Thank you cards

Being the bride and groom at a wedding can be a very enjoyable but sometimes overwhelming experience. You may not get to spend as much time with everyone, or say all the things you hoped to. Whether your guests were able to contribute to your special day financially or just came to help celebrate, either of which is fine, a simple thank you and memento is nice to receive.

1 year married, 10 years together

Chris and I started dating while I was still in school, he was that older guy who had finished and was working full time. We had been very close friends for at least a year before we officially became a couple. With the simple but scary question of "So..... do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Here we are 10 years down the track, newly married. We have been living together since 2008 and he is the best friend, favourite flat mate and life partner I could ask for.

First Wedding Anniversary

We started our anniversary weekend with a day hike at Patuna Chasm (see here for my blog post about it).

which meant we were due for a drink and some good food.

 After a quick change and freshen up we drove back to Martinborough Memorial Square and took our "official" anniversary photo. I am hoping to make this a tradition and take a photo every anniversary with our previous anniversary photo in the frame.

10 Final Things To Remember Before Your Wedding

I had previously written a very wordy, drawn out explanation of what the two weeks leading up to my wedding day was like. In short, it read like a "Stress-fest" of all the things that didn't go to plan, and wasn't very enjoyable to write or to read. Therefore I have decided to take a different approach. You will already know how you handle stress, and yes, no matter how organised you THINK you are, there will probably be something to contend with in the last few days of your non-married life.

We spend so much time planning for that one special day, so much that it's easy to neglect thinking about the days prior.  

So from my experience, some which helped me, others which I wish I had known, here are 10 EXTRA things to remember.

The greatest gift we can give - Reading (a message from the guests)

When a couple gets married, the wedding is not about two people. It is also about their friends and families participating to support their union. We wanted to capture this with our wedding ceremony, so our good friend Laura (our emcee) did this reading. This was one of the times our ceremony included our guests making them involved and not just spectators. A wedding is not just about the couple up the front, but the joining of two families into one.

How to be a bridesmaid - Guest Post Tiffany

There is no set instruction manual on how to do this, but here are a few jumbly thoughts!

You’re a bridesmaid, congratulations! Be grateful and honoured. Chances are your bride selected you from a lot of her closest friends (or family), and wants you with her on her day.  Use this knowledge to squash any and all nerves.

Today is a day you will always remember - Ceremony Reading

Today is a day you will always remember
The greatest in anyone’s life
You’ll start off the day just two people in love
And end it as husband and wife

Burlesque Boudoir Hen's Night

Any excuse for a good time with my friends, I'll take it. My Hen's Night was one of those times.

After months of me planning a wedding, with all the organising, details, stress and expense, my girls decided it was time for me to take a break and let them have a go. And why not, one of the best things about having a pre-wedding bachelorette/hen's night is stress relief for the bride-to-be, bonding time and fun with just the girls and creating memories.

Wedding Day Music

Now we all know that our own music preference is very personal, but then so are weddings. So here is the soundtracks we had and what I like, so make it what you will.

Music sets the mood, enhances memories and can help make or break an event such as a wedding.

Ever wanted to have a personal soundtrack, like they do in the movies? This is about as close as most of us will get.
There are many opportunities to utilize a soundtrack on your wedding day, some of these songs will breeze by in the hype of getting ready, while others will have special memories attached to them forever more.

Blessing of the Hands - Ceremony Reading

This was our favourite reading from our wedding ceremony. It strikes all the right notes, we agree with all it promotes, and the words have had a special place in my heart from that day on. The original author is unknown, but please feel free to absorb their inspirational words.

Enjoy

Our Wedding Cake

We had our cake made by Kirstin at Taupo Cakes. After the initial contact, we had lots of back and forth emails discussing ideas and making sure our visions aligned. This was the one aspect of the wedding day everyone else saw before we did. As it was delivered at the reception venue while we were getting ready that morning. It didn't disappoint in appearance or taste.... YUM!

© Ross Herbert Photography

DIY Floral Centerpieces and Head table decorations

DIY Floral Table Centerpieces

To bring some more colour and life to the reception and dining area we made our own floral centerpieces.
After discussing options with our florist (Nikki) from Maggies Flowers, we settled on this design. Something simple but effective, and which Tammy and myself could arrange the day before the wedding.

© Ross Herbert Photography

Eyelash extensions with Tammy - Bridal Makeover Part 2

If you were interested in the previous post about Bridal Makeup, here is Part 2, explaining the pros and cons of each type of eyelash beauty.

A house is framed by its garden, and your hair can frame your face. 

In the same way that lashes will frame your eyes.

Few things makes you look more awake, instantly made-up, and "doe-eyed"

than a good set of dark, thick and long lashes.

Now, the following may not be your everyday beauty routine, but for those special occasions read ahead for some advise from Tammy about opening the windows to your soul.

Bridal Makeover with Tammy - Guest Post

I am fortunate enough to call the talented Tammy one of my best friends, and more recently my bridesmaid. She was kind enough to do, not only my makeup on my wedding day, but also the rest of the bridal party's too, which also included my Mum. She found makeup looks for us all, with varying colour schemes and complexity, looks that were tailored to our specific features and brought out the best in each one of us.

Now I'll hand you over to Tammy, to show an example of my bridal makeup routine, enjoy...

Bouquets and Boutonnieres

I am fortunate enough to call the talented Tammy one of my best friends, and more recently my bridesmaid. She was kind enough to do, not only my makeup on my wedding day, but also the rest of the bridal party's too, which also included my Mum. She found makeup looks for us all, with varying colour schemes and complexity, looks that were tailored to our specific features and brought out the best in each one of us.

Now I'll hand you over to Tammy, to show an example of my bridal makeup routine, enjoy...

DIY Pearl and Lace Hair piece - Guest Blog by Tammy

© Ross Herbert Photography

So for those of you that don’t know me, my name is Tammy and I was entrusted with the task of being one of Erin’s bridesmaids.

Bridal Hair and Accessories

Things are starting to come together now, you have a wonderful fiancé, the dress is getting tailored, and you can now start to envisage what you want to look and feel like on this day you have been thinking about for so long. 

Hear! Hair! Here!

This is what will frame your glowing bridal face when your soon-to-be husband sees you for the first time.
As can be expected I had trawled pinterest in search of my favourite 'do'

It came down to two designs, with a bit of tweaking hair and there.

Introducing my Bridesmaids

These are the best friends, sisters, mothers, or daughters that have been chosen to get you to your big day, to stand beside you physically and emotionally, and witness a changing time in your life.

A lot of work is involved with the planning of a wedding, be it big, small, intimate or extravagant. Each bride-to-be will go through her share ups and downs in the lead up. Many will unknowingly take on tasks well outside their means, and its these women whom they feel they can share their burden.

To share the initial stages of excitement, anticipation and exploring with these women who (hopefully) feel the same way. To advise and confirm wise decisions and expectations (which the groom sometimes cannot relate to). To contribute their time crafting invitations, centrepieces and speeches, and in general to help make their friend's day the best it can be.

Our Wedding Celebrant

A key part of any wedding is the celebrant.

This is one person who can make or break your wedding ceremony. They are there to be an extra support person in the months leading up to the big day. To offer wisdom and inspiration, to stand beside you when you stutter and sweat at the rehearsal. Then finally to whisper encouragement and any forgotten words in your ear and watch you shine on the day itself.

So, it's important to find the right person for the job.

We found the right person in Belinda de Lautour

© Ross Herbert Photography

Suit Up! - Chris talks suits (Guest Groom post)

Weddings are driven by fashion. A bride will spend a lot of effort on her dress - so what can the Groom do in the meantime?

SUIT UP!

Few things are timeless like Men in Suits. At first suits seem simple; just a jacket, shirt & tie, trousers and shiny shoes. But there are actually a lot of options and detail involved with finding the right outfit.

For our wedding I decided to hire suits for myself and the groomsmen. A decent looking suit can be bought from Hallensteins for not much less than the cost of hiring, but hired suits are generally better quality at this price level.
I went through Van Meer for the rentals, who have agents nationwide. Dragging the mates out to try on clothes isn't something we do very often at all!
We got measured up and tried on everything that took our fancy. My initial ideas were for a super formal Morning suit, maybe with a hat and cane to class it up.
The trouble is, jackets with tails look very retro, and make most men appear short. For example, this fellow -whoever he is, the first result on google images - is obviously tall and handsome, but seems to have borrowed his grandfathers church outfit.

Lookin' fine, Grandpa.