Wedding Colours and Trends Spring/Summer 2013

There are certainly mixed reviews about what the wedding trends and bridal themes will be in Spring/Summer 2013. However there does seem to be a noticeable link to the change in the seasons encompassing colour, organic textures, natural elements and ecofriendly elegance!

A real natural feel featuring trees and branches, olive greens, duck egg blue, warm oranges and effortless shades of brown. ‘Love Birds’ will also be seen quite widely this spring – with silhouettes of two little birds frequenting on personalised invitations, serviettes, chocolate wrappers, aisle runners stubby holders and koozies. Along with little tweeting figures added to bird nest bowls and decorations, bird houses for the centrepiece on the table, birdie themed cake toppers and fancy cages as a fun place to collect the cards from your guests.

Elegant and ecofriendly is definitely on the cards for this season, if you are planning to include some more organic and natural elements to your theme, then you could consider using stones as your place name holders for your tables, fill little gift bags with seeds that can be planted or scattered for the birds!

Why not create the perfect pot-plant for the bridesmaids to carry instead of the usual posies or bouquets as a fun way to really bring the spring garden to your wedding, choose a flower that suits the colour scheme of your wedding so that they can become the table centre piece decorations and then be replanted after the event – why not match it with a flower pot style cake too!

Here at Coolaz we have made every effort to create our coolers using products and materials that are better for the environment - we use water based inks that have no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and water based acrylic glues instead of the heavier rubber glues used in the standard neoprene types. We also use a toy and food grade foam for the interior of our coolers and have a lovely bright carrot orange or spring green that could be great for an organic theme.

The waterproof protective laminate to the outer of our cooler can easily be wiped clean, this means that we can create simple designs with mostly white in the background to use less inks and offer a clean organic feel to your design. Also, because our coolers are made with a light-weight foam and pack flat they are very economical to freight, plus all of our products are designed and made in our factory in Mornington, VIC resulting in a lower carbon footprint!

Completely opposite to the natural elements of spring comes the bright a bold colours of a summer rainbow! Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue Purple, Pink … all of these colours are acceptable this summer and you guessed it … all at once!! You can keep everything else simple with white, cream  or even black bridesmaid dresses for the wedding and then a bold choice of shoes and flowers to match – each girl can have a different colour of the rainbow for a fantastic look!

Dress up a simple cake with bright decorations, and choose decorations, ribbons and flowers to match – each table at your reception could have a different colour theme!

SURPRISE…!!! This is a huge thing this year and there are so many ways that you can bring an element of surprise into your wedding. Why not show your individuality and add a truly personal touch - if you are a fan of flats and not big on heels then why not wear a bridal gown that falls right to the floor and hide a pair of sneakers underneath?! Or perhaps you are known for a favourite colour or have a nickname that can be represented by a particular colour – then your surprise could be your bridal shoes … with some bright killer heels under your white dress – you could even match into your bridesmaid colours or flowers!

Wedding Dresses in Fashion

Some particular styles of bridal gowns this season include the Peplum – this modern style has a real retro feel to it. Peplum dresses look stunning in both short and long styles and have an additional short overskirt or ruffle attached at the waistline.

Short dresses will be big this summer, so if you’ve got great legs then show them off! If you prefer a longer look for your wedding then perhaps it wold be nice to have a shorter version for the reception as a second dress!

Black and white dresses are showing up every season and will continue to be loved. The contast of dark and light is simply exquisite and will be seen for a very long time.

Of course with the Royal wedding still hanging fond in our memory, the cowl neck dress will be really popular for the next few seasons – this inspiration comes from Pippa Middleton’s stunning look at the wedding of Kate & William!

One big difference this year is the coloured wedding gown... this won’t be a trend that will suit everyone however if it is the way to go for you then there are so many styles and colours to choose from - check out our coolers to match each colour too. some favourite colours include;

Red, Maroon, Deep Burgundy, Midnight Blue, Navy Blue, Spring Green, Olive Green, Aqua Blue and Duck Egg Blue along with the Classic White and Ivory Wedding Dress.

Happy Wedding Planning!

Seasonal Wedding Themes - Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring Wedding Ideas!

A couple's preference for setting their wedding date might be dependent on a favourite time of year or season. Perhaps you are dreaming of a white winter wedding in the snow, or a bright and sunny ceremony on the sand.

Once you have decided on the when, it makes perfect sense to design your wedding theme to suit your personalities and the time of year! Here are a few tips for your favourite wedding season;

Summer Wedding Ideas...

Summer is the most popular season for a wedding, when the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful! Make sure that you book your venue well in advance to avoid any 'Bride Wars' style shenanigans!
For a relaxed and casual style beach wedding, choose a long flowing sun dress, kick off your heels and go naturally barefoot to your ceremony. Make sure that your invite states that 'thongs' and sandals are welcome and that you have plenty of water bottles in an ice filled bucket on hand at your hot beach location.

Hot, Hot Hot...

Provide some sun shades for your guests - grab individual umbrellas or parasols, these are available in a wide range of colours so you should be able to find something to match in with your colour scheme.
Make sure that you wear a foundation with SPF and keep your wedding make-up light and natural for that 'beachy' look. Don't forget to wear SPF lip balm under your lip-gloss too or the Cancer Council offer their own range of lipsticks and glosses that carry a SPF 30.

Provide personalised sunscreen for your guests, buy your own bottles of a brand that you trust and then have labels or bottle wraps made up with your names and the date, all in line with your colour and theme.
Try to stay out of the sun before your wedding, that way you will avoid embarrassing red skin or strap marks on your big day. If you are after a bronzed look, consider getting a spray tan a couple of days before your wedding - make sure that you have a trial a few months earlier so that you know you are going to like the way that it looks.

Light & Bright...

When choosing your flowers make sure you consider types that can withstand the heat, like orchids or Calla Lilies or perhaps you could go for a seashell bouquet.
When choosing your summer wedding menu, consider the summer produce available, fresh fruit platters are a great idea and provide plenty of colour. When making your wedding cake choice, think light, rich chocolate cakes have become very popular in recent years, but lighter flavours will be best for summer.

Autumn Wedding Ideas

The warm colours of autumn can provide a spectacular backdrop for your wedding, with the leaves on the trees bursting with color and the orange and red hues from an Autumn sunset will make for some stunning photographs.

Be sure to look up the time for sunset and plan your wedding carefully around that so that you make the most of the day!

Woodland Rustic Country Wedding...

Theme or Venue

Choose a theme that matches the time of year, go for a woodland rustic country style with teal, duck egg blue and natural browns and coppers.
Decide on a venue where you can capture the essence of the season and its natural beauty, some great ideas for an autumn wedding are a vineyard, farm or botanical garden.

Autumnal Colours...

... ddd them to your wedding theme!

The weather will be turning cooler so choose a fur wrap, stole or shawl to cover your shoulders so that you don't get cold, or you can go for longer sleeves on your dress.
Choose your bridesmaid dresses by selecting from colors that you naturally see occurring in the fall season - go for burgundy, apricot, mustard yellow, dark greens and warm browns, they will really help to reflect the beauty of Autumn.

Your wedding in fall ...

There are also some stunning flowers that you can match into your theme, it would be better to consider flowers that are in season as these are likely to be less expensive - such as holly, amaryllis, daphne, iris, winter jasmine and cotoneaster. You can also include dark green leaves, or red berries to finish off your bouquets.

Design a leaf logo or pattern that you can include in your invitations, place name cards, wedding favors and bomboniere gift ideas - this is a really nice way to add a touch of the season's theme into your stationery and decorations.

Winter Wedding - Frosty Ideas

While winterweddings are less popular there are many advantages to being a winter bride, the main factors being the cost and that it will be easy to book your venue with less competition for dates, but also the unique style that you can explore for your frosty theme.

Indoor locations tend to be the best for a winter wedding just in case the weather is not great. Traditional churches, grand hotels, reception rooms or inviting bed and breakfasts with open fires are all perfect for a warm and cosy wedding.

Fantastically Frosty...

The colder weather may mean you can choose heavier fabrics for your dress with a fake fur wrap, stole or shawl to cover your shoulders so that you don't get cold, or go for a long sleeve gown which are becoming increasingly popular.

Some wintery colours to consider for your theme, your dress and make-up are purples, shimmering silver, icy blue, or pale grey.

Mmmmm Winter ...

You can choose some great food for a wintery wedding - comfort foods, food that warms the heart, soul, and the stomach ... you can serve some warmer foods to take out that winter chill.
Look for recipes that use ingredients such as cranberries, pecans, cheese, winter squash, cinnamon, pears, and other seasonal fruits and vegetables. Hot dips, stuffed mushrooms, olives, and hearty soups are also great idea for winter appetizers
!
Design your wedding cake to match your winter theme, use white chocolate or frosty icing to really add the final touches to your winter wonderland wedding.

Spring Wedding Ideas

Spring is the traditional season for a wedding - the weather is warmer but not too hot for a wedding and it is a beautiful time of the year to say your vows.
You can choose an outdoor location at this time of year such as a vineyard or botanical garden with the blossom on the trees and their flowers in bloom, but also somewhere that you can spend the evening or reception indoors just in case the weather is still slightly unpredictable.

Springtime in bloom ...

White wedding dresses are always popular and it should be warm enough for a strapless, or short skirted number. You could go for something a bit bolder in colour or with floral embroidery on the bodice or train, a splash of colour in a sash and light floaty fabrics like chiffon will reflect the spring light perfectly.
Spring is also the season when the most beautiful flowers are in bloom, you can have the pick of the bunch with some fantastic colours to choose from, consider stunning yellow daffodils, brightly coloured tulips are in abundance and paler posies such as sweet pea and lily of the valley.

Fresh look...

Be sure to go for a spring feel in your hair too, you can add a little flower to your up-style, maybe a frangipani, or some pink diamantes for some extra sparkle.
The sun can still be very strong in spring time so be sure to use a foundation with an SPF and add pastel colours for a fresh look.
Once you have said "I Do" and walk back down the aisle make sure that your guests have some seasonal rose petal confetti to throw, that will make for a wonderful photography opportunity.

Elements of the season...

Food at your spring wedding can be fresh and light, choose dishes with herbs and leaves for a garden feel. Fish, chicken or lamb for your main with seasonal vegetables, for your dessert maybe go for a light cheesecake or fruit tart.
Match elements of the season in your wedding cake too, you could try white chocolate, raspberry, lemon, orange and carrot, they are all great wedding cake flavours plus you can decorate with seasonal colours to match your theme.

Wedding favors for all seasons...

Whichever season you choose you can be sure that there are some fantastic ideas and themes out there to match, just make sure that you do a little research to see what the trends are and what is in season at your favourite time of year.
Don't forget whichever time of year or season you choose to get married you will be sure to find a design for your Coolaz Wedding Stubby Holders that will match perfectly!
They can be stylishly designed to suit your wedding colours or theme and of our coolers are printed in full colour with a photo-quality finish. You can choose from one of our templates or design your own. For fantastic bonbonniere or wedding favor gift ideas you can personalise your coolers and even add individual guest names to double as a place card!
Happy Wedding Planning!

Wedding plans getting on top of you? … Have you ever said "We should just elope!"… ?

Given the high cost of a wedding and the pressure to follow the latest wedding trends and traditions this might be an option worth considering.
There are heaps of pros and cons to eloping for your wedding, make sure that you consider all of these before making your decision.
Reasons to Elope

Save Money - The cost of organising a wedding can be astronomical if you are not careful with your planning where as the price of ‘running away’ will more than likely save you thousands of dollars!
Stress Free - Some brides will thrive under the pressures and excitement of planning a wedding, however, there are those that would prefer to avoid the months of preparations and organising the fine details.
Estranged Family – It can be difficult arranging a guest list or planning your seating arrangements if the bride or groom’s parents are divorced or separated or even if you have family members that are unable to be around each other. If you are looking to avoid family arguments and awkward moments the eloping might be the best option.
For The Fun – There is certainly something spontaneous and thrilling about running away to get married, whether it be to the local town hall or as far as Las Vegas, you can’t get any more romantic than just the two of you!
The After Party – Some may choose to elope and have a secluded wedding, but on their return can have a casual party or BBQ to celebrate with their family and friends, that way they get the best of both worlds.
Reasons Not to Elope

Family & Friends – one of the biggest reasons not to elope would be for your closest family and friends, it would be a shame to miss out on the wedding celebration and some will be sad that they didn’t get to share this occasion with you!
Parents – there is something very special about a father giving his daughter away and walking her down the aisle. Plus a mother’s joy of seeing her son or daughter marry can be priceless! It may also be considered poor show to elope if the parents are disapproving of the marriage, at least with them present they can begin to be accepting.
Wedding Dreams – It may be the dream of the bride or groom to have a traditional wedding and perhaps one would sacrifice this for the other. Ideally not the best way to begin a marriage, may a compromise of a small wedding should be considered.
Reunion – Weddings are the perfect excuse for families to reunite and come together, if you elope then you may be missing a golden opportunity to bring people to the same place to reconnect.
Picture Perfect Memories – When you look back on your wedding day and through your photograph album you may think it a shame if you do not have any family and friends around you?!
Decision Made
If you do decide to go for it and elope, be sure to not act too hastily – even though this way will be much simpler it may take a little bit of planning too. Think about where and when you will get married, if you are going abroad consider local marriage laws and restrictions before just hopping on a plane.
Who will you invite?
Unless you want to be completely alone, you might like to think about inviting a few guests - perhaps just the Best Man and Maid of Honor, or only your parents. Some destination wedding packages may have restrictions on the number of guests you are allowed to bring with you. Of course you don't have to invite anyone; and most venues or town halls will provide a witness for your marriage.

Destination Weddings are becoming increasingly popular, whether you plan to go overseas or interstate it can still take a lot of organisation, not only for the couple and the wedding day itself but in making it fabulous for the guests that have gone that extra mile to share in your special day!
Once the location and details have been finalised, there may be some finishing touches that you will need to take with you. Depending on the formality of your big day, you may have seating arrangements to think about, with place name cards, wedding favors and bonbonniere gifts to consider – after all, your guests have gone a long way to celebrate with you.
Choose items for your thank you gifts that are small and easy to transport, that way you don’t have to sacrifice the extra kilos and room in your suitcase. Some lightweight ideas to consider would be magnets, coasters, stubby holders and koozies, all items that you can personalise and double up as place name cards.

Top ten destination suggestions for your wedding getaway, within Australia:

1. Hayman Islands
2. Whitsundays
3. Uluru
4. Broome, Cable Beach.
5. Thredbo [Winter Wedding]
6. Mornington Peninsula
7. Margaret River
8. Port Douglas
9. Hunter Valley
10. Byron bay

Top ten international suggestions for your destination wedding:

1. Las Vegas
2. Hawaii
3. Vanuatu
4. Thailand
5. New York
6. Fiji
7. Bali
8. New Zealand
9. Maldives
10. Paris

Happy Wedding Planning :-)

Wedding Stubby Holders

Weddings on a Budget - Ways To Save Money When Planning Your Big Day!

The Wedding of Your Dreams - on a Budget!!

Planning the wedding of your dreams doesn't have to be stressful and certainly doesn't have to break the bank! Use your smarts and delve into your creative side to help keep things simple and concentrate on the things that are important to you. Here are a few tips to help you keep a hold of your wedding plans...
Limit the number of guests at your wedding
Whatever theme, location or venue that you go for try to limit the number of guests you invite, a small wedding can be just as fun and often more memorable than a huge lavish affair - you will get to spend more quality time with your guests, it will be more intimate and relaxed for you and your guests. Plus small runs are no problem for us so if you only need a few coolers then we can help!
Choosing Your Wedding Dress - and keeping within your budget!

The Dress ... This may be the most important thing to the bride and the one thing that she will want to spend a bit more money on - however it doesn't have to break the bank!
Make sure that you spend some time looking though bridal magazines, borrow some if you can as they can be a little pricey, check out what dress types will suit your body shape and what styles will match the feel of your wedding. This will help you to narrow down your search and help to find those hidden bargains.
If you are handy with a sewing machine, why not find the perfect pattern for you and make your own? Maybe you have a friend that is into dress making too, you could collaborate to make the ultimate gown!?
Perhaps you have a family heirloom that your mother or grandmother wore on their wedding day? You could make a few alterations to give it a modern twist and have a dress that is one of a kind.
Check out second hand online shopping sites and the charity shops too... remember that a wedding dress that is for sale may be a second dress that a bride decided against that has never been worn, or a loved dress that was cared for and worn once! If you would prefer something new and off the shelf then check out the department stores - they often have a line of wedding dresses that are stylish and within budget.
Another option is to rent your dress, this will save any worries about where to keep it after the big event!
Savings on your Invitations!
With the changes in digital technology and the smart phone starting to slowly take over the world... you could definitely take advantage of that and save some cash. Why not take a look at one of the many design packages for your computer and have a stab at designing your own invites - you can then email it to those in the digital world and only have a few to print and send in the 'snail' mail. Plus once you have it designed you can send your artwork through to your suppliers to match your invite colours and patterns to your favors/bombonniere ideas. Consider

You could also consider creating a wedding share site, these are easy to manage websites where you can upload all of the information about your wedding plans and keep everyone updated with dates on your shared calendar. These are also a great place to upload your wedding or honeymoon photos after the event to share with all your family and friends!
If you want to send a physical invite you could go for something different, like creating it in the form of a magnet or stubby holder - something that will be kept and appreciated and not just thrown away after the invitation has been accepted.
Flowers for Your Wedding - Cheap & Cheerful...!
Have you ever thought of becoming a florist? There are some great short courses out there that will help to prepare you with the basic information about arranging flowers - that way you could organise your own and save yourself stacks of cash!

If you need to have a florist make up your flowers for you then maybe consider just one special bouquet for the bride, make sure that you set a budget and that you shop around for the best deal! Be careful when asking for quotes, unfortunately there are many businesses that will add premium prices because they are for a wedding!
Try to choose flowers that are in season, and inexpensive types such as carnations, daisies and chrysanthemums. You could also consider using fresh or dried fruit for your table decorations, they are also inexpensive and can look fantastic as part of a centrepiece design.

Affordable Wedding Photography - Ideas for keeping the cost down.

With digital cameras coming on leaps and bounds you could ask a family member or maybe a couple of friends to take some photographs for you? Obviously this can put a little pressure on the individuals and may take them away from the experience of the day, so it might be an idea to display the link to a digital share site where all of your guests can upload their own photos - that way you will get to see so many different angles! Or maybe a disposable camera for each table - they are always a blast when you come to developing the films!
Try contacting your local school, university or amateur photography group, they may be looking for an assignment as part of a photography course and would most likely jump at the opportunity of some extra experience and shots for their portfolio.
If you do employ a professional wedding photographer for the job make sure that you give them a clear list of the shots you would like, both the where and the who, that way it can be extremely organised and you can make the most of the time that you book them in for.
A Bargain Wedding Cake... Tastes so good!
The price you may pay for a wedding cake can vary depending on the complexity of your design, how much work is involved and how many tiers you choose! You could pay anything from $100 to thousands of dollars!
If you are looking to save some money on the cake then why not make your own! Take a look at some helpful videos you can find online, you can learn how to make the cake, ice and decorate it or even how to create a cupcake tower, if you can make it a DIY job then you will save so much money!
Maybe you have a family friend that is a fantastic cake maker; often the personal touch will make it taste so much better too! Alternatively, you could choose a plain iced off the shelf 'birthday' cake and add your own cake toppers to wedding it up and match your theme!
Hair & Makeup
"I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful."
If you are employing a professional stylist to make you look stunning on your wedding day then it is likely to cost you top dollar! Some hair & makeup artists will even stick around for a quick touch up between the ceremony and reception, but you may have to pay extra for this service. When it comes to weddings artists tend to use high quality products, something that will stay on all day and night, and the price will certainly be reflective of both that and the fact that more time is spent on the job as a whole.

If you are looking to save some cash why not do your own makeup and ask a friend to help you with your hair, it would be great fun to have a few girly nights to practice in the run up to the big day so that you can perfect your look. One of the girls could keep some touch up and hairspray in their clutch bag to be on hand if you need a little spritz throughout the day.
Don't forget, beauty comes from within and you will be beaming with joy on your wedding day! All you will need to wear is your smile and you are sure to look happy and radiant!
Bombonierre, Gifts and Wedding Favor ideas on a Budget...!

When choosing your wedding favors and bombonierre make sure that you consider something that is going to give you real value for money and be sure to go for something that your guests will keep as a memento of your special day! There are so many items out there to choose from that will look great on your tables to match your decorations!
Choose something that you can add individual guest names to, that way you are adding a really personal touch and combining the gift as a place name-card so you will of course make a saving there! Check out some of our gift ideas including Coolaz Stubby Holders, Koozies, Coasters and Save the Date Magnets at www.coolaz.com.au

Choose a Destination Wedding - so your budget doesn't fly away with you!
More and more couples each year are escaping the traditional big celebration wedding in favour of a smaller more intimate ceremony in an exotic location.
This can work out a little more expensive for your guests as they will have to go that extra mile to get there, but many resorts offer a full package deal so that you know exactly what you are getting and whether it will suit your budget?! You can also spoil your guests with a little gift on arrival or on the day of your wedding - Coolaz Stubby Holders are ideal as they are light weight and will pack flat in the bottom of your suitcase!
Don't forget you can stay on at your destination for an extra week or so after your guests leave - that way it will become a combined wedding & honeymoon... and will be sure to save you some money!
Happy Planning!