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!

Splashes of Colour Warmed the Night!

Brittany & Mike got married on a chilly evening on November 15th at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. But the cold winds did nothing to cool down this hot and vibrant event!

This couple was the ultimate in being a "laid back & easy going" Bride & Groom. They were just so excited and ready to get married and so happy to have family & friends surrounding them that there was no room for stress or anxiety as they prepared and as the day arrived!

The Art Gallery provided a unique space for the wedding. The Pavilion room is a big open space with 2 large plain white walls, 2 floor-to-ceiling window walls, a grey floor and very high ceilings... really, a blank canvas on which to paint and design a dream wedding. For this couple, they chose to go with "splashes of colour" of Red, Pink, Purple or Yellow. The ceiling had about 50 coloured chinese lanterns of various sizes hanging across the room.

For the ceremony, flowers arrangements sat on pedestals to very simply accent the "altar" area. The aisle was lined with votives in sets of 3 tall vases, surrounded by coloured rose petals. Later, the room was flipped for the reception, and guests tables were set with basic white linens, but accented with "colour blocked" details - each table being a different one of the 4 colours in the floral centerpieces, votive candle holders, place cards and table name cards!

Brittany's bouquet was 'colour blocked' with these four colours. Each bridesmaid carried a solid colour bouquet in one of the theme colours. The flower girl carried a mini bouquet with one gerbera daisy in each colour tied together. The head table backdrop was a simple wall-cling of the couple's name, with uplighting that gradually rotated through the colours during the evening.

Signage for the event, and guest place cards, were all done with what looked like "paint splashes" of the theme colours as well. Very fitting considering Brittany works in the head office paint department for Canadian Tire. The table names were very unique, and the guests at each table had to guess the significance of the table name to the couple, explain it to the rest of the guests and if they were right, the couple were more than happy to reward them with a kiss! This "game" went over really well with the guests... and there was a lot of kissing going on during the reception!!

Overall - they were a wonderful couple and the beautiful wedding truly celebrated family, friends, love and great relationships!

Congratulations Brittany & Mike!


VENDORS:

VENUE: Art Gallery of Hamilton www.artgalleryofhamilton.com
OFFICIANT: Linda Kasprzak of All Seasons Weddings www.allseasonsweddings.com
PIANIST: Uncle of Bride, Jack Packer
PHOTOGRAPHER: Sara Wilde Photography www.sarawilde.com
FLORIST: Samantha Forrest of Pocket of Posies www.pocketofposies.ca
DJ: Devon Craig MacDonald devoncraigmacdonald@gmail.com
Dance Floor & other RENTALS: Special Events Rentals www.specialevents.on.ca
LIMO: Hamilton Limo www.hamiltonlimo.com
HAIR & MAKEUP: Be You Tiful Brides www.beyoutifulbrides.com
BRIDAL GOWN: Heirlooms Bridal Salon www.heirloomsbridal.com

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

Styling Your Bridesmaids

Recently, we discussed the attire elements for you, the Bride.  But once you have your wedding dress, headpiece, shoes and accessories selected, its then time to turn your attention to how to dress and style your bridesmaids.

Your gown will set the tone for the wedding as to how formal or how casual, how traditional or how trendy your day will be.  When selecting dresses for your girls, keep this same tone and theme in mind for them. 

Traditionally, the bride had full say and control over what dresses her bridal party would wear.  She selected the style and colour and her choice was not debated.  And for a more traditional or formal wedding, all bridesmaids usually wear the exact same dress.  The "PROS" of tradition is that there is no arguing or debating among bridesmaids which means less drama to deal with... and in the end, all the girls have the same look.  The "CONS" of tradition is that the bride may select a style (or colour) that really doesn't look good on all of her girls, leaving some feeling self-conscious and less-than-thrilled about an expense that she'll never wear again.

More recently however, the dynamics of bridesmaids styles have shifted somewhat, allowing the girls to have more input and say into the dresses that get selected.  And there has also been a trend towards allowing the bridesmaids to choose a dress of their choice, within certain parameters set out by the bride.  The "PROS" of being more flexible is that each girl can select a style that she feels secure and comfortable in, and they'll be happier about putting out money for a dress they will indeed wear again.  The "CONS" of individual choice is that the girls may look totally uncoordinated and sometimes giving too much freedom can end up with a bridesmaid selecting a dress that the bride totally dislikes. 

So, what is the best option for choosing your bridesmaids attire? 

In my personal opinion... it all goes back to what the tone, feel or theme of your wedding will be.  If it is very traditional and formal, then all the same dress (or at least all the same colour and length of dress by the same designer, but in different styles) is the best way to go.  But if your wedding is more casual and informal, then giving your girls guidelines about the colour and length and letting them choose their own dresses might be a better idea.

Regardless of how you decide to attire your bridesmaids... just remember to be considerate of their body styles, personal styles and budget as you make your decision.  Don't alienate a dear friend over a dress disagreement. 

And don't forget:  

on your wedding day

it is MORE important

that your BFF's are standing up with you as your maids

than what dress they are wearing!

Surprise! A 10th Wedding Anniversary Party

Peter & Wendy have been married for 10 years... and Peter wanted to surprise Wendy with a party to celebrate their anniversary ....

"Celli's Osteria", a fabulous Italian restaurant in downtown Burlington has a lower level restaurant called "Big Tomato", and we were able to rent out this space for this special private party.

The atmosphere is very "Italian"... with walls and tables and decor done in various autumnal shades ... industrial piping along the ceiling with hanging crystal chandeliers... bookcases along the walls displaying various vases and bottles and artifacts... the room is a pleasing eclectic mix of visuals and a great location for a private party!

Guests were invited to attend this great evening... and about 40 friends arrived between 7 & 7:30 pm, enjoying drinks and antipasto platters.

At 7:30, Wendy & Peter arrived - and it was very evident by Wendy's shocked expression that she truly had no clue about this being a party for her - for them! After mingling and greeting guests for a bit, the dinner began and guests enjoyed a leisurely and delicious dinner. A scrumptious carrot slab cake was presented for the "bride & groom" to cut together before it was served to guests.

A dear friend, and the minister who had performed their wedding 10 years ago gave a speech in their honour.. and then a touching video was shown - a special work that Peter had made to honour Wendy. Following the video, Peter & Wendy enjoyed a "first dance" together with a song that he had over-taped with a personal message to her part-way through. The rest of the evening was filled with guests visiting together as well as dancing, with great music provided by DJ Ron of Perpetual Rhythms.

Congratulations on 10 years of marriage Peter & Wendy... and wishing you many more years together!

VENDORS:
Venue - Celli's Osteria www.cellis.ca/
DJ - Ron Finlay from Perpetual Ryhthms http://www.perpetualrhythms.com/
Video Production - Cole McFarlane http://500px.com/ColeMcFarlane

A Perfect Day for a Princess Bride!

Amy never thought she'd want a princess wedding dress... but on Friday, she looked every bit of a princess! Her sparkling tulle dress looked amazing on her and she was glowing... and was a bit teary as she walked down the aisle to meet up with her groom, Nathan. The ceremony had some nice personal touches as Nathan's dad was the minister who performed their marriage.

Photos were taken on the beautiful grounds of West Haven Golf Course while guests did a photo guest book and enjoyed the cocktail hour. The wedding colours were ivory and apple red and the dresses, flowers and reception decor were stunning.

The reception was served by great staff at the club and guests were entertained by brother of the bride, Ryan, who was a funny and "natural" MC for the evening. Speeches and a slide show of the couple were tender and touching.

In lieu of favours, guests were each given a gift tag that said "Choose a Charity"... and they were instructed to put their tag in one of three baskets, representing three charities... International Justice Mission, Compassion Canada and Austism Ontario. This was a neat way to give donations to charities and to involve guests in the process.

The evening was rounded out with lots of fun dancing and guests enjoying visiting around their tables. A highlight was all the guests watching bride Amy and her brother Ryan doing the dance to "Thriller" together... very entertaining.

The whole day was a perfect day... with the rain and cold holding off until later in the evening and with the event running smoothly for the couple and their family and friends. Congratulations Amy & Nathan!


VENDORS:
Ceremony Venue - North Park Community Church - www.northpark.ca/
Reception Venue - West Haven Golf Course (Rob) - westhavengolf.com/
Photographers/Videographers - www.kolabcinema.com/
Florist - Nicole Cake (London) nicake@gmail.com
Ceremony Musicians - DaCapo Strings dacapostrings.wordpress.com
DJ - Rob from Music Central www.musiccentral.ca/
Late-night Limo - Checker Limo - www.voyageurtransportation.ca/

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

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!

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/

The Beauty of Live Music for your Wedding Ceremony

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!

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

Fall SPECIAL!!

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!

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

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!

Fun Wedding with Sri Lankin and Trinidadian Grooves!

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)