Wines, wines and more wines

Wines at The Wedding Stylist

Sometimes people do ask... what does a wedding planner bring to the plate? The obvious answers are - the planning, getting the wedding couple organised, sorting out the resources, finding the venues, etc...  

What makes a wedding planner more special, adding value to herself/himself? That answer to me is their network. With this, couples get discounts with vendors and whomever the planner works with. Isn't that what you, as a client would want? Having someone to do all the negotiating and helping to keep you within reasonable budget? 

The Reds

Today, I collected some wines for my client. They are holding an engagement party and wines have been a hot topic for weeks. What sort of wines, how many bottles, do they buy the wines from the venue or to get them separately? What is the corkage charge? We punched in some numbers and the answer was pretty obvious. 


1) Buy the wines separately
2) Negotiate a lower corkage charge
3) Save money

The Whites

At The Wedding Stylist, we work with a particular wine vendor and they are fantastic! We have worked with them for over a year, not just for weddings but for other events as well. Their selection is wide with imports ranging from New Zealand, Italy, Spain and many more. Having such a variety, there is only one way to go about picking the wines. The couple will be having a mini wine tasting session. They have ordered 18 different types of wines. I am not a wine connoisseur myself, but in this field, you do pick up some tips here and there. So, this weekend, I have been invited to join in this wine tasting session, let's just hope that I can still find my way home  after the many glasses of reds and whites.


Oh yes, if you are wondering... do couples get a reasonable discount? I can only say that most have been happy, some have been ecstatic and some have kept in touch with us, just to order more wines.  

Our all time favourites

We love wedding dress shopping. Especially when our clients are as excited as us and are willing to try on as many dresses as it takes to find the perfect one. 

Like most wedding planners and brides, we have our favourite international designers that give us inspiration and ours consist of the above. If you can afford the best, have the best. If not, there are always good alternatives like J Crew. Here at home, it can sometimes be quite limited. Most bridal shops are... well.... packaged bridal shops. They rent you the dress typically 10 times your mass , throw in the photographer and include the flowers. But doesn't that take away the fun? We are traditionalist, the dress should be worn for the first time by you, fit perfectly for you and only you. Nothing off the rack and nothing worn by 20 other brides before you. The dress is sacred, something intimate between you and your body. 

We usually advice our brides to make that special dress from scratch if possible, so it truly belongs to you and showcases your real personality. It is so important to find a designer you click with, a designer that understands what you are looking for, is attentive to details and works with you all the way.

Autumn Wedding

Some snapshots

Pictures speak louder than words, so we decided to do snapshots of the weddings which we have done. Enjoy!

Some facts
England has the world's most unpredictable weather but we were lucky. This day was a very good autumn day - bright and dry with the sun popping out of the clouds once every so often. 

The wedding was held in a manor house called Sutton Bonington Hall - http://www.sutton-bonington-hall.com/. 

Here are some pictures of us moving the flowers into the conservatory before the guests arrived. What an experience!!

Moving the flowers in

The side entrance we had to use

Let's get started with the dress!

Source: McLellan Style

Most little girls dream of their wedding day, wearing that pretty Cinderella outfit and getting married to Prince Charming riding up on a majestic white horse. However, girls do grow up and of course, like all sensible beings, we want to look our best on our Big Day, sometimes without that Cinderella outfit.


A wedding day is always about the dress, how the bride shines in it, how she moves with it and how this dress makes her the most beautiful woman on the day. 


How do we choose a dress that compliments our figure? How do we start and what should we look out for?


Tip #1: You need to feel comfortable and confident in the dress.
Tip #2: Do not buy a dress that swallows you up. You are wearing that dress and not the other way around.
Tip #3: What looks great on your best friend, your favourite celebrity or even your mum may not look so great on you. Try it first! 
Tip# 4: Embrace your figure. 
Tip #5: The dress is about details details details!

Source: Hughes Bridal 

Some Typical Wedding Dress Silhouettes


1. Sheath: Designed to tightly fit the body, cut on the bias.
2. Empire: Youthful and elegant, cut under the bust-line, made with light material like chiffon.
3. Ball Gowns: Small waist and full skirt.
4. Slip Dress: Originated from the 1930s, made with silk or satin, cut on the bias.
5. Princess Gowns: Clean lines with a widening skirt.




Top 5 Most Common Figures


Petite
Look for - vertical lines that elongate your body like a high-waisted empire-line dress. 
Avoid - Boat neck, full skirts and long trains.


Small bust
Look for - Fitted or empire-line dress with beading or embroidered details, ruching or a cowl neck to add volume where needed.
Avoid - Sweetheart or plunging necklines.


Large bust
Look for - V-neck gowns, off-the-shoulder neckline or accessorizing with an eye-catching necklace.
Avoid - High full collars or thin strapped dresses.


Fuller Figures
Look for - A-line skirts, deep v-necks or scoop necks.
Avoid - Mermaid skirts, ball gowns and unstructured material.


Pear Shape
Look for - A sash around the wist to emphasize the slim waist, A-line or full bias-cut skirt without gathers.
Avoid - Mermaid or trumpet skirts.  


We work with so many talented designers in Singapore. We like them honest so they tell you which dress suits you most, emphasizing your assets and flattering your body shape. Sometimes, you find "the one" in the first shop you step into, sometimes, you find it in the 78th shop you go into. Whatever it takes,  patience is the right virtue here. 

Happy Shopping! 

Engagement

Source: Pocketchange

Are there rules to follow after he pops the question? You are flustered, excited, happy and overwhelmed at the same time. You want to share the news with the world but who to start with?


For me, getting engaged is the start of a bride's adventure. Quickly scan the names of the people most important to you and start pressing that dial pad to your closest family and friends. Being engaged calls for a celebration. These days, most couples do this by throwing an engagement party.


Etiquette Update

1. Hold your party shortly after being engaged. Preferably within than 6 months after he popped the question. 
2. Most people who are invited to your engagement party will naturally assume they are invited to your wedding. So take note and if they are not, be sure to make it clear from the start.
3. Have a rough idea of when you plan to get married for this is one question that will be recirculating at the party.
4. Be prepared to share the story of how he popped the question and this is the right time to show off your "bling".
5. It is not expected of guests to bring gifts to an engagement party but some guests may insist.
6. The couple may want to give a toast or speech to thank everyone.
7. The couple may also take this opportunity to introduce the wedding party (people participating in the wedding such as the groomsmen, bridesmaids, father of the bride, etc).

Whether or not the party is a formal sit down dinner at the fullerton or a casual sunday bbq by east coast beach, you be sure to enjoy yourself and have fun with those close to your heart. 

Source: Bently Reserve