Model and former Miss Universe Australia Renae Ayris recently tied the knot to fitness king Andrew Papadopoulos and the wedding was straight out of a dream! The pair hosted a classic and sentimental celebration in the gorgeous Hunter Valley. We had the thrill of chatting to Renae about her best wedding hacks and she shared some great secrets!
Tips For The Venue…
When choosing the perfect venue, Renae shared the importance of the staff. “We visited quite a few venues. The venue we ended up picking was not only because of how beautiful it was but because the staff were willing to go above and beyond. We trusted they would make our day perfect.”
Tips For The Flowers…
Research, research, research! Renae admitted to saving floral arrangements and colour schemes on her Instagram from the moment she got engaged! It’s all about the research and seeing what’s out there!
Tips For Favours…
Now, wedding favours! When we asked Renae about her best hack, she recommended Vistaprint! “They have some great personalised gifts like customised mugs” the bride shared.
Tips For The Dress…
Finding that perfect wedding dress isn’t always easy. Renae suggests trying on as many wedding dresses as you can! It’s also important to try on a variety of styles so that you can be sure when you find the right one for you.
Tips For Beauty…
Renae has lots of experience with beauty, so we knew she would have some good hacks and tips! The first thing? Wear waterproof mascara so that you can shed a tear without any stress. She also suggests using plenty of setting spray after your makeup is done…you don’t want it to move! The final tip…trial your products! “Make sure you have tried on all the products you’re going to use on the day – especially foundation!” the bride shared.
Where To Splurge And Save…
When it comes to splurging, Renae believes it is up to personal preference. Her and beau Andrew splurged on flowers and tried to save in other areas. She suggests focusing on the sort of style you want first. Once you have cemented this idea, you can decide on what areas are most important and what may require more of your budget.
Budget Tips…
“I think you can get so many beautiful invites, signage and save the dates at affordable costs. They don’t need to have butterflies coming out of them when they open!” the bride shared.
If You Could Change Anything…
Like many brides, Renae wouldn’t change a thing about her special day. However, looking back at it, there are some lessons she has learnt. “Looking back at what I know now, I wish I would have known about all of Vistaprint’s wedding services ahead of my special day. If I had known, I would have definitely utilised the service for post-wedding favours and stickers as the stickers I ordered from overseas did not come in time.”
The #1 Piece Of Advice…
Renae has some golden pieces of advice to share. Firstly, to save inspiration! “Save as much inspiration as possible on your Instagram, Pinterest etc. This is how I decided on my style of the wedding as well as my wedding dress.” Secondly, take in the day! “On the day, make sure you pause and take everything in – I tried to do this as much as possible. The day goes so quickly.”
The Highlight Of The Day…
Renae and Andrew’s wedding was truly something out of a dream. When asked what the highlight of the day was, Renae had a few! “Where do I begin….!? One of my highlights from the day was walking down the aisle to Andrew (with his tears in his eyes) and seeing all the people I love in one room. Another highlight was walking into the reception and seeing it all come together.”
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