by Johanna Osborne

Gifts are a very significant part of a wedding. Of course it may not seem that way to you, the blushing bride and giddy groom, but for those attending your wedding it’s the next biggest thing apart from what they are going to wear.

Everyone wants to give the happy couple something they desire, so when there’s a wedding register or a wish list, it makes everyone’s life so much easier. Simply put, it’s a very effective and fantastic way to get exactly what you want and need. But what if there’s no need for one? What if you and your guy have been living together for eons and you have more salad bowls, platters and wine glasses than you can shake a stick at? What can people do that will tickle your fancy whilst being useful at the same time? Well there’s always a honeymoon fund that your guests can donate to. Most travel agents will be happy to assist you in organising this, and it’s a wonderful way for your friends and family to contribute to something special, the memories of which you will treasure forever.

However, what if it’s just plain and simple cash that would help you the most? After all, as a young married couple putting extra dollars towards your home, car or future in general wouldn’t be such a bad thing… So why is there such a stigma around asking for money instead of gifts? We live in the age of freedom of speech, where all sorts of living arrangements and couplings are perfectly acceptable, so it seems odd to feel so shy about saying what you really want. I know I for one would be more than happy to give a couple cash as a gift, if that’s what they preferred. And if you are in the same boat and think a little monetary injection would really skyrocket the piggy bank, then you could always try a couple of the below poems to help you along. Another way to personalise the gift would be to tell each person what it is you bought with the money when you write the thank you notes… that way the giver will feel very much part of the process. Whatever you decide, remember your guests are your friends and family, and if you ask nicely then they are bound to want to make you happy with whatever it is that would suit you best as a couple. After all a gift is not about the buyer, but about the receiver…and who wouldn’t want to put a smile on your face?! Of course it’s a matter of personal choice and preference, and we completely understand that this might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The below are simply some options for those that would like to consider this route.

We hunted high and low and here are a few of the best poems we came across on the great big world wide web… (we are unable to reference them as so many different people have cited them, but please be aware we have not written these ourselves…)

More than just kisses so far we’ve shared,
Our home has been made with Love and Care,
Most things we need we’ve already got,
And in our home we can’t fit a lot!
A wishing well we thought would be great,
(But only if you wish to participate),
A gift of money is placed in the well,
Then make a wish… but shhh don’t tell!
Once we’ve replaced the old with the new,
We can look back and say it was thanks to you!
And in return for the kindness, we’re sure
That one day soon you will get what you wished for.

****************************

Please find within this poem
Information just for you,
With some rules and regulations
That we both would like you do.

So if your thoughts were on a gift
Your presence will suffice,
But if you truly wish to give
Then money would be nice

***************************

When thinking of a gift for us
We ask if you’d please consider
Contributing to our honeymoon
to make it all the sweeter.
Our house is full of all the things
a couple could require,
and so a holiday away
is what we most desire.
Then while we’re relaxing on the beach
or by the pool so blue
we’ll sit back and know
that it is truly thanks to you!

****************************

We’ve been together for 6 years
And we are not alone
We have 3 gorgeous children
And a lovely family home
We have a toaster, kettle, microwave
We’re all set you see
There is nothing for our home that we really need.
So please don’t be offended
And please don’t think us brash
But if you’re thoughts were on a gift
We’d much prefer the cash!
But it’s really up to you
And we would like to say
We hope you come, have lots of fun
And help us celebrate!

by Johanna Osborne

I’m writing to you from sunny Brisbane this week and I must say, there’s nothing quite like escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life and leaving your cares behind. Soaking up warmth and sunshine is good for the soul and it’s amazing how much you instantly relax. There’s nothing like a little romantic get-away (or in our case, a family trip with a rambunctious toddler and baggage galore!). But obviously as wonderful as holidays are, we can’t just jet off whenever we please. Ideally every day routine should entail touches of the pleasures that colour our happiest moments, so that we can inject a little joy on any given day.

But that’s easier said than done sometimes. Love is special but life is busy, and with time those spontaneous little surprises that were oh-so-frequent at the beginning seem to wane a little. Put a spark back in your everyday life with small but incredibly meaningful gestures, to make your special someone feel like the king or queen of your heart always!

Some of our favourite ideas to put some snap crackle and pop back into your relationship …

Hide a little love note in your fiance’s wallet or work bag. The fact they will discover it when you are not around is sure to put a smile on their face and put you at the forefront of their mind all day long

Make a little scrapbook of all those special moments you have experienced together over the years. If you have old movie tickets, concert brochures, old love notes, birthday cards etc assemble them to document your journey and create a wonderful keepsake

Create a photobook. With modern technology your love story can now be a book that will be treasured forever

Send your love a cupcake! Obviously if you are sending one to a man, it will need to be slightly more masculine… or you could opt for a mini-chocolate cake? Or perhaps even a gourmet pie? Think outside the square!

Send a cute and sweet text message saying what you love most about him/her. Easy, spontaneous and sure to get a positive reaction

Hold hands, cuddle, make time to sit and chat and share a glass of wine

Listen – regardless what it is. If your partner is telling you something, it must be important (and be sure to stifle that yawn if it’s about the footie!)

Book a surprise weekend getaway – a change of scenery is sure to put a spring your stride

Take a candlelit bath together

Play a game – backgammon or something similar… fun! Amazing how simple things can make you feel like kids again

Go on a date. Wine and dine each other – you will be amazed how good the conversation and connection is, if you don’t have the distractions of home to steal your attention

Revisit the spot of your first date and where you first kissed. Relive/re-enact it and you will instantly feel 10 years younger!

Name a star after your lover! It’s easier than you think and it’s a very special gift that will be part of history forever

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
― Mother Teresa

“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

by Johanna Osborne and Emma O’Keefe

Most of us brides can vividly recall the frenzy and massive build up to our big day. It’s all about the planning, the anticipation,the nerves and of course the excitement. And boom, suddenly that very special wedding day is here – surprisingly fast and almost out of nowhere! And before you know it, it’s all over again. Armed with happy memories, a shiny new ring and a sore face from smiling so much, you go from being engaged one minute to being married the next. You wake up the following day a real Mr & Mrs! Wow! What a whirlwind, what an adventure…

But what happens after the wedding? When all the exhilaration dies down and the bride and groom resume their normal ever day lives as man and wife?

You might remember the lovely Emma and Paul from Mr & Mrs issue 2. They tied the knot in February 2012, and we were delighted to feature their beautiful wedding in our magazine a mere few weeks later. As Emma is a personal friend of mine, it was an honour to be a guest at her wedding and write about her special day. It was a divine celebration, and I felt very lucky to be part of it. So as a recent bride, I thought Emma was the perfect person to ask for tips to share with future brides-to-be about the all-important first year of marriage.

Fresh from her European honeymoon, looking trim, tanned and terrific, Emma gives me the low-down on all things love and marriage… We have to say, we love her answers!

1. Emma, what would the best tips you could offer to brides in the throes of wedding planning?
Remember why you are getting married – it’s so easy to get stressed about the details of the day – whether it be the flowers, the seating plan etc and forget that it’s a celebration of your commitment to each other, and all of your favourite people are going to be sharing it with you.

2. What did you personally worry about the most leading up to your big day?
I was fairly calm about the actual wedding, as I’m a planner by nature. The thing I worried about the most was my hen’s party! I was more nervous about that than I was on the morning of our wedding! I had no idea what was planned, and I was not at all keen on a more traditional hen’s party where I would be dressed up and made to do dares. Thankfully my sister had planned a beautiful day out at a vineyard in the Wairarapa – it was perfect!

3. In hindsight what part of the planning needs most attention and what parts are in your opinion over exaggerated in terms of time and stress
Putting together the invitations and sending them out took a lot more time than expected. For example, before getting the invites printed, you actually need to know details of the timings of the ceremony, whether you want to have a gift registry etc. And then there’s finding out people’s addresses to post them too – it all took quite a bit of time and effort. What was over exaggerated in my opinion was flowers. I had an excellent florist who I was able to give an idea of what I wanted to, what price I wanted to pay, and she went from there. We met once and spoke on the phone a couple of times, and the end result was exactly what we had discussed. No drama or fuss, and it was all within my budget, which was even better!

4. Secret tip?
Some friends told us to make sure we take time on the actual wedding day to be alone with each other- and to take it all in – otherwise the day goes by so quickly in a blur! So we did just that – we took a bit of time out after all of the formalities, and it was an excellent tip, as it gave us the
chance to take a breather and let the fact we were now married really sink in!

5. What would you add to your wedding if you could do it again?
There is nothing I would add – the day was everything we had planned on

6. Best time and destination for a honeymoon?
We were lucky enough to take a mini-moon to Taupo straight after the wedding, and then went to Europe 6 months after the wedding for a delayed honeymoon. We were definitely in need of a break straight after the wedding, but I’m glad we didn’t go away anywhere too far, as we were pretty exhausted. And being able to take a holiday later in the year gave us something to look forward to once the wedding excitement died down! I’d definitely recommend the Greek Islands for a slice of paradise, or Paris – the city of Love!

7. Nicest thing to do for your husband now that you are a married couple?
Buy him new golf clubs – which is yet to happen!

8. Best memory of your wedding day?
Seeing my almost-husband for the first time as I met him at the front of the Church, and seeing all of my nearest and dearest in one place having a fun time.

9. The secret to a successful wedding is…
being organised, planning well in advance and keeping in perspective why you are getting married

10. The secret to a successful marriage is…
We are lucky enough to have our parents as role models, who have each been married for over 35 years! So I think the key to a successful marriage is to communicate and to do things together that you enjoy.

11. Best advice to couples transitioning back from wedding day bliss into everyday life and routine?
Plan something like another honeymoon or a holiday – it’s exciting to have something to look forward to and plan ahead for

12. What traditions have you instilled in your life with Paul that you grew up with at home?
We always make a big deal of each other’s birthdays and make sure we do something special to celebrate.

13. Some sage words of advice you can give to couples in their first year of marriage… what’s most important?
Making time for each other and definitely not taking each other for granted.

by Johanna Osborne

An expose on beauty: MIRANDA MILLEN Makeup and Beauty Boutique

Why hello there… allow me to introduce you to the delightful Miranda. If you came to the recent Wellington Wedding Show you would have spotted Miranda and her team: trademark shiny hair, great skin, beautiful make up and all super cute in their pink pinafores, busily working on a bevy of gals in front of golden mirrors – encapsulating an aura of elegance, impeccable style and great taste. Exactly the kind of person you want looking after you, when looking good counts the most: on your wedding day!

I’ve known Miranda for a while now, and I was aware that she was highly experienced and very good at what she does. But it’s only when you actually sit and probe a little further that you find out the depth of someone’s history. And so it came to pass that I discovered Miranda worked for my favourite museum in the world, back-stage in the hair and colouring department of Madame Tussauds in London. And as chance would have it, Miranda was Kate Moss’ hand model when the model herself could not come in to have her hands moulded. “Storm, Kate’s agency said I was a pretty darn close match!” Miranda laughs.

And not only does Miranda have supermodel hands, she knows how to use them. It’s no coincidence that in 2006 she was Jerry Hall’s live-in Beauty Therapist, Make-up artist and Hair Stylist, and spent time living it up in France with the supermodel and her entourage. Ever discreet Miranda doesn’t give too much away, but she does share that she often travelled via Mick Jagger’s private jet and even attended his 64th birthday party. And Miranda laughs when recounting this little ditty; “Jerri was so wonderful to work for and is such an appreciate woman. At the time we were staying at her holiday villa in St Claire with her sisters and children. Jerry had a broken foot and was supposed to attend the Who concert that night. Pete Townsend had given Jerri the tickets to the show in Monte Carlo, and I vividly remember Jerry leaning over the balcony, looking down at me and in her Texan drawl saying “Miranda honey, you’ve been working really hard darlin’, do you wanna go to the Who Concert tonight?” Well of course I wanted to go! As a huge fan this was the chance of a life time!” So as luck would have it, Miranda flew via private jet to use her VIP tickets alongside Jerri’s sister and daughter and daughter Georgia-May that night. And that’s not all; “Afterwards we went backstage and Bono and The Edge from U2 were there. I got a hug and kiss from each of them. It was without a doubt an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience!”

But it’s not all head in the clouds for Miranda, for she’s as down to earth and natural as they come. Having returned to NZ 5 years ago to start a family and set the wheels in motion to create her own business and brand, Miranda is certainly making an impression on the hair, make-up and beauty industry, with a loyal client base and bookings being snapped up far in advance. Miranda has created a gorgeous in-house studio at her home; “It’s a french shabby chic styled boutique and make up studio. It’s a lovely space to welcome my clients in, and they all love the amazing sea views over Island Bay”. Here she offers the works – make-up lessons, hair and make-up trials, group bookings, spray tanning, eye lash extensions, hair and beauty treatments including the coveted Environ range… the list goes on. Miranda also very much enjoys providing brides with complementary consultations, which she finds to be a very laid back way to share ideas and meet informally before the madness sets in. Often brides have booked Miranda before they have even chosen a wedding dress or theme for their big day!

Miranda is also 100% mobile and enjoys travelling to locations to style her brides for the most important day of their lives. Wedding day preparation is a true highlight for Miranda, and she enjoys being able to offer her brides a full range of services on location whilst sharing in the joy of it all. And whilst Miranda takes what she does very seriously, she loves having fun with her bridal party; “For me it harks back to the vibe you experienced when you were a teenager getting ready for a big party or a special ball. It’s about the music, choosing outfits, the excitement of it all and feeling the anticipation building… it’s a bit like re-living that in a way, except you have a much bigger occasion to prepare for this time. Back then you were doing it to find the husband, this time it’s because you are getting married to the guy!”

You can tell Miranda loves what she does and that she’s passionate about it. “I like making people feel good about themselves. You get such a sense of accomplishment when you have somebody who comes to see you who never wears any make up, and they say “I want to still look like me, and not look like I’ve got tons of make-up caked on.” And then when you are done, their face lights up with this amazing sense of surprise, like “Wow, I really am beautiful!” Miranda empathises with the many young ladies who don’t have a huge amount of confidence and loves nothing more than to bring their natural beauty out and give them a much deserved confidence boost.

Now on to the hot topic at the tip of everyone’s tongue… airbrushing! Personally I’m just dying to know what it is!! Miranda explains to me that high definition make-up, which was traditionally applied via sponge, fingertip or brush, was just too visible in the pores with the advent of High-Definition for film and television. So experts set out to discover a way to apply make-up that was less visible, with an effect almost like not wearing any at all. And so airbrushing was discovered. A simple process via compressor that produces air attached to an airbrush which applies (i.e. sprays) the make-up lightly on to your face. Simple yet very effective! And of course amusingly to the more hands-on blokes out there, this technique rather seems familiar in the work shed too.

Miranda explains “Basically it creates a more even coverage. I use Temptu which is the most amazing brand. It has a gorgeous silica ingredient which leaves the skin looking so luminous. Brides always tell me that it feels like they’ve got nothing on their skin. It lasts so well and photographs beautifully. And I get a lot of comments from photographers who tell me it minimises their work – they get better photos and need to do far less re-touching later.” I’m gobsmacked when Miranda tells me that 100% of all her brides at present use airbrushing on their wedding day. Clearly she is on to a huge, massive winner here. Where was this stuff when I got married?! It’s so effective that one keen and eager bride even slept in her airbrush make up post wedding, and wore it to the day-after party the following day to great success. No one knew, and she was chuffed to get such a long lasting effect from her make up!

Being a girlie-girl I could go on and on, it’s a subject matter I would never tire of! But to conclude I must add my personal impressions on my very interesting chat with Miranda … Speaking to her you can tell she’s smart. She knows her product, she’s passionate about it and she loves an essential component of the job – the people she works with. “I just love being part of the wedding team. The pre-wedding contact, building a rapport, the moral support I get to provide in the lead up and on the day itself… it’s such a fun adventure and I feel so lucky!”

And that to me ladies and gentlemen sums it up perfectly… with Miranda, you are on to a winner! My hunch? We are going to see great things from Miranda Millen… after all, Jerry Hall handpicked her!

www.mirandamillen.com
# 383 5913

The glamorous and charming Miranda herself

Jerry Hall herself whom Miranda worked for

Miranda and Rosie Hall (Jerry's twin sister) at the Who Concert in Monaco

The famous Georgia May Jagger, Mick and Jerry's top model daughter who accompanied Miranda to the Who Concert

Stunning make-up by Miranda, photo by Lifeworks Studios

Gorgeous make-up by Miranda, image shot by Paul Howell

by Johanna Osborne

Weddings are more en vogue than ever before. Weddings are exciting, addictive and they have become a huge, massive business. So it’s no surprise that hot on the heels of regular NY Fashion Week would come NY Bridal Fashion Week. A place and time where all the world’s finest designers wow us with their newest and latest bridal creations. Some simply divine, others elaborate, a few slightly odd… but all a work of art. Once again it has been proven that there many ways to wear a white dress – from sleek and simple to elaborate and frilly. Oscar de la Renta appeared to be a big favourite with his dreamy gowns featuring full-bodied skirts and incredibly delicate craftsmanship. Carolina Herrera was unsurprisingly another huge hit, with her collection boasting dramatic cuts. Pretty beading and stunning backs were a highlight of many designers. Lesser known Elizabeth Fillmore stunned audiences with her more ethereal, nature inspired designs, and certainly gets the thumbs up from us. And of course there is the divine Jenny Packham. The Duchess doesn’t wear her designs for nothing… this lady has unlocked the key to ‘fab-u-lous’! This time her dresses were inspired by the popular golden age of cinema and the romance of a bygone era – speaking directly to not only our personal taste and style, but to that of brides the world over!

Some big trends spotted on the catwalk were illusion necklines, varying lengths including very short, long sleeves (no surprise there!), bold colour and lots of lace, not to mention our favourite – art deco glitz!

See some of the many, many designs for yourself here…

Caroline Herrera’s Grecian inspired Helena gown – perfect for a beach wedding!

Elizabeth Fillmore brought nature to the catwalk to rather blooming results!

You would never think the designer of this dress is called “Ian Stuart”. But it appears talent does not only belong to exotic sounding names! For the slightly more conservative bride this makes for a very regal option.

The first of many amazing Jenny Packham creations... swoon!

Another twinkly delight by the talented Lady Packham

Good things come in threes... one way to justify our style crush on Jenny Packham!

Short and rather sweet... Marchesa has quite the knack for pulling things out of the hat. Wonder what Blake Lively’s dress looked like? Marchesa’s designers swear it was simply gorgeous – we can’t wait for the big reveal

Monique Lhuillier brought us a very classic bridal look with gorgeous floral detailing

Another va-va-voom slightly more traditional looking bride in Oscar de la Renta. The man that doesn’t under-do anything!

One way to make a statement – deep red, tight bodice, exaggerated ruffles... Vera Wang knows how to make a statement!

Which is your favourite?