Weddingstar Warehouse - WOW!

During the first week of January, I was out in Medicine Hat, Alberta visiting family - and I found out that Medicine Hat is the headquarters for one of my favourite wedding catalogues - Weddingstar.   And - my brother in law knows the owner/president!   Before I realized it - I found myself meeting the President, Mr. Rick Brink and enjoying a fantastic tour of their 90,000 sq foot warehouse! 

I knew that Weddingstar provided thousands of great wedding products - but I had no idea they distribute over 3000 products and that they ship to brides in 70 countries around the world!  This company is truly committed to making every bride's dream of a unique, personal and special wedding a reality.    Quality control is very important to this company and they have excellent processes in place to ensure that every order they receive is filled exactly as expected.

Weddingstar is one of the world’s leading designers, manufactures and retailers of wedding accessories and they are celebrating 30 years in business this year.  They specialize in personalized accessories... everything from candles to stationary, glassware to favours, stickers to ribbons, napkins to cake toppers (and more!) can be personalized.

Recently, Weddingstar has formed a fantastic partnership with prestigeous wedding and event planner, Preston Bailey.  Preston has planned weddings for celebrities, dignitaries, CEO's, sports stars and royalty.  He will be launching his "Preston Bailey Tabletop Collection" with Weddingstar early in 2013, offering brides unique tabletop accessories for their weddings. 

It was an eye-opening experience to tour the Weddingstar facility and to learn all about the great services that they provide to their customers. 
It was truly a highlight of my visit to Medicine Hat.

For amazing ideas, great tips and excellent products, be sure to check out their website - or pick up their catalogue at your local bookstore (magazine section).
www.weddingstar.com

And of course, for more information about the creative Mr Bailey - check out his site as well....
www.prestonbailey.com.

WPIC Wedding Planners Conference - Nassau Bahamas!

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/

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

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