Portobello Bride 'Girls Night In' Morning Tea

Last Tuesday we held a 'Girls Night In' party to raise vital funds for Women's Cancer. It was the first one I have organised, and I loved every minute. I am already looking forward to next years. It's the perfect occasion to gather together your girlfriends, taking time out of your busy lives to celebrate friendship and womanhood whilst offering support and awareness to a very relevant and important cause.

I had decided on a Bright Pink and Daffodil Yellow theme, the colours of the "Girls Night In" charity.  I called on lovely Portobello Bride Members to help me create a morning tea like like no other my friends had experienced.

First on my 'To Do' list was the invitations. Samone, one half of Cake Ink, created an original stationery suite for us. I wanted something in bright pink, that was very 'Portobello'. The first design Samone sent me was perfect, the Bottoms Up coasters were the most talked about detail of the day, the girls loved them!

Lucky you, we will be providing a free printable version of the Stationery suite for you with compliments from Cake Ink! Check back soon...

The most important detail of the day, the Sweets was next! Juli from One Sweet Girl went above and beyond anything I imagined for our dessert buffet. There were chocolate cake pops, brownies, cupcakes, marshmallows, cookies and the piéce de resistance, a white chocolate ganache with fresh raspberry ribbon cake. 

Flowers are a must have when ever I am entertaining. I called on the lovely Virginia of The Bouquets of Ascha Jolie to arrange the most beautiful pink and yellow blooms for the party. Everyone commented on them, and I really appreciated the extra loose bunches Virginia provided for me to use throughout my home to complement our Girls Night In spread. That's what I love about all our members, the service they offer is simply exceptional.

The finishing touch was the pretty vintage glassware and crockery we hired from A Vintage Affair. Lee Elizabeth George from A Vintage Affair provided the perfect ensemble of coupette glasses for our champagne and daiquiris, cake plates and the cutest cake forks I have ever seen.

Floral arrangements by The Bouquets of Ascha Jolie

I placed photographs of the important women in my life throughout the desserts by One Sweet Girl.  

My favourite sweet of the day, chocolate brownies with raspberry icing.

Bottoms Up! Cake Ink printable coasters- you can get yours here soon!

Pretty drinks in pretty glassware by A Vintage Affair!

My niece, Eliza Valentine sneaking a cake pop!

 

Not forgetting the reason for our fabulous do! The girls donated generously to our 'Girls Night In' fundraiser. Thank you xx

The most divine cake I have ever tasted. Juli is certainly One Talented Sweet Girl!

The ever cheeky Lucy, kicking up her pretty heels!

I must make a special mention to Lisa of Who's A Clever Girl? Photography who travelled to my home on the Peninsula from Melbourne to photograph our event for you all to see. Lisa worked her magic around us all, blending in and capturing so many sweet moments.

Thank you also to all who donated online to our Portobello Bride page on The Girls Night In website. We raised just over $500, and we look forward to raising more in the coming year. The winner of our two tickets to a Portobello Bride event in 2012 is, Kylie Blake. Congratulations Kylie, and thank you again. 

all images captured by Lisa Kerr-Atkinson of Who's A Clever Girl? Photography

Portobello Bride Featured Wedding - Marina & Andy by Cookes Food

Just a little warning, in case you haven't had lunch as yet, this wedding is filled with the most delectable images of food, glorious food!

Marina and Andy's 1950's style wedding was held at the beautiful Fitzroy Town hall in Melbourne, Cookes Food catered for the day. Serving their signature style of locally sourced, classic, rustic style cuisine with a 1950's twist! 

Here Sophie Cooke of Cookes Food shares their part in Marina and Andys Wedding day story: 

it was a perfect day...crisp morning, sunny afternoon and warm evening...We arrived onsite at the town hall at 2pm.  it was exciting to know that Marina and Andy were around the corner getting hitched at the Russian House in Fitzroy, where they had giant white balloons and morris miners to drive them to the town hall.  Nicole was laying tables with hand sewn calico fabric, dressed with old fashioned doilies each setting finished with the brides hand sewn napkin and vintage serviette ring and bone cutlery...all the vision of Marina who had laboriously sewn in the months prior. A selection of furniture from the Junk Company acted as props around the room adding to the 1950's charm. Sara, of Mr Lincoln was foraging through her flowers, vegetables and herbs putting together the perfect bundles and arrangements, including stocks, beetroot, chives and cabbage leaves.  Roger from Palace Props arrived with the giant LOVE letters, which were positioned as the room dividers!  In the kitchen we chopped, tasted, dressed, tested and excitedly put some of the retro style canapes together...house cured salmon from the Melbourne Pantry sat atop paper thin crisps, accompanied with sieved egg and very 50's chive mayonnaise.  We did our own take on pigs in blanket by filling stunning medjul dates with Gorgonzola piccante and wrapped poached autumn pears with prosciutto-served piping hot.  Lee from a vintage affair lent us adorable old fashioned platters which were the perfect back drop to the themed canapes.  after the canapes the guests took their seats and the staff, dressed in sequin bow ties, served the main - duck l'orange with shaved savoy cabbage salad and slow roasted lamb with celeriac puree and pineapple relish...

Frivolity followed with speeches, dancing and cutting of the cake!  Nicole set up next to the cake a selection of macaron, brown sugar meringues and beautiful la luna cheese...  Following this guests departed through the main town hall entrance and watched as the bride and groom rode their vintage bikes - labelled with JUST MARRIED - down the street!

All images captured by Jorge de Araujo

Thank you Sophie Cookes and Nicole De Bono of Cookes Food for sharing your beautiful wedding day fare with us today. We look forward to sharing many more of your gorgeous celebrations in the future. 

Getting To Know… Lillybuds

Lillybuds / Perth /  Website / Email

what is your favourite part of your job - receiving wedding photos from brides, as i only sell online i have little contact with brides, so receiving email and photos is such a lovely surprise to the day.

what are you reading at the moment - as always, wedding magazines and blogs. its so important to keep up with current trends.

what are you lusting after at the moment - i have a new design, a teardrop brooch bouquet, i cant stop looking at it, and may not be able to part with it.

 top 3 songs on playlist - anything by Adele, Amy Winehouse or Eminem

favourite moment of a wedding - the first look.

 who inspires you - what rather than who, fashion, colours, real flowers and wedding dresses.

favourite cocktail -  i don't drink.

what does it take to impress you - manners, creativity, and passion for life.

 best piece of advice you were ever given - to make button bouquets for weddings.

 favourite way to spend sunday - watching movies whilst working.

black tie or casual - definitely casual

new name for hens night - i don't have one.

your favourite hostess gift to give - a button bouquet of course

 what's the best gift you have ever received - my laptop 

3 words that describe you best - dedicated, creative and generous.

Thank you Liza for sharing a little bit about yourself with us today. 

Portobello Bride Featured Wedding Film: Kate & Mike by Moments Captured

We have something very special for you today, grab a tissue or two, as this is one of the most beautiful and moving wedding films we have seen. I thinks it tugged at our heart strings a little due to the fact the gorgeous bride is Kate a new friend to Portobello Bride and the editor of the sweet wedding blog The Apple Aisle.

Joshua Lamont from Moments Captured created this beautiful wedding film for Mike and Kate, he is a new favourite of ours. His sensitive style, capturing the moments in the lead up to the wedding are his signature style, and we think they are truly fabulous. What bride wouldn't want to see how her husband-to-be spent the morning, sitting, pondering over words that describe his love for her. 

Renee & An: Engagement Session by It's Beautiful Here

As more Australian couples are choosing to have a photography session once they get engaged, the variety of the style of shoots is increasing. This memento shoot of Renee and An by It's Beautiful Here is unlike anything we have seen before! And we love it!

When Kat & Scout from It's Beautiful Here were getting to know the couple, the photographers discovered their love of shopping in Second-Hand shops, which became the setting for the shoot. What a unique idea! The session took place at the quaint little Gisborne Anglican Parish Op Shop.

Getting to Know... EmmyRose

EmmyRose | New South Wales | Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

What’s your favourite part of your job?
Creating a design from words and being able to bring someone’s vision to life

What are you reading at the moment?
The Monk, The Farmer, The Merchant

What are you lusting after at the moment?
An oak cabinet I found at a nearby store that needs some love and attention

Top three songs on your play list?
Messages – Xavier Rudd
Dig – Incubus
Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

What is your favourite moment during a wedding?
Ohh that’s easy I always look at the grooms face, when the bride walks in.

Who inspires you?
Too many to mention, but I do love Frankie, Peppermint and Country Style magazines & blogs

Favourite Cocktail?
I’m a red wine lady.

What does it take to impress you?
Anyone who is genuine, honest and is inspired by what they do.

What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?
Keep your eyes open

Favourite way to spend a Sunday?
A sleep in, a coffee pot, and a potter in the garden

Black Tie or Casual?
Casual

Your suggestion for a new name for ‘Hens party’ ?
A ladies do

Your favourite hostess gift to give?
Anything from my new garden, so blooms, blossoms or vegies.

What’s the best gift you have ever received?
A hug when in love

Three words that describe you best.
Visual, sensitive, hopeless romantic

Thanks so much for sharing with us today Emmy. It has been lovely to get to know you a little more!

Bride To Be Magazine Beauty Survey

Bride To Be magazine is currently running a Beauty Survey on their website. They want to find out all about your beauty routine leading up to your big day!

Take part in the survey and you will be entered in the draw to win a SK-II product pack worth $348! Be quick as the survey closes this Friday [Sept 16].

Click here to take the survey.

[image by Lina Tesch]