Pretty Prefect Events

What to wear for your engagement photo shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

We all know that everyone wants to look their best at any photo shoot, but the pressure is on for your engagement shoot as these pictures will most likely be used for your save the dates and wedding website if you are going down that route.

Are you stressing about what outfit to wear and if it will look good on camera? Don’t worry, we get where you are coming from. Fret no more! We have found a great article by photographer Jonathan Ivy on what he suggests works best for these types of shoots.

Go and have a look here

Guest Listed

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Do you want a small intimate affair or a large OTT celebration? Whichever option you choose you are going to be faced with making decisions regarding your guest list. This is probably one of the toughest things a bride and groom will have to agree and decide upon during the planning phase. It sounds like a great idea to invite your old friends from school and that one person you totally connected with on holiday but let’s be serious, weddings cost a pretty penny, and inviting every Joe Blog and their dog is not always possible. Here at Pretty Perfect we’ve tried to make things a little simpler by presenting you with a fun and quirky quiz to help you narrow down your guest list.

Happy planning!

Image sourced from http://www.invitationsbydawn.com/custserv_content.jsp?pageName=Guest-Listed

Winter Wedding Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Not all of us dream of a hot summer’s day to walk down the aisle. Take me, for example. I have the palest skin and can think of nothing worse than stepping into 30C heat in a gown that is heavy and hot with my skin most likely to burn at the very sight of the sun. Ok I’m exaggerating but some of us would prefer a cooler day to tie the knot than in the peak of summer. For those of you that are toying with the idea of an Autumn/Winter wedding, listen up.

Winter weddings can be absolutely gorgeous, playing around with wonderful textures and different colour schemes. And don’t forget, a wedding held out of season will most likely also qualify for a discount on the venue hire. If you’re not too fussed about having your ceremony in doors and taking some pictures in the cloud covered sky, take a look at some of our winter wonderland inspiration pics below.

Different types of veils

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Today we’re talking veils! The moment that makes you tear up in the bridal boutique is most certainly when the assistant places a veil on top of your head. It makes you feel like a bride – as you should! There are so many veil styles to choose from – today we have explained them all here, plus thrown in a couple of tips to consider when choosing a veil. Enjoy!

Birdcage

These are the shortest length veils, and have become very popular in recent years. There are so many varieties when it comes to this chic veil, but they are usually worn just covering the eyes or extending down to the chin. Trés chic and low-hassle.

Shoulder-length veils

Pretty self explanatory – these veils end anywhere from our shoulders to the middle of your back. Although they are less common these days, they are perfect for the fashion forward bride, especially if you have detailing on your dress that you’d like to show off, but still want to have a veil.

Elbow-length veils

These are elegant and easy to handle, and compliment a ball gown dress beautifully as the veil ends where the skirt of your gown begins, which is wonderfully flattering.

Fingertip-length veil

Think Kate Middleton. This veil flatters most brides and dresses, and is one of the most popular types of veils.

Ballet-length veil

This one is so pretty and the best of both worlds. You get the length of the veil without it getting in the way. This veil usually stops anywhere from your knee to your ankle.

Chapel-length veil

We’re starting to get into the drama veil category here. Chapel-length veils run all the way to the ground and drapes a little, but does not have a train. This is most used for formal weddings, and is brilliantly romantic and elegant.

Cathedral-length veil

This veil has the most drama of them all! Beautiful to photograph and they make a major impression. Just a word of caution though, they are the most painful to manage. So if you’re not up for the fuss of worrying about someone stepping on it, give this one a miss.

Other veil terminology you should know:

Blusher

No not like the pink stuff you put on your cheeks – this term is used for shoulder length veils, but technically speaking a blusher is the bit that covers your face as you walk down the aisle, and it can be any length from a birdcage to much longer. You’re going to want to avoid this if the whole revealing of the bride tradition isn’t for you.

Two-tier veil

Plain and simple, it has two lengths of veils combined.

Mantilla

Probably the most swoon-worthy veil of all. However gorgeous this veil might be, it unfortunately won’t work with all dresses and settings. The lace edging on this veil makes it truly unique.

Pouf veils

A bit ‘80s, but with the right dress this veil can work!

Juliet Cap

Think Kate Moss. This trend is making an appearance again and can look very chic when worn correctly.

Veil tips:

Buy the wedding dress before you decide on a veil. Your dress will dictate the veil style.

If you don’t like the idea of wearing a veil, just try one on. You might surprise yourself!

Take your veil with to your hair trial so that you can see how the veil will look with your hair done. Also make sure a bridesmaid observes how the hairdresser inserts the veil so that when she has to remove it she won’t upset the rest of your hairstyle.

Don’t let your veil overshadow your dress. What’s the point of having the most gorgeous dress under the sun if it’s hidden under a massive layer of tulle? Keep your dress front of mind when picking a veil.

Good luck!

Adapted from http://www.southboundbride.com/southbound-guide-veil-speak/

Cocktail Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

There are so many fun things you can do to keep your guests entertained during cocktail hour while you and your bridal party and hubby spend time with the photographer taking pictures.

Whether you choose to let your guests indulge in delicious canapés, or provide fun games and entertainment, cocktail hour should be kept light and cheerful. Here are some inspirational pictures of our favourite ideas!

A vintage affair

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Today we are all about vintage themes. There are literally endless possibilities when it comes to this pretty style.

Mix and match your table décor and even your crockery to create a stylish mismatched affair! For more inspiration visit our Pinterest

Shopping for the dress

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to one of the most wonderful and exciting aspects of the planning process – choosing your wedding dress! We know this can often be an overwhelming process with so many boutiques to visit and hundreds of beautiful white dresses to try on. With that in mind we have put together some tips to know before buying a wedding dress. Good luck and enjoy every moment!

Know your budget

This is probably one of, if not the most important aspect of shopping for a wedding dress. You should know your financial limits before you start trying on dresses. Inflating your budget and putting everyone else on the spot will just leave you empty handed.

It’s OK to love the first dress

It’s ok to love the first dress you try on! This happens all the time. If you trust yourself enough so will your bridal party. Go for it!

Know your silhouette

Trying on the wrong silhouette can discourage any bride. Remember the models in magazines have been photoshopped and are often a size zero – go with what will suit your beautiful figure.

Be open to alterations

Remember dresses can be altered to fit you like a glove. Try to envision what the dress will look like once it has been tailored to suit your body perfectly.

Be open to different styles

Don’t be closed off to trying on a style you’d never thought you’d wear. You might just surprise yourself and fall in love with it!

Keep location in mind

Don’t go for a ball gown style dress if you’re going to get married on the beach, it will just be heavy and uncomfortable. Keep your venue in mind when picking the dress.

When you’ve chosen your dress, stop shopping

Don’t look at any more wedding dresses once you’ve made your decision. Tell your bridal party too - no bride needs to be second-guessed by her entourage, it will only discourage you.

Trust your instincts

It can be hard when your bridal party/mother isn’t 100% in love with the dress you’ve chosen, and that’s ok too. The day is about you and if you love it, you wear it.

Leave room in the budget for extras

Alterations cost money. So does adding a little bling here and there. Leave some space in your budget for all the add-ons you might want.

Share your vision

It’s important to let your entourage know what type of style you’d like to wear (if you’ve thought about this). If you don’t communicate this to them you could spend hours going down the wrong path and wasting everyone’s time involved.

Happy Shopping!

Cake-spiration

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Gone are the days of a traditional 3 tier white marzipan and fruit cake wedding cakes. And thank goodness for that! With so many delectable fillings available these days your wedding cake can be as delicious to eat as it looks! The cake is a special part of your celebrations – it will get photographed when you and your new hubby cut it at the end of the night – so make it look spectacular! Here are a few pictures to get you inspired!

For more inspiration visit our Pinterest

Who pays for what?

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Who pays for what at a traditional white wedding?

We know that today a lot of the tradition of who pays for what at a wedding has disappeared, with couples choosing to put both their budgets together and split the cost down the middle. But if you are going to go the traditional route, here is a quick guide as to who traditionally pays for what at a white wedding.

The Bride

The bride (or bride’s parents) covers the bulk of the wedding expenditure traditionally, here is a breakdown of what to expect. The below is a comprehensive list, by no means do you need to include all of these in your wedding day!

· Venue

· All catering

· Photographer

· Videographer

· Bride’s dress

· Wedding planner

· Bridesmaids dresses (optional)

· Bridesmaids bouquets

· Bridesmaids gift

· Flowers and décor at reception venue

· Hair and make up (bridesmaid’s optional)

· Groom’s wedding ring

· Groom’s wedding gift

The Groom

Don’t be fooled, the groom still covers a lot of the wedding expenditure too, remember he is paying for the honeymoon!

· DJ/Band

· All elements of the ceremony (flowers, chair hiring, décor)

· Minister/marriage officer’s fees

· All beverages

· Bride’s bouquet

· Groomsmen boutonnieres

· Groomsmen gift

· Groomsmen suit hire/purchase (optional)

· Honeymoon

· Rehearsal dinner

· Bride’s wedding ring

· Bride’s wedding gift

· Corsages and boutonnieres for both sets of parents

You're engaged! Now what?

noreply@blogger.com (Pretty Perfect Events) — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 12:14:00 +0000

Yippee he popped the question and you said yes! Here’s what to do right after the ring’s been slipped on your finger.

CALL your relatives and friends

Yes even the ones you don’t speak to that often. We know that it’s easier to update your Facebook or Twitter status in the excitement of the moment but trust us a personal phone call will be much more appreciated. So take a couple of hours out of your day and go through your phone book and call who needs to be called to share the good news.

Get your ring sized if it’s not a snug fit

If you have too much wiggle room between your finger and your new piece of jewellery get it resized asap. The last thing you want to happen is for it to slip off your finger. It only takes a few hours or a few days at most, get it done.

Insure it!

If your hubby to be has not already insured the ring, get it done asap! We know nothing can replace the sentimental value of a ring once it gets lost/stolen but at least you will get some money back in the unfortunate case that something happens to your precious stone.

Set a date – even if it’s not THE date

The most asked questions after you’ve gotten engaged will be ‘how did he propose’, ‘what does the ring look like’, followed by ‘when’s the wedding.’ Discuss this with your fiancé so that you can at least give an indication on which month/season you like. For example, say, ‘we were thinking November 2015’. This way your nearest and dearest can mentally keep this month free with the prospect of receiving an invitation to your big day.

Decide on the budget

Whether your parents are paying for the wedding or whether it is you and your fiancé footing the bill you need to sit down and have the awkward, but essential conversation about the budget.

Start daydreaming

Here’s where the fun begins! You get to decide on what colours or theme you’d like to go with for you and your fiancé’s special day. Get a bunch of wedding mags, follow wedding blogs for inspiration, and don’t forget Pinterest – there are a myriad of ideas to consider that will make the event beautiful.

Plan a night out with just your fiancé.

Let’s face it, once the wedding planning really kicks into gear there isn’t going to be much ‘us’ time for you and your hubby to be. Plan a night out where you celebrate the two of you – and DON’T talk about the wedding. Just enjoy being in each other’s company and celebrate your relationship.

Get organized – create a wedding file

Whether you decide to go old school and get a flip file or embrace the digital era and have a file on your computer – start storing ideas and supplier information for future use. If you go the digital route Dropbox is brilliant as you can share the file with your bridal party to keep them up to speed.

Think about your bridal party

Speaking of bridal party, you should probably start thinking about who you’d like to have by your side on your big day. Once you have made your decision, ask all involved (there are so many creative ways to do this if you’re into that sort of thing) and then the planning can begin! They are there to offer help and support through this whole process after all.

Ask both sets of parents for their ideal guest list

Before you start thinking about your guest list, ask the parents who they would like to invite, making sure to tell them it is a preliminary list so that you can get an idea. You can then trim down their guest list from there if they give you 20 people. It might help to ask them to categorize their wish list into the most important people so that it helps you with your decision.

Hire a planner

Trust us, no matter how Type A or organized rockstar you are, you’re going to need a planner, at the very least for the day of the wedding. Who wants to run around on the day to make sure everything has been set up to your specifications and to make sure the DJ starts the music at the right time when you walk down the aisle? That’s right, nobody. Get a planner, you’ll feel much better knowing that the day is in good hands and will run smoothly.

And most importantly – ENJOY

This wonderful time in your life only happens once (hopefully) so soak up every moment and enjoy it. Don’t get too stressed out about the small details, this is supposed to be a joyous time for you and your fiancé so enjoy every last bit of it.