Bridal buzzNews, tips, and must-haves on the bridal scene

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Fake the CakeA gorgeous wedding cake can be the focus of a wedding reception venue. However, getting a cake that looks amazing, suits your theme, tastes great and isn’t too expensive is a difficult undertaking. Fake the Cake has come up with a solution: a fake cake that looks as good as a real one.

“Most brides want a statement cake and they can’t believe just how expensive real wedding cakes are when they ask around! We give them the opportunity to have the cake they want, but at a very affordable price,” says co-owner Sara Brand.

“Once you cut your fake cake, the reception staff take it to the kitchen where they serve a slab cake that the bride and groom have already organised in advance of their wedding. Icing can easily be made to match your fake cake and none of your guests will know.”

The company has recently launched a new Platinum Range, which showcases its top-of-the-range cakes. Most of the cakes are only between $199-$499 and can be posted anywhere in Australia. fakethecake.com.au

We’ll drink to thatPlanning a garden engagement party or wedding but don’t know where to start with the drinks? Liquid Entertainment is the ideal mobile beverage solution, catering for any type of location with excellent service to boot.

Managing director, Andrew Forster, says the company’s packages allow for specialised and high-quality choices.

“In my experience, the package at your average reception venue gets you some Tooheys and an average white. Anything extra costs you quite a bit more. Our entry-level packages include boutique and craft beers and excellent wines. We even have the capability to add in a cocktail hour.”

Liquid Entertainment’s comprehensive set-up includes a stainless-steel-and-glass-top bar, illuminated glass-door fridges and high-quality glassware. The team at CW would like a lychee Martini to start please!liquidentertainment.com.au

Fabulous FloWersYuga Floral Design by Setsuko (yugaflora.com.au) offers an excellent range of wedding flowers at reasonable prices.

Setsuko Yanagisawa has extensive experience and expertise in floral art, having trained in both Tokyo and Paris. Her team offers styles from European to minimal Japanese, from a single bouquet right through to many floral arrangements for a large-scale wedding.

In order to ensure couples find the right flowers for their day, Setsuko advises a free face-to-face consultation at her Glebe shop.

“Weddings are a special day for everyone. In order to make your day beautiful, clarify what you would like for your wedding flowers with colours, flowers and budget.”

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hit the right noteMusic should be an important part of your wedding theme as it entertains your guests and sets the scene for your day.

Melanie Cuthbertson is the musical director of Diamond Strings (diamondstrings.com.au), which provides both classical and popular string music for weddings. She says that live music completely changes the atmosphere

of a wedding ceremony.“A classical CD just isn’t the same. It is

more romantic and old-fashioned to have live music. I think it brings a sense of occasion; it is something special to do on a special day. As professional performers, we can also see what’s happening on the day and time everything perfectly.”

For her own wedding, Melanie matched music to her theme.

“I walked down the aisle to ‘Romance for Violin and Piano, Opus 28’ by Gabriel Fauré as I wanted something different. I was wearing a very romantic dress so French ballet music seemed appropriate.”

There are so many wonderful classical music options out there for your ceremony, but here are CW’s top-five favourites:

1 “Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi is a set of four violin concertos. The First Movement of “Spring” is most often played at weddings. It is a lively, happy piece, ideal for the end of the ceremony.

2 “The Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn makes for a grand bridal party entrance or exit and sounds wonderful on a church pipe organ.

3 “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel is a popular option for a string quartet and creates a beautiful, serene atmosphere.

4 Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” is so instantly recognisable that there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind it means “here comes the bride!”

5 “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saëns is not a common choice for weddings but it is the sort of music that gives you goosebumps when played live. Composed for cello and two pianos, it is slow, moving and utterly romantic.

Just our Cup oF teaThe Langham Sydney’s new afternoon tea wedding package is proving to be popular. The luxury boutique hotel launched the Happily Ever After-noon Tiffin Tea in February 2013 as the perfect daytime wedding option. The Langham’s opulent interiors, first-class service and beautiful details, such as the Rose Wedgwood tea stands, combine to make this an elegant way to wow your guests. It can be a cocktail or sit down-style event for up to 110 people in all of the hotel’s venue spaces. CW’s favourite is the Galileo Restaurant. With its rich wooden floors, antique furniture and original works of art, it has a distinctly European feel.sydney.langhamhotels.com.au

smile through a Wet Wedding If your wedding day turns out wet and windy, the last thing you need is for your umbrella to turn inside out and leave you drenched. Luckily, you can now be pre-pared for the worst weather with Blunt Um-brellas, a New Zealand company that has revolutionised umbrella design. The strong materials and innovative design result in an even distribution of tension throughout the umbrella to withstand the strongest winds (tested to 117km/hour). Best of all, they come in a range of fabulous bright colours. They come in three sizes and cost $69-$149. bluntumbrellas.com.au

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Wedding expos australiaGet lots of wedding ideas at Wedding Expos Australia (weddingexposaustralia.com). Admission is free and comes with a goody bag! 2014 dates and locations are:• February 23, Sydney City,

Stamford Plaza, Sydney Airport

• March 30, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse

• May 4, Wollongong, City Beach Function Centre

• June 22, The Hills, Castle Hill RSL Club

• August 31, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

• September 28, South-west Sydney, Liverpool Catholic Club

• October 26, Western Sydney, Penrith RSL Club

diamonds are ForeverIt’s no longer all about the solitaire ring or simple stud earrings when it comes to your wedding jewellery. Statement pieces are becoming more popular for Australian brides, according to AVA jewellers, which has seen a rise in interest for less-traditional-shaped engagement rings such as pear, marquise, oval and emerald cuts. AVA’s range of contemporary statement earrings, as shown, has also proved very popular. But one thing is for sure, diamonds are forever. June Madziar from AVA Jewellers says that to them, as diamond experts, nothing compares to the sparkling stone for commemorating special events.

“The quality of the stone is the essence of the ring and if you purchase the best diamond you can afford, you will never regret that decision. We make each ring with love and care. It will last a lifetime and then be passed on to the next generation.”

AVA Jewellers can design high-end rings unique to each customer and can incorporate diamonds from sentimental rings into the client’s chosen design. avajewellers.com.au

Custom-made aCCessoriesLobelia Couture now offers a stunning accessory range that complements its bridal collection, including headpieces, cuffs and shoe customisations. Each accessory can be custom-made to suit the bride’s gown.

Every Lobelia gown is made on site to the highest quality, using traditional couture methods. The gowns are designed in collaboration with designer Christina Argyrakis to reflect not only the bride’s style, but also to complement her figure.

“For most girls, there’ll never be a gown that holds more significance to her than her wedding gown. At Lobelia Couture, we consider it a privilege to be part of the process to bring the dream of an amazing dress to life,” says Christina. lobeliacouture.com

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diY Wedding helpStyling the reception venue yourself ? The Wedding Carousel is designed to help creative brides looking to save on cost without compromising style and quality. The website brings together both new and pre-loved items from past brides and industry suppliers for brides-to-be to incorporate into their wedding day whether working towards a particular wedding theme or to a tight budget. Items include tablecloths, vases, champagne glasses and more.theweddingcarousel.com.au

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COMPLETE BRIDAL BUZZ