by Johanna Osborne

Thank you so much for joining us at the Wellington Wedding Show on Sunday 13th April. We had a ball and we hope you did too! The feeling for us is much the same every time – so much excitement and anticipation goes into pulling together an unforgettable day. Yes, there’s a few hairy moments during the organisation process, but overall it comes together beautifully, in large thanks to the amazing people that are part of this special day – yes, our fabulous exhibitors.

These are the people that go the extra mile to be part of our Show so they can firsthand display their craft, skill and wares to couples looking for divine inspiration. It takes a lot of effort to produce a “stand” seemingly out of thin air in a relatively short time-frame, which accurately reflects what their business is all about. You must be creative, resourceful and passionate to do this, and each and every one of our exhibitors meets this criteria with flying colours! We really do want to thank our exhibitors from the bottom, middle and tops of our hearts – you are what gives the Wellington Wedding Show its essence and flavour. We are the Show, but you are our talent, and without you there would be no performance. So take a bow, all of you – you did an amazing job and we are so very proud and honoured to have you at The Wellington Wedding Show! Thank you for your efforts, your hard work really did shine through!

Next we simply must thank YOU – yes you, the brides and grooms-to-be, your families, friends and all lovers of weddings in general. You are the people who come through our doors, buy tickets to our Show – you are the fuel to our fire. Your support and enthusiasm is what gives us the motivation to keep going and strive to get bigger and better each time. We want to put on the best possible Wedding Show for you, bring you the best of the best of what is out there, give you the creme de la creme of the wedding industry and make it one big, fun, entertaining day out for everyone. Did we succeed? We think so, and we hope you do too.

We feel honoured and privileged to be able to work in such an exciting and rewarding industry, to come into contact with so many wonderful couples and gifted exhibitors. You are all amazing and we want to thank you all! We don’t take anyone for granted and our promise to you is that we will continue to strive to give you the best. Suggestions and feedback are always welcome.

And of course this year we threw you a little surprise. In addition to holding our usual day of excitement, we had a special treat in store for our fashionistas. The Bridal Couture Showcase Fashion Show as part of Wellington Fashion Week on Saturday 12th April was a MASSIVE success and we are so delighted with how amazing it was. We feel so privileged to have such incredibly talented designers to work with and seeing their creations come to life simply made us burst with pride.

Sad that it’s over? Don’t be! The excitement lives on! Have a look on our website and Facebook page, and you shall see that we are an all-year-round Wedding Show – 365 days of the year. Here we interact with you – exhibitors and couples alike, and we love hearing from you and sharing ideas, inspiration and information. Do you read our blog? Check it out on our website – new and interesting updates weekly, and daily posts on our Facebook page, and of course don’t forget Twitter. We are everywhere! And of course stay tuned for tons of Wellington Wedding Show photos coming at you. We are a team, we need each other and together we can celebrate our success and plan our next adventures! “Viva l’amore!”

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Twitter: Wellington Weddings @WellyWeddShow

by Johanna Osborne

Lights, camera, action! Yes, the Wellington Wedding Show certainly is a big event in the coolest little capital. Every year, twice a year all the best wedding suppliers gather under one roof to wow you with their craft and skill. They are here to show you exactly how they can make your wedding day super special and give you a taste of what it is their business represents. There is someone for everything and there is a superb match for everyone. It’s about finding the perfect fit, and with everyone in one place, in one setting it’s the ideal way to shop for your wedding suppliers. When you know you know, and that “click” you feel when you meet someone or that vibe you get when you see the gown you love, the make up artist you know you can trust or that photographer that you feel at ease with. It’s about what is the best fit for you, your taste and personality. It’s about getting it right and making it special and perfect in every way. The Wellington Wedding Show makes the journey of discovery and research so much easier, it opens doors, invites ideas, and creates inspiration – it’s like walking into one gigantic wedding that is buzzing with entertainment, good music, great food and beautiful things. Who wouldn’t walk out inspired and motivated to carry those wonderful things through to their own wedding day? Come along on Sunday 13th April at TSB Arena and see what we mean. Prepare to be thrilled!

And whilst that is pretty special in itself, this year we have actually gone one step further and teamed up with the awesome Wellington Fashion Week. What an honour to be associated and work together with this prestigious event. We have our very own show on Saturday 12th April! Want to know more? Couture, couture, couture! The Bridal Couture Showcase is brought to you by us here at THE WELLINGTON WEDDING SHOW and will highlight the finest in bridal and formal wear for the season. This gorgeous conglomeration of couture gowns and tailored fashion is sure to get you excited for the upcoming wedding you have in your 2014/15 calendar.

Purchase your ticket to the Bridal Couture Showcase and receive a free ticket to The WELLINGTON WEDDING SHOW to be held the following day, Sunday 13th April 2014. Yes, you read that right, buy a ticket to this unmissable event and you will be rewarded even more with a free ticket to the next day’s excitement. Grab your girlfriends, your Mum, your granny – this is the ultimate girls weekend out!!! You might even need a fan as wedding fever has well and truly broken out!

THE BRIDAL COUTURE SHOWCASE brought to you by the Wellington Wedding Show on Saturday 12th April at Shed 6, 3-4pm

Featuring:

Sally Eagle

Helen Forster

Rasha Taylor

Confetti Bridal

Jessica Bloom

For Every Minute

Make-up: Rebecca Connor

Performance by: Elita

Managed and styled by Charlotte Wood Events.

THE WELLINGTON WEDDING SHOW on Sunday 13th April at TSB Arena, 10am – 3.30pm

www.thewellingtonweddingshow.co.nz

by Johanna Osborne

We all love a handy hint or two so we have compiled a list of our favourite Wedding Tips – just for you. Prepare to handy hint yourself from tip to toe! More to come in the next few weeks!

 
1. Rain? So what? Whilst we all dream of sunny and warm, it might just rain on your big day. If it looks like that might be the case, go with it but go prepared. Purchase umbrellas for the bridal party and also guests, make them nice ones in your colour scheme. You might just be surprised how totally awesome the photos turn out. Embrace what mother nature rolls out at you, and remember rain on your wedding day is good luck!

2. Sparkle! Have your engagement ring cleaned and ready for the big day so it matches your brand new wedding band.

3. Kids? If you are inviting little guests think ahead. Hire a babysitter/party entertainer, have activities and bits and pieces ready for them – balloons, colouring in gear, little gifts and trinkets. Happy kids = happy parents. Not to mention no screaming tantrums during your precious “I do’s”!

4. Take a few moments out from mingling and hob-nobbing. Sit at the head table, link arms with your new hubby and look around. Soak it all in. Watch everyone having fun. It’s your party and they are all there celebrating your love. This stuff is gold and make sure you take lots of mental pictures of that very special once-in-a-lifetime scene unfolding right in front of your eyes.

5. Make sure you eat. Have your caterer get you some food during the photos or even to take back to your hotel. You will not have enough time to eat and you will be starving! Look after yourself and enjoy your divine wedding fare.

6. Pick your best look. It’s fun to look awesome but remember to let your style (dress, hair, makeup etc) reflect you. You want to feel like yourself, be comfortable and look good, and you can only achieve that if you feel like you are being true to you. Not to mention your hubby, if he thinks he sees Dolly Parton coming down the aisle he might beat a hasty retreat!

7. Honey! The honeymoon is just as important as the wedding. It’s your chance to be together, unwind and bask in your newly married glow. Make sure you prepare for it, research the weather and pack accordingly, have your flight information and passports ready – especially if you leave soon after the wedding. Last thing you want is a frantic last minute search for the important documents.

8. Guests remember food, drink, music and ambience. Their enjoyment largely depends on the “party” you put on. So don’t scrimp on food and drink. They will have a good time, relax and enjoy themselves and go home with good memories. Your speeches add to the mood and tone of the night, so don’t hold back, get emotional if you want to. It’s a love fest after all!

9. Rent a photobooth. See above point. The photos will be priceless keepsakes and also double as party favours! ‘Nuff said.

10. RSVP. On your RSVP cards let guests write a song they would like played at the wedding. It will make for a happy dancefloor!

11. Shoes. Sure your dress is the main thing but don’t neglect your footwear. Pick a great pair of shoes, gorgeous, glitzy ones if that’s your thing and make sure they are comfy. You will be dancing and strutting in them, make sure you can move. And even better, if you love them you can and will wear them again!

12. Sweaty Betty. Ha ha. Gotcha. Don’t sweat if you can help it. Seriously, don’t sweat the small stuff! Rise above it. No one will know if something went wrong, and even if it does, so what. It’s not a performance, it’s a party and parties never follow an exact plan. Go with it and enjoy every moment.

13. Style, good taste, great time planning, the ability to think ahead and communicate clearly – they are things unrelated to any budget yet can make or break a wedding plan. If you can put into words (or find pictures of) what it is you want then others will share your dream and goal with you. Just remember no one is a mind-reader.

14. Speak! Oh boy, most of us would rather jump in the ring with an angry bull than take the microphone, but trust me, you won’t regret it. A bride who speaks sincerely and from the heart – however short – will be a bride that gives everyone a piece of love to take home. Not to mention how chuffed and proud your groom will be!

15. Dance. Oh yes, dancing isn’t for everyone, but if you can try to take some lessons. Simple steps, a jovial, gorgeous song. Your first dance will be a memory forever and everyone will love being part of it. It’s worth making the effort and you will be so proud and glad you did. Best of all, no one will see your footwork under your big gown, even a simple shuffle will look elegant as your beautiful dress spins around. Good luck, be brave, you can do it!

by Johanna Osborne

 
We all know it’s good to be polite and ladylike, but sometimes there are situations where it’s very hard to know which road to take. Especially as we live in the modern day and age where things are rapidly changing every minute, yet the institution of marriage remains an old school traditional one. Sometimes we need to be reminded what is expected and what exactly is “the done thing”. Other times though we just might throw caution to the wind and do what feels right! Hey, you only live once! Here are a few important wedding day etiquette questions that some of our readers have asked us, and we hope they might help you along the way.

1. Who should be the first to know that I’m engaged?

Your nearest and dearest of course. And as tempting as it might be, don’t post a thing on Facebook or Twitter until you have told everyone that matters in real life and in real time. Parents, family members, godparents, and anyone you are particularly close with should also be told before the news is public knowledge.

2. Is it standard to expect gifts at our engagement party?

Engagement gifts are becoming more and more common, but it all depends on the type of party you have to celebrate. Guests will look to the extravagance of the event to mirror what they bring and and give. Engagement gifts are nice and it’s good manners to bring one, but not everyone may feel that way.

3. How do I get my guests to RSVP?

This can be trickier than you think! Give guests time to respond, especially if there is travel involved. Sending pre-stamped cards or giving an RSVP via email option might also encourage guests to respond faster. We recommend that at least one week before the exact numbers are due to be given to vendors, make follow-up calls to guests who have yet to reply. This is a great time to ask your wedding party or family for some help as well. And it will really save you time and hassle – not to mention unexpected costs – to get the correct numbers. It is good manners to RSVP promptly and we hope your guests will help you out on this!

4. What can I expect my bridesmaids to do?

Bridesmaids assist in the planning of the wedding, help the bride choose her dress, attend fittings for their own dresses, and of course any wedding related parties. Often bridesmaids will also throw a bridal shower in the lead up to the wedding with games and other activities involved. A “high tea” style celebration is becoming increasingly popular, as are day trips to vineyards and fun lunches out. It really depends on the bride and her preferences. On the wedding day itself bridesmaids can be invaluable in calming the bride’s nerves, making sure the train of her dress sits right and keep her looking refreshed and beautiful by attending to her needs – not to mention be in possession of the all important bridal emergency kit (see earlier blog post for exact suggested contents). Bridesmaids are also great at helping the bride use the bathroom (especially if the dress is big!), greeting and making guests feel welcome, handing out the cake later in the evening and generally spreading cheer and goodwill around the reception.

5. Is it ok not to have a cake?

Whilst we can’t really understand why anyone would not want a gorgeous darling cake to cut and enjoy, we have heard of couples opting for other things in its place, like a giant cheese platter or a candy bar. It’s all ok, as long as you are happy with it. Just remember a cake fulfills a certain sense of tradition and provides a wonderful celebratory part of your day, not to mention photo opportunities. Do what you feel is right, but if you do skip the cake, make sure you incorporate some other type of ritual or celebration that your guests can be part of and enjoy alongside you.

6. Is it acceptable to use my phone or camera to put photos online during/straight after my friend’s wedding?

When in doubt, it’s better to ask the couple’s permission before posting photos to any social media outlet – especially during the ceremony. Uploading photos not only distracts you from participating in the moment, but it also broadcasts details of the event to people who may not have been invited. The bride and groom may also not want the first glimpse of their images to be on your iPhone and rather the gorgeous shots they paid for.

7. What is the correct gift registry etiquette?

We all love to get gifts, and weddings are a perfect occasion for gift-giving. As the happy couple, just remember to always feel privileged—not entitled.

•Do not print registry information on the invitation – if you opt to print it, put it on a separate piece of paper.
•Be careful when asking for cash gifts so as not to offend guests, particularly older guests; your close friends or family numbers can inform guests of your preferences if asked. Alternatively you may opt to use a cute poem to show your preference in the invitation. A “wishing well” can be nicely introduced by including a small card letting guests know you’ll be having one and make sure you word it so they know they don’t have to give cash if they don’t want to. A cute and popular poem to use is: ‘Most things we need we’ve already got and in our house we can’t fit a lot, so a donation to our wishing-well would be great, but only if you want to participate!’
•Respond to each gift with a personal hand-written thank you note within a few weeks of receiving the gift (or after returning from your honeymoon). This is good manners and makes guests feel like their gift was received and appreciated. This is very important and should never be overlooked or underestimated.

8. Is it ok to have a cash bar at my reception?

Weddings sure are expensive and couples should be on the lookout for budget saving tips and try to save money where and when they can. But never in our humble opinion – under any circumstances – should you ever consider hosting a cash bar at your reception! After all, you would never ask anyone to pay for a cocktail at your house. People at your reception are your guests, even if it’s not in your home, it’s still your party. Having said that, if a full bar is not within your budget, perhaps some other options could help:

•Host a soft bar, in which guests can order champagne, beer and wine. Or simply serve 2 types of cocktails of your choosing and water/soft drinks only.
•Find a reception site that allows you to bring in your own alcohol- you will save serious cash, and anything unopened can be returned for a full refund.
•Cut down the size of your guest list if possible. This is a significant (albeit difficult) way to reduce costs

by Johanna Osborne

I had a visit from my Mum recently. In the 36 years I’ve been on this planet I’ve never lived anywhere but in a 25km radius of where she is.That all changed in January this year when I moved to Australia. Certainly a hard goodbye, a big transition and an enormous change to my controlled neat little life.

But I have to say it’s working out well and we are happy here. But the icing on the cake came when my Mum arrived for a visit, the sense of joy and calm that came over me the minute she got here was almost indescribable. Her opinion, approval and general buoyant attitude gave me the much needed boost I was craving. Someone whose opinion matters more than most, telling me that the choices we have made here are good. Sometimes it takes the reassurance of those we love to give us an inner peace we would not otherwise have.

My Mum helped me so much, shared outings and adventures, enjoyed my son with me and made me see the joy in every day. She is my undying supporter, wants me to be happy, will do anything for me and is always there for me. How many people can we truly say that about?

It made me think of all the special moments in a mother daughter/relationship, and perhaps most importantly the unique and extremely special journey that a Mum and her little girl share in the lead up to her wedding. It’s possibly the most extraordinary time in the lifespan of a mother and daughter, and I believe it pays to be aware of that in advance, because it’s so easy to get caught up with silly distractions, unnecessary worries and inevitable stress. Your Mum was the first to see you get dressed up as a child, and now to see you all grown up in front of her in your gorgeous gown will mean the world to her. She has escorted you through the milestones in your life and raised you to be the woman you are. The pride, wonder and awe she will feel is understandable. The effort and achievement she has put into getting you this far? Beyond commendable. The woman who gave you life and raised you right deserves respect and to be celebrated in her own way during this special time. My advice; share this journey with your Mum (and/or your fiance’s) if you can, involve her as much as possible in the choices, the decisions… you might well be surprised at the sage pearls of wisdom that your Mummy shares with you, and you might just be very grateful for the advice she gives and the experience she can draw from. You could even tie her own wedding into yours – her dress, some jewellery, a few photos from her big day? This would certainly be a lovely trip down memory lane for all involved. From personal experience I can say that both my parents were an incredible part of my wedding day, as were my husband’s parents. And we wouldn’t have had it any other way. They were a big reason why our day was so special and everyone commented on it; the family emphasis and bond between us was what made everyone feel part of something extraordinary, and the loving and warm vibe put everyone in a jovial and festive mood.

I know not everyone is lucky enough to have a Mum with them and I know that this time may be all the harder for it. Missing someone we care deeply about is never easy, and whilst as a child we believe we believe we will have both parents present on our wedding day, it might not always turn out like that. But if you are lucky enough to have your Mum and Dad by your side, then as the saying goes – don’t wait for their empty chair to remind you how much they mean to you. Love them now and show them how much! This is a celebration of love, and love means family and togetherness!

Salut La Familia – long live family!