W+W's Bridal Trends Predictions for 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our w+w lovers out there! We hope you had a wonderfully festive christmas and new years filled with yumminess, loads of R n R and plenty of pretties! Did anyone become engaged over the festive season? If so, a huge CONGRATULATIONS from all of us here at w+w and we hope you find a wealth of inspiration on here to help you on your wedding planning journey.

So, it was our first week back in the office last week and we are ready and raring to go, the w+w team is filled to the brim and overflowing with creativity as well as bursting at the seams with inspiration so get nice and comfy on the couch and hold onto your hats because we are about to flip the lid on our crazy head full of dreams, aspirations and ideas for 2013's Bridal trends.

1. Green with Envy...

Mint is the colour of the moment, originally huge in the 50's and 60's it can be teamed with soft corals, golds or greys.  Pantone colour of the year for 2013 is Emerald Green. Emerald is a lively, radiant, lush colour, its the colour of elegance and beauty.

Imaged supplied by Ruffled Blog. Photography by Julie Roberts Photography.

2. Gold Rush...

Metallic gold shimmering accents popped up on the styling radar last year but will continue to accomplish show stopping perfection in 2013. It works beautifully with mint, emerald, black, peach, navy and other metallics such as copper, bronze and silver.

Image supplied by Style Me Pretty. Photography by Megan Clouse.

3. Pastel Dreams...

We are talking all things pastel, completely inspired by Louis Vuitton's Spring 2013 Pastel Dreams campaign, so think in thoughts of pink, mint, lavender, lemons and sherbet coloured orange.

Image supplied by Louis Vuitton.

4. Regal Elegance...

2013 will see a return to formality, a real move towards sophistication and phasing out the rustic bohemian feel of 2012.  Weddings this year will be uber-elegant featuring crystal glassware, gold silverware, coloured or even perhaps sequinned tablecloths and chandeliers will be making a come back. That said you won't be seeing wedding receptions getting too OTT and serious while the whimsical outdoor reception is here to stay this year but again it will just become more decadent.

Image supplied by Pinterest.

5. The French Boho Style...

As it draws closer and closer to the premiere of Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby we will see this trend becoming ever stronger but we are predicting here in the studio that the 1920's Art Deco influence will transform into an Art Nouveau style replacing the tired rustic bohemian look with a new French twist, it conjures images of Montmartre Paris early 1900's doesn't it.... very exciting!

Imaged supplied by Ruffled Blog.

6. The English Garden Style...

Little bud vases filled with single stem blooms be gone! Vintage floral styling that we've become so accustomed to over the last few years is being replaced by opulent arrangements with a natural feel. Think lush, fluffy peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, dahlias and hydrangeas gathered together from a perfectly manicured garden estate and placed into old world brass vessels with a gold look. 

Image supplied by The Lane.

Bringing the outside in looks to be on the up if the latest Chanel catwalk campaign is anything to go by. We can see gorgeous ivy cladded walls adorned with ornate mirrors, pedestals carrying large urns of magenta coloured florals and secret park benches made just for lovers to transport you and your guests to a parisian garden experience.

Image supplied by Ivy + Piper.

7. The Heavenly Heights of Flowers...

Hanging floral installations and garlands, garlands, garlands will be huge this year. We will be taking our inspirations from the floral genius Saskia Havekes of Grandiflora in Sydney. Garlands of flowers, garlands of ribbon and garlands of paper have all of us here at w+w swooning.

Image supplied by Milque Photography.

8. Foiling Frenzy...

Stationary look of the year will definitely be taken out by foil stamping this year. It just oozes style without being too glitzy. Other trends surfacing this year will be neons, creating a point of difference through the envelope and illustrations.

Image supplied by Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine.

9. Brighter + Bolder is Better...

Don't be bashful with your colour scheme, stand out and make a statement with a rainbow of colour choices. Quirky printed fabrics in furnishings, textiles and detailing seen in nearly every interior design blog and magazine last year will be sure to filter through to our wedding styling this year. Perfect themes to showcase these exuberant colour palettes would be kitsch, tiki or mexican with the use of kooky statement pieces all mismatched together.

Image supplied by Madame Brussels.

10.  Neutral, Neutral, Neutral...

Pair taupes and dove grey with pops of classic black and layers of blush a lá Vogue Living March 2103 issue.

Image supplied by Vogue Living Blog.

11. Hampton's Living...

We love the 'Hampton's Beach Style' and the w+w team predicts we will be seeing a lot more of this classic style in 2013. Pair natural coastal inspired colours such as sandy creams and ivories along with aqua and navy with special vintage pieces that have been given a new lease on life.  We love taking inspiration from Sibella Court with how she cleverly combines items like flags, maps, globes and compasses into her styling.

Image supplied by Ruffled Blog. Photography by Alea Lovely.

12.  Dark + Edgy...

2011 saw the emergence of the 'man den' giving weddings a bit of masculinity with the addition of whiskey + cigar bars. These were a smash hit and we predict this style to spread its wings far beyond a corner of the wedding reception this year.  This look needs an eclectic approach combining natural, outdoorsy details with elegant elements. Pair tree stump coffee tables, leather lounge furniture and antler chandeliers with twisted tree branch centrepieces, animal hide rugs and if your game enough even a bit of taxidermy.

Fight Me Antler Chandelier from The French Bedroom Company.

13. All about the Bride...

2013 wedding dress trends see major emphasis on sultry back views and multitudes of necklines such as illusion, asymmetrical and bold off the shoulder. Embellishment is also working it on the catwalk this year with the afore mentioned lace illusion or invisible neckline, Beautiful beading in forms of sequins, sparkles, glitter and embroidered florals of silk chiffon petals and lace rosettes. Sleeves and short dresses are still hanging around being reinvented while sculpted ruffles and a touch of colour is sneaking on the scene. Bridal bouquets are said to of the cascading style this year. Try to stay away from orchids and anything with too much green foliage in it and last but not least the hairdo is all about the irresistible headpiece!

Elie Saab Spring 2013 Couture Collection.

Hot Trends in Christmas Table Styling

Forget the usual red + green if you're looking for a more unique Christmas theme then check out our HOT CHRISTMAS TABLE STYLING TRENDS!

Create a memorable festive feast combining the homespun charm of rustic Provence with French metal bistro chairs, mismatched cushions and an old wooden trestle table. Vintage jars, bottles or jugs filled with a small bunch of blooms from your garden, vintage dinnerware including plates, cutlery, glassware  + tea sets. Rustic birdcages + unique Christmas ornaments make great table settings along with paper gift tags as table placements. 

Create a natural Eco Chic Christmas by combining a botanical look with ferns, succulents, herbs, vegetables + atrium centrepieces. Brown paper table runners, natural linen napkins, chopping boards, branches, wooden baroque candle holders and zine gift tags as table placements are also fantastic additions.

Create a casual Hamptons Christmas by combining a predominately white colour palette with a pop of aqua blue, coral centrepieces, white blooms, glass nautical balls and rope.

For a more summery Christmas feel opt for prints such as the iconic Chevron print which looks great made up as overlays, table runners + napkins or for a bold statement go for bright neons including fluro yellow + hot pink which will give the traditional Christmas table a burst of new energy + life.

If you're more of a modern minimalist kind of host why not create an all white Christmas table, this too can be a bold statement but oozes plenty of elegance with an urban edge.

Here are our top 20 tips to style up your Christmas table setting...

1. Add a large coloured base plate called a charger plate. This will instantly give your table a lift!

2. Place individual chalkboards under each setting with the guests name written in chalk.

3. Make your own personalised menus and place them on mini clipboards. This will instantly give your lunch/dinner soiree that restaurant feel.

4. Decorate your napkins + cutlery with ribbon, sprigs of rosemary or blooms wrapped in twine, apples, pine cones or place cards.

5. Last minute table decor can be found around your home or garden.

6. Grab fresh flowers or herbs from the garden and place then in vases, bottles, jars or jugs.

7. For a different Christmas wreath use feathers instead of greenery.

8. Use some of your Christmas Tree baubles in the centrepieces.

9. Style up your chairs by adding some coloured cushions or ribbon.

10. Add lemons, limes and other fruit and vegetables to your centrepieces.

11. Place some natural or hand painted pinecones in tall glass vases.

12. Use leaves as your place cards. Simply print your guest's names with white pen.

13. Add votives with flower heads and tea lights to the table.

14. Hang glass baubles around the room filled with flower heads or tea lights.

15. Add some coloured glassware to the table setting.

16. Attached place cards/tags to your napkins or chairs.

17. Treat your guests to a side table of fruit punches in old vintage drink dispensers.

18. Write the menu on a chalkboard or mirror.

19. Spoil your guests with a Christmas cookie or traditional sweet at their place setting.

20. Hang bright coloured floral arrangements over your table setting.

So now that we have all your Christmas table styling dilemmas sorted all you need to do is glaze the ham, peel the prawns, stuff the turkey and top up the bubbly!

Merry Christmas and Happy Festive Styling to you all!

Spring Racing 2012

The long awaited race that stops the nation has come and unfortunately gone for another year. Melbourne Cup, as always shines no matter what the weather is like, but lucky for us this year it was divine. The Cup is the perfect excuse for the Ladies to frock up and the Men to dust off their suits for a day at the Races.

We were lucky enough to be invited by Styled Events to enjoy the day trackside Brisbane in the Port Office Tent. It was a wonderful day, filled with glamour and yummy food and refreshing cocktails, with the opportunity to catch up with some of our favourite wedding suppliers. Danielle was fortunate enough to be dressed by the fabulous George Wu and the girls had their hair done by Hair by Popular Demand and make-up by Emma Louise. Bouquet Boutique also generously provided some gorgeous florals for Danielle's fascinator and outfit.

A great day out with the lovely ladies from Kwintowski Photography, Invitation Station, Studio Impressions, Stewart Ross Photography, Stem Design, The Main Event and Styled Events.

We might not have won much on the horses, but Sarah came away a winner - awarded first prize in Fashions On The Field in our Marquee.

 Thank you to Styled Events for a wonderful day!

Real Wedding: Ashlee + Troy

 

Today on the blog we have the wedding of Ashlee + Troy for you! Ashlee + Troy are the cutest couple you will ever meet, they truly are such a caring and kind hearted couple. Troy is very laid back, into his music and adores Ashlee and Ashlee is always happy, loves getting crafty and is as sweet as the cakes she makes! 

Ashlee + Troy chose to have their winter wedding at the beautiful Hillstone at St Lucia. Their ceremony was held in the Rose Garden, pre drinks were down in the Library and the reception was up in the Rosewood Room. The bold floral arrangements were created by the oh so clever Sandee from Always Fabulous Flowers and the bedazzling styling items were hired from Amini Concepts.

Ashlee + Troy chose a colour palette of white, red and black which was highlighted throughout their stationary suite, cake and lolly buffet which, might I add was all designed and created by the talented Ashlee herself!

Ashlee fondly became known as our "Carrie Bradshaw" Bride around the w+w office as she not only had two beautiful dresses to change into but three beautiful dress changes! The last one being a very slinky Pippa Middleton-esque number topped off by her mothers stunning 1970's chiffon cape complete with hood.

Summer Quenchers

Are you planning a Summer Wedding? Be sure to keep you and your guests cool with some refreshing drinks throughout the day. Whether it is a bubbly champagne or a refreshing cocktail, your guests will love you forever!

Why not create your own signature cocktail? Here are a few new and interesting cocktails we have stumbled upon...

Iced Tea with Plum + Thyme 

Rosewater, Ginger, Lychee + Rose Champagne 

White Strawberry + Lemon Sangria 

Just for you, we have found some deliciously refreshing beverage recipes. We have quite a few favourites so here goes... grab a pen and some paper and start writing! 

Grapefruit Margarita

Wedge of lime
2 teaspoons coarse margarita salt
14 ounces ruby red grapefruit juice, with pulp (about 3 medium grapefruits)
1 ounce lime juice
5 ounces reposado tequila
2 ounces triple sec
4 slices grapefruit or twists

1. Run a lime wedge halfway around the rims of four margarita glasses and dip into salt. Set aside.
2. Combine 7 ounces grapefruit juice, one-half ounce lime juice, 2 1/2 ounces tequila and 1 ounce triple
sec in a cocktail shaker.
3. Shake over ice until chilled. Strain into two ice-filled, salt-rimmed margarita glasses.
4. Garnish with a twist or slice of grapefruit.
5. Repeat to make two more cocktails.

Serves 4 guests

Watermelon Mojito 

4 large mint leaves

1/2 lime

1 tablespoon superfine sugar

4 ounces seedless watermelon, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 3/4 cup), plus a small wedge for garnish

2 ounces white rum

1/2 cup ice cubes

1. In a heavy large glass, combine mint, lime, and sugar.
2. Using a muddler, mash together mint and lime until sugar is dissolved.
3. Add watermelon, and muddle until broken down.
4. Stir in rum and ice cubes.
5. Pour into an 8-ounce serving glass and garnish with a watermelon wedge.

Serves 1

Aperol Spritz Cocktail 

3 ounces Prosecco (or any sparkling wine)
1 ounce Aperol
Splash of soda water, sparkling water, or club soda
Garnish of orange

1. Pour the sparkling wine into a glass of ice cubes.
2. Add the Aperol and then a splash of sparkling water.
3. Float a nice thick slice of orange on top - it will infuse the drink with orangey goodness even more as you sip.



Pimms Cocktail 

4 cups ice cubes

1 lemon, cut into thin slices

160ml Pimm's No. 1

125ml lemonade, chilled

125ml ginger ale, chilled

1/2 Lebanese cucumber, cut into thin strips

1. Place 1/2 the ice into a 1-litre capacity jug. 
2. Add lemon slices. 
3. Pour in Pimm's, followed by lemonade and ginger ale. 
4. Stir with a swizzle stick to combine.

5. Divide remaining ice among four tall glasses. 
6. Place a piece of cucumber in each glass then fill with cocktail.

Serves 4

Strawberry Riesling Slushie (our favourite!)

2 cups hulled strawberries
1 bottle [750ml] dry riesling

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons sugar

How to make it:

1. Reserve 1 cup of the riesling – cover and place in the fridge to chill.

2. In a food processor, puree strawberries with the remaining wine, lime juice and sugar.
3. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid.
4. When you’re ready to serve or drink, puree the ice cubes with the remaining wine in your blender.

Now you have the recipes on hand it is time to get practising!

Enjoy the beautiful weather ahead of us and take sometime to choose or create your own perfect signature cocktail for your wedding day.

Real Wedding - Chloe + Paul

So we are a little excited here a white + white today... Okay, we are bursting at the seams with excitement because we are finally sharing with you the wedding of Chloe + Paul!

We have been teasing you all week with sneak peeks of this wedding and when I tell you it's good... Man oh man is it good! A little bit of modern, a lot of glam and a dramatic colour palette -  it is complete opulence and decadence at it's best.

Chloe + Paul are such an awesome couple, they really do have a special place in all the hearts of the white + white team and you will easily see what we mean as it shines through each and every fantastic image captured by the super cool Seth and Tenielle from Feather + Stone Photography. 

Chloe + Paul were a wedding planner + wedding stylists dream clients, when we first met with them everything just clicked and we all felt that we were about to plan + create a wedding that looked crazy cool!

The concept was designed by our very own in house stylist Sarah Iriks and was very much influenced by the current trend of gold and metallic accents along with the gorgeous new refurb of the popular event space Mirra Private Dining and Events in Fortitude Valley.

When we first started pulling together ideas it was important to us to do something unique and bold. Then when we started to brainstorm and became really excited about all the different elements that were coming together. Mirra served as a fantastic background to the modern look and allowed us to take advantage of the black and gold colour palette.

We wanted the overall table design to have an elegant, luxurious, sophisticated look but modern all at the same time. We accomplished the table design by selecting gold napoleon chairs, black linens and napkins and gold and clear beaded chargers from Styled Events. Mirror bases, mercury vessels and candlesticks were chosen to pick up and reflect the gold accents and throw the warm light of the tea lights flickering on the tables.

When choosing the flowers we wanted something elegant yet understated. We felt that Geraldine from Bouquet Boutique really understood how to balance this type of combination to instantly bring the guests into the mood of the location. We decided to go with an assortment of fresh seasonal white flowers in mercury vases in different clusters of shapes and sizes. When Geraldine was designing Chloe's bouquet she went with classic white roses and her bridesmaids bouquets were made up of gorgeous caramello roses complete with black and gold binding for a bold dramatic look. 

We were madly, madly in love with the super chic gorgeousness of the stationary suite and paper goods. Our very own Bride Chloe + her sister Ally were the geniuses behind the amazing invitations and paper goods while Chloe's wonderful husband Paul made all of the awesome acrylic table numbers, welcome sign and decals. A personal favourite being the uber sweet table numbers all with different loved up text incorporating the table number.

No event would ever be complete without a sweet treat and this wedding had many. On arrival guests found their seats via a chocolate seating plan, each guest had a milk chocolate bar complete with a custom made wrap to match the stationary suite with their name and table number on it. Ferrero Rocher's were place upon each guests personalised menu as small bonbonniere.  The two tier statement wedding cake was created by Jade at Cake Star with four different decedent flavours and covered with gold baking dust. Later on bambino gelato's were served to guests on gold ornate platters as a supper snack to keep them dancing into the night.

Chloe wore a stunning Pronovias gown with a sweet heart strapless neck line and vintage lace that fell from under the bust and sparkled in accessories by Chelsea De Luca. Chloe's bridesmaids wore slinky charcoal numbers by Zimmermann and twinkled with knockout gold glitter high heels. The girls swoon worthy hair was preened by the oh so clever and creative Alana Salm of Hair by Popular Demand and their makeup was flawlessly perfected by the amazing Desiree Vogelsang of Desiree Makeup.

So there you have it Chloe + Paul's really modern, high style, totally glam wedding... we hope you liked it! But if this wasn't enough lucky for you we have a great video by the wonderful Matt Barwick to share as well, capturing the entire day! Just make sure you have your tissues ready... don't say we didn't warn you.... 

chloe and paul / feature film from Matt Barwick Films on Vimeo.