Over the past few years' weddings have changed considerably, we have a huge number of wedding cakes to choose from. The cake is an important focal point in your wedding day, especially if you have chosen an unusual theme that the cake can be included in.
The first step is to make a decision on the style of wedding cake you want. Gone are the days of the classic white 3 tier square cakes with a plastic groom and bride perched on its top! Have a good look round at bridal fairs and exhibitions to find out what is available. Magazines are also good place to look for inspiration.
Next decide on a amount of money, having looked at what is available you'll have an idea of what to expect for your money. The average cost of a wedding cake is around £350 but the price depends on the size and design of the cake. The bigger the more complicated the cake the more expensive it will be.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Planning the Wedding. When You're Engaged.
Congratulations!
You are already engaged and facing the exciting process of planning your wedding day. No matter if it’s a surprise proposal or something you have been planning for a long time, the emotions are overwhelming. So many problems lie before you. At the root of these choices is how you will approach this age-old tradition, what values you wish to incorporate and how you wish to share this statement with those closest to you. It’s not all about choosing lilac over roses or creating a “fairytale”, but rather about reflecting reality in the best, most joyous light.
Announcing the engagement.
The first thing: share the good news! After savouring the magic moment of becoming engaged, it is customary to tell all the people who brought you into the world. Your parents will be as happy as you, however if you anticipate a negative reaction, it is advisable to keep the announcement sweet and short. Preparing them ahead of time will also lessen the shock. Many bridegroom still like to ask the father’s permission but now do so after the bride accepts and as a traditional courtesy rather than a binding decision. The respect shown will be much appreciated by the father-in-law, but discuss the option as a couple before making any impulsive calls.
After all of your parents have been informed it’s up to you to share the good news. If there are kids from previous relationships it’s a great idea to tell them before you tell your friends. Then make sure the mobile is charged and go crazy! You will need time to think about choosing the bridal party, so avoid making any impulsive decisions while spreading the good news. Details should also be avoided, but before you make the phone calls be prepared with a vague idea of when you wish to wed. You don’t have to magically come up with a date on the spot or talk colours or honeymoon locations; just share the news and promise a later update.
Don’t try to tell everyone at once. Focus on those closest to you and just send around a letter/email/card to your wider circle of friends and family later. A newspaper announcement should cover the rest of the grapevine. Traditionally done by the bride’s parents, the announcement should read as follows: “Mr and Mrs Johnson of Wahroonga, NSW, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their daughter, Ms Elizabeth Johnson, to Mr Matthew Anderson, son of Mr and Mrs Anderson of Paddington, NSW.”
Setting the date of wedding
Deciding on your wedding date is no easy feat. There are many factors that come into play, so write a list together of contributing issues.
Work: When can you both get time off work for the wedding and honeymoon? Some couples are delaying large honeymoons and taking a short break to suit working arrangements. But after the wedding build-up, a honeymoon is an ideal reward, so try to find the gold balance.
Family and friends: Who do you need to plan around? Contact overseas and interstate guests before setting a date.
Notice: How soon do you wish to tie the knot? Many popular venues and photographers are booked up to 12 months in advance, so get in early!
Date: The best wedding seasons are spring and summer (the worst is from November to January). Services are difficult to book during this time and you will need plenty of notice. Take note of school holidays and how it will affect travel and honeymoon accommodation prices or, conversely, make it easier on interstate guests. If you are planning an overseas honeymoon, when is the best time to travel and what deals can you get?
Day: Saturday is the most popular day for wedding and is often hard to book. If time is short, you may wish to consider a Sunday wedding or save lots of money on a Monday or Friday wedding. While weekday weddings are growing in popularity, they may upset some guests and hamper attendance.
Time: Morning, afternoon or evening? You will need an initial picture of the style of wedding you desire. The large ball gown you have your heart set on may look out of place at a breakfast reception, so develop a list of priorities and values to aid your decision. Price can also help you decide, with the dollar value for most things going up from morning to noon.
You are already engaged and facing the exciting process of planning your wedding day. No matter if it’s a surprise proposal or something you have been planning for a long time, the emotions are overwhelming. So many problems lie before you. At the root of these choices is how you will approach this age-old tradition, what values you wish to incorporate and how you wish to share this statement with those closest to you. It’s not all about choosing lilac over roses or creating a “fairytale”, but rather about reflecting reality in the best, most joyous light.
Announcing the engagement.The first thing: share the good news! After savouring the magic moment of becoming engaged, it is customary to tell all the people who brought you into the world. Your parents will be as happy as you, however if you anticipate a negative reaction, it is advisable to keep the announcement sweet and short. Preparing them ahead of time will also lessen the shock. Many bridegroom still like to ask the father’s permission but now do so after the bride accepts and as a traditional courtesy rather than a binding decision. The respect shown will be much appreciated by the father-in-law, but discuss the option as a couple before making any impulsive calls.
After all of your parents have been informed it’s up to you to share the good news. If there are kids from previous relationships it’s a great idea to tell them before you tell your friends. Then make sure the mobile is charged and go crazy! You will need time to think about choosing the bridal party, so avoid making any impulsive decisions while spreading the good news. Details should also be avoided, but before you make the phone calls be prepared with a vague idea of when you wish to wed. You don’t have to magically come up with a date on the spot or talk colours or honeymoon locations; just share the news and promise a later update.
Don’t try to tell everyone at once. Focus on those closest to you and just send around a letter/email/card to your wider circle of friends and family later. A newspaper announcement should cover the rest of the grapevine. Traditionally done by the bride’s parents, the announcement should read as follows: “Mr and Mrs Johnson of Wahroonga, NSW, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their daughter, Ms Elizabeth Johnson, to Mr Matthew Anderson, son of Mr and Mrs Anderson of Paddington, NSW.”
Setting the date of wedding
Deciding on your wedding date is no easy feat. There are many factors that come into play, so write a list together of contributing issues.
Work: When can you both get time off work for the wedding and honeymoon? Some couples are delaying large honeymoons and taking a short break to suit working arrangements. But after the wedding build-up, a honeymoon is an ideal reward, so try to find the gold balance.
Family and friends: Who do you need to plan around? Contact overseas and interstate guests before setting a date.
Notice: How soon do you wish to tie the knot? Many popular venues and photographers are booked up to 12 months in advance, so get in early!
Date: The best wedding seasons are spring and summer (the worst is from November to January). Services are difficult to book during this time and you will need plenty of notice. Take note of school holidays and how it will affect travel and honeymoon accommodation prices or, conversely, make it easier on interstate guests. If you are planning an overseas honeymoon, when is the best time to travel and what deals can you get?
Day: Saturday is the most popular day for wedding and is often hard to book. If time is short, you may wish to consider a Sunday wedding or save lots of money on a Monday or Friday wedding. While weekday weddings are growing in popularity, they may upset some guests and hamper attendance.
Time: Morning, afternoon or evening? You will need an initial picture of the style of wedding you desire. The large ball gown you have your heart set on may look out of place at a breakfast reception, so develop a list of priorities and values to aid your decision. Price can also help you decide, with the dollar value for most things going up from morning to noon.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
NRA Fashion Awards - Bridal Wear - Wedding Dress
Clip from Channel 9's live telecast of the 2008 NRA Fashion Design Awards. See the full coverage again on Channel 9. Lock it in!
Brides Desire by Airs & Graces - QEvents Bridal Award Winner.
Brides Desire by Airs & Graces - QEvents Bridal Award Winner.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sex and the City: CARRIE BRADSHAW'S WEDDING DRESS.
The Sex and the City film has been ruling the box office since before it came out, and everyone's talking about it and the fashion.
The show and its characters have become fashion idols over the last season, but there are times when costume designers abuse their power and try to pass off some really hideous outfits as high fashion. Surely many of us think Carrie Bradshaw's wedding getup was one of those times.
Before she selects her gown in the movie, Sarah Jessica Parker models several gowns from the hottest designers for a Vogue spread. Of the group of to-die-for gowns, the one that Carrie falls in love with is, well, something I wouldn't be caught dead wearing. Honestly, it looks like it belongs in the bad-80's-clothes montage. What is going on with that neckline? It looks like Madonna handed down one of her old corsets to Carrie, which she wore even though it was at least 2 sizes too big. And she did not do herself any favors by accessorizing with that headpiece - a bird!
Maybe this wedding dress by Vivienne Westwood is good enough but not for Carrie Bradshaw...
The show and its characters have become fashion idols over the last season, but there are times when costume designers abuse their power and try to pass off some really hideous outfits as high fashion. Surely many of us think Carrie Bradshaw's wedding getup was one of those times.
Before she selects her gown in the movie, Sarah Jessica Parker models several gowns from the hottest designers for a Vogue spread. Of the group of to-die-for gowns, the one that Carrie falls in love with is, well, something I wouldn't be caught dead wearing. Honestly, it looks like it belongs in the bad-80's-clothes montage. What is going on with that neckline? It looks like Madonna handed down one of her old corsets to Carrie, which she wore even though it was at least 2 sizes too big. And she did not do herself any favors by accessorizing with that headpiece - a bird!
Maybe this wedding dress by Vivienne Westwood is good enough but not for Carrie Bradshaw...
Thursday, November 6, 2008
TIPS AND ADVICES FOR CHOOSING YOUR BRIDAL HAIRSTYLE. Beautiful Wedding Hairstyles Gallery.
A general mistake many brides make is to loose their personal style originality when making fashion and hair choices for their Big day. Of course you will want to look and feel special on your wedding, but make sure that it is recognisably you who walks up the aisle to exchange "I dos". When it comes to your wedding hairstyle, your number one guiding factor should be whether you actually like the hair do.
There are no wrong and right answers when it comes to selecting the right wedding hairstyle for yourself, here are some tips that will remove some of the confusion surrounding wedding style.
Planning
Sometimes planning your wedding can feel like an exercise in project management. There are many people and supplies to co-ordinate and manage. No matter if yours is a wedding to rival a celebrity wedding, or if it is ten of your closest friends and family, you still need a plan. The most efficient way to do this is to use a wedding planning checklist. Make sure that you add discussing your wedding hairstyle with your stylist to your wedding checklist. This is best done some months from the wedding day - in fact the sooner the better. Many brides may need grow their hair, or work toward a new color to achieve the wedding hair do of their dreams.
Be shining.
This needs to be set and carefully balanced against the need to plan. Just because nearly every bridal magazine you pick-up features brides with flowing tresses do not feel that you have to emulate this. If you normally wear a short haircut, do not feel that you necessarily need to grow your hair for your wedding. If you are still thinking that short hair does not make for a good bridal hairstyle then remember Halle Berry and her halo of feminine curls. If you do want to grow your hair, then grow it, but don't do something just because you think that a bride has to. Don't forget that a bride with a flair for the dramatic and a strong personality can carry off pretty much anything.
Communicate.
Most cases of bridal wedding stress brides can be traced back to poor communication. Friction between a bride and pretty much anyone around her is not uncommon as the big day draws nearer. As a bride, avoid this by communicating from the outset with those associated with the wedding plans. Most importantly communicate with your bridal party about their hair, dresses, and make-up as soon as you possibly can. Discuss styles, and make sure that it is something they are comfortable wearing. It is also important to decide early on, who is paying for what. If you are going to insist that your bridal attendants all visit a hair stylist to have their hairstyled then you need to consider paying for them.
Think about the whole picture.
Resist the urge to be a magpie bride who grabs at anything that she finds appealing. This approach will only result in a bizarre medley of styles that do not necessarily gel. Instead, take a minute and consider what you what the theme or style of your wedding to be. Talk to your hairstylist as soon as you have decided on your overall theme - they can give you ideas of how to fit your hairstyle into this overall picture.
Bridal Hair and Bridal Gowns.
Think about the line, density and texture of your gown when choosing your wedding hairstyle. The line of the dress should match the line of the hair. For example, a sleek bob tucked behind the ear or a bunch of curls piled on top of the head will complement a long slim dress. The density of the dress should also be carried through to your hair density. If you are wearing a flowing tulle dress, then flowing hair with soft curls will be great. The last factor to consider is a wedding hairstyle that complements the texture of your dress.
_______ 
There are no wrong and right answers when it comes to selecting the right wedding hairstyle for yourself, here are some tips that will remove some of the confusion surrounding wedding style.
Planning
Sometimes planning your wedding can feel like an exercise in project management. There are many people and supplies to co-ordinate and manage. No matter if yours is a wedding to rival a celebrity wedding, or if it is ten of your closest friends and family, you still need a plan. The most efficient way to do this is to use a wedding planning checklist. Make sure that you add discussing your wedding hairstyle with your stylist to your wedding checklist. This is best done some months from the wedding day - in fact the sooner the better. Many brides may need grow their hair, or work toward a new color to achieve the wedding hair do of their dreams.
Be shining.
This needs to be set and carefully balanced against the need to plan. Just because nearly every bridal magazine you pick-up features brides with flowing tresses do not feel that you have to emulate this. If you normally wear a short haircut, do not feel that you necessarily need to grow your hair for your wedding. If you are still thinking that short hair does not make for a good bridal hairstyle then remember Halle Berry and her halo of feminine curls. If you do want to grow your hair, then grow it, but don't do something just because you think that a bride has to. Don't forget that a bride with a flair for the dramatic and a strong personality can carry off pretty much anything.
Communicate.
Most cases of bridal wedding stress brides can be traced back to poor communication. Friction between a bride and pretty much anyone around her is not uncommon as the big day draws nearer. As a bride, avoid this by communicating from the outset with those associated with the wedding plans. Most importantly communicate with your bridal party about their hair, dresses, and make-up as soon as you possibly can. Discuss styles, and make sure that it is something they are comfortable wearing. It is also important to decide early on, who is paying for what. If you are going to insist that your bridal attendants all visit a hair stylist to have their hairstyled then you need to consider paying for them.
Think about the whole picture.
Resist the urge to be a magpie bride who grabs at anything that she finds appealing. This approach will only result in a bizarre medley of styles that do not necessarily gel. Instead, take a minute and consider what you what the theme or style of your wedding to be. Talk to your hairstylist as soon as you have decided on your overall theme - they can give you ideas of how to fit your hairstyle into this overall picture.
Bridal Hair and Bridal Gowns.
Think about the line, density and texture of your gown when choosing your wedding hairstyle. The line of the dress should match the line of the hair. For example, a sleek bob tucked behind the ear or a bunch of curls piled on top of the head will complement a long slim dress. The density of the dress should also be carried through to your hair density. If you are wearing a flowing tulle dress, then flowing hair with soft curls will be great. The last factor to consider is a wedding hairstyle that complements the texture of your dress.
Wedding HairStyles Gallery.
_______ 
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Choosing a Bridal Veil. Beautiful Bridal Veils Gallery.
Of course the best headpiece style is when it is in proportion to your dress and has similar styling (pearls, flowers, sequins, etc.). Don't forget the style of your dress and the formality of your wedding when looking for and trying on bridal veils.
Headpiece Styles
1. A Simple Floral Wreath can open up your face and add just the right touch to a semi-formal dress.
2. Tiaras are always elegant. Think of your jewelry and the color of your gown when choosing the tiara setting. There are four general setting colors: Shiny Silver, Rhodium (antique silver), Shiny Gold and Antique Gold.
3. A Wreath With Pearls and Flowers with a pouf on the back can be very elegant with a formal dress.
4. A Floral Cluster or Silk Bow on a comb or barrette can do a beautiful job of pulling hair off your face and work well with long or upswept hair.
5. Headband type head pieces are very effective for short hairstyles with bangs and can have the added touch of being created with the same lace, pearls or sequins used for the dress.
Veil Lengths
The veil length is chosen by the formality of your wedding and the decoration on the back of your gown. Guidelines for veil length may help you, but remember, this is your wedding and you should have the veil of your dreams.
1. Elbow Length is used for short (no train) gowns, and shows off any detailing at the waist of the gown.
2. Blusher or Shoulder Length is usually combined with other lengths and is used for both formal and semi-formal weddings.
3. Finger-tip Length is used for formal and semi-formal weddings.
4. Cathedral Length is used for formal weddings when the gown has a cathedral length train, the veil will extend one foot or more onto the floor. Veils can be made detachable, worn long for the formality of the wedding ceremony and shorter or none at all for the fun of the reception. Remember, your bridal veil should celebrate your individuality, and make you look and feel beautiful. It’s your wedding.
5. Chapel Length falls to the floor and is usually combined with other shorter layers.
Click to enlarge
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wedding Manicure. 9 Things You Need To Know. Gallery.
Get your fingers ready for wedding band by giving them some manicure before your wedding day.
Your beautiful dress and glowing smile may be the first things on show on your wedding day, but for much of the rest of the day your fingers will be centre of attention - particularly your left hand. It is no good spending weeks preparing to look utterly breathtaking if you neglect your nails, so make the most of your hands with our simple 9 points guide to the classic French manicure.
1. Condition your hfingers by massaging in a hand cream last thing at night for at least a month before your big day. You will soon see a difference.
2. Trim your nails to the same length and file them carefully. Decide whether you prefer squared or rounded shapes before you begin. Before that use cuticle oil regularly to keep dry skin and hang nails to a minimum.
3. Apply a single layer of base coat and allow to dry.
4. With a steady hand, paint on nail tips using a white tip polish with a sheer effect as this looks more natural. Remember!: this takes practice so do not attempt it for the first time on your wedding day!
5. Use a nail polish corrector if you make any mistakes or dip a cotton bud or fine paintbrush in nail polish remover and neaten it up.
6. Paint over a single layer of pale pink polish.
7. Avoid getting bubbles in the polish by rolling the bottle rather than shaking it.
8. If you get air bubbles on the nail, a layer of top coat should sort it out.
9. If the polish chips while you are getting ready, wet the pad of your finger with nail polish remover and wipe it across the chipped area to smooth out the edges. Dab a bit of polish on the chip and reapply a top coat when it is dry.
Your beautiful dress and glowing smile may be the first things on show on your wedding day, but for much of the rest of the day your fingers will be centre of attention - particularly your left hand. It is no good spending weeks preparing to look utterly breathtaking if you neglect your nails, so make the most of your hands with our simple 9 points guide to the classic French manicure.
1. Condition your hfingers by massaging in a hand cream last thing at night for at least a month before your big day. You will soon see a difference.
2. Trim your nails to the same length and file them carefully. Decide whether you prefer squared or rounded shapes before you begin. Before that use cuticle oil regularly to keep dry skin and hang nails to a minimum.
3. Apply a single layer of base coat and allow to dry.
4. With a steady hand, paint on nail tips using a white tip polish with a sheer effect as this looks more natural. Remember!: this takes practice so do not attempt it for the first time on your wedding day!
5. Use a nail polish corrector if you make any mistakes or dip a cotton bud or fine paintbrush in nail polish remover and neaten it up.
6. Paint over a single layer of pale pink polish.
7. Avoid getting bubbles in the polish by rolling the bottle rather than shaking it.
8. If you get air bubbles on the nail, a layer of top coat should sort it out.
9. If the polish chips while you are getting ready, wet the pad of your finger with nail polish remover and wipe it across the chipped area to smooth out the edges. Dab a bit of polish on the chip and reapply a top coat when it is dry.
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