Cut the Cake

If you haven’t heard of Panama Dining Room, we are sure you have seen its iconic arched windows pop up on your Instagram feed. Yes those windows are spectacular, but Panama Dining Room offers so much more than just that picture-perfect Instagram photo.

In this episode of "Cut the Cake," we are joined by Luke Stepsys, owner of Panama Dining Room; Luke shares his journey from being a chef to becoming a restaurateur and how he fell in love with Panama Dining Room at first sight. He explains the unique concept of the venue, which operates as both a restaurant and a bar, as well as a wedding venue and how this venue is one that has become beloved by Melbournians (and many international celebrities) and a much sought after place for couples to say 'I Do'.

About Luke + Panama Dining Room

Luke Stepsys is the owner of Panama Dining Room, a unique and iconic venue located in Fitzroy, Melbourne. With a background in the hospitality industry, Luke has a passion for creating exceptional dining experiences. He has transformed Panama Dining Room into a renowned restaurant and bar, as well as a sought-after wedding venue. Luke prioritizes authenticity and quality in the food and beverage offerings at Panama Dining Room, sourcing ingredients from local suppliers.

Website: https://thepanama.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepanamadiningroom

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
Contact Mel: mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey.

instagram.com/eventwandererco/

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, and many couples find themselves overwhelmed with the number of tasks that need to be completed. This is where delegating roles and responsibilities to friends, family, and your wedding party can be incredibly helpful. 

In this episode of Cut The Cake, we discuss the various tasks that can be delegated to your friends, family and wedding party that include traditional roles, as well as alternative options. 

So, let’s get into the juicy info we know you are craving.

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...

When we say property wedding, what comes to mind? Perhaps a beautiful marquee under a starry night with the most gorgeous sunset you ever did see across rolling hills as far as the eye can see? We’re the first to admit we love a property wedding. But here’s the thing. There is actually so much you need to consider when planning a property wedding. So, we have brought in an expert to talk all about this hot topic.

Lauren is the founder and creative director of ETC Event Styling and specialises in marquee and private property weddings. In this episode of Cut The Cake, we discuss with Lauren the logistical and infrastructure requirements you need to think about when planning a property wedding. The misconception of property wedding being a cheaper alternative and what you realistically need to budget for when planning a property wedding. And most importantly, the pros of having a property wedding cause there are so many! We couldn’t think of anyone better to discuss the topic of property weddings with so without any further ado, here is Lauren from ETC Event Styling.

About Lauren + ETC. Event Styling

Lauren is the founder and creative director of ETC Event Styling. With a background in visual merchandising and retail store design, Lauren has been designing, planning, and styling weddings across regional Victoria for over 12 years. Specializing in marquee and private property weddings, Lauren brings her expertise and creativity to create unique and personalized wedding experiences for her clients.

Connect with Lauren

Wedding Planning Checklist: https://www.etcevents.com.au/wedding-planning-resources
Private Property Checklist: https://sincere-voice-767.myflodesk.com/vdm5j01b2y
Private Property Ebook: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63f41e8fa48787c3c5ff6498

Website: https://www.etcevents.com.au/contact
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etc.eventstyling/

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...

When we started Cut The Cake, we wanted to give couples a platform to ask anything and everything they were going through in their wedding planning process. This month we have had some great questions sent our way!

Questions like, what styling trends are hot this wedding season? Are mix and match bridesmaids dresses still a thing? How do I find good wedding vendors? And even some curly questions like can I invite guests 4 weeks out from my wedding date and should you invite people to your hens if they aren’t invited to your wedding? Get ready for some honest answers. Here we go!

Key Takeaways:

• Mix and match bridesmaid dresses are a popular trend, allowing bridesmaids to feel comfortable and express their individual style.
• When searching for wedding vendors in your local area, utilize Google, business directories, Facebook groups, and recommendations from your venue. Read reviews and testimonials to ensure you choose vendors who are the right fit for you.
• Current wedding trends include the use of ribbons for various decorative elements, pops of color in soft shades, incorporation of pearls and metallics, and a shift away from neutral color palettes.
• Wedding invitations should ideally be sent out earlier than four weeks before the wedding to allow guests enough time to make arrangements and RSVP.
• Including additional guests at the hens or bucks party who may not be able to attend the wedding can be a thoughtful way to celebrate with a wider circle of friends and colleagues.

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...

Makayla Donovan, along with her husband Tom are the founders of The Moissanite Company. A company based in Brisbane Australia that specialises in crafting bespoke ceremonial jewellery. Makayla’s mission is to create positive change within the jewellery industry, removing the stigma around cultured gemstones and allow couples to create their dream engagement and wedding rings that are affordable, luxurious and ethical.

In this episode of Cut the Cake, Makayla explains the unique qualities and benefits of Moissanite as a gem stone alternative. As well as the process of creating custom jewellery at The Moissanite Company and the options available to couples when using a Moissanite as a jewellery option. This chat was so insightful for us and we are delighted to bring this episode to you.

About the Moissanite Company

The Moissanite Company was dreamt to life by Makayla Donovan in 2020, later followed by Cultured Clarity. Both established on the principals of bespoke-ness, ethicality and affordability.

After nearly a decade of experience working at the helm of the jewellery industry in Australia, The Moissanite Company was founded based on Makayla’s own experience creating her own dream ring.

Working alongside a master jeweller she had met years before, Makayla and her now husband Tom were fully engaged in the design and crafting process from start to finish. One thing led to another, and Makayla was so inspired to share what they had created.

The inevitable next step was turning her long-standing passion for jewellery, into a conscious business that afforded couples with the deeply personal experience, bespoke-ness and affordability she once was seeking.

Makayla was at the helm of the creation process of her own ring, and knew exactly how she could support other couples along this very intimate and memorable journey.

Connect with  the Moissanite Company

Website: https://themoissanitecompany.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoissanitecompany/

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...

Weddings are a joyous occasion. And yes, they come with a price tag. Couples often go into the planning process with little knowledge of what everything costs when putting a wedding day together, which in turn leads to unexpected expenses and budgeting stresses. Weddings can be a significant financial investment, so we think it is important for couples to have a realistic understanding of what your wedding could cost.

In this episode of cut the cake, we dive into the hot topic of wedding costs and provide a comprehensive overview of wedding expenses that couples may encounter during their planning journey. We’re talking costs for your venue, celebrant, photographer, videographer, florist, furniture, decor, catering, band, DJ, hair, makeup as well as our area of expertise in stationery and wedding planning, styling and coordination. So, let’s get into the episode we know you are so eager to listen to.

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...

If you haven't heard of Letterpress stationery, do not fear, as you are not alone. It’s an incredibly beautiful printing technique you can use when creating wedding or event stationery and instead of us explaining exactly what it is, where it came from and how you can use it in your stationery, we have brought in the experts from D&D Letterpress.

In this episode, Danika and Doug from D&D Letterpress explain the process of letterpress printing, its history, and how it differs from other printing methods. They also share insights into the cost of letterpress printing, the types of paper used, and the various wedding and event stationery items that can be created with letterpress. We are thrilled to have D&D Letterpress on Cut The Cake so here is Danika and Doug.

About D&D Letterpress.

Danika and Doug are the founders of D&D Letterpress, a letterpress printing company specializing in high-quality wedding invitations and stationery.

D&D Letterpress began with the rescue of a 1920’s Chandler and Price hand-fed and foot treadled printing press, ‘Wendy’, from an old hospital that was about to be demolished. Really it began before that, with Doug & Danika meeting and falling in love while studying design at university. When they combined their expertise in design, their passion for the hand-crafted and this beautiful, ninety year old hunk of cast iron, D&D Letterpress was born and grew with more cast iron presses along the way.

Over the years D&D Letterpress has established itself as one of Australia’s leading letterpress studios. They pride themselves on quality and have gained a name for their attention to detail, knowledge and expertise on the letterpress process, working with amazing brands and designers around Australia (and beyond).

Connect with DD Letterpress

Website: https://ddletterpress.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ddletterpress

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...

Navigating your way through planning a wedding is no easy feat. We know along the way there will be questions so instead of asking just anyone, you can ask us! Between Tania and I we have over 20 years experience planning and executing weddings and events and we are here to help you!

In this episode of Cut The Cake, we dive into questions you have sent our way including:

• How do I work with uneven wedding party numbers when my Bridesmaid can no longer be in the wedding party.
• Why are weddings just so darn expensive?
• Does a wedding tax actually exist?
• What questions do I ask venues I am interested in?
• How do I create a wedding website?
• Do I have to be the one to arrange accommodation for all of my guests?

So without wasting any more time, let's get into today’s questions!

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...

Music undoubtedly plays one of the most pivotal roles in crafting the atmosphere and sustaining energy throughout an event or wedding. It sets the tone from the first steps down the aisle to the final dance of the night. So finding the right DJ for your day is absolutely crucial.

In this episode of Cut The Cake, we have an amazing chat with Aleks and Eddy from One More Song DJ who are the King and Queen of curating the perfect music experience for events and weddings. We discuss the role of a DJ beyond the turntables and why personalisation trumps tradition every time when it comes to music. Oh. And also why the nutbush is banned from their vocabulary.

About One More Song

DJs Eddy and Aleks, owners of One More Song and avid party enthusiasts, hail from Brunswick. Individually, they spin tunes at weddings every weekend in Melbourne and throughout Victoria.

They want to make it clear: they're not your typical agency. Rather, think of them as akin to your photographer or celebrant—folks you'll bond with before the big day and who'll be there to keep the party going! Whichever of the dynamic duo manages your booking will also be your DJ! Hooray!

Their passion for fantastic music (#nomorenutbush), epic celebrations, and forging friendships with their clients knows no bounds. Even after the wedding bells have rung, they often find themselves DJing at milestone events for their beloved couples (think birthdays and beyond!). Be sure to groove to some of their sample mixes!

Coming from backgrounds in client services, they're all about delivering top-notch experiences for their clients.

Oh, and did they mention? They host a wedding industry podcast called Project Engaged where they chat with fellow wedding suppliers and even some of their past couples! Tune in for the fun.

Connect with One More Song

Website: https://onemoresong.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onemoresongdjs/

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...

We are pretty lucky at Cut The Cake to have Tania as one of our hosts. Why? Because she is an expert in event and wedding day stationery. And I’m not just saying this. She really is a pro at what she does. 

In this episode of Cut the Cake, Tania shares 10 unique and often overlooked stationary elements that can be incorporated into weddings and events. 

Overall, this episode offers a wealth of information for anyone looking to add special touches to their wedding or event with on the day stationery. So let’s get into the episode.

About Melanie
Mellyrain Creative is a wedding planning and styling company and we specialize in designing luxe countryside weddings across regional Victoria. As the head wedding planner and stylist at Mellyrain Creative, her team continues to grow and assist in styling design as well as wedding day coordination and execution of styling set ups at weddings all over Victoria. Prior to weddings Mel worked in sport and entertainment events in Melbourne and she  is obsessed with her golden retriever pup Duncan who you’ll see on the gram from time to time. Mel love's to call country Victoria her happy place so when she's not working, you’ll still find me exploring new places, mostly something with mountains as a backdrop.

instagram.com/mellyraincreative
mellyrain.com.au/contact

About Tania
Tania is an award nominated, coffee obsessed lover of love, and all round stationery nerd... & that is why she started the Event Wanderer Co. After years wrangling Ballkids at the Australian Open, she stepped into the world of weddings and turned her hand to design, combining a love of stationery with today's modern design and printing techniques to bring her biz baby to life. Tania's speciality is all things stationery and signage and also understanding the stress that event and wedding planning can bring and she's here to help you navigate the chaos of the journey. 

instagram.com/eventwandererco/
eventwandererco.com.au/con...