Summer Wedding Inspiration

I've been motivated by this beautiful summer day here in Adelaide to collect a range of fresh and colourful images which I hope will inspire you to create the summer wedding of your dreams.

Yasmin xo 

Week 23 - 52 Rituals/Traditions in 52 Weeks

Acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the land

I thought I might share this with you as I have been on occassion asked to begin a ceremony with an acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the land upon which we have stood.

An acknowledgement is a great way of paying respect to those who have come before us and can be done whether or not you have an indigenous background. The two examples here are from one particular area, using specific groups, but wherever you are in the world, you can easily use similar wording to pay respect and honour the traditional owners of the land on which you stand.

It is believed that paying tribute brings good luck by ensuring that you are beginning on a positive note.

“We acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we are meeting upon here today. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of Aboriginal peoples to country. We also pay respects to the cultural authority of Aboriginal peoples visiting/attending from other areas of South Australia/Australia present here.”

OR

“We would like to acknowledge this land that we meet on today is the traditional lands of the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with their country. We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the custodians of the greater Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still important to the living Kaurna people today.”

If you are thinking of adding something like this to your ceremony, or are assisting a couple who would like to have something similar included, be sure to check the details of the traditional owners of the land that you will be performing the ceremony on.

Also check out one of our previous rituals/traditions - a traditional smoking ceremony.

The Wedding Gurus

UGG Boot Wedding Collection

Yes that's right, it's not a misprint. The fabulous Aussie's and creators of the UGG Boot have done the unthinkable - yep, they've created a bridal UGG collection.

         

Check out this fun picture from the NY Daily News was taken by Clarke Walker Studios and shows the bride wearing a pair of the bridal UGGs while the bridal party wear traditional ones.

You can read the full article at:

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/australian-footwear-company-uggs-unveils-line-brides-article-1.1084348

It's called the 'UGG I Do Wedding Collection' and consists of:

The 'Bailey Bling I Do' Boot (RRP: $225)

The 'Sparkles I Do' Boot (RRP: $190)

The 'Fluff Flip Flop I Do' Slipper (RRP: $80)

After a long day of standing, photos and saying your hello's to every guest how fantastically comfy would it be to throw off those stinging stilettos and wack on a pair of these at the reception?

We absolutely love them, but then again we love anything original and new (especially when it's shoes!). We would love to hear what you think so please give us your thoughts.

If you are interested in purchasing a pair of these gorgeous things you can find them at
UGG Australia:

http://www.uggaustralia.com/i-do-wedding-shoe-collection/the-i-do-collection,default,sc.html?icid=ft_wedding

The Wedding Gurus

xxx

A Perfect Wedding, By The Wedding Guru’s

We’ve put together for you a little poem (non-rhyming) that covers all of the things that we believe are the most important for couples to remember in planning for and on your big day. We often see couples who are upset that their cars came late or the bride’s makeup was not exactly perfect and these little things go on to ruin one of the most important days of their lives. After putting in so much time, effort and hard work, we don’t want you to miss one single, tiny beautiful moment and so here are a few helpful hints we wanted to share with you!

A Perfect Wedding, By The Wedding Guru’s

A perfect wedding must be planned. Not perfect with ‘things’, but perfect with feelings, memories and sentiment. Where the important things are foremost and the little things forgotten.

Take time in the planning, really speak to each other and create amazing ideas based on mutual love, contribution and respect.

Remember the relationship above all. Spend quality time with each other without discussing the wedding,.

Give your vows much consideration and use them to really tell your marriage partner how much they mean to you. Look them in the eyes when you speak the words.

Don’t get caught up with the little things, whatever will be, will be.

On the day: Stop often and take in your surroundings. See your loved ones, the scenery, your partners hand in yours. It will be over in a heartbeat.

Let your heart remind your why you are there. Not the pretty dress or the lavish party. To stand side by side and pledge your love for eternity.

Find quiet moments in the chaos to just be with the other. Kiss, embrace and thank them for their love.

Don’t get so caught up in the excitement that you forget to just be there for each other.

When you dance, hold each other tight and look into each others eyes as if there is no-one else in the room.

Take the time to speak to each of your guests and thank them for their love and support.

MOST OF ALL…..

Laugh a lot, smile until your face hurts, feel more love than your heart can bear and breathe in every glorious second of it.

A perfect wedding day doesn’t just happen, you must create it with your thoughts, actions and words.

These are the laughs, the tears, memories and feelings that you will recall often with deep gratitude and love throughout your life.

The Wedding Guru’s

xxx

Our picks for the top 100 wedding songs

Choosing songs for your wedding can be a challenging task and it can become a really stressful one if you have no idea where to start.  So, we have put together for you our favourite top 100 songs for you to help you make some choices. Feel free to let us know if there is one you love that we haven’t included.

1. Don't Wanna Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
2. You're Still The One - Shania Twain 
3. Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
4. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
5. Amazed - Lonestar
6. Angels - Robbie Williams
7. When You Say Nothing At All - Ronan Keating
8. Everything I Do (I Do It For You) - Bryan Adams
9. I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
10. You're Beautiful - James Blunt
11. Shania Twain - From This Moment
12. Van Morrison - Have I Told You Lately
13. All About Loving You - Bon Jovi
14. Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John
15. Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peobo Bryson and Roberta Flack
16. I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You – Elvis Presley
17. Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
18. Endless Love – Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
19. Dream Come True – Frozen Ghost
20. Unforgettable - Natalie & Nat King Cole
21. After All - Peter Cetera & Cher
22. All My Life - Linda Ronstadt
23. All My Life - KC & JoJo
24. Always - Atlantic Star
25. Always & Forever - Heatwave
26. A Whole New World - Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle
27. Back At One - Bryan McKnight
28. Beautiful In My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
29. Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
30. Breathe - Faith Hill
31. Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
32. Chances Are - Johnny Mathis
33. Colour My World - Chicago
34. Could I Have This Dance - Anne Murray
35. Crazy - Patsy Cline
36. Don't Know Much - Linda Ronstant & Aaron Neville
37. Faithfully - Journey
38. Forever - Mariah Carey
39. Forever and Ever, Amen - Randy Travis
40. From Here To Eternity - Michael Peterson
41. Groovy Kind Of Love - Phil Collins
42. Grow Old With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter
43. Hawaiian Wedding Song - Andy Williams
44. Here & Now - Luther Vandross
45. I Can Love You Like That - John Michael Montgomery or All-4-One
46. I Could Not Ask For More - Edwin McCain
47. I Cross My Heart - George Strait
48. I Do (Cherish You) - 98 Degrees or Mark Wills
49. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
50. I Finally Found Someone - Bryan Adams & Barbara Streisand
51. I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden
52. I'll Be - Edwin McCain
53. I'll Still Be Loving You - Restless Heart
54. I Love The Way You Love Me - John Michael Montgomery
55. In This Life - Colin Raye
56. I Only Have Eyes For You - Art Garfunkel
57. It Had To Be You - Harry Connick Jr.
58. It's Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
59. I Swear - John Michael Montgomery or All-4-One
60. Keeper Of The Stars - Tracy Byrd
61. Lady In Red - Chris Deburgh
62. Look At Us - Vince Gill
63. Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
64. Love Can Build A Bridge - Judds
65. Love Of A Lifetime - Firehouse
66. Love Of My Life - Sammy Kershaw
67. Masterpiece - Atlantic Starr
68. Moonlight Serenade - Glenn Miller
69. Moon River - Andy Willams
70. More Than Words - Extreme
71. More Than Words Can Say - Alias
72. My Best Friend - Tim McGraw
73. One In A Million - Larry Graham
74. Only You - Platters
75. Open Arms - Journey
76. Power Of Love - Celine Dion
77. Saving The Best For Last - Vanessa Williams
78. Sea Of Love - Honeydrippers
79. Stand By Me - Ben E. King
80. Still The One - Shania Twain
81. Take My Breath Away - Berlin
82. That's Amore - Dean Martin
83. That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick
84. The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley
85. The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
86. Through The Eyes Of Love - Melissa Manchester
87. Through The Years - Kenny Rogers
88. To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks
89. True Companion - Marc Cohn
90. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
91. Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker
92. Valentine - Martina McBride
93. Waiting For A Girl - Foreigner
94. We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters
95. What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
96. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge or Michael Bolton
97. When I Fall In Love - Nat King Cole or Celine Dion
98. When I Said I Do - Clint Black & Lisa Hartman-Black
99. When You Say Nothing At All - Keith Whitley 
100. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler

Backup Plans for Outdoor Weddings

So you’ve organised a lavish and beautiful wedding down on the golden sands of an amazing beach where the waves slowly crash to the ground making beautiful sounds perfect for the backdrop of your gorgeous ceremony at the waters edge. Your Bali flags are flapping brilliantly in the subtle wind and your flower laden archway looks like a piece of paradise against the vast water behind it. Doesn’t it sound just perfect?

Well it is until the nasty black cloud hovers overhead and begins to throw nasty big rain drops on your amazingly thought out setting. Yes nature can be very cruel and she doesn’t particularly care about all of the effort you have put in to your special day.

I write this because recently I performed a ceremony for a couple who had organised the perfect ceremony as described and despite my forewarning that sometimes the weather can change and a backup plan is worthwhile, they didn’t have anything in place.

When it began to rain hard about 20 minutes prior to the ceremony, they were forced to make a decision. Postpone the wedding, Wait out the rain or move venues. Given that they had a reception booked and would run out of time, waiting it out was not an option so they decided to do the only thing possible and ended up moving the ceremony to the Bride’s mother’s back garden under her verandah (rainproof of course!)

So I just wanted to remind everyone as we plan through spring which is notoriously windy and very unpredictable, to HAVE A BACKUP PLAN!

Simply ensuring that you have an alternate and suitable indoor venue will ensure that you are not running for the nearest shelter if the unthinkable happens. No one likes to see a soggy or windblown bride!!

Susan x