Handmade Wedding: Chalkboards

Chalkboards are a cute, inexpensive and simple addition to your wedding decor.  It's so easy to buy chalkboard paint and use it on anything you want for signs, table numbers, placecards, menus, guest book table, etc.  Here's 2 chalkboard projects we've done:

Photo: blf Studios

 

Last year, I painted mason jars with a bit of chalkboard paint, and wrote table numbers on the jars with chalk for an escort card table.  Inside the jars were pinecones, but you could use flowers, grass, etc.

 

At the Winnipeg Green Show, I painted picture frames the colour I wanted, and then painted the glass inside with chalkboard paint.  I tied the chalkboards to the backs of the chairs as placecards.

Handmade elements are a great way to personalize your wedding decor.  I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Wedding Insomnia

If you find yourself thinking about wedding payments and timelines when you should be getting your beauty sleep, here's a few things you might want to try:

-Have a "wind down" before bed.  Spend half an hour doing something relaxing - read, take a bath, journal, listen to music, etc.  Don't think about any of the things that might be stressing you out.

-Don't consume anything caffeinated or eat heavy foods before bed.

-Go to bed at the same time every night.  Your body will develop a routine.

-Make checklists.  If I feel like I've accomplished my checklist for the day and I have a plan for the next day, it's easier to fall asleep.

-Keep a paper and pen beside your bed.  If you find yourself waking up in the night with things to remember, quickly jot them down and then go back to sleep.

Does anyone else have tips that help them sleep at night?

Wooden Invites by Cards by Cristina!

I met Cristina from Cards by Cristina in Spring at the Weddingbells luncheon, and saw her invitations soon after.  Cristina designs beautiful, custom wedding stationery including invitations, save-the-dates, table numbers, favour tags, menus, programs, seating charts, etc.  She also designs stationery for other events.

Cristina's latest product is wooden invitations.  These invitations are wood, engraved with your information and custom graphic.  They look great and feel smooth, and they are available in 4x6 or 5x7.  I love the idea of using wood invitations for an outdoor wedding, or just to do something a little bit different.  Your guests will surely keep and display these beautiful invitations!  Check out more photos on her website.

Cristina is friendly and creative.  If you work with her, I'm sure you'll get a product that is even better than you imagined. :)

 Photo: UPLift'd Photography

A Family Affair

Whether you and your soon-to-be spouse have kids from previous relationships or together, there's a few things you can do to involve them in the wedding process.  I'm no expert, but I've worked with some great couples over the past couple years and here's a few things that I've picked up:

-Get the kids as involved as they want to be.  If they don't want to hear about the wedding plans, respect their wishes, and if they want to be involved, invite them to come to a cake tasting, gown fitting, etc.  Older kids can help with colour selection and making decorations.

-Welcome surprises.  At a wedding a couple of years ago, the 13-year-old daughter of the bride asked if she could make an impromptu speech.  It was a beautiful speech inviting her new step-dad into her life and left the room in tears.

-Involve them in the ceremony.  Junior bridesmaids & groomsmen are a great way to include kids.  Consider asking the marriage commissioner about writing the kids into the vows so they can say "I do" to the new person in their lives too.  Kids can also do readings or sing during the ceremony.

-Involve them in the reception.  Remember to make time to dance with the kids, or have a "family dance". If they're young, ask a relative that they really like or their babysitter to come and keep them company while you're mingling and dancing.

-Family time.  Go for that romantic honeymoon with your spouse, then come home and take the kids on a get-away too.  After supporting you in your new marriage, they deserve a bit of family fun time.  A couple of days at the Lake might be just what everyone needs.

Remember that all kids will react to the news in a different way, and although you're the parent and definitely entitled to your special day, their lives are changing too.  Make it exciting and low-pressure for them, and welcome their ideas.  Any other ideas out there of how to include kids in the wedding?

2010 in Review

 Tracey Kiansky Photography

The event season ended for me at the end of September, and now that we're starting consultations for next season I've been reflecting a bit on the past year.  With a Flourish launched in 2008.  Since events are usually being planned quite a few months out, 2009 was our first real "season," and in 2010 we really hit our stride.  2010's clients were amazing and we were very lucky to work with such friendly and creative people.

Here's a few of my highlights:

Working with some of Winnipeg's best wedding vendors.

I received my first bride that called from a referral from a photographer.  She booked on the spot.

2010 kicked off with a home wedding for Laurie and Hannes.  Laurie was from Winnipeg and Hannes from Austria, and their wedding was a fusion of cultures and ideas.

Adrienne and I got to make bouquets, boutonnieres and centrepieces for our sister-in-law, Nicole's wedding.


We also made centrepieces and a bridal bouquet for Preet & Khalad's wedding.

Preet & Khalad's wedding was our first ethnic (East-Indian) wedding ever,

And it was also our first full styling service.  It was fantastic.

Apples were in, and so was purple.  They merged in Paige & Kevin's lovely July wedding.

Our little green company was featured on the first page of the Source section in Weddingbells magazine.

We planned a fashion show for the Green Party of Manitoba.

Then in September helped with the Jewish Federation's EcoShift event (and very briefly met David Suzuki).

We helped to plan a media dinner to promote the Winnipeg Green Show, which we exhibited in.

We met politicians, green business leaders, and local celebrities.

One of last years couples called on their one-year anniversary from BDI to thank me. I'm so happy to be part of celebrating the love and lifelong commitment of fantastic people.

I said to myself many, many times "I am so lucky."  I also said to myself "Seriously, people want to pay me to play with fabric and flowers??!"

Again, I am so lucky.

Thanks to every single 2010 client and vendor.  It was a great year and I can't wait to see what 2011 brings our way!

I'm moving to Bolivia (for a year)

Well, I've been looking forward to this post for quite a while!  Sometime in 2011 (hopefully Spring), my family will be heading to Santa Cruz, Bolivia and staying for about a year.  The details aren't worked out yet, but we're far enough into the process that I can confidently say that we're going:)

Current clients, and any that we take on for next year are working with Adrienne, who has been with With a Flourish since before the beginning.  She'll be blogging and keeping everything running smoothly while I'm away.  I'll still be on the blog, facebook and twitter, thanks to the wonderful powers of the internet and instant communication.  I'll be back sometime in 2012.

Please note that it will remain business as usual over here.  We're still taking on winter and 2011 clients.  We're still learning, growing and developing new ideas to serve our couples.  We'll still be styling and planning our little hearts out, from two different locations.  Adrienne is the perfect person to continue running With a Flourish - she's super friendly, incredibly helpful and organized.  If you haven't already met her, give us a call! You'll love working with her :)

In Bolivia, my family will be working in two main capacities (that we know of right now) - one is at a home that helps guys transition from a rough childhood to becoming responsible adults, and the other is a centre that helps people who are living in rough circumstances to learn useful skills and crafts, and even set up businesses at the market.  We're very, very excited.  My husband and I have always wanted to travel together, and we've been talking about doing something like this for a long time.  Our three-year-old son, Miles, is at a perfect age to get involved in the adventure and he tells me he's very excited to go on the airplane.

As always, thank you for reading, and for your support in my life and business.  I'll still be blogging and working until we leave, and as I wrote above, With a Flourish will continue while I'm away.  I just wanted to keep you all up to date as soon as I could.

Thanks!

Jess

Di erbe's Grand Opening

Tomorrow, November 6th, is the grand opening of di erbe's new location at 111 Marion Street, from 10-7.

Di erbe makes vegan and organic soaps and skin care with unique scents like pomegranate and red clover tea.  Their products are made here in Winnipeg with luxurious feeling and exotic ingredients.  They make everything from soap to perfume and hair care.  I've been using their products for a while now, and they are wonderful.

Di erbe can also hook you up with favours for your wedding or event.  I'm sure your guests would love to take home a nice bath soak after a night of dancing!  Check out the website here.

 

 Source: www.dierbe.ca 

With a Flourish in a nutshell

Happy November everyone!  This is a busy kind of month for me - I have a fantastic personal announcement coming up next week (no, not a baby), and besides starting on wedding work for next Summer I'm a stay-at-home mom this month.

I thought, given winter weddings and events are coming up, I'd write up a quick summary of how With a Flourish can help you organize a stylish and stress-free event:

Styling.  We style weddings, dinners, galas, fundraisers, holiday parties, birthday parties, etc.  We'd love to hear about any kind of event that can possibly be designed. Styling includes brainstorming, sourcing materials and vendors, making decor when necessary, and set up and tear down on the event day.  Styling includes anything that has to do with the atmosphere of the event - decor, flowers, lighting, food, entertainment, etc.  Please find more on Styling here.

Planning.  We plan the same kinds of events we style.  When we're hired to plan an event, we create a timeline and budget, and help clients stick to them.  We recommend vendors that fit into the budget and goals of the event, and we help with all logistics throughout the process.  We take the stress off your shoulders, and provide professional guidance throughout the process.  Usually, we offer Complete Planning Services, where we help from beginning to end.  We also provide Day-Of Coordinations, where we meet with you before the event, go through the timeline and ensure everything is on track.  Then we come on the event day and direct set up and tear down, assist vendors, and make sure everything runs smoothly.  For more information, please click here.

We'd love to help you plan or style or your next event.  Please contact us to set up a complimentary consultation!