Get to know one of Brisbane's most well known celebrants, Neal Foster
Here at Boulevard Gardens we have a number of outstanding Celebrants, however Neal Foster is one of a kind. We were lucky enough to meet with him and ask a few questions about his tips, tricks, and knowledge on all things in the Wedding Industry.
Here at Boulevard Gardens we have a number of outstanding Celebrants, however Neal Foster is one of a kind. We were lucky enough to meet with him and ask a few questions about his tips, tricks, and knowledge on all things in the Wedding Industry.
Neal is an affordable, male Civil Marriage Celebrant and has been authorised since 2007 - this year being his 10th birthday!
Neal's couples enjoy not only their wedding day but the whole experience - he ensures that it's as stress free as possible, starting with the initial consultation in the comfort of your own home.
Why did you choose to become a Celebrant?
I've always had an interest in the Wedding Industry. At the beginning of my 20's I used to go and watch weddings, purely for enjoyment - and was asking friends and family, "If you have a wedding, can I come and watch". It wasn't until 11 years ago, my wife inspired him to apply for my celebrant licence and start living my dream, which was seeing and helping couples on the most special day of their lives.
How many weddings have you performed in your career?
A government survey was conducted in 2017 stating that 55% of celebrants perform 1 to 9 ceremonies a year, 31% perform 10 to 50, and only 5% perform more than 50 weddings.
As a celebrant I fall into the (drum roll........) 5% category where I perform more than 50 weddings a year, and in my whole career I have performed a total of 700 weddings!
What was your favourite memory and why?
It's impossible to choose just one memory. I am so fortunate to have met so many lovely couples, I become so invested in their lives from the moment I meet them. The professional relationship I build with my clients lasts a lifetime - I'm lucky enough to keep in contact and continue to follow their journey for years to come.
What Guidance do you give to your couples before their wedding day?
As I am a man of many talents, and for the past 10 years working in the wedding industry, my knowledge on weddings is vast! Having built relationships with various wedding suppliers, I understand what they do, why they do it, the timing, what not to do, etc.... So feel free to ask away!!!
From a celebrants perspective you will receive a 1 hour appointment where I will run through all of the exciting and important aspects of your day and how other suppliers and the venues work, choosing a ceremony option to suit your needs, discussing all of your wedding requirements, complete necessary paperwork, and I will also provide you with all of the nitty gritty details such as; how to stand, where to stand, how you are given away, where to position yourself when getting photos, ways to calm your nerves before your big day and much more!
After your initial consultation, along the way I will provide you with a copy of your wedding ceremony prior to the day, a printed wedding certificate, and a rehearsal so everyone understands their role. Oh, and don't worry ladies, I will be sure to dress to fit in with the style of your wedding!!!
What advice would you give to future couples in selecting a Celebrant?
Picking a celebrant can be a very hard decision, but selecting the right celebrant will make your wedding day that little more special, and stress free.
My top four tips would be to:
1. Pick the most experienced celebrant, a celebrant who does weddings every week will be more confident and know what to do to ensure things go smoothly.
2. When you have chosen your top 2 to 3 celebrants, ensure you check their website, social media platforms to get a feel for what their style is and previous couples comments.
3. Normally celebrants with a large number of testimonials/reviews are most likely the more professional, experienced and loveable.
4. If a celebrant is busy and booked out, then you know they are good at what they do, which means you should lock in a date ASAP to avoid dissappoinment.
What general advice would you give to a future bride and groom?
My personal advice for a future bride and groom are to:
1. Hire professionals.
2. Plan as much as you can.
3. And on the day, do the best you can to relax, and let the people you've hired to do what their good at!
Well that wraps up our question and answers! If you would like to enquire or have any further questions, please feel free to contact myself on 0408 977 966, or visit my website: http://www.celebrantbrisbane.com.au/.
We hope these tips help you choose a perfect celebrant for your special day.
Until next time....
Guest Post: Wedding Styling 101 with Made You Look Events
Hello, my name is Matt Abel; I am the Creative Director, Wedding Planner and Stylist at Made You Look Events. I am also a buttonhole fixer, wedding psychiatrist, mother in law pleaser; fashion consultant, hugger and Wedding Day go to guy - though my best talents lie in the world of wedding planning and styling.
Hello, my name is Matt Abel. I am the Creative Director, Wedding Planner and Stylist at Made You Look Events. I am also a buttonhole fixer, wedding psychiatrist, mother in law pleaser; fashion consultant, hugger and Wedding Day go to guy - though my best talents lie in the world of wedding planning and styling.
My team and I are proud to be the popular choice for Brisbane brides for exquisite Wedding Day Planning and Stylist services. I am delighted to share with you in this Q&A piece my specialist hits, tips, tricks and knowledge on all things wedding styling!
I do love talking about ways in which you can take your wedding from ordinary to extraordinary; after all, your Wedding Day should be as fabulous as you are. And speaking of fabulous, a wedding at Boulevard Gardens is just that! I work closely with the staff and the remarkable events team, who are all just as amazing as the venue itself.
I truly encourage you to pay a visit to discover all that their hidden oasis has to offer for your Wedding Day; including the breath taking open air ceremony space, a tranquil outdoor bar, and stunning function rooms available.
What guidance do you give to your couples who are having trouble deciding on their wedding theme?
Listen up gals, this is a common question and it saddens me to think that many brides feel that they must showcase a “theme” for their big day. Instead, my advice, and in fact a key element in my consultation process, is to ask the couple poignant questions relating to the both of them. And believe it or not these important answers tend to become the focus on the Wedding Day concept. For me as a wedding planner and stylist, I need to understand who these two people are together, and the culture they share in order to bring that special feel to their special day. Here’s how I do it:
I always love to hear my couples' story; the story of how they met and the circumstances surrounding it. Also I ask them to tell me about that very important first date, what they hold dear about their partner, and my favourite question regarding a humorous story about the two of them. The answers that come from these questions quite often hold the key to what I propose we share with their guests as their wedding concept. After all, their wedding day is about them together, so why not let their tale tell the story of the day!
Abracadabra! Now we have our starting point from which we draw inspiration for colour, texture, mood, focus, and feel, to create what will be a dream day that will be talked about long after the last of the confetti is thrown!
What are the top three décor items couples can use to add a “WOW” factor to their wedding styling?
I love this question! I believe in taking an everyday décor idea, and giving it life by adding that all important wow factor that is as exciting as it is memorable. The first of three ideas I want to share is my love for incorporating edible items into table centerpieces.
What a way to add a spot of difference that is totally unexpected and totally different! The Delish-a-torium by Made You Look Events is our sister business that showcases delightful sweet treats for weddings that are perfect for adding to guest table centerpieces. My favourite is our French Macaron pops - and by favourite I mean I consume way too many on a weekly basis! These tasty beauties can be nestled amongst your floral additions, and look so awesome too. These can be incorporated into high and low centerpieces and make for something truly stunning and unusual.
My next “wow” décor item brings something fantazmo to your reception room. Forget the outdated organza and satin sashes, step it up with feature chair coverings that will get them talking! Bring your theme and indeed the room to life with stunning chair caps, full and flowing covers, and textured trailing embellishments to name a few.
Lastly my number three pick for adding wedding-wow would have to be interactive décor! Immerse guests into the wedding experience with a ceremony water station featuring personalised labeled bottled water, displayed with your order of service programs, and the cutest cones filled with petals that guests will shower you with as you are announced husband and wife.
Cocktail hour need not feel left out either! Instead of a standard bar area that tends to become congested and noisy, why not ask us about changing typical styled bar area décor with our Roving Wine Angels? These stunning beauties can either appear at standard height or stilted for extra fun, as they wait on guests with bottles of wine and champagne, adding an air of elegance and a spot of difference. Because it’s all about the glam, right!
What is the biggest wedding styling trend currently? And how can couples infuse this trend to their wedding day?
Trends, as the name suggests, come and go. It’s these trends that are driven by social media platforms, industry opinions and of course celebrity support and product placement. What’s important for couples to remember is that in years to come when they are looking back through their wedding album to see that their day was heavily influenced by what was trending at the time can often leave a bad taste in their mouth.
It is great to be informed, and just as important to incorporate elements of what is current into your day, but my advice is to be selective in what you include and where it’s placed. Add just a touch of such elements, rather than full saturation. Oh and of course tons of glitter. Kidding!
For example, what’s hot right now is the Pantone colour 15-0343 “Greenery”, and it’s everywhere! If this rainforest-inspired tone is something you are loving, then by all means add it, but think carefully. Perhaps feature it in your bouquet and floral additions on guest tables in a more minimalistic setting, and leave it at that. Overdoing it with current trends will not do you any favours in the long term.
Is there a common mistake that couples make when it comes to their wedding styling?
Typically, I believe there are no mistakes when it comes to your personal desire for any given theme, era, mood, feel, or focus for your wedding day; however, blunders can easily be made, and the biggest mistake couples make when it comes to bringing all those key elements together is not engaging a stylist.
In all the areas where you can cut corners in the wedding budget, this is certainly not one of them. A wedding stylist is definitely worth having.
My job as a wedding planner and stylist is to ensure a bride’s dream is translated from an idea on paper, to the completed event space in visual splendour - this task is quite an undertaking. A good event stylist has the in-depth knowledge and experience required to seamlessly create your ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour spaces without the mishaps and mayhem that potentially would cost you more money to rectify if you were to attempt it with help from friends.
Always remember that is better to make a friend out of a wedding stylist, than a wedding stylist out of a friend!
What piece of advice do you always share with your clients?
The absolute most important thing to remember no matter what, is to have what you both want for your day and not what others persuade or even pressure you to have. This is so important!
When I engage my services with couples, my number one priority is to deliver this very notion; after all it’s your wedding day, not anyone else's. I find many brides under pressure to incorporate their parents' or even grandparents' wishes, simply because they have given money towards the cost of the big day. I remind them to mention to these people that as special as they may be, that they have had their beautiful day and now it’s your turn to have the same. It’s all about having your cake and eating it too!
A good way to achieve this is to be clever with your families instead of forgoing your wishes completely. My advice is why not make them feel important by assigning them a meaningful job on the day, or perhaps asking them to choose what they like from options you have already shortlisted. This way they feel included, and more importantly, that their monetary contribution is validated - which will certainly help in a smooth planning process.
--
Want to know more about a Made You Look Events styled wedding at Boulevard Gardens?
Contact me today at matt@madeyoulookevents.com.au to book your complimentary consultation and let’s get you married!
A special thank you to Matt from Made You Look Events for this fantastic guest post on Wedding Styling 101!
Words and images by Matt Abel. Produced by Rachel Westbury.
Liked this? You will love these.
◦ 3 Incredible Wedding Desserts for Trending Couples ◦
◦Top 3 Tips for Planning Your Dream Wedding On A Budget ◦
◦ 5 Unexpected Origins of Modern Wedding Traditions ◦
5 Unexpected Origins of Modern Wedding Traditions
Love and lore go hand-in-hand, and weddings carry a rich history of traditions with incredible origin stories.
Join us as we explore the unexpected origins of 5 modern wedding traditions, and how they came to be.
Love and lore go hand-in-hand, and weddings carry a rich history of traditions, many with incredible origins.
Join us as we explore the unexpected origins of 5 modern wedding traditions, and how they came to be.
1. The Engagement Ring
Ever wondered how the engagement ring tradition began? In 1215, Pope Innocent III introduced a waiting period between betrothal and marriage, and engaged couples started displaying their commitment with a ring. Bling!
2. Wedding Bouquet
The tradition of carrying a bouquet of flowers on the wedding day stems from England. Hundreds of years ago, it was believed that a piece of the bride's dress would carry good luck. To stop women from ruining the dress, the bride would toss the bouquet and made a swift exit.
3. The Ring Finger
The reason we wear an engagement or wedding ring on the ring finger? Because the romantic Romans believed that the vein in the fourth finger on the left hand runs directly to the heart. The Romans call this vein the "vena amoris", or vein of love.
4. Wedding Standing Order
A common question that brides and grooms ask is “which side do we stand on?". Traditionally, the groom will stand to the left of the bride - but why? This stems from the old days of 'marriage by capture', where the groom will need to have his right hand (his sword arm) free to defend the bride rival suitors.
5. Tiered Wedding Cake
The wedding cake has a wealth of intriguing traditions and superstitions surrounding it. It was believed that in medieval England, the bridal couple would lead a prosperous life together if they successfully kissed over a multi-tiered cake. Cakes were stacked higher and higher, creating a light-hearted game that came to influence modern day wedding cakes.
Written by Rachel Westbury. Image by Chris Hall Photography.
Liked this? You will love these.
◦ 3 Incredible Wedding Desserts for Trending Couples ◦
◦Top 3 Tips for Planning Your Dream Wedding On A Budget ◦
3 Incredible Wedding Desserts For Trendsetting Couples
While the age old wedding tradition of cutting the cake remains in fashion, for many couples a traditional wedding cake doesn't quite 'cut it'.
If you're looking for wonderful wedding cake alternatives for your special day, keep on reading to see our top 3 wedding desserts for trendsetting couples.
While the age old wedding tradition of cutting the cake remains in fashion, for many couples a traditional wedding cake doesn't quite 'cut it'.
If you're looking for wonderful wedding cake alternatives for your special day, keep on reading to see our top 3 wedding desserts for trendsetting couples.
1. Designer Doughnut Stack
Photography by Taylor Kezia Photography.
Who would have thought that the humble doughnut could look so chic? This beautiful arrangement of designer doughnuts was made by another Brisbane-based talent, Nodo Donuts, with added florals by Aurora Floral Studio. These would be a perfectly sweet end, to an even sweeter wedding!
2. Decadent Wedding Dessert Bar
Why settle for one dessert, when you can serve an array of your favourite sweet-treats? This glamorous desert bar was created by the Brisbane-based baker, Deliberately Delicious. We'll take one of each, please!
3. Tantalising Cheese Tower
Thanks to the team at The Cheese Bar, you can celebrate your wedding by slicing into a sumptuous tower of gourmet cheeses! This Brisbane-based business can combine your favourite cheeses with an assortment of delicious nibbles to accompany your stack. A cheese-lover's heaven!
Written by Rachel Westbury
Top 3 Tips for Planning Your Dream Wedding on a Budget
Breaking down your wedding budget can be hard, and sticking to it - even harder. But we've got some expert advice for couples who want to hear wedding bells while staying within budget.
Whether you're planning an intimate elopement, or a sizeable celebration, our top three wedding planning tips will ensure your big day will be beautiful and budget-friendly.
Breaking down your wedding budget can be hard, and sticking to it - even harder. But we've got some expert advice for couples who want to hear wedding bells while staying within budget.
Whether you're planning an intimate elopement, or a sizeable celebration, our top three wedding planning tips will ensure your big day will be beautiful and budget-friendly.
1. Decide Upon Your Budget First
Before couples begin their wedding planning, we recommend that they first sit down and decide upon the amount they would ideally like to spend on their wedding day. If their parents wish to contribute to the wedding, it is a good idea to speak about how much they would like to pitch in before the planning begins.
By settling on a budget early, it will help guide the decision making throughout the planning process. It will also allow couples to calculate a savings plan, so that they can successfully fund their special day (sans the added interest from credit cards).
2. Prioritise What Matters Most
Take time to consider which aspects of the wedding day are most important to you both. Write down the aspects that matter most, and note the things you are both willing to be flexible with.
Would you be happy to walk the aisle without a live musician, but would love some ceremony styling? Or maybe you'd love to host more guests at your reception, so you would be happier for a more affordable menu option - or vice versa.
Keeping a list of priorities on hand throughout the planning process will help guide couples when they are settling any conflicting costs. By compromising on some aspects of their wedding, they allow themselves to invest in the elements that matter to them most.
3. Weigh In On Your Venue Options
Statistics show that a wedding reception accounts for roughly 50 per cent of the overall wedding cost. It's important that couples assess which wedding venue will be the best fit for their style preferences and their budget.
Pay particular interest to what the venue can offer within their package inclusions, as these small extras can lead to big savings. For example, what decor and styling does the venue offer in-house? Do they include centrepieces, tea lights, mirror bases, or chair sashes? Is there a room hire or cleaning fee? Is AV included, or will you need to hire a sound system and microphones?
If you are flexible with your date, many venues offer special packages for off-peak seasons such as summer and winter. On a similar thread, if you are open to a range of catering options, many venues can also offer more budget-friendly menus; such as a high tea menu, or a two course dinner menu with your wedding cake served for dessert.
We hope our these tips help you plan the wedding of your dreams, without the hefty price tag.
Until next time...
Written by Rachel Westbury. Image by Jason Briscoe.
Welcome to the Boulevard Blog
Welcome to the Boulevard Gardens new digital platform, The Boulevard Blog.
The Boulevard Blog will feature the latest news, events, and expert advice from our team of professional wedding and events coordinators.
Whether you're planning a wedding, celebration, or something in between, you will find plenty of inspiration and guidance within our vibrant online blog.
Welcome to the Boulevard Gardens new digital platform, The Boulevard Blog.
The Boulevard Blog will feature the latest news, events, and expert advice from our team of professional wedding and events coordinators.
Whether you're planning a wedding, celebration, or something in between, you will find plenty of inspiration and guidance within our vibrant online blog.
Our team has years of experience in the wedding, events, and hospitality industry, and there is nothing that we love more than bringing your special event to life.
If you are excited about the launch of our new blog, please let us know by clicking the heart button below. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more expert event planning advice.
Until next time...
Written by Rachel Westbury. Photography by Chris Hall Photography at the Boulevard Gardens.