Journey to the Aisle............Jayde & Aaron

This couples journey with Carte Blanche Wedding Design began when I first received a ph call from the brides sister who lived in Tom Price on New Years Eve 2011. From that moment I knew I had my work cut out for me as we only had 3 months to organise this wedding and with the groom working away at times ,the bride having a 2 year old & her family living up north it had to be "all hands" on deck with this one!

After our initial consultation down in Waikiki it was clear to me that the bride was going to be very hands on ~ which is great; however with such a short time frame decisions had to be made pretty quickly! So with that in mind I set about finding a celebrant. I had approached one of my celebrants that I was using for another one of my weddings; but unfortunately she was booked, so what to do? It was quite by coincidence that Ann Lord had emailed me that week or so to meet me as a potential colleague and low and behold she was available for that date and so began the wedding process and a friendship with Ann!


As I mentioned earlier, with Jayde being a "very hands" on bride to be she undertook some of what was on our to do list with gusto! By this stage the couple had already chosen Caversham House ~ a venue I had not worked at before so was excited to meet a new place in the Swan Valley. As time ticked away with the festive season we were well on our way to wedding day creeping upon us. Jayde was quite particular with what she wanted and was relentless in her pursuit of "perfection". By this stage it was up to me to basically fill in the blanks and get the show on the road!


With all suppliers/vendors booked for the big day it was time to get the show on the road with our rehearsal to be held at the Hidden Gardens ~Caversham House. Having a rehearsal with a 2yr old in tow was quite interesting to say the least but we managed! We did in fact get a little scare when we nearly lost the celebrant Ann, when she tripped over her sandal on one of the many step limestone steps leading to the ceremony site ~ however in true "trooper" style, she managed to dust herself off and off we went :)


The day of the wedding was April Fool's day and yes lots of jokes got bandied around ~ much to the brides dismay! The bridal party got ready at the lovely Brookleigh Resort in the Swan Valley and for a while there it was touch and go with the weather; which was beginning to worry the bride a bit ~ but hey not even a few raindrops could have dampened the impending nuptials and as they say" the show must go on"!


I saw the limo finally turn up at Caversham House and as I eventually spoke to the groomsmen they all told me that the groom was rather anxious ~ an affliction often felt by some at this time, nevertheless after having a little nip of "courage" all was good :) It was now time for the bride to arrive and the ceremony to begin. 2yr old Teliah was cute as a button but as most of you would know 2yr olds kind of run on their own schedule and that she did; although it did make the ceremony more personal!

One thing I must mention was the fabulous food! Here is a picture I took of the delicious morsel that quickly passed my lips ~ yum:) This entree was: Exmouth Prawns served with marie rose sauce, avocado timbale, lemon dressing & melba toast ~ just delish!

After having quite a delicious meal it was time for the revelry to be underway with DJ Stephen calling some of the games that were quite hilarious which definitely got the crowd moving! However I must not be remiss in mentioning that to my surprise and I can safely say that of the guests and staff at Caversham we were all in awe as the song played by the group LMFAO "sexy & I know it" came on; the bride strutted out  gown & all onto the dancefloor with her groom wearing the robot head shown in the video clip ~ it was hilarious to say the least and cannot wait to get the pictures from the photographers to show you all ~ a memorable moment for sure.


Well, what can I say except that this wedding was rather interesting and having it done in 3mths was a feat but happy to report Jayde & Aaron rode into the sunset to begin their life as husband and wife with a honeymoon in Port Douglas for 10 days.


Until next time..............remember to always


Honour~ Love~Cherish & PLAN

Journey to the aisle........Joanne & Kirk

Well, where to begin!


Our collective journey began back in early 2011. As a planner I have the pleasure & privilege of meeting lovely couples that are beginning their wedding plans and don't know where to start and just need a helping hand. At this meeting I was met with such excitement and eagerness that I couldn't wait to start work on my couples wedding plans.


Here is a little of the back story: Due to "my" grooms working commitments and time spent away from his adoring fiancee and cherubic little daughter it was quite clear that they were in need of a wedding planner. After having our first meeting we were all set to get the ball rolling, however work for the groom became a little unsettled and wedding plans were put on the back burner and my assistance in their day became shelved momentarily.

Fast forward a few months and out of the blue they contacted me and said all was good with the "grooms" work and they were ready to start the wedding planning journey. It was with such fervour that the work began and having a delightful couple like them to work with it made it quite easy to get things moving along :)


For Joanne having the assistance of a wedding planner served to be invaluable due to Kirk working away and her immediate family based in Victoria; so with that in mind I felt that my role as a wedding planner sometimes changed to being a sounding board as well as being a friend - both roles I take quite seriously :)


As the wedding process got underway it was a great pleasure to be able to introduce them to my contacts which are some of Perth's finest wedding industry professionals and with this bevy of choice it definitely became one of excitement & joy as we explored various options that were in line with their vision. 


With Kirk away it was a up to Joanne to narrow the selection down and it was then and only then that we presented these to the groom when he was in town. It was wonderful to see that all of Joanne's selections were in line with what she thought Kirk would like which only proved that these 2 were definitely in sync when it came to all things weddings! At this point I must not be remiss in mentioning that having a very "involved groom was a refreshing take on wedding preparations; it was great to see a groom having a voice amongst the females & that working up north was no excuse for him to participate:) 


As our to-do-list slowly began to dwindle & the months just kept flying by it was quite clear that the wedding day was fast approaching. Once the selections were made with decor, cake, transport, DJ and dress I think the reality of it all hit home once they saw their wedding invitations in black & white; as it is then they were faced with the reality of the wedding actually taking place. It's a funny thing actually, that despite going through the motions of picking suppliers it kind of doesn't hit you until you see it in print. I distinctly remember Joanne squealing with absolute delight after 2 particular moments, one was when she chose her dress and the other when the wedding invitations were done.


I must mention our suppliers; correction "our dream team" that have been nothing but exemplary & the best in accommodating appointments to tailor in the grooms work schedule and they are all as excited as we are that the day is finally here :)) It has been a dream to work with professionals that still manage to get excited as we do when planning weddings!


As a planner I must admit that certain things become routine because as you all know after all, it is second nature to know when to book things, to coordinate colour schemes, to recommend the right suppliers, organise rehearsals etc, but the most personal moment for me is seeing the journey I see my couples go through and the transformation of them as individuals & as a couple by working together on their joint project. Inadvertently by working and planning on their wedding they are already learning the art of compromise & communication some fundamental & key things that await them as they approach married life.


Last Friday was our rehearsal at Sandalford and what a rehearsal it was! We were blessed with the presence of the charismatic Bodie Norman (grooms brother & best man) who had us in lots of laughter & who gave our celebrant Colleen a run for her money (however if the truth be told she held her own quite well!!) Some of Kirk's family were also in attendance which was quite handy as they did well in filling in for the absent bridal party members.


With that said, after months of preparations, countless emails, phone calls & appointments I can quite confidently say that their wedding day is upon us in 2 more sleeps and I couldn't be happier to be a part of this couple's day. Tissues will be at the ready for Friday as everyone sheds some happy tears  (oh and yes & that will definitely include the planner who will be covering her peepers with some dark sunnies & perhaps having a sniffle or two in the back row:))


I will be posting some wedding pics when they come to hand as well as a new blog post detailing the festivities of the wedding.


Wishing you all happy planning :)


Natalie xxx

Wedding Planner Post holiday wedding tips

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you all & may 2012 be filled with lots of love, happiness and joy! 


After all the pre & post christmas parties and the new year revelry many couples have started 2012 newly engaged & are eagerly jumping on the internet and searching through countless wedding websites for anything and everything weddings! After slightly coming down from "cloud nine" and looking at your gorgeous sparkler that happens to have taken up residence on your left hand, you are left wondering "Now what?" 


First things first, if you know what you want but have trouble putting it all together a planner is what you need! If you are stretched for time or require some assistance on particular areas of your wedding a planner can also be of service. What I tend to do as a wedding planner is tackle the budget first & foremost. As you cautiously enter the world of weddings you will quickly learn about how establishing a budget at the beginning of the journey will hold you in good stead and you will be able to have & set realistic expectations. This will probably be the single most expensive event you will ever pay for and if you have never been exposed to the price tag of a typical wedding you may be a little shocked. 


The main purpose/objective of having a planner or the assistance of one is so they are able to use their contacts & get the most value out of the dollars you have to spend. Depending on the size of your guest list the most expensive area of a wedding is generally the reception so, being creative and controlled with your spending in other areas of your wedding and making creative choices you'll be able to have a great wedding that is totally you and fits your personality budget.


To quote Colin Cowie's general philosophy: "My general philosophy is to do five things really well instead of 10 things poorly. The priorities are different for each couple. Some may know they want to splurge on the food and venue and not care much for professional photography or entertainment. Others may want to splurge on an open bar, but go DIY with decorations. Whatever your preference, be sure to decide together what you're willing to invest in and what can be cut back. As long as you're both honest about what's really important to you now, there will be fewer surprises (and arguments) in the future"


So as you can see wedding planner/event stylist to the stars also reminds us all to be clear with the budget and decide on what you as the couple consider to be "non negotiable" so that you may be able to have the wedding you have always wanted without the "financial stress".


Remember to always.......Honour ~ Love ~ Cherish & PLAN

A couples to do list before hiring a planner.....

I know it had been a while since I last posted on my blog, however being knee deep into wedding season I had completely been remiss of the time lag and for that I do apologise. I thought it also timely that I write about this topic since I have been receiving loads of enquiries even as far as 2014, yes you heard correctly ~ so here we go.

Congratulations, you're engaged! Before your head starts spinning with thoughts of the perfect centrepiece, a dress to die for or what choice of cake to select ~ take a step back. When choosing the right wedding planner, she will be able to guide you through the process of making your day personal, execute your dreams flawlessly and help you to make decisions that are representative of you and your relationship in every way. A planner's job, amongst other things, is to get into your brain, understand your needs and desires and make them a reality. Just remember they can't do that unless you first do your homework! Below are a few things I call my "non negotiables". These are steps that should be addressed and discussed as early in the planning process as possible & if you spend a bit of time on them, it will not only streamline the process of planning your wedding, but enable you to avoid many of the speed bumps that brides commonly trip over.

1.The guest list. You don't need to get every little detail at this stage of the game, but focus on putting pen to paper to determine an actual guest count. This is essential in searching for locations that make sense. You don't want to consider locations that hold 150 if you have 200 guests. Make sure you talk to your parents and get their lists, as well. Try to include an alternate list for people who you will undoubtedly run into at some stage whom you have completely overlooked.

2. Determine a budget. (this is definitely close to my heart!) As your planner we are responsible to let you know whether the budget you decide upon is realistic, but you need a starting place for that to happen. Discuss the finances with your fiancé and parents, and find out up front what each party is contributing. Wedding budgets can spiral out of control, but having a number in mind will prevent you from looking at items that don't make sense and help prevent that from happening. You don't want to get your heart set on items that aren't in your financial comfort zone.

3. Discuss the tone of your wedding. What & How would you like your guests to feel at your wedding? How formal/informal would like the day or evening to be? Is the focus a sophisticated multi-course dinner or a high energy dance party? This will impact just about every decision you make, and it's best to start thinking about it.

4. Discuss the big items with your fianceé. It's amazing how many couples start planning a wedding without going over even the basics together. Getting on the same page from the beginning will prevent arguments down the road.Communication is key!

5. Location, location, location. Where is your wedding taking place? Is the ceremony in a house or church or at the same place as the reception? Is this a destination wedding or in your capital city? Will you need additional transport organised for guests? Is it a place that is convenient for the majority of your guests?

If you take the time to figure out these basic items before you hire a planner, you will be able to give your wedding professional the tools that they need to begin planning a wedding that is specific to your needs. It will help to eliminate false expectations and get you on track for a smooth planning experience. Once you have these items ironed out, you will be ready to plan your wedding ~ have loads of fun and get knee deep into the entire process.

So just remember that you always must......Honour ~ Love ~ Cherish & PLAN

CBWD "Bridal Shower" launch......

Firstly, let me say that this project has been a labour of love for me for the longest time; months in fact & having it fine tuned to the point where I felt comfortable enough to present this has been a great source of relief!

I am so pleased to announce this new & fabulous extension of our wedding planning business and being able to cater to all brides/maids of honour etc that are looking at hosting a bridal shower. Having a place from where to start has been a sense of some frustration for some so it was definitely time to get this started!

Understanding what brides need & want has always been & always will be the reason why I will endeavour to find the ways to try and make the entire wedding planning & now "bridal shower" planning process an experience to enjoy from beginning to end. What Carte Blanche Wedding Design has devised in the bridal shower process is a way of being able to affectionately "bundle" & create a no fuss solution to having a lovely time with your girlfriends.

We have also been fortunate to have on board wonderful support from some wedding industry professionals as well so immersing ourselves into this transition has been exceptionally smooth sailing.

I look forward to presenting this to all clients, current & prospective with the hope that you will enjoy what we have come up with, knowing that we are able to customise your exclusive "bridal shower". 

Our website is in the process of being updated so stay tuned for a more comprehensive & delightful menu of bridal shower options. We invite you to contact us for more information on : natalie@carteblancheweddings.com.au 

As always remember to ..........Honour ~ Love ~ Cherish & PLAN

Cost Effective Bridal Shower Ideas

As we all know, when it comes to planning any sort of party, get together, event or any other name we choose to call a collection of people socialising in the one setting, this generally means money. Don't get confused with the word "cost effective" either, thinking it means "cheap" it doesn't!! This just means that there is an alternative way of hosting your friends & family by adding that personal touch which usually tends to mean that little bit more. With weddings costing more than what they used to, brides & grooms being more money conscious it is important to address these concerns by coming up with some fun alternative ways of entertaining your guests & still remain with a little bit of integrity (before the drinks kick in, at least ;-)


Classy Cocktail Party

Why not throw a cocktail party in a friend's house so you can save serious cash.There are oodles of ways to keep it classy.You can get a variety of cheeses or a fabulous cheese tower,beautiful breads, flavoured oils and specialty dips. You can really make it interesting, by serving some colourful, sexy drinks, like a cosmo or be more adventurous by making up some signature cocktails.


High Tea

Show off your worldliness by hosting an afternoon high tea, so you can keep food light and to a minimum. You can serve a variety of teas for everyone to sample along with scones,finger sandwiches & those delicious petit fours. Why not check out flea markets/vintage stores for wonderful old teacups, saucers, and teapots. It's even more interesting when they don't match.


Recipe Shower

Probably the most inexpensive idea is a recipe shower. Everyone else does the cooking, taking much of the work and cost off of you. The bride and groom then get oodles of great recipes to use in their new life together & perhaps add some cooking inspiration to the mix. A recipe card can be sent to each guest with their invitation where guests are then asked to make a favorite dish and bring it, along with its recipe.

You might choose to have each guest say a bit about the recipe and what it has meant to her over the years. For example, Aunty Jo can bring the recipe for the roast beef that she and Uncle Bob ate on the night he proposed, and share the story with everyone. A fantastic way to integrate all your guests & make some new memories from the old ones.


Cutting Corners on the Extras

You'd be surprised at how the little things add up (maybe not!), so for the invitations, why not get in touch with your creative crafty side ; buy some specialty stationery & use your computer if you are that way inclined or DIY invites from a reputable stationer. A great idea is to put a crossword puzzle on the invitation with questions about the bride and groom. You can include questions like 'where did the bride go to school,' or 'what is the bride/groom's favourite drink'.These small touches make the invitations quite unique, so they're not just boring, and also manages to add that little bit of "je nais se quoi" by involving your guests that extra bit more.


Just remember that what really matters when you're planning a shower is the thought, love, and personality you put into it, not how much money you spent.




Happy Planning & remember to always.......Honour ~ Love ~ Cherish & PLAN

Times are changing.......

It has been a while since I last blogged & I have been meaning to write about some of the changes I have been experiencing as a planner. The world of weddings as we know it has always been about the fantasy, the glitz & glamour, & when you pick up a wedding magazine/subscribe to a wedding blog etc you are blown away by the price of weddings, and the pure extravagance of the entire event. The carrot is dangled & before you know it you are immersed into the world of weddings; especially the ones that seem to have that elusive "unlimited budget" ~ one should be so lucky :-)

My mantra has always been and always will be: "let us work on your wedding & you work on your relationship". Too often I see couples, placing so much unneeded pressure on themselves to have the perfect wedding reception; and what they are missing out on is the ability to enjoy the wedding planning journey & the one of self discovery. Let's face it, this is usually the only time in your life that you will ever stage such a big event; so why not enjoy the experience & leave the details to the professionals. 

With more & more couples working together on financing their wedding; this has now become the foundation for the couple to learn to work together & reach compromises which means the wedding is becoming more about the relationship and less about an extravagant party; the way it should be! All the stresses associated with hosting such an event has always been the catalyst for "couples" transforming into people they are not.

So in short, enjoy the planning process ~ these days with couples working longer hours (to subsequently fund the wedding) the convenience of having a planner has now become quintessentially the 'secret weapon' for the couple’s sanity. So do yourselves a favour and focus on your relationship first & foremost and let the wedding be a reflection of what it is you hold dear.

Wishing you all happy planning.......Natalie xx