by Johanna Osborne

Perhaps when fashion designer Valentino Garavani said; “I know what women want. They want to be beautiful”, he had Robyn Cliffe Couturiére in mind, for it is certainly a philosophy shared by this amazing design store.

Choosing a wedding dress, “the dress” you are going to wear on the most important day of your entire life is not a decision that comes lightly. It’s incredibly significant, joyful, exciting and, of course, emotional. It’s a choice you need not only be happy with, it’s one you should be ecstatic about. Having seen many of Robyn Cliffe’s unique and amazing gowns over the years, we can honestly say that we are very impressed. Robyn Cliffe Couturiére has long been synonymous with beautiful dresses and the selection and options are beyond amazing. What’s more, the store offers not only couture bridal wear, but also evening gowns, as well as individual design – so you can truly see the dress in your mind come to life right before your eyes! It’s the exceptional quality and wonderful range which make Robyn Cliffe Couturiére a stand out, with the store stocking well known and highly sought after brands such as Pronovias and Essense.

You deserve to be princess, not only on your big day, but throughout the journey leading you to your wedding. Enjoy and savour the experience and let Robyn Cliffe Couturiére guide you there with their excellent service and incredible attention to detail. And in what can only be the cherry on top, Robyn Cliffe Couturiére are currently holding a super sale, for a short time only. Don’t delay; our advice is to check it out as soon as you can. You can find Robyn Cliffe Couturiére at 204 Thorndon Quay, Wellington.

by Johanna Osborne

Oh what a glorious day. We all knew it was going to be amazing the minute we heard where we were going to be shooting. The famous Wharekauhau Lodge was to be our location on Tuesday the 24th of July, and as time went on our 5 star crew just sort of magnetically fell together. It was meant to be!

After weeks of anticipation and excitement slowly but surely building, it was finally D-day. Time to drive over the hill! With several cars jam packed with gorgeous gowns, stunning suits and trays and trays of delicious catering by the unsurpassable Simply Food, we were probably quite a sight whizzing along Western Hutt Road towards our destination. The top of the Rimutakas appeared threatening with heavy grey cloud and rain, and we were all a tad concerned that this would mar our perfect day… yet descending on the other side it was a different story. A calm stillness engulfed our crew as we made our way along the stunning, and somewhat bumpy track that is Western Lake Road.

Paula is no stranger to this corner of the world, as she has planned and run many events at Wharekauhau. I too had been here before as my close friend fortuitously decided on it as her wedding venue a few years ago, and I was a very happy bridesmaid who got to enjoy a most magical day. So I knew what amazingness to expect, however I couldn’t help but be blown away and totally tickled pink when we turned the corner and saw Wharekauhau in all her regal splendour like a grand queen greeting us after our long journey. You simply can’t wait to get inside and explore all the amazing rooms, nooks and crannies this divine place has to offer. It’s truly knock-your-socks off material! What’s more, we had the entire estate to ourselves – with only 2 helpful, yet almost invisible, assistants present the entire day. How did we get so lucky?

Our good fortune extended further, with Kate MacPherson agreeing to shoot this much anticipated fashion spread for our September issue of Mr & Mrs magazine. With Kate on board, we knew we were in great hands! As huge fans of her work, we were all very excited to work with her. And let it be said, a nicer or more talented woman you could not hope to meet.

The rest of our crew included our bride and groom of the day, the gorgeous Leonie and the handsome Lane, two incredibly fun and obliging models to have on location with us. Nothing was too much trouble and both were incredibly easy going, polite and sweet. And most importantly they had a very visible connection, which really made us keep our fingers and toes crossed they’d exchange phone numbers at the end of the day!

Also on board were our amazing graphic designer Craig and his photographer partner Jess. This talented, yet totally humble twosome, have done incredible work for the Wellington Wedding Show, our website, Mr & Mrs magazine and the list goes on. Carl and Joni from Salute were our dream beauty team and once again pulled the most amazing hair and make-up out of the hat in record time. A charismatic force to be reckoned with and the wickedest sense of humour to boot – we were very glad to have them present as they were responsible not only for exceptional primping and preening, but also for much of the good cheer on the day. Helen Forster, well known and ueber-talented Fashion Designer, and her Creative Assistant Brooke also joined us for part of the day, and they were beyond helpful and truly great to work with.

The stunning flowers in the photos are all courtesy of Katie Bevege who is one of the most tasteful and skilled florists we have ever come across.

Paula, our Editor, Director of the Wellington Wedding Show and Event Planner Extraordinaire once again surrounded herself with a truly talented team and we all felt lucky and proud to be part of something so fantastic. It was a fun-filled, exciting whirlwind of an occasion, and when we sat down to enjoy some famous Simply Food Rosebuds at the end of our day we couldn’t quite understand where the time had gone?! We sat and we talked about what had made our day so successful and apart from our amazing team, there were several other suppliers who we are immensely grateful to… We were blessed to have such an impressive array of gorgeous gowns and suits to work with. Sophie Voon, Alison Blain, Helen Forster, Astra Bridal and Ziggurat, as well as Harfords Menswear and Frank Casey really came up trumps with their gorgeous wares. We had a blast styling Leonie and Lane, and they rocked each look to perfection. We can’t wait for you to see the results! And you don’t have to wait long, as the next edition of Mr & Mrs magazine will be available at the Wellington Wedding Show in the Wellington Town Hall on September 16th – and thereafter. In addition to our gorgeous photo shoot, there will be amazing recent real life wedding stories and plenty of style and inspiration for your big day. Be sure to get a copy – you never know who you might know in our magazine!

As always, a picture speaks a thousand words, so that’s it from me. I shall leave the rest to some of our snapshots taken on the day (note, these photos are taken by my somewhat shaky unskilled hand, and do not even feature in the same galaxy as the amazing photographs that Kate MacPherson shot on the day… but for those gems you will just have to wait a little longer..) Until next time!

Country Roads

There she is, the Queen of the Wairarapa

You know you are a long way from the city when you see this...

Dressing room with a view, offering you a glimpse of our gorgeous Alison Blain gown

Flowers by Katie Bevege, beauty by Salute

The team: Jess, Joni from Salute, Helen Forster, Brooke and Craig from Graphic Solutions - complete with lucky toadstool!

Paula and Carl from Salute stop for a brief moment before getting back into it and changing location

Fashion gurus at work!

Sparkles by Alison Blain, flowers by Katie Bevege and glorious refreshments by Simply Food

Helen Forster Clothing Designer, Creative Assistant Brooke and THE Kate MacPherson!

The handsome Lane going all vintage on us

A little rain certainly did not dampen our parade!

Leonie ready for her closeup and Craig moonlighting as our tea lady

Lane catching up on his Mr & Mrs reading and Craig letting me stand under his umbrella, ella, ella

Happy campers in our country oasis

That's all folks!

by Johanna Osborne

We live in a creative world and it seems the last few years have seen the true awakening of lateral thinking where weddings are concerned. Nothing is impossible anymore, and weddings have become bigger, better and more exciting as a result. Creating a unique atmosphere, an enchanting ambience and adding magical touches galore has never been more applauded and celebrated than now. It’s all about the celebration, having fun and creating something that every guest will remember, cherish and dream about for a long time to come. Old school, vintage accents have crept back in with new, modern twists added for oomph – and have become quite the “cherry on top” in terms of styling.

Every day we come across new and fantastic concepts that our brides and grooms would love, and we just adore the creative process that goes into turning their dreams into reality. Here are some of our most recent favourite “special touches and finer details” …

• Balloons are gorgeous as part of a wedding reception or afterwards… why not use them to surprise the bride and groom on their wedding night?!

• Another one for the bedroom – how cute are these pillows?

• Vintage props are a fun way to inject some old-school style into your theming and photographs

• Nothing beats a heartfelt thank you! We just fell in love with these thoughtful thank you place cards. What lucky guests!

• Lighting is supremely important. Nothing beats twinkling pretty fairy lights or something a little more elaborate to really ignite the mood

• Lanterns have long been a focal point of celebrations in Asian customs, and we couldn’t agree more. There is something about paper lanterns, their pretty colours and soft glow that creates a festive spirit.

• Guests play a bigger role in weddings than ever before. Guest books are one popular way to get your nearest and dearest more involved

• A Finger print tree is another fun, involved way for friends and family to really “leave their mark”!

• Seating charts are becoming more and more original. From chalkboards to rustic old windows – it can all be done and looks amazing!

• Custom made tote bags – so cute and can also double as great take-home gifts for guests. Simply have your names and wedding date embossed on the bag and your special day will be immortalised forever!

• Ice cream or gelato is bound to put a smile on people’s faces faster than their cone can melt in the sunshine. Not just for kids, this is a glorious, wonderful and very cool way to add something truly special and unique to your wedding day. Wellington has tons of amazing gelato options – you won’t be at a loss for choice!

• Being creative with invitations, order of service sheets and place cards is a great way to do something different that ends up being a keepsake.

• Martha Stewart suggests these babies as take home favours, and we couldn’t agree more. What guest wouldn’t fancy a sweet treat before they hit the hay after dancing the night away at your wedding, or perhaps the next day whilst sipping a coffee and reminiscing about your magical day?

• Parasols and fans are making a huge comeback. Not only are they handy in the heat and sun, they make for wonderful props for photographs.

• It’s not only the bride that gets to look super glamorous anymore! The selection and styles for bridesmaid dresses is out of this world. We just love all the pink, peach, champagne and apricot shades for summer.

• Footwear has become more important than ever, with some cute messages making for some fantastic images!

• Beading and special vintage inspired detail on bridal gowns makes for a timeless and incredibly stylish statement

• What is sweeter than your own wedding cutlery? Everything is bound to taste better when eaten with these. Something to treasure forever.

by Johanna Osborne

Most of us like to believe in something. It makes us feel better, safer and more grounded. Some wedding customs, traditions and beliefs were born many hundreds of years ago as a result of folklore and paganism. Whilst some of them seem a tad silly, others are quite cute and fun. You might not save the world by putting a coin in your shoe but sometimes there’s no harm in being just a little superstitious! Luck has a funny way of gracing those that believe in it. Here’s some of our favourites…

Finnish brides don’t leave a passionate marriage to chance. To make sure their love keeps burning throughout their union, they’ve been known head to the alter carrying an appropriate symbol: A match. Perhaps fireworks or a sparkler could be a good idea too?

In Chinese wedding traditions, timing is everything. In order to ensure they start their marriage off with good fortune, couples consult with a monk, fortune teller, calendar or almanac (and these days, the Internet) to find the luckiest wedding day. The selection has to do with a variety of factors, including the bride’s and groom’s birthdates. And instead of saying their vows at the top of the hour, many Chinese couples start the ceremony at half past the hour, so as to begin their lives together when the clock is on an upswing. Makes good sense to us and sounds wonderfully romantic!

Though they may wear a white gown, many Mexican brides are sure to include some bold color in their wedding attire. By sewing three ribbons to their undergarments-yellow to symbolize the blessing of food, blue to bring good financial luck and red to summon a passionate union–they can ensure a happy marriage. We’ve always liked a bit of colour in a wedding party so this is one idea we love!

Several days before the wedding, many Indian brides have natural and temporary henna dye-tattoos applied to their hands and feet in elaborate patterns. The ceremonious application can take hours and, often the groom’s initials are hidden in the detailing for him to find on their wedding night. If he finds them, the couple will have good luck, and if he can’t he must give his bride a gift. Now that’s a hot and steamy tradition right there!

Traditionally, bells are chimed at Irish weddings to keep evil spirits away and ensure a harmonious family life. Nowadays, Irish brides often carry small bells in their bouquets as a reminder of their sacred wedding vows-bells are also found on tables at the reception and are common gifts to give newlyweds. Bells are lovely and would make a nice little trinket or favour for your guests to take home too!

Italian couples have been known to smash a vase or glass at their wedding. And they put a lot of muscle into it, too-the tradition says that however many pieces the glassware breaks into will symbolize how many years they’ll be happily married. Love this! Only problem – do you need safety glasses?

Also in Italy, guests receive five sugared almonds representing five wishes of health, happiness, wealth, fertility, and longevity. The almonds themselves remind the couple of both the sweet and bitter sides to life. Once again a very cool little gift for guests to enjoy.

An old, adorable Swedish custom is for the bride to carry coins in her shoes. A silver coin from her father is placed in the left shoe, while a gold coin from her mother in the right shoe, ensuring she will never go without. As long as it’s comfortable this is a rather sweet way to keep something precious and personal close to you all day long!

Some Brits like to invite another more unusual guest to their nuptials: A chimney sweep. When a London chimney sweep saved King George II’s life 200 years ago, the King declared that all chimney sweeps bring good fortune and should be treated with respect. It’s now considered good luck to see a chimney sweep on your wedding day, and many hire out their services to come to the ceremony and kiss the bride. Now that would be one very smudgy kiss!

On the day before their weddings, many Czech brides will find a newly planted tree in their yards, decorated with colorful ribbons and painted eggshells. The tradition says that the bride will live as long as the tree. We think this a wonderful tradition and can also be a great present idea for the wedded couple. As long as no one cuts the tree down in the next century or so, that is!

Beliefs and customs get more and more interesting depending on who you talk to and the age of the person telling the tales. From mothers, aunties and grandmothers telling girls to hold their feet up when going over the railroad tracks or they will never get married, to wearing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue for luck on their wedding day… if it involves positive thoughts and a bit of a laugh, we say why not!

by Johanna Osborne

Oh no. That feeling! That feeling that everything is sitting on your shoulders, weighing you down and putting immense pressure on you. That feeling that you just can’t possibly get it all done. That feeling like you are running under water. We all know it, some of us more intimately than others.

I profess to be a stresser. I can’t pretend otherwise, as that would be dishonest. It’s lucky I married the most laid-back person I have ever met; it makes for quite the ideal balance. Thank Goodness there’s someone in my life that doesn’t consider the things I deem to be earth shattering dramas worth any worry whatsoever. It paid dividends when we were organising our wedding too. That, and hiring a professional wedding planner. You might know her, her name is Paula Bevege.

Over the years I have learnt a few things about stress. It’s not ideal to be wasting so much energy on worry, unless, of course, you channel it in the right direction. If you control it, you can make it work to your advantage. After all, what is stress? It’s the feeling you have too much to do and that you want to get it all done. Lazy people don’t get stressed! It’s usually the hard workers and high achievers that have the good fortune of feeling this way. Stress is a wonderful adrenalin-giver, which then in turn sees you motor though what you need to do, instead of sitting there worrying about it. Now that’s what I call positive stress!

And whilst we sincerely hope the brides-to-be reading this don’t have to stress, just in case you do, we want to encourage you to see it in a positive light. It’s one of those times in your life where it’s normal to feel overwhelmed in terms of planning and organising. So save yourself a few grey hairs and enlist the help of a professional if you can. It will pay off tenfold. And if you do feel worried and uneasy, take a few deep breaths; try to plan a pre-wedding break somewhere nice, even if it’s just for a weekend. Take a yoga or pilates class, go for a refreshing long walk, enjoy a decadent dinner out and pour that nice tall glass of wine. Train yourself to ‘let go’ of worries. Remember, you always have a choice and can decide what you let affect you and what you choose to ignore. Set goals, and even more importantly huge rewards for yourself. Drink lots of water and make sure you sleep enough. Be very, very kind to yourself and you will stay fighting fit. You only get one shot at this, so don’t waste any of that precious, beautiful time leading up to your big day by stressing it all away. Breathe, savour… enjoy.

So girls, let’s take that stress, reign it in, hold it tight and make it work for you – and let it guide you towards the most perfect day ever. You control what you let affect you and how you deal with it – if you channel the energy towards the light at the end of tunnel… you will be surprised how much you will enjoy the ride!

“Stress should be a powerful driving force, not an obstacle.” Bill Phillips

“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.” Hans Selye