Are you prepared to break with tradition for your wedding?

It is your wedding! Or is it? Sometimes it can feel likeeveryone but you has a say about what is going to happen on your day.

                “Youcan’t do that! That is not what a wedding is about!”
                “You have to do it thisway. We’ve always done that in our family!”
                “Where did you think thatidea up from?”
                “Our family always does itthis way!”

Parents of many brides and grooms want to put their fivecents worth into the planning of your wedding. Family and friends may mean wellwith their ideas and contributions of “ideal” wedding plans but this can leadto arguments and upset.

Renaissance Wedding

At the beginning of all the planning you had a picture ofhow you saw the day falling into place. You want your wedding to be different.Perhaps a unique theme, change the vows, sing modern songs or have a completebreak from traditional wedding music. You and your partner have been to plentyof other weddings and you don’t want to have just another beautiful buttraditional wedding day.

This decision leads you into unchartered water. How willyour family and friends react to your idea? They know you are rule breakers with modern views and all you wantis a day that reflects who you are as a couple.

Gothic Wedding Theme

Gothic Wedding Cake

In ancient times the bride was given to the groom’s family!The white dress signified virginity, the cake was a symbol of fertility and thebridesmaids dressed like the bride to confuse evil spirits ! The groom stood onthe right of the bride so he could use his right hand to grab his sword to fendoff enemies who wanted to steal his bride!

Western Wedding

Then in Victorian times we introduced bouquets of flowersfor the bride. The bouquet was made from scented flowers or herbs to held tohide the smell  of an unclean society orto ward off all those evil spirits!

We carry on these traditions, mostly without even knowingwhy. We aren’t tied to these traditions for any of these old reasons anymorebut so it continues!  Our parents did itso their expectations are that you should have a great church wedding, whitedress and wonderful sit down dinner!

Western Wedding Cake

These days you can have many different themes that can beamazing fun for you and your guests. Just maybe not considered to be a greatidea by your parents! Remember that it is your party and it is your weddingday. This is a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. Share withyour grandchildren and demonstrates your personality to them and everyone onthe day.

You can have fun being different! Be prepared for somearguments but don’t let it stop you being quirky and different! Go for it andmake your day extra special!

Extreme Weddings @ Ayers Rock, Central Australia

Summer Wedding Hint

Hands up whoorganised a Summer Wedding? In Adelaide we are heading towards five days of HOTweather with 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday (100 degrees Fahrenheit) so we atWedding Style Guide thought it was time for a Summer Wedding Hint for your man!

The groom’sjob is to look gorgeous, fresh, unflustered and perfect in every photo all daybut Summer has ways of bringing even the coolest customer undone. 

Guystend to just grab the jacket and go. But when it’s off to be married on asummer’s day, when the thermometer hits record highs, you can’t rely on gettingthrough the most important day of your life without planning for the heat.

Tolook good you must be comfortable. Choose a light fabric for your suit, don’tbe caught in a winter-weight weave. If wearing a vest, make sure it has a satinback which will be more suitable.

You could even choose a vest that looks good WITH the jacket off! 

Checkout the suit without the jacket. In extreme heat and later when dancing, thejacket will probably be removed; the pants have to look flattering.

It’snot a regular day, most grooms are nervous and nerves can lead to more sweatingthan usual. Add in the heat factor and a perspiration condition can really kickin. Carry a crisp, white cotton handkerchief to wipe a glistening brow and damphands. Tissues can disintegrate quickly and leave you without the help youneed. There will be a lot of handshaking, your hands should be wiped dry,nobody likes to touch a clammy paw.

It’sa long, long day with many potential grooming pitfalls like the shirt gettingsoaked with sweat early in the day or red wine being spilled down the frontlater in the evening. It’s all happened before; a wet shirt is not a good look.Hot feet perspiring and starting to smell as if they were in a pair of gymsneakers is embarrassing. Perspiration can be a nightmare on hair, making itfall flat. It’s wise to have wardrobe and grooming quick fixes on hand to makesure you look your best and the photographs show a great looking groom, not adamp one.

Packa smart looking bag and include all the emergency grooming odds and ends thatwill end up saving the day by making you feel fresh and look crisp.

Include:

• a spare pair of socks
• hanky
• a spare shirt on a coathanger, so it doesn’tget creased,
• deodorant,
• hair product,
• shoe cleaner,
• breath freshener.
• If a fiveo’clock shadow tends to appear at 3pm, throw in the shaver and some aftershave.Don’t use a new aftershave for the first time on your wedding day, it won’t smelllike you and it could cause an allergy and skin rash.

Youmay not need to turn to these reserves, but if you do; it will be a lifesaver.Pop the hold-all into the boot of a car of someone you know will be there untilthe end.

Beingone of the two stars on the wedding day is a bit like running a marathon, lookafter yourself from the start with a good breakfast. This will help get youthrough the day and give energy to battle the heat.

Reassessthe wedding day’s morning activities.

A game of golf with mates might soundlike a great idea, but if it’s 40 degrees, you might exhaust yourself and notfeel 100% for the wedding itself. Heat stroke is a real possibility. Take iteasy on the morning of your wedding.

Havebottles of water handy all day, don’t become dehydrated, or you mightn’t feelon top of the world. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated, so drinklots of water.

Most of all have a great day
and keep your cool!

Stand Up or Sit Down Reception?

Bridal couples are looking for the best of both worlds!

We are a sociable bunch these days and the traditional sit down reception can restrict your friends really mingling and enjoying your wedding. Have you ever thought about having a caterer offer a roving entrée, seated main, followed by a roving dessert?

This idea could be perfect for food-loving couples who can’t make their mind up between a sit-down and cocktail-style reception. It is a great idea and could mean a lot more fun for your family and friends at your wedding.

The key to this experience for your guests would be the delivery of a variety of dishes to sample, as this can become a part of the fun. It can add to the social air as your guests discuss the delicious food they are being served. A roving selection of fine canapés and drinks gives you time to greet your guests and relax before being seated for the main course.

A new, modern way to approach your reception, capitalising on the social aspect of a cocktail style reception, with the traditional twist of a sit down main added in for good measure. A good caterer can deliver guests a larger array of food options with this style and your guests will love you for it.

But let’s face it at the end of a long day of socialising your guests will also be relieved to sit down, relax and tuck into a main meal. So what about a roving dessert? When the drinks are flowing and the guests are getting merry, nothing should stand in the way of the dance floor – not even the dessert!

Opting for a roving dessert during the most social time of the evening is the perfect way to get the party started. A selection of canapé style desserts will allow your guests to get up on the dance floor and back into the groove of the day.

Having a stand up and sit down reception could give you and your guests the best of both worlds.

You can read more about this option in an article from Forte Catering & Events, an award-winning, Sydney-based caterer, on our website.

Table Numbers

Loving these brown bottle stensiled vases and tags from LetterboxCo. Use the tags with some twine around napkins to show guests which table is which or use the bottles as table number vases, they only need one or two blooms to make a stunning centrepiece.The brown bottles start at $5 each and the tags $12 for 10 plus postage.

Posted by Emma Henderson

Your Bride & Groom Store

There's no denying that Bride & Groom Store on Hay Street, in Western Australia's Subiaco, is the hottest place to shop for the most stylish bits and pieces for your big day. Oozing style, the store is a one stop shop for brides wanting all sorts of bits and pieces, including bridesmaids dresses from Ava Madison and Katya Bride, veils and headpieces, lolly jars, stationery, decorations and guest books (just to name a few). There's no way you can possibly walk out empty handed. If you're a WA bride, or just visiting, pop into the store located at 363 Hay Street, Subiaco or visit them to shop up an online storm at www.brideandgroomstore.com.au.


The stock a great range of lanterns in all shapes and sizes. I'm LOVING the Eyelet lantern, featured above. So chic!


Tiffany chairs are available to hire for Perth and Margaret River region brides in both black and white with detachable cushion


Parasols are a must for summer weddings. Both fabric and lace parasols in a variety of colours are available. Also on offer are wooden fans. Perfect for your guests on a warm day.

Posted by Emilie Harrison

Wire Works

Look at these nifty wire works from Debeaux Souvenirs in France. They would make really interesting talking points for reception decoration, especially if one spelt out the bride and groom's names. Luckily for us they ship worldwide via Etsy.


This one would be an ideal spot for guests to drop a handwritten note to the couple.


Papier mache hearts flutter inside a cage




They range in price from USD $36 to $110 plus shipping.

Posted by Jane Cameron