PLANNING THROUGH THE EYES OF A DIFFERENT BRIDE

16/11/2020

Hello everyone, I would love to share with you all about the wedding journey of one of my closest friends Rochelle Gardiner, she got married at the Mitchelton winery on October 26th 2019 to her lovely hubby Charlie Gardiner.
I will take you through her planning process. Talking about all the things she loved, which vendors she chose & who was a complete pain in the ass! I am hoping with each planning process it gives you all insight & inspiration to achieve exactly what you want for your special day.

I thought it might be helpful to brides in their planning process to read some of Rochelle's responses about her special day! This lovely wedding wasn't held at our venue here at the Shearing Shed but it's a little insight to the things to be prepared for wherever your wedding may be! The Shearing Shed is a blank canvas for you to create whatever you want for your wedding! I will continue to do questionnaires like this with so many amazing brides to get as much information out there as possible to help all you lovelies get hitched!

THE PLANNING PROCESS

HOW DID YOU FIND THE PLANNING PROCESS OF YOUR WEDDING?

I loved it! I loved every minute of it. I had a really good idea of what I wanted, everything was pictured in my head. Surprisingly, I found the planning process really easy. Everything worked out fairly well (obviously had a few little hiccups along the way which I think that’s a given) but overall I loved every minute.
The secret to planning your wedding is planning & organization. As long as you are organized & know what you’re working towards in the end the planning process is a piece of cake!

WHICH SUPPLIERS DID YOU GO WITH & WHY?

I went with suppliers that I connected with, that understood me & that I felt a real genuine connection with.
This was everything from our venue to my makeup artist. Where I could cut costs along the way I would source and do things myself. Mostly because I’m a control freak and like my ducks in a row.

Venue; Mitchelton Wines
Photographer; Love and Other Photography and Videography
Makeup Artist' Ellie Schon MUA
Hair; By Neveen
Flowers; Simply Stems Shepperton
Entertainment; The White Tree
Wedding Stylist; Rochelle did it herself but she had some help from Fiona from Brides who brunch on the actual day.

WHICH SUPPLIERS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND ON YOUR DAY?

Our venue went above and beyond on our wedding day. I had a wedding butler! A wedding butler!!! Like seriously? She was incredible it was like having another bridesmaid. Our photographer/ videographer love & other also were amazing, they made us feel so comfortable on the day. My wedding stylist was also amazing. She catered breakfast & lunch for us whilst getting ready, my god that was the best thing as I didn’t think of feeding myself or my girls when getting ready.

WHO WAS A PAIN IN THE ASS?

My hairstylist hands down! 2 weeks before my wedding my original hair stylists cancelled on me so the rush to find someone available let alone someone who would travel to our venue. Once I was able to find someone I didn’t get a chance to have a trial with her, she then rocked up 1.5hours late on the morning of the wedding. However I don’t know how she did it but she pumped 7 girls out so quickly & our hair was absolutely stunning! So happy it all worked out in the end because THAT was super stressful.

DID YOU USE A WEDDING PLANNER?

Nope! I was the wedding planner! Haha I just read A LOT of blogs and did my research :)

IF YOU HAD YOUR TIME AGAIN
WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?

I don’t like to live in a should of, could of world so I don’t think I would really do anything differently, but if I had to choose something perhaps I would allow more time for photos. We were on such a tight schedule & missed out on a few photo opportunities which we were quite disappointed with.

WHERE WAS ALL YOUR WEDSPIRATION FROM?

Bridal magazines & of course Instagram was great for inspo. I knew I didn’t want to get married in a church & we both knew the style of venue we wanted so I felt like our theme only flowed on from that.

WHAT DID YOU OVERLOOK & NOT REALLY THINK ABOUT UNTIL THE MOMENT YOU NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING.

Eating the day of! I just planned for hair & makeup for myself, my 4 bridesmaids and both MOB and MOG. I knew as we were all at the same venue we wouldn’t be able to walk down to the restaurant for lunch (not that we had time) so my mum gave me the great idea of a friend of hers who has a business called Brides who Brunch.
She catered for us girls and it was the best thing.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE PROCESS?

The day of hands down. You feel so overwhelmed with all the excitement & nerves, although knowing that the day is just beginning, then you have the whole night ahead was so just freaking exciting! Seeing that it was all coming together after sooooo long planning was pretty special, plus you get to marry the man of your dreams it hands down is the best day of your life! I can't even explain it, it was AMAZING.
Dress shopping was another highlight for me too.

ANY ADVICE FOR BRIDES IN THEIR PLANNING PHASE?

I have 3 bits of advice:

Enjoy the planning process. What is meant to be is meant to be but always have a plan B!
Eat on the day! Plan to have breakfast snacks that aren’t going to make you bloat and feel heavy. Drink a glass of water between champagnes. No one wants a tipsy bride walking down the aisle.
Lastly! This piece of advice I was provided and was the best thing ever… At your reception when your guests are enjoying themselves, sneak away to a corner of the room with your groom to take it all in. Watch everyone dancing & having the best night. They are there to celebrate you marrying the man of your dreams!