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Lounge in a limo or board the bus – it’s your hen’s party!

When your bestie is planning her wedding and you’re organising the hen’s party, make it one to remember, not one you’d rather forget. Break with tradition and write your own story!

Ignore the tired tradition of sparkly headgear and fluffy boas, take a look at these original ideas for a hen’s party that will have you thinking further than the local pub. Keep in mind that the celebration is for the bride-to-be to celebrate with her bridesmaids and friends before the main event – the wedding.

Check out these themes for a memorable hen’s party. Wherever you are, there are ideas for a fun occasion.

  • Weekend Wine Tasting – Try all the wines you ever wanted to sip at a cellar door. This can be a one-day experience or the highlight of a hen’s weekend away to a wine region such as the New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Western Australia’s Margaret River, South Australia’s Coonawarra and Barossa Valley. The choice is yours!
  • Hire a Party Bus –Visit all the trendy venues in the city! You can tailor a party for your group and you won’t need a designated driver or taxis. You can pick and choose the locations. Some companies even provide on-bus entertainment, so you never miss a moment of fun!
  • Let’s Go Cooking – indulge in a cooking class with your hen’s team – everyone can join in and you can make it as up-market or casual as you like. For a no-frills day of fun, food and festivities, theme it My Kitchen Rules and hold it in the backyard for a girls-only barbecue. If MasterChef is more your style, check out the cooking classes in your city to find a fantastic hands-on chef experience with matching wines. You can book a bus trip for a seafood cooking class, find out how to bake bread and even take a lesson in how to make pickles!
  • Pamper Me – choose the best spa in your city and find a package deal for the whole group. An all-time favourite, there is nothing like an indulgent pedicure, facial and massage to prepare for the upcoming nuptials. Find a package that combines the pampering with champagne and a night out complete with stretch limo to make an unforgettable experience. Or make it an overnight stay.
  • Adrenalin Adventure – for thrills and excitement, consider overnight glamping, go-karting, paintballing, jet boating or party boat cruise. Consider the age group of your hens before suggesting this one!
  • High Tea Indulgence – Sip cocktails and champagne while sampling some elegant sandwiches and macarons. Research some of the city hotels that feature high tea events and make a booking well in advance. Perfect as a half-day party and the ideal celebration if you are including the mothers of the bride and groom on the invite list.

For a successful hen’s party, tick off this ‘chicklist’:

Your 8-Point Party Chicklist:

  1. BRIDE’S PREFERENCES: Talk to the bride about the date and style of party she wants and the activities she would prefer before you book anything. It’s all about her, so she has the final say!
  2. TIMING: Plan for a party well before the wedding.
  3. BUDGET: Affordable or indulgent? Ask the others what they are prepared to pay and set a budget.
  4. ACTIVITIES: Pick activities that the whole group will enjoy. Remember, the party is for the bride-to-be, so tailor the activities to what she is comfortable with.
  5. PAYMENT: Set up a Gift Card Registry for a special party fundraiser so everyone can go online to make their payment for the event. This ensures the group pays up front, so you can make bookings for the event once you have the numbers.
  6. INVITATIONS: Send out invitations and include the details of Gift Card Registry for payment. If you use social media, make sure you send the invitation to a closed group.
  7. RSVPS: Keep track of RSVPs so you can make bookings for the right numbers. Follow up those who don’t reply on time.
  8. SOCIAL MEDIA: Decide before the event what you plan to share on social media. Get everyone’s agreement not to upload embarrassing photos.

Gift Card Registry makes planning easy

Once you have organised the style of event, booked the date and decided on the guest list, it’s time to set up a registry to collect the payments specifically for the hen’s party. Before you send out the invitations, go to Gift Card Registry at giftcardregistry.com.au, or phone 1300 354 632.

Once set up you can include a link or web address for Gift Card Registry on the invitations. It’s easy to use, secure and convenient for the people you want to invite, and they can leave messages when they add their contribution.

Specify an end date and when it arrives, Gift Card Registry will send the total amount loaded onto a prepaid Mastercard to you to use for the bookings. As the prepaid Mastercard can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted in Australia or overseas as well as online, it’s the easy solution to organising payment for the hen’s party!

Just say I do – planning an engagement celebration

‘Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you… Just say I do…’. Bruno Mars perfect proposal song ‘Marry You’ should be on every couple’s playlist! The excitement of saying ‘I do’ is just the beginning of an adventure in love that is the start of a new life as a couple.

The first thing you want to do is to tell everyone you know – family, friends, co-workers, even people you meet at the bus stop. ‘We’re getting married and it’s exciting!’

Take the opportunity to celebrate with an engagement party so everyone can share your joy.

Casual or formal, the engagement party should be fun and reflect your style. Show off your new relationship (and ring) with an event that represents both of you. Decide on an event that you will both enjoy, whether it’s footy or a day at the beach, a red-carpet event or a party at the pub.

A few tips to keep in mind when planning to celebrate your engagement:

  1. Set a date

The engagement party should be at least 6 months or more before the wedding. Don’t make it too close to W-Day or it can become stressful when trying to plan both the engagement and the wedding.

  1. Set a budget

Decide whether it is to be casual – beach barbecue or informal get together – or a more formal dinner event or party. The style of celebration will determine the budget, or vice versa!

  1. Make a guest list

Don’t confuse the guest list for your wedding with that for your engagement party. It can be a small, intimate affair with just family and a few friends if you prefer. You can even have two parties, one for family and close friends and the other with work colleagues and your wider circle of friends.

  1. Book a venue and organise catering

You can be creative with a venue for your engagement party. Consider a harbour cruise, a visit to a theme park, a barbecue on the beach. A package deal including catering can be a convenient option.

  1. Set up a gift card registry

Make it easy for your guests to give you a gift that you will appreciate – a Gift Card Registry is the perfect solution. Include the website address on the invitation or let them know by email that you would prefer them to contribute to the registry rather than bring a present. A prepaid Mastercard from Gift Card Registry is the perfect engagement gift as it can assist you with wedding preparations too!

  1. Save for your wedding

An engagement part is not compulsory! It’s a great way to celebrate with family and friends, but if you don’t have time to organise it before the wedding, you can skip it. Engagement is a promise without paperwork. Unlike a wedding, when you need to complete formalities and paperwork both beforehand and on the day. You can let friends know you are engaged and that you are saving for your wedding. Set up a Gift Card Registry and if they would like to give you a gift, you can give them the web address.

  1. Enjoy the moment

The engagement period can be like a free sample – a chance to try out the relationship before planning the wedding. So, enjoy every moment!

Planning to wed – 12 point checklist for your same-sex wedding

Wishing and hoping for a happy marriage? The stats are on your side – research predicts your same-sex relationship and marriage is destined to be happy. It’s time to stop procrastinating and start planning to formalise your relationship by marrying the one you love.

Recent research from the University of Queensland* analysing data from 9,206 individuals in Australia showed:

  • Relationship quality in same-sex couples in Australia is higher than in heterosexual couples.
  • Gay and lesbian couples are well placed to raise children in warm and loving environments.
  • Men in gay unions were rated as having the highest quality relationships, followed by women in lesbian unions, men in heterosexual unions then women in heterosexual unions.

You and your partner know ‘love is love’ and now the research proves it.

Since 9 December 2017, same-sex couples have the legal right to marry in Australia. So, if you are amongst the gay couples thinking about making a commitment to marry, now is the time to start planning.

How do we start the process?

Everyone planning to get married in Australia must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM), available from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in every state.  The completed form must be given to your registered celebrant at least one month and one day before the intended date of marriage.

What’s next for our wedding?

For the wedding of your dreams, you need to look for people who will be supportive and happy to be involved in a gay wedding, from the venue, caterers, celebrant, entertainment and even when buying the rings and the suits.

Where can we find gay-friendly wedding professionals?

Equally Wed, Australia’s leading same-sex wedding directory is a good place to start when you are looking for gay-friendly wedding professionals.

Covering Australian states, New Zealand and the Pacific, the directory is the go-to destination for everything associated with planning a gay or lesbian wedding. You’ll find a range of celebrants, suppliers, venues and entertainers who are supporters of Marriage Equality to make your wedding a day to remember.

Your wedding countdown

When you’re planning a wonderful wedding together, start with a budget – how much you want to spend (or can afford) and what sort of wedding you want:

  1. BUDGET – start with what you can afford.
  2. DESIGN – decide on the style of wedding you want.

Date, venue and celebrant are co-dependent. You need to negotiate to align the three.

  1. DATE – depends on where you want the wedding and finding a gay-friendly celebrant.
  2. VENUE OR VENUES – ceremony and reception or combined?
  3. CELEBRANT – Check the Equally Wed directory or ask gay friends for a recommendation to find a gay-friendly celebrant. Book well in advance.

For a memorable experience, you need to work out who to invite, what to wear and all the details for the wedding day.

Add these to your checklist:

  1. WHO TO INVITE – Best man, groomsmen – it’s your choice! Sort out your guest list.
  2. GIFT CARD REGISTRY –before you send out the invites, set up a Gift Card Registry and add the details to the invitations. No unwanted toasters or crystal glasses. Guests can contribute to the gift card registry and with the prepaid Mastercard you can buy the gifts yourself, in your own time. Gift Card Registry makes gift giving easy and no need for refunds or returns!
  3. WHAT TO WEAR – Do it your way – both of you in black/white, or complementary suits?
  4. WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS – find gay-friendly suppliers and discuss what you both want. You may be able to negotiate a discount for your special event invitations, photographer, florist, cake, wedding cars, entertainment/music, personal grooming.
  5. THE HONEYMOON – in Australia or overseas? Your choice.
  6. MEET THE CELEBRANT – at least one month before the intended date of your wedding you need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage and give this to your celebrant. Take the opportunity to talk about the ceremony and your vows.
  7. WEDDING DAY COUNTDOWN – finalise the arrangements a few weeks before the wedding. You need to confirm:
  • dates and times with venues and participants
  • RSVPs, finalise guest numbers, arrange a seating plan
  • an MC for the reception
  • hotel bookings for out-of-town guests
  • final suit fittings and any accessories
  • music, order of service for the wedding
  • wording of vows and wedding speech
  • a rehearsal with all members of the bridal party
  • honeymoon arrangements.

Your wedding day

It’s your big day. Research says you are beginning a lifetime of happiness. The data confirms – love is love!

Gift Card Registry makes gift giving easy

Using Gift Card Registry is secure and easy for everyone to use. After the wedding, Gift Card Registry will send the total amount loaded onto a prepaid Mastercard for you to buy the gifts you really want. For more information on Gift Card Registry phone 1300 354 632 or find out more at giftcardregistry.com.au.

Reference:

*Sexual Identity and Relationship Quality in Australia and the United Kingdom. December 2017. Francisco Perales and Janeen Baxter, Life Course Centre, Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.

Data from 25,348 individuals in the United Kingdom (Understanding Society study) and 9,206 individuals in Australia (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey) were used to estimate regression models predicting relationship quality while adjusting for confounds.

Results showed relationship quality in same-sex couples was as high as in heterosexual couples in the United Kingdom, and higher in Australia. The lowest relationship quality in both countries was reported by bisexual individuals. This can be taken as evidence that gay and lesbian couples are well placed to raise children in warm and loving environments.

In Australia, the analogous relationship quality ordering of couple types is men in gay unions, women in lesbian unions, men in heterosexual unions, women in heterosexual unions, individuals in other couples types, bisexual men partnered with heterosexual women and finally bisexual women partnered with heterosexual men.

The report can be read in full here.

Names you know – our top ten celebrity same-sex weddings for 2018

Making news and creating history, since same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia December 2017, celebrity couples have been creating headlines. In reality and on the small screen, gay and lesbian weddings have been in the spotlight as couples celebrate their love and commitment.

Six months after the legalisation of same-sex marriage, pop culture media Junkee found that 2,490 same-sex weddings took place in Australia by June 2018 and around 10% of same-sex couples who live together are now married, including those who had married overseas.

Records of Births, Deaths and Marriages (as at June 2018) show that most marriages were in New South Wales (853), followed by Victoria (674), Queensland (374), Western Australia (292), South Australia (162), Tasmania (66), the Australian Capital Territory (48) and the Northern Territory (21).

The United Kingdom legalised same-sex marriage in 2014 and from June 2014 to October 2017, there were 445 same-sex couples with dual British-Australian citizenship who married in British diplomatic offices in Australia.

Who are the household names who have joined the trend to same-sex marriages? Gift Card Registry scanned the news for our top 10 best known Australian gay and lesbian weddings and partnerships.

  1. Christine Forster and Virginia Edwards married in February 2018, sharing their ceremony on the ABC’s Australian Story. Christine is a City of Sydney councillor and campaigned for the Yes side in last year’s postal survey. Her brother, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, was one of the strongest No supporters.
  2. Tim Wilson and Ryan Bolger married in March 2018. A marriage equality advocate, Tim is the Federal Member of Parliament for Goldstein, Victoria and Chair of the Standing Committee on Economics. A former Australian human rights commissioner, he made history when he proposed to school teacher Ryan from the floor of the House of Representatives while giving a speech on same-sex marriage in December.
  3. Dr Kerryn Phelps and Jackie Stricker-Phelps celebrated the first Jewish same-sex marriage in Sydney in January 2018, renewing their vows under a chuppah at the Emanuel Synagogue in Sydney. First married 20 years ago at a Jewish weddings in New York, Professor Phelps is a politician and environmental activist. She was the first woman and first LGBT person to be elected president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
  4. Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres married at their Beverly Hills home in August 2008. Australia’s most famous lesbian, actress Portia de Rossi starred in the television series Ally McBeal. Her wife is American comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. Both are advocates of same-sex marriage.
  5. Alan Joyce and Shane Lloyd have been in a relationship since 1999. Qantas CEO since 2008, Alan Joyce personally donated $1 million to the Yes campaign. In the 2017 Queen’s birthday honours he was awarded Companion of the Order of Australia for ‘eminent service to aviation, tourism, gender equity, inclusion and diversity, and Indigenous education’. A patron of LGBTI charity The Pinnacle Foundation, his partner New Zealander Shane Lloyd is Chair of the charity’s NSW Regional Committee.
  6. Bob Brown and Paul Thomas have been in a relationship for 22 years and had a commitment ceremony at their farm in Tasmania in 2008. Former medical doctor and environmentalist, Bob Brown is a former Leader of the Australian Greens and as a Senator was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia. A life-long activist and supporter of gay rights.
  7. Penny Wong and Sophie Allouache have been in a relationship since 2005 and have two children. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Labor politician Penny Wong is the first female openly LGBTI Australian federal parliamentarian and federal government cabinet minister. A strong supporter of the Yes vote, she was selected by readers of Samesame website as one of the 25 most influential lesbian Australians.
  8. Tim Campbell and Anthony Callea married in New Zealand in 2014. Television and stage actor and singer, Tim Campbell is best known for his role in the television drama Home and Away. Anthony Callea is a singer-songwriter and stage actor who was runner-up in the 2004 season of Australian Idol. His hit debut single ‘The Prayer’ was the second-highest selling Australian single of the last decade.
  9. Julie McCrossin and Melissa Gibson married in Manhattan in 2014 after 20 years together. Julie is a broadcaster and journalist who advocated for marriage equality and has been active in Gay Liberation since 1974, co-hosting several TV broadcasts for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
  10. Aaron Brennan and David Tanaka were pronounced ‘husband and husband’ on screen in the long-running local television drama Neighbours in September 2018. They made television history as the first on-screen actors in a same-sex wedding in a television drama since Australia achieved marriage equality in December 2017. Actors Matt Wilson as Aaron Brennan and Takaya Honda as David Tanaka were wed in an intimate ceremony officiated by marriage celebrant Jemima Davies-Smythe played by actor and marriage equality advocate Magda Szubanski.

Inspired by the high-profile names to tie the knot? When making plans for your weddings, head to the Gift Card Registry website at giftcardregistry.com.au, or phone 1300 354 632.

Convenient, secure and easy-to-use, after guests have contributed, Gift Card Registry will send the total amount loaded onto a prepaid Mastercard that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted online, in Australia or overseas. It’s the perfect gifting solution!

Stop dreaming and start saving – how family can help build your deposit for a home

If becoming a home owner is a dream for you, take a reality check to make it happen!  Saving for a deposit on a house can be a major project that is frequently abandoned in despair with rising house prices.

Forget the naysayers who claim that there will be a generation of young people who can never buy their own home. With some research and help from family and friends, you can aim to save a deposit to buy a place of your own.

Ask for help to achieve your dreams

If you find going it alone too daunting, don’t give up! Start with the idea that others can help and are looking for ways to assist you achieve your dreams. Do your research and calculations about how much you need and what grants and government assistance you will qualify for and let your family know that you want them to help you on the path to home ownership!

Gift Card Registry can make it happen

Start by setting up a Gift Card Registry specifically for your home deposit. Send a link to all the members of your family who want to help you save and give them the background to your savings plan. Give as much information as possible for them to feel more involved in your savings project.

First steps are to define your goals and set a timeline for milestones on the way to achieving your main objective, to accumulate a deposit so you can turn your dream into reality.

Seven steps to saving

  1. Your savings goals. Based on your current income, what is the regular amount you can save for a deposit and later to repay a mortgage?
  2. What you can borrow. Work out how much you can afford to borrow to determine how much you need to save for a deposit. Check the calculator at https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources.
  3. Property prices. Take a close look at the housing market in your state and the suburb you would like to live in to get an idea of property prices. Use an example property to work out your prospective Loan to Value Ratio as this is what lenders will want to know to calculate the risk.
  4. Government grants. Find out if you are eligible for government grants such as the Commonwealth First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme, or the states’ First Home Owner Grant (FHOG). This can help with the amount you need to save.
  5. Concessions. Fees and charges are additional to the price of the property and vary according to the state or territory. Find out whether first home buyers in your state can get a concession for stamp duty, legal fees, loan establishment fees and lender’s mortgage insurance.
  6. There’s no way round this chore! If you are honest with yourself and your partner, a budget including all your income and expenditure will show where you can cut down and how much you can realistically save. Savings apps can help track your spending.
  7. Share your goals. Talk to your family if they are planning to help you save for a home deposit or act as guarantor on your loan. Being honest about what you need and how you are managing your finances will help get them on board with your savings plan.

Be realistic – calculate

Visit ASIC’s Money Smart website for some realistic tips on getting started. If your calculations reveal the requirement for a deposit is out of your reach, start looking at ways to get around this. Either change your ideas on what you want in a property to something more realistic or raise your expectations as to how much you need to save for a deposit! Or do both.

Check property prices in the area you want to settle in. If they are out of reach, look further afield – maybe an adjacent suburb, or a greenfield estate may be worth considering. Or look at prices in another state.

Ways to save on rent

Consider moving back into the family home to help you save on rent. Promise to help with mowing the lawn or doing some household chores to show you appreciate the free accommodation. If that isn’t an option, consider sharing a house with a group of friends to reduce rent and expenses.

Keep your budget under control

Open a savings account with interest and automate your contributions. You’ll still need an everyday transaction account, but you can earn interest on your savings. Use an online savings calculator such as https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources.

First home buyer schemes and grants

Check your eligibility for both federal and state government schemes to assist first home buyers.

First Home Super Saver (FHSS)

A Federal Government initiative allows first home buyers to save for a home deposit within their super fund and benefit from the concessional tax rates. Voluntary contributions can be withdrawn to contribute to a deposit to purchase your first home. The requirements for the scheme are on the ATO website at https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Super/Super-housing-measures/.

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

A state and territory government initiative that provides financial assistance to eligible first home buyers. The criteria for eligibility and the amount granted varies by state or territory and in WA varies according to geographical location within the state. Check the State Treasury website for the for specific details. The grant varies in each state – $26,000 (NT), $20,000 (Tas), $15,000 (Qld, SA), $10,000 (NSW, WA, VIC), $7,000 (ACT). In regional Victoria it is $20,000.

Stamp duty or transfer concessions

Each state has various concessions for stamp or transfer duty available to eligible first home buyers.  Check the details on your State Treasury website.

Save the date! Your wedding plan countdown

Congratulations! You’ve decided to make a life together and you’re ready to start planning for your big day. Before the wedding bells ring, you’ll need to create a plan to make it happen. Make your event one to remember for the rest of your life with Your Wish List, Your Want List and Your Watch List.

Start planning as soon as you can, a year or 18 months before the wedding gives you time to organise all the details.

But if you are in a hurry, remember that Australian marriage law requires that you must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage and give this to your registered celebrant at least one month and one day before the intended date of marriage.

Decide the key components on your Wish List first.

Your Wish List

There are six essentials you need to start with and as the song goes, ‘you can’t have one without the other!’ So, spend some time coordinating these first. Planning is the key to a successful day.

  1. WORTH: The budget – consider what you can afford and whether you want to be paying for your wedding on your first anniversary (or longer)!
  2. WHAT: The style of wedding you want. Traditional, interfaith, intercultural or individual? In a church or outdoors? Themed or casual?
  3. WHEN: The date – public holidays may seem a great idea but can be difficult to get a booking for the venues and the celebrant. You will need to juggle when, where and who to settle on a date, venue and celebrant.
  4. WHERE: The ceremony venue – if you prefer a church wedding, be flexible with a proposed date and time as churches can be booked well in advance and may have several weddings on the same day.
  5. WHERE ELSE: The reception venue and caterers – ideally near the ceremony venue and to fit in with the date and time. Or combine the ceremony and reception at the one venue.
  6. WHO: The celebrant – clergy or marriage celebrants can be booked well in advance, so if you have a preferred celebrant, talk to them first to find out when they would be available.

Your Want List

Once you have the six basics in place for the wedding, you are ready to start on your Want List,  several months before the big day:

  1. WHO: The family and friends you want to share your wedding. Create a guest list and send out Save the Date cards if you are planning up to a year in advance.
  2. WEAR: Look at options for a wedding dress and suits or an alternative theme for your big day (themed dress up costumes for the wedding party and guests can make your wedding unique)
  3. WANTS: Decide whether you want the following, get quotes and make bookings:
  • Photographer and/or videographer
  • Florist
  • Cake artist
  • Wedding cars and drivers
  • Entertainment at the reception
  • Design and printing of invitations and place cards, programs, order of service if required
  • Hair and make up
  1. WHERE: Start thinking about honeymoon plans and booking accommodation if you haven’t already.

Your Watch List

About eight weeks before W Day, you have to pull all the components together for a successful wedding event. These are the critical items you have to watch for!

  1. WRITING: Send out invitations 6 to 8 weeks in advance. If guests are coming from overseas or need to travel long distances, invitations can be sent up to 3 months in advance.
  2. WAIT: Meet with your celebrant and complete a Notice of Intended Marriage at least one month before the intended date of marriage
  3. WISH: Start a Gift Card Registry and let your friends and family know how to find it.
  4. WRAP UP: Finalise all the details for W Day:
  • Confirm dates and times with all venues and participants
  • Check the RSVPs and finalise guest numbers for the reception, arrange a seating plan
  • Organise an MC for the reception
  • Book hotels for guests from out of town
  • Finalise dresses and suit fittings
  • Choose music, order of service for the wedding
  • Write vows and wedding speech
  • Organise a rehearsal, run through the responsibilities of each member of the bridal party
  • Organise final dress fittings, accessories, hair, make up and manicure
  • Confirm honeymoon arrangements.
  1. W WEEK: On Wedding Week, make the final arrangements for the big day, pick up the wedding dress and bridal party outfits and make sure all vendor payments have been finalised so everything falls into place on your wonderful day.

Your W Day

This is what you have been working towards for months! With everything finalised and in place, you’ll enjoy making a lifetime of memories and a day to remember for family and friends.

Get a good night’s sleep before the big day. Then relax and enjoy every moment!

Make honeymoon planning stress-free with an on-trend mini-moon

Organising a wedding followed by a traditional honeymoon is like having two major logistical assignments to project manage – a challenging task for any couple juggling jobs, a social life and the excitement of a new chapter in your life together!

While you are concentrating on making your big day one to remember for the rest of your life, your second major project – consider swapping your honeymoon for a mini-moon, the new approach to wedding traditions.

Mini-moons are on trend

A survey by American wedding website The Knot showed that more than 80% of newlyweds choose a mini-moon after their wedding.

Romantic short break

The idea is to make your honeymoon a romantic short break to wind down after the excitement of your wedding. You can then take the time to plan your ‘real honeymoon’ for a convenient later date to the destination of your choice.

When the wedding planning seems endless and the big day just gets bigger, choose a mini-moon. If time off work is an issue, then the mini-moon makes a great option for a short break for your wedding week.

Mini-moons make a great alternative to a ‘real honeymoon’.

  • Romance and recuperation. Your love will be the focus of your mini-moon whatever you decide to do. Get creative and plan the treasured few days of your mini-moon to be a special escape to start your married life getting to know each other.
  • Make it affordable. A mini-moon of three to five days is perfect to keep costs down. The wedding alone can stretch the budget, so a short getaway can be the perfect solution to keep costs manageable.
  • Take the kids. If you are already a family and have children, a short break can solve your planning dilemmas. Grandparents may be persuaded to mind the children while you take a mini-moon – or if that isn’t possible, take the children with you as they will enjoy a getaway too!
  • Share with friends and family. If friends or family have made a special trip to your wedding from overseas or interstate, they may enjoy a few days post-wedding to spend with you. Surprise them with an invite to the mini-moon and make it a friends and family break. As you are having a ‘real honeymoon’ for just the two of you at a later date, it can be a great opportunity to catch up with the people you most care about at a time when everyone is feeling the love.

Plan something completely different

When planning a mini-moon it can be fun to design a getaway that is a complete contrast to your everyday life. Keep the break within five days or it loses the mini-moon vibe.

  • From the city: Plan a beach break, or rural retreat. Check Airbnb to find a complete contrast to your usual residence.
  • From the country: Book a luxury hotel in the nearest ‘big smoke’. Enjoy a spa, relax in the pool, order room service and just enjoy each other.
  • From inland: A three to five-day cruise really gets away from it all.
  • From your place: A short international flight will see you on a relaxing Pacific Island or across the ditch in New Zealand. Look for special deals on flights that can make a quick mini-moon affordable.

Tips for a memorable mini-moon

  • Focus on each other. Don’t try to cram too much into the few days. You are there to relax and recharge after the excitement of your wedding. Take it easy.
  • Pack light. Consider the season and just take enough clothes for the few days you will be away.
  • Indulge in something special. An extravagant meal, hire a bike or a boat or explore the region on foot. Take in a show, visit a farmers’ market, museum or art gallery.

Planning a mini-moon with Gift Card Registry

Choosing Gift Card Registry for your gifting can help to ease the stress of wedding and honeymoon planning. It’s so easy for guests to add their gift to your registry.

At Gift Card Registry you can set up your personal online registry to coincide with sending out the invitations to your wedding. Make it simple for your guests to give their gift through the online registry.

After the wedding, the total amount gifted will be loaded onto a prepaid Mastercard ready for you to use anywhere in the world that Mastercard is accepted.

A prepaid card gives you the power of choice as you can buy whatever you want. When you thank the guests, let them know how you plan to use the money on the card to give you a great start in your new married life.

Find out more about how Gift Card Registry can help to make it easier when planning your wedding. Details can be found at the website giftcardregistry.com.au or phone 1300 354 632.

 

Reference:

The Knot wedding advice website. https://www.theknot.com/content/honeymoon-advice

 

When they need your help, partner with Gift Card Registry to make a difference

Who expects the unexpected? When you or your relatives experience a major family crisis or when a family member or close friend is going through a serious illness or trauma, your immediate reaction is ‘how can I help?’

As superstar singer-songwriter Bruno Mars says in his hit song Count on Me – ‘Find out what we’re made of when we are called to help our friends in need’.

Gift Card Registry to help those in need

When you are called to help your friends in need, Gift Card Registry can be the solution to your fundraising requirements. Gift Card Registry is more than a gift registry for weddings, engagements, birthdays, baby showers and house-warming. It can be a solution for fundraising in times of need.

We have all been touched by stories in the media of children or families who are going through life-threatening illness or trauma that requires funding for special treatment. A child with a serious illness that needs expensive medication; a sister whose only chance for survival is to travel overseas for specialist treatment; a friend who needs ongoing life-saving care.

Raising funds through Gift Card Registry

When you want to assist with raising funds in a secure online environment, visit Gift Card Registry at giftcardregistry.com.au. You can set up your registry at no cost, choose a card design and outline your project plan. The team at Gift Card Registry will set up your account and send you a unique link that you can send to others who want to contribute to the fund. Once the project has closed, the funds will be loaded onto a Mastercard prepaid card and can then be used wherever Mastercard is accepted worldwide to pay for the treatment or care, travel or accommodation.

How to set up a Gift Card Registry for fundraising.

  • Keep the focus on the recipient. The project should focus on the person or need.
  • Enlist helpers. Ask others to be part of the planning and ongoing campaign.
  • Set a goal. Start by doing some research so you can set a fundraising goal.
  • Be specific. Outline what the fundraising will pay for and how much it will cost. Provide links for background details.
  • Research other sources of funds. Find out if there are any charitable trusts where you can apply for a grant and any government assistance that may be available.
  • Let people know about your fundraising. Reach out to your network of supporters, starting with friends and family and the campaign will spread.
  • Use social media. Set up a Facebook page to tell others about the campaign. Through social media you can let people know the need and give them details about what you are planning. Help them to feel personally involved in the fundraising as you let them know progress.
  • Set milestones for fundraising. Celebrate each one as you reach the numbers on the way to the grand total.
  • When the goal is reached, let everyone know. Have contingency plans in place if your goal is exceeded.

Research shows crowdfunding works

Research shows that medical crowdfunding campaigns have the potential to benefit individuals with rare diseases seeking funding for research and/or various diagnostic and treatment options.^

A review of crowdfunding projects for rare genetic disease identified factors for success:

  • Engage social media and utilising the process to network
  • Educate the donors about the reason for the fundraising
  • Use video to inform about the disease or medical condition
  • Develop a sense of connectivity to the research within the community with updates on the campaign.

Are there any taxation implications?

The ATO regards a crowdfunding project as similar to receiving a gift, based on generosity and goodwill.^^

if the fundraising project has no commercial or businesslike activities and no intention to make a profit other than raise funds for the project, it is not classified as a business or profit-making scheme and will not need to pay tax.

Individual donors cannot claim a tax deduction for their contributions unless the project is being managed by a registered charity. Funds contributed in the course of carrying on a business may be deductible as ordinary business expenses. Check with the ATO for specific details.

Find out more about fundraising

Contact Gift Card Registry on 1300 354 632 for more details about setting up a fundraising registry.

References:

^ Interactive Journal of Medical Research 2018. Engaging a Community for Rare Genetic Disease: Best Practices and Education from Individual Crowdfunding Campaigns.

^^Australian Taxation Office. Crowdfunding. ATO advice: https://www.ato.gov.au/business/income-and-deductions-for-business/in-detail/crowdfunding/

Born this way – making a commitment at your same-sex wedding

Wishing and hoping for a happy marriage? The stats are on your side – research predicts your same-sex relationship and marriage is destined to be happy. It’s time to stop procrastinating and start planning to formalise your relationship by marrying the one you love.

Recent research from the University of Queensland* analysing data from 9,206 individuals in Australia showed:

  • Relationship quality in same-sex couples in Australia is higher than in heterosexual couples.
  • Gay and lesbian couples are well placed to raise children in warm and loving environments.
  • Men in gay unions were rated as having the highest quality relationships, followed by women in lesbian unions, men in heterosexual unions then women in heterosexual unions.

You and your partner know ‘love is love’ and now the research proves it.

Since 9 December 2017, same-sex couples have the legal right to marry in Australia. So, if you are amongst the gay couples thinking about making a commitment to marry, now is the time to start planning.

How do we start the process?

Everyone planning to get married in Australia must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM), available from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in every state.  The completed form must be given to your registered celebrant at least one month and one day before the intended date of marriage.

What’s next for our wedding?

For the wedding of your dreams, you need to look for people who will be supportive and happy to be involved in a gay wedding, from the venue, caterers, celebrant, entertainment and even when buying the rings and the suits.

Where can we find gay-friendly wedding professionals?

Equally Wed (equallywed.com.au), Australia’s leading same-sex wedding directory is a good place to start when you are looking for gay-friendly wedding professionals.

Covering Australian states, New Zealand and the Pacific, the directory is the go-to destination for everything associated with planning a gay or lesbian wedding. You’ll find a range of celebrants, suppliers, venues and entertainers who are supporters of Marriage Equality to make your wedding a day to remember.

Your wedding countdown

When you’re planning a wonderful wedding together, start with a budget – how much you want to spend (or can afford) and what sort of wedding you want:

  1. BUDGET – start with what you can afford.
  2. DESIGN – decide on the style of wedding you want.

Date, venue and celebrant are co-dependent. You need to negotiate to align the three.

  1. DATE – depends on where you want the wedding and finding a gay-friendly celebrant.
  2. VENUE OR VENUES – ceremony and reception or combined?
  3. CELEBRANT – Check the Equally Wed directory or ask gay friends for a recommendation to find a gay-friendly celebrant. Book well in advance.

For a memorable experience, you need to work out who to invite, what to wear and all the details for the wedding day.

Add these to your checklist:

  1. WHO TO INVITE – Best man, groomsmen – it’s your choice! Sort out your guest list.
  2. GIFT CARD REGISTRY –before you send out the invites, set up a Gift Card Registry and add the details to the invitations. No unwanted toasters or crystal glasses. Guests can contribute to the gift card registry and with the prepaid Mastercard you can buy the gifts yourself, in your own time. Gift Card Registry makes gift giving easy and no need for refunds or returns!
  3. WHAT TO WEAR – Do it your way – both of you in black/white, or complementary suits?
  4. WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS – find gay-friendly suppliers and discuss what you both want. You may be able to negotiate a discount for your special event invitations, photographer, florist, cake, wedding cars, entertainment/music, personal grooming.
  5. THE HONEYMOON – in Australia or overseas? Your choice.
  6. MEET THE CELEBRANT – at least one month before the intended date of your wedding you need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage and give this to your celebrant. Take the opportunity to talk about the ceremony and your vows.
  7. WEDDING DAY COUNTDOWN – finalise the arrangements a few weeks before the wedding. You need to confirm:
  • dates and times with venues and participants
  • RSVPs, finalise guest numbers, arrange a seating plan
  • an MC for the reception
  • hotel bookings for out-of-town guests
  • final suit fittings and any accessories
  • music, order of service for the wedding
  • wording of vows and wedding speech
  • a rehearsal with all members of the bridal party
  • honeymoon arrangements.

Your wedding day

It’s your big day. Research says you are beginning a lifetime of happiness. The data confirms – love is love!

Gift Card Registry makes gift giving easy

Using Gift Card Registry is secure and easy for everyone to use. After the wedding, Gift Card Registry will send the total amount loaded onto a prepaid Mastercard for you to buy the gifts you really want. For more information on Gift Card Registry phone 1300 354 632 or find out more at giftcardregistry.com.au.

[816 words]

Reference:

*Sexual Identity and Relationship Quality in Australia and the United Kingdom. December 2017. Francisco Perales and Janeen Baxter, Life Course Centre, Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.

Data from 25,348 individuals in the United Kingdom (Understanding Society study) and 9,206 individuals in Australia (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey) were used to estimate regression models predicting relationship quality while adjusting for confounds.

Results showed relationship quality in same-sex couples was as high as in heterosexual couples in the United Kingdom, and higher in Australia. The lowest relationship quality in both countries was reported by bisexual individuals. This can be taken as evidence that gay and lesbian couples are well placed to raise children in warm and loving environments.

In Australia, the analogous relationship quality ordering of couple types is men in gay unions, women in lesbian unions, men in heterosexual unions, women in heterosexual unions, individuals in other couples types, bisexual men partnered with heterosexual women and finally bisexual women partnered with heterosexual men.

The report can be read in full here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/fare.12293

Your baby shower questions answered – all you need to know

A baby shower is the ultimate party – celebrating new beginnings and helping the parents get ready for the new addition to their family.

An opportunity for friends and family to celebrate the impending arrival of a new baby, talk about parenting and help the new parents with the baby essentials they’ll need once the new baby arrives.

It’s the perfect time to give clothing, nursery equipment and the myriad of essentials that are needed for the new arrival.

Most new parents already have some of the things they’ll need – cocoon for the car, pram or stroller, crib and highchair. They’ll know best just what they want to complete their equipment range – so a gift card is the ideal present for the new parents.

With a prepaid Mastercard through Gift Card Registry, they can buy just what they need for the newbaby. No duplicate gifts and things they don’t want or need. With Gift Card Registry, they can buy the essentials now and keep some value on the card for later purchases as the child grows to crawler then toddler and their needs change.

If you’re planning a baby shower for a friend or relative, here’s everything you need to know!

  1. When is the best time to host a baby shower?

When the mother to be is about 28 to 35 weeks pregnant so she has time to purchase baby equipment and organise the nursery with all the new (or borrowed) gear.

  1. Where should you hold a baby shower?

Your own home might be the best place, but if you are planning to invite more guests than your lounge can comfortably accommodate, think of alternative venues. Will your guests include other parents with young children? Depending on the season, the local park or playground could be an ideal venue. Consider a private function room in a café or restaurant, community centres, even the local bowling club. Avoid holding the celebration at the home of the expectant mother – she is the guest of honour, not the host!

  1. Who’s on the invitation list?

Talk to the mum-to-be before you make up a guest list. Think about numbers if you have a limit on the size of the venue. And check out the next question before you start thinking about who will be there. If you are compiling a list to send invitations, get email addresses as well. Never publicly post an invitation on social media, you could end up with unwanted guests!

  1. What sort of party will it be?

Choose a theme or just go casual with the guests providing the entertainment. If it’s casual, you can ask the guests to ‘bring a plate’ or have a barbecue. Anything goes with a baby shower – you can decide on a dress up occasion, or even suggest the guests come in fancy dress. The main thing is not to lose sight of the reason for the party – to help the parents celebrate a new baby.

  1. Does the party need a theme?

You could celebrate like a celebrity and roll out the red carpet with the expectant mum as the star! If she prefers something more traditional, try one of these ideas for inspiration:

  • Colour: Many parents already know what’s coming and may want to celebrate with a theme of blue or pink. Think outside the traditional colours for an individual theme.
  • Classic children’s books: Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland. If your theme is based on a book, consider asking guests to bring a children’s book as a gift for the newborn with a personal message inside.
  • Nature themes: Flowers, farmyard, butterflies. If you are having an outdoor party at the beach or park, the venue could provide some inspiration.
  • Popular film themes: Disney characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse are always popular. Kids’ films like Frozen or Beauty and the Beast can be a fun theme.
  • A hobby or passion: Music or travel provide endless possibilities.

Before you decide on a theme, go online and search for ‘baby shower decorations’ or ‘celebrity baby shower’ for inspiration.

  1. Does the party need games?

It’s up to you and the mum to be. The main event is usually eating, drinking and opening gifts (or skp the gifts if you are having a Gift Card Registry) but for a fun event, you can have a few activities or games that can tie in with the theme. If the new parents haven’t told anyone whether the baby is a boy or a girl, they can have some fun with a gender-reveal surprise package. For the latest ideas, go online and search for ‘baby shower games’.

  1. A shower, a sprinkle or a sip and see?

If the baby party is for a second or third child, it may be called a baby ‘sprinkle’ and celebrated as a ‘mini’ baby shower. If the mother is already well stocked with baby gear from her first child, a scaled down baby sprinkle is always appreciated, especially if she’s having a baby of a different gender this time and has different needs. And if the celebration is delayed until after the baby arrives, it can be called a ‘sip and see’ – drop in for a cup of tea or coffee and see the baby – but don’t stay too long!

After the wedding, saying thank you is a tradition still on trend

When the excitement of the wedding is a happy memory and your new life together is just beginning, there are still a few things to complete the delight of the wedding experience.

Just when you thought the planning was all over, there’s more to do. Your priorities, as well as adjusting to your new life as a couple, include the fun of viewing the photographs and the task of saying ‘thank you’.

Gift Card Registry is the new style of gift giving

Your special wedding guests have shared your wonderful day, and many will have contributed to your Gift Card Registry, so you can enjoy the gift of a Mastercard prepaid gift card. When you’re ready to use the card to buy just what you want for your future, think of those who have made your gift possible – and thank them.

Tradition is still on trend

A ‘thank you’ shows that you appreciate their gifts and are delighted that they shared the wedding day with you.

Traditional wedding etiquette may seem like a relic from the past, particularly if you’ve chosen an individual style of wedding. Whether you enjoyed a romantic ceremony in a church, on the beach, or at the registry office, good manners never go out of fashion.

It’s an ongoing tradition to include the writing and sending of personal thank you cards or notes to every guest. Whatever their contribution to the wedding, they will appreciate your thanks.

When to thank

Order the thank you cards at the same time as the wedding invitations so they are ready to send when you get back from your honeymoon.

Send the thank you notes within four to six weeks of the wedding.

Hand written is important

Your cards may be printed with a standard ‘thank you’ message, but it is important that you add some hand-written words to personalise the appreciation. Include the guests’ names and add a short personal message that is individual to them.

If you have used Gift Card Registry for your wedding gifts, your guests will be interested to know what you are going to use the gift card for. Is it for your honeymoon, to help with the wedding, or to buy furnishings or appliances for your new home? Let them know what the gift card is being spent on and they will enjoy sharing your plans.

Thanks for coming

Guests who have travelled long distances and made a special effort to be present to share your big day will appreciate being thanked for their attendance at your wedding. If they played a special role such as being in the bridal party or the MC or are a close relative – mother or father of the bride or groom – give them specific mention.

Some guests may not have contributed to your Gift Card Registry but have showed their love and acceptance in other ways such as assisting with catering, cars or even helping out by minding children at a critical time. Thank them too!

Make it easy for yourself

Early days of married life can be hectic and writing dozens of thank you notes becomes a chore you would rather put off.  Try these tips to help with motivating you to get them done.

  • Make room to write. Create a space at home to write the notes. Keep the cards, envelopes, stamps, pen and your address list all in one place so you can continue writing whenever you get the opportunity.
  • Share the task. Ask your spouse to help, specially if the list of thank yous is a long one.
  • Keep a master list. Tick off each one as you write the notes. Important if you are sharing the task so you don’t double up.
  • Set yourself a timeline. Daily or weekly goals can give focus so the project doesn’t seem overwhelming. For example, aim to write three thank yous each night, or 10 in a week to start ticking off the names on your list.
  • Saying thanks is good for you! Thanking someone and being thanked create feel good moments that are remembered. There is no downside to a thank you!

Receiving a thank you rebounds

People who are thanked for their gifts or assistance feel a greater desire to help the person who has thanked them. Appreciation is reciprocal and can be a positive gesture to foster friendship, enhance family life and create a valuable bond.

As the thanker, you’ll feel good too after showing your appreciation.

Thank you is easy with Gift Card Registry

Using Gift Card Registry for your wedding gifts makes it easy for you to thank each person who has helped to achieve your special reward, the prepaid Mastercard so you can decide what to buy.

Go online to find out more about setting up your personal registry at giftcardregistry.com.au or phone Gift Card Registry on 1300 354 632.

You will be sent a prepaid Mastercard loaded with the total amount gifted when the registry closes. The card can be used worldwide wherever Mastercard is accepted.

With a prepaid gift card, you can buy just what you want and in your thank you note, let the guests know how you have used the money on the card to start your life together. It’s the new way of gifting for weddings, made easy for guests and perfect for newlyweds.

No more toasters – ask for what you want with Gift Card Registry

Organising a wedding is a major logistics operation that calls for short cuts and time saving tips to make the planning as smooth as possible. You’ll save both time and stress with a Gift Card Registry!

More secure than a wishing well

Compared with a store-based Wedding Registry or a Wishing Well at the reception, a Gift Card Registry is the superior way to give and receive because it is secure, convenient, easy to use and saves everyone time. You are not locked into preselecting gifts like traditional registries.

No unwanted gifts

Traditional gift giving has been turned on its head with cutting edge technology and the advantage of a prepaid Mastercard. Setting up a Gift Card Registry means no unwanted gifts and it is more secure than wishing wells and money trees.

Research recommends saying what you want

Research shows that inviting guests to contribute to a wedding fund is preferred by the recipients of the gifts. Studies by Harvard and Stanford researchers and published in Experimental Social Psychology, showed that gift recipients most appreciated receiving money more than receiving a specific gift.^

No surprises, thanks!

Surprises may be exciting but can be a disappointment when you get unwanted presents. With a Gift Card registry, you are sure of getting what you want because you are going to be choosing the gifts.

All the money received on the Registry is transferred to a prepaid Mastercard, ready for you to go on your honeymoon or complete your shopping after the wedding. You can spend it anywhere in the world or online where Mastercard is accepted, a versatile and easy option.

Once your registry has closed, you will be sent the card for you to buy exactly what you both want.

Understanding the gift exchange

The studies on the benefits of explicitness in gift exchange showed that there is a vast difference in perception between gift givers and recipients.

Gift recipients:

  • Appreciated receiving money more than receiving a specific gift.
  • Were more appreciative of gifts they explicitly request.
  • Regarded givers who gave what they had asked for as being more thoughtful.

Gift givers thought:

  • Recipients did not appreciate receiving money as much as receiving a specific gift.
  • Whatever they gave would be equally appreciated.
  • A surprise gift would be appreciated just as much as if it had been chosen by the recipient.
  • Money wouldn’t be appreciated as much as an asked-for gift.

Please give us what we want!

Gift givers failed to realise that people prefer receiving what they want. However, when recipients specified the gift they would like, givers became more willing to purchase the requested gift.

The studies showed that gift recipients were more thankful when receiving a gift they had asked for, rather than one that had been chosen for them by the giver.

Gift Card Registry is the answer to gift giving

Gift Card Registry makes gift giving easy and everyone can be assured that the recipient will get just what they want and it will be appreciated.

It gives the opportunity to give the best possible gift for a wedding, birthday or special occasion because the giver knows that the recipient will be able to buy exactly what they want or need.

Give the gift of choice

Friends and family of the couple to be married can rest assured that they will not need to wonder whether to purchase another toaster or slow cooker, crystal glasses or cushions in the hope the newlyweds will need and like what they have chosen.

The ultimate gift is one of choice for the recipient! Gift givers don’t need to spend days looking for the perfect gift.

Guests will save time and stress by connecting with your Gift Card Registry. Let them know that you appreciate being able to purchase just what you want.

Express appreciation

After the honeymoon when you have had an opportunity to buy what you want using the Gift Card Registry funds, let your guests know how you used the prepaid Mastercard and thank them for their contribution. They like to be appreciated too!

 

Reference:

^Give them what they want: The benefits of explicitness in gift exchange. Francesca Ginoa (Harvard Business), Francis J.Flynn (Stanford Business),  Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 2011.