Charlemagne Lodge

Charlemagne Lodge is a stunning venue that offers a truly romantic backdrop for a Tauranga wedding.

Perched on an elevated site overlooking the adjoining I’Anson Reserve, this elegant Victorian house is considered a Bay of Plenty landmark building.

Offering luxury boutique style accommodation, with original Victorian features,  exceptional manicured grounds, a large patio and pond, this little stunner is just two hours from Auckland, and 45 minutes from the Maori heartland of Rotorua - perfect location for sight-seeing guests.  Not only is it nestled between two world renowned vineyards, Mills Reef and Morton Estate, but the coastline and beautiful white sand beaches of Mount Maunganui (a surfer’s paradise) along with several golf courses are all close by.

Accommodation can be reserved both before and after your event and celebration lunches can be arranged for the day after, giving you time to reflect on your special day with family and friends in a relaxed stress free environment.  The perfect opportunity to take in the awe-inspiring sunsets over the majestic Kaimai ranges .

Wedding Cake Bling!

Gone are the days of plastic bride and groom figurines topping a wedding cake. Nowadays, there is an abundance of amazing styles of cake jewellery to 'blingafy' your cake. The wedding cake is second only to the bride's wedding gown, so naturally the topper should make a statement!

Wedding cake toppers have been a prominent feature at weddings for centuries, with marzipan roses, birds and cherubs gracing the top of wedding cakes in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Then, the 1840 marriage of Queen Victoria of England to Prince Albert caused a sensation when figures of the regal bride and groom took centre stage. It was only a matter of time before every wedding cake featured tiny bride and groom figurines.

Today, cake jewellery is still a lovely way to personalise your day and can fit every theme and taste. There are toppers to reflect your cultural or religious heritage, complement your hobbies or profession, or to add some humour to your day; in Swarovski Crystal, glass, ceramic, acrylic and even personalized photo cake toppers plus a whole lot more.

If you have an heirloom piece, such as your grandmother's precious brooch, you can work with your baker to add it into your top tier, or, perhaps even your parents' cake topper as your ‘something old'.

Unusual wire and bead cake decorations have evolved into a striking, contemporary alternative to sugar flowers. (And you can keep them for years to come). They are also a more cost effective alternative.

Visit Pink Frosting for a huge range of stunning options.

It doesn't get any better does it? Christian Louboutin and champagne!!

This Christian Louboutin for Piper-Heidsieck champagne flute celebrates the French ritual of a man drinking from a woman’s shoe as a declaration of love is available from Selfridges £360 with a bottle of Cuvee Brut.

Go on, drop a hint to the H2B!

Beautify your nails with a mani-lace!

What could be more bridal and decdent than lace covered nails?  

Easily done DIY.  Just cut out nail-sized pieces of lace in white (or any colour you fancy) and press them to your nails.  Sandwich between a basecoat and a layer of shiny top coat for a super stylish, very bridal look. 

Love, love, love!

Destination Cushion from Box Brownie Trading

If your groom proposed in a famous city or there’s a particular place that means something to you both, boxbrownietrading.co.uk have these gorgeous hand embroidered cushions that make timeless keepsakes in colourful threads.  Such a wonderfully unique momento.  The New York one's my fave!

Wine Tasting Bridal Shower

When choosing a bridal shower theme, this one is sure to make all of your guests smile!  Here's some tips and ideas to get you going with your bubbly brunch  ...

Venue and Catering - There are some amazing wineries, wine bars and restaurants that will happily host a wine tasting luncheon for your bridal shower and if you're lucky enough to live near any wineries with a cellar door, why don't you think about getting everyone together for an afternoon of learning all about yummy wines (and gorgeous food)?  If you're hosting at home, set up your own wine tasting or bubbly bar filled with sparkling wines, juices, mixers and beautiful wine glasses, like the fun diamond ring toasting flutes shown here.  With your wines, serve foods such as fresh fruit platters, cheese plates and summery finger seafood. 

Invitations - Set the scene with bubbly invitations!  Attach a bottle of champagne bottle bubbles to the invitation to let your guests know they're in for a day of wine tasting and bubbles of fun.

Decorations and Styling - Continue with the bubbles theme with crystal clear party balloons to give the effect of "bubbles" floating in the air and on the floor.  Give guests bottles of bubbles to float around the party as they mingle.  Fill clear glass vases of every shape and size with water pearls all around the room.

Games and Activities - Some fun ideas for games include asking all the guests to compose a rhyming toast for the bride.  You could also run a competition to see who can blow the biggest bubble! 

Favours and Guest Gifts - There are so many options for bridal shower favours with this fun theme!  Customise a bottle of bubbly with a personalised wine label printed with the bridal shower details or give guests a chrome bottle stopper favour.

2011 Top Trends

Here's the latest girls ...

• Candy coloured pastels, not just for the bridesmaids, but wedding gowns too!
• Vintage details and art deco embellishments.  Love the flamboyance and over-the-topness of this!
• Blue.  From duck egg and peacock to royal and baby.
• Silver and grey.  Think pewter and gun metal.
• Turquoise and coral. Stunning colour combo for confident couples.
• Casual, boho chic.  Touseled hair and drop waist gowns.
• Country chic.  Pretty prints and laid back bridal wear.
• Summery bright colours and holiday inspired happiness.
• Layering.  Feminine gowns with soft flowing loveliness. 

Melbourne Bride Wedding Expo

Planning a wedding in Melbourne?  Well girls it’s just a month until the annual Melbourne Bride Wedding Expo, and there are plenty of giveaways to be won, including a stunning couture gown and complete styling package, a luxury honeymoon in Fiji and the chance to be a Princess For A Day!

Tickets available to purchase online through Ticketmaster and on the day at the door.

London's Afternoon Tea Hotspot

I recently trawled the internet for a venue (and I know all you ididjeridoo followers know exactly what this is like because you've all done the same when searching for your Australian and New Zeland wedding hotspot).  But this time, I wasn't researching for a client; I was looking for something specific for my own event.  My birthday! 

What I was looking for was traditional afternoon tea, somewhere in London, girls only and private.  You'd be surprised how non-existant these simple requirements combined are in our city. 

Yes, afternoon tea is available at pretty much every fabulous hotel you can poke a stick at, but I wasn't keen on a £40+ per head bill ... and most importantly, the majority of these hotels won't host parties of more than 8 (hen party deterrent?)

Then, I stumbled upon Tea Party and it was everything I was looking for and more.  This little beauty is one of London's most unique and special little venues.  A private tearoom situated in Finchley, it caters for up to 20 guests and serves all the traditionals you'd expect from afternoon tea i.e. freshly made scones with jam and clotted cream, delicate finger sandwiches, tea in china cups, jugs of lemonade, cupcakes and for a little extra - chocolate dipped strawberries.  You're even invited to select accessories from the Tea Party Dressing Up Box - birthday girl wore the tiara naturally.

Decorated in pink striped wallpaper, bunting, florals and all things girly; Tea Party is the perfect venue for birthday teas, hen parties, baby showers, little girl birthdays, Mother's Days and girly get togethers.

Contact Sam for your next super girly occasion!

Cute Couture for Kiddies

Shopping for your junior attendants just got easier with the launch of stylish e-boutique, Stellina Cute Couture For Children, a collection of beautifully made special occasion garments and complementing accessories for children.

From classic styles to detailed designs, Stellina’s range contains lovely pieces, perfectly matching shoes, hair pieces, ring bearer cushions and more.

Those in Sydney can make an appointment to visit the Stellina Cute Couture for Children showroom, based in the Northern Beaches, where all items that feature online are available on display.

Sunshine Coast Award Winning Venue

Flaxton Gardens is one of the Sunshine Coast's award winning propertys and one of my faves.  A traditional, beautiful and iconic homestead with sweeping views across the Sunshine Coast from Moreton Island to Noosa offering 3 gorgeous venues for your occasion.

The Vineyard Restaurant - An intimate and classic setting for smaller soirees, with wrap-around verandahs and surrounded by mature gardens and adjacent to the cosy bar and lounge.

The Barrel Room - Connected to The Winery with large doors leading onto the terrace, gardens and views beyond.

The Winery - A magnificent room that seats up to 180 with access to The Barrel room. Views from this room are stunning and give you access to the vines and grounds, which is ideal for capturing those moments on film.

Johanna Johnson Trousseau Collection

I've always said you can't go past Johanna Johnson for a bit of bridal fabulousness and the new range of ‘Trousseau’ gowns are just as you would expect from her.  Stunning, luxurious and unique with elaborate hand beaded detailing to die for!  

Johanna's art deco inspiration is reflected through heavily beaded and crystal set accents of bold collars, cuffs, neck-pieces and headpieces and each piece reflects opulence and glamour.  Love, love, love.

Aussie brides pop into the (relatively new) store at 89 Glenmore Road, Paddington in Sydney.

Super cute trend alert!!

Cupcake fondue!  The art of dipping mini cupcakes in frosting and topping them with a rainbow of sprinkles and sugars - genius!  Not only a brilliant idea for kiddies parties but a fun dessert addition to any event. 


Love it.

Treetops Rotorua Wedding Venue

In search of a WOW venue in NZ?  Gush over this one.

Located in New Zealand's thermal region of Rotorua, Treetops is a private and exclusive estate that offers a uniquely New Zealand experience with varied settings for your big day.  From the expansive Great Room to the intimacy of the wood-panelled, formal dining room, which overlooks the bluffs, you're spoiled with unsurpassable views, stunning scenery and 5 star service all round.

Lawns that stretch to the native valley below, cascading waterfalls and ancient native valley.  This venue boasts natural beauty in abundance and why not honeymoon in one of the secluded villas, tucked away in the hills overlooking rolling valleys and lakes.  Romance at its best! 

The Blue Baths Rotorua Wedding Venue

Set in the tranquil beauty of Rotorua’s Government Gardens, the famous Spanish Mission-style Blue Baths were built in 1933 and operated as a public Bath House until 1982.  After a period of closure of 17 years the abandoned and dilapidated baths were lovingly restored to their former glory in 1999 and thank the wedding gods for that!Lido lounge is perfect and for an intimate celebration, the charming ambience of the upstairs Tearoom with it's French doors opening to glorious garden views is ideal.

The Blue Baths is a grand old building with stunning architecture that offers of variety of settings and is the obvious reception choice for those planning an outdoor garden wedding.  For a large gala affair, the glamorous expanse of the

 

A quick stop in

While the world celebrated Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, I have been re-discovering parts of Australia and New Zealand; the rugged hills, the turquoise bays and OK so I did stop to raise a glass (or two) and watch the wedding on TV. 

So for those of you that read our blog regularly, please excuse the absence.  It's been a busy month, jet-setting down under, and as I write I'm lazing by my private plunge pool in Koh Samui, a stop gap week-long treat before facing normality back in London.

The posts to follow will relate to my recent discoveries in Oz and NZ.