Happily ever after
Wedded bliss starts well before the walk down the aisle. Get ready for your big day with these stress-saving wedding planning tips
The best day of your life shouldn’t also be the most stressful. But that’s often the case when couples find themselves out of their depth and out of pocket before the event has even taken place.
Here are some top tips for putting together a memorable wedding that everyone can enjoy, especially the bride and groom.
Start planning early
While some couples can plan a wedding in just a few weeks, it’s highly recommended you allow yourself plenty of time. There can be a lot more to do than first anticipated. Research your ceremony and reception locations early, as these can get booked out months, even years, in advance. Also look at booking a photographer, florist, cake, band, and hair and makeup artists. Invites can be sent just a few months prior to the wedding, but sending “save the date” cards will help guests get themselves sorted with accommodation and travel arrangements. There are also websites like withjoy.com which you can use to send “save the date” emails – a great way to save money on printing.
Set a budget and stick to it
In New Zealand, the average cost of a wedding is said to be around $35,000 these days, but can often cost far more. It’s important to decide what your budget is before doing your research, to avoid any disappointment or overspending.
While you’re researching, work out what you’d prefer to splurge on and what you’re okay cutting back. Remember, a wedding doesn’t need to be expensive to be perfect for you.
A backyard bash can save tonnes of money on venue hireage, or consider a cocktails-and-cake ceremony and reception rather than a sit-down meal.
Renting anything over purchasing can also be a good way to save dollars. Wedding rentals are big business, with couples renting everything from bridal gowns to signage.
A destination wedding can be a good economical option, too, with many island resorts offering cheap packages – and it doubles as the honeymoon!
Don’t be afraid to delegate
The bridal party might end up doing most of the extra work, but that doesn’t mean you only have a small group to rely on.
If you’re sticking to a set budget, enlist the help of friends and family who might have specific talents. For example, take note of an ace cake maker, a creative type to do the flowers or design invitations, or a keen sewer to help make the bridesmaid dresses.
In cases where the budget allows, consider a wedding planner, who will help coordinate everything and everyone in the lead-up, and who can also stay for the wedding day to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Stay organised
Create a timetable for the day, as well as a spreadsheet that includes all the vendors and their contact details. Give these to everyone involved in the running of the day. It can be handy for each vendor to know who they’re working alongside and they can contact each other if need be, in your absence. It’s also a good way for the bridal party to pick up anything that needs doing in the lead-up or on the day.
Get to know some of the best in the business that Tauranga has to offer.
Classic charm
These retro and rustic caravans will take your event to a whole new level.
It was in the midst of planning their own wedding that Nadia and Marcel Stannard came across a cute little caravan named Miss Tea. With their combined creative flair and passion for service, transforming Miss Tea into a mobile bar has been a dream come true for the pair. Since then they’ve gone on to refurbish their second caravan, the 1959 Gipsy.
Fast-forward to today and Mount Vintage Bar is a full-time gig, with the aim to provide everything you need in a wedding bar, without worrying about the set-up or pack-down.
Offering bespoke packages to suit any size, budget and event, they offer a fully-equipped caravan bar with industry-standard beer fridges inclusive of bar staff and glassware.
The BYO service is set up to save you money by buying your choice of drinks direct, then Mount Vintage Bar does the rest.
There are two options to choose from. Miss Tea is a rustic caravan bar catering to 80-120 people, while Gipsy is a 1959 retro caravan catering for larger events.
They supply all power connections to plug into the household supply
or, should you need to host remotely, can plug into a generator.
Each package is designed to suit different occasions and they only require a 10 percent deposit upon booking.
Desiree Osterman Makeup
Having trained under the guidance of makeup artist Bobbi Brown and Mr Uemura (Shu Uemura Cosmetics) in London, Desiree provides
professional makeup, producing beauty that's your own, only skilfully enhanced using current up-to-the-minute makeup products and techniques. Also a freelance hair stylist, Desiree offers a complete
package for both hair and makeup for the entire bridal party, including a team for larger wedding parties.
In New Zealand, Desiree’s freelance work has included fashion shows for Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester, Trelise Cooper and magazine editorial work
for Oyster, Next, UNO Magazine, Women's Weekly and Woman’s Day, Glassons, Coke and Levis.
Desiree travels throughout New Zealand and afar.
White Silk Bridal
White Silk Bridal Couture specialises in creating luxurious custom bridal gowns from design through to the final fitting, ensuring a beautiful journey that brides will have to treasure for a lifetime.
Using the finest fabrics and techniques, each gown is carefully handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail, to bring visions to life. With more than 15 years of experience creating for local and international brides, White Silk Bridal commits to turning dream gowns into realities.
White Silk Bridal will alter gowns purchased elsewhere to ensure every bride is confident and aisle ready.
Hand-Picked Flowers
Florist Kelly Scawin believes that her business is about the beauty of nature, a sense of home and the sharing of her love of flowers with others. She works closely with couples to advise and guide you while you navigate your way through your wedding journey.
From bouquets and buttonholes to ceremony and reception displays, her goal is to create floral designs and installations to enhance your space and create an atmosphere that represents couples and impacts guests.
Kelly works closely with an amazing selection of local growers and wholesalers throughout New Zealand and prides herself on sourcing unique flowers and foliage. She’s experienced, passionate and focused on making your wedding day your best day.
Meredith Lord Photography
Recently featured in British Vogue, Meredith Lord creates images that are stunningly editorial, with an aesthetic that is modern, fresh and fun.
Her friendly and relaxed approach to photography (clients can expect to have plenty of laughs when she is around) has an uncanny ability to make her couples feel at ease. This enables her to capture the magic in the little moments – the ones where no one is watching, but that evoke the emotion of the experience – and weave together the story of her couple's day in an incredibly beautiful and elevated way. Meredith loves to work closely with couples who like to have a bit of fun, creating captivating and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
She works throughout New Zealand, as well as in Europe and the United Kingdom, capturing timeless love stories for modern romantics.