The one when you plan a wedding...
HELP! You’re planning a wedding and the stress dreams have started. I have THE swag bag of hot tips from the wedding vendors that I love to work with.
FLOWER POWER
What the florist want you to know Jess from New England Flower Co is my go-to florist. Her first tip is about choosing your wedding vendor team - she believes that it is essential to choose vendors that you connect with and have a clear understanding of your wedding day vision. They will be the ones that bring it all to life with passion and flair and allow you to relax and enjoy your day! Her second hot tip has to do with making a final decisions about your flowers. She knows that Instagram and Pinterest have us spoilt for choice when it comes to #weddinginspo but she says it is really important for couples to narrow down their floral inspiration photos to just a couple of favourite images before they meet with their florist. This helps you get really clear about your vision instead of feeling overwhelmed by all the incredible options out there.
GLOW UP – What the HMU wants you to know
Erin Delahunty is a mobile hair and makeup artist based in Brisbane. She says that fabulous makeup requires fabulous skin and the better your skin looks, the better your makeup will look. The (not so secret) secret to great skin starts with hydration. Erin encourages all her clients to start improving their hydration routine months before their wedding day. And she’s not just talking about slapping a bit of moisturizer on before bed – she recommends trying out some serums and oils too. She is a big fan of tissue masks and says they are a great way to give a hydration boost. BUT if your budget has taken a hit with all the other wedding expenses you’re paying for, don’t feel discouraged. The most effective way to hydrate your skin is to drink A LOT of water and Erin is convinced this makes the biggest difference. She told me she once had a bride who’s skin was just ok at her trial but a couple months later on her wedding day, Erin noticed that her skin was so improved and commented on it. The bride said all she had done differently was drink lots more water.
“The most effective way to hydrate your skin is to drink A LOT of water ”
CAMERA READY
What the photographers want you to know
Go slow And when it’s time for everybody’s favourite part of the ceremony (The Kiss), Sam from Sam Wyper Photography says it’s best to“Go in slow”. He explains that this helps your photographer capture the perfect kiss shot. Some couples might be nervous or shy and they try and get the PDA over quick smart but if you can slow it down just a bit, Sam promises that some of the best and romantic photos will be captured as you move towards each other for your kiss, and not necessarily the moment you snog.
Centre yourself Kylie from Just for Love Photography has an eye for detail and is an absolute perfectionist (trust me, I’ve seen her in action many times!). Her best wedding tip for couples getting married in front of arches or arbors is to put someone in charge of making sure you are centred! This is when celebrants come in extra handy - we usually have a bit of time up our sleeve before the ceremony to work out the best positioning for anyone standing in front of the arbor. I’ve actually started packing electrical tape in my kit so I can easily put a marker on the ground to show you where your toes need to go! Kylie says to trust her - standing anywhere but in the middle, will detract from your photos - and break her little OCD heart!
Don’t flinch I recently worked with Dan from Fig Tree team at a Bundaleer wedding and I heard him give the couple some great advice about confetti photos. They wanted the perfect confetti shot as they walked back down the aisle as husband and wife and Dan reminded them not to flinch as everyone tossed the rose petals at them. Seems simple enough, confetti doesn’t hurt right? But you would be surprised – it can be a natural reaction to flinch when a large group of people are hurling pretty coloured objects at you! But the quickest way to ruin your photo is with screwed up faces, eyes closed and shoulders hunched. Smile, laugh and rock that aisle walk because just like love, confetti shouldn’t hurt!
Look up The most nervous you will feel on your wedding day is likely to be just as you’re about to walk down the aisle. There is something about the combination of having all eyes on you, realising that the moment has arrived and no matter how many times you imagined it, it’s still not quite what you expected. Annie from Annie Dawson Photography encourages all brides and grooms to look up and slow down. She has seen many nervous brides walk way too fast down the aisle and it makes her sad that they miss the special moment and don’t pause to take it all in. Some really special moments happen in those first couple of minutes and you want to remember them all (and give your photographer/videographer time to capture them in case it’s all a blur for you anyway). Annie likes to remind her couples to focus on each other, maintain your connection and tap into the emotion of the moment. After all, this is a once in a lifetime moment that you are sharing – and nobody wants to miss it – not your grandparents, your besties OR your photographer!)