The Couture Collective #3 Meet Roslyn Lakelin of Roz La Kelin

Meet Roslyn Lakelin, a Queensland wedding gown designer ...

Roslyn Lakelin
Labels: Roz la Kelin, 93 bridal, Glamour Plus

With 20 years as an influential designer in the local bridal market and three successful labels to her name, Roslyn Lakelin is now making her mark as an emerging designer in the US and Canada.The much-loved Glamour Plus label is a particular hit overseas, no doubt answering the prayers of curvy brides-to-be across America just as it did locally.

Your label in three words?
I would have to choose three phrases rather than three words, these would be - Ready-to-wear couture. Superb fit/construction. Vast array of designs and styling.

Are there any key trends which have come through in your latest collection?
'Coveted aura of glamour' - Embellishments are key this season, with many gowns featuring jewellery like motifs and brooches or using jewellery components within the beading on laces to create texture, oozing old Hollywood styling to make any bride shine. 

As a designer are you meticulously organised, a chaotic creative or free- thinking?
I love things around me to be organised so then I feel free to be creative. Throughout the season I will quickly add images and pieces to my vision boards and folios, then once I start the design process these get sorted and my desk is cleared so I can see everything clearly and the creative juices can flow.

Your muse, either real or fictional?
My passion and devotion to the bridal fashion world and to the real women around the world who want to wear flattering and enhancing wedding dresses is the driving force behind my success, therefore I would love to design for Scarlet Johansson. She represents beautiful real women the world over as well as possesses an old Hollywood charm that was distinct in the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Mae West who was famous for saying ..."Cultivate your curves, they may be dangerous but they won’t be avoided"

Your best advice to girls looking for their dream gown?
It's about you looking fabulous in the dress! When you shop for your wedding gown the most important thing to keep in mind is your body shape. You want to enhance your natural silhouette and accentuate your best assets.

Fabric, embellishment and structure - if you could only choose two, what would they be?
Embellishment and structure. The foundation of cut and construction which form the structure are the most important as a gown should in its barest forms still reflect a basic beauty that is then enhanced through the fabric and embellishments ... I love gems and jewellery so adding textures or appliques and beading and dimension is adding the individual touches and personalising each gown. 

What is always in your workroom?
Our workroom has very high ceilings so we've made the most of this space by hanging tissue pompoms in varying sizes and shades of pink, making every day feel festive. I love lamp lighting and orchids, so I've surrounded myself with these luxuries in my office.

Get to know Roz la Kelin
In person
50 Morgan Street
Brisbane Queensland 4006
Phone: 07 3852 1421

On the web
Website
Facebook
Google+
Pinterest
Twitter

QBx
Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

TREND OFF! Bright & Bold V Soft & Romantic

The gorgeous images from this trend off come from the weddings of Jessica and Thomas. Feather and Stone Photography (Bright & Bold) and Dylan and Chloe, Mihaja Photography (Soft & Romantic). Click on the couples' names to see more stunning pics from their weddings. 

Recently on Facebook we asked you which theming you liked best, was it soft and romantic, with gorgeous pastels and lace, or would it be bright and bold, with hard hitting reds and gorgeous yellows? 

Both styles are beautiful but there's only one winner ... 

and it is Soft & Romantic with 67% of the votes

Here's our recommendation to duplicate this look for yourself ...

Palette:

Pastels in all hues are ideal for a soft & romantic wedding, for those looking for more contrast in an accent colour, think a pale grey like Jen and Tim had.

Invites & Stationery: 

Cristina Re DIY Designer Stationery

Be sure to bring in your beautiful palette of pastels into your invitations. With a soft theme like this one the aim is to use what's called a 'serif' font (that's the little curly bits on the letters) with a simpler 'san-serif' (without the curly bits) font for your text. For help with stationery head to the QB directory to find the right company for you.

Reception Styling: 

Image from the wedding of Karina & Iman

Simple clear glassware and centrepieces of flowers in your colour. Karina and Iman used doilies underneath the crystal vases to emphasise the softness of the roses.

The dress: 

Jennifer Gifford Designs

Delicate beading, intricate embroidery, lace, beautiful flowing fabrics and a fitted waist are all good things to look for when finding your 'Soft & Romantic' dress. This gown by Jennifer Gifford Designs has a glorious diamante and floral single shoulder strap that continues on down over the bust to the waist. The pale peach colour is unusual but beautifully striking.

The bridesmaids:

Image from the wedding of Jennifer and Tim, Kelly Adams Photography

Whether you go floor-length or tea-length, your bridesmaids gowns should be a soft colour that highlights your colour scheme. Jen (above) has dressed her bridesmaids in high-neck pink frocks that are simple but gorgeous and highlight the delicate details of her own dress.

QBx

Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

Real Life Wedding : Nicholas and Katherine

"Stick with your everyday style" note couple Katherine and Nicholas when asked about their best styling advice. We love the way this true-to-self approach injected style and personality into this gorgeous celebration.

To pull it off the couple made the most of Brisbane's local talent including gowns by covetable label Easton Pearson, decorating assistance from Brisbane-based stylists Everingham and Watson, and delicious gourmet catering by Restaurant Two. 

The newlyweds name "the ceremony" as their most special memory in a celebration full of magical moments.

The Couple

Nicholas Nicolaides & Katherine Boyd

Date

11 May 2013

Number of Guests
150

How did you meet? 

"We re-met when Nick moved back to Brisbane from Sydney but always had a good friendship prior to this."

The Proposal

"At home on a Sunday morning, an hour before our lunch guests arrived, including our parents who were to meet for the first time ... they weren’t short of conversation." 

Hen's 

12 friends for lunch at The Spirit House, Yandina 

Buck's

Late lunch at Alfred & Constance, Fortitude Valley

Coordinator/Decorator

Kate and Nick with help from Everingham and Watson

Caterer

Restaurant Two

Dining Details 

The bridal party requested "a picnic-type feel" so the menu included 18-hour slow roasted sirloin steak, 18-hour slow roasted whole pig with crackling, a rocket, Greek fetta and tomato salad, and Restaurant Two's signature potato salad.

First Dance Song

Electric Blue by Icehouse

Heavenly Honeymoon

Venice for the Biennale, followed by a road trip ending in Palermo, Sicily

Best Advice

Everything you stressed about in the lead up to the wedding will work out either way. Just enjoy this very special and memorable time with family and friends.

Ceremony location: Greek Church of St George, Brisbane

Reception location: Ironbark, Anstead

Gown: Easton Pearson Couture

Hair: Lisa from Lila Boheme

Make-up: Misha Makeup

Flowers: Bloomberry

Entertainment: Harp and Flute (entry) & D.J. Mumbles (evening)

Photography: Craig Scarr

Congratulations Kate and Nick!

Share your wedding story with us at www.queenslandbrides.com.au

QBx
Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

Planning your Reception: A step by step guide

Photo TWK Studio

Your wedding reception is the most expensive and memorable party that you’re ever likely to plan. If you would like it to run as smoothly as possible, it’s time for some very careful planning!

Step 1: Save The Date 

First things first, before anything you will have to decide on your wedding date. Nothing else can be planned let alone booked until you have this finalised. if you dream of having a spring wedding you will have to book things as soon as possible. Early September and October are the busiest months for weddings, which could possibly have an impact on a number of your important details and decisions.

Step 2: The Guest List 

Every bride and groom want to be surrounded by their closest friends and family on their big day. Trouble is, who makes the all important guest list when there’s a budget to stick to?

Fantasy Vs Reality: 

The number of guests you’d like to invite and the number you can actually afford to invite are often two completely different things! Determine the exact number of guests your budget – and venue – will allow.

Lists, Lists, and More Lists: 

Split the list between you, your partner and both sets of parents. People who are not so important to you may really matter to your parents, in-laws or even grandparents – after all, it’s not every day that a family member gets married. Just prepare yourself for a few polite negotiations, and don’t be afraid to be firm in your final decision.

Include all Members of the Wedding Party: 

You'd be pleasantly surprised just how many soon-to-be married couples forget to include themselves and their bridal party in their guest list!

Children or No? 

If you would like to include children in your guest list, consider putting aside a separate play area for them at your reception (complete with toys and little games), or hire a responsible sitter for a few hours to keep them well occupied. if you’re wanting a child-free wedding day, it’s very important to tell your guests – it’s a good idea to add a line to your invitations that says: “Adult-only event.”

The Final Cut: 

This is the inevitable hair-pulling, anxiety-triggering part for many brides and grooms. If uninvited acquaintances politely pester you to attend, kindly let them know that you would have loved to have been able to invite more guests, but simply couldn’t afford to. A fabulous alternative is to invite everyone to the ceremony and cocktail party, and then just a select number of those closest to you to the dinner afterwards.

Recruit an Organiser: 

When it comes to posting your invitations, choose one person to handle this often mammoth task. The mail-out should be done all at once, checking each invitation against a list to ensure no-one is accidentally forgotten. As the RSVPs start to filter in, have your delegated organiser keep a list of those who will be attending, and those who won’t be for whatever reason. this will assist in keeping track of final guest numbers. 

Step 3: Perfect Timing 

Photo: Studio Impressions Photography

If your budget is really tight, you can have a wedding breakfast/brunch at a restaurant at around 9 am which of course means that you’re going to have to hold your ceremony quite early. This option wouldn’t work in winter but could be wonderful in summer or on a crisp spring or autumn morning. This is the least expensive option as you can serve loads of lovely fresh fruit salad, yummy pastries ... in fact just about anything that’s light and fresh accompanied by champagne and lashings of coffee with the cake.

A morning wedding ceremony followed by a sit-down lunch or an afternoon ceremony with a stand-up cocktail party are the next lower-cost options but the most popular is a mid to late afternoon ceremony followed by a sit-down dinner and dancing. The timing of your wedding is completely up to you and as long as you celebrate it in the style and the way that you want, it doesn’t matter if it’s a picnic in the park or a bang-up ball, as long as you have fun.

Step 4: Seating Plans 

When it comes to the final seating plan, you may want to involve both sets of parents as they are bound to have ideas on who should sit with whom (and who should be separated!). Their thoughts and advice will hopefully make this difficult, time-consuming, but oh-so-important task a little easier! 

You should advise your reception venue of the layout of the tables well in advance and on the day, they will place the seating plan on an easel for the guests to see as they come in for the meal. if it is free seating at the designated table you won’t need to have place cards but if you are particular about who sits next to whom, then the staff will also place corresponding place-cards on the tables beforehand. 

Photo from the wedding of Carolyn and Nick, SR Photography

Step 5: The Big Day! 

To ensure everything runs as smoothly as a well planned event should, you’ll need to draw up a timetable of what happens when.

Photos: 

Usually straight after the ceremony the photographer will take shots of the couple with the bridal party, parents, grandparents and all the guests before whisking the couple away to a chosen location for staged photos. At this time the guests are usually left to their own devices for at least an hour and often more, so it’s a good idea to organise cocktails and canapés at the reception venue for them.

It Runs Like This: 

The announcement is made by the MC,“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr & Mrs ... " Guests applaud as the couple make their way around the room to greet their guests. After the couple have settled in the MC starts the speeches and hands the microphone onto the next speaker and so on. The cake is then cut and then everyone sits down to enjoy a relaxing dinner.

Speeches and Cutting the Cake:

traditionally the speeches and cake cutting come after dinner is finished but why not break with tradition and do things a little differently combining both of them with the cocktail hour?

The Bridal Waltz: 

After dinner the couple’s first dance as man and wife is announced. After they have been around the floor a couple of times the groom then dances with his mother and mother-in-law, the bride dances with her father and father-in-law and then the rest of the bridal party and guests join in.

The Farewell: 

Before the couple leave the bride throws the bouquet to all the single women and the groom throws the bride’s garter to the single men. It’s up to the couple if they want to have a formal going away. It's not often that you see the old tin cans tied to the car now as most couples catch a taxi or hold the reception where they are staying. Of course it’s up to you if you want to party on but do make sure to let your guests know if this is the case.

Photo from the wedding of Steven and Kellie, Adore Photography

WORDS: Rhonda Bannister & Ginny Cumming

QBx
Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

10 Reasons to Choose a Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Wedding

Christopher Thomas Photography

Are you tossing up whether or not to have a Sunshine Coast or Sunshine Coast Hinterland wedding? Well never fear, we've got ten reasons to help you say 'yes'!

1. The Beauty of the Backdrop
The best part of getting married in this type of setting is that your choice of locations are almost endless.Whether you dream of a sunset beach wedding at the award winning Golden Beach or you'd rather go rural at a property in Maleny, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland provides a variety of locations for your nuptials.You could even have the best of both worlds by having your ceremony in the mountains with a sunset reception by the beach.

2. An Abundance of Eateries
The Sunshine Coast & Hinterland provides an array of dining options for every style and taste, from award-winning beachside bistros to cosy mountain cafes, and is well known for its charming hospitality. Ideal options for a bridal shower, hens night, wedding rehearsal or reception.

3. Accommodation Location
Whether it's a five-star beach hotel or a luxury cottage with mountain vistas, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to well- appointed accommodation. Create a special memory for you and your guests by inviting close family and friends to stay overnight if your celebrations run late into the evening.

4. For Wine Lovers
Boasting some of Queensland's best vineyards, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland caters to couples who love a drop or two. With panoramic views and atmospheric vineyard backdrops creating the prime atmosphere for a celebration, a majority of these vineyards also offer accommodation.

Vellum Studios

5. Proximity Positive
Looking for a destination wedding without the travel hassles? Sunshine Coast beaches are just over an hour from Brisbane with the hinterland only thirty minutes from the coast.This gives you a holiday vibe close to home as well as a change of scenery without spending all day in the car.

6. Local Love
The Sunshine Coast & Hinterland is a tourism hub, and the locals in the area understand this.The warm and friendly welcoming you are given is like no other, further enhancing your wedding memories.The locals can also provide you with wedding services including wedding planning, catering and hair/make-up.

7. Romance is in the Air
Award winning beaches, charming countryside and relaxed atmosphere only add to the romantic ambience.The beautiful scenery, luxurious accommodation combined with the fine wine and dining will make you feel like your on a mini vacay, which is exactly how you should feel when celebrating your upcoming nuptials.

8. Hinterland Highlights
Dreaming of a winter wonderland wedding? The hinterland has you covered.The lush foliage, mountainous hills and small, friendly towns welcome you into their beautiful backyard. Imagine the crisp air and roaring fire, creating a warm and intimate setting for your whimsical winter wedding. 

Vellum Studios

9. Beach Bliss
The Sunshine Coast is famous for its beaches – think miles of sugar-soft sands and endless sun-kissed waves. Following a sunset ceremony overlooking the water, you and your guests could dance the night away in a waterfront restaurant while snacking on some of Queensland's tastiest ocean catches.

10. Honeymoon Holiday
When you've waved goodbye to your last guests, why not linger longer with a honeymoon in the Sunshine Coast & Hinterland? The sun and surf on the coast make for a classic honeymoon rendezvous while the intimate ambience of the hinterland creates the perfect romantic escape. 

Words: Chloe Bassett

QBx
Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.