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

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/

By Simon Daykin

OK guys, everyone makes New Year’s resolutions. Most (myself included) forget all about them, there is a ton of dust on my gym membership card…but I digress. I’m gonna let you know of 5 easy resolutions you can make to make the planning process easier on you and your bride. And if we’re honest here…a happy Bride makes the process SO MUCH EASIER! So take heed fellas, grab a pen or hit print on your computer and file these away for a rainy day so you can surprise your Bride to be with your awesomeness.

Be A Groom Who Takes

By this I mean take stuff OFF her plate. Go through the things on her “need to do” list, find stuff that you’re interested in and take them over. It’s not that tough and could be fun. If you like music and food, take those and own them. Look for DJ’s or bands, get their demo cd and check them out. Go to the hotel and talk to the chef, see if you can help design the menu. You will of course want to take your fiancé to the tasting but you can do all the leg work leading up to it. Don’t just sit back and let her try to do everything. The marriage is a team effort, so is the wedding and the planning should be as well.

Listen, Listen, Listen

As the planning process goes along, your Bride is going to need to talk to you. You must listen to her. She may not need you to fix anything, she may just need you to listen. (If you get confused, as I do…ask her what she wants you to do, but ask nicely) Sure there are forums and what not, but sometimes she will have to talk to you. Be patient and see what she wants you to do. She may be complaining about how many DJ’s she is having to contact (See above section) if she is complaining about getting overwhelmed, then see if she wants to hire a planner. (Here’s a good one.) The most important thing to do is listen to her.

Take Time For The Two Of You

Make time for the two of you to do stuff that isn’t wedding related. Sounds simple but a lot of people forget this one. Go out to dinner, but don’t talk about the wedding, go see a movie, you’re not even allowed to talk there. Go out with friends and have a good time. Try to do something non wedding related at least once a week. It’ll help you get back to normal. My wife and I run this company together, we work together every day, it’s pretty hard to not talk about wedding planning at dinner…but we try and so should you. It helps. So feel free to surf blogs and gossip pages while you’re at work so you have something to talk about when you get home.

Give A Little Along The Way

Give her stuff, it doesn’t have to be huge things. Sometimes flowers and a nice card will make all the difference to her. Things to let her know you are thinking of her and you love her and you can’t wait to get married to her. You can set this up in your work calendar so you get prompted when the time comes. She’ll think it’s spontaneous (but you’ll know better) You can get romantic about it and as the days lead up to the wedding, you could send her something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Just be sure to explain it in the card you attach.

Don’t Be Afraid To Speak Up

This wedding is a combination of both of you. Don’t forget this. Sure you need to listen to her, but you need your ideas heard as well. Don’t let her mash all your ideas into the dirt like a poorly protected quarterback (holy crap, I think that is my first sports reference in 2 years of writing this!!!) Sure you may need to compromise on some of your ideas, but make sure you are heard and that she listens to you as well. The wedding should be a true combination of BOTH your personalities, just as the marriage will be down the road.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

The planning process can take its toll on couples, that shouldn’t be news to anyone. But there are simple ways you can help to make it easier. If you don’t support her, the whole thing is gonna suck, if you don’t get your ideas heard, you may get angry and resent you never got the wedding you wanted. So try to make the planning process a team thing.

It can be fun. It doesn’t have to be work. How tough would it be to have the boys over on a Saturday, break out the bottles and concoct your signature drink? Yeah, not that tough really is it!?!? Will it really be a chore to eat a few steaks to see which one you like the best? Nope. So grab that list, take over some items and get on that. Own those items guys. She’ll love you for it…wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

So in closing, take the time to just hang out with your fiancé, and you can start this over the holidays as well. Not every conversation needs to be about the wedding, if she doesn’t believe you…show her this E-zine. I’m apparently an expert in this stuff so my word counts. Good luck guys, I know you can all do it.

Click here to book a free meeting and get started planning your one of a kind wedding, we can take all the stress off you and your Bride so you can focus on the fun of being engaged.

So Happy Holidays, have a great New Year…may the turkey be moist and the wine properly chilled. See you in 2010!!!

I am so excited to announce that we just signed the lease on our new office space in Calgary! It’s right beside downtown in Bridgeland and how appropriate is it that it’s actually an old church that’s been converted? We have a little work to do on it before we officially open the doors, but I really hope you come see us when we do!

I’m also soooo busy right now getting ready for the New Year’s Eve wedding that we’re coordinating, but I’m so excited because it is going to be truly spectacular! What better way to ring in the New Year than by having the wedding of your dreams?

I just love the Holidays, and I love giving gifts to the people that matter most in my life. As my gift to you this holiday season, I am offering 50% off my Do-It-Yourself Wedding Planning System from now until midnight on December 31. The system includes all my worksheets and templates that I use to plan my client’s weddings, as well as hours and hours of tips and advice that I have recorded onto audio CDs, so if you have decided to plan your own wedding it’s kind of like having your very own planner in a box! Just click here for more details and enter the coupon code HOLIDAYS09 upon checkout to receive your 50% discount.

Love and bridal bliss, 

By Kendra Scott, Associate Planner at Firefly Occasions Inc.

Consider incorporating a favourite activity into your big day.

You’ve heard it before but I’ll say it again, a great wedding should reflect the personalities of both the bride and the groom. Often though, the groom doesn’t seem all that interested in picking the colours or flowers does he? Try incorporating a favourite activity. Do you as a couple enjoy golf? Why not create a beautiful outdoor ceremony on your favourite or most picturesque golf course. Arrange a fun tournament for your guests to fill the time between ceremony and reception. Your Groom may even have time to hit a few balls with his groomsmen before the ceremony.

Maybe your both avid skiers, forget the summer wedding and plan an amazing winter wedding in the mountains. Make the celebrations last a whole weekend rather then just a day and plan group ski trips followed by an evening in the hot springs. Did you know that the Hot Springs can be rented out for groups up to 60?

Incorporating an activity that you love will help reduce the stress that comes with focusing on the formalities of a wedding. You want it to be a weekend that you both are looking forward to with excitement not nervous anticipation.

Photos Courtesy of:

Groomsmen in golf carts : http://eephotography.squarespace.com/blog/2009/9/20/carianne-aarons-wedding-ohio.html
Green bouqet: http://www.brendasweddingblog.com/blogs/tag/themes
Green table setting: http://entertaining.dinnerwarecenter.com/category/table-setting/
Place cards : http://thingsfestive.blogspot.com/2009/07/guide-to-wedding-stationery-which.html
Bridesmaids on golf cart: http://gatorbride.com/golf-carts-and-weddings/
Tree and aisle: http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2009/01/26/garden-wedding-ideas/
Chocolate golf balls: http://www.totallychocolate.com/CorpProducts.aspx?&detail=6788&menu=14

By Kendra Scott, Associate Planner at Firefly Occasins Inc.

I think it’s really fun to take inspiration from pop culture and with the release of New Moon, the world is once again in Twilight mania. Here’s an inspiration board to show you how to take a theme and fuse it into your wedding. It’s important to remember especially with a theme like this, that you don’t want it to be cheesy, it’s not a child’s birthday party. When your guests arrive they should be able to feel it, not necessarily see it. There should be something in the mood and decor that is inspired by but not necessarily taken directly from the books/movies. I don’t want to see vampires, blood or fangs but there are definitely characteristics that can be used. If you do want something obvious, consider naming your tables after the novels: Twilight, Midnight Sun, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn etc. You could also chose to use music either from the movies or from Stephanie Myers list of songs that she felt went with specific scenes. As with any elaborate theme you want to keep the obvious connections to the smaller details.

Photos courtesy of:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/twilight%20inspired%20wedding/kdhart226/mlw%20inspiration%20pics/twilight/twilightbookWScopy.jpg – meadow wedding
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LaayJVYtK58/Sdm4N4ONP7I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/jlHvLHnaWSk/s400/gothicchic.jpg – place setting and candle/chandelier
http://media.photobucket.com/image/bella%20and%20edward%20gazebo/patticakes/ljentries/gazebo.png – gazebo
http://www.daintree-ecolodge.com.au/media/image/large/daintree-ecolodge-high-res061-800.jpg – rainforest wedding

By Ciara Daykin

I had the pleasure of sharing my story with 300 wedding planners this past week at the Fall in Love with Indy Association of Bridal Consultants conference.

Tonya Shadoan, a member of my elite mastermind group for wedding planners did such a great job of designing the enchanted woodland lunch (complete with a scent machine!) that I spoke at. The atmosphere and the energy of everyone in the room were absolutely amazing!

I just wanted to share these pictures with you quickly, as I am off to Turks and Caicos in less than 24 hours for another speaking engagement. Hope you enjoy!

DIY Wedding Planning System

The DIY Wedding Planning System is filled with interviews with expert vendors, a step by step guide to planning your wedding, templates and spreadsheets to keep you organized and help you save money. Some of my fav calls are the ones where Simon and I share our design ideas, so grooms don’t you be afraid to get involved as well! Just click here and join in on all the fun!

By Simon Daykin

Your bride has a lot on her mind. This should not be news to you. So in all the chaos, I have compiled a very short list on a few things you can help her with. I encourage my grooms to get right into the whole process, but this is a list of the most popular things my guys like to take on themselves.

A steak, a steak…my kingdom for a steak!!!

Guys love food! Someone once said that the fastest way to a man’s heart is through is belly. So why not take this and make it yours. You can decide what cut of steak you’ll be having for dinner and not IF you’ll be having steak. Now this is a great one to do. Call the reception venue and have them send over the choices for the meals they are offering. If you see stuff you like but it’s paired with stuff you’re not crazy about, ask them if there is any “wiggle” room. You never know till you ask, so NEVER be afraid to ask. We had Caesar salad for one of our wedding appies, but I love tomatoes, cherry to be exact. So I had the chef drop a few cherry tomatoes onto the salads. See if you can mix and match items on the menu if that takes your fancy. And another great thing about this, TASTERS!!! Most venues will offer a tasting to help you make up your mind. So what you can do is make a date of it. Get dressed up and take your bride to be to the tasting (just make sure you have confirmed a date and time with HER so she’s available). The chef will usually let you pick a few appies, mains and deserts, and if you ask you can have wine paired with each course. So you have a nice dinner, some venues will do this for free, and you can take her out and NOT talk about the wedding…talk about the food!!!

Honeymoon Suite ain’t just a band

After the bouquet has been tossed, the garter has been passed on, the last song has been played and all the partying is done. When the last drunken guest has stumbled back to their rooms, it is time for you to go up to the Honeymoon Suite. Most people forget all about the Honeymoon Suite. But why should you? With our higher end packages we include décor in the suite for you and your bride to enjoy. Rose petals, music, maybe some mood lighting etc. The trick is not to tell her about this. If you don’t have a planner, get your best man to do this for you. She will melt. You can set up an iPOD on repeat to have her favorite song playing as you arrive into the room, (but you need to remember to take it off repeat) Include some fragrances, but not too strong…you don’t want her sneezing all night. And to take it a step further…why not make all the plans for the Honeymoon itself? Sure, get her opinion on what she wants to do. But you take care of the details. If you have a planner, they can help you with locations, flights and travel agents. So while it looks like you did allot of work, all you really need to do is call your planner with dates etc and they can make the arrangements. Firefly Occasions & Gutsy Groom has a travel agent on staff for just this reason. We also offer our Vegas Condo to our couples.

Click here for details.

Play that funky music!!!

Music can make or break ANY event. Don’t let it break yours!!! A DJ or band is very important to an event. We all have opinions on music, what the first song should be and songs that, under no circumstances should ever be played at a wedding again. Chicken Dance…I’m looking in your direction. So after you have again gotten her opinion, you really need to pick out your first dance together. Take over the process. Grab the Yellow Pages, or your Google page and start looking for people in your area. Make sure you interview them. As I’m sure I have mentioned, I fired 3 DJ’s before I settled on the guy who did my wedding. Now he is my #1 recommended DJ for ALL my weddings. He did the Fernie wedding last year and was packing up his gear at 1am to screams of “ONE MORE SONG, ONE MORE SONG!!!” If you’re looking into a band, get them to send you a demo disc or something. Even better, if they are local and have a gig, take your fiancé out for a nice concert and see what she thinks. It’s not stressful coz it’s a cool night out. The same with DJ’s, get references from past clients, make sure they have a web site, see what lighting they offer and if travel fees are included or extra. Choose carefully on this one guys, if a DJ can’t read a crowd, you’re screwed.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

Make sure that you help your bride out in the planning process. If, for no other than selfish reasons. A happy bride makes for a happy wedding and very happy wedding night. Plus it’ll really cut down on tension or possible arguments during the planning process. I mean, come on…the 3 things listed above really aren’t that tough to get a handle on and they can be fun to do as well. There are many, many other things you can get your hand into, but these, as I said earlier are the top 3 my grooms usually get the most involved in.

A marriage is a partnership, so is the time leading up to the wedding. So take some responsibility, hey, you asked her to marry you right!??!!? You can’t just pop the question, then sit back and say…OK I did my part, off you go. Not cool at all. Plus if you get involved, you’ll get your thoughts into the process as well. I always tell our couples that the wedding should be a mesh of both their personalities, and I stand by that. So get involved fellas. Sometimes it even turns out to be fun!

Simon Daykin is Firefly Occasions’ Atmospheric Designer and Groom Stylist. Couples looking for rare, unmatched decor turn to Simon for their wedding design needs. Simon is part of the husband and wife wedding planning team, Firefly Occasions Inc. Visit his website to sign up for his free report, “5 Smoking Styles for Gutsy Grooms.”

If you would like to publish this article please include the above biography and live links.

By Ciara Daykin

Bridal shows can be completely OVERWHELMING for a bride. There are so many other brides, so many booths, everyone is trying to get from point to point and it can really get crazy. In this special edition of my ezine I’m going to give you some savvy tips and tricks for hitting the bridal expo with style and sass!!

Tip #1: Wear comfy shoes! – You’re going to be walking a mile on a hard tradeshow floor. Yes, it’s lovely to look fashionable but the brides in stilettos never last long at the bridal expo. If you really want to see everything and be comfortable think about your feet first! (But be a little elegant and leave the stinky gym sneakers at home… opt for some cute supportive flats.)

Tip #2: 1000 Brides Gather In 1 Place – You think it might be a bit of a mob scene? Well then you’re absolutely right! If you really want to get some valuable one on one time with the exhibitors I recommend planning the timing of your visit to the Expo. When the fashion show is taking place the booths slow down significantly. This is a great time to chat with an exhibitor or try on dresses at the gown sale. I also recommend first thing in the morning (especially if you want your pick of all those frugally priced gowns).

Tip #3: Your Hand Will Cramp – Many exhibitors will be offering prizes at their booths and you’ll be asked to fill out a ballot form. You waste valuable time writing out your contact info again and AGAIN. So print off a couple sheets of labels that include your name, your groom’s name, your wedding date, your address, phone number and email. Then it will be easy to just peel and stick your info to the ballots. Then you can spend quality time checking out all the cool stuff on display!

Tip #4: Watch Out For Bridezilla! – I often see the dreaded bridezilla at the Bridal Expo. You know her… she’s the girl that pushes your Mom aside so she can get a better look at the booth, she criticizes your wedding colors when she overhears you gushing about them, she muscles her way to the prize box while telling the exhibitor she doesn’t want any information (just the prize!) and she complains loudly about how expensive everything is…. Oh yes… Bridezilla always makes an appearance at the Bridal Expo. But don’t let this kind of bride ruin your good time! She has a bunch of BAD karma surrounding her so just IGNORE HER and have some fun!

Tip #5: Be Patient & Be Nice – Be the opposite of bridezilla. The exhibitors at the show have brought some really great deals with them… some that you won’t even know about unless you talk to them! It’s true! At our booth I have a SPECIAL OFFER JUST FOR YOU!! If you come to my booth I’ll give you a special gift if you introduce yourself to me and let me know you read my ezine. But I’m ONLY giving this gift to brides on my ezine list that visit my booth- no exceptions. But I might be a little busy, so please be patient and look around our booth because I do want to talk to all the brides that come by.

This kind of mentality will get you far with other exhibitors as well. I find myself giving extra nice brides FREE advice! I know other exhibitors do too!! (because we all want to work with nice brides)

Tip #6: Hydrate! – The Round Up Centre with over 1000 people in it at any given time can heat up pretty quick. And you can bet the water ain’t cheap! So bring along some water for your journey. You don’t want to get a headache!!

Tip #7: One Step at a Time – Okay, the truth is that there are going to be A LOT of booths, people, and noise at the Bridal Expo. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. YES, there are a lot of choices but you don’t have to choose EVERYTHING or choose ANYTHING right there and then. Here are a couple of TIPS within my TIPS to dealing with all the choices:

•  Seek And Ye Shall Find – Know what you are looking for and enjoy the rest. Don’t feel like you have to choose ALL your vendors from the Bridal Expo. This is just a sampling of some of Calgary’s finest. You may connect with some vendors, you may not. This is a great opportunity to meet people face to face and figure out if they should be part of your wedding day.
• One by One – Approach each vendor calmly, ready to hear the sales pitch (yes- the sales pitch). The exhibitors are there to sell to you. You’re there to buy right? So if someone is overwhelming you just ask them politely to SLOW DOWN. You don’t need the info dump! Ask the questions you want answered.
• Thanks But No Thanks – If you’re not interested thank them and walk away. Don’t take the flyer and load up your bridal bag. Guess what? You’ll quickly rifle through that bag ONCE after the expo, pulling out the vendors you connected with… and then it’ll sit in your closet to be found on your 2 year wedding anniversary!

BONUS: Tip #8: Overwhelmed? Come Relax With Me – The day can get a bit hairy but think of my booth as a sanctuary. Come by and enjoy the elegance, look at pretty wedding photos and chat with us about your wedding. It’s really hard to figure out which exhibitors you should be seeing and I can point you in the direction of some of my favorites. I can also tell you about our FABULOUS programs that will do ALL the work for you (they make you feel like a celebrity!). So always know that I’m waiting at Booth 115 with a smile (and a hug if you need it!)

Ciara’s Bridal Advice

Good luck and I’ll see you there!! Don’t forget to introduce yourself to me for my SPECIAL OFFER, available ONLY to subscribers of my ezine!

By Simon Daykin

It may have been Valentine’s day, it may have been on vacation or it may have been during a hot air balloon ride (Congrats Steve & Sonya), but you got engaged…you’ve done a bit of planning, and while you were hiding the newspaper (like Marge did to Homer when the Chili Fest came to town) your bride to be has found out that there is a huge Bridal Show in Calgary and now she wants you to come as well. This is a full day of wandering around the Round Up Center looking at booth after booth, most of which couldn’t care less if you were there or not. Most vendors go after the Bride and the Bride only. It’s why I started Gutsy Groom in the first place and it’s why I work full time with my wife at Firefly Occasions to make sure the Groom isn’t left out and that his ideas are fully incorporated into the wedding planning process and the wedding day.

WHAT DO YOU AS THE GROOM DO????

As a planner & event designer, I attend this event twice a year, so I’m going to impart some tips to you on how to survive this day, keep your bride happy and make it out alive.

Comfort And Style

The trick is to mesh the two. You need to walk around all day, stand on concrete and look good while doing it. You wouldn’t wear track pants to go buy a new car, so why slum it for the Bridal Show? Project a high end image and high end vendors will be drawn to you. This is simple attraction. Vendors interview you just as much as you interview them, so put on a nice shirt, good pair of jeans and a kick ass pair of COMFORTABLE shoes. I’m not saying show up in a 3 piece suit, but dammit man, LOOK GOOD! I started going to this event in a T-shirt and jeans years ago, now that I plan 6 figure weddings, I dress the part.

Versatile Clothing Is Good

A dress shirt is good, as I find that they seem to blast the A/C, but when all those people get into that space…man it gets hot. I get cranky when I overheat so I always make sure I can change my body temp quickly and whenever possible, without having to carry anything. So with a dress shirt, you can roll up the sleeves, let off some steam and this will keep you in a better mood and not overheated all day.

Sure you can take a sweater off, but then you have to carry it.

I also recommend, that if you bring a coat, leave it in the car. It’s not that far from the car park to the doors, and you DO NOT want to be carrying around a coat all day. With Calgary you never know what the weather will be like, but trust me, if your fiancé brings a coat, odds are you’ll be carrying it around when she gets hot. So leave yours in the car so you won’t be carrying around two. And avoid the coat check (if there is such a thing) as that’s just another line you’ll have to wait in.

Happy Feet Ain’t Just For The Penguins

ALWAYS make sure you have a comfy pair of shoes on. You’ll be walking around all day and standing while you chat to vendors or your fiancé does. The floors in the Round Up Center are concrete. Being on concrete for hours on end takes a toll on the feet. And after the feet go, the legs follow and then it’s all downhill from there. I usually wear a pair of sneakers or the shoes I picked up at the Bridal Centre (patent leather sneakers) I’m not saying head out and buy new shoes for the show, go through the closet and see what you have. But make sure they have a nice, comfy sole on them. Cushioning will get you through the day and save the pain in your legs when you hit hour 4. This is a big venue and you’ll be doing A LOT of walking.

Hydration Is Key

So I know that the show is on a Sunday and Saturday nights are a great party night. But this is only ONE day out of countless weekends you’ll have in your life. Do yourself AND your fiancé a favor and don’t go out and get sloshed on Saturday night. Trust me on this, you’ll pay for it tenfold the next day.

So no hangovers OK guys!?!!

That being said, the recycled air will dry you out almost as fast. I suggest bringing a large water bottle, sure they sell water and but there is that whole line thing again. Bring Vitamin water, Powerade, whatever gets you through. I strongly suggest passing on your Red Bull type drinks as they induce a rather nasty crash after a couple of hours. (And if you leave that coat in the car, carrying a water bottle around isn’t that bad.) If you do need a “pick me up” type drink I suggest those little 5 hour energy drinks they sell at the gas station. I use these on long road trips and I can say they work, and have little to no crash at the end. I think they may include a bottle of water in your “welcome Package”…but you’ll go through that in no time flat. And remember to eat as well…the burgers are actually quite good.

Take It All In

This type of event can be very overwhelming, so take your time. If you find a vendor you like, get all their contact info, make a note on it so you don’t forget what it was you liked about them and keep it somewhere safe. There is so much info passed out at these things that the good stuff can get lost in the shuffle. If you can make an appointment with the vendor on the spot for a later date, do so. Take the time to talk to the vendor and get a feel for them and the services they offer. If you take an interest in stuff instead of hanging back and moping, the day will go by faster, your fiancé will love you for it and you’ll be able to get some of your ideas incorporated in your special day as well.

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

While this may not be the greatest day ever…it doesn’t have to be the worst. Follow the simple steps listed above and it’ll go smoothly. If your fiancé brings other people, ie: her mother, maid of honor, any bridesmaids…anyone really. Listen to what they have to say, add your opinion, but NEVER get into a fight with any of them. You can discuss all the info you gather when you get home with the only person who really matters…YOUR WIFE TO BE.

We are flooded with calls after the show, so if you want to meet with us after meeting us at the show, we can hook you up on the spot and make a sit down appointment with you. This way you won’t have to wait and you’ll have pick of the times we offer for meetings. If you’d like to secure your meeting now, simply click here and let me know the details of the wedding and I’ll book you in for a meeting.

It means a lot to your bride to have you involved so suck it up and go in with your head held high and the best of intentions. You may actually have a great time.

By the time you get this I’ll be on my way back from my uncle’s fishing lodge in British Columbia. Simon and I are off with our dogs Kohl and Chayse to celebrate our 4 year wedding anniversary and relax without cell phones or the internet for a whole week! I’m super lucky that I have a great team to support me while I’m gone. And I’m just in a good mood all around, 4 years of marriage will do that to a girl *blush* That’s why I’m throwing the good vibes your way by having a sale. It’s only for this weekend and it ends on Monday August 10th at 11:59pm MST but you can get 40% off my DIY Wedding Planning System by typing in the code 4YEARS. Some of my favorite calls in the series are the ones Simon and I did together since that’s the way we plan most of our events… I just can’t get away from the guy now can I? Well, you’ll see how fun he is when you listen to the great design ideas we come up with on the calls in the DIY Wedding Planning System (don’t forget your code to get 40% off is 4YEARS).

I’m glad I’m taking a midsummer break because wedding season has been hectic and AMAZING! We’ve had some really awesome events so far and we’ve got more great ones to come so stay tuned for pictures and stories. I know that it’s totally the season of love as lots of weddings bring lots of engagements. You just can’t help your lovin’ feelings! So today’s article has some tips for those of you who are newly engaged. I hope you enjoy “ Avoid These 3 Newly Engaged Mistakes.”

You love the pictures of brides in magazines running with their groom being showered with petals. It signifies the celebratory feeling everone in attendance at your wedding has right after you’ve said “I Do.”

But many venues are saying a big NO to the petal toss. No one clean them up so they get ground into the carpet or cement leaving stains, they blow off into the wind in an un-ecofriendly whoosh, or they disappear under chairs and pews wreaking havoc for the clean up crew.

Soo… Sooo… Sad.

But wait! I have 5 petal tossing alternatives that could meet your ceremony send off needs.

1. Ecofetti- Confetti and rice was banned long before petals (no so good for the birds) so this great alternative was created in various colors and it dissolves with water. Great outdoors, probably not for inside- still a little messy.

2. Ribbon Wands- Bachelorette Trista and Ryan’s fairy tale wedding made these wands a fab alternative to the petal toss. Coordinated with your colors not only are they a great send off but also a décor accessory.

3. Ring the Bells- We don’t all have a great church bells to ring post nuptials so an idea from Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings was just right. She gave the guests of the Today Show Breakfast at Tiffany’s wedding mini Tiffany bells to ring as the bride and groom exited.

4. Bubbles- I did these at my wedding and I loved them. When I look at the wedding video and photos everyone was having so much fun acting like a little kid blowing bubbles. Especially our Gramma’s! It was also so dreamy and romantic on a hot summer’s day.

5. Organic Material- For winter weddings I think it’d be cool to have the green bits of cedar branches cut up into pieces and thrown (none of the hard bits), for the fall autumn leaves. For the summer, make an arch out of huge ostrich feathers that you fan as the bride and groom walk through, for the spring bird seed can act like rice.

Ciara’s Bridal Advice

Don’t be sad without petals. There are lots of fun and creative ways to craft your ceremony exit. Play with the theme of your wedding and use a ceremony send off that enhances everyone’s experience and makes your pictures look great!

Award winning Calgary based wedding planning company, Firefly Occasions has made a big wish come true for one couple. Ciara Daykin, CEO of Firefly Occasions was approached by Vibe 98.5FM to grant a wish for one of their listeners. A representative from Inn from the Cold, a local Calgary shelter had written in about a couple who had gotten engaged in the shelter and who were planning their July 18th nuptials. She had asked in her letter that the couple be granted the wish of an amazing wedding day with any help that could be provided.

Daykin, not only granted the wish by providing her planning and design services, she rallied the Calgary wedding industry to give this couple the wedding of their dreams. Calgary based wedding businesses such as Great Event Rentals, Mandala Floral, Cory Tomlinson Photography, Prism Sound, Beautiful Bride, Pink Lime Salon, Bridal Centre, Savour Food, and Production Lighting have all donated goods and services towards this couple’s wedding day. “I’ve been really excited and touched that I’ve called upon my colleagues in the wedding industry and they’ve really come through to make this a truly dream wedding day for this special couple” states Daykin.

The wedding will take place this Saturday, July 18th at Central United Church with a reception to follow. Daykin says, “The bride and groom are going to be really surprised when they see what we have in store for them. I think my favorite part of this whole process was when I saw our bride try on the wedding dress we’d secured for her. The smile on her face was priceless.”

Ciara Daykin is the owner and CEO of Firefly Occasions Inc., a wedding and event planning company based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Ciara is the publisher/ editor of “Beautiful Brides” a bi-weekly ezine for brides which offers industry insider tips and tricks to planning a fabulous wedding and is subscribed to by over 7500 individuals. Ciara is an expert in planning haute couture weddings that reflect the couple’s personality and style but still fit into their budget.

Ciara also coaches other wedding planners, is a sought after speaker in her industry, has had her articles published in books, magazines and online, and is a well-known social networking personality. Ciara is a personality on the blog SheandHePlanWeddings.com, with her husband Simon Daykin. They provide readers with a she said, he said perspective on weddings. Ciara also consulted designer Nancy Gale of Jamah.com on the creation of a bridal line of handbags and “The Ciara” handbag is named in her honor.

http://www.fireflyoccasions.com