Music for your Special Occasion!

Music for your special occasion.

One of the main ingredients of any wedding is music. There will be music as your guests enter the church, and music plays a large role in the wedding ceremony itself. You and your guests will be accompanied by music down the aisle and out of the church, and greeted by it when you arrive at the reception. During the reception itself, there will be no time when music is not playing. This being the case, shouldn't you put serious thought into your wedding day music?


CEREMONY



The music you choose for your ceremony will do a lot to set the mood for your entire wedding day. Whether your wedding is large or small, formal or informal, you can characterize the flavor of the day through your musical selections.

There are a few different ways to personalize the wedding ceremony through music. Use music that is very meaningful to you as a couple. Ask a close friend or relative to perform a solo, or incorporate a song that all your guests will know so they can join in.

If you want to use some of the traditional classical pieces (such as the wedding march) hire someone other than an organist to play them. Walk down the aisle to the accompaniment of a flute and guitar, trumpets, or a harp. Also look into the availability of musical ensembles, such as string quartets or chamber music groups.

Don't use the traditional songs at all. Choose contemporary tunes that mean something to you and your fiancée -- perhaps the first song you danced to, or the song that was playing on the radio when he proposed. When you're choosing pieces for the processional and recessional, keep the length of the aisle in mind. Longer pieces will need to be adapted for a short walk down the aisle. For a long aisle, choose a combination of songs.

It is most important that you speak to your priest of celebrant about exactly what types of music are permitted by the church before you make your final selections. Churches can have very strict rules about what music is to be played at a wedding.

You should try to set up a time to hear the music played at the ceremony site. You may find that the pieces you liked in the confines of the music director's office don't come across as well when played in a larger setting, like a church.

Be sure to audition any musicians the way you would a band or DJ for your reception. Agree upon fees up front, and put everything into a written agreement so there are no unnecessary problems on your wedding day. ...


RECEPTION



After the wedding ceremony, your guests will be ready to put on their dancing shoes and have a good time. The music you select, whether live or recorded, will have an important impact on the mood of your reception. Since a successful reception is every bride's objective, selecting the right music is an important factor in achieving that goal.

You will have two options in reception music: live music (a band) or recorded music (a disc jockey). Depending on the style of your reception, you may prefer solo performers, a band, or a disc jockey.

The type of entertainment you hire will be primarily based on the size and style of your reception. Select the kind of group that will be most appropriate. You'll want to choose a band or DJ that will give your guests plenty of variety. No matter what type of music you choose, a blend of fast and slow songs is most desirable. Also ask about music for group dances such as the Bunny Hop, the Chicken, and the Hokey Pokey.

Whether you prefer live or recorded music, it is advisable to book the service for your wedding date as soon as possible. As with every other aspect of your wedding, planning ahead will help secure your first choice, not you’re second or third.

One of the best ways to find excellent entertainment is to ask for referrals from friends whose weddings you enjoyed. Chances are your taste will run along the same lines. It is important to find a service with experienced people who know how to keep a wedding reception running smoothly. Set up a meeting with the bandleader or DJ and be sure to ask for a demo tape and references.

Besides playing the music, your DJ or bandleader has the important responsibility of being the master of ceremonies at your reception. He makes sure the evening runs smoothly and all the traditional parts of your reception are fun for everyone. Make sure you meet with your DJ or bandleader to go over the order of the evening. Listen to their suggestions. Remember, they have done many weddings and usually know what works the best. Ask about announcing the new Mr. and Mrs. and the bridal party as they walk in, the toast, cutting the cake, the bridal dance, throwing the bouquet and garter, the money dance, a dance with you and your father, and any special announcements that you want made.

Along with announcing these special parts of your reception, the bandleader or DJ should have music to go with them. Ask to see a list and pick out your favorites. If they don't have "your song" for the bridal dance, ask if the DJ can find it or if the band can learn it.

Also give the DJ or band leader a list of songs you would like played during your reception. Customize the music for your reception to what you want, but don't try to dictate every song. Choose categories of music you like and list some of your favorite artists to give your DJ direction, but trust in his or her ability to direct the party.

Ask plenty of questions during your search. Find out how they will dress for your reception (suits or tuxedos are proper) and if they will require dinner. Also ask to see the sound system so you can be sure it will not detract from the overall atmosphere. Choose a service that fits your budget. The cost will depend on the number of entertainers, how long they will play, and location of the reception. Plan on contracting for at least three hours with a provision of playing longer.

When talking to a band, find out how many breaks they will take. A fifteen minute break every forty-five minutes is usual. Some bands, though, will play pre-recorded tapes during breaks so that there is continuous music. If your band does not provide this service, consider hiring a DJ to cover the band's breaks.

Many couples prefer to choose a disc jockey to provide all the entertainment. As with a band, it is very important to hire someone who can give all your guests a good time. If you'll be dealing with a large service that employs several people, be sure to meet the person who will perform at your reception. Everyone has their own style, and you need to be sure that the DJ will give the kind of performance that you feel is appropriate for your wedding reception. Also ask if the company can provide special effects, such as lighting and smoke machines. They will probably cost extra, but some couples like the mood they create. Find out as well about backup equipment, and the DJ himself. Will there be someone at the reception to take over if something happens to him?

Talk about deposit requirements and payment schedules. Do not give more than half of the total price before the reception, and never pay in full before the service shows up. Also discuss the refund policy, just in case. Find out how much they charge for overtime in case the reception runs longer than you had originally planned.

Also ask what accommodations they'll need for their equipment. Special necessities such as space requirements and electrical needs are important facts to know so you can make the proper arrangements with your reception hall.

When you've made your decision, complete a contract for the band or musicians' services, including the name of the group or DJ, number of musicians, date, and place. It should also contain the starting time, finishing time, total compensation, and any other information pertinent to your reception. A signed contract will guarantee services to be rendered and protect both parties.

In addition, you should stipulate the number of breaks and whether dinner will be provided. It is very important to note the name of the group as well as the names of its members, or the name of the DJ you want to perform. This will guarantee that the musicians you hired are the ones who will show up. Get all details in writing to protect both you and the service.

The work doesn't end when you sign the contract, though. Keep the lines of communication open between yourself and the entertainment so they everybody knows what to expect during the day.

Above all, don't be afraid to ask all the questions you want answered. If you feel uncomfortable with a DJ's answer on a certain subject, don't just accept it. Ask more questions or have them clarify their answer so that you will feel comfortable.

Remember that the music service, whether for your ceremony or your reception, is hired to cater to you. With careful planning and lots of communication, you and your guests will have a beautiful wedding and a very memorable reception.

Flowers

The new bridal bouquets are elegant, fuss free and classically stylish.

For centuries flowers have been associated with love and romance, and for florists the bridal bouquet is still the focus of their art form. But the traditional bouquets of roses, lilies and baby's breath are wilting under pressure as more adventurous Australian brides start to adopt international trends incorporating grasses and fruit in a much simpler design.

Bridal flowers are no longer just cream or white, or the turn of the millennium pewter's and silvers. Flowers are being kept within a few shades of the colour palette. However do not discard the traditional rose. One recent trend has been to simply tie a mass of like-coloured roses with a ribbon so they look graceful yet unpretentious. Some designers have even been using bright green wheatgrass in their designs, to give dimension and structure to a floral arrangement, along with a sleek clean look which evokes a warm and summery feeling.

The choice of your wedding bouquet will depend on the style of your gown. The bouquet size should be in proportion to your gown – too large a bouquet will clutter and overpower your look.

The most important6 thing is to find a look that reflects the bride's individual style. Florists advise against making firm decision on flowers too early in your planning process. Colour schemes and ideas may change over time, so four to six months in advanced is the recommended time frame.

Most popular flowers are associated with a desirable quality.

Apple Blossoms – Good fortune

Baby's Breath – Pure Heart

Bluebell – Constancy

Blue Violet – Faithfulness

Daffodil – Joy

Gardenia – Joy

Gladioli – Generosity

Iris – Wisdom

Lily of the Valley – Happiness

Magnolia – Nobility

Orange Blossom – Purity and Fertility

Orchid – Beauty

Rose – Deep Love

White Daisy – Innocence

The Gift of Cash

Many couples are now choosing to live together before marrying and requests for monetary gifts are becoming more common.

If you are unsure of how to advise your guests of your preference for money as a wedding gift, you may like to include one of these poems. You could have the poem printed on the front of small envelopes to match your wedding stationery and enclose an envelope with each invitation. Your guests will be able to bring the envelope to the reception and place it in a wishing well or antique bird cage or pin it to a money tree. Don't forget to include your names and wedding date under the poem.

Etiquette dictates you should still send thank you cards to your guests to thank them for their gifts or money and for making your day special by being there. You could also make mention of how the money will be spent………

Some suggestions to help you with the wording.

1. We don't want to offend but we have it all, all household goods and so much more.

To save you shopping, sit back and rest, a gift of currency is our request.

Don't go overboard or rob any banks, any little thing will make us smile with thanks.

We will supply the wishing well, no wrapping, an envelope, and who can tell,

Now that we have saved you all the fuss, it would be appreciated if you would com celebrate with us.

2. Our house is quite complete now, we've been together long.

So please consider this request, and do not take it wrong.

A wishing well will be present, you may give a money gift instead.

Make a wish upon your gift, and careful as you do.

Because as the well's tradition goes, your wishes may come true.

3. If you are having trouble finding just the gift for us,

this may prove a solution with a minimum of fuss.

Just pop your gift of money inside and pin it to our tree,

and make a wish for happiness forever ours to be.

4. On the road to married life, we've collected all nwe need to be a wife and husband.

The honeymoon, however is another thing,

we had to choose between it and a diamond ring.

So your donation will be appreciated in every way,

as it will help send us on a romantic holiday.

5. We hope that you will join us,

on this our wedding day.

To celebrate our union, in a very special way.

To make it easy for you, and to avoid a shopping spree.

We thought that we would have instead, a little money tree.

We hope you will use this envelope, to bless our little tree.

Remember, no name is required as anonymity is the key.

6. We made a commitment some time ago,

that together through life we were destined to go.

We purchased our furniture, linen and bedding

in the fulfilling years leading up to our wedding.

What else we might need is not easy to foresee,

but we will be blessed by your gift on our money tree.

Wedding Colours

Trying to choose your Wedding Colours may seem a bit daunting, especially if you aren't particularly visually oriented or if your partner is of no help. Yet it's really quite easy.

Most people base their Wedding Colours on their own favourite Colour or flower. You will want to choose one primary and two secondary.

Start off by having a look at your chosen ceremony site and reception venue décor and colours for strong Colours that could clash with certain Colours.

Are you set on having any particular type of flower? Have you already chosen your bridesmaids dresses? If so you are already halfway to finding your Wedding Colours.

If not start by thinking what season it will be when your ceremony takes place.

Spring and summer affairs usually include pastels or Brights. Winter suggests deep purples, burgundies, grey-greens or silver. Autumn brings harvest tones- oranges, reds and yellows.


What to Avoid:

Too much black- while sophisticated, it can end up looking like a funeral, rather than a celebration.

Losing your personality- think about what you wear normally in your clothing and the shades you have used to decorate your home. These are probably colours you are already comfortable with.


If you have a favourite shade, but don't know what else will go with it you could always try a colour wheel. Artists and Designers have used this tool for years as a design principle.

Consider having related tones: ones adjacent to each other on the colour wheel.

Consider have complimentary shades which are located opposite each other on the colour wheel. For example Lavender and Yellow or Forest Green and Burgundy.

Consider using many shades of one Colour as this can look very effective.

If you already have one Colour in particular picked out you might think about highlighting it with Neutral Colours.

Hens Night!!! Woop Woop!

A Guide for Gold Coast Hens
Find out more about weddings on www.weddinglinks.com.au

All the planning, the stress, the costs, the doubts, the nerves and when you almost had enough… Thank God! It’s your hen’s night!
There’s nothing better then gather the girls for some fun! The hen’s night is one of the best things that anticipate a wedding and we all know that.

Do you know the history behind such a great tradition? According to Wikipedia:

"The bachelorette party is consciously modeled after the
centuries-old bachelor's party, which is itself historically a dinner given by
the bridegroom to his friends shortly before his wedding.
Although the practice of giving a party to honor the bride-to-be goes back for centuries, in
its modern form, the bachelorette party may have begun during the sexual
revolution of the 1960s. It was uncommon until at least the mid-1980s, and the
first book on planning bachelorette parties wasn't published until 1998. Its
cultural significance is largely tied to concepts of gender equality. Compared
to the bridal shower, which helps the bride-to-be acquire possessions or a dowry
and reinforces traditional gender roles, a bachelorette party is an expression
of social and sexual freedom.
Initially, parties in honor of the bride-to-be
that were labeled as bachelorette party often involved displays of sexual
freedom, such as trading intimate secrets, getting drunk, and enjoying male
strippers. Parties that honored the bride-to-be without these elements avoided
that label. Now the term is used for a wide variety of parties.”

Interesting enough, we decided to make a list of the greatest ideas for a killing Hen’s night (or day). Luckily Gold Coast offers several options for a Hens night: Whatever your style is, you will find an excuse to enjoy yourself with your girls.

The self indulgent bride
For a relaxing pampering section with your girls, you can simply call the ladies at Ripple. They come to you, wherever you are! Could that be any easier?
The team at Ripple can bring you the best options to make you feel like a queen, including facial treatments, manicure, pedispa, aromatherapy massages and much more. Check out their website: http://www.ripplemassage.com.au/weddings-hens-massages.html

The cosmopolitan bride
What about enjoying a posh night out having the most famous cocktails on the Coast? Thank God for the QBar! With a cocktail list that includes five different Martinis, Caprioska, Mojito, Daiquiry and others plus a stunning view of the Gold Coast, you can not have a better night. Want more? They serve Don Perignon Champagne! And they have live entertainment. To make your booking, visit: http://www.qdeck.com.au/

The sexy – fun bride
Imagine you and the girls feeling sexy, preparing and rehearsing a pole dance routine, having drinks and playing hilarious games? For a naughty hens night: Pole Catz.
You will have the time of your life with a two hour naughty night package. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? http://www.polecatz.com.au/parties.php

The adventurous bride
If you are keen for some extra excitement, you NEED to be in a Jet Boat adventure. Starting in Main Beach, in this 55 minute adventure you will have all the fun of Exciting 360* spins, awesome wake surfing, high speed drifting and incredible 'Beach Buzzing' in as little as 10cm of water will get your adrenaline pumping. Excited? Book your ride at: http://stayz.godo.com.au/activity/PAJB100

Hard to decide? You can always have it all.

We hope you have the time of your life :)

Till next time :)

Find out everything for your wedding on www.weddinglinks.com.au

Ah, the spring!

The colors, the fragrances and the glow are back. Our five senses are awake and we are able to perceive the beautiful.
Welcome to September’s Edition!

This edition is a celebration of the simplest things in life. Things we perceive through our senses. Things that make all the difference.


So…Lets talk fragrances!

You spend ages choosing the perfect outfit, jewelry, makeup, hair style…It is hard, we know. But make no mistake; you can not ignore the importance of an amazing fragrance. Specially while standing next to the man of your life.

The Wedding Links bees went out there searching for "the perfect" fragrance for your wedding day and, surprise, surprise: we’ve found not only one, but many amazing options. To simplify it for you, we selected our five favorite ones! It wasn’t easy, but we finally got there:


Chance by Chanel

We love it because it is fresh, vibrant and extremely feminine. Made for those who dare to dream! Chance is a light fragrance filled with vitality and energy. The fragrance notes include Citron, Water Hyacinth, Jasmine, Teakwood, Vetiver, Patchouli, Ambre, and White Musk. A perfect fragrance to celebrate your love.

Vera Wang by Vera Wang - of course

We can not talk about wedding fragrances without thinking of Vera Wang. Of all her fragrances, we went for the signature one: Vera Wang by Vera Wang. Classy, sensual and powerful. The fragrance is a modern take on the classic floral with flirty notes of Bulgarian rose, gardenia, iris and lily.

Chloe - EDT The elegant

The elegance of this fragrance starts from its bottle: it is embellished with an ivory – colored ribbon. Chloe Eau de Toilette is a fresh variation of the Eau de Parfum, a feminine, bold and natural fragrance. With hints of mandarin orange zest in the head notes, enhanced by freesia and watermelon and a touch of sandalwood and fresh iris in its base, it unveils and renews itself with a light and luminous character.

Issey Miyake – L’eau D’Issey Parfum - the fresh feminism

What an AMAZING Fragrance! Issey Myake’s masterpiece is a combination of Lotus, Rose, Lily and Precious Woods. The result is a light yet feminine aroma, described as floral aquatic with a woody trail. Great choice for a beach wedding.

The one by Dolce & Gabbana

We all love D&G, this is not new. Now we’ve got one more reason to. "The One" is just perfect for a wedding in autumn or winter. It is warm, floriental with modern sensuality—it radiates with sun-touched citrus, while warm fruity notes of luscious lychee and succulent peach add to the delight. The passionate heart evokes an exploding femininity, with an opulent floral soul. An unexpected hint of plum glows as the base blooms with the lasting warmth of vanilla and sweetened ambery-musk notes.

Excited? Relieved? Well, now all you have to do is try the fragrances on - that is the best way to find the perfect match.


We wish you all the best and hope you smell wonderfully good on your wedding day!



"Fragrance provokes the senses and conjures up memories in inexplicable ways. Incredibly intimate, yet nearly imperceptible, a bride's fragrance remains with her long after the ceremony is over." - Vera Wang



Let us know what your decision was: info@weddinglinks.com.au　

Ideas on Wedding Cakes

At Home Wedding Cake.
A towering, sugar-flower-heaped wedding cake seems out of place at a quiet, at-home wedding. Trade it in for several small, simple cakes displayed on cute cake stands.
Leftovers.
Tie a ribbon around your top layer when you stick it in the freezer―that way you won't mistake it for leftovers. Constantly opening and resealing the cake could cause it to spoil.

Size Does Matter.
Order a square wedding cake to save money. It'll yield more slices than a traditional round one

Layers are sinking!.
If your wedding cake starts to suffer on a hot summer day, immediately put it in the reception site's freezer or on ice. The chill will firm it right up.

How much cake do you really need?
Not every guest will eat cake at your wedding. Some will leave before the cake-cutting, others will be on a diet. If you're inviting 175 people, you'll probably only need a cake that serves 150.

Deliver the Cake.
To avoid a delivery charge, assign someone to pick up the cake rather than having your baker do it. Ask which designs are easiest to transport and set up, and if she'll pack it up for you.

For great ideas and suppliers visit www.weddinglinks.com.au for all your wedding needs.