LADIES DAY OUT!

A Darling Affair 26/05/2015 0 Comments

Are you and your gal pals not the ones to have a drunken boozy night for your hens that you can’t even remember the next day?

Do you want an ‘experience’ and try to get reach your full potential and be calm, cool and collected so you can enjoy your big day?

Well it’s simple you need one or both of these unique services to help you out. When we came across them we were blown away!

LUNA AND LACE

Angela from Luna and Lace loves bringing women together to laugh, have fun, create and bond. Luna and Lace developed naturally after Angela went to a few hen’s nights that were a bit of a flop. What Luna and Lace promotes are a refreshing alternative to these ‘traditional’ hen’s parties and turning it on it’s head making women feel good, not a horrible mess.

With many different packages to choose from Angela organises boutique bridal showers based in Byron. Take me there now i say!

Just listen to the name of some of the packages: Breathe, Create, Pamper – Divine Goddess, Blessing Way. Have you been swept off your feet? Are you relaxed already? Well here are some images to tip you over the edge and will make you want to book straight away!

LOVE ME DEARLY

Love Me Dearly was created by Sarnia who has always had a passion for fitness and events, so she has combined the both fields of expertise into one. Her team provide wedding planning, fitness coaching, bridal boot camps and workshops.

Love Me Dearly helps brides get into shape and can take the stress away of planning your big day.

Ultimately, their goal is to share our knowledge & passion with you so you can be balanced, happy, and be the best you can be on your special day and always.

Sweet Treats

A Darling Affair 13/02/2015 0 Comments

These two sweet treat suppliers are any but average. Our guests at The Brisbane Wedding Fair didn’t just buy one flavour but several and some of these treats were taken home to be devoured later.

YUMMI FRUIT ICE-CREAMERY

These guys were soooo popular because of the crazy heat that was radiating outside, that they were selling out of flavours one by one through out the day, so much so that some of the Darling team members missed out all together on getting one of these popsicles in our mouth. We hope our guests enjoyed them and could give us a review of their favourite flavour so we can get one next time.

But never fear we did taste their real fruit ice creams and that truly satisfied us and kept us going through out the busy day’s event.

Make sure you track their movements down as Yummi Fruit Ice-Creamery are found at local fairs and markets across town. With gourmet ice blocks in the flavours of Lychee Coconut, Strawberry Bitters, Salted Caramel Chocolate Banana, just to name a few, you will no doubt be wanting to try them all!

I HEART BROWNIES

I Heart Brownies has given time and dedication to mastering the perfect brownie. There’s nothing more upsetting than biting into a brownie and it ends up being a standard chocolate cake. Check out these ingredients for quality: Belgian black cocoa, couverture chocolate, free-range eggs, QLD cane sugar, Australian butter and gluten-free flour.

There are so many flavours that it’s hard to choose just one, so why should you? Why not test taste them all for your wedding reception favours. There’s choc orange, turkish delight, the standard chocolate and my personal favourite choc mint, plus many more!

I Heart Brownies have already catered for over 50 weddings and would love to provide their brownies for yours!

CROWD PLEASING FOOD VANS

A Darling Affair 12/02/2015 0 Comments

These two foodies really stole the show out on the food lawn with their awesome caravans. They have nailed every part of their character and design and literally played the part to match with the crowd pleasing food and drinks they served up at The Brisbane Wedding Fair.

Our mouths are watering right now for more!

THE CURIOUS CARAVAN

With the temperature soaring above 35 degrees at The Brisbane Wedding Fair, Naja from The Curious Caravan stayed calm cool and collected like she always does and enjoyed the day serving up her crowd pleaser of a drink that had people lining up all day. – the elderflower lemon mint fizz! On a cooler day Naja can serve up coffee’s and treats to your guests as you can hire out The Curious Caravan for your engagement party or wedding recption.

But wait that’s not all!! The Curious Caravan also comes with added extra’s like vintage furniture plus some fun quirky games like a large wooden Jenga, all for the purposes of helping your guests enjoy their time getting to know each other, interacting and having some fun!

CHIPTEASE

Even with the crazy heat going on during the day it didn’t stop our guests from ordering delicious hot chips from the ultra cool van ChipTease. Sweet potato fries and the yummo regular fries cooked to perfection with awesome sauces to match. You can never go past a hot chip, it’s an Aussie favourite.

The ladies behind ChipTease have such an awesome set up and amazing uniforms to match so if you are a vintage or rock’n’roll fanatic, or if you want a variety of street food vans parked on a lawn for your wedding reception for your guests to pick and choose from you surely need to have ChipTease in the line up.

EVENT STYLING EXPERTS

A Darling Affair 12/02/2015 0 Comments

Bringing the wow factor to our Wedding Fairs is something we look for with the vendors we select and we were fortunate enough to get some of the best of the best that Queensland has to offer for all our lovely guests to visual what these amazing stylists can create.

We saw many people stopping and chatting for a LONG time at these two companies stalls. So if you couldn’t make it on the day check them out here.

PACK A PERFECT PARTY

Amey from Pack a Perfect Party ALWAYS does something that we’ve never seen before, even the men at the fair were having a close up look at what she created. iIt was actually intriguing to watch just how close up people got to her stand to see what her wall that looked like concrete was made out of.

Amey really thinks outside of the box and you can see how well she can put different textures, colours and objects together to create a story and bring it to life. Pack a Perfect Party will turn a normal table setting on it’s head will inspire you to greater heights and lift the mood of your wedding reception to something extravagant. If you can dream it and have a vision we have no doubt that Pack A Perfect Party can help you achieve your dream wedding styling.

Amey absolutely loves what she does and has the most upbeat and fun personality. We love her to bits and we know you will too!

HAMPTON EVENT HIRE

Hampton Event Hire is the new company that has branched off from the owners of Little Gray Station one of the first styling companies in Queensland to really turn heads, they have now extended themselves and their business to accommodate a sophisticated, high end, luxury range of furniture and decor pieces to bring a touch of class to your wedding reception, ceremony and whatever else you’d like to create.

Their inventory of hire products is endless. You will feel like your a kid in a candy shop, there are tons of pieces to choose from. You can fit out your entire event with all of their pieces or just a few.

Easy to work with, super friendly and very professional, you know you are in the right hands and will be helped through the whole process of planning you wedding style. We can’t wait to work with this power house husband and wife team and their superb company again!

WEDDING CATERING PACKED FULL OF FLAVOUR

A Darling Affair 11/02/2015 0 Comments

At the Brisbane Wedding Fair we were so excited for the food vendors that we had on board to tantalise or guests taste buds. Oh boy was the food good. I think we tasted everything that was on offer and forgot to take some treats home for our kids because we gobbled it all up!

Things literally got sold out on the day because people went back for seconds. So if you missed out on stuffing your face and trying out the caterers who can be at your wedding then here is a review for you.

POP TACO

The team behind Poptaco sure do know how to put on a mean mexican spread. Flavoursome, moist, saucy, juicy oh man it’s making my mouth want to have another pork roll right now!
Poptaco can cater for your event and will make you want to party like a mexican for more. Have a look at their instagram or fb feed and you will see it’s down right authentic food.

A great alternative to a formal sit down dinner and perfect for sharing and loads of talking and interaction between guests. Your money will be well spent on this food.

PIZZANTICA

Woodfired pizza’s on the back of a Kombi. Two of our most favourite things rolled into one! What a clever concept a woodfired oven on wheels!

Hand made gourmet pizza’s for your wedding guests. You can never go wrong with a good pizza especially one made by the masters of traditional pizzas. A great share meal for the masses and less clean up for you at your wedding reception or engagement party.

You pick the location and they’ll roll right up!

CUISINE ON CUE

Well well well…Cuisine on Cue were amazing! Amazing caterers with fantastic and personable people skills, well groomed and most importantly amazing food. This crew really know what their doing and hit the mark all through out the day.

Cuisine on Cue were serving up mouth sized bites packed full of flavour to our guests in the studios and boy were they good. They do much more than serve starters, they can cater for your entire wedding reception. You just choose what tickles your fancy and they will whip up a storm in the kitchen.

Their professional customer service and the attention to detail is what they bring to every event, regardless of the size, catering style or budget. They will work with you to meet your needs.

Vintage Vehicles that make you go Va Va Voom

A Darling Affair 09/02/2015 0 Comments

We are a bit obsessed with 2 things and you will ALWAYS see them at our wedding fairs. Kombi’s and caravans. One day we will own one or the other, but for now we just drool over the outstanding restoration work that our vehicle vendors lovingly put into their road worthy machines.

KOMBI CELEBRATIONS

The gorgeous family behind Kombi Celebrations have just relocated to sunny Queensland BUT they service all of the eastern states and are a huge company with HUGE amount of passion for their A Class Kombi service.

Well looked after and maintained to perfection, their vehicles are clean and sparkling and will service your whole bridal party. Imagine a fun road trip, jumping in and out of the van for the wedding photo locations, giggling and chatting and listening to some sweet tunes. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate all through out your day than being close to the ones that make you smile and have been your support crew through thick and thin rather than being separated into several vehicles on a car convoy.

GATHERING EVENTS

An awesome husband and wife team are behind this very trendy Vintage Caravan. Available for hire for any event this mobile bar will be sure to wow the crowds at your engagement party or wedding reception.

Having a mobile bar means that you can have your wedding on your families property or somewhere that ties you back to an emotional connection rather than a stock standard wedding reception venue.

The Gathering Events caravan is also very pretty to look at. Clean, sleek and will be a great talking point for your guests at the reception. It also introduces more interaction between your guests rather than a sit down catered reception. Your guests will meet each other at the bar and it will be a fun night for all.

STUNNING STATIONERY

A Darling Affair 05/02/2015 0 Comments

At The Brisbane Wedding Fair we saw a lot of our Darling Affair tote bags packed with purchases of papery goodness. From exclusively designed wrapping paper, to prints to be hung on your walls and samples of wedding stationery.

Paper is a big trade in the wedding industry and stationery suites can really give your guests a feel for what your wedding day is going to be like and your personalities long before they sit down at your ceremony.

We had some creative genius’s to wow the crowds with what they can do with their graphic design and calligraphy skills. So if your a paper fanatic like us at ADA HQ your going to love what these ladies can do.

BLUSHING CONFETTI

Well this was one of the stalls that made us go wow! This lady knows a thing or two about an ‘inviting’ display and it goes hand in hand with the invitations that she produces.

Thinking of everything that you could possibly need – gift tags, wrapping paper, that special wall hung print for the happy couple as a wedding gift the range at Blushing Confetti just is endless.

The good thing is that Blushing Confetti has an online store too, so if you see something in these images you will most likely be able to purchase it with a click of a button. Also a little FYI – they have a little Valentine’s day special going on at the moment so head on over to their fb page xx

CARTAMODELLO PAPETERIE

Cartamodello Papeterie is very unique and that’s how we like to carefully select our vendors. Their specialty is to make invitations printed on wood! They smell and feel wonderful when the envelope is opened by your guest and they look fantastic too.

They have stationery suites that include the finest details that can involve everything you need for your wedding day to tie into your theme – from the invite to the RSVP card, wedding ceremony program to the table setting place cards and then after your wedding is all done and your blissfully starting your new life as husband and wife – the all important ‘thank you’ send out to those that shared in your special day.

So if your looking for something unique and that will last as a keep sake for a long time check out Cartamodello.

CELEBRANTS WHO LOVE LOVE!

A Darling Affair 03/02/2015 0 Comments

We absolutely LOVE the celebrants that we have at A Darling Affair. They are the most supportive vendors and are always there cheering us on in the background and giving us a high five for a successful event when it’s all over and done with.

These are true qualities of the best celebrants in the biz. They get to know you as a couple, treat you like you want to be treated, calm your nerves and help you have the most wonderful ceremony as husband and wife. They didn’t fall into the industry by chance but have a real and lasting passion for love.

Here are just a few of the delightful characters that we’d love you to meet that can officially do the ‘deed’ and help you sign on the dotted line, so you and your lover can be together forever.

ERIN WOODHALL CELEBRANT

We just can’t get enough of this lady, that’s why she has been to two of our wedding fairs already. Erin Woodhall is always up for a chat. She is spunky, a go getter and makes you laugh. Erin is just someone who you naturally gravitate to and you instantly feel comfortable in her presence.

We love her and we know you will too. She is ready to sit down with you and have a chat about your ceremony and how YOU want to do it, she’s all about doing it your way.

LAMSON – MARRIAGE CELEBRANT BRISBANE

Any time we saw Lamson through out the day at the Brisbane Wedding Fair he just had a huge smile plastered on his face. It was Lamson’s debut at any kind of wedding fair and we were sure glad to show him off to the wedding world and our gorgeous couples that came along on the day.

His own wife was there to cheer him on and we just adore couples in the wedding industry that are so supportive behind the scenes and this is when you know that people are passionate about what they do. As a celebrant to have that love for your other half just radiating from you it really does show and they can in turn can connect with the happy couple that comes to them for the all important and very necessary “i do”.

Image credits: When Elephant Met Zebra

PHOTOGRAPHY FOLK

A Darling Affair 02/02/2015 0 Comments

It is very awkward on your wedding day if the photographer behind the lense doesn’t feel like your buddy and is saying ‘cheese’ or ‘come on give me a smile’ all day.

You need to feel relaxed, comfortable and natural and also have a bucket load of fun along the way. Let’s face it, you will probably spend more time with the photographer the whole day than any other person on your guest list.

We carefully select our photographers not only based on their outstanding flawless images but also their creative flair and the charismatic personalities they have that make you just feel like they’ve been your friend for-ev-er.

You’ll understand what we mean when you see the images below as taken by When Elephant Met Zebra at The Brisbane Wedding Fair.

SHANE SHEPHERD PHOTOGRAPHY

Shane Shepherd is just awesome. He knows what love is all about and it oozes from him any time he is around his wife and little family. He has great passion for what he does and is kind, gentle and feels like your big brother helping you along and watching over you on your wedding day. Oh and did we mention he is tons of fun too?!

He is the photographer that will document every special moment of your wedding day and the connection you have with your loved ones including your better half.

TRICIA KING PHOTOGRAPHY

Tricia King we love her hair style, her clothes and her personality, however we LOVE her photography and have been secretly wanting to have her at one of our wedding fairs for a long time and our wish finally came true.

Your wish of a great photographer at your wedding can certainly be granted as well. Tricia is VERY creative and loves a good party. If you head over the her website you will see all the ahmazing couples that she has had the opportunity to work with and she draws you in with not only her picture taking but also her story telling.

She loves people being their own individual selves and representing that on their wedding day.

LOVER OF MINE

We truly wish we could put this lovely couple in our back pocket and carry them around all day with us and pull them out when we need a happiness boost. This husband and wife duo – Anthony & Kim – are just so endearing, funny and caring, basically every quality that you want in a photographer to help you enjoy your day.

They capture all the fun, intimate, natural moments during your wedding day celebrations. They know what love is, and because of that they know how to capture it in the most candid moments.

Brisbane Fashion Parade – Part 1

A Darling Affair 29/01/2015 0 Comments

Well, well, well.

Brides and grooms-to-be came out in full force for the first fashion parade of the day and we couldn’t have been more pleased and what a show it was. It was just stunning and one of us from the A Darling Affair team even shed a tear because of the beauty of it all.

Autumn Grove Events set the scene with their inspiring and jaw dropping hand crafted vintage tree filling the room as a backdrop to our parade and it’s available for hire too!

Jennifer Gifford Designs showed off her gorgeous award winning gowns. Textures, patterns, lace, fitted and flowing gowns, floated down the runway on our gorgeous models giving a fantastic diversity of designs that Jennifer tailor makes to her brides and their individual tastes.

Combined with the fantastic ever flawless make up of The Beauty Case, giving you a ‘real brides make up’ look up close rather than ‘parade makeup’ and hair by Aleesha Darke – A Fashionable Hair Life, our brides-to-be could really get inspired by the variety of styles.

We certainly don’t forgot the men in our lives, and the suits made to perfection by Urbbana were also centre stage and are of high quality that was easily evident on the catwalk.

The parade went off without a hitch thanks to the efforts of Interlaced Media and their calm, behind the scenes approach for such a huge event.

We highly recommend all these vendors and have worked with them all in the past and couldn’t be more happy to show them off to those who attended on the day and also to those that couldn’t and are still searching for their special day. Presented in gorgeous photo’s taken by our hard working photography sponsor – When Elephant Met Zebra – we hope you get inspired all over again and find your perfect wedding professional.

Models credit: Mystique Model Management