And now the fun part starts, organising your wedding, your way! But where do you start, you might ask. Well having organised at least one of my two  weddings, I think I can help you I this area.

Firstly, you must decide whether you have the time and inclination to organise your wedding yourself with the help of family, or would you like to have it professionally done through a wedding planner?

A wedding day can be one of the most important days in your life. Many dream about it, mentally planning everything even before the proposal. It should be remembered for being the happiest day of your life, not because you’re still paying it off. So how you do it, depends greatly on funding. For your personal usage and to help out, I’ve put in the link for “Our Wedding Planner” for download and printing. It contains all the information in every area you need to plan your own wedding, monthly, weekly and daily, and you can write  your notes and accounts in all categories and sub-categories.

You could put your savings in a high interest “E-account” online, most banks have this now, and limit the spending to only wedding items. By the time he wedding comes due, you could have saved most of the costs for it. By planning it yourself, you can save an incredible amount of money, and there are plenty of research tools available for ideas on the internet or the multitude of books available on the subject. Veering away from the normal weekend wedding in the spring or summer can also save you an enormous amount, as hiring costs are much less then. The trick is, to make a plan and budget and stick to it.

When you’ve decided on a wedding date, a budget or how much you can afford to spend and can realistically save between your engagement and wedding, you should decide on the amount of guests you would like to have, and can afford to invite, because the reception takes a large amount of the budget too. And don’t forget the little things like wedding favours, jewellery etc. It all mounts up.

 I’ve put some information below, that you might find helpful:-

Wedding Dresses: Do you know someone who can sew, and make your dress, and perhaps the bridesmaids dresses without charging the earth? If so, perhaps you could buy the materials, patterns, cottons etc, cut out the material and help with the handsewing, like  I did. That would help to keep the price down. If not there shops around with beautiful dresses available for under $500. www.sales@ashasbridal.com.au   Or you can order your gorgeous new dress online, made especially in your size,  from China for under $200 + shipping. www.Ebay.com

 Bridal Bouquets: Now this one’s a little harder. Depending on what kind of bouquet you wish to have, you may know someone who can make these up for you or have a go yourself to make a beautiful posy of fresh or artificial flowers. Don’t forget the bridesmaids flowers, corsages for Mum’s and Grannies’ and the button holes for the guys. Otherwise a florist will be the answer, although I must say, today there are a lot of ladies working from home in this area that are cheaper and do a good job too. If you wish to marry in a church, the church will need some flowers, but you could ask if they have someone who does this and if it is included in the price to be paid for the service. Pew decorations are also something very easy to decorate with tulle and flowers or with ribbons. Loads of ideas in wedding books for this. Or perhaps you’d rather get married in a park or on a beach.  That would be great too, but don’t forget to get permission from the revelant Councils for this. 

 Wedding Cakes: Do you know someone who can bake you a wedding cake you’d like? It doesn’t have to be a three/four tiered cake, you could have two single tiers, or tiers of cup cakes in pretty wedding cake cups on stands. Most Mums/Grannies can do those and they are all the rage today. You can have one for each guest. 

Wedding Cars:  You could borrow cars from family or friends for the day. A couple of them may have a car in the colour or brand you want? A wash and polish, some tulle in the back and a wedding ribbon on the front in white for the bride and the colour of your bridesmaids dresses on the other. We actually borrowed a Statesman and a Ford in white for our wedding cars, and they looked great on the photos.

Reception: Instead having it in a reception centre, you can hire a hall, decorate it and set the tables yourself, with the help of your family, in the colours of your wedding theme. You’d be amazed at what streamers and balloons can do. Choose one that has tables and chairs included in the price of hire, and perhaps table cloths too. Also that a kitchen is available for your use too with fridges and hot water service, unless you decide to use a caterer. Depending on your wishes, there are firms that hire everything required for wedding receptions and are not that expensive. You’ll need things like glasses, cutlery plates etc. We actually got married in the school gym hall that we hired for our reception, it it was really fantastic because we had everything and everyone in the one place.

Table Decorations: Now there are endless possibilities for these. Vases of fresh flowers, candles, a bowl of fresh flower petals with tea-lights surrounding it, planter pot with flowers candelabras, a wishing well, or a heavy block of wood wrapped in pretty paper with helium balloons tied to it by pretty ribbons etc. etc. Whatever takes your fancy and whatever your theme is. Wedding books and internet will give you plenty of ideas, if you just don’t know. And the beauty of it is, most of them you can make yourself if you are just a little handy.

 Wedding Supper: Perhaps you have someone you know amongst your friends or family who is an excellent cook.  Could they help you cater. You don’t have to have a sit-down dinner, you can have a cold smorgasbord (which is fairly simple to put together) or just finger food, depending on what time it is and sort of reception you will have. Lots of dishes can be prepared before the day and suitably stored until they are needed.

Drinks/Bar: Now here’s where you can really save. You can buy alcoholic and not alcoholic drinks on a weekly or monthly basis when they are on special and store them until you have the amount and assortment needed for your reception. At the reception hall, you can set up a trestle and have friends serving beverages form there. We actually had the children (16-18yr olds) of friends invited to our wedding taking care of heating food, putting it out on trestles, making coffee/tea, serving the drinks, cutting and bagging the wedding cake, doing dishes, etc. for us, so that the parents on both sides didn’t have to do any work on the day. But don’t forget to go get that necessary limited licence from your Liquor Licencing dept, otherwise you will not be allowed to do it that way. They are very inexpensive too.

Music: Perhaps you know someone who has a great music collection or is a DJ to play at your reception. If not, there are plenty of DJ’s out there to hire for an evening. But don’t forget to sit down and stipulate the type of music you want played and for how long they will be required. Discuss costs and breaks in between sets. Also will you supply him/her with dinner and/or refreshments etc. and is this included in the price?

Photos and/or Video: Professional photographers/videographers are very expensive these days although most do fabulous work. But you know I find that the best photos are the one taken randomly, and this can be done by giving friends and family an instamatic camera and let them click away. Afterward you could get these printed out (the cost of this is sometimes included in with the camera) and you’ll be surprised at what comes out of this – the most amazing and beautiful photos which you can enlarge and make albums out of, whether this be in scrap-booking or in bought albums. If you know someone with a video camera, you could ask them to take a video for you of your celebrations and wedding ceremony too. We did exactly that, and sent them over to Europe as well to family who couldn’t join us for the day.

Wedding Invitations/Thank You Cards/Place Cards: These also are very easy to do these days and very personal too. You can buy complete sets of these at a fairly reasonable price from any print shop and fill them in yourself or have someone you know with a beautiful handwriting to do this for you. Or you can actually make these yourself on your computer or do it with scrap-booking too. There are lots of beautiful and different papers/carding, ribbons/stones etc. available to do this with, it’s all up to you and your imagination!

Wedding Favours: This is also something that you and your imagination can get into well before your big day. There are endless possibilities like bomboniere, sugared almonds in a piece of netting tied with a pretty ribbon, or chocolates done the same way. A relative of mine actually made individual glasses for each guest, by buying stemmed glasses for the ladies and shot glasses for the guys, and then painted on the bride and grooms names and the wedding date and their thank yous,  in special paint in the colour theme of their wedding. They came out extraordinarily well, looked great and was something the guest could use again and again and think of this couple’s special day.

 Well I hope that I have been of some help to you lovely people out there, and if you have any questions, please don’t hestitate to ask.

Catleya orchids and roses wedding bouquet

Catleya orchids and roses wedding bouquet Orchids and roses have been a firm favourite of brides for their wedding bouquets over the years and are available from growers and florists all year round.    

The Bridal bouquet– This is one of the most significant requirements that you’re going to need on your wedding day. The bridal bouquet is of great importance as it is the centre of attraction at the wedding. Rose, orchids, tulips, carnations, cala lilies etc are some hot picks for bridal bouquets.    

The picture opposite is one of my all time favourites and consists of Catleya orchids and classic red roses with variegated dracena, assorted foliages and beautiful silver brocade ribbons. It has an elegant and romantic design that really appeals.    

The orchid is a classic flower and comes in many forms, shapes and colours. The most widely used of these in wedding bouquets are Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, Cala, Dendrobiums and Catleya. As shown in the opposite photo, the Catleya orchid can be the focal point of bridal bouquets and also corsages. Smaller orchids such as the Cymbidium and Dendrobium orchids make fancy additions to cascading bouquets. And like roses, they are often teamed with fern and baby’s breath.    

  Orchids have always been looked upon as exotic, and even mysterious flowers.  

Gorgeous bright purple/pink Phalaenopsis orchids

 They conjure up images of jungles in faraway lands and admiration for them goes back a long way, particularly in the Orient. Confucius compared the company of good friends with a room full of fragrant orchids, and they feature prominently in Chinese paintings and literature. In some Indonesian islands, princesses wore phalaenopsis orchids in their hair, as a symbol of their royal blood. Roses are often referred to as “Queen of the Flowers! They make a wonderful and romantic choice for weddings and have been the most popular flowers chosen by brides for the past 20-30 years and rightly so! The rose comes in a kaleidoscope of colours and sizes, giving brides an extensive selection year round. Closed buds in the darker tones are best for a more formal bouquet, while open roses in a lighter shade look more informal. Judged to be the most romantic of all flowers they can be teamed up with most flowers available in today’s market. Roses are suitable for all types of weddings however your bouquet will depend on the style of you gown.  

  For example: – For a Formal cathedral wedding, even if the dress is very elaborate, the bride would carry a large bouquet of half-open and bud roses in white, with green foliage and baby’s breath. Possibly the bouquet would be held to one side so as not to hide the gown.  

In a Semi formal church wedding, if the bride is wearing a fairly elaborate gown with fully pearled and sequinned bodice, and panels of the same around the edge of the skirt, she would carry an average sized bouquet of bud and half-open roses, either all white or with a touch of colour to match the bridesmaids dresses. 

Semi-formal garden wedding: Off the shoulder gowns with full skirts are very popular for this type of wedding and a larger bouquet of open, half-open and bud roses would be very suitable.

Informal garden or beach wedding: An unstructured medium to large posy of coloured half-opened and bud roses would be lovely for this.

Registry Office weddings: A small posy or spray of half open roses in soft pastel colours would be very suitable.

Bride in Veil with a romantic Red Rose Bouquet

  With all that written, I must state here that today’s bride is more into colours than the white theme. Colours matching the theme of her wedding or the bridesmaids dresses, or perhaps opposite hues on the colour wheel. For example: – dark blue to light blue or black to white! This has become a trend over the years, and a beautiful one it is too, and there is no reason why this should not continue. As a matter of fact, the colour black is creeping into wedding themes more so today than ever before for bridesmaids dresses or pants suits for the bride. I believe it is a very personal taste ( not mine) and even leads to black and white bridal cakes.   

European brides have been using this trend on and off for a while now and carry their bouquets different form those in mainstay Australia. They usually carry them on the arm and the flowers cascade down and away form the body. But although the first point of call is the registry office to have their marriage somlemnised legally and then have a church wedding about a week later, if this is wanted or needed for religious reasons. 

 With the smells and hues of flowers you can make magic! And don’t forget to carry the flowers on through to your church pews and alter and reception area. You could even put some in your transportation, as well as for corsages for the ladies and button-holes for the men.

Just a short note on whether to have fresh flowers or artificial. This choice is entirely up to the bride and both have pros and cons. There are some exquisite artificial flowers available to your florist today, and by choosing these, you get to keep your bouquet for ever. Of course fresh is the wish for most brides and they can also be dried, preserved and framed.

White is Bridal

Wedding Planner

in front of the church

Under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia, a couple must lodge Notice of Intended Marriage with an authorised religious or civil marriage celebrant. This document may be lodged up to 18 months befor the ceremony date, but no later that one calender month before the wedding day. Prior to the wedding, you will also need to provide birth certificates if born in Australia, and where applicable evidence of the termination of previous marriage. If born outside of Australia, a birth certificate or an overseas passport is acceptable for identification. For further information please see the Attorney General’s website www.ag.gov.au/celebrants  If you do not have a good understanding of the English language, then a translator must be present at the wedding. To contact Translating and Interpreting services (TIS) phone their toll free number: 131 450

You’ve made the decision to get married but now you need to make another very important decision on where you will get married. Do you go with the tradition of a church ceremony with a religious minister or other church leader, the versatility of a civil ceremony in the place of your choice with an authorised civil celebrant or the simplicity of a registry office?

Your Vows are considered to be some of  the most important words that you will ever say to one another. Many couples choose to write their own vows as an original and personal expression of love they have for each other instead of the traditional ones applicable to every religion, or well known ones. They are a commitment of your life together and should be kept simple and honest. For suggestions, you may talk with your wedding celebrant or check the internet.

Church Weddings are the traditional way to be married for around 60% of Australians, and most do so for religious reasons. Most church leaders will advise pre-marital councelling sessions and some will require you to fill out questionnaires/surveys to determine if your marriage will work according to their faith. Most will provide some freedom to choose the elements of the ceremony.

Dendrobium orchid in pink/blue hues

To be married at the Birth, Deaths and Marriages Registration Office, you must follow the protocol expected of any marriage by completing and lodging the required forms and information within the required timeframe. For more information ring your local office. The cost is about $AU46 and there is seating available for your guests.

Since the inception of the Civil Marriage Celebrant Program in 1973, many couples have been married in a variety of locations, themes and styles. Some couples choose to face their guests whilest exchanging vows, and using a civil celebrant allows this flexibility. Choosing your civil celebrant wisely will ensure that your wedding ceremony will be perfect, as he/she will personalise the ceremony to your individual taste and be able to advise you on so many other aspects of your wedding.

Whether you’re having a wedding on a budget or one of great extravagance, whether it’s a church wedding or one on the beach,  park, or in your own beautiful garden, it remains to be one of the greatest and most important days of your life. And while you organise and plan your big day, don’t forget about the total love you have for each other and to enjoy the experience, whichever way you choose to do it!

  

                                                 

There are different kinds including nosegay, crescent, and cascading bouquets. Flower bouquets are often given for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries They are also used extensively in weddings. Traditionally the bride will hold the bouquet, and the maid of Honour will hold it during the ceremony. After the wedding the bride will toss it over her shoulder, and it is believed that whoever catches the bouquet is the next in line to be married. This practice may be related to the Golden Apple of Discord myth.

An apple of discord are references to the Golden Apple of Discord which, according to Greek mythology the goddess Eris said that she would give “to the fairest” at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, sparking a vanity-fuelled dispute between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite that eventually led to the Trojan War. Even before flower bouquets were used by brides in wedding they were used in a different form of art. They appeared as early as the 17th century and possibly earlier. Flower bouquets were captured in paintings and on pottery as decorations.

The art of arranging flowers was first documented in the 17th century, when the Dutch, in particular, painted wonderful informal arrangements of flowers.

In the 18th century, arrangements were used to decorate the houses of the wealthy families and the aristocracy.

In years past, as a matter of tradition, an upper class bride was required to hold a bouquet of roses or flowers as she walked down the aisle to prevent body odour from spreading and to drive away evil spirits.

A nosegay, posey (or  posy), flower bouquet or tussie-mussie is a small bunch of flowers typically given as a gift.

They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice to mask the unpleasant smells of the time literally, to keep the nose gay (to keep the nose happy). In their current form, they rose to popularity during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 onwards, at which time the tussie-mussie became a popular fashion accessory.

During the Roman era brides would carry bouquets of flowers, herbs and some spices in with their outfits to ward off evil spirits and bring luck to the union. The softness and fragility of a flower has always been compared with the beauty of a woman thus possibility popularising its propriety in the wedding rites.

Cymbidium orchids come in a multitude of hues and colours.

Other ancient peoples such as the Greeks favoured the use of Ivy in the belief that it was a sign of everlasting and unbreakable love and in the middle ages, the Arabs known as called Saracens used Orange Blossoms as it meant happiness and fulfilment for them. In the 1840′s the stylish Royal Queen Victoria chose the use of Marigolds for her rites for it symbolised creativity and passion. It was also referred to as “Herb of the Sun.

Flowers have now gone beyond the traditional value as harbingers of emotions and appreciation because of their aesthetic value, now even their fragrance has come into play. This has replaced the used of ancient herbs but now flowers are arranged with many kinds of fillers or sometimes even matched with other flowers, ribbons, lace and many other items. Flowers also are mostly seasonal so availability also will affect the cost of purchase and wisdom of the ages will suggest consulting your florist.

FLOWERS IN SEASON:

SUMMER:  Sweet pea, Delphinium, Agapanthus, Bouvardia, Hydrangea, Flannel flower, November Lilly, Water lilly, Stephanotis, Tuberose, Cornflower, Lavender, Dahlia, Liatris, Frangipani,  Catleya Orchids,  Scabious, Vanda  Orchid, Protea,  Fairy Statice,  Alstroemeria,  Pansy,  Lupin,  Daisy.

• AUTUMN:  Nerine, Camellia, Jonquil, Chrysanthemum, Tuberose, Azalea, Alstroemeria, Blushing Bride, Daphne, Polyanthus.

• WINTER:  Violet,  Tulip,  Camelia,  Hyacinth,  Jonquil,  Chrysanthemum,  Cymbidium Orchid.

• SPRING:   Daffodil, Camellia,  Azalea, Lilly of the Valley,  Jasmine,  Stock,  Lilac,  Flannel Flower, Polyanthus, Iris, Sweet Pea, Freesia, Tulip, Forget Me Not, Hyacinth, Bluebell, Grape Hyacinth, Cornflower, Violet, Stock,  Boronia,  Magnolia,  Peony,  Bella  Donna  Lilly,  Lillium,  Anemone.

• ALL YEAR ROUND:  Rose, Carnation, Phalaenopsis Orchid, Singapore Orchid, Anthirium, Gladiolus, Gardenia, Perennial  Gypsophila  (Baby’s Breath)

 

Jannie Kock and White Orchid 2010 Any unorthorised use and/or duplication of the content of this blog is strictly prohibited without the express permission of the blog’s owner. Excerpts and links may be used provided that full and clear credit is given to Jannie Kock and White Orchid with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.