Butterfly flowers

I do adore these flowers - I discovered them two years ago at a teeny dairy in Johnsonville that sold really cheap and beautiful flowers. Never knew what they were called, but they bloomed around Christmas.

Champagne fountain

How to build one (and avert disaster - hopefully)...

Layers of carefully arranged champagne glasses rise in a crystal clear pyramid. This provides a solitary top glass where you will pour the champagne. Watch as it runs over and fills the glasses beneath. While it’s not difficult to build a champagne fountain, a few tricks will make your fountain a success... (eHow)

How To Build a Champagne Tower on Howcast

Video demonstration - above (though they cheat and use plastic glasses)



Hmmm after seeing the video above it's seriously starting to look like a complicated and elaborate idea... not entirely practical, and considerably time-consuming.

So perhaps not...?

Dress patterns

Ahhh the wonder of this modern age we're living in.

Now I can find a dress pattern online (theoretically at least).

The McCalls website has links to:
Butterick
McCalls
Vogue

The Simplicity site has patterns too.

For all that... I didn't see much I liked :(

What to ask your dressmaker

from realsimple.com

How to take a perfect photo?

Not sure this is possible, but it's nice to dream that it is.

'How to look great in every photo'
They've got eight tips they claim will bring out the model in everyone.

Here are a couple:

• Appear Less Posed

  "Engage the photographer in a conversation about some topic you both may find of interest," says Los Angeles-based head-shot photographer Michael Calas. If your mind is focused on something other than the photo, you'll appear less rigid. You can also lean against something, interact with a pet or a child, or intertwine your arms with someone else's. Also, never keep your hands right by your sides, says Chuck DeLaney, dean of students at the New York Institute of Photography, in New York City. Clasp them in the front or in the back, or hold on to a glass or your eyeglasses to help relax your body.
  

• Fake Flawless Skin

  Foundation and translucent powder are quick fixes, but it's equally important to get as much light on the face as possible. If you're indoors, pose near the closest light source, like a window. Also, use a flash inside and outside because "the light of the flash will bounce off the skin, illuminate it, and conceal facial imperfections," says Jim Janis, Walgreens photo-finishing specialist in Chandler, Arizona. Finally, make the most of your scenery. "Photographs taken on a white sandy beach or a snow-covered surface tend to be more flattering because the reflective qualities of those surfaces help de-emphasize wrinkles and pockmarks," says Reggie.
  

• Avoid a Double Chin

  Pay attention to the camera position. "If the lens is at your eye level or above, you're in the right frame," says Calas. "If the lens is below your eye level, then you run the risk of looking like you have an extra chin." Bend your knees so you're at least on an even plane with the photographer (assuming it's not a full-body photo). If you're significantly taller than the photographer, sit in a chair and look up toward the camera. Finally, project your chin out an inch or so more than you normally would. You may feel a bit awkward, like a giraffe, but "you'll have a long, thin neck in the photo," says Suzy Drasnin Orduna, owner of the Beach Ambience Studio & Gallery, in Sag Harbor, New York.
  

• Minimize Unfavorable Features

  Turn your head. Most people have asymmetrical features (for example, one eye is larger than the other or the right ear is a bit higher than the left). So DeLaney suggests posing with two-thirds of the face in view and the remaining third turned slightly away from the camera. That way, facial asymmetry is not as obvious. This particular angle also has a slimming effect, as it draws the eye up and down (forehead to chin), not left to right (eye to eye).
  

• Keep Your Smile Natural

  Don't say "cheese," which usually conjures an artificial smile. Instead, ask the photographer to throw out an unexpected word, like "money." This will usually elicit a genuine laugh, and your expression won't look forced. "I always think of something funny, like my disastrous attempts at cooking, to achieve a natural smile," says Dupont. "If you're self-conscious or critical of your smile, practicing before a photo shoot might be helpful, too."
  

Finding the perfect wedding dress

from www.realsimple.com

10 Wedding Attire Questions

Consider these points when choosing your wedding dress and accessories.

1. How do I ensure that my dress will look its best on the Big Day?

Two words: Handle carefully.

• Put off picking it up from the shop for as long as possible. (Forty-eight hours before showtime is ideal.) It should be given to you in a garment bag. At home, take it out immediately and hang it from the highest possible point, so the train and hemline don't touch the floor.
• Traveling? Return the dress to the garment bag and repeat the process later. When flying, ask if you can carry it onboard―or you'll risk tying the knot in your tracksuit.
• Should anything happen to stain or wrinkle the dress, don't take matters into your own hands. Trying to dab out even the lightest smudge can leave water marks, and ironing a fabric like tulle can transform it into a burnt, crispy mess. Call your bridal salon for help or, if you can't reach it, the nearest cleaner.

2. Which white will work for my skin tone?

With more than 200 shades of white to choose from, the only way to know which one looks best on you is trial and error. Contrary to popular belief, few wedding dresses come in pure white―which is a good thing, because pure white washes out all but the richest and deepest skin tones. Most women will end up with a gown in the ivory family that flatters their skin tone. Keep these suggestions in mind:

• If you're fair-skinned, look for ivory shades containing yellow undertones.
• If you have a pinker complexion, choose creamy undertones.
• If you have olive, yellow-based, or dark skin, select champagne or off-white shades.

When you think you've found the right shade for you, confirm with the salesperson that the color of the sample gown you tried on hasn't been altered by wear and tear.

3. How do I make sense of all the different fabrics out there?

You can find descriptions of common fabrics at fabric.com, but your best bet is to get your hands on the real thing, either at a bridal salon or a fabric store. Fabrics have individual strengths and weaknesses, depending on your priorities.

• Some materials, like silk duchesse satin, are best for providing support and structure, while gauzier, transparent fabrics, like organza and tulle, are better for achieving a romantic, ethereal effect. (It never hurts to ask if you can order your dream gown in a different fabric.)
• Want to save some money? Check out rayon blends, which have the look of silk without the expense.
• To get a sense of how a fabric will behave over the course of your wedding, bunch it up tightly in your hand. If it’s wrinkled after a minute or so, imagine what it will look like by midnight.

4. Is it possible to get an inexpensive dress that doesn’t look cheap?

Nobody ever has to know that you got a great deal on your wedding dress. The single most important factor when it comes to clothing is the way it fits: If a gown is perfectly fitted to your body, it will look like it was made for you by a Parisian couturier, no matter what it cost. So if you’re on a tight dress budget, plan to put a significant portion of it―half, even―toward the services of an expert seamstress.

Other than that, keep an eye out for telltale low-quality work: Does the beading look flimsy? Are the seams shoddily finished? If you spot a flaw that can’t be corrected easily, move on to the next mannequin.

5. Are there any pretty alternatives to traditional wedding dresses?

Yes, plenty. If you vastly prefer the clothing you see in regular stores to what’s in bridal salons, then that’s where you should shop for your wedding-day attire. Some popular options:

• A skirt suit in a light color, which is a sophisticated look that flatters most body types. (Make sure that the cut is very feminine, so you look like a bride, not a CEO.)
• A two-piece skirt-and-top combination, especially if it is made from a silky fabric or has beading.
• Baby-doll and tube-style dresses in any color are cute and playful for more casual affairs.
• When in doubt, a stunning black number never fails.

6. How can I incorporate parts of a family gown into my dress?

Odds are, you probably don’t want to wear your great-grandmother’s dress down the aisle as is. But, luckily, there are other ways to bask in the sentimental value of an inherited gown. Try these tips:

• If the basic structure appeals to you, have a seamstress shorten or lengthen the dress, removing or adding features as you see fit.
• Harvest lace from an old gown to create your veil or an overlay, or have the lace made into a rosette on your dress. The material can also be turned into the base for your bouquet, used for a sash that you can wear around your waist, or appliquéd onto the bodice of your gown.
• If the styles are too different to blend, you should consider taking both dresses to a quilt maker after the wedding and asking her to combine them into an heirloom that you can pass down.

7. What do I need to know about undergarments?

So much attention is paid to the outside of the dress, it’s easy to forget about the crucial infrastructure.

• Ideally, look for a gown with a built-in corset, which makes for the best fit. (If yours doesn’t have one, ask the salesperson whether you should have a corset put in, or consider an alternative, like Spanx or some other type of controlling undergarment.)
• Make sure underpinnings are as close to your skin tone as possible so they won’t suddenly become visible in certain lighting.
• Try on undergarments with your gown and examine yourself in the mirror from every angle. Better yet, have a trusted helper take digital photos of you. While you may glance at your rear end for only a few moments, it’s what everyone will see during most of the ceremony.

8. What’s the word on trains: How long is too long?

Almost anything goes―just remember that you’re the one who’s going to be wearing the thing. Your choices range from no train at all to a full-tilt royal train, which extends back for more than nine feet and is probably best suited to brides with an HRH before their names.

If you’re looking to make a dramatic entrance but would rather not require the assistance of a small army, opt for a four-foot chapel-length train. (Detailed illustrations of train lengths are available at weddingsolutions.com.)

Whatever train length you prefer, ask your dress retailer if it (a) is detachable, meaning you can ditch it after the ceremony, or (b) will need to be bustled at the base of the bodice. If it needs bustling, ask to see what that will look like, since that’s how you’ll be spending the majority of your time.

9. Is it OK to wear white for a second marriage?

Absolutely. The notion that second-time-arounders should sheepishly tiptoe down the aisle in a color that advertises their lack of “purity” is hopelessly outdated. It’s your wedding day, and if you want to celebrate by wearing a white ball gown, by all means, go for it.

That said, many women do view a second wedding as a welcome opportunity to step outside the box. It’s like an automatic license to break the rules: You may be happier opting for a stunning ready-to-wear ensemble or may finally have the guts for a scarlet, backless evening gown. As long as it looks bridal (read: special enough to make you stand out from your guests), the sky is the limit.

10. What attire should the groom wear?

Whatever his choice, all the groom needs is to distinguish himself from the groomsmen. These are three classics:

• A tuxedo: A penguin suit is still the gold standard for formal late-afternoon and evening weddings. Tie options include the classic bow tie, the wider ascot, and a standard necktie, which feels the most modern.
• A morning suit: With a cutaway jacket and matching striped trousers, this ensemble fits a formal daytime wedding.
• Standard business suits in black, gray, brown, or taupe are appropriate for almost any semiformal affair.

Rental china in Christchurch

Wow and oh yum!

Stumbled upon this company in Chch that hires antique china (and serving tableware, etc - no old linen though, I noted). Only $3 per trio too!

Oh I can just imagine how beautiful it would be to be serving tea and petit-four and wedding cake with real old trios... I wish.

Wonder what the replacement fee is for broken ones... perhaps not entirely practical for an outdoor wedding. Maybe for a hen's night then???

They even do mismatched vintage champagne saucers! I could have my champagne fountain after all! And only $1.50 ea to hire!

All prices in their online catalogue - my, how convenient!

The China Cabinet

Paper posies

From SkyBluePink

For our first foray into Paper Botanicals, we have chosen tiny rose buds, small roses, and a few larger roses, in an array of colors from the red and blue families. They come packaged as 10 bunches of 10 flowers for 100 per packet, all one color, but we are offering 1/2 packets, too. As handmade goods, the colors do vary from package to package, but all are lovely.

Wee paper flowers are hand-crafted by families in Thailand from handmade paper. The large flowers are about 5/8" in diameter, small 3/8", buds 3/16". 2" tall with wire stem. Colors may vary slightly from the pictures.

Small Flowers
Quantity:
50 for USD$2.75
100 for USD$4.50

Colours:
Assorted
Pink+White
Light Pink
Dark Pink
Red
Sky Blue
Medium Blue
Dark Blue
Light Lilac
Dark Lilac

Reasonable postage too :)

Hire or acquire

To hire or acquire:

trestle tables
3x drinks and food
6x seat guests (10 per table min)
HQ - 1.2m / 4ft $10.00
- 1.8m / 6ft $12.00
- 2.4m / 8ft $14.00

folding chairs
60+ (confirm total when RSVPs confirmed)

outdoor lights?
fairy lights?
check with Dad what will need to be hired and what we've already got

sound equipment
speakers?
amplifyer?

chiller trailer

cutlery x60 sets + teaspoons for drinks
HQ - 40c ea piece

plates
HQ - 60c ea

wine glasses
HQ - 60c ea

champagne flutes or saucers???
HQ - 60c ea flute/ 75c ea saucers

coffee/tea cups x60

hot water urn??
(borrow from church or school??)

water jugs x6

salt & pepper x6 sets

serving utensils

chopping boards

sharp knives

table cloths x10 (preferably embroidered)
1x from Penny
1x from Joan Golden

Agee jars for flowers x30-40

parasols

picnic rugs, cushions, quilts for ceremony


HIRE
HQ - Hirequip (estimated price) www.hirequip.co.nz 0800 727 727

Dress

Corina Snow Bridal
Tauranga