West Aussie Wedding

the boys (non pro)

The Boys got dressed at his mates place in Mindarie.

It is a beautiful spacious house with amazing oceans view, several bathrooms and was perfect place for them to get ready.

But as it was so far away from where we were getting ready and the wedding venue, it wasn't practical for our photographers to travel to get pre-ceremony photos of the Boys.

Which was fine with the Mister who "didn't want a camera in his face" anyway.

I felt a bit sad about not ever getting a glimpse of them pre-wedding, so I made one of his Groomsman promise to take some 'getting ready' photos for me.

I didn't have high hopes for many photos, but he did a fantastic job. He took hundreds and he captured everything!

As there won't be any pro photos for this part of the day anyway, here are a few of the Boys getting ready.

 
The Mister is 2nd on the right. At least he is looking happy here! They didn't get their button holes until they arrived at the ceremony.

 
The individual cufflinks which they loved and raved about all night.  

My poor nervous Mister- that's his anxious face.

As an added bonus, his camera was on that setting where it takes lots of photos in quick succession so it is almost like watching a video. I actually felt quite moved flicking through the pics of the Mister fastening his tie, helping his mates put on their cufflinks, swig his beer and them all mucking around, it was a little but like being there.

Thanks Shano!

the boys

I was the one in Perth last weekend so it was my job to buy the Mr and his Merry Men their ties.

I thought this would be the easiest job ever. A tie for the Mister and four for his groomsmen.

But as it happens it's not easy to get four matching ties.

Turns out menswear shops rarely stock up to four of any particular tie.  It's not like womens accessories where they have more out the back. What's on dispaly is all they have. Even the big department stores.

One shop suggested I get some ties made up.. but when he showed me the shiney polyester fabric swatches I knew I couldn't do that to my Mister, or his friends.

In the end I had to go to two different shops to scrounge together four matching ties, my choices were limited.

So the four Groomsmen will be wearing black ties, with the Mr is a reddish plumy coloured tie that looks good against the BM dresses, as seen in pic below.

I think the groomsmen are the ones who are usually supposed to wear the coloured ties but it was the best I could do.

Now all I need to do is buy the boys their shirts. But I'm waiting on three of them to get back to me with their neck measurements.. I was originally going to go with ivory but changed my mind, I think crisp white slim fitting shirts will look the best.

 

two weeks

I'm in Perth this weekend because I have some practical components to do for my Gemmology Course.

I normally enjoy looking and learning about all the different gemstones, but I won't lie..

At the moment it feels like a big fat nusiance.

   
You little Bastards!       image via Can-dotownMD.org
  

I'm finding it hard to give assignments and practicals my full attention when there is two measly weeks until our wedding.

Not very long is it?!

The proximity of our wedding date hit home yesterday when I was eating some yogurt.
I noticed it had a 'used by' post-dating our wedding.. I will be married before that dairy product goes off..!   and we all know dairy has a short shelf life.. Eep!

It's also at the point now, whenever I buy or organise anything wedding related people invariably say to me 'leaving it a bit late aren't ya?'

Our friends from Overseas are starting to arrive next week. And I'm feeling guilty as I will be back up North by the time they get here, and won't be back down until the week before the wedding.

The Celebrant has sent us the first draft of the ceremony, which we have chopped and changed and ummed and ahhed over a few readings...  now waiting for the next draft.

We've had some last minute additions and subtractions to our guest list. 
An addition being a couple who we originally left off mainly because we don't catch up very often. However during lunch together last week I couldnt stop thinking 'I want you at our wedding' and the feeling didnt go away. So we asked them. I did feel a bit awkward bringing it up as obviously raises the question why werent they invited in the first place, but she is an understanding soul and was stoked to be asked and I'm stoked they're coming. Yay!
A subtraction being some of the Mr's unreliable mates who have taken the time off work to go to his bucks party but not his wedding. (WTF?)

Had my dress fitting yesterday. Three cheers for the dressmaker actually showing up!! Dress looked so good with the hem up and the sides pinned, more like wedding dress, less like little girl playing dressups. 

Still in two minds about the veil, but just like a good little consumer, I have ordered one just in case. From Wedding Veils Australia. Their website is a bit daggy looking but Pat has been so lovely and really helpful and the service is fast. I went with the Allure Veil in ivory- which is a very subtle, round cut, single tier fingertip veil. (4 days ago I had no idea what any of those adjectives meant)
It is due to arrive before my next dress fitting so will give it a test run then.

 I have updated my To-Do list for the next fortnight

 

Cufflinks

Our Groomsmen are hiring their own suits but we will buying them their shirts, ties and also their cufflinks

And maybe these are a bit corny, but we wanted to make the cufflinks a bit personal

Here are what they're each getting

The Superman symbol relates to an adolescent nickname which has stuck.

It was either going to be a map of the world, or a surfbaord for his mate who travels the world surfing.

The Aces for his poker playing partner in crime

And he used to play cricket with his other Groomsmen, who still lives and breaths it.  

All from Benjamin Cufflinks

We are still looking for a pair for the Mister to wear. 
  

retrograde

Hmmm well.. I guess at least the wedding planning would have been easy if I had a plastic Fiance.

 
 
images from Sposabella Magazine

Mannequin Boy wouldn't refuse to wear a brown a suit.

We would have the music sorted by now.

There would be more than one reading during the ceremony.

We would be be practicing our first dance.

And we'd have a gift registry.

But ya know.

Of course I'm glad he's a Real Boy.

  

Groomy McGroom

We are going to be shopping for the Misters suit next week.

Trying to decide what colour to get him. And then what colour for his boys.

We were very keen on charcoal or grey, because it seems modern and stylish but also relaxed. And I happen to think the Mr would look particularly hot in this colour, he has the most lovely green eyes.

But then my future Mother in Law made the comment that grey or charcoal doesn't really go with our Bridesmaid dresses. Which is a bit of a spanner in the works.

I can't work out if she is right?

 

I'm thinking our beige dresses don't look that bad next to the grey suits? Especially if they were to be wearing a tie that also had some of the same beige colour from the dress? Or if the charcoal has a pinstripe that has more beige undertones?

Black would be the easy option as most of them already have black suits and it's the colour that goes with everything. However I reckon it seems a little somber and serious for our laid back wedding?

The other choice I guess would be brown. Which I think can look fab when done right, in a retro kind of way. But the Mr isn't really a retro kind of guy.. and the plan was to buy him a suit that he could wear again and again.. I don't know if he'd be as keen to 'invest' in brown suit.

I'd love some honest opinions please!

As an aside- speaking of brown suits.. if you haven't already seen my parents wedding photos, my Dad was slamming in his suit, which used to think was so embarassing but now think is quite cool.

 

menfolk

The Mr. still hasnt got a suit.

He has very limited interest in clothes or fashion or his appearance in general and so suit hunting is going to be a joint effort.

I think it's important that the groom stands out from his groomsmen, in the same way that the Bride stands out from her Bridesmaids. Why? asks he.. Because you're not just one of the crowd, say I

So options are to give him a different coloured tie or a different shirt or vest, or give him a bigger boutton-thing to wear. But what we might do is put the Mr. into a different coloured suit.

Sort of like what these guys have done

 
Photo by our labor of love, via Once Wed

Photo by Mica Dahlberg via PolkaDot Bride

  

Photo by Jill Thomas via The Brides Cafe

I think he would look really awesome in charcoal.. or perhaps a mid-tone grey, and maybe his boys can wear darker grey.. its hard to say without trying on and our next chance won't be until January.

I can't seem to find any examples where the Groom is wearing a darker suit than his boyfriends. Like a groom in charcoal and groomsmen in grey.. if anyone comes across one please let me know!

 

AG

Ever since spying this beautiful patterned dress my mind keeps returning to the coolness of wedding dresses with prints.. either a more subtle pattern, or perhaps something that is impossible to miss..(which I didn't win, by the way)

Aussie Designer Arthur Galan has got a couple of frocks in his label AG which Im thinking could work for a Glamorous Bohoemian wedding look.. either for the Bride or the Bridesmaid.

And he does Menswear as well

All images from AG

I'm loving that dress on the top right! Some drop earrings, bejewelled sandals and a nice puffy veil to add some bridal ommph and you'd be all set!

hunky groomsmen

Everyone, including me, went gaga over the beautiful bridesmaid dresses.. but I actually think the groomsmen in this wedding deserve an honourable mention. Loving the skinny black suits!

  

Photo by Sugar Love, via Bespoke Bride

This wedding took place at the Gunners Barracks in Mosman, Sydney, and the BM dresses are all from Rose & Ruby. Not sure where the stylin suits came from...

too hotty scotty

This couple looks hot and so do their friends.

I like the way the bridesmaids are mismatching and so are the groomsmen. What a cool colelction of suits.

And that bride with that hair! She looks so unstyled yet so perfect.

 

photography by Anna Naphtali Photography, via SWM

Couple Crush

How cool is this couple!

I love her short dress and that big flower in her hair.. His suit and hat is pretty cool as well. And have a closer look at his tie!

This is actually their post-wedding photo shoot which I think is a great idea.. I'm not sure if this is their wedding attire or not but I think its a great look!

 

Photography by Jill Thomas, first seen at What Junebug Loves

Preppy Groomsmen

Im a bit unsure if Im really liking the preppiness on these groomsmen or not, but its a bit different and therfore worthy of a post. You could maybe cool it up by swapping the white shirts for something with a subtle pattern and maybe losing the tie.. (or would that be making it worse?)

   

image from Simone Martin, originally seen on Frolic