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

Mother's Day 2012 - Traditions and Ideas!

Mother's Day is a celebration honouring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May. It complements Father's Day, the celebration honouring fathers. Australia In Australia, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. The tradition of giving gifts to mothers on Mother's Day in Australia was started by Mrs Janet Heyden, in Sydney,1924. During a visit to a patient at the Newington State Home for Women, she met many lonely and forgotten mothers - to cheer them up, she called on local school children and businesses to donate and bring gifts to the women. The day has since become commercialized with the giving of chocolates, flowers and even personalised stubby holders ... like this design; Traditionally, the Chrysanthemum is given to mothers for mother's day as the flower is naturally in season during Autumn and ends in 'mum', a common affectionate shortening of 'mother' in Australia. United States The United States also celebrates Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May. Julia Ward Howe first issued her Mother's Day Proclamation in 1870 as a call for women to join in support of disarmament. The current holiday was created by Anna Jarvis in West Virginia, in 1908 as a day to honour one's mother. She kept promoting the holiday until it eventually became so highly commercialized that it was considered a "Hallmark holiday," i.e. one with an overwhelming commercial purpose. Jarvis eventually ended up opposing the holiday she had helped to create. In the United States, Mother's Day remains one of the biggest days for sales of flowers, greeting cards, and the like; it is also the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls! United Kingdom and Ireland In the UK and Ireland, the celebration is called Mothering Sunday, which falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Most historians believe that it originated from the 16th century Christian practice of visiting one's ‘mother church’ annually on that Sunday, which meant that most mothers would be reunited with their children on this day. It is still recognised by some churches, with attention paid to Mary the mother of Jesus Christ as well as the traditional concept 'Mother Church'. By 1935 Mothering Sunday was less celebrated in Europe. There were efforts to revive the festival in the 1910s–1920s but it was not revived until US World War II soldiers brought the Mother's Day celebrations to the UK, and it was merged with the Mothering Sunday traditions. By the 1950s it had become popular in the whole of the UK, thanks to the efforts of UK traders, who saw in it as a great commercial opportunity. People from Ireland and UK started celebrating Mother's Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent, the same day on which Mothering Sunday had been celebrated for centuries. The traditions of the two celebrations have now been mixed up, and many people think that they are the same thing. For many people in the United Kingdom, Mother’s Day is the time of year to celebrate and buy gifts of chocolate or flowers for their mothers as a way to thank them for what they do throughout the year.

Hens Night, Bachelorette Party or Bridal Shower - Tips and Ideas!

Organising a Hens Night, Bachelorette Party or Bridal Shower??



What will you choose?

Learn about the differences between the types of celebration and how you can make your party choice extra special for the bride to be and all the girls!

A bachelorette party, hens party, hens night or hen do, is a party held in honour of the bride to be. The terms hen party, hen do or hen night are common in the United Kingdom and Ireland, while the terms hens party or hens night are common in Australia and New Zealand. The term bachelorette party is widely used in the United States and Canada. This event may also be referred to as a girls' night out or kitchen tea - but ultimately this is an occasion arrange for the bride to be to celebrate her last days of 'freedom' in the run up to her wedding day!

Hens / Bachelorette Party

Traditionally this party will be organised by the maid of honour and the bridesmaids - notoriously branded as a night of drunken debauchery the hens or bachelorette can vary in its theme and choice of entertainment.

Dare the Bride

... a bit of fun!

What you ultimately decide to do at your party depends on the bride's lifestyle, the age of those attending, and the area in which you live. It is important to make this a night to remember, a chance for all of the girls to let their hair down and have some fun!

It is a fantastic time to typically 'dare the bride' - you could make a list of questions and dares for the hen to compete throughout the night. It is a great idea to print these onto your personalised stubby holders as part of a party game or series of dares!

Hens, Bachelorette, Bridal Shower - The Entertainment!



Karaoke is always a blast and can be a superb ice breaker too!

Get the bride up first to sing 'white wedding' or 'girls just wanna have fun' or go as a group if you're a little shy at the beginning! You could also consider some caberet or go to a drag show for a few smiles and giggles!

Whatever entertainment is planned, the organiser should make sure that it will not embarrass or humiliate the honouree or any of the guests!

However, there is no harm in a little fun and often on a girls night out the organiser might arrange a male stripper or it is becoming increasingly popular to have some fun with all the girls at a pole dancing party!

The Formal Bridal Shower!



The bridal shower is a more formal pre-wedding event; this is an occasion for close family and friends of the bride to spend some relaxed time with her before the big day.

It's a time for sharing funny stories, giving advice to the bride, and for all the girls to 'shower' her with gifts and support. A bridal shower is commonly organised by the maid-of-honour and bridesmaids, quite often this can be arranged as a surprise so that the bride really does feel special!

Girls Only... ?!

Bridal Showers are traditionally a 'girls only' event, however in recent times it is becoming more common for this to be a couple's party, often referred to as a "Jack and Jill Shower".

Any time of day is acceptable for a bridal shower however they would normally be held in the afternoon.



Avoid the stress of a traditional shower...

The traditional shower can be held at a home, in a bar or restaurant. However, it is becoming increasingly common for shower planners to choose activities instead - such as, taking the bride out for a shopping spree, bowling bonanza, relaxed day at the spa or a winery tour to avoid the stress of a formal party.



If the couple decide on a joint Jack and Jill venture then this can be completely relaxed with a beach barbecue or party in the park.

Themes for your shower...

Some popular themes for bridal showers include lingerie, kitchen tea party, around the clock, spa and beauty or travel and honeymoon.

You could even go for a Paris theme like in the film 'Bridesmaids' - but maybe not quite as over the top :-)

Bridal Shower, Bachelorette or Hens Party - The Rules!

There are some general rules to follow when arranging your pre-wedding event;

- Consider the brides personality when arranging the celebration, make sure that you try not to plan something that she will disapprove of or simply not enjoy, after all this is her day!

- Don't invite guests to the shower who have not been invited to the wedding - that could be awkward!



- Don't forget to give out party favors to all of the guests. These can be traditional favours such as small boxes of candy. Or they can be something a little different that relates to the theme of the shower such as personalised koozies, or charms for a cocktail or drinks party.

- Party games are a great way to break the ice, especially if a large number of the guests don't already know each other.

- With bridal shower gifts, (if this is not a surprise) you could encourage the bride to sign up for a gift registry. With so many couples living on their own before getting married, it can be really difficult to decide what to get, make sure that the bride is mindful of people's budgets when choosing her list.

And remember, you don't have to simply go for one of the other. When organising the celebration for the bride-to-be you might want to choose a bridal shower as a daytime event and include mother of the bride, mother in law and other mature relatives. That way you can have the wild night out with the girls on a separate occasion and make sure that everyone is included.

Good luck and happy planning.