Category: DIY Weddings

The Best Black Friday deals ever in Toronto to consider shopping this season before you get married in 2020

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Vanessa-Pavin-Wedding-Sneak-Peeks-002.jpgEngagement season has just begun and Black Friday is around the corner. You might be thinking “What on earth do I shop for on Black Friday that’s wedding related!?” Keep reading!

Black Friday sample sales & trunk shows

If you don’t have your wedding dress or your bride tribe doesn’t have their dresses, this is the perfect opportunity to shop. Dying for a designer gown? Kleinfeld Canada is having a Black Friday Sample Sale where you get up to 90% off gowns by Clara Rosa, Pnina Tornai and Maggie Sottero. Call 416.861.4800 to book your appointment.

Buy wedding favors in bulk

Vanessa-Pavin-Wedding-Blog-Images-183If you’re having a larger wedding and need to buy favors in bulk? Now is the time to start looking for exactly what you want! Hop onto Amazon and be sure to set yourself up for Prime and research pricing and quantities. Black Friday deals mean price reductions and savings on items you are looking to nab!

Order wedding invitations for less

If you are considering cute “Save the Dates” or actual wedding invitations, websites like Minted that typically offer percentages off will have a great Black Friday sale. Create an account and start browsing invitation styles and be sure you know exactly what you want to go on the invite. You want to be able to take advantage quickly. Also, side note, since these guys are online, it might be worth it to wait until Cyber Monday when deals are better and geared towards online shopping!

by l'orangerie photographie

Coupon codes for printing wedding stationary

Are you designing your own seating chart? Signage for dessert and cocktail tables? Name place cards? If you have everything ready to go on a USB stick, Vista Print is your next stop! Upload your designs where you want them, check them over carefully and plug in that Black Friday coupon code!

Black Friday deals on wedding accessories

Oakview+Terrace+Wedding+-+Bridal+Dress-20No better time of the year to shop for shoes and jewelry! If there is a gorge pair of earrings you’ve been eyeing or a cute pair of casual sneaks your considering wearing for the reception- do it! Black Friday deals will likely be starting this week and only get better as the actual day approaches. Do your homework and price things out and DO NOT WAIT! If your shoe size is popular (think size 7) or your size is carried in limited quantities (like 10) get them if you find them.

Shop Black Friday gifts for your wedding party

Planning on getting everyone something similar or really personalized? Black Friday is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Shop around for some ideas if you aren’t quite sure what you want, and make some calls to ensure the quantities you need are available. Nothing can really be set aside that day, its typically first come first serve so be ready.

100 Insanely smart tips to help a busy bride stay on budget and save money while planning a beautiful wedding

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  1. Keep your guest list small
  2. Choose flowers that are in season
  3. Consider a Friday or Sunday wedding
  4. Create & print your own invites- here’s a discount code for Minted
  5. Get married on off-peak season (November-April)
  6. Skip the plated meal and do a buffet
  7. Have more comfort food and snacks vs formal food options
  8. Rent certain items vs buying them
  9. Choose a non-traditional wedding venue: municipal park or beach
  10. Google local sample sales and trunk shows for your wedding gown
  11. Shop local outlet stores for bridesmaids’ dresses
  12. Purchase handmade items directly from the seller e.g. Etsy
  13. Ditch favors or limit them to 1 per couple
  14. Keep the ceremony and reception at the same place to cut down rentals, transportation and décor
  15. Rent your wedding dress
  16. YouTube makeup tutorials or go to Sephora for a makeup lesson then do your own makeup
  17. Swap in a sweet table instead of a dessert course
  18. Buy your own booze for the wedding
  19. Only serve appetizers during the cocktail hour
  20. Find a music student(s) to entertain during cocktail hour or for the ceremony (have them audition first!)
  21. Find a newer cake artist to make your cake
  22. Swap your cake for smaller cupcakes or tarts
  23. Limit the bar hours or have an alcohol-free wedding
  24. Instead of multiple shooters, only have 1 photographer
  25. Use wildflowers as fillers in your centerpieces
  26. Opt for sparkling wine over champagne
  27. Use a credit card to pay for vendors etc that has points or rewards so you get something back
  28. Google local wedding shows to get deals on potential vendors
  29. Use coupons or Facebook Marketplace to score deals on accessories or décor items
  30. Hire a wedding planner; what you pay them to do will end up being made up in savings because they can negotiate contracts and save you time
  31. Schedule to do cake cutting and first dance earlier in the evening to cut down on photography hours
  32. More than 3 courses for dinner might be excessive, guests should be fed but don’t overdo it
  33. Have a smaller cake created for display and cutting and have a larger slab cake in the back that gets served to guests
  34. Have a smaller bridal party to cut down costs and possibly hassle
  35. Ditch the bridal party altogether and just have a flower girl and ring bearer to save on gifts
  36. Use a playlist for the cocktail hour and dinner and a DJ for the reception party
  37. Cocktails and mixed drinks are usually more expensive at the bar so limit the options to beer and wine
  38. See if the venue has larger tables so you cut back on the amount of centerpieces
  39. Use something other than flowers for your centerpieces such as candles, picture frames, lanterns
  40. Elope or do a pop-up wedding
  41. Consider emailing your “Save the Dates”
  42. Only invite people you are close to you (you’ve seen and hung out with them in the last 5 years)
  43. Stick to the house wines offered instead of specialty ones
  44. DIY certain wedding items
  45. If one of your friends recently got married and kept some of their décor, ask to borrow it
  46. Buy things like candles and favors in bulk, the price is usually less (buy more than 50 pieces)
  47. Have your shower or rehearsal at home instead of a restaurant
  48. Naked cakes look lovely or instead choose buttercream icing over fondant
  49. Kids meals are cheaper so be sure to ask for a kids menu if you plan to have kids at the wedding or have no kids at all
  50. Only have 1 or 2 options for vegetarian or vegan meals, the more choices the more money
  51. Borrow accessories from friends or a family member instead of buying them
  52. Have the wine at dinner served rather than sitting on the table so consumption is staggered during the evening
  53. Don’t forget tips, shipping fees and taxes and gratuity to be factored into your budget
  54. Decide if you are allowing +1’s or not, additional guests can impact your budget greatly
  55. Negotiate pricing on some contracts
  56. Read over contract carefully and ask questions, it’s very easy to misunderstand something and then get overcharged
  57. Enable people to RSVP on a website instead of traditional paper RSVP’s, plus it’s easier to track
  58. See if your venue has a list of preferred vendors, sometimes they want you to use them but it might cost you. Ask if you are permitted to use outside vendors. They may require approval
  59. Find a venue that needs minimal décor
  60. Get married in a backyard garden to save on venue and décor costs
  61. Price shop for vendors to before booking anything to see if there are comparable prices available
  62. Avoid getting married on a Saturday or a long weekend, it’s the most expensive day to get married
  63. Keep appetizers between 2-3 pieces per person and keep in mind the caterer will likely try to up sell you
  64. If you are wearing a longer dress, no one will see you shoes so why splurge?
  65. Go through each item on your budget to see if there are ways to trim it down
  66. Everyone loves a good wedding trend but they are usually pricey because they are in high demand
  67. Hand write your place cards/escort cards or design them on Minted
  68. Research various wedding budgets and revise yours based on what your research finds
  69. Thank you’s to the bridal party are lovely but don’t have to break the bank
  70. Consider one big single bloom for the bouquets
  71. Don’t let vendors rope you into more than you want too (a planner can help with this) you can politely decline any add-ons
  72. Florists typically charge more for labor so buy your own flowers in bulk to save
  73. Stick to a signature cocktail during the cocktail hour and have it passed around. It will not only save on alcohol but will add a nice personal touch as well.
  74. Can we say: “Free wedding stationary printables” We said it.
  75. Instead of renting a nice car, can you borrow one from someone you know?
  76. Keep all of your receipts so you can monitor what you’ve spent
  77. Ask guests to email their RSVPs to you directly and keep an email file folder of them
  78. Choose a venue outside of a major city. Costs of downtown venues and parking can make sticking to your budget difficult
  79. Wait for a good deal to take your honeymoon instead of right afterwards. Check out Skyscanner or Next Vacay
  80. Get a dress that actually fits instead of off the rack and needing expensive alterations
  81. When in doubt, don’t buy a dress a size or two too small, it’s easier to make a larger dress smaller than the opposite
  82. For any out of town guests, ask hotels close by the wedding venue for reduced rates based on rooms booked
  83. Instead of expensive centerpieces, have empty vases on the tables and use the bridesmaid’s bouquets as centerpieces
  84. Troll Instagram and wedding websites for contests and giveaways
  85. Go to Wedding Wire and see if any vendors you need are offering discounts on their services
  86. Buy as much as you can in bulk (food, flowers, candy) rather than specialty stores that will have higher prices
  87. Shorten your planning time, you will be much more decisive with a strict timeline
  88. Only have the photographer and videographer cover just the ceremony
  89. See if videography can be added to your photography package instead of hiring 2 separate vendors
  90. Any leftover wedding items you have, sell them online
  91. Use the word “wedding” only when necessary (like with venues and photographers) sometimes there’s an up charge
  92. Only splurge on ONE thing like good food or music
  93. Find out if there is a minimum spend at the venue if they have in house catering. Usually if you make the minimum spend, they waive the venue rental fee
  94. Keep your invites to a singe sheet, pretty but simple. It will save on postage
  95. Ask friends to help where they can, as ushers, officiant, MC, DJ
  96. Sew your own table runners with fabric you purchase yourself
  97. Silk and paper flowers go a long way
  98. Skip the traditional wedding dress shops and go to major retailers like Le Chateau or Etsy for your dress
  99. Consider a different time of day: Morning or afternoon so you save on dinner food
  100. Make sure you and your partner are both on the same page on where to splurge and where to cutback!

Pantone color of 2017: Greenery

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It’s everywhere and it shows no sign of slowing down (wahoo!!) I can’t say that I don’t completely love almost every style of greenery décor that I have see thus far this year, it’s all stunning. From table runners, centerpieces, garland draped on seating charts or chairs, archways or ceiling décor- greenery has taken over.  Here are a few examples of how décor and florist companies are incorporating the greenery trend for 2017 couples getting hitched!

bridescom  modweddingcom

britco  myweddingguidecom

weddingforwardcom  Stylemepretty

Seating chartwantthatwedding.co.uk

projectweddingcom

Images:

brides.com; modwedding.com; brit.co; myweddingguide.com; weddingforward.com; stylemepretty.com; wantthatwedding.co.uk

 

3 Major problems you may face with your Bridesmaids

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One of the most memorable moments of the beginning stages of planning your wedding is asking the question to your besties “will you be my bridesmaid?” Choosing our bridal party is a big deal for so many reasons but you can and will experience some challenges in the coming months. Even though its your wedding, some bridesmaids tend to make it about them, here are some issues you may encounter and suggestions on how to handle them.

Money

BridesmaidsYou may not realize how expensive it is to be a bridesmaid but the lower end cost is just shy of $2000. Consider the expense of dresses, hair and makeup, accessories, gifts, travel and accommodations, engagement parties and showers and bachelorette parties. Some bridesmaids may have a problem with the amount of money they may have to spend depending on the “taste” of the bride but may suffer in silence, or they will complain about costs.

Solution?

Before you choose your bridal party, do your best to analyze their lifestyles, it’s a good indicator as to if they will be able to comfortably afford to really be a part of the wedding. If they have kids, or work part time it may not be feasible for them. It still doesn’t hurt to ask but perhaps when you do, let them know that if they need to decline, they can and that it won’t affect your friendship. The last thing you want is to have your friends resent you because they spent outside of their means.

Diva Syndrome

Or we also call this “planet me” syndrome. You may end up with a bridesmaid who has something to say about every little thing you ask of them to do…or wear. If you are a bride that intends to have all your party wear the same dress, she will be the one to say the color is bad on her, or it doesn’t suit her body type.

Solution?

Bridal partyThe reality is this, it is your wedding and you may have to have a conversation with her about this. Her opinion is valued but if it’s not in sync with the plans you have, part of her job is to do things she doesn’t like. If I asked my bridesmaids to wear a paper bag with a plaid design finger painted by my 5-year-old nephew- they would wear them! You want people in your party who support you, not fight you on everything during the planning process.

Complete takeover

Its amazing that you have incredible friends who want to help you plan your big day but taking over when they haven’t been asked or assigned to anything will be stressful. They may start telling you what to do or how to do it or even what you will want to do! This can get overwhelming quickly if you don’t handle it right away.

Bridesmaids2Solution?

Calmly thank them for all their suggestions and eagerness to help but then let them know, you would prefer not to get ahead of yourself and still need to time to discuss with your fiancé certain elements of the wedding. You may even tell her you haven’t had the opportunity to think about those aspects yet and would like to wait until you have a clearer idea as to what you want.

 

Feature image via etsy

Blog images via @robynsrussell www.robynsrussell.com Sasha & Jared 2017

AVP Real Wedding: Miguel & Michelle

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Miguel and I go back to high school so when he contacted me and asked me to help plan his wedding naturally I was over the moon happy! His fiancée Michelle was lovely and we got to meet at Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay downtown Toronto as she tried on a slew of gorgeous gowns.

There were many obstacles these two had to overcome amid all the planning, their daughter Mia was under a year old and that took much time and attention. They had also bought a new house, were renovating and had several setbacks.

Everything came together at the Trent Port Marina, tucked away in a town in the southern part of Ontario on the Bay of Quinte. Very quiet, quaint town where everyone knows everyone (I grew up close to there so it was nice to be “home”). It was an intimate setting of close friends and family for the ceremony and dinner. Michelle and Miguel exchanged vows in the late afternoon and then the party started.

The one thing I won’t forget about this wedding is the way they both looked at each other the entire day. It was with such love and certainty, I was so honored to be a part of their happy day. See more on my website

The Dress  Aisle2  Lean on me  DSCN0550-01  DSC03142-01

Planner: Ashley Victoria Productions//Venue: Trent Port Marina//Catering: Tomassos//Linens, Napkins & Chair Covers: Chair Cover King//Photography: Images by Montserrat

2017 Wedding Trend: Agate

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So in case you didn’t already know this is a trend…trend alert! For all my gorgeous couples who don’t know what the agate trend is, let us educate you!

Primarily a volcanic rock, agate is known for its mesmerizing, entwining layers of color. Chalcedony stones typically have a sort of waxy luster, and in most cases are semitransparent or translucent. The best part is that can assume a wide range of colors. Dessert makers, artists, stylists in the wedding industry have taken advantage of how lovely this looks in a nature-scape or boho themed wedding. Everything from invitations, cakes and desserts and jewellery have enveloped this agate look. Here some ways to incorporate this new trend into your wedding!

Agate cake

Wedding cake design

Modern-Bohemian-wedding-inspiration-place-cards-Brit and Co

Place card holders via Brit & Co.

Agate coasters weddingomaniacome

Drink coasters via weddingomania.com

agate-garlands Brit and Co

Garlands via Brit & Co.

ruffledblogcom

Mr. & Mrs. Memoirs via ruffledblog.com

Ring Agate

Ring display for engagement shoot

 

Main image photo credit: Sara-Lynn Photography

6 Perfect Proposal Ideas

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Not every guy out there has a creative mind so the act of proposing ends up being that much more petrifying! The good news is, whatever you decide to do, she will love it because she loves you so have confidence. In the meantime, we found 6 proposals that any girl would remember forever!

scrabbleCreate a custom jigsaw puzzle (or have one made) with a picture of you and the words “Marry me?” on quiet night when you’re spending time together, suggest the puzzle. Once you’ve both put it together, you can propose!

 

While your soon-to-be-fiance is asleep, slip the ring on her finger and finish with breakfast in bed.

snow-proposalIn true Canadian fashion, before your lady leave for work, offer to heat up her car and scratch your proposal in the ice on the windshield and the ring on the dash board.

Pick a spot that is sentimental to you both (where you went on your first date) and have a hired photographer hiding somewhere close but discreetly taking pictures of your proposal as she says “yes!”.santorini-marriage-proposal-ideas

Tie a ribbon from one spot in your home to another with notes of inside jokes or your relationship milestones. As she follows them, you will be at the end of the ribbon with the ring to put on her hand!

bottleThe night before a beach day, write a poem or your proposal on a piece of parchment paper. Roll it into a bottle with a cork and bury it in a well-marked spot in the sand where you will remember. Make sure she finds the bottle and be ready with the ring!

Spring 2017 color trends via The Knot

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As winter slowly (and in Canada I do mean slowly) dissolves into Spring, winter color palettes get shelved and the new pantone colors arrive.

And color is back!

The Knot, gives us details on the hottest new Spring pantone colors in a recent blog post that I just had to share with you!

pantone

Primrose yellow, Hazelnut, Flame, Pale Dogwood and Lapis Blue are the bright and beautiful colors that are making their way into the color schemes of upcoming spring weddings this year.

 

Pantone’s Hottest Color Trends for Spring 2017

Classic Love Songs: Our Top Picks

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Struggling to find a first dance song? These might be oldies but they are goodies in so many ways! Here are our top 10 classic love song picks of all time!

Unchained Melody

One of our absolute favorites and always will be.

Your Song– Elton John

We won’t lie, this makes us relive Moulin Rouge all over again!

I Will Always Love You

Yes Whitney YES!

Endless Love– Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

A few renditions of this song have been done (thank you Luther and Mariah) but this one…

I Knew I Loved You– Savage Garden

We recall circa ’99 when this super sappy song was released…it’s still makes the top 10.

I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing

Okay, okay so maybe I bawled like a third-grade sissy during the movie Armageddon…can you blame me?! Shout out to my child hood friend John Hamlin, this is our grade 7 throw back tribute! (Gets teary eyed)

My Heart Will Go On

“I jump, you jump, right?” Yep.

(Everything I Do) I Do It for You– Bryan Adams

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song (Robin Hood) This song was a heart twinging tear jerker in the early 90’s.

Take My Breath Away– Berlin

Ahh yes, Top Gun: Tom Cruise…Nicole Kidman’s amazing hair- Berlin took our breath away!

I Just Can’t Stop Loving You

Michael Jackson debut this song in ’87 and we won’t stop loving MJ either.

Wedding Budget: The essential differences between deposits vs final payments

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If you are planning your wedding yourself, it’s crucial that you know a few very important things when it comes to your budget and how it will be broken down.  This information isn’t common knowledge so if you find yourself struggling or are weary of making a mistake, hire a planner! Deposits and final payments for your vendors are very important and the key to ensuring how much is for what and when is to read the post I wrote last week about reading your vendor contract!

Deposits

Deposits are what you and your partner put down to essentially “reserve” the vendor, all of your vendors will require a deposit. (Side note: Some planners require a retainer; it’s a fancier word for an advance.) It will be written in the contract exactly how much of a deposit is required to secure their services for your wedding. Most wedding bands require up to wedding-contract-041714-0320%, some photographers require half up front, it really depends so again to reiterate, read your contract!

If you don’t quite understand the contract, set up a meeting with them and have them thoroughly explain so there are absolutely no miscommunications. Once you sign that contract, you agree to everything in it whether you read it or not! In most cases, deposits and retainers are non-refundable. Once you put down your deposit, your vendor has then reserved their services for your wedding date.

One other important thing to keep in mind is when you are meeting your vendors to discuss their services and whether or not you will hire them, be in a position to put down a deposit at the meeting. You have no idea what their booking schedule is like and if they are photographer, some are booked up to a year and a half in advance!

Final Payments

Similarly, the contract should stipulate when your vendor expects their final payment. The amounts will vary and the due dates can be anywhere from two weeks before the wedding day up to the day of the wedding. Discussing this and making changes before you sign the contract is essential. Most vendors can be flexible; others not as much so it’s important that you keep hands1track on a calendar the date final payments are due. For example, most venues will request a deposit up to 20% and then final payment will be the entire lump sum of what is left over due roughly a week before the wedding. You can arrange to make payments so it’s not one large chunk gone at once so be sure to inquire about that.

If any payments are due on the day of the wedding, have someone like a planner, parent or another relative who will ensure the payments are to given to the vendors. You will be busy getting married and celebrating and it’s easy to become distracted since it’s your big day.

In both cases whether it’s a deposit or a final payment, request an invoice or a receipt that stipulates the date you paid and the amount. It’s good to keep a record of these payments for your own security.