Archive for Angie Kovacs

Fun Ways To Propose To Your Bridesmaids

Planning

Posted January 13th, 2020 | 10:25 am | By | No Comments

Photography by LV Imagery as seen in this real wedding.

Celebrating with your best friends and sharing with them the excitement about your wedding and marrying the partner of your dreams is a rite of passage for every bride. The first friends you tell when you get engaged will likely be the people you want standing by your side on the big day. Asking these friends to be part of your wedding party doesn’t have to be an over-the-top affair, but by making the moment special you are showing how much their love and support means to you.

With bridesmaids proposals are becoming the norm, there are a number of ways you can make the moment special and show what they mean to you. Here are some fun ideas we love for bridesmaid proposals.

An Urban, Modern Wedding in Ottawa - Bridesmaids' Gifts

Photography by Melanie Rebane as seen in this real wedding.

Keepsake Gifts
Treating your bridal party to a set of matching necklaces or bracelets bonds the party and is a meaningful touch. You can all wear the matching set on the big day, but it is also a special keepsake that they can keep long after your vows.

Photo via Etsy.

Create A Bridesmaid Box
One popular idea that’s taken off in recent years is putting together a box of goodies (all wrapped up nicely, of course) for the women you’ll be asking. Gift them items specific to your wedding, such as adorable bridal party T-shirts, bottles of wine or matching glasses. You can also include items pertaining to their interests such as candles, stationery, or a gift that will remind them of an inside joke you share.

Photo via Jenna Rae Cakes.

Think Sweet Sentiments
If your closest friends have a sweet tooth you can have a box of sweet treats delivered. It’s something fun and celebratory that they can enjoy right away. Plus, is makes for a pretty sweet photo.

Your bridal party-to-be may know better than anyone what you’ve always dreamed of as your perfect proposal. One fun way to ask them to join you on your wedding day is to actually propose to them. They’ll love the thought you put into your ask, and it gives them great visuals to be able to capture the memory.

Canadian Destinations That Make Picture-Perfect Wedding Locations

Planning

Posted January 9th, 2020 | 4:00 pm | By | No Comments

Photography by Will Reid Photo as see in this real wedding in Halifax.

Canada is known around the world for the beautiful natural landscape that we have from coast-to-coast. While many couples opting for a destination wedding take off for a tropical beach, they shouldn’t overlook the beautiful backyard we have right here. If you’re looking for the perfect outdoor backdrop for your vows there are a variety of options and locations that you can find without leaving the great white north. 

The Nova Scotia Coast

We have beautiful beaches in the maritimes that make for a picture-perfect wedding. A stunning beach wedding in Nova Scotia like the one seen in this real wedding is just as beautiful as a tropical wedding with a greener Canadian feel. Take a trip to Peggy’s Cove or the Halifax harbour and your maritime wedding will be incomparable. 

Vancouver Island

From one coast to the other Vancouver Island brings an entirely different feeling of nature to this real wedding. The towering pine trees and rustic shore line give a rugged beauty to this natural beach wedding.

A Modern City Scape

Canadian cities like Toronto definitely make beautiful backdrop for those more comfortable in a metropolis. For city slickers, a cityscape like the one seen in this real wedding may be the ideal backdrop for your wedding vows.

The Rocky Mountains 

The rocky mountains are one of the most stunning natural wonders of Canada. A mountaintop celebration, or saying your vows with the mountains behind you like the bride and groom did in this real wedding, is a gorgeous natural backdrop that will make your wedding photos one-of-a-kind.

The Plains of Saskatchewan

While the mountains have overpowering natural beauty. the prairie provinces bring their own simple ethereal beauty. An outdoor winter wedding like the one seen in this real wedding is simple and elegant.

Old Quebec City

Historical buildings and adorable avenues are abundant in Old Quebec city and make for perfect rustic wedding venues. Stone churches like the one in this real wedding bring history to your wedding day, making it a timeless addition.

Beautiful Banff

One of the most picturesque places in all of Canada is Banff. Known for its crystal lakes and breathtaking mountain ranges Banff makes the perfect natural setting for your wedding. Seen in this real wedding you can have both the majesty of the mountains and lakeside beauty of a beach wedding.

The Red Beach on Prince Edward Island 

The beaches in Prince Edward Island are picturesque because of the vibrant red sand that lines the coast. An island ceremony like the one seen in this real wedding shows off the beauty of Canada’s smallest province.

How To Make Your Single Guests Comfortable At Your Wedding

Planning

Posted January 6th, 2020 | 10:24 am | By | No Comments

A Gold And Marble Wedding In British Columbia - guests

Photography by Amee Nijjar as seen in this real wedding.

One of the most exciting parts of your wedding day is that you are surrounded by all of your family and friends who have come to celebrate your love and happiness. For you this is a wonderful opportunity to have all your favourite people in one place to meet and share with your other guests the joy you all feel on one of the most important days of your life. However, for some friends and family there may be a concern about showing up to the wedding single and mingling with people they may not know. While your parents may have been introduced before the ceremony you may have friends and family that are meeting for the first time on your wedding day. While your friends are there to support you and will have a wonderful time, there are some simple ways you can make them feel more comfortable. 

Pre-Wedding Celebrations
One way to ensure all of your single friends aren’t feeling lonely on the big day is to introduce them to your other friends ahead of time. By introducing them at your engagement party or bridal shower you’re setting them up to recognize a friendly face on your wedding day. If you’re not hosting pre-wedding events you can casually introduce friends before the wedding day outside of the wedding planning.

Wedding Games
A simple way to have your guests mingling at your wedding is through games. If you’re hosting an outdoor ceremony lawn games are a cute overall touch that will ensure everyone is making friends. If lawn games don’t suit your wedding theme you could also have conversation topics or trivia facts included at your place settings.

A Careful Seating Plan
While the singles table is an almost expected part of the wedding, rather than forcing your single guests to mingle, an alternative is to place them at tables where they are guaranteed to be more comfortable. If you have a single family member, place them with family. If your friend doesn’t know anyone, place them with friends you know they’d get along with.

A Wedding Lounge
Consider creating a cute lounge within your venue for everyone to relax in. Not only is this an addition that your guests will love, it’s also a great, easy way for everyone to mingle and get to know one another.

Offer a Plus One
The easiest way to make your single guests feel comfortable is to offer them a plus one to bring a date to the wedding. However, this doesn’t mean you should be trying to set your guests up if they’re not interested in taking a date. If you’re not able to host these additional guests, your loved ones will understand a single invite.

By recognizing the simple steps you can take to make all your guests to feel more comfortable, you are ensuring that your wedding day is a wonderful celebration for everyone.

So You’re Engaged—Here’s How To Step Into Wedding Planning Stress-Free

Planning

Posted January 3rd, 2020 | 11:38 am | By | No Comments

Congratulations! Getting engaged is an exciting moment! But it can be daunting to determine what’s next. A wedding is a HUGE undertaking and looking at all of the options and possibilities can be overwhelming. Taking your planning step-by-step will keep everything under control as you enter into this phase of your life.

Announce your engagement. This may sound simple but it’s important you share your news with all of your loved ones. Sharing a photo of the ring on social media isn’t enough—your closest friends and loved ones will want to hear the big news and specifics of the engagement from you as well. Announcing your engagement also includes taking engagement photos with your partner to save the moment. You don’t want to jump into the actual wedding planning before taking the time to enjoy the happiness of being engaged. At this time, you can also host an engagement party to share your newly-engaged bliss and celebrate what’s to come. 

Determine your budget. You can’t start booking anything for your wedding until you’ve decided how much you’d like to spend on the big day. This will also help you determine the size of your wedding if you were uncertain if you wanted a large or small ceremony. If you’ve been looking into a destination wedding, this will be the time to determine if it’s viable in your budget and where you may be able to travel to. 

Find your venue. Once you’ve set your budget you can begin looking into venues based on the size and extravagance that you budgeted for. Now that you’ve picked the size of your wedding this will also be a factor in picking your venue. Many venues may offer additional services such as rentals and catering that you can explore once you’ve committed to your venue. You may have to make some sacrifices to get the venue you really want—you can save some money by choosing a date that’s during the off-season and not a weekend!

Start collecting inspiration. We are here for this! Wedding shows, Pinterest, Instagram and advice from loved ones are all excellent sources of inspiration for planning the wedding. Knowing exactly what you’re looking for on your big day will help you to select everything from your wedding vendors to the perfect dress. 

Choose your bridal party. Wedding planning will be more satisfying as soon as you’ve asked your close friends and loved ones to join you on the big day. Having your party picked will help to alleviate some of the stress and you can delegate tasks or seek help from your crew. This also adds another celebratory step as your friends will be elated to know they are joining you at the altar on your wedding day. 

Relax. Wedding planning is an ongoing task that can be as stressful as you make it. Once you’ve made your important decisions, it’s vital to take some time to relax and enjoy the lead up to the big day. Planning your wedding should be something you enjoy. You and your partner should be able to look back to the wedding planning as something you did together, and a huge accomplishment as you will be throwing one of the most celebratory events in your life—savour every moment!

Fun Ways For Your Wedding Guests To Share Newlywed Advice

Planning

Posted December 27th, 2019 | 3:15 pm | By | No Comments

 

Once your rings are in place and vows are said, it’s time to party! It’s also a fun time to get your guests involved in your day by asking them for a little newlywed intel. Many couples love to ask their guests for their best advice about the wedding day with a few thoughts penned in the wedding guest book on site at the your wedding celebration. While this is a great way to engage with your people and glean some valuable life advice from their own experiences and preferences, don’t be afraid to have a little fun with the comments and advice you ask your guests to share. Here are some less traditional questions that you can also ask that are fun to answer and for you to read and glean some life wisdom.

Romantic Song Selections
If you and your partner are musically inclined,  it may be interesting to hear the love songs that your guests adore. This request will help you to build a sweet playlist for romantic evenings as well as help you to know your guests and their tastes better. 

Best Date Ideas
It can be easy to run dry on date ideas or stick to the classic dinner and a movie. Have your friends and loved ones share some of their favourite outings and you’ll have plenty to keep you and your partner busy through your first year of marriage and beyond. 

How To Celebrate Anniversaries
Some of your guests may have already been through a wedding anniversary (or many) themselves! Take some advice on how to spend your celebratory time in a year, or two, or ten. Not only is this helpful advice, but you may also learn more about how others have celebrated their love.

Parenting Advice
If you are your partner are planning to start a family now is the perfect time to ask for some parenting advice. This is a funny question that helps you to plan for the future and shares with your guests that you are planning on starting a family together. 

Memorable Wedding Moments
Your wedding day will be a rush of busyness and it will be difficult to have long conversations with each of your guests. Learning what they enjoyed on their own wedding day, or if you prefer about your special day, is a memorable keepsake that will help you relive your own wedding day as you read through them.

Looking Ahead
It may be interesting to hear what your friends and loved ones think you and your partner will be doing in five or ten years. While you may have your own plans it’s fascinating to hear how your friends envision your future. These are great to look back on and see who predicted your future correctly!

Fun Accessories For Your Flower Girls That Aren’t Flowers

Planning

Posted November 27th, 2019 | 11:21 am | By | No Comments

Photography courtesy of Natalie Andrusiak as seen in this real wedding.

As your bridal party walks down the aisle, they are helping to set the tone for the ceremony that will follow. It is a traditional part of most wedding ceremonies to have your closest friends or family walking ahead and making way for you to marry your partner. A conventional bridal party includes not just your bridesmaids but also a flower girl. While the flower girl is usually a young girl carrying flowers or a basket of petals down the aisle, nowadays the role doesn’t require her to simply carry a bouquet. A lovely arrangement of wedding flowers is beautiful and traditional, but you can make the part of flower girl more  modern and original by personalizing what your flower girl holds. There are a number of other adorable items that she can carry down the aisle to make that part of the ceremony more meaningful. Here are some inspiring alternatives to flowers that we love seeing flower girls carry.

Confetti
It can be just as sweet for a flower girl to toss confetti or dried leaves as she walks. If you do choose confetti, you can incorporate your wedding colours to tie it to your theme.

A Stuffed Animal or Pet
If you and your partner have a pet you can have them walked down the aisle with your flower girl. If your pet is not able to be at your ceremony, you could also have them presented symbolically with a stuffed animal or toy. 

A Pumpkin
If you’re hosting a fall wedding, a small pumpkin or gourd is an adorable way to incorporate the season into the walk down the aisle. 

A Themed Object
If your wedding has a distinct theme, your flower girl can walk with a special item that matches your theme.

Balloons
Add some colour and whimsy into your ceremony by having your flower girl carry a bouquet of balloons, or even just a single balloon.

Umbrella or Parasol
For an outdoor ceremony, a cute option is having your flower girl carry a colourful umbrella or a painted parasol which can serve as decor, and also allows her to shield her face from the sun. 

Lights or a Lantern
This is a great option if you’re having a late night or evening ceremony. Have your flower girl carry twinkle lights in a mason jar or a lantern for a magical, romantic vibe. 

Bubbles
Blowing bubbles is a universal sign of happiness and lightness, and having your flower girl blow bubbles while she walks down is aisle will make for a sweet and adorable moment. It will also make for some beautiful wedding photos.

How To Get The Engagement Ring You Really Want

Fashion & Beauty

Posted November 25th, 2019 | 9:18 am | By | No Comments

Photo via iStock.

Sharing the good news of your engagement with friends and loved ones means you get to show off your beautiful engagement ring. This is a piece of jewelry that will adorn your finger for the rest of your life as a symbol of your love and partnership. You want such an important item to be special, something that you truly love to wear. To ensure that you receive the ring of your dreams, you need to communicate with your partner about exactly what it is that you want. We spoke with jeweller Erin Tracy about how to ensure you get the engagement ring you’ve been dreaming of. 

It’s important to decide what it is you’re looking for before you tell your partner. Tracy recommends that you look ahead to determine what you’ll still like years down the road, “Always trust your gut and don’t do what everyone else is doing, be different and go for something customized just for you.”

Once you’re certain of the ring you want, you should express this to your partner as they may have a different idea of what you like. “I think it is always a good idea to talk about your ideal ring style with your partner,” Tracy encourages. “Instagram and Pinterest are great ways to ‘flag’ a few rings you like so your partner can refer back. It is never a bad idea to start a discussion if you see a ring you like or if a friend has just gotten engaged. Those are always good ways to bring up the topic.” Tracy also emphasizes that one of the most important things for your partner to know is your ring size as this will ensure you are able to wear your engagement ring right after the question is asked.  

While describing this ideal ring you should be as specific as possible. Knowing your preference between rose-gold and a white band is a large detail that will help in the ring shopping process, but slipping in the colour and cut of the stone are also simple points that will keep your ideal ring on track. While a jeweller can resize a ring, changing the details are much more complicated, making it essential to have the design details right on the first try. 

Having a thoughtful and knowledgeable jeweller is another important part of the equation. If your partner has the basic knowledge a good jeweller can help to fill in the blanks. Tracy says, “I like to see pictures to get a sense of their style as well as understanding what they do on a day to day basis so that I can determine if some stones are too soft for them.” There are also details about your lifestyle that help to dictate the ring style Tracy notes. “If [you] play a lot of sports a really high setting should be avoided. I usually have a checklist of questions I ask to help aid in the designing of the ring and to ensure that we do our very best to get it right the first time.”

While you may have your perfect ring in mind there are other details to consider. Your partner may also have an eye for something that you may have missed that could be perfect for you. In the end, your ring will be perfect if you are being asked to marry the person that you love.

The Best Wedding Shoes For An Outdoor Ceremony

Fashion & Beauty

Posted November 18th, 2019 | 2:31 pm | By | No Comments

While picking the perfect gown for your wedding day may seem like the end of the equation, picking the right bridal shoe is another important fashion step in your planning process. If you’re hosting your ceremony outdoors, you may have to explore more than stilettos and slingbacks when it comes to footwear. While wearing a standard pair of heels may not be ideal for a wedding on the grass, it doesn’t mean that you need to opt out of heels completely. There are plenty of gorgeous wedding shoes (including sneakers!) that are perfect for a ceremony outside. 

Platforms (pictured above)
These Aruna Seth kicks combine glamour, comfort and just the right amount of lift.

White Slides
These Toms slides are a comfy walk down the aisle while the cut out is a sweet touch that elevates their style.

Chunky Heels
A chunkier heel won’t sink into the grass and these Jimmy Choos are bridal perfection.

Bridal Sneakers
Your wedding day doesn’t mean you can’t wear any sneakers like these platform Kate Spade Keds.

Delicate Flats
These Sophia Webster flats will elevate your bridal looks and are perfect for walking down your outdoor aisle.

Ankle Boots
White boots like this pair from Aldo are perfect for your outdoor ceremony and beyond.

Wedges
A pair of wedges or espadrilles like this Gucci pair is a great heel variation for your natural wedding location.

Clear Mules
A pair of mules like this clear Jeffery Campbell pair prove your wedding shoe doesn’t need to be white.

 

How To Decide When To Throw Your Engagement Party

Planning

Posted November 11th, 2019 | 11:48 am | By | No Comments

Photography courtesy of Renata Kaveh as seen in this engagement party.

Once you’re engaged, you may immediately open a bottle of champagne and rush to your parents house to tell them the good news. After all, it is a day to be celebrated! But once you’ve told your closest loved ones and shared your ring selfies and just engaged snaps on social media, you may be planning to invite your more extended circle to join you in the celebrations with an engagement party. 

While an engagement party isn’t a mandatory part of the planning process, many couples do choose to take this extra step. An engagement party will be the real kick-off into your wedding planning and the guest list may help to dictate the guest list at your wedding. However, unlike a wedding there are less traditional customs and rules that dictate your planning as not every couple chooses to throw an engagement party. Therefore, your festivities can be as elaborate or as simple as you wish, with a large number of guests or an intimate group. The most important question to begin with is when should you be throwing this party. 

A number of factors will impact the timing of your engagement party. First, your need to determine who will be throwing your engagement party. While it’s not uncommon for the engaged couple to throw their own party, it may also be hosted by friends or family as a gift to the happy couple. This may impact the timing of the party as they will be the ones pulling the strings and dictating the party with your help. Some couples also opt to throw more than one party if their families live in different places or they’ve moved away from home. 

A good rule of thumb for the timeline for your engagement party is one or two months after the engagement. This gives you time to adjust to being engaged and enjoy the moment of your new relationship status before you start down the road of wedding planning. You don’t want to jump into your engagement celebration too soon without having time to celebrate with your partner and enjoy this transition. Within this two month period of time, you’re not yet in the throes of the actual wedding planning, which makes it perfect for this smaller celebration. Your engagement party can be a trial run at planning a smaller party before the big day and you can also test out themes or ideas you’re considering for the ceremony. 

If you are planning on having a shorter engagement, then this party date should be moved up to adjust for time so that your engagement party and wedding date aren’t too close together. No matter when you plan your engagement party, make sure to give your guests as much notice as possible. This will be the first real step into your wedding festivities and all of your loved ones should be there to enjoy it with you. 

How To Plan A Low-Key Bachelorette With Your Bridesmaids

Planning

Posted October 28th, 2019 | 2:17 pm | By | No Comments

Photography courtesy of LV Imagery. As seen in this real wedding.

Most wedding movies showcase a bachelorette party as a wild night of drinking and partying. The evening as seen as a celebration of the brides “last night of freedom”—a time to go wild before settling down.  However, the reality is that more and more brides are opting to throw their bachelorette party in more low-key venues with less wild antics to celebrate their upcoming nuptials with their bridal party. 

While the wild hen weekend in Vegas may be right for some brides-to-be, it’s not something that is right for everyone. Connie Bell, who was married in the summer of 2018, chose to keep her bachelorette celebration chill after her bridal party insisted she have one at all. The soirée was held at a cottage and while there were cocktails, it wasn’t the focus of the evening. Bell says she really want to just hang with friends and loved ones. “I just wanted to have an amazing dinner and evening with my bridesmaids.” 

Bride Erin Wierenga had a similar notion for her own bachelorette party. While she chose to have a celebration, her bridal party planned the weekend away to the beach. Erin adds that they “did an amazing job. They clearly knew me because they hit all the things that made it the best weekend.” The casual weekend didn’t need to be over-the-top to make it memorable. 

Bridesmaid Kali Pieters, who was in the bridal party at both weddings enjoyed the more laid-back weekends that were suited to the brides. “I think their personalities kind of reflect the kind of party they had. The bridal party made sure it was something they would enjoy rather than dread.” 

While we often see this wild night as a rite-of-passage there are no rules set in stone. The most important part of any bachelorette party is that the bride is surrounded by the people she loves, able to celebrate the bliss she is about to enter into. The party should reflect what the bride-to-be wants and the friendships that she has. Here are three amazing ideas to propose to your girls if you want a party that’s chill.

1. Afternoon Tea. This is one of our favourites ways to celebrate and it never gets old. Afternoon tea is a ritual to be savoured and enjoyed with friends. There are so many amazing tea services happening in hotels and restaurants today, the challenge will be picking the pefect one for you. Her are suggestions for some great ones.

2. Spa Day. Spend the whole day at the spa getting pampered… that’s something everyone can get behind! Many spas offer girls packages for just such an occasion, with additions such as lunch and bubbly. Sounds like heaven!

3. A Wellness Retreat. Instead of having a boozy weekend, sign on for a few days of zen at a wellness retreat. This is the perfect way to relax, detox and destress before your big event. You can find one that’s local to you, or there are many amazing ones around the world should you want to travel for it!

20 Gorgeous, Understated Minimalist Wedding Ideas

Planning

Posted October 15th, 2019 | 12:01 pm | By | No Comments

While Marie Kondo has us lusting after minimalism in our homes, we also love the idea of gorgeous wedding details that are elegantly simple. And while a themed wedding can be super fun and original, the minimalist trend will always be timeless. If you’re having a hard time picking the perfect wedding colour palette or theme, opting for a minimalist look may be the easiest way to go. A pared-down colour palette and minimalist florals can create a gorgeous, effortless look you’ll love.

The less-is-more trend has grown as a statement with a simplicity that elevates your wedding. There has always been an elegance to simplicity and there are many gorgeous wedding details that are both stunning and modern. Here are some beautiful, minimal wedding touches we love.

1. A chic white wedding arch

Photo via Wedding Forward.

2. A simple place setting

3. A minimalist seating chart

Photo via Simply Cantara.

4. Understated aisle greenery

Photo via These Lovely Days.

5. A gorgeous, foliage-heavy bouquet

6. A hanging leaf backdrop

Photo courtesy of Free People.

7. Typography-focused table numbers

Photo courtesy of Pine Tide Co.

8. Eco-friendly confetti 

Photo courtesy of Emma Loves Weddings.

9. A three-tiered cake

Photo courtesy of Style Me Pretty.

10. A sweet sign for your guest book signatures  

Photo courtesy of Penny Lane Stationary.

11. White candles decorated with greenery

Photo courtesy of The Wedding of My Dreams.

12. A dessert wall

Photo courtesy of The Wedding Playbook.

13. A minimalist bar menu 

Photo courtesy of Unmeasured Event.

14. A rustic card box

Photo courtesy of Style Me Pretty.

15. Illustrated wedding invites

Photo courtesy of Letterpress Gruekarten.

16. White chairs with adorned with greenery

Photo courtesy of The Celebrations Society.

17. Headtable garland swag

Photo courtesy of Wedding And Blog.

18. Overflowing floral centrepieces with dainty florals 

Photo courtesy of Brit + Co.

19. A modern bar

Photo courtesy of Mod Wedding

20. Chic green boutonnieres

Photo courtesy of The Wedding of my Dreams.

The Morning-Of Wedding Day Tradition You Should Have With Your Bridesmaids

Planning

Posted September 30th, 2019 | 11:49 am | By | No Comments

Photography by Purple Tree, as seen in this real wedding.

The morning of your wedding can be filled with nervous jitters and excited preparation for what is to come. For many brides this can be a stressful time as all of your planning is coming together. You may be filled with nerves about walking down the aisle and saying your vows. Taking a moment of calm to enjoy everything that has led up to this day is a rewarding and memorable way to spend some special time with your bridal party before the major celebration begins. 

Hosting a morning breakfast or tea with your bridesmaids allows you to unwind and celebrate your closest friends and loved ones before you get ready for the big day. It is traditional for the bridesmaids to get ready for the ceremony with the bride, inviting them to join you earlier for a morning tea to celebrate before you and the party begin to prepare for the ceremony is a special addition and treat that they will love.  

Plan your morning reception in advance so your bridal party is ready to show up early and take part in your pre-wedding bliss. The celebration can be as simple as brewing a pot of tea, putting out some snacks and thanking them for all that they have done to help and support you in the lead up to your wedding day. By taking this extra step you are able to step back from the planning and what is about to come in order to enjoy everything that they have done to help you prepare for your day.  If you’re planning to give your bridal party gifts on the day of your wedding this is also the perfect time to share them. 

While a small sit-down morning tea or coffee is enough to celebrate, if you’re looking to make things a little more formal some mimosas and brunch are a simple addition that your bridal party will appreciate. Hosting a morning meal also ensures that you and your party have fuel before starting your long day. Make sure that you order or prepare some hearty and light foods that will get you and your bridesmaids through the day as you may not have time to stop and eat again until your reception. 

Taking some time out of your wedding day to enjoy the people around you and all that they mean to you is an easy but thoughtful way to make sure you are able to appreciate everything that has gone into your wedding.

The People You Don’t Need To Include On Your Wedding Guest List

Planning

Posted September 24th, 2019 | 12:41 pm | By | No Comments

Photo courtesy of Sara Petrak, as seen in this real wedding.

The guest list is definitely one of the bigger beasts of wedding planning, and knowing how to wrangle it is key to event success! It is the one variable of the day that is most difficult to manage—as you start compiling guest names for your event you will noticed how quickly it grows until you are likely well outside of the magic number you have set for your party. With weddings comes a certain sense of obligation of who you need to invite. While there may be pressure (from your family in particular!) to include many people, you need to give careful consideration to who you really want to have there with you on your day. Here’s an essential list of who to consider inviting to your wedding and the etiquette surrounding extending (or not extending) the invitation.

Work Mates 
This can be an all or noting situation. It can get sticky if you invite some but not all of your colleagues and the question of inviting your boss is also a big one—it really comes down to your personal relationship with them. 

Old Friends
Planning your wedding may bring up a lot of memories and people from your past. After your engagement they may have wished you and your partner well, bringing up your past friendship and making you feel like you need to send an invitation. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t spoken in the last year or more, they’re okay to leave off the list. 

Your Parent’s Friends
Even if your dad is asking you invite his bowling buddies or the guys from work, this is your day. Your parents will understand (or they should!) your need to limit your guests and can’t include special additions that they have. 

A Relative’s Plus Ones
It’s becoming more and more common to allow young people a plus one, even if they aren’t in a relationship. If you haven’t met someone’s significant other it’s okay to extend a single invite.

Extended Family
If you’re looking to keep the guest list small you don’t need to include any extended family. However, if you aren’t including one cousin you should treat them all in the same way to keep things fair.

Everyone Whose Past Wedding You Attended
Just because you’ve been included in their wedding bliss does not mean you are required to share yours. Everyone treats their guest list differently and this should not make you feel that it’s necessary to add them, particularly if space is an issue.

Edible Wedding Favours Your Guest Will Love

Planning » Reception Ideas

Posted September 3rd, 2019 | 2:46 pm | By | No Comments

Photo via Hitched.

Wedding favours are of course a mandatory part of the wedding celebration. From sweet scented candles to Instagram-worthy succulents, gifting your guests with something sweet and sentimental to remember your day is a time-honoured wedding tradition. The trend in recent years has turned away from actual gift items in favour of incredible edible wedding favours. Here are some of our favourites!

Minty Fresh
These retro-style mints (pictured above) are not just a cute takeaway, but they’re a practical end of the night gift for your guests after a night of wining and dining. Adding clever tagline to the package will elevate this simple gift to something your loved ones will be sharing all over their social. 

Photo via Wear 4 Trend.

Chocolate Bites
Not only are M&M’s a classic party treat, you can have them personalized for your wedding. If adding your name seems over-the-top you can bag a selection in your wedding colour and label them Mr & Mrs. (Or Mr & Mr, Mrs & Mrs). 

Popping Up
If you have a salty or sweet tooth popcorn or caramel corn may be a great gift for your guests. Having a selection of flavours in a monogrammed popcorn bucket or cute mason jar takes the simple food to the next level. 

Photo via Canning Crafts.

Cool Jam
If you’re looking for an edible gift that may last a bit longer a jar of jam may be the perfect fit. A jar of you and your loved one’s favourite jelly spread will have your guests remembering your wedding with their morning toast.

Photo via Etsy.

Favourite Munchies
What better way to celebrate your union then by sharing you and your partner’s favourite snacks with your guests. A bag of each of your favourite candies is a personal touch and gives your guests a variety of snacks to munch on.

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