December 2017 - Forget Me Not Journals

Minimalist Cultural Fusion Wedding | Wintergardens, Auckland Domain

Posted on December 22, 2017March 26, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

This bright, beautiful and unconventional wedding captured by Santana Maria Photography will inspire all couples wanting a minimalist and alternative wedding celebrating different cultures or styles! Enjoy!

“We had an evening ceremony, as we had to wait for the Wintergardens to close to the public. We had around 70 guests there for a standing ceremony. I walked the aisle by myself, and I chose to walk in toward the guests rather than from behind, which was quite emotional. It was a long walk from one end of the courtyard to the other, and seeing all the faces of our friends and family staring toward me made the moment feel very real. That image is one that will stick in my memory the most from the day. The gardens and courtyard are so stunning that no decorations were needed. We literally just put a sign outside so people knew they were in the right place, and a trestle table for drinks, and that was it. We wrote our own vows in to little notebooks, and heard them for the first time that day. Mine were so much longer than Rupaks! When we signed the registry we had Stevie Wonder ‘signed, sealed, delivered’ playing, it was fun having a little boogie while waiting for our mothers to sign the registry.” – Kathryn (the bride!)

Who Kathryn + Rupak
Where Wintergardens, Auckland Domain
Guests 70

Our love story began…

I’m a secondary school fashion design and technology teacher, and Rupak is a data analyst. We met at an ANZAC day party of a mutual friend. I had seen a photo of Rupak online so I knew he existed, but didn’t realise he would be there at this party. Toward the end of the night Rupak was ‘tearing up the dance floor’ – (his words not mine) and I was standing around not knowing anyone after my one and only friend at this party had left. So I joined Rupak on the dance floor. We went our separate ways that night without each other’s numbers or anything, but Rupak found me on Facebook a few days later and arranged our first date – me measuring him for a custom made suit… That is a whole other story…

I said yes…

Rupak proposed to me on my birthday. It was not romantic at all but it was the perfect proposal for us. Rupak gave me my birthday present early in the morning, it was a Meadowlark box. I got excited thinking it was a proposal as the ring I wanted for an engagement ring was a Meadowlark one. Sadly it was not. But then we took the dog for a walk on the beach, and Rupak sat me down and said he had a second gift. “It comes with a condition though – you have to marry me”, to which I said “okay … “, because the usual “yes” didn’t quite work seeing has he hadn’t actually asked. I took the box off him and put the ring on my finger myself, we had a quick kiss, a car honked at us, and the dog started getting restless from sitting for so long. So we walked home and that was that.

Our wedding style inspiration was…

We aren’t really into the whole theme thing, but I think all the elements came together pretty nicely regardless. We wanted to create a really subtle fusion of Indian and Kiwi culture through our food, music, colour scheme, stationery etc. I also have a preference to lean toward a more minimal aesthetic so that was of course going to drive some of the decisions too.

We saved by…

Having a fashion degree finally paid off here, as I made my own dress. I knew early on that I wouldn’t like anything in the stores as I wanted something super minimalist. I made it at work so that Rupak didn’t see it until the big reveal. I loved the gold exposed zip at the back and the little lower back cut-out as that gave it just enough of a point of difference without being over the top. I also changed in to a beautiful blue and gold Saree later in the evening after our first dance. The accessories I wore were very special to me. My grandparents are all passed away and it was important to me to feel that my Grandmother and Grandad from my Mother’s side both had a presence in the day somehow. I wore my grandmother’s pearl ring, and my grandfather’s gold watch. I loved being able to look down at my hands and see a symbol of my grandparents and new husband all in one place. I also received a special necklace during the ceremony – a Mangalsutra. It’s a Hindu custom similar to the ring; the wife wears it to symbolise she is married. This was bought over from England for me by my in-laws.

Rupak also put my fashion degree (and our first date) to good use by wearing one of his custom made suits I had measured him for. It was all in the details with his outfit, with his pocket square, shoe laces, socks, tie, and even the stitching on his white shirt, all being the same shade of burgundy as my nails and lips. His tie clip was also rose gold to match my engagement ring and hair clips. He had joked a few months before the wedding about how he’d be wearing his sports watch. Thankfully I was able to talk him in to upgrading to a really nice Daniel Wellington watch, so he wore that on the day instead.

For our wedding rings, we both got a simple band from Pascoes when they had 40% off. Neither of us were even sure if we wanted a wedding band, so we went for something cheaper so that we could splurge in other areas.

There were other smaller elements of the day we did ourselves too, such as all the paper goods, my makeup, our vow books. The list goes on. But the one thing that stands out the most, was our place settings / favours. For each of our guests we picked out a photo of one or both of us with them, and stuck this in to a polaroid style cardboard frame which I had made using the laser cutter at work. On the back of this frame was a personalised message to them about why they are so special to us, or a fond memory we have with them. We actually made these twice. The first time I hand wrote every message, and we used coloured card to match our colour scheme. After making all 60 I decided I hated them, so we started again with white card, and laser etched the messages. It was cool watching our guest’s reactions when they sat down and read their message, or reminisced on when the photo was taken.

We splurged on…

We did pretty well at sticking to our budget. Originally we wanted to challenge ourselves to do a wedding for $10,000, but then once we had explored all our options of venues etc we had to increase that. But we are really happy with what we were able to put together for our budget of $17,000.

Photography by Santana with Lauren from the Lauren and Delwyn project as the second shooter. We knew Santana was the photographer for us after our initial meeting – she was relaxed and she got our humour. We felt really at ease with both these lovely ladies and they made the hours pass by quickly with lots of laughs.

Our reception venue was TriBeCa restaurant, just a 10 minute stroll from the Wintergardens. We couldn’t have asked for better service and food. We had canapes outside in the courtyard as the sun was setting, and the biggest glasses of wine we’ve ever seen! There were anti pasti platters, as well as platters of a favourite Indian snack, Dahi Puri. Guests moved inside for a plated service dinner. The tables were set with glass jars I had spent months collecting and peeling labels off, and these jars were filled with fern foliage and carnations in deep red, orange, and purple shades. Tea light candles set the mood (and a couple of small fires during dinner!), as did fairy light curtains along one of the walls. Every table also had its own polaroid camera for guests to use, and these were such a hit! Guests had pre-ordered their mains, one of which was a kiwi-indian fusion meal; NZ lamb, with a yoghurt and cumin sauce, it was a popular choice for our overseas guests who have obviously heard great things about NZ lamb. We also served a duck dish, and a curry as the vegetarian option. Dessert was our highlight, we had alternate drop, and we both fought over the chocolate pave with espresso foam and brandy snap bits! The meals were plated so beautifully and the food was cooked perfectly. We were definitely happy we chose a well-established restaurant as our reception venue.

Our advice to engaged couples…

Decide early what your priorities and non-negotiables are, as well as the things you don’t mind skimping on. It will help with keeping to the budget later on. For example we didn’t care so much about rings and flowers and table settings, for us we wanted to spend our money on the things that would give our guests the best time possible – good food, good wine, good music.

CREDITS

Photographer Santana Maria Photography
Flowers  Libby Brickell Flowers
Venues The Wintergardens + Tribeca, Auckland
Catering Triebca Restaurant, Auckland
Stationery + Signage  DIY
Hair Ashlee Bierens from McInnes & Co
Celebrant  Kerry Sorensen – Tyrer
Brides Dress  DIY Kathryn Patel
Grooms Suit + Accessories DIY Kathryn Patel, watch Daniel Wellington
 Rings Pascoes
 Music DJ : Mark Glide from Audioclub

The History of Wedding Anniversary Gifts

Posted on December 19, 2017October 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

If you are approaching your wedding anniversary, and knowing an anniversary gift may be expected, you might be wondering exactly why it is we buy wedding anniversary gifts, and the history of the tradition. Wherever you’re at in your marriage journey, I still do is an ideal gift – it can be used as an anniversary diary, marriage workbook and keepsake, and Celebrate is a beautiful linen memory book to record 50 years of celebrations, you could use it for just your wedding anniversaries, or include birthdays and other special family occasions within it.

The origin of celebrating wedding anniversaries harks back to the Middle Ages. While primarily an excuse for gift-giving, the underlying belief corresponds with bringing of luck. The practice of giving peculiar gifts on various wedding anniversaries originated in Central Europe. Among the medieval Germans it was customary for friends to present a wife with a wreath of silver when she had lived with her husband twenty-five years.

The silver symbolises the harmony that was assumed to be necessary to make so many years of marriage possible. On the fiftieth anniversary of a wedding the wife was presented with a wreath of gold. Hence arose ‘silver wedding’ and ‘golden wedding.’ This practice, borrowed from the Germans, has been elaborated upon in modern times.

The passing of another year together marks a deepening of the couple’s commitment, an accumulation of time irreplaceable. To help in celebrating these occasions are special gifts, one assigned to each anniversary and each with its own material and symbolic value. In the United States, wedding anniversary gifts begin simply, with paper and flowers, and gradually increase in substance and value. The order of gifts reflects the investment that the couple gives of themselves to each other. In Germany, by comparison, couples use a list of symbols that represent the progressive strengthening of the marriage relationship – Gretchen Scoble and Ann Field, The Meaning of Wedding Anniversaries

Although no one is exactly certain how the traditional list of symbolic anniversary gifts originated, it is likely that the Victorian Era made the custom popular. Early anniversary symbolism included only a few of the anniversaries we recognize today.

Turning to the 20th Century, Emily Post listed “eight anniversaries know to all” in her 1922 Blue Book of Social Usage. She then recognised the trend toward celebrating additional anniversaries and listed a symbolic anniversary gift for each of the first fifteen years of marriage and one for every five years after that. This is the basis for the lists we use today.

Prior to 1937, only the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversary had a material associated with it. In 1937, the American National Retail Jeweler Association issued a more comprehensive list, which associated a material for each anniversary year up to the 20th and then each fifth year after that up to the 75th, with the exception of the 65th.

Now that you know the history, take home a copy of I still do or our love story and Celebrate Memory Book and start recording all the special ways you celebrate your wedding anniversaries, to look back on together over years to come. See below some of the pages included:

Cutting the Cost of Wedding Cake?

Posted on December 18, 2017April 12, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

When we talk about saving for our wedding, it sounds like we’re putting a little money aside each week. I only wish it were that easy – that we’d plan a wedding 12 months in advance and then rock up in February and pay it all off with a holdall full of cash. That is why cutting the cost of wedding cake can be crucial!
In reality, to plan a wedding you need bookings well in advance, and to book those wedding vendors, you need to make a deposit, often up to 50% – immediately. In the past 8 months we’ve had to come up with the venue fee, photographers’ deposit, bridal party attire including the wedding dress, and so much more. However, there are also a lot of ways to save when it comes to a wedding, not least of all, in the Wedding Cake (so you can have your cake and eat it too)! Here are my tips on cutting the costs of the cake

Cutting the Cost of Wedding Cake

Due to the structure and strength required in a tiered wedding cake, there’s a huge difference between the costs of a 2-tier and 3-tier cake. If you have a large guest list though, you can order a 2-tier cake (to display) and an extra 1-tier cake to be cut and served.
If you really want the effect of a larger cake, you can ask for a foam layer to be added: while it will still add a little cost to be decorated, it’s less expensive than adding another tier of real cake.
Cut down on labour to cut costs, which means real flowers instead of sugar-flowers; buttercream instead of fondant, and a bought cake-topper rather than a custom-designed one (all of which will take your baker less time).
While it’s tradition to keep the top tier for your first anniversary, it’s really not necessary to follow every wedding tradition if it doesn’t speak to you personally – so save money instead of saving a tier.
Ensure your wedding venue doesn’t charge a cake-cutting fee (cakeage), as this will soon add up for a lot of guests.
A delicious cake will do double-duty as dessert too, served with fresh seasonal fruit and cream, so you don’t need to have the venue cater a fancy dessert as well.- However, not everyone will want dessert (many will be dancing, or continuing with alcohol instead of eating, so you’re safe to cater wedding cake for only 80-90% of guests.
Keep the flavours simple: rich chocolate cakes which require lots of good quality dark cooking chocolate will increase the cost of your wedding cake, so opt for cheaper ingredients like French vanilla or carrot cake, both equally delicious![/right]
Order a naked cake. Not only is the naked wedding cake super trendy, it’s also very practical in cutting down on costs, as you’ll save on frosting.
Discuss your budget and your priorities with your bakers.

Wedding Dress Code: What to Wear to a Wedding or Formal Event

Posted on December 15, 2017March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

There’s little more exciting than receiving an invitation for something truly fabulous (and what’s more fabulous than a wedding?) that I can’t wait to attend, and little more nerve-wracking than feeling stuck as to what to wear.
For many events such as a wedding, it’s not just choosing the outfit, but deciphering the dress code, that can leave invitees angst-ridden. As many of you are also trying to decide which dress code is appropriate for your wedding, I thought I’d help you by describing each dress code, so that you can choose the formality which suits your event.
Black Tie, Formal, Cocktail, Loungewear, Casual, White Tie, Evening… What does it all mean?

Garden Party/Lounge Suit

This is usually for the laid-back, relaxed outdoor wedding (in fact, this was the dress code we suggested for my wedding). This is the actual wording we used….

We want you to have fun on our big day so please make sure you dress the part – be pretty and comfortable ladies, there will be grass so fancy flats or wonderful wedges are fine. Gents, a jacket and tie would be lovely, but please feel free to take then off after the formalities.

Girls, this generally means a dress (or top and skirt if you like) that is colourful, maybe pattered and light. Nothing too fitted, black, or sequined – garden parties are not for clubwear.
Boys, this still means a suit, but generally you can go a lighter colour like blue, grey or even taupe or cream. Have fun with a colourful bow tie, or a printed shirt, but you really should still be wearing some sort of jacket and tie.
What NOT to wear: Jeans (under any circumstances), trainers, shorts (this generally goes for guys and girls).

Cocktail Dress Code

Cocktail is probably the dress code everyone thinks of when they think “wedding”. It’s a little bit fancy, but not so fancy as Black Tie/Formal.
Girls, cocktail attire usually means a knee-length frock (or shorter) but save the evening gown for black tie. Sequins, lace, and black are all appropriate and generally some great heels complete the look. (if you are not a huge fan of wearing heels, looks for some smaller heels, if you are wearing a knee-length hem any heel will make your leg look longer!)

Guys, generally cocktail for men means a black, or dark coloured suit and tie. You can totally play with colours in your shirt and tie, but if you aren’t sure, stick a black suit and tie with a white shirt, classic always looks great!

Black Tie/Formal Dress Code

Black tie dress code is the biggie that most people struggle with. If your gorgeous bride and groom have gone to the trouble to create an amazing formal affair, then do your bit and dress the part.
Girls – in the strictest sense, this means LONG evening dresses. This is where most people go wrong. If the bride is wearing an amazing, ornate dress, and her ‘maids are decked out in floor-length gowns, your pretty sun dress isn’t going to cut it for black tie. A shorter, more glamorous dress is also fine as we are usually a little more relaxed here in New Zealand.

That doesn’t mean you have to spend a heap of cash on a fancy dress, just find something simple, timeless and elegant (black is always a god option) that you can wear again for the next black tie wedding.
Guys – Technically, a black tie dress code means just that – Black suit, white dress shirt and a BLACK bow tie, but I think most bridal couples would be happy with a normal tie. Just make sure you shoes are shined, and your shirt is ironed and you’ll look sharp.
If you’re still stuck at the end of it all, take your cues from the bridal party. Ask the bride (or groom) what they have put the bridal party in and try and stick as closely to that as you can.

Wedding Dress Code Don’ts…

While plenty of traditional wedding rules have gone out the window, there are still a few things you should definitely avoid wearing at weddings. As you probably know, wearing white – or off-white or ivory – is one of them, unless the invitation explicitly states that the wedding will be an all-white party. Denim is pretty much always off-limits, too. Anything too low-cut, short or otherwise attention-grabbing should also be avoided.
Honour the importance of the event with an appropriate outfit, and remember, it’s always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
Next time you’re invited to a wedding, why not help the bride out by buying her the perfect engagement gift: the little white book wedding organiser and diary.

Minimalist Floral Inspired Waikato Wedding

Posted on December 10, 2017March 26, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

Today’s gorgeous Waikato Wedding combines minimalist industrial vibes and wild and wonderful florals with luxe gold tones in a colour palette good enough to eat! The couple cleverly saved some budget by skipping favors (I’m all for this!), diy for their stationery, handing out invites instead of posting (love this!), and doing their own grazing table. Beautifully captured by Kelly Oliver Photography this wedding is perfect for all lovers of simple weddings that still feel luxe! Enjoy xox

Who Sophie + Anthony Coffey
Where Hamilton
Guests 93

Our love story began… nearly 4 years ago. After knowing each other for quite a few years prior we got chatting after we went to a summer shape shifter concert at Waihi beach together with our mutual friends and the rest is history!

I said yes… on our 3 year anniversary overlooking raglan beach on a bloody good evening . Ants not very romantic but he fed his girl a feed of fish and chips and got down on one knee. It was just perfect.

Our wedding style inspiration was… I’d like to say minimal and classy. Used gold throughout and had the colour in the flowers!

We saved by… not having wedding favors, using Etsy for the invites and printing them ourselves, handing out invites instead of posting, doing our own grazing table, my wonderful dad made our beautiful arch , keeping the atrium ‘simple’ and admiring its natural beauty there and at the walkway.

We splurged on… having video and photographer , buying the grooms mans and the bridesmaids outfits etc.

Our advice to engaged couples… get your a into g and get things sorted quickly so you can relax the weeks before ! Especially the girls! Don’t fuss on all the small extra things you can get for a wedding – it all adds up .. fast!! Keep your wedding list to who you want and who makes you happy as a couple. Enjoy your day it’s true it goes so fast!

CREDITS

Photographer The incredible Kelly Oliver Photography
Videographer Moving Films
Flowers Chloe at Le Fleur
Venues Newstead Walkway, Vaile Road, and the Wintec Atrium
Catering Hazel Hayes (the guests are still raving about the food!!)
Hire Company Gold cutlery from Louisiana Lucy
Stationery + Signage Purchased/used a template on Etsy
Hair Hannah Carter, Dede & Daph
Makeup Riri Makeupnz
Cake Cake Box (THE BEST CAKES!)
Celebrant Chloe Boerema of Marry Me Chloe
Brides Dress The ‘paige’ gown from Bridal Brilliance
Shoes Mi Piaci
Bridesmaid Dresses Evolution Clothing
Grooms Suit + Accessories Hallenstein Brothers
Rings Culet Diamonds
Music Ridler Mobile DJ

3 Months Wedding Planning Checklist

Posted on December 1, 2017April 26, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

If you are counting down the final 3 months before your wedding, the tasks soon begin to mount, and can feel overwhelming if you don’t have a great checklist to work to. I began writing this 3 month checklist prior to our wedding, and have added to it since. If you are planning the entire wedding within three months, of course you’ll also have to review the 12 month and the 6 month wedding planning checklist, and then get down to business here. It’s not a bad idea to have a quick review through those checklists before this one too, just to make sure you’re on track.

From there, I suggest you review the below 3 month countdown guide, and put these dates in your diary at regular intervals. If you’ve been using a little white book as your wedding diary and organiser then you’ll certainly be on track, but just incase you haven’t started using it yet, let’s ensure you’re covered.

The 3 Month Wedding Countdown – don’t stress!

To begin with, I want to reassure you, that while there are lots of little tasks in the last three months before your wedding, so long as you take them slowly and one by one over the next 12 weeks, there’s really no need to ever feel overwhelmed. By now, you’ve made all the ‘big’ decisions, and now it’s about just pulling the day together and getting yourself organised so that all your work comes together without a hitch.

Wedding Attire

If you’ve ordered a gown, or designed something custom, you will probably have done this somewhere between 6 months and 12 months before the wedding. Within your last 3 months, you are likely to have at least 2 fittings: when the dress first arrives; and then once the first round of alterations are made. You may change shape a little before the wedding, so the last alteration is usually around a month prior. If you are buying off the rack or second-hand, and haven’t already, I would recommend you do so soon, to allow time for alterations.

Confirm the delivery date for bridal party attire/dresses, and add the date to your Calendar.
Purchase a veil or headpiece, if desired, before your final fitting. Purchase bride’s shoes, if needed, before your final fitting.
Purchase any items you’ll need to accessorize your look: necklace, earrings, bracelets, a clutch.
Decide whether you’re going to wear a veil and choose your wedding bands and wedding day jewellery – you may like to make this a wedding gift if you two are opting to exchange those.
Shop for your wedding shower outfit.
Shop for your rehearsal dinner outfit.
Shop for honeymoon outfits.
Discuss any pre wedding gatherings, such as a bachelor party, with your Best Man. Purchase Groom’s Shoes.

If your fiancé is responsible for his own, and the groomsmen’s attire, ensure that he’s getting the guys sorted. In a previous life I was the Assistant Manager of Barkers, and you wouldn’t believe how many guys would come in on the day before (or morning of) their wedding looking for a suit. There are also some pretty good options on Asos, or The Iconic – for something more casual. As for your ‘maids, if you are ordering made-to-measure bridesmaids dresses, now is the time. Asos has some great Bridal and Wedding attire and I also see a lot of great bridesmaids’ dresses on The Iconic.

Likewise, choose your wedding shoes with around 3 months to go if possible, so that your dress can be altered to the right length, and you have a chance to wear them in.

Invitations

Whether or not you sent ‘Save the Dates‘ earlier, at the 3 month mark you should be sending your wedding invitations, requiring final RSVPs at around 1 month before the wedding and advising your venue and caterers accordingly.

Visit the post office to send out wedding invitations, request for them to hand cancel wedding invitations if possible.
Take a complete, stuffed invitation to the post office and weigh for postage.

Marriage Licence

You can apply for your marriage licence anytime between 3 days and 3 months til the wedding, but there’s no sense leaving it til the last minute – read more about the legalities of marrying in New Zealand.

Vows and Speeches

Don’t leave your vows right ’til the last minute, they’re the most important part of your wedding ceremony.

Reflect on some of your earlier wedding diary entries.
talk to your partner about what marriage means to you both, and meet with your celebrant to discuss your ceremony.
If you are asking others to do a reading or make a speech, give them plenty of time to prepare too.

Beauty

If you are having a professional make-up artist and hairstylist, contact them to confirm, and to organise your trials.
Find inspiration for your look, and send them images of what you have in mind.

3 months is also a key time to focus on the health of your skin, with regular facials, good skincare, lots of water and plenty of sleep. If you haven’t already, book in to see a facialist and ensure your skin is in tip-top condition for the big day and all the events in the lead up too.

Catering and Cake

While you’ve already organised your caterer, now’s the time to finalise your catering style, food choices and cake flavours.

If you’re supplying your own beverages, make sure to research options and order them well in advance.
If you are hosting many overseas guests, you may want to showcase some of our best New Zealand wines to them – there’s a reason they’re world famous. . For our guests we served a selection of Loveblock and Villa Maria wines.
Consider visiting the wineries you love to choose your wine, a great excuse for a pre-wedding date too.
Purchase a cake topper.

Honeymoon

I’m sure you’ve been thinking about (and dreaming about) your honeymoon for a few months now, so why not sort out a few bits of the honeymoon admin before the wedding countdown gets crazy

Check your passports for their expiry dates
Book your flights in the name on your passport
Buy travel insurance immediately
Book your accommodation
Check if the country you are flying to requires a visa, or get an ESTA if you are flying through the US. FYI these should only cost around $10 – don’t get ripped off by an agency website.

Party!

Hopefully your bridal party will take the lead on this, but within the next 3 months you’ll probably be planning your hens night.

Give a bridal shower guest list to your bridesmaids.
Give bachelor party guest list to your groomsmen.
Send thank you notes for any gifts received at your bridal shower.
Purchase your bridal party robes, if desired, for the bridal party to have matching outfits on the morning of the wedding. Robes are ideal to wear while having hair and make-up done, so that they can be removed without disturbing your final look. Available via something blue.

Reserve your wedding night accommodation

It may be the last thing on your mind right now, but it will make such a difference to the days after your wedding if you have somewhere to retreat, have a little alone time, and enjoy your first few days as newlyweds. Go on, treat yourselves!

Keep your diary up to date

Remind yourself why it’s so important to keep a wedding diary, and keep writing about all the adventures you’re having during your engagement so far.

For everything else, head to the wedding planning index, and don’t forget to pop back at the one month countdown.

Month: December 2017

Minimalist Cultural Fusion Wedding | Wintergardens, Auckland Domain

The History of Wedding Anniversary Gifts