I am really in love with vintage posters like the Cinzano one from Art.com I used to inspire today’s inspiration board. It conjures up a cosy intimate setting with plenty of candle light, plenty of good food and good wine (and please let there be lots of cheese!).

I love that using a poster like this as your inspiration can introduce bold combinations and dramatic details – red bridesmaid gowns, big, gorgeous veils and bright Autumn toned floral arrangements. I envisage plenty of foodie touches too- cheese wheels instead of cake, jars of olives, bottles of red wine, a bare table filled with bread sticks and boards of charcuterie.

Cizano poster from Art.com, bouquet from Floret Flowers, Red dress photo by Jen Huang via Reverie Magazine, cheese wedding cake from Formaggi Othello, bride photo by Lauren Kinsey via Snippet & Ink, Table setting photo by  Braedon Photography via One Hope Weddings, Menu photo by Robin O’Neill Photography, via Style Me Pretty, Couple photo from Martha Stewart Weddings, olive jars from Camilla Styles

Bride, Inspiration Boards | Comments 0

Great Gatsby Destination Fiji Wedding Photo by Tamiz Photography

There has been a noticeable shift in fashion and trends with the release (and pending release in Australia) of The Great Gatsby. Art-deco inspired gowns and stationary, a hark back to glamour and opulence, with embellished jewellery and strings of pearls. We’ve loved seeing it all roll in, and, of course, drooling over the star’s fashion on the red carpet! I myselft don’t have the hips for the 20′s style (girls with curves will understand my morbid fear of the drop-waist), however it’s a style that screams sophistication and gives a wonderful rebellious nod to gender ambiguity in the cut.

This week, we’ve launched a new series on Polka Dot Groom (welcome Mr Herringbone and his culinary skills!), and we’ve shared some fabulous weddings, advice and DIYs. If you missed anything, or just want a refresh – here’s the weekly roundup of our specialty blogs!

This Week On Polka Dot Weddings

Polka Dot Weddings is the blog where real brides write about their weddings and share their experiences. Inspiration abounds so click on each image to read more.

1.Real Wedding – Great Gatsby Destination Wedding 2. Real Bride Advice - Inspired Words – Celeste 3. Real Journey – Our “First Look” in Fiji4. Real Wedding –  Megan & Carl’s WEdding Video  5. Sneak Peek – Your Wedding Cake

This Week On Polka Dot Wisdom

Polka Dot Wisdom is a treasure trove of advice, news and wedding planning tips! Written by wedding professionals you could almost plan your whole wedding by following this, the wisest of all blogs! Click on the images to read more.

1.What Would They Know - Katie Colgan of Loui Col Designs 2.Vendor’s Favourites – Diamond Love Collections 3. Event Review – Watson’s Bay Boutique Hotel Launch Brunch 4.Polkadot Office - April 2013 

This Week On Polka Dot Made

Polka Dot Made is your source for all things handmade including weekly DIY projects to make for your wedding or engagement.

1. Etsy Roundup – Cool Cosmetics 2. Tuesday Type – Wishes Script 3. DIY – The Professionals – Ruth from Felt Foxes 4. DIY Tutorial - Ombre Metallic Vase Tutorial 5 Cocktail Friday – QT Sydney Hotel’s Espresso Martini 

This week on Polka Dot Honeymoons

The wedding is over, the dust has settled and now it’s time to get away from it all! Find resort reviews, inspiration and real honeymoons every week on Polka Dot Honeymoons.

1. Hotel Review – QT Hotel Sydney 2. Polkadot Travel Lounge – Naomi From SALT Retreats 

This week on Polka Dot Groom

Polka Dot Groom is dedicated to all things groom. Inspiration, advice and style for the Australian groom.

1. The Dish – With Mr Herringbone - Rare Roast Beef & Asparagus Crostini  2. Inspired Memories – Luke 3. Real Groom Style – Rob

What’s in a name? Well, the team at Photographs by Pavlina Matt have made the change to Shy Fox Photography, as it’s not just Pav that takes the pics anymore, and they really liked the name!  Check out their lovely new website for more info!

Fi Fy Fo Fum Designs has just launched a fab new website (so much lovely colour!). A place to find great designs for all your wedding stationery, and to celebrate, they are offering one lucky Polkadot Bride reader a $250 voucher!

To enter simply leave a comment below and tell us, in 25 words or less, what you would use the voucher for!  Entries close next Thursday 30 May 2013.

Who doesn’t love a sale? This Saturday only (May 25), Henry Roth is having a huge sale, with up to 80% off wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses!
Doors Open at 9am Sharp at the Henry Roth Sydney Design Studio Level 2, 87 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

We’re excited to share a fab new service just launched by the lovely Alicia of Akimbo!  Called the Clever Hello Club, it’s a monthly subscription service where stationery lovers receive two greeting cards every month. It’s a super convenient way to always have a stash of quirky cards on hand for engagements, weddings and all of life’s occasions, plus it also makes a wonderful gift for the newlyweds!

Subscribers must join by the 1st of the month for the shipment that goes out on the 15th of each month.

You can find more information and join up at the Akimbo website!

Sports Celebrity Alert! Today we bring you the gorgeous wedding of Anthony Watmough from the Manly Sea Eagles to his beautiful lady Elle McLeod, courtesy of the good folks at Soda Films.

 

Blog News, Bride | Comments 1

Nikki & Luke

Nikki & Luke’s wedding day was in a beautiful garden setting. Filled with beautiful tones of pinks and white the wedding was nothing short of romantic and paid homage to the beautiful Maleny garden setting.

Jodi McDonald Photography captured today’s wedding with beautiful, soft colours and dreamy captures that add to the romance of the day.

Nikki chose a gown by Alfred Angelo. Val Sparks Florist styled the floral arrangements.

Nikki and Luke chose House of Laurels Maleny for their wedding. Nikki explaining, “Our vision was to create something that was beautifully vintage but loads of fun – Laurels was perfect with the garden setting for the ceremony and stunning glass roof reception room.”

Of their photographer, Nikki says, “Jodi’s work is second to none – we absolutely love it and booked her as soon as possible. Her bubbly personality on the day ensured we enjoyed ourselves. The photos are AMAZING and we love them.”

“Luke and I didn’t want an overly serious day. We wanted it to be a day where everyone could walk away and say “I really enjoyed that wedding” To make it fun we set up our own photobooth with loads of funny props and we also included fun props in our bridal party shoot.”

“We didn’t want the wedding to feel “washed out” which can sometimes happen with the pastel vintage palette so we instead added heaps of bright flowers and the astro turf letters to add that fun and quirky feel to our day.” Nikki and her bridesmaid created the centrepieces, astro turf numbers and letters and and stamped name tags and signs for the candy buffet.”

Nikki remarks, “It was hands down the BEST day of our lives and we’ve had so many comments from our friends and family about how it was the best wedding they have ever been to. The fact our guests also had a great time made it an even better day for us! ”

Congratulations on your marriage Nikki and Luke! Thank you for sharing your day with us! Thank you also to Jodi McDonald Photography for sharing today’s images!

Colours Blush Pink | Australia - Queensland, Bride, Inspired Weddings | Comments 6

Carl and Megan

They say that your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, and honestly… how can anyone disagree? You have this one day where every person who means something to you and your husband have come to support your decision to marry one another. You are surrounded by only happiness, love, food, laughter, cake and music. I don’t think I have laughed and cried in one day as much as I did on our wedding day.

My bridal party and I checked into Oaks Aurora Apartments the day before the wedding. We had our nails done and relaxed in our hotel room with a few champagnes before a bit of pampering. We started the morning of the wedding rather relaxed and really just watching the clock until hair and make-up arrived. My beautiful girlfriend Vanessa Rotolone who is an extremely talented hairdresser was responsible for the hair styles of the day. Having my original make-up artist pull out one week before the big day, we were so grateful for Elle and Rachel from The Makeup Room to offer their services.

My Pronovias Alcanar gown was purchased about ten months prior to the wedding from Tara at White Lily Couture. It was the second or third dress that I had tried on, and Tara was so lovely in letting me come back into the store another four or so times to re-try the dress on to ensure it was the one I wanted to wear on my wedding day. The veil was my “something borrowed” and my accessories were Samantha Wills “Moonlight Moment” earrings. My shoes were purchased on an overseas holiday in Vegas last December and were Christian Louboutins. Our wedding ceremony was held at Cathedral of St Stephen’s in Brisbane City. Carl had told me several times not to be late to the Church… and it turns out… I was! We left our hotel so early that we were seeing guests on their way to the Church so we had the driver do a few blocks of the city. Just before walking down the aisle, I took a moment to breathe and appreciate how much love was there for us on that day.

Seeing Carl at the end of the aisle is an image I will never forget. He was so nervous, which was surprising as I had been the emotional one in the lead up to the wedding and he had been the emotional stabiliser.

We decided to go to Brisbane Grammar School with our bridal party for photos as we are both private people and didn’t want to be walking amongst people in the city or along the river to get our photos. We wanted to be somewhere we could all relax, have some drinks and enjoy one another. It was also sentimental as this was the place where we met.

Apparently it is good luck for it to rain on your wedding day (although I’m sure people just say that to make bride’s feel better) and turns out… it rained on our day! Thankfully it was only for a short ten minutes, but we were able to get shots that we probably wouldn’t have been able to had it not of rained. There is always a silver lining!

The reception was held at Customs House, somewhere we both fell in love with when choosing a wedding venue. The service was impeccable, and the venue can best be described as classically elegant and romantic. This fit perfectly with our vision for our wedding day. Being able to spread ourselves around to the 140 guests was probably the most challenging aspect of the day.

The Candy Buffet Company provided the Lolly Buffet which also acted as the bonbonniere. The Candy Buffet was a beautiful addition to our wedding. It looked spectacular, tasted delicious and really brought out the inner child in everyone.

Our wedding day was certainly what dreams are made of, there was so much love and happiness in the room that it made us both appreciate how lucky we are to have found each other and share the relationship that we do. We were so humbled by those who travelled from all corners of the world and will hold on to the happy memories of the day for the rest of our lives.

Images by Chris Hall Photography

Ms Gingham says: Megan your gown is divine and the wedding looks like it has come together perfectly! Love the Samantha Wills earrings too! Congratulations.

Megan says: “I am a 24 year old high school teacher in Brisbane. Married in April to a man that makes me laugh every single day.”

Colours LavenderLilacWhite | Inspired Weddings, Inspired Weddings, Weddings | Comments 2

Ari and Ben

I love a county celebration and Ari and Ben’s wedding, held just outside Tenterfield at Deepwater embraced everything about a country wedding – from the golden grasses, the rolling hills to the shearing shed and open fire after the stars came out. It’s a beautiful representation of what is is to be Australian.

Ari tells how they met. “We met through mutual friends when we were seventeen, it only took a quick 10 years to get around to tying the knot! Ben proposed the morning of Christmas eve – we were at home, I was in my pj’s on the couch… I had no idea which is surprising because Ben is normally such a terrible secret keeper… and organiser!”

KISSstudio captured the most beautiful shots that show off the country location – golden sunsets and rolling hills just add to the beauty of today’s wedding.

Ari chose a strapless gown from Anna Campbell.

The wedding was held at Anketell Forest, Tenterfield. Ari tells “We found Anketell Forest randomly while on a road trip holiday and instantly fell in love with it. The old sheep shearing shed, which has been fixed up, has such character and was perfect for our wedding. The fields, mountains and bush surrounding the venue are just stunning as you can see from the photographs.”

“Our dog Ellie was wandering around ‘greeting’ people, until the ceremony began and she decided that she would be part of the bridal party. Ellie would run over to greet each bridesmaid as they emerged from the shearing shed, until finally I came out. She then proceeded to walk the entire way up the aisle just in front of me, looking backwards and not taking her eyes off me.”

Ari remembers, “At the end of the ceremony the celebrant introduced us using my maiden name, instead of Ben’s..! It was definitely an entertaining conclusion to the ceremony and I don’t think Ben will live that one down for some time.”

Of their photographer, Ari says, “KISSstudio were fantastic, it was all very relaxed and we had so much fun taking the photos. And, the results speak for themselves – the photos are absolutely amazing. The rustic style photobooth was also brilliant, everyone had a great time with it, judging by the photos! Its definitely a good laugh, and the photos from it will be great to look back on for Ben & I.”

“The remote location meant that we had to organise and supply everything from food and alcohol to chairs (aka straw bales!), decorations and lighting, which was fun but also challenging. We were lucky we had a big bridal party and lovely family and friends to help.”

“We essentially just wanted a relaxed celebration with family and friends (with wine and dancing!) and that’s exactly how it turned out. Everything from the band, the catering, to the flowers and photography were perfectly suited to our style, and it made the day very special.  We also wanted to minimise environmental impact where possible, so we used local produce for the catering, used compostable bamboo plates, supplied wine from a local winery and had kegs of preservative free beer, cider and ginger beer instead of bottled beer. Everything else was generally either borrowed, recycled or from the property – for example recycled glass jars and native wattle, or crocheted rugs thrown over straw bales.”

Of their first dance, Ari remembers, “It was very romantic and confetti was then thrown onto us. We danced all night.”

Ari describes the wedding as “Rustic environment friendly barn (sheep shearing shed) wedding with a warm bonfire and lots of laughs and dancing.”

Congratulations Ari and Ben! Thank you for sharing your story with us! Thank you to KISSstudio for sharing today’s wedding with us!

Colours White | Australia - New South Wales, Bride, Inspired Weddings | Comments 3