This is where you’ll find the bulk of the wedding planning advice and tips – plus resources, DIY and checklists for your big day
If you’re one of the many brides thinking about getting a spray tan before your wedding, brilliant! We asked the spray tan experts at Harmony Skin and Beauty for their advice on: Is a spray tan before a wedding a good idea for me? When should I get a spray tan? What range of colours…
Sometimes, you get a little carried away. I know the feeling. You pop into New World to grab some milk, and $200 later, you’re struggling to fit everything into the boot. Well, your wedding guest list can be a little like that too. Think back to writing your guest list. You wanted this person to…
In the months and weeks leading up to your special day, your wedding skincare regimen becomes very important. Every bride wants (a deserves) a glowing and flawless complexion, helping her look and feel amazing on her wedding day. The good news is, achieving such a complexion is easy, and today we’ll share with you some…
Fancy having a caravan bar serving drinks at your wedding? You’re not the only one! Caravan bars are quickly becoming a popular option for couples wanting something a bit different than a trestle table covered in drinks. We asked our friends at the Oxford St Caravan Bar (who have an adorable caravan based in Dunedin,…
If you’re considering a New Zealand destination wedding, awesome. Our beautiful country has some of the world’s best scenery, not to mention wedding venues! Both the North and South Islands have contenders in our minds for the prize of New Zealand’s destination wedding venue, but we’ll let you decide which one… Top 5 New Zealand…
If you’ve read my post on why having a wedding theme is important, you might be keen to dive in and figure out what your wedding theme is going to be. Or you might be completely overwhelmed with 1,500 pins on your secret wedding Pinterest board… either way, I have you covered! Today’s post is going to…
It’s three weeks to the wedding, and your RSVP date has been and gone. You’ve expected a flurry of last minute responses… and *crickets*. What’s going on?! Getting RSVPs in should be easy, right? There is a few things at play here. First and foremost, we kiwis are a casual bunch. Formally RSVPing goes against…
Getting married is exciting, and it’s not just the wedding that you have to look forward to. Your loved ones tend to go nuts on showering you with gifts – they’re pleased for you and want to celebrate you both. Of course, these gifts can come in handy for many younger couples who are establishing…
Recently I received a question about wedding photographer’s contracts that I thought was a great one to tackle, since I can totally see why the bride was confused: In the contract I’m reading over, they’ve stated that they own the photos and can use them in any way they choose. I have to get permission…
Whether you choose to separate out ceremony and reception wedding venues, or have the entire day’s celebrations in the same spot, there are many factors to take into consideration. The number of wedding venues you have will depend on your budget as well as convenience and the style of wedding you want (for some help…
Sorting out your wedding budget and prioritising and allocating your budget can be a bit mind boggling, especially when you a) haven’t planned a wedding before and b) are not really sure what to expect when it comes vendor pricing and what you can get for your money. In this post, Kate Ryan from Ryan’s…
Figuring out who should be invited should be one of the very first wedding planning things you tackle. This is because the number of guests dictate the size of the wedding venue, massively affects your budget, and it can be a long and drawn out process to trim the guest list to hit the spot. It…
More and more people are asking the question – “how do I tell parents that we don’t want their children at our wedding?” The reality is that more and more brides, and grooms as well, do not like the idea that children will be coming to their weddings. And that’s okay. Here at Southern Bride…
All brides know how stressful wedding planning can become. There’s so much to do with so little time to do it and everything starts piling up all at once. While taking care of everything that needs to be checked off the to-do list, you can’t forget to take care of yourself. Here are some helpful…
It’s dress shopping time and you understandably want to know what the most popular wedding dress styles are. Well, we want to tell you! If you can’t wait, and just want to buy your dress now, head to our Southern Bride Verified Vendors section. Otherwise, sit back, and enjoy… NZ’s 5 Most Popular Wedding Dress…
Why should you consider hosting a marquee wedding? We met with the team from Happyhire, marquee hire specialists, for their thoughts. Why Pick a Marquee Wedding? A marquee wedding gives you the perfect venue at your choice of location. It can also provide additional shelter when you’ve chosen somewhere, which isn’t big enough to meet your…
Everything for your wedding is sorted, except for the wedding reception timeline. While the same military precision as the rest of the day isn’t required, if you don’t have a schedule of events for your reception, things can turn to custard pretty quick. How to Set Your Wedding Reception Timeline Timewise, your wedding reception will…
The feeling of wearing a couture wedding gown is indescribable, but we’re going to try anyway! Custom designed and made just for you, it is made with the fabric you’ve chosen and perfect in every detail. Bringing your dreams to life, there is no other way to describe it than simply magical. Beau-Couture are couture…
Are you considering an all inclusive wedding package, or one where you organise everything individually? Perhaps you haven’t even thought about it yet? We chatted with the team from Dunedin Venues for their thoughts on la carte vs all-inclusive wedding packages. A La Carte Vs All Inclusive Wedding Packages Like most brides, you’ll be keeping…
Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to choose the venue for your wedding. With that decision, many questions arise including: should you use one venue or have a different one for your ceremony and reception? Here’s a few of our thoughts to help you make that decision. Benefits of Choosing One Venue for Your Wedding…
Have you considered whether you’ve got enough space for your wedding reception? When you’ve laid out the tables, chairs, dance floor and buffet area, will it look crowded or empty? We talked with Dunedin’s wedding and furniture hire company Swell Event Hire about their thoughts on organising wedding spaces using different floor plans. Calculating the…
What wedding dress style do you want? If you’re not sure, that’s okay because most brides who are starting to think about choosing their dress aren’t sure either. The problem is, this is often the first question you are asked by your Mum, friends and even the bridal shop staff. It’s not all bad news…
Wedding day photos are a given, but have you considered engagement photos also? Often brides are so focused on their big day that they miss out on the other occasions a wedding photographer can capture too. We talked with Still Waters Photography for their thoughts and ideas to help you learn about engagement photos. How…
There’s lots to sort out, all at once, when you first decide to set a wedding date. It can get overwhelming, and fast. If you keep a cool head and work on one thing on the wedding planning to do list at a time… you’ll get through your wedding planning without getting (too) stressed out. So today I want…