Etsy goodies: Autumn Accessories from head to toe
It’s definitely not summer anymore! Inspired by the crisp fall weather outside, I’ve compiled some unique accessories for a fall wedding. Enjoy the pretty leaves and cool weather this weekend!
Bridal wrap of handmade silk roses, by Annadsouza.
Autumn bomb necklace, by JealousCat.
Golden poppy handmade flower hairpin, by KimArt.
Champagne pearl and briolette dangles, by somethingjeweled.
Swarovski crystal flower headband tiara, by houseofistria.
Burnt orange and ivory hair and shoe clips, by KirahleyKreations.
Getting the most out of Bridal Shows
Now that we’re well into the fall season, many newly engaged couples will start their planning for their wedding in the new year. Bridal shows are a great source of information and ideas, and if you have not gone to one, I encourage you to visit one early in your planning phase. There are a lot of shows that happen each year and even more vendors who are at them, so it can be an overwhelming experience too.
Taken from the Total Wedding Show
Here are some of my tips for getting the most out of the experience:
Bring snacks and comfortable shoes Whenever I attend a show, whether it is a bridal show or not, I can get easily distracted and irritated if I don’t eat or if I’m uncomfortable. And often times at big shows, you want to see everything and anything at once, and it’ll make it much easier if you are wearing comfy shoes and have enough energy to ask all your questions.
Write things down. Bring a pad of paper and pen to jot down things you learn or ideas you come across. Write down which vendors made an impression on you and who you spoke to. You will be bombarded with a ton of information from many different vendors, and it’ll be useful to look back on notes.
Take pictures. If you see an idea you love, make sure to take a picture of it. It’s much easier to show your planner or vendor what you envision this way.
Arrive early. Most crowds come mid-day and you’ll get a chance to talk to the vendors while they still have energy too.
Have questions ready. If you go in as an empty slate, you will be overwhelmed with information. Make sure to have specific vendors in mind, questions you want to ask or ideas you want to find. Vendors are usually listed online, so you have a chance to look them up and see if any of them interest you ahead of time. Find the ones you like and make it a point to chat with them and see if they are a good match for what you are looking for. This is a chance to get a taste of many vendors at once, without the hassle of meeting each of them individually.
Bring the right person/people. The right person for you might be a bridesmaid who understands your vision, or your mother who has the same taste as you. It’s nice to ask the groom to come along to one or two shows but the bridal shows are exactly that.. shows for the bride. I wouldn’t drag the man along to too many of these, unless he wants to go.
Don’t be shy to fill out forms. You never know when you might win a prize! But more likely is that you will receive lots of newsletters that might contain valuable tips or coupons for services you might need.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. You will be bombarded left, right and center. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the moment when you find an interesting vendor. Go home and look into their services. If you are still interested, then schedule an appointment to discuss further.
Remember this is a chance for you to get inspired for your special day and maybe come across a vendor you like. Enjoy the experience! There are lots of bridal shows coming up this fall and winter season. I’ll be heading to the Toronto Bridal Show myself. Happy show-hopping everyone!
Upcoming shows:
Nov 5-7, 2010
Toronto’s Bridal Show
The Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd., Toronto
Free Admission
Jan 7-9, 2011
Canada’s Bridal Show
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
255 Front St. W., Toronto
Jan 14-16, 2011
The Wedding Show
The Carlu, 444 Yonge St., Toronto
Jan 21-23, 2011
The Total Wedding Show
International Centre, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga
Wedding trends 2010
This summer I’ve seen a lot of great wedding trends that are nice updates to tradition. Here are my reflections and thoughts on some trends I’ve come across. Thanks to Gen & Ray for being subject to some of my examples and Glendon Tang for their wedding photos.
Standard white guestbooks bought at Michaels are a thing of the past. These two above are great examples of guestbook alternatives for guests to give more than their signature. A fun scrapbooking idea from Gen & Ray’s wedding and a wedding tree from Shar & Justin’s wedding.
Everyone has seen the standard head table. Nothing wrong with the rectangular arrangement, but how about a fun alternative like the sweetheart table? This is where the bride and groom have their own special table to enjoy the evening’s festivities from.
I love that couples are taking a different approach to wedding attire. Throwing in a pair of converses for the groomsmen or adding an asymmetrical element to the wedding dress are trends I’ve seen a lot this summer and they are great ways to have some flair in your wedding wardrobe.
Photobooths have made their appearances this summer at many weddings, being a great way for guests to leave their mark as well as have a keepsake from the day. Photo sessions have also seen a shift the last few years from traditional poses at common parks to daring photo shoots in really random settings. Your wedding day is definitely the day to let loose and out of the ordinary.
Other trends include an increase demand and showing of wedding videography, more DIY projects than ever and bringing a lot of colour into the wedding. Need more ideas on how to break out of tradition? Schedule a consultation today for more help on how to make your day a special one.
If you are anything like me, you love to make homemade gifts. Practical Wedding Favors Here are some of my favourite do-it-yourself options below that not only look nice but are useful and cheap to produce. All are easy to make and are budget friendly. Keep in mind that you will need a lot of time and patience to produce favours in multiples, as with any other wedding DIY project. The end result will definitely save you money from buying favours from a store, but will cost you your time. You may be able to find some cheap jars at the dollar store or chinatown. Also if you can make these months in advance then you will be all set!Bottled up goodness – Wedding favours with flavour
are a great way to say thank you to your guests who came to your wedding while adding your personal touch. Wouldn’t it be nice to surprise guests with something other than almonds and candy wrapped up?
Bottle up some EVOO infused with black pepper, chili pepper, rosemary or garlic. Delicious for serving with bread. Taken from My Wedding Favors.
Make some homemade vanilla for yourself and your guests. All you need are fresh vanilla beans and vodka. Picture from Style Me Pretty, recipe from Simply Recipes.
Give your guests some homemade bath salts to take home and relax with. Variations can include adding a few drops of scented oils, adding drops of food colouring to match your wedding or using some epsom salt to soothe sore muscles. Taken from Martha Stewart.
Having a winter wedding? Make a hot chocolate mix complete with marshmellows for a great take-home gift. Taken from Ehow.com
A fun Save-The-Date video
As I head into the weekend, I just have a quick video to show that is absolutely adorable! Created as a ‘save the date’, this couple really went all out (and around and up again) to perk their guests’ attention for their upcoming wedding. Enjoy!
Roller Coaster Engagement Video from 1321 Studios Videography on Vimeo.
Would you trash your dress?
I hope you had a great Canadian thanksgiving weekend!
Today’s post is relating to photography. Traditionally couples will have engagement shots months ahead of time and a photo session on the day of the wedding. A popular trend nowadays is for brides to have a “trash the dress” photo session after the wedding. This usually involves wearing your (usually costly) wedding dress and taking daring photos in out-of-the-norm settings. It also usually involves getting the dress a bit dirty, hence the name. It will cost a bit to clean the dress up afterwards, but you definitely will have unique photos that will last a lifetime.
Here are some stunning shots of Amanda in her TTD session with Andy King to give you an idea of how it could turn out!
Girls and their heels
A few companies have come out with a very similar product.. ballerina flats that can be flattened and tucked away in an inconspicuous bag, to replace your heels at the end of the night when your feet are swollen and aching. The bag of flats can be tucked away in your purse or suitcase, and comes with an expandable bag that can hold your heels. It’s not a bad idea, especially for long wedding days!
A Modern Take on an Art Nouveau Inspired Wedding
I studied the different art periods in a graphic design history class in university and one of the styles that really caught my eye was Art Nouveau. It was an international style that exploded from 1880-1910 that impacted graphic design, interior design, architecture and the applied arts. The style is characterized by being ornate, expressing flowing lines and floral patterns, having a natural colour palette and stained glass. I really enjoy the mix of modern and classical, with a taste of whimsical and fantasy. If you’ve ever been to the Old Spaghetti Factory down on Esplanade, it screams Art Nouveau. Absolutely beautiful!
Here are some pieces from that period:
Sometimes couples have trouble translating their inspiration into reality. How do you incorporate your ideas into a wedding? The key is to take some elements and bring them in. It will also depend on how much of the inspiration you want to be literally brought in. In this case I’ve used the Art Nouveau style to inspire different aspects of the wedding.
Here are some ways an Art Nouveau inspired wedding could take shape:
Set the tone by inviting your guests with a beautiful set of invitations that reflect the style. Bring in the same look into all your printed materials (program, name cards, etc.)
Taken by Chartula Studio Ltd
Bring some of the movement and shape into your wedding dress
Dresses by my fav Enzoani
Dress your favourite ladies in whimsical and light dresses
Gorgeous handmade dresses by sarahseven on Etsy
Art nouveau was heavily inspired by nature.
Why not find a venue that is set in the outdoors?
Pictures of the Ancaster Mill
Make a statement with expressive centerpieces
Floral design by Wisteria Floral Design in Thornhill
Add ornate and floral elements into the decor
Decor ideas from Martha Stewart Weddings
End off the night by giving away hand-wrapped favours and share a piece of an art nouveau inspired cake
Taken from Martha Stewart Weddings