First Look vs Aisle Reveal: Which is Better?

What is the difference between a first look and an aisle reveal?

 A “first look” is when couples see each other before the wedding ceremony. On the other hand, an “aisle look” is when couples first see each other walking down the aisle.

First Look

This is a  moment for just the couple, before the ceremony, typically alone and away from guests, family or wedding parties. It is often a very intimate, emotional and beautiful moment between the couple and captured at a distance from their photographer and videographer. This moment allows couples to connect, share their excitement and be together without distractions. Some couples prefer this approach because it allows them to calm nerves, exchange personal vows, and have some quiet time together before the hustle and bustle of the ceremony and reception.

When you have a first look, you have a lot more freedom in your wedding day timeline. Couples have the ability to take their first look, wedding photos, couple portraits and photos with their wedding party all before the ceremony. Depending on how large your family is, couples can also do all of their family photos before the ceremony. What this means, is by the time your wedding ceremony comes around, the “work” is over. When you get photos done before the ceremony, you can head straight to cocktail hour. This way, you get to enjoy more time with your guests! This advantage alone is enough to make more traditional couples reconsider a first look.

And, we’ve heard from our clients that even with a first look, the moment of seeing each other as they walked down the aisle to each other was still just as special and emotional, just a little less nerve wracking.

Aisle Look

This is the more traditional approach where the couple see each other for the first time as one of them walks down the aisle during the ceremony. This moment is typically more public, with all of the guests witnessing the reaction of the couple as they see each other. It holds a special significance in many cultures and is often considered a highlight of the ceremony itself.

If not planning on seeing each other before the ceremony, couples often opt for an in-between: some will hold hands, or say a hello with a wall between to still have a moment together, without seeing one another. Don’t be afraid to find something “in-between” that works for you.

The biggest thing to consider for your timeline when staying traditional and doing an “aisle look” is leaving enough time after the ceremony to complete photos. Couples portraits, wedding party photos and family photos all need to be completed after the ceremony and may impact a couple’s ability to attend cocktail hour before the main reception. This is all do-able, and an experienced planner and photographer can make all of this happen without extending your cocktail hour too long. 

As planners, we always start this conversation with couples with how relaxed they want to be that day, or how nervous they feel they will be. An “aisle look” can leave the day feeling a bit more rushed than a first look timeline, but it is always up to the couple what they’d prefer - there truly is no wrong answer!

To conclude, a wedding day should be a reflection of a couple’s unique vision, where they feel most comfortable and authentic. Ultimately, it is about creating a day that aligns with their dreams and allows them to celebrate their love exactly as they envision it! And a great planner will help achieve this, no matter what “look” you pick!

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Ravine Vineyard Wedding Ceremony and Reception

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a quaint little town on the Canadian-American border famous for its wine production and breathtaking landscapes. Of the many gorgeous wineries available for wedding ceremonies and receptions, Ravine Vineyard made the perfect backdrop for their celebration.

They started their day getting ready at Queen’s Landing, a beautiful Georgian-style hotel where they did their first look followed by an intimate, more casual wedding ceremony in their suite with their nearest and dearest. Post-ceremony, they made their way to Ravine Vineyard, a short drive away where the rest of their guests joined them for a more formal ceremony mixing both Canadian and Persian wedding ceremony traditions. A beautiful way to symbolize their coming together.

Post-ceremony, guests mingled on the outdoor terrace and wandered the vineyard. The reception took place in the gorgeous light-filled modern industrial reception space overlooking the vineyards.

The team for this Ravine Vineyard wedding included Morning Light Photography, Bloom and Co., Set the Mood Decor, Paper Palette, Hair by Holly S, By Christie, and Sound of Harmony.

100th Birthday Celebration in Oakville, Ontario

My grandmother-in-law reached her 100th birthday in July of last year and as a family, we came together to celebrate her with a beautiful dinner! Her kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were all in attendance which made for a love-filled afternoon. To know Hazel is a very special thing. She is sweet, thoughtful, cheerful and leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets. I can say with certainty that she is very much loved even by those who have only met her once.

A local favourite, Special Event Rentals, provided all of the linens, plates, glassware, and chairs, and my brother-in-law, a wonderful chef, prepared a delicious dinner.

A backyard celebration wouldn’t have been the same without the typical weather challenges and right as we had the last glass set, a quick furious rainstorm was on the horizon which meant we had to quickly take it all down and reset after it had moved through! What a journey.

A huge thank you to Kevin at Morning Light Photography for capturing all the details and some incredible family portraits! We’re very grateful for all of those who made the day wonderful for our beautiful Hazel!

Governors Room at Ancaster Mill | A Fun, Whimsical Pastel Wedding

If you’ve seen Ancaster Mill wedding photos before you’ll probably have noticed the interiors are very heavy with wood and a little bit rustic with original stonework showcased in different areas. It’s been fun to have had the opportunity to work on a few weddings in all of the Ancaster Mill’s reception spaces as they’re each so different. Even the outside looks so different through various times of the year with the beautifully maintained grounds.

While I’m certainly a lover of colourful wedding palettes, it’s always been more on a warmer or summery palette this one felt really special as Chey and Neil wanted to go more pastel. and whimsical, something that was a little unfamiliar to me! Being a designer herself, Chey came with strong ideas that were fun to help her develop further and bring to life, creating a wedding design that is romantic, elegant, and soft, with a refined yet whimsical charm. She designed all of the invitations and wedding day stationery even making custom enamel pins for her guests as the cutest wedding favours as a nod to her business, Sugarbones.

Chey’s dress was "Phoenix" by Enzoani, a lace wedding gown with custom sleeves and a long, flowing veil, giving her a timeless and ethereal look. Her bouquet and all the reception florals featured pastel hues with a mix of peach, blush, soft blue, and cream flowers, adding a delicate and romantic touch.

The tablescape design had a simple white linen base which allowed the colourful florals and blue candles to pop. We had even more fun with the place settings with the four different coloured water glasses that allowed the eye to keep moving around the room. The scalloped edge menus and place cards were the cutest trendy element that somehow felt right at home and timeless with her style.

Service: Design and Management

Photographer Christine Lim Weddings
Venue Ancaster Mill
Tabletop Rentals Special Event Rentals
Florals Kendon Design Co.
Beauty Jen Evoy
Cake Cake and Kale
Dress Designer "Phoenix" by Enzoani
Dress Shop Heirlooms Bridal Shoppe
Suit Speir and Mackay

An Introduction to Wedding Stationery

Save the Date

From the moment you say “I DO” to your venue, you can let guests know the date! Having a Save the Date is not always necessary, you can skip straight to an invitation, but it’s a fun way to announce your celebration, while also giving guests key information to lock it into their calendars.

Save the Dates can be either printed or mailed, whichever suits your budget or the method by which you hope to collect information. Online save the dates are great because you can ask for mailing addresses if doing a printed invitation (more on that later!) and you can also direct guests to a wedding website right away with any other general details you wish to share at that time.

The Invitation

Online versus printed wedding invitations - a tale as old as time. We love both, and they both come with pros and cons that all can be weighed by the couple’s needs, wants or vision for their day. There is no right or wrong answer - just your personal preference! Here are some pros and cons of online and printed invitations!

Cost-Effective & Eco-Friendly, but Limited Design & Personalization

Having an online invitation means no printing costs and no traditional postage costs. And of course, no hassle with the mail system! It also means you are reducing your impact on the environment from paper to carbon footprint with delivery implications, which is a huge factor for many couples. However, often using online invitation websites or platforms can limit your ability to add some key personal touches, or design your invitation to its fullest. Some websites allow you to upload your pre-designed image, but not always. Some websites also have digital postage fees for sending out your invitation so it’s something to keep in mind.. Physical invitations also can hold sentimental value and lots of guests treasure them, hold on to them, or frame them to keep them. 

Convenient, but maybe too convenient

Online invitations are convenient - your guests get them instantly to their email inbox, with no hassle or waiting for print shops, mail systems or delivery. Online is easy to access, and you can get instant responses from your guests, as many online systems include immediate RSVP options. However, online invitations can sometimes get missed in an email inbox, end up in someone’s spam box or a guest may have already unsubscribed from the platform you’re using, eliminating some of the efficiency perks of the site. It can also be too convenient in the ability to respond right away, that some guests might put it off and cause a delay.

Couples also sometimes comment that online invitations reduce the feeling of exclusivity, or an ability to represent them as a couple. Having a printed version often achieves just this, which is why it can be such a popular option.

Having a mailed invitation, while a tangible memory, is also exciting - who doesn’t love getting a beautiful envelope addressed to them!? In a technology-focused world, it is so nice sometimes to receive a hard copy of something, personalized to the guest from the couple. Though slower, receiving a printed invitation is always worth it. 

Easy to Share, Quick to Update but only if Guests are Tech-Savvy

Online invitations are easy to update, revise, change, etc. and often have message broadcasting services on the back end, making it easy to communicate with your guests should there be a major change to your wedding day. They also can embed an RSVP option, which is then tracked on the back end in a seamless online, exported document.

On the flip side, some of your guests may not be tech-savvy or unfamiliar with the digital tools, causing them to struggle to access the information you're providing. Or, if someone lives abroad or in a remote area, online access may be limited which leaves them unable to respond in the time you’d like them to. Some guests may also have privacy concerns, or not feel comfortable using an online system.

A common compromise? Having a dual system - the majority of your guests receive an online invitation, while select guests, or older guests, receive a printed version to either be mailed or hand-delivered by the couple themselves. Having Trouble Hearing Back from Vendors

In the beginning, give them grace. A lot of vendors spend a lot of time working outside their emails, especially during a busy wedding season! Monday is our Sunday! However, if you are consistently not hearing back from them, politely explain that you would like more communication and provide them the opportunity to explain their work style, hours and response times.

However, before getting to this place, it is important to set these expectations early and have these conversations! We all work hard, and things can be crazy busy, but be sure to protect what you’re expecting based on details outlined in the contract.

The Day-of Signage

Welcome Sign

A welcome sign greets your guests as they arrive, and also helps as directional signage should you be somewhere that has multiple weddings, or multiple locations.

Directional Signs

Often used on private property weddings or in venues where there are multiple events happening, this helps direct guests to the various areas they need to go to during a wedding day, especially if the property is larger or there aren’t staff there to direct 

Cleland Studios, Fable Floral Design, All That’s Lovely, Harding Waterfront Estate

Will Reid Photography, Paper and Poste. University Club of Toronto

Seating Chart

The name explains itself! This sign helps guests know where they are seated. Our best advice is to sort this alphabetically by last name, so that guests can easily find their name during cocktail, or just after, before taking their seat in the main reception area. Sorting by table will slow down the time it takes guests to find their names.

Bar Signs + Signature Cocktails

Bar signs, though often venue-provided, can be a fun way to include images of furry friends or to indicate signature cocktails with a fun name! It helps to integrate an overall theme even in the bar area consistent with your other wedding branding.

Will Reid Photo, All That’s Lovely, Bloom and Co.

Mango Studios

All That’s Lovely, Cleland Studios

Napkins

A fun inclusion is personalized napkins at a wedding during cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres or at the bar. We’ve seen so many versions over the years: furry friends, quotes, couples monograms or initials, love letters couples used to write to each other, etc. The sky is the limit!

Table Numbers

As part of the overall table decor, your table numbers are a beautiful representation of the colour, vibe and theme on each guest table and help to seamlessly tie in your vision. These should be easy to read and stand out against the other decor you have on the table.

Place Cards

These handy cards indicate where guests are sitting at your table, and can be tied into your aesthetic with the menus and table numbers matching, having the same font styles, colours etc. Place cards can also be helpful to servers when a meal choice is indicated on the place card versus a menu. You can also be creative in how the meal choice is communicated - perhaps it’s a floral graphic in the bottom left corner for beef and the top right for chicken. Or if you’ve included a crest in your wedding branding, B for beef or C for chicken is subtle but clear.

Menus

A helpful tool to remind guests of what they are eating for each course, throughout the night, etc and also ties into the design of the tables and other stationery pieces. It is also helpful to personalize each menu to the guest’s meal choice, and can also have their name at the top if not doing a formal place card. This also removes any confusion with guests changing their minds on the wedding day and impacting the kitchen’s efficiency of service.

For Your Party, Christine Lim Photography

Statue Rue, Robin Sassi Photo

Christine Lim Photography, Sugarbones

Christine Lim Photography, All That's Lovely

Receiving Table 

• There are a variety of options you can have on your receiving (welcome) table to include additional signage, indicate to guests what is there, or to honour loved ones. 

• Examples include signage for: In Memoriam, Guest Book, Card Box, Gifts, Favours

In summary, wedding stationery is an essential part of wedding planning that serves both practical and emotional purposes. It not only conveys important information but also reflects your style and helps create a memorable experience for you and your guests.

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A Romantic Harding Waterfront Estate Wedding

Harding Waterfront Estate has flown a bit under the radar until the last few years when it’s making a name for itself as a great Toronto wedding venue. It’s one of only a few wedding venues with tent reception options on site which makes it an incredibly unique option.

It’s located a short drive from Toronto right on the Mississauga - Oakville border. It features a gorgeous 50 ft x 70 ft glass pavilion (3500 sq. ft) which can accommodate up to 240 guests for a seated wedding reception and a standing capacity of 500. The vaulted ceilings are a soaring 18’ high, draped in sheer fabric and adorned with 6 dimmable crystal chandeliers. Air conditioning and heating are available seasonally which is rare to find in these types of event spaces.

The grounds are immaculate with lush gardens all around. The outdoor ceremony space overlooks Joshua’s Creek and Lake Ontario is visible from the rear terrace of the estate’s main building, Bell-Gairdner House.

The flexibility within the rental period of the wedding day also lends itself well to getting ready on-site and photos on the property.

Have a scroll through the beautiful photos captured by Cleland Photographs. Florals were designed by Fable Floral Design, stationery by All That’s Lovely and linens, chairs and tabletop pieces by Simply Beautiful Decor.

A Guide to Centerpieces for Rectangular Tables

We’ve talked before about how to design a wedding tablescape and the appropriate linen sizes for different tables.

Today we want to speak specifically about best practices for rectangular tables. Creating a stunning tablescape with florals and candles requires careful planning to ensure both beauty and functionality. For a rectangular table, the width plays a crucial role in determining the layout, balance, and available space for candles and flowers while still being mindful of dinner service essentials like bread baskets, salt and pepper shakers, and other serving pieces.

Below is a guide tailored to three common table widths: 30", 36", and 40".

Understanding Table Width and Space Allocation

Each table width offers different opportunities and challenges when designing your tablescape. Keeping dinner service elements in mind will help you strike the perfect balance between elegance and practicality.

30" Wide Tables

• Best for: Intimate gatherings, smaller venues, or maximizing guest capacity.

• Considerations: With a narrower table, space is limited for large arrangements, so opt for streamlined centerpieces.

• Do’s and Don’ts:

  • Use small floral arrangements and bud vases to avoid crowding the table.

  • Use slim taper candle holders or votives to keep sightlines open.

  • Ensure space for table essentials by leaving small gaps between florals for bread baskets, salt and pepper shakers, etc.

  • Keep side plates to the left of the forks to leave room in the centre.

  • Don’t use garlands as they take up the entire centre length of the table, leaving no room for the necessities.

  • Don’t use charger plates as they will take up vital space.

36" Wide Tables

• Best for: Balanced table settings with more design flexibility.

• Considerations: Provides a good balance between ample tablescape design and service elements.

• Floral & Candle Ideas:

  • Use a variety of small to medium-sized floral arrangements staggered along the table’s center.

  • Incorporate varying heights with pillar candles, tapers, and votives to create depth and interest.

  • Leave room for communal dining items strategically between floral elements.

  • Keep side plates to the left of the forks to leave room in the centre.

  • Don’t use garlands as they take up the entire centre length of the table, leaving no room for the necessities.

40" Wide Tables

• Best for: Formal events and grand tablescapes with abundant decorative elements.

• Considerations: The extra width allows for larger statement arrangements without interfering with table settings and guest comfort.

• Floral & Candle Ideas:

  • Opt for lush, full floral centerpieces with ample space for a combination of taper and pillar candles and votives.

  • Use decorative runners or greenery garlands to create a layered effect.

Practical Tips for Incorporating Dinner Service Essentials

1. Account for Plating Needs: Ensure at least 24" of space per guest for dinnerware, glassware, and napkins.

2. Use Dual-Purpose Décor: Opt for low-profile floral arrangements that do not obstruct views or conversation. Use coloured candles to allow for design interest on the table.

3. Strategic Placement: Leave space between items so that they all have a moment to shine which also gives room for those dinner service elements. Don’t put coffee mugs and saucers on the table until coffee and tea are to be served.

4. Vary Heights for Interest: Mix taper candles, votives, and floral heights to add visual interest without overwhelming the space.

5. Mind Open Flames: If using candles, ensure they are in holders that prevent dripping wax onto the table.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right tablescape for your event depends on your table width, aesthetic vision, and practical considerations for dining service. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a grand affair, balancing florals, candles, and functional table elements will create an inviting and visually stunning experience for your guests.