by Johanna Osborne

Tom and Katie’s split has well and truly rocked tinseltown, and Tom clearly wasn’t the only one who felt “blindsided” by this bombshell. What? Really? No way!

Here at the Wellington Wedding Show we love few things more than a “happily ever after” and we truly madly deeply believe in love! So we can’t help but ask, why is it that so few of the glitzy glam marriages that are signed and sealed in Hollywood actually stay that way? My close friend got married at the same as Katie and Tom, and she’s on to baby #3 and remains as happily married as she was 5 years ago. Why is it that the more rich and famous you are, the shorter “forever” is?

We don’t like any relationship to end, but perhaps the lesson here is not to be fooled by things that glitter and sparkle on the outside. What’s inside is often a very different story. The state of “perfect” that so many strive for and aim to emulate appears to be just smoke and mirrors a lot of the time. Perhaps the simpler life is, the easier it is to be “content”? Fairytales don’t belong to the rich and famous, they can be found in the most ordinary places.

Naturally we got to wondering after so many well publicised splits, some more shocking than others (Heidi and Seal and Tom and Katie just to name a few!), how many long lasting relationships are actually left in Hollywood? Rest assured there are several… the lower-key the couple, the longer they seem to last…

Here are some of our favourites…

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson met on a movie set in 1985, married in 1988 and have never looked back. A Hollywood couple to end all Hollywood couples! The pair have two children.

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgewick have more than twenty-two years of marriage behind them, and have frequently worked on films together.

There’s no doubt that Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale make a fabulous couple. The two musicians met in 1995 and married in 2002. They have 2 beautiful (and often photographed!) sons – Kingston and Zuma. “I feel so proud of our relationship- it hasn’t been the easiest journey,” Stefani said in 2011.

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are one of the great Hollywood love stories, despite – or perhaps, because of – the fact that they’ve never been married. Together since1984, the couple has raised four children: one of their own and three from their previous marriages (including daughter Kate Hudson).

Tracy Pollan once played Michael J. Fox’s love interest on Family Ties and they later married in 1988. In 1991, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, changing their lives forever, but not their feelings for each other. “She sees who I am, and she likes me as much as she ever liked me,” Fox told Oprah in 2009. “We have a sense of humour about life. We feel every day that we’re so blessed.” The couple is raising four children together, three of whom were born after Fox was diagnosed. “If I hadn’t faced (my disease), I don’t know that I’d have the family that I have now,” he says.

David and Victoria started dating in 1997 after developing a mutual crush — in David’s words; “My wife picked me out of a soccer sticker book. And I chose her off the telly.” The ever-stylish British couple have 4 children Brooklyn, 13, Romeo, 9, Cruz, 7 and Harper 11 months. “We were at a party the other day at my mum’s house and I was sitting on his lap,” Victoria recalled in 2011. “And I looked at him and thought after being married for 11 years, we were the only couple who were even near each other at that party. We’re soul mates.”

In the past 16 years, Hugh Jackman has gone from unknown Australian actor to A-list movie star – and the woman who’s been at his side the entire time is Deborra-Lee Furness. Furness is thought to be 13 years older than Jackman. Jackman says that his superstardom hasn’t hurt their marriage at all. “There is not an ounce of jealousy,” he told Barbara Walters. “Deb has only ever had incredibly supportive, excited feelings for anything that’s happened in my career.”

Elton John says that David Furnish has restored balance to his life — and helped the former drug addict stay clean for the past two decades. The British rock legend met his Canadian lover at one of his own dinner parties in 1993. “We fell in love very quickly,” the singer has said. They were married in 2005, on the day that civil partnerships became legal in England. In December 2010, they had son Zachary via surrogate — but they still find time for each other. “Every Saturday for 16 years, we’ve sent each other a card,” John said in 2010, “no matter where we are in the world, to say how much we love each other.

And then there are the shortest:

• Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries: 72 days
• Kid Rock and Pam Anderson: 4 months
• Britney Spears and Jason Alexander: 2 days
• Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman: 6 days before Dennis filed for an annulment
• Jennifer Lopez and Cris Judd: 4 months
• Lisa Marie Presley and Nicolas Cage: 3 months
• Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson: 9 months

So there we have it… just because it’s in a glossy magazine doesn’t make it any more special than your very own fairytale. Good marriages come in all shapes and forms, and we applaud those that have found true love, for it is the most precious treasure to unearth in your lifetime. A wise person once said “If you find true love, make sure you learn to keep it!” We couldn’t agree more.

“True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen.”
– La Rochefoucauld

by Johanna Osborne

I love buying presents for people. There’s something so rewarding and exciting about the prospect of making someone happy. But sometimes it’s not so easy… we’ve all been there. Totally and utterly stuck! What to give someone on the most important day of their lives, with the right amount of thought to show you genuinely care? It’s hard! So of course it’s a welcome relief when people have a wedding register, and I for one have been thankful on several occasions for this blessing. However, sometimes couples don’t, and in that case it’s not always so easy to get inspiration on how to provide a touch of joy into their new matrimonial lives.

And for that matter, gifts aren’t just for guests to give! There’s a number of people who may wish to give a present to the bethrothed pair – the groom himself may like to surprise his lovely new wife with a thoughtful token, bridesmaids might like to give their darling friend something treasured to send her happily on the path into forever, parents often like to do something special for their son or daughter as a last token before they truly become an independent adult… oh the reasons are endless. In fact, there’s always a good reason for giving a gift – even if it’s just to say “I love you”.

Image by Jess O'Brien

Giving a present is of course all the more satisfying and joyful for the giver, if you know exactly what it is that is going to make the person receiving it the happiest. And that’s why we have compiled a little list of our current favourite ideas…

1. Up up and away! Nothing beats a get-away!
A lot of brides and grooms are opting to set up travel funds which guests can deposit money into, and we think it’s a wonderful idea. But even if they have not, you can still give the couple a little something to start them on their way to a big trip overseas, a tropical getaway or a weekend escape. Air New Zealand, House of Travel and Harvey World Travel are all beyond helpful in making this special gift an easy one for you.

Image by Jess O'Brien

2. Classic, timeless and treasured …
Gifts from Kirkcaldie & Stains are just that. Wellington’s famous and much loved department store not only stocks the most precious wares, it also has the most finely oiled in-house wedding register section I’ve ever seen. Kirkcaldies offer a great service including online shopping facilities and having the present shipped to the bride and groom direct, making it a hassle-free yet tasteful gift giving experience for everyone. But even if the bride and groom have not registered with Kirkcaldies, a special something from the store picked out by you (or a store gift voucher!) is guaranteed to be a welcome treat!

3. Intimately yours
Bride and Groom presents to each other have become very fashionable of late. A lovely wee surprise on the day really does start the excitement. Jewellery and lingerie are certainly wonderful feel-good ways to embrace the intimacy of the occasion.

4. Outside the box
Other great and unique ideas our in-house wedding planner Paula has come across are books, wine, trees or plants, furniture or something the guests have made themselves. All wonderful and totally unique options!

5. Once in a lifetime memory captured forever
Last but certainly not least, I give you my personal favourite. What could be more wonderful than creating a special one-of-a-kind gift from a cherished memory or precious moment, just for the person you love most? It’s indeed possible. You can commission a painting for your future wife, husband or friend simply though a photograph or image. Olympia Osborne, skilled Wellington painter of Greek origin and President of the Wellington Art Club, can do just that for you. Recently she helped a friend surprise his wife on their wedding anniversary by turning a photo of her favourite childhood spot on Oriental Bay into a painting. This treasured memory has been immortalised forever, as no doubt has Stuart’s status as husband of the decade!

I am proud to call Olympia my mother-in-law, and I too have firsthand experienced the joy of receiving one of Olympia’s paintings. We held our wedding reception at the Boatshed in Wellington, and a year later for our wedding anniversary Olympia gave us a beautiful painting of our wedding venue – just as it was on our special day. Needless to say this painting (amongst several of her others!) takes pride of place in our home, and always will.

Olympia paints beautiful scenery and landscapes – both of local Wellington sights, as well as overseas images. You can add to your art collection and make it really mean something, by having a piece of “your story” displayed in your home forever. For a look at more of Olympia’s amazing work go to www.olympiasart.co.nz

Painting by Olympia Osborne

Whatever you chose to do and however you opt to give, enjoy it, for it is one of life’s true pleasures making others happy!

Painting by Olympia Osborne

“Giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
Maya Angelou

by Johanna Osborne

Today we take you a little closer to Wellington’s top Event Planner, Paula Bevege. Paula has many years of planning experience under her belt, and has seen the dreams of hundreds of brides come to life. She runs her own successful business- Paula Bevege Events – and to top it all off, is now the proud owner of The Wellington Wedding Show and Editor of the Wedding Show’s very own magazine, Mr and Mrs! If anyone knows the wedding and party planning market, it’s Paula.

I met Paula 7.5 years ago as a newly-engaged bride-to-be, looking for someone to help set me on the right path. And Paula did just that – and what a God-send she was! I’m so very glad that through this encounter I got both my dream wedding, and a friend for life! I have attended numerous events Paula has organised, big, small and everything in between (including her amazing wedding!) and each and every one was stylish, classic and memorable.

Let’s sit down and enjoy a little glimpse inside the mind of a creative expert …

1. What are your top picks for current wedding dress looks?
My favourite this season is the classic chic, Grace Kelly inspired look – timeless and elegant.

2. What colours are you loving for bridesmaids’ dresses?
I love the monochromatic schemes, ivory, white, beige and soft pink.

3. Wedding themes you think always work well?
Elegant and simple is always is always stunning. The best themes are always undone not overdone.

4. Biggest wedding “trends” right now?
Stylists, planners, photo booths, candy buffets and vintage tableware

5. Every bride needs a ...
Kind, loving and understanding groom

6. Every wedding should have a …
Wedding planner, of course!

7. Which celebrity wedding would you most like to plan?
Brad and Angelina without a doubt. ( Kate and Wills would have been my first choice though!)

8. Best advice you can give to a bride?
My top 3 tips: Breathe! Step back, take a deep breath and enjoy. This applies not just on the wedding day, but through the whole planning process.Take the advice of your wedding suppliers, they are professionals and know what they are doing. And remember you are about to marry the man of your dreams. The marriage comes before the wedding, and they should stay in that order of priority. The rest is simple.

by Johanna Osborne.

When I got married in what may seem like the dark ages (all of 6.5 years ago) I recall the guest list being a big deal. Who to invite, who to leave off once the list got too long and the venue too small, and where to seat everyone. Gosh it was stressful! But one thing was for sure, the littlest guests weren’t going to be left off. I encountered a bit of eye-rolling from friends whenever I said that children were “absolutely invited”, and many asked me why on earth I’d do something silly like that.

My gorgeous nephew Orlando snoozing during the ceremony

Whilst I appreciate people’s reservations on such matters, to me it was a no-brainer. Weddings are ingrained in my own childhood memory as being the happiest, most fun and exciting events of all, and it was always such a highlight and massive treat to wear a pretty gown and attend such a fabulous party. I know what it feels like to be a child, and I don’t intend to ever forget. To me weddings have always been about family, togetherness and celebrating life – and obviously a huge ingredient in that is children! I wanted the hustle and bustle, kids running around the reception, playing tag, hiding under tables and eating cake. I wanted to be escorted up the aisle by flower girls scattering rose petals on the way. Sadly I had none at my disposal back then, but instead I had 2 handsome candle-holding, ring-bearing young boys instead. They are both teenagers now, but my wedding photos have immortalised them and their cute baby faces forever! I thought they looked so swish in their little suits and cravattes (I gave up on the idea of forcing them wear a pretty frock!) and I loved having them part of the ceremony, and equally loved having them at the party later on. I recall my 8 year old nephew Yannik doing some impressive impromptu singing and dancing to Queen at 10pm, much to everyone’s dance floor delight. It was a party and everyone was invited! My little nephew Orlando was all of 6 months old at our wedding, but I recall everyone fighting to sit next to him, and one of my favourite photos of the day was the one of my parents with him. It would not have been the same without him there.

Mr Orlando chilling on our wedding day

I know I’m not alone with these thoughts as I have attended plenty of weddings where children were featured heavily. Our Editor Paula Bevege had a bevy of gorgeous children of varying ages accompany her up the aisle, and it made for absolutely stunning photos. I have also attended weddings where the whole bridal party (apart from the bride and groom of course) was made up of just children, with no bridesmaids or groomsmen at all. It can be done, it’s different and it’s wonderful.

Me with my cute cousin Yannik on my wedding day in 2006

Yes, children – especially babies – do cry. And they can be annoying. But mostly for the parents, and not so much for the host. If the Mum and Dad are game to bring them, then really it’s them we need to help and reward. And there are a few ways of making sure kids are entertained and have fun – and from experience a happy child is a good child.

The handsome Anthony who did an amazing job on the day

The boys in action and what a highlight they were!

A good way to eliminate any issues is to assign tasks to as many children as possible. At the ceremony, children can act as ushers, hand out programs, circulate mass books, or distribute packets of rice or rose petals. At the reception, kids can manage a guest book or pass out favors in a basket or on a tray. Children can also perform a group reading either in the church or the reception. A kids table is always a good idea with great food and fast service and activities and games. If a separate room is available, activities including board games and movies are an option. Invite a children’s entertainer or make it a real “Kids’ Club”, and hire insured childcare providers to act as supervisors for the day who set up themed activities. The parents will love you forever!

Of course child-free weddings are also nice. I have been to a few very formal ones and it was understandable that it might be better not to have kids there wreaking havoc. Whatever path you choose, it’s your decision and it will be the right one. Just remember to make it clear early on, so that parents with children can make arrangements.

My beloved Mum and Dad holding their first born grandchild Orlando on our wedding day. A very precious image

And if you do opt to go the ‘children are welcome way’, then enjoy the ride. It will make for colourful moments and memories, not to mention some fantastic photos! From experience the smallest of guests make the biggest of impacts!

Me as a flower girl with my Dad on our way to a family friend's wedding

NB: In today’s blog Paula and I have chosen to share with you our very own personal images from the moments in time that were incredibly special to us….

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children”. Charles R. Swindoll

“Children are a handful sometimes. And a heart-full all the time.” Unknown

Gorgeous flower girls at Paula and Blair's wedding - front right daughter Maddie

A bevy of beautiful boys on Paula and Blair's wedding day

Kiddie fun

The wedding planner has her own wedding, complete with cute entertainment!

Romance

It doesn't get much cuter than this! Paula as a flower girl age 2

by Johanna Osborne.

Paul & Tracy’s Wedding Film from Jono Tucker Films on Vimeo.

We love this video of Paul and Tracy’s wedding made by the talented Jono Tucker. And imagine my surprise when I clicked “play” and saw the wonderful Annemarie and Brad (Tracy’s parents) on my screen. I worked with Annemarie for several years, and seeing this recording of her beloved daughter’s most special day was a true -and unexpected- highlight. Wellington is small, close-knit and full of amazing people – and it’s moments like these that prove it to us!

You may also notice a famous face in the bridal party of very own Jason Naylor from We Do Photography who just happens to be the bride’s very talented brother. It just doesn’t get much cooler than that.

Be warned get the tissues ready it is tear jerker! Thank you Paul and Tracy and Jono for sharing this with us!

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