Cristina Re Real Weddings

Date

14 March 2008

Location

Intercontinental Resort Burswood, Western Australia

Photography

Samm Blake

DIY invitation range

Designer Paper: Peacock Pride and Shimmering Pearl
Designer Card: Midnight Card
Accessories: Jewel Fastener Pearl Gold

Q: Describe the theme of your wedding and how your style influenced the design of your invitations?

A: I have always loved the idea of feathers and how they emanated a glamorous old-Hollywood feel, so when I found the gorgeous Cristina Re Peacock Pride paper for our invitations I knew I wanted to incorporate them throughout our special day. I wore a beautiful ivory rose and ostrich feather fascinator that went perfectly with my French silk and lace Wendy Makin gown. For our signing, we had a stunning ostrich feather pen and for our place settings we printed guests names on the Peacock Pride paper and had these in little ornate silver photo frames that guests took home as gifts. The reception chairs were decorated with ivory silk sashes and giant white ostrich feathers to complete the look. We even had a white antique birdcage as our 'wishing well'.

Q: Which Cristina Re products did you use to produce your invitations?

A: I decided on a classic and elegant square card for our invitation. I used Cristina Re Designer Card in Midnight Black as the base and Cristina Re Designer Paper in Peacock Pride for the text. I also used a panel of this on the front over which was a smaller panel of metallic paper in Ivory, which our names and wedding date were inscribed. Next to our names I used the Cristina Re Pearl Silver Jewel Fasteners to secure several white ostrich plumes.

Q: Describe how you met and the marriage proposal.

A: As funny as it may sound, we met at a nightclub in Perth. Many said that it would not last but after 8 years of being together, Neil asked me the big question.

It all happened when we were home together and he decided to step out. Before he left, I was instructed to go on a scavenger hunt around our house and surroundings. After an exciting hour of hunting, I finally came across the last clue that instructed me to "dress up to the nines" as my ride would soon be arriving. A beautiful stretch limousine pulled up outside and out stepped my future husband.

We had an amazing dinner on the hill at Kings Park overlooking Perth City followed by a wonderful stroll under the stars, where he dropped down on one knee under a huge Moreton Bay Fig tree and asked me to marry him. For our wedding photos, we went back to the same tree and had the most amazing shots with our bridal party.

Q: Describe your wedding day - your memories and highlights of the ceremony and reception.

A: We had a beautiful garden ceremony at my family home. My Mum spent months replanting the garden so that guests would be treated to a choreographed bloom of colour on the day. We also released 50 monarch butterflies during the ceremony in honour of my father who passed away suddenly six months prior to the wedding. It was a very beautiful moment, with the butterflies staying in the garden surrounds, and on each of the bridesmaid’s bouquets, with one even sitting on the lapel of the groom throughout the ceremony. The butterflies have now colonized in the garden and each year it is just lovely to sit out there and watch them flutter around. As my husband is of Danish descent, we also had many guests travel great distances from all over the world to be there on our special day.