Choosing the perfect perfume for your wedding

There are two schools of thought when it comes to choosing your perfume for your wedding.



The first says you should stick with a fragrance that your groom especially likes: one he has bought you as a present or one that reminds you both of a special occasion, like your first date or when you got engaged.

The second says that your wedding day is the first day of your married life together and that you should have a special scent to remind you of that day.

Whichever school you choose to go with, there are a few things that you should know about perfume to ensure you not only look beautiful, but you smell that way too!

How to pick the perfect new scent

Firstly, look at the theme of your wedding. If your theme is girly and romantic with loads of flower bouquets, then a floral fragrance would suit. Leather-grouped scents may be better for a ‘greener’ themed wedding (think wood elves and trees!).

Next, have a think about what a smell does to you. Aromachologists believe that certain smells can affect our moods. For example, jasmine and other white flowers are thought to relax, lavender is calming, and citrus scents can lower stress hormones. Anything that can help relax you on your big day is a winner for us!

With this knowledge, visit your favourite perfume shop and ask to try on perfumes in your chosen group. Only try three or four perfumes maximum, otherwise your senses will just get confused. Use each wrist and the inside of each elbow as a test area and then wait 30 minutes, sniffing the perfume at various intervals to see how the perfumes notes work together (see below for more on this).

It is very important to test the perfume on yourself, as different scents smell different on different people. They also smell differently on a piece of paper.

Once you have chosen, make sure you check with your beloved that it is something he likes. And then resist the temptation to just keep trying it!

Lastly, think about co-ordinating your bridesmaids’ perfumes. They should come from the same family, and many recommend using single-note fragrances so as their perfume doesn’t compete with yours!

Notes about notes…

As with music, perfume is described as having three sets of notes. These notes work together to make a type of perfume harmony.

The first is the ‘top note’. This is your immediate impression of the perfume, so perfumers use them to sell the scent! These top notes evaporate quickly.

The ‘middle notes’ emerge just as the top notes disappear and form the main ‘body’ of the perfume.

The ‘base notes’ of a perfume appear as the middle notes fade, and bring depth to the perfume. Often the first impression of the base notes is unpleasant, so the middle notes are used to mask the initial scent. The base notes are not usually apparent until about 30 minutes have passed – this is why perfumers recommend trying on the scent and walking around the shopping centre before buying!

The bouquet

Just as a perfume is made up of several different ‘notes’, it can also be made from several different sources and combinations of those. Often the type of perfume can be described by classifying it, according to its ingredients.

There are traditional and modern classifications for perfume:

Traditional classifications include:

• Single floral;
• Floral bouquet;
• Amber, which refers to the sweet, slightly animalistic scents, often combined with vanilla, flowers and woods;
• Wood;
• Leather, including honey and tobacco;
• Chypre, meaning Cyprus in French. This includes patchouli, bergamot, oakmoss and labdanum;
• Fougere, meaning Fern in French, and built on a base of lavender, coumarin and oakmoss.

And then, with advancement in perfume technology, a new, modern system of classification has emerged:

• Bright Floral, which combines the traditional single floral and floral bouquet categories;
• Green, which is a modern version of the Chypre type, also featuring cut grass and cucumber scents;
• Oceanic, Aquatic or Ozonic, a clean smell, often used to accent floral, oriental or woody fragrances and seen as an androgynous perfume.
• Citrus;
• Fruity, using the fragrances of fruits other than citrus; and
• Gourmand, which refers to scents that feel like they could be eaten. Think vanilla or cocoa bean or anything dessert-like!

So where do these smells come from? The list is endless: bark, flowers, blossoms, fruits (including leaves and peels), leaves, twigs, resins, roots, bulbs, seeds, woods, ambergris (oxidised whale fat), castoreum (from beavers), honeycomb, deer musk, lichens, seaweed, and, of course, synthetic or man-made scents.

Prolonging the life of your perfume

Make sure you keep your perfume away from heat and light. Many recommend storing your perfume in its original packaging to protect it. As pretty as a special perfume bottle is, you may find that decanting your perfume from its original bottle into your own perfume dispenser may result in oxygen getting into your bottle, which can alter the smell of the fragrance.

How to apply perfume

If possible, layer the fragrance: start with it in the bath, as you dry yourself lather in scented moisturiser and finally, apply the perfume.

Apply perfume to pulse points (wrist, crook of your arm and knee, base of your throat, behind your ear) as these are the points where blood vessels are closest to the surface of your skin, which results in these areas giving off more heat which in turn draws attention to the perfume.

Perfume, like heat, rises, so apply it to the crooks of your knees for added effect!

To achieve a ‘cloud of fragrance’ affect, spray perfume on your veil (just check that it won’t stain it!).

For something a little difference, but oh-so-romantic, spray perfume on the palms of your hands. As you move your hands, the fragrance will waft upwards.

Lastly, if you have dry skin, perfume may fade quickly on you, so you should carry a small bottle of your perfume to re-apply throughout the day. Those with oily skin should recognise that perfume may be stronger on you and that you may need to go a bit lighter!

engaged

Everything you need to know about choosing your celebrant

The serious stuff:

OK, first up, the facts:

There are two types of people that can legally solemnise your marriage:

• A Registrar of Marriages; or
• An authorised Marriage Celebrant.

Marriage Celebrants can be broken down into three separate categories:

Ministers of Religious Bodies: Recognised religious bodies nominate ministers and these names are published in the New Zealand Gazette as authorised marriage celebrants;

Organisational Celebrants: Certain organisations that uphold or promote religious or spiritual or humanitarian beliefs can nominate designated celebrants and these people are named in the New Zealand Gazette as authorised celebrants;

Independent Celebrants: These celebrants operate independently of any church or organisation.

The marriage celebrant takes care of the legal parts of the ceremony. This means they must be satisfied that the bride and groom standing in front of them are the people named on the marriage certificate. They must also make sure that the marriage takes place at the venue named on the certificate and that the vows are made in front of them and at least two other people.

They are also responsible for ensuring the marriage registration papers are signed correctly and returned to the issuing Registrar within ten days of the marriage. Further, they must take all reasonable steps to make sure the marriage is registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages.

You should check to make sure that your marriage celebrant is registered as an official marriage celebrant not only at the time the marriage certificate is issued, but also at the time of the ceremony.

The New Zealand Gazette publishes a list of all registered marriage celebrants around March each year; additions and deletions from this list are made during the year on a case-by-case basis. You can check the current list at www.gazette.govt.nz.

The period of registration as a celebrant only lasts a year and must be updated. Check just prior to your wedding to ensure your celebrant’s registration is current.

What happens when your nominated celebrant can’t officiate, either because their registration has expired or he or she is sick? Any other celebrant can take his or her place, provided they are an authorised marriage celebrant.

Now for the more interesting part!

The fun stuff:

Choosing a marriage celebrant might be a daunting task, but once you break it down into steps, it’s not so hard!

Firstly, if you are affiliated with a church or religious group and want to get married in that church or the group’s meeting place, then you will probably need to talk to your church or group to see who your choices are.

If you are using an independent celebrant, the choice can be a little harder. Start by asking around your friends and family to see if they recommend anyone. If that doesn’t provide any ideas, check with Births, Deaths and Marriages or with the New Zealand Gazette.

Once you have narrowed it down to a few choices, give the celebrants a call and arrange to meet them. Your meeting with them should be comfortable and easy – you want to make sure you have a good rapport with the celebrant as they will be a big part of your day. Also look for someone who has a professional approach as you need to feel sure that all of your paperwork will be in order and that they will turn up at the right time on the right day!

When talking with the celebrant, you may like to ask them the following questions:

• How much will you be involved in the ceremony? Some celebrants like to write and deliver the whole ceremony; others like to work with what you have written.
• How do you work with couples? Do they like to have a couple of meetings to get to know your personalities and personal styles or do they just meet with you once before the wedding? It is good to meet with the celebrant a few times – most importantly to find out what they will say at the ceremony and whether it suits you and your vision for the day!
• How much do you cost? Celebrants tend to cost from $350 up to $800. If the celebrant you are speaking with is particularly cheap (or expensive!), you might need to find out why.
• What training have you had? How long have you been a marriage celebrant? This will give you an idea of their experience with everything from public speaking to handling unexpected problems.
• Can we speak to a couple you have married recently? Do you have pictures of the ceremony? References are always good, and if you can see photos you can see how professionally the celebrant dresses when officiating. Remember they will be in a lot of your photos!
• Do you have any ideas for vows or readings that you can share with us? Is that part of your service? Celebrants are usually a mine of information and will quite often have a resource kit of suitable ideas for couples.

Your celebrant is a big part of your day. They should be able to help you relax, yet take a controlling role in the ceremony so that it runs smoothly. They will feel honoured to have been chosen to help you celebrate and should make your day memorable for the right reasons, just like you deserve!

engaged

Behind the Curtain

This month, Engaged talks to Chris Dillon of Dillon Photography and Simply Photos about the newest addition to his stable: The Little Black Photobooth.

E: Photo booths are a relatively new thing for weddings in New Zealand. Can you tell us a little more about them and why you decided to introduce them to the New Zealand wedding scene?

CD: Yes, photo booths are new to New Zealand, but are already an international phenomenon at weddings and events. The photo booth concept has been around for years but the old style booths were very slow and the prints took a long time to dry. Modern technology has sped up the process to a point where most clients have not even left the photo booth before their prints are ready and dry!

One thing that hasn’t changed though is the sheer entertainment and excitement of popping behind the curtain and making instant memories. The curtain has a strange way of removing people’s inhibitions. Above all, and we can tell by the laughter, it is just a fun experience for all.

E: How does it work?

CD: I think we’ll keep away from the technical side of things so I don’t bore your readers to death. Basically our clients sit down in the booth (there is seating for four but the record so far is eight), they can then choose between black and white or colour with a simple touch of a button and, using the LCD screen in front of them, start striking poses. There are four poses per shoot with a small gap between, and for those who have had too much champagne, the whole process is text and voice guided. It really is that easy. Oh yeah, for those who are completely technophobic (or tipsy - I’m being polite) our attendant is there to help anyone who may need help.

E: What are the advantages of having a booth at the wedding? Wouldn’t disposable cameras on the table be just as good?

CD: Without being rude, I really think disposable cameras have had their time. The shots aren’t always great, most get taken home by guests and lost forever and even if you manage to hold on to them the printing costs are not cheap (not to mention you have to wait until the next day to see if anything came out!). Little Black Photobooth (LBPB) has five distinct advantages over disposable cameras:

1. The prints are instant.
2. We always print two copies, (one for you, one for your guests)
3. Every LBPB package includes unlimited shots and prints.
4. You can get a copy on DVD of every shot at the end of the night.
5. Every wedding package includes a Keepsake Album to hold the couples’ Funstrips and allow their guests to write comments and wishes.
6. It is just a heck of a lot more fun.

Ok, that was actually six!

One other thing... Not only do the Funstrips (that’s our name for the prints) replace disposable cameras but they are an instant keepsake for you AND your guests. Forget chocolates or sweets as a parting gift, the Funstrips will last a lot longer than the trip home.

Every Funstrip has the couples name and wedding date at the top. By the time you take away the costs of disposable cameras and ‘goodie bags’ you will see LBPB is actually cheaper. You do not need to buy a ‘guest book’ either as our Keepsake Album is already included in every wedding package.

E: And of course, we have to ask about the disadvantages?

CD: You can’t fit the photo booth in your handbag.

E: What quality are the photos?

CD: Great question. And the answer is “we believe the quality of Little Black Photobooth ‘Funstrips’ to be the best available anywhere in the world”. We are not making this statement lightly. When we first decided to look at starting our photo booth company as an extension to our already successful wedding photography studios: Dillon (www.dillon.co.nz) and Simply Photos (www.simplyphotos.co.nz) we trialled almost all of the photo booths currently available overseas and found the quality of print very disappointing. This is the main reason we decided to design, develop and build our own brand of photo booth. Little Black Photobooth was born. We have already had interest from hotel chains in purchasing our booths. It is very exciting.

E: Can you get re-prints? Enlargements?

CD: Yes, the DVD of every shot allows couples to enlarge and reprint the photos. Not only that, if you would prefer more than two copies on the night we can programme the booth to suit your needs.

E: Does the booth also take video?

CD: No, that is what videographers are for. We are going to video a function in the very near future to show clients the booth in action (it will be on the website) but the Funstrips really are enough. There is an old saying by Cesare Pavese, “We do not remember days, only moments”. This is a saying that I have embraced throughout my professional wedding photography career. It is the same for the LBPB.

E: What sort of costs are brides and grooms looking at?

CD: Two hour of unlimited shots and Funstrips, the Keepsake Album, the booth delivered and set up in Auckland (the greater Auckland area does have a small delivery charge), and our photo booth attendant costs $795. Extra hours can be added to any package.

Compare that to ten disposable cameras ($450), 80 goodie bags ($400), and a guestbook ($100) and you can really see the value. Did I mention it is also brilliant fun and a real source of entertainment for all of your guests? Flower girls to Nanas, the Little Black Photo Booth has no age limits.

E: Is this an Auckland-only service?

CD: Absolutely not! We are well aware there is more of New Zealand past the Bombay Hills and even north of the Harbour Bridge. (We’ve been there.) Of course, we are Auckland-based and so we do charge travel costs based on time and distance. Just give us a call and we can give you a quote.

engaged

The Wedding with a Conscience

Rebecca and Phil tell us all about their incredible wedding day.



Probably one of the best things we did was to write down all the things that made our day amazing while it was fresh in our minds. After the wedding all I could think of was what went wrong, after spending so long planning the day. On the honeymoon, whenever the ‘not quite right’ thoughts popped into my head, I would run through the list of good things we wrote down, and the smile was back on my face. Now after a few weeks, and when the honey moon is all over, all I can remember is the good things about the day. I would like to share them with you.

I was shell shocked with excitement and anticipation as I arrived at the venue to see the boys waiting on the jetty where the ceremony took place. Seeing how good everyone looked and how it all came together brought tears to my eyes before the ceremony even begun. I wanted to look at Phil from a distance, but I also wanted for me to be a surprise too, so I kept out of sight. We luckily had two wonderfully-behaved flower girls, my four year old cousin and two year old niece, walking down the aisle throwing flowers and presenting the rings, and three beautiful bridesmaids who set the scene for my entrance.



Having my mum walk me down the aisle was a wonderful way to have someone to share and support the long walk to Phil. I was able to share all my feelings of excitement and nervousness as we held hands tightly during the walk.

Phil and I put a lot of time into our vows and really enjoyed sharing them with our family and friends and I’m sure they will be still meaningful to us in the years to come.

I think putting the ring on Phil’s finger was when it really hit home for me. Although we knew it was something we were going to do, it is such a great symbol of the love we share and the pride we have that we found each other and will spend the rest of our lives together.

Our reception was intimate with nearly 70 people attending. It was just small enough that I felt like I had a chance to talk to everyone there. The food and wine was amazing and everyone loved it. Our menu was a set degustation menu of all local produce and matching local wines which minimised the wastage and kept the ‘food miles’ as low as possible.

Each guest received a tree as a gift from us and during my speech they were reminded of the trees’ significance in capturing carbon. I also thanked all our guests who offset their travel to the event, as some people came as far as from London.

Together all our family and friends ended up donating over $1500 to our favourite charities via the Karma Currency gift registry we had set up. It is such a good feeling that we were able to give a little back to the community as part of our celebrations.

Rebecca & Phil’s Menu

Fingerfood

To be served with Moon Sparkling Marsanne “2002” & Mitchelton Preece Sav Blanc “2007”
Smoked Chicken, Avocado & Cucumber Cruets
Pumpkin, Fetta & Spinach Pastry Triangles
Rare Roast Beef Bruschetta with crisp lettuce topped with caramelised onion
Individual Mediterranean Tartlets with Char Grilled Capsicum, Eggplant, and Semi Dried Tomato
Individual Margarita pizza’s with fresh Mozzarella, Cherry Tomato & torn Basil Leaves
House made crusty breads on table accompanied with Nagambie Gold Premium Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Entree

To be served with Tahbilk Chardonnay “2005”
Chicken Filo Pastry Parcel – Roasted breast of Chicken with sautéed Bacon, Leek & English Spinach encased in flaky Filo Pastry served on a bed of dressed Snow Pea Sprouts garnished with a Roasted Red Capsicum Coulis

Main

To be served with Mitchelton Shiraz “2006”
250g Prime Angus Beef Fillet slowly roasted seved on Creamy Garlic Mash with crisp Snow Peas and Beans drizzled with a Rich Beef & Red Wine Jus

Dessert

To be served with Monichino Botrytis Semillon “2004”
Wedding Cake – 3 tiers - Chocolate Ganache, White Chocolate nougat, limoncello

Cheeses

To be served as shared platters with Monichino “2004” Carlo Vintage Port
Locheilan Farmhouse cheeses including Kaarimba Soft, Camembert & Crumbly Stilton style Blue served with crackers, fresh grapes, dried apricot & our famous quince paste



Another thing that made the day not just all about us was asking family members to bring along their old wedding photos to put up on the walls at the reception venue. It was great to have a bit of family history at the reception and also a talking point, and of course everyone was very curious to see the original version of my Aunty’s wedding dress that I wore.

We really feel all the effort that went into planning the wedding paid off. Although it was quite hard work leading up to the event, we had the honeymoon to look forward to and then really appreciated it when we were away. We tried to involve as many family and friends in the various parts of the ceremony and reception as we could which made it a bit more special, and doing all that we could to minimise the environmental impact meant we could celebrate with a clear conscience. We are really pleased that our wedding day was a strong reflection of our values and we were able to share it with people we value most.

Our Vows

Phil

I ask everyone here today to witness that I, Phillip Luke Hendy, take you, Rebecca Isabel White, to be my lawful wedded wife.

I promise that from this day forward I shall be open and honest with you and will refrain from closing up on you.

I shall make time to share with you because I love you and enjoy sharing time with you. However I shall also encourage you to spend time by yourself and with others so you are able to continue your dear friendships with others and achieve your own goals. I shall acknowledge the love we share on a daily basis and do my part in ensuring that every night for the rest of our lives we will both go to sleep happy that we are together.

Rebecca

I ask everyone here today to witness that I, Rebecca Isabel White, take you, Phillip Luke Hendy, to be my lawful wedded husband.

I promise to support you and give you time to do things that are important to you. I promise to pay attention when you are trying to teach me things. I promise to be open with my feelings and will remember that you are always on my side.

I promise to make time that we can spend together as a couple and remember the reasons we fell in love. I love your smile and want to keep you smiling everyday for the rest of our lives. Let us be friends and lovers and grow old together.

Ring Exchange

The circle of a ring which has no definite beginning and is without end or base is a symbol of a love that is for eternity for Rebecca and Phil. Just as they feel like they have always known and loved each other, these rings will be a symbol of their undying love, for the rest of their lives.

Phil

Rebecca, accept this ring as a symbol of the love we share and a constant reminder of the vows we have made. This is my promise that I shall continue to love you and be proud that you are my wife.

Rebecca

Phillip, accept this ring as a symbol of the love we share and a constant reminder of the vows we have made. This is my promise that I shall continue to love you and be proud that you are my husband.

engaged

Booking out an entire island resort for your wedding

An island wedding in the South Pacific is all about tying the knot while standing barefoot on white sands, the tropical beauty a breath-taking backdrop to your magical ceremony. Curious onlookers are a blur as you gaze into your partner’s eyes…

But why have onlookers at all? Generally you would book your wedding ceremony and reception venue and expect to have it all to yourself. Does it need to be different at a tropical resort? Not if you choose to experience the sweeping romance of your own private resort and make it truly all about you.

Te Vakaroa Villas in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, is one such resort promoting the exclusivity and tranquillity of mixing with only friends and family at their stunning location on Muri Beach, arguably the best white sand beach on the island.

Rarotonga – Emerald jewel of the Pacific


Once a massive volcano, Rarotonga is the youngest of the Cook Islands southern group, now covered in a thick tropical jungle and ringed by tropical reefs and lagoons. Long white sand beaches, majestic mountains and crystal clear lagoons make Rarotonga a unique slice of paradise.

Te Vakaroa – Jewel of Rarotonga



A luxury beachfront property, Te Vakaroa Villas offers six brand new one-bedroom and two-bedroom villas. A gorgeous resort for a wedding party, it boasts luxurious interiors, full modern facilities, satellite reception, flat screen TVs, surround-sound music, together with an infinity fresh-water swimming pool and spa pool overlooking Muri Beach.

Tonia Timmins, Wedding Coordinator for Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel, has enjoyed the hospitality of Te Vakaroa Villas. “The minute you step into your villa you feel the warmth and luxury of your surroundings. Every little detail has been thought of, from the feather-down pillows on your bed to the well-equipped kitchen. But why cook when there are fabulous restaurants at your doorstep? There’s even the option of delivery to your Villa”.

Tonia explains the advantages of booking out Te Vakaroa for your wedding.

Flexible to your every whim

Booking out an entire resort really means it’s all about you, with all staff dedicated to ensuring your special day is perfect! From accommodation and dining to your ceremony location – everything is flexible according to your desires.

Te Vakaroa Villas will provide complimentary return airport transfers, a welcome fruit basket on arrival, complimentary tropical breakfasts as well as the use of kayaks, snorkelling gear and beach towels. The high-end equivalent of going to nana’s for a holiday! Book out the entire resort and Te Vakaroa Villas will even let you bring children.

How to plan when you don’t know how many guests will come

Booking an entire resort can seem on the surface a risky business. What if you end up not having enough guests? What if you have too many?

Te Vakaroa has addressed this issue with its small size (accommodating up to 20 guests) together with its superb location – it’s within walking distance of neighbouring Villas; a great option for guest overflow.

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Booking out an entire resort

Booking out an entire resort requires more commitment and planning than a typical island wedding. For example:

Te Vakaroa Villas Conditions

• Property exclusive use requires a minimum of 30 nights booked by the party; minimum per Villa stay time to be five nights.
• A two night deposit per villa is required at the time of booking with full accommodation prepayment required one month prior to arrival.

Special Offer: Stay 5 Pay 4 nights available at Te Vakaroa Villas until March 2010

Marriage licence in the Cook Islands:

Application for a marriage licence must be made in person to the registrar of Marriages in the Cook Islands on arrival, with a minimum of three days notice required for the processing of an application.

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A feast of dining choices

Exclusive doesn’t mean isolated. Instead your exclusive resort becomes your hub for the array of delicious dining options close by.

Adjacent to Te Vakaroa Villas is Sails Restaurant and Bar, which overlooks Muri Lagoon and has a tempting variety of Cook Island food on offer. Te Vakaroa Villas’ great location means other fine dining restaurants are in the close vicinity giving you choices galore for your wedding reception. All details can be planned well in advance with catering ranging from canapés, set menus, island buffet or a gourmet BBQ. Or join family and friends for a wedding breakfast at Te Vakaroa Villas.

Seek out your dream wedding location

Beach or island chapel? Both are idyllic and fitting places to marry in an island setting, but there are plenty of other options to ponder.

From Te Vakaroa Villas, wedding ceremonies can be planned for a range of isolated beach venues, gardens, on a mountain with sweeping scenic views, at a local church or even on a motu (the lagoon island in front of the resort). Picture yourself being paddled out to the motu by an island warrior while your partner awaits your arrival on the sandy white shore of the isle.

“Across the lagoon is an uninhabited island called Koromiri Motu where the bride can be paddled out in a traditional vaka by an island warrior across the lagoon to her waiting husband-to-be,” explains Tonia. “How romantic to not only have a resort to yourselves but to say you were married on the sandy shores of a deserted island!”

‘Te Vakaroa’ means ‘long canoe’ - a fitting name as the Villas are sited where many of the large voyaging canoes were carved in pre-missionary days.

Truly be yourself

It’s as if you are teenagers and your parents are away for the weekend – go wild! Let down your hair amongst friends and family: make a fool of yourself with silly dancing, rouse everyone for a midnight swim or party until morning.

Luxuriating in your private resort is a perfect chance to relax and unwind, revelling in your own uniqueness as a person and the celebration of the beginning of married life. No doubt guests will also enjoy this special opportunity – who knows what everyone will get up to and what stories will be treasured of a very unique island wedding.

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Three tips for booking out an entire resort:

1. Count your guests
   
   It’s always hard to anticipate exactly how many guests will be able to attend your wedding, even more so when you plan to get married in the South Pacific! Obtaining exclusivity comes at the cost of commitment so be sure that you will have the minimum number of guests required (and the minimum time stay) and that there are quality accommodation options close by if you have an overflow of guests.


2. Budget in advance
   
   Generally a resort will manage the risk of your exclusive booking by requiring a chunky deposit at the time of booking, with the remainder due in advance of your arrival. Give your guests plenty of time to plan for this, or choose to pay the deposit yourself to secure the booking and accept payment from your guests later.


3. Make the most of it!
   
   This is your time to absolutely be yourself and revel in the luxury of everything being about you. Resorts are likely to be very flexible to meet your particular requirements, for example allowing children even if the resort usually excludes children.

engaged, july 2009

Happy Planning!

This month, we talk with Emma Newman, a wedding planner based in Christchurch. We were keen to find out why you would hire a wedding planner...

I guess the biggest question for everyone is ‘why choose to use a wedding planner?’ Can you outline the biggest advantages?

Definitely. Like any consultant, you are hiring their expertise in an area or field of work. The planner will have a very good handle on venues and all other suppliers. In my case, I have lived most of my life in the South Island and I have come to know this part of New Zealand extremely well. Matching the right supplier to the couple is the key. Whilst it is great if the couple have all the time in the world and the experience to make that decision, many do not have the time or knowledge of what is available. I can provide this service for them once I get to know the couple first.

Wedding planners can save the couple money too with honest feedback on where they should spend their money and effort. Personally, I also spend much time calming and confirming things. Some brides enjoy an emotional connection with me; some don’t need it as they have others in their life that are there for them. I like the variety in that some do and some don’t.

A wedding planner is definitely a great idea when the couple are overseas. I work a lot with or without anyone’s family or otherwise living here.

What services are generally provided? Do you have different packages or are your services provided on an hourly rate?

Many wedding planners will have different packages. I provide an initial advice, which involves a meeting or chats on the phone or via email to get a thorough idea of what the couple wants and then matching all the suppliers they will need. A great list is provided and then they can take it from there or I can then do bookings as another stand-alone package.

For example, I can be hired for the time of the initial advice to the week of the wedding or just for the week of the wedding and on the day. I also have an hourly rate if they have one-off issues they need help with.

Flexibility is the key for wedding planners. I would hate to think that couples are put off as they are scared they have to outlay a lot of money to a wedding planner who they can’t get rid of! Like any professional, wedding planners should provide a written proposal at the start which the couple formally confirm and then both parties should sign the terms and conditions.

As my by-line says: for a little or a lot of planning.

Do you help and work with couples’ budgets?

Definitely. I feel very strongly about making sure a couple enjoy their day whatever their budget. I have weddings on my books which range from $20,000 (and less) through to $100,000 +. I had a wonderful wedding and we had to save on certain things. A good wedding planner should be sensitive to budgets and not put another layer of pressure on couples to spend money.

Do you ever have those times when you just have to say ‘no’? For example, brides ringing you at 2am in the morning to say they just ‘don’t really think daisy motifs will work and that roses would be so much better?’. And then calling you the next morning when they have decided that daisies really are the right choice?

Yes. This is where my experience and intuition come in as you can work out how to help couples or brides who are getting very worried and perhaps not helping themselves with all the details. I am honest but never hurtful and I like to think a couple can work with me to make sure we can get through it all.

I am a detailed person at heart - you couldn’t do this job if you didn’t enjoy that part! So I have no problem waking up in the morning and finding 20 emails from a bride who has a good day in London on her wedding planning. I work through them and enjoy bringing it all together.

It is often helpful if couples know what to ask a wedding professional. What would you suggest a bride and groom ask a potential wedding planner?

Always give them an idea of what style of wedding you are wanting (lots of guests with a traditional marquee wedding or small and simple), this way they can tailor their proposal better to your needs.

Request a formal proposal – you would ask for a quote from a plumber, so definitely get one from your wedding planner for your wedding!

Ask about experience and be specific. Have they had experience in that locality? For example, I am always honest about whether I have worked with a certain venue or say in an area – it doesn’t mean the wedding planner won’t be ideal for you but I think that honesty is imperative. I undertook two wonderful large marquee weddings in Blenheim this year for the first time. The couples didn’t mind that I had not had experience in that area and I think they appreciated the honesty.

Check they don’t mind getting their hands dirty. I have cleaned toilets, swept beaches of dog poop through to laying marquee flooring… it’s not all glamour for a wedding planner. BUT don’t expect them to be your slave for the day! A wedding planner is there to delegate and oversee more than anything, so don’t just think that they are there to do all the jobs – a good wedding planner will discuss who will do each job on the day anyway.

Try to have a chat with them in person even if you live overseas. This person will be working with you a lot and you have to get on to some degree.

Lastly, a little more about you. How long have you been a wedding planner? Is it something you always knew you wanted to do, or did it evolve from your experience with weddings and wedding professionals?

I have been a wedding planner for seven years. Clichéd, but I loved planning my own wedding and I come from a background of a lot of hosting of events and parties. I was also an Honorary Consul for Uruguay in NZ for eight years and so I have always worked with overseas guests. I have a rural background in the South Island and know the island well. I love people and what makes them tick. I LOVE pretty things too and what is prettier than a happy bride and groom? I cry at most weddings I attend!

My last bit of advice: if you have a wedding planner in your area give them a call or email, you may be very pleasantly surprised how they can help. In New Zealand we are not here to be so expensive that only an elite few can afford us. I love the variety and believe I am very cost effective.

engaged, july 2009

Real Wedding: Natalie Swart & Pele Tanuvasa

Natalie and Pele were married on a scorching summer’s day at Pauanui beach in the Coromandel.


They had met 18 months earlier on a C-130 Hercules while accompanying 50 foster kids on a scenic flight over Auckland. Natalie works for Child, Youth and Family and Pele is a Loadmaster in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

After a whirlwind courtship of six months, Pele proposed at Iguacu in Parnell after a long trip away. Natalie admits that she pretty much forced his hand though. ‘The writing was on the wall from the outset so I simply told him that he had better hurry up or I would do it myself.’

Natalie picked up the turquoise bridesmaid dresses in a Hamilton mall the following weekend without consulting a soul. ‘I knew they would suit them all so I made an executive decision on the spot and I’m so glad I did – they looked gorgeous against the beach backdrop’.

After doing the rounds of the Auckland bridal shops, she despaired and decided to give her wedding dress a crack herself, so she borrowed her mother’s sewing machine and set to work.

The dress comprised a full A-line skirt made of cotton organza with a raw hem and a separate silk organza tie that wrapped tightly around the waist and knotted in the front.

‘I fell in love with cotton organza – it’s a stiff, matte transparent fabric that used to be used to line petticoats. It has a really cool sculptural quality about it and it’s just a bit different from all the standard shiny bridal fabrics out there’



Things didn’t pan out so well with the bodice so she enlisted the help of a dressmaker with a few weeks to go for that part. She picked out hydrangeas early on as her flower of choice, also for their interesting texture.

Pele picked out the boys suits in less than half an hour at Executive Suit Hire in Auckland - the first suit hire store they went to. ‘They all baulked at the bright pink ties when they first saw them, I think they really made the boys outfits in the end, and they agreed when they saw the photos.’

Natalie thinks the key is to try to try to have at least five points of difference that will make your wedding memorable and also to think of really special ways you can involve your friends and family.

‘My Uncle trained up to be a celebrant just for us. He was really warm, informal and just plain fabulous. This enabled us to tailor the ceremony to our hearts’ content too.’

Being a musician himself, Pele had some strong opinions about their wedding day music. In the end Natalie walked down the aisle to ‘Crash into Me’ by Dave Matthews Band and the ceremony wound up with ‘Make it Wit Chu’ by Queens of the Stone Age. They also enlisted the help of some of theatre friends at both the ceremony and reception and they were a huge hit.



Along with the custom-made menu was a short ‘love story’, a humorous account of Natalie and Pele’s courtship and ‘points of difference’. ‘I was really happy with the way this turned out – it proved to be a very original and meaningful keepsake’, says Natalie.

‘While we had a few dramas trying to get our three year-old nephew to actually relinquish our rings on the day, he was so proud of his special role as ring bearer- every time he gives me a cuddle now he plays with my wedding ring and says ‘I gave you that Aunty’.



Natalie was adamant she didn’t want a cake so she worked closely with the Chef to design a really decadent plated dessert. In the end her mother did make a cake and it was really lovely, but they didn’t make a focal point out of it.

One of the biggest successes of the day was the photography. Nat and Pele will be eternally grateful to Isaac and Amber de Reus from Instant Photos in Hamilton. They were exceptionally detailed and creative with every shot they took and it shows.

engaged, july 2009