Midnight snacks at a wedding are a brilliant way to keep your guests’ energy level up but it’s also a fun way to bring out your favourite food that you might not have considered serving during dinner (cheeseburgers? french fries? doughnuts?). Consider making the portions bite size so they’re easy to eat between songs!

Stuck for ideas? Let my stomach grumble as I ramble off my favourites – grilled cheese with shot glasses of tomato soup, mini burgers, shot glasses filled with french fries covered in tomato sauce, ice cream, tiny chocolate chip cookies with milk, doughnut holes,  mini hot dogs, Hot chocolate, curry with poppadums, pikelet stacks with fresh berries, party pies and cocktail frankfurters (you may laugh but these are always the first to go at any party, let’s be honest!), mini tacos, macaroni & cheese, baked potatoes, meatballs, sausage rolls.. the list goes on!

What would you serve?

1. Mini ice cream photo by  j. bird photography via Style Me Pretty 2. Mini pies from Martha Stewart Weddings 3. Mini grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup from Fresh Tart 4.  Photo from Bite by Bite: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party by Peter Callahan via Bridal Guide 5 Photo from Bite by Bite: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party by Peter Callahan via Bridal Guide 6. Mini pancake stack from Instyle Weddings 7. Mini grilled cheese & tomato soup from Oh Happy Day! 8. Photo from Bite by Bite: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party by Peter Callahan via Bridal Guide 9. Mini biscuits and milk from Martha Stewart Weddings 10. Mini doughnuts and coffee from Martha Stewart Weddings 11. Mini macaroni and cheese from Martha Stewart Weddings 12 Photo from Bite by Bite: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party by Peter Callahan via Bridal Guide 13. Mini cheeseburgers and fries from The Breakers

Want More? Check Out These Posts:

1. Sweet Midnight Treats
2. Groom Ideas: Food
3. Warm Treats For Winter Weddings

1. Candlestick makeover from Cupcakes & Cashmere 2.  Blue candlesticks from Sunset 3, Candles from Anik Gneib 4. Candlestick centrepiece from Womans Day 5. Black lacquered candlesticks from Gumps via Remodelista 6. Danish candlesticks from MonkiVintage 7. Chroma candlestick from Anthropologie 8. Coloured candlesticks from Martha Stewart Weddings 9. Coral candlestick photo by Crystal Clear Imagery via Style Me Pretty 10. Green candlestick photo by Michele M. Waite via Elizabeth Anne Designs 11. Painted candlesticks from BHG 12. Distressed pink candlesticks from VintageJulz

We think of candlesticks as being usually made of silver, brass, china or glass. Wooden candlesticks are more often than not stained a brown colour  – not terribly inspiring if you wish to include them in your wedding décor.

How can you add a point of difference to your wedding décor?  You could source coloured glass or china candlesticks from the web, or from larger decorating ‘supermarkets’. Perhaps second hand markets would unearth a few beauties.

Or you could call on your creative side and source wooden candlesticks of all shapes and sizes – tall and thin, short and squat, or elegant and tapered. Think of how you will group the candlesticks on the tables – different heights and widths look the best in groups of odd numbers.

What are the colours you have chosen for your wedding reception? Which colour is your main one, and which are the accent colours? Once you have decided, head on down to your paint store, with fabric swatches, ribbons or beads (whatever you will use) and compare paint chips against these items. Next decide on whether you will paint the candlesticks with a gloss paint, or a flat matt paint finish.  Some paint brushes and fine grade sandpaper and you have all your tools to commence your project. Take your time sanding and painting two coats of your chosen hues – sanding between coats to give a smooth finish.

Your candlesticks could be all painted white, or all black – grouped on a mirrored tabletop and lit with white candles. A metallic finished copper or gold paint might look good with honeycomb patterned beeswax candles.

Try grouped candlesticks of many colours on a plain tablecloth – for example try sky blue, spring green and white candlesticks, grouped on a white or blue tablecloth. Add blue and green hydrangeas and your other accessories in white and you have a simple but stylish table setting.  Candlesticks picking up the colours of a floral vintage fabric, a particularly vibrant stripe in a beachside setting, or a simple coloured toile will look co-ordinated.

So that your candlestick arrangements don’t look like a candy shop, just make sure that one of the colours dominates and the other colours are used as accents.

Want More? Check Out These Posts:

1. Paint Chips and Wedding Colours
2. Creative Colour – White
3. Creative Colour – Sparkling Silver

I’m always excited when there is something completely brand new in Australia, something that can completely change the style of event you’re having because it is so drop dead awesome. Today’s find? Wedding tipis!

Tipikata is a brand new Australian company who has introduced tipis for hire! If you’re looking for something different to a standard wedding venue, and a standard square or rectangular marquee just isn’t quite right? Perhaps the soft caramel colour, circular shape and stunning wooden beams might be the space for you?

One tipi can hold 70 guests (or 100 for cocktail) but the tipis can be joined together for larger celebrations holding 120 guests in a double.

There’s endless options too- sides open (relaxed and warm on a Summer’s day) or shut (cosy and snug for winter), floor matting and even (my favourite part of all) a fireplace. How fun would it be to pile a few couches around the fireplace at a winter wedding? Allowing guests to be mesmerised by the crackling fire while they’re enjoying your reception? Tipikata also provide tents for parties too (personally I hope Mr P reads this as I’m thinking a party in a tipi for my next birthday would be just dandy?)

Tipikata is based out of Melbourne and owned by long term friends Hayley & Lina who are both excited about the magic a tipi creates. When I emailed Hayley she said “Everything about creating TipiKata has been natural and exciting for us, a kind of “this is meant to be” experience. We really want to share our vision of creativity, togetherness and connection. We want hiring a TipiKata tipi to be a complete experience, where we assist our couples to create and enjoy a totally unique celebration. ”

 Images from TipiKata

Want More? Check Out These Posts:

1. Wedding Art Prints
2. Rustic Western Australia Wedding Venues
3. Rustic South Australia Wedding Venues

1. Bridesmaids photo by Kate Osborne via Snippet & Ink 2. Napkins via Martha Stewart 3. Cake from M.Robin Cake Design 4. Kate Spade inspiration shoot by  Edyta Szyszlo via 100 Layer Cake 5. Cake from Martha Stewart Weddings 6.  bow tie and boutonniere by Erin Hearts Court via Once Wed 7. Bar cart from Martha Stewart Weddings 8. Stripe ring pillow from Martha Stewart Weddings 9. Oscar De La Renta gown via Brides 10. Stripe vellum candles from Martha Stewart Weddings 11. Photo by  Jonathan Canlas Photography via Brooklyn Bride

Stripes are a bold move in wedding décor and signal to your guests that you are not conventional!

In a nautical theme, navy or sapphire and white striped tablecloths will set the theme. Just add touches of red, sky blue and sand in bunting, shells, marine artifacts and the sea outside.

A satin striped cloth underneath a patterned over-cloth looks feminine, elegant and different. Try a soft sage or ivory striped cloth and  throw over a smaller cloth in florals – say with apricots, pinks, lemons but with the sage as a colour in the pattern. Try spots or checks as your over-cloth, or an embroidered fabric such as sari material, or organza with an embroidered border.

A plain cloth underneath with a striped cloth on the top -  swagged or with tassels as embellishment looks elegant.

Try striped fabric to create a ‘tented ceiling’ gathered into an ornate pleat in the middle of the room. Hang a ‘chandelier’ of flowers, fairy lights, glass beading or a real chandelier from the centre and your room suddenly becomes grand.

Striped market umbrellas, striped favour boxes or noodle boxes, a subtle stripe in your wedding party fabric, ties, pocket handkerchiefs, socks, striped crockery.

Or create a striped effect by having tablecloths in white edged with a double stripe of black ribbon, black and white ticking napkins. Consider using a bold black and white stripe in upholstery fabric, over which you place a white or black linen cloth edged in crystals.

Want More? Check Out These Posts:

1. Written In The Stars
2. Fuchsia and Taupe
3. Martha Stewart Presents Emerald & Aqua

Redcliffe Barn at Ravenswood Sanctuary

Photo via WAWeddings

Redcliffe Barn, located in Ravenswood Sanctuary, Pinjarra. The venue offers a multitude of ceremony venues – from their deck to a number of beautiful areas on the property. The barn offers numerous food & beverage packages.  Email them for more information redcliffebarn@ozzienet.net

http://blackswanbride.blogspot.com/2009/02/barn-in-perth-metro-area.html

Perth Zoo Homstead Barn

Fancying marrying next to the elephants? Perhaps penguins are more your style? The Perth Zoo offers a gorgeous rustic stylish function area plus you get the added benefit of furry and not so furry friends joining you on your wedding day! The Perth Zoo Homestead Barn can hold 200 guests or more if using the adjacent courtyard. Mustard Catering holds the contract for Perth Zoo, so check out their website for more.

Villa Pourzand

More “French Rustic” than “Australian Rustic” I still love the feel of Villa Pourzand. Located in the beach side suburb of Cottesloe, Villa Purzand has a minimum of 40 guests and can cater to 120 guests for a cocktail function or 90 for a sit down. Visit the Villa Purzand website for more.

Chapel Farm

Swan Valley’s Chapel Farm offers a beautiful rustic style venue with a capacity for 250 guests. There’s a private waterfall and lake on site (great for your ceremony)  and a bar located within the restored homestead. Visit the Chapel Farm website for more.

Sandalford Winery

From the gorgeous underground cellar to the oak room, Sandalford Winery has a range of function spaces that are beautifully rustic. The underground cellar is the largest space, able to fit 250 guests and the venue has two beautiful garden spaces for wedding ceremonies. Visit their website for more.

Kidogo Art Institute

Kidogo Art Institute is a stunning limestone building sitting right on the beach. Located in Fremantle, the venue has two galleries available for hire (the smaller White Gallery can only be hired together with the Large gallery and makes the perfect place for ceremonies or pre dinner drinks) The exposed beams and beautiful limestone walls make this a gorgeous blank canvas for your event. Visit their website for more.

Cambinata Farm

Cambinata Farm, a working yabbie farm in Yallingup. The venue can cater to 200 guests. The onsite shearing shed is a great option for functions with a baby grand piano and beautiful candelabras available for use. Guests can even camp on the property! Visit their website for more information.

Brookside Vineyard Bed & Breakfast

Photo by Christine Lim

Brookside Vineyard Bed & Breakfast is located in the Bickley Valley.  Polka Dot couple Linda & Joel converted the wine shed into their reception venue and it has just the right amount of rustic charm! Visit the website for more information

Stone Mason’s Distillery

Photo by Objecktiv Photography

Stone Mason’s Distillery was built ion Kojonup in 1894 and retains it’s historic charm. The venue can cater to 85 guests in their restaurant with delicious three course menus.  Visit their website for more.

What other venues can you add to my list?

Want More? Check Out These Posts:

1. Rustic South Australia Wedding Venues
2. Rustic Wedding Venues In NSW & ACT
3. Rustic Queensland Wedding Venues