SHE said:

Internship Position: Are You Looking to Gain Experience in the Wedding and Event Planning Industry?

Follow Ciara Daykin
HE said:

Holy crap...9 days with no tweets!!! Film shoot went well-BB Declan is growing and doing REALLY well & I still need to write an ezine...LOL

Follow Simon Daykin

Internship Position: Are You Looking to Gain Experience in the Wedding and Event Planning Industry?

Posted September 01, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

PersectivEye Photography, Firefly Occasions Inc.

Firefly Occasions Inc. is an international event planning company specializing in Haute Couture Weddings and Luxurious Event Design. We have gained recognition nationwide winning awards such as the Wedding Industry of Canada’s Best Ceremony Décor. Firefly Occasions Inc. has been published in numerous bridal publications.

Learn from the best with internationally recognized Wedding Planning Coach, Ciara Daykin, as your CEO and mentor.

Firefly Occasions Inc. is now looking to fill our highly saught after fall internship positions within our
downtown Calgary location. Fall internships with Firefly Occasions Inc. run from mid-September through
December and are unpaid positions. This could be your chance at a new career with Calgary’s premiere wedding planning agency.


Please send your resume and cover letter to our Wedding Division Manager, Kendra Scott at
kendra@fireflyoccasions.com before 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday September 8th 2010.


What’s up in Hollywood Wednesdays: Wedding Dress Style on the Red Carpet

Posted September 01, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

JessiFirefly posts your weekly dose of pop culture

In case you missed the Emmy’s this weekend, we have a quick recap for you. Well.. the important stuff at least. Celebs wore gowns inspired by renowned wedding dress designers. These designers know how to make killer wedding dresses and as you can see, they aren’t too shabby when it comes to making red carpet dresses either. You can thank Celebrity Weddings Blog for the compilation of photos below! www.celebrityweddingbuzz.com

www.celebrityweddingbuzz.com

Above: Kyra Sedgwick

www.celebrityweddingbuzz.com

Above: Tina Fey

www.celebrityweddingbuzz.com

Above: Deanna Argon

www.celebrityweddingbuzz.com

Above: Heidi Klum

She and He Trendy Tuesdays: How to Pose for Wedding Photos

Posted August 31, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

www.ameliastrauss.com

1. Don’t stand square in front of the camera. This is where the saying “the camera adds ten pounds” came from. Stand slightly sideways and move your head towards the camera or angle one shoulder towards the camera to avoid the bulkiness.

2. Point your nose away from the camera and look at the camera. This makes for a sexy smile that isn’t head on and flat looking.

3. Put your weight on mostly one leg. This will help you shift your weight and show off curves and angles that photographers love.

4. Go with the flow. Don’t be shy to be yourself on camera. It’s better to be extra silly and adventurous than stand there awkwardly. Remember that photographers also feed off of your energy. Photos will turn out better when you really give them that good vibe.

5. Gently place your hand on your hip. This will convey confidence in your photos as well as make you look thinner.

6. If you have a floor length gown, wear comfy shoes. Stilettos and grass just don’t mix. Also you don’t want to get your white heels dirty before the reception.

7. Be careful with black eyeliner outside. When wearing black eyeliner it’s extremely hard to look against the sun. Not only does it create a squinty look but the photos will make your eyes look very dim and harsh.

8. When you sit on a couch, your thighs automatically appear bigger. Your upper arms have this same effect when you hold them close against your body. Hold your arm slightly away from your body during photos to avoid this flattening effect.

9. Keep the drinks to a minimum. Have you ever noticed how you sweat immediately after drinking champagne or wine? Nobody wants sweaty wedding pictures.

10. Think about the shots you want to get. Are you really going to use all those photos of yourself with a half-made face while you get your makeup done? You also don’t need 50 family shots. The majority of the photos should be taken of you and your fiancé.

11. Last but not least, don’t overdo anything. This includes tanning, hair dying, teeth whitening and all that good stuff. It’s much easier to Photoshop on a tan than to scrub your entire body with a wire brush like Anne Hathaway in Bride Wars (2009).

www.ameliastrauss.com

She and He Heart Mondays: Skinny Jeans, Skinny Lattes… Skinny Centerpieces?

Posted August 30, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

Let’s be serious. Nobody hearts Mondays. So every Monday we are here to lighten the mood and talk about things we do heart: Tall vase centerpieces.

www.artofcreativecelebrations.blogspot.com, www.artofcreativecelebrations.blogspot.com, www.prestonbailey.com

As a kid at the breakfast table you moved the cereal boxes, milk cartons, or any other center arrangements that you could find, in front of your siblings to block his or her face.

Now you’re finally getting married and you’re choosing centerpieces that will dazzle your guests and make the entire room sparkle… not centerpieces that will be great for blocking off guests’ faces.

This is why we love the Eiffel tower vase centerpieces. Not only can you see who is sitting across from you at the table, but the tall centerpieces make a major impression! When we decorate a room nothing makes the room pop more than a big flower arrangement on top of a tall and elegant glass vase.

Tall and skinny center pieces look great when decorated with ostrich feathers as well as floral arrangements.  To add that extra touch, use floralytes or LED vase illuminators to light up the vase. You can hide these lights right inside the Eiffel tower vases without any problems. Floralytes: http://www.printcanadastore.com/60.html

Tip: Talk to your wedding planner or florist to ensure that the flowers you chose fit in the tall vase. You might need to coordinate flowers that specifically work with the vases that you have in mind.

Below is a photo of one of our recent weddings at the Banff Springs Hotel where we used tall tower vases.

F8 Photography

She and He Fridays: A Wedding Planners Wedding

Posted August 27, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

My name’s Kendra Scott, I’m the Wedding’s Division Manager at Firefly Occasions and as of December 19th, I now have my own wedding to plan! Every Friday I write a feature article where I document my personal wedding planning journey each step of the way.

Boys In Bows!
Brett and I went this week to take a look at some attire options for the men in the wedding. This brought up a great question, what is the difference between a tux and a suit? It’s a pretty rare occasion to see a man in a tailcoat these days and with more and more men opting for the less formal, classic tuxedo jacket, some may be a little confused. So what is the difference between a classic tuxedo jacket and a suit? The biggest difference is that a classic tuxedo jacket will use satin on the lapels and the buttons. You’re not necessarily expected to show up in a tailcoat and top hat when the idea of a tuxedo is brought up.
Here’s the thing though, a woman never wants to wear the same dress twice and would never wear the same dress as another woman at the same party. Each dress is different, some may be skin tight while others drape lovely chiffon. It could be backless, or floor length, a halter or empire waist; the list goes on and on. For the most part, any time a man will ever dress up in his lifetime, he’ll wear a suit and tie; a timeless and classic look that women love. But is it just me or does nothing beat a classic black tuxedo and bow tie? I mean really, how many chances are you going to get in your life to wear a bow tie? Prom, wedding, maybe your children’s wedding one day. Unless you’re a Hollywood actor, an event like the Oscar’s won’t come around every year.
So on that note, I told my fiance that I would prove to him that a bow tie was in style, he’s a little on the fence about it. However, what I found was that the tux and bow tie really can’t go out of style. In my research all of Hollywood’s leading men opt for a bow tie when it’s the appropriate occasion. Regardless of age or personal style, the tux and bow tie is sure to be a hit!
And since nobody can resist a dapper looking man in a tuxedo, here is the proof :)
www.bridalcanvas.com

Kendra:
Upper Arm: Start: 10″ Now: 10.25″ = UP 1/4″
Bust: Start: 35.5″ Now: 34″ = DOWN 1 1/2″
Waist: Start: 28.5″ Now: 28″ = DOWN 1/2″
Hips: Start: 39″ Now: 38.25″ = DOWN 3/4″
Thigh: Start: 22″ Now: 21.5″ = DOWN 1/2″
Total lost: 3″

Jessi:
Upper Arm: Start: 9″ Now: ″ 10
Bust: Start: 37″ Now: ″ 35
Waist: Start” 26″ Now: ″26
Hips: Start: 34.5″ Now: ″33
Thigh: Start: 20.5″ Now: ″20
Total Lost: 2″

She and He Video Thursdays: Testimonial from a “Day Of” Coordination by Firefly

Posted August 26, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

Follow the fabulous lives of the Firefly team, see our client’s testimonials and take a sneak peak at our events, weddings and any other special events.

She and He Trendy Tuesdays: Ultra Chic Lounges at your Wedding

Posted August 24, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

We love lounges at weddings. It’s a great focal point and place for guests to feel comfortable and take a second to take in the blissful moments of the day.

When creating a lounge you need to do more than wheel in the furniture and plunk it down wherever you see fit. Creating an entire lounge atmosphere at your wedding is key. We suggest draping the room and using your color choice of up-lighting similar to the photo below. If the lounge is indoors it should be dim and lit with candles or up-lighting. If the lounge is near the dance floor at the reception, don’t bother with music. If the lounge is being implemented during the cocktail hour, chill lounge music is a great option. At one of our recent weddings we created a lounge with an icy blue feel. The draping was lit up with dark blue and there was an ice bar placed on the opposite ends of the white modish furniture. Overall, it was a great place for guests to chill out and mingle before or after dancing instead of sitting back at their meal tables.

www.stylelist.com

www.masterpieceweddings.blogspot.com

www.prestonbailey.com

www.jasminestarphotographer.com

The following is a photo from a New Years Eve Wedding we did last year.

We created a lounge with white draping and elegant white furniture.

www.fireflyoccasions.com

She and He Fridays: A Wedding Planners Wedding

Posted August 20, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

My name’s Kendra Scott, I’m the Wedding’s Division Manager at Firefly Occasions and as of December 19th, I now have my own wedding to plan! Every Friday I write a feature article where I document my personal wedding planning journey each step of the way.

Lately I have been really grateful for the amount of time I allowed myself to plan the wedding. One of the really nice things about having a longer engagement is really having the time to plan the wedding in small chunks and be stress free. I got engaged the same weekend as Carrie Underwood and always envisioned a 7 month engagement. I thought, you get engaged because you want to get married, so why would you ever want a long engagement? Well, since I set my sights on a wedding in the winter, we had no option but to have at least a 13 month engagement. I have to say, it’s been really REALLY nice. Since I work in this industry, booking my major vendors was quick and easy and for the most part done within the first month. Obviously a huge benefit for me is that I’ve seen a lot of these vendors in action and knew who’s style I liked and who best suited myself and Brett. Saving myself the time and energy that most brides put into researching vendors has allowed me to have a lot of time to spend on the fun things such as selecting a wedding gown, bridesmaid dresses, flowers, linens etc. I mentioned in a previous post that we had selected the bridesmaid dress options, I only actually ended up placing the order yesterday. Since I was ordering the dresses for my bridesmaids, I needed to wait to receive all measurements required to place the order. These are the types of things that you need to take into consideration when planning out your time lines. A bridesmaid dress can take four months to arrive but you need to remember that your bridesmaids have busy lives as well.

Account for extra time wherever possible, especially when things are being shipped from the USA. You never know how long something could take to clear customs and believe me we have experienced the best of it when it comes to customs delays. Not only has a longer engagement allowed me a comfortable amount of time to plan the wedding but it’s really nice to be engaged, people always want to hear about your wedding plans. :) I suppose this leads back into our other project at hand, the hot bride project. If you’re trying to get in shape for your upcoming wedding, you definitely want to leave yourself a healthy amount of time to do it properly! Jessi and I are still working very hard towards our goal and have three months left. We took our measurements again today. It’s hard to notice a huge difference when you measure each week but so far I’d say we’re making progress. I think just taking a break to exercise in the middle of the day helps you focus more on your other tasks at hand as well. So, our arms seem to have gotten slightly bigger….we’ll just ignore that for now haha we’re only a week in. Here are the results so far.

Kendra:
Upper Arm: Start: 10″ Now: 10.5″
Bust: Start: 35.5″ Now: 34″
Waist: Start: 28.5″ Now: 28.25″
Hips: Start: 39″ Now: 39″
Thigh: Start: 22″ Now: 21.5″
Total lost: 1.5″

Jessie:
Upper Arm: Start: 9″ Now: 10″
Bust: Start: 37″ Now: 35″
Waist: Start” 26″ Now: 26″
Hips: Start: 34.5″ Now: 34.5″
Thigh: Start: 20.5″ Now: 20″
Total Lost: 1.5″

She and He Trendy Tuesdays: Ivory Wedding Dresses and Tan Suits

Posted August 10, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

She and He introduce a weekly cutting edge style combo for him and her.

One wedding dress would never fit every single bride – nor should every color. Your wedding day is all about finding your true beauty and your personal style and finding the perfect dress that matches YOU. White dresses are absolutely stunning and gorgeous…. but have you ever just tried on an off white or ivory dress? If you don’t tan easily, have pale skin or red in your hair, ivory will look stunning on you. This off white, ivory look adds texture, volume and a dreamy quality to your attire. If you have an outdoor wedding, ivory will look romantic and classy while stark white may come off harsh on a sunny day. Sarah Jessica Parker pulled of a stunning ivory dress in Sex and the City… why can’t you?

She Says: “If you are set on sheer white, just try on an ivory colored dress. I dare you. You will be surprised about how lovely your skin looks. –Happy shopping!”

Top to Bottom and Left to Right 1)www.altf.com 2)www.jennifersalzman.com 3)www.giacanali.com 4)www.cathydavidphoto.com 5)www.moniquelhullier.com 6)www.cathydavidphoto.com

Instead of going for a black tux try a sandy or beige colored one. These are great for outdoor weddings in the summer. Black is very formal and classic. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, this is just one more way you can amp up your wedding with original style. Also, many guys will tell you that it’s easier to wear a tan suit again instead of a black one. Having a tan tux paired with an ivory wedding dress is very romantic.

He Says: If you’re having a destination wedding, think about a tan tux. Black ones look much too formal for the beach and ocean backdrop. Especially if it’s a barefoot wedding!

Top to Bottom and Left to Right 1)www.lindachaja.com 2)www.aniesinggallery.com 3)www.annemariephotography.com



She and He Fridays: A Wedding Planner’s Wedding

Posted August 06, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

My name’s Kendra Scott, I’m the Wedding’s Division Manager at Firefly Occasions and as of December 19th, I now have my own wedding to plan! Every Friday I write a feature article where I document my personal wedding planning journey each step of the way.

Most brides set out to lose a few pounds before the big day. In fact, this is so common that some brides will even purchase gowns that are a couple sizes too small in hopes of losing those last few pounds. The network Slice picked up on this and started their series Bulging Brides to help some of these ladies look their very best and fit into their dream dress.  So with 5 months left until the big day, “Project Hot Bride” as a friend recently stated, begins.

I have found that the best way to lose weight is with a friend. In my personal experience, this friend cannot be my fiance haha. I prefer to leave him out of this aspect of wedding planning all together. My fiance is quite active and eats really well. In the past, I’ve asked him to help me with diet and exersise programs but I very quickly realized that having my fiance remark on food choices quickly developes into a complex for me haha. He’ll do what I asked him to and then I’ll think that he thinks I’m fat lol isn’t that how it always works?

So, my co-worker Jessi and I have embarked on a program together!

Step 1: We needed to come up with a plan that we could stick to. In discussing our excersize habits, we determined that we are both hopeless runners. I used to have a roomate in school that was a runner. She would run all over Toronto and I always thought “that’s so nice, it would be so nice to just go for a run.” Last summer I embarked on a Learn to Run program and let me tell you, I did not learn to run.

Step 2: Once we determined what excersizes we enjoyed, we needed to come up with a schedule that would work with our work schedule as well.

Step 3: We needed to determine what foods we were going to eat, which meals we would eat together and then implement it. Jessi and I for example, are eating breakfast and lunch together at 9:30am and 2:00pm and we have purchased the groceries that we need and keep these groceries and supplies at the office.  This works really well for us because we work together, maybe a co-worker is a good choice for those of you out there looking to do something similar.

Here are some of our picks:

Whey Gourmet:

For lunch, Jessi and I decided to have a protein shake. We picked up a couple different flavours to make sure that we don’t get tired of the same one all the time. Today, we blended the strawberry/banana protein powder with skim milk and frozen berries.  Another tasty one is blending the chocolate protein powder with milk, ¼ of a banana and a spoon of peanut butter J This is a super quick lunch for us to make at work that doesn’t leave a lot of cleanup behind.

Jackie Warner, Power Circuit Training:

We wanted to pick a daily excersize that we can easily do on our break. At our office, someone needs to be available to answer the phone during business hours. With this option, we’re still in the office to do that, even though we’re taking our break together.  We want an excersize that will work our muscles in a way that helps us to burn more calories throughout the day but wont bulk us up.  Celebrity trainer to the starts Jackie Warner is a great option for us as she offers a DVD that does just that. This circuit training program uses only 2-5 pound weights in excersizes that move at a really fast pace.  We’re getting our cardio at the same time that we’re toning our muscles.

Step 4: Keep track and be held accountable. Jessi and I will be posting our new measurments each Friday, at the end of the “Wedding Planner’s Wedding” blog posting. I’d love for you all to post your personal results and experiences in the comments each week!

Jackie Warner's Video

She and He Trendy Tuesdays: Fairytale flower girls and blissful ring bearers

Posted August 03, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

She and He introduce a weekly cutting edge style combo for him and her.

Instead of a plain white dress for your little darling divas, have them wear something dreamy and fairytale like. Your flower girls will love this idea.

She Says: “What girl doesn’t like to dress up like a princess, ballerina or fairy?”

Having the little ladies wear tutus that match your color scheme is a great start. Wings and wands are also a nice touch, especially for whimsical weddings. We love wands with flowers and ribbon.

www.amaples.com, Adrienne Maples Photography

Below are some flower girl photos done by Shutter Sugar at our Mid-Night’s Summer Dream Wedding:

Shutter Sugar www.shuttersugar.com

Boys will be boys. This being said, make sure you have your handsome ring bearer try on the miniature suit or tux before the wedding day. This will allow you enough time to fix anything that is itchy or too big or small. You wouldn’t want the poor little guy tugging at his crotch or collar area during the big day. As long as he is wearing comfy clothes that aren’t too itchy or hot, he will be the hit of the entire party. (Besides the bride and groom of course!)

Katherine Nagel www.katherinenagelphotography.com

He Says: “Note to ring bearers: Beware of cheek pinchers!”

She and He Heart Mondays: La Tavola Linens at your Wedding Reception

Posted August 02, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

Let’s be serious. Nobody hearts Mondays. So every Monday we are here to lighten the mood and talk about things we do heart: La Tavola Linens at your Wedding Reception

Imagine having a wedding reception where everything looks absolutely perfect. Everything looks just the way you had pictured it- just better! This is totally possible with the perfect décor elements. Even common details such as linens make a HUGE difference. This is why we want to bring the gorgeous La Tavola Linens to your attention.

You can order a variety of different types to reflect the vision that you have for your special day. Whether you want a romantic, outdoor, beach, feminine, classic or colorful theme, they have it all.

She Says: “It would be an insult to call these linen décor pieces table cloths!”

La Tavola originated in California but lucky for all of us trendy Canadians, they now ship worldwide.  Back in December of 2008 we were the first ones to ship the linens into Canada.

He Says: “We had a few little complications at customs. That definitely didn’t stop us from getting these babies over the border.”

Luckily that’s history now because La Tavola Linens are extremely accessible almost anywhere now. They have made a huge splash in the wedding industry in the US and in Canada. Anyone planning a destination wedding can also have them shipped out to their desired location!

To check out some of their beautiful designs go to www.latavolalinen.com

Below is a photo taken of one of our winter weddings with La Tavola Linens. This choice was a perfect fit for a winter romance theme.

We posted some of our favorite La Tavola’s options:

www.latavolalinen.com

www.latavolalinen.com

She and He Video Thursdays: A Wedding Testimonial

Posted July 29, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

Follow the fabulous lives of the Firefly team, see our client’s testimonials and take a sneak peak at our events, weddings and any other special events.

To check out photos from this gorgeous Moroccan Funk themed wedding visit the Firefly Facebook album:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=190166&id=85412819334&op=6

She and He What’s up in Hollywood Wednesdays:Carrie Underwood Wedding Details

Posted July 14, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

JessiFirefly posts your weekly dose of pop culture.

According to Radar Online, Carrie Underwood got married in Greensboro, Georgia on Saturday July 10th. She was engaged since December and received a 12-carat diamond ring worth $800, 000! The country princess, and hockey star worked hard to be successful and to afford the $500, 000+ wedding. –They deserve nothing less! Not only did the couple have a dream wedding, but their guests were treated to luxury as well.  Guests each had one of the 251 rooms booked at the Ritz-Carlton. The total cost was about $268, 000 for just one night. Anyone staying in the hotel who was NOT was asked to leave the premises as of noon the day before the wedding.

The couple spent their night after being married in the Presidential House costing $4,000 per night. The room has views of the lake and the golf course.  A tent was setup on the hotel grounds beside the lake where Carrie walked down the aisle.  Carrie flew in by a helicopter on Friday. The luxury hotel did a great job protecting the privacy of the guests and the celebrity couple. Everything was closed off from the public eye.

Underwood wore a Chantilly lace gown which was custom made by Monique Lhuillier. The bridal party was also outfitted by the designer. Photos of the wedding are finally realeased today in PEOPLE magazine. I will definitely be checking those out! (Apparently her little dog wore a pink little doggy tux by Swarovski!)

She and He Trendy Tuesdays: She and He have headed to the Calgary Stampede- and gone Country!

Posted July 13, 2010 in Uncategorized. See View Comments.

She and He introduce a weekly cutting edge style combo for him and her. 

She Says: A great way to compliment a wedding in the Rockies is to do a preliminary engagement photo shoot out West. If you’re wondering how to pull off the country-gal look there are many different ways to do so. This look is quite popular here in Calgary, AB this season as the Stampede has kicked off last Thursday.  

To get the look, try wearing a long sleeved plaid or button down shirt. If you’re not a plaid shirt kinda-girl, wear an oversized blouse with a big brown belt and dirty washed jeans. Cowboy boots in dark brown always look hot. If you’re brave enough to wear a cowboy hat, my best advice is to keep you hair down with loose waves or curls!

He says: When it comes to cowboy boots there are so many different styles and colors out there. It’s really a preference thing. Do NOT tuck your jeans into them. Girls can pull it off…. guys, not so much. Regardless of how you wear them or what the style is, if you take good care of them, they will last forever. The vintage long-sleeved cowboy shirt is making a big appearance this year. A black one with white print always looks good.

He says: For more info on how to pull off the western look go to:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Mens-Vintage-Western-Styles-How-to-Get-That-Classic-Cowboy-Look

Calgary, Alberta, Canada • Beverly Hills, California, USA
Contact us: 1-800-791-5636, info@fireflyoccasions.com
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