Engagements: Celebrate in Style

Bonjour mes amis,

For many couples, when they first get engaged things can be absolutely chaotic. Hassled by family members to set a date (I’m a little guilty of this at present), endless questions about what your wedding dress will be like, and who’s made the cut on the guest list…it can go on, and on, and on!

It is important though to take time to smell the roses if you will and this week we’ve found two who have done just that and celebrated their respective engagements in style.

First up are Skevie and Photi…don’t be fooled by the white dress; this is no wedding but instead their fabulous engagement party!

Held at Tattersall’s, Skevie and Photi celebrated their engagement with 200 family and friends with a simple yet elegant celebration. Not only did this couple manage to squeeze in a rehearsal for their first dance but they’ve now also practiced cutting the cake – a 3 tiered design topped by a beautiful sugar flower arrangement.
Skevie and Photi are in the throws of planning their wedding for May 2011 and after seeing the photo’s from the engagement party, I’ll be waiting with baited breathe to sneak a peak at the shots from their big day.

Adrianna and George are the second couple who are celebrating their engagement with style.

This gorgeous couple were introduced by mutual friends while out at dinner, and while the pair hit it off straight away, at the end of the night when George asked Adrianna for her phone number she decided not to give it to him. After a little persistence and hard work (gentlemen take note!), George managed to get his hands on her phone number through a friend and the rest is, as they say…history.
After dating for 2 years, Adrianna and George will marry in November 2010 at The Greek Orthodox Community of St George with the reception to follow at Victoria Park Golf Club.

With a gorgeous engagement shoot by Poryfri Photography, they’ll have memories that will last a lifetime.

Photographs courtesy of:
Porfyri Photography – http://www.porfyri.com.au

Victoria x

Wedding Showcase: Cassandra & Matthew

Bonjour mes amis,

With the Luxury Wedding Soiree fast approaching I thought it would be nice to showcase a few weddings that took place at The Plantation.

Cassandra and Matthew were married on Saturday 08 May 2010, and held both their ceremony and reception at the stunning estate that is The Plantation.

After the ceremony friends and family were treated to a charming garden party and enjoyed games of croquet and boules.

The festivities of this classic affair then continued into the night with a seated formal reception under a beautiful silk-lined marquee.

To experience all of this and more, be sure to come to the Luxury Wedding Soiree on Sunday, 18 July 2010 from 10am-3pm. For your invitation and a full list of the fabulous participating suppliers click here.

REMEMBER: REGISTER TO ATTEND THE LUXURY WEDDING SOIREE NOW – entry to this fabulous event is free of charge!

Victoria x

Music to Your Ears

Bonjour mes amis,

I remember that the last time I left a restaurant in a bit of a state was because the music was so loud I could barely think let alone have a conversation with my dinner guest. Finding the right performer or music for your big day may feel like a big task in itself, and you’d be right! It can be a challenge to find music that not only you and your partner love but your guests will also enjoy.

If you’ve got an idea or an expectation of how you'd like the music to be played or when be sure to provide your band, performers or wedding planner (whichever route you’ve taken – remember with modern technology you can also have complete control of this if you choose to use your iPod) with this information. No one can read your mind and chances are whoever you hire is not there to make a rock and roll comeback…at least you hope they’re not! They are there to provide the soundtrack to your wedding day and if you get it right add a little extra romance and excitement to the occasion. Also, consider that they are most likely seasoned professionals and can offer useful advice on stage placement, or suitable times for music to be played.

This brings me nicely to the next step…your playlist. Do you play your favourite song, or that piece of music that brings back happy memories? Do you go all out and entertain your guests and create the perfect atmosphere? The answer is, all of the above. You have to remember, this is YOUR wedding so it is YOU that has to be happy. Play your favourite tunes. Mix it up with some soft dinner music so guests can carry on conversations while savouring their delicious meals. Have a great band or choose great music that your guests will appreciate and help create your desired atmosphere. You know your guests better than any one else involved in your wedding so follow your instincts. For example, if you have some rowdy guests who believe downing a bottle of scotch is the ultimate sign of masculinity then a harpist isn’t going to stand a chance. I suppose at the end of the day you really have to consider why something is called a cliché. Generally, it’s because it just works. I’m most definitely not saying that you shouldn’t dare to be different, I’m all for thinking outside the square – what I’m saying is think things through to ensure it will be the perfect fit to the wedding you have spent endless hours planning.

Fun fact: It has been researched that a marriage may not be so successful if the bride danced down the aisle to the ever so famous Steps song Tragedy. Remember, there is a difference between cringe-worthy and clichéd.

Hot Tip: Check with your venue if there are any noise restrictions so you don't receive any complaints or are surprised with a request to turn the volume down. This is particularly important to keep in mind when booking live performers.

Victoria & Amber x

Photographs courtesy of:

Ben Clark Photography - http://www.benclarkphotography.com.au

Luxury Wedding Soiree

Bonjour mes amis

Over the past months or so Kellie Armstrong from The Plantation and I have been working on a beautiful event called the Luxury Wedding Soiree.

I've mentioned The Plantation in a previous post but just to refresh your memories...it is one of the most beautiful and luxurious venues in QLD and is absolutely perfect for brides who dream of country estate weddings.

This exquisite event is being held on Sunday 18 July, 2010 from 10am - 3pm at The Plantation, just 15 minutes from Hastings Street in the beautiful Noosa Hinterland and will feature a selection of Queensland's finest wedding industry professionals. Suppliers will be on hand to showcase their beautiful craft and also answer any questions you may have.

The beautiful ceremony area near the Paulownia Plantation will be styled to perfection as will the Reception Marquee which will showcase a variety of table settings, wedding cakes, stationery & floral arrangements. Roving canapés and Champagne will be served to guests as they listen to the beautiful echo of live music or admire the craftsmanship of the wedding gowns on display.

At the conclusion of the event a lucky door prize will be drawn for one couple to receive a complimentary table décor package from The Plantation as well as The Little White Wedding Company’s On-the-Day Coordination package, free of charge when booking their wedding at The Plantation. When departing, every couple will be presented with a gift bag that contains supplier information as well as a couple of exquisite treats to enjoy.

To register for this event, please send an email with your full name, contact phone number and wedding date to enquiries@theplantation.com.au.

Click here to view your invitation to this delightful event as well a complete list of participating suppliers.

As the date nears, I'll share with you some inspiration from some of the participating suppliers!

Victoria x

Images courtesy of:

The Plantation - http://www.theplantation.com.au

Flavour of the Month

Bonjour mes amis,

Cake is something that’s very close to my heart. Yes, you read correctly, cake means a lot to me. I trace it back to my beautiful mother’s delectable cupcakes (and every other cake she’s made for that matter), which have been a favourite of mine since I was a young girl. It’s not wonder then that accompanying my clients to their cake tastings has to be one of my favourite parts of planning a wedding. While it’s not too helpful in the hips and waist department I just can’t resist popping in those gorgeous samples so they can melt in my mouth, making my taste buds dance in the process!

Just like everything else in the world of weddings there are trends in wedding cakes which are constantly evolving so to help you on your way I've provided you with a look at what’s hot right now!

Gold/Silver Leaf
I absolutely love gold and silver leaf! For those of you not familiar with it, edible Gold and Silver Leaf is gold or silver that has been beaten into extremely thin sheets. There are some varieties which are non-toxic and can be used to decorate food or beverages.

I absolutely love the look of macaroons that have been roughly coated with this product but for even more of a wow factor ask your cake designer to dedicate an entire tier to a gold leaf design.

Well-renowned cake designer Faye Cahill of Faye Cahill Cake Design first started using this product in early 2007. “The cake decorator’s imitation gold that we use looks too heavy over large areas, and I wanted something with a rich and glamorous look to compliment dark tones. The first design I created with it was the "love birds" cake which continues to be a popular design, and we often do variations on it to compliment individual wedding schemes.”

I asked Faye why she thought the gold/silver leaf attracts brides…here’s what she had to say. “I think the unique look appeals- it is something that is not seen often on wedding cakes, and also it catches the light beautifully. If the room features candelabras or tea lights, the gold and silver looks amazing. Couples want to give their guests a special experience on their wedding day, and it doesn't get more decadent than eating 24 carat gold leaf or real silver.”

Of course all of you discerning brides will also want to know what’s hot when it comes to cake trends so I’d be a fool not to ask! While Faye believes that couples still want to have a little fun with their cake design she’s noticed that the tide has turned away from the really cartoonish and crazy designs. “We are seeing a return to classic and beautiful styles with lace and flowers dominating. The all white look is definitely making a comeback, and many of my brides choose to display their cakes on a classic American style plateau. For more dramatic looks painted and stenciled designs are popular, often based on the invitation stationery.”

Macaroons
Macaroons are a great new take on the traditional wedding cake. I’ve personally tried to create these delights myself but while they taste fantastic I haven’t quite mastered the piping technique so I thought for some more reliable information it would be best to turn to an expert in the field, Nadine Ingram from Cookie Couture who is in her 4th year of business and still going strong!

Nadine puts this innovative approach to wedding cakes down to the macaroon’s colour and form as it’s the perfect sculptural element for a wedding cake. “In terms of flavour a lot of macaroons can have quite a fragrant quality which is perfect when paired with the flowers on a cake. Aside from all of this, macaroons make such a delightful accompaniment to cake. A lot of guests don't even get to the cake, but who could resist a petit macaroon?”

Macaroons can also be more cost effective than a traditional wedding cake depending on your requirements and vision. “Often when using macaroons there is just as much 'support' required to hold the cake up as a traditional cake, to ensure the delicate macaroons are not crushed. I usually suggest creating a beautiful cake that is going to hold up for 8 hours rather than having macaroons dropping around your guests stilettos! Remember you can always have extra macaroons and cake in the kitchen to ensure the guests don't go hungry. They will never know they weren't part of the cake on display.” Being in the wedding industry whenever I admire such detailed and exquisite items I always wonder how much blood, sweat and tears (so to speak) went into their creation but Nadine has quickly put me at ease by professing her love for making macaroons. “I do always say though that you should never let a macaroon see you are scared. They are extremely difficult to make and even though I have been making them since I was at Le Gavroche in London (15 years ago) I am still learning from them.” Fabulous Packaging
Some couples choose to present their guests with a slice of their wedding cake or a small individual cake or cupcake, beautifully wrapped as their bonbonniere. There are plenty of ways to wrap your choice of bonbon…for individual cakes or cupcakes that are iced to perfection, clear boxes can be purchased so your guests can admire the artwork of your cake designer. My personal favourite though are natural boxes with creative adornments which can hold complete cakes or disguise individual slices of your wedding cake. If you pick up the current edition of Bride-to-Be Wedding Cakes and flick to page 18 you’ll see a great selection of examples of how you can give your cake boxes that extra punch. Remember there are no set rules for your wedding so if you would prefer to use these for your lolly buffet go right ahead!!

Cupcake Wrappers
If you’re a fan of cupcakes consider dressing them up a bit. There’s a great range of detailed cupcake wrappers available through Pink Frosting for you to choose from and you’ll find that even with plain icing they completely transform the traditional cupcakes into stylish and inviting treats.

Regardless of whether you choose to go with a fabulous wedding cake such as those featured by cake designer extraordinaire Faye Cahill or some mouth-watering petit treats like those by Cookie Couture I wish you good luck and advise you draw out the tasting process :)

Victoria x

Images courtesy of:

Faye Cahill Cake Design – http://www.fayecahill.com.au

Cookie Couture – http://www.cookiecouture.com.au

Pink Frosting – http://www.pinkfrosting.com.au

Mother's Day & more...

Bonjour mes amis,

As you all know, yesterday was Mother’s Day. My sister and I decided that instead of buying our mother a gift, this year our present would be a lovely day out and about…just the women in the family.

We started with a relaxing lunch at The Gunshop Café at West End where the food is to die for and the atmosphere is great. Being vegetarian I ordered a fig, haloumi, candied pecan and beetroot vinegarette…which was absolutely delicious.

After we’d finished our meals, we headed over to the Queensland Art Gallery to marvel at the delights in the Hats exhibit. There are so many mind blowing creations that it should be added to your “must see” list if you either live in Brisbane or are planning a trip soon.

While the “Hats” exhibit is also showing a small hat salon is located in the Gallery which has some beautiful pieces available to purchase and at fairly reasonable prices. There are some great ideas for brides if you don’t want a traditional veil but would instead prefer something a little more unique as well as an abundance of pieces that would be great for wedding guests and race goers who are looking for the final piece to complete their perfectly styled outfits.

In the Gallery’s shop I also stumbled across these gorgeous correspondence cards which are originally sold at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. My sister who’s recently engaged (so exciting!) pointed out that these would make nice invitations or “thank you” cards and she’s absolutely right. With the help of a calligrapher these would be just gorgeous. I couldn’t resist the butterfly print but they are also available with shells and dragonflies.
While you’re in the area you should also pop into the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and if possible check out the stunning reception space (I believe this is usually by appointment only but you never know you may get lucky). You should also be sure to visit the Queensland Terrace at the State Library which is a great open space...see below for a few examples from previous events held at this venue!
For more information about all of these venues visit the following links:
http://www.thegunshopcafe.com
http://www.qag.qld.gov.au

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au