How To Create A Memory Wall Of Your Event

How To Create A Memory Wall Of Your Event

Guest post by Lucy from Framer.com.au

‘Enjoy every minute’ they said. Boy were they right! After so many months of planning my wedding, I remember feeling like the big day went by so fast. It was loved-up, happy blur of getting ready, riding to the venue, the walk, the vows, champagne, family, friends, more champagne and of course, dancing. Whilst my big day is over now, the memories are alive and kicking because I created a beautiful memory wall to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Photos are memories frozen in time, so it is sacrilege to keep your stunning wedding photographs buried on a USB stick or stored in digital dropbox folder somewhere. With very little effort, you can create a memory wall to bring back all the emotions of your wedding day – the quiet moments getting ready, the tears of joy as you walk down the aisle, the smiles after you exchange vows, and the dancefloor fun later in the evening.

Just like everyone’s wedding is different, your memory wall is a completely personal creation. So, the photos you choose to include should be the ones that make your own heart flutter. Don’t be afraid to extend your memory wall beyond your wedding day to include all the good times you’ve had together. Including photos of holidays, the engagement, your friends and families, your honeymoon and children tells a more complete story of your family. All beautifully printed, framed and hung together in striking wall arrangement.

Right now, you are planning your wedding – congratulations! You have probably already booked, or in the process of booking, a photographer to take photos of the big day. So why not get one step ahead and include a custom framing package to your gift registry too, which will allow you to have your magnificent photos printed, framed and delivered to your door right after your wedding. Not only is this a thoughtful gift your guests will love contributing to, it will help keep you on cloud nine a little longer once the big day has passed.

Once you have your photos printed and framed, you then need to choose a space for your memory wall. If you have a long hallway one idea is to create a uniform line of framed photos, with each frame marking a point in time from your engagement through to your honeymoon. Alternatively, a rectangular space above a couch or desk looks great with a neat grid of same-sized frames – we love grid with either four (2×2) or nine frames (3×3).

Next you need to select your photo frames. If you want a more cohesive look, it’s best to use the same size and colour for each frame in your memory wall. For wedding photos we recommend a clean white gallery frame and keeping them all the same size. If you want a more elegant look you can choose to print them in black and white. When using our online framing service, you can preview your wedding photos in a range of filters and frames and choose the style that looks best.

If you want to achieve a more eclectic look, be bold and mix different frame sizes or colours in your memory wall. When doing this, try and include 1-2 larger photos to anchor the layout, then offset them with a variety of smaller frames. Careful not to go too crazy – if you have different sized frames choosing a neutral pallet for your frames is best so you don’t distract the eye away from the photos. These organic layouts work really well going up and down a stairwell.

The great thing about memory walls is that they can grow with your family. So, while it might start off as a collection of wedding photos, over time you can add to it and include photos from your honeymoon and maybe in the future, some children! Just make sure you keep making the amazing memories and have adequate wall space to hang new frames as you get them.

Once you have your wedding photos printed and framed, it’s hang time! At this point, it pays to spend a few minutes planning out your layout. We recommend tracing your frames onto newspaper, then cutting them out and taping them to the wall. This will give you a really accurate indication of how your wall will look once hung.

Next, mark in pencil the points on the wall for where your nails should go (if you used the paper method above, you can nail right through the paper) and hang your photos. When using a professional framing service, like framer.com.au your frames will come ready to hang with all the hanging hardware you need.

So there you have it, with just a tiny bit of planning and plenty of help from an easy online framing service like Framer, you can create a beautiful memory wall for your wedding photos. Celebrating your best memories with family and friends, all whilst making a beautiful interior design statement.

Framer is the easy place to print and frame your photos online. Upload your digital photos and Framer will print, frame and deliver your photos ready to hang. Available now to add to your EasyRegistry!

6 Amazing Tips To Save Money On Your Wedding Day

6 Amazing Tips To Save Money On Your Wedding Day

In a recent survey that was done in Australia, it was determined that the average cost of a wedding would run between $36,000 and $65,000!! (Source: Bride To Be Magazine.) I felt a little overwhelmed and stressed about the expenses involved but fortunately, I came across 6 amazing tips that helped us save BIG TIME!

 

1) Limit your guest list

Keeping your guest list as short as possible can help you cut down reception costs drastically. Most caterers and banquet halls charge per-person. The difference between 200 and 150 guests can make a difference on your budget.

 

2) Cut down cuisine costs

About 39% of your wedding budget would go to your catering. Research your options! You’ll need to consider a buffet rather than a sit-down meal; or host a brunch instead rather than a multicourse meal. Another option for holding down costs while not sacrificing good cookery is “drop-off catering”. Catering companies deliver ready-made food and set it up for you. If you are brave enough, cater for the reception yourself with the help of some friends and family.

 

3) Don’t buy an expensive wedding dress

You don’t need to shop at a conventional bridal salon. You can buy a dress at a store or from a sales outlet in the special occasions ready-to-wear space. Additional cost-conscious choices include:
• Shopping for a vintage or once-worn dress.
• Renting a dress
• Visiting an online auction to search for your dress.
• Re-designing your mother’s wedding dress.

 

4) Break down your wedding budget

Breaking down your wedding budget into percentages makes it easier to know exactly how much you spend. This process also helps in identifying which services need more attention. EasyRegistry allows you to share your personalised registry link with your guests that will help you to recover after the big day.

 

5) Avoid getting married on a Saturday

Getting married on a Saturday might sound like an awesome idea because most people are not working and have time to attend the wedding. However, in terms of cutting costs for the wedding venue it is a bad idea. Most caterers and banquet hall owners tend to increase booking fees due to a high level of bookings from different couples getting married.You don’t have to drown in debts after your beautiful wedding.

 

6) Register for a gift registry account on EasyRegistry

Gift registries allow you create personalised wish lists so that your family and friends can help you at your wedding and beyond. While there are plenty of these to choose from, EasyRegistry is set up for couples in Australia that want a personal experience from a local company.

EasyRegistry lets your family and friends contribute money for you to use after your big day. Sign up now for a free account to start building your own registry for FREE, and receive a FREE wedding planner checklist.

With a free EasyRegistry account you get your very own easy-to-build, flexible and all inclusive registry. Signing up for a free account will enable you to:
• Add gifts to your registry
• Share your registry
• Receive a lump sum payment

 

Massive List Of REALLY Important Questions To Ask Your Wedding Venue!

Massive List Of REALLY Important Questions To Ask Your Wedding Venue!

Now that you have established your wedding date, it is now time to find the ideal wedding venue. Sitting down with each wedding venue will be critical to ensure that there are no surprises on the big day.
Using this list:
  1. Review all questions and mark those most relevant to your type of wedding
  2. Print out questions before you meet with the venue
  3. Make note of the feedback you receive. Especially if you are chatting to more than one wedding venue.

Dates

  • Is our date available?
  • How many other weddings will be booked that day?
  • Is the venue available for exclusive use?

Logistics

  • What is the seating arrangement?
  • How many guests does the venue hold?
  • What type of tables do you have (shape, size)?
  • How long do we have at the venue? How much are additional hours?
  • Is the site accessible (for wheelchairs, etc)?
  • Is parking and/or valet parking available?
  • How many parking spots are available?
  • Is there an overflow or separate car park available?
  • Is public transportation easily accessible from the venue?
  • Is a shuttle service available?
  • How many bathrooms are there?
  • If an outdoor venue: Is there a backup plan for rain?
  • Is there a coat check available?
  • Are there restrictions for the photographer in terms of flash usage?
  • Is the venue child friendly? What facilities are available for entertaining children?
  • Is there somewhere secure to store wedding gifts?

 

Music and sound

  • Are there any noise restrictions?
  • Can the venue accommodate a DJ or live band? Are there any restrictions?
  • Where does the band/DJ set up?
  • Where is the dance floor, and how large is it?
  • Do you have a sound system with speakers, or will that need to be rented?
  • Do you have microphones for speeches?
  • Can I hook an iPod or laptop up to your sound system?

Vendors, food, and rentals

  • Is there a required/preferred vendor list to stick to? Can we use other vendors?
  • Are tables, linens, chairs, plates, silverware, and glassware provided, or will we have to rent them or get them through our caterer?
  • If catering is available, can we do a tasting?
  • Can you accommodate special dietary requirements?
  • If using in-house catering, what is the service charge?
  • If I hire my own caterer, are kitchen facilities available to them?
  • Can I bring in a cake from an outside baker?
  • Is there a cake-cutting fee?
  • Is there an option for a dinner the night before or a brunch the day after?
  • Do you have a liquor license?
  • Can I bring my own booze (and what kind), and is there a corkage fee?
  • Is a champagne toast complimentary?
    • How is alcohol priced, and is there a charge for bar staff?
    • Is there a bar minimum that must be met?
    • What is the average bar tab for my size guest list?
    • When can we get access to the space to decorate/set up?
    • How early can vendor deliveries be made?
    • How long do we have to clean up/tear down?
    • Are there samples of the rentals available to look at?
    • What are the restrictions for decor (including what you can and can’t toss, lighting restrictions, what you can hang from the ceiling and on the walls, candles, etc.)?

Staffing and coordination

  • Is there an on-site venue coordinator?
  • What services are included with the venue coordinator, and are there additional charges?
  • Will the coordinator serve as day-of coordinator?
  • How much assistance can I get with the set up/decor?
  • Is any set up/tear down service available? How much does it cost?
  • Do you have signage to direct guests to the wedding?
  • Do you provide assistance getting gifts or decor back to a designated place?
 

Shared ceremony/reception spaces

  • Can I hold my ceremony here, too? Is there an additional charge?
  • What is the setup for a shared ceremony/reception space?
  • Do you provide a transition setup for a shared ceremony/reception space?
  • How much time is allocated for the ceremony rehearsal?
 

Accommodations

  • Are there any suites or private rooms available to get ready or have alone time?
  • Can the wedding party get ready at the venue?
  • What overnight accommodations do you provide?
  • Do you have any partnerships with nearby hotels? Can you provide a list?
  • Do you offer a discount for booking multiple rooms?

Money, payments, and liability

  • What’s included in the fees (rentals, catering, lighting, parking, etc.)?
  • Is there a discount for an off-season date or Sunday through Friday?
  • How much is the deposit, and when is it due?
  • When is the balance due?
  • What forms of payment do you accept?
  • What is your cancellation policy?
  • Is the deposit refundable in case of cancellation?
  • What happens if you go out of business?
  • Do we need any insurance or permits?
  • Do you have liability insurance?