The highlight of Danielle and Mason Baylis’s wedding was a stunning reception at the Stamford Plaza, Melbourne.

Danni and Mason got engaged 18 months before their wedding, allowing plenty of time to research and organise their wedding. Danni had always dreamed of arriving at her wedding in a fairytale horse and carriage so practicalities dictated that she find a reception venue close to the church (St Mary’s Star of the Sea in central Melbourne).

When she went to view the Stamford Plaza, Danni quickly made up her mind. “I hadn’t been to a wedding at the Stamford Plaza before but the venue is beautiful. The Wedding Coordinator was a huge selling point – she was very friendly and I felt completely relaxed with her.”

photo credit: MattJP

The couple were also impressed with the wedding package:  “The package included canapés, alternate entrees, mains and dessert, beverages, chair covers, a night’s accommodation, a taste testing and more. They use Wedding Works for the flowers, candelabra and chair covers and we were given options as to what we needed. They were flexible and could accommodate everything we wanted,” says Danni.

Danni chose white tablecloths and chair covers with fuchsia sashes to match the bridesmaids’ dresses. Each table was adorned with candelabra and flowers in her wedding theme colour.

Danni and Mason took advantage of the fact that they were allowed full run of the property. Pre-dinner drinks were held downstairs, followed by dinner in the main ballroom, with the band and dance floor in an adjoining room.

Danni and Mason’s wedding cake was a beautiful two-tiered creation covered in butter cream with silver bows around each tier and topped with pink sugar dough roses.

The bride looked gorgeous in a strapless A-line gown with ruching across the bodice and skirt, silver embroidery and beading and an elegant train. “I chose my gown the first day I went shopping – as soon as I tried it on I knew,” Danni recalls.

The bridesmaids’ gowns were not as simple because two of Danni’s wedding.co.nz/bridemaids”>bridesmaids were pregnant. In the end they decided to have strapless fuchsia gowns with a matching wrap made-to-measure, which “looked just gorgeous”.

The bride and groom enjoyed their day enormously. “There was a really good atmosphere, the staff at the Stamford Plaza were fantastic and it was all perfect,” says Danni.

Hidden away in the New Zealand countryside are some very special luxury lodges – perfect for honeymoons or pre-wedding getaways. Here are just a few of them:

Wharekauhau

In the 1840s this was an isolated sheep station. Today it’s still a working farm set on more than 2000 rugged hectares in the southern Wairarapa, but it’s also a beautiful lodge where guests can get a taste of the opulence of a bygone era.

Sumptuously furnished with deep sofas beside blazing log fires, it’s a place to relax and unwind. But there’s plenty to do if you choose. Wharekauhau is near the famous wine village of Martinborough and charming Greytown with its lively mix of antique shops and cafes. At the lodge itself activities range from horse riding on the beach to archery and clay pigeon shooting. There’s a gym, heated indoor pool and spa treatments on offer. Or take a four-wheel drive tour to the scenic Cape Palliser lighthouse and seal colony.

Delamore Lodge

Jonah Lomu married his wife Fiona at this boutique Waiheke Island lodge. A modern Mediterranean-style building that is moulded into the hillside above Owhanake Bay, Delamore Lodge is built around a central courtyard and boasts a stunning outdoor dining area complete with fireplace. Close to Waiheke’s vineyards and café scene, Delamore also offers peace and isolation. You can laze on your private patio, take a bush walk down to the bay or relax in the Jacuzzi or sauna. Delamore has four luxury guest suites with total privacy and stunning views of the Hauraki Gulf.

Grasmere Lodge

A high country retreat in the heart of the Southern Alps, Grasmere dates back to 1858. the original limestone homestead is still contained within the larger house and Grasmere is now an impressive lodge retreat with 12 rooms, each with its own Jacuzzi. Plus there’s a mountain spa with a therapist trained by the renowned French beauty institute Sothy’s and activities that include horse riding, fly fishing and hunting. For the less adventurous there is a tennis court, heated swimming pool and croquet lawn. Each night a five-course gourmet dinner is served.

photo credit: RobB7

Fiordland Lodge

Built for the views over this stunning world heritage area, Fiordland Lodge is a luxurious retreat with a rugged South Island feel. It’s built of stone and solid timber, with soaring ceilings, a vast riverstone fireplace with 10 luxury guest rooms and two log cabins. Proprietors Ron and Robynne Peacock and passionate about the outdoors and encourage guests to experience guided walking, fishing and bird-watching tours. There is so much to enjoy in Fiordland from kayaking in the wilderness of Doubtful Sound to a moonlit cruise on Lake Te Anau.

Huka Lodge

Once a simple fishing lodge on the banks of the Waikato River, Huka is now consistently listed among the world’s top retreats. Famous guests include Kate Winslet and the Queen. A short walk from the spectacular Huka Falls near Taupo, the lodge is set in park-like grounds and has tennis and petanque courts as well as hot pools. Activities include fishing, riding, golf and spa treatments. Huka is famed for its cuisine. The chefs decide each day what they will cook base on what’s freshest and there is an emphasis on local produce. Although at the top-end pricewise, a vast breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and a five-course dinner are all included in Huka’s tariff.

Your wedding reception is the best excuse to throw the biggest, wildest, most extravagant beautiful party of your lives. There’s a lot to organise including the venue, wedding catering, drinks and entertainment. And then there are those special touches you can include to make the day truly your own.

Don’t worry if you’re on a tight budget. You can make up for it by being big on creative ideas.

So for an extravagant celebration or an informal gathering, check out our inspiring advice and start planning the best party ever.

Wild

Have elephants and flamingos in your wedding pics and the sound of lions roaring in the background as you say your vows. At Auckland Zoo, weddings take place in one of the picturesque gardens or at the band rotunda and you can hold your reception in a marquee or the Old Elephant House.

The cost is around $2500-$3000 and the profits get put back into the care of the animals.

Call Zoo Functions on (09 360 3813)

Spectacular

Glendhu Station, a high country farm near Wanaka provides not only a beautiful scenic backdrop for your wedding photography but also a historic homestead complete with verandas, a large, open fireplace, a billiard room and extensive gardens with ponds and English oak trees. Costs start at around $2000 plus gst. Marquee, additional hire, catering etc are extra. You can also be ultra-flash and helicopter to some of the most stunning photo locations. For more information, call Anna on 027563 4343.

Seaside

High on the cliffs above the dramatic West Coast, Castaways in Waiuku (50 minutes from Auckland) offer panoramic views, spectacular sunsets and a deck area for a wet and windy weather option. The menus focus on locally-sourced food and wine and there are 15 ocean-view chalets for guests who don’t want to go home. Venue and set up costs start at $1300 plus gst, with catering at around $55 a head. Call (09 253 5071).

Luxury

No wonder Rotorua’s luxury lodge Treetops is a favourite with Hollywood stars. It’s a secluded sanctuary, nestled in 2500 acres of native forests and valleys. There are numerous outdoor or indoor options, including the spectacular Great Room, for a dream wedding and reception. And, while it costs $17,000 to rent out the whole lodge, there is a more affordable way to experience the ultimate in luxury. Treetops caters for day weddings for between two and 120 people and prices start at $155 per head. Check out www.treetops.co.nz.

Sumptuous

Hung with precious rugs and antique carpets from around the globe, Fables Rug Gallery in Parnell, Auckland is like entering another world. With a warm ambience inside, the weather will never be an issue. You can use the whole gallery and seat up to 140 at banquet tables or have a smaller cocktail-style function. Venue hire costs vary depending on your requirements. For more information, call Jane on (09 309 4957).

Or what about a marquee?

Marquee weddings never go out of fashion, although these days the clip-frame style of marquee is more popular than the old-fashioned style with centre poles. That’s partly because they can be erected in smaller spaces and don’t need guide ropes.

You should consider a marquee wedding if you are planning to celebrate your nuptials on a large flat section, farm or lifestyle block. Swimming pools can be covered and marquees can also be used as an add-on to your house.

These days, because of all the red tape, fewer venues will incorporate marquees. But two Auckland venues that still use the freestanding, makeshift buildings are Highwic House and Ellerslie Event Centre.

At Castles, hire starts at around $3900 plus gst and this price includes extras like tables, chairs, linen, silk roof-liners and fairylights. Call (09 444 1787). Or check out one of the packages available at Carlton Party Hire (0800 662 000).

Heaters are often needed for marquee weddings as temperatures may dip at night, even if the day has been hot. Think of your marquee as a blank canvas and use wedding decorations such as gauze curtains and fairylights or set aside a chill-out area with mismatched, deep, leather sofas or velvet chaise longues where your guests can take a break from the dance floor.

Or if you’re looking for a destination wedding venue that is completely and utterly luxurious, try one of the many Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts around the globe. You and your wedding guests can be sunning yourselves in the lap of luxury in Mauritius or enjoying a wedding ski holiday in Germany. The choice is all yours!

More and more people are now choosing an outdoor wedding site for their wedding ceremony. It may be a garden, a city park, by the lake or any other conveyable outdoor wedding location. There are a few factors to take into consideration when planning an outdoor wedding.

Wedding attire should match the wedding style and arrangement for one thing. In an outdoor wedding, the marrying couple does not have to adhere to the usual formal wedding attire worn in a church building wedding. But nothing is written anywhere that because you are engaging in an outdoor wedding you cannot opt to wear formal wedding attire – although some of the traditional wedding dresses may not be comfortable or may be very awkward to wear for an outdoor wedding.

An outdoor wedding gives the wedding couple, and their guests and visitors the opportunity to wear casual dress where they feel they can be comfortable and at ease.
Although there may be some people that consider outdoor weddings to be casual, there are also some people who still consider it as a formal event. For any wedding celebration may it be a church wedding or an outdoor wedding, the ideal dress for the bride would be a white bridal gown. In such a case, the bride may choose a bridal gown that she thinks will suit her best. It does not have to be a long flowing traditional wedding gown so long as it is appropriate with the wedding set-up.
A simple outdoor tea length dress or may be an ankle length dress would be fashionable enough for a beach wedding and there is no necessity of wearing it white. Any color depending on the season in which the wedding is held, will be alright. Casual wedding dresses, should also be matched with a simple hairstyle, make-up, jewelry and other accessories -and the footwear should not be disregarded either.

Guests and visitors intending to attend an outdoor or casual wedding may get confused as to what kind of attire they should wear.  If invitations had been sent to the invited guest, specifically mentioning what kind of attire should be worn; it should be the responsibility of the guest to follow the wedding dress code imposed on attending guests and visitors to the wedding. If the invitation was done verbally, they should be informed as to what kind of attire they should wear for the wedding. If the bride and groom do not intend to wear traditional wedding attire, even the guests, they do not have to wear formal dresses like cocktail dresses and the like.

However, this does not mean that wearing jeans is appropriate in attending outdoor weddings. For lady guests, a blouse and a skirt or maybe a nice casual dress could be appropriate enough to wear in an outdoor wedding or a casual wedding. It would be great fun to experiment with a range of other color when planning what to wear on a casual or an outdoor wedding.

Khaki pants paired with a white buttoned down shirts would be appropriate for the male guests to wear, or they may choose any other color provided it does not appear too formal. Though jeans may also be allowed in outdoor and casual wedding, do not just do it yourself unless the wedding invitation said so.  Wear the best that you think is appropriate for the occasion. Do not be afraid to experiment and be creative, but do not exaggerate and see to it that you never go out of style.

Finding the perfect wedding venue should be a central part of your planning and budgeting process. Not only that, but if you are not getting married in the same place as you are holding your reception, you will need two wedding venues – so double the headache! There are many advantages to having only one location for your wedding in terms of budget as you will nearly halve your decoration spend but you will also save on transport costs between the two locations. You will probably already have a feel for whether or not you want two locations, but if you are wavering, stick with one.

Once you have decided on how many wedding venues you are looking for you can get on with looking at the type and location choices available. Within reason you can have your wedding wherever you like – there is the obvious church choice or a hotel and then you can branch out into the slightly more unusual wedding venues such as local halls, restaurants, museums and parks or even consider the truly unique mountain top or beach wedding location. Be creative but remember that the more unusual the location, the more work you are going to have to put in to organise everything. When you are going through your wacky list of venues, just make sure to consider how accessible they all are and whether they can cope with the number of guests you plan on inviting.

Once you have a shortlist of venues, get out there and visit them. Confirm dates, guest numbers, food choices and all of the other intricacies you want the venue to feature, as well of course as the cost. Keep detailed notes and even photos of each venue as they will all merge into one after a while. Try to write down what you like and dislike about each one as you go round, so you can pull all of this information together when you get home to find the wedding reception venue that is going to be perfect for your big day.

Carnton Plantation is an ole south, Civil War era Nashville wedding site. Actually, it’s a bit south of Nashville in one of the most pleasant small towns in America – Franklin, Tennessee.

In the great battle of Franklin in 1864, 10,000 soldiers were killed, injured or went missing.  The Carnton mansion was used as field hospital. As you tour the home you can still see blood stains on the floor and see displays of the crude medical instruments that were used.

Fortunately, with wedding taking place at Carnton Plantation, there are many more pleasant memories for this historic location.

Weddings are sometimes are held on the front porch of the mansion. There is a long stone side-walk where the wedding party walks in and guests are seated along the sides. Sometimes the bride comes in on a horse-drawn carriage.

Other times, a wedding takes place beneath a 150 year old Osage tree located to the right of the mansion. The tree is remarkably beautiful. Often couples will have a large white tent put up nearby where the receptions are held or the wedding ceremony itself if the weather turns bad.

After the wedding ceremony, the guests can go into the mansion for a tour. People enjoy the tour and it allows the couple time to take a few pictures before the reception begins.

Carnton has recently added a new visitor’s center. Of course, there are the typical touristy items for sale, but also has modern restrooms and meeting space.

They have several packages to choose from depending on exactly where the ceremony is held and when. Prices range from one thousand to three thousand dollars. There are some add on fees too, including one for your guests to be allowed to the tour the mansion. The fee is not all that bad and is certainly worth it.

If you like Civil War history, if you want something unique and beautiful, then Carnton Plantation near Nashville, Tennessee may be the perfect wedding venue for your day. As Carnton likes to say, your wedding will go down in history!