Secret Diary of a Wedding Planner

Jo and Michael were kindly referred to The Little White Wedding Company by another lovely couple I've worked with and I'm so lucky to have had their wedding sent my way. Jo showed up to our first meeting with oodles of images to show me and a clear idea of how she'd like their wedding to look and feel.

Since accepting Michael's beach side proposal, they have chosen to wed at Hidden Grove along Noosa's beach front and host their reception at the well established riverside restaurant Ricky's. With an elegant and relaxed wedding in mind, Jo has chosen a colour palette of off-white and grey ad loves the idea of utilising stripes through the napkin ties and trimmings on the wedding cake.

Here's a quick Q&A to help build a better image of Jo and Michael as a couple:

Victoria Cameron: How would you describe the wedding of your dreams?

Jo and Michael: Our dream wedding would be described as elegant and relaxed.

VC: Do you have any favourite shared memories?

JM: A favourite memory we have shared is when we travelled to Italy together to visit our ancestors.

VC: What does marriage mean to you?

JM: Marriage to us means commitment, friendship and to cement our relationship and feelings to become one.

VC: Is there a quote that best represents you as a couple?

JM: A favourite quote of ours is "living life to the fullest!"

Victoria

Photograph:
Sugarlove Weddings

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I'm sure some of you have heard of The LANE so you'll be aware that I have the pleasure of planning the wedding for the winners of their $100,000 Dream Wedding Giveaway competition, Johsi and Jamie.

I first met Johsi and Jamie in early December last year and was blown away by how down to earth, gracious and really just how cool they are. Having met them, I can't think of a better couple to win such a great prize. Johsi is a jewellery designer and Jamie a tattoo artist so you can imagine the creative juices have been stewing for a while and they bring plenty of ideas to the table. I can't wait to see what The LANE Event Styling team bring to this wedding; I just know all involved will be blown away.

The most amazing suppliers are also on board for their wedding. We have Collette Dinnigan, Rachel Gilbert and Sam Elsom dressing the bridal party, a marquee by The Style Suite which will be filled with flowers and decor from White Ivy Designs and The LANE Event Styling respectively.

Their venue was also secured in February, a private property in the Sunshine Coast hinterland with rolling hills and views that literally take your breath away.

Johsi and Jamie's wedding is now just over one month away and with the majority of items locked in place this Dream Wedding has really taken shape and is proving to be just as gorgeous as we envisioned it to be.

To learn more about Johsi and Jamie, view their winning submission and follow up interview on The LANE.

Victoria

Photograph
Rachel Gilbert

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The latest bridal collections from some of the most talented and admired designers in the industry hit the runways recently and they did not disappoint.

With each designer putting their unique accents on classic bridal silhouettes there was so much beauty in every collection. The tailored lines that Carolina Herrera is known for were, as always effortlessly beautiful and the intricate lace work featured throughout Monique Lhuillier's collection is awe-inspiring.

The designer who stole the show though is the raining queen of wedding designs, Vera Wang. Following her last collection of latte and charcoal designs her Spring 2013 collection featured bold scarlet and romantic mulberry interpretations of her signature tulle extravaganza's.

My personal favourite though is a designer whose collections I always love. Oscar de la Renta can never put a foot wrong in my books and his Spring 2013 collection is a stand-out. Each look was high impact without losing the romance that is not negotiable with bridal designs and the detail of each creation (they are not mere gowns) absolutely breathtaking.

Monique Lhuiller

Kenneth Pool

Carolina Herrera

Vera Wang

Marchesa

Jenny Packham

Reem Acra

Oscar de la Renta

Photographs:
Monique Lhuillier by Monique Lhuillier | Kenneth Pool, Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta by John Aquino | Carolina Herrera and Reem Acra by Thomas Iannacone | Marchesa by George Chinsee | Jenny Packham by Jenny Packham. All via Brides.com

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There's a great boy meets girl story behind this wedding...Tom, a mining analyst spied Erin, a recruitment executive at a New Year's Day party and thought she was stunning! He asked a friend to take a photo and to sneak her into the corner of the frame...a few months later Erin had moved into the apartment below Tom. Not letting this opportunity slip through his fingers, Tom invited her to his birthday party and in the early hours of the morning they kissed.

Three years later Tom proposed in their Brisbane home and on Saturday, 17 September 2012, Erin and Tom said "I do" in front of 90 of their closest family and friends.

Erin and Tom chose Noosa as their wedding destination. Hidden Grove provided their ceremony venue while the beach front Sails Restaurant hosted their reception.

Erin presented each of her four bridesmaids with a delicate Tiffany & Co. necklace as a keepsake from the wedding.

White paper lanterns with floral adorned ribbon tails provided a casual chic backdrop for the ceremony while the white Americana chairs were finished with a mix of white blooms.

As she made her way down the off-white carpet aisle Erin wore a Monique Lhuillier creation, an ivory lacquered re-embroidered lace bodice with a trumpet style skirt. Erin customised this look with a raw silk waist belt and a cathedral length veil, both of which were also created by the designer. 

This was a gorgeous moment - as soon as the celebrant said "you may now kiss your bride" Erin jumped into Tom's arms for their first kiss. Both clearly overjoyed with the prospect of their life together.

Tom wore a full David Austin buttonhole which perfectly complemented Erin's luscious bouquet of Columbian roses, David Austin's and dark berries, both of which were created by Blooms of Noosa.

A variety of blooms adorned the tables at the reception. Columbian roses, freesias, double tulips and spray roses were all used while delicate rose heads welcomed guests to their place setting.

Congratulations Erin and Tom!

Photographs:
Feather + Stone

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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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I love Byron Bay. The hinterland, the beach, it's all beautiful! With this in mind you can imagine my delight when I learnt that Natasha and Scott were planning to tie the knot in one of Australia's most picturesque locations. Here are some highlights of our initial conversation and a preview of what's to come for their wedding:

Victoria Cameron: Have you chosen your wedding date?

Natasha and Scott: We have booked our venue for early November this year.

VC: Why did you choose this date? Does it hold special meaning?

NS: We didn't want a long engagement as we've been together for nearly for years already. We wanted to get married this year and have chosen Byron Bay as we love the area and its surrounds.

VC: What do you have in mind for your ceremony and reception venue?

NS: We wanted a natural outdoors feel to our special day and the Byron Golf Course is a beautiful setting. Our aim was to find a venue where we could have the ceremony and reception in the same location. The Deck Restaurant provides a great view and is set apart from the rest of the club and you are looking out over a picturesque bush setting.

VC: What type of music do you enjoy listening to?

N: Scott is a music teacher and appreciates a wide range of genres while I love modern feel good music.

VC: I'd love to hear about your engagement. How did Scott propose?

N: Scott booked a romantic dinner on 'date night' to our favourite restaurant Bellakai. After dinner we went for a walk along the beach front at Coolangatta and on bent knee asked me to marry him. I of course said yes!!

VC: What qualities do you love most about each other?

N: Scott makes me laugh, and allows me not to take things too seriously and makes me a better person by helping me to see things at a different perspective. I still get excited to see him when I get home each day!!

S: Natasha is the woman that I've been searching for my whole life. Home is important to me and I can't imagine my life without her. I miss her when I'm away from her, and I love her company when I'm home. She has changed my life for the better as I feel at peace in the knowledge that I've found my one and only.

VC: How would you describe your dream wedding?

NS: Our dream wedding would be fun, relaxed and shared with family and friends. There would also be great food and wine and it would look stylish and elegant.

Natasha and Scott’s inspiration board will be shared in the coming months so be sure to check back in regularly for updates.

Victoria

Photographs
Byron Bay Golf Club | Ruffled

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Kirby and Steve's wedding in Tasmania is now only a few weeks away. The styling is confirmed, we're ready to go and I'm brimming with excitement!

Clear tiffany chairs and white pin-tucked overlays are the base of their styling; the clear chairs adding a point of difference to the rest of their styling and the overlays bringing some texture to the table setting. Full white floral arrangements of varying heights will flood the banquet tables while taper and short pillar candles are scattered amongst the blooms adding that extra bit of romance.

Inspiration gathered from:
Style Me Pretty | Martha Stewart Weddings | Quamby Estate | Simplethings Press | Sweet and Saucy Shop

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Dahlia’s are so often overlooked for reasons that are beyond me. The intricate detail of their composition is amazing and they are available in a wide range of colours and “styles”.

Available in the summer and autumn months this gorgeous bloom is native to Mexico, Central America and Columbia.

In my opinion the intricacy of Dahlia’s means they are best used as a stand-alone flower however, they also look gorgeous when combined with other blooms such as peonies and lisianthus.

Dahlia’s are moderate in price and are best used for country or rustic weddings.

Victoria

Photographs
Style Me Pretty | Martha Stewart Weddings | Once Wed | Magnolia Rouge

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I first met Kirby and Steve in November 2010 when they were considering holding their wedding at her parent's Gold Coast home which they were renovating. Fast forward almost 12 months, throw in a change of heart and I find myself planning their wedding in Launceston, Tasmania for this coming April.

I recently travelled to Launceston with Kirby and Steve to meet a few suppliers and see their venue for myself and it is truly beautiful. They have chosen the private grounds of Quamby Estate to host their guests for what is bound to be an affair to remember.

With the destination in mind, Kirby and Steve sent out creative save-the-dates to their guests. Individual apple pies presented in a white box containing an information card and secured with navy ribbon holding a gorgeous swing tag. I'm told the guests loved these and who can blame them!

Something that hasn't changed from day one is their colour scheme. Kirby is keen to have an all-white wedding so you can imagine an abundance of white blooms at the ceremony and reception.

With their wedding day fast approaching, it's now just a matter of tying any loose ends. I'm so excited about this wedding. Kirby and Steve are a great couple who are incredibly down to earth so I can't wait to bring their wedding to life!

Victoria

 Photographs
Quamby Estate | Style Me Pretty

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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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