Forget the tired old guest book: the NEW Fingerprint Tree is here!

The Fingerprint Tree is not only a wonderful memento of your wedding guests— it is completely individual. That’s because all the leaves on it are formed by the fingerprints of your family and special friends.

Your Fingerprint Tree is the most uniquely personalised memento you could ever have — far more exciting and evocative than a bunch of signatures in an old-style guest book.

Pioneered in Australia by local family-owned firm, The Fingerprint Tree, the specially created tree prints are originated by Ray Carter in a variety of styles and sizes.

Each Fingerprint Tree is hand-drawn or painted, then printed in the exact colours of the original design on long-life archive paper using specially selected inks that resist aging and fading.

Similarly, the ink in the fingerprint inkpads has been specially selected for its longevity. You can expect your Fingerprint Tree print to last indefinitely provided, of course, it is not hung in direct sunlight nor exposed to high humidity or damp conditions.

For more information go to the website: http://thefingerprinttree.com.au/

What is your product/service?

I am a freelance Makeup Artist and Hair-stylist with over 11 years experience in the industry. I provide a mix of cutting edge styling with my background in fashion whilst still being able to offer a more vintage and traditional feel to accommodate every brides needs.

I offer a complete styling session and consultation in order to get a feel for my brides personality, needs and most importantly to achieve the best makeup and hair they have ever had!  I keep up to date with the latest fashion, styles and products out on the market, which I think is essential in producing great results.

What makes your product/service unique?

The fact that most of my previous brides have become clients of mine and regularly book me for events and special occasions that they need to look fantastic for,  I feel I am very  approachable  and become more of  a friend to my brides  than just  the” makeup lady”. For me being a makeup artist is my passion, my love and I have never thought of it as a “job” because it is so much more than that.

What is your favourite moment of a wedding?

My favourite moment of a wedding is the finishing touches clipping in the veil, perfecting the hair, helping with bouquets and of course last minute lip stick touch-ups, it’s this attention to detail that makes a brides special day.

What do you love most about your work?

It’s simply the best!! I mean I get to play dress-ups everyday!! I’m a big fan of all the make-over shows on TV also and I find it fascinating how much makeup can transform a face, everyone can look fantastic with the right attention.  It’s also extremely rewarding, the media put so much pressure on women to look a certain way these days and if I can make someone feel truly beautiful even for one day then I leave a happy girl!

What would you be doing if you weren’t in the wedding industry?

As much as I do love my job, I went to a clients home last week who is a fashion buyer for ”Belinda” and “The Corner Store” here in Sydney and I have to say her wardrobe was enough to make any fashionista jealous! So I have to say that would have to be up there on the top of my list, even to build on my services and add that clothing element.

Website: http://www.missmossmakeup.com.au/

We are very excited to announce that we are now offering Candy Bars!! If you would like to know more please go to our website: www.candybarsydney.com.au

About

Based in Sydney, we’re dedicated to providing bespoke candy bar/buffets for weddings and parties, creating stunning displays that will truly get your guests talking!

We work with the theme of your wedding or party to ensure your Candy Bar/Buffet entirely in keeping with your day, from colour-matching a sweet selection to your wedding colour scheme, we focus on the finer details. From personalising candy bags and catering for your specific sweet favourites to bespoke printing jar labels.

 Your Candy Bar will include:

• Delicious colour themed lollies
• Buffet design and layout
• Beautifully decorated glass jars, from martini glasses to apothecary jars
• The candy bar table
• Co-ordinated table linen
• Accessories and decorations
• Delivery, set up and removal
• Matching tongs and lolly scoops
• Personalised guest lolly bags or candy favour boxes
• Candy bar host to assist and serve guests, keep the lollies topped up and maintain the candy buffet (optional)

Candy Bars are tailored to each event, they are individual and unique. Custom orders are available at an additional cost e.g. exclusive trim on boxes, or special favour boxes, or special candy treats.

Events suitable for a Candy Bar:

• Wedding Candy Bars/Buffets
• Birthday Candy Bars/Buffets
• Kitchen Tea Candy Bars/Buffets
• Bridal Shower Candy Bars/Buffets
• Baby Shower Candy Bars/Buffets
• Anniversary Candy Bars/Buffets
• Hens Party Candy Bars/Buffets
• Surprise Party Candy Bars/Buffets
• Work Christmas Party Candy Bars/Buffets
• Engagement Party Candy Bars/Buffets
• House Warming Party Candy Bars/Buffets
• New Years Eve Events Candy Bars/Buffets
• Shop Openings Candy Bars/Buffets
• Corporate Events Candy Bars/Buffets
• Product Launch Candy Bars/Buffets
• Opening Night Candy Bars/Buffets

For those of you out there that watch Channel Ten’s News, you may have already seen this piece on the first wedding in Australia to be shot on an iPhone, by Abraham Joffe of Untitled Films.

It was nice to be contacted by Channel Ten for my opinion, though I’m always so nervous speaking on TV.

I can’t see the iPhone replacing the professional camera equipment used today, but I do think it adds an extra dimension to a wedding, by having your family and friends record footage from their perspective. It helps give a 360° view of your wedding day.

Let me know what you think.

Kelly

Before you make any decisions its best to start with the facts.  Wedding bouquets come in three basic styles: round/posy, hand-tied or cascade.

• The round bouquet is the most popular, it has lots of flowers and they can be of several types
  and colours.
• The cascade bouquet is shaped like a waterfall, with more flowers on top and some flowers
  flowing downwards. It is usually mixed with some greenery for a natural look.
• The hand-tied wedding bouquet, is gaining in popularity these days and  is more casual than
  the other two styles. It’s composed of a bunch of flowers tied together with a ribbon, with the
  stems revealed.

But which wedding bouquet is the best style for you? Its best to keep these three things in mind:

What is your product / service?
I am an Authorized Civil Marriage Celebrant who offers a comprehensive service.  So much more than just delivering the ceremony.

What makes your product / service unique?

My ceremonies are designed to suit each couple.  After conducting 3,000 weddings I think I know what suits different couples, but really take the time to discuss the ceremony with them.

My aim is to keep the guests listening to the ceremony and not thinking about that first glass of champagne!  I bring warmth and energy to each ceremony and ensure that the ceremony runs smoothly.  There is so much more to a good celebrant than the fees.  I feel I give every couple good value for money.  The ceremony is the first point of everyone getting together for the day, you may as well make an impact.

What is your favourite moment of a wedding?
I love the moment when the bride walks down the aisle and sharing that with the groom……..they are often quiet nervous and many get very emotional at this point.  I also love to look at the couple once they are pronounced husband and wife and you can see the tension drain away and they are simply enjoying this magical moment.

What do you love most about your work?
I love that I meet so many amazing couples from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds.  I also love the fact that I am continually learning and honing my skills.

It is incredibly rewarding to have the honour to conduct any couple’s wedding.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in the wedding industry?
Definitely working in an area where I meet lots of people – would also love to be doing something with food and wine!

Juliet and James were photographed by Sarah at Starr Photography

How did you meet:

At a restaurant in Bondi that had been converted into a ‘dance venue’ for the evening – as part of a charity fundraiser for kids. I was recently single and a friend of mine (who became the bridesmaid) invited me to go along with her as her friend was one of the guest DJs for the night. I was having a small dance (happily by myself!) and James danced himself over to me and said ‘Hello’ and it went from there!

Where was your wedding? 

The service was held in Shore Chapel in North Sydney  - James is a Shore Grammar School ‘old boy’ that boasts stunning views across the Harbour – one of the best church views in Sydney! The reception was held at Mandalay Receptions in Lane Cove – we caught the last rays of light as the evening then descended upon us for the celebratory festivities.

What was your wedding style?

Our style of wedding was fairly traditional, however, I really wanted to bring out a signature colour as the ‘theme’ and we (I) chose coral – because I know it’s a colour that suits me! Luckily coral is popular in fashion at the moment and we found the perfect coral bridesmaid dress in the first boutique we visited! (Thankfully coral also suited the bridesmaid as well!) The coral theme was replicated in our choice of floral arrangements – both the bridal bouquets and the large arrangements at the Chapel. Our florist also sprinkled coral petals on all the reception tables. I balanced the strong accented colour of coral with a softer champagne/light gold which was used for the chair sashes, order of service and menu cards.

Favourite part of your wedding?

Having VOX – the youth choir of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs sing SO HAPPY TOGETHER (the old The Turtles hit from the ’60s) was my favourite part and our guests raved about their performance afterwards – as I work for Sydney Philharmonia Choirs I was very fortunate and grateful for their kind volunteer appearance!

James and I enjoyed our quiet time together up on the balcony at Mandalay prior to our ‘entrance’ to the reception evening and guests. We had some more great photos taken and sipped down our delicious strawberry daiquiri cocktails hearing the delicate notes of the harpist drifting up to us from the reception room below where our guests were arriving and mingling over canapes.

Special or funny details:  

The mishaps of the day – bride and bridesmaid woke up to a car with a flat battery, the groom put on his rental suit to discover all the buttons on his shirt were missing! Shore provided a student trumpeter to accompany the bride’s procession down the aisle. Unfortunately the young trumpeter got an attack of the nerves and hit every note other than the right ones (much to the bride’s bemusement). Thankfully after a while he gave up the quest and left the music to the organist. Everyone assumed it must have been a young relative we’d roped in to perform!

What was special was the small Celtic element I introduced to the wedding as an In Memoriam gesture to the Scottish ancestry/birth of my father and grandfather – both called John Izatt – both deceased. During the ceremony the Reverend performed a hand-fasting ritual (ancient Celtic ritual) binding our hands with the Graham tartan (my paternal great grandmother was a Scottish Graham). After the ceremony a bagpipist played many ‘Scottish’ hits whilst our guests enjoyed canapes and refreshments on the Chapel lawn and congratulated us newly-weds.

The best man’s speech was a real chortle – he poked fun at a lot of people (groom included!) and had everyone laughing with mirth. Both the groom and a friend of the bride’s read out lovely poems they’d written especially for the occasion.

Advice for other brides and grooms?  

Elope!    Make sure you have the final say in all decisions!!! (And give yourselves more than 4 months to plan . . . !)

Jasmina and Matt’s real wedding was captured  by wedding photographer Matt Reed. I love the simplicity and elegance of this wedding, its style is truly timeless. Enjoy!

New York’s passing of the Marriage Equality Act was another incredibly important moment in the history of America and an even more important moment for same sex couples around the world.

Viewing from Australia, its interesting to see the impact that it’s had on New Yorkers and more interestingly, corporate America.

In an article published on the Forbes blog by Deborah L. Jacobs titled Same-Sex Weddings Inspire Creative Ad Campaigns. Deborah brought to light some pretty funny and sometimes quite serious advertising campaigns. Here’s a selection of my favourites:

Manhattan Mini Storage sign read: “If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t get gay married.”

Kenneth Cole billboard: “Gay people getting married? (Next they’ll be allowed to vote and pay taxes.)”

However, my personal favourite was by the New York Sports Club: “your sexual orientation can’t stop you from getting married but your body can.”

Its good to see people finding the light side of hard issues. I hope the gaiety continues.

At Iridescent Weddings, we help people in love plan the rest of their lives together. If they happen to be of the same sex, then so be it.

With that in mind, we invite any same sex couples in Australia, who want to start planning their marriage, to come say hello. You never know when its going to be your turn.

I am excited to show you the latest designer collection from Stellina Cute Couture For Children. Stellina Cute Couture For Children has a huge collection specialising in beautiful flower girl dress and page boy suit labels. It also offers personalised service to brides to help you choose the right dresses and suits for the sweetest members of your bridal party. The latest stylish collection features junior bridal attendant wear and party/occasion wear for newborns up to 14 year olds.

Stellina have a boutique showroom in Sydney or view their collection online at  their website www.stellinacutecouture.com.au