The Best of Weddings 2009

As this year ends, I thought I would compile my personal Top Ten List for 2009:

1. Favourite wedding trend - Personalization.  It takes a bit of thoughtfulness, and I love it when couples use their story, their personalities and their hobbies to make their wedding unique.

2. Favourite colour combination - Turquoise and red. 


3. Other favourite colour combination - Seasonal.  I had two brides this past year that didn't have a very specific colour combination, they used flowers that were locally grown and in season, and that was the majority of the colour at their weddings.

4. Most thoughtful bride - I walked into a reception venue and found a basket of fruit, chocolate, and a kind note from the bride for myself and my team.

5. Word I wish would go away - Faux.  Why would you want fake flowers when you can have real flowers, styrofoam cake when you can have real cake, and vintage-inspired when you could walk into an antique store and find something that's actually vintage?  I don't get it!

6. Favourite favour - My couples were all about good favours this year, and my two favourites were bottles of homemade wine and jars of Manitoba honey.

7.  Best desserts - Variety.  I love the dessert tables that were popular in 2009.  A mix of cookies, cupcakes, cakes and squares ensured that every guest ate a dessert they enjoyed.  The best done dessert tables include varying heights and textures, a backdrop and cute signage.

8.  Low-key ceremonies - One of my couples got married at sunset.  There was no aisle, no formalities and no pressure.

9.  Choreographed dances - I used to think this was cheesy, but now I'm all for it.  There are some fantastic dance studios in Winnipeg that can help you put together a dance to "your" song.


10.  Top package - Partial Planning.  Most of the couples I have worked with have wanted a bit of help along the way, as well as the ever popular Day-Of Coordination.

Feeding Vendors at the Wedding?

Yesterday, an incredibly kind bride that I am working with asked if I would like to eat the meal that the caterer would be bringing to the wedding, or if I would like something special ordered in.  This reminded me of a story that I wanted to tell, from a vendor I talked to several months ago:

The vendor I was talking to has worked at over 100 weddings, and the nature of his business means that he spends all day and evening at the wedding venue.  He goes to each venue early in the day, sets up, and stays often until after midnight.  He figures he's been fed about 5 or 6 times at a wedding.  That means that 5% of the time, he eats during his 10-14 hour shift.  I wholeheartedly believe that couples are not stingy or rude, but simply have so much to think about on their wedding day, they don't think of it to order an extra plate for their vendors.

I include a meal in my contracts, because I know I won't have time to run out and pick something up to eat. I'm usually busy from early in the morning until very late at night, and I simply do my job better when I'm fed.  When going over contracts with clients, this point often causes a new discussion on which other vendors should be fed at the wedding.

Pretty much, anyone who will be there over meal time should be offered a meal.  If your photographer or videographer are staying for the reception, they should be fed.  If they are staying just to take photos of the room and then going home, then it's not necessary.  DJ's should receive a meal, as well as the MC if you are hiring one.  Wedding coordinators, band members, and the people running the photo booth will usually require a meal.  If you aren't sure, simply ask.

To cut the costs a little bit, some venues offer "vendor meals" which are the same as regular meals but without the salad and without dessert.  You can ask the catering manager if there are other ways to bring down the cost.

I've been at weddings where the vendors have their own room to eat in, and I've been at weddings and seated at a guest table.  If it's possible, it's a nice touch to have the vendors sitting together in the main room.  From a coordinators view, that way if something goes wrong/needs attention, I'm right there.  The meal is also a good time for me to go over the schedule for the rest of the reception with the MC and DJ if needed.

As I said above, if you're not sure in a particular case whether to feed a vendor, or where they should be seated (for example, should the DJ sit with all his equipment, or at a table?) just ask - they will let you know what the standard is for their profession.

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve tonight and we're going to to kick off the celebration by picking up my little brother from the airport.  He's been in Japan since August and Miles (who is two) has been asking for him every day lately.  We have an airplane phase going on in our house, so we'll have to go early and watch some planes land tonight!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and holiday weekend.  I'm officially "out of the office" until Monday morning, and I will open all emails and return all phone calls first thing on the 28th.  I'll be playing with my kid, celebrating with my family, and drinking eggnog until then:)

Weddingbells 25th Anniversary Edition!

I'm feeling quite behind in blogging right now.  However, I am catching up on my reading.  In the past week, I've read a fiction book, several food magazines and the newest copy of...Weddingbells!  Weddingbells is full of wedding style, tips, and inspiration for the Canadian Bride.  This issue is happens to be their 25th anniversary edition, and includes a look back at the past 25 years of weddings.  With a Flourish can be found on page 400, and page 397 in the list of 25 giveaways.  We're so excited to be giving away gift baskets for out-of town wedding guests...stay tuned for photos and details coming in early January!

For now, here's the cover of Weddingbells:

Eco-Beautiful Weddings Magazine

I just finished going through the very first Eco-Beautiful Weddings Magazine.  It is an online magazine that looks just like a print magazine, complete with editors picks, real weddings, and gorgeous inspiration.  It is published and edited by Katie Martin of Elegance and Simplicity, a green wedding and floral design firm based in Washington, DC.

I've been following the progress of the Eco-Beautiful magazine on twitter for a while, so while I knew it was going to be awesome, it totally blew me away!  Click here to view Eco-Beautiful Weddings Magazine.

With a Flourish Weekend Inspiration

Elizabeth Anne Designs is one of my weekly blog reads.  The writing is wonderful and the photos are a great place to stop for wedding inspiration.  Last week, Elizabeth Anne Designs got a blog makeover, and it is now even more beautiful.  I'm working on a few projects over here, so that's all I've got to bring you today:)  Have a happy weekend,  Blogland!

Q & A: Kids at a Wedding

Q: It's important to us to have our nieces and nephews at our wedding.  We both have large families and we aren't quite sure what to do with the kids during the reception.

A:  First of all, kids bring a fantastic energy to weddings.  They really know how to check their worries at the door and celebrate.  They laugh the loudest and they are the first people on the dance floor.  That said, kids also pose a bit of a challenge to logistics.  Long meals, long speeches, and long gaps seem, well, longer to kids.  Here's a few things you can do to make sure your youngest guests (and their parents) have a relaxing evening:

• Include colouring books, wordsearches, or quiet games on tables where kids will be sitting.
• If the kids are all sitting at the same table, consider customizing a centrepiece to include cookies or candy that can be eaten during speeches.
• Keep speeches to a minimum, and pass on the open mic.  Even better, have speeches during the meal or dessert to make for a shorter program.
• If the wedding is outdoors, have games such as skipping ropes, lawn bowling, etc. available.  Even the adults might get involved!
• Consider a kid friendly dessert.  While adults may love your french vanilla wedding cake, kids may not.  If you want to get very creative, go for an ice cream sundae station where guests can load up their sundaes with toppings of their choice.
• Designate a kids table or kids room.  Have games available during the dance.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Decorations

Yesterday, we took Miles on a hayride with my parents.  Part of the day included picking up a Christmas tree at a tree farm, and bringing it back to my parent's house.  Since then, I've been thinking about how to have an eco-friendly Christmas.  I haven't really even thought about Christmas this year, since I have a "don't love it? don't do it" policy - I don't love Christmas decorating, so I don't do it.  I don't love Christmas baking, so I don't bother.  The only part I really enjoy is Christmas shopping, and that's coming up in next week's post.

So, here are a my top five eco-friendly Christmas decorating tips:

1) Purchase your Christmas tree at a local farm rather than a big store where the trees have likely been trucked in from far away.  Better yet, buy a Christmas tree that comes in a pot that can be planted after the holidays (obviously, only if you have a yard).  We decorate a non-Christmas tree that lives in our home, although as I mentioned above, we're not real big Christmas people - I understand if you need a Christmas tree in your place to feel festive!

2)  Use decorations that can be used in the years to come.  I know you love purple. I know purple is one of the big colours this year.  In two years, it won't be.  Choose colours and styles that go with your home and your style, and are timeless rather than pieces that you will want to throw away next winter when they are no longer trendy.

3)  Homemade decor wins. Have kids? Even better.  Get out your craft supplies and go nuts.

4)  Locally made is a close second.  Craft shows, locally owned shops, and online stores such as Etsy (check out their local section for crafters in your region) are fantastic for finding good-quality decorations and supporting local business.

5)  Use less.  Eco-friendly advocates agree that although substituting our material things with greener alternatives is important, the biggest thing we can do for the environment is simple: use less stuff.  Purchase less decorations, and enjoy the ones you have.  Do you really need a blow up, light up, Santa Claus and reindeer on your roof?  If you are seriously asking yourself that question, please go back and read every single green living post I have written. :)

Any other eco-friendly decorating tips out there?

Sweet Impressions - Winnipeg Cookies & Cupcakes

Sweet Impressions has been creating gorgeous cookies and cupcakes since 2003, and opened their store at 268 Tache Ave. in 2008.  This past week, their brand new website went live, and it is very cute!

Their custom cookies are fantastic for weddings, corporate or social events, and they can design anything.  Seriously.  And of course, their cookies and cupcakes are delicious.  Wedding cupcakes are often set up on square tier which add a bit of decor to any wedding reception.

I recommend them to weddings and big groups all the time, and one of the major draws to Sweet Impressions is that their bakery is nut-free.  When you are planning a wedding or event that will have a large crowd (large enough that you don't know what everyone's allergies are), it is best to play it safe and stay away from nuts on dessert.  When working with Sweet Impressions, you can be guaranteed that your guests with nut allergies will be able to eat dessert, because everything they make is nut-free.

If you have not been into the store, the Christmas season is the perfect time to get down there.  Aside from the yummy baked treats, they carry giftware including aprons, cupcake kits, books, and adorable kids cupcake hats.

One more thing:  Sweet Impressions is offering holiday cookie decorating classes.  Learn more about the classes here.

 


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Wedding Day-Of Coordination

I receive quite a few phone calls from brides looking for a Day-Of Coordination.  I use the term Day-Of Coordination because most brides are familiar with it, although I don't particularly like the term.  It's a little misleading, since of course we don't just show up on the wedding day!  The amount of time involved makes it more like a Week-Of Coordination, or sometimes a Month-Of Coordination.

A Day-Of Coordination is designed to implement the plans that you, as the bride, have so carefully made.  Our goal is to make your wedding day as stress-free as possible, and make sure that you and your family are able to celebrate and enjoy yourselves without attending to the behind-the-scenes tasks.

Our Day-Of Coordination service typically takes 25 hours (not including a complimentary introductory consultation), and includes:

• One meeting about 4 weeks before the wedding to catch up on your wedding plans so far and go over what still needs to be done.

• Several emails/calls between this meeting and the wedding to put plans in place.

• We call your vendors and discuss timelines, logistics, and details of your wedding day.

• Using this information, we draw up a detailed timeline of the wedding day to distribute to vendors and use as a guide.

• Attend the rehearsal, and direct if necessary.

• Arrive at the ceremony site about 2 hours before the ceremony begins, and stay until the end of the reception.  We do everything from making sure the couple and their family members have everything they need, to greeting vendors, adjusting the timeline as needed, helping with decorating, pinning on boutonnieres, arranging the entrance into the reception, and helping wherever we can so that the day flows smoothly.  If you would like to know more about what we do on the wedding day, please email me.  The detailed list is too long to include on this blog, but I'm more than happy to email it to you!

Every wedding is different, and every couple's reasons for hiring a Day-Of Coordinator are a little bit different.  Our average bill is $1500, and includes everything listed above.