We Amour: Mandy Daddia of Savvy Brides

Savvy Brides is a Sydney based boutique bridal service that buys and sells pre-loved wedding gowns. Whether you are a bride to be looking for a designer gown without the designer price tag or already married and looking to sell your gown, Savvy Brides can assist you.

We spoke to founder Mandy Daddia for her top tips on staying on budget whilst getting the dress of your dreams.

1. What are your top tips for brides on a budget?
The first thing to do is talk to your fiancé and work out what you will or will not compromise on. If you have always envisaged your wedding in spring, don’t book it in winter because it is cheaper - you’ll end up feeling compromised.

• Pick money savers that are realistic for both of you! Family heirlooms can be an absolute god send for your big day! The engagement ring is a no brainer. But perhaps your mum, grandmother or other family member has some beautiful diamond or pearl earrings you can wear on the wedding day or a pair of antique cufflinks for the groom! Not only can be a huge saver, the owner will feel really honoured to play such a special and personal role on the big day.
• Online stores like www.etsy.com have a multitude of beautiful and unusual items at a very low cost. You can find bridal party gifts, jewellery, a veil, a flower for your hair or cute and unusual wedding favours. If you plan ahead you can save lots of cash by ordering online. Explore other online retailers to see what other bargains you can find.
• During the lead up to a wedding, people are constantly offering to help - take people up on these offers! Enlist your cousins to help you cut and fold invitations so that you can get them done without a professional, a handy aunt might be able to help make the centrepieces and your organised uncle can be in charge of the run sheet for the day instead of having to have a wedding planner. Also take people up on offers to lend you things like a veil or brooch to wear.
• For more of Mandy's fabulous tips see here.

Gown by Lisa Gowing

2. Besides budget, what are the benefits of purchasing a pre-loved gown?

• You can purchase a gown from a top designer that you may not otherwise have been able to afford.
• There’s no need to wait months for the dress to be made and ordered in and there are usually only a few minor alterations needed.
• It’s environmentally friendly!

Gown by Monique Lhuillier

3. A woman's wedding gown is a meaningful item. Any tips for women considering what to do with their gown or who would like to sell it but consider it a big step to take?
Brides will always have photos of themselves looking like a princess in their perfect dress on the day! Having a dress that you probably no longer fit into yellowing in your cupboard is not going to do the dress or yourself esteem any justice.
As we all know, in reality the dress will never be worn again. It’s the age old story that people plan to have it altered or dyed, in my experience this rarely happens. Other than keeping it for your daughter to play with, it’s just going to gather dust and will disintegrate over time if not stored properly.
There are lots of brides for whom their dream wedding dress is quite simply out of reach financially. It sounds corny but giving someone else that same feeling you got when you stepped into your dress for the first time is priceless.
Some brides feel that they want to keep the dress for their daughters, but really in 25 years time don’t you want to share the experience of taking your daughter shopping for her own dream dress?

Gown by Provonias

4. What kind of discount can brides expect to receive buying pre-loved?
Brides can expect to pay 30 - 50% off the original price. We even have some dresses that are brand new at 30 - 50% off, an absolute bargain!

Gown by Mariana Hardwick

5. What designer labels are the most highly sought after?
We get many enquiries from brides wanting top designer brands without the cost. The most popular designers are:

• Vera Wang
• Monique Lhullier
• Mariana Hardwick
• Pallas Bridal
• Steven Khalil

Thanks for sharing your wonderful advice Mandy!
Visit Savvy Brides to see more stunning designer gowns as well as how you can sell your gown.
First pictured gown by Helen English.

We Amour: Nicola of Ruby & Joy

Nicola Spies is the sweet, funny and seriously talented girl behind Sydney florist Ruby & Joy. As well as weddings, Nicola's work can be seen in some of Australia's biggest bridal, fashion and home magazines, high-profile events and fashion shoots.

So who better to give us the heads up on getting the perfect floral styling for your wedding!?

1. Where did the inspiration for the name Ruby & Joy come from?
I get asked this question a LOT which I love! Joy is mine and my Nanna's middle name, and my Nanna was a florist. She's been a huge inspiration and support to me and so when I was tossing around names I thought it would be lovely to use it.
But Ruby doesn't come from anywhere unfortunately! I just really loved the sound of them together. But it's been quite suitable as I absolutely love a profusion of red and pink blooms, and use them quite a lot in our advertising, so it's all worked out quite well.

2. What is your favourite flower/floral trend at the moment?
Tricky. For weddings I'm loving two separate ideas. I love keeping the bouquets all in one bloom, but all different. This is especially effective when used in a bright colour, like raspberry red or bright greens.
I also love the country style clustered posies that are relaxed and use a number of different blooms.
My favourite flower changes almost weekly, and always depends on what's new in season. It's always exciting when you spot the first Anemone or Hydrangea at the markets! For now, I'd have to say Peonies. I'm a sucker for the romantic blooms, they're just so beautiful!

3. Not only do you have a thriving business but you also have a gorgeous blog, what inspires you?
Oh my goodness, everything! New books, old books, new little cafes, being outdoors, my ever growing inspiration board, all kinds of magazines, music, other gorgeous blogs, fashion, colours and working on creative projects, new combinations that are unexpected.
Being surrounded by creative friends and a creative industry means you're never short of new ideas. I'm so lucky to work in a vocation where no two jobs are the same so it definitely keeps me on my toes. And being surrounded by beautiful blooms makes me appreciate the small things which always brings me back to earth!

4. Many brides favour soft tones over bright colour for their wedding day, any tips for going bright?
Working in ivory, nudes and blush tones will always look gorgeous for brides, but if you're wanting to go bright there are a few main points that will keep it more fabulous and less frightening.

• Try to keep it simple, perhaps work with a mass of one bloom, for example candy pink peonies, purple hydrangeas, cobolt blue delphiniums, bright green goddess lilies or golden sunflowers.
  
• If you've decided to work with colours but want to soften the bouquets, working in different shades of your chosen colour will lessen the impact of the posies, especially in photos.
  
• And another small tip, if you're wanting to keep the tone of the day clean and gorgeous with hits of colour, keep your bridesmaids frocks a neutral tone which will really make the flowers pop.

5. Three quick tips for brides to be to remember when choosing flowers for their wedding?

1. Work with a theme for your day. If the word theme freaks you out and makes you think 'under the sea', try to choose three words that express how you want your day to be. This is a good starting point and will help with colours and styles immensely.
2. Don't necessarily try to match everything, contrast looks fantastic when done right!
3. Chat to your florist about what you love, but also what you don't love. You need to workwith someone you trust and can develop a relationship with, and giving all the information helps them to produce something you will be absolutely thrilled with.

I am so excited to announce that Nicola will be updating Amour Amour readers each month with floral trends, seasonal flowers as well as answering any burning questions you might have.
Don't be shy, just comment below or email me.

If a month is just too long a wait, you can visit Nicola at her gorgeous blog, Lovely Pretty Cheery Things!

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!