How To: Make an Umbrella Cover

Posted by Leigh Stockton on 15 February 2011 | 158 comments

How To: Find Your Perfect Wedding Cake

In our Spring issue, we featured a Citron Tart from Matakana Patisserie, a silky-smooth lemon dessert.

Sutherland Kovach, who styled the planning pages for the issue, chose the cake to tie in with their theme - using lots of colour.

According to Hannah Sutherland, of the Auckland-based photography company, 'Colour can add excitement to your day in so many ways. Bright hues add a joyful, festive feeling. It's a great way to transform your day - plus it will make your photographs come alive.'

Hannah suggests using edible enhancers such as candy-coloured icing or jewel-toned berries on top of your cake.

We asked Matakana Patisserie owners, Tyrone and Delwyn Vincent, for their tips on how to find the perfect wedding cake.

TIPS:

1) Plan well ahead of time, so you can consider all cake options. From cupcakes, tower cakes, classic cakes to decadent desserts - there are so many choices!

2) Remember that the cake is an important part of the day and can also double as dessert.

3) If you see styles of cakes you love, cut out the pictures. It's always good to work with a starting vision of the desired result.

Our tip: When it comes to decorating, cascade the tiers of your cake with blooms to suit your wedding theme.

Cake with flowers, POA, City Cake Company. Visit citycake.com. Flowers by Blush. Visit flowersbyblush.co.nz.

Citron Tart, $75 (including writing), visit matakanapatisserie.co.nz.

From the cake to the attire, check out our planning pages in the Summer 2011 issue. Our expert tips will help you to create a unique, colourful experience.

Posted by Leigh Stockton on 26 January 2011 | 154 comments

Sweat the small stuff

I bet you thought you read that wrong ...

Ok, don't literally 'sweat the small stuff', but when it comes to tying together your wedding theme with truly impressive styling the little things really do add up.

Much like popping on a great belt or necklace with your outfit, it's the 'little things' that make a big impact to deliver that WOW factor, you want to impress your guests on the day.

The Autumn 2010 New Zealand Weddings issue has some seriously gorgeous styling tips, which - despite being simple steps - will give your wedding day that little somethin' somethin'.

Here are a handful of my favourite styling tips from the issue. You'll have to grab a copy to find a few of your own favourites.

1) Thread roses onto string tied with ribbon to bring a rustic quality to your tables.
2) Decorate plain cupcakes with real flower budds or pretty petals.
3) Place candles in sand-filled jars and set them ablaze as the sun sets.
4) Get a luxe look for less with elaborate flourishes of glossy satin ribbon on the back of each chair and around your cake in lieu of intricate icing.
5) Cover children's colouring books or doodle pads with a plain wallpaper in your accent cololur.

Posted by Melissa Gardi on 31 March 2010 | 176 comments

Cocktail hour

I spent some of the long weekend trying out cocktail recipes for the next issue (comes with the job!).

Now that strawberries are back in season and the prices have dropped to a couple of dollars a punnet, daiquiris make a refreshing and budget-friendly option for engagement parties, weddings or even just those breaks in the planning process.

And keep some space in the garden to grow your own mint – mojitos and summer go hand in hand.

Strawberry daiquiri

2 shots white rum

15ml sugar syrup

1 pinch icing sugar

1 shot triple sec

1 shot lemon juice

1 handful strawberries (minus the stem)

Extra strawberries, to garnish.

Combine all ingredients with ice in a blender. Pour into a glass and garnish with a strawberry.

Mojito

3 shots lime juice

1 handful fresh mint

1 tsp brown sugar

Club soda

Extra mint and/or raspberries, to garnish

Muddle the lime juice, mint and sugar. Shake and pour over ice into a glass. Add rum, then top up with club soda. Garnish with extra mint, or raspberries.

Posted by Melissa Gardi on 27 October 2009 | 72 comments