weddings in {australia} part 1

We are so excited to feature one of our favorite wedding bloggers for our feature on Australian weddings...Ms. Polka from the Polka Dot Bride blog. She was kind enough to answer questions for us about Australian weddings and to also provide us with some amazing Aussie inspiration boards and photos...enjoy!

{Photo credit: Vincent Lai}

{rb} Can you tell us a little about the Australian wedding industry

{pdb} There are approximately 100,000 weddings in Australia each year and 21,000 in New Zealand. This compares to approximately 2.4 million in the USA each year. The market is tiny here and as with most things Aussie everything is a lot more laid back!

It's often said we're a bit of a cultural melting pot. In Melbourne (one of the largest Greek population outside Greece!) you may have a big 500 guest wedding with a traditional ceremony with both a horah and a Catholic blessing. But you may easily have a restaurant reception after a garden ceremony around the corner. There are a few differences to typical American weddings though. We have no rehearsal dinners, the registry is signed during the ceremony, there's no grooms cake.

{Photo credit: Sam Blake}

{rb} What are some wedding trends you are seeing in Australia?

{pdb} Making it personal, brides are starting to think out of the box (which I love!)

• Destination weddings to small towns or winery districts. Making a weekend of it!
• Adornments on gowns- crystals, flowers, pearls
• Making the wedding truly their own- choosing venues, locations and a team that will make their day truly personal and different to their friends
• Having wedding receptions in restaurants
• Special ceremonies within the ceremony- the hand ceremony, the rose ceremony, the sand ceremony, candle lighting ceremony etc
• Weddings at places which are a blank canvas- a barn, a hall where everything (from decorations to food!) is up to you!
• Everything feminine- shabby chic laces, drop crystals, pastel pinks and greens
• Flowers other than roses in bouquets
• Sit-down dinners with roaming desserts
• The newlyweds celebrating long after the reception ends with an after party
• Going veil-less and instead wearing a sunning gown or something beautiful in their hair
• Vintage touches in styling, dresses and decorations

{photo credit: James Day}

{rb} What inspired you to start your blog Polka Dot Bride?

{pdb} I work in the wedding industry and really love what a wedding is all about. I've been blogging in one form or another since I was in my teens.On a day off I started playing with blogger and started writing about things I'd found that I was excited with weddings.. Polka Dot Bride is technically my second wedding blog, my first was one I created privately that I'€™d post anything great I'd found out about weddings- readings, theme ideas, links to great cakes...I suppose Polka Dot Bride was something that had been brewing for a very long time!

{Photo credit: Uber Photography}

{rb} When you aren't busy blogging, what do you enjoy doing for fun?

{pdb} I'€™m really lucky to be doing what I absolutely love! I love spending time out with Mr Polka :)
I'€™m the crafty one and he'€™s the nerd..though that seems to be shifting with me blogging! I love to read and always have at least three books on the go. I love taking photographs (amazing ones take my breath away and I'd love to be that good!) My camera is always with me! I love to bake- especially comfort food like cupcakes, though I do have a few secret recipes I keep close to my chest! We're trying to "educate"€™ ourselves about wine so we'€™re often found with an open bottle or two on the weekend. Of course - I love shopping! I always keep my eyes open for inspiration which is often found in the most unexpected places!

Be sure to stop by for part 2 of Australian weddings from Polka Dot Bride...she has designed fabulous inspiration boards inspired by different cities in Australia!