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How to create a vintage wedding

March 15th, 2010 by Stephanie Chai | Posted in Planning & Ideas | 3 Comments

I remember going to a vintage themed wedding at the KL Hilton last year (organised by WGA wedding planners The Occasions) and it still is one of the most beautiful I’ve been to today. With candles and vintage chairs, it was very much perfect down to every last detail. Having a vintage wedding exudes class and fashion at the same time – not to mention a reason for everyone to dress up! Here are some pics that should inspire brides who are contemplating ‘a walk in the past’.

Besides a colour theme that is in tandem with your chosen vintage ‘era’ of choice, its the ‘little things’ that complete the look. Think of novel ideas as this couple has done. Old photos in jars or even renting a photo booth that prints out sepia-toned photos will make your wedding look more stylish.

This bride has a vintage style dress which she complements with flowers and hair accessories. Below we can see that the flower girls and even the cupcakes have followed the wedding theme. When you’re doing vintage, think muted colours that are more ‘classic’ in character.

Quick tips:

Before you begin, pick an era and then design the wedding accordingly.

Vintage is a concept of old mixed with new – so don’t feel you need to buy an array of new things that ‘look old’.

Have a look at 2nd hand or charity shops for old pieces or accessories that you can use. Be it retro furniture or art deco-inspired wallpaper, you are bound to find some bargains.

Vintage wedding gowns can be anything from the 1920s period or simply dresses with accessories such as a feathers, lace shawls or jeweled headpieces

Pay attention to the details – for example rent a classic car and search for ‘vintage plates’ to pop on it for the day.

Last but not least, don’t forget to get the entertainment in line! A vintage wedding with trance music doesn’t quite work! Opt for music that suits your theme – such as classical music or swing jazz.

Tags: Traditional Weddings, Vintage Weddings, Wedding themes

CAKE BOSS on DIY wedding cakes!

March 10th, 2010 by Samira Albana | Posted in Planning & Ideas, Wedding | 1 Comment

cake-boss-1

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending an exclusive Discovery Travel & Living launch of one of it’s latest shows, Cake Boss. Cake Boss airs on Travel & Living every Wednesday evening, 7 pm (SG time) and follows the entertaining Italian Buddy Valastro, who runs the family cake store Carlo’s Cakes in New Jersey. So to get us all in the mood for the show, we had a free lesson in cake decorating!

cake-boss

For all the ladies who are planning their wedding and baking their cake at the same time… this is for you.

Here are some tips from Miss Loo, an experienced Malaysian wedding cake decorator who represented the Cake Boss.

1. If you want to DIY your wedding cake, one method is to buy ready made sugar flowers – so you just bake the cake then decorate it with these pre-made flowers. OR alternatively, take a class in cake decoration and make some simple decorations!

2. For a wedding cake, it takes approx 4 months as you need to make a lot of flowers – which need time to dry. With our S.E Asia climate, its very humid so it takes longer than say in colder countries.

3. Popular wedding cake flavours to go for – fruitcake (if your design is difficult). But usually buttercake as most ppl like it!

4. Remember to choose a common cake flavour, Durian is not a wedding winner!

Carlos-Cake

5. If you’re making a multi-tiered cake, make sure there is a strong support base. The heavier the cake’s weight, the stronger the bottom board should be.

6. Icing is important! Each tier should be equal, with the sides and top must be smoothly and evenly covered – don’t let any cake show through – which may happen if you don’t use enough icing. So be generous with the butter-cream icing as the cake absorbs some of it while it sits.

7. For a smooth (and quick) finsh, use a comb.

8. As we live in the hot tropics, you must be careful as to what butter-cream you use. If its too soft the butter-cream icing may melt or even slide off your cake. Tip: Bake your cake in an air-conditioned environment and if your icing turns runny just pop it back in the fridge till it hardens up a bit.

Last but not least – practice!!!

Why hello Bobby Chin!

Tags: Budget wedding, DIY Weddings, Planning & Ideas, Wedding Cake

How to choose the perfect Harry Winston ring

March 9th, 2010 by Sylvia Tan-Jong | Posted in Planning & Ideas, Wedding | 4 Comments

Harry-Celebs

“The rare, the exceptional, the utterly timeless”; this is Harry Winston’s legacy. Harry Winston diamonds have become an icon of international glamour from the possession of the Hope Diamond to the sparkles of the red carpet.

We all have no doubt that their jewellery is brilliant, but what makes HW unique is their impeccable customer service. Most of us may feel a little intimidated visiting the jewellers and for those men on the search for an engagement ring, the experience can be even more daunting. At Wedding Guide Asia, we recognise the stresses you may face have when choosing an engagement ring, therefore we contacted Harry Winston for some advice and here is what they have to say:

What makes a HW diamond unique?

At HW, each diamond is hand-selected by the world’s leading gemmologists with decades of expertise. We emphasize on quality rather than quantity. Each HW diamond must pass strict quality assurance criteria that consider not only the Four Cs but also meet the HW visual standards for beauty and brilliance.

HW Signature Ring

Why are designer rings such as HW dearer than local jewellers?

Every aspect of a HW engagement ring is of the finest quality – aside from the brilliance of the diamonds, each piece of jewellery is carefully designed and then meticulously crafted by hand in the Winston workshop on Fifth Avenue, New York.

What tips can you give a man who is planning to buy an engagement ring?

To start, it is important to have a vague idea of the design your fiancé may prefer i.e. solitaire, three-stone, emerald cut etc. The next step is look out for the 4Cs – cut, colour, clarity and carat. If you are still unsure, our experts at HW are available to talk you through the process.

What makes HW different from other jewellers?

The shopping experience at our stores is unique. We encourage our clients to take all the time they need to be educated and guided by our knowledgeable sales executives to select the perfect ring, all in the calm atmosphere of our salons. We aim to provide each client with a highly personalised shopping experience, from the selection process to after-sales service.

Micropavé ring

What are the most popular engagement ring styles now?

Every person has their own idea of what constitutes the perfect ring. Generally round brilliant, cushion and emerald-cut rings are the most popular. In particular, our cushion-cut Micropavé ring is a favourite. HW’s classic design aesthetic ensures that the rings we offer will never go out of style.

How does one match the engagement ring to the wedding band?

It is important to consider the setting and the shank of the engagement ring to ensure a perfect fit and balanced match. For example, a beautiful Micropavé engagement ring with a delicate Micropavé wedding band will compliment each other very well.

Last words:

Shopping for the ring should not only be about the diamond, the experience is just as important. You need to be able to trust your jeweller to guide you to the right choice. A loyal HW client recently shared: ‘HW made me feel at ease and I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I was to be able to ask different questions and how patient they were with me.’ This is how I sum up the Harry Winston experience.

Dedicated to my husband, who spent endless hours in search for the perfect ring.

NB: If you would like to visit a Harry Winston store in Asia then do check for locations here. For those of us who unfortunately do not have HW in town, you can always visit their online store!

Tags: Engagement ring, Harry Winston, Wedding Ring

Top five wedding planning mistakes to avoid

March 8th, 2010 by Samira Albana | Posted in Planning & Ideas, Wedding | No Comments

Planning a wedding is not easy business and in the whole frenzy, many potentially avoidable faux pas tend to be made. Here are a couple of common mistakes that tend to throw couples off track :

1. Partaking in last-minute beauty treatments.

Many brides think that scheduling a facial the day before the wedding will leave their skin looking angelic on their big days. Thinking of tanning the day before your wedding? Think again as you may end up with blisters instead of sun-kissed skin. Last-minute beauty treatments can lead to breakouts, mistakes or, even worse, serious infections.

2. Exceeding your budget.

It costs a lot of money to throw a wedding. Excited brides start booking vendors and making purchases without having a real budget and then are shocked to discover they’ve already spent all of their money (or parents’ money) and don’t yet have half the things they need. Planning a wedding is serious business. Make a budget and keep track of your expenditures so you won’t be walking naked down the aisle.

3. Ordering your wedding gown too late.

If your heart is set on a couture gown, be sure to order by the six-month mark since your dress will be custom-made and, many times, made overseas. In addition, most off-the-rack dresses will require alterations, so make certain that you have enough time to get the gown fitted properly. You’ll want to leave plenty of time for shipping and for your fittings. The same goes for the bridesmaid dresses.

4. Underestimating the importance of a good photographer.

Your wedding is potentially the most important day of your life and you will definitely want lovely images to remember it by. It’s always a good investment to hire the best photographer who can truly capture those priceless moments. At all costs avoid depending on shots from family or friends unless they’re professionals.

5. Taking your partner’s opinions for granted.

After all it’s his day too. Even if his requests don’t always conform to your vision, you want him to enjoy the wedding as much as you. Not only should you be willing to compromise, but also consider biting the bullet once in a while and telling him that you like his ideas. Even if you wind up with hot dogs on the menu or a Rolling Stones cover band, chances are good you’ll appreciate these quirkier decisions down the road. Plus, you’ll make him really happy – as he should be.

Tags: wedding dos and dont's, wedding mistakes

Things to remember when… choosing your photographer

March 2nd, 2010 by Fay Khoo | Posted in Planning & Ideas | 3 Comments

Photog

1) Do your research and speak with friends who recently got married. Their feedback will be important in helping you create your shortlist

2) Check out websites and portfolios – different photographers have different styles; checking out their work will enable you to cull the ones you think are unsuitable and keep the ones you think are right

3) Make sure you meet all the photographers you are considering for a face-to-face. That way, you will know if you can be comfortable with them

4) Don’t be afraid to ask to preview a whole wedding to get an idea of the quality and creativity of the photographer’s work

5) Don’t be afraid to ask what you will get for your money. A little persuasion could land you a few extra stills, or even a bigger album!

Tags: Wedding Photographers

Wedding video by Mayad Studios

March 1st, 2010 by Stephanie Chai | Posted in Planning & Ideas | 3 Comments

http://www.vimeo.com/8643013

If you’ve been reading TWG you would of noticed bride Wan Sim’s awesome articles on her weddings in England and Malaysia. This is her last entry – her wedding video! It’s a combination of shots from her UK Wedding (shot by Minty Slippers) & her M’sian one (shot by Mayad Studios)

Written by: Wan Sim Tan-Sainsbury (TWG reader & recent bride!)

We just love these guys and were no doubt happy we chose Mayad Studios (from the Phillippines). Their work is absolutely fantastic, full of creativity and definitely original. It is not a case of cheesy videos with cheesy love songs. They are just simply talented. I cannot plainly explain it, but do visit their website and watch a few videos (in fact they recently did a celebrity wedding in Boracay Island after ours). You will get the grip of all this excitement that we felt when we knew that they were available to be our videographers!

Courtesy of Andy Lim

Mayad Studios: Raphael and Cecilio were the ones who came to Malaysia for our wedding. They are such modest and humble people, and not to mention one of the warmest and friendliest people that you will ever meet. They gave their full effort and remained much focused throughout their shoot. Every wedding filmed by them is told in a different way. You just wonder what their boundaries are! They are all young, vibrant and bursting with ideas, which made them such a great team

Their diary is pretty packed, so better book in advance if you don’t want to be disappointed. (Their prices are upon request as they offer tailor-make packages). One word of advice, do inform your photographer if you are getting a crew of videographers. Photographers may not appreciate ninja-hopping videographers when they are doing their poses with the couples, and vice versa. If possible, it is a good idea to arrange a meeting with them prior to the wedding. A shooting pattern can then be agreed to avoid any miscommunication on your day. Glad to say, our Malaysian team, Mayad Studios and Andy Lim worked really well together. It was a blast!

Tags: Langkawi Wedding, Mayad Studios, Wedding Malaysia, Wedding video

Save the date now with Cupcake Chic!

February 26th, 2010 by Samira Albana | Posted in Little White Book Blog, Planning & Ideas | 3 Comments

It’s a Western custom commonly practiced by couples planning their upcoming wedding to send out ‘Save the date’ cards. These cards should be typically sent out about 3-4 months before the wedding in order to enable your guests to keep that special day free. However, this custom can be carried out as creatively as you wish, meaning you don’t necessarily have to send out a card. Even in Chinese culture, it is also tradition to send out a ‘little sweet’ with your invitation card, such as Lo Po Peng (wife biscuit). However in these modern times, what better sweet could there be, besides the classic cupcake!

Cupcake Chic, a well-known chain of cupcake stores in Malaysia, is offering their services in the form of ‘Save-the-date’ cupcakes. What better way is there to let your guests know your wedding date? They get to join in on your happiness and of course dine on scrumptious cupcakes (always a plus!) I personally get really excited when I see couples get creative and try something different… because that means the actual wedding day will be even more imaginative!

Cupcake Chic gives couples the liberty to customize the cupcakes to suit their fancy and goes out of their way to cater to requests. You could have the date embedded on the cupcakes, your names and perhaps even your faces! It’s a case of anything goes (within reason!).

Click here for more info!

Tags: Cupcake Chic, Save the Date, Wedding Cupcakes, Wedding Malaysia

Picking your A-TEAM of Bridesmaids!

February 24th, 2010 by Fay Khoo | Posted in Planning & Ideas, Wedding | 1 Comment

Childhood BFFs Steph & Jeni - now both Maids of Honour!

Quite apart from the fact that your bridal party may have to suffer the embarrassment of wearing meringue-like dresses in pastel hues, there’s also the bridezilla jitters they’ll have to cope with, and being your human shield from the myriad catastrophes that could happen on your wedding day. If you’re like TWG contributor Elaine Ho who picked her two childhood best friends Stephanie & Jeni as her maids of honour, decision making isn’t too difficult. For the rest of us though, here are some top tips to ensure you end up with the right people on your A-team for the Big Day:

• Size doesn’t matter in this case – If you’re planning an intimate little affair on the beach, a bridal party of 20 bridesmaids is going to look a touch incongruous. A good rule of thumb is to have a ratio of one bridesmaid and one groomsman to every 50 guests, ergo a large wedding will require a larger bridal party whilst a little beach do won’t

• Don’t judge a book by its cover – please, please, please don’t be superficial and eschew asking a good friend to be a bridesmaid just because she’s overweight and won’t “make the photo look good”; it’s just not done. Similarly, if you think someone can’t afford the accoutrements you have in mind, ask them anyway and give them the option of bowing out if that is the case, remembering to give them another task so they can still be part of the proceeding

Courtesy of FIFOTO Photography

• It’s not an eye for an eye – so someone asked you to be her bridesmaid years ago. Now you’re taking the walk down the aisle and even though you haven’t hung out in ages, you feel obliged to return the favour? Uh-uh, don’t worry, it’s not expected

• You can’t pick your relatives but you can pick them to be your bridesmaids – Even if you don’t get along with your stepsister and would rather extract your eyeball with a blunt fork than have her in your bridal party, think again. A politically correct gesture like that will stand you in good stead for future family negotiations and show the world that you’re such a bigger person than they’d imagined you to be

• Because two heads are better than one – If you have two best friends, don’t fret; it’s totally okay to have more than one maid of honour. Just remember to forestall bitchy squabbles by clearly outlining each one’s duties. If your best friend is a bloke, by all means include him in the bridal party as an attendant or bridesman; just don’t force the poor fellow to wear a lilac tux!

Tags: Bridesmaid gowns, Bridesmaids, Wedding Etiquette

New York wedding vendors

February 22nd, 2010 by Sylvia Tan-Jong | Posted in Planning & Ideas, Wedding | 5 Comments

Frank Sinatra sang about it, even Jay Z’s rapped about it. Yes, the big apple is so fabulous they had to name it twice! There are many reasons why I think all brides-to-be deserve a trip to NYC prior to their wedding day. Here’s just a few:

For the perfect wedding dress:

Marcia Cross in Reem Acra

Head to Reem Acra’s flagship boutique on 60th Street. Often acknowledged as wedding designer to the stars, Acra is eminently known for ‘adding everything by hand’ from intricate gold bullion needlework to Swarovski crystals and tiny seed pearls. With such attention to detail, her ‘red-carpet’ silhouette gowns will make any bride swoon.

My NYC tip: If you prefer a traditional classic look with a modern twist, then visit the Vera Wang Madison Avenue flagship store. Her dresses may come with a hefty price tag, but fortunately, the store hosts sample sale days selling their gowns at a fraction of the original price. There are at least two sales in a year, (in 2009 it was April and November) but the dates vary, so check out the events page on their website.

For bridesmaids’ dresses:

Marchesa

Don’t fall into the trap of only looking into bridal boutiques when you take your bridesmaids shopping. Remember that any gown can be a bridesmaid’s gown and I particularly love the dreamy spring dresses from Marchesa which should blend nicely into any bridal theme.

Two Birds

My NYC tip: Wouldn’t it be great if your bridesmaid had one dress, but could wear it over fifteen ways? At Two Birds, not only are their collections ‘Grecian Goddess’ but each dress has at least fifteen different styles of wrapping. This way, your bridesmaids get to wear the dress again and again and again! For brides out there who aren’t making a stop to the big apple, there are stores in Australia and London or simply contact Two Birds to purchase online.

To-die-for wedding stationery:

Ceci

For brides that are still searching for the perfect wedding invite, a visit to Ceci New York is a must. Winner of the 2009 Best Invitation Design Bridal Award, this elite stationer will tease out your creative flair and help you create, design and personalise your wedding stationery.

Kate’s Paperie

My NYC tip: If you are short of time for ‘couture’ stationery, then drop into Kate’s Paperie. Here you can stock up on everything from save-the-date cards to guestbooks to vintage ribbons.

For everything else:

Bergdorf Goodman

No trip to NYC is complete without a visit to Bergdorf Goodman. Aptly called not simply a store but a fashion institution, BG houses everything a bride needs, from after-party cocktail dresses to personalised blend of lipstick. And when your feet gets weary, do stop by their restaurant for afternoon tea with a delightful view of Central Park.

My NYC tip: If you are looking for round-the-year designer bargains, then head to Woodbury Common Premium Outlet. Just an hour north of NYC, you can snap up discounted DVF dresses for your honeymoon wardrobe and Frette linen for your marital bed; plus hubby will still be pleased at that discounted price tag.

Last Words:

Here are just a few of the many, many reasons why brides deserve a trip to NYC. Most importantly, enjoy yourself on those streets of flashing lights and neon nights. This is not only a city that never sleeps, it will make you fall in love all over again.

Dedicated to my travel buddy who shared my first ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s moment.

Tags: Bergdorf goodman, Ceci, Kate's paperie, Marchesa, New York Wedding, Reem Acra, Twobirds bridesmaids

10 ways to save on your wedding!

February 18th, 2010 by Stephanie Chai | Posted in Planning & Ideas, Wedding | 3 Comments

It may be the year of the Tiger and things may be looking up, but for quite a few brides out there – budget is an issue! How do you cut costs and put your dollars where they’re best needed? According to bankrate.com here are 10 quick tips!

The Pecking order

As a bride you need to prioritize what is most important to you – the number of guests, venue, decor etc. Once you have them in a list, then you can decide how to allocate your budget accordingly.

Time is of the essence

Just like the weather, so to do weddings have their high and low seasons. Be the contrarian and hold your wedding during the off-peak period to benefit from discounts. Of course, if it’s rainy season… best not to have a beach wedding even if it’s a fraction of the normal price!

One stop shop

Choose a location that can hold both your ceremony and reception, as this will save you the added costs of site fees and transportation to an fro locations.

Use an excel spreadsheet

I’m not joking! Play around with numbers and see where cuts in certain areas can get you to the budget you envision. Try even cutting the number of children attending as it will reduce expenses (and maybe give their parents a welcome break!).

Be creative with your menu

Firstly, the good news is that Shark’s fin soup is becoming more of a social ‘no-no’ nowadays with the growing awareness of the cruelty and endangerment it creates. With that off your list, be innovative with your other dishes. Instead of champagne, opt for wine. Instead of Oysters or Abalone, choose fish instead. Remember, weddings are a social event where guests love to chat & drink the night away rather than focus on cuisine.

Don’t bake the whole cake

Well, not in a literal sense now! We don’t want ill guests! But cut costs by having a multi-tiered cake where only the top tier is real and the rest is for display only. Serve guests with sheet cake which is not only easy but more economical.

Be smart with the flower power

Most brides get a shock when they find out how much flower decor actually costs. One tip is to buy flowers whole sale and that are in season. Then get a florist to arrange them which is cheaper than commissioning the florist to source the flowers as well.

Discounts on your Wedding Dress

If you like designer dresses but don’t have the budget for one… be resourceful. Search online for designer dresses that are on sale or are sold through discount sites. Even if the dress arrives and is slightly too big or small, you can just bring it to a credible tailor to make the needed adjustments.

Make friends with the professionals & other couples

We’re not saying you need to make them your bff – but networking with these peeps could give you the extra headway here and there. Find out which other brides are also having their wedding at your location and see if they are interested in sharing decoration etc costs.

Bargain

It is custom in Asia to bargain so try and do the same with your vendors (if you never ask, you’ll never receive). Compare prices between vendors and see who offers the best deal or is willing to add in a few freebies here and there.

Tags: Discount wedding dresses, Sharks fin, Wedding Budget, Wedding tips