Montreal Wedding Planner, An English Rose

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British versus Canadian Weddings

2010-04-20T08:37:00.007-04:00

Being in the UK for the past month has given me great opportunity of researching the trends here in Europe versus what we are currently doing in North America!

One thing that has changed over the past decade is the age to be married for Brides is changing! It seems British girls don't want to end up like 'Bridget Jones' starring into their empty wine glass and singing 'all by myself....' instead the average age has now dropped from 32 down to 26 and again couples are deciding to have children in their late twenties instead of waiting until their 30's!

So whats new in the UK.. well hardly anyone has heard of Candy Tables! Cupcakes have only just become really big for weddings in the last 6 months, Momogramming is also just starting to take off and Sweetheart Tables at receptions for just the Bride & Groom are now being seen!

But what you really want to know is what trends are coming through from Europe... well I can tell you that David Fielden suggests putting your bridesmaids in White Dresses with the Bride wearing a Black Wedding Dress...... this will really wow guests - just like Sarah Jessica-Parker did on her wedding day! Black Wedding Dresses on the runways in Paris were also seen in 08/09. If your budget can stretch to it, Black Orchids are definately 'the' new thing! Other colours seen in 2008/9 were Grays & Silvers which are still very popular, Icy Blue's and Turquoise and every shade of Purple from Lilac to Deep Aubergine (Egg Plant).

Smaller decadent weddings of 30 guests or less are becoming increasingly popular, using budgets to really splash out on their weddings and guests. Marquee (Tent) Villages are also very new where multiple rooms and structures are used within a larger tent to create intimate spaces with larger reception areas.

Multiple themes are another great idea especially if you are mixing cultures - or if like me you just love too many different foods and drinks to choose, well now you can have them all! How about a Russian Vodka Bar to start, followed by an Oriental Dinner with Bamboo Place Settings and finishing the evening with an English Tea Party, Scones with Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream all served on pretty China and Cake Stands!

Speaking with Debbie of Wedding Wonders, guests are also looking at different transportation ideas, one client asked Debbie to transport all their guests in a 'Red London Bus' to the Wedding, with the Bride arriving in a 'White London Cab'!

But whatever you do, don't do like the Brits and get stressed! Planning a wedding in the UK according to the polls is now the 5th most stressful things to do after moving house and changing jobs etc - RELAX, you can always hire a reputable wedding planner to do the organising for you!

Safiya & Casio's Fall Fiesta

2010-04-05T09:34:00.007-04:00

It could not have been a more perfect day for Safiya & Casio's wedding day last Fall. With clear blue skies and warm sunshine the day was ready!

I must admit that Safiya had a very clear vision from the beginning on the colours for her wedding and I think you will agree that they came through in everything from the invitations, to the wedding program's, the flowers, dresses - even the boys limo was lit up with Burnt Oranges, plus we were even able to choose the glow of colour in the Reception Hall to light up the walls and ceilings!

What was also fun was that Casio had connections all over Montreal, from his God Mother performing the ceremony, making it very special to a friend of his mothers making the Cake, and even close friends in control of the Music & MC!

When planning your wedding it is always nice to think where the talents are in your family and who can help make it special - but equally it is just as good to think twice before asking your friends or family to do critical parts of your wedding. What would happen if something didn't quite meet your expectations would it potentially ruin a longstanding relationship - so more often than not I would say 'leave it to the experts'!

It really was a unique day and we bought in many cultural elements from Jumping the Broom to African Dancers and I think the guests were amazed at what can only be described as a 'Canadian' way of Opening the Bar!!

Photo Credit: Feddel Photography

Flowers: Flora International

Food Fantasies or Failures!

2010-03-29T16:17:00.011-04:00

This week I am blogging from the UK and food and drink, being a Brit, I must admit has been 'one' of the focuses of my trip... In less than a week I have already devoured traditional Fish n Chips, frequented a couple of quaint old pubs, eaten a late night 'Donna Kebab', had a Curry and tonight enjoyed a wonderful home cooked meal from my mother, finished off with a Red Velvet Cupcake! So I have to admit, food is not only the way to a man's heart, but definitely the way to a Planners heart!

So this week with food at the forefront of my mind, what could be better than thinking about the menu you might be considering for your Event! I often meet lots of clients who are choosing a meal that they might not necessarily be that keen on, but choose it because they think it is simple and will satisfy their guests. While I do agree it is lovely to be considerate to your guests - you are never going to please everyone and I do not agree with choosing a menu that you don't love and are not excited about. Remember this is your event, your big day and I really feel that you should be eating your favourite dishes!

Why not have some fun with your menu... one of my clients last year had a BBQ style wedding and we served Southern Fried Chicken, Flank Steak Sandwiches, Burgers with 101 toppings and even Poutine in Take-Out boxes and for dessert we had Ben & Jerry's Ice cream with Cup Cakes. If you are looking for an upscale dinner, think about Surf n Turf, we did Filet Mignon and Lobster Tails for another event and coming up in May we are serving Salmon with Scallops or Lamb Shank for main course!

Have fun with your nibbles and do something that maybe reflects your culture or heritage, for Quebec who can resist mini smoked meat sandwiches, for an upcoming Mendhi party the Fairmont are creating Indian Canapes for my clients, maybe you love Sushi or Greek food, Italian or Chinese.... really here in Montreal we are very lucky with the choices on offer!

Don't be afraid to think outside the traditional menu's, if you are working with external caterers they normally love the opportunity of being more creative - even if you are working with a Hotel or Reception halls, don't be afraid to ask for what you want! Remeber they want your business and should be willing to be flexible on the Menu!

So maybe take some time to really think about the food you would like to serve at your event, have some fun, the meal is an 'event' in it's own right and can form part of your decoration and spontaneously inspire your guests for a meal they won't forget!

Julie & Gina - An Old Montreal Wedding

2010-03-22T07:24:00.020-04:00

When choosing your Montreal wedding or event planner, it really is about the 'click fit' more than anything else. Do our personalities fit, will we have fun planning this wedding or event together, did I understand your vision and build trust? Well, for me often I only get one chance when working with couples from out of town to do this and do it well, and usually over the telephone! This is exactly, what happened when I met Julie, 'over the phone' for the first time!

It was clear from the outset that they wanted a beautiful intimate roof top wedding, with around 25 of their nearest and dearest! Coming from New York and trying to work and move house at the same time, I was able to take the stress out of the organisation, so they were able to relax and enjoy the lead up to their special day!

The wedding was planned in just 3 month and we had our rooftop restaurant overlooking the old port of Montreal, Julie had chosen soft lilac's and greens for her flowers and we even had a religious officient, who although could not perform a religious ceremony, we were certainly able to bring in religious elements that were very important to Gina.

So everything was PERFECT...... except mother nature and the heaven's opened!! At this point there is only one thing you can do.... 'go with the flow', no-body want's rain on their wedding day, and although we cannot always predict the rain - we can certainly plan for the rain which is exactly what we did. Those umbrella's were whipped out for the photographs and the rooftop reception was moved to a very intimate old stone part of the restaurant!

So if rain is part of your special day - embrace it and smile just as Julie and Gina did, their wedding day was still extremely special and to them just perfect!

Photo Credit: Joseph A Photography

Flowers: Flora International

Cake: Decor Gateaux Montreal

Fusion Decor Delights!

2010-03-15T09:59:00.008-04:00

I met a lovely lady in Toronto a few weeks ago who had the most beautiful table settings and I thought it would be fun to showcase these to you! Whether you are planning your wedding, a party or even having friends over for dinner, hopefully this will inspire you to do something perhaps a little different!

Deep Pinks, Purples & Orange are always strong fusion decor colours, start by thinking about your base colours and your accent colours... use different table cloths for layering eg. a deep pink table cloth with a purple organza overlay looks stunning. Why not use different coloured china to jazz up the table setting or bring in some Gold! What about little embellishments on your napkins or to use in the centre of each place setting in the theme of your event - as you can see on the pictures below, Butterfly's have been used as the table accents.

Now I am not suggesting that we can all re-create this incredible Elephant all made out of flowers - but what an exceptional centrepiece! Even if you are not a professional florist, there is nothing to stop you experimenting with flowers..... pick up a couple of small square vases, fill the bottom with coloured stones and then simply cut the stems of some roses short and fill the vases tightly with the roses either using the same colours or lining up 2 different colours of roses and see what a great centrepiece you can create!

A different look are these beautiful Peacock inspired table settings covered in Peacock feathers, the deep purple and aqua marine colours really blend well together and give a lot of warmth! While you may not cover all your tables with Peacock feathers, you can certainly use them as accents. The centrepieces here are large gold bowls with floating candles again in complimenting colours and petals! Again the added touch of a pink favor box really gives some punch to the overall look!

So whatever event or party you have planned over this year - don't be shy to try something different and create a new look just for you!

With special thanks to Nisha Chandra of Nisha Chandra Events who kindly let me photograph her tables! Absolutely stunning!

Bride & Groom Canada in Montreal

2010-03-08T16:03:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, myself Chris and Elisa exhibited at the Bride & Groom Canada wedding show at the Windsor Ballrooms in Montreal. I must admit I wasn't sure what to expect, being my first show - but overall we had a really good time and ended the day on an exhausted & happy note!

I loved the design of my booth... with white contemporary furniture from Luxe Decor stunning flowers in deep pinks & purples from Flora International and of course lots of sweets and mini cupcakes to tempt everyone with! Chris was dressed up by Waxman's and Elisa and I were jewelled up by Trink Jewelry... it was almost an oscar moment!

It's interesting as I meet a lot of wedding planners skeptical as to whether to do a show or not, myself previously included but what I found was great fulfilment in being out there, face to face, meeting lots of wonderful couples and having the opportunity to present myself to them and learn more about their expectations for their wedding day.

I noticed that almost 50% of the couples I met were investigating ideas for their 2011 or 2012 weddings and it's good to see that they are beginning to plan early, this gives them so many more options for their ceremony & reception locations, which after all is going to be the place they remember for the rest of their lives!

Congratulations to Naomi Grunzeweig who won her very on 'Personal Wedding Coach' to guide her through the process and ensure nothing is missed!

KISMET South Asian Wedding Show

2010-03-01T11:26:00.005-05:00

Last week Chris and I were fortunate enough to be in Toronto for the Kismet South Asian Wedding Show which was spectacular! Congratulations to Paras and his wife Anita and their partners on, what I am sure was a very successful event. http://www.kismetweddingshow.com/

We started with the Fashion Show which was such an array of flamoyant colours, beautiful beaded dresses with lots of sparkle and even the grooms had stunning outfits to look at, especially the 'Sherwani's' with their swords and all! Newly engaged couples were called on stage for a competition and I was glad to see that I am not the only one who would not have a clue as to how to put on a Saree..... even more so, as it was the 'brides to be' trying to dress their grooms in the Saree!

The decorating companies were amazing, the 'Mundaps' for the Ceremonies were just beautiful and it was lovely to finally meet Amol Kapoor from Jashan Decorators! The Fusion Style Table Settings really got my mind racing and there is just too much to mention in one blog so more to come later this month!

I must admit it was fun to get my hand painted in Henna and I certain got my fix of Curries - a must for any Brit! Overall we had a fantastic day, met many great suppliers and made some wonderful connections! So come on Montreal.... when are we going to catch up with the South Asian market here!

This Sunday, I too am turning my hand at exhibiting at the Bride & Groom Canada Show which is taking place on Sunday 7th March from 11.00 am - 7.00 pm at the Windsor Ballroom! So if you want to stop by and say 'Hi' I would love to see you there......

Montreal Wedding Planners Get Together!

2010-02-22T15:59:00.010-05:00

It was great to get together with the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) Montreal Wedding Planners last Monday as we checked out the new showroom of 'A Timeless Celebration' http://www.atimelesscelebration.com/

Caryn and her buisness partner Gloria did a fantasic job to showcase all their products, everything you ever need for decorating for your Wedding or Event, from Favors, Linens, Apothecary Jars, lighting and so much more!

They also highlighted their Wedding Dresses which was new for me to see and amazing at what can be created for $700.00 or less!

I love getting together with fellow wedding planners, it's great to network and brain storm ideas, but also to be able to share what's going on in the Montreal market... we all had a good laugh when we realised a number of us had been approached by the same person (although with different alias's) about performing a 'naked wedding'!!! Mmmm Wedding Planning is certainly not without its interesting moments and certainly not for the faint hearted!

Montreal Wedding Winners!

2010-02-15T09:49:00.006-05:00

I'm a firm believer in good Karma and if you do good for others, good will come your way! Surround yourself with motivated positive people in your life and you will always be happy and looking forward.

So this week it was fantastic to meet with Amanda Shearer & Kelly Robertson who were the winners of the Sheldon Kagan Salon de la Mariee Gazette Competition, of which An English Rose gave away free Wedding Day Management!

Amanda was full of smiles and Kelly full of questions, as we discussed all the details of pulling everything together for their wedding in June 2010. We brain stormed lots of ideas around their flowers, favors and the transportation they needed which were just a few of the things still oustanding for the big day!

Closer to the date, we'll be pulling all the final details together including meetings will all the vendors and structuring that very detailed Wedding Day Itinerary, so every party involved is aware of who does what, where and when!

I am really looking forward to working with Amanda and Kelly, if anyone deserved to win this, they did!

Don't forget, send in your Wedding Proposal stories to info@an-english-rose.com and the most unusual / romantic proposal will receive 50% off my wedding planning program's!! (Closing Date: 1st March 2010)

Unique Wedding Proposals

2010-02-08T11:03:00.007-05:00

This week I thought it would be fun to think differently regarding what would make a wedding proposal unique! So I have a little something for all of you.....

A bit of Romance.... why not give your loved one a full body massage, set the scene with candles, romantic music, sweet aroma's and a glass of wine. Leave the left hand until last and then slip the ring on the finger and pop the question... they won't be expecting that!

For the Techy inside of us... how about building a web site about the two of you... it could be the story of how you met, your life together, significant moments... full of pictures and music. It will take you on a journey and then the last page can detail the marriage proposal.. but don't forget to be in the room with them and have the Champagne on ice ready to go. This is also fun as you are then able to share it with family and friends afterwards.

Include your animals... using your Dog for example, could be challenging, but who isn't up for a challenge, teach your dog a new trick, maybe they will go and collect a little package containing the ring and bring it to your loved one or maybe your pet will be wearing the ring around it's neck for your loved one to notice!

Be Creative.. send your loved ones a bouquet of flowers every day in the following order... Mums, Anemones, Roses, Roses, Yarrow, Mums, Echinacea and it spells M-A-R-R-Y-M-E.. in fact you can use any flowers or any other items that spells MARRY ME!

Think about holiday proposals... I have friends who were proposed to at the edge of the Victoria Falls in Africa... the Grand Canyon.. Romantic Paris... my husband actually flew 3000 miles to London, UK to propose to me!!

These were just a few ideas to get you in the mood - but hey you can do almost anything if you take some time and plan it properly......Bungee Jumps, Hot Air Balloons or your favourite restaurant - I wish you lots of fun with your ideas and remember... let me know how it goes you may even appear on my next blog!

Romantic Wedding Proposals

2010-02-02T08:56:00.007-05:00

As Valentines is fast approaching I am sure there are a lot of nervous men and women out there thinking of proposing - so this blog is for you!

Guys, if you are thinking of popping that big question, but not sure how - remember women are very simple (LOL)!! We love to be spoilt, we love our other halves to be romantic and best of all we love it when they use their initiative.... it makes us feel very special! If you are a modern girl and are planning that proposal, I am sure you have thought through every different scenario, but still guys don't like to be embarrassed or put on the spot infront of their friends and families.. so I am presuming you have a pretty good idea he will say yes!

So a little one on one romance... plan a picnic - I know it's a little cold for outdoors, but I love inside picnic's infront of the fireplace... provide all their favourite food, a bottle of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and the most important a bouquet of balloons filled with Rose Petals... in the last balloon have the ring tied to a ribbon with a love note or poem proposing to that special person, then as you pop each balloon, they will be covered in a shower of rose petals and the ring will drop in their lap!

Another fun idea is to send a Red Rose (or their favourite flower) every day for a week with a love note as to why they are special... on the last day of course it has to be a dozen Red Roses or a Bouquet of their favouite flowers, but put together all the love notes in a picture frame with pressed petals from one of the flower you already sent. Add your words of proposal at the bottom - not only is it romantic, but it's a piece of art you can keep forever!

What about a romantic treasure hunt - this can all be done in the same day or over a few days! Leave little clues for them to find a small gift with a 'letter or word' and the next clue... you can leave clues around the house, have clues sent to their work place or delivered with chocolates or flowers. If you are very creative you could plan clues at a special place to the two of you - hey you can even leave clues on the ski slopes! You want to make sure that the 'letters or words' you leave do not spell will you marry me, as this is too obvious, but should be the name of a Restaurant or Hotel or name of a special place where the propsoal will take place - get them to get dress up and meet you there..... and the rest is history as they say!

And lastly, if your other half loves cakes... (who doesn't) have a local Baker bake a cake with the propsal written on it and have the Ring as the centrepiece of the cake, then have it displayed in the shop window... suggest a walk... go grab a coffee etc and when you walk past the shop window, stop to take a look and then get down on one knee... don't forget to have Champagne waiting for you inside the shop to enjoy with a slice of your Cake!

There are so many ideas, and next week I wil be blogging about 'unusual proposals', but it doesn't have to be expensive (the ring will do that for you), but it should be personal... so be creative and have some fun!

For great flowers and floral deliveries any time of the year, Flora International in Pointe-Claire will take care of your every detail! http://www.florainternationalflowers.com/

What's Your Theme!

2010-01-25T10:15:00.006-05:00

A lot of my clients are now beginning to think about their theme! Whether you are planning your Wedding, an Anniversary Party, Sweet 16th or any other Event the starting point (after the budget) should really be the style and theme, this will help you decide upon the next most important decision - where to have your Event?

For some of you coming up with your theme maybe simple.. it could be that famous 70's party you've been bragging about or an Elegant 'Ritz' style wedding you've been dreaming about forever. But for those of you who are thinking 'I don't know what my theme is' I would suggest you start pulling together some 'Inspirations Boards' either electronically or in a scrap book.... browse on line and find things that you like or cut pictures out of magazines and stick them all together and sure enough a trend will start to shine through.

Once you have decided upon a Theme - STICK TO IT! This will ensure your theme is carried out throughout your event and you won't end up with a mis-match of nothing special.

So what colours are you thinking of? These colours should be followed through from your Invitations, to your flowers, to your decorations & cake and so on... Are there any cultural or family traditions you would like to incorporate. What about you or the person you are throwing the party for - are there any personal traits that you can include that could make it unique?

For those of you planning your wedding this year, don't forget to visit Sheldon Kagan's Salon de la Mariee this weekend at the Palais des Congres and if you would love to have the chance for Montreal Wedding Planner, An English Rose to oversee your Wedding Day for Free....then check out the Montreal Gazette every day this week for a chance to win!

Marlene & Priscilla - A Christmas Ceremony

2010-01-18T14:51:00.016-05:00

When Marlene approached me to help plan her Wedding Ceremony to Priscilla we had just 6 weeks to pull everything together!

Coming from Massachusetts, Marlene & Priscilla wanted a very special setting for their Wedding Ceremony an intimate moment with themselves and their 3 children.

So I did just that... I found a beautiful setting in the Library at the Pierre du Calvert in Old Montreal which was built in 1725 and is the oldest historical house open to the public as an Auberge & Restaurant.

So the day after Boxing Day on their wedding day I met Marlene & Priscilla for the first time. The fire was lit, the officient ready and the photographer in place, Chris and I witnessed a very romantic and emotional ceremony.

The Brides wore beautiful cocktail dresses, rose petals were scattered by their youngest daughter and the candles were lit joining two families together.

It showed me that it doesn't matter what size your wedding is or how much money you spend, it really is about having the most important people in your lives to share this moment and in return creating true sentiment - that's what makes a very special wedding.......

Honeymoon Destinations!

2010-01-11T11:34:00.011-05:00

With the snow on the ground and that horrible chilly air, what better time to start dreaming and planning your Honeymoon! This isn't just a 'holiday' this is the first trip the two of you will take together as a married couple - and the most romantic trip that you'll talk about and reminisce over for many years to come!

So, my three top tips when starting to think about your Honeymoon Destinations:

1. Base your honeymoon on what you both love to do!
2. Think about how you want to spend your time
3. Create a budget for your honeymoon

So where are you going to go? Well you could go with the norm and google top honeymoon destinations and you will come up with the traditional places such as Hawaii, Mexico, Jamaica and St-Lucia OR you could compare flights and realize that the cost of a flight to Europe is pretty much the same...

For me one of the most romantic places that I love and dream about often is Venice, with it's history, secret stories of Casanova & others, the canal waterways and piazza's at every turn, it's a place where you will just never have enough time to see it all. But if you do go to Venice, then you must also visit Verona, just an hour and 25 mins west of Venice is home to Romeo & Juliet.. outdoor concerts in the Colliseum and 'real' Italien food in abundance - how much more romantic could you get for your honeymoon!

The great thing about Europe is that there are many countries to visit, all unique and all very close together.. so why not visit two or three while you are there! I'm secretly hoping my next 'romantic' trip will be to Santorini in Greece!

But apparently the no.1 most romantic place in the world to stay is the Legends Hotel in Mauritius!

So come on Grooms, while your beautiful Bride is planning the wedding, why not make this your contribution and plan a Honeymoon your Bride will remember forever, and if you need that extra bit of help you can always check out the Honeymoon section of my web site!

Wedding Show Survival!

2010-01-04T14:17:00.015-05:00

Happy New Year! It's 2010 and for those of you who became engaged over the holiday season it's more than just a new year - but a new cycle in your life!

It may only be January 4th, but Wedding Show season is upon us and a great starting point to gather information, meet great vendors and build your knowledge on the wedding industry.

Remember to wear comfortable shoes, you will do a lot of walking and standing on concrete floors, leave your coat in the car or coat check and wear layers as it will get very warm in the exhibition halls. In my british slang I would say to wear a 'bum bag', which means a 'fanny pack' - this will enable you to leave your hands free to carry all those extra bags and don't forget to carry some water and keep hydrated!

But my best time saving advise would be to have 'Personalised Wedding Business Cards' - if you are really on the ball create your own personalised wedding business cards with the date of your wedding and all your contact information on it - this way you won't need to repeatedly write out your information at every booth you stop at - especially if you want to win all those fabulous prizes!

This year Sheldon Kagan's 'Le Salon de la Mariee' will be celebrating 30 years at the Palais des Congres on the 30th and 31st January. I have been very fortunate in teaming up with Sheldon for his Salon de la Mariee Gazette Contest where I will be giving away my Wedding Day Management Program to one lucky couple - but that's not all you can win.... don't forget to check out the Montreal Gazette from the 22nd January to see what else you can win for your dream wedding. Good Luck!!

A Time To Decorate!

2009-12-14T14:09:00.006-05:00

I love this time of year.... decorating the house, what theme to go with this year - new colours and ideas brewing!

Where to start is a good questions - like any event you want to go with a colour theme and carry it through from your decorations on your tree to your table decorations. Take a look around your home and see what colours you have... I have a lot of Sage Green and Dark Red... so I kept this year to a very traditional Green, Red and Gold theme in my house, however I added a special touch of Brown to my to my table decorations with feather balls edged in gold and scented cones.

Do something different with your tree - why stick to tinsel and ribbons - instead grab a fancy coloured boa and push it inbetween the branches to fill out the tree.... you can even use fresh flowers pushed in between like roses, but remember the ends need to be in the little water holders. At the base of the tree wrap your presents in the same colour scheme alternating with ribbon colours to give an overall well put together tree!

There is never enough room on your Christmas table for all the decorations and food - so why not lift the table decorations to your central chandalier. Take a simple green wreath and decorate with your colour theme and then lift it to the bottom of your chandalier and wrap the branches around your lights and it will hold it in place... add some dangling decorations and you have an instant 'off-table' decoration!

This year I decorated a tree outside my house... with simple Gold and Red Balls hanging with Gold and Red Ribbon, I found some great Red Fruit decorations full of glitter and added it to the tree, when the snow came even the mail man commented on how great it looked!

There are so many ideas and sometimes it can be a little overwhelming - so why not hire an expert to help with your decoration. Myriam Rouillard of Myriam Rouillard Designs can come to your home and 'stage' your house for Christmas - 'why not'! You can find her at http://www.myriamdesign.ca/

Want a 'Stress Free' Holiday Season??

2009-12-07T07:35:00.008-05:00

So what kind of parties will you be planning this holiday season? Organising the family Christmas celebrations... In charge of the Company Christmas Party or planning a friendly gathering for New Years Eve?

If so here are a few tips to remain 'Stress Free' and have the time to enjoy the festivities you are so busy organising! I hate to say it, but the number one thing is 'Preparation and Planning':

Prepare NOW! Don't leave it to the last minute.. take some time out now to think about your event and make sure that you schedule it into your time so you are not rushing around at the last minute - my advice be planned and ready the week before!

Plan a meal that you can prepare and cook in advance, so that you can spend time with your guests instead of in the Kitchen! Even Turkey can be cooked, sliced and frozen in individual portions and then re-heated (after defrosting) on Christmas morning.... just spread out the individual portions on a baking rack with hot water and a dash of oil underneath and slowly steam it through - you'll be amazed at how moist it will be! My new discovery this year was the Crock Pot Slow Cooker... look to see what delicious meals can be made with very little effort!

Make simple table decorations and get the children to help.... how about stenciling the names of your guests onto a 'Pear' to create a festive name card, cluster them with a few scented cones and a small candle and voila a beautiful place setting is made. I like to decorate my table with Christmas ornaments, it's very simple and there are some stunning ones out there, plus you get to change your theme / colour every year - why just hide them on the tree.. use that glitz on your table!

Take time to charge your batteries, if you are lucky like me this weekend, have your other half take you a way for a relaxing weekend! Imagine, no TV, no Children... just Hot Tubbing, Fireplaces and long walks. We even had our own resident 'Partridge' that became very attached to us, and 'no' it will not be on our dinner table on Christmas morning!

So lastly if you have done all this hard work, get your significant other to do the clearing up while you put your feet up with a nice big glass of wine!

Montreal Wedding Planners meet at the Intercontinental

2009-11-30T10:18:00.007-05:00

Last Monday the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) held a 'Get Together' at the newly refurbished Intercontinental in Old Montreal! It was great to catch up with some old friends and also to meet some newly certified planners who are looking to start their business's over the coming months! This year it was also exciting to be able to take my husband Chris with me who has also just recently taken the WPIC course in Ottawa!

Personally I think it's great to meet up with other planners to have that support network and to share ideas and see what other areas planners are specialising in - we all have our niche areas which is great for referring business to one another and also calling on support as and when needed - looking forward to the next Get Together in January!

We also had an opportunity of meeting with a new supplier in home-made cookies - well done to Sharon Anders of 'Just Cookies' who is based on the West Island.

Many thanks also to the Intercontinental who hosted our event and spoilt us with far too many canapes and wine! I think these Mini Burgers were a definate hit!

So what can I tell you about the newly refurbished Intercontinental... well it is very contemporary in style.. I particularly loved the escalators to the Reception area covered in the white bark from Birch Trees and Brown Fur. Gone is the cluttered reception area which is replaced with open spaces and a fun wall with plates of peoples faces on it!

What really interested me though was the brand new 'Absinthe Theme' in the Sarah B. Bar just adjacent to the Reception area http://www.barsarahb.com/ You can sit up at the bar and have a seasonal Absinthe Frappe or if you are with a group of friends sit in one of the private booths at the back of the bar - ideal place for a Hen or Stag Party!

For a Romantic Dinner or even your Rehearsal Dinner check out the Osco Restaurant at http://www.restaurantosco.com/ with it's Provencale Cuisine, intimate setting and beautiful glass chandaliers overlooking Place Jean-Paul Riopelle! For something more private they also offer the Salon La Rotonde which can accommodate 12 guests.

So for me - I think I shall definately be trying out the Absinthe Bar in the near future... purely for research of course!

Same Sex Weddings in Montreal

2009-11-23T13:32:00.009-05:00

One of the greatest things for me when organising a same sex wedding, is not necessarily the planning itself - although this is great fun, but being there to see the look on the couple's face when they finally get to be married, legally with the piece of paper to prove it!

We're fortunate here in Canada to legally recognise same sex marriages since 2005 across all provinces and territories. In fact, in Quebec alone 2200 same sex marriages have taken place since then, which equates to 2% of all marriages - of this 2%, 17% came from other countries and 8% from other provinces, lets hope this continues to increase and we welcome many more same sex couples to Quebec and in particular Montreal to be married!

To date all of my same sex couples have been from the US, and it's great to see so many of their friends and families join them for the celebrations. I love the emotion the ceremony brings and of course the intense partying that follows!!

So far the same sex weddings that I have planned have tended to be much smaller intimate weddings, therefore many of my couples love the idea of being married on Old Montreal, which is wonderful as there are many historic intimate locations to choose, from rooftop weddings to garden weddings to the waterfront.

Congratulations to Mike and Joe who were married last August and Julie & Gina who tied the knot this August... I'm also greatly looking forward to welcoming Marlene & Priscilla who are coming to Montreal just after Christmas also be be married in Old Montreal.

Jess & Jase - A Unique BBQ Wedding

2009-11-16T11:17:00.008-05:00

With Jess and Jase, everything was different - right from the start they had a clear vision of what they wanted and how unique they wanted their day to be!

Although they didn't want a strict religious ceremony, Jess still wanted elements of her Jewish background built into the service, so we hired an officient who spoke hebrew and Jess & Jase made a custom patchwork Chuppah, each patch giving a story of their lives.

The tables were laid picnic style with freshly cut garden flowers in mason jars dotted throughout, candles glowed around the room with the menu, bar and cakes all chalked up on blackboards!

We cannot forget the food at this wedding!! A fantastic BBQ filled the air, cooking Flank Steak, Burgers and Southern Fried Chicken.... Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Quesadillas and Smoked Meat Sandwiches were served during the Cocktail Hour and my favourite 'Poutine' served in Chinese Take Out Boxes put a smile on everyone's faces!

What else made this wedding unique... well everything from service Cup Cakes and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, adding in a Photo Booth which everyone loved and last, but not least a wonderful send off with the couple surrounded by their guests and lit by 100's of Sparklers!

What would you do to make your wedding Unique??

An Elegant Wedding Show in Montreal

2009-11-09T13:02:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was the Elegant Wedding Show at the Windsor Ballrooms in Montreal... for those of you who went you will have seen many beautiful table settings in bold colours and huge floral / branch centre pieces - what I loved seeing though was the use of 'Cut Crystal' glassware which just brings a sense of style and sophistication to the table settings!

The models showcasing the wedding dresses were lined up along the walls in framed boxes, the 'String Duo' playing beautifully and food offered at every turn. I must admit 3 cupcakes later I was definately glad I skipped lunch!

It was great to see some familiar suppliers, my friend Anita from 'Creative Expressions' was showcasing her beautiful invitations, I particularly loved the way the she used ribbons and diamonte's to make a buckle effect on her stationery! I'm also looking forward to setting up some meetings with a few new vendors - especially Tracy from 'Trink Jewelry' which I love and have to admit I do own a couple of her rings!

Overall, the theme was big and bold... great use of glassware and lots of Sparkle!

2009 Wedding Trends

2009-10-26T10:55:00.008-04:00

As Wedding season is coming to a close, it is nice to look back and reflect on what has been some of the key trends for 2009. I must admit for me personally I have had a great deal of fun and fulfillment from each wedding, they were all so different and unique!

A strong theme this year was outdoor weddings, Lakefront, Rooftop or Country Garden settings were big this year and from conversations I am having with couples for next year, I think we will still see a lot of outdoor weddings next summer. Shorter Bridesmaid dresses have been very popular this summer in colours of Greens, Peacock Blues and Orange's. For the Brides, strapless wedding dresses are still very sought after, although I have seen a few slinky halter neck dresses which were beautiful.

Food for thought: to me it has been the year of 'Mini's'.... for Canapes, mini smoked meat sandwiches, mini poutine, mini grilled cheese sandwiches have all been a must... for desserts 'Mini Dessert Canapes & Dessert Shooters' have taken place of traditional Dessert's which have also been incorporated into the Midnight Table! Mini Cup Cakes and Candy Tables are still a great idea and lots of fun - in fact at one of our weddings we practically had to fight off the guests from eating all the candies before even sitting down for the Reception!!

In terms of decorartions... Vintage and Country have been very popular along with the 'homemade' look. Country flowers were placed in Mason Jars on tables, Homemade Jam's were given for favors... Wooden signs with painted directions were on display. We also had a lot of fun with centrepieces this year moving away from flowers in some instances and using Lanterns full of candles... Jars with coloured stones... floating candles and single Orchids in water.

My personal belief is whoever you are as a couple, have fun with your wedding - make it a part of you and bring in all your favourite things, only then will you have a truly unique wedding!

Which Wedding Cake are You?

2009-10-19T12:57:00.009-04:00

There are so many choices when it comes to wedding cakes and this year we have had a lot of fun in designing and choosing some very creative styles & flavours. For example how does Raspeberry & White Chocolate sound... or a little Ferrero Rocher... even Keylime & Coconut.

We've had Black & White Weddings Cakes... Giant Orange Wedding Cakes and even a Wedding Cake with Gold Elephants and the Taj Mahal on the top. Interestingly enough, all my traditional 3-tier wedding cakes have all been 'Round' this year... no squares or hexagonal - Round has been the shape of the season.

But not everyone wants a traditional cake... A couple of my brides this year chose not to have any cake at all, one substituted with 'Ben & Jerry's Ice cream! Others wanted the very popular Cupcakes and one wanted a 3-tier cake and Cupcakes - hey why not!

But what other options are there..... what do we see coming through in trends for next year. Well at the moment Macaroon cakes are becoming popular, with a multitude of flavours and fillings these are a fun option, plus I am seeing them stacked high to represent a Wedding Cake... I don't think Cup Cakes are going to go away too quickly and here in Montreal with our french influence what about a Croquembouche, drizzled in Chocolate or Caramel and stuffed with a french vanilla cream!

So have fun with designing your wedding cake... make it personal, make it reflection of who you are and why not have a different flavour for each level! Now that I have probably got your taste buds going I suggest a visit to Les Glaceurs in Old Montreal for a sugar fix!

Elizabeth & Mathieu - Lakeside in Mont Tremblant

2009-10-05T09:39:00.008-04:00

For Elizabeth and Mathieu, planning their Mont Tremblant wedding was interesting to say the least - you see they both resided in Germany and the first time I met them was about 4 or 5 months after I started working for them. I searched many different locations from the West Island, Downtown Montreal to the Eastern Townships before they settled on a beautiful Hotel in Mont Tremblant, Lakefront with a clear view of the Mont Tremblant Mountain and Ski Village.

The room was crisp and white, while we decorated with splashes of 'peacock, pinks & oranges', their new baby Abbygael was matched with white with orange flowers and the couple added a few suprises - like how much they liked to drink... or was it just the size of their champagne Flutes!!