In this episode of Cut The Cake, we unpack an unusual trend making waves across Victoria’s wedding industry—a noticeable lull in bookings for late 2025. After observing this shift firsthand, we explore the potential causes, from post-COVID engagement timelines to the ongoing effects of the economic climate, including rising costs and interest rates.

While the quieter calendar may seem puzzling, it presents a golden opportunity for couples who are ready to plan their weddings on a shorter timeline. With many premium vendors still available for late 2025, this episode is packed with encouragement for couples to lean into the flexibility and possibility of spontaneous, well-curated celebrations.

We also take a forward glance into 2026 and the emerging trends shaping modern weddings. From the rise of editorial styling and interactive elements to the increasing popularity of faux florals and creative signage, we share insight into the evolving details that are defining this next era of events. Think: luxe fabric signage, custom linens, and personal touches that leave a lasting impression.

Whether you're a couple starting to plan or a vendor curious about industry shifts, this episode offers grounded insight into what’s happening now—and what’s coming next.

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/

In this episode of Cut The Cake, we return after a whirlwind wedding season to share behind-the-scenes stories, reflections, and new developments from our businesses—Mellyrain Creative and Event Wanderer Co.

After a short pause in episodes during peak wedding season, we’re back with fresh updates and an all-new structure designed to deliver even more honest insights and practical advice for couples planning their weddings.

We dive into our personal highlights from the season. Mellyrain Creative was recently featured in Vogue for a styled and coordinated wedding—an exciting moment that sparked a deeper look at the realities and politics of being featured in high-profile publications. Event Wanderer Co also had a dynamic season, focusing on bespoke themed stationery projects and professional print services tailored to both full-service clients and DIY couples looking for elevated, polished results.

Throughout the episode, we explore wedding trends such as the growing popularity of guest personalization, the shift toward niche vendor offerings, and the increased demand for transparency and authenticity in the industry. We’ve also refined our services to reflect our strengths: full-service wedding planning and styling, and thoughtfully curated design-to-print stationery solutions.

We also offer a reminder to couples to dig deeper when evaluating potential vendors, features, and awards—encouraging thoughtful, values-aligned decisions when building their dream day.

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/

Are you planning a wedding in Australia and feeling a little overwhelmed? Or maybe you’re feeling like planning your wedding is becoming a second full time job, and you just wish there was something out there that could help you with short, sharp but more importantly helpful wedding planning tips!

Well get ready lovers, because our newest season of Cut The Cake which we have dubbed the Short & Sharp Series is made for engaged couples looking for quick, to the point, real talk helpful wedding planning tips!

We have so much wedding planning intel to share and we know everyone’s time is valuable. So each episode of the Short & Sharp Series will be less than 5 minutes long allowing you to get the valuable wedding planning intel you need and want, fast!

Listen to a new episode every Tuesday and remember to also follow us on social media @cutthecakepodcast @mellyraincreative and @eventwandererco for extra wedding planning tips throughout 2025.

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/

Are you planning a wedding in Australia and feeling a little overwhelmed? Or maybe you’re feeling like planning your wedding is becoming a second full time job, and you just wish there was something out there that could help you with short, sharp but more importantly helpful wedding planning tips!

Well get ready lovers, because our newest season of Cut The Cake which we have dubbed the Short & Sharp Series is made for engaged couples looking for quick, to the point, real talk helpful wedding planning tips!

We have so much wedding planning intel to share and we know everyone’s time is valuable. So each episode of the Short & Sharp Series will be less than 5 minutes long allowing you to get the valuable wedding planning intel you need and want, fast!

Listen to a new episode every Tuesday and remember to also follow us on social media @cutthecakepodcast @mellyraincreative and @eventwandererco for extra wedding planning tips throughout 2025.

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/

Are you planning a wedding in Australia and feeling a little overwhelmed? Or maybe you’re feeling like planning your wedding is becoming a second full time job, and you just wish there was something out there that could help you with short, sharp but more importantly helpful wedding planning tips!

Well get ready lovers, because our newest season of Cut The Cake which we have dubbed the Short & Sharp Series is made for engaged couples looking for quick, to the point, real talk helpful wedding planning tips!

We have so much wedding planning intel to share and we know everyone’s time is valuable. So each episode of the Short & Sharp Series will be less than 5 minutes long allowing you to get the valuable wedding planning intel you need and want, fast!

Listen to a new episode every Tuesday and remember to also follow us on social media @cutthecakepodcast @mellyraincreative and @eventwandererco for extra wedding planning tips throughout 2025.

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/

Are you planning a wedding in Australia and feeling a little overwhelmed? Or maybe you’re feeling like planning your wedding is becoming a second full time job, and you just wish there was something out there that could help you with short, sharp but more importantly helpful wedding planning tips!

Well get ready lovers, because our newest season of Cut The Cake which we have dubbed the Short & Sharp Series is made for engaged couples looking for quick, to the point, real talk helpful wedding planning tips!

We have so much wedding planning intel to share and we know everyone’s time is valuable. So each episode of the Short & Sharp Series will be less than 5 minutes long allowing you to get the valuable wedding planning intel you need and want, fast!

Listen to a new episode every Tuesday and remember to also follow us on social media @cutthecakepodcast @mellyraincreative and @eventwandererco for extra wedding planning tips throughout 2025.

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/

Are you planning a wedding in Australia and feeling a little overwhelmed? Or maybe you’re feeling like planning your wedding is becoming a second full time job, and you just wish there was something out there that could help you with short, sharp but more importantly helpful wedding planning tips!

Well get ready lovers, because our newest season of Cut The Cake which we have dubbed the Short & Sharp Series is made for engaged couples looking for quick, to the point, real talk helpful wedding planning tips!

We have so much wedding planning intel to share and we know everyone’s time is valuable. So each episode of the Short & Sharp Series will be less than 5 minutes long allowing you to get the valuable wedding planning intel you need and want, fast!

Listen to a new episode every Tuesday and remember to also follow us on social media @cutthecakepodcast @mellyraincreative and @eventwandererco for extra wedding planning tips throughout 2025.

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/

Are you planning a wedding in Australia and feeling a little overwhelmed? Or maybe you’re feeling like planning your wedding is becoming a second full time job, and you just wish there was something out there that could help you with short, sharp but more importantly helpful wedding planning tips!

Well get ready lovers, because our newest season of Cut The Cake which we have dubbed the Short & Sharp Series is made for engaged couples looking for quick, to the point, real talk helpful wedding planning tips!

We have so much wedding planning intel to share and we know everyone’s time is valuable. So each episode of the Short & Sharp Series will be less than 5 minutes long allowing you to get the valuable wedding planning intel you need and want, fast!

Listen to a new episode every Tuesday and remember to also follow us on social media @cutthecakepodcast @mellyraincreative and @eventwandererco for extra wedding planning tips throughout 2025.

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/