dress adequately depending on what season you are having your wedding. It is also important to plan ahead and to try to accommodate Mother Nature in your plans- keep in mind that uninvited insects may prove highly annoying, and check to see if your evening beach party has the potential to be swamped by the rising tide!

With all wedding locations remember written contracts are important in making sure that your day runs exactly how you planned it. It makes sense when sending out invitations to include a detailed map on how to get to your dream wedding location! 

DIY vs Professionally Made Invitations

Often brides ask me about whether they should buy a DIY pack or get their invitations professionally made. Sometimes they are unsure because they don’t know if they have the time or if they’ll save enough money to make it worthwhile. I usually answer by asking them three questions.

• Why do you want to DIY?
• Do you have the equipment?
• Do you have the time to DIY?

If the answer to question one is to save money, then I usually ask if they have worked out the overall difference in cost. This is something that most people on a budget tend not to do, they tend to just assume that if they do-it-themselves, it will work out cheaper. However, the savings often turn out to be less than expected and the same amount of money can often be saved more easily, in another area. Try asking your caterer for a dollar per head discount, that’s usually all you’ll save.
Now if the answer to question one is that they want to have creative input, to have pride in saying, “I did them myself”, then we need to look at the answers to the other questions more closely.

Do you have the equipment?

This seems simple enough, there are really only three pieces of equipment that most people may not have. Do you have access to a good printer? Check. Do you have access to a guillotine or rotary trimmer? Check. Do you have access to software to lay out the invitation? Check. Do you want the same professional result as that sample you ordered? Check. When most people check these off the list, they are talking about a good inkjet printer or a small desktop laser, both of which are great for general printing. They do have limitations though.
Inkjets use liquid ink, which prints well on some papers but on others it bleeds or runs causing the text and images to look blurry or messy. Desktop lasers are great for printing on thin paper but usually won’t accept the thicker card stock that many invitations are made with. They are usually also talking about Microsoft® Word for the software, which again has its limitations. Any professional stationery supplier will use graphics software such as Adobe® Illustrator® or CorelDRAW®. Using Word not only limits what can be done graphically, it’s also hard to print exactly where you want on the page. That means there will likely be several test prints and several hours wasted, just trying to get it set-up correctly. It may also mean that cutting the invitations to size will be a lot harder than it should.

Do you have the time?

This question is fully loaded. Most brides today are out working, trying to organise their wedding on their lunch breaks and after hours. Many think they have the time to do their invitations, until they actually start the process. You need time to design and set-up the text to print. You need time to test print and re-design. You need time to go to the store and buy the paper, card, glue or tape and other bits, which may involve going to more than one shop. Think about the petrol you’re spending and add that into the cost. Are you still saving money? If ordering online, add the shipping into the cost, particularly if buying from more than one website. You also need time to cut and assemble the invitations. No problem you say,” I’ll just sit in front of the TV with a glass of wine and do it.” I’ve even heard people say that they’ll make a night of it with a couple of girlfriends! These are generally the same people who contact us in a tizz, to ask how much we charge to put together the invitations they have messed up or have run out of time to get done. Then of course there’s the possibility that your boss asks you to work late on the week that you had planned to do the invitations. What happens then?
Now I’m NOT saying that people shouldn’t DIY. All I’m saying is that you need to consider carefully whether or not you are one of those people. To DIY you need to plan, allowing extra time for Murphy’s Law. You need to be confident that you can do ALL the tasks needed to get the job done. Most of all, you need to understand your motivation for DIY. If it’s simply to save money, then I’d suggest you be extra careful. For most people, who have the equipment already and who have the time to spare, the overall saving will end up being less than $2.00 per invitation, although that will vary with the design chosen. Think about those extra costs that tend to get ignored, like printer ink or toner, the average two dozen sheets of paper wasted on printing and cutting errors and the extra petrol or shipping, when you realise that you’ve run out of something half way through the job.
So, is there anything good about DIY? Yes, okay, here’s the good news for those who do want to save money or who do want to do their bit, but don’t really have the equipment or time. Many wedding stationers these days offer semi-DIY packs as an option. Put simply, this option takes all the difficult work that requires costly equipment away from you, leaving the simple (but often time consuming) tasks to complete. The professional stationer does the design, printing and cutting of all the bits and all you have to do is assemble the invitation. All that is really required is some glue or tape and a good eye. Any printing or cutting errors become the responsibility of the supplier* and you get your professional looking stationery with REAL savings. Again, this option may not be for everyone.
You do still have to do some work and if you’re busy, it may be better to just get the professionals to do it all, so that your invitations arrive, ready to pop in the envelope and send. And in the end, sending your invitations out and getting the feedback about how lovely they are, is probably the most satisfying part of the whole process!

Insider's Guide to wedding invitations

Welcome to this edition of the Wedding Indsider's Series, Wedding Invitations. Wedding Invitations set the theme of the entire wedding with the style and design indicating to your guests what to expect on the day.
Invitation Types

So if you decide to leave the invitation creation to the professionals, there are many different options to consider with just as many different price points.

Digital Printing - The simplest and cheapest form of custom invitations. This process is about choosing a design either online or in the store, customizing the text, fonts and layout as well as the card style and paper types and having them printed. The biggest advantage with this is that the designs are only limited by your imagination as basically anything can be printed.

Thermography - A bit of a rarity in Australia, this is a fairly specialized process where heat is used to raise the ink above the paper, giving it a sort of reverse-engraved effect.

Letter Press - A beautiful and traditional process which has actually been around for hundreds of years. This is done on a Gutenberg style press where your design is laid out in a mould then pressed against your choice of paper (usually quite thick) for an engraved look. This is a beautiful option but does require a lot of hands-on work and together with the initial set-up fee can become costly.

Hand Made/Multi-Layered - This style of invitation is beautifully unique and also the most labour-intensive depending on the design. Again, the design can be as simple or as complicated as you like it to be but typically will also be the most expensive if it is a very complex design requiring a lot of hand-work.

We tend to find that the more labour-intensive the invitation design, the more they can cost per unit. Digitally printed designs give you the most flexibility and have the fastest turn around time because the majority of hands-on time is the design phase rather than the creation phase.

Hand-made/multi layered designs, letterpress and thermography can easily cost over $10 per unit and we have even seen some for as much as $30 per invitation and that is before the cost of envelopes and other cards that form the set such as RSVP cards, Thank you cards, Place cards and Gift Registry cards are incorporated. This is another factor to consider if you want to create your own invitations as you will have to create all of these cards too!

So best thing to do from here is chat to some We dding Invitation Suppliers. Some will have shops where you can go in for a design consultation and others will be online based. A bit of online research will go a long way and as usual we would love to hear what you have found and what you think will work best for your wedding. Post your findings on our Facebook Page or email us to keep us in the loop!

What kind of marriage do you want?

Marriage is an age old institution, but that does not mean that everyone has the same kind of marriage. Some people do things one way, and others another. What works for some, may not work for others. For example, a regular date night might work wonders for one marriage, but what about the marriage where the husband or wife is overseas on deployment? Is their marriage doomed to fail because they can't go out to a movie once a week? The following are a few keys to a healthy marriage, and things to do depending on the kind of marriage you want:

Friendship: All healthy relationships, marriage and otherwise, are based on a quality friendship. If you want to have a good marriage, you have to care about your spouse as you would a friend. You have to have those bonds that connect you, and help you enjoy one another.
Love: While a marriage can stay in tact without love, love is a critical ingredient to a happy, healthy, marriage. Love is a part of marriage that adds that little something extra, that helps you put up with the uglier sides of marriage, or the realities of life.
Respect: Respect is key to a good marriage because without it, resentment, hatred, frustration, and other negative feelings form much too quickly. Respecting their ideas, opinions, rights, individuality, and other characteristics is important. So, if you want a healthy relationship, ask about their dreams, goals, desires, and respect their answers. Respect them as people, as your spouse, etc.
Courtesy: Common courtesy sometimes goes out the window when you are married, but healthy marriages still respect courtesy, and practice it. Things like holding the door for your spouse, sparing them from your body functions (gas, bowel movements, etc.), not interrupting them when they are speaking, etc. all play a role in a healthy relationship.
Fun! Good relationships require some elements of fun. It is easy in marriages to get caught up in the everyday of life, finances, work, etc. and forget to show one another the good time you had when you were dating, or more carefree. So, do things you both enjoy. Rock climb, ice skate, go to shows, go to dinner, play fun games, or get involved in something that you enjoy and that you find that is so fun.
Happy: A healthy marriage requires some happiness. So, this means that both partners take the time to do things that they enjoy and that make them happy, whether it is alone or together. For example, if she loves to read, and he loves to play golf, then they may take an afternoon apart to do the thing that they enjoy and that makes them happy.
Individuality: Sometimes in a marriage, someone in the partnership gives up who they are to help them other person, or because they think that is how it is supposed to go. However, this usually spells out trouble down the line. Each part of the relationship needs to be whole on its own if they are going to be whole together. If you give up your dreams, you are eventually going to resent them for it. So, focus on keeping yourself and what makes you who you are, while you grow within your relationship.

Gifts and Registries

Deciding what to put on your wedding registry can be an exciting task, but it is also one that must be done properly to avoid disappointment. Here are a few tips to help you on making the most of your bridal registry.

As you begin to compose your wedding list it is important to think ahead to your new future together with your partner. What type of place will you be living in? Will it be an apartment, townhouse, unit, house etc.? What kind of colours and themes do you intend to decorate the house with? Will you be entertaining?

You also need to decide whether to place the list at one or more department stores, use an online registry (which may be convenient for interstate or international guests) or arrange to do it yourself.

There are essentials items that you may need like toasters and kettles but you can also put a variety of different items on the list such as dvd’s or cd’s or tools for the home and garden. It is a good idea to give guests a list, which contains inexpensive items, and more expensive items that guests can band together and purchase together. It is also a good idea to put quite a few more items on the list even if you don’t anticipate getting all of them. This gives your guests a good choice when it comes time to buy a gift for you.

When including items on the registry be sure to be specific if you have your heart set on a particular product or item. Include:

    The brand name
    The model number or name
    The colour
    The size
    The quantity required
    And if necessary
    Where it can be found

However if you aren’t too fussed on the brand or model you can help the guests by being a little more descriptive. Instead of putting ‘toaster’ why not put ‘toaster – 4 slice’ and minimize your chance of receiving something you don’t want or need.

Be sure to keep a record of what gifts you receive and from whom so that you can write thank you letters afterwards.

Having the right registry can ensure that the start of your new life together can be a smooth and enjoyable transition into wedded bliss!

Who Pays for What?

Modern weddings no longer have set rules on who pays for what. Traditionally, the majority of the wedding expenses were paid by the bride's family. However in these modern times, it is far more common that the expenses are shared. Each wedding will depend on individual situations.

You should discuss this matter with both families to come to an agreement that will best suit all the parties involved. It is not uncommon for couples to pay for all or part of the wedding themselves. The following is a breakdown of traditional costs for the traditional wedding.
The Bride:

     Groom's wedding ring
     Gifts for the groom and bridal attendants.

The Groom:

    The bride's engagement and wedding ring.
    A wedding gift for the bride.
    Gifts for the best man and groomsmen.
    Suit hire for himself
    Bride's & bridesmaid's bouquets, the corsages & boutonnieres.
    Celebrant & ceremony fees
    The honeymoon

The Bride's Family:

    Engagement party
    Newspaper announcement
    The Reception
    Bridal Gown & accessories
    A wedding gift for the bride and groom.
    Wedding invitations
    Ceremony & Reception flowers
    Wedding Photographer
    Wedding cake

The Groom's Family:

     Wedding gift for the bride and groom.
     Any general expenses they may wish to contribute.

The Attendants:

     Wedding gift for bride and groom.
     Hens night given by maid of honour or bridesmaids.
     Bucks night given by best man or groomsmen.

The Bride and Groom:

     Gifts of appreciation for parents or others who helped with your wedding.

The Roles of the Mother and Father of the Bride

Your wedding day will be one of the proudest and special moments for you and your parents. There are many duties that can be done by the parents to incorporate them into your wedding day, making them feel special and needed. Involving your parents during the "wedding process" not only can be a huge help for the couple, but in a way thanks them for all that they have done.
The father of the bride

One of the most touching parts of the day will undoubtedly be when the father must give his daughter away. This meaningful gesture symbolizes the fathers blessing on the marriage and in particular his acceptance of the groom.
The father of the bride should:

    Attend the wedding rehearsal
    Attend any pre-wedding parties
    Prepare a speech for the ceremony
    Takes care of final payments of caterers, musicians etc.
    Escort the bride from the house to the ceremony
    Arrive last with the bride
    Walk with the bride up the aisle, walking on her right hand side
    Give the bride away
    Stand until after the vows and then join the bride’s mother
    Light the wedding ceremony candle with the Mother and Father of the Groom
    Sigh the registry with the bride’s mother then escort her down the aisle
    Leave for reception after the bride and groom
    Stand second in line at the wedding reception and greet the guests
    Toast the newlywed couple and make a speech
    Mingle with guests and do introductions

The mother of the bride

The mother of the bride is often as enthusiastic and excited as the daughter about the upcoming wedding. She will often want to involve her self in almost every aspect of the wedding after she too will want to ensure that your wedding day really is the best day of your life. However most couples nowadays are opting to plan the wedding themselves but out of courtesy it is important to at the very least keep the mothers up to date with the progress of plans. In addition to this there are several duties that the may be performed by the brides mother if required.
The mother of the bride should:

    Assist her daughter in the arrangements where possible and in choosing the wedding gown and accessories, bridesmaids attire, flower girls and pageboys, wedding reception entertainment, florists, and transport.
    Keep the parents of the groom informed of wedding planning progress
    Consult with the Mother of the Groom about the colour of her wedding outfit
    Compile a guest list with the bride and receives replies from wedding invitations
    Attend wedding rehearsals
    Attend pre-wedding parties
    Help the bride with her dress and veil on the day
    Light the wedding ceremony candle with the Mother and Father of the Groom
    Carry emergency kit in case anything is needed by the bridal or grooms party on the day
    Sign register and walk down aisle with the father of the bride
    Leave for reception after the bride and groom
    Stand second in line at the reception and greet the guests
    Act as hostess at the reception, mingling with guests and introducing people
    Help the bride to change out of her wedding dress and take care of it if the bride leaves straight from the reception for the honeymoon

Wedding Speech Running Order

The typical running order for wedding speeches is as follows:
Master of Ceremony:

The order of events is controlled by the MC. He will call for the guest’s attention and either introduce each speaker in turn or just the first speaker - The Bride's Father.
The Bride’s Father

Or close friend or relative of the bride’s family) speaks first.The bride's father will propose a toast to the newlywed couple. What he will speak about will depend on each situation, but he might include:

    How proud he is of his daughter
    A welcome to his new son-in-law and the groom’s parents
    Advice and well wishes to the couple
    proposing a toast to the couple at the end of his speech

The Groom

Traditionally speaks next. His speech could include:

    thanking the guests for their attendance
    thanking the bride’s parents for giving him their daughter in marriage
    complimenting the bride
    paying tribute to his own parents
    acknowledging the help with wedding arrangements given by his best man and other helpers
    proposing a toast to the bridesmaids, thanking them for their help and support at both the wedding and the reception

The Bride

May give a speech or say a few words now if she wishes to do so.
The Best Man

Officially, his duty is to reply on behalf of the bridesmaids, including:

    Thanking the groom for asking him to be Best Man at his wedding
    The appreciation of the bridesmaids already expressed during the groom's wedding speech
    An informal speech or story about the bride and groom

If there are to be other toasts or additional speeches to be made, they are done so now. The Master of Ceremony will then finalise the wedding speeches by encouraging the guests to enjoy the rest of the evening. If a meal is part of the reception plan, then the speeches are usually delivered between courses.

Birth order sibling relationships

Sibling relationships are impacted by multiple things including birth order, gender, age spacing, and parental influence. Researchers have long been trying to figure out how children can end up so different when they are raised by the same parents. They have concluded that age spacing is one of the biggest factors that impact sibling relationships. When children are close in age, they tend to share similar interests and they have an easier time learning how to share. When there is significant age difference between siblings, there is an occurrence of power issues. Every child is trying to compete to be the dominate one so the conflict between siblings is greater.

The first-born child tends to show more authority over their younger ones. Since the first-born child was the only one in the family for a long time, they tend to get jealous when other siblings are introduced into the family and the attention is taken away from them. The first-born child or older children may envy the younger children for taking their attention. In return, the younger children may become bitter toward their older siblings because they have an advantage of being older. On the other hand, these same characteristics can work to parent's advantage because it can make their children grow closer. The older children will feel a need to watch over their younger siblings and the younger children will look up to the oldest as an example and try to reach the standards they set.
The birth order sibling relationships can continue to have an impact upon us clear into adulthood. The younger siblings may always look up to their older ones and the older ones may always feel a need to protect their younger siblings. This can impact the way people make friends and interact with others in the outside world. Renowned psychologist Alfred Adler noted that when children are deeply unhappy at home, that desolate state will follow them through their entire life. They may have feelings of unhappiness because they felt deprived as children or they did not grow up in a home that developed a sense of belonging.
Parents play a large role in birth order sibling relationships. Some parents unconsciously favor the oldest siblings because they expect them to be more mature from the younger siblings. This will cause contention with the younger siblings and feelings of resentment. Oldest children are commonly put "in charge" when the parents are away, giving them authority over their younger siblings.
Your second-born child may constantly feel a need to compete with the oldest child. Many of the life-long sibling rivalries come from second-born children that are trying to compete with the oldest. Your third-born or middle children are the ones that commonly complain of feeling "invisible". Middle children tend to struggle with their sibling problems throughout their entire life. They may feel like they are not as accomplished as their older siblings and not as special as the youngest child. Middle children tend to act out to gain attention from their parents. To prevent middle children from lifelong struggles, parents must make the effort to notice them more.
Your youngest child is typically resented by the older ones because they are spoiled. Parents tend to hang onto the youngest child because they do not when them to grow up. Once youngest children reach adulthood, they feel like they need to prove themselves to their older siblings to let everyone know they are not children anymore and they are their equal.
Parents can prevent small sibling rivalries from developing into life-long problems by acknowledging each child individually and not playing favorites. Individual attention makes the child feel loves and it decreases the need for competition in the home.

All About Wedding Videos

Deciding how you want to capture and record your wedding celebration is an important aspect of the wedding planning process. Visual footage of your special day is something you and others will view for many years to come, so it is worth investing in quality production and modern technology, whilst also considering value for money.
Do I really need a professional video production?

Both the bride and groom will be busy (not to mention nervous!) throughout the wedding day so you’ll want to be able to go back and relive the events once the pressure is off. Some couples might question whether wedding video is really necessary once a professional photographer has been hired. Remember that moving images can capture many things the photographer can’t, such as the ‘natural’ events of the day. Professional photos can be posed and don’t record the actual flow of the ceremony and reception. Additionally, video footage will capture the sound, music and atmosphere of your celebration, wedding guests enjoying themselves and the more humorous and impromptu moments that occur throughout the day.

If your budget is tight you might be tempted to opt for a family member to film the occasion. However, keep in mind that it is difficult to achieve a professional-looking production without the right equipment. And a professional will take into account environmental factors such as sound and lighting. If you want an impressive visual record of your day, it is worth the expense of hiring a professional.
Finding a reputable producer

Wedding video can be expensive, so it’s important to choose a reputable producer. You will need to make appointments to discuss pricing and options, so make sure you leave enough time to assess several services before making a choice. A good way to start your search is to ask family and friends about their experiences with various videographers. You should also conduct your own ‘research’ into the video industry. Browse though a wedding directory and visit each business’ website, noting how well their site is presented. A professional service will usually have a professional-looking website.

The best way to ascertain the quality of the productions is to ask to see samples of each videographer’s work. Picture yourself in the production and ask yourself if this is how you would like to be depicted on your most important day. Different wedding videographers will specialize in capturing various styles, moods and atmosphere, depending on how they choose to shoot and edit the images.

When viewing video samples, assess the quality of the picture, paying attention to its steadiness, crispness, lighting, focus, contrast and how well the subjects are framed. Sound is also a crucial factor in the quality of a movie, so concentrate on the clarity of the words spoken and how well any music is incorporated in to the video. It’s important to remember that footage recorded on digital media will lose some quality when converted to VHS, so ask to see samples in the movie format you’ll be requesting.
What sort of features are available?

Developments in technology and digital media mean there are now more possibilities than ever before, most notably the DVD format, which is fast becoming the standard for home movie viewing. Your budget will be the single greatest consideration in choosing the size and extent of the production, and your producer will be able to outline the costs involved.

Common features often added during the editing process include titles, animations, or even photos of the bride and groom as children or when they first met. Music can also be integrated - perhaps the couple’s favourite songs, or a selection of the music played at the ceremony or reception.

Additionally, the format of your production needs to be considered. DVD is of much higher quality than VHS, and it allows you to incorporate exciting features such as interactive menu options. While DVD’s popularity is increasing, not everyone may own a DVD player, so you may wish to have your wedding video edited into both VHS and DVD formats if you intend on giving copies to relatives. Another option is to store movie clips and photographs on a CD-ROM, which can then be mailed to friends and relatives and viewed on any PC. Some couples also choose to display clips on a website for family and friends to view. There are infinite possibilities, and your videographer will be able to explain the kinds of special effects and formats they can provide.

Whether you opt for a simple, elegant wedding video or a lavish production with all the bells and whistles is a matter of personal preference. However, ask yourself whether special effects added now will still look impressive in 10 or 20 years. Try to recall the sorts of effects you saw in wedding videos 15 years ago and this will give you some idea of how fast technology moves. A high-quality production with minimal effects may in fact provide the most elegant and timeless record of your day.
How much should I expect to spend?

If video services seem expensive, consider the enormous costs of professional equipment and the value of the company’s expertise. Nevertheless, it’s important to ensure you are getting good value for money. Many companies provide both wedding photography and wedding video services and may be able to offer a competitively-priced package.

Compare quotes from as many businesses as possible to obtain some idea of what is charged in the industry, and ask family and friends about their wedding video expenses. You can expect to pay anything between $500 to over $3000 for the most advanced packages, depending upon the features and format of your production, whether you want moments such as ‘pre-ceremony’ events filmed, extra copies requested, and so on. As a rough guide, you might allocate 3 - 7% of your wedding budget on videography, though how much you can allocate will depend on your other wedding expenses.
What do I need to discuss with the videographer?

Discuss your needs and preferences with your producer well ahead of the wedding day. This includes the style and mood of the wedding video - you might want a formal, elegant tone or a more fun, light-hearted approach. Make sure the producer is aware of the wedding schedule, locations and times, and ensure your videographer is included as a guest at the wedding. Being involved will allow camera persons greater access to the events and encourage a more intimate and personal recording of the occasion.

Other questions to ask early in the process include how you will be consulted during the editing phase, and what happens in the event that you’re unhappy with the finished product. Clarifying these issues prior to the big day will keep unwanted surprises to a minimum and reduce the likelihood of any disputes.

Joe Goode Performance Group

'The Rambler': Felt performance

 Joe Goode Performance Group: The Rambler

For many people, contemporary dance is not very accessible. Choreographer Joe Goode knows why.
“Contemporary dance is up on a pedestal and removed from any kind of human conversational realm,” he says. “It’s considered high art, and alienates much of its audience.”
So Goode begins each performance by talking to his audience and assuring them they do not have to see this as “high art.” “We’re going to talk, sing and we’re going to do things that are recognizable to them,” he says. “We’re not only going to make extreme body positions and dance around in black tights.”
Goode says he finds that after conversing with his audience, they are more receptive to the hybrid dance-theater his group is known for. “Otherwise, people might waste too much time trying to get the work up on the pedestal.”
A Joe Goode performance is sure to be risqué, provocative and take some interesting turns. For example, in one piece, a dancer raises a plugged-in skill saw and starts the blade moving. He then dances, bounds and spins across the stage with the saw buzzing in his hands. The audience cringes with discomfort. The dancer saws a crooked line down the back of a wooden chair. Most audience members are stupefied with interest. The piece is called 29 Effeminate Gestures.
“I’m not a purist,” Goode says. “I want to connect with people. I’m willing to bring in lots of things [other than dance]; I’ll literally bring in the kitchen sink if it will help.”
Dance purists and theater purists sometimes scoff at Goode’s approach of mixing performance-art genres. “The dance world said, ‘You’re not really a dancer because you’re talking,’” Goode says. “And the theater world said, ‘You’re not really a theater artist or a playwright because you’re dancing.’”
Despite the critical disapproval, Goode’s performances are wildly popular in the dance and theater worlds. When asked why he chose to mix these forms, he responds, “I think the question is more, ‘Why did somebody decide to un-mix them?’ They belong together.
“The human body holds emotion, holds experience,” Goode continues. “The voice is part of the human body. Why did we de-voice dancers?”
Goode doesn’t pay a lot of attention to this debate, however. According to him, art is art. Breaking it up into categories is just silly. He is more interested in producing a moving and authentic experience for the audience.
“The audience is perceptive,” Goode says. “They can tell when it’s something that’s trying to impress them with its colossal greatness, and they can tell when something really happens.” The trick is to make the audience believe that what is happening onstage is real—real pain, real pleasure, real fear.
Goode does this through “felt performance.” It is a technique he has developed over his 20 years directing the company. “A performance should feel like somebody up there is having a real experience,” Goode says. “That is when performance is good.” In order to do that, a performer must really feel what he or she is doing.
To discover felt performance, Goode’s performers begin with a theme or scenario—for example, two people falling into each other’s arms. The dancers will fall tenderly, roughly, hurriedly and so on until it feels right. “We’re going to really explore every possible way we can fall into each other’s arms,” Goode says. “The ones that performers can really own are the ones we’re going to use.” Those are felt performances.
Onstage, the performer doesn’t have to act. He or she is truly feeling the sentiment. “They’re not just showing me,” Goode says, “they’re actually living it in the moment.”
Because of so much reliance on felt performance, Goode’s performers’ personal experiences and talents determine how a piece is written and choreographed. If it isn’t personal, it cannot be felt.
Goode—the principal choreographer and writer—acts as more of an artistic director. The group’s pieces are collaborative from their inception to performance. “The dancers are really in control of the process,” Goode says. “I just have the subject matter, and we start workshopping and see what we come up with.”
Goode doesn’t tell his dancers what to do, but he challenges them with problems to solve and themes to explore. “We don’t know what the pieces will look like until they finish themselves,” Goode says.
For example, The Rambler, which will be performed at Kingsbury Hall on Feb. 25, began as an exploration of an American myth. The Rambler is the Clint Eastwood or Jack Kerouac character who sets off on his own, defies tradition and custom, and seeks independence and adventure. With that as a starting point, the company produced many offshoots of the theme ranging from the Buddha to cop dramas.
“It kind of defines the American spirit,” Goode says.
Like most of Goode’s work, The Rambler will likely go to unexpected places, far away from the confines of traditional dance.

A few words from the bride!

What? Surely you mean from the Groom? Traditionally the role of the bride was to arrive, look stunning and allow her man to make the wedding speech. However, the modern bride is not going to sit back without taking an active part in every aspect of her wedding – and that includes saying something at her own wedding.

While the groom traditionally thanks everyone for coming – especially those who have travelled a great distance – the bride can add her personal thanks.

Some people to thank!

Firstly, you want to spend some time thanking your parents. Even if you are the kind of girl who left home when you were eighteen and have never really lived at home again, your parents are the ones who had the greatest effect on making you the woman you are today. Once again stories are a good thing and will probably stop you from being too overcome with emotion. Touch on one or two examples from your childhood or adolescence, especially if they are amusing or light-hearted. Thank them for giving you this special wedding day which you will always remember.
Your bridesmaids deserve a special word of thanks. They have had to be there for you through months of emotional highs and lows as well as through intense decision-making nightmares – and you are still friends! A word in the same vein could also be said here to the groomsmen and the best man for their support of the groom.
Then, you will thank your future in-laws, for producing and supporting this special man; for instilling in him the kind of values and beliefs that make him the one you want to be with for ever.
Lastly, your thanks are to your groom. After all, it is his love for you and his wanting to make a life with you that has made this day possible. A word of caution here: if you cannot handle really intense emotional moments, it is probably best to keep this part of the speech reasonably light-hearted. Talk about how you met. If there is a humorous story about some aspect of your courtship, that makes great speech material. You could also say something about how he proposed. If you are not writing your own vows, you could spend a moment here expressing something like your promise to him as his bride.
What about the practicality of saying a speech? Not everyone is an accomplished public speaker and you may feel that you have taken on a task that is too large.
The most important thing is that you write down what comes from your heart. Then, when you speak, it will flow easily. Whatever you do, don’t learn the speech off by heart. But, do practise. You may make cue cards for yourself that you can hold discretely in your hand or on the table in front of you. Breathe deeply, smile at everyone (remember this is your day and they want you to succeed) and then begin.

SB Dance: Of Meat & Marrow

Dancers as "movement sculptures"

According to Stephen Brown—the SB in SB Dance—audiences typically get the gist of a dance piece within the first few minutes of watching it. Then, to their utter dismay, they are stuck in their seats suffering through the next 20.
His goal, as artistic director of the cutting-edge company, has always been to create work that’s unique and interesting enough to watch, engage with and be surprised by from the point it is set in motion until the moment the curtain falls. In that way, he’s determined to keep each piece progressing in ideas, movement and creativity by pushing boundaries and pulling in audiences. His newest creation, Of Meat & Marrow, is just his latest tack.
It has always been a bit hard to imagine what you are going to get from the mad world that is SB Dance, year after year, oddity after beloved oddity. Mostly it has been dance theater, like past works Frank’s Ticker, The Bucket and Waltz of the Dog-Faced Boy. There was also a short-lived stint in rather strict theater (Drosselmeyer Inc.) and a period of retrospectives and remixes as the company faced various anniversaries. Brown even mentioned at one point that this newest endeavor didn’t actually contain that much dance at all—a statement he laughingly took back later during a rehearsal brimming with complex and innovative movement.
The thing is, SB Dance productions can indeed be difficult to pigeonhole, and that has always been a welcome trait on the Salt Lake City scene. But when it comes down to it, most of the performances certainly do contain dance, just as they almost all contain some traditional theatrical elements as well, and even musical stylings periodically (see Revenge of Yoga the Musical). But this time around, Brown seems to have an even more concrete abstract idea at play: movement sculptures.
Take, for instance, one section from Of Meat & Marrow that centers on a giant jack with dancers weaving in and out of its legs as others rotate it point to point, tick-tacking about the stage. Or another segment, with two bodies cantilevered from the ceiling by hooks clasped to their feet, clambering up and down each other in a weird, inverted waltz, heads careening dangerously close to the ground. Or perhaps the piece with the cadaver table being wheeled around with wild abandon, limp bodies flailing about with bizarrely captivating precision. With all that in mind, it makes sense that each slice of the show is treated as an individual spectacle that fits like an image puzzle piece into a greater narrative whole. So the cadaver tables and the giant jack and the bodies hanging like meat all become those detailed “movement sculptures.”
To help ground such work in some kind of larger framework, Brown has enlisted the help of Carolyn “Winnie” Wood as associate director of the company. It’s a role she describes as “trying to direct something that isn’t completely written yet.” But her aim is to ultimately help SB Dance “develop a strong movement vocabulary without forgetting to tell a compelling story in which something happens and articulate bodies make you feel the way they feel.
“For this new work we’re trying to focus on that even more,” Wood adds. “Of Meat & Marrow is really about the thing people fear the most: death. It’s a journey through death and the afterlife. Part Tibetan Buddhism. Part silly. The meat refers to our bodies as simply that: meat. But the marrow, that’s something else entirely. That’s the inner core of life.”
Part of what helps to deliver that enigmatic interior crux to an audience is the odd sack of musical choices typically favored by the company. From one section to the next, it could be heavy and repetitive dance beats before moving into a rather raucous Tom Waits ditty. That, in turn, might filter down into a more expressive baroque medley before ending with some upbeat jazzy trip-hop number. In fact, in this new work, Mozart is paired quite beautifully with intricate movement mirroring the fast-paced piano keying of the celebrated composer. But as is his wont, Brown is quick to ensure that any of the intrinsic lyrical quality to the composition is countered by fragmented gestures—the same idea that beauty is best augmented by the grotesque, and the sharpest line is made all the more so by a perfectly placed break.
It’s apparent that Brown strives for just such balanced energy in every sequence he wraps his idiosyncratic choreographic hand around. That drive influences each individual section—and, furthermore, each production as a whole—ultimately creating a body of work that does the same. Of Meat & Marrow is just the latest addition to the creative entity that is SB Dance, itself a sculpture that is perpetually in motion.

Location Location!

"You've set the wedding date and now you're left with probably the second most important decision you'll have to make (nothing could be more important than the dress!)- the wedding location."

There are hundreds of receptions, churches, restaurants, parks, golf clubs- and you name it- to choose from, and for many the choice can become overwhelming!

But for some the more favourable choice is to steer away from these wedding venues all together.

In the midst of currently planning my own wedding, a couple months ago I'd chosen a reception, preparing the details for my 120 guests, when my fiancé and I realised it just wasn't what we wanted- I guess you could say we had a wedding epiphany.

We cancelled the original booking and later this year we'll be having an intimate island wedding, with 30 of our closest family and friends, in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The idea of exotic locations isn't for everybody, but just like me other women also choose to do something a little more unique than the norm."
Married with monks

Although Friday the 13th is unlucky for some, it couldn't have been more the opposite for me in April, 2007. Dragged along to a bar with a friend, I hit it off with the handsome bartender immediately.

And from that night we became inseparable. After five months of dating, I knew I wanted to be with Jamie forever. And he felt the same.

It was decided then and there- we were getting married! Both spontaneous, outgoing people, we instantly agreed we wanted to do something a little different for our wedding.

We talked about eloping in Las Vegas, planning the trip for June 2008. But as we continued with our plans we realised it just wasn't for us. Instead, we wanted something more spiritual.

Discussing different ideas, Jamie and I decided to marry in Thailand. As I was born in Sri Lanka, I'd always had a strong connection with elephants- I even had an elephant tattoo! And I couldn't think of anything I'd love more than riding on elephant-back with Jamie before exchanging our vows.

We came across a website which featured marrying in the Thailand jungle, after riding on an elephant. It was just what we wanted!

Our wedding day couldn't have been more perfect. Jamie and I shared a lovely breakfast before I got my hair and makeup done and changed into my sari dress. We then drove an hour to sign all the legal paperwork for our marriage certificate before heading to the jungle- where we fed monkeys outside a Buddhist temple.

The spirituality of our wedding was so amazing and powerful. We knelt in front of the chanting monks as they blessed us with water, then tying blessed string around our wrists.

When we left the temple it started pouring rain- the monks telling us it was a symbol of good luck in their culture. We climbed on an elephant's back and headed into the jungle, reaching a river at the bottom of the hill where we exchanged our vows in knee-deep water. The elephant stood next to me like a bridesmaid- it was fabulous!

Our spiritual Thailand wedding was the best decision we could have made. We always felt the way we'd met was a blessing, so a wedding full of blessings was perfect.
Luisa Moreno-Winnett, 33.

"Planning their Thai wedding from Melbourne, Luisa and Jamie mostly organised everything online, and got a bit of help from friends for the more personal details like bridal wear and accessories. But for them the main point of a location wedding was to keep everything as low-key and stress-free as possible- and to stay true to themselves."
Ceremony

I was thrilled to see that they pretty much covered everything in their package- from the ceremony, paperwork, elephants, flowers, hair and makeup, to the photography.
Bride & Groom's wear

I wore a beautiful, black sari dress. My friend helped organise in having the material shipped from India. With that, I wore sandals I had from a friend's wedding and Jamie wore a black shirt and shorts. We wanted to wear black, as it's our signature colour, and dress relatively casually.
Accessories

The accessories were my ‘something old'- I wore earrings from my mum and, a ring of my dad's. The ring was a Sri Lankan Star Sapphire-which is a blue stone so it covered my ‘something blue' also!
Transport

We were chauffer-driven and on elephant-back- what more could we want! All transportation was included in the wedding package.
Honeymoon

All up we were in Thailand for two weeks, for our wedding and honeymoon combined. We had a magical time!

"Luisa and Jamie's Thai wedding was everything they had envisioned and more, with the perfect location and ceremony to suit them as a couple. But if perhaps you are thinking of something a bit more glitzy and glamorous, continue on to the following ‘Location, Location!' story..."

Insider's Guide to reception venues

There are limitless possibilities when it comes to selecting your wedding reception venue. That being said, they can be booked up well in advance which is why they are at the top of our list of priorities and we recommend getting yours booked as soon as you can.

Regardless of whether you choose to have a traditional or modern wedding, pick a reception venue that will suit the formality, theme and ambience of your wedding. With brideonline.com.au - you can filter the reception venues into the following sub-categories:

    Reception Centres
    Restaurants
    Outdoor weddings, gardens and beach settings
    Wineries
    Cruises

This should already help considerably if you haven't yet decided on your ideal venue. Indoor or outdoor? Formal or informal? Did you know that although many weddings in Australia are very formal events with realtively strict dress codes and etiquettes, in other parts of the world the events can be much more relaxed with only semi-formal attire yet without losing any of their charm?

It's certainly worth picturing your ideal venue scene, also factor in what time of year will your wedding be in as this will also play a big part in the overall theme and ultimately venue choice. We have a massive selection of indoor reception venues that are available all year round. Then again, if the weather will accomodate your preferred time of year, a botanical garden or beachfront scene is something certainly atypical and will be incredibly memorable!
Here are some extra points from a featured article:

    Past brides are a wealth of information. If you know anyone who has gotten married recently, ask them for recommendations and suggestions. They will have first hand experience and be able to give you ideas for your own wedding.
    During peak wedding seasons, reception venues are in high demand and can often book up very quickly. Make sure you have enough time prior to the wedding date to research and book your venue. You do not want to wait until the last posible minute as this will often result in not getting what you wanted.
    It might be a good idea not to book your wedding around major events. An example of this might be if you are having your wedding in the city, your guests might have a hard time finding accommodation during Grand Final weekend! Prices may rise around events and holidays so try to steer clear of them.
    Always ask your reception venue if they hold more than one reception on any given day. Ensure that if another reception is booked for after yours you will not be rushed out as soon as your time elapses. Also ask what happens if your wedding does run overtime and if there are any fees that might be involved.
    Bear in mind that you will need about two hours to set up for the reception. If there is a lunch scheduled before your dinner reception, make sure you allocate enough time to get everything ready and set up before your guests arrive.
    Ensure that the venue is set up so there is enough room for reception events such as cutting the cake and the first dance. You might find that a room that fits 200 for cocktails will not be big enough for a sit-down dinner and dancing, so always be sure to ask.
    Find out how much the deposit is to secure the venue and ask about their cancellation policies. Will you receive your deposit back if you cancel? Will there be any fees involved?
    Most weddings include dancing, so you will want to ask your reception venue if there are any restrictions on music. There might be noise restrictions you need to be aware of. Find out if there will be enough electrical outlets for your musicians or DJ.
    Always get everything in writing and ensure that the contract you get from your reception venue covers all the items you've discussed and agreed upon.

We hope you have learned some useful tips and have a better idea of what you are looking for in a reception venues, next week we will have a look at catering and the different options for your event!

The A-Z of Wedding Dresses

The A-Z of Wedding Dresses
Wedding Dresses

The wedding dress we imagined ourselves getting married in as little girls is probably a world away from the wedding dress we will actually choose as adults for our big day. Growing up, we come to the realization that our figures may not actually suit the big, puffy meringue creation of our childhood dreams and that we don't actually have squillions of dollars in the bank to pay for it either.

So without that girlish invention of a dress to go by (or the naïve unlimited budget), most of us are at a loss to decide what to wear on our wedding day. If that's the case, this A-Z guide of wedding dresses should help you find your way again.
Accessories Do Have To Match Your Wedding Dress

Accessories should complement your dress and enhance the look that you are going for. If you're after elegant and understated, you can't go wrong with a simple strand of pearls. If the feel is romantic, team your wedding dress with antique jewellery.
Bridesmaid Dresses Don't Have To Match Your Wedding Dress

Although it's still done, matching dresses are somewhat outdated now. Brides often choose a contrasting colour to their wedding dress which is carried throughout the wedding as the colour theme. Why not dress your bridesmaids in different shades of this contrasting colour for a modern twist.
Check The Workmanship Of Your Wedding Dress

Whether you hire, buy or make your wedding dress, you should always check the quality and workmanship. You don't want to have to deal burst seams, falling hems and loose beading on your wedding day.
Designer Wedding Dresses

We'd all love a Vera Wang original, but why source overseas for your wedding dress when we have amazing bridal couture on our very own doorstep. Look out for Australian designers like Mariana Hardwick and Alex Perry (who is commissioned regularly by celebrities to create their wedding gowns).
Ego In A Wedding Dress

Do you want your ego boosted or an honest opinion when trying on wedding dresses? Don't take all your gushing girlfriends with you when you shop for your gown. Choose one or two trusted people who will tell you truthfully whether the wedding dress suits you or not. That way, you'll get a genuine ego boost when you arrive at your wedding looking absolutely stunning.
Flattering Wedding Dress Styles

For the full-figured bride, choose simple lines that skim rather than hug the figure as they are more slimming. Pear-shaped brides should consider A-line wedding dresses as they tend to hide the hips and thighs. Tall, thin brides can pretty much get away with any style but should steer away from straight, tight dresses as they often produce a matchstick look rather than to accentuate the feminine curve.
Garters And Wedding Dresses

Love them or hate them, garters (and the removal of them by single male guests during the wedding reception) do feature often at weddings. As long as they don't spoil the line of your dress and are hidden from the eye until the time they are supposed to make their appearance, there's no harm in continuing this fun tradition.
Hiring Your Wedding Dress

If you're on a tight budget and not fussed whether you keep your dress or not, then hiring your wedding dress may be the best option. Hire companies such as Ferrari Formal and Bridal will provide advice on which styles will suit your figure and are able to supply matching accessories too. They can also outfit the entire wedding party to take the headache out of coordinating the wedding attire at a fraction of what it would cost to purchase it all new. To find few companies in your locality search for hire wedding dress in melbourne or hire wedding dress in Sydney or what ever you locality is.
Ivory Wedding Dresses

Ivory is a gorgeous colour for wedding dresses. It's light enough to enable you to have a white wedding yet dark enough so as not to offend anyone if you're not quite virginal enough to wear pure white.
Jewellery And Your Wedding Dress

They say diamonds are a girl's best friend but too many of them won't do you any favours. A good rule of thumb is: the fussier the wedding dress, the simpler your jewellery should be. Don't make the mistake of looking garish on your wedding day. To get more idea browse the particular category on Bride Online.
Keeping Tradition With Your Wedding Dress

It's considered bad luck in Western Cultures for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before the wedding. This tradition began in England and has spread throughout the world but nowadays has more to do with surprising your beloved than pandering to superstition.
Length Of Your Wedding Dress

A bride's love affair with floor-length gowns will never die but it may not always be an appropriate choice. On a sweltering summer day you may wish you had opted for something shorter and cooler. Likewise, the effect of a long wedding dress will be ruined if you find you can't walk without tripping over it.
Money On Your Wedding Dress

In many cultures money is pinned on a bride's wedding dress. It's traditional to place money upon the dress of a Polish, Cuban or Greek bride in exchange for a dance.
Nip, Tuck And Your Wedding Dress

As strange as it may sound, a trend has emerged recently where brides opt for an inexpensive, off-the-rack wedding dress and spend the thousands they have saved on plastic surgery instead. The reasoning behind this is that the cosmetic surgery they have undergone will enhance their appearance more positively than any dress ever could!
Out Of Your Wedding Dress

After the reception, many brides change out of their wedding dress into a 'going-away outfit' - usually a light coloured suit or a simple shift dress. Some brides change for comfort, others change as a symbol of closure to the wedding.
Preserving Your Wedding Dress

After the wedding, wedding dresses should be professionally cleaned, wrapped in acid free tissue and stored in a dust free, acid reduced box to prevent mildew and yellowing. Make sure the box is then placed in a cool, dry storage area that is away from direct sunlight.
Queenly Wedding Dresses

As the undisputed queen of the day, you may want your wedding dress to reflect your status. Sweeping wedding gowns with long trains, gloves and tiaras are popular with royal brides.
Red Wedding Dresses

Red is considered to be a very lucky colour in the Chinese culture so brides often wear red wedding dresses (cheongsams). If white doesn't appeal, why not do the same and spice up your wedding day.
Something Old, Something New... Your Wedding Dress

For your something old, why not wear a wedding dress that has been passed down from a relative. It adds a touch of tradition to the wedding and will please your family too.
Tans With Wedding Dresses

Tans look great with wedding dresses - especially if your gown is strapless, sleeveless or backless. Opt for a spray-on tan instead of the real thing just to avoid sunburn or peeling skin.
Underneath Your Wedding Dress

What's underneath the dress is important too. If you're wearing a strapless gown, you may need some extra bust support. If you want an hourglass figure, a corset may help, but if you're just feeling a little cheeky, wedding lingerie specialists justweddings.net.au can whip you up some cute briefs with 'bride', 'just married' or your new name written across the backside.
To Veil Or Not To Veil

The general rule is :the more formal the wedding and wedding dress, the longer the veil. If you do decide to wear a veil, you'll need a headpiece to finish it off - a tiara, flowers, a circlet or a jewelled comb.
When To Start Looking For A Wedding Dress

Begin your search for the perfect dress six to nine months before the wedding. It can take between three to six months for a wedding dress order to come in or for a dress to be made. You also need to factor in the time it takes to make alterations. Choose ones closer to your place as its flexible to make any alterations. Search for wedding dress Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney
Xtra Advice About Your Wedding Dress

Make sure that you are comfortable in your wedding dress. With all eyes on you during the ceremony and reception, you don't want to be constantly caught pulling, tugging, smoothing and readjusting your dress.
You and Your Wedding Dress

You should love the look and the feel of your wedding dress. Don't choose your outfit based on the latest trends because it won't reflect your personality and taste.
Zipping Your Wedding Dress

It sounds simple enough but you'll be surprised just how many brides and bridesmaids have neglected to take the appropriate amount of care when zipping up their wedding dress. Most wedding dresses are made of delicate fabrics and snags can cause serious damage to the gown so be careful!


Now that you know what to look for in a wedding dress, the only question that should remain is how to go about getting it. Start by logging on to Bride Online for a great list of reputable bridal wear designers and retailers who'll be happy to help you through this A-Z of wedding dress needs.
More Sharing Services Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on facebook_like