By Simon Daykin

The Morning Coat, also known as a ‘Cutaway Coat’ is a classic wedding,
churchgoing, or morning event outfit option. This outfit is set apart by the
gradually forming tails, and accompanying vest or waistcoat. No doubt a
unique look, this outfit is a great choice for the more traditional man,
aspiring gentleman, or guy looking to do something a bit more distinctive at
his next formal outing.  It’s not a style that fits into every wedding, but
it will certainly set you apart from everyone else.  I have attended a few
black tie affairs and I find the groom tends to get lost in the sea of
tuxes.  Yes I know, he’s the guy standing next to the hot girl in the big
white dress, but come the reception, you can never to find him to buy him a
drink.  Set yourself apart from your guests with this truly unique look.  If
it’s good enough for James Bond in the film “License To Kill” then dude,
it’s perfect for you!

Click here to start shopping!

By Simon Daykin

Last week we found out the sex of our baby….and it’s a BOY! I’m having a son. We’re super stoked and went out shopping for the wee guy to make sure he comes into the world in style. I didn’t get him a suit but we do have his outfit picked out for the baptism. Now I get to tackle the design and painting of his room and try to explain to my dogs that are no longer the “babies” in the family. It’s going to be a whirlwind year and I couldn’t be happier.

Next month I’m speaking at Rockstar Wedding Planner LIVE 2010 in San Diego. Should be a blast! Seems the recession is backing off and we’re booking up with couples getting some last minute planning in for this summer and fall, it’s never too late to hire a planner to make sure it all comes together correctly on your special day. We’re also hooking up with some 2011 couples who want to get a jump on their planning. So click here if you’d like to book your free consultation with us and prove to your bride to be that you are interested and you can take initiative.

Cheers,
Simon Daykin

Forget about Trista and Ryan…the latest “Bachelor” couple to hit the alter are Jason and Molly. And they got wet!!! While Trista and Ryan were in attendance to watch the couple walk down the aisle, so was Jillian Harris…one of the girls from Jason’s show. Sure that may be a little weird to us, but I guess all is fair in love and ratings.

Harris attended the ceremony with her fiance Ed Swiderski, whom she chose when she starred on ‘The Bachelorette’ last year. “We’re really excited for them,” she said of Jason & Molly. “They are very ‘normal’ in one sense, but on the other hand both of us have been through things in terms of the tabloids and drama after our shows were over.”

Jason shocked viewers at the end of his ‘Bachelor’ run — he initially selected Melissa Rycroft, as the winner. Mesnick proposed to Rycroft on national television during the season finale, but in a wrap-up episode, Mesnick rescinded the proposal and instead chose the runner-up, Malaney. Guess he couldn’t make up his mind, something he has hopefully gotten over before the wedding.

Seriously, all I remember from that season is that this Jason dude CRIED…A LOT, he had some of the best crying scenes I have ever witnessed (I will never forget a sobbing Jason, clutching the railing while the helicopter got a great shot from the air) on TV and my wife also makes me watch Grey’s Anatomy so I have seen quite a few. Chris “the host guy” even coined the phrase “pulling a Mesnick” which means to really cry on the show. He used it to poke fun at Jake last night on the Final Rose show. Yes I watched it, my wife is pregnant and she is addicted so I sucked it up and off we went.

Anyway, back to the details…A bunch of folks from past seasons were there, Jerry O’Connell’s brother, but not Jerry or Rebecca as far as I can tell and a bunch of people from the show…wonder if they invited the producer from Jake’s season…probably not. About 300 guests witnessed Mesnick, 33, and Malaney, 25, exchange vows in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The ceremony will be televised for the ABC special ‘The Bachelor: Jason and Molly’s Wedding’. Malaney, wearing a $45,000 strapless Monique Lhuillier gown, walked down the aisle to “Over the Rainbow,” sung by ‘American Idol’ star Jason Castro.

Jason proposed this past October, while the couple was on vacation in New Zealand. After a tropical honeymoon, the pair will return to the Seattle home they’ve shared since September.

Hopefully on the Honeymoon he won’t rescind the marriage and hook up with another girl, I kid…seriously, we wish them all the best and hope they have a great life together.

Thanks to www.icydk.com and FLYNET, PCN for the images

By Simon Daykin

Right then, We’re gonna do it a little different this issue no pictures, just info!!!  During the Bridal Fair I got a ton of questions about what to look for when going after a Wedding Planner.  You know you need one, but you want to make sure you get the right one.  You don’t want a “CCP” or a little old blue haired lady that has no idea what the current trends and styles are, so you need to know what to look for yes!?!  Oh, “CCP” is a phrase I coined that means “Clipboard Clutching Planner”, this planner resembles a deer in the headlights, but with a clipboard!  So below are my 8 Simple Rules To Finding A Wedding Planner.

Here we go in no particular order…

1. Can They Provide “The Hook Up”?
Does the Wedding Planner have good relationships with vendors and venues?  Can they pull you the discounts?  Do vendors and venues want to work with them?  We pass on all the discounts that we get from vendors DIRECTLY to our clients, and we get those discounts because we bring those vendors a lot of business and they love working with us.  Having your planner be able to “hook you up” is one of the reasons you hire a planner in the first place.  Your planner should be fighting for you to get you the best deals they can.

2. Are They Insured?
Pretty simple question no???  A lot of planners are not insured, they rely on venue insurance which doesn’t always cover them.  You MUST make sure that in the event of any kind of accident, both you and your planner are covered.  Wearing a lampshade on your head at a party (when it’s your choice) can be hilarious, having a lampshade fall from the ceiling and bonk one of your guests on the noggin….not so funny.  It’s your ass, so cover it guys!!!

3. You Got A Real Purdy Website
What is their web presence like?  Do they have a great site out there?  People seem to love this internet thing and do tons of research before they even contact a planner.  So take a look at the planner’s website.  And this is always a red flag for me…do they have a real email address.  Is it weddingplanner25@hotmail.com or is it info@fireflyoccasions.com?  Have they taken the time to set up a real email? This may be the web snob in me, but I feel that real email addresses are REALLY important!

4. And Speaking Of Websites…
Really look at the portfolio section.  Does the planner have a varied portfolio or do all the weddings kinda look the same?  You want your wedding to be as unique as you, so you need to know that the planner can pull off a unique wedding.  You don’t want to become just another wedding in the eyes of your guests.  Also look to see if the venues in the back ground are different.  If the planner works mostly with the same venue I find that they become “lazy” in their design strategies and reproduce old weddings, and you don’t want that either.

5. Full Time, Part Time Or Just Time To Time
Does the planner you’re looking at work as a planner full time?  You want to be able to contact your planner when you need to.  If they are at their day job from 9-5 do you really think you’ll get their best when they get home and THEN start planning your wedding?  When I’m done at work, all I want to do is watch TV and veg the hell out.  So are they planning weddings full time or is this a hobby business for them?  I don’t want to knock newer planners or part time planners, but if I were building a house, I’d hire a guy who builds homes for a living, not a guy who builds them in his spare time.  Hire a professional. I’m just sayin’…

6. “Preferred” Isn’t Always A Good Thing
In the wedding industry there are things called preferred vendor lists.  When you meet with a venue they may recommend people to you.  This seems great, the venue says they’re cool…so they must be, right?  Well not always.  Preferred vendor lists can be bought. A vendor can give the venue a chunk of money to be on that list.  The venue may not have EVER even worked with them, but they pay, so they play.  Ask the venue if their list is based on reputation and talent or if companies can simply buy a spot on the list.

7.  Is Your Planner An “Expert”?
Does your planner travel?  Do they attend conferences?  Hell, do they speak at those conferences?  Is your planner an Expert in their field? I feel planners should travel and always be learning more stuff, because let’s face it…you can’t be trekking all over hells half acre looking for new wedding trends.  It’s the planner’s job to do the learning for you and bring that to the table when planning and designing your wedding.  Ask them if they belong to any Associations, if they speak at conferences and if they travel to track down the latest and greatest in wedding stuff.

8. And Finally, Do They Know You Exist?
When I was getting married, I had to insert myself into any meeting I wanted to attend, because most planners only focus on the Bride. It’s not their fault, they don’t know any better.  They focus on the Bride because history tells them the Groom wasn’t interested.  Well that was THEN, this is NOW and we’re re-writing history here fellas.  Make sure your planner knows you, the Groom exists and that you want your opinion heard.  When you meet with your planner for the first time, make sure you attend that meeting.  You can get a lot from a first impression, if the planner doesn’t ask you your opinion when they first meet you, it’s a good bet they won’t…ever!

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

I know some of the above points may seem a little harsh, but after some of the questions I got last weekend I had to write this.  I hate having the Groom overlooked in the planning process.  Now I can’t do anything for you if you take yourself out of the process, but you won’t do that will you???

The thing is, the odds are very good that you will not figure out you hired the wrong planner until your big day comes and it all goes pear shaped.  So if you follow these 8 simple rules, you’ll have a better chance of getting it right the first time.  And don’t be afraid to ask the planner for references, ask them to hook you up with their past clients, the parents of past clients, hell…ask them for vendor references from photographers or DJ’s etc they have worked with in the past.  See what the other pros in the industry have to say about them.

It never gets any better than a first impression, you’ll be spending a lot of time with the planner you choose so make sure it’s a good fit.

Click here to book your free consultation with Firefly Occasions & Gutsy Groom and we’ll take care of everything…and everyone!!!

By Ciara Daykin

It doesn’t matter what venue you’re getting married in or where you’re having your wedding reception, it’s all about the logistics. From the way you organize the timing of your entrance to the reveal of your wedding cake you can use each opportunity to WOW your guests. And the best part, is it’s simply the logistics of the day, and often these little tweaks are low cost to no cost for any bride and groom to do.
Enter With A Big Oooo Ahhh
Every bride wants all eyes on her when she enters into the room. Well, at a wedding we did (that actually won the award for 2008 Best Ceremony Décor in Canada) we had the bridal party walk down the aisle to a string trio playing Pachabel’s Canon. Pretty typical wedding right? But then… when the doors opened to reveal the bride, instead a trumpeter walked out of the doors and joined in the song and then the bride followed. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Sure we could have had the trumpeter standing with the rest of the band the entire time but then we would have missed out on the DRAMA!

Cocktails Blah, Dinner OMG!

At a wedding we did on New Year’s Eve we had the cocktails take place in one third of the ballroom. We used all the hotel furniture and linens and had a couple of simple white flower arrangements. It was pretty but nothing out of this world. But then when it came time for dinner, we opened the airwall separating the ballroom and revealed an amazing dining area complete with an 80’ red drape backdrop, silver chiavari adorned tables with overflowing red flower centerpieces, lampshade chandeliers and pinspotted tables. People’s arms shot up trying to take pictures over other guests.

No extra money was spent on this big reveal. We could have had the airwall open the entire time. But to give the guests a big surprise it was logistically brilliant to keep the airwall closed so they could all experience the reveal at the same time.

Wedding Cake Goes From Hum Drum to Holy Wow!
One of my favorite ways to do this is with the wedding cake. At one wedding we put it on a stage above all the guest tables. It was a beautiful cake with butterflies on it and we put up a white drape behind it, lit it from behind and attached faux butterflies to the drape to make it look like the butterflies were flying off the cake. It was a small logistical change from having the cake in the middle of the room at eye level but it increased the grandeur of this unique cake.

With that same wedding we got wind up butterflies and wound them up and put them inside each guest napkin and then put a Jones soda on top, which was the favor. When people went to undo their napkin a butterfly fluttered out causing big laughter and smiles of surprise.

Ciara’s Bridal Advice

Take a look at your wedding currently. Where are you spending your budget to impress your guests? With a simple logistical tweak could you double the impact? Comb through each detail and you’ll be surprised at where you could add in some lavish logistics.

 By Ciara Daykin

Have you always wanted to be a Firefly Occasions bride but been scared that you couldn’t afford our services? Well, now you can have the amazing couture Firefly Occasions wedding planning experience with our new collection of wedding planning programs designed with you in mind.

Our Associate Planner, Kendra Scott, has been trained in the Firefly Occasions style of planning and will oversee your wedding planning program. Brides are WOW’d with the level of service they receive.

With prices ranging from just $1000- $5000 these programs fit easily into your wedding budget and make it possible for you to be a Firefly Occasions bride. Through Kendra you’ll have access to all our great vendor relationships, our out of the box WOW ideas, and Firefly Occasions’ Signature Collection of Décor Rentals.

We are providing a limited number of programs from this collection to brides so if you’re interested then contact us via email at info@fireflyoccasions.com or phone at 1-800-791-5636 ext 701.

By Simon Daykin

Another day, another Twitter hook up.  Blank Label is teaming with Gutsy Groom to bring you guys some really cool stuff in the future, but for right now I wanted to introduce this new company to my readers.  Blank Label is for guys who want their own style, I mean their own style right down to the buttons.  You can design a completely custom shirt JUST FOR YOU right on their site.  I mean, ALL CUSTOM…from the fabric, to the buttons to monogramming to the number of pockets you have.  This is perfect for the Groom with style. Even if you’re going for a traditional dress shirt for the wedding you can wear these shirts to the rehearsal, or incorporate an outfit change into the reception.  And you know that no one will have the same shirt as you.  These are also great for Groomsman gifts.

To visit the site and start designing your very own custom shirt, simply click here.

By Ciara Daykin

We attended the Calgary Bridal Fair at the end of January and won the award for Best Booth Design in the Event Planner category. I was so excited when they presented us with the award. This is the second time we’ve won this award. You can view the pictures of our award-winning booth here.

We’ve had a lot of interest in our wedding planning services since then so I’ve been busy meeting with couples. They’ve all loved our new office space in Calgary which is in the community of Bridgeland, so not far from the downtown core. We’ve also debuted a new collection of planning programs, which are overseen by my Associate Planner, Kendra Scott. We launched this line of planning programs because so many brides want the Firefly Occasions experience but unfortunately their budgets were not aligned with the pricing involved in our custom programs, which I oversee. I’ll expain all the details in an upcoming post but if you’d like to see these for yourself to see if they are a good fit for you please drop us an email at info@fireflyoccasions.com

By Simon Daykin

So the Calgary Bridal Fair was 2 weeks back and I can proudly say that Firefly Occasions (my wife’s Wedding Planning company) won the Best Booth Design by an Event Planner.  It was pretty cool, we worked really hard on the design and it was great to be recognized again as a leader in our industry.  I got to meet a lot of Brides & Grooms and chat with them about their weddings.  Thanks to some of my Grooms for braving the show and stopping by to hang out.  We’re all settled in the new office and I’m just hanging the last of the art work around the place, it looks great!

We’re booking meetings for new clients and we’re booking up fast, so if you saw us at the fair or you’re thinking of hiring a wedding planner or designer for your special day, I say visit the all new website at www.fireflyoccasions.com . Contact us right away to secure your free consultation and take the next step in ensuring that your wedding is the one all your guests talk about for years to come.  Or you can email me at info@fireflyoccasions.com and we’ll hook you up that way.

Happy New Year! We rang in the New Year with a New Year’s Eve wedding that was out of this world amazing. Guests literally stopped what they were doing and their jaws dropped when the main reception area was revealed. I don’t know about you but I can’t think of a much better way to spend the New Year! Here’s a picture to tease you…

We’re just about all moved into our new office and I absolutely love it! I’ve had my office painted in eggplant and lilac and Simon has been busy hanging up my artwork. One of my favorites is a painting of a girl on a yellow backdrop and the words “dwell in possibility” are highlighted in sparkles. So fun!

Besides getting ready for two more big events that are quickly approaching, we are also getting ready for the Calgary Bridal Fair this Sunday, January 24th 10am-5pm at the Calgary Round Up Centre. You can click here for tickets.

We’ll be there with a fabulous booth, and you’re going to have to attend to find out what we’ve got in store for you. AND any bride that let’s us know that she reads this ezine when she visits us at our booth will receive a free gift from me personally. This gift is super special and will really help you with your wedding planning.

Love and bridal bliss,

Well, Happy 2010 to all my readers. I know this is my first post of the New Year and I do apologize for that. We got new office space over the holidays and I have been working to make it all cool like. We have grown so much iIn the last year we had to increase the size of the office so we can continue to provide the kick ass type of service to our clients that they are used to. And trust me, this new office is the coolest space I have ever worked in! Plus, it’s close to downtown and that means I can have lunch with my buddies again, plus it’s easier for our clients as well.

We had a great Holiday season and I hope you guys did as well! Ciara and I found out we are pregnant!!! We’re super stoked to have a Gutsy Baby on the way. I’m pulling for a son, so any good vibes that may help in my quest for a boy you have, feel free to send them our way.

We’re ready to get back into it for 2010 and bring the Grooms even further into the planning process with more style and confidence than ever before. So buckle up fellas, cause I have a feeling 2010 is gonna be one helluva year!!!

Oh yeah, and this weekend is the Calgary Bridal Fair, we will again have a booth there so stop by and say hello.

Looking forward to seeing you on January 24th at the Round Up Center.

Cheers,

Insiders’ Secrets To Never Again Feel Tired, Bloated or Stuffed in Your Clothes

Let’s be honest. How many of us set a New Year’s resolution every year to lose weight? And when I was a bride I know that for my summer wedding Christmas was my last free for all and the New Year meant a wedding ready body. But how many of us actually stick to the resolution? Well, I have a good friend- JJ Virgin- who is the secret weapon the celebrities go to for losing weight (and keeping the weight off and having a rockstar body). In fact, JJ helped me lose 40 lbs this year (I’m embarrassed to say I got a little too comfortable enjoying married life with couples dinners and wine!) And I’m so excited to announce that she is offering a free teleseminar on January 12 at 1pm PST called “Freedom from the Fat Trap: Insiders’ Secrets To Never Again Feel Tired, Bloated or Stuffed in Your Clothes.” On this ground-breaking call you’ll learn:

• How to buck the 3 pm lull. Imagine, your energy stays high and sustained all day long. Your focus is laser sharp and you’re able to get SO much more done.
• Finally, abolish those cravings forever. She’ll show you how!
• How your exercise routine COULD be making you fat and tired. You’ll learn JJ’s secrets for getting fit in less than 10 minutes a day (and you don’t even have to go to the gym).
• The #1 thing you MUST do to ensure you get and keep the body you deserve. (If you’re not even wiling to do THIS, don’t bother to be on the call. Nothing she teaches you will work if you won’t do this one thing.)

You can reserve your spot in the complimentary teleclass by clicking here. (Don’t worry, if you can’t make the call live, you’ll get access to the recording if you’re registered.)

By Simon Daykin

Well it’s the end of the year and in the tradition of that, I guess it’s time for my top picks of the year. In no particular order here are my top 5 links of 2009. Companies, who over the last year have come to my attention via Twitter, Facebook, this E-zine or over my extensive travels:

www.englishlaundry.com – Stylish, unique and trendy men’s wear. I can say the quality is great, the shipping is fast and the items are truly unique. The shirts work best un-tucked and in a more casual setting such as the beach.
www.pocketsquarez.com – The best selection and price for pocket squares I have ever seen! Honest! Pre folded and easy to use, I have a few of these and will be ordering more. They add tons of style to any suit, rented or not.
www.indochino.com – Custom made suits. I have a tuxedo from these guys, it fits like a glove, the quality is impeccable and it has my name stitched into it, who could ask for more? I highly recommend these guys for your suit or Tux needs.
www.themanregistry.com – All things Groom! Great gifts for your Groomsmen, or yourself…go ahead indulge yourself. I’m on the expert board, answering questions for the Groom along with some others from the industry. A really great site to help you out as a Groom.
www.blank-label.com – These guys recently found me through Twitter. You can design your own shirt. It’s pretty cool and adds a really unique factor to your attire. You could design your shirt and also those of your wedding party, plus the shirt would make a great take away gift for your Groomsmen.

Thank you for your support of She&He Plan Weddings and Firefly Occasions over the last year. We appreciate that you continue to look to us for wedding planning advice. We look forward to bringing you even more new and interesting wedding tips, tricks and strategies in the New Year.

Enjoy this time with your family.

Love,

Ciara & Simon Daykin & The Firefly Occasions team

By Ciara Daykin

I was reminded recently of a bride who neglected to thank her sister-in-law during a wedding shower and it tragically led to a 2-year rift in their relationship. The bride’s misstep in not thanking the other person was completely unintentional. It simply happened because she was invited to say a few words to everyone during the shower and she was so nervous speaking in public that she forgot to mention her sister-in-law. Long story short: Her sister-in-law didn’t speak to her for 2 years and the relationship is only now being mended.

It totally sucks and you don’t want this to happen to you!

There are a lot of things going on in a bride’s life as she gets ready for her wedding. Between showers and rehearsals and just showing off your ring and the wedding day itself, there’ll be a lot of times when peoples’ eyes are on you. Being the center of attention can be fun, but only if you’re ready.

If you haven’t done so yet, take the time to prepare a handful of speeches/ talking points which you can have memorized and ready to deliver at a moment’s notice. While you may not be giving speech after speech you’ll be telling your story multiple times… and there may be some parts you want to keep private, so figuring out what you want to share before you’re asked is the best idea. But don’t memorize them to the point where your delivery makes you sound like a robot. Here are some things you’ll need to cover:

• How did you get engaged?- People will want to know and you’ll need to say it over and over. Make sure your story matches the mood of the engagement. Was it romantic? Make sure you highlight the romance in your story. Was it spontaneous? Make sure you highlight the spontaneity. Was it fun? Zany? Unusual? Highlight those elements and talk about why it is special to you. It’s fun to relive the moment and share why you said yes!
• So dear… tell me about yourself?- His Aunty is sure to ask this one if you’re just getting to know his extended family. You might want to tell a couple of sentences about yourself, about your groom, and about what you plan to do once you’re married–  such as where you’ll live and what your aspirations are.
• Who should I be thanking?- You don’t want to forget anyone in your main wedding or rehearsal speech so start making a list of who to thank and when. It can hurt a relationship forever if you’re seen as the ungrateful bride. Remember that the people who’ve helped you put on your wedding are doing it because they love you but mega emotions are involved in a wedding and it is a time that can either solidify or destroy relationships.

Ciara’s Bridal Advice

Speaking in front of people can be scary, but what better way to let your personality shine through? Just be yourself and be sincere and your speech will be a hit. And don’t forget- your groom will more than likely have to give a speech or two as well, and he’s probably just as worried about it as you are! So why not write your speeches together and practice them on one another? Don’t forget to thank him in your speech either. He’s been putting up with all this wedding chaos too.

A BONUS TIP- Get some great thank you cards and practice the art of appreciation. Whether a friend buys you a wedding magazine, your aunt sends you some lace from your Gramma’s dress, or your girlfriends throw you a shower- you should be sending out sincere thank you cards. The more thank you cards sent before the wedding the more joy there will be at your wedding. (In my DIY Wedding Planning System I have a whole template to make thanking easy- it’s 50% off right now with code HOLIDAYS09.)

Ciara Daykin is the CEO of Firefly Occasions Inc. a wedding and event planning company with offices in Calgary, Alberta Canada and Beverly Hills, California, USA. Ciara’s popular bi-weekly ezine newsletter is read by over 7500 brides. Ciara is a frequent speaker at wedding industry functions and coaches other wedding planners across North America.

Ciara provides each bride she works with the haute couture wedding experience. Her planning website can be found at http://www.fireflyoccasions.com/ where you can sign up for her free report, “10 Tips to Take Your Wedding From Cookie Cutter to Couture.” She and her husband Simon Daykin are a husband and wife planning team and document their adventures on their popular blog http://sheandheplanweddings.com/