Mini Wedding Bee a success!

Our last big project is out of the way! Fueled with a delicious roast dinner and red wine, we got all the place cards assembled in one night and they look fantastic! A BIG thank you to Tamra and Kathryn for your help - it would have been boring and tedious without you!

Tamra asked me how I was feeling about the upcoming marriage and all I could think of was how that is the calmest thing in this whole wedding. Simply marrying Trav.

Today I appointed an honorary Sommelier - Kyle is helping me select some wines for our menu which are ideally Victorian but in any case, a great match at a decent price. Gotta love handballing!

It's starting to come together now

Our (OK Trav's) last minute place card has been a huge success. I got everything printed last night and it all looks fabulous (the lady at Officeworks was probably even more excited than I was!) The print on Trav's beer bottles is raised and the lacework and names on my champagne bottles look embossed. I'm thrilled!

We cut out one of each last night and Trav proudly stuck his straight into a stubby holder - perfect!

I'm just waiting for my fairy floss sticks so I can stand them in the gift boxes, we'll get these all cut out and assembled over the next week - hopefully with the help of some good mates of mine... (nudge nudge wink wink)

We've also got the bus charter information so we'll be sending it out to all our guests this evening, hopefully they'll appreciate that we have to facilitate this ourselves and will help by sticking to the deadlines, I really want it to be as swift as possible.

I've also decided to feature a Port Douglas icon on FaceBook each day until we leave - a nice teaser for our guests!

Counting the sleeps...

I started packing last night! Well, when I say packing I mean hunting for all wedding related items and throwing them on the bed in the guest room along with the suitcases.

Our place cards are ready to be printed tonight and the sticks should be on their way. Tamra's volunteered for a mini wedding bee session and just Wait til you see the finished products - I just love playing around with graphic design! It's a shame that I only really know Publisher but boy do I know it well!

I've created a Guest Locations map to help us drop the welcome postcards off and have spoken to the two resorts that we'll be posting to.

Still waiting for Coral Seas and Lure..... waiting waiting waiting. I won't have a chance to call them tonight but if I don't hear from them tomorrow then look out! I just don't want to leave the bus transfers until the last week, would rather set it up and let the bookings begin.

Last night I flicked through my original mood book - all the pictures and words that inspired me to create our ideal wedding. We've really stuck to the original mood we wanted to create and I got a little tingle when I flipped over to some Port Douglas wedding stories. I think I'll add a few more images I loved and some mementos from the Bridal Shower and Hens Party.

The well-wishes and last pieces of advice are coming faster now,

'The big day is fast approaching – remember to enjoy the moment,  it’s so special + lovely.!'

Tina

'remember to take a moment to step back and just watch it and caputure the moment in your head as it goes so quickly.'

Melinda

The Great Escape?

We haven't really put any thought into our getaway plan for the end of the reception. I think we'll both be exhausted but won't want to miss out on any of the action so leaving before our guests doesn't sound that appealing.

There are so many clever ways we could do it...

We've got rhythm ...

Finally we're in the swing of dancing lessons. Each Monday for the next 8 weeks we'll be heading up to Arthur Murray Dance Studios on Bourke St, a little hidden treasure inside a fairly clinical looking office building.

After a brief introduction last Wednesday, last night we had our first group and private classes. We have now learned 6 ballroom steps and a couple of latin ones too. There were only 3 couples in the group class which made it easy to ask questions and clarify things. We had been practicing our steps from last week and the news ones were a bit more complex but they look really good so I'm looking forward to practicing them a lot. It made such a difference dancing 'in frame' as opposed to holding hands and it felt really wonderful.

To top off a great evening I had a dream that I was at Michael Buble's concert and I was talking to him after the show! He gave me a brand new video camera when I said we were dancing to one of his songs for our wedding - he wanted to see it! I should have just asked him to come and sing it for us live.

I'll leave you with another pearl of wisdom from our good friends Daniel and Simone - farewell folks and enjoy the UK, one year will go by in a flash!

"Whatever you do, take 5 minutes to stand back and look around - the night will go by in a flash and you've planned it for so long, just remember to appreciate it"

All she wants to do is dance dance dance

The conversation went a little like this


Christie: You make me feel like dancing...Sooooooo Katie??? What happens what happens? Are they going to call us to say what to bring? Should we bring some songs? Wear our wedding shoes? Get there early for a discussion at the first lesson? Tell me! Tell me!

Travis: I wanna dance the night away

Christie: I feel like dancing…

Travis: Dancing WHooa Dancing Whooa AAAAHHHH

Kathryn: Settle down kids! Francesca will call you Christie. She’ll be your instructor for the 2 private sessions and will tell you what you need to bring.

Can’t wait can’t wait can’t wait. Every Wednesday in April we’re going to dance lessons – finally using Kathryn’s engagement gift – she knows we like to drag things out! I’m so thrilled with this gift – having something like this to look forward to when things get a little nuts is fantastic and I wasn’t sure if we’d have done lessons otherwise. We’ve picked out a few songs and there’s some great stuff on YouTube – soon we’ll decide which style to learn and then we can practice practice practice!

You can go with this - or you can go with that...

After we've both agreed that we're not too interested in the bouquet/garter toss - I came across this idea when cruising through Weddingbee one day - the anniversary dance.

What a lovely way to honour those who have been married for the longest - and what a lovely thing to aspire to!

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)

Hi-Biscus!

I love the idea of a signature cocktail for our guest when they arrive at the reception, but didn't want the added expense - so once again I've got the perfect solution!

Wild Hibiscus

This is a gorgeous Australian flower which comes in a scarlet syrup, just perfect for arrival drinks don't you think? And the best bit is I can buy a jar of 100 for just $65 right here!

I feel a rush coming on

OK, we've got less than 7 months to go - let's just call it six as the lead up to Christmas will be a write off - things are starting to get interesting now! We actually HAVE to make some decisions and plan the finer details of our big day weekend and I'm getting excited!

I checked the 'tester' champagne stopper tonight and after 2 nights it has worked a treat, there was a strong hissss as I released the pressure and it tasted like I'd opened a new bottle. Just the way it should be. Of course, what sort of bride would I be if I didn't test this multiple times over the next few months? Don't worry, I'm sure I'll fit it in - in the name of research of course!

Speaking to our neighbours last night, we were offered another great piece of advice:

'Make sure someone has a list of guests you want photos with - you'll regret missing out on the opportunity and definitely won't be thinking about it. Get them to buddy up with the photographer and collect each guests to keep things moving.'

Another idea that they loved was making a hollow picture frame, about 1 metre square and having it make its way around during pre-dinners and the reception - everyone who got their photo taken had their name ticked off and also signed the frame as a keepsake. Love it! It's so much more flexible than the popular 'photo corner' concept that's getting popular. I think we'll be visiting the Cairns Bunnings store to pick up supplies for this one...

One inspired bride...

I didn't ever want to lock the wedding into a theme - but these are the two constant questions I get asked - What's your theme? What are your colours?

But now I think I've got just the right blend.

I needed something portable - don't want to be lugging tin buckets or elaborate candleabra's up in our luggage and I don't like the thought of just hiring it all. So paper will be my friend.  I've always liked the look of paper lanterns bobbing in the breeze and they'll definitely look the part at Lure Restaurant - so why not expand on this idea bit then?
I love these instead of the traditional pew bows - maybe white lanterns with deep pink or purple ribbons?

Australia Entertains

And then at the reception...

Martha Stewart Weddings

This can keep the summer holiday mood we want to create without being too strict, and for the reception decorations...

Paul Johnson Photography

I love these colours together too!

We'll also have parasols for the photos - I can imagine it already...

The Knot

Casual Elegance

With just over 8 months to go now it’s definitely time to start daydreaming again. I am regretting that I didn’t begin this blog when we were first engaged, but maybe I’ll get around to putting some memories on here soon. The girls on Australian Weddings Forum are always great to bounce ideas off so last week I put together my thoughts on centerpieces for the tables – that is if we have round tables. We hope to have a mini banquet menu at Lure, and I’ve found a few good ideas I thought I'd share if anyone else is decorating for a similar menu style.

I'd try to incorporate cymbidium orchids and maybe palm fronds or monsteria leaves into the arrangement, or get a slightly shorter lantern that will be suspended above each table. In both cases  the guests will easily reach the food and a clear view of each other. What do you think?

Martini Image

Lantern Image