Five Campfire Items For Your Cottage Wedding

While preparing for Kelly & Bob's destination wedding at the lake, I kept finding fun and interesting items to add to my emergency kit that I thought may come in handy for this peticular theme wedding. As we were spending a portion of the evening by the campfire, a good item to have on hand would be bug spray and after bite just in case. I found this really cool gadget called a bite shield. I'm not sure how it works yet but will put it to the test for this event.

Photo credit: myggstopp.no

Please keep in mind that the ground is rugged and accidents can happen so having a flashlight handy or something that can brighten your path can help avoid a twisted ankle. This fun addition to my emergency kit was one of my favorite items. It hung from my neck and glowed red making me easily visible to those in need of my assistance. It was also a flashlight at one end which came in handy for walking around the grounds in the dark.

Photo credit: Amazon.com

The Swiss army knife has everything you will possibly need around the campfire and so much more. The cork screw opener is a life saver at any party and the wine drinkers will love you.

If you are planning to offer your guests smores by the campfire these BBQ forks are ideal.

For the big kids around your campfire glow in the dark products are a hit. The guests had a blast with the assortment of bracelets, necklaces and glow tubes.

Photo credit: adventures.blogspot.com

Remember Have fun and be creative!

Happy planning,
Tracey

Wedding planning myth number 4:

Why would I need a wedding planner, there isn't that much to do.


This one makes me chuckle. If you have never planned a large event before, you should do some investigating first. The average wedding takes over 250 hours of planning. This will include vendor research, interviews, meetings and phone calls. The research alone may take days if not weeks.

Photo credit: weddingbee.com

Don't forget your still working full time and living your life. This leaves evenings and weekends so it could take even longer. Now this is only the planning and booking of vendors for your wedding, hopefully you have already decided on a theme if you are having one. There are many decisions to be made before you are even ready to hire a photographer or florist. Now the day of the wedding is where everything you have planned takes shape and all the elements are combined to create the mood and feel of your event. The cake will be delivered, the decorators arrive, the DJ will set up, the musicians will assemble for the ceremony, then there are your flowers, favors, seating arrangements for your guests, not to mention itinerary, checklists and instructions. All of these very important tasks are vital to the success of your carefully thought out plan and vision of how your wedding day should be. This is only a fraction of the details that need to be taken care of in order to create and execute your special day. Now, do you still think there isn't that much to do?

Photo credit: doitinstyleblog.com

Till Next Time
Tracey

Wedding planner myth number 3:

I don't need a wedding planner my friends and family are going to help me.


You may want the help of your friends and family but are they trained to handle all the details and issues involved with planning a wedding? Do you really want your mom and sisters running around making sure everything is perfect for your wedding, or would you rather have them with you getting pampered and enjoying this very special moment together. There are so many different aspects to consider when delegating tasks to family and friends. It may cause some confusion for the members of your family when so many of them are involved. It is so important to have one contact person who will oversee all the details and be the go to person responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly. Do you really want your family and friends, whom you love dearly coming to you when a potential problem occurs? Can you imagine how bad your aunt would feel if she accidentally dropped your wedding cake while transporting it from it's box to the cake table. This has happened, where a family member dropped the cake and then tried to fix the icing themselves.

Picture from Matthew McConaughey's film Ghosts OF Girlfriends Past


A wedding planner will oversee the delivery and placement of the cake by the cake designer. These professionals are trained to handle the transportation of the cake and if something does happen your wedding planner will be on hand to fix the problem without any stress or concern coming your way. It's nice to have family and friends involved but you need to remember they are still your guests. Would you invite guests to your home for dinner and ask them to tidy up the kitchen and set the table ? A wedding planner takes care of the many details of your wedding day so you can relax and celebrate with your family and friends.

Photo credit: Ashlea Taylor ThelittleKitchenthatcould.blogspot.ca



Till Next Time
Tracey

Wedding Planner Myth #2

Wedding Planner Myth #2

With my modest budget I can't afford to hire a wedding planner.

If you have a very limited budget you can't afford not to hire a planner and the most important reason is because wedding planners can save you money. Yes I said save money! It is no longer just the wealthy that hire planners. Couples in our society can't afford to take the time out of their already busy schedules to plan an event that takes approximately 250 hours to plan. You're probably wondering... How can I save money? Well first of all, wedding planners have connections in the wedding world and that means possible discounts for you. All those discounts can add up not to mention the negotiating involved with those vendors. It's also our job to keep track of your budget and suggest solutions when faced with budget restrictions. Wedding planners are amazing problem solvers and can be an asset to any bride struggling with decisions. Every couple is unique. We understand that our standard full planning or wedding day coordination packages may not suit every client. Most Planners offer customized packages with personalized options that are sure to meet the needs of clients and their budgets.

Photo credit: buzzle.com

Till Next Time
Tracey

Wedding Planner Myths... Fact or Fiction?

There are several myths about wedding planners that may scare brides. I want to put these fears to rest once and for all because they are simply figments of imagination, and boy can our minds dream up all kinds of things.

I will address each myth in detail in the next three posts. I wish that I had been better informed while planning my own wedding. It would have saved me time, money and my sanity. I hope that brides come to realize that wedding planners aren't scary at all, but here to assist & support our clients, eliminating stress and giving peace of mind for a very important day of your life.


Wedding planner myth number 1 :

I want to plan my wedding but if I hire a planner I will lose control and then everything will be done by her, then what will be left for me to do?

This is simply not the case at all. When you meet with a planner, depending if you are looking for assistance with a full planning package or a day of coordination package, your planner will ask you a series of questions pertaining to where you are in the planning processes. This will help her to assist you and find out what services would suit your needs best. A wedding planners job is to take your vision & ideas and help guide you through the process of making that vision a reality. We can also help you to develop and create your vision, but at the end of the day everything is decided and approved by the client. If you have a favorite bakery or florist that you would absolutely want to use on your wedding day we are happy to work with those vendors. If you need assistance finding the right vendors for your wedding we will recommend vendors to you that will be a perfect fit. We are here for you and want to help you have the wedding of your dreams without the stress. You are always in the drivers seat. It's your wedding day and it should be a reflection of your personality and style. A wedding planner is your primary supporter!

Till Next Time
Tracey

Kelly & Bob's Engagement Shoot

I was thrilled when Kelly and Bob asked me to coordinate their destination wedding at Fernleigh Lodge on Kashwakamak lake in Land O'Lakes Country in southeastern Ontario. I love everything surrounding the cottage lifestyle. The relaxing calmness of the lake, the blaze of warmth from a campfire and lazy moments in the hammock. So for me, this cottage theme wedding is a special treat... Did I mention the s'mores?

Kelly & Bob are such a fun and playful couple. I am so excited for all the events we have planned for their special day. These two are My favourite photos from Kelly & Bob's engagement shoot by Doire Photography taken at Fernleigh Lodge.

Relaxing by the Lake

Having fun

Photos by Melanie from Doire Photography

Till Next Time
Tracey

Spring Wedding Favour Ideas

If you would like to give your guests a special thank you gift. You may want to consider one of these. Perennial flowers and plants make a wonderful gift that will continue to bloom year after year if cared for and watered properly. Just like your love, will continue to grow and be strengthened by your commitment to care for each other.

Photo credit: Martha Stewart weddings

Photo credit: Intimateweddings.com

Photo credit: Martha Stewart weddings

Photo credit: Favour affair

Photo credit: The Wedding Shop

A personal message can be written on the pot after it's painted with your wedding colours. This type of favour is perfect for the bride & groom that love to garden. Happy planting!


Till Next Time
Tracey