weddings Archives - Hotel Urban

Floral crowns are here to stay!

Social Media TeamMarch 15, 2016

If we have to confess, we’d have to say that floral crowns have definitely been one of our favourite wedding trends of recent years. Whether it’s a whimsical, romantic touch that you’re after or a more bohemian chic feel, a floral crown can be the perfect complement to any wedding. And if you think wearable flowers was just a trend of the past, think again, Crown of Eden has made us fall in love with them ever so deeply. We chat to Chloe of Crown of Eden about her beautiful creations and why the trend is here to stay!

Floral crowns have definitely become popular on girls in the last few years? Why do you think they have become so popular and what do you love most about them?

Flower crowns have a massive history and I am so glad they have come back to be probably one of the biggest wedding trends. Their increasing popularity has made a huge romantic statement within the wedding industry and brings with it a personalized symbol of love. I absolutely love their versatility; there are so many different styles and designs that can be achieved with different types of flowers and foliages – its basically endless!

What hairstyle goes best with a flower crown?

Flower crowns definitely suit a more relaxed hairstyle; whether it’s loose braids, relaxed curls even low dos. You cannot go wrong with any of them.

How about make-up? Is it best to keep it simple or is it a case of the brighter the better?

I think it completely depends on the style of the bride and even the colours of the flowers and wedding. Personally I would pair simple but striking makeup with the more classic white, cream and foliage flower crowns. But if your wedding is fused with colour and is the focal of your wedding then definitely ask your makeup artist how to incorporate that!

Do you have any tips for brides/ladies who want to keep their flower crowns after their wedding/event?

If you are wanting to keep your fresh flower crown to remind you of your day you can preserve them by drying them. This does however depend on the flowers that have been used. Flowers such as poppies, ranunculus and lisianthus are generally to fragile once dried, but native flowers and roses work a treat. Simply hang it up!

Do you have any tips for making a floral crown at home? Are there certain flowers we should use?

My number one tip for making your own flower crown would be, that you need to make it on the day of your wedding/event. It needs to be at peak freshness! There are definitely certain flowers that should and should not be used when making a flower crown. Unfortunately our weather also plays a massive part in the flowers life span as well. There are certain flowers that last longer and are more suitable. Some examples of these are roses, carnations, ranunculus, native filler flowers and babies breath. Examples of flowers I would stay away from when constructing your flower crown is iris, tulips, daffodils, delphiniums, easter daisy and freesia.

Lastly, what types of flowers do you see to be the current trend for brides this year

As far as trends go I am fully on the foliage bandwagon! I am all for this foliage and wild style that has been evolving over the last year. I also predict a lot more native and garden flower combinations for this year and I cannot wait!

Chloe is the florist behind Crown of Eden and Eden the Flower Shop. She has a background of design focusing on colour and patterns (with a degree in graphic design and product design), as well as floristry, studying the art in both England and Australia. She specialises in making beautifully handmade, versatile and lightweight floral headbands and headpieces for weddings, festivals and outings, as well as gorgeous bouquets. Find our more about her bouquets here and her floral crowns here.

How to plan an ‘on trend’ wedding!

Social Media TeamMarch 8, 2016

We talked to Brisbane, wedding photographer, Kelsea Midson about planning an ‘on trend’ wedding and what’s hot or not.

D.I.Y Weddings – Not.

With the onset of Pinterest, DIY quickly became a huge trend in weddings – with every bride looking for that personal DIY touch. While it was great while it lasted, putting down the hot glue gun will give you so much more time (and space) for other activities! Venues such as Hotel Urban put a lot of emphasis on beautiful, creative styling, and they can help bring your vision to life. There are also a lot of wedding stylists out there that are able to style everything to perfection so that you can sit back and relax without having to lift a finger. Take it from someone who DIY’d almost every part of her wedding, the multiple trips a day to craft stores honestly doesn’t save you that much money.

Watercolour – Hot.

Whether it’s your wedding paper, your cake or even your dress! Watercolour is very much on trend. Keep it pastel & feminine and it will 100% hit the spot. It’s incredibly versatile and lends itself very well to the likes of boho, glam, beach, country & even English garden styling!
Pro Tip: Tie it in with some beautiful gold foil lettering and accents for a stunning glam look.

Silk Flowers – Not.

Real flowers are so beautiful and so readily available, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to forgo the real thing for something synthetic. With the one big plus to silk flowers being that they last forever, you might be interested to know that there are so many suppliers these days that have wonderful ways of preserving your real flowers so that you can always keep them as a memento. You can freeze dry them, frame them in a shadow box or even get a beautiful one-of-a-kind painting done of it. If, however, your heart is set on silk, get the ones that look as real as possible. Cameras these days are able to pickup a lot of detail, and fake ones that look great in real life, might end up looking totally different in your photos.

Unplugged Weddings – Hot.

I have to admit, at my wedding I had a hashtag that I asked guests to use when uploading images to Instagram. In hindsight I wish I had of told people to put their phones away and be present in the moment. The majority of the photos on that hashtag ended up being unflattering, and in our wedding video all we can see are guests looking at their phones! It’s becoming more and more popular to have an unplugged wedding & it’s a trend that should definitely stay. Also, as a side note, it’s a massive faux pas to upload a photo to social media before the bride & groom! Let them have their moment and announce the big news, don’t ruin that for them.

Small, Intimate Weddings – Hot.

Gone are the days of inviting second & third cousins you’ve never met in your life. More brides & grooms these days are self-funding their weddings and it’s much easier to say no when parents tell you who you need to invite. Keep it small and intimate and only the best people in your life. They’re the ones who actually want to be there & are not just in it for the free food. In years to come you’ll be thankful you saved the money and kept it more personal. If you don’t know their full name, or you’ve never met them – cross them off.

At the end of the day, these are really all a matter of opinion. Weddings are best when they’re personal. If you love silk flowers, get silk flowers. If you want to stay up late removing glue from your fingernails, then DIY is definitely for you! Wedding trends come and go, and places like Pinterest can get you into a flurry and make you think that you have to have this and that for the perfect wedding. But, when it all comes down to it, the most important thing about a wedding day is that you get married to your best friend. Really, nothing else matters!

Kelsea is a portrait & wedding photographer based in Brisbane, Australia. She is a massive fan of cake, cats, family, travel & her husband. She still hasn’t forgiven the (thankfully no longer hot) burlap trend for making her itchy. Visit her website here.

Find out about weddings at Hotel Urban Brisbane here.

Tips on Choosing Your Wedding Photographer – and how to make the most of them

Social Media TeamMarch 8, 2016

So, your significant other has popped the question, or maybe it was you that did the honours. Either way, you’re getting hitched and it’s time to begin planning – Yay! At the top of most brides’ to-do list is snagging their perfect photographer. Now I know, not all brides are all about the photos, and hey, a lot of you feel a wee bit daunted at the thought of someone following you around with a big lens all day, but I can guarantee that most of you want to create timeless memories of your day to look back on. This is where your photographer comes in.

Picking the right photographer can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some quick tips on narrowing down your choice and making the most of your photographer on the big day.

Pick your style. One thing you will be blessed with is choice; wedding photographers are not something our fine city is lacking in. Pinterest, Facebook and local online wedding directories are a great place to start, and you’ll soon figure out what kind of photos you’re into (and those you’re not). Browse portfolios in detail, don’t just make a decision on the ‘money shot’ images on the home page. Also, don’t expect a photographer to change up their style to suit you. If you’ve been recommended a photographer whose portfolio boasts bold, glamourously posed images, but you really just want some candid, natural shots, you may be left feeling disappointed. Choose someone that excels in the style you love.

Pick your budget. What value do you put in your images? This is going to be different for everyone, and my only advice here would be spend as much as you can afford. Don’t scrimp and go with someone just because they are cheap. You might save yourself a thousand dollars but be left underwhelmed when your completed album is delivered.

What’s included? Once you’ve narrowed down some of your fave photographers, it’s important to be well informed and know exactly what’s included in the packages on offer. Are you after a digital only package? Do you want prints or a canvas thrown in? Are you only paying for the photographer’s time, but will have to pay extra to get your images? What about a studio-quality album to display your images? One thing to keep in mind is that a good photographer will not offer the kind of albums you can go down to your local department store and make yourselves. Good quality albums will be expensive, and rightly so. They are made to last a lot longer than you or I.

Go with your gut. Meet with your short-listed photographers and get to know them over a coffee (or a G&T like I prefer) and take a list of questions along so you get all the info you need. It’s important you ‘click’ with your photographer (pardon the pun), he/she is going to be hanging around on one of the most important days of your life, so you want to really like them! Once you’ve made your decision and viewed the contract, lock them in! Good photographers don’t last long and are often booked a year or two in advance, so don’t muck around.

My parting word of advice: An engagement shoot will give you the best opportunity to practice being in front of the camera and build up a rapport with your photographer, so when it comes to the day, you can absolutely nail those effortless shots. If you hate this idea because you feel super awkward and uncomfortable in front of the camera, this is even more of a reason to do it! You want your wedding photos to be a true representation of your most joyous day. Try not to over-pose, and leave your default cheesy grin at home. Hold your loved one close and get caught up in the moment. It’s the real moments of the day that make the best photographs; the ones you will hang on the wall and smile at each morning. Relax, and enjoy yourself!

Jaime is a Brisbane wedding photographer who loves taking photos of things. In particular, happy and momentous things. People sharing laughter, tears of joy, things that only happen once in your lifetime. Visit her This is Life Photography website here.

Find out more about weddings at Hotel Urban Brisbane here.

Love was all around at Brisbane’s Bridal Showcase

Social Media TeamMay 25, 2015

LOVE was all around for Hotel Urban Brisbane’s very first Bridal Showcase! Bride & grooms-to-be, future bridesmaids, others, mothers-in-law-to-be and so many more came along to the epic display put on by both the hotel and all of their trusted suppliers including cake-makers, musicians, florists, photographers – and even burlesque dancing teachers! Because the night wasn’t just about the Big Day – it was about the engagement party AND the hens parties.

Guests were greeted in the gorgeous lobby area with giant letters spelling out LOVE and then sent along their journey through Urban with a bag full of Urban goodies including magazines, details on the evening and our suppliers, and of course – Cheetah the Urban Monkey!

Starting off in the decadent Green Room, guests were spoilt with an assortment of high tea, several cocktail tastings, and a burlesque dancing teacher ready to whip everyone into dance with feathers, corsets and gloves.

Next stop? Up to level 10 to the famous Panorama Room with 180 degree views of Brisbane, and just in time to see the sun setting over Mount Coo-tha. Lined with gorgeous black chandeliers – the room came alive with the sounds of Andrew Taylor (The Voice) and his band while guests enjoyed dining on mini-main meals, canapés and wine tastings to get a real idea of what Hotel Urban can truly offer. The room sparkled with the sequined table cloths from our trusted decorators, along with stunning centrepieces and table settings to inspire brides-to-be.

With a handful of candy from the Urban candy buffet, guests made their way over to the grand Parklands Room – Hotel Urban’s largest room on offer. Guests admired the views of the city, and the lush Roma St Parklands (thus the name) while chatting to the lovely ladies from the Roma Street Parklands about the option of ceremonies in the park! Couples took pictures at the alter, set up by our lovely ceremony styling vendors, and then jumped in the photo booth for another picture! Our friendly celebrant & photographers spoke to couples, while a few girls had some mini-make-up trials from our beautiful hair and make-up suppliers.

To finish off the evening, guests had a glass of their favourite wine while overlooking the city from our outdoor terrace in the funky Loft – Urban’s very own rooftop bar! Guests had a boogie to the tunes supplied by our resident DJ and were treated to some fireworks that just so happened to be spring out of the sky at the conclusion of the night! Timing!

Find out more about having your wedding at Hotel Urban Brisbane here!