Sunrise Creations Blog

We may love our dogs but how far would you go for them?   Would you go as far as having a wedding for your pooch?  Well there are a lot of people who would and at a considerable cost.

I happened to see a photo online and it made me curious about pet lovers and their extreme actions.  There are a lot of doggie weddings out there that cost as much as your wedding and mine combined!  Just have a look at what I found.

This dog owner spent  £20,000 on her pets wedding that included the wedding march played by a harpist, £1,000 of flowers, £1,350 of jewellery as well as a cupcake tower that cost £200.  Here is the happy couple. 

As well as doggie wedding planners there are websites specifically devoted for that special doggie day.  This website has everything you need from cakes, dresses and even bow ties!  Here is one of their doggie wedding cakes. 

Is this all a bit much and over the top or just some people having a bit of fun?  If you are not sure and are considering a wedding for you pooch EHow has a 10 point checklist that should assist you to ensure that special day for your pooch is a perfect day.

If you are still not too sure then this may be the clincher for you to start planning your doggie wedding.  Click on the photo to see the rest of the wedding. 

Well, perhaps I need to incorporate a whole new selection of personalised invitations into the Sunrise Creations range - Doggie Wedding invitations!

What do you think?

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!

Without a doubt Christmas Day is one of the biggest feasts of the year. Whether you celebrate it traditionally with roast meat, vegetables, ham, plum pudding and all the trimmings – or Aussie style with seafood and cold salads, we all know that dessert is an all-important feature of Christmas Day.

We thought we would do a little hunting around and find some truly gorgeous Christmas Dessert Tables to inspire you and get you thinking about your own Christmas Dessert Table this year.

1. Christmas Drinks Dessert Table from the blog Mrs A in the Cove. Featuring Chocolate dipped pretzels, Raspberry Cupcakes, Cookie Pops, Meringues, Macaroons, Chocolate dipped wafter sticks, Mini chocolate bars and Candy Canes.

 

 

2. This is also from Mrs A in the Cove but features some more traditional desserts such as: "The Trifle", Tim Tam Cookie Pops, Rum Balls, Chocolate dipped wafers, Chocolate dipped strawberries, Meringues, Christmas Pudding, Ginger Biscuits and jaffas.

 

3. Mini Dessert Table.

The Christmas Dessert Table doesn’t have to be full of a huge assortment of desserts nor be lavishly decorated. This mini dessert table from A Little Delightful is simple and sweet and includes little snowmen on lollypop sticks, fresh milk in glass bottles, Oreo pops dipped in white chocolate, meringue stars, chocolate dipped pretzels and mini chocolate puddings.

 

4 .Christmas Gingerbread Dessert Table

This was actually from a Kids Gingerbread House Making Party – from the blog Jenny’s Cookies which has some really gorgeous photos. The dessert table included hot chocolate on a stick, north pole cupcakes, Christmas hot chocolate and cake pops amongst other things!

 

If you need some more ideas for Aussie dessert inspirations have a look at the collection at taste.com.au –summer berry trifle, mulled wine sorbet with clove biscuts, kiwifruit, pineapple and passionfruit parfait and heaps more ideas for your 2011 Christmas Dessert Table!

There is nothing like receiving an extraordinary envelope in the letter box, knowing that it will be something exciting and fun and not a request for money.

In today’s modern and more relaxed times engaged couples are less hesitant to let their personalities and love of life shine through, and this starts with the invitation to your special day.  This is a teaser of the theme and should reflect the mood you hope to create.

Gone are the days when wedding invitations were white, ivory, ecru, cream, alabaster etc. You get the message! Weddings and therefore invitations tended to be formal and traditional. Not anymore!  You are restricted only by your imagination, and wedding invitations can be any colour of the rainbow to tie in with your personal theme, the colour of the attendants, or even the season or the location.  Gold and Silver are always in fashion, and can be combined with just about any colour you like.

For example, show your love of the orient by selecting an oriental inspired invitation and then follow the theme with your catering, decoration and even your choice of wedding gown.

Wording and font is another design feature that allows couples to individualise, moving away from traditional phrasing. Invitations often come from the couple themselves, instead of the parents as was the case in a generation or so ago.

The ultimate personalisation is the inclusion of photographs. Maybe you invested time and money in your engagement photos, or you want another excuse for a casual photo shoot to record the early days of your relationship.  Using these special images in your wedding invitation is a special touch.

The trend is to individualism with the creation of unique and very personalised wedding invitations and stationery.  It makes your special day even more perfect because your personality shines through every part of the day.

Nothing can beat the feeling of quality paper between your fingers, and the anticipation created by pinning a gorgeous invitation to your fridge for 6 weeks.  Everyone loves a wedding!

Everything old is new again, and fashions often make a repeat performance but let us all hope that baby’s breath and silk wedding bouquets stay in the 70’s and 80’s where they belong. Fresh is most definitely best!

Herbs are making a comeback as part of a wedding celebration and are an addition that can be quirky and fun or traditional and romantic depending on your choice.

(Image from Martha Stewart)

Herbs were much more common than flowers in weddings throughout the centuries, beginning with the Ancient Greeks who are credited with the first recorded use of wedding flowers.  It’s no wonder, when you consider that herbs were believed to have magical powers to ward off evil spirits and bring luck and protection to the happy couple.  Dill was said to be the herb of lust, and a bride would lust only after her husband if she carried dill and garlic together. Not the most attractive or sweet smelling bouquet, making silk roses and baby’s breath super stylish in comparison!

Not just for bouquets, why not consider potted herbs as table decorations. Affordable and chic, herbs will fill your ceremony and reception with natural, relaxing aromas. Mini rosemary plants make great wedding favors that green the lives of your guests. Lavender, marjoram, mint, lemongrass and sage can be arranged to create fantastic centerpieces and can also be added to bouquets and corsages.

(Image from Better Homes and Gardens)

The combined scents of flowers and herbs add to the atmosphere and memories of a special day like a wedding, and can enhance the lasting memories and even influence moods on the day. 

Lavender is a perfect wedding herb, and its effects are more than just folklore. Lavender is known for its calming, relaxing and stress relieving properties, making it perfect for inclusion in a bridal bouquet. What bride is not at least a little anxious? Historically lavender is believed to represent purity, silence and luck, and also a message of devotion, very appropriate for brides of old, but not so much in current times!

Herbs are traditional yet trendy, and are making a welcome reappearance in modern weddings.

 

It can be very awkward when it comes time to choose a wedding gift. Typically, the situations that trip most people up are those when there is no gift registry to pick from and when the couple ask for money rather than gifts.

Both of those sound simple, really, but there are a lot of unwritten rules of etiquette that you might not be aware of.

This clip is an interview with an American wedding expert and I know you will pick up some tips.



How to buy a wedding gift

Have you heard of fake wedding and celebration cakes?

Yes, really.  Fake cakes.

Weddings are very expensive and couples are often looking for ways to save a few dollars where they can.  Wedding cakes can be very pricey, new businesses have sprung up which supply hire cakes for the day.

The cakes are usually made of styrofoam so they are very light and hollow.  They are decorated to look just like a real cake.  Although most of them are pre-made some places will create a cake to match your theme.  The colour will be right and the cake will be decorated with the same flowers you have in your bridal bouquet.

I can hear you thinking "But what about the cutting of the cake and what do we give to our guests?"

Most fake cakes come with a little slit so that you can still do the ceremonial cutting of the cake.  Once the ceremony is over the fake cake is whisked away to be 'cut up' and served to your guests. Sometimes the top layer of the cake is real but often there is a 'sheet cake' waiting in the kitchen ready to be handed out.  A sheet cake is a cake that is baked in a flat pan and then decorated.  It is much cheaper to make than a traditional wedding cake.

If you are looking for ways to save money then fake cakes might be a good choice.  Whatever you do, don't forget to send me home with a piece of cake to put under my pillow.  We can't break with tradition, can we?

One of the latest trends in today's weddings, is a self serve candy buffet. This has my name all over it!

Here is photo of the candy buffet Stewart and Monique put together. Monique collected vases and glass bowls in different shapes from friends and family and filled them with white chocolates and white lollies.


Monique recounts: "Everyone created their own take home lolly bag - it was demolished! It was very cost effective and a talking piece. I included white chocolate Tim Tams, milk bottles, cool mints and wafers - there was nothing left!"

Here are some things to think about when planning your candy buffet:

• Buy enough candy!
• Plan it through the eye and not the numbers. A large table overflowing with candy has more of a presence at your wedding.
• Clear containers with varying heights and shapes change your candy buffet from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Consider putting boxes or containers under the table cloth to create different levels.
• Add some flowers or candles as a finishing touch

Thanks Stewart and Monique for sharing!

To see how Stewart proposed to Monique, click here.

If you are organising your wedding, you have probably read, time and time again, that the “Wedding Invitation will set the mood, tone and style of your day”. It is the “first impression” your guests will have of your wedding.

The pressure!

Not only is there so much importance placed on your wedding invitation, but like fashion, the trends for wedding stationery also change from year to year.

To help you along the way, here is what is hot right now.

1. Be Bright
   Watch the catwalk - look at fashion magazines. Colours are everywhere. Be bold! Incorporate colour with white font.
   
   
2. Harmonise the Colours
   Send us a swatch of the colours you are using and we can ensure the colours are complimented and in harmony.
   
   
3. Go Floral
   Bring nature into your card. A close up image of a flower coupled with a modern use of colour can look spectacular.
   
   
4. Go Graphic
   Once again look at all the patterns on clothing this year. You can choose from clean, crisp lines to softer swirls.
   
   
5. Monograms
   Intertwine the first initial of your names into a monogram.
   
   
6. Play with Fonts
   Mix a cursive font with a modern one that has straight lines.
   
   
7. Font Alignment
   Rather than centering the font on your invitation, try justifying it to the left or right (depending on the design). By changing the alignment of your font, the entire look of your invitation changes.
   
   
8. Be Daring
   Incorporate a photo of the two of you in your invitation. This can be subtly placed within the design.
   
   
9. Personalise your Stationery (Variable Data)
   Have your guests names printed on your stationery.
   
   
10. Photo Thank You Cards
    To send Photo Thank You Cards featuring images taken on your wedding day, photo thank you cards are one of the more popular trends. They look spectacular.

Sunrise Creations is an online Wedding Stationery and Thank You Card specialist. The designs available are chic, stylish and personalised, offering both modern and traditional designs. We welcome your to browse our designs.