Catering Tips from Spoon Cuisine

Ok so the wedding is a year out and you're starting to plan for your big day. The best start is to go to www.hawkesbayweddings.co.nz to secure a venue and a good caterer. Things happen very quickly so the SOONER the better or you may miss out on your hearts desires.

Many caterers have websites with menus, costings, photos and even venues, so this is great opportunity to compare styles and budget to meet your needs. The average cost per person for a wedding reception meal ranges from $40-$90 per person depending on the numbers attending and the style of the wedding breakfast (the more guests - the better deal you're likely to get).

Choosing a Cake Decorator

First things first – make sure they are available for your wedding date.

Ask to see a portfolio of past wedding cakes – keeping in mind that each cake has usually been designed for the specific Bride & Groom- this will give you an idea if you like the decorators style.

Book a consultation to discuss your ideas

Request a tasting of some different cake flavours. (this could be teamed up with the consultation if you give them enough notice to get some baked).

The Ultimate Guide To Buying an Engagement Ring

By Heards Jewellers

Find the girl who is the “one.” Check. Ask her father for her hand in marriage. Check. Plan the perfect proposal. Check. Buy engagement ring. Hmmmm….. Buying an engagement ring can be an overwhelming task. There’s a lot of pressure on this purchase. It’s a symbol of your love for your girlfriend, and it’s a token of your willingness to take the relationship to the next level. Plus, it doesn’t help that your fiancé will be showing off the ring to her friends and family.

Finding a Celebrant.

Getting engaged can be one of the most exciting events of your life. Once that question has been popped it opens a flood gate of questions. When are we getting married? Where are we getting married? Who is going to be on the guest list? Where are we having the reception? What are we going to wear?..... The list can go on and on. Often we get caught up in all the questions and stress that we can often forget to enjoy this moment. Thankfully there is a website that is set up to help take some stress out of the planning. So grab yourself a coffee, sit back, trawl through the pages of advice and enjoy this time.

Wonderful Winter Weddings

Hawke's Bay is known for gorgeous weather, stunning vineyards and bountiful orchards; no surprise then it's a popular region for couples to tie the knot. Any Hawke's Bay event professional will tell you summer is 'wedding season'; venues are booked solid for the summer months, often years in advance. This has seen many couples opt for a less traditional but completely magical winter wedding.

The Impact of Flowers - Styling Hints from the Professionals.

Your dream day...your wedding...your vision being created by the wedding experts. Flowers are one of the most important visual elements of your wedding day... Courtesy of Christine Simpkin, Director of Flowers by Chilton.

Flowers are one of the most important visual elements of your wedding day, unrestrained by tradition, today's bride can carry a bouquet of the flowers she adores. Flowers contribute to the overall appearance of your wedding day and create a colourful, and often fragrant, impact. Attention to detail and consistency throughout the entire wedding will give the sense of quiet elegance. Before you do anything, decide on a colour scheme. The styling should flow effortlessly throughout the wedding entirely; from the gorgeous gowns and bouquets to the stationery, cake and reception/venue décor.

Buying an Engagement Ring - A Couples' Guide

Ah! the romance of the proposal, the flowers, the music, the candlelight, the bended knee and then at last, the climatical moment , he presents you with a magnificent diamond solitaire, the perfect engagement ring, the engagement ring of your dreams, a beautiful everlasting symbol of your commitment to each other...

Courtesy of Bruce Jackson, Director of Unio Goldsmiths and Gallery

A Girl's Guide

No?... Not quite? Worried it might not be like that?...What if he gets it wrong – it's traditional not contemporary; chain store; yellow gold not platinum and you wanted a blue diamond / white sapphires! How can you wear that for the rest of your life?! Worse, how can you tell him that it's not what you want?!

Let's face it girls, sometimes a man needs a little help, a little subtle female guidance. If "you've seen one jeweller, you've seen them all" is what he's thinking. Knowing what you want is one thing, but finding it, well that's something else again.