Sunrise Creations Blog

An increasing number of brides are looking for alternatives to the hugely expensive and formal events that weddings have become.  They are choosing to make their own wedding dresses and cater for their reception.  I'm not sure that I could go that far, but I would consider making my own bridal bouquet now that I have seen this video.

In this clip you will learn how to put together a simple bouquet of roses for the bride.  The florist does make it look easy and I know it will be a little more difficult once I start, but the end result is lovely.  One thing I noticed is the way she filled the gaps around the edges of her bouquet with the smaller flowers so that it had a smooth and neat look.  I think that is part of the craft that we all need to pay attention to.

I hope you enjoy this clip.  It is short and simple and if you follow the steps you will end up with a glorious bridal bouquet.

The wedding vows are the most important part of a wedding and there is an increasing number of couples recognising that and writing their own vows.  It isn't as easy as it sounds.

We interviewed Mihad Ali, owner of Mihad Ali Creations and creator of customised wedding vows.  What a fascinating job she has.

How did your business begin?

My business idea began not too long ago. It began from 3 loves I have: helping other people, writing poetry and my love anything and everything weddings. From my love of these 3, I thought it would work as a business because there wasn't anything like it. There are similar businesses that services brides and grooms with personalised vows. What makes my business different is that it is true personalisation from the first to the last word. Nothing is ever repeated for a client.
 
How do you write personalised vows?  How do you get to know the bride and groom?

With every Bride or Groom, I talk to them (usually separately) and learn more about their relationship and we talk about how they met, when their partner first said the three magical words (I love you), where were they when that happened, any ideas they may have and want to include in their vows.The phrase pictures tell a thousand words is true so I get the bride or groom to show me some pictures they love and we talk about why they love them. Every little bit helps to create words to remember. Because I want them to feel relaxed I usually meet with them at their homes. It is their space and comfort zone and people feel more at ease in their own environment which makes it feel like a conversation with a friend and not an interview. So there is no need to be nervous!
 

Do people come to you with pre-written vows?

Clients have never come to me with their vows fully written, they usually come with ideas of what they want which is fantastic because it tells me that they care enough about their Bride or Groom to-be to have seriously thought this through.
 
Why should couples bother with customised wedding vows?

Weddings are such a personalised and special event. Every little detail is thought out from the linens to the shade of flowers in the centrepieces. Why shouldn't the vows be as well? The vows one makes to their future partner aren't just words spoken, at least they shouldn't be. They should be full of treasured and unique memories for the couple. In 20 years time they can look at those vows and remember their wedding day like it was yesterday simply because it was theirs and theirs only. That is something that no one can take away from them. Their wedding day from start to finish was theirs. Their wedding vows wasn't what some do especially at the last minute which is get them off the internet. Why would you want to use vows that millions of other people have used? There is a sense of pride and elegance in knowing they are yours forever. 
 
What else can you offer to the bride and groom?

Many people get nervous at the thought of speaking in front of a crowd. Imagine having to do that on one of the most important days of your life? With the Divine Delivery service, I help the Bride or Groom do just that. For 8 weeks (2 hours a week) together we go through a personalised learning process. As we all have different ways of learning we work out what bests suits them and then start memorising their vows and by the end of the 7 weeks they know their vows like the back of their hand and because we've practiced for so long they usually aren't nervous or scared. In the week before the wedding we go over the vows one last time just to make sure there are no issues and before you know it is it wedding day!  It is a fun process for the both of us. Believe it or not to help couples memorise their vows we play games! What better way to learn than by having fun doing it!

Which part of your job do you love most and why?

The best part of my job is when I see the look on a client's face and they love their vows. Knowing that I had a hand in helping them create something so special and timeless that will be treasured forever makes me smile, There is nothing better!

As you may know, I love the gorgeous and girly creations made by Emma at Two Little Maidens.  Today I want to share with you an interview I did recently with Emma where I learnt more about her divine little tutus and dresses.  They are perfect for little girls as flowergirls or just for a special occasion.  The style is lovely and the price is very affordable.

1.  How long have you been in business?
I have been in business for just over a year now.  It is still a very new business but it has been doing very well.  The dresses in particular seem to be very popular.

2.  Do you make your lovely dresses and headbands?
I hand make all of my tutu dresses and tutu skirts.  I like to see them take shape in front of me.  Each one is special and in some way unique.  Some of the headbands are bought in and some of them I hand make also.

3. Have they been used as flowergirl dresses before?
I have had orders for tutu dresses in white to be used as flower girl dresses and also christening dresses.  I think they look lovely and the little girls look like angels.  They float as they walk.  The girls love the layers of frilly skirt, too.

4.  Which colour or style is your best seller?
My best colour and style/s so far are my whispy white tutu dress and also my berryliscious tutu dress is popular for birthdays.  I think the pretty pink colour is a hit and the added berry colours give it a really special look.

5.  Which outfit would you choose for a flowergirl to wear?
I would choose the whispy white tutu dress for a flower girl as the white tulle is lovely and the hand made satin yoyo is just a nice touch as an embellishment on the dress along with the sparkling rhinestone centrepeice, not too over the top! :)

6.  What do your girls think of the dresses?
My girls love the dresses! They always say "mummy I'm a princess" and "is that dress for me mummy? can I try it on?"

7.  Why/how are your dresses different? 
My dresses are different because each one is hand made. I also hand make the satin yoyos and take extra care in the finish of my dresses. I can add extra layers of tulle, make them longer or shorter, do different colour combinations and add different embellishments to the dresses as required. I love custom orders as they allow me to be creative and make something really special for little princesses, after all they are only little once and every girl deserves to be a princess!  

If you are looking for something really special that looks exclusive, visit Emma and Two Little Maidens.  She will look after you.
 

I found this little video and loved it.  It's a little about history, tradition and friendship but it's ALL about the bridesmaid.

I hope you enjoy it.

 

A brief guide about bridesmaids from Nicolas Girard on Vimeo.

Everyone wants their Wedding Day to be individual and special, a reflection of the unique love that they share with their special someone.

Just how do you start to plan an entire day that will symbolize your love for and commitment to each other? You may opt for a Wedding Planner to take care of all of the logistics for you, but you still need to have some idea of what kind of wedding you would like them to plan for you.

Having a look at some Wedding Blogs is one of the best ways to browse through literally thousands of different wedding ideas all in one place. This doesn’t mean you have to copy someone else’s wedding from start to finish, but it can be a nice way to trigger your own imagination and creativity and adapt other people’s ideas to suit the two of you.

There are an impressive amount of Wedding Blog sites on the internet but it makes sense to browse through one from your own country or region, otherwise you may get thrown into confusion over terms and traditions that you are unfamiliar with, and there may be links and references to products and services that are unavailable to you.

Don’t be put off by blogs about fantasy weddings either, not everyone can afford to spend millions of dollars on their wedding and it’s unlikely that your guests will have unreasonable expectations about your wedding budget either, most will simply be honoured to share in your celebration.

If you are looking for a wedding blog that is easy to read, with wonderful photos and full of great tips, links and wisdom have a look at these excellent Australian blog sites.  They are designed for everyday people who are planning a wedding.

Daily Wedding Blog
Polka Dot Bride
Swoon
Sugarlove Weddings
Wedding Style Guide
Amour Amour

If you are thinking about which flowers to use in your bouquet or as decoration on your tables, it is worth knowing what flowers are in season and readily available.  While many popular bouquet flowers are available all year round such as roses, carnations, alstromeria and chrysanthemums, others are limited to their seasonal availability.

Spring allows for some beautiful bouquets with the arrival of tulips, lilies, daffodils and gerberas.  Lilacs are a stunning flower, however, they are only available for a brief period in the spring.  Lily of the Valley also has a limited growth period however this delicate flower can really bring out the beauty in a bouquet.

Think summer - David Austin roses are available from November through to February and these English roses are as elegant as they are beautiful.  Another flower, available in pink or white, is the November Lily (or Christmas Lily), and as the name suggests, it is available throughout the summer months. 

In Autumn, we see the availability of poppies.  While generally associated with Remembrance Day, they can make a stunning appearance in a bouquet.  Rhododendrons are also available during these months and come in a wide variety of shades and sizes.

Don’t discount winter for beautiful bouquets.  If you are looking for something blue, winter brings with it the availability of the cornflower.  And you can’t go past the beauty of the phalaenopsis orchid which flowers generally from February to October.

Market fresh flowers has an interesting application which allows you to search for seasonal coloured flowers.  They state that while the list is not comprehensive, if you are looking for a flower which is particularly rare, then it is best to consult with your local florist.

No matter what the time of year, there will be a flower that looks fabulous in your bouquet or centrepiece.  A little research might give you a whole lot of new ideas.

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 

 

I have saved this until today because I know that you will want to go out and make it straight away.  Isn't this cake stunning?  It would be lovely at a coffee and dessert reception or at any special occasion that you might have.   The combination of pure white outside and bleeding heart red inside is full of impact.

It's called the Cranberry Obsession Snow Cake and I found the recipe in an American online magazine called Sunset.  Photo: Leigh Beisch

Ingredients

Cake
10 ounce unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for pans
3 1/2 cups cake flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
7 large egg whites, at room temperature
Cranberry filling
3 3/4 cups cranberries, divided
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups cranberry or cherry preserves
Buttercream
5 large egg whites, at room temperature
 Pinch of salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
12 ounces white chocolate (bars or a block, not chips), divided
1 pound unsalted butter, cut into pieces and at room temperature
Assembly
1/2 cup colorless liqueur such as crème de cacao or kirsch
 About 2 tbsp. powdered sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Butter two 9-in. cake pans; set aside.
2. Make cake: In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together on low speed until light and fluffy. Add egg whites in 3 batches, scraping inside of bowl as needed. Beat in flour mixture in 5 batches, adding 1/4 cup water after each addition (you will begin and end with flour); make sure flour is completely blended each time before adding water. Pour batter into prepared pans, dividing evenly. Smooth tops with a spatula.
3. Bake until center of cake feels firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes completely in pans on a rack.
4. Meanwhile, make cranberry filling: Combine 3 cups cranberries, the sugar, preserves, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until cranberries pop and preserves melt, 5 to 10 minutes. Add remaining 3/4 cup cranberries, stir to combine, and remove from heat. Transfer to a small bowl and chill until ready to assemble cake.
5. Make buttercream: Fill a 2-qt. pan with about 1 in. water and bring to a simmer over low heat. Put egg whites, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk to combine. Place bowl over hot water, making sure bottom of bowl isn't touching water, and heat whites, whisking constantly, until hot to the touch, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan and bowl from heat.
6. Put bowl of warm whites on the mixer and whisk on high speed until tripled in volume and side of bowl is cool to the touch, about 10 minutes.
7. Meanwhile, chop 4 oz. white chocolate, put in a medium metal mixing bowl, and set in same pan of warm water off the heat to melt slowly, stirring occasionally. Remove bowl from pan and let cool to room temperature.
8. Reduce mixer speed to low and whisk butter into whites, about 1/4 cup at a time, until incorporated. Continue to whisk on low speed until smooth and fluffy, about 10 minutes (mixture may look grainy at some point but will come together).
9. With a rubber spatula, gently fold melted chocolate into buttercream until completely combined.
10. Assemble: Rub tops of both cakes gently with your hands to remove browned outer surface, then carefully invert cakes and rub undersides so that cakes are completely white. Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand or serving plate, top side up. Using a pastry brush, brush top with half the liqueur. Spread about 1 1/2 cups cranberry mixture over layer with a metal spatula, leaving a 1/2-in. empty border around edge. Place second cake layer on top, flattest side down, and brush with remaining liqueur. Spread top and sides of cake with a thin layer of buttercream to seal in crumbs and chill 30 minutes. Cover with remaining buttercream, starting with the sides and covering the top last.
11. Use the palm of your hand to warm remaining chocolate. Shave smooth side of chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler to make thin curls; scatter curls over cake's top. Sift powdered sugar over cake.
12. Serve with remaining cranberry mixture on the side.

Make ahead: Baked cake layers can be wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature or in the fridge up to 2 days ahead. Cranberry filling can be made up to 2 days ahead and chilled.

Candles are a wonderful decorating item.  They create a mood in a way that nothing else can match.  The ambience of a single candle sets the scene for a special occasion, doesn’t it?

The great thing is that candles are very affordable and make a great budget alternative to showy lighting while creating a mood that no lighting can match.

This ‘personality’ has made the candle a popular decorating tool for weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. The dilemma is how to make it fit a theme or make it more unique and personalized. The answer?  By simply decorating a plain, store-bought votive candle with something that strikes your fancy, or matches the theme of the wedding, birthday, anniversary party you are attending.

One of the things you can do with a plain candle is to decorate it with fancy ribbons and beads. This is best for large candles as you’d have more space to tie a big bow and accent it with a string of beads. You can also glue some dried flowers around the candle to give it that dainty, elegant look.

For candles that come in a boring glass or tin container, you can turn it into a “wow” item by simply applying decoupage glue and covering it with a nice gift wrapper or strips of decorative paper and letting it dry.

Don’t forget that candles need to sit on some sort of holder or base.  You might choose to leave the candle perfectly plain and create an ornate base of flowers, greenery or even strings of shiny beads.  Sit smaller candles in a bed of sand and seashells or line them up in a row on a plain board.  The purity of the flame is often decoration enough.

Don’t forget that by adding things to the candles you will need to watch them carefully as they burn.  Try to select non-flammable decorations where possible.

Candles are beautiful when lit - decorated or not.  If your budget won't allow you to decorate them, don't worry.  Their purity will look stunning on the night.

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