Country Weddings

More personal than a banquet hall, country weddings can be some of the most beautiful and inventive of all. Maybe it's the mix of informality and elegance, the day-to-day and the once-in-a-lifetime, or how impressive it is to see a place so transformed. Regardless, let these ideas stimulate your imagination to dream up your singular celebration.

A demure alternative to a veil, a horsehair hat provides relief from the sun on a bright day, and its wide brim can be easily folded back for cheek-to-cheek dancing. An organza column dress, crisscrossed with ribbons and dotted with tiny daisies, echoes the pattern of garden lattice.

If your favorite song is performed by the birds and your favorite scent is that of fresh air, then a garden wedding is a natural choice. Sunshine and a profusion of flowers are the only appropriate decorations. In this charming setting, flower girls are a must, but formality is entirely optional.
The cake is decorated in a variety of basket weaves inspired by patterns of antique wicker and is crowned with ivy and flowers gathered from the garden, including geraniums, sweet peas, Queen Anne's lace, and lavender and purple roses.

 

Clusters of blue-black privet berries stand out against sweet peas, narcissus, and star-shaped ornithogalum in a charmingly rustic bouquet tied with ivory grosgrain ribbon.

A two-dimensional calico print comes to life on a cake with diminutive hand-sculpted flowers, leaves, and fruits.

Fresh strawberries top stacked pound cakes instead of the traditional biscuits, with mascarpone cream sandwiched between the layers. Platters piped with royal icing in a basket-weave pattern lend a country feel. They sit on ribbon-wrapped columns that elevate the dessert from its rustic origins and allude to the shape of a conventional tiered wedding cake.

Baskets brimming with fruit imbue a reception with rustic charm. We filled Nantucket baskets in various sizes with warm-toned fruits: pears, apricots, and two kinds of apples. Small baskets laden with blond cherries are arranged at place settings for guests to take home -- tiny bows are a graceful touch.

Ripe fruits symbolize abundance and fertility -- and make delicious favors. Tomatoes look beautiful and enticing in this rustic Italian display.
 
 

A sumptuous Italian buffet sets the tone for a reception in the country.
 
 

Wheat represents bounty and wealth, and the horseshoe shape is good luck. Let this decoration work its powers at your ceremony or reception site.
 
 

A table arrangement of grains celebrates the bounty of the harvest. In addition to wheat, which symbolizes a fruitful life, this textured display includes other dried grasses (available at crafts stores), so it can be made weeks ahead. The final flourish? A luxurious satin bow.
 
 

Send wedding guests home with fresh strawberries and scones to enjoy the morning after. Wrap scones in cellophane, and line a wooden berry basket with parchment paper. Tie on a note stamped with a strawberry design.
 

With a puff-pastry blossom resting atop a flaky crust, a miniature pot pie makes a delightful and delicious first course at a wedding. This favorite home-style dish is filled with a medley of vegetables, including asparagus, carrots, and pearl onions, and baked in a ramekin. Wonderful for a country-themed reception, it would be appropriate to serve at a shower, too.

White Winter Wedding

Are you getting married this winter? Well, today I thought I would share with you some lovely photos and white winter wedding ideas.

Strings of gauzy tulle pom-poms float above a whitewashed landscape, creating a dreamy, light-as-air effect. To ground the scene and add interest to a pure white palette, incorporate plenty of texture. Here a raw linen tablecloth, net fabric runner, lace-pattern porcelain vase, and a mix of sleek and gardeny blooms, including eucharis lilies and dinner-plate dahlias. "Opalescent" wine glass; highball glass; and "Lace" votive/bud vase decorate a clean, simple yet elegant wedding reception.

A pared-down centerpiece, like this whitewashed papier-mache fruit piled on a cake stand and trimmed with silver millinery leaves, is as chic as it is unexpected. Bonus: These faux wonders -- a great substitute for fresh blooms -- won't wilt, so you can display them at home for years to come, either as shown or in a footed glass urn. "Patrician" Champagne flute, designed by Josef Hoffmann, from Neue.

 Pillowy pom-poms make the perfect adornment for favor boxes -- or anything, for that matter. Writ large, they're also a refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous paper lanterns in an outdoor reception tent, and they lend a whimsical, personal vibe to an otherwise stuffy, formal ballroom. Choose from tulle, organza, and net, perhaps with a lace or Swiss-dot pattern, then set aside just a few minutes to put them together (the breezy adornments are easy to make).

Try creating the pom-poms and adding them to headbands and barrettes and working them into your bridesmaids' ensembles.

White or ivory may be the traditional stationery choice, but that doesn't mean your set has to look the part. This suite, which includes a coaster with a sweet sentiment, incorporates cream-on-white letterpress type and informal abbreviations for a contemporary feel.

A cluster of dahlias, white delphiniums, eucharis lilies, white orchids, and snowberry branches, tied with satin and lace, has an ethereal look.

Frocks for the junior set come in a wide array of adorable styles, from cutting-edge to Spanish-inspired, ballerina to bohemian. To give the ensemble dimension, pair your flower girl's white dress with an ivory cardigan and shoes.

In addition to these savory snacks, consider serving hors d'oeuvres at your cocktail hour made with seafood, such as scallops, yellowtail, or crabmeat; veggies, like cauliflower and parsnips; and even pasta. Have waiters pass the treats on trays, or arrange them atop a mix of modern and rustic dishes on an enticing buffet table. Clockwise from top left:
* Potato cutouts piped with tangy horseradish creme fraiche

* Lemony whitefish puree and celery tea sandwiches

* Celery-root soup flavored with white wine and thyme

* Parmesan polenta with sauteed cremini mushrooms

* Vegetarian summer rolls with a citrus rice-wine vinegar dipping sauce
 
 

Clockwise from top: Buttercream This cake topping is beloved for its rich and, yes, buttery flavor. Keep it in an air-conditioned or refrigerated spot to prevent softening. If it's below 80 degrees, the frosting will hold up outside for about an hour. Meringue This wispy mix of egg whites and sugar, also known as "seven-minute frosting," can be smoothed on for a clean, glossy look or applied in peaks. For added flavor (and to help it adhere), spread on a thin layer of buttercream first. Fondant When draped over a lightly frosted cake, fondant offers a flawless finish. To decorate it with your monogram, just use a rubber stamp. Fondant holds up well in the heat, but don't refrigerate it -- water spots can form. Powdered Sugar What could be prettier for a winter wedding than a flurry of slices dusted with snowy sugar? With its homespun appeal, this topping would also complement a simple, backyard affair.
 

Give guests a sweet send-off by stacking cookies in cellophane bags with sturdy bases. Finish with a heart sticker made with a craft punch
 
 

A dessert bar stocked with eaux-de-vie -- clear fruit brandies, such as kirsch (cherry), framboise (raspberry), or grappa (grape) -- is an unexpected touch and a nice alternative to sweet wine. While these drinks are sometimes served with sugar cubes, we came up with a fun twist: rock candy. With sunshine or candlelight filtering through, the transparent display takes on a gorgeous glow.
 
 
Credits: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/

Destination Weddings

Have you thought about having a destination wedding? Somewhere like Fiji, Lord Howe Island, Vanuatu, or maybe somewhere like Las Vegas!

Or for something a little different why not consider a cruise destination wedding? Everything you need is right on board and for a small fee your accommodation, meals, entertainment, activities plus so much more. P&O and Princess Cruises offer fabulous packages to the South Pacific. Taking a cruise for your wedding is a great way to spend time with your family and friends whilst taking in the gorgeous surrounds and your family taking time out from their lives for a bit of a holiday!

Children can be well entertained in the kids' clubs, pools and games rooms. There are internet lounges which would surely entertain the teenagers or the cinema may also tempt them to catch their favourite movies! For the older "children" in the group, there are beauty salons, tanning by the pool, playing deck chess, sewing classes or just relax with a cuppa or cool drink on the deck taking in those superb views.

For more information visit http://www.pocruises.com.au/.

New Ideas

Are you looking for something a little different for your guest book? Why not take a look at Pink Frosting where you will find some gorgeous ideas.

A couple we love are:

Signature Vase

Signature Plate/Stand

Signature Picture Frame with Engraved Photo Mat

You'll find these great ideas, plus many more at http://www.pinkfrosting.com.au/