Sophie Diego, Author at Weddingbells

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DIY Ceremony Decor Details You Can Do With Your Bridesmaids

Planning » Ceremony Ideas

Posted October 11th, 2019 | 3:51 pm | By Sophie Diego | No Comments

Deciding on the aesthetic of your dream wedding is easier said than done. You want ALL the decor: the perfect flowers, lights, curtains, candles and wedding signage. It can seem like a daunting task, but who says that putting together your fantasy wedding decor had to be stressful?

It’s time to turn a chore into a fun social gathering. Decide on a week where you and your bridesmaids can stay in for the night, crack open a few bottles of champagne, and start DIY-ing the wedding ceremony you always envisioned.

Not only is this a bonding moment for you and your beloved bridesmaids, but it’ll allow you to check one more thing off your wedding to-do list—and after all, many hands make light work. Here’s the opportunity to turn one of the more stressful parts of wedding planning into one unforgettable night.

Here is a list of our favourite wedding ceremony decor that you can DIY with your pals.

Instagram backdrops for photos

Photo via Blumenstil Schwabhausen.

Your wedding is a night to remember, so you want there to be many spots for your guests to take photos to capture all the magic. Have you and your bridesmaids create two or three backdrops that are Instagram-friendly. Be creative! We love the idea of using a sturdy piece of stained wood and decorating it with flowers and lights of your choice. You can also a simple white curtain with botanical look, or maybe a series of stringed polaroids of you and your bride or groom as a backdrop. This isn’t a one-person job, so it’s the perfect task to do with your squad.

Wedding signs

Photo via Ana Wedding Journal

Nothing is more tedious than writing several wedding signs in order to lead your guests through the ceremony. Write down all of the wedding signs that are needed, for instance: seat planning, directions to reception, games and ceremony, cell phones off, wedding gifts/cards here, order of the day etc. Print off a font template to make sure that the writing is consistent, grab a can of paint, the surface of your choice, and have each of your bridesmaids pick a sign they’d like to design. This is a surprisingly relaxing activity to do if you’d like some quiet downtime with your friends.

Personalized bridesmaid decor

Photo via Public Domain Pictures

For a unique twist to your wedding, why not have your bridesmaids personalize their own wedding bouquets? Each bouquet will have the same theme of flowers, but you could add small details like adding a different coloured flower or writing their names on the bouquet wraps. It’s a nice homage to your bridesmaids who have supported and helped you through every step of the wedding.

Don’t forget to show your bridesmaids your appreciation for them during your DIY decor party! Offer drinks, food and don’t stress if everything isn’t one hundred percent perfect. The best part about this project is that everything has its own personal charm.

Giant Paper Flowers

Photo via Design Sponge

To add a whimsical vibe to your wedding, you might want to try DIYing these giant paper flowers to place near the wedding altar or at your reception. You can create these towering tulips with coloured tissue paper, wire, cement, plastic cups, dried moss, tape, and stucco corner. Each bridesmaid can make their own custom flower! For some extra style points, wrap the flower carefully with dainty fairy lights, and you’ll have super cool decor that will get your guests talking.

Pnina Tornai for Kleinfeld Bridal Fall 2020 Wedding Dresses

Fashion & Beauty » Wedding Dresses

Posted October 10th, 2019 | 11:10 am | By Sophie Diego | No Comments

Pnina Tornai unveiled her fall 2020 wedding dress collection for Kleinfeld Bridal, featuring intricate designs for brides who want to look especially glam and chic on their wedding day.

Among Tornai’s latest dresses include sophisticated slim-fitting silhouettes and gowns with floral detailing and sheer overlays for a sexy vibe. The designer also includes touches of white feathers or a complimenting accessory such as pairing white gloves. Classic sweetheart necklines can be found throughout the collection, in a variety of styles, patterns and with various embellishments.

How To Request Time Off From Work For Your Honeymoon

Planning

Posted October 2nd, 2019 | 3:14 pm | By Sophie Diego | No Comments

Photo via iStock.

Requesting time off for one of the biggest events in your life can seem a little daunting. It’s not just the honeymoon that should occupy most of your vacation days—there’s also the pre-wedding events, which include planning for the big day, the bachelor or bachelorette party, bridal shower, dress rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, and of course, the wedding itself. With all these events to take into consideration, how can you explain to your boss that you will need time away from your desk to plan for and fully enjoy them? Don’t sweat it. We’ll guide you through the ropes.

Give advance notice and tell your boss and co-workers. Make sure you know how many days you need for your pre-wedding, bachelor or bachelorette party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner wedding and honeymoon. After that, start planning what dates they fall under. Once your know your game plan, immediately talk to your boss and go over the days you will need off. The more time you let them know in advance, the less stressed your boss will be arranging their own strategy of how to ensure your work is still being done while you’re gone. Make sure to talk with your co-workers as well. They could be willing to work for the days when you’re gone (so long as you fill in for them when they are off work too). And when your boss is more relaxed, the less anxious you will be asking for time off.

Save your vacation days. See how many days of vacation you can use and plan accordingly. Once you know, do your best to not take any days off for non-wedding related purposes in order to have as many days as possible for wedding-related events.

Go the extra mile and work overtime. Showing your boss that you are not abandoning your responsibilities at work is crucial. You want to keep your superiors in good spirits after you leave. This means considering taking that extra shift or working overtime. Complete as many assignments on your boss’s to-do list to ease up any work that could accumulate during your absence. Showing that you have the initiative to take that extra step before you leave for your wedding will show your boss that you are an important asset to the company.

Consider the alternatives. You might want to consider having a shorter honeymoon and planning a bigger vacation later down the road if things don’t work out. Don’t think of your honeymoon as a hurried getaway that only lasted for a few days- think of it as a prolonged celebration. You now have something to look forward to once you’re back at work. If you don’t want to cut down your honeymoon time, it’s possible that you’ll now be looking into unpaid vacation days. Figure out if you’re willing to take unpaid vacation days.

Weddings and honeymoons are all about planning and organization. As a bonus step, ask friends, family or maybe even your wedding planner for tips on how to balance your work priorities with your wedding priorities. Anybody who’s married will likely have some pointers for you. This may all seem daunting and stressful at first, but as long as you have a game plan, you can keep these feelings at bay.

A Romantic Orange, Fuchsia And Pink Wedding On Toronto Island

Real Weddings

Posted September 30th, 2019 | 3:01 pm | By Sophie Diego | No Comments

Stephanie and Matthew’s exchanged vows against a backdrop of simple elegance, surrounded by nature, fairy lights and splashes of orange, fuchsia and pink. Stephanie had never seen the venue before, so when she walked in before the guests arrived she was blown away. “The weather, the setup, the colours, everything was perfect,” Matthew shares.

By the end of the ceremony, there was a bizarre hiccup when the wireless microphones started getting interference from a local Toronto radio station broadcasting in Cantonese. This was especially amusing since both Stephanie and Matthew are from Hong Kong. “It could’ve been a disaster but was just hilariously serendipitous,” Matthew shares. “It set the tone for a smiley, happy ceremony.”

In the pursuit to find a wedding photographer, there was one that stood out to Stephanie and Matthew. Through numerous Skype interviews with a few candidates, it was Christine Lim that left a lasting impression. Lim’s photos were professional and polished, and she was easy to work with. “Several guests remarked afterwards at how great she was, and how impressed they were that she seemed to be everywhere but in a totally unobtrusive way,” Matthew says.

The wedding song was an old favourite of Stephanie and Matthew’s. They chose “Silly Happy Wild” by Tanika Charles. “On Steph’s first visit to Toronto we went to see a show by an artist we’d never heard of, which she’d found from the North x Northwest festival listings,” Matthew recalls. “We’ve both loved this song ever since.”

Stephanie Chin and Matthew Sears, September 14, 2018, Toronto, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Christine Lim.

Vendors
Venue: Artscape Gibraltar
Wedding planner: Lustre Events
Event rentals: Chairman Mills
Flowers: Patchouli Floral Design
Stationery: Minted
Music: DJ Floh Back Productions
Caterer: The Tempered Room
Videography: Patrick Hodgson