Check this out – The Amazing Travelling Photobooth captured many Mr and Mrs #2 “cover couples” at the Wellington Wedding Show. Great work guys!

by Johanna Osborne.

We have a big respect for Mums. Many of our brides-to-be would either like to be – or already are – a mother, so we would like to dedicate a blog post to all the wonderful Mums out there! They do so much for us and share some of the most special moments of our lives. And of course Mums often play a big part in the wedding preparations and on the big day itself. Where would we be without our Mums?!
 
So what can you do to make your Mother’s Day special this year? We have lined up a few of our top picks for you…
 

1. Wine and Dine – and sleep past 9! Nothing makes a deserving lady relax more than an elegant dinner invitation, and a night spent on fluffy pillows in a sumptuous hotel. A wonderful meal at the White House on Oriental Parade, taking in the breathtaking view and noshing on some of the sumptuous fare, ought to put a spring in any deserving lady’s stride. Alternatively a hop and a skip down the road lies the Amora Hotel, standing proud in its stunning location and boasting a mouth-watering menu of delectable treats, as well as the offer of an unforgettable night “away”. Your Mum will return home feeling like she’s been somewhere very different and rather indulgent. And of course the Bolton Hotel is another favourite of ours, located in the gorgeous Terrace precinct, offering stunning accommodation and wonderful food – what a combination!! And for a true escape from the bright lights and big city, why not send your Mum and her someone special to the Martinborough Hotel. Having stayed there ourselves we can vouch for what a great experience it is. A true getaway offering a marvellous menu and a gorgeous country retreat all in one. Bliss!

2. Bling baby bling! A shiny bauble will put the sparkle back in anyone’s eyes… and it’s true that nothing quite says “I love you forever” like a timeless treasure. We love Alison Blain’s divine range. You are also guaranteed to find something amazing at Hanne Andersen or Partridge Jewellers. And as another idea, some very different yet beautiful jewellery items can be snapped up instore at Sophie Voon.

 

3. You’re my Candy girl – Oh my Goodness, where do we start? The options are endless, simple and totally appropriate. Cupcakes in Miramar offer edible happiness in the form of artistically designed cupcakes that are oh so pretty and taste “wow”!
 
Janus Bakkerij is another one of those amazing places, where you can purchase gorgeous cakes or a wealth of other fare to surprise your Mummy, or you could take her there and let her choose herself! Many of you were rather taken with the personalized Mr and Mrs cookies on a stick we had to give away at our stand at the Wedding Show. The geniuses behind such great ideas are none other than Decorada. We love!

4. Blooming marvellous – If it’s gorgeous flowers you are after, we have a radar more finely tuned than a honey bee. Flowers on Featherston can create whatever design and style you are after and will go the extra mile to ensure you are thrilled with the results. Tons of options to be found online too. We are also loving Bunches – a tried and true Wellington staple – check them out! The creative, classic and extremely tasteful flowers are beyond chic.

5. Pamper – Who doesn’t like feeling a million bucks after having a bit of “shooshing” done? Salute Hair and Day Spa is the epitome of well deserved luxury. With so many treatments available, there is bound to be something perfect on the menu. And one more little secret we will let you in on… sweeping the beauty world by storm are Lush Lashes – the lash extensions that look so real, yet oh so glamorous! Nothing beats waking up looking made up!

 
Whatever you do, however you celebrate, remember to treasure the moments! And don’t forget, a simple breakfast in bed might be all it takes to make your Mum feel extra loved on her special day.
 
Happy Mother’s Day from the team at the Wellington Wedding Show and Mr and Mrs magazine. Xoxox

“No language can express the power, beauty and heroism of a mother’s love.” -Edwin Chapin

by Johanna Osborne.

I want to let you in on a little secret. There’s something amazingly divine that I simply must share with you – after all, us girls are all part of the sisterhood of women who tell each other about beauty tips, shopping ideas and must-have items. So for those who haven’t already heard, let me introduce For Every Minute.

For Every Minute is the baby of local it-girls Faye Lowe and Kenzy Cheeseman, who have put their heart and soul into creating what can only be described as the most divine luxury sleep and lounge wear on the market. Crafted with exceptional skill and meticulous attention to detail, the jewel-toned pieces are not only supremely comfortable, but simply gorgeous. We think these items would be perfect for a wedding night and honeymoon, as well as gifts to or from bridesmaids. Nothing beats the feeling of silk against your skin, and these luxurious garments are the kind you would treasure a long, long time.

However, you don’t have to be getting married to enjoy a camisole, chemise, robe or pyjama set. Mums, and mums-to-be are high on the list of the deserving – just in time for Mother’s Day! Any one of the many different gorgeous items on offer would make an ideal gift. And you should see the packaging – For Every Minute takes care of it all!

Check out the beautiful range online or at Harry’s Boutique in Seatoun.

by Johanna Osborne.

It was with great pleasure that I recently popped into Sophie Voon’s much talked about gorgeous new bridal boutique on Willis Street. I was on a mission – picking up a stunning gown for our photoshoot – but despite being in a hurry, the decor, service and overall gorgeousness of the store was not wasted on me. I was most impressed! A sumptuous wedding boudoir adjoined to the existing and well-loved Voon Store on Willis Street, this is a true treat for those brides looking for something different and unique.

Sophie Voon has long been a Wellington designer to watch. As well as being innately talented, Sophie has always been a humanitarian with a huge heart – and it shows. The stunning wedding dresses are crafted out of ethically traded silk from Cambodia. Voon donates $100 from each
wedding dress to Empower Asia, a charity which runs safe houses across Asia providing at risk children a home and education away from the dangers of child prostitution and extreme poverty. This alone speaks volumes about who Sophie is and what she does. In more local ventures, Sophie has organised the Arohanui Show next week on Thursday 10th May, proceeds of which go towards something very close to the heart of many of us. The Mr and Mrs team will be there, and we hope to see you too!! Please join us in what can only be described as a wonderful event for an even more wonderful cause. Please see flyer below for details.

However, that’s not all. Being creative lies at Voon’s core, and all you have to do is step into the store to see it all come alive. The dresses are elegant, some are colourful and all are tasteful. The range is impressive. Our model for the Mr and Mrs photoshoot wore a divine Grace Kelly gown, and she looked like a true princess! Sophie Voon bridal also caters for bridesmaids, flower girls and mother of the bride outfits. Here you are guaranteed to find something girlie, feminine and stylish.

The store itself is also stunning and even boasts its own custom designed wallpaper, created by the talented Mary Adams. iPrint Digital printed the pretty floral creation on to special wallpaper, and thus producing the one-off wall design that has people coming in off the street just to admire it!
We highly suggest a visit to Voon’s new bridal boutique at 142 Willis Street – it’s well worth a look! And check out www.sophievoon.com/bridal_gown_flashgallery for an advance peek at some of those gorgeous gowns!

Arohanui Show Links

www.facebook.com/events/311797842226405/ (Facebook link to the event)
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.387080554665340.89177.206537242719673&type=3 (Facebook album of some of the “Real Brides” who are participating)
www.thelifeofriley.co.nz/ (A website set up by friends of the Riley family to give information & updates on Bretts condition etc).

by Johanna Osborne.

Sunday the 29th of April 2012 marked a very special day for us here at the Wellington Wedding Show and Mr and Mrs Magazine. We celebrated our Autumn Show together with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of eager patrons, and had a fantastic day relishing and indulging in all things wedding!

The exhibitors went above and beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, and produced some show-stopping stalls, which had many of you coming away with more ideas and inspiration than you could ever have hoped for. It was a sensory delight walking around and taking in all the colourful, elegant, gorgeously decorated sights, and the many smiling enthusiastic faces truly made it feel like one huge party. The vibe and overall ambience was one of joyful, happy people researching ways to make a special occasion even more special with the help of Wellington’s top suppliers at their fingertips.

There was something for everyone – gorgeous makeup, manicures and beauty treatments, beautiful blooms and table settings, divine decorational ideas and hireware aplenty, mouth-watering food and catering options, cutting edge fashion, fantastic live entertainment and amazing DJs, the best photographers, professional marriage celebrants, to-die-for cars, exquisite jewellery, exciting travel options… the list goes on… it was a ball for everyone who came, with many staying for most of the day in order to ensure they didn’t miss a thing!

Sunday’s Wedding Show also marked the launch of Issue 2 of Mr and Mrs magazine and every single one of the many thousands of people through the door got a copy to take away. The feedback has been overwhelmingly great, and it’s little wonder with the stellar job our graphic designer Craig and his team at Graphic Solutions did, along with the many other helping hands that turned our dream into a reality. We are thrilled with the overall look of the magazine, and also incredibly grateful, proud and excited for all the wonderful couples who agreed to share their stories of love, romance and celebration with us. Hopefully they will inspire future brides and grooms with their unique tales.
 

With such a successful day on Sunday, we are now more excited than ever for the Spring Show on Sunday 16th September at the Wellington Town Hall. You don’t want to miss it!

Katie Bevege, Paula Bevege and I at the Mr and Mrs magazine stand

Eager patrons coming in all day long

These 2 handsome gentlemen made for a very warm welcoming committee and these goodie bags ran out very quickly, resulting in a slight bag-refilling emergency frenzy – but we saw to it that no one missed out

Trish from Simply Food inviting us to take a load off

Exquisite

This made my dinner table at home look rather lacking

Beautiful blooms by Katie Bevege

It doesn’t get any more gorgeous than this!

From the front door to the Mr and Mrs stand, the busy Blair O’Neill was never still for long. But lucky for us he took a moment to model next to our Issue 2 cover

Such a prankster!

Some of our eager readers getting excited about issue 2!

We are one big happy family here. Sam and Vanessa, one of the gorgeous couples featured in Mr and Mrs #2, were of tremendous help on the day of the show, giving everyone a sticker on their way in and undertaking countless other tasks

The view from above – a hive of activity!

The youngest Mr and Mrs stand visitor of the day

2 couples preparing to tie the knot Wellington Wedding Style!

More enthusiastic Mr and Mrs stand visitors

Me with 2 of the youngest helpers of the day

Our very own Paula Bevege with her loving husband Blair! The pair celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary 3 days before the show