Summer is here, and with it, the sparkle of romance, so there’s no better time to start thinking about your future wedding plans. While the first thoughts may be of that perfect dress, and that special wedding venue, my advice would be to put choosing your photographer at the top of that list also.

There are approximately 22,000 weddings each year in New Zealand, but only around 90 qualified wedding photographers, so if you want a perfect record of your perfect day, it’s important to book your photographer early.

Many of the best qualified wedding photographers will be booked up one or two years in advance, so it’s important to negotiate with your preferred venue, celebrant and wedding photographer all at the same time in order to create the perfect recipe for a blissful day.

So what’s the difference between a qualified photographer and a non-qualified photographer you may ask?

The difference is that a qualified photographer is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP), who has attained a recognised level of professionalism in their work. But membership is much more than this. It demonstrates that these photographers are leaders in their field, striving for excellence in everything that they do, from the photography itself, to the end presentation.

These members are entitled to use the Qualified NZIPP member logo in their advertising, which serves as a hallmark of quality assurance in their creative and business practises.

photo credit: Eduardo Pavon

Many NZIPP photographers also enter the annual Professional Photography Awards, an inspirational showcase of cutting edge imagery which shows that New Zealand photographers are world-class. All award-winning images are displayed in an online image gallery on the NZIPP website, and this is well worth a look to see the current trends in wedding photography.

The website also offers a ‘find a photographer’ search function so that you can be sure to find a qualified wedding photographer in a location near you.

The NZIPP has prepared a checklist to help you ask the right questions in order to make the right decision when choosing your wedding photographer. This handy checklist is available on the NZIPP website, or by contacting us directly as the NZIPP office.

So don’t leave anything to chance – book a qualified professional for your wedding photography, because once it’s all over, your photographer is the person that you count on to provide you with lasting memories of the joy and happiness you shared on your special day.

Floral fantasy

Choosing a theme for your wedding is essential to express your personality and style, and to ensure all elements of the wedding work together to create the Wow factor you’ve always dreamed of for your perfect day.

Flowers are a great place to start when deciding on a theme, they come in every variety and colour imaginable, and are used in every part of the wedding from the wedding ceremony to the reception.

Whether you want a modern masterpiece or an elegant vintage feel, you’ll find inspiration from flowers.

You may already have a bulging scrapbook and know exactly what you want, but it’s more likely that the picture is hazy, so it’s a matter of comparing a variety of options.

You may be inclined towards a traditional celebration in a glamorous formal indoor setting or under the gathered silk of an elegant marquee. Maybe you would like to mingle with your guests on board a luxurious launch or star in a fairytale event at an exotic overseas destination. Your perfect wedding venue could be as close as your own home or a parent or friend’s house or garden. It could even be within the walls of a church.

photo credit: tompagenet

Influencing factors

Regardless of whether your wish is for an intimate affair or a fabulous extravaganza for hundreds, many of the same considerations will influence your decision and help narrow the options. The availability of your chosen venue will dictate the date on which you wish to hold your wedding celebrations, so it’s important to pencil in a booking as soon as you can. Often wedding venues are booked up more than a year in advance. The number of guests you want to invite will come into play. Some venues will seat only 60, while others will cater for minimum of 100 guests.

You will also need to consider whether the wedding venue is suited to the young and elderly guests on your list and how accessible it is for those who live out of town or overseas. You choice will depend on the amount of planning you want to do – organizing your own catering requires a lot of though and involvement unless you hand all the hassle over to a wedding coordinator. Whether or not you plan on having the wedding ceremony and reception at the same location will influence your choice, and there are also religious and cultural implications, informal or formal preferences and then, of course, everything is linked to the all-important budget.

Easy peasy

A gift registry is a bit like a simple Dummies Guide to wedding gift shopping – your guests will no longer have to worry about whether or not you need an extra vase of if these fluffy towels will match your bathroom décor. If this isn’t easy enough, many large stores now offer online shopping so your guests won’t even have to leave the house – it’s almost too easy!

‘Cause you’re worth it

The idea is to choose quality items you wouldn’t ordinarily buy for yourself – pick your favourite bone china rather than the clunky BBQ set you would normally make do with; or a higher quality appliance that will last longer than the ‘bargain’ your darling bought 6 months ago and is already on the blink.

Be bold with your choices and don’t worry about selecting items that are a little on the pricey side – guests will often chip in and buy the more expensive items together. You might even catch someone in a very generous mood. Now is your opportunity to revamp your house and convert your tired old kitchen into an entertainer’s dream – from pizza and DVD nights to stylish dinner parties.

Flash pans

Now that you’re a master in gift registries – it’s time to go shopping!

Pots and pans have come a long way in the last few years with high-tech gizmos galore, so throw away Mum’s old hand-me downs and line your cupboards with top-of-the-range cookware. Entertaining with flashy tools is not only fun but can also cut food preparation time down so you can spend more time sipping wine and nibbling on cheese and bickies with your guests.

Basic instinct

Every kitchen cupboard will need a couple of frying pans, a stockpot with a lid, two or three saucepans with lids, mixing bowls, a large roasting pan and a baking dish. It is always nice to have a cake tin, cooling rack and cookie cutters too. With these basics there will be no more blaming your tools, you are sure to be able to cook up a storm.

Serving success

Now dinner is cooked, it’s time to set the table. With all your recent nesting you’re sure to have a house full of beautiful things – you want to make sure you continue the good impression when you serve your guests dinner.

For the backyard barby, earthenware, stoneware and pottery are the perfect solutions, but for a swish dinner party you’ll need fine china, bone china or porcelain.

When listing your dinner set, ensure that you put down at least 8-12 place settings. You don’t want to find out that your prized dinner set has been discontinued when ‘someone’ has smashed a couple of plates.

Home stretch

When you are let loose in your chosen store with you hubby-to-be, remember the key word is quality. Take this opportunity to create an entertaining wonderland that you will be proud of for years and years to come. With today’s creative designers, there is a an abundance of styles and shapes to suit everyone’s taste, so go for gold and above all have fun!

BONUS BITS

Here are a few hints to help you create your dream wish list:

• Organise your list 4-6 months prior to the wedding – some like to get in early.
• Some like to get in late – continually add things to the list so they aren’t left with a potato peeler and serviette holder.
• List more gifts than you have guests to ensure a large variety of suit all budgets and tastes.
• Be specific about colour, make and model of the item you want – you may not share your great aunt’s taste in linen.

Learning the lingo

FINE CHINA/PORCELAIN: This is top-notch in the hierarchy of china – it is long lasting and personifies elegance.

BONE CHINA: As the name suggests bone china is less delicate than fine china. Its chip-proof strength comes form the additive bone ash, which creates the brilliant white look.

EARTHENWARE: Chunky in comparison to the finer china, this ceramic set is ideal for everyday use.

STONEWARE: A pinch of ground stone is added to the clay to create this robust, microwave and dishwasher proof crockery.

An up-do is a classical style for brides to wear. It is timeless and shows the beauty of the face. Some also choose a half up-do where some hair is left down to frame the face or flow down the back and on the shoulders. Yet another option is to leave all your hair down with braids or some other rope, ribbons or similar to add to the fullness.

Remember to match the flowers to the rest of the wedding ceremony so you have a smooth flowing theme. The choice of real or fake is a personal decision but should also follow the other flowers you have in your bouquet and table centerpieces. Real flowers will add to the scent in the room, however fake flowers are made with such quality that they are sometimes very hard to tell from the real thing. If you have a partial or full up-do, then flowers could be worn in a crown or strategically placed throughout. You could also have jewels layered into your style or ribbon braided through.

Jewels such as stones or pearls are a nice formal and romantic touch. In hair styled any way, rhinestones can be pinned into the hair around the face or worn in a pre-made band or bridal tiaras. Feathers can be added with pearls to give a similar but even softer touch than flowers. Strings of pearls are also a beautiful touch that can easily match with other jewelry such as your earrings and necklace.

Whichever avenue you follow in picking out the hair accessories for your wedding day, friends and family in your bridal party can play a key role in deciding the right look that will compliment your beauty and be the look that you will cherish for years to come.

Today, things have changed: we know your honey is marrying you of his own free will. But this is no reason to deprive yourself of a beautiful and romantic bridal veil!

Let’s have a look at your options:

Fascinator – can cover the face in part or in full, according to your mood. A fascinator gives a sexy, modern touch to any outfit.

Blusher – covers the face in full, and is lifted up by the groom at the end of the ceremony so he can kiss the bride.

Bouffant – touches the shoulder, allowing you to have the romantic look you want without the weight of a full-length veil.

Fingertip veil – a veil that stops mid-thigh, so it works well with short-sleeved dresses or dresses with low-cut backs. It also looks stunning combined with an elbow-length blusher.

Chapel veil – stretching seven and a half feet from the headpiece, a chapel veil falls to the floor and is usually combined with other shorter layers. It looks best with a full-length gown.

Cathedral veil – falling an impressive ten and a half feet from the headpiece, a cathedral veil flows past the hem of the dress onto the train. It works well with a fingertip blusher and adds a traditional feel to any wedding attire.

photo credit: Xhanatos

There are several ways you can wear a veil; each one will give a different look to your outfit.

1. Front of the head

Wearing a bridal veil near the fringe line is most suitable for small cocktail-style veils and net wedding veils. If you’re opting for a ‘60s-style wedding, follow the trend set by Priscilla Presley, who wore a full veil positioned at the fringe line for her wedding to Elvis.

2. Top of the head

This is great for brides who wish to wear their bridal veils high on the crowns of their heads. A high-set veil position is wonderful if you want to add height to your hair-do and is ideal if you plan to wear a tiara.

3. Back of the head

Flattering with hairstyles that put the weight and focus at the rear of the head, this positioning also works well with longer styles of wedding veil. The gathering of tulle creates a gorgeous look for photographs and softens a veil worn over the face.

4. Nape of the neck

Low, structured hairstyles that end at the nape of the neck often go well with a gathering of tulle at the base. This position doesn’t accommodate a veil that goes over the head to cove the face, but is great of you want a veil that falls simply and gently down the back.

5. Side of the head

If you decide to wear your veil to the side, make sure you consider the overall look of the gown. An asymmetrical position creates interest and focus to one area so consider any relevant details and intricacies of the gown. If you have crystals encrusted on the right hip then perhaps wear the veil on the left side of your head to continue the line.

Always keep your dress in mind when deciding on a veil. If your frock has already tons of frills and furbelows, an ornate veil could be visual overload. A simple dress would give a bit more leeway in the veil department. The color of your dress is also important, if you have an ivory wedding dress you will want an ivory wedding veil.

A veil’s great for dazzling your honey as the church doors open but you don’t want to trip him up during the bridal waltz. Consider a detachable veil that can be taken off easily after the ceremony. You’ll also need to brief your hair stylist so he or she can make sure your bun will stay tight ‘til the end of the night, and not be weighed down by your veil.

This old English poem dates back to Victorian times, but has remained perhaps the most steadfastly held to wedding tradition of the lot. Even today, you’d be hard pressed finding a single bride in the whole world who would walk down the aisle without something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Something old

The “something old” represents the bride’s family and her past – her “old life”. This item was traditionally a handkerchief from a mother or grandmother – perhaps an heirloom passed down through the family.

A handkerchief was used because it was thought that a bride who cried tears of joy at her wedding would never shed another tear during her marriage.

Many brides interpret the ‘something old’ tradition by wearing a piece of treasured antique jewellery, or even their mother’s wedding gown. Whatever is chosen should symbolise that the people you love will always be a part of your life.

Something new

“Something new” symbolises the brand new family that will formed by the newlywed couple. This item represents good fortune, happiness, health and a successful marriage. Most brides count their wedding gown as their ‘something new’ item.

Another idea is for the bridesmaids to give the bride a new handkerchief that can be made into a christening bonnet for her first child. The “something new” can be anything that you bought with your mother, sister, or fiancé to wear at the wedding – this way it will be both new, and have sentimental value. There is not limit to new things you can find to wear – so have fun with it!

Something borrowed

Borrowing something to wear is one of the especially important wedding traditions. The borrowed item is to come from a happily married woman, who is thereby lending the bride some of her own marital bliss to carry into the new union. In Victorian times, when the bride returned the token that had been lent her, good luck would be bestowed upon her marriage. A borrowed piece of family jewellery, a grandmother’s lace fan, a sister’s hair clip, a best friend’s bracelet or an aunt’s white elbow-length gloves can be chosen to remind you that you will always have family and friends to depend on.

photo credit: Shootingsnow

Something blue

The “something blue” can be traced back to ancient times. Pagan Roman maidens wore blue on the borders of their robes to denote love, modesty and fidelity. In ancient Israel, blue, not white was the symbol of purity. Christians associate the colour blue with the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Before the nineteenth century, blue was the colour of choice for an American bride’s gown. This sparked several saying in the USA, such as “marry in blue, lover be true,” and “Yellow’s forsaken and green’s forsworn, but blue and red ought to be worn.”

No matter which way you look at it, wearing something blue on your wedding day symbolises your faithfulness and loyalty.

And a silver sixpence in her shoe

This one is thought to come from the ancient Greek custom of the bride carrying three silver coins on her wedding day: one for her mother-in-law, one for the first person met on the road after the wedding, and one to carry to her new home to ensure prosperity. In Victorian England, brides put a silver sixpence in their wedding shoes to grant wealth in their new marriage.

The sixpence was given to her by her fiancé as a token of his love and his promise to take care of her. Today, the sixpence (or your coins of choice) is traditionally given to the bride by her father. For optimum fortune, the “sixpence” should be in the left shoe, but put it in your purse if you get uncomfortable!

Blue ideas

• Blue lingerie
• A blue bow on your lingerie or garter
• Blue flowers
• A blue jewel (can be worn on the inside of the dress or  bridal tiaras).
• A blue dress
• A traditionally blue ribbon, (can be sewn inside your dress).
• Blue toenails
• Blue shoes
• A blue trinket in your wedding flowers– like a butterfly or bow

Who says you have to use paper for your wedding invitations at all?

You can bring into play all sorts of exciting materials such as tin, steel, aluminium, wood, glass, fabric or even chocolate. Or why not send DVD invitations to your guests? Your imagination is the limit!

Typeface

You might find the Brush Script or Gigi typeface totally exquisite, but you must admit that they are not the easiest fonts to decipher. It’s important to balance the aesthetic and the practical side when choosing your typeface – ‘readable’ should always win over ‘decorative’, or your guests ay show up at the wrong address!

You can also use a combination of different typefaces. Why not print your names in a scripted font and use a plainer typeface for the rest? That way you can have that delicate feel without compromising on legibility.

Print technique

photo credit: pjohnkeane

The printing is usually the biggest expense in the invitation-making budget – it’s important that you understand exactly what you’re paying for. Here is a brief review of the main printing techniques:

• Engraving is the oldest printing method (it was first introduced in the 1600’s) as well as the most expensive. It suits the most traditional wedding invitations. This printing process can take a few weeks, so plan well ahead. The result is smart 3D lettering that is raised on the front of the page and indented on the back.
• Thermography is to engraving what faux fur is to the real thing – it’s not as fine but it is much more affordable. It’s a great compromise if you would like the look of engraved printing but don’t have the funds for it, or if you can’t wait a few weeks to get your invitations back.
• Lithography or offset printing is a cheap and easy option. The ext is transferred to a thin metal plate, which is then wrapped around a cylinder and transferred to the paper. The letters on the page are totally flat. Offset printing is a great option but it’s not ‘guest names’ friendly at all – you can’t change anything from one invitation to the other.
• Digital printing is a fairly recent development of the offset method. Basically, a digital file containing your text is sent directly to the digital printer – no metal plate involved – sot that the image being printed is as high quality as the original. Digital printing also allows you to personalise your invitations with your guests’ names.

DIY paradise

If you can’t find a typeface you like on your computer, don’t despair!

Have a look at www.321clipart.com where you can download loads of free fonts. This website is definitely heaven for all the DIY junkies!

Petite and Slender

Empire-line dresses have a seam just below the bust and fall away to the floor. It’s a style that suits slim and smaller-busted women. A column dress with a high neck is a style that can be pulled off by those blessed with a slight figure. Steer clear of ball gowns, which can swamp a petite figure.

Untoned arms

If you feel self-conscious of your arms, don’t show them. Either opt for a bridal gown with full sleeves, or choose a sleeveless dress, but cover your arms with a pretty jacket, shrug or wrap for a hint of movie-star glamour.

photo credit: jenny downing

Hourglass figure

Consider a halter-neck bridal gown, which gives the illusion of extending the shoulder line and balancing out the lower body. A two-piece works well if your bust is smaller than your hips. A bodice married with a ballerina-style skirt gives the figure a better proportion. Avoid straight or bias-cut designs, which magnify the hips and bottom.

Generous bust

A strapless bridal gown can look bewitching on a curvy figure, but you will need some extra support in the bust area. A V-shaped or scooped neckline (not too plunging) is also flattering. Avoid high necklines, which make breasts appear larger.

Womanly tummy

An A-line bridal gown if perfect. This style flares out from the waist and hides a multitude of sins! Many A-line dresses have vertical seams running from the top of the dress to the bottom, so there are no seams across the dress at the tummy area. Leave the beading to the upper part of your dress. Avoid bows or sashes around the waist, as they will only add bulk.

Wedding cars are an important part of the wedding planning and an opportunity to enhance your day. While making your choice of how you want to make an entrance take the following into consideration.

Formal

If you’re thinking formal and sophisticated, there’ a wide choice of prestigious wedding cars from a Rolls Royce or Mercedes, to modern American limousines. Limos come in various sizes, including a super-stretch seating 15 people – even big enough to accommodate the wedding photographer!

Sporty

Sports cars and two-door coupes  are popular options in New Zealand where the wedding car usually features in the wedding photos, however, think practical with smaller modes of transport and consider the bride’s wedding dress – will it get crushed.

photo credit: big-ashb

Classic

Older vintage wedding cars look fantastic and are a popular choice, but remember older cars might not have seatbelts, air-conditioning or heating. Make sure your choice is also mechanically sound for the day and consider the distances it must travel. And if you are relying on friends or family for your transport, make sure someone is in charge of the detailing – particularly the seats and doorsills – you don’t want to stain the dress.

Horse and Carriage

A romantic choice is a fairytale-like horse and carriage with a coachman and footman. Just make sure your choice has a ‘top’ to put up if the weather is dodgy.

Arriving by air

Arriving at your ceremony and reception by helicopter or hot-air balloon is an exciting way to making an entrance – if your budget and the conditions permit. More adventurous entrances, such as skydiving, are best reserved for remote locations.

Hiring

A professional wedding car hire company should provide backup vehicles in case something goes wrong, and take care of little details such as wedding decorations and champagne! Take time to view the hire company’s options, and talk over contractual details (especially cancellation fees). Under the law, anyone who makes money from driving passengers around has to be commercially licenced.

Borrowing

If you are prepared to organise your own transport there are many classic cars in private hands. Ask around friends and family for options. Some car clubs, such as the American Classic Car Club, will provide a car and owner/driver in exchange for a donation to the club. Taxis can also be cost-effective, and some companies will take the markings off their cabs and provide a wedding car rental for a flat fee.

The bride’s grand arrival

It has become a popular trend at wedding ceremonies for guests to wait outside for the bride’s arrival, rather than be already seated. Some couples are also opting to rendezvous for photo opportunities before arriving at the ceremony. If the bride plans to arrive at the ceremony in an open-top vehicle, such as a horse and carriage or convertible sports car, think about how her hair and makeup might look after a 20-minute ride to the venue.