Tips for your Rustic Australian Bush Wedding

Embrace the style and unique beauty of the Australian landscape with a touch of glamour for a wedding that is truly Australian.  Look for country or bush wedding venues in gardens, paddocks on a farm or country resorts. A weathered verandah or deck in a wide open space is perfect, not to mention wineries.

Choose colours reflective of the Australian landscape such as grey greens to representative of the gumtree, rusty brown reds representative of the dusty outback plains and soft blues in honour of the cloudless Aussie skies.

In terms of styling and decor, use decorative items such as rusting horseshoes, an old wheelbarrow, silver galvanised buckets full of native flowers, mirrors glinting on walls, burlap orhessian table cloths, kerosene lamps, rustic baskets, enamel ware, old doilies and linen, old wooden tables, bentwood chairs, crystal glassware and old dinner sets.

For your favours think iconic Australian offerings such as Australian wine, Australian native seeds, small decorative pottery pots, or cram a gift basket with little jars of vegemite, Milo and Tim Tams, alongside homemade jams and pickles or chutneys.

Print your stationery with images of Australian native flowers, an old settler’s cottage or farmhouse.  Or simply use a motif and print it in your wedding colours.

Think flannel flowers, gumtree and wattle foliage. Combine with kangaroo paws, banksias, hakeas, berries, gumnuts, native clematis and boronia. Australian natives tied with silk ribbon in brown, soft pink, soft grey/green can look spectacular and pick up the subtle colours of the Australian bush.

In summer, choose soft, cool and comfortable fabrics, bare shoulders, jewelled sandals – dress for the heat and team with a wrap for the evening. Men will relish the less formal attire, light coloured, lightweight suits, with jackets tossed aside as the day gets hotter, and no ties!

Be bold with your menu and serve traditional Australian favourites such as meat pies, a slab of silverside with white sauce, chunks of damper, wedges of pavlova, custard slice with passionfruit icing, sponge cake with fruit and scones with lashings of jam and cream. If you’re adventurous, treat your guests to native Australian foods such as kangaroo or crocodile and add some traditional desserts and drinks such as peach melba, billy tea and fruit pies.  Beer is a must so include Australian boutique beers on the drinks menu together with the country’s best wines.

Keep the vibe light and upbeat with a traditional bush band and opt for local bands and singers. A playlist of familiar Australian tunes may even inspire the odd sing-a-long!

State of Grace Event

ididjeridoo were amongst a select group to be invited to the first ever State of Grace bridal event at the exclusive Home House in Portman Square last weekend and what an elegant event it was.

As we sipped bespoke champagne and picked at yummy canapes and cake we were flooded with ideas and inspiration from top industry professionals, such as Matthew Dickinson Flowers.

State of Grace is the brainchild of Lucia Silver, of cult Notting Hill store “The L Boutique”, and this event was all about showcasing the launch preview of State of Grace’s first bespoke shoe collection of over 150 colours, fabrics and different heel heights and of course the irresistibly elegant vintage-inspired wedding gowns and stunning accessories.

Lucia’s passion for celebrating idividulality is evident right through to the finest details of her collection. I fell in love with this collection and I urge you to visit Lucia’s collection at www.thestateofgrace.com and meet with her team of stylists for a consultation.

ididjeridoo's Top 5 Aussie Wedding Locations

Australia has so many locations ideal for weddings, making it a popular destination for international weddings as well as domestic travellers. A tropical island wedding in paradise, lush rainforest setting with cascading waterfalls or an opulent outback wedding with a difference, it's all here in Australia.

Here are ididjeridoo’s top five suggestions for your perfect Australian wedding location.

1. Sydney
Within the vibrant city of Sydney there are many excellent wedding venues and locations. One of the most popular areas is the beautiful Sydney Harbour, with the world renowned Opera House providing a unique backdrop for your wedding photos.
Other popular locations include beaches such as Bondi Beach, the Royal Botanic Gardens, or a tall ship wedding right on the harbour, providing a variety of stunning backdrops. You can even opt to marry on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

2. Gold Coast
The Gold Coast has an abundance of glamorous, idyllic wedding settings and offers a wide range of activities and hideaways for the perfect honeymoon. With many breathtaking beaches of miles of soft white sand and rugged headlands, ideal for a magical wedding and a Heritage listed Riverside Chapel at the Gold Coast Arts Centre, you’re spoiled for choice.
For uniquely opulence, experience the celebration atop the iconic Q1 Tower. Situated 230 metres above the Gold Coast, the Skylight Room on Level 78 of the iconic Q1 Tower offers floor to ceiling windows and breathtaking 360 degree views from the surf to the hinterland and beyond. Follow this with a luxury honeymoon at the totally decadent Palazzo Versace Hotel.

3. Cairns
Cairns, in north Queensland, is known for providing stunning wedding locations within a laid back, relaxed atmosphere. For a heavenly tropical island wedding setting, one of the many tranquil beaches such as Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach or Palm Cove would be idea. Imagine your wedding photographs - crystal clear waves lapping the white powder-like sand, with palm trees lining the beach.
If you prefer a lush rainforest setting, complete with brightly coloured parrots watching from nearby trees, there are many choices within the Cairns region. There are also many picturesque chapels for those who want a traditional church wedding.

4. Port Douglas
Further north in Queensland is Port Douglas. The holiday hideaway for the rich and famous, Port Douglas offers an abundance of magical wedding locations, with the infamous Great Barrier Reef on one side and World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest on the other.
With mesmerising beaches and spectacular, serene rainforests, Port Douglas is known for its seclusion, with a number of 5 star hotels. There are many glorious beaches and secluded rainforest spots that are perfect for your wedding, along with numerous beautifully ornate chapels nestled amongst the stunning scenery.

5. Uluru
If you envisage a wedding with a difference the majestic Uluru (Ayers Rock) may be just the place to exchange your vows. Offering an amazing backdrop for your photographs, with a magnificent array of outback colours and a number of near-by 5 star resorts.
No matter what setting you prefer, you’ll find it in Australia.

Eloping

There’s a certain feeling of romantic rebellion about eloping but it’s not for eveyone. If you’re toying with the idea of running away to tie the knot, first consider the pros and cons.
Eloping could be worth considering if …

• You would rather spend your hard-saved money on a blow-out honeymoon and stunning photography.

• You crave simplicity and find the thought of a year of wedding planning daunting.

• You don’t want the hassle of considering themes and styles etc. The joy of eloping is that you can marry whenever and wherever you like.

• A no-faff wedding is your idea of bliss. Fuss-free and easy.

• Intimacy is key. You envisage a personal ceremony with just the two of you (and your witnesses of course).

• You have family issues and would rather avoid arguments and an uncomfortable stiuation on your big day.

• You’ve always dreamt of a spontaneous and thrilling wedding rather than following tradition.

Tips & Warnings

• Eloping these days is less about running away and having a secret wedding and more about being unconventional and spontaneous. Think of it as an alternative to a traditional wedding.

• Have a ceremony, just the two of you, but throw a reception afterward for all your friends and family to be a part of.

• Hire a professional photographer then send out fab pictures of the event with your wedding announcement.

• Invite your parents and closest friends to come with you.

• Go ahead and keep your marriage a secret from your family, but let flight attendants and hotel clerks know! They may just bump you up to first class or offer extra perks with room service.

• Don't rush into a bad decision. Be completely sure you want to elope.

• Seriously consider the downsides of eloping. Will you regret not having a conventional wedding? Is your privacy worth excluding your family and friends?

• Many places offer elopement packages. They'll handle everything, including the license, ceremony, honeymoon, and even travel and accommodation. ididjeridoo can certainly help out here.

Australia's Culture Shock Gowns

Based in Sydney, Culture Shock creates stunning and unique designer wedding gowns. Their innovative collection includes made-to-measure and couture wedding gowns, all custom-made. Their designs are exquisitely coloured, Grecian, Oriental and Indian-inspired, vintage and retro themed wedding dresses and I’m a huge fan. My personal fave is the vintage-inspired collection with the beautiful beaded laces, bustles and fitted corsets that have a Hollywood-glamour drama.

Aaahh Fireworks!

Last night, neighbours and friends from my small London community gathered on the village green, as we do every year, to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night and witness a half hour display of glorious fireworks.

The magic of a fireworks display never wavers for me. For as far back as I can remember I would nestle myself between my sblings and parents and watch the display at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney with hot dogs and greasy chips in hand and heads tilted back, savouring every moment of the spectacule of light and color in the evening sky. As the fireworks pop, boom, and fizzle above us people roared and clapped with appreciation and I was always awe-struck!

While we were enjoying the amazing visual display above us this year, my thoughts, as always turned to weddings and the couples I have spoken to that are inspired by fireworks and choose to have a display at their wedding. And frankly, I can undesrtand why. Nothing adds drama to an occasion like a spectacular fireworks display.

As there are various factors that will affect the price of your firework display, ididjeridoo recommends:

Short and Memorable
The longer the firework display the more expensive it will be but keep in mind that a display of five to ten minutes will be more than enough to delight your guests without costing you a fortune. It’s better to have a short, high quality display, than a longer one with fewer simultaneous sequences.

Effects
The more complex and spectacular the firework display the more pricey. Work with a good pyrotechnic team to make sure they are basing the display on your fave fireworks and effects, which may not necessarily be the most expensive ones.

Tunes
Music brings a firework display to life, and having a professional fireworks display choreographed to ‘your song’ can be incredibly romantic. This option will be expensive but using a song that the supplier has already produced a firework display for will greatly reduce your costs so ask.

Alternatives and Extras
Indoors - You may think that you need an outdoor venue and a dark night sky to include fireworks in your wedding, but it is possible to have an indoor display such as silver fountains in the centre of the tables. Always check with your venue before book these.

Low Noise - If your venue has noise restrictions, or you just don’t like loud bangs it is possible to have quiet displays specially designed.

Fire Writing - Before, after, or during a firework display, it can be a lovely touch to have your names, initials or a brief message written in fire.

Surprise - Wedding firework displays are often booked as a surprise for the couple, perhaps by a close friend or relative. Most pyrotechnic companies will work with the venue to stage a surprise display, and will use unmarked vehicles and safety gear when setting up.

Top 10 ways to wed in NZ

There's nowhere in the world you'll find divine extremes of nature such as New Zealand offers. Majestic snow capped mountain peaks, clear tranquil lakes, dense rain forest, bubbling hot mud pools and all within two relatively small strips of island.

Here's ididjeridoo's fave options for the modern bride and groom-to-be getting married in New Zealand:

1. Bungy Jump Wedding - Definitely something strictly for the fearless! Why not have your ceremony on a bridge then celebrate the bond by bungy jumping to the bottom. There are a few options to choose from such as the Kawarau Suspension Bridge - a 43m drop from the bungy jump platform to the river.  The Skippers Canyon Bridge that towers 71m over the narrow Shotover River Gorge, the Pipeline  - 102m high, built on a single span suspension bridge across Skippers Canyon and for the brave hearted there's The Nevis Highwire, a trepidation leap from the Gondola Jump Pod at 134m.

2. Glacier Wedding - The two most famous glaciers in New Zealand are the Fox and the Franz Josef. Nowhere else in the world, at this latitude, have glaciers advanced so close to the sea. These two glaciers are just what glaciers should be - mighty rivers of ice, tumbling down a valley towards the sea.

3. Mount Cook Wedding - The Mt Cook National Park is 700sq km in area and is one of the most spectacular, in a country famous for its parks. Of the 27 New Zealand mountains, over 22 are in this park, including the mighty Mt Cook. At 3,755m this is the highest peak in Australasia. What a beautiful backdrop for your wedding ceremony.

4. Waterfall Wedding - This nature-packed wedding would delight anyone. The Hunua Falls in the Hunua Range Regional Park provide a wonderful stage, with native bush and a beautiful waterfall in the background.

5. Fiordland Wedding - To be married on the water whilst cruising the Fiord in a spacious modern vessel with the views of the Luxurian Rain Forest that clings to sheer rock walls washed with waterfalls. With luck on your side you may even catch sight of dolphins, seals and rare penguins!

6. Thermal Wedding - Rotorua is situated in the North Island and is best known for their thermal reserve. The most spectacular geyser is Pohutu, an active geyser that usually erupts at least once an hour. Pohutu spurts hot water about 20m into the air, with the average eruption lasting about 5 to 10 minutes.

7. The Marae Wedding - ‘Nga Hau E Wha National Marae’ is one of the largest Marae in New Zealand. The Marae is a place of great prestige and spirituality, where Maori customs and culture are preserved and practiced. ‘Nga Hau E Wha’ means the ‘Marae of the Four Winds’, where people from all points of the compass meet and where people from all cultures are welcome. Before your wedding ceremony, a welcoming ritual called ‘te powhiri ki te manuhiri’ will welcome you onto the Marae.

8. Castle Wedding - Castle Claremont was originally built in the late 1860’s for one of New Zealand’s most famous pioneering families. Purchased by the Catholic Church in the early 1900’s to be turned into a monastery. Today this beautiful chapel has been delicately restored, while the 35 acres of colorful gardens surrounding this beautiful building add another dimension to this wonderful

9. Chateau Wedding - The Chateau Tongariro - surrounded by elegance and grandeur, nestled in a world heritage area and in the presence of three mighty volcanoes, the Chateau Tongariro provides the most fitting backdrop for a special celebration. www.chateau.co.nz

10. Beach Wedding – The Abel Tasman National Park offers some of the best sailing in New Zealand and some of the most beautiful, secluded inlets, coves and bays for beach weddings in New Zealand. Say your "I do's" with the on sand between your toes and the sea gently lapping at the shore at Adele Island.

Traditional Maori Weddings

According to the Maori legend, many generations ago, on the Island of Mokoia, the seeds of love were planted by the famous ancestors, Princess Hinemoa and Tutanekai. Their endless love for one another is recorded in Maori history as the greatest love story ever told and to this day Maori wedding ceremonies are performed in the company of their decendants where you’re embraced with the culture and tradition of the Polynesian Maori people.

Traditional Maori ceremony includes a welcome, wearing of Korowai (Maori cloaks), serenading with famous Maori love song, blessing by Maori priest, Te Hongi (pressing of noses), presentation of Maori Greenstone (symbolising strength and happiness).