Winter Blues

Is it just me, or is the fact that tomorrow is the 1st of June and the first day of winter depressing? I hate the cold and wet weather and most of all I hate that it seems to be dark all of the time! Anyways I guess there are a few good things that happen in the next three freakishly cold months. I love that June, July and August bring me a lot more football, and hopefully my boys will win plenty more games this season, as well as this there are plenty of netball games left in this season.

Also the next few months will bring lots of planning for the hens party and also my bridal shower. As most of the wedding is planned, it will also bring a lot of hard work to get the wedding bills paid off, hopefully before christmas time. I am also hoping that I will be able to spend a few hours a week at the gym smashing up some fitness! I hate that my fitness has dropped so much after having penumonia. Of course its to be expected, but when you used to run 10km 3 times a week and now struggle to run 1km its pretty diappointing.

Anyways what else is good about winter? I don't think there is much else to be honest, I love September1st! It brings me hope that things are new, and I love that day in October when daylight savings starts!!! Anyways when that day does roll around it will mean that my Hens isnt far away!!!!

The Save The Dates have been sent and hopefully most people will be able to come. I am so excited, Bring on October

The Hens Night

Well this was a detail that up until about 8am today I thought was pretty locked in. But after about the 15th of 20 invitees told me they weren't able to come I decided that a trip to Surfers Paradise wasn't the way to go for a hens weekend. It would have been a fun weekend with theme parks, beach, night markets and my favourite place Planet Hollywood! Dam I hate that they don't have one in Melbs anymore...
So instead I have had a chat with my bridesmaids and have decided the melbourne option to be a more viable option for everyone, money wise it should cost about half the price, it only takes people away from there own lives for 12 hours instead of 4 days and means that everyone who I love can come. well hopefully anyways.

So what are good ideas for hens nights? Pole Dancing? Burlesque? Winery tours? Day Spa? There are so many options! At the moment I am loving the idea of doing a brunch in my home town before we head down to the city, hopefully in a Hummer...but I don't know how much they cost? Or if it'll fit 20 people???

I am loving the idea of a chocolate tour as well and then heading to a yarra river cruise, I went on one a few years back for a Christmas Party and it was great fun! Lots of finger food, lots of drinks, dance floor, and if that fall through I'll be happy to settle for ice skating and KFC at Harbourtown.

So anyone out there reading been to many hens nights? Let me know some ideas?

300 Days to go and its music to my ears

Today is May 27th and that means there is 300 days until the wedding!!! Its coming up unbelievably quickly. Firstly today I would like to apolygise about my post today as I just came off a night shift I have only had about 2.5 hours sleep. Often I bring song lyrics into my posts and thats because I love that music can explain a feeling, a thought, and a memory, so many sonys are so special to me for a number of reasons and thats why I believe music and entertainment are important to a wedding.

These days music and entertainment play an important role, and every couple needs to consider music for both the reception and the ceremony. Firstly consider the style of your wedding, if you are having a church wedding then I would suggest the possibility of an organ or string quartet. Whatever your tastes I think its a detail that needs to be carefully planned. Also it is good to not that your guests will cover a range of age groups and tastes! Also remember you dont want the music so loud that your guests can't have a conversation.

The Ceremony! We are opting for a more fun and laid back ceremony, our song choices will be reletively modern for the arrival of the guests, as for when the bridesmaids and myself walk down the aisle, I won't be dancing down the aisles but I will be pretty close to it I think. Check out the awesome couple who danced down the aisle to Chris Browns Forever. What do you think?

As for the reception there will be a large array of music on my playlist ranging from the 60's through to now, all fun songs, most with an awesome dance beat and most importantly not to sappy, because quite simply Darren and I arent a lovey dovey sappy couple.

Want some money saving options? Ofcourse you do!

• Consider a musician who can play both the ceremony and the reception, one act will be cheaper than two,
• Hire a great DJ instead of a live band, DJ's can play anything and don't need to take breaks, also paying for one person is cheaper than a 5 piece band
• Ask you reception venue for any reccommendations
• Plug your programmed ipod into the PA system
• Any musical friends or relatives? There are lot of people out there who can sing
• Hire a jukebox! These are fantastic
• You could also ask tge DJ to double up at the MC

Bridesmaids Dresses

Today was a great day! Off I went with the bridal party down to my favourite bridal shop Pure Elegance Boutique in Moe and the girls tried on about 8 dresses and we all very luckily liked the same one the best! We have gone with a floor length chiffon option and I am sure the ladies are going to look simply amazing on the day, its a flattering style that would suit all body types and I hope everyone loves it on the day as well.

Check out http://www.pureelegancebridal.com.au/ if you want great service and fantastic prices

So when picking bridesmaids there are a few key details to remember what they will need:
- A dress
- Shoes
- Hair & Make-up
- A Bouquet
- A grommsman ofcourse
- A seat in the wedding car
- A gift often in the form of jewellery to be worn on the day
- And of course a spot at the rehearsal dinner, hens night and bridal shower

So is it usual for the bridesmaids to pay for their own dress, shoes and make-up, but remember the bride will foot the bill for the car spot, the bouquet and obviously the more bridesmaids you have, the more opinions you will recieve. I have had a number of posts about choosing bridesmaids, so head back and have a read if you'd like to see how i decided. But from my decision I can say I know I made the right choice, these girls have been there every step of the way and they have been the best friends to me the last few months too

I guess what I am saying is that you don't need a cast of thousands standing there beside you, you just need the girls that you love, trust and count on the most.

The Photobooth

Ahh the photobooth is an addition to the reception which I would absolutely LOVE to have but budget constraints unfortunately won't alllow it. Most companies provide props for the full effect, they also are usually fantstic quality images and mostly are personalised to the event. The only problem with them is the $$$. However don't get me wrong I don't think the price is unrealistic. Most companies drop and pick up the booth as well as leave an attendant to help incase things go wrong with the machine.

How does it work? Your friends and family, and hey even the bride and groom can get in there and give it a go, usually 6 photos are taken and printed out in 15-30 seconds for the users to take and share around. Most machines are also equipped to save all photos taken so that the bride and groom can et a copy on disk after the event! Not too bad really if you love pictures of everyone?

As I mentioned these are pretty expensive, think $1500-$2500 depending on your location. Want my money saving idea? I am going to set up a Photo Corner! I am going to leave my digital camera there, as I trust everyone at the event I don't think there will be any issues with it getting broken or stolen. I am also going to provide some props, I am thinking a blackboard, prehaps a photo frame, some funny glasses and whatever else I might be able to find at the $2 shop. It may not be as cool as the photo booth but I still think it is going to be a good way of doing it! I'm probably looking to spend $50 on props and then $50 again on printing the digital photos that I like, and $100 is looking a lot better to me than $2500 that it would cost to deliver to my country town.

Blingy Bouquets

The Bling Bouquet is in big time for 2012/2013! What is that I hear you asking? It is adding crystals, your favourite piece of jewellery, diamentes, anything that adds some extra bling to bouquet! And there are a number of florists doing this Australia Wide to give you bouquet some extra pizazz! Is this something you would consider?

I'm not really a fan of flowers, so I am pretty much just having them for the sake of having something to hold while walking down the aisle, of course I want them to look nice, but I would rather spend my money on other aspects of the wedding that are more important to me!

However if you are interested in the bling bouquet idea, check out the below sites and they may be able to help you on your way:
http://www.bouquetswithbling.com.au/
http://www.howdivine.com.au/store/114-bouquet-buckles-and-jewels

I am opting for a more traditional rose bouquet, Mine will be white and yellow roses, and the bridesmaids will just have white roses. Mine won't be quite as elegant as the below picture, but then I don't plan on keeping my bouquet, I will be throwing this one into the arms of a single lady at my big day. Who does plan on having a bouquet just to throw away? It was going to be an extra $80, which I wasn't interested in paying when I have a perfectly good bouquet myself to throw away.

Beach Wedding?

As most of you know I'm not having a beach wedding, but I came across this beautiful photo earlier today. If I was to have a beach wedding this is exactly the setting I would love, the colours reflect the ocean and the sky, simply amazing...