WeddingBlogger – AVPEvents Blog

NEW website and features

Published on May 11, 2018May 8, 2018 by AVPEventsLeave a comment

The warm weather is FINALLY here in Toronto (it only took us 6 months and an ice storm) it was hard to stay inspired this past winter. However, we managed to redo our entire website which made me very excited!

Of course, there are some tweaks to be made still but overall, I am very happy with it! It’s cleaner, better images, new logo, the ability to book a consultation online and download a planning checklist!

The option to sign up for free advice, tips and special offers is also something I am happy we were able to make happen. I think its important for a website to be more than just a collection of photos and services- we should be able to showcase we have to offer!

That being said, for the month of May we are offering 10% off of all our Partial Planning Packages! We know engaged couples have a lot on their plates and a partial planning gives you 20 hours of my time allotted to areas of planning determined by you.

Some couples use this for things like:

Budget creation & management
Vendor recommendations
Seating chart arrangement
Booking/attending vendor appointments
Creation of “day of” schedule

And the best part of this package is that it also includes our Day of Coordination Package.

As a final send off on this post, we encourage you beautiful couples to download our FREE wedding planning checklist to help keep you on schedule!

The Shocking Revelation in the bridal industry!

Published on May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 by AVPEventsLeave a comment

One subject amidst the bridal industry that I really feel people tiptoe around is that of lack of inclusion in wedding blogs and web/print publications. Maybe this isn’t something I am supposed to talk about but…here I am- and I’m not sorry.

It’s not to say there aren’t diverse publications that cater to multi-cultural audiences, it’s great but why separate publications? I grew up in a community where I was, for many years, the only bi-racial kid around and believe me when I tell you- it was hell. Different skin color, different body type, different hair, different facial features, plus a family of limited means. From public school, throughout high school it was just me and then I moved to Ottawa for university. It was then that I experienced being around people who looked like me, people I could relate too. I can’t describe to you the utter joy I felt living in a city where I didn’t feel like the literal “black sheep”.

When I first joined the wedding industry I made a point to get familiar with certain wedding publications and while I was enthralled (to say the least) with all the work that was showcased, yet I was shocked.

The stark reality is that there are publications that are for separate demographics and it can work…sort of. Of course, when you become a planner you must decide your niche market and how best to target them. But in doing so, it seems to create a distinct barrier.

I do realize I may be stirring the pot but here is the reality- I’ve had clients come up to me and tell me that have purchased certain magazines for inspiration but didn’t see themselves as any of the brides or models. They weren’t able to identify with what they were seeing and for them it was frustrating but that was their experience. So, I ask “Why don’t publications, magazines and blogs make a point to include a certain number of multi-ethnic shoots as features, editorials or submissions?”

But far beyond race, size and sexual orientation, recently the popular online blog Style Me Pretty pledged their dedication towards creating a space that focused on inclusion on their Instagram. While this was a huge step for them, some of the comments on their Instagram post even went to the point of highlighting other aspects of inclusion being overlooked still:

Special needs couples
Brides with natural hair/Afros
Budget friendly (pretty doesn’t have to be pricey)
Hiring people on their staff who understand diversity

Simply some food for thought. In a society as liberal as ours it would be nice to see more inclusion in the larger magazines and blogs. If brides cannot see themselves in the dresses, with the flowers then it’s a huge missed opportunity and the message these real brides take away is this: the world’s beauty standard women have fought so hard against hasn’t changed in the bridal industry. On the bright side, it is my sincere hope to start seeing a wider range of inclusion much sooner rather than later!

For advice, tools, tips and special offers click here

Adios 2017!

Published on December 22, 2017December 20, 2017 by AVPEventsLeave a comment

2017 is coming to a close and if I might say…good riddance! We want to share some of our biggest highlights from this year!

She Said Yes!

So as with most of us girl squads, mine has a Whatsapp chat called “Le Crew”. This picture message in our chat pops up after midnight on NYE Dec 31st 2016 from our bestie in Ottawa and her giant sparkling ring…announcing her amazing beau of 5 years popped the question! These two gorgeous specimens had their engagement party in October of 2017- Next stop…Dubai 2019 wedding!

Updated Website

I was so thrilled that I was able to sit down with my graphic designer and make the changes I wanted. I needed a different way to showcase some of my work rather than a boring gallery. I wanted to tell a story and make it distinctive to each couple. We added in an “as seen” section that notes all the publications we’ve been in as well as updated our available services.

Check it out!

Personal

So I moved…again. (Sigh…) Not one of the more enjoyable things I had to do this year but it had to be done. I was previously tucked away in between York Mills and Sheppard on the Yonge line and as of October this year, I am right back down in the mouth of the beast- Yonge and Bloor. The noise, smells and wind tunnels are more than enough for me to wish I was back where I was. Our place is cute and homey but the downtown insanity is exhausting to look at let alone live in. Oh well…here’s to Starbucks meetings and shopping in Yorkville?

Prince Charming proposes

By Prince we mean Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (the amazing Rachel Zane from Suits) got engaged and are to marry on May 19th 2018 at Windsor Castle…I can’t WAIT to see who designs her dress! Nothing like a Royal wedding to get us excited for a new year right? For more details see my previous blog post!

Style Shoot

Oh Elegant Wedding Magazine family, how I love you all! Some of the most hard working, talented and incredible vendors contributed to the styled shoot for the Winter/Spring 2018 issue that JUST hit the stands on December 18th 2017! Soooo go grab a copy and stay tuned for my next post that will give all the details of the shoot! Don’t forget to follow us on instagram: @avpevents

Designer Spotlight: Galia Lahav

Published on August 17, 2017August 16, 2017 by AVPEventsLeave a comment

“My favorite part about designing for a bride is bringing her childhood fantasy of her wedding to life. Every girl I work with shares how she has dreamed about this day her entire life, and it’s my absolute pleasure to make that dream come true.”- Galia Lahav

If there is any wedding dress designer who’s work I drool over and dream of and essentially need in my life, it’s Galia Lahav.

Her attention to intricate details and who custom designs her gowns to fit every inch of the body, every gown is one of a kind and created with the bride’s individual preferences in mind. (We were not trying to rhyme but hey…).

Born into a Russian family of seamstresses, she began not in designing but making custom lace appliques. It eventually evolved as brides started to reach out with requests for dresses with her custom laces and 2 years later, here she is.

Now creating her exceptional designs in Israel, here are a few of my absolute favorite gowns from each of her collections. I suggest you sit down, this is going to get intense!

La Dolce Vita Collection (Veneto & Florentina gowns)

Les Reves Bohemians (Blossum & Belle gowns; Tiger Lily gown; Crystal gown)

Le Secret Royal (Lily rose gown; Guerlain gown; The New Suzanne gown; Gia gown)

My final and absolute favorite collection…Victorian Affinity

(Charlie gown; Lia gown; Lizzy gown; Rayne gown; Sterling Cape; & my love Thelma)

Images via www.galialahav.com

Wedding hairstyles for medium to long hair

Published on June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 by AVPEventsLeave a comment

Out of all the stresses of wedding planning, for me the idea of having to choose a hairstyle seems like it would be a nightmare. Of course this is just me and I happen to be obsessed with my hair (and rightly so, I take good care of it and trust NO ONE!). But to have to start looking through my secret hair goals pictures of JLo and Nicole Scherzinger and choose 1 style…is cruel and unusual punishment!

How do you choose? What if you love all the styles? What if they all suit you and your dress? Do you see why my stress levels would go through the roof? Some brides stress over music, others stress over invitations…I would be stressing over hair.

I came across a few awesome wedding hairstyles for medium to long hair done by Ulyana Aster Bridal Hairstyles and had to share them with you! Check out her YouTube video and quick tutorials below!

Designer Spotlight: Carolina Herrera

Published on April 24, 2017August 16, 2017 by AVPEventsLeave a comment

“I have a responsibility to the woman of today- to make her feel confident, modern and above all else beautiful”– Carolina Herrera

Before taking a quick sneak peak at her newest collection fresh off the runway, here are some interesting life facts about the incredible designer, Carolina Herrera:

She was born and raised Venezuela and traveled at a young age and was exposed to fashion very early.
1987 she launched first bridal collection and year later her first fragrance
1996 Carolina Herrera de Baez joins as creative director at Herrera’s House of Fragrances
1999 She opened her first flagship boutique in NY on Madison Ave and 75th
2004 she received the Council of Fashion Designers of America “Womenswear Designer of the year” and the Glamour “Woman of the Year award”
2008 The Council of Fashion Designers of America honors Carolina Herrera with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
2010 receives the distinguished “Mercedes-Benz Presents” title for her Spring collection
2014 she received The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion

To see the rest of her 2018 Spring bridal collection go to http://www.carolinaherrera.com/

Photography: Courtesy of Carolina Herrera

How to find the perfect bridal gown to fit your body type

Published on December 1, 2015December 1, 2015 by AVPEventsLeave a comment

Every soon-to-be bride wants to look like a princess on the big day so knowing your body type is crucial. It’s important to keep in mind that you want a dress that will accentuate or conceal certain areas so that not only do you look great but you feel just as great. Here are some tips on how to find a dress that flatters your figure, no matter your shape!

Body Types

The Hourglass

If you have the hourglass shape that means your shoulder and hips are relatively the same size and you have a defined waist. The best bridal gown silhouettes for this body type would be:

Ball Gown- The structured bodice will accentuate your waist and create an ultra feminine look.
Mermaid/ Trumpet- Fitted more so from the top to upper or mid thigh will highlight your jaw dropping curves.
Sheath-With a streamlined shape, this style will be sure to emphasize everything equally and in a modest way.

The Triangle

If your hips are wider than your shoulders, these are the go to dress shapes for you:

A-Line- As implied in the name, the “A” aspect of the dress angles gently away from the body to hide your hips slightly.
Ball Gown- Similar to the A-Line, you want to choose a ball gown that has a natural waist and a skirt that flow away from the hips so as not to draw undue attention to your hips.
Short Dresses- You have some flexibility here since it can either be a flowing sheath or a fitted bodice, a shorter hemline can help show off all the right areas.

The Inverted Triangle

This body type as suggested is when your shoulders are wider than you hips; the following are best suited for this figure:

Mermaid/Trumpet- will help to give you a little more in the hip area to balance out those strong and shapely shoulders.
Short Dresses- Paired with some fabulous heels, a shorter hemline will draw attention to your lower half (and legs) which will in turn level out your top half.
Ball Gown- Essentially this dress type seems to work for every figure thus far, but the ball gown here in this instance again can help you “fake” what you don’t have on the bottom.

The Rectangle

Women with shoulders, waist and hips being equal can choose from these options of dresses that will help to “create”:

Short Dresses- You can basically “create” curves with a fitted bodice or flowing sheath paired with the shorter hemline.
A-Line- Again, can “create” that hourglass waistline if it cinches slightly and then flows outward.
Sheath- If you aim for a more bias-cut in a very soft fabric that flows, it will also “create” curves in the right areas.

The Round and Curvy

Women who have a fuller, rounder figure do best to focus on the fit of the dress:

Ball gown- Although, avoid this if you are bit on the shorter side, you don’t want to appear as a cream puff!
Empire waist- Quite fitted in the bust area then flares out beautifully
Goddess/One shoulder- Another option that stay snug under the bust and flows out skimming the body nicely.

Tip: Asymmetrical ruching in the right areas can help give the appearance of a narrower waist if that is your goal.