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When planning a wedding in COVID times the key question is how can you make it work? Wedding planning can be stressful for couples at the best of times, let alone adding in a pandemic and ever-evolving restrictions. Reduce your stress and build your confidence in going ahead, have a back up plan and ensure you make the most of it. Our tips and tricks to help you navigate the COVID-safe world of weddings. Click here for more tips and tricks. Here are the tried and tested tips and tricks to hosting a COVID-safe weddings (and enjoying it!!). 1. Smaller, more intimate numbers Guest numbers seem to be one of the frequently affected wedding plans due to the pandemic. Planning for smaller, more intimate numbers helps to reduce your risk of transmission, and is a beautiful way to celebrate your wedding day. 2. Host your reception later Couples more often than note report the most fun part of their wedding day being the reception – that is the party! And luckily, as long as the ceremony is done, you are now married and can have the wedding party at any time. Plus who doesn't love a good party? 3. Outdoor weddings Hosting your wedding outdoors is a great decision - with airflow and lots of space for social distancing. If you have an indoor venue, speak with the venue about ventilation and social distancing. Or if the venue has an outdoor venue, consider moving your beautiful wedding outside (under the stars)! 4. Get creative Let's get creative - there are some fun ways to incorporate COVID restrictions and requirements to your wedding day. Here's a few favourites: Design a name tag for glasses, host your interstate guests via Zoom, provide individual grazing boxes, socially distance chairs in fun designs and patterns, pre-record speeches and display on video (and live stream to those who couldn't make it), as well as fun signage to lighten the situation. 5. Be flexible Previously all wedding decisions made were completely up to the couple. Unfortunately, now there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. State restrictions, venue contract terms and more. One thing couples are having to do is be flexible. Flexible on dates when postponing or rescheduling, flexible on food styles because of COVID rules, flexible on no-dancing or no-drinking or no-signing. 6. Be prepared for lockdown One of the most feared COVID impacts on weddings is a complete lockdown. This is because its not just restrictions, this will mean your wedding day cannot go ahead AT ALL if the date occurs during a lockdown. Although, we all hope this doesn't happen to you - you are highly encouraged to have a lockdown plan. Ensure you know what your suppliers contingency plans are, if you can postpone without any cost and when the cut off dates are for your orders/bookings. 7. Budget for changes It is a great idea to budget for any cost due to changes, postponements and lockdowns. This will help reduce the stress of any associated costs if you were already prepared for them. And a great BONUS if you don't have any costs, you could use the budget for something else to make your day even more special and/or for your honeymoon! 8. Consider contractual obligations You should review all your venue and supplier contracts to ensure you understand your responsibilities and obligations under COVID (or any other health or natural disaster) conditions. If you have a wedding planner, your planner should be across this. 9. Keep up to date with physical distancing & other COVID requirements It is really important to keep up to date with physical distancing & other COVID requirements within your area. This is where your vendors will come in handy. They will need to keep up with their own requirements and can help pull the pieces together for you. The below image is a great example of making great use of social distancing despite COVID restrictions. 10. Communicate the rules to your guests Guests are increasingly worried about rules when attending weddings. The best way to make your guests feel more comfortable is to communicate these rules. Send a rules list with your invitations, and any updates in reply to their RSVP. And perhaps an update just before the wedding date (if applicable). And make sure your MC communicates this on the day! COVID-Safe wedding guest etiquette Weddings have changed and the changes are unfortunately here to stay for a while. As a guest at a pandemic / post-pandemic wedding, your wedding day bag looks a little different. Remember to bring your stylish mask, hand sanitiser, tag your own glass, understand when reduce numbers affects your attendance, and graciously follow the COVID rules provided to you. If you are still feeling overwhelmed by planning a pandemic friendly wedding or event, follow us for more! Or click below for more tips and tricks!

Hey lovers! Congratulations on your engagement! Now it's time to start the planning process? Planning your wedding day is exciting, but also can be overwhelming. There is lots to do and sometimes not enough time to get it all done by yourselves. Especially when you have many ideas and are finding it hard to decide on a theme or venue etc. This is where a wedding planner (person and binder version) come in handy. Even though a wedding planner (person) is not for everyone. A wedding planner (binder) definitely is. This is one of the must-haves for any event. Especially a wedding. Binders are a great way to keep all your ideas, plans and information in one location. If you are a DIY bride, this will ensure your papers are not lost underneath all the wedding crafts and projects you are about to undertake. Before you do, check out our free printables in our latest post! These may help save you DIY brides time! What you will need! Before you can build your wedding binder, you will need to get your supplies: Binder Paper & Lined Notepads Divider tabs (coloured) Clear sheet protectors Sticky notes (coloured) Highlighters, markers and pens (coloured) We highly recommend starting off with a white binder. It is a wedding after all. But even more so, this will alow you to stay focused on the content rather than the binder itself. It is also important to get a range of colours for the colour coding you will be doing later on. Organising your binder! Once you have your supplies, it is time to start organising! Yay! A typical wedding binder will be organised in the following sections. Create a fun cover page design similar to your invitations or theme for each section below: Cover page Timeline Budget Guest list Invitations Venue Theme and Decor Inspo Vendors Wedding party contact details Wedding Dress Bridesmaids Groom Groomsmen Registry Rehearsal Dinner Plans Ceremony Reception Honeymoon Remember this is YOUR wedding. Make it your own. You can have sub-headings, you can change all the above sections. Work with what will help you stay organised and happy. There is nothing set in stone here! What we love about binders is that you can add just about anything. You can add lined notebooks for any notes you take in vendor appointments, or a spot to keep your receipts in the clear sheet protectors mentioned above. Start using your binder! Now that your binder is organised into sections, it is time to start using it. Anything you have already organised, place in the relevant sections. Any inspiration that you haven't decided on, place in the Inspo tab. This will help you keep track of anything you like before making decisions. Make sure you keep your pages in their relevant sections. This will be extremely handy in the future of your planning. Keep a print out of any of your electronic spreadsheets, listed or pinterest board. This will help you stay on top of up-to-date information. QR Codes! And yes, it sounds like a lot of paper and we aren't in the business of ruining the environment. You can easily create QR codes for any links to your online spreadsheets, lists or pinterest board. Simply visit https://www.qr-code-generator.com/ and print this instead. QR codes can be read easily with your smart phone - most phones read without an app!! Check out our latest posts for more tips and tricks to planning a wedding!! - Briana, White Orchid Events ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

Hey lovers! Congratulations on your engagement! It's time to kick off your wedding celebrations in style. An engagement party is a great way to celebrate the start of your married life and get family / friends together to celebrate before the wedding. As any event planning, there is much to do and more often than not short amount of time. And questions, so many questions. Hopefully we help answer some of them below! So join us for the journey and get your top engagement party tips from our Event Designers. We are going to talk all things Engagement Party from Etiquette to Steps to plan to Best Decor Tips! Your Engagement Journey Engagement Party Etiquette Who is the host? Traditionally engagement parties are hosted by the Bride's parents, but as weddings and engagements become more modern. It is anyone's game, whether you want to host it on your own or be showered with love by your parents hosting the party. When should I throw the party? Most professional event planners will say within 3 - 6 months of your engagement. But we say - WHENEVER YOU WANT! Everyone's situation is different and things happen to get in the way of party (and wedding) planning. Do what feels right for you. Invitations - paper or e-vite? It truly depends on your style. Having a formal, sit down engagement? Send paper invitations for an added elegance. Having an informal, casual or cocktail event? Send an e-vite. It is a great money saver and also eco-friendly. In fact, send an e-vite where possible. There are so many wonderful choices for e-vites and wedding / engagement party websites which are great alternatives. Save on stamps! Guests - who to invite? It is polite to invite only those who you will be inviting to your wedding. An engagement party is like a pre-wedding celebration, so your guests will be waiting and holding out for an invitation to your wedding. There are some exceptions, such as elopements. You may invite all your friends and families to your engagement party but elope in secret. Or when you have a huge engagement party and a small, very intimate wedding. And obviously, things change. Friends may move away, you may make new friends depending on the date. You may decide to invite more than your engagement party, which is totally fine. But it is taboo to invite less than the engagement party. Just keep in mind that guests will be expecting an invitation to your wedding and it can be awkward when they aren't invited. Gift registry - yes or no? Gifts for engagement parties are not mandatory, they may be given by your guests, but certainly not mandatory. Avoid signing up to the registry and avoid including the details with your engagement invitation. What you can do is: sign up to the wedding registry prior to the engagement. Ensure you give the details to your parents and bridal party. The reason why is this will give them the opportunity to pass the details along if anyone asks those particular people for engagement party present ideas. Our parents haven't met yet! If they haven't already, your parents should meet prior to the engagement party in an intimate setting. We highly recommend an intimate dinner. This will allow them to meet and get to know each other without the atmosphere and the background of a party. Now it is time to discuss the steps for planning an amazing Engagement Party. Steps to planning an amazing Engagement Party Decide who is the wonderful host Before starting any planning, you should decide who will be hosting your engagement party. As mentioned above, this is usually hosted by the Bride's parents. But this is not always the case. And in modern times, your parents may not be expecting to host. It may be your friend, family member or wedding planner. Make sure you speak with them and identify who will be hosting. This is important for the next step in Engagement Party planning. Set a budget Once you have decided who will be hosting, you will need to set a budget. Traditionally, the host would be the bill payer. Again, in modern times, this is not always the case and the host may not be expecting it. Please ensure you communicate effectively with your host to set expectations. This will help you in the planning process for a smooth and happy planning experience. The budget is important to be set before deciding on the next steps in Engagement Party planning. Pick a date Picking a date or approximate time of the year is important. This will help you set the theme, find your venue and gives you a basis for your timeline. You will need to work all your planning back from the date or time of the year you choose. So choose wisely. Whether you want a spring, fall or winter engagement party. All are amazing times to celebrate love and can really drive the theme for your engagement party. We love themes! Can you tell? Finalise Guest list Once you have picked the date, you need to write up your guest list. We have generated a free printable flow chart that will help you with this step. Remember: The etiquette is to invite only those who you will invite to the wedding. This will avoid hurt feelings and awkwardness. And obviously, things change. Friends may move away, you may make new friends depending on the date. You may invite more than your engagement party, which is totally fine. But it is taboo to invite less than the engagement party. Download here Find your venue Now that you have your date / time of the year, guest list and budget - you are ready to find your venue! Yay! Based on those previous steps, you should be able to narrow down your venue choices. Think about the important things in venue finding: Location, Size, Food and Drink Style, Inclusions, Reputation and Date/Time. Choose a theme Usually influenced by the venue, next is to choose a theme! Ahhh, so exciting! We love themes!!! .... I think I've already said that, oh well. Themes are wonderful. They help set the mood, guide you through your invitations, food, decor and so so so much more. Picking a theme is a chance for you to let your personality shine. Personalise your experiences! It is YOUR wedding. About YOUR love. After all! Send out invitations Invitations are out! As listed above, your invitation is influenced by your style and whether you are going for an eco-friendly approach. Whatever way you chose. It is time to send out your invitations! And get those RSVPs in. Especially dietary requirements. When you receive dietary requirements, keep a record of these in a book or spreadsheet. This will be extremely helpful when you are organising food for your wedding! Food - yum! Now to plan your menu. You may be sensing a pattern to this whole planning thing. Everything has a cause and effect. But again, your menu is controlled by your venue and limited by the style of your engagement party. Think about your guests and their style. Yes, the wedding and engagement party is about you. But who wants a bunch of money spent on food no one will eat. No one does, that's who. Our favourites below are winners for almost all guests. Ensure you have vegetarian, gluten free and vegan options for those RSVPS. Cocktail: Gourmet Meatballs, Burger Sliders, Mini Desserts and Grazing Tables!!!! Formal Sit-Down: Grazing Board for the entrée, Steak or Chicken for the main, and individual royal desserts to finish off the night. Select decor & styling items One of the most fun parts about planning events is the styling! Who doesn't love picking out colours and decorations?! If you regularly struggle making decisions, then this may not be for you, perhaps consider hiring a stylist. They have the perfect eye to turn your engagement party into a beautiful event. If you are just as excited as us by picking out colours and decorations to suit your venue and theme, than go right ahead and start selecting your decor. See below for some further tips for 2020 and 2021 engagement parties. Decide on attire Most engagements have a cocktail dress code. However, depending on your venue and theme, you may go for a more ball gown or even more casual attire. If you are steering away from cocktail dress code, it is best to notify your guests on your invitations to ensure they are aware. I don't know about you, but I hate turning up to an event underdressed or overdressed. It can cause discomfort in those that regularly avoid the spotlight. Engagement Party Decor Our engagement party essentials list for 2020/21 decor We have chosen our favourite trends for 2020/21. Some items double up as functional and decorative! And we love it!! Please remember to stay safe during these pandemic times and follow health guidelines. Grazing Tables Festoon Lighting Candles, lots and lots of candles Neon Signage Florals and greenery Giant Balloons Frill Photo Backdrop Candy Bar Pictures of the lovely couple Lawn Games - Briana, White Orchid Events ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

Are you asking yourself "What am I doing?", "This is going to cost so much", "Why is everything so expensive!"? Then you may be planning your next event or party the wrong way. Don't get me wrong - I love themed parties more than anyone I know. I love decorating, planning the invitation and outfits to go with it. But it can get expensive.. see my tips below to reduce your expenses when it comes to Themed Parties. Tips To Reduce Your Expenses: 1. Pick a theme that can be achieved using colours. I always recommend my clients to steer away from licensed balloons, cups, plates, serviettes, decorations etc. when they are on a budget or trying to reduce expenses to focus on other special items for their parties. Usually one or two licensed décor and staples are enough, they add the super cute feel and usually great quality - however, they do become a ridiculous and an unnecessary expense when you are trying to go all out on licensed items. Here in this picture - our client could have bought licensed decorations, balloons, plates, food etc. And would have achieved a beautiful set up. But is this not already? For example: A hungry caterpillar party - all you need is rainbow everything and your almost finished (add a hungry caterpillar cake and books, there you have your theme!) Another option is to look into hiring or buying second hand - depending on the decoration/item, you can find amazing things for amazing prices. Op Shops can be your best friend! 2. Choose decorations you can make yourself. The sign for the TWO wild party was made with printed paper and laminating sheets. This was a simple and cost effective way for our client to have a sign without having to pay the big bucks from sign suppliers. For the backdrop, the client hired our pallet wall - which is another simple and cost effective solution. If you or your partner are handy enough to put something like this together, all you need is a pallet (at times you can get them for free), sander and the right paint. Be sure to snap up a good pallet! 3. Use what you already have. This sounds like a no-brainer and may be hard for some to picture. But it truly is the best tip. In our set up below for the Tri-ceratops / Dinosaur themed party - we utilized our clients inside plants to add elements and colour. Our client also used plates, platters and bowls they had around the house - instead of buying or hiring them for the set up. And we think it looks great! 4. Cake Let's be honest - a lot of people come to parties for the cake. Especially the adults. When an invitation for a kids party comes in, you are definitely not jumping up and down... But then you think of the food! Yum! Cakes can be the ultimate decoration - that ties it all in together - that makes the whole set up amazing! Make sure your cake is like your theme threw it up! Sorry for the OTT image. It doesn't have to be crazy and over the top colours or toppings, but should scream your theme. Make sure you look around and keep trying new bakers. We have a baker that we love and use all the time - she is reasonably priced and her cakes always taste amazing. But finding her was not easy and we personally went through some ok-not terrible bakers before this.. Also can you believe this cake was only $70 AUD? I couldn't! And the last but not least tip is. . . 5. If you are hiring any items or have a party planner, check with them if they have recommendations or deals with other companies! It never hurts to ask for specials or to give your supplier a budget to work with. But it definitely doesn't hurt to ask if they have any recommendations or deals with other companies if they are referred through your planner. This can equal discounts, free giveaways and more - you just have to ask. Check out our other Theme's via Hire > Theme This! ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

Photography credit: Ivory Fox Photography Whether your wedding is classic, modern or bohemian - there is a wedding song out there for you. A lot of couples struggle to pick the perfect songs for each important step of the wedding day. See our blog on how to select the perfect song - for you. We have put together a list of our favourite wedding songs, popular and unique alike. Not only for your first dance, but they can also make it on your procession or DJ playlist. Don't worry if you are having a modern wedding, these songs aren't just the oldies (although there are some goodies). 01 I'll Be - Edwin McCain Lyrics: I'll be your cryin' shoulder, I'll be love suicide, I'll be better when I'm older, I'll be the greatest fan of your life 02 Sweet Creature - Harry Styles Lyrics: Sweet creature, sweet creature, When I run out of road, you bring me home, You'll bring me home 03 Endless Love - Diana Ross Lyrics: My love, there's only you in my life, The only thing that's bright, My first love, You're every breath that I take, You're every step I make, And I, I want to share, All my love with you 04 She Is Love - Parachute Lyrics: They call her love, love, love, love, love, She is love, And she is all I need. 05 Say You Wont Let Go - James Arthur Lyrics: I'm gonna love you 'til, My lungs give out, I promise 'til death we part like in our vows, So I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows, Finally it's just you and me 'til we're grey and old, Just say you won't let go 06 Electricity - Silk City, Dua Lipa Lyrics: You give me a feeling, feeling so strong, I know you've been treating, treating yourself wrong, So let me care for you, Ooh, baby, I'ma love you differently, I'll give you electricity 07 Better Together - Jack Johnson Lyrics: It's always better when we're together, Yeah, we'll look at the stars when we're together 08 Everything - Michael Buble Lyrics: And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times, It's you, it's you; you make me sing, You're every line, you're every word, you're everything 09 Tenerife Sea - Ed Sheeran Lyrics: You look so wonderful in your dress, I love your hair like that, The way it falls on the side of your neck, Down your shoulders and back 10 How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees Lyrics: How deep is your love, how deep is your love 11 Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder Lyrics: Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful? Isn't she precious? 12 Only Love - Ben Howard Lyrics: Darling you're with me, always around me, Only love, only love, Give me shelter, or show me heart, Come on love, come on love 13 Once In A Lifetime - Flo Rida Lyrics: Only got one life to live, And I wanna spend it with you, Love comes once in a lifetime 14 Can I Be Him - James Arthur Lyrics: You walked into the room and now my heart has been stolen, You took me back in time to when I was unbroken, Now you're all I want, And I knew it from the very first moment 15 Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson Lyrics: Maybe we could sleep in, Make you banana pancakes, Pretend like it's the weekend now 16 You and Me - Lifehouse Lyrics: 'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do, Nothing to lose, And it's you and me and all of the people, And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you 17 Purpose - Justin Bieber Lyrics: And you've given me the best gift, That I've ever known, You give me purpose everyday, You give me purpose in every way 18 Stuck With Me - Timeflies Lyrics: Thank God everyday for how you were made, Naturally engaged, you don't need the make-up, Every curve and shape I could illustrate, Your body on the page, I cannot erase the love, And I won't tell you no lie, 'Cause baby, you are stuck, you are stuck with me 19 Perfect - Ed Sheeran Lyrics: Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms, Barefoot on the grass, we're listenin' to our favorite song, When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath, But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight 20 A Thousand Years - Christina Perri Lyrics: I have died everyday, waiting for you, Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more 21 Let's Stay Together - Al Green Lyrics: I'm so in love with you, Whatever you want to do, Is all right with me, Cause you make me feel so brand new, And I want to spend my life with you 22 How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding Lyrics: How long will I love you, As long as stars are above you, And longer if I can 23 Can't Help Falling In Love - Haley Reinhart Lyrics: Wise men say only fools rush in, But I can't help falling in love with you 24 Lucky - Jason Mraz Lyrics: I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend, Lucky to have been where I have been, Lucky to be coming home again, Lucky we're in love in every way, Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed, Lucky to be coming home someday 25 I Was Made For Loving You - Tori Kelly, Ed Sheeran Lyrics: 'Cause I was made for loving you, Even though we may be hopeless hearts just passing through, Every bone screaming I don't know what we should do, All I know is, darling, I was made for loving you 26 Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better) - Felix Jaehn Lyrics: Ain't nobody, Loves me better, Makes me happy, Makes me feel this way, Ain't nobody, Loves me better than you 27 All Of Me - John Legend Lyrics: All of me, Loves all of you, Love your curves and all your edges, All your perfect imperfections, Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you, You're my end and my beginning, Even when I lose I'm winning, 'Cause I give you all of me 28 Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye Lyrics: 'Cause baby there ain't no mountain high enough, Ain't no valley low enough, Ain't no river wide enough, to keep me from getting to you babe 29 Best Day Of My Life - American Authors Lyrics: This is gonna be, this is gonna be, this is gonna be, The best day of my life, Everything is looking up, everybody up now, This is gonna be the best day of my life, My li-i-i-i-i-ife 30 The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra Lyrics: Some day, when I'm awfully low, When the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you, And the way you look tonight 31 I Will Spend My Whole Life Loving You - Imaginary Future Lyrics: Oh believe me, I've been counting my stars, Cause I will spend my whole life, Loving you 32 I Wouldn't Mind - He Is We Lyrics: You so know me, Pinch me gently, I can hardly breathe, Forever is a long, long time, But I wouldn't mind spending it by your side, Tell me everyday I get to wake up to that smile, I wouldn't mind it at all 33 Macarena - Los Del Rio Lyrics: Dale a tu cuerpo alegría Macarena, Que tu cuerpo es pa' darle alegría cosa Buena, Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena, Hey Macarena 34 Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden Lyrics: I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy., I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need, I'll love you more with every breath, truly madly deeply do 35 Come Away With Me - Norah Jones Lyrics: Come away with me and we'll kiss, On a mountaintop, Come away with me, And I'll never stop loving you 36 Home - Edward Sharp Lyrics: And in the streets you run a-free, Like it's only you and me, Geez, you're something to see, Ah, home, let me come home, Home is wherever I'm with you 37 Nutbush City Limits - Ike & Tina Turner Lyrics: They call it Nutbush, oh Nutbush, Yeah they call it Nutbush city, Nutbush city limits 38 Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day Lyrics: He rocks in the tree tops all day long, Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song, All the little birdies on Jaybird Street, Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet, Rockin' robin, rock rock, Rockin' robin' 39 Marry Me - Train Lyrics: Together can never be close enough for me, Feel like I am close enough to you, You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you, And you're beautiful, Now that the wait is over, And love and has finally shown her my way, Marry me, Today and every day, Marry me 40 There's Only One Of You - Nathan Sykes Lyrics: They say there's one chance you get, They say there's one life you live but there's only one you, And you’re just what I like 41 You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker Lyrics: You are so beautiful, To me, Can't you see, You're everything I hoped for, You're everything I need, You are so beautiful, To me 42 You & Me - Boyce Avenue Lyrics: 'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do, Nothing to lose, And it's you and me and all of the people, And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you 43 Daughters - John Mayer Lyrics: Fathers, be good to your daughters, Daughters will love like you do, Girls become lovers who turn into mothers, So mothers be good to your daughters, too 44 More Than Words - Extreme Lyrics: All you have to do is close your eyes, And just reach out your hands and touch me, Hold me close don't ever let me go 45 You'll Be In My Heart - Phil Collins Lyrics: Cause you'll be in my heart, Yes, you'll be in my heart, From this day on, Now and forever more, You'll be in my heart, No matter what they say, You'll be here in my heart, Always 46 At Last - Etta James Lyrics: At last my love has come along, My lonely days are over and life is like a song, oh yeah, At last the skies above are blue, My heart was wrapped up clover the night I looked at you 47 I Love You - Alex & Sierra Lyrics: I fell in love with a beautiful girl, She still takes my breath away, I fell in love in the morning sun, While the hours slipped away 48 Honeymoon - Johnny Stimson Lyrics: You give me déjà vu, Like l've been waiting my whole life to find that view, 'Cause when I'm lookin' at your eyes, I go from California to Timbuktu, Back to dancing in the living room, If I got you, baby, everyday's a honeymoon 49 Isn't She Lovely - Kevin Simm Lyrics: Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful? Isn't she precious? 50 Tee Shirt - Birdy Lyrics: In the morning when you wake up, I like to believe you are thinking of me, And when the sun comes through your window, I like to believe you've been dreaming of me ~ If you would like to stay in our blog loop, enter your details below ~

You don't have to be an environmentalist to use Eco Confetti. There are many reasons you should use Eco Confetti. Here are some reasons below: 1. Safe for the environment Using Eco Confetti you are giving back to nature instead of polluting it. 2. Clean up So easy! If you use leaves and are getting married in a garden - NO CLEAN UP! (Well as long as you don't go over the top and your venue is ok with it) which is part of the reason why we used leaf confetti at our own wedding - as well as reason #4. 3. They look great There are so many different colours and textures. Choose between a heart, circle, square, rectangle, star and more shapes to suit you! 4. Safe for the wildlife around There are so many venues now that are shared with horses, chickens and other farm animals and wildlife. It isn't common knowledge, but there are some petals / flowers and other plants that are harmful (poisonous) to pets and other animals. 5. Cost Effective If you choose leaf confetti, there is lots of time and effort to be made towards making enough, but who doesn't love a budget option. Go to your neighbourhood park and collect the fallen leaves. Hole punch til your hearts content. Tips and tricks: * When using confetti, be careful not to have extra small confetti pieces. In my experience, the photographer may find it difficult to capture your lovely (leaf) confetti. I recommend a 7-10mm width for each hole punched piece. * Be ready to clean it up or pay a cleaning fee to the venue (always check with the venue before using confetti) Types of eco confetti: Leaf confetti Rose petals (dried) Coconut flakes Coconut flake confetti is an up and coming trend. Just keep in mind your guests and potential allergies, including your venue before choosing this option How to make leaf (eco) confetti: 1. Collect your leaves Collect your leaves based on colour preferences. You will need more than you think as you will lose volume when hole punching. Fill your storage box to the brim before punching (maybe even twice) and continue until desired amount (after punching). Tip: ensure they are dry, but not brittle before hole punching 2. Hole punch your leaves Hole punch your leaves with your shape puncher into a box. 3. Storage Store your punched leaves in a box with Silica gel packets. The gel will ensure they dry and not mold, especially when creating confetti early. 4. On the big day Your confetti will be ready for use on the big day. Just transfer from the box to a basket and you're ready to go. Keep an eye out for our next blog and don't forget to send us a message to start planning your next event!! :D ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

Ceremony & Reception Location: Brooklyn Farm, Myponga ​Vendor Credits: Wedding Planner & Event Hire: White Orchid Events Umbrellas & Wine Barrels: Olympic Party Hire Celebrant: Narelle Thomas Wedding Celebrant Photographer: James Devine Photography Secondary Photographer: Capture the Present Videographer: Alex Pratt Florist: Staging Weddings Balhannah Peacock Chairs: Fleurieu Event Hire DJ/Entertainer: Nice Cup of DJ Makeup: Makeup by Ally & Makeup by Emily Hairdresser: La Pictura Hair Cake: Cakes by Caitlyn Grazing Table: Graze for Days Bus Hire: RT Mini Bus Bar Staff: Jasons Bar Staff Photobooth: Enchanting Booths Fridge Hire: A1 Hire Victor Caterer: Amore Pizza ​ *Photos shown were taken by White Orchid Events* The beautiful bride and her ladies had the pleasure of getting ready in the amazing Brooklyn Farm house built for a movie. Now a bnb, turned wedding venue. This magical venue has all the goods - a house, a shed, a tree house, wildlife (deers running around). The wedding was rustic, farm style with a modern, neutral twist. ​ It was an absolute pleasure to get to know this lovely couple and work with them to develop their look. Their love and strength as a couple showed prior to and on the day despite their distance. From the Victorian era sofa to the modern, Americana chairs to the tolix bar tables. Send us a message to start planning your next event!! :D ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

Ceremony & Reception Location: Brin Farm, Kangarilla ​Vendor Credits: Wedding Planner & Event Hire: White Orchid Events Bridal Gown: Luv Bridal Groom / Groomsmen Suits: Yd Australia Bridesmaids: St Frock Kids Suit: Myer & Target Flower Girl Dress: Arabella & Rose Celebrant: Helen McCann Celebrant Photographer: Ivory Fox Photography Secondary Photographer: Benny Craven Photography Florist: Harvest Studio DJ: Tennyson Events, Ryley Tennyson Makeup: Beauty by D-Zire Cake / Donuts: Absolutely Cakes Night before accommodation: Highground @ Kangarilla Bridal night accommodation: Bundaleer Cottage, McLaren Vale Car: Hertz Adelaide Marquee: Down South Party Hire ​ *Photos shown were taken by Ivory Fox Photography* This wedding was special for the White Orchid Events team. Finally the day that our owners, Briana and Chris were married. This beautiful venue has everything you need for a farm, black beauty dream. The wedding was rustic, farm style with white and green tones. Incorporating very cute children, furbabies and family in the celebration. Driven by Briana's brother, her dream of arriving to the ceremony in a Mustang came true, perfectly matching the navy theme. Send us a message to start planning your next event!! :D ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

You may be surprised by how frequently couples ask for song recommendations for their first dance. Hopefully this post helps someone out there (and maybe save a marriage, before it's begun - haha!) The first dance can be a high expectations part of the whole day and while you are reading this, just know you are not alone. There is a lot of pressure on weddings to be perfect, beautiful and so memorable - the dance being one of these. With fireworks, smoke machines and amazing theatrics or choreography to show off your love to all in attendance, no wonder so much pressure is put on the first dance! Don't get me wrong, I love these things, but if it's not you, then don't worry about them! Over the course of your planning, you may find yourself worried about having the perfect song, the dance being beautiful and memorable (rather than awkward and weird), and for those introverts out there - one of the many times throughout the day that everyone has all eyes on you and your better half! Planning my own wedding - the song was one of the parts that hubby (Chris) and I "struggled" with. Not only do we have completely different preferences for music genres, lyrics and sound, but we just seemed to disagree and were unable to find the one we both "love". We found ourselves (mainly me) rushing and compromising to pick the perfect song even a year out from the wedding. But in the end we found the perfect one, with the perfect lyrics that we both loved for the perfect dance ~ for us! The reason I make the point of it being perfect ~ for us ~ is that what is perfect for you, is not perfect for somebody else - even your fiancé!! Six steps to find your perfect song: 1. Gather your suggestions to bring to the table The main reason I suggest this as step #1 is it will be easiest for you by yourself to go through and pick some favourites. Get a Spotify account or listen to a wedding playlist on YouTube. You may already have some in mind and write them down, now this is where the next step comes in.. 2. Listen to them together What better way to see if the electricity will be present while dancing than to listen to it together in the comfort of your own space without all eyes on you and without actually dancing. This step may be a hard one if you have a busy partner like mine - to catch them in enough down-time to listen properly to a few songs can be quite a feat. But it is totally worth it. Bring all your suggestions together and write down the ones you both love. 3. Listen to them separately and see if the song reminds you of the love of your life! Once you have narrowed down your list, listen to them by yourself. On your way to work, at work, while you are cleaning or cooking. Just to see if you both still love them. This helps weed out the ones that you aren't in love with, or the ones that may get "old" when listened to often. 4. Look up the lyrics and see if they represent your relationship in YOUR eyes Lyrics are extremely important - they can help set the mood or they may ruin the mood. The latter less likely but still a risk. They may make your dance that much more perfect, because it represents your relationship in that moment and how you want to be for the rest of your lives. 5. Pick your top choices - this is a great time to see which mutual songs you both picked Pick your own top choices separately and bring the list together. If there is a song you have both brought to the table, then that's your song! And let's be honest, if you aren't completely happy with the decision - start again. It's like when you do eeny, meeny, miny, moe and you don't like the outcome. You may not bring any songs together that are the same - which you can go back to the drawing board or you can discuss why you chose the songs you chose. This may help your partner see the logic in your decision. 6. Play the songs and dance to them - it may feel silly, but just remember you ARE going to be doing this on the day (perhaps in a big fluffy dress or tight suit that you are probably not used to) It is good to loosen up and have a dance together to the songs you've selected. Ask yourself if you feel comfortable, if you can dance to the tempo and see how it feels. It will be so much better on the day/night, but it's a good indicator of how it's going to feel. Extra Tip: Don't forget to check with your band, singers or DJ to ensure they can play/sing the song. If you are having a live band or acoustic singers for your music, ask for a quick snippet of what the song will sound like to ensure you love it. Sometimes the sound can change, and you don't want any surprises on the day!! Also, don't worry if you feel your song is too long. Ask your band, singer or DJ to shorten it. Keep an eye out for our next blog and don't forget to send us a message to start planning your next event!! :D ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

Ceremony Location: Sutton Gardens Reception Location: Sturt Baseball Club ​Vendor Credits: Wedding Planner & Event Hire: White Orchid Events Groom / Groomsmen Suits: Ferrari Formal Wear Celebrant: Gaynor Photographer: Ross Lamb DJ and Photobooth: Chloe & Chris DJs ​ *Photos shown were taken by White Orchid Events* This simply, beautiful wedding was a champagne, peach and white theme. The couple were married in the Sutton Gardens under the big tree covered in butterflies, across the road from their reception location - Sturt Baseball Club: a special location for the Bride & Groom where they met and continue to be a part of the community through their love of baseball. We had the honoured of styling a couple of unique, special pieces. Setting up the bride's fathers picture on the bridal table and the cup art on the baseball fencing. We just love special wedding locations with a deeper meaning: family. Send us a message to start planning your next event!! :D ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

Ceremony Location: Cable Station Reserve Reception Location: Grange Surf Life Saving Club ​ Vendor Credits: Wedding Planner & Event Hire: White Orchid Events Celebrant: Kathleen Halliday Photographer: Peter Travis Photographer Florist: Strike A Posy Centrepiece & Arbour Greenery: White Orchid Events DJ/Entertainer: Tomas Ford Hairdresser: Fixation Hair Studio Cake: Cheese Co. West Lakes R & G were blessed with a beautiful day - unlike the 43 degree day the previous year. Arriving in a classic car and married at the picturesque Cable Station Reserve, Grange. The wedding style was simple, clean - whites and greens. It was absolute pleasure to get to know this lovely couple and work with them to develop their look. From the amazing greenery bouquet to the eclectic wooden chairs described as a wonderful childhood memory. ​ Their loving personalities and values shine through the photos (especially the private ones that I believe should stay that). Their beautiful pup being the ring bearer, a dancing / flash mob entrance to the reception and family style menu made it all that much more special and a perfect reflection of the couple as individuals and as a married couple. Send us a message to start planning your next event!! :D ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~

To kick-off our blogging adventure, I thought I would share a little bit about me and how White Orchid Events came to be. I apologize in advance for my long essay (and more than likely terribly written blog as this is my first). Some event planners fall in love with events from planning their own wedding, or getting dragged into them via family or friends, or when they start a job that has an events element (and they just love it - thinking why don't I do this for a job?). For me it was not none, or any of these things particularly. I was always passionate about planning - whether it was a wedding, birthday, organizing the home or corporate management. My passion landed me in many planning and management roles over the last 9 years of my corporate career (a Personal Assistant, Store Manager, Executive Assistant and Event Coordinator). I have been involved with events from corporate to personal, large to small - the building blocks to White Orchid Events (as I like to call them). Something more personal - I am a mother of a beautiful 3-year old boy and soon to be married. Plus, my two fur babies - Bundy and Hunter. Our Name Origin: I have had a few people ask why and how we chose our name - unfortunately, it is not an exciting story - Orchids are my favourite flower (the way that they grow, the way they lean like the weight of the world is on their shoulder but are tough, they are just beautiful and inspiring). And why not fill your world with your favourite things, right? My favourite colour is green - and well Green Orchid Events just did not have the same ring to it. The colour white represents many things it can be an end or a surrender, it can be a start, for marriage, purity and new beginnings. Disclaimer: The following content may be a trigger for some women dealing with infertility and loss. How White Orchid Events came to be: At 19-years of age, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). For those that don't know what PCOS is, it is an incurable hormonal condition that affects many women. PCOS not only affects your physical health, but also mental health and fertility, and more. Infertility was something I never thought about or totally understood, yet I found myself in it. Weekly and monthly appointments, facing injections, taking medication, changing my diet and lifestyle completely, and ultrasounds so many that I wouldn't dream of counting for 3 extremely long and stressful years. We were lucky enough to have a beautiful boy (pictured above). But after being told I was less fertile and in fact, almost completely, infertile we lost hope. One day I went to the doctors with certain symptoms and found out I was pregnant - some crazy miracle. However, we lost our crazy miracle the next morning. Experiencing loss made me think everything over, it is when I asked myself, what do I want in life? What would I do to make the most of my time? I knew instantly it was to manage events and do something I love instead of "just working" and "just living". My passions lie in organization and planning especially events. So I dove head first, thanks to my supportive H2B, I opened White Orchid Events and have being doing something I love since. From corporate events to personal events, large and small, I love them all. Anywho, thank you for sticking around for our opening story and keep a look out for our next blog!! Next time we will provide you tips and ideas for your next event! And don't forget to send us a message to start planning your next event!! :D ~ Weddings | Parties | Corporate Events | Conferences ~