Once Upon A Time... A Romatic Proposal

Imagine your boyfriend tells you he has found a cute book he thinks you might like,
and asks to read it to you.
And that the book is the story of your entire relationship
that he has written and published all by himself
(and a friend has illustrated)

And by the end of the book, he has asked you to be his wife...

Nick and Kristen, happy couple.

May you live happily ever after!

Image Credit: Jessica Claire Photography

We Amour: Sucheta of Hens.com.au

Since starting this blog almost twelve months ago I have met and come across many wonderful and inspiring people in the wedding industry. So, I would like to introduce you to the first post of a new series - 'We Amour...' where we meet and spend a few moments with an industry expert.

First in this new series is the beautiful Sucheta, creator of hens.com.au, a fantastic website for both brides to be and friends planning a hens night.

Hens.com.au is a website dedicated to planning a Hens event. Choose from 5 fun categories; Pamper Hen, Wine & Dine Hen, Unique Hen, Sexy Hen and Gift Hen for great ideas to suit every Hen!

What inspired you to create hens.com.au?
I was organising my wedding at the time and could not find any resource that offered sophisticated options for a hen's party. My background was advertising and publishing so I decided to see whether I could create a website to fill the gap in the market.

What was your own hens party like?
Beautiful! We had High Tea at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Sydney. My girlfriend organised a gorgeous afternoon of sandwiches, tea and games. Instead of a veil she organised a lei made of frangipanis which is my favourite flower and was also the flower and theme of our wedding.

What advice would you give to bridesmaids who are organising a hens party for their friend?
Speak to the bride to be ! Before you start the organisation find out exactly what type of party she would like, who she would like included, costs she is happy with per person etc. What is one girls perfect hens night could be another's nightmare so always ask for basic guidelines from your bride.

Hens nights and bridal showers… what’s the difference and should both?
Traditionally a bridal shower is held first and is generally held at the bride to be's or her mother's house. A bridal shower or kitchen tea is a gathering at which older relatives, aunties, grandmothers etc are welcome.
The idea of a bridal shower / kitchen tea is to buy the bride to be domestic gifts for her married home. The hens night on the other hand is the night where the girls can get together for the bride to be's last night of freedom! This may involve a night out or activities and is generally a little more on the raucous ( and potentially x rated!) side than the bridal shower.

A few fabulous ideas for hens nights?
A pampering party with mobile therapists who come to you, cocktail making classes, tarot card reading, bellydancing classes, lingerie slumber parties ... the list goes on and on!

The best Hens idea you have heard (if you have one!)
My current fave is by Makeovers, Manicures and Martinis who are based in Melbourne. It's called Spoil Me High Tea and is set in the gorgeous Botanical Gardens. As well as buffet High Tea, girls also receive a soothing back and neck massage and an express manicure ... bliss!

Tell me about the Hens book
Every bride has a wedding album, guest book, presents etc to remind her of her wedding day, however there was nothing specific to keep from a hen's party. We created these books as a special memento of the hen's party, as a place where girls on the hen's night can not only record a personal message for the bride to be, but after the hen's night you can also place photos of the night in as a very special reminder.

What do you see as the perfect hens night?
The perfect hen's night is one where the wishes of the bride to be are taken into account. It is a special time to share with her nearest and dearest. It should also be one event that the bride neither pays for nor organises therefore making it a stressless and relaxing lead up to her wedding day.
Sucheta - Chief Hen - Hens.com.au

Thank you for your time Sucheta!

Monday's Muse: Toni Maticevski Spring/Summer 2010

The glamourous gowns in Toni Maticevski Spring/Summer 2010 collection have won my heart! Intricate details and layering, oversized silk flowers adorning shoulders and hips and the mix of white, ivory, black and grey combine to create a truly stunning collection.

Whether the occasion is formal or cocktail, any bride could walk down the aisle in or dance the night away in one of these beautiful gowns.

Image credit: Getty Images via marieclaire.com.au

Hunter Valley Wedding Weekend

I'm off to the Hunter Valley this weekend for a wedding and I am so excited - not only do I love a wedding but we also have a lovely weekend planned!

It's an early start from Sydney; the boys have golf at midday and I plan on reading and sleeping! Then, dinner with our dearest friends at Robert's Restaurant where my husband proposed almost two years ago.

Before the wedding we will enjoy a civilised wine tour of a couple of favourites and then an afternoon celebrating the love of a beautiful couple.

Image: Celeste Photography Flickr Stream via Brown Button.

5 of the Best: Wedding Registries

The options for wedding registries are endless however below are just five of my favourite wedding registries.

Each featured store stocks an exceptional range of products which will create a memorable start to your married lives with gifts you will always treasure.

5.

Form + Design
Form + Design specialises in designer kitchenware, homewares, luggage, pens, art glass products from Australia and all over the world. Big name brands include Alessi, Rosenthal, Orrefors, Kosta Boda, Georg Jensen, Iittala, Bodum and designer luggage from Mandarina Duck and ZERO Halliburton as well as Molton Brown Beauty products.

If you can't make it into the St Leonards (Sydney) store, Form + Design can have your purchases delivered to you anywhere in Australia and accept orders and payment via email, fax or telephone.

4.
Jimmy Possum Wedding Registry
Australian furniture company Jimmy Possum offers a wedding registry service, perfect for couples who have all the bits and pieces but none of the "big stuff". Jimmy Possum is designed and manufactured in Australia and is a family business meaning you will have quality furniture which will become an heirloom for your own family one day.

Choose from an extensive range of dining furniture, occasional furniture, office and bedroom furniture, sofas, rugs, paintings, lamps and decor.

3.
Orson & Blake Wedding Registry
Orson & Blake offers a wide range of contemporary and inspiring products and ideas for the couple who wants to select from an extraordinary range of furniture and homewares from local and international designers including John Derian, David Edmonds and Jonathan Adler New York.

Products range from fabulous leather homeware, Villeroy & Boch, Diptique, Iittala, Missoni and a huge selection of furniture.

2.
Whiteport Wedding Registry

Whiteport is an online homewares store offering lifestyle accessories themed around a stylish white palette. Whiteport offers inspiring gift suggestions and is a one-stop shop for home décor and furnishings.

Make selections from tableware, linens, French Country homewares and home accessories including a stunning range of photo frames, clocks, candlesticks and vases.

1.
Wedding List Co.

Wedding List Co a world of choice when it comes to setting up a wedding registry. Ideal for the modern couple, you can choose gifts from over 300 brands, experiences with Red Balloon vouchers and even contribution funds for your honeymoon, home renovations or a charity of your choice.

Wedding List Co stocks all the most popular dinnerware and kitchenware brands as well as Coco Republic, Legnoart, Christofle, Georj Jensen, Nintendo, Magpie and Florence Broadhurst... the list goes on and on!

A couple of tips;

• Select items of a varying range of prices to accommodate your guests who will have various budgets.
  
• Don't be shy to put a couple of big-ticket items on your list; your parents might be looking for a meaningful gift or groups of friends sometimes like to club together to get a bigger gift.
  
• Two registries is fine especially if you have a favourite store but also want the accessibility and range of a department store like Myer, David Jones or Peters of Kensington.