West Aussie Wedding

Music

I'm happy to report there have been some good developments on the music front

 
Cover Art of Freya Hanly's album Quiver 

For the post ceremony canapes and for the first couple of hours of reception we have an accousitic guitarist/vocalist Freya Hanly lined up, which we're really excited about. She will play a mixture of covers and originals until about 7ish, which is when we will have our speeches. She has been an absolute darling to deal with.

After that the DJ will take over. We have gone with Roadshow DJs and they seem very professional. As well as providing them with a detailed run sheet, we have also got to make some song selections for them. We get to chose 20 songs that they definitely play, 35 that they will play if they can, and 20 songs that they won't play under any circumstances (that was a selling point for us) The rest they will decide on the night, based on the mood of the crowd, and hopefully taking into account our general music taste.

We also need to make a CD of music to play pre-ceremony for when people are arriving and waiting around. This CD will also have the tracks for walking down the aisle, signing of the register and the recessional. So we've been busy working out a play list for that. This will probably take us a while as we have different ideas of what constitutes 'background music'

comfort

Being comfortable is paramount. I'm the sort of person who comes home and get changed into comfortable clothes as soon as I can.. I wear tracksuit pants and ugg boots around the house. If I can feel my waistband digging in, or my bunions rubbing, or my hair pulling then I just get grumpy.

Which is why I like the following ideas for a wedding reception...

Parasols to keep you out of the sun!

 
image via istockphoto

Or if it's cool...  Pashmina's to keep yourself warm..

Photo by Fred Marcus

And cutting rug in your high heels is tiring...

so some thongs to rest your tired feet! 

image via Ferro's Flickr  

Not that we have organised any of these things for our guests (sorry Guests!)

I guess we are counting on nice weather.. But I do think thongs is something that our female guests would definitely use.. there were lots of girls dancing bare foot at the wedding I went to last week..

Havaianas only cost a few bucks in Brazil. I wonder if there is some place to buy cheap thongs in Perth..?

pretty picnics

We have already seen the ceremony picnic, why not extend the picnic vibe to your reception.. here is some styling picnic blanket inspiration for those who think picnic tables are for wimps!

 
image via Santa Barbara Chic

image via toadbury 

 
image via Oh Happy Day

 
photo by Toby Morris, via A Practical Wedding 

 
image from Ingas Flickr 

image via absolutelybeautiful things 
 

image via cote de texas 

   
image via project wedding 

 
image from NotCot

I really have a thing for picnics.. lounging around.. eating and drinking and mingling as you please... barefeet, cold drinks, shady days.. there should be more of it!

photobooth

This looks like an awesome set-up for a home made photobooth!

It combines my love of couches and outdoor furniture with retro prints and mosquito nets

   
image via motley photos.

I think your guests could have a lot of fun in front of the cameras with this sort of set up.. especially if you provided a box of props (boas, hats, wigs, glasses etc) to bring out everyone's silliness.
  

maypole

Why oh why after seeing this beautiful wedding, am I left feeling that I will be incomplete without a maypole at my wedding?

Because they are gorgeous and festive and fun for everybody, thats why.

  
photo by Monika Broz via The Brides Cafe 

And as if the fluttering coloured ribbons aren't enough, is that some origami I spy?

The tradition of dancing around a maypole is often associated with the mid summer solstice, May Day, or if you go further back into pagan history sexual celebration and fertility rites. (eek thats enough wine for you Aunty Shirl) 

And wouldn't a strikingly patterned maypole, woven by your dancing guests be an extra special memento from your wedding..?

Picnic Tables

If you have only recently started reading you won't be aware of my long unwavering love of picnic tables.

 Lets take a moment to appreciate the epitome of casual cool. The kind of table that says "hey just relax- if you are hungry eat, if you thristy drink, if you want to lick your knife go ahead"

 

image via Bride to Be

I just want to sit down and not get up! It looks like such an appealing place to chill out and eat nice fresh food and icy cold drinks and wait for the dancing to start 
 
 

Marquee Magic

I think this marquee has been decorated beautifully.

 image via Brides Magazine

I love the woven fans and glass lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The small centrepieces in wicker pots look fantastic. It looks so rustic and inviting

pretty tables

I'm liking these patchy tablecloths.. Very festive! Very cheerful! Very cool!

they remind me of these other cool indie tablecloths 

 

photo by Ruth Rackley via  Style Me Pretty

More indoor envy

This is a wedding from ages ago but it has always stuck in my mind..

Not so much because of the bride wearing a blue dress or the transgender groom, but becuase of the awesome reception venue. It's somewhere in Atlanta USA, but I really love the raw brick walls, the pillars, the exposed beams, the colourful deocrations and floorboards..

    

Photo by Our Labour of Love, seen at OffbeatBride and A Practical Wedding (can't remember which one first)

field of dreams

This reminds me a teeny tiny bit of my Grandparents farm in the Wheatbelt ... In reality none of their paddocks were as lush as this field..it was a lot drier and harsher than this.. but we still had some nice tea parties

   

image from {this is glamorous}

daytime picnic

This looks very inviting. I'd love to have a casual daytime picnic reception with cheerful colourful tables set up just like this. Colourful water jugs, light and breezy flowers, picnic table, fresh fruit.. whats not to love?

 

image from Loveology

And for another picnic fix, check out this super styling Aussie themed picnic!

Mis-matched chair love

I love this reception featured on The Brides Cafe.

Its not fussy or overdone.

I love the mis matched chairs, the simple decor and the colourful florals.

  

photo by Joel Flory