Private Estate Tent Spring Bridal Shower in burlington, ontario

Lianne’s gorgeous bridal shower took place in June of 2022 under a tent in her parent’s beautiful backyard in Burlington, Ontario. Spring weather can change on a dime and will pose extra challenges for outdoor events so planning accordingly is key. We certainly lucked out with the most gorgeous weather and ran into just a little rain for about 5 minutes; thank you, Weather Gods!

Also, can you even believe we ended up in the most perfect location with the tent perfectly sitting atop the beautiful artificial grass? It made for the most incredible base for an outdoor setting.

We’ll let the images speak for themselves with all the gorgeous details from some incredible local vendors.

Photographed by Robin Sassi, tent and rentals from Special Event Rentals, florals by Sue Gallo Designs, stationery by Statue Rue, cake from Cake and Kale, and catering from Gourmet Chef at Your Table, this day truly is one of our favourites!

The Pearle Hotel and Spa, Upscale Burlington Wedding Venue

When I first found out that Pearle Hospitality was opening their latest venue, The Pearle Hotel and Spa, I think my jaw dropped to the floor. Burlington has been in desperate need of a high-end hotel and an upscale event space that can hold larger guest counts. Knowing Pearle (who owns Spencers at the Waterfront and Elora Mill just to name a few), the new hotel wasn’t going to fall short of being anything but an incredible experience.

The Northshore Room, Pearle Hotel and Spa Wedding Photos. Designed by Studio Munge.

The Northshore Room, Pearle Hotel and Spa Wedding Photos. Designed by Studio Munge.

There’s going to be a Hammam Spa and an indoor pool. The restaurant, Isabelle, offers a dining experience that highlights the locality, seasonality, and freshness of Ontario produce with much of it grown at their very own Earth to Table Farm. Its incredible waterfront patio will be perfect for a summer lunch or dinner under the stars. Designed by Studio Munge, check out some of the incredible renderings by them below!

The Pearle Hotel and Spa, Burlington Wedding Venue
The Pearle Hotel and Spa, Downtown Burlington Hotel

The Pearle Hotel and Spa, Downtown Burlington Hotel

There are two event spaces, both designed with neutral, but high-end decor, meaning there’s no worry of needing to cover up an unsightly wall or fight with an ugly carpet in your design; you just need to add your own personal touches to make the space unique to you. You’ve heard me talk before about my favourite Toronto wedding venues offering epic design and culinary experiences, and The Pearl Hotel and Spa will be nothing short of that.

The Edgewater Room

The Edgewater Room can host larger groups of up to 350 guests. Enjoy the use of the entire floor and private ceremony space. This beautiful room offers a fresh neutral décor with 16-foot ceilings and a south-facing view of the waterfront.

The Edgewater Room at The Pearle Hotel and Spa, Wedding Photos. Designed by Studio Munge.

The Edgewater Room at The Pearle Hotel and Spa, Wedding Photos. Designed by Studio Munge.

The Northshore Room

For more intimate weddings of up to 170 guests has 14-foot ceilings and a west-facing view of Lake Ontario, this room offers fresh and neutral tones with bronze accents, perfect for bringing any vision to life.

The Northshore Room, Pearle Hotel and Spa Wedding Photos. Designed by Studio Munge.

The Northshore Room, Pearle Hotel and Spa Wedding Photos. Designed by Studio Munge.

THE PEARLE HOTEL AND SPA WEDDING PHOTOS

I was asked last summer to participate in a photoshoot on the property to help showcase the incredible views The Pearle Hotel and Spa has to offer from the event spaces. Even though it was still very much a construction zone, we made something beautiful. Check out some of the images from the shoot below.

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The Pearle Hotel and Spa Wedding Photos | The Team

Planning a Tent Wedding, Everything you Need to Know: Part 1

So you’ve got a large and gorgeously landscaped property and are thinking about planning a tent wedding in your backyard. It’s a lovely gesture to host your friends and family at your home, but you’ll want to be properly prepared for exactly what comes along with this task.I’ve heard it time and again from clients - they want to save money by doing it at home. While it’s not impossible, it’s all based on your expectations. If you’re wanting to create a space that feels like it’s an extension of your home, you can be looking at huge costs and loads of stress. Whereas if you don’t mind a more casual affair, with less glamourous finishes, you may well save some dough! There will always be things that could potentially outweigh the ease and comfort of a venue that is ready to handle all of the components an event requires. Today we’re going to take a look at the pros and cons of planning a tent wedding and the basic things you should consider before you make a final decision.

Backyard Tent Wedding, Life Images Oakville Wedding Photographer, Laura Olsen Events, Toronto Wedding Planner, Oakville Wedding Planner

Permits and Insurance

First up, consider the legal obligations you have for hosting the event at home. You should check with your insurance company to be sure you are covered. Most companies will offer temporary insurance to cover your event if it isn’t covered under your existing policy. Each city requires zoning and temporary structure permits. It is typically a 10 day processing period for both the zoning and the permits so be sure to plan this well in advance. The tent company should also be able to inform on what permits are required and they often offer the service of getting these permits on your behalf. Be sure that the tent company carries liability insurance and one of the installers should remain at the event to make required adjustments. Special Occasion Permits (SOPs) through the LCBO are not required for private estates if you are not selling tickets to the event where alcohol is served.

Event Flow

When guests first arrive, where should they go? If cocktail hour is to be uncovered, where will guests go in the event of rain during this period? There will be a lot happening in the reception space especially if it is also being used as the ceremony space. Will you need tents for the catering staff for clearing and prep stations? Where should washrooms be placed so they aren’t an eyesore, but are also easily accessible? Will you also host a farewell brunch the following morning under the tent? You'll want to consider the flow and set up for this event as well.

Backyard Tent Wedding, Life Images Oakville Wedding Photographer, Laura Olsen Events, Toronto Wedding Planner, Oakville Wedding Planner

Backyard Tent Wedding, Life Images Oakville Wedding Photographer, Laura Olsen Events, Toronto Wedding Planner, Oakville Wedding Planner

Electricity

Often forgotten electricity is a huge source of last-minute panic. Most people think they’ll just plug everything into the outlets on the outside of the house. What they don’t know, is that they are often running off one circuit so you’ll blow the fuse within minutes of nightfall, when you turn on all of the lights and your dance floor opens. You should definitely hire an electrician to be sure the power is being evenly distributed, to know exactly what your house can handle, and if you should be running another panel from the home. I once had clients run sets of extension cords from different circuits in the house to power the various components because they didn’t want to rent a generator or hire an electrician. What they didn’t consider, is that they weren’t heavy-duty extension cords and that the more extension cords you extend together, the power will decrease by the time it reaches the intended destination. In another situation, my clients did rent a panel but they simply plugged it into the one circuit outside the house. This should have been properly installed by an electrician to ensure it was running from a higher voltage outlet (think the oven or dryer). Endless trips down to switch the breaker were made by the father of the groom, meaning he barely got to enjoy the party. The hundreds of feet of twinkle lights they had strung into the trees were never enjoyed by guests and there was constant monitoring of what power was being used inside the house by house guests! Please do yourself the favour and ask each of your vendors about their specific electrical requirements so you can gauge exactly what power constraints will be placed on your house. Vendors to think about include the tent company (ie.lighting for both main and catering tent, if required), caterer, DJ, washrooms, cooler, photobooth. This way, you can be properly prepared to ensure a smooth wedding reception where you get to enjoy rather than panic over the things that could have been avoided.

The Extras

Flooring If the tent is going to be placed on a grassy area, I highly suggest adding a floor to your tent even though it’s an added expense. Not only is it incredibly frustrating walking on grass in heels, but it’s also just as annoying to sit in a chair that never really sits level and sinks into the ground.  Lastly, and most importantly, if it rains a raised floor will be much better than soggy wet grass. When you do add flooring, keep in mind that your lawn will basically be ‘finished’ for the rest of the summer and if heat builds up underneath it, the entire lawn may need to be resodded.

Lighting is not only a necessity, but it’s an easy way to add character to the tent so I’d suggest a bit of a splurge here. Also plan to have some sort of lighting leading guests from the tent to the washrooms or to parking so they don’t trip or get lost.

Cooling and Heating Weather is a hard one to anticipate especially if you’re getting married in the spring or fall. With today’s weather, things can go either way - chilly or crazy hot. Closing the tent walls can help significantly reduce the wind, chill and even bugs, but you’ll want to consider adding climate control to make sure your guests are comfortable for the entire evening. Draping Depending on the type of tent you rent, you may hate the appearance of the ceiling and walls from the inside. It’s not cheap to drape an entire tent, but it sure does add to the ambiance and aesthetic, making it feel more like ‘home’.

The Other Vendors

When planning a tent wedding, there are more than just a few vendors you'll need to make the event flow smoothly. Consider the following vendors to make your life easier!

Fogging Will it be in a heavily wooded area that could tend to be really buggy? You may want a fogging service to come by. They normally require no one to be on the property while they are spraying and will want to at least 24 hours after it has been sprayed for it to be effective. Typically lasts up to 4 days.

Cooler Rental You’ll want to rent a large cooler to keep beverages, ice, and food cold. You'll also require power to keep this running, so be sure to consider this when planning your electrical requirements.

Garbage Removal It can be quite surprising how much waste is created at the wedding just with food and beverage alone. Cities often have a limit of garbage bags per house on pick up day, so you may want to hire a service to remove the garbage after the wedding if the caterers aren’t taking the waste with them.

Restrooms Renting high-quality washrooms are imperative to the guest experience and luckily there are some beautiful options out there now! I recommended that you have at least 2 stalls per 50 guests of each gender, though I do recommend having more for your female guests as we all know well that there are always lines! The company will provide extra paper towels, soap, toilet paper, so there is no need to buy extra, though you may want to buy it. Will you have separate washrooms for the catering and wait staff or will they be using the same restrooms? If the latter, be sure to include them in your guest count when determining the size of the restroom trailer to rent. The big question during the event is to determine exactly who will be maintaining the washrooms throughout the evening? The catering staff? A member of your family?

Security If there’s one thing you must do aside from the legal components, it’s hiring a security service to monitor your home. While we trust our guests, there will be lots of strangers roaming the property the evening of the wedding (ie. caterer and service staff, tent company, and possibly some guests you don’t even know. Having a security service to monitor who is moving about the house is imperative to your home’s security and personal belongings.

Parking & Valet It’s normal to expect that approximately 50% of your guests will drive. Some towns have issues with parking for longer than 3 hours on streets and you’ll also want to be responsible if alcohol is being consumed, so consider the following things:

  • a shuttle service from the hotel;

  • consider renting out the parking lot of a local community centre or business that would be closed during the evening;

  • Have taxi numbers readily available, or someone assigned to call taxis on your guests’ behalf. You can also offer taxi chits for your guests at the end of the evening;

  • a valet service for your guests’ convenience.

Backyard Tent Wedding, Life Images Oakville Wedding Photographer, Laura Olsen Events, Toronto Wedding Planner, Oakville Wedding Planner

Backyard Tent Wedding, Life Images Oakville Wedding Photographer, Laura Olsen Events, Toronto Wedding Planner, Oakville Wedding Planner

The Setup and Teardown

The setup and tear down when planning a tent wedding can be a tricky dance. You’ll need to carefully orchestrate drop off and pick up times for each vendor so they don’t interfere with each other. The chairs and tables other rentals can’t be delivered until after the tent has been set up and vice versa on tear down. The setup of the tent alone can take anywhere from 4-8 hours depending on size and requirements. It is highly recommended that the tent be installed at least the day before the wedding if not two.

Is your property large enough to accommodate the delivery trucks? They are often large and need a big enough space to turn around and unload.

Assign someone to do an inventory count of everything when the rental company drops everything off and again before they return to collect after the completion of the event. If you have a sprinkler or irrigation system, be sure it is turned off in advance of the tent delivery and setup and for the duration of the wedding weekend. Have a good plan for setting up on the wedding day. The tent company should offer setup of tables, chairs and other rentals they provide, typically for an additional fee and the caterer should handle any of linens and place settings. You’ll still want to assign someone to double-check that everything was set up according to plan. Does a table that requires only 7 place settings actually have 8 places? It’s an easy mistake to make if the last minute changes or final plans weren’t communicated to the tent or caterer. Designate a smoking area with proper ashtrays.

Remind your neighbours of your ceremony start time so they don’t decide to mow their lawns during the middle of it.

Following the wedding, the rental company will require that the chairs be stacked, tables are collapsed, and everything is neatly arranged in one spot. Consider who will be responsible for collapsing and tidying everything at the end of the evening and the day following the wedding.

Who will be responsible for taking the extra alcohol inside at the end of the evening? Who will be responsible for returning any extras to the liquor store? Remember that open cases or labels that have been wet/ruined cannot be returned.

Earth to Table Farm Wedding, Flamborough

Alicia and Gary's Earth to Table Farm wedding was one of the most memorable events from last season for a few reasons. The excitement in which Alicia and her mother approached the wedding and their design plans. The amazing florals that perfectly paired the rustic scenery with the gorgeous renovated barn. The amazing food that the chef prepared with the use of a temporary kitchen. The fact that it was one of the first weddings at this venue. The rain held off long enough to have the wedding ceremony outdoors overlooking the valley. Guests were then quickly ushered indoors to enjoy the warmth and comfort of the stunning renovated barn.  Then we get to the tiny details of the sparkly Kate Spade shoes, pashmina's covering the back of the ladies' chairs, and the darling moments the bride and groom snuck a wedding selfie to post on Instagram.Earth To Table Farm is the latest venture by Pearle Hospitality who also owns Spencer's at the Waterfront, The Ancaster Mill, Whistle Bear Golf Club, just to name a few. Their attention to detail, locally sourced ingredients, and incredible customer service set them apart from many of the other Halton Region's wedding venues.

Burlington Wedding Planner, Earth to Table Farm, Farm Wedding, Barn Wedding

The Farewell Brunch; A Lovely Tradition

I can hardly believe the busiest weekend of my career is over. After months upon months of planning, a gorgeous wedding weekend is complete. When my client asked me to style the farewell brunch they were hosting at the family home in Oakville, I was ecstatic. The aesthetic decisions we had made with the other design-related vendors were going to make this one heck of a brunch. The event came together dreamily and I can't wait to share pictures of the wedding. Until then, here's a peek of some shots I took of the farewell brunch to wet your whistle!

Oakville Tent Wedding, Oakville Wedding Planner and Designer, Farewell Brunch

I can hardly believe the busiest weekend of my career is over. After months upon months of planning, a gorgeous wedding weekend is complete. When my client asked me to style the farewell brunch they were hosting at the family home in Oakville, I was ecstatic. The aesthetic decisions we had made with the other design-related vendors were going to make this one heck of a brunch. The event came together dreamily and I can't wait to share pictures of the wedding. Until then, here's a peek of some shots I took of the farewell brunch to wet your whistle!

Venue Private estate in Oakville, Ontario
Catering Jennifer's Kitchen
Florals Forget Me Not Flowers

Wedding Dress Cleaning

PROPER WEDDING DRESS CLEANING IS IMPERATIVE TO THE LIFE OF YOUR GARMENT

The wedding is over and the most important (and likely most expensive) dress you will ever own is one of your only keepsakes aside from your wedding pictures. The sentimental value that it carries often motivates many brides to keep it for use in the future whether it be worn by a friend or even by their own daughter. In order to be sure it will stay such a valuable piece, you need to find a reliable professional to clean, process and package your gown. As much as I love do it yourself tasks, one place I do not recommend you take financial shortcuts is with your wedding dress cleaning. That out of the way, there are a few key rules to follow in terms of wedding dress preservation.

THE BASICS

As soon as your wedding is over, place the dress in a pre-washed clean white sheet instead of back into the plastic bag. Plastic attracts mold and mildew and traps moisture - all elements that will deteriorate your dress. Be sure to think about this service as quickly as possible as you don’t want to wait to have your gown and any relevant accessories professionally cleaned. If you are out of town for a few weeks after your wedding for your honeymoon, make arrangements before you leave to have a family member take your dress in.  With all of this said, if you do happen to forget, it is never too late to see what a professional can do for you. When selecting someone to do your wedding dress cleaning, be as diligent about hiring someone who has as good a reputation as the other vendors who assisted with your wedding. Often your bridal shop will have a preferred rate at a recommended vendor and the bonus is that they will be familiar with the fabrics and details used on your dress. Also, consider how long the shop has been in business since you’ll want someone with a proven track record.

WARRANTIES AND GUARANTEES

Warranties and guarantees vary from shop to shop so it’s best to consider what they offer before proceeding. It’s also a good idea to ask the cleaner how they intend to handle delicate trims and decorations on your dress if your dress has a lot of detail. The dress’ material and detailing will ultimately affect what type of specialized process will be used to clean it. At the very least, the vendor should guarantee that the dress won’t yellow or change colour if you follow their storage and preservation instructions. Most importantly, make sure they stand by their work and be sure to have in writing that they will compensate you for the dress’ full value if any damage occurs while it is in their hands.

THE TREATMENT PROCESS

Just as with any cleaning process, they will begin with pretreating the stains. This is often done by hand. While it is recommended that you look over your dress and accessories before bringing it in so that you can find anything with your own eye, a professional cleaner will now to look for stains that are not visible to the untrained eye, like stains from alcohol or sugar, which can significantly brown over time if not treated. Inquire about whether your cleaner uses Perchloroethylene (Perc). While this chemical is sometimes used by dry cleaners, it is not suitable for wedding dresses. but it’s too abrasive for wedding gowns and has been known to melt beading or damage delicate fabrics. After the full cleaning process, the dress and accessories will be placed into special packaging: a lined, specifically treated, acid-free box, which is resistant to water and other potential threats. If your cleaner uses plastic packaging, be sure to ask why since it is generally a bad choice as it traps moisture and emits fumes, both of which can make the dress yellow. Note though, that your cleaner should be providing you with the opportunity to inspect the dress and accessories before they are sealed in the box.

STORAGE

Once you've completed your wedding dress cleaning, you'll want to safely store that baby! The ideal location for your safely packaged wedding dress is someplace flat, cool, dry and out of sunlight. Preferably under the bed or in the corner of a closet. Never store it in the attic or basement. With clean, dry hands check the gown once or twice a year, each time refolding along new lines to protect the fabric from breaking. By inspecting it, you now have the opportunity to have any issues addressed right away.

INVESTMENT

Finer fabrics, size and detailing can change the efforts required in the cleaning and preservation of the wedding dress. For example, a long train with lots of hand detailing will require more work than something simple. Average pricing for wedding gown preservation is somewhere between $200 and $500 but will vary based on location. You'll likely have better results from a shop that deals with more dresses.