When it comes to hosting a big event it can seem overwhelming when you think about the food, invites, drinks and let alone the guest list. This is true for any event, but in particular your wedding day. It seems that the details and complexity seem to double when it comes to your wedding. Before you break out in a cold sweat let me introduce you to Claire Donaldson.

Claire is an Event Stylist and owner of One Lovely Day. In a sentence she make everything look like what you had been dreaming about. “For as long as I can remember all I have wanted to do is make things look “fabulous” and so One Lovely Day was born. There is no better platform than styling to fulfil this passion…with an eye for detail and an over active imagination, years of experimenting and studying have lead to the creation of many a glorious event and design”. I got to get ask Claire about her love of styling, advice for brides and more.

FM- Where do you get your inspiration from? Absolutely everywhere, the more events and styling jobs I do the more my inspiration grows, every idea triggers another – I have note books fill of scrawled notes and ideas just waiting for the right gig to come along.

FM-You style many weddings, what advice would you give to a bride starting to plan the look of her wedding? Get off pinterest hahaha … joking really – its just that the wedding world has become so over whelming for brides, so much inspiration its hard to know where to turn. Many of the wedding images you see online are “styled shoots”, not real weddings and to recreate many of those for a 100 guest wedding is not only costly, but a lot of work. My advice would be,  before you even start with the look and details you should sit down and just come up with the basics. What do you want out of your wedding? Do you want something formal, something family oriented, a party, casual bbq? Once you have your base feeling the rest just follows organically .

FM-When it comes to styling your home what is your top tip to getting it right? The same as styling a wedding, make it a home, not a show room, add things you like, items that mean things, tell a story, you will find it will all just fall into to place as its things you love … over thinking a space will loose its magic and become staged. FM-How would you describe your personal style? I love classic items, but they always have to have a mix of new.

FM-What moment most stands out from your years of event styling? It was my first ever big gig with a client who had found me online and had trusted me completely, the planning had taken about 6 months and lots of hard work – I felt like a fish out of water (not that I let on) I remember the nervous butterflies  on set up day and then huge amount of pride as I drove away after set up, having finished creating the most beautiful space … I still get those feeling before and after each event, It keeps you going, wanting to make sure each space you create is spot on!

FM-So you have to style a room with only 3 items…What are they? Big soft couch, covered in a mishmash of cushions and throws, open fire and a big soft skin rug ….. Hmm this might have something to do with the fact I’m sitting here in the cold with a heater at my feet in my freezing office!

FM-What would be your perfect day? Home with my kids and hubby – life can get pretty hectic, so its always such a treat to just hang out.

FM-If you could dine with one person who would it be? My Grandma, I miss her.

FM-The question I love to ask…Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Hopefully happy, healthy and enjoying life with my family … many more gorgeous events under my belt, a fleet of caravan bars and a warehouse brimming with styling goods.

Contact Claire Donaldson today for all of your event & styling needs: PO Box 32209, Devonport, Auckland 0624

[email protected]

Check out their Facebook Website and Follow them on Pintrest

Ph: 021 134 1127