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Kat

April 11, 2013

It’s getting to be quite the regular occurrence for me when I’m travelling. Every time I return home after some far flung adventure, I start to daydream about the benefits of spending less time online and more time, you know, actually out living my life. I don’t know if it’s the sunshine, spending so much time with friends or all the new experiences, but I always land at Heathrow with a surge of ambition to spend more time away from the artificial glare of my computer screen.

Colourful End of Summer DIY Wedding: Brad & Christie

Kat

David Campbell Imagery

April 11, 2013

Brad & Christie planned their wedding themselves with the help of close friends and family. The day took place in March at The Gap Bluff Centre in Watsons Bay, Sydney. They couple had decided to try for a baby before they got engaged and so as a result, the bride was seven month's pregnant on the wedding day!

Sweet Backyard Elopement: Nicole & Tom

Kat

Studio 516

April 10, 2013

When it came to planning their wedding, Nicole & Tom knew they didn't want a big fuss. In fact a private elopement at home was just the ticket. They did everything themselves from the decor to the food for their small number of guests and the music. They set up a video camera for the ceremony to be livestreamed to their friends & family that couldn't attend.

Networking Like a Pro

Kat

Sacco & Sacco

April 9, 2013

Another one of those topics that I seem to get asked about over and over is networking. "How do I get my name out there?", "How do I network without coming across as a a weirdo?" and "How do I get people to know I exist?!" With the majority of us doing a most of our business online these days, thinking about networking and meeting people 'in real life' can be a scary and intimidating thing. But (and this is a big but!) I honestly believe that getting my backside off my computer, out of the safe confines of my house and going to meet people in real life was the number one thing which truly got my name out there

Bespoke Illustrated Wedding Stationery from Story House

Kat

April 9, 2013

I loved art at school, and while it was clear from an early age that I had very little obvious talent myself, an appreciation for it - in whatever medium - certainly didn't pass me by. In fact used to lie on my bed as a lovestruck teenager, desperately attempting to create sketches and renderings of my celebrity crushes (don't ask), hanging them on my bedroom wall with such pride, despite their lack of accuracy. I experimented with drawing, painting, charcoals, cross stitch (again, don't ask!) and finally photography. As I said, I was never really very good at any of them, but the desire to tell stories in my own haphazard way was something that I always felt I needed to do. Thank God I discovered writing later in life or I might still be plaguing the world with my sketches of Christian Slater...

Private Island Retreat Wedding: Sana & Derek

Kat

HRM

April 8, 2013

Sana & Derek were married on an island. Artscape Gibraltar Point is located in the former Toronto Island Public and offers 35,000 square feet of affordable retreat space, artist studios and accommodations for artists and creative thinkers. The tranquil and idyllic setting was perfect for their intimate and artistic wedding. The day started with the entire wedding party taking the ferry over to the island together. "We knew immediately that we wanted to hold the wedding on the island - it's the perfect escape from Toronto, and a place where we have spent countless summer days swimming, biking and hanging out on the beach," wrote Sana. "Artscape had the perfect laid-back and nostalgic feeling that we wanted in a venue, and they even let us have a bonfire outside on the beach!"

Happy Birthday… To Me!

Kat

Made U Look

April 7, 2013

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of workshops, fabulously cheap vintage shopping (Portland, I love you) delicious healthy eats (California does this right) and DISNEYLAND! The Haunted Mansion was as wonderful as expected and Captain EO was 80s flashback-tastic.

Crazy Las Vegas Elopement: Erik & Brooke

Kat

Top Banana

April 6, 2013

Erik & Brooke travelled from California to get married by Elvis at a wedding chapel in downtown Las Vegas (not photographed). After they sealed the deal, wedding photographer Laura of Top Banana Photography arrived to document a post-ceremony photo adventure. They firstly had shots taken around the downtown area, followed by Boulder City and finally the Hoover Dam.

A Macabre Sweeney Todd Inspired Wedding Shoot: Amy & Paul

Kat

Assassynation

April 5, 2013

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little freaked out by this shoot... in fact I'm damn right scared. I don't think I'd like to get stuck in a dark alley with this pair as lovely as I bet they are when they're not covered in fake blood. Amy & Paul went all out with this post-wedding shoot - murder, fake blood, suicide and all! Warning: this baby is not for the faint hearted. I'm under no disillusion that not everybody is going to like or 'get' this. But Paul & Amy do and really, that's all that matters isn't it?!

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Kat

Juliane Berry

April 4, 2013

"It's not you, it's me..." "Let's just be friends..." "I'm just not ready for a relationship right now..."

Homespun Backyard Wedding: Matt & Dannie

Kat

Dear To My Art

April 4, 2013

Matt & Dannie were married at the groom's Grandmother's house in in the Sonoma Wine Country, California. After a memorable proposal (that was captured on film!) the couple set to planning a day that was a true reflection of them as a couple. "The most special thing for us was our wedding location," Dannie began. "It was at Matt's grandparents house. His grandfather built the house, and he had so many good memories there as a child. It was an honor for us to be able to be married there. His grandfather passed away in early 2011, so it was a very emotional night for his grandmother and family. The house was beautiful and was the perfect location for us."

Eclectic Indoor/Outdoor Wedding: Lou & Stu

Kat

Modern Vintage Weddings

April 3, 2013

Fancy having an eclectic outdoor wedding? Well have I got the inspiration for you today! With a hearty dose of elbow grease and a firm plan of action, Lou & Stu coordinated their Sheffield Botanical Gardens wedding mostly themselves. "I'm a vintage events organiser so the vintage vibe was a natural way to go", began the bride. "We’re both big 50s & 60s fans so we tried to combine the two in terms of the fashion but we didn't want a fancy dress wedding. My dress was late 50s/early 60s in style (vintage, which I had altered to fit) and Stu’s suit was a 60s style tonic suit from Mod shop Jump the Gun in Brighton."

Remembering Why…

Kat

Juliane Berry

April 2, 2013

Why did you start your business? What was it that made you want to leave the security of a regular paycheck, employee benefits and never having to calculate your own tax? For me it happened by accident. I started this blog to document my wedding planning. I always loved to write and wistfully pondered a vague notion of one day finding a topic that I was passionate enough about to properly pursue... and them baaamb! I felt in love with weddings, but more so with wanting to inspire other brides to do things their own way.

Bookworm Wedding: Stacy & Jo

Kat

Lara Hotz

April 2, 2013

Bookworms Stacy & Jo selected Maynard’s Café, upstairs at Berkelouw Books in Newtown, Sydney as their venue. Although they hadn't hosted a wedding there before, the café were wonderful to work with and really helped the girls put their own stamp on their day. Obviously having a book shop as a backdrop made picking a theme pretty easy. With old books on the long table and books as favours for each of their guests, it all worked really well together.

Picnic Wedding in South Africa: Steven & Demi

Kat

Nadine Aucamp

April 1, 2013

What could be more blissful than a picnic on a bright Summer's day? And as the weather in South Africa is notoriously glorious in December that's exactly what Steven & Demi chose to do for their wedding. The venue was Solms Delta Wine Estate in Franschhoek.

Simple & Organic Bridal Inspiration

Kat

James Melia

March 30, 2013

To me, the thing that makes a really great editorial shoot isn't all the pretty details (although they help), the beautiful model or the amazing backdrop - it's the narrative and the story that the images tell. As soon as I saw this shoot sent over by wedding photographer James Melia I instantly started wondering what this girl's story was and what the photographer and stylist wanted to tell us.

Colourful Columbus Wedding: Adam & Claire

Kat

Red Gallery

March 29, 2013

Adam & Claire were married at Via Vecchia Winery, Columbus - well actually they were married in the alley behind Via Vecchia Winery but they had their reception indoors afterwards! With a groom a wedding photographer himself, they put real importance on their images and so set up a pre-wedding 'first look' to capture some intimate moments before the ceremony kicked off. For this Claire wore a BHLDN dress designed by Orla Kiely, She changed back into this outfit for the reception but for the ceremony itself she opted to wear her mother's vintage wedding dress. Adam had no idea she was planning to do this or to even get changed at all, so seeing her walking down the aisle in a different dress than he expected must have been a very special moment indeed.

Your Brand Is Not What You Say It Is…

Kat

Juliane Berry

March 28, 2013

Your brand is not what you say it is, it is what other people say about their experience of you. You are not good at something because you tell people you are, your strengths are defined by what other people decide about you on their own. Your weaknesses are not your internal soul-crushing insecurities, they only become a problem when they are visible to the outside world.

An Internet Meme Wedding Theme: Daryl & Emily

Kat

Helen Russell

March 28, 2013

Daryl & Emily wanted their wedding to feature various elements that but didn't necessary go together but that they both loved. From steampunk to Lego and Lord of the Rings, this September wedding was a true reflection of them as a couple. "Our theme was 'Nerdtacula'", Emily laughed. "We tried to incorporate different internet memes wherever possible!"

The Blogcademy: Live in your Living Room…

Kat

Shell de Mar

March 27, 2013

The Blogcademy online Q&A session is starting right now. Sign up now for the bargain price of $7 to watch and participate in the action. If you can;t tune in now though, don't worry your ticket will give you access to a recording of the action forever. I do have to warn you though, I only got into Portland late last night so I'm pretty darn jet-lagged... it may not be a pretty sight. Thank God I have Gala & Shauna to keep me awake and excited!