Archive for Mackenzie Patterson

10 Epic Wedding Send-Offs That Don’t Involve Rice

Planning

Posted August 5th, 2019 | 3:00 pm | By | No Comments

10 Epic Send-Off Photos That Don't Involve Rice - Confetti

There’s nothing more romantic than a dramatic send-off involving all your closest friends and family. It makes for one of the most memorable celebratory moments of any wedding, and it’s definitely one that you’ll want to capture and frame later on. Next to the first dance and the first kiss, your send-off is the best photo op of your entire big day, so you’ll want to make sure it’s as epic as can be.

As wedding trends change and evolve, brides have become super inventive with everything from their ceremony backdrop to the shoes they wear on their wedding day, and the creativity doesn’t stop with the send-off. First, think about whether you want to do your send-off right after your ceremony or as you leave the reception venue — this will help you determine what the best celebratory props will be.

While having your guests throw rice at the end of the ceremony used to be the norm, there are so many cooler alternatives that are way more photogenic. From sparklers to paper planes, take a peek at the gallery below to see our favourite ideas.

Five Unusual Flowers That Look Great In Bouquets

Planning » Bouquets & Flowers

Posted November 14th, 2018 | 3:00 pm | By | No Comments

Five Textured Flowers to Add to Your Bouquet - Protea

When it comes to your bouquet, it’s important to work with your florist to create something beautiful, unique and true to your wedding theme and style. Luckily, there are thousands of flowers out there that can help you add some oomph to your bouquet.

We’re currently loving non-traditional blooms with interesting textures. Flowers like hops and thistles may initially seem like rather unusual choices for a wedding, but when arranged with other complementary plants they can really make an arrangement sing. The following five eye-catching bouquets are true statement pieces that will complement your dress the way a stunning piece of jewellery or a great shoe would.

5 Easy Ways To Cut Wedding Costs

Planning

Posted October 29th, 2018 | 9:00 am | By | No Comments

Cut Wedding Costs

Photo via iStockphoto

Your wedding will likely be the most expensive event you’ll ever host in your lifetime, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely break the bank. From your venue to your signage, there are definitely easy ways to cut wedding costs without sacrificing style or luxury! Check out these brilliant ideas for slashing the price of your big day.

1. DIY as much as you can.
When it comes to things like your table numbers, escort cards, and signage, there’s no reason why you can’t roll up your sleeves and have a little fun making them yourself. Make a day of it with your bridesmaids and add a little personality to your décor!

2.  Ask for favours from friends.
Have a friend with killer guitar skills, a talent for calligraphy, or an interest in florals? Ask them to help out on your big day, and chances are, they’d be thrilled to contribute to making your wedding that much more fantastic. That way, you’ll cut down on vendor costs while adding special meaning to your ceremony and reception.

3. Choose a date during the off season.
For many wedding venues, the off season brings with it plenty of great deals as they tend to be far less in demand between November and March. Choose a cozy winter or fall wedding instead of your average June celebration to cut back on costs. You even could also consider holding your wedding on a Friday or Sunday as these days are far less popular than Saturdays.

4. Hold a brunch or cocktail-style wedding.
As food will make up a large chunk of your wedding budget, consider an alternative to the classic sit-down dinner. If your wedding style is more modern, a cocktail reception could fit the bill perfectly, and appetizers are far less expensive than a full meal. A brunch wedding is also a lovely option for a laid-back celebration, and you won’t have to splurge on an elaborate open bar or expensive entrées (just don’t forget the mimosas).

5. Host a destination wedding
Most couples don’t realize the cost savings associated with destination weddings. Tie the knot abroad and you could save tens of thousands of dollars (just check out this property in Costa Rica where a catered celebration could set you back as little as $5,000). Another bonus? You’ll already be in paradise ready to start your honeymoon the moment the wedding festivities wrap up.

Stunning Wedding Cakes Inspired By Floral Fabrics

Planning » Wedding Cakes

Posted July 12th, 2017 | 12:57 pm | By | No Comments

sweet philosophy cake

When it comes to wedding cakes, flowers will never go out of style. Whether piled high as a gorgeous cake topper or wrapped around a middle tier as a delicate accent, incorporating blooms into your wedding cake can instantly elevate your sweet table display.

We asked four Toronto-based designers to come up with amazing, unique wedding cakes inspired by beautiful chintz and floral fabrics. The result? Intricate works of art with gorgeously handcrafted details that are in a league of their own.

Photography by Maya Visnyei. Styling by Catherine Doherty. First published in the Fall/Winter 2017 edition of Weddingbells.

Gorgeous Bridal Headpieces To Complete Your Wedding Look

Fashion & Beauty » Veils & Accessories

Posted May 8th, 2017 | 11:56 am | By | No Comments

10 Bridal Headpieces to Glam Up Your Wedding Look - Twigs and Honey

Adding a stunning bridal headpiece to your wedding ensemble is a great way to tie in your theme, dazzle your guests, and elevate your entire bridal look. Whether you go for a full-blown tiara or a simple barrette, there’s no better way to feel like a true princess than with a little extra sparkle to frame your face.

If your gown is simple, a headpiece is one of the best ways to glam up your look and take your bridal style to the next level. The right accessories can also transform a traditional bridal hairstyle into something extra special (and, let’s be honest, your wedding day might be your only chance to wear a sparkly statement piece like a glittering crown and get away with it!)

A Country-Chic Wedding In Montebello, Quebec

Real Weddings

Posted April 27th, 2017 | 2:51 pm | By | No Comments

A Country-Chic Wedding in Montebello, Quebec - Bride and Groom

Nick proposed to Kaylee on a clifftop in Ireland while they were visiting on vacation. “The Emerald Isle is Nick’s favourite country and we planned a 10-day trip there to explore. We were visiting the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher when Nick asked a stranger to take our photo and then popped the question mid-photo op on the edge of the cliffs!” Kaylee explains.

The venue the couple chose for their wedding was no less romantic than the proposal site. With its log exterior and natural setting, the gorgeous Fairmont Le Château Montebello provided breathtaking views of rural Quebec as well as a cozy and rustic-chic aesthetic. To complement the venue, the couple chose a country-chic theme. “Our colours were a mix of natural tones with greens, wooden touches and pastels, which we incorporated into the florals and my bridesmaids’ mix-and-match gowns,” Kaylee says.

One of Kaylee’s favourite elements of the wedding was the music she and Nick incorporated into the day. As music is one of the couple’s mutual interests, the tunes that were played at their big day were undeniably significant to Kaylee and Nick. “From my mother-in-law singing “A Case of You” by Joni Mitchell at the ceremony; and my maid of honour singing our first dance “Til Kingdom Come” by Coldplay; to our duet, all the musical elements at our wedding were so important to us,” Kaylee says.

After the couple ate dinner with their guests, the party kicked off, and it didn’t stop until the wee hours! “Our band, BPM Krew, mixed Motown classics with hip hop and pop, and their talent was unstoppable. The party raged on all night,” Kaylee says.

Kaylee Paré and Nicholas Curtis, July 18, 2015, Montebello, Quebec.

Photography courtesy of Joel + Justyna Bedford.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception venue: Fairmont Le Château Montebello
Bridal gown: Ines Di Santo from Kleinfeld
Flowers: The Design Co.
Stationery: Minted
Wedding designer: Stacey Price from The Design Co.
Wedding planner: Kelly Michael

An English Garden Themed Wedding In Vancouver

Real Weddings

Posted April 18th, 2017 | 10:25 am | By | No Comments

An English Garden Themed Wedding in Vancouver - Bride and Groom

Sophie and Jay met at UBC dental school in 2008. “We moved to Calgary after graduation to pursue our dentistry careers and luckily found jobs in the same clinic!” Sophie says.

When it came time to tie the knot, the couple says it only made sense to choose a destination wedding in Vancouver, the place where their love story began. “Vancouver holds a special place in our hearts,” Sophie explains.

The couple envisioned an English garden theme for their big day, which they incorporated through plenty of lush florals. “To achieve the look I wanted for my bouquet we included heirloom, romantic antique and amnesia roses, with hints of airy astrantia, chocolate lace and loose foliage, all bound with silk ribbon and heirloom lace. Floral illustrations created by Written Word Calligraphy were used as table numbers to add a personalized touch,” Sophie says.

One of Sophie’s favourite wedding details were her shoes by Emmy London. “The shoes were a spontaneous splurge,” she says. “I had first discovered them online, and I loved them so much I ordered them without even trying them on—thankfully they fit me perfectly!”

Above all, the bride says that her favourite moment of the day was seeing Jay during their first look. “It was his first time seeing me in my dress and I was ecstatic to see if he would like it—he did,” she smiles.

Sophie Dong and Jaejun Choi, July 31, 2015, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Photography courtesy of Nadia Hung.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception venue: Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Bridal gown: Augusta Jones from Bisou Bridal
Cake: Cake by Nicole
Design and flowers: Myrtle et Olive Floral & Events
Music: Beyond Sound
Stationery: Written Word Calligraphy

A Glam Gold Wedding In Quebec

Real Weddings

Posted April 6th, 2017 | 3:45 pm | By | No Comments

A Glam Gold Wedding in Quebec - Bride and Groom

Laura and James met five years before their wedding through an online dating site. “When I found his profile, I was attracted to the fact we both had similar backgrounds in art and design, but he also loved snowboarding and the outdoors, which was so different from me,” Laura says. After chatting online for a while, they met for a casual lunch date, and then headed to the Montreal Fine Arts gallery a few days later. “It was crazy to think how our personalities were so similar, but different in so many ways. Somehow we just worked so well together. We were pretty much official about two weeks later,” she says.

While James and Laura had joked about having a carnival theme for their wedding, they ended up with a more historic and vintage vibe with subtle circus-themed elements woven in. “With this inspiration in mind, our palette was a mix of neutrals including off-white, cream, tan and charcoal grey with glittering gold accents,” Laura explains.

One of the couple’s favourite elements that helped to tie in their theme was their luxurious wedding cake, complete with the most adorable elephant cake toppers painted in gold. “And it wasn’t just all looks either, it also tasted amazing! We also loved the gold elephant cake toppers; they fit in with the final design so well,” Laura says. To tie in the subtle vintage carnival elements, Laura and James created lawn games for their guests to play during cocktail hour and served mason jars of popcorn as their wedding favours. “We spray painted all the animal figurines on top of the popcorn favours gold, and we were so thrilled with how they turned out.”

The couple decided to stick with tradition and forego a first look, which only made the ceremony that much more special. “It was an incredible moment seeing each other at our ceremony for the first time, realizing we were about to make such an important commitment to one other,” Laura says. Once all was said and done at the end of the night, a mishap ended up as one of the couple’s favourite moments of the day: Laura and James realized that amidst the rush of the party, everyone had left without giving them a ride home! “We walked back, the two of us, along the golf course. It was incredibly dark with just the moon and stars out. We took that moment to be together, to laugh and talk about all the fun and awesome moments of our wedding day,” Laura says.

Laura Julien and James Saunders, June 13, 2015, Saint-Faustin, Quebec.

Photography courtesy of Chris Paine.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception venue: Royal Laurentien
Bridal gown: Mori Lee from Best for Bride
Cake: Sucre en Délire
Flowers: Le Marché Vert
Groom’s tux: Baggi Men

Cool Ways To Add Colour To Your Wedding Look

Fashion & Beauty

Posted April 3rd, 2017 | 10:00 am | By | No Comments

add-colour-to-wedding-look

Photo by Carlo Mendoza. Styling by Tristan Knowlton. Off-figure styling by Caroline Bishop.

While pure white weddings are undoubtedly timeless, sometimes it can be fun to add a jolt of vibrant colour into the mix. Whether your bridal style is elegant and classic or edgy and modern, a pop of pink, purple, blue or even red can sometimes add so much to your look.

The whimsical rainbow trend is gaining momentum as more and more brides experiment with colour and alternative bridal looks. You’ll want to stand out from the crowd on your big day, and sometimes, bold colours are the best way to do this!

From jewellery to playful fascinators, check out our top picks for adding a pop of bright colour to your wedding look.

A Three-Part Hindu Wedding

Real Weddings

Posted March 28th, 2017 | 10:25 am | By | No Comments

A Traditional and Intimate Wedding in Toronto - Bride and Groom

From the beginning, Hussein and Prasanthy knew they wanted to keep their wedding traditional. “We had three celebrations in total: a Hindu ceremony, a civil ceremony and a wedding reception. Each of them was unique and didn’t share the same palette,” Prasanthy says. “Our Hindu ceremony colours were pink and orange; the reception was classic with white, gold and black details throughout; and we had an intimate outdoor civil ceremony at the Spadina Museum.”

The couple says that the vision they had for their decor came to life perfectly on their big day. “From the gold draping used for our backdrop to the white floral arrangement for the centrepieces, all the elements were perfect and the guests couldn’t stop raving about them,” Prasanthy says.

When it came to their wedding song, Hussein and Prasanthy knew they wanted to dance to Train’s “Marry Me.” “We’re huge Train fans and we also went to see them in concert together,” Prasanthy says.

While there were so many great details throughout the day, both the bride and groom agree that their cake by Frosted Cake Boutique was the highlight. “We loved the unique design of the bows, stripes and sequins, and it tasted pretty delicious too!” Prasanthy remembers.

Prasanthy Ganesh and Hussein Kudrati, September 5, 2015, Markham, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Samantha Ong.

Vendors
Reception location: Markham Convention Centre
Cake: The Frosted Cake Boutique
Decor: Beyond The Limits
Hair: Suzie Kim
Stationery: Minted
Wedding planner: Jenny Wu

An Industrial Glam Wedding In Calgary

Real Weddings

Posted March 9th, 2017 | 10:00 am | By | No Comments

An Industrial Glam Wedding in Calgary - Bride and Groom

Mike and Amanda first met at a wedding show. “He was helping his friend who owned a DJ company, and I was sitting directly across from him at my wedding planning company’s booth. The rest is history!” Amanda says.

When it came time to pop the question, Mike went all out with a grand romantic gesture. “Mike’s proposal was sneaky yet so romantic. When I came downstairs after taking a bath, dinner was made, Mike was dressed up, and there were candles everywhere. He asked me to marry him, and we spent the rest of the night celebrating with champagne!”

As Amanda is in the wedding business, she knew that their wedding had to stand out from the crowd with plenty of unique touches. That said, she also wanted everything to look amazing! “We chose an industrial glam theme with blush pink accents and lots of sparkly details,” Amanda says. “Our venue, The HQ, really helped us achieve the look we were going for. The flowers and the cake were definitely my favourite details of the day.”

One of the couple’s favourite wedding moments was the choreographed dance they had learned from Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” music video before the wedding. “Mike and I really wanted to bring an element of surprise to our wedding. We had rehearsed for months, and all the guests said it was the highlight of the night! It was far from perfect, but it’s definitely one of our favourite memories,” she says.

Amanda Brown and Mike Ferrero, August 14, 2015, Calgary, Alberta.

Photography courtesy of Stephanie Couture.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception venue: The HQ
Bridal gown: Mikaella by Paloma Blanca
Bridal party attire: David’s Bridal
Cake: Cakes With Attitude
Caterer: Rocky Mountain BBQ
Favours: Calgary Wedding Planning Co.
Music: Little Something Beautiful

Amsale Fall 2017 Wedding Dresses

Fashion & Beauty » Wedding Dresses

Posted March 8th, 2017 | 2:28 pm | By | No Comments

Amsale Fall 2017 Wedding Dresses

Always stylish and fashion-forward, Amsale’s fall/winter 2017 collection is nothing short of perfect. The gowns are modern, accessible and wearable, all while maintaining an element of classic romance. Brides will love details like tiered ruffles, off-the-shoulder necklines and plenty of dreamy tulle, as well as the sleek and flattering silhouettes.

The collection is all about brides staying true to their authentic styles and personalities on their wedding days, a message we can definitely get behind. Feeling comfortable and beautiful on your big day is essential, and the stunning styles from Amsale’s newest collection are sure to please.

Keep an eye out for gorgeous favourites like the tiered beauty with translucent long sleeves, and the simple yet elegant strapless pieces in the collection.

Creative Ways To Announce Your Engagement

Planning » Photo/Video

Posted March 8th, 2017 | 12:04 pm | By | No Comments

10 Creative Ways to Announce Your Engagement - Ring Selfie

Getting engaged is one of the most exciting milestones of your life, so your post-proposal photo shoot should capture that thrilling feeling. You’ll want to document this time so you can have plenty of great photos to look back on years down the road.

Engagement photos are also a great way to share your big news with loved ones. Whether you post your photos on Instagram, Facebook, or send them to select friends and family members via email, they’re sure to help the important people in your life get into wedding mode and share your joy.

There are so many fun and creative ways to announce your engagement through photos. Whether you incorporate nature, your pets, or even your hobbies as a couple into your engagement shoot, your photos should speak to your unique personalities and potentially even your wedding theme. Check out a few of our favourites below to get some ideas!

Nurit Hen Fall 2017 Wedding Dresses

Fashion & Beauty » Wedding Dresses

Posted March 3rd, 2017 | 2:41 pm | By | No Comments

Nurit Hen Fall 2017 Wedding Dresses

Nurit Hen’s fall 2017 bridal collection, Ivory & White, is full of glamorous silhouettes, romantic details, and luxurious fabrics. With feminine touches and modern, graphic lace patterns, the gowns within this collection are perfect for brides looking to make a dramatic statement on their wedding days.

The line is chock-full of various styles and cuts, making it easy for any bride to find a gown to suit her bridal look. From trendy off-the-shoulder silhouettes to sexy illusion lace panels, each gown offers something truly unique and gorgeous.

Whether you’re going for a sultry princess look or a dreamy, ethereal vibe, Nurit Hen has something for you. One thing all the gowns have in common is sheer glamour, and there’s no denying that these stunners are all amazing statement pieces.

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