Five Things to Do the Night Before the Wedding

All the planning has come to an end and you’re ready for your Big Day. Your rehearsal dinner is over, all the family and out of town friends have settled in, and it’s just a matter of hours before one chapter comes to a close and a whole new love story begins. So what do you do, until then? Here are five quick (and super fun!) things to do the night before the wedding:

1. ACB. Always Choose a Buddy. Who has your bobby pins, flip flops (or even better, slippers), Q-tips, extra granola bar, juice, lip balm, water, the right color of nail polish in case you chip one, your phone, emergency tampon (yep, it happens!) and anything else you might need? You’ve got a Maid Of Honor and a wedding planner, but who has these things? You shouldn’t have to think about the details the day of, so make sure someone else has got it covered.

Now on to the fun stuff…

2. Watch a romantic comedy or your favorite movie with your gal pals, close family, or bridal squad. Enjoying this “just us girls” time will forever be a cherished memory—trust us, tomorrow is going to go by very quickly—so soak up that girl time, you’ll be glad you did. (But just be sure to skip the popcorn. Sorry girl, no salty foods the night before! Um, and, maybe not too much champagne either… we know, we know!)

3. Press Play. Yes, we said play! Why do the boys get all the fun? See: the quintessential round of the golf that men play the day before or the morning of. Whether it’s yoga, in-room mani / pedis, a pyjama dance party, or even going for a hike with the girls, just make sure you squeeze in some play time. (Tip: not a good day to try jet skiing for the first time!)

4. Have an attitude of gratitude. We know you already do. So raise a glass to the friends and family who have journeyed with you and tell everyone how much they mean to you.

5. Check your breath. Your yoga breath that is. Weddings are incredible and fun and magical and once in a lifetime—but they are also events that go by at the speed of light, no matter how good you are at being present. So breathe. Meditate. Slow down. Don’t be nervous about tomorrow, it’s your day. Just take your time and believe us when we tell you, you’re the main event, nothing is going to happen without you! So inhale, exhale, repeat.

There are so many possible things to do the night before the wedding and this is just a quick, fun list. But above all else, make sure your night-before-the-big-day is comfortable for you. Make sure it is peaceful, full of joy, and fine (fine!) filled with just a little bit of champagne…

Tomorrow is going to be nothing short of magical.

Why Does a Wedding Dress Cost So Much?

In America, the average wedding dress cost in 2016 was USD1500, according to The Knot. In Canada, it’s about the same (CAD1850) with, perhaps surprisingly, Prairie Brides spending more on weddings than any other couples across the country! But fiscally savvy brides are everywhere and they can save huge dollars if they know where to look, and if they start early.We all know that weddings are going to cost money, but the wide range of pricing when it comes to dresses seems to elicit the most shocked responses. The price differentials themselves, can be the most hard to understand. Let’s look at the top three factors that are driving the price of wedding dresses:

The Intricacy of the Design.

Whether or not you buy off the rack or have your dress designed to meet your specific needs, a wedding dress is no simple pattern, particularly if it is not made 'en masse'. There is a lot of skill that goes into envisioning wedding dress designs--not to mention creating them. This brings us to…

Labour.

Again, this will vary depending on where you purchase or order your dress from. In person, online, from overseas, these factors all play a role. But it generally takes hours and hours to bring complicated patterns to life, particularly custom made orders. And, after you’ve found your dream dress, you might have alteration costs as well. A great tip to avoiding 'rush fees' is to start looking early for your dress; six or seven months ahead of time might seem excessive, but the time will fly by!

Trends. (Take special note of this one!)

Following trends will cost you as bridal boutiques are well aware of seasonal and annual fads and will capitalize on them. We encourage all of our brides to stay true to themselves. Your wedding day is a celebration of you and your partner’s unique journey together and your dress should be no different. It is the essence of your personal style - so throw out the rule book, go with your instincts, and celebrate you!

Still not convinced? Shop around. This is another great argument for starting early. You never know what you might find if you give yourself the freedom and the time to explore trunk shows, sample sales, online options, and new designers. Plus, you’ll avoid all that unnecessary stress associated with the time crunch of finding the perfect dress when you allow it to find you! Now that you understand the wedding dress cost, 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.

New York City Wedding at Midtown Loft and Terrace

New York City is one of my favourite cities in the world. For as long as I can remember, It has been a dream of mine to plan a New York City wedding. This year, I had the wonderful opportunity from Anne and Rob to plan their destination wedding in NYC! We immediately went to work finding the perfect rooftop wedding venue in New York City. After much searching, we landed on Midtown Loft and Terrace. Perfectly set with a 360-degree view of the city including the Empire State Building, it was the perfect choice. Next, it was important to Anne that we create a proper NYC experience for their guests with incredible food and drink. We brought on Scoozi Events, who embodies that description without an inch of hesitation. Putting just as much attention into the presentation of the food as the flavour it was one of the best food experiences we have had to date.Our incredible florist, Nicole from The Arrangement NYC, ran with our bright, colourful palette, mixing both tropical blooms with those more feminine to create soft, garden style arrangements with a twist. C Paulson Photography was on hand to capture all of the fun for Anne and Rob. On the wedding day, we travelled by iconic NYC transportation in yellow cabs and subway to wedding photos at Grand Central Terminal, Central Park and the Flatiron District. Have a peek through the images below of this gorgeous New York City wedding. If you are looking for help with your destination wedding, please don't hesitate to reach out via the form at the bottom of this page! 

Photography Lorraine and Caleb of C. Paulson Photography
NYC Destination Wedding Planner Laura Olsen Events
Florals The Arrangement NYC
Catering Scoozi Events

Hair and Makeup Glam Squad NYC
Venue Midtown Loft and Terrace
Wedding Celebrant Tulis McCall
Accommodations Gansevoort Park Avenue Hotel.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Photography Barb Simkova of Tara McMullen Photography
Videography Captivate Photo + Cinema
Florals Blush and Bloom
Hair and Makeup Nicole Richards and Co.
Venue Casa Loma
Cake Tori's Bakeshop
DJ DJ Floh Back
Rolls Royce A Rolls Choice
Officiant All You Need is Love

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!

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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!

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!