Hello Sunshine! We’ll see you THIS SATURDAY!!!

A Darling Affair 26/06/2013 creative, styling, sunshine coast, vintage, wedding expo, Wedding Fair, wedding inspiration 2 Comments

You can find the event details for our Sunshine Coast Wedding Fair here. You will also find the list of our fabulous vendors and sponsors, and the fantastic giveaways we have on offer!

Entry is 10.00 at the door, be one of the first 300 through the doors to pick up your Goodie Bag stacked to THE BRIM with all kinds of goodies, sweets, treats, vouchers and even a free indie mixed “tape” (CD). We also have 300 copies of White magazine for you to grab.

The event opens at 10am with fashion parades at 11.30am and 2.30pm. We’ll be running a Piñata bash and a bouquet toss with fabulous prizes to be won. Of course there is our AMAZING set of vendor giveaways that you can win by registering at the door as well.

We have NO EFTPOS facilities, but are just a stone’s-throw-away from Woombye town centre, so head to an ATM prior to arriving, and bring your cash for entry – but also for a little shopping. You can purchase a number of items for your big day at our fair, or simply a little treat for yourself to take home.

See you Saturday xx

Cake Glorious Cake!

A Darling Affair 21/05/2013 Cakes, decorating, styling, Theme 0 Comments

Today we are lucky to have Rebel from Rebellyous Cake Co as guest blogger today to continue with our “The Sweet Things in Life” theme for the month of May.

Here she is to help you with all there is to know about decorating your cake:

“The wedding cake is one of the main focal points of the reception and should be both pleasing to the eye and mouth. So many options are available when it comes to YOUR cake, here are just a few things to consider:

The Outside

Fondant was once thought of as that “thick sweet icing” on a wedding cake. it can be now applied in a thin layer and is VERY versatile. Amazing effects can be created using fondant which can take on a fabric like texture – such as frills which are very popular right now.

The Colour

Traditionally wedding cakes were only white or ivory in colour and whilst these options will always remain classical, more and more colour is making it’s way onto the cake. Don’t be afraid to use colour, it is a fantastic way to tie in the other elements of your wedding from the invitation through to the flowers and beyond.

The Design

Tiered wedding cakes no longer need to have matching layers. Stacking tiers of varying heights creates a modern, alternative look.

Flowers are always stylish and are an age old tradition when it comes to being on wedding cakes. Blooms will never lose their appeal. Almost all wedding cakes will have some tyoe of flower decoration whether they be real or handmade sugar flowers.

With themed weddings becoming more and more popular it is very easy to include your cake in the theme – everything from boho and vintage right through to steam punk.”

Rebel kindly leaves us with a “Did you know?”…..

“The wedding night dream tradition – Single women traditionally have brought home a piece of wedding cake from a wedding they have attended and slept with it under their pillow. Folklore has it that the woman will dream bout the man she will marry.”

Rebel wishes you all sweet dreams! xxx

Photo credits: KISSstudio, Byron Loves Fawn Photography, Down Bangalow Road, Enigma Visions Photography.

The snow fell upon our high tea…

A Darling Affair 01/05/2013 DIY, flowers, high tea, styling, sweet things in life 0 Comments

For the Month of May on the blog we are celebrating the “Sweet things in life”

Nakita from Jhar Binx and Zave Cake Artistry is inspired by flowers and her love of cooking to bring to the table what she knows to be “sweet”:

“Baby’s breath is known to be the cheap filler flower for old fashion bouquets, well not anymore.

Beauty can come from many places and to me this fine spray of snow inspired flakes is absolutely beautiful and should not be forgotten, in fact should be utterly embraced as a sprinkling of vintage beauty either adorning your tabletops in lavish sprays or being walked down the isle of a garden wedding or just sitting on the kitchen window sill in all its sweetness.

We have been using bunches of these white soft specs on our high tea tables and I must say it has out done the rose as one of my favourite flowers.

Baby’s breath for us has added a soft vintage touch to our High tea décor and a little bit of something unique.

Remember that sometimes the most insignificant things can be the loveliest of all.

Happy caking baking and creating!” – Kita xx

Nakita has so kindly shared a little treat for you from her own kitchen:

INSPIRED RECIPE – SNOW WHITE MARSHMALLOW

500grams Caster Sugar

2 Tablespoons Liquid Glucose

2 Tablespoons Gelatine Powder

2 Egg Whites

2 Teaspoons of Vanilla

2 Cups of Desiccated Coconut

Grease and line a 18cm x 25cm x 4cm lamington pan. Combine the caster sugar, liquid glucose and 200ml water in a saucepan over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and cook over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes until a sugar thermometer reaches 120°C.

Place 200ml cold water in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the powdered gelatine, and then stand for 10 minutes. Place the bowl in a saucepan of simmering water and stir until completely clear. Stir the gelatine mixture into the sugar syrup.

Beat egg whites with electric beaters until stiff peaks form. Continue to beat while you gradually add the sugar syrup, and then beat for a further 10 minutes until mixture thickens and becomes glossy. Fold in the vanilla and pour the mixture into the pan. Chill for 1 hour until firm.

Cut the Marshmallow into Squares, the easiest way to do this is to run your knife under hot water, wipe of quickly on a tea towel and cut each line with the knife still hot but not wet.

Take each square out and roll in coconut

MMMMMMmmmmm….

Chalkboarding – Not just for kids

A Darling Affair 29/04/2013 Chalkboard, DIY, Signage, styling 0 Comments

I always loved chalking up the driveway as a kid. I still occassionally write a love message or a ‘welcome home’ to my husband just outside our front door.

It’s envokes a personal touch to me. The handwritten, raw, rustic and the stroke of an artists hand.

So chalkboarding has made it onto the tables at weddings and it has become an art form for the talented person who can master the dusty lines.

Chalkboards are great because you can use it again and again after your big day for party’s and shin digs. A great investment.

Enjoy the simple black and white!

Carrie xx

Credits: Boots Photography, Fresh Honey Wedding Styling, Figtree Pictures Wedding Photography, Senna Jean Designs, Down Bangalow Road Photography.

Things we love – Fanciful Feathers

A Darling Affair 09/04/2013 bouquets, centrepieces, feathers, flowers, invitations, stationery, styling, vintage 1 Comment

There’s a strong boho-vibe in the wedding industry at present and along with that we’ve noticed an emergence of feathery details. I’ve always had a “thing” for feathers; I would often be found sketching feathers in my notebooks when I should have been taking notes. There is just something so whimsical about their delicate, floaty nature; something so day-dreamy about them – it’s easy to get carried away. Maybe it’s that dreaminess that makes them such a welcomed addition to a wedding celebration.

Kicking off with stationery, add that extra detail and texture with a feather – much like these designs from Gemma Lauren Invitations…

[Photo by Anna Gilbert Photography]

Or create a more dramatic bouquet by incorporating some stunning plumes…

[Bouquet by Lavish Floral Design, Photography By Dear & Tine]

Add some finer details to your centrepieces by placing feathers in vases,

[Styling by Fresh Honey Weddings, Photography by Dear & Tine]

Or take the boho-vibe that step further with some dream-catchers…

[Styling by Cherry Red Styling Co., Photography by Alyce & Colette]

I absolutely adore the boho-luxe golden feather embellishments on this cake by Rebellyous Cake Co.

[Photography by Down Bangalow Road]

And last but certainly not least, by way of Bridal accessories ask your florist to incorporate feathers in your floral wreath…

[Wreath by Lavish Floral Design, Photography by Dear & Tine]

Or absolutely indulge your fancy for feathers with this stunning “Maine” head piece, created by Heidi of Shut the Front Door.

[Photography by Karen Buckle]

All these feathers are leaving me little light headed, and certainly light hearted! I hope they’ve lifted your spirits and send you floating away with some inspiration for you big day.

Emily xxx

Let there be Light!

A Darling Affair 02/04/2013 Fairy Lights, fresh honey, Gold Coast, Industrial Lighting, Lanterns, Lighting, Naked Bulbs, styling, Wedding Fair 2 Comments

Elissa, from Fresh Honey, lights the way in the first edition of this months “Lovely Light” series.

Elissa is one of our beautifully talented sponsors for A Darling Affairs – Gold Coast Wedding Fair.

Here are a few of her thoughts on styling with light…

“Lighting is one of the most effective tools you have in your styling arsenal when it comes to setting the theme, tone and mood of your wedding day. With a little thought and planning, the right lighting choices will complete the look and feel of your special day, imbuing it with elegance, glamour and style. Ignore its importance or handle it clumsily, and you risk your wedding lacking the ambience, romance and magic it deserves!

So let’s kick this blog post off with a few of my all-time favourite ways of bringing light, illumination and style to weddings.

Candles, candles, candles

Never underestimate the impact a humble candle can create, especially when used en masse! Candlelight is soft, romantic and spiritual, making it perfect for weddings. If you are on a tight budget, make good use of candles as they create an amazing atmosphere at a very small cost.

The other wonderful thing about candles (which is also a money saver!) is the way in which they double as a décor item that you can style in a myriad of ways. Clustered in jars, dripping from candelabras, glowing inside paper bag luminaries or floating in water with delicate blooms, candles are a fail-proof lighting option for weddings. Did someone say romance?

Fairy Lights

Delicate strands of fairy lights are ‘oh, so enchanting’, creating an allure that is almost impossible to top in my opinion! When strung up against the roof of a marquee or hall, wrapped around a tree or incorporated into your décor in another way, fairy lights are a magically captivating way to play with lighting.

Cafe Lighting

Cafe lighting has taken the wedding industry by storm in the last few years, lending an industrial edge which is at once both vintage and modern. I love this type of lighting at weddings, as it’s so whimsical and fun, yet still quite rustic. It looks fantastic both inside and out, and works really well when combined with other décor elements, such as lanterns, chandeliers or fairy lights.

Lighting: Byron Audio

Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns are always a very popular choice when it comes to wedding lighting. Whether strung individually, between poles or in colourful clusters with fluffy pom-poms for extra impact – it’s hard to go wrong with these pretties!

Image: Down Bangalow Road

Image: Byron Bay Bunting

Chandeliers

Are you looking for elegance, glamour and a splash of drama? Cue the chandelier, or even better – multiple chandeliers! With their dripping crystal jewels and undeniable vintage charm, chandeliers evokes old-world glamour like nothing else. For added appeal or to really ‘up-the-ante’, mix it up with some fairy lights or naked industrial bulbs.

Image: Fresh Honey Weddings

Lighting has the power to literally improve, enhance and transform every other element of your wedding, so taking the time to talk over your options with a lighting professional is a worthy investment. Your wedding planner or venue should be able to recommend a lighting company whom they know and trust, so be guided by this when deciding on which kind of lighting to incorporate into your wedding day. For more lighting inspiration visit my pinterest page “Let there be Light” http://pinterest.com/freshhoney/let-there-be-light/)

Image Sources: Unless otherwise stated all images have been sourced online and repined to my lighting board: http://pinterest.com/freshhoney/let-there-be-light/”

Thanks Elissa xxx

Things We Love – Minty Freshness

A Darling Affair 01/04/2013 color, colour, mint, pallet, seafoam, styling, wedding 0 Comments

“Things We Love” is all about what makes us excited at A Darling Affair.

We will be sharing loads of gorgeous images on colour palettes, themeing, styling, blooms, objects used in different ways, cool ideas that are out of the ordinary and basically inspiring you to understand your own individual style.

Minty Freshness!

I love mints! I love to eat them. Mint chocolate, mint lip gloss, peppermint scents, it goes on and on. I’m pretty addicted to it.

So it’s not surprising that I LOVE the colour Mint!

Mint is a soft pale green with a touch of blue. It can come across as fresh and pretty, or icy and cool.

With our two Wedding Fair locations sharing a common theme being on the coast – Sunshine Coast & The Gold Coast – it’s safe to say that mint blends in with the freshness of the sea, as mint is sometimes referred to as ‘seafoam’.

So here is all the prettiness of the different shades of mint and how to style it!

Gorgeous mint props like vehicles – boats and cars – make for awesome back drops to you in the foreground.

Photography: Wholehearted Studio

Kombi: Woody’s Surf Car Hire …… Photography: Feather & Stone

Mint is stunning teamed up with white, making it fresh and crisp. A bridesmaid in mint will not drown you out as a bride but will help the centre of attention – YOU – to stand out.