Sunrise Creations Blog

The music you choose to play during your should reflect the mood you have set for the day as well as your own personal tastes.  Don't let anyone else tell you what you should or shouldn't be playing.

For example, if you are planning a retro wedding, choose music from that era.  A 1930's wedding would be filled with songs from the jazz and big band era.  Think about Irving Berlin's "Across The Breakfast Table" (Looking At You), Cole Porter's "Easy To Love" (You'd Be So Easy To Love)  and "My Baby Just Cares For Me" by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson.

If your tastes are more metal than jazz, think about choosing songs like "Eve" by Dream Theater, Nightwish's "Sleeping Sun" or Apocalyptica's version of "Nothing Else Matters".  

Of course, if you are really stuck and can't make up your mind what you like, you can always hope on over toiTunes and look around.  There are pages of different styles of music to look through.

Just remember that it's your day and the music should be special to you.  It's the soundtrack to the beginning of your new life.  Choose the music you love.

Bonbonniere are the little gifts or keepsakes you get at a wedding as a token of appreciation from the bride and groom.  Whilst they are tradition in Italy, they have become more and more popular in Australia as well over recent times.

Traditional bonbonniere contained a tulle bag holding five white sugared almonds, each almond representing health, wealth, happiness, fertility and long life.  Attached is usually a card with the date of the wedding and names of the bride and groom.

In more recent times bomboniere have taken many different forms and really creativity and imagination are the only things between you and amazing bonbonniere. 

Whilst most Australians associate bonbonniere with weddings, traditionally they are used as guest gifts for any special occasion such as engagement, anniversary, christening, communion or confirmation.

A quick google search will show you just how many options there are for bonbonniere.  You can choose from traditional or create little handmade gifts such as candles, bath salts, chocolates, cookies and more.  You could find something quirky that really represents your personality. If you are a coffee lover you could use little jars or sachets of special coffee.  You could frame the name at each seat so the frame becomes the gift while it fills a functional role at the reception.  You could use candles or plants or CD's filled with photos and your wedding vows. It's really up to you.

Use your imagination when it comes to packaging your items and tie the colours in with your wedding theme. When creating packaging make sure it can withstand being moved around and placed in handbags etc.  Noodle boxes are a definite favourite when it comes to bonbonniere packaging.  Always be sure to include a thank you message for your guests.

A relatively new bonbonniere concept is to have gingerbread cookies made with guests individual names included. These are used as place cards for the tables and then double as the bonbonniere. 

There really is no limit as to how creative you can be with your bonbonniere but keeping it tasteful is always best.

Let your creativity shine and make your thank you gift one to remember.

Anthony proposed to me on the 2nd September.  I will never forget it.

I was late getting home from work that day.  Anthony had been sick so he was already at home waiting for me.

When I walked through the door I found a mess of cotton buds that ran throughout the house.  Anthony told me that his niece and nephew had been to visit and made the mess and that he was too ill to clean up.   I hate the feel of cotton buds but seeing he was unwell I had to do it.

Barely hiding a groan, I started collecting them – all 400 of them – following the trail through the house as I went.  They had certainly made quite a mess.  The trail led into our lounge room and there I found a huge bundle of cotton buds together with a gorgeous ring.  Written in cotton buds beside it were the words “Marry Me Loser”.  The words might have shown more humour than poetry but what a lovely way to propose.

I had always wanted a low key wedding without the traditional sit down meal and that is what I had.  It looked fabulous and for that I have to thank mainly online retailers. We live in a small country town and there wasn’t a lot to choose from locally.  I found some excellent suppliers and I have listed them here in case they can help someone else have the perfect wedding, too.

(see list below these lovely photos of the day)

• Slushie Machine – Cocktail Slushies – Hired from Forbes Jumping Castles -
• Guest Book – Sunrise Creations
• Bali Flags – Ebay
• Lolly Bags – Riches n Realms
• Cake – Annette Connell – Eugowra –  Annette’s Cakes
• Bright Striped Chairs & Bright Coloured Small Lantern Lights across bridal table and bar area – Bed Bath n Table
• Videographer – Capture Good Times
• Cake Topper –Captivating Cake Toppers – Made very personalised – She made my dress flowers etc all as it was in real life, right down to the dogs name tags been the same -
• Cookies for Tea & Coffee – Bight Heart Shaped – Love Bites Cookies & Cakes
• Marquee – Mogga’s Marquees Young – email -  mogga@bigpond.net.au
• Honeymoon – Tahiti – Belated due to the farm life – honeymooned in Feb – Booked through Renee Markwick – Travelscene Orange
• Wedding invitations – Black Tie Wedding Invitations
• Wine Labels – printed by the same people as my invitations– Black Tie Wedding Invitations 
• Table Runners & Pew Bows for Church – Classy Covers Cowra – email classycovers@bigpond.com
• Dog Tuxedo for Wilba – Pets Palace
• Flowergirl Dress – Tea Princess
• Bridesmaid Dress – Mr K Coral in Colour
• Groom/Groomsmen Suit – Local Mensland Store – Gunns Mensland
• Flowers – Cheryl Shirvington
• Stubby Holders – Coolaz
• Lolly Buffet Stand – made by my brother-in-law
• Signage for Lolly Buffet – Christine Signs & Designs
• Catering – Midwest Catering – Orange – Cocktail Food – email – midwestcatering@activ8.net.au
• Page Boy Suit- Myer
• Personalised Glasses for Bridal Party & Parents & Sisters & Brothers – Em’s Glasswear
• Bride Dress – Purchased at Sweethearts Bridal Boutique Blacktown – Maggie Sottero – Victoriana -
• Photos -  Lauren Photography Inclusive
• Lollies – Various – Echuca Heritage Sweet Company & Tom’s confectionary Warehouse 
• Band – At the Bar – Dubbo
• Thank You Cards – Sunrise Creations
• Lanterns – Brought online overseas – Asian Imports
• Parasols – Hanging in the middle of the marquee - Brought online overseas – Asian Ideas
• Vases – Various  - Ikea – The warehouse – One World – Majestic DIY
• Bright Water bottles – The Reject Shop – GO LO
• Disposable Cameras  - Ebay
• Letters – Wish, Sweet, Love – Seaweed n Sand
• Scoops & Tongs for Lolly Buffet – Nest Kitcheware & Tableware – House – Scullery Kitcherware, Forbes
• Table Centre – Bright boxes – Sixteen Candles
• Vase on Bridal Table with Freckle Letters – M, A, Love Heart – Freckleberry – Sixteen  Candles
• Bridesmaid Shoes – Myer
• LED Globes for Lanterns hanging in Trees and out the front of the marquee – Lantern Shop 

 

Not everyone wants the fuss of the traditional wedding.  The temptation to elope is huge, isn't it?  Instead of being faced will all those arrangements and family squabbles about seating arrangements, you could dash off into the warm regions of the world and soak up some sun.

Oh so tempting!

If an elopement is your choice you will still need to find a way to announce your wedding to your family and friends.  We can help you do that.

An elopement announcement using photos from your destination wedding will broadcast your news with style, class and pure joy. Your wedding announcements can also be used as an invitation to a celebration when you return home. 

We offer the unique service of designing and mailing out your elopement announcement while you are still relaxing and enjoying your destination wedding.

When I look at these happy couples and the lovely beaches and scenery around them I think an elopement sounds like a wonderful idea.  What a lovely and personal wedding it would be.

Some of the most beautiful weddings and events that I have ever seen have had one thing in common.  They used a colour as their theme.  It began with the invitation and went through to the decoration and even to the thank you card.

Don't think it works?

Have a look at this collection and it will change your mind.   Wouldn't this be a stunning occasion?

Suppliers:

Wedding and bridesmaid gowns by I Do Gowns
Calla Lily invitations bySunrsise Creations
Calla Lily Bouquet from Tie The Knot
Stunning green and calla lily Spring Wedding Bouquet from Lily and Rose
Green themed cake from The Party Dress
Green party decor from The Underfunded Heiress
Peridot green earrings from The Style Hive
Green ring from Wedding By Color
Green shoes from Bridal Buds

As I mentioned in my last post, wishing wells have become a popular way for marrying couples to ask for money instead of a gift.   So how can you get the message across without offending someone?  The answer seems to be with poetry!

The wishing well poem can be a way of alerting your guests to the fact you are going to having a wishing well. You can print your wishing well poem on the rear of your invitation, on a separate insert to include with your invitation or inside the cover if you are using a standard card format.
 
How you phrase the poem is up to you but there are many examples floating around the internet that will help you get started.  Here are a couple that might help.

Example One
We’ve been together a long while now;
We’ve gathered pots and pans and linen a’plenty;
We have glasses and electrical appliances;
So respectfully we ask of you, if you would like to make a gift to us on this our special day
A certain amount of “pay” would help us along the way;
To buying our first home. 

Example Two
We know how hard it is to find the time.
To run around and shop with something in mind
So, here’s an idea we’d like you to try;
Come to our wedding to wish us well.
 
Here’s a pouch to fill with silver.
In this way you’ll earn your dinner
And help us along the way
With that down pay on the house we want to play home in!

I hope that gets your poetic juices flowing beautifully. 

Whilst asking for money at weddings is not a “new” idea for some cultures, a recent survey has shown that 60% of couples entering into a marriage are now making the choice to ask for money instead of gifts. Wishing wells are a growth industry in Australia; this is a tasteful way to ask for money instead of gifts and will compliment the elegant surrounds, which you have worked hard to create for your wedding and reception.

Many couples live together before marriage these days and therefore they may already have much of what they need furnish their home. Alternatively, this might be a couple setting up their very first home; they would appreciate assistance with the deposit or financial help to raise a bond for their first rental home.

A wishing well is an ideal way to request funds which the couple can then use in a way in which they feel is most suited to the start of their married lives together.

You can hire wishing wells from specialist wedding providers in Australia.  They can be made of anything from sturdy wood to cardboard, which can be flat packed for convenience. More often the wishing well is set up at the reception so that guests can deposit cash, cheques or vouchers and make a wish for the future of the happy couple!

Why might you consider a wishing well at your wedding? Perhaps you might not feel comfortable asking for money instead of a gift.  The wishing well can remove some of that discomfort by making the collection both a fun and meaningful way for guests to participate in the wedding.

The wishing well can provide a safe repository for cash on a day when you're not able to look after money and they can also provide a beautiful addition to your wedding decorations!

(Photo credit - image from http://www.daisymaycollection.co.uk which has a large range of wishing wells and post boxes that might suit.)

When photographing wedding flowers it’s not as simple as aiming your camera and clicking away. Some preparation has to go into photographing flowers whether in the wild or in a wedding bouquet.

Find a place where you want to photograph the bridal bouquet. Some professional photographers move the bridal bouquet to a studio to get an unobstructed background. Others will shoot less formal shots and involve the bride in a variety of poses.

Point-and-shoot digital cameras give you limited options, though many point and shoot cameras will have a "Macro" setting that allows up-close and detailed photography.

Decide your focal point in the wedding bouquet and then consider the “rule of thirds”.
 

Simply put, the rule of thirds is a compositional rule of thumb which will greatly improve the composition of your photos. The rule of thirds says that the viewer’s eyes naturally go to certain points of interest in the photo and not to the center. It identifies these points of interests as the four lines and their intersection points, and suggests that this is where you should place your to create more balance in your photos. An easy way to remember the rule of thirds is to avoid the center square while placing your subject.

Whilst this is considered a “rule” in photography don’t forget to use your own creativity to enhance the composition of the photograph. Experiment with moving in extremely closely with your lens so you get more elements of the flower's texture and colour. Doing this creates abstract photographs that can sometimes add a flavour of difference to the wedding album.

Study your lighting conditions and how they will affect the image of the flowers in your photograph. Natural light is usually best.  If you have to, you can use a reflector that captures natural light and reflects it onto your flowers when the surrounding light is otherwise too dark. Don’t forget that often a wedding dress will often act as a natural reflector.

Finally, remember that for many of us, some of our best shots were unplanned.  Allow yourself the joy of experimentation.

Me, I love nature, camping, being away where you can see the trees, smell the fresh country air, so when I came across this country wedding, I couldn’t help but get excited. Chelsea Gray and Roberto Ugarte from Blushing Bride Studios, have captured the essence of this fun filled, romantic and relaxed day perfectly. Their wedding was held at the beautiful Grand Isle Lake House.

I love the idea of using props to a wedding for photos –hats, oversized glasses, feather bowers, moustaches, hair pieces, really add personality and character to the photos of the guests. Especially when they are as outgoing and fun loving as this party was. Wouldn’t this work fabulously at a 40^th birthday party?!