Blog

Wellington Wedding Show Blog 17^th February 2010,

Experience and hindsight are a wonderful thing! How many times do we think “if only I had known then what a know now- life would be very different! “ Weddings as much the same, I am sure every bride could write a small novel on helpful hints and what not to do, once she is Mrs ….. after the process in complete.

Being privileged enough to have the most amazing job in the world I get to be involved with many weddings every year. This is certainly the best way to gain an infinite knowledge of everything weddings! For most of you a wedding is the first time you have embarked on such a project, (a very important project that’s involves lot of money, time and emotion). But never fear! I have the perfect resource for you! Your many wedding suppliers who have a wealth of knowledge and experience! Yes, it is your day and your vision and you may have a clear idea of what you want, but don’t be afraid to ask for advice! They have the information- just go and get it! In my experience anyone who is involved in the wedding industry has to have a huge passion for it. They will love to speak with you and help where they can. The Wedding Industry is all about personal service. When I discuss this with my colleagues they all say the favourite part of their job is the relationships they develop with their clients. How lucky we are to be involved with very “Happy Couples"

At one of my most gorgeous weddings in January, the bride mentioned in her speech all her selected suppliers and thanked them personally (she was obviously a very “Happy” bride). One particular mention was to Hair and Makeup Artist Hil Cook and her team. The bride said “she couldn’t believe what an amazing day they had had getting ready, full of fun, pampering and giggles, she almost forgot about getting married”. I think it is so important for a bride to really enjoy being spoilt on the day and to spend time with your family and bridesmaid’s. These are the moments you will remember. So many brides I speak to, so often think hair and makeup is something they can do themselves or may have a friend who is really good it. This is one thing I certainly would rate in my top 5 of must haves! You deserve to arrive at your wedding looking fabulous and feeling great- my advice, hire a makeup artist and hairdresser and I promise you, you will be a “Happy Bride”….

The very “Happy and Beautiful Brides” you see in this blog are some Hil Cook favourite images. We asked Hil what her tip would be for “Happy Couples”, her pearls of wisdom below;

Never go to bed angry at one another! This was a pact that my hubby and I made on the day we got married 9 years ago and I am still madly in love. I also think a good tip is ... 'hide your arse at all times!' he he………

Couldn’t have said it better myself!

Happing planning;

Paula x

Wellington Wedding Show Blog 27^th January 2010

Happy New Year,

Spending time your loved ones over the Christmas break makes you realise how important people are. Happy memories and fun times, hopefully you captured these on film to treasure for a long time.

Weddings are much the same, you need to capture those special moments and people. Your big day is over, your dress is worn and dirty, your flowers are dead and the bills are rolling in, what do you have to look forward to? (Besides your new life as a married woman with your gorgeous new husband) Your photographs! Quite a lot of pressure for one person to manage, luckily we have an amazing range of photographers in Wellington.

A good photographer will capture the essence of the day, those special moments, embraces, laughter, tears and details. I think when selecting a photographer communication is the key. Make sure you fully understand the package you have chosen. The main points you need to cover are;

Timings on the day

Album options

Prints for family and friends

Style of photography

Group and family shots (make a list)

Payment terms

Delivery times and deadlines

I think the most important thing is that you like and get on well with your photographer. You get to spend a reasonable amount of time with them on the day (up close and personal) If you are comfortable with your photographer it will show in the photos. You also need to like their style of photography and choice of locations. Photography is an art and each photographer has a different style and vision.

Today, I would like to talk about one of the nicest men I know, Photographer Rob Driessen. I have had the pleasure of working with Rob on many weddings. His quiet and gentle approach certainly brings out the best in people, his images are beautiful.

Robs Advise for “Happy Couples”

My tip for ‘happy couples on their wedding day’: LET IT GO. With this I mean that couples should trust the professionals they hire and let them take over on their day and in doing so spend their time enjoying their own wedding. It seems to be a bit of a Wellington thing, probably because of the corporate world that is so evident in this city, but I see too many brides micro-managing their own wedding on their wedding day.

Great advice Rob, we totally agree! Trust your supplier, they know what they are doing and you will be a “Happy Couple”

Here are some of Rob’s favourite images of his “Happy Couples”

Happy Planning

Paula x

Tuesday 24^th November Wellington Woman!

Angela and I are immensely proud to run the Wellington Wedding Show as we believe Wellington has some of the best suppliers in New Zealand. Wellington is bursting with talented and creative people and we both feel privileged to live in such an amazing city. We particularly love our WWS logo and think our 2 big W’s make a happy couple.

Another fantastic business who also shares WW’s is “Wellington Woman”. We both love this magazine run by the talented William Davenport. “Wellington Woman” features inspiring articles on woman who have positive impacts in our area. It covers everything from fashion, health and business, providing informative and relevant topics and points of interest. It really is a cover to cover read. William also produces the highly successful Café Culture, another magazine we love to pore over.

Angela and I will be on the December cover of Wellington Woman which will feature an insight of what goes on behind the scenes when putting on The Wellington Wedding Show. We had a fun day shooting the cover especially the part where we were being pampered and fussed over looking quite glamorous. We had Dara Wakely do our makeup with Mac products and we were also lucky enough to wear some gorgeous garments from Ashley Fogel. (so gorgeous in fact we didn’t want to give them back).

Our photo shoot was at the fabulous Museum Hotel. The Museum Hotel is a boutique hotel with gorgeous harbour views and opulent décor. Angela and I love the High Tea in Hippopotamus Restaurant, divine food and tea served in vintage china. Kathy Tipler the General Manager of The Museum Hotel was the perfect hostess looking after our every need.

So join us in our toast to all Wellington Woman and happy couples.

Wellington Wedding Show Blog- Tuesday 17^th November

Maths, Budgets and Happy Couples

At The Wellington Wedding Show we have a simple equation Happy Bride = Happy Couple

How can you be a Happy Bride? Our advice is to be a bride not a DIY decorator, caterer or anything else. Enjoy the day as the most beautiful person in the room next to her new husband surrounded by those who love you.

We are exposed to so many beautiful magazines and information about weddings it is easy to aspire to a “dream” wedding. There is nothing wrong with this as long as it achievable in your budget. AHHHHHH the dreaded B word. As a wedding planner I cannot stress enough how important the budget is. If you have a realistic and well planned budget from the beginning you will save yourself a mountain of headaches and drama = unhappy bride. The budget should be your friend not your enemy, you and your budget should be a Happy Couple. Put your budget in a special place in your wedding folder and take it wherever you go. You will be surprised how many decisions your budget makes for you. Big or Small your budget will help you decide what is important to you. You might not be able to do everything you want but it’s better to have a few really good suppliers than a multitude of bad ones. It really is one of the most important days of your lives so not worth taking risks. Take the time to do your research on all suppliers I can promise you, you will be a happy bride which = “Happy Couple”.

One of my grooms (Josh you know who you are) recently told me he had been given a wise tip for engaged men from a wise married man, “Smile lots and ask lots of questions” use soft phrases like “What do you think dear? ” , “I agree with you”, “Anything you want is fine with me”. I think this simple equation of; wedding + supportive groom = happy bride= Happy Couple.

We love this clip of a fantastic entrance; you would have to agree they truly are a “Happy Couple”.

Click here to watch the clip!

Happy Planning

Paula x

Tuesday 10^th November – Happy Couples

It is with great pleasure I bring you the first Wellington Wedding Show Blog. I am delighted to join Angela in running this hugely success event. Angela and I share a huge passion for weddings and spend hours at weddings, talking to brides, pouring over piles of magazines, researching websites, basically we walk, talk and breath weddings. Together we make a Happy Couple.

One of my first encounters with Angela was helping to style her own wedding. Angela and her husband Kevin surprised their guests inviting then to the christening of their son. But not only was it a christening is was a long awaited wedding as well. The Azzurra room at The Overseas Terminal was transformed with a gorgeous aqua blue and white colour scheme using white phalanopsis orchids. She looked stunning in a Trelise Cooper Dress and Kevin was super dapper in open next linen shirt. Another Happy Couple.

A few years later I myself married my husband Blair at the Wellington Opera House. We had the ceremony on the first floor, with 8 little attendants. I was lucky enough to have the immensely talented Alison Blain design my dress, made in French pink beaded lace. We surprised guests with dinner on the stage. It looked amazing as my dear Adrian from Backlight designed my lighting, I had gorgeous glass chandeliers hung over the long tables and masses of orchids and oriental lilies in vintage vases. The icing on the cake was of course having the Mission Choir sing from the dress circle, they really are so joyous. As you can imagine we were and still are a very Happy Couple.

Which brings me to the most important Happy Couples….. You of course! Our mission at the Wellington Wedding Show is to make as many Happy Couples as possible. Your wedding should be full of joy and celebration not stress and worry. We will bring you lots of tips and advice on how to have the happiest wedding imaginable. We won’t be offering lots of DIY tips to stress out, instead we believe it’s all about choosing the right supplier…………. Keep watching for more to come.

Happy Planning

Paula x

Maths, Budgets and Happy Couples

At The Wellington Wedding Show we have a simple equation Happy Bride = Happy Couple

We love this clip of a fantastic entrance; you would have to agree they truly are a “Happy Couple”.

Click here for a giggle!!!

Happy Planning

Paula x