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Wedding Style Profile - Sze and Andy

Jun 17, 2012  | Comments:

It's always exciting when we showcase a brand new Wedding Style Profile, but this time I've also relished the process.

You might or might not notice straight away, but I learned something new to help me blog more efficiently from now on. I decided to teach myself some neat tricks using Photoshop to drag n' drop images into photo collage templates. Settling with seven collage templates in the configurations I use the most, I can now spend more time fussing over my favourite pictures to share rather than extra unnecessary time laying out each collage from scratch. I wish I had done or known this sooner!

That aside, recollecting the day that was Sze and Andy's wedding day and the months that lead us there is the part that I enjoy most.

When I meet a couple for the very first time, I'm always hoping more than just to get along, but to make a connection. This is exactly how it fell into place with Sze and Andy. It was a relationship that was energetic and inspiring - the kind that spawns beautiful ideas, and a notion beyond simply a promise but a personal wish to see two wonderful, down-to-Earth people fulfill their dreams of a perfect wedding day.

The ceremony was held by the Lakeside of Werribee Mansion & Spa at Werribee Park. What I love about this area is the privacy it affords to both the ceremony itself, and the bride's first grand appearance without being seen by guests (and her husband to be!), thanks to the surrounding dense bushes and trees. Sze, her dad and bridesmaids get the VIP treatment, arriving at the site by bridal buggy ~ perfect for a few minutes of quiet reflection before Sze walks down the aisle!

For this absolutely stunning backdrop, we commissioned the construction and design of a natural birch bridal arch, complete with hanging blooms in teardrop glass balls, soft flowing drapes and gorgeous arrangements of flowers that match both the aisles and the provincial-style signing table. We cannot thank Nat, Cobi and the team at Flowers of Canterbury, our talented partner in floral design, for their amazing work. As you can tell, we were blessed with great weather - testament, as Sze and Andy tell me, of their daily prayers!

Sze arrived in a breathtaking strapless wedding gown, embellished with an sequined belt, delicate lace and romantic layers of frill, lace and ruffles to the train. What a sight!

 Guests were greeted with a Welcome Sign on the way to the Lakeside. It was handwritten with the same fonttype used on Sze and Andy's letterpress wedding stationery collection, and took more than 1.5 hours to complete! That little smudge was someone checking to see if it really was written in chalk or just a print. I guess they got their answer! :)

 Following the ceremony, guests were invited to the Library where we had set up exclusively to indulge them while the bridal party headed off to location photography. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Kristen Cook for the first time as well and love her work too! I cannot wait to see the photos!

While weddings are for a day, the memories of the day can last a little longer. In this case, we designed a Fingerprint Tree on canvas for our couple where guests can ink their fingerprints and 'leaf' their mark on the canvas. After a process of lamination, Sze and Andy can display this Fingerprint Tree in their new home as a momento of their special day. As a little surprise gift, we presented the couple with this exceptionally sweet jumbo cupcake for them to enjoy at home, if not on their wedding night!

 Sze and Andy are exceptional hosts and we were inspired to create a Secret Garden-themed dessert table with plenty of delectable bite-sized treats! You'll notice gorgeous elements at play including moss bunnies, mushroom cake pops in garden pails and baby carrot cupcakes marked by pink fondant rabbits!

 Before the wedding, Sze told us that her ultimate chocolate obsession is Ganache's Caramelised chocolate coated almonds. She even bought me some to try and now I'm completely hooked! So prior to the wedding, i made a beeline to South Yarra to get some, and made sure there was a platter of these yummy choc almonds for their guests, which we displayed in mini cupcake wrappers (not pictured, but we promise it didn't last very long!)

 For the thirsty, we had fresh homestyle lemonade in milk bottles, each on an ornate cake stand, with personalised 'Drink To...' tags!

 We also designed a Writing Desk where guests can write little notes for the couple. A vintage typewriter sets the mood, we even had each notecard bearing a letterpress vintage typewriter! Sealed with a kiss, guests drop their notecards into a gorgeous wrought iron birdcage on a stand.

 Gavin took the above image entirely in natural light streaming from the stained glass windows, creating this amazing effect!

As guests were enjoying the Library, One Wedding Wish headed back to the Pavilion to lay down the final touches.

Sze and Andy gave each guest a succulent as bomboniere and no effort was spared in the design and preparation this gorgeous gift. Succulents are enduring, and bear the symbolism of hope, family and new beginnings. Each succulent individually chosen. Each pot brush-finished with antique white to create a rustic yet clean finish, then wrapped in either grey for the gentlemen, or pink polkadots for the ladies. Each name and 'care' pick, individually cut and hand-assembled, were designed to suit this uber-fresh and fun theme we were creating in the Pavilion. 

We had so much fun creating these table numbers which weren't table numbers at all! I particularly loved watching guests in amusement of their table allocations, asking each other, 'Hey, where are you? I'm on the Tomato Soup/Teapot table...!'

Our succulent pots in perfect lines along the table, arrangements of tulips, hyacinths, roses and lisianthus bring the sentiment of a flower garden onto the tables.

Overlooking the Polo Lawn, we set up a Welcome Table in preparation for pre-dinner canapes and drinks and embellished the garden tables with pretty cushions and pots of flowers.

 Before I go on, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the second-to-none, professional team at Mansion Hotel & Spa, particularly Chloe, Saurabh and staff working that evening for their incredible support and commitment to the highest standards of service. I say again and again, we cannot do what we do without them. Thank you!

A good photobooth meant bellyaches of laughter at the wedding! In The Booth joined us that evening, and One Wedding Wish made sure there were plenty of props for crazy getups behind the velvet curtain. We also spent a bit of time purchasing materials at the craft store and handmaking those hats!

The Pavilion embraced the night as flickering candles created a warm and elegant ambience.

Being at a wedding from start to finish presents a special opportunity to get to know Sze and Andy a little better, and what they mean to the people who care most about them. Sze and Andy's fathers gave heartfelt speeches reflecting sheer pride in this day for their children. The family table was by far the rowdiest when it comes to cheering for the bride and groom! It was a real treat for an observer like myself!

When Paper Cranes and One Wedding Wish come together, it's magic! It was a pleasure to have Paper Cranes on board once again - the boys ~ Santo, Ferry and Dave are such a great team to work with! I have lost count of how many times i've watched this Same Day Edit but the day was captured beautifully, with a certain tear in my eye the first time.

The words read by Sze in Andy's letter to her say it perfectly - "Anniversaries shouldn't mean that much. The fact that you get to spend each day with the one you love is more important than how long you have been together already."  With this, I'd like to say...

Sze and Andy, though our work is now done and your journey with us have concluded, yours is only just beginning ~ the building of a life-long partnership and growing in love. Thank you for your friendship, trust and inspiration. I wish you both blessed days ahead and many amazing adventures! Joanie xox

A really big thank you to an amazing One Wedding Wish team - Sarah, Olivia, Gavin and Avita for keeping cool, calm and creative on a challenging day. 

You can see also this wedding in a Wedding Style Video on our Gallery Page! Or, just click here to watch!

Images by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Wedding Perfection -
Wedding Planning, Wedding Styling and Wedding Day Coordination by One Wedding Wish

Tags: Bomboniere, Cake Pops, Candy Buffet, Centrepieces, Chalkboard Frames, Kristen Cook, Cupcakes, Cushions, Drinks Station, Milk Bottles, Sze Er and Andy, Floral Styling, Flowers of Canterbury, Garden Ceremony, Garden Weddings, Glass Balls, Lemonade, Leonda, Letterpress Stationery, Macarons, Mansion Hotel, Melbourne Wedding Planner Melbourne Wedding Stylist, Paper Cranes Productions, Paper Straws, Real Weddings, Snowberries, Succulents, Suitcases, Unique Wedding Ideas, In The Booth, Wedding Planner, Wedding Refreshments, Wedding Style Profiles, Welcome Table Werribee Park, birdcages, garden ceremony, garden weddings, Werribee Park, vintage

Wedding Style Profile - Olivia and Justin

May 14, 2012  | Comments:

We feel so privileged to have been asked to style Olivia and Justin's wedding at Bella Vedere, Coldstream. A wonderfully intimate affair embraced by family and friends from near and as far as the UK, a fine feast prepared by the renowned Executive Chef Gary Cooper, it was as perfect a celebration as Olivia and Justin envisioned it to be. Let this Wedding Style Profile take you on a romantic journey of this genuinely beautiful and warm-hearted couple.

Coming to Bella Vedere feels like coming home. Its backyard vegetable garden is one you wish your veggie patch at home could be, if only you put in as much love and attention as the chefs do. From the ground straight onto your plate, it's no wonder food at Bella Vedere is amplified of sweetness and flavour. Love its rustic surrounds and message of sustainability and harmony with nature.

Olivia and Justin's pretty vanilla cupcake tower came from The Cupcake Queens. We finished it beautifully with delicate pale pink roses and a topper of fresh flowers. I particularly love the hand-written menus signed off by the chef himself - a nice touch.

In the name of unique wedding experiences, I can't think of a sweeter bridal entrance than one that takes a bride and her father through a path of herbs and vegetables, under a makeshift archway of creeping foliage before appearing in the centre of the garden, amongst zucchinis and pumpkins, where her groom and cherished friends and family patiently await. Olivia looked picture perfect, her best accessory being the amazing smile she carried with her through the day.

My stowaway little red coffee pot makes another cameo appearance - it somehow always finds its way into our decor list, for a pop of colour if nothing else.

Olivia and Justin shared their story with me of a special connection when they first met in London many years ago, perhaps even before they knew it themselves. However much time may have passed, it was obvious Justin wasn't going to let this gorgeous lady out of his sight! Love grew and brought them to Australia, and a commitment forever forged when they welcomed Oscar into their world - a darling little boy who lights up any room and anyone he sets his sparkling blue eyes upon!

Our brief from the outset was to work with the venue - to enchance rather than to change - something we always aim for. Olivia loves birdcages, so on a backdrop of creepers, we extended the rusticity of the deck with hanging wrought iron birdcages filled with fresh garden roses and moss.

For guest tables, One Wedding Wish displayed lace-wrapped jars of fresh flowers featuring roses, snowberries, lisianthus and dahlia and lace-wrapped tealights finished with string. The bridal table featured leatherbound books, birch candle holders and a white coffee pot with pretty pastel blooms.

John Warren did a great job capturing the essence of this special day - have a look at this slideshow of beautiful images!

A very special thank you to Sarah and Olivia for all your efforts, and to Nat and Cobi at Flowers of Canterbury for the bride's bouquet.

It was truly a pleasure for myself and the One Wedding Wish team to help bring Olivia and Justin's wedding dreams to life. To be there with our couples to celebrate the beginning of the next exciting phase in their lives is something special for us. Thank you Olivia and Justin. Wish you both and Oscar beautiful days ahead. xox, Joanie

Images by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Tags: Bella Vedere, Olivia and Justin, Yarra Valley wedding, Gary Cooper, birdcages, vineyards, vintage, garden ceremony, garden weddings, Birch Log Candle Holders, Bird's Nest, Birdcage, Birdnests, Bomboniere, Centrepieces, Chalkboard Frames, Coffee Pots, Cupcakes, English Garden, Field Picked Flowers, Floral Styling, Glass Balls, Melbourne Wedding Planner, Melbourne Wedding Stylist, Real Weddings, Robin Eggs, Warren Photography, Snowberries, Wedding Style Profiles, Wishing Well

Wedding Style Profile - Yenni and Brian

May 05, 2012  | Comments:

Werribee Mansion is our second home, and we're so lucky to get to work here nearly all through the year. Yenni and Brian's were a late-Autumn wedding at the Mansion, at a time when leaves began to crisp and transform into all hues of yellow and red. Our couple were truly intuitive of the season they had chosen to marry in and brought into their colour palette ~ peach, blush cream and licorice-charcoal to acknowledge the season's natural colours and to add warmth.

An early sunset and later reception start time were no matter as we added an abundance of candles and lighting absolutely everywhere, from the ramp, all around the deck, to the tables inside the room.

Leading to the reception, the path guests took were lined with candle lantern bags, each spelling out the words 'Welcome to the Wedding of Yenni and Brian', and we promised our couple a spectacular entry into the Pavilion featuring tall willow branches, fairylights and candle glassballs! The effect was amazing as you could see the beacon of light from as far as the Hotel!

Upon entry, guests were greeted by an Autumn-themed Welcome Table, featuring a large central birdcage as a Wishing Well, crisp red Autumn leaves and pinecones on a turf runner, flowers and other intuitive embellishments.

 Guest tables featured a trio of pillar candles in hurricane vases, and a trio cube glass vases featuring roses, orchids and privet berry, surrounded by tealights. Yenni and Brian gave each guest a gorgeous soy wax candle. Keeping it in the family, Yenni's very talented sister made their beautiful wedding cake!

A huge thank you to our fab partner in floral design - Flowers of Canterbury for the gorgeous bouquets, and the champion ladies on our team - Sarah, Olivia and Charmaine for all their behind-the-scenes efforts!

Perhaps it was a combination of great communication and a connection to their style, but Yenni and Brian's Wedding Style Proposal was approved on the night of the presentation which was awesome!

Yenni and Brian were just so wonderful as a couple and to work with, making us all the more determined not to let the short window of setup and threat of rain stop us from transforming their venue into stylish, warm and welcoming spaces for their special celebration. Despite their very hectic schedules, our newlywed doctors wrote to us barely a week after the wedding with this lovely testimonial. While we are well-aware of the gravity of our responsibility to each and every wedding, we have never been told that what we do is a 'gift' - we are truly touched and humbled by these words and it gives me so much pleasure to share it here ~ xoxo to them both!

We would like to thank you very very much for helping make our wedding day so special and memorable. The styling that you and your team did was truly amazing! No words are adequate to express how thankful we are and how much it means to us.

The memory of our wedding day for the rest of our lives will be a very very happy one. Thank you for being so thoughtful through every step of your planning. Thank you for doing such wonderful work even with the time constraint! The ramp, candle-lit paths and welcome table received so much compliments!

We loved the lovely ambience you created with the decorations in and around the Pavilion. You even had such a thoughtful wet-weather back up plan! I couldn't have asked for anything more on our wedding day - thank you again One Wedding Wish for your wonderful gift to us! All the best and we will certainly spread the good words to our friends and family!

Tags: Yenni and Brian, Floral Styling, Flowers of Canterbury, Garden Ceremony, Garden Weddings, Fairylights, Glass Balls, Mansion Hotel, Werribee Mansion, Melbourne Wedding Planner, Melbourne Wedding Stylist, Real Weddings, Wedding Planner, Wedding Style Profiles, Welcome Table, Werribee Park, birdcages

Wedding Style Profile - Lauren and Shaun

May 01, 2012  | Comments:

Montsalvat in Eltham needs no introduction. Art-inspired architecture peering over rolling hills, weather-aged sculptures stand timeless, ducks and peacocks going about their business are just some of the treasures that make Montsalvat such a pleasure to visit, and make for a particularly unique setting for a wedding.

I was delighted to be asked to assist Lauren and Shaun with one of two weddings - how lucky they are to celebrate twice, the first in an intimate family setting, and the other a vibrant Indian soirée involving 400 of their nearest and dearest!

As our Melbourne girl was now based in Canberra, we communicated largely over email and then met at Monsalvat a few weeks before the wedding. A gorgeous colour palette was set from the outset, and as usual, I love plenty of colour and vibrance!

Now this has got to be one of the most stylish bride's arrival I've ever seen. With dad behind the wheel of a classic, sleek (and very expensive!) collectible Austin Healey, who's to know whether the car was chosen to perfectly matched the bridesmaids' absolutely stunning dresses, or whether the classic was inspiration for the dresses' beautiful blue hue! Either way, what an enviable arrival!

At the entrance to the Chapel, fresh rose petals in paper doilies cones are standing by to be tossed over the newlyweds at the recessional!

As the bridal party headed off to location photos with their photographer, Glenn of Alba Photography, guests took the uphill path back towards the restaurant courtyard where sweet treats awaited them -  gourmet truffles in six assorted flavours and macarons, as well as a juice station kept guests filled and hydrated for an hour before pre-dinner canapes. Bright paper lanterns lit up as the sun began to set and the party goes indoors.

Our gorgeous bride and bridesmaids carried stunning blooms created by our partner in floral design, Flowers of Canterbury ~ such a talented team with an amazing eye for colour and combinations.

For the tables, Lauren and Shaun decided on moss pots filled with the season's most vibrant colours lent by roses (our favourite being the very luscious Lavender Lace!), lisianthus, dahlia and green trick. One Wedding Wish created these table arrangements which also featured birch candle holders and lace-trimmed votive candle holders. For the bridal table, we wanted something quite unique and befitting the gorgeous natural surrounds of Montsalvat. The bird's nest with blue robin eggs was made to look like a discovery, nestled quietly amongst a bed of wild grass and flowers.

Our warmest congratulations to our beautiful couple Lauren and Shaun! We hope both your celebrations leave you with the most amazing memories as you begin this long and fulfilling journey together! Happy days ahead. Lots of love, Joanie and the team at One Wedding Wish xox

Images by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Tags: Montsalvat, Church Ceremonies, Alba Photography, Paper Lanterns, Chocolate Truffles, Macarons, Bird's Nests, Moss Pots, Lavender Lace, Wedding Planner, Melbourne Wedding Stylist, Real Weddings, Wedding Style Profiles

Wedding Style Profile - Hannah and Chris

Apr 08, 2012  | Comments:

After many 'sneak previews' this season alone, I'm so pleased to finally share Hannah and Chris' Wedding Style Profile with everyone!

When i met Hannah for the very first time, she was just a newbie in Melbourne. As we got chatting (over a pizza, no less!), I learned of the adventurous spirit Chris and herself both shared, having worked and lived in a few cities across Australia in a span of just a few years. Home is wherever they are together. Where there is a park, they'll be lacing up their walking shoes. Where a bike trail, they'll be riding. Quiet comfort in each other's presence is good all the same. It was therefore befitting that they had picked Provincial Events'  Wattle Park Chalet to host their intimate wedding celebration - a heritage-listed building steeped in history located amongst acres of surrounding parkland.

With Hannah and Chris travelling on multiple interstate trips leading right to the week of the Wedding Day, we communicated mostly via email and phone, exchanging ideas and inspirational images for the number of key areas One Wedding Wish was pleased to take care of. Hannah and Chris' love for all things natural, earthy and provincial set the scene for us to design something that truly reflected their special relationship.

For the entrance, we created a simple but stylish Welcome Table featuring one of our signature Wishing Trees in their gorgeous colours of lilac, purple and peach. We also placed a large white wooden birdcage for cards embellished with flowers which doubled as a display for guest seating.

The ceremony was held in the venue's private garden offering panoramic views of Wattle Park. Vibrant blooms in glass jars decorated the aisle chairs. Guests were invited to a Drinks & Treats Station designed specifically to Hannah and Chris' unique theme. Our most favourite piece has to be the vintage blue bicycle parked by the table, looking as if it has just returned from a flower-picking trip to the meadows, and on the way back, picked up some long French baguette sticks too! We couldn't resist surprising our couple with a personalised bicycle plate to keep as a momento after the wedding.

One of the treats Hannah particularly asked for were cookies. Cookie jars seemed the most obvious choice, but we decided to take it a step further by packing two cafe-style chocolate chip cookies in frosted 'envelope' bags finished with grosgrain ribbon and a fun sticker that read "I'm COOKIE for you" - all neatly displayed in an open picnic basket.

No Treat Station is complete without colour-coordinated macarons! How about lavender-infused and passionfruit-choc ones?

Hannah struck a stunning figure in her wedding gown when she arrived. Isn't she just gorgeous!? Hannah and her bridesmaids carried bouquets of David Austin roses, lisianthus and orchids, designed by our preferred partner in floral design, Flowers of Canterbury (thank you Nat and Cobi!). A very special thank you also to Sarah and Olivia for their special touch to making everything gorgeous!

Hannah and Chris, I wish you both many more adventures ahead! Lots of love, Joanie xoxo

Image by Gavin Luu for One Wedding Wish

Tags: Wattle Park, Wattle Park Chalet, Provincial Events, Chalkboard Frames, Dessert Table, Bomboniere, Cookies, Parisian Theme, Vintage Bicycle, Baguette, Field Picked Flowers, Lavender, Peach, Coffee Pots, Hannah and Chris, Wishing Tags, Wishing Tree, Birdcage, Drinks Station, Macarons, Garden Ceremony, Couch Media, Melbourne Wedding Planner, Melbourne Wedding Stylist, Real Weddings, Wedding Style Profiles

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