Showing posts with label hamilton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hamilton. Show all posts

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Long Distance Planning - Local Wedding Day!

Jenny & Shawn live in Alberta - and as their wedding planner, I live in Ontario. They hired me over a FaceTime call and we planned their entire wedding through emails, texts, calls and FaceTime meetings. And on the Wednesday before their wedding here in Ontario, I FINALLY got to meet them in person!! What an exciting day that was for me - to meet this awesome couple face to face!



After all the crazy up & down weather we've been having, April 23 dawned with clear blue skies and bright sunshine - and very comfortable temperatures.... a perfect day for a wedding! The ceremony was held in the brand new Ancaster Mill Chapel - so brand new that the finishing touches were put on it at 7:00am the morning of the wedding!
How exciting to be able to be part of the very first wedding in the chapel!

With its floor to ceiling stone fireplace, cathedral ceiling with wooden beams, perfect sized wooden stage, huge windows letting in great natural light, white marble aisle, upper glass-fronted balcony, silver chivari chairs with white padded seats.... this venue is a dream for weddings and photos!



Guests enjoyed cocktail hour in the Millview Room while the family and bridal party did great photos on the grounds of the Mill.
The reception was held in the Falls Room - with its rustic elegance and huge windows overlooking the falls.




Guests enjoyed a delicious meal, entertaining speeches, a fun photo booth and a GREAT dance band!
It was one party that no one wanted to go home from!

Congratulations Jenny & Shawn!




VENDORS:
Venue: Ancaster Mill www.ancastermill.ca
Florist/Decorator: Pocket of Posies www.pocketofposies.ca
Photographers: VP Studios www.vpstudiosphotography.com
Videographer: Taylor McDonell
Officiant: Rev. Allan Budzin
Band& DJ: Parkside Drive www.parksidedrive.ca
Photo Booth: Das Photos www.dasphotobooth.ca
ShuttleBus: Mermaid Limo www.mermaidlimo.com
Limo: Canam Limo www.canamlimo.com
Hair & Makeup: Anita, Amy, Lindsay from AB Cosmetics www.abcosmetics.ca
HandLettering: Aliza Latta www.instagram.com/alizalatta
Printing: The Printing Korner www.printingkorner.com
Rentals: Mashed Events www.mashedevents.com
Hotel: Visitor's Inn www.visitorsinn.com





Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Why Should Brides Attend Local Bridal Shows?

This coming weekend, Jan 10 - 11, 2015 is the annual Hamilton Wedding Show. It is two full days of amazing vendors, impressive displays, fun fashion shows, delicious food samples and LOTS of great information!

It always surprises me to hear brides say, "I can't be bothered going to a bridal show." I know that sometimes we vendors can come across as pushy... trying to stuff our flyers in your already overfilled hands, trying to get you to fill out a ballot, trying to talk up our services with you. Forgive us for being pushy. We don't mean to be... at least most of us don't mean to be!

I think as a bride, you need to come to a Bridal Show with a different outlook. Don't look at exhibitors as "the vendors to be avoided!!" But rather, realize that we are actually there FOR YOU. We have spent good money and countless hours to prepare ourselves to meet YOU and to talk with you about YOUR wedding. We are really there, for two long days, in order to meet and serve the bridal couples of our community!

If you already have various vendor services booked, we understand - and we are fine with you telling us this!
But maybe there are particular vendors you are still trying to decide on. If so - then this is the place for you. It is one stop comparison shopping at its finest!! My advice to you is: Take time to speak to the vendors offering that services... see how you connect with them, what kind of a vibe you get from them. Take their info, listen to their "services speech", ask questions. And make notes to yourself about the vendors you want to follow up with... snap a picture of their booth or business card so you remember after the show who you liked. OR if you really like them right off the bat - ask them to contact you after the show. Vendors LOVE to get the "please call me" from Brides!!! And we tend to bend over backwards for brides who are interested in what we can offer to them!

A Bridal Show is also a great place to discover unique services and products that you maybe never thought about or knew about. Customizing your wedding to be uniquely YOU is all the rage today... nobody wants a cookie-cutter wedding. Nobody wants to do what the last wedding did. And so there are always new services, new creative ideas, new products for you to consider to totally customize YOUR wedding.

You WILL get lots of goodies, flyers, brochures, business cards, magazines, & freebies from the vendors at the show. I strongly recommend you leave your winter jackets in your car, bring a back pack or rolling mini suitcase/bag to save your back and free up your hands. (OR bring your fiancé to carry the bags for you!!) After the show, take time to review all that you have received. Toss what you really don't need, and then take time to check out vendor websites that interest you.


For me, as a Wedding Detail Coordinator who has a booth at this weekend's Bridal Show, I just love to connect with brides who want to enjoy their wedding day with peace of mind and as little stress as possible! I truly enjoy working alongside of brides & grooms (and their families!) to ensure that the wedding they have put hundreds of hours into planning actually happens as they want it to! And I get a kick out of hearing all the wonderful and creative engagement stories and seeing the beautiful engagement rings that these lucky gals are wearing!

So... get your mom and your bridesmaids together for a girls day out. OR you and your fiancé plan to spend the day researching what you need together. And when attend the Hamilton Bridal Show this weekend - don't forget to stop by to say HI to me at my booth (upstairs along the back wall)... show me your ring, tell me your story and let's chat about your wedding!!

http://www.topweddingshows.com/shows/view/Hamilton-Halton-Spring-Bridal-Wedding-Show-2015




A Bridal Show can be a fun time. Yes, it can be a bit overwhelming at timesSo

Friday, November 1, 2013

Radiant Bride at radius restaurant

Terri and Matt are an adorable couple who like unique and casual things and doing things "out of the box". And that even included their choice of wedding venue! With their theme of rustic Trees... bringing the outdoors in... they found the decor of radius quite suitable for their wedding.
Matt installed strings of lights on the restaurant's rooftop patio, adding unique ambiance for their early evening wedding ceremony. The patio was set up with white folding chairs and the "altar" backdrop was antique doors hinged together. The aisle was lined with tree stumps as bases for assorted candle lanterns.

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails in the dining room while the couple had some great photos done outside and on the city street.
Matt, being a talented woodworker, made a beautiful wooden bench that was on display as the "guest book" for their guests to sign. Guests were given small tree saplings as take-away gifts.

Instead of a wedding cake, a table made of an old door on top of two large wine barrels held assorted pastries and sweets. To display these desserts, assorted tree stumps in various sizes and heights were set on the table and then the desserts set on top of each stump.
This was a very creative display and kept perfectly within their theme.

This couple was all about close family and friends - and this was a wonderful wedding to celebrate the things that meant the most to them.

Congratulations Matt & Terri!



VENDORS:
Venue: radius restaurant www.radius.ca
Pastries: Cake & Loaf Bakery www.cakeandloaf.ca
Flowers: Edna Millar Flowers www.ednamillerflowers.com

Photographer: Stad Creative www.stadcreative.com
Rentals: My Key Event Rentals www.mykeyevent.com
DJ: Precious jp1987@hotmail.com
Favours: H Richardson Farms www.Johnhrichardsonfarms.com



Saturday, January 19, 2013

Hamilton Bridal Show 2013

Last weekend was a wonderful time at the Hamilton Bridal Show!   Hundreds of brides came to gather wedding planning information from close to 200 vendors, and to enjoy fanstastic fashion shows.  Some brides came alone... others with their grooms... and others with moms and bridal party members.   It made for a very busy couple of days!

I was also very excited to be able to display my new business logo on my banner as well as new business cards and service information handouts.


I make sure that I display my Wedding Day Emergency Kit at the show as I find couples are always intrigued with.  This year, I also displayed samples of the Welcome SWAG BAGS - a service I offer to put together welcome bags for the out-of-town guests who attend weddings or events.

Its always a fun time meeting and talking to many different brides.  I met brides who were very young... and brides who were in their 60's.  Most brides were first-time brides, but there were quite a few doing for the second time around as well. 

I love finding out about the themes and ideas that brides have for their special day.  Quite a few are planning to head away on a sunny destination wedding - definitely a growing trend.  One bride I met is planning a wedding weekend at a country retreat center - what fun spending a weekend with your guests!  Another bride is planning a 1920's theme wedding with their reception at a unique local theatre, with silent movies included!   One bride and her groom are big into sea-doos ... so their wedding theme will be sea-doos... held at a gun club with a lake at it!   Another bride won her wedding a local waterslide park and they plan to wear bathing suits under their bridal attire and go in the wave pool!   What I come away with from talking to all these brides is to realize that there is no limit to the creativity and unique ideas that these wonderful gals are coming up with!  

The days of cookie-cutter, traditional weddings are long gone... today's bride is all about unique, individual, creative, one-of-a-kind experiences.

Thanks to all the brides who stopped at my booth and took time to chat with me and fill out a ballot to win a champagne & chocolates gift package!  Congratulations on your engagement and enjoy your planning experiences!


To check out the websites of all the vendors who participated at the Hamilton Bridal Show:
http://hamilton-halton-spring-2013.exhibitors.topweddingshows.com/exhibitors/list

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

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


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

Friday, January 21, 2011

Hamilton Bridal Show was a great weekend!


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!

Monday, December 27, 2010

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

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/

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Stunning Wedding in Black, White & Fuschia

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

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Great Day at Cambridge Bridal Show


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!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Unique Reception at Warplane Heritage Museum

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

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Intimate Family-Focussed Wedding At Liuna Station

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

Friday, June 11, 2010

Pre-Wedding PANIC ATTACKS!

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

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Two Unique Wedding Vendor Networking Events this week!

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 )

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Perfect Day for Lexi & Travis!


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

Monday, March 29, 2010

"Added Value" Wedding Coordinator!


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!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Going FULL TIME in the business!

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.