We have the pics from our recent winners, Stephan and Jacqueline Davis, who won our second Win a Wedding Photographer Competition up for you to check out.  Stephan and Jacqueline got married on the 11th April 2009 at retreat center situated in Tulbagh, Western Cape.

The photographer, who sponsored the prize Yvette de Beer from Innovate Photo says that although it was not your conventional wedding (no white dress, no suits, no church, no reception hall etc), the couple still looked radiant, happy and in love.

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Today its exactly 7 months to the BIG day, we now have the venue sorted….YAY!!!! And we had decided on the décor and colors.

Everything’s going well you think…….mmmmm well it is but with a twist.

Mr Daisy decided that we should add some black into the picture and black doesn’t mix well at all with the colors or décor we decided to use. So after much debate I decided to work on another idea to show Mr Daisy that having a black “theme” wouldn’t look as nice as the “vintage” theme we had already decided on. On finishing the “mock-up” theme that included black for Mr. Daisy, I very unexpectedly fell in love with it, it was just so much more…….mmmm what’s the word……..vibrant, than the color scheme and theme we had already decided to use. Ideas for the new theme just kept rolling in, one after the other, It felt so good having a fresh idea to work with that I completely forgot about our previous theme. So here is an update on the NEW theme we are going to use….

The new colours - Black, Lime green, Gold, Light pink, Ivory

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In Style Weddings www.instyleweddings.com has great articles, tips and ideas for your wedding day to save you time and money which as a result will take down your stress levels.  I think there is no better way to add a modern and elegant  feel to the day than by adding bright bold colours to your theme.

Get the waitrons to serve colourful cocktails.  There is a minimal extra cost, if any at all, to replace champagne or wine with cocktails.  Also, why not use something affordable and colourful that guests will notice straight away for the escort-cards?  This is the first thing they see before walking into the reception so make a statement.  Going bold and vibrant adds glamour and style to any event and can be achieved for next to nothing if you just scan through some ideas.  You’d be amazed what you can achieve.

If you’re anything like Mr Style and I, you had difficulty with this one.  We don’t have one specific song that defined ‘us’ or that we specifically remember as being ‘that’ special moment.  What Mr Style relates songs to is what meaningful songs he remembers I say I love and he’ll make sure it’s playing at the right time.  At least he pays attention!  We have our ceremony song worked out as we aren’t using the wedding march (and I can’t at this stage say what song it is as it’ll give it away to friends that read my blogs) and we aren’t doing the first dance thing as it really is outdated for us,  but if you truly are stuck with this, here are some websites, tips and ideas to help you along.

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I have mentioned previously that we already have an established home (and a 3 year old child) so definitely have all that we need.  We knew we wanted the cash gift option but the tradition around asking for cash is too outdated for us and we wanted something different – or at least a different way of asking.  I came across the wedding wishing well concept accidentally, and although it may not be new to some, it was definitely new to me and I loved the idea.  For this reason the following poem (found on www.bridesofaustralia.com) will be found in our invitations:

More than just kisses so far we’ve shared
Our home has been made with love and care
Most things we need we’ve already got
Like a toaster and kettle, pans and pots

A wishing well we thought would be great
(but only if you wish to participate)
A gift of money is placed in the well
Then make a wish … but do not tell

Once we’ve replaced the old with the new
We can look back and say it was thanks to you!

And in return for your kindness we’re sure
that one day soon you’ll get what you wished for!

And some ideas for the wishing well on the gift table at the reception are (always remember it doesn’t necessarily have to look like a wishing well as guests will get the idea and it depends on your style):

I finally got the invitations from the printer on Saturday (who is my brother and a huge bonus as we saved on the printing).  I have spent the last 2 days putting the embellishments on the invitations and envelopes and they look stunning.  Although our invitation design is beautiful, once printed I wasn’t so sure the design was shown for what it is.  It didn’t stand out as much as I thought it would although it looks great.  I have no idea on printing so the idea I had was different to what it actually was and also, printing comes out differently depending on the paper you use.  TIP!  Get a proof printed on the ACTUAL paper you’ll be using for the stationery and not just standard paper.  Anyway, with adding diamante looking embellishments, the stationery has been finished off so nicely.  I will take pictures and post them asap.

The next step is getting them out.  Whatever you do, plan how you are going to get the invites out way in advance.  If there are family members that tend to see other family members more than you, drop the invites off with them and ask them to assist and hand them out.  Mr Style can also use his driver at work to deliver to work addresses.  Drivers are usually in the area so it doesn’t take up anymore time.  Family and friends that are overseas have the advantage of RSVP’ng on your wedding website so even if the invitations are posted late it isn’t a hassle.  I have also given my two bridesmaids the task of handling the RSVP’s.  They are there to help so use them!  They will be more than happy and it will take pressure off you.  If they are already tasked with too many functions, give this responsibility to your mom or future mom-in-law.  Trust me … they will love being involved.  The next update from me will be after I’ve met SA Wedding Decor at Ingwenya on Wednesday.  Until then, good luck with wherever you are in your own wedding planning!

With time running out, decisions had to be made once and for all.  With the help of a friend, I finally decided the decor which is really easy to do with guidance from a professional.  Often you see what you would like but have no clue what items and lighting is used to get the effect.  Whatever you do, don’t try do it yourself unless you have experience.  You will waste money buying the wrong DIY items as well as alot of time.  I have been dealing with a great decor company – SA Event Decor www.saeventdecor.co.za, with their sub division SA Wedding Decor www.saweddingdecor.co.za contact Amanda amanda@saweddingdecor.co.za.  I have received great service and their prices are extremely competitive.

Another great supplier I have come across is Lyn at Expressions Floral Design www.expressionsfloral.co.za or email lyn@expressionsfloral.co.za.  The price she has quoted for my bouquet and my two bridesmaids bouquets are so reasonable I actually didn’t believe the quote when I first got it.  All three are costing me R665 which includes diamante finishes and accessories.

After the success of our two “Win a wedding photographer” competitions, we have, once again been given a chance to make one lucky couple a winner of their wedding photographs!

This time, the Photographer is our very own “Mizz Honeysuckle”, who blogged about her wedding preparations on BridesBuzzing.com. Well Mizz Honeysuckle has recently launched her own wedding photography business, and in order to build her portfolio she is offering one lucky Bridesbuzzing reader, FREE wedding photography for her big! The only stipulation is that you must be getting married in 2009…so if you’ve got a 2009 date, this your chance to get your wedding photographed for free and save a huge chunk off your budget.

The Prize…

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Hello ladies,

I am very proud of the wedding featured in July’s issue of Destiny Magazine (p.155)

It was a great pleasure to work with Bronwen and Sean, and their families. Their wedding was amazingly beautiful, elegant and unforgettable! It was my favorite wedding of 2008

Here is me with the magazine :)

Dear brides,

I am sure many of you watched Carte Blanche Expose on Sunday night about the Wedding Photographer.

I am  a wedding planner, and one of my clients hired Melanie to photograph and take videos of the wedding last year September. Melanie had an amazing package and a great presence at the meeting, and her references checked out. She failed to come to the wedding, and sent in another photographer and videographer (who seemed very nice and professional). This is unacceptable on so many levels. No couple  wishes to have any strangers at their wedding. You simply cannot ask anyone to put their minds at ease and trust a stranger to take photographers of their special day.  All in all, the bride was satisfied with her photographs, but it took her a very long time to get them from Melanie.

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