Wedding Dress Shopping: Keeping the Experience Seamless.

The process of selecting a wedding dress is often cited as the most challenging and stressful part of wedding planning. Despite the fact that most of us have given more than a little thought to the dress, nothing can prepare you for the real thing. With an overwhelming volume of silhouettes, fabrics, styles and price points, brides can quickly find themselves in over their heads. (And let’s not even get started on the myriad personalities and opinions that will be flying your way!)Take a deep breath and remember, you don’t have to do what is 'expected' of you and you don’t have to follow a specific style guide or antiquated expectations. This is your day so give yourself the freedom to be inspired, be surprised, and most importantly, be present throughout this amazing experience.With the help of Toronto-based boutique wedding dress shop, Loversland, here are some quick tips on how to make finding your perfect wedding dress one of your most treasured memories of the wedding planning process.

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It takes a village. Or does it?

Be honest, what type of shopper are you? Do you enjoy taking your time, making snap decisions, or rely on input from others? Do multiple opinions make you flustered? For your very first outing, you might want to consider bringing just one person who knows you and your style really well. Then again, some brides feel more comfortable with their entire party present when wedding dress shopping. If you aren’t sure and you feel as though you might be walking into a wedding dress minefield, try narrowing your group down to two to three people whose opinions matter most to you.Next, think about timing. If you generally need a lot of time to consider large purchases, start shopping early. And although it might be tempting, don’t set a budget until you have completed your first appointment.

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What the experts suggest.

Every bride should allow six to seven months to have her dress ordered, according to Loversland. But some consultants recommend as early as nine months. Why? Depending on what you buy, you might need to allow enough time for the dress to be made, shipped, or altered. So give yourself plenty of leeway and avoid rush fees.

THE FUN STUFF.

Now let’s move on to the fun stuff and talk about style! Ask yourself, what do I love about my body? What do I want to show off? (A note about sizing: don't be alarmed. Bridal sizing typically runs about two sizes larger than your regular size. As horrifying as it is, this is NORMAL. If it makes you feel any better, remember that the only person who will know that little number is you, and your trusted consultant.)

When looking for inspiration, you’ve no doubt already considered your venue and overall style of your wedding. But what about you? Your dress should be reflective of your personal style, no matter where or when you get married. Take to Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and of course all the wedding blogs you can find. But it’s not all about the online world. Think about your beloved romantic movie collection, your favourite love stories, most amazing destinations, and even memorable experiences that have moved you -- anything can serve as inspiration if you want it to. Write it down, clip it, pin it, and post it.

Expert Hint: As you are going through this process, look for commonalities in silhouettes, fabrics, and detailing to help establish your overall “vibe”, and then bring these ideas to your appointments.

What to wear under there.

For best results, bring nude undergarments (which you have of course tried on beforehand) and bring multiple options: strapless, push-up, thong, you never know what you might need.

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Accessorizing.

Next, wear your hair in the way you’re thinking you might have it on your wedding day. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but if you’re considering an up-do, have those hair elastics and bobby pins ready. Same goes for makeup and shoes.

FINAL TIPS.

Lastly, and we can’t stress this enough: throw out the style 'rule book' and trust your instincts. If you want to wear a tulle embroidered ball gown, DO IT, this is your wedding! Still stuck? Call the ladies at Loversland and they will be happy to answer your all of your questions about a wedding dress shopping.

Romantic Castle Wedding at Casa Loma

They met in elementary school and had a romantic castle wedding at Casa Loma. Could it be any more perfect?As I was selecting images for this post, I found myself smiling. Fitting, as I remember smiling through the entire day for Erin and Andrew's wedding at Casa Loma. As planners, you never now what character you are going to get in a wedding party this size, but we couldn't have asked for a better group of people. They were all genuinely thrilled to be celebrating with their best friends, respectful of each other and making Erin and Andrew's day truly special and perfect for them. It was clear they were a tight knit group, friends for ages, and had a great time together.This feeling carried straight through to the vendors they asked to support them on their wedding day. Some of the most seriously dreamy and genuinely lovely vendors I have had the pleasure of working with, came together to bring it to life. Barb Simkova of Tara McMullen Photography captured the day beautifully, keeping everyone relaxed and having a great time. Captivate Photo + Cinema was there to film the day. Blush and Bloom created glorious, luscious white and green floral dreaminess to create a truly classic-inspired affair. Have a peek through the gallery below to see this romantic castle wedding at Casa Loma. It's the stuff dreams are made of.

romantic castle wedding at casa loma, casa loma wedding, tara mucmullen photography, castle wedding, toronto wedding planner

romantic castle wedding at casa loma, casa loma wedding, tara mucmullen photography, castle wedding, toronto wedding planner

Storys Building Wedding | Jen and Colin

I love a good design challenge. The toughest ones are usually winter weddings where the client wants holiday-inspired, without being too literal on the Christmas vibe. When Jen came to me planning her Storys Building wedding, I jumped at the chance to do another holiday-inspired wedding. You might remember this New Year’s Eve wedding from 2014. I think the most important element to get right for a winter wedding are florals. Since Blush and Bloom knocked it out of the park with that 2014 wedding, I turned to Becky and her team again for this one. So for this Storys Building wedding, we focused heavily on the winter greens, which also offered an amazing wintery scent, adding to the holiday feeling. But we were careful to soften those up to feel wedding appropriate by adding whites, plums and deep reds in florals with amaryllis, scabiosa and peonies. We created large wreaths with soft ribbons that pooled on the ground as a ceremony and head table backdrop. Lots of white balanced out the darker colours through the gorgeous Marshmallow linens, Pierre chairs all complimented by the soft firefly string lighting. Guests were treated to beautiful lounge furniture during the cocktail hour and reception to relax in style. Remember - the key to a successful winter wedding design is to be holiday-inspired, not literal!

storys building, storys building wedding, toronto wedding, industrial wedding venue toronto

storys building, storys building wedding, toronto wedding, industrial wedding venue toronto

Photography Lee Weston Photography
Florals Blush and Bloom
Hair and Makeup ArtistRhi
Venue Storys Building
Cake Dufflet
DJ Dash Studios
Rolls Royce A Rolls Choice
Lounge Furniture and Chair Rentals CF Rentals
Linens Around the Table

The Role of the Emcee

So you’ve found your perfect partner. Now you have to find the perfect person to fill the role of the emcee. You’ve seen them at events you’ve attended, but what do they actually do? Who should you ask to fill this position at your wedding?

The emcee is quite literally the 'master of the ceremony' and will communicate to your guests the goings-on of the evening. Their role is to engage, inform, and handle the crowd. By executing the schedule you’ve designed with your event planner, the emcee will help turn your dream wedding into a reality.

Your emcee will welcome the guests and begin the night by passing along important information. This should include washroom locations, designated smoking areas, and emergency exits. By outlining the guidelines for the evening (i.e., the venue’s rule for the clinking of glasses or other cheeky cues that will require the bride and groom to kiss), you’ll avoid many potential issues.

After presenting you and your partner as a newly wedded couple, the emcee will spend the remainder of the evening introducing speeches and events to your guests. These events include cutting of the cake, the bouquet/garter toss, and all special dances.

The more information your guests have, the more they can enjoy their evening celebrating this new beginning in your life!

The Role of the Emcee, Stratus Vineyard Wedding, Niagara weddings

Choosing an Emcee

Now that you know what your emcee will be doing, it will be easier to decide who should fill this role.

After putting so much work into planning, you need to pick someone you trust to perform this role (and someone you can trust not to get too tipsy before the night is through)!

If this task seems too daunting, you can always default this position to your DJ. For a more personal touch, ask someone you’re close with and who can add small details into their dialogue to make your celebration extra special.

Consider someone who has a friendly demeanor, is comfortable in front of a crowd, and can improvise well (we all know things don’t always go as planned). The role of the emcee should be given to a person who is able to capture an audience’s attention and bring back the focus while also reading the crowd and adjusting accordingly. It is a large role and a big responsibility, so be sure that they have thought about your request carefully before committing.

HELPFUL HINTS:

  • Your emcee should be in contact with your wedding planner, DJ, and venue correspondent prior to your wedding day. Ensure your emcee understands that for the night to run smoothly, it is vital that they listen to these important figures and the schedule that they have worked with you to create.

  • The emcee should take the time to meet with the speakers of the evening to make them feel comfortable, get some back story to use in the introductions, and confirm the pronunciation of their names.

  • Introduce your emcee to your photographer so they can prepare them for memorable moments you’ll want to be captured on film.

  • When determining who to ask, consider the theme of your wedding: Is it all about the entertainment? Choose someone with a great sense of humor. Is it a more formal affair? Pick someone eloquently spoken. The emcee will help set the tone of the event.

  • It may help if the person knows you and is familiar with the key members of your family so they can ensure they are present before announcing an important event in the evening.

  • Above all, it is important that you are honest with your emcee about how you want your night handled – are you open to jokes and funny stories, or would you prefer the night to move along quickly with short introductions?

By choosing the right person to fill the role of the emcee and help navigate the evening, your wedding will be exactly what you’ve always wanted and have no (unwanted) surprises! 

role of the emcee, wedding emcee, master of ceremonies responsiblitlies

Rustic Romantic Wedding at Airship 37

One of my favourite wedding venues in Toronto is Airship 37. It's impossible to be bored when designing weddings for this space as the possibilities are endless!For bride Kerry, it was important to create a soft, romantic aesthetic to balance the industrial feel of the venue. She wanted to drape the ceiling, but knowing it would be a huge expense, I encouraged her to rethink the idea. Together we brainstormed how we could draw the eye down to the tables rather than up towards the ceiling. By creating a focal point in the centre of the room above the head table, we tricked the eye into focusing on that rather than the industrial lighting of which she wasn’t fond. We layered warms shades of taupes, blush and cafe browns over top of various shades and textures of white.We kept things simple and focused our attention on doing the most important things really well. This saved a bunch of money while still creating the soft and airy rustic romantic wedding aesthetic.The ceremony altar we built with Ashley Elaine Florals was one of the prettiest we have done so far! Simple copper piping draped with fabrics of varying textures and a lush floral accent was just enough to soften the barn board wall. We added candles in varying heights behind it to pull the eye right to the centre of the altar.Megan Laura Photography was on hand to capture all the beauty. They are some of my favourite photos to date. For the rest of the team scroll down!

Rustic Romantic Wedding, Airship37 Wedding, rustic wedding, romantic wedding, toronto wedding venue

Photography Megan Laura Photography
Florals Ashley Elaine Florals
Hair and Makeup Jen Evoy Hair and Makeup
Venue Airship37
Day-of Stationery Paula Lee Calligraphy
Invitation Suite Minted
Officiant Enduring Promises, Ron Shantz.

Valentines Gifts for Him

I started to think about the upcoming, much debated to be celebrated, holiday and decided to share my Valentines Gifts for Him! A few years ago there was a resurgence with boudoir photography. This time, though, it is actually embracing the unique shapes of women instead of overly sexualizing it. The female body is so beautiful and should be celebrated so I am thrilled to see this change!I did one four years ago and it totally changed how I saw my body. I was worried about certain parts of my body because I had a skewed vision of what I thought it looked like. However, once I saw the photos, all the things I thought were my worst features actually became some of my favourites.First and foremost, find a photographer who shoots the female body in a way you can relate. Then, make sure they are someone with whom you feel comfortable personality wise.I promise you it's something that you won't regret, and it even makes a cute little black book as valentines gifts for him. Lachlan's shoot below was a gift to her soon-to-be husband on their wedding day. It was such a pleasure to style this shoot.If you’re thinking about doing a boudoir shoot as part of your valentines gifts for him (or maybe just for yourself!), check out my other helpful tips and tricks for the perfect boudoir session.

1486 Photography, Boudoir Photography, Unique Valentines Gifts for Him

1486 Photography, Boudoir Photography, Unique Valentines Gifts for Him

Photography 1486 Photography
Florals Cedar and Stone
Hair and Makeup The Look Beauty
Venue The Alton Mill, Caledon
Calligraphy Paula Lee Calligraphy
Gift Box Present Day Gifts.
Lingerie Fortnight Label from Loversland.

University Club of Toronto Wedding by Christine Lim Photography

Caoimhe and Graham's wedding at the University Club of Toronto started the 2016 season in the most wonderful way. Blush and Bloom perfectly complimented the existing decor with an incredible palette of cheerful blooms and soft blue candles.The bride is an art critic and hand painted all of the beautiful artwork seen in the wedding stationery, from the watercolour place cards to the table numbers. Such a talent and a perfect example of how paring your decor down to a few carefully curated pieces can be all you need to enhance a space. Ultimately it also makes set up and tear down easy on everyone!Enjoy the beautiful images and read more about this University Club of Toronto wedding below!

University Club of Toronto, Downtown Wedding, Toronto Wedding Planner

University Club of Toronto, Downtown Wedding, Toronto Wedding Planner

One of the top wedding venues in Toronto

The University Club of Toronto is one of my absolute favourite downtown Toronto wedding venues. The events and catering teams consistently set the bar higher every single wedding. They are some of the professional people taking pride in making every aspect of the wedding perfect. Oh, and the food. We need to talk about the food. The food is incredible. Like really and truly incredible.I always encourage my clients to simplify their wedding day by making things as fluid as possible. First and foremost I tell them to cut down on unnecessary travel time. The University Club makes planning your wedding day itinerary easy as you receive the venue on Friday with availability of weekend accommodations. It also offers plenty of getting ready spaces boasting a lot of breathing room and options for catering. The interior of the club is beautiful and filled with natural light, offering itself up as a wonderful photo location. It is also conveniently located across from Osgoode Hall, a beautiful location for outdoor wedding photos.I would be remiss if I didn't mention the bang up job they do to keep the original charm of the architecture and decor, while still being modern. It is extremely easy to accent with beautiful linens and flowers without taking away from the charm. Whether your style is bright and playful or timeless in whites The University Club of Toronto wedding space is the perfect place for the refined couple. A beautiful and relaxing setting, wonderful food, and easy decision making make it a hidden gem.

 

Ceremony Musicians Wellington Music
Band Parkside Drive
Paper Goods Caoimhe Morgan-Feir
Makeup and Hair Vicki Millar
Transportation A Rolls Choice