Elena Willson

Is there anything more stressful and more wonderful than planning a wedding? At the same time, you are on the verge of breaking down and jumping with joy. The pressure is on, and while struggling to get everything on time, from the venue to the guest list, the thing which is driving you forward is the feeling that eventually everything’s going to be worth it, and it will be an absolutely amazing day. Photo credit: https://darincollisonphotography.com.au/jane-adam-castlemaine-gaol-wedding/ Since this is (usually) once in a lifetime kind of event and you will be your most romantic and best self, it’s essential that it is to properly documented, i.e. photographed. We all wish to look back at our photos and sighs with delight rather than disappointment. For this reason, here are several ways how to choose the best photographer for your wedding. The vision There are plenty of artists out there, each with his/her unique style. In order to truly grasp their philosophy, look carefully into the “About” page on their website. See where they were engaged and what kind of weddings they used to take photos of. Next, take a good look of their portfolio. Do not focus just on the wedding photos of a celebration that resembles yours the most. Take a look at their work in total and then you will be able to say whether you truly love their philosophy, or not so much. Lighting This is especially important if your wedding ceremony is taking place inside a poorly lit space. For instance, some churches cannot boast great lighting fixtures. Therefore, feel free to ask about their experience with the venues you had in mind for your wedding, and make sure to mention all the places you wish to have yourselves photographed. Also, always ask to see examples of previous similar work experiences. See the full picture By that, we mean a full album. Plenty of couples make a mistake of looking only at the photos that the photographer is showing them from a certain wedding. To really understand his/her way of work, ask to observe the whole file, i.e. the whole album to see precisely how everything could look like should you decide to hire them . What’s included? In short, do not be shy to ask in detail about the price. You can get a certain impression by looking at the types of venues where previous weddings took place. Nevertheless, you can only be absolutely certain if you have clearly enquired about everything. Of course you wish to have your wedding album and the video recording, but bear in mind that a lot of photographers charge extra for the file with the photos. Photo credit: https://darincollisonphotography.com.au/mary-jono-laurens-hall-wedding Word of mouth Naturally, you are going to get plenty of recommendations from your friends, or even friends of your friends. However, the people you must speak to are the ones who are already in the wedding business. Ask your florist, or your baker for the recommendations. They have probably dealt with hundreds of weddings and certainly know the masters of the trade, i.e. art. Trust your gut In the end, follow your gut feeling. Having taken everything into consideration, think hard whether you two would like to spend a whole day in the company of your photographer. Why is this relevant? Taking wedding photos is nothing like posing for Instagram, or a fashion photo shoot. You wish for your intimate emotions to be shown, and they will hardly emerge if you find the person using the camera extremely annoying, no matter how great an artist he/she is. The last word of wisdom: timing. Once you have decided on the venue, start looking for the photographer as soon as possible. Just like everything else about this glorious event, they too have to be booked well in advance.

If there is two things that that can be said with absolute certainty, that is, that 1) Aussies love a good BBQ and 2) that they love their renovation and decorating jobs. As a nation, Australian’s strive to stay up to date with the latest, best and most popular trends and the creative, intriguing process of interior design is no exception to this. For most, re-decorating and renovating is a dream come, but it does not come without its does of stress, especially if the vision does not match up to the end result; where did it all go wrong? More often than not, the fault lies with miscommunication with the interior decorator, simple misunderstandings can have a hefty price tag and a very undesirable outcome. Given that this has not been an isolated incident, here are a few tips on how to do get your vision across in the most precise manner, narrowing the margin of error, thus increasing the excitement of project development and completion. Put together an idea book Or the so-called vision or mood board. This is very easy to do, and it basically comes down to collecting and sticking photos of whatever it is you like. Don’t over think at this level, if you see something in a magazine or online that warms up your heart, get the image and add it to the collection (but don’t forget to source it!). Know the materials you like? but not quite sure if they go, don’t stress, add them to the vision board mix. Though it may sound like a proper mishmash once it’s completed, you’ll see it actually represents everything you like, and carries a certain emotion with it, too. The colours you love will begin to emerge, as well as the overall feeling you have about the place. Basically, an idea book translates your desires into a common language everyone can understand, especially the likes of an interior designer. Take up a course We’re not kidding here. Once you see how much you’ve enjoyed in the process of making the vision board/idea book, you can’t help but wonder how lovely it would be if you could be doing this professionally. It is something you find fulfilling, immersing and extremely satisfying, to say the least. Therefore, why don’t you take up a brief course in interior design and decoration to help you further develop your creativity? Additionally and once you get the basics of design, it will be so much easier to explain (to a professional) what is it that you want, you’ll find that channelling your creativity will become easier. Define yourself It’s not only the interior that you need to define, but yourself as a person, too. What you are doing when discussing the improvements to your home is presenting your personality, creativity and lifestyle. What are your daily habits? How often do you cook? Do you need a big kitchen with lots of appliances, or is a coffee maker enough? Who wakes up first in your home? Is your extra room going to be turned into a home office, or a gym? Don’t’ be surprised if the interior designer asks you some personal questions about your daily routines. They need to know you well in order to come up with the best solutions. Honesty is the best policy This is no time to be shy. If you have any doubts about the designs, make sure to speak up on time. No one is perfect, not even the professionals, so there might be something that they overlooked and you have timely noticed. On the other hand, make sure to have some flexibility, after all there are things that the professionals know best. Even though you have it all nicely in your idea book and your head, that doesn’t mean it’s all going to work together. If you have taken a course, though, you have already eliminated some things on your own and focused on the essentials. It’s a keeper We all have a piece of furniture we are emotionally attached to and don’t feel like giving up on. Unfortunately and as it usually happens, it seems that there is no place for it in your vision board. Fear not, speak up and feel free to tell your decorator about it. You may be surprised a good interior designer always has a way of incorporating an odd piece into the picture. Enhancing your living space is one of the best things that can happen to you. Since you spend so much time in this place, you are bound to absorb its new energy and feel much more invigorated and ready for new challenges, as well as feel at perfect ease once the whole process is finished.

OK, first of all, S-E-R-B-I-A, not Siberia. The first is a small country in the Balkans peninsula in Europe, with much more pleasant weather than in the Russian region. Apart from the lovely continental weather, there are plenty of other things which recommend Serbia as your next travel destination. For such a tiny country, it certainly has a lot to offer. So, we’d better get started immediately. You’ll have the time of your life Seriously, the party never ends, especially if you’re staying in the capital (of course you are – a capital is a capital). Belgrade has something going on every night of the week, and you’ll find it difficult to choose among so many clubs, pubs, taverns, cafes, and don’t get us even started with the festivals! Music lovers will indulge themselves, and if you’re keen on really getting to know the vibrant Serbian culture of going out, try visiting one of the places with either modern (expert tip: go to a floating club, aka “splav”) or traditional Serbian folk music. You’re bound to start dancing to the beat of unfamiliar, but oddly enchanting sounds. The best festivals are here Photo Credit: Exit Festiva True story. Exit has been voted the Best Major European festival for couple of times now, and we deem it will get the title for year 2018 as well. What is better than waiting for the dawn at one of the numerous stages at a hundreds of year’s old fortress in Novi Sad? Hardly anything beats that sensation. Also, there are plenty of other music festivals, too, all around the country at different times of the year. Perhaps the most intriguing to foreign visitors would be the one held in Guca. You’ll see why. Get a doctor’s appointment Now, you’re thinking: “Why would I want to go to the doctor’s when I’m on my holiday?”. Well, if there’s something you’d like to slightly improve on your body, or even if you have a serious medical condition, this would be one of the best countries to schedule a doctors’ appointment. Serbia is one of the most popular health tourism destinations in Europe. The level of expertise is superb, and the treatment prices are pretty low compared to what you have to pay back home for the same service. Whether you wish to simply fix your smile, or you are in need of a more complicated procedure (orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, Stem Cell therapy, cardiology surgery, and so on), you can rest assured you’ll get the best health care there is. What is more, the recovery can be done in one of the many spas, which have been in use since Roman times. Delicious local food If you can’t imagine your lunch or dinner without a piece of meat, you’ve come to the right place! Serbian people absolutely love all types of meat, prepared in all manners – grilled, marinated, roast, you name it. Traditional Serbian cuisine is calorific, but absolutely delicious (you know these two things usually go hand in hand, don’t they). The most famous dishes include: Karadjorjeva steak, sarma (stuffed cabbage leaves), gibanica (a pie like you’ve never tried before), cevapi (special sausages), and many more. Basically, you’re in for a grand gourmet adventure here. Find the hidden gems Photo Credit: Đavolja Varoš Medieval monasteries, the meandering waters of the Uvac River, the weird rock formations of Đavolja Varoš – these are only some of the sights you should check out. Visit some of the national parks, try whitewater rafting, or simply go to different towns – you’ll see the south and the north of the country are quite distinctive. Go and see the sights for yourself before the word gets out and the places become too touristy. You’ll definitely have something original to boast about to your friends. You won’t break the bank Finally, everything is so affordable it’s almost hard to believe it. Simply browse the accommodation or transport prices, and you’ll see they are among the lowest in the region, if not the smallest. It’s always nice not to think much about money on holiday, isn’t it? Therefore, head this way. We believe this was enough to get you intrigued. Serbia is one awesome place to be. But don’t just take our word for it. Go and check for yourself!