Showing posts with label australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label australia. Show all posts

Monday, October 3, 2011

Breaking with tradition – alternatives to the white wedding gown


Dita Von Teese in her Vivian Westwood wedding gown


No Shrinking Violet
When burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese and controversial shock-rocker Marilyn Manson announced they were tying the knot, no one was surprised to learn their wedding was less than traditional. 

Instead of wearing white, in true burlesque style, gorgeous dancer/actor/model Von Teese 
chose this  luscious, deep violet Vivian Westwood designed gown for her wedding day.

She would have been a breathtaking sight as she passed through the gothic arches of Castle Gurteen Le Poer in Kilsheelan, an Irish castle owned by a friend of the couple. 

A harp played and they wed at midnight. The wedding was officiated by  Chilean friend, underground film director and comic book writer Alejandro Jodorowsky.




Fate and destiny
One of my favourite and most beautiful non-traditional wedding gowns is this one worn by Caitlyn (below). Her wedding took place in New Zealand’s breathtaking Queenstown against a backdrop of picture perfect snow capped mountains.

As I discovered after asking her what made her choose a red wedding gown, Caitlyn had not actively sought out a non-traditional dress. Rather, she’d happened across a wedding store and, without an appointment, reluctantly decided to go in and take a wander around. “It was found by accident hidden between rows of traditional dresses” she told me. “The staff at Astra Bridal managed to squeeze me in to try it on briefly and I was hooked!!”. It was the first wedding dress Caitlyn had ever tried on so she went on to try two other more traditional ivory dresses for peace of mind, but nothing felt quite the same as her perfect red dress.

I really love Caitlyn’s story. It just goes to show that sometimes fate and destiny can step in to make decisions for you.


Pinks and purples are hugely popular non-traditional colours:

   

 Here are some other colours to consider:

  


Poinciana Red
This next red dress made for an extra special pairing with a Poinciana tree in full bloom on a beach on beautiful Hamilton Island in Australia. I just love the colour energy and synergy with the backdrop. 





Something Blue
Although Michael Buble’s bride wore a traditional white dress at their Vancouver wedding, she wore this cute little blue number for their civil ceremony in her home town of Buenos Aires, Argentina.





Bewitching in Black 
Vera Wang sent shockwaves through the bridal fashion world when she sent her very black wedding dress collection down the runway at her recent fall bridal show.


Images from New York Times

Speaking to the Bee-Shyuan Chang for the New York Times, Mark Ingram, owner of the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier in Manhattan described the collection as "... shocking and outrageous, but it was also fabulous”. See more of the collection at Fashionologie



With the trend for non-traditional wedding gowns growing, what colour will you wear on your wedding day?


Destination: Wedding - A guide to planning the destination wedding of your dreams is available in paperback and digital formats at Amazon (UK)Amazon (USA) and from www.destination-wedding-book.com.



Friday, February 25, 2011

The Top 5 Places To Tie the Knot in 2011

If you’re looking for the hottest places to tie the knot this year, here are my top picks for 2011:

1. Bora Bora
Famous for its overwater bungalows that hover above ridiculously gorgeous coral reefs, Bora Bora is a heavenly island just perfect for a tropical destination wedding. Recent changes to Tahiti and French Polynesia’s marriage laws means it’s now easier to get married there.  Previously, the law required couples to reside in Tahiti for 30 days prior to getting married, which made it difficult for foreigners wishing to be legally married there.  Not that most people would mind spending 30 days in paradise, but it could become quite costly to stay in luxury surrounds for an extended period.
Image courtesy of InterContinental Tahiti
2. Venice
Anywhere in Italy is perfect for a destination wedding, but Venice is an especially romantic spot to tie the knot against a backdrop of renaissance splendour. A must-do is to be expertly manoeuvred around the city’s famous canals in a Venetian gondola passing by countless centuries-old palaces and villas. Venice has an array of reception venues perfect for hosting a lavish reception or, if you’re arranging more intimate nuptial celebrations, you’ll have no shortage of traditional Venetian restaurants to choose from.
Image courtesy of Venice Events
3. Great Barrier Reef
One of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing on earth visible from space. Choose from secluded Lizard Island, beautiful Hayman Island or take a sea plane out to marry on the reef itself. A post-nuptial flight over Heart Reef (the heart-shaped reef that Oprah fell in love with on her recent tour) to admire its awesome beauty from above is the perfect way to end the day. No matter which location you choose, a Great Barrier Reef wedding is guaranteed to be one you’ll never forget.


4. Paris
Image courtesy of Rendezvous in Paris

Paris has become a popular romantic rendezvous point for destination wedding couples due to its central location. Elopements in Paris are all the rage or you could marry at home and have a symbolic ceremony in France.  Although you can’t marry inside or atop famous Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame or the Sucre Coeur, it’s possible to have photos with them in the background. While in Paris, be sure to take a cruise down the Seine, visit some of the city’s famous sights and kiss under the stars on the steps of Montmartre.

5. Cook Islands
For the ultimate island paradise wedding, head to the Cook Islands.  Rumours Luxury Villas and Spa in Rarotonga is one of the most romantic places to say "I do" on the planet (click on the link to view videos).  The resort’s own onsite wedding coordinator becomes your personal wedding consultant, ensuring your wedding day is perfect in every way. The luxury, 'romance beachfront villas' provide an idyllic pre-wedding and honeymoon accommodation that will make you feel like a Polynesian princess.  
Image courtesy of Edgewater Resort and Spa, Rarotonga

Stay tuned for my list of the top 5 destination wedding locations for 2012!


Destination: Wedding - A guide to planning the destination wedding of your dreams is available in paperback and digital formats at Amazon (UK)Amazon (USA) and from www.destination-wedding-book.com.

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