Unbridely - Modern Wedding Planning

If you had a dollar for every time your family or friends asked, 'What’s the dress code?' or ‘Can I bring a +1’ you’d have enough to pay for the open bar. But seriously, there’s a way to cut the volume of those repeat questions pretty much in half. So before you hit the 'delete guest list' button, consider this: your wedding website is like your very own virtual assistant, and...

What would you do if you didn’t receive your wedding photo gallery? As weeks turn to months after your wedding day and you still haven’t gotten your wedding photos, it can start to feel like your memories are being held hostage. And that’s when the panic can set in. Did your photographer lose your photos? Were their SD card/s damaged? Why are they still posting other couple’s photos on socials? Yo...

Imagine this: You find, trust, book in and pay for a vendor for your wedding mainly because they’ve won every wedding award out there, only to find out later (when it’s too late)… that they actually paid for those awards, or aren’t as experienced or talented as you presumed, or, and this is surely worst, they can’t even deliver what you actually need. Could this ever happen? So today, I’m going to...

Have you ever imagined ditching the rules and the guest list and simply escaping to a hidden gem to exchange your vows, just the two of you? Jenny Mac, founder of Eloping Is Fun, curates extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime adventures in New York City for couples from all over the world.  But she’s not interested in following tradition or making the experience like a mini wedding day, she challenges t...

What’s sweeter than saying ‘I do’?  Saying ‘we do’—to your new blended family!  If you’re scratching your head trying to figure out how to involve your kids or stepkids in your wedding ceremony while steering clear of the more cliché rituals, you’re in for a treat. I've found 8 creative, symbolic, and yes, even delicious ways to celebrate your blood, or found, family in your special day. So i...

What do you think your wedding dress will be worth after your wedding day? You might be surprised to hear that you can be the life of the party, stains and all and still have a pristine wedding gown for the future. Whether it's a sentimental keepsake, a family heirloom in the making, or something you plan to sell or donate later on, the real value of your gown depends on how well you take car...

Picture this. It's your wedding day, the moment you've been planning for months and maybe even years. The morning has gone smoothly, energy is high, and your guests would have just started to arrive at your venue about now.  But as you're getting into the car to go to your ceremony, a button falls off, your veil rips, maybe you start sweating like you've never sweated before, o...

What’s your idea of the perfect honeymoon? Is it at a beachside location or exploring somewhere exotic and remote? Are you on a premium river or canal cruise through Europe, or are you reclining in opulence at one of the most exclusive hotels in the world?  And what if it only cost you a fraction of the price it should, or even better, nothing at all? Crazy right? Elliot from Hack My Honeymoon say...

This week marks an exciting personal milestone for me as an Australian marriage celebrant; conducting the ceremony to get my 1000th couple married.  I’d love to share some profound insights about love, relationships, and marriage that I’ve gleaned along the way. And so I’ll be unpacking some of my realisations, and discussing the complexities behind the public displays of love and commitment. Plus...

Are lab grown diamonds the future of engagement rings or are they just fakes? According to The Knot’s 2023 Real Weddings Study who surveyed nearly 10,000 US couples, diamonds remain the most popular choice for engagement rings, garnering 85% of purchases. But with more couples becoming conscious of the ethics, politics and the market and environmental costs surrounding natural mined diamonds, lab-...

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending The Manor Basket Range Open Day in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, and let me tell you, it was such an inspiring experience. Seeing so many engaged couples exploring, chatting with vendors, and just soaking in all the possibilities for their big day got me thinking: there are some very real, tangible benefits to attending these kinds of events that goes wel...

Do you remember being invited to a wedding as a kid?  I absolutely do.  There was a big focus on choosing the right clothes, ironing clothes, getting dressed without creasing the clothes and attempting to stay like that before we all left the house.  I was told to mind my manners.  And it was good etiquette to tell the bride that she looked beautiful.  And after that? To be seen and not heard.  Gr...

I’m celebrating some huge milestones this year. There’s our 10 year wedding anniversary last week and my 50th birthday. My 1000th couple getting married will be in about 6 weeks time and today, when this episode is published marks my 16th anniversary as an authorised Commonwealth marriage celebrant. Today I’m sharing with you 16 of the most valuable lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way to help y...

Can you remember a time when you felt left out of a group? Maybe your friends got together and you weren’t invited, but then you saw them post a photo on socials, or you weren’t chosen for a sporting team or a project even though you know you would’ve been brilliant. It stung, didn’t it? As simplistic as it is, inclusivity in weddings can be as easy as allowing everyone to feel seen, valued and we...

Has someone said this to you yet? Our family doesn’t have kid-free weddings, You have to invite all of your Aunties and Uncles, or It’s not a real wedding without a sit-down dinner, open bar, DJ etc. At the end of the day, as long as you and your fiancé are happy, what do the opinions of others matter anyway? I think it matters a lot.  So if you’re avoiding conflict or feel like you’re being pulle...

This is Part 2 of multi-national award-winning hair and makeup artist Gaetana Marjas’ interview about some of the hot topics that come up with wedding beauty both in the lead-up and on the day.  If you missed Part 1, Gaetana taught you about:  her recommended timing for skin care treatments leading up to your wedding,  how to address your specific skin-type concerns,  common mistakes that people m...

Have you considered that anywhere up to 99% of your wedding photos will feature your gorgeous face? So while your venue choice is important and your outfit and flowers can add real impact, if your hair and makeup are important to you, it’s time to make it a priority.  Gaetana Marjas is an experienced, trusted and sought-after hair and makeup artist based in Adelaide South Australia and today she i...

There is, almost always, one partner who takes on the lion’s share of the wedding planning, the one who loves coordinating and researching, and then there’s the other partner who.. let’s just say they aren’t across what’s going on.  Today I’m talking to the totally willing and absolutely eager partner who perhaps is missing the organisation and planning gene and is more than happy to leave it to t...

Are you quirky, funny, adventurous, nervous about public speaking, cheeky or shy? Because, just like when you’re hungry, you might be craving a multi-course feast, a toasted sandwich or just a cookie, your wedding vows can be as elaborate or straightforward, as romantic and soppy or practical, as you like as long as they suit your taste. So while many engaged couples are concerned with writing the...

If I have to read or hear about yet another entitled bride bitching and moaning about how her bridesmaids don’t like the style of dress she’s chosen for them, or the colour, how much skin it shows, or they haven’t ordered them when she told them to, I’m going to scream.  While I’ll always be an advocate for you to have whatever the hell you want for your wedding and I would never say that all trad...

Want to feel empowered, sexy, and celebrate your upcoming wedding in style? One of the most personal, unexpected, intimate, exciting and never to be repeated gifts you can possibly give your future husband, wife, spouse or partner in marriage (and YOU) is a boudoir photography session.  Boudoir photography has shifted and evolved a lot in the last few years and Marie from You. by Lifesketch is goi...

If you’re feeling drained, like no matter how much sleep you get, you're still exhausted. Like the excitement from your engagement seems to have disappeared, leaving you feeling disillusioned or just wanting for it all to be over. Maybe you’re noticing more tension in your relationships. Little wedding issues are turning into big arguments with your fiancé. If any of this sounds familiar, you...

What are your wedding memories worth to you? One of the most frequently asked questions that I hear is, how can I easily and securely collect and save the photos that my guests take in the leadup and on my wedding day? Some people use Facebook groups, but then others won’t go near Facebook, others will use Dropbox, but then realise too late that they’ve run out of storage. And please rest assured...

There are 3 big roles in your wedding which, should you have some strength or previous experience, you may choose to do all by yourself.  And they are wedding planner, wedding stylist and wedding coordinator.  But for those without the personality type, skills, connections, time and energy, taking on these responsibilities can seriously affect how you enjoy the lead-up to your wedding, your stress...

While in the past, a woman changing her last name to adopt her husband’s surname after getting married was expected in many countries and cultures, it’s not the case any more.  Many of the couples I marry want to know how to make a decision on whether or not to change their last name or names and what it means for their career, family life, their parents and their identity.  In this episode, you’l...