I designed my engagement ring, and every time I look at it I love it.  Then it came to adding the wedding ring to fit with this ring I enjoy so much. 
There we hit a snag....I thought it looked silly.  The wedding ring and engagement ring just didn't work together.   I thought, I wonder if I can cut the ring in half and have two rings, so they will sit one on each side of the engagement ring.     The jeweller said l could do whatever l wanted, so that’s what we did. Now I have two wedding rings.   

It’s true- you can do whatever you want. Wedding rings are not part of the legal requirements to get married, but they are a long held tradition that most couples go with.

Two rings
Generally both partners exchange wedding rings during their wedding ceremony. Often one of three things is said

-      Will you wear this ring? A question, like when you got engaged.
-      Wear this ring. A statement, given that the rings usually follow the vows, at this stage they have already said ‘yes’
-      Someone else (aka Celebrant) says ‘wear these rings’

Wedding rings are usually described as representing the endless of true love, having no beginning and no end.

Most people in Australia wear it on the fourth digit on the left hand. In ancient times it was thought that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart.

No ring
Whilst wedding rings hold thousands of years of tradition, if they are meaningless to you – don’t make them part of your day. It’s your wedding and you really should have only the symbols that you find important.

Beautiful wedding rings often come with large price tags. You might find that at this stage in your life that money might be better spent on a holiday, house deposit or the wedding.

If you still want to exchange something; what about a necklace, watch or even get matching tattoos.

Like all rituals within a ceremony, a Wedding Ring only represents what you believe it stands for.

If it means something to you – then great; l know an awesome jeweller.

If a wedding ring is not for you – then let’s chat about what you do want in your wedding ceremony, because guess what ... you too can do whatever you want!

This week, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux surprised guests with a wedding disguised as a birthday party. As reported by ET:

Whilst this doesn't sound like my idea of low key or minimum fuss, l have been involved in a many Surprise Weddings over the years and admit l am quite a fan. Here are a few reasons why:

You get to decide everything
We've all been there. Someone you know says “I'm getting married” and after the hugs and hi-fives comes the
 “l know a florist”,
 “you should use my make up artist”,
 “what ever you do, don’t (insert personal opinion here)”
What the happy couple see as their ideal way to get married get’s torn to strips and they are suddenly planning their parents/aunts/best friend’s perfect day.
When you keep it a surprise you get to decide the who, what and where. After all, it is Your Wedding. 

(Please note - when l say "Your Wedding" l mean you AND your fiancé. Weddings where one party to the marriage had no prior knowledge are against the law in Australia. The bride and groom need to both give 30 days notice and full consent.)

Reduce the drama
Ok – so l am not going to say that Surprise Weddings are without drama. But l will say that drama can be reduced by limiting the lead time people have to create it.
Make sure the important people will be there. This might mean spilling the beans to a stubborn parent or noncommittal friend to ensure they make the effort.
It probably goes without saying, but be realistic about whether any of your guests would be unhappy with your union. If there is doubt that someone would make a scene, would you really want them at your wedding anyway?

Low expectations
There are certain expectations we all have about attending a wedding. There will be food and refreshments. There will be some formal part. There will probably be a cake, flowers, seating arrangements, confetti, speeches, high-heels, first dance, beef or chicken and so on and so on. Without even realising, we all expect certain things when we attend a wedding.
However, if you think you are attending a housewarming or engagement party and all you expect is a sausage in bread and a beer or two – what a complete BONUS if you get to witness someone you love getting married.

I get quite invested in my couples big day, some say I shouldn't, but it breaks my heart when someone's wedding is marred by a supplier not doing the job they were hired for. I have been to so many weddings  and along the way I have learnt a lot about planning this special occasion. It is all about assembling a team of professionals around you that will show up and work for you.
Here are a few tips to help you to gather the suppliers that will help you to have the celebration you want:

Where did you find them?
A great way to find the best suppliers is to ask people you know and trust. If someone has had a celebration recently and loved their supplier find out who it was. Knowing the service and quality you receive before contacting a supplier gives you a starting point. For example, l am part of an awesome group of local wedding businesses and because l know them all personally, when l refer them to my couples l know exactly the high level of service they will receive.

Have you met them?
Researching and googling a business is one thing, but meeting them in person is so important. Businesses can and do write whatever they like on their website. Meeting a supplier in person can put a face to a voice/email but also helps you decide if they are the right person to be helping you with your day.

Did they impress you?
If the supplier turned up late, are forgetful or they wont take the time to meet you, then chances are you don't want them working for you. 

Do they do what you need done?
Everyone wants something different for their wedding so finding the supplier that can provide your preference is important. If you want glamorous wedding photos, you will need a different photographer than if you just want 100 photos on a usb. If you want a personalised ceremony, you will need a different celebrant than one that is happy to just insert your name into their script. 

I’ve booked them, what now?
After you have booked your supplier, don't feel bad if you want to ask lots of questions and being clear that your needs will be met. Get everything in writing so that there is no confusion on what is included and agreed on. Find out the timings of the task they are completing. For example, if your guests will be arriving at 6pm, confirm that the DJ needs to be set up by this time and find out how long their set up takes.

Touching base with your supplier regularly is a great way to ensure everything is on track. This could be as simple as following their Facebook page. Nothing would be more stressful than in the weeks, days or hours before your wedding discovering they are no longer in business or can’t be contacted.