Today, there are so many options! You can choose to recite traditional vows, modify traditional vows with your own personal touch, or create your own vows to truly capture the individuality of your relationship. If you’re having a religious ceremony it is best to check whether there are any restrictions on creating your own vows.

How do I know what to say?

Sometimes it can be difficult to say exactly how you feel in just a handful of words. Asking yourself the following questions may help to get your brain and your heartstrings going.

When did you meet? How did you feel then?
When did you know that you were in love? How did it feel?
What have you learned from your loved one?
What qualities do you believe will keep your marriage strong? How will you accomplish that?
What is important in your relationship? E.g. trust, honesty, friendship
What do you want to promise to your partner?

Talk to each other

Before you begin composing the masterpiece that will be your vows, sit down and have a talk to your fiancé about the approach you want to take. This means that even if you don’t show each other your vows before the ceremony, you are less likely to be surprised on the day.

Length

It is best to keep your vows to 4 – 5 sentences, covering only the most important things. Long vows will lessen the significance of what you want to say. If you want to say more, leave the rest for the wedding reception!

Relevance

Don’t get carried away! Yes, there is a lot to love about your partner, but remember that the main purpose of your vows it to make a commitment.

No joking around!

Your wedding vows are probably the most serious commitment you’ll ever make. So, avoid inside jokes or humour for your audience, and create vows that carry the importance and solemnity that the occasion deserves.

Choice of words

Your vows do not have to be complicated or overly creative. This is the chance for you to express clearly and simply your commitment. Use words that reflect you and how you feel.

Practice your vows

Practicing your vows together will help to work out any kinks in private and enable you to feel more confident on the day. If you want to keep your vows a surprise, practice them solo, or better yet, ask a friend to listen to you.

Relax!

So, you’ve done all the preparation and now is the big moment! You only have one opportunity to say your vow and you want to get it right. Take a deep breath and when you begin to speak take your time to pronounce every word. Most importantly, enjoy the moment of making this most precious promise to your loved one.

Who needs a suit?

The following people should be thought of when choosing your formal wear:

• Groom,
• Best Man,
• Groomsmen,
• Ushers,
• Ring Bearer,
• Fathers of the Bride and Groom, and
• Grandparents.

Start early

Whatever you do, don’t leave suit hire until the last minute! According to the experts, you should book suits about four months in advance. The bridal party will need to be available for fittings, and should leave enough time for any necessary alternations and adjustments.

While professional hire companies will be able to advise you on style, fit and availability, you will be able to make a more informed choice about your suit hire if you’ve done some of your own research. Check out men’s fashion magazines, catalogues and websites and ask friends and family members who have been recently married about their suit choices.

What to wear

There is a wide selection of suits available for hire in a wide variety of colours, textures and fabrics. When deciding on suits you should take into account comfort, climate and the style and theme of the wedding.

Generally, the groom and his attendants will be dressed similarly with a small feature distinguishing the groom, whether it is a different colour cravat, boutonniere, shirt, or even suit. Also, the groom should have something in his outfit that matches the bride, while the groomsmen should have something that matches the bridesmaids.

Where to Go

Once you have some idea of what you want, the best thing to do is to shop around. By visiting a few different companies, you will be able to get a good idea of the range and quality available. A good suit hire company will stock the latest fashions and offer a variety of styles and colours. Some companies will provide additional services, such as home visiting and a delivery and pick-up service, which will make your wedding planning that bit easier. Also make sure you ask around about costs and the policy on returns and repairs.

Just before the big day

It is a great idea to get the bridal party to try on all hired items a week before the wedding, to make sure everything fits and looks just perfect. Make sure to confirm the appointment time for any final fittings and suit collection/ delivery and return/pick up. Finally, relax and enjoy how fabulous your bridal party looks in well chosen suits!

Start your research early

To make sure you get the right photographer you should start researching wedding photographers as soon as you can. Top photographers are often booked up to 12 months in advance, and most are busiest on Saturdays, particularly between the months of September to the end of April.

Before visiting different photographers around town, the best research you can probably do is to talk to any recently married friends and family members. Have a look at their wedding albums to see if you like the style of photography and design, and ask them about the personality and approach of their photographer. Another good way to do some research is to use the internet to search for photographers and get advice from other couples on discussion boards. Reading about photography in magazines, particularly real life wedding stories, can also be a good place to get some helpful information.

Choosing a photographer

Your wedding photography requirements are unique and will be different from that of other couples, so it is important to choose a photographer that will reflect your personal style.

From your research you will have a short-list of photographers. The next step is to get out and meet them, so you can look at samples of their work, compare various styles of photography and find out if you will feel comfortable working with them on the day. Going to visit potential photographers will also give you the opportunity to view their work and talk more about putting your personal wedding ideas into action on the big day.

Once you’ve decided on a photographer and made a booking, it is normal for a photographer to ask for a deposit of up to 50 per cent with the balance payable before the wedding. Many photographers will also ask you to sign a contract. Make sure you read it carefully and check what it says about cancellations, costs and payment terms.

Cost

We all know it’s true - you usually get what you pay for! When making your decision about a photographer, remember that price variations between photographers will reflect their experience, skill and qualification.

Generally, wedding photographers have packages starting at about $1500 – this usually includes a set number of prints and an album. From here, prices range upwards to about $5000. Be sure to check with your photographer about other costs you might incur, for example, the cost of reprints and enlargements.

Good Luck

A well-chosen and well-briefed photographer will mean you have one less thing to worry about on your wedding day. This will give you more time to spend enjoying it with family and friends, and of course, looking fabulous in your wedding photographs.

Be Prepared

Before you meet with potential catering services – whether they are in-house or off-premises – have a think about what is important to you at your wedding reception and make a list of the essential details about your wedding reception like:

• the time, date, location, theme/style and formality
• guest total
• your ideas about desired menu options and service style, and
• your food and beverage budget.

Having this information handy will make the decision making process a lot easier.

Choosing the right caterer for your wedding reception

There are a lot of caterers out there just waiting to cook up a storm! But, if you want delicious food served with flair and style, pick a professional, and even better, pick one that has been recommended to you by a wedding planner, your wedding venue, or family and friends who have recently experienced excellent food at a wedding reception.

A Restaurant and Catering Australia Gold Licence is an indicator of high professional catering standards. Gold licensing establishes a benchmark in the areas of food preparation, hygiene, and quality. A caterer with this accreditation will also have the appropriate workers compensation, and product and public liability insurance.

It is a good idea to speak to a range of caterers about food and drink packages. There are many options for you to choose from and doing some investigative work will help to make sure that you are getting exactly what you want and at a reasonable price too.

Ask Lots of Questions

When speaking with prospective caterers, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. The more you understand, the more likely it is that you will be able to relax and have a memorable wedding reception, knowing that everything has been taken care of. Discuss what you have in mind with your caterer, and tell them your budget. A professional will come back to you with suggestions that are both creative and within your price range.

Enjoy the fruits of your wedding planning!

While you may be too nervous and busy to actually eat at your wedding reception, try to take some time to enjoy the delicious food you have planned. Most importantly, relax and enjoy your celebration knowing that the good decisions you have made about catering will deliver a wedding reception that leaves a delicious flavour in the mouths of all your guests!

We outline some considerations here to help you make a more informed decision about where you should celebrate your most special of days. Remember, although your wedding day is all about you and your loved one, keeping your guests comfortable, fed and entertained will keep them talking about your wedding for years to come.

Location

The most important factor when choosing your wedding venue is the location. This decision should always be made by considering who it is that’s going to be attending your wedding. A reception venue close to the location of the service will guarantee your guests are not exhausted by the time the speeches come around. Providing plenty of seating for elderly guests is also one of those little details that need to be attended to. Never assume that the reception centre or outdoor function area has surplus seating available, double check well in advance.

Season

The time of year is also important in determining whether to have an indoor or outdoor wedding. An outdoor wedding in the garden is very romantic, unless of course you and your guests end up running for cover to avoid a soaking or suffer sunstroke. Conversely, an indoor wedding in the middle of summer needs plenty of air conditioning to make sure your guests (and the chocolates) don’t melt.

How many guests?

Before choosing a venue for your wedding you need to know how many guests are expected on the day. Choosing a venue the right size will provide your guests with enough space for comfort and will also allow the venue operators to cater for your guests adequately. There is nothing worse than hungry guests waiting too long for meals because the venue is under staffed or the kitchen is too small. So make sure you have an accurate number of guests in mind and talk to the venue well in advance about your requirements.

Technical Stuff

One area that is often overlooked when deciding on a venue for wedding receptions or services is the technical requirements of the day. For example, some lighting equipment for bands or DJ’s require three phase power, which not every venue will have. Some venues will have an in house PA system (sound system) but it may not be powerful enough for a three piece band. Checking all these details with the venue manager, the entertainment agency and the MC will avoid any nasty surprises on your big day.

We’ve outlined some things to think about before making any decisions.

Soloist, Dou, Trio or Full Band?

The rule of thumb with live bands is that for every 30 guests you will need at least one musician. So for 150 guests, a five piece band is ideal. Of course a ten piece band will also keep 150 guests dancing all night, however a soloist might struggle to keep their attention.

Let the buyer beware

Modern technology leaves no excuse for booking a wedding band only to find out on the night that they fall short of your expectations. Insist on hearing a demo of the band and viewing a sample play list of songs before you make any commitments. Be aware that most bands will know how to play songs that may not be on the play list so if you have any special requests be sure to communicate this to the band or booking agent so they are prepared on the night.

Get in early

Booking a band for your wedding reception is one thing you do not want to leave to the last minute. Many acts are booked up months in advance so to avoid disappointment make enquiries about your chosen bands well before the big day.

Production? What’s that?

Production is what is commonly known as the sound and lighting equipment required for a band to be heard and seen. Most bands will have access to production equipment and should be able to supply it on the night and know how to use it. However production equipment usually comes at a cost so make sure you cover this with the booking agent to avoid any nasty hidden extras.

Feed the talent

Make sure you consider the band members when organising your catering. Performing can be exhausting so feeding the band and supplying some drinks will keep them happy.

MC anyone?

The advantage of having a live band at your wedding reception is that most professional bands have some experience with providing a master of ceremonies, usually the singer. The bands sound system can also be used for speeches.

House music

House music is the term used for the music played between the bands sets while they are on a break. Usually a band will play 45 minute sets with a 20 minute break in between. Don’t assume the band will bring their own house music and CD player or iPod. This is something you should triple check with the booking agent. If you have any preferred style of house music or special requests make sure the band know well in advance.

Bunsunburna have rocked, funked and grooved their way through 2000 gigs in the last 8 years.

Able to fit into any environment, this talented duo performs, without the use of backing tracks, cover material suitable for dinner music through to packed dance floor.

Powerful, soulful, melodic vocal tones, solid guitar grooves and “in the pocket” drums are all this talented duo require to make any event a success.

The band also performs as a 5 piece.

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With an impressive repertoire that embraces party favourites, popular rock classics with a good dose of today’s Top40 hits, BigCityBeat ensures everyone has a party!

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Damon plays around Melbourne weekly and is available in solo, duo or band formats.

Damon has been singing , playing sax, guitar and 12 string acoustic in a PINK FLOYD project with the ADELAIDE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and recently with the AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA. He tours to the Whitsundays in party bands 5 to 6 times a year and is currently up to trip number 57 in 13 years.

Damon has played on stage with members of the ERIC CLAPTON BAND, PAUL SIMON BAND, HOTHOUSE FLOWERS, THE SMITHEREENS, JEFF HEALEY, TINA ARENA BAND, THE ANGELS, JOHN FARNHAM BAND, NOISEWORKS, DIESEL and many more.

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George Kapiniaris’ claim to fame was his starring role in the hugely popular ‘Wogs Out Of Work’ stage show with Nick Giannopoulos. Since then the Australian public has continued to see him use his Greek heritage as inspiration for future roles and performances.

George developed his popular style of ethnic comedy at Rusden College and with fellow student Simon Palomares formed ‘The Tiboldi Brothers’, a stand-up comedy duo, which still tours the comedy circuit today.

We all loved him as DJ in ‘The Flying Doctors’ and who could forget his starring role as the manic waiter Memo in TV’s ‘Acropolis Now’ from 1989 to 1992. Since 1992 George has also been the front man of his 70’s cover band ‘The Flares’.

In 2004 George was nominated for a Green Room Award for his role of Stretch in the musical ‘Oh, What a Night’. Other musical credits include ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ and ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’.

His theatre credits include ‘The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui’ for the MTC, ‘The Queen and I ‘ and ‘An Evening with Merv Hughes’. George’s film credits include ‘Thundersruck’, ‘Bloody Footy’, ‘Pizza’, ‘Closer and Closer Apart’ & ‘Joey’. George also appeared on the TV series ‘Joker Poker’.

George Kapiniaris will also be seen in the controversial mini series ‘Underbelly’ (set to air in 2008) playing George Defteros in the series - the lawyer to Melbourne’s underworld.

He and fellow comedians Joe Avati, Nish Selvadurai and Simon Palomares have joined forces for a national tour of their comedy stage show, Il Dago.

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