Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

It’s one of the biggest – and most expensive – days of your life, so you want to get it right. Here are our top tips for creating your dream wedding day.

1. Pick the venue for you
When picking your venue, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions – How many people will you invite? Destination wedding or close to home? Rustic charm or sleek and modern?

Sydney has some incredible wedding venues, but a destination wedding can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One of the most popular trends for weddings right now is the destination wedding followed by a ‘buddymoon’. Your friends and family will travel with you for the wedding celebration and then stay on for a fun-filled group honeymoon. If you are looking for a destination closer to home, why not consider the ideally located Royal Botanic Gardens for the perfect lush Sydney backdrop.

2. Choose a date for the big day
Around 25% of Sydney weddings are held in November and March. Add to that the fact that almost 60% of weddings are held on a Saturday, and you’ll need to lock in your preferred date early.

Alternatively, think outside the box with a Sunday morning garden wedding or a Friday night cocktail party and you could have your pick of the best venues.

3. Sort the styling and snaps
Your big day is an expression of who you are as individuals and as a couple, and you can show that to your guests through your styling. Keep it simple and elegant or go big and bold – it’s your day and your choice.

For a fresh take on photos, why not try a GIF booth? You’ll be left with fun and quirky moving images of your day that are great to share on social media.

4. Organise the essentials
You’ll also need to think about gifts for your bridal party. For something unique, Cristina Re’s new Love collection of delicate tea cups and saucers make for a special memento that can also be used every day. There are a range of wedding-themed expressions like ‘Bridesmaid’, ‘Maid of Honour’ and ‘Mr & Mrs’ to choose from.

And what about transport? Classic cars or slick convertibles will get you where you need to go in style and make for fantastic photos on arrival.

5. Find the perfect dress
For many brides, this is the most important part of the whole process. New York Bridal Fashion Week has just finished with the top new design trends for 2017 making their way down the runway. Look out for off the shoulder styles, gowns with plunging necklines and sculptural 3D details like flowers and oversized bows. Bold brides can also play with colour with dusty rose tones and soft blues putting a modern twist on classic gowns.

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has a dozen wedding venues with something to suit a wedding of any size, from an intimate gathering of 20 to a huge party of 500 or more. This year, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth partnered with Australian Bridal Fashion Week, hosting the world’s most talented local and international designers like Akira Isogawa, Zuhair Murad, Monique Lhuillier and more.