The Wellington Wedding Show May 2013

It always amazes me the amount of planning and preparation involved in organising a wedding. It is all in the details - or so I am told. Being in the bridal industry myself, I often hear about wedding plans from the brides as I am creating their perfect custom Wedding dress. What an overwhelming experience for them all.

The Wellington Wedding Show is a stand alone event, which matures and blossoms each year. The stalls display a wide range of tips and packages from hair, makeup, manicures and honeymoons to venue decorations, cakes, on-site babysitters, and of course wedding dresses. There was even a dance floor and a photo booth in a vintage caravan! The event is well organised, and professional. All of the stalls have helpful assistants to give you information, in a friendly manner without making you feel poached or harassed.

The stalls are exquisitely laid out, and show a unique take on their particular business. For me the stall that looked most impressive was called White Ribbon Weddings. The company focuses on the decorations at the event, as shown in the images below. Very impressive (but with a high price tag to match!).

Another stall that caught my eye was for an idea for wedding favors. They are always tricky! It adds up quickly, and such a small token for the person to take away. This year, Unicef have launched a wedding inspired gift card for each table setting saying what has been donated on behalf of the Bride and Groom. The package deals include Polio vaccines, school supplies and mosquito nets to name a few. If you are going down this road, I would recommend a gift pack per table rather than per place settling as it would add up pretty quickly. The Unicef wedding favors are called 'We Do', as shown below.

Overall, the Wellington Wedding Show was a huge success. If you are planning a wedding it is a good place to start for an overview of how it all works. The entry fee for an adult is $18, which I think is well worth it.

Zowie Dee Bridals top wedding picks of the day include:

The Photographer: Jo Moore Photographer. (I went to a wedding she worked on a few weeks ago, and the photos look beautiful) www.jomoorephotographer.co.nz

The Details: Vintage and Pretty. For everything cute and retro from cake and candy to china jars and lantern pagodas to parasols and curios. www.vintageandpretty.co.nz

Wedding Venue: Boomrock. (Extravagant, but who doesn't want to fly in by helicopter to a beautiful remote and intimate venue?) www.boomrock.co.nz

Lashes for the ladies: Lush Lashes - Semi permanent eyelash extensions lasting up to 6 weeks. They make such a difference in photos! www.lushlashes.co.nz

Wedding Favours: Unicef's 'We Do' package. Visit the website link to learn more: www.unicef.org.nz/favours

Venue Decorations: White Ribbon Weddings. Although the packages are a little on the pricey side, if the budget is looking good, I think it's worth the investment. What a breath taking visual for photos! www.whiteribbonweddings.co.nz

Florist: Woodstock Florists. Their flower arrangements are always impressive, big, bold and beautiful bouquets custom designed for you. www.woodstock.co.nz

Hair and Makeup: Penny Rose. I will be working with Penny Rose at an upcoming bridal event I am hosting. They are not only fantastic value, but also good at what they do. The staff are accommodating and approachable. www.pennyrose.co.nz

The Dresses: Zowie Dee Custom Made Designs. This is my company, which I must recommend. I have 10 years experience in the bridal industry and work with each client to make sure they enjoy their special day with a dress fits their personality and vision. www.zowiedee.com