Weddings

Real Wedding | Angie + Darren

When your fiancé declares his love for you by building you a chapel with his own hands, you know you’re on to a winner, right?

We felt so honoured when we were approached by Angie and Darren to be involved in their wedding day last October in Denmark.

Angie and Darren held their nuptials at Parry’s Beach Breaks, an accommodation and wedding venue owned by the couple, and where Darren built the now famous open-air chapel for him and Angie to be married in.

The style brief was moody and opulent, but with bucket loads of warmth and cosiness.

The couple brought in Stylist Brodie from the Bib Approach and floral stylist Lara Rose Bos, who dreamt up and created floralscapes of epic proportions made from dried native florals, branches, bleached ferns and seed pods

The muted tones of browns, black, dusty pinks and burnt oranges in the floral installations were made all the more moody against the play of colour and textures offered by the gloss black corrugated ceiling and our matte black flatware and crockery.

Raw silk drapery in blush pink, glowing brass vases, our terracotta linen napkins and our grey floor length linen all softened the look, while our crystal glassware paired with the glass chandeliers nailed the opulent brief.

The display of the sky-high, celestial-inspired cake by Denmark baker Nicky of Entice Food Co added to the feeling of being in an other-worldly space.

Angie and Darren described their wedding day as having its own heartbeat and as a huge celebration of the life and family they have created. We are so happy to have been involved, a big thank you Angie and Darren for allowing us to be part of your day and thank you to the talented duo ‘In the Wilds of Someplace’ who captured the magic.

The special day was featured in The Together Journal https://togetherjournal.com/angie-darren-by-in-the-wilds-of-someplace/

Shop Angie and Darren’s look:

Photography and Videography: In the Wilds of Someplace | Ceremony and Reception location: Parry Beach Breaks | Celebrant: Anna Cameron | Bride’s outfit: Jenny Packham Bridal | Bride’s veil: White Work Bridal | Groom’s outfit: Rodd and Gunn | Rings: Georg Jensen | Shoes: Badgley Mishka | Makeup: Jody Make Up Artistry | Hair: Nicole at Tangles | Flower girl: Tutu Du Monde | Entertainment: Pinstripe | Styling: The BIB Approach | Hire: Hire & Style Albany Event Hire | Flora: Lararose Botanical Stylist | Catering and Beverages: Entice Food Co Mr Sippy | Cake: Entice Food Co | Accomodation: Parry Beach Breaks

Finding your Wedding A-Team

Finding the best vendors for your wedding is a big (and hugely important) task and will ultimately determine the planning for and experience of your wedding day.  Of course, your day will be incredible no-matter what, since you are marrying your love and partying with your closest family and friends, but focus on these five  tips before locking in your suppliers to make sure you have the best possible team behind you.

1. Research

Scour websites and social media accounts of potential suppliers to get an idea of their scope, style and quality of work.  Look for publication credentials – those with features in magazines or media are a good indicator of quality and legitimacy. Also get yourself along to a few bridal fairs, see some real-life displays and chat face-to-face with the people behind the portfolio.

2. Testimonials

Social media and internet searches are great for reading what others are saying about a business. Reviews on Facebook business pages and google will give you an idea of quality – although be aware that any negative reviews can be removed.

Styling: Aravella Event Design  Flowers: Zinnia Floral Design Photo Credit: Katie Grant Photography

Photographer: Katie Grant Photography

3. Ask around

Wedding-focussed social media groups, friends, family and colleagues have all had experiences at a wedding or event, pick their brains to find out who they thought were the stand outs and who to avoid. Talk to other suppliers and see who they recommend.

4. Customer focus

Good customer service means different things to different people, but consistent, prompt response times (24 hours) is a good indication that they will be on-hand and available throughout the planning stage.

That said, wedding work is weekend work so response times may lengthen! Thursday through Sunday is the time when suppliers can be out of the office gearing up for the weekend’s weddings (on site, bumping in, bumping out, etc.) so please take this into account.

Photo Credit: Nic Duncan and  Lee Griffith Photography Flowers: Lush Floral Design

5. Meet them

Probably the most important factor in establishing a kick-ass team is your connection to your vendors. Meet them in person before booking/purchasing from them to scope out the dynamic, ensuring there are no personality clashes that may make your planning more anxiety ridden. You probably don’t want to go for a super laid back vendor if you are more the ultra-vigilant, detail-focused type.

Do they get your vision? Are they excited by your ideas? Do you bounce off each other? Does their style echo your own? All great signs that the connection is real and they can deliver.

Photo Credit: Christine Lim Photography  Beautiful Bridal Gown Supplier : Vicki- Through the White Door

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A quick guide to a low waste wedding

After every spectacular wedding comes the pack down. And it ain’t pretty.

A peek into the skip bin in the reception car park and you will find it filled with any and all rubbish – from once-stunning floral installations to bottles, kitchen waste and the menus you spent hours assembling.

Low waste is a lifestyle many are working towards, and it can be hard. But your efforts towards low waste don’t have to go out the window when planning your day –  just thoughtful, considered decisions and the desire to find alternatives that are kinder on the earth. Here are just a few tips to consider when embracing a low-waste wedding.

Hire

No doubt one of the easiest ways to save money and to reduce waste is to hire anything you don’t already own or can borrow. Think it’s cheaper to buy some things? Maybe, but there are no guarantees that you can on-sell them easily or even for what you bought them for when every couple has the same idea. And there is no comparison when those items end up in landfill when second-hand shops can’t sell them.

Photo credit: Ben Yew Photography, Black Bird Tale, In the Wilds

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Think Seasonal

Share your low waste ethos with your florist and choose local, in-season florals. Your florist will have contacts with local growers and they are more likely to be spray-free, without packaging. Bonus: native blooms and foliage dry out beautifully so you can love on your wedding fleurs for years to come. Spray-free means you can happily pop them in your compost when they are ready to return to the earth.

Photo credit: Jessica Liebregts Photography and Samantha Simone Photography
Photographer: Samantha Simone Photography

Buy pre-loved

Op shops and the internet are bursting with second-hand or pre-loved dresses and gowns worn once or not at all. You will save not only your dollars but also the water, energy and labor it takes to grow or manufacture the fabric from scratch. Make it a challenge for bridesmaids to find their dresses with one rule – they can’t buy it new!

There are more and more jewellers who specialise in ethical jewellery and most jewellers are happy to take your old jewellery and turn it into a one-off design truly unique to you.

Responsible service

Discuss with your venue and caterer ways you can work together to minimise waste from your food and drink service. Many will be totally on your wavelength and will be more than happy to make this happen. Reusable or home compostable serving ware, glassware and cloth napkins are easy ways to cut down on waste. Kegs cut down on cans and bottles. Set up a separate bin system for compost, recyclables, soft plastics and garbage and dispose of them responsibly afterwards.

Planning a marquee wedding? 5 things you should know

So, you’ve found the perfect location for your marquee wedding. It’s remote, has a killer view, the ground is (kinda) flat, and you already have your eye on a stunning structure in which to celebrate one of the biggest moments in your lives as a couple.

We’re not going to lie. We both had our own marquee weddings and they are W-O-R-K. Pretty much everything has to be hired in – from the furniture and glassware, to the generator and toilets. And unless you are hiring a wedding planner, you are going to have to be at the top of your planning game. So here are a few tips to help you on your way.

1. Know your site
Speak to the owners of the property about the site. What are the best locations for a marquee in their opinion? Then configure your marquee accordingly. That southerly wind that comes through in the evening? Plan to have that side of the marquee down for the reception. Take into account the surroundings and come up with the best options to take full advantage of the property’s assets.

2. Size and style matters
Your ideal weather situation will be a beautifully clear, mild day with a light breeze and a warm, balmy evening. But let’s face it, your dream of a wall-free marquee may not be possible if torrential rain and wind is forecast. So consider all the scenarios and choose a marquee you will be happy with if it needs to be fully enclosed. Consider what the setup will be if it does rain, and make sure the size of your marquee is big enough to fit in that dance floor, band, bar, lounge, plus all of your guests if you need to go with Plan B.

Photo credit: Keeper Creative, Lee Griffith Photography and We are all Stardust

Photographer: Keeper Creative Photography

3. Guest comfort is important

Have enough toilets. Close by. This may seem obvious, but your guests will hate you if they have to cross the desert to get to a toilet or if there is nowhere for them to change nappies (where kids are on the guest list). So have enough toilet paper, bins, soap and handtowels at the ready. Hire plenty of heaters for colder weather, and many a guest have been grateful for blankets provided at the reception.

Photo credit: We are all stardust and Lee Griffith photography

4. Hire a wedding coordinator or stylist

Seriously, you NEED someone on site from the time the marquee arrives, to ideally, the reception kick-off. A coordinator will meet and direct suppliers and oversee the set up and styling, and basically be the ‘go to’ contact for any hiccups on the day. There are many decisions that need to be made on the run during setup, and trust us; you don’t want to be the one to have to think of solutions.  Many offer a ‘Day Of’ package which includes a site visit a few weeks out to go over the setup and floor plan and to make sure all your bases are covered. You will surprised at the amount of things (logistically or otherwise) that may be brought to your attention that you never consider

Photo credit: Paris Hawken photography

Photographer: Anti Weddings

5. Communication and flexibility is key

Understand all of your vendors’ needs – from power requirements to space needed and time frames. Look at the event holistically and then make sure those needs are fulfilled as much as possible to avoid misunderstandings or issues on the day. Know what everyone is and isn’t taking care of so you can identify any double-ups or gaps that need to be resolved

Photo credit: Ben and Ebony

Photographer: Ben & Ebony

2017 Showroom Launch and Warehouse Open Weekend Wrap Up

Well it’s been a long time coming and unheard-of amounts of work, sweat (and a few tears!) but we are finally able to say our showroom is now officially OPEN!

What started out as squeezing our expanding collection into two shipping containers, then a storage unit, we finally bagged a shopfront space and warehouse on the main street in town (Albany Highway). Not an ideal space at first – it was an old mechanic’s workshop and chainsaw dealership –  but we saw the potential and knew we could transform it into something pretty special. Many months later we fulfilled our vision and were ready to share the re-vamped space and our wares with the world.

The launch kicked off on the Saturday, with a stream of brides and industry friends stopping by to enjoy a glass of bubbles while they walked through the three main shopfront displays and browsed the warehouse.

Guests wandered through a romantic, feminine table setting featuring our Belgian linens and white bentwood chairs; a contemporary, garden-party table and bar setting with our white geo chairs and lots of greenery; and a boho-style lounge space.

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Paper Trail Stationery designed insanely pretty stationery for the displays, while Lindy Watt from Lush Floral Design provided the beyond beautiful floral creations.

While guests mingled, Great Southern-based make-up artist Carrissa Robinson treated guests to a live demo to display her magic with a make-up brush.

Goodie bags filled with sooo many Great Southern vendor offers and treats were handed out for guests to indulge in. Included were the most divine cupcakes by cake designer The Sweet Piece, cookies by the Style Est., and a luxury candle – a collaboration between Hire In Style and local graphic designer Graphic As.

Our ‘little white book’ of top tips for planning a wedding was also included, filled with lots of handy advice from local wedding pros. One super lucky guest also received an exclusive offer to be seriously spoiled by head chef Silas and his team at Pepper and Salt restaurant in Denmark.

The evening rolled in and our closest friends, family, couples and industry friends moved outdoors under the stars for more bubbles from our custom bars, grazing feast and a live music set. We chose our copper geo bar tools and new white minimalist bar tables under festoon lighting to amp up the cocktail-lounge vibe.

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The showroom stayed open until Sunday afternoon, by which we were totally exhausted but completely overwhelmed by the support we received and the huge sense of accomplishment we felt from reaching this milestone in the Hire In Style story. Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with us and a big thanks to 3 Little Kings for capturing details from the weekend!

The Hire In Style showroom is open by appointment only and is conveniently situated on Albany Highway in Kojonup on the way to Denmark and Albany.