Wedding thank you notes and cards are easily one of the most neglected parts of wedding planning.
But, when you reflect on the time and money that many of your friends and family would have put into your big day (the planning and celebration itself) you know they deserve a thoughtful and timely thank you.
And unless you’re planning on hosting a slide night when you get your professional photos back (you sadistic bitch!), the wedding thank you card is also usually the last form of communication they receive from you about your wedding. Leave them with a sweet memory of your big day and a feeling that their efforts were truly valued.
Here are our top 4 tips to keeping wedding thank you cards quick and easy.
It's one of the most common worries that my couples have about their wedding ceremony: "How do I stop myself from ugly crying?"
The good news is that there are steps you can take to 'minimize the damage' (and embarrassing snotty snorts) as you're reciting your heartfelt vows in front of your nearest and dearest.
When I first meet with my couples to discuss their wedding ceremony, once we get past all of the 'where, when and how' logistics, what I really want to know is their top 3. Some of my brides and grooms are are puzzled; what do you mean 'Our Top 3'?
Your top 3 are the ultimate and unique measure of a successful wedding for YOU.
Should you hire, should you buy and what in the hell does ‘bespoke’ mean anyway?
We can help you to work out what kind of wedding suit will be best for you and shortlist where, and when, you should start looking.
There’s little argument that booking your wedding photographer is a big thing to check off your wedding planning to-do list.
Given the big bucks involved, and considering the fact that this might be the first, or only, time you’ve ever needed to hire a photographer, it makes sense that you might be looking for a little help with the process.
Hiring your wedding photographer is an investment in the quality of the photos (prints, albums, etc) that you will look back on for many years to come. And, given that you will spend up to 12 hours with them on your wedding day, choosing the RIGHT ONE FOR YOU will also affect the way your wedding day feels.
So I asked a friend of Unbridely TV, wedding photographer and high five enthusiast Alex Szczesniak of Time With Alex to help pull together this handy checklist of what to ask your wedding photographer - BEFORE YOU BOOK THEM IN.
Pete Thornton is somewhat of a black sheep; but I find his ‘take no prisoners’ perspective on photography, and the wedding industry as a whole, a much-needed breath of fresh air.
He calls ‘bullshit’ on much of the outdated etiquette that surrounds couples and their big day and concentrates his energy on the story behind the celebration, the snorts within the laughter and the wink after the smile.
The parts of life that make being a great photographer so much more valuable than simply clicking a shutter.
Backyard weddings boast an immediately familiar, comfortable, warm and relaxed atmosphere that is tough to replicate in any other setting.
And, in recent years, these home-grown celebrations have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity and refinement thanks to the quality and availability of small-scale but high quality catering with food trucks and carts, new furniture and marquee/tent/tee-pee hire options and mobile entertainment packages with DJs, MCs, photo-booths and the like.
To help you start to piece together a comprehensive to-do list for your very own homely nuptials, we asked wedding planner and stylist, Nicole Bailey of Your Party Plannery and some newlyweds who had recently planned their backyard wedding, for their top tips and advice.
Also, be sure to download or Pin the DIY wedding drinks guide so you know exactly how much alcohol to buy!
Bronte Price is a marriage celebrant from Melbourne, Australia and long-term active advocate for marriage equality. As a newsreader on radio channel JOY 94.9, he keeps in touch and up to date with other members of the LGBT+ community, which he loves.
He is a subject matter expert on gay weddings and Bronte has also been featured in an article for The Age and a segment for TV show, The Project.
So when he wrote to ask if he could share his extensive experience and gay wedding etiquette knowledge with Unbridely readers, my answer was a firm, ‘hell yes!’
Thanks very much for your insight, Bronte!
Dogs at weddings - aaaaw, cuuuuute! If your furbaby is the (other) love of your life why wouldn't you want them with you on your special day?
Sometimes dogs can become over-excited, anxious, clingy, snappy, jumpy or plain scared in environments they’re not familiar with or in unusual situations - like at a wedding.
And (even more importantly) who would you trust with your pet with, when you're busy being the guests of honour?
"100+ intoxicated guests, layers of flammable tulle and fire; what could possibly go wrong?" says Kiera of Kiera Blanden Events + Styling.
She has witnessed firsthand what happens when sparkler exits go bad (think: Michael Jackson in that Pepsi commercial - ouch!)
So when I approached Kiera for some info on how to recreate one of the hottest (no pun intended) trends for your wedding, she was happy to share her checklist with Unbridely.
Thanks Kiera!
An 'unplugged wedding' happens when a couple getting married have made a decision that they would prefer that their wedding guests don't take photos and/or upload them to social media.
There are many variations on this, from having an unplugged ceremony only, when guests are encouraged to put their phones and cameras away until after the marriage certificate has been signed, to a strict 'no photo policy' for the entire wedding celebration, to a complete 'social media blackout' until the following day or when the bride or groom have a chance to announce their marriage themselves.
One of the most romantic and naturally beautiful venues for a wedding ceremony in Australia is on one of our many stunning, sandy beaches. On a sunny day, there is an atmosphere of freedom and fun that is hard to replicate in any other setting.
That said, with the experience I’ve had conducting beach ceremonies over the last 7 years, I have learned a lot about the difference between a successful, enjoyable celebration and those that have proved to be challenging at best. With a little planning you can be sure to get the most from your beachside location while avoiding some common pitfalls.
Vicky Aldred from The Turquoise Rose is an absolute delight.
Her 16+ years’ experience was recently recognised with her business, The Turquoise Rose, being awarded Top 3 in Australia for Floral Design in the 2018 ABIA Designer of Dreams Awards.
Not only does she create breath-takingly beautiful floral designs for South Australian wedding couples on a weekly basis, she is also warm and friendly and has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge.
So when Unbridely wanted to help couples decode the different wedding bouquet styles that are popular right now and what they actually look like, Vicky was our first pick.
Thank you for your invaluable advice, Vicky!
Like it or not, working out what you (and/or your wedding guests) are going to do with the littlies on the big day is a planning necessity.
In the past, parents would choose to either arrange an off-site babysitter or wrestle/bribe/beg their kids to behave like adults so they can enjoy at least a few hours as a wedding guest. But there are new, inclusive options which mean that children can be looked after and/or entertained in a safe and nurturing environment at the same venue so everyone can have fun.
Win win, yes?
Unbridely spoke with Event Coordinator, Hannah of Adelaide-based Nurturing Nannies, about the things you need to consider when planning a kid-friendly wedding.
DON'T MISS YOUR FREE PERSONALISED KIDS WEDDING ACTIVITY BOOKLET PDF!
(just click the button at the end of the post)
The true value of your wedding photos is not something that you will fully appreciate 6 months or even 6 years after the event; they are a portal through which future generations will see and understand you.
And, while your lives may shift and change over the years, the memories of how you and your guests FELT in those moments will be timeless.
At Unbridely, we believe this is what great wedding photography is all about.
The tricky part though, in the rush and excitement of a normal wedding day, is that these little pockets of time, these tiny opportunities for connection, are fleeting. With so many competing priorities and a schedule to adhere to, there is often the sense that there isn't enough time to take it all in.
So we asked Adelaide natural light wedding photographer, Wes Beelders, for his suggestions on how to create space and make time on your wedding day to ensure that your memories, and subsequently your photos, aren't just a series of frantic, rushed moments, but rather more considered and mindful experiences to cherish for many years to come.
Thank you, Wes!
