When I started Savvy Brides two and a half years ago, my dream was always to have a shop. A gorgeous little spot that was girly and comfortable where brides could come and try on lots of beautiful dresses and even though they were buying a second hand dress it wouldn’t feel like a second hand experience.

As time has passed, my business has grown and I have been so lucky to get lots of amazing preloved designer gowns by brilliant designers like Jenny Packham, Vera Wang, Oscar De La Renta, Steven Khalil and Johanna Johnson. As word spread and dresses started selling it soon became apparent that I was outgrowing my current space and so the search began for the perfect spot! I hunted around and eventually found a pretty little shopfront exactly where I wanted to be – in Double Bay.

The day I got the keys was so exciting! But the minute I started looking around, I realised how much work was involved to get the shop looking and feeling the way I wanted it to. My long suffering husband and my father did it all (with the help of a very patient builder for a couple of days) and it was a massive task which took about a month! It involved removing and replacing a floor, ripping down walls, rendering, painting, sanding, drilling and lots more things that I don’t even know about! I spent this time finding beautiful pieces to furnish the shop, lighting, rails, shelving, mirrors and decoration.

I decided to celebrate the opening of my new shop by having an opening event. When I set the date we thought we had plenty of time to finish the shop and so the invitations went out.

By the time the week of the opening rolled around, the shop was not actually on track to be ready and 100 people had RSVPed that they were attending!

There was a massive push at the end to get it all finished and on the day before the opening I came into the shop and could have cried! My husband and my father were there as usual working very hard. A builder my husband had befriended was there working on the electricals, a man from two doors down was helping with the door handles, the neighbour from the cafe next door was there working too. It was an amazing moment! So many people from our little community had come together to try and help give Savvy the best start! It seriously brought tears to my eyes!

Standing in my finished shop on the day of the opening was one of the happiest moments of my life. Seeing this gorgeous space, even better than anything I had pictured was this amazing feeling of seeing my dreams come true. Watching my Savvy Brides sign go up out the front and all my beautiful dresses go up on my bespoke wrought iron dress racks was just perfect!

For the opening I made contact with lots of fabulous vendors that I either knew or had heard about to ask them to get involved in the event. I was so lucky that so many got on board.

The shop was filled with beautiful dark and light pink peony roses and soft cream David Austin roses, lisianthus and gardenias all provided by Merci Bouquet. Love and Protect provided masses of flameless candles to cover every inch of the shop and as the sun set, the twinkling of the candles filled the shop..

Waiters served peach bellinis, champagne, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc and rose all supplied by Jacobs Creek from their new ‘Cool Harvest’ range and Peroni beer. The delicious catering from Mason Rose included: tartlets of roasted tomato with smoked mozzarella and olive tapenade, wholemeal pancake of roasted duck with shallot and cucumber, char grilled mini medallions of beef en croute with wasabi mustard and blue cheese tarts with onion and cardamom jam. Guests were also treated to the sweet delights of a gorgeous lolly buffet provided by Sugar Cube Lolly Buffets. The lolly table included delicious treats including nougat, caramel popcorn, milk bottles, marshmallows and fudge. Wedding cake designer, Yummy Cupcakes also provided cakes in luscious lemon and hazelnut truffle.

The fabulous Nadean from Photography by Nadean took photos on the night which turned out beautifully! I was very lucky that Vanilla Jam (the café next door) stayed open for the night so that guests could spill over into the café and onto the street. We had about 100 guests and it was so lovely to have so many brides, wedding vendors and friends there to celebrate this milestone in the Savvy Brides journey.

Guests all took home a goodie bag containing:

-       Chocolate from Lindt chocolates

-       Candle holders from Favour Perfect

-       Hair masque treatment: Al’chemy

-       Lipgloss: Zuii Organic

-       Hair shampoo and condition: Everescents

-       Pilates class voucher: Kiralates

Now that my shop has been open for over two months I know it was the best decision I ever made. I have so many more brides coming into the store, I can take lots of dresses and I know that the brides are having a first class experience finding their designer dress without the price tag!

Photography by Photography by Nadean

Renovation photos by Mandy from Savvy Brides

Ms Gingham says: Congratulations to Mandy and everyone who helped put this fabulous event together. We wish you every success in the future and we are certain that all your hard work will pay off!

About Savvy Brides: Savvy Brides is a bridal boutique located in Double Bay sells pre-loved second hand, sample wedding dresses and affordable wedding gowns made by top bridal designers.

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A surprise wedding can be so much fun but it is a lesson in logistics to pull it off successfully.

The core element of success is obviously creating the surprise in the first place. If 99% of the guests there know a wedding is about to take place, it technically isn’t a surprise!

So how do you ensure that all the people you want are there, your guests arrive on time and not fashionably late and the transition from informal gathering to wedding procession is managed smoothly rather than chaotically.

Chris and Danni were the perfect couple to plan a surprise wedding – they are creative, outgoing and well organized folk who like nothing better than to gather family and friends together for a festive occasion. They pulled their surprise off to the tears, laughter and cheers of their astonished guests in a moment that will live with them a lifetime.

However bride Danni did say “when we were planning our surprise wedding, we hunted high and low for surprise wedding advice but we couldn’t find anything very specific or helpful. We were so pleased at how it all came together in the end, our party was brilliant and we were still dancing sometime after 4am!”

As a celebrant, I have found the core success factors of a surprise wedding are:

• Finding creative ways to ensure immediate family know they really need to be there without giving the game away,
• Ensuring the guests arrived on time (not fashionably late thus missing the ceremony) and
• Planning the key cues that transition the guests from party/picnic/dinner to being active witnesses at the ceremony.

In this instance, all the planning paid off to create a unique and magical moment.

To facilitate the surprise, Chris and Danni chose New Year’s Eve 2011 and their engagement as a good excuse to throw a party and get everyone together. They picked a location high up in the hills to watch the setting sun go down on 2011 (thus giving guests a non negotiable arrival time) and used the styling skills of Her Hand Picked Harvest to create a casual, vintage and very cool party atmosphere.

Photographer Nicolle Versteeg mingled with guests initially capturing party snaps, while I tried to look less like a marriage celebrant and more like one of the band member’s chicks (trying to channel my inner groupie – not an easy task!) to avoid being caught out. The bride donned a gorgeous black party dress and mingled with guests putting a few suspicious guests off the scent immediately.

We planned the start of engagement speeches as the cue to gather people around and then managed the transition with a dramatic turn that featured three flowergirls running through the crowd with balloons and ribbon creating an impromptu aisle!

The bride then entered in a dramatically different white frock to Ingrid Michaelson’s The Way I am, sung by the band, enabling us to step seamlessly into a wedding ceremony that was filled with all the energy, laughter, tears and love that a successful surprise wedding can bring.

Other successful surprise weddings that I have had the honour of officiating have included using the Groom’s milestone birthday as a ruse or a family Christmas picnic get together as means to gather folk. A singing groom followed by a celebrity guest singer helped set the transition from 40^th birthday to wedding procession. While at the family picnic I arrived instead of Santa to cue the ceremony arrival and the bride’s car. In both these occasions, two fly in siblings had to be told of the surprise but they managed to keep their lips sealed!

Photography by Nicolle Versteeg. You can see more images of Chris and Danni’s surprise wedding at her blog.

Ms Gingham says: Imagine keeping this secret while planning the whole thing, not being able to talk to people about your plans or get anyone’s advice! On the plus side… no one interfering or telling you what you should be doing! Almost like eloping but not! Brilliant if you can pull it off and keep your cool!

About Danicia Dutry Ceremonies: One of life’s most amazing milestones is to find a partner to share your life. Creating a bespoke ceremony requires exceptional planning, facilitation and people skills. It is my pleasure to offer this service to couples embarking on their life journey. I have worked in professional communications and research roles for over 15 years; including senior positions with some of Australia’s leading companies. I ensure my professional experience forms the base of each ceremony but add the warmth and magic that are the essential key ingredients to creating a wonderful ceremony that enables your friends and family to feel an active part.

Read more by Danicia Dutry Ceremonies here.

Want More? Check Out These Posts:

1. Isn’t The Bride ALWAYS Late?
2. Fabulous Ceremonies!
3. How Many Hours Does A (Great) Celebrant Really Spend On A Wedding?

Image via Not Just a Honeymoon

Diann Valentine, host of the WeTV show “I Do Over” speaks at many elite wedding professional conferences, some in the most exclusive resorts in the world, and at a recent gathering of inspired wedding experts, Diann was quoted as saying (and I’m paraphrasing here!) “I ask for everything I can, and I’ll take what they give me.”

That gem is great advice not just for wedding experts but for you, the bride and groom, as well. You have tremendous negotiating power to get freebies and add-ons from wedding vendors who like you… which means you’re using the proverbial honey to attract sweet rewards. For example, as your friendly rapport grows with your florist, it’s smart to ask for any overflow materials your floral designer has in his or her workrooms. The designer gets to clear those glass vases out of storage, and you get free centerpiece vases.

On your honeymoon, tell the hotel’s booking agent and concierge that you’re newlyweds, and watch how fast you receive free strawberries and champagne in your room, prime seating at dinner, free scuba or snorkeling equipment, tickets to a breakfast sail, and more. Want a better room when you check in? All you have to do is ask. Countless brides and grooms have asked for an upgrade to a suite or beachfront room, and — if it’s not booked — they get to move right into it.

Ms Gingham says: It can never hurt to ask but like Sharon points out, never be aggressive or annoying and above all, don’t take anything for granted.

About Sharon: Sharon Naylor is the author of over 35 wedding books, including her newest: “Bridesmaid on a Budget”, “Smart Guide to Wedding Weekends”, and “1001 Ways to Save Money and Still have a Dazzling Wedding”. Her two books for the mothers of the bride and groom are bestsellers, and she has appeared on such top shows as Good Morning America, ABC News, Lifetime, Inside Edition and more – sharing tips and insider secrets to help you plan your dream wedding on a budget, personalized to your love story. Visit her site Sharon Naylor for more on her books, free worksheets and appearances. She lives in Morristown, NJ with her husband Joe and is at work on her next two wedding books.

Read more by Sharon here.

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Your dresses are gorgeous. You look beautiful!  So put your heads up and smile, as you come down the aisle. We all want to see your faces…

That’s it. That’s much better. Now the photographer can see your face. And so can we.

Now slow down, don’t rush down the aisle. We aren’t in a hurry. No, you don’t need to do the old, one step, two feet together walk, either. Makes you feel very awkward, doesn’t it? Just walk, relaxed and happy, and come down the aisle.

Excellent. Now, take your places. First bridesmaid, you stand at the end. The next one, on her left, and so on. Now, leave a nice gap for the bride.

Ok, she’s here! Now help her fix up her dress. She looks incredible. There’s a train on that dress. No, don’t stretch it out to the side. Then you will have to stand too far away from her and that looks awful in the photos. (and someone will step on it – guaranteed) Just take the train and move it around the side, and towards the front. There… that’s better, now you can squeeze in close to her and no-one will step on it.

Now, take the bride’s flowers before she does her vows, pass her a tissue if she – or the groom – are a little teary, and shoo that fly away from her face if you can.

The ceremony is over, and the newlyweds are walking down the aisle. Pair up with the groomsmen, but wait. Let them get almost to the end of the aisle, before you start to walk down it. And smile! It’s nearly time to celebrate.

You can have fun, now, but don’t forget your jobs aren’t quite over until the day is done. You are important. The bride loves you. You love her. It’s her big day. All you have to do today is be ready to help her. Help organise the groups for photos. Keep an eye on the bride’s makeup – and steal her away for a quick touch up, now and again. Be smiley. Be friendly. Stash a tissue or two for emergencies, and hang onto her lipstick. Be helpful – if guests ask you for assistance, help them. Don’t have too much to drink – its soooo not a good look. Remember, there are cameras everywhere.

That’s not so hard, is it?

Maybe the bride is your sister, your best friend, or an old friend. In ten years time, I hope you will all remember today – and how much fun it was. Enjoy!

Photography by Jonas Peterson

Ms Gingham says: This has got to be one of the best posts on advice for bridesmaids that I’ve read. Thanks for the Wisdom Robyn!

Robyn says: “I am quite possibly the happiest marriage celebrant in Sydney! Weddings are my thing! Nothing makes me happier than a really happy couple – every time.”

Read more wise words by Robyn here.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

Engagement film of Daniel and Tabitha

With engagement shoots and videos becoming more and more popular, here are some things to think about when planning your shoot from cinematographer Amy Nelson-Blain.

Engagement sessions are always a lot of fun, they are a great opportunity to practice being in front of a camera before the wedding day and have a special keepsake of those moments when you were first engaged. It is also nice to be able to share the session with your friends and family before your wedding day, or even share it at your wedding reception! If your engagement photographer or cinematographer is also going to be at your wedding, this is a great time to get to know your photographer or cinematographer and learn how they practice their craft before your big day.

When planning your engagement session, it’s always  best to start off by searching for some inspiration. This could come from other engagements that you have seen, a song, or even a poem. I usually ask most couples to think about what they enjoy doing together, like bush walking, bike riding, shopping, cafes, going to the beach, singing, painting, anything! This often leads to gathering up inspiration for an idea of what we could do for the photographs or filming, by thinking about what locations to use and what props, if any.

Another very important aspect of the engagement session is your love story. How did you meet? Why did you fall in love with your partner? What makes your partner so special? Answering these questions can be very helpful for the photographer or cinematographer to learn about how the two of you interact with each other and how closely bonded you are.

Once you have decided on a concept the next step is to think about whether you will need a team of people. Some couples like to have a stylist and hair and make-up artists organised so that they do not have to worry about those extra details themselves. Others like to keep it simple and just spend an intimate day with their photographer or cinematographer and themselves.
Working with a larger team of people can be a bit daunting for the couple initially. These nervous feelings quickly vanish however when there are lots of laughs and general fun being had by all. The couple is always encouraged and made the focus of the day.

The major obstacle, if you are planning an outdoor shoot, that you will face is the weather. If you expect to be shooting on a beautiful clear sunny day with a soft, cool breeze and this does not work out just remember to go with the flow and have fun! Find an alternative sheltered area for some intimate photos then grab your gumboots and go out and splash and dance in the rain!

As for the lovely Daniel and Tabitha, here are some details that helped to get to know them a little better:

Daniel and Tabitha met at a Church in Bondi Junction. Daniel noticed Tabitha immediately due to the luscious ”fro” that she was exhibiting. Having being a young lad with curly locks himself, he was mightily impressed! They had encountered each other in brief conversation a few times, but Tabitha was quite timid and at the time Daniel thought she was too young and hip for him.

Ironically 3 months later Daniel and Tabitha’s mother’s went for a coffee together and were discussing the potential of their two children being together! Finding this all very interesting Daniel thought to himself “Why not!?” and decided to ask Tabitha to meet him for a casual drink.

From that moment on, the two of them were constantly texting and emailing each other and their love began to blossom.

A proposal at an Airstrip, which had a 180 degree view of over 40 kilometres looking north toward Mudgee sealed their engagement. We shot this engagement video at Bangor Park in Coogee on a gorgeous warm spring afternoon. Apart from the occasional myna bird swooping down at us from the trees, it all went as planned! The weather was perfect and we could not have asked for a better sunset.

Ms Gingham says: Great advice and a beautiful video as an example. Thanks to Amy for sharing this with us today.

About Amy Nelson-Blain: Our goal is to create breathtaking, elegant, contemporary, cinematic wedding films. We create a personalized and handcrafted film for each of our clients to tell your unique story through timeless emotion and style, and strive to capture the essence of your wedding day as it naturally unfolds; highlighting the best moments.

Want More? Check Out These Posts:

1. The Engagement Shoot