A Summer Picnic Wedding

Fount It!

2011-07-31T10:58:00.003+09:30

Hi Guys,

I have started a new design blog. I may still occassionally post bits and pieces of weddings on there but for more wedding inspiration that I constantly update visit my pinterest

One Year Today

2011-01-30T19:49:00.002+10:30

Today is our One year Anniversary. Thank God it wasn't as hot last year as it was today! 43 degrees is not a nice temperature to get married in! But we braved the heat and headed up to Hahndorf (a small German settlement) for so lovely lunch. But alas, the heat overcame us and we retreated home to sit in the air conditioning and watch cheesy movies.

I can't believe it has already been one year! It has gone so quickly and I have loved every second of it! I love my husband so much and I can't wait to spend many many more years with him by my side.

Who said getting older wasn't fun!

2011-01-30T19:28:00.007+10:30

Yesterday we had my sister in law's thirtieth birthday party. A Hawaiian Luau! So we all donned our tacky Hawaiian shirts and plastic flowers and lay around in the sun drinking coronas eating fresh hot sausages off the barbie and having huge water fights. A Perfect summers day!

Australia Day

2011-01-27T20:21:00.004+10:30

I love Australia Day. Its all about friends, food and sun. And with this year's public holiday falling on a Wednesday (and so having to work the next day), I couldn't think of any better way of spending the day than sitting on a beach relaxing.

A Type of Love

2011-01-12T21:46:00.003+10:30

If i wasn't going to be an interior designer, I would have become a graphic designer, because typography makes me smile. It gives me that excited feeling of when you fall in love at first sight. I recently purchased these prints through Made by Girl

And I, myself am currently working on a couple of typography prints to give to my husband for our first wedding anniversary (paper). Check out Mary&Gabrielle blog for my current inspiration for the project!

New Year...New You

2011-01-02T18:18:00.002+10:30

The past few months have been quite hard. I think sometimes life gets to a point where you feel like everything is going wrong and you are forced to reset and start again, and as the same for many people, the New Year is my chance to reset and get back in control of my life and work towards a happier me.Jarrod and I met up with his family on the beach today. A perfect temperature and you could have mistaken Henley Beach for being a tropical island the water was so clear and blue. What a great start to the new year.

The Pen Life

2010-10-10T14:23:00.003+10:30

Now its not too often that I think a video is amazingly done, but this is incredible. I could imagine doing something like this for a music video or even a Save the Date or Thank you Video for a wedding. Its all done in stop motion. Have a look and watch the whole thing because, its just Great! Thank you Fort&Field for sharing...

GO HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Down at the bottom of the Forest with the Fairies...

2010-09-21T18:53:00.004+09:30

I adore this signing table. I have always loved earthy weddings - timbers, hessian, terracotta pots, twine, ferns, moss, black boards, brown paper and vegetables. If I could get married all over again this would be my main inspiration image and the location where this wedding took place would be perfect. Down at the bottom of the garden with the fairies...
view more of this quirky wedding here

So he lost it...

2010-09-05T09:29:00.006+09:30

Yep, 8 months in and Jarrod's already lost his wedding ring. I told him, 'if you keep taking it off you'll lose it!"....and he did....Men! HA! When I lost my ring in the car once I was freaking out trying to frantically find it, and although I know he is really cut up about it but it doesnt seem to phase him as much as I thought it would. Is it just a man thing? That wedding rings are just rings? I know some married men who don't wear their wedding rings, some because they work as labourers and some because it feels weird. How do you feel about your man wearing a wedding ring?

More Summer Picnic Wedding Photos

2010-08-28T09:41:00.003+09:30

I thought I should hurry up and get all our favourite wedding photos up because for too long I have kept them from you. There are A LOT. Here are some from the Bridal Party shoot.

SMILE!

2010-08-23T08:12:00.003+09:30

Some of my favourite photo booth photos from our wedding...

Getting ready - The Girls

2010-07-06T11:34:00.006+09:30

I remember perfectly how I felt that morning as I met up with my three beautiful bridesmaids for breakfast. i would be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous with excitement, but I was mostly calm. Jarrod and I saw it as just another day on which we just happened to be getting married and having the biggest party of our lives! You see, Jarrod and I have always been a casual, relaxed and social couple and we both knew that the day was going to reflect exactly who we were.
One of my favourite photos is of my Grandma timidly watching us getting ready from the doorway. She kept asking me if I was sure she should be there because it was such an honour to her to be a part of our day.
The perfume I wore was Must De Cartier by Cartier which was the perfume my mother used to wear. When she passed away a few years ago I found just enough of it left in her old bottle and I knew I would remember her by wearing it on my wedding day.
My Dress was a one off design by amazing Adelaide based designer Lixa Emanuel. The dress was a milk coloured tulle with intricate French beading around the bodice which I got to pick. The 'bling' shoes as I call them were from Gary Castle.
Make sure you head over to Mary and Gabrielle to see some photos from the ceremony.

So much going on!

2010-07-01T20:39:00.004+09:30

Wow! I have to say this is all very surreal. Not only am I seeing my husband's and my face in my favourite wedding magazine, but I'm now seeing our faces on one of my favourite blogs! 100 Layer cake have just posted about our wedding on their site... Crazy. When I decided that I wanted to design and style weddings and start up a business, most of my friends and family thought that it was just "another one of Gabrielle's big dreams" and it is only because of the support and shared passion from Mary that this dream is now unfolding into reality. We cant wait to share our visions and style with everyone and hopefully inspire a more creative wedding market in Adelaide and perhaps push new boundaries in events throughout Australia.
Make sure you visit me here at A Summer Picnic Wedding over the weekend, because alongside Mary&Gabrielle's series of posts on our wedding (going from getting ready to the details of the reception), I will be making more personal accounts of the day and sharing with you the details and stories that Jarrod and I felt really made the day ours.

x

Some travel photos...

2010-06-29T20:05:00.003+09:30

1&2 London and Sommerset, England
3 Paris, France
4&5 Paris, Latin Quarter, France
6&7 Antibes, South of France
8&9 Rome, Italy

Salt Harbor Designs

2010-06-29T19:35:00.003+09:30

This is such a beautiful set up by Salt Harbor Designs. But make sure you head over to M&G to have a look at the amazing baby shower Mary did, it has some of the most incredible floral arrangements I have seen in a very long time!

Colouring my life

2010-06-26T04:40:00.007+09:30

I'm all jet lagged. I hate it. Its 4am and I have been awake for a couple of hours now dreaming about all the wonderful things I could have if money grew on trees. I've been dreaming about the direction I want to take the design on our home. We have some money aside that people gave us as gifts for our wedding and we have decided that we are going to put it towards and new dining room setting. After much research on my behalf, going from Eames Eiffel bases with a vintage table, to stock standard IKEA settings, Jarrod and I have finally agreed on a setting style that will reflect who we are.Different coloured Thornet Bentwood chairs with arm chairs at either end of a worn oak table. And I feel that it is the perfect inspiration for the future design development of our home.first image from here
other images from here

Back from the Honeymoon!

2010-06-24T17:19:00.004+09:30

What a trip! I cant wait to post some of the photos. But that can wait. Right now I have more exciting news...Very very soon (any day now) we will start posting on Mary&Gabrielle pictures from Jarrod and my wedding. But because there are so many, it will probably have to be done in a series starting with us getting ready and so on. Also, more exciting news, 100 Layer Cake will be posting about the wedding on their blog too (one of my very favourite for inspiration), so stay tuned to their blog also! And if you don't already know, the Wedding Style Guide's newest issue is out! It is a very surreal feeling seeing yourself in a magazine... strange.

Couldnt resist

2010-06-05T08:18:00.003+09:30

I couldnt resist but leave you with one last amazing table setting before I jump on a plane today to Europe. We are ending our trip in Rome and thought this Rustic Italian setup (with a make it yourself Martini bar!) by Sunday Supper would be a perfect way to leave the blog for three long weeks.

x

Honeymooners

2010-06-04T22:04:00.003+09:30

Tomorrow Jarrod and I finally begin our honeymoon! First stop London to see my family who couldn't make it to the wedding and to catch up with some of our ex-pat friends, I cant wait to go on my Soho shopping spree! I have been saving for ages to do this! We are in London for 5 days, 2 of which are in the lovely country setting of Sommerset to see my Granny. Then we hop on a train and head to Paris for three romantic nights then we fly down to Nice where we will hire a car, and drive for 1 and a half hours west to Feyance in the picturesque hills of the Provence where we will spend 4 glorious days lying by the pool in the most beautiful house all by ourselves. Got to love having the kindest most generous family friends lending us their holiday house! Then from there we fly to Rome for the last three nights of our trip then head home to reality. Cant wait to lose ourselves in Europe for a while!

See you all soon!

Oh and keep a look out for us in Wedding Style Guide!

x

A Summer Picnic Wedding

2010-06-01T21:45:00.002+09:30

The weather was a perfect 36 degrees, maybe a little too hot to be driven to your wedding in a vintage Buick with no air conditioning, but no body seemed to mind while they sipped on pimms cocktails (except for the hydrangeas in my hair).

A Summer Picnic Wedding

2010-05-23T10:52:00.004+09:30

Only a couple of weeks until the Winter issue of Wedding Style guide comes out with our wedding in it! Its so exciting! I cant wait for you to all be able to see it finally! It has been killing me not being able to show you the photos and descibe exctly the feel and nature of the wedding but only a couple of weeks left so hold on! Gosh I miss our wedding! It was so much fun!

I do need to apologise

2010-05-17T19:29:00.002+09:30

I have neglected my blog yet again.

Now I don't know if it is the weather, or something in the Adelaide water, but I have been quite unmotivated lately. After slaving away at work I barely have enough energy to change the channel on the TV remote. Don't get me wrong I am LOVING work at the moment. I have designed 2 schools, 2 offices and a waterfront restaurant and all in 5 months and am excited that I am gaining my bosses trust in my designs (which is hard to do when you are new to a firm no matter what you have done in the past). I am just in one of those phases where I feel quite run down all the time and it is rather annoying!

There is so much to do for Mary&Gabrielle, Mary has been wonderful in keeping our blog afloat! I have been trying to get all our quotes right and figuring out our GST calcs and how we keep our records and I am now trying to get together our business plan which we really should have done months ago. Its all very excited that things are coming together and we have got some great clients on the books already!

So now, from today, I need to get motivated again, get inspired again and get back to my life again! I only have 3 weeks till my honeymoon in Europe so there is no excuse to squeeze the last remaining energy I have left and get fit healthy and motivated!

Hope you are all well!

x

Oh My!

2010-04-22T20:55:00.005+09:30

You must head over Martha Stewart to look at the fun, colourful and quirky wedding of Joo and Jacob! Here are a few of my favorites...
The gorgeous stationery was done by the wonderful The Indigo Bunting and the Event design by Kelly from Yes, Please Design. The venue for the reception was held at one of my favourite (and it's eco friendly) Smog Shoppe in LA. If you want to see the creative processes of the stationery and event design head over to The Bride's Guide.
Images via Once Wed

Thank You!

2010-04-18T10:08:00.004+09:30

Finally! The thank you cards are done and out in the mail! I'm really happy with them and it is the last piece of stationery for the wedding and now I can focus on other peoples stationery designs.
Photos of the thank you cards are over at Mary&Gabrielle.

The Look I'm Loving

2010-04-13T20:55:00.004+09:30

So winter is almost here! Its getting colder and I'm finding it harder to wake up while I'm all warm in bed with my husband in one arm and my cat cuddled in the other.

I have been having a flick through some blogs to get some inspiration for my new winter wardrobe (which I haven't changed in quite a few years!) and I am loving the long jackets and denim with big statement scarves and black tights and heeled boots. I love these two ladies' looks...What are you loving in fashion at the moment?

left: The Sartorialist
right: A Cup of Jo

Just Peachy!

2010-04-10T12:19:00.002+09:30

Style me Pretty a little while ago posted this gorgeous table setting by Carter & Cook Event Co. and I absolutely LOVE it. It is very girly, and I am not normally a fan of peach, but they have used peach in such a beautiful way, especially taking it literally with the peaches as centerpieces.

Thank You!

2010-04-08T22:00:00.004+09:30

So we are almost finished our thank you cards! Slack I know! because its been months since the wedding, but we had to wait for the photos and then finalise the gift registry then blah blah blah there are a whole list of excuses that aren't very good! BUT! They are a weekend away from having the envelope stickers and thank you cards fully printed, then all being tied with twine, and slipped in the post.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T10:49:00.004+09:30

What a gorgeous day it is in Adelaide today. The sun is shining the temperature is perfect and its Easter Sunday which meant a nice long sleep in this morning followed by a surprise breakfast for Jarrod on our balcony, fresh hot omelets with prosciutto, mushrooms, red onion, vintage cheddar and baby spinach and a little fruit salad with lemon juice and a yogurt to finish. He then surprised me with an Easter egg hunt! My favourite! I'm still trying to find the last 4.

In celebration of this lovely occasion called Easter, here is a gorgeous engagement photo shoot by Galaxie Andrews I found on Green Wedding Shoes.

Pretty Pretty Flowers

2010-04-02T21:38:00.004+10:30

Here are some beautiful vibrant blooms that are tingling my colour senses at the moment. I LOVE eat drink chic and I these are the blooms her and her mother were experimenting with for her engagement party. Cant wait to see what she does!
Also, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter! I spend my Good Friday sitting in the Botanic Park with three of my close friends and a yummy picnic of cheese, salad, champagne and mars bar slice.

Check out the details!

2010-03-23T21:02:00.002+10:30

Head on over to a blog by mary&gabrielle and check out the details of the wedding that goes with this wonderful invitation!

Sneak Peek

2010-03-18T13:18:00.003+10:30

I thought I would give you all a sneek peek of the photo booth we set up at our wedding. I LOVE this photo of us! Shona took it with her iphone using the hipstamatic ap.

I'm about to burst with excitement!!

2010-03-16T19:33:00.006+10:30

Jarrod and My wedding is going to be published in Wedding Style Guide in June (as you may know) and they sent me a list of the photographs they are using....TWENTY EIGHT! Its going to be a massive 6 page spread apparently! Its so very exciting, even Jarrod jumped up and down.! So make sure you all rush out to get your issue in June to see some of the first pictures! Because I wont be posting my selection of the photos till its out!

x

I am moving..

2010-03-07T15:34:00.004+10:30

So this blog has given me a good run, but it is time to move on to bigger and better things. Finally Events by Mary and Gabrielle will be launching this Wednesday and with that comes a new website and a new blog. It will be much the same as this blog only much much better with more inspiration images, articles, interviews, new weeklys such as Foodie Fridays (which you cannot miss how tasty its going to be)and new Stationery Sundays! So please add the blog to your favourites once again! x

oh and PS, photos from my wedding will be posted very VERY soon! So keep reading Mary and Gabrielle!

I wish I lived here

2010-03-01T15:14:00.004+10:30

How nice it would be to sit outside on a clear winters night all rugged up with friends, red wine, good food and lots of candles. I'm looking forward to winter in some ways, the beach is at its nicest on a cold winter day when all the dark greens and gray blues come out. I will miss summer though.

More Simply Bloom

2010-02-20T12:29:00.002+10:30

I'm really loving the photography of Vania and Christine from Simply Bloom at the moment. Their photos are so delicate and whimsy and I always find myself daydreaming of how the events they photographed played out.

And once again, I am obsessing about a rustic turquoise theme.

A backyard cheese party

2010-02-16T07:06:00.005+10:30

On the weekend, I went to the engagement party of one of my bridesmaids. It was such a lovely relaxed atmosphere in her backyard with touches of yellow and lots of cheese! Even the cake was made of cheese! The weather was balmy and the wine was flowing and did I mention lots of cheese! Some of the most incredible cheese I have tasted!

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T09:56:00.007+10:30

Normally Jarrod and I don't really do the whole Valentines thing, but we figured seeing as it is our first one as a married couple we would do something. So I have a fancy lunch prepared for him today and he is taking me out to dinner and a movie. Do you celebrate Valentines Day? Do you go all out? or are you one of those people that think it's just another day designed for spending a lot of money?

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day and that it is full of love and laughter x

photography by Max Wagner

Inspirational Interiors

2010-02-12T15:21:00.007+10:30

I came across this article from the cool hunter and was mesmerised by the life that this interior brings. The crisp white is softened with the geometric layering of the ceiling panels and given an energetic lift with the greenery. The life that plants bring into interior spaces is still greatly underestimated.
This venue would make a wonderful setting for a classy summer lunch time event and early evening. With cucumber sandwiches and martinis, succulents, white Singapore orchids and maybe the occasional birds of paradise. One day... one day when I'm a successful and rich event designer (ha!) I will design and build an event venue just like this with a large timber deck overlooking the water.

Simplebloom photo shoot

2010-02-07T10:17:00.004+10:30

There is something so beautiful about light turquoise in a vintage setting. Its such a delicate colour. I would love to do a rustic wedding with light turquoise, lace and twine out in the country with hay bale chairs and calico table cloths. This photo shoot by SimpleBloom is so beautifully inspiring.

Gift Etiquette

2010-02-06T15:16:00.005+10:30

Something that has kind of irked me going through all of our amazing and generous wedding gifts, is that one of my very good and long time friends didn't get us anything not even a card. Now I don't know if I am just being silly (and tell me if I am) but to me when you get the honour of being invited to a wedding and the couple and their families spend a lot of money for you to be there, it is just polite to bring the couple a gift or even just something as simple as a card. I wouldn't dream of going to a wedding or even a birthday party for that matter, without bringing something. I should also mention that I don't apply this to the people who have to travel to be at a wedding! That is an amazing gift in itself really.

Another question that seems to come up quite often in my circle of friends (seeing as there are so many weddings at the moment) is what is a good amount of money to spend on an engagement or wedding present? Its a tough one really. Thoughts?

Mrs Walsh... sounds strange!

2010-02-03T13:48:00.002+10:30

SO We're Married!

It was the most amazing and perfect day! Even everything that didn't go to plan made it amazing, my dad stepped and almost tripped on my dress as he was walking to his seat, Jarrod almost put HIS wedding ring on my finger instead of mine and the music for our first dance didn't work so we had fun and just made the most of a bad situation and danced like idiots (at one stage Jarrod was dancing on his knees). I wish I could show you all my photos right now, but with any luck the wedding will hopefully make it into Wedding Style Guide and so I must be discreet with my photos till then. However you will not be disappointed! The wait will be worth it! I promise!

Off on my Pamper day.

2010-01-27T07:06:00.002+10:30

Up at 5:30 this morning, couldn't sleep because I was trying to remember everything I have to do today. HA! I have to do stuff on my Pamper day. This is exactly what I didn't want but ah well you do what you gotta do and its all worth it in the end.

So I am starting with getting my hair cut and coloured, then getting a lovely massage, then meeting Jarrod's sister to get a pedicure and manicure followed by my last (and I am sure hardest) personal training session. I am certain I have shed a couple of kilos from stress this week!

Let me also just say, that I don't know what I would do without Mary (partner in crime), wedding planners are a NECESSITY! I just don't know how other brides do it themselves! I do admit though that I am doing A LOT of little detail through out this wedding that is making it all the more complicated.

sorry about the lack of beautiful images! I promise I'll post some tomorrow.

What a week so far!

2010-01-26T08:41:00.003+10:30

And its only just started!

Yesterday I was at the airport at 8am to pick up my maid of honour and her partner, but on the way almost ran out of petrol (which is one of my biggest fears for some reason), then I had to rush to drop them back at my place, rush to Jarrod's mum's house to pick her up at 9am and take her to the venue (45 mins away) by 9.30 to have a meeting with the venue managers to discuss the final details with them. Then I had to rush back to drop her off home (almost running out of petrol again) quickly pick up my maid of honour, take her to her hotel in the city, then rush to meet my dad and grandma at the airport at 12.30. It doesn't stop there.

Then I had to pick up my dress on the way, take my dad and grandma to their hotel back in the city where I did get to relax for a couple of hours, tried on the dress (LOVE) ate some food because I hadn't eaten all day and spent time with my grandma who I hadn't seen in 2 years (lives in England). BUT then I had to quickly zoom off to meet my maid of honour to get her shoes that I put on hold, which to my frustration the shop had decided to take them off hold and sell them! SO now she has different shoes eek!

F*** it no time to panic. Then I had to drive down to the beach to pick up my real (biological dad) and step mum who are down from England to take them back to my house in time for the wedding rehearsal at 6. Everyone made it on time, except my step dad (who raised me since I was one so he's walking me down the aisle), brother, and grandma. Why? Because my brothers car decides to shit itself in the middle of town and they had to wait for the car people to come fix it. ARG!

In the end (and no hair on my head later) they all arrived, we ran through their bits of the wedding and all went and had pizza.

Last night after the rehearsal my step mother had to tell me that I need to stop trying to run around pleasing everyone otherwise I wont please anyone and I'll burn out by the time of the wedding. She's right. It has been such a stressful and rushed couple of days, trying to pick people up from the airport on time, getting to vendor meetings on time and finishing all the little bits and bobs I need to do. And although I am pulling my hair out that today is a public holiday for Australia Day and all the shops are closed, it is really a blessing in disguise because it means I can relax for the day with Jarrod and spend some time with him getting those little bits and bobs done.

relax Gabi. x

Sunday Supper Cheese Table

2010-01-19T08:03:00.005+10:30

I do regret the summers here in Adelaide being so hot, because it has denied me one of the things I was most excited to have at our wedding... a cheese table. So instead of bathing in the glory of my own cheese table, i'll just drool over everyone else's.

Cheese Table by Sunday Supper found via 100 Layer Cake

Here it is...

2010-01-14T22:09:00.006+10:30

Mary and Gabrielle's first event!
Held at the picturesque Carrack Hill in Adelaide, the look and feel that Mary wanted for her wedding was whimsical and eclectic yet classy and romantic. I think the wedding suited her to a 'T' and reflected her and Hamish's soft and lovable nature. It was such a wonderful day and not a thing went wrong. We hope you enjoy. x

Unfortunately I cant find my piece of paper with all the vendors on it so I will have to add them later. But they were all fantastic.

Mary and Hamish

2010-01-14T07:13:00.001+10:30

I know I know! I have been so slack with getting Mary's wedding photos up, but the wait will be worth it! I promise I'll do it tonight! x

Toast! to the future bride and groom!

2010-01-12T21:01:00.003+10:30

Wow! Two more friends of mine got engaged in the last month, so so SO exciting for them both. My bridesmaid being one of them is one of the most creative people I know and I had to show you her wonderful engagement invitations...
How cute is the butter!!

Loverly Lollies!

2010-01-06T20:38:00.003+10:30

SO! Ta Da! I decided to take all of your opinions and go with multicoloured lollies! I am very excited indeed! So excited that I think I may have gone over the top. I have bought so many lollies its almost silly, and the lollies in the picture are only half of them! So I'm sure I will have enough for 130 people.

PS Good news, Mary has sent over her amazing wedding photos and I will hopefully get to post them tomorrow night!

4 weeks and counting!

2010-01-03T09:10:00.004+10:30

I do need to apologise for my lack of posting. I get married in 4 weeks from yesterday and you can imagine with Christmas, work and New Years, things are pretty crazy around here! Hopefully I will have the Images of Mary's wedding to show you in next few days. Hope you all had an amazing Christmas and New Year!

image via Cherry Blossom Girl

Sneak Peek...Mary and Hamish

2009-12-23T14:29:00.002+10:30

Next week I am excited to say that Mary has given the all clear to post her wedding photos. The first of Mary & Gabrielle Events!

Candy Buffet...

2009-12-22T21:11:00.004+10:30

Today I thought I would take the time to go to a wholesalers to look for sweets for our candy buffet, but when I got there I freaked out and realised I had no idea what I wanted... Do I go one colour?

Do I go a couple of colours? Or do I go multicoloured?! arg! So I guess I am asking for some suggestions, most of you know the style and colours of my wedding (if not look here) and I am hoping that I will find some sort of inspiration/direction from your thoughts.

candy buffets by Amy Atlas (love)

Look what I found today...

2009-12-21T15:25:00.004+10:30

Remember this image... well I went on a mission to find myself two old white wooden chairs, for our signing table and look what I found.
I love them, although one of them needs a bit of strengthening because I think as soon as one of us sit on it, it will most likely collapse.. and wouldn't that make for interesting wedding photos!

Snow and Bows

2009-12-18T21:26:00.004+10:30

Even though I'm rather an anti-winter/cold weather person, I do love the snow. Take a look at these engagement photos by Open Air Photography. How can you not love the snow when photos like these come out!

Another year, another birthday.

2009-12-12T16:45:00.003+10:30

Well, today I'm 24.

It seems like only last year I was leaving home at 18 to study and suddenly six years have gone by! I've finished four years of study and got honours, I met the man who I will spend the rest of my life with, My mum passed away, I've gotten engaged, I've been to Melbourne and back to work, I been through three jobs in the past three years and I'm getting married in 7 weeks. It seems like I have been through a lifetime in the six fastest years of my life (not that I have really lived many years)!

So far I have had a wonderful day shopping, eating and relaxing with Jarrod and now we're listening to Jason Mraz' live album (such a great summer album) and about to open a bottle of South Australian Riesling and sit outside on my new outdoor setting. This is the life. I have it all, and I'm only 24.

x

image from here

Quirky box ideas..

2009-12-10T09:52:00.003+10:30

I just posted about some unique branding and interior design over on quirky bird and posted this image which to me shouts out great inspiration for wedding favours or escort cards. You could collect different papers to match your colour theme and wrap up blocks of chocolates and as a little treat!

Save the date with scrabble...

2009-12-05T15:15:00.005+10:30

Don't you hate finding brilliant ideas and thinking, why didn't i come up with that!? Well I am having one of those moments with these save the date images by He & She Photography. They capture such a fun and relaxed mood and you can tell their wedding is going to be the same! Can't wait for their wedding images to surface around blog world in the near future.

Bringing the inside out is a magical thing

2009-12-03T21:27:00.003+10:30

Seeing as you all loved the idea of bringing a chaise lounge outside, I thought you would love this image. What a fabulous idea for the signing table! hmmm wonder if I will find some cheap second hand furniture on my weekend travels around the Port...

Image via Style Me Pretty
Photography by Millie Holloman Photography
Styling by Salt Harbor Designs

Wedding Style Guide

2009-12-02T08:27:00.004+10:30

I will always sing Wedding Style Guide's praise. It is so great to see a wedding magazine that seeks to publish weddings that have personality and individuality. And it is great to see that they are not afraid to publish weddings and bits and pieces from around the US (seeing as they do lead the way in the wedding industry). So, I am off to buy the latest issue to see what goodies I can find!

Oh and in the last issue they did an article on wedding planners and why they come in handy and I noticed they didn't showcase any Adelaide wedding stylists/planners. Hopefully next time they run a similar article, Mary&Gabrielle (events) will be there!

Photo booth

2009-11-25T07:11:00.003+10:30

A friend who I used to be at school with recently got married and I loved the little photo booth she set up. So simple, so effective!

Attn Brides to Be

2009-11-23T22:50:00.006+10:30

I have had a few of you email me with your ideas for your weddings and I LOVE hearing from you! Please PLEASE email me and let me know your plans, I would love to have a chat with you about your ideas and hopefully bounce some more around and get each other inspired.
Email me at gabrielle.goodman@hotmail.com. I find it so exciting hearing about all of your little unique ideas that will make your wedding yours x

image by cinco de kinko flikr via Rock 'n Roll Bride

Chaise Lounges make for perfect pictures

2009-11-21T09:11:00.002+10:30

I love this. I wish I had the finances to get a chaise lounge and put it in the middle of the lawn. I know there is one place that hires them out, but I cant justify $300 for a chair. hmmm Picnic rugs and deck chairs it is!

summer blooms

2009-11-20T18:36:00.003+10:30

I love these flowers, the colours, the fresh summer feeling. I'm sure Sally from Poppies will make mine look as flawless as these.
photography by the nichols

I wish I was a photographer/stylist

2009-11-19T21:59:00.004+10:30

So I could take amazing photographs like these...
I have to say that Leslie who does the Colour Me Pretty section over at decor8 is fabulous at what she does. I would love to be able to set up images like these, all I need is to get my hands on some great props like these!

Hessian Table Runners

2009-11-18T07:59:00.002+10:30

I'm very excited to see this post over at Style Me Pretty because I am in the process of cutting and sewing three 15 metre hessian table runners and it is nice to know that at least the hours of labor will be worth it in the end, because this table setting looks amazing.

Its all coming together.

2009-11-15T09:49:00.003+10:30

I have roughly 100 metres of fabric to sew... table runners (each table being 15metres long), picnic rugs, cushions...the list goes on. But it is worth all the time and effort watching it all come together, and as it does, I cant wait to show you more images. But for now I will leave you with a sneak peek of what the fabrics I am using for the cushions that will lie on the picnic rugs.

Rose and Ruby

2009-11-14T15:13:00.005+10:30

I am really struggling to find bridesmaid dresses that are (a) affordable = $200, (b) long enough for one of my bridesmaids who is 6 foot 4 inches, (c) that fits all my bridesmaids body shapes as they are all very different and (d) that is available in both Adelaide and Sydney as one of my bridesmaids is in Sydney and cant come down to look for dresses. So I am a little bit stressed in that department.

I found these dresses on Rose and Ruby that I love but two of my bridesmaids cant try them on because we are down here in Adelaide! poo.
I'm not sure really what to do. Any suggestions of places to look for bridesmaid dresses in Adelaide??

oh by the way, I got the white shoes with the bows on them for the wedding shoes. Thanks for all the suggestions. Im going to wear the purple shoes for some photos. x

Major Roadblock! Help!

2009-11-13T16:51:00.004+10:30

So I went for one of my last dress fittings last weekend and I have my last tomorrow morning, but the designer and my dad said that my shoes didnt go with the dress. Now I have a dilemma! Which shoes?!

The first image is of the dress that inspired my dress (a tiny bit different around the neck) the second image (in the middle) is the detailing around my waist. The Third image is of the shoes Liza (my designer) said I should wear, and I love them, but I'm not sure if they're too bling for me, I dont feel like they're "me" but they go really well with the dress. The last image is of the original shoes I bought, and I love the idea of having a coloured shoe peeking out the bottom of my dress, but my dad and Liza said they're too solid and dont compliment the dress.

What do you all think?

It's no secret...

2009-11-13T09:30:00.004+10:30

I LOVE EatDrinkChic Blog.

Her styling and photography are amazing and so well composed and leave me feeling jealous because I wish I could put together images the way she does! Here are her beautiful collection of vintage bottles (an obsession I admit, I share).

Templates

2009-11-12T14:41:00.005+10:30

Here is the link for the tag I used for the address labels. I then tweaked them in photoshop, here is the image file I made....

I got the RSVP envelope tags from a great great GREAT blog called eatdrinkchic.com. Then I used "loved by the king" font from dafont.com to address the labels then printed them onto a4 sticky back paper and then cut them out by hand. All up the materials and printing cost me around $200.

If anyone is interested in having me custom design and make invitations for your event, please email me on gabrielle.goodman@hotmail.com and I can work one on one with you to create the perfect invites for your event.

My Wedding Invites are finally done!

2009-11-12T08:46:00.006+10:30

And now I can show you. oh.. and sorry about my poor photography, hopefully i'll get better shots of these at the wedding.

Basically I followed on from the save the date cards where I tied the cards with twine to form a package style invite to match the theme of a summer picnic.I originally came up with a more formal and refined invite, however Jarrod and I both agreed that we wanted something more playful, more us and an invite that would match the feel we are aiming to achieve on the day.

I found the pattern for the back of the cards on the net here and tweaked the colours and size of the pattern to get the look I wanted. The fonts I used were "loved by the king" and "toast" both found on dafont.com and the images of the cars and the map were hand drawn.

I hope you like x

Phuket was a dream

2009-10-28T20:25:00.009+10:30

Back from Thailand and finding it so hard to settle back into the normality that is life. I miss the heat, I miss the pool, I miss the Mai Thia's, I miss the Mai Thia's in the pool. It was such a fantastic holiday and the best part about it (besides the wedding we were there for and the baby elephants that walked around the hotel) was that we got to share such a wonderful experience with some of our close friends.

The wedding we went for was perfect, I get all teary when I think about it! Ceda looked so beautiful and Aaron looked so nervous! Even the best man cried it was so wonderful. The wedding took place on the beach outside the Sheraton Laguna (where we were all staying) as the sun began to set over the water. We all sat facing the sun set as Ceda arrived bare footed and glowing. The ceremony was performed by her father which was such a nice personal touch and then the reception was held on the resort's beach front restaurant where were helped ourselves to an amazing buffet of fresh seafood, curries and deserts. It was the most relaxing atmosphere with dancing and cocktails and beanbags on the sand , a baby elephant that kissed everyone and we organised surprise fireworks for the couple. There was nothing that could have made the wedding any better!

Off to Thailand for the week.

2009-10-16T19:34:00.005+10:30

Well I have had an awful week and now I get to jet set off to Phuket with the love of my life tomorrow, for our friend's wedding and a good solid week of carefree relaxing with close friends. I love nothing more than lying in the sun reading a good book and I finally get to do that after God only knows how long! Gosh, it is going to be really tough being me in the next week!

Have a great weekend and rest of the week! Be back next Sunday!

Image from here

Mary & Gabrielle's First Event!

2009-10-10T09:39:00.005+10:30

Yesterday was the big day of my business partner Mary, and naturally (because we're starting up an event design business) we both designed and styled her wedding. We have made a pact to help do each others wedding, so I was up and about setting up the wedding, organising all the table settings and flowers, setting up the lolly table, organising the place settings, doing a few errands to organise a few things and it was so much fun!

We had a chat last night and she said she didn't know what she would have done without my help, and she's right, I don't know what on earth I would do for my wedding if i didn't have her. I need to her to set up the picnic rugs and cushions, the cakes table, the lolly table, and set up so many tiny bits and pieces that i wouldn't trust anyone else to do them. And it got me thinking, how on earth do Brides do it all without a wedding planner?? It takes so so sooo much stress off the bride, groom, bridal party and all the parents, its worth forking out the money for! Anyway here are a few sneak peak shots of the wedding.

Mary wanted an all white theme with muted colours coming through the flowers. She hired the rustic bird cages from Lush Lighting in Adelaide and we bought the jars for the lolly table from the lovely Kimberlee over at Brown Button. We had a gorgeous silvery green damask pattern material banner to run down the wall of the marquee and over the lolly table, but it didn't end up happening.

Also I didn't get a chance to get a photo taken of the cake on the lolly table after it was cut because people ran to the table to inhale everything before I got the chance! So that is why there is a big gap on the table. Note to self for my wedding: tell guests they can help themselves for desert! and not at any time during the reception so we can enjoy the aesthetics for a while

Sorry

2009-10-06T20:06:00.004+10:30

Just on a bit of a break from blogging while I'm frantically trying to get my invitations made and sent out. I came home today and Jarrod was sitting at the table making some of the invites for me as a nice surprise. He's been so wonderful with the wedding organising. Here's a pretty image. Love!
I love the eclectic table settings and little flags, cute. Photography by Gabriel Li

SHOES!

2009-09-30T19:48:00.006+09:30

I'm really bad at taking photos so the colours aren't very true but they're a really nice purple, more this colour... but satin and shimmery. LOVE

Sneak Peek! Stationery!

2009-09-28T21:02:00.004+09:30

Oh I LOVE our invitations! I rarely create/design/make things that I am really happy with because I always think I can do better, but I am really truly excited about our wedding invitations. I would love to show them to you but I haven't sent them out yet so I have to be patient and wait a couple of weeks. But I'll give you a sneak peek of something I am doing for some of our stationery. I hope you like it as much as I do.

I scream for Ice-cream!

2009-09-25T14:12:00.005+09:30

oh my God oh my God oh my God!

I am OBSESSED with a new blog (and an Australian one at that)!

Amy Moss at Eat Drink Chic is a Melbourne Graphic designer with an amazing blog and amazing ideas. I have seen the images of her ice-cream bar floating around and I finally stopped to have a read on her DIY tutorial here and I was so excited to find out everything she used is from Australia and easy to get in the local shops! Its so nice to see a DIY where you don't need to order things on line and from overseas. I love you Amy Moss!

Attention Aussie Brides

2009-09-23T08:16:00.004+09:30

If you are looking for a gift registry that is different to the norm that is Myers and David Jones (not that they aren't good), then head over to Whiteport.com.au because they have just started up a bridal registry service. I must say that they have lovely stuff and so well priced! My registry that I am with at the moment unfortunately doesn't provide for cheaper gifts that aren't a melon ballers or potato peelers. Whiteport has a range of lovely affordable gifts from my favourite Castelbel soaps to beautiful throw rugs and linens. So check out their website and head to their blog for updates on their store, products and sales.

Today I did something great!

2009-09-20T20:00:00.006+09:30

I'm just jumping for joy!

Most people enjoy their Sunday morning sleep in's and believe me no one enjoys them more than I do! But today I decided to get out of bed at 6.30 with Jarrod, and headed to the City to take part in the City to Bay fun run which is a 12km run/walk to raise money for the charity of your choice. Now unfortunately, joining in the race was a last minute decision so I didn't get to raise any funds, but next year I will definitely be raising money towards Mental Health Charities. Anyway the point of this post is that I have a big chip on my shoulder today! I am a very anti exercise sort of gal (unless I'm playing team sport, which I don't find any time for anyway), I don't know what it is but I just find exercise so boring! But last weekend I for some reason, out of nowhere decided to go for a run/walk along the beach and ended up going 8km! It felt so good to achieve something that I never thought I could do, and today, in the fun run I did it again! I was so nervous that I would get so exhausted and not be able to finish the race, but i did it and I did it in an hour and 40 minutes! Woo go me! I guess the point is, I am finally starting to realise (after only 23 years) that if you put your mind to it and challenge yourself, you can really achieve anything. x

photo by Our Labor of Love

Colourful, Quirky, Brilliant!

2009-09-19T20:25:00.006+09:30

This makes me so excited about my wedding, why? because this wedding looks so fun and crazy and has those gorgeous little details that gives their wedding their own personal touch. The atmosphere of this wedding that these photos (by Jeremy Lawson) capture seems to be exactly the sort of atmosphere Jarrod and I are looking for in our wedding. Enjoy!

Picnic Engagement Shoot

2009-09-17T21:06:00.003+09:30

Oh How adorable! This couple not only had a little picnic for their engagement photoshoot, but they brought their little fluffy white bunny! And even better, its name is Elvis. PERFECT! I love it when people include their pets in photoshoots, especially when its a little quirky x

Photography by SNS Photography, found via Rock 'n Roll Bride

Stripes and peach

2009-09-16T19:54:00.003+09:30

Oooh Love! These suits are the cutest!

left image: Erin Hearts Court
right image: Jenny Ebert Photography see the wedding here

Boots are too cute!

2009-09-15T06:46:00.006+09:30

I love the boots! What a great idea for an outback wedding.

1: Steven Myers Photography. 2+3: Our Labor of Love.

Random love...

2009-09-14T21:16:00.002+09:30

Beautiful photography by Shona Henderson

It's a beautiful day!

2009-09-12T08:49:00.005+09:30

There is barely a cloud in the sky, the sun is out, and it is the warmest it has been in a while. Spring is in the air finally! I'm off for a long walk along the beach from Semaphore to Henley this morning, then off to try more cake with Jarrod, buy the paper for our invitations, spend some time with my hubby to be - maybe we will stop off and have a picnic with our favourite sushi by the Torrens river. And then! I am off for a wild night on Glenelg beach for a girlfriend's Hens night (my first one ever! I am rather excited!). Gosh I love the weekends!I would love to do this upon each picnic rug at our wedding. Setting by Alison Events

I love this setting

2009-09-09T07:33:00.003+09:30

...By duet weddings (LOVE them) and flowers done by dandelion. Does anyone know where you can buy those glass base plates from wholesale?? I really REALLY want some!

Suits with a twist

2009-09-08T19:29:00.007+09:30

Jarrod and I went looking for suits the other day and I LOVE what he picked out. He picked out light grey pants with a plain white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a slighter darker toned grey vest with a black skinny tie. He looked so sexy! I want him to wear it everyday forever!

Loving how suave this groom and his men are...

photos by Beulah Anne

Dreaming of frolicking in the woods...

2009-09-06T21:58:00.003+09:30

picture from Plum Pretty Sugar's etsy

Searching for Sporadic Surprises

2009-09-05T08:59:00.003+09:30

I work with a lovely lady, Diana. A little cheeky at times! but a great designer and good fun to work with. And the other week I found out she too has a blog... Searching for Sporadic Surprises, a very lovely blog actually that I definitely recommend you pop over and have a look at. But what is more... is that she also has an esty shop called Clothcake and makes the most adorable pictures and baby clothes (perfect for gifts) with cupcakes on them. These are two that I want to get for my little niece!

Not enough hours in the day!

2009-09-04T10:06:00.006+09:30

I have been rather bad with keeping up to date on this.

So much has been going on with work, wedding, etc. So until I get time on the weekend, here is a pretty table setting I found in a magazine that came with the Adelaide Advertiser.

Sneak Peek! Flowers.

2009-08-30T10:06:00.006+09:30

Look what got delivered by courier today!

Sally over at Poppies flowers sent over a small sample of what is to come for our wedding! I love them! Geranium foliage, lavender, sanaa roses, cottage pink roses (which I might get David Austins instead) butter freesias, rosemary, jasmine and berries. LOVE the only other flowers not in this bouquet are the hydrangeas and daliahs. What do you think??

Cake...

2009-08-27T20:48:00.005+09:30

So I have cake samples sitting in a little box in front of me which Emma from Ruby's Cakes just dropped off... Why are they not in my belly you ask? Well because I have banned myself from eating them until after dinner (damn me!). Anyway, I found Emma at a bridal expo a while ago and her cake sample was the best there by far, so moist and it had that texture that melts in your mouth. I must say she is a lovely lady AND she said she would do a coconut lime cake for me to taste (as a special request because its my favourite flavour) which would be PERFECT for summer.

Anyway we are looking at a cake with horizontal stripes the same colours as the table runner or possible some sort of floral design. Arg! its so hard to make up your mind on what design you want, AND to make it harder I bet Jarrod and I are going to really struggle on choosing a flavour!
photo by Martha Manning

I should probably mention also that we're having a cakes table like above (cant wait to use my glass cake stands I've been collecting!) and then just having a small cake to eat with family the next day but to have on display for photos and cutting. There is nothing worse than spending $800 on a cake to feed 150 people and then no one touches it because they're either too full or too busy dancing.

Darling Frills

2009-08-22T09:56:00.007+09:30

Normally I'm not a fan of puffy princess dresses, but this is beautiful! I also love her cute little shoes...speaking of shoes, I got mine yesterday, cant wait to show you!

photography by Amy Squires

Sweet, Sweet Love...

2009-08-19T18:58:00.006+09:30

There are so many charming details in this wedding that are a little eclectic yet all come together perfectly, from the peach parasol to the lavender and silver to the pink sweets buffet. How Lovely. I am having so many little details that don't necessarily seem like they would work all together, but I am hoping it to all come together like this wedding.
Photography by Jose Villa and Event Design by Duet Weddings found via Green Wedding Shoes

I'm in love...

2009-08-17T19:16:00.008+09:30

I have been looking around for a gift registry and a friend of my used Wedding List Co. for her wedding and suggested I have a look...anyway the point of the story is....LOOK!

LOOOOVE! Jasper Conran for Wedgwood

Grecian Glamour

2009-08-14T22:24:00.003+09:30

I LOVE these dresses from Marchesa Resort's 2010 collection. I originally wanted to have a Grecian style wedding dress, but its taken a more garden summer dress turn.

Cake tasting tomorrow at the fabulous Cake Stories... yum yum yum I can't wait!

fabulous flowers

2009-08-13T18:34:00.003+09:30

After a fairly busy week and a bit of an emotional one, I thought I would brighten everything up with some beautiful blooms. This stunning bouquet was put together by Amy Osaba. Oh, you must check out her website, she does amazing work!

Some sad news...

2009-08-11T19:57:00.003+09:30

Two of my really good friends who have been together for 3 years and were engaged to be married broke up today. Its devastating. They were only fairly recently engaged and I have a feeling that it could have been the rush and the pressure that comes with being engaged separated them. So many people are getting engaged and married around me and they are all very young, and sometimes I feel that some of them are rush engagements getting caught up in all the excitement. I wonder if that's what happened with these guys. So sad. I hope they are ok.

Jordyn and Bradley

2009-08-08T14:46:00.008+09:30

I can't believe what I have missed in blog world over the passed three days! I have quite a few things to share over the next week that inspire me! Oh so exciting!

As you may realise, Once Wed is one of my main inspiration blog sites as I am sure it is most of yours also, and I came across this utterly divine, cute, unique, amazing, gorgeous, inspirational *breathe* PERFECT Wedding! Oh and of course, the photographer was the very talented and rather spunky Tec Petaja. Just have a look at the details and colours that emerge throughout these images. But first, just a quick look at their Engagement photo shoot done by Simply Bloom Photography.

Now for the Wedding

New start

2009-08-05T21:22:00.004+09:30

Yesterday I Graduated University FINALLY. Only a couple years late! But it was worth taking some time out and doing Honours. There were two rainbows in the sky as we went outside to take family photos in those fancy hats, which means my mum was shining down on me.

Today I started my new job at MPH Architects as and Interior designer. It feels so good to be back working after 6 months of unemployment. They are such nice people and I know I'll be happy there and know that I will be able to really get my career on track there. Yay!

Anyway, I will get out some more inspiration hopefully tomorrow. But for now, this photo makes me smile. I can't wait to marry the love of my life. Only 5 months to go! Photography by SugarLove Weddings