I Do Wedding Planning & Design Kicks Off

Well it is official, I have just completed my first wedding.  Fabulous day for a fabulous couple - with just a few hiccups along the way.

What have I learnt? 

It is incredibly vital that the florist is the one who orders the flowers - when we think/say I need 7 extra roses (thinking stems) the supplier means 7 extra bunches (5 per bunch).

It is a good idea to arrive at the Church 2-3 hours ahead of time if it permits, because nothing stops your heart faster than arriving and the Church is covered in scaffolding!  Following a few serious words on the phone, it came down and the bride was none the wiser.  Unfortunately for the groom I had to ring him as he is a builder and was my last resort if I couldn't get hold of the scaffolding company (hoping he knew how to dismantle it).

Wear suitable shoes!  Would love to have known how far I had walked (sometimes ran).

Get upskilled on todays technology!  I didn't think I was that bad until I was responsible for using the grooms cellphone Ipod application to play 3 songs during the ceremony.  Was shaking from head to toe!

It was a fabulous day - perfect weather. 

Thanks heaps Jeremy and Rachel for letting me help you out!

Traditional Anniversary Gifts

I am a sucker for traditions when it comes to weddings. I would like to say that as each year has passed by, in my own marriage, that I have tried to give my hubby something from this list, but it is usually dinner out or a weekend away - which both suit me fine!

So for you true at heart romantics out there, here is the list;

1st Anniversary - Paper

2nd Anniversary - Cotton

3rd Anniversary - Leather

4th Anniversary - Linen/Silk

5th Anniversary - Wood

6th Anniversary - Iron

7th Anniversary - Wool (Copper)

8th Anniversary - Bronze

9th Anniversary - Pottery

10th Anniversary - Tin/Aluminium

11th Anniversary - Steel

12th Anniversary - Silk

13th Anniversary - Lace

14th Anniversary - Ivory

15th Anniversary - Crystal

20th Anniversary - China

25th Anniversary - Silver

30th Anniversary - Pearl

35th Anniversary - Coral

40th Anniversary - Ruby

45th Anniversary - Sapphire

50th Anniversary - Gold

55th Anniversary - Emerald

60th Anniversary - Diamond

65th Anniversary - Diamond

70th Anniversary - Platinum

75th Anniversary - Diamond

Please share any wonderful ideas you have come up with.........

Have you heard this?

Have you ever heard the little ditty about what a bride needs - ‘something new, something old, something blue, something borrowed and a sixpence in her shoe’? Ever wondered what it meant?

Something old
Signifies a sense of continuity, tradition and represents the link to the bride's old life and her family.

Something new
Signifies the couple's new beginning, new life together as well as their hopes for the future.

Something borrowed
Something borrowed from a happily married friend or family member to wish that your married life will also be happy, it also reminds the bride that friends and family will still be there for her when the wedding is over.

Something blue
Blue represents fidelity, love, and purity.

And a silver sixpence for her shoe
Signifies a wealth of both money and happiness and joy.
The sixpence, first minted in the reign of Edward VI (1551), has been associated with weddings since the reign of Elizabeth I. The custom of giving a silver sixpence as a lucky charm to bring wealth and happiness to the married couple began in Victorian times. The custom says that, to ensure the couple's wealth and happiness, the bride should put the coin in her left shoe. In some areas the custom is for the father of the bride to put the sixpence in the shoe.

Great Read

I have just finished a fabulous book by a UK award winning wedding planner. 'Confessions of a Wedding Planner' by Tamryn Kirby is hilarious, sad, and down right frightening in places.

She goes through the highs and lows she experienced through her planning business using real wedding scenarios she has witnessed, she gives helpful tips to brides-to-be, and also incorporates her own marriage dramas.

Definitely a must read.

Also have a look at her blog for fabulous wedding day tips and ideas - http://tamrynkirby.blogspot.com/

Welcome to I Do .....

Well I'm here FINALLY.

The desire to set up an event planning business has been thought of for a long time and after discovering there was a real need in the Hawkes Bay area for an affordable planner, I got planning. The research is done, the templates are created, and first client visit has been completed.

I am very excited about this new venture, especially when it comes to helping couples create their dream wedding. So please if you need help I would LOVE to listen! I have packages available or an hourly rate for designing and creating specific requirements.