Wedding Planners & Architects

A friend, also in the wedding industry, compared wedding planners to architects.  She knew someone who designed the perfect kitchen, didn't seek any professional help, hired the builders, and had her kitchen renovated.  Many thousands of dollars later, the kitchen was done.  And while on paper it looked great, in the end the kitchen was not functional, and in fact was annoying to work in.

My friend was comparing hiring an architect to hiring a wedding planner.  If you've never designed a kitchen you don't know exactly what it will be like, and if you've never planned a wedding you don't know exactly how your ideas will translate to the wedding day.  When you're spending $20,000+ on a wedding, why not get a little bit of help to guide you in the right direction?  As wedding planners, like a good architect, our goal is not to take over your big day but help you streamline your priorities, collaborate with you, and put your plan into action.  Well worth the expense, I think!

Happy Tuesday!

Favour Friday - Candles

The best kind of favours are usable.  They are items that the recipient can enjoy, but doesn't need to display in their home.  Candles are a perfect example.  They are simple, usable and neutral.  The candles that With a Flourish carries are locally made beeswax votives, which look really cute with a tag tied onto them with a ribbon.  They are $4 for the candle, and $4.50 with the ribbon and tag.  Weekday delivery is included in Winnipeg.

The photo (not currently working - please view website) is a small gift that shows the candle.  The gift in the photo includes a bamboo washcloth and a bar of soap and would be great for a shower favour, or a small wedding.

Contact us for more details!

King Cole Catering & Domain Community Hall

Yesterday, myself and two other wedding planners went out to Domain.  We were invited  for lunch and a tour of the Domain Community Hall by Vernon Cole of King Cole catering.  If the words "community hall" bring to mind images of a square, unattractive building, you should really check out the Domain Community Hall. The stone and wood exterior are a great first impression for your guests, and the venue includes windows that let in natural light, a patio, and neutral colours inside.

One of many perks of being a wedding planner is the fantastic food that we get to eat (although the food is usually cold by the time I get around to eating it).  King Cole Catering was no exception, and best yet I got to eat while the food was warm:).  We enjoyed a salad with pears and Parmesan cheese, stuffed pork chops and a creme brulee that was delightfully smooth.  It was excellent, and if you are looking for a caterer, King Cole is not exclusive to the Community Hall - they are able to come out to your wedding venue.

You can view the menu and contact King Cole Catering here.

Introducing Adrienne

Adrienne has been at every wedding With a Flourish has planned, with the exception of just one.  She is my incredibly creative co-planner with huge interior design talents, and besides that she is my friend and sister-in-law.  Adrienne also has a friendly personality and the ability to calm down nervous brides.  As we get into this wedding season, we thought it would be fun to include a little interview with Adrienne.  Scroll down to read it!

Tell us about yourself.
Well, I love chocolate, probably too much for my own good! Details are my middle name. I'm a checklist queen and am always organizing something. I would really appreciate it if someone would organize a ball to go to, that way I would have a reason to dress up. I enjoy being active, although somedays I detest the fact that I have to work out! When I was thirteen I had a crush on a boy. May 2009 he became my husband.

What is your favourite thing about working on weddings?
Honestly, the best part of doing a wedding is being able to help make a day a memorable. The commitment of marriage is something to celebrate and it's an honour to be a part of a couple's day.

What type of wedding would you like to decorate?
One of my dream weddings to style is one set in Ireland. The land is lush and beautiful. Of course if you go all the way over there you would have to get married in one of Irelands great, stone castles!

If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Between my way too comfy LuLu Lemon pants and cute black and white tea dress, I'm equally divided! You can never be too prepaired for a ball you know. I'll have to go with the dress and a good pair of heels!

What is your favourite kind of wedding cake?
Although I love cake, especially chocolate, I enjoy the creative alternatives people have come up with. One couple I know simply served a variety of ice cream with an oreo garnish. Other friends plan to have locally made gelatti at theirs. Yum! For our wedding we served a dessert buffet with an array of pastries and cakes. A tasty finish for a lovely evening! I was reinspired thanks to the creative chef from Miette, a very sweet bakery in San Francisco.

Favour Friday

Our Welcome, Tía gifts are perfect for bridesmaids gifts, out of town wedding guests, thank-you's, etc.  Individually, the items inside the boxes also make wonderful favours.  Today's featured favour is coffee.

The coffee that we carry is from Green Bean Coffee Imports.  It is certified fair-trade and organic, and it tastes great.  Our favour-sized bags hold enough coffee for a couple of pots, and we can even come up with a custom label using your monogram, wedding colours, date or special message on it.  Coffee bags are $4.00 each (50 bags min. order)  and include label design and delivery in Winnipeg.  If you are looking for a creative, personalized favour that will definitely get used by your guests, contact us for more details!

Fort Garry Hotel

A couple of weeks ago, Adrienne and I went to the Fort Garry Hotel for a tour.  I met Mr. Gordon Krebs at an event before Christmas, and he offered to show us the new ballroom at the Hotel.  Of course, I took him up on the invitation.  The Fort Garry is one of few historic wedding venues in Winnipeg, and its beautiful architecture and ornate decor are perfect for a high style event.  I love the tall ceilings, huge chandeliers, and large windows.

The Hotel has recently undergone a renovation, which implements new technology but remains true to the historical feel of the building.  And Ten Spa, which offers luxurious spa treatments is a destination on its own.  Treat yourself to a facial, a massage or a manicure/pedicure leading up to the wedding.

If you are looking for a wedding venue, a spa, or a wedding night getaway (apparently, brunch is delicious as well), consider the Fort Garry Hotel.

Moore Photography

Two years ago, ideas for With a Flourish were just starting.  I was mostly finished a course in wedding planning, my logo and company name were in process, and I was meeting with every industry professional that I could find.

One of those people was Curtis Moore, of Moore Photography, and my meeting with him was a business changer.  First of all, if you know Curtis you know he is very charismatic and has a fun, go-getter personality.  When meeting with people, I often had a list of questions, which the the professionals would answer, and I would go home feeling like I'd had an interview more than a conversation (and sometimes this was true as I had to do interviews as part of my course).  Curtis at one point in our conversation asked "what's the best business advice someone has given you?" which is the first question I got asked that put me in the place of a wedding planner, and not a student.  I was so stunned I don't think I said a thing:)

Anyway, the main thing Curtis taught me, as a soon-to-be wedding planner, was to give back as much as possible.  He suggested ways that in his profession he's able to help others just by, for example, offering to take photos for someone.  Then, he offered to provide the photos for my With a Flourish website.  I was very surprised, and very thrilled.  Of course I took him up on the offer, and the original With a Flourish website had several of his fabulous photos on it.  I don't even know what I would have done without them...but the website probably would have had a lot of blank space:)

Now, I'm happy to say that my website features only weddings that I've planned, and unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of actually working on a wedding with Curtis yet, so none of the photos on there now are from him.  Someday, right Curtis?  But I remain incredibly grateful to him for helping me start and promote my business with fantastic pictures.

Check out Moore Photography's new website, and seriously, book him to photograph your wedding:)

Turquose Nails and a Good Week

This is an unplanned post, but I don't keep a journal because I'm so busy writing for this blog, so, internet, you get to hear about my week today.  Do you ever have weeks where things just fall into place?  I'm having one of those weeks, and here's a few of the things that I love about it:

• A Fashion Show that I'm working on went from having 20 outfits to 60, and 0 models to 12.  It's going to be a great Show!
• My 2 year old, Miles, had his last music class and he went from being the shy kid in class to being the first one to jump up to play Ring Around The Rosie.  Besides that, to celebrate his last class we took him to La Fiesta Cafecito for enchiladas:) 
• I'm wearing turquoise nail polish.
• An article I was interviewed for on the Weddingbells website was posted.  Read it here.
• The Event Styling side of With a Flourish is growing.  I.love.decorating.
• I got to see Seirra Noble perform on Tuesday.  Granted, it was at a property managers conference and not the most exciting venue, but it still counts:)

Fair Trade Coffee

A couple of days ago I was at Ten Thousand Villages, and I heard about a neat event they have coming up:  This coming Saturday, at Ten Thousand Villages 134 Plaza Drive in Winnipeg, Stacey Toews from Level Ground will be roasting coffee beans and answering questions.  Level Ground is a direct Fair Trade company located in British Columbia that sells coffee beans, dried fruit, etc.  The fruit that comes in Welcome, Tía gift boxes is from Level Ground.  The short definition of "direct Fair Trade" is that Level Ground works directly with producers rather than going through a middle man to get products.  For a better answer, stop by Ten Thousand Villages between 10 and 1 on Saturday to sample some coffee and talk with Stacey!

As an added bonus, Chrissy Troy from HOT 103.1 will be there as well:)

New Look for Weddings in Winnipeg!

Weddings in Winnipeg, the very popular online resource and print magazine, has a brand new website.  I love the clean design and the large photos.  You can find all your wedding vendors on this site, but the place you should really start is by looking at the wonderful shots taken by blf studios in my photo gallery on the new website!

Wedding Jewelry

This past week, I had the pleasure of meeting Diane, a Silpada jewelry consultant.  She does individual sales and in-home parties selling the jewelry, and I got to have a peek a few days ago.  It is really beautiful, and pieces that would be perfect for brides include freshwater pearl necklaces and bracelets, and sterling silver earrings and rings.  The pieces suit all styles from trendy to timeless, and by hosting a party you could even get your bridal jewelry for free!  This is a really neat thing to consider for bridal showers.  And, Diane herself is very knowledgeable about the jewelry and obviously loves her job!  Here is some information that Diane put together about Silpada:

Whether you want a simple finishing touch of jewellery or an elaborate one for your exquisite wedding gown, classic business attire, or hip every day outfits, Silpada Designs’ jewellery collection will allow your personality to shine. The finest materials are selected for the handcrafted .925 sterling silver and semi-precious stone designs brimming with individuality. Silpada promises the best of everything and provides a 60 day money-back guarantee, a life-time replacement policy, and 475 nickel-free pieces created by designers and artisans from around the world who are paid fair living wages.

My name is Diane DeBattista and I am a Silpada Designs Independent Representative. Please contact me for the link to my Silpada website to enjoy the entire collection which offers endless combinations to create a look all your own that will remain in style forever! There is something for everyone: the bride, groom, bridesmaids, mothers, and even your flower girl for beautiful mementos of your special day that will help all of you look and feel your personal best again and again! I can also provide a copy of the catalogue which features life-size photos.

And with all of your wedding expenses, why not earn your jewellery free? Host a party yourself or a party can be held in your honour by your bridesmaids, friends or family. You invite your friends to add the perfect sparkle to their style and I bring my boutique to you! Deliveries are direct to each customer so this is the easiest party you will ever have! The average hostess earns $375 of free jewellery and can purchase one piece at half-price. However, one mother-of-the-bride recently earned $3,000 of free jewellery (yes, three thousand dollars free) so the possibilities for a “bride’s party” are astounding! You could earn a jewellery wardrobe for yourself for every nuptial event on your calendar and even gifts for your bridal party free!

You may also want to discover a flexible and lucrative business opportunity to help pay for your wedding expenses, honeymoon, down payment for your new home and even more! I will gladly share how Silpada can fit into your life.

To reserve a date to earn free jewellery, make an individual purchase, or find out more about becoming a representative call me today. I would love to see you shine in Silpada!


Diane Laurendeau DeBattista
Silpada Designs Independent Representative & Silver Manager

Phone 204.254.7266
E-mail sterlingdiane@mts.net

The Inn at the Forks

Yesterday, Adrienne and I went for a tour of The Inn at the Forks.  I've been inside once, and I loved the calm decor - stone, wood and earthy colours make it a really warm place.  The staff was incredibly friendly.  Last time I was there, I was setting up wedding cupcakes for Sweet Impressions, which I have done maybe 15-20 times at various venues around the city.  Often, it takes me 8-12 trips to get all the supplies inside, I can't find a banquet manager, and I get told to move my car out of the loading zone and leave the carts for the guests and not to use them to transport cupcakes.

At The Inn at the Forks, however, I was greeted with smiles, sent upstairs where the banquet coordinator met me at the elevator, told me to park in the loading zone and had somebody meet me downstairs to load the cupcakes onto a cart and bring it to the ballroom.  Even though I was only there for 1/2 an hour, it was the most pleasant setup I have done.

So when we got the opportunity to learn more about the Inn, Adrienne and I were excited to go.  Here's what we learned: there are spaces that accommodate from very small weddings to 188 guests.  The decor is easy to work with (no tacky colours to try and hide), and really nice.  There are guest rooms that are perfect for getting ready before the wedding, and include beautiful views of the Forks, Portage & Main, and St. Boniface.  The Inn at the Forks received a 5 Green Key rating, for implementing recycling and composting programs, and having eco-friendly policies.

If you are still looking for a place to hold your wedding, The Inn at the Forks is definitely one to consider.