Botanical - Anita and Campbell

Hello everyone! Happy Friday.

It's another one of our lovely lovely clients Wedding this weekend! SO a big congrats and good luck to Anita and Campbell who are tying the knot this Saturday.

Here's a look at the stationery suite we created for them in our 'Botanical' design. By changing the colours to this dusky pink and silver changes the whole look and feel of the design. I really like it in this colour way - it gives it a very soft and romantic feel.

Have a fabulous weekend. Go have a cider. xox

The Wellington Wedding Show - October 30th 2011

What a fantastic day we had yesterday! It was the one and only Wellington Wedding Show held at the TSB Arena, Queens Wharf.

It began with a hiss and roar as all wedding shows always do! We spoke with so many gorgeous brides and grooms, mother of the bride, sister of the bride and of course the BBF (brides best friend) - and we all knew who was who thanks to the very helpful stickers everyone wore. Wellington turned on a wonderful day and it certainly didn't stop anyone from coming along to the show... run from 10.30-3.30pm, it was the perfect amount of time.

The 2 fashion shows were truly brilliant. Amongst numerous models, it featured the oh so stunning Priyani Puketapu - aka Miss New Zealand - and the gowns were beautiful !!

We were positioned next to a gorgeous company called Le Chic Cake Boutique - they are new to the Wellington region and had an amazing selection of cakes to sample. Not only is Carla extremely talented but she's just so lovely to speak to!

Cocoa Berry had a wonderful day - we love being able to meet with people face to face and show people exactly what we can do to help with their special day.

A few photos from our stand below...

Random photo of us is courtesy of The Amazing Travelling Photobooth !!

The colour purple

When I think of the colour purple, I think of royalty and today that's quite fitting.

This morning I've been speaking with our newest client over in England. This gorgeous couple are getting married in Old Windsor which is a large village in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Having lived in this area myself for a number of years, I know just how beautiful this part of the country is. The venue they've chosen is an old estate set amongst landscaped grounds - such a tranquil location... just perfect!

Their colour theme is purple and whilst we're working on their invitations, I thought a purple inspiration board was called for. Whether its eggplant, indigo, magenta, fuchsia, plum, mulberry, violet, thistle or wine - they're all stunning and can be used in a numerous ways.

Lucy

Balloons, Flower, Bows, Tie, Cake, Bouquet, Shoe

Anchors Aweigh

Well I must start by saying how wonderful it is to have Charlotte back! Selfish I know. But I just really missed her! So welcome back Char!

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to have my mum up visiting and I decided to take her down the lovely Wynyard Quarter. It was beautifully sunny as we wandered around looking for a spot to have lunch. I'm sure most Aucklanders have been down there to explore, it's really fantastic!

While secretly wishing one of the big luxurious boats was my own, it reminded me of how wonderful the nautical theme can be. If you're getting married at such gorgeous locations as Mantells On The Water or Okahu it could be just what you're after...

Lucy

Dress, Cocoa Berry invitations, Rope centerpiece, Nautical cake, Table setting, Chain charm wrap

Scrummy Lilac

It's the dress. That's what got me first... this stunning Vera Wang dress. Need I say anymore? Then I remembered some lovely lilac invitations we've done and that's what lead me to this lilac inspiration board.

It's just such a pretty colour and can be wonderful to use as a colour scheme within a wedding. Use as much or as little as required. Did you know that in the language of flowers, purple lilacs represent the first emotions of love, while white lilacs symbolise youthful innocence. Because I did not. So there you go.

Lucy

Vera Wang Dress, Cake, Boutonniere, Antique earrings, Table setting, Glass bottles, Cocoa Berry invitation

The creative berry has a birthday

I thought I'd take advantage of sister younger being away in Vietnam (and currently on a boat cruise with no internet access). Wonder how much trouble I'll get into for this...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE!!

Today is the creative berry's birthday... Wednesday 21st September. And I'm not going to mention how old she is turning.

For me ('sister older' as she likes to refer to me) it's hard to imagine just how on earth she can be the age that I can't mention... because it seems like just yesterday she was this tiny wee little girl following me around everywhere...

But the years have flown by and she's all grown up now, getting more and more beautiful every day.

I feel so lucky to have such an AMAZING sister. It has been wonderful working with Charlotte over the last couple of years - I mean all of Cocoa Berry's wonderfulness comes straight from her! Not only that, she has always been there for me. Always. We speak constantly. We text constantly. And she always makes me laugh. Out loud. When I least expect it. SO it has to be said...

And so Charlotte, when you do get back from your wonderful holiday to Vietnam, you will of course find this on your doorstep.

I was going to try to arrange to have this waiting for you...

But I figured you didn't need it.

And so, my gorgeous sister, happy happy birthday. I hope you celebrate in style. I know you will.

I'm looking forward to catching up as soon as you're back, when there WILL be plenty of this.

Lots of love always, sister older (aka Lucy)

xoxoxo

Peaches and Pinks

Peaches and pinks...

Loving this combo at the moment and have been working on a few stationery sets in this colour-way over the last few months. It's ultra feminine, fun and summery. Brighten it up with tones of coral and honeysuckle or tone is down with some creams and ivory.

Would be a great inspiration for a bridal shower or high tea too!

We're off to the Wairarapa Wedding Expo this weekend - looking forward to meeting lots of new brides to be and all the fabulous suppliers. Will be sure to post some pics!

Peony, Dress, Cake stand, Coconut ice, Flowers, Parasoul, Bridesmaids, Cocoa Berry Invitation

Chuan Spa - Langham Hotel, Auckland

Well, I didn't get to Venice or Thailand for that matter... but I did however have a wonderfully relaxing day at the Chuan Spa in the Langham Hotel (a wonderful gift I'd been saving).

If you haven't been already, I highly recommend it. They build on the oriental traditions that seek both spiritual and physical harmony by balancing the 5 elements of metal, wood, fire, earth and water.

I swam in the heated rooftop pool surrounded by blue sky and potentially caught some colour (crazy at this time of year I know) then relaxed in the hot spa pool with uber fierce jets. For a while, I actually thought I was in a foreign country...

They have exclusive treatment facilities like a herbal steamroom, sauna, snail showers and the 'ice experience'. Once I finally made it round to the actual treatment I had booked... (the most amazing facial I've ever experienced from a lovely young girl with an equally lovely name, Lucy), I then was told I could use the massage chair for as long as I liked... accompanied by herbal tea and a detox juice. I eventually made it home 4 hours later....

Absolutely D.E.V.I.N.E. Thank you husband x

Where would you like to go this weekend...?

Well, poor old New Zealand has had a lot of unusually cold weather this week - snow has fallen in places that haven't seen snow in 40 years.... including downtown Auckland - yes I said it and I know it's nothing compared to down south, but still... SO, let's just get out of the cold shall we? Where would you like to go this weekend?

Can I interest you in a romantic gondola ride down the Grand Canal in Venice? Walking down the cobblestone streets admiring the beautiful skyline in Santorini, Greece? Perhaps you prefer Paris in the summertime? Or is relaxing on a beach in Thailand more your thing?

I think I'll head off to Venice. See you there?

Fun with Turquoise

Just a little bit of fun with colour today... The oh so scrummy turquoise! It's a powerful colour, very strong and protective. It is the colour of self expression and transformation. There are SO many different shades and so many ways this gorgeous colour can be used. Today, some of the photos are from the specialists in The Boutique Bride. The cupcakes are from Bluebells Cakery, the gorgeous antique glass bottles are from The Vintage Table and invitation is Cocoa Berry Design.

Dress, Table setting

Fun with Tape

Hello!

Have had a recent obsession with Washi Tape - a Japanese masking tape made of rice paper. Finally found some available in NZ, stumbled across some at Boarders of all places. There are a few places you can order it online like here and here - but this particular brand MT has the best colours and patterns. And always a sucker for sweet packaging this stuff sucks me in no end.

Had a play around with it and not only is it a cool bit of eye candy - you can use it for heaps of stuff. DIY cards, finishing touches on envelopes, labels, etc etc. Would be cool to use as address labels for your wedding invites for something a bit different! We could even match your invitation design to the tape. Go Washi!

Bluebells Cakery

Warning. This WILL make you hungry...

The lovely Karla from Bluebells Cakery has recently joined The Boutique Bride and everyone is raving about her wonderful treats! Bluebells offers beautifully hand crafted cupcakes and scrumptious goodies in a variety of mouthwatering flavours...

There are no preservatives, additives or artificial flavourings - always a good thing! They can cater for not just weddings but also hens parties, baby showers, birthdays, tea parties and corporate events too.

I recently went down to see Karla at La Cigale French Market (which is at 69 St Georges Bay Road in Parnell) - she has a stand at the market and is there pretty much there every weekend! If you haven't been down there, it's a must! Mmmmmmm.....