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- Create a Mission Statement for Your Marriage. “Our union gives us strength, power, and fortitude to deal with all of life’s ups and downs, and it empowers us to contribute to others and to the world. We are best friends, confidantes, and partners, and we have many close relationships with people we consider “spiritual family.” We are a couple who inspire others with our live and who model what it is to be in a great relationship.”
- Craft a Wedding Scroll. Together, make a list of your intentions, aspirations, goals, hopes, and dreams for your wedded life. Write neatly or type it. It can be on pretty parchment-like paper, or any attractive paper. Consider having it written in calligraphy and framed, or simply roll it up and tie it with a gold ribbon. No one need see it but you two. Take it to your ceremony and keep it at the altar so it will be blessed by the expressions of love and commitment shared at your ceremony, and energized by the vows you exchange.
- Select a Favorite Poem or Reading. You can also select something written by another to represent your thoughts, feelings and intentions for your relationship– a poem, wedding reading, prayer, song or passage from a favorite book. Even a greeting card will do. One couple found a unique sentiment on a card, signed it, and hung it their living room.
- choose carefully: pick a location that holds meaning to you and your fiance
- combine to save cash: plan to have your honeymoon in the same location of your wedding; saving on travel costs for you and your new spouce
- follow the law: research and make sure you understand and follow all the legal requirements for marriage of your destination; or simplify by legally marrying at a local courthouse prior to leaving if you find out of country paperwork can be complicated and stressful
- do your research: scout out a ceremony and reception location ahead of time or immediately upon arrival; remember to check the weather forecast
- bring your own pros: hire a photographer and planner to accompany you on the trip; not only will they help you prior to leaving your hometown, they can help you work with local vendors to make arrangements for cake, flowers, and the wedding meal
- be sensitive to your guest: provide ample notice to those who may be accompanying you so they may make travel and vacation arrangements
Sweet Treats: Designer Dessert Tables
May 24th, 2012
Tempting food stations and sweet tables have been becoming ever more fashionable to have at weddings and special events. The past few years have been all about sweet and candy stations, however, for 2012 the top wedding trend is the styled dessert table. A designed dessert table is an added focal point to any styled wedding or event that will certainly get guests talking.
Design a visual feast for your guests with these tips on how to create a stunning dessert table:
Pick a colour and theme. Your dessert table should compliment the overall design of your wedding. You can achieve this by incorporating the same colour pallet used throughout the wedding, for example from your invitations, linens, and florals. Your theme can carry through into items on your dessert table, like: cookies, cake design, background, etc.
Set the stage. Design a background and table that will best compliment your desserts and corresponding theme. Backgrounds can be created using painting canvas, wallpaper, draped fabric and other resources. The key to a great dessert table is a creative layout using a variety of heights; use vases, photo frames, apothecary jars, mirrored boxes, cake stands, and other decorative crockery.
Make it easy. Whatever you choose to serve, make sure everything is easy for your guests to access using scoops, tongs, ladles, and spoons. Provide complimenting napkins, small plates, and cutlery to alleviate sticky fingers. Help your guests by adding labels, describing your desserts. Use coordinated stationary, handwritten or calligraphy signs, and ribbon to create beautiful signs.
Get creative. Everyone loves anything in miniature! Great dessert tables include a variety of your favourite treats, like: cupcakes, truffles, designer cookies, tarts and pies, macarons, cotton candy, petit fours, french fancies, mini doughnuts, gourmet popcorn, and assorted candy. Design a lollipop tree, stack macarons in a pyramid, or hang a cookie garland; these bite size treats are guaranteed to please!
Styled dessert tables are a great way to get your guests to interact and enjoy your event. Consider asking and including guests’ favourite sweets and treats, it is a guaranteed conversation starter to feature their childhood favourites – unleashing their inner sweet tooth!
Bon Apetit & Happy Planning!
*All photos courtesy Amy Atlast Events’ Blog.
Contracting Your Love
May 14th, 2012
Poets and playwrights have been expressing devotion to their beloved and declaring their intentions for centuries using lyrical verse. In Judaism, a contractual agreement called a Ketubah is signed by the husband and wife, outlining the rights and responsibilities of the groom to the bride. Less romantically, provincial or state marriage licenses are legal documents that mark the union between two people. Whether a document is artistic, religious, or legal – marriage contracts are agreements between two people that cements their union to one another.
With civil unions and partnerships on the rise, more and more couples are drafting their own marriage contracts called “mutual love agreements” or “love contracts”. These documents are symbolic agreements between two people that outline the commitment they have for one another outside of a government or religious body. These documents can be used as a non-legal alternative to a prenuptial agreement; they can also be used in conjunction with a marriage certificate or put into place after a couple has been married for a number of years.
Drafting a mutual love agreement or love contract is a symbolic way for a couple to illustrate what they both anticipate, and what they expect to experience in their union. They may use simple or very specific guidelines, with as many categories as each couple sees fit, for example: daily kind gestures, celebrations of holidays and anniversaries, the number of children to be had, and how they wish to growing old with one another. Both parties are able to express and negotiate their personal needs and have it recognized by the other in a beautiful and symbolically binding document.
Rev. Laurier Sue Brockway, author and officiant, suggests a few different ways to create your own mutual love agreement:
A mutual love agreement or love contract, help couples celebrate the emotional and spiritual bond of their union. They can provide boosts to new marriages, help resolve conflicts, and clarify relationship obligations. Like any piece of art, couples are encouraged to display their agreements proudly in their homes and read them daily, with gratitude.
Happy Planning!
Photos courtesy of STAK Photography, “Claudia & Felix”, New York City, New York.
Spring has Sprung
April 23rd, 2012
Spring is considered the season that starts the whole cycle of weddings; it is a time where everything seems to be more relaxed and warm. The third most popular time of year to be married, behind summer and autumn, Spring is a perfect time to host an intimate, romantic wedding. Early in the season, April offers floral abundance and warmth from the previous chilly months. May and June bring sunshine, bright colours, and warm weather. Best of all, vendors and reception sites tend to be more available in the spring than in the summer months. One thing to remember is that Spring is Prom season, so you may need to reserve limousines and tuxedos early to ensure a booking.
Colour Pallets:
Pastel and blush colours are perfect for a Spring wedding. For a fresh and youthful look, consider a colour combination of muted citrus yellow and greens. For a more classic and elegant look, combine blush pink with white, using silver as an accent.
Spring brings us beautiful florals that exude romance, like: cherry blossoms, dahlias, peonies, garden roses, and tulips. Available in nearly any colour, these florals bring a soft and feminine feel to any wedding. One may consider tying a stripped or textured ribbon in a bright or pastel colour round their bouquet, adding a bit of unexpected pattern and freshness.
Spring Wedding Dresses:
Wedding dresses seem made for Spring weddings! Designers are producing beautiful full skirts that are too warm for summer, and sleeveless tops that are too cold for winter. Consider pairing your dress with a wrap to avoid getting chilly in the evening while achieving a look that is still light and airy.
Feeling a little adventurous? Opt for a hint of color in your wedding dress – be it a coloured sash, an allover hint of blush pink, or light colorful ombre. These touches will look perfect for a Spring wedding.
Dressing the Wedding Party:
When dressing your bridal party for a Spring wedding, keep in mind that the weather can still be unpredictable. You may have a warm and sunny day, or you may end up with a damp, chilly day.
Choose bridesmaids dresses with sleeves, give your bridesmaids wraps to wear as their bridesmaid gift, or go for a vintage look with matching cardigan sweaters. For a Spring wedding, men look dapper in tan or grey suits, coordinated with coloured shirts and ties.
Just in case of ‘April showers’, consider buying your wedding party matching large umbrellas and rain boots. Don’t worry if it rains; there’s something so romantic about a bride and groom under a big umbrella, snuggling and smiling in love.
Spring is a wonderful time for a wedding, with its subtle tones and natural elements that are pleasing to the eye, feminine, highly chic and exceptionally romantic. With beautiful floral arrangements, creative lighting, tasteful décor ideas, delicious feast and an elegant wedding cake Brides can add elements to the ambiance and atmosphere to create the ideal Spring wedding. Happy Planning!
Photographs courtesy of Simply Bloom Photography, “Trang & Kemp“, Pleasanton, California.
Leap Year Love
February 20th, 2012Rules of courtship are very different today than the traditions faced by generations before us. In the not so distant past, women were expected to wait patiently for their beaus to ask them on a date and later for them to propose; decorum, modesty and virtue were to be practiced at all times. However, for one day every four years, an exception could be made and ladies of the British Isles could take their marital fate into their own hands — February 29th, Leap Day.
The tradition, dating back to the 13th century, is believed to have started when Queen Margaret of Scotland and Norway enforced a law that would allow women to propose to any man they wished on Leap Day. In Irish folklore, the tradition dates back even further to 5th century, in which it is believed that Saint Bridget of Kildare negotiated with Saint Patrick to allow women to propose to men at least one day a year. St. Patrick relented, but with a catch – he ordained that women would have the opportunity only every four years – on Leap Day.
Leap Day, or “Bachelors’ Day” as it has also been called, goes back hundreds of years to a time when the day had no legal recognition in English Law; February 29th was “lept over” and ignored, hence the term “Leap Year”. As the day had no legal status, it was reasonable to assume that formal traditions also did not apply on this day. Consequently, women who were not content to wait for a proposal took advantage of this auspicious date and proposed to the men they wished to marry.
The tradition states that a man could only refuse the proposal if he was already engaged, otherwise the law required a fine be levied against him if the marriage proposal was refused. Compensation could range from a kiss, to one pound, to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow of rejection. In the upper classes of society, the tradition dictates that any man who refuses a woman’s proposal on February 29th had to buy her twelve pairs of gloves. The intention was that the woman could wear the gloves to hide the embarrassment of not having an engagement ring.
Fast forward to modern day, where more and more women are no longer waiting for Leap Day to propose to their boyfriends. In fact, 9% of proposals are from women to men and 80% of men report that they would accept a proposal from woman. The media has embraced this new tradition showcasing story lines in our favourite sitcoms that include Monica proposing to Chandler in Friends, Miranda proposing to Steve in Sex and the City, and feature films staring Amy Adams in Leap Year (2010) and Sandra Bullock in The Proposal (2009).
So we ask, will you be participating in this fun loved tradition – proposing to your beau this February 29th, Leap Day?
* Images courtesy of Jeffrey and Julia Woods Photographers, “Ashley & Andrew”, Peoria, Illinois.
Personalize Your Destination Wedding
January 30th, 2012Whether your dream wedding destination takes you to sprawling beaches, atop snow covered ski slopes, or star-lit metropolitan skylines, it is possible to have the personalized wedding of your dreams. With a little effort and inspiration, here are some simple ways to make your destination wedding feel unique, a good representation of you, and completely comfortable for your guests:
Set Up a Personal Arrival Greeting: Details, details, details! Greet your guests at the front desk by placing a framed sign welcoming them to your wedding. List your appointed “wedding concierge”, either your wedding planner or member of your bridal party, whom guests may contact with their questions. Also ask your hotel to have your guests add their room numbers to a “looking for someone” phone list at check-in. This will allow your guests to find one another by simply going to the front desk.
Stock Guests’ Room: You don’t have to break the bank to provide a thoughtful touch for your guests. Prepare a welcome gift themed on your location, for example: include a snack local to the area, a guide book or map, notepad and pen, or a disposable camera. Rainy day keeping your guests inside? Send popcorn and a voucher for an in-suite movie to all your guests – these personal touches will certainly be well-received.
Make Reservations for Your Guests: Ask your hotel to place a handful of personalized reservation signs on lounge chairs by the beach or pool for your wedding guests. Think about also making reservations and hosting daily meet-ups for afternoon cocktails or breakfast, the time of the meet-up should be the same every day but the location can change. It’s a great way for friends and family to get to know one another.
Personalized Decorations: The decor provided by your wedding destination might not be very special. Pack easy “upgrades” with you to personalize your ceremony and reception decor. For example: wrap decorative paper or ribbon around plain votive candles; create personalized table numbers using items from your destination like names of local flowers, numbered wine bottles, city or street names in the area; or pack and use non-breakable items like paper lanterns, framed photos of yourselves or colour themed escort-cards.
Use Postcards Instead of a Guest Book: Give your guests pre-addressed postcards to fill out at your reception, asking them to include their favourite memories from the week. Collect them at the end of the evening and ask your planner or hotel to mail the postcards while you are on your honeymoon. When you return home you’ll find a mailbox full of fun memories!
Destination weddings provide you and your guests a fun-filled vacation in a beautiful setting full of locally infused memories. With a little inspiration and thought you can turn your destination into a truly unique and personal experience!
How To: Select A Wedding Date
December 28th, 2011‘Tis the season for romantic holiday engagements! Over 25% of dating couples get engaged during the holiday season that spans between Thanksgiving through New Years, making it the most romantic time of the bridal season!
Once all the tinsel and wrapping paper settles, newly engaged couples will be faced with a number of decisions to be made leading up to the big day. One of the first major decision is picking the wedding date. Selecting the date is a huge commitment and will set the timeline for the rest of your engagement; we suggest considering the following when picking the big day:
Time of year – You will want to consider the time of year for various reasons. Weather is a big factor for some, particularly when selecting a date during the unpredictable weather seasons like the Spring and Fall. Season-based professions should also be considered, for example school teachers, or if your profession may have any kind of schedule restrictions. Also consider the seasons that you and your fiance love the most and find inspiration from. Ask yourselves, are you a Winter ski bunny? Do you dream of being married under the Spring cherry blossoms? Do you love the sea and dream of a Summer beach party? Or are your inspired by the harvest flavours of the Fall?
Meaningful dates – Weddings are full of sentimental feelings and are very personal affairs. A great way to add more special meaning to your wedding is to select a date that holds particular significance. Review your calendar for meaningful dates as inspiration, including: dating anniversaries, birthdays, parents’ anniversaries, graduations, and holidays. Cultural influences may also impact your wedding date; some dates may be more auspicious than others and religious calendars and traditions should be taking into consideration.
Length of your engagement – The amount of time that you wish, or don’t wish, to be engaged should play a considerable part in choosing your wedding date. Some brides dream of long engagements full of pomp and circumstance while others shy away from it and look forward to a shorter engagement. The length of your engagement will also be influenced by the time of year you wish to have your wedding.
Availability – Once you and your fiance have evaluated and narrowed your potential wedding date, make sure to leave yourself some flexibility. The fate of your wedding date hangs in the balance of the availability of your preferred ceremony and reception venues. To avoid disappointment, prepare yourself with a range of dates while conducting your venue search; allowing yourself to choose the venue that you like best. If you’re set on a specific date, your venue selections may be more limited if you are planning a shorter engagement, a longer engagement will provide you with more options and flexibility. It is important to also remember that if you wish to work with a specific photographer or vendor, you may have to work within their availability as well.
Other things to consider – It is smart to think about your colour palette for your wedding and how it could coincide with a specific season. It helps to know what style of wedding you wish to have, particularly when selecting venues. Seasonal elements, such as exotic food and florals, should also be considered as they may only be available certain times of the year.
There are a number of factors to consider when selecting your wedding date. However, the most important things is to choose the date that feels right to you and your fiance. Remember, it is the date that you’ll remember for the rest of your lives!
*Images courtesy of Fotopastele, “Milda & Zilvinas” Vilnius, Lithuania.
Wedding Trends for 2012
December 2nd, 2011A much needed new take on “something old” will be seen trending in 2012 weddings. Vintage inspiration is here to stay – however, we are relieved to see vintage used in a much need variation: good-bye rustic vintage, hello sophisticated old-world glamour. Thank you, William and Kate and your Royal Wedding!
Bridal Gown Trends for 2012
We welcome glamorous, romantic and old hollywood-style in bridal gowns in 2012. Designers have embraced and combined flowing elegance with texture and colour to produce show stopping gowns. Hot trends from the runway include:
Top Left: deep V-neck Monique Lhuillier gown featuring an elongated bodice and embroidered illusion overlay. Top Right: vintage embroidered Lazaro slip dress featuring a beaded floral band at the natural waist and a soft A-line skirt. Bottom Left: bias-cut pearl silk-crepe column Badgley Mischka gown featuring a fringed cowl neckline and beaded cap sleeves. Bottom Right: colour remains with champagne tulle Jenny Packham gown, featuring illusion cap sleeves and an embellished bodice.
Theme and Decor Trends for 2012
Bridal couples will continue to incorporate family heirlooms and traditions into their 2012 wedding, just with less mason jars, tin cans and vintage luggage. The “shabby-chic” will be replaced by detailed French lace on dresses, favours, cake detail, bouquet wraps, and invitations.
Think old-world glamour meets modern sophistication with lavish furnishings, rich textures, lots of white, and some metallics in grand traditional settings.
Sweets and Treats Trends for 2012
The cupcake and candy bar trend of previous seasons will shift towards cookies and dessert tables in 2012. Expect to start seeing more cookies, pies, doughnuts, and “hand-made” candy being served to fulfill the sweet tooth cravings of guests at 2012 weddings. We also expect to see a much anticipated return of the traditional groom’s cake.
Feeling very inspired by the old-world and glamours trends for 2012 we are looking very forward to the upcoming wedding season!
Wedding Planner vs. Wedding Designer
November 14th, 2011Chances are once you got engaged you quickly realized that there is an entire vocabulary or language of wedding-speak. I often hear couples confuse and interchange the terms wedding designer, planner, and coordinator understandably so. A planner is almost always a coordinator, but a coordinator is not always a planner. A planner can be a designer as well, but a designer is not always a planner or a coordinator. And some are all three. Have I thoroughly confused you?
Although most wedding professionals are a combination of the three, each have specific duties when it comes to what wedding services they provide. Here are the differences between the them:
A wedding designer is responsible for the overall visual aesthetic of the wedding. Designers think in terms of the big picture. They generate the wedding design and decor concept and how that concept will be threaded through each visual element. Often they will work in conjunction with florists, lighting technicians, and photographers to create the look and feel of the event.
A wedding planner is a responsible for planning the logistical elements that bring your wedding vision to life and is involved from the very beginning of the planning process. Depending on the level of service they are commissioned for, a wedding planner will assist with budget creation and management, venue selection, vendor referrals, wedding day timeline, seating arrangements, and so on. They can also act as a trusted advisor on everything wedding related and a shoulder to lean on. A wedding planner will also coordinate the day as well, since they are highly involved with the planning.
A wedding coordinator is not deeply involved with planning the wedding. Their primary duty is to be there on the day and ensure that it runs smoothly and according to plan. You often hear them referred to as day-of-coordinators. Many jump in a month before the wedding to finalize the last minute details, confirm vendor obligations, create a timeline, and oversee the set-up of the decor. Many wedding planners offer wedding coordination serves to their clients as part of their service package. But be aware that wedding coordinators/day-of-coordinators are very different from venue coordinators.
A venue coordinators or event manager is hired by the venue to ensure your wedding follows the rules and regulations of the space. They may help with your timeline but more often than not they will not help you with set-up or troubleshooting. Most importantly, a venue coordinator works for the venue; their job is to answer your questions about the venue and assist you with your venue layout. They are someone you may contact if you need extra reassurance about the details of your wedding venue, however, their loyalty is to the venue. Their job does not include all the other details that go into planning your wedding.
Wedding coordinators and venue coordinators work side-by-side one another to make sure everyone flows smoothly. But if you want someone who will cue your bridal party, bustle your dress, or set-up decor, I suggest hiring a wedding coordinator not associated with your venue. When thinking about hiring a wedding designer, planner, and coordinator it’s important to understand what your needs and desires are and which potential companies provide the type of services you want. Happy Planning!
* Images courtesy of Glensiter Photography, “Annali & Frans, Mountain View, Johannesburg and Kat Forsyth Photography, “Taryn and Marc” Mountain View, Johannesburg.
‘When the Best Man is Man’s Best Friend
October 30th, 2011I have two pugs and I love them like crazy! My furry friends are the first to greet me at the front door after a wedding day and keep me company during long days in the office, entertaining me with their snorts and grunts from beneath my desk.
Dogs are part of the family, present at every holiday, birthday, and special occasion, so it would only make sense for fun loving Brides and Grooms to include their fuzzy friends in their wedding. There are lots of ways to involve man’s best friend in your celebration, whether in a formal role or simply as honoured guests.
Wedding Party Member
A more traditional way to include your pet is as ring bearer or flower dog. This works well if your pet is very well behaved and easy to train. Tip: use faux rings on the ring bearer’s pillow in case they fall off; remember to practice, practice, practice!
Walk down the Aisle
Have someone walk your pet down the aisle and hold onto them during the ceremony. This is a good choice for pets that are not easily trained, or get skittish around large groups of people. Tip: be sure to have a plan b – if your pet gets sick or doesn’t cooperate you may have to leave puppy at home; use a decorative leash that matches your wedding decor for a special touch.
Write your Pet into the Vows
If your pet can’t be at the ceremony, have the officiant mention your pets or write them into your vows. This inclusion adds a personal touch that lets everyone know how important your dog is in your lives. Tip: while talking about everything you two will do with one another, include your special pet and the duties you will share with one another when caring for them.
Include them in Wedding Photos
Have your pet in the wedding party or family photos on the big day. You can also include them in your official wedding photos taken prior to the ceremony wearing a colour coordinated bow-tie or ribbon. Tip: if your pet isn’t allowed at the reception, try putting nicely framed pictures of them dressed up on each of the tables.
When thinking of ways to include your furry friend into your wedding feel free to get creative! Some indoor reception facilities won’t allow pets, however, an outdoor reception can be very pet friendly. The most important things to remember: to be flexible, practice, make sure your venue will allow pets, and ensure all your guests are comfortable being around your four legged best friend.
*Photos courtesy of Tinywater Photography, “Abby & Josh” in Guerneville, CA and Dottie Photography, “Vintage Seaside Style Shoot” in London, UK.
Let’s Go On A Weddingmoon
October 7th, 2011For Brides and Grooms that do not want to tackle the big traditional wedding, a “weddingmoon“ may be a great alternative. A weddingmoon is an out of town wedding that is a mix of eloping, destination wedding and going on a honeymoon. They often take place in far-off locations at resorts or an out-of-the-way vacation spot that holds a special meaning for the couple. Held in a location known for its beauty, couples can make their wedding an intimate affair without overwhelming themselves with the details.
The overall cost of a weddingmoon can vary dramatically depending on the location selected by the Bridal couple. Travel and Resort Vacation companies offer all-inclusive wedding packages that include: on-site ceremony location, bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonniere, wedding cake, marriage officiant, and more. However, a weddingmoon can also be hosted at a little country inn, a vineyward two or three hours from home, or a rented villa in the French Riviera.
Tips for couples looking to have a weddingmoon:
Since weddingmoons are a newer trend, there is still some debate who should ultimately pay which of the guests’ bills. Generally, everyone should plan on playing for their own travel expenses, however, other expense decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis. For example, if the bride and groom can afford to cover the cost of lodging and food, they should give some thought to doing so. If your budget allows, consider hosting an extra event, such as a welcome party with dinner on the beach or group excursion to see the local sights as a thank you to the guests who went out of their way to attend. Above all, bear in mind that many couples having destination weddings forego creating gift registries to show guests that their presence is a gift in itself — they’re already paying plenty just to attend!
Weddingmoons are not for everyone, however, they are an inspiring alternative to a traditional wedding. A weddingmoon allows couples to celebtrate with their friends and family in an intimate, picturesque location, while saving their budget to travel and having a magical experience!
*All photos courtesy of Tobiah Tayo Photography, “Sam & Sophie” in Castellabate, Italy.