Leave the Details to Me...

Surprise Horse Drawn Carriage!

2011-11-07T11:32:00.000-08:00

Natalie & Peter's wedding day was full of sunshine, and yes, come cool breezes. Their ceremony was held at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, officiated by the minister who had a great sense of humour. Part of their ceremony included the "sand ceremony" to symbolize thier new life together.

Natalie looked like a princess in her gorgeous dress that had a sparkly, fitted top and layers of tulle princess skirt... stunning!! Peter was handsome in his tuxedo and was able to relax and enjoy the day once he set eyes on his bride! The girls wore teal dresses and the guys had matching teal vests.

At the end of the ceremony, the church bells rang and the couple left the church in their white carriage - drawn through town to the photo site by 2 magnificent white horses (this was a surprise to the bridal party & guests!) The rest of the bridal party and family members were driven to the photo site in a luxury coach limo bus... talk about classy all the way!

The cocktail hour and reception were held at the Harbour Banquet Hall in Oakville... a gorgeous second floor room of windows, overlooking the lake. The decor was eye-catching all done in silver and teal, with some brown and lots of "Bling" accessories. It was quite the amazing banquet hall. A teal-lit ice luge martini bar was set up in one corner of the room, serving up the signature drink "Sabatinis".. after the couple's last name (Sabata)

The party was fabulous - lots of dancing and enjoyment was shared by all, and the bride & groom were the last to leave! Congratulations Natalie & Peter... a fabulous couple!!

VENDORS:
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church - http://www.standrewsportcredit.ca/wordpress/
Harbour Banquet Conference Centre - http://www.harbourbanquet.ca/
Mark Zelinski Photography - http://www.markzelinski.com/
Studio Studios videography - www.studiostudios.com
Iris Segal Cakes - www.iriscakes.com
Ada's Flowers - www.adasflowers.com
S & A Party Decor - www.sandapartydecor.com
DJ Perri - www.djperri.com
Steel Pan Play - b-panman@hotmail.com
Seating chart, table numbers & menus - Marble Weddings - www.marbleweddings.ca
Two of a Kind Limosines - www.twoofakindlimousines.com

Classy & Traditional = Beautiful Wedding!

2011-11-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

Saturday, September 10th dawned clear, bright and gorgeous... the perfect day for Tori & Rob's wedding.

Rob and his handsome groomsmen arrived at St. Jude's church in Oakville in 3 antique "London Cabs" - very stylish and elegant.

The bride and her girls arrived in an antique Rolls Royce - with red carpet treatment and all. Tori was gorgeous in her gown and cathedral length veil. A traditional Anglican wedding service was witnessed by many friends and family, with music provided by both the organist and also a string quartet from the Oakville Symphony. Photos were taken at the church's beautiful gardens immediately following the service.

Guests enjoyed a fabulous cocktail hour on the lawn of the grand Oakville Golf & Country Club, followed by the reception in their upstairs dining room. The couple were treated to a traditional Ukranian bread ceremony blessing involving Tori's god parents and the bride's & groom's parents.

It was a wonderful day and I wish this special couple all the best in their new life together!

VENDORS:
St. Jude's Anglican Church, Oakville www.stjudeschurch.net
Oakville Golf & Country Club www.oakvillegolfclub.com
Oakville Symphony www.oakvillesymphony.com
Flower Deco, Oakville www.flowerdeco.ca
DJ Central www.canadasbestdjs.com
Linens - Higgins Party Rentals www.higginseventrentals.com
Iris Segal Cakes www.iriscakes.com

Hot Day, Bad Traffic - BUT a Still a Successful Wedding!

2011-07-30T17:21:00.000-07:00

The day dawned clear and hot and humid for Helen & Eric's wedding day today. And then the news came that a police investigation closed the QEW Niagara-bound for hours, resulting in huge traffic problems. However, with flexibility at Liuna Gardens on our side, the wedding happened as hoped, just an hour delayed. But the guests were understanding, the vendors were accomodating and it was a beautiful ceremony overlooking the lake. A nice breeze and shade of the trees helped to keep guests comfortable.

Following the ceremony and family photos... and photos with their little dog, Chico (wearing a tuxedo!) Helen changed into a beautiful red traditional Chinese gown to participate with Eric and their parents in the special Chinese Tea Ceremony. After the Tea Ceremony, it was back into her wedding dress for bridal party photos at Liuna's beautiful property.

The Cocktail hour was held at Burlington Golf & Country Club while the Bride & Groom had more photos taken there and then the reception followed.

Congratulations Eric & Helen on a beautiful and special day, despite the delayed start! It all worked out and was a special day!

VENDORS:

LifeImages Photography (Alex) www.lifeimages.ca
Norris Films Videography (Norris) www.norrisfilms.com
Liuna Gardens (Ceremony) www.liunagardens.com
Burlington Golf & Country Club (reception) www.burlingtongolfclub.com
Gala Decor (Christina) www.galadecor.ca
Lush Florals (Melanie) www.lushflorals.ca
All Life's Milestones Officant Tom Chire www.alllifesmilestones.on.ca
Quartet, Alicia & Trent www.aliciaandtrent.ca
Guitar & Vocals, Mike & Wendy www.mikefreedman.com http://www.wendyirvine.ca/
Andy's Cakes www.andysweddingcakes.com
Mainstream Entertainment (William) www.mainstream-entertainment.net
Fox Run Limosines www.foxrunlimos.com
Satine Makeup & Hair www.satinestudio.com
Chinese Lion Dancers www.sammychengtorontoliondance.com

FAMILY & FRIENDS Wedding Theme...

2011-07-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

Canada Day holiday + perfect weather + lots of close family & friends = a wonderful wedding day for Sharon & Marcus in Kitchener-Waterloo...
Sharon & Marcus celebrated their marriage at Benton Street Baptist Church in Kitchener, with 21 close family & friends standing up for them in their bridal party and 230 guests on hand to celebrate their special day. The ceremony included the unique element of all guests & Bridal party lighting candles to symbolize the special connections that the couple felt with their guests. Also, at the end of the ceremony, the couple also symbolically "jumped the broom" before starting their recessional.

A Classic Car drove the couple from the church to the photo site, while the bridal party enjoyed the comfort of a Limo Bus.
The reception hall at St George's Hall in Waterloo was a vision in white and lots of "bling"... crystals, sparkly fabrics, and special lighting effects A delicious meal was served by wonderful staff from St. Georges... who did a great job in a tightly set up room! The program included touching, and sometimes. humourous, speeches as well as a special video prepared by co-workers at ESPN and a surprise video of the wedding day itself!! Following a late-night delicious Portuguese seafood & Sweet table, guests were treated to a SURPRISE... 3 Samba Dancers who put on a great show & really got the party pumping.
Sharon put so much thought and work into the day... providing flipflops for female guests to wear for dancing, providing amazing gift bags for guests in their hotel rooms, preparing bubbles for "fun" and bottles of wine as favours. She printed and framed and labelled wedding photos of guests that were placed randomly on reception tables. A "FAMILY" tree held small cards with old photos of guests, again all labelled with who they were. A second tree was used as their "WISH" tree - where guests could write a wish on a card & hang it on the tree for the couple, in lieu of a guest book.

Escort cards were hand-written and decked out with "bling". So many small yet personal touches that really showed Sharon's tender heart & love for family & friends. Sharon & Marcus made a stunning couple who are obviously crazy about each other. They were so relaxed and flexible, willing to change the agenda as needed to suit the flow of the event...they were a joy to work for! And in the end, I believe that they and all their guests truly enjoyed their incredible day.

VENDORS:
Leah Lee Photography (California)http://www.leahleephotoblog.com/
www.leahleephotography.com
Jeff Rocchi Videography jeff_rocchi@hotmail.com
St. George's Hall http://www.stgeorgehall.com/
Benton Street Baptist Church www.bentonstreetbaptist.org
Brentwood Livery Limousines www.brentwoodlivery.ca
Memory Lane Classic Cars & Limousines www.memorylanelimo.com
R.S. Divas Dancers www.rsdivas.com
Jerry Jerome Steel Drum Band http://www.gigmasters.com/Soca-Band/Jerry-Jerome-And-The/
Julia Weddings (Decor & Florals)www.juliaweddings.ca
Pat's Party Rentals (Red Carpet)www.patspartyrentals.net
Jirina Wedding Bakery www.jirinasbakery.com
Sherwood Systems (Lighting)www.sherwoodsystems.com
Joe Resendes Portuguese Catering toniresendes@hotmail.com
You Cakes - Felicia (Groom's cake) youcakes@gmail.com

A Fairy Tale BARN Wedding!!

2011-06-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday could not have been a more perfect day for Bride Katie & Groom David!! The weather cooperated more than we could have hoped for... slight cloud cover, gentle breeze, comfortable temperatures and NO Rain!!

The farm property of Katie's parents was tranformed into a fun, relaxed and yet elegant wedding venue for the big day. White chairs were lined up for the ceremony overlooking the large pond. The aisle was lined with shepherd's hooks with hanging mason jars filled with simple daisies.

As guests arrived, they were served lemonade at the gazebo by the pool. Gift cards were placed in an antique suitcase.

The girls dresses were all made by the mother of the bride (as were all the decor items for the day!!) Dresses were short, all the same style but in different colours... royal blue, deep purple, fuschia and deep turquoise. The girls all carried bundles of wheat and lavendar... and they all wore cowboy boots! The guys sported tuxedos with vests & ties to match the girls. Four adorable children rounded out the bridal party.

After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed a signature cocktail called the "Striker" and many delicious varieties of appetizers. They also entertained themselves by visiting the "photobooth" and then playing various "garden games" such as bean bag toss, horseshoes, giant jenga, croquette, etc. The receiving line allowed guests to finally enter the barn... an incredible and amazing facility that the brides' parents have completely renovated to be an event space. The huge barn beams were lit up with strands of mini lights. The walls were decorated with a wide variety of antiquities and "country" decor. Long tables were set up with white linens and runners made of burlap. Place cards were also made of burlap. Centerpieces were assorted tin containers with ivy and purple flowers and raffia, as well as mason jars with sand and pillar candles.

The upper level of the barn seated a few other guests & wedding helpers - and this was also where the live band was set up. The "hub" of the barn was the uniquely designed "saloon" built right into the center of the barn. A very popular spot all evening!

The bride and groom were introduced into the reception, encircled by their bridal party holding sparklers... and then the couple proceeded to perform a well-choreographed first dance, much to everyone's delight & surprise!

A buffet meal was served at a tent outside, followed by homemade pies and carrot cake served in one part of the barn after. Local Band, 'Ziggy Jones' kept the crowd dancing to great music. Later in the evening, many homemade squares as well as some pizzas were put out for guests to enjoy. Several of the guests also enjoyed the fresh evening air around a huge bonfire with some musicians singing & playing guitars.

It was indeed a magical and special day - full of great memories and fun times with friends & family - a wedding day to remember!!

VENDORS:
Young Hearts Photographers www.younghearts.ca
Flowers from Holland Park Gardens Burlington www.hollandpark.com
Ziggy Jones Band (& DJ) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ziggy-Jones/143124855718020?sk=wall
Its My Potty www.itsmypotty.com
Caterers from Oakville Conference Centre www.oakvilleconference.com

Sweet Cheeks Event - AND RIDE - a huge success

2011-06-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

Better a late review than a forgotten review!!

Back in May, the Sweet Cheeks Bike Team for the Ride to Conquer Cancer held a wonderful fund-raiser dinner/auction/dance event. It was held at the Flamborough Golf & Country Club where a great meal was provided and a fun evening was enjoyed by all who attended.

Highlights of the evening included a video about the Ride, a jewellry raffle, a "Joker Poker" Draw and a big hit was the "Heads & SWEET CHEEKS" game. Many silent auction prizes were bid upon - and a special guest auctioneer arrived to sell of a few special "live auction" items. The center focus of the hall was the "Hope & Memory Tree".
Music was provided - free of charge to the event - by "Something Blue" (wedding)DJs... who did a great job in playing a variety of great music for us all evening.

The Ride to Conquer Cancer was then held on June 11-12 --- and the team successfully completed the 200km ride from Toronto to Niagara Falls. They, along with all the other riders, raised over $17 million for Cancer Research.

Way to go Team!! SUPER job!!

www.conquercancer.ca

Great Fundraiser Event coming up!!

2011-05-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Ride to Conquer Cancer is coming up soon... and the "Sweet Cheeks" team of cyclists from Waterdown are gearing up, training hard and working at raising the funds needed to participate in the ride!

Everyone is invited to help support the team by coming to the annual "Yellow & Black" Fundraiser featuring a great buffet dinner catered by Gator Ted's, a silent and live auction and a professional DJ-hosted dance.

Event Details:
DATE: Friday May 13th, 2011
TIME: 6:30 pm - 1:00 am
PLACE: Flamborough Hills Golf & Country Club
COST: $35

Why not buy a table of 8 and invite some friends to enjoy a great evening out while supporting a wonderful and worthy cause!

For tickets or more information, email me at mgayla@cogeco.ca

www.to11.conquercancer.ca
www.flamboroughhills.com

You're Invited to a BOUTIQUE Wedding Show April 8-9, 201

2011-04-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

This coming weekend, Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9, there will be a great "boutique" wedding show for discerning brides held at the beautiful
Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville.

On Friday night, come & enjoy the "VIP Night" including a Jazz Band, Refreshments, Hors d’ Oeuvres, VIP Gift Bag, Free Novel Give Away’s by Author Jodi Picoult, Free Glen Abbey Brunch Gift Certificates for First 30 Brides ($30.95 Value), and Special Prizes to be Won.

On Saturday at 2:00, enjoy a great fashion show, highlighting the latest styles in bridal wear & men's formalwear.

Lots of great prizes to be won & awesome vendors on hand to give you creative ideas for planning your perfect wedding.

Check out the website to Pre-Register for the show - save 50% of the registration cost AND be entered to win a $100.00 Gift Certificate to The Bay/Home Outfitters!

Regular Adult Admission: $10.00 (at door) & parking is free!

Show runs Friday from 5pm - 8pm and Saturday from 11am - 5pm

Be sure to stop by my booth to say Hi and to enter your name in a draw for a great gift basket....

Hope to see you this weekend at the show.

http://glenabbeyweddingshow.com/
http://www.thebridalshow.ca/thebridalshow

Wedding Bliss Sale a HUGE success!

2011-03-19T16:44:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, March 6th, about 180 brides and their friends & family showed up at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Toronto to try to find their dream wedding dress.
Great designer dresses were sold from $99 - $350, and some brides even went away having bought 2 dresses!!

There were also many great wedding vendors on site to help brides make plans for their upcoming weddings.

The event couldn't have happened so successfully as it did without the great team of volunteers who helped run the event! Thanks to everyone for the roles they played!

Thanks to all the guests who showed up - your tickets sales as well as your purchases all went to support a great cause in the New Beginnings Charity.

For more information about this charity, check it out at:

www.newbeginningsprogram.ca

Wedding Bliss Sale - March 6, 2011

2011-02-24T07:26:00.001-08:00

Are you getting married & don't yet have your wedding dress?!
Then you need to check out the fantastic upcoming "Wedding Bliss Sale"...

This amazing event will have hundreds of dresses on sale from $99 - $350 including some incredible designer dresses. And the awesome thing about THIS sale is that while you can get the dress of your dreams, you will be helping to support a wonderful charity that helps women & children in need!

The Wedding Bliss for "New Beginnings Charity Recovery Fundraiser" is a wedding experience you don’t want to miss. New Beginnings had an unfortunate flood in their offices last summer which has drastically impacted their ability to help women & children in Toronto. All proceeds from this event will help them as they struggle to get back on track with serving women in need in our community.

SO - while YOU shop for a wedding dress and get some great ideas & plans for your wedding from wedding vendors on site.... you will also be making a difference in your community!

This year’s event will be held Sunday, March 6, 2011 from 10am to 6pm at the Sheraton Hotel Toronto.

Check out their website for more information, to purchase tickets, to find out about contests & to see some of the dresses that will be available for sale! And then plan to come & support this charity & hopefully find your perfect dress at a great price!

http://www.weddingblisssale.com/

Hamilton Bridal Show was a great weekend!

2011-01-21T18:07:00.000-08:00

January 9 & 10th was a great weekend at the Hamilton Bridal Show... the largest number of attendees since 2006!!

Each day featured two awesome fashion shows highlighting the newest bridal fashions as well as grooms, mothers and kids.

Two floors of vendors were on hand showcasing their goods & services.

I had the privilege of talking with many wonderful couples, brides & moms and their friends. Four lucky brides won the beautiful gift baskets that I had a draw for.

I look forward to following up with the many brides I met that weekend.
My goal is to meet with bridal couples over a cup of coffee (my treat & no obligation) to hear about their wedding plans and share with them the Wedding Day Coordination services I can provide to them to make their special day the best it can be... stress free & well organized for them!

Planning your Wedding?! Come to the Hamilton-Halton Bridal Show!

2010-12-27T11:41:00.000-08:00

I trust that everyone had a great Christmas celebration with family & friends. And now that the holidays are winding down, it'll be time for all you engaged couples to begin to set your mind & efforts on planning your wedding day! WHAT FUN that can be. But also, what a lot of stress it can be as well... I mean, with so many options out there for you, WHERE do you even begin?

Here's two great tips for you as you start focussing in on your wedding plans.

1. Attend the Hamilton-Halton Bridal show .
This is a great opportunity to find awesome vendors in your area who are eager and willing to serve you, give you great deals and to talk with you face to face. Jan.8-9, from 11am - 5pm each day, you can wander through two floors of vendors, enjoy bridal fashion shows & get TONS of great ideas. Come with labels pre-printed to make entering draws faster for you! (Name, Address, Phone, Email, Wedding date) And when you come, take the time to actually talk to vendors. Of course they are all wanting to get their information into your hands, but the best thing to do is to speak to them - tell them what you're looking for, find out what they're offering and be open to new ideas! We vendors are full of great resources and are more than happy to do what we can to help you plan the best wedding ever!

Be sure to stop by my booth on the 3rd floor to say "Hi!" and to fill out a ballot to win one of several great items that will be drawn for after the show!

2. Seriously consider hiring a Wedding Planner or Coordinator.
A Wedding Planner can be an amazing source of help & support and a real time-saver for you as you begin to plan all aspects of your wedding. A Planner is with you through the whole process to assist and guide through the full planning stages.

However, if you prefer to find your vendors/venues on your own, then you might just need the services of a Wedding Day Coordinator. A Coordinator will work closely with you during the last month before your wedding - helping you to pull all the details & loose ends together, creating your wedding day schedule, confirming all your vendors, and being on hand to ensure that all your wedding day logistics come together just as you expect them to!

I am a certified wedding planner and I would be happy to provide you with full or partial planning services... But my true area of specialty and passion is in providing brides with Wedding Day Coordination services!

I look forward to meeting you at the show - and possibly even working alongside of you during the planning of your special day.

REMEMBER....
We take care of your wedding day details so that you don't have to!
Good luck with all your wedding plans - and enjoy the experience!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BRIDAL SHOW:
http://www.topweddingshows.com/

The Beauty of Live Music for your Wedding Ceremony

2010-11-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

There is nothing quite like having a live musician performing at your wedding ceremony. Many times couples try to save a few bucks by using recorded music off an Ipod or MP3 player... but a live musicians adds such a special touch to the ceremony that recorded music can't touch.

When you use recorded music, you have to be so very careful with the cueing & timing... where do you actually start the song for the processional? How long do you need to play it for the bridal party to get down the aisle? Will the song be at a place that will be a "natural" fading out point? What will come on for the bride?
Sure couples have their favourite songs that they may want to use for the walk down the aisle - but often they fail to recognize that the length of the aisle & the time it will take to walk down it doesn't coincide well with the song!

And often, couples who use recorded music also just use "a cousin or friend" to control the music cueing, playing & fading out, which unfortunately doesn't always work out timing wise or doesn't transition smoothly.
Live musicians, however, are "in the moment". They are in the very center of the activity so they know exactly what is happening, and their flexibility allows them to be able to "go with the flow" of events. Sso if the bride is running late, or if the bridal party takes longer to walk down the aisle than expected, or if the flower girl has a meltdown part-way down the aisle and needs to be "rescued".... these are all situations that can cause mayhem to recorded music - but not to a live musician who will simply adapt the music to the situation. They can either cut a song short and provide a very smooth "natural" ending to the song, or they can extend the piece in order to avoid any "dead" space.

A live musician can see the need of the moment and quickly change their planned music in order to fill that need. And when you hire a musician who is passionate about their talent - then their presence and performance will only serve to grace & enhance your ceremony.
Because of this, I always recommend to my bridal couples that they find a live musician to take care of the ceremony music. Perhaps the ceremony is in a church and the church can provide you with an organist or pianist. If not, why not a string trio or a flutist or a classical guitarist or a violinist or a steel pannist. There are many great musicians out there who will do your wedding for a very reasonable cost - especially some that are not hugely well-known. Ask your ceremony venue for recommendations.
Or call a local church for suggestions (even if you aren't getting married at the church - often they have extremely gifted musicians who attend the church who are also willing to perform at ceremonies). Contact local music teachers or music schools or theatre companies... there are SO many gifted people who just need to be given a chance to showcase their talent for very inexpensive rates!

I have seen ceremonies (& often also the cocktail hours) serenaded by the following talented musicians who I would highly recommend:

Pianist/Soloist - Christie Latta (christielatta@gmail.com)
Pianist/Soloist - Andrea Gal (www.andreagal.ca)
Steel Pannist - Steve Perez (stepoo@sympatico.ca)
Steel Pannist - Kenn Lewis (www.kenlewis.com)
Harpist - Chantal Dube (info@chantaldube.com)
Harpist - Kristen Theriault (kristen@harpnoise.com)

I was also this week just introduced to a very talented, young Harpist that I have yet to hear in person, but who I've seen on YouTube - and who impresses me greatly! Her name is Camille Inston - check her out! (http://web.me.com/camilleintson/harp/Home.html)

Take some time to consider the theme, the tone, the beauty of your ceremony (& cocktail hour) and then consider how the right musician will just add that personal, classy touch to the event!

Local Bridal Salon is "Giving Back"

2010-11-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

Coach House Bridal Salon is located in Waterdown Ontario - and they are offering an amazing promotion right now (from November 2 to 30, 2010). According to an article in "The Flamborough Review", the focus of their sale this year is "Give and Save"... and here's how it works:

First, they GIVE... Coach House will be donating a percentage of the profits from this sale to the Good Shepherd Centre in Hamilton. They are also holding a food drive during the sale and are encouraging people to drop by & make a donation of a non-perishable food item. For visitors who do so, they will be given a ballot for a draw for a pair of his & hers watches!

Second, you SAVE... Coach House's annual inventory sale this year offers INCREDIBLE savings for both bride and bridesmaids - potentially saving you scads of money! Wedding gowns are selling from $9.99 to $499. And bridesmaids & formal gowns are priced starting at $0.99. YUP! You read it right! Unbelievable prices on a wide variety of in-stock inventory. And, if you prefer to order a gown, they'll give you up to $150 off a veil & accessories.

SO.... if you're needing a wedding gown.... bridesmaids dresses.... or a formal gown perhaps for upcoming Christmas parties or New Years Eve events... be sure to check out this great boutique in the heart of Waterdown.

For more information about the sale & this store: www.coachhousebridalsalon.ca
For more information about Good Shepherd Centres: www.goodshepherdcentres.ca
For the full article from The Flamborough Review: http://www.flamboroughreview.com/news/article/295647

Wedding Planners Conference in Nassau Bahamas

2010-11-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

Last week was a great week! I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Nassau Bahamas to attend the WPIC Wedding Professionals Conference. There were about 150 of us in attendance - mostly planners, some photographers, DJ's, decorators - mostly from Canada, but also USA, Bahamas & even one from Germany!

Our first night in Nassau was fun with a cocktail party at "The Cove" of Atlantis Hotel - a very high-end hotel complex that is part of the greater Atlantis hotels. Great cocktails, delicious appetizers set among a pool/patio setting to die for.... upholstered daybeds, double lounges, cool chaises, unique pools & water features.

On Tuesday, we enjoyed two great seminars...first was JUNG LEE & JOSH BROOKS of Fete Events from New York City. I've watched them on TV on "Who's wedding is it anyway?" and on "Wedded to Perfection". They addressed business-side issues as well as discussed the design elements of a wedding. Great tips & ideas were shared with us. This was followed by KeyNote Speaker, COLIN COWIE... "event planner to the stars". Great presentation of incredible events he's done as well as good advice on providing customer service.

Wednesday was a full day of seminars with Peter Merry, Andy Ebon, Mary Dann, Wedding Wire, Tom Haibeck & Richard Emmanuel. Lots of great material... now to bring it home & apply it!

Thursday was Sandals Certification training.... and then a beautiful gala dinner hosted at Sandals Resort.

Many great lessons were learned - but the theme that seemed to emerge from many of the speakers was the value of providing great customer service that goes above & beyond what they expect!

Grindstone Church Volunteer Appreciation Evening

2010-10-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Oct. 22, 2010, the staff of Grindstone Valley Bible Church honoured about 45 of the many volunteers (unfortunately they all couldn't come!)who give of their time to help run the many programs and areas of responsibility at the church.

The event was held in the hall of St. Luke's Parish in Burlingon - a beautiful facility! We decorated the tables with brown tablecloths, a taupe coloured placemat in the middle & then silk fall leaves & real pumpkins on that as the centerpieces, surrounded by 4 tealight candles. Other tables were set up for getting place cards, for beverages & then for decadent desserts.

A speaker came to address the group and challenged us to look after our inner selves so that we can better serve others.

It was a fun evening and I think the volunteers appreciated some recognition for the tireless services they provide to the church community.

VENDORS:
VENUE: St. Luke's Parish Hall www.stlukesburlington.ca

WPIC Wedding Planners Conference - Nassau Bahamas!

2010-10-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about the upcoming Wedding Planners Conference being organized by the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC). About 150 planners from across North America are meeting in Nassau Bahamas on Monday for 5 days. Cocktail hour at Atlantis Hotel, Seminars at Breezes Resort & Sheraton Resort, Seminars & Gala Event at Sandals. Tours of resorts that specialize in destination weddings.

Great speakers including:
Keynote speaker Colin Cowie!!

& other speakers:
Jung Lee
Mary Dann
Peter Merry
& others!

Should be a GREAT week of learning, challenges, networking and business growth ideas!

http://www.weddingconf.com/

Stunning Wedding in Black, White & Fuschia

2010-10-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day as Denise & Blake became husband & wife at the Scottish Rite Club in Hamilton. The architecturally stunning mansion was a gorgeous backdrop for this fabulous wedding, which was decorated for the event in black & white with hits of fuschia - and lots of feathers!!

Denise was gorgeous - and her "wedding boots" were incredible - pointed toe, high heel and LACE to the knee boots!! (imported from Poland, ordered online!!) WOW!

A wedding party of 4 bridesmaids & ushers, a jr bridesmaid and a jr groomsmen and 4 flower girls & 3 ring bearers helped them celebrating this special event. Guests enjoyed the fun of a Photo Booth during the cocktail hour - taking serious & fun pictures - dressing up and having a great time - all to create a unique & memorable guest book for the bridal couple.

A big hit of the reception was the Candy Buffet - all in black, white & pink of course! The adults enjoyed this as much (if not more) than the kids did! Amazing how candy brings out the kid in people!!

Denise & Blake - what a good-looking couple! I wish you all the best as you begin your this new stage of your journey together as husband & wife!!

VENDORS:
Ceremony & Reception Venue & organist: Scottish Rite Club www.scottishriteclub.ca
Officant: Hans Hamer, Police Chaplain
Steel Pan Player: Steve Perez stepoo@sympatico.ca
Photographer: Photos by Alex www.photosbyalex.ca
DJ: Trevor Parnell djgreedybeats@yahoo.ca
Limo: Hamilton Limo www.hamiltonlimo.com
Decorator: Kathy Taylor www.taylormadememories.ca
Florist: Sarah Moir of Crazy Daisy www.crazydaisy.org
PhotoBooth: Fun Photos www.funphotos.ca

Fall SPECIAL!!

2010-10-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

This is a special announcement to all brides & grooms planning their future wedding!

I am offering a FALL BOOKING SPECIAL - but the offer is quickly coming to an end!

Call to book an appointment before OCTOBER 31st, 2010 and you will qualify to book your Wedding Day Coordination package at the 2010 package rates!

This is a great deal for you - no matter if your wedding is in the last couple months of 2010 or anytime in 2011 or even later!

CALL: 905-220-9239
EMAIL: mgayla@cogeco.ca
WEBSITE: www.LeaveTheDetailsToMe.ca

Save money by reserving YOUR wedding date with me now - and avoid the rate increases that are coming November 1st!

Looking forward to hearing from YOU!!

Despite Gusting Wind & Threat of Rain, the Wedding was Amazing!

2010-09-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Amy had her heart set on being married outside, overlooking the lake at Liuna Gardens in Stoney Creek. For a half hour just prior to ceremony, the debate was on... would the ceremony be outside or inside?!! The wind was whipping, tree branches falling down & chairs wouldn't stay set up. And just as the bride arrived, it began to spit rain. But her dream was firmly in place, and with the support & encouragement of a wonderful bridal party, her photographer, officiant and her soon-to-be-husband.... Amy decided to risk the weather to have the wedding of her dreams.

And it all worked out beautifully. Yes, the wind kept blowing. Yes, a few rain drops fell off & on.... but what was the most important was that Amy married the love of her life, Chris, in the outdoor ceremony of her dreams!

During the photos, a few more raindrops fell - but soon enough, the wind slowed down a bit and the sun even came out!

The reception was beautifully decorated in white & red and candle-light. Great speeches from fathers & friends, delicious food, wonderful service, awesome music... a great evening!
Especially touching was the the bride's dance with her father - where they were just in a world of their own, talking and sharing such special moments with laughter & tears together as "Butterfly Kisses" played in the background. (I mean really - how can you NOT shed a tear or two watching that?!!)

Congratulations Amy & Chris....
I'm so happy your day turned out to be exactly what you had wanted it to be!!

Vendors:
Venue: Liuna Gardens www.liunagardens.com
Officiant: Reverend Deborah Coleman www.deborahcoleman.ca
Photographer: Alyssa Alkema www.alyssaalkema.com
Videographer & DJ: AMV Pros www.amvpros.com
Cake: Lakeview Pastry www.lakeviewpastry.com
Florist & Decorator: Sue Gallo Designs www.suegallodesigns.com
Limo Service: Celebrity Limousines www.celebritylimousine.ca
Hair & Makeup: Joseph's Coiffures www.josephscoiffures.ca
Invitations, Table Cards, Seating Chart: Inviting Elegance www.invitingelegance.ca

Great Day at Cambridge Bridal Show

2010-09-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday was a great day for the Cambridge Fairy Tale Bridal Show. It was a sunny and refreshing fall day as brides, grooms & their "entourages" made their way to the Portuguese Club in Cambridge. Many vendors were set up inside - displaying their wares & services and some were offering delicious cake & cupcake samples! Then, outside the hall, under a huge tent, more of us vendors were set up.

The flow of guests was pretty steady throughout a good part of the day - and many brides stuck around to the end for the door prize draws and the draw for the grand prize of a free honeymoon to the Dominican Republic!

Just a reminder to all brides who attended the show....
if you'd like to book my services to be your personal wedding day coordinator, be sure to do so before October 31, 2010 in order to reserve your date at the 2010 prices!

And if you aren't sure you need a coordinator - I'd love the opportunity to meet with you over a cup of coffee - my treat & NO obligation - just to chat with you about your wedding plans & needs and to share with you the benefits of the services I can offer to you!

Hope to hear from you brides soon!

And have fun planning your special day!

Cambridge Bridal Show - Sept. 19, 2010

2010-09-11T12:20:00.001-07:00

I am very excited to be participating for my first time at the upcoming, 3rd annual "Cambridge Fairy Tale Wedding Show", hosted by Event Emporium. It will be on Sunday September 19, 2010, from 1pm to 6pm at the Portuguese Club of Cambridge - Townline Road, Cambridge.

Vendors will be set up both inside the club and outside under a huge tent - that's where you'll find me!! There are MANY vendors planning to be on hand to give you more great ideas and discounts and deals than you can imagine!

Highlights will include:
* grand prize draw for a free honeymoon
* first 100 brides get a cloth bag full of vendor discounts
* great hot lunches catered by the Portuguese Club
* incredible shows
* dancing demonstrations
* bridal gown sale
PLUS all those great vendors!

All this & more for only $10pp at the door - or pre-register on line!!

One impressive "eco-friendly" aspect of this show is that they do NOT provide you with plastic bags. So you can bring your own bag - or purchase reusable, eco-chic bags at the door for only $6.00 plus HST! As vendors fill your hands with cards, goodies and more you will find that you NEED a bag - so come prepared!

Check out the website for more information...

http://www.cambridgebridalshow.com/

And if you come - be sure to stop by my booth - "Leave the Details To Me"
I'd love to meet you, chat with you about your wedding - and of course, don't forget to fill out a ballot to win a beautiful Gift Basket from me!!

Ancaster Wedding Show A Big Success

2010-08-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

KUDOS to Tiffany Walsh & Team members for putting on a great 1st ever Ancaster Wedding Show! Most vendors entering the show were a big uncertain as to what to expect - with this being the first show by this organizer in this location in this month!! But personally, I thought it was a great show.

The morning started off with a huge influx of brides along with their moms, future mother-in-laws, bridal parties, friends, family members - and even quite a few grooms! The afternoon was slower, but in my experience this fairly typical.

Brides were treated to some new vendors (including Jason Matos of Jason Matos Photography - yup, he's my son!), some vendors who are "regulars" at local shows, and of course, lots of great ideas, inspiration, samples and handouts!
To check out what vendors were at the show, go to: www.ancasterweddingshow.com
Congratulations to all the brides (& grooms) who attended - we hope that you went home with MANY great ideas for your upcoming wedding and that you found the perfect vendors to meet your wedding needs!

Don't forget Brides.... "Leave the Details to Me..." is offering a WEDDING SHOW SPECIAL - book by Oct 31, 2010 for your future wedding and lock in at 2010 rates!! (This offer is available to ANY brides - whether you attended the show or not!)

Thanks Tiffany for a "show well done!"

Bride's Morning Disappointment Doesn't Diminish Her Beauty in Any Way!

2010-08-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Shashika's day as a bride didn't start out too well - when her hair stylist failed to show up at her house to take care of her long, gorgeous hair, a bit of panic set in! However, family stepped in and helped to style her hair - and that of the bridal party! And they did a GREAT job! And while this set-back caused a short delay in the start of the wedding, everyone finally arrived - looking wonderful!! - and the ceremony proceeded with joy & special touching moments.

After the ceremony, photos were taken at the Illuminaqua Ampitheatre along the canal in Welland with family members, and then at the stately old courthouse with the bridal party. Then, the limo whisked the couple off to Niagara Falls. At a hotel there, Shashika changed into a "greek goddess" style wedding gown that her mother had made - and then they were off to the Botanical Gardens for their couple photos.

Meanwhile, friends & family gathered at the Club Italia hall in Niagara Falls for cocktails. When the bride & groom arrived, they greeted their guests in a receiving line, and then guests were then given a token gift which was a memorial to Joe's brother who recently passed away after a brief battle with cancer. A glass of champagne embellished with a "wild hisbiscus edible flower" in it was given to each guest as they entered the banquet hall for the reception.

All the flowers - bouquets, boutineers, centerpieces, church pew decor, and 4 large flower displays - were gorgeous in whites & yellows, providing sunny accents to the girls' yellow gowns. (Gowns & flowers were all made by Shashika's mom - what a talented lady!!)

So, despite the disappointing start to Shashikas' day - and despite the threat of rain all day - in the end, the wedding day was a huge success.... with beautiful hair and NO rain... and great memories made for this wonderful couple!

Congratulations Shashika & Joe!

VENDORS:
Ceremony Site: Rev.Will Alakas of Holy Trinity Anglican Church http://www.niagara.anglican.ca/parishes/index.cfm?PID=218
Photographer: Sarah of Indigo Stars Photography www.indigostarsphotography.ca
DJ & Videographer: Matt & Chris of Liquid Cube Productions www.liquidcubeproductions.com
Reception Hall: Club Italia www.clubitalia.ca
Decor Rentals: Creative Imports www.creativeimports.ca
Head & Cake Table Decor: Christina of Gala Decor www.galadecor.ca
Wedding Cake: Cheryl Miller www.cmweddingcakes.vpweb.com
Limo: Exquisite Limo www.exquisitelimo.ca

ANCASTER WEDDING SHOW

2010-08-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Brides-to-be.... THIS SUNDAY - August 22, 2010 - plan to come out to the all NEW Ancaster Wedding Show!

Great venue at the brand new Ancaster Fairgrounds - new vendors & some familiar faces - new looks - special features - great give-aways.... truly a wedding planning event you don't want to miss!

ADDRESS: 630 Trinity Rd, Jerseyville

TIMES: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm!
COST: $8.00 online in advance, $10 cash at the door

Check out all the exciting details at:

www.ancasterweddingshow.com

Fun Wedding with Sri Lankin and Trinidadian Grooves!

2010-08-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Malki & Gary survived the terrible humidity and a few passing showers on Sunday as they joined together as husband and wife. The day had a few highlights in my mind...

At the start of the service, Gary & Malki ended up standing kind of far apart -
but when musician Andrea Gal began to sing, Gary stepped forward & took Malki's hand -just in time to the song lyrics, "Draw me close to you...never let me go".... oh boy - I think a few tears were shed at the timing of that move!!

The reception hall was gorgeous! Tall elegant palm trees were set up around the room with uplights on them. The centerpieces were tall glass vases filled with tropical flowers & leaves, surrounded by 3 tulip votive holders. A steel pan player entertained guests during the cocktail hour & dinner... so there was a very tropical, "caribbean" feeling in the air!

After the guests enjoyed the receiving line, favours, shooters & picked up their custom-made "leopard print" place cards (in honour of Malki's love of this print!) the bridal party were ready for their introductions - and they all certainly made a Grand Entrance with funky dance moves... even the Ring Bearer did a few "break-dance" moves on his way in!! The party played up the entrance by doing a "soul train" routine.... and then this led to Malki & Gary's first dance together as husband & wife. Following that, they cut their cake, which was a spectacular creation on a gorgeous table display.

The kissing of the bride & groom was done with great fun - as they had to kiss for as long as a guest could keep a hoola hoop going! After a fabulous meal and a few speeches, Malki had a big surprise for Gary.... Caribana Dancers!! Three stunning dancers arrived and put on an incredible show, which of course included getting the bridal party and guests involved! What fun! After that - the party was well on its way.

Later that night, Gary & Malki changed into traditional "Sri Lankin going away outfits". Gary wore a very classy suit with a hot pink vest and Malki was adorned in splendor in her hot pink & gold sari & jewellry!

The day was a wonderful success! Congratulations Gary & Malki!

VENDORS:
Ceremony Site: Parkwoods United Church, Don Mills (Rev. Ellen Redcliffe)www.parkwoodsunitedchurch.com
Photo Site: Glendon College Campus www.glendon.yorku.ca
Reception Site: Venetian Banquet Hall, Vaughan www.thevenetian.ca
Ceremony Musician: Andrea Gal www.andreagal.ca
Photographer: Chuck of Pickering Photo www.pickeringphoto.com
Videographer: Dan of ChiliPepper Videography www.chilipepper.ca
Request Limosines: www.requestlimo.com
Cake Decorator: X-quisitte - Stacey Fernandes www.xgxcentral.com
DJ & MC - X-quisitte - Shaun Fernandes & Brian www.xgxcentral.com
Steel Pan Player - Kenn Lewis www.kennlewis.com
R.S. Divas Dance Troupe: www.rsdivas.com
Florist - Laurel Munro Floral Design www.laurelmunro.com
Decorator - Terri-Anne of TASAJ: www.Tasaj.com
Palm Tree Rentals - Amhurst Greenhouses: www.amherstgreenhouses.com
Hair Stylist: Angela Gale of Gorgias Hair Salon (friend of Malki's)
Makeup Artist: www.skmakeupartistry.com
Sari Dresser: Sobi Thiru www.luxurycakes.ca
Place Cards Designer/Calligrapher: Aliza Latta (friend of Gayla's)
Ceremony Decor: Heather Pearson (friend of Malki's)

Unique Reception at Warplane Heritage Museum

2010-08-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

On Sat. July 31st, Phil & Brandy celebrated a fun evening for their Ontario Wedding Reception at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. The couple actually tied the knot earlier in July in Alberta - then had a great honeymoon for a couple weeks and ended up back in Ontario to celebrate with their friends & family here.

Brandy wore her gorgeous wedding dress for the reception and looked amazingly beautiful. The head table was set up under a HUGE warplane, and at the head table were Phil's sister & brother-in-law and brother & sister-in-law. The tables were all surrounded by various warplanes. Guests had the opportunity to view the planes & museum, guided by on-site volunteers. Each table was labelled by the name of a warplane, along with a picture of the plane. These table labels were done by the groom's dad who is passionate about warplanes!

The museum catering was DELICIOUS! HUGE portions of chicken breasts and side dishes were so amazing. Who knew that plane-specialists could cook so well!

After dinner, guests enjoyed a slide show of the happy couple, and tender speeches from the groom's parents & then from the bride & groom. Then, after dessert, "Relative Harmony" musicians led the guests all in a "contra dance" evening. Fiddle, piano & a "Caller" who led us all in what can be described as "english square dancing". What a great way to engage just about ALL of the guests - many of whom might not have danced at a typical dance!

It was a fun evening and a great celebration of this newly married couple.

Congratulations Phil & Brandy - and all the best in your new home in British Columbia!!

VENDORS:
Venue & Caterers & decorators - Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum http://www.warplane.com/
Musicians - Relative Harmony http://www.relativeharmony.com/
Flowers - Longo's grocery store
Cake - Stephanie Krish, sister of groom

Intimate Family-Focussed Wedding At Liuna Station

2010-08-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

This past Friday afternoon, I had the privilege of coordinating the wedding of Val & Shawn. Val arrived to the venue in high style, riding like a true princess bride in a 1962 white Rolls Royce Limousine.

The ceremony was touching, and included Val's 5 year old son (THE most adorable ring bearer!!)
who helped them celebrate their new family unit with a symbolic "sand ceremony" where the three of them poured three different colours of sand into one jar at the same time. Rev. Deborah Coleman officiated the wedding ceremony with passion, humour and tenderness.

Following the ceremony, which was held in the Liuna Station lobby, family photos were done on site in the gardens and then the couple set out for photos at Pier 4 in Hamilton, enjoying the drive in the antique limo.

The reception was attended by about 70 close family & friends and was a true celebration of special family ties. Speeches were words of encouragement and support for this newly married couple and it is evident that they are surrounded by people who truly love them and care about them.
The day was a huge success and it was my privilege to work for this couple on their special day!

Congratulations Val & Shawn...

WEDDING VENDORS:
Ceremony & Reception Venue - Liuna Station www.liunastation.com Officiant - Rev. Deborah Coleman www.deborahcoleman.ca
Photographer - Milton from Split Image Photography www.split-imagephotography.com
Flowers - Josie Syers, Hamilton Farmer's Market
Limo - Memory Lane Limousines - www.memorylanelimo.com

Help! How do we cut our Wedding Cake?

2010-07-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

Wedding cakes are a traditional part of a wedding reception. Some couples really get into their cake and end up smashing it all over each other's faces - or the faces of their Best Man & Maid of Honour. Other couples cut a piece in order to feed it to each other. But the one small item that is often overlooked in planning this event is to think about HOW you are actually going to cut into this amazing piece of edible art!

At a one wedding that I coordinated, the bride & groom posed for the standard "first cut" photos with their cake - but then suddenly panicked when they realized that they didn't have a clue about how to actually cut out a piece to share! Across the hall, I heard the bride call to me: "Gayla - how do we cut this thing?!"

So - what is the best way to cut a piece of wedding cake for the two of you?
Here's a great video clip that will teach you how to cut it easily & effectively.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0iISrvmpts

10 Ideas for Your Wedding Ceremony

2010-07-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about wedding ceremonies lately and I've come up with some tips & ideas to make them just a bit more unique/special/personal for both the couple & their guests.

So, here's some of the ideas tumbling around in my head that might give you some "inspiration" for your ceremony....

1. I got a great tip from Officiant "Rev. Deb" Coleman from Hamilton.... don't have your officiant disrupt the flow of the end of the ceremony in order to make "announcements" for the guests. Instead, before the ceremony starts, have your Reception MC - or someone else who is good at speaking - get up to welcome guests, let them know the ceremony will begin shortly & then let the guests know what to expect after the ceremony. That way, all "announcements" are done & overwith even before the ceremony starts & the flow of the service isn't interrupted.

2. The other option for "announcements" is to include them in writing in the program, if you have one, which is then handed to guests as they arrive.

3. And speaking about programs... What's their purpose (besides the announcements)?! Programs are generally used as a means to communicate important things to your guests - such as: the order of service, a means of introducing the bridal party, provide the bride & groom's new address, a way to give special thanks to important people, and a way to acknowledge & remember those who have passed on. Programs can be an especially helpful to guests if your ceremony will be including traditions that are unique to your religion or culture if you explain in the program what each element of the service is about & its significance to you as a couple. However, if you choose to print programs, this is one thing that you don't have to spend a lot of money on because the reality is that after the ceremony, most of them will be left behind & thrown out. So, keep them simple & only print enough for one per couple/family - but be sure that YOU keep a copy for yourself!

4. Request that your officiant have his/her back to the audience (or have them stand off to one side) so that you & fiance are facing the audience during the ceremony, if your religion/location permits it. Guests don't come to a wedding to see the officiant's face - they want to see YOUR faces, your expressions, your tears, etc. So when possible - face each other or your guests.

5. Have a microphone available to use for your vows. Guests get very frustrated when you say your vows and maybe shed some tears, but they can't hear anything you are saying. While it is true that your vows are desigend for each other, everyone loves to be a part of hearing them - especially if you've taken time to write your own vows.

6. And speaking of vows... Why not take the time to write your own vows that can be said in addition to or instead of "traditional" vows. This is your one chance to very openly & publicly declare your love & commitment to your soon-to-be-spouse. Take some time to carefully think it through (give yourself at least a couple weeks) and make it personal, tender, from the heart and "you"! Don't want to memorize your vows? There are a couple options... print your vows on cue-cards that you read to each other - your officiant can hold them for you to read from if you don't want to hold them. When my husband & I got married 25 years ago, we had our vows written in calligraphy on parchment paper, rolled up & tied with ribbon. We each unrolled our "scroll" & read our vows to each other, then rolled them back up & exchanged them. Later, we had them framed and to this day, they hang on our wall with our wedding photo between them.

7. If you have young children in the wedding party, have a "back up" plan in place in case they decide at last minute not to cooperate with how you want them to behave! Children in a wedding are always somewhat risky - so be sure that you are flexible and "easy going" about them as THEY will be the ones who decide if they're going to cooperate or not. Also, its a good idea to plan to have them sit in the first or second row with a parent/grandparent or other adult they know well. Have a fabric gift bag (vs paper which is noisy!) placed at their seat with "quiet" toys to keep them occupied during the ceremony. Things like colouring book & crayons, stuffed toys, puzzle books, stickers, etc. are all great to keep little ones quiet & content - and finding the bag there waiting for them will be a special treat for them to find!

8. Think of special ways to honour the special people in your life - ie. mothers, grandmothers, etc. Why not have a few extra loose flowers held in your hand with your bouquet that you stop & give to your mom, mom-in-law, grandmothers as you walk down the aisle. OR, if you have been deeply touched by special women/mentors in youre life, do what my friend did.... have each person you want to honour be given a flower as they arrive & seat them along the aisle. As you enter the ceremony - don't have a bouquet. Instead, stop at each person along the aisle and collect your flowers from them as you hug them & thank them for being so special to you. At the end of the aisle, you will have 'created' your bouquet. Have your mother or other key person have a ribbon to wrap & tie the bouquet for you.

9. If you have children of your own, include them in special ways in the ceremony. Let them be in your wedding party. Have them walk you (or your mom) down the aisle. Create a special "family dedication" element of the ceremony. Use the "sand" ceremony idea which is the mixing of different colours of sand (one per family member) all together in a large vase. Make sure they feel that this day is also about including them in this new phase of your life, so that they don't feel left out or unimportant.

10. If you are doing the "unity candle" as part of your ceremony, don't have your mothers fumble with butane lighters, which can be very tempermental. Instead, a decorator friend, Marian VanGeest, taught me this trick - have a tea-light candle lit & "hiding" behind the main candles or flowers on the candle table. Then, when mom's go up to light their candles, they can just pick up the candle, touch the wick into the lit tea-light and voila - candle is lit & ready to be set back in the holder. (Just make sure its a good quality tealight that burns long & well.)

Hope these ideas might give you a bit of inspiration for your wedding ceremony. Make it unique. Make it personal. Make it YOURS!

Wedding of Heli & Stephan - a beautiful event!

2010-06-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a PERFECT day in every way for Heli & Stephan's wedding - clear blue skies, warm sun, cool breeze.

Stephan waited anxiously for his bride to arrive at the end of the pier of Bronte Harbour - and when he turned to face her, the tears that sprung into his eyes proved how beautiful his bride was - and how in love he is with her!

The Maid of Honour wore a long hot pink gown with one strap of fabric flowers. The Bridesmaid wore a short, strapless dress in the same colour & fabric. The Bridesman wore a black tux with hot pink shirt and tie. The best man & ushers were in black tuxedos with lime green vest, ties & accessories. White peonies, lime green spider mums, granny smith apples and bright pink berries were used for bouquets, bouttonieres, pew bows and altar flowers.

The ceremony was held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Burlington, followed by cocktail hour and reception at Geraldo's in LaSalle Park. The bride & groom choreographed the first part of their first dance song and then the bridal party & rest of the guests joined in for the last half of the song. It was a fun start to the evening which unfolded with delicious food, touching speeches, lots of laughs with the "shoe" game and great music!

Their wedding cake was a simple white tiered cake with pink satin ribbon - and the topper was a bride & groom - each on their cell phones - a very true depiction of this couple (Heli's wedding dress had pockets in it - and guess what was in her pocket? Yup - her phone!!)

Congratulations Heli & Stephan - a beautiful couple!

WEDDING VENDORS:
Photographers - Paul Koziorowski Photography www.pkwedding.com
Florists - Botanically Bent http://www.botanicallybent.com
DJ - Mike Marinuk http://allthingsmusic.ca/
Church & Officiant - Pastor Colin Cameraon - Holy Cross Lutheran Church www.holycrossburlington.ca
Reception - Geraldo's http://www.geraldosatlasalle.com
Limo - Fox Run Limos www.foxrunlimos.com
Cake - Lakeview Pastry & Chocolates www.lakeviewpastry.com/home.htm

Pre-Wedding PANIC ATTACKS!

2010-06-11T12:46:00.001-07:00

This week, I've had three separate brides contact me and each one was having their own little "panic attacks" as they were working on their wedding plans...

* guests I didn't know we'd invited just RSVP'd and I don't know where to seat them - help!
* well-meaning people are trying to re-design my decor plans - augh!
* the limo driver is giving me attitude - what should I do?
* I have a list wedding-related things to buy and I hate spending money on things I'll never use again - I need some creative & cheap alternative ideas!
* my dress needs to be altered & my seamstress won't return my calls - how do I find someone else reliable & trustworthy?
* I have wedding stuff all over my dining room table and I thought I had it all under control - but I'm freaking out - I can't do this!

Yup - wedding stress is very real, very common and very challenging to deal with! And every bride will face it at some point in the planning process - especially as the time ticks down closer to the big day! It can become very overwhelming.

SO - HOW can you deal with this stress? Here's a few ideas for you...

FIRST.... BREATHE! Deep, slow breaths to calm you down. None of the plans are worth hyperventilating over! Take a break from wedding plans for a night - go for a walk, sit on your deck & read a book, sit at a coffee shop & just people-watch, go to a good & funny movie. You have a life outside of wedding plans - don't forget to LIVE it!

SECOND... KEEP LISTS & KEEP ORGANIZED! Get a notebook that you keep with you always. Write down anything & everything you think of so you won't forget it or keep worrying about it. Then as you accomplish a task, black it out or better yet, use white-out tape & make it disappear! Its done & over with, so get it out of your line of vision and watch your list get smaller.

THIRD...PRIORITIZE! Look at your lists and decide what you MUST do first - and then do those things first. Take care of the big things as soon as you can & then you'll have the head-space to think about the little things. Take a serious look at the items on your list and decide what things you can let go of if you have to. Remember that while most of your ideas will be good idea, if trying to get them all done breaks you, then they are no longer good ideas! Its just not worth falling apart over some things.

FOURTH...DELEGATE! Anything you can delegate to your mom, your fiance, your Maid of Honour or bridesmaids, your family members... DO SO! If someone volunteers to help you - take them up on their offer! YOU don't have to do it all by yourself! Give them a task and then TRUST THEM to do it.

FINALLY... or really, this should have been FIRST OF ALL THESE SUGGESTIONS... hire a wedding DAY coordinator to help you with all of these things. Every single bride I have worked with in the past and that I am working with this year tells me how glad they are they've hired me - how my referrals saved them money - how my attention to details to things they wouldn't have even considered have helped the plans to flow smoothly - how the way I listen and am there for them really does calm them down & helps them to keep things in perspective.

As a wedding coordinator, besides handling all the myriad of details that needs to come together for a wedding day - I also pride myself in being a "calming influence" and the "voice of reason" that can help to reduce the panic attacks & relieve the stress that brides face during those last busy months of planning.

SO - are YOU feeling stressed & panicky as your wedding draws closer?! If so - give me a call & let me take care of the details - so you don't have to!!

PHOTO by: Heidi Ram Photography www.heidiramphotography.com

Two Unique Wedding Vendor Networking Events this week!

2010-06-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of attending two unique networking opportunities this week.

On Monday evening, "Let Them Eat Cakes" had an open house/cake tasting event that brides were invited to - and several other vendors were on hand to meet & greet brides & offer their unique services to them.
At the event were:
Let Them Eat Cakes www.letthemeatcakes.com
From Me To You (cookie creations) frommetoyou@bell.net
Picture Perfect Cake Art www.pictureperfectcakeart.com
She's So Beautiful Consignment & Bridal Boutique www.shessobeautiful.ca
Social Notes Custom Invitations www.socialnotes.ca
These vendors were very friendly and offered wonderful services to the brides who came. And the cake-tasting - OH MY -talk about delicious cakes with some very unique & unusual (but yummy) cake flavours!

This evening, Jason Matos of Jason Matos Photography, and I attended a Wedding Industy Vendor Networking event at the Courtyard Inn in Mississauga. There were quite a few different vendors on hand - enjoying complimentary cocktails & appetizers while chatting, meeting and exchanging business cards with each other. It was a great opportunity for Jason to promote his newly updated website with special pages dedicated to weddings, couples & families! As a vendor, its always a good business practice to get out & meet others who work in the industry! Both of us came away with some great new contacts. (by the way - check out Jason's site at: www.jasonmatosphotography.com )

Leave The Details To Me on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook & Posterous

2010-05-29T14:47:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from leavethedetailstome's posterous

I took the plunge & joined the "social Media" networks.... FINALLY!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!

2010-05-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, John & Nicole had hoped to have an outdoor wedding ceremony overlooking the lake at the Burlington Golf & Country Club - but the weather just didn't cooperate.

The couple, their families and bridal party met at Dundurn Castle for photos before the ceremony - in the pouring rain. Thankfully, we had the whole covered back porch of the castle to do photos in and lots of big umbrellas to help keep everyone dry. We were also glad that no other bridal parties showed up for the same locale. Despite the rain, the couple were in good spirits and the photos will no doubt still be amazing. The "Big Reveal" moment was captured by the photographers - that special "first glimpse" of each other... priceless!

Back at the Burlington Golf Club, the alternative ceremony site was set up in the banquet hall. Guests were seated at their reception tables and a couple rows of chairs were set on the dance floor for family members. The head table & cake became the back drop for the ceremony
After the officiant, groomsmen, parents and groom entered, the processional was led by Isabella - the 9 month old adorable flower girl, "escorted" by her father as she toddled down the aisle to the delight of the guests. Following her was Charlotte, the 18-mth old flower girl, holding her mom's hand, and stealing the show with her cuteness.
After the rest of the bridesmaids, Nicole made her grand entrance with her dad, looking like a vision of beauty in her strapless gown and cathedral-length, laced-edged veil.

By the end of the ceremony, the rain clouds had disappeared and the guests were able to enjoy cocktails on the lawn, overlooking the lake, while the bridal couple were able to get some formal photos done outside.

The reception was a fun evening - a great meal, touching speeches, and lots of dancing until the wee hours of the morning! Special kudos for the staff at BGC as they were amazing to work with & handled everything with professionalism and integrity.

Congratulations Nicole & John - a beautiful couple.... I wish you all the best in your new life together as husband & wife!

Nicole & John's WEDDING VENDORS:
Photographer: Julie Johnson, Vine Images www.vineimages.com
Harpist: Chantal Dube 416-909-9944
Pianist: Christie Latta, clatta@cogeco.ca
Officiant: Harold Bridle (uncle of Bride)
Venue: Burlington Golf Club www.burlingtongolfclub.com
Decorator & Florist: Paula - La Fiora Floral Studio www.lafioras.com
DJ: Jeff from Bil Copeland DJ www.thunderdj.com
Cake: Lakeview Pastry www.lakeviewpastry.com

Perfect Day for Lexi & Travis!

2010-05-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Lexi & Travis tied the knot yesterday in the midst of 100 family & friends. The ceremony was held at Redeemer University College in Ancaster in an intimate room decorated with an arbour, shimmery fabric swagging along the aisle chairs, accented with red & black chiffon ribbons & bows. Wall sconces held tall vases with taper candles & more chiffon ribbons & bows. Two candleabras completed the decor. It was a beautiful, intimate ceremony setting.

After enjoying some fun with their photographer, Jason Matos Photography, on the Redeemer property, the bridal party arrived in style in an SUV limo to the Royal Canadian Legion in Hamilton for their reception.
Great family speeches, the cutting of a creative Red & Black wedding cake
& special first dance & family dances -and the party was on!

Congratulations on your wonderful day!

Photographer: Jason Matos Photography www.jasonmatosphoto.com
Decorator: Josie - With All My Heart Wedding Decor www.withallmyheartweddingdecor.ca
Flowers: Josie's Flowers, Hamilton Market 905-304-0682
Officiant: Rev. Dr. Kurt Richardson, Ryerson United Church, Ancaster
Ceremony Venue: Redeemer University College, Ancaster www.redeemer.ca
Pianist: Christie Latta, clatta@cogeco.ca
Limo Service: Guy - Happy Day Limosines www.ahappydaylimousine.com
Reception Venue: Royal Canadian Legion #163 www.legion.ca
DJ: Shaun Davidson, korned_69@hotmail.com
Cake: Maggie's Sweets maggiessweets.ca

"Destination Weddings" at Niagara Parks Commission's Great Wedding Venues!

2010-05-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I (along with 3 other wedding coordinators) had the privilege of being given a tour of the Niagara Parks Commission venues by Sue Zareski (Weddings & Corporate Sales Manager for NPC). What amazing facilities there are - some of which I had never heard of before! And the rates, other services, options are worth checking into! There is no charge for outdoor photos at any of their sites. You will find Sue & all the staff with NPC are very flexible and creative in their ideas to help you create a perfect "destination" wedding - without travelling too far from home!

Here are the locations we visited and one or two highlights about each venue:

Queenston Heights...sitting atop the Niagara Escarpment, overlooking the river, with on site options for outdoor ceremonies, including a permanently covered porch (in case of bad weather), a historically elegant dining room and a view that is amazing!

Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory... sprawling, large and varied outdoor garden areas - "aisles" of trees, cozy corners, beautiful flowers. . And what about a small, intimate wedding inside amongst the tropical gardens with butterflies flitting about everywhere?! The conservatory also has a roof-top area that is also available for rent and would make a neat ceremony/cocktail hour/stand-up reception area. Can be rented in advance for indoor photos

Whirlpool Golf Course ... an "elegant casual" room overlooking the manicured golf greens. Outdoor patio are part of the deal as well.

Aero Car ... for a totally unique ceremony idea, why not get married while suspended over top of the whirlpool rapids in the aero car?! Yup - its actually available to rent for such an event!

Oakes Garden Theatre - a unique outdoor expanse of walkways, arches, pergolas, etc that is a popular location for ceremonies.

Edgewaters Restaurant and Terrace - Two options are available here. One is the "Commissioner Quarters" upstairs, and includes large open dance floor area, lounge area with sofas & bar off to the side of the dining area. Intimate and unique. Second option is the restaurant with open air doors to the terrace balcony. Great views of both falls from here - and how about getting custom-coloured lights on the falls during the evening to coordinate with your wedding colours?!!

Elements on the Falls - Very chic, elegantly designed restaurant right at the edge of the falls - with amazing food! (I know first-hand as that's where we ate lunch)

Pop & Lolly’s - a gourmet candy shop that specializes in custom-candies for weddings!

Floral Showhouse - unique grounds for ceremonies or photos, intimate indoor space surrounding by lush plants & flowers of all kinds. Can be rented in advance for indoor photos..

Oak Hall - an enormous, stately mansion elegantly furnished with antiques. A stunning location for a very small & intimate wedding.

Legends on the Niagara Golf Course - large, bright, open foyer that leads into an elegant dining room which leads out onto an incredibly large & attractive outdoor covered porch that overlooks the golf course.

What is amazing about NPC is that the rentals & facilities at all these venues are "mix & match" deals - the options are endless.

SO... for a "destination wedding" close to home - do check out Niagara Falls - and specifically the Niagara Parks Commission venues.

www.niagaraparksweddings.com
szareski@niagaraparks.com

SWEET CHEEKS: Yellow & Black Dinner/Silent Auction Fund Raiser

2010-04-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday April 24th was the date of a great fundraiser event that I had the privilege of assisting at in Burlington. SWEET CHEEKS is the name of a local bicycling team of 19 riders who are training hard and fundraising hard in order to participate in "The Ride to Conquer Cancer" for the Princess Margaret Hospital. Most of these riders are not long-distance riders - in fact, at least one didn't even own a bike - and yet they are all committed to riding the 200km from Toronto to Niagara Falls on June 12-13. Each rider is required to raise a minimum of $2500 in order to participate in the ride. That's a LOT of cash!!

And so, to help the team raise funds, they held a dinner/silent auction event. Approximately 125 people attended the event at St. Luke's beautiful church hall, which was all decked out in black & yellow, the colours of the ride. Gorgeous floral centerpieces were designed by Tracy of Lux Living.
There were well over 100 items donated for the silent auction and several great items were sold off through a fun live. Rick James, local musician & DJ, provided great musical entertainment throughout the whole evening. A delicious meal was provided by Gator Ted's Restaurant. An adorable cake was provided by Linda Jenner and delicious brownies from Jitterbug Java Cafe.

There were two unique features at this event. One was that all the riders brought their bikes to have on display - and attached to the handlebars was the rider's photo and a brief bio about why they are doing the ride. The other feature that was a focal point during the evening was a "tree of hope & memory". It was a white branch tree, lit by a spot light - and people filled out tags to hang on the tree. Yellow tags were for the names of people who have cancer or who have survived cancer. Black tags were for names of people who have passed on from this disease. It was a very visual and impactful image.

The event cleared just over $8000 for the riders - Congratulations Krista & team members for a job well done! And all the best in raising the rest of the funds needed to do the ride.

For more information about the ride, how to donate or how to be a volunteer, check their website: http://to10.conquercancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=to10_homepage

2010-04-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

Brides - - -
You are invited to an amazing event on Sunday, April 11th
from 12 - 6 pm at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Toronto...

WEDDING BLISS BRIDAL GOWN SALE and Bridal Show
www.weddingblisssale.com

This very special sale will feature brand new, beautiful, designer wedding dresses at huge discounts (ie - $800 - $4000 dresses on sale for $99 - $350!!!)
There will also be other vendors on site to help you with your various wedding planning needs.

But the really wonderful part about this sale/event is that ALL proceeds support a great charity called New Beginnings. The goal of this charity is to help improve the lives of women and children "in need" by providing specialized support and training -empowering women to become confident, self-sufficient, career-oriented and employable, thus improving their lives & the lives of their children.....

So not only will you help yourself by finding your dream dress at a great price - but you will be helping to support women & children in need!
How amazing is that?!!

Tickets for this great event are being offered at a very special rate of only $10 each ($25 at the door!) Brides can purchase tickets at this drastically reduced rate by going online to the Wedding Bliss website and entering the promo code "VENDOR".

Come on out to the Wedding Bliss Sale....
Buy the dress of your dreams....
and support New Beginnings charity!!

The Wedding Bliss is being organized by Weddings Jubilee and it is my pleasure to be working for Weddings Jubilee at this event.

"Added Value" Wedding Coordinator!

2010-03-29T19:33:00.001-07:00

I recently got an email from a bride I'm working for this summer - and her comments really made my day! She thanked me for being "an added value wedding coordinator". I think that phrase really encapsulates what I try to provide in my services to bridal couples.

While I advertise that my area of specialty is in "day of" coordination, the packages I offer are in fact more "month of" coordination as I work hard for a bridal couple pulling all the details for their wedding together during the last month of their plans.

However, I really do more than that for my brides. Once they've booked my services, I tend to make myself available to them by email or phone to help them in many other different ways. If they need someone to research ideas or products for them, I'm happy to do that. For example - recently, I've done research for my upcoming brides for the following items: ice sculptures, wild edible hibiscus flowers, etched glass cake toppers, chuppahs, tropical trees, calligraphers, ceremony musicians, vases, submersible LED lights, etc. At weddings with children in the bridal party, I've been known to provide gift bags of "quiet" treats for them to keep them occupied during the ceremony. At the bridal party photo shoot, I provide a cooler of water & a few snacks for the bridal party. When I'm hired for the whole wedding day, I provide toiletry baskets for the washrooms at the reception hall. Umbrellas are always on hand as well to keep bridal party, photographers, guests dry in case of rain. And of course I bring my well-stocked "emergency kit" as you never know when you might need it! These are all examples of some of the "added value" services that I like to provide my clients.

So.... if you're looking for "Day of" or "Month of" wedding coordination services - why not hire a coordinator who will give you all that - - PLUS "added value"!!
Give me a call if you want to know more about how I will serve you so that YOUR wedding day be a wonderful success!

Going FULL TIME in the business!

2010-02-23T10:57:00.000-08:00

I LOVE weddings!
And I LOVE planning events!

Over this past year, I have truly discovered my passion - and that is serving others through planning special events for them, and in helping them get through those events with "flying colours"!

(photo by Bassem Photography)

And so, in light of this newly-discovered passion, I have made the bitter-sweet decision to leave my part-time job so that I can dedicate myself fully to the event-planning business!

My primary focus will continue be to continue offering my "Day-Of" coordination services to bridal couples. This is the best deal for those couples who want to make all their own plans for their wedding, but who want someone on hand for the day of their wedding to ensure that all their plans happen as they expect them to. This service allows couples to just show up & enjoy their day!

However, there are many engaged couples who don't want to have to do all the leg-work and research involved in planning a wedding, or who just don't have time to invest in it (they say it takes about 250 hours to plan a wedding!!). These couples need more comprehensive planning assistance. So, for them, I will be offering full & partial planning services.

Throughout this coming year, I also plan to expand my business into the world of corporate, community, social, and other family events as well. Corporations & business often need help planning team meetings and staff Christmas parties. Community and social groups host banquets, dances, galas, assorted parties, fund-raisers, etc. And families always have causes for celebrations - baby & bridal showers, engagement parties, stag & does, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations... the list goes on! Any event being planned is something I'd love to help organize & direct!

So, while this change is a big step for me, I am jumping in with both feet & am VERY excited about this new direction!

If you have an event that needs to be planned - please let me know!! I'm here to help in any way I can.

Hamilton Bridal Show - January 2010

2010-02-17T18:49:00.000-08:00

The Hamilton Bridal Show was another success this year! Thanks to all the brides & grooms & friends who came to check out the vendors available to them - and who went home laden down with brochures, flyers and business cards!

The show seemed different this year for me. This year, I felt much more confident as I spoke with brides & their fiances, moms & bridal parties, having a great season last summer under my belt. It was also interesting this year to observe that many brides I spoke with were familiar with what a "wedding day coordinator" is! I recall that at last year's show, I spent a lot of time "educating" people on the difference between a full planner and a "day-of" coordinator. This year - more brides knew the difference and more seem to be looking for help just for the last month of their planning & then especially on their wedding day. Good news for me for sure!

I also had a positive response to the 5 large gift baskets that I held a draw for. Five lucky brides won some great goodies in the Romance Basket, Spa Basket, Coffee Break Basket, Travel Basket & Stationery Basket.

To those of you who I've had the pleasure of connecting with post-show, thanks for your time as we've met to talk! I hope to have the chance to meet many more of you in the days ahead!

Don't forget - if you want to be able to just show up and enjoy your wedding day without the stress & worries of all that needs to be taken care of - then give me a call! "We take care of your wedding day details so you don't have to!"

But We Will Stand Tall - Photo Art Show

2009-12-20T14:34:00.001-08:00

On December 3rd, a young photographer held his first public art show in Hamilton at The Freeway Cafe & I had the privilege of working with him to set up and decorate the venue and to help him organize all the planning details.

Jason Matos (yup - he would be my son!)has been working on series of photos for a few months now. They are all photos of people who attend our church, Grindstone Valley Bible Church in Waterdown. What makes these photos unique is that they all tell a story about the person - depicting in photos a struggle or difficult time they went through in their life - and then photos depicting how they are now stronger and stand taller today because of how they grew and learned and matured through that hard situation.

Jason photographed 12 people - some with just one photo, others with two, a few with 3 or 4 photos - and each person wrote out their "story", which was printed and mounted by their photos.

The Freeway Cafe was set up with lots of candles on tables as people came in to enjoy a cup of free-trade coffee or tea or specialty beverage, some great snacks and then sat around small tables or on comfortable leather sofas and enjoyed the acoustic music of 4 different musical sets. And throughout the evening, people mingled around the photos, reading the stories and often being moved to tears.

About 180 people came through the Cafe during the 3 hour show - and it was a resounding success for Jason.
Congratulations Jason on an excellent photo art show!

Wedding Florists & Decorators

2009-12-13T18:08:00.000-08:00

Last month, I took a course in Toronto offered by "The Wedding Decorators" (www.theweddingdecorators.ca). It was a very informative and educational experience. But the main thing I learned from it was that brides & grooms should only hire professionals for their florals & decorating needs!

The morning of this training was all about wedding florals - bouquets, boutineers, corsages, and centerpieces. The guest florist was Shelley from Wedding Wows (www.weddingwowstoronto.ca) and she created some beautiful arrangements for us. There's certainly a lot to know about dealing with fresh flowers - how to properly wrap & tie them, treat them to keep them fresh, and arrangements to WOW any wedding!!

After a quick lunch break, we learned all the techniques of draping a head table, a backdrop and an archway. There are some beautiful ways to simply but elegantly spruce up your reception hall. Nothing looks more elegant than a head table draped with boile or satin - adorned with florals or greenery - and lit from underneath with spotlights. Adding a backdrop of matching or coordinating fabrics is a wonderful way to complete the look - and works great to hide a plain, boring or even ugly wall!!

Thanks to Shelley & Sherisse & Ali for a great day of awesome ideas, useful tips and a simply fun experiences!

Colourful, Fun & Tasty "Goan" Wedding

2009-11-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

Olivia & John got married on Sat. Oct. 17, 2009 in Hamilton - and enjoyed a great reception at Maplewood Hall in Ancaster. I had the privilege of being on-site at the hall to assist in preparing the hall for the reception. Olivia is from Goa, a state of India - and so there was a wonderful Indian flare to the reception.

Colourful is a great way to describe the guests, bridal party and florals for this wedding. Many guests were adorned in beautiful Sari's - as well as two of the girls in the bridal party. Each bridal party bouquet was unique in the colours of the flowers and the ribbons. A large fall-coloured floral display was set on the elaborate stone fireplace mantle. The table centerpieces were simple brown clay pots with purple cyclamens.

Fun is the best way to describe the attitude of the bride & groom - and the celebratory feel of the reception. The bride & groom were welcomed into the party with singing & clapping & a "ceremonial walk" through the room. They cut their wedding cake and then enjoyed a few minutes to savour Indian appetizers. Before the meal began, Olivia & John, followed by their bridal party & family & all of the guests were led in a traditional Goan "Bridal March", set to different songs, and accompanied by much laughter! The couple concluded the March with their first dance together and were then joined by their guests for about 20 minutes of dancing.

Tasty - well, that describes the traditional Indian buffet meal that was served to their guests. Rich flavours & unique spices filled the room with tempting aromas. And of course, the meal was accompanied by some great libations!

It was a great day for the happy couple....Congratulations to Olivia & John!

Rain Holds Off for Outdoor Wedding!

2009-10-04T16:46:00.000-07:00

Alyson & Bill were determined to get married outdoors - regardless of threatening rain & grey clouds! Halton Regional Museum in Milton was set up ready for either an indoor or outdoor ceremony - and 15 minutes before the event, the decision was made to brave the elements! Guests were seated and the guys made their grand entrance to Star Wars theme song. Then the mothers, bridesmaids and 4 adorable flower girls entered, followed by the bride - escorted part way by her step-dad and the rest of the way by her dad. Part-way through the ceremony, a few drops of rain fell - but while signing the register, the sun actually peeked out!

Part-way through the photos & cocktail hour, guests were able to enjoy the museum as the heavens opened up and the rain came down, drenching the outdoor option! Silver Thyme caterers were amazing - setting up the reception site and working around visiting guests while at the same time serving great appetizers and drinks.

The Hearth Room was a beautiful venue for the reception - very rustic, with lots of great autumn decor. It was a gorgeous fall wedding, fulfilling the dreams of the bride & groom to enjoy the outdoor property and a rustic indoor setting.

Venue: Halton Regional Museum, Milton
Officiant: Robin Barlow
Caterers: Silver Thyme, Milton
DJ: Bob Peake
Photographer: Michael Fauvelle
Cake & Cupcakes: Heather's Bakery
Limo: D & D Limo Services
Flowers: Westdale Florist

Intimate Outdoor Wedding

2009-09-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect day for an outdoor fall wedding on Sept.19th as Erica & James joined in marriage! The sky was clear blue, the sun was out and a gentle breeze kept it from being too hot. The ceremony site was decorated with 180 votive candles in red glass holders, all lined up over a bridge & along the grass, defining the 'aisle' at the park.

Fragrant rose petals marked the actual ceremony location and a harpist provided wonderful background and processional music. The wedding was witnessed by an intimate group of 34 friends & family, who gathered in a small and secluded park in Burlington. A nice touch was that each guest was given a red rose when they arrived. Then, when Erica - looking amazing in a red wedding gown - arrived, she went to each guest, greeted them with a hug and received the rose from them. At the end, two women wrapped the flower stems together with ribbons to create her bouquet. A very sentimental touch I thought! James' son and daughter stood up with them as their attendants and everyone looked amazing!

After taking photos at the park, the bride & groom & guests headed to "The Black Tree" restaurant in the Roseland Plaza in Burlington for a unique reception, all based on Alfred Hitchcock theme! It was not "a night of mystery & mayhem", but rather "a night of mystery & marriage"! Congratulations Erica & James!

Photographer: Stephen Dominick, Niagara
Florist: Blossom's, Burlington
Ceremony Venue: Hidden Valley Park, Burlington
Reception Venue: Black Tree Restaurant, Burlington
Tent for Reception: Pat's Party Rentals
Ceremony Harpist: Kristen Theriault

Despite the Traffic, the Wedding was a Success!

2009-09-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

It was the long weekend. The CNE was on. The airshow was starting. A BlueJays game was playing. And all of this was happening right along the QEW highway just at the very time that the girls' limo had to drive by that way in order to get to the church! And then, on the grounds of the church (located at the University of Toronto) there were Frosh Week activities going on! These things certainly caused a few moments stress & noise and delays for the wedding! Brian Whittaker deserves a medal for being a very patient groom, as his bride and the girls' bridal party were delayed in all that traffic and arrived about an hour late!! However, despite the late start... it was a beautiful wedding! The bridal party were stunning in deep purple dresses with silver accents. The groomsmen were handsome as all get out!! After some photos on the U of T grounds, the party enjoyed the comforts of a limo-bus from downtown Toronto to the reception at Liuna Gardens in Stoney Creek. Guests were treated to a steel pan player during the cocktail hour and to a take-home gift of a piece of wonderful Caribbean Rum Cake made by both families.

After more photos taken on site in the gardens and by the lake, the bridal party enjoyed a wonderful reception with all their guests - many of whom came from long distances to share in this special day. It was truly a day that honoured family, friendships and faith!

Congratulations Kamara & Brian!

Photographer: Ambient Photography, Jason Hendricks, Toronto
Videographer: Michael Soo-Chan, Toronto
Florist: Debbie's Flowers, Stoney Creek
Decorator: The Wedding Depot, Hamilton
Cake Decorator: Andra Owen
DJ: Damien Mitchell
Limo: Dynasty Limo, Jordan
Church: St. Basils, Toronto
Officiants: Fr. Jim, Pastor Kevin
Church Musicians: Mark Yensen, Justine Owen, Paul Sanvidotti
Reception: Liuna Gardens, Stoney Creek
Steel Pan Player: Kayla Owen

Gillian & Michael Tie the Knot at the Old Mill Toronto!

2009-08-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

For a summer of uncertainty when it comes to weather, the day was perfect for Gillian & Michael's outdoor wedding ceremony at the Old Mill on Aug. 7th. Not too hot, a few clouds, a gentle breeze - and NO rain!!

Michael's face when he saw Gillian was priceless - and the ceremony went off beautifully. After photos in various locations of the Old Mill's grounds, the couple and their bridal party joined their guests for a wonderful reception. The place was decorated beautifully and the food & service provided by the Old Mill was exceptional!

Congratulations Gill & Mike!

Ceremony Venue: Old Mill Toronto, Wedding Garden
Officiant: Judge Juliette Baldock
Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Musicians: The Alexsandre Ensemble
Photographer: Bassem Wahba, GK Photography
Photo Site: Old Mill, Toronto
Reception Venue: Old Mill, Toronto
Florist: Ital Florist, Toronto
Decorator: With All My Heart Wedding Decor, Oakville
DJ: Daryal Roberts, Party Productions
Limo: AC Limo Services

Couple's Wedding a "Hallelujah" ending!

2009-07-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Cheryl & Dave tied the knot last Friday evening in a wonderful ceremony in Cambridge, ON. As they are both a "bit older" and this was their first wedding, their family & friends were so excited for them both! Knowing their families' excitement, Cheryl & Dave's officiant announced at the end of the ceremony that they had chosen a special song for their recessional - in honour of their families. And with that, the "Hallelujah Chorus" came on and everyone broke out in applause & laughter as they made their way triumphantly down the aisle!! The reality is, if Cheryl's older brother had been still been alive and was at the wedding, we all know he would have yelled out a hearty "Hallelujah!" upon their introduction as 'Mr & Mrs'.... so it was a fitting song and a special tribute to her brother!

The weather certainly kept us on our toes as it would change from rain to sun every few minutes it seemed. Driving to the photo shoot, it was raining. Arrived to the site in the sun & managed to stay dry for the time needed to get some great photos - and then as we drove back, it poured rain again! But all worked out in the end!

The reception began with the Bride & Groom being "greeted" by family members blowing on party noise-makers!! Then, a surprise video montage was presented of Cheryl & Dave - all in great fun & good taste! The evening ended with an "English Country Dance" - very much like a square dance, but more of "waltz" type music than "country" music. It was so much fun and almost all of the guests were up and participating - even those who typically don't dance!

Congratulations Cheryl & Dave on a wonderful wedding day!

Ceremony Venue: Heritage Bible College & Seminary Chapel, Cambridge
Officiant: Pastor Karen West
Ceremony Musicians: Allison & Caroline, Doug Thompson & Paul Wilson
Photographer: Jason Matos Photography, Waterdown
Photo Site: Mill Race Park, Cambridge
Reception Venue: Holiday Inn, Cambridge
Cake Decorator: Lori-Anne McDonell, Barrie
Flowers & Decor: Zehr's, Cambridge & MaryLou Burkard
Reception "English Dance" Musicians: Rick & Jonathan Avery
Reception "English Dance" Caller: Sheila Scott

The Groom that Almost Wasn't Allowed to Get Married!

2009-07-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

Heather & Matthew have been planning their wedding for months! And then, the week of the wedding arrived full of hope & promise.... but quickly became a week full of anxiety and fear - that the Groom would NOT be allowed into Canada to get married! Yup - Matt is an American and apparently there's quite a bit of paperwork involved in getting permission to enter Canada to get married to a Canadian and then live here for a few months! Upon attempting to cross the border on Thursday in order to be here for the rehearsal, he was promptly denied access because of missing paperwork and he was turned back at the border, along with a long list of things he had to do to "prove" that he would indeed return to the USA at the end of the summer.

So, the rehearsal Thursday night was interesting as we were missing the groom and his best man (along with two other groomsmen who we'd already known wouldn't be there). So we had 2 of 6 guys present! Heather held up amazingly well considering she had to practice marrying a "stand-in" for Matt - and considering the uncertainty of whether Matt would actually be allowed to come into Canada to get married on Saturday or not!

Well - thanks to a lot of running around on Matt's part, help from his past employer and even some important help from our local MP David Sweet's office, Matt was permitted to enter Canada and arrived on Friday afternoon - WHEW!!

The wedding day dawned with clear skies and sunny, warm temperatures - perfect for their outdoor tent wedding at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington and their outdoor Barn reception at Dyments' farms in Dundas. Everything fell into place and looked amazing!

And the most important thing is - they ARE married!!! YEAH! Congratulations Heather & Matt!

Ceremony Venue: Rose Gardens Tent, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington
Ceremony Musician: Hanna Strauss
Officiants: Doug Veenstra & Pastor Jim Pot
Photographer: Katie Button, Dundas
Photo Site: RBG Gardens, Burlington
Reception Venue: Dyment's Farms, Dundas
Caterers: Maitre D' Catering, Burlington
Cake Decorator: Lakeshore Pastry, Burlington
Reception Musicians: Corrie Kessler & Band

Jessie & James Perfect Day!

2009-06-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

Friday was a very special day - a perfect wedding day for Jessie & James.
Jessie was one of the most relaxed and laid back brides I've ever met - she just went with the flow and didn't stress out about anything! The bridal party were wonderful to work with as well - also very relaxed, just chillin' and enjoying the day - and oh so patient during the photo shoots where they had a fair bit of time to wait around while the bride & groom had their photos taken.

As the wedding was on a Friday evening, the couple decided to have their photos all done before the wedding, which meant that they'd see each other before the ceremony. But the photographer set it up beautifully for "the big reveal" moment. James was put in a corner on a porch, so he couldn't see the bride arrive. Then, they set her up - fluffed out her gown, had her back to James but turned slightly towards him, holding her bouquet - and then, with only the photographers on hand to capture the moment (the rest of us were not a part of this moment) - they got to see each other and share a special moment. Very romantic!

The ceremony was at the beautiful outdoor chapel at the Ancaster Old Mill - and a nice cloud rolled into place just as the ceremony started, provided relief to the guests from the sun - and it lasted just until the ceremony was over - amazing! The evening progressed with a casual and relaxed "stand up" reception - no seating charts or reserved seating - just a few tables & chairs set around the room and a few bistro tables, thus allowing guests to mingle and visit and enjoy the company of many other guests. Great eats and drinks, lively music, fun dancing - it was a wonderful wedding!

I was so thrilled to be able to coordinate this wedding and to work with such amazing people - bride & groom, bridal party, family & guests - they were all fabulous and made my job so easy and VERY enjoyable!

Congratulations Jessie & James!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Ancaster Old Mill Inn
Photographer: Vine Images (Julie Johnson), Burlington
Photo Sites: Dundurn Castle, Hamilton & Old Mill, Ancaster
Florals & Decor: Botanically Bent, Oakville
DJ: Bill Copeland DJ Services (Jeff), Burlington
Videographer: Jesse Hunt
Cake Decorator: Kate Fretz
Officiant: Pastor Scott Anderson, B.C.
Ceremony Musicians: Ben Fretz & Jacob Fretz, Lianne & Jordan Phillips

Bridal Shoes

2009-04-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

Your Bridal shoes are an essential part of your wedding day attire! You will be walking, standing, posing, photographing and dancing in these shoes - and so you must put some time and thought into choosing the right shoes for your special day. Not only do you want them to look good - but you'll want to be comfortable in them!

Several things you need to consider when purchasing your bridal shoes are:
* what style of bridal gown are you wearing? (ie. ballgown, sheath, mermaid)
* what is your fashion style? (ie. romantic, classic, sporty, casual)
* what colour is your gown?
* what are the special features of your gown? (ie. sequins, feathers, ribbons, beading)
* where will you be walking during your wedding day? (ie. grass, cobblestone, beach)
* what do you value most - comfort or fashion?
* are you taller or shorter than your groom?

There is a wide range of great options on the market for bridal shoes - and these shoes come in a huge variety of fabrics, colours, heel-heights, styles, decorative touches - and in a wide price range. Most brides typically choose a dressy, heeled shoe that coordinates with and compliments her gown.

However, some brides prefer to choose something unexpected or unusual when it comes to their shoes. Here are some unique ideas to consider:
* white canvas runners, dressed up by replacing the laces with ribbons and glueing sequins or beads onto the canvas
* white flip flops dressed up with embellishments to coordinate with your gown
* satin ballet slippers
* brightly coloured dress shoes that match the bridesmaids' dresses or your bouquet

If you choose a high-heeled classy shoe, you might want to consider having a second pair of flat, comfortable shoes to put on for the reception.

Plan to purchase your shoes well in advance of your wedding. That way, you will have the shoes available for your dress fittings and you will be able to wear them as much as possible around the house to break them in. If the shoes pinch or if your heels slip, go to a cobbler or shoe store to purchase accessories that will help to pad the shoe and protect your feet. Also, if you'll be walking on slippery floors, it is a good idea to scuff up the soles of your shoes to help avoid slipping.

A great little tip for high-heel shoes - especially if you'll be walking on grassy areas or cobblestones is to purchase a little accessory called "SoleMates High Heeler™." These plastic heel covers attach easily to most high heels and provide a larger surface area to walk on, effectively stopping your heels from sinking into the grass or wobbling on cobblestones. This specialty item is available in Canada only at "What a Heel" shoe store located at 453 Brant Street, Burlington, Ontario, or online at www.thesolemates.com

On your wedding day, you will be spending a lot of time on your feet - so be sure to find a pair of shoes that will be comfortable and that will also make the fashion statement that you want them to make!

Happy feet makes for a happy bride!!

Special Ways to Celebrate Family at Your Wedding

2009-03-16T19:07:00.000-07:00

Some people are blessed with great family relationships – special people who have shaped and influenced your life and who mean the world to you. If you are so blessed - then your wedding is a wonderful time to honor those special people in your life.

Here are some ideas on how you can pay tribute to those closest to you on your wedding day – both those in the here & now, as well as those who have already passed on.

Ask special family members to be involved in parts of the ceremony.
• to hand out bulletins or “man” the guest book
• to be ushers and seat guests
• to be readers
• to provide special music during ceremony
• to light candles - This is especially sentimental if you are having a unity candle – have each of your mothers (or fathers) light one candle, representing your family & then as part of the ceremony, you each pick up your family candle & light one center candle, symbolizing the joining of two families to become one
• during processional, Bride can pause to hand a single floral bloom to groom’s mother and her own mother
• A special floral arrangement can be placed in a seat of honour with a deceased relative’s name on it

At the reception, you can ask special family members to play a role with some of the details.
• to “man” the guest book
• to assist guests in finding place-cards/seating arrangements
• to be the M.C.
• to give special toasts or speeches
• to provide special music during the reception
• have a special family dance after your first dance

Set up a display to honour your families – display in a large frame as a collage, or on a decorated backboard/bulletin board, or set up in nice frames on a table
• photos of your parents’/grandparents’ weddings (especially if they are still together!)
• Photos of special memories of you with family members
• Photos of family members who have passed on

Prepare a slide-show of your growing-up years with special family photo memories featured – put it to a great song about family/relationships.

How to be a Relaxed Bride on your Wedding Day

2009-03-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

On your wedding day, the last thing you want is to be stressed and anxious.
Your dream day is here and you want to be at your best in every way – relaxed, excited, calm. Here’s a few tips & ideas to help you prepare for your wedding day so that you can enjoy the whole experience to its fullest…

• A few days before the wedding, hang your dress & veil up high, spread out so that wrinkles will fall out – steam if needed
• Pack your overnight bag and your honeymoon suitcases a day or two before your wedding day – keep a piece of paper and pen handy to make a list of the last-minute things you will need to pack on your wedding day
• Have all your travel documents, ID, etc. packed - make photocopies of documents and leave copies with family members at home.
• Lay out your purse, undergarments, shoes, jewelry, garter the day before
• Don’t have your bachelorette party the night before your wedding – the last thing you want is to be over-tired or worse, hung-over on your wedding day!
• Instead, get a good sleep the night before – drink some hot milk, or herbal tea, have a hot bath before going to bed to help you relax, and try to get to bed early.
• Set 2 alarms for your wedding day – 5 minutes apart – so that you don’t sleep in!
• Get up early enough to have a nice, long, hot shower or bath
• After bathing, lather your body with a soothing body lotion, put on a comfy robe & slippers to let the lotion sink in
• Sip your favourite hot beverage and enjoy a few minutes of quiet & calm – take time to breathe deep, meditate, pray, listen to soothing music
• Be sure to eat something light and balanced and healthy for breakfast – whole wheat toast, egg, fruit, whole-grain cereal, yogurt.
• If your tummy is experiencing some butterflies, stick with bland food – crackers, toast and tea instead of coffee.
• Plan your hair & makeup appointments so that you are done before your bridesmaids – you don’t want to be rushed at the end of the makeup session!
• If your wedding is in the afternoon, be sure to eat something at lunch as well – you need your energy and food to sustain you & to keep you from fainting!
• Be sure to give yourself enough time to get ready without feeling rushed
• Let your Wedding Day Coordinator and your bridesmaids / family take care of the details of the day – your role now is to just show up and enjoy the whole experience!

This is YOUR day…. Do all you can to be sure that you enjoy it!

Even a Wedding Planner Needs Help on Her Wedding Day!

2009-02-24T17:27:00.000-08:00

The following is an email I recently received from a friend who went to a wedding that was NOT well organized. The bride in this wedding is, apparently, a Wedding Planner … but the following email about her wedding "flaws" just goes to show that even an experienced planner needs a good Wedding Day Coordinator to oversee everything!

Every bride needs a good set of helping hands, a pair of observant eyes and someone who is able to really pay attention to what is going on at the wedding – anticipating and dealing with needs before they arise!

Here’s what my friend told me about this wedding – and my own comments in italics about how a Wedding Day Coordinator would work to ensure these situations are avoided or corrected.
It's a bit long for a blog - but I believe it is well worth the read!!

Dear Gayla: We were at a wedding yesterday. The bride is a wedding planner and, if I were attending her wedding and looking for a wedding planner for myself, I would not choose her. I have never seen so much confusion and panic at the front of the church! Here are some things for your check-list if they aren't already there:

* all readings should be in the hands of the readers before the wedding (one of the readers thought she might have to read from an i-phone! Someone raced in at the very last minute and handed the reading to her) Your wedding coordinator will have a copy of all readings with her in her folder!

* have everything in place for easy lighting of the candles - not a lighter that is difficult to use! They finally lit a votive to light tapers and then used tapers to light the rest of the candles Your wedding coordinator carries “torch”-style lighters that are very easy to use!

* have one person (not family) who arrives early at the church with everything that is needed for the ceremony (people were racing around trying to find someone who knew what they were doing)! Your wedding coordinator will be at the church early to make sure everything is in place (she will know this because she was at the rehearsal) and she will have a name tag identifying her.

* let grandparents know ahead of time where they will be sitting, when they should be there; and if they will be wearing corsages. It would be good to find out if the grandparents even want a corsage or boutonniere.Your wedding coordinator always verifies that all special guests are aware of their seating – that the ushers are also aware of who sits where – and ensures that everyone needing corsages or boutonnieres have them on properly - she also brings extra pins to make sure they stay on securely!

* if congregational songs are to be sung make sure that there are copies to give to the bridal party and the minister
Your wedding coordinator will ensure that words to songs are in place discreetly at the front of the church for the bridal party & minister to follow along with.

* make sure that someone knows where the washrooms are Your wedding day coordinator will not only be aware of washroom locations, but will check the washrooms before hand to ensure cleanliness and adequate supplies – and will inform bridal party & key people of location of facilities – or provide signage as needed to direct people

* if it is snowing make sure the steps and walkways are cleared before and after the ceremony Your wedding day coordinator will do this herself or arrange for this to be done – as well as adequate salting to avoid guests slipping

* encourage the minister to not walk up and down the aisle looking for the bride (she was 30 minutes late) Your wedding coordinator will be the one who is informing people of the status/location of the bride/groom or whoever is late

* try to avoid the asking a friend to be the hair stylist, especially not for the whole family/wedding party (the hair stylist was still doing the bride's hair 10 minutes before the wedding!) Your wedding day coordinator will always advise having multiple stylists and that the bride be done first – not last! As well the coordinator will adequately schedule the day, allowing enough time for hair/makeup & photos before the ceremony.

* think about the wedding and reception places from the point of view of people with walkers or wheelchairs, etc
Your wedding coordinator will have discussed specific guest needs with you ahead of time and will ensure that ceremony & reception sites are convenient for guests with special needs.

* try to get a reception place with room to walk between the tables (the meal gets served faster and people can actually move and get up easily to talk to each other and use the washrooms) Your wedding coordinator will review the reception site and numbers before hand to ensure feasibility of set-up – and then will “walk through” the reception hall before the reception begins to ensure that there is adequate space. Re-arrangements will be done as needed to ensure guest safety and comfort.

* keep speeches to a minimum time and number of people (there were speeches all during the meal along with a lounge singer and 3 hours of speeches after the meal!) The scheduling of events by the wedding coordinator will ensure that there is adequate time allotted for plans and will give counsel regarding speeches & entertainment
* I think my favourite was this: there was an elevator but when asked where it was the response was: "Just up those stairs" - something else to check out for people with physical challenges! Your wedding coordinator will ensure that elevators/escalators are easily available will post signs if needed to direct guests to them

* if there is a choice of meals for guests – here’s a couple suggestions: make sure the meal options are somewhat "equal" in value/size/quantity & perhaps you could include the menu choice with the invitations and let guests choose in advance when they reply. (We received a phone call about our choices and then there was confusion about what was actually being offered). Your wedding coordinator will advise on ways to adequately handle offering meal options for guests

* Check out the size of the dance floor and the ceiling height - it was a very small space and the ceiling was really low – one guest in particular actually had a difficult time dancing because he touched the ceiling – and he’s NOT that tall! Ok - I can’t even imagine what kind of room this was – but your wedding coordinator will review the dance floor spacing and ensure that there is enough room for guests to enjoy themselves without overcrowding (or hitting their heads on the ceilings!)

* The guests didn't get to dance for quite awhile as the bride and groom danced to a very long song; then one couple at a time danced - parents, attendants, etc Your wedding coordinator will work with your DJ to encourage the bridal party to enjoy their first dances within a reasonable time frame and then to quickly involve guests – the party is now about the guests enjoying themselves!

* All in all - if you invite guests to your wedding, treat them as guests and think about their comfort, food, drink, ease of moving, enjoyment, special needs etc. Your wedding day coordinator will do everything she can to ensure your guests are treated with utmost respect and that they enjoy the day as much as possible

I think there were more things that seemed to go wrong that I can’t think of now… but I don't think I have ever seen such a disorganized wedding! They surely could have used a "detail" person like you! I have to say I did think of you several times, thinking: "This wouldn't have happened if Gayla were in charge!"

SO - the moral of the story is this:
“You’ll never give a party that matters so much to you as much as your wedding reception. Remember that this is when the focus turns from you to your guests – and it is your obligation to treat them as honoured guests and see that they have a wonderful time."

Hiring a Wedding Day Coordinator will ensure that you AND your guests enjoy the event to its fullest.

Why Should You Hire a Wedding Day Coordinator?

2009-01-31T14:12:00.001-08:00

You've been planning your wedding for a few months now and the day is fast approaching. But there are still many last minute things piling up to be done! A wedding day coordinator will be your best friend during those last few weeks of planning - helping you to make final vendor confirmations, arranging the schedule for your wedding day events, working out the final "to do" lists.

A coordinator will be on hand to orchestrate or observe the rehearsal of the ceremony, as required... helping to work out the cueing, timing and details of the ceremony. But then, most imporantly, the coordinator will be on-site for the wedding day to do anything and everything that needs to be done to make the day flow smoothly. Your coordinator will ensure that everything is set up for the ceremony - that guests are seated and treated properly and that after the ceremony you get off to the photoshoot in good time. If the photographer requires it, we will assist at the photo shoot arranging people groups to be ready for the next shot. At the reception site, the coordinator will verify that the room is set up as per your expectations including placements of menus, place cards, bombonieres, guest book, etc. The coordinator becomes the contact person for the caterers, hall managers, bar tenders, DJ's, MC's, decorators, etc.

Besides organizing and directing the details of the day, a Wedding Day Coordinator provides a fully stocked Wedding Day Emergency Kit and is fully prepared to handle any unexpected situation that may arise - from lost buttons, tears or stains in bridal attire to headaches, cuts or sprains to wilting flowers, broken centerpieces or lost pens to bad breath, holes in pantyhose or a groom wearing white instead of black socks.... we can resolve it all!!

Don't leave the last minute details and unexpected situations to your bridesmaids or family members to deal with... hire a Wedding Day Coordinator to take on the stress for you - and then just show up, relax and enjoy your day to the fullest!!!

A New Blogger has Joined the Technological World!

2009-01-28T16:43:00.000-08:00

This is my first blog - ever! But in keeping with the times, I had to give in and get connected.

As a Wedding Day Coordinator, I hope to use this space to share tips and ideas to help brides plan their weddings, to keep up with current wedding trends, to provide useful pieces of advice and guidance that will be of value to brides.

Any specific topics of what you, as a bride, want to know about? Feel free to ask!

Stay tuned for my next entry!

Until then - happy planning!