Bonbonierre

Okay, it's been a while, but that does not mean that things have not been happening! School is a little hectic at the moment, and Chee has been out of action for a little while due to his thyriod operation.

Anyway, we have been thinking about having espresso cups as our bonbonierre. It all came about from me surfing Pink Frosting and coming across the Swish cups. Chee and I started over coffee after I had a particularly bad day with my year 10 class in my first year of teaching.

Well, I have been searching around for a slightly more cost effective version. (Sorry, but I can't justify spending close to $10 per person in total for bonbonierre). A couple of girls from the WWA forum suggested that I look at hospitality suppliers.

I came across this.

I think this is nice. I can also just buy the cup, and not have to buy the saucer, which might be a good idea, as I can't really see them together being easy to set up and take away from the reception. On to each cup I have seals similar to the one below to stick on.

Of course with our names and wedding date instead. Chee suggested we fill the cup with Jelly Belly. I think that is a good idea, I had a little look, and it is tricky to buy mixed 1kg bags, but slightly easier to buy 1kg of cappuccino flavoured Jelly Belly, which should do the trick.

Also, I have received the Milly Dress, but it is quite a bit too big, esspecially around the bust area. I will have to look and see if I can get it altered. If I can't, I'll just try and sell it on eBay.

Milly Bridal Final Dress

I have to fill in about the stage of my dress. It is actually on the way now! So exciting!

I have gotten a few more pics that I am going to show here. Firstly, here are the pics of the beading sample they showed me. The purple marks are a special pen they use that fades away in a day or two.

It was using AB crystals, which I was unsure about, but they did send me a pic with glass beads, but that did not look right at all. So I said to go ahead with the AB crystals.

Then I received the following pics within a short space of time.

I am so happy with how it has turned out. I will probably post more pics when it arrives, which should be sometime next week.

The Celebrant

Just wanted to say thanks to Khim and Shane for suggesting their celebrant for our wedding. We did speak with Gail, but we felt more confident and at ease with our celebrant. Here's a pic of Helen Fordham. We first met her at the eBridal Fair earlier in the year. I find it difficult to warm up to people very quickly, but I was at ease with Helen right from the start. Chee really liked her as well, but he finds it easier than me to talk to people.

We met with Helen on Friday for an introductory meeting. She had a cute little black kitten called Max. (Not that the cat sold her for us, but it was quite cute, even though it was a male cat).

Helen lectures at Curtin, didn't gather what, but I felt that she was confident with her job as a celebrant and she wanted to make sure that we could tell our story without going too oversentimental and too "commercialised love". We both really liked how she described how we could involve both of our families, esspecially all of our parents in the ceremony. That was very important to both of us, since we are both very close to our families.

We will be meeting with Helen again on 16th April to fill out our notice of intention to marriage forms and further discuss elements of our ceremony.

The Reception Venue

We have finally booked our reception venue. We are having our reception at Jade Chinese Seafood Restaurant. About three months before the wedding we need to meet with them to discuss our menu, but it is a relief to actually have secured a place.

More pictures from Milly Bridal

Here's some more pictures from Milly Bridal. They are of the pleating details on the dress.

Inspiration Board

Here is my inspiration board.

It shows the main colours in our wedding.

Milly Bridal Pattern Dress

I have just gotten the pattern dress pictures of my Milly Bridal dress, made to my measurements. I was very happy with these pictures, so now they are making my dress to the pattern. Soon I will have the pictures of the beading sample, which I will post here too.

Milly Bridal

I have heard many good things about Milly Bridal http://www.millybridal.com/ . They are a Chinese dress manufacturer, and as you can see on their website, they make pretty good dresses.

I wanted to have a different dress at my reception, because my wedding ceremony dress is a bit boofy at the bottom and has a longish train. Anyway, I have decided to order a dress from Milly Bridal, and it is a replica dress to the one in the picture. I don't mind if it isn't quite as floaty as the original or have exactly the same sort of beading, but the idea has to be very similar. I am going to get the dress done in ivory.

I will post pictures of how it is coming along as soon as I get them.

The Invitation Map

In surfing the net for ideas, I came across this website for creating maps for your wedding http://www.weddingmapper.com/. It is really easy to use.

At first I thought it was a US only website but to my surprise it came up with a nice map of Perth.

It also has instructions on how to make "hand drawn" maps for your guests. I am all inspired now!

The Photographer

When we were going to a Chinese restaurant in Vic Park, which unfortunately was not open on the night we went, I spied with my little eye a wedding photographer's shop. The day after, I drove Chee past it, and we had a look at the wedding portraits that were in the shop front. They weren't open then, but we were impressed by those shots.

Anyway, when I was making a list of photographers to look at, they did end up on my short list. I gave Chee my list, he actually went to the shop again and spoke to one of the owners and was so highly impressed he made an appointment to see her with me.

On Monday we went and saw Kirsten from Compose Photography www.composephotography.com.au Chee had been impressed with their magazine style albums, their prices and Kirsten. He said that she was quite chatty, which actually made me a little scared, because Chee is very chatty himself!

However, I found Kirsten very easy to talk with, she was quite fun loving and had a good sense of humour, which is a big plus for me. I was basically sold when I saw some pics from a Chinese Tea Ceremony that they had taken, both at the groom's home, which was very cramped and at one of the Burswood Ballrooms, which was very expansive. That was what made me decide, because you could tell that the photos hadn't been edited by that stage, they were just the proof photos, but they were very good, with a good eye.

Anyway, we have decided to go with their Gold Coverage, which includes 2 photographers on the day and full reception coverage. We will pay extra to make sure that the tea ceremony is covered as well as the "yam seng"s at the reception. Have a look at their website for some of their photos, as well as the open albums in their client lounge, which look good on the computer, but looked even better in your hands at the photographer's studio.

The Flowers

Last Monday, Chee and I were really busy seeing the florist, the reception venue and the photographer.

Chee's godsister, Li Khim, recently had her wedding and she had these really beautiful flowers in her bouquet and at the reception. She recommended her florist, Michelle of Flowers by Michelle http://www.flowersbymichelle.com.au/ because she was easy to work with, adapted easily to any changes that were made and had very reasonable pricing. Below is a pic of Li Khim's bouquet (the orchids were hand died and there was a trail of ivy under the bouquet, but you can't see it in the pic) and of the tulips at her reception.

When we met Michelle, it was easy to see she was going to be our florist for the day. I found her extremely easy to work with and very friendly. Chee said she was very Aussie, he commented about her "Oh shit!" when she found out that cymbidium orchids were out of season. I honestly did not even notice, but she was a genuinely Aussie girl. She also seemed very experienced at what she does, so I have no doubt she will be great for our day as well.

For my bouquet, both Chee and I were thinking about having a lotus shape. Below is a pic of something similar we had in mind.

I wanted something small, but incorporating the idea of Chinese flowers. It would also have to look good in white, as of all the floral ideas I had looked at, that was the best to go with my dress. Unfortunately though, cymbidium orchids, which are used to do this type of bouquet, are out of season and roses, which could be used as well, are too soft and would not stick out enough to look like a lotus flower.

So onto idea 2, which I actually really prefer, but was afraid of the cost. Peonies, which are the floral emblem of China, can be seen in many Chinese paintings, and I always look at them quite a bit in Chinese restuarants.

Luckily, peonies are in season for our wedding. So I am going to have a small bouquet of peonies (approximately 6 blooms) with camelia leaves underneath and throughout. Below are some pics that kind of demonstrate the look I am going for. The peonies will be white, with a red ribbon to hold it together. Baaboo's bouquet is going to be similar but only with 3 blooms and a gold ribbon.

Chee's and his best man and my dad's buttonholes are going to be white lisianthus, with red or gold ribbons. Below is a pic, but imagine it in white!

For the reception, we have to see first whether we will be allowed to have arrangements on the table for the whole night. Apparently from Michelle, some chinese restaurants do not allow you to keep the arrangements on the lazy susans past the first course, which would kind of be pointless. Anyway, Michelle came up with the suggestion of having a submerged orchid stem in small but tall vases. The orchids we will have will be red. Here are a few pics of ideas. I like the idea of having river rocks, like in the first pic (but there are those cymbidium orchids again). The second pic is of someone's attempt with purple orchids, I think the candle is too big. The third pic is the only one I have seen so far with red orchids, again the candle is too big. I don't think I particularly need a candle on top, if so, like the one in the first pic.

We have since received Michelle's quote for the flowers. For the bouquets, butonholes and reception flowers altogether she has quoted under $300 which is amazing. I seriously thought I would have to spend $500-$600.

Hair and Makeup Trial

This is a before mug shot I took of myself this morning. As you can see, my hair is pretty thin. I also am used to not wearing any makeup and when I do I like to look pretty natural - basically just bring out my eyes a little more and give some colour to my lips so that I don't just blend in.


I had my hair and makeup trial with Total Brides http://www.totalbrides.com.au/ this Monday and I was really impressed with my trial hair and makeup. So they have been booked by me for my hair and makeup and Baaboo's hair and makeup for the wedding day.

I showed a picture of my dress to Brigid and the makeup lady (I forgot her name - but she was extremely nice and chatty) and both of them listened to what I wanted in general and I just let them work their magic. I was impressed by the results so much that I didn't have to have any alterations. Just look at my hair - doesn't it look so thick and lush! Brigid suggested that I get my highlights done again, and I agree, because in some of the shots where you can see them they look awesome and really work the hairstyle!

Please feel free to leave comments!

The Ceremony Location

We've gone to the ceremony location a few times already this summer holidays. Last time I went, I got is photo which better demonstrates why we really love this venue.



This was taken on a 30+ degree day, and it was a much nicer temperature under the shade of the trees at the tropical grove.