Cover story: Make your day special

Make your day special. Photo.Alana Dresner Photography

Weddings can be as complicated or as simple as you want to make them. One easy way to make it a positive, enjoyable task is to head along to the Tauranga Wedding Show.
From wedding venues, celebrants, photography, videography and gowns to event planners, caterers, flowers, hair and beauty, everything you need for a wedding is at the Tauranga Wedding Show.

Organiser Rochelle Free says once you've set the date, you need to book your venue and depending upon availability, you may have to book up to a year in advance.

"I don't think there's a magic timeframe for planning. It all depends on what you want, and who you want working with you - be it a photographer, celebrant or florist," she says.

"I've arranged a wedding in three weeks before it happened, so it can be done. You just can't be too fussy or keep changing your mind when it's such a tight timeframe."

Like fashion, themes, colours and styles of weddings go in and out of popularity. Rochelle says while vintage is still big, it is starting to move on.

"Woodland themes are popular and, of course, the classic look with white, blush pink and other soft colours is always popular. Navy is very big at the moment," she says.

Something couples often don't think of when they plan a wedding is who will set up the venue. She recommends getting a stylist or decorator to help with the job as it is often too stressful to leave to family and friends.

"Then everything is stress-free so you, your family and friends can all relax and enjoy the day. "Attending a wedding show is where you're going to meet suppliers who can guide you if you need help and offer alternative ideas. You get to see their work up close and talk to them.

"Whatever they are doing for you on your special day, you need to know that they will do their utmost to deliver, and the best way to connect is by meeting face to face. Attending a wedding show is fun. It's such a positive and happy day."

Three big wedding themes couples are in love with at the moment are rustic chic, boho and Great Gatsby, says Heidi O'Donnell from Be Scene.

Heidi describes rustic chic as naked wedding cakes, wood, logs and woodland touches such as moss and lots of greenery, candles and fairy lights in a warm white rather than a cool bright white light.

Wedding Show organiser Rochelle Free. Photo/John Borren

Boho is similar to rustic chic but with more of a "hippy festival vibe" with lace, dreamcatchers, lots of flowers - such as dahlias, roses, gypsophila and daisies - brass vases and mismatched china for the table setting.

Gatsby, based on the classic and chic style from the movie, is increasingly popular and includes flowers that are usually all white and symmetrical, crystal decanters and champagne glasses, gold cutlery and glitter.

Heidi says colour trends for the upcoming wedding season are dusty pink, navy blue, sage green, grey and denim. Red with dusty pink is popular with the boho look and navy and grey with cream is popular with the Gatsby look.

Outdoor wedding venues are huge and will be for sometime, Heidi says, as more people are drawn to the rustic charm of a farm.

Choosing a venue can feel overwhelming for brides and grooms, Heidi says, and couples need to consider budget, capacity, location, availability and theme.

Couples should ensure they get a full cost of their package and details of what exactly it is they get for their money.

Alana Dresner of Alana Dresner Photography says it is important to plan your wedding photos as they last long after the reception finishes.

It's about you and capturing all the little details that you thought long and hard about.

Alana Dresner

It's about family, friends and celebrating this amazing day with style. Most couples don't like the idea of being posed. The key is finding a photographer that you feel comfortable with. This person will be with you for most of the day."

Alana says it is becoming popular to have a shoot before the ceremony.

"For couples that do this, it is still a special moment when they first see each other, and those who do this like that they spend more of their day together and have more time after the ceremony to mingle with their guests. The ceremony is still amazingly special as you have all your family and friends there and that is a very wow moment for any wedding couple."

Alana says choosing a venue at which you can have both your ceremony and your reception can make life easier for guests - as long as there is a wet weather venue available.

Discuss with your photographer what style of photos you want. Photo/Alana Dresner Photography

"A wedding reception can now be tailor-made to how you want it. I've seen eight-course degustation menus, high teas, buffets, and most popular still would be plated where guests can choose what they want from a set menu."

Candy buffets in place of table favours were growing in popularity, as were tiered cakes with fresh flowers between the layers.

Wedding fashion was still overwhelmingly white, with more lace and luxurious fabrics coming through. Comfortable shoes should be considered and Alana says a splash of colour can be eyecatching.

Having a hair and makeup trial is important, as is making sure enough time is allocated on the big day. "Timing is everything - ensure you have enough time allocated for hair, makeup, no rushing and time to have things re-looked at, if you want - followed by a glass of bubbles!

When it comes to wedding cakes, Ros Potter from CakeAway says she works closely with the bride and groom to design a cake style to suit their theme.

"White iced cakes are always popular and this season, gold and copper are being used as highlights. Naked and semi-naked cakes are also popular, and suit a more relaxed theme using fresh fruit and flowers."

Ros says cakes should be booked at least six months in advance, if not a year. Chocolate is still the most popular choice for flavour, followed by lemon and carrot.

Jacqui Brown from Bay of Plenty Weddings says more couples are opting for pre-ceremony shots, better known as "first looks", especially as the evenings draw closer, as this allows the couple to spend more time with their guests.

One of the areas we find challenging is couples do not realise that they require adequate time for a professional photographer to create the images that have that wow factor.

Jacqui Brown

Bridal boudoir style is becoming a regular request for Jacqui's photographer husband Steve and has now become part of their standard package.

"More couples are asking that guests do not put photos on Facebook until given permission, but I add to that and ask the audience to be present and not hide behind phones and iPads," Jacqui says.

Grooms are taking more of an active role, Jacqui says.

"In the past it has always been the bride who planned, organised, led and controlled, whereas now I notice that the blokes are taking a more active role. However, this could be because I tend to drag them out of their cave at the interview stage."

Joanna Dabrowski of Hereford House says key factors to take into account when choosing venues should be the number of guests and the location - whether it is a big distance to travel and easy to locate for guests, has the right look, is easy to access, and caters for the whole wedding, including ceremony and reception.

the details:
WHEN: Sunday, May 22
WHAT: Tauranga Wedding Show
WHERE: ASB Arena
WHEN: 10am-4pm
Your one-stop shop for your wedding needs. Top wedding specialists gather to inspire with on-trend ideas for how to make your wedding special.