creativity spike

It's late here and I'm baking a cake for my uncle's 50th birthday. I can't sleep due to the number of incredibly awesome ideas I have running through my mind for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Although I am happily married (I love you Brannen - as he lays snoring on the couch!) I could get married 100+ different ways.
I don't think that I'm conventional or traditional but an excellent blend of each. I like to take more traditional elements and intersperse some more creative "highlights" that get noticed. Having worked with every type of budget ($2000 - $30K) I definitely find ways to incorporate elements that keep your guests talking about your day long after it's over.
I don't like to do the 'same wedding' over and over but if that's really what you want then of course I'll be happy to comply. With my clients I really try to find out what is unique about them and what they like.

Sooo...enough rambling. Currently I have been investigating outdoor ceremonies and the like. I came across this photo from 'Green Orchid Events' blog.

Living in New Brunswick I'm not sure if anyone has ever done this set-up here but with all our beautiful senic locations this is sure to be a great layout for everyone. All the guests get a great spot to view the ceremony. Those taking photos will have numerous angles to choose from! One guest may be looking at you as you say 'I will' and able to capture the shot as at the same time someone else has captured his expression of hearing you say those 2 little words.
The options are actually endless of ways that you could tweak this to fit your individual style and location.
The key here is that everything must be thought of and planned right down to the recessional and which direction you will walk out from....

Hope this was helpful to some.
Cheers!

How important is the dress? - UPDATE

Well, i just wanted to let you all know that i was looking at some wedding photos of friends the other day and actually did a double take!
I was looking at a photo of my wedding dress and it wasn't me wearing it!
I actually, no word of a lie, had to go check the closet to see if it was still in there. It of course was. So this dress i was looking at wasn't 'exactly' the same dress but honestly you could have fooled me and obviously did.
This makes me pose the question once again as to how important is the dress?
This bride was across Canada - almost to the complete opposite side, which make me wonder - could I have sold my beautiful (now just collecting dust and taking up that much need closet space) dress to this bride? Would she have bought a previously used dress even if was only wore once? I don't know if she would have but I do know that I would have sold it.

Just think you could buy or sell a beautiful gown and then get a photo of that bride so instead of the "travelling pants" it could be the dress that goes on to give each bride a different memory.
Maybe that's cheesy but a thought nonetheless.......

How important is the dress?

So...girls, how important is finding that perfect dress?
Will you break the bank for it? Will you buy used or does it need to be new?

These are all great questions and the answers all come down to you - the bride - and your personality.
Now for the guys, this is the dreaded subject. They generally want you to be happy and to be 'in love' with your gown, as it probably reflects the love you have for him (they like to think - as the diamond is his love for you right?!); however, they often get concerned when you say its X$. Afterall they are going to look quite daper in their tux or suit and it probably only cost a fraction of yours. How do you balance or justify this cost? Are you a budget keeper or 'this is the one - I've got to have it' type of girl.

Either way, most of us have (had) a picture of our ideal dress that we are looking for, basic shape and colour, length of train, details, etc. When looking or hunting for your dress you should keep in mind that it can play double duty. Use it as one of the focal points for the wedding, where all details, starting with the decor, can reflect or compliment it. If you are planning on having an elaborate dress with all the bells and whistles, can you get away with using less than perfect linens at the reception? Probably not, ...unless you plan to sit on the table as the centrepiece.

So, again, how important is the dress when it comes to the bottom line of your wedding budget?

My advice is to look around, take your time. When you find the dress - yes 'the dress' - can you get everything there? Bridal salons are more apt to give you a better price if you get the maids dress there as well - but don't stop there, can you get the tuxes, veil, guest book, etc too? There is something to be said for one stop shopping, I'm thinking Walmart or Superstore now that I have a small one in tow - out of the car, get the stuff, in the car and home. Now I certainly don't always advise this but sometimes it's the right way to go.

Another way is to make note of the dress brand and style. Contact other salons to see if they have this dress - not all markups are the same. How much is gas and how far would you drive to get it? Can you get it online? Have you tried posting your dream dress on services like Kijiji or Craig's List asking about it. I know every bride is different but chances are that someone out there has a dress very similar to the one you are looking for and it could be yours at a lesser price point. You definitely need to be careful with this option as you want to make sure that you are still getting a great deal and the dress isn't ruined. Ask questions and see it in person.

Some used dresses can be altered famously! Such a case was here last fall when the local seconds store paired with the fashion college and put on a exquisite show of re-newed gowns.

Budget or no budget, rest assured that the dress of your day is out there. You just need to recognize it!

Cheers and happy planning!

Year end...

So, it's March and I am reflecting on the the whole year end thing. Yes I do realize New Year's was January 1st! As a planner I am just starting to calm down now to be able to catch up in all my email and it will stay this way for a few weeks and then it will be "Wedding Season" once again. We don't have a Christmas or summer break but we do usually get a few weeks in the spring to relax and enjoy the fam & friends. This is where I am now - basking in the glow that is my 1.5year old while he dances crazily to music on the radio and tries to help me type (delete, delete).
Talk to you soon!

Wedding Shows - Beneficial?

Wedding Shows can be beneficial if you are prepared. That said, if you have everything booked for your wedding and are not interested in the door prizes, fashion show etc, then this type of event may not be for you. Having recently participated in a wedding show there are a few things I have noticed and feel the need to pass along.

Things you can do to be prepared for a bridal show:
1. Dress appropriately:

• Wear comfortable shoes as you will be standing A LOT!
• Leave your jacket in the car - it will be hot and cumbersome to carry around. Besides you will need your hands free to sign up for all the free stuff and try all the goodies.

2. Contact information:

• Having labels printed with your contact information (Bride & Groom Names, Wedding Date, Telephone #, email address) will save you time at each booth and avoid hand cramping. Bringing 20-30 of these is a good plan. Each exhibitor will want this information for draws, follow-up etc.

3. Know what you need/want:

• Go to these vendors' booths first. People do book vendors at these type of shows so if you really want someone it's good to be prepared to put a deposit down or schedule an appointment.
• Realize that the exhibitors are there to meet as many brides as they can. If you want to have some time "just for you", book an appointment. Most vendors would be more than happy to do so.
  

4. Door Prizes:

• What are they? - Do you even want them?
  
• What time are they? Do you need to be present to win? - If the prizes are all drawn at the end and you need to be present to win - are you prepared to be there all day?
• Are they conditional? - Do you need to purchase anything to be a valid entry?

5. Make a day of it:

• Bridal shows run for a good part of the day. It is a good idea to pack a bottle of water and a small snack if you are staying for the entire event.
• Take your bridal party with you. This is a good time to spend together and get their input on things. They can carry things for you too! Usually there is a room set up for the groom so feel free to bring them along as well.

6. Fashion show:

• If you want to see the fashion show, reserve a seat by getting there early - have a member of your party sit there to save it or toss a jacket across the seat.
• If you don't care to see the fashion show, go back to get some 1-on-1 time with those exhibitors you liked - they won't be doing anything during this time and would be happy to talk with you.

Wedding Shows are a great way to get a lot of information at once. Some vendors will follow-up with the information you give them, others will not. You may even find services you didn't know existed.
Do you need to go to all the shows? Probably not but, if you have nothing else planned for the day you may learn something and have some fun while you're at it.

Oh, and since it's my blog.....
The wedding show of the season will be Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at the Fredericton Inn.

Cheers!

Colour use in Weddings

Don't be afraid of using colour! It can be your friend as long as you keep a few things in mind:
- pick a colour that you like...you'll be looking at photos for years to come.
- instead of picking a number of different colours, choose one and use varying tones/shades so that it creates depth and atmosphere.