March 2012 – Labour Day, St Patrick's Day and The Melbourne Grand Prix

March 2012 What's On...

Labour Day
Australia celebrates Labour Day or Eight Hours Day, every March this annual public holiday commends the economic and social achievements of workers.

Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. So enjoy the long weekend!



St Patrick's Day
St Patricks Day is also celebrated this month - a cultural and religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early seventeenth century, and has gradually become a worldly celebration of Irish culture in general. The day is generally characterised by the attendance of church services, Irish symbols and the wearing of green attire- although this is a bit of a misconception, as the phrase "the wearing of the green," meant to wear a shamrock - St. Patrick used the three-leaved plant to explain the Trinity of the Christian religion.

The day also celebrates the lifting of Lent restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol, however, Irish pubs used to be closed on two days of the year: Good Friday and St. Patrick's Day - So ironically enough, in Ireland until recently, on St. Patrick's Day you couldn't actually get a drink!

Today, St. Patrick's Day is probably the most widely celebrated saint's day in the world and with Irish Pubs in abundance in Australia I am sure that you will find the perfect way to celebrate this year!

Here are some of our design ideas to help you with your celebration this year...







Grand Prix 2012
You may also be aware that the Melbourne Grand Prix 2012 is taking place on Sunday 18th March 2012... Drivers take to the Albert Park street circuit for the first Formula 1 race of the 2012 season.

With two Australians on the grid for the first time - Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo - and a host of young guns competing, the roar from the stands will equal the roar from the cars.

Check out a Couple of stylish Grand Prix themed ideas to keep your beer cold this year, even if you're watching it from the comfort of your lounge:





Enjoy :-)

Finding The Perfect Wedding Dress Style For You!

All heads will turn as the beautiful bride makes her grand entrance on the biggest day of her life! As we all know finding your dress needs to be just like finding your groom ... the perfect fit!! and as we also know that we are all unique  we have to consider both personal taste and of course our body shape awhen making the choice! Make sure that you do a little bit of research about what will best enhance your wonderful figure!

Here are some examples as to which styles suit so that you can make sure that you look and feel fabulous on your special day!! We have added an example gown and design for your Coolaz drink holders to match...

The Hourglass
Hips and shoulders are a similar width with a defined waistline. Choose from A-line, Ball Gown, Princess Line or Fishtail.

Ball Gown Style Dress

Chocolate Stubby Holder Design

The Pearshape
Hips are wider than shoulders. Look for A-line, Asymmetrical, Princess Line.

a-line-strapless dress

Red Formal Stubby Holder

Straight and Slim
Hips, shoulders and waist are similar width. Look for Ball Gown, Sheath, Empire Line.

SHEATH Style bridal gown

Floral Wedding Design

Square
Shoulders are wider with similar hip and waist. Choose from A-line, Asymmetrical or Ball Gown.

Asymmetrical pleated gown

Floral Wedding Design

Triangle
Shoulders are wider than hips. Look for: Cocktail or Fit n Flair.

Fit n Flair Style Dress

Black & White Formal Design

Ideas for a Garden Wedding 2012

With the wedding trends being set this year we delve into the enchanting set up of a garden wedding. This certainly is a route that will give a very personal touch and you can go for a small and intimate gathering or a grand ceremony.

Garden Wedding

Perhaps you have fond childhood memories of a local park, a recent attachment to the botanical garden that you first wandered around as an engaged couple or simply love your grannies flourishing backyard?!

Fitzroy Gardens Wedding

Wherever you choose for your garden wedding be sure to also set a relaxed theme with laid back music for the ceremony and carry your ideas through to your reception. Choose natural colours, perhaps wooden vases or dried cut citrus fruit for your centrepieces. You could also bring elements from your honeymoon – maybe you are jetting off to Singapore and would like to add orchids to your table decorations and bouquets.

Garden Wedding Orchid Centrepiece

Here are some garden wedding inspired design ideas to help you with your planning … please bear in mind that you can send through your own images of youre flowers/centrepieces, the place you are getting married or ask us about other images that we may have in our library to create the perfect match Coolaz drink holders for your wedding!

Pink Rose Garden Stubby Holder

Orange Lily Stubby Holder

Frangipani Garden Wedding Stubby Holders

Country Sunset Stubby Holder

For more wedding design ideas visit our website here.

Ideas For Your Beach Wedding

As the trend for a relaxed and casual style of wedding is on the rise, we will certainly see an increase in the number of Beach & Destination Weddings this year!

So choose a long flowing sundress, 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 (don't forget your Coolaz water bottle coolers too!)

With all that in mind there are so many different ways that you can decorate your ceremony and then of course follow the theme through into the casual evening reception. Here are a few ideas to help you get started with the beautification of your Coolaz Beer Coolers for your picturesque beach wedding!

Photograph your feet and capture a little piece of ‘you’ to share with your guests…

Beach Wedding Stubby Holder

Go casual and encourage that all of your guests wear 'thongs'...

Beach Thongs Wedding Stubby Holder

Write your names in the sand and send them into us…

Names in the Sand stubby Holder

Or, you can use one of our templates…

Hearts-in-Sand Stubby Holder

Starfish Beach Wedding Stubby Holder

Use your favourite beach as a background and then insert pictures of the happy couple...

Beach Photograph Stubby Holder

Take a picture of your own Beach Box or Beach Hut for a really personal touch…

Beach Box Hut Stubby Holder

Perhaps you are having seashells as a theme for your table decorations …

Seashell Wedding Stubby Holder

Use an image of the location that you are getting married…

Bali Beach Stubby Holder

Thailand Beach Stubby Holder

After Your Beach Wedding

After your big day is over and you wake up in the comfort of your beach fronted resort make sure that you call your photographer back, put your dress one last time for the ultimate wedding shoot… Trash the Dress! This will be the perfect ending to your wedding adventure and will make brilliant photographs for a follow up ‘Thank You’ to your friends and family for sharing your special day! Here are some fun ideas...

Trash the Dress Stubby Holder

Trash the Dress Stubby Holder

You’re Engaged - Wedding Planning and What To Do Next! (Part 2)

Now that you have organised your engagement party, set a date and sent your ‘save the dates’ you can get stuck into the planning of your big day!

Here are a few more pointers for what come's next...

Choose Your Bridesmaids

Bridesmaid choice will be different for everyone, some will have one special friend or sister and others will have a bunch of besties, you could even choose a ‘Man of Honor’ if you had a close male friend or brother that you wanted to get involved! You are of course the best person to make the choice, you know who will be excited to get stuck into the wedding planning alongside you and who would have a better time as a guest.

black & white wedding dress

Buying Your Dress

If you have enough time between your engagement and your wedding the recommendation is to buy your wedding dress six to eight months before the big day. That way you will have no drama close the wedding! The dress will be a personal choice and there are so many different styles, colours and tastes to choose from – consider your wedding theme when you select the dress – perhaps you have a black and white theme in mind;

B&W stubby holder

Choosing the Bridesmaid Dresses

It is more than likely that your theme or colours will be based around your bridesmaid dresses, so once you have decided on a final look and feel for your wedding you can start looking for the perfect dresses. You can visit our recent blog for more ideas on dresses and themes as featured at this year’s SAG Awards for a few colour options and ideas 'Wedding Ideas Inspired by the Red Carpet and the SAG Awards 2012!'
Whether you go for bold and striking colours or subtle taupe or champagne, we will be sure to have a design to match;

taupe bridesmaid dress

taupe beach design

teal bridesmaid dress

Teal stubby holder beach

Your Seating Chart

Depending on the number of guests you have coming, the venue, and how you have planned your big day will depend on whether you will need to organise a seating plan. If you do have a formal dinner arranged then you may like to consider a design that includes a guest name, so that they can be dotted on the tables a combined place name and gift idea! Here are some ideas;

Place Name Stubby Holder

Place Name Stubby Holder

Place Name Stubby Holder

Choosing Your Flowers

Book your florist early and check for the latest trends in flower types, bouquets and colours to help you decide on what will be best for your wedding – you can read our blog 'Wedding Trends – Flowers 2012' for this year’s ideas and designs.

Flower Design Stubby Holder

The First Dance – Choosing Your Song!

You may already know what song you will choose, perhaps it is the song that was playing when you got engaged or the first track that you danced to together?! Whatever song you choose will be special to you … you can even consider subtly using the words in your design;
A Classic Love Song: Nat King Cole – When I Fall in Love

Nat King Cole Lyrics Stubby Holder

Cheesy Love Song: Can't Smile Without You - Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow lyrics stubby holder

Planning Your Honeymoon

It once was traditional to leave for your honeymoon straight after the reception or the day after your wedding, lots of couples are now waiting until a few weeks or even months after to give a little more time to save for your dream holiday!
Don’t forget your ‘just married’ Coolaz stubby holders, you can send in your own photographs, or even go with something that matches your wedding theme/colours:

just married stubby holder design

You’re Engaged - Wedding Planning and What To Do Next! (Part 1)

Congratulations! You're Engaged...!
… and about to embark on the exciting journey and often overwhelming process of planning a wedding! Your wedding celebration will most likely be the biggest and most important ‘party’ you have ever put together. So, take a deep breath, and follow our list of what to do next…

Engagement Ring Stubby Holder

Number One (and most importantly) Enjoy being engaged!
Say ‘I Love You’ to each other a million times and then shout from the rooftops "We're engaged!" Make sure you take plenty of pictures of yourselves with the engagement ring, they will make great shots for you to use when you start planning your engagement announcements, wedding stationary and invites later on.
Tell your parents and family
If they don’t already know, make sure the first people you tell are your parents and those close to you so that they too can share in your excitement. It will be great for them to see how happy you are and to help you with the beginnings of your great adventure and planning your big day.
Announce Your Engagement
Tell everyone the good news! There are so many ways of doing this and the best way will be by announcing your engagement party! Put your heads together and practice for the big day by organising a gathering of your family and friends to celebrate!
You can design your own invitations with a picture of you both looking extremely happy!Or use images of you and the ring, colours for the theme of the party and much more - the possibilities are endlesss, here are a couple of design ideas to get you started;

Engagement Party Stubby Holders

Engagement Happy Couple Stubby Holder

Set the Date
One of the most important decisions you will make as you plan your wedding is the date itself. This may be a year from the day of your engagement or another date that is special to you. Once you have decided on the date you can start the planning …
Send Save the Dates
Wedding Save the Dates are generally sent out six to twelve months before the wedding date, and are usually followed by a formal Wedding Invitation. We have created many stylish designs to choose from including, floral, cartoon, beach, location and formal designs. Save the Date magnets are a modern keepsake that your guests can cherish and not throw away, a truly unique way to announce your wedding or event to family and friends.

Save the Date Magnets

save the date love magnet

You could also consider Coolaz Stubby Holders due to their flat-packed easy to post style!

Stubby Holder Invitation

Once you have sent out your Save the Dates you can really start planning for your big day...
...Watch this space for our next blog and more steps for planning your wedding!