It was super tough to decide because all the ladies in the Community of Wedding Innovators are such amazing and... http://t.co/WIFUqIEZ
Follow Ciara DaykinWell Saturday is here. Hello Saturday. #dumbass tweet
Follow Simon Daykin
Are you sick of looking at china patterns? Sick of trying to tell the difference in the crystal stemware patterns your fiancé likes but can’t make her mind up between? Are you looking for some cool, manly stuff to put on your registry? Well look no further guys… www.themanregistry.com is here to help! Co-created by Chris Easter, the man registry is an online place for guys to get all the cool stuff they crave, personalized bar signs, beer mugs with chalk boards on them so you can write refill messages, regulation size floating beer pong tables…yes, they float! It is also a place the groom-to-be can get advice, yours truly is the resident groom planning and style expert. It’s a great place for everything groom.
Getting engaged is AWESOME! I love the sparkle in a newly engaged couple’s eyes. They are just absolutely glowing with happiness. It’s a big deal and the wedding is an even bigger deal. But when you first get engaged you immediately get a rush of bridal brain. And it’s like trying alcohol for the first time.
Seriously.
You get lightheaded and literally drunk on all things bridal. And while it’s fun, it can also hurt your future wedding plans. That’s why I’m giving you 3 Mistakes that I want you to avoid making as a newly engaged bride:
1) You Buy Everything Wedding- “Oh look, a teddy bear in a wedding dress, I could use that at my wedding I have to have it.” When you are in that drunken stuper of bridal brain you buy all sorts of silly things because you’re a bride and you think you’ll use them at your wedding. But when you’re newly engaged you don’t even have a plan yet so who knows what you’ll use at your wedding. It’s such a better idea to just avoid the impulse to buy all things tulle and just wait it out a bit. Flip through some 
magazines and figure out what you want so you don’t blow your bridal budget on stuff that’ll still be in your closet at your 4 year anniversary (me, buy wedding stuff I didn’t need?? Oh noo… Not me…).
2) You Accept Anything Wedding- “Thanks friend for dropping off all the leftover tulle circles from your wedding and half used votive candles I love them.” The girls that have gone through bridal brain know you have it bad and they’re looking to unload their stuff. Friends and coworkers who’ve been married will come out of the woodwork with all sorts of doodaas that they didn’t use at their wedding (all their bridal brain purchases) or items that they half used. They don’t want them anymore but in your state you’re more than happy to accept them. Trust me, if you say “Wait… Thanks but let me figure out what I need and don’t need” you’re not going to be missing out on much except for a bunch of clutter.
3) You Buy A Dress Right Away- Okay, so this is a BIG, HUGE PROBLEM. Brides are sooo excited to be engaged that they run out, have a fab weekend of wedding dress shopping and buy a dress right away… Whoaaaa Girl!!! Hold on here… Am I serious? Oh I’m sooo serious. With bridal brain all the dresses look fantastic, you’re just happy to be in something poofy with a veil because the little girl who put the sheer curtain on her head and hummed dum dum dee dum is back and she’s having her moment… Except this time she has a credit card. Watch out!! I can’t tell you how many 2 dress brides I have these days. And that’s a major blow to the bridal budget… Hey- I would know… Guess who else had 2 dresses??
Ciara’s Bridal Advice
I’m so happy that you’re engaged. It really is one of the most magical moments of your life. But take a step back and enjoy the moment and try to control the impulse to let your bridal brain take over. Think about the type of wedding you’d like to have, talk with your fiance and family about their feelings around the wedding, consider hiring a wedding planner who can help you settle on a theme and draw up a design for you and allocate your budget in the right places. Just take it one step at a time. It’s an awesome time in your life and it’s a lot of fun but I’d like to save you some of the headaches I know a lot of brides experience when the buzz of the initial bridal brain rush wears off. But hey- at least you’ll have your teddy bear in a wedding dress to offer you some comfort when you have to tell your Mom you hate your wedding dress and want a new one… KIDDING!
As I mentioned, I have “unplugged” for a week and am chilling out. I find this to be a very important part of life. Stress levels rise, tempers flare and that interferes with work, everyday life and yes, even wedding planning. Europe seems to agree with me as they give a standard 4 weeks of paid vacation time. North America however sits at the lowest amount of vacation time in the “civilized” world…no wonder we’re all going slowly nuts! Getting away doesn’t mean you have to take a big trip, just get away from the everyday, leave the cellphone and the laptop at home and just bugger off and relax. Hey, you can even take your fiancé if you like.
But Honey…Johnny Depp Has One!
Ah the private island, the ultimate getaway, even movie stars know the importance of getting away…they have more cash so they can actually buy an island to take off to. Not something we can do, but it’s nice to dream right? My point is, these people may only work 4 months of the year, 8 tops (Some “stars” don’t even seem to work, if eating lunch at the Ivy & partying the night away is work, I’m still waiting for my paycheque) But once the work is done, they take off and chill out to recharge their batteries and get ready for the next film or whatever they have going on. So you can’t buy your own island, no worries there are plenty out there for you. Take a week, or even a 3 or 4 day weekend and head off to an island of your choice. Unplug, relax and get your head back on straight so you can come back all ready to go ahead with the planning of your wedding, remember…the planning is supposed to be fun.
Cabin Fever
When I lived in Toronto we used to head up to Muskoka almost every weekend, fondly named “cottage country” by the locals this was a great place to unwind after a week at work. It was a 3 hour drive from my place so it wasn’t that bad of a commute. I loved it because we didn’t have a computer, there was no phone and you didn’t have to drive anywhere so that was great (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). The atmosphere was super chill, cause…well it’s a cottage and sitting in the sun or early morning fishing made you forget all the troubles and emails at the office. What I’m saying is this, you don’t have to take off for a week to a deserted island, you can make a quick trip out of the city to get your peace and quiet.
Grab Your Time Whenever Possible
It’s important to take your time wherever you can. If hanging out with the boys relaxes you, head to the pub and catch the UFC fight. It happens once a month and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. I find sitting in the tattoo chair relaxing, yes I know it’s a cliché but it honestly relaxes me. Go to the spa for a couples massage or just go out for the day and top it off with a nice dinner. Just don’t talk about the wedding or work or anything that stresses you out. I know guys who love to fish, so once a week, off they go. Golfing as well, unless you play like me then it has the opposite effect. Even getting out with the guys and hittin’ a few balls at the range can take the edge off. Feel free to vent a bit but don’t go overboard and raise that stress level…
Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice
Stress is a killer, countless studies have proven this, plus it messes with your hair line and that’s no good either. With work, bills, everyday life, hell…even the commute to work can be a pig and now you have to listen to your bride drone on about the wedding your nerves may start to feel like frayed electrical cables. It’s important to get away, switch off the brain and get back to your ice cave and penguins happy place.
You don’t have to spend a ton of cash, save that for the honeymoon. If it’s in the budget to head off to Mexico for the weekend then great, but if it’s not just decide what chills you out and book it into your schedule. I recommend securing the time in your calendar so no one books something else for you in that time, there’s nothing worse than booking a tee time and then finding out your fiancé wants you to go meet with the florist.
In the past I have just waited till my wife has gone to bed, poured myself a nice drink and sat in the dark and watched a movie I wanted to watch…just remember to keep the sound down so you don’t wake her up. We all get stressed, the trick is knowing how to control it…and knowing is half the battle.
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.”
Right now I’m probably sitting at the end of the dock at Uncle Bills remote fishing lodge in British Columbia, no internet, no cell service and pretty much no stress. It’s always important to take some time for yourself to recharge your batteries and get your mind right again. Sure I travel a lot, but that is mostly for business and it just isn’t that relaxing. So I decided to take the top off the Jeep, grab my wife and 2 dogs and head out for a week to relax before I come back and dive into a very busy wedding time. We’ve been really busy this year and it shows no sign of slowing down. So right now, it’s just me, the lake and my beer and clamato juice baby.
On a rather exciting note I was asked to speak at the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada’s annual conference. I will be speaking on how to bring the Rockstar style to your décor and Groom Styling. I’m pretty stoked for this event…did I mention it’s in Turks & Caicos and it takes place in November, the perfect time to head to the islands. Guess I should start working on my presentation.
If you want to take the edge off the wedding planning process, I’m here for you dude, click here to schedule a free consultation.
I love Twitter! It kills so much time and makes me feel important (I have 600 or so followers, not that big of a deal, my wife has over 1500 and some folks have a million plus) I tell people all the little things I do during my day and I pretend they care. But Twitter is good for so much more…I hooked up with http://www.themanregistry.comon Twitter a little while ago and they asked me to be their Wedding Planner Groom expert. I love getting the Grooms involved in the planning process and so do these guys. Their site is dedicated to the Groom and all his needs. So I sifted through a bunch of old emails from my Grooms and put together some Q & A stuff for the site, you can check it out here.
Free E-Book To Help You Find The Perfect Photographer
I got a message from Peter Doyle of www.storyboardlife.com, a photographer in Atlanta. He had written an E-book on how to choose the perfect photographer for your wedding and he wanted me to read it. Well I did! And I can tell you, I wish all the vendors out there had the balls to write one of these little books. It’s a short read but it’s packed with helpful tips on sifting through all the photographers out there and finding the one that works with you. It is honest and he even includes worksheets for your notes.
Photography is a big part of the wedding day and if your photog doesn’t click with you then that could spell DISASTER…I know Brides & Grooms who hate their photos but admit they didn’t really know what to look for or what questions to ask when they were looking for a photographer. This book walks you through the search step by step.
Click here to download your copy of How To Find A Wedding Photographer.
Sitting here in Cayman, I got to thinking about beach weddings and how you can still have a ton of style no matter where you choose to get married. I would suggest staying away from the tuxedo though, as beaches are known to bit quite warm and standing out there in a black tux with your bow tie may be a bit much. But never fear, there are plenty of alternatives; I have chosen to talk about 3 to start you thinking.
It’s A Casual Beach Party With A Wedding Thrown In
Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with this, your wedding…your style! For a simple beach wedding most guys go for the white short sleeved shirt and khaki shorts, well the wedding is simple but your style doesn’t have to be. If you want to stick with a white shirt you can, but style it up a notch. Instead of a plain shirt head over to www.englishlaundry.com and take a look at what they offer. Short or long sleeved, these shirts will add style to any event. For the shorts, chuck the boring khakis and maybe try a pattern, if you can, get a cool pair of shorts with a pattern (can even be a simple check or plaid design) that match your wedding colors. Grab a funky pair of cargo shorts and keep the rings in one of the many pockets, maybe put some other surprises in there you can pull out during the ceremony. Please stay away from the “man-pri’s” though. Yeah you know what I’m talking about.
Oh Yeah! That’s Been Done
Khaki pants with a shirt, jacket and maybe a tie. Wow how original. Yeah, I get down on khaki stuff. Why you ask? Well because it’s been done. I have seen countless pictures of beach weddings and for the most part they all have one thing in common. Khaki pants and some sort of shirt. You don’t want your wedding to look like everyone else’s so put a little thought into it yeah. I’m not meaning to offend anyone here but you have so many other choices. A light grey suit, you don’t have to wear the jacket, if you go with a tie, don’t tie it tight, unbutton that top button and wear the tie casual. I like a double Windsor knot for effect (it’s bigger…”that’s what she said”) Get the tie in your wedding color, your bride will love that you thought of that little detail. Instead of the jacket, wear a vest. They are classic and in being so never go out of style. I was chatting with a groom the other day and he is getting married in Jamaica, we discussed a few choices and he settled on the one he felt comfortable with…I can’t wait to see the pictures, and by the way Congratulations Chris.
Takin’ It All Up A Notch
If you want to go all out, get a slim fitting white suit. Hell, get the jacket with tails if you like. It’ll look amazing and you won’t be super hot in the sun. Outfit your groomsmen in light grey and those pictures will look stunning. You and your bride in white with the color pop of the tropical ocean behind you. Wow dude…that’s a keeper! Tails are often over looked when choosing a suit and granted, they are not for everyone but if you can pull off the style you’ll have the whole island talking about your wedding. You can also go with the funk, I love this jacket but my wife is not a fan so if you do want to funk it up, I suggest letting your fiancé know your plans
Simon’s Gutsy Groom Advice
The beach is a simple place, add some style to it, make those heads turn and the people talk. Do as much as you feel comfortable with but don’t push it. You need to feel good and be secure in your wedding attire or you will feel out of place all day and that sucks! Shoes are also a really cool way to add style to your beach wedding, but don’t get me started on shoes.
Hats are always good for a beach, but get a nice one, and I suggest if you’re getting your wedding party hats, get your guys ones that match but are different than yours. A set of sunglasses for your guys also makes a great gift. Place some coolers around with ice and water in them for your guests and have your best man hang onto a bottle for you just in case. Always make sure you have a pocket for Kleenex in case you need to rescue your bride from some tears and be careful putting the ring on her, the warm weather makes fingers swell, don’t jam it on there.
You can do pretty much anything on the beach, book a nude beach and have an au natural wedding if that’s what you want…but make sure it’s a nude beach first ok guys! If that’s not your thing, wear a black bow tie and crisp white Speedo, the choices are up to you. I will leave you with this one chunk of advice, no matter what color the suit, the shoes should always match the belt…
Brown shoes + white suit + a shirt= A BROWN BELT!
She Says: I think this is a really fun way for the bridal party to get down the aisle and it obviously gave the guests quite a laugh. I wish that the bride had a more elaborate dance. I felt like the bridal party was all so great but that her dance was just so so. I wonder if they told the minister that they were going to do this. I wonder if their parents knew. It would have been awesome if her Dad danced her down the aisle. But I’m no great dancer (unless it’s line dancing) so I give kudos for all involved for rocking it out.
He Says: Yeah it was kinda cute. Not sure it was appropriate in the church, maybe better for the reception entrance. But if the bride and groom and minister type person was cool with it…then it’s all good. I love it when the couples personalities really come thru in the wedding. I do agree with Ciara that it would have been cool if the father of the bride danced her down the aisle, he could have had a dance off with the Groom before giving her away.
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!
By Ciara Daykin
Weddings are such a joyful time in our lives filled with the presence of all those we love around us. But unfortunately, some of your loved ones may have passed on and will not be at your wedding. As your wedding day approaches you may be wondering how you can acknowledge the difference that person made in your life at your wedding.
Joyful Memorials At Your Wedding
I want to share with you some of the subtle and not so subtle ways that you can include the memory of your loved ones in your wedding day. After all, your wedding is a joyful day meant to be a celebration and your deceased loved ones wouldn’t want the focus to shift from you to them. But I know that they would appreciate that you took the time to honor them.
Here Are 5 Wedding Memorial Ideas:
1) Something Old- When it comes to picking your something old, something new why don’t you ask your parents if there is a piece of jewelry that was special to your Grandmother that you can wear on your wedding day.
2) Include Them In Your Prayers- Weddings often do have a spiritual side to them and in religious ceremonies such as a Catholic Mass, Prayers of the Faithful are read. This is a good time to remember and pray for any of your loved ones that have passed away. They can also be acknowledged in the ceremony program.
3) Carry Them With You- One of my favorite things to do for anyone who has had a particular a parent pass away before their wedding is to create a charm that we weave into their bridal bouquet. I simply laminate a small coin sized picture of the loved one and then affix it to a piece of felt (usually blue) then I attach a ribbon so that it becomes a bouquet charm. Another nice for brides to do is to wrap the base of their bouquet with a vintage handkerchief that belonged to their Grandfather.
4) Give Them Their Own Table- You can also set up a memorial table with pictures of your loved ones and have some candles lit there for them. Then your guests can go by and remember them. I like when a bride makes a shadow box so that there is a picture of their Mother but then also a pressed flower from her bridal bouquet.
5) Make It Subtle- Perhaps your friend had a favorite song that she loved to play while you were driving in the car, you could play that as you walk down the aisle. Maybe you always said to your Dad you’d dance to a certain song together but instead you and your Mom could dance together (hey- why not?!).
6) Celebrate Their Traditions- Maybe there was a poem that your favorite Great Uncle always read at family functions, have one of his son’s read it at your wedding. Maybe you can wear your Grandmother’s dress just like Elizabeth in Lynn Johnston’s For Better For Worse comic I’ve posted here for you. Think of a way that you can honor the traditions that were important to those who have passed at your wedding.
Ciara’s Bridal Advice
Remembering those we’ve lost during our wedding isn’t meant to be a depressing affair. Life’s cycles continue, that’s what weddings are all about, another stepping stone in our great life path. Don’t ignore the feelings that you have around your deceased loved ones not being a part of your wedding. Instead honor your loved ones in a way that will have special meaning to you and keep their memory alive.
I’m home from Grand Cayman after an amazing experience at Engage’09, a luxury wedding business summit. I met so many amazing people like Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings, Randy Fenoli the Fashion Director of Kleinfelds, the cake artist to the stars Sylvia Weinstock, Abby Larson blogger extraordinaire of StyleMePretty.com and so many more. It was truly an honor to be with the crème de la crème of the wedding industry and to be the only Western Canadian company represented and one of only 2 Canadian companies in attendance.
But as you’ll see below… We’ve expanded! We’ve opened an office in Beverly Hills, California and we are taking on clients in the Los Angeles area. I’ve been getting requests for a long time to do weddings and events outside of Calgary and with our new LA office this is a reality. Having our LA Division Manager, Annette Hoegner on the ground in LA to scope out the wedding scene for me has been invaluable. She’s awesome! In her first week she even went to the Young Hollywood Awards. We’re having a launch party in LA in September and I’m super excited and of course I’ll share all the details with you first.
Simon and I have really enjoyed being away together (we worked in a little Seadooing and snorkeling in Cayman) and we came up with some great ideas together. The fact is, that we plan our client’s weddings together. The different energy we both bring to the table makes our clients unlike any other wedding. They are truly special and a work of art. That’s why we’re really stepping up to bring that energy to all brides and grooms planning their wedding through our newly redesigned SheAndHePlanWeddings.com blog. Our blog brings you the she said, he said perspective on weddings. And like you and your groom, we don’t always agree. So make sure you check it out with your groom because our motto is… “Plan it Together.”
We just completed an amazing Midsummer Night’s Dream wedding at the Calgary Fairmont Palliser this weekend and it was amazing. The bride was overwhelmed by the transformation of the room and she and her groom had a fantastic night. I’m so glad. On the other side of town, another bride and groom had a fantastic day as well. We helped grant a wish to a lucky couple through Vibe 98.5FM in Calgary. This couple had been living in a shelter with their 4 kids and they had recently gotten engaged. A letter had been sent into the radio station about them and I helped grant their wish for an amazing wedding day. I rallied the Calgary wedding industry and they totally came through with much generosity and love. I want to thank everyone who helped put together this wedding by acknowledging them here:
Linens & Rentals: Great Event Rentals- Whenever I need cool rental items, great linens or a fab tent, I call on Great Event Rentals. Monica and her team there rock and they have been so generous with their assistance with this wedding.
Bridal Flowers: Mandala Floral- Mallory is a true artist. She always wows my clients with ideas and did she ever wow this couple. When the bride saw her bouquet she was floored.
Photographer: Cory Tomlinson Photography- The power of Twitter was proven when I tweeted about this wedding and Cory tweeted back saying he would do it. He gave the couple a day in the limelight that they will never forget, even producing a print of the couple in time for the reception (and providing us with the picture aove!) His photos are great and his heart is big!
Dress: Beautiful Bride- Simone is the owner of Beautiful Bride and she’s an angel on earth. I looked high and low for a wedding dress for our bride with no luck and Simone came in during her vacation to donate a wedding dress to this cause. She really came through and is an asset to all brides looking for their wedding gown.
Tux: Bridal Centre- Peter and the team at the Bridal Centre are great friends. We refer all our grooms into their expert hands. Our groom for this wedding said that he felt like James Bond in his tux and that truly touched my heart.
Caterer: Savour Food- Carla and her husband at Savour Food didn’t have to be asked twice when I told her about this couple in need. They jumped at the chance to help. She is such a sweetheart and a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen! She made so many delicious items and they looked too good to eat (but of course, I ate, and ooooohhhh it was good!)
DJ: Prism Sound- Cam has been with us since the beginning and we adore him. Simon and I hired Cam to DJ our wedding and he has been a staple at our functions ever since. I can tell you how great Cam is by telling you what he’s not- a cheeseball, a DJ that likes to hear himself talk, a DJ that doesn’t read the crowd- Cam is always the utmost professional and I can always trust him to play what the crowd wants and have them chanting for more (seriously, that happened at one of our weddings with him “One More Song, One More Song”).
Hair/ Makeup: Pink Lime Salon- Bassem and his team at Pink Lime Salon are the type of people that you just want to put in your purse and take everywhere with you. They are so kind and generous and just make you feel like a queen, and I know that they did that for our bride on her wedding day. It was an experience that she’d never had before and they made both her and her young daughters feel like royalty when they did their hair and makeup.
And I have to give a shout out to Colleen at Central United Church who’s always a friend to brides and wedding planners and Marlene at the Albert Park Community Center who made us feel so welcome. To Jennifer at Inn from the Cold who wrote the letter to Vibe 98.5FM. To Dani and the whole morning crew at Vibe 98.5FM- thanks for thinking of us to be involved. And to our wonderful bride and groom, Edna and Kevin and their 4 kids… Thank you for having us be a part of this magical day with you. We’re so happy that you had the wedding of your dreams.
Sorry I have been MIA for awhile, I know I didn’t get an E-zine out last issue…I’m sure you all couldn’t sleep because of it. It has been a bittersweet few weeks around here. We had a great time in Cayman for the Engage 09 Summit, I met a ton of great people and got so many new ideas I’m looking forward to bringing to both my Grooms and their Brides, truly an amazing experience, can’t wait to see what island it’s on next year!
Sadly the following week I had to make an impromptu visit to Toronto to see my Grandmother, she has been sick for awhile (she was 92) and the doctors had told us it was nearing the end. I got back, spent 4 days with her and we said our goodbyes. I came home and the following week she passed away quietly with my mother and sister at her side (The 3 generations…as my mum called it). I am now heading back to Toronto to attend the funeral. Having my Grandmother be a part of my wedding was very special to me and I have all the photos from that day to remember her by, plus much, much more.
Also last weekend we had our Midsummer Night’s Dream wedding, I can tell you it was simply stunning, the Bride broke into tears when we showed her the space for the first time…yup, real tears! We really out did ourselves on this one, from the crystal backdrop behind the head table to the 8’ fountain in the center of the dance floor…this really was one of my favorite wedding designs.
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
