All posts under ‘planning’
When it comes to weddings, some brides go for a “bigger is better” mentality, but with the popularity of French macarons, cake pops and bite-sized snacks, it seems “mini”, or even “micro,” is in right now. Adding tiny elements to your wedding definitely adds a cute factor and could also potentially be beneficial for miniature budgets.
Photography Photobolic (photobolic.com).
Your wedding day is a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Most likely it will be captured on film, and in your memory, but there are other ways to have creative keepsakes of your day. Here are a few neat ways to cherish your spectacular celebration:
1. Time capsule
Have a keepsake box at your reception for guests to add mementos, letters or photos, then promise to open it on your first, fifth or tenth wedding anniversary. You could even have guests fill out a questionnaire with predictions of where you’ll be and what you’ll be doing during that time. Just don’t be tempted to peek early on!
2. Framing
You’ll probably pick out your favourite wedding photo to hang over your mantel, but why stop there? Frame the lyrics or music of your first dance song, your written vows, a poem from the ceremony or the love notes you gave each other as you were getting ready.
3. Wine bottles
Pick your favourite bottle of wine or champagne and have guests sign it or keep a bottle of table wine to enjoy on your anniversary. You could even have personalized labels or etchings on the bottle, so you remember which one to store (and not drink right away). Ports and vintage wines last 10-20 years, so pick something that will age well and make sure to store it on its side in a dark, cool place.
4. Preserving your dress
Your dress is probably one of the most important things you’ll want to keep, so don’t leave it in a crumpled heap in your closet. Have your dress cleaned right away, so stains don’t set, and take it to a professional gown preserver within a few weeks of the wedding. A preserver will make sure the dress doesn’t yellow or decay by cleaning it properly and placing it in an acid-free box.
5. Drying flowers
Drying your bouquet goes beyond the days of pressing petals into a journal. A professional flower preserver can press or quick-dry flowers using silica gel to store in a frame or dome, or freeze-dry your blooms to keep the whole bouquet in tact. You can also preserve the flowers yourself by hanging them to dry, then make an arrangement with the dry flowers and leaves.
6. Freezing wedding cake
Many couples have adopted the tradition of saving a piece of wedding cake for their first anniversary. Some cakes don’t freeze well, so make sure it will stay tasty by wrapping it properly. Remove any decorations or flowers, then let the cake sit in the fridge for a few hours to chill. Wrap the cake up with plastic wrap so air can’t get in, then place it in a freezer bag or box. If you aren’t keen on frozen cake, consider ordering a replica tier in the same flavour as your cake for your anniversary.
7. Custom wedding art
Hire an artist to paint a custom wedding portrait to hang on your wall. It’s not just limited to a portrait of you and your groom; some artists specialize in bridal bouquet or wedding dress portraits where they create a fine art rendition of your bouquet or dress from a photo you send them.
8. Something blue
Catherine Middleton had a small piece of blue ribbon sewn into her gown for her “something blue.” Embroider your wedding date, initials or monogram into your dress or sew custom labels inside your groom’s tie or your bridal party accessories. You could even get your wedding party to sign the bottom of your shoes in blue. According to some cultural traditions, the bridesmaids are supposed to sign the bottom of the bride’s shoes and after the night is over, the person whose name has faded most will be the next to marry.
Dessy's Pantone Wedding Colour Planner.
After setting a date and picking a venue, one of the most important decisions that lies ahead is selecting a colour scheme for your wedding. The colours you pick should enhance your celebration, reflect your personality and tie all the elements of your day together. Here are six pointers to help you pick your perfect palette.
1. Consider Your Location.
Your venue sets the tone for your celebration, so it’s important to choose accent colours that work with the space. If there are elements of the space that can’t be changed (i.e. carpet, drapery, upholstery), you would be wise to start there and select colours that won’t clash! Is your venue old or new? Are you getting married inside or outside? The answers to these questions can put you on the right path to choosing your colours. For instance, a heritage building with lots of heavy wooden trim will likely look best with rich colours like gold and burgundy, whereas an outdoor ceremony calls for light airy colours like white and green.
2. Stay in Harmony with the Season.
What time of year are you tying the knot? This is another great place to start when it comes to choosing your colours. If you’re getting married in the fall, look to the turning leaves for colour inspiration and incorporate vibrant shades of yellow and orange. A springtime wedding, on the other hand, is perfectly suited to pretty pastel colours such as lavender, pistachio green and pale pink.
3. Create the Right Mood.
What type of celebration are you planning? Classic shades like ivory and navy blue convey a sophisticated air, while bright colours like Kelly green and hot pink are perfect for a funky fete. The right colour scheme is an easy way to create a certain ambience for your wedding. Want to know more about colour theory? Check out a colour psychologist’s advice here.
4. Think of Your Bridesmaids.
Don’t decide on a specific shade without considering your bridesmaids—especially if you expect them to wear the hue from head to toe! Each bridesmaid’s hair colour, eye colour and skin tone will affect how a certain colour looks on her, which is why you should choose a shade that flatters everyone equally or give them some options. For example, you can choose several shades of blue—from cobalt to baby blue—so there’s something for everyone. Also, Dessy has introduced an ingenious way to make sure you and your bridesmaids are on the same page (no more squabbling about what coral looks like!). Through Dessy’s website you can order Pantone Wedding Chiplettes to distribute to your girls (and your vendors). Each Chiplette represents a specific Pantone colour (with a number), and each one corresponds with matching Dessy products such as bridesmaid dresses, ballet flats, etc.
5. Limit Your Options.
There are so many incredible colours to choose from that it’s easy to get carried away. Just remember, unless you’re planning a rainbow-themed wedding, you’ll want to be selective with your colours. As a rule of thumb, pick one main colour and two accent shades. You want your decor to look pulled together, not chaotic!
6. Get Inspired by Your Bouquet.
When in doubt, look to your favourite flower to establish a colour palette. This is a simple way to start narrowing down your colour options. For example, if red roses are a must-have, you might want to avoid green and white accents for fear of creating a Christmas vibe. Likewise, if you’re determined to have sunflowers in your bouquet, pastel bridesmaid dresses probably aren’t going to work.
The definitive guide to our favourite Canadian wedding photographers of the year from coast to coast.
We scoured our archives for the prettiest real wedding photos and narrowed the field based on reputation, attention to detail and the overall quality and creativity of the shots. Scroll through our top 25 list to find a photographer that perfectly suits your taste — we’ll fill you in on who they are, why we picked them, where you can see more of their work and how you can get in touch to make a booking.
Know any photographers that aren’t on our list but should be? Have them submit a real wedding to be instantly entered into the running for 2013.
We’ve been looking at some truly amazing weddings as we put together our special issue, Weddingbells Weddings, which hits newsstands on February 20th, and we couldn’t help noticing some hot trends that kept cropping up over and over again. Of course, we couldn’t wait to share them with you, so here are six of our favourite new trends. May they help inspire your wedding planning!
Want to know what else is hot for 2012? We recap 12 of the year’s hottest trends here.
Animals are becoming a popular addition to weddings, whether it’s as ring bearers, “flower pets” or even as part of the wedding party. Your wedding day is a chance to be surrounded by loved ones, so why not let your beloved furry friend be a part of the celebration? Include them during the ceremony, pictures or let them roam around throughout the day. Here are 10 easy ways to incorporate them into your photos.
The hues you choose for your wedding day are instrumental when it comes conveying the mood and personality of the celebration. “Colour registers in the same part of our brains that signals our emotions. You actually receive a lot more information from a colour than you can verbalize so choosing the right colour for your wedding day is huge,” says colour psychologist Janice Lindsay. “You can use colour as a way of breaking expectations and expressing your own unique point of view,” she adds.
We asked Lindsay to weigh in on some of the most popular wedding colours and what they say about your big day. Then we gathered together some ideas to inspire you — everything from cakes and flowers to gowns and gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Not sure you’re a four-tier cake kind of girl? Don’t fret. There are plenty of other delicious dessert options available, and if these real weddings are any indication the trend is towards homemade treats and bite-size creations. From cinnamon buns covered in icing (see above) to adorable miniature cheesecakes, we present 10 of our favourite wedding dessert ideas.
ATTENTION BRIDES! There's still time to lose weight before your special day! Find out more ...
Graydon Hall Manor: Toronto’s most exclusive reception facility – only 4 Saturday’s left in 2010.
