Five Mistakes Brides Make When Choosing Wedding Jewellery

When it comes to wedding planning, most brides-to-be get over-excited to choose the most elegant wedding gowns, but, they tend to ignore or consider the jewellery as an afterthought. This is a big mistake! The right jewellery will have the power to either make you stand out or ruin your entire look on your special day. Therefore, it is important to lay just as much emphasis on the jewellery as you do when picking the right dress for the occasion. Here are the five grave mistakes that most brides make when choosing wedding jewellery.

1. Never Pick out Your Jewellery Before the Dress

Always pick your dress first before you can think of the jewels to go with it. Deciding which dress to wear can be daunting. For that reason, starting with the jewels will narrow down your options for a good dress. It is natural to want to have that unique or exotic jewellery appearing on your wedding photo album. However, pick out the dress and match your favourite jewellery with it. This will save you the time and stress of trying out dress after dress based on the design or colour of particular jewellery.

2. Don’t Try to Match Your Jewellery to Your Dress

Most wedding dresses feature a single plain colour, mostly white, silver or metallic. Choosing white jewellery to go with a white dress will have little to no effect on your overall look. Spruce up things a bit by picking subtly contrasting jewels. You may also add colour splashes and a touch of tribal to accent your look.

If you have to match your jewellery and the dress, a silver-white pair will auger well. You may also consider a metallic match if that’s your preferred theme colour. A point to note is that your choice of wedding jewellery should be something that you can wear comfortably after the wedding.

3. Ensure that Jewellery is On Your Wedding to Do List

Planning a wedding is seldom a piece of cake. Therefore, picking out a good jewellery will most likely divert your mind from the stress associated with wedding planning. Try to include them in your to-do list weeks or months prior to the wedding. This way you’ll avoid the last minute rush, which would more often than not lead you to a poor jewellery choice.

4. Try to Upstage the Dress

One aspect to keep in mind is never to let your jewellery outshine your dress. In most cases, the dress often leaves more of an impression than a precious jewel. The jewels will play a complementary role in enhancing your look. Therefore, plough all your time into searching for the perfect dress rather than the jewellery. Wedding photos will always be viewed long after the wedding, therefore, a timeless and classic design would be a good way of maintaining elegance through time.

 

5. Choosing Several Pieces of Jewellery At a Go

When it comes to wedding jewellery, more isn’t always better. Having necklaces, earrings, clutch bags, and bracelets crammed up all together can make you appear messy. It is usually easy to get caught up in the moment, prompting you to have all of your precious jewels on you. However, the sparkle of your dress and wedding ring are more than enough to draw the appropriate attention to you on your wedding day.

However, you can cleverly mix gold and silver for better results. If you are spoilt for choice between different colour designs, settle for a blend of the best two that match your dress.

These are some of the insightful things to remember when picking out your wedding jewellery. Choosing a subtle piece of jewellery that you can wear after the wedding is important. Thus, each time you slip them on, you will reminisce about the wonderful moments you had on your wedding day.

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Author Bio: Since young, Bobby has developed a fascination for diamond and coloured stones. The content of his blog posts are very practical and informative for diamond engagement ring shoppers. As an avid traveller, he also writes regularly on topics like the latest jewellery trends at Charles Rose Jewellers and around the world along with the interesting stuff he finds in his travels. His posts are clever and fun to read.

Written by Bobby. Produced by Jessica Kennedy.

The inside life of a Chef at Boulevard Gardens

Here at Boulevard Gardens, we pride ourselves on not only our providing our lovely couples and guests with beautiful locations for their special day, but also on the quality of the food we produce. Not long ago we sat down with Vincent, the chef here at Boulevard Gardens, to talk about all things food.

How long have you been a chef for and where did you complete your apprenticeship? 

After graduating high school in my hometown - Malaysia, I decided I wanted to pursue my career as a Chef, as cooking is something i've always had a passion and talent for. I was lucky to receive a full-time apprenticeship straight after high school. With all of the sweat and tears (only from cutting onions...) came a tonne of knowledge, and I graduated as a Chef when I was 19 years of age. After my apprenticeship I was lucky enough to score a position at a 5 star hotel in Malaysia. I gained a lot of knowledge, tips, experience, and tricks from the best in the Industry. I say the "best" in the industry, as the Executive Chefs came from Europe to work with us from the very beginning. With a lot of hard work, a lot of competition and a lot of hurdles to overcome, I ended up excelling in my career and have continued to succeed ever since. 

What are your top 3 favourite dishes from Boulevard Gardens?

I think that's a very difficult question, as every single dish at Boulevard Gardens is mouth-watering, fresh and unique. A lot of time, effort and love goes into each dish at Boulevard, but if I had to choose, I would say: 

1. Wild Barramundi; topped with macadamia nut and pesto crust. 

2. The Vegetarian Risotto. 

3. Either the Chocolate Mousse; topped with raspberries OR the Baked New York Cheesecake. 

What is your favourite ingredient to work with? 

Growing up, I thought salt belonged in a shaker at the table, and nowhere else. I always used to think that salt was the strangest, most unusual thing in the world. Since working as a Chef, and experiencing first-hand the transformative power of salt, that's when I realised that it is an essential ingredient whilst working in the kitchen. Like I tell my colleagues, "No salt, no cooking". 

What's the most important part of your job?

There are many "important" parts of my job, especially as a Chef! However, the most crucial elements of my work are timing and accuracy. 

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Written by Chloe. Produced by Jessica Kennedy. 

The Wedding of S & S

Greenery and Blush

The Love Story

It was a sunny Autumn day here at the Boulevard Gardens when S & S celebrated the beginning of their lives as a husband and wife. The love and happiness on their special night was captured by Justin Taylor from Chris Hall Photography. Here is a little sneak peek in to our lovely couple's Wedding day.

At Boulevard we know that it has to be true love to move across the world for the one you love. This is how the love story of S & S began and nestled away in the hidden, enchanted garden, was where they looked in to each others eyes and said, “I do”. 

The Wedding

The Wedding of S & S was styled with the elegant combination of greenery and pink details. The stunning bride arrived in a convertible car wearing a gorgeous lace dress and beautiful pale pink heels. Different shades of pink on the bridal bouquet as well as on the grooms tie, pocket square and boutonnière tied the adorable details together. 

The ceremony was held in our magical Wedding garden followed by an intimate reception for 30 guests. Our stunning couple chose a trendy long table for their little pop up wedding and it was styled with the same whimsical theme of blush and greenery. Lanterns, pink details and a lush garland across the table, is all you need for an elegant reception. The simple place cards and the little olive branches were a cute addition to the styling. Safe to say that we loved everything about this adorable and intimate Wedding.

Congratulations S & S on your special day. We wish you love, laughter, and happily ever after. 

Written by Anna Vitikainen. Images by Justin Taylor, Chris Hall Photography.

Get to know one of Brisbane's most well known celebrants, Neal Foster

Here at Boulevard Gardens we have a number of outstanding Celebrants, however Neal Foster is one of a kind. We were lucky enough to meet with him and ask a few questions about his tips, tricks, and knowledge on all things in the Wedding Industry. 

Neal is an affordable, male Civil Marriage Celebrant and has been authorised since 2007 - this year being his 10th birthday!

Neal's couples enjoy not only their wedding day but the whole experience - he ensures that it's as stress free as possible, starting with the initial consultation in the comfort of your own home. 

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Why did you choose to become a Celebrant? 

I've always had an interest in the Wedding Industry. At the beginning of my 20's I used to go and watch weddings, purely for enjoyment - and was asking friends and family, "If you have a wedding, can I come and watch". It wasn't until 11 years ago, my wife inspired him to apply for my celebrant licence and start living my dream, which was seeing and helping couples on the most special day of their lives. 

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How many weddings have you performed in your career? 

A government survey was conducted in 2017 stating that 55% of celebrants perform 1 to 9 ceremonies a year, 31% perform 10 to 50, and only 5% perform more than 50 weddings.

As a celebrant I fall into the (drum roll........) 5% category where I perform more than 50 weddings a year, and in my whole career I have performed a total of 700 weddings! 

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What was your favourite memory and why?

It's impossible to choose just one memory. I am so fortunate to have met so many lovely couples, I become so invested in their lives from the moment I meet them. The professional relationship I build with my clients lasts a lifetime - I'm lucky enough to keep in contact and continue to follow their journey for years to come. 

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What Guidance do you give to your couples before their wedding day? 

As I am a man of many talents, and for the past 10 years working in the wedding industry, my knowledge on weddings is vast! Having built relationships with various wedding suppliers, I understand what they do, why they do it, the timing, what not to do, etc.... So feel free to ask away!!! 

From a celebrants perspective you will receive a 1 hour appointment where I will run through all of the exciting and important aspects of your day and how other suppliers and the venues work, choosing a ceremony option to suit your needs, discussing all of your wedding requirements, complete necessary paperwork, and I will also provide you with all of the nitty gritty details such as; how to stand, where to stand, how you are given away, where to position yourself when getting photos, ways to calm your nerves before your big day and much more! 

After your initial consultation, along the way I will provide you with a copy of your wedding ceremony prior to the day, a printed wedding certificate, and a rehearsal so everyone understands their role. Oh, and don't worry ladies, I will be sure to dress to fit in with the style of your wedding!!!

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What advice would you give to future couples in selecting a Celebrant?

Picking a celebrant can be a very hard decision, but selecting the right celebrant will make your wedding day that little more special, and stress free. 

My top four tips would be to: 

1. Pick the most experienced celebrant, a celebrant who does weddings every week will be more confident and know what to do to ensure things go smoothly. 

2. When you have chosen your top 2 to 3 celebrants, ensure you check their website, social media platforms to get a feel for what their style is and previous couples comments. 

3. Normally celebrants with a large number of testimonials/reviews are most likely the more professional, experienced and loveable. 

4. If a celebrant is busy and booked out, then you know they are good at what they do,  which means you should lock in a date ASAP to avoid dissappoinment. 

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What general advice would you give to a future bride and groom?  

My personal advice for a future bride and groom are to:

1. Hire professionals.

2. Plan as much as you can.

3. And on the day, do the best you can to relax, and let the people you've hired to do what their good at!

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Well that wraps up our question and answers! If you would like to enquire or have any further questions, please feel free to contact myself on 0408 977 966, or visit my website: http://www.celebrantbrisbane.com.au/. 

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We hope these tips help you choose a perfect celebrant for your special day. 

Until next time.... 

Guest Post: Wedding Styling 101 with Made You Look Events

Hello, my name is Matt Abel. I am the Creative Director, Wedding Planner and Stylist at Made You Look Events. I am also a buttonhole fixer, wedding psychiatrist, mother in law pleaser; fashion consultant, hugger and Wedding Day go to guy - though my best talents lie in the world of wedding planning and styling.

My team and I are proud to be the popular choice for Brisbane brides for exquisite Wedding Day Planning and Stylist services. I am delighted to share with you in this Q&A piece my specialist hits, tips, tricks and knowledge on all things wedding styling!

I do love talking about ways in which you can take your wedding from ordinary to extraordinary; after all, your Wedding Day should be as fabulous as you are. And speaking of fabulous, a wedding at Boulevard Gardens is just that! I work closely with the staff and the remarkable events team, who are all just as amazing as the venue itself.


I truly encourage you to pay a visit to discover all that their hidden oasis has to offer for your Wedding Day; including the breath taking open air ceremony space, a tranquil outdoor bar, and stunning function rooms available.

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What guidance do you give to your couples who are having trouble deciding on their wedding theme?

Listen up gals, this is a common question and it saddens me to think that many brides feel that they must showcase a “theme” for their big day. Instead, my advice, and in fact a key element in my consultation process, is to ask the couple poignant questions relating to the both of them. And believe it or not these important answers tend to become the focus on the Wedding Day concept. For me as a wedding planner and stylist, I need to understand who these two people are together, and the culture they share in order to bring that special feel to their special day.  Here’s how I do it:

I always love to hear my couples' story; the story of how they met and the circumstances surrounding it. Also I ask them to tell me about that very important first date, what they hold dear about their partner, and my favourite question regarding a humorous story about the two of them. The answers that come from these questions quite often hold the key to what I  propose we share with their guests as their wedding concept. After all, their wedding day is about them together, so why not let their tale tell the story of the day!

Abracadabra! Now we have our starting point from which we draw inspiration for colour, texture, mood, focus, and feel, to create what will be a dream day that will be talked about long after the last of the confetti is thrown! 
 

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What are the top three décor items couples can use to add a “WOW” factor to their wedding styling?

I love this question! I believe in taking an everyday décor idea, and giving it life by adding that all important wow factor that is as exciting as it is memorable. The first of three ideas I want to share is my love for incorporating edible items into table centerpieces.

What a way to add a spot of difference that is totally unexpected and totally different! The Delish-a-torium by Made You Look Events is our sister business that showcases delightful sweet treats for weddings that are perfect for adding to guest table centerpieces. My favourite is our French Macaron pops - and by favourite I mean I consume way too many on a weekly basis!  These tasty beauties can be nestled amongst your floral additions, and look so awesome too. These can be incorporated into high and low centerpieces and make for something truly stunning and unusual.   

My next “wow” décor item brings something fantazmo to your reception room. Forget the outdated organza and satin sashes, step it up with feature chair coverings that will get them talking! Bring your theme and indeed the room to life with stunning chair caps, full and flowing covers, and textured trailing embellishments to name a few. 

Lastly my number three pick for adding wedding-wow would have to be interactive décor! Immerse guests into the wedding experience with a ceremony water station featuring personalised labeled bottled water, displayed with your order of service programs, and the cutest cones filled with petals that guests will shower you with as you are announced husband and wife.

Cocktail hour need not feel left out either! Instead of a standard bar area that tends to become congested and noisy, why not ask us about changing typical styled bar area décor with our Roving Wine Angels? These stunning beauties can either appear at standard height or stilted for extra fun, as they wait on guests with bottles of wine and champagne, adding an air of elegance and a spot of difference. Because it’s all about the glam, right!

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What is the biggest wedding styling trend currently? And how can couples infuse this trend to their wedding day?

Trends, as the name suggests, come and go. It’s these trends that are driven by social media platforms, industry opinions and of course celebrity support and product placement. What’s important for couples to remember is that in years to come when they are looking back through their wedding album to see that their day was heavily influenced by what was trending at the time can often leave a bad taste in their mouth.

It is great to be informed, and just as important to incorporate elements of what is current into your day, but my advice is to be selective in what you include and where it’s placed. Add just a touch of such elements, rather than full saturation. Oh and of course tons of glitter. Kidding!

For example, what’s hot right now is the Pantone colour 15-0343  “Greenery”, and it’s everywhere! If this rainforest-inspired tone is something you are loving, then by all means add it, but think carefully. Perhaps feature it in your bouquet and floral additions on guest tables in a more minimalistic setting, and leave it at that. Overdoing it with current trends will not do you any favours in the long term.
 

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Is there a common mistake that couples make when it comes to their wedding styling?

Typically, I believe there are no mistakes when it comes to your personal desire for any given theme, era, mood, feel, or focus for your wedding day; however, blunders can easily be made, and the biggest mistake couples make when it comes to bringing all those key elements together is not engaging a stylist.

In all the areas where you can cut corners in the wedding budget, this is certainly not one of them. A wedding stylist is definitely worth having.

My job as a wedding planner and stylist is to ensure a bride’s dream is translated from an idea on paper, to the completed event space in visual splendour - this task is quite an undertaking. A good event stylist has the in-depth knowledge and experience required to seamlessly create your ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour spaces without the mishaps and mayhem that potentially would cost you more money to rectify if you were to attempt it with help from friends.

Always remember that is better to make a friend out of a wedding stylist, than a wedding stylist out of a friend!
 

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What piece of advice do you always share with your clients?

The absolute most important thing to remember no matter what, is to have what you both want for your day and not what others persuade or even pressure you to have. This is so important!

When I engage my services with couples, my number one priority is to deliver this very notion; after all it’s your wedding day, not anyone else's. I find many brides under pressure to incorporate their parents' or even grandparents' wishes, simply because they have given money towards the cost of the big day. I remind them to mention to these people that as special as they may be, that they have had their beautiful day and now it’s your turn to have the same. It’s all about having your cake and eating it too! 

A good way to achieve this is to be clever with your families instead of forgoing your wishes completely. My advice is why not make them feel important by assigning them a meaningful job on the day, or perhaps asking them to choose what they like from options you have already shortlisted. This way they feel included, and more importantly, that their monetary contribution is validated - which will certainly help in a smooth planning process.

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Want to know more about a Made You Look Events styled wedding at Boulevard Gardens?

Contact me today at matt@madeyoulookevents.com.au to book your complimentary consultation and let’s get you married!

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A special thank you to Matt from Made You Look Events for this fantastic guest post on Wedding Styling 101! 

Words and images by Matt Abel. Produced by Rachel Westbury. 

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5 Unexpected Origins of Modern Wedding Traditions

Love and lore go hand-in-hand, and weddings carry a rich history of traditions, many with incredible origins. 

Join us as we explore the unexpected origins of 5 modern wedding traditions, and how they came to be.

1. The Engagement Ring 

Ever wondered how the engagement ring tradition began? In 1215, Pope Innocent III introduced a waiting period between betrothal and marriage, and engaged couples started displaying their commitment with a ring. Bling! 

2. Wedding Bouquet

The tradition of carrying a bouquet of flowers on the wedding day stems from England. Hundreds of years ago, it was believed that a piece of the bride's dress would carry good luck. To stop women from ruining the dress, the bride would toss the bouquet and made a swift exit. 

3. The Ring Finger

The reason we wear an engagement or wedding ring on the ring finger? Because the romantic Romans believed that the vein in the fourth finger on the left hand runs directly to the heart. The Romans call this vein the "vena amoris", or vein of love. 

4. Wedding Standing Order

A common question that brides and grooms ask is “which side do we stand on?". Traditionally, the groom will stand to the left of the bride - but why? This stems from the old days of 'marriage by capture', where the groom will need to have his right hand (his sword arm) free to defend the bride rival suitors. 

5. Tiered Wedding Cake

The wedding cake has a wealth of intriguing traditions and superstitions surrounding it. It was believed that in medieval England, the bridal couple would lead a prosperous life together if they successfully kissed over a multi-tiered cake. Cakes were stacked higher and higher, creating a light-hearted game that came to influence modern day wedding cakes. 
 

Written by Rachel Westbury. Image by Chris Hall Photography. 


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