You can decide on your ideal ceremony location, pick out the perfect gown and choose gorgeous table settings, but there’s one thing you can’t control or guarantee on your big day – the weather. While certain conditions and temperatures can be expected at particular times of the year, there’s an old saying, ‘climate is what you can expect and weather is what you get,’ so the best thing you can do is be prepared, have a wedding plan that will make your day stress free no matter what the weather!

The Heat is On

In summer you may need to contend with scorching temperatures, humidity or strong sunlight on your wedding day. While many brides want to wear a full length wedding gown for this special celebration, steer clear of voluminous styles or heavy fabrics during the warmer months. The guys may even like to wear open necked shirts, depending on the formality of the occasion.

Think about appropriate accessories for the warm weather, too. Parasols, fans or sunglasses can provide a welcome relief from the sun, plus they make great props for the photos. Flowers can wilt in hot weather, so you may want your florist to wire the bouquets to keep them looking great all day, or you could stand them in water until you’re ready to leave for the wedding ceremony.

Keep the wedding menu light and fresh, and provide plenty of chilled water and non alcoholic drinks to keep everyone refreshed and hydrated. Wedding cakes can melt in high temperatures, so if you’re getting married in the height of summer, fondant icing is best as it’s more resistant to heat than butter cream.

If you’re saying ‘I do’ outdoors, hold the ceremony in a shady spot, and when you set up the chairs, make sure your guest won’t be blinded by the sun. Advice guests on your invitations that it’s an alfresco ceremony and arrange for the ushers to offer them sunscreen on arrival. Limit the length of the wedding ceremony to 40 minutes maximum so your guests aren’t exposed to the elements for too long.

Chilled Out

A cold snap can strike at any time, but it’s especially important have a wedding plan for nippy temperatures from April to October. Keep the wedding party cosy with three-piece suits for the guys, and wraps, faux fur stoles, bolero jackets or long sleeved gowns for the girls. Rather than strappy wedding shoes, choose closed toe styles to keep your feet warm.

Check that the wedding venue is well heated, too. If your guests will be mingling outside after the ceremony, consider setting up some patio heaters. Then, as they arrive at the wedding reception, welcome them in from the cold with hot apple cider or mulled wine.

Breeze Along

If you wake up to blustery conditions on your big day, it’s probably best to opt for an up style hairdo, as the wind may tangle your hair if you wear it loose. Carry a small bottle of hairspray and some bobby pins in your bridal emergency kit to deal with any flyaway locks.

Choose a sheltered spot if you’re having an outdoor wedding, making sure your registry papers and wedding decorations are well anchored. A good sound system is essential, too, so your voices aren’t carried away by the wind.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

With 600-1600mm of annual rainfall in New Zealand, wet weather is a common occurrence throughout the year. Your wedding plan should include enough umbrellas to shelter the wedding party if it rains. It’s also ital to have a contingency wedding plan for outdoor ceremonies and photos.

Muddy grass and heels aren’t a good mix, so you may like to invest in a pair of heel caps to stop your shoes from sinking into the ground. Alternatively, wear a pair of funky gumboots if you need to venture onto soggy ground for photo shoots. If your gown has a train, make sure it can be hitched up to prevent it from getting wet or mud splattered.

Snowed Under

During winter, it can snow heavily in mountainous areas and in the South Island. As roads can be treacherous during snowy conditions there may be road closures or slow moving traffic, so try to allow some extra time for travelling to the ceremony and between locations. It’s also a wise idea to ask your venue or an usher to arrange for someone to clear any icy or snow covered pathways that you’ll be using.

Whatever the Weather

On the day, no matter what hand Mother Nature deals you – whether it’s brilliant sunshine or thundery skies – embrace it and enjoy yourselves! As long as you are well prepared and have a foolproof wedding plan you can’t go wrong. As English poet John Ruskin once said: ‘Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.’

Planning a wedding is an exciting experience. This will probably be the biggest party of your life and it won’t all come together on its own. Regardless of how organised you are or how much lead time you have, there’s a lot going on. With all the financial considerations, family dynamics, dealing with suppliers, and make endless decisions, it’s easy to end up feeling a little tense and overwhelmed at times.

Managing that stress is important, or you could end up taking it out on the person you care for the most. Here’s our advice for avoiding tension and arguments and putting the focus back on you:

Super Planning

With so many details to arrange, all while carrying on with your normal daily life, you’ll need a system. Pick something that works for you – it might be a spreadsheet with different columns for tasks, suppliers, quotes and notes; or a concertina file divided into sections, where you can keep menus, swatches quotes and pictures, all safely in one place.

Check out www.brideandgroom.co.nz for an array of helpful planning tools. There’s an organiser with checklists, a to-do list, a planner divided into sections containing basic information, ideas and suggestions with space for notes. Print these off, along with expenses worksheet and contacts list, and add them to your planning file.

photo credit: lululemon athletica

Get Moving

Yes, you’re busy and maybe a little tired, but you’ll feel so much better if you get some oxygen pumping through your system. Exercise is a great stress buster and it has the added bonus of helping you stay in shape. A brisk 30 minute walk three or four times a week is a great start, and it’s a perfect activity to do together. If you’re really keen, you could join a gym and have a programme tailored to your exercise goals.

Mental Health

Your head is probably buzzing with ideas, tasks and decisions, and you may be finding it hard to sleep. Help calm your inner wedding planner with some gentle yoga or meditation. Find a local class or buy a mediation CD and schedule in some regular time to clear your head. It’ll help you concentrate and focus.

Clean up your Act

Remember what your mother always said about looking after yourself? Get some early nights, reduce your coffee and alcohol intake, cut out the junk food and drink more water. Include plenty of B vitamins in your diet from foods such as bananas, tuna and leafy green vegetables or by taking supplements. Establishing some good habits will help you manages stress better and look great on your wedding day and beyond.

Pamper Yourself

Take yourself off for a restorative facial, manicure or massage. You’ll come out feeling like a million bucks. If your budget is tight, don’t discount the benefits of IIY. Treat your partner to a relaxing massage (you might not get one in return) or take 15 minutes out for a home pedicure. You deserve to look and feel good.

Wedding-free Zone

It might be a challenge, especially for some brides, but have at least one day a week when you don’t talk about the wedding or do any wedding planning at all! Grooms will probably circle this day on their calendar. Give it a go – it’ll help put things back into perspective and stop the wedding from taking over your like.

I Want You on My Team

Good communication is paramount in any relationship, and even more so when you’re planning a wedding. Never forget that you’re a team and you’re both working towards the same goal. Don’t take your stress out on each other – talk things through and make decisions together or perhaps you can delegate some of the jobs to others you trust. If you need more help, ask. Neither of you is a mind reader, so you’ll need to speak up.

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.

A sunflower wedding is so cheery for the summer time. You will really have a lot of options when it comes to a flower girl dress for your sunflower wedding. You can choose yellow, or white, or a combination of the two. You can even choose brown, the color of the center of the flower. Here are some things to consider.

A white flower girl dress is very traditional. It will be easy to find an inexpensive white flower girl dress because they are so common. You can easily customize this with a wide yellow ribbon around the waist to go with the sunflower theme. There is a danger of having a little girl in a white dress, though. This is especially true if you are planning on having the wedding outside. You don’t want to restrict the girl’s play, but you also don’t want a lot of stains to show. My mother has the white dress I wore when I was a flower girl for my aunt’s wedding. I was three. To this day, it has a large red punch stain down the front.

A punch stain will show on a yellow dress as well, but a yellow dress will not show every single spot that a little girl will pick up throughout the course of the wedding. If your maids of honor are wearing yellow, you can probably get an adorable dress in the same color.

You will also want to think of the cut of a flower girl dress. Some flower girl dresses will have a pencil skirt to match the rest of the bridal party. Others will poof out toward the bottom. A dress that poofs will give a girl more freedom of movement. She will be less likely to trip and tear something. As long as the dress is not too long, this will be easiest for her to walk down the aisle as well.

As with everything for your wedding, from your Spanish wedding invitations to your centerpieces, you will need to consider the cost. Some people will expect the parents of the flower girl will pay for the dress. If you are expecting this, make sure that you involve the parents in the decision and don’t make it a burden on them. You don’t want your wedding to ruin your relationships.

Choosing your gown may be top of your wedding to-do list, but don’t forget to allow plenty of time to choose the perfect wedding accessories to complete your look.

Balancing act

When selecting wedding accessories for your big day, the most important thing to remember is ‘less is more.’ Don’t be tempted to overdo it – several carefully chosen pieces that suit your personality and the style of your wedding gown will ensure you appear effortlessly stylish and timeless. The other golden rule is that the more elaborate you gown is, the simpler your wedding bridal accessories should be. Detailed fabrics look best with discreet accessories, while a more striking piece of jewellery can help accent a simpler gown.

A-head of style

When it comes to wedding hair accessories, designer Kate Dowman says that wedding veils are still as popular as ever, although headpieces are making a comeback. These include fascinators adorned with feathers and silk flowers, beaded Alice bands, and subtle, ‘50’s-inspired tiaras. If a headpiece isn’t your style, you could wear a beaded comb, fresh flowers, or crystal or pearl pins in your hair.

Whatever you decide to wear in your hair, ensure you take your body type and face shape into consideration. A round face suits a narrow veil or headpiece, as it slims it down; an oval face looks good with a fuller veil or wider headpiece; while a heart-shaped face needs a hairpiece that ends at jaw level to balance it. Beware of fascinators if you are tall as they can add height to your appearance, while long veils are an ideal option for making petite brides look taller. Ensure you hairstylist knows what your wedding hair accessories look like so she can create an appropriate hairstyle for you.

photo credit: katclay

Bejewelled

A beautiful necklace, bracelet or pair of earring is the perfect finishing touch to a bridal outfit. Lori McPherson from Astra Bridal says you can balance your look by wearing studs with an elaborate necklace, or opting for a bare neckline if you want wear drop earrings. If you are wearing a necklace, choose a style that complements the neckline of your gown.

A V-shaped or sweetheart neckline, for example, best suits a long Y-shaped necklace that comes down to a drop, while a multi-strand necklace or choker is a good choice for a strapless gown. If you want to keep your neckline simple, and your gown has a low-cut back, consider wearing a necklace that falls down your back or incorporating jewellery into the back of your gown. Alternatively, make this season’s hottest wedding accessory – a brooch – the feature of you look. Brooches are the perfect way to complement a vintage theme, incorporate  the ‘something old’ into your look, or accentuate positive areas such as your bust or waist.

For all these jewellery options, Renata from Clara Jewellery says that pearls are a favourite this season and the good news is that while they are particularly popular now, they are also a classic choice that will never go out of fashion. She also notes that coloured stones are becoming increasingly popular, so brides shouldn’t feel restricted to white or ivory.

Practical pieces

As well as decorative jewellery, the weather may also necessitate practical wedding accessories. If you are getting married in summer, a parasol or fan will protect you from the heat, while Lori says that there is a high demand for faux-fur muffs, stoles and cloaks for winter weddings.

Lori also says a handbag is a must-have wedding accessory for many brides and bridesmaids. A beautiful satin clutch or beaded purse is a stylish carrier of girly essentials such as tissues, lipstick and mints.

Twinkle toes

There are numerous footwear options available from strappy heels for an elegant occasion to jewelled jandals for beach nuptials. Whatever footwear you decide upon, ensure it’s comfortable as you’ll be spending a lot of time on your feet on the big day. It’s advisable to start looking for wedding shoes as soon as you decide on your gown, as you will need to take them along to your final fitting. To ensure your shoes are a good fit, shop during the afternoon, as this is when our feet are at their largest.

And don’t forget to wear your shoes in, as you don’t blisters on your wedding day!

Uniquely yours

The most important thing to remember when choosing wedding accessories is that they should reflect your personal style and taste. Whether it’s some cheap wedding accessories like funky earrings, a necklace with your birthstone or a precious family heirloom, don’t be afraid to let your individuality and personality shine through – after all, it’s your day!

Hiring a wedding planner is too expensive for some couples. Those on a budget who need to plan their own wedding need two things: information and organization. Many thus seek out a good wedding planner book. But what makes a good book? What should couples look for when deciding between options? Here are some criteria to watch out for:

How the book is put together matters. If it is bound like most other books, it may break given the use it will get. You should look for spiral bound books, as these will resist the damage of daily wear. Even better might be a binder – the great thing about these books is that you can add your own pages to it as you need. The only problem is that it might be easy for pages to be ripped out of the book.

What is in between the covers matters. The amount of information imparted by these books will vary. Some books just give basic advice for particular areas of the wedding, like photography, guests, music, etc. Others will go into much more detail; some even give you specific suggestions! (Your book may give you esoteric detail on how to plan beach weddings, for example.) You and your friends’ experience level with planning weddings should dictate how much info you need. If you got things together, you can skip the detailed books. If you’re clueless, look for as much info as you can find.

Perhaps what you’re really buying the book for, however, is organization. You need a centralized journal and filing system to keep track of all your ideas, schedules, calendars, and vendor information. Make sure your wedding planner book has sections where you can write in relevant information about your wedding decision. You will also want a book that will keep your organized, as you will have tons of ideas (both your own and others’ ideas) to keep track of. Some books even come with sheets you can copy and pass out or fill out as you need. Fancier books contain other offerings like computer programs and calendars that will further help you with wedding planning.

Money is a touchy subject and arguments about financials is high on the list of fights among married couples. Starting a marriage with a strong financial foundation is one of the most important things a new couple can do to insure a long and happy marriage, and getting into excessive debt before the marriage has even begun is a really bad idea. Besides buying a home, one of the largest expenses facing couples today is the cost of their wedding. In this article, we are going to share some tips with you that can help you have the wedding of your dreams while still saving money.

1. Guest List
Most experts agree that cutting the guest list is one of the number one ways to make a wedding less expensive. An intimate family wedding is usually one of the most cost effective ways to go, but if you want to make a splash and share it with many people then prioritize. Invite close friends and family members, but make a decision on where to draw the line. An easy way to do this (and avoid hurt feelings) is by not inviting groups, such as everyone from work or your church group. By cutting out an entire group, you bypass the minefield of having to pick and choose whom to invite.

2. DIY Wedding Invitations
With modern technology today, you can make your own printable wedding invitations and no one will even know the difference. Also, cut back on the extra “fluff”: do you really need gold lined envelopes and blotter paper? You can also save on postage by having guests RSVP online instead of including a card with pre-paid postage in the envelope.

3. The Ceremony
Get creative. Find a free location for your wedding. Some churches do not charge members for wedding ceremonies, and you can also have a free or low cost wedding at parks and other outdoor locations. For beach weddings, you may be charged a small fee, but often it’s free. Just make sure you contact the local parks department well ahead of time and find out their rules and requirements. If you have a close friend or family member who has a fabulous yard or home, they may let you have the ceremony and/or reception there.

4. Get Friends And Family Involved
When it comes to wedding  decorations, wedding favors, and refreshments, don’t hesitate to ask others for help. You never know who will have access to discounts for items you may need for your wedding. You can also enlist the help of friends and family to assemble wholesale flower arrangements, wedding favors, centerpieces, etc.

5. Find The Best Discounts And Deals
Don’t buy anything without doing at least a bit of research first. Browse the Internet to find the best deals on your wedding supplies. Check out online auction houses and wholesale discounters. You can often rent decorations (and even gowns) for a fraction of the cost of purchasing them. If you have your heart set on buying a dress, shop sample sales or consider a used gown. Don’t be afraid to bargain with vendors – you’d be surprised at how often you can get a discount on an item just by asking for it.

Having a fabulous wedding can definitely be affordable. You just have to have the discipline to plan it within your budget. Be creative and persistent, ask for help, and when costs threaten to get out of hand, remember that it’s one single day out of your entire life. If the bargain church decorations are a shade of pink that is not exactly what you had wanted, using them anyway will not ruin your life, or even your wedding day. And, trust me; you’ll appreciate that extra cash in the bank when you want to splurge on a 5-course gourmet dinner or sunset sail on your honeymoon.

At your wedding reception, assuming you are inviting guests, you will have at least a few tables to decorate.  Bigger weddings will have many to take care of.  The tables are where your guests will spend a lot of the night and you want them to look just perfect.  That is why your wedding table decorations must include beautiful centerpieces.

What you choose to adorn your tables will depend on your style, the colors, the time of year, the time of day, the atmosphere you want, and what you like in general.  Of course, if you hate roses, you’re not going to put roses on the table.  Make it fit your own taste and style.

Decide if you will use candles, flowers, both, or neither as part of your wedding decorations.  These have become sort of the base of table centerpieces.  A common centerpiece is a candle surrounded by flowers.  By no means do you need to do it this way.  You can have lots of candles or just one vase of flowers.  Think about your style and what you’re going for.  If you like the minimalist look, avoid too many things.  If you like ‘over the top’ have a huge, tall bouquet in the center of each table.

Keep price in mind.  If you aren’t concerned about cost at all, then don’t worry about it.  Otherwise, make sure you keep in the back of your mind the fact that everything you do will cost money.  If you love flowers but could take or leave candles, cut the candles so you can afford the flowers you want.  If flowers aren’t that important to you, get silk flowers that are considerably less expensive.  These days, you can get silk flowers that look exactly real.

Make sure the centerpieces and look you are going for will match the venue as well.  Some rooms look very rustic and might not look good with a modern feel, and vise versa.  Keep this in mind when you choose the venue as well.

Most of all, choose something that you like and don’t stress out too much about it.  The tables mean nothing compared to the relationship you have with your future spouse and the years to come.

Newly engaged and still buzzing with excitement? At some stage you’ll need to come down off cloud nine and crack into the wedding planning. It’s scary thought and you’ve probably got a million questions – the biggest of which issue to be: where to begin? The steps below will help you get started

Budget – who’s paying

Money is the linchpin for everything else. How much are you able/willing to spend? Establishing an upper figure from the start will help keep you on track, but you’ll need to build in some flexibility, as unexpected items could push your costs up by 10-15%. Work out whether you can afford to pay for the entire wedding. If not, who will you approach for help, and how much financial assistance do you nee? If involving others, you’ll have to be open to their preferences and suggestions, so think carefully.

Numbers – the guest list

Sit down separately and each make a preliminary list. Start with family and close friends, working through to those you’d like to be there, if possible. Remember to include your wedding party in the numbers. If your parents are paying, they’ll probably want a say in who attends, so be prepared to compromise. Discuss whether you want to invite children, and if you’re prepared to make any exceptions. Are you going to split the numbers 50-50 or is it okay for one person to invite more guests than the other?

Timing
The time of year and day you choose to marry will greatly affect your wedding bill. Reception venues and wedding specialists are busier and more expensive during the January-to-March peak season. The dearest option is a Saturday night reception; so if you need to cut costs, consider a different day of the week or a lunchtime reception.

Reception

Feeding and entertaining your guests makes up the biggest chunk of your wedding budget – most New Zealand receptions cost between $10,000 and $15,000 – so research your options thoroughly. Check the following: how many guests the venue can accommodate; available dates; parking facilities; catering options; exactly what’s included in the price and what’s extra; the deposit required; the BYO alcohol policy; and cancellation fees. Consider the venue’s proximity to your ceremony venue. Always get written quotes and don’t leave your decision too late – many couples book their venue one year in advance.

Theme

This will tie your whole wedding together, reflecting your style and personalities, and setting the mood for the day. You might choose a colour, motif, symbol, location or hobby, and weave it through all aspects of your wedding, from the invitations to the cake. Keep it simple, ensure it is practical and achievable, and limit yourselves to one or two key ideas. Avoid anything too wacky – you’re likely to cringe in years to come.

Church or civil ceremony

Discuss your preferences, and the possible expectations of your families. Even if they’re not religious, many couples like the romance and tradition associated with a church wedding. Investigate whether there are any prerequisities/restrictions on marrying in your chosen church or civil ceremony location, such as the beach, park or other public space.

Formality & Style

You can do what you want, within reason, but there are certain unwritten rules. For example, it’s inappropriate to wear tails to a beach wedding, or bare feet in a church. When planning each element of your wedding – the ceremony and reception locations, time of day, menu, attire, size and theme – make sure they all reflect your chosen style and level of formality.

Key players

You may already know who you’d like in your wedding party. Check that your partner has no major objections to your choice. Consider how reliable, responsible, organized and otherwise committed each of these people are. How many attendants do you want? An equal number of male and female attendants usually works best. Ensure the size of your wedding party is appropriate for the size and formality of the wedding.

Planning a Stylish Wedding

Plan your wedding invitations to suit your wedding theme. Our invitations are the first indication of the type of wedding your guests will be attending, so the degree of formality and style of your invitation is quite important. Silver is a stylish alternative to gold, and simple white invitations are timelessly elegant.

Selecting a wedding dress depends on your personal style, and the only style rules you must obey are fit, cut and type of gown. It’s important that your dress fits you properly, is cut well and that you can ‘carry’ the type of gown you are wearing. If you adhere to these simple points, any gown will epitomise your own particular style.

Style is all about the person wearing the dress. It’s not about how you look or what size you are – if you’ve got confidence, you’ve got style.

If you want a dress with classic style, it’s best to avoid trends and fads that will define the dress as from a certain year or decade. Simple and elegant gowns don’t date and will look as timeless in 20 years as they do today. And a stylish gown is not necessarily an expensive gown – it’s the way you wear it that counts.

Diamonds epitomise sophistication and style. Platinum and white gold are the quintessential metals of style, particularly for engagement and wedding bands. And while it may seem that platinum is the metal of the moment, it has actually been popular for centuries. Yellow gold is also a popular choice, although the cool look of white metal is timeless in its appeal.

The classic six-prong ‘Tiffany’ solitaire ring is a great example of timeless style. Launched in 1870, this design continues to be Tiffany’s best-selling ring over 100 years later, confirming that simplicity and elegance leads to enduring popularity.

Your wedding ring will continue to look stylish only if it is maintained regularly. Platinum should be professionally polished yearly for it to retain its lustre finish and avoid turning grey. Similarly, white gold should be rhodium plated every two years.

Looking fresh and healthy will beat even the best make-up application, so start looking after yourself early. Eat a balanced diet and avoid fatty and sugary foods. Look after your skin by starting a cleansing regime at least six months before your wedding day and invest in a series of facials. Begin an exercise program and aim to lose any excess weight sensibly over a reasonable amount of time. Cut and polish finger and toenails regularly, as there’s nothing more unstylish than unsightly nails. And invest time and money in having professionals style your hair and apply your wedding make-up.

Your wedding reception is the highlight to a stylish wedding and the venue you choose sets the scene. The location, the view, the décor and the atmosphere all contribute to how stylish your reception will be, so look for a venue that meets your requirements. The basics such as walls, flooring, chairs and tables must be scrutinised carefully before you book, as it can be extremely difficult and costly to decorate a room if the essentials are or ideal in the first place.

If you can’t find a venue that suits your requirements, you do have options. A marquee is a great alternative as you can set up your reception area in the location you want and decorate it to suit your tastes if you are willing to spend time and money, you can transform a space into anything your desire. Remember to ensure that the marquee is adequately heated and to have enough seating and toilet facilities.

If you want a stunning wedding that will be left ingrained on the memories of your guests, perhaps think about a reception venue with a difference like a catamaran or yacht – it’s a great way to have an intimate, private party with an ever-changing view. If the catamaran or yacht is not really your style then why not ask your reception venue if they can tailor a menu that benefits your theme and style. If you choose to have an elegant, sophisticated affair then consider creating an elaborate degustation menu. Or, for a wedding by the sea, incorporate some fancy fish and chips into your menu. You could even decorate the tables with goldfish in their bowls!

The food and alcohol you serve at your reception is a most important style factor and is not the place to skimp or cut corners. This doesn’t mean you have to choose the most expensive item on the menu – it simply means that quality should be considered over quantity. With a few clever selections, you can maintain a high standard without blowing the budget.

Good service is the epitome of style and can really make or break your reception. Hire outstanding professional waiting staff to ensure your guests receive speedy and polished service and your reception runs like clockwork. You’ll be amazed at the difference quality staff can make.

While wedding flowers may seem like an easy place to trim dollars from your budget, avoid this if you can, as flowers literally transform a room from an ordinary venue into a truly spectacular space.

Stylish wedding cakes not only look fantastic and taste superb but should be placed on a decorated reception table. As there are many different wedding cake styles to choose from, make sure yours suits the theme of your wedding and is big enough for each guest to take a slice home or to enjoy a piece for dessert. And a wedding cake smothered in fresh flowers is a stunning alternative to sugar-dough icing.

Another alternative to the traditional wedding cake is to have several identical small wedding cakes placed in the centre of each guests table so that there isn’t one main wedding cake but as many wedding cakes as there are tables. These cakes look and taste delicious and can replace floral table centres.

Your reception music should include a mix of musical eras and cater to various age groups. A cool jazz group or a lively swing band can be great, but have some subtle, relaxing music for when the evening winds down.

Bomboniere is a stylish memento of your wedding day for guests – chocolates are a delicious, stylish and relatively inexpensive bomboniere gift, as re miniature bottles of wine and miniature cakes.

There are a few basic style pointers that will lead you in the right directions, the most important being that quality should prevail over quantity, even if it means paring down your guest list. And do not compromise your style. If your budget is limited simply do a few things but do them well.

Legal Requirements

There are a number of things which you are required to include in your wedding ceremony for your marriage to be legal.

1. You must have a Registered Marriage Celebrant perform the ceremony.

There was recently a wedding horror story about a couple who had gotten married by their celebrant only to find out a few months later that their celebrant had let her licence lapse, therefore any marriages she had performed since her licence lapsed were not technically legal! How would you feel knowing that you weren’t legally married? Always check your celebrants references and choose a someone reputable.

The good news was after a lengthy battle with the courts the couple were allowed to keep their wedding date and were “legally” declared married over six months after their wedding day.

2. You must have obtained a marriage licence from the registry office prior to your wedding date.

Contact your nearest registry office for information on obtaining a marriage licence. It currently takes three days for your application to be processed so don’t leave it to the last minute! Once you have your marriage licence it is valid for three months.

The marriage licence is signed on your wedding day by the officiating celebrant, the bride, the groom and two witnesses (usually members of the bridal party or close family). There is no age specifications so your witnesses can be your children, just as long as they’re at the age that they can understand what they are witnessing (no very young children). This can be a great way to bond “mixed families”, having a child from a previous marriage be a witness for you.

3. You must hold the wedding ceremony at a specified venue

When you apply for your marriage licence you must stipulate two addresses where your wedding ceremony could take place. The first of these venues is your church, garden or other ceremony venue. The second is usually your wet weather option. Make sure you get the addresses right on your application. If your actual ceremony isn’t at one of the specified addresses you will run into legal issues.

As previously mentioned there are certain things that must be said during your wedding ceremony. The following is a basic format; your celebrant will have suggested words, readings and formats that will assist you to put together your ceremony.

1. Welcome to the guests
2. A Reading or Prayer can be read here
3. Declaration of intent by bride and groom
4. A Reading can be read here
5. Vows
6. Exchange or Giving of Rings
7. Pronouncement
8. Kiss the Bride
9. Signing of the Register
10. Congratulations

There are other things to consider if you are having an outdoor wedding ceremony such as, will your wedding guests be able to hear the bride and groom reciting their vows? You may need to use a microphone and speaker system. Most wedding celebrants usually have a small system which may be including in their fee.

Beach Wedding Ceremony

It’s no surprise that New Zealanders love the beach; we are surrounded by breathtaking bays and spectacular coastlines that provide a backdrop unequalled by any man-made location. So is it any wonder that beach weddings are among some of the most popular themed weddings of all time!

The colours of the land and seascape and the unique geographic formations of its coastline give a beach wedding a distinct New Zealand flavour. The freedom of the great outdoors and the relaxed, informal atmosphere of a beach wedding reflect our way of life, and suit the style and personalities of many Kiwi couples. And even if you don’t choose to have your wedding ceremony at the beach, it’s a great photo location. Include iconic coastlines and recognizable island outlines in your photos to add a touch of Aotearoa to even the most formal of weddings.

If you can’t get to the coast, New Zealand has some of the most beautiful lakes in the world that offer an ideal alternative to a beach wedding. Imagine the crisp, clear water of a lake set against a magnificent mountain backdrop….bliss.

Beach Wedding Ideas

• It’s a good idea to hold your ceremony on a sheltered spot on the beach. Strong winds can be just as uncomfortable as rain, and will carry away the voices of the celebrant, bride and groom. You also don’t want your guests to be staring into bright sunlight or for them to become too hot.
• Think about the accessibility or your spot. Is it easy to get to and does it have sufficient parking? Neither the wedding party nor the guests will want to trek too far or deal with obstacles, such as steep rocks or locked gates. Also, make sure there are toilet facilities nearby.
• Check with the local council if you need a permit to marry at your location of choice, and ask if alcohol is allowed, or if the beach is being used that day.

• Provide seating for guests who may need it, plus a table for signing the register.
• Check the tides. A low tide can leave a residue or smell, and a high tide may bring a rogue wave to dampen your ceremony. An ebb, or outgoing tide is a good choice because the surf is usually quieter as it works it way out.
• A beach breeze is refreshing but can cause havoc to flowers and decorations. Keep everything simple and well anchored!
• If it’s sandfly season think about providing insect repellent for guests. Some extra tubes of sunscreen won’t go astray either!
• Always have a back-up plan. Hire a covered venue for the ceremony just in case the elements aren’t on your side and the beach wedding plans have to be abandoned. The last thing you want is to have your guests running for cover and your carefully curled hair going limp. Your secondary location needs to be near the first so that guests can be easily diverted to the new venue at the last minute.

• You can find loads of ideas for beach wedding invitations which will tie the whole theme together for your guests from the start.
• Your can even have beach wedding favors using shells and sand from your beach wedding location or these funky beach wedding themed wine charms.
• A sand ceremony is a popular thing for brides & grooms to have as part of their wedding, why not use sand from the very beach on which you get married.