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Our Dec issue is a great holiday read! We feature 250 plus ideas to inspire you and look at every aspect of your big day! Jewellery, fashion, flowers, grooms and all the finishing touches can be found. We showcase the latest gowns plus gorgeous vintage styling ideas are included. For your reception, we find venue options that have incredible views. There's plenty of gorgeous real-life weddings to read for inspiration. A spot of celebrity style is the icing on the cake! Get your copy now!
The Bride Bloggers
Monthly Archives: November 2010
Simonelli’s New Store!
Bottom left to right, Kirstie Armiger-Grant, Bride Fashion Editor, Julie Simonelli and Jamie Doyle, Bride Editor
A great night out was had in Melbourne’s suburb of Fairfield on Tuesday night! Designer Julie Simonelli hosted a beautiful launch at her brand new store. Her stunning designs for her label Simonelli were all on display and fabulous giant images of past gowns flashed by in a slide show display. Julie has been around since 1994 and the array of different styles of dress was impressive. The Bride team were thrilled to see quite a few gorgeous editorial images from our magazine in there too! Simonelli have been in Ivanhoe for a long time but they haven’t moved far away – just the next suburb actually and quite convenient for all you brides who are inclined toward public transport as it’s right on the train line.
As our editor Jamie and I were saying on the night, they have some extremely luxurious change rooms and perfect styles of gown for the feminine, modern girl. We loved the fabrics and the new shop is really inviting.
If you’re on the hunt for your dress… better put them on the list!
Kirstie :)
Royal Wedding Gown
Image courtesy AP
How exciting for all you brides-to-be. A bit of royal inspiration! Finally after many years of gossip mag’s predictions the announcement came of the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton. Yes we know that there will those out there saying “who cares?” but as a fashion editor this attitude seems a bit kill-joy! There is absolutely no doubt that we will be hearing a lot about this royal wedding and those who feign disinterest now will be pouring over the photos of the dress when it all happens too!
So what type of Bride will Kate Middleton be? I want her to be a bit modern and wear something slimline and sultry. She’s a great looking girl. She’d look brilliant in a Collette Dinnigan sheath but of course she is being strongly advised to choose a British designer. That makes sense so I vote for a contemporary shape from someone edgy like Stella McCartney or some amazingly structured old world form from Vivienne Westwood. It should be classic yet of the era. The best thing about all this and the fun part will be all the conjecture! Should her beautiful hair be up or down? I vote for hair down and sexy. A really glamorous 1930′s wave would be really flattering. Fresh flowers in the hair are not an option unfortunately as that is so pretty but if you are about to become a princess then that is the one time a tiara is actually non-negotiable!
I have already seen some local designers come up with their own suggestions in a local weekly magazine and I must say I really like some of their illustrations. Check Sydney designer Karen Willis Holmes blog
It’s going to be all around us until their big day so let’s get into it now! As Australia’s leading wedding magazine…I hope we get an invite…!
Kirstie
The gift that keeps on giving
Image courtesy Infinity Photography
If you’re in the midst of planning a wedding then there’s not doubt you’ve come across the word bomboniere. For some couples the word brings on a feeling of dread as you try and conjure up a creative and affordable idea that encapsulates the theme of your day.
Bomboniere, or “favors” as they are called in America, are gifts given out at special occasions – be it a wedding, christening or special birthday (very similar to an Italian-style lolly bag!) Traditionally bomboniere consisted of five sugared almonds which symbolised symbolise health, wealth, happiness, fertility and long life. But many couples are breaking from tradition to give their guests something with a bit more meaning.
If you’re a couple that firmly believes in a sustainable living and ethically produced goods, then why not consider buying Fair Trade bomboniere gifts for your big day? There are plenty of shops across Australia that stock Fair Trade gifts, hand-woven baskets, jewellery, pottery or even coffee that is sourced from Fair Trade cooperatives. These organisations ensure all their producers and artisans are paid a just wage and work in fair conditions.
If you’re interested in buying Fair Trade bomboniere gifts (or even Christmas gifts – it’s almost that time of year!) there are some great shops and websites where you can shop online. My favourites include Ethopia.com.au, Oxfam and Global Conduct.
Plus, if you’re a Melbourne-based bride you might want to check out the Good Shepard Shopping Tour which takes participants to Fair Trade shops The Trading Circle, Sankofa and Ethiopa.com.au in inner city Melbourne. The tours will be held on December 4, 9 and 11 and will give you the chance to buy bomboniere gifts (and Christmas presents!) that will help make a difference in the world. For more information on the shopping tours, phone Kym on 03 9416 4584.
And to find more Fair Trade shops or businesses in your local area visit the Fair Trade Directory Australia.
Happy shopping!
Jamie x
Guest post: a real-life bride blogs
Taryn and her fiance Ben
We would like to welcome Taryn Aumann to The Bride Blog!
Taryn Aumann is a Melbourne girl, currently living in New South Wales and will marry her lovely fiance Ben Koetsier on March 12, 2011.
Taryn, a PA and Ben, a field sales manager for Brown Forman Australia have been together for more than three years. The extremely sociable couple met at a mutual friend’s 25th birthday party and have been mixing and collecting friends together ever since! They live for their friends and family and are happiest when surrounded by the ones they love. Ben is a sports nut and will watch and play any sport, especially soccer, while Taryn is a pilates devotee with a passion for shopping (vintage and recycled stores are her vice!)
Taryn will be blogging about her wedding preparations exclusively for Bride.com.au readers, so sit back, relax and enjoy her first post!
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The proposal
In October 2008, Ben was promoted and we moved together from Melbourne to Sydney. It was a big step for both of us because while we had been dating for a little over two years, we’d never lived together before and were about to take this step interstate, without the support of our family and secure group of friends back in Melbourne.
Looking back I must have been optimistic, because as soon as the moving date was set, I went engagement ring shopping with my best friend Eileen! Deciding upon a design, I left this information with her, then casually mentioned to Ben that she had the details… when he was ready.
We settled into our new Sydney life, yet frequently returned to Melbourne to visit those we love. One such trip was planned for my 30th birthday celebration, and I planned a huge party in South Yarra with all my family and friends. I was shocked at the convenience, when my boss said that he’d be flying me to Melbourne for a training course on the Thursday and Friday before my party – this would save me booking flights.
I arrived at Eureka Tower on the Thursday to attend the course. I was escorted to the public viewing deck on level 88 and told that I was to proceed to the private function room on 89. When I climbed the stairs, I found myself alone in a massive room with my beautiful hometown of Melbourne sprawled out before me through floor-to-ceiling glass.
But where were all the other people attending the training course?
I saw a table in front of me with a rose and an envelope addressed to me.
”This is a strange way to start an influential speaking course!” I thought. Tearing myself away from the amazing view, I opened the envelope and saw that it was a poem detailing the way that Ben and I had met one night in a bar, among friends. I started to cry with joy; the training course was a cover, I was getting engaged today!
There were four other tables at viewing points around the room, each with roses and poems about holidays we’d taken, friends we’d made, moments we’d shared. When I came to the last table, I heard Ben, behind me, say, “Hello” and I turned around and he was on one knee with our wonderful city behind him and my exquisite engagement ring in his hand.
We spent the afternoon with seafood, Chandon sparkling wine and each other, at Number 8 restaurant on South Bank calling friends and family with our news.
Ben revealed that he’d had my ring made by Craig at Blizzards Fine Jewellers in Shepparton, where I had once worked, so we called to tell Craig how much I loved it! My birthday party that weekend was twice as good as we shared our wonderful news with all our guests. The best weekend ever!
- Taryn
Stay tuned for Taryn’s next blog – when the wedding planning begins!
Making wedding photography easy
Image courtesy Welsch Photography
When it comes to wedding photography there are two questions I always get asked. The first is, “how can I tell if my photographer is going to do a good job?” and the second is “Why is wedding photography so expensive?”
The answer to the first is – choose a reputable photographer who is registered with the AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography). Choose someone who can show you a portfolio of high quality images and ask for references from their previous clients.
I also tell couples to choose someone they click with (pardon the pun!) because you’ll spend a lot of time with your photographer on the day and if you’re comfortable with them it will be reflected in your photos.
The answer to the second question is always the same – You get what you pay for. I’ll say it again – You Get What You Pay For. Since the advent of the digital camera everyone thinks they are a photographer. But they’re not. There are a lot of cowboys out there who undermine the standards of wedding photographers.
The reason wedding photography is costly is because there is a lot of effort involved.
Your photographer will sit down prior to the day and work on a plan for your images, they will scout the location. On the day they spend almost 6-8 hours (or even longer) with you. After the wedding there is post-production, photo-shopping, image correcting, printing and album-making. And trust me, this takes a lot of skill and practice. But you’re also paying for your photographer’s expertise. For their eye.
A good photographer will capture not just your likeness, but the emotion of the day. Look for the cheap option and you will be disappointed.
So how do you find a good photographer? Recommendations are the best way. Read bridal magazines and look for work you like. Check out the real-life wedding stories in Bride Magazine and on bride.com.au and make a short list of photographers who are of interest. It’s also a good idea to visit brideadviser.com.au – this site allows couples to rate and review their wedding suppliers, so you can read about other couple’s experiences with the photographers you’ve shortlisted and see which photographers other couples have recommended.
You should also make sure your photographer is a member of the AIPP. The AIPP has just launched a free app for iPhones that lists all their accredited members by state. All photographers listed on the app have gone through the accreditation process to become accredited members. To ensure that their skills as a photographer remain of a high standard, as of January 2011, all AIPP accredited photographers must participate in a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program, so you know your AIPP accredited photographer is always at the forefront of technology and professional practice. You can find out more information about the app at www.proweddingphotography.org.au
For more advice and tips on choosing your wedding photographer, pick up the December issue of Melbourne Bride, Sydney Bride or Australian Bride magazine – on sale December 10 at all good newsagents and at Borders.
Jamie x
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