{ ONTARIO } FALL/WINTER 2013 Vol 7 No 1
MAGAZINE | WEBSITE | COMMUNITY
ADD VINTAGE TO YOUR DAY DESTINATION WEDDINGS GUIDE HAIR DESIGN: FIND YOUR STYLE DESIGN PALETTES TEAR THEM OUT & SAVE YOUR FAVS more to love
• BRIDAL SHOW CALENDAR • DJs FAV SONG LISTS • TRENDS & TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS • A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE THINGS
ONTARIO
Inside this issue...
features
bridal show calendar p83
Bridal shows & events across Southwestern Ontario ~ dates, times & details
BRIDAL Guide to LOCAL EXPERTS p6 to 8
The who’s who of Southwestern Ontario's best weddings
FASHION & DESIGN INSPIRATION p35 to 46
Gatsby Glam in a Luxe Wedding Wonderland , Rustic Wedding Inspiration in Rural Ontario & Behind the Scenes
p50 PHOTO, ABOVE: www.aliciariley.com
DESTINATION WEDDINGs p57 to 62
Destination Jamaica: A Wedding in Paradise , A love song from Curaçao to Cambridge, Scouting Vancouver Island for the Ultimate Destination Wedding Locations
wedding trends & ideas p71
From the big reveal to e-shoots in the snow...
our favourite things p78 to 79
From favours and gifts to bling and beyond!
DESIGN PALETTES p49 to 54
{ Tear Them Out & Save Your Favs } Mint, Peach, Gold & Emerald , Rustic, Vintage & Romantic, Country Chic, Argyle Vintage & Designer, Spelling a Love Story
WEDDING-WORTHY HALLS p84 to 88
Options, catering & bar details, indoor & outdoor spaces across Southwestern Ontario
5 ideas for adding vintage design to your day p68
Expert tips from Love It or List It Vancouver’s Jillian Harris
Brides’ CHOICE IN THE RING p75
Brides give some love to their favourite experts
reality wedding stories p15to27
A grand locale, vintage decor & fun, fond memories Cassie & Andrew p16 A cottage wedding WEEKEND in Haliburton Jessica & Shawn p18
Romance on a Winter Wedding Day Kristy & Travis p20 A stylish, elegant wedding in an old world mansion Joanne & Jason p24 Romantic, high style Old Hollywood DIY wedding Sarah & Nick p26
p37 p24 PHOTO, ABOVE: www.lynismael.com | PHOTO, BELOW: www.2tonestudios.ca
expert tips
pro djs share their favourite song lists p10 Engagement Photography Q&A p30 What you need to know before altering your gown p47 Hiring Your Wedding Day Transportation p32 Getting Creative with Florals p56
Tips & Trends for Beautiful Blooms
Shoe Inspirations from Urban Bride p65
With Simona of Urban Bride
Hair Design: Find your Style p66 Spelling it out: Budget-Friendly Invitation Ideas p67 Fun ways to add Personal Touches to your wedding p80 TheWeddingRing.ca is sponsored in part by...
p35
FALL/WINTER 2013 PUBLISHED BY Wedding Ring Inc. 912 Foxbrook Crt., Kitchener ON, N2P 2W1 519.568.8007 | 1.877.203.3338 | brides@theweddingring.ca The Wedding Ring Magazine is published two times, yearly: January and August. This is The Wedding Ring’s 13th magazine.
www.theweddingring.ca/magazine
MAGAZINE STAFF Jennifer Goulden | jag@theweddingring.ca Co-founder | Editor-in-Chief | Creative Director
Anne Warren | anne@theweddingring.ca
Co-founder | Director of Sales | Associate Features Editor
Rhianna Jackiw | rhianna@theweddingring.ca
Senior Editor & Writer | Layout & Design Assistant | Associate Features Editor
Kristen Sullivan | kristen@theweddingring.ca Media Staff | Content Coordination | Assistant Copy Editor
Anita Stefanovic | anita@theweddingring.ca Advertisement Design
COVER PHOTO HRM Photography | www.hrmphotography.com Male Model: Heath Hendershot Female Model: Holly Thompson
THANK YOU!
Thank you to the brides, wedding experts and associate writers and editors who have contributed to this issue of The Wedding Ring Magazine. Numerous wedding professionals have contributed expert tips, retail or rental products, popular décor and/or photography services for the various features in this issue. Each professional is credited in their respective feature article. The statements, opinions and points of view expressed do not necessarily represent those of the publisher, advertisers or Wedding Ring Inc. Photographs are submitted to Wedding Ring Inc. by vendors for the purpose of publishing online and/or in print and are used with permission. © 2013 Wedding Ring Inc. Contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission from Wedding Ring Inc. is strictly prohibited. Printed in Canada. ISSN 1920-499X
{ EXPERTS WANTED } ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES If you’re a wedding professional who raises the bar on service, rewrites the definition of couture or offers products that every bride should have, we’d love to work with you. The Wedding Ring can help you reach your target brides, share (and show off) your expertise, and make headlines in The Ring { magazine, website & community }. For more information, please contact Anne Warren, Sales Director, at anne@theweddingring.ca or make a general inquiry at brides@theweddingring.ca. For The Ring's online media kit, go to www.theweddingring.ca/for-vendors.
on local wedding professionals in The Ring ACCESSORIES & SHOES Urban Bride 14 Water Street North, Cambridge, ON N1R 3B1 519.722.9206 | urbanbride@gto.net www.myurbanbride.com CAMBRIDGE REVIEWS
DECORATORS, DESIGNERS CDevine Wedding Design 519-348-4191 | 519-801-5671 info@devineweddingdesign.ca www.devineweddingdesign.ca LONDON REVIEWS
ALTERATIONS Ellen & Company RR# 6, St. Marys, ON 519-229-6395 | tshute@quadro.net LONDON REVIEWS BEAUTY: SPAS, HAIR & MAKE-UP Erika Snyder Evolution Concepts in Hair & Spa Flawless Touch Studio Jacha Sonia Ryan & Co
Something Borrowed Wedding & Party Rentals 10 McLarty Drive, St. Thomas, ON 519-851-6919 | lindsay@ somethingborrowedrentals.com www.somethingborrowedrentals.com LONDON REVIEWS
CAKES Jirina's Bakery
The Creative Bride Divine Décor Decorating Dreams The Event Firm Fresh Look Design Julia Weddings Now & Always The Wedding Decorators Wedding Dream
CATERING Custom CuIsine 1260 Gainsborough Rd, London, ON 519-963-1426 | events@customcusinecatering.ca www.customcuisinecatering.ca LONDON REVIEWS Taste Fine Foods 599 Arkell, Guelph, ON 519-823-6700 | goodfood@tastefinefoods.ca www.tastefinefoods.ca GUELPH REVIEWS Bingemans North Moore Catering Co CHAPELS historic Ellis Pioneer Chapel 6705 Ellis Road, Cambridge, ON 519-824-4679 | ellischapel@sympatico.ca www.ellischapel.ca CAMBRIDGE REVIEWS The Rose Chapel 6675 Burstwistle Lane, London (Hwy 4 & 401), ON | 519-652-6022 | info@rosechapel.ca www.rosechapel.ca LONDON REVIEWS DANCE LESSONS Element Dance Arts 519-700-5678 | info@elementdancearts.com www.elementdancearts.com CAMBRIDGE REVIEWS
To Suit Your Fancy 519-488-5079 | jackie@tosuityourfancy.com www.tosuityourfancy.com LONDON REVIEWS
DESTINATION WEDDING SPECIALIST Destinations by Dawn-Northstar Travel weddings@destinationsbydawn.com www.destinationsbydawn.com K-W REVIEWS DJs Brad Howell Entertainment Services 232 Auden Road, Guelph, ON 519-760-2558 | bhes@rogers.com www.howellentertainment.com GUELPH REVIEWS Music Central Entertainment 519-680-0698 | 1-888-537-6511 musiccentral@musiccentral.ca www.musiccentral.ca LONDON REVIEWS AC Solo DJ Services A&M Sounds Disc Jockey Service Allegro Productions Maximum Music Olympic Sound
6 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
FAVOUR IDEAS The Wedding Shoppe Weddingfavours.ca FLORAL DESIGNERS Belmont Flowers Jim Anderson Flowers Limited GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBS Cutten Fields 190 College Ave. E., Guelph, ON 519.824.2650 x.229 | lynsey@cuttenfields.com www.cuttenfields.com GUELPH REVIEWS The Oaks Golf Club 1552 Gideon Drive in Delaware, ON 519.652.1760 | jim.evans@oaksgolf.com www.oaksgolf.com LONDON REVIEWS Pine Knot Golf & Country Club 5421 Hamilton Road, Dorchester, ON 519-268-2986 | events@pineknotgolf.com www.pineknotgolf.com LONDON REVIEWS Stratford Country Club 53 Romeo Street North, Stratford, ON 519-271-4212 | jessie@stratfordcountryclub.com www.stratfordcountryclub.com K-W REVIEWS Sunningdale Golf & Country Club 465 Sunningdale Rd W, London, ON 519-660-8063 | courtney@sunningdalegolf.com www.sunningdalegolf.com LONDON REVIEWS Firerock Golf Club GOWNS & BRIDAL ATTIRE Crème Couture 55 Wyndham St, Guelph, ON 519-763-2011 info@cremecouture.ca www.cremecouture.ca GUELPH REVIEWS La Crème 1364 King St. North in St. Jacobs, ON 519-664-3275 lacreme01@hotmail.com www.lacremedecor.com K-W REVIEWS
Best for Bride Jirina's Bridal Once Upon A Time Weddings Pam Chorley’s Fashion Crimes HOTELS FOR GUESTS & THE HONEYMOON Boardwalk Homes Executive Guest Homes 519-591-9323 | info@boardwalkhomes.ca www.boardwalkhomes.ca K-W REVIEWS Idlewyld Inn 36 Grand Ave. London, ON 519-433-2891 | innkeeper@idlewyldeinn.com www.idlewyldinn.com LONDON REVIEWS Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton INVITATIONS, STATIONERY Scribes' Nook Inc. Stephita Wedding Invitations and Stationary Uptown Designs LINGERIE La Femme Privée 718 Belmont Avenue W, Belmont Village, Kitchener, ON 519-603-0142 | info@lafemmeprivee.com www.lafemmeprivee.com K-W REVIEWS MINISTERS & OFFICIANTS Feelings From the Heart Wedding Chapels & Officiants 519-743-3101 pat@theweddingchapel.on.ca www.theweddingchapel.on.ca K-W REVIEWS Celebrate Love & Life Weddings Country Wedding Gardens London Wedding Minister Pastoral Services of Guelph Weddings of Love MUSICIANS The Leith Quartet PHOTOGRAPHERS Alicia Riley Photography 226-268-0430 | alicia.riley@gmail.com www.aliciariley.com LONDON & KW REVIEWS
Amber Richmond Photography 519-856-0667 | amber@amberrichmond.com www.amberrichmond.com GUELPH REVIEWS Brent Foster Photography 519-784-4674 info@brentfosterphotography.com brentfosterphotography.com LONDON REVIEWS HRM Photography 519-936-8977 | info@hrmphotography.com www.hrmphotography.com LONDON REVIEWS Inlight Photo Studio 63 Courtland Ave East, Kitchener 519-221-PICS | inlightphotostudio@gmail.com www.inlightphotostudio.com K-W REVIEWS Jessica Lin Photography 416-806-1585 | photo@jessicalin.ca www.jessicalin.ca TORONTO REVIEWS Latte Productions Photography 519-745-8368 | info@latteproductions.ca www.latteproductions.ca K-W REVIEWS Purple Door Photography & Videography 519-841-8987 | purpledoor@rogers.com www.purpledoorphoto.ca K-W REVIEWS Solet Photography 519-722-2244 | info@soletphotography.com soletphotography.com K-W REVIEWS Spirits Intrigued Photography 20 Wolfe's Court, Kitchener, ON (519) 721-5468 | alex@sipimage.com www.sipimage.com K-W REVIEWS TJ Durnan Photography 519-588-1295 | todd@tjdurnan.com www.tjdurnan.com K-W REVIEWS Anne Edgar Photography Calvin Photography Cameron Shaver Photography Captivating Images Photography Captured Soul Photography Dudek Photography Herakovic Photography LTC Photography Lyn Ismael: Evocative Imagery of Love Stories
• Are award winners • Have multiple degrees & accreditations • Are members of selective organizations • Do regular charity work • Are teachers & mentors in their craft • Have appeared in television news & wedding segments
Luxe Photography Mango Studios One Great Day Photography Sheila Braam Photography Stan Switalski Photography Studio Chris Sylvia Pond Photography Two Tone Studios RECEPTION LOCATIONS Best Western® PLUS Lamplighter Inn 591 Wellington Road South, London, ON 519-681-7151 | salesmgr@lamplighterinn.ca www.lamplighterinn.ca LONDON REVIEWS Best Western® PLUS Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre 6675 Burstwistle Lane, London (Hwy 4 & 401), ON 519-652-6022 | hotelinfo@stoneridgeinn.com www.stoneridgeinn.ca LONDON REVIEWS Bingemans 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener, ON 519-744-1555 | sales@bingemans.com www.bingemans.com K-W REVIEWS Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory 2500 KOSSUTH RD, Cambridge, ON 519-653-1234 x 112 | weddings@ cambridgebutterfly.com www.cambridgebutterfly.com CAMBRIDGE REVIEWS Concordia Club 429 Ottawa Street South, Kitchener, ON 519-745-5617 ext. 101 ruth.rajna@concordiaclub.ca www.concordiaclub.ca K-W REVIEWS
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 7
guide to reviews
Sew Stylish Wedding Works 125 Thames Street South, Ingersoll, ON 519-485-7097 | sewstylish@on.aibn.com www.sewstylishweddingworks.com LONDON REVIEWS
guide to reviews
Delta London Armouries 325 Dundas Street, London, ON 519-679-6111 | bemrich@deltalondon.ca www.deltalondonarmouries.com LONDON REVIEWS
Waterloo Inn Conference Hotel 475 King Street North, Waterloo, ON 519-884-0220 | wdallner@waterlooinn.com www.waterlooinn.com K-W REVIEWS
Elm Hurst Inn 415 Harris Street, Ingersoll, ON 519-485-5321 specialevents@elmhurstinn.com www.elmhurstinn.com LONDON REVIEWS
Ancaster Mill Arcadian Court The Arts & Letters Club Atlantis Pavilion Bellamere Winery & Event Centre Berkeley Field House Bob Rumball Manor Cambridge Mill The Carlu Casa Loma Crowne Plaza KitchenerWaterloo Dallas Night Club Delta Chelsea Delta Guelph Hotel and Conference Centre Dufferin Hall Elements/Wax Night Club Enoch Turner Schoolhouse Estates of Sunnybrook Fanshawe Pioneer Village Fantasy Farm The George Brown House Graydon Hall Manor Hart House Hauser Hall Hessenland Country Inn Hilton London The Holiday Inn KitchenerWaterloo Hotel & Conference Centre Liberty Grand Mariposa Cruises Miller Lash House NithRidge Estate Weddings & Events The Old Mill Ontario Heritage Centre Opus Banquet Facility Palais Royale Rebel Creek Golf Club Renaissance Toronto Spencer’s at the Waterfront St. George Banquet Hall St. Lawrence Hall Teatro Convention & Event Centre Toronto Botanical Garden Toronto Centre for the Arts The Waterlot Restaurant & Inn Westin Harbour Castle Hotel Whistle Bear Golf Club Windsor Arms Hotel
Elsie Perrin Williams Estate 101 Windermere Road West, London, ON 519-432-7961 www.elsieperrinwilliamsestate.com LONDON REVIEWS Forest City National Golf Club 16540 Robin Hill Road, London, ON (519) 451-0994 Ext. 230 | fcn2@fcngolf.com www.fcngolf.com LONDON REVIEWS Golf's Steak House & Seafood 598 Lancaster Street West, Kitchener, ON 519-579-4050 | george@golfssteakhouse.com www.golfssteakhouse.com K-W REVIEWS Grosvenor Lodge 1017 Western Road, London, ON 519-645-2845 | www.grosvenorlodge.com LONDON REVIEWS Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre 551 Windermere Road, London, ON 519-675-5529 | jclark@ivey.uwo.ca www.iveyspencerleadershipcentre.com LONDON REVIEWS London Club 177 Queens Avenue, London, ON 519-434-6889, ext. 223 dunger@londonclub.com www.londonclub.com LONDON REVIEWS The Oaks Golf Club 1552 Gideon Drive in Delaware 519.652.1760 | jim.evans@oaksgolf.com www.oaksgolf.com LONDON REVIEWS The Walper Hotel 519-745-4321 ext. 112 | 1-800-265-8749 cchapman@walper.com www.walper.com K-W REVIEWS
WHO WE LOVE AND WHY
TENT RENTALS & ACCESSORIES Burke's Tent Rentals 42056 Morris Rd RR 4, Brussels, ON 519-887-8287 | tents@burkestentrentals.com www.burkestentrentals.com GUELPH REVIEWS Roy-Al Rentals & Party Centre 74 Dawson Rd. Guelph, ON 519-823-1881 | www.royalrentals.com GUELPH REVIEWS TRANSPORTATION The Wright Limousine Service Inc. 33 Manitou Dr., Kitchener 519-894-5555 | info@thewrightlimousine.com www.thewrightlimousine.com K-W REVIEWS A Universal Limousine Brentwood Livery Grandeur Limousine TUXEDOS & FORMAL WEAR Collins Formal Wear 1-877-434-4184 Locations across Southwestern Ontario & Canada www.collinsformalwear.com REVIEWS IN ALL CITIES VIDEOGRAPHY Director’s Cut Videography Hartery Productions JJJ Video Productions Inc. Willow Creek Studios WEDDING PLANNERS Dreamstyle Weddings 519-362-5436 danielle@dreamstyleweddings.ca www.dreamstyleweddings.com GUELPH REVIEWS High Gloss Weddings Style & Elegance Wedding and Event Coordination WINE MAKING Vintner’s Cellar Waterloo 519-725-9463 vintnercellarwaterloo@hotmail.com www.vintnerscellarwaterloo.com K-W REVIEWS For full reviews (specialties, experience, prices, samples of work, bride interviews and more), simply go to www.theweddingring.ca, click on your city, and read reviews on local experts.
We’ve done the research so that brides don’t have to. Who does what and why we love them... Options, specialties, pricing, samples of work, bride interviews and more... Read interviews and reviews or post one of your own!
8 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
expert tips
PRO DJs SHARE THEIR FAVOURITE SONG LISTS Entrance Songs for Bride & Bridal Party
FAVOURITE FIRST DANCE SONGS
Most Requested RECEPTION Songs
by Rob Aitken, of Music Central Entertainment (♥) (www.musiccentral.ca)
by Jasmyn Lancinger, Owner & Disc Jockey of Olympic Sound (♥) (www.olympicsound.com)
by Adrian Peters A&M Sounds Disc Jockey Services (♥) (www.amsoundsdj.com)
Music Central is a renowned music and entertainment company, based out of London Ontario, providing music for weddings, corporate events, Stag and Doe’s and much more.
Olympic Sound has DJ’d at countless weddings in Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding area.
A & M Sounds is the longest running Disc-jockey business in Elgin County. Based in St. Thomas, but DJ’ing from Windsor to Toronto and all area’s in between.
1. Sirius ‐ The Alan Parsons Project 2. Feel This Moment ‐ Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera 3. Rock’n Roll Part 2 ‐ Gary Glitter 4. Good Feeling ‐ Flo Rida 5. Two Step ‐ Dave Matthews Band 6. Kernkraft 400 ‐ Zombie Nation 7. Marry You ‐ Bruno Mars 8. Signed, Sealed Delivered I’m Yours ‐ Stevie Wonder 9. Sexy And I Know It ‐ LMFAO 10. The Hellion (Electric Eye) ‐ Judas Priest 11. Don’t Stop The Party ‐ Pitbull ft. TJR 12. Beautiful Day ‐ U2 13. Gangnam Style ‐ PSY 14. Say Hey (I Love You) ‐ Michael Franti & Spearhead 15. Crazy in Love – Beyoncé
2. Marry Me – Train
1. At Last – Etta James 3. Someone Like You – Van Morrison 4. Come Away With Me – Norah Jones 5. Make You Feel My Love – Adele 6. Then – Brad Paisley 7. You And Me – Dave Matthews Band 8. I Do – Colbie Caillat 9. Just a Kiss – Lady Antebellum 10. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
Visit www.theweddingring.ca for our giant database of wedding tunes. Grab some musical inspiration or send us some new songs to add to it!
1. Scream & Shout – will.i.am ft. Britney Spears 2. Beauty And A Beat - Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj 3. S&M - Rihanna ft. Britney Spears 4. Give Me Everything – Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Nayer 5. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO 6. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera 7. Titanium - David Guetta ft. Sia 8. Shake Senora - Pitbull ft. T-Pain & Sean Paul 9. Call me maybe (Cosmic Dawn Remix) - Carly Rae Jepsen *dance remix 10. Thrift Shop Electro Remix (Bombs Away and KOMES ) - Macklemore ft. Wanz *dance remix 11. One More Night - Electro House Remixers *dance remix 12. Harlem Shake – Baauer
REALITY WEDDING STORIES PHOTO: www.brentfosterphotography.com (♥)
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 15
reality wedding stories
A grand locale, vintage dècor & fun, fond memories Bride & Groom: Cassie Novacco & Andrew McLeod Engaged: July 18, 2011 Married: August 4, 2012 Ceremony & Reception: Elm Hurst Inn & Spa (♥) (www.elmhurstinn.com) in Ingersoll, Ontario Photography: HRM Photography (♥) (www.hrmphotography.com) # GuestS: 175 How they met: At work. “Our shared love for the great outdoors, sailing, spicy food, beer, cooking, camping, family values, and travel helped us to connect immediately.” SPENT THE MOST ON: Cassie’s dress, Andrew’s suit and the venue. EASIEST PLANNING ELEMENT: Choosing the florals was quick and stress-free. TOP 3 PRIORITIES: The venue, the photography and creating a relaxed, fun atmosphere.
Cassie & Andrew wanted a relaxed, fun wedding day that they could enjoy with family and friends. “We didn’t want to be too fussy, we wanted to have a good time and have all the people that are important to us there. We wanted to provide a simple, relaxed and fun atmosphere for our guests so that they were comfortable and had a good time.”
WR. How did you decide on Elm Hurst?
CASSIE & ANDREW: We wanted to be married in a place that felt right to us, where the ceremony, reception and photos could all be in one location, so we didn’t have to run around from place to place. We wanted to relax and enjoy every minute of the day. We chose the Elm Hurst Inn because it fit all the criteria... and the food is amazing! And, as a bonus it was located midway between Windsor and Toronto, where most of our guests were coming from. Ironically, we had stayed at the Elm Hurst two years prior, and while checking
16 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
out the grounds, we decided it was an ideal place to be married. While we were talking, I mistakenly thought that Andrew was about to propose!
WR. Biggest Challenges?
CASSIE: Taking the time to actually plan. I was in school at the time and we seemed to procrastinate on everything. We definitely wanted things a certain way, to reflect our interests, but we didn’t want the wedding planning to dominate our lives. I chose a few things that mattered and focused on them. Once the venue was chosen, everything else fell into place... Another
reality wedding stories “We didn’t really have a theme. We wanted to take advantage of the natural landscape” explained Cassie and Andrew. They chose grey for the wedding party apparel “so the colour that came through was from the flowers and natural landscape.”
♥ = INTERVIEWED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
VINTAGE DIY DéCOR: “Most of the decorations were DIY. We tore down our old fence that summer and had some beautifully weathered boards, so in the week before the wedding, Andrew repurposed them to make the large frame on the welcome table with all the parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ wedding photos, the box for the cheese bags, and the wedding sign. The seating plan was an old rustic door that we found. Andrew fabricated an easel onto the back of it so it was free standing. We provided the backdrop for our photo booth and most of the costume items.”
challenge was packing for the wedding. We stayed at the Elm Hurst Inn for the weekend and left straight from the venue for our honeymoon, so the logistics of packing our bags for the weekend and then the honeymoon added to the stress of the final couple of weeks getting ready... But it was worth it!
WR. What was your wedding theme?
CASSIE & ANDREW: We didn’t have a ‘themed’ wedding, but were able to incorporate personal touches throughout the day. For example, we had a scotch and cigar bar on the patio. The scotch was a salute to Andrew’s Scottish heritage. The tables were named after places that we had either camped together or bodies of water or ports that we had sailed together. Our cocktail hour signature drink was a Mojito - a mutual favorite. We splurged a little and had the Elm Hurst stock their bar with our favourite beer.
WR. What made you choose HRM Photography?
CASSIE: It was one of the first decisions we made... we didn’t even talk to another photographer. And we
have no regrets! We love the photos... They captured everything we wanted - the scenery and the emotion, along with some classic shots. They were candid and artistic but not so artistic that they became impersonal. We loved how Heather and Niki worked around us and didn’t make the day about setting up the perfect shot for them, they just... blended into the background.”
WR. Coolest element?
ANDREW: As a salute to Cassie’s Italian background
“Cassie and Andrew’s wedding was simply awesome! We loved every minute of it - a totally hilarious and fun wedding party, one of the best photo booths ever, perfect lighting and tons of DIY details. Looking back on these photos I barely remember it was SO hot my eyeballs were sweating! Congrats on a fantastic celebration Cassie and Andrew and thank you so much for having us be a part of it!” ~ HRM Photography
we had a wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano as our “cake.” CASSIE & ANDREW: And as a bit of a joke (but also to do justice to the cheese which has to be opened in a special way), we learned the proper process for “breaking a parm” and put on a little show. We provided small bags for guests to take cheese home in as their favour, along with an individual sized bottle of balsamic vinegar, which is nice to drizzle on the cheese.
WR. Favourite memory?
CASSIE & ANDREW: A last minute decision we made ended up, to this day, being a favourite. For the guestbook we decided to buy a bunch of postcards that were meaningful to us. We spread them on a table so that guests could choose one, write a message (advice or anything they wanted) inside and drop it in a mailbox. Andrew’s mother took them home and has been mailing them, about one a week, to us. It is seriously the highlight of our week when we get one in the mail, and we are still getting them! We are amazed at the time people took to write meaningful messages and most were rather clever in how their messages in some way reflected whatever the postcard picture was. ■ GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 17
reality wedding stories
“Shawn and I both love being in the outdoors… canoeing, fishing, playing guitar and roasting marshmallows over a campfire. We wanted our wedding to be a reflection of us....”
A cottage wedding weekend in Haliburton Bride & Groom: Jessica Valentini & Shawn Takacs
Jessica and Shawn’s wedding was about fun DIY projects
Engaged: May, 2011
and a fabulous weekend with family and friends. “We don’t
MARRIED: September 15, 2012
like to over complicate things… our wedding was really
Ceremony & Reception: Sandy Lane Resort,
about being surrounded by the people we love.”
Haliburton (www.sandylaneresort.com) Photography: Brent Foster Photography (♥) (www.brentfosterphotography.com) PROCESSIONAL: Friend, Lucas Paluch, played Blackbird by the Beatles on an acoustic guitar for the ceremony. Guest Count: 80
Since Jessica Valentini and Shawn Takacs are both avid outdoor enthusiasts, a weekend wedding in the Haliburton Highlands was the ideal location for their fall, countrythemed wedding. Based on a palette of dark purples, deep reds and rusty orange, the couple used tons of natural wood, burlap and plaids throughout their décor to show off
Budget: $18,000
their rustic, outdoorsy style.
Biggest challenge: “Staying on budget!”
WR. Why did you choose a cottage resort wedding?
Top 3 Priorities: Venue, Entertainment & Décor Saved the most on: Décor. “We decorated the entire wedding ourselves.”
JESS & SHAWN: Sandy Lane Resort is a beautiful cottage resort... quaint little cottages, beautiful sandy
beach waterfront surrounded by mother nature, barbecue’s and fire pits. We had the entire resort to ourselves for the weekend. We were able to have the ceremony down at the waterfront, the cocktail hour in the Games Room, and the reception in the Main Lodge. Our wedding was all about being in a rustic outdoor setting where all of our family and friends could relax and actually enjoy their weekend away from home.
WR. How did you stay on budget?
JESS. The entire wedding was pretty much a DIY project. Luckily one of our good friends is a designer and was able to help bring our vision to life, starting with the website and online invitations. We also decorated the entire wedding ourselves. We bought a lot of the décor from garage sales and flea markets. We painted picture frames with chalkboard paint for the table numbers, had our local coffee shop provide
reality wedding stories
DESIGN: “We were going for a fall, country look so we used a lot of natural wood, burlap, plaids and our colours were rust orange, dark purples and deep reds.”
♥ = INTERVIEWED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
DESSERTS: 6 kinds of pies by Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream & a midnight dessert table with homemade desserts made by their families Stationery: “We did all of our invitations online through glosite.com. The invites clicked through to our own website which housed the location, accommodations, menu and weekend agenda. Our friend, Natasha Wittke, designed the invitations and website.” Favours: Coffee beans & Bailey’s chocolates in little burlap sacks.
us with some burlap sacks that we made into table runners and signs. Shawn’s parents provided the homemade wine, the owner of the resort provided us with the tree stumps that lined the aisle. We had family members make homemade desserts to fill our dessert table. We even used wooden skids from a hardware store!
WR. Why Brent Foster Photography?
Jess: I was looking for someone who could really capture the story of our wedding without everything needing to be posed. Brent is such a talented photojournalist. He truly captured the essence of the weekend through his photographs. We now have an incredible photo story of our wedding.
WR. What was your biggest surprise? Jess: How calm I was. I was so nervous about being nervous for the ceremony! But I remember the morning of the wedding, sitting in the cottage drinking my coffee, I looked out the window and saw Shawn on the beach playing fetch with our dog. It was this quiet, calm moment...I wasn’t nervous at all, I was too happy to be nervous.
“Our chemistry was instantaneous but it wasn’t until we were confronted with family tragedy and challenging times that I knew this was someone I could spend the rest of my life with.” ~ Shawn
”Jess and Shawn wanted their wedding to truly reflect who they are as a couple… and they wanted their friends and family to be together in an intimate environment for the wedding. Their setup was perfect. Festivities started with a Friday night BBQ/bon fire, followed by a beach wedding filled with DIY details the next day on the resort. Friends and family all stayed side by side in quaint cottages for the weekend. It truly brought everyone together.” ~ Brent Foster
WR. What are your favourite memories? SHAWN: The Friday night bon fire was a big hit. We had people playing music around a giant fire where we made s’mores… It was a pretty huge party and it allowed everyone to meet each other.
Jess: My dad’s been struggling with Parkinson’s for almost twenty years and ever since he was diagnosed, I wondered if he’d be able to dance with me at my wedding. He didn’t feel well during the reception… I really didn’t think he was going to be able to make it for our dance and I had a surprise for him. My dad’s favorite singer is James Taylor and our song is Fire and Rain and two friends of ours were going to perform this song for us. Well, he made it. My brothers brought him up to the reception hall for our dance. He was no longer wearing his uncomfortable suit, but had on a pair of black track pants and a red Nike t-shirt. He slowly strolled over to me with his walker and we danced to our favorite song. There wasn’t a dry eye in that place… It was perfect and I will never forget that moment between my dad and I. ■ GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 19
reality wedding stories “We chose a deep red and gold for our colours. We wanted the colours to complement the space. We also wanted them to reflect the time of year without it feeling too much like Christmas...keeping with the wedding feel”
ROMANCE ON A WINTER WEDDING DAY A Q&A with Ontario couple, Kristy Greene & Travis McKeon HOW YOU MET: “We were bothing attending the University of Windsor and met through a mutual friend at a party.” MARRIED: December 21, 2012 CEREMONY: St. Clement’s Church, Cambridge RECEPTION: Walper Hotel, Kitchener (♥) (www.walper.com) PHOTOGRAPHY: Anne Edgar Photography (♥) (www.anneedgarphoto.com) GUEST COUNT: 102 SPENT THE MOST $ ON: Decorations & Flowers SAVED THE MOST $ ON: DIY favours were $2 each
Kristy Greene and Travis McKeon were married in a beautiful winter wedding that stretched from the St. Clement’s Church in Cambridge to the gorgeous venue, the Walper Hotel in downtown Kitchener. With a design palette that tied in perfectly with the white blanket of snow outside, their day was about family, love, and most of all, hosting a day they would always remember.
WR. How did you manage to pull all your wedding details together?
KRISTY: We took almost two years to plan the wedding. I think this helped with the stress factor. I knew I was ahead of the curve when booking my vendors. The vendors in the KW area are great! Anne from Anne Edgar Photography suggested some vendors to use and it was very helpful. Bridal shows were also fun and got us some deals!
20 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
I also read The Wedding Ring Magazine and visted theweddingring.ca often. I enjoyed reading the trends, especially the blog posting on gold as a colour trend!
WR. How did you come to choose Anne Edgar Photography? KRISTY: Anne Edgar was an amazing find! I fell in love with her style and her amazing winter wedding photos. It helped make the decision to have a winter wedding easier. Her packages include a fun engagement session which helped us to get to know eachother better and it made the wedding photo session easy! Anne has a great sense of humour which had everyone smiling. She was able to take great photos quickly and creatively.
WR. Why a winter wedding?
KRISTY: I love winter weddings! And I loved the
THE DETAILS: “Little Details created wonderful stationery for us. They even matched the turtle doves from our
favours to our invites! Special Events and Flowers designed the perfect flowers and decorations to capture our vision.”
FAVOURITE MEMORY: “Travis’ speech. He made everyone laugh, but most of all, he said some wonderful and heartfelt things about me and our relationship... It brought a tear to almost everyone’s eyes.”~ Kristy
♥ = INTERVIEWED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
THE CAKE: “The cake was Travis’ favourite part of the planning process! We wanted something delicious and different. We started by choosing a hand painted red cake, adorned with gold pearls and a chocolate turtle dove topper to match the ornament favour and stationary. Travis requested the male wear a top hat in black and the female wear a veil. The flavour ideas were endless! We ended up choosing a mint chocolate layer, a layer of orange chocolate and a layer of vanilla!”~ Kristy
idea of bringing everyone together for my favourite family holiday season! It was great to celebrate our first Christmas together with everyone who is important to us... There is something about the snow falling in some of our photos that is so beautiful. (And the winter discounts aren’t bad!)
WR. Any DIY projects?
KRISTY: Yes. The ornament favours. The winter before the wedding, Travis and I drove around Southern Ontario to find enough matching ornaments that we could give to each guest. We found some at a store in KW and then my bridesmaid went to different locations of the same store in Montreal to find more. I purchased ribbons with our names and the wedding date on them and we glued them to the ornaments.
“Travis proposed on a cold, starry night in Windsor. We had gone for dinner celebrating both Valentine’s Day and my birthday. After dinner, we went for a walk by the river. While taking in the Detroit skyline, I turned to find him on one knee in a snowbank. It was beautiful! ”~Kristy It was fun and exciting because the turtle doves on the ornament became an unexpected focal point for the wedding and were added to the invites, place settings, cocktail napkins and the cake topper.
WR. Biggest planning challenge?
KRISTY: The bridal party was very spread out geographically, making planning things like the shower and attire shopping a challenge. We solved this by creating
”Winter weddings are special...the lights, decorations, and softly falling snow...warm rooms filled with family and friends, candlelight and laughter. Kristy and Travis’ December 21st wedding was all of that and more. From the gorgeous Catholic cathedral to the bursts of red and soft touches of green, the seasonal street lights and snowflakes in the air...this wedding was a stunner.” ~ Anne Edgar
a facebook group, using instant messaging and email. Everyone was in the loop!
WR. What was the easiest planning element?
KRISTY: Finding the dress! It was Justin Alexander and I bought it at Crème Couture (formerly La Crème Bridal) (♥) (www.cremecouture.ca). Although I tried on nearly twenty dresses, I ended up choosing the first dress I tried on!
WR. Did you have any wedding day disasters?
KRISTY: The flowers were delivered to my Mom’s house and with everyone getting ready and all of the excitment going on, they got lost in the shuffle. The flowers got to the church about fifteen minutes late, delaying the ceremony a little bit.
WR. What did guests enjoy most?
KRISTY: The photo booth! There were hats and props for guests to use. There were so many memorable photos that were put in a guest book. We now have a great guest book to remember the night by.
WR. Advice, one bride to another?
KRISTY: Once it’s all over, you don’t remember all of the little things that went wrong. It’s all part of the process. ■ GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 21
reality wedding stories
A stylish, elegant wedding in an old world mansion Bride & Groom: Joanne & Jason Henry Engaged: June 15, 2010 Married: June 16, 2012 Ceremony & Reception: Penryn Mansion at Port Hope Golf and Country Club, Port Hope (www.porthopegolf.ca) Photography: Lyn Ismael: Evocative Imagery of Love Stories (♥) (www.lynismael.com) # GuestS: 64
Joanne and Jason Henry loved the intimacy and old world charm of Penryn Mansion in Port Hope and knew it was the perfect venue for an elegant, vintage wedding with tons of opportunity for elements of DIY décor. In the end, Joanne and Jason were married on a sunny summer day in front of their closest friends and family, “We wanted a smaller wedding that reflected who we were. I think the venue made it really special.”
WR. How did you find the planning? JOANNE: The planning went quite smoothly since
Saved the most on: Joanne’s mom made the
it was a smaller wedding and we both had the same
cake. “We also saved on all the DYI décor!”
vision of what we wanted on our special day. The
TOP 3 PRIORITIES: Venue, photography & décor.
most important elements for us were the venue,
DIY Projects: Venue decor, wedding cake (creat-
photography and décor. I used The Wedding Ring
ed by the bride’s mother), invitations, favours, labels
Magazine as a venue resource and inspiration for the
and centrepieces.
wedding details.
24 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
WR. How did you choose your location? JOANNE: We loved Penryn Mansion’s view of the lake, beautiful grounds and rolling hills. We knew right away that we could see ourselves getting married on the grounds
FAVOURITE DETAIL: “A friend of Jason’s mother owns a few vintage our
♥ = INTERVIEWED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
HISTORICAL, RUSTIC, MINIMAL DéCOR: “We were going for a vintage theme with rustic elegance. Our colours were sage green and champagne. The décor was minimal; we really didn’t want to take away from the historical charm of the mansion. We just added some small details to compliment what was already there, with sepia photographs lining the mantels in each room, and candle lit tables with champagne overlay across the tables and ivory satin linens. Across the back outdoor terrace we hung candles placed in mason jars above the cocktail tables, set out for guests to mingle during the reception.
next to the 1859 gothic-style mansion surrounded by beautiful woodlands. I don’t think there is another place like it in the area.
WR. Describe your DIY projects...
JOANNE & JASON: We did our own invitations (fold-out style invitations, each stamped with a gold wax seal), water bottle labels, favours and centrepieces.
“The moment I laid eyes on the Penryn Mansion and its nicely manicured grounds, I could not help but think of one of my favourite shows recently- Downton Abbey. The architecture, the décor, even the gilded wallpapers that covered their walls... everything was done elegantly. The whole theme for the wedding was vintage elegance so to compliment that theme, the guys all donned fedora hats which I might say, looked really dapper on them.” ~ Lyn Ismael
It
cars.
friend was
For the favours, we tried to include all of the natural elements. We filled vases with rocks and a single white lily with a green spider mum floating in water, with a floating candle on top. [Joanne’s mother created the cake - ivory with beaded edges and flowers circling to the top tier.] We also did the venue décor ourselves. We refinished an old window frame and matted it with classical music sheets and hung antique keys in front with guest names and table numbers. Additionally, we framed old family wedding photographs and placed them on mantels throughout the rooms at the mansion.
WR. What were your biggest challenges?
JOANNE & JASON: It The guest list. Our venue could only hold a specific number of people so it was a challenge deciding on the final list. JOANNE: I did spend a lot more time choosing my wedding gown than expected.
a
We
chose
the
drove
the
girls
great
way
to
green to set
1948
the theme
Continental
end
of
of
the
the
wedding.”
WR. Why did you choose Lyn Ismael?
JOANNE: Lyn did a fantastic job photographing our wedding. I am a photographer myself and know how difficult it can be photographing a wedding. We chose Lyn because she had a photojournalistic style and we loved her previous work. She had great ideas and listened to our input as well. She was very professional and did a great job getting all the shots we wanted. We would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a wedding photographer.
WR. Any unwelcomed surprises?
JOANNE & JASON: We had no major disasters... The only hiccup was when we thought the ceremony musicians were not coming. In the end we found out our violinist was stuck in traffic but was able to send a replacement who made it just in time!
ADVICE,
ONE
BRIDE
TO
and aisle.
ANOTHER...
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It will all work out... Oh, and don’t try to dye your shoes yourself! ■
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 25
reality wedding stories Sarah knew they were meant to be together before they even began dating. Nick knew when the two hugged at Christmas time, five years before they were engaged.
Romantic, high style Old Hollywood DIY wedding Bride & Groom: Sarah & Nick McCallum How they met: Working at Blockbuster Video Engaged: Labour Day weekend, 2010 Married: September 22, 2012, 4:30pm Ceremony & Reception: London Club (♥) (www.londonclub.com) Photography: LTC Photography (♥) (www.ltcphotos.com) # GuestS: 110 SPENT THE MOST ON: “Photography... we really wanted to be able to capture our day. But they were very conservatively priced for what we received.” TOP 3 Most Memorable Moments: “The flashmob, our vows, the speeches!” Favourite DIY Project: Making hair fascinators and going antique shopping for decorations.
Sarah and Nick McCallum first met while working at a video store and so it was only fitting that they would choose an old Hollywood theme for their wedding day. With art deco as their inspiration, and a design palette of gold, black, cream and silver, Sarah and Nick’s wedding was all about glitz, glamour and romance. “We still get compliments on the romance of our day and how people had so much fun.”
WR. How did he propose?
Sarah: Nick proposed in Tobermory at his sister’s cottage. He originally wanted to hang the engagement ring from a tree and focus his telescope on it, then have me look through the eyepiece as he proposed... But the wind was blowing very hard the first couple of days there so he decided against it. Instead, after we had finished
26 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
watching a movie together, he said, “Do you know how to tell if your wish on a shooting star has come true or not? A tiny piece of itself falls to Earth for you to keep close to your heart forever,” and he got down on his knee and presented the ring.
WR. How did you find the planning?
Sarah: Planning went relatively smooth. Like anything it was a matter of going over and over details, keeping some, getting rid of others. The two most stressful parts were probably making the guest list and doing the invitations. We wanted to be able to make the invitations ourselves, but because of how we wanted them to look it ended up costing us more and we had to have them custom made. However, the end result was exactly what we had hoped for and we were thrilled with the feedback from our guests.
reality wedding stories BEST WEDDING DAY SURPRISES: “We had a surprise flash mob that included ALL of our guests! Also, Nick’s speech brought the house down - he read a love letter he had written to me before we even started dating that I’d never read before.” CAKE:
“The cake was three tiers. Each tier was a different flavour and
each reflected an art deco star burst. The bottom tier was marble, the middle was lemon and the top was red velvet. We also gave guests chocolate
♥ = INTERVIEWED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
truffles in handmade boxes that were in the shape of an art deco star burst.”
What DIY projects did you take on?
WR. How did you choose your location?
WR. What was your biggest challenge?
WR. Why Old Hollywood?
Sarah: Invitations, fascinators for bride and brides maids, jewellery, seating chart, escort cards, table identifiers, paper flowers, doily candle-holders, birdcage veil, wedding favour boxes.
Sarah: Not letting other peoples’ opinions influence our vision... And staying within our budget!
WR. What did you find easiest?
Sarah: Picking my dress and bridesmaids dresses. Each had handmade fascinators and necklaces. I wanted the bridesmaids dresses to be worn again if they wanted to, so I chose black cocktail dresses. My dress was an ivory Alfred Angelo gown with a portrait neckline. It had a custom sash on the back… I wore a handmade birdcage veil, a fascinator, pearls and classic ballroom dancing shoes. NICK: Writing my vows. I had them done almost a year beforehand.
Sarah: The London Club (♥) best captured our old Hollywood theme and the aesthetic we were going for and the staff were very accommodating and incredibly helpful bringing everything together.
Sarah: Movies brought us together, so an old Hollywood theme was very fitting. Our colours were cream, gold, black and silver with peacock feather accents. We were also inspired by art deco.
”The personal touches that filled this wedding still have my heart fluttering with excitement, and to top it all off, many of them were done by Sarah herself...the bridesmaid’s necklaces, birdcage veil, fascinators, centrepeices. Not only are these two beyond photogenic… their amazing personalities made it feel like we were photographing long time friends.” ~ LTC Photography
WR. How did you find LTC Photography?
Sarah: We used TheWeddingRing.ca to choose LTC Photography (♥). Laura and Jason were fantastic to work with. The review we read about them was very influential in our decision to meet with them. They appreciated our vision. They weren’t overbearing and let us do our thing. They helped us create really beautiful moments instead of interfering with our day and getting shots that felt forced. We had a very fun time working with them. We enjoyed doing the first-look photos because it really caught our true emotions seeing each other for the first time that day.
WR. What about catering?
Sarah: Catering was provided by London Club (♥) and it was spectacular. We had four different options: beef, chicken, fish, and vegetarian. We wanted to give our guests many options to choose from and we were blown away at the tasting... We wish we could tell you what the appetizers were like but we were so busy we didn’t have a chance to have any! ■ GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 27
ALL PHOTOS: www.SylviaPond.com
Engagement photography Q&A
A Q&A with photography expert Sylvia Pond of Sylvia Pond Photography (♥) (sylviapond.com).
Kitchener-based photographer Sylvia Pond specializes in weddings, engagements and portraits. She works with couples from London to Toronto as well as several destination weddings. After so many weddings, we asked Sylvia for the truth behind the e-shoot... Q. Why is an engagement shoot (or e-shoot) important? A. There are so many reasons! To start with, it’s a great way to do a trial run in front of the camera. It’s also a chance to spend time with your photographer. And, it helps give you confidence, helping to prepare you for wedding day photos.
Q. How can a couple prepare for the shoot? A. You should feel comfortable. You can dress up or dress down, but it’s important to be comfortable. This allows you to look natural in your photos as well as be free to move around for different looks and poses.
Anything that adds to the couple’s unique relationship is always great. Think about what the two of you love together and see if there is a way to incorporate it - these extras are always great. Talk to your photographer about ideas before the shoot so that you can discuss how to incorporate them creatively into the photos.
Q. What trends are you seeing for engagement sessions? A. It’s all about capturing the love and really personalizing the session, whether it be with the location, the style or incorporating personal touches. It’s no longer about standing there and looking at the camera with a smile. It’s about laughing, throwing leaves in the air, embracing in a kiss and holding each other close whispering, “I love you”.
On the other hand, it also gives your photographer a chance to get to know you - what makes you laugh, grin, what brought the two of you together.
Q. How much does it typically cost? A. Engagement sessions with Sylvia Pond Photography are $250. But if you also book your wedding with us, you’ll get $100 off the engagement session.
Q. What are your top five engagement locations? A. 1. Waterloo Park 2. Victoria Park 3. Seagrams Lofts Area 4. Downtown Kitchener 5. Riverside Park There are also some cool little areas in K-W that don’t really have names. If you want something more unique ask your photographer!
These photos will also present the chance to personalize your stationery via photo invitations, save the date cards and you can even use some at the wedding, as part of the décor or in a slide show.
Q. How long does the session typically take? A. Expect to spend an hour to an hour and a half on location with approximately a two week turnaround for the files.
Q. Any other advice? A. Come ready to have fun! And pick a location that is “you”. Do you like earthy, floral, country or urban? Your photographer can give ideas and suggestions on locations if you are unsure. ■
30 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
make-up tips & tricks for the bride Esthetician, Advanced Eyelash Extension Stylist, and owner of Lashing Out Enhancement Studio (lashingoutstudio.com), Marci Matejcek-Walker outlines how and when to get the most out of your beauty regime prior to the big day.
Skin Care To ensure beautiful skin, treat yourself to a facial at least one month prior to your wedding, then again three to five days before. By having a facial one month in advance, your skin has a ‘jump start’ on healing, rejuvenating, and hydrating.
EXPERT TIP: You should always feel comfortable with your esthetician/stylist... you have the right to interview them! They should be available for a free consultation so you can meet with them, go over the look you want or what your goals are for your skin, and check out their studio. They should have an excellent knowledge of skin care and be able to recommend proper home care. Eyelash stylists should be listed in a directory on their company website.
This will also point out any possible adverse reactions that you wouldn’t want to discover only days before your wedding, as well as allow your esthetician to prescribe home care so you can continue to reap the benefits of the facial.
Make-Up If you are going to DIY, use a primer! This will help your make-up last throughout the day and will create a smooth ‘canvas’ on which you can apply the rest of your make-up.
At home, use a gentle exfoliating scrub one to three times per week, followed by a mask. Make sure you cleanse your skin morning and night, being extra careful to remove your eye make-up.
If you are having a professional do your makeup, always have your own pressed powder and lipstick/gloss. This way, you can touch up your powder throughout the day when you notice any shine, and your lips will always be perfect. If you suffer from shiny skin, carry oil-absorbing blotting papers to absorb excess oil, and then apply powder to the area.
A moisturizer at night will help prevent moisture loss, and a daytime moisturizer with SPF will protect skin from the sun and pollution. PHOTO, ABOVE: Amber Richmond Photography (♥) (amberrichmond.com)
Honeymoon and Destination Wedding musts EYELASH EXTENSIONS Not only will you avoid raccoon eyes every time you go for a swim, you never have to worry about removing eye make-up, or applying it. You will look naturally pretty and ready to go with no effort at all! I use and recommend Xtreme Lashes (www. xtremelashes.ca) on brides.
Shellac on the toes Polish stays shiny, and won’t fade or chip even after being in the sand, sun, and chlorine.
Eyelashes Get your initial set one month prior to your wedding, after you have a facial. Following this initial application, take the time to check yourself out often, to see what you love about your lashes, and what you might want changed. Look into your lash stylists training, certificates, experience and background. A stylist with advanced training has learned tricks and techniques to create more of a customized look. The more experienced the stylist, the faster she will be at applying the lashes. A full set will take between an hour and a half to two hours depending on the look you desire. A re-fill should be done three to five days before the wedding and should take about an hour. This is when you can fine tune what you loved and what you want to change about your initial set of lashes. Nails So many times, brides will break a nail only a day or two before the wedding. I recommend having regular manicures once a week for a few weeks before the wedding, depending on how long you want your nails. Shellac (a hybrid between regular polish and gel) keeps the nail healthy and strong while allowing it to grow, which is great for nail biters, and soaks off easily so it is low commitment. Another option is to opt for gel nails which can create length and shape to short nails. These are a bit more of a commitment and must be filed off or filled once a month. ■ GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 31
Hiring your wedding day transportation
PHOTO: www.grandeurlimousine.com
A Q&A COVERING Options, pricing and dos & don’ts
PHOTO: www.grandeurlimousine.com
WR. How does a couple secure their booking? Make sure you leave some sort of deposit. Typically, companies ask for up to fifty percent for deposits. But Mike says, “Make sure they give you a detailed contract outlining what you are getting, how many hours, and what comes with it.” He adds that you should follow up on your rental between three weeks and a month in advance to touch base with your limo company and send them an agenda for your wedding day.
Q&A WITH THE EXPERTS: Grandeur Limousine (♥) (grandeurlimousine.com) and The Wright Limousine Company Inc. (♥) (www.thewrightlimousine.com)
WR. What’s the best way to choose a limo company? Mike at Grandeur Limousine says that couples should look for a reputable company that is credible and has longevity. “There are lots of new companies starting up that find they can’t succeed in the industry, and as a result, close up shortly after they open. They do this after they take deposits and often give no refunds back.” Ideally, companies would be registered with local chapters, such as the Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau. Research their history with the BBB. Mike explains, “The BBB gives a lot of vital information for consumers.” It’s also important to find out how old their equipment is ahead of time. For example, Mike says, “Older equipment tends to breakdown more frequently, causing cancellations or delays.” Mike believes that customer service is extremely important. “When you talk to a potential limo company, are they polite and helpful on the phone when you need them?” A high profile company usually offers extras such as tuxedo chauffeurs, a red carpet, wine or champagne, white glove service, a ‘Just Married’ sign and umbrellas in case of rain.
WR. When should they book by?
PHOTO: www.thewrightlimousine.com
WR. How many hours should a couple book their transportation for? Most packages usually accommodate couples for an afternoon schedule or a morning and afternoon schedule. Anything beyond that is usually more than most couples needs. Says Mike, “Why have a driver sit in the parking lot during dinner and the entertainment?” With that said, many couples are adding night time pickups and shuttle services at the end of the evening as well, covering all their bases and the entire day’s worth of activities.
WR. How much does it cost? Couples generally spend between $600 and $2000 on wedding day transportation.
WR. What are the most popular vehicle options?
George at The Wright Limousine Service Inc. adds that you should always see the limousine companies operation and fleet before you book. “Do not rely solely on websites. You should be able to visit potential companies and see their options in person.”
With wedding parties becoming bigger, larger vehicles are also becoming more popular. Grandeur Limousine says that buses seem to go first, with their Hummer and SUV’s coming in a close second. Grandeur also offers a popular Cadillac Escalade eighteen passenger stretch SUV.
George adds, “Companies that are well established often offer help from staff who are experienced with wedding coordination. Take advantage of their great advice.”
Wright Limousine says that their SUV limo’s are most popular as they can accommodate a larger wedding party. This is followed by their ten passenger Chrysler 300.
32 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
Grandeur Limousine and The Wright Limousine Service Inc. agree that, if you want a particular vehicle or driver, it’s best to book about six to nine months in advance of your wedding. “Large companies are getting into more specialty vehicles like Escalade limos, Hummer limos etc. There are only so many vehicles available to the public and they go far in advance. The farther in advance you book, the more likely the equipment will be available!”
Transportation
dos & don’ts
DON’T... book your transportation without viewing the vehicles in person. Talk to the sales person and ask as many questions as you feel necessary. DO... talk to vendors in the wedding industry to find out who they recommend booking with. Wedding photographers are often a great source for feedback. They are with wedding parties from start to finish and they’ve had experience with many limo companies. DON’T... forget to find out if your transportation company has adequate insurance. Ask to view their policy limits before you secure your booking! DO... ask for a confirmation number and a deposit receipt when you secure your booking. DON’T... assume that cheaper is better. You get what you pay for! DO... make sure that the limo company you are dealing with can offer a substitute vehicle if, by chance, there was a mechanical breakdown. ■
Feature:
FASHION & DESIGN inspiration
MORE INSPIRATION An extended gallery of photos from these fashion shoots are online @ The Ring! Photo: Heather MacEachern, HRM Photography (♥) (www.hrmphotography.com)
www.theweddingring.ca
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 35
Gatsby glam in a luxe wedding wonderland [ Fashion Inspiration, pages 36 to 39] Photography: Heather MacEachern and Niki Patel, HRM Photography (♼) (www.hrmphotography.com) VENUE: Springbank Park in London Shoot coordinator: Jennifer Eaves from Blissful Bookings (www.blissfulbookings.com) Male Model: Heath Hendershot Female Model: Holly Thompson DÊcor: Signature Events Rental Shoppe (www.signatureevents.ca) Flowers: Village Vines Florists (www.villagevinesflorists.com) Gowns and Veil: Nicholas & Elizabeth Bridal (www.nicholasandelizabeth.com) Mini cakes: Chick Boss Cakes (www.chickbosscakes.com) Groom's attire: Bud Gowan Formal Wear (www.budgowan.com) Classic Rolls Royce: All Star Limousine (www.allstarlimo.ca) Make-up & Hair: Alice Audet & Mandy Tomen from AlyCat Makeup & Hair Artistry (www.alycat.ca) Headpieces: Blair Nadeau Millinery (www.blairnadeau.com) Jewellery: Hattitude Jewellery (www.gothattitude.com) Stationery: Paperboat Creations (www.paperboatcreations.com)
GOWN (this & next page) DETAILS: This Allure Bridal (9000) fitted gown features delicate lace throughout for a soft and romantic look. The scooped neckline features an off-the-shoulder cap sleeve with a v-shaped back. The fit-and-flare skirt ends a train in lace.
fashion & design GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 37
GOWN (this page) DETAILS: This Blush Ball Gown by Allure Bridal (9022) is both romantic and classic. It features a sheer lace wrap over sweetheart neckline, cap sleeves and a bodice trimmed with delicate lace and English net. A Swarovski crystals encrusted band adds a lovely touch of sparkle to the natural waist. PHOTOS: Heather MacEachern and Niki Patel, HRM Photography (♼) (hrmphotography.com)
38 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
fashion & design GOWN (this page) DETAILS: This stunning Allure Couture (C230) gown features a lovely V-Neckline and deep V-cut back. A fitted bodice showcases the brides silhouette and flares above the knee into a beautiful floor length chapel train. Beaded embroidery abundantly adorn the dress to give it an irresistible finish. PHOTOS: Heather MacEachern and Niki Patel, HRM Photography (♼) (hrmphotography.com)
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 39
fashion & design
RUSTIC WEDDING INSPIRATION IN RURAL ONTARIO [ Fashion Inspiration, pages 42 to 45] Photography: Amber Richmond Photography (♥) (amberrichmond.com) & Two Tone Studios (♥) (2tonestudios.ca) VENUE: Cedar Ridge Farm (cedar.ridge. farm.rental@gmail.com) (519-829-5300). Barn by HFH Inc. Décor: High Gloss Weddings (♥) (www.highglossweddings.com) Catering: D'Vine Catering (www. dvinecatering.ca) Hair: Evolution Concepts in Hair & Spa (♥) (www.evolutionhairspa.com) Gowns & Accessories: Crème Couture (♥) (formerly La Crème Bridal) (www.cremecouture.ca) Tuxedos & Shoes: Collins Formal Wear (♥) (www.collinsformalwear.com) Make-Up: Jacha (♥) (www.jacha.ca) Eyelashes & Nails: Lashing Out Enhancement Studio (www. lashingoutstudio.com) Bouquets & floral headpiece: Belmont Flowers (♥) (belmontflowers.ca) Brides: Marci Matejcek-Walker, Jessie Toonen, Adrianna Russell Grooms: Ryan Russell, Tom Higson, Daryl George
42 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
fashion & design
RUSTIC ROMANCE
Gown: A lace and tulle
‘Margie’ ball
gown by David Tutera with a chapel length train and detachable spaghetti and halter straps, perfect for making a second fashion statement at the reception. We paired her look with a stunning “Bling” Alice headband, a Swarovski necklace and earrings and a Laura Jayne cathedral veil. Tuxedo: This steel grey Twilight by Jean Yves tuxedo features a satin lapel and top collar, creating a formal yet clean look. It incorporates side vents and lightweight fabric, making it ideal for a summer wedding. Florals: The bouquet is an arrangement of pods lotus, coral charm peonies, ornithogalum
white
star,
panicum
fountain grass, jasmine foliage, cobra lily, ixia rose, ranunculus and garden roses. ixia,
Ryan’s fountain
boutonniere grass
and
included cobra
lily.
Décor: Rebecca of High Gloss Weddings used an abundance of lace, vases and candles to create a romantic ambience, adding a burlap guest book, burlap favours and lanterns for a more rustic feel.
sweet country
Gown: Justin Alexander Ball Gown (8664)
fashion & design
featuring crystals, bugle beads, and sequined trim with a tulle neckline and beaded cap sleeves. Buttons cover the back zipper to the end of the chapel length train. The gown was paired with Creations Georgia teardrop earrings and a “Bling” headband from the Sarah Jayne collection. Tuxedo: The Prestige tux by Uke Behar features a slim fit, stretch fabric with side vents and satin lapels. Its narrow waist and stretch armholes make it hugely popular with grooms for its comfort and style. Floral DESIGN: The country chic bouquet includes
asclepia
pods,
agonis,
poppies,
protea pincushion tango, James Story orchid, anigozanthos, bixa orellana pods, panicum grass and wheat triticum. Tom’s boutonniere includes wheat, poppies and anigozanthos. Décor: Rebecca created a country chic palette using wood placecards, mini hay bales, birch tree candleholders, horseshoes and cowboy boots, among many country inspired touches. PURSE:
This
wonderful,
highly
detailed
clutch is made by Mary Frances handbags. PhotoS: Amber Richmond Photography (♥) (amberrichmond.com) & Two Tone Studios (♥) (2tonestudios.ca)
44 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO }
bohemian chic
Gown: Justin Alexander Limited (6270) ball gown with strapless sweetheart neckline. This style is lace up and features a chapel length train. We added some extra sparkle with Creations Georgia long drop earrings and a crystal necklace, as well as a Richard Design Headband of clear beads and pearls accented with feathers. Tuxedo: Allure by Jean Yves (1005) tux is perfect for destination and garden weddings with its easy moving, lightweight fabric. The two button tan jacket has a narrow waistline and notch lapel with a subtle border, allowing the tux to transform into a suit. FLORAL DESIGN: Marci’s playful bouquet includes lush coral charm peonies. Her headpiece was made with jasmine foliage. Daryl’s boutonniere was made with ornithogalen white star. Décor: With a candlelight lounge area as the focal point, Rebecca added lots of colour and comfort with throw pillows, textured throws, a ribbon chandelier, metal stars, fresh lilac and pussywillow, feathers and scattered glass candle holders, for a boho chic look. PhotoS: Amber Richmond Photography (♥) (amberrichmond.com) & Two Tone Studios (♥) (2tonestudios.ca)
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 45
BEHIND THE SCENES AT A RURAL ONTARIO PHOTOSHOOT A lot of work goes into the perfect wedding day and our fashion shoot was no exception. The wonderful ladies of D'Vine Catering created a stunning "country glam" buffet complete with mouth-watering sandwiches, countrystyle vanilla iced tea served in chilled mason jars and homemade blondie and brownie cupcakes for dessert. Make-up artist Angie Keller, owner of Jacha brought her portable make-up kit filled with custom colours and her own line of mineral products (Jacha Minerals). Angie created personalized looks for each bride to complement their wedding theme and personal sense of style. The team at Evolution created three gorgeous looks for our brides, including a soft, 'Taylor Swift' inspired side sweep for our country look, loose waves with small braids for our bohemian bride and light curls with a soft updo for our romantic look. PHOTOS: Amber Richmond Photography (♼) (www. amberrichmond.com) & Two Tone Studios (♼) (2tonestudios.ca)
What you need to know
before altering your gown
you need to do your homework to make the alterations process goes smoothly. Here’s what you need to know...
An expert tip from Ellen Shute of Ellen & Company (♥) (www.theweddingring.ca/reviews-in-the-ring/ ellen-and-company) in St. Mary’s It’s the dress of your dreams, BUT things just don’t quite fit perfectly. This usually means you are on your way to finding an alterations specialist. And if that’s the case,
♥ = INTERVIEWED, RESEARCHED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
PHOTOS: Hope Photography (hopephotography.ca)
right away whether or not you will want to leave the dress of your dreams with this person. Be up front with your questions... If price is a concern, ask for a • If shedding a few pounds is your goal, you need realistic quote. to find an alterations specialist who you trust. • Describe what you like and dislike about your dress Communication is extremely important. Let them and what you want it to look like when it’s finished. know about all of your body changes over the three Remember that “wants” and additions to the dress months of alteration time so that they can plan to that go above and beyond standard alterations may make appropriate adjustments. come at an above and beyond price. • Check out all your alterations Changing weight and changing Remember, no one needs a options before going ahead. Also license to tear a dress apart, but it minds also come at a price. check references and talk to past would help if they knew how to • Meet with your alterations specialist to choose all the right clients, whether it be through the put it back together properly! undergarments. Make sure to tell bridal shop where you purchased him/her if you plan to change shoes your gown or an independent throughout the wedding day - for specialist working on their own. hem considerations. If a customer is happy, they’ll tell • When it comes to your alterations two people. But if a customer is not appointments, be on time. In the busy happy, they’ll tell ten people! This season, appointments can be booked is usually a good indication of what back to back and you don’t want to you can expect. be rushed. Rushed fittings can breed • If you’re nervous, ask for a ‘meet miscommunication. and greet’ before you hire them. Remember, no one needs a license Remember, the wedding day is to tear a dress apart, but it would about time with your new spouse, help if they knew how to put it back friends and family, on one of the together properly! Ask about their most important days of your life. It’s experience and credentials. Get to not a time to be dragged off to the bathroom to frantically sew in a new know them and get a feel for their zipper because the first one popped! ■ philosophy. You’ll probably know
PHOTO: www.sheilabraam.com (♥)
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 49
design palettes LOCATION: The Stratford White House (www.stratfordwhitehouse.com) PHOTOGRAPHY: Alicia Riley Photography (♥) (www.aliciariley.com) COORDINATION & DÉCOR: High Gloss Weddings (♥) (www.highglossweddings.com) FLORAL DESIGN: Flourish Florals in Kitchener (www.flourishflorals.com) DRESSES & SHOES: White Romance in Listowel (www.whiteromance.ca) SWEETS: The Nutty Bakers in Stratford (www.thenuttybakers.com) CAKE & CUPCAKES: Kendall’s Kakes in Goderich (www.kendallskakes.blogspot.ca) STATIONERY: OOXX Invitations in Kitchener (www.ooxx.ca) JEWELLERY: Debra’s Devine Designs in London (www.etsy.com/shop/DebrasDivineDesigns) HAIR: Expressions Hair Design in Stratford (www.expressionshairdesign.ca) MAKE-UP: The Spa on Albert in Stratford (www.thespaonalbert.ca) 50 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO }
■ Mint, peach, gold & emerald ■
With inspiration from the 2013 colour of the year, Emerald Green, and a mutual love of all things vintage, photographer, Alicia Riley, and decorator, Rebecca Wilson, teamed up with other Southwestern Ontario wedding experts to create one fabulous design shoot. Says Rebecca, “Since this is the colour of the year, we wanted to use it as one of the accent colours and then soften it with mint green, gold, and touches of peachy pinks. It’s soft and pretty yet elegant and romantic!” Alicia explains, “2013 is all about venturing into fun and very unique colour palettes. With so many sources of inspiration, like wedding blogs and photo sites, brides are finding it easier to jump out of the box and try something fresh and exciting. Mint, peach, gold and emerald are all hot colours for 2013 SAVE ME! To keep the fires of creativity burning, tear out this page & save it in your ideas binder.
so why not put them all together and mix and match? The colours complement each other SO well!” Alicia and Rebecca chose the Stratford White House as their backdrop. “The venue is a gorgeous estate that just exudes vintage elegance and charm. We added lots of vintage finds and unique pieces to accent its already incredible character.” For example, Rebecca found the perfect accents at a local antique store, picking up emerald green vases for only a few dollars each. Other vintage décor came straight from Rebecca’s own collection of cake stands and vintage serving dishes. Rebecca says that brides can achieve this theme by hitting antique stores and auction sales, or better yet, exploring Grandma’s china cabinet or attic. “Brides can easily pick up unique pieces to add little details to their day...and they’ll usually get a good deal!”
design palettes
■ SPELLING A LOVE STORY ■
Bride & Groom: Kayleigh Curts & Scott Sinasac Wedding Date: October 6, 2012 Ceremony: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Mount Carmel Reception: Hessenland Country Inn (♥) (www.hessenland.com) in Zurich Photographer: Trish Roberts Wedding Photography (trishrobertsweddingphotography.com) DÉCOR: To Suit Your Fancy (♥) (tosuityourfancy.com) FLORALS: Designs in Bloom (www.designsinbloom.ca) COLOURS: Gold, bronze and eggplant accents INSPIRATIONS: “Scott’s love of Star Wars... our mutual love of Scrabble... my mom’s vision for our big day - she’s the one who originally inspired the rustic fall wedding. CAKE: For Goodness Cakes (forgoodnesscakeskd.weebly. com)
Kayleigh and Scott wanted a rustic fall wedding day that celebrated their love for one another. “From start to finish our day focused on the comfort of our guests. We wanted to express our heartfelt thanks to them for all of their love and support throughout our lives and on our very special day.” Hessenland Country Inn was the ultimate backdrop and To Suit Your Fancy, the ultimate decorator.
own personalized scrabble place setting. “My dad and I have been playing scrabble since I was young, so it was fitting that he was so helpful in checking out garage sales and thrift shops all summer. Scott designed the seating chart to resemble a large scrabble board, which he had printed and placed in a frame my mom spray painted for us.” ■
The bride and groom had a “hot bar” [LOVE this idea!] to keep guests warm on the crisp fall day. From chai tea lattes and white hot chocolate to warm apple cider, the idea was a favourite feature for the entire guest list.
PERSONAL TOUCHES: “To work in my husband’s love of Star Wars in an elegant way, we had a mini Han Solo character peeking out of the back of our wedding cake and Scott wore etched silver Boba Fett cufflinks to complete the look. Since I just graduated from Pharmacy school, we had our guests leave us their ‘prescriptions for happiness,’ which we spent countless hours poring over after the wedding.”~Kayleigh
During the cocktail hour, guests were given horse drawn carriage rides throughout the beautiful grounds at Hessenland Country Inn. Kayleigh remembers, “The wedding gave us the perfect number of DIY projects, but we also allowed our amazing vendors to strut their stuff!”Their biggest task was collecting over 1000 scrabble tiles and 140 tile racks so that each guest could have their SAVE ME! To keep the fires of creativity burning, tear out this page & save it in your ideas binder.
LATE NIGHT SNACKS: At the end of the evening guests returned to their rooms to find delicious homemade chocolate chip and Rolo cookies, baked by Kayleigh’s mom and packaged in Thanksgiving themed Chinese take-out boxes. GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 51
design palettes
Advice, one bride to another: “Invest in a good photographer... you won’t regret it! We loved everything about Sheila Braam and would recommend her again and again.’’
BRIDE & GROOM: Mandy Hansen & Jayson Jones WEDDING DATE: August 18, 2012 CEREMONY LOCATION: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Arthur, ON RECEPTION LOCATION: Mandy’s parents’ home in Arthur, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Sheila Braam Photography (♥) (www.sheilabraam.com) TENT: Burke’s Tent Rentals (♥) (burkestentrentals.com) COLOURS: Purple, green, cream THEME: Rustic elegance BUDGET: “We spent more than we planned too! It was close to $35,000.” GUEST COUNT: 330 $$ WHAT WE SAVED THE MOST ON: “Our décor - we handmade almost everything!” FAVOURITE DÉCOR ELEMENT: “Our backdrop and centrepieces, they set the stage for our Rustic Elegance theme!” 52 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO }
■ cOUNTRY CHIC ■
Each table was decorated with cream coloured tablecloths and purple napkins. Asian style lanterns in purple, green and cream colours were hung from the ceiling above the dance floor.
Self described “country bumpkins” Mandy and Jayson knew that her parents farm was the ideal place for them to tie the knot. And they were right. The couple’s wedding day was filled with country, in addition to extensive DIY elements and rustic personal touches. “Our reception was held in a beautiful tent. Since the wedding was held in a field after a harvest, the ground was quite prickly on the feet. In order to prevent our guests from getting sore feet, we laid astro turf where the tables sat and had wood shavings outlining the pathways to the bar, dance floor and exits. When our guests entered the tent, they looked directly at our beautiful handmade barn board backdrop with little white light accents.” SAVE ME! To keep the fires of creativity burning, tear out this page & save it in your ideas binder.
For centrepieces, the couple spray painted mason jars of different sizes. Candles were placed in the smaller jars and an assortment of flowers in the larger jars. They sat on slices of wood to give the table a truly rustic feel. For Mandy, the centrepieces were a labour of love, but well worth it in the end. “We sliced the wood, nailed table numbers to them, wrapped string around every mason jar and then spray painted them all. In the end we did over 400 jars! They set the stage for our rustic elegance theme.” Says Mandy, “I loved everything about our décor! Even though it was a large tent, it felt very intimate.”
design palettes
BRIDE & GROOM: Andrea Apa & Dave Dick LOCATION: Enoch Turner Schoolhouse (♥)
■ ARGYLE, VINTAGE & DESIGNER ■
(www.enochturnerschoolhouse.ca) in Toronto PHOTOGRAPHY: Jessica Lin Photography (♥) (www.jessicalinphotography.ca) COLOURS: Green & Purple $$ WHAT WE SPENT THE LEAST ON: The cake. It was just under $100 for two tiers. BIGGEST PLANNING CHALLENGE: “Eliminating projects. We had so many great ideas and it was hard to do them all!” THEME: Modern, rustic JEWELLERY: Apa Design Jewellery (www.apadesign.ca) STATIONERY: Toy Rabbits (www.toyrabbits.ca) HAIR: Jamie Croucher Hair Stylist (905-531-1934) CAKE: Bunner’s Bakery (www.bunners.ca)
Designers, Andrea and Dave, wanted their modern yet rustic wedding day to be filled with personal details and DIY touches. “We wanted it to feel like people were coming to our place for a nice dinner. We like entertaining and adding a lot of little details was very important to us, to include our own touches to the day.” For example, Dave designed the save the date cards, invitations and thank you gift packaging. Andrea designed and made both of their wedding bands as well as Dave’s cufflinks and the jewellery for the entire wedding party. Since the couple lived on Argyle Street, they chose an argyle pattern for their invitations. The pattern ended up becoming an element in several details throughout the day, including on the boxes of almonds given to SAVE ME! To keep the fires of creativity burning, tear out this page & save it in your ideas binder.
guests to help find their seat and the paper bags that guests filled with homemade treats to take home. Several of Andrea and Dave’s equally creative friends and family members also helped with the wedding details. A close friend did the illustrations for the custom vintage postcards that were used as both table numbers and thank you cards. Each illustration featured a favourite place the couple had traveled together. For Andrea and Dave, choosing their favourite wedding detail is difficult. They admitted, “We loved all the little details... And there were so many people that were a part of making our wedding amazing!” Advice, one bride to another: “Start early and have a cohesive idea. The little details were what drew the day together. It created a warm environment and showed we cared.” GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 53
design palettes ■ RUSTIC, vintage & ROMANTIC ■
Bride & Groom: Heidi & John Sasso Wedding Date: November 10th, 2012 Ceremony: Waterloo North Mennonite Church Reception: Grey Silo Golf Club (www.golfgreysilo.ca) in Waterloo $$ What we spent the most on: The venue rental, alcohol and photography BUDGET: $25,000 COLOURS: Dark purple, rust orange, earthy greens & browns PhotographY: Spirits Intrigued Photography (♥) (www.sipimage.com) Heidi and John met in Calgary and have always been drawn to the great outdoors. They wanted to bring their mutual love of nature indoors for their rainy 54 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO }
November wedding day. They designed their own rustic nature décor theme and chose a colour palette of dark purple, rust orange, earthy greens, and browns. Hurricane vases and lanterns filled with candles gave the reception a romantic feel. The couple decorated mason jars with burlap and purple flowers, filled them with candles, and set them atop pre-cut tree stumps that they’d purchased from a local tree farm. Heidi says this detail ended up being one of her favourite décor elements of the wedding. They were also able to get creative with table names. Using video footage from wedding party interviews, they integrated one of John’s famous get-to-knowyou games. Heidi explains, “We asked, ‘If you were a kitchen utensil, which kitchen utensil would you be?’ They then named all of the tables after cute kitchen gadgets or kitchen-themed puns such as ‘Our favourite love TONGS!’ Says Heidi, “We purchased mini kitchen utensils for our guests and had them delivered to our out-of-town guests’ rooms at the SAVE ME! To keep the fires of creativity burning, tear out this page & save it in your ideas binder.
host hotel with specially tailored messages to set the theme for our big day.” Advice, one bride to another:“Plan ahead and do as much as you can before crunch time!” DIY & DéCOR DETAILS: Family and friends played a huge role in the décor for the day, chipping in with their many talents to create incredible scenery. DIY projects included mason jars with burlap, floating candles and glue-gunned purple flowers from Michaels. “We also made personalized chalk board candles for our favours. We did all of the menus and programs ourselves - designed by the groom. The tree stumps were purchased from a local tree farm and were sliced to order. We also used the medallions to create our cake stand - which our family members then built for us.”
PHOTO: www.tjdurnan.com
Getting Creative with Florals An Expert Tip from Karen & Anna Drimmie of Drimmie Florist in Elora (www.drimmieflorist.com) INVESTIGATE YOUR COLOUR OPTIONS True Blue Flowers: Globe thistle, B.C. hydrangea, delphinium, Ecuadorian hydrangea in pale blue, and iris are all great examples of natural blue flowers that are available year-round. Blue is becoming more popular with brides because of all the beautiful shades that are available. For a fresh and summery wedding, pale blue and yellow creates a French countryside look. Or consider blending blue, lavender and pink for a pretty, pastel bouquet. Peach Flowers: Peach is a great blending colour. It works well with a multitude of other colours, from soft pink to bright orange and lavender. It can be used to create a soft and romantic look or a dramatic one for fall - consider contrasting peach flowers with purple bridesmaids dresses. Our favorite peach flowers for weddings include peach roses, spray roses, hypericum berry, and peach gerbera daisies.
PHOTO: www.drimmieflorist.com
White Flowers: Always a favorite with brides! It’s a look that is forever romantic. Create a winter wonderland with white hydrangea, roses, peonies and crystal accents.
Or, pull from the past and use white to create a timeless vintage wedding. Incorporating baby’s breath makes for a very retro feel, while helping you stay on budget. To create a big look on a smaller budget, think about filling buckets of baby’s breath and placing them at the front of the church or hall. If you’re going with a vintage feel, collect old mason jars and fill with baby’s breath for table arrangements. When it comes to white flowers, your options are endless. Some of our favorite white flowers for weddings include: white hydrangea, white orchid, peonies, ranunculus, geraniums, anemones, baby’s breath and, always a classic, garden white roses. TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVITY: There are a lot of ways to get creative with your blooms. These ideas will spark your imagination... • Antique tea cups can be used for table arrangements and in the bathrooms. • Use flowering plants at the reception to add colour throughout the hall. Sit them on window sills and on the floor at entrances and stairways. Afterward, plant them in your garden at home for everlasting memories. • Choose a different colour for each bridesmaid bouquet. Plan the colour around your bridesmaids’ favorite colours or their personality. They will love that you thought of them on your big day. • Choose unusual bouquet shapes. Perfect ball shaped
Tips & Trends for Beautiful Blooms
bouquets were on trend for a while, but now brides are looking for something more interesting to the eye, something less structured, more natural. Try adding in trailing greenery, such as seeded eucalyptus or clematis vine to achieve this look. • Loosen up with garden greenery in your bouquets. We grow our own foliage such as grey dusty miller or clematis vine for a less ‘put together’, more natural look. EXPERT-LED DIY CENTREPIECE PARTIES! Who says you can’t build your own table centrepieces? We offer a service in which you can hire one of our wedding experts to come into your home and teach you how to build your own wedding centrepieces. Turn it into a party! Invite your bridesmaids and anyone else that wants to help out, serve appetizers and drinks, and learn how to create your own centrepieces. We will break down the cost of the flowers, and do a calculation for the amount of flowers you need for each arrangement so you know the exact number of flowers you will need to purchase. This is a fun, easy way to learn how to build your own table centrepieces for your wedding. ■
An expert tip from Lindsay Hinde of Something Borrowed Wedding & Party Rentals in London (♥) (www.somethingborrowedrentals.com) BIGGEST TRENDS For 2013 into 2014 weddings, we are seeing a lot of purples, greens and whites in florals. We’re also seeing plenty of vintage inspiration - brides adding vintage broaches to their bouquets, wrapping stems in lace and burlap... Incorporating crystals into designs is popular right now as well. POPULAR PETALS One of the most popular flowers right now are hydrangeas. They are a fantastic flower. They come in many colours and are a substantial size, which helps
to fill out bouquets and centrepieces. Budget-conscious Artificial flowers are a great option because clients don’t have to worry about whether a flower is in season, which in turn reflects a client’s budget. They are more durable; which is a great option for clients who are looking to keep their bouquets as a keepsake, to put in a vase or shadow box. Our clients that choose the artificial flower option love having more input when it comes to their flowers. photo research & inspiration
56 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
At Something Borrowed, we encourage our clients to send us pictures of bouquets or centrepieces that they come across during their planning and research. Photos and ideas help give us a clear idea of what our client’s like and don’t like, which is especially helpful when it comes to elements such as shape, flowers, colours and size. We always give our clients the option to view their bouquets in advance, which allows us to make any necessary changes, ensuring that our clients are completely satisfied on their special day! ■
PHOTO: www.dudekphotography.com (♥)
feature: DesTINATION WEDDINGS GUIDE
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 57
destination weddings “With a destination wedding you don’t get to see the location or dècor beforehand, you don’t get to taste test the meal or the cake...it is all unknown until the night of the wedding. We tackled this by sitting back and enjoying the adventure. We put our trust in our Palladium wedding coordinator and in our travel agent.”
Destination Jamaica: A wedding in paradise Bride & Groom: Sarah Sczepanski & Reid Denby How they met: In college, through a group of mutual friends over summer holidays. “Reid made the first move, introducing me to a friend that winter at a function as his ‘girlfriend.” Engaged: December 24, 2010 Married: April 18, 2012 Ceremony & Reception: Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica Photography: Dudek Photography (♥) (www.dudekphotography.com) # GuestS: 36 Bride’s Dress: A Mikaella gown from Couture Threads in Stratford (♥) (www.couture-threads.com) SPENT THE MOST ON: Venue, food & photography 4 TOP PRIORITIES: The resort, overall DW wedding details, the dress, the home reception location
Dental Hygeinist, Sarah Sczepanski, and Electrician, Reid Denby, were together for more than seven years before they wed, growing from college sweethearts to parents of their two ‘fur babies’ - dogs, Reggi and Bruno. After Reid proposed, Christmas Eve of 2010, they both agreed that a destination wedding was the perfect way for them to celebrate a stress-free week with their closest friends and family. They fell in love with Jamaica and were married in a white marble, open air atrium followed by a private reception overlooking the beach.
WR. What made you opt for a DW?
Sarah & REID: We both always said we wanted a destination wedding. One of our biggest reasons was we wanted to spend as much time as we could with our guests. We wanted one-on-one time with everyone who was attending. We both felt that with a traditional
58 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
wedding, the day seems to fly by, you’re not able to talk to everyone for any length of time and it would be hard to remember everything that happened. [Sarah and Reid also followed up their DW with a reception at ‘home’ in Canada]
WR. Why Grand Palladium Jamaica?
Sarah & REID: We wanted to travel to a location we hadn’t been to yet, and we have always wanted to go to Jamaica. It’s a beautiful country both with its landscape and its people. This resort, specifically, was recommended to us by our friends who had traveled there a couple years prior. Hearing their reviews and viewing photos and wedding information for the resort solidified our choice.
WR. When did you know he/she was ‘the one’
Reid: I knew she was ‘the one’ almost immediately. A group of friends had gathered one night for a fire in the summer of 2005, and I remember showing up and
destination weddings
♥ = INTERVIEWED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
BEST MEMORY: “The dancing... Oh everyone was up on the floor dancing nonstop for two hours! There were some great moves, including a groomsman picking up the bride’s dad, not once, but twice! After the reception, we moved up to the main bar where they had a live steel drum band and Jamaican dancers. We continued the celebration well into the night. Reid and I were up learning some moves, along with members of the wedding party and guests, all still in our wedding attire.”
there was a girl there in a white coat (Sarah), and I just couldn’t help but pay attention to her all night, and listen to everything she said. And I said to myself, ‘I need to get to know her, she’s the woman for me.’ Sarah: Reid always stood out in the crowd to me. I knew from the moment we first met that I wanted to spend more time with him. As we spent more time together I realized he was what I had been looking for. I always felt comfortable... I could be myself around him. We had so much fun together, but we could also just talk to eachother about anything, he became my best friend.
Was it easy planning a DW wedding?
Sarah & REID: With a destination wedding, you don’t get to see the location beforehand... You don’t get a taste test of the meal or the cake... It is all unknown until the night of the wedding. We just tackled this by sitting back and enjoying the adventure. We put our trust in our travel agent and our wedding coordinator in Jamaica, and they did not let us down. We really wanted a fun, relaxed, intimate wedding. By going on this adventure of the unknown with our guests, we achieved that... It created so
many memories that we will all cherish for years to come.
be precise with my planning, but I had to learn to loosen up a
WR. Tell us about your DW décor?
little. I had to learn to sit back and wait... It didn’t all have to be done ‘right now’. Patience.”
Sarah & REID: We didn’t want the typical ‘beach’ theme. We wanted a classic, clean, crisp, elegant theme and colours that complemented that. Our colours were mostly white, ivory and pale yellow. The reception décor was clean and simple. Our favourite part of our décor was something we didn’t even plan - the most beautiful sunset we have ever seen... It captivated everyone!
spending the morning at the spa pools relaxing. Playing
WR. What did your guests love most?
entire lives.”
Sarah & REID: They commented on how much they enjoyed getting to spend so much time with Reid and I leading up to our wedding. They felt that it was intimate and memorable. Our group spent a lot of the time together, hanging out by the pool in the morning, the beach in the afternoon, going for large group dinners and sharing stories over a few drinks at night. ADVICE: FROM ONE BRIDE TO ANOTHER... “I know it sounds so cliché, but really, don’t sweat the small stuff. We can both be pretty particular people. I make a lot of lists and like to
SARAH’S FAVOURITE DW MOMENTS: “The guys kanjam on the beach every day. The overwhelming love at the reception. The delicious food. The gorgeous sky painted with the most beautiful sunset. It was the best experience of our
“Sarah and Reid’s wedding was very special as it was full of positive emotion from their large support group of family and friends. The unique geographical and architectural features of the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton allowed me to creatively portray their relationship in a unique fashion by utilizing dramatic landscapes and colourful building features with beautiful Caribbean light.” ~ Dudek Photography GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 59
destination weddings
A love song from Curaçao to Cambridge
Bride & Groom: Amy & David Green Engaged: Christmas Eve, 2011 CEREMONY DATE: January 16, 2013 RECEPTION DATE: January 26, 2013 Ceremony & Reception Location: Sunscape Resort in Willemstad, Curaçao DESTINATION LOCATION: Sunscape Resort in Willemstad, Curaçao (www.sunscaperesorts.com/curacao) AT-HOME RECEPTION LOCATION: Cambridge Mill (♥) in Cambridge, Ontario (www.cambridgemill.ca) Photography: Captured Soul Photography (♥) (www.capturedsoulphotography.com) TRAVEL: Dawn Fairbanks of Destinations by Dawn (♥) (www.destinationsbydawn.com) # GuestS: 15 in Curaçao & 82 in Cambridge SPENT THE MOST ON: Photography SPENT THE LEAST ON: Hair and make-up
When they weren’t spending time with their three dogs and
one cat, David, a Team Leader at Toyota who loves playing and watching sports, and Amy, a family lawyer who loves to sing, planned a wedding that involved two celebrations over the span of ten days and two countries. In Curaçao, they hosted an elegant but laid back tropical ceremony with 15 guests. In Canada, they hosted a larger, glammed up winter reception for 82 guests at the Cambridge Mill.
WR. How did you propose?
AMY: On Christmas Eve of 2011, Dave told me he was taking me to Toronto for a surprise dinner. I thought that was a bit strange on Christmas Eve, and suspected that Dave might be up to something… especially since he put on a suit in the morning. We got all dressed up and went to Toronto and it was the coldest day EVER…it was freezing…and Dave kept saying that we should look for “pretty
60 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
Christmas lights”. So we went to the Distillery District but everything was closed, so we moved on to the restaurant, which was “Toula” at the top of the Westin Harbour Castle. We had a great dinner and some drinks, and then on the way home Dave suggested that we drive down Lakeshore to look for “pretty Christmas lights” again. Strangely enough, there actually weren’t a lot of Christmas lights out anywhere so we went home and got home at around midnight. Dave said we should open presents right away, and we grabbed the dogs and went to the Christmas tree. Dave then got down on one knee and said he couldn’t imagine his life without me and proposed. He said he had been waiting for the perfect time all day to propose, but it felt the most right at home in front of the tree with the dogs.
WR. How did you choose your location?
DAVID & AMY: We wanted a destination wedding location that was safe and unique, small and intimate, not
BOX
destination weddings
WINE
CEREMONY:
“We wrote letters to each other describing how we were feeling and what we were looking forward to in the upcoming year, sealed the letters, and put them in the wine box along with the bottle of wine.” The couple will then open it on their first anniversary, drink the wine and read
♥ = INTERVIEWED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
the letters they wrote to each other.
ADVICE, ONE BRIDE TO ANOTHER: “Don’t try to cut corners to save money, because once the wedding is finished you can never go back and include those things that you really wanted to incorporate. This is your one special day so make it exactly what you want.”
too long a flight from Toronto with lots of things to do. For our at home reception, we wanted a small, cozy reception with our closest family and friends in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. We wanted a vintage feel, mixed with contemporary elements such as the chairs and lighting. We also loved the natural fireplace in our cocktail room.
booked and our wedding, but everything turned out perfect in the end! Dawn [from Destination Weddings by Dawn] was helpful in getting in touch with the wedding coordinator at the resort, helping us through the changes in ownership at the resort, and ensuring that the resort honoured the wedding package that was included when we first booked. She was always friendly and cheerful.
WR. How did you know each other was ‘the one’
WR. Why Captured Soul Photography?
DAVID: When I first saw her sing. AMY: When my dogs jumped on his lap like they knew him for years.
WR. How did you find the planning?
DAVID & AMY: It was pretty smooth, fun and we tried to make everything enjoyable. The most stressful things were finding 50 ml. bottles for our guest favours, which we ordered in from a small town in England... [also] getting all the documentation together for our marriage to be legalized in Curaçao... There was a bit of drama with our destination wedding location because it changed ownership three times between the time we
AMY: I’ve known Michelle Kauntz for the past fifteen years and she was a natural choice to do our photos during one of the most important times of our lives. Not only do we love Michelle’s style, but we love her fun
FAVOURITE DETAILS: “At the wedding in Curaçao, we had a steel drum band for the ceremony and I walked up the aisle to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. At the reception we had the amazing Tim Louis Trio and DJ Hugh Elstone and everyone had such a good time dancing right until the end of the night. Tim and I also practiced a song to sing to Dave as a gift, written by his favourite singer, Bob Dylan.” - Amy
personality and her ability to get us to relax, have fun and open up. DAVID: She taught us the “Hollywood kiss” which we perfected by the time of the wedding after all of our practice at our engagement shoot. And we even stopped laughing by the wedding. She actually had to tell us to kiss for real because we were so trained!
WR. What DIY projects did you take on?
DAVID & AMY: We had custom napkins printed with four different “fun facts” about us to use during our reception. We made custom destination tote bags filled with goodies for all of our guests that came with us to Curaçao, including their own drink cups with their names on them in sparkly letters. We made seashell stir sticks to go with our custom drink, “Something Blue”. We made our own card box for our reception using Amy’s great-grandmother’s suitcase. For our kissing game at the reception, we made up a word for each table, which we put in a small frame, and the table had to tell the story of what the word meant to us to get us to kiss! ■ GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 61
destination weddings
PHOTO, ABOVE: www.kingfisherspa.com
PHOTO, ABOVE: marnierecker.com
PHOTO, ABOVE: www. vividphotography.ca (♥)
Scouting Vancouver Island for the ultimate destination wedding locations
Story by The Wedding Ring Vancouver Island (www.vancouverisland.theweddingring.ca)
Destination weddings don’t have to mean travelling to foreign soil. Canada’s Vancouver Island boasts a year round warm climate along with breathtaking coastlines, mountains, rain forests, lakes and beaches. There are also some of the most remarkable wedding locations in the country - luxury oceanside resorts, retreats, gardens, beaches, lavender fields, parks, wineries and castles - all that are sure to create a lasting impression for your family and friends! Here are some fabulous examples of Vancouver Island wedding options at their best... On the Eastern shores of Vancouver Island, just minutes from an international airport, The Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa (♥) (www.kingfisherspa.com) (photo: above, middle) awaits couples with ocean and mountain views from every suite. They specialize in wedding packages from two to 200 guests with gourmet West Coast cuisine, PHOTO, BELOW: prestigehotelsandresorts.com
unique spa facilities and beach ceremonies. We love how you can enjoy the coastal beach feel within the elegant garden courtyards.
The West Coast of the Island is world famous for its rugged beauty and rainforests. Black Rock Oceanfront Resort and Spa (♥) (blackrockresort.com) (photo: above, far right and below, second from left) is a work of modern art rising from the black cliffs and sandy beaches surrounding it. A romantic ceremony can be held on the glass balcony overlooking the ocean or in the wine cellar with a view. We love the relaxed feel, cuisine and the one-of-a kind pool with a view! On the southern tip of Vancouver Island is the city of Victoria filled with world class venues waiting to create a perfect wedding for you. We love to visit the breathtaking Best Western Premier Prestige Oceanfront Resort and Spa (♥)
PHOTO, BELOW: George Fifield
(prestigehotelsandresorts.com) (photo: below, far left) in Sooke, with its tropical feel and endless balconies overlooking the ocean. The gazebo, extensive ballrooms and courtyard all await you along with endless dining options and guest activities for two up to 270 guests. We love the playfulness of the unique décor on each floor! If you are looking for an intimate yet elegant wedding, then Sooke Harbour House (♥) (www.sookeharbourhouse.com) (photo: below, far right) is for you. They are famous for their commitment to local cuisine and have helped thousands of couples say their vows. We love how you can enjoy a bonfire on the beach or dance under the stars. Weddings in Vancouver Island are a dream for your guests because there is simply no end to what they can do while they’re here for your event. So if you’re looking for an incredible Canadian destination, take a close look at what a Vancouver Island destination wedding might be like for you! ■
PHOTO, BELOW: marnierecker.com
PHOTO, BELOW: www.sookeharbourhouse.com
expert tips
Shoe Inspiration FROM URBAN BRIDE
1
3
All shoes on this page were found at Urban Bride Boutique (♥) in Cambridge (www.myurbanbride.com) and photographed by Contrast Photography. Urban Bride carries hand chosen designer shoe lines, specializing in customizing shoes with colour and accessories for every bride. Most accessories are made by local artists.
DETAILS: 1. ‘Starry’ by Pink Paradox, custom designed in royal blue. Satin front
and encrusted heel in real AB Swarovski crystals $ 198 plus $25 for colouring 2. ‘Bobbie’, lace dyeable shoes $155 3. ‘Charlize’ by Benjamin Adams, with Duchess Silk Satin and encrusted with real Swarovski crystals, are gorgeous, celebrity caliber shoes $ 498 4. Beautiful flats, a new style for 2014, which come in ivory silk with crystal embellishment $160 5. ‘Duchess’, dyeable shoes $135 6. ‘Catalina’, lace dyeable shoe $158
2
4
5
6
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 65
HAIR DESIGN: find your style
If you’re looking for bridal hair inspiration, you’re going to want to save this page!
66 • The Wedding Ring Magazine
Every girl needs a bit of inspiration sometimes. Especially when it comes to your wedding. Voila Sportsworld Drive (www.voilasalon.com) and Herakovic Photography (♥) (www.hrkvc.com) got together for a full day of styling, accessorizing and photographing some of Voila’s best hair design ideas - for long tresses, short styles, bird cage veils, feather and lace fascinators... LOVE it! For more photos and hair design ideas from this shoot, visit TheWeddingRing.ca!
Spelling it out: Budget-Friendly Invitations IDEAS An expert tip by Danika Snow of Uptown Designs (♥)
(www.uptowndesigns.ca)
STATIONERY PHOTOS: (theweddingring.ca)
Ask yourself this; Have you thought about what style of invitation you want to send your guests? After all, it is one of the biggest events in your life so far... More importantly, have you figured out how much you want to spend on those invitations? There are definitely options when it comes to wedding stationery, although I think most budget-savvy brides assume they can only afford to admire custom stationery from afar. However, budget or not, don’t scratch custom invitations off of your list just yet. Designers are real people that you get to meet. And guess what?! Most of them are flexible! If you need to order eighty-three invitations, you can usually order eighty-three invitations; unlike a website where you have to order in multiples of twenty-five.
For example, here’s just a few budget-friendly tricks I have up my sleeve... > Have you thought about day-of stationery? If not, you should probably do that prior to meeting with a designer as most will offer some sort of discount when you order everything together. > Some brides choose to send a post card style RSVP, eliminating one envelope from the mix. Some brides even request their guests RSVP on a wedding website or via e-mail, thereby eliminating the response card altogether! > How about that map or directions card? Have you ever used a teeny tiny map to find a wedding? Probably not, so your guests most likely won’t either. Realistically, most people will have GPS or go online for directions ahead of time. This is your wedding… your guests will find you, I promise! You might as well skip the map card, and put that money towards something else (like an envelope liner maybe!). > Proofread! Yes, this is your job. Read everything backwards if you have to but make sure everything is 100% accurate before approving it! Re-printing can be VERY expensive and time consuming. > The biggest budget bonus to working with a designer? You are going to get EXACTLY what you want. No settling. (And MUCH less chance of needing expensive do-overs!) ■
expert tips
Most importantly, a good designer can offer suggestions on how to get the most “bang for your buck” when it comes to your wedding stationery.
expert tips
5 ideas for adding
vintage design to your day
An EXPERT DESIGN TIP by Jillian Harris of W Network’s Love It or List It Vancouver and co-owner of Charlie Ford Vintage (CharlieFord.com) PHOTOGRAPHY by Sharla Pike (sharlapike.com) of Kelowna, BC
Antiques and all-things-vintage are not only
décor, often ask “Where did you find that amazing
trending amidst the world’s top home designers
piece?!” Because let’s face it, when it comes to
and event planners, but they are also, by definition,
finding true antique treasures, many of us only
timeless.
wish we knew where to look, what to buy, what it’s
You can see vintage elements in everything from decorator’s design palettes to this year’s most stylish weddings. Filled with history, antiques are gorgeous when used for wedding props and home décor, which is why consumers can’t get enough of this design trend that both tells its own story and sets a scene at the same time. With of her eye for design and knack for finding and re-inspiring those rare pieces at off-the-track
worth, and what to pay. And it’s these questions that have planted the seed for a brand new company, Charlie Ford Vintage. At CharlieFord.com, shoppers can find answers to all of these questions, laid out and handed over on an antique silver platter. Charlie Ford Vintage, which launched July 8th, 2013, is the combined effort of Jillian and her partners, Alyssa Dennis and Tori Wesszer. It is an online hub designed to
antique shops over the years, former Bachelorette
connect style-savvy shoppers, designers, wedding
from ABC’s hit series and host of W Network’s
planners and collectors with these three ladies’
Love It or List It Vancouver, Jillian Harris admits
best antique and vintage finds sourced from
that friends and family who see her home
vendors across North America.
68 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
We asked Jillian to share her five best ideas for adding vintage to your wedding day...
#1
[PHOTO, ABOVE]
Give old books a new lease on life as stepped-up centrepieces. Tired of fussy glassware? Add a dash of country to your classy table arrangement with old-school mason jars.
#2
[PHOTO, NEXT PAGE, TOP LEFT]
Scrawl out the language of love on vintage framed chalkboards, or reflect on the beauty of a happy union (and make-up touch-ups) with an antique mirror.
expert tips
#3
[PHOTO, TOP RIGHT]
Antique suitcases and trunks make perfect display cases for cards, trinkets and wedding programs. Fill them out with literary favourites and handed-down journals for that special connection to times gone by.
#4
[PHOTO, BELOW, LEFT]
Dress up an old armoire with vintage ornaments to create a bar, gift or dessert display that will dazzle guests, or set up a cosmetics bar and throw a little prep party for the bridesmaids!
#5
[PHOTO, BELOW RIGHT]
Antique china lends a colourful pop of history to the head table. For those smaller weddings, deck out each place setting with vintage dinnerware and give guests their (freshly cleaned) plates as chic parting gifts!
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 69
brides unite! • Each review in The Ring is based on industry knowledge, thorough research, interviews with the vendors, interviews with their past brides, personal viewing of work, and more. • Reviews are on experts who are local, well-loved, and dedicated to making your wedding fabulous. • The Ring is doing the research so that you don’t have to - one wedding community at a time!
Wedding trends & ideas BRIDES WILL LOVE PHOTO, LEFT: (www.stanswitalski.com)
♥ the big reveal
PHOTO, LEFT: (www.sheilabraam.com)
PHOTO:, RIGHT (www.hrmphotography.com) (♥)
Professional photographers like Stan Switalski (www.stanswitalski.com) (♥) are finding new ways to capture the bride and groom as they see each other for the first time on their wedding day. Since many couples are now deciding to take their photos before the ceremony, it makes sense to have fun with it. Using blindfolds, masks or other fun props is a great way to create and capture the first look moment. At a recent wedding, a couple brought an old door to their outdoor wedding, stuck it into the ground and used it as a prop for the reveal!
♥ COLOURFUL GOWNS While white will always be considered a classic choice, more brides today are opting to add some colour to their gown, whether it be with a sash, bolero or solid colour accents on the dress. Or, skip the white gown altogether and choose something in your favourite colour, whether it’s a dusty rose dress or a champagne ball gown.
PHOTO, ABOVE: (www.jessicalinphotography.ca) (♥)
♥ ALTERNATIVE DATES Instead of the typical Saturday wedding date, say ‘I do’ to a Sunday morning ceremony followed by a brunch reception. Or, ring in the New Year with a midnight ceremony on New Year’s Eve. Unique dates create incredible memories, and sometimes even save with off-season discounts!
♥ E-SHOOTS IN THE SNOW Photographers like Sheila Braam (www.sheilabraam.com) (♥) say that winter engagement shoots are a hot trend with couples. You’ll have lots of fabulous, snowy photo opps and it’s a great contrast against your summer wedding photos!
PHOTO, ABOVE: (amberrichmond.com) (♥)
PHOTO, ABOVE: Courtesy of www.rescueflats.com
♥ ALTERNATIVE CAKES
♥ FLATS FOR DANCING
Replacing traditional wedding cakes with unique
Rescue Flats (www.rescueflats.com) are sweet little slip-on dancing flats that couples buy in boxes of 20 pairs and offer up to their high-heeled guests during the reception. Made in Canada, each box offers multiple sizes and the chance for guests to join them on the dance floor.
alternatives is a great way to show off your personal style. A cheese wheel, candy bar, ice cream sundaes or a cookie buffet are just some of the options brides are choosing for a twist on the traditional wedding cake.
GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 71
CAKE TRENDS for 2013 Here are a few of our favourite cake trends to satisfy any sweet tooth…
With so many options available, the sky really is the limit when it comes to your wedding cake and wedding day sweets. Specialists like Jirina Kepka of Jirina’s Bakery (♥) (www.jirinasbakery.com) produce cakes in every conceivable colour, shape, size, design, and style, depending on the bride and groom they’re made for. Says Jirina, “If a couple brings me a photo of what they’re looking for, I can create a cake just like it.”
Go Mini
For the groom
Although groom’s cakes date back to the Victorian era, modern couples are putting their own spin on this tradition. Groom’s cakes are a great way to incorporate
FALL EXPO
September 22nd, 2013 @ Waterloo Inn
Get creative More and more couples are finding ways to personalize their wedding cake with one of a kind creations. Have your favourite quote added to the cake. Use shapes that reflect your theme or, skip the frosting and decorate with your favourite seasonal fruit!
Customize your cake stand Brides are using their cake stand as a design element, incorporating their theme and wedding style into the stand. We’ve seen everything from a tree stump used at a rustic, outdoor reception to a plexiglass box, filled with antiques for a vintage wedding. Porcelain, china and silver definitely say vintage. Or, for an uber dramatic cake display (and a great way to keep your cake out of the sun at an outdoor wedding), create a canopy made just for your cake! ■
BRIDAL EXPO
♥ = INTERVIEWED, RESEARCHED & REVIEWED @ WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
CAKE PHOTOS: TheWeddingRing.ca
Couples are choosing cupcakes or mini cakes to give out as yummy guest favours. Mini cakes can also act as centrepieces for the guest tables. For some extra fun, why not choose a variety of flavours and encourage guests to mingle and try all kinds of flavours!
something special, made just for him. If he’s a sports fan, treat him to a cake that celebrates his favourite team. Or a James Bond inspired cake for the movie buff.
WINTER EXPO
January 4th & 5th, 2014
PRESENTED BY WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
REGISTER FOR FREE ADMISSION, SWAG & CUSTOM LABELS AT: WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA/BRIDALEXPO
@ Waterloo Inn
Brides give some love to their favourite experts WHO BRIDES LOVE & WHY THEY LOVE THEM
The Ring’s Brides’ Choice Awards for 2013 was your chance to vote for, nominate and spread the love for your favourite wedding gurus. Winners were chosen based on the votes accumulated as a result of brides who clicked ♥it! on their favourite vendors’ review pages in The Ring AND by the number of reviews they’ve received in The Ring written by past brides, grooms and wedding professionals.
TOP #1 10 ACROSS ONTARIO
Based
on
LONDON ONTARIO
the
most
points from votes equal 1 point 3 points each).
BRIDES’ (LOVEit! clicks, which CHOICE each) and reviews (equal
2011 are not numbered as there were several ties within this list! * These
HRM Photography (www.hrmphotography.com) Latte Productions Photography (www.latteproductions.ca) In Bloom Photography (inbloomphotos.com) Captured Soul Photography (www.capturedsoulphotography.com) FireRock Golf Club (www.firerockgolf.com) WeddingFavours.ca (www.weddingfavours.ca) Love.Teach.Create (LTC) Photography (www.ltcphotos.com) Urban Bride (www.myurbanbride.com) Anne Edgar Photography (www.anneedgarphoto.com) Alicia Riley Photography (aliciariley.com)
Even though the BCAs have come and gone for the year, staff at The Wedding Ring say the ‘LOVEit!’ buttons will remain a part of The Ring’s hundreds of reviews on Ontario wedding experts, encouraging local brides and wedding experts to continue to spread the love and recognize the talented businesses that make local weddings so fabulous.
TOP 5 ACROSS TORONTO AREA
Based on the most points from votes (LOVEit! clicks, which equal 1 point each) and reviews (equal 3 points each).
* These are not numbered as there were several ties within this list!
Jessica Lin Photography (www.jessicalinphotography.ca ) Mango Studios (mangostudios.com) Arcadian Court (events.oliverbonacini.com/Venues/ Arcadian-Court.aspx ) Westin Harbour Castle Hotel (www.westinharbourcastletoronto.com) Pam Chorley’s Fashion Crimes (fashioncrimes.ca) * A big mention also goes to HRM Photography who took TOP 5 (across Ontario) in The Ring with offices in both Toronto and London!!
TOP 5 ACROSS KITCHENERWATERLOO
Based on the most points from votes (LOVEit! clicks, which equal 1 point each) and reviews (equal 3 points each). * These are not numbered as there were several ties within this list!
Captured Soul Photography (www.capturedsoulphotography.com) Sheila Braam Photography (www.sheilabraam.com) inLight Photo Studio (www.inlightphotostudio.com) Style & Elegance Wedding and Event Coordination (www.styleandelegance.ca ) Sonia Ryan & Co. (www.soniaryan.com)
TOP 5 ACROSS LONDON
Based on the most points from votes (LOVEit! clicks, which equal 1 point each) and reviews (equal 3 points each). * These are not numbered as there were several ties within this list!
HRM Photography (www.hrmphotography.com) In Bloom Photography (inbloomphotos.com) FireRock Golf Club (www.firerockgolf.com) WeddingFavours.ca (www.weddingfavours.ca) Love.Teach.Create (LTC) Photography (www.ltcphotos.com)
TOP 5 ACROSS GUELPH
Based on the most points from votes (LOVEit! clicks, which equal 1 point each) and reviews (equal 3 points each). * These are not numbered as there were several ties within this list!
Crème Couture, Guelph (formerly La Crème Bridal, Guelph) (cremecouture.ca) Taste Fine Foods (www.tastefinefoods.ca) Two Tone Studios Photography (www.2tonestudios.ca) Cutten Fields (www.cuttenfields.com) Amber Richmond Photography (amberrichmond.com)
TOP 5 IN CAMBRIDGE
Based on the most points from votes (LOVEit! clicks, which equal 1 point each) and reviews (equal 3 points each). * These are not numbered as there were several ties within this list!
Latte Productions Photography (www.latteproductions.ca) Urban Bride (www.myurbanbride.com) Anne Edgar Photography (www.anneedgarphoto.com) Cambridge Mill (www.cambridgemill.ca) Ellis Pioneer Chapel (www.ellischapel.ca)
#1 in HAMTILON
Based on the most points from votes (LOVEit! clicks, which equal 1 point each) and reviews (equal 3 points each). Ancaster Mill (www.ancastermill.ca)
More DETAILS on The Ring’s Brides’ Choice Awards:
www.theweddingring.ca & www.theweddingring.ca/for-vendors/love-it-2013brides-choice
TOP 5 PERCENT MOST REVIEWED EXPERTS
Based on the highest number of user-written reviews in TheWeddingRing.ca Brent Foster Photography & Cinema HRM Photography (www.hrmphotography.com) (brentfosterphotography.com) Love.Teach.Create (LTC) Photography Latte Productions Photography (www.ltcphotos.com) (www.latteproductions.ca) Anne Edgar Photography Alicia Riley Photography (aliciariley.com) (www.anneedgarphoto.com) TJ Durnan Photography (www.tjdurnan.com) In Bloom Photography Style & Elegance Wedding and Event (inbloomphotos.com) Coordination (www.styleandelegance.ca ) FireRock Golf Club Sonia Ryan & Co. (www.soniaryan.com) (www.firerockgolf.com) WeddingFavours.ca (www.weddingfavours.ca) Urban Bride Jessica Lin Photography (www.myurbanbride.com) (www.jessicalinphotography.ca ) Captured Soul Photography Cambridge Mill (www.cambridgemill.ca) (www.capturedsoulphotography.com)
♥ for HRM Photography
“HRM is the only company that we trust with all our family’s precious moments. From our engagement, to maternity photos, newborn photos and anniversaries, we have had the HRM team photograph our family almost ten times in the past six years... You will love every picture. Every. Picture.” - Susan “Today, four years after our wedding, we still enjoy flipping through our albums and admiring the truly beautiful photographs... We cannot recommend her enough.” - Chris and Melanie Drew
♥ for LTC Photography
“I am amazed at the quality of the photographs. [They] truly look like something from out of a GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 75
♥ for Anne Edgar Photography (anneedgarphoto.com)
“We felt comfortable around [Anne] and that showed in our beautiful candid pictures. We had a blast doing our engagement photos... We looked at a lot of photographers before choosing Anne and we are so happy with our choice!” - Victoria “She is very talented at her job. She is incredibly creative, always seems to be in the right place to take emotion charged candid’s and produces breath-taking photos as a result... Our wedding photos were nothing short of brilliant!” - Donika
♥ for In Bloom Photography (inbloomphotos.com)
“We’ve had family photos done... they were just SO great! She made us all feel so comfortable in front of the camera (something that absolutely does not come naturally for us!)... She’s a wonderful talent, a truly great person, and I’d highly recommend her to anyone.”- Alexandria “Carolyn [put] everyone at ease while managing a ton of opinionated people. She’s just a pleasure to have around. We just received our gallery link today and the pictures are sensational! So she takes great photos, she’s fun to work with and she’s reasonably priced enough said!” - Jackie
♥ for FireRock Golf Club (www.firerockgolf.com)
“I must say that [our FireRock wedding] was absolutely outstanding! The venue itself is gorgeous and the staff is amazing. [Melanie] helped us to coordinate all of the day-of details... The food is out of this world. I couldn’t believe how many people said that the steak they had was one of the best that they had ever tasted. I can’t recommend this venue enough!” - Megan “My husband and I had our wedding reception at FireRock in February. From the moment we met Melanie and her staff, we knew it would be the perfect fit for us. The day was absolutely magical. No detail was overlooked. The food, service, and direction from the Firerock team was amazing...” - Kristen
♥ for Urban Bride (www.myurbanbride.com)
“This boutique stands heads and shoulders above everyone else’s because it is so personalized! The owner is down to earth and she has an eye for the right pieces...for beauty and quality at an affordable price. I highly recommend Urban Bride to all my family, friends and brides-to-be.” - Charlotte “Urban Bride is a beautiful store, with an equally wonderful owner - Simona. Urban Bride offers a unique selection of bridal shoes and accessories in the local area that is unmatched... [Simona] truly loves her work... she effortlessly worked with me to choose the perfect shoes and accessories...” - Tiffany
♥ for Captured Soul Photography
(www.capturedsoulphotography.com) “Michelle Kauntz of Captured Soul Photography was an absolute dream to work with... Our family and friends adored her... She got to know each member
of the bridal party, not just the bride and groom. Her photos were beautiful with vibrant colors, variation and the clarity was unbelievable...” - Darrell and Michelle “Michelle was always very helpful and prompt in answering any questions I had leading up to the wedding... Michelle mixed very well with the wedding party, making the entire process a blast... The final pictures are stunning, showcasing her artistic talent. I was blown away by her photos.” - Lara and Mike ♥ for Brent Foster Photography & Cinema
(brentfosterphotography.com) “[Brent and Tammy] are both fun people and so easy to be around! It was also nice to have Tammy there for girl support... she held my bouquet and fixed my dress numerous times! They really did capture all of the reactions, emotions, and laughter on my wedding day. The pictures turned out amazing... everyone at the wedding kept asking me about them. My husband and I will be forever grateful... 6 stars!”- Stacie Brown “Ryan and I are such huge fans of Brent’s work. As soon as we got engaged, there was no question as to who we wanted to capture our pictures on our special day... We couldn’t be more happy with our engagement pictures as well as our wedding day pictures...” - Lacey
♥ for Latte Productions Photography
(www.latteproductions.ca) “We are both very shy and nervous people but our team at Latte Productions was fabulous at providing us with amazing photos, and a fun approach. But they also didn’t make us feel like we were being put on show for all our guests. We love our photos so much!”- Brandon and Kathleen “Latte Productions was recommended to us by a friend... Latte exceeded our expectations...they were very clear and transparent about their service, friendly and accommodating and were non-invasive but effective in getting fantastic photos of our wedding...” - Amy and Maureen Rockel
♥ for Alicia Riley Photography (aliciariley.com)
“I told [Alicia] what my vision for the shoot was and she definitely delivered. Alicia made it very easy to be ourselves. Alicia went above and beyond to capture the perfect little moments and our photos turned out great! I would definitely recommend Alicia to anyone who is searching for a photographer:)” - Anna [Alicia’s] photography is absolutely wonderful - she has an eye for it. She captured every moment... She was sensitive to any needs of our guests... She was very friendly and worked well with everyone from our wedding party to our officiant to our family.” - Grace
♥ for TJ Durnan Photography (www.tjdurnan.com)
“Todd was so much fun to work with... We were a bit worried about being in the limelight however, Todd made us look like a million bucks...The photos turned out great and his added touches make getting pictures taken a unique and exciting experience.” - Ryan & Brooke “What else can I say other than it was a perfect day... Todd was extremely professional, kind and he made us feel at ease...the pictures turned out fantastic.” - Emilia and Justin
76 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
♥ for Style & Elegance Wedding and Event
Coordination (www.styleandelegance.ca ) “We had a fantastic experience working with Afzia at Style and Elegance. It’s like the name says – she understands ‘styles’ and she completes ‘elegance’! Afzia keeps the fun in wedding planning; she is flexible, open-minded and has an obvious love of everything wedding.” - Nicole & Justin “[Afzia] made sure that our vendors were there on time, and everything was set up the way we had envisioned. Just knowing that we had someone who would “take care of it” was well worth it...” - David & Sarah
bride’s choice
magazine... The photos are so natural and the people look relaxed. Laura and Jason... really make you feel comfortable. I recommend them to everyone...” - Sandra “LTC Photography is a hidden treasure in London. We have used them for our wedding, maternity … and soon our newborn session too! We... have become friends as they are a part of the greatest moments in our lives.” - Victoria
♥ for Sonia Ryan & Co. (www.soniaryan.com)
“Sonia is fantastic. She did the make-up... a few years back and I had to have her for mine too. Her talent for making you look and feel beautiful are far above average. All the bridesmaids had their make-up done by Sonia and they all loved it... Everyone felt beautiful... I felt like a goddess...” - Krystal “I had my nine year old daughter in my wedding and Sonia did a perfect job of giving her just enough make-up to compliment her in the pictures and make her feel grown-up (but still be a little girl). Everyone’s make-up lasted all day and looked wonderful in all their pictures!” - Cassandra
♥ for WeddingFavours.ca (www.weddingfavours.ca)
“I just received my order so I simply HAD to write a review... Everything was packed wonderfully professional and exactly how I expected it. High quality products that will be cherished for a lifetime by both my future husband and myself...” - Tammy “...I was panicking. I quickly placed a rush order... Wedding Favours live chat agent reassured me that they would do everything they could to make it happen, despite the tight deadline. Two days before the wedding the mailman rang my doorbell, a package of custom mint tins in hand.” - Jessica
♥ for Jessica Lin Photography (www.
jessicalinphotography.ca ) “We can’t believe there are so many amazing images of our night, especially since we didn’t see Jessica or Norman take a single picture. I truly feel like Jessica captured our wedding with emotion and insight... she was a pleasure to work with and SO accommodating - coming from divorced parents and ordering parent albums, this means a lot...” - Amanda “Best decision ever! Jessica’s talent is incredible. Our shots - and there are a LOT of shots - are beautiful, candid, and captured our day exactly as we had imagined...” - Jane
♥ for Cambridge Mill (www.cambridgemill.ca)
“A venue that isn’t your typical golf course or banquet hall... one of the best customer service experiences I have ever had... if your vision is to have a stylish-chic wedding with amazing food and something your friends and family will tell everyone about - this is the place...” - Amanda “They took care of every little detail and my new husband and I were able to enjoy a relaxing and beautiful wedding day... The Mill team found me a sewing kit when my dress was too big and Tums for one of our guests who wasn’t feeling well, and that’s only the beginning...” - Nikki
FAVOURITE Things At The Wedding Ring, we love going on the hunt for those cool, unique, fun finds that we know brides won’t be able to resist. Here are just a few of our favourite things found at our favourite shops this season...
BUFF JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AWAY
This Get Buff Clothing Buffer gently buffs away deodorant and make-up on clothing ($7). Use the grey side to remove lint, hair or crumbs. The softer pink side buffs away deodorant, dandruff, and powder. The perfect addition to your emergency wedding kit! Made in Canada, find yours at La Femme Privee (♥) in Kitchener (www.lafemmeprivee.com).
KEY TO MY HEART
These assorted keys are the perfect accent to add to your décor palette. Rebecca from High Gloss Weddings (www.highglossweddings. com) (♥) suggests placing them on your signing table or your cake or gift tables to add a special touch of whimsy to your wedding day.
FALL FAVOURS
Your guests are sure to “fall” in love with this adorable autumn leaf trinket box (from as low as $3.24). The elegant cut out design is removable, to reveal an inside that’s perfect for holding jewellery, coins or any number of treasures. Each leaf favour comes in a gold gift box finished with a bronze organza ribbon and a fall themed “For You” tag. Available at WEDDINGFAVOURS.CA (♥).
BLING WITH A VINTAGE SPLASH
Combine trendy bling and classic design with accessories like these crystal stud earrings ($36) a matching crystal bracelet ($95) and a gorgeous statement necklace ($145). Each piece is individually hand made with unique crystal stones, Swarovski components and specially designed elements. Find your Tsarina accessories at COUTURE THREADS (www.couture-threads.com) in Stratford.
VINTAGE SUITCASES
Rebecca, owner of High Gloss Weddings (♥) (highglossweddings. com) loves using vintage suitcases as gorgeous card holders, cake stands or décor accents for many wedding themes (think vintage or, a travel inspired wedding).
MASKED ROMANCE
This gorgeous mask is the perfect way to add a little mystery to a romantic evening with your soul mate. Italian made, the metal mask is a fabulous accessory for your honeymoon or, a great bridal shower gift ($70). Available at La Femme Privee (♥) in Kitchener (www.lafemmeprivee.com).
INVITES THAT KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK
This baseball inspired invitation set will wow your guests and leave them counting down the days ‘till your wedding! Printed on linen paper, the coordinated stationery is the perfect start to a fabulous wedding day. ($5.00 for the invitation with tear away response card, mailing envelope and response envelope). From Uptown Designs (♥) (www.uptowndesigns.ca).
SATIN RHINESTONE PURSE
We love this satin purse with rhinestone edging for a bride on her wedding day ($35.00). Available in silver, gold, or black, it’s sleek, stylish and ideal for wedding day essentials like lipstick, breath mints and other small essentials. Available at Sew Stylish Wedding Works (♥) (www.sewstylishweddingworks.com) in Ingersoll.
FOR YOUR STEPFATHER
FAVOURS FOR A FOODIE
Bring out your very best extra virgin olive oil, aged balsamic and artisan bread because this appetizer dipping dish presents a pure work of culinary art ($3.98)! This porcelain dipping dish highlights any appetizer table and is made for sharing. A keepsake favour your wedding guests will simply love! Available at WEDDINGFAVOURS.CA (♥).
FOOT PROTECTOR
[RIGHT] Tana® FootSilk® is a musthave. This fabulous spray literally wraps your feet in pure, natural silk. The patented technology of Tana® FootSilk® keeps feet dry for up to 24 hours, and provides you with invisible barefoot comfort. Dermatological tested and available at COUTURE THREADS (www.couture-threads.com) in Stratford.
We love this white cotton hankie, embroidered with “Stepfather” in silver ($18.85). The box liner is titled “Keepsake Hankie To my Stepfather with Love” and the bottom includes a beautiful message that is sure to make any stepdad feel special on your big day. Also available for your bridesmaids, maid of honour and sister. Find yours at WEDDINGFAVOURS.CA (♥).
GLITTER QUOTES FOR YOUR SHOES!
Add some fun bling to your shoe soles with a pair of blue glitter stickers that spells “I Do.” Stick them upside down on the shoe soles so the wedding crowd can read them when the bride is kneeling during the ceremony. Also available in a “She’s Mine” version for the groom ($4.63). From WEDDINGFAVOURS.CA (♥).
SWEET SPARKLE
[ABOVE] This rhinestone bracelet is all about timeless glamour and is a stunning accessory to complete any wedding day look at a price brides will love ($35.00). Pick up yours as well as matching earrings and other beautiful wedding day accessories at Sew Stylish Wedding Works (♥) (sewstylishweddingworks.com) in Ingersoll.
STREET CHIC STATIONERY
This invitation set is for the modern, urban and edgy couple who wants their stationery to stand out. This set also comes with a belly band with a closure tab and envelope address wrap (layered invitations start at $4.75). Coordinate your stationery with your table numbers and place cards for a cohesive look. Created by Uptown Designs (♥) (uptowndesigns.ca).
[LEFT] These gorgeous rhinestone earrings will add just the right amount of sparkle as you walk down the aisle. And the best part? Their chic yet affordable ($45)! So you’ll look like a glamour queen without breaking the bank. Find your earrings and other accessories at Sew Stylish Wedding Works (♥) (www.sewstylishweddingworks.com) in Ingersoll. GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 79
expert tips
FUN WAYS TO ADD Personal Touches TO YOUR WEDDING An expert tip from Danielle Deebank of Dreamstyle Weddings (♥) (www.dreamstyleweddings.com) 1. Design a custom logo or monogram to be used throughout your wedding. You can carry the image through from your invitations to ceremony and reception stationery, personalized dance floor, backdrop for your photos and custom stickers for your favours or thank you cards.
emailed to you and your guests as they are taken or consider a personalized back drop to do your photos red carpet style. This allows for the use of creative props and signage to carry your theme. Why not have a video booth?! A new fun way for your guests to leave you a personal message.
2. A fun centrepiece can tie in your theme with something you love! For example, do you love apple crisp? Fill a basket with fresh apples, a small cello bag of dry ingredients and a note card with your favorite recipe on it.
6. Table Numbers can be a fun and creative way to show your personality! They can be silly pictures of the couple, or the names of memorable places they have travelled to, a sports fan can use team names, or you can opt for favorite movies. There are countless options.
3. Consider a unique guest book. Rather than just a book for your guests to sign, add a personal element to it. Consider a photo guest book or have your guests sign an item that can be displayed in your home. A photo matte for around your wedding photo or a canoe oar for the outdoor adventure couple or a globe for the world travelers... the possibilities are endless. I have had clients collect shells from the beach where they got engaged to be used for guests to sign and can be made into a memorable keepsake.
7. Create a signature drink, or incorporate your
5. Not just another photo booth! I am seeing more and more interactive photo options. Images can now be
8. Entertainment! There are so many options to entertain your guests. Everything from dancers to flair bartenders to aerialists to cigar stations to magicians; there are lots of options to do something unique and make sure your guests have a great time! ■
PHOTO: (theweddingrng.ca)
4. Tie in a theme! For the basketball fan, use your team colours to carry the theme throughout your wedding. Why not have a basketball net for your kissing game? Or instead of a traditional guest book, use a team poster for your guests to sign.
favorite foods into your late night table. Gourmet pizza, poutine and sliders are a classy way to incorporate your favorite items. Have fun with your sweet table, it doesn’t have to be just candy, provide popcorn, candy floss or any other favorite treat! With so many options for food stations or food trucks you can really get creative with food!
get local. plan fabulous!
What is
P Pink ink...
BIG...
and has FABULOUS written all over it?
local wedding experts ~ sample sales ~ designer gowns starting at $99 ~ live design palettes ~ custom lables for giveaways ~ prizes
FALL EXPO
September 22nd, 2013 @ Waterloo Inn
BRIDAL EXPO
WINTER EXPO
January 4th & 5th, 2014
PRESENTED BY WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA
REGISTER FOR FREE ADMISSION, SWAG & CUSTOM LABELS AT: WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA/BRIDALEXPO
@ Waterloo Inn
YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY BRIDAL SHOW August 18th, 2013 at The Pines Wedding and Function Centre 115 Fountain Street South in Cambridge www.yourdayyourwaybridalshow.ca
KITCHENER-WATERLOO WELCOME WAGON BRIDAL SHOWCASE October 27th, 2013 Holiday Inn Kitchener-Waterloo Hotel & Conference Centre 30 Fairway Road South in Kitchener www.bridalshowcase.ca
NATIONAL BRIDAL SHOW September 6th-8th, 2013 at International Centre 6900 Airport Road, in Mississauga www.nationalbridalshow.com LONDON FALL BRIDAL SHOW September 7th-8th, 2013 at the London Convention Centre 300 York Street, in London www.fall.londonbridalshows.com THE RING’s FALL BRIDAL EXPO September 22nd, 2013 Local brides unite! @ The Waterloo Inn 475 King Street North in Waterloo www.theweddingring.ca/bridalexpo DREAMS CAN BECOME REALITY BRIDAL SHOW September 22nd, 2013 at the Hespeler Memorial Arena 640 Ellis Road in Cambridge dreamscanbecomereality.weebly.com/index.html SIMCOE WELCOME WAGON BRIDAL SHOWCASE September 24th, 2013 at the Vittoria Community Centre 35 Oakes Boulevard in Vittoria www.bridalshowcase.ca BRANTFORD WELCOME WAGON BRIDAL SHOWCASE September 29th, 2013 Best Western Brant Park Inn 19 Holiday Drive in Brantford www.bridalshowcase.ca WOODSTOCK WELCOME WAGON BRIDAL SHOWCASE October 1st, 2013 at Cowan Park 895 Ridgewood Drive in Woodstock www.bridalshowcase.ca HAMILTON-HALTON FALL WEDDING SHOW October 5th & 6th, 2013 at the The Careport Centre 270 Longwood Road South (Innovation Park) in Hamilton www.topweddingshows.com CONESTOGA COUNTRY CLUB BRIDAL EXPO October 6th, 2013 at the Conestoga Country Club 400 Golf Course Road in Conestogo www.weddingsnorth.ca EXETER ELITE BRIDAL EXPO October 16th, 2013 at the Ironwood Golf Club 70969 Morrison Line in Exeter www.devineweddingdesign.ca
HURON COUNTY BRIDAL EXPO October 27th, 2013 at the Central Huron Community Complex 239 Bill Fleming Drive in Clinton www.huroncountybridalexpo.ca GIRLS NIGHT OUT FASHION GALA November 1st, 2013 at The Elm Hurst Inn 415 Harris Street in Ingersoll www.elmhurstinn.com THE RING’s WINTER BRIDAL EXPO January 4th and 5th, 2014 Local brides unite! @ The Waterloo Inn 475 King Street North in Waterloo www.theweddingring.ca/bridalexpo 4TH ANNUAL CANADA SOUTHERN RAILWAY STATION BRIDAL EXPO January 12th, 2014 at CASO Train Station 750 Talbot Street in St. Thomas, ON www.facebook.com/ CASOstation HAMILTONHALTON SPRING WEDDING SHOW January 11th-12th, 2014 at the The Careport Centre 270 Longwood Road South (Innovation Park) in Hamilton topweddingshows.com TOTAL WEDDING SHOW January 17th-19th, 2014 at the International Centre 6900 Airport Road, in Mississauga totalweddingshow.com STRATFORD COUNTRY CLUB BOUTIQUE BRIDAL SHOW January 25th, 2014 at the Stratford Country Club 53 Romeo Street North in Stratford stratfordcountryclub.com
** Show times and details are subject to change. Please check applicable websites for updates prior to the show.
• Late st
ANCASTER WEDDING SHOW March 21st, 2014 at the Ancaster Fairgrounds 630 Trinity Road in Jerseyville www.ancasterweddingshow.com
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STRATFORD ELITE BRIDAL EXPO October 20th, 2013 at the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans 151 Lorne Avenue East in Stratford www.devineweddingdesign.ca
eddingRing W
ANCASTER WEDDING SHOW August 18th, 2013 at the Ancaster Fairgrounds 630 Trinity Road in Jerseyville www.ancasterweddingshow.com
tes • Th e Da
BRIDAL SHOW
ws & Show Ne
bridal show SURVIVAL TIPS 1. PRINT PERSONALIZED LABELS Shows are home to some of the best giveaways of the year. You have the chance to win items such as honeymoon getaways and huge online shopping sprees. Save yourself from hand cramps by printing labels at home. When you circulate through the various booths at the show, just stick your labels onto the many ballots you’d otherwise have to fill out by hand! On your labels, include... • bride’s name • groom’s name • wedding date • address & phone number • email address 2. PREPARE TO CARRY ON Be sure to bring a bag with a comfortable shoulder strap, a backpack, or better yet, a bridal party (or the groom!) to help carry things. You’ll be given countless brochures, gifts and magazines and you don’t want to be left juggling them for hours.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Wedding Worthy Halls is a feature of The Wedding Ring Magazine that’s designed to give you an at-a-glance look at some of the amazing wedding locations found in Southwestern Ontario. Browse the profiles for the basics such as capacity and bar options. Want more? Find everything from colour schemes to wedding menus, and package pricing by checking out reception hall reviews at TheWeddingRing.ca.
Photo courtesy of Holiday Inn Kitchener-Waterloo
HOLIDAY INN KITCHENER-WATERLOO HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTRE IN KITCHENER www.holidayinn.com/kitcheneron
A variety of elegant venue spaces, professional onsite wedding planners, award winning Executive Chef offering customized menus, onsite décor options, inclusive packages for every budget, discounted guest accommodations and complimentary executive suite on your wedding night, and much more... 519-894-8514 | 10 TO 300 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
Photo courtesy of www.brentfosterphotography.com
Photo courtesy of Bingemans
IN CAMBRIDGE www.cambridgebutterfly.com
IN KITCHENER www.stecklehomestead.ca
CAMBRIDGE BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY A romantic, intimate and unique wedding venue. The enchanting indoor gardens provide a lush, tropical setting for your ceremony, reception and photos all year round, rain or shine. Offering fully customized menus and personalized consultation for weddings from 40 – 200 guests. 519-653-1234 | COCKTAIL RECEPTION 200 GUESTS | CONSERVATORY CEREMONY 120 GUESTS | SIT-DOWN DINING 90 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE
STECKLE HERITAGE FARM Steckle Heritage Farm is a designated heritage property in the City of Kitchener dating back to 1833. This beautiful property has the original farm infrastructure, the feeling of old fashion country and a perfect mix of modern amenities.
519-744-1231 Ext. 2266 | 150 TO 165 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE
Photo, left, courtesy of Grosvenor Lodge, Heritage London
GROSVENOR LODGE
IN LONDON | www.grosvenorlodge.com A park setting in the heart of London, Grosvenor Lodge, is a 160 year old estate home and a favorite venue for intimate weddings. The Heritage gardens and beautiful wrap-around veranda are perfect for outdoor ceremonies and photos. 519-645-2845 | INDOOR RECEPTIONS 60 (SIT DOWN) TO 100 GUESTS | OUTDOOR TENT RECEPTIONS UP TO 120 GUESTS 84 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
features
Wedding Worthy Halls
Photo courtesy of Bingemans
WATERLOO REGION MUSEUM
IN KITCHENER www.waterlooregionmuseum.com
Experience the unique ambiance of the Grand Foyer with its soaring walls of Ontario Limestone, repurposed 19th-century barn timbers and dramatic skylights. Choose from the Willow Green Gazebo or the Freeport Church for your ceremony.
Photo courtesy of Bingemans
BINGEMANS
IN KITCHENER www.bingemans.com
Bingemans has the flexibility, experience, and space options to suit any bride. With six banquet rooms on the Bingemans property, including the Ballroom and Marshall Hall, there’s no shortage of possibilities.
Photo courtesy of www.adamskitom.com
CROWNE PLAZA K-W (COMING WINTER 2013)
IN KITCHENER kate.wight@kitchener-hotel.com www.kitchener-hotel.com | www.crowneplaza.com With several spacious event rooms, the KW Hotel & Conference Centre (soon to be Crowne Plaza KW) is the ideal venue for the most intimate to the most elaborate wedding. Offering several inclusive packages and a full service culinary team.
519-744-1231 Ext. 2266 | 150 GUESTS (SIT DOWN) TO 300 GUESTS (COCKTAIL) | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE
519-744-1231 Ext. 2266 | 6 CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | 50-1600 GUESTS | ONSITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE
519-569-4578 | 201 GUESTROOMS | VARIETY OF VENUES FOR DINNERS AND RECEPTIONS | WEDDING PACKAGES AVAILABLE
Photo courtesy of Berkshire Club
Photo courtesy of www.hrmphotography.com
Photo courtesy of www.adamskitom.com
BERKSHIRE CLUB
IN LONDON berkshireclub@sifton.com www.sifton.com/residential/berkshire-club.html A venue for all of life’s special moments. We offer an intimate setting for up to 100 guests for banquets and 120 guests for cocktail receptions as well as seasonal outdoor ceremony facilities. Exceptional catering and beverage service with personal attention to every detail.
519-471-4590 | 100-120 GUESTS| FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
BEST WESTERN® PLUS LAMPLIGHTER INN & CONFERENCE CENTRE
IN LONDON info@lamplighterinn.ca www.lamplighterinn.ca
All-inclusive wedding packages for fifty to five hundred guests, Atrium ceremonies, elegant Ballroom, special accommodation rates, Wedding Planners on-site, customized menu selections, fantastic indoor photo shoot locations, décor options. 519-681-7151 | 50-500 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
CONCORDIA CLUB
IN KITCHENER www.concordiaclub.ca
Known for throwing one of the biggest and most famous Oktoberfest parties annually, this is also the place to host an elegant wedding reception, from small and intimate to large and lavish.
519-745-5617| UP TO 450 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 85
Photo courtesy of www.toogoodstudios.ca
Photo courtesy of Golf’s Steakhouse & Seafood
Photo courtesy of Hessenland Country Inn
IN LONDON www.fanshawepioneervillage.ca
IN KITCHENER george@golfssteakhouse.com www.golfssteakhouse.com
IN ST. JOSEPH (ZURICH) www.hessenland.com
FANSHAWE PIONEER VILLAGE
Celebrate your future with a step back in time. Choose a 19th century church or beautiful park with gazebo for your unique wedding ceremony, and heritage barn or expansive grounds for your reception. For a more modern facility with a view of the lake we have Trillium Gallery, the newest addition to our venues.
GOLF’S STEAKHOUSE & SEAFOOD
HESSENLAND COUNTRY INN
Stunning view of the Grand River. Outdoor wedding ceremonies available with two private reception facilities to choose from. All inclusive packages. A reputation for exceeding expectations for over 35 years.
Combining history, countryside and European elegance for your wedding celebration. Gardens, gazebos, ponds, The Coach House Reception Hall and Garden Room- your destination wedding on Ontario’s West Coast! We even have our own wedding planning APP!
519-457-1296 | UP TO 400 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING
519-579-4050 | 40 TO 250 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
1-866-543-7736 or 519-236-7707 | COACH HOUSE 180 GUESTS | GARDEN ROOM 70 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
Photo courtesy Best Western® PLUS Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre
Photo courtesy of www.trishrobertsweddingphotography.com
Photo courtesy of Elsie Perrin Williams Estate, Heritage London
BEST WESTERN® PLUS STONERIDGE INN AND CONFERENCE CENTRE
IN LONDON www.stoneridgeinn.ca
Exceptional cuisine, innovative customized menus, three elegant banquet rooms with fabulous stone fireplaces, outdoor waterfall gardens, unique individual wedding packages, newly remodeled hotel rooms, century old “Rose Chapel,” personal Wedding Coordinator. 519-652-6022 | UP TO 120 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING ONLY
ELM HURST INN
IN INGERSOLL specialevents@elmhurstinn.com www.elmhurstinn.com A picture perfect venue for indoor or outdoor celebrations, featuring unique reception spaces and beautifully manicured grounds. All-inclusive Wedding Packages. On-site Wedding Coordinator. Inspired by tradition since 1872.
1-800-561-5321 ext. 236 | 4 TO 230 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
86 • The Wedding Ring Magazine { ONTARIO } | www.theweddingring.ca
ELSIE PERRIN WILLIAMS ESTATE
IN LONDON www.elsieperrinwillamsestate.com
Indulge in the unique luxury of having a centuryold mansion to yourself for the entire day. Beautiful and timeless, a perfect locale for a wedding day. Reputation for upscale weddings, indoors and out.
519-432-6620 OR 519-432-7961 | INDOOR WEDDINGS FOR 80 TO 120 GUESTS | OUTDOOR TENT WEDDINGS FOR 100-150 GUESTS
Photo courtesy of www.novamarkina.com
Photo courtesy of www.one2onephotography.ca
IN LONDON dunger@londonclub.com www.londonclub.com
formally known as The Cutten Club IN GUELPH vanessa@cuttenfields.com www.cuttenfields.com
LONDON CLUB
For exquisite cuisine, exceptional service and elegant ambiance… The London Club has it all! 177 Queens Avenue - London’s most prestigious address awaits your special day.
CUTTEN FIELDS
Complemented by outstanding service and fully customizable menus, the elegant, modern halls, with high ceilings and natural light, create the area’s most prestigious wedding venue.
Photo courtesy of www.randydunlopphotographs.com
PINE KNOT GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
IN DORCHESTER www.pineknotgolf.com events@pineknotgolf.com
Above and beyond your expectations. A picture perfect setting with amazing views from our raised outdoor deck. Pine Knot is well known for outstanding food and impeccable service. No additional charge for on-site ceremonies.
519-434-6889 | 5 CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | 5 TO 160 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING ONLY
519.824.2650 | BALLROOM RECEPTION | 10 TO 250 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING ONLY
519-268-2986 | 125+ GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
Photo courtesy of www.davidiam.com
Photo courtesy of Sunningdale Golf & Country Club
Photo courtesy of www.passionateaboutpictures.com
IN LONDON www.sunningdalegolf.com
IN WATERLOO wdallner@waterlooinn.com www.waterlooinn.com
STRATFORD COUNTRY CLUB
IN STRATFORD jessie@stratfordcountryclub.com www.stratfordcountryclub.com
A beautiful backdrop for any style of wedding. Ceremony and reception location with fabulous menu and décor options, views overlooking the eighteen hole golf course, and an exceptional service team.
519-271-4212 | 150 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
SUNNINGDALE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Professional consultants, elegant hall for up to two hundred guests, décor options, customizable dance floor, state of the art sound system, award winning chef, creative menus and full bar service.
519-660-8063| 200 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
WATERLOO INN
All “INN” One Venue! Imagine the convenience, relaxing in one location, from rehearsal to reception! Rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, overnight suites for bridal party, in-suite mani’s & pedi’s, make-up and hair, ceremony, dinner and reception, overnight guestrooms and honeymoon suite, Sunday brunch! 519-884-0220 | 155 GUESTROOMS | VARIETY OF VENUES FOR DINNERS AND RECEPTIONS FOR 20-500 | HOST OR CASH BAR | CREATIVE MENU OPTIONS GET LOCAL. PLAN FABULOUS! • 87
Photo courtesy of Bingemans
Photo courtesy of Bingemans
Photo courtesy of www.incrediblememoriesphotography.com
IN CAMBRIDGE www.rosevilleestate.com
IN KITCHENER www.bingemans.com/catering/venues/the_tannery
IN DELAWARE www.oaksgolf.com
The gorgeous, private Roseville Estate can be the setting for an intimate ceremony followed by memorable pictures, a casual pre-dinner cocktail reception and an elegant meal. Roseville Estate brings the traditional and country bride together in perfect harmony.
Revitalized from a turn-of-the-century mill to a contemporary, trend-setting district with exposed brick, wooden beams, and soaring ceilings. Let your photos be the backdrop for your event with state of the art digital media walls.
Picturesque setting surrounded by tall oaks, rolling greens and ponds, landscaped patio for cocktail receptions or ceremonies, elegant Banquet Hall for 150 guests, exceptional cuisine, first class service, dedicated professional staff.
519-744-1231 Ext. 2266 | UP TO 150 GUESTS | ONSITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE
519-744-1231 Ext. 2266 | 100 TO 250 GUESTS | ONSITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE
519-652-1760 | 140-150 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING
ROSEVILLE ESTATE
THE TANNERY
THE OAKS GOLF CLUB