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The great thing about photographers is that they have an amazing eye and are able to envision how awesome a photo could look. What may look like a dumpster to you is about to become a masterpiece under their direction.
Photographers know all the hidden gems in your area. Some of the trends for outdoor photo’s have been Alleyways, Junkyards, Football bleachers/Sports fields, Amusement Parks or Stampede Grounds.
To optimize your time between ceremony and reception, take advantage of the scenery around you, if there is a lake nearby, be sure to hope in a canoe and take your photographer with you.
Always have great indoor locations as well in case of rain, wind or cold weather. We’ve seen some extraordinarily cute photo’s of brides and grooms taken in coffee shops, malls and restaurants as well!
Photo Credit: www.perphoto.com
Being called a “blushing bride” may not mean you look excited, but rather embarrassed if your hair or make-up is out of place. Save yourself from feeling insecure on your wedding day with these tips.
It is well known that feeling good on the inside is greatly influenced by feeling good about the outside. The one day where all eyes are on you can be a scary thought, but do not fear dear brides! As most brides begin their journey to the altar they begin to feel self conscious. To nip this in the bud start with fitness classes and regular exercise in the months leading to your wedding. By doing so, you will feel confident, trim and full of energy.
Along with regular activity, a healthy diet will help your skin to avoid breakouts and your mood to stay positive while dropping some unwanted pounds. In the two to three weeks before your wedding try to avoid salt, sodas, white breads and starches. These foods will leave you feeling bloated and sluggish.
Fresh fruit, vegetables and buckets of water are the best way to feel good on the inside. As for the outside, the best place to start is with a little T.L.C. One to two weeks prior to your wedding we recommend taking some time to relieve your stress and hit the spa. Stress is an ugly monster which will not be making an appearance at your wedding!
When you are choosing a spa service be sure it is nothing too dramatic for your skin or hair. Staying natural and sticking to what you are used to will guarantee that you will be satisfied with the service.
For example, a chemical peel or facial may cause break outs and inflamed skin. Stick to a calming massage, pedicure or manicure. These services leave you feeling relaxed, your skin smooth, and of course, pretty nails.
As for your hair, it is best to wait until after your wedding to try a new style. As a stylist, I have noticed that getting a hair cut can be a dramatic experience for some. By getting a trim, also known as a “dusting”, you save yourself from the worry of something different and perhaps not what you expected when requesting a new style. Using a hair stylist you have seen before also adds to peace of mind since this stylist is most likely more aware of how your hair falls and the looks you love.
If you plan on an up do for your wedding, or even curls, a trial up do or style is the best idea. This way you know you will like the final look, if the style or curls will hold, and for how long. Also, you will not be rushing around to fix it later. Another good idea is to insure another stylist knows how the up do was done. If, cross your fingers, your stylist is unable to make it on your wedding day, the backup stylist can take over.
Hair is important, and this means ALL your hair. In my experience it is best NOT to get your brows waxed just before your big day. The risk of missing an eyebrow in photos will be something you do not want to remember. Instead, if you choose to get your brows waxed do this 4-5 weeks prior to your wedding day. This will leave you with enough time to grow out a missing brow, but will also leave a brow shape that an esthetician can follow along with using tweezers, instead of wax, when you come in for a touch up before your wedding.
As for waxing your nether regions, I would recommend if you have never had this done before and plan on it, that you have this done months prior to your wedding to ensure no uncomfortable feelings. By doing so you become fully aware of how it all “goes down” and how long of a recovery time you will need before your wedding or honeymoon. The after affects of a wax in this sensitive area can last up to a week so it is definitely something to consider.
Now that you are trim and smooth your next step is make-up. Again, a trial with a selected artist ensures they know what you are looking for and that it suits you. Trying something new with your makeup can leave you feeling uncomfortable. Stick with a look that brings out your best features, nothing too dramatic or colourful.
My favourite and most important tip would be to purchase a pair of false lashes. Try a few different styles before hand to find the one you love most. Lashes can add drama and really complete the look. You want to look yourself on your special day as those photos turn out the best. A beautiful natural glowing you is what we are aiming for.
My final advice is to have an emergency kit. If you have a wedding planner, they should have this. An emergency kit will include things like hair pins, eyelash glue, sewing kit, hair spray, cover up, tide sticks, feminine products etc. It is a sad reality but not everything goes according to plan, so be prepared.
These tips will help you to be the “blushing bride” you should be. But remember, your fiancé loves you! If a piece of your hair falls out, or a tear smears your makeup, you will still be the most stunning and perfect woman he has ever seen!
As soon as you were engaged you immediately thought back to the day you dressed up in your mom’s heels, threw on all of her sparkly jewellery and forced the boy next door to play husband in a wedding ceremony full of teddy bears and Barbie’s.
Your wedding is the day all your dreams and your imaginations can be put in to action. Brides begin choosing the colors and theme of their wedding without any hesitation. But what happened to that little boy waiting at the altar?
Brides can get caught up in the excitement of their wedding and risk forgetting that it takes two to wed. Although men may not share as openly as women, they have been dreaming of this wedding with you. It is important to remember to listen to your fiancé. Get his opinions on colors, food and décor etc.
This is as much his wedding as it is yours, and to make sure you both have a day to remember, do not forget him. Heck, you would not be here without him. Discussing each other’s wants and needs does not mean the planning process will always go smoothly. However, compromising and communication will make this experience a magical one for both parties.
Confidence is something that will make you absolutely glow even more on your wedding day. It is something that, when you walk down the aisle, will make all of your guests stop and gaze at an even more beautiful you. But what is the secret you ask? It is feeling 110% confident and comfortable in your wedding dress.
How many times have you gone out unsure of yourself in the outfit you have chosen for the day and have let it affect your mood and how you interact with others? If it’s anything like me, it’s more times than I can count!
Your wedding dress is something that you will be in for the most important moment in your life. It is something that is captured and will be looked back on for generations. You will want to show everyone your wedding pictures and if you don’t feel that your dress captured the style and confidence you were looking for on your wedding day, the feeling of wanting to hide those pictures for a lifetime will be exposed.
When you are trying on wedding dresses, wear the dress instead of the dress wearing you. Walk around to make sure it is comfortable, stare at yourself in the mirror, take pictures of yourself in the dress and view them in the store. It’s a good sign if you can’t help but crying (the happy cry!) at that gorgeous girl staring back at you.
Be absolutely sure that this is the dress and if it isn’t, there are thousands of other dresses out there just begging for you to try them on! And if you feel the dress you have doesn’t make you glow with confidence, please find a dress that does! There is nothing wrong with finding and buying a second dress – this is YOUR time to shine!
By Kylene Donaldson
Photo Credit: http://uglyweddingdress.wordpress.com/
I very distinctly remember thinking “Why would anyone get engaged for a longer period of time then it takes to plan a wedding?” Because after all, the whole purpose of an engagement is the intent to be married.
I thought it would take me 6 months to plan my wedding and therefore I would be engaged for no longer. Well, I’ve been engaged for 12 months, and it will be 13 months by our wedding date. Here’s what I’ve learnt. Being engaged is fun, you get a lot of attention and people are always wanting to know about your wedding plans.
Planning a wedding, can also be fun! Providing you leave yourself enough time to really enjoy the process. Stress develops when there seems to be too much to do in too little time. I encourage you to allow yourself the time to plan in bite sized chunks.
These things take time, for example, registering for gifts will take you about 3 hours, that’s most of your Saturday but it’s an experience you don’t want to miss. When we registered, we were brought slippers, drinks and as we walked from one department to the next, the staff all knew we were the “registry couple.”
It’s a day to be treated like a star haha. The point is, you don’t want to have to complete everything in 3 months. If you are planning a short engagement, consider planning in the off-season as your vendors schedules will be considerably more open to accommodate your schedule.
Having your wedding abroad doesn’t mean that you can’t plan the most exquisite affair. All of the resources that you need to plan your wedding at home are still available to you for a destination wedding. The secret to planning and having everything that you need for your wedding day is to use online resources.
Most companies now have all of their information, pictures, testimonials, rentals and even some pricing on their websites for you to access at any time of the day when it most suitable for you. Taking advantage of the information on the internet is an easy method to getting what you need for your wedding.
All companies that are online have an email or a call centre where you can contact them to assist you with questions and/or ordering. The more accessible you are, the better the chance of finding out the most important information about your search, as companies may need to contact you as well to better assist your needs.
As some rental companies are on a first come first served basis with their inventory, the faster you can help them, the faster they can help you by providing exactly what you need, or offering suitable alternative solutions. By using the most that the internet has to offer, you can plan your perfect wedding just by clicking the mouse!
By Kylene Donaldson
Photo Credit: http://www.weddingdressmarket.com/instructions.php
“Où est la salle de bains?”
If you do not know the answer to this question you may need to consider language barriers when it comes to planning your out of town wedding.
When you are planning a wedding from out of town it’s important you understand the common language used in that area. Whether it’s French or Spanish, it’s important that you are aware of the common phrases and have an easy way to communicate with the people involved in your wedding.
If you truly do not know the language, taking a language class before hand or hiring a translator can solve this problem. You have to be able to clearly communicate with your vendors so your requests can be honoured properly.
Consider the chosen dialect of the guests who will be attending your wedding. If they do not speak the language that is most common where your wedding is held you will need to help them in order for them to feel comfortable. Putting together a language book of common and needed phrases can make it easier for your guests.
For example, your guests will need to know how to ask for directions to the washroom or request a glass of water. If you do not know the language well enough to create your own booklets, you can purchase some from a book store. Proper communication means everyone will enjoy themselves, including you!
We are seeing a new era of destination weddings, whether it be a Private Villa in the South of France (shoutout to Amanda from Perry Thompson Photography!) or even all of our Brides and Grooms from Australia, Boston and all across North America who plan their lovely weddings to take place here in the Rocky Mountains.
While we applaud you for thinking outside of the box with your destination wedding, travel details can become a little messy. You will need to ensure that you have a block of rooms set up for your guests which is easily reached from your venue, keep in mind many of your guests will not have cars.
Consider contacting airlines and arranging for a group rate. Some airlines will tell you that your group needs to travel together, this is a common occurrence. Westjet however, will offer you a promotional code that will give your wedding guests a discount regardless of where they are travelling from as long as it is within a set period of time.
Be sure to pass all details along to your guests, for example, Westjet will require that these bookings be made by phone through their group travel line. Do not assume that guests can book online, they cannot.
Then consider, how will your guests get from the airport to the hotel? If there is a local shuttle service, call them as well and ask for a group rate for your guests. Keep track as much as possible (we recommend the use of a spreadsheet) when your guests are arriving, departing and where they are staying.
When you are planning a wedding that involves travel details, I would suggest the use of a wedding website. It is impossible to get all of the information in your wedding invitation. Include the wedding website address on both your Save the Date as well as your invitation. Though many wedding websites do ask for payment, many have free versions such as www.ewedding.com.
I would suggest having as much of these details as possible posted online prior to sending out your save the dates. Also, give your wedding guests plenty of notice when travel is involved, allow them time to save the funds if necessary.
Bridal fairs are one of the most exciting times of the year for wedding vendors (besides your wedding, of course!). It gives them a chance to showcase their talents and meet wonderful brides and grooms with the hopes of becoming your chosen wedding vendor. But how does this benefit you?
This is a perfect opportunity to meet a lot of wedding vendors in your city all in one day. You have the change to meet with vendors and ask any questions that you have about their services and how they would help make your wedding just what you imagined.
You can see if you have good chemistry with your potential vendor which is very important as you will be working closely with them over the planning process. It is a great chance to see some of their product without having to travel to their office, which can save you a lot of time.
Vendors pay a fee to enter in the bridal fairs so it shows that they are committed to their business, which is a great sign that they will go above and beyond for your wedding. Bridal fairs are usually open about 6 hours, so plan ahead and make sure to make time to see all of the vendors that catch your wedding eye!
By Kylene Donaldson
Photo Credit: http://news.myjoyonline.com/admin/news/pix.asp?phototitle=B&offset=520
There are many online resources available to help you find vendors in your area.
If you are a fan of a specific wedding blog, such as stylemepretty.com, check out their list of preferred vendors to see who they recommend in your area. Firefly Occasions Inc. can be found in their little black book.
You can also check such sites as WeddingWire.com, WeddingBells.ca or WeddingBee.com. Many of these wedding websites will offer forums where you can interact with other brides and grooms in your area and find out which vendors they have found.
Many vendors have affiliated themselves with other vendors as well, for example, does your photographer list recommendations of vendors for other aspects of your wedding on their website?
It’s easy to Google a vendor in your area, however, I would recommend only hiring a vendor that you have either heard good things about or seen in action. Consider asking for a client testimonial if you are unsure about the vendor. It’s easy for a business to disguise itself online, it’s like Brad Paisley’s song: I’m So Much Cooler Online. Don’t allow yourself to be fooled by a nicely designed website, vendors will often use stock photography and try to pull it off as their own. Arrange for in person meetings before signing any contract if at all possible.
There are many options for great vendor’s out there that can help make your day special. One way of finding the best one for your wedding is to talk with your Wedding planner. Your planner can eliminate a lot of time in the research process.
They know the style and theme of your wedding and can look through their list of trusted vendors to find one that fits best with what you are hoping to achieve, and what budget you are aiming to keep.
You still have the option of making the final decision but this eliminates a lot of the leg work on vendors that may not suit your needs. As well, the planner has developed a vendor to planner relationship. They are fully aware of the vendor’s work ethic, professionalism and quality of the service. In return the vendor knows the process and expectations the planner has since they have done prior work together.
Another consideration is in regards to rentals. The Brides and Grooms of Firefly Occasions are offered a signature line of décor which is not available to anyone else, nor can it be found in Canada. This type of treatment means your wedding can be unique. The best vendor is one that is tried and true; your wedding planner can find this for you.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to be present at your wedding. Allow yourself to enjoy the company of the friends and relatives you have so carefully selected to be with you on this very special day.
Of course, it is much easier to spend your time with friends and family if you have someone else taking care of the important details.
Here are some suggestions to help you:
1) Create a floor plan that allows you to be interactive through your wedding dinner. For example, at a traditional style head table, you can only speak to the bridal party members on either side of you. Consider having your wedding party arranged around a large rectangular table, this allows you to engage in conversation with the whole table.
2) Limit the number of wedding speeches and how long each speech can last for, this will not only keep the night flowing smoothly but allows you extra time to visit with your friends once all the formalities are over.
3) Be present at your own cocktail hour if possible. This is prime time for you to socialize with your guests. Many of them have made special arrangements to be there and many special family members such as grandparents will likely head off to bed by the time you get your next chance to mingle. Enjoy this hour of relaxation with friends, hors d’oeuvres and wine, why not be a part of the wonderful party you are throwing!
There is so much going on during your wedding day. Between the ceremony, the photos, the kissing, the mingling and reminiscing with family and friends, it’s easy to forget to do one very important thing: eat and drink water.
Keeping your blood sugar up and staying hydrated is one surefire way to keep your energy and your mood high on your very busy wedding day. If you make time in your day for a glass of water and a quick bite you’ll last well into the night and be able to dance with your bridesmaids and groomsmen instead of binge eating your wedding cake.
Pack a picnic basket for your wedding day full of bottled water, juice boxes and your favorite healthy snacks such as granola bars, protein bars, fruit, cheese, crackers and even sandwiches. A great time to fuel up is right after the wedding ceremony (as you were probably too nervous to eat before!) and on your way to different wedding photo shoots locations.
Giving your energy a boost before wedding photos will also prevent any glossy or droopy eyed photos because the hunger has overtaken your body! And with your picnic basket in tow, it is a great prop for some very cute bride and groom photos!
“Here comes the Bride, all dressed in white” but did you notice the details??? When you’re standing up at the altar and your Bride comes through those doors, make sure you commit all those details to memory.
Trust me, she will ask you how she looked later and you better have a great answer. You don’t want to have to take a step back, give her the old up and down and then, in true guy fashion say…”sure babe, ya look great”…No, no, no…you’ll need a better answer than that my friend.
When your bride begins her walk down that aisle, lock eyes with her, smile, maybe give her a wink. Then as she starts to walk, she should be looking over the crowd and that gives you a great opportunity to commit as many details to memory as possible to use later.
I suggest starting at the top, the veil, tiara or head piece, you can stare at her cause she’s looking at the guests and trying not to cry. Make note of the dress, the earrings, is she wearing a necklace? Got that memorized? Great, now work your way down…what kind of neckline does the dress have? Sleeves, no sleeves? By the time your bride has made her way to you, you should be able to recall every single little detail on that dress…and a quick bit of advice if I may…as soon as her Father has passed her hand to you, tell her how beautiful she looks.
Later in the evening when she asks you what you like best about her dress, you’ll have all the details stored in your brain and you can tell her exactly what you liked about the dress and how stunning she looked in her strapless, mermaid cut, lace trimmed dress with chandelier earrings and so on. It will make her feel so good to know that you have committed exactly how she looked on your wedding day to memory.
One of the top ways to stay stress free on your wedding day is to delegate wedding day responsibilities. By doing so, you relieve you and your spouse to be from a lot of the tasks of the wedding.
Who is going to set up and tear down your wedding? It can be a huge request to ask a friend or family member to set up and tear down your wedding. Keep in mind, that set up and tear down often has to be done in the same day. If you hire someone for this task, your family member or friend can truly be a guest at your wedding.
Wedding Vendors Always Have Questions- On the day of your wedding vendors will be coming in and out of the venue and need a contact for emergencies. The last thing you need is the stress of a vendor calling you with a problem.
The best way to delegate is to hire a wedding planner.
A wedding planner will create and enforce a timeline for the day. A wedding planner has experience dealing with unexpected events. Having the vendor contact your wedding planner instead can help you to fully enjoy your day. Weddings can have many different activities and locations as well. In these cases the planner can refer to the timeline that was made and co-ordinate guests so all your special moments run smoothly.
It’s your day to shine and be a guest at your own wedding. By playing host and coordinator for the day you risk missing out on the special commitment you are making. Delegating your day means bridal bliss.
By Britney Golaney
Photo Credit: http://www.lynchburgeventplanner.com/
