Secret Diary of a Wedding Planner

If you're getting married in a church this is of no concern to you (unless of course you're opting to host an open air reception) however, for those of you planning to wed in the open, please, I beg you, organise a backup plan in case it rains.

This is never a favourite topic with my couples but it's a necessary discussion. More often than not the weather has pulled through and the wet weather venues have not been required however, we have had some incredibly close calls and on one occasion a downpour mid-ceremony.

Let's face it, you have two options:
Option One
Err on the side of caution and organise a wet weather venue just in case. This means that should the weather become inclement your guests can be contacted about the change of plans and the wedding can proceed with very little disturbance.

or...

Option Two
Take the naive approach and think it won't happen to you and don't arrange a backup plan. If you take this option and it rains you either have your wedding in the rain, in an inconvenient and unsuitable space or cancel the ceremony all together. You should also keep in mind that if it does rain and any of the decor is damaged you may be required to replace these items which will be an additional expense.

I believe some hesitation comes from the extra expense however, by discussing your situation with various venues you may be able to strike a deal whereby they place a temporary hold on that date at no cost or perhaps you pay a deposit to secure the venue for the date and time of your wedding as opposed to the full venue fee. If you're not too worried about expenses, you can also look into the option of free-standing marquees that can be assembled on short notice.

The decision is yours to make but I know what I'd be choosing. If you plan in advance you have more options available to you. You can choose a venue close to your reception that suits the original ceremony time and you can arrange a phone tree for your guests with plenty of time to spare.

It's something that I always have in place for my couples and I urge you to do the same or at the very least carefully consider your options.

Victoria

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Ever since the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton famously applied her own makeup for her wedding self-application has become incredibly popular.

I’ve always thought the best instruction for brides regarding their makeup was to request a slightly polished look of yourself so with this in mind I spoke to Hannah O’Callaghan, make up artist and stylist about how to achieve the perfect fresh and dewy look.

Materials
Primer + Pore Minimiser                              Liquid Foundation
Powder Foundation (base)                            Powder Foundation (contour*)
Concealer (tri-colour and green)                   Powder Blush
Cream Blush                                                 Highlighter*
Brow Pencil                                                  Eye Shadow
Mascara                                                         Lip Liner
Lipstick                                                         Lip Gloss
Makeup Brushes

Method
Step One:
With a brush apply the primer to the entire face. This helps prep the skin and ensures your makeup lasts longer.

Step Two:
Apply the liquid foundation to the skin in a circular motion moving outwards. Hannah recommends using your fingers for this as it helps the foundation blend more easily and the heat from your hands helps “set” the foundation to your skin giving a more even result. Make sure you blend the foundation into your neck to avoid unsightly lines.

Step Three:
Apply the pore minimiser to areas that are uneven or have visible pores with light brush strokes. This is usually the T-zone which includes the forehead, nose and chin.

Step Four:
Use a tri-coloured concealer and create the perfect colour to match your skin tone. Hannah advises that less is more when it comes to concealer so apply with caution in order to not “over do” it. Yellow toned concealers can help lift dark circles while a green concealer can be dabbed onto red spots to reduce their appearance. If you use a green concealer finish this with a light touch of the natural coloured concealer (the colour you have matched to your skin) to blend perfectly.

Step Five:
Using a brush, pat the powder foundation (loose or pressed) onto the whole face to help further “set” the liquid foundation and concealer. This is essential to creating the perfect base.

Step Six:
Pucker your lips and apply a pressed powder (often a foundation in a slightly darker tone to your skin) where the lines form with a chiselled powder brush. This should be just below your cheekbones. Finish with a light dusting around your hair line and the sides of your nose.

Step Seven:
Dot the cream blush onto your cheeks (again using your fingers) and blend in a diagonally upwards motion towards the hair line. Top with pressed blush to “set” the cream blush. Finish the cheeks with a lighting powder (a highlighting, loose shimmer powder) applied in the same motion as the cream blush but this time just above the cheekbones.

Step Eight:
Add a little pencil to the brows to accentuate the natural arch. Apply a natural coloured shimmer powder over the eyelids and finish the eyes with a single coat of mascara.

Step Nine:
Using a lip pencil, line the lips to prevent colour bleeding and help the lipstick/lip gloss last longer. Choose a colour close to your natural lip colour as this is a natural look. Paint a nude lipstick onto the lips and finish with an iridescent gloss in a sheer tone to add a little colour.

*Contouring accentuates shadows adding more angles to the face. Dark colours are best used on areas that you want to draw back in towards the face (below the cheekbones). In comparison, highlighters are used to highlight features you want to stand out such as your cheekbones.

Note: Hannah is a member of The Little White Wedding Company’s family and is a professionally trained make up artist. A mix of Napoleon, MAC and NARS products were used for this shoot. For specific product information leave a message on the blog.

V

Photographs:
The Little White Wedding Company

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Every time I meet with a couple to discuss their ceremony and reception styling I ask what appeals to them and what they have in mind and sometimes the answer is a list of individual elements that don't complement each other.

The same often occurs when I receive images of decor they like. I'll be flooded with images (which is great, I love receiving these!) but I'll notice that only a few of them really tie in together or tell the same story and that's exactly how I approach the styling side of things.

The wedding day is your story; you have the bridal party and guests forming the characters and the decor acting as the illustrations. I always explain this to my couples but it's important to know that the decor at the ceremony and the decor at the reception don't have to match. The decor throughout your wedding should flow seamlessly from one part of the day to the next without being too "matchy matchy".

The key to achieving this is to think of the big picture first and the individual elements second. Develop your style, flick through magazines, scroll innovative blogs and make a collection of the images that stand out to you. From there cull, carefully look at the images and ask yourself what it is about each of the pictures that catch your eye. Does this format suit your style or would it be more effective to tweak it a little? If you take this approach you'll be more successful and impressed with the finished result.

To help you on your way, here are some useful tips and an example of cohesive styling:
- Think past the two of you. An easy way to frame your ceremony is to create the perfect backdrop whether that is in the form of a floral arch, silk canopy or chandeliers hanging from tree branches.

- Don't use chair covers! This often comes down to budget but you should keep in mind that there will be just as many chairs as there are guests so they have the ability to transform a wedding completely. There's now a large range of chairs available to hire so you're bound to find one that suits your styling.

- Investigate linens. Look past the white table cloths that are included with most reception venues. Table cloths are available in almost any colour, pattern and fabric these days and add a new dimension to a table setting.

- Consider your colours. What colours are featured throughout your wedding? Use a variety of shades and textures to create depth and really impress your guests.

Here's an example of cohesive styling from one of our previous weddings, an intimate celebration set in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

V

Photographs:
Feather + Stone

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Mason jars are an easy way to add another dimension to your table setting and are easy to dress up to suit your style. I personally like them for country or rustic weddings either for floral arrangements, as candle holders or both.

To dress them up a little you can adorn them with any material of your choosing but for today's DIY Tutorial I've chosen to use twine and lace.

Materials
2 x Mason jars (in a size of your choosing)
1 x roll of twine
Lace (long enough to wrap around the Mason jar)
1 x sharp pair of scissors
1 x double sided sticky tape
Tea light candles

Method - Twine
Step One:
Secure the twine to a small piece of double sided sticky tape and place on one of the mason jars.

Step Two:
Wrap the twine around the middle portion of the jar in until it is bound to your desired thickness or effect.

Step Three:
Cut the twine from the roll, loop through one of the previous rows and secure with a knot.

Note:    The tightly bound twine lends these adorned Mason jars perfectly to floral arrangements however, if you'd prefer to use them with candles make the binding a little uneven and be sure to leave spaces in the rows so the candle light can shine through properly.

Method - Lace
Step One:
Take the lace, a piece of double sided sticky tape and secure to the body of the Mason jar.

Step Two:
Place the remaining lace on the table and roll the Mason jar until you've completely covered the middle portion of the jar.

Step Three:
Cut the lace so there is minimal overlap. Secure the end of the lace band to the jar with another piece of double sided sticky tape and fill with flowers or place a votive candle in the Mason jar for a romantic glow.

V

Photographs:
The Little White Wedding Company

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On occasion I've been informed by my couples that they are using a hobby florist (usually a family member or friend) for their wedding. I'm well aware that weddings are deeply personal events and I understand the desire to have friends and family involved and most of the time I have no objection, but the suggestion of a hobby florist providing all of the flowers for the wedding makes me a little uneasy. Flowers are a large portion of a wedding and have a huge impact on the styling so it's crucial to ensure the bouquets and arrangements be created by an expert pair of hands.

Upon client's requests I have worked with "hobby florists" in the past and have had a mix of reasonable to disastrous results. I've since made it a policy to only work with trained florists or those with vast experience and would urge you to do the same. Here's why:

1. Experience. Florists clock up countless hours working with flowers. Their knowledge on the subject is vast and are able to advise when certain flowers are in season and which will best suit your budget and style...one of the said mishaps occurred when the wedding featured pastels throughout the ceremony and reception styling but the electric blue flowers provided by the "hobby florist" stood out like a sore thumb and detracted from the other decor elements which in turn reduced the impact of the styling. Trained florists are also experienced when it comes to providing flowers for large events. They know what quantities to order and will always meet your deadline.

2. Floristry isn't always as simple as throwing flowers in a vase. I've had flowers glued, wired and suspended to name a few and the expertise and creativity with which these are put together comes only from working with flowers day in and day out.

3. Attention to detail. If your friend or family member is providing the flowers for your wedding chances are they are also a guest. This reduces the amount of time they have to set up which means shortcuts are often taken. When using a florist, even if the arrangements at the reception are as simple as being placed on the tables I always prefer to have them on hand to make any finishing touches and to perfect the arrangements. I've found that this is usually preferred by the florist also and is common practice for most.

Billy Button boutonniere carefully crafted by Flora Organica Designs

Bridesmaids bouquet of green lisianthus created by Blooms of Noosa

As I said at the top of this article, I understand the desire to involve family and friends in your wedding planning but perhaps you should consider this approach instead...ask a close friend or family member to be your MC, ushers at your ceremony, assist with seating guests at the reception, playing music at your ceremony (if they are an experienced musician), or even creating your wedding cake or dessert buffet. If however, you're eager to have them involved in the flowers, perhaps limit their involvement to the bouquets and buttonholes and ask an experienced florist to design the remaining floral elements.

Victoria

Photographs
Etsy | Feather + Stone

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We're lucky enough to be featured in the current issue of Cosmopolitan Bride magazine! Grab a copy, flick to page 34 and have a read through the styling feature including ideas from yours truly and some other great stylists around the country.

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Don't start organising your seating plan too early or you will have to make a multitude of changes. Try to wait until all your guests have responded to the wedding invitation. Equally you don't want to be doing this at the last minute. Try to strike a balance and aim to have your seating plan finalised at least a week before the wedding. Write the names of all your guests on Post-It notes, draw out the table plan on butchers paper and start moving the names around to see what works.

P.S. Give yourself plenty of time - this is not a ten minute task!

Photograph:

Feather + Stone

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If you know a family member or guest who can play a musical instrument well or has a soothing voice ask them to play the music at the ceremony. This way it’s a little more personal and could double as their wedding gift to you.

Photograph:
Todd Hunter McGaw

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Take note of everyone’s shoe and dress sizes or measurements so that if you find the perfect outfit you can buy it on the spot.

Photograph:
Studio Impressions

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If flowers are high on your importance list, avoid disappointment by finding out when your favourite type of flowers are season before setting the wedding date. Some flowers are very temperamental and have very short seasons or only bloom in extreme weather conditions so ask your florist for advice...remember they know best!



Photograph:
Antonietta's Photographics

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