Timeless Casa Loma Wedding

If you've ever been to a Casa Loma wedding, you'll know it's one of the best wedding venues in Toronto. From the guest experience to the customer service during the planning process, it's a beautiful place to be. Kathryn and Dan chose Casa Loma for their July wedding and brought the Laura Olsen Events team for wedding styling and planning. Captured by Mango Studios, this was easily one of my favourite weddings from the 2015 season. When it came to the design, Kathryn wanted something feminine, timeless and full of gorgeous simplicity. Music to our wedding designing ears. We chose a gorgeous palette of ivories, champagnes, whites, and greys and partnered them a mixture of textures of mattes and metallics and plain and clear cut glass. We collaborated with Blush and Bloom, one of our favourite Toronto wedding florists, to bring romance to the design through lush greens and gorgeous white blooms. A dreamy, wood stained chuppah draped in greens and simple white blooms created the focal point in the Conservatory, where the ceremony took place. We allowed the library, the reception space, to take full focus of the design, simply adding more pretty blooms, lots of candle light, and an accent head table linen to set it apart from the rest of the guest tables. Sigh. Can we go back and relive this day?

Mango Studios

Photography Mango Studios
Florals Blush and Bloom Flower Studio
Bridesmaid Dresses J. Crew, Matte Crape Line
The Venue Casa Loma
Linens Susan Murray International

The Spoke Club Wedding

Today we're going back (waaaay back it feels) to the start of the 2014 LOE wedding season, a gorgeous Spoke Club wedding reception.The Spoke Club Toronto is a unique, private club, that also offers its space for weddings and other private events. My clients had a gorgeous afternoon affair for their wedding reception. Cocktails and dancing on the rooftop patio after lunch made for a fun end to the wedding, leaving guests free to enjoy their evening. Keep scrolling to read more about the event and see the details on the amazing team!By now you probably know that I specialize in weddings that are held at restaurants or clubs and have smaller guest counts. Many feel that restaurants tend to be more expensive than other venues, but what you have to remember is that you're not only getting an absolutely incredible meal, but you're getting a pretty stunning visual space to work with as well, saving you costs on unnecessary decor. In addition, you can save further by having an afternoon event where lunch menus are a more economical choice. Not to mention that your guests tend to drink less, too, which in the end saves you more dough.Let me tell you; The Spoke Club did not disappoint with this stunning afternoon affair. From the gorgeous chandeliers and tufted banquettes with wood tables in the main dining room, to the sunny rooftop patio and glass house, the venue offers a truly unique space.Some gorgeous flowers, custom ordered coloured napkins, acrylic wine chillers and calligraphy all with a soft palette of blush, mint and charcoal and dove greys were all we needed to make this day lavishly delicious.If you're planning a Spoke Club wedding, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

The Spoke Club Toronto Wedding, Downtown Toronto Wedding Venue,

Photography Johnny Lam Photography
Florals Blush and Bloom
Macaron Favours Le Dolci
Cake Sweet Coco Cakes

The Bubbly Party

If you'll remember, my New Year Resolution for this year was to drink more champagne. Oh, and how easy it was to stick to that resolution!With the number of event and wedding planners out there now, I sometimes feel as though too much attention is put on the big picture of the day and that the classic components are a bit forgotten. My goal has always been to be a bit old school and to fully understand the basic components of event planning.

I believe true event planning is becoming a bit of a lost art and it's becoming more about how beautiful an event can be. Don't get me wrong, I seriously love a beautiful event but I don't want to forget about the non-visual things that make an event great. Those things that defined an event back in the good old days; think cocktails, champagne, etiquette and more.

It seems "champagne" has become generic, used to describe sparkling wine. However, for a sparkling wine to be truly called Champagne, it must meet certain requirements. This got me thinking. What IS the difference between Champagne, prosecco and cava? What IS the difference between Brut and Extra Brut, etc.? How does it get its bubbles?

With that, I decided to throw a bubbly party for brides, planners, photographers and other industry professionals where we could learn all about these differences. We would have a guest speaker to lead us through tastings of Veuve Clicquot (Champagne), Zonin (prosecco) and Segura Viudas (cava) and even pair each with various sweets. What an afternoon this was. A great turnout with some absolutely incredible talent, great conversation, sweets and of course, loads of bubbly. All captured by the insanely talented, InJoy Imagery.

Venue Baka Gallery Cafe
Photography InJoy Imagery
Florals Delight Floral Design
Cupcakes Desmond & Beatrice
Guest Speaker Mike Willis of The Bistro at Silvercreek

Bubbly Party

An Educational Afternoon and Unique Bridal Shower Idea

My New Year's Resolution this year was to drink more Champagne. Seems sensible, right?Did you know, though, that in order for sparkling wine to be classified as Champagne it needs to come from the province of Champagne, France? Did you also know that Prosecco, Italy's version of Champagne, is actually the closest in taste to the divine drink but that it's about a third of the cost?In my quest to drink and learn more about different types of bubbly, I decided what better way to learn that through a party, which is exactly what we associate bubbly with!This coming Sunday, April 13th, 2014 I'm hosting a Bubbly Party with some dear friends from the industry, Jacqueline Hofing of InJoy Imagery and my associate planner, Sarah McLellan. If, like me, you're interested in learning more about different types of bubbly and what sweets to pair each with, we'd love to have you! We'll have a guest speaker, tastings, pairings, signature cocktails and music, all for $75. I promise you, it'll be a fun and educational afternoon!Please RSVP through the contact form! 

Tips for the Perfect Boudoir Session

That’s right, ladies. It’s that time of year.  Boudoir season. You want a special gift for your partner before your big day. Maybe it’s Valentine’s Day, maybe it’s your wedding day ‘I Love You’ gift, or even a birthday. Maybe you want some extra practice in front of the camera before some of the most important pictures of your life! Today we're talking about tips for the perfect boudoir session. Well, the easiest way to get more comfortable in your own skin and in front of the camera is to do it naked. Ok, not completely naked cause that’s just weird, BUT gussy yourself up, get some sweet lingerie and let that sexy minx out.Being sexy doesn’t mean the smallest amount of clothes possible. It’s about how you carry yourself and that look in your eye. Check out this beautiful boudoir session by C. Davidson Photography and keep reading for more tips to make your boudoir shoot perfection.

LINGERIE AND MAKE UP TIPS

For curvy girls like me: It’s true, we don’t look like Victoria’s Secret models and most of the options aren’t flattering to our figures (or anyone’s for that matter)! Look for bodysuits with lace cut outs or high-wasted bottoms and a beautiful bra top. This will slim your middle and enhance those beautiful curves!Most importantly, take the time to find the right pieces that make you feel amazing in your own skin. You'll immediately feel like you want the world to see you in your skivvies.Hair and Make Up. the last thing you want to look like is a washed out wet fish. Get your hair and make up done and make a lunch or dinner date afterwards to make a day out of it!Get accessories. A simple robe, a pretty pair of shoes and some classic jewellery to finish off the look!

POSING TIPS

Pop that booty and work hard to exaggerate your curves. It’ll feel really weird, but do it. You don’t want to sink into the bed!Blink, blink off to the side at the floor and then quickly look at the camera. Repeat. Your photographer will grab such lovely shots of you as you look away.Oh, and those awkward laughs? Let them out! You feel silly but you’ll look like you’re having the time of your life.Look around on Pinterest for your favourite boudoir shots and practice those poses so you don’t get stuck in the same old poses. Then, stand in front of a full-length mirror and practice your poses to find the best angles for your curves. Finally, let your body lead you. Trust me, it knows how you look good so trust your gut!

SIMPLE STYLING TIPS

A vase of fresh flowers goes a long way. Pick colours and flowers that make you feel good when you look at them. They instantly brighten up a room and you get to enjoy them in the days to come!Prosecco in pretty glasses; go to Goodwill or another reuse shops to score a great deal! Most people don’t know that prosecco is actually the closest in taste to champagne, though it costs a heck of a lot less! Throw in a sprig of herbs or even some raspberries for an extra touch. Sweets! Go to the local bakery and get a small assortment of sweets such as macaroons and other petit fours. Get a pretty vintage plate (Goodwill will be your best friend!) to place them on and you’re all set!

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Keep your skin bright and clear by drinking lots of water and putting back that glass of wine. Alcohol is dehydrating which causes your kidneys to work on overdrive to remove excess water from your system instead of your organs. In the end, this causes dryness, bloating and redness. So, no alcohol whatsoever!Get a good night’s sleep! Have a lavender scented bubble bath and double time that with a little lavender oil on your face. Lavender is soothing and relaxing which makes it great for your pre-bedtime routine. I promise, you’ll sleep like a baby. Hope that you find these tips for the perfect boudoir session helpful for your upcoming shoot!