wedding advice Archives | The Bride's Tree

7 Steps to a Relaxed Wedding Day Morning

Sally Townsend — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 02:15:00 +0000

Step One: Put your phone in temporary custody

Imagine answering 50 calls, responding to 100 texts, and hearing 150 Instagram notifications coming through… not so relaxing on the morning of your nuptials, right? Relinquish your phone to a trusted person, who will remain nearby throughout the day and is free to screen your calls and only bother you with the super important ones. Anything else, including well wishes, can wait till tomorrow!

Pro tip: Don’t put the wedding morning playlist on your phone, as it will be ping ping pinging through all your fave tunes with well wishes!

Step Two: Eat eats & drink drinks

Start the day with something nice and substantial in your tummy, and something you know agrees with you. If you tend to bloat with gluten, this is not the day to throw caution to the wind and order pancakes. Stick with what you know makes you feel good and try to up the protein and limit the sugar. Protein and complex carbs will sustain you, while sugar comes with a high… but remember what comes up, must come down. And hydrate!

Step Three: Pamper yesterday

The time you have to get your makeup done, your hair, eat, relax… trying to fit in things like painting your toenails and tanning (yes, I know it’s obvious, but I’ve seen it…) is not ideal. Get your spray tan, manicures and pedicures a day or two before your wedding, so they are fresh.

Step Four: Practice the tricky bits

If there are parts of the wedding that you are anxious about, practice them before the day. If you are worried about your speech, practice in front of a friend you feel comfortable with as many times as you can. If you are concerned about walking in heels, put them on as frequently as possible in the lead up to the big day. If you are worried you are going to mess up your first kiss or first dance, well this will be stacks of fun to practice in advance with your fiancé! This preparation will prevent you from building up the nerves all morning.

Step Five: Delegate, delegate, delegate!

I would be surprised if you hadn’t heard this before, but handing over on-the-day jobs to trusted family and friends is so important. Make sure the people you choose are not your bridesmaids, though. You need them there in the room with you.

Step Six: Be Selective

Limit the number of people in the room to your inner circle. This is the one time I would recommend you get your clique and don’t allow yourselves to be infiltrated. I give you permission to snob it up like a little snobby snob. Because this: drop ins will halt the process of your getting ready when you’re strapped for time, or you won’t be in a position to stop the proceedings and you will end up feeling guilty for not giving them the attention they deserve. Let everyone know you’re looking forward to seeing them at the celebration and making a big entrance – that’s usually enough to deter drop ins. Threats I don’t recommend, but you do what you gotta do, no judgement.

Step Seven: Keep a Simple Schedule

Your hair and makeup artist will most likely work together to ensure they each have someone in their chair being beautified, and they get the job done smoothly. Unless they ask for it, you won’t need to provide a strict running schedule. The one thing you should do early on is ask your photographer what time they will need you to be done with hair and makeup and ready for some pre-dress photos.

Note: they will plan to arrive a little earlier to take some shots of your dress, rings, flowers and the getting-ready process. Don’t mistake this time and rip yourself off from having a little extra getting ready time! So if your photographer says, “I’ll be there at 12:30” – be sure to clarify if that’s when you need to be completely ready, or if you have an extra 30-60 minutes to play with, because you just might need it!

Images by Klee Photography from Lauren and Joe’s Sunshine Beach wedding

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Inclusive Ceremonies | 6 Ways to Involve Your Guests

Sally Townsend — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 16:09:29 +0000

Thankfully the day of the boring ceremony script, delivered in a monotone voice with some archaic “words of wisdom” thrown in for good measure are long gone!

These days wedding celebrants work closely with their couples to create personal ceremonies where the guests are not just invited to sit there and witness a special moment in time take place in front of them.Instead they are now encouraged to help celebrate and be “a part of” the ceremony in many fun and unique ways that truly add to ALL the feels!

Sunshine Coast wedding celebrant, Kath Tilly, specialises in creating Inclusive Ceremonies and today shares with us six unique ways for you to involve some or all your guests.

1. Rose Petal Cannons

These are perfect if you have a couple of people you would like to include but not sure how?
After the signing of the marriage register, I invite your two nominated “cannon boys” forward to stand either side of you both.

As I excitedly announce you as newlyweds, the cannons go off with a bang and shoot a colourful display of freeze-dried rose petals up into the air over your heads.

Makes for a great photo are completely biodegradable and a great way to include dads, brothers or older kids. Book now to receive 2 x FREE Rose Petal Cannons.

2. Communal Bouquet

When guests arrive, they are greeted with a basket of flowers and invited to each take one. Guests are then creating the aisle way as the music starts and the couple/bride walks down the aisle collecting a flower from each of the guests as they go.

Once the couple/bride arrives at the end, the colourful bouquet made with many well wishes from their loved ones is tied with a keep sake ribbon

3. Family + Friends Vow

During the housekeeping notes I explain to the guests that there will be a moment in the ceremony where I will ask for their help – I will ask them all to yell as loud as they can “I do” as I ask them to vow to love and support you both in your marriage.

We have a quick practice, so they are ready when I later ask them to “swear to party hard tonight for one of the most amazing couples they know, dance like crazy, cheer and celebrate with you, and vow to continue to encourage and support you both in your journey to have your very own happily ever after?”

To which they reply nice and loud – “I do!”

4. I Do Section

This section is traditionally read by the celebrant, but why not include someone special and have them read the below “asking section” in your ceremony.

“Do you (name) promise to keep (name) as your favourite person, your faithful companion, your accomplice in mischief and your one true love? Do you promise to to laugh with her/him, go on adventures with her/him, support her/him through life’s tough moments, continue to reluctantly share your side of the wardrobe/Netflix remote with her/him, and find new reasons to love her/him every day?”

This works well to further include your Matron of Honour, Best Man or even an important family member from both sides.

5. Celebrant Wing Man/Wing Woman

Lots of couples have that one friend that is a great speaker and who could make a great “stand in” celebrant. Rather than having them go through the extensive training required to become a registered marriage celebrant, having them read the “Love Story Section” in your ceremony may be a great way to involve someone that was there from the very beginning.

There is a “love story section” in your ceremony, which is based on the answers your give your celebrant in your Q&A. It talks about how you both met, what you love about each other, and so on. Your celebrant can write this section for that person to read on the day, or they can write and present it themselves. Just like how the Big Bang cast helped “marry” Bernie and Howard, and Joey performed Monica and Chandler’s ceremony on Friends.

6. Bridal Party Introduction

Why not have some fun and help your celebrant write a fun introduction to your “I do crew”

This is a great way to make sure everyone attending knows who is standing up the front with you. It also gives your guests something fun to chat with your bridal party about a little later.
Example = It’s now time for me to introduce you all to the I Do Crew for today….
First up on team Groom we have Pat. This fruit ninja champion has been the groom’s friend for many years. They have shared many a camping and drinking adventure together but please do not let him anywhere near a karaoke machine or bottle of tequila.

Loved these Wedding Ceremony Ideas from Kath Tilly? Here’s an Exclusive January Offer for Our Bride Tribe…

Want to start your 2020 wedding day celebration off with a bang? Get in touch with Kath to take advantage on her exclusive Brides Tribe offer. Secure your date with her before the 31st January and receive 2 x FREE rose petal cannons.

Image credits: Graeme Passmore and Life and Love Photography

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12 Tips for Having a Great Wedding

Sally Townsend — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 19:00:59 +0000

We’ve all been to weddings that are fun, entertaining and simply amazing, then we also remember the weddings that aren’t quite so favourable in the memory bank… the chaotic unorganised mess that turns into your worst nightmare. Getting drenched as a guest, because of no ceremony wet weather back up plan, walking kilometres in heels to get to the wedding destination and drinking on an empty stomach, and still not eating enough, so you leave the wedding starving and ready for a Maccas drive through on the way home.

Either way, weddings are a great time to reflect on your journey, your own love, and sometimes to just go with the moment and have the time of your life. Party with loved ones, strangers and bar staff alike.

So many people ask me, “What makes a great wedding?” Here are 12 honest tips, that are beyond the obvious ones, which may help you on your big day:

1. Beware Dead Dolphins + Budgie Smugglers

If you have a beach wedding, be aware of marine life washing up in the foreground, along with old men in G-string budgie smugglers. It’s not a good look and only creates more work for your photographer to photo-shop the photos.

2. Don’t Look Like Count Dracula

Wear waterproof mascara – ok, you’re not a crier and you’re definitely sure tears won’t be a-part of your day, but had you considered the weather, surprise elements, romantic gestures, champagne spray, sea mist or Aunty’s shirt swiping your makeup as she congratulates you.

3. Avoid Inviting a Scene

If you’re having a secret affair with your neighbour before you enter into marriage, make sure that person isn’t aware of the ceremony date, location and time of your wedding, to object during the service. It creates an ugly scene – seriously!

Try to avoid having drunk and crazy guests at the ceremony or better still, at the wedding altogether. Yes, they can be fun at your Bucks or Hens, but tacky at a wedding.

Make sure family feuds don’t impact your day by policing distance between individuals that could be major threats to your smiles, laughs and peace at your wedding.

4. Plan a Surprise

Have a surprise element in your day, to really shake things up with your guests. Bring in fire twirlers, a stand-up comedian during dinner, a digeridoo artist, the use of animals during the ceremony or sky dive as your arrival. Make the moment count, and give them all something to talk about for years to come!

5. Don’t Be Late

Be on time for your own wedding – it’s not a good look to see the Groom throwing up in the bush, 200m away from the ceremony site, all due to that last keg of beer he consumed at 5am that morning. Get with it, and if you can’t, get help to get with it.

6. Hydrate

Drink water on the day. Fainting really isn’t a good look at the alter. Stay hydrated, decrease the nerves, laugh off the anxiety and roll with the punches… well, kisses and hugs, actually. Bring on the coconut water – that stuff is gold, and brilliant for a hangover!

7. Ban the Bossy Boots!

Pick the right professionals. Don’t be bossed around on your day, or uncomfortable with the people around you. Be honest, choose wisely, and know you are in great hands. Otherwise not only will you be disappointed in your day, the photos will also reflect the energy and vibe. Trust and be in-tune when you book.

8. Laugh

I know you’re overwhelmed by the entire experience and this is completely natural, but if you want to have a great day, then humour plays a HUGE part in every moment from getting ready, to show time. It’s all in the smile and the laugh. Create humourous vows for a relaxed vibe during the service.

9. Try Not to Topple

Wear heels that work! If you’re walking on the beach, then seriously reconsider those stilettos. If you’re not a heel lover, go with flats – it’s your day, so be comfortable no matter what.

10. Don’t wear a woollen suit in summer!

In fact, wearing a woollen suit in Queensland should just be banned – full stop.

11. Dance Like it’s 1999

Seriously, is there a better time to make a goose out of yourself and shake a tail feather. It’s the only day of your life you can get away with pretty much anything.

12. Film it.

The day goes way too fast and your mind is in a spin the entire time because you’re on cloud 9, but on a schedule, so lots of the little details – guests’ reactions to things, and other wonderful moments – are often missed, unless life is captured. Having an edited version of your wedding ceremony and your day is one of the best investments you can make. A picture speaks a thousand words, a movie speaks a million.

Written By ‘The Sunny Celebrant, Natalie Skye’

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Who to Invite To Your Wedding

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:00:00 +0000

It is so easy to start what you believe to be a conservative list and find it adds up to 200 people. Collectively, you and your partner probably know a stack of people! And then there are your parents' friends, relatives that expect an invitation, assumptive co-workers… It can all get quite out of hand!

Here are some handy tips to get your guest list under control:

1. Sit down with your partner and make a list of everyone you can think of that may warrant an invitation. Ask your parents for their lists of must-haves, too. Especially if they are contributing towards the cost of the wedding, they will most likely expect some input.

2. When it comes to friends, apply the 12-month rule. If you haven’t been involved in each other’s lives within the past 12 months, you don’t need to invite them. Same with relatives, but make it five years – if you haven’t seen them in the past five years, and don’t expect to in the next five, cross them off. Of course, use some discretion for your fave cousin you are forced to catch up with only via Skype because she has been residing in the South of France for a decade. If for no other reason than you might want to crash at her place when you honeymoon Europe, *wink*.

3. Address the invitation only to the people you intend to invite, and specify if it is a child-free event. If your single friends are seeing somebody, find out their name and address it accordingly. Do not put “Name and Guest”, because if the relationship ends, your friend may feel the need to find a random to bring along, which you probably don’t want at your wedding. Alternatively, don’t include a date invitation at all, simply invite your friend.

4. Unless you have formed a real friendship, where you spend time together outside of work, don’t feel pressured to invite work colleagues. However, some strategic invitations to bosses and superiors may not be a bad thing for your future with the company!

5. Once you have done the count and no doubt discovered you are way over the mark, start culling. Ask your parents to cross a few off their lists, too. Don’t get frustrated with them if they are adamant about keeping Great Uncle Ted on there. Simply point out all of the people you have had to cull, and try to engage in some fair compromising.

6. Keep a second list of people to invite if you get some people from your initial short list regretfully decline. Organise them in order of priority and have their invitations ready to go as spaces open up.

7. It is not necessary to make sure both sides have an equal number of guests. It is more important that everybody who is invited is genuinely important to one or both parties. Don’t try to play catch-up if one side far outweighs the other due to a larger family or the location making it difficult for people from one side to attend. Instead, don’t have “sides” of the ceremony location – ask your ushers to direct everyone to stand or site wherever they like.

Emma Nayler Photographer is responsible for this beautiful photo. Of course it's not a Sunshine Coast wedding, but it's the very special wedding of a very special Sunshine Coast couple and I was lucky enough to attend as a guest. Congratulations Kate and Andy, married just last week!

Take a look through our Planning Tools, where you will find a helpful printable guest list tracker and table setting planner.

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