colour and style... with love
issue
THE NATURE
mar-may 2012
ISSUE 002
photo by Jose Villa
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notes from kate
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82
mar-may 2012
ISSUE 002
Real weddings
24 56 82 110 120 132 156 174
SHERYL & BEN .......... a intimate country affair BRE & BARRY .......... stylish european elopement MEREDITH & DEREK .......... canadian coast elegance FRANCESCA & DAN .......... 1920’s inspired garden wedding ANNIKA & DOUG .......... dramatic Icelandic nuptials CHRISTINE & SEAN .......... a chic industial celebrattion HANNAH & ADAM .......... landmark deco glamour SIOBHAN & PETE .......... wine country sweetness
in this issue
Cover feature
3108
10
Features
THE BALLAD OF HERB & DAISY a fairytale of a love story ..........
BOTANICAL BEAUTY a fusion of science and nature ..........
SNOW’S TABLEAU wintery whimsy in New England ..........
COLOUR STORY a tale of teal and ruby red ..........
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INSPIRED BEAUTY understated brilliance from Jose Villa
CONFESSIONS OF A WEDDING PLANNER by Rhiannon Nicole .......... BRUNCH ON THE BEACH ideas for a post wedding gathering ..........
VINE DINING east coast meets west coast ..........
TROPIQUE BOTANIQUE lush yellow and green tablescape ..........
38 70 94 102 130 144 166 180
Aboutt editor in chief &art director
features editor & photographer
Kate has had her fair share of experimenting in different disciplines, but a creative future seemed set in stone from an early age. Her indefatigable artistic talent continued to surface, so when she returned to New Zealand after years travelling, she bought her first computer. Producing her own wedding invitation led to the opening of her business, Ruby & Willow Design Studio. Building on the immense success of her Magnolia Rouge blog, Kate as the editor in chief of {MAG}rouge is the key to the uncompromising aesthetic and inspiration of the magazine.
After gaining qualifications in History Jasmine took up an IT career, though she never forgot her youthful dreams of winning amateur photo competitions. Finally she understood her true calling: photography and art. Having always had a combined passion for photography with her dear friend Hannah, from their days in the art room at high school, they founded Sutherland Kovach Studio, and the rest is history! Their mission is to create a beautiful sweet world through their images. Jasmine is also crazy about her small daughter and the domestic arts.
SAMM BLAKE
GRETA KENYON vela images
JONAS PETERSON
MELIA SORENSON lucida photography
BENJ H
the team
picture editor & photographer
food &entertaining editor
Hannah’s interest in photography dates back to her childhood when at an early age she became obsessed with discovering how the 3D world could be transferred to paper through a magic box. After completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Elam she worked in the BBC’s Picture Publicity Dept and on the set of Harry Potter 6 in the photography department. In 2008 she returned home and joined forces with her one of her oldest, dearest and most visionary friends Jasmine, in the successful enterprise of Sutherland Kovach Studio.
Judit started her adult life as an economist and marketer in her home country of Hungary. After marrying and having two beautiful girls, she travelled the world, finally stopping at the farthest corner of it in a place called New Zealand. It was here where she finally realized that her best recipe for success would be her culinary skills, sweet tooth, art and craft and marketing talent, and went on to form her business, Artisan Cakes. She still delights clients worldwide, this time not with her incisive ad campaigns but delicious treats from her cake kitchen.
HAISCH
NORDICA PHOTOGRAPHY
CHRISTINE POBKE
SUTHERLAND KOVACH
DESIREE SPINNER EVENTS
th Messina
a big hearty th
JOSE VILLA
ANNIE OXBOROUGH FLORIST
Jose Villa’s fine art wedding photography has been featured in many magazines around the world, including Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Instyle Weddings and Brides. Recently he was named one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world by Photo District New(PDN). Jose’s approach applies fine art photography to the living, breathing, fast-moving phenomenon that is a wedding. Ultimately his goal is to craft vibrant, energetic fine art images that are as unique as the people in the photographs.
Annie lives in Auckland, New Zealand, where she specialises in weddings and events. She also works in styling, props buying, retail enhancing and concept design. Annie’s concepts daringly go outside the confines of floral design as we know it. Recreating nature’s handiwork, she reconstructs flowers and remolds them. Whether designing a bouquet or an entire wedding, no one occasion is the same. Annie prides herself on creating individual concepts for each of her clients.
photo by Elizabe
PHOTOGRAPHER
Jose's favourite nature escape Swimming in the river of his childhood
HEY GORGEOUS
Annie's favourite nature escape Camping
MEG PEROTTI
WEDDING PLANNER
PHOTOGRAPHER
Rhiannon lives in Western Michigan and eats, sleeps and breathes weddings. She is a firm believer in happy ever afters. Since 2010 she’s been committed to creating cleverly designed weddings that combine aesthetically beautiful and personally significant details. As the owner, lead stylist and planner of Hey Gorgeous Events, she visualises even the wildest of big day dreams and wholeheartedly understands and feels the same emotions her clients experience on the most important and life-changing day of their lives.
Trained in fine art photography, Meg approaches weddings in an intimate artful way, creating lovely images to be cherished for years to come. Meg loves paper goods, flea market finds, white farm houses with wrap around porches, and hardwood floors that creak in memorable places. She is delighted by her husband, apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream, the smell of clean laundry, traveling, road trips, afternoon naps, and arnold palmers.
Rhiannon's favourite nature escape Being outdoors when spring comes around
Meg's favourite nature escape Outdoor walks after a rain storm
hank you to...
BUBBLEROCK
WHITE LOFT STUDIO
VIDOEGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPHER
Bubblerock Studios was born from the many different inspirations and creative projects that founders Steph and Robin always seem to fall into. Short films and documentaries, weddings, events, travels, music....They are two people who thrive on keeping busy, learning new skills, perfecting old ones and always looking for the next challenge. They love a story well-told, a photo beautifully taken, a smile captured, an emotion triggered and a memory kept. They make their home in Auckland, New Zealand, though they travel all over the world for assignments and for pleasure.
Heidi runs White Loft Studio from New England and travels all over shooting intimate gatherings at unique venues. Heidi is crazy about horses and can’t imagine a day without her dogs - she and her husband own three between them. She loves the sound of the ocean but has a hard time leaving her iPhone at home. She believes every celebration has its own spirit and it is her job to capture it.
Steph & Robin's favourite nature escape Jetskiing in the Caribbean
LEO PATRONE
Heidi's favourite nature escape Walking her dogs on the beach
SOX TENG
PHOTOGRAPHER
MAKE UP ARTIST
Leo was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, and moved to the United States when he was fourteen. After borrowing a friend’s film camera on a trip to Southern California he became fascinated with photography. Film gives him the freedom to explore lighting, colour and composition. He interacts with each couple personally so he can find the perfect combination of photographic styles to create a story that is uniquely their own.
Sox is a qualified and experienced makeup and wardrobe freelancer. She is based in Auckland, New Zealand where she works on various productions as a key makeup artist, makeup/wardrobe standby on set and stylist. Sox has worked with many acts on their tours to New Zealand such as Lady Gaga, and is looking forward to her next challenge: working on the acclaimed Taylor Swift show which arrives in New Zealand shortly.
Sox's favourite nature escape High Alpine Skiing in fresh snow
beauty PHOTOGR APHY Jose Villa FLOR AL STYLING K ate of Flower wild
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHY Jose Villa FLOWERS Kate of Flowerwild MAKE UP Mar of TEAM hair and make up GOWN Claire Pettibone FILM Fuji Film PROCESSING & SCANNING Richard Photo Lab CAKE Enjoy Cupcakes
SHERYL BEN WILLS DOMAIN WINERY | WESTERN AUSTRALIA photography by Samm Blake
BEN & SHERYL MARRIED FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER MEETING IN HIGH SCHOOL IN PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. THEY BOTH ADORE THE STUNNING BEACHES, FORESTS, FOOD AND WINE OF THEIR HOME STATE AND COULD NOT GO PAST WILLS DOMAIN WINERY, IN THE FAMOUS MARGARET RIVER WINE REGION, TO HOST THEIR WEDDING.
Their neutral colour palette of cream, brown, green and an accent of blush pink was a perfect fit with the landscape and reflected their rustic and organic theme. They used natural fibres and recycled materials in most of their design elements and amongst the floral arrangements of magnolia branches, peony roses, snowball viburnum and ranunculus, there were even stalks of wheat! Ben and Sheryl’s advice to those planning their weddings is to ‘have the wedding you want, not the wedding you are expected to have’. They decided to do a few things differently: choosing a cocktail reception over a sit-down dinner, and to walk down the aisle together. Both of these things made for some fantastic moments - they both loved seeing their families and friends as they walked down the aisle, and the unknown band that they took a chance on to perform at the reception, were brilliant and really helped to create the party atmosphere they were after. Their wedding was undeniably theirs, and fit their brief of being natural, relaxed and fun!
Sheryl & Ben's favourite nature escape | Scuba diving on shipwrecks
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHY Samm Blake LOCATION Wills Domain Winery FLOWERS Natural Art by Rebecca Grace DRESS Aurelio Costarella BRIDES SHOES Wittner GROOMS SHOES Florsheim GROOMS TIE Ben Sherman SUITS Travellers Apparel BRIDES HEADPIECE Pleasure Little Treasure CUFFLINKS Cuff Off
TheBallad of Herb & Daisy a fairy tale of a love story BY THE MAG ROUGE TEAM
rustic and fr agra rosemary, da nt bouquet of hlias, wild b lackberry and daisies.. .
HERB AND DAISY IS A STORY CREATED BY {MAG}ROUGE AND INSPIRED BY LOVE, MUSIC AND NATURE. Herb loves Daisy, and she him. They live at the end of a long road, just out of town. Herb has a serious desk job by day but at night he plays the guitar for Daisy. Sometimes she joins in on the tambourine. Daisy has a little business selling honey from their beehives and baking cakes which are always in hot demand. When Herb and Daisy got married they wanted their friends to celebrate with them in the big field behind their house. They wanted their day to be all about love and music and lots of yellow and green, and cake and sweet things.
Daisy’s dress was long and flowing. Herb wore a simple white linen shirt and his best corduroy trousers and borrowed an accordion for the day so he could serenade Daisy with a song he wrote just for her. This sweet tune was the ballad of Herb and Daisy.
Cam & Eliza's favourite nature escape | Mountain biking in the hills
credits
PHOTOGRAPHY Sutherland Kovach Studio STYLING {MAG} rouge Team STATIONERY Ruby & Willow Design Studio FOOD Artisan Cakes VIDEOGRAPHER BubbleRock Studios HAIR & MAKEUP Sox Teng FLOWERS Annie Oxborough MODELS Eliza & Cam ELIZA’S DRESS A la Robe CAM’S OUTFIT Rodd & Gunn SHOES Overland Footwear JEWELLERY Models’ own CHAIRS The Vitrine CUTLERY & PLACEMATS Le Monde
everyday I wake up bes
BIG HEARTS BY CAMERON ELLIOTT (AKA HERB)
click here to watch the gorgeous film of herb & daisy
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1. Ballet Flats from Rubi 2. Cardigan from Glassons 3. Earrings from Anthropologie 4. Bouquet by Flowerwild (photo by Jose Villa) 5. Dress from A la Robe 6. Crème Brûlée Honey Bath from Laura Mercier 7. Invitation from Cocoa Berry
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how to create your own Herb & Daisy look
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1. Bowtie from Forage 2. Shirt from Rodd & Gunn 3. Lantern from Z Gallerie 4. Invitation from Simply Inviting 5. Corduroy trousers from Rodd & Gunn 6. Brogues from Strangely Normal 7. Bouquet by Flowerwild (photo by Jose Villa)
european
ELOPEMENT PARIS | ROME | FLORENCE BY BENJ HAISCH
Barry and Bre had a trip to Europe booked before they were married. A month before they left Barry proposed, and they both loved the idea of an adventurous and spontaneous elopement. In Bre’s words, “I wanted an epic story. I wanted pictures that no one else had. I wanted risk involved (not knowing where we were going or the photographer); I wanted to start our life out with an adventure. And an adventure was exactly what we had!” When it came to the destination, Bre was kept in suspense. Barry waited until they were boarding the plane to tell her they were going to Paris, and only revealed the Italian leg of their journey when the plane touched down in Venice!
re loved the element of surprise - that she didn’t know where they were going, or who would be photographing them.
As a model and stylist, the photography was one of the most important elements of the day for Bre. Barry had her convinced that he had booked an unknown photographer by the name of Markus to follow them around Rome for the day, but to Bre’s delight, when they were waiting for him to show up, a taxi arrived bearing their good friends and renowned wedding photographers Benj and Maddie, who shot these breathtaking pictures.
About 30 minutes into shooting, Barry whispers to me, “ Okay babe. I’m done.”. I gave him a look, as if he had lost his mind for a moment, and gently reminded him that
we were in Italy
and that we would be doing this ALL day :)
Nuptials BY NATURE Kellee
LOVER.LY
We asked some of our favourite bloggers and wedding vendors what nature meant to them when it comes to the big day. And what better way to demonstrate than by putting together these bundles from the brilliant visual search engine site Lover.ly.
Elizabeth
ELIZABETH MESSINA
Lover.ly is a new visual search engine and cloud scrapbook for all your wedding inspiration. We bring quality content, search-ability, technology and inspiration in one place. Lover.ly has an archive of over 100,000 images organized by our blogging editors and community of users. Our database is updating and evolving daily. Our visual search engine is designed to help users discover, search, save, and share inspiration for all things loverly.
Maria
RITZY BEE BLOG
Nature offers endless inspiration! We love how the natural beauty of outdoor settings can inspire so many wedding details - from the priceless scenery and backdrop, to a color palette of brilliant spring greens and darker wood tones, no matter what the season. Nature can inspire table top decor at the wedding with wildflowers, herbs... and even icons on printed paper goods such as trees and garlands.
Mindy
MINDY WEISS
I love the diversity of nature and the outdoors! From the beach to the mountains, from flowers to trees there's something for everyone. Outdoor weddings are some of my favorite, but when mother nature isn't cooperative one of my favorite things to do is bring the outdoors inside. Using the beauty of nature is the easiest way to create a stunning event.
Nuptials by nature Kathryn
SNIPPET & INK
Nature is the reason that green is my favorite color, so when I think of nature, the first thing that comes to mind is the color green. Although in nature, green isn't so much a color as it is a texture, and a location, and a mood. Perfect for inspiring a wedding!
Carissa
JL DESIGNS
Every time I head to the flowermart I am constantly amazed at the fact that I see something new...whether it's the color of a garden rose or the texture of a new type of parrot tulip, the flowers themselves are always changing and this is so inspiring for me as a designer! My favorite designs involve mixing the femininity of florals with more masculine elements of nature like wood, rocks and greens... so this bundle is a combination of all of these things!
peppermin
t
dill
thyme
BOTANICAL BEAUTY
by Meg Perotti & Yelena Johnson
INSPIRED BY BOTANICAL AND NATURALIST DRAWINGS, TOGETHER WITH WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS, THIS 'NATURE AS SCIENCE' SHOOT FEATURES QUIRKY AND WHIMSICAL FLOWERS THAT FLOW WITH NATURAL ENERGY. THE DRESS IS AN OTHERWISE SIMPLE SILHOUETTE WITH A BEAUTIFUL RUFFLED SKIRT SUGGESTING ORGANIC MOVEMENT.
a tablescape in nature
OUR BRIDE IS A FREE SPIRITED NATURE LOVER AND INTELLECTUAL, STYLED WITH NATURAL M
MAKEUP AND A HEADPIECE WITH
wired butterfiles adorning
HER TOUSLED TRESSES.
BOTANICAL PRINTS, A DREAMY COLOR PALETTE AND COLLECTED VINTAGE TREASURES INSPIRED THIS INVITATION SUITE, WHICH COMBINES LETTERPRESS PRINTING & WATERCOLOUR PAINTING. THE FLORA AND FAUNA CENTERED DESIGN IS EMBELLISHED WITH LETTERPRESS PRINTED MINI CANVAS FLAGS, ATTACHED WITH HAND-DYED SILK RIBBON, AND A VINTAGE HANDWRITTEN LOVE LETTER ENVELOPE .
Specimen A
Specimen C
Specimen B
Specimen D
STYLE TIP
Work other items besides flowers into your displays. Raid your home and include your most treasured items and other natural elements to add touches of whimsy and personality. Don't be afraid to decorate with non traditional pieces.
PHOTOGRAPHY Meg Perotti, STYLING AND DESIGN Yelena Johnson of The Stylish Soiree, FLORALS Karen of Huckleberry Designs, RENTALS One True Love Vintage Rentals, DRESS Haute Bride, ADDITIONAL PROP RENTAL Paxton Gate, STATIONERY The Aeralist Press, HAIR & MAKEUP Jane Kim of The Glamourist
h t i d k e r e e r e M &D
ROCKWATER SECRET COVE RESORT | BRITISH COLUMBIA | CANADA by melia sorenson of lucida photography
M
Meredith describes hers and Derek’s story of a case of love at second sight! They’d met through mutual friends but it wasn’t until three years later at the Pemberton Music Festival in British Columbia that sparks began to fly. They had heard about a resort on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, though she didn’t know the name of it, only that it had boardwalks leading into the forest, deluxe tent suites built on rocks on the water and was a little like an Ewok village! It turned out to be the beautiful Rockwater Secret Cove Resort. Meredith and Derek wanted their wedding to be an intimate celebration shared with their favourite people and found that the Rockwater was a perfect fit.
Meredith & Derek found
THAT THINKING ABOUT THE WEDDING AS THOUGH THEY W E R E PLANNING A B IG, FUN PARTY, HELPED TO ALLEVIATE ANY ST R E S S THAT CREPT UP. THEY ALSO AGREED THAT THEIR PLANN I N G CUT-OFF DATE WOULD BE A WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING. “ W E AGREED THAT WHAT WASN'T SORTED OUT BY THEN WO U L D JUST BE WHAT IT WAS, SO IT WASN'T WORTH STRES S I N G OVER BECAUSE IT WOULD BE OUT OF OUR CONTROL AT T H AT POINT. WE VOWED TO RELAX AND HAVE FUN THE RES T O F THE WAY AND WE DID AND EVERYTHING TURNED OUT GR E AT ! ”
Moments that stood out for the couple were their ceremony, which they describe as magical, the time they spent on their photographs, just the two of them, and for Meredith particularly, Derek’s speech which was ‘beautiful’.
We both have very small immediate families so our friends are very important to us. It would not have been the same without them.�
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHER Melia Sorenson of Lucida Photography LOCATION The Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, Halfmoon Bay, BC Canada FLOWERS Mi-Won Christiaanse BRIDES DRESS Monique Lhuillier BRIDE & GROOMS SHOES Nine West GROOM & GROOMSMENS TIES Burberry SUITS Calvin Klein STATIONERY Fred Fung
W W W. J U D I T M E R O N . C O. N Z
Cocoa Berry. - I N V I TAT I O N B Y D E S I G N -
Snow's Tableau
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WHITE LOFT STUDIO | STYLED BY BECCA OLCOTT
the glimmer of freshly fallen snow
In New England we have four seasons that come before we know it and then leave us with unexpected longing. This shoot was inspired by these emotional connections and the stark winter light; serene natural beauty; the colors of the Maine woods, and the glimmer of freshly fallen snow. With a foundation of natural wood and white accents, I added touches of soft sparkle for glowing warmth. Earthy tones and textures add depth from the course un-ripened berries, wispiness of the fern, draping berries, and the lush garden roses and ranunculus finish this look with a splash of season-less color. The table was draped with a shimmery linen that was hand-ripped to create a natural fringe. Vintage perfume bottles and spools were introduced for some unexpected whimsy while an antique tapestry grounded the table and tied in the black accent on the vintage plates. The worn pewter candlesticks, burlap wrapped votives, and chandelier of branches and blooms juxtaposed the flatware and gold-rimmed stemware of a bygone era. The bride was ethereal, from her Jenny Peckman gown, touches of glitter and crown of paper twine + fresh blooms. And the distressed Frye boots were perfect for romping around in the snow!
Chandelier of Branches & Blooms
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHER White Loft Studio FLORAL + STYLING Becca Olcott MAKE-UP Kelly O'Keefe HAIR Kris Pavo VENUE The Barn on Walnut Hill DRESS Callie Dress by Jennie Packham from Everthine Bridal Boutique MACARONS/DESSERT Claudia Crowell CALLIGRAPHY Megan Chapin PROP RENTALS A Family Affair of Maine (with help from Pillars Antique Store) FURNITURE RENTALS New England Country Rentals
THE ROBIN'S MY CRITERION FOR TUNE Because I grow — where Robins do — But, were I Cuckoo born — I'd swear by him — The ode familiar — rules the Noon — The Buttercup's, my Whim for Bloom — Because, we're Orchard sprung — But, were I Britain born, I'd Daisies spurn — None but the Nut — October fit — Because, through dropping it, The Seasons flit — I'm taught — Without the Snow's Tableau Winter, were lie — to me — Because I see — New Englandly — The Queen, discerns like me — Provincially — Emily Dickinson
colour story ruby + teal
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OA M
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WA R
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styling and photography by Kate Holland
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the decor
create your own ruby & teal wedding story... the bouquet
the dress
the shoes
waihi water lily gardens | waihi PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRETA KENYON FROM VELA IMAGES
Francesca and Dan (well, Francesca in particular) became obsessed with the 1920s and 30s just before they got engaged, so when it came time to plan and style their wedding they knew they wanted to infuse it with their newfound passion! With that in mind, they chose a waterlily garden as the venue. The waterlilies reminded Francesca of old paintings and cake tins and was an ideal place to celebrate their romantic and relaxed day in true vintage style. In keeping with the 20s theme, Francesca commissioned her gorgeous drop waist dress from Corina Snow. She'd fallen in love with the fashion of the era and was looking for something classic and elegant in lace. While browsing through a wedding magazine she saw a picture of the back of a similar dress that Corina had designed and excitedly made an appointment to meet with her.
Francesca & Dan’s favourite nature escape | an African safari
“My advice to other couples? Have fun with it!! Try to include details about your personalities and style as a couple – the more you put in the more the day will feel unique and yours!”
Family and friends helped with the planning and sourcing of items, including the beautiful vintage car that took Francesca to the ceremony. The owner, Roger, had in fact sold the car a few weeks before, but only on the condition that he could still use it to drive Francesca to her wedding!
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHER Vela Images LOCATION Waihi Water Lily Gardens FLOWERS Koru Florist DRESS Corina Snow BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Jill Denchy Design MENS SUITS Exclusive Suit Hire JEWELLERY Angela Daniel TRANSPORTATION Roger Ward BRIDE’S HEADPIECE Twigs and Honey
Francesca and Dan felt that their wedding was really ‘them’. The many hours spent planning and designing were all worth it to them as it was like no other wedding they had been to. Sharing the beautiful day with their parents, families and close friends made it perfect! “My advice to other couples? Have fun with it!! Try to include details about your personalities and style as a couple – the more you put in the more the day will feel unique and yours!”
annika & doug budir, iceland by nordica photography
Annika and Doug met as students at MIT. A few years later, when Doug was living in London and Annika in Boston, they met for a long weekend in Iceland and fell in love with the country, particularly its natural beauty, scenery and colours. Annika and Doug both love destination weddings and the idea of days of fun spent hanging out with their guests appealed to them. Beyond their love for the country, Iceland was the ideal place for their destination wedding as it was a convenient halfway point for family travelling from North America and Scandinavia. They booked their venue - Hotel Budir - sight unseen, but a trip four months prior to the wedding confirmed that they’d made the perfect choice. They loved the rustic, yet chic feel of the hotel and its dramatic location, surrounded by mountains and the ocean.
iceland In Iceland, every season has it's own unique magical charm and memorable experiences. In the peak of Summer the sun dips to the horizon but never actually sets and in Winter the amazing, multi-coloured lights of the aurora can be seen to dance across the night sky. However regardless of the time of year the least densely populated country in Europe has a great reputation for always being extremely warm and welcoming. There is also never any shortage of truly mesmerizing landscapes to marvel at. Ten per cent of Iceland is covered with glaciers - large bodies of ice. Usually white in most countries, Icelandic glaciers are often layered with strips of black ice too as a result of the large amounts of volcanic ash which falls on them. When a glacier retreats a lake often forms with floating icebergs adding even more drama to this intense visual symphony.
confessions OF A WEDDING PLANNER
by Rhiannon Nicole
'll be the first to admit that wedding planning as a profession is sort of an ambiguous thing to explain. It's easy to assume I operate a la Jennifer Lopez in 2001's The Wedding Planner but I like to think the service I provide, and the wedding industry as a whole, has sort of evolved into something bigger. I spend dozens of hours at my computer, long into the night, managing emails, something that the aforementioned movie most certainly left out. And while I don't wear a headset on the day of production, I do typically spend 16 to 18 hours on my feet at each event doing everything from set up and tear down, to playing all those roles in between (like dress-fixer, bouquet-re-doer, child-wrangler, linen-finder, tear-dryer, and the list goes on). I learned really quickly in my line of work, that everyone wants to be a wedding planner. It's a profession that seems to be so glamorous and lucrative at first glance, but people are quick to turn and run when they begin to see what it really takes to make it as a successful wedding professional. I get many emails from potential clients who tell me they need help, as in 'I really need you!' (or: as in, they really need me,) because wedding planning has amounted to much more than they can handle. The funny thing is, these brides and grooms, and parents, are not quite sure what they need me for. They don't get what I do, or why my prices are set the way they are. Explaining what I do, why I am an investment worth making, why I charge what I do to a potential couple is something I've had to really get comfortable with doing. It's not easy to sell a service. It's tough work convincing a bride, a groom or in most cases, a parent who is footing the bill, that thousands of dollars for something you won't be able to physically see is going to be one of the best decisions you'll make relating to your wedding day. You do get to see what we do as planners, coordinators and stylists, in so many phenomenal, memorable and life-changing ways. With a wedding planner, the mother of the bride gets to help her daughter get into her wedding gown, because she won't be stuck setting up the escort cards as guests start to trickle in for the ceremony. With a wedding planner, the bride won't arrive to her reception and be disappointed to find that her centerpieces are missing half the roses she had been promised. With a wedding planner, this issue would have been resolved hours earlier, when the florist first delivered the arrangements. With a planner, your guests are taken care of when someone who's had too many cocktails needs a cab home at the end of the night and your venue coordinator has already headed home. With a wedding planner, family gets to be just that: family. Not Advil-fetchers, cake-table-setter-uppers or candle-lighters. Not sure when it's time for Uncle Joe to make his dinner toast? Your wedding planner will have that covered too. On my big day I didn't hire a wedding planner. For personal and financial reasons I spent my wedding day foolishly rushing around like a madwoman trying to set up centerpieces, making sure to greet each and every vendor when my bridesmaids were getting dressed, all while forgetting and running out of time to even shave my legs. All of this on a day where I should have felt beautiful and well, not as stressed as I really was. Perhaps that's why I feel so passionate about what I do now. I get to hug moms, who at the end of an undeniably long day are so happy they took the time to get to know my philosophies. photo by Peter McKinnon
photo by Peter McKinnon
- A Full Service Wedding Planner A full service wedding planner's role is to be your advocate every step of the way throughout your planning process. Typically, a full service planner is hired immediately after an engagement and is responsible for things like helping to find the perfect ceremony and reception space. From overseeing the logistics of your wedding, selecting vendors that fit in with your budget and style, and assisting with areas involving etiquette, tablescapes and a day of timeline, a wedding planner can be a key player in making your wedding day truly come together. On the big day, s/he will be responsible for managing all involved vendors, handling final payments and gratuities on your behalf, making sure the day flows according to plan and fixing any problem should they arise. By the time your big day arrives, the person you have hired will know you, your fiancĂŠ, your family and ultimately your big day, in every form and capacity possible. A full service wedding planner should provide you with a service that feels like it was undeniably the most valuable investment you made wedding-wise. And in my personal opinion, if you really find the perfect fit in a wedding planner, they will become a friend in your and your spouse's life, long after your wedding has come and gone.
photo by Elizabeth in Love
- A Day of Wedding Coordinator -
Brides who took that leap of faith by hiring a planner, a vendor who isn't going to provide a tangible product, but instead an experience that is truly unparalleled. I get to send off into the night very tired newly married couples, who are so completely high on happiness that their big day was everything and more. I get to essentially make dreams come true. And I'll be the first to confess that those 18-hour days are so worth it. If you're still confused at what a wedding planner or coordinator or designer or stylist (remember, I used the word ambiguous above) may do, here's a brief breakdown of various industry duties. One confession I'm not afraid to admit is that we wedding planners sure do have one vast array of titles and names for what we do! www.heygorgeousevents.com
photo by Elizabeth in Love
Rhi xoxo
A DOC (as they are traditionally called in short form) is a wedding planner hired by a bride and groom partially through their wedding planning process. Couples looking for a DOC are typically a few months out from their big day, and are starting to feel like an extra set of hands will be helpful in those last few critical planning stages. Day of Coordinators typically start their communication with their clients anywhere from eight to three weeks prior to the wedding day, and will get caught up to speed on everything that has already been planned and vendors who have been secured. Your DOC will create a timeline for your wedding day, manage the logistics of the day and handle 'day of' issues, much like what a full service wedding planner would do. They may offer limited services to DOC clients in comparison to the services offered in their full service packages. For obvious reasons, day of services are significantly less money than full service wedding planning packages.
- A Wedding Stylist or Designer Some full service wedding planners will include styling services in their packages (as I do), but a wedding stylist is responsible for focusing on the aesthetics of your big day. Tablescapes and linens, bouquets and centerpieces, photo backdrops, clever favors, ceremony programs, room arrangements and floor plans, dÊcor and lighting – all of these things are details that make up the look and vibe of your wedding and are components that a stylist will help you to perfect. A really amazing stylist will be able to guide you into making decisions so the above-mentioned areas all fit cohesively together. Some select vendors will offer styling services without being bundled together with coordination services (i.e. they will make your wedding look a specific way but they won't be at the church to make sure your flower girl gets down the aisle on time) but most group styling services into their full service planning and coordination packages so as to provide an inclusive experience.
CHRISTINA & SEAN BRISBANE POWERHOUSE | BRISBANE photography by jonas peterson
Christina and Sean started off as the best of friends but it didn’t take long until love blossomed! Both originally from Sydney, they now make their home in Brisbane. Many guests were travelling interstate for their wedding so they wanted to showcase as much of Brisbane as possible in one day. With that in mind they both immediately agreed on a venue overlooking the spectacular Brisbane River. The Brisbane Powerhouse, with its industrial look, fit the bill exactly.
Christina & Sean's favourite nature escape | relaxing beach holiday
“ As I approached the top of the aisle I was nervous just as I had anticipated. As soon as Sean took my hand I started to giggle and under my breath I asked him if he was nervous. He whispered ‘yes’. For some reason my nerves disappeared from then on and I was completely calm and relaxed for the entire ceremony!”
hristina’s favourite moment of the day was Sean meeting her at the top of the aisle. Her dad was unable to walk her down the aisle and it just didn’t seem right to ask anyone else, and so she walked alone from the car to the top of the aisle, where Sean met her so they could walk down the aisle together.
Christina researched magazines and blogs for inspiration and also enlisted the help of a planner. Victoria from The Little White Wedding Co listened to Christina’s thoughts and ideas and was able to source some amazing pieces that, in conjunction with the look of the venue gave the couple the perfect style and feel that they were after. “Sean and I have reflected on the day many times and we both agree that it was our guests that made our wedding special. We had a very intimate wedding with only our closest family and friends. We loved having everyone that meant the world to us all together in the same place at the one time.”
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHER Jonas Peterson STYLING/COORDINATING The Little White Wedding Company LOCATION Brisbane Powerhouse FLOWERS Green & Bloom BRIDES DRESS Vera Wang BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES Rachel Gilbert BRIDES SHOES Kate Spade GROOMS SHOES Hugo Boss SUITS Hugo Boss STATIONERY Ruby & Willow
Brunch by the Beach styled by MAGrouge
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So the big day that you had been preparing so devotedly (and sometimes frantically) for the last year or so, is over! All the excitement, expectations, happy smiles and tears, sweet vows, celebration speeches, food and dancing have passed in a heartbeat. Your family and close friends are still around the next morning so it seems just right to spend some time with them on the beach. A light and flavourful barbecue will finish off the festivities nicely.
On a hot summer day offer plenty of drinks: minty lemonades, chilled spring water and of course, champagne to make a toast again to the happy couple! Cheers!
Our bride and groom have opted for seafood galore: crayfish, scampi, butterflied prawns and scallop.s They are so tender and flavorsome that they only need a bit of oil/butter, a squeeze of lemon and a dash of seasoning to enjoy them at their best. Another option is to brush them with a mix of garlic and parsley, a splash of olive oil and flash them quickly on the grill. To accompany the seafood, try some nice salads, corn on the cob or some rustic bread rolls. Ice blocks (alcohol optional), fruit tarts and trifles in a jar will be appreciated not only by the children, but the fun loving, sweet toothed adults too.
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHY Sutherland Kovach STYLING Ruby & Willow Design Studio FOOD Artisan Cakes MODELS Lili, Hereata, Dave, Natalie, Mike BBQ Supreme Barbeques FURNITURE Coastal Designs APRON, CUSHIONS, TEATOWELS, BEACHTOWELS Citta Design Outlet ORNAMENTS & LANTERNS Bed Bath & Table CLOTHES Models’ own
Fresh fruits and popsicles take us back to the carefree summer days of childhood...
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1. Rattan Hurrican Lantern from Citta 2. Shirt from Gap 3. Cap from Country Road 4. Striped Towel from Citta 5. Shorts from Country Road 6. Canvas Shoes from Country Road 7. Plates from Anthropologie
get the look...
BRUNCH by the BEACH
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1. Rustic Pottery Servingware from Citta 2. Dress from Anthropologie 3. Bag from Anya Hindmarch 4. Art Bowls from Anthropologie 5. Espadrilles from Country Road 6. Invitation by Ruby & Willow
Auckland’s Civic Theatre, one of the last remaining atmospheric theatres in the world, was built in 1929. It was, and still is, New Zealand’s largest cinema. Built in the Rococo style, it was intended as a ‘movie palace’ to show the new talking films which had just arrived into the country. Its facade is decorated with Indian moghul palace motifs and its opulent interior features seated Buddhas, twisted columns, domed ceilings and statues of Abyssinian panthers. The auditorium’s roof skyscape is a model of the night sky in the Southern Hemisphere. The Civic is a true Auckland landmark and has delighted generations of the city’s residents since its construction.
hannahandAdam the civic theatre
auckland
photography by sutherland kovach
The stage with its minarets and turrets makes for a dramatic setting for the ceremony and reception.
HANNAH HAD EXTREMELY FOND MEMORIES OF GOING TO MATINEE MOVIES AT THE CIVIC THEATRE AS A YOUNG GIRL (AND BARELY BEING ABLE TO WATCH THE FILM AT TIMES AS SHE WAS TOO IN AWE OF HER INCREDIBLE SURROUNDINGS). SHE DIDN’T THINK THEY CATERED FOR WEDDINGS AND STARTED LOOKING ELSEWHERE BUT A NAGGING VOICE IN HER HEAD GOT THE BETTER OF HER AND SHE FINALLY CALLED THEM.
Hannah and Adam describe their Art Deco-themed wedding as elegant, hilarious and fun! Their theme influenced the venue choice, stationery, the cake, jewelry, jazz music and bridal gown. The couple were inspired by Hannah’s love for the era, and the beautiful engagement ring that Adam had chosen for her. Hannah and Adam loved every aspect of their day - having their incredible loved ones around them, the hilarious speeches, the emotional ceremony, the fun filled photo session at The Winter Gardens & The Civic (particularly the Vanity Fair inspired photos), the theatre itself, the delicious food, the amazing music & the epic dance floor!
Hannah & Adam's favourite nature escape | Sailing in the Whitsundays
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHY Sutherland Kovach LOCATION The Civic Theatre CAKE City Cake Company MUSIC Nathan Haines Jazz Quartet FLOWERS Me, Myself & I CELEBRANT Adrienne Dallimore HAIR Blaze Hair Newmarket MAKEUP Chloe Delamore @ Grace For Beauty DRESS Karen Willis Holmes BRIDES SHOES Wittner TIES Hugo Boss GROOMS SUIT The Cloakroom, Brisbane GROOMSMEN SUITS Frank Casey
Vine dining PHOTOS Stacey Hedman Photography STYLING Desiree Spinner Events
Credi ts
PHOTOGRAPHY Stacey Hedman STYLING AND DESIGN Desiree Spinner Events VENUE Truro Vineyards, Truro, MA CAKE Krazy Kakes EVENT RENTALS: TABLES: New England Country Rentals, TABLE-TOP RENTALS AND CHAIRS Be Our Guest FLORAL DESIGN Petal Floral Design FAVORS Truro Vineyards Wine HAIR Sarah Aspen STATIONERY Griffin-Vites Watercolor Stationery MAKEUP Kali Fornasaro
California Vineyards meets East Coast
A COZY
intimate DINNER RECEPTION IN THE VINES WITH fresh fruits AND VEGETABLES AND A TASTE OF SO
OME EAST COAST WINES
SIOBHAN PETE HUNTER VALLEY | NSW
AUSTRALIA by Christine Pobke
Pete and Siobhan are high school sweethearts, having met in a Business Studies class at the age of 16. Ten years later they celebrated their vintage Parisian-inspired wedding at the gorgeous Margan Family Wines in New South Wales, Australia. The weather had been touchand-go in the week prior to the wedding. On the day itself, clouds loomed ominously but an hour before the ceremony they gave way to brilliant sunshine and the wedding came off without a hitch. Siobhan and Pete tried to personalise their day as much as possible, from the handmade wooden directional signs at the front of the venue, to the ceremony program fans and signature cocktails. They handmade favours for their guests - the ladies received pocket mirrors featuring a rose pattern and the gentlemen each received a pair of cufflinks with their initials. A photo booth, complete with props, was also available for the guests, with one copy of each photo pasted into Siobhan and Pete’s guestbook with a message.The photo booth was a real hit, with the photos getting crazier and crazier as the night went on! The couple really enjoyed choosing, and working on all the details and loved seeing them come together on the day.
peonies
lotus pods, hydrangeas, berries, LAMB’S EAR
A favourite moment for both Siobhan and Pete was when they first set eyes on each other as Siobhan walked down the aisle. Siobhan describes “that feeling of excitement, nervousness and relief that it was all finally happening” as being indescribable. “During our reception, I asked a very special friend to sing for us. His rendition of Moon River was so popular with the rest of our guests, that they cheered him on throughout the night and he joined in with the band for several more songs!”
Credi ts
LOCATION Margan Family Wines, NSW, Australia PHOTOGRAPHER Pobke Photography CELEBRANT Kerry Tippett FLOWERS Jade McIntosh Flowers HAIR Lisa Fowler Hair + Make Up DRESS Vera Wang BRIDESMAIDS Zimmermann & Custom Made by Soula SHOES Giuseppe Zanotti SUITS Roger David ENTERTAINMENT The Baker Boys STATIONERY Mae Mae Paperie CAKE Queen of Tarts JEWELLERY Jennifer Behr & Samantha Wills TRANSPORT Exclusive Vintage Wedding Cars
TROPIQUE BOTANIQUE photos by Leo Patrone design & styling by Dolce Designs Studio
Our GARDEN INSPIRED photo shoot has a breezy, effortless feel about it. The dĂŠcor features vintage touches with gold trimmed china and a stack of suitcases displaying the cake, which rests below a beautiful, off-white chandelier. The rustic wooden table paired with FRESH FLOWERS brings a very earthy feel to this green and yellow outdoors motif. The light colors and crisp white walls bring an airy, open atmosphere to this summery shoot. Dolce Designs Studio
Planner: Sonia Sharma Events Florals & Design: Dolce Designs Studio Photographer: Leo Patrone Photography Cake: Cupcakes Couture of Manhattan Beach Stationery: Mintwich Design
www.flow ersby blu sh . c o . nz
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Life is a series of moments; honour every one of them
Get in touch for a one hour complimentary consultation to find out more WWW.BEAUTIFULEVENTS.CO.NZ | HELLO@BEAUTIFULEVENTS.CO.NZ 09 948 8130 | 021 0488 130
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Thanks to everyone for all your support and enthusiasm for this project. We hope you enjoyed our second issue as much as we loved putting it together. See you in June!!
Until then for daily inspiration be sure to check out our blog www.magnoliarouge.com
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