Tuesday, July 10, 2012

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

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

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

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

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

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Have Fun In The Rain At Your Springtime Wedding

If you really love spring you probably won’t mind the rain. Spring is all about changes in nature. Flowers blooming, beautiful green grass and birds chirping. What makes spring possible is the rain, without it the flowers and grass wouldn’t grow and the birds would not find worms to feed their babies.

Planning a spring wedding can be a lot of fun. You can even poke fun at the weather by incorporating rubber ducks into your theme and even have them adorn your wedding cake. These make adorable cake toppers.



Photo credit: Heartshapedcreations

If it does rain or is still wet outside, have your bridal party wear rubber boots and carry beautiful coloured umbrellas. Imagine the fun you could have! Remember the musical Singing In The Rain? Oh the possibilities.



Photo credit: Beth Furgurson Photography via The Knot

Colourful umbrellas or parasols can also be used to decorate above your dance floor. They can be suspended in the air to appear like they are floating, or being blown away at different angles.


Photo credit: 100 Layer Cake

Be prepared with an assortment of colourful umbrellas for guests to share if you’re having an outdoor wedding ceremony.


Photo credit: KGoodPhoto

Serve cocktails with a personalized paper umbrella with your names and wedding date.


Photo credit: Etsy.com

Incorporate your favourite spring elements in your wedding and don’t be afraid to be creative. Leave your guests with a Wow expression.

Till Next Time
Tracey

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Spring Centrepieces For Your Wedding

Spring Inspiration is all around us in the beauty of nature. Just looking outside I can see all the plants and flowers starting to peek out of the ground. I just love my flower garden and can't wait to see what will bloom from last year.

On the Easter weekend I was shopping for flowers for my mom when I came across some beautiful potted tulips, daffodils and hydrangeas. The potted flowers were placed in a container and wrapped in colored paper. I ended up buying a blue hydrangea plant and purple tulips. The flowers were for my mom, but when I got home I didn't want to leave them wrapped up, so I used the purple tulips as an Easter centrepiece when my parents came to dinner. Afterwards my mom was able to take them home. The table looked so beautiful I can't believe I forgot to take a picture!



I thought that these potted flowers would make beautiful arrangements for a spring wedding reception and a nice take home gift for one lucky guest. What's really special about this idea is that your guest will always have a flower from your wedding that will grow back every year in their flower garden. I think this is so sweet.

I also saw these very small orchids that would be perfect as wedding favours. If you can find a calla lily that is small enough to fit a very small pot it would be even better because it can be planted in our climate unlike the orchid. A few years ago I planted a small dark pink calla lily in my flowerbed and it grew back the following year white. It was a nice surprise.



If you are getting married in April or May keep an eye out for potted flowers. You would probably be able to find beautiful combinations as well, and arrange them yourself in a basket or decorated pot. You could even hand paint the pots with the table number or have different flowers at each table and name the table after the flower. This kind of centrepiece can be very simple and inexpensive or extravagant depending on your budget and your theme. What a wonderful way to bring the miracle of nature and make it a part of your wedding celebration.

Photos by Coordination Wedrose

Till Next Time
Tracey

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

When Choosing Wedding Vendors

What makes any wedding successful besides careful planning and execution are the people involved behind the scene, the vendors. As a wedding planner it is my job to coordinate all the vendors involved in a wedding. If I am hired to assist a bride to plan her entire wedding I would be involved in guiding her through vendor selection and attending meetings with such vendors. However, some brides choose to plan their wedding themselves and then hire a planner to manage their wedding day details. Recommending quality vendors is probably one of the most important jobs of a wedding planner. If you were planning to search out vendors for your wedding, a bridal show or bridal event would be the ideal place to start. You may also have friends or family that were recently married who could recommend a vendor to you. Word of mouth is still the best way to find wedding vendors. When you do meet with a vendor that you are interested in hiring, ask them if they could refer you to other wedding professionals such as a floral designer or photographer, Chances are they have worked with other wedding professionals and are familiar with their services. When you have a talented group of vendors amazing things happen. This is your wedding day after all. Invest in quality!

Till Next Time
Tracey

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

When Life Gets Busy

The month of February was exceptionally busy for me, with all the planning and preparation for the photo shoot at Montebello and the wedding gown showcase at Eternity Bridal. All my creative energy was channelled into these events, as a result the goals I had for my blog were not met.

I know that sometimes it's impossible to do everything but I like to push my limit. It's in my nature to try to be super woman. Realistically life will make us choose. I could have stayed up late at night, lost sleep to get the blog written and posted. But at what cost? My sleep is very important. As human beings we need a certain amount of sleep to function effectively. I want to be at my best for myself and everyone around me. This was not an option I could entertain. We need to have peace about the decisions we make, which is how we know it's the right choice for us. There is no guilt!

I was thinking about the brides I have met lately, how busy they are with their jobs, families, and friends. Where do you find the time? It's this simple, you have an amazing life and it will not slow down because you are planning your wedding. Don't stress yourself and feel guilty because you are behind in your planning and maybe the DJ hasn't been booked yet. Take a moment and breathe...

I could look at my lapse in blog posts and scold myself... Bad little blogger!... or I can get back on the horse, moving forward. I made a decision to grab the reins and ride this through.

Finding the time is not always easy you may need to give something up for a while until your back on track. I like to write down all my blog topics on a list then cross them off after they are written. Make a wedding to do list. Pick two items on that list to accomplish each day. Ask for help if you need it. Divide the list with your fiancé, chances are that he would love to hire a Dj and you can tackle something else. Before you know it you will be back on track!


I'm so happy to be able to blog again and looking forward to doing video soon.

Peace, Love & Happiness Always
Tracey