With brides being encouraged to step outside the square when planning their wedding, we are seeing colours being introduced into wedding decor like never before.

A quick and very effective way of introducing colour to your wedding scheme can be in the form of tissue paper balls or paper pomanders. They seem to be quite easy to make here and are readily available on line.

I say go forth and colour!

The below collage is courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings. The pink and orange wall decorations have been used to line the inside of a city building which was converted into a wedding chapel for one month!

Favour Boxes

Cake topper!

I think they are such an effective way of adding texture and beautiful detail to a wedding day.

Enjoy!

Until next time

Emma – THN

The Hens Nest Wedding Planning Directory, Forum and Blog – Paper Wedding Decorations

A few weeks ago I was in David Jones, staring lovingly at the beatiful array of condiments and fine foods on display. In the distance I could see boxes of pastel coloured patty cases. Upin making my way over towards the display, I became more and more excited as I realised there were matching Sugar Pearls, Fondant Buttons as well as brownie, cupcake and cookie kits! Being the ultimate foodie and wedding tragic, I was in heaven!

Donna Hay has created a bake at home range which includes Chocolate, Vanilla, Lemon and Coconut cupcakes, Molten Chocolate Chunk Brownies, Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix, Oat and Cranberry Cookie Mix, & Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix.

I couldn’t help but think with the DIY bride revoloution and the increasing trend for brides to have a sophisticated high tea for their bridal shower, that the Bake at Home Range just had to have a spot on The Hens Nest Blog!

We were also lucky enough to interview Donna about the Bake at Home Range

1/ Donna, what was your inspiration for the bake-at-home range?
 
I used to have so many friends, fans and readers comment on my chocolate brownie recipe, I thought why not develop a range of brownie and cookie mixes that taste just like homemade. The brownie recipe itself was in development for 2 years before it was perfect – I’m a stickler for quality and taste! I really wanted to produce a product that was easy to prepare and special to present that people could keep on hand in their pantry to bake for every day or special occasions.

2/ Do you intend to expand the bake-at-home range to include other products or flavours?

Watch this space! We’re working on some new exciting ideas and projects for the bake-at-home range. To be the first to know, sign up for our regular online newsletter at donnahay.com

3/ Our favourite way to eat your Molten Chocolate Chunk Brownie is hot from the oven with berries and cream!  What is your favourite way to devour the M.C.C Brownie?

I think you just gave me a new favourite! But I love ice-cream, so I’m quite partial to a warm brownie with a good-quality vanilla bean ice-cream. The moment when the ice-cream starts to melt and mix with the warm, chocolaty goodness of the brownie is heavenly.

 4/ Cupcakes remain a popular favourite within the bridal community. Can you provide any tips for brides who wish to create cupcakes for their bridal showers or weddings when using the bake-at-home range?

A simple rule we often apply is plan-ahead. The ease of the donna hay bake-at-home range is that it’s designed to be prepared and stored at home. Part of the bridal celebration could be a fun pre-wedding bake night, a few glasses of wine, some happy memories and a cupcake baking part of the bridal shower. For those more adventurous brides maybe a mini bake-off challenge between small teams of guests, could add some fun-filled drama to the night plus special stories for the wedding party

5/ If you were throwing a bridal shower, how would you display the bake-at-home range?

Simplicity is the key. The chic patty cases add the perfect finishing touch and presented on white plates, platters or stands is a nice way to display your work. Alternately a simple runner of craft paper or rough linen along a sideboard or table with a vase of garden-picked blooms and rows of cupcakes is a neat way to present.

6/ I still have a copy of Donna Hay Weddings magazine, issue #4. Do you have any plans to do another Wedding Magazine?

With all the interest we’re getting in the general store for wedding gifts and readers asking us about another specially themed issue, we’re considering a special weddings supplement or booklet to go with an issue as an added bonus. That’s not to say you can’t draw wedding inspiration from our regular issues – the joy is that readers are free to interpret, so ideas in the Spring issue could be put into practice for a Spring wedding. Likewise our Celebrate issue or any of the simple ideas we present in the style guide section each issue, could make great inspiration for like-minded brides.

Thank you to Donna Hay and staff for discussing your bake at home range with us. The Spring Issue of Donna Hay Magazine will be available early October.

Stay tuned for more exciting Donna Hay News!

Emma – THN

The Hens Nest Wedding Planning Directory, Forum & Blog – Donna Hay

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending a bridal shower which was catered and styled by Emily at White Room Events. I can’t help but share a few images from the day, Emily created such a gorgeous display of edible beautifulness!

I LOVE this little Lia and Peter Sign on top of the Banana Cake!

Yummy Raspberry, Mint and Coconut Flavoured French Macaroons (very chic)

When putting together an event, it’s the smaller things that an event stylist will think of that really define and perfect the overall finish – such as a menu, take home paper bags AND recognising the grooms to be’s Irish heritage and having custom cookies made with clover on them!

These delicious Cookies are from Polka Dot Cookies , another one of our fabulous Hens Nest wedding professionals. Libby and her team create divine cookies that are not just beautifully finished they taste AMAZING too!

Cupcake wrappers from The Cupcake Wrapper Co

Two yummy scrummy cakes from Sweet Treats Cakes and Cupcakes

Emily, you did a beautiful job! Lia, I can’t wait for your wedding

Until next time

Emma – THN

The Hens Nest Wedding Planning Directory, Forum and Blog – White Room Events, Polka Dot Cookies

A few months ago I was looking at the Beautiful Moments Photography blog and was taken back by a particular wedding. The bride was holding a striking black and white lollipop bouqet. Since then I have been scouring the internet looking for lollipop bridal bouquets to feature in our blog! Walla, I have finally found something to delight your senses with!

It turns out that Emma, the bride who’s wedding I fell in love with has now opened a wonderful online shop called Lollipop Brides!

Image provided courtesy of Light + Love Photography

It seems as though lollipops are becoming quite a fashionable wedding accessory and I heart it

Lollipop Bonbonnierie from Pink Frosting

Lollipop Place Card Settings

Lollipop Table Centrepieces, image courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

One bride on Wedding Bee even made her own Lollipop Corsage! LOVE IT

Emma – THN

The Hens Nest Wedding Planning Directory, Forum and Blog, Lollipops and Weddings!

We are absolutely delighted that we have the gorgeous and most beautiful Christine from Pobke Photography within our little Hens Nest Community. We are even more delighted that she allowed us to feature one of her delicous weddings with us.

Nick and Stephanie flew Christine all the way over to Hartford, Conneticut to shoot their wedding. Talk about some strong photography love! To read Nick and Stephanie’s wedding story, you can do so on Christine’s blog 

Thank you guys for sharing your day with us and Congratulations on your wedding!

Stephanie’s dress is just out of this world. I love the colours in the silk skirt, yes that’s right silk skirt

If you would like to see your wedding or a wedding you have contributed to, please email emma@thehensnest.com.au

Until next time

Emma – THN

The Hens Nest Wedding Planning Directory, Forum and Blog – Pobke Photography

Who knew charcoal grey and yellow could look so amazing! Photographed by Kristin Spencer, I fall in love with this wedding every time I look at the incredibly creative floral arrangements thanks to Stoneblossom Floral and Event Design and amazing images (Kudos Kristin). This wedding would have to be a dream job, albeit hard for any floral designer.

I bring you, Nikki and Matt, our first international Real Wedding. Thank you Kristin Spencer for allowing us to feature your work on our blog! It’s weddings like this that reiterate why I love colour!

Nikki’s attendants all wore different shades of blue and different dress styles. Teemed with their incredible yellow and ivory bouquets, the girls looked amazing!

Having a selection of different outfits and colour shades really ads depth to the group images. I LOVE it when attendants have a little bit of individuality for this exact reason.

The boys wore tuxedos with raspberry pink ties

The details of this wedding are just mind blowing.  Yellow and white scattered rose petals, framed by blue ribbons decorating the Americana chairs and the Hoopa adorned with roses… Hello ridiculously good looking wedding!

Stylish refreshment station for guests

Order of service booklets

I love how Kristin has framed the below image with yellow flowers. It’s the small details that usually go unnoticed by so many that make a wedding photographers work such as this so individual and creative.

Onto the magnificent reception held at the Castle Hill Inn.  Table centrepieces were lavish floral arrangements consisting of Peonies, Hydrangeas, Roses and and Daisy’s.

Table Place cards.

And to finish on a sweet note, Nikki and Matt provided their guests with a delicious gourmet dessert bar catered by Ben & Jerry’s YUM!

Thank you again guys and congratulations!

If you would like to submit your wedding for content consideration, please email emma@thehensnest.com.au

Take care

Emma – THN

The Hens Nest Wedding Planning Directory, Forum and Blog – Real Weddings, Kristin Spencer Photography