Here is a little article written by Firefly Occasions founder & CEO, my wife…Ciara Daykin.

Brides always ask me in the weeks leading up to their wedding, “Ciara, what advice to you have for me on my wedding day?”

Well, the answer is LOTS… but there are really 3 key things that I think are important to remember on your wedding day that will help you get through the day stress free and truly enjoy it.

Here are my 3 Big Wedding Day Tips for the Bride:

1)   It Goes By So Fast- You’ve probably heard a lot of brides say that their wedding day went by so fast. Well, it is only a day after all and days always seem to go by faster when you’re busy and having fun. I always tell my brides that it’s important to stop during the day and take in certain moments so that they are forever imprinted into your memory. When you’re walking down the aisle, really relish the experience. When you’re saying your vows, look into his eyes and take your time. When you’re sitting at the head table, look out at all your guests enjoying themselves (and the centerpieces you picked out)

2)   Be Gracious- It’s a big day for you but it’s also a big day for your Mother, your Father, your bridesmaids and everyone close to you. There are a lot of emotions running through the air so it’s really important to be a gracious, humble bride. Just because it’s your day doesn’t mean common courtesy like please and thank you go out the window. Think before you speak… or snap… this is a day that will hold a lot of memories and you want them all to be great

3)   Thank Everyone- I can’t say this enough- make sure you thank EVERYONE. Make a list before your wedding of everyone who’s helped you with your wedding. Entire friendships have been ruined because a bride and groom forget to thank their friend for helping with an element of their wedding. Especially thank your family and his family (even if you don’t think they totally deserve it). It’s all about being gracious right?? You can’t thank everyone enough on this day.

Ciara’s Bridal Advice

My 3 Big Wedding Day Tips for the Bride are important to remember for a joyous wedding day. The day is filled wth a lot of emotions and it can go by in a flash but if you remember these 3 things you’ll definitely have a great time.

And finally, a message from our sponsoring keywords of the day…Wedding, Bride, Groom, Firefly Occasions, Planner, Romantic, Advice, Wedding Day, Love, Reception, Ceremony, Decor, Lighting, Aisle, Tented, Tent, Draping…I think that should about do it.

So sit back, grab that bottle (unless you happen to be getting married tomorrow, in which case you should probably be at the rehearsal) and enjoy more of my opinions that the internets afford me to put out into the world.

Here is a little article I like to call “Don’t Be THAT Guy At Your Own Wedding”

My last issue dealt with THAT guy at your wedding.  I got quite the response so I thought I’d go one more mile down the road and address how you, the Groom can avoid being THAT guy at your own wedding. Trust me, it happens.  There are plenty of reasons for this occurrence.  They range from nerves, lack of eating, mixing boozes to good old hard partying and lack of control.  I’ll hit a few here, the usual suspects but I can’t get into some of the deeper, crazier reasons, coz that’s between you and your shrink!  You DO NOT want to look like this guy at your own wedding…do you???  Of course you don’t!

Eat It!  Just Eat It!

Each one of us has joked, at one point or another about getting a good base before a night of drinking.  Well as far as I’m concerned, there is truth to that. Food in the belly makes sure the alcohol takes longer to get into your blood stream.  Making the wine make its way through a 16oz steak will help you.  But this is not just a night…oh no…this is a FULL DAY! So make sure you eat, eat whenever possible, whatever possible.  Eat a good, solid, manly man breakfast, then eat lunch, solid proteins and the like.  From the ceremony to the cocktails there is a long time…so I suggest bringing food along.  I’m not saying that you pull out a hero sandwich just before you say “I do”.  But have the photographer bring along some food for the photo shoot or stick a sandwich in your pocket.  Keep the food coming whenever you can and try not to get hungry.

Go To Bed Early…And SLEEP

This is not directed at your wedding night…oh no…this is directed at the night BEFORE your wedding night. Never make this night your stag night! There is no reason to go out and get all “Jersey Shored” the night before your wedding.  You’ll only regret it later.  Use this night to have a great dinner, either with your Bride to be, your family or all your guests.  When they start to drink it all up, you make your exit. They may rib you, but they will understand.  In all honesty, I would have a quiet dinner with your Bride to be, and your families.  Keep it an early night.  And if it’s all family, no one will try to pour shots down your throat.  Head to bed early, go over your vows and your speech to make sure all your I’s are crossed and your T’s be dotted, then go to sleep.  You’ll need your rest for the coming day. Trust me on this, falling asleep, or even WORSE…passing out at your wedding is not on!

Consumption

Usually there will be some booze at the wedding, and mostly there will be a lot of the stuff.  Doesn’t mean you have to drink it all though.  Remember to pace oneself…patience is a virtue.  So be patient boys.  If you want to drink, then have a drink…no need to go double fisted.  Remember you need to be able to last the night and “then some”.  Yes I do mean the wedding night.  If you drink away your “performance” then I can’t help you.  But I can help you before this happens.  So slow down, and not only will you be able to give a ROCKSTAR performance on your wedding night but you’ll look better in all your photos and you won’t be tossing back you dinner on your guests or slurring your speech.  The speech you spent so long working on.  There is plenty of time to have a few too many…your wedding day is not one of these times!

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

Most, if not all of the guys I know love to head out and “tie one on”…myself included.  But let’s be honest here.  Your wedding is not the time to do this. You have asked a bunch of your closest friends and family to join you in a celebration with your families and your future wife.  So you need to be a part of that celebration.

I’m not saying you don’t drink…I would never say that!  But what I am saying is put yourself in the best position to handle your booze fellas, book your stag a few weeks out.  That gives you plenty of time to recover. If you have out of town pals coming in, set up a pub night a few days (if possible)before the wedding to hoist pints with them.  Don’t do it the night before.  Never do it the night before!

Drinking is a slippery slope, you feel good one minute, then you’re all over the floor the next.  You need to be on your feet, shaking hands, taking pictures and being a great guy, you need to be on your “A” game.  It’s just one day, you can do it.  Be cool!

You got questions? I got your answers!  Feel free to drop me a line if you want to, I’m here to help you guys.  My email is simon@fireflyoccasions.com and you have access to me. So I suggest you use that. I can also hook you guys up with the best wedding planner in the biz…you need a great planner, I got one, I also come in the package so all your questions during the planning process you may have…I’ll be there to help you out. You can check out our work at www.fireflyoccasions.com and book your free consultation by emailing us at info@fireflyoccasions.com.  Oh yeah, and we have phone number as well, it’s 1-800-791-5636 EXT 701.

That is all for this time boys…

And as always, a quick word from our sponsoring keywords…this ones for you Google Spiders!  Groom, Wedding Planner, Firefly Occasions, Drinking, Booze, Alcohol, Bride, Wedding, Reception, Wedding Night, Ceremony, Party, Advice.  That should do it….

Here is what Event Solutions had to say about the whole thing…

“Event planners and designers take their cues from fashion, and if Pantone’s spring 2012 palette is any indication, it’s going to be a rockin’, eye-popping season!

“Consumers look to spring for renewed energy, optimism and the promise of a brighter day,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Leading the pack is Tangerine Tango, an enticing juicy orange, while Solar Power provides a jolt of energy that radiates warmth and cheer. Bellflower and Cabaret keep the purples and pinks in the center of attention. Quieter hues include Sodalight Blue and Cockatoo, a tactile blue-green that adds a whimsical touch to the palette.

Margarita lifts spirits with its refreshing and stimulating glow. Fragrant and delicate Sweet Lilac adds a touch of romance to any occasion. Neutrals, so essential to every palette, include Driftwood, which has a weathered feel and Starfish, a warm summer neutral that goes with all the colors in spring’s top picks.

Which is your favorite?”

So when you are looking for colors to add into your wedding, keep these in mind.  Coz the powers that be tell us these are the hot ones.  If you don’t like any of them…no problem, it’s your wedding after all, I’m just here to add my 2 cents.

So here we go with a little article I like to call “3 Tips For A Better You On Your Wedding Day”….

You don’t want this guy to BE YOU!!!! Leading up to your wedding you want to be relaxed, you want to know everything is good hands and that you can chill out on the day and pretty much just show up, stand in the right place, say I do and kiss your bride a lot. But there is road that leads to this Zen wedding day feeling, and I know guys hate to ask for directions on any road…even a metaphorical one, so here I am with a map for you.  It’s just 3 simple tips but they help, oh boy do they ever help!

Get Involved!!!

I cannot stress this enough! Get involved with the planning process.  You don’t have to sink yourself into the nitty gritty details of everything.  But attend the décor meeting, voice your opinions and be heard. That way you know there will be no surprises when you walk into your reception.  Pink bows all over the place anyone!?!  I wanted all our bridesmaids to wear the same shoes, seems simple enough but I was the only one who felt that way.  I got my opinion heard and they all had the same shoes on when I showed up.  Makes sense to me though, same dress = same shoes.  So get involved in all the meetings with your planner that you can, visit the venue, help pick the menu, research the DJ, help pick out the ceremony music and your first dance tune.  It’s not that hard, and it can be fun as well.  Plus you get to bond with your bride to be and they love that!

Pamper Yourself, It’s OK & You Deserve It

This should really only apply if you help out with the planning process, if you do some work you can reward yourself.  But here we go ‘cause I know you’ll step up and get involved.  Pamper may sound silly but the only other phrase I could think of was “manper” and that sounds sillier to me.  Set up a couples massage for you and your bride to be, hell set up monthly appointments if you like.  It’ll keep you relaxed during the planning and lead up to the wedding.  Book yourself in for a manicure, make sure your nails look good for the wedding because you know that shot of your hands and the rings will be taken, nothing worse than chewed up split nails.  Get a haircut, a few weeks before the wedding, but head into a great stylist and get the full treatment, while you’re there get the warm face cloth massage and a shave, a real one, with a straight razor.  You may want to book another massage and facial for you the morning of the wedding to release any left over tension.  It’s up to you.

There Are Suits And Then There Are Suits, Your Should Own The Latter

I always get on you guys about suits. And this post will be no different!  HA.  Whether you buy a suit or you rent a suit you need to “own” the suit.  Make sure it fits…properly.  The shoulder pads sit ON your shoulders and the jacket hugs your torso.  If you feel comfortable in your suit, it will show and you’ll feel better throughout the day in general, trust me on this I do know a few things!  Make the suit your own…add your own shirt, don’t EVER wear the patent leather rental shoes, other dudes sweaty feet have been in there!!!  Add your own accessories like cufflinks, pocket squares and killer watch.   You’ll feel better knowing that when people tell you that you look good, they mean it and they aren’t just being nice.  And if you feel better, the day will be even better than you thought it could be, of course you may have to cut the party short because your bride can’t wait to get you back to the room, but that’s the downside of being so “ridiculously good looking” and stylish!

Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice

Feeling good can come to you in a wild variety of ways.  But it has been proven that if YOU feel good, others around you will feel better and you will be the coolest guy in the room, well the last isn’t fact…but all the guys I style sure are.  Take the time to make yourself feel good, this should be every day, but especially leading up to your wedding.  Less stress is good.

Getting involved with the planning process is something you should do anyway.  I know you’re busy and may be tired, but this is an event that should only happen once in your life and you should be a apart of as much of it as you can be. And again, trust me on this, your bride will notice and you’ll be better off for it (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

And on a final note, NEVER, EVER have your stag or any other drinking themed events the night before your wedding. Seriously, I will find you and walk down the aisle next to you asking you if “you’d like a greasy pork chop served in a dirty ashtray”.  This wedding cost a lot of money, you love your wife to be and all these folks came in to see you do this thing.  So have the respect not to get right-plowed the night before, it’s common sense, but we’re guys and it’s always….”oh I’ll be fine tomorrow”.  Well no, you may not be, and you don’t want to stink of booze or puke on someone so forgo the silly juice and get a good night’s sleep.

If you wanna drop me an email, book a styling session or book a free planning consultation, simply drop us an email at info@fireflyoccasions.com and we’ll hook you up!

OH, I almost forgot…this blog post has been brought to you by the following keywords….Calgary, Wedding, Planner, Groom, Bride, Firefly, Occasions, Tuxedo, Elegant, Romantic, Rocky Mountains, Wedding Party, Ceremony, Wedding Reception.

We also attached (working!) chandeliers form the ceiling…took a little time on a ladder but it looks great…plus I hate heights so it was a fun morning for me.  The Bride walked down the side of the house, under the deck and out into the sunshine, down the aisle to meet Steve under an arch Steve had installed in the yard (He loves his landscaping, and he’s really good at it as well, so that helped)  The guests were happily seated under the protection of the tent, we removed all tent walls so it wouldn’t get too hot under there.  And under the arch, the couple said their “I Dos”.

Once the ceremony was complete, we flipped the tent to be set for the reception and dinner and installed a dance floor on the lower portion of the lawn, we set the DJ up on the grass and the new shed doubled as a really cool bar.  We of course included heaters for later on in the evening so the couple and their guests could stay nice and toasty as the partied the evening away.  There was also a fire pit in the yard with comfy seating and marshmallows to be roasted.

The Firefly team was on hand to make sure every little detail was looked after and everything went smoothly.  If you would like more information regarding our services and how we can assist you in creating the perfect wedding for you or someone you know, please contact us at info@fireflyoccasions.com or give us a call at 1-800-791-5636 Ext – 701

Katrina and Zane got married in Calgary on December 23rd 2010.  This incredible winter wedding was held at the Hyatt hotel in downtown Calgary and was planned and designed by us…Firefly Occasions Inc.  The couple came to us with a vision of a winter wonderland wedding that incorporated white, silver and blue, lots of romantic candle light and of course some WOW factors.  (Something we specialize in!)

So here are a few details on this amazing wedding.  Let’s start with the ceremony shall we?  I had the idea of erecting a tent INSIDE the ballroom (always wanted to do this)  There wasn’t a tent in a color they liked, so I called my tent guy and asked him to build a custom tent just for the couple in their colors.  He agreed and the rest is history.  We used the tent as a focal point for the ceremony, draping it in crystals and spotlighting it from the ceiling (more on that later) Behind the tent we brought in a beautiful swagged backdrop from our suppliers in California and added hanging votive candles to it at varying heights, looked AMAZING!  We draped the entire room in white drape and then lit it in the couples color…in this case ice blue.  White aisle runner, Firefly Occasions signature candelabras to line the aisle, rose petals, plenty of romantic candle light and flower balls hanging from the ceiling.

Oh, and did I mention we shut off all the lights and pin spotted the aisle…yup, amazing effect, no cost to the couple.  The guests sat in darkness as the Bride walked in and out of pools of light on her way down the aisle.  I got this idea while attending a Sarah Brightman concert, why can’t we have a ceremony in the dark I thought?  The couple loved the idea, so we went with it.

For the reception, we decided to use square tables, a kings head table on a stage and centerpieces of varying heights to break up the room.  In my humble opinion, the room looked stunning.  We love surprising the guests at our events….so we kept the dance floor portion of the room completely hidden until it was time for the first dance.  When the time came, we snuck the Bride and Groom into the other section of the ballroom and our Firefly staff pulled back the curtains as the first song began to play.  Again, a WOW factor for the guests, no cost to the couple.

Wedding Planning and Design by Firefly Occasions Inc

Flowers by Edralyn Chapman of Floral Artistry

Photography by Brian Henninger

Venue – Hyatt Hotel

* Be aware that trained pets that have practiced the role many times perfectly may feel scared or anxious on the day of the wedding. Be prepared to have a backup plan.

2. Have your pet carried down the aisle by a family member or bridal party member. Putting your pet in a little basket is an extra personal touch. This is an option for pets that aren’t well trained or that might spook on your wedding day.

3. Include your pet in wedding photos. Many pet stores now make little doggy tuxedos. Check out Carrie Underwood’s wedding to see how she trained her little Chihuahua to walk down the aisle in a jeweled tux.

4. Have an outdoor reception. Pets are free to run around and play at an outdoor wedding. *Note: It’s important to ensure that nobody at your wedding has an extreme allergy to your pet.

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Have you created your own wedding website yet? If you’re wondering what the point is, we’re here to tell you! If you thought they were lame, think again. There are so many reasons to create a wedding website. Guests will be given the URL that you have created. Example: www.TheJackson-AndersonCouple.com. Once guests get to the website they will be asked for a password that you created.

So what can guests do on this website of yours?
1. RSVP to your wedding
2. See any photos or videos that you have posted as a couple (great for posting engagement shoot photos)
3. Download maps or itineraries needed for the wedding
4. Take quizzes or polls that you have created
5. See a schedule of events
6. Update their addresses and contact information

This will make your life easier as a wedding planner or as a couple planning an upcoming wedding. You can even choose your domain name, song, style and color. This website can exist as long as you want it to and therefore be a great online memory of your wedding. The website is a great supplementary way to involve your guests and organize your wedding plans. Creating a website will cut down on info in your invitations. Nobody wants ten pages of wedding info and instructions in the mail.

Our only word of advice is to not solely rely on this website and always have another means of communicating with your guests. Reasons being, not all guests are tech savvy or have the internet and not all guests check the website regularly for updates or invitations. Also in today’s age, nothing beats receiving hard copy snail mail addressed to your name with neat lacy writing! -It’s so rare!

To create your own wedding website or just see what the hype is about, go to:

www.ewedding.com, www.momentville.com or www.wedquarters.com.

www.ewedding.com