Candice & Jonathan

The Mornington Peninsula is one of my favourite Australian wine regions- from the deep rolling hills, the amazing produce and spectacular backdrops it’s simply a beautiful place for a winery wedding. Candice and Jonathan’s wedding day was simply elegant and a great showcase of the region and it’s beauty.

Candice remembers how she and Jonathan met. “We were graduate nurses together, you notice the male nurses as there’s not many of them! I never EVER thought I would date another nurse, but it turned out that we had so much in common and so much fun together that I could not let him go!”

Photographs today are by Stewart Leishman. Stewart’s elegant, beautiful captures are purely beautiful.

Candice’s friends Khia Humbles & Shannon Gibson styled her and her bridesmaid’s makeup for the wedding day.

Candice and her bridesmaids wore gowns designed by Anna Campbell.

Candice and Jonathan chose the Mornington Peninsula for their wedding with their ceremony at Dalywaters Rose Farm. Candice explains “The Mornington Peninsula was a special place to us before the wedding, but now it really holds a special place in our hearts. We had some much fun touring around the Mornington Peninsula wineries choosing the perfect one for us. After spending the winter in the UK, Dalywaters Rose Farm was our reminder of the beautiful English gardens. It’s such a romantic location for a ceremony and we could not speak more highly of owners Anne and Daryl, what a lovely couple and what a spectacular garden!”

A family friend played the ceremony music. Candice recalls “We had a family friend play Train’s ‘Marry Me’, just him and his guitar, stunning! Even more beautiful, he wrote us a song for the signing, titled ‘For the rest of our lives’, what a dream!”

The celebrant the couple chose played a big part in the couple’s wedding plans. Candice remarks “Di Klienert, our celebrant is the most delightful person you could wish to officiate your wedding. A true gem, Di doubled as a wedding planner, giving us many recommendations. She made us feel at ease and shared many words of wisdom that we will always remember.”

Candice & Jonathan hired a car from Fleetwood Chauffeured Limousines (03 9764 2276) for their transport. Candice remarks “The car we used had a special story. It was a rust bucket found in a graveyard of derelict cars in country Victoria. When the history of the car was traced through the Armstrong Siddeley car club, it was discovered that is had been used by Prince Phillip when he opened the Olympic games in 1956. He also rode in the car in 1963 when he came with Queen Elizabeth on a visit to Melbourne. We didn’t need to look at any other cars!”

Candice describes the wedding as “An absolute dream, it exceeded all our expectations!”

Of their photographer, Candice says “Stewart, he’s the best! Luckily we heard about him through a friend of a friend. He was the first photographer we met and we knew we didn’t need to meet anyone else. We felt comfortable from the moment we met him, and as a result our photos are relaxed and natural. He’s an amazing artist!”

The gorgeous bouquets were styled by Flowers by Entwine ((03) 9489 8651).

Stillwater at Crittenden was the chosen location for the reception festivities. The guests received lemon butter made by Candice’s mother as wedding favors.

Although there was plenty of handmade elements, Candice’s family helped her make wise DIY choices to ensure she was relaxed in the lead up to the wedding day, Candice explains ” I love DIY, so everything I could DIY I did! Invitations, favours, centrepieces and guest book. I had to be realistic and hand the cupcakes over to my Aunty! They were just delicious! I was also banned from making the bouquets, but found Lisa at the Local Shop in Northcote (my favourite little shop Flowers by Entwine ((03) 9489 8651).), she did such an amazing job.”

The guests made the day special for the couple. Candice remarks “We had guests travel from interstate and overseas to attend our wedding. It was the first time our families had all been together in the same room, luckily everyone liked each other! A truly memorable and special day for us!”

The first dance started off a little slowly. Candice remembers “It was awkward, Jono hates dancing and almost refused but was persuaded at the last moment by the band! No planned routine, just us sharing a candid moment together, lovely in the end!”

The Peter Miller Band kept the festive atmosphere of the reception going all night long. Candice remarks “Once the band started playing there was not a single person left seated! It was amazing! We felt like everyone was really ready to party and make sure we had the best night ever!”

 Congratulations Candice and Stewart! Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us! Thank you also to Stewart Leishman for sharing today’s wedding with us!

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Image by Nerida McMurray Photography

Couples buying their wedding photography usually have to decide how much reception coverage they should have. Some photographers have an all day only package, some go by the hour and others have options to cover various moments into the reception.

I don’t think there is a hard and fast answer to how long you should hire your photographer to cover your reception, as every wedding and couple is different so something different will suit each couple.

I recommend asking friends who have been married about their experience and expectations. Did they regret only getting coverage until the first hour of the reception? Did they think it was worth it to get the whole night covered? Your friends will give you honest answers and may help you make up your mind.

I also recommend looking at lots and lots of reception photos – and see what you like – do you want dancing shots ? Do you want random candids of your guests having fun? Speeches? Your reactions to those speeches ?

Speeches might be a big part of your evening and on the other hand there may only be a short welcome speech then the rest of the night is an informal party.

Only you can really know what you want your printed memories to consist of, so don’t be swung either way by anyone else.

I’ve had some clients say “I definitely don’t want photos of me dancing – I’m a terrible dancer !” or “We are having a lunchtime wedding and there is no dancefloor in the venue – the cake cutting will be before we sit down so we only need a couple of hours into the reception”… “we will be doing some traditional cultural dancing and traditions at the end of the night – these will make great photos so we definitely want this covered”

Think about what will be happening during your reception, talk to your photographer about what he or she can cover during the various times and you will be able to decide on what you want.

Ms Gingham says: And if it’s a BFGW (Big Fat Greek Wedding) you’re going to want to capture the dancing right up until the end where Uncle Stathi decides to balance a glass of whiskey on his head during the Zorba, trips and twists his ankle. Golden!

Nerida says: “I love weddings and I feel blessed that my job is a significant element of a very special day for people. Giving the couple their photos after their honeymoon, and seeing the delight and joy on their faces as they reminisce over one of the most memorable days in their lives, is one of my favourite parts of my job.”

Nerida is a regular contributor to the Wisdom blog with advice based articles like what to do if it rains on your wedding day. Read them all here.

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Tropical beach honeymoons can be lots of fun, but if you’re looking for something a little more cosy and romantic, you should consider England’s Lake District. With sweeping green mountains, big reflective lakes and that crisp, fresh English air, you’ll be absolutely captivated and inspired by this place. William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, both notable residents of the area, were… so who knows? You might just happen upon Peter Rabbit hopping along one of the windy paths that lead down to the lakes!

We did our homework and found a stunning place for you to stay on your honeymoon – Gilpin Lake House. Owned by the Cunliffe family, the Lake House sits on the banks of the Knipe Tarn, in 80 acres of breathtaking grounds. Within the grounds there’s a viewpoint called ‘Cat’s Crag’ that has 360-degree Lakeland views with a herd of wild deer living nearby. Can it get any more English than that? It also offers peace and quiet (you won’t hear any traffic or loud parties), pristine views, fabulous food, fresh flowers and a fireplace to cuddle up by. Besides the private gardens to meander around, there’s also a swimming pool, sauna and cedar wood hot tub to relax in.

There are six different suites to choose from (Harriet, Gerties, Maud, Beatrice, Ethel and Adgie – named after the Cunliffe sisters) and they’re all beautifully designed to the highest standard. We were particularly taken with the Harriet suite, which is pictured below. All suites are open plan with the bedroom and lounge room, and they include an ensuite bathroom. But the Harriet suite has something extra special. The magnificent view of Knipe Tarn and surrounding woodland is let in with 25 feet of wall-to-wall, floor to ceiling glass windows. Winter or summer, it would be divine to curl up in an armchair with a cup of tea and take it all in, don’t you think?

When you feel like venturing out of your room, you could pop into the conservatory for some breakfast – even though you’re indoors you’ll feel like you’re sitting amongst nature. You might even be able to spot some wild birds and red squirrels while you eat.

There’s also the lounge where you can chill out, grab a book to read, warm yourself by the fire and chat with other guests. When you’re ready for dinner, a chauffer will come and pick you up (how’s that for luxury… it is your honeymoon after all!) and take you up to the neighbouring Gilpin Hotel where a feast will await you.

We highly recommend exploring the Lake District as well. There are so many pretty spots not to be missed and your camera is sure to get a work out. Why not…

• Head on up to Dove Cottage and get a guided tour of the house where William Wordsworth wrote his most inspired poetry.
• Take a lake cruise and get your bearings.
• Unleash you inner history buff and visit the Ambleside Roman Fort.
• Play prince and princess at Brougham Castle.
• Pour over Beatrix Potter’s famous illustrations.
• Go on a horse and carriage ride and stop off along the way in the countryside for a picnic lunch.
• Get an adrenalin rush at Grizedale Forest Park where you can fly across the tree tops.

Honeymoons should be about relaxing, talking, being awed by your surroundings, eating delicious food, pampering, and just soaking up that one-on-one time with your new husband or wife while you’re away from the rest of the world. So the Lake District has to be one of the top places to achieve all this!

What do you think, Dotties? Is this your ultimate honeymoon destination? Or do you have somewhere else in mind? We’d love to hear what you think, or if you have suggestions on what other places you’d like to see featured on Honeymoons, please leave a comment and we’ll do our best to find out everything you need to know.

Photos from Gilpin Hotel and Lake House

Ms Gingham says: I love the idea of snuggling up by a fire with tea and crumpets! Great review Ms Floral!

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Melynda and Timothy

Tim and I met in 2006 and started dating two weeks after meeting. We had always said that we wouldn’t get married until I had finished studying so in July 2011, six months before I was to graduate, he proposed.

The day started off with a french toast breakfast cooked by my lovely bridesmaids at home before heading down to the venue – Matilda Homestead. On the property there is a Queenslander with huge verandahs as well as another cottage. The boys had stayed in the cottage the night before so it was all very exciting arriving and hearing them set up – I was under strict instructions to stay out of Tim’s sight until the wedding!

The next few hours were spent getting hair and makeup done by the wonderful Debbie at Canary Hair and Beauty and spying on my future husband setting up. During our engagement, with the help of some wonderful ladies in my life, I managed to make/create/watercolour/chop/tie all of the decorations for the day. It was hard to sit back and watch everyone set up without having any input on the day but rumours were rife that Tim had taken the reigns and was doing an excellent job – and obviously by the photos, he had!

Everyone then started to come inside from setting up and started to get ready – this is when it all started feeling real. The girls each got into their navy dress of their choice with shoes from Witchery and I got into my gown from Belladonna Bridesmaids in Woolloongabba. If you are like me and aren’t into beads and sequins, going to a bridesmaid and formal shop may be an option for you! I also got into my something old – mum’s eternity ring, something new – my dress, something borrowed – my best friend’s veil and something blue – a heart on the bottom of my shoe.

It was a very emotional day filled with so much joy but also a lot of tears! As soon as dad walked in to get me before we walked down the aisle, he couldn’t hold back his tears, which started the waterworks for everyone (even the photographers!)

The bridesmaids walked down the aisle to “Good Morning” by William Fitzsimmons and dad and I walked down to “Bloom” by the Paper Kites. Walking down the aisle was probably the most emotional I’ve ever felt. Knowing that I was walking towards the man I would be with forever was the most surreal feeling. The photographer’s favourite photo is the one of Tim watching me walk down the aisle – he said he just couldn’t help but feel choked up! The ceremony was all I had wished for and with the vows we wrote together, Tim and I sealed the deal.

We continued the celebrations on the property with canapes, lawn games, speeches and a photobooth and had all photos taken on the property. Our cake was made by Marianne’s Creative Cakes. Our catering was done by Cuisine on Cue who were so helpful in the lead up to the wedding and so professional on the day. They were happy to work in with what we had and even cleaned up the glasses we hired from another company! The photobooth was a hit and I recommend The Photopod to anyone! Tim and I put aside half an hour to spend time in the photobooth for guests to get photos with us. It was a great way to have a quiet (and super fun) five minutes with our guests.

Our photographers, good friends Martin and Karl did an amazing job. They made us feel so comfortable and let us choose the style of the shots. My favourite is the one of the boys – so gentlemanly!

Click here to view the embedded video.

My advice to other brides would be to utilise friends and family! It was such a huge help with decorations and setting up.  Both mine and Tim’s family helped set up in the morning, his aunty arranged our carnation bouquets, his other aunty became our wedding planner for the day and I had a whole heap of help with decorations. People want to help, so delegate! Oh, and soak everything in on the day – it really does go so fast!

Photography by Karl Martin Photography

Ms Gingham says: Oh poor Dad! Such a beautiful moment to have caught in a photograph! Really loving your braided hair here too Melynda!

Melynda says: “I recently got married and thought I would share some details and photos of the day. I’ve been reading Polka Dot Bride for a while now – even before I got engaged and it has been a great source of inspiration… Australian inspiration!”

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Wedding gown by J’Aton Couture Photo by Marcus Bell of Studio Impressions from Athena and Dariusz’s Sophisticated Brisbane Wedding

Following on from my last wedding planning list, I thought today I’d write one for dress shopping. It’s such a big, overwhelming task that I would love to hear your own tips you’ve figured out!

1. Keep an open mind

This is always said, but its one of my top pieces of advice I have heard again and again from brides is that you should try on gowns you never thought you’d pick. Lusting after that strapless ruffly number? How about trying on the v-neck slinky gown? Sometimes our perceptions and knowledge of what we wear every day can get lost when we go bridal shopping. Love V necks and constantly wear them? Experiment with a V neck gown. Trust your designer or consultant if they suggest styles out of your ordinary. Go to the bridal salon with an open mind as you may just be surprised at what you fall in love with!

2. Break out the good stuff

If you’re a little nervous about getting half naked in front of a shop assistant, it’s going to happen at your bridal fitting because you’ll definitely need help getting your head through the many layers, zipping up the back and adjusting the gown. So here’s an obvious but probably forgotten tip – wear your best underwear! It helps if it’s nude or white coloured too so you can’t see it through the dresses. If you’re looking at trying on strapless gowns, it might pay to invest in a decent strapless bra as not all gowns have support built in. If you’re really worried, perhaps wear a slip.

3. Style it up

While full hair & makeup is not the most practical for wedding dress shopping, styling your hair in the basic style you’d like to wear and making up your face can go a long way to how you feel when you look at yourself in the mirror. If you’re planning on wearing your hair up and having a formal wedding, it pays to spend some time styling your hair into an up style and putting on a little makeup so you can get a better feel of how you might look when everything comes together.

Gown by Connie Simonetti. Photo by Deus Photography from Belinda and Christian’s Elegant Beach Wedding

4. Elevate yourself

If you think you’ll wear heels on your wedding day, bring a comfy pair along. They don’t have to be your wedding day shoes, but if you’re like me, you walk differently, hold yourself differently in heels and it makes a difference to how you look and feel in your gown. The same goes if you want to wear flats on your wedding day!

5. Give it time

The timing of your dress shopping is a pretty important point! It needs to happen after you’ve figured out the style, dress budget and timing of your wedding (because shopping for a ballgown and then deciding you’d rather marry in Thailand in a light chiffon number can be a costly change!) but you also need to give enough time for the bridal salon to make your gown or order it. Then there’s fittings! The earlier you can start, the better! Most couture bridal salons need at least five months notice, some salons ordering in gowns need at least eight. I promise that’s the only “timeline” I’ll include in this post!

6. Downsize the entourage

You know that saying’ too many cooks’? It applies to dress shopping too! Dress salons are often pretty small when there are numerous brides inside and a plethora of opinions can sometimes make your very solid decision turn into a completely confused one. Stick to a max of two or three people that you really trust the opinion of and consider inviting loved ones for fittings or different dress shopping excursion. You don’t actually have to buy a dress on your first shopping trip, or your second, or even your third. You can buy your dream dress in your own time.

7. Fill your belly

Are you one of those people who forgets to eat and then feels all funny and realises it’s because you’re actually really hungry? (Or is that just me!) Eating a decent breakfast the morning of your bridal gown trek is vital. This also goes for lunch- make sure you stop and take a break if your mind is filled with layers of white silk, a coffee and a few carbs can help clear your mind!

Gown by Johanna Johnson Photo by Pobke Photography from Emelia and Anthony’s Coastal Glamour Wedding

8. Designer date

If you’re buying a made to measure gown or one off the rack, keep your eye on their websites for designer days. Often bridal gown designers will travel the country visiting salons that stock their gowns. You’ll not only get personal attention from the salon, but the designer will be there for an extra special experience in choosing your gown and there may even be a plethora of special offers for you to choose from!

9. Leave the camera at home

The bridal gown market is a tough one and with online sales and copyright, most salons nowadays don’t allow photographs to be taken in store.  It’s best to leave the camera at home, or at least ask before you snap away at pictures of yourself in the gown. The last thing you want is to start the experience with your bridal gown shopping, by offending the bridal shop owner.

10. Celebrate

You know I’m a big believer in celebrating, so make sure you buy a bottle of bubbles, or go out for a glass after you have made that final decision. Buying your wedding dress is special. Finding the right one deserves celebrating!

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