Wedding Themes - How important is it?

An important element of any wedding is its theme. A well thought out theme can ensure your wedding is remembered for years to come.

As a wedding planner, I always use a selection of wedding magazines to research new ideas when it comes to themes and new concepts with every wedding I organise.

To come up with a theme, ask yourself the following questions:

• What time of the year am I getting married in? Bright Spring, Russian Winter etc
• What emotions to do I want my guests to feel? Cheery, Classy, Relaxed etc
• Is there an era I relate too? Victorian, Bohemian etc

Once you and your partner have brainstormed some of these things a theme should become apparent, do some research using wedding magazines, wedding specific websites, decor magazines and then STICK TO IT!

Your theme should then extend to the following items /services at your wedding:

• Stationary including; invitations, rsvp cards, order of service, place cards, menu's, guest gift cards etc
• Colours of fabrics and flowers used
• Flowers and arrangements
• Ceremony and Reception decorations
• Style and feel of venue/s
• Transportation during the day
• Style of clothing for the bridal party
• Guests gifts
• Entertainment & music

As well as pretty much everything else you can think of when it comes to a wedding!

Interested in knowing more about themeing a wedding? - Contact Stellar Management via email and we will send you the complete article.

Elope or not to Elope? That is the question...

With the frenetic nature of today's society (and the expense of it!) many couples are deciding to elope and combine their wedding and honeymoon in one. Their are many pro's and con's when thinking about eloping.

Pro's

1. No expensive receptions - you don't have to fork out money for meals, entertainment, venue, decorations etc for every person you have ever met.

2. You can have your wedding and honeymoon all in the same place

3. You can spend more money on your honeymoon (or more conservative things - like mortgage's, deposits, paying off debts etc)

4. Perfect for a couple that has been together for a long time and may already have kids, a family home etc and a big fan fare of a wedding is the last thing on their mind.

Con's

1. You'll have to put up with potential backlash from your family and friends, about why you made the decision to elope and that they feel "left out"

2.You only get married once (in most cases) so wouldn't you want people around you, that you love and cherish, to celebrate with?

3. As the saying goes "will you regret it in the morning?" once its done, its done.

Unfortunately eloping is not as "spontaneous" as it is in the movies - believe it or not, it actually requires some careful planning.

1. You must have all your paperwork completed one month and one day before you intend to marry. For more complete and reliable information please take a look at: Australian Government Website

2. The wedding must be carried out by a registered celebrant or minister authorised under the Marriage Act 1961 to marry.

3. If you get married overseas, you may need to prove their is no impediment to you getting married. The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (each state has their own Registry) can provide you with a "Single Status Certificate".

Take a look at the FAQ for NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages for more information about marrying in Australia and abroad

Getting married is a serious matter and needs to be done correctly, as marriage is lawful binding of two people, so regardless of whether it is celebrated in a church, park, backyard or beach with 10 or 1000 people it needs to be done correctly and legally.

Getting Married? Well then... LOOK AFTER YOURSELF

I came across a recent article regarding pre-wedding health.

The information included in this article included many common sense steps, however it occurred to me, how many Brides actually look after themselves - inside and out - before their wedding? Especially as this is one of the biggest day's of their lives!

That's why, articles like these, are extremely beneficial in reminding us that health - especially prior to our wedding day - is of the up most importance.

Like the old saying goes: "The three most stressful things a person can do in their life are:
1. Buy a house (and have a mortgage)
2. Lose a loved one
3. Plan a wedding (and getting married)!

The article discusses areas like, eating well, exercising, getting adequate sleep, boosting your immune system, my personal fav - eat chocolate and one that will certainly get your partner more involved in the pre-wedding planning - HAVE SEX!

So.... why not take a moment out of your hectic schedule, that is, planning a wedding and look after number one - YOU.. I mean at the end of the day, a wedding day is ALL about the Bride and and if she shows up with a cold sore on her lip, a pimple on her forehead, a runny nose and bags under her eyes, you can guarantee that when the guests say "oh look at the Bride.. isn't she...um pretty?" you'll know their lying!

So grab a cup of coffee - I mean a glass of water, sit down for a few seconds and have a read of this article. You just might learn something.

Welcome to 2008!

Most people by this stage have made New Year's Resolutions and some of us have already broken them, but one thing we can all concentrate on trying to accomplish this year is having a clutter free lifestyle.

This doesn't just include our home and office but also our souls, heart and faith.

Do you need a more organised home?
A great tool to help you keep organised (and hence clutter free!) is called a Household Notebook, this is a notebook that the whole family can contribute to and use as a reference guide when it comes to chores, schedules and handy hints. Everything and anything you can think of to help make your Home and Life run easier can be found in this notebook.

To construct a Household Notebook you can use this website (http://www.householdnotebook.com/) as a starting point. This is wonderful website that includes header pages, dividers and resources to put into your notebook, as well as examples and tips on what to include.

Alternatively if you would like Stellar LifeStyle Management to make one for you, just contact me via phone or email and we can discuss how to get you organised for 2008!

Are you getting married in 2008/2009?
An important element of any wedding is its theme. A well thought out theme can ensure your wedding is remembered for years to come.
To come up with a theme, think about the following things:

• What time of the year am I getting married in? Bright Spring, Russian Winter etc
• What emotions to do I want my guests to feel? Cheery, Classy, Relaxed etc
• Is there an era I relate too? Victorian, Bohemian etc

Once you and your partner have brainstormed some of these things a theme should become apparent, do some research and then STICK TO IT!
A common mistake a lot of people make is getting side tracked by all different services provided to the wedding industry. Remember there are A LOT of great ideas out there for weddings, but they don't all match your theme.

All the best in 2008 and I look forward to helping you along the way.

How to choose a Wedding Photographer

Choosing a Wedding Photographer is risky business, because when you think about it, after the day passes you by in a flash, all you will have left to remind you of your day is your photography and videography (if you choose to have one!)

Every family will have a family member, family friend, distant relative or next door neighbour who has is claimed to be a "fantastic photographer" or has a niece, nephew or son/daughter of a friend who needs to get their foot in the door of photography and will "give you a great bargain" for the opportunity to "do" your wedding. My advise is say "NO!"

Always go to a reputable company who can show you plenty of Wedding Albums and has an array of different photographers to choose from. Why is this important? Well consider this, you have chosen your dream photographer and two days before your wedding they call to inform you that they have been struck down with pneumonia and can't do your wedding! Then what? Most companies will be able to offer you another photographer in their place, whereas if you went with a one-man-band then who will take those magical photo's?

So here are some tips when choosing a Wedding Photographer.

1. When looking at albums , choose the one you like and ask if that particular photographer is available as you like their style.
2. Always go to a reputable company with several photographers
3. Don't be afraid to spend a hefty portion of your budget on your photos, its all you will have left!
4. Don't feel obliged to use family friends or amateurs to save money, this creates un needed stress and potential heartache!
5. Ask if the negatives are included and if not, at what cost?
   

Roll up for a triple 7 Wedding!

A recent article featured on RedOrbit discusses the popularity of the up and coming date of the 07/07/07 as a lucky date to get married on.

"Richard Markel, head of the 800-member Association for Wedding Professionals International, said group members first began noticing extra interest in the novelty date last year."

His thought as to why it is becoming an increasingly popular date is because people are becoming more interested in numerology.

Website ezinearticles.com states that western cultures believe that 777 "symbolizes health, a clear conscience and connection between body and soul; clarity if you will."

The Japanese also consider that 777 is a lucky number and in Japan pokie/slot machines which feature 777 are the most popular.

However if you are Chinese, 777 is perceived as an unlucky number. The Chinese regard 666 and 888 as the luckiest combination of numbers... so does that mean we will see a similar trend amongst the Chinese population for 08/08/08?

The unfortunate thing about getting married on a so called "lucky date" will increase demand and therefore potentially increase costs of your special day.

But what price do you place on being married on potentially the luckiest day of all?