On this Australia Day, I am so happy to celebrate who we are as a nation. Diverse, unique and proud. For us we’ll be in the pool or in the air conditioning with a heat wave hitting Perth at the moment, no doubt occasionally firing up the BBQ for some lunch and dinner. Staying cool is the aim today.

I came across this from my friend Liz Arcus which was a number of statements that will ring true for any Australian and just had to share a few of them.

So, you know you are Australian if . . .

* You’re liable to burst out laughing whenever you hear of Americans “rooting” for something.
* You can translate: ‘Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas.’
* You believe that cooked-down axle grease makes a good breakfast spread. You’ve also squeezed it through Vita Wheats to make little Vegemite worms.
* You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis.
* You believe that the confectionery known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year.
* You know what it’s like to swallow a fly, on occasion via your nose.
* You know it’s not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle and a seat belt buckle becomes a pretty good branding iron.
* Your biggest family argument over the summer concerned the rules for beach cricket.
* You know that the barbecue is a political arena; the person holding the tongs is always the boss and usually a man. And the women make the Salad.
* You’ve drank your tea/coffee/milo through a Tim Tam.

Happy Australia Day!

As Priya turned she saw Scott down on one knee holding an engagement ring out towards her. He had been waiting all day with the ring in his pocket for the right moment and a scriptwriter could not have written it better.

Of course, she said yes.

Priya and Scott were married earlier this month on quite possibly one of the loveliest days Perth has seen in January. As Priya promised to remember to put the milk back in the fridge and Scott promised to live only for her, they created something unique. A marriage that represents understanding, patience and compassion as they brought together two very different cultures, religions and families to create a new family that is unique and full of all the good things they have to offer individually and now together.

It was an honor to have been given the chance to photograph their wedding day and I know we’re going to be in each others lives for a long time to come.

View the entire gallery of images and order prints HERE. Interested in having me at your wedding? Click here to get in touch!

I love the tradition of giving gifts to each other on the morning of the wedding. In Scott’s case he was showered with love with a set of custom cufflinks presented in a box of chocolates from Koko Black and a little reminder of how the men before him were good husbands almost 100 years ago.

Both Scott and Priya were getting ready at the Pan Pacific which meant I had plenty of time with them both as they prepared for the wedding with their best friends.

It felt like Christmas morning as I photographed Priya’s delightful details. From her Lisa Ho shoes to her simply understated bouquet from Poppy’s Flowers, they all fit in perfectly with their vision of a understated but elegant day.

Kate Farmer has magic fingers and her brides always look effortlessly put together with makeup that lasts all day long.

There is something about the ritual of a girl getting ready to marry her guy. As soon as the veil goes on its as if reality hits and everything else just fades away.

Priya’s younger brother Anton had the honor of giving Priya away after walking her down the aisle. Just a few years apart in age, they are so close they are often mistaken for twins.

The ceremony was held at the Sunken Gardens at UWA. As we waited for Priya to arrive, her mother told me that they used to come here on the weekends to look at the couples getting married and Priya remembers playing on the grounds as a child.

We had just a shortish amount of time between the ceremony and reception so we wandered the grounds of UWA. Priya’s bridesmaids were as Priya said, “The most beautiful bridesmaids ever” and in their convertible jewel toned dresses, I have to agree.

One of my favourite moments of any wedding day is the time we have for some beautiful portraits. I could have photographed Scott and Priya all day.

Priya’s super stylish three-piece wedding dress was from Clear Couture and she looked incredible wearing it.

The boys. Scott and his groomsmen were dressed in black suits and light ties, exuding a relaxed James Bondish feeling. It is always the groomsmen who keep me on my toes and these guys were no exception.

The reception was held at Matilda Bay and with furniture supplied by Villa Kula created a relaxed lounge atmosphere for guests to wile away the afternoon overlooking the Swan River.

A wedding day is about celebrating two individuals coming together as a family but I found it incredibly ironic that in the lead up to the wedding I wanted to change improve everything about me 100% whether it be my skin tone, my hair colour or the size of my pants. I know that Grant was marrying me for me and eventually I filtered out the noise telling me that I needed to change in order to be beautiful on my wedding day.

That said, I did make a few changes in my diet and lifestyle in the lead up to the wedding. I drank more water, tried to eat more fruit and vegetables, exercised daily and indulged in regular facials (the latter was not at all hard to add to my routine!)

When I started to think about who I wanted to contribute to the Summer Series 2012, Équilibre was at the top of my list. Health and fitness has become such a huge part of the wedding planning process and I wanted to cast a different perspective on the whole concept which Équilibre were perfect for. This husband and wife team are not about diet pills, protein shakes and deprivation. They are about enjoying life and the things you like, in moderation and in balance. Being a huge fan of French Women Don’t Get Fat, which is a similar philosphy, I found myself internally shouting YES!! when I discovered them and their fantastic, healthy approach to life, food and fitness.

Nic and Pascal just welcomed a little bundle of joy, baby Remy to their family but managed to find a little time in their busy schedules to be interviewed for my Summer Series.

How and when did Equilibre begin?

We created the business concept in 2010 after seeing how increasingly frustrated our clients were becoming with all the confusing information and advice around on diet and exercise. We felt that there was room for an alternative – with a realistic, back-to-basics, sustainable approach – and out of that, Équilibre (French for balance) was born. We bring together Pascal’s years of expertise and experience as an exercise professional and combine it with Nic’s passion for great food and cooking – the perfect ‘balanced’ partnership!

At Équilibre, we teach and inspire an appreciation for exercise and good food, and encourage a healthy lifestyle based on balance – no gimmicks, quick fixes or empty promises.

What is a realistic timeline for a bride who wants to tone up and get fit and healthy for her wedding? 3 months before the wedding? 6 months?

Naturally, the longer you have, the better the results and the more likely you will be to maintain your healthy new regime. Slow and steady progress will always create stronger, more lasting results than a short burst of intensive effort. A realistic time-frame also depends on what base you are coming from and what expectations you have. Regardless of how long you have before your wedding, be it 6 weeks or 6 months, the real key is simply to start and then keep it going – and the benefits will be there for you. Saying that, if weight loss is your main focus, don’t leave it until the last few weeks when the temptation to crash diet or try other damaging quick fixes can become all too tempting and can cause more long-term damage than good.

“Fitness for foodies” sounds like a great concept. What are the principles that your mission statement is based upon?

For us, staying fit and healthy is a way of life, but doesn’t mean that we miss out on fabulous food, a great glass of wine or a well-made coffee. Too often, we find that people associate good health and fitness with deprivation, rigid routines and sacrificing the things they enjoy. We’re here to convince you that it doesn’t have to be like that – fitness really can be for foodies!

Our core principles…
• Exercise is about more than just weight loss or athletic ability – it’s about gaining health.
• Life is too short for diets, diet pills, meal replacements or artificial anything.
• When it comes to food, quality and variety always wins out over quantity.
• Eat food as close to its original form as possible. Think wholesome, natural and delicious.
• Get over the ‘all or nothing’, ‘feast or famine’ mentality – your health and fitness regime needs to be something you can happily incorporate into your lifestyle for the long term.

What are some nutrition tips for a bride or groom? What things should they be adding to or reducing from their diet as they focus on getting into shape?

We suggest implementing nutrition changes gradually, focusing on one habit at a time. Following strict diets or cutting out entire food groups is not the best way to approach it.

Our favourite nutrition tips…

• Cut out all soft drink including diet versions – develop a taste for refreshing mineral water with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime.
• Reduce alcohol – stick with a glass of something you really enjoy at social functions.
• Cut out highly processed foods – avoid anything with a long list of ingredients you don’t understand.
• Don’t fall for the ‘low fat everything’ trap – products labeled ‘low fat’ or ‘reduced fat’ often contain a lot of sugar or artificial additives – we prefer to take our lead from the French and enjoy just a little good quality cheese or full fat yoghurt, it’s an experience not to be missed!
• Experiment with new ingredients and increase the variety in your diet.
• Cook at home as often as possible and plan your meals.

It’s also a great time to learn how to cook if you or your partner is lacking that particular skill. Take cooking classes together, invest in new cookbooks or a magazine subscription and experiment in the kitchen. Home cooking is so much better for you and your future family’s health.

There seems to be nothing quite like a wedding to make a bride begin to realize that she needs to start a workout routine and tone up. Where do you suggest she start to get the best results? What elements make for a good routine?

There’s so much pressure on brides these days and it’s understandable that they want to look and feel their best for the event and look gorgeous in photos! Whatever your motivation, we think its a perfect time to get started on a health and fitness routine so as to set yourself up for marriage and your future life together – not just for the big day itself.

Just getting started? Be sure to…

• Work out what your goals are – try not to focus purely on weight loss.
• Get some expert advice – you rely on experts for every other aspect of your wedding, so why leave your own health and wellbeing to chance?
• Make a plan – how are you going to incorporate your workout sessions into your weekly schedule? What do you need to do to make this happen?
• Seek support from family and friends – share your journey with your partner and encourage him or her to join you. Why not involve your bridal party, too – power walking planning meetings, anyone?

As far as your routine is concerned, we suggest a holistic approach, incorporating both exercise and nutrition – there’s no sense signing up for bridal boot camp if you’re still eating rubbish! A good all round exercise routine needs to have elements of cardio, strength and stretching, but inevitably the best routine for you is one that you can realistically sustain. Its also worth addressing other lifestyle factors such as sleep and stress as they may have an impact on your overall effectiveness and ability to stick to your routine.

Is it possible for brides to spot-tone on particular areas of concern?

We’re not fans of the concept of spot toning or reducing and don’t think that brides should focus on it as it inevitably sets them up for disappointment. Every ‘body’ is built differently and the trick is to enhance your natural shape, not to change it completely. As long as an exercise program incorporates balanced body strengthening (both upper and lower body) some cardio, and exercises for flexibility, it should provide great overall results. Besides, we want our brides looking fabulous in their honeymoon bikini, not just their strapless wedding gown!

What general words of advice do you have for brides and grooms wanting to incorporate a healthy fitness regime in the lead up to their wedding, and beyond?

The fantastic thing about incorporating health and fitness as part of your wedding preparation is that the benefits linger well beyond the big day itself…

• Commit to your health and fitness, but ensure that it’s a positive and enjoyable experience – that way, you’ll be far more likely to stick with it long after your wedding date comes and goes.
• Use your new exercise routine as a form of relaxation and stress release, particularly as the big day draws closer.
• Be sure to enjoy the social celebrations in the lead up; it’s a great time to develop your sense of equilibrium instead of feeling guilty every time you are offered a glass of bubbly. Don’t eat and drink everything in sight though – be picky and select only the foods you know you are going to love and savour.
• Above all, aim to be the best version of yourself on the day, not a carbon copy of someone you’ve seen in a magazine. It’s your day to shine, and your uniqueness is the reason why you are standing there in the first place!

Image courtesy of Équilibre

Thank you so much Nic and Pascal! I love Nic’s advice of aiming to be the best version of yourself on your wedding day. If you are looking for a leg up in your workout routine or nutritional program, Équilibre offer wonderful specialised coaching programs to give you the tools to get you where you want to be. I am implementing small pieces of their program into my lifestyle as I go along and love that it is a no nonsense, sensible approach.

Remember that whatever you do when it comes to your health and fitness, it should be a lifestyle choice and not a quickie fix and at the end of the day the person standing at the end of the aisle loves you just as you are. Right now.

For us, no Christmas is the same without seafood of some kind. As we were having a casual Christmas dinner beside the pool, it just made sense to be a little less formal and to let our guests help themselves from a platter of seafood. In the end it made the meal even more simple and fun and we ended up with a tapas style meal which our guests loved.

I thought I would share the recipe that I found in December issue of Donna Hay magazine and adapted slightly to use on Christmas Day. I hope you get a chance to try it this summer and enjoy it as much as we did. Perhaps even this weekend

CHILLI AND GREEN PEPPERCORN BUTTERED PRAWNS
Serves 6-8 as an entree or 10-12 as tapas style dining

1.5kg large whole green prawns
1 lemon, halved

Chilli and green peppercorn butter
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon sea salt flakes
1 tablespoon green peppercorns
2 long green chillis, finely chopped (or red chillis are fine too)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
200g butter, softened

To make the chilli and green peppercorn butter, place the fennel seeds and salt in a mortar and pestle bowl and grind until smooth. Add the peppercorns, chilli, garlic and butter and mix until combined. Divide between two bowls (one for serving and one for cooking).

Thread the prawns onto skewers. Preheat a chargrill pan or barbeque over high heat. Add the skewers and cook for 3-4 minutes each side, brushing with one portion of the butter made earlier. Keep cooking, brushing and turning until prawns are cooked through.

While the prawns are cooking, place the two cut lemons flesh side down on the grill to cook and caramelize.

Remove prawns from skewers and serve on a platter with lemon halves and remaining butter.

Bon appetite! Have a great weekend!

When I started my photography business in 2008 and then went full time in 2009, I was told by what seemed like everyone in the industry that this was a job that was going to be a labour of love and I wouldn’t see any profit for at least 3-5 years. Despite this, I managed to create a workflow that saw me streamline my business to a point where I was profiting in my second year of business – just shy of what I was making in my previous office job – without having gone into debt and without shooting 50 weddings a year.

Running a business (and especially a photography business) is not all black and white. While I don’t profess to have all the answers, I have learned from my mistakes and I am ready to share these lessons with other photographers looking to start their own business in either weddings or portraits or help those that are looking to really hone their skills.

So, with that I am so pleased to finally announce that from January 2012, I am offering Mentor Sessions!! Depending on what it is that you are wanting to know about running a successful photography business and how in depth you want to get, there are three options at the moment for these sessions for photographers from a full day, half day or phone/video chat consult for those with just a few questions.

Send me an email to get all the details and pricing and to book your mentor session. As my wedding and portrait clients are my primary concern, there will only be a couple of mentor sessions available per month and only 5 Photography 101 sessions available per year and with a wait list already I encourage you to book quickly.

It was a conversation with a bride a few months ago that actually sparked this concept of the Summer Series 2012. She had just begun searching for a dress and was feeling discouraged as the salespeople were expecting her to just tell them exactly what she wanted when all she wanted was for someone to step in and guide her to her perfect dress for her personality, wedding style and body type. I couldn’t help but empathise as my own experience in wedding dress shopping was less than enjoyable and something I just wanted to finish as soon as I started it.

Katie offers a bespoke service to her brides which sounds like a wonderful experience. Her gowns are exquisite and I am so pleased she took a moment to answer some of my questions. I’ve been intrigued by the concept of creating a custom gown and have seen a few of my own brides go down this path themselves to really inject a little more of their own personality into their day. We were fortunate to work together last winter on a project when I was able to see and photograph her work up close and they are as beautiful in person as they look on film.

All images by Angela Higgins

How and when did you begin designing wedding dresses?

My journey began almost 20 years ago! I was always interested in fashion design and dress making and completed 2 weeks work experience at Silk’n’Satin bridal shop in Subiaco. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with the amazing designer Marie Perry-Watson. Her back ground was in theatre, ballet and made to measure. She took me under her wing and I haven’t looked back.

Where do you get your inspiration from when you begin designing a new dress?

My inspiration is driven by the person wearing the gown, their personality, style and how they aspire to look and feel both inside and out, on their special day. I’m also entranced and enchanted by the vast array of stunning materials available both nationally and internationally. Quite often I will start with a design and get excited about all the options that present as the dress comes to life. I love reflecting on the history of design as it unveils the secrets of bygone eras, when women dressed beautifully from head to toe.

What trends do you see for the 2011/12 wedding season here in Australia? What is getting you excited?

I’m very happy to see lace is still strong, hem lines are long and ladies are exploring beautiful necklines!

Why should a bride consider coming to you for a custom experience rather than buying off the rack at a big chain store?

Having a bespoke gown made at Loui Col is a special treat, for a special day. I want my girls to enjoy the whole experience from start to finish. I aim to understand each bride individually and support a creative environment where we can explore beautiful designs, laces and materials. They are involved in the whole process. My brides look forward to their visits as each new fitting brings their dress to life. It is a wonderful space for the bride to either come by herself for her own personal experience or to share it with mums and friends.

When should a bride begin to look for her dress and when should she have bought a dress in relation to her wedding date?

When she is ready! For a customized Loui Col Design the construction process starts 3 months prior to the wedding. Most girls will meet with us 9-12 months before to book their dates and from there we use this time to work on designs and chose the perfect lace, silks and trims. I don’t believe that process should go on and on, I don’t know anyone who really wants to choose a dress 12 months before wearing it. We are women! We change our minds!

What is the average cost your brides are investing in their wedding gowns?

Every gown is costed according to the lace, trims, materials and time that will go into creating the perfect bespoke piece.

Do you have any advice or tips you could offer brides when shopping for their wedding gowns.

Find the right person to work with. You have to be confident that ideas and designs are going to work for you. Follow your heart and trust what really inspires you. Don’t always follow trends, check them out, admire them but be guided by what suits you and your day!

Stick to a classic design and incorporate your own elements whether they are vintage, spunk, elegance or a modern feel. Be careful not to be influenced by others if they have particularly strong feelings as how ‘they’ think you should look.

How can brides be fashion forward (or even draw inspiration from the past) without ending up with a style that will date badly?

Keep it simple look for gowns and designs to suit you and your wedding day. You want your gown to be a family heirloom, to be passed down and admired. You don’t want to be experimenting with ‘something different’ on your wedding day!

How do wedding dress fashion rules differ from everyday fashion rules? Such as avoiding cropped jackets if you’re short in stature. Are there different things to keep in mind when shopping for your dress?

The wonderful experience of having a gown made to fit you is getting the proportions correct. So often I have girls saying ‘I love this idea but I can’t wear that style’. A lot of the time we can wear it when it is fitted correctly.

ATTIRE ETIQUETTE

After the wedding day, how should the dress be care for and stored?

Dry cleaned is always recommended and then boxed accordingly. I am lucky enough to have mine on display! Why not if you have somewhere in your home to have it on display?! In the coming months Loui Col Designs will be displaying some of our gorgeous brides wedding dresses in our shop window with their wedding photos! We all like to see real brides on their day with their special glow to highlight everything.

Why is it important for guests to follow the dress codes given by the bride and groom? I.e., black tie, semi formal, cocktail.

The dress code compliments the scene and atmosphere that the bride and groom are creating for their special day. We must respect this. I always tend to think that it’s always better to be over dressed, than under dressed!

Can a guest ever wear white to a wedding?

Ah, I’ve mixed feeling about that one. With so many wonderful colours in our world why would you chance it? I had my beautiful bridesmaids in all the same ivory silk as my own gown, assuming that my guests would all wear colours. This way my whole bridal party had the opportunity to shine with us!

I have been so inspired lately by the trends in wedding gowns, especially after all the royal weddings in 2011 and was so pleased to find out from Katie what her thoughts were where trends are going and how a bride could go about creating her wedding gown while having a great experience.

If you’re just starting the pilgrimage to finding your perfect wedding gown, definitely have a chat with Katie at Loui Col Designs about her made to measure wedding and evening gowns. Katie just opened her new studio storefront at 7/14 Money St, Perth and would love to hear from you!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and stay tuned for the next installment of Summer Series.

Honor left the trip early to get back to Perth for work but as fate would have it, her car engine blew up and she was stranded. As she sat on the side of the road contemplating what to do all she could think of was how she wanted to be back with Craig. When a good Samaritan eventually stopped to offer his help, she asked to be dropped back at the camping spot where she had left Craig and they confessed to each other that that was the last time they wanted to be apart.

Honor and Craig are incredible people. They were surrounded with so much love and respect on their wedding day as they vowed to live for each other forever. Never having to be apart again. I was thrilled to be apart of their day and I could not think of a more wonderful couple to have closed the 2011 wedding season with.

View the entire gallery of images and order prints HERE. Interested in having me at your wedding? Click here to get in touch!

Honor’s dress was from Hobnob Bridal and was just incredible. With layers of light fabric creating a blush, champagne tone it was truly a bridal gown.

I found these amazing vintage suitcases in the corner of Honor and Craig’s home and they fitted in perfectly with the entire concept of their wedding; a vintage tint.

I was thrilled to arrive and discover Fox and Rabbit’s lovely floral creations. Rebecca is an incredible florist and each bouquet of hers is a work of art.

The ceremony was held at St Georges College Chapel which is part of UWA. Honor lived at the College during her first year of University and I think it was a dream of hers that they were able to get married there.

Honor complimented such a historically rich location with vintage touches. Her Handpicked Harvest provided a selection of lawn games on the front lawn for guests to entertain themselves with while were were taking portraits.

As University Alumni, UWA was the perfect choice for their on location portraits and just right across the road from the chapel.

I do have to make a special mention to Honor’s sister Ellie who confessed to being a regular blog stalker reader. Hi Ellie!

For a little more greenery we stopped in at Kings Park. I could have photographed here all day with this beautiful light and an even more beautiful couple. After we finished, Honor and Craig and their bridal party took a moment to have a quick picnic of sushi before heading to the reception.

The reception was held back at the College in the Grand Hall which made me feel I was at Hogwarts. It was incredible and beautifully decorated with so many flowers and candles.

As wedding favours, each guest was given a small tree to plant or a vintage tea cup containing a cupcake. Such a lovely touch!

Slowly I’ve been seeing so much of America become part of Australia and I’m not sure when it happened. I think perhaps around the time of 9/11 when perhaps we felt so much closer as a global nation in the face of such tragedy.

I find it hard to list one TV show I watch that is Australian. Cherry coke once a rarity is much easier to find. Halloween is becoming bigger and bigger. Spring onions are now called shallots in the supermarket and I’m sure we’re one step away from rockmelons being called cantaloupes and coriander becoming cilantro. Its incredible really how Americanised we have become.

One thing I refuse to hand over though is my s’s for z’s when spelling. My spell check goes crazy telling me I must change Americanised to Americanized but it goes against all I know grammatically to actually change it. Likewise for dropping the u in some words like colour or favourite. Never!

It seems that most years I see so many of my favourite bloggers (many of whom are American) posting about their goals in lovely notebooks. I felt that if I was a creative person then I must be doing the same and I have so many half full notebooks as I’ve tried over and over to become the journalling type. It just never sticks.

Instead this year I decided to opt for an electronic version as I think I am more likely to see it more regularly and therefore use it which lead me to the Goal Setting Workshop iPad/iPhone app. Couldn’t hurt to try, right? While I’ve only just started using it, I love the look and feel and the fact that its not complicated at all. Not to mention that it encourages you to dream big with it prompting me to set a goal of owning an island and jet plane. Thank you very much!

Last night I spent a little time brainstorming and wrote down just some of my goals including personal development, “things” and career goals. Some of those that I am aiming for this year are finally creating a savings account, renovating my office space in our home and refining my 3 day work week to work better for me, my family and my clients.

What are your goals for 2012?

When talking with some of my brides recently I began to realise that there are some couples out there that can get confused with the do’s and dont’s of weddings.  I’ve always felt that as a wedding vendor, it shouldn’t be assumed that your client knows all the ins and outs of the industry. After all, they come to us because we are the professionals in this field. There are so many aspects that can be overwhelming and as a recent bride, I can appreciate the head-swirling affect this can have on you.

I decided to set myself and some of my favourite local vendors a little challenge to hopefully shine a light on just some must-have areas of wedding to-do’s. Over the next few months I’m going to be interviewing some of the best vendors that Perth has to offer in each of their specific tasks of expertise and I hope that at least one bride or groom finds something useful as they plan their wedding.

Our first interview to kick off the Summer Series 2012 are my friends, the Mesdames Mitchell & Dent. I fell in love with their work the minute I saw it and had to have some of their fabulous letterpress for my own business stationery. We even worked on a little project together in 2010 when I photographed their new range of “ready-to-wed” designs. These lovely ladies (as if they hadn’t accomplished enough) are also the masterminds behind the First Comes Love Bridal Fair that I was also fortunate to be a part of last May.

They have been creating gorgeous stationery for Brides and Grooms since 2009 and I am so pleased they were able to take a moment to answer a few questions.

All images generously supplied by Nic Montagu and Jessica Shaver

Where do you find inspiration when designing new stationery suites?

Oh goodness, in an endless array of places. Recently we’ve been influenced by teacups and tattoo typography, Palm Springs and old postcards, family crests and mid-century frou frou.

What trends do you see for the 2011/12 wedding season for wedding stationery here in Australia?

More and more, we see mash-ups of the traditional and contemporary. Letterpress, lined envelopes and wax seals; but with modern typography, geometric patterning or eclectic illustration. Postcard and concertina-style invitations with perforated RSVPs that fit in standard-sized envelopes are becoming popular. And colour? Peaches and soft pinks with copper and gold. Navy and naturals. Pops of bright hues such as scarlet, orange, turquoise or acid yellow.

Why should a couple consider having a custom stationery suite made rather than purchasing a template or choosing to DIY?

What do we keep when the big day is done and dusted? The pictures and the paper, of course. Stationery becomes a physical embodiment of joyful memories – just perfect for bringing out to bore the grandchildren with! It is like holding your history in your hands.

Why splurge on custom designed stationery? For the same reason you splurge on a beautiful gown or suit and good food and wine to accompany the most important pledge you’ll ever make. It is special and makes you feel special. And it is personal. And appreciated. Receiving a beautiful invitation in the mail is like a little paper hug.

When a couple come to you ready to create a bespoke stationery suite for their nuptials, where do you begin the process and how long does it take from concept to delivery?

The first question we ask a couple is if they prefer letterpress or printed stationery. It can take 4-6 weeks to create a custom letterpress suite; as it is first designed, then blocks are cast for each ink colour. The printing process itself is also slow, as our 1905 Chandler & Price platen press is hand-fed and only one colour can be printed at a time.

Printed stationery is quicker, especially if a couple opts for one of our ready-to-wed designs, which are pre-existing. The process typically takes 2-3 weeks from phone call to pick up. We have been known create stationery in 3 days, but it doesn’t do much for the nerves.

In your opinion what are the must have/non-negotiable items for a wedding suite at its most basic?

The invitation of course. RSVP cards are lovely, but you could always pop the details on the invitation itself. Gift information? Ditto. A service card or booklet is necessary if you have hymns or prayers guests are invited to participate in. Many venues offer a printed menu service, but place cards are always important, especially if you need to keep any feuding family members apart. And thank you cards sent after the event is just plain good manners. Even if Auntie Mabel only gave you monogrammed handkerchiefs.

What is the average cost your brides and grooms are investing in their letterpress and/or printed stationery?

People spend anything from $600 to $6,000 with us, but the average is around $1,200 to $1,500.

Lastly, do you have any advice or tips you could offer brides when deciding on their stationery.

Have a little chat with the mums before you come to see your stationer. The only hiccup we see in our studio is when a couple has their heart set on something and the mother of the bride or groom doesn’t approve.

STATIONERY ETIQUETTE

How long before a wedding should the invitations be sent?

Send the invitation 6-8 weeks prior, with an RSVP date that is 2-3 weeks before the event (do check with your venue to see when final numbers need to be supplied when setting the RSVP date). Sending a ‘save the date’ to international and interstate invitees at least 6 months prior to the wedding is always appreciated, allowing time to make travel arrangements.

There is always at least one guest that feels they don’t have to RSVP. What do you suggest to speed them along and get their response?

Here are our top tips for persuading impolite peeps to get back to you:
• include a pre-stamped RSVP card with the invitation
• use the phrase ‘please reply’ instead of ‘RSVP’ (not everyone knows what it means)
• include e-mail, mobile or twitter details on the invitation for the technically-talented but stationery-inept
• passive-aggressive status updates about RSVPing tardiness on Facebook might goad the guilty
• and if all else fails, why not phone and ask if they’re coming? Works surprisingly well.

How soon after the wedding should the thank you cards be sent to the guests?

As soon as you return from the honeymoon is ideal. That might be 4 weeks or 4 months after the wedding, but not sending a thank you is not very polite.

Thank you so much Mitchell and Dent for all of your advice! The ladies just opened their very own store that is open at Studio Bomba, 379 Oxford Street, Leederville, Thursdays to Sundays from 10.30am to 6ish. Just look for the yellow door. I may be biased with my self-confessed weakness for stationery and paper goods, but if you want to get inspired stop on by to start the conversation about your own wedding stationery.

I hope you liked our first installment and stay tuned for my next interview next week!

On a personal level, we got married and sold and bought a house and then undertook the ginormous task of an immediate re-landscaping. Professionally, this year has been nothing short of momentous even considering the fact that I reduced my weddings booked by half to accommodate the fact that we’ve had a lot going on privately. I hope to sit down quietly this afternoon and have a look over my goals from 2011 which I am so pleased to cross off having accomplished them and write some new ones for 2012.

With 10 perfect weddings with couples I could not be more thankful for and a bunch of engagement sessions, I finish the year with a heart fuller than when it began. With new clients from overseas and interstate (as well as locally) I can not be more thankful to have had these wonderful people in my life. So many have become friends that I can see being in my life for a long time to come.

Maria and James, Holly and Mick, Pippa and Jud, Nic and Ranjit, Tobey and Tony, Mandy and Shannon, Bec and Dryw, Pieta and Joshua, Chloe and Brendan, Honor and Craig. You have made my cup overfloweth The fact I found this career is a blessing and I wanted thank all of my clients (past, present and future), for putting their trust and faith in me to document such incredible special moments in their lives.

My 2012 wedding season kicks off in just 7 days time and will see me travelling across the country as the year goes on. Its going to be busier but I just know its going to be so rewarding to be able to share such special days with such incredible people.

If you’d like me at your wedding in 2012 or early 2013 please get in touch. My calendar is filling fast for 2012 and I was amazed to realise that it is already half booked. I’d love to hear from you and share the magic!