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