Bonbonniere was one of those decisions we agonised over. We knew we didn’t want the traditional sugar covered almonds,  we thought chocolates were the new norm, so we chose macaroons until we considered that our reception was at an Italian restaurant  and macaroons were decidedly French.

My wife, Sam and I then decided to use our bonbonniere to support a good cause and give something to our community as well as guests. We chose one of our favourite charities, the RSPCA. We have three fur babies of our own who wouldn’t be here with us today if it weren’t for all the good work that the RSPCA and other local animal rescue organisations do.

I contacted the RSPCA who were very helpful in suggesting options for wedding favours from their range of merchandise and had them promptly sent to us. We packaged them in little glassine bags and included notes about why we chose these as our favours. If you are looking for a personal touch for your bonbonniere why not look into options for charities close to your heart.

Photo courtesy of April Werz Photography

Ms Gingham says: This is the best idea for wedding favours that I’ve seen in a long time! Love it! Thanks so much for sharing Josh!

Josh says: “I am a Groom–to-be on the home stretch with our Wedding to be held in October this year. I have been involved in every aspect of our wedding so far (except shopping for the dress) and my fiancé and I have enjoyed all of the hard work and planning so far.”

Read about Josh’s engagement shoot here.

Gifts and Favors, Groom | Comments 1

Jewellery has been a life-long passion of mine. In the way some people wake up thinking about what they’ll have for dinner that evening, I wake up thinking about jewellery. Some people browse holiday destinations in their lunch break; I surf jewellery websites. I can usually identify the maker of a jewellery item correctly 8 times out of 10.

Now, I’m not male. I am, however, expert in wearing jewellery; I think the principles of choosing and wearing jewellery remain the same, regardless of gender.

So what do you need to think about when choosing your wedding ring? Here are some simple steps to get you started:

Think about your lifestyle; what type of wedding ring is going to work best for you? If you play lots of sport, perhaps you want to think about a slim wedding ring with a rounded profile so that it doesn’t dig into your fingers if you’re holding a racquet or bat. Equally, if you play music, you won’t want a heavy chunky ring that might keep hitting the side of your guitar.

What does your ring say? Your ring is your statement to the world that you’re married. Are you going to get it engraved? Inside or outside? Are you going to go for a hi-shine finish or something more discreet, such as a matte finish? Make sure that your ring expresses who you are – hopefully, you’re going to be looking at it for a long time!

Many guys think that they can wear any colour metal. Wrong! What suits you best all depends on your skin tone. I wear white and yellow golds, but not rose gold – it simply doesn’t suit me. If you’re not sure which metals or stones suit you best, ask a trusted friend or family member’s opinion.

Finally…love what you wear. There’s no point wearing something if it’s just acceptable; you will spend the next 40-something years being annoyed that it isn’t quite right. With some careful thought, you can design jewellery exactly as you want it – a shiny, matte or even brushed finish, as well as a choice of engraving fonts and messages to reflect your special day.

Happy shopping and remember  – your wedding ring is an expression of you and the statement you’re making to the world!

Jewellery and Images by StyleRocks

Ms Gingham says: So much focus is placed on “the ring” for the bride to be that it’s easy to forget the groom’s ring. This is a great post by Pascale reminding us that it may not be quite as shiny or expensive but it’s just as important.

About Pascale: Pascale Helyar-Moray, Founder and Director of StyleRocks has fourteen years of financial services experience as a marketing and communications professional working with blue chip companies in Australia and the UK. Maternity leave forced her to re-examine her career options and in looking for a business she could run from home, created StyleRocks in order to harness her lifelong passion for jewellery.

Groom, Groom Style, Jewellery | Comments 2

Oh what a year it has been! As we’re all so fond of saying “I can’t believe how quickly this year’s gone!”. Here’s a recap of the most memorable posts from Polka Dot Groom… just in case you missed some beauties!

1. Commemorative Beverage

In this post, our now married groom Brent Dakis shares the story of how he brewed his own beer for his wedding. An extremely entertaining and at the same time, quite interesting post about home brewing!

2. How To Give a Good Speech

OK so Ms Floral can’t tell you what to say, neither is this a crash course in stand up comedy. It is, however, a very handy little post essentially about public speaking, on a very emotional, sensitive and special occasion. Essential reading.

3. Choosing The Ring

This is a tough one for every groom to be. Choosing the ring. Who better to write this one than Mr Polka himself with some very valuable advice from a man’s point of view.

4. It’s All In The Detail

Another of our now married grooms, Julian, shares his special engagement on Polka Dot Groom with an articulate, touching and inspiring post. One of my favourites from this year!

5. Julian and Amy’s Rock and Roll Engagement Shoot

I can’t do a “best of Groom” without including our groom Julian’s and his bride Amy’s super cool engagement shoot. Photographer Dan O’Day does an astounding job at capturing the personality of this couple and it’s just fun looking at the images really! Another one of my favourites.

Polka Dot Groom is growing and we just love hearing the voice of the Grooms out there. Inspiration is best when shared (says I) so thanks to all our grooms and contributors for making this blog so much fun. Here’s to even more fun in 2012!

Ms Gingham xx

Groom, Polka Dot Groom News | Comments 0

Image by Gertrude & Mabel via Jennifer and James

Are you planning to wear a buttonhole? While most grooms and groomsmen wear buttonholes, it’s becoming a subtle trend for them to not wear buttonholes, which is a little bit disappointing because buttonholes are symbol of sharing; it’s said that it began when a gentle proposed by giving a lady a bouquet of flowers, then the lady inserted 1 flower in the gentleman’s buttonhole as a sign of saying “yes”. It was also worn to keep the evil sprits away on the wedding day – not that we have to worry about that now!

It is beautiful to wear a buttonhole, a finishing touch to all the hard work done to get ready for the special day. Traditionally, grooms wore a carnation in the buttonhole on the lapel, but of course you don’t have to stick to the tradition. Buttonholes are usually made up of flower(s) and greenery that is used in the bride’s bouquet. For example, if the bride is holding a rose bouquet, naturally, you would have a rose buttonhole. This way, it symbolizes sharing between the bride and the groom. However, you if you want something else, that is completely up to you. You only get to wear a buttonhole so many times in your lifetime, so why not make it worthwhile!

Choosing the design

As I mentioned, normally, a buttonhole is made of a flower that’s in the birdal bouquet. Or, you may want to wear a flower that matches the wedding colour scheme. Whatever you choose, it’s best to keep it within the theme/design so there is some form of uniformity.

There is also the choice between “natural stem” and “wired” stems of the buttonhole. Here are some examples of “natural stem” buttonholes that are becoming quite popular. The pros of them are that you can take it off and soak it in water if you are worried about them losing water especially on a very hot day. They are perfect for casual style weddings.

Images from Sugar Bee Flowers

These are these wired style buttonholes. These are the more traditional type, and the pros of them are that they look nice and neat, and you won’t have to worry about them drooping during your wedding. Some good florists wrap a wet cotton wool (many don’t, so if you are worried do ask them to do this) around the stem of the flower so they have water to drink. Whether you have smaller flowers, berries and/or greenery in your buttonhole is also completely up to you. If you like something simple, stick to 1 leaf and 1 flower. If you like something that is more elaborate, you can have a smaller flower, berries and greenery. Just keep in mind, it looks more balanced if you use materials that are different size; i.e. large focal flower + little flower,  focal flower + small berries, etc..

Images from Sugar Bee Flowers

How to wear your buttonhole

Buttonholes are worn above your heart – your left hand side. Some may find this confusing, but you don’t insert the buttonhole into the button hole on the lapel. Your florist will provide you with a corsage pin which you use to attach it. First, you hold the buttonhole onto where you want to attach it (not too high, not too low), then you use the corsage pin to pin from the back of the lapel (so that the pearl is invisible from the front) then you weave the pin above and over the stem of the buttonhole, then back into the fabric. This should secure the buttonhole well. Remember to pin it closer to the flower so that it doesn’t tip over with the weight.

Photo by Deep Grey Photography

Buttonhole care

As a florist, I get worried about the buttonholes because they are so fragile yet they are exposed to all the light, wind, hugging, moving around and dancing on a wedding day! Of course you can’t avoid these because they are essential to a beautiful wedding. However, there are some tips to help them get less damaged.

• After you receive your buttonhole, keep them in the fridge. To avoid them getting too cold, it’s best to wrap them in soft tissue paper if it isn’t already, and keep them in the veggie compartment of the fridge – try to keep fruits away from here as they encourage maturing.
• If you are having the natural stem buttonholes, put it in water until you wear it. Remember to wipe off any excess water before you wear it so you don’t get your suit wet.
• Wear the buttonhole just before you go.
• If you can, try not to stand in the sun for too long especially on a hot day (I know it’s not so doable, but it helps!) and try to avoid physical contact where the buttonhole is (again, I know this is not so doable on a wedding day, but it does help).

Good luck with choosing your buttonhole!

Ms Gingham says: I find the history of this buttonhole tradition so fascinating! I never even thought about where it all began.

Youki from Sugar Bee Flowers says: “As a florist, I love to provide natural and sweet floral designs for my special clients.”

Tags http://www.sugarbeeflowers.com.au/index.html | Flowers, Groom, Groom Style | Comments 1

 

Let’s face it, there is a tendency to forget that the big day is actually about TWO people, and not just about the bride! Allowing the groom to have input in choosing the gifts is not only important, but probably one of the tasks he will be more likely to enjoy! He can rest assured with a great online registry that he doesn’t even have to leave the sofa, but can happily browse through gift choices from the comfort of his own home, with his feet up and a beer!

Knives – Whether he is a regular Jamie Oliver or he can only manage a few snags on the BBQ, men LOVE knives. Cook’s knives, Knife block sets, Steak knives, Carvers, Home sharpening kits and for the ultimate in knives The Swiss Army Knife! Let him choose these… he’ll appreciate it.

Barbecue –Top of the blokes’ gift list has got to be the good old Aussie Barbecue. They come in many shapes and sizes for even the tiniest of balconies or the largest of backyards and have lots of great coordinating tools. Perfect for on the go – have a look at the travelling style barbecues. Simply throw them in the back seat and you’re good to go!

Games – A good way to add some fun into your gift registry is to add some games, and boy don’t the Blokes love games! There are lots of favourites to choose from including Scattegories, Jenga, Monopoly, Twister, Backgammon, Chess, Quoits and of course…Poker!

Camping Gear – So looking for adventure after the Wedding? There are many fun and exciting journeys yet to be had in the great outdoors! The Sydney Wedding Registry has an excellent range of outdoor equipment and camping gear for avid campers and new enthusiasts alike, including Caribee and Mountain Design Tents, Sleeping bags, Travel rugs, Packs, Eskys and Swiss Army Tools.

Tools – The perfect weekend hobby for the newlywed Groom: DIY! All those pesky little chores that need to be done around the home can now finally be completed with a fabulous range of tools to get you started.

Dining and Travel Packages - From deluxe camping a Romantic weekend in the Hunter Valley, inclusive of award-winning meals, these packages offer a great excuse to keep the Honeymoon going on after your Big Day!

Enjoy!

Ms Gingham says: Some great ideas! After all, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach… and the way to a man’s stomach is through his barbeque. Brilliant!

The Sydney Wedding Registry: Although we’re relatively new in Sydney, our Melbourne store has been around for 6 years and we’ve helped hundreds and hundreds of couples with their lists, so we know exactly what you want (and what you don’t). We know that this is a very busy time for you, so our team goes to great lengths to make this process as simple and enjoyable as possible for you, and for your guests. So relax, and let us take care of all your gifts!

*Products From the Top Left to Right: Fired Up- No Nonsense Barbecuing by Ross Dobson RRP $34.95, Caribee 47L Cooler RRP $120, Vacu Vin Instant Marinator RRP $69.95, Gasmate Galaxy Grandeur 4-Burner Hooded Barbecue RRP $1015, Bosch Cordless Drill RRP $195, Scattergories RRP $54.95, The Travel Book Hardcover RRP $80, Spiegelau Pilsner Glasses- Set of 4 RRP $59.90, Burgon & Ball Secateurs RRP $50, Wusthof 8-piece Knife Block Set $909 (RRP $1069), Caribee Kestrel 4-Person Tent RRP $320, Supatool Premium Toolbox Kit RRP $154, Patio by Jamie Durie RRP $35, Hark BBQ Utensil Set RRP $39.50

Tags http://www.sydneyweddingregistry.com.au/ | Gifts and Favors, Groom | Comments 3