Striking Bags for All Occasions

As a general rule, there are some hens do's and don'ts in regards to scheduling a hen's night without losing your mind. We have gathered some of the top five tips to keep the hen's night organization stress and hassle free. 

Ask for help: Don't try to organize this entire party on your own. Ask the other bridesmaids to chip in and help you plan the hen party. If you're looking for specific ideas, feel free to ask the bride-to-be for her input and see what she had in mind. 

If you're still having problems figuring out where to go, you can try checking with planning companies. Quite a few offer hens night options for the area and use their own expertise as event planners to make the hens party stress free for you and the bride-to-be. 

Set a budget: Don't break the bank for a hen's night out. Just because you are in charge of the hen's night does not mean that you need to pay for the entire shindig. If you ask everyone invited to pitch in a small amount, you can easily afford a bigger event for the hen's night. You can also ensure that everyone pays in. If the other bridesmaids and guests have some input, they will be more enthusiastic to pitch in and help out. This keeps your overall costs low and makes sure that everyone has fun. 

Know your bride-to-be: Every person has different tastes. While you don't need to spoil the hen's night plans, make sure that you know what your bride-to-be is looking for. Don't plan a loud bar bash if all the bride-to-be wants is as quiet hen's night out with friends. You can get some ideas from her without ruining the entire party; she may even prefer to be directly involved with picking the venue or telling you what she wants. 

This means you should also be ready to step outside the traditional box. Some brides want to coordinate a party with their fiance, or they really want to go somewhere particular for their hens night, beyond the typical dinner and a bar routine. Be willing to look around to find a venue or party that your bride-to-be will absolutely love. 

Party favors: On the same note, make sure that you plan party favors with your bride in mind. Every hen party deserves its own fun party favors, but make sure that they aren't embarrassing for the party-goers or the bride-to-be. Plan with your brides tastes in mind. In that same note, add some personal touches. Some brides like having a sash or an item that identifies them as the bride-to-be. You could also offer easy to slip on flats or blister prevention, especially if you will be walking a lot. 

Get information: Make sure that you have a list of everyone attending. By getting their phone numbers or e-mails together, you will be more comfortable planning the scope of the hen's night. You can also gather funds in the same manner. If you need to coordinate a meet-up, you will be able to get a hold of everyone without ruining the surprise for the bride-to-be. You can send an email out to all the attendees regarding the itinerary for the night, as well as reminder e-mails as the hen's night comes up. If you're stumped planning a hen's party in Sydney or anywhere else in the world, make sure that you keep these five tips in mind. By making sure that you have all the information you need, have help planning, have a clear budget, know your bride-to-be, and have all the information and contacts you may need, your hens night will be stress and pain free.

Image credit:  emily katherine may on Flickr

How many times have you found yourself in a situation where guests are arriving in less than an hour only to realize that your house is a mess and needs good cleaning? Well you're in luck! We're going to give you a couple of tips to help you clean your house as quickly as possible. Of course, the first rule in keeping a house tidy is to regularly clean it. There are many reasons why your house may be in its current state like being too busy to clean up or having no one to help you at all, but that’s not what we’re here for. So, let’s get right on to it. 

The first thing you should do is to think of your house as strategically as possible. There are four key areas a house has that guests will usually linger in or use. That would be your living room, dining room, kitchen and the restroom. Now that you have these places in your mind, these should be the first ones to clean. 

1. Always Have Boxes Handy 

Most of the mess in your house is caused by items which are not supposed to be where they are. Since you're in a hurry, you can remove these items by quickly stuffing them into boxes and moving them to a secluded area. Make sure to put them in as carefully as you can so you can maximize space and reduce breakage. 

2. A Room That’s Out Of The Way 

As mentioned above, you should place all unwanted items in a secluded room which isn't easily accessible to your guests. Since it's a temporary fix, your bedroom can be the perfect spot, unless the only restroom is there of course. In that case, keep them in your attic or garage. No one goes to those places.

 3. Remove Unpleasant Scents And Ugly Stains

Nothing is more off putting than a house filled with unpleasant scents and ugly stains. You can remove stains and scents quickly by dabbing a wet cloth in a lemon scented detergent or cleansing agent and wiping the most obvious stains away. After that, you can place what's left of the lemon scented water in a spray can and spray it all over your house. 

4. No One Likes A Dirty Kitchen 

There's nothing more despicable than seeing a dirty kitchen with piles of dirty plates in the kitchen sink. You have two choices, put them in a box and hide them (which then presents another problem: What will you use to eat with?) or wash them as quickly as possible. Depending on the number of things to wash, this task should take you anywhere around 5 to 20 minutes to complete. 

5. A Quick Vacuum Cleaning 

And last but not the least: give your entire living room a quick vacuum cleaning. You don’t have to make it pristine, just get rid of the dust bunnies under your couch and on your rug. And just in case you haven’t heard of these things yet, get a robot vacuum to do it for you while you perform all the other aforementioned tasks! 

By the time you’re done with everything, you’ll still have enough precious seconds to freshen up and greet your guests with a smile!

Image credit:  go_greener_oz on Flickr

For those who tend to dress more casually ideal models are with smaller rim in one of the current bright colors. For romantics stylists suggest Panama hats with a large brim that goes perfectly with modern floral dresses. For evenings out the right choice would be panama models with striking decorations, flowers, bows, strung stones... 

Hats designed in the style of the 50s, with short brim would go best with a sophisticated and stylish look. This season big hats that would greatly complement breezy summer and maxi dresses are very popular, and unavoidable are cowboy models in all colors, which are great for casual and elegant casual clothing outfits. 

Finding the right model 

When choosing the appropriate model and color of the hat you should keep in mind that it is not enough just to match it with clothes. Body type and face shape are infallible guidelines that will guide you and help you in finding the right model. For sensitive skin there is no better protection from the sun than hats. 

• Large-brimmed straw hat 

This hat in soft neutral colors is an ideal female beach hat, due to the large brim and undulating forms. 

• Panama hats for men 

Instead of the classic hat, the male population can also wear this popular fashion accessory. Urban modern man can choose a Panama hat in blue or brown color, which can also be decorated with cotton ribbon. 

• Classical straw hat for men 

This simple classic straw hat in lighter shades decorated with blue cotton ribbon similar to denim is perfect for hot summer days. Due to its classic look, you can combine it with a casual look, but also in festive occasions. 

• Small straw hat in a bright color 

Although it does not provide great protection as the above-mentioned large-brimmed hat, a small color straw hat is a true summer fashion hit. For the brave, choose a pink or yellow with ribbons in the same color which will refresh every outfit.

Image credit:  JaseCurtis on Flickr

This guest blog was contributed by Lesley Sampson a freelance blogger who is dedicated to bringing you the best home cleaning tips on behalf of chemdry.

Image credit: Stephani Spitzer on Flickr

Tying together each separate design element of your big day can be a confusing, which is why many brides choose to have one colour running throughout. However, when it comes to matching flowers to your bridesmaid dresses, using the same colour can be visually disappointing. Consider choosing flowers which complement rather than match the fabric of each dress. Deep purple with pale blue, lime green against lavender, and nude pinks with dark purple are all contrasting colour schemes which emphasise the best in both dress and bouquet.

 DIY Disasters 

The DIY spirit is a popular feature of weddings today. Unfortunately, in an effort to save money, many brides overburden themselves with too many cost saving tasks in the run up to their already hectic event. Be honest with yourself about how much time you will have between dress fittings, hair and makeup trails, and a wedding rehearsal to spend on arranging flowers. If you attempt too much, you may end up paying a professional for a last minute flower delivery. 

Missing Out On Your Favourite Flowers 

For brides trying to stick to a tight budget, expensive flowers like peonies and calla lilies can seem totally out of reach. If you have your heart set on beautiful but costly blooms, don’t rule out the possibility right away. A single cattleya orchid will occupy far more space in a bouquet than a rose and will have a much more impressive impact than dozens of carnations. Consider using less expensive filler flowers like spray roses, bouvardia, or delphinium to complete the display. With careful planning, it is possible to balance cost with quantity. 

Wilting Flowers 

Every bride dreads wilting flowers on their wedding day. With hours spent outdoors taking photos and greeting guests after the ceremony, your bouquet might not make it to the reception. Fortunately, clever flower selection will reduce this risk. Lilies are difficult to manage on very hot days and hydrangeas rarely last longer than three hours out of water even in temperate conditions. To keep your flowers looking fresh all day, make an effort to keep them hydrated whenever possible. 

Ordering Flowers Too Late 

Undoubtedly the most common wedding flower dilemma. Preparing the perfect wedding bouquet takes a great deal of time, especially now that modern florists order their blooms from growers all over the world. Your ideal flower may need to be ordered from Holland, Kenya, or Malaysia over a month in advance. Even when ordering flowers online, it is best to make arrangements at least 8 weeks before your big day is due. 

Image credit:  Jenny Burtt Florist on Flickr

Anything becomes extra glamorous at night which is probably why the most glitzy events are held in the evenings. A wedding that is planned to go on all night should have the right lighting system installed. Aside from the built in lighting in the venue, series lighting to decorate surrounding bushes and trees, a lighting system that serves as a canopy over the reception area, or a unique lighting arrangement to illuminate the space in front occupied by the bride and groom are popular lighting options that usually work very well. Personal touches, such as a path of candles to guide the wedding revelers as they make their way home, is also a nice touch, as seen in this piece from Martha Stewart Weddings. 

Wedding venue 

There are outdoor gardens that specialize in giving couples an elegant venue where formal ceremonies can be held. These venues may consist of a large, open courtyard where the ceremony and reception can be held, tall, imposing hedges, classical statues, pavilions, and perfectly-manicured lawns. All these can be transformed into an ultra-glitzy space for a classy and elegant wedding. A great example would be the pavilion of the Miramare Gardens  which offers an elegant, spacious pavilion with classical columns and a cathedral ceiling. Other aspects of the setting such as live piano music, waiters in tuxedos, glitzy centerpieces and a champagne tower will round out everything that is needed to create the glam and glitz of the wedding of your dreams.

Image credit:  ricardodiaz11 on Flickr

VAT is one of the most common hidden costs. It can devastate a budget so make sure you fully understand the whole price before signing any contract. 

7) Will any decorations be provided?

Almost every venue requires the wedding couple to provide their own flowers and themed decorations. However, some venues will also expect you to bring your own table linen, lighting, and chair covers. 

8) Are there any noise restrictions?

If you are considering a live band or fireworks, ask the venue first. Some hotels have other guests to think about. 

9) Can you recommend a good supplier?

Most venues have hosted numerous weddings, so their staff are a valuable source of information on which florists, photographers and caterers provide the best service. 

10) Do you cater for certain dietary requirements?

With so many guests at the average wedding there is a high likelihood that at least a few will have some sort of dietary requirement. You may be booking a venue well in advance of sending out menus, so ask about catering for specific dietary requirements just to be sure. Most catering teams will be able to accommodate for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and other common dietary needs, though some may charge extra for the service.

There is such a wide variety of beautiful function centres in Adelaide, you are certain to find one that suits both your personalities and budget. To avoid the risk of any unpleasant cost or service surprises, read any contractual agreement very carefully before you sign. 

Image credit:  epSos.de on Flickr