The Man I'm going to marry

My poor fiancé is probably looking forward to the second half of the year when his waking hours won't be dominated by questions and decisions like 'What style of wedding cake do you like', 'Do you think we should have a lined envelopes?' and 'Which monogram design best reflects us?'.

He used to come back with 'I don't give a $%^#', 'What are lined envelopes and why do we need them?' and the good old 'Do you think anyone's even going to notice anyway?' but it seems recently that he's taking a new approach, 'Sounds good' or 'I want whatever you want' are among the more popular responses - I guess he's finally come around - if you can't beat'em, join'em!

Viva Port Douglas

I prefer to create a subtle hint rather than a full-blown theme when I'm decorating and don't usually go overboard with crazy decorations. I like restraint, elegance and simplicity. When I think of Port Douglas, the chapel and the restaurant, I don't feel that much needs to be added to such a pristine place. The setting itself is one of beautiful summer colours, green grass and blue sky with waves glistening like diamonds under a warm sun. In the evening  the colours change with pink and orange fading to a deep purple sky as the sun sets.

I don't need to reaffirm that we're in a tropical location with a rainbow of colours and novelties, in fact I'd be very suprised if there was even a hibiscus or grass skirt in sight. We'll keep the decorations neutral to avoid feeling like we're in an Elvis movie, as fun as it might look!

Not a lei in sight!

(source)

This life is fleeting

Too often we wish our time away in anticipation for the next big thing. An occasion or a life change that feels more important than anything our daily life can bring. Our two year engagement is in its final few months and I've come to realise something I always try to remind myself of

half the fun is getting there.

it's about the journey, not the destination.

I wasn't ever too keen about the word fiancé but I'm starting to realise that soon I'll run out of opportunities to say it. I also won't have the fussing and all the wedding planning update discussions with friends and family and I definitely won't have the luxury of assuming 'it's all about me'. I am looking forward to getting married. I'm looking forward even more to being married. And I will enjoy and embrace every moment along the way.

According to the stars

I found this cute article at www.brides.com a while ago and wanted to share it, there's some uncanny similarities with what I've chosen, can you spot them?

Wedding Dress

Cancer rules femininity, so choose a romantic, womanly dress. Though there are tomboys aplenty in your ranks, it's all just a tough outer shell hiding your inner sensitivity. Surrender to your inner goddess today! While lace looks over-the-top on some brides, it's often just right on you. Ribbons, pearl buttons and brocade are also great touches that enhance your feminine side. (Just keep it in proportion so you don't look like a granny!) The body part associated with Cancer is the chest, so show a little décolletage, or at least go strapless. The bodice of your dress is the most flattering feature, so look for something special, especially if you're curvy. At the other end of the spectrum, a simple sheath or a satin slip dress can complement less-busty Crab girls, especially when paired with a long moonstone charm or an authentic pearl necklace. You may want to cover up in shy moments, Cancer. A short capelet in sheer lace or a gown with cap sleeves can keep you from feeling overexposed. For Cancers, your mother (or an older female relative) is the most important figure in your life. Incorporate the family matriarchs into your style by wearing your grandmother's wedding dress. Edgier Cancers may want to get a vintage gown updated, even shortened, by a talented seamstress. Don't feel that you have to wear white! You look great in oyster, ivory, even beige—anything with an antique feel.

Accessories

The ocean and the moon are your rulers, and you glow in freshwater pearls, moonstones, shells, silver and anything with a little sea-inspired shimmer. You look great in a jeweled hair clip that mixes pearls with the teeniest flash of bling. Vintage lace gloves, brocade shoes and other antique touches bring out that old-world femininity that suits you so well, Cancer. Carry sentimental items from female family members down the aisle or incorporate your grandma's vintage cameo pin into your bouquet ribbon. Your décolletage may be your best feature, so focus on a great eye-catching necklace—especially a strand of pearls. Wear your hair in a loose, romantic style, and avoid anything that looks too "done" (hold the hairspray!). An embroidered lace veil can bring your whole look together.

Ring

You're feminine and romantic, and you look best in a ring that's princesslike but not too showy. Cancer rules antiques, so consider a ring designed in a vintage style. Cancer is the "mother sign," so a family heirloom passed through the generations truly belongs on your finger. Since you're an emotional sign, inscribe the band with your favorite passage—you'll get sentimental every time you look at it! Jeweler Isaac Gottesman of Chicago's Dimend Scaasi (dimendscassi.com) recommends a cushion-cut stone, which features rounded corners and larger facets to increase brilliance. These stones are available as squares or rectangles. For a setting, Gottesman suggests a band with pretty vintage touches like knife-edge (thick at the base and tapering up to a point) or pavé (multiple small diamonds set close together and held in place by tiny prongs).

Party

Cancer women treasure their closest childhood friends, and chances are you'll want yours by your side on your big day. You're more likely to want a small bridal party of only a trusted few. Somebody's got to hand you tissues when you get misty-eyed or weepy! With your Cancerian maternal instinct, you might want to create roles for children in your ceremony. An adorable ring bearer, a cherubic flower girl, even kids wearing angel wings—nothing's too sweet for you when it comes to the little ones. You could even invite young relatives to light a unity candle. Caution: Cancer is a moody sign, so handle your stress during this emotional time. Don't take it out on your bridesmaids—instead, savor the prenuptial period together with pedicures, massages and yoga classes. You tend to have dramatic friends, so if any rivalries arise, tell them to settle it outside your drama-free zone. Restrain yourself from getting involved and just let yourself be the bride.

Reception

Romance, sentiment and tons of meaning are the hallmarks of a Cancer wedding. Write your own vows, read a favorite poem or passage or let your favorite songs express your true feelings. Cancer is symbolized by the crab, and a small, intimate wedding (family and a few close friends) creates the safety of "being in your shell." Pampering your guests in high style is easier when working with a smaller guest list too. You're a water sign, Cancer, so consider a wedding on the beach, in a seaside town or even on a yacht. Since Cancer rules home and family, your parents' house, a nostalgic childhood vacation spot or even a historic mansion stir up those homey, heart-warming vibes. Include your family as much as possible: Let your parents give you away, enjoy the father-daughter dance or create your own meaningful customs. Keep your decor romantic and feminine, using framed family photos as table centerpieces. The moon rules your sign, so take inspiration from opalescent bone china, decorative silver flatware and pretty pastel floral arrangements that look picked straight from the garden. You're a foodie, so serve a really special meal that your guests will savor. Since you like to cut costs, you might do a buffet and pass lots of mouthwatering appetizers. For tomboyish Cancer girls, who hide their sensitive sides, show how much you care by adding special touches, like great favors and thoughtful welcome baskets.

Flowers

Old-fashioned romance is the way to go for you, Cancer. You're a water sign, so evoke the beach with centerpieces in low glass cylinders filled with seashells, say the floral and event designers of Martin Jobes Design (martinjobesdesign.com). For your bouquet, they suggest "trailing sweet pea vine, with Queen Anne's Lace, clover and foxtails tied up with pale-pink gingham ribbon, adorned with tiny bows." Getting married on the beach? Include seashells in the bouqet. "Shells in soft pinks and whites can be glued to wire and placed among the blooms," they suggest, while "bridesmaids bouquets could feature ribbon streamers with shells." Don't forget flowers in your hair! The Martin-Jobes team recommends "a delicate floral crown of stephanotis, or some of the small blooms tucked into a flowing pre-Raphaelite hairstyle."

Cake

You've got a well-developed palate, Cancer, especially when it comes to rich, creamy desserts. Most Cancers love the kitchen, and you'll want your guests to feel like they've just had the best home-baked dessert of their lives. If they go into sugar shock after eating a slice of your wedding cake, consider your mission complete. Cancers adore traditional flavors and rich, decadent gourmet treats. Let your cake conjure a French patisserie in the heart of Paris. Cancer rules the home and women, so a family recipe handed down through the generations could be incorporated into your wedding cake too. "Evoke memories of your grandmother's kitchen," advises Karen Rivera-Gorski of The Painted Cake (thepaintedcake.com), "but add a contemporary twist." Rivera-Gorski suggests brown sugar vanilla cake with homemade pineapple or fruit preserves, and caramel butter-cream frosting. Since you're sentimental, get your cake knife engraved, then save it as an heirloom for future generations. 

Invitations

You're relatively traditional, so choose pretty, feminine invitations that are a little ornate but not too flowery. Choose a script font, traditional phrasing and beautiful paper that's a thick or handmade stock. A romantic, French-country feel goes far—look to shabby-chic or Parisian design for inspiration. High-end letterpress and engraving are elegant printing options; however, your thrifty side will probably want to pinch pennies here. More important is conveying the message that your guests will be pampered—so focus on the words, and also include thoughtful touches like a map, hotel block discounts and a list of your favorite local restaurants in the area. Since you love sentimental portraits, designer Karalee Serra of Simply Serra (simplyserra.com) suggests including photos in your invitation. Add a favorite poem or passage printed on translucent vellum for an extra touch of romance. As a water sign, you could incorporate beachy elements like sand, shells and sea grass, either glued to the invitation or used as ribbon.

Special Touches

• Cancer rules the home, so why not keep your wedding memories present in your everyday life after the big day? Create a wedding quilt. Send significant women in your life a square of fabric, and ask them to inscribe or decorate it however they choose. Then sew them together. You can even decorate the squares as a group activity at your shower.
• Feeling shy? Wedding photographer Tracy Toler of Maia Studio Photography (maiastudio.com), also a Cancer, suggests photojournalistic or documentary-style pictures instead of posed shots. Not only will they appeal to your artistic nature, you won't feel self-conscious and "watched the whole time," says Toler.
• Since family is so important to Cancer, wedding planner Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events (curtainupevents.com) suggests involving everyone in the ceremony. After reciting your vows to each other, write a vow that the entire congregation can say to you as well. They're all attending because they love and support you, and it will bring everyone closer.
• During the cocktail hour, continues Bobish, display framed photos of past family weddings. It adds a nice homey touch and really involves both sides of the family. 

Honeymoon

For your culture and food-loving sign, there's no place like Paris, the city of romance (and patisseries!). You'll love the art, architecture, decadent desserts and culture in the City of Light. If you're on a tighter budget (or don't want to make the transatlantic flight), a surprising alternative is the French-Canadian city of Montreal. You'll find European-style architecture, romantic cobblestone streets, eclectic restaurants, and luxury hotels at affordable prices. You're a water sign, so a beach vacation is something to consider. Wedding planner Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events (curtainupevents.com) suggests the Maldives, where you can sail, scuba dive, swim and snorkel on your own private strip of beach. Set on the Indian Ocean, it's anything but a tourist trap. You can rent a villa on the beach or one set above a lagoon. You can even go "under the sea" in a chartered submarine! Other possibilities? Cancers also love history, so Bobish recommends touring the castles of Scotland or Prague or visiting the pastoral green hills of Ireland. The rainy streets of London might suit your melancholy soul too. You can cozy up with a cup of tea and a book or lounge at a friendly pub over beer, while enjoying intelligent, lively conversation with the locals.

Check out your Cosmic Bridal Style here

Fake cake?

As soon as we announced our engagement our very close friends offered to organise our wedding cake as a gift.

Then we decided to wed interstate. After speaking to airlines and other brides and cake makers, I was assured that cakes travel very well by air all the time. Now our cake maker isn't too confident and has suggested that she can make up a polystyrene cake decorated however we like and for us to then buy a kitchen cake up north. The thought crossed my mind in the early days but since then I've been very happy with the idea of a real cake.

It makes sense in a number of ways, not worrying about transporting it (as long as the decorations hold up) and we can have a fresher cake on the day - any flavour we like. But what to do with this fake cake after the day? Bring it back? Store it in the cupboard? Use it as a table centrepiece? A door stopper? For the cutting of the cake the bottom layer will be pre-cut in a certain spot (and marked cleverly), then iced so hopefully it won't make a squeaky sound when the knife goes through. I think it's a clever idea, but I just have to get used to it. Of course we can't let the guests know it's a dummy!

Any thoughts?

Thoughts on marriage

I never wanted to be the fussy bride. Didn’t want to obsess over shades of red or match chair sashes to bridesmaid dresses. I didn’t want to drive myself mad with different envelope textures or take any of it too seriously.

But why should I avoid all this? This is what it’s all about and it’s so much more fun to embrace it – this is my chance to design and create a whole day exactly how I’d like! As the date gets closer I’ve noticed that although I’ve changed my mind a few times along the way, I’ve always come back to the same key elements, simple, stylish, unfussy and elegant. It’s going to be a big holiday for all our guests and we’re going to keep it stylish but casual. And it’s a brides’ prerogative to change her mind isn’t it – it’s all part of the process and this is why I’d like to record as much of the journey as possible.

I’m also looking forward to changing my surname, it didn’t feel right when I began pondering this common question, but I believe this part of marriage is right for me. Other brides will keep their maiden name or hyphenate both names, but to save our kids having to deal with a very long surname, I’m keeping it simple. Someone once even decided to keep their maiden name, then any boys born will take the father’s name, and any girls will take the mothers? These 2 kids went to school as brother and sister with 2 different surnames!

There are always those who will tell you that if you’ve already been a couple for a long time, marriage is nothing more than a piece of paper and a big party, but although I have no authority on the subject (yet) I believe that a marriage is what you make it, and ours will be much more than a piece of paper.

Oh dear... (bridesmaids step away from computer now)

Yes. You. Tamra and Louise!





























Me and my big ideas! I've just added another sewing project to my already huge list! I was looking on etsy today to see if I could find some cute and different bags for my two bridesmaids, when I came across this cute pattern for a Mini Twist Clutch by Constructivism. This means I could make the clutches in any fabric I like and I could have the lining embroidered by my good friends at EmbroidIt!

I'm already going to Spotlight tomorrow morning, so what did I do? Yep. Sold.

Me again!

Well there's just a couple of important things I've left off my last post - last night as we strolled past a cake decorating shop Trav pointed out a cake design that 'wasn't too bad' (that's a big compliment for a guy) so we'll take a photo and hopefully our friend Andrea will make a less dusty version for us.

AND... I booked a date for my really real dress fitting! Can't wait to try on THE ONE in March!

AND... tonight I'm going into town to pick up my honeymoon goodies from im boutique

 

AND...I've ordered my perfume! I chose Fracas by Robert Piguet, I'll just have to hide it well so I'm not tempted to use it until the day. Here's a beautiful description of the fragrance by model Georgina Tree

"Smells, like sounds and colors spark off emotions, especially when harmoniously combined, like musical chords. Situations and conflicts can also provoke emotions. The overwhelming feelings experienced by audiences of films or plays were already known by the classic Greek tragedians : they called these extreme changes in emotions "catharsis", which can translate as purification.

In his work "Poetics", Aristotle has analysed how the triggering of sudden intense emotional disruptions result in a feeling of renewal, restoration and cleansing. Like a beneficial storm, the cathartis or purification's mysterious psychological process leaves us refreshed and revitalized but transformed.

Works of art capable to bring us to the level of catharsis are few: poems, plays, songs, symphonies, paintings or now films they remain the legacy of giants, the Homer, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Mozart or van Gogh. They are the great timeless classics and speak a universal language. By ephemeral means, true artists have always tried to reach the universal after an often painful emotional journey through their own human natures. Results can sometimes be ambiguous as remarked British art critic Walter Pater (1839-1894) in his writings about the mystery of Mona Lisa , "this beauty into which the soul with all its maladies has passed."

Scientists now know that the sense of smell is not perceived by the cortex of the brain. Smells connect straight into the lower brain, which relates to memories and emotions. As a result, if fragrances do not have any " cognitive" effect, they can have an enormous emotional impact. The same scientists have also found out that women are more receptive to colors and smells than men.

Perfume making, like film making is a new art form. Less acknowledged than the so called "fine arts" perhaps, but a true art form nevertheless. Modern perfume making actually started in the 1920's. New chemical components called "aldehydes" opened the possibilities to create elaborate complex compositions. Aldehydes make fragrance notes "sparkle". Emotions provoked by compositions of well arranged fragrance notes are more intense.

Among the multiple fragrances available today, very few have reached the status of true classics. One of the most famous is Chanel's No.5, actually one of the first "artificial" perfumes deliberately created as a composition. There is no coincidence in the fact that Chanel No.5 has had its popularity enhanced by several emotionally very influential artists. Everyone knows Marilyn Monroe's witty reply when asked once by some journalist what she wore in bed: "Why, Chanel No.5 of course!" Andy Warhol also contributed to make Chanel No.5 into a pop icon when he created several of his world famous silkscreens with the No.5 bottle as a motif.

Less widely known but a true masterpiece, Robert Piguet's Fracas is now gaining in popularity after having for years remained a cult fragrance among the privileged and the happy few. The very concept of Fracas is intentionally disruptive and emotional. Fracas, in French means tumult with nuances that could be conveyed through words like ram, crash, blast, or irrupt. It was intentionally provocative but also intriguing. Like a mystery. Fracas puts you in a mood where you want to know more about the person who wears it: it is insolent but also spell-binding. Emotional, sensuous, carnal and very sexy. You get hypnotized and enchanted.

I discovered Fracas as a young fashion model in New York many years ago. At the time I was wearing some of Kiehl's famous compositions like "Rain" or "Smoke". I also enjoyed a fine citrus fragrance called "Love" which has now disappeared. Coming once into a studio where I was booked, I had the surprise to discover that I would work in the company of one of the models I admired the most, Donna Mitchell. She was surrounded with this fascinating fragrance and I asked her about it. She told me the story of Fracas. In the evening, when I came back home, I had bought my first bottle and started a long love story with this perfume.

Fracas was the creation of Swiss born Robert Piguet (1898-1953) one of the era's most talented fashion designers in Paris. With the cooperation of specialist Germaine Cellier, Piguet had launched his first fragrance, Bandit, in 1945. Cellier and Piguet then started to work on a completely new concept: a fragrance which would be of the utmost elegance but at the same time very provocative and emotionally charged. It came out in 1948. Piguet chose the name Fracas.

An intriguing, complex and rousing composition of tuberose, jonquil, jasmine, lilac and white iris, Fracas was too disruptive and too carnal not to provoke some hesitations and was not immediately accepted. Robert Piguet unfortunately fell ill shortly after. A perfectionist, he did not want his fashion house to survive him. After selling the expensive real estate, he generously gave a part of the money to his 400 employees and retired in Lausanne where he died in 1953.

Less strict with his fragrances, Robert Piguet accepted the continuation of his line of perfumes. But without the back-up of a powerful commercial organisation, Bandit and Fracas could not really compete with other fragrances from larger companies.

Few fragrances have been copied as much as Fracas. Its influence can be perceived in many recent compositions, which have often tried to provoke similar emotional reactions. Over the years it has remained the secret cult fragrance of many celebrities from different generations : today it is the favorite of icons like Princess Caroline of Monaco, Madonna, Uma Thurman, Courtney Love and many others." You can find the original article here.

Postcards and envelopes and letters Oh My!

I'm very excited today - I just ordered our wedding invitations through VistaPrint!! We sent them to our parents for some final feedback and after some tweaking they were ready to order as soon as a good deal came up, which happened yesterday!

I've decided to order some beautiful cream linen envelopes from Amazing Paper as well.

We've got together a good draft of the letter to send along with the invites and RSVPs so I expect we'll be sending them out in early February as planned.

This is getting really real now.

Another sweet suggestion was to include a postcard for anyone who won't be attending the event, but would like to write a message to be read out at the reception - so now I'm off to design this one! Guests will be invited to send this back to our parents by the RSVP date.

I also stopped in at Beachhouse Boulevard at Spotswood yesterday to select a round craft punch for the clear monogram labels I'm making for the champagne stopper favours.

And that brings me to today's triumph - I've made my own twine monogram following Brianna Nichole's tutorials - that's right, I can use Photoshop! My list of newly acquired skills is growing very quickly indeed!

Some exciting bridesmaid news coming shortly...

Less than 6 months to go...

Port Douglas: A Few Showers. Mostly Sunny. Warm. 31.

Whoops – time gets away from us all in December! We’ve well and truly passed the 6 month mark now and the party will begin at Tullamarine Airport the morning we depart for Cairns – with 10 other guests! (You must all know by now that we love to drag these celebrations out as long as possible!).

To make planning easier for our guests we came across an exciting new service from Webjet. If you haven’t already heard they are now doing all the hard work for you. Simply set up a free My Deal Finder alert and Webjet will regularly send you the cheapest flight of the day, according to your desired destinations and travel dates. So no more logging onto their website once a week to check the prices!

In other news the Mothers of the Bride and Groom have both found their wedding outfits – in the same shop no less! Next we’ll be shopping for the Bridal party outfits (sorry guys - no board shorts on the big day!)

Did you know? The Stag (Buck) and Hen Parties originated in Scotland. There have recently been some whispers about the planning of the Hens Party – I just hope it’s not like the ones that originated in Scotland which went a little something like this…

“At one time there was a wedding tradition where friends and neighbors gave food gifts to the bride. These could be used at the wedding feast or in her new home. Often included were hens, dried fish, salted mutton, oatmeal, butter, and whiskey.
A few days before the wedding, there would be a party to pluck and prepare the hens and other food for the wedding. Of course, music and singing, general hilarity, and some jesting were all a part of this wedding tradition.
The judicious bride saved these special feathers to stuff future pillows and comforters for her home.” Source