New Zealand Weddings

Past with flying colours

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◆ Rustic wooden crates can be integral to a vintage look, and well-worn suitcases and hat boxes are both sentimenta­l and functional. Place your favours, disposable cameras or photobooth props inside them, or pile them up and rest your guest book on top.

◆ When styling your reception, consider what will be on the tables once they’re set and your guests are seated. Make sure your loved ones will be comfortabl­e and able to converse easily by opting for low centrepiec­es interspers­ed with tall, thin taper candles and vases. As an alternativ­e to a single large floral display, try small posies in stout vessels that will fill the space at a low height.

◆ Lighting that illuminate­s the walls, windows and ceiling can draw attention away from the centre of the room. Instead, direct your focus to your tables and dance floor. Choose bulbs that deliver warm, inviting lighting and cluster flickering candles in groups dotted with tealights.

◆ Festoon lights hint at the past and will bring a radiant twinkle to the trees outside your venue and the pillars inside.

◆ Schedule your ceremony for the late afternoon and the setting sun will splash your event with pink and gold.

◆ For a dessert bar with the mostest, set it up on an old dresser or wine barrels. Wrap boxes in coloured paper and stack to use as stands, and layer heavy plates on sturdy candlestic­ks for goodies to sit on.

◆ Pile or scatter seasonal fruit about the place for a homegrown colourful touch. Try lemons for a burst of yellow in spring, and vibrant berries in summer.

◆ Hark back to the once ubiquitous ‘ladies, a plate’ tradition and ask family and friends who love to bake to contribute an old-fashioned dish to your sweets table.

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 ??  ?? ABOVE AND RIGHT With spring’s abundant blooms, you’re spoilt for choice. Extend them into wreaths you can use as a backdrop to the head table, or on the back of your chairs. Suspend an oversized version overhead, hang minis along the aisle, or give...
ABOVE AND RIGHT With spring’s abundant blooms, you’re spoilt for choice. Extend them into wreaths you can use as a backdrop to the head table, or on the back of your chairs. Suspend an oversized version overhead, hang minis along the aisle, or give...
 ??  ?? LEFT A plainly decorated cake has a simple old-world charm. FACING PAGE Beautify your stationery suite with calligraph­y, then echo the sentiment by personalis­ing table runners and banners, plus menu cards, favour tags and dessert bar labels.
LEFT A plainly decorated cake has a simple old-world charm. FACING PAGE Beautify your stationery suite with calligraph­y, then echo the sentiment by personalis­ing table runners and banners, plus menu cards, favour tags and dessert bar labels.

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