Personalize Your Napkins!

 

Looking for a simple and inexpensive way to add a unique touch to your wedding or special event?   Personalized napkins is the way to go! It is easy to find napkins of all colors and sizes, but with so many cute options, it may be difficult to choose just one design! Personalized napkins are perfect for your cocktail hour, dinner table, pastry buffet, sweets table, brunch, hotel guest package, and much more-- just be creative!

 

If you are concerned about the effect that your napkins may have on the environment, look into eco-friendly personalized wedding napkins! AmericanBridal.com offers a selection of "green" napkins, that are made from 100% recycled paper (65% post-consumer).

When designing your personalized wedding napkins, you'll have many different napkin colors, ink colors, fonts and artwork to choose from. You will surely find the perfect fit for your celebration!

On the American Bridal website, it says that they are offering 20% off on all orders over $100! They provide you with the promo code on the homepage, so go check it out! Have fun designing your personalized wedding napkins...they are sure to be a huge hit at your event!

Photos courtesy of American Bridal.

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A Brown & Gold Wedding at the Winery!

This was such a fun wedding to do!  First, we started with the brown chair wraps and then added the brown organza overlays...

 

Then we added the gold organza wrap and tied two white flowers to it...

 

 

 

We made the flowers on the bride and groom's chairs to be more elaborated and different from the guests' chairs...

The head table was very simple, just an organza overlay and 2 small flower bouquets...

This very simple centerpiece consists of a trumpet vase with 5 calla lilies tied together, crystals and LED light surrounded by 3 votives and flower petals on a mirror...

And last but not the least, we added gold charger plates for the finishing touch and to complete the table setting...

 

And we're all set to go! TA DA!

 

 

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Wedding Insiders Night @ Paintlounge

Wedding season is fast approaching!  Where are you at planning your wedding?  Are you a Toronto bride looking for some unique ideas?  THIS is the night for you!  Wedding Insiders Night @ Paintlounge in Markham!

It’s a casual event where you’ll get to mingle with other engaged couples and interact, get free samples, and watch demos from our selected wedding vendors.

Date: Wednesday, April 27th, 8pm - 10pm
Location: Paintlounge at 3603 Hwy 7 East, Unit 106, Markham, ON L3R 8W3
Cost: Free!  As always, our cafe is open for drinks, sandwiches, and treats.
RSVP: 416.900.2633 | info@paintlounge.ca

The first 30 guests to RSVP will receive a free swag bag of goodies, vouchers, and coupons from the vendors!

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The Making of a Wedding Gown

Ever wondered what happens with your wedding gown after you place the order at the boutique?  Today we go behind the scenes as we take a look at how the weddings dresses by Priscilla of Boston come to reality.

First, the design.  The designer meets with the bride and learn what they are looking for so that they can create a gown and turn their vision into reality.

Then a pattern is made according to the design.  A skilled patternmaker grades the cutting patterns while the designer oversees all the delicate little details of the dress as it comes to life.

When the factory receives your order, experienced cutters manually cut out the size of the fabric that's specifically for your dress.

A bundler than pins the many pieces of the dress together.

Every single bead is hand sewn on the lace, many hours of labor go into the beads and lace alone.

Now the sewing begins.  The seamstress carefully hand press the gown and assemble the pieces together with state-of-the-art sewing machines.  The final finishing touches are hand sewn.

This is how weddings dresses by Priscilla of Boston come to reality.  As you can see, the whole process is a long process and it takes many highly trained and experienced workers to put your dream dress together!

Photos courtesy of Priscilla of Boston.
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Two-in-One and Ruffled Dresses!

A wedding gown is usually one of the first things on the bride's shopping list.  Have you found your perfect gown?  There are just so many choices between long wedding dresses and short wedding dresses.  Why not have both?!  Introducing the two-in-one wedding gown!  How unique is this?  I absolute love the idea!  You can have a long and formal wedding gown for your wedding ceremony in the morning, after the photo session and just before the cocktail hour, you can turn your wedding gown into a short dress that's more casual so you can go wild and party into the night!  Cool!

 

 

 

These two-in-one wedding dresses and short wedding dresses are also perfect for destination weddings!

Not your style?  How about these new floral and ruffle dresses from David's Bridal?

 

Love these dresses from David's Bridal and want to try them on?  The good news?  With over 300+ stores in the US, David's Bridal is coming to Ontario, Canada!!!  In March 2011, the chain will open two stores in Ontario:

Meadowvale Shopping Centre
3105 Argentia Road
Mississauga, ON

SmartCentre Scarborough
1900 Eglinton Avenue
Scarborough, ON 

Happy gown shopping!

Photos courtesy of  David's Bridal.
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Budgeting Your Wedding

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!

I recently did an interview with one of the business magazines in Quebec about how not to go broke getting married!  We're well into February and as you begin to plan your wedding for this year, keep in mind your budget and how much you can afford to spend on this one day.  Here's a general breakdown of the budget you can use as a guide to get started.

Reception	45%
Flowers & Decor	10%
Photographer/Videographer	10%
Attire	8%
Miscellaneous	6%
Music/Entertainment	5%
Ceremony	4%
Wedding Rings	4%
Stationery	3%
Gifts & Favours	2%
Transportation	2%
Cake	1%

Here's more detail on each category:
Reception - Venue Rental, Caterer, Beverage & Alcohol, Tables & Chairs, Linens (if not included with the venue)
Flowers & Decor - Bride & Bridesmaids' bouquets, Boutonnieres, Reception Decor, Centerpieces
Photographer & Videographer - Prints & Albums, Video Copies
Attire & Beauty - Bride & Groom's Attire, Bride's Hair, Bride's Makeup, Accessories
Miscellaneous - Accommodations, Rehearsal Dinner, Unpreventable Crisis
Music & Entertainment - Ceremony & Reception Music, DJ, Entertainers
Ceremony - Location, Officiant, Marriage License
Wedding Rings - Bride's Band, Groom's Band
Stationery - Invitations, Postage, Ceremony Programs, Placecards, Menus, Thank You Cards, Calligrapher
Gifts & Favours - Attendant & Parents' Gifts, Favours for Guests
Transportation - Limo, Family Transportation
Cake - Cake, Cupcakes, Groom's Cake

Discuss with your fiance/fiancee how much you want to spend for the entire wedding.  If your budget is $30,000, here's what each item should cost:

Reception	45%	13,500
Flowers & Decor	10%	3,000
Photographer & Videographer	10%	3,000
Attire & Beauty	8%	2,400
Miscellaneous	6%	1,800
Music & Entertainment	5%	1,500
Ceremony	4%	1,200
Wedding Rings	4%	1,200
Stationery	3%	900
Gifts & Favours	2%	600
Transportation	2%	600
Cake	1%	300

Of course, this is just a general guideline so you know roughly how much to spend for each item.  I suggest you make two more columns and rate each item from 1 to 5, 1 being the most important, a MUST HAVE and 5 being, not so important so things you can DO WITHOUT.  I put together a worksheet in Excel so you can get started right away.   You can download it here.  As you know, a photographer can range from $700 to $5000 and same with a videographer.  If you don't think having your wedding videotaped is as important as having great photos of your wedding, you might want to do without a videographer.  If you think a limo is a waste of money, you can allocate that money towards something else such as the wedding gown that's more important to you.

There's so much more to say regarding budgeting your wedding and it's impossible to say it all in just one post.  Just remember one thing: it's not worth it to go into debt just for this ONE day as you have your whole life after that to spend with your husband/wife!

Happy Wedding Planning!

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Vendor Interview: An English Rose Part II

And the interview with Rachel continues!

What do you do when you're not wedding planning?

When are we not planning weddings LOL… I like to Ski, although I am not very good yet.. love trying new restaurants and catching up with friends!

What do you think sets you apart from other wedding planners in Montreal?

The British accent really gives it away... I think the mix of my Hotel & Corporate Management experience in HR really helps when dealing with both clients and vendors and knowing how to talk and communicate with people eg the professionalism.... the variety of weddings I have designed and my passion for what I do!

What would be the most important advice you can give to your brides/grooms?

I know it is hard, but you HAVE to make it your day and ensure you have the day you dream off.  Secondly take time out not only to plan your Wedding Day but also to plan your marriage, too may couples focus on one day and then stumble into the rest of their lives.. you really need to discuss where you want to live, children, religion, plans for the future, make sure you are both aligned to the life you want to lead.

What is your favorite color combination?

At the moment I like really neutral colours with hints of ‘Gold’, I think it is very romantic, classy and elegant.  Mind you I do love it when I have couples who really want to be creative and be totally untraditional!  I cannot say too much but my BFF is doing something so untraditional for her wedding I am so excited I could burst!!

What is your favorite item in your emergency kit?

Safety Pins, Super Glue and White Chalk!

What are common mistakes couples make on their wedding day in terms of planning?

Forgetting to include taxes & gratuity into their budget.. this can easily add another 30% to the costs!  Not assigning tasks the wedding party to help with the planning and the day – they are there to work for the couple not to just look pretty & handsome!  Not understanding the impact of ‘correct’ timings throughout the day.

 

What is your favorite wedding trend right now?

I must admit I still like the Cupcakes, Macaroons and Candies.  I love coloured linens and sparkle, and I love designing the Table of Honor completely differently to the rest of the tables.

What is your least favorite wedding trend right now?

Traditional Wedding Food (I eat a lot) eg. Chicken or Fish… and midnight tables with food that no-one really can eat.. I love working on weddings where we change the style and flavors of the food and be much more creative and surprise the guests!

What is one tip you would give to a newbie wedding planner?  Or one who's interested in becoming one?

Think about who your target ‘clients’ are going to be and market your business to that audience and remember it is not just about planning parties and going shopping – you have to also be able to run and manage a business and all that goes with it.  But love it with a passion and you will always be fulfilled!

I know you work with your hubby, what are some of his roles?

Chris works on a lot of behind the scenes research whether it be for new vendors, e-solutions or business planning.  He also does a lot of logistical planning and is very artistic which is very handy on the wedding day when setting up decorations!

Final thoughts

Eat Well, Drink Well and be Happy!

Photos courtesy of An English Rose.
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Vendor Interview: An English Rose Part I

I first met Rachel from An English Rose at the course we took together from The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada.  I remember when Rachel and I first went to Second Cup for coffee and chit chatted about weddings.  She was there since the beginning, when I worked from home, to when I moved into my 300 sq ft. showroom and then expanded to our 1000 sq ft office!

Although Rachel and I don't get to chat often, but when we do, she always has so many experiences and stories to share with brides &grooms and also fellow wedding planners.  For this reason, I will split the interview into two, part I and part II!  Here are goes the first part of the interview and some fun photos of Rachel, her husband and partner, Chris and some of their clients.  Enjoy!

How did you get started in the wedding business?

Years ago I worked in Hotel Management specializing in Conference & Banqueting which is where I fell in love with Weddings.  There after I used to dream of owning my own wedding planning business, but back in the early 1990’s it wasn’t big in the UK…but I continued to plan weddings part-time and when I moved to Canada in 2003 I started developing my ideas to launch my own wedding planning business full time.

How many years have you been in the wedding business?

4 Years in Montreal, 7 Years in Hotel Management and part-time over 10 more years (gulp that makes me old)!

How do you prepare for the wedding day?

Extremely organized, everything is packed and ready to go the night before - triple check all details on the morning and get very excited and motivated for the couple!

What inspires you?

Everything from shop window designs, celebrity planners, European trends, house & home magazines.

What website or blog do you frequent often?

Preston Bailey, Colin Cowie, Martha Stewart… the usual, but I also like reading locally what my peers in the wedding planning business are doing, planners, photographers, the Montreal Buzz etc

What do you love about weddings?

Just the overall joy in seeing the vision and creation come together on the day – it gives me butterflies. I am very fortunate that I have worked with some great clients and my group of friends gets bigger every year!

What do you hate about wedding?

Vendors who clearly don’t have the same passion and care about the wedding as I do – ‘some’ forget that the couple have never done this before and how special it is to them.  I don’t ‘hate’ this about weddings but I do feel disappointed when I know the couple getting married are having the pressures of their family and are being pulled away from what they really want for their day.

What is your favorite memory from a wedding?

4.00 am with half dressed, very ‘happy’ groomsmen trying to run and jump over a 5-tier, $3000.00+ wedding cake to see who can miss!!!! Ahhhh

What is your favorite hobby?

I am very interested in Tarot Cards and read them a little from time to time – this year I want to learn how to play Chess & Poker!

What is your favorite food?

CURRY!!!!  I love Indian Food and since moving to Canada my favourite Canadian food is ‘Smoked Meat Poutine’ and I am proud of it!!

What are you reading right now?

Oh no this is probably really sad but I have just started reading book one in the ‘Bride Quartet’… Vision in White by Nora Roberts

What are you listening to right now?

The James Blunt new album.. Some Kind of Trouble.. I just loaded it onto my iTouch yesterday!

What would you do with $1 million dollars?

It really would help kick-start our log cabin project in the Eastern Township and I would also set up a Wedding Planning Studio in Old Montreal.

One goal you have for 2011:

Spending more time focusing on relationships in my life.. believe it or not the only thing that is of real importance are the people around us.

Stay tuned for Part II of the interview with Rachel! 

Photos courtesy of An English Rose.

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Cupcakes, Cupcakes!

I did a post on cupcakes a year and a half ago, it was the new trend to have cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake and cupcakes continue to be a huge hit at weddings and the designs just keep getting more and more creative!

Cute little tuxedo wedding cupcakes.

Cupcakes Take the Cake

Life as a Missus

CCA: The Cupcake Activists

I absolutely love these black and white cupcakes!

Sweet! Cupcakes and Treats Blog

Oooo and these! Oh I can't pick my favourite anymore!

Superb Novelty Cakes Blog

I mentioned them before and here they are again, the benefits of opting for cupcakes instead of a traditional cake. The number one benefit is that they are a lot more affordable than a tiered wedding cake. Other pros are:
- you can bake and decorate your own to add that personal touch
- great for a ladies get-together activity before you hit the aisle
- more environmentally friendly when using a corrugated cardboard cupcake stand instead of wires and tubes for the structure of your tiered cake

Do you still want to keep the traditional and cut the cake? Why not have a cake as the cake topper for your cupcakes??

Bliss Tree

Sweet Retreat

Photo by Alana Hodgson

Pink Cake Box

Happy Cupcakes!

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Wedding SOS anyone?

Do you like Wedding SOS on Slice TV? Are you in Toronto and would love to meet the fairy godmother and wedding expert Jane Dayus-Hinch?? Well here's your chance Toronto brides! Jane Dayus-Hinch is back to Toronto!

I will be attending her seminar for wedding planners on the 25th of this month and have the privilege of providing all the linen for the event (perhaps another Behind the Scenes VLOG?!). She will have another seminar ESPECIALLY FOR BRIDES on the 27th!

Location: Field House Venue next to Berkeley Street Church
Address: 311 Queen Street East, Toronto (Queen just West of Parliament)
Doors Open: 7:00pm
Seminar: 7:30pm
Tickets: $20 each at the door
RSVP is preferred by email kathy@berkeleyevents.com.

There will be some refreshments and tours of both venues.

For those of you who has never seen Wedding SOS, you can watch their full episodes on Slice.ca.

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