Delta Dawn Orig on brand new wedding venue - Centennial Parklands

Be the first to book Centennial Parklands Dining, Sydney’s newest event space. Boasting local and organic produce, The Restaurant’s simple and stylish decoration allows for increased flexibility for theming while The Bar Terrace with its outdoor lounge setting provides the ideal space for pre-dinner cocktails.

Located in picturesque Centennial Park, let the gardens and ponds provide the perfect backdrop for your wedding.

The restaurant is opening to the public tomorrow.

For more information contact:
Centennial Parklands Dining
Grand Drive, Centennial Park
NSW 2021
Ph: 9380 9350

Delta Dawn Orig on lavish venues - Ivy League

For mere mortals, a private function is probably the only way you will be permitted to step into places like The Ivy. Apparently the “lift nazi” chooses your destination for drinks. It would be wrong to insinuate the criteria being used, but you get my drift.

I was very lucky to get a tour of The Ivy and see all the various venues before they were finished months before they were opened. Justin Hemmes has poured so much money into this blockbuster project that the result is only short of spectacular though for some perhaps over the top. Yellows, Turquoise, Zebra Print, dressing rooms that have a DJ booth and a CBD building with mature palm trees on its roof are just some of the eye candy at The Ivy.

Wow your guests upon entry via the grand staircase, which leads up to the impressive foyer of the Ivy Room. 509 sqm of space with Zebra Print wall-to-wall carpet devoid of any pillars or walls and six gigantic paper mache chandeliers hanging above the six-meter high ceiling beguiles. The Ivy Room is unlike any other and perfect for an extravagant wedding.

Introducing a new contributor – Kathryn Breusch – marriage celebrant

Kathryn Breusch has been a marriage celebrant for four years and, herself, married for fourteen. She understands, from a personal and professional perspective the excitement and (sometimes) anxiety of organising and executing a wedding day. She treasures her role as a celebrant which comes across when facilitating a relaxed, respectful and sincere ceremony.

Spring is a beautiful time of year to be married. It symbolises budding ‘newness’, growth and foundation for future ‘seasons’. Involving your guests creates some great ideas for this colourful time of year. You may like to invite some or all of them to bring a flower and place it around you both during the ceremony or collect your vibrant bouquet as you’re walking down the ‘isle’. Remember, being the most significant part of your wedding day, your ceremony is a sacred and important rite of passage. It is a fabulous declaration of your love for one other shared with your family and friends.

Kathryn includes with warmth, passion and vibrancy, a collection of suggested words and ideas to help you create a personal ceremony that reflects your individuality.

http//:www.kathrynbreusch.com.au/ or on 0425 217288

One of Kathryn’s favourite poems

Captain Corelli's Mandolin an excerpt from Louis de Bernieres

Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.

And when it subsides you have to make a decision.

You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.

Because this is what love is.

Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of eternal passion.

That is just being "in love" which any fool can do.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.

Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.

Karen Willis Holmes on traditional white gowns vs colours

Old fashioned as it may seem, everyone loves a classic white wedding gown. The tradition of wearing white or ivory is still popular. I love seeing our brides glowing in stunning white or ivory. It never fails to take the groom’s breath away on the big day!

But white isn’t for everyone. I am seeing more and more brides opt for colour in their gowns. I love the contemporary look different hues can give the gown and the wedding.

We have quite a few brides choosing to have their gowns in a strong and definite colour, like red or silver – usually the bride’s favourite colour! Soft gelato shades work well too (like the soft blue shade one of our lovely brides chose), dependent on the theme of the wedding.

Or, if you feel it’s too adventurous for your whole gown to be in colour, hints of colour can be really pretty, with a coloured sash (like the beautiful bride pictured), beading or embroidery. It can also be quite striking if you go for a black sash like on one of our gowns, ‘Penelope’ – modern and sophisticated.

I have also posted a picture above of one of our gorgeous brides who added embroidery to the bottom of her gown – original and stunning!

On your wedding day it’s important to look and feel fabulous! Whether you go for ivory, white or colour, just remember to have lots of fun!

Credits
Media pictures from: Australian Bride Magazine and Bride to Be Magazine.
Thank you to our lovely brides: Anna Gibson, Rachel Hamilton and Karen Coscarella.

The Ivy Room

The Ivy Room offers a unique and opulent location for wedding receptions and engagement parties.

In the heart of the Sydney CBD, the ballroom can hold up to 100 people and opens out to a terrace overlooking George St.

Daring design has delivered a majestic space without columns or partitions – the perfect setting for a grand scale wedding or engagement party.

Cameron Marks on Romantic Proposals

Planning to Propose?

Wedding season is upon us which can only mean one thing – lots of weddings. As happy couples around the country exchange their vows, the female guests in the congregation start giving their beaus that look; the one that varies between a dewy-eyed, ‘I wish that was us’, to a rather more straight forward, ‘When will that be us?’.

Many would-be-grooms take the hint and start planning. I see so many young guys who are overwhelmed about the prospect of getting engaged and buying a ring without their girlfriends’ approval. Unfortunately, all the worrying that goes into it really takes the romance out of it.

Fool-proof tips to inject love and romance into your proposal:

• Set a budget – Two to three months’ salary is a good starting point. Once you have set a budget, stick to it

• Find out what kind of diamond she wants – I recommend buying the diamond and having it set very simply. The act of giving of the ring, without the girl being involved, brings back the romance. Then, once she says yes, you can come back in as a couple and the bride-to-be can design her own setting. This also helps you stick to the budget.

• Get the size right.

• Don’t give her your Grandmother’s ring – Make sure you give your bride-to-be the option to change the setting of an heirloom. Have a jeweller look at the setting to make sure it’s safe to be worn. In most cases family heirlooms should only be worn on special occasions. They’re generally not ideal as engagement rings unless they’re redesigned.
  


• Avoid antique rings – An antique ring is not going to last. The settings have already had wear. If you want a ‘forever’ ring and have your heart set on an antique look, get a ring designed that is identical to the antique ring you love. It will be much more resilient.
  
  
• Don’t buy an engagement ring with pearls or semi-precious stones – Speak to your jeweller about your options but some stones are too soft and will get damaged.
  


• Always buy a gold or platinum setting – These are the most durable metals and you can always polish them up so they look brand new.

Tips for after the engagement:

• Don’t take the ring off – A lot of rings go missing because people take them off. Washing up or gardening will not damage the ring if it’s been made correctly. Try to keep them on as much as possible.
  


• Get the ring cleaned – Most jewellers offer this as a free service. It will keep your ring looking brand new.
  


• Update your insurance – Make sure you update your house and contents to include the engagement ring.