Real wedding: Emily and Michael’s DIY Barn wedding

Emily and Michael were married by Barbara Beames in the Barn at The Briars on Saturday 21st December 2013, and the Barn was then transformed into the reception venue.

Many hours were spent by Emily and her mother in law making 80 metres of gorgeous bunting!

The wedding cake, which was layered on the inside in different shades of purple, the cup cakes and many of the desserts were made by Ellen’s Bakery.

After having wood fired pizza for mains, the dessert buffet and lolly bar meant guests were in sweets heaven!

So many personal touches made this a truly magic wedding, including the rustic signs made by Michael. The guests had fun with lawn games and Mr Whippy made an appearance!

Emily looked absolutely stunning and Michael looked a treat in his purple suit.

The time and effort that Emily and Michael put into designing, planning and creating their wedding was evident to everyone, and it was a truly wonderful experience helping coordinate their wedding day. 

Proposal events

Popping the question has always been a special and important element of getting married, and it is becoming quite popular for the proposal to be an event in its own right!

A great example was when Dan proposed to Ellesse as a production put on by Matt & Jo at Fox FM (http://www.fox.com.au/shows/mattandjo/video/matt-jos-surprisal/). What a fantastic surprise for Ellesse, who had only just started working in the city and thought her boss was taking her to a client briefing! This proposal included numerous celebrities and even a Channel 7 news flash.

The ideas for proposing are endless….

Imagine taking a walk through your local shopping area, continuously bumping into friends and family along the way, then discovering them all gathered together when you arrive at a set meeting point, where the big question is asked.

Or perhaps your partner puts a movie on to watch together, but instead of the movie, you are watching your family and friends put on a performance, leading into your own proposal.

Maybe you are walking along Southbank, stopping to watch the many talented buskers, only to be dragged by one of the performers into the centre where your partner has incorporated your proposal into one of their shows, and all of a sudden your family and friends appear in the crowd.

The ideas for creating a proposal event are endless!

Benefits of having an Event Planner

I feel that having an Event Planner is still considered a luxury by many, however the cost of an event planner is minimal when you factor in the time you are saving yourself, the reduction in stress levels, and the knowledge and experience of your planner.

In times where so many of us are time poor, just the thought of organising an event can be quite daunting. Whether it be a corporate dinner, your wedding, a conference, a birthday, or any other significant milestone, all events take a great deal of your precious time to plan.

Using an event planner takes away the stress, and it reduces the countless hours of researching and organising involved with the planning process. It also ensures all elements of the planning are covered, including even the smallest details. Event Planners spend many hours networking and working closely with many venues and suppliers, so not only do they know how these businesses work, but they can often also pass on discounts. Your planner can also advise you of current trends and share their own ideas and experiences with you.

The different types of Event Planner packages on offer also give a lot of flexibility – for example: Functioning Together offers Do-It-Yourself, Guiding Hand (getting started), Function Day Coordination, Wedding Day Coordination and Deluxe (everything you can think of!) packages, as well as customising any package to specifically suit your needs.

The Function or Wedding Day Coordination concept is becoming quite popular for those who want to plan everything themselves, but do not want the hassle and stress of pulling it all together on the day. Instead, they can leave it to a professional to handle, allowing them to thoroughly enjoy their event.

Just remember, hiring an Event Planner will be one of the most valuable decisions you make when planning your event.

When should I start planning my event?

As soon as you become aware that you need to organise an event, whether it be a corporate dinner, a birthday milestone, your wedding, or any other special occasion, take the time to work out when you will need to commence planning. Take into account how important it is for you to have a particular venue and/or suppliers, how busy you will be with other commitments during your planning stage, and how much notice your guests will require.

Getting started early is preferable where possible, but an event can also be organised in a short space of time, although choices are then often limited due to availability.

Generally, if you are planning a wedding, 12 months is an ideal time to start planning, particularly if you have a specific venue in mind. Having some flexibility on your wedding date can also help with your planning. Some couples are even choosing to hold their wedding mid-week, which makes selecting the date much easier!

If you are having a destination wedding (ie overseas), giving your guests more than 12 months’ notice is courteous, as it gives them the option to plan an extended holiday when attending your wedding.

Ideally, planning other types of events, such as birthdays, conferences, and corporate dinners, should commence about 6 months before the event, depending on the size and type of event (some larger events may require 12 months or more of planning). It’s a good idea to lock in your venue as soon as you know about the event, particularly if it is being held during the busy season.

No matter when you commence your planning, it is very important to work out a checklist of all your requirements and a timeline for when all your arrangements need to be made. It is worthwhile spending some time working through these details, to ensure nothing is missed. The more time spent during the planning process, the more successful your event will be!

How much is planning your wedding costing you?

Have you ever stopped to think how many hours it takes to plan your wedding? On average, it can take around 200 hours! Most of us these days are time poor, so using a wedding planner takes away the stress, and it reduces the countless hours of researching and organising involved with the planning process. Afterall, this is one of the most important days in your life, and you want to enjoy every moment – from when you first become engaged, all the way through until your honeymoon.

The cost of a wedding planner is minimal when you factor in the time you are saving yourself, and the knowledge and experience of your planner. For example, if you decide to have your whole wedding planned for you, Functioning Together can provide you with a Deluxe package that costs $2000 – if you break this amount down, you will see that it is very affordable at approximately $38 per week (over a 12 month period).

Many brides say after they were married that if they did it again they would definitely use a wedding planner! So don’t leave it until it is too late and let Functioning Together work with you to create a memorable occasion that you and your guests will all cherish forever.

Mornington Peninsula Weddings

Functioning Together is a proud new member of Mornington Peninsula Weddings www.peninsulaweddings.com.au.

Mornington Peninsula Weddings is a group of quality wedding suppliers located on the peninsula, specialising in creating beautiful weddings on Victoria’s gorgeous Mornington Peninsula.

I am looking forward to working closely with these businesses.