Every bride has her own unique personality. Wedding accessories provides a means to show it! Let’s follow the “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” custom, though lets make it even more fun by choosing to go the creative route.

Something Old

Three letters: D-I-Y! Not only is this practical and fun to do, self-made projects make a lasting impression on guests. They like to see the creative details of even your tiniest wedding décor or accessory. So go ahead and be that DIY bride.

Try and find old pieces of textile (great if they match your theme!), used lace veils, floral brooches, ribbons, etc. You can reuse each material and come up with a bridal head band! You can even make a variety of these for your bridesmaids.

Expressing your Personality through Wedding Accessories

Something New

If you are one of those girls who got a precious heirloom as your engagement ring, then you definitely must go for something “new” in your bridal accessory checklist. While some brides choose to have their mother’s wedding gown altered to fit their shape, you can have a dress that’s 100% your own! Buy a new wedding gown – visualised and chosen by you!

Something Borrowed

With many trends coming out with weddings, this one is pretty cool: Hire an Umbrella for your wedding! Oh why not! With the unpredictability of weather conditions these days, you wouldn’t want it to ruin your day.

From Hire an Umbrella:

We take the stress out of random weather patterns by providing you with a wet weather back up plan at minimum cost. We have hundreds of elegant and high quality umbrellas available for hire, to cover you, your wedding party and guests. Or if you’re after something a little bit different, check out our parasols and fun umbrellas – we have the largest online range in Australia!

Too cool, you can even have a fun parasol that is uniquely yours!

Something Blue

Last but not least, is your something blue! How about having your crinoline dyed blue?

Wedding Dress Accessories

It will add some attitude to your wedding gown! It’s quite refreshing seeing a traditional white wedding gown give a little shade of blue each time you lift up a little bit of your dress.

Everyone will remember not only how you celebrated your wedding, but how you brought out your very own bridal personality.

Visit the wedding accessories category for more ideas and choices .

Choosing your Celebrant

In 2008 only 35% of weddings in Australia were performed by ministers of religion. This means for those of you currently organising a wedding, there will be a lot who are looking for a celebrant.

A celebrant plays an imperative part in your day. After all, they are the one who will be marrying you! You might figure it doesn’t really matter who does the ceremony as long as you end up married, but it is nice to have a bit of a connection with the person who is effectively doing the most important job on the day (aside from yourself and your partner of course!).

A celebrant will set the mood for the service and can make a beautiful moment even more special. They can be happy, uplifting and warm. But remember that they are people with personalities so each celebrant will have his or her own personal style.

Although they will most likely adapt to any style you want, if it is too much of a stretch from their regular service you might consider using someone who is more naturally suited to what you want.

For example if you have certain traditions you would like to uphold make sure they understand what these are, as it will likely be obvious if they haven’t performed these traditions before.

Arrange for a time to meet a few celebrants and have a chat with them, see if your personalities are suited and if they really understand what it is you are looking for.

For example if you are someone who is looking for strong leadership or a person who can calm your nerves then you don’t want to choose a celebrant who is naturally quiet or nervous themselves. The same could also be said if you have a strong personality and very definite ideas on what you want on the day, you won’t want to have a celebrant who is also strong minded and already has their own idea of what you should do.

When meeting with them also see what type of equipment they have so you don’t double up on hiring. For example, if it is an outdoor wedding where you may need a microphone and speakers check to see if the celebrant will be bringing this along or whether you should be organising this yourself.

Also ask what their fees cover. For example, will the legal paperwork be included within the fees or come as a separate cost? Most celebrants should be happy to give you a full breakdown of their fees so you know what to expect upfront.

Once you think you’ve found the right person ask to see their terms of agreement. Read through these carefully as these will list the celebrant’s terms and conditions and it is important you feel comfortable with these.

Finally, if you are happy with all of the above, lock the celebrant in as soon as possible. They can be very busy and you don’t want to miss out on someone who is a perfect match!

The Lakes Walk Rotunda

A trip to the Hunter Valley Gardens is enough to make me want to get married all over again. Walking through the manicured lawns, there are many romantic spots for the perfect garden ceremony and even places to erect a marquee for a true garden wedding.

Ceremony Locations at Hunter Valley Gardens

There are five different garden locations, all with their own unique points of difference.

For a larger, more formal wedding there is the European Formal Garden. The background is amazing with water features along with hundreds of roses. The area is tiered and has plenty of room for guest chairs.

Within the Hunter Valley Gardens is a 10metre waterfall. If you choose to be married in the Sunken Garden this waterfall will be the backdrop to the ceremony.

Alternatively, you can be married at the top of the waterfall with scenic garden views.

If your wedding is slightly smaller, for 70 or less guests, the Oriental Garden is a special area. There is an Oriental Pagoda built over water, which is magical for a ceremony that is a little bit different. One half of the view is the water you are standing over and the other half is the gardens.

There is also a new wedding location at Hunter Valley Gardens and this is the Lakes Walk Rotunda. The elegant white structure, sitting on the waters edge and surrounded by giant weeping willows, looks like it is straight from a scene in a movie.

For those not looking for a garden ceremony, or even as a wet weather backup plan, the Hunter Valley Gardens also has a special chapel onsite created specifically for weddings. It is a non-denominational chapel so anyone can be married here with their own celebrant or priest. The chapel seats up to 150 guests on hand crafted pews and the large glass windows overlook the Brokenback Mountains and surrounding gardens.

Reception Options at Hunter Valley Gardens

For the reception you can be indoors or out. As mentioned before you can choose to erect a marquee in the European Formal Gardens or the Sunken Garden. You could also try something new and opt for an open-air reception.

Alternatively there is the gorgeous Garden Terrace, a room with amazing views over the Oriental Garden. The minimum number of guests is 50, but the venue can hold up to 150 guests for a cocktail style reception.

The largest reception choice is The Barrel Room at Tempus Two Winery. This venue has a guest minimum of 70 and can hold up to 200 people cocktail style.

Offers and Guarantees from Hunter Valley Gardens

It’s not often you will be given guarantees from entertainment venues, but the folks at Hunter Valley Gardens want you to enjoy your special day without worry. Besides the wet weather back up option of moving your garden ceremony indoors to the chapel, you will also have a wet weather guarantee with your photos. This means if it rains on your wedding day, you and your photographer will be invited back another day so you can take your photos free of charge.

There is currently a Winter wedding special running where if you have your wedding in June, July or August you will receive your ceremony for free.

As part of any package you will also have a dedicated wedding coordinator who will not only assist you with your ceremony planning but will also be there on the day to help things run smoothly.

A buggy and wedding host will also be available to drive the bridal party around the grounds for photos for up to 2 hours.

So when looking for a special venue for your Hunter Valley wedding, make sure you drop by the Hunter Valley Gardens for a complimentary site inspection.

Check the Hunter Valley Gardens listing for further details.

Photo by Popcorn Photography

There is something about the air at the Hunter Valley – perhaps the luscious greenery and the fragrance of wine. No matter how bad your day is going, the Hunter Valley is ready to renew your spirits and refresh your senses.

No wonder many engaged couples head to the Hunter Valley Wine Country region for their big day. The place is an inspiration to many unique wedding ideas. Aside from offering several picturesque wedding venues, it is also home to lots of guest attractions and wonderful wedding suppliers to create your dream wedding.

Here are some recommended Hunter Valley wedding ideas:

Wine Country Reception Venues

Whether it is a smallish, intimate celebration, or a grand festive event, you can be sure to find the perfect venue for your ceremony and reception. Choose among beautiful garden wedding venues, vineyard locations, inside remarkable wineries, and nice hotels. There is something for everyone as you consider your theme and number of guests.

Wedding Décor and Favours

Areas within the Hunter Valley region are known for arts, antiques, and crafts. Check out art galleries for wedding theme inspiration. They feature modern art and antique pieces. Along the way, you can spot craft shops for your DIY wedding favours, reception table pieces, and decors.

For edible wedding favours, visit the Hunter Valley Cheese Company and taste pure handmade, preservative-free cheeses. These will surely be a treat for your guests.

Guest Activities and Attractions

How about gathering your guests into groups – then let them fly in hot air balloons! Aside from adding excitement and wonder to your celebration, this is one of the best ways to showcase the beauty of the Hunter Valley. Check out hot air balloon tours for more information. What a delight!

It doesn’t end in the air, as the Hunter also offers many coach and car driven tours. Aside from witnessing the vast vineyards and luscious gardens, these specialised tours take you to the most famous destinations and wineries.

Your guests can enjoy an extended holiday as they spend a day of wine, cheese and olive oil tasting. There are romantic tours to take advantage of, plus a chance to go horse-back riding off the beaten track. Many of these tours are also packaged with a delicious lunch for your guests to enjoy.

A Hunter Valley wedding is a memorable experience. If you want something low-key, country-side, yet not lacking in enjoyment and romance – then say “I do” in the Hunter Valley.

For further information on wedding suppliers, venues, and other wedding needs in the Hunter Valley, visit the Hunter Bride directory.